Honestly, my favorite purchase of the past years is the Steamdeck. Can take it to work, play in my lunch break. Can take it on trips, play in the plane or train. Also got a dock at home, where I play coop games with my kid. So I guess if you are a gamer not playing any not supported games (there aren't that many), go for it.

Robot vacuum. My floors are spotless except for some areas you’d never walk on and I only need to do some spot cleaning every month or two.

Dishwashers are awesome too, watch Technology Connections’ video on YouTube if you think your dishwasher doesn’t do a good job. It’s likely just how you’re using it. Priming the hot water before running, using powder detergent instead of liquid or packs (booo), and using the pre-wash and rinse aid will have even the gnarliest dishes coming out spotless.

20 computers. I can’t stop getting more computers I need help there’s so many computers they’re in every room and they’re computing aaaaaaaa

Electric kettle. Fast at boiling water, especially if your stove heats slowly. Great for things like tea or instant noodles/lunches.

Does a bicycle count? Changed my life.

DNS filtering. I'm using NextDNS, because I can't be bothered to be my own server admin.

Why? It does a great job at filtering out ads, tracking the rest of internet cancer on mobile devices. Works no matter where you are. With pihole, you get the filtering only when you're at home, not when you're scrolling funny cat videos while waiting for the train.

I know it's an annoying cliche answer at this point but I really do love my air fryer, it got me out of a cooking rut and made me more creative. I've had it for a year and a half an use it 3-4 times a week.

A dedicated portable audio player with support for high-res files (that's NOT running Android).

You can't just doom scroll all day, no one can call you, you won't get any spam texts or emails on it. It's just you and your music.

Instantpot. I live in a teeny studio apt and the Instantpot puts in work daily.

Stick blender! I delayed buying one because I thought the regular blender I had was enough, but this one is so convenient for sauces and soups.

e-reader: another item I delayed buying for too long because I believed paper books were better. I bought a Kobo and ended up reading more often.

An analog watch. Nothing fancy, just a cheap Casio or Timex or whatever.

• Warm white christmas lights. Diffuse lighting is so much better.
• Induction cooktops. Because gas cooktops are toxic both inside and outside the home.

Just mentioned this in another thread, but the XTEInk X4 is one of the most focused and portable e-readers I’ve come across. Less than $100 and isn’t locked down so you can load custom firmware on it. For anyone like me who finds most e-readers go unused because they don’t go with you, I’ve yet to find a better option.

There's actually a pretty cool community sort of tangentially related to this! !buyitforlife@slrpnk.net

Anyway, my pick is definitely just a GOOD mp3 player. Whether that be an open hardware one you can crack open and repair, a proprietary one that can at least be Rockboxed, or bare minimum a proprietary one with a good iFixit rating.

Pressure Cooker. I have one from Fissler and it’s my go to for so many dishes that normally would take ages to cook.

It’s also so convenient to throw dried lentils in there and have them ready in half the time lol.

This is more of a tool, but I have a set of 4” knipex cobra pliers that are perfect for around the house. Just small enough to fit into about any space, super grippy, and you can easily make minute adjustments to the plier spacing. I’ve used them more than any other tool I own.

Oh, and noise-canceling headphones (ideally over-the-ear). Instant quality of life upgrade.

Portable Bluetooth label maker. Not a necessity, but you can use it outside of typical application for lots of fun things!

Somebody park like an asshole? Leave a fun message for them!

Got something you want to personalize? Custom stickers of whatever you want!

Wanna leave memes around in public for people to find? You already have templates saved!

Want to advertise yourself or someone/something else? Boom, instant QR codes.

I've been having fun with the mini I originally got for work, about to buy one that prints larger labels.

Electronic countertop scale for the kitchen. Start cooking by mass rather than trying to decide if that's a half a cup packed or unpacked.

If you regularly store things in jars, a canning funnel. So much easier to pour sauces into jars without spillage.

Bone conduction headphones. Listen to music or talk on the phone hands-free while still leaving your ears open to what's going on around you.

If you've got sore muscles, a percussive massage gun. It looks like a horse vibrator, but it does wonders on a sore back.

A warhammer. Don't get a sword unless you are actually trained and know how to use and maintain it. A warhammer isn't going to get bent, chipped, or rusty, and even if it does, it's still a warhammer and will still smash things just fine. Don't smash melons or coconuts unless you're prepared for the biological mess that will get left behind; smash blocks of ice frozen inside of old yogurt tubs instead. Wear goggles.

Digital bath thermometer. I love my baths and I can get to my exact desired temperature of 43.5 degrees c every time. Great 5 quid purchase.

Cordless drill. I was a die hard corded guy but then I tried a friend's one during a big move. Went out and bought one the next day.

If you're in car land, a good solid jump pack.

I recommend Napa .

Like five wireless chargers scattered through your home wherever it is you usually just drop and forget your phone

Also, a little frame-controller for your phone, you can play warframe on that thang

A Vitamix blender. Most reliable blender I've ever used and so many things you can make in it. Smoothies, nut butters, you can even cook soups in them.

They are on the expensive side, but the worst model refurbished is still well worth having and goes on sale from time to time.

I disagree on the toothbrush. The problem is all the e waste. Everything else being equal I would love it and my wife won't give it up but basically the manufacturers change and you can't get heads that will work and you end up having to buy a new brush every few years which is almost worse with rechargeables.

A usb c mini dock. Those that fit in your hand and are pretty much an entire docking station (multiple ports, hdmi, Ethernet) minus the power supply. So many devices come with only 1-2 ports.

Water pick - if I keep it in stride wit OP's post.

Not cheap, but a robotic vacuum. It's a life saver with a shedding dog.

I needed a Bluetooth speaker for my work PC (I work from home). I got one with a radio tuner as well. I’m fortunate that I have several radio stations in my area that play music I like. I prefer having some music on in the background while I work, but I was getting tired of having to actually think about what I wanted to listen to next. So I’ve been listening to OTA radio quite a bit, and it’s a nice change of pace from streaming music. And it’s not like the radio bits added much to the cost of the speaker.

Edit: also eyeglasses (sure, I’ll count that as a “gadget”). I hadn’t been to the eye doctor in probably 20 years. Hadn’t really noticed any problems but wanted to get my eyes checked since I had just gotten insurance. Doc recommended a prescription and now it’s like seeing the world in HD instead of standard def. If you’re in your late 30s/early 40s and haven’t gotten your eyes checked, it’s possible your vision has slowly degraded over time and eyeglasses will help more than you realize.

A bidet. Hands down the best $35 I've ever spent

Wake up light. If you live in places where is dark most of the time this is quite handy to initiate a sunrise...

I have one from Phillips, but it lacks more music tracks.

I just install HomeAssistant. Seems like a good choice.

Jar opener

If you like pickles

Air fryer

For frying meat without using oil

Slowcooker / Multicooker with a basket.

Throw rice & pulses in it, throw water in it, throw vegetables and fish in the basket.
Turn it on. Do something else. Ding! Meal.
You don't even have to be on time. This thing will keep it warm.
I'm extremely lazy.

Bought a tribit Bluetooth speaker. Now I have music all around the house and it doesn't give a fuck what I do to it. Dropped it in mud? Ok I'll throw it in the sink, it's fine. Shower music is fantastic.