12 Cool New Gadgets to Keep on Your Radar

The Pro-Ject Uni Box S3 is a new streaming amplifier that, according to the brand, “masterfully bridges the worlds of analogue and streaming.” It’s the Austrian hi-fi maker’s first streaming amplifier to support Wi-Fi streaming (all other models are Bluetooth only), which it was able to achieve by partnering with WiiM, one of the biggest names in budget-friendly streamers; the Uni Box S3 is compatible with the Pro-Ject Home app, which is built on WiiM OS. Additionally, the streaming amp is capable of delivering 40 watts per channel (into 4 ohms) or 23 watts (into 8 ohms), making it ideally suited to drive efficient bookshelf-sized speakers with high sensitivities.

To celebrate the brand’s 100-year history, Leica has launched a series of exclusive “100 Years of Leica” edition cameras, with the Leica M11-D being the standout. The special-edition rangefinder camera features the same guts as the standard M11, including a 60-megapixel full-frame CMOS image sensor and Maestro III processor. Still, it comes with two interchangeable lenses, the Leica Summilux-M 50 f/1.4 ASPH and the Leitz Anastigmat-M 50 f/3.5, the latter of which is a reimagined version of the fixed Leitz Anastigmat 50mm f/3.5 lens that came with the 1925-released Leica I. It also features some aesthetic changes, including brass top and bottom plates, and a black paint finish that resembles the original Leica I. With the purchase, Leica includes several accessories (carry strap and SD card case) for the camera and houses it all in beautiful glossy black wooden box.

Bluesound has introduced a new and improved version of its 2021-released Powernode streaming amplifier. The 2025 iteration carries a similar design (and name) and works basically the same, too. However, it’s more powerful — capable of driving 100 watts per channel instead of 80 watts — and supports larger home theater systems. It features a third pair of binding posts for a center channel speaker, meaning you can create a 3.1-channel home theater setup. If you want to build it even further into a 5.1-channel system, you can add wireless rear-channel speakers, such as Bluesound’s Pulse Flex ($299), using BluOS Bonded Speaker Link.

Cambridge Audio’s Evo 150 is a beautiful, “just add speakers” streaming amplifier designed for modern audiophiles who prefer not to deal with a traditional component rack. It was initially released in 2021. Now, with the SE (“Special Edition”) version, the British hi-fi maker is introducing an updated version with nearly identical capabilities, but promises of improved performance. Like the original, the Evo 150 SE supports high-resolution streaming over Wi-Fi and, at 150 watts per channel, is capable of driving some pretty serious loudspeakers. But the big difference is that it has a new Class D amplifier module that’s been retuned to deliver a more detailed, immersive sound.

The Go Pod Max is iFi’s most high-end Go Pod, a Bluetooth DAC and headphone amplifier that replaces the cables of in-ear monitors (IEMs), allowing you to use them like a pair of wireless earbuds. According to the brand, they promise to set “a bold new benchmark for uncompromising wireless audio.” They come equipped with a flagship Qualcomm QCC5181 chipset, which allows the Go Pod Max to receive CD-quality audio completely cable-free, with zero data loss, when using the aptX Lossless codec. Additionally, they are integrated with the brand’s K2HD technology, which aims to further enhance the sound by restoring tracks closer to their original recorded quality.

Nomad has released its take on the MagSafe wallet. It works like other options out there, magnetically sticking to the back of your iPhone and capable of holding up to four credit cards, but the Leather Mag Wallet is crafted from genuine Horween Leather and promises to develop a patina over time. It also comes integrated with Nomad’s Tracking Card ($29), so it supports Apple’s Find My network and has a battery (which can wirelessly recharge) that has a roughly four-month battery life. It comes in black or brown leather finishes.

JBL’s Endurance Zone is the company’s first pair of wireless earbuds with an open-ear design, meaning that they naturally let you hear the world around you — specifically traffic or other people in the gym — as you work out. The ear-hook-style earbuds are extremely rugged, boasting an IP68 rating that allows them to withstand water and sweat; they also feature a “JBL PulseDry” function that vibrates the driver to clear out moisture after a workout. Each earbud promises up to 8 hours of battery life, with the case adding a total of 24 hours.

The Garmin Venu X1 is a smartwatch that looks set to rival the Apple Watch Ultra 2. It is the brand’s first smartwatch to have a square shape similar to Apple’s premium model. It also boasts the biggest display and thinnest body of any Garmin smartwatch to date. As far as the feature set, the Venu X1 is quite similar to Garmin’s Fenix 8 or Forerunner 970, although its 2-day battery life (with the always-on display turned on) falls short compared to those other Garmin models. It’s available in two finishes, black or dark green.

Stax is a storied Japanese hi-fi company that specializes in electrostatic headphones — or, as it calls them, electrostatic earspeakers. It’s been making them since the early 1960s. The Stax SR-007S is an updated version of the original SR-007 and its successor, the SR-007A, which were released in 1998 and 2007, respectively. Compared to those models, the SR-007S features updated diaphragms and fixed electrodes, which Stax says “elevates sound detail clarity while maintaining deep, resonant tones.” They also have a new Anti-Resonance Structure (ARS) inspired by brand’s flagship SR-X9000 electrostatic headphone, which promises to lead to an even purer sound. Additionally, Stax has equipped the SR-007S with new sheepskin earpads.

Initially released in 2023, the Dali IO-12 is the Danish loudspeaker maker’s most premium noise-canceling wireless headphones — and, in fact, they’re one of the most expensive options out there. They are unique because their 50mm drivers feature the brand’s patented Soft Magnetic Compound (SMC) magnet technology, which helps drastically reduce distortion. This is the same tech that Dali uses in many of its high-end loudspeakers. To date, the Dali IO-12s have only been available in one color, Dark Chocolate, but now the company is introducing a new color for 2025: Mocha Grey.

Yamaha is a storied Japanese audio company best known for its various lines of AV receivers, which serve as the central hub of some serious home theater systems. Now, the brand has released a pair of wireless headphones designed for watching movies on the go. The YH-L500A works on any Bluetooth-enabled device — so your smartphone, laptop, or tablet — and features Yamaha’s proprietary Sound Field technology that promises to create a three-dimensional listening experience. Basically, it sounds like you’re watching the movie in the theater. The headphones have two modes, Cinema or Music, to sound best based on how you’re using them.

To date, Twelve South’s Curve stands have exclusively been designed for Apple’s MacBooks (as well as the iMac). They lift your computer off the desk into a more ergonomic position. But now, with the Curve Nano, the Apple accessory maker has made a Curve that’s designed for the iPhone. It’s a MagSafe stand that’s super lightweight and folds flat, making it very pocketable and travel-friendly. It can also be adjusted to hold your iPhone in either a horizontal or vertical orientation at almost any angle. It’s available in three colors: dune, slate or coastal blue.