10 Cool New Gadgets for Summer 2022: Wearables, IoT And More
CRN’s ‘hot gadget summer’ for 2022 includes smart umbrellas, augmented reality sunglasses and ice cream machines.
Smart umbrellas, augmented reality sunglasses and ice cream machines are some of the products out now that have captured our attention for having a “hot gadget summer.”
The Kisha umbrella that pairs with smartphones, Snap Inc.’s Spectacles 3 AR glasses and the Cuisinart Cool Creations frozen treat maker are just some of the items that combine the latest technology with beating the heat and taking summer into the next century.
CRN has scoured the web for smart gadgets, wearables, kitchen gadgets, smart glasses, fitness wearables, Bluetooth-enabled devices and other goodies.
[RELATED: 10 Innovative Smart Home Gadgets To Know About In 2022]
If nothing else, maybe consider some of these items a potential head start on a Father’s Day gift for the gadget-head Dads in your life.
Kitchen Gadgets, Fitness Wearables And More
- Kisha Smart Umbrella
- Weber Genesis Ex-325s Smart Gas Grill
- Phoozy Thermal Capsules
- Form Smart Swim Goggles
- Snap Spectacles 3
- Franklin Sports Bluetooth Cornhole Set
- Nix Biosensor
- Larq Bottle PureVis
- Cuisinart Cool Creations Ice Cream Maker
- Thermacell LIV Smart Mosquito Repellent System
June, July and August are expected to see above-average temperatures throughout the United States, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The western U.S. is also expected to experience below-average precipitation, adding to drought conditions.
Here are some of the coolest gadgets this summer to help you beat the heat.
Patio Gadget: Kisha Smart Umbrella
In case of sun showers, Kisha offers an umbrella that can pair with smartphones and withstand winds up to 85 mph.
The London-based company’s classic model sells for $90 on Kisha’s website. With a canopy diameter of 47.24 inches, it can fit two people underneath.
The umbrella has 16 fiberglass ribs and a free application for iOS and Android. The app helps users find their lost umbrellas on a map, access advanced weather forecasts and receive notifications on the chance of precipitation.
Kisha was founded in 2014, according to Crunchbase.
- Price: $90
- Where: https://www.getkisha.com/products/kisha-umbrella-classic
Cooking Gadget: Weber Genesis Ex-325s Smart Gas Grill
Weber-Stephen Products offers a smart gas grill that can send real-time alerts to your phone around food temperature and even when to flip and serve.
The 69-year-old Palatine, Ill.-based outdoor grill maker’s Genesis Ex-325s comes with three or four burners and can take liquid propane gas or natural gas, according to the company. Users can grill, bake and stir fry on the grill.
The total cooking area measures at more than 785 square inches, with the grill standing at 63 inches by 62 inches by 31 inches with the lid open, according to the company.
Colors include blue, stainless steel and black. The grill sells on the company website for $1,429.
- Price: $1,429
- Where: https://www.weber.com/US/en/grills/gas-grills/genesis/37510001.html
Smartphone Gadget: Phoozy Thermal Capsules
Phoozy offers a variety of protective cases for phones, small laptops and tablets to keep devices from overheating in the sun.
The Charlotte, N.C.-based startup offers cases for devices ranging from Apple XS Max to Samsung Note 10 to Google Pixel 4XL. All Phoozy thermal capsules float in water as well, according to the company.
Its Apollo II cases now come with an integrated Agion antimicrobial lining to keep phones cleaner, according to the company. The Apollo II antimicrobial cases sell on Phoozy’s website for $39.99.
Phoozy was founded in 2016, according to Crunchbase.
- Price: $39.99
- Where: https://phoozy.com/products/apollo-ii-insulated-phone-case-agion-antimicrobial
Fitness Wearable: Form Smart Swim Goggles
For summer-lovers in training to better their swimming, Form offers a pair of smartwatch-compatible smart swim goggles.
The Vancouver, Canada-based startup offers goggles that alert wearers to when they should save and expend energy and how much time is left in the swim.
The goggles come with seven interchangeable nose bridges, magnetic charging cable and mounting clip for heart rate sensor, according to the company. Batteries last for up to 16 hours with a single charge. Goggles can track calories burned, stroke rate, stroke count, distance per stroke and other measures.
The company includes the goggles with a subscription plan for $24 a month or $228 for a year up front. The app has more than 1,000 workouts for pools and open water.
Form was founded in 2016 and has raised about $9 million to date, according to Crunchbase.
- Price: $24 a month
- Where: https://www.formswim.com/products/smart-swim-goggles
Smart Glasses: Snap Spectacles 3
Snap Inc. is probably best known for its Snapchat social media and instant messaging app, but the publicly traded company also offers a pair of augmented reality (AR) glasses whose lenses actually provide ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B protection from the sun.
The Santa Monica, Calif.-based company allows buyers to add prescription lenses in the device, which weigh 56.5 grams and have a temple length of 153 millimeters, according to Snap.
The Spectacles 3 has dual 3D waveguide displays, a 26.3-degree diagonal field of view and shines up to 2000 nits of brightness for indoor and outdoor use.
The company sells the Spectacles 3 on its website for $380. They come in mineral or carbon finishes and include a charging case, charging cable and 3D viewer.
- Price: $380
- Where: https://www.spectacles.com/shop/
Lawn Sports Gadget: Franklin Sports Bluetooth Cornhole Set
Cornhole, or bean bag toss as some call it, is a classic lawn game that’s long needed a tech upgrade.
Cue Franklin Sports, the 76-year-old Stoughton, Mass.-based sporting goods store partnered with NFL, MLB, NHL, Disney and other major brands. Franklin’s Bluetooth cornhole set comes with two rechargeable Bluetooth speakers in the cornhole targets.
The set also includes two 36-by-24-inch cornhole targets with eight 6-inch bean bags, according to the company. The set sells for $199.99 on Franklin’s website.
Franklin also combines Bluetooth speakers with other sports gear, including a croquet set, badminton set and volleyball set.
- Price: $199.99
- Where: https://franklinsports.com/bluetooth-cornhole-set
Health Tech Wearable: Nix Biosensor
Staying hydrated in the summer sun might become easier once Nix starts shipping its biosensor wearable that continuously measures sweat during workouts and sends personalized notifications to phones, watches and bike computers in real time.
The Medford, Mass.-based startup’s device promises to tell users when, what and how much to drink to stay hydrated, according to the company’s website.
A starter pack expected to ship this summer is available on the company’s website for $99. The pack comes with one pod, four patches, a charger case and a USB cord. The reusable biosensor pod clips onto single-use sweat patches. Nix recommends product use with workouts that last 45 minutes or longer.
The Nix app streams fluid and electrolyte loss data and can identify sweat composition and sweat rate for users, according to the company.
Led by CEO Meridith Cass, Nix was founded in 2015 and has raised about $7 million in funding to date, according to Crunchbase.
- Price: $99
- Where: https://preorder.nixbiosensors.com/
Cool Gadget: Larq Bottle PureVis
For hydrating on the go, startup Larq offers a self-cleaning water bottle and purification system.
The Foster City, Calif.-based company promises that its bottles eliminate up to 99 percent of bio-contaminants. The bottle activates every two hours or when the user clicks a button. The bottle uses ultraviolet C technology to purify the bottle.
The double-wall vacuum insulated bottles keep water cold for up to 24 hours. These bottles, at 17 ounces, sell on the company’s website for $99. They come in blue, black, mint and pink.
Led by CEO Justin Wang, Larq was founded in 2017 and has raised more than $10 million to date, according to Crunchbase.
- Price: $99
- Where: https://www.livelarq.com/shop/larq-bottle-purevis
Kitchen Gadget: Cuisinart Cool Creations Ice Cream Maker
If the sun is too strong for a walk to the ice cream store, fans of frozen treats might want to check out Cuisinart’s Cool Creations at-home ice cream maker.
The Stamford, Conn.-based company – owned by Conair Corp. – promises ice cream, gelato, frozen yogurt or sorbet in 20 minutes, according to the website.
The device has an LCD screen control panel with three settings, a countdown timer with auto-shutoff and recipe book. The Cool Creations two-quart ice cream maker is available on Cuisinart’s website for $149.95.
- Price: $149.95
- Where: https://www.cuisinart.com/shopping/appliances/ice_cream/ice-70p1/
Outdoor Gadget: Thermacell LIV Smart Mosquito Repellent System
In March, Thermacell Repellents announced the availability of a smart, on-demand mosquito repellent system just in time for summer.
Bedford, Mass.-based Thermacell promises an app-controlled system with a smart hub that plugs into any outlet. One hub controls up to five repellers that can protect decks, patios, firepit areas and play spaces, according to the company.
App users can set schedules, monitor repellent levels and use voice commands with Amazon and Google smart speakers to control the system.
The three-repeller system sells on the Thermacell website for $699.