THE BEST Tech

Montague’s electric bike might just be the best of all worlds. It has a full-size frame that folds in half, along with performance components like a Shimano STEPS E6100 motor and a Deore drivetrain, making up to 44 lb-ft. of torque. It rides on standard 700c wheels and has a front suspension fork for bumpy roads and hydraulic disc brakes.

Engineers, makers, and anyone else who works with circuits will love these pocket reference cards. The durable card set includes measurements, schematic symbols, a component value calculator, SMD footprints, laws and theories, and more. It comes in black and gold or a Kickstarter limited-edition PCB green.

Skynet, er Boston Dynamics reveals another of our future robotic overlords. Stretch is a wheeled robot that uses an articulated arm and suction grabber to pick up and carry objects, reducing repetitive and back-breaking work for humans. Watch it pick up a Spot robot, then set up and operate a box handling line.

Now through March 31, 2021, you can save even bigger on our selection of apps, software, and online training in The Awesomer Shop. Use code DOWNLOADIT to save 30% on apps and software, and code LEARNIT to save 50% on courses.

The curvy tower design of the PlayStation 5 has been polarizing, to say the least. Whatever you may think of its looks, there’s no arguing that the brass case Matt from DIY Perks built is amazing. Cutting and bending the brass into the proper shapes took a tremendous amount of work, but the end result was worth the effort.

Unless you’re a vampire, a mirror will reflect your face when you look at it. But The Action Lab’s unique mirror is a bit different. It uses a liquid crystal panel to block out the mirror and an expression recognition app that detects if its user isn’t smiling. We like the creative approach he came up with for the triggering system.

Designed by Humanscale, the NeatCharge is a discrete wireless charger that installs underneath a desk or tabletop and charges devices placed directly above on the work surface. The power disc wirelessly charges up to 10W of Qi-compatible devices up and keeps the tabletop smooth and aesthetically neutral and clutter free.

LEGO builder Tom Jones, aka WalkCrawlRun created this 1/4-scale model of Boston Dynamics’ adorable Spot robot. While the LEGO version isn’t likely to be as smart or agile as the $75,000 robot, it is able to trot around on its legs like a robodog. Show your support for the design on LEGO Ideas.

This portable gadget turns any hollow surface into a Bluetooth speaker. Set it on top of a cardboard box, stick it on a hollow-core door, or even a hard-shell suitcase, and it sends mechanical vibrations through the object, resulting in surprisingly loud sound from a pocket-sized device. Save 40% in The Awesomer Shop.

Inspired by the Nintendo GameBoy Color he had when he was a kid, artist and electronics wiz Jiri Praus made a custom version of the handheld, featuring a shiny brass front and a see-through back which exposes its meticulously bent brass wiring. He had to use an emulator instead of original hardware, but it’s still beautiful.

Marsback’s compact 75% keyboard is noteworthy for its CNC-milled translucent polycarbonate base, which allows its colorful LEDs to show through around and behind its keys. The 84-key mechanical keyboard has both wired and wireless modes, and durable PBT keycaps in both Mac and Windows layouts.

If you know anything about electronics, you know there are tons of different types of switches. Engineer and inventor Tim Hunkin delves into some of the many kinds of switches, how they work to complete circuits, and how to choose the right type for your projects.

There are chemical-based solutions out there for freshening and reducing odors from clothes, but Bosch’s new gadget does things differently. The FreshUp uses plasma technology to blast away odor particles. Simply wave the device over clothes, pillowcases, or other fabrics to eliminate odors in seconds.

Pixels sources designs from independent artists and applies them to tons of products, anything from t-shirts to iPhone cases, to help artists reach a larger audience and get paid. Customers can shop thousands of options, all while feeling good that their dollars are going to the right place.

This pen-sized tool puts an electric drill in the palm of your hand. Designed for crafting and other small DIY projects, the Wowstick easily makes holes in resin, plastic, wood, clay, beads, aluminum and copper sheets, and more. It comes with eight drill bits and runs for up to two hours on a charge via its USB-C port.

Sick of digging through drawers looking for batteries? Keep them all in one spot in this briefcase-style organizer. It’s got foam cutouts for AA, AAA, C, D, 9V, and button batteries, along with zippered pockets for other sizes. It also comes with a battery tester, and its makers claim its fireproof, waterproof, and even explosionproof.

LEDclaw makes all kinds of geeky lights, including this wall light inspired by game controllers. The 20″ wide light is made from wood and cast acrylic and backlit with colorful LEDs. The design is based on the Xbox controller, though the buttons and thumbstick have been reversed. And that’s an upside-down Dreamcast logo on top.

The PlayStation 5 is a powerful piece of gaming hardware, but its design is definitely controversial, and it doesn’t exactly blend into its surroundings. So builders Chris Salomone and Shaun Boyd got to work to conceal the console inside of a wooden shell that looks like a gigantic version of the original PlayStation.

Geek out and expand your tech skills with this collection of e-books from No Starch Press. Pay as little as a buck to unlock the first four books or more than $18 to access the full library, which includes books on problem-solving, development strategies, and practical programming in Java, Python, C, C++, Rust, and more.

We recently watched in amazement as RAY Studio converted a shaver into War Machine. In this video, the talented maker took a smartphone engineering prototype, broke it down into hundreds of individual components, then reassembled them to form an intricate dragon sculpture.

This tiny gadget is small enough to hold between your thumb and index finger, but it looks mighty versatile. At its center is a tiny clickable 360º trackball, surrounded by directional buttons. The wireless controller offers air mouse, media, and keyboard modes, and is ideal for presentations.

Add a crystal clear second screen to your laptop or mobile device. This 15.6″ touchscreen display has a 3840×2160 IPS screen for viewing of 4K content. It also supports FreeSync and HDR, and has a built-in rotation sensor. It connects via USB-C or mini HDMI, and has built-in speakers. Save 14% in The Awesomer Shop.

Are you sick and tired of conference calls? Zoom Escaper can help. The website works with virtual audio device software to intercept your microphone on its way to conferencing apps, and can inject annoyances like an upset baby, construction, barking dogs, or a crackly connection to get you off the hook.

Artist Ben Vessey created this awesome set of icons that transform iOS devices into a classic Apple Macintosh. The set includes more than 110 monochrome pixel icons in dark and light themes and six wallpapers. While the set covers many popular apps, Ben also offers a premium edition that includes five custom app icons.

These handmade desk accessories from WorkPerch combine a mousing surface with a place to keep your pens. They’re available with leather, wool, or Alcantara surfaces, each backed with natural cork to protect your desk and prevent sliding. They also make a version without the pen tray. We also like their metal valet trays.

Focal upgrades its open-back Clear headphones with a new reference model. The Clear Mg preserves a neutral sound profile while improving dynamics and detail. Magnesium domes reduce weight while increasing rigidity and damping, and a new grille design creates a wider stage and improves high-frequency reproduction.