Staff Picks - 12 things Kris uses every day - Android

Here at Android Authority, we have a diverse staff. We come from all over the world and we use all kinds of technology. The Staff Picks series shows you what tech we use for work, play, and health.

Like most of the team, I work at my desk a lot of the time but typically spend a bit of time working in airports, cafes and in hotel rooms. During lockdown though, my home office has increased in importance as my central place to work and play. I usually balance portability against the best bang for my buck but when your desk is all you have, it pays to splash out occasionally.

Phones: Pixel 4 XL and Huawei P40 Pro

Neither of these phones are perfect but combined, they suit me just fine. In my opinion, the Pixel 4 XL still offers the best software on Android so I’ve made my peace with the battery and moved on. The Pixel 4 XL is essentially my work phone.

My other daily driver is the Huawei P40 Pro, which I love for its super-versatile camera system and excellent battery. The lack of Google apps and services is a problem for work stuff, hence still using the Pixel 4 XL. But I can’t deny the lingering appeal of Huawei hardware, even if you have to jump through a few more hoops to make it work.

Smartwatch: Huawei Watch GT2

The one thing I have with me even more than my phones is my smartwatch. The best thing about the Huawei Watch GT 2 is that its battery lasts for two weeks and it does no more than I want it to.

It’s far from the most full-featured smartwatch around but that’s why it never leaves my side. It does what I need and nothing more (without me having to disable half its features), so I can be connected… but not too connected. If you’re into a sportier-looking smartwatch with a similar feature set, check out the newer and cheaper Huawei Watch GT 2e.

Desk: Flexispot E5 standing desk

As I said in my review of this cheap standing desk recently, if I had my time over again, a standing desk would have been my first office purchase, ahead of even a chair or 4K monitor.

Sitting for extended periods of time is bad juju for your health, so a desk that beeps to remind me to stand periodically is a great thing. Combine that with move alerts from my smartwatch to stretch regularly and I actually have a chance of coming out of a workday alive.

Chair: Secret Lab Omega