10 Cool Tech Gadgets To Survive Working From Home

From Wi-Fi and cell phone signal boosters, to noise-cancelling headphones and gadgets for distraction, we've rounded up some of the top devices to consider while you ride out the outbreak.

Work From Home Gadgets

Working from home and social distancing may be a necessity for now, but that doesn't mean you have to be miserable. As many of us ride out the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic by shifting our workplace into the home, we are no doubt finding that our technology is not entirely up to the task. To help ease your work-from-home time, we've rounded up some top devices to consider including Wi-Fi and cell phone signal boosters, noise-cancelling headphones, gadgets for distraction and more.

What follows is our roundup of 10 work-from-home tech gadgets that are worth considering.

Microsoft Surface Book 2

It goes without saying that you're going to want a good PC for working from home. If your home machine isn't quite up to the task of remote work needs—such as videoconferencing and multi-tasking across multiple applications and browser tabs—then you might consider getting a PC with a bit more horsepower than average. Microsoft's Surface Book 2 will have you covered, with its speedy processors and graphics and up to 16 GB of RAM. The laptop also features a detachable display, meaning you can switch into tablet mode—or even the turn the display around and use the keyboard as a stand—for maximal flexibility depending on what your home work setup requires. The notebook also has choices between vibrant 13.5-inch and 15-inch displays. And, while some reports are showing constraints on PC supplies at the moment with the heightened work-from-home demand, the Surface Book 2 appears to be in stock as of this writing.

Synology RT2600ac Router

The next thing that might need an upgrade for your work-from-home setup is your Wi-Fi router—the typical home wireless router just might not cut it for your work needs. Synology's RT2600ac is a solid choice, offering high-speed wireless with 802.11ac Wave 2 certified radios, MU-MIMO support, a 1.7GHz dual-core processor and capabilities around intelligent optimization of connection quality.

TP-Link AC750 Wi-Fi Extender

If you've turned your bedroom or another far-flung room into your home office, it's probable you might also want a Wi-Fi extender to get sufficient wireless. TP-Link's AC750 Wi-Fi Extender reduces dead zones by covering up to 1,200 square feet, while allowing for connections of up to 20 devices and speeds of up to 750 Mbps.

weBoost Home 4G

It might not just be your Wi-Fi that needs some help to enable work-from-home success—your cell phone signal may also need a boost. The weBoost Home 4G indoor cell phone signal booster can enable your home to get improved signal and preventing dropped connections for your crucial calls. The device promises to boost cell signal range by up to 1,500 feet in one to two rooms, and is compatible with the largest carriers including Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile.

Sonos One

Working from home may also reveal that your setup for listening to music and news is sub par. While many smart speakers have mediocre sound quality, the Sonos One is an exception. The Sonos One offers terrific sound and volume even in its relatively compact form factor, thanks to its two Class-D digital amplifiers along with a tweeter a mid-woofer. And in terms of connecting to a voice-controlled smart assistant, the Sonos One has both of the leading assistants built in--Amazon's Alexa and the Google Assistant. The Sonos One is also available in two color choices--white or black--and you can also pair two of the speakers together in a room for stereo sound.

Bose Noise-Cancelling Headphones 700

With many schools being cancelled, working from home may also mean working with your family around. Indulging in a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones may be very much called for under the circumstances. While Bose's Noise-Cancelling Headphones 700 are not cheap, they sound amazing and pretty much make the outside world disappear (as we can attest to after buying our own pair). Along with wireless connectivity, the Bose Noise-Cancelling Headphones 700 offer improved noise cancellation with a six-microphone array that can block even the most disruptive sounds. Meanwhile, two microphones are included for improved voice pickup. The headphones also have a touch-sensitive pad on the right earcup to enable touch commands for volume control, changing the song or starting/stopping a track.

Additionally, the Bose Noise-Cancelling Headphones 700 offer varying levels of noise cancellation that can be adjusted with a button on the headphones. That means users can decide whether to totally--or only partially--block out the sounds around them. And, the headphones offer voice control with Siri, the Google Assistant or Amazon's Alexa assistant, while featuring an impressive 20 hours of battery life.

PhoneSoap 3

Concerned that your smartphone might become a holding-place for germs? With a global pandemic underway, you might not be overreacting. The PhoneSoap 3 has you covered, though. The device promises to kill 99.99 percent of germs on a smartphone using UV-based technology. The PhoneSoap can safely sanitize both a phone and case, and even charges the phone in the process. The PhoneSoap 3 also promises to fit all smartphone sizes, and includes an audio amplifier so you can hear your notifications and alarms, too.

Oculus Rift S

Feel like you're getting a bit claustrophobic from working from home and avoiding public places? Slipping into a full virtual world for a while might help. And the world of virtual reality just keeps getting better, too. With the Oculus Rift S headset, there are some big improvements to the VR experience. The headset includes enhanced tracking technology for better gameplay, a higher-resolution display and improved colors, and a more-comfortable design. The headset also includes a feature called Passthrough+, which lets users get a glimpse of the "real world" without removing the device.

Upright Go 2

Depending on your work-from-home setup, your posture could take a hit from being away from your office chair and working from your comfy living room. There's a gadget to help with that, though. The Upright Go 2 is a small device that's worn on the upper back to combat slouching. The device works by training you to sit or stand up straight, using a gentle vibration as a reminder when slouching occurs. The gadget also connects to a mobile app that creates a personalized training plan for building upper back and core strength. Notably, the Upright Go 2 is 50-percent smaller than the previous version and designed to be more comfortable, while offering 30 hours of battery life.

Apple Watch Series 5

The gym may be off limits these days, but don't forget to get outside and get some exercise. The fifth-generation Apple Watch is packed with fitness and health monitoring features including training and tracking for activities such as running, cycling and yoga. Advanced capabilities for runners include cadence and pace alerts, while other fitness features range from personalized coaching to activity sharing. The Apple Watch Series 5 also offers a boost to workouts by being able to play Apple Music even without having an iPhone nearby. Plus, the latest Apple Watch introduces an always-on display, so that users no longer have to raise their wrist or touch the display to activate it.