Whether you plan on giving your home and office space a boost or simply want general digital upgrades in every aspect of your life, there are plenty of gadgets that can help. But with so many new tech products to choose from, it can be hard to figure out what products are worth your time and money.
Fortunately, tech expert Katie Linendoll recently stopped by the 3rd hour of TODAY to share some cool tech gadgets that will equally keep you looking and feeling cool this summer. (Some of which might even give you some gifting inspo for Father’s Day and beyond.)
Ready for a tech upgrade? Keep reading to discover the coolest tech items to shop ahead of the season — some of which are just under $50.
Best cool tech, as seen on the 3rd hour
It might be tiny, but the JBL Go 4 is truly mighty. It packs tons of sound, offers up to seven hours of playtime in a single use, according to the brand, and can be transported anywhere your adventures take you.
If you have a hard-to-reach outlet in your home, this outlet extender offers a practical solution. It provides up to 34 inches of extra connection, all without hardwiring, according to the brand.
You can also use code TODAY to earn 50% off your order on the brand’s site until June 2.
Lucyd offers a wide range of smart sunglasses including this aviator style that can connect to Bluetooth so you can make calls or listen to music anywhere. There’s even UV protection and a splash-proof design, so these are more than just a stylish find.
Plus, use code TODAY to receive 30% off sitewide until June 2.
More styles seen on the show that you can shop:
- Lucyd Moonshot Sunglasses, $27.30 (was $39)
- Lucyd Dockside Sunglasses, $69.30 (was $99)
Enjoying a cold cup of brew just got easier. Keurig’s HyperChiller promises to turn hot coffee into iced coffee in just under a minute without dilution. Put the cooler in the freezer overnight, attach it to your Keurig device and swirl your coffee to enjoy your cool beverage.
It seems that everyone knows about the Ninja SLUSHi. But in case you missed it, this machine turns your favorite liquids into tasty frozen drinks in just a few steps. From coffee to juice, the options (and sips) are endless.
Editor’s note: The most recent version of the Ninja SLUSHi was shown on the show. Shop it below.
Tired of the same phone case? These customizable digital phone cases from Tizag let you create your own design in an instant. Choose from your photo library, the brand’s own offerings and more depending on your mood and style.
You can also shop an option for the iPhone 15 here. TODAY viewers can even receive 30% off sitewide with code TODAY. Valid until June 2.
More cool tech to shop
This smart key organizer keeps all of your keys in one handy place. With an included smart tracker, you can easily locate your misplaced keys using the Find My network.
The Kasa Matter smart outdoor plug allows you to control your smart home platform from anywhere. It’s compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and more. So you can do everything from adjust your outdoor lights to create a schedule for your week.
Editor’s pick
The Torras Coolite Neck Fan recently earned the title as the “Best Overall” during Emma Stessman’s, a commerce writer at Shop TODAY, neck fans testing. “This fan does a great job of delivering a customized cool that you can tailor to your situation,” she said in her review. “On a particularly hot commute day, when I had to wait in stuffy subway stations for my trains to arrive for over 15 minutes, I was much less sweaty than I normally would have been.”
The Apple Homepod Mini delivers powerful stereo sound despite its small size. Compatible with many Apple devices, the speaker is great for controlling your smart home, listening to music, connecting to Siri and more.
This smart kettle from GoveeLife was recently on the show for the best smart home devices. When just your smart phone, you can schedule your morning cup of brew, check its temperature and be notified when its done.
Tired of a blaring alarm clock? Associate editor Kamari Stewart has enjoyed using the Hatch Restore 2 Sunrise Alarm Clock for a peaceful morning wake-up. “The gradual light increases that occur the hour before you’ve set the alarm to go off is really nice, especially for wintertime when the sun doesn’t rise until well after my alarm has already gone off,” she raves.
Associate editor Shannon Garlin is an avid user of the Amazon Echo Dot, and uses it to sync it to her smart light bulbs for when she is and isn’t home. “I can ask Alexa to turn it on when I’m feeling lazy or don’t have to turn off the light and walk across the room with my shoes on,” she boasts.
This limited edition smart hair dryer from Dyson uses intelligent features to adjust the temperature and speed to your styling and hair type needs.
You’ll never lose precious family memories with this unique gift box from Storii. Perfect for grandparents or parents (Father’s Day is coming up!), this telephone service calls up to three times a week to ask questions about your loved one’s life. Individuals can spend up to 10 minutes recording each answer, then the audio is automatically stored to their online profile and auto-transcribed into text for you to enjoy for years to come.
Your taste buds will thank you for trying Shef, a service that provides incredible homemade meals that get delivered to your front door for a whole lot less than going out to eat. No matter if you’re in the mood for Italian, Mediterranean or Indian food, Shef offers over 85 various cuisines.
Better yet, the Shef community is built from aunties, abuelas, immigrants, refugees and stay-at-home parents, so you know the food is from a passionate group of diverse cooks. You can also score free delivery on orders over $25.
Game while on-the-go with this controller that turns your phone into a gaming console. Drawing minimal power from your iOS device, the RiotPWR controller has a lightning receptacle to allow charging of your device while you’re playing. No need to download any special softwares or apps, simply just plug into your phone and you’re ready to go.
The brand says you will save up to 26% on heating and cooling costs with this smart thermostat. Wirecutter Deputy Editor Annemarie Conte previously told us on the show that this was the most versatile option they tested, which connects to Andriod, Apple and most HVAC home systems.
According to the brand, you can control the temperature of your home anywhere through an app. Plus it will adjust to your desired temperature while you’re sleeping and before you get home.
Conte says this smart bulb was the brightest bulb they tested and loves the endless features. According to the brand, the bulb connects through an app where you can choose from 16 million colors and control the dimness and brightness of the bulb.
These handy smart plugs connect to your in-home Wi-Fi, which allows you to control your home appliances and electronics from your phone, says the brand. You’ll be able to set timers, turn on and off lights from the other room, at work or even while on vacation.
Meet the experts
- Katie Linendoll is a tech expert. She has previously been on the show sharing the best gadgets for gifting and travel.
- Annemarie Conte is a Deputy Editor at Wirecutter.
How we chose
The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources, comb through customer reviews and even use our own personal experiences to make shopping easier for our readers.
As an editorial team, we independently create content and determine coverage based on research, reporting and what we think TODAY.com readers would like to read about. The goal of our content is to provide a service and inform readers who are on the hunt for the latest products to help make their life better. Items are sold by retailer, not TODAY. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time.
