11.20.10 10:00 AM
The smartest robot vacuum, the fastest electric scooter, and presents that are just plain fun will make the holidays even more fun.
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Photographs by Joseph Shin.
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The WIRED Reviews team is constantly testing out the latest gadgets. We drink a lot of coffee to help you decide how to spend your money, and we ride e bikes to break a sweat.
A few of the gizmos stand out to us. They strike us as things that would make great gifts, not only because they're innovative or well-designed. There's something about them that's delightful to use. A joyful gift goes far, in another year that's perhaps left us more frayed at the edges than we'd like. Our wish list will help you find the perfect one.
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The C1 is a gorgeous TV that can be used as a video game monitor. Frame rates are matched for smoother animations and each pixel acts as its own backlight for perfect contrast with support for PC gaming's latest variable refresh formats. You get our favorite high-end TV of the year if you add in fast input response and gorgeous color accuracy.
Puro Sound Labs has headphones.
Young ones can use these kid-specific headphones with active noise-canceling to focus. For ages 3 and up, a comfortable fit and 23 hours of battery life will keep them in their own worlds for as long as they please. A limiter keeps the max volume to 85 decibels, so that your death metal fan won't blow out their eardrums quite yet. If it is quiet for them, they will be quiet for you.
The bundle from the legendary instrument maker Moog Music has a short stack of analog synthesizer, a polyrhythmic Subharmonicon Sequencer, and a drummer from another Mother percussion unit. Use the patch cables to amplify the sound between the three machines.
The level of beosound.
The wood-grilled Level isn't just an example of stately Danes design. The speaker has innovative audio tricks. The sound signature is based on its orientation and it auto-adjusts based on that. When the 16-hour battery is drained, slot the Level into its wall brackets, where it can charge up while the party continues.
Oxo has a triple kitchen timer.
The green bean casserole, the stuffing, and the pie. How to keep track of all the different cook times? If you use a dedicated device instead of juggling multiple timers on your phone, you will be better off. Oxo has a 4-inch wedge that has three different 100 hour timers, each with its own alarm, and all on a keypad. This count-downer doesn't care how your fingers are.
There are many reasons to love waist packs. They are big enough to carry the essentials and are hands-free. This new pack from the company is made from recycled polyester and is water resistant. It keeps your mask, lunch, sunglasses, and vaccine card safe and dry while you travel through the forest, the concrete jungle, or the airport security line.
You have been trying to find that earbuds that fit. Ultimate Ears has a solution to this problem, a pair of wireless earbuds that mold their tips to your ear canals. When you get them, put them in your ears and run a setup in the companion app. The soft tips mold to a perfect fit in about a minute, after the earbuds glow blue and warm up. The custom fit means you won't worry about losing a bud, and the great seal means awesome bass response. Between trips to the included charging case, you will get eight hours of listening.
Freitag is known for turning truck tarps into stylish satchels, and now it is branching out into surplus automotive airbags. This backpack is heavy-duty enough to carry a day's worth of schoolbooks and can be easily changed into a pouch. Each bag is unique because it is produced from various stock sources.
The original Kiyo's integrated ring light is no longer included in the updated version of Razer's exemplary webcam. Stand-alone lights around your desk can dial in your stream better. You can adjust the image to best suit your lighting situation with the Synapse app. Some image controls are only available on the PC. You can choose between 30 and 60 frames per second.
Cannondale Adventure Neo 3 is a EQ.
An electric bike is not a substitute for a car until it can carry a week's worth of groceries in the rain at night. Cannondale's Adventure Neo 3 EQ is a step through bike that comes with all the essential accessories built in: front and rear lights, fender, and a rear rack for attaching grocery panniers or a laptop bag. The Bosch engine has a 65-mile range and multiple suspension points that make for a smooth ride.
The nervous system is involved in a puzzle.
Chris Yates is the master brainteaser, but the true credit for this puzzle goes to an algorithm. No two puzzles are alike becauserative software plots the layout of the pieces. The outline of each piece is painted in one of five different color schemes and then sliced into smaller pieces. Each blob is a mini puzzle, and all the blobs join to form an 8 x 8-inch bubblescape.
The dreamy, filmlike images produced by the Paper Shoot are ideal for photographers who want to take pictures without the hassle and cost of film. A switch on the back flips between different colors: standard, black-and-white, sepia, and a blue tint. Take a time-lapse shot or a 10-second video with it's battery pack. The entire thing is just half an inch thick and it is made of pressed-stone. There are add-on lens available when you are ready to expand the visual possibilities.
The small coffee dripper.
This method of making one cup at a time is superior to other methods. The handleless design makes sure you don't hit the spout of the kettle while you get hot water. The ceramic cone has a small drain hole that slows the flow out of the paper filter for a more controlled extract. The wooden collar can be used to fit the brewer over the receptacle of any size.
The ZV-1 is a great camera for budding YouTube stars who are ready to level up from their phone. The 20-megapixel shooter has a microphone, the ability to shoot 4K video at up to 30 frames per second, and a fully articulated touchscreen that helps you center your mug in the shot. The 24–70mm f/1.8–2.8 lens can be used to zoom in on your face for total viral domination.
The refreshed iPad Mini has shot straight to the top of our list. It is a smooth performer with the company's latest custom processor inside. The larger, sharper display is perfect for streaming, and since the Touch ID sensor has moved to the power button, the Home button has been eliminated for a cleaner look. The second-gen Apple Pencil costs $129 and comes with a sketchpad.
There are loops on the soles of these shoes. They are an On Running signature, and they show up on all of the Swiss brand's kicks, providing extra cushion for runners who need it, absorbing impacts, and helping prevent injuries. The bouncy bulbs are a good buffer for a Turkey Trot or a stroll down the block.
Unless you are a professional ultramarathoner, you might never use the most advanced features on top-of-the-line fitness trackers. For those of us who are active but need some gentle nudging, a Fitbit is a better choice. The new Charge 5 has features that are normally found only on pricier Wearables, such as sleep tracking, blood oxygen, andGPS, and can wake you up when your body is most ready to greet the day. The fitness tracker shouldn't be another source of stress because it's simple to use.
People know that cubes are for squares. This pyramid is finished in brushed or matt black and is an eye-catching trio. Slotting the four steel pieces back together requires a lot of dexterity and a lot of mind, but it's easy to pull apart. If you have the patience to assemble it properly, it looks beautiful sitting on your desk.
Allbirds are natural.
Allbirds is known for textile innovation in footwear, and its debut line of performance apparel keeps that streak going. The women's natural leggings are made from a combination of recycled nylon and merino wool. The fitting material is very absorbent. It is silky smooth and feels substantial to the touch. There is a pocket on the hip that can be used for a phone, and a drawstring that keeps the leggings from sliding down.
The joby gripTight Gorilla Pod is for MagSafe.
Do you own an Apple device like an iPhone 12 or 13? The magnets in Joby's tripod mount help keep your phone upright for TikTok shoots or on-the-fly meetings. Extra security can be found with the clamps if you don't trust the magnets. Joby's Gorilla Pod is a contorting leg that can be wrapped around tree branches. Need more choices? The MagSafe head is compatible with nearly any tripod.
The pocketable ereader from Amazon holds enough books to fill a home library. The Paperwhite has a larger screen, a faster page-turning system, and an option to switch between bright white and amber for sleep. The 10 weeks of battery life and fast charging make this the best way to feed your head.
The lamp is a collaboration between the design firm Silvon and the illuminati at Gantri. A dish built into the top is shaped to hold all of your pocketables. A dimmer switch on the cord is used to control the light. The Tray is 3D-printed from plant-based plastic. Useful, eco-friendly, and elegant.
The desk chair from Branch is easy to assemble and won't make a huge difference in your stipend. The mesh back lets heat escape from your body instead of being trapped next to your skin. The high-density foam seat is firm yet soft, and the seven points of adjustment are plentiful enough to make typing and zooming easy.
Lego Education Spike is essential.
Lego has a new educational set that offers a mix of problem-solving, stories, and hands-on building. Kids can build rolling robots, Ferris wheels, and other machines using 449 bricks and a simple motor in 40 lessons. The lessons are played out on a mobile app. The kit is designed for children.
iRobot's Roombas are the most effective robot vacuums, with the best navigation systems and function. The latest model is equipped with machine intelligence to learn room layout, schedule cleanings, and even avoid cables and pet poop. The docking station has a smaller one where the robot can relieve itself at the end of each shift.
$850 at Bed Bath & Beyond.
The Simple Human Sensor Mirror has a max capacity.
You can see yourself through the glass. Simplehuman has a makeup mirror that has three levels of magnification, 1X and 10X on one side and 5X on the other. The front ring light has a sensor on it. The mirror can be made to flip between its two sides by double-taping the rim. The settings mimic the color tone of either natural sunlight or a softer candle. The mirror has a bottom edge.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is for students.
Another winner was made by Microsoft's hardware designers. The laptop-tablet gap is bridged by the Surface Laptop Studio. The bottom of the screen can be pivoted toward the trackpad or laid flat for a tablet-like experience. It is great for typing, watching Squid Game, or doing creative work with the Surface Pen. Whether you are editing video or sketching your masterpiece, it is powerful.
Out comes dry straight hair. RevAir has a wand that pulls air downward to dry your hair, a method that gently stretches out waves and curls without causing frizziness. The roots are dried by additional openings at the top of the wand. It cuts the entire styling process in half and sidesteps the damaging effects of hot metal plates for those with curly hair.
The all-electric five-door from Volvo has a range of over 200 miles, which is good for a family-sized SUV and plenty of juice to get around the city or out of town. The performance is better than you would expect from such a classy car. The tight integration ofAndroid automotive is impressive. You can use the dashboard voice controls to map a route, handle incoming texts and calls, or just ask the assistant to recite a line from a book.
You can ride your bike or scooter late in the night. If you have Nutcase's latest skullcase, you will have illumination to highlight your presence to drivers, pedestrians, and anyone else sharing the road. The helmet has a 200lumen led in the front, along with strips of 65lumen led on the sides and back. The power button can be used to turn on and off the lights. The beacon can burn for up to three hours.
The Apollo Ghost e-scooter can quickly travel past 30 mph if you hold on tight. The machine is powered by two 800- watt motor that crush steep hills and power it over 20 miles of urban blacktop. It folds down for easy storage in city closets, and its lights make it hard to miss on nighttime joyrides.
Contributors are: Scott Gilbertson, Michael Calore, Matt Jancer, Taka Mark Kasuya, and David So.
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