From pocket AI assistants to humanoid robots, this 12 months's {hardware} improvements showcase the rising convergence of synthetic intelligence, crypto, and shopper tech.
Regardless of considerations that the AI increase might result in extra poisonous waste supplies by 2030, an increasing number of merchandise are being launched. The {hardware} panorama has remodeled dramatically, with corporations giant and small dashing to carry AI out of the cloud and into customers' fingers.
In the meantime, crypto {hardware} continues to cater to its customers, with producers studying arduous classes about pricing and practicality.
This 12 months's standout merchandise paint an image of an business in transition, the place success hinges not simply on technological innovation but in addition the candy spot between a product's functionality and accessibility.
In no specific order, we've rounded up seven gadgets that captured consideration in 2024—and in some instances, redefined their classes completely.
Rabbit R1
In a 12 months dominated by AI {hardware} launches, the Rabbit R1 emerged as a standout or perhaps a front-runner. Priced at an accessible $199, this pocket-sized AI assistant has earned reward for delivering the place others stumbled.
The system's "Large Action Model" know-how permits it to regulate different apps with spectacular pace—most responses come inside 1.5 to 2 seconds, in response to tech reviewer Lewis Hilsenteger of Unbox Remedy.
"What the hardware represents is an opportunity to get people excited in a new input method, which is no longer touch-based and no longer app-based," Hilsenteger famous in his video assessment.
The R1's success reveals some distinction to dearer opponents, suggesting that within the nascent AI {hardware} market, affordability and practicality might trump premium positioning.
Humane AI Pin
If the Rabbit R1 represents AI {hardware}'s potential, then the Humane AI Pin serves as a cautionary story concerning the perils of overpromising and under-delivering. Regardless of backing from tech business luminaries and a glossy design, the $699 system—plus a $24 month-to-month subscription—confronted brutal critiques following its launch.
"Should you buy this thing? That one's easy. Nope. Nuh-uh. No way," wrote David Pierce in The Verge's scathing assessment. Critics pointed to gradual efficiency, restricted performance, and a continuing want for web connectivity.
The pin's reception has turn into a studying second for the business, highlighting the hole between AI's promise and its present sensible limitations.
Determine 02 Humanoid Robotic
Whereas shopper AI grabbed headlines, Determine AI quietly superior the cutting-edge in humanoid robotics with its Determine 02. The robotic's enhanced AI system and improved laptop imaginative and prescient are powered by six AI-enabled RGB cameras, alongside different developments in {hardware}.
The corporate's partnership with OpenAI brings superior language and visible processing capabilities to the platform.
"These robots can eliminate the need for unsafe and undesirable jobs—ultimately allowing us to live happier, more purposeful lives," mentioned Determine AI founder Brett Adcock.
With a $2.6 billion valuation and backing from tech giants like Microsoft and Nvidia, Determine 02 alerts that the age of sensible humanoid robots may be nearer than we expect.
Solana Seeker
Following the sudden success of its Saga smartphone, Solana Cell is doubling down with the Seeker. Revealed this 12 months and set to launch in 2025, the $500 system has already secured 140,000 pre-orders, suggesting a powerful market urge for food for crypto-native cellular gadgets.
The Seeker guarantees vital enhancements over its predecessor, together with upgraded cameras (108-megapixel and 32-megapixel sensors), enhanced battery life, and what Solana Cell Normal Supervisor Emmett Hollyer calls "a meaningful step up" in processing energy.
"Of course, it will be a rewards magnet," Hollyer informed Decrypt, referencing the airdrop enchantment that helped the Saga promote out in late 2023. “Nevertheless it additionally goes to open some one-of-a-kind expertise doorways that I believe might be new to Seeker versus Saga."
BitBoy One Gaming Handheld
Bridging the worlds of retro gaming and crypto, the BitBoy One represents a novel approach to hardware wallets. This $500 device combines gaming capabilities with Bitcoin storage and DePIN mining features, wrapped in a nostalgic, Game Boy-inspired design.
While its processing power limits it to PlayStation-era games and earlier, the device's multi-functionality could appeal to crypto enthusiasts looking for more engagement than traditional hardware wallets offer.
We also wrote about other crypto gaming handhelds that made waves this year, and the burgeoning space looks exciting as 2025 approaches. The BitBoy One recently started shipping, and Decrypt is currently testing it out—stay tuned for more coverage in the new year.
Nakamoto Chronograph
Luxury watchmaker Franck Muller's limited edition Nakamoto Chronograph brings high-end horology to the crypto world. We didn't write about this timepiece, but one of Decrypt’s writers had the chance to try it on at Token2049 in Singapore earlier this year.
Limited to just 100 pieces, the carbon fiber timepiece features the manufacturer's signature Vanguard shape and sophisticated Swiss automatic movement. Inside its 45mm case, the Chronograph showcases Muller's signature craftsmanship with its FM 0800 Swiss automatic movement, which provides a 42-hour power reserve. The watch is also water-resistant to 30 meters.
The carbon fiber construction and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal protect the intricate mechanics, while the black alligator leather strap and double-fold clasp provide the elegance required for a true collector's piece.
“Satoshi Nakamoto ingeniously intertwined technical, economic, and legal complexities to design Bitcoin,” the watchmaker said, comparing the Bitcoin creator to Muller’s propensity for “timeless” symbols of elegance and innovation.
The watch's tribute to Bitcoin's anonymous creator extends beyond its name, with design elements referencing blockchain technology and crypto culture.
While its price point—valued at a whopping $54,600—places it firmly in the luxury category, the Chronograph represents the growing mainstream acceptance of crypto culture in more traditional domains.
AirMoney Degn
As decentralized physical infrastructure networks or DePINs gained traction this year, some projects were quick to capitalize on the trend: AirMoney's Degn device comes in claiming to be the first hardware wallet specifically designed for this emerging ecosystem.
The device combines traditional wallet security with active network participation features, including built-in node operation capabilities and physical controls for trading. The project positions its device as "purpose-built" for crypto engagement, just like how a Kindle is explicitly designed for studying.
Its most hanging function is its bodily interface: a tactile knob for adjusting buying and selling leverage, and OLED buttons that present haptic suggestions throughout transactions. The design philosophy prioritizes tangible interplay with digital property, marking a departure from the purely screen-based interfaces frequent to most crypto {hardware}.
This centered method might set a brand new commonplace for crypto {hardware}, shifting past easy storage to extra lively ecosystem participation.
Edited by Sebastian Sinclair and Andrew Hayward