The tech products we refuse to live a day without
There's no denying technology has made our world much easier, even if we do often find ourselves cursing our screen time and promising to take more time away from social media.
Truthfully though, it's difficult to imagine a world where we don't rely on some kind of technology to get us through the day. Whether it's a speaker or a headphone set (to help us drown out our thoughts or the sound of our panting as we exercise), our favourite toaster, or the Kindle that stores all of our books virtually, we refuse to live without our most treasured tech (and their charger cords).
See the items we can't go a day without using, and get to the bottom of what it is about these products that make them so dear to us.
NOTE: Prices are accurate at the time of writing.
Sony WH1000XM4 Noise Canceling Wireless Headphones, $410.44
What's the item?
Sony WH-1000XM4 Noise Cancelling Headphones.
When did you get it?
I got these at least four years ago as a Christmas gift from my parents. I think I've used them almost everyday since, which is a testament to their quality and endurance. They're slowly starting to fall apart, with some of the material on the panel that sits right on top of my head breaking away from its stitches, which is probably due to me mistreating them. I leave them on the floor, toss them in my bag, wear them around my neck, and step on them at least once a week. But, if they do eventually fall apart entirely, I'll be buying the exact same pair again.
Why can't you live without it?
I love music and podcasts, and find myself usually listening to something as I go about my day. Whether I'm cooking, cleaning, or doing my makeup in the morning, there's always music on. And since I live with my housemates, I like to keep it to the headphones so as to not disturb them.
I also listen to deep-focus music while I work to stop myself from getting too distracted, and they are also get great use when I'm exercising – whether a podcast is giving me something else to focus on, or music is drowning out the sound of my struggling during cardio. I've also gotten into audiobooks recently, and my headphones are much easier to store than my old collection of paperbacks. - Erin
Kindle Paperwhite (8GB), $189
What's the item?
When did you get it?
I bought my Kindle in December 2019, planning to use it for my commute to work each morning in 2020. Well, that went out the window a few months later...
Why can't you live without it?
I still buy and love physical books, but the Kindle has been such a great supplement to my reading habit – it allows me to read on-the-go without the extra weight of a book in my handbag, plus it means I'm not constantly testing the limits of my already-at-capacity bookcase shelves at home. Also, you can get some serious bargains on Kindle – I've paid less than $10 for some new releases – and it's waterproof, so I feel a bit more at ease when reading in the bath. No more wet pages! - Kahla
Google Chromecast 3rd Generation, $69.99
What's the item?
When did you get it?
I bought it probably around five years ago. My Samsung TV died and I bought a cheap LED TV as a temporary replacement but it didn't have smart/streaming capabilities, so I couldn't watch any streaming shows on my TV.
Why can't you live without it?
Rather than having to plug my laptop into the TV (I don't even know how to do that), the Google Chromecast just plugs in the back and lets me stream whatever I want from my smartphone to the TV. Very easy and cost-effective if you need a TV that streams but don't have the thousands to fork out for a new one. - Thomas
Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine, $649
What's the item?
It's a black Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine.
When did you get it?
I got it last year around the start of Sydney's long lockdown after a secondhand one we owned broke.
Why can't you live without it?
It turned out to be the best timing and decision as lockdown went on for A LOT longer than we anticipated, and with the average cost of coffee sitting around $4.50 it has already paid itself off and then some! - Raffaella
Fujifilm Instax Instant Camera in Terracotta Orange, $187.11
What's the item?
My Fujifilm Instax SQ1 camera.
When did you get it?
About 2 years ago, during the pandemic when all I did was shop online (actually, not much has changed).
Why can't you live without it?
Photos on your camera roll are cool, but there's something kind of nice about having a physical copy of a memory. One that isn't filtered, instead one that is 100 per cent candid. I like to take photos of and with my favourite people (not in a creepy way) and then stick the pics up on a dedicated photo wall in my house. The instant photos also make a really nice gift inside a card whenever I want to up the gift-giving anti, which is always. - Carina
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max, $2,449
What's the item?
It's a new iPhone 13 Pro.
When did you get it?
I bought it in the middle of last year after I realised my iPhone 8 was getting a bit old.
Why can't you live without it?
Because I use it for everything! As well as the normal social media stuff (yes, I need to cut down), I read magazines and papers from around the world on it (including some on the Readly app), keep up to date with news via alerts, news apps and Apple news, and even handle my pet sitting side-hustle on the MadPAws and Pawshake apps.
All my banking is also done on there, plus I used things like airline apps and Google Maps when I am travelling, as well as TripIt, which puts all our travel info on one place. I've even just done an online shop to be delivered when I arrive in the UK on an upcoming trip via a UK supermarket app! - Sarah
Ultimate Ears Boom 3 Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker, $145
What's the item?
An Ultimate Ears Boom 3 Portable Speaker.
When did I get it?
It was a birthday present years ago, one I didn't think I needed at the time, but boy was I wrong.
Why can't you live without it?
I use my portable speaker daily. Mainly to play music as I'm getting ready for my day, cleaning the house, having a shower, or to wind down with a podcast deep-diving into The White Lotus after a binge (if you know, you know). But it also comes with me outside to the pool, on holiday if we're off somewhere beachy or anywhere that requires my carefully curated playlists (my pride and joy) as the soundtrack. - Carina (again)
Morphy Richards 4 Slice Toaster, $99
What's the item?
It is a Morphy Richards 4-slice toaster with different toasting settings like defrost and extra toasting as well as a dial to set the time on how toasty you like it.
When did you get it?
We probably got it about two years ago after our longstanding 2-slice toaster (was about 10 years old) decided it didn't want to work anymore.
Why can't you live without it?
I certainly like my carbs and rarely go a day without a bit of bread (usually for lunch). If I'm treating myself to a carbed-up brekkie, I'll pop in some bread, toast it, slab some Nutella or peanut butter on it, and start my day off well. It's also serving two other adults in the house who also use it daily and could not go without it and it's still working like a charm. - Rosalyn
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