They may not look like anything special, but these and other cool tech products really can make your life easier. (Rick Broida/Yahoo)
Ever feel like Sisyphus? Constantly pushing that boulder up the hill, only to watch it roll back down again? I hear you; life can be hard, which is why I'm constantly looking for ways to make it easier. And sometimes tech gadgets have the answer. It might be something trivial (preventing coffee from getting cold) or significant (running down a missing purse or backpack). Or maybe you just want to be prepared for the next power outage so you're not sitting in the dark. I searched high and low for products to help remedy these and other problems; most of the ones below have been tried and tested by yours truly and come with with my enthusiastic recommendation. So if you're ready to stop pushing that boulder, read on!
Update, Aug. 6, 2025: We checked all product prices and availability. We replaced the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphone with a more affordable option, the Soundcore Space One.
Not to go all Lord of the Rings on you, but this really is one charger to rule them all. Anker's stand provides bedside homes for your AirPods, iPhone and Apple Watch, all charged wirelessly and magnetically via a single, unobtrusive power cord.
What's more, the iPhone dock supports Qi2 charging, meaning it's capable of delivering 15 watts — instead of just 10 or 7.5 — for much faster battery top-ups.
Apple AirTags are the better-known lost-item finders, but they work only with iPhones and lack a key feature supported by Tiles: two-way finding.
That means you can not only use your phone to locate the Tile attached to your keychain, purse or the like, but also use the Tile to locate your misplaced phone. (It'll make it ring, loudly, even if it's set to silent.) Plus, they're compatible with iPhones and Android phones alike. If you've ever been the least bit frustrated by misplaced things, you owe it to yourself to start using a tracker like this.
To learn more, read our roundup of the best item trackers for finding lost stuff.
Raise your hand if you've ever left an AC adapter in a hotel room. Or simply forgotten where you put it. Very common problem, and Twelve South has the solution: The PlugBug is a wall charger with Apple's Find My technology built in. That essentially makes it an AirTag, able to be tracked with your phone. And it has a standard CR2032 battery onboard, meaning it's trackable even when not plugged into an outlet.
The 50-watt adapter has two USB-C ports and folding prongs. There's also a 120-watt four-port version if that's of interest, but take note: It nearly doubles the price.
Speaking of lost items, check out 6 surprising and creative ways to use your AirTags.
Anyone who nurses their coffee or tea for more than a few minutes knows the agony of sipping a tepid or even cold cup, requiring a trip to the microwave and an ill-fated attempt to get it back to a drinkable temperature.
The battery-powered Ember mug keeps your drink at exactly the temp you want, and can do so for upwards of an hour or more. It's a pricey item, no question, but it's also one of my prized possessions. Once you experience the joy of perfectly heated coffee from first sip to last, you can't go back.
To learn more, check our roundup of the best heated coffee mugs.
Modern phones tend to have large screens, which makes them harder to operate one-handed. And if you're holding one for a long period, like while reading a book or watching a video, it can get uncomfortable.
iPhone users should check out the OhSnap 4 Luxe, which sticks to the backside of your phone (or MagSafe-compatible case) and provides a comfortable pop-out grip — one that can tilt and lock into place to double as a hands-free stand.
It's extremely thin when folded flat, protruding no further than your camera lenses, and it allows for MagSafe charging without removal. It's even magnetic itself, so you can stick your iPhone to the fridge, a piece of gym equipment or the like.
Speaking of magnets, check our roundup of the best MagSafe accessories for your iPhone, tested and reviewed
Storms and other events can knock out the power for hours or even days. To keep your phone charged, Internet running and a lamp lit, consider a power station like this one from EcoFlow. It's a solid lunchbox-size model, with enough ports and power to cover the basics. And it's affordably priced below $250, with frequent sale pricing knocking it even lower.
If this model doesn't specifically suit your needs, check our list of the best portable power stations under $250.
Photo albums were great when you might snap a few dozen new pictures every year. Now we do that almost weekly. So what's to be done with all the precious memories stored in new phones and old albums? Simple: Transfer them to a digital picture frame, so you can enjoy a rolling slideshow whenever you walk in the room.
YunQiDeer's affordable frame can hold a thousands of photos (more if you pop in a memory card), all of them sent with just a few taps from your phone (and/or the phones of friends and family). It can even play videos as well. And there's no subscription required, only an optional one that adds a few extra features.
This is my favorite budget pick from our list of the best digital photo frames, which tells you more about these products and their features.
This is actually two problems: Your TV's terrible built-in speakers (which can make audio sound weak and tinny) and our aging ears (which make dialogue harder to hear).
Solution? A soundbar! The reasonably priced Signa S2 not only amplifies all TV audio but also electronically boosts dialogue by way of Polk's Voice Adjust technology.
Meanwhile, the wireless subwoofer adds the bass that your TV speakers desperately lack. Trust me when I say this is one of the best TV upgrades you can get. (For others, see our roundup of the best soundbars to buy in 2025.)
Ask a plumber for some horror stories and you'll get an earful. Burst pipes in second homes, leaks that happened while on vacation and so on. Even a little water damage can lead to a huge repair bill.
That's why I've deployed these water sensors under sinks, near the hot-water heater, behind the washing machine and in other strategic spots. They detect water that's either on the floor or dripping from above, and they alert you in three ways: audible alarm, notification-via-app and even e-mail.
In my house, they've already caught two leaks that might otherwise have gone unnoticed. This is the very definition of "an ounce of prevention," and it's an affordable ounce to boot.
Porch piracy is a massive problem, and while a video doorbell won't physically stop a thief from stealing your packages, its mere presence can act as a deterrent. At a minimum, it can alert you when it detects motion, while also recording that motion for later viewing by police if needed.
Ring makes some of the most popular doorbells on the market; this affordable one has a built-in rechargeable battery so you can mount it just about anywhere (including outside an apartment door, where there's not likely to be existing doorbell wiring). Plus, it supports two-way audio, so if you get alerted to an unexpected presence on your porch, you can say, "Can I help you?" and hopefully scare off the would-be thief.
This is arguably the most obvious item on the list, but a dead phone is no joke — especially if you're traveling. One time I drove off in a rental car, only to discover it didn't have the right USB port for my charging cable. Now what?
A mobile charger, aka battery pack, aka power bank, is essential. This one features three built-in charging cords, one each for micro-USB, USB-C and Lightning. That means you're covered not just for modern devices, but also legacy ones. (Still using an older Kindle, perhaps?)
It also has a built-in USB Type-A cord for recharging its own battery. Now, there are zillions of power banks in all sizes and configurations; the important thing is to make sure you have one handy when you need it.
A great in-flight entertainment system doesn't do you much good if you have wireless earbuds like Apple AirPods, because for now most airplanes have wired headphone jacks. So much for your expensive noise-canceling earbuds, right?
Wrong: The AirFly Pro 2 plugs into any 3.5mm audio jack and pairs with AirPods or other wireless earbuds or headphones. And you can add a second audio device if you and your seat-mate want to watch the same movie.
Read my full AirFly Pro 2 review to learn more.
Trying to get some work done? That can be tough when you're surrounded by noise, whether from the street or the kids playing or that incessant leaf blower. Solution: ANC (active noise-cancelling) headphones like the Soundcore Space One.
Comfortable and affordable, with great sound and surprisingly decent ANC, the Space One also offers this problem-solving: Easy Chat. Just cup your hand over the left earcup and the headphones quickly switch into transparency mode so you can converse more comfortably.
If you'd rather block out noise with something smaller, look no further than Apple AirPods Pro, which offer industry-leading ANC via compact wireless earbuds.
Looking for other options? See our picks for the best noise-cancelling wireless headphones.
There's nothing worse than weak Wi-Fi. It can interfere with your ability to work, play online games, stream TV and more. But your modem and router can do only so much to spread out the signal, right? Wi-Fi dead-spots are inevitable?
Not if you deploy a mesh network, which helps to boost and distribute the Wi-Fi signal throughout your house. I'm a longtime user (and fan) of Amazon's Eero, which has made it possible to stream silky-smooth 4K Netflix anywhere I want: upstairs, basement or main floor.
The product is shown here with one router and one extender; you may want to get the bundle with a second extender if your home also has three floors. But you can start with one and see how that goes; it's easy to add on later.
