Brandt Ranj
Staff Writer, Commerce
Brandt Ranj is an experienced writer for PopSci, covering topics such science, technology, news and gadget reviews.
Highlights
Brandt Ranj joined Futurism’s commerce team in January of 2022 after spending five years in the industry covering technology for Business Insider and Rolling Stone. His role here is to cover the same beat, and help build a highly successful team that serves the audience while generating revenue for the site.
- Interested in AR, VR, speakers, headphones, and smart home accessories
- Has previously written for Business Insider and Rolling Stone
- Has an active interest in photography
Experience
Ranj’s previous roles required him to cover the entire tech industry, but he’s had the opportunity to specialize in both audio hardware and tech accessories. He enjoys writing about “staples” like chargers, cables, keyboards, mice, and webcams because these are the tools that readers rely on every day. Covering this beat has allowed him to build relationships with companies like Apple, Microsoft, Google, Sony, and Sonos to ensure he has the latest information (and hardware) to share with readers.
Given the changing landscape of commerce stories — more competition, increasingly stringent SEO requirements from Google — he’s made it my priority to differentiate the stories he tells. This means taking original product photos and getting hands-on time with as many products as possible. He’s particularly proud of the opportunities he’s had to post reviews of high-profile products, like Apple’s third-generation Airpods and the newest Kindle Paperwhite the moment their embargo lifted.
Education
Ranj studied communications at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York, and graduated in 2013. He was the technology columnist for his school paper for the majority of his time at school.
Favorite Product
The coolest gear he’s had the opportunity to check out recently includes Amazon’s 15-inch Echo Show, JBL’s Flip 6, and Elgato’s Stream Deck.