I don't do many full product reviews anymore, but I still buy plenty of tech and home gear. Over time, some of those purchases replace older, worse products that stop working well.
I purchase items based on longevity, not just their initial impression. Some products don't impress at first, but they replace older gear that's broken, inconvenient, or outdated.
In 2025, a few items stood out because they did their jobs better than their replacements. They weren't new releases or category-redefining products, but they earned a permanent spot in my collection.
SwitchBot K11+
Over the years, I've tested and reviewed numerous robot vacuums and moppers. Among them, the latest addition is the SwitchBot K11+, which stands out as a worthy option.
While I haven't encountered a robot mop that effectively cleans the floor, it does have a decent vacuum function. It's approximately 50% smaller than most robot vacuums and can fit under furniture and into tight corners.
LiDAR navigation maps rooms accurately, which enhances cleaning efficiency.
SwitchBot K11+
A 4 L (1.06 gallon) base station empties dust automatically and stores debris for up to 70 days. The mop is a piece of fabric that handles surface-level dust and light sticky spills.
SwitchBot also offers a variant that can be connected to your home's water pipes. Since I live in an apartment, the company sent me the standard version.
The vacuum part is great, but I fear the only robot mopper that I'd be happy with would be some $2,000 industrial unit meant for scrubbing factories or something. Two fewer tasks for me to remember about — not that my floor is filthy, but mopping is annoying.
SwitchBot K11+ Multitasking Household Robot — $239.99.
BioLite Charge 100 Max
BioLite's Charge 100 power bank is bulky and expensive. But I like it because it's the first wireless charging battery that doesn't annoy me.
BioLite Charge 100 Max
Previous power banks I've tried were from companies cramming three chargers in one. You see that in charging base stations too, with a spot each for iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods.
BioLite's 25,000 mAh battery supports a wide range of devices, including Macs, iPads, iPhones, AirPods, and Apple Watch, through a magnetic wireless deck, a 100 W USB-C port, and USB-A outputs.
For me, the portable wireless charging is worth it. There's only one spot for either an iPhone or AirPods that can charge wirelessly. And, being a power bank, you can still use the iPhone while it's being charged.
I also like the fact that there is only one USB-A port. I'm all-in on USB-C, and I think one "A" port is sufficient for legacy devices.
Ninja Combi All-in-One Multicooker
My apartment came with a basic oven that only bakes. It doesn't even have a broiler function. Eventually, I started shopping around and found a combi oven from SharkNinja.
The Ninja Combi has 14 cooking functions and three included accessories. Using the oven, you can sous vide, air fry, bake, slow cook, proof bread, cook rice, pasta, and pizza, broil, saute, steam, and more.
Ninja Combi All-in-One Multicooker
It's also capable of cooking foods straight from frozen, which is great if you have a last-minute brilliant idea for a meal. The Ninja oven fits on a countertop and is perfect for apartment dwellers or anyone who likes multi-function devices.
Ninja Combi All-in-One Multicooker — $179.99.
Aqara Camera G100
Look, sometimes my cat is an asshole and he no longer gets dropped off at Nana and Papa's house when Dad goes camping or concerting. I wanted to try an indoor camera just to keep an eye on him because I can only have one cat in my apartment.
I don't want him to get lonely when I'm gone, and I chose the Aqara Camera G100 specifically for its microphone so I can talk to Ninja when I'm away.
It's a security camera that records sharp 2K video with a wide 140-degree field of view. An IP65 rating allows the camera to handle rain, dust, and temperature changes.
Aqara Camera G100
Local recording is supported via a microSD card with a maximum capacity of 512 GB. While Aqara offers a subscription service, it's not mandatory.
The device supports HomeKit Secure Video, which is part of the iCloud+ subscription. However, it's limited to 1080p recording, which is standard for compatible cameras.
Aqara's camera is small and can neatly fit into a small corner for monitoring your spaces.
Aqara Camera G100 — $34.99 USD.
Pura 4 Diffuser
The Pura 4 smart fragrance diffuser is a great alternative to candles and cheap plug-in air fresheners. First, it has a built-in nightlight that can change colors via the Pura app.
It's nice for medium-sized rooms but there are options for big rooms and vehicles. Pura offers app-controlled schedules for convenience. The diffuser adapts its scent based on room temperature and uses two fragrance vials that can automatically switch.
What that means is it can switch between scents based on a schedule you set, not that it blends both scents together. Because that would be gross.
Pura 4 Diffuser
Pura has a nice, big range of fragrances, with scents like Bamboo, Salt, Moss, and the smell of victory (okay, not that last one). Pura also has a deal where you get the diffuser for free if you subscribe to their fragrances for a certain number of months.
