From Disney Lorcana cards to Logitech keyboards, discover gear you could spend your 2024 tax return on that’d get your accountant’s approval.
Expecting a killer tax return but don’t know what to treat yourself to after another hard year? We may have a few suggestions…
Disney Lorcana
Price: From $11.95 via Gamesmen
Some would say that there’s no better way to spend your 2024 tax return than to invest in a new hobby, and if that’s you, Disney Lorcana could just evolve into an absolute love affair. A new entry into the competitive trading card scene, Lorcana certainly gives off vibes of the longstanding Magic: The Gathering, but is backed by the absolute powerhouse of Disney’s mammoth catalogue of IP.
But let’s go back a step. As with all great TCGs Disney Lorcana sets up a grand story with you at the center. As a result, you find yourself in the middle of magical realm of Lorcana, summoned by the Great Illuminary (holder of many great stories) with previous residents, the Illumineers, missing. That leaves you to work out what’s happened and use magic ink to summon glimmers – versions of popular Disney characters that only exist in this world – to add to the overall lore of Lorcana.
With each new set though that core story changes and evolves. Rise of the Floodborn, for example, sees a huge explosion see the magical ink mash together and send lore into faraway places, while the upcoming Ursula’s Return focuses on the famous villain’s glimmer being released by the Great Illuminary, ready and rearing to take over all the land.
It’s a lot of backstory that will only continue to grow with the release of each new set, but it all leads to the general goal of each game of Lorcana which grants victory to the player who builds up 20 Lore through the clever use of the game’s various character, action and item cards. Games consist of dueling your opponent’s characters while sending your own on quests to grow your pool of lore.
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I should point out though, even if you have no intention of learning the ropes of Lorcana’s actual game mechanics but are a true-blue Disney fan, there’s still a lot of value in the Lorcana set. That’s because the art on display is truly impressive, thanks largely to Disney’s ability to draw in many of your favourite characters. Every bit of art is new to Lorcana and that allows for some truly interesting variants like a completely flamed Scar or sword-wielding Cinderella.
Needless to say I’ve become a bit of a Disney Lorcana convert, so whether you’re buying a full set or just a booster or two, it’s another great way to spend your 2024 tax return.
Ember Travel Mug 2+
Price: $299 via JB Hi-Fi
As a long-time drinker of extra-hot coffee, it goes without saying that I’ve been a big fan of Ember products for a little while now. And while I’m still enjoying plenty of beverages with the Ember Espresso cup while indulging in some early morning or late-night gaming, I’ve been spending plenty of time with Ember Travel Mug 2+.
Whereas the standard Ember Mug is designed to stay put, the world is your oyster with the Travel Mug 2+. Simply choose your desired temperature between 50°C – 62.5°C and once the mug detects liquid being poured in, it will boot up and hold that temp for up to 3 hours while on the go, or all day if you throw it onto the included charging coaster.
I obviously loved being able to continuously sip my piping hop beverage during my morning commute, but what I found most impressive was the front LED display which is tough-sensitive, allowing you to increase or decrease your temperature (which is also displayed on the front of the device). And for those within the Apple ecosystem, the 2+ also comes with Find My functionality just in case you accidentally misplace your liquid gold.
While obviously on the pricey side for a mug, the Ember Travel Mug 2+ feels incredibly well-built with a stainless-steel interior that still feels cool to the touch from the outside thanks to its soft-touch exterior. It’s without question a luxury item, but it’s one I couldn’t imagine doing without, A great investment for your 2024 tax return.
Sonos Ace
Price: $699 via Sonos store
There’s no doubt the wireless headphone game has well and truly exploded over the last few years, but I’m still just so impressed with the Sonos Ace. My new daily driver over-ear unit, it’s hard to deny that Sonos delivered an impeccable unit right out of the gate.
The Sonos Ace look and feel incredibly premium no matter what the colour (either black or white) while still managing to lightweight and comfortable. What’s more, they’re backed up surprisingly impressive noise cancellation and transparency modes, both of which easily match their beefy competitors.
Some may lament the lack of integration with Sonos’ wider ecosystem, but the Ace still pairs easily with other devices, delivers strong booming audio and comes with its very own carry case. Not a bad way to spend your 2024 tax return at all.
Nanoleaf Matter Smart Multicolor HD Lightstrip
Price: $119.99 via Nanoleaf store
If you watch a lot of Twitch or YouTube streamers, you’ve likely seen a lot of Nanoleaf already, but if you’re looking to spend your 2024 tax return on something flashy for your own setup, why not take a look at the new Matter Smart Multicolor HD Lightstrip.
While lightstrips aren’t entirely new for Nanoleaf, the inclusion of Matter combability is. What that means in relatively simple terms is that you’re no longer locked into one particular ecosystem or smart assistant, so whether you’re a fan of Apple Home, Google Home or Amazon Alexa, Nanoleaf seamlessly blends into it all.
Meanwhile the new Smart Multicolor HD Lightstrip also features high-definition RGBIC Addressability, which allows for 60 LEDs per metre and each LED to act as its own independent colour zone. As a result, I absolutely loved the sheer flexibility Nanoleaf has provided here, and got absolutely lost in the sauce as I tinkered away with the multitude of options to create all colours of the rainbow via the Nanoleaf app.
I was equally impressed with how bright the strip actually is, which makes sense seeing as there’s no real cover on top of the LEDs themselves, although that does mean they may not be the most stylish addition to your décor should you not hide them behind your television or shelving.
If you’re fine with that concession, the Smart Multicolor HD Lightstrip is another quality smart light offering from Nanoleaf that adds serious flair to your spaces while also coming in substantially cheaper than some of its competitors.
Audio-Technica ATH-S120C Headphones
Price: $79 via Audio-Technica store
While the Sonos Ace aims to blow you away with its many bells and whistles Audio-Technica’s ATH-S120C hope to equally wow you with its price – a mere $79.
These lightweight (they weigh in at only 110 grams) over-ear cans are all about simple versatility. The USB-C connector, for example means you can easily plug and play and any manner of new devices, and the inclusion of in-line controls (which also includes a microphone) means you can make quick adjustments on the fly.
Being entirely plastic don’t expect the most durable headset around, but it’s perfect to keep handy on your desk or office drawers. Likewise, while there are 38mm drivers packed in to this compact unit, don’t expect sound that’ll blow your socks off. That said, it is respectable for the price (especially if you give it to younger children) and a built-in digital-to-analog converter does well to give things a bit of a boost.
Impressively, I even managed to get my ATH-S120C working with my Nintendo Switch, which prompted me to often throw the two of them together in my backpack when out and about. it a great option to through in a backpack together, just be aware that these are compact cans, meaning they may not fit those with larger ears.
For a budget price, it’s hard to argue with the ATH-S120C and should you add it to your 2024 tax return wish list, you can even pick it up in one of three colours: black, blue-gray and light violet.
Logitech G515 Lightspeed TKL keyboard
Price: $269 via JB Hi-Fi
If you’re looking to use your 2024 tax return on upgrading your work/gaming station, Logitech would love some of your attention with its newly released G515 Lightspeed TKL keyboard.
At first glance, you’ll notice the G515 showcases most of the additions you’d hope for in your gaming keyboard. There’s the RGB lighting, tri-mode connectivity and low-profile GL mechanical switches (with an actuation point of 1.3 mm) that allows for much speedier typing and responses in reflex-heavy competitive games like Call of Duty.
But the G515 also manages to ram these features into an impressively sleek design that only hits 22 mm height, making it far slimmer than you’d first think. Combined with a tenkeyless design, it allowed the G515 to easily slot straight into my gaming setup and blended easily with the rest of my gear thanks to its low profile and clean design (available in both black and white).
I should note however, there’s no wild assortment of knobs, levers or switches here. That allows the G515 Lightspeed TKL keyboard to focus on usability, but some gamers may lament that extra functionality. The other disappointing omission is a lack of bundled wrist support, but it’s a minor gripe for an otherwise reliable keyboard that feels great to type on, delivers a strong wireless performance and should do well to spruce up your desk a little.
Belkin SurgePro Power Boards
Price: From $79.99 via JB Hi-Fi
I get it, power boards are hardly the most exciting purchase in the world, but for tech obsessed people, they’re perhaps the most important. So before you go spending your 2024 tax return on all manner of goodies, you might want to take a glance at Belkin’s SurgePro range.
That’s because the SurgePro might be one of the most feature-rich boards you’ll find on the market. First up is the 11-point safety system that includes over-temperature protection, over-current protection, surge-protection indicator and plenty more to help keep precious items like your PS5 safe and sound, but there’s also a lengthy 2m cable and included wall mounts.
What’s more, Belkin is trying to sweeten the deal by offering connected equipment warranty up to a whopping $70,000 depending on which product you’re using (but you’ll obviously want to check the terms and conditions of that for specifics).
I’ve been using some of the SurgePro range for a while now, and it’s been an absolute godsend in trying to connect up my work station. The 8-outlet board, for example, allowed me to get some serious bang for my buck from one power outlet, and the 2-USB-C ports at the bottom of the unit preventing me from wasting a slot on something like a phone charger.
Those USB-C ports extend out to the 6-outlet and 4-outlet devices as well, by the way, so you don’t have to invest in the top-tier offering. The one thing to keep in mind is that these boards are definitely on the chunky end, meaning they may not slide perfectly under every bit of furniture. But if you have the space and the money, these are still worth a look.
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