2016 ‘Boomies’ – best tech for the 50-plus

By Gary M. Kaye
Editor-At-Large & Chief Content Officer , Tech50+ (www.tech50plus.com)

To pick the best product in each category, Chief Content Officer Gary M. Kaye, Editor-At-Large John Quain, and Contributing Editors Linda Moskowitz, Bill Stoller, and Tim Bajarin looked at a variety of factors:

Is it 50+ Friendly? – Does it have features that make it easy for those of us over 50 to use?
Quality – Is it solid, well-built, and reliable? Is it easy to set up? Is the manual readable and understandable? Does it do what it’s supposed to do?
Value – Our choices are not always the most or least expensive; we aim for products that offer the best bang for the buck.

Here now, our picks:

Best Smartphone – Google Pixel XL –

Google hit a home run with the big screen Pixel XL. With a 5.5-inch screen, the Pixel XL is easy to see, has an attractive industrial design crafted from a single block of aluminum, a fast processor, and a camera with features generally found only on standalone cameras. It is the first phone to come with Google Assistant built-in, which we’ve had more success with than Apple’s Siri. Price is $770 at Verizon.

Best Tablet – Huawei + Harman Kardon MediaPad M3 –

The 8-inch Huawei MediaPad M3 has a fast home-grown processor, uses Android Marshmallow, has a sharp display which advertises a 16 million color palette and stereo speakers designed by Harman Kardon. The tablet comes with a fingerprint ID sensor and is available in both LTE and Wi-Fi models – priced at $299, a bit more expensive than most 8″ Android tablets, but significantly cheaper than the latest Apple iPad Mini.

Best Laptop or Convertible – Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Yoga and HP Spectre x360.

Both use the form factor originated with the Lenovo Yoga – a laptop that can convert to a tablet, stand, or tent. Lenovo combined the Thinkpad X1 Carbon series best features with the Yoga form factor, producing a lightweight, versatile machine for office or entertainment, starting around $1,649. The Hewlett Packard Spectre x360 has a 13.3-inch screen, a solid aluminum chassis, a standout keyboard, a very thin profile, a full HD display. Available with processor options beginning with the Intel Core i5. Prices begin at $949.

Best Hi Res Audio Player – Sony NW A26/27 –

Hi-Res audio tracks add back much of what you’ve missed when the industry squished out the sound color, highs, and lows in order to fit them into MP3 files. The NW-A26HN comes in a variety of colors and has 32 GB of internal storage plus a micro SD card slot. Price is just about $320. The NW-A27HN has 64 GB of internal storage, a micro SD slot, and is only available in silver. Price is just about $400.

Best Big Screen Television – LG E6 55” 4K Ultra HD TV –

It has a jaw-dropping crisp picture, can deliver inky blacks (which conventional LCD sets cannot do), and displays even punchier, more intense colors, thanks to a new 4K format called high dynamic range (HDR). Price is about $2,500.

Best e-Bike – Raleigh Sprite IE –

It features a low step design, a silver frame and a Currie Electro-Drive® center drive motor. The 48V Lithium-Ion battery sits on a rear mounted rack. It comes standard with pedal assist; you need to pedal to make the motor run; an optional $50 boost gives a rider extra thrust getting across an intersection or up a hill. Price is $1,900.

Best Smartwatch – Samsung Gear 3 –

Many reviewers are calling it the best smartwatch for the Android market. And surprise, it even has limited compatibility with iOS devices (calls, texts, and limited email). The Gear 3 is available in two models, the Classic and the Frontier. It looks like, well, a watch, but may be a little large for some women. It has interchangeable standard sized bands, has a battery that will last up to three days, is water and dust resistant and comes equipped with built-in GPS Turning the bezel takes you through an assortment of apps. Price for either model starts at $350.

Best Automotive Assist Device – Garmin DriveAssist 50LMT –

Garmin has crammed most of the best features from its entire line of PNDs (or personal navigation devices) into this one compact 5-inch package. It features a dashcam, front collision warning, lane departure warning, as well as upcoming curves, plus Voice Command, detailed intersection views, and lifetime map and traffic support. Price is $300.

Best Connected Home Device – Amazon Echo/Alexa –

We think the Amazon Echo, with Alexa voice command and its ecosystem including the Echo Dot and the Amazon Tap, is the clear winner in this category. They can turn on lights, brew your coffee, raise the curtains, control your security cameras, run your robotic vacuum cleaner, power your outlets, play your music, change your television stations, etc. The Echo is $180, the Dot is $50, and the Tap Bluetooth speaker is $130.