Sorry for the delay, but welcome to Japan! I like your spirit of loving analog watches, not smartwatches. And I did not miss the Figma Creator Micro that was shown momentarily.
i cant stand the other creators "favorites" it's literally just what sponsors paid the most, and sent their stuff the quickest. Thank you for an honest take.
11” M4 iPad Pro is incredible, I love mine and take it everywhere. I also picked up a brand new (dead stock) stainless steel Apple Watch series 9 that still has the O2 sensor, absolutely amazing. Still waiting to snag an M4 mini after the holidays to replace my aging 2012 mini server.
The Best way to watch this is on a 4K oled TV, with a freshly brewed coffee or tea, sit back, relax and enjoy ! Thanks again and merry Christmas and happy new year to you sir ! 🎄 Best wishes from Switzerland 🇨🇭
I sold my x100 a few years ago and replaced it with an XE4, which basically has the same footprint, but has interchangeable lenses. I’ve really enjoyed shooting with that.
I only bought three pieces of tech this year: the iPad Mini 7 because the battery on my Mini 6 was on its last legs; the base M4 Mac mini, which needs no explanation, and; the M1 iPad Air 5, which is new to me, and I got it because the price was so good after the M2 iPad Air was released.
two of the mehs on this list, the airpods max and the ipad mini are my favorite this year. The maxes sound incredible, have very good battery life, excellent microphones and the ANC is supreme, while the mini has the perfect spec sheet with 8 GB RAM and the A17 pro. Truly amazing devices these two
I felt very conflicted about the AirPods Max - they sound amazing and I LOVE how the look and feel but the case situation, bulkiness and no cool AI updates like the AirPods Pro got (speech detection, nod for yes shake for no etc!) just felt like a shame! Again the sound is wonderful tho 👌🏻
iPad mini is one of those things that works for people who have a use for it, but otherwise it’s a weird size. My wife liked it as an e-reader but she got an Amazon Scribe and use that. As far as tech that I like, I got some Jbl Go Air ear buds that have been really good, as well as a Casio W-800H. I finally updated my Stadia wireless controller to Bluetooth, which has made my iPad Air into a fun mobile gaming platform. Sometimes will screen mirror and play on my TV
Great video I always look forward to when you’ll upload another one of these Tom! My favourite tech this year is my RingConn smart ring gen 2. It helped me to stop wearing my heavy Apple Watch to bed all the time, and it is so lightweight with 10 days of battery life so I don’t have to keep charging it. I am glad you’re upfront about which tech that didn’t suit your needs, there was so much hype about the Fujifilm camera too so at that price point, it’s understandable that you want a solid piece of tech in your hands that’s reliable. Good luck on your future work ! - fan from Singapore ❤
Also, I saw so many people using the DJI cam that you mentioned about this year when I attended F1. I might just considering saving up for that camera when I find my new job. Been eyeing it for a bit haha
I'm a user of the X100VI and I agree with your comments on the build; I have the black model and the shutter button in particular quickly lost alot of the coating and is now scruffy silver/black - not good for such an expensive camera, and not as quality as the XE4 it replaced in my kit! Great video.
Favorites for the year are the M4 Mac mini (loved my M1 but it was dying), iPad mini 6 and AirPods Pro 2. Like you mentioned, the AirPods Max are great but for shorter flights, I grab the AirPods. Loved the recap and happy holidays!
Yep it's a very good camera, but I would start on your phone for sure and make sure making videos is something you like before investing a load of money into it :)
The Mac Mini M4 convinced me to try MacOS again. The last time I had a Mac computer was 2006. It's such a great deal for a computer with a very small footprint. I marvel at what this little machine can do. And be so quiet. I'm using it as my daily computer now (and some light gaming on the side). With an external SSD in a Thunderbolt 4 enclosure. (Because Apple's pricing ladder is absurdly expensive.) I've been using my old gaming PC as a Steam Link machine.
I am glad that Steam Deck got into Meh category, at least. Mostly because even though I wasn't impressed with hardware design either, I felt that it was a good machine to get back to gaming especially for Mac users, that usually have limited gaming experience (since most of the games are just Windows available). Again, another great video! I have been missing these kind of videos while you were traveling in Japan.
I was back and forth on the iPad Mini. In the end, cold hard cash was the decider. I just couldn’t justify going for the new cellular model for £750 which would mean also needing to get a new Apple Pencil when I could get a second hand Mini 6 with cellular for £250 and use my existing pencil. I’d love to try the Mac Mini though so hopefully it’s still a good deal when I need to replace my current computer.
As someone that shoots a lot of film it always strikes me as unfortunate that the build quality of modern cameras always feels so poor. I understand to an extent that the amount of plastic and use of cheaper magnesium is in part a matter of weight savings, but for something like this eFuji X100VI it would be nice if shared the same sort drawn brass construction and heft of the cameras it's attempting to harken back to.
My Japan battery life on a 16 Pro was terrible lol. Maybe should have got a Max but think it was a network/SIM issue. Also got a Kuoe watch, agreed, great experience.
The Steamdeck changed my life and being able to pick up and play a lot of my Steam titles have made me able to play more often. However, what you said about the battery life is valid, just not enough of a negative to me to rate it a meh 😅
I’m still in denial about my Steam Deck OLED that I never use, too much tinkering to get games working well, battery life for my games are good but standby is awful, and well… I’m never out of the house long enough to bring something that big 😔
It’s so confusing to get recommended a Video with auto translated title to German just to hear that very robotic German voice. Great video just don’t really understand RUclips’s thought process here. 🙈
As an outsider looking in, there was a part of this video that came off confusing. You started gaming off by saying "I really enjoy these two games that I play on my Steam Deck. I also like playing the new Zelda game." So I'm not an expert at this, but isn't Zelda a Nintendo game? I don't take a lot of buyer's advice from RUclips videos, but if I bought a Steam deck, and then the new Zelda game. Do they work together, or did you switch over to the Switch and not name drop it? I'm not a mobile gamer, and if you showed me a Switch and a Steam Deck and asked me which one is which I wouldn't be able to tell you. I've literally become that old boomer that thinks everything is a Nintendo these days. But I'm aware enough to recognize that a Steam Deck isn't made by Nintendo. And I thought Nintendo really hated their games being emulated on non Nintendo hardware. Which is why this part of the video really threw me off. I heard Steam Deck name dropped, and then Zelda name dropped with no mention of needing a Switch. ===== On a more serious topic though. Do you know if there's a skin or case I can get for the iPad M4 11" that I can put on it and still use it with a Magic Keyboard?
Ahh zelda is synonymous with Nintendo I didn't think it was worth mentioning but perhaps I'll be more clear next time! As for your second point, there might be something from a brand called pitaka but im not too sure
@@ByteReview I'll check out that brand. I use my ipad for drawing about 80% of the time, and having a case (or skin) would be nice so when I drag it across a table I don't feel like I'm grinding that clean metal finish against rough surfaces. But I'd love to use the Magic Keyboard as a travel case and when I type a bit. -- I think you're right that Zelda being synonymous with Nintendo is an accurate statement. I think what threw me off was the name drop of Steam-deck followed by Zelda, and I was like wait, what? Zelda is on the Steam-deck? That doesn't make sense with my previous assumptions. It's kind of a bummer the two systems don't have some overlap though.
I bought my first Mac this year… 15” m2 MacBook Air. I’ve been in love with it all year. So happy to have finally switched from Windows!
Sorry for the delay, but welcome to Japan! I like your spirit of loving analog watches, not smartwatches. And I did not miss the Figma Creator Micro that was shown momentarily.
Ahhh thank you, and yes I much prefer a normal watch now :) Also, I haven't actually even plugged in creator micro yet yet, I don't have a nice cable!
This is legit my fav video of the year. Thanks Tom for making great videos.
that's very kind of you! thanks!
The most chill RUclips channel
Thanks for all your great videos - I love your calm energy!
Thanks for watching!
i cant stand the other creators "favorites" it's literally just what sponsors paid the most, and sent their stuff the quickest.
Thank you for an honest take.
You're welcome. I'm not here to do that, I much prefer to be honest and open with you all!
11” M4 iPad Pro is incredible, I love mine and take it everywhere.
I also picked up a brand new (dead stock) stainless steel Apple Watch series 9 that still has the O2 sensor, absolutely amazing.
Still waiting to snag an M4 mini after the holidays to replace my aging 2012 mini server.
Hahahah I loved how good you are at playing the guitar 😂 It seems we’ve been working on similar topic this time around
Haha thank you, going to watch yours now!
BECAUSE! WHY NOT
The Best way to watch this is on a 4K oled TV, with a freshly brewed coffee or tea, sit back, relax and enjoy !
Thanks again and merry Christmas and happy new year to you sir ! 🎄
Best wishes from Switzerland 🇨🇭
Love to read this, thanks!
Great content. Love your calm way of presenting.
I sold my x100 a few years ago and replaced it with an XE4, which basically has the same footprint, but has interchangeable lenses. I’ve really enjoyed shooting with that.
Ironically I sold my X-E4 to fund this, why do I do these things! 😅
@@ByteReview 😅
I only bought three pieces of tech this year: the iPad Mini 7 because the battery on my Mini 6 was on its last legs; the base M4 Mac mini, which needs no explanation, and; the M1 iPad Air 5, which is new to me, and I got it because the price was so good after the M2 iPad Air was released.
M4 Mac Mini is so good, I love that thing
two of the mehs on this list, the airpods max and the ipad mini are my favorite this year. The maxes sound incredible, have very good battery life, excellent microphones and the ANC is supreme, while the mini has the perfect spec sheet with 8 GB RAM and the A17 pro. Truly amazing devices these two
I felt very conflicted about the AirPods Max - they sound amazing and I LOVE how the look and feel but the case situation, bulkiness and no cool AI updates like the AirPods Pro got (speech detection, nod for yes shake for no etc!) just felt like a shame! Again the sound is wonderful tho 👌🏻
iPad mini is one of those things that works for people who have a use for it, but otherwise it’s a weird size. My wife liked it as an e-reader but she got an Amazon Scribe and use that.
As far as tech that I like, I got some Jbl Go Air ear buds that have been really good, as well as a Casio W-800H. I finally updated my Stadia wireless controller to Bluetooth, which has made my iPad Air into a fun mobile gaming platform. Sometimes will screen mirror and play on my TV
Mate I dunno what it is about your videos but they are like a big cup of tea and some biscuits
Best compliment I've ever received, I'll pop it on the wall
Great video I always look forward to when you’ll upload another one of these Tom!
My favourite tech this year is my RingConn smart ring gen 2. It helped me to stop wearing my heavy Apple Watch to bed all the time, and it is so lightweight with 10 days of battery life so I don’t have to keep charging it.
I am glad you’re upfront about which tech that didn’t suit your needs, there was so much hype about the Fujifilm camera too so at that price point, it’s understandable that you want a solid piece of tech in your hands that’s reliable.
Good luck on your future work !
- fan from Singapore ❤
Also, I saw so many people using the DJI cam that you mentioned about this year when I attended F1. I might just considering saving up for that camera when I find my new job. Been eyeing it for a bit haha
Oh I'd love to go to the F1! Lucky! And yeah it's really cool if I didn't make content I wouldn't be too sure I'd need it as such
Love this video! How did you make your iPhone photos look so film-like?
I agree with all of your takes except the Steam Deck OLED. Amazing video as always 🔥
Steam deck is so elite man. Hard disagree on it being meh.
I wish I liked it more!
Congrats on 200k :D
I'm a user of the X100VI and I agree with your comments on the build; I have the black model and the shutter button in particular quickly lost alot of the coating and is now scruffy silver/black - not good for such an expensive camera, and not as quality as the XE4 it replaced in my kit! Great video.
It's a real shame, I didn't find this with the X100V!
Thanks for all the awesome content this year Tom. Congrats on hitting the 200K and Merry Christmas chap. 👍🏻
Thanks so much for continuing to watch my man, merry xmas to you!
Favorites for the year are the M4 Mac mini (loved my M1 but it was dying), iPad mini 6 and AirPods Pro 2. Like you mentioned, the AirPods Max are great but for shorter flights, I grab the AirPods. Loved the recap and happy holidays!
Would you mind sharing the iPad wallpaper? (the green blurry one :) )
linked in description!
Is the Sony a6400 a good camera to start a RUclips series with? Should I use my iPhone 15 PM instead?
I will be editing on FCP on Mac.
Yep it's a very good camera, but I would start on your phone for sure and make sure making videos is something you like before investing a load of money into it :)
@@ByteReview I have both iPhone and a6400 already 😂
@@mr_red13 no excuses then haha
The Mac Mini M4 convinced me to try MacOS again. The last time I had a Mac computer was 2006. It's such a great deal for a computer with a very small footprint. I marvel at what this little machine can do. And be so quiet. I'm using it as my daily computer now (and some light gaming on the side). With an external SSD in a Thunderbolt 4 enclosure. (Because Apple's pricing ladder is absurdly expensive.)
I've been using my old gaming PC as a Steam Link machine.
Love to hear this, I think getting people to try Mac again or to get them onto it at a good price is a sweet move from Apple
I am glad that Steam Deck got into Meh category, at least. Mostly because even though I wasn't impressed with hardware design either, I felt that it was a good machine to get back to gaming especially for Mac users, that usually have limited gaming experience (since most of the games are just Windows available). Again, another great video! I have been missing these kind of videos while you were traveling in Japan.
Thanks! Japan video is next up! 🇯🇵
The X100VI is literally my favorite piece of tech this year... Such an incredible camera, sorry to hear you don't like it.
yeah me too, I really wish I did - it's a beautiful piece of technology
I was back and forth on the iPad Mini. In the end, cold hard cash was the decider. I just couldn’t justify going for the new cellular model for £750 which would mean also needing to get a new Apple Pencil when I could get a second hand Mini 6 with cellular for £250 and use my existing pencil. I’d love to try the Mac Mini though so hopefully it’s still a good deal when I need to replace my current computer.
I don' think you're really missing out. Apple Intelligence is cool but not a game changer (yet?) so the 2021 model is still great
As someone that shoots a lot of film it always strikes me as unfortunate that the build quality of modern cameras always feels so poor. I understand to an extent that the amount of plastic and use of cheaper magnesium is in part a matter of weight savings, but for something like this eFuji X100VI it would be nice if shared the same sort drawn brass construction and heft of the cameras it's attempting to harken back to.
It's a real shame, I've owned the X100V & X-E4 before and both of those felt much better to me.
Loved this Tom, I have a few similar tech items listed on my video. The Osmo Pocket 3 is my clear number 1 this year!
Osmo was so good this year
My Japan battery life on a 16 Pro was terrible lol. Maybe should have got a Max but think it was a network/SIM issue. Also got a Kuoe watch, agreed, great experience.
Oh nice! And that's interesting, the Max defo helped but I also got an ESIM while I was out there which might have helped?
Love the look of the glow in the dark nothing phone 2a could not get one 😢 love to upgrade my iphone xr would love to see what android is like
My favorites techs of 2024:
- iPhone 16 Pro
- iPad Pro M4 13"
- Mac mini M4 (base model)
- Apple Watch series 10 Jet black
That jet black Apple Watch is very nice tbh!
Case or no case on iPhone ?
no caseeeee
My favorite tech i got this month is the Sony XM5, I don't really have a worst tech this year to be honest
XM5's a really nice, I tried them in a shop earlier in the year
The Steamdeck changed my life and being able to pick up and play a lot of my Steam titles have made me able to play more often. However, what you said about the battery life is valid, just not enough of a negative to me to rate it a meh 😅
This is why I couldn't say it was bad, bringing people back to gaming is a win!
6:01 the editing tripped me out for a moment 😂
Tom, you need a Leica Q3, 28mm for the win. Oh wait - you said the Fuji was an expensive piece of tech.. maybe not a Leica then 😅
hahah I love the look of those Q3's! 28mm is a much better focal length too imo...
I’m still in denial about my Steam Deck OLED that I never use, too much tinkering to get games working well, battery life for my games are good but standby is awful, and well… I’m never out of the house long enough to bring something that big 😔
Yeah size isn't something I mentioned but it's also an issue for sure, the thing is a tank!
It’s so confusing to get recommended a Video with auto translated title to German just to hear that very robotic German voice. Great video just don’t really understand RUclips’s thought process here. 🙈
That’s some great stuff right there
Buying Airpod Maxes at full price is CRAZY lmao.
Would love a gaming channel from you
The fact you think the Steam Deck is meh, is why we can no longer be friends. Grow up. Cheers.
I can finally be rid of you 🚮
It blows my tiny mind that people buy a fixed lens plastic camera for £1700 - there are so many better options even in Fuji’s lineup.
X-T / X-E series are for sure better value
Noooo the Fuji x100VI is definitely my fav camera of 2024! Shame you didn't like it 🤨
I wish I diiiiiid, I stuck it out for the entire Japan trip and didn't switch to my Sony which I did take with me, I was very tempted to!
"Watch hobby as a ho3?"
As an outsider looking in, there was a part of this video that came off confusing.
You started gaming off by saying "I really enjoy these two games that I play on my Steam Deck. I also like playing the new Zelda game."
So I'm not an expert at this, but isn't Zelda a Nintendo game? I don't take a lot of buyer's advice from RUclips videos, but if I bought a Steam deck, and then the new Zelda game. Do they work together, or did you switch over to the Switch and not name drop it?
I'm not a mobile gamer, and if you showed me a Switch and a Steam Deck and asked me which one is which I wouldn't be able to tell you. I've literally become that old boomer that thinks everything is a Nintendo these days. But I'm aware enough to recognize that a Steam Deck isn't made by Nintendo. And I thought Nintendo really hated their games being emulated on non Nintendo hardware. Which is why this part of the video really threw me off. I heard Steam Deck name dropped, and then Zelda name dropped with no mention of needing a Switch.
=====
On a more serious topic though. Do you know if there's a skin or case I can get for the iPad M4 11" that I can put on it and still use it with a Magic Keyboard?
Ahh zelda is synonymous with Nintendo I didn't think it was worth mentioning but perhaps I'll be more clear next time! As for your second point, there might be something from a brand called pitaka but im not too sure
@@ByteReview I'll check out that brand. I use my ipad for drawing about 80% of the time, and having a case (or skin) would be nice so when I drag it across a table I don't feel like I'm grinding that clean metal finish against rough surfaces. But I'd love to use the Magic Keyboard as a travel case and when I type a bit.
--
I think you're right that Zelda being synonymous with Nintendo is an accurate statement. I think what threw me off was the name drop of Steam-deck followed by Zelda, and I was like wait, what? Zelda is on the Steam-deck? That doesn't make sense with my previous assumptions.
It's kind of a bummer the two systems don't have some overlap though.
Also had a wonderful time shopping at Kuoe as well, such a nice shop and brand
Right?! Very nice staff too
@ByteReview equally I struggle with the steam deck mostly because of the size ...it's sort of a non portable portable
Please do a Christmas or new year giveaway
Chapters please brother