I’ve been busy reviewing gadgets this summer, but for the most part I’m left with a few things to consider.
Recently, I was able to review two items (a luggage and a flashlight) on an overnight trip.
Samsara Tag Smart Airtag Luggage
I’m a big fan of Apple’s AirTags. AirTags are small tracking devices that you can attach to anything you don’t want to lose.
I now have AirTags on my keychain and wallet, but I’m not sure how often I find them using my iPhone. The great thing about AirTag is that if you’re within 50 feet of Bluetooth range, you can find it using your iPhone.
I’ve seen some stories online of people attaching AirTags to their luggage to help them track their luggage while traveling, especially after checking it at the airport.
There are many third-party luggage tags with AirTag holders, but thieves can easily remove them.
We’ve been testing cases with built-in spots for AirTags that are only accessible from inside the bag, and the Samsara Tag Smart AirTag Luggage comes with an AirTag in the box, saving you the trouble of buying your own.
AirTag means you can track your location with the Find My app on your iPhone. Sorry, an Android phone user can’t track his AirTags, so there isn’t much use for it.
Tag Smart bags come in three sizes, the Carry-on ($265), Ground Carry-on ($295), and Checked bag ($370) available in yellow or black. The shell is made of polycarbonate and the frame is made of aluminum.
There’s also an all-aluminum version of the mid-sized bag that costs $445. All bags can be found at samsaralugage.com.
We tested the Grand Carryon in yellow. It measures 9″ x 15″ x 22.5″, weighs only 10.8 pounds and has a capacity of 43.5 liters.
The handle fits perfectly into the case, making it a flat top that you can use as a desk for your laptop if you’re sitting at the airport.
The bag has 4 spinner wheels that rotate 360 degrees for smooth pulling, and each of the 2 latches is a TSA approved combination lock.
The interior is lined with durable plastic, with a zip closure on one side and an elastic strap on the other. There are handles on the top and sides for easy lifting.
This bag is very sturdy and easy to pull, and my wife and I have taken three successful weekend trips with it so far this summer.
Pros: Includes AirTag and has a tough, hard shell that rolls easily.
Cons: A little pricey.
Bottom line: This is a bag that will last and help you find it if you lose it.
Infinity X1 Hybrid Power Flashlight
I am a flashlight enthusiast and recently purchased a rechargeable light.
The new Infinity X1 ($89, infinityx1.com) can be powered in two ways.
When you open the box, you will find a carrier for AA batteries and a rechargeable battery pack. You can choose which one to use.
The rechargeable battery has a built-in USB cable. Simply plug into any available USB port to charge.
The rechargeable battery also has its own USB port, and you can use it to charge your cell phone or any other device that can be charged via USB.
With a maximum brightness of 5,000 lumens, the X1 will blind you if you look into the light.
The X1’s metal case gets hot when the light is set to maximum brightness for more than 1-2 minutes.
Pressing the power button cycles through several brightness settings.
Above the power button are four LEDs that indicate the battery level.
The X1 is made of aluminum and has an adjustable lens that allows you to focus the beam of light from narrow to very wide.
A versatile flashlight. It is strong enough to withstand being run over by a car.
Pros: 2 power sources, including rechargeable, and can charge other devices.
Cons: Gets hot to the touch on highest settings.
Bottom line: Rechargeable, sturdy, and really bright. All good things in Flashlight.
Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Mini
Adding a smart plug is one of the easiest ways to control devices like lamps and kitchen appliances and get on the road to a smart home.
A smart plug is a small single-plug outlet that plugs into your existing AC outlet. The smart plug connects to your home Wi-Fi network and can be turned on or off remotely from your phone or using your voice with a home assistant like Amazon’s Alexa or Google’s Assistant.
Kasa Smart has been in the smart plug business for several years and now introduces the Wi-Fi Plug Mini (EP25) which adds compatibility with Apple HomeKit.
If you have Alexa, Google Assistant, or HomeKit, you can ask the hub to scan for new devices and control the plug with your voice.
The EP25 works on your home 2.4 Gigahertz Wi-Fi with a maximum load of 15 watts. The form factor is small enough to allow two of these to be plugged into the same outlet, and the EP25 has a power button if you prefer to manually turn it on or off.
To set up, connect your EP25, download the Kasa Smart app, and start setting up your device.
Add the plug to your home Wi-Fi network and give it a name.
Once set up, you can control your outlets from your phone, including scheduling them to turn on and off daily (or multiple times a day). You can also set a timer to turn off the plug after a preset time. The app also has an away mode that randomly turns the plugs on and off, useful if you have the EP25 connected to a lamp.
The EP25 also incorporates an energy monitoring system.
The app has a monitoring tab that shows the exact power usage of whatever is connected. This is useful if you want to see how much power your refrigerator or hair dryer uses.
The EP25 is available in packs of 4 from Amazon for $49.99. A 2 pack is also planned for later this year.
Pros: Small, easy to set up, energy consumption displayed.
Cons: None.
Bottom line: This is a cheap and easy way to add smart outlets to your home.
