The best tech products to invest in (or lust after) in lockdown

Wake up gently with a Lumie Bodyclock SAD Light

Model: The Lumie Bodyclock Shine 300 Wake up to Daylight SAD Light

Now that we no longer need to factor in a morning commute, many of us are setting our alarms a little later than usual. But waking up gradually and to natural light is still beneficial if you want to rise feeling refreshed. SAD alarm clocks – which use a form of light therapy to treat the condition of Seasonal Affective Disorder – are a great tool for this. The clocks work by gradually emitting light for 30 minutes in the lead-up to your pre-set wake-up time, combatting the sudden sounds of a regular alarm clock which causes the body to release cortisol – the main stress hormone. Market-leader Lumie’s Bodyclock Shine 300 Wake up to Daylight SAD Light wakes you up with an artificial sunrise that can be personalised to last anywhere between 15 and 90 minutes. The light also boasts a sunset feature and sounds to help you wake up or fall asleep.

Lumie Bodyclock Shine 300 Wake Up to Daylight SAD Light, £103.20 (save 20%) – buy here

Make barista-style brews with a Sage coffee machine

Model: The Sage The Oracle Touch Coffee Machine

Missing your daily flat white? Sage by Heston Blumenthal boasts coffee machines that are not only stylish – with their sleek, stainless steel finish – but also a tool with which to make the best barista-quality brews in your kitchen. Sage’s Oracle Touch Coffee Machine was in fact the world's first automatic manual espresso machine – able to grind beans, froth milk and create a variety of different types of coffee using in-built state-of-the-art technology – and it remains our top pick. The machine comes with an in-built coffee grinder, milk frothing arm, self-cleaning steam wand (perfect for creating a little latte art) and stainless steel milk jug which can be used as a standalone implement to froth milk for other hot drinks, too.

Sage The Oracle Touch Coffee Machine, £1,999 – buy here

Workout with The Mirror

Soon to be number one on every gym bunny’s wish-list, The Mirror is the latest chic gadget to help you stay fit at home. Already a hit in the US, The Mirror offers virtual one-on-one classes with top fitness instructors, which can be undertaken from the comfort of your home. There are over 70 new live classes to choose from every week, while 10,000 existing workouts can be found in its back catalogue. Focus specifically on your arms or abs, get competitive with monitoring and tracking your progress, or wind down with a gentle session in yoga flow. Pitched as ‘the nearly invisible home gym’, this sleek mirror is designed to blend seamlessly into any room in your home.

The Mirror, $1,495 – track updates on availability here

Track your fitness with an Apple Watch

Model: Apple Watch Series 5 Silver Aluminium Case with Sport Band

With limited time spent outside of the house, tracking how much exercise you’re actually doing has never been more important. Rather than relying on not-entirely-accurate functions like the step-counter built into your phone, invest in your activity levels with an Apple Watch. Set goals, track your movement (down to the last calorie you've burnt) and keep on top of your heart rate and rhythm – which could be feeling the strains and stresses of self-isolating without you even realising.

Apple Watch Series 5 Silver Aluminium Case with Sport Band, £429 – buy here

Keep cool with a Dyson fan

Model: Dyson Cool AM07 Tower Fan

Remember the record-breaking temperatures of last summer? There’s no saying we won’t experience an as-hot-as-your-hairdryer heatwave again this year – and as we might not be able to escape it in an air-conditioned office, investing in the right tech to keep our homes a decent temperature could prove essential. With its minimal noise, uninterrupted air supply (ideal for apartments), 10 different settings and absence of blades (ideal for those with little ones or pets), the Dyson Cool AM07 Air Multiplier Tower Fan is our top pick. Its compact design also makes it an unobtrusive addition to any room.

Dyson Cool AM07 Tower Fan, £339 – buy here

Give yourself a facial with the LPG Wellbox

Professional facials might be off the cards right now, but with the LPG Wellbox – a natural LipoMassage tool – you won’t feel like you’ve missed an appointment. The gadget is suitably stylish given its French heritage, and employs safe, natural anti-ageing and slimming technologies to firm up your skin and prevent cellulite. The roller heads have been specifically developed for slimming the body and face when rolled across the skin. How? By naturally stimulating the adipocytes, which regulate fat storage in our body.

LPG Wellbox, £734 – buy here

Upgrade mealtimes with a Big Green Egg barbecue

Model: Big Green Egg Large Nest BBQ with Wood Shelves Bundle

Big Green Egg has long been considered the most stylish name on the barbecue scene. What’s more, the brand’s furnaces are widely believed to deliver the most succulent grilled goods, too, thanks to their porcelain-glazed ceramic construction. If you’re lucky enough to have a garden, when better to invest in a quality barbecue than ahead of a summer likely to involve a lot of home cooking? There are various Big Green Egg models (and price points) to choose from, each boasting the trademark egg-shaped case and hood. Our advice? Invest now and spend your summer in confinement getting to grips with its many functions – from smoking and roasting to grilling and baking.

Big Green Egg Large Nest BBQ with Wood Shelves Bundle, £1,490 – buy here

Make food prep easier with a Thermomix

Model: Thermomix TM6

If lockdown has left you fatigued with the amount of time you’re spending preparing meals in the kitchen, employ a sous-chef in the form of a Thermomix to help you out. The 20 functions of this smart and savvy meal maker can help you prepare virtually anything – from soups and smoothies for one, to braised meats and caramelised vegetables for a special family meal. The guided cooking function offers step-by-step instructions to walk you through whatever it is you’re preparing. In no time at all, this nifty little device will have you cooking rice to perfection, fermenting your own gut-friendly goods and thickening sauces like a pro.

Thermomix TM6, £1,099 – buy here

Improve home entertainment with a Bang & Olufsen speaker

Model: Bang & Olufsen Beoplay A9 Speaker in Bronze

If lockdown has left you longing for the beats and buzz of your favourite social settings, why not bring those good vibes home with a state-of-the-art speaker? The fourth generation of the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay A9 Speaker is as high-tech as they come, working in conjunction with the likes of Apple AirPlay2 and Google Chromecast as well as the usual candidates. With its wireless capabilities and exceptional sound range, the Beoplay A9 Speaker wins the approval of the tech crowd. And, thanks to its sleek and sophisticated design, it’s a fixture fit to complement your interiors.

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay A9 Speaker in Bronze, £2,500 – buy here

Unwind using a Theragun massager

Model: G3PRO Theragun in Black

Whether to tease out knots troubling your back or to ease mental tension, many of us are hankering after a massage right now. As an appointment with a professional won't be possible for some time, it could be worth investing in the next best thing: an at-home massage tool. Far less clunky than a massage chair, the G3PRO Theragun is just as effective, using percussive therapy to release tightness and knots in just 30 seconds. The product comes recommended for athletes and regular exercisers as well as those with serious muscle troubles. Simply select ne of two settings, hold the device against the muscle and feel your shoulders drop as it pummels away any tightness.

G3PRO Theragun, £414 (saving 25%) – buy here

Snooze soundly with the Sleep Robot

While sleeping with your arms wrapped around a kidney-shaped cushion that breathes like a human might sound like something out of a futuristic sci-fi film, bear with us: because the Somnox Sleep Robot is among the best gadgets on the market for optimising the quality of your night’s sleep. Mirroring your own breathing patterns, the Sleep Robot adopts rhythmic movements and sounds designed to help you relax, fall asleep more easily and doze deeply for longer.

Somnox Sleep Robot, £549 – buy here