9 Underrated Tech Items From the Last Five Years
Reading Time: 5 minutesAre these the most underrated tech items?
There’s often a lot of buzz surrounding up-and-coming tech products, especially those from big names like Apple and Google. But not all tech is truly appreciated for what it is, and some products fly under the radar after their release and don’t receive the recognition they deserve. So, let’s discuss the top underrated tech products of the last five years.
1. Flatcoins
If you’re not big into crypto, this one may not appeal to you. But don’t scroll on just yet. Flatcoins offer an interesting perk over other cryptoassets: they aren’t exposed to inflation.
We’ve got a dedicated piece that explains flatcoins in detail, but what you need to know is that their price is designed to correlate with inflation rates because they are pegged to the price of living, not to any one asset (such as gold or the US dollar). But what does this really mean?
To understand this further, let’s look at Nuon, the world’s first flatcoin. Nuon’s network uses external information (via a blockchain oracle) about inflation rates to alter the price of its coins. This means that Nuon coins do not lose purchasing power as time passes, a downside of other crypto assets and fiat currencies.
You can think of flatcoins as similar to stablecoins in that their price doesn’t rapidly fluctuate daily, but the former and the latter are not one and the same. This unique and interesting form of cryptocurrency may prove to be a far more stable investment in the long term than other well-known digital coins. While flatcoins haven’t hit the mainstream yet, but this may change as views on digital money evolve.
2. The Nothing Phone
The Nothing Phone isn’t just another standard smartphone like those you see released every year. Founded by Carl Pei, the former OnePlus CEO, in 2020, this range of devices has piqued the interest of tech enthusiasts. So, what’s it got to offer?
The Nothing Phone’s almost futuristic design sets it apart from your typical iPhone or Samsung Galaxy, with a sleek, transparent back that even lights up. Another unique feature of the Nothing Phone is Nothing OS. You may think Nothing OS is a full operating system in and of itself, but this isn’t the case. Rather, Nothing OS is a user interface supported by the Android 12 operating system.
The Nothing Phone also uses a vibrant OLED screen and has an impressive 50MP back camera for high-quality photos. What’s also great about the Nothing Phone is that it isn’t nearly as expensive as many of the popular alternatives today, making it more accessible to a larger portion of the public.
3. The Realme Book
With so many laptop brands, it’s no surprise that the Realme Book has been largely overlooked since its release. This device is both lightweight and sleek while boasting a range of great features, such as an 11th-Gen Intel® Core i5 Processor, a crisp 2K LCD screen, and an Intel UHD Graphics Xe G4 card. You can also get 11 hours of use from a single charge.
But the Realme Book isn’t super cheap. With an RRP of over $1,000, getting yourself a Realme Book is no small financial feat.
4. AI Photo Generators and Image Creators
In late 2022, AI photo generators became all the rage, with many taking to social media to show off their wacky results using various AI apps and sites. But the vast majority have not fully grasped the true magnificence behind AI photo generation. While the apps are certainly fun to use, the technology itself is far more impressive.
AI photo generators are software programs that can convert a text prompt into an image in seconds. They scour huge databases for images that match the given prompt, creating an amalgamation of multiple photos and art pieces to create the final result. One part of the software puts the image together, while another analyzes it. This technology could have applications in many other fields and certainly shouldn’t be underestimated.
But AI image generators are not without their controversial points, the most poignant being that they use other artists’ work without permission. So while the final image is technically original, it uses other people’s art to create the resulting amalgamation. Intellectual property theft and copyright violations are now frequent in the online space, but this is certainly an issue that needs to be more efficiently tackled by platforms.
5. The Gen3 Oura Ring
Health trackers are all the rage nowadays, with people looking to monitor their biological metrics. While smartwatches are the most common choice for this endeavor, other options exist, including the Oura Ring.
The first Oura Ring was launched in 2015, but its most recent iteration, the Gen3, came out in 2018. Since then, no subsequent models have been released, but this isn’t to say that the Gen3 is subpar.
The Gen3 Oura Ring measures an array of bodily metrics, including blood oxygen levels, dynamic heart rate, workout heart rate, temperature, and sleep habits. The Oura Ring can even be used to predict menstrual cycles by analyzing certain metrics at given times of the month. What’s more, the Oura app provides wellness information and tips for users so that you can improve your day-to-day lifestyle in small ways.
While many people have bought the Oura ring, it doesn’t seem to be nearly as popular as it could be. Maybe the unfamiliar brand name has kept this product from the mainstream, or maybe people just aren’t ready for technological rings.
7. The Kingston IronKey
Most USB devices do not use any form of protection, meaning they can be easily hacked if they fall into the wrong hands. So, what are your options if you often store sensitive information on a flash drive?
Enter the Kingston IronKey. This USB drive focuses entirely on security and encrypts all the data it stores to keep it safe from prying eyes. The IronKey also provides a multi-password option for data recovery, so you don’t have to worry about your files disappearing.
Encrypted USBs like the Kingston IronKey still seem pretty underrated, despite their ability to provide enhanced security for your data storage.
8. Foldable Laptops
Foldable laptops have been out for some time, but are they getting the hype they deserve? The ability to switch between laptop and tablet form seems to have been overlooked by some, as this feature takes one device and gives it the utility of two. Touchscreen gamers, 3D modeling, graphic design, and digital art are all additional avenues open to you with a foldable laptop. And at the same time, you’ve got the full utility of a typical laptop with a keyboard and trackpad.
But there is something important to note here. Certain foldable laptops have lackluster calibration, which can be frustrating to use in tablet mode. Make sure you check reviews on this element of your chosen foldable laptop before making a purchase.
9. Decentralized Storage
Hardware storage, cloud storage, and now decentralized storage? Where does one begin? Though the term ‘decentralized storage’ may be new to you, this technology may prove invaluable for your data.
If you’re not familiar with decentralization, worry not! It’s a pretty simple concept at its core. On typical platforms, such as Facebook or Instagram, a small group of decision-makers have power over the network. These platforms are centralized. On the other hand, a decentralized model spreads data and control across multiple connection points or nodes. This is known as a peer-to-peer (P2P) network. Join the network, and you can become a node.
Decentralized networks have a lower chance of malicious takeovers and can better avoid technical crashes. This is why decentralized storage has so much potential. These platforms also come with end-to-end encryption to better safeguard your data. Examples include Filecoin, Sia, and Storj.
Though cloud-based data storage remains incredibly popular, people may begin to opt for decentralized storage shortly to protect their information within a trustless network.
The Tech Market Has Many Hidden Gems
With so many tech products on the market today, it’s no surprise that some innovative items and services have missed the mainstream boat. But you can still grab many underrated tech products online today, some of which may make your life more convenient, secure, and enjoyable.
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