Best Gadgets in 2020 (August Reviews)
Choosing the best gadgets for men could mean the difference between a go-to device for life, work, and play or a closet stuffer collecting dust. In determining the best gadgets for men to buy, we explored fun factor, usefulness, multi-purpose ability, ease of use, compatibility with others, and build quality.
After more than 21 hours of research and testing, our top pick goes to the Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen). A built-in speaker and voice command capability offer users access to thousands of new experiences, from controlling smart home devices to checking weather updates. It is also a device that can be used and enjoyed by the entire family. Keep reading to learn more about the Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen) and six others that met our strict grading criteria.
Top 7 Best Gadgets for Men in 2020
#1 Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen)
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: Thanks to a built-in speaker and thousands of skills, this is a great choice for technophiles looking to better control smart home devices and get information from stock to weather updates.
- Best on a budget
- Very responsive speaker & built-in microphone
- Easy to set up & intuitive Smart Home integration
- May not understand heavily accented users
- Steep learning curve with parenting controls to manage Skills
- Some users reported flat sound
This best gadget for men is connected to Alexa, Amazon’s voice-activated personal assistant which listens to and responds to voice commands in real-time. If you’re looking for cool gadgets for men, this is very easy to use – simply ask Alexa to turn up the TV volume, play music, recite the last San Francisco 49sers football score, or tell a joke and it responds in less than two seconds. An integrated Alexa Skills program also makes it compatible with third-party apps like Uber (request a ride) and Pandora with Bluetooth speaker capability. After years of record-breaking Amazon sales, this is easily one of the top 10 must-have gadgets.
Another neat trick is this best gadget for men’s ability to set routines. Using the Alexa app, your Dot can be programmed to turn on lights and other devices at set times. It is a great option at preventing would-be burglars from ransacking the place when you are not home. Kudos for its sturdy construction (hard plastic with fabric cover) and compact size (only 3.9” x 3.9” x 1.7” ), easily out of sight on most tabletops. Now when you’re getting out of bed in the morning, you can have Alexa turn on your lights before you step into your best men’s slippers.
#2 Apple AirPod Pro with Charging Case
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: This is one of the best men’s gadgets and gear for audiophiles, thanks to its ultra-compact size (0.65″ by 0.71″ by 1.59″) and intuitive audio controls.
- Extremely effective active noise cancelation
- Intuitive placed audio controls
- 24+ hour listening time and 18+ hour talk time per charge
- Small size makes it easy to misplace
- May fall out with strenuous activity e.g. working out
- Some users reported static heavy phone calls from time to time
Our favorite feature with these ear pods is its sound quality, which uses an active noise canceling system consisting of a mini microphone and software to block ambient background noise like street traffic. An external mic also helps with windproofing and hands free calling. Coming in second is its intuitive controls, which uses tapping gestures to play, pause or skip to the next track.
This earpod’s charging time is very respectable, with more than 4.5 hours of constant playback at a 50% volume with the charging case offering 24 hours of total listening time.. This is more than enough for a red-eye flight or day-long camping trip with plenty of time to spare. Bonus points for being Qi wireless charger compatible for all cord haters. For your next camping trip you might also want the best burger press too.
#3 Suunto Core All Black Military Men’s Outdoor Sports Watch
Award: BEST FOR OUTDOORS
WHY WE LIKE IT: This watch features an altimeter/barometer, compass, and weather alerter, making it a great gadget for avid outdoorsmen who trek at different elevations.
- Stylish & a very durable
- Easy to read dial window & highly accurate compass (up to 5 degrees)
- Water resistance of 30 meters & intelligent storm alarm system
- No built-in GPS
- May be too large for some wrists
- Screen contrast could be more pronounced
This high quality military men’s watch has tons of built-in features to complement various sporting activities. For example, an altimeter and barometer help measure elevation in three-foot intervals and barometric pressure changes, a must for active climbers or people in high elevations. Its altitude range is 1,600 to 29,500 feet. For hardcore off-road addicts, a compass also tells you where you are to within a 5-degree accuracy.
Aside from the Suunto name, we especially love this military watch’s durability, using a tear-resistant silicone-like wrist band and working in extreme temperatures (-5 to 140 degrees F). Its 14-day battery life is also respectable, which is especially important when immediate access to USB charging may be unreliable. Consider this one of the cool gadgets for men who have everything. If you’re a fan of gadgets you might also want to consider the best pocket knife too.
#4 Google WiFi System 3 Pack
Award: BEST COMPLETE HOUSE INTERNET COVERAGE
WHY WE LIKE IT: This device replaces our traditional router, making it a great choice for anyone who wants stronger Wi-Fi coverage and faster speeds in their homes.
- Turn key setup that anyone can install
- Very compact and needs no charging
- Compatible with all major internet service providers
- Only comes with two cable ports
- No web interface
This device is very easy to use. Simply plug in your modem DSL using an ethernet cable and connect it to your Google account to get connected. While testing, we immediately noticed a faster signal in every room, with speeds blowing past 100Mbps and going as high as 135Mbps, which is a world away from previous speeds up to 60Mbps. Streaming gaming consoles should run a lot smoother using these WiFi points.
This three-pack is more than enough for an up to 4,500 square foot home, with a single WiFi point good for up to 1,500 square feet. Each WiFi point is very compact, comparatively sized to an Amazon Echo Dot (4.17″ by 4.17″ x 2.7″), easily hiding out of view on most tabletops. Though performance is good, there is a steeper learning curve with using the companion app which lets you monitor all of the devices, share passwords, and restrict access.
#5 VYBE X Percussion Massage Gun
Award: BEST FOR MUSCLE RECOVERY
WHY WE LIKE IT: This massage gun comes with seven massage heads, delivering up to 300 strokes per minute, making it a godsend for anyone who wants to expedite muscle recovery after long workouts.
- Perfect gift for anyone active
- Seven interchangeable attachments and five energy levels
- Quiet (only 50 decibels)
- High cost
- Not recommended for people under 18
- Headpiece metal rod may get hot after 5 minutes of use
We love the different types of massages this massage gun offers. Five separate attachments target different muscle groups. For example, the bullet-shaped knot buster attachment focuses on specific muscles to untie knots and the wider, flatter IT-band blade covers a larger surface area. With six different speeds, there are appropriate pressure levels for people with varying levels of soreness. Ease of use is on point, using a snapping mechanism to switch attachments and pressing a trigger to rotate the head.
This massage gun is very versatile in that it could help treat a variety of issues, including tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and tennis elbow. It is as equally effective with office workers sitting long hours versus hardcore athletes, so it can potentially be used by an entire family. Throw on one of your best men’s v necks while using this massage gun for the ultimate in comfort.
#6 Insta360 GO Stabilized Sports Action Camera
Award: BEST IMAGE CAPTURE
WHY WE LIKE IT: This action camera measures only 1.94″ by 0.59″ x 0.84″ and easily mounted anywhere, a great choice for sports enthusiasts who are looking for a smaller and more discreet option than a Gopro.
- Super compact size
- Water resistant and dependable smooth video footage software
- Can be mounted anywhere
- Not ideal for underwater shooting
- Requires a single D battery (one included)
This action camera delivers really crisp images and shoots up to 100 frames per second. While testing, the footage was surprisingly smooth for such a motion heavy device, as it uses FlowState Stabilization for smoother video capture. It also has enough juice to record 200 18-second clips, depending on the selected shooting mode, making it equally great for all-day excursions out in the wild or as a security device.
What we like the most about this action camera is its minuscule size, weighing only 18 grams and measuring 1.94″ by 0.59″ x 0.84″. This allows it to be mounted virtually anywhere including your baseball cap brim or clipped to your necklace using the included magnet pendant. No need to worry about breakage – it is very durable with an IPX4 water resistance rating, submersible in water for up to 10 seconds.
#7 Fitbit Charge 4
Award: BEST FOR RUNNERS
WHY WE LIKE IT: Thanks to a built-in GPS and target heart rate monitoring, this fitness tracker is an excellent choice for anyone looking to track their body composition metrics and monitor pacing and distance on long runs.
- Excellent 7-day battery life
- Very intuitive Active Zone tracking & many exercise modes
- Connects directly to Spotify for music playback
- High cost
- Black coating is not scratch-resistant
- Not compatible with Windows 10 operating system
We love this Fitbit’s extensive number of exercise modes, which deliver real-time stats based on preselected goals. Our favorite feature is its Active Zone tracking, which helps you monitor the amount of time spent in certain heart rate zones, helping to prevent overtraining. Even sleep is tracked effectively using sleep stage tracking to assess your deep or active rest time, with an assigned sleep score.
This Fitbit is also built very sturdy, with a 50-meter water-resistant rating, silicone band, and a generous 7-day battery life which is the most of any Fitbit to date. Consider this one of the best tech gadgets around. When you’re wearing your best mens hoodies you can use the FitBit to track your workout.
How We Decided
In determining the best gadgets for men to buy, we explored fun factor, usefulness, multi-purpose ability, ease of use, compatibility with others, and build quality.
Fun factor and usefulness are tied to the amount of time one can easily spend with the device without getting bored. The more uses, the better. Our #1 pick Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen) is a perfect example, incorporating thousands of skills such as playing music, controlling smart devices, and providing weather updates. Integration with third-party apps also opens users to control other apps directly, including iHeartRadio, Pandora, and Philips Home for smart home devices.
Ease of use is an important consideration. The best gadgets’ learning curves should take no more than 10 minutes with a quick assembly. Controls should be intuitive and tech devices should showcase clear dials and a smooth interface. Our #2 pick, Apple AirPod Pros is a great example with good control of audio with quick Bluetooth pairing and use of tapping gestures.
Note, none of these gadgets are necessarily just for men, but in selecting we considered what appeals to their sensibilities – traditionally speaking.
Lastly, build quality should be on par. Good build elements such as the Fitbit’s tear-resistant rubber band or the Suunto Core All Black Military Men’s Outdoor Sports Watch rugged construction should hold up well to regular wear and tear.
Best Gadgets for Men Buyer’s Guide
The Most Important Features to Consider
- Fun Factor & Usefulness
In order to be considered for this list, we opted for the best gadgets for men that could be used indefinitely. The higher the number of modes and uses, the better. Our #1 pick Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen) defines this, with thousands of skills and voice commands to work with, everything from creating a smart home to checking for the latest football score. - Ease of Use
It should take no more than 10 minutes to learn how to use any of the cool gadgets for men we recommended on the list. With the exception of the Google WiFi system, which uses a dedicated smartphone app with lots of tools to learn, all can be reasonably mastered in a short amount of time. What’s easier than pressing a trigger to manipulate a massage gun or asking Amazon Alexa for a weather update? - Compatibility with Others
Our recommended tech gifts should be useful to as many people as possible, not just for its intended recipient. The Amazon Echo 3rd Gen and the Google Wifi System are great examples, responsive to multiple voices and devices to provide better internet speeds. - Build Quality
Durability is a key concern. Overall build quality should entail a rugged construction (hello, Suunto Core All Black Military Men’s Outdoor Sports Watch) and water resistance, as is the case with the Fitbit Charge 4 and the Insta360 GO Stabilized Sports Action Camera. All of our devices lack remote controls, which can be bothersome to some people.
Gadgets for Men FAQs
What is best gift for a man?
Gift ideas are totally dependent on what he is interested in. Audiophiles would probably jump for joy over the Apple Airpods with Charging Case and physical therapists and serious athletes would probably get a kick out of the VYBE X Percussion Massage Gun and the Fitbit Charge 4. Anything high tech-related with Bluetooth connectivity is a near shoe-in.Do guys like thoughtful gifts?
Most guys should be appreciative of thoughtful gifts unless they are complete sociopaths. It is a great sign you are thinking of them and should remind them that they are liked or loved.Latest Gadgets for Men
What Are the Must-Have Gadgets for Men ?
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The site has compiled some gadgets for men reviews, to help narrow your choice based on features like battery life and wi fi capabilities. You can, for example, buy a high quality pair of headphones or amazon echo with noise canceling abilities that let you listen to your favourite songs with him.
There’s even a really cool gadget- a fitness shirt that measures his heart rate and a wireless charging water resistant wallet. And of course, the latest remote control security camera that’s perfect for your smart home.