Your living room is the heart of your home, where you unwind after a long day, entertain guests, and indulge in your favourite shows. It’s the place where technology meets comfort, and there’s an abundance of gear and gadgets to enhance your living room experience. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or simply looking to upgrade your entertainment setup, we’ve curated a list of the 8 best living room gear and gadgets to buy now.
1. Smart TV
No living room is complete without a cutting-edge Smart TV. These marvels of technology offer stunning 4K or even 8K resolution, vibrant colours, and seamless integration with streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+. Look for models with built-in voice assistants for a hands-free experience.
Samsung 50″ LS01 4K Lifestyle The Serif TV Features:
- 4K UHD Display: Stunning 4K resolution for sharp visuals.
- Ambient Mode: Blends with decor and displays art when idle.
- Smart TV: Access to apps and streaming services.
- NFC Connectivity: Easy device pairing with a tap.
- Elegant Design: Unique “I-shaped” design by renowned designers.
2. Soundbar
Enhance your TV’s audio with a high-quality soundbar. Modern soundbars deliver immersive surround sound and deep bass, turning your living room into a mini home theatre. Some even come with voice control and wireless subwoofers for added convenience.
Beosound Balance Soundbar from Bang & Olufsen Features:
- Exceptional Sound: Precision-engineered speaker system for superb audio quality.
- Room Adaptation: Active Room Compensation adjusts sound to your environment.
- Built-in Google Assistant: Voice control and smart home integration.
- Multiroom Audio: Seamless synchronization with other Bang & Olufsen speakers.
- Stunning Design: Scandinavian elegance with premium materials.
3. Streaming Device
If you’re not ready to part with your current TV, a streaming device like the Apple TV 4K or Roku Ultra can breathe new life into it. These gadgets allow you to access a wide range of streaming services and enjoy 4K content on older televisions.
Apple TV 4K Features:
- 4K HDR Support: Stunning 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range.
- Apple TV App: Access to a wide range of content, including Apple TV+.
- Siri Remote: Voice control and touchpad for easy navigation.
- Apple Arcade: Subscription gaming service for family-friendly gaming.
- AirPlay and HomeKit: Stream content and control smart devices from your TV.
Roku Ultra Features:
- 4K UHD and HDR: Enjoy stunning 4K video with High Dynamic Range.
- Fast Performance: A speedy quad-core processor for seamless streaming.
- Voice Remote: Navigate and search using voice commands.
- Private Listening: Listen through the remote’s headphone jack.
- Enhanced Connectivity: Dual-band Wi-Fi and Ethernet for reliable streaming.
READ MORE: The 7 Best Streaming Devices in South Africa (2023)
4. Gaming Console
Gamers will appreciate the latest gaming consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. These machines offer mind-blowing graphics, lightning-fast load times, and an extensive library of games, making them a must-have for any gaming enthusiast.
PlayStation 5 Features:
- High-Performance Gaming: Powerful hardware for immersive gaming experiences.
- 4K HDR Graphics: Stunning 4K visuals with High Dynamic Range.
- DualSense Controller: Haptic feedback and adaptive triggers for realism.
- Ultra HD Blu-ray Player: Play 4K UHD movies and shows.
- Backward Compatibility: Play PS4 games with improved performance.
Xbox Series X Features:
- Powerful Hardware: Custom-designed AMD processor and fast SSD for exceptional performance.
- 4K HDR Graphics: Stunning 4K visuals with High Dynamic Range.
- Quick Resume: Switch between games seamlessly with minimal loading times.
- Backward Compatibility: Play a wide range of Xbox games from previous generations.
- Xbox Game Pass: Access to a vast library of games with a subscription.
READ MORE: The 6 Best Portable Gaming Consoles You Can Actually Buy in South Africa
5. Smart Lighting
Set the mood in your living room with smart lighting systems like Philips Hue or LIFX. These bulbs can change colour and intensity with a simple voice command, allowing you to create the perfect ambience for movie nights or romantic evenings.
Phillips Hue Features:
- Smartphone Control: Easily adjust lights with a smartphone app.
- Color Customization: Choose from a spectrum of colors to set the mood.
- Voice Control: Hands-free control with voice assistants.
- Scheduling: Set automatic on/off schedules for convenience.
- Scenes: Create and customize lighting scenes for various occasions.
LIFX Features:
- Wi-Fi Connectivity: Connects directly to your Wi-Fi network.
- Color Customization: Offers a wide range of colors and shades.
- Voice Control: Compatible with popular voice assistants.
- Scheduling: Automate on/off times for convenience.
- App Control: Easily adjust settings via a smartphone app.
6. Home Theatre Projector
For a truly cinematic experience, consider investing in a home theatre projector. These devices can project a massive screen onto your wall, perfect for watching movies, sports, or playing video games on a grand scale.
Samsung Projector Features:
- Compact and Portable: Easily carry for on-the-go entertainment or presentations.
- Wireless Connectivity: Connect devices wirelessly for content sharing.
- HD Projection: Deliver sharp and clear high-definition images.
- Built-in Speakers: Enjoy audio without external equipment.
- Battery-Powered: Operate without needing a power outlet for hours of use.
READ MORE: Samsung’s New Portable Projector Gives You A Cinema Experience Without Leaving Your Home
7. Wireless Charging Station
Keep your gear powered up with a wireless charging station. These sleek devices can charge your smartphone, smartwatch, and even wireless earbuds, eliminating the need for messy cables cluttering your living room.
Tech Features You Need To Know When Making a Decision:
- Qi Wireless Charging: Most wireless charging stations support the Qi wireless charging standard, allowing you to charge Qi-compatible devices like smartphones and wireless earbuds by simply placing them on the charging pad.
- Fast Charging: Many wireless charging stations offer fast charging capabilities, which can significantly reduce charging times for compatible devices compared to standard charging.
- Multi-Device Charging: Some charging stations have multiple charging pads or slots, allowing you to charge multiple devices simultaneously. This is convenient for households with multiple gadgets.
- Wireless Charging Compatibility: Wireless charging stations are compatible with a wide range of devices, including smartphones from various manufacturers, smartwatches, and wireless earbuds, making them versatile and convenient.
- Safety Features: Wireless charging stations often include safety features such as overheat protection, over-voltage protection, and foreign object detection to ensure safe and efficient charging without risking damage to your devices.
8. Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
As we all know South Africa is prone to load shedding. So getting a UPS is good for protecting your valuable electronic equipment, a UPS is a wise choice. It provides battery backup during power outages, ensuring your devices stay powered and safe from surges or sudden shutdowns. With a UPS in your living room, you can safeguard your electronics and maintain uninterrupted enjoyment of your entertainment setup, which is especially important for protecting your expensive gadgets and preventing data loss during power fluctuations.
Tech Features You Need To Know When Making a Decision:
- Battery Backup:UPS systems include internal batteries that provide backup power during electrical outages or disruptions, ensuring your devices stay operational.
- Surge Protection:UPS units offer surge protection to safeguard connected devices from voltage spikes or surges that can occur due to lightning or electrical disturbances.
- Voltage Regulation: Many UPS systems provide voltage regulation, which stabilizes incoming voltage to ensure a consistent and safe level of power to your equipment.
- Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR): AVR technology fine-tunes voltage levels, correct real-time fluctuations, and protects your devices from brownouts and overvoltages.
- Smart Connectivity: Some UPS models feature USB or network connectivity, allowing you to monitor the status of the UPS, receive notifications, and even shut down connected devices remotely in case of a power outage.
READ MORE: The 7 Best Backup UPS to Stay Connected During Loadshedding