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

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

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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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.

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.

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 Hatch Restore 2 alarm clock is a high-tech nightstand upgrade we vouch for. The nifty gadget’s built-in light can simulate a sunrise for gentle wake-ups and deliver relaxing ambient sounds alongside a sunset-like glow to aid in falling asleep. The device can even help you get a deeper sleep by masking ambient sounds with white noise.

Integrated touch controls are handy for browsing a rich selection of lighting and sound experiences. Being a smart clock, the Restore 2 has an intuitive companion app for managing its features and settings.

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.

The PerL Pro true wireless earbuds by Denon set themselves apart from top-shelf rivals by Sony, Bose, and Apple by providing a listening experience that's precisely tailored to your hearing. The functionality utilizes tech by Masimo — a well-known maker of medical-grade monitoring devices. It's vastly more sophisticated than its rivals in terms of efficiency and user-friendliness.

Completing the personalized sound setup will allow you or the giftee to discover your favorite music in a whole new dimension. When it comes to sound, noise cancellation, and battery life, the PerL Pro earbuds perform in line with the expectations set by their price tag. A cheaper PerL model is also available.

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

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.

Crafted in Portland, Oregon, the Leatherman Skeletool CX multitool is sleek, impressively lightweight, superbly built, and — for less than $100 — reasonably priced. Its onboard tools include the brand's signature pliers, a small 2.6-inch blade, screwdrivers, and a carabiner that doubles as a bottle opener, among others.

Leatherman backs the Skeletool CX with a robust 25-year warranty. There are several colors to choose from, including bright new shades like the Verdant option pictured here.

The all-new Beats Pill Bluetooth speaker is a follow-up to a bona fide legend and an instant challenger for the best products in its class. In addition to the compulsory sound upgrades over the past iteration, the new Pill brings a water- and dustproof build with an IP67 rating and longer battery life (up to 20 hours).

Like the brand's excellent Studio Buds + wireless earbuds, the Beats Pill speaker is equally great for iPhone and Android users. Remarkably, the gadget is compatible with both Apple and Google object tracking services, so you or the giftee can always keep tabs on its whereabouts.

The all-new iPad Pro is Apple's sleekest, most advanced touchscreen slate yet and the absolute best big-screen tablet worth your attention, regardless of the platform. The thoroughly revamped Pro has a strikingly thin design, best-in-class hardware specs that include Apple's latest M4 chip and captivating Ultra Retina XDR display, and a performance to match.

Apple offers the slate with an 11- and a 13-inch screen in silver or space black. The latest iPad Pro also arrived alongside a new Apple Pencil Pro and a metal-clad Magic Keyboard with a haptic trackpad.

Apple iPad Pro with M4 Chip Review

The Marine Holder by Pelican is the most rugged and dependable AirTag accessory worth your attention. The accessory has a shock-resistant exterior with Dupont Kevlar — an impossibly lightweight and tough material — used in its making. It’s also water- and dustproof with an IP68 rating, guaranteeing that your tracker will become practically impervious to damage.

We like that the fully sealed Pelican case is as discreet as it is tough. The product is compatible with keychains, and it comes bundled with a carabiner for attaching it to items.

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.

The refreshed Motorola razr starts at a penny below $700 before additional discounts, so it is reasonably priced for a foldable phone. The 2024 iteration is a great buy for its striking design, water-resistant build, robust hardware specs, excellent everyday performance, and long battery life.

I like that Motorola treated the entry-level razr to a big external display that's on par with last year's Plus version. The phone's exterior is a fusion between aluminum and vegan leather, so it looks and feels great. Its predecessor costs below $400 now, in case you are looking for a foldable phone on the cheap.

The refreshed PlayStation 5 is a sleeker and more compact version of an amazing product. The new iteration is noticeably smaller and lighter than the original (by 30% and 24%, respectively) while delivering the same incredible power and performance.

Compared to the first-generation PlayStation 5, the updated console also features a removable Blu-ray disc drive and more onboard storage. Best of all, it's easy to find in stock, meaning that you won't have to wait months or pay above retail to get your hands on one.

Google’s Pixel 8a is the most value-packed Android smartphone to hit the shelves this year and a worthy sequel to the excellent Pixel 7a. The new iteration has a refreshed design, a more capable chip and camera, and a better OLED screen with a higher refresh rate, all for less than $500.

Like the latest top-shelf Pixel phones made by Google, the 8a will always treat you or the giftee to timely Android updates for seven years after you buy it. The phone is available in several colors: aloe (pictured here), bay, obsidian, and porcelain.

Google Pixel 8a Android Smartphone Review

Owners of the latest MacBook Air and MacBook Pros must have the latest USB-C hub by Plugable on their radar. The reasonably priced accessory will treat the latest Apple laptops to a pair of USB-A ports and a gigabit Ethernet connector by connecting to the duo of USB-C ports on their left side.

The gadget also features a Thunderbolt-compatible USB-C port and a standard audio jack. Another bit we love about the Plugable offering is its handy slot for the MagSafe charger.