#hightechdad.com

I truly haven’t had hands-on time with a Windows laptop in quite a few years. My wife is the one Windows user in my family, and while I have tried to keep my skills tuned to understand Windows, I’m a bit behind the times. But as I write this review, I’m doing it on the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 laptop, and I honestly have to say, I’m impressed. But this review is not about Windows (although the Yoga 9i is running Windows 11 Home); it is more about the hardware that has been engineered to take advantage of the latest version of Windows. And I’m having fun fine-tuning my Windows skills! (*Disclosure below.) Being a tech writer evaluating all types of hardware specifically focused on Family Tech as well as helping others solve technology problems, I need to be sure that I’m technically ambidextrous – being able to talk both Windows and Mac. I have even played around with Chromebooks a bit, and many years ago, I went through a period of installing various flavors of Linux on a variety of devices. But this review is about the Lenovo Yoga 9i hardware that wraps the Windows experience in physical technology. I’m actually writing this review using the Yoga 9i after spending several days ditching my usual laptop and exploring the Yoga. And I have come up with ten things that I like about the design, the hardware decisions, and how it all works together. 1 – Compact Formfactor and Design Let’s start right with the design of the Lenovo Yoga 9i. This is a lightweight, easy-to-carry laptop. There are different versions of the Yoga 9i, including an optional leather-clad version (Shadow Black). The version I received for review was the more traditional, silver version. The base has a slightly tapered body, thinner in the section closer to the trackpad. But what impressed me was how thing the entire Lenovo Yoga 9i was. It is a mere 0.6″ high and is 12.57″ wide by 8.51″ deep. This makes it highly portable yet can house a full-sized keyboard. To add to the portability of the Yoga 9i design is the fact that it only weighs about 3.02 pounds. At that weight, it is easy to throw into a backpack or bag and barely notice that it is there. 2 – Quick Dive into the Spec I always go to the specific specs listings of any device to really understand what you get (and what you don’t). So while there is a lot to dive into, I have pulled out the items that I think to be the most important and relevant about the Yoga 9i. Specs below are from my review model. Processor: Intel Evo i7 – 11th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-1195G7 @ 2.90GHz  2.92 GHzRAM: 16.0 GB (15.6 GB usable) – note, this is not upgradable and the RAM is soldered inHarddrive: 512 GB hard drivePorts:One USB-A port 3.2 Gen2 portTwo USB-C / Thunderbolt 4Headphone/Mic jackWiFi: 802.11AX (2 x 2) Bluetooth 5.1Speakers: Stereo speakers, 2W x4 (2x woofers, 2x tweeters), optimized with Dolby AtmosBattery: Integrated Li-Polymer 60Wh battery, supports Rapid Charge ExpressPower Adapter: 65W USB-C (3-pin) AC adapter A quick note on some of the items above. If upgrade options are available, I would recommend getting the maximum RAM possible (in this case, 16GB). RAM options are 8GB, 12GB, and 16GB. Also, the available hard drive configurations are 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. I would not go lower than 512GB for storage. 3 – Multiple Working Possiblities This Lenovo laptop is aptly named the Yoga. This name implies that it is flexible and can support multiple positions. While it is listed as a 2-in-1, there are actually three core positions that the Lenovo Yoga 9i supports: laptop, tent, stand, and tablet. As I am a writer, I prefer using the laptop mode most of the time. I like having a tactile experience for typing, and on-screen keyboards simply don’t provide that. You can fully open the Yoga to have the bottom case touching the top/screen, meaning it folds open to put it into tablet mode. When fully open in tablet mode, the physical keyboard is disabled, and all of your interaction takes place on the screen. The screen automatically adjusts as you rotate the display (landscape or portrait). (And you can use the built-in pen for interaction on the screen if you want). Honestly, while this is an interesting mode to use, it is not something that I want to use much. I feel a bit odd grabbing a keyboard, and the entire tablet feels a bit too large in full tablet mode. While my preferred mode is laptop, I do like the tent mode a lot. You basically bend the Yoga in half and prop it. This mode is ideal for watching movies or videos (or even using the built-in Alexa mode). When in tent mode, all of the interaction is done via touch or pen. There is also a stand mode where the keyboard acts as a stand. This is similar to tent mode. All of these “yoga positions” are made possible by the unique 360° hinge. 4 – Display and Touchscreen One thing that I am not accustomed to but actually do quite enjoy is the fact that the Lenovo Yoga 9i is a touch-screen device. I always yell at my kids when they touch the screen of their Macs (there is no reason to touch a Mac screen other than to smudge it up). But, with the Lenovo Yoga, you should touch the screen. I’m just not used to it. Being able to interact with content or websites or just not use the trackpad all of the time is refreshing for me. The Yoga has a 14″ display. There are two options available for the display: FHD (1920×1080) or UHD (3840×2160). The model I tested was the FHD IPS display. The FHD is slightly dimmer 400 nits of brightness compared to the UHD at 500 nits. FHD support Dolby Vision and the UHD does HDR 400. Depending on the size of your fingers, you may want to decrease the screen resolution to be able to interact with objects on the screen. Otherwise, you can also use the built-in pen for precision or those very small buttons. 5 – Pen Included Built into the body of the Yoga 9i is a battery-powered pen that can be used to interact with the screen, sign documents (avoiding having to attempt to scrawl something on the trackpad), or use any of the drawing or illustration applications available. The Lenovo Integrated Pen has a built-in rechargeable battery, 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity and is stored (and charged) in the back portion of the Lenovo Yoga 9i. While it is a bit tricky to pull out because it is housed in the back, it is great to have it integrated into the body. I’m not an artist by any means. But just spending a few minutes exploring Microsoft Paint almost made me inspired to put the Yoga in tent or stand mode to try to make what I call very “abstract art.” The pen is pressure-sensitive, and the pen nub’s movements are tracked even when the pen is not touching the screen. 6 – Good Battery Life One thing that plagued higher-end or even mid-range laptops was poor battery life. There is nothing worse than working on an article or project, only to have to go and search for a plug to recharge the laptop. Luckily, battery technology is improving, and processors consume a lot less power for the same amount (or more) of processing power. The Lenovo Yoga 9i has an integrated Li-Polymer 60Wh battery that supports Rapid Charge Express. That means, according to Lenovo, that you can get 3 hours of runtime with just a 15-minute charge. Battery life does vary by the Yoga 9i model that you get and how you are using the device. For example, if you are doing some processor-heavy work, the battery duration will be a lot less than with lighter work like word processing or web browsing. According to Lenovo, the maximum battery life is pretty darn long: FHD model:MobileMark® 2014: 17 hrLocal video (1080p) playback@150nits: 18 hrUHD model:MobileMark 2014: 10 hrLocal video (1080p) playback@150nits: 11 hr These numbers are pretty respectable. I, for example, have been writing this review over several hours of active work and idle time. The battery has only drained to about 50%. Looking at the Windows Power & Battery panel shows that I have about 3.5 hours remaining, but I know that I haven’t truly trained the battery yet. 7 – Dolby Atmos Soundbar Pivot Another innovative design that the Lenovo engineers did with the Yoga 9i (and a few other models) is to integrate the speakers into the hinge between the screen and keyboard. This hinge is called the rotating soundbar. By placing speakers within the hinge, you are ensured that sound is facing outward, regardless of what mode you have the Yoga in. In traditional laptop mode, the speakers are forward-facing, ensuring you get immersive sound. I found the speaker playback to be crisp and not muddy. Bass performance was fairly good but not thunderous. Built into the soundbar are two subwoofer speakers and two tweeters which ensures a good balance between highs and lows. 8 – Windows 11 Home I know I said that this review is primarily about hardware and not software. But, using the Lenovo Yoga 9i was my first experience with Windows 11. I have worked with previous generations of Windows in the past, and once I started interacting with Windows 11, I found myself reverting settings back to things that were more familiar to me. For example, I put the Windows menu back to the left bottom corner instead of in the bottom middle of the screen that I believe it defaulted to. Much of the underlying core of Windows is still quite familiar, but the “window dressing” has changed and improved dramatically. I did also install Office 365 as I have a few family licenses. All of the Office products seem to be quite cleanly integrated into Windows (as they should). The Windows 11 experience on the Lenovo Yoga 9i is tight and clean. I only wish that there was less bloatware to uninstall at the beginning. 9 – Solid Keyboard This article is about 2000 words, all of which I have written using the Yoga 9i keyboard. I did have to retrain my muscle memory a bit to use the CTRL key versus the ALT key, but that was fine after just a little bit of practice. In fact, the keyboard is soft touch and quiet. There isn’t too much play as you press the keys, which allows you to be quite fast when typing. Other nice things about the keyboard: Backlit – there is nothing nicer than having a backlit keyboard when typing at night. Using the FN key and the spacebar, you can manually adjust the backlight strengthFull-sized – while the Yoga is compact, the keyboard is full-sized which is great for larger hands like mineTop Function Row – I quite enjoy the built-in and dedicated function keys for things like volume, screen brightness, mic control, airplane mode, screen locking, Alt-tab, calculator, Lenovo smart key, snipping, and more On the model that I tested, there is also a fingerprint reader that works with Windows Hello. I love being able to quickly log in without having to remember passwords. 10 – Webcam is Fine I did have to put the webcam into my list of things that I like. Although, what I like is less about the camera (which is the bare minimum, in my opinion) and more about the built-in privacy control slider, which I almost didn’t see until I was taking close-up photos. The webcam itself is just a 720p 1.0-megapixel RGB with a fixed focus. Unfortunately, it does NOT support facial recognition login using Windows Hello. But, the feature that I discovered quite accidentally was the privacy switch. There is a tiny little notch that allows you to slide a physical cover over the webcam. No more need of taping a post-it note over the camera! Bonus – Add a Lenovo Monitor for the Perfect Home Office Laptops are great for their portability and flexibility. But, if you are like me, having more than just your laptop screen is a huge bonus. I also hooked up a Lenovo Q24iL monitor as part of my testing. This is a basic, non-4K FHD monitor. It is 23.8″ diagonal, which provides more than enough additional screen real estate. The refresh rate is 75 Hz. The full resolution of this FHD monitor is 1920 x 1080, which makes it fine for a secondary screen. I personally wish and prefer having a 4K monitor for that extra resolution. Since the Yoga does not have an HDMI port, I used one of many USB-C hubs in my possession to connect to the Q24iL monitor (as well as charge the Lenovo Yoga). If you use the Yoga and the Q24iL monitor together and don’t use a side-by-side setup, I do recommend getting a laptop riser. I liked how the Q24iL is designed with the holding stand arm off to the side. This allows you to place items directly under the monitor and has a unique look. It is practically without a bezel and, more importantly, reduced eye strain due to lower blue light emissions. The built-in speakers are a bit too tinny and without much bass, so it is better to use the Dolby Atmos speakers of the Yoga 9i instead. Make sure that when you connect the Q24iL, you switch the audio playback back to the Yoga! Perfect for the Home Office – Lenovo Yoga 9i plus the Lenovo Q24iL The Yoga 9i is one of those all-around functional laptops that is great for work, school, or entertainment. Its multi-position capabilities (hence the Yoga name) allow you to work on an article or research paper, pivot it to watch movies or create a drawing, or carry around in tablet mode to have that “room cleaning” checklist you can use against your kids. The Yoga 9i has many different configuration options. I recommend getting the 16GB of RAM, and at least 500GB for the SSD hard drive. On the Lenovo site, the Yoga 9i starts at about $1,104.99. The model I have been testing retails for about $1,474.99 (see the specs earlier). You can configure the Yoga 9i to your liking. On Amazon, a similarly configured Yoga 9i (but with the black leather) is currently listed for $1,697. And if you want to add the same monitor shown in this review, you can get the Lenovo Q24iL 24″ FHD monitor on the Lenovo site for $229.99. You can get the same monitor on Amazon currently for $229.95. Buy on HighTechDad The product shown below (and related products that have been reviewed on HighTechDad) is available within the HighTechDad Shop. This review has all of the details about this particular product and you can order it directly by clicking on the Buy button or clicking on the image/title to view more. Be sure to review other products available in the HighTechDad Shop. Lenovo Q24iL FHD 24″ Monitor $229.95 Buy on Amazon Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Laptop $1,697.00 Buy on Amazon For someone who regularly does NOT use a Windows laptop, I really enjoyed using the Lenovo Yoga 9i. It is more than capable for a wide variety of tasks from writing to streaming media to crafting illustrations to basic work or school tasks. Disclosure: I have a material connection because I received a sample of a product for consideration in preparing to review the product and write this content. I was/am not expected to return this item after my review period. All opinions within this article are my own and are typically not subject to editorial review from any 3rd party. Also, some of the links in the post above may be “affiliate” or “advertising” links. These may be automatically created or placed by me manually. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item (sometimes but not necessarily the product or service being reviewed), I will receive a small affiliate or advertising commission. More information can be found on my About page. HTD says: If you are looking for a lightweight, good performing, multi-function laptop with a good battery life that can contort to 4 different display modes, you should take a look at the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 laptop. And, the Lenovo Q24iL monitor complements it perfectly! To read the full article on HighTechDad.com, please visit: 10 Things to Love about the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Laptop – Review To read other articles like this one, please visit: HighTechDad™

I truly haven’t had hands-on time with a Windows laptop in quite a few years. My wife is the one Windows user in my family, and while I have tried to keep my skills tuned to understand Windows, I’m a bit behind the times. But as I write this review, I’m doing it on the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 laptop, and I honestly have to say, I’m impressed. But this review is not about Windows (although the Yoga 9i is running Windows 11 Home); it is more about the hardware that has been engineered to take advantage of the latest version of Windows. And I’m having fun fine-tuning my Windows skills! (*Disclosure below.) Being a tech writer evaluating all types of hardware specifically focused on Family Tech as well as helping others solve technology problems, I need to be sure that I’m technically ambidextrous – being able to talk both Windows and Mac. I have even played around with Chromebooks a bit, and many years ago, I went through a period of installing various flavors of Linux on a variety of devices. But this review is about the Lenovo Yoga 9i hardware that wraps the Windows experience in physical technology. I’m actually writing this review using the Yoga 9i after spending several days ditching my usual laptop and exploring the Yoga. And I have come up with ten things that I like about the design, the hardware decisions, and how it all works together. 1 – Compact Formfactor and Design Let’s start right with the design of the Lenovo Yoga 9i. This is a lightweight, easy-to-carry laptop. There are different versions of the Yoga 9i, including an optional leather-clad version (Shadow Black). The version I received for review was the more traditional, silver version. The base has a slightly tapered body, thinner in the section closer to the trackpad. But what impressed me was how thing the entire Lenovo Yoga 9i was. It is a mere 0.6″ high and is 12.57″ wide by 8.51″ deep. This makes it highly portable yet can house a full-sized keyboard. To add to the portability of the Yoga 9i design is the fact that it only weighs about 3.02 pounds. At that weight, it is easy to throw into a backpack or bag and barely notice that it is there. 2 – Quick Dive into the Spec I always go to the specific specs listings of any device to really understand what you get (and what you don’t). So while there is a lot to dive into, I have pulled out the items that I think to be the most important and relevant about the Yoga 9i. Specs below are from my review model. Processor: Intel Evo i7 – 11th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-1195G7 @ 2.90GHz  2.92 GHzRAM: 16.0 GB (15.6 GB usable) – note, this is not upgradable and the RAM is soldered inHarddrive: 512 GB hard drivePorts:One USB-A port 3.2 Gen2 portTwo USB-C / Thunderbolt 4Headphone/Mic jackWiFi: 802.11AX (2 x 2) Bluetooth 5.1Speakers: Stereo speakers, 2W x4 (2x woofers, 2x tweeters), optimized with Dolby AtmosBattery: Integrated Li-Polymer 60Wh battery, supports Rapid Charge ExpressPower Adapter: 65W USB-C (3-pin) AC adapter A quick note on some of the items above. If upgrade options are available, I would recommend getting the maximum RAM possible (in this case, 16GB). RAM options are 8GB, 12GB, and 16GB. Also, the available hard drive configurations are 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. I would not go lower than 512GB for storage. 3 – Multiple Working Possiblities This Lenovo laptop is aptly named the Yoga. This name implies that it is flexible and can support multiple positions. While it is listed as a 2-in-1, there are actually three core positions that the Lenovo Yoga 9i supports: laptop, tent, stand, and tablet. As I am a writer, I prefer using the laptop mode most of the time. I like having a tactile experience for typing, and on-screen keyboards simply don’t provide that. You can fully open the Yoga to have the bottom case touching the top/screen, meaning it folds open to put it into tablet mode. When fully open in tablet mode, the physical keyboard is disabled, and all of your interaction takes place on the screen. The screen automatically adjusts as you rotate the display (landscape or portrait). (And you can use the built-in pen for interaction on the screen if you want). Honestly, while this is an interesting mode to use, it is not something that I want to use much. I feel a bit odd grabbing a keyboard, and the entire tablet feels a bit too large in full tablet mode. While my preferred mode is laptop, I do like the tent mode a lot. You basically bend the Yoga in half and prop it. This mode is ideal for watching movies or videos (or even using the built-in Alexa mode). When in tent mode, all of the interaction is done via touch or pen. There is also a stand mode where the keyboard acts as a stand. This is similar to tent mode. All of these “yoga positions” are made possible by the unique 360° hinge. 4 – Display and Touchscreen One thing that I am not accustomed to but actually do quite enjoy is the fact that the Lenovo Yoga 9i is a touch-screen device. I always yell at my kids when they touch the screen of their Macs (there is no reason to touch a Mac screen other than to smudge it up). But, with the Lenovo Yoga, you should touch the screen. I’m just not used to it. Being able to interact with content or websites or just not use the trackpad all of the time is refreshing for me. The Yoga has a 14″ display. There are two options available for the display: FHD (1920×1080) or UHD (3840×2160). The model I tested was the FHD IPS display. The FHD is slightly dimmer 400 nits of brightness compared to the UHD at 500 nits. FHD support Dolby Vision and the UHD does HDR 400. Depending on the size of your fingers, you may want to decrease the screen resolution to be able to interact with objects on the screen. Otherwise, you can also use the built-in pen for precision or those very small buttons. 5 – Pen Included Built into the body of the Yoga 9i is a battery-powered pen that can be used to interact with the screen, sign documents (avoiding having to attempt to scrawl something on the trackpad), or use any of the drawing or illustration applications available. The Lenovo Integrated Pen has a built-in rechargeable battery, 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity and is stored (and charged) in the back portion of the Lenovo Yoga 9i. While it is a bit tricky to pull out because it is housed in the back, it is great to have it integrated into the body. I’m not an artist by any means. But just spending a few minutes exploring Microsoft Paint almost made me inspired to put the Yoga in tent or stand mode to try to make what I call very “abstract art.” The pen is pressure-sensitive, and the pen nub’s movements are tracked even when the pen is not touching the screen. 6 – Good Battery Life One thing that plagued higher-end or even mid-range laptops was poor battery life. There is nothing worse than working on an article or project, only to have to go and search for a plug to recharge the laptop. Luckily, battery technology is improving, and processors consume a lot less power for the same amount (or more) of processing power. The Lenovo Yoga 9i has an integrated Li-Polymer 60Wh battery that supports Rapid Charge Express. That means, according to Lenovo, that you can get 3 hours of runtime with just a 15-minute charge. Battery life does vary by the Yoga 9i model that you get and how you are using the device. For example, if you are doing some processor-heavy work, the battery duration will be a lot less than with lighter work like word processing or web browsing. According to Lenovo, the maximum battery life is pretty darn long: FHD model:MobileMark® 2014: 17 hrLocal video (1080p) playback@150nits: 18 hrUHD model:MobileMark 2014: 10 hrLocal video (1080p) playback@150nits: 11 hr These numbers are pretty respectable. I, for example, have been writing this review over several hours of active work and idle time. The battery has only drained to about 50%. Looking at the Windows Power & Battery panel shows that I have about 3.5 hours remaining, but I know that I haven’t truly trained the battery yet. 7 – Dolby Atmos Soundbar Pivot Another innovative design that the Lenovo engineers did with the Yoga 9i (and a few other models) is to integrate the speakers into the hinge between the screen and keyboard. This hinge is called the rotating soundbar. By placing speakers within the hinge, you are ensured that sound is facing outward, regardless of what mode you have the Yoga in. In traditional laptop mode, the speakers are forward-facing, ensuring you get immersive sound. I found the speaker playback to be crisp and not muddy. Bass performance was fairly good but not thunderous. Built into the soundbar are two subwoofer speakers and two tweeters which ensures a good balance between highs and lows. 8 – Windows 11 Home I know I said that this review is primarily about hardware and not software. But, using the Lenovo Yoga 9i was my first experience with Windows 11. I have worked with previous generations of Windows in the past, and once I started interacting with Windows 11, I found myself reverting settings back to things that were more familiar to me. For example, I put the Windows menu back to the left bottom corner instead of in the bottom middle of the screen that I believe it defaulted to. Much of the underlying core of Windows is still quite familiar, but the “window dressing” has changed and improved dramatically. I did also install Office 365 as I have a few family licenses. All of the Office products seem to be quite cleanly integrated into Windows (as they should). The Windows 11 experience on the Lenovo Yoga 9i is tight and clean. I only wish that there was less bloatware to uninstall at the beginning. 9 – Solid Keyboard This article is about 2000 words, all of which I have written using the Yoga 9i keyboard. I did have to retrain my muscle memory a bit to use the CTRL key versus the ALT key, but that was fine after just a little bit of practice. In fact, the keyboard is soft touch and quiet. There isn’t too much play as you press the keys, which allows you to be quite fast when typing. Other nice things about the keyboard: Backlit – there is nothing nicer than having a backlit keyboard when typing at night. Using the FN key and the spacebar, you can manually adjust the backlight strengthFull-sized – while the Yoga is compact, the keyboard is full-sized which is great for larger hands like mineTop Function Row – I quite enjoy the built-in and dedicated function keys for things like volume, screen brightness, mic control, airplane mode, screen locking, Alt-tab, calculator, Lenovo smart key, snipping, and more On the model that I tested, there is also a fingerprint reader that works with Windows Hello. I love being able to quickly log in without having to remember passwords. 10 – Webcam is Fine I did have to put the webcam into my list of things that I like. Although, what I like is less about the camera (which is the bare minimum, in my opinion) and more about the built-in privacy control slider, which I almost didn’t see until I was taking close-up photos. The webcam itself is just a 720p 1.0-megapixel RGB with a fixed focus. Unfortunately, it does NOT support facial recognition login using Windows Hello. But, the feature that I discovered quite accidentally was the privacy switch. There is a tiny little notch that allows you to slide a physical cover over the webcam. No more need of taping a post-it note over the camera! Bonus – Add a Lenovo Monitor for the Perfect Home Office Laptops are great for their portability and flexibility. But, if you are like me, having more than just your laptop screen is a huge bonus. I also hooked up a Lenovo Q24iL monitor as part of my testing. This is a basic, non-4K FHD monitor. It is 23.8″ diagonal, which provides more than enough additional screen real estate. The refresh rate is 75 Hz. The full resolution of this FHD monitor is 1920 x 1080, which makes it fine for a secondary screen. I personally wish and prefer having a 4K monitor for that extra resolution. Since the Yoga does not have an HDMI port, I used one of many USB-C hubs in my possession to connect to the Q24iL monitor (as well as charge the Lenovo Yoga). If you use the Yoga and the Q24iL monitor together and don’t use a side-by-side setup, I do recommend getting a laptop riser. I liked how the Q24iL is designed with the holding stand arm off to the side. This allows you to place items directly under the monitor and has a unique look. It is practically without a bezel and, more importantly, reduced eye strain due to lower blue light emissions. The built-in speakers are a bit too tinny and without much bass, so it is better to use the Dolby Atmos speakers of the Yoga 9i instead. Make sure that when you connect the Q24iL, you switch the audio playback back to the Yoga! Perfect for the Home Office – Lenovo Yoga 9i plus the Lenovo Q24iL The Yoga 9i is one of those all-around functional laptops that is great for work, school, or entertainment. Its multi-position capabilities (hence the Yoga name) allow you to work on an article or research paper, pivot it to watch movies or create a drawing, or carry around in tablet mode to have that “room cleaning” checklist you can use against your kids. The Yoga 9i has many different configuration options. I recommend getting the 16GB of RAM, and at least 500GB for the SSD hard drive. On the Lenovo site, the Yoga 9i starts at about $1,104.99. The model I have been testing retails for about $1,474.99 (see the specs earlier). You can configure the Yoga 9i to your liking. On Amazon, a similarly configured Yoga 9i (but with the black leather) is currently listed for $1,697. And if you want to add the same monitor shown in this review, you can get the Lenovo Q24iL 24″ FHD monitor on the Lenovo site for $229.99. You can get the same monitor on Amazon currently for $229.95. Buy on HighTechDad The product shown below (and related products that have been reviewed on HighTechDad) is available within the HighTechDad Shop. This review has all of the details about this particular product and you can order it directly by clicking on the Buy button or clicking on the image/title to view more. Be sure to review other products available in the HighTechDad Shop. Lenovo Q24iL FHD 24″ Monitor $229.95 Buy on Amazon Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Laptop $1,697.00 Buy on Amazon For someone who regularly does NOT use a Windows laptop, I really enjoyed using the Lenovo Yoga 9i. It is more than capable for a wide variety of tasks from writing to streaming media to crafting illustrations to basic work or school tasks. Disclosure: I have a material connection because I received a sample of a product for consideration in preparing to review the product and write this content. I was/am not expected to return this item after my review period. All opinions within this article are my own and are typically not subject to editorial review from any 3rd party. Also, some of the links in the post above may be “affiliate” or “advertising” links. These may be automatically created or placed by me manually. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item (sometimes but not necessarily the product or service being reviewed), I will receive a small affiliate or advertising commission. More information can be found on my About page. HTD says: If you are looking for a lightweight, good performing, multi-function laptop with a good battery life that can contort to 4 different display modes, you should take a look at the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 laptop. And, the Lenovo Q24iL monitor complements it perfectly! To read the full article on HighTechDad.com, please visit: 10 Things to Love about the Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Laptop – Review To read other articles like this one, please visit: HighTechDad™

Fighting for space on a surge protector is never fun. And with so many devices (smartphones, tablets, and laptops) requiring charge time, it’s a wonder that we don’t have surge protectors with 20-30 plugs built-in. But that would be silly, right? What is more efficient is to have a charging hub that can take the space of 4 plugs, and that is precisely what the 65W and 120W Kovol GaN Charging Mate Chargers do. With two wattage outputs to choose from, Kovol allows you to power up to four devices at once, using just a single plug. (*Disclosure below.) GaN chargers and Power Delivery hubs are upping the game of getting your devices juiced up. GaN (gallium nitride) technology is not that new anymore. In fact, with Apple’s latest 16″ MacBook Pro sporting M1 Apple Silicon, the “brick” (power supply) that they provide uses GaN technology. Because of the magic of engineering and new materials, power supplies using GaN technology can be not only smaller, they produce less heat. This heat dispersion allows these PD delivery systems to be more compact and, in the case of the Kovol chargers, will enable you to have four ports for various charging solutions. Kovol recently introduced two GaN chargers, one that provides 65W of power and one producing 120W. Each of these PD chargers has two sets of ports, two for USB-C and two for USB-A. That means that based on the types of devices and their power requirements, you can potentially have up to four devices powered and charging simultaneously. But, bear in mind that you do need to review the power requirements of all devices, and the order you plug them in does matter. Kovol 120W Charging Mate GaN Desktop Charger I’m starting this article with the more powerful Kovol GaN Charging Mate desktop chargers, the 120W version. While a bit more expensive, I believe this offers the most flexibility to people on the go who may have a variety of devices they need to charge. Here are some high-level specs: 100W maximum USB-C PD output – great for charging up a laptop like a MacBook Pro (although the 16″ MBP would love a bit more power output – but it is fine with 100W)Dual & simultaneous 60W PD output – if you are in a shared workspace, you can share the two USB-C PD ports with lower-powered devices like a MacBook Air or Chromebook, charging and powering both at the same time with 60W output at the same time.Intelligent allocation of optimal power – based on the devices that are plugged in, the Kovol GaN Charging Mate will provide the proper power to the specific device2 USB-C ports – use Power Delivery and PPS Fast Charging2 USB-A ports – use Quick Charge (QC) 3.0 Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. Kovol shows one possible charging scenario below: In my case, I would use the 120W to power/charge a MacBook Pro, an iPhone, and an Apple Watch and still have an extra port available, especially since iPhones can use either USB-C or USB-A. With the intelligent power distribution, the connected devices get the appropriate power to charge them up. There is an important thing to remember when using the Kovol (or other GaN) chargers. You will want to connect the device requiring the most power first to “set the stage” for power distribution. So, if you are charging a MBP, plug that one in first to ensure proper power delivery. The nice thing is, both Kovol GaN Charging Mate desktop chargers have built-in safety features. Because GaN technology allows for lower temperature output, it is a lot cooler to the touch. But also built into the design are other features to prevent overcharging and short-circuiting. Kovol 65W Charging Mate GaN Desktop Charger But what if you don’t have a device requiring as much power delivery as the 120W version? Kovol also has a 65W GaN desktop charger for those lower-consumption devices. I view this version as the perfect charging companion for families who need to charge a couple of smartphones or tablets. And again, with this charging solution, you only take up one plug in the wall or surge protector. Here are the high-level specs for the 65W PD charger: 65W maximum USB-C PD output – great for charging up a laptop or a Chromebook that doesn’t require as much power as a MacBook Pro (however, you can charge a MBP but just a bit more slowly). You can fast-charge an iPhone 13 from 0-50% capacity in about 30 minutes.Dual & simultaneous 65W PD output – while the 120W version can output 60W simultaneously, the 65W also puts out 65W but distributed as 45W (for laptops) and 20W (for smartphones)Intelligent allocation of optimal power – based on the devices that are plugged in, the Kovol GaN Charging Mate will provide the proper power to the specific device2 USB-C ports – use Power Delivery and PPS Fast Charging (25W)2 USB-A ports – use Quick Charge (QC) 3.0 Here is another scenario that Kovol provides to help you better picture their charging solution: With the case of the Kovol 65W GaN Charging Mate, you have a variety of possible power distributions. As Kovol outlines: Use 1 USB-C port: PD 65WUse 1 USB-A port: QC 3.0 18WUse 2 USB-C ports: USB-C – PD 45W/ USB-C – PD 20WUse 2 USB-A ports: USB-A+USB-A=15WUse 1 USB-C + 2 USB-A ports: USB-C – PD 45W/ USB-A+USB-A=15WUse 2 USB-C + 1 USB-A ports: USB-C – PD 30W/ USB-C – PD 20W/ USB-A – QC 3.0 15WWhen connected to all ports: USB-C – PD 30W/ USB-C – PD 20W/ USB-A+USB-A=15W To explain this a bit more simply, just plug in your devices in order of power consumption (like the 120W), and the Kovol GaN Charging Mate will intelligently decide what power to supply to which device and will automatically allocate the power as devices become fully charged. Pricing, Dimensions, and an Added Bonus So, remember how I referenced the surge protector at the beginning of this review? There is a nice added bonus to the design of both of these Kovol GaN Charging Mate desktop chargers. With other GaN chargers I have reviewed, those have plugs built into the charger’s body. The Kovol is a bit different in that it also includes a 4.9′ AC input cable. What does that mean? Well, you don’t need an extension cord, for starters. And, if you are using a surge protector, the plug isn’t obscured by the GaN charger itself, which can happen when you plug directly into a surge protector directly. Just don’t lose the AC input cable! These two GaN PD chargers are quite compact, especially when you compare them with similar wattage non-GaN chargers. They are small enough to just throw in your bag and be ready to charge four devices quickly. Here are the dimensions: Kovol 120W – 1.8″ x 1.8″ x 3.35″Kovol 65W – 1.61″ x 1.61″ x 2.99″ And, the 120W weighs about 1 pound and the 65W slightly less at about 10.5 ounces. So, in a bag, the additional weight is negligible. Finally, what are the costs of these two GaN PD chargers? Kovol 120W GaN Charging Mate – $99.99 on Kovol site & $99.99 on AmazonKovol 65W GaN Charging Mate – $49.99 on Kovol site & $49.99 on Amazon As this is a relatively new product, I do expect the Amazon price to come down slightly in the coming months, so be sure to check back on it. Buy on HighTechDad.com The product shown below (and related products that have been reviewed on HighTechDad) is available within the HighTechDad Shop. This review has all of the details about this particular product and you can order it directly by clicking on the Buy button or clicking on the image/title to view more. Be sure to review other products available in the HighTechDad Shop. Kovol 65W Charging Mate GaN Desktop Charger $49.99 Buy on Amazon Kovol 120W Charging Mate GaN Desktop Charger $99.99 Buy on Amazon Having a compact charging hub is a necessity, in my opinion. And, if it supports a variety of devices (up to four), you are instantly saving space on a wall plug or surge protector. The Kovol 65W and 120W GaN Sprint 4-port charging stations provide you with various Power Delivery and charging solutions, all within one compact device. Disclosure: I have a material connection because I received a sample of a product for consideration in preparing to review the product and write this content. I was/am not expected to return this item after my review period. All opinions within this article are my own and are typically not subject to editorial review from any 3rd party. Also, some of the links in the post above may be “affiliate” or “advertising” links. These may be automatically created or placed by me manually. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item (sometimes but not necessarily the product or service being reviewed), I will receive a small affiliate or advertising commission. More information can be found on my About page. HTD says: Whether you are looking to charge up several smaller devices like smartphones, tablets, or Chromebooks, or want to power laptops like a MacBook Pro, the Kovol GaN Charging Mate desktop chargers, available in 65W and 120W, are important accessories to add to your tech supplies!

I always recommend upgrading to the latest and greatest Operating System whenever possible. From new features to enhanced security to bug fixes, an OS upgrade is typically a smart choice…until it isn’t. I recently upgraded two MacBook Pros I use (one for work and one for home) to macOS Monterey (12.0.1). I love many of the new features. But I started noticing something strange after a while – macOS Monterey slow upload speeds. Initially, I didn’t realize that the problem was isolated to Monterey. But, after some research and my own testing and troubleshooting, I realized I wasn’t the only one experiencing this AND that it probably was a “Monterey slow upload speed” bug. As more of us get used to working (or studying) from home, having fast broadband Internet access is crucial. It’s especially important when having to stream video (classes or calls). But an important factor to remember is, it’s not just your download speed but also your upload speed that should be fast. When you are on a conference call, you are uploading your video stream. At the beginning of the pandemic and the shelter-at-home initiative, I did an article and video talking about the importance of upload speeds, particularly when it comes to video conferencing. And this is part of the reason why I continue to pay for the top fiber tier from my provider (1Gbps download and 1Gbps upload). My macOS Monterey slow upload speeds troubleshooting journey Well, recently, I suddenly started noticing that my Webex calls were not as good as they used to be, and I was getting warnings from the software that there were network issues. I thought it was general network congestion until I ran some network speed tests. And then I noticed something very odd. The speed tests showed fast download speeds but not so fast upload speeds (907 down & 187 up). I started to think that perhaps I was having a network issue within my house. My laptop was hard-wired into the Ethernet network. I was not using WiFi to ensure I had the fastest network connection possible. I decided to do another speed test using my non-work MacBook Pro. And, while it too was hard-wired (both using USB-C hubs with Ethernet ports), my upload speeds were quite slow as well. So, I started thinking I should rewire my home network. But then I tested my wife’s Windows desktop. Hers is hard-wired as well. And she had blazing-fast download AND upload speeds. Hmmm… Again, I was back to something being wrong in my home office. I restarted computers, replugged in switches, unplugged non-essential devices, and changed some Ethernet cables in my office. Nothing helped. Then I restarted my Nest WiFi Router and did a test. Same slow upload speed issue. I restarted my fiber modem. No change. I prioritized one of my MacBook Pros using the Nest WiFi interface. Any change was barely perceptible. And, I ran a speed test on my Nest WiFi Router. It showed things being pretty darn quick (748 down & 802 up). I ran a similar test on my ISP Fiber Modem. Same result – fast upload and download speeds (999 down and 915 up). So, the modem was fast, and the main network router was fast. Something else was going on. I started thinking about my wife’s PC working just fine, so I plugged a Windows laptop into the same USB-C hub (with the Ethernet port) that I was having issues with on my MBP. Interestingly, it had fast upload speeds (852 down & 802 up). I then decided I probably didn’t have to rewire my under-the-house Ethernet. So, through the process of elimination, I found a common denominator. Upload speeds were fast on Windows but slow on Macs. But was it all Macs? I had tested on a 2019 MacBook Pro and a 2021 MacBook Pro M1. Then I decided to try my daughter’s MacBook Pro (a 2020). First, I did a WiFi test. Both upload and download speeds were quick (for WiFi) and equal. Then I tried plugging her MBP into my USB-C hub with the networking. She had fast upload and download speeds (840 down & 723 up). I was on to something. Only my macOS Monterey Macs running 12.0.1 were affected by what I’m now calling the Monterey Slow Upload Speed bug. Long story short, I did some more testing. I plugged my Monterey MBP into my fiber modem router directly and still had slow upload speeds. And I did some quick online research and found a few threads on Apple Support Forums and Reddit talking about these slow speeds (but everyone had different theories from it being a hardware issue to a problem with their ISP). With all of this testing and research completed, I decided to reach out to Apple Support on Twitter. I’m convinced that there is a #networking #bug in #macOS #Monterey. Very slow upload speeds. Wifi & even more apparent w/wired connection. Tested w/ Big Sur & not there. Tested same wired connection w/ Windows & no issue. Hope @apple addresses soon! @AppleSupport— Michael Sheehan (@HighTechDad) December 8, 2021 And, I will cut to the chase here. I had a great Twitter exchange with the awesome Apple Support folks who walked me through various things to test and try. I have outlined below a few things you can also try as they may help with other network slowdown issues. They couldn’t resolve the issue, so they escalated it to a more senior Apple support person who I worked with to provide all sorts of diagnostics compiled and sent over for the Apple networking engineers to review. But…the bottom line…my macOS Monterey slow upload speeds bug still exists as of this writing! I’m sure this issue will be resolved shortly (and by the time you read this, it might already be fixed). BUT, if you are encountering these same issues, contact Apple Support! That is what they recommend. The more people who report this, the faster it will become resolved! Have networking issues like the Monterey slow upload speed bug? Try these possible fixes I don’t like describing issues without offering some possible solution. (See my How-To and Fix-It content.) So, if you are encountering networking issues like what I described here with macOS Monterey having very slow upload speeds, or just slow networking in general, here are a few tips or ideas you can try to potentially fix. Some of these are Mac-specific, while others are just general best practices. Restart your computer – this is the first thing I tell anyone having computer issues to do. Just do it! Reboot your WiFi router – routers are like computers, they need to be rebooted occasionally as well. I would do this every couple of months regardless of whether you are having issues or not.Reboot your cable/DSL/fiber modem – for the exact same reason as the previous two points, restart your modem if you can.Use wired (Ethernet) connection instead of WiFi – wired connections will ALWAYS be faster than WiFi. If you can, go wired!Change your Ethernet cable – your cable may have gone bad, or the plug is not seated correctly – it’s always good to get a new (or different) cable to test with.Boot in Safe Mode to test (Mac) – booting your Mac in Safe Mode allows you to eliminate 3rd parter applications and processes from interfering with the core OS. Here’s how to do it on a Mac. (You can do this on a PC as well.)Review Apple’s “Recommended settings for Wi-Fi routers and access points” – most of these settings are generic and not Mac-specific.Reinstall the macOS (ugh) – this is a second to last resort, but sometimes it is a good thing to do to “refresh” your macOS install.Roll back to a previous macOS version (double ugh – but I believe that will fix it) – I didn’t try this. I really didn’t want to go backwards. But, I’m almost 100% convinced that if you go back to Big Sur, this slow upload speed bug will go away. Those are just a few quick ideas on how you might be able to resolve some networking and other issues. Unfortunately, it didn’t help with my Monterey slow upload speed bug. I’m probably going to just wait it out (I even decided against installing the Developer Beta or the Public Beta). But I want to know! Are YOU experiencing slow upload speeds on macOS Monterey? What version are you on? 12.0.0 or 12.0.1? Are you having this issue with a different macOS version? PLEASE leave a comment! HTD says: Every new version of macOS becomes increasingly complicated with new or refined features, bug fixes, and security updates. But sometimes, in the billions of lines of code, a critical bug slips through – this Monterey slow upload speeds bug is one of them!

Stop me if you have heard this one before. Your child has an essay due. It requires multiple pages to be printed out. Just the other month, you replaced all of the ink cartridges (setting you back about $100+) in preparation for a night like this. It’s getting close to midnight and your child is trying to print out the final version…but, the printer won’t print because it is out of ink (even though you recently changed the ink cartridges)! This scenario wouldn’t happen with the Epson EcoTank ET-2850 printer because this inkjet printer literally has a tank load of ink stored inside it – and not in some tiny little ink cartridges. (*Disclosure below.) I have been in that scenario I just described many, many times despite trying to buy cartridges ahead of time and having them stashed safely somewhere. There have been times where I had to race to the local office supply store right before the close just to buy ink cartridges and other times where I waited for a sale to stock up on supplies. I typically would get high-capacity cartridges (which are more expensive) so that they wouldn’t run out as quickly, but those can set you back almost $100 depending on the printer model. With the Epson EcoTank ET-2850 that panicked, last-minute buying of ink cartridges or hoarding of just-in-case stashes of ink pretty much becomes a thing of the past. And honestly, I LOVE the concept of the EcoTank. Oh, and by the way, this particular Epson printer (the ET-2850) is pretty darn practical and functional as well! Let’s talk EcoTank The EcoTank I feel is something long overdue. In the past, if you wanted to save money, people either bought knock-off ink cartridges or even tried to refill empty cartridges themselves. Both of these methods are actually pretty bad for your inkjet printer. They are fairly complex machines and if you put sub-standard ink into them, it can ruin the print heads, causing them to jam, produce not accurate colors, have lines and missing sections, or simply not print at all. Bottom line – don’t use knock-off or non-authentic ink cartridges. But why did we do that? Because ink cartridges were expensive and the ink didn’t seem to last very long. The EcoTank removes both of those barriers. Let’s look at two examples here – ink cartridges from another Epson printer and the EcoTank bottled ink. All of the data and pricing below is from the Epson site. Epson 202XL Black High-Capacity and Color Standard-Capacity 4 colors as part of this – C/M/Y/XLK Epson site price – $60.49Yield – Black: 550 pages and Color: 470 pages (based on printing with the Expression Home XP-5100)Epson T502 (Black) & T502 (Multi-color) Ink Bottles3 color bottles in the pack (CMY) and one larger black bottle (K)Epson site price – $19.99 for black and $38.95 for color for a total of $58.94Yield- Black: 7,500 pages and Color: 6,000 (based on printing with this printer, the Epson EcoTank ET-2850) Ok, did you actually READ the bullets above? For starters, to replace ALL of the ink in the EcoTank ET-2850 is actually about $1.50 less expensive. But the bigger difference that should really scream out at you is the fact that you get about 13 times the output…for the same price. Call me a cheapskate or incredibly smart (or both) but the EcoTank truly sounds like a winner. And honestly, from my initial days of testing, I think it is. Filling the individual color and black tanks is almost easier (and more fun) than replacing ink cartridges. And, according to Epson, you get up to 2 years of inks with just one ink bottle. Amazing! You open up the printer tank cover, open whichever tank color you want to fill, open the bottle (don’t shake it), put the bottle opening into the appropriate color slot, and let the bottle automatically empty into the ET-2850’s tank. Epson has designed the tank slots and bottles to only allow the proper color to be slid in, eliminating the mistakes of putting the wrong color into the wrong tank. The bottle will fill up the tank and magically stop when the tank is full. You can store extra ink for later if you want. And you just do that with all of the rest of the colors that need filling. On the front of the ET-2850 are physical tank level readers that let you actually see the levels of the ink stored in the printer (you can also get the ink level information from your computer or smartphone app if you want). Or you can use the tiny onboard screen to get the ink levels digitally. More setup and usage fun Getting the ink into the EcoTank is the first step of the setup. This happens even before you power on the Epson printer. Then you also have to let the Epson printer charge up the ink which happens once you turn the power on. This process will take a few minutes to complete. Once that is complete, I highly recommend you do some calibration of the printer heads. This may take a few minutes to complete, but trust me, if you don’t do it, the print quality won’t be as good compared to if you did. The printer will print out pages to test alignment, clean the ends to ensure there aren’t any gaps in ink dispersal and do some other fine-tuning. By doing all of this, you can be sure that when you do print, even edge-to-edge printing, things will look tight and crisp. Lastly, and importantly, you will want to connect the Epson EcoTank ET-2850 to your WiFi network. You can do WiFi Direct Mode that allows you to print directly to the Epson without the need of a WiFi router or access point, but by doing a true WiFi connection, you enable other great features, listed below: Epson Smart Panel App – available for iOS and Android, this is a great app to do anything with the printer directly from your smartphone. Print photos or documents, scan or capture documents, copy, easily print ID cards, and perform maintence all from this smartphone app.Apple AirPrint & Android Printing – I particularly like being able to connect my Mac to the Epson in just a few clicks and start printing. And with AirPrint, I can print directly from my smartphone as long as I’m on the same network.Epson Connect – use Email Print, Epson Remote Print, or Epson Scan to Cloud with your connected Epson printer from anywhere. While I haven’t set up the Epson Connect yet, I have tried both of the other items. I already mentioned AirPrint, but the Smart Panel App is a great suite of functions and features that I’m just starting to explore. As I write this, I’m testing out the printing of a coloring book based on a photo I imported into the app. Has your kid ever run out of graph paper? You can print a couple of sheets in an emergency. Or for those quick crafts projects, you can print out colored patterned paper directly from your smartphone. The Specs of the Epson EcoTank ET-2850 Obviously, you are going to want to read through the spec sheet on the Epson site to get all of the details, but I have selected a few things that I believe stand out about this handy printer. In no particular order: EcoTank – well this should be obvious!No more wasteful cartridges – again, obviously because of the EcoTankScanner & Copier – did I mention that it also has a scanner? Up to 2400 dpi via the hardware itself. No Automatic Document Feed for the scanner unfortunately – just one page at a time.Print resolution – 4800×1200Print speed – 10.5 pages per minute (black) and 5 ppm for color2-sided printing – since you are saving on ink cartridges, you should also save on paper and print on both sidesUSB-connection – print directly from your computer via USBWiFi – 802.11 b/g/nVoice-Activated Printing – if you have a Smart Home, you can configure the ET-2850 to work with Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant to print out things like graph or ruled paper or other items (I did not test this feature yet) In terms of the footprint on your table or desktop, the ET-2850 is fairly compact but will take up some space. It is 14.8″ wide. The depth and height vary by whether you have it in storage mode or printing mode. Printing mode has the paper feeder sticking out the back with paper in it and the printing tray that grabs the printed items out. I leave mine ready to go so the depth is 22.3″ and the height is 10.2″ By the way, I did find this ingenious slot in the base where you can store about 20-30 more sheets of paper. You just slide them out of the way and then hopefully nobody in the family will steal them. A perfect printer for a home office and/or family As I tested out the Epson EcoTank ET-2850, the more I realized how great this printer would be in either a home office or just as a family printer (or both, for that matter). It is incredibly easy to set up and the fact that you fill it up with gobs of ink that lasts several years means that you can use it for a long time and only worry about stocking it with paper. Also, it is quite budget-minded. The Epson site lists it at $299.99. It is also listed on Amazon for $299.99. On the Epson site, the ink has a range of options. The Black bottle is $19.99, the colors are $12.99, and the tri-color pack is $38.95. On Amazon, Black is $16.89, colors are $12.99 and tri-color is $34.99. There are a variety of EcoTank printers by Epson. The ET-2850 is pretty much the entry-level version, but the Epson ET-15000 is truly drool-worthy as it is a 4-in-1 device with touchscreen display, ethernet, large capacity paper tray, auto document feeder, and a large print format. The ET-15000 retails for $599.99. Also, I have reviewed other Epson printers in the past so be sure to check out those reviews (here, here, and here). Buy on HighTechDad The product shown below (and related products that have been reviewed on HighTechDad) is available within the HighTechDad Shop. This review has all of the details about this particular product and you can order it directly by clicking on the Buy button or clicking on the image/title to view more. Be sure to review other products available in the HighTechDad Shop. Epson EcoTank ET-2850 Printer $299.99 Buy on Amazon Having used the Epson EcoTank ET-2850 Printer for a few weeks now, I’m impressed with its functionality. Not only will it save you money when it comes to replacing ink (and the fact that it will definitely take a while before it actually runs out of ink), it also has the core features required for the home office or student. With double-sided printing, scanning, and copying, and the fact that you can easily connect and print from computers as well as tablets and laptops, it’s pretty much an essential tool for the modern household. Disclosure: I have a material connection because I received a sample of a product for consideration in preparing to review the product and write this content. I was/am not expected to return this item after my review period. All opinions within this article are my own and are typically not subject to the editorial review from any 3rd party. Also, some of the links in the post above may be “affiliate” or “advertising” links. These may be automatically created or placed by me manually. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item (sometimes but not necessarily the product or service being reviewed), I will receive a small affiliate or advertising commission. More information can be found on my About page. HTD says: Save yourself some money and time and invest in the Epson EcoTank ET-2850 Printer. Once you fill up the dedicated ink tanks on this inkjet printer, you won’t have to for years! It’s a perfect workhorse for a family that is working or studying at home.

I am a big fan of the Nixplay smart digital frames. Over the past few years, I have reviewed quite a number of them. And, one of their most recent new smart frames is a big leap forward. While much of the functionality remains the same, there is a new feature built into the frame itself that makes me quite happy. It’s the fact that the new Nixplay 10.1-inch Touch Screen Smart Photo Frame doesn’t actually include a remote control. Why is this a good thing? Because the frame is now entirely touch-enabled! (*Disclosure below.) While remote controls are great (trust me, I remember an age when my VCR – remember those? – had a CORDED remote control), it is quite easy to misplace them or get confused about which remote controls which device. And, as I have a variety of Nixplay remote controls scattered around the house, having one more remote control for the Nixplay smart photo frame would actually be a bit confusing. So, yes, you can control these Nixplay digital frames with the NixPlay app on your smartphone, but sometimes it is just nice to simply go up to the frame and control everything much the same way you would a tablet or smartphone. So, I’m pretty happy with this technology upgrade. The Nixplay touchscreen is easy to use and very intuitive, and setting up and controlling the Nixplay smart digital frame is a snap. But let’s also remember why digital frames are great. Sure, a picture on the wall is nice, but it is static and, honestly, a bit boring. With a smart digital frame, you can have different playlists and easily update or change what you are showcasing on the frame. Quick Things to Love about the Nixplay Smart Digital Frames Photos (and videos) are all about building conversation and bringing back memories. Much like opening a photo album, time not only stops, but rewinds to the past. One can spend quite a bit of time reliving an occasion by simply looking at one photo. And when you have hundreds or thousands of photos all stored digitally and available at the touch of a button, in the case of the Nixplay 10.1-inch Touch Screen Smart Photo Frame, you can literally spend hours just scrolling through photos and talking about each one. I have reviewed several Nixplay frames over the past few years. Each one has its own unique tech advances. Some have built-in digital speakers, others have different designs and styles, and others simply look great on a bookcase. My favorite thing about all of these Nixplay smart digital frames is that they connect to WiFi and can be controlled via the Nixplay app. Not only can you remotely control all of the settings via the Nixplay smartphone app (or via the Nixplay website), you can also upload photos directly from your smartphone, create albums, and set up playlists specific to each Nixplay frame. So, for example, if you have a frame in your bedroom, away from guests, you can set up a playlist that shows some of those “non-approved” photos of your kids. (My daughters are a bit picky about what images are seen by everybody and which ones should just be for family.) Another nice thing, which makes the Nixplay smart digital frames so great as gifts for the extended family, is that if you give a frame to the grandparents (which we did), you can regularly refresh the photos with the latest and greatest “approved” ones. And you can do that remotely via the application (or even via email). Setting up this 10.1-inch digital smart frame from Nixplay is incredibly easy, as all of their other frames. And with the touch screen, it is even easier. You plug the power cord in and then work through the screens that appear on the frame. Part of that process is connecting to your WiFi. In the past, with the Nixplay frames that came with remote controls, entering in the password for your WiFi network could take a couple of minutes. Now, with the touch-enabled screen, you literally type the password in using the keyboard that appears on the frame. And once you connect to your WiFi, you connect it to your Nixplay account within the smartphone app. It took me about three minutes to fully set it up. Taking the Nixplay Smart Digital Frame and making it Better So, how do you improve on a smart digital frame? As I said, Nixplay has already curated the experience to make it easy to control and update the frame remotely. Well, the key is in the word at the end of the previous sentence, with a bit of a twist. The new Nixplay 10.1-inch Touch Screen Smart Photo Frame does NOT include a remote control to manage the frame. Like all of the other frames, you can use the app, but this one has a full touch screen. For those interested in the specs of this new touch-enabled digital screen, here they are: Screen type: Touch screen LCD IPSResolution: 1280 x 800 (HD)Aspect ratio: 16:10Brightness: 400 cd/m2Contrast: 500:1Viewing angles(Left/Right/Top/Bottom): 80/80/80Sensors:Auto rotate (portait and landscape)Microphone Activity Sensor (non-recording)Auto on/off To double-click on a few of these items (or double-touch in the case of this frame since it is touch-enabled), the screen itself is HD. Of course, this depends on the quality of the photo (or video) that you upload. The file formats supported by the Nixplay frame are: Photos: JPG (.jpg – .jpeg) and PNG (.png) Videos: 15-second video clips via mobile app (60-seconds available); MP4, MOV, MPEG You can rotate the frame physically from portrait to landscape, and the photos will automatically adjust to support whichever viewing angle you have. And, there are built-in sensors (apart from the viewing angle sensor) that will automatically turn the Nixplay frame on or off based on motion or activity. For example, if you aren’t in the room where the Nixplay frame is, after a predetermined amount it time, it will go into power-saving mode. And, if you re-enter the room and the Nixplay frame picks up the motion, it will resume playback. You can set up the transitions, the amount of time you want a picture to show on the frame, adjust the volume for videos, shuffle the playback of photos, tell the frame how to handle non-standard sized images when to go to sleep, and a whole lot more either on the screen (using the touch interface) or directly on the Nixplay app. It’s super easy to control. The Price for On-Demand Memories Memories are priceless. And, as we create more and more digital content, it is important to ensure these images are available to be relived and enjoyed. A Nixplay smart digital frame puts these memories at your fingertips and allows you to quickly share and relive time passed. Remember, photo albums are fun to flip through, but most often, they simply sit on a bookshelf gathering dust until a moment to look at them pops up. A digital photo frame brings all of these memories out into the open and shares them with your loved ones around you. We have a Nixplay frame in our living room right next to the door. Often, even as we are rushing out the door, if there is a photo memory that pops up, the rushing stops, and conversation about the past starts. Reliving these memories is priceless, in my opinion. The Nixplay 10.1-inch Touch Screen Smart Photo Frame retails for $209.99 but as of this writing, it is on sale for $157.49 (it may go back up in price soon)! You can also get it on Amazon for $208.14. Buy Now on HighTechDad The product shown below (and related products that have been reviewed on HighTechDad) is available within the HighTechDad Shop. This review has all of the details about this particular product and you can order it directly by clicking on the Buy button or clicking on the image/title to view more. Be sure to review other products available in the HighTechDad Shop. Nixplay 10.1-inch Touch Screen Smart Photo Frame $208.14 Buy on Amazon The Nixplay smart digital frame, including this new touch-screen version, is a great gift to give during the holidays, for special occasions, or simply to gift yourself. It’s an increadibly easy way to relive memories and share experiences with those around you. And, it is much better than just sticking a photo away in a photo album. The act of viewing photos together even allows for new memories to be created. Disclosure: I have a material connection because I received a sample of a product for consideration in preparing to review the product and write this content. I was/am not expected to return this item after my review period. All opinions within this article are my own and are typically not subject to the editorial review from any 3rd party. Also, some of the links in the post above may be “affiliate” or “advertising” links. These may be automatically created or placed by me manually. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item (sometimes but not necessarily the product or service being reviewed), I will receive a small affiliate or advertising commission. More information can be found on my About page. HTD says: Why keep your digital memories bottled up on your smartphone when you can easily showcase and relive those memories easily with a Nixplay smart digital frame. And the new 10.1-inch smart digital frame with the touch-screen interface makes displaying, managing, and navigating those memories even easier.

In my previous article, I provided recommendations for what type of iPhone upgrade you may want to follow. It is important to understand that each person has unique needs and may use their iPhone quite differently from others. For example, I do all of my product review photos and videos on my iPhone. Others may purely use it for browsing the web and email. So make sure you don’t over-buy on features. In this article, I also talk about over-buying, but specifically as it relates to Mac upgrades with the Apple iMac and the Apple MacBook Pro. If you are thinking about a new Mac altogether, you need to decide if you want a desktop or a laptop. The advantage of a desktop computer is that you get a much larger screen, while with a laptop, you get mobility and portability. I personally prefer laptops (MacBook Pro or MacBook Air), but I set up my home office environment with many monitors and have my laptop plugged into those. It’s a bit messy with cables and connections everywhere, but it is extremely productive for me. However, if you are a bit of a neat freak or just want computers to be elegantly displayed with practically no cords or cables and want a “big screen” experience, you will want to go the desktop route (iMac). With the launch of the new Apple M1 chip, the entire line of MacBooks and MacBook Pros has gotten quite interesting but also quite confusing to many, especially around the MacBook Air/MacBook Pro line. Again, I haven’t had hands-on with all of these but have researched and tested quite a few. These are my recommendations based on those tests and readings. HighTechDad’s Mac Upgrade Recommendations There is a lot to discuss when it comes to Macs, but I’m only going to focus on the iMac and the MacBook Pro since I have hands-on experience with both lines.  I have had lots of hands-on experience with various iterations of the MacBook Pro. But, every single MBP I have had was either supplied by my work or a “tech-me-down” from my stepmom as she upgraded hers. Only recently did I save up enough to get the new 16″ MBP M1 Max.  Let’s start with the iMac. The last iMac that I owned was the iMac DV SE which came out in 1999. I still have it stored away safely somewhere in my garage. It was one of the first Macs that I actually took apart to upgrade the hard drive or the DVD ROM (to make it recordable).  The new 24″ iMac with Apple’s M1 chip But both of my parents have had previous versions of the iMac as well, 2004’s, 2007’s, and Aluminum iMacs. But recently, both of my parents ran into issues where their iMacs were no longer supported on the current macOS operating system. My father, for example, could not access his banking sites because Safari was outdated. And, since Safari was baked into the macOS, you had to update macOS to get the current version. But, macOS Monterey was not supported on his iMac. Remember I mentioned how “Pro” is really becoming a differentiator with Apple products? There are rumors of an M1-based iMac Pro coming in 2022. So, if you are an artist, photographer, multimedia producer, or something similar, you may want to hold off on your upgrade until that iMac Pro is available. You can read more about the rumored iMac Pro here and here. And, once again, I’m recommending taking a look at Apple’s comparison page. This link shows the new iMac 24″ M1 versus the iMac 27″ Intel versus the iMac 21.5″ Intel.  13″, 14″ and 16″ MacBook Pros with the M1 chip and the MacBook Air Where things get a bit more complicated (unnecessarily) is when it comes to choosing a MacBook Pro or MacBook Air. There are many options and configurations that can become quite confusing right from the beginning. But, in this case, you need to think about how you will be using the MacBook, and this will help you understand the best upgrade (or new purchase) path to take.  First, there are some similarities to other upgrades that you need to consider. For example, does the current operating system work on the Mac that you have? If yes, for how long. If not, then it is probably worth upgrading. Second, think about how you will be using it. If portability is important, you may want to consider the MacBook Air or the 13″ or 14″ MacBook Pro. Remember, all of these new MacBooks have Apple’s M1 chip in them, and the recently released MacBook Pros have the M1 Pro or M1 Max chip (the current Air and the 13″ MacBook Pro only have the M1 chip). Some quick thoughts on getting a lightweight/smaller MacBook. If you are a student, you probably want to have as long of a battery as possible. Luckily the M1 chip is optimized for that. If you want a lightweight yet quick MacBook, I would recommend the MacBook Air. If you want something slightly more robust with a couple of extra hours of battery, take a look at the 13″ MacBook Pro. But, if you really want something powerful that can really perform in a smaller form factor, you need to look at the 14″ MacBook Pro with either the M1 Pro or M1 Max chip (more about those chips in a second). Take a look at the comparison between these three MacBooks mentioned above. The two lower-end Macs (Air and 13″) are pretty similar, but the 14″ is extremely different and much more high-end (and DOUBLE the price).  A quick side note here. There are still some really great deals to be had on the Intel-based MacBook Pros. If you search around, you can probably save many 100’s of dollars or more by choosing an Intel-based MacBook Pro. But, if you go this route, remember that Apple is going all-in on their new Silicon (the M1) so those Intel Macs might not get as much attention and will eventually not be (as) supported as the M1’s.  Now let’s talk about the new MacBook Pros with the M1 Pro or M1 Max chips. This is where things can potentially get more confusing with all of the options available. But, as with other parts in this article, it depends on how you will be using your laptop.  First, let me start with which chip to get, the M1 Pro or M1 Max. This is, actually, pretty easy. Get the: M1 Max – if you are a videographer, photographer, illustrator, or someone that uses CPU and/or GPU-intensive tasksM1 Pro – this is the chip for everyone else, AND, it still is quite high-end and an extremely capable performer But actually, it ISN’T that easy as there are other configurations you can do, again, depending on how you will be using the Mac. For example, you can get a configuration that has the M1 Max chip but with either a 24-core GPU or a 32-core GPU. If you are a digital designer, videographer, graphic artist, and even a gamer, you will probably want to get the 32-core GPU. Similarly, the M1 Pro chip has options – a 14-core GPU or a 16-core GPU.  It’s pretty nuanced, and unless you really understand this stuff or have an unlimited budget, you probably don’t need all of the GPUs. Other decisions are a bit more straightforward. Size – 14″ or 16″. The size does affect the weight as well as the battery life. The smaller MacBook Pros weigh less because they have a smaller battery, and therefore the battery life is a bit less than the larger ones. Think about storage as well. These new MacBook Pros now can have vast amounts of internal storage – up to 8TB. The smallest size you can get is 512GB. Personally, I would recommend getting at least 1TB of internal SSD storage if you can. Unfortunately, there is NO easy way to upgrade the internal storage after your purchase, and you will have to carry around an external hard drive potentially. (I got my 16″ M1 Max with 1TB of HD space.) Next is memory. Apple has redesigned how memory is managed with the new MacBook Pros and the M1 Pro and Max chips. While it is more efficient, you do need to think about how much you want or need. Again, if you are a professional artist, you will probably want to max out on the RAM. You can get up to 32GB on the M1 Pro and 32GB or 64GB on the M1 Max). The base amount is 16GB which is probably sufficient for most people doing basic tasks. (Just remember to Quit your applications…not just close the open windows).  Here’s the comparison between the 14″ and 16″ MacBook Pros with the M1 chip against the Intel 16″ MacBook Pro.Ok, so what are my recommendations here for these higher-end MacBook Pros? Well, these are VERY subjective.  Entry Level (starting at $1,999 or $2,499) – limited budget, Students, writers, everyday portability –> 14″ MacBook Pro with M1 Pro chip with 16GB RAM, 512GB or 1TB SSD Storage. If you are an engineer or graphics major, get the one with 10-core CPU/16-Core GPU.Mid-Level (starting at $2,699) – ok budget, some graphics/video creation, wants power occasionally, less concerned about portability –> 16″ MacBook Pro with M1 Pro chip with 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD storage.High-End (starting at $3,499) – budget not really an issue, heavy graphic/video creation or intensive CPU tasks, lots of power on-demand –> 16″ MacBook Pro with M1 Max chip with 32GB RAM (or 64GB) and at least 1TB SSD storage. Confused yet? If you are, don’t worry, I’m still trying to figure it all out. But if you are or have questions, please leave a comment.  Other Quick Apple Upgrade Recommendations When it comes to the Apple Watch, many of the above recommendations apply. If you are behind a few versions (or have never purchased an Apple Watch), I recommend getting the latest version, currently the Apple Watch Series 7. I currently have the Series 6, which is fantastic. There are new health sensors that are regularly added with each new version. Screens are getting larger. Batteries last a bit longer. Water-resistance gets better.  Apple is currently only showcasing their most recent model (the Series 6) and less expensive models (SE and Series 3). You can see a comparison between those three versions here. However, you can often get previous models on other sites or stores. And, unless you have a compelling reason to have the latest version (e.g., you must be able to get your blood oxygen level or ECG), an earlier model might be better.  Sometimes, you can even get some crazy savings on specific models. For example, we were able to get my daughter a RED version of the Series 6 for $250 off the regular price! One last thing to think about when purchasing or upgrading an Apple Watch is whether you get GPS-only or GPS + Cellular. While I really like having the Cellular option, you will have to pay an additional monthly fee to your cellular carrier. And, many people simply have their Apple Watch paired with their iPhone, so you use the iPhone for connectivity. If you are a runner or someone who doesn’t always bring their iPhone with them, you may want to consider the GPS + Cellular option.  I won’t make any iPad recommendations simply because mine is ancient, and I haven’t tested any of the new ones. And, AirPods are very personal – it depends on how you use them, if you want over the ear (AirPod Max) or in the ear (AirPods & AirPods Pro). However, if you can afford it and you like having great sound and sound isolation/cancellation, I highly recommend the AirPod Pros without a doubt. Shopping for the iMac, MacBook Pro, Apple Watch, or AirPods My shopping recommendations for the iMac, MacBook Pro, Apple Watch, or AirPods do mirror that of what I wrote in Part 1. But, particularly with the Apple Watch and the AirPods, since these are practically wearable tech and something that you would potentially use many times a day, your choice will become highly personal in nature. That being said, always look for a sale! However, there are quite a few shopping options to consider with the MacBook Pro and the iMac. Below are my recommended configurations that I mentioned above (of those, my mom & dad’s iMacs, my stepmom’s MacBook Pro, and my MacBook Pro configurations are included). The prices and links go to Amazon (yes, they are affiliate links to help support my writing and website). 24″ iMac with M1 chip (16GB RAM/1TB SSD) – note: Amazon doesn’t have my recommended configuration available, only the 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD option for $1,69916″ MacBook Pro with M1 Pro chip (16GB RAM/1TB SSD) – $2,699.0016″ MacBook Pro with M1 Max chip (32GB RAM/1TB SSD) – $3,499.00MacBook Air with M1 chip (16GB RAM/512GB SSD) – note: Amazon doesn’t have my recommended configuration available, only the 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD option for $1,199.9913″ MacBook Pro with M1 chip (16GB RAM/512GB SSD) – note: Amazon doesn’t have my recommended configuration available, only the 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD option for $1,349.0014″ MacBook Pro with M1 Pro chip (16GB RAM/512GB SSD) – $1,999.99 My recommendations for the Apple Watch are a bit easier. If you have anything older than an Apple Watch Series 5, you might want to get the Series 7 (or save some money and get the Series 6). You do have to decide on the size of the watch face. That is a personal preference. Apple currently is pushing either the Series 7 or the budget version Apple Watch SE. As I mentioned, I like the Cellular versions, but many people elect not to go that route. And you have to think about the Case as well as the band you want. Here are the links directly to the particular series; you will have to go from there: Apple Watch Series 7 (GPS + Cellular) – $479-749Apple Watch SE (GPS + Cellular) – $329Apple Watch Series 6 (GPS + Cellular) – various prices and NOTE – many of these are “renewed” or “refurbished” It’s a bit easier with AirPods. There are only three options to consider (but my preference is the AirPod Pros). Again, on Amazon: AirPods (2nd Gen) – $109AirPods Pro – (not in stock as of this writing)AirPods Max – $439-479AirPods (new version) – (not in stock as of this writing) Whew! That is a lot of Apple products! I do hope that these two articles helped and didn’t confuse you more. There are many variations and models to think about. And sometimes, the one you really want will be outside of your budget, so you have to settle for the model lower or a previous generation (or a tech-me-down). Trust me; I live that reality all of the time! If you have any questions, be sure to leave a comment, and I will be happy to try to help and not confuse you more! HTD says: Shopping for an Apple Mac or Watch or AirPods can be overwhelming with color choices, features, models, and more. So definitely take some time to review your options, do some research, and ask your tech-savvy friends!  Images source: Apple.com PR

In recent months, Apple has released a series of compelling products. And, whenever these new iPhones or Macs or iPads are available, I often get asked which ones I would recommend—the short answer – all of them (for the most part). However, most of us don’t have huge budgets or truckloads of cash to spend, so any upgrade or new purchase decisions must be made carefully and with a lot of thought. I figured, however, I would write some recommendations and questions to think about as you consider getting that new bright and shiny Apple product. It’s important to note that these are my personal opinions. I don’t know your situation, how much money you have saved for this purchase, how you will be using the device, or countless other variations. I can, however, offer some high-level advice to make your decision-making process a bit easier hopefully (or potentially more confusing if I offer too many other things to think about). Regardless, read through this article, and if you have any questions or your own opinion, do leave a comment.  Also, I won’t be covering every Apple product. There are far too many. And, I really haven’t had hands-on experience with everything. For example, I only have the original iPad Mini. I have never played with an iPad Air or iPad Pro. I don’t have the latest Apple Watch Series 7. And there are plenty of accessories that I haven’t touched (my wife won’t let me!). But, as Apple releases products, I do try to read reviews and watch videos. And I have had lots of experience testing each iPhone iteration and have had lots of time with various Macs (even repairing them—thanks, Apple, for allowing the Right to Repair!).  HighTechDad’s iPhone Upgrade Recommendations The latest iPhone is the iPhone 13. It comes in two main versions, the iPhone 13 and the iPhone 13 Pro. And, within each version, there are other sub-models. Briefly: iPhone 13iPhone 13 miniiPhone 13iPhone 13 ProiPhone 13 ProiPhone 13 Pro Max Storage capacity ranges are: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB (the new 1TB option is only available on the Pro line.) I recommend getting as much storage as you can afford (unless you don’t take videos or photos). The “Pro” moniker is something that is recently become more refined by Apple. It applies to their iPhones, AirPods, and their MacBooks. And, within that Pro lineage, there is now the “Max” tag which is starting to signify the “top of the line” with everything “maxed out.” Max can signify a faster processor, highest-end components and features, or largest size. It does depend on the device. I do think a new iMac Pro will be coming soon. The Pro line is truly becoming aligned with Professional. And people often don’t realize this until they see the price. But, there are pretty significant differences and advantages to choosing the Pro line. For example, you get more camera lenses (Ultra Wide, Wide, and Telephoto versus just Ultra Wide and Wide in the non-Pro version). When it comes to which upgrade to follow for the iPhone, here are my quick recommendations based on the iPhone you currently have: iPhone 12 – unless you are an avid videographer or photographer that uses their iPhone as their primary image or movie capturing device, I would say hold off until the iPhone 14 comes out.iPhone 11 – following the same guidance for the iPhone 12, if you have the iPhone 11, you may want to hold off. But it is less of a strong case to do so. Things to think about:How is your battery health? You can get a battery replaced for a fee, but you could also apply that to the purchase of a new iPhoneHave you run out of storage? If so, with your next iPhone purchase, consider getting more storage (or, gasp, deleting some of those photos, videos, movies, or games)Do you want to take advantage of 5G? Starting with the iPhone 12, you can use 5G and not just 4G LTE.iPhone X/XR/XS/XS Max – at this point, I would seriously consider getting the iPhone 13 (or, if you get a good deal on a 12, go that route). The cameras continue to get better and better with each release. There are countless enhancements in speed and performance with newer iPhone. Night shot photos get much better with the newer versions. If you have the XS, you may want to think about the iPhone 12 or iPhone 13 (perhaps even in the mini version, but you probably don’t need the Pro)iPhone 8/8 Plus (or earlier iPhone model) – bottom line with any of these older iPhones, it’s time to upgrade! Turn your old iPhone into a sound machine or something! Another essential point to consider, Apple eventually stops supporting older models as they release new versions of iOS (the Operating System for iPhones). The current release of iOS as of this writing is iOS 15.1. However, unlike Macs, there still seems to be pretty good support for older devices. According to this Apple document, you can install iOS 15.1 all the way back to an iPhone 6s or iPhone SE (1st gen). But, I will guarantee that old iPhones running the latest and greatest iOS will run very slowly, and you will have a sub-par experience. But if you don’t mind your device being slow, it may be ok. When you do a single number upgrade (e.g., iPhone 11 to iPhone 12), it is often a bit difficult to see tremendous differences. Speeds are faster, cameras are better, and designs are refined, among other things. However, when you do a larger number upgrade (e.g., iPhone 10 to iPhone 13), you WILL notice a big difference, and often it is worth the price.  Apple has a great comparison tool that lets you put 2 or 3 iPhone models side-by-side so you can geek out on the specs and differences. I highly recommend that as you research your upgrade, that you use their comparison tool! There are a lot of technical terms on there, so be warned. A few last thoughts – while you can often use your old device as a trade-in to reduce your purchase price, there are plenty of reasons to simply keep that old iPhone. For example: Donate it to a charity – there are many organizations that will gladly take your old tech and put it to work with people who need themUse it as a “tech-me-down” (hand-me-down) for your kids to play with. This works with younger kids but good luck once they hit their teens!Save it as a backup – accidents happen and it is nice to be able to pop out the SIM card and put into your backup phone in an emergency.Take it apart – well, I wouldn’t recommend this too much unless you are like me and want to figure out how things work and how to repair them. (Be careful with batteries!)Make it a collectable – who knows, that original iPhone, even in pretty bad condition, might be worth a lot in the future! For full disclosure, I have not (yet) spent any time with the iPhone 13. I’m currently using the iPhone 12 Pro Max. However, I do hope to have some hands-on time with the iPhone 13 in the future. Shopping for the iPhone I do have a few recommendations when it comes to shopping for a new iPhone, specifically: Always look for sales (duh)Consider getting the previous version (“last year’s model” is typically pretty darn good for most and you will save some $$$)Consider the Apple Upgrade Program – you get the latest model, pay monthly instead of all up front, get Apple Care+, and after a year, can upgrade to the next model (which does require a new loan). You also own the phone after you pay it all off (and it is interest-free). I chose this path with my kids for a few years.Be flexible on the colors – there may be some good deals on less-popular models.Don’t do a trade-in – Unless you have a previous generation and can get some good $$$, I would recommend selling your old iPhone yourself instead of doing a trade-in. Trade-ins are easy, but you won’t get the full value (it’s just like trading in a car). Here are links to the latest iPhone 13 models on Amazon (yes, they are affiliate links – writing these articles takes time, so I appreciate your clicks!). I have chosen the 512 GB option because I think that is the best for people taking videos and photos. You will save money if you get a smaller capacity (but you might regret it later). Also, the color choice may affect the price (per my recommendation above) – if you don’t like a particular color, just get a case to cover it! iPhone 13iPhone 13 mini (512GB) – $1,029iPhone 13 (512GB) – $1,129iPhone 13 ProiPhone 13 Pro (512GB) – $1,299iPhone 13 Pro Max (512GB) – $1,399 Good luck with your iPhone upgrades! In part two of this article, I cover Mac upgrade recommendations, Apple Watch thoughts, and AirPods. Continue to Part 2. HTD says: Sometimes, the upgrade path for Mac products can be confusing. My iPhone upgrade recommendations keep things relatively simple, but remember, these are personal choices, and you need to match your use cases with the appropriate technology. Images source: Apple.com PR