The best gadgets for 2014 will surprise you. Source: Getty Images

Just ask anyone who fell for the half-baked Samsung Galaxy Gear — or any of the five follow-ups that the company released in rapid succession.

With that in mind, and the holidays at hand, we’ve rounded up the devices that most entertained and impressed us this year, regardless of novelty, controversy, or any of the other qualities that typically drive breathless media coverage.

Several are my own picks, based on my tests of multiple devices in the same category, and some are Slate gadget columnist Seth Stevenson’s. Others, as you’ll see, are the recommendations of Slate staffers who bought these gadgets for themselves, on their own time and with their own money — and were delighted with the results.

Best smartphone: iPhone 6 (from $869)

iPhone 6 is the most elegant, powerful and thoughtfully designed smartphone on the market. Source: Supplied

I can already envision the angry comments from Android partisans. You’ll say I’m an Apple fanboy. That I know nothing about technology. That I’ve been brainwashed by Farhad.

All true. But none of that changes the fact that the iPhone remains the most elegant, powerful, and thoughtfully designed smartphone on the market. I’ve used the top-rated Samsungs, Motorolas, Nokias, LGs, and HTCs. They’re getting better all the time. But so is the iPhone, whose hardware and software still work together more seamlessly than those of its competitors.

To be clear, when I say “the iPhone,” I mean the iPhone 6. The oversized 6 Plus, in contrast, is the first Apple handset in years that I’ve found unwieldy and ultimately unsatisfying. Its capabilities are enormous, but it’s bulky to carry and doesn’t feel good in your hand. (Among “phablets,” I actually prefer the shape and feel of the Galaxy Note.) That sounds like a petty complaint, perhaps, but just think of how much time you spend with your smartphone in your hand. I spent three weeks trying to get used to it, then returned it and temporarily went back to my iPhone 5 — and it felt like an upgrade. Then I got the iPhone 6, and my fears that Apple had lost its way quickly dissipated. Ultra-thin and light, but with a larger display than its predecessors, it’s a worthy heir to a legendary line of devices. — Will Oremus

Best tablet for play: iPad Air 2 (from $619)

iPad Air 2 is lighter, thinner and easier to hold. Source: Supplied

A year ago I would have recommended the iPad Mini 2 over the iPad Air. It was nearly as capable, but lighter and cheaper. This year, however, Apple lavished more attention on the larger of its tablet siblings, and the results showed. The Air 2 is only slightly lighter than its predecessor, but it’s 18 per cent thinner, making it significantly sleeker and easier to hold. It’s the first full-size tablet that I’ve felt comfortable holding in one hand. It’s also noticeably faster, and the display is even sharper and brighter thanks to a hardware tweak that fuses the protective glass, touch sensor, and LCD into a single layer.

The iPad Mini 3, in contrast, is hardly different from the Mini 2, aside from the addition of the fingerprint sensor. In fact, I’d argue the Mini 2 is the better deal, if you’re set on buying a compact tablet — Will Oremus.

Best tablet for work: Microsoft Surface Pro 3 (from $1,000)

Getting stuff done on the Surface Pro 3. (AP Photo/Microsoft, File) Source: AP

In 2013, when Microsoft released a second generation of Surface devices packed with productivity applications, I joked that “poor Microsoft doesn’t understand what tablets are for.” I’ve since changed my mind, thanks in part to the substantial improvements that Microsoft poured into this year’s Surface Pro 3. Microsoft knows exactly what its tablets are for: getting stuff done. And they’re increasingly capable in that regard. It’s Apple that’s stuck with the approach of “just build something pretty and people will buy it, whether they need it or not.” (Hint: You probably don’t.)

The Surface Pro 3 is not pretty, and it’s still not particularly fun. Anyone looking for delightful or innovative apps in the Windows Store will be sorely disappointed. But it is an impressive and surprisingly potent piece of hardware, highlighted by the ingenious Type Cover keyboard, which remains by far the best-designed tablet keyboard I’ve seen. That keyboard, and the seamless way that it integrates with the device, is one major part of what makes the Surface Pro 3 the best choice if you’re bent on replacing your work laptop with a tablet. The other is the software: Windows, clunky as it is, remains the default in many workplaces across the country. And for all its shortcomings, it lends itself better to spreadsheets and PowerPoints than mobile-native systems like Android and iOS.

One gripe: Microsoft’s refusal to throw in the full Office suite feels like a slap in the face when you’re paying upward of $1,000 for a tablet. Perhaps the company will relent and include it with next year’s version, but I wouldn’t bet on it. — Will Oremus

Best tablet for kids: Amazon Fire HD Kids’ Edition (from $180)

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos introduced the new Kindle tablet products. EPA/MICHAEL NELSON Source: Supplied

Those who carp that tablets lack a practical purpose, I’ve noticed, tend to be childless. (I’ve been guilty of this.) Those who have children and aren’t above giving them some screen time, meanwhile, find their tablets indispensable. The only problem: As pacifiers go, $600 iPads are pretty pricey.

Amazon has heard all the complaints. Or rather, it has read them: Company executives have told me they routinely scour Amazon reviews of their tech rivals’ products to guide their own design process. Its solution is the most thoughtful I’ve seen yet. The Fire HD Kids’ Edition is essentially a standard Fire HD 6 or HD 7 tablet wrapped in a thick, brightly coloured protective case that bounces when it’s dropped. (Notice I said “when,” not “if.”) It also comes with strict parental controls built in, plus a year’s subscription to FreeTime Unlimited, Amazon’s library of on-demand children’s content. The best part: a two-year, “no-questions-asked” warrantee. If your Kids’ Edition breaks or stops working, regardless of whose fault it is, just send it in and Amazon will replace it, gratis.

Unfortunately, Amazon has some work to do on both FreeTime Unlimited, which is poorly organised and difficult to navigate, and on the tablet itself, which can be frustratingly slow and suffers from short battery life and a puny 8GB of storage. That’s unfortunate, but the low price tag — which you can effectively cut in half if you end up needing a replacement at any point — takes some of the sting out of these complaints. Buy one now, wait two years for Amazon to improve it, and then buy another one — and you’ll still have paid less than half the price of a single iPad Air 2. — Will Oremus

Best e-reader: Kindle Voyage ($220)

The best reading experience you’ll get. Picture: bifishadow Source: Flickr

Devices with greyscale screens that do little more than display text aren’t as exciting in 2014 as they were in 2007, of course. But Amazon has managed to keep the Kindle line relatively fresh with incremental improvements that hold value for bibliophiles, if not Michael Bay fans. At $220 and up, the new Kindle Voyage is pricier than you’d expect for an e-reader, but offers about the best reading experience you can get anywhere (outside of, you know, an actual book). Ultra-thin, with a razor-sharp display and an adaptive front light that automatically adjusts the brightness to match that of the room, it’s really a niche device aimed at Kindle addicts with money to spare. — Will Oremus (adapted from his September 17 Slate review of Amazon’s new tablet and e-reader line-up)

Best laptop: 13-inch MacBook Air (from $1199)

The finest piece of consumer technology there is. Source: Getty Images

The 13-inch MacBook Air is the finest piece of consumer technology I own. If the iPhone 6 Plus is the worst kind of ’tweener — too large for a phone, too small for tablet — the MacBook Air is the very best. It’s powerful enough to replace your desktop computer and light enough that you’ll find little use for an iPad. The 2014 version is not radically different from its recent predecessors, and if you want to wait and hope for a “retina display” version next year, I won’t blame you. But one thing did change this year: the price. Now that it’s just over $1,000, there’s very little reason to buy any other laptop for personal use. The exceptions are if you require a touchscreen, in which case you might want to try a Lenovo Yoga, or routinely use your laptop for heavy work like video editing or data-crunching, in which case you should consider a MacBook Pro. — Will Oremus

Best streaming device: Amazon Fire TV Stick ($47 available USA only)

This is a somewhat contrarian recommendation, because the consensus in the tech world is that Google’s Chromecast was the real game-changer in this category. It’s true that the Chromecast is the most versatile streaming dongle: Anything you can watch on your computer or tablet, you can sling to your TV via Chromecast, with no wires and minimal hassle.

Aside from the addition of a power cord, the Fire TV Stick looks a lot like the Chromecast — no accident, I’m sure, as it was clearly inspired by Google’s hit device. But it actually replicates the experience of a full set-top box, like the Fire TV or Roku 3. This approach has its limitations: You can’t use free Hulu with it, for instance — only Hulu Plus. But it also has great virtues, particularly if you’re an Amazon Prime subscriber. It does not require the use of a computer or mobile device, just a remote control. As a result, you feel more like you’re actually sitting back and watching TV. You can also use it for gaming — Flappy Birds Family is surprisingly fun on a big screen. If you don’t already have Prime, a Roku or Chromecast might make more sense. But if you do, the Fire TV stick at $47 is almost a no-brainer. — Will Oremus

Affordable, sturdy and sleek. Picture: Craighton Miller. Source: Flickr

Honourable mention: Roku 3 ($100)

This year was the first in which I could no longer mooch off a roommate’s PS3 for streaming Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu, and the Roku has filled that role with aplomb. It’s incredibly affordable (around $100) and has an incredible form (it’s very small, but sturdy and sleek). The interface is a cinch to navigate, and there are lots of tiny but really useful features (universal search, headphones that plug into the remote). If you need something that can also play files stored on USB — unlike Chromecast and the Amazon Fire stick — this is a great choice. — Sharan Shetty, Brow Beat writer

Best fitness tracker: Fitbit Flex ($120)

I have qualified love for the Fitbit Flex. It’s easy to set up and easy to use. The device display is simple, but the user interface for the Fitbit app is beautiful. Run/walk tracking integrates with iTunes, so if you start a playlist during one tracked activity, it will remember it as last played for the next time. Why is my love qualified? Because the most recent iOS update to the app is super buggy, with lots of crashes during food-tracking entry. — Heidi Strom Moon, product manager

Slips easily onto your wrist. Picture: charlywkarl. Source: Flickr

Best external iPhone battery: Mophie Juice Pack Plus ($130)

Battery, phone protector and comes in a range of colours. Picture: ljguitar. Source: Flickr

I got my Mophie Juice Pack Plus and immediately regretted not getting it for a friend’s birthday the week before. It effectively doubles your phone’s battery life, but it feels like a phone protector, not a battery. It slips on and off relatively easily, so there’s no difficulty sharing it with other phones of the same version, like my daughter’s when Temple Run is about to go offline. (Mophie has not yet released a case for the iPhone 6 or 6 Plus, nor for any Android phone models.) It carries a day’s worth of charge, the indicator on the back is intuitively obvious, and it comes in delightful colours — mine’s grass green. Love, love, love it. — Vivian Selbo, design director

Best headphones: Sennheiser Momentum ($280)

Sennheiser Momentum headphones are a great Christmas present. Source: Supplied

I’ve owned Beats, I’ve owned (multiple pairs of) Boses, and these Sennheisers are far and away the best pair I’ve ever had. Best sound, best fit, most comfortable, most durable (knock on wood). If my apartment were burning down, they’d be one of the first things I grabbed. — A.J. McCarthy, Slate Video blogger

Best wireless Bluetooth speaker: Jawbone Mini Jambox ($230)

Light, portable and solid sound quality. Source: Supplied

The Mini Jambox is, as one might gather from the name, pretty small. It’s also light and thus portable. It can be linked up with other Jamboxes to amplify sound further. (Make sure you have a good relationship with your neighbours before you try this.) The sound quality is very solid. The price is palatable. And it comes in a variety of hues. Don’t be boring — get an accent colour. — Ava Lubell, Slate assistant

Best LCD writing tablet: Boogie Board ($70)

The perfect way to make lists. Picture: 261066 Source: Flickr

Need something to keep next to your phone, bring on a grocery trip, or just doodle away randomly on? The Boogie Board is way less messy than Post-it notes, and more fun. It’s also just about as easy to use, with a built-in battery that never needs to be recharged. — Matt Heinsimer, national sales manager

Best coffee maker: AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker ($35)

The AeroPress makes coffee faster, better, and with easier clean-up than any coffeemaker or French press I’ve ever owned. It’s newfangled: It was invented only a decade ago by inventor, engineer, and sometime Stanford lecturer Alan Adler, and was soon unveiled by his company Aerobie (yes, the same people who make those flying discs, which Adler also invented). The science aside, the coffee is delicious: It’s less bitter and acidic than what I get using other methods, and it’s not as muddy as from a French press. I like it so much, in fact, that I now pack this simple, portable, $35 device in my suitcase for trips because I never again want to get stuck feeling like this guy. — Forrest Wickman, staff writer

You can even take it with you on holidays. Picture: Ldiggity. Source: Flickr

Best toilet seat: Toto Washlet S350e ($2000)

You may have heard about these Japanese toilet seats. They boast remote controls, heated seats, and bidet functions. Some models play whooshing white noise in an effort to obscure other, zestier sounds. Toto, the leading brand, introduced its Washlet in 1982, and it’s been estimated that more than 70 per cent of Japanese homes now feature a toilet seat with enhanced capabilities.

I will spare you effusive descriptions of my own experience with the Washlet. But it’s become difficult for me to remember a life without it. And having one at my house has made me wish that the rest rooms I encounter elsewhere were all similarly equipped. — Seth Stevenson (adapted from his April 6 Slate review of the Toto Washlet)

Japanese toilets have long and famously dominated the world of bathroom hygiene with their array of functions, from posterior shower jets to perfume bursts and noise-masking audio effects for the easily-embarrassed. AFP PHOTO/Kazuhiro NOGI Source: News Limited

You can read the full list of best gadgets on Slate.

This article was originally appeared on Slate and was reproduced with permission.