SOMETIMES IT FEELS like we’re living in the future with the avalanche of new and surprising tech gear released every year. Drones are commonplace now, the latest Apple Watch Ultra can call emergency services for you from virtually anywhere in the world if you’re in a crash, solar-powered gadgets mean we can stay off-grid almost indefinitely, and you can now fit thousands of hours of professionally guided workouts inside a mirror in your bedroom. It seems the future is now.
No matter what you’re into—playing harder, working (out) smarter, or learning to relax better—there’s guaranteed to be a tech gadget out there to help you do it. Our tech-hungry editors and staff spent the past year testing hundreds of top-selling, next-generation smart products. Some were amazing. Many weren’t. We looked at high-tech gadgets for gaming, photography, fitness equipment, camping, auto emergencies, working from home, and more—all so we could round up the very best tech gear for our 2023 Men’s Health Tech Awards.
Best Mobile Gaming Controller
Backbone Backbone One: PlayStation Edition
Now 25% Off
This PlayStation-inspired controller seamlessly hooks up to your iPhone so you can play PS games on the go. In the collapsed position, it’s even smaller than a Nintendo Switch, taking up less space in your travel bag. Also makes for a great gift for gamers.
Best Overall E-Bike
Aventon Level.2 Commuter E-Bike
Aventon’s latest e-bike has an updated torque sensor for a buttery-smooth ride, and its integrated lights mean more visibility on the road.
Best Drone for Beginners
DJI DJI Avata Fly Smart Combo
This new drone connects to a pair of HD goggles and an easy-to-use remote control, allowing you to zip through any room or landscape in 4K. Boasting an impressive 18-minute flight time, DJI’s second first-person-view drone really makes you feel like you’re flying IRL.
Best Action Video Camera
GoPro HERO11 Black Mini Compact Waterproof Action Camera
This is the budget video camera to buy. It offers the same performance as the iconic Hero11 Black but in a smaller package that’s easier to use, so you can shoot clear videos of your extreme adventures, morning runs, and any activity in between.
Best Electric Scooter
Yvolution YES Electric Scooter
Your commute just got easier with this electric rig, which offers a decent 15.5-mile range. Its single-button speed controller and five light points let you safely navigate roads.
Best Heated Winter Gloves
Eddie Bauer Guide Pro Smart Heated Gloves
Say goodbye to numb fingers: These heated, AI-powered winter gloves automatically adjust their heat depending on the weather conditions for up to eight hours. Now you can shred the slopes for even longer.
Best Portable Power Station
BioLite BaseCharge 600 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Power Station
Housing a massive battery, this portable power station charges up to ten devices, so you can keep your electronics fully juiced. Plus, a resettable energy “odometer” allows you to track your energy consumption.
Best Emergency Power Bank
Uncharted Supply Co. The Athena Portable Jump Starter & Power Bank
This ultracompact backup power bank gives you peace of mind for auto emergencies and extra juice on long road trips or while car camping. The 16,000mAh battery is powerful enough to jump-start a 6.0-liter gas or diesel engine in seconds.
Best Step-Through E-Bike
Econic One Comfort Limited E-Bike
Sleek, modern, and easy to ride, this e-bike is all about comfort. The step-through design makes for smooth mounting and dismounting, while the 36V/360Wh battery and Bafang motor guarantee miles of easy city riding.
Best Budget Gaming Laptop
HP Victus 15.6″ Gaming Laptop
Now 13% Off
Compact and lightweight, yet surprisingly powerful, this 15.6-inch laptop from HP has the chops for mobile gaming. The fast SSD, 8GB of RAM, and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 video card all make this a great budget buy at under $600.
Best Smart Home Gym
This sleek 4K UHD touch screen is more than just a pretty face. It is a personalized workout experience. Think live one-on-one training and more than 700 video workouts, all from your home.
Best Fitness Earbuds
LG Tone Free TF8 IP67 Sports Wireless Earbuds
Now 27% Off
LG’s fitness-focused earbud is a literal banger. The Tone Free Fit has a crystal-clear sound with impressive bass for those get-it-done workout playlists. Its charging case uses UV-C light to zap sweat-induced bacteria, and the earbud’s SwivelGrip technology enables it to stay in place through any workout.
Best Budget Smartwatch for Android
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Smartwatch
Now 18% Off
Samsung’s upgraded smartwatch model has a larger scratch-resistant screen and a hyper-accurate heart-rate sensor. This great tech gift can take a licking and still track your fitness goals during rough-and-tumble workouts.
Best Rowing Machine
This indoor rower has all of the OG Hydrow’s connected features but is 30 percent smaller, for a practically on-the-water rowing experience in even the smallest spaces.
Best High-Tech Sneakers
Nike Air Max Scorpion Stretch-Knit Sneakers
Now 40% Off
The Swoosh’s new sneaker looks like a flotation device because of its VR-designed cushioning, offering pistonlike motion with every step. It’s comfortable enough to stand in it for hours.
Best Technical Merino Shirt
Norse Projects Tech Merino Crew
This high-tech sweater is infused with temperature-regulating particles that move away moisture when you’re hot and retain body heat when you’re cold. What’s more, its stylish neck trim makes it great as a snow-sport base layer.
Best Apple Smartwatch
A maxed-out watch for anyone who likes to have all the bells and whistles. Its beefed-up features: a titanium case and a dual-frequency GPS (so you’ll never get lost).
Best Portable Speaker
Tribit StormBox Blast Portable Speaker
Now 23% Off
Tribit’s powerful bluetooth speaker is loud, thanks to a pair of woofers that boom sound and bass with clarity. Plus, its hefty, waterproof build means it can hold up during your outdoor workouts.
Best Premium Driver
PXG 0311 XF Driver
Now 50% Off
This premium driver features a high-grade carbon-fiber head to increase distance and minimize the effects of bad swings. Translation: a beginner-friendly club that will help you look like a pro on the links.
Best High-tech Headphones
Adidas RPT-02 SOL Headphones
Forget keeping your battery charged. These next-gen headphones from Adidas run completely on solar. Even stored in the dark, they offer up to 80 hours of playtime on a fully topped-up battery. Plus, the IPX4 rating means they’re sweatproof and splash-proof for the most intense workouts.
Best Relaxation Mask
Therabody SmartGoggles Eye Mask
These massage goggles use vibration and heat while gently kneading your eyes, along with a sensor that responds to your heart rate. Wear them during the afternoon as a midday stress reliever or at night to help you drift off to sleep.
Best Pod Coffee Maker
Bruvi The Bruvi Bundle
Now 25% Off
Pod coffee makers are convenient, but their brew doesn’t taste as fresh as bean-to-cup machines’. Enter this new device that uses pods filled with premium coffee and makes seven types of joe. Its phone app lets you brew coffee remotely.
Best Smart Vacuum
iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum & Mop
Now 18% Off
Tired of cleaning up? Get a load of this robot vacuum that picks up and wipes away dust and grime in a single clean. Use its app to set vacuum schedules and keep floors spick-and-span.
Best Noise-Canceling Headphones
Soundcore by Anker Space Q45 Headphones
Now 33% Off
Anker’s new cans have a long battery life and impressive noise cancellation at a fraction of the price of other big-name brands’ offerings. Throw them on, turn up the volume, and tune out during a stressful day.
Best Smart Grill
Traeger Timberline WiFi Pellet Grill
This WiFi-enabled pellet grill has a smart combustion system made up of sensors that detect and adjust the grill’s temps, ensuring your food is evenly cooked. Plus, its new Timberline grease-and-keg system automatically vacuums ash into a bucket, for less cleanup and more cooking.
Best Soundbar
Sonos Sonos Ray Essential Soundbar
Sonos’s cheapest soundbar is a massive upgrade for your TV’s built-in speakers, offering a more balanced sound. It has exceptional dialogue clarity, so you won’t have to turn on closed captioning to understand what those House of the Dragon actors are saying.
Best Hair-Removal Device
Braun Silk-Expert PRO5 IPL Hair Removal Device
Consider this a less aggressive home version of the type of laser hair removal you’d get in a salon. Yes, it takes a bit more work than professional-grade lasers, but you can expect up to six months of smooth skin when it’s done.
Best Portable Projector
Samsung The Freestyle Portable Indoor/Outdoor Projector
Now 33% Off
If you could take a theater with you anywhere, why wouldn’t you? This projector lets you do just that, with a 180 degree, autofocus design that allows you to watch movies and shows wherever.
Best Smart Massage Pad
Hyperice Venom Go Heated Massage Pad
One of our favorite massage-gun brands, Hyperice, combines its percussion-therapy system with the power of heat wraps for a wearable pad that offers pain relief to virtually any muscle. Think of it as quick postworkout R&R.
Best Cold-Press Juicer
Nama J2 Cold Press Juicer
Less prep, less fuss. Nama’s J2 cold-press juicer features a smart hopper that takes in sliced or whole fruits and veggies. The machine cuts and loads everything automatically, so you don’t have to.
Best Portable Keyboard
Satechi Compact Backlit Bluetooth Keyboard
For travelers and WFH-ers tight on desk space, this compact Bluetooth keyboard is exactly as big as it needs to be. The full-size layout features backlit keys and a rechargeable USB-C port for topping up while you work.
Most Fashionable Smartwatch
Fossil Gen 6 Wellness Edition Smartwatch
Fossil’s Gen 6 Wellness Edition looks the part of a handsome fashion smartwatch. Under the hood, it keeps track of everything that the more “hardcore” smartwatches do, like heart rate, SpO2, and more.
Most Versatile Portable Monitor
LG StanbyME Portable Stand Monitor
Now 10% Off
Sometimes a desktop monitor just doesn’t cut it. LG’s clever StanbyME screen sits on its own stand with a design that you can take just about anywhere—perfect for watching movies and online workouts or for backyard study sessions.
Best Therapeutic Desk Chair
X-Chair X-HMT Heat & Massage Therapy Chair
No matter how nice you think your office chair is, it’s not this nice. X-Chair’s X-HMT therapy chair offers built-in heat and massage functions, so every day at work feels like a trip to the day spa.
Best Portable Safe
Trova Trova Go Portable Biometric Safe
For those small personal items that you’d rather hide away from prying eyes (and hands), there’s Trova’s Go. This sleek, portable safe keeps cash, cards, prescription meds, and more under biometric lock and key, only accessible via your smartphone.
Best Value Smartphone
OnePlus Nord N20 5G Android Smartphone
Now 23% Off
OnePlus gives Apple and Google a run for their money with the Nord N20 5G. With a beautiful AMOLED display, a superfast-charging battery, and 5G capability, it’s the best new budget smartphone you’ve never heard of.
Best Standing Desk
FlexiSpot Pro Plus Standing Desk (E7)
Do your back and body a solid by upgrading your tired workstation to a modern standing desk. FlexiSpot is the name in standing desks, like this handsome, versatile model with integrated USB charging ports, available solid wood desk, optional drawers, and dead-simple assembly.
Best Portable Monitor
Espresso Displays espressoDisplay Portable Touchscreen Monitor
For digital nomads and on-the-go professionals, a portable second monitor is a game changer. Espresso’s espressoDisplay 15 Touch is the world’s lightest, thinnest, and, in our opinion, coolest monitor for expanding your desktop.
Best Wireless Security Camera
Arlo Arlo Pro 4 Wireless Security Camera
Now 16% Off
Arlo keeps the smart home-security game simple with the Arlo Pro 4 wireless security camera. This ultracompact cam features color and night vision, two-way audio, and easy installation. Plus: no smart hub required.
Best Desk Lamp
Lume Cube Edge LED Desk Light
If your WFH setup is making you look like a corpse on those hourly Zoom calls, it’s probably time to upgrade your lighting. Lume Cube’s Edge LED desk light is just the trick. Bonus: It doubles as a versatile desk lamp.
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As Men’s Health’s Deputy Editor, Commerce, Christian Gollayan oversees all shopping content on menshealth.com. He relocated back to New York by way of Portland, where he was the Associate Managing Editor at TheManual.com. Christian’s work has also been featured in InStyle, Food & Wine, the New York Post, and Tatler Asia.
John Thompson is the Gear and Commerce Editor at Men’s Health, where he covers fashion, grooming, gear, and technology. He was previously the Style & Gear Editor at BroBible.com, and a commerce writer for TheManual.com. His interests include shopping for rare vintage clothes and following his favorite baseball team, the Kansas City Royals.
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He’s kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South Africa, and survived a near-miss great white shark attack in Mexico. His travel advice has appeared on the websites for Forbes, Travel + Leisure, CNET, and National Geographic. He loves the great outdoors and good bourbon, and (usually) calls Tulsa, Oklahoma home. Mike also enjoys speaking in the third person.