The Stuff Team’s Must-Have Gadgets of 2024!

The year designated as 2024 has presented us with some remarkable, as well as less impressive, devices. However, we are not detractors. The overarching principle is that we maintain a positive outlook towards excellent technology. Testing out a plethora of gadgets and devices is part of our responsibilities at Stuff. Indeed, it could be argued that this is our primary duty, given the essence of this website.

Thus, the Stuff team has selected our preferred items, devices, and gadgets that assisted us throughout the year. Enjoy our festive assortment.

Dan Grabham, Editor-in-Chief

Even though I was thrilled to finally get a hold of Apple’s Vision Pro, it is a 2023 item, so I won’t dwell on that. There were numerous other outstanding technologies to select from this year. I’ll turn my attention to headphones. My ultimate choice is the Cambridge Audio’s Melomania P100, praised for their exceptional battery life (which also earned them the title of Stuff’s product of the year in our annual awards), price range, and overall excellence. The Sonos Ace also merits recognition, although they come at a steep price. Dyson’s OnTrac is another noteworthy mention, again priced too high, yet I appreciated its unique design. Despite having faced a truly annus horribilis with its app issues, there is just one more product to highlight… Sonos indeed hit a home run at the end of the year with the Sonos Arc Ultra. It’s extraordinary, and the genuine sense of melancholy I felt when I repacked it for return demonstrates its quality.

Tom Morgan-Freelander, Deputy Editor

No major revelations here – my tech highlight is also Stuff’s device of 2024. The Fujifilm X100VI is essentially everything I desire from a travel camera. The social media phenomenon from Fujifilm supports the excitement with a significantly improved APS-C sensor and remarkably efficient in-body stabilization. The fixed lens encouraged me to contemplate framing every shot more carefully – and the one-of-a-kind hybrid viewfinder is an excellent means to achieve it. Combine that with Fuji’s unique film simulations, and there’s truly nothing else I’ve enjoyed using as much in the past twelve months.

Spencer Hart, Buying Guides Editor

My tech highlight for 2024 has to be the Google Pixel 9 Pro – an almost flawless smartphone. Its compact 6.3in dimension has finally brought flagship characteristics to a manageable size, merging elegant design, lively display, and outstanding AI-driven photography. From the AI-enhanced Magic Editor to the vast 48MP lens and 5x optical zoom, every image appeared refined right out of the camera. Combine that with seven years of updates and exceptional battery longevity, and it’s a phenomenal device. Pairing this with my Denon PerL Pro earbuds results in an unbeatable pairing. Their personalized audio tuning is a transformative experience, delivering perfectly tailored sound.

Tom Wiggins, Hot Stuff Editor

This year, I acquired an apartment, compelling me to assess the necessity of the approximately 200 CDs I still possess despite not having any device to play them on. I didn’t wish to eliminate them completely or discard the cases, opting instead to transfer the discs to more conveniently storable wallets; therefore, I was seeking an answer – then Fiio’s DM13 surfaced in my inbox. Slightly larger than a classic Discman, this battery-operated CD player incorporates Bluetooth, enabling connection with a pair of headphones or a wireless speaker. It’s precisely what I was searching for and allows me to retain my CD collection while alleviating any guilt over the space it occupies.

Rachael Sharpe, Commissioning Editor

The Shark CyroGlow Mask has become my favorite gadget from 2024. In the realm of beauty technology, LED masks have been a major highlight this year, and I’m a fan – at-home light therapy enables you to fight wrinkles, say goodbye to acne, and achieve a radiant complexion, all within the coziness of your personal space. There are several aspects I appreciate about the Shark CyroGlow Mask – it’s simple and comfortable to wear, delivers outstanding outcomes, and is financially accessible for many.

Connor Jewiss, Contributing Editor

One of my preferred gadgets of 2024 undoubtedly has to be the Meta Ray-Ban intelligent spectacles. Initially, I wasn’t very impressed, but due to the recent AI enhancements, they almost function as two devices in one. You receive the AI assistant capabilities, similar to what the Humane Pin provided, while still being able to take photos, enjoy music, and more. A surprising favorite application for them has become handling phone calls. Even though they aren’t entirely comfortable enough to replace my regular glasses, I’ve inserted a pair of prescription lenses for some fun experimentation.

A few additional noteworthy mentions include the remarkable (albeit a bit perplexing) experience of the Apple Vision Pro. It does have some drawbacks (and a significant price tag), but I can’t help but be amazed after trying it out. Apple’s M4 MacBook Pros also deliver extraordinary performance enhancements, and I’m enjoying the nano-textured display. A unimpressive choice has to be the Eufy Omni S1 Pro robotic vacuum, which is the finest I’ve ever experienced.