As a lot as we love celebrating the merchandise that improved our lives in 2024, not each launch lived as much as its potential. Some merchandise we have been enthusiastic about stumbled resulting from lackluster efficiency, questionable design selections, or an lack of ability to satisfy the lofty expectations they set.
A product doesn’t must crash and burn to be a letdown. Typically, merely failing to reside as much as the hype is sufficient. As we are saying yearly, we’re not mad at these merchandise—simply dissatisfied.
Sony Bravia Theater U
Neck audio system have at all times been a distinct segment different to conventional headphones. The concept is to put on them round your neck so these close by can’t hear what you’re listening to. The unlucky factor concerning the Sony Bravia Theater U is that it sounds nice—underneath the best, restricted situations. These situations require you to sit down completely nonetheless like a statue, which doesn’t align with how most individuals naturally hang around and watch TV on their sofa. At $300, you’re higher off shopping for a pair of noise-canceling headphones to your roommate, making certain you possibly can watch TV in peace.
Dell XPS 13 (2024)
The 12 months’s Dell XPS lineup ought to have been a fantastic sequence of laptops, whether or not at 13, 14, or 16 inches. The skinny but sturdy body stays impressively quiet even underneath stress, and a number of other fashions characteristic vivid, vibrant OLED shows. So, what’s the issue? The sunshine-up, touch-sensitive operate row. Whereas we would study to reside with—and even love—the invisible trackpad, it’s exhausting to understand an ESC key that disappears when the laptop computer is off. Worse, the touch-sensitive keys can fade in direct gentle, making finding important controls like brightness or quantity adjustment almost inconceivable.
Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional
The Apple Vision Pro is essentially the most technologically superior VR headset you should purchase proper now. It options a few of the greatest shows out there, making watching motion pictures or experiencing the brand new “spatial” content material really feel actually distinctive. Nevertheless, the system is uncomfortable to make use of with out third-party straps or headrests, primarily resulting from its metallic and glass entrance plate. Slipping the ability financial institution into your pocket provides to its inconvenience, particularly for those who simply wish to use it for a fast spatial work session. The largest downside, nonetheless, is the shortage of apps that totally make the most of its exterior sensors. Whereas enhancements are anticipated over time, it’s exhausting to miss these shortcomings—significantly at a $3,500 value level, the place you’d anticipate Apple to prioritize usability.
Razer Freyja
We’ve been captivated by the Razer Freyja ever since we first noticed it at CES final January. This sound-activated haptic chair guarantees actually immersive spine-tingling rumbles, and it delivers—although maybe too nicely, because it additionally reacts to the low rumble of a deep-voiced NPC. Whereas it consists of a number of game-specific haptic options, these results solely activate sporadically in some video games, making it really feel extra like a novelty than a real software for enhancing immersion. One other downside is its reliance on an influence outlet for the seat cushion, leaving a cable that’s all too simple to your chair’s rolling wheels to snag. Total, it’s an enchanting system, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a era (and some refinements) away from greatness.
Rabbit R1
Like the remainder of the web, we have been charmed by the adorably orange and sq. Rabbit R1 when it was introduced at first of the 12 months. The AI-powered companion system promised to do all of it. Nevertheless, as soon as we bought one, the $200 AI assistant struggled with even essentially the most primary duties. Its picture recognition was improper so usually it made me query if it even had a digicam, and its “all-day” battery barely lasted a number of hours. To Rabbit’s credit score, the corporate has been rolling out common software program updates for the R1 since its launch, however there’s nonetheless an extended solution to go.
AirPods 4 With ANC

The AirPods 4 with lively noise cancellation (ANC) ought to have been a slam dunk, however the brief battery life and unfastened match make it exhausting to suggest them over previous-generation AirPods. Whereas including ANC is a welcome improve, it struggles to dam out louder metropolis appears like horns and sirens. If ANC is a prime precedence, the AirPods Professional 2 are a significantly better possibility for these dedicated to the Apple ecosystem. The AirPods 4’s battery life is much more disappointing; it falls wanting lasting a whole workday earlier than needing a recharge.
MSI Claw
The MSI Claw launched at an unlucky time, coming into a market crowded with spectacular handhelds. Its design was paying homage to the Asus ROG Ally, however its ergonomics have been awkward, and the shoulder buttons have been disappointingly spongy. Whereas the hand held obtained a number of updates to enhance its efficiency, it nonetheless fell wanting competing with AMD handhelds powered by the Z1 Excessive. To make issues worse, the $800 price ticket felt steep for what it supplied.
Roto VR Explorer Chair

The $800 Roto VR Explorer chair is an ideal instance of a fantastic idea let down by poor execution. It’s a VR gaming chair designed to rotate within the path your head turns. In concept, this sounds immersive and thrilling, however in observe, it feels extra like a clunky carnival trip, always stopping and beginning. The largest downside is that the Explorer doesn’t carry out nicely in video games requiring extra dynamic motion than merely turning your head. Whereas there are some attention-grabbing experiences with the VR Explorer, it in the end undermines what we love most about VR: the liberty of motion.
Meta Ray-Bans

Don’t get me improper—I actually get pleasure from sporting my Meta Ray-Bans. Not solely are they fashionable, however they’re additionally good for capturing high-quality first-person movies and images. Plus, they’re a handy solution to take heed to music or hear your messages with out grabbing your telephone. Nevertheless, the large problem with the Meta Ray-Bans is the AI options, that are hit-or-miss. They incessantly present inaccurate or irrelevant solutions to your questions or requests. We joked that good glasses have a little bit of a “dad-brain” due to how confidently they ship the improper reply. Just lately, Meta added a reside translation characteristic, which is a pleasant addition, nevertheless it struggles to maintain up when the speaker talks too shortly in one other language.
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