If you’re on the hunt for the most exciting new gadgets, you’re in luck. Finding them isn’t hard when you know exactly where to look (hint: right here). This month, my Latest and Greatest picks from Best Buy Canada includes the new ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X, Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen), MacBook Pro 14-inch with M5, and Logitech MX Master 4.
Discover your next favourite tech and check out our featured list.
ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X
The ROG Xbox Ally X is easy to like on paper and when you finally hold it in your hands. This handheld device takes the idea of console gaming away from the living room and takes Xbox Game Pass to another level. You can still access games from other platforms, like Steam, Epic Games, and other storefronts, including running emulators if you want to go that route.
It’s even better news on the specs side, where the ROG Xbox Ally X runs on AMD’s new Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor, a powerful APU that blends high-performance cores with an integrated NPU for AI integration that looks to play a bigger role down the line. With 24GB of LPDDR5X-8000 RAM and a fast 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, there’s nothing really barebones about this mobile gaming device.
Battery life is better than previous models but intense titles will still cut things down to just a few hours, so expect to plug in more often than not. Still, you could always connect to a monitor and make use of extra screen real estate.
Apple MacBook Pro 14″ with M5
The star of the new MacBook Pro 14″ is the new M5 chip and its performance boost, with special emphasis on machine learning, content creation, or graphics-intensive workflows. With fast storage and solid memory bandwidth available, Apple claims up to 3.5x faster AI tasks compared to the prior generation. Professionals seeking reliability should find it in this setup.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 with M5 features the same design, chassis, display, weight, ports, and battery as with the M4 models. The M5’s efficiency might be able to squeeze more juice out of this laptop. If you have a MacBook with the M4 chip, I don’t recommend an upgrade. If you have something older than M4, however, then there’s food for thought here.
Logitech MX Master 4
Speaking of productivity, this mouse certainly fits the bill. It does more than just click or scroll with precision, which is why it’s on this list. The Logitech MX Master 4 has a design that largely sticks to the basic contours that made previous models so popular, though with a less rubberized finish. It includes new haptic feedback in the thumb rest area so you feel a response from a particular task or command.
Another helpful part of the puzzle, the new Actions Ring button overlays a menu of shortcuts across apps on your computer screen. You can customize all of these in the Logi Options+ software on your PC or Mac, where a range of apps already have built-in profiles and support.
A better sensor means it works on pretty much any surface, though it is heavier than previous models. With battery life lasting up to 70 days, you probably won’t need to charge this all that often in a given year.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen)
Coming off their predecessors’ stellar, world-class active noise cancellation (ANC), the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) largely pick up where those left off. This is more of an evolutionary change, mind you, since the overall design largely mirrors (save for a few tweaks) that of the previous pair. Newer colour options at least give this generation a different look.
So, then why are they even here on this list? It’s because you’d be hard-pressed to find better ANC on another pair. Only a few other brands are right up there, but there’s more granular control here over how much you want of a good thing. On top of all that, you get USB-C wired lossless audio, Bluetooth 5.4, aptX Adaptive support for hi-res audio, and a new Cinema/Immersive mode for video and voice.
Google Pixel Watch 4
I like the Google Pixel Watch 4 for its safety features via emergency satellite communication, where you can call a friend or loved one from anywhere—no LTE or Wi-Fi necessary. You can share your location and get help when completely off the grid.
Health tracking gets a boost with a better skin temperature sensor, plus tighter Fitbit integration that benefits from dual-frequency GPS for more accurate data. That also means automatically tracking select workouts without you having to manually do it all the time.
You do get a brighter 3,000-nit Actua 360 display with slimmer bezels, helping both the 41mm and 45mm sizes stand out. The faster Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 chip helps drive AI features like Gemini integration. Battery life holds up to about 30-40 hours, though you now have to use a different charger than before.
Oura Ring 4 Ceramic
If you’ve hesitated before about wearing a smart ring because you’re worried about causing damage to an expensive gadget, the Oura Ring 4 Ceramic might be for you. This newer variant on the already excellent Ring 4 adds zirconia ceramic for the exterior to add an extra layer of scratch-resistance. It also gives it a different look and vibe courtesy of the new pastel colours (Midnight, Cloud, Petal, Tide), compared to the metallic finishes of the standard version.
The core tracking hardware hasn’t changed, so there’s no functional difference between the two models. I’m including it in this list because the Oura Ring 4 is one of the best smart rings you can get—particularly if you’re also paying for the subscription—as its features and health tracking variety are hard to beat.
Explore more and check out all the Latest and Greatest tech available now at Best Buy.
