Most Useful Gadgets

Most Useful Gadgets – 26 Useful Products That’ll Help Solve Annoying Tech Problems

Shopping·Updated on Sep 16, 2020. Posted on Sep 5, 2020These power strips, cable savers, and screen cleaners will help you ~pull the plug~ on gadget issues.We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, BuzzFeed may collect a share of sales or other…

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Published on September 18, 2020

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Most Useful Gadgets –

Updated on Sep 16, 2020. Posted on Sep 5, 2020

These power strips, cable savers, and screen cleaners will help you ~pull the plug~ on gadget issues.

We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, BuzzFeed may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.

Most Useful Gadgets –

1.

Cable savers so you don’t have to say goodbye to your frayed laptop or phone charger. These babies help extend the life of lightly damaged cables and wires.

Amazon

Promising review: “I’ve just had to replace a charging cable for my iPad, the wires broke within the insulation, within an inch of the connector/plug end. Then I found out about these spiral coil flexible silicone wire protectors. They keep the wire cable from being stressed from bending. I bought a bunch of these and have put them on both ends of every charging cable for every device, iPad, cellphone, etc. that I own.” —Richard Virchow

Get a pack of six from Amazon for $4.99 (available in four colors).

Most Useful Gadgets –

2.

A charging station that’ll keep all your gadgets in a convenient place. This dock will power up cell phones, tablets, and smartwatches and free up outlets around the house.

Amazon / Via amazon.com, Amazon / Via amazon.com

This dock includes six USB charging cables that’ll keep your devices juiced up *and* untangled.

Promising review: “I purchased this station and I could not be happier, everything is in one place while being charged. The charging time is very quick, and all of our devices are being charged without the cord mess we used to have, not to mention all of the outlets that were being used to charge phones, iPads, and a watch.” —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $32.99.

Most Useful Gadgets –

3.

A screen protector because nothing’s worse than watching your smartphone drop to the ground and (gulp) get damaged. This one fits the iPhone X, the iPhone XS, and the iPhone 11 Pro and acts as a shield against cracks and scratches.

Amazon / Via amazon.com, Amazon / Via amazon.com

Promising review: “I was just on vacation, on a bumpy boat and apparently my phone banged around in my bag and the screen looked cracked. I thought for sure I had to replace my phone screen. When I got home I finally took the screen protector off *and my phone was perfect! I couldn’t believe it. All those scratches and cracks were only on the screen protector.” —Alexis Eisner

Get a 3-pack from Amazon for $13.95.

Most Useful Gadgets –

4.

An Echo Dot (3rd Gen) Smart Speaker so you can create the ultimate smart home and use voice control to complete tasks. Turn electronics on and off and play music, thanks to Alexa.

Amazon

Just plug in the Echo Dot, connect to Wi-Fi via the Alexa app, and you can tell Alexa to play Spotify, monitor smart devices, and so much more!

Promising review: “Having Alexa devices throughout the house have the obvious ‘smart home’ benefits. But as a music lover and musician with decidedly non-commercial tastes, the most amazing thing about these devices is what happens when you hook them up to decent external sound systems/speakers. I remember buying my first house decades ago and stringing speaker wires and speaker switches throughout the house. This is way way easier and cheaper!” —Robert

Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in four colors).

Most Useful Gadgets –

5.

A dual power strip and surge protector so you can avoid tangled cords and electrical overloading. With 13 three-pin outlets and four USB ports, you’ll be covered if you need to keep a bunch of gadgets plugged in.

Amazon / Via amazon.com

Promising review: “Really needed more plugs for my living room, since there’s always a problem if there is more than one person who wants to use their laptop, plug in a game, and charge their phone. The spacing is very convenient for my laptop to have room next to the TV plug, and now I can extend it and reach the HDMI port at the same time. The cable has a good amount of reach but it’s thick and won’t tangle. Overall worth the purchase.” —Vida

Get it from Amazon for $26.99 (also available in white).

Most Useful Gadgets –

6.

A smartphone stand because you can read a recipe while cooking or complete an Instagram-live workout without accidentally damaging your phone. Your smartphone will be propped up in a safe spot, so you won’t worry about it dropping in sauce or getting drenched in sweat.

Amazon / Via amazon.com, Amazon / Via amazon.com

Promising review: “I love this phone stand. My phone loses battery easily so I find myself constantly charging it and this stand makes it easier to charge my phone while still using it. It also just looks better than having my phone lying on a table while it’s charging, now it feels like I have a ‘charging station’ on the table and looks more organized.” —Michelle N

Get it from Amazon for $10.99+ (available in five colors).

Most Useful Gadgets –

7.

A compact flash drive for documents and digital movies. You can’t control when your laptop is going to throw a tantrum, but you can be prepared and backup important files in case it happens.

Amazon

Promising review: “This is a dependable and reliable USB. If you are looking for something light, portable, and dependable to transfer files from your desktop to laptop, or somewhere you can store your digital movies to later be plugged into your smart TV to have a movie marathon, this little fella will get the job done. Now, it isn’t your fancy 3.0, but at 2.0 transfer rates are still pretty good. It works as intended.” —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $4.99+ (available in 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB).

Most Useful Gadgets –

8.

A cute AirPods case that’ll safely hold your AirPods and charger case and protect them from water damage (hi rain and snow). You can even clip this lil’ guy on your backpack or purse for easy access.

Amazon, Amazon / Via amazon.com

Promising review: “The AirPod case fits perfectly in this one. The case is thick and a durable material. You can tell it is very protective. On the other hand, because it is a thick rubber material, it can easily be stained with marks. However, the case does the job. It is a bit bulkier than I thought, but it’s fine because you can clip in onto your bag.” —Ashley

Get it from Amazon for $9.99.

Most Useful Gadgets –

9.

A screen cleaner kit so you can kiss fingerprints, smudges, and debris goodbye. This odorless formula cleans and polishes your devices, making it easy to keep ’em spotless on a daily basis. You’ll get two bottles and three washable cleaning cloths with this set!

Amazon

Promising review: “Whoosh! has and will be my go to tech cleaner. What I like most about Whoosh! is it doesn’t leave behind any residue or sticky feeling. After using the micro fiber cloth, you get a clean screen that is ready for you to put your sticky/oily hands back on it again. LOL.” —Felix Sanchez

Get it from Amazon for $15.99.

Most Useful Gadgets –

10.

Sleep-friendly headphones because A) you don’t want to deal with little circles poking your ears and B) you’re too lazy to manually change music settings on your smartphone. Slip into these before you catch up on ZZZs and enjoy soothing beats without having to get up.

Amazon / Via amazon.com, Amazon / Via amazon.com

These headphones are also Bluetooth-friendly and help block out unwanted light.

Promising review: “This is a great idea! I’m used to go to bed listening to music but having my phone under the pillow was an unsafe thing to do. I’m glad I found this product because it doesn’t only plays music, it also gives me a complete black out so I can fall asleep even if there’s light (like when I get to nap during the day). I think this product is very well made, super soft and plushy, quite comfortable, and if a leave it a little loose I can actually sleep on my side.” —Lissette A

Get them from Amazon for $22.59.

Most Useful Gadgets –

11.

A compact charger to keep on hand because your smartphone always runs out of battery. This beauty will juice up your cell and other gadgets when you’re on the go, sparing you from trying to find an outlet.

Amazon

Promising review: “I brought it for my Galaxy S9, it lasts for a couple of charges. It’s pretty good. I’ve used this at Disneyland and by dinner time, my phone is as low as 30% and I hook this up to it and its charged within the hour back to 100% with plenty of juice still in the unit. And it charges my devices way faster than my other power packs.” —Simon

Get a pack of two from Amazon for $26.49+ (available in four colors).

Most Useful Gadgets –

12.

A beautiful case with a durable design and protection that’ll be handy if your smartphone drops. An inside plate helps absorb shock from drops, while a lay-flat bezel acts as armor against scratches.

thetrinigee/Etsy

Promising review: “I love this case. At first I was afraid to order because I thought it would be too thin, but it is perfect it even comes with protection on the inside! I love this case it is unique and represents everything that I am.” —Etsy Customer

Get it from thetrinigee on Etsy for $25.

Most Useful Gadgets –

13.

A travel cable organizer to get your chargers, cables, and SD cords in order and place them in a safe spot. Perfect for car trips, outdoor adventures, and running errands, this pouch will be a big help if your tech tends to be a tangled mess.

Amazon / Via amazon.com

Promising review: “I always had issues with cords tangling in my laptop case, taking up too much space horizontally, and not being organized. This organizer meets all my requirements! Holds all chargers, cords, power bank, and mouse organized in a compact case (fits perfectly to a compact laptop bag). The quality is awesome as well, I can only recommend it.” —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in 11 colors).

Most Useful Gadgets –

14.

Multi-use headphones, because you deserve amazing sound quality and noise reduction while you’re working up a sweat outdoors. They’ll fit comfortably around your ears and let you listen to your music without interruptions. Also wouldn’t it be great to not have to deal with dangling wires again?

RayTec

Promising review: “I needed to get headphones to listen to class lectures in my noisy home space, and these are perfect for me! I’m not an expert, but I think the sound quality and noise-canceling ability are better than most headphones I’ve owned. I also appreciate that an aux cord is included, so I can still use them with my electronics that don’t have Bluetooth capabilities.” —RayTec Customer

Get them from RayTec for $69.99.

Most Useful Gadgets –

15.

An electronic repair kit so the next time your smartphone screen cracks or a laptop key pops off, you can try to fix it. With 64 tools, this handy set will help you with minor tech issues and save you money on repairs.

Amazon / Via amazon.com

Tools include a small suction cup, reverse tweezers, a spudger, magnetic pad, and much more!

Promising review: “These are hands-down the best tools for electronic and computer repair. The lid on the toolbox serves as a hardware / screw organizer and under the box is a magnetic pad that can be removed and also used to sort out tiny screws from a phone breakdown. The jimmy is flexible but sturdy and great for lifting the chassis on laptops. These tools are worth every cent!” —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $69.99.

Most Useful Gadgets –

16.

A Tile Mate that’ll help you find your iPhone at home, even if it fell under the bed, is buried in a stack of clothes, or is right in front of you. 🤦‍♀️ This little gadget will make it ring, so you can get to its location before giving up your search.

Amazon, Amazon / Via amazon.com

Promising review: “This is a lifesaver for me because I constantly lose my iPhone at home. My husband got it for my birthday and I can’t be happier about it. I didn’t attach it to the phone because it’s too large for it. I keep it in a drawer and just push the button when I can’t find the phone. If the phone is too far away you can simply take the tile and walk around with it. It’s amazing! I used to walk around and yell at everyone to help me find my phone. Now even my family is happy 😝” —Katrina R

Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (also available in a 4-pack).

Most Useful Gadgets –

17.

A Wi-Fi extender because you’re so done with spotty, crappy internet while you WFH. This baby increases coverage up to 800 square feet (buh-bye lagging) and makes it easy to stay online if you’re using a laptop, tablet, smartphone, or other smart devices indoors.

Amazon / Via amazon.com

Promising review: “Oh man, I am over the moon about this product. My bedroom is the basement of the house, so the Wi-Fi just barely reached, and has a very weak signal. This extender is a lifesaver. It took maybe two minutes to set up, the hardest part was getting it out of the box! It amplifies the signal perfectly, and I find that it actually makes my Wi-Fi faster, as less people are using it!” —Erin Costello

Get it from Amazon for $19.99.

Most Useful Gadgets –

18.

Waterproof speakers that’ll let you enjoy your fave playlist by the pool or in a kayak without water damage. The sound quality is excellent and you won’t have to worry about a couple of splashes ruining your only source of music outdoors.

JBL USA/Instagram / Via instagram.com

Promising review: “I bought the Flip 5 after borrowing my friend’s Flip 4 while kayaking. It’s waterproof, holds a long charge, and has good sound quality. I use it whenever on the water (be aware it doesn’t float, but does have a wrist strap), when working in the garage, or renovating my basement. It’s great, and I don’t have to think about it.” —Richard

Get them from Amazon for $119.95 (available in 14 colors).

Most Useful Gadgets –

19.

A long USB cable because you’re always trying to charge your smartphone in not-so-great places. It’s 6.6 feet long, so you can basically plug it into any outlet and easily get to it without crawling under a desk (woot!).

Most Useful Gadgets –

20.

An HDMI splitter so you can seamlessly binge-watch your fave TV shows and play video games without using a small screen. You can plug in your laptop, smart TV, or Xbox, making it so easy to get the display you want.

Amazon

Promising review: “I purchased this splitter for use with my television and a PlayStation Vita TV console and Nintendo Wii U console. I ran out of ports, so a splitter seemed to be the perfect solution, much better than unplugging devices every time I needed to switch. This product is simple to use: plug the two sources into one side and the output location in the other, and you’re done! It can also be used to split one device to two locations, like displaying a video game or television show on two different monitors.” —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $10.99.

Most Useful Gadgets –

21.

A USB cord bracelet that’ll be incredibly handy if you forget a charging cable at home. You can use it to connect your portable power bank and smartphone in case you have battery issues and it blends in with your other jewelry.

Amazon

Promising review: “It is a great design to charge my phone and the proper length for me to connect my phone and power bank. The best part is it can not only charge my phone, but also transfer my data with my MacBook.” —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in four colors).

Most Useful Gadgets –

22.

A splurge-worthy smart TV because you’ll get to enjoy a piece of art and crisp viewing (and by crisp, we mean 4X the resolution of Full HD). It’s aesthetically pleasing and will take your home theater setup to the next level, thanks to amazing picture and sound quality.

Amazon / Via amazon.com, Amazon / Via amazon.com

Promising review: “We are also shocked by the sound quality of the TV and the bass response in particular. The best feature of the TV, however, is the fact the electronics are remote, and the thing truly looks like a piece of art, albeit with a modern looking frame. We opted to add the white bezel, and the TV blends in very well with the wall and surrounding furniture.” —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $845.81+ (available in four sizes and three styles).

Most Useful Gadgets –

23.

A car-friendly smartphone holder that’ll keep your phone propped up while you’re driving. This hands-free tool, which attaches to a vent, is incredibly handy if you need to follow directions or call a friend. Plus, you won’t have to watch your phone drop every time you hit a bump.

Amazon / Via amazon.com

Promising review: “This mount works very well without a whole lot of difficulty. I have had mine in place for two weeks and have not had to adjust it or replace it in the vent. It works very well and puts the phone directly in my line of sight which I really like. Simple and easy to use without suction cups and without marring the dash with installation of a glued mount.” —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $14.99.

Most Useful Gadgets –

24.

A JETech FM transmitter so you can listen to podcasts, rock out to music, and juice up your smartphone on the road. It easily connects to your car stereo system so it’s perfect for older cars without AUX or USB ports.

Amazon

Promising review: “Couldn’t be more pleased with this FM transmitter. Just the right size with a USB port to charge your phone if needed. I have Sirius XM radio in my car, but all they play is soft pop rock (Steely Dan) on their rock radio stations so now I can fire up some T. Rex, UFO, Queen, Zeppelin, etc. No more listening to so-called rock and roll that plays the same artists over and over. Now I have the freedom to listen to my music with clarity that I’ve never experienced with an FM transmitter.” —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $13.99.

Most Useful Gadgets –

25.

An on-wall surge protector with six pivoting outlets that’ll power up your laptops, lamps, and other devices at home. You won’t have to use up every outlet at your house or worry about electrical surge damage.

Amazon

Promising review: “I have been looking for a quality surge protector like this for a while, since I have a lot of tech that I don’t want to get destroyed, or my storage corrupted, or even worse my house burning down! Most flat surge protectors I have you need to figure out a way to try to get all your plugs to fit due to their size. You can swivel these so you can plug pretty much whatever you want, and it will not interfere with the plug next to it, or above and below it.” —Jonathan

Get it from Amazon for $14.99.

Most Useful Gadgets –

26.

Moldable glue because you never know when your phone cable or other electronics will need an impromptu repair. This waterproof and non-runny formula won’t damage your devices and seals up frayed areas.

Amazon / Via amazon.com, Amazon / Via amazon.com

Promising review: “I have repaired so many things, I find it magic! I have fixed several pairs of shoes, picture frames, bumpers for my cast iron cooktop grate (which last time I ordered from manufacturer were mega expensive), cell phone cords, leather straps for my iPad case, built in coasters on my coffee cups and I know there are more that I can’t think of at the moment. Get a package of the colors and along with the black and white, you can make any color you need.” —GCY

Get it from Amazon for $19.53+ (available in seven colors).

Most Useful Gadgets –

You, handling all the tech issues coming your way:

Channel 4

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.