My Everyday Tech Setup in New York

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I’ve lived in New York long enough to know that tech here isn’t about chasing specs — it’s about survival. Between cramped apartments, crowded commutes, and coffee shops doubling as offices, every piece of gear I use has to earn its space. My everyday setup is a mix of practicality, mobility, and a little indulgence for the moments when I just want things to feel right.

In this article, I’ll walk you through my daily tech setup in NYC — what I actually use, why it works for my city rhythm, and which gadgets I’d replace (or never give up). Whether you’re working remotely, freelancing, or just living that constant-on-the-move city life, this might help you refine your own setup too.

💻 My Main Laptop: MacBook Air M2

If there’s one piece of tech that defines my day, it’s my MacBook Air M2 (midnight color, 512 GB SSD). I used to run a heavier Windows laptop, but carrying it on the subway every day was punishing. The M2 strikes that balance — fast enough for editing, light enough for life.

What I love: the silence. No fan noise, no overheating, just clean performance whether I’m writing at Think Coffee or rendering photos at 11 p.m. in my apartment. Battery life easily lasts through a full day in Manhattan — about 12–13 hours of moderate use.

What’s not perfect: the ports. I carry a compact Satechi USB-C hub to connect an SD card, HDMI, and an external SSD. Without it, I’d be toast during photo edits.

🎧 Headphones: Sony WH-1000XM5 for Focus, AirPods Pro for Commutes

Sound is my sanity. I use two sets of headphones depending on context.

Sony WH-1000XM5: My “deep-work” gear. When I’m editing long articles or tuning out city noise, these stay on for hours. The noise canceling is magic against subway rumble or construction drills.
AirPods Pro (2nd gen): My go-to for walking around or taking calls outside. Transparency mode keeps me aware of bikes that come out of nowhere on Broadway.

If I had to pick one, I’d go Sony — but they’re too bulky for daily carry, so the AirPods win by convenience.

📱 Smartphone: iPhone 15 Pro

I resisted upgrading for years, but the iPhone 15 Pro changed the game for me in one key way: the USB-C port. It means I can finally carry one charger for my laptop, phone, and camera gear.

Camera quality is another leap. I take most of my blog photos with it — the detail in low light, especially in cafes or subway stations, is impressive. Battery life’s solid, though not amazing; I usually top up mid-day with a 20 W Anker Nano charger.

⌚ Apple Watch Series 9 — Quietly Essential

I thought I didn’t need a smartwatch. Now I rely on it more than I’d like to admit. My Apple Watch Series 9 keeps my schedule, tracks my steps between Brooklyn and Manhattan, and helps me control music during subway rides without pulling out my phone.

I don’t over-track health metrics — just heart rate, sleep, and occasional mindfulness reminders. The best part? Paying for coffee with a wrist tap when both hands are full of gear.

📷 Camera: Fujifilm X-S10

This one’s for pure joy. I shoot street photos and gear reviews for my site, and the Fujifilm X-S10 hits that sweet spot between portability and image quality. Paired with the 23 mm f/2 lens, it’s perfect for spontaneous moments around SoHo or Central Park.

Its film simulation modes are addicting — I often shoot in Classic Chrome to get that muted New York palette without editing much later.

I transfer shots straight to the MacBook via USB-C or Wi-Fi using Fujifilm’s app, which is surprisingly stable these days.

🔋 Everyday Accessories That Make Life Easier

City living demands flexibility, so I keep a small kit that handles power and storage on the go:

Anker 20 W Nano Charger: Fast, compact, reliable.
Baseus 10,000 mAh Power Bank: Enough juice for my phone and AirPods twice over.
Samsung T7 SSD (1 TB): For offloading photo projects or backups.
Satechi USB-C Hub: A must-have for the MacBook.
Cable Organizer Pouch: Keeps all the above from tangling in my backpack.

All of this fits inside a small Bellroy Tech Kit Compact, which feels tailor-made for my city commute.

🏠 Home Setup

At home, my desk setup is intentionally minimal. Space in a New York apartment is premium real estate.

Monitor: LG 27-inch 4K USB-C Display — doubles as a charger for my laptop.
Keyboard: Keychron K3 (low-profile mechanical). The tactile feel keeps typing satisfying.
Mouse: Logitech MX Anywhere 3. Small, precise, perfect for tight desk spaces.
Lighting: A basic desk lamp with a warm hue. Nothing fancy, just mood balance for late-night edits.

Everything sits on a standing desk converter I bought from FlexiSpot. I spend most of my day sitting, so alternating posture helps with focus and fatigue.

🧠 Software I Can’t Work Without

Hardware’s only half the story. The real flow comes from the apps that make the day smoother:

Notion: My second brain. I track projects, content ideas, and daily tasks here.
Grammarly + Hemingway: For polishing articles before they hit 123Review.net.
Google Drive: File sharing and backups, especially for large media projects.
Final Cut Pro: For short video reviews or social snippets.
Figma: For layout and design mockups.

Each one is lightweight enough to run on the Air without throttling performance — something I appreciate when editing from a coffee shop Wi-Fi.

💼 My Everyday Carry Bag

Everything above fits in my Bellroy Transit Workpack, a clean, minimalist backpack with separate padded laptop and tech compartments. Inside are my camera, hub, SSD, charger, and headphones.

The waterproof exterior has saved my tech more than once during those sudden New York downpours. And because the city moves fast, I keep an RFID card holder and a tiny bottle of hand sanitizer in the front pocket.

⚡ Lessons I’ve Learned About Tech in NYC

New York is the city of friction — trains rattle, crowds squeeze, outlets are rare. The best tech isn’t the flashiest; it’s the stuff that stays out of your way. After years of testing and refining, I’ve learned that less is more.

I don’t chase every new release anymore. Instead, I invest in tools that blend seamlessly — the kind that make working from a café or editing a review on a park bench feel effortless.

🗽 My Verdict

My everyday tech setup in New York is simple but sharp — compact enough to carry anywhere, powerful enough to handle everything I do. From the MacBook Air M2 to the Fujifilm X-S10, each piece fits a specific rhythm of urban life: mobile, adaptable, quietly efficient.

If you live in a fast-paced city, build your setup like you’d build a wardrobe — start with reliable essentials, then add character where it counts.