Have you ever felt like Sisyphus? Always climbing a hill only to watch it roll back down again? I get it. Life can be hard. That’s why I’m always looking for ways to make it easier. The best tech gadgets don’t just solve big problems, they simplify everyday tasks. They could be small (your coffee has gone cold) or big (your wallet or backpack is missing), or you just want to avoid sitting in the dark for the next power outage. I’ve searched around for such products and found gems like the Ring doorbell, which helps thwart front door thieves, and the Tile Pro Tracker, which helps you find a misplaced wallet or keychain.
I’ve tested these and other devices, and the ten listed below are ones I enthusiastically recommend, so if you’re ready to stop trying to tackle that rock, read on!
tile
Apple AirTags are a popular lost item tracking device, but they only work with iPhones and don’t have the important two-way finding that Tile supports. This means that not only can you use your phone to find a Tile attached to your keychain, wallet, etc., but you can also use Tile to find a lost phone (it will ring loudly even on silent). Plus, they work with both iPhones and Android phones. If you’ve ever been the least bit frustrated by lost items, you should start using a tracker like this one.
$100 on Amazon
Ember
Anyone who takes the time to sip their coffee or tea for more than a few minutes has probably experienced the agony of sipping from a lukewarm or cold cup, or the hapless attempt to warm it up in the microwave to bring it back to drinkable temperature. The battery-operated Ember Mug keeps your drink at your desired temperature and keeps it that way for over an hour. It’s a pricey purchase, no doubt, but it’s also one of my most prized possessions. Once you’ve experienced the joy of perfectly heated coffee from first sip to last, there’s no going back.
$143 on Amazon
EWA
Modern phones tend to have larger screens, making them harder to use with one hand. Plus, holding them for long periods of time while reading a book or watching a video can get uncomfortable. iPhone users should check out the MagOne, which has a magnetic back and both a silicone finger grip and a foldable stand. The former provides a more comfortable grip (and reduces the chance of an accidental drop), while the stand lets you prop up the screen in portrait or landscape mode. Make sure your iPhone or iPhone case is MagSafe-enabled to ensure a secure magnetic connection.
$18 on Amazon
Ecoflow
Storms and other disasters can cause power outages that last from a few hours to a few days. To keep your phone charged, your internet up and running, consider this Power Station from EcoFlow. It’s a rugged mid-size model with enough power and ports to run your small appliances. It takes just 70 minutes to fully charge from an AC outlet, and you can also use the optional solar panel to keep your power flowing off-grid.
$599 on Amazon
Read more: Best Power Plants of 2024 to Prepare for Storms and Power Outages
Sony
Trying to get work done? It can be tough when you’re surrounded by noise, whether it’s city noise, kids playing, or the incessant whir of a leaf blower. The solution: top-of-the-line active noise-canceling headphones like the Sony WH-1000XM5. Sony’s over-ear headphones automatically adapt to your environment and adjust noise cancellation accordingly. Plus, you get premium sound and up to 30 hours of battery life. The sanity you save could be your own.
If you want something smaller to block out noise, the Apple AirPods Pro are a great choice, offering industry-leading ANC in a compact wireless earbud.
$259 on Groupon
Read more: Best wireless headphones of 2024, tested and reviewed
Read more: The best trackers to find lost items
Nixplay
Photo albums were great when we could take dozens of new photos each year. Now we do that almost weekly. So what do we do with all those precious memories stored in our new phones and old albums? Easy: transfer them to a digital photo frame and enjoy a slideshow every time you enter a room. Nixplay’s stylish frame can store unlimited(!) photos, and its energy-saving sensor dims the screen until it detects motion. But keep in mind that the majority of your photos are stored in the cloud, so you’ll need a constant internet connection.
$150 on Amazon
Read more: Best Digital Photo Frames in 2024
Twelve South
Having a great in-flight entertainment system doesn’t help you much if you use wireless earphones like Apple AirPods, because most planes now have wired headphone jacks. No need for expensive noise-canceling earphones anymore, right? Wrong. AirFly plugs into a 3.5mm audio jack and can be paired with AirPods or other wireless earphones or headphones. And it’s not just for airplanes. If you have a Nintendo Switch, you’ve probably wished you had a wireless audio option. This is it.
$55 on Amazon
Read more: AirFly Pro Review
Read more: Best MagSafe accessories, tested and reviewed
Read more: Best Heated Coffee Mugs of 2024
ZVOX
It’s actually two problems: TV audio is often hard to hear due to the size (small) and position (facing down or backwards) of the speakers. But hearing dialogue is also a problem, which becomes even harder as our ears age. This soundbar not only amplifies the sound (and directs it towards you), it also electronically amplifies dialogue, using Zvox’s AccuVoice technology. It offers six levels of audio amplification, making it especially useful for people with hearing loss, and there’s an output level adjustment designed to reduce the annoying volume of commercial breaks.
$300 on Amazon
Read more: Best Soundbars of 2024
ring
Front door theft is a big problem. Video doorbells can’t physically stop thieves from stealing your packages, but their mere presence acts as a deterrent. At the very least, they can alert you when they detect motion and even record that motion for police to review later, if necessary. Ring makes some of the most popular doorbells on the market. This doorbell has a built-in rechargeable battery, so you can mount it just about anywhere (like outside an apartment door, where there’s likely no existing doorbell wiring). Plus, it supports two-way audio, so if you’re alerted to an unexpected person at your front door, you can scare off would-be thieves by saying, “May I help you?”
$100 on Amazon
Read more: Best Video Doorbells to Buy in 2024
Goby
Ask a plumber and you’ll hear the horror stories. A pipe burst at the vacation home or a leak while on holiday. Even minor water damage can result in costly repairs. That’s why I installed water sensors in strategic locations like under the sink, near the water heater and behind the washing machine. When they detect water on the floor or dripping from above, they alert you in three ways: an audible alarm, an app notification and an email. In my own home, the sensor has already found two leaks that would have gone unnoticed otherwise. It’s the very definition of “an ounce of prevention is ounce of peace” and it’s affordable.
$55 on Amazon
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