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Tackling the school year ahead can be a little less daunting if you have the right tools on hand.
Caught Drew Kozub on Breakfast Television this week and curious about the gadgets you saw? You have come to the right place!
This week Drew Kozub and Tim go hands-on with traditional and high tech gadgets for the school year ahead.
Google Pixel 10 Pro
The Pixel 10 Pro builds on the great foundation established last year by the revamped Pixel 9 series.
Powered by the new Tensor G5 Processor this phone is powerful enough to handle some very complex AI tasks with ease while also delivering phenomenal battery life. The Pixel 10 line adds a few new features that just weren't available with last year's processor, one of the coolest of which is something called Camera Coach, which helps guide you to take better photos.
It comes in four colour options and like last year's Pixel series, the "Pro" line is available in two different-sized displays: 6.3 and 6.8 inches.
Geeking Out Shop
Google Pixel 10 Pro
Pixel 10 Pro
For a top-quality Android experience with some of the very best photography results a valuable in a smartphone, the Google Pixel 10 Pro is a phenomenal choice for anyone due for an upgrade. If you get a Pro model Pixel 10, you'll also unlock one full year of Google AI Pro, which brings truly mind-blowing tools to your phone to create, learn, and organize.
The Pixel 10 Pro is such a solid Android phone (as has been the case in my opinion with nearly every Pixel since I first started using them with the Pixel 3).
The standout feature with Pixel devices used to be photography (and it still is phenomenal) but since last year, I'd say the AI features that are actually benefiical (even for taking photos) have no take centre stage in terms of what makes Pixels unique.
Microsoft Surface Pro (12-inch)
A Microsoft Surface Pro is one of the most versatile computing devices you can own. With the latest models everything there is to love about these devices remains the same, there's just a little more variety for choosing a model that suits your needs best.
A few quick highlights about the newest Microsoft Surface device:
- More portable 12-inch size (new for 2025)
- 16-hour battery life
- Incredibly thin for easier carrying in a bag/backpack
- Wireless charging for Surface Slim Pen (sold separately)
- Convert hand-written notes into text
Surface Pro (12-inch)
The Microsoft Surface Pro is such a versatile device, it's easy to recomment to just about anyone. Especially if you have ever-changing needs or are not quite sure what your needs will be in a year or two. It can be a tablet for leisure. A laptop for school. Add a good docking station and it's a home PC as well. The cost stays down because each thing you add (the Surface keyboard cover, the Surface Slim Pen (stylus), Surface Arc (mouse) is optional), allowing you to only add what you need and reuse stuff you potentially have on hand.
If you've never had a Surface Pro before and are unsure about the form-factor, that's reasonable. It's been more than a decade since I bought my Surface Pro 4, and I was extremely snobbish about the tablet-esque design with a snap on/snap off keyboard...until I tried it. Then I discovered how AMAZING it was to have it docked with a quality hub to connect all my perihperals at home, but then to just pick it up and use the keyboard cover when working on the go.
Plus, my Surface Pro 4 IS STILL WORKING after a decade of hard miles on this thing. It's actually frustrating that it lasted so long because it made it tough to justify upgrading because the old one was still so darn good!
Razer Thunderbolt 5 Dock
Docking stations are one of the greatest things to come to computers since Windows 95 bundled in that Pinball game (shoutout to Space Cadet).
If you're unfamiliar, this is basically a hub with a variety of spots to plug in essential things (like extra storage, a cable for an extra monitor, wired internet, an SD card reader, or whatever) that many laptops don't have ports for anymore (not because laptop makers are mean, but in many cases because laptops are thinner and cheaper by not having these ports.
I have tested many docking stations this year alone (read all about it here), and while the Razer Thunderbolt 5 Dock Chroma is likely overkill for most-people's needs, here's a few of the things that I think make it stand out:
- Expandable Storage - Keep your daily work files on your machine, but save space on your harddrive by keeping your downloaded games or backups on the dock for when you're at your home work station.
- Upstream Port on Back - The port you plug your computer into on basically every other dock is on the front, which is dumb because it makes thinks messier. This docking station has all plugs on the back (except the SD card reader, it's on the side).
- Thunderbolt 5 - This is the latest connection and data transfer standard. While many laptops don't even support TB5 yet, chances are your next high-end laptop will. So you're buying a dock that's gonna be with you for your computer computer and the one after that (and the one after that).
- Sharing Accessories - There's something proprietary called Thunderbolt Share. Basicaly, with certain computers with an Intel processor you can connect them together with a compatible dock so you can use one mouse or keyboard (or any other accssory) with two differnet computers plugged into the same dock. This is one of the few docks that lets you do that.
Razer Thunderbolt 5 Dock Chroma
This is about as good as it gets when it comes to a high-end docking station for gaming, productivity, or just about anything. Razer's Thunderbolt 5 Dock comes in two finishes. The black one has Razer's signature RGB lighting which can sync up with your other Razer devices. There's also a mercury finish (that's silver) without the special lighting.
This is not the cheapest docking station (so if you just need extra ports but not necessarily faster connections or extra storage then check out these other options. But if you're in it for the long haul and want the ultimate docking station that's going to last you for a decade, then this would be my number one suggestion.
Razer Naga V2
If you're going to upgarde your mouse anyway, why not upgrade to one of the most customizable computer accessories availble? For physical and digital customization the Razer Naga V2 cannot be beat.
The most unique features is the modular design. This mouse ships with three different side button panels that can we swapped in for a variety of uses/gaming scenarios. Choose between 2, 6, or 12-button side plates and customize for various in-game (or in-app features) to maximize control with this mouse.
Additionally, the digital configuration options are so far beyond anything most people have experienced, it will be tough to know where to begin. Even just the ways in which you can adjust how the scroll wheel feels when rolling forward or in reverse is incredible to dial in as precise or soft of a scrolling experience as suits your needs. And you can switch on the fly between a variety of pre-sets giving you a different scrolling experience in-game vs on the web.
Razer Naga V2
The Razer Naga V2 is a very unique mouse and offers maximum customization both physically and digitally. It's such a fluid experience switching between pre-programmed and custom profiles, plus it works great with your existing Razer devices. It's has a premium price tag, but it's also a premium gaming mouse.
Back To School!
What do you think of the latest collection of back to school gadgets? Last month I had a segment about student tech, so if you missed that you can catch up right here and learn about some of the student lifestyle gadgets that might be handy in the school year ahead.
If you have any questions, you can try to reach out to me on this website (though you gotta an account, and it can be finicky depending on your browser) so it might be easiest just to shoot me a DM on Instagram.
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