Mr. Big Stuff: gadget ideas if you win at the races

Chuffed ($100-499)

Grabbing some cash on the positive side of a hundred isn’t bad, and you should give yourself a hand. We’d feel quite chuffed if we won something, so go on and buy yourselves something.

Lexar 128GB microSDXC

Price: $127

Android and Windows phone and tablet owners know they can upgrade their devices — most of them, anyway — so with your winnings, why not grab an update that’ll bring more storage? If you own a device with support for microSDXC, you may find 128GB is something you can use, and if that’s the case, this is one upgrade you’ll love.

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Motorola 360 smartwatch

Price: $329

Motorola managed to beat LG and Samsung to releasing a circular smartwatch, and Australia now has it, with the Moto 360 going on sale on October 31. We’ve seen it and played with it, and if you’re interested in smartwatches and have an Android phone, there’s a good chance you’ll want to, as well.

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Dyson Cool AM06

Price: $449

Dyson’s update to its Air Multiplier fan is quieter and lighter than the previous generation, and while it still doesn’t bring a lot of value, it’s a good option for people who like modern appliances to keep them cool during the warmer seasons.

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Fantastic ($500-2000)

We have one word for you: woot!

Go you. Next time, we’re getting tips from you. Until then, here are our tips for random gadgets you can spend your casually earned winnings on.

Aedle VK-1 headphones

Price: $599

Some of the nicest cans we’ve ever checked out, the VK-1 headphones are handmade, beautifully designed, and aside for the first uncomfortable week of operation — they’re really tight in construction — sound freakin’ amazing.

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Marshall Stanmore Bluetooth speaker

Price: $599

Marshall’s entry in the Bluetooth speaker world is basically one of the coolest, snazziest, and most controllable speakers we’ve ever seen. We fell in love, and if you love music and its history, there’s a good chance you will, too.

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Sony Xperia Z3 Compact

Price: $699

One of our picks of the year, the Xperia Z3 Compact shows that you don’t need a big size to get a big display in, with a 4.6 inch screen in a small phone, and a battery that hits a day and a bit into the second, as well as a fantastic camera and PlayStation 4 control.

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Apple iPhone 6

Price: from $869

Apple’s best phone to date is also its biggest phone, and just like is expected, there’s a metal body, curved piece of glass, and an Apple experience in a 4.7 inch display. It’s the iPhone worth checking out this year.

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Microsoft Surface Pro 3

Price: from $979

Easily, one of our favourite computers from this year, the Surface Pro 3 is a tablet done right, and done with more than just content consumption in mind. We write so much from this website on one, and we even get a smidgeon of gaming done. Worth checking out.

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Ding-ding-ding (over $2000)

Sheesh. Consider us impressed, and a little jealous. If you have over a grand of winnings to play with, you must feel quite chuffed. All in a day’s work, right?

Now that you have some cash to play with, here are some neato options for you to look at.

Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro

Price: from $2099

We’ve had our eye on this one since the launch in October, and if you’re after a slick computer, this is one to check out. Thinner than so much out there and with a hinge unlike anything else, this could be love. Really. Love.

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Leica T (Typ 701)

Price: $2300 for the body, and another $2300 for the lens

It doesn’t exactly bring value, but it does bring a design like no other camera, and being a Leica, we’re not surprised. Think aluminium brick with a heart of a camera and you’ll see what we’re talking about.

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Astell & Kern Blue Note 75th Anniversary Pack

Price: $7599

Like jazz? A lot? Enough to spend over $7000 on a new high-resolution audio player and a collection of Blue Note’s best albums? This is the pack for you. We still think this price is nuts, but it’s a special edition thing so, hey, you’ll be one of those collectors.

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Bang & Olufsen BeoVision Avant 4K TV

Price: $12490

If you seriously made enough in the sweeps to spend this sort of money, why not spend on something big. We haven’t yet had a good serious play with it, but the few minutes we spent gazing at its lovely form convinced us that if we were ever rich, we’d probably want this TV, if not a pair of the speakers accompanying it.

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