The 10 Most Pointless "Smart" Items You Shouldn't Buy

September 19, 2022

Have you noticed that everything gets sold as a “smart” product these days? Smart belts, smart water bottles, smart plug-in air fresheners, and other types of randomness. It’s getting a little out of hand if I’m being honest.

As a result, we had some fun scouring the internet and made a list of several totally pointless “smart” products you shouldn’t buy. And you can read all about them in our top story.

Other Highlights:

• Here are the best cases for your new Galaxy Z Fold 4.
• We highlight all the most misunderstood emojis.
• NASA announces a new Artemis I rocket launch date.
• … and more!

-Cory

Nowadays, it seems like companies are slapping a “smart” label on as many products as possible. It’s a term that sells, so it makes sense. But not every single item in the world needs to have smart functionality to be a great product or better than its competitors. Read More »

What are the best cases for Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4? To find out, we checked out some Galaxy Z Fold 4 protective cases. Our top picks for the best protective cases for Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 offer premium protection for your pricey foldable. They’re also affordable, durable, reliable, and portable. Read More »

Govee just turned up the brightness with its new lineup of smart LED strip lights, promising to pack more lumens into each strip and flood your walls with fun colors. The new Govee LED Strip Light M1 offers RGBIC+ technology that will take your home lighting and entertainment to the next level. Read More »

Wordle was just too easy, wasn’t it? You probably left that behind and moved on to Quordle, the true “hard mode” of the word-guessing game format. But now you’re stuck and so close to failing. Don’t worry, we’re here to help with a hint—and if you really need it, today’s Quordle Answers. Read More »

Are you a huge fan of Wordle and absolutely stuck today? Let me guess; you’re hanging out on guess four or five and feeling the pressure. We get it entirely: nothing feels worse than losing your streak. If you’re not ready to outright cheat, we have you covered with hints and today’s Wordle answer. Read More »

Your smartphone camera was awesome before, but now you can transform your smartphone into a professional-grade tool by clipping on this little attachment. This wide-angle lens lets you get right up on top of your subject without losing quality. It also enables you to fit up to 45% more into your frame. If you need to adjust lighting, there’s a brightness-adjustable LED light that you can clip on your phone included. Pro photographers won’t be able to ditch their DSLR just yet. However, this lens can make their job a lot easier.

The popular accessory brand Mophie recently announced a slew of new Powerstation battery packs, a MagSafe wireless charging stand, and other Apple-focused charging solutions that’ll pair perfectly with the new iPhone 14. Read More »

All language is metaphorical in nature. Words have no inherent meaning, and your ability to “understand” language is based entirely on habit, personal experience, and context. And if you don’t believe me, go ask your family members what your favorite emojis mean. Read More »

Audiobook apps have transformed many people who don’t have time to read into voracious readers. They allow you to read while driving, exercising, cooking, and more. Picking the right app for your needs is essential. However, since all these apps are free, there’s no reason why you can’t use them all. Read More »

NASA is ready to give it another go. After the space agency’s epic new Artemis 1 mega-rocket failed to launch in late August, then again in early September, NASA just announced that September 27th is the next launch date window for its Artemis 1 mission. Read More »

It seems that Apple finally gained a bit of sense. The new iPhone 14 has a removable back glass panel, which should drastically improve repairability. It could also open the door to iPhone 14 customization, assuming that users are confident enough to replace their phone’s glass back. Read More »

BMW is doing something unexpected. Its Middle East subsidiary just released a promotional video for the Dune Taxi EV. It features a dune buggy-style vehicle shredding the streets of Liwa, Abu Dhabi, then venturing into the Tal Moreeb desert to tackle some of the highest sand dunes in the world. Read More »

With board games becoming increasingly popular, it makes sense that so many of them have made the journey to smartphone app stores. Now, with these digitized versions, you’ll be able to download your favorite board games and play them anywhere you go without having to deal with tiles, cards, tokens, or finding a big enough gaming table to play on. Read More »

The Parallels Desktop software lets you run Windows, Linux, or legacy macOS releases on your Mac computer. It’s an incredible tool that doesn’t require dual-booting an OS, and notably, it’s the only good way to run Windows apps on an Apple Silicon Mac. Read More »

It’s time to save big on the new iPhone 14. Nearly all carriers offer the iPhone 14 for free with a qualifying trade-in and unlimited plan. Plus, Best Buy and Apple have some generous discounts if you hand over a newer device. Read More »

The long-awaited iPhone 14 is finally available. But if you’ve ordered this expensive device, you should protect your investment with a case. And there are plenty of great options to choose from. So, let’s cut to the chase—here are the best cases for your iPhone 14. Read More »

I reviewed a $2,800 ultra-short throw (UST) laser projector two years ago and proclaimed it so good I’d buy one. Of course, I had to send that review unit back, which left me with the hard decision: do I spend the money? I did. And after two years, I can comfortably say it was worth it. Read More »

You’ve probably seen ads for free VPNs and wondered why you shouldn’t use one of those rather than their paid counterparts. After all, you can’t beat the price of $0. Let’s compare free vs. paid VPNs and see why exactly you shouldn’t trust free VPNs, at least not in most cases. Read More »

Email signatures ostensibly make your communiqués look like they’re wearing a nice suit, but really, it’s just an extra part of the email that we can’t help but read. No one likes to read more emails than they have to. Read More »