As the technologies that we are using today are evolving at an exponential level, it is not surprising at all that people want to get their hands on some of the finest gear that we have access to. There are a plethora of amazing gadgets that we can use in our everyday life; some more advanced and more expensive than others.
In this list, we will talk about some of the best gadgets of last year. This is especially good because all of the items are available right now, you don’t have to wait for them to be released. There will be a vast array of different entries from different categories, so we will cover a large area of the electronic gadgets that are available to us.
Some items are useful, while others are simply fun! You can pick your favorite and if you choose to, you can even order it immediately. Regardless of who you are, if you like electronics, you will find something that you are going to like.
Of course, if you prefer spending your money on something that can be consumed rather than electronics, you can always buy yourself a bottle of the finest and most expensive champagne or wine. You can also learn about inventions that are not as advanced as the things that we discuss below.
These useless inventions are a sure way to put a smile on your face. The entries are in no particular order, as they are all from different categories. Some of the items that you are going to see might be a bit more expensive, but they are surely worth the money. Most of these gadgets are revolutionary and ahead of the competition by far, so paying a little bit extra is a great investment. With that said, let’s jump straight into the list, with the first entry.
5. Google Pixel
Many smartphones hit the market in 2016 and there are some that are truly extraordinary and revolutionary. Such examples are Apple’s iPhone 7, the Samsung Galaxy S7 or HTC 10; however, they are not the best smartphone that came out last year.
Although it was not the best, the Samsung Galaxy 7 was a highly competitive gadget when it came out. Actually, it’s still a decent option if you want a reliable but not too expensive phone. Click here and check it out on Amazon!
Google’s first smartphone is truly one-of-a-kind and even though HTC is still manufacturing the devices, this is totally a Google phone; it’s got the logo on the back and everything. When you look at the design of the phone, it is nothing exceptional; some might even call it ugly.
Half of the back side of the device is covered in glass, which might help with the signal strength but it is not aesthetically pleasing at all. The rest of the exterior is nothing special either and it mostly resembles an HTC smartphone.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t have expandable storage either and it isn’t even waterproof. Now that we have the negative things out of the way, let’s look at why this is the best smartphone of 2016! Google Pixel is a phone that you can only appreciate and value if you see it in action.
Even though it doesn’t look like a high tech device, it truly performs like one! With its Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor and 4 gigabytes of RAM, you never have to worry about having too many applications open at once.
Not only that it handles everything in a very convenient way, but it doesn’t even slow down the performance of the device! As soon as you turn on the phone for the first time, you are immediately going to see that it is truly a masterpiece. It is very fast thanks to its specs and the operating system, Android 7.1 Nougat.
The phone comes in two variables; Pixel and Pixel XL. The only real differences between the two (besides the price) are the slightly larger display and the bigger battery. The standard edition has a 1920×1080 5.0″ (441ppi) screen, while the XL version has a 2560×1440 5.5″ (534ppi) one.
The battery is also amazing and it can last a day even with extensive use. We saved the best for last; the camera! This phone has one of the best cameras on the market and it was a clear winner in 2016. The rear camera is 12.3 MP with f/2.0 lens and IR laser-assisted autofocus, while the front one is an 8 MP camera with f/2.4 lens.
Even this sounds good, but this is not the real reason for the breathtaking photos that you can take with this device. The real secret lies behind the processor. You see, usually when you take HDR+ photos, the device needs a few seconds to load and convert the image. This is not the case with the Google Pixel, as it instantaneously does the job and you won’t even notice the processing time.
The device comes in three colors; “quite black”, “very silver” and “really blue”. Check out the specifications of this phone HERE on Amazon where you can compare it to other gadgets or even buy one for a reasonable price!
As you can imagine, they are black, silver and blue; how creative! Ordering the device can be done through the official Google website and it will set you back around $650 for the standard edition.
4. DJI Phantom 4 Quadcopter
Quadcopter drones have been around for a couple of years, but in 2016, we got one of the best quadrotor helicopters that are equipped with a camera. DJI’s Phantom 4 not only handles very responsively, but it also has an amazing camera mounted to it which can capture video in 4K at 30fps and Full HD 1080p at 120fps for slow motion.
This is unique when it comes to drones and it opens up a lot of opportunities in aerial video capture. The video quality is crisp and the recording won’t be shaky or disorienting as the drone has a stabilizer built into it too. DJI is great when it comes to stabilizers and we are going to cover another one of their products on this list.
The DJI Phantom 4’s design is simplistic, but it looks very appealing. Some of the things that you are going to find on the drone are the power button, light indicators, the amazing camera that is mounted to the bottom of the device, a USB port and of course the four propellers.
Click HERE for more pictures and specifics about the drone!
The drone itself is very powerful, as it can move at a top speed of 72km/h, can be in the air for almost half an hour without interruptions and has a control range of 5 km. It is also very lightweight, weighing only 1380g. The controls that you are going to be using are quite simple and straightforward.
Maneuvering the Phantom 4 is effortless and even a child can do it! Being able to use the TapFly feature makes the whole experience a lot easier and also fun. The drone can avoid incoming obstacles automatically and it can also follow people and objects around using the ActiveTrack feature.
Both of these features work quite simply! You can read more about the TapFly feature here, and the ActiveTrack feature as well by clicking here.
If you want to record yourself while you go jogging or you just want to follow someone around, simply focus on the target and the drone will do the rest for you, without any interventions needed. With its great performance and amazing camera, this is truly the best drone that money can buy, especially back in 2016.
3. DJI OSMO Mobile
Since we are talking about DJI, we cannot leave out another one of their products, the OSMO Mobile Handheld Stabilizer! How many times have you been to a beautiful place that you wanted to capture, but the end result was a shaky mess of a video?
Well, with this gimbal, you never have to worry about that ever again, as not only does this tool stabilize the video, but it also has various other applications too. Just like with the Phantom 4, this DJI product also has the ActiveTrack feature installed, which means that you can even put your phone down and record your activities as the device follows you around.
There are a plethora of different things that you can do with the OSMO Mobile, such as use the joystick on the front of the device to turn your camera (in this case, smartphone) around in different speeds, depending on the amount of pressure that you apply.
Click here and check out the DJI OSMO Mobile on Amazon where you can read some reviews and also get one for yourself with fast delivery!
You can even zoom, take photos, record or turn on the front facing camera with a few clicks too. This makes taking professional pictures and video a lot easier and you can impress your friends and Instagram followers with this handy little tool.
You can order the DJI OSMO Mobile with numerous accessories, such as a carrying pouch, the charger, a wrist strap and a few other things for $299. Amazon has a great deal on this particular kit and if you are interested, now is the time!
2. Oculus Rift
Virtual reality has reached new heights in 2016 and it is mostly thanks to the Oculus Rift that started it all. Of course, there are various other virtual reality headsets as well, but almost none of them can be compared to the excellence of this device.
Without the contributions of this company, we would be nowhere near at the virtual reality experience that we are now. The Oculus Rift is capable of immersing you in a virtual world that you can freely explore with your real life body. As you look around, you will simultaneously start looking around in the virtual world as well.
This can be used for a myriad of different applications, such as games, education, entertainment and military purposes too. You do not have to be a gamer or have any previous IT knowledge to be able to use this gadget. All you have to do is run the setup wizard, plug in all of the cables into the USB ports on your PC and you are almost ready to go.
On Amazon, you can order your first Oculus rift and the accessories/games along with it as well. Visit this page and take a look around!
All you need is software that is compatible with the headset. Thanks to the design of the unit, it is very comfortable to wear and lightweight. Padding is included in all the right places, so even extensive use won’t hurt you. Of course, virtual reality in general can make you nauseous and disoriented, so take regular stops between your sessions.
In addition, you also need to have a pretty beefy PC in order to play some of the games that are out. If you want to make sure that your setup is compatible with the system, be sure to execute the program that you can find on the Amazon page.
We already have access to many games and software that can be used with a virtual reality headset and the list is only going to expand in the upcoming months and years. If you are interested in this technology, now is the best time to pick up one of the best VR headsets on the market; the Oculus Rift.
1. Amazon Echo
When you first see the Amazon Echo, you are not going to think much of it. Its exterior design is nothing peculiar; however, once you activate the Alexa Voice Service you will see what’s under the hood. This intelligent personal assistant called Alexa will be your daily companion.
You can ask her seemingly anything and she will find it using the Internet, as well as her personal database. There are a plethora of voice commands that are already built into the system, such as “Alexa, stop” which cancels the last command.
If you want to learn more about virtual assistants, click here and read the Wikipedia article about this technology!
You can ask her to play music from various online sources, as well as your own playlists, add groceries to your shopping list, make appointments and do various other things. Having the Echo around simply makes your everyday activities simpler by lending a helping hand.
The initial setup of the Amazon Echo is not complicated at all. You simply download an application to your smartphone and connect the Echo to all of your other devices. After this, a simple voice recognition procedure needs to be completed, in order to distinguish your voice from all background noises.
Once this is completed, you are ready to start your Alexa experience. Simply say “Alexa” followed by your command. The application allows you to set up a few things, such as the general settings, websites that you get your news from, music and media applications and many other things.
There are also applications for Alexa that “teach” her different things. You can download them just the way you would from the Play Store. These enhance your experience even further, by adding additional things that Alexa can do. You can get your hands on the Amazon Echo for $179, obviously from Amazon.com.
There you have it; some of the best gadgets of 2016 that people enjoyed using. Of course, there are a plethora of other items that you can purchase and we could never cover them all. They might be featured in another list, but for now, these are the devices that critics and people from all around the world have beloved and gladly spent money on.