From the CES tech expo: 5 useful gadgets for work

Laptops with built-in tracking devices

There are various ways you can track your work tools if they’re stolen or you lose them. Attaching a wireless transmitter is one way, but now laptop makers are embedding dedicated tracking devices into the laptops.

One example is a new version of HP’s Elite Dragonfly business laptop that has a built-in Tile tracking device. You get an app so you can see where your laptop is. HP says it will start selling the Tile-equipped Elite Dragonfly laptop in February 2020, but hasn’t announced Australian availability yet.

5G laptops

Laptop makers such as Dell and Lenovo have begun announcing new laptops with built-in 5G connectivity. These includes the 15-inch screen Dell Latitude 9510 (pictured) and the 13.3-inch HP Elite Dragonfly.

Whether built-in 5G will be any use to you depends on whether you need the extra speed and latency 5G provides, and whether you have 5G coverage (for now, that will be less likely if you’re outside a metropolitan area). Remember, you can always buy a separate, portable 5G modem to connect your laptop via 5G.

Big 4K monitors

If you have two, three or even four monitors on your desk, you might be interested in the new crop of very large 4K monitors. With plenty of screen space and high resolution these screens could potentially replace some multi-screen configurations.  

For example, the new Dell UltraSharp 43 4K USB-C Monitor (U4320Q) allows you to see the content from four PCs at the same time. That might be useful for finance and engineering professionals, Dell claims. The monitor won’t be cheap – Dell plans to start selling it on January 30 this year for US$1,049.99.

Not-quite-high-end smartphones

If you’ve been disappointed by the cost of top-of-the-line smartphones, then look out for smartphones such as Samsung’s Galaxy S10 Lite and Galaxy Note10 Lite (pictured). These are the latest smartphones with some, but not all, of the same premium features as high-end models. 

For example, both phones have three camera lenses – an ultra-wide, wide and macro lens. They also have large 6.7-inch, edge-to-edge screens. And they have a fast-charging 4,500mAh battery that Samsung claims is “long-lasting”. The Galaxy Note10 Lite also has an S Pen you can click to control a presentation, video content or take a picture.

Samsung hasn't announced local pricing, so whether these phones are affordable remains to be seen.

Wi-Fi 6 and 5G routers

If you rely heavily on Wi-Fi in your workplace, it may be worth investigating the benefits of Wi-Fi 6 equipment. It can provide faster speeds, which could help to avoid bottlenecks as broadband speeds increase.

Companies that announced Wi-Fi 6 networking equipment around the time of CES included D-Link, Linksys, and Netgear, while Cisco and others announced Wi-Fi 6 equipment in 2019.

You’ll also need Wi-Fi 6-compatible laptops and phones to benefit from Wi-Fi 6 – expect to see more of these in 2020.

Also look out for 5G-equipped modem/routers in 2020. These could be a useful way to get fast broadband if your main line goes down (if you're in a coverage zone). Linksys was one vendor showing 5G modem routers at CES.