I tested over 80 tech products in the last year, and these were my favorites

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You got me, Apple. I didn't think you could engineer hard-plastic earbuds that I'd like as much as the AirPods Pro, but the AirPods 4 with ANC kick butt (and ear). Finally, rock-solid noise-cancelling without the need to wedge silicone tips deep inside my ear canals.

You also get most of the other features found in the AirPods Pro, including spatial audio, wireless case charging, full support for Find My and great call quality. Missing, alas, are the Pro's revolutionary hearing-aid capabilities, but if you're not at the point where you need them, there's everything else to like here.

Read my full Apple AirPods 4 review to learn more, and check out the best wireless earbuds roundup for other options you might like.

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With a permanent price cut dropping it to $349 and frequent sales driving it even lower, the current-generation base-model iPad is arguably the best tablet for anyone and everyone. It's a shockingly capable device, able to run an unrivaled selection of apps and work with a broad selection of accessories (including, notably, the Apple Pencil for drawing and note-taking).

This iPad features a gorgeous 10.9-inch screen, impressive front and rear cameras and some zippy color choices. It's also one of very few tablets available with a cellular option (at extra cost), something to consider if you need internet access while out and about.

Looking for a budget option? That nod goes to the Amazon Fire HD 8. Read about that and other great models in our roundup of the best tablets you can buy right now.

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I realize not everyone needs or wants a flying selfie camera that takes off from your palm and follows you around, but the DJI Neo was without question my favorite gadget of 2024. That's in part because it's half the price of my favorite gadget of 2023 (the HoverAir X1) and in part because it's even more versatile.

Although it's barely the size of your outstretched hand, this little drone can fly for up to 18 minutes on a charge, capture crisp 4K video and work with numerous DJI accessories (including a motion-based controller and an FPV headset). It's not perfect, not quite as easy to use as the HoverAir, but still an absolute gem.

Read my full DJI Neo review to learn more.

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For less than half the price of Apple's AirPods Pro 2, the EarFun Air Pro 4 offers a listening experience that's nearly as good. In addition to finely tuned audio and solid noise-cancelling, you get better-than-AirPods battery life, in-ear detection, wireless case charging and more.

All that's missing is spatial audio, a feature I really do like. But it's not essential; if you want a great pair of earbuds without the sky-high price, EarFun just about nailed it. Needless to say, they're a particularly good choice for Android users too (unlike Apple AirPods).

Read my full EarFun Air Pro 4 review to learn more, and check out our roundup of the best wireless earbuds as well.

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Modern tech life often feels like "death by a thousand subscriptions." Eufy's video doorbell is among precious few that doesn't saddle you with yet another monthly fee. And that's just icing on an otherwise great home-security cake: The E340 features dual cameras so you can see who's coming up the sidewalk and what packages were left beside the door.

What's more, there's onboard storage for captured video and "smart" detection that can notify you of, say, package delivery (and retrieval, in case a porch-pirate strikes while you're away). I've been using the E340 for over six months, and on the whole it's been great.

Read my full Eufy E340 Video Doorbell review to learn more.

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After testing three art TVs earlier this year — including Samsung's widely loved The Frame — it was the Hisense CanvasTV I left on my wall. And it gives me joy every time I walk into the room.

Because instead of a depressing black rectangle, I see a lovely work of art. Framed, matted, glare-free. A different one every hour (or at whatever rotation frequency I choose). Sure, any TV can display art as a screensaver, but you won't get nearly the same museum-gallery effect. I'm amazed by how much I've come to love this.

Read my full Hisense CanvasTV S7N review to learn more.

Hisense

Every TV needs a soundbar, and if you're going to get one, you might as well add a subwoofer and rear speakers into the mix. Those elements add considerably to the home-theater experience — but in the case of Hisense AX5125H, they don't add considerably to the price.

Indeed, for a very modest $350 (often discounted to $300), you get not only a Dolby Atmos-equipped main speaker, but wireless rear speakers and a subwoofer. That means real surround sound, not simulated.

Small wonder, then, that I named this the best soundbar overall in my roundup of the best soundbars of the year. Click through to learn more.

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I think the biggest tech surprise of 2024 wasn't that Amazon finally introduced a color Kindle, but that Kobo did it sooner, better and for less money.

Priced at $150, the Clara Colour is far more affordable than the $280 Kindle Colorsoft (which was recalled shortly after launch). Yes, it has a slightly smaller screen, but I prefer Kobo's interface, which is cleaner and more intuitive. I especially like the Clara's OverDrive integration, which lets you check out library books right on the device.

Learn more in my roundup of the best e-readers. (Spoiler alert: The Clara Colour was a top pick.)

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If you're in the market for a new TV, don't base your decision solely on vague specs (looking at you, "QLED," "DTS," etc.). While the Roku Pro Series delivers all the important ones, it's my favorite for one simple reason: It's easy to set up and easy to use. It's a TV for the non-tech-savvy.

Make no mistake, it's also a really good TV — though you could make the argument for a less-expensive model that also has the Roku software baked in. 

Read my Roku Pro Series TV review to learn more.

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Until very recently (I'm talking late 2024), you'd need some very good luck in order to buy an OLED TV for under $1,000. Black Friday brought some contenders, but nothing like this: Sansui's 55-inch OLED can be yours for just $700. And while it may lack the ultra-precise color and cutting-edge brightness afforded by the latest LG and Sony models, it's a huge step up over traditional LCD TVs.

It's also significantly cheaper. Some have likened this to LG's B4 — a model that currently sells for $1,200. So prepare to have your eyeballs dazzled while keeping more cash in your wallet.

Read my battle of the OLED TVs to learn more.

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Don't like earbuds that take up residence inside your ears? Consider a pair of open-ear headphones, which hook outside them. This not only achieves a super-secure fit, but also keeps you safer by letting in outside sound (like oncoming traffic).

The AeroFit 2 is the best example of this to date, a glossy, stylish set that's comfortable enough to wear all day and stocked with a battery powerful enough for all-day listening. And with a reasonable $100 price tag, the earbuds cost less than competing open-ears from Bose, Sony and others.

Here's my roundup of the best open-ear headphones if you want to learn more.

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There are plenty of Bluetooth trackers that work like Apple AirTags, allowing your phone to locate a particular item — in this case your wallet (or whatever your wallet is riding around in) — by way of Apple's global Find My network.

SwitchBot's Wallet Finder Card is one of the first that also supports two-way tracking, meaning you can use the card to locate your phone (within Bluetooth range, of course). That's an incredibly helpful feature for folks who are constantly putting it down somewhere in the house and then losing track of it.

Meanwhile, the card costs just $25 and comes with a battery that's good for up to three years. Plus, it's not strictly limited to wallets; an included strap lets you hang it off a purse, backpack or the like.

If you want to learn more about the Finder Card's unique capabilities, here's my roundup of the best Bluetooth trackers for finding a misplaced phone.