5 Cool New Gadgets to Keep on Your Radar

The Instax Mini 99 is the most high-end analog instant film camera in Fujifilm’s “Mini” line. It features a wide (35mm equivalent) lens, exposure and shutter controls, various modes (for shooting action, low light and long exposures) and a number of creative filters. At $200, it’s one of the most expensive instant film cameras you can buy.

The LG CineBeam Q is a retro-looking portable 4K projector that’s capable of creating a 120-inch picture. It’s integrated with LG’s webOS for streaming apps (no separate device required). It also has a unique carrying handle that doubles as a stand for better positioning the screen. It lacks a built-in battery, however, and thus needs to be connected to power to use.

The second-generation Backbone One is a handheld gaming controller for your smartphone (this Lightning model is specifically for the iPhone 14 or older). It looks identical to its predecessor, but it now comes with magnetic adapters (instead of rubber inserts) for its controller grips, allowing it to fit better on any-sized smartphone and over more cases.

Ikea’s 30-watt USB-C wall adapter is designed to charge your smartphone at the fastest possible rate. Its main selling point is price — it’s significantly cheaper than most other 30-watt adapters on the market.

The Ikea 45-watt Sjöss wall adapter is a dual-port USB-C charger. When charging one device, its max power output is 45 watts. When charging two devices simultaneously, it splits the power to 22 watts per device. It’s one of the cheapest dual-port chargers out there.

The Satechi V3 Multiport Adapter is a USB-C adapter designed to add ports to Apple’s M3 MacBook Airs. It has a wedge-shaped design and features four USB-C ports, an SD card slot, Ethernet and an HDMI 2.1 that supports an 8K display (at 30Hz).

The McIntosh C2800 is a high-end vacuum tube preamplifier. It has four vacuum tubes that create a warmer sound compared to the company’s solid-state alternative, the McIntosh C55. Like the McIntosh C55, the C2800 features a Processor Loop, 16 audio inputs and three sets of stereo-balanced and unbalanced outputs. It’s compatible with the McIntosh Connect app.

The McIntosh C55 is a high-end solid-state preamplifier and the successor to the company’s C53. It features an eight-band analog equalizer so audiophiles can fine-tune their sound better to their liking. It shares a variety of features with its vacuum tube brethren, the McIntosh C2800, including a Processor Loop, 16 audio inputs and three sets of stereo-balanced and unbalanced outputs. It’s compatible with the McIntosh Connect app.

The Samsung Galaxy A55 is the company’s midrange smartphone and successor to 2023’s Galaxy A54. Despite looking quite similar to its predecessor, the Galaxy A55 has improved in a few key ways. It has a slightly larger 6.6-inch OLED display, an upgraded chipset (Exynos 1480), a superior camera and support for Samsung’s Knox Vault security system. 

This is a MagSafe mount for those who use FaceTime on their Apple TV 4K (which is a feature that rolled out as part of tvOS 17). The mount holds your iPhone in place — it can rest on top of your TV or on the side — so you (and the people in the room) can fit in the FaceTime call and see the other person on the TV. 

The Leica SL3 is a full-frame mirrorless camera, the successor to the 2019-released SL2. It has a new 60-megapixel sensor — the same one that’s in Leica’s Q3 — much improved in-body image stabilization and the ability to record 8K video. It also has a redesigned user interface.

The 15-inch M3 MacBook Air looks very similar to the 15-inch M2 MacBook Air that was released in June 2023. The new model is equipped with Apple’s superior M3 processor, which promises big performance and efficiency gains, as well as dual-display support.

The 13-inch M3 MacBook Air looks nearly identical to the 13-inch M2 MacBook Air released in 2022. It has the same display, keyboard, MagSafe and Thunderbolt ports, speakers, microphone and webcam. However, it is now equipped with Apple’s M3 processor and can support two external monitors at once.

The Q Acoustics 5050s are the largest and most expensive speakers in the company’s mid-range 5000 series. The feature a 1-inch tweeter that rests between the two 6-inch woofers (C3 Continuous Curved Cone). The cabinets features Point-2-Point (P2P) internal bracing to minimize vibrations, and they are available in a number of different wood finishes.

The FiiO M23 is a relatively affordable portable hi-fi player that sports dual DACs (AK4191EQ and AK4499EX) and support for lossless audio up to 24-bit/384kHz and PCM/DSD256. It has built-in Bluetooth and supports LDAC, so you can stream higher-res audio to wireless headphones. Maybe most uniquely, it can connect it to your computer via USB and you can use it as a desktop amp. 

The Nothing Phone (2a) is a more budget-friendly version of the Phone 2. It has a similar transparent design, Glyph lighting notification system and always-on display. It also has a more centrally positioned dual-camera system, consisting of dual 50-megapixel main and ultra-wide cameras.

The MoveMic is Shure’s first compact microphone system, and it’s mainly designed for content creators. There are two different configurations, the single-channel MoveMic One ($249) and the dual-channel MoveMic Two ($349). Maybe the neatest thing about them is that, though you can purchase a receiver (sold separately), you can also wirelessly connect the mics directly to your smartphone.

The Skullcandy EcoBuds are the company’s most eco-friendly wireless earbuds to date. They’re made mostly out of recycled plastics, but they also lack a case with a lithium-ion battery. To charge them, you connect the case’s built-in USB-C cable to your smartphone, laptop or wall adapter.

The Hidizs S8 Pro Robin is an affordable portable DAC/amp for iPhone or Android smartphones. It features dual CS43131 DACs, has 3.5mm and balanced 4.4mm headphone jacks, and supports lossless audio up to 32-bit/384kHz.

It’s just a concept so don’t expect to see it out in the world anytime soon, but Lenovo revealed the first-ever transparent laptop. It’s a ThinkBook with a borderless 17.3-inch micro LED display you can see right through and a digital keyboard that’s also transparent. It looks wild.

The Pro-Ject Juke Box E1 is a new-and-improved version of the Austrian hi-fi company’s original Juke Box E. Like its predecessor, the Juke Box E1 is an integrated turntable — you just need to add your own passive speakers — but it comes with a number of upgraded components, including a new tonearm, platter, motor and electronic speed change.

The Audioengine D1P is a portable 32-bit DAC/amp — a more versatile version of the company’s D1 desktop amp. It also has an output switch that lets you toggle quickly between your headphones and speakers. The D1P connects to your device via USB-C and is compatible with iPhone and Android smartphones as well as Mac and Windows laptops.

Released in early 2024, the Astell&Kern A&ultima SP3000T is the company’s flagship (and most expensive) digital audio player. It’s essentially a new-and-improved version of the popular A&ultima SP3000, but the “T” features vacuum tubes and supports a Tube Amp Mode for those who want a warmer sound.

The OnePlus Watch 2 is the company’s second-generation smartwatch and successor to the much-maligned 2021-released OnePlus Watch. It runs Wear OS 4 and, most interestingly, has dual-engine architecture (yes, two processors) and an up to 100-hour battery life.

The Sony SRS-XV500 is the company’s newest portable party speaker. It looks similar to Sony’s SRS-XV800 and flagship SRS-XV900 speakers and has many of the same features, including customizable lighting and a karaoke mode. The difference is that the SRS-XV500 is the smallest and most affordable of Sony’s portable party speakers.

The OnePlus 12 is the company’s new flagship smartphone. It packs a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, a huge 6.82-inch OLED display and a super long-lasting battery. On the camera side, it has a 50-megapixel main lens (and a Sony sensor) and 64-megapixel telephoto lens. It starts at $799.

Say “cheese.” The second generation of Wyze’s wired floodlight improves upon its predecessor with a camera that carries better resolution — 2K instead of HD — and a wider field of view. The integrated floodlights are also brighter.

Sonos introduced a new ceiling speaker to its architectural series that it collaborates with Sonance on. The new speaker, the Sonos 8″ In-Ceiling Speaker, is essentially a better and more expensive version of the existing 6″ In-Ceiling Speaker. It’ll be available in the spring.

Philips Hue’s new Dymera wall lights, which can be set up either inside or outside, are neat because they can shoot beams of light both up and down the wall. You can customize the colors of these up-firing and down-firing beams and create some pretty dramatic lighting effects.

The Buds 3 are the company”s newest wireless earbuds. They lack the “Pro” name of OnePlus’s higher-end wireless earbuds, but the Buds 3 do have active noise-cancellation and they cost just under $100.