The Best Gadgets of August 2024. Samsung dominated August with a range of product launches following its Galaxy Unpacked event a few weeks ago. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 maintained a familiar yet impressive design. The big surprises were the new Galaxy Watch Ultra, challenging the Apple Watch Ultra, and the latest Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, potentially my new favorite earbuds.
As always, we’ve included some unusual and fantastical tech, like the $5,000 pants that promise to enhance your hiking experience. For those who dislike cleaning multiple dishes after their morning smoothie, Nutribullet’s new drinkable blender might be the solution.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro
The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are the more luxurious option among the earbuds introduced at Samsung’s Unpacked event in July. Aside from the bass being a bit overpowering, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro offer few faults. The initially peculiar design is quite comfortable; the fit is snug, the sound is rich and clear, and the ANC is very powerful. I recommend them over the $70 cheaper Samsung Galaxy Buds 3.
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MO/GO Exoskeleton Hiking Pants
My colleague Kyle was extremely excited about these pants. The MO/GO, short for “Mountain Goat,” is a collaboration with renowned outdoor apparel brand Arc’Teryx and the tech startup Skip. The MO/GO consists of $5,000 Arc’teryx Gamma pants equipped with cuffs to attach Skip’s carbon fiber exoskeletal thighs to each leg. This innovation is intended to affect your quadriceps and hamstring muscles. The companies claim each ligament weighs 2 pounds, with the pants weighing 7 pounds in total. Instead of adding weight, the exoskeleton absorbs the impact of each step, making users feel “30 pounds lighter.” These pants aim to transform you into the most efficient hiker on the trail, and those you meet along the way will surely notice.
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Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra
The $650 Galaxy Watch Ultra is a robust timepiece with a large display that will appeal to data-driven athletes. It is an upgrade from the base $300 Galaxy Watch 7 in several aspects. It boasts a better battery, a more durable shell and screen, enhanced water resistance, and can withstand up to 100 meters underwater. It also includes additional enhancements to Samsung’s WearOS 5 apps, offering more detailed insights into your cycling or running performance. It’s a watch that can dominate your wrist and potentially your life. If that appeals to you, the Ultra and its large watch face fit the bill.
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NutriBullet Flip
NutriBullet’s latest $100 small blender is a portable device resembling a Stanley quencher cup. It’s a compact, 20 oz thermos-like single-unit blender with an insulated base and a flip top. The lid contains an 11.1 V motor to power the blender, alongside a 3-cell lithium-ion battery. NutriBullet claims you can get just over a dozen 30-second blends on a full charge. These specifications provide more power than personal blenders like the Ninja Blast, which only promises ten cycles per full charge. It is also designed to keep your drinks and mixtures cool for 24 hours, although the blending action might warm things slightly.
Order Nutribullet Flip at BestBuy
Sony Bravia 7
Priced at $1,700 for 55 inches (reviewed at $2,000 for 65 inches), Sony’s Bravia 7 doesn’t quite match the bar set by Sony’s own Bravia 9 mini-LED, but it’s still a great TV as long as you overlook the off-angle viewing issues. In the competitive QLED market, the Bravia 7’s bright, stunning display makes watching colorful films a pleasure with excellent HDR. The main drawbacks are its poor off-angle viewing and glare in direct light, but if you’re set on a Bravia, this is a good option for the price. Best Gadgets
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
For the first time since the early generations of the Galaxy Z Fold series, the Z Fold 6 feels like a balanced device in hand. The front and interior screens are consistent, and the sharp corners give the Galaxy Z Fold 6 the feel of two phones combined, rather than a flimsy plastic screen. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 retraces all the steps that have worked so far for Samsung, achieving some success in this niche gadget category. It’s powerful, well-built, and capable of handling all the software features Samsung introduces via Galaxy AI. The Z Fold 6 is a worthy upgrade if you’re ready for a new foldable and are three years behind. Best Gadgets
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OnePlus Watch 2R
If you seek a bulbous smartwatch with long battery life, the OnePlus Watch 2R is worth considering for all it offers. This Android smartwatch runs Wear OS 4 and continues the traditions of its predecessor, the OnePlus Watch 2, including a promise of up to 100 hours of battery life on a single charge. The best part is that it’s $70 cheaper.
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OnePlus Pad 2
The original OnePlus Pad was a decent all-around Android tablet, but it was not exceptional in any specific area. OnePlus has returned with a new tablet that packs more power, has a better screen, more speakers, and a higher starting price. OnePlus offers an Android tablet alternative that costs less than the latest iPad Airs. Best Gadgets
Oder OnePlus Pad 2 from Best Buy
Motorola Razr 2024
Aside from the underwhelming camera, the new Moto Razr is an excellent deal for just $700. The external display is more than a gimmick, providing ample space and an intuitive UI to add any apps you desire. The newly added default mode ensures that apps optimized for a 3.6-inch screen run smoothly. It excels in its crease and hinge design but lacks dust resistance, which is crucial for a foldable device. Performance-wise, the MediaTek CPU efficiently handles app switching, and the battery lasts around one and a half to two days. Best Gadgets
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