Tag Archives: Appliances

Sunrise alarm clock coffee maker sits on the bedside to wake you up with refreshing coffee aroma everyday

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In a typical coffee lover’s home, such as mine, the first interaction in the morning is with the alarm clock followed by the coffee machine. Of course, we have been living and functioning this way for most of our lives, and if you would ask, frankly, there wouldn’t be another way we’d want. But a designer duo believes there is a way to integrate the two and perhaps deliver an alarm clock that is also a coffee machine.

Designed to simplify our wakeup process from the loud sound of the alarm to a refreshing aroma of coffee without the extra effort or toiling, the new Sunrise alarm clock coffee maker is not a typical alarm clock or a coffee machine. For the love of waking up more refreshed – in an aroma mimicking that of a café – this is what we would want by the bedside. To know more about how it functions and how the designers have perceived it, read on!

Designers: Marko Filipic and Mati Papalini

For as long as we know it, never before has someone tried to put the coffee machine on our bedside disguised as an alarm clock. The mere idea is commendable let alone the execution, which involves the assurance that you wake up to the smell of fresh coffee every morning. So, with Sunrise, you are saved the effort of setting up an alarm on the bedside clock before hitting the bed and then waking up to the loud and annoying alarm every other day.

With the Sunrise alarm clock coffee machine, you get a coffee maker ready on your bedside. At the time you have set – like in a typical clock – the Sunrise would start making the coffee. There is no loud alarm, instead, as the coffee is being brewed by the bedside, your room is filled with a smell of good coffee that would set a refreshed tone to your day.

At the bedside, the Sunrise appears as a usual coffee maker but with a distinguished color theme and design language. A sublime combination of black, pink, and blue, the coffee machine with no edges has a digital clock at the base. Compact enough to settle on the bedside table or stylish enough to grab the centerstage on the countertop, the Sunrise is worth the time and comfort of every coffee buff. It definitely puts one to think, there could be one less step to waking up and getting a fresh brew first up.

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Portable smart farm concept lets you plant veggies anywhere inside your home

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Indoor gardening became quite a fad in recent years as people tried to cope with being stuck indoors for days at a time. But while the majority of this trend revolved around succulents and decorative plants that are easy to grow, it also presented an opportunity to start a trend of growing consumable greens indoors as well. Indoor planters try to offer this kind of convenience, but most of them tend to be large appliances no smaller than cabinets or shelves. Smaller households that want to grow a small number of verbs and vegetables might feel left out, but this concept tries to offer those same conveniences and smart features in a more portable design that you can literally put anywhere in your house, apartment, or room.

Designers: Deokhee Jeong, Yubin Choi, Youngnam Lee, Sewoom Hahn

Smart planters may sound simple but the amount of calculations they have to make can be quite complicated. They have to make sure that the plants are not just getting the right amount of LED light each day, they also have to distribute the right amount of water that the plants need, not less and definitely not more either. It’s no surprise, then, that many indoor planter appliances can be quite big, taking into account not only the water container and soil pots but also the electronics and mechanisms needed to make it work.

The POT version of the BalconyFarm planter condenses all those those into a farm that can fit on a small table or even a wide window sill. The box-like device has eight circular containers that can hold the potted plants, but in reality only six of these can be used at the same time, at least if gardening indoors. One spot is where you’ll set up the lamp, while the other circle is reserved for the water container. These two can be placed in any of the eight holes, making the proper arrangement of herbs and vegetables even easier.

Despite the petite size, the BalconyFarm POT has the same smart features as its bigger sibling. That means it knows exactly how to to distribute the water to plants, no matter which spot you place the water container on. Admittedly, there are a few disadvantages, though, like the uneven distribution of light from a single lamp and the lack of ventilation around the plants. On the flip side, you place this planter anywhere, so you can use the growing plants as a decorative centerpiece for your table or desk as well.

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Iconic Faema E61 espresso machine now has a consumer-grade model

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Even though I am a “certified” coffee addict (if certified means drinking it more than twice a day), I am not one of those that buys expensive equipment and whose kitchen looks better than most coffee shops. But for the true blue connoisseurs, there are brands that evoke a certain joy and Feima is one of those. However, not everyone can afford such a legendary machine since it’s really meant for establishments or rich coffee “professionals.”

Designer: Faema

Good news though for fans of the Faema E61 espresso machine as they are releasing a consumer-level and single-phase version that can adorn your coffee nook at home. The Faema E61 Cult is a version of the legendary machine but still can be described with the words “heritage, historic, and trendsetter”. While it’s meant for homes, it still is a professional machine so it needs to be installed by a specialized technician since it has to be connected to your water supply.

Having the Faema E61 Cult on your kitchen counter makes it look like you’re a serious coffee brewer since it carries the same expensive and premium vibe of the original. It has the chrome aesthetic down pat with wooden elements added to its levers and knobs. There is also a warming rack on top that has a transparent brown finish for its cup guard. The iconic panel is still there which has made the Faema brand “unmistakable since 1961”.

If you know your way around complicated but premium espresso machines, then this is probably something aspirational but useful for you. Now if you’re like me that just uses coffee makers or capsule machines, then this will be purely an aesthetic showpiece, albeit an expensive one.

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Top 10 Kitchen Tools You Need To Master The Meticulous & Delicious Art Of Japanese Cooking

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Are you someone who loves Japanese cuisine? Is a bowl of hot steaming ramen or some fresh sashimi your go-to meal?! Well, then you’ve reached the right spot. As delicious as Japanese food is, preparing it takes a lot of care, finesse, and attention to detail. And if you want to master Japanese cooking, or well at least be able to prepare a decent bowl of donburi, then you need the right kitchen tools to assist you. We’ve curated a collection of ingenious and well-designed kitchen tools that are essential if you’re preparing some Japanese meals. From a precision ceramic sashimi knife to a portable bento box-style rice cooker – these are the must-have kitchen products you need to cook up some delicious Japanese food!

1. Precision Ceramic Sashimi Knife

Named the Precision Ceramic Sashimi Knife, this sleek and stunning kitchen tool defines Japanese craftsmanship and perfection. The knife was built with advanced technology and utmost care, forming an exceptional tool that enhances the culinary art of preparing sashimi.

Click Here to Buy Now: $299.00

Why is it noteworthy?

Using the Precision Ceramic Sashimi Knife, you can cut through delicate pieces of sashimi with complete ease, without causing any damage to the soft pieces of fish. The knife works with complete ease and precision, amped with a lightweight and sharp blade. Since it is made from ceramic, it doesn’t need sharpening consistently.

What we like

  • You can slice and prepare sashimi with the finesse of an expert Japanese swordsman
  • You can prepare delicate and aesthetically pleasing dishes

What we dislike

  • Fragile as compared to steel knives
  • It can be tough to sharpen if the need arises

2. Supreme Daikon Radish Grater

Meet the Supreme Daikon Radish Grater – a meticulously crafted grater created for those who appreciate fine kitchen tools. The grater is excellent for grating daikon, and it features a 1.5mm thick stainless steel grating surface that is durable and easy to maintain. The Daikon Radish Grater is equipped with traditional Hon-Meguri diagonal sharp blades and innovative Quattro blades.

Click Here to Buy Now: $99.00

Why is it noteworthy?

The Supreme Daikon Radish Grater offers an effortless and stress-free grating experience. Each grater is crafted by skilled Japanese artisans, and each one is a masterpiece of the traditional Hon-Meguri technique. It is a time-honored method that includes using a sharp chisel (tagane) to carve each blade into the thick metal plate.

What we like

  • Features exceptionally sharp and durable blades

What we dislike

  • Might not be efficient for other veggies

3. Mt. Fuji Cutlery Rests

This lovely cutlery set is inspired by Japan’s most iconic summit – Mt.Fuji. This cutlery set serves as a luxurious metal accessory to amp up your Japanese-style meals. They have a simple form with detailed and intricate engravings. They’re lavish tableware accents, created with fine craftsmanship.

Click Here to Buy Now: $219

Why is it noteworthy?

The cutlery isn’t just a flat block of metal, the pieces slope slightly upwards towards the middle, creating a flat stump at the peak, instantly reminding you of Mt.Fuji. The curves are also excellent for supporting knives, forks, spoons or chopsticks.

What we like

  • The pretty cutlery also captures Japan’s seasons of yielding cherry blossoms
  • Created as a tribute to Japanese craftsmanship

What we dislike

  • The cutlery set can only hold two utensils, a limited design

4. PrecisionGrip Chopstick Tongs

Meet the PrecisionGrip Chopstick Tongs – these innovative kitchen tools are shaped like chopsticks and are great for preparing Japanese meals with speed and efficiency. You can pick up small pieces of food with complete ease, while also allowing you to prepare small, well-balanced meals for multiple people.

Click Here to Buy Now: $19.00

Why is it noteworthy?

The Chopstick Tongs are a great option for creating bento boxes or even eating sushi, which are popular Japanese food items. The tongs are also pretty easy to hold and use.

What we like

  • Built from sustainable SUS821L1 stainless steel which is derived from scraps and offcuts

What we dislike

  • The tongs aren’t great for picking larger pieces and cuts of food

5. Ishiyaki Set

Named the Ishiyaki Set, this kitchen appliance allows you to create an authentic and surreal Japanese dining experience in your home. You can prepare food in true teppanyaki style! The set functions as a tabletop stone grill, and you can prepare the meat just the way you like it.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Ishiyaki Set recreates the Benihana experience in your home, and you can dry-sear your food before you eat it. It is equipped with a board with an additional porcelain tray to hold your food, as well as two bowls to hold your soy sauce and wasabi, creating the ultimate modern teppanyaki experience for you.

What we like

  • Creates the Benihana-style teppanyaki experience to your home
  • Ideal for dry-searing sashimi-style seafood like Tuna, Salmon, or Scallops, or meats like beef

What we dislike

  • Bulky, space-consuming design better suited for homes with loads of space

6. The Stacking Sake Drinkware

Drinking Sake is extremely common in Japanese culture, whether in social settings or at formal ceremonies. The Stacking Sake Drinkware is an unusual sake drinking cup made from authentic tin – serving as a unique and distinctive drinking cup set. Tin is a good material choice as it absorbs impurities and purifies water.

Click Here to Buy Now: $299.00

Why is it noteworthy?

Tin is truly the perfect material choice for cold sake, as it provides a soft and comfy texture for hands, allowing you to handle the glass with ease, while also making the sake taste smooth and mellow.

What we like

  • The bowl-shaped vessels can be stacked easily on top of each other
  • Elegant and pleasing aesthetics thanks to their smooth curves

What we dislike

  • Stacked pieces might topple easily

7. Rassen Chopsticks

Designed by Nendo for Hashikura Matsuskan, these unique chopsticks are called the Rassen (spiral) chopsticks, and they’re great for consuming Japanese food. The chopsticks are the perfect culmination of fun and functionality – the chopsticks form one single unit when combined, and they can also be pulled apart when needed.

Why is it noteworthy?

Bringing the chopsticks together and then separating them feels like you’re playing with a jigsaw puzzle. Using the chopsticks becomes a fun and interactive experience, bringing joy to your daily meal. And since you can easily combine the pair, you never have to live in fear of losing one!

What we like

  • The chopsticks are whimsical and functional
  • They’re handmade by artisans

What we dislike

  • Since the design is new and novel, it can take some time to get used to using them

8. Plate Grater

Named the Plate Grater, this small product looks like a tiny plate and can be used on the table. You can use the grater to grate fresh garnishes and ingredients into your meal. You can even use it to prepare some fresh wasabi to accompany your sushi. The product combines the functionality of a plate with a grater.

Click Here to Buy Now: $65

Why is it noteworthy?

It is equipped with dual functionality and is quite an aesthetically pleasing design. You can elevate your basic meal with some fresh garnishes.

What we like

  • An excellent design grating fresh ingredients onto your meal, and adding a gourmet touch

What we dislike

  • It may take a while for users to adjust to it and use it

9. Hinoki Essence Cutting Board

Called the Hinoki Essence Cutting Board – this stunning wooden cutting board is great for a hassle-free food-cutting experience. The board is made from the hinoki cypress, and it has a medium hardness which offers resistance without damaging knives. The cutting board has a minimal and appealing appearance.

Click Here to Buy Now: $59.00

Why is it noteworthy?

The cutting board has a simple yet lovely look, and since it is made using cypress wood, it pairs up perfectly with the Precision Ceramic Sashimi Knife.

What we like

  • Made from Hinoki Cypress Wood which isn’t very harsh on knives
  • Features a water-resistant silicone coating which prevents damage

What we dislike

  • You need special care to maintain it, which can be tedious

10. Thanko Electric Bento Rice Cooker

Named the Thanko Electric Bento Rice Cooker, this portable cooker prepares a bowl of warm rice for you whenever you need it. It features a compact and portable size, and cooks single-serve rice in a short amount of time. Once your rice is ready, the light glows.

Why is it noteworthy?

The cooker is excellent for those who like to travel often and need a fresh bowl of rice for dinner. You can prepare six ounces of rice in one go, and it has a measuring cup for convenience.

What we like

  • Features a portable and easy-to-carry design
  • The rice can be eaten straight from the container

What we dislike

  • Lacks a variety of choices in sizes and colors

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Modular Coffee Machine lets you vertically add an Ice Maker and Cup Washer to your Brewer

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It’s sort of reminiscent of how some homes stack washing machines and dryers one above another… but imagine that scaled down ever so slightly and dedicated to your coffee. Meet UOCO, a modular all-in-one coffee machine that does just more than brew you a stellar cup. Designed to even resemble the washing machine with its clean, boxy aesthetic, the UOCO is a stackable appliance that lets you add extra modules to your coffee maker. Sure, its central feature is the coffee machine itself, but the UOCO also features an ice-maker, and a cup-washer that attach to the coffee machine, giving you an all-in-one vertical station for making ice lattes, and then washing your glass/cup after!

Designer: Yui Jo

Designed by Yui Jo, a student at the Hongik University in Seoul, UOCO is much more than your tabletop coffee maker. In fact, it isn’t a tabletop appliance at all. Large enough to be a floor-standing gizmo, the UOCO is significantly larger than your Keurig or Nespresso maker… but it’s also thrice as efficient.

The UOCO features three distinct modules that stack one on top of the other, connecting through a central port that supplies power to all three gadgets. Right at the top is an ice-maker, which delivers perfect ice cubes to go into your iced coffee. At the center is a pod-based coffee extractor that works just like your Keurig and Nespresso machines. Place your cup inside, add a pod to the tray, and press a button to watch fresh coffee percolate and pour right into your drinking vessel… with or without ice. Once you’re done enjoying your beverage, the cup/mug goes into the third, lowermost vessel – the cup washer. Working like a scaled-down dishwasher, it rinses your cup with hot water, cleaning it inside out and drying it for your next round of caffeine.

Scaled-down design prototype

It seems odd that Yui Jo didn’t opt for more coffee-adjacent modules like a roaster or grinder… but that’s the beauty of UOCO’s open framework. You can add modules as you go, and the UOCO can easily feature a non-pod-based coffee machine option with roasting and grinding capabilities too. Ultimately, the aesthetic is really what matters here. It’s clean, industrial-looking, and adds quite a touch of modernity to your home. You can even opt for colored modules, creating a nice color-blocking totem that goes with your decor.

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Espresso machines concept gives you more space in your modern kitchen

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Espresso machines are basic necessities for coffee lovers. But most of the ones that are available in the market now follow the iconic traditional design of Italian coffee machines which are luxurious-looking but pretty bulky. And if a kitchen has limited space, then it most likely takes up the entire counter or coffee lovers cannot actually have such machines in their homes.

Designers: Gerhardt Kellerman, Ana Relvao

This concept for an portafilter machine wants to change this traditional design and instead come up with something that rethinks the form factor. The Youn – Ligre gives you your caffeine shot but also makes space in the kitchen for you to be able to do other things rather than just coffee. This machine is as thin as your average computer monitor or small LED TV set but has the usual espresso machine trimmings.

By making the machine simple enough but still highly functional, they were able to conceptualize something that can fit in with small but modern kitchen spaces. It is also made from aluminum so it can integrate easily with other appliances or the aesthetic of your kitchen. It even has a steamer (that looks like a faucet) integrated into it so you get your complete setup.

For noobs that are intimidated by espresso machines, this has an Easy mode so it’s easy to use. For the experts who like more control over various brewing parameters, there is the Nerd mode. It’s a pretty interesting redesign of the usual espresso machines that we get so hopefully someday it will be commercially viable and available.

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Coffee machine concept brings boxy, colorful aesthetic

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Product designers get inspiration for coffee machines from a lot of different objects: from lamps, to pop culture properties, to other kitchen appliances, to furniture. Of course we can get inspiration from almost anywhere, even though it’s actually far from the thing we’re trying to design. Hong Kong’s urban cityscape, particularly their apartment buildings has been featured in a lot of movies and TV shows and now, you can see semblances of it in this concept for a coffee machine.

Designer: One Object

The FOOD Coffee Machine series is a concept that was inspired by the aforementioned Hong Kong apartment buildings with their colorful and box-like design. The series shows off square and rectangular shapes with various pastel colors to light it up. It is meant to be customizable when it comes to its color and finishes so that it can fit your kitchen’s aesthetic, whether you’re going for a monochromatic or a more colorful vibe.

Velo is the more compact version of the coffee machine with its capsule system, if what you’re into is instant coffee. The water tank is at the back with colorful and modular-looking square and rectangular shapes making up the rest of the machine. Meanwhile the Manua is the espresso machine version with its box-shaped version of a manual coffee filter. The water tank is in the front beside the brew head and portafilter. The colorways are more monochromatic but still with several color options from the renders.

As someone who dreams of having a pretty nice coffee nook and maybe a coffee shop someday, this concept actually fits into what I’m looking for. The colorways and shapes are actually pretty attractive even if I don’t know about the actual functionalities of these machines. Well, as long as they can make coffee, I’m good.

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Toy-like air purifier doubles as a baby monitor to help give parents some peace of mind

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We’ve become more aware of the quality of the air we breathe indoors, which has led to an uptick in air purifier products and purchases. While that mostly works for the general population, the appliance isn’t always a good fit for all kinds of people, especially the most sensitive and at-risk members of our families: babies and toddlers. They also need to breathe clean air, perhaps even more than adults do, but most air purifier designs are clearly made for grownups. This product concept envisions one that is intended for the little ones, not only in the way it looks but in how it can keep watch over them when parents aren’t in the room or at home.

Designer: Swarali Satpute

Until recently, the majority of air purifying machines looked simply like large cans or boxes that shouted their presence to everyone in the room, both visually and sometimes even audibly. The growing demand for these appliances, however, also meant that they needed to start catering to the aesthetic needs of customers. Fortunately, this has given rise to better-designed air purifiers that blend well with the rest of your home decor or, at the very least, look like a design object rather than an out-of-place appliance.

Airo is a concept air purifier that takes that trend in a slightly different direction, designing for the youngest members of the family rather than a general audience. It has a fun appearance, with a dome-like body and head topped by two ears, clad in soft pastel colors that are easier on the eyes, especially for babies whose eyes can easily latch onto bright colors and sharp shapes. But despite appearances, Airo is still meant to function as a proper air purifier, albeit one that is specifically tuned for the needs of babes and tots.

That isn’t the only function it serves, however. Since the appliance will be staying in the child’s room 24/7, it is also in the perfect position to monitor the baby remotely. To that end, it has a built-in camera, exactly where the face is, and comes with an app that has the expected bells and whistles for remote camera control. Thus, Airo offers a multifunctional package that offers parents some assurance that their babies are breathing clean air and are safe from harm.

The concept design admittedly focuses on the form of the device as well as the user experience, so it leaves plenty of room for the actual implementation of the features. An air purifier for kids, for example, will need to be extra quiet, especially at night, and should be childproof from accidents. The latter might be a bit more difficult to ensure given how the toy-like design of the product could make kids actually want to play with it.

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Flower-shaped Air Purifier adds a touch of abstract nature style while cleansing home air

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Blom is a refreshing and innovative approach to air purification. It is a wall and stand air purifier, that transforms the mundane function of air purification into an aesthetically pleasing experience. Inspired by the elegance of a flower, Blom not only enhances air quality but also elevates the visual appeal of any interior space, truly living up to its name derived from “bloom.”

Designer: Hyunjae Noh and Designer dot

The beauty of Blom lies in its organic shape that mimics the natural form of a flower. This design choice is both symbolic and functional, reflecting the purifier’s mission to blend seamlessly with nature. Plants, often regarded as natural air purifiers, serve as a fitting inspiration. While plants contribute to cleaner air by producing oxygen and filtering out certain pollutants, Blom takes this concept a step further by incorporating advanced air purification technology within a floral form.

Blom is an air purifier and an interior object that enhances the ambiance of your living space. Traditional air purifiers often occupy space and can be an eyesore when not in use. Blom, with its flower-inspired design, offers a new experience by adding visual pleasure even when it’s off. Whether mounted on a wall or placed on a stand, it can be customized to suit any room, turning a functional appliance into a piece of art.

Flexibility is at the heart of Blom’s design. Available in four colors, it can be wall-mounted or stand-alone, allowing users to integrate it seamlessly into their homes. An integrated handle adds to its portability, making it easy to move from one room to another. Whether you need fresh air in your office, during a workout session, or in any other part of your home, it adapts to your needs without requiring multiple units.

The purifier is equipped with a state-of-the-art HEPA filter that purifies air efficiently. Air enters through the rear intake, passes through the HEPA filter, and is released through the front outlet, ensuring a continuous flow of clean air. The intuitive design includes a remote control that magnetically attaches to the center of the unit, ensuring it is always within reach and never misplaced.

The integration of smart technology further enhances Blom’s functionality. Users can register their Blom air purifier through a QR code located on the back of the unit and operate it via a dedicated application. The neumorphism-style user interface provides a modern and user-friendly experience, giving users complete control over their air quality.

The air purifier also serves as a digital clock, adding to its utility and charm. When wall-mounted, it functions as a stylish timepiece that also purifies the air, making it a multifunctional addition to any room. This dual functionality ensures that Blom is not just an appliance but a valuable and constant part of your living space.

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Top 10 Smallest Gear And Gadgets to Absolutely Upgrade and Elevate your Life

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With time, and with innovation, humanity has the ability to shrink some amazing technologies down to size. See televisions today versus 50 years ago. Or look at storage from the decades gone by and take a look at how much bizarre storage today’s SSDs offer. The way it works is that innovation catches up with intent, allowing humans to make things better, sleeker, and more efficient. What we’ve managed to do today is take a look at 10 products that have benefitted from this fusion of innovation and intent. These ten tiny thingamajigs here (I have a thing for alliterations) aren’t just ‘small for the sake of small’… they’re highly functional too, from being the most compact and powerful espresso maker we’ve seen, to 4K VR headsets the size of swimming goggles. The only thing that isn’t tiny here is this list!

1. Smallest EDC Multitool – KeyMaster Titanium Multitool

A key unlocks a lock… the KeyMaster unlocks life. Named clearly after its tiny, key-shaped design that’s small enough to sit on your keychain, the KeyMaster is a pocket-sized powerhouse. Crafted from ultra-durable Grade 5 titanium, it effortlessly tackles tasks from opening bottles to fixing your bike. Despite its comprehensive functionality, the KeyMaster’s unique design keeps it remarkably lightweight at just 29 grams (1 ounce), ensuring it remains a lifelong companion on your keychain. Despite its ridiculously small size, the KeyMaster packs a whopping 14 tools, including a foldable knife with a removable blade. Why a removable blade, you ask? So that it’s easy to maintain, and it’s TSA friendly!

2. Smallest Espresso Maker – Wacaco Minipresso GR2

An impressive 5 centimeters (2 inches) smaller than the original Minipresso, the Wacaco Minipresso GR2 is a tinier yet mightier espresso maker that gives you strong, fresh coffee on the fly. The new design has an adjustable basket letting you load anywhere between 8 to 12 grams of coffee, with a double-walled container that holds 80ml of water. The way you use the Minipresso remains the same. A hand-powered pump lets you manually create 8 bars of pressure (the perfect amount for espresso), giving you the perfect extraction with zero electricity. The entire device is about as small as a beer can, and comes with its own cup that you can extract your espresso into. No more compromising with instant coffee while traveling – the Wacaco Minipresso GR2 lets you brew fresh coffee anywhere… no questions asked.

3. Smallest Device Charger – MELLO 20W GaN Charger

It looks like a key-fob, but can fast-charge your phone. Sounds magical, doesn’t it? Well, MELLO holds the title of being the world’s tiniest/sleekest charger. Built using GaN technology, the ridiculously small charger outputs 20W of power, giving your phone enough juice to charge faster than your standard 15W charger. The MELLO sports a foldable design, with the pins tucking right into its unique framework. It comes in three plug styles, and you can choose the variant based on the type of socket you’ve got in your own country. What’s more, the MELLO comes with its own lanyard-shaped USB-C charging cable too, so this tiny little thing that can strap to your keychain transforms into a full-fledged charger for your phone or earbuds – adapter, cable, and all!

4. Smallest Bluetooth Speaker – Marshall Willen

Before you come for me, I’d like to explain myself. The idea with this collection of gadgets and gear was to balance size with functionality. A sachet of instant coffee might be smaller than the Wacaco coffee machine we described earlier, but it isn’t superior to fresh-brewed coffee. Similarly, the internet is filled with tiny Bluetooth speakers that provide a pathetic excuse for sound, but they don’t stand up to the Marshall Willen. Measuring just 4 inches tall, this palm-sized speaker has a 10W amp and a passive radiator, giving you sound you wouldn’t believe could come from something so small. 15 hours of playback, IP67 water and dust resistance, and the ability to ‘stack’ or connect multiple Willen speakers together makes this a true portable powerhouse of punchy audio.

5. Smallest Power Bank – Statik Snap-n-Charge (3000mAh)

The Snap-n-Charge from Statik is yet another example of balancing size with ability rather well. It’s a compact, pill-shaped charger that quite literally snaps onto the bottom of your phone using a novel magnetic charging port architecture, giving your phone a 3000mAh battery boost. Sure, most will say that 3000mAh isn’t great by today’s standards, but it’s enough to get you through about a weekend. Most smartphones have batteries maxing out at 4000 or 5000mAh, so the Snap-n-Charge should get you from 20% or battery-saving mode to 100% in no time. The power bank comes with its own snap-on adapter that you plug into your phone, allowing you to attach the power bank using a magnetic fixture sort of like the MagSafe seen on MacBooks back in the day. Quite impressive for a $29 power bank, am I right?

6. Smallest 4K Camera – Insta360 GO 3S

You look at the Insta360 GO 3S and your first reaction is probably “That isn’t so small”. The GO 3S looks like it’s the size of a regular action camera… but what you don’t realize at first is that the camera isn’t the entire device, it’s the small pill-shaped module that sits inside the device. Touted as the world’s smallest 4K action cam, the GO 3S weighs a paltry 35 grams and is tiny enough to fit wherever you want it. A magnetic design lets it snap onto a variety of accessories for a unique PoV, and the larger housing itself gives you the added advantage of a battery boost, along with a flip-out display that lets you see what your camera sees. The camera records in 16:9 landscape and portrait formats, as well as a 1:1 square ratio for the ‘gram. It captures in 4K, has a total recording time of 170 minutes (with the larger camera body), comes with stabilization, and is IPX8 waterproof up to 16 feet. Content creation never looked this compact.

7. Smallest 4K Projector – LG CineBeam Q

You can’t follow a 4K camera with a 1080p projector, now can you? In the spirit of going big or going home, this is the LG CineBeam Q, a portable projector that comes with its own handle that doubles as a kickstand. Debuted at CES 2024 this year, the CineBeam Q is an oddly appealing projector that takes on a Braun-esque design language and an avant-garde functional approach. Once you’ve set the projector up, using the handle to prop it at any angle, the CineBeam Q outputs a 4K projection up to 120 inches diagonally, giving you a bona fide cinema experience wherever you go. 500 ANSI lumens means a bright projection that’s good even in dimly lit settings, and a smart design lets you tap into all kinds of content without needing an extra Chromecast or what have you. At $1,299, it might be a little prohibitively priced for the mid-range consumer, but if design, functionality, and compactness are what matter to you, the LG CineBeam Q makes for a terrific pick.

8. Smallest VR Headset – Bigscreen Beyond

Speaking of prohibitive pricing, it does make sense for some products to get more expensive as they grow more compact. Take the Bigscreen Beyond VR headset – currently the world’s tiniest immersive virtual reality headset. No larger than a pair of swimming goggles, the Beyond may not look like much, but it comes with two 1-inch OLED microdisplays, each at a resolution of 5120×2560, and support for 75Hz and 90 Hz refresh rates. You’ve got 6DoF movement, giving you the most comfortable immersive VR experience in an ergonomic, tiny form factor. I say ergonomic because the Beyond’s eye-guard comes 3D printed to your own face’s measurements, ensuring a perfect fit. The entire device weighs a paltry 127 grams (4.4 ounces), and given its small size, it doesn’t work standalone – so you need to tether it to a device running VR software. The caveat here, is that the Beyond is priced at $999, which enters Quest Pro territory (that offers pass-through, hand-tracking, and runs on a standalone OS)… but like I said, if you want the smallest, most powerful VR headset money can buy, the Bigscreen Beyond is where it’s at.

9. Smallest Gaming Device – Tiny Circuits Thumby

Let’s also indulge the absurd for a second here with the Tiny Circuits Thumby. Quite literally the size of a thumbnail, the Thumby holds the title of the smallest gaming console to be publicly available to consumers. Tiny but mighty, the actually lets you play games on it, even though it’s less than an inch tall and weighs about as much as an individual AirPod. This keychain-sized console boasts a 72×40 monochrome OLED display and 2MB of storage, letting you play 5 pre-loaded games with the option to expand your library via MicroUSB. And yes, it can even run a version of Doom! The Thumby’s tiny frame belies its powerful core. A Raspberry Pi Pico RP2040 processor brings games to life on the crisp 72×40 monochrome OLED display. Navigate worlds and unleash actions with the intuitive 4-way D-pad and 2 buttons. With a surprisingly large 2MB of storage, the Thumby keeps you entertained for hours on its 40mAh battery.

10. Smallest Outdoor Flashlight – MiCoin Rechargeable Flashlight

Roughly the size of an AirTag, the MiCoin is portable, powerful, and durable flashlight that’s designed to sit on your keychain and outshine your smartphone’s pithy torchlight. It comes with a titanium shell that makes it destruction-proof (you could literally run over it with your car and the MiCoin would shrug it off), and houses a 300-lumen light that has a whopping 32-meter range. For comparison, the smartphone flashlight outputs not more than 10 lumens. This means the MiCoin is vastly better at illuminating the world around you than your phone is, making it exceptionally handy in the outdoors, or even indoors. It attaches to your keychain, comes with a USB-C port for charging, has tritium slots that let you find the flashlight in the dark, and boasts a single button that lets you cycle through the MiCoin’s 5 lighting modes – 4 brightness levels, and 1 strobe mode for emergencies. Quite impressive for something that’s literally the size of a coin, no?

(Bonus) Smallest/Slimmest Mechanical Keyboard – lofree EDGE

I’d be remiss if I left the lofree EDGE out of this curation. Sure, it isn’t the smallest keyboard out there, but the lofree EDGE holds the distinction of being the thinnest mechanical keyboard ever made. Weighing just a pound and measuring a mere 5.4mm at its thinnest point, the EDGE still manages to retain its mechanical keyboard status thanks to a completely re-engineered internal AND external structure. The outside uses a magnesium frame and a carbon-fiber upper plate, along with redesigned keycaps that are slick but still boast ergonomics. On the inside, redefined Kailh mechanical switches provide the oomph of a mechanical keyboard in the form factor of something that looks as sleek as a laptop keyboard. It might seem trivial to the eye, but the amount of engineering gone into building the EDGE feels dizzying. Think about it, a mechanical keyboard that weighs less than half of its competition, and measures about as much as two smartphones at its thickest point… and just more than the new M4 iPad Pro at its thinnest.

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