101 best gadgets to get yourself in 2023

Health, etc

The ‘etc’ stands for hair/face/teeth stuff, to make sure you look every bit as fabulous as your smart scale says you feel

Withings Body Scan

We’re not supposed to call the Body Scan a smart scale – it’s a ‘connected health station’ that goes well beyond telling you how obese you are. That’s because its pull-up handlebar has extra sensors to scan your arms, legs and torso for a fuller picture of your body composition and overall fitness.

The 3.2in colour LCD display shows specific data about your mass and body composition, and it can also display trends to show your progress over time. For more in-depth tracking of your stats, a three-month subscription to Withings’ Health+ app for iOS or Android is included; after that it costs £9.95/m.

There are even six electrodes in there for doing proper ECGs, although this feature is awaiting medical approval; in the meantime it can pass a low-level electric current through your body to identify how much of you is water, muscle and fat.

Got a whole family of tech-savvy health watchers? No need to argue: the Body Scan will automatically recognise and track up to eight different users. The only thing it can’t do is stop you eating pies – that bit’s up to you.

No7 Radiant Results Revitalising Sonic Action Cleansing Brush

If you can overlook the stupidly long name, this is an effective sonic facial cleanser that promises to clean your skin three times more effectively than doing it manually. It’s not recommended for anyone with very dry or sensitive skin, mind.

Braun Series 7

With a 360° flexing head and the ability to automatically adjust its cutting power according to hair density, the Braun Series 7 delivers a very close shave and can make quick work of even several days of grizzlage. As you move up the range you get extra features such as dedicated beard trimmers thrown in.

Withings BPM

This blood pressure monitor comes in two versions: the BPM Connect, which delivers immediate results on its display and on your phone; and the BPM Core, which costs £100 more and adds an accurate ECG reader and a digital stethoscope.

GHD Platinum+ Hair Straightener

This straightener monitors its heat 250 times per second to ensure the optimal operating temperature of 185°C is exactly what you get. It’s also great for curls, flicks or waves, and it adjusts its settings based on your hair thickness.

Zuvi Halo

Crivens, they’ve reinvented the hairdryer! The Halo uses IR light rather than hot air to do its work – and according to Zuvi that makes your hair up to 38% shinier and 17% smoother, while it retains colour 57% longer. Zuvi says it’s kinder on your scalp, plus faster and quieter, and uses less energy too.

TheraFace Pro

This gadget is based on the same percussive massage tech as Therabody’s muscle-mashers. But don’t attack your sore thighs with this one: it claims to cleanse, relax and even improve the appearance of your skin via light therapy and gentle muscle stimulation.

Oral-B iO Series 10

Oral-B’s most advanced electric toothbrush doesn’t just clean. Its smart charger has lights and a display to give you live advice on what to brush, how to brush it and when to stop. It uses micro-vibrations to clean more thoroughly and its pressure sensor helps ensure you don’t damage your gums.

Braun Silk-Epil 9

Like a pencil with an integrated rubber, only even more desirable, this is a 2-in-1 device: it’s a shaver, but swap the head and it’s now a very effective epilator. Both modes are safe for the shower – which is good, as hot water can make epilating less uncomfortable.

Shark FlexStyle

This rival to the Dyson Airwrap has been picking up lots of glowing reviews. It’s a hairdryer with attachments for curling, concentrating, diffusing and more, and it converts into a styling wand in seconds. It’s powerful, but small enough to take travelling.