The 27 Coolest New Gadgets of 2020

Amidst the raging battle between Apple, Samsung, and Google, one key player, a hero, returned: Motorola, with its signature and classic phone, the Razr. The Razr was the iPhone before the iPhone, so we have to give its modern iteration some love. This new device uses a foldable screen (similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2, another cool device) to preserve the flip phone style we all missed while still giving us a large, smart touchscreen. Beyond the inner screen, it also features a small screen on the front, which can be used as a notification center, or even for playing games and watching videos. The Razr’s return is not a nostalgia trap but a piece of tech that commands respect—a fantastic smartphone alternative to the big three. —C.S.

Projector hype was at an all-time high this year, with people tricking out their backyards and living rooms after the mass closing of movie theaters. Projectors can get complicated, though, needing tons of cables and plugs to hook up what you're trying to project. The Hachi Infinite solves that problem with a full Android tablet system built in for app downloads like Netflix and Hulu, saving you the irritation of trying to get a USB-C to HDMI or whatever. What makes the Infinite even more special is its touch sensitivity. When flipped horizontally, the projector functions normally onto a wall or sheet, but when flipped vertically, it creates a touchscreen tablet made of light on any surface. Use it to follow recipes on your counter, or to dive into some truly amazing gaming experiences and learning exercises. Or, create a tablet workspace right on an office desk. The touch functionality is beyond easy to use. —C.S.

Here’s a bullshit saying you’ve no doubt heard: “The best camera is the one you have with you.” No, in actuality the best camera is the one you can use effectively. For most of us, that means the shooter that comes loaded on our smartphones, which to be fair, usually isn’t bad. These cameras take passable photos that only need a bit of editing before posting to the ‘Gram. But what if you wanted to capture images (and movies!) that are more stunning, dynamic, and beautiful? Friends, you'd want Sony’s Alpha 7C digital camera at your side. This 24.2-megapixel, full-frame digital camera can, at least for now, claim the mantle of the world’s smallest and lightest. Multiple features abound like shutter units, a five-axis, in-body stabilization, and the smallest and lightest zoom lens on the planet. “But what if I don’t know how to shoot something this complex?” That’s okay! The automatic functions in the 7C make it fairly idiot proof. You can start point and shooting, and then as you learn more about the camera, steadily and dramatically improve your picture creation game. And that bullshit thing about the best camera always being with you? There will be a twinge of truth to it, because you’ll never want to put the 7C down. —D.D.

Google first attached its wearable Jacquard tech to a Levi’s denim jacket and a high-end Saint Laurent backpack. This year, it expanded Jacquard from shell to shell, to shoe soles and a larger range of backpacks, including this affordable option from Samsonite. The tech is a chip, smaller than a thumb drive, plugged into the backpack to turn thread into touch-sensitive material. You can skip songs, turn volume up, answer calls, and more with taps. Best part is, when you remove that plug-and-play chip, the material can be washed. Plus, you only have to charge the chip. No need to plug in your whole backpack to an outlet. —C.S.

Have you ever played Dragon’s Lair? It’s hard—as in, I love hard games and can't touch it—but it's also gorgeously animated. RepliCade took the Dragon's Lair arcade cabinet and shrunk it down to a mini size, so you can save your quarters, get an arcade experience, and not cram your space with a massive system. Somehow, this RepliCade formula results in something more than playable and yet smaller than your forearm—the screen is 4.2 inches across. Dragon's Lair is one of the most beloved arcade titles out there, but if that's not your thing, the company has tons of other options, including the likes of Street Fighter, Tempest, and Dig Dug. The age of analog is back. —C.S.

Remember that game at the arcade, where you stomped on the glowing buttons to “crush the spider”? Well, Liteboxer is that, but for exercise, which is good because I need working out to be fun. Buttons light up on the face that it encourages you to beat the shit out of. The workouts guide you through everything from squats to steps, and of course, actual boxing. And it feels great. You're going to break a sweat, but you're also going to want to crush a ton of spiders. —C.S.

You're still talking through the built-in mic on your wired Apple headphones. It's rough and rowdy. So get a damn mic. You’ll sound clearer, you won't break up, and your whole video conference crew will thank you for it. There are a ton of microphones on the market, but the Yeti hits that sweet spot between being affordable and still packing quality. The mic is unobtrusive on a desk, requires little more than plugging it in and switching the input to use, and features several buttons to adjust your volume so you don’t blast through everyone else. It’ll amp up your digital sound quality tenfold. —C.S.

This is a little handheld sterilizer. You can direct its UV light to kill germs on nearly anything. That's it. But from groceries to luggage to whatever the hell else needs some quick sanitizing and may not be soap- or GermX-friendly, this wand is an invaluable tool to have in your hand (and one that's greener than Clorox wipes). —C.S.

There’s really only two ways to improve performance on a bicycle: increase power and cut weight. The power part comes down to what your legs can do through training, diet, and genetics. But for cutting weight? It’s hard to find a better bike than the Felt FR. Made from the same carbon fiber used in Formula One cars and high-performance aircraft, the bike is incredibly light (it’s just a whiff over 15 pounds) and supremely responsive (the stiff frame has it cornering like a Porsche 911). More importantly, when you swing your leg over the bike you don’t feel as though you’re taking it for a ride. You feel like man and machine have bonded to become one. —D.D.

I love interactive lighting. By love, I mean obsess over it. And Nanoleaf has brought interactive lighting to a consumer level. Expanding its collection of wall light panels from triangles and squares, Nanoleaf now has hexagons in its catalog. These lights are not only fully capable of making amazing colors and patterns, but they respond to touch and even work as your smart home controller. You can program gestures into the lights to turn other smart lights on, prompt commands from a smart home assistant of your choice, and more. Nanoleaf recently implemented a reactive feature so that the hexagons change color based on what's happening on your TV. This is truly the lighting of the future, and a helluva conversation piece. —C.S.

We're leaping from the future back to the present, where cannabis is getting prettied-up to ease its path to legalization and social acceptance. The new KEEP storage container for cannabis is discreet on the outside—its display has a clock and weather info—but it opens to reveal multiple storage spaces for different kinds of cannabis products and a rolling tray. The kicker is its locking system, which works via facial recognition or a data-encrypted app. If someone who isn't you is trying to get into your stash, then you'll get a notification, which is very practical if you have house guests, kids, or greedy roommates. —S.R.

Since the invention of AirPods, everyone’s been trying to get into the true wireless game. Well, last year Google had our favorite smart phone, and this year it came out swinging with its own take on wireless buds. The Pixel Buds are easily the most comfortable earbuds I’ve worn, and they have extensive versatility between phones and operating systems, as Google products normally do. The sound quality and battery life offer everything that you'd expect and more. They'll seamlessly switch from music to video calls, and work pretty well to drown out background noise. The shell also holds a charge that lasts a good, long while. I never have to remember to charge these things, and they always seem to still be kicking. —C.S.

With no end to the lockdown in sight, there’s a really good chance we won’t be able to safely get a real massage from a real human being until sometime in the year 3000. But that’s okay, because we live in a world where there’s the Hyperice Hypervolt Percussion Massager. Looking a little like a power tool designed under the supervision of Steve Jobs, the Hypervolt uses a 60-watt motor to propel the massager head at up to three different speeds. Since it comes with five interchangeable heads there’s no body part too tender, no muscle group too twisted, for Hypervolt to smooth out. —D.D.

Throughout my adult life, one lesson from my mom has proven to be totally true: Hydration is important. Most of my issues are solved by water. I mean, that's not entirely factual, but if I ever feel like crap, I know it's probably because I'm dehydrated. Fillup is a water tower that keeps a day's worth of water cold and as close as you need it, acting as a constant reminder to drink your damn water. Personally, I have a Fillup on my desk and it has genuinely helped reverse the stunning lack of hydration in my system since I began working from home. —C.S.

This thing is a fully functional, stabilized 4K camera. You read that right. The Osmo Pocket fits, yes, right into your pocket and packs a wallop more powerful than some film crews. With the 4K-capable capture and its head mounted on a stabilizing gimbal, you get clean, completely un-shaky shots. You can also set objects for the camera to focus on, or attach your phone for a larger preview screen. Watching these thing’s head whip around is like watching a droid right out of Star Wars. It's everything you need for killer vlogs or video, especially if you're on the go. —C.S.

Smart phone companies love to pretend that a $700 is “affordable” for a device upgrade. It really is not. But by bringing back the iPhone SE for a palatable $400, Apple gave us hope that the heavy-hitters in the smart phone arena might be embracing price accessibility. The new iPhone SE is smaller, less stunning, and less powerful than its iPhone 11 and iPhone XR counterparts—obviously. But it’s a smart phone, it does smart phone things, and it won’t slow you down. Home button, how we missed you. —S.R.

Short of buying a video camera but more more rewarding than relying on a smartphone’s guts alone is the Moon UltraLight, an unassuming device that clips onto a phone and emits better light for photography and videography. With touch controls, you can adjust the hue and brightness, and it’ll do wonders to your photos and videos. It also clips onto laptops. Hello, better Zoom lighting. —S.R.

Smart lighting may exist to eliminate the need for light switches, but with a switch this cool, you’ll want to go back. Iotty looks like something straight out of MI6’s headquarters. With a subtle and gorgeous backlight, dimmer controls, and smart home integration, it is a worthy hub for your smart lighting schemes. —C.S.

Larq bottles are equipped with internal UV-C lights that regularly sanitize the inside of the bottle and its contents. That’s great for peace of mind, great for traveling, and great for avoiding that disgusting metal water bottle stink. But the original Larq bottles have some heft to them. The next step for Larq was releasing lighter water bottles that are much more portable without sacrificing that UV-C tech. Movement bottles are not double-walled, so they won’t keep your drinks hot or cold, but that matters a lot less at the gym or on a hike. —S.R.

By the sound of my bones, you would not believe that I am a young man. The cracks and snaps my body makes would have you wincing. Now, Theragun percussion massagers aren’t cure-alls, but damn do they help. This year, Therabody launched a mini Theragun that is a wonderful backpack or gym bag size, and still will have your muscles feeling refreshed and loose. The Mini serves as your intro to percussive massage guns, and a necessary addition to those of us who have been wrecking our bodies learning home-friendly workouts. —C.S.