The 15 Most Satisfying Gadgets Of 2022

The global pandemic proved a good reminder of how important technology has become to everyday life. Through technology, people were able to keep connected to loved ones and their colleagues at work, while tech also kept us entertained during periods of lockdown. Although the pandemic-induced semiconductor shortage persisted into the first half of 2022, it hasn't disrupted the launch of many excellent new consumer technology products over the course of the year. 

The most satisfying phone of 2022 will always be a subject of debate. The iPhone 14 series launch is imminent, and there have been some excellent phone launches in China, like the Xiaomi 12S Ultra with its groundbreaking 1-inch sensor co-developed with Sony, it and others like the Vivo X80 have not been launched globally. Sony's excellent Xperia IV is also only available in select markets. This leaves the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra and the recently launched Galaxy Z Fold4 and Galaxy Z Flip4 vying for the crown. The excellent performance and efficiency of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 coupled with the cutting-edge 2-in-1 display tech of the Galaxy Z Fold4 is a winning combination. It beautifully marries the capabilities of a flagship smartphone with a form factor that helps it bridge the mobile-PC divide.

As with the market for earbuds, there are an almost overwhelming number of headphones on the market for consumers to choose from. However, the field narrows slightly when it comes to picking the best Bluetooth headphones with ANC. Once again, all the top players have a compelling offering with brands like Sennheiser and Bowers & Wilkins recently launching the Momentum 4 and Px7 S2 models, respectively. 

Some makers also offer a couple of styles, giving users the choice between over-the-ear headphones or on-ear headphones, with the latter sacrificing a level of audio performance for a more compact and less bulky fit. Again, despite the price, for many iPhone owners, the truly excellent AirPods Max is a natural choice, although they are on the heavy side. Once again, however, Sony has got the formula right with its redesigned WH-1000XM5 headphones which offer a winning combination of style, comfort, and sound, even though they don't fold away quite as nicely as the previous models.

There have been some great monitors released this year with IFA Berlin 2022 also throwing up some enticing new entries from LG and Samsung. One of the most intriguing designs to emerge this year was from LG — its 27.6-inch DualUp Monitor (28MQ780) really stood out from the crowd by, in effect, stacking two 21.5-inch 16:9 panels on top of each other to offer a great platform for content creators, among others. 

Samsung's enormous 55-inch Odyssey ARK monitor features a tight 1000R curve and can be used in both landscape and portrait modes for a completely unique immersive experience. Apple, of course, released its long-awaited Studio Monitor. 

However, it was a toss-up between the curved Dell Alienware 34-inch QD-OLED display with its 1440p resolution and the curved Samsung 4K Odyssey Neo G8 with the latter's mix of mini-LED backlighting, quantum dot tech, and high refresh rates proving irresistible.

Although not anywhere near as competitive as the smartphone market, there have been some notable tablet launches this year. Apple is the market leader when it comes to tablet sales, with estimates showing that it owns around 30% of the market (via Statista). Samsung, however, has been the leading alternative with its Galaxy Tab series also proving very popular with customers. Its Galaxy Tab S8 series launched earlier this year with the company introducing an Ultra model to the lineup for the first time.

The new 14.6-inch behemoth features a stunning 120Hz Super AMOLED display, making it an ideal canvas for artists or office-based workers looking to take advantage of Samsung's very useful DeX mode for the best multitasking experience on a tablet. However, it is the fifth-generation iPad Air that takes the gong with its potent combination of Liquid Retina display, along with a thin and light design that also packs in the power of Apple's vaunted M1 chip.

Although the hype following the launch of the early VR headsets from the likes of Oculus (since acquired by Meta) and HTC have since died down, VR headsets are still popular with gamers for the incredible levels of immersion that they offer. However, many of the high-end headsets also require a powerful gaming PC (and a good amount of space) to get the most out of them. 

While the price point of entry for a great VR experience can be a barrier to adoption, many people also suffer varying levels of motion sickness when using VR headsets. Standalone headsets that use Qualcomm's smartphone-derived XR series chips offer a more affordable VR experience and are very good. The best of these remains the Meta Quest 2, despite its recent $100 price rise. It has a strong library of titles and still offers an excellent blend of performance at its price point.

Although laptops are increasingly the preferred choice of computer for many people thanks to their increasing capability and portability, there are many users who still need or want a more powerful solution. What you sacrifice in portability, you have the potential to gain in sheer power with a desktop computer — although as with most things, the depth of your pockets will determine just how much power you can access. 

There have also been many great all-in-one desktop solutions (that combine a monitor and computer into a single device) along with excellent gaming machines from the usual suspects like Alienware, Asus, Acer, and MSI. However, despite its unusually dull external design, Apple's new Mac Studio landed and packs perhaps more performance per square inch of machine than we have ever seen before. Fitted with chips ranging in performance from the Apple M1 Max in its many flavors and RAM configurations through to the crazy powerful M1 Ultra chip that conjoins two M1 Max chips, it is the ultimate creator tool.

The smart speaker segment is another market that has plenty of entries from which to choose. While your budget will always play a role in which model you end up with, your preferred smart device ecosystem will probably be just as significant. For Apple users, there is currently only one choice made by the company — the HomePod mini. That said, there are rumors that Apple could revive the larger HomePod, which it dropped from its lineup back in 2021. 

However, Sonos smart speakers are also a popular choice with Apple users as they support Apple AirPlay 2 wireless connectivity. Sonos also integrates with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Of course, Amazon and Google make their own smart speakers, too, in the shape of the Amazon Echo series and the Google Nest speakers and hubs. But the top pick remains the Sonos One (Gen 2) for its mix of sound quality, multiroom support, and multi-ecosystem support.

Another segment that is gaining in popularity is smart lighting. With tech YouTubers and other influencers using smart lighting to great effect in their videos, budding content creators and viewers have been keen to replicate similar lighting effects in their homes as well — particularly if they seek to use colors to decorate and create a particular mood. 

Smart lighting is also popular with people keen to automate the various functions of their house, even if they are just using standard white or off-white colors. Leading brands on the market include the Philips Hue range, Wyze, Ring, LIFX, Nanoleaf, and Lenovo. However, it is hard to go past the just-launched Philips Hue Lightguide bulbs which come in three shapes – large globe, ellipse, and triangular. These marry contemporary home styling with the ability to choose from regular lighting right through a wide range of colors to transform a room or house.