Being a tech enthusiast and gadget geek, I try and test numerous products, but there are 5 items that I’m confident enough to say changed my life in some way.

That’s why I decided to dedicate an entire blog post to these products. Throughout the article, I will be sharing my experiences with these items and the way they impacted my life.

So in no particular order, here are 5 tech items that changed my life…

1. My 6th Generation iPad

I wanted to start with my 6th generation iPad, a device that not only helped me get through my university degree, but it also helped me become paperless.

Believe it or not, the 6th generation iPad isn’t actually the first iPad or tablet I owned, my first iPad was the 1st generation iPad Mini, which I got second-hand.

But I decided to replace the iPad Mini as it was starting to show its age. I replaced it with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2, which was a brilliant tablet, but after a few years with the Samsung, I really started to miss iOS, so I ended up getting the 6th generation iPad.

To go with the iPad, I purchased the 1st generation Apple Pencil and a Logitech keyboard case. These accessories allowed me to use the iPad as a perfect device for research and taking handwritten notes.

I specifically liked the fact that I was able to keep everything in one place and being able to access my files from university computers and my laptop thanks to iCloud.

Having everything on my iPad meant that I no longer had to worry about carrying books, notebooks, and pens with me to class. All the books and academic literature I used for research stayed on my iPad, and the best part was that I was able to annotate using the Apple Pencil.

Today, the iPad remains at the heart of my productivity system, I can even go as far as saying that it’s my main device. But, it’s not the 6th Generation iPad, I upgraded to the 11” iPad Pro from 2020.

How My iPad Pro Became My Primary Computer

2. The Sony WH-H900N Active Noise Canceling Headphones

Once you use a decent set of active noise cancelling (ANC) headphones or earbuds, it’s hard to go back, believe me, I’ve been there!

With the help of built-in mics, ANC headphones cancel out the surrounding sound, making them ideal if you are a university student, use public transport or for those that use them for work.

The Sony WH-H900N were the first decent set I used, and they are still incredibly good until this day, even though they’re about 5 years old!

As a hybrid worker who works from home, in the office and commutes by train, I find these incredibly helpful, especially as the train can get incredibly noisy.

I find ANC headphones particularly helpful at work when I just want to get on with my work distraction-free.

At present, I mainly use the Google Pixel Buds Pro as my daily earbuds for commuting and sports. But I tend to use the Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 for work, which, I feel, are slightly better suited for work, especially with Multipoint Bluetooth (which the Pixel Buds Pro also have) and the different levels of ANC.

Long-Term Review of the Microsoft Surface Headphones 2

3. Apple Watch Series 1

The Apple Watch Series 1 wasn’t actually my first smartwatch, it as the Sony SM 2, which was released back in October 2013, I then got the Sony Smartwatch 3, which was a massive improvement.

But it was the Apple Watch Series 1 (42 mm), that changed smartwatches for me, the watch was such an improvement to the other smartwatches I had. Paired with my iPhone 6, I was actually able to make use of the Apple EcoSystem.

It was the iPhone 6, combined with the Apple Watch Series 1 that started my passion for the Apple ecosystem, after which I started heavily investing in Apple Products.

The main difference between the Apple Watch and my previous watches was the fact that the apps just worked so much better and there were a lot more of them!

Since the Apple Watch Series 1, I had two other Apple Watches, the series 3 and SE series and until this day, I think that Apple Watches are the best smartphones by far!

As my current smartwatch is the Google Pixel 7 Pro, I’m currently the proud owner of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and the Google Pixel watch which is my current daily driver.

I believe that Android smartwatches have really improved over the last few years, but I still feel that there is a lack of mainstream app support and that I enjoyed using Apple Watches way more!

My Rant About WearOS!

4. Apple iPhone 6

Like with the iPad, the iPhone 6 wasn’t my first iPhone, it was actually the iPhone 5C in that epic blue colour. However, I didn’t really enjoy the 5C, especially as it only had 8 GB of storage space, you’ve read that right 8 GB!

For comparison, my iPhone 6 had 32 GB of storage space, which by today’s standards is considered extremely low, but back in those days, it was actually a very reasonable amount.

It was the iPhone 6 that officially started my passion and investment in everything Apple! I remember liking the phone so much, that I also purchased an Apple Watch, AirPods, and even a second-hand MacBook Pro!

I don’t know what it was about the iPhone 6, but I felt that the interface made so much more sense compared to Android phones of the time. The interface also seemed much cleaner and straight to the point.

The iPhone 6 changed my entire opinion of iPhones as in the past, I was quite a big fan of Android phones and the ability to customise them. But with iOS, I just didn’t feel the need for customisation, as everything just worked so well together.

Since the iPhone 6, I also had an iPhone 7 in that gorgeous Jet Black, an iPhone 8 Plus which was actually my work phone and an iPhone 12, which at the end of my contract, I upgraded to the Pixel 6 Pro.

Why You Should Get The iPhone 14 Pro

5. The First Computer I Built

Yes! I know the cable management is messy, this photo was taken during the computer’s initial setup.

I’ve been passionate about computers ever since I was a little boy, and I had several computers over the years. My first one was a second-hand Windows 95 machine by Compaq.

However, around 8 years ago, I built my very own PC for the very first time and that changed everything for me!

The experience of building my very own PC, technically started my career in IT, as it taught me about computers and started my passion for tinkering with computers and hardware.

I can’t even begin to explain the feeling of powering on that PC you’ve built with your own hands for the very first time because it felt remarkable! Especially showing it off to my friends at Sixth-Form, which, for those of you who are outside the UK, is like the final two years of high school.

For those of you interested, the computer had a 4th Generation Intel i5 CPU, 8 GB of memory, a 1 TB hard drive, a 120 GB Solid-State drive and an ASUS GTX 720 Ti graphics card.

The computer lasted me around 5 years before I decided to replace it entirely with a brand-new computer, which I also built myself. I’m currently on my third custom-built PC, but as it’s starting to show its age, I’m thinking of replacing it with an M2 Mac Mini.

Why My Next Computer Will Be a Mac

Summary

Those were the 5 tech items that changed my life in some way. Out of the 5 things I mentioned above, I think that the first computer I built changed my life the most, as it provided me with base knowledge of troubleshooting and how a computer works.

Without building that first computer, I am not convinced that I would have the decent career in IT I have now.

What are 3 tech items that changed your life? Let us know in the comments!