ARTICLE – I enjoy this time of year when I ask everyone on the Gadgeteer team to submit their favorite products from the past year. Today I am sharing part 2 this multi-part series. Hope you enjoy reading about the team’s favorites gadgets and also be sure to check out Part 1 and Part 3.
Garry Kolb
SMMT 35L PowderLoft Tote Bag
It’s hard to get excited about a tote, right? That’s what I thought until I reviewed the 35-liter PowderLoft Tote Bag from SMMT. It’s roomy, has tons of pockets including two that are designed for water bottles, is waterproof, well-made, and after months of use, continues to look great.
I used this bag multiple times a week to haul my clothes, and my wet towel, water shoes, and swimwear from water volleyball. I toss it in the back of my rarely-washed golf cart. It shrugs off the dirt and contains the moisture, all while looking terrific. I’m super happy with this tote bag and look forward to using it for years.
Where to buy: SMMT
Revolve Pizza Oven
We love pizza. Cooking that perfect pie is tough at home since we can’t crank the oven up to the scorching temps used at pizza parlors. That is not a problem in the past thanks to the Revolve Pizza Oven.
With its ability to heat up to over 900°F in less than 20 minutes, and its revolving stone cooking surface, this baby can crank out crispy, melty, delicious pies in 90 seconds. I added a cast iron skillet and turned it into a steakhouse quality high-temp steak oven too. We love the Revolve Pizza Oven and really enjoy having friends over for custom pizza nights.
Where to buy: Revolve
Zippo FlameScapes Spiral Fire Feature XL
I’ve always thought about getting a flame table – one of those outdoor tables where flames dance around adding ambiance to nighttime conversations. But, they’re big and expensive and I never could justify the space or the cost. It turns out that Zippo, the lighter manufacturer had the answer I was looking for with their Zippo FlameScapes Spiral Fire Feature XL.
This 16.5″ high glass column produces a flickering, dancing spiral of flame for two hours from a 350g can of gell fuel. The spiral flame is captivating and is a real enhancement to evening outdoor time. Now, whenever we sit outside with friends, the FlameScapes XL comes along, setting a nice mood every time.
Where to buy: Zippo; Amazon
Inmotion RS Electric Scooter
I’ve reviewed a couple of other electric scooters. While they were both terrific, they seemed like toys compared to this beast. The RS Scooter from Inmotion is a monster of a scooter. 128 pounds, more than 60MPH top speed, up to 100 miles of range, hydraulic brakes, lights, turn signals, and a horn – it is a serious transportation tool.
I have had a blast testing it, even though I am not the most adventurous rider. Because it is a convertible scooter, you can configure it for road or off-road riding. It is also heavily water-protected so even if you get caught out in the weather, you’re still good to go, go, go. It is pricey, but when you consider that this is a scooter with motorcycle-like performance, it is a bargain.
Where to buy: Inmotion
Aura Walden 15″ WiFi-Connected Digital Photo Frame
We travel a lot. We come home with tons of digital images. Sure, I can flip through them on a computer, but we don’t often just sit down to do that. The Aura Walden 15″ WiFi-Connected Digital Photo Frame lets me show our travel photos in an ever-changing display of travel memories.
The WiFi-connected frame lets me load images directly from my phone or from my PC using a web loader tool. The images are high-resolution and look terrific. Unlike other frames where the images are stored in limited onboard storage, the Aura frame stores everything in Aura’s free cloud. That means we have unlimited storage. It is my favorite digital photo frame and sits in a prominent place under our travel map.
Where to buy: Aura; Amazon
Lynn Lopez
I reviewed several items this year, but I think I managed to pick out my top three favorites. These three items are used almost daily and have not failed me yet!
Husky X-Act Contour vehicle floor mats
The Husky X-Act floor mats have been in my husband’s car since the review around October 1st. They have been easy to clean and stay in place, unlike the cheaper floor mats we got from Amazon. They have not distorted in shape and cover a larger portion of the driver’s footwell than the original mats. When it comes time to clean the car, I find very little dirt on the edges.
Where to buy: Husky Liners
Eureka Stylus Elite NEC490SE cordless stick vacuum
The Eureka Stylus Elite is a great vacuum and has become my go-to vacuum around the house. A single push of a button keeps it on without having to hold in a trigger. It is also much lighter than the Dyson stick vacuum I used before. The big plus for me is after vacuuming, I put the vacuum back in its docking station, and with a single press of a button, it is emptied into a dust bag at the bottom of the station. No more dust clouds emptying the canister over our garbage can!
Where to buy: Walmart and Amazon
Sihoo Doro S300 ergonomic office chair
I liked the Sihoo Doro S300 chair so much that I hauled it to my workplace office. It is much more comfortable than the chair my company gave me. I get people stopping by my cube attracted by its unusual appearance, and they then have to give it a test sit. It has made me the envy of my cubemates for sure!
Where to buy: Sihoo
Lex Strickland
OnePlus 12R smartphone
I called the OnePlus 12R ‘Hot on the heels of the flagships’ and that continues to be true throughout my continued use of the phone. Reviews everywhere compliment the 12R. It’s getting quarterly security updates and Android 15 should be arriving soon. The OnePlus 12 phones already received Android 15. The 12R has a blazing fast charger, big battery, excellent screen and takes super pics. The 12R compares in every respect with my Google Pixel phone with a slight exception to photo quality, the area where Pixel phones excel. The 12R is 6.625 inches in its case so I have to be careful with some pants pockets to keep the phone secure with a hand on it but the big screen size is easy on these eyes.
Where to buy: Amazon, Best Buy and OnePlus
The NUU B30 Pro 5G smartphone
The NUU B30 Pro 5G proves that a really good phone does not have to cost over $500 these days. The only snag I’ve encountered with the B30 is, the auto screen brightness is sometimes unresponsive in low light situations. I have to manually brighten the screen indoors at times. The B30 is slim in the pocket yet has a 5000 mAh battery. It is being updated by NUU quarterly. I’ve taken it on several road trips and it has performed perfectly everywhere. Photos taken with the B30 Pro in good light are fine for ‘snapshot’ shooters. I’ve continued to use the B30 Pro off and on since my review (I change phones back and forth every couple of weeks), and I figure I’m extending the life of my expensive phones while the B30 Pro is performing admirably. I’m still unable to locate good cases for this phone so if you get one, grip the phone in its skinny included case very carefully.
Where to buy: Amazon and NUU
Zack Chongulia
SHOKZ OpenFit Air headphones
SHOKZ is known for their bone conduction headphones but their new OpenFit Air open earbuds utilize their DirectPitch technology to direct traditional sound waves into your ear canal while still allowing you to hear the world around you. I’ve tried quite a few headphones and these have been my go to workout headphones since I got them. They are super light and super comfortable and I have been wearing them for all my workouts and for making calls as they are very clear on both sides of the call. You can customize each side’s touch controls and pick between four preset EQs with the SHOKZ app. The OpenFit Air earbuds will last 6 hours on a single charge and up to 28 hours with the charging case. A 10 minute charge will give you 2 hours of listening time.
Where to buy: Shokz or Amazon
ACEMAGIC AX16 Pro laptop
I reviewed the ACEMAGIC AX16 Pro back in February when it cost $509 and thought it was almost the perfect deal. Well now it has been updated with a new AMD Ryzen 7 5825U processor and costs less at $419 now so it is definitely a contender for the best bang for your buck laptop this year. I have been using the ACEMAGIC AX16 Pro since I reviewed it and have not had any issues. it continues to be a workhorse laptop and has gone on a few trips with me as well and has held up great.
Where to buy: Amazon or Acemagic website
Chrome Industries Hawes 26L laptop backpack
For traveling, the Chrome Industries Hawes 26L laptop backpack has been my favorite this year. It has tons of pockets and room for multiple laptops, a change of clothes, and an extra pair of shoes with two main zippered compartments along and still easily fits in the plane overhead bin. It’s held up nicely and protected my electronics through some bumpy turbulence and hard drops.
Where to buy: The Chrome Industries website Hawes 26L
Brooke and Mason Hall
Our favorite review item this year was the JLAbs JBuds Lux ANC wireless headphones that boost an incredible battery life. They also have comfortable cloud foam cushioning, noise cancellation and a foldable design. These over-the-ear headphones worked great during my son’s summer job at a manufacturing shop and have continued to hold up great in college, for studying, watching movies or listening to music. The impressive battery life can last entire work week or even a short vacation without a recharge nor impacting quality or noise-cancelling capabilities; plus they only take 3 hours to recharge.
Where to buy: JLAB website and Amazon
Michael Strange
2024 was an excellent year for me personally in regards to reviews. I have gotten to review several great products. I’ve narrowed it down to two, but they are more like one and 1A.
Mowrator S1 Pro AWD Remote Control Lawn Mower
The first gadget is the Mowrator S1 Pro AWD Remote Control Lawn Mower. This is one of my faves because it’s probably one of the most incredible things I’ve ever gotten to review. This remote-controlled lawn mower is not only cool but also does a great job of mowing my lawn. It features a full-size remote control, a 21-inch cutting deck, all-terrain tires, and a reinforced aluminum alloy body construction. It has made mowing my lawn not only easier but a heck of a lot more fun. Never thought I would say that about mowing my lawn. It also has garnered a lot of attention. I’ve had multiple conversations with people who have stopped and asked me what it is and how it works. Pretty cool, indeed.
Where to buy: Mowrator
LaserPecker LP5 Laser Engraver
The other product on my list is the LaserPecker LP5 Laser Engraver. The LP5 is the industry’s smallest 2-in-1 laser engraver with 20W fiber and 20W diode laser sources capable of engraving and cutting almost any material. It made my list because it was my introduction to the world of laser engraving/cutting. Since using the LP5, I have been bitten by the laser engraving bug. The LP5 is easy and fun to use. It can engrave and/or cut just about any material you can think of, producing consistent, excellent results. I enjoyed learning to use it and love engraving so much that I plan on starting a side hustle soon. In the meantime, I’ve gotten a lot of enjoyment from making things for family and friends.
Where to buy: LaserPecker official store
I’m currently reviewing a product that might top both as my Favorite Gadget of 2024, The xTool P2S 55W CO2 Desktop Laser Cutter. Be sure to check out my review, which is coming soon.
Joe Porletto
Keychron V1 Max wireless mechanical keyboard
I’ll admit that I have a slight mechanical keyboard addiction. Most people probably only need to buy one or maybe two keyboards every few years. I’ve long surpassed that limit, and my collection continues to grow. I enjoy swapping them out regularly and assign specific keyboards based on use case: I have my work keyboard, my coffee house keyboard, and my road trip keyboard.
My favorite, though, is my Keychron V1 Max and the accompanying M3 Mini mouse. I love everything about these peripherals, and there are times when they accompany me from home to work to the coffee shop all in the same day. The build quality is superb, the battery life is stellar, and they’re just so darn stylish. Plus, you can’t beat that mechanical keyboard sound!
Where to buy: Keychron V1 Max / M3 Mini Wireless Mouse – Metal Edition and Amazon
SmartWings Motorized Light Filtering Roller Shades
I’ve said it many times, I love technology that does its job so well, it just disappears into the background of your life. The SmartWings Motorized Roller Shades do just that. They work perfectly every time I need them to, and I never have to give them a second thought. Setup was a bit of a trial, but now everything works so well that I bought and installed a set at my mom’s house as well. Even a self-described Luddite like my mom is as impressed by the SmartWings as I am.
Where to buy: SmartWings and Amazon
Flexispot E2Q Standard 4-leg Standing Desk
So often I’ve watched videos of YouTubers and other product reviewers and thought to myself, “Someday I’ll have a cool desk and office setup like they do.” Well, someday arrived the day I set up my Flexispot E2Q Standing Desk. Attending endless virtual meetings is practically a joy these days, and I have more than enough room for all of my useless desktop gadgets. The E2Q is simple, stylish, and incredibly sturdy. The adjustable height feature is a game-changer, allowing me to switch between sitting and standing with ease.
Where to buy: Flexispot and Amazon
