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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Is a traditional Xbox controller a little drab for your liking? Dress it up with one of billions of color combinations courtesy of Xbox Design Lab. Top case, back case, ABXY buttons, paddles, and D-pad—they’re all completely customizable.
For streamers and gamers who love voice chat, this dedicated mixer provides full control over your audio. The immersive, three-dimensional surround sound and built-in vocal effects take your mic and audio to the next level.
Content creators—we’re looking at you, streamers and vloggers—this premium mirrorless camera from Nikon is the one you’ve been waiting for. With a compact, lightweight design, crystal-clear 4K video, and an incredibly affordable price tag, it’s the one digicam to buy when you want to buy only one.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This high-tech sweater is infused with 37.5 Technology 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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
Another clever design from Lululemon, this duffle bag is streamlined and forward-thinking. The 32-liter volume is perfect for gym days or short weekend trips. Plus, we love the exterior compartment that quarantines dirty laundry away from your clean clothes.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Big, bright, and color boosted, this 65-inch 4K TV makes a serious statement in any room. Its ultrafast 120Hz refresh rate ensures crisp, smooth sports and video game viewing. At just $700, it’s practically a steal.
July upends the traditional, clunky in-window air conditioner with its simply named July A/C. The crisp, clean design blends seamlessly into any room, and WiFi-connected smart features allow you to control every aspect from your phone.
If the Great Toilet Paper Shortage of 2020 didn’t teach you to love the joys of a bidet, now’s the time to get in the game. This model from Brondell offers a warm water wash jet, a wireless remote, customizable user settings, and breezy installation.
Skip the bottled water for an eco-friendly countertop water purifier like Coway’s Aquamega 200C. It features a single carbon filter block with dual stages to remove contaminants like lead (by up to 99.9 percent), VOCs, and PFCs.
Upgrade your carpet cleaner with this next-gen model from Tineco. With a clear LED display, active voice prompts, and mobile-app connectivity, it’s guaranteed to be the smartest floor-cleaning appliance you’ve ever owned.
Ditch that pile of niche cooking appliances you’ve been accumulating over the years. This clever steam oven combines a convection oven, a steam oven, an air fryer, and a food dehydrator in one compact countertop device.
The air in most homes is dirtier than the air outside. Coway’s Airmega Icon Air Purifier can help with a prefilter and a Max2 filter that work together to scrub up to 649 square feet’s worth of space in your home.
Even the lowly record player has gone and gotten itself connected these days. Victrola’s sleek Stream Carbon is a high-tech turntable that’s WiFi connected and even plays well with the Sonos ecosystem of speakers.
The Gardyn 2.0 takes indoor garden kits to a whole new level. Watch your garden grow—up to 30 large produce plants in just two square feet—and get real-time reminders, courtesy of the connected smartphone app.
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.
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.
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.
When a fashion watch isn’t “smart” enough but a legit smartwatch is overkill, there’s the CZ Smart Hybrid Smartwatch. It has all the timeless style of a classic, analog Citizen timepiece with the next-gen versatility of a modern fitness tracker.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sleek, modern, and front-pocket friendly, Groove Life’s latest Groove Wallet is one wallet to rule them all. It’s durable and handsome, and it holds only your most important cards, plus a little emergency cash just in case.
Upgrade your WFH setup with this all-new smart monitor from Samsung. The 32-inch display offers plenty of real estate, while the slim-fit camera and smart-TV capability add even more functionality for after-work chill sessions.
It’s thin, light, and ultra portable, but Microsoft’s latest Surface Pro 9 two-in-one tablet/laptop is easily powerful enough to replace most laptops.
These sleek, modern light panels from Govee are the perfect accompaniment for dressing up any home office, game room, or man cave.
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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.