TIME has published a gift guide for technology lovers featuring ten consumer devices. The selection is based on the magazine's annual list of the best inventions and includes both new releases and gadgets worth considering for those who enjoy experimenting with technology.
The most unusual pick for those who miss physical buttons is the Clicks Power Keyboard. It is a slide-out keyboard that attaches to the back of a phone with magnets. Clicks focuses on tactile typing, and its team includes former BlackBerry employees, a company known for its keyboards. For users who value tangible feedback when typing, this is one of the most obvious options.
For minimalism enthusiasts, the guide mentions Caligra Workbench, an operating system that runs through a terminal and comes with almost no preinstalled applications. It is intended to run on the Caligra C100 terminal, built specifically for this system. The system is designed for people who want to control every element of their computer rather than receive a default set of programs.
Another new product is the XREAL Aura, lightweight augmented reality glasses with a 70-degree field of view running on Android. The computing in these glasses does not happen in the frame itself but in a "puck" unit connected to them by a cable. This separation allows the glasses themselves to be lighter, which matters for a device worn on the face all day.
The Plaud NotePin S, a wearable voice recorder with AI-powered transcription and summary creation, also draws interest. Templates are available for processing recordings, and this summer the company launched a community where users share their own templates. As a result, the device gradually accumulates ready-made workflows created by its owners.
For those who work or play on a computer, the list includes the 32-inch Samsung Odyssey G8 G80HS monitor. It offers 6K resolution at 165 Hz or 3K at 330 Hz, allowing users to choose between image detail and refresh rate. Gamers may also find the OhSnap Mcon useful, a magnetic gaming controller that attaches to a phone and is less than an inch thick.
Among reading gadgets, the guide includes the Mark II smart bookmark, which highlights text and saves it in an app. It also mentions the Xteink X4 Pro, a pocket-sized e-reader with a touchscreen, front light, and a larger battery. The device ships without its own bookstore and accepts EPUB and PDF files uploaded by the user, so the reader decides what goes on their shelf.
For music lovers, the selection features the Fosi Audio MD3 MagDAC, a portable digital-to-analog converter that attaches magnetically and has USB-C ports. The retro Sony MDR-3R wired headphones are also on the list. The Verge separately reviewed these headphones in its review. The selection closes with the Apple iPhone Duo, a foldable phone released in October whose inner screen is close in size to an iPad Mini. Its two cameras can shoot in both directions simultaneously.
The materials on which the guide is based do not specify prices or availability of the devices. Readers planning to buy gifts should therefore check the cost and availability of each item with the manufacturers or in stores.