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As a first time business owner, there have been many items that I would highly recommend to anyone.
A separate, high quality phone. One that I would highly recommend these days would be Samsung Galaxy S24.
Trying to manage both personal and business contacts on one device (as well as notifications) is a nightmare.
As usual, I feel Android hardware is far and away better than Apple hardware, and with a brand as strong as Samsung they’ve continued to deliver on the hardware end.
A high quality laptop. I use a Framework 13, but if it’s in your price range I would recommend the 16 with AMD hardware.
I broke my laptop screen and it only took a few days to receive my new screen, replace it myself, and get back to work without any external help. The convenience of getting back to work on my own hardware, without needing to change hands or get a loaner was a huge peace of mind for me.
Unfortunately the specific model I use is no longer on amazon, but similarly to this one it allows an external display, power delivery, micro and standard SD card access, and many peripherals (which is super helpful since the screen space and mouse+keyboard for 3d model design)
A tablet (like an iPad):
For on the go work to manage emails and particularly intensive reading like reading up on a new standard or technology, a tablet is unmatched for convenience. Being able to carry it comfortably standing unlike a laptop and not needing to squint or constantly adjust zoom like on a phone is a life saver.
It’s also fantastic for brainstorming! When you do design work that’s a bit more creative, drawing diagrams or just a quick sketch of a concept is invaluable!