These tech deals were deemed Most Popular and Most Likely to Succeed by the Class of ’22. (Photo: Amazon)
Every year, there are certain products that, commercially speaking, just jump out of the pack. They might not even be some flashy "next big thing." More often than not, they're just good, reliable items that Yahoo readers love to find deals on. This year was no different: Everything from headphones to tablets to robot vacuums made an appearance in 2022 and saved our readers hundreds of dollars.
These headphones boast 30 mm drivers. What does that mean? Basically, they sound good. Really good. And with noise cancellation on top, along with voice-assistant compatibility, this is a set of cans that will serve you in nearly any situation.
"I work from home and my wife homeschools. The sound on music and bass is great. But let me tell you something! The noise cancelling and ambient noise reduction settings alone are amazing. I’ve had other companies say they’re noise cancelling, but this is crazy," one customer raved. "Add a little music to the noise cancel feature and you have officially left the room. This is the best pair of headphones overall that I’ve ever owned."
Earbuds should be unobtrusive, and the Tozo A1 Minis are exactly that. At only 3.7 grams, you'll barely notice the weight, but you'll definitely notice the sound. The 6 mm drivers can handle both highs and lows with ease, and you can manage your music, voice assistance and phone calls via on-ear touch controls.
"I love these things! I gave a four on the noise cancellation because of loud barking dogs, but other than them can't hear anything but my sweet music.... I accidentally dropped one in a mop bucket of water but after awhile [found it] to be no problem at all. Things normally don't fit in my ears, but...they fit like a glove with me dancing around," said one customer.
At just a bit over a foot long, this soundbar is a compact device with non-compact sound. A pair of drivers push great audio, and it can connect via Bluetooth or through a 3.5 mm jack. It even packs in a gaming mode that reduces sound latency so you never miss a footstep or spooky sound.
"This works great! We can never hear our TV in the bedroom over the air conditioner. Installed this behind my headboard so it's not seen. And man, what a difference in sound!" said one satisfied listener. "So much better than the original TV speakers. Hooked it up over Bluetooth to the Chromecast TV and it works flawlessly!"
These have been a fan favorite for a long time, and for good reason. Not only do they do a great job of blocking outside sound while delivering a superb listening experience, but they also have up to 24 hours of battery life on a single charge. A quick 15-minute nap on the charger will deliver three more hours of life.
One user said these were "game-changing." They added: "These are excellent. If you're somebody that just struggles with sound sensitivity and wants to experience silence, then these are for you. I'm an audiophile, yet at the same time the sound quality wasn't even a consideration for me when settling on these (sound quality is excellent, by the way). I'm somebody that lives in a noisy area and just wants peace and quiet typically. I tried a number of solutions and finally ended up getting these. I directly compared them to the Beats Studio 3 over-ears, because I use Beats earbuds every day, and these are clearly superior to the Studio 3 — no contest."
These luminous little globes provide a soft, golden glow to any space, indoors or out. With their IP44 rating, these lights can handle a little bit of rain or dust without a problem, ideal for setting up your patio for a romantic dinner or just to create a relaxing atmosphere to wind down after a long day.
"These were perfect to hang in my cabana. We hung them inside of the outer edge to try and make them even in length," said one illuminated buyer. "We live in NYC, so it never really gets dark dark, and we have lots of other landscape lighting. This little strand of lights is well made, and I just love the soft glow they give off! Highly recommend these!"
The Halo is a great fitness tracker for people who are already big-time Amazon and Alexa users. It's also a lot more affordable than FitBit and other options, with all the same features they offer — and a few that they don't!
"This thing is amazing. The tracking is good, and the total calories burned vs what you’ve burned in a workout is worth its weight in gold. Helped me set up realistic caloric intake goals, and you can more closely gauge on the fly what you should be doing to stay on track," said one five-star reviewer. "The body scans are pretty cool, as well as a visual tracker and library for someone who is looking to go on a weight-loss journey. I honestly wish I got one of these sooner."
This perennial crowd-pleaser brings 12 hours of battery life to the table, along with a fast processor and use of all your favorite apps. Personally, we like it for its large screen and ability to load up the Kindle app.
"It has been a very, very long time since I got my first Kindle Fire. I had to upgrade because I ran out of space for my books, and the battery was too short-lived to read a book straight through. All fixed with this new one," said one of more than 126,000 five-star reviewers. "The battery is great, the books all fit with plenty of room for more, the screen is clearer, and the processor doesn't get all confused and decide to pout and do nothing at all. I use it almost exclusively for reading, but I like having the other tablet options available. If you haven't upgraded in a while, this is a fantastic change."
The Fire TV Stick 4K is a great streaming option. It's easy to set up and even easier to use, and it gives access to more than a million movies and TV shows.
"I never, ever leave reviews. This, however, is the most incredible tech device I have ever purchased. It has completely transformed my Sony Bravia into a useful TV by circumventing the well-known useless Sony interface and software. Sonys are known for superior picture and crap everything else. The Fire Stick fixed all that and more. Amazing device," said one happy shopper.
A robovac like the 694 makes it easy to schedule routine cleanings, and thanks to all its smart sensors, you don't have to worry about it falling down the stairs or anything like that. It can help keep your floor sparkling clean, and you can even run it when you aren't home.
One shopper said, "Love this convenient little robot to keep up after my dog hair. Now I can come home from work, kick off my shoes and not feel like I need to vacuum first, and the dog can stay inside enjoying her days. It has cut down on my need to clean. Just need to make sure there are no cords in the way or other little objects. The app is easy to use, too, and alerts me if there is a need. My favorite purchase this year!"
This TV comes with a high refresh rate, accurate color representation and enough bells and whistles to keep even the biggest tech nerd happy. At this price point, it's hard to go wrong with a 58-inch TV.
"I recently purchased the Hisense 50-inch ULED U6 Series Quantum Dot QLED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV, and I am blown away by the picture quality and overall performance of this television. The 4K UHD resolution and Quantum Dot technology provide crystal clear images that are simply stunning to look at, while the ULED display produces vibrant and accurate colors," said one user.
These AirPods come with customizable fit tips to suit any ear shape and size. Combine that with a richer audio experience and fine-tuned control, and you have a pair of earbuds that can make even the pickiest audiophile happy.
"I got exactly what I was promised by the listing. The new AirPods Pro features are amazing, especially the noise cancelling. Since these are earbuds and not a headset, I did not have great expectations for noise-cancelling ability, but it really does muffle outside sounds a lot, even when sitting in a cafe with music and people around you. The adaptable transparency is also cool. I have not been paying attention to the battery life, but I’ve used the AirPods for a prolonged time without issues, and they charge fast," said a satisfied buyer.
If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $25 or more.)
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
