Our readers can’t stop buying these 10 gadgets – and No. 4 really surprised us


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One of the great things about this job is that we get to write about all sorts of gadgets. Many times, the stuff that catches our eye isn’t the hot-ticket item like a new iPhone, but the smaller, stranger, and sometimes more obscure stuff. These are things you might never have known existed, but they enter your life and change it for the better.

And looking at the list of top-selling gadgets that ZDNET readers have been buying so far in 2026, it seems that readers share our taste for smaller gadgets that turn out to be super useful.

Also: 12 travel gadgets that can upgrade your spring break

So let’s take a quick look at what our readers have been buying from the beginning of the year through April. Note: (Your privacy is protected — we only have access to aggregate data from our user base, and there is no way for us to identify individual people’s purchases.)

The 10 most popular gadgets among ZDNET readers in 2026 (so far)


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Chipolo One Point

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

While are the best choice for iPhone users, Bluetooth tracker options for Android users have been somewhat limited over the years. But a few companies have stepped up to the plate to fill that void, and one of those is Chipolo. 

The Chipolo One Point key fob is very much like an AirTag, powered by a battery that lasts about a year. It’s also water-resistant to IPX5 standard (which means it’s splashproof). It’s a great tag, and goes a long way to end the frustration (and arguments) that come from things like lost keys!

AlsoI finally found Bluetooth trackers for Android that beat AirTags


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Knipex Cobra XS Water Pump Pliers

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET


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The Thermal Master P2 has a really handy carry case that can attach to a keychain.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET


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It's supposed to go in your ear -- but this one hasn't been in any!It's supposed to go in your ear -- but this one hasn't been in any!

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

OK, probably one of the weirdest gadgets to make it onto ZDNET — a 1080p smartphone-controlled camera that’s supposed to go into your ear and help you excavate wax buildup.

“I can’t confirm or deny whether I’ve stuck this in my ear at any point, that’s not why it’s on this list,” ZDNET’s Adrian Kingsley-Hughes says. “This is a super-handy camera for poking into crevices, looking for water leaks, lost screws and bolts, and other stuff that might be happening outside of where I can get my eye into.”

The business end of the camera is just 0.17 inches/4.3 mm in diameter, so it’s perfect for probing into random places. And the business end of the unit is IP67 rated for water and schmoo resistance, and it can be cleaned with a cloth or alcohol wipe.

Also: The weirdest tool I own is also one of the most useful


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USB-C magnetic swiveling breakaway connectors

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET


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https://www.amazon.com/Rolling-Square-AirNotch-Pro-Dual/dp/B0FV3VGN48

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Wera Tool-Check Plus set

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

This toolkit is proof that good tools can last a long time. Expert Adrian Kingsley-Hughes bought his Wera Tool Check Plus kit back in 2015, and he says it’s still going strong. 

“The Tool-Check Plus holds everything together in a tough polymer carry case. There’s a small 1/4-inch ratchet, a screwdriver bit holder, and a selection of bits and sockets, and everything is of the highest possible quality.The ratchet might look small, but looks in this case are deceptive,” Kingsley-Hughes says. 

Also: This is my favorite tool kit of all time – here’s why it’s still in use 10 years later


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Heat It in action

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

Expert Adrian Kingsley-Hughes and I can both vouch for this odd gadget. If you enjoy being outdoors but are prone to insect bites, this unusual accessory could be a game-changer. Heat it is a USB-C phone bug bite zapper that quells the itch. It’s perfect for the upcoming summer months and is tiny enough to carry anywhere.

Also: This USB-C accessory gave my iPhone and Android an unexpectedly useful superpower


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Bibury Multitool Pliers Pro

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airpods-cleaner-tool

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Apple’s Hide My Email feature has always been a pretty good quality-of-life privacy tool. iCloud+ subscribers can access randomly generated email addresses that forward messages to their real inbox. This helps users avoid any apps or websites from seeing their actual address. Apple also states that it doesn’t read the forwarded messages either.

All of this makes it quite a handy tool that genuinely cuts down on spam, creating a distance between you and whatever sketchy service wants your email.

But what it apparently does not do is hide your identity from law enforcement.

What’s going on?

According to court documents seen by TechCrunch, Apple provided federal agents with the real identities of at least two customers who had used Hide My Email addresses. One case in particular had the FBI seek records in an investigation that involved an email allegedly threatening Alexis Wilkins, who has been publicly reported as the girlfriend of FBI director Kash Patel.

The affidavit cited in the report states that Apple identified the anonymized address as being associated with the target Apple account. The company even provided the account holder’s full name and email address, along with records of another 134 anonymized email accounts created through this privacy feature.

TechCrunch also says it reviewed a second search warrant tied to an investigation by Homeland Security, where Apple again provided information linking Hide My Email accounts back to a user.

Why does this concern you

Before anyone starts calling out Apple for breaching privacy, they should know the distinction between companies and official warrants. Hide My Email is designed to protect users from apps, websites, and marketers, not from legal requests.

Apple still stores customer data like names, addresses, billing details, and other unencrypted info, which can be handed over when authorities come knocking with the right paperwork. So an email is a weak point here. Most emails are still not end-to-end encrypted, which means it is fundamentally different from services like Signal, whose popularity has grown precisely because of their robust privacy model.



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