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 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.

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 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

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 Casa pop-up desk by Logitech is an awesome new laptop accessory that's tailor-made for space-starved remote workers and on-the-go professionals. The do-everything accessory consists of a stand that will lift the laptop to eye level to optimize comfort, as well as a wireless keyboard and touchpad. Combined, the accessories will allow you or a giftee to create a full-blown workstation just about anywhere.

Impressively, the keyboard and trackpad have dedicated storage slots in the laptop stand. When folded, the Casa pop-up desk is about the size of a large notepad.

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

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 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 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 Sonos Ace wireless headphones are the popular audio maker's first product of this kind and an exciting new addition to this competitive market. The over-ear cans are sleek, comfy, and capable of producing sound and noise cancellation that can compete with Apple, Bose, and Sony offerings in their price range. I spent weeks testing the Ace and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Sonos offers the Ace headphones in black or white. Each set comes with a stylish storage case and a set of cables for charging and lossless wired audio playback. The cables have an awesome felt storage pouch.

Sonos Ace Wireless Headphones Review

This magnetic charger by Urban Armor Gear is more versatile than most MagSafe rivals, including Apple's own, because it has an integrated kickstand. The latter will allow you or a gift recipient to watch videos, scroll through social media, and even game with a wireless controller while powering up your iPhone.

I like the accessory's carbon fiber bits and metal stand because they offer convenience and versatility that go beyond charging. The product also comes bundled with a stylish and durable USB-C cable.

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.

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.

The 1More PistonBuds Pro Q30 wireless earbuds are the best budget set worth your attention. Priced around $50 before additional deals and discounts, the stem earbuds offer an elegant design, customizable sound with support for enhanced spatial audio, and strong noise cancellation. These features were previously reserved for pricier products, so having them in one with an impulse-buy price is a big deal.

You can order the 1More PistonBuds Pro Q30 in black or white with gold accents.

Tested: 1More PistonBuds Pro Q30 Wireless Earbuds

This freshly launched 2-in-1 MagSafe charging stand by Satechi became an instant favorite of ours for its design, versatility, and fast charging speeds. Featuring an exterior made from aluminum and vegan leather, the accessory is a perfect match for any Apple setup. Its iPhone dock has adjustable viewing angles, while its base has a slot for charging AirPods or other compatible earbuds.

The charging stand supports the latest Qi2 wireless charging standard, so it's fast and futureproof. We love that it folds completely flat for easy storage. A slightly pricier version with a retractable Apple Watch dock is also available.