This Week The Trend (Issue 39)

This week's picks include checked luggage, presence sensor, and a streaming box.

Tyler H

17 Apr 2026 • 4 min read

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This Week The Trend newsletter consists of me selecting three products worth buying at different price points. Each product is given a Value Score—based on price and function—and then one is crowned the winner at the end. Affiliate links may be used.

How I’d spend $500: Bellroy Transit Check-In (69L)

Bellroy released its hardshell carry-on last year. In 2026, it's making bigger suitcases designed to be checked. The Transit Check-In has a few internal tweaks from its smaller sibling, but still features a built-in packing cube. The suitcase comes in 69L and 101L sizes, each with six color options.

Price: $399 (link)
Value Score: Poor

While you can definitely find cheaper, larger suitcases, Bellroy's Transit line has a lot of nice touches, including placing the button underneath the handle, out of the way, instead of on top of it.

How I’d spend $150: Google TV Streamer 4K

Although I prefer the Apple TV 4K streaming box to use on my TVs, this TV Streamer 4K from Google is a little bit cheaper and an excellent option, especially if you use an Android phone to cast content from. TV audio can seamlessly be passed to Google's Pixel Buds as well. The biggest thing to like, however, is the user interface. It blends content from multiple sources well, including highlighting free shows and movies from services like Tubi and Pluto.

Price: $79 (link)
Value Score: Good

This streaming box is normally $99, but it is $20 off right now, bringing it down to $79. Between a Roku box, an Amazon Fire TV Stick, or this one, I would choose this one each time.

How I’d spend $50: Aqara Presence Sensor (FP300)

The Aqara Presence Sensor FP300 acts like a motion sensor, but it's a lot more sophisticated. Instead of just looking for big sweeping motions, it can detect humans, even when they're still, thanks to light, temperature, and humidity sensors, along with 60GHz mmWave radar. You can use the Presence Sensor to trigger lights or other smart home devices.

Price: $50 (link)
Value Score: good

I've been using this Presence Sensor for a few months, and it's been working beautifully. Not only does it keep my office lights on when I've been still for a while, but it also detects when I leave the room and turns the lights off quickly. Matter support means this will work across smart home platforms, which makes it a good value.

The winning pick: Google TV Streamer 4K

This week's sale on the Google TV Streamer 4K, to bring it down to $79, makes it a good enough value to be the winner. The unit is sleek and comes in multiple colors, so it should fit with nearly any home decor.

Are you looking for even more picks this week? Here are a few things worth considering.

An expensive pick: Ecovacs Deebot X12 Omnicyclone

Ecovacs' latest robot vacuum has a secret weapon when it comes to removing caked-on dirt with two high-powered spray nozzles. Instead of only using the downward force of the rollerbrush to clean stains and grease, the X12 Omnicyclone's FocusJet uses pressurized water spray up to 46,000Pa. The jets come in addition to all the other robot features, like a self-cleaning docking station and a self-cleaning rollermop.

Price: $1,500 (link)

Media pick: Focker-In-Law

I scoffed when I saw there was a new movie in the "Focker" series. I tried not to laugh during the trailer, but completely failed about midway through. Whether this one is worth going to the theater at Thanksgiving to see is debatable, but it'll for sure be worth streaming whenever it reaches one of the services.

This week's other interesting deals and product news

Jackbox games are now included in your Netflix subscription.
GoPro announced new cameras with a 1-inch sensor.
Hotel Lobby has a new Racquet Club candle sent, and it's spectacular for spring.
Spotify is now selling physical books.
Sony is selling a slew of new Inzone gaming products, including a new 27-inch OLED gaming monitor.
Amazon Prime Video is raising its ad-free price to $4.99 per month.
YouTube Premium is going from $13.99 to $15.99 per month. YouTube Music is going from $10.99 to $11.99 per month.

This week's published stories

The best digital picture frames [Business Insider]
I tried Shark's $150 ChillPill—and the cold metal plate is the best part [Yahoo]
'MLB Big Inning' might be even better than 'NFL RedZone' for baseball fans [Yahoo]
Opinion: Apple's folding iPhone won't be called 'Ultra,' for a very obvious reason [Yahoo]
This tiny $79 e-reader could help you read more, but there's a catch [Yahoo]

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