Editor-DN
There were a lot of great accessories that were released this year and some incredible headphones. Personally, I finally got to try the Sonos S headphones and they were fantastic! I love Sonos because they keep inventing and creating new things.
A few years ago I got my hands on a Google Nest thermostat and now it sits comfortably in my living room. I love it and I love that I can control it from my phone. I seriously feel like I need to upgrade to the latest one because it looks absolutely beautiful as if it’s a piece of art.
But along with these two winners, we had many others, notably the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2, Thinborne, and the Google TV Streamer.
Here’s what Nimra Saud Fatemi, Harish Jonlagada, Tishka Armstrong, and Andrew Merrick had to say about the winners.
Best Phone Case Brand: Thinborne
Nimra Saud Fatemi: Believe it or not, the phone case market is pretty cut-throat. There are literally thousands of brands out there, so it’s really hard to pick a diamond in one form or another. Thinborne consistently wins the title of best phone case brand in 2024 to provide impossibly thin phone covers made from strong aramid fiber.
“Born” out of Texas, every accessory of this all-American brand is lovingly crafted by an incredibly small team dedicated to creating the world’s thinnest phone case. Most thin cases sacrifice durability, but not Thinborn. What’s even more impressive is that the brand’s latest creations come with Mag Safe!
Best wireless headphones: Sonos S
Shaka Armstrong: 2024 had some notable firsts for wireless headphones. Chief among these, and one that many consumers probably didn’t see coming, was Sonos’ first pair of wireless over-ear headphones, the Sonos S. Imagine this: headphones connected to one of the best home theater ecosystems, and they can actually sound more personal and immersive than your home theater setup.
This is just the beginning. With built-in Wi-Fi, the Ace can receive audio from Sonos soundbars with Dolby Atmos support, and is also a very capable pair of Bluetooth headphones, supporting Hi-Res wireless audio codecs. You also get impressive active noise cancellation that rivals industry leaders Sony and Bose. You can also listen to flawless audio files through a wired connection if you choose.
Being the first generation, though, they are not without some growing pains. For example, headphones cannot be connected to all speakers in the Sonos lineup, and their connection is only one way, so music will not transfer from your phone/headphones to your Sonos speakers.
Despite any first-generation flaws, the team here at Android Central thinks the Sonos S are the best wireless headphones of 2024. With the Ace on the market, Sony and Bose’s lack of innovation in this area becomes a glaring mistake. Maybe that will change in 2025.
Best wireless earbuds: Google Pixel Buds Pro 2
Shaka Armstrong: It was a great year for Bluetooth earbuds! Whether it was the artificial intelligence taking center stage, the high-resolution wireless audio support, or the booming bass from the open-ear design, there was something for everyone.
When it comes to wireless earbuds, Google’s Pixel Buds Pro 2 best exemplified “something for everyone.” This iteration of their Buds Pro line was redesigned to fit more people’s ears, which is huge. What is not great is their size. Powered by their in-house Tensor A1 chip, Google managed to redesign them to make them more comfortable, more tech, more battery life, and sound in a smaller package, and that’s part of what makes them so popular. Choose Android Central for the best wireless earbuds. of 2024
A big factor in earning this designation is that the only major feature you lose by not connecting the Pixel Buds Pro 2 to a Pixel phone is native audio with head tracking. This ensures that these buds have something for everyone, no matter who makes your favorite phone.
Here are my three favorite aspects of the Pixel Buds Pro 2:
- Impressive native audio quality, as I listened to Blue Eye Samurai on Netflix which supports native audio for movies.
- From customizing sound quality via EQ to real-time hearing health monitoring, the Pixel Buds app elevates the Pixel Buds Pro 2 experience.
- Native Google Gemini support. It’s in its infancy and definitely has some growing pains as a result, but the Gemini Live integration with the Pixel Buds Pro 2 was interesting, even if a little rough around the edges.
Best Streaming Device: Google TV Streamer
Harish Jonalgada: Most TV streaming boxes aren’t worth the bother, but thankfully, Google TV Streamer is a worthy successor to the mighty Chromecast. The streaming box has an interesting design, plenty of power, and all the codecs you need — it has no problem with HDR videos on YouTube. There is no fiddling when navigating the interface. It runs Google TV and lets you install all your streaming services through the Play Store, and it has no problem streaming high-bitrate content.
In short, it’s a great streaming solution, and you’re getting good value for those things as well.
Runner Up: NVIDIA Shield TV Pro
I still prefer the number two choice, NVIDIA’s Shield TV Pro. It’s been around for five years, but it still has great hardware overall, and gets regular updates. If you need extras like the ability to connect an external drive or stream games through a service like Moonlight, the Shield TV Pro is still my pick. But if you just need a reliable media streaming solution, Google TV Streamer just can’t be beat.
Best Smart Home Device: Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen)
Andrew Merrick: With 2024 over, there’s still a sense that big things are on the horizon for smart home devices. That being said, Google’s release of the Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) was a long time coming. The previous iteration was released back in 2018, and while the 3rd Gen is still a great option, it was definitely time to upgrade.
Google managed to deliver exactly that with the 4th Gen, essentially putting an expanded Pixel Watch into home comfort controls. Along with a larger display and thinner bezels, the Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) also brings meter support to the table, which is becoming increasingly important.
Runner Up: Tipo 2K Indoor Security Camera
Speaking of substance, Tipo is a brand making waves, so much so that its lineup of smart security cameras made our list. Do you need an inexpensive camera to keep an eye on your dog while you’re out and about? The Tapo 2K Indoor Security Camera is only $30. Are you tired of needing to know how to open the door for someone while you do housework? Snag the Tapo Smart Battery Video Doorbell for $80.
Tapo falls under the TP-Link umbrella but continues to grow in popularity for various reasons. Currently, Tapo has 17 different listings on the storefront, which is already impressive, and Tapo offers an amazing smart home security ecosystem on a budget, including this amazing security camera.
