Technology changes daily and with new gadgets emerging everyday it can be easy to lose track. Don’t worry, here are the best devices of the year.
Our top picks
The best gadgets right now
Below are some of the best gadgets of the year and some of the reasons why they are top rated.
Best phone right now
Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus
Samsung’s best phone with a cinema and excellent camera
- Weight: 189g
- Size: 158.1 x 73.8 x 8.5 mm
- OS: Android 8
- Screen size: 6.2-inch
- Screen Resolution: 1440 x 2960
- CPU: Snapdragon 845/ Exynos 9810
- RAM: 6GB
- Storage: 64GB/128GB
- Battery: 3,500 mAh
- Rear camera: Dual 12MP
- Front camera: 8MP.
Price:$ 604.12
Samsung is making a huge deal about the camera on the S9, and with good reason, it has dual 12MP electronic cameras both with an outstanding f/1.5 optimum aperture. Currently, the S9 range is the only phone with a camera aperture this large, making its low-light prowess second-to-none. Add the ‘infinity’ screen that the Samsung Galaxy family is now popular for, and this big-screened charm conveniently takes the top spot. We believed the AR Emoji feature was overrated, however, if you’re in the market for the best screen and camera on a phone, this is the ideal handset for you.
Best laptop computer right now
Huawei MateBook X Pro
- CPU: 8th generation Intel Core i5– i7
- Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620, Nvidia GeForce MX150 2GB GDDR5
- RAM: 8GB– 16GB
- Screen: 13.9-inch 3K (3,000 x 2,080)
- Storage: 512GB SSD
Price:$ 1199.99.
The Huawei MateBook X Pro is our brand-new pick for the best laptop computer you can get in 2018, after years of this list being dominated by the outstanding Dell XPS 13, which is now in 2nd place. While Huawei has not been making laptops for as long, it has definitely knocked it out of the park with the MateBook X Pro.
This is a gorgeously-designed laptop with a sensational screen (albeit with a rather odd element ratio), and it comes loaded with cutting-edge elements that allow it to perform remarkably and a long-lasting battery. It also has a very competitive price, providing you features, style, and efficiency for a fair bit less loan.
Best TV right now
Samsung Q9FN QLED (2018 )
- 65-inch: Samsung QE65Q9FN
Price:$ 2997.99.
After its lackluster debut, Samsung’s QLED technology really needed to recover in 2018. It didn’t shock us to find Samsung tossed the kitchen area sink in with its brand-new Q9FN QLED Series of TVs. In addition to being brighter and more colorful than last year’s similar design, Samsung’s 2018 flagship screens use an entirely different lighting system to combat its predecessor’s contrast problems: Full Array Local Dimming instead of edge-lit LED lighting. The FALD panel operates in tandem with Samsung QLED Quantum Dots to produce a photo that’s brighter and more colorful than we’ve seen before from the South Korean manufacturer.
Do those functions alone make Samsung Q9FN the very best TV on the marketplace? No, but include technology like HDR10+ and Q HDR EliteMax, what Samsung takes as its optimum High Dynamic Range experience that’s unique to the Q9FN, and there’s extremely little doubt in our mind that this is Samsung’s best television ever.
Best games console right now
PS4 Pro
- Measurements: 295 x 327 x 55 mm (W x L x H)
- GPU: 4.20 TFLOPS, AMD Radeon ™ based graphics engine
- Storage RAM: 8GB of GDDR5, 1 GB DDR3
- Ports: USB 3.1, HDMI 2.0, Ethernet, Optical Audio and PlayStation Camera ports, Dual-band 802.11 air conditioner wireless, Bluetooth 4.0
- Max Resolution: 3840 × 2160
- Maximum controllers: 4
- Storage: 1TB.
Price:$ 399.99.
The battle between Sony’s PlayStation consoles and Microsoft’s Xbox series is hard-fought, however, right now we think the PS4 Pro has the upper hand over the Xbox One S or Xbox One X, thanks to a combination of excellent hardware, excellent games, and a generous online connection. An improvement on the already powerful PS4, the PS4 Pro supports 4K and HDR innovations; additionally, with advances in frame rate due to increased processing speeds, gaming will be cleaner, crisper and smoother. The only thing hindering the PS4 Pro from being the supreme console is the omission of an Ultra HD Blu-ray drive. Rather you’ll need to rely on streaming to get your 4K media patch, or, if you’re utilizing Sony’s PS Now service, the brand-new download function to play leased games without your patchy connection dropping the resolution.
Best fitness tracker right now
Moov Now
- Screen: Not available
- Heart rate tracker: No available
- Waterproof: Yes
- Activity tracking: Yes
- GPS: Yes, through a smartphone
- Battery life: Six months
- Compatibility: Android/iOS.
Price:$ 39.59.
The Moov Now doesn’t have all the features you would normally find on a fitness tracker. It doesn’t have a heart rate tracker; it doesn’t even have a screen; however what it does have is a low price tag and a six-month battery life. Yes, you read that right: 6 months. Throughout those six months, you can track your actions, your sleep, your physical fitness, your running strategy and a whole lot more. This might be a non-traditional fitness tracker, but it’s a fantastic one.
Best camera right now
Nikon D850
- Sensor size: Full-frame CMOS
- Resolution: 45.4 MP
- Lens: Nikon F install
- Viewfinder: Optical
- Screen: 3.2-inch tilting touchscreen, 2,359,000 dots
- Type: DSLR
- Maximum continuous shooting speed: 7fps
- Movies: 4K
- Skill level: Intermediate/expert.
Price:$ 3261.99.
It has a brilliant 45.4 MP full-frame sensing unit, stunning image quality, which is where the story begins. It has an advanced 153-point AF system and 9fps burst shooting speed. The D850 is great for shooting wildlife, landscape, and portraits. It could be the most excellent camera ever seen.
Best tablet right now
New iPad (2017 )
- Weight: 469g
- Dimensions: 24 x 16.95 x 0.75 cm
- OS: iOS 10
- Screen size: 9.7-inch
- Screen Resolution: 1536 x 2048 pixels
- CPU: A9|RAM: 2GB
- Storage: 32GB/128GB
- microSD slot: No
- Battery: approx 8,800 mAh
- Rear camera: 8MP
- Front camera: 1.2 MP.
Price:$ 306.75.
The best tablet right now is the brand-new iPad (2017 ), with its sharp 9.7-inch display screen, gorgeous design, and A9 chip, and all for a fair price. While the brand-new iPad (2017) isn’t doing anything revolutionary, it’s a solid update on the five-star device, and at a much more friendly price.
The new iPad starts at 32GB of storage instead of Apple’s normal 16GB and considering it’s less expensive than the entry-level iPad Air 2, that’s seriously great value for cash.
Best smartwatch right now
Apple Watch 4
- OS: watchOS 5
- Compatibility: iOS
- Show: 1.78″ OLED
- Processor: S4 dual-core
- Band sizes: Varies considerably per watch size
- Storage: 16GB|Battery: 18 hours
- Charging approach: Wireless
- IP rating: 50m ISO
- Connection: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC.
Price:$ 329.99.
The Watch 4 stole the show at the premiere of three new iPhones, and with good reason: where those others were copying the iPhone X from last year, the Watch 4 feels materially different. This is Apple’s best smartwatch. Not simply for the upgrade in display and size, without adding that much weight, however in the way Apple is pushing it: the Watch 4 is now a health-focused gadget, something to help you get fitter or remain healthier if you’ve got a major condition.
Best VR headset right now
HTC Vive
- Resolution: 2160 x 1200
- Compatibility: Windows OS
- Field of View: 110 degrees
- Play-space: 13 x 13 feet
- Are controllers included?: Yes
- Weight: 470g.
Price:$ 499.
Currently the HTC Vive is the best VR headset in the world. The controls are user-friendly, the resolution is extraordinary, with a 1080p screen per eye, and the base stations suggest you can play in an area that’s 13 x 13 feet in size, that’s some major playing space to swing yourself around in.
HTC’s close competing Oculus still has styles on the crown, and the inbound Oculus Quest, a wireless VR headset with PC-quality efficiency, supposedly, could well swing the balance. Like the majority of the entries on our list this is a premium product and pricey, but for now if you’re trying to find the best first-generation VR headset, then this is the one to go for.
Best headphones right now
Sennheiser Momentum Wireless
- Acoustic design: Closed
- Weight: N/
- Cable television length: 4.6 feet
- Frequency response: 16-22,000 Hz
- Drivers: N/
- Motorist type: Dynamic
- Sensitivity: N/
- Impedance: 28 ohms
- Battery life: 25+ hours
- Wireless variety: 30+ feet
- NFC: Yes.
Price:$ 480.15.
Choosing the ‘best set of headphones’ is a tricky proposal, because everyone requires something slightly different from their listening gadgets. If you require a lightweight set for the fitness center then you’re most likely much better off with a set of cordless earbuds; or, if you do most of your listening in your home and want the best possible sound quality, then a set of wired over-ears may be much better.
However, if we had to select the very best earphones in general, then we ‘d choose the Sennheiser Momentum Wireless. They’re wireless, that makes them easier for portable usage, and they’re noise-canceling for those who wish to use them in a noisy place. And, most notably, they do all this without jeopardizing on sound quality, which still measures up to the high standards that Sennheiser typically accomplishes. Oh, and they look pretty good too. There are absolutely better-sounding, good-looking and better noise-cancelling headphones out there, however none do everything much better than the Sennheiser Momentum Wireless headphones, which makes them the very best overall pair of headphones around right now.
That said, if you do wish to get the absolute best, purest, sound quality, we advise the great Oppo PM-3’s.
Cool must-have gadgets
Other fun gadgets
Bose Sleepbuds
Price: $ 250, bose.com.
Bose didn’t attempt to make the Swiss Army Knife of earbuds with its new Sleepbuds. These are created for sleep alone. They fit snugly into your ears, blocking noise and playing soothing tones. These tones, like ocean waves or falling rain, overpower noise from common annoyances like traffic and partner snoring. You can’t play music through them; however, that’s a good thing. Let sound technology get you a good night’s sleep.
Nintendo NES timeless edition
Price:$ 86, amazon.com.
Technically, this console dates back to 1985 and was recently re-released in 2016. But this year, the NES Classic’s re-re-release with Nintendo guarantees more in stock for nostalgic gamers who couldn’t get it the first two times around. Packed with 30 OG video games, it really catches the retro spirit of gaming.
Shinola bookshelf speakers
Price:$ 1,500, shinola.com.
Shinola makes great products; these are no exception. By including great audio tech from Barefoot Sound, this set of bookshelf speakers brings taping studio-quality sound to your living-room in well-crafted, hand-stained oak cabinets, with Bluetooth, AUX, and USB input; they’re as flexible as they are good to take a look at.
Fitbit Versa Watch
Price:$ 200, fitbit.com.
Fitbit’s Versa Watch rivals the Apple Watch and does so quite well. The Versa has a music library, Bluetooth to link to your cordless headphones, and all the health tracking an individualized coaching you might ever need while working out. Unlike the Apple Watch, it lacks cellular coverage, but it will sync with your mobile phone to show your notifications, and it doesn’t cost $249 like the Apple Watch.
HTC Vive Pro VR headset
Price:$ 799, amazon.com.
For many of us, VR headsets haven’t entered our lives yet. However if you’re already plugged into the virtual reality gaming world, HTC’s Vive Pro headset may be the best experience your cash can buy. The graphics are incredible, and it tracks even your smallest movement. It’s comfy, too.
Moodo smart home fragrance box
Price:From $139, moodo.co.
Undoubtedly, the house scent arena is overrun with expensive candle lights, expensive aroma sticks, and modern diffusers. But include one more: the Moodo smart home aroma box from Agan Aroma. It connects to your smartphone, Amazon Alexa, and Google Home, and allows you to blend fragrances so you can tailor the scent of your house. The scents can be found in packs of four, with styles like Mediterranean Dreams, Beach Party, and the Gardens of Kanazawa.
Portable trendy gadgets for daily use
Pokémon noise-isolating earbuds: $15
A great set of earbuds are indispensable if you’re regularly on the move and do not wish to be without your music and other home entertainment, however, they do not have to be dull. The Pokémon-themed earphones let you enjoy your music like a true Pokémon master with their unique black-and-white color scheme and Pokéball-style carrying bag. The Pokémon noise-isolating earphone earbuds are now offered on ThinkGeek.
Tophome cord organizer: $7
Earbuds are excellent to have on you, but having the cord end in a twisted mess in your bag or pocket is not fun to deal with, and it seems to happen despite how neatly you tuck them away. The Tophome cable organizer, made of thick genuine leather, ensures you never need to deal with that trouble once again. You can get them $7 from Amazon.
Anker powercore+ mini power bank: $20
Power banks are awesome gadgets you want to have with you when you’re out and about, enabling you to offer your portable tech a power boost without having to hunt around for the nearby outlet or USB port. The Anker PowerCore+ Mini power bank amps portability to the next level with its pocket-friendly size and 3,350 mAh internal battery. Anker’s PowerIQ innovation also automatically discovers the appropriate voltage for your gadget to charge it faster on the go.
Although it won’t totally charge your smart devices many times over, the 3,350 mAh battery suffices for full or near-full charges for many smart devices. This convenient portable charger can be had for as low-cost as $20 on Amazon.
Tesla coil USB rechargeable lighter: $16
Need a light? Electric lighters like this one put a brand-new spin on old-school style lighters. Gas Fluid ones can be messy and run out of fuel quite fast; the well-known Zippo, while it is an all-American classic, is notorious for this, not to mention that lighter fluid and butane cylinders are an extra cost. The Tesla Coil arc lighter uses an internal rechargeable battery to predict a windproof electric arc that is produced rather than a flame. The style is eco-friendly and provides up to 300 lights on a single charge.
When it requires more juice, simply plug it in and power it up via the USB charging cable. No wicks, flints, fluid, or gases to mess around with. You can get this unique gadget for just $16 from Amazon.
Amir clip-on mobile phone camera lenses:$14
If you love to take photos with your smartphone but find the camera’s capabilities a little bit limiting, then this gadget is for you. The Amir clip-on camera lenses include durable aluminum-and-glass building. The bundle includes a 180-degree fisheye lens, a 0.4 x incredibly wide-angle lens, and a 10x macro zoom lens for in-depth close-up shots. The metal real estate is also water and dust-resistant. The universal clip-on style deals with a lot of popular brand names of Android phones, in addition to the latest Apple iPhones. The Amir smart device camera lenses come in at just $14 on Amazon.
Star Trek TNG Isolinear chip USB drive: $20
Having extra storage is never a bad thing, and now you can change those uninteresting black-and-gray thumb drives with the new Star Trek-inspired one from ThinkGeek. This 8GB USB stick looks like an Isolinear chip from Star Trek: The Next Generation and illuminates when it’s plugged into your laptop computer, taking you back to the famous USS Enterprise engine.
Streamlight 73001 nano keychain flashlight: $9
A number of us have flashlights on our phones, but they aren’t always practical to use or the very best choice. This nano torch from Streamlight, among the best flashlight makers around, is the ideal addition to any keychain. This effective and compact flashlight is ideal for navigating poorly lit spaces or simply supplying LED light where it’s needed the most.
The Streamlight 73001 keychain flashlight is offered for $9 on Amazon, and makes the ideal night light.
Freehawk 7-in-1 keychain multitool: $8
You can never know when you are going to need a certain tool, but lugging around a tool bag with you everywhere is both unwise and unfashionable. That’s why the Freehawk keychain multitool is among the most helpful gadgets on our list. It has a built-in LED flashlight, a bottle opener, two screwdrivers, a knife, and can even be among your most useful cooking area gadgets. Pick up this essential 7-in-1 multitool for just $8 on Amazon, and ensure to keep an extra in your cars and trucks simply in case.
Jelly comb folding Bluetooth keyboard: $28
These folding keyboards are nothing brand-new, but most of them, even relatively compact models, aren’t portable. The folding wireless keyboard from Jelly Comb is perfect, offering you a miniature set of QWERTY keys that wraps down to roughly the size of a big smart device for simple storage. Its metal and polymer construction is both resilient and light, weighing in at a little over 285 grams. It is compatible with any iPhone, Windows, or Android phone, and goes for $28 from Amazon.
Bellabeat leaf health tracker: $103
The Bellabeat Leaf health tracker is the physical fitness tracker that ladies will actually want to use. This physical fitness device can be used as a pendant or bracelet without looking large or noticeable and synchronizes with both iOS and Android to gather activity metrics via the buddy app. The Bellabeat tracks steps taken, sleep quality, tension levels, menstrual cycles, calories burned, and more. You can get this best hands-free tech gift for $92 ($ 38 off) from Amazon.
Tile mate item finder 4-pack: $35
The one major disadvantage with small cool gadgets these days is that they can easily get lost. If you require some assistance keeping tabs on the little things, Tile item finders hit the spot. The keychain-sized Tile Mate is 1.3 inches long and 0.2 inches thick: Simply attach it to any item, and you can use the Tile buddy app to locate it essentially anywhere. Even without the app, you can still discover neighboring items by remotely making the Tile vibrate, flash, or ring. A single Tile Mate tracker costs $20; however, there is a four-pack available on Amazon for just $35.
8Bitdo mini no Bluetooth gamepad: $17
Growing up with Nintendo Game Boy, you most likely would have never believed that a person would one day be carrying around smartphones and iPads capable of playing 3D video games. Now, you can improve your gaming further with this retro compact gamepad. This keychain-sized SNES-style controller has 12 buttons and a Famicom-inspired color pattern. Merely sync the 8BitDo gamepad with your phone or tablet and get playing. The 8BitDo Mini Zero rings in at simply $17 from Amazon, making this inexpensive gadget tough to skip.
Anker PowerCore 10,000 mah power bank: $32
The Anker PowerCore 10,000 is another outstanding pocket-friendly power bank. Its 10,000 mAh battery can charge your iPhone numerous times, although this PowerCore is hardly larger than a credit card size wise. Just like its smaller sibling, this unit also boasts Anker’s exclusive PowerIQ and Voltage Boost technology, which enhances charging speed for various gadgets, making sure that you’re not waiting around too long wishing for your gadgets to charge. This very practical battery charger rings in at just $32 on Amazon.
Marsboy mini Bluetooth speaker: $14
Wireless speakers are probably the most popular use of Bluetooth technology today, allowing you to take your music anywhere. Most of them won’t easily fit in your pocket; however, this one from Marsboy is an exception. This small, cool tech cube loads a 12-hour battery life, providing excellent sound from a system that fits in your palm. It doesn’t have a smart A.I. like the Echo Dot or Google Home speakers; however, it’s a pretty darn excellent system for its size and low cost.
Measuring just 1.9 inches on each side, the Marsboy speaker can be your cool pocket celebration buddy for just $14 from Amazon. It might not feature Alexa, like the Amazon Echo center, but it’s a great method to bring your music with you.
