Marques Brownlee’s top five gadgets of 2022

An incredible update – they are way better at everything that matters. They sound better, last longer, fit better, the case can be engraved with your memoji... but the best part is the incredible audio processing with improved transparency mode and noise cancellation. If you’re an iPhone user they’re the best wireless earbuds you can buy.

apple.com

Probably not what people would expect in my top five, but it’s my favourite compact phone in a really long time. The iPhone Mini might be dead, but now in its place we have a compact Android phone that competes with flagship models. It’s got flagship specs, flagship battery life, great camera and a lot of other things going for it. If it had wireless charging I’d definitely pick it over a lot of the huge flagship slabs that are out right now.

asus.com

These are the Android equivalent of the AirPods Pro 2, a really nice update to the Pixel Buds. It’s a cool design, they fit well in my ears and they stay comfortable. Having Google Assistant in your ear whenever and wherever you want is like a superpower. The software’s the big draw, and they support multiple devices too. They also sound fantastic, the transparency mode is really good – just not quite as polished as the AirPods.

store.google.com

It’s really just a battery with a cool transparent design, but it’s powerful too. The Slim has USB-C and USB-A ports and a 20,000mAh capacity – enough to charge a MacBook Air. And it can, because the USB-C can output up to 100W. There’s a nerdy screen that shows you all sorts of information – voltages, temperatures and things, including how long it’ll take to charge whatever’s plugged in. It’s my all-time favourite power bank – it’s simple, quirky and fun.

shargeek.com

Portable gaming has really caught on in a big way this year, and a big part of that is because of the Steam Deck. It’s essentially a 7in touchscreen with fixed controls and a mini PC inside. There’s a tonne of customisation available here and you can take it anywhere – the couch, the car, on the plane – and access your Steam games in one place. It’s fun, even if you’re not the biggest gamer in the world.

store.steampowered.com