The Coolest Tech Gadgets We’ve Tested So Far This Year (2024)

The Coolest Tech Gadgets We’ve Tested So Far This Year (1)

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It's hard to stay up to date with the ever-growing, forever-changing tech space. But luckily for you, that's where we come in. We're constantly testing new products, researching recent trends in the tech space, and updating our list of cool gadgets accordingly.

The annual consumer tech launch cycle began this past January at CES — a massive industry event that highlights the latest innovation and emerging trends in the tech space, where leading brands showcase products that will upgrade your home office, transform any living room into a legit home theater, step up your gaming setup, and improve your wellness routine — all while keeping you safe and sane. Throughout the year, leading tech giants like Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Samsung, to name a few, hold separate events to showcase their own creations. Therefore, keeping tabs on and evaluating every new tech product that hits the shelves is a full-time job.

We feel that tech gadgets are all about making your life easier and more enjoyable. For this list, we reviewed new product releases from leading makers in countless tech and gadget categories, as well as revisited long-term favorites to see if they still make the cut.

From true wireless earbuds to smart home appliances to tech products for parents, here are the coolest gadgets available right now. In addition to great personal upgrades, all these products double as foolproof tech gifts for friends and family members.

1

A Beautiful Smart Wallet

Ekster RFID Blocking Leather Wallet

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The Ekster Parliament is a smart bifold wallet with RFID coating (to protect against identity theft) and a patented mechanism that ejects cards from its aluminum storage pocket with the press of a button. It has space for at least ten cards, as well as a strap for carrying cash and receipts.

Ekster has crafted the wallet from high-quality leather that comes in a multitude of colors. An optional Bluetooth tracker for the wallet is also available — this ultra-thin gadget has a maximum range of 200 feet, and it is powered by light, so it never needs a battery.

More: The Best iPhone Wallet Cases

2

Best Laptop Cleaning Tool

OXO Sweep & Swipe Laptop Cleaner

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I’ve been swearing by this tiny laptop accessory by OXO to keep my laptop spotless since I impulsively bought one more than a year ago. The affordable gadget packs a microfiber pad and a retractable soft brush.

The microfiber pad mentioned above is handy for removing smudges from the screen of a laptop, a tablet, a smartphone, or any other gadget. On the other hand, the brush makes cleaning a keyboard fast and effortless.

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3

Best 3D Printer

Anker AnkerMake M5 3D Printer

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The AnkerMake M5 is our top 3D printer recommendation for most consumers because it can crank out complex objects at best-in-class speed, including elaborate ones that use multiple filament materials. The splurgeworthy product is also elegant and easy to operate via a touchscreen and a companion app.

Other noteworthy features of the AnkerMake M5 include a built-in camera for keeping an eye on the progress of your prints and a die-cast aluminum structure that’s sleek and sturdy in equal measure.

More: The Best 3D Printers of the Year

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4

A High-Tech Home Decor Upgrade

Meural Canvas II Smart Art Frame

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The Meural Canvas II smart art frame can display iconic artworks from museums around the world or family memories via a sophisticated display with a matte finish. The screen makes the connected gadget look like a real picture, not a tech device, ensuring it can instantly fit into any home decor arrangement. You or the giftee can choose the content to display via a companion app.

You can order the Meural Canvas II is two sizes and various frame colors. The latter include black, white, or wood finishes.

The D03 Dapper bifold wallet by Dango Products is an everyday accessory that effortlessly combines cool design, exceptional craftsmanship, and perfect usability. Made in the U.S. from machined aluminum, water-resistant DTEX, and genuine leather (in black or brown), the D03 wallet has space for up to 14 cards and cash.

You can order the badass wallet with a satin silver or jet-black aluminum chassis. Dango backs the product with a lifetime warranty.

6

Best Charging Station

Anker Prime 6-in-1 Charging Station

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This charging station by Anker is the best I have experienced yet because it's sleek, compact, and incredibly versatile. It packs a duo of AC outlets, a pair of fast USB-C ports, and two USB-A ports. Such an abundance of outputs ensures the accessory can power up just about any gadget you or the giftee own — from a desktop computer to a smartphone and tablet, all the way to smaller gadgets.

One of my favorite bits about the charging station is its built-in color display for keeping tabs on the charging process of its USB ports. With a slim profile and a removable cable, the accessory is also a perfect travel companion.

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7

For the One Who Likes to Be Prepared

HOTO Flashlight Lite

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This compact flashlight became an instant favorite of ours by offering an elegant aluminum build, incredible versatility, excellent battery life, and a USB-C connector for recharging it. Thanks to a bundled light diffuser, the handy gadget can quickly transform from a high-powered flashlight with stellar zoom capabilities to a lamp to use while camping or on the road.

We like the flashlight’s integrated hook for attaching it to items. Its intuitive button controls include an SOS button for use during emergencies.

8

Best Open-Ear Headphones

Soundcore AeroFit Pro Open-Ear Headphones

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Once a niche subcategory with only a few products worth buying, open-ear wireless earphones without ear tips have become a popular form factor, with many options now available. Open-ear earphones are perfect for outdoor exercising and commuting because they allow you to always be aware of your surroundings.

The Soundcore AeroFit Pro open-ear earphones are the best worth your attention. Available in several colors, the product has a sleek and durable design, comfy fit, top-tier sound that’s customizable via an app, and up to 14 hours of battery life.

More: The Best Open-Ear Headphones Out Today

9

Best Tech Pouch

Peak Design Tech Pouch

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The Peak Design Tech Pouch is a stylish and exceptionally made accessory that's a must-have for frequent travelers. It has enough pockets and compartments for small gadgets, charging cables, memory cards, and any other accessories you might own.

Peak Design has crafted the exterior of this tech pouch using recycled nylon with a weatherproof finish. There are several colors to pick from: black, charcoal, bone, midnight, and sage green.

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10

A Headphone Legend Reimagined

Beats Solo 4 Wireless Headphones

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The Beats Solo 4 wireless on-ear headphones are a follow-up to a legendary product that's been on the shelves for almost a decade. The new iteration brings welcome sound improvements, headlined by support for immersive spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, as well as longer battery life (up to 50 hours). Support for lossless audio is also on board.

Of course, the Solo 4 headphones also have an instantly recognizable design and comfy on-ear fit with convenient controls. You can order a set in black, blue, or pink.

11

Best Battery Pack for iPhone Users

Anker MagGo Qi2 Power Bank

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This MagGo magnetic power bank by Anker supports the latest Qi2 wireless charging standard, ensuring it can charge the latest iPhones faster than a standard MagSafe battery pack. The essential accessory has a battery pack with 10,000 mAh capacity, so it can recharge an iPhone and have plenty of power to spare for other gadgets. A USB-C port for fast wired charging is also available.

We like the gadget’s onboard color display for keeping tabs on the charging process and its battery capacity. Its integrated viewing stand is super convenient, too.

12

Best Camera for Adventurers

GoPro HERO12 Black Waterproof Action Camera

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Now 25% Off

The HERO12 Black by GoPro is better than its predecessor and the best action camera out there. It's compact, easy to operate, and full of connectivity features. It can capture incredibly smooth 5.3K video that's sharper than 4K and 27MP still images. It can also livestream your adventures.

Like every GoPro that precedes it, the HERO12 Black has the best video stabilization tech in its class. It can go up to 33 feet underwater without a protective case. It is compatible with a robust selection of original and third-party accessories.

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13

Most Versatile Android Tablet

Google Pixel Tablet

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Now 19% Off

The Google Pixel Tablet — the tech giant’s first Android slate in years — sets a new standard for versatility in this product category. The device’s unique, fabric-covered charging dock packs a powerful speaker, allowing it to transform into a big-screen smart display that’s a legit replacement for Google’s own Nest Hub Max.

Of course, the Pixel Tablet also packs a sharp touchscreen, the same Tensor G2 chip that powers the Pixel 7 Pro and the Pixel Fold, a duo of high-quality cameras, and abundant onboard storage.

14

Best Gaming Laptop Under $1,500

ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) Gaming Laptop

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This 2024 iteration of the ASUS ROG Strix G16 gaming laptop impressed me by providing a perfect balance between sleek design, capable processor and graphics, a Dolby Vision-compatible display, upgradeable memory, and stellar gaming performance. Best of all, the notebook has a great price that's within reach for many upgraders.

The ASUS ROG Strix G16 is one of the best in its category and the one to get if you want your upgrade budget to remain well below $1,500.

15

For Taking a Break from Tech

Grovemade Brass Pen

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This rollerball pen by Grovemade may be an analog technology, but it's no less useful. Made of solid brass, the writing instrument will help you take a break from the screen in the coolest possible fashion.

I really like the pen's addictive twist action for retracting its rollerball cartridge. There are several additional metal finishes to pick from. To make it a complete set, consider pairing the pen with either a maple or a walnut stand.

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16

Best Smartwatch for Android

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7

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The latest Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is the best smartwatch for Android users. Powered by Google’s WearOS, the timepiece has a comprehensive set of health-, fitness-, and sleep-tracking features, including the ability to automatically track your workouts. It is waterproof up to 50 meters, too.

You can order it in two case sizes (40- and 44-millimeter) and gold, graphite, and silver finishes. A more feature-packed, decidedly utilitarian Ultra version with a bigger case and a tougher build is also available.

17

A High-Tech Sleep Aid

Soundcore Sleep A20 Earbuds by Anker

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Anker's Soundcore Sleep A20 wireless earbuds, as their name suggests, have been designed and developed to improve your or the giftee's snooze routine. Impressively, they can reliably block ambient noise without the need for active noise cancellation. Of course, their excellent companion app offers a wide selection of ambient sounds to help you fall asleep.

The lightweight buds have a clever design that's suitable for side sleepers. Their battery can deliver up to 14 hours worth of ambient sounds on a charge — enough for a good night's rest.

18

Badass AirTag Protection

Raptic Link & Lock Carabiner for Apple AirTags

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The Raptic Link & Lock carabiner is one of the coolest gadgets and best accessories for Apple AirTags we’ve encountered yet. Crafted from ultra-tough zinc, this product has a heavy-duty lock with a three-digit combination code.

The standout feature mentioned above makes tampering with your favorite tracker and removing it from an item practically impossible. Of course, the Link & Lock will also protect your AirTag from damage via a rubber case with a softer interior.

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19

Most Rugged MagSafe Wallet

Pelican MagSafe Wallet & Card Holder

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The Pelican MagSafe wallet is the most rugged, most dependable option for carrying your essential cards alongside your iPhone. Its snap-on magnets are the strongest in its class, meaning that it won’t separate from your iPhone in case you drop it.

Impressively, the rugged case is also IPX4 water-resistant. As expected from a Pelican product, its hardshell exterior has a sturdy closure.

20

Best Minimalist Wallet

The Ridge Minimalist Metal Wallet

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The Ridge wallet has the same footprint as a credit card or an ID, making it as compact and convenient as can be. Despite its small size, the accessory has space for up to 12 cards, as well as a clip or a strap for bills and receipts.

You can order the Ridge wallet in a multitude of metal finishes, ranging from low-key to flashy. The stonewashed titanium pictured here is one of our favorites. Every wallet has a lifetime warranty.

More: Our Favorite Minimalist Wallets

The Coolest Tech Gadgets We’ve Tested So Far This Year (2024)
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