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Significant products aren’t exclusively positive or negative. Frequently, they reside somewhere in the middle, simultaneously providing insights into where a specific sector stands … and where it may be headed.
This ethos fuels the 12th annual GP100, Gear Patrol’s formidable end-of-year summary compiling the most vital releases from technology, automobiles, fashion, watches, outdoor gear, and beyond.
Our team invested months sifting through thousands of newly released items, engaging hands-on whenever feasible, to discern the innovations and updates that left significant impressions on their respective fields. Not always for the better, nor definitively.
This year, we also opted to do something we’ve never attempted in over a decade of publishing the GP100: rank our selections.
Admittedly, this method wasn’t precise, nor always equitable. Nonetheless, our editors were certainly influenced by a few fundamental principles, such as originality, popularity, and cultural impact.
You might disagree with our choices. Undoubtedly, you will not concur with the ranking. But perhaps, just perhaps, you will find common ground with us on this: products have never been as vibrant, thrilling, and utterly essential to our daily lives.
Below, discover our leading gadgets, from the first notable film camera in years to the next generation of wireless technology. To view the winners from additional categories, check out the complete list.
14. A tracker similar to AirTag that fits into your wallet
NOMADGP100 Winner
Nomad Tracking Card
Specifications
| Material | Polycarbonate |
| Dimensions | 86mm x 54mm x 2mm |
| Water resistance | IPX7 |
Apple’s AirTags are ingenious as they assist in tracking your belongings. You can affix the button-sized tracker to your backpack, bicycle, or even your pet’s collar and, with a quick glance at the Find My app, locate it at any moment.
However, AirTags have their drawbacks. They do not feature a built-in loop or clip, necessitating an accessory for attachment. They operate on a CR2032 battery that needs replacing annually. Plus, they are overly bulky to conveniently fit in a wallet — which is the everyday carry item you probably need to monitor the most.
Introducing the Nomad Tracking Card. This credit card sized device functions similarly to an AirTag. It is compatible with Apple’s Find My network and comes equipped with a small speaker that you can activate to produce a sound to aid in locating it. Just insert it into your wallet and if it happens to be lost, effortlessly launch the Find My app on your iPhone.
The primary drawback is that the Nomad Tracking Card does not include an Ultra Wide Band chip and lacks support for Precision Tracking (which assists in directing you to an AirTag’s precise position when within 150 feet). Nevertheless, it presents other benefits — chiefly a rechargeable battery compatible with any Qi or MagSafe charger.
In summary, it’s an ideal alternative to an AirTag for your wallet.
13. Apple’s ambitious endeavor toward the computer of tomorrow
AppleGP100 Winner
Apple Vision Pro
Specifications
| Battery Duration | Up to 2.5 hours |
| Displays | Dual micro-OLED displays |
| Resolution | 3660 x 3200 pixels per eye |
Let’s address the obvious: the Vision Pro is not suited for everyone. Apple’s $3,500 mixed reality headset — or “spatial computer” — is beyond the budget of most consumers. Moreover, you likely don’t require one anyway, as it won’t substitute your iPhone, computer, or television.
However, this does not diminish the fact that the Vision Pro is exceptionally remarkable. Its combination of high-end hardware with tailored Apple software makes the headset feel both known and innovative simultaneously.
Owing to its dual micro-OLED displays, the Vision Pro offers an astonishing 4K experience. Its passthrough capability that smoothly shifts from the real world to complete immersion is unparalleled. Furthermore, the method of controlling it without any additional equipment, merely relying on eye movements and hand gestures, is unlike anything available.
The headset possesses a few distinctive features that feel inherently Apple as well. If you own a Mac, the Vision Pro can serve as an extensive 4K virtual display. You can engage in spatial videos and photographs that place you more “in the moment.” Additionally, you can make FaceTime calls while donning the headset, which is unusual yet fascinating.
It’s true that the Vision Pro lacks a standout app at this moment. Presently, its primary use is as an engaging home theater for enjoying films and series. Nevertheless, this might evolve soon … or when Apple eventually allows you to watch live sports from courtside seats.
12. The most compelling argument for AI devices resembles something well-known
Sunglass HutGP100 Winner
Meta Ray-Ban Advanced Smart Glasses
Specifications
| Frame Styles: | Wayfarer, Skyler, Headliner |
| Camera: | Ultra-wide 12MP |
| Max Photo Resolution: | 3024×4032 px |
| Video Capture: | 1440×1920 px @30 fps |
| Mics: | Custom 5-Mic array |
| Speakers: | Custom-built open ear |
| Battery Life: | Up to 4 hours with single charge, up to 36 hours with fully charged case |
| Storage: | 32GB Flash Storage |
| OS Compatibility: | IOS 14.4/ Android 10 minimum |
The popularity of AI services surged into everyday life in 2023, laying out the groundwork for what seems to be the next significant technological advancement of this decade, if not this century. In 2024, a wide array of companies—from fledgling enterprises like Rabbit and Humane to giants such as Google and Apple—initiated the competition to refine and incorporate these groundbreaking AI features into devices.
Certain products, like the Humane AI Pin and Rabbit R1, while innovative in their concepts and aesthetics, have impressively fallen short in fulfilling their ambitious claims.
Conversely, gadgets like the newest iPhones from Apple were explicitly engineered to include numerous new AI-enhanced functionalities. Though these capabilities will gradually become available to users through software updates being rolled out now and finishing in the remainder of 2025.
Moreover, there’s Meta, the once-dominant social media behemoth previously referred to as Facebook, whose history in manufacturing tangible products has been unreliable at best.
Technically, the firm launched the second iteration of its smart eyewear, created in collaboration with Ray-Ban, in the autumn of 2023.
The modification, featuring enhanced cameras, microphones, speakers, charging, and media exporting, has received abundant acclaim from critics and users alike for delivering an attractive range of features that were previously reserved for smartphones, all within a design that appears and feels quite conventional according to contemporary fashion trends. Moreover, Meta has continued to augment them since then.
This year unveiled additional frame options, such as the Skyler Frame — a cat-eye-inspired design aimed at smaller faces — a novel transparent variation of the Meta Wayfarer, along with compatibility with EssilorLuxottica’s newest Transition lenses. Furthermore, Meta introduced new AI functionalities, including assisting in recalling items you’ve seen—such as where you parked your car. The glasses can also aid in identifying objects like landmarks and products or translating text into different languages.
All these features aren’t groundbreaking for AI. And as is the case with many AI-related innovations, the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses still face challenges in consistently fulfilling their ambitious claims. Nonetheless, as a cohesive offering, they provide the most compelling rationale thus far for how AI-integrated wearables may one day complement or even replace smartphones as a fundamental piece of personal technology.
11. A fresh analog film camera in decades
PentaxGP100 Winner
Pentax 17
Specifications
| Camera | Half-frame 35mm film camera |
| Lens | HD Pentax HF 25mm (f/3.5) |
| Weight | 10.2 ounces |
Photography using film is trendy once more, yet you might not realize it while perusing cameras online. A notable brand hasn’t launched an analog film camera in literal decades.
This year marked a significant change.
The Pentax 17 represents a newly launched half-frame 35mm film camera that takes vertically arranged photos measuring 17mm (width) x 24mm (height). This design permits it to capture double the images per roll compared to a traditional full-frame 35mm film camera, rendering the cost of film more manageable.
In addition to the unmistakable vintage look of the Pentax 17, the camera also feels reminiscent of earlier times in a variety of other aspects. It features fully manual focusing, a thumb winder for advancing the film manually, and it even utilizes a CR2 battery (the kind that requires replacement) which is expected to last for approximately ten rolls of film.
In conclusion, for those committed to exploring film photography and unwilling to opt for the traditional used camera approach, the Pentax 17 stands out as a genuinely commendable new film camera. And at $500, it’s reasonably priced.
10. What occurs when a distinguished accessory manufacturer designs a desk
GrovemadeGP100 Awardee
The Grovemade Desk
Specifications
| Work Surface | 58 x 28 inches |
| Adjustable Height Range | 2.25 to 50.5 inches |
| Drawers on the Side | 11.5 x 11.25 inches |
Grovemade’s objective has consistently focused on merging natural materials with intentional design to enhance the tools utilized for both productivity and creativity, making them not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing.
The company’s inaugural product was a bamboo case for the iPhone 3G, introduced in 2009. Since that time, this small business based in Portland has gradually rolled out new items to cover nearly every imaginable feature of contemporary desks. However, it has largely neglected the most crucial element of all: the desk itself.
This year marked a notable shift with the brand’s subtle launch of The Grovemade Desk.
Motorized standing desks are plentiful in the market today. Yet, surprisingly, few provide assistance with keeping the technology and tools organized that surround most modern workspaces. This is where Grovemade’s eagerly anticipated remedy surpasses the competition.
The desk’s remarkable element is a spacious, full-width drawer formed in a graceful wedge shape with an unobtrusive handle, which integrates seamlessly into the desk’s front and side panels. A gentle tug reveals a slender strip of machined cork pockets designed for smaller items such as pens, Airpods, and paper clips.
Extending the drawer further unveils a sequence of larger compartments crafted with merino wool for accommodating a laptop, even when connected to a monitor, thanks to built-in ventilation along with other substantial items like notebooks and loose papers.
Additionally, the desk effectively tackles the common problem of cord organization through a built-in, six-outlet surge protector accompanied by a custom 12-foot braided cable residing in a dedicated channel beneath the work surface.
Of course, the desk is made available in a selection of three types of wood: walnut, oak, and maple, in both solid and plywood variations, all crafted to harmonize beautifully with other Grovemade accessories.
Grovemade dubs it “the desk that’s almost too perfect to be real.” Given the current array of standing desk options available, tidy workspace enthusiasts are sure to concur.
9. A New Digital Notebook Emerges as Champion
reMarkableGP100 Awardee
ReMarkable Paper Pro
Specifications
| Battery | Up to two weeks |
| Display | 11.8-inch Canvas Color display |
| Resolution | 2160 x 1620 (229 pixels per inch) |
Since the ReMarkable 2 was launched four years ago, it has become the preferred digital notebook for artists yearning for the sensation of writing with a pen on paper. The tablet features a textured e-ink display and accommodates a stylus, making it ideal for jotting down notes, reviewing documents, or revising papers. Additionally, it does not include social media applications or web browsing capabilities, resulting in fewer distractions compared to an iPad, for instance.
Well, the newest tablet from the Norwegian tech firm, the ReMarkable Paper Pro, is fundamentally an enhanced version of the ReMarkable 2. While the functionality of both tablets is quite similar, the Paper Pro presents several noteworthy enhancements that feel, dare we say, extraordinary.
The most remarkable of these attributes is the Paper Pro’s newly introduced color e-ink display — in fact, it’s the company’s pioneering color tablet — which enhances its usefulness for marking edits or organizing notes. Furthermore, the hues are subdued and neutral (not vivid), granting them a more analog appearance, reminiscent of using colored pencils rather than a pen or marker.
Additionally, the Paper Pro includes integrated lighting that brightens the screen, making it simpler to use during nighttime or in dim environments. Its 11.8-inch display, compared to the reMarkable 2’s 10.3-inch, is substantially larger (and more akin to a genuine sheet of paper). Like its forerunner, it is compatible with a folio keyboard for those preferring a more contemporary note-taking technique.
As with all desirable items, there is a downside to the Paper Pro — it is astoundingly costly. It retails for $579, excluding the folio keyboard or the enhanced stylus (which features an eraser and costs an additional $50). Thus, acquiring the Paper Pro ultimately hinges on your commitment to investing in a new device for traditional note-taking.
8. A genuine mini desktop computer
AppleGP100 Winner
Apple M4 Mac Mini
Specs
| Memory | 16GB RAM (base) |
| Processor | M4 or M4 Pro |
| Storage | 256GB (base) |
During a year when the majority of Apple’s latest offerings received minor updates — the newest Apple Watches, iPhones, MacBooks, and most iPads all bear a striking resemblance to their predecessors — the M4 Mac Mini distinctly stood out. Moreover, it physically exemplified Apple’s silicon capabilities.
Nobody considered the former M2 Mac Mini to be particularly substantial, but the performance and efficiency enhancements from the M4 chip enabled Apple to reduce its latest desktop computer to essentially half the volume of its 2022-released forerunner. The 5 x 5 x 2 inch unit now resembles the size of an Apple TV.
AppleHowever, it’s not solely about the size and performance. Apple introduced several enhancements for daily use in the M4 Mac Mini — such as relocating two USB-C ports…
“`and the headphone jack has been added to the front panel, alongside increasing the base memory to 16GB (from 8GB) — all while maintaining the initial cost at $599.
This renders the base version of the M4 Mac Mini not only an excellent entry-level desktop machine but also exceptional value. The only drawback is that should you opt for more memory, storage, or Apple’s upgraded M4 Pro chipset, you could swiftly double (or even triple) the price.
7. A groundbreaking, effective, intelligent, beautiful substitute to HVAC
QuiltGP100 Awardee
Quilt Heat Pump
Specifications
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi (2.4 and 5 GHz) and Bluetooth |
| Control | Wall-mounted Dial and Quilt app |
| Fuel type | Electric |
For many, mini-splits — ductless heating and cooling solutions — represent a less intrusive, economical substitute to conventional HVAC setups. The issue: most of these systems are unattractive, inefficient, and lack modern technology.
Nevertheless, the Quilt Heat Pump, produced by a newly established company created by three ex-Google employees, aims to significantly transform the mini-split sector.
The brand’s minimalist design philosophy is remarkable, but it’s just one of the numerous factors that make Quilt’s products distinctive.
These entirely electric heat pumps come with smart technology, allowing Bluetooth and Wi-Fi control through a mobile application and wall-mounted dials. Users can establish schedules and tailor the system to their liking. They can even assign different temperatures for various rooms, facilitating unparalleled climate customization.
QuiltMoreover, the pumps and their compressors — an exterior control unit that embodies Quilt’s modern design language — are considerably more compact than traditional units.
Although the system currently does not support integration with smart home platforms (such as Apple Home, Google Home, or Amazon Alexa) and is awaiting certification, Quilt might represent a significant advancement in an industry that has mostly remained stagnant.
6. Google establishes a new benchmark for foldables
GoogleGP100 Awardee
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Specifications
| Cover Display | 6.3-inch OLED |
| Inner Display | 8-inch OLED | Processor | Tensor G4 |
Certainly, Google’s second-generation foldable phone is quite a mouthful. However, in spite of its unwieldy title, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold marks a significant enhancement over its forerunner, the Pixel Fold released in 2023. It truly earns the “Pro” label.
The most noticeable advancement lies in the hardware. Google has equipped it with considerably larger displays — when folded, its 6.3-inch screen now matches that of the base Pixel 9 — and it has been made much sleeker so it does not feel as cumbersome as other foldables. In fact, when folded, it is merely 2mm thicker than Google’s non-foldable Pixel 9 Pro XL.
GoogleNaturally, the primary motivation for acquiring a foldable smartphone is the ability to multitask and benefit from its expansive tablet-sized display — and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s 8-inch inner screen is the largest of any foldable smartphone available. Boom.
This exceptional hardware (combined with a flagship-grade camera setup) is integrated with Google’s Tensor G4 chip and custom Android OS — both specifically designed for Pixel. The consequence is a foldable smartphone that genuinely appears to be two devices consolidated into one.
5. An economical Matter-certified smart thermostat
MerossGP100 Winner
Meross Matter Smart Thermostat (MTS300)
Specifications
| DIY Setup? | Yes, ~30 minutes |
| Installation Type | C-wire |
| Smart Home Compatibility | Matter (Apple Home, Siri, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings) |
The charm of Matter lies in its facilitation of the smart home creation process. Any Matter-certified device is compatible with any smart home setup, whether it’s Apple’s HomeKit, Amazon’s Alexa, Samsung’s SmartThings, or Google Home.
Having officially debuted in late 2022, there is currently a plethora of Matter-certified gadgets, however, Google has maintained a dominant position in the smart home thermostat market. Its Nest Thermostat ($130) and fourth-generation Nest Learning Thermostat ($280) were the only two Matter-certified thermostats suitable for HVAC systems in the US.
That situation has now changed.
MerossThe Meross Matter Smart Thermostat serves as a third alternative, being more cost-effective and tailored. Its white glass surface blends more seamlessly against white walls compared to Nest’s distinct circular designs. Additionally, it boasts numerous similar functionalities, including smart scheduling and energy tracking.
The only significant challenge is that the Meross Matter Smart Thermostat requires a common wire (or C-wire) setup, but this shouldn’t pose an issue as, according to Meross, 95 percent of homes in the US are equipped with such wiring.
4. A new style of mirrorless camera
The partially-stacked sensor represents a blend of both fully-stacked and unstacked sensors; it does incorporate a layer of processing chips “stacked” at the rear of the sensor, yet that layer doesn’t completely envelop the sensor — only the upper and lower parts.
NikonAs a result, the Nikon Z6III exhibits remarkably improved speeds — particularly regarding auto-focus, continuous shooting rates, and video frame rates — compared to any prior 24-megapixel full-frame camera. This includes its predecessor, the Z6 II, released in 2020.
While it may still fall short of the pace and performance offered by Nikon’s premium Z8 and Z9 mirrorless models (that utilize the same 45.7-megapixel “fully stacked” CMOS sensor), the Z6III is undoubtedly the closest it has ever come to matching them.
Considering the Z6III is priced at less than half of those high-end models, along with Nikon implementing additional vital upgrades over the Z6II — such as a significantly brighter electronic viewfinder and a sturdier body — the Z6III redefines the benchmarks for midrange mirrorless cameras.
3. A PC laptop that finally competes with the MacBook Air
MicrosoftGP100 Winner
Microsoft Surface Laptop (7th Edition, 2024)
Specifications
| Battery Duration | Up to 20 hours |
| Screen Sizes | 13.8 inches and 15 inches |
| Storage Capacity | Up to 1TB |
| Weight | 2.96 pounds (13.8-inch), 3.67 pounds (15-inch) |
Microsoft’s range of Surface devices has successfully accomplished a vital objective: establishing a benchmark for top-tier PC hardware design that other manufacturers should strive to attain.
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Nevertheless, even though the devices have appeared stunning and functioned effectively, they have yet to achieve the blend of processor capability and battery longevity of Apple’s steadfast ultraportable computing leader, the MacBook Air.
Microsoft seems to believe that a plethora of new AI capabilities ought to be the primary attraction of the 7th iteration of the Microsoft Surface Laptop. Yet, the true triumph of this machine lies in being the inaugural PC laptop to successfully achieve the ideal equilibrium of performance and battery life from an ARM-based chip.
The integration of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Plus and X Elite processors, enhanced native application support for ARM64, alongside Microsoft’s refined PRISM emulator now allows even the entry-level Surface Laptop to effortlessly handle most standard PC workloads and tasks, generally reflecting the performance that users have come to anticipate from traditional Intel-based laptops.
MicrosoftEven under substantial workloads and power-intensive configurations (such as maximum screen brightness), this laptop can sustain a minimum of 7 hours of operation. Lighter computing tasks and settings can effortlessly extend usage to over 13 hours on a single charge. To put it differently, the 7th generation Surface Laptop finally provides the all-day computing efficiency that MacBook Air users have savored for years.
Moreover, the device incorporates additional hardware enhancements, featuring slimmer bezels and marginally larger screens with support for HDR with Dolby Vision and adjustable refresh rates (up to 120Hz), a new precision haptic touchpad, an advanced 1080p webcam, and an extra USB-C port compatible with USB 4.
As a result, this laptop, considering the other notable laptop launches that have followed it this year, has elevated the standards for the Windows ultraportable sector and contributed to restoring equilibrium in the Mac versus PC discussion.
2. Apple’s most significant hardware showcase of 2024
AppleGP100 Winner
Apple M4 iPad Pro
Specifications
| Screen | Ultra Retina XDR (Tandem OLED) |
| Color Options | Silver or Space Black |
| Chipset | M4 Chip |
| Sizes Available | 11 and 13 inches |
| Storage Capacity | Up to 2TB |
| Thickness Measurements | .21 inch (11-inch variant), .20 inch (13-inch variant) |
| Weight Measurements | .98 pound (11-inch variant), 1.28 pounds (13-inch variant) |
With utmost respect to the creators of the revolutionary Vision Pro headset, the M4 iPad Pro stands as Apple’s most remarkable hardware introduction of 2024.
The 11-inch and 13-inch models are the slimmest devices Apple has produced to date. The larger 13-inch version is actually the slimmest of the two, measuring merely 5.1mm in thickness.
They weigh a mere 0.98 and 1.03 pounds, respectively, which, in an ironic twist, renders them lighter and slimmer than Apple’s traditionally sleek and lightweight iPad Air range.
AppleApple has debuted a completely innovative type of OLED display technology in the tablet realm, known as “Tandem OLED.” This design stacks two OLED layers to deliver vibrant hues, profound black tones, and maximum brightness levels reaching up to 1,600 nits, comparable to Apple’s $5,000 Pro XDR Display monitor.
In an audacious move, Apple opted to bypass a whole generation of processors and utilized the iPad Pro as the platform to unveil its new M4 chip, which shortly thereafter appeared in Apple’s high-end MacBook Pro lineup.
Fortunately, they have finally angled the front-facing camera for landscape orientation, resolving the most peculiar issue encountered with the previous models using a keyboard.
In essence, Apple has rectified or significantly enhanced every known hardware limitation from the prior generation, bringing the brand-new iPad Pro remarkably close to an ideal slate computing hardware experience.
Its design is so astonishingly sophisticated and polished that it raises the question of whether this seventh iteration will be the final version of the iPad Pros as we currently know them, at least until a speculated new folding screen design permanently alters the category.
1. A transformative device for internet access anywhere
StarlinkGP100 Winner
Starlink Mini
Specifications
| Dimensions | 11.75 x 10.2 x 1.45 inches |
| Wi-Fi Performance | Up to 100Mbps (download); up to 10Mbps (upload) |
| Weight | 2.56 pounds |
In the current post-pandemic landscape, remote working remains widely accepted. Although individuals can essentially work from anywhere—provided they have an internet connection—this often implies being at home.
The Starlink Mini alters this scenario.
Utilizing Elon Musk’s extensive satellite internet service, the device supplies high-speed, low-latency Wi-Fi to multiple devices for a whole family, even in the most isolated regions of the planet.
StarlinkAdditionally, the Starlink Mini has the dimensions of a small pile of printing paper—weighing under three pounds—and it can be operated with a portable battery. This makes it a true revolutionary product for mobile connectivity.
Indeed, it is a bit on the pricey end. The equipment setup is priced at $600. Furthermore, a monthly service charge is required. However, no other apparatus globally fulfills the promise: fast, dependable internet, available both everywhere and nowhere.
You have completed this segment of the GP100, a countdown of the year’s most impactful releases. Visit the collection page to explore what else made the rankings or browse last year’s victors.
Associated Topics
This page was created automatically. To view the article in its initial form, please follow the link below:
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