The most disappointing gadgets of 2024

As much as we like to celebrate the products that improved our lives in 2024, not all launches lived up to their potential. Some products we were excited about stumbled due to lackluster performance, questionable design choices, or an inability to live up to the lofty expectations they set.

A product doesn’t have to crash and burn to be a disappointment. Sometimes simply not living up to expectations is enough. As we say every year, we’re not mad at these products, we’re just disappointed.

Sony Bravia Theater U

Neck speakers have always been a niche alternative to traditional headphones. The idea is to wear them around your neck so that those nearby cannot hear what you are listening to. The unfortunate thing about the Sony Bravia Theater U is that it sounds great, under the right limited conditions. Those conditions require you to sit perfectly still like a statue, which doesn’t align with how most people hang out and watch TV on their couch. For $300, you’re better off buying a pair of noise-canceling headphones for your roommate, ensuring you can watch TV in peace.

Dell XPS 13 (2024)

The Dell XPS line of the year should have been a great series of laptops, whether 13, 14, or 16 inches. The slim but sturdy frame remains impressively quiet even under stress, and several models feature bright, vibrant OLED displays. So what’s the problem? The luminous and touch-sensitive feature row. While we can learn to live with (or even love) the invisible trackpad, it’s hard to appreciate an ESC key that disappears when the laptop is off. Worse yet, the touch-sensitive keys can fade in direct light, making it nearly impossible to locate essential controls like brightness or volume adjustment.

Apple Vision Pro

Apple Vision Pro is the most technologically advanced virtual reality headset you can buy right now. It features some of the best screens available, making watching movies or experiencing new “space” content truly unique. However, the device is uncomfortable to use without third-party straps or headrests, mainly due to its metal and glass faceplate. Keeping the power bank in your pocket adds to its drawbacks, especially if you just want to use it for a quick session of space work. However, the biggest drawback is the lack of apps that fully utilize its external sensors. While improvements are expected over time, it’s hard to overlook these shortcomings, particularly at a $3,500 price point, where you’d expect Apple to prioritize usability.

Razer Freya

The Razer Freyja has been wowing us since we first saw it at CES last January. This sound-activated haptic chair promises truly immersive and chilling rumbles, and it delivers, although perhaps a little too well, as it also reacts to the low-pitched rumble of a deep-voiced NPC. While it includes several game-specific haptic features, these effects only activate sporadically in some games, making it feel more like a novelty than a genuine tool to enhance immersion. Another drawback is that it relies on an outlet for the seat cushion, which leaves a cord that is very easy to snag for the chair wheels. Overall, it’s a fascinating device, but it’s still a generation (and a few improvements) away from greatness.

Rabbit R1

Like the rest of the internet, we were enchanted by the adorable square and orange Rabbit R1 when it was announced earlier in the year. The AI-powered companion device promised to do it all. However, once we got our hands on one, the $200 AI assistant struggled with even the most basic tasks. Its image recognition was wrong so often it made me wonder if it even had a camera, and its “all-day” battery barely lasted a few hours. To its credit, the company has been rolling out regular software updates for the R1 since its launch, but there’s still a long way to go.

AirPods 4 with ANC

The AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation (ANC) should have been a hit, but the short battery life and loose fit make it difficult to recommend them over the previous generation AirPods. While adding ANC is a welcome improvement, it struggles to block out louder city sounds like horns and sirens. If ANC is a top priority, the AirPods Pro 2 are a much better option for those committed to the Apple ecosystem. The AirPods 4’s battery life is even more disappointing; It doesn’t last a full work day before needing a recharge.

MSI Claw

The MSI Claw launched at an unfortunate time, entering a market full of impressive portable devices. Its design was reminiscent of the Asus ROG Ally, but its ergonomics were uncomfortable and the side buttons were disappointingly spongy. While the handheld received several updates to improve its performance, it still failed to compete with AMD’s Z1 Extreme-powered handhelds. To make matters worse, the $800 price tag seemed high for what it offered.

VR Explorer Indoor Chair

The $800 Roto VR Explorer chair is a perfect example of a great concept let down by poor execution. It is a virtual reality gaming chair designed to rotate in the direction your head turns. In theory, this sounds immersive and exciting, but in practice, it feels more like a clunky carnival attraction, constantly stopping and starting. The biggest drawback is that the Explorer doesn’t perform well in games that require more dynamic movements than simply turning your head. While there are some interesting experiences with VR Explorer, it ultimately undermines what we love most about virtual reality: freedom of movement.

Ray-Ban Goal

Don’t get me wrong: I really enjoy wearing my Meta Ray-Bans. Not only are they stylish, but they are also perfect for capturing high-quality first-person videos and photos. In addition, they are a convenient way to listen to music or listen to your messages without having to pick up the phone. However, the big problem with the Meta Ray-Bans is the artificial intelligence functions, which are unpredictable. They often provide inaccurate or irrelevant answers to your questions or requests. We joke that smart glasses have a bit of “dad brain” because of the confidence with which they give the wrong answer. Recently, Meta added a live translation feature, which is a nice addition, but it struggles to keep up when the speaker speaks too quickly in another language.