101 gadgets you can’t live without

Make room in your home, car and office for these incredible gadgets, each hand-chosen by our team of experts to add even greater levels of joy, smarts and sheer awesomeness to your life

From mesmerising TV tech to cutting-edge smart home devices, these are the buys that will truly enhance your life, starting now

Be entertained 01 BenQ TK800

4K movies never looked so good! For an immersive home- cinema experience, fire up the TK800 and enjoy a 100inch, 4K UHD 8.3 million-pixel picture with super-vivid HDR colour that will look vibrant in strong daylight or ambient evening lighting. This affordable projector is designed for live sports, with custom Football and Sports modes, as well as big-screen gaming and films, and rocks a bold sound that’ll make you feel like you’re in the midst of the action. £1,195, benq.co.uk

02 Como Audio Musica

If you’ve got a big CD collection but no modern, good-looking sound system to play your discs on, Como Audio’s all-in- one music stunner is has your name on it. The Musica sees to all of your home audio needs, enabling you to stream tracks wirelessly via Bluetooth, stream music directly through Spotify Connect, Tidal and Deezer, and tune into more than 30,000 internet radio stations and DAB. It’s even multi-room when used with other Como Audio units. All that and it’s an elegant-looking piece of kit that caters to tastes both old and new. £649, comoaudio.co.uk

03 Sonos Beam

This is the soundbar everyone’s losing their mind over, and it’s yours for less than £400. Alexa is also on board, making the wireless Sonos Beam a gadget you really can’t live without in the modern smart home. Sonos’ advanced soundbar has a range of music services built-in and is AirPlay 2 compatible, delivering great audio to small and medium-sized rooms. As it’s part of the Sonos system the Beam can be expanded to support Sonos multi-room or 5.1 surround sound. £399, sonos.com

04 Sony AF8

Can’t live without your TV? Then invest in one of the best money can buy… Sony’s successor to the A1E doesn’t leap too far forwards in terms of design, but it’s still one of the most remarkable screens we’ve ever seen. The OLED panel, available in 55- and 65-inch options, is the same as in the epic A1. It paints a jaw- dropping 4K HDR picture with deep blacks and incredible image processing. Sony’s Acoustic Surface tech also turns the screen into a giant speaker. Amazing. From £2,499, sony.co.uk

05 Plantronics RIG 500 Pro

Ignore that fearsome outer skeleton because Plantronics’ headset puts comfort first with ultra-soft ear cups, a supremely padded headband, and reduced engineering that makes it feel light even through long gaming sessions. The RIG 500 Pro for PC also does a few special things between the ears: it’s a stereo headset with 50mm drivers, but by using some digital audio trickery the RIG 500 manages a convincing Dolby Atmos surround effect, bringing more life to games. £79.99, plantronics.com

06 Sony HT-ZF9

This simple soundbar offers a convincing virtual Dolby Atmos soundstage, mimicking seven channels of surround and two height channels, all from a single box, using digital signal processing wizardry. Blimey! Its wireless sub is compact and brutal in its bass delivery. And there’s a stack of smart features, like Google Home compatibility, Bluetooth streaming, multi-room support using the Sony Music Centre app, and Chromecast built-in. £650, sony.co.uk

07 Lenovo Mirage Solo

Fancy trying VR but can’t stomach the price of a high-end setup? Lenovo’s Mirage Solo Headset is PC-, cable- and external sensor-free. Instead it uses Google WorldSense tech that works with two internal tracking cameras and proximity sensors to detect objects and recreate your movements on the 5.5inch display. You have access to 250+ apps on the Daydream OS, enabling you to explore exciting new worlds or, you know, more of this one. £349.99, lenovo.com

08 Xbox One X

The One X is one mighty gaming and media machine. A powerful processor and huge graphics performance enables you to run the latest games at 4K natively, rather than upscaled from a lower resolution. And all in glorious HDR, too. Plus, there’s support for Dolby Atmos, so they sound absolutely convincing. Once you’ve completed all your games, kick back with a 4K Blu-ray or dig into your media on the 1TB internal drive. £449.99, xbox.com

09 Astell & Kern SR15

A&K’s name has become synonymous with portable hi-res audio and for good reason. We’ll even forgive its engineers, whose pursuit of the finest sound and the sharpest design has led them to attach the screen on quite an odd angle. Actually, this is a feature used to prevent your fingers obscuring the panel while you’re holding the SR15, which combines a dual DAC, quad- core processor and a price that brings your enjoyment of A&K’s lofty sound standards down to the realm of mere mortals. £599, astellnkern.com

10 Audeze LCD-4

Give your music the luxury treatment with these glorious Audeze planar magnetic headphones. The over- ear LCD- 4 has a world- class bass sound, making it the ideal listening partner for rock, metal, hip-hop and other thunderous genres of music. Audeze outfitted the LCD- 4 with a range of ground-breaking tech to double the driving power, boost performance and ensure you get maximum bang for your buck. And when we say buck, you’ll be laying down a lot of it here, but the LCD- 4 sound is worth it. £3,599, audeze.com

11 Philips Momentum 436M6VBPAB

Make colours come alive with this 43-inch gaming monitor from Philips, created with a truly lush 4K display that’s also HDR1000 certified – basically, the most cutting- edge HDR performance you can get in monitors. The Momentum’s soothing Ambiglow tech creates an extended halo of light around the edge of the monitor, which feels more immersive when you’re watching movies or playing games. For lag-free gaming, the Momentum delivers a fast response time and a zippy refresh rate. £899, philips.co.uk

12 Apple TV 4K

Enjoy greater realism in films, TV shows, apps and games with Apple’s A10X Fusion chip- equipped 4K HDR box. It’s currently the only streaming box capable of Dolby Vision advanced HDR, and has the biggest collection of 4K HDR content video on iTunes, so you’ll have no problem lining up hours of viewing once the darker evenings kick in. When the next software update lands this September, Apple TV 4K will also have Dolby Atmos support. Ready to start bingeing? Cool, just tell Siri what to play. From £179, apple.com

13 B&O Beoplay P2

At home or on the move, B&O’s stylish dust- and splash-resistant Bluetooth speaker is designed to be your dapper musical wingman. Despite its small size, a mid-woofer driver helps push out 2 x 50 watts of room- filling power. The P2 is also infused with creative smart features. Instead of buttons, for example, tunes are controlled with shakes and taps. Factor in the 10-hour battery life and built-in microphone for voice control and taking calls, and you’ll soon see why the P2 is a gadget to treasure. £149, beoplay.com

14 Urbanista Tokyo

Stuff your ears with Urbanista’s comfortable, minimalist-looking true wireless buds and enjoy full-bodied sound whether you’re commuting, exercising or simply chilling on the sofa. The Bluetooth Tokyo earphones provide roughly three hours of playtime per charge, and you can increase this if you keep the buds stored in the charging carry case. They pair easily and are water- and sweat-resistant, so you’ll be fine listening to music if you get caught in some impromptu drizzle. £99, uk.urbanista.com

15 Rega Planar 2

Jumping aboard the vinyl train needn’t be complicated or expensive when you have the Planar 2 turntable. Components have been designed to enhance stability and reduce vibration, leaving your wax free to spin as intended. At the business end, the supplied carbon cartridge sounds epic from the box, while the lightweight RB220 tonearm features lowfriction ball bearings and an automatic bias setting, all to make it easy to play. £399, rega.co.uk

16 KEF LS50 Wireless

Enjoy a high-end music system with KEF’s awardwinning LS50 Wireless. 230-watt dual mono amplifiers boasting custom EQ are built into the units themselves. Connect it up to your hi-fi or stream music via your phone. The LS50 has a touch-sensitive control panel or, for zero hassle, control it via your phone. Usually you would only get such great audio quality with a system of high-end components, but the LS50 is everything you need in two slick boxes. £2,000, uk.kef.com

17 Naim Uniti Atom

We once described the Uniti Atom as the allin-one wireless music player that sounds a million dollars but costs way less. In fact, once it’s ensconced in your living room you’ll wonder why you ever listened to music on anything else. It packs in Burr Brown DACs, ultrahigh-end analogue, a fiveinch display, and support for just about every local and online streaming platform. It comes with a 40-watt amp, so just add your own speakers. £1,999, naimaudio.com

SNAP HAPPIER 18 DJI Mavic Air

The compact controller, small footprint and foldaway arms of the Mavic Air make it the ideal drone to throw in a backpack, ready to capture stunning scenery or footage of your adventures. Obstacle sensors, a gimbal-stabilised 4K/30fps camera – which records at 100 Mbps for breathtaking UHD quality – and smart features including Active Track, gesture control and QuickShots make capturing aerial footage a breeze. We also love the Air’s 32MP spherical panoramas, which look mind-blowing through VR goggles. £769, dji.com

21 DJI Osmo Mobile 2

Yes, that’s right, we’re throwing in another DJI gadget, and this one will help you nail smoother video footage when filming on your phone. To start, mount your handset to the DJI Osmo Mobile 2, a handheld gimbal that uses built-in sensors and brushless motors to reduce shake and remove vibrations. The DJI Go app is also packed with smart tools to help you create more with your Osmo: track subjects, create stunning panoramas and livestream your adventures. There’s also a manual Cinematic Zoom Control for producing a stylish Dolly Zoom effect, just like the Hollywood pros use in the movies. £129, dji.com

19 GoPro Hero

No, you’re not seeing things. This really is a GoPro selling for under £ 200. This budget action cam’s top resolution is 1080p at 60fps, which might sound undergunned in this 4K- driven world but it’s more than enough for most adrenaline seekers. Out of the box, the Hero boasts flagship GoPro features such as voice control, digital image stabilisation, 10MP stills, a two-inch touchscreen and 10-metre waterproofing. The GoPro Hero is always ready for action. The question is, are you? £199.99, gopro.com

22 Moment Filmmaker Collection

Your smartphone is a powerful filmmaking tool when paired with the right accessories, and Moment’s stylish Filmmaker Collection represents an easy way to upgrade your phone clips without needing a big Hollywood budget. The Anamorphic lens, for example, gives your shots a widescreen cinematic feel, while the ROV Mobile Traveller Bluetooth connected slider is great for dynamic slowmo. In the audio department, the VideoMicro compact mic boosts dodgy sound. The X1 Pro Rig also has space for mounting your phone, mic, lights and more. From $29.99 (£23), shopmoment.com

20 Sony a9

Sony’s full-frame mirrorless DSLR could signal the death knell for high- end mechanical cameras. Photographic nirvana starts with a 24.2MP-stacked Exmor RS CMOS image sensor, designed to capture incredible images at speed, while the lightning- quick, vibration-free electronic shutter ensures you never miss a moment. Image sharpness is guaranteed by 4D Autofocus, and covers an amazing 93 per cent of the image, while smooth 4K video comes via five-axis image stabilisation. £4,300, sony.co.uk

23 Huawei P20 Pro

Right now, the P20 Pro is top of the smartphone photography league. Huawei teamed up with German camera don Leica to engineer the device’s revolutionary three-lens system, incorporating a 40MP Light Fusion sensor for top-notch light definition and a 20MP black-andwhite lens for added depth. The dazzling 5x Hybrid Zoom captures detail at a distance, and the P20 Pro uses AI to adjust settings in real time, maximising your chances of always taking a stellar shot, day or night. £799, huawei.com

24 Polaroid Originals OneStep 2

Real photos are back in a big way, and we’re all about embracing that with a smidge of retro design. The OneStep 2 looks like a Polaroid of old, but packs modern features to make those prints look great. You can buy different film types for the camera, each enabling you to style a range of looks and feels for your instant photography. A big flash is on hand to help you capture decent pics any time, anywhere, regardless of lighting levels, and we love the selftimer function for group selfies. £119, polaroid.com

25 Olympus Pen E-PL9

When you’re ready to step up from your smartphone camera, Olympus’ lightweight Pen E-PL9 compact, complete with 20-plus lens options, will be waiting. Auto mode dials in the right settings for any situation, from selfies to action shots. When it’s time to get more creative, advanced Photo mode gives you the control you need. Once you’ve nailed the shot, connect the Olympus to your smartphone and share your images. The E-PL9 can also shoot digitally stabilised 4K footage. From £579.99, olympus.eu

Improve your commute 26 Analog Motion AM1

Getting your foot on the ebike ladder used to cost handsomely, but Analog Motion’s fixed-gear AM1 electric bicycle is a steal at just £499. The AM1’s minimalist- design battery delivers 20 miles of pedal assistance per charge – the average commuter’s round trip is 17 miles – and at just 13.5kg it will be a breeze pedalling the featherweight fixie if you run out of juice. £499, analogmotion.co.uk

27 Scosche Magic Mount Pro Charge

If you use your phone for accessing maps, music and more in the car, you’ll likely arrive at work with just enough battery left to send a text. Buddy up instead with the Qi-certified MagicMount Pro Charge. It pulls double duty as an adjustable device mount with suction base, and a magnetic, wireless 10-watt charging dock to keep your phone powered. $59.99 (£46), scosche.com

28 Archos Citee Connect Scooter

Beat the traffic and have fun commuting aboard the world’s first Google Android-powered escooter. The Citee Connect’s integrated 3G multimedia nerve centre displays information including maps, weather and battery level on its HD touchscreen. With a 250-watt motor and 36-volt battery under the hood, you’ll reach your desk without breaking a sweat. €499.99 (£442), archos.com

29 Rapha Collection Bike Bags

Apple has teamed up with modish cycling brand Rapha to create a striking new range of water-repellant bags for transporting your iPad or MacBook. The collection includes a bikefriendly over-the-shoulder mini messenger bag, a convertible tote backpack, MacBook and iPad sleeves, and a Tech Organiser Kit for charging cables, earbuds and other essentials. From £44.95, apple.com

30 Nextbase 612GW

With the roads increasingly resembling Fast & Furious, a dash cam has become the motoring accessory to tell your side of the story in an accident. The Nextbase 612GW shoots crystal- clear 4K Ultra HD footage, with a polarising filter ensuring glare doesn’t distort the image. A parking motion detector starts filming as soon as it spots suspicious activity. £249, halfords.com

31 Nintendo Switch

Your Monday morning commute doesn’t have to halt progress on a weekend of epic gaming: with the Switch you can log hours at home on the big screen, then undock the handheld 6.2-inch touchscreen console and keep playing on the move. With top games like Super Mario Odyssey at your fingertips, there’s no better way to pass time on your journey to work. £279.99, nintendo.co.uk

32 Gocycle G3

A cool, futuristic foldaway design, killer smart features and lightweight magnesium frame make the Geocycle G3 a slick commuter ebike. Predictive electronic gear shifting means pedalling is never a slog, and the G3’s high- capacity lithium-ion battery dishes out 50 miles of pedal assistance, perfect for cruising comfortably from home to work and back again. £3,499, gocycle.com

33 Mophie Powerstation USB-C XXL

Use your commute time to get a jumpstart on work, to educate yourself further via a long- distance learning course, or to work on your creative projects. If any of those involve a phone or laptop, stay powered up with the USBC-XXL, Mophie’s highcapacity battery with enough power to charge your USB- C laptop plus other any other devices simultaneously. €149.95 (£132.71), eu.mophie.com

34 Bowers & Wilkins PX

Bowers and Wilkins’ smart PX headphones are loaded with sensors to monitor and react to your actions. Place them on your head and they turn on. Lift a cup from your ear and the music is automatically paused. If you want some peace on a rowdy bus or train, three noisecancelling environment filters (flight, city, office) will kick in to block increasing levels of noise. £329, bowers-wilkins.co.uk

35 Lumos

This sturdy, smart helmet is packed with 48 bright LEDs, alerting other road users to your presence and making your ride to work safer. As you slow down, sensors trigger a bright brake light on the rear of the helmet. When cornering, use the wireless handlebar controller to trigger left or right indicator lights. We think the Lumos is essential for the coming darker months. £149.99, lumoshelmet.co

36 Kindle Oasis

Burying your face in a good book is a relaxing way to take back some of your commuting time. The Kindle Oasis, now available in luxurious Gold and Graphite colours, is ideal for this. It features a seveninch print-quality display and, with a spacious 32GB max capacity, you can fill it to the rafters with books, magazines and audiobooks. Add the battery cover and you get weeks of life. From £229.99, amazon.co.uk

stay connected 37 Tile Style

If you’re always misplacing your keys, phone or wallet, the Tile Style is a gadget you can’t live without. A Bluetooth tracker packed into a cute, minimal tag, the Tile can be easily attached to anything you might misplace or worry about losing. To find said missing item, open the Tile app and it’ll show you where it is or sound an alarm on the Tile. It works the other way round too – click the Tile to get your AWOL phone to ring. £30, thetileapp.com

38 iPhone X

Apple’s high- end iPhone X has a 5.8-inch super Retina screen, durable glass front and back, and a sleek steel rim. Not only does it look gorgeous, it puts in an exceptional performance too thanks to an A11 Bionic chip, currently the most powerful in any smartphone. The X’s photo-taking abilities are fantastic, with dual 12MP depth-sensing cameras that create high- quality lighting effects. Face ID also keeps everything super-secure. From £999, apple.com

39 Belkin Boost Up Wireless Charging Stand

If you have a QI- enabled device, invest in a charging stand for a fast and fuss-free way to juice up your phone. The Boost Up delivers 10 watts of power, charging your phone faster than most five-watt chargers. LED lights indicate whether your smartphone is fully charged. We like this over other wireless chargers because it holds your phone up so you can still see it while charging, unlike most other Qi- charging options. £64.99, belkin.com/uk

40 Mishiko Collar

If you worry about losing your pooch, fasten this GPS dog collar to your dog and get instant peace of mind. It has a built-in global SIM chip, so you’ll always know where your dog is with up to four meters of accuracy. As well as keeping tabs on your dog, the collar also tracks their activity levels and shows you how many walks they’ve had via an app, so you’ll always know if your dog is getting enough exercise for their age, breed and health levels. £49.99, mishiko.net

41 iLi Offline Translator

A translation device for travellers, the iLi can translate your words in as little as 0.2 seconds without a Wi- Fi connection. It’s super portable and wearable at only 42g, making it ideal for travelling, shopping, eating and visiting tourist attractions. Right now it can translate from English to Japanese, Mandarin or Spanish. Press down the button, hold and speak, then release it to hear the translation in the language of your choice. $199 (£149.79), iamili.com

42 Iceworks 7000

There’s nothing worse than your phone running out of charge when you’re on the move and don’t have access to a plug socket. But fear not, this portable Iceworks battery pack can charge up to two devices at once with its built-in cable and USB- C output socket. It provides most devices with 150-200 per cent extra charge. And at 8mm thick, it’s so slim we bet you won’t even notice it when you bundle it into your bag. £23.95, amazon.co.uk

43 Neatgear Orbi RBK20

If you have a big home or lots of Wi-Fi blackspots, invest in the Orbi RBK20 mesh Wi-Fi system. It blankets up to 3,000 square feet with superhigh performance Wi-Fi, reaching speeds up to 2.2Gbps. The network ensures that no matter where you are in your home you’ll be connected to a Wi-Fi module with zero lag time. Orbi also offers parental controls via the Circle app; use them to filter internet usage and set time limits. £223.65, amazon.co.uk

44 Google Pixelbook

Chromebooks get classy (and powerful) with Google’s high-end offering. The gorgeous silver and white exterior hides a 12-inch touchscreen with a generous 2400x1600 display (in an unusual 4:3 ratio, which works well for displaying documents), and an Intel Core processor. The battery should last 10 hours, with two hours use from a single 15-min charge, making it the perfect travelling companion. Chrome OS is lightweight but capable. £899, store.google.com

45 Helvetica No1 Smartwatch

We’re obsessed with this hybrid watch and think you’ll love it too. The Helvetica No1 Smartwatch has a two-tone face, steel casing and leather strap, coming together in a clean, unisex look that should appeal to design nerds. But it’s not just any old watch: The No 1 Smartwatch has some great smart features built-in, including activity monitoring and sleep tracking. You can also view, from the watch face, the date and your step goal percentage for the day. £650, mondaine.com

Boost your roost 46 Grohe Sense Guard set

Stop leaks before they start. If Grohe’s Sense Guard finds any irregularities with your water supply, from frost to drips to just plain odd flow, it’ll let you know, wherever you are. You can then cut the water. In the case of major leaks the Sense Guard will do it automatically. This smart water monitor also tracks your home’s water consumption, which is handy if you’re on a metered supply, and the three wireless sensors supplied with the kit will watch for flooding appliances or unusual humidity in your home. £559, grohe.co.uk

47 Flic

Want to fire off IFTTT? Press your Flic. Turning your lights on or off? Use the Flic. Lost your phone, or want it to make silly sounds on command? Flic. This silicon- covered Bluetooth smart button, which can be assigned three functions based on single, double, or long presses, can do just about anything, with a quoted battery life of two years and an app with hooks in every smart platform that matters. £28, flic.io

48 Amazon Fire TV Cube

Making use of HDMI- CEC, two-way infrared capabilities and a whole host of cloud-based trickery, Amazon’s sharp- edged streamer helps you take total control of your TV, with Alexa at its core. Ask the digital assistant and, along with the standard smart home commands of the Echo, Alexa can switch your screen on, flick to the right channel, or begin streaming content. Oh, and the Fire TV Cube can handle HDR10, 4K at 60Hz, plus Dolby Atmos soundtracks. £119.99, amazon.co.uk

49 Bosch Indego 400 Connect

Buying a robot lawnmower isn’t just an excuse to pass on your garden chores to an automaton. The Indego 400, which can charge itself, feed back its status to your phone, and detect garden furniture while it cuts up to 400 square meters, also includes some measure of programmed-in empathy. How? It’ll remember the direction it was travelling the last time it eviscerated your grass, then flip itself around, moving in the opposite direction to avoid stressing your lawn. £950, bosch-garden.com

50 Ring Video Doorbell 2

Whether you’re at home or not, Ring’s wireless front door alerter will let you know when someone’s out there. The video doorbell streams 1080p video to your phone from its camera, and enables you to chat with your visitor without having to actually open the door; as handy for deflecting unwanted callers as it is for convincing someone that you’re at home when you’re not. There’s motion sensing, too, and you can tune in to view whenever you like. £179, ring.com

51 Amazon Echo Spot

Far cuter than both the monolithic mainline Echo and the Echo Show, the Spot is the perfect combination of utility and fun. It masquerades as a friendly alarm clock, naturally gives you the opportunity to boss Alexa around, and you can use its round screen for (impractical) streaming video and (very cool) video calling with other Echo devices in your home. Be warned, though: one Echo Spot quickly turns into a houseful of ’em once you start using it. £120, amazon.co.uk

52 Netatmo Healthy Home Coach

Everything from your general wellbeing to the quality of your sleep is affected by your home’s indoor environment. Netatmo’s stylish smart sensor monitors the temperature, humidity and air quality of the room it’s stationed in, letting you know how you can make adjustments to boost your health and general wellness. Connect several Coach sensors together to find out where the healthiest and the unhealthiest areas are in your home. £89.99, shop.netatmo.com

53 Nest Cam IQ

Nest’s beautiful take on the security camera, doubling as a conduit for Google Assistant, won’t be stopped in its mission to protect your home. Key to the equation is its 4K HDR image sensor, dubbed Supersight, which renders down to an ultra-sharp and zoomable 1080p stream either in bright light or at night. The sensor is packed with smarts, incorporating facial recognition and intelligent alerts if you stump up for a Nest Aware subscription (from £40 a year). £299, nest.com

54 D-Link DSP-W115/B WiFi Smart Plug

There’s certainly a long list of smart devices out there, from coffee makers to piggy banks to – and this is real – rubbish bins. Not joking. None, though, are quite as core to home automation as the humble smart plug. D- Link’s prime example plays nicely with Google Assistant, Alexa, and IFTTT, lending instant smart status to whatever you plug into it. Use one to save power, schedule your gear to turn on and off as it suits you, and even fire all that kit up from afar via D- Link’s easy-peasy mydlink app. £30, dlink.com