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The Best Tech We Bought in 2018

The PCMag staff bought a lot of tech over the last 12 months. Here are our favorite devices and gadgets we've lived with for the past year.

 & Rob Marvin Former Associate Features Editor

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

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Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks

  • Apple iPhone X

    Apple iPhone X

    4.0 Excellent

    Pros & Cons

      • Updated design.
      • Powerful processor.
      • Excellent screen.
      • First-of-its-kind augmented reality front camera.
      • Animoji are really fun.
      • Very expensive.
      • Apps need to be reprogrammed to take advantage of display.
      • Not the fastest modem.

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    The iPhone X sets the stage for Apple's next decade, with a sharp new design and a future focus on augmented reality.

    Specs & Configurations

    Battery Life (As Tested) 4 hours, 56 minutes (LTE video streaming)
    CPU Apple A11
    Dimensions 5.65 by 2.79 by 0.3 inches
    Screen Resolution 2,436 by 1,125 pixels
    Screen Size 5.8
    Get It Now
  • HP ENVY Photo 7155 Wireless All-in-One Photo Printer

    HP ENVY Photo 7155 Wireless All-in-One Photo Printer

    3.5 Good

    Pros & Cons

      • Reasonable purchase price.
      • Good overall print quality.
      • Low running costs with Instant Ink.
      • Attractive design.
      • Supports SD card flash memory.
      • Cost per page is high sans Instant Ink.
      • Potentially wasteful two-cartridge ink cartridge set holds all four inks.
      • Noticeable banding when printing dark gradients and backgrounds.

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    A well-designed and attractive consumer-grade photo AIO, the HP Envy Photo 7155 All-in-One Printer is capable of churning out good-looking photographs at highly competitive running costs, but only with HP's Instant Ink subscription.

    Specs & Configurations

    Color or Monochrome 1-pass color
    Connection Type USB
    Connection Type Wireless
    Cost Per Page (Color) 3.5 with Instant Ink cents
    LCD Preview Screen
    Maximum Scan Area Letter
    Maximum Standard Paper Size Legal
    Monthly Duty Cycle (Maximum) 1,000 pages per month
    Number of Ink Colors 4
    Print Duplexing
    Rated Speed at Default Settings (Color) 9 ppm
    Rated Speed at Default Settings (Mono) 14 ppm
    Scanner Optical Resolution 1,200 pixels per inch
    Scanner Type Flatbed
    Type All-in-one
    Get It Now
  • iBaby Monitor M6S
    Using Your Own Lullabies

    iBaby Monitor M6S

    4.0 Excellent

    Pros & Cons

      • Excellent video quality.
      • Loads of features.
      • Pan and tilt functionality.
      • Event-triggered recording.
      • No web access.

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    The iBaby Monitor MS6 is a full-featured baby monitor that uses your phone to keep tabs on your infant. It offers excellent 1080p video and a host of features including environment monitoring, two-way audio, pan and tilt, and motion and sound detection.

    Specs & Configurations

    Alarm
    Connectivity Wi-Fi
    Field of View 360
    Mechanical Pan/Tilt
    Night Vision
    Notifications Push
    Resolution 1080p
    Storage Cloud
    Two-Way Audio
    Get It Now
  • Audible.com

    Audible.com

    4.5 Outstanding

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    Learn More Audible.com Review
  • Roku Ultra (2017)
    Privacy-minded movie lovers

    Roku Ultra (2017)

    4.0 Excellent

    Pros & Cons

      • Lots of streaming apps and services.
      • Wired network connections.
      • Headphone jack in the remote.
      • No Dolby Vision support.
      • Voice search is very limited.

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    Roku's top-end 4K media streaming box, the Ultra, is packed full of handy features, but whether they're worth the $100 price depends on your viewing needs. For many, the $70 Streaming Stick+ will be just fine.

    Specs & Configurations

    HDR HDR10
    Get It Now
  • LG 60SJ8000 4K TV

    LG 60SJ8000 4K TV

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

  • Nintendo NES Classic Edition

    Nintendo NES Classic Edition

    4.5 Outstanding

    Pros & Cons

      • Exudes old-school style.
      • Games look excellent over HDMI.
      • Controller feels authentic to the original.
      • Inexpensive.
      • Controller cable is really short.
      • Can't be expanded or updated in any way.

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    The NES Classic Edition is a miniature Nintendo Entertainment System with 30 classic games, an HDMI output, and a fantastically nostalgic design.

    Specs & Configurations

    Product Category Game Systems
    Product Price Type List
    Get It Now
  • Bose QuietComfort 35 II
    Aural Isolationists

    Bose QuietComfort 35 II

    4.5 Outstanding

    Pros & Cons

      • Powerful audio performance with deep bass response and sculpted highs.
      • Best-in-class noise cancellation, with new on-ear controls to adjust settings.
      • On-ear access to Google Assistant.
      • Can be used in passive mode.
      • Cable has no inline remote.
      • Highly sculpted sound signature not for purists.
      • DSP has major impact on audio at top volumes.

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    Now with Google Assistant, Bose's latest pair of QuietComfort headphones, the QC35 II, is the best pair of wireless noise-canceling headphones you can buy.

    Specs & Configurations

    Active Noise Cancellation
    Connection Type Bluetooth
    Connection Type Stereo 3.5mm
    Phone Controls
    Removable Cable
    Type Circumaural (over-ear)
    Wireless
    Get It Now
  • Jabra Elite Active 65t
    Wire-Free Exercise Enthusiasts

    Jabra Elite Active 65t

    4.0 Excellent

    Pros & Cons

      • Powerful bass and sculpted highs.
      • Customizable EQ.
      • Dust- and moisture-resistant design.
      • Secure in-ear fit.
      • Counts steps.
      • Auto-pair process can be cumbersome, with only one earpiece pairing at times.
      • Not for purists seeking accurate audio.

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    The wire-free Jabra Elite Active 65t earphones are built for exercise, with secure-fitting earpieces that deliver powerful bass that can be adjusted to your liking.

    Specs & Configurations

    Phone Controls
    Type In-Canal
    Wire-Free
    Wireless
    Get It Now
  • Petcube Play

    Petcube Play

    4.0 Excellent

    Pros & Cons

      • 1080p video.
      • Good night vision.
      • Speaker and laser for interacting with your pets.
      • Optional cloud storage service with alerts.
      • Doesn't support multiple cameras.
      • Cloud storage service is a bit expensive.

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    The latest security camera from Petcube, the Play, solves all of the issues we had with the original by adding a 1080p camera, night vision, cloud storage, and alerts.

    Specs & Configurations

    Connectivity Wi-Fi
    Field of View 138
    Integration Amazon Alexa
    Night Vision
    Notifications Push
    Resolution 1080p
    Storage Cloud
    Two-Way Audio
    Get It Now
    Learn More Petcube Play Review
  • Google Home Mini
    Google Assistant Beginners

    Google Home Mini

    3.5 Good

    Pros & Cons

      • Inexpensive.
      • Nice design.
      • Better sound quality than the Echo Dot.
      • Better at answering music-related queries than Alexa.
      • Lacks audio out.
      • Google Home still offers less support for third-party services than Alexa.

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    The Google Home Mini smart speaker takes on Amazon's Echo Dot with a cute, fabric-covered design and Google Assistant smarts, but its lack of an audio out is a major bummer.

    Specs & Configurations

    Bluetooth
    Physical Connections None
    Voice Control Google Assistant
    Get It Now
  • Apple iPad (2018)
    Budget-Friendly Apple Tablet

    Apple iPad (2018)

    4.0 Excellent

    Pros & Cons

      • Terrific performance for the price.
      • Elegant, high-quality apps.
      • Supports Apple Pencil.
      • Neither rugged nor waterproof.
      • Keyboard and Pencil accessories increase the price.

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    The same price as last year's model but now with Apple Pencil support, the sixth-generation iPad is the best midrange tablet choice for most people. But it's still less practical than Chromebooks for most schools.

    Specs & Configurations

    Battery Life 5 hours, 40 minutes (video streaming)
    CPU Apple A10
    Dimensions 9.4 by 6.6 by 0.3 inches
    Operating System Apple iOS 12
    Screen Resolution 2,048 by 1,536 pixels
    Screen Size 9.7
    Storage Capacity 32
    Weight 16.5
    Get It Now
The Best Tech We Bought in 2018

Compare Specs

Select Up To 3Select Up To 2
Our Pick
Rating
4.0 Excellent
3.5 Good
4.0 Excellent
4.5 Outstanding
4.0 Excellent
4.5 Outstanding
4.5 Outstanding
4.0 Excellent
4.0 Excellent
4.0 Excellent
3.5 Good
4.0 Excellent
Best For
Using Your Own Lullabies
Privacy-minded movie lovers
Aural Isolationists
Wire-Free Exercise Enthusiasts
Using Your Own Lullabies
Wireless
Wire-Free
Type
All-in-oneCircumaural (over-ear)In-CanalAll-in-one
Two-Way Audio
Storage
CloudCloudCloud
Screen Size
5.85.8
Screen Resolution
2,436 by 1,125 pixels2,436 by 1,125 pixels
Scanner Type
FlatbedFlatbed
Scanner Optical Resolution
1,200 pixels per inch1,200 pixels per inch
Resolution
1080p1080p1080p
Removable Cable
Rated Speed at Default Settings (Mono)
14 ppm14 ppm
Rated Speed at Default Settings (Color)
9 ppm9 ppm
Product Price Type
List
Product Category
Game Systems
Print Duplexing
Phone Controls
Number of Ink Colors
44
Notifications
PushPushPush
Night Vision
Monthly Duty Cycle (Maximum)
1,000 pages per month1,000 pages per month
Mechanical Pan/Tilt
Maximum Standard Paper Size
LegalLegal
Maximum Scan Area
LetterLetter
LCD Preview Screen
Integration
Amazon Alexa
HDR
HDR10
Field of View
360138360
Dimensions
5.65 by 2.79 by 0.3 inches5.65 by 2.79 by 0.3 inches
CPU
Apple A11Apple A11
Cost Per Page (Color)
3.5 with Instant Ink cents3.5 with Instant Ink cents
Connectivity
Wi-FiWi-FiWi-Fi
Connection Type
USB, WirelessBluetooth, Stereo 3.5mmUSB, Wireless
Color or Monochrome
1-pass color1-pass color
Battery Life (As Tested)
4 hours, 56 minutes (LTE video streaming)4 hours, 56 minutes (LTE video streaming)
Alarm
Active Noise Cancellation

Buying Guide: The Best Tech We Bought in 2018

About Our Expert

Rob Marvin

Rob Marvin

Former Associate Features Editor

Rob Marvin writes features, news, and trend stories on all manner of emerging technologies. Beats include: startups, business and venture capital, blockchain and cryptocurrencies, AI, augmented and virtual reality, IoT and automation, legal cannabis tech, social media, streaming, security, mobile commerce, M&A, and entertainment. Rob was previously Assistant Editor and Associate Editor in PCMag's Business section. Prior to that, he served as an editor at SD Times. He graduated from Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. You can also find his business and tech coverage on Entrepreneur and Fox Business. Rob is also an unabashed nerd who does occasional entertainment writing for Geek.com on movies, TV, and culture. Once a year you can find him on a couch with friends marathoning The Lord of the Rings trilogy--extended editions.

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