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A repeat of the situation similar to last year’s lockdown in several states meant people were confined to their homes and had to do the best they could with what they had to stay engaged. With that in mind, here are some of the best and most useful gadgets of this year.

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Google Chromecast | cheapest and most widely supported, at Rs3,299. All you need is a TV with an HDMI port and a smartphone. You can instantly stream most of your favorite shows to your TVs with minimal hassle.

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Amazon Fire TV Key | Available in non-4K and 4K variants, with Prime Video preinstalled. Supports a plethora of video streaming apps that can be downloaded to the device. The HD variants cost Rs 3,999, while the 4K variant costs Rs 4,499 (Image: Amazon.in)

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Apple TV | The most expensive streaming device, starting at Rs 15,900 for Apple TV HD and Rs 18,900 for Apple TV 4K, it fits perfectly into the Apple ecosystem, but if you are not already a user of Apple device, there are more, more reasonably priced options. (Image: Reuters)

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For Indian gamers and indeed those around the world, 2021 will be remembered as a sore thumb because, despite more than a year since their launch, next-gen gaming consoles have proven to be harder to find than water in. the desert of Sahara.

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Sony PlayStation 5 | If you can buy one, it’s without a doubt the best, with a blazing-fast SSD, next-gen haptics and adaptive triggers in its controllers, and gaming support up to 120Hz (in terms of simple: 120 frames per second) and a resolution of 8K. The disc version costs Rs 49,900, while the digital edition (without an optical disc drive) costs Rs 39,900 (Image: Reuters)

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Microsoft Xbox Series X and S | The X Series is a beast, with full native 4K resolution and backward compatibility going back at least three generations. Add in the Xbox Game Pass which gives you access to almost any game on the platform, it’s a very tempting option. The trap ? It is incredibly difficult to find and its price is Rs49,900.

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The same goes for the younger and weaker brother of the X-series, the S-series, which supports a lower max resolution of 1440p and costs Rs 34,900. In addition, the controllers for both models are powered by AA batteries, which in these days of rechargeable everything is a bit of a Stone Age. (Image: Amazon.in)

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Sony PlayStation 4 Pro | Since next-gen (rather current) consoles aren’t as widely available, every game studio and publisher is still releasing intergenerational games, which are supported by both previous and current generations. If you can’t get a PS5, go for the next best – and readily available – option the PS4 Pro (pictured), which starts at Rs 31,500, or the base PS4 which comes with games, priced at $ 29. 900 rupees. (Image: Reuters)

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This was the year that Work from Home (WFH) matured after youthful issues until 2020. That professionals who work from home have their own setup, including laptops, desktops, setups multi-screens or even custom PCs to help them. become more productive. And software developers with apps aimed at improving productivity have also helped.

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Wearables have taken off like a rocket this year, with Apple leading the market with its health and fitness focused Watch 7, which starts at Rs 40,900. There’s also the Watch SE, which starts at Rs 29,900. (Image: Reuters)

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Samsung has released its own Galaxy Watch4 – finally a suitable competitor for Apple’s offering. The Galaxy Watch 4 starts from Rs 23,999, while the older Watch Active has a starting price of Rs 19,900. Both variants support GPS, Bluetooth connectivity, and cellular connectivity. (Image: Reuters)

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OnePlus also released its own watch with mixed reviews. The OnePlus Watch starts at Rs 16,999, with a special ‘Harry Potter Edition’ at Rs 19,999. For those who are price conscious, there’s the OnePlus Band, which is priced at Rs 2,799 (Image: OnePlus )

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Wireless headphones continue to innovate. Apple has released its third-generation AirPods, which are still the best wireless headphones on the market. Third generation AirPods start at Rs 18,900, while the second generation (pictured) is still up for grabs at Rs 12,900. The most premium deals – AirPods Pro and AirPods Max – are priced at Rs 24,900 and 59 900 Rs, respectively. All options are powered by Apple’s AI assistant, Siri. (Image: Reuters)

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Samsung has its Galaxy Buds, which are great bean-shaped alternatives to AirPods. Buds2 are priced at Rs 11,999, Buds Pro at Rs 10,999 and Buds Live at Rs 7,999. (Image: Reuters)

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This is where things get interesting. Amazon is the undisputed ruler of the Indian smart speaker space with its Echo range – the Dot (from Rs 3,699) and the Show (from Rs 5,499). Each speaker is powered by Alexa, Amazon’s AI assistant. (Image: Reuters)

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Google also has its own smart speakers, offered as a gateway to home automation. Currently, the Android maker offers Google Nest Mini (Rs 2,899) and Nest Audio (Rs 4,999). Both options are complemented by Google Assistant. (Image: Reuters)

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Then we have Apple’s HomePod mini, available in a variety of colors, priced at Rs 9,900. However, it only works with Apple devices and the price is on the upper end of the spectrum. (Image: Apple)