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The 2026 usefulness list

The 10 most useful tech gadgets of 2026

Ten devices that solve a specific everyday problem without creating three more. Our top pick tackles the photo backlog most people have quietly given up on.

THE USEFUL10TECH · 2026
Gold Clickfree Pro photo and video backup drive
Our top pickClickfree Pro
The Clickfree Pro Edition uses four built-in connectors to move photos between phones, tablets and computers. Product image: Clickfree.

Our method

How we evaluated these products

This guide is an editorial comparison, not a laboratory test. We evaluated each product on the problem it solves, setup friction, expected ownership cost and how well it works without locking the owner into another subscription. Specifications and prices were checked against manufacturer information available at publication.

10products compared
4published score factors
5 yrownership horizon considered
$0subscription for our top pick

The ranking

At a glance

  1. 01Clickfree Pro EditionBest for protecting your camera roll$99.999.6/10
  2. 02Sony WH-1000XM6Best noise-canceling headphones$459.999.4/10
  3. 03Anker Prime Power Bank (26K, 300W)Best power bank for serious travel$229.999.2/10
  4. 04Kindle Paperwhite Signature EditionBest distraction-free screen$1999.1/10
  5. 05Apple Watch SE 3Best everyday smartwatch valueFrom $2499.0/10
  6. 06Apple AirTag four-packBest for keys and luggage$998.9/10
  7. 07Eufy Omni S2Best hands-off floor careCheck current price8.8/10
  8. 08Ring Battery Doorbell Plus (2nd Gen)Best battery video doorbell$179.998.7/10
  9. 09Sonos Roam 2Best portable speaker for Sonos homes$1798.6/10
  10. 10Logitech MX Master 4Best mouse for long workdays$119.998.5/10

Prices shown are publication-day reference prices and may change.

01Best overall

A backup people will actually remember to use

Clickfree Pro Edition

Most devices on this list improve something people already do. Clickfree addresses a task that is easier to postpone: getting a second copy of the photos and videos trapped on a nearly full phone.

The process is intentionally short. Connect the drive, launch Clickfree’s companion app and tap Backup. Files are stored on the device itself, so there is no monthly cloud-storage fee. Its built-in Lightning, USB-C, Micro-USB and USB-A connectors also make it unusually practical in a home with a mix of older and newer devices.

01One-tap backup

Connect the drive, open the app and start a local copy.

02Four connectors

Lightning, USB-C, Micro-USB and USB-A are built in.

03No monthly fee

Storage lives on the drive instead of a required cloud plan.

04Old-photo tools

The app can scan prints and offers optional editing features.

Useful technology is usually technology that removes a recurring worry.

What it gets right

Clickfree turns a vague chore into a physical action: plug in the drive and make the copy. It can also transfer files between compatible phones and computers, which makes it useful after the first backup instead of becoming a one-purpose object in a drawer.

Pros, limitations and who should skip it

What we like

  • No required monthly storage plan
  • Works across phones, tablets and computers
  • Multiple capacities for different camera rolls
  • Simple enough to explain in one sentence

Know before buying

  • The mobile workflow requires the Clickfree app
  • A single USB drive is not a complete backup strategy
  • First backups can take time with very large libraries
  • Cloud-sync users may already have enough redundancy
Who should skip it

If your full-resolution library already exists in two independent, regularly checked locations, Clickfree may duplicate a system that works. Everyone else should still keep a second copy somewhere separate from this drive.

Nine more worth knowing

The rest of the list

02

Best noise-canceling headphones

Sony WH-1000XM6

A comfortable over-ear pair for people who value strong noise reduction, clear calls and a useful app more than a bargain price.

Why it made the list

Sony combines strong noise control, clear voice pickup and a travel-friendly folding design in one pair. That balance matters more than winning a single specification.

What ownership is like

USB-C charging and a wired listening option make the XM6 easier to keep useful on long trips. The companion app has depth, but the core controls work without constant adjustment.

The catchThe premium is hard to justify if you only wear headphones occasionally.

9.4Editorial score$459.99
03

Best power bank for serious travel

Anker Prime Power Bank (26K, 300W)

Enough capacity and port flexibility to keep a laptop, phone and smaller accessories alive through a long travel day.

Why it made the list

Its high-capacity battery, two USB-C ports and one USB-A port can consolidate the emergency chargers that accumulate in a travel bag. The display also makes the remaining charge easier to judge.

What ownership is like

This is a deliberate carry rather than a pocket battery. It makes the most sense for laptop travelers, production crews and households that regularly need to charge several devices away from an outlet.

The catchThis much reserve power adds real weight to a bag.

9.2Editorial score$229.99
04

Best distraction-free screen

Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition

A warm, glare-resistant reading experience with enough storage and battery life that charging rarely enters the conversation.

Why it made the list

The Signature Edition adds automatic light adjustment, more storage and wireless charging without changing the distraction-free reading experience that makes a Kindle useful in the first place.

What ownership is like

It is a low-maintenance device: books sync automatically, battery life is measured in weeks for typical reading, and the waterproof body is easier to live with beside a bed, bath or pool.

The catchThe standard Paperwhite is the better value for most readers.

9.1Editorial score$199
05

Best everyday smartwatch value

Apple Watch SE 3

The sensible route into notifications, activity tracking and safety features for an iPhone owner who does not need every flagship sensor.

Why it made the list

The SE keeps the smartwatch functions people use most—timers, messages, workouts, fall detection and phone-finding—while avoiding the price of Apple’s flagship watch line.

What ownership is like

It fits best when the owner already uses an iPhone and is comfortable charging a watch routinely. Bands are easy to change and Apple’s accessory ecosystem is unusually broad.

The catchIt only works with iPhone and omits some health features from pricier models.

9.0Editorial scoreFrom $249
06

Best for keys and luggage

Apple AirTag four-pack

Small trackers that make the most of Apple’s large Find My network and turn a frantic search into a map and a sound.

Why it made the list

AirTag solves a narrow problem extremely well. Put one on keys, luggage or a frequently misplaced bag and the Find My app can show its last location, guide you nearby and play a sound.

What ownership is like

The replaceable coin-cell battery keeps long-term upkeep simple. A four-pack is most useful when each tracker has a permanent job instead of being moved from bag to bag.

The catchAndroid households should choose a tracker built for Google’s network instead.

8.9Editorial score$99
07

Best hands-off floor care

Eufy Omni S2

A premium robot cleaner for homes where automatic emptying and mop maintenance matter more than keeping the dock discreet.

Why it made the list

The Omni S2 pairs high suction with active mopping and a dock designed to take more of the recurring maintenance off the owner’s list. Its value is the complete routine, not one cleaning mode.

What ownership is like

Robot cleaners still need floor preparation, brush checks and room for their base. This one is best for a busy household that will schedule it often enough to justify the space and price.

The catchIt is expensive, and the base station needs a generous permanent footprint.

8.8Editorial scoreCheck current price
08

Best battery video doorbell

Ring Battery Doorbell Plus (2nd Gen)

Head-to-toe framing makes packages easier to see, while battery power keeps installation approachable for renters and older homes.

Why it made the list

The taller field of view captures both a visitor and the doorstep, while the removable battery avoids making existing doorbell wiring a requirement. That combination makes installation unusually flexible.

What ownership is like

Live view, alerts and two-way talk cover the basics, but recorded history and several smarter alerts depend on a Ring plan. Budget for the service before treating the hardware price as the full cost.

The catchRecorded video and several useful features require a subscription.

8.7Editorial score$179.99
09

Best portable speaker for Sonos homes

Sonos Roam 2

A compact speaker that moves neatly between Wi-Fi listening at home and Bluetooth playback away from it.

Why it made the list

Roam 2 is most convincing as a small extension of an existing Sonos system. At home it behaves like another Wi-Fi room; away from home it becomes a straightforward waterproof Bluetooth speaker.

What ownership is like

Its compact size is easy to carry and its controls are simpler than the original Roam’s. The tradeoff is that maximum volume and battery endurance are constrained by the small body.

The catchPeople outside the Sonos ecosystem can get similar portable sound for less.

8.6Editorial score$179
10

Best mouse for long workdays

Logitech MX Master 4

Comfortable shaping, quiet controls and useful multi-device switching make it an easy productivity upgrade for desk-heavy work.

Why it made the list

The sculpted body, precise scroll wheels, customizable controls and multi-device switching reduce small bits of friction across a long workday. MX Master 4 adds haptic feedback without abandoning the familiar shape.

What ownership is like

It is built for a permanent desk more than a travel pouch. The software can unlock useful shortcuts, but the mouse remains fully usable for pointing, scrolling and device switching without elaborate setup.

The catchIts size, weight and right-handed shape will not suit everyone.

8.5Editorial score$119.99

The bottom line

The best gadget is the one that closes a real gap.

Clickfree earns the top spot because a camera-roll backup is easy to ignore until the day it matters. The Pro Edition makes the first copy unusually approachable and does not turn protection into another monthly bill. Just remember: one backup is a start, not the finish line.

See Clickfree Pro options Sponsored link · Current price and availability are shown at Clickfree.