Gadgets are everywhere; they come in just about every guise you can imagine and range from being highly developed for a single purpose to having no use at all. Whether you are a self-proclaimed fan or not, you can’t avoid them.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last few months, you might recognise the first item on our list – a particular item that has captured the attention of millions. Without any particular marketing effort, a simple handheld gadget with no discernible function and no digital interface has rocketed to global notoriety; guess what it is yet?
For Kids and for Adults
Fidget spinners began their rapid ascent of the market in April, 2017. A simple gadget designed to entertain restless fingers, you can simply whirl the spinner for a basic level of entertainment or attempt a more challenging trick. Purported to be therapeutic for sufferers of ADHD and autism, they are used to distract people from anxious thoughts and offer an outlet for nervous energy. Their appeal is so great they dominated Amazon’s best seller list for toys this summer. Such strong sales performance is indicative of more than just a children’s toy fad, with a number of adult versions and offshoots also flooding the market.
Catering to Expensive Tastes
The craze for these spinners is so great that last week it was announced the Russian jewellery brand Caviar were releasing a limited line of luxury versions. Engraved and coated in 100 grams of gold, the brand are hoping to attract the interest of their high-end audience. The price for such an item? Almost £13,000.
The release is part of a tongue-in-cheek move to make this new craze item crossover into the luxury accessory market. The novelty of creating a hugely expensive version of an item which elsewhere fetches just a couple of pounds was clearly too tempting. However this naturally doesn’t compare to Rolex watches, such as these models, which are considered a classic symbol of wealth and the epitome of class and style. So consider this: you could invest in a Rolex Daytona, touted as “the world’s most collectible watch”, for a similar price to Caviar’s spinner.
The Alternative Options
For most of us, investing in something so expensive without added functionality is absurd. Why spend so much on a gadget that is for display purposes only? We are increasingly seeing high-tech items becoming more affordable, accessible, and easily integrated into our daily lives. As a result, they are starting to overtake classic items at the checkout.
The sheer number of smart accessories for all of your personal tech means there is something out there for everyone. While a brand new iPhone will certainly burn a hole in your wallet, there are various other smart items with a broad price range to accommodate even the tightest budget. We came up with this list to set out some of the best and most cutting-edge products around so far this year.
Whether it is the simple physicality of the fidget spinner, or the advanced technology of smart wear, you never know exactly what will grip the public’s interest next. Whether you are looking to invest in something timeless, useful, low-cost or novelty, new gadgets are constantly developing. Just remember, you never know what might become the next big thing.