Awesome Gadgets

It took years, but Apple finally upgraded its beloved ultraportable. The new MacBook Air has a 13.3″ 2560×1600 Retina display, a fingerprint sensor for Touch ID, two USB-C ports, an 8th gen dual-core Core i5 CPU, 8GB/16GB RAM, and 128GB to 1.5TB SSD.

Anker improves on its popular Nebula Capsule portable projector. It now projects a 720p screen, has Google Chromecast and Google Assistant built-in, charges fast via USB-C, and has 1-second autofocus. It still lets you access Android apps and plug-in via HDMI and USB.

The OnePlus 6T has a 6.41″ 2340×1080 AMOLED display with a smaller notch than the one on the 6. It also has a fingerprint sensor built into the display. It also has a larger capacity battery (3700mAh from 3300mAh on the 6) and comes with USB-C headphones.

This compact computer has an 8″ 1920×1200 touchscreen. It’s powered by a 1.1Ghz Intel Silver CPU and has 8GB RAM and 128GB or 256GB of SSD storage. It has USB type-A, USB-C, HDMI and 3.5mm ports, and runs on Windows 10 or Ubuntu. An optional stylus is available.

The Vinpok Split is a lightweight and portable 15.6″ touchscreen 1080p monitor with USB-C and mini HDMI outputs. That means you can use it with laptops, desktop computers, gaming consoles and even Android phones. You can connect up to two units at once.

HP’s upcoming USB Fingerprint Mouse lets you take advantage of Windows Hello authentication on any Windows 10 PC. It has a built-in fingerprint reader and stores your fingerprint on the device itself for added security. Drops 12/2018 for $49.

The MAKERphone is a DIY kit that comes with everything you need to build a rudimentary mobile phone – it can make calls, send texts, play music and games, and more. The instructions to build the phone will be posted online, as well as tutorials for coding apps.

A wall- or tabletop-mountable wireless switch that gives you quick access to four functions of your smart devices. Use them to control RGB LED lights and speakers, with more to come. It uses the energy generated when you press one of its buttons to power itself.

The latest version of Samsung’s Galaxy Book now has Gigabit LTE for always-on connectivity. It also has a built-in kickstand, a 12″ AMOLED display, two USB-C ports, a microSD port, a 3.5mm jack and still comes with a keyboard and the S Pen stylus. Drops 11/2/18 for $1000.

Wisejet’s two-part gadget lets you wirelessly mirror the screen of a USB-C device to an HDMI display up to 10 yards away. It doesn’t need an internet connection or even local Wi-Fi to work. Just plug in the transmitter to your USB-C device and the receiver to your HDMI display.

The latest version of Amazon’s crisp, high-res Ereader is thinner and lighter than its predecessors. It’s also rated waterproof down to 6ft. The Kindle Paperwhite also now comes with access to Audible, and can be paired with speakers or headphones via Bluetooth.

Decibullz’s Black Diamond are true wireless earphones that you custom fit yourself. Dip the earpieces in hot water, put them on the earphones and then in your ears. The earpieces will hold their shape until you reheat them. The earphones last up 6h per charge.

Analogue’s latest high-def retro console is for Sega fans. The Mega Sg uses FPGA tech, not software emulation, to play Genesis, Mega Drive and Master System cartridges. A separate adapter for the Game Gear and other consoles is also planned. Drops 4/2019 for $190.

Sony’s Cyber-Shot HX99 compact camera measures only about 4″x 2″x 1″, yet packs an impressive 30x optical zoom (24mm to 720mm). It has an 18.2MP CMOS sensor and can shoot up to 4K/30fps. It also has a flash, an OLED EVF and a 180º tilting touchscreen.

The Kubuni is a headphone stand that does more than display and store your headphones. It lets you plug in over-the-ear wired headphones and connect them to other devices via Bluetooth. You can switch between inputs via its knob. It also has a volume control.

Dell’s UltraSharp 49 is the world’s first 49″ dual QHD curved monitor (5120×1440). It comes with a built-in video input management so you can easily arrange windows, and allows you to use one keyboard and mouse for two PCs. Drops 10/26/18 for $1700.

The Huawei Mate 20 Pro has a 6.4″ 3120 x 1440 OLED display, face unlock, a built-in fingerprint sensor on the touchscreen and three rear cameras: a 40MP wide angle, a 20MP ultra wide angle and an 8MP telephoto. It can also charge other devices wirelessly.

This high tech translator device has a detachable module that lets the person you’re talking to speak clearly into the microphone. It supports voice and text translations for 37 languages. It works via Wi-Fi or cellular data, and also acts as a mobile hotspot.

Synesthesia’s Pipes is a compact and affordable audio sample player. It supports 24-bit, 48kHz audio with 64 stereo voices, and loads even massive sample files with nearly zero lag. It has digital and analog outputs as well as MIDI and USB inputs.

Beryl’s Laserlight Core is an improved version of the company’s innovative projection bicycle light, which sends an image of a bicycle about 20ft in front of you. It’s lighter, projects a clearer laser image and lasts longer (up to 41h per charge). It’s also water- and dust-resistant.

Insta360’s new One X is a standalone 360º action camera. It shoots videos at up to 5.7K/30fps and photos at up to 18MP RAW. It has electronic image stabilization and a variety of shooting and effect modes such as bullet time, drift, and a variable hyperlapse.

Balolo specializes in walnut covers for gadgets. Their latest project is a Qi wireless charger with a hand-finished walnut surface that’s stain resistant, and either a brass or an aluminum base that draws away heat. The aluminum base comes in three finishes.

The Razer Blade 15 laptop now comes in a standout limited-edition Mercury White finish that goes well with the company’s other white peripherals. There’s also a more affordable base Blade 15 that has a 60Hz display, single zone RGB lighting and GTX 1060 GPU.