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How we like to celebrate products that have improved our lives 2024not every release lived up to its potential. Some products we were excited about have stumbled due to lackluster performance, questionable design choices, or an inability to live up to the high expectations they set.
A product doesn’t have to crash and burn to be a disappointment. Sometimes, it just fails to live up to the hype. As we say every year, we are not mad at these products, just disappointed.
Sony Bravia Theater U
Neck speakers have always been a niche alternative to traditional headphones. The idea is to wear it around your neck so that those nearby cannot hear what you are listening to. The misfortune of the Sony Bravia Theater U is that it sounds great-under the right, limited conditions. Those conditions require you to stay perfectly still like a statue, which is not aligned with the way most people naturally hang out and watch TV on their couch. At $300, you’re better off buying a pair of noise-cancelling headphones for your roommate, ensuring you can watch TV in peace.
Dell XPS 13 (2024)
The year Dell XPS The line should be a large series of laptops, whether in 13, 14, or 16 inches. The slim but sturdy frame remains impressively quiet even under stress, and many models feature bright, vibrant OLED displays. So what’s the problem? The bright and touch-sensitive function row. While we can learn to live with – or even love – the invisible trackpad, it’s hard to appreciate an ESC key that disappears when the laptop is off. Worse, the touch-sensitive keys can fade in direct light, making locating essential controls like brightness or volume adjustment nearly impossible.
Apple Vision Pro
U Apple Vision Pro is the most technologically advanced VR headset you can buy right now. It features some of the best screens available, making watching movies or experiencing new “space” content feel truly unique. However, the device is uncomfortable to use without third-party straps or headrest, mainly because of its metal and glass front plate. Slipping the power bank in your pocket adds to its drawbacks, especially if you only want to use it for a quick spatial work session. The biggest drawback, however, is the lack of apps that fully utilize its external sensors. While improvements are expected over time, it’s hard to overlook these shortcomings, especially at a price of $3,500, where you’d expect Apple to prioritize usability.
Razer Freyja
We were captivated by the Razer Freyja since we first saw it at CES last January. This sound-activated tactile chair promises truly immersive spine-tingling noises, and it delivers, albeit perhaps too well, as it reacts even to the low rumble of a deep-voiced NPC. Although it includes many game-specific tactile features, these effects are only activated sporadically in certain games, making it feel more like a novelty than a real immersion-enhancing tool. Another disadvantage is its dependence on a socket for the seat cushion, leaving a cable that is too easy for the swivel wheels of your chair to hook. Overall, it’s a fascinating device, but it’s still a generation (and a few refinements) away from greatness.
rabbit R1
Like the rest of the internet, we were mesmerized by the adorable orange and square rabbit R1 when it was announced at the beginning of the year. The AI-powered companion device promises to do it all. However, once we got one, the $200 AI assistant struggled with even the most basic tasks. Its image recognition was wrong so often it made me wonder if it even had a camera, and its “all day” battery barely lasted a few hours. To Rabbit’s credit, the company has been rolling out regular software updates for the R1 since its launch, but there’s still a long way to go.
AirPods 4 with ANC
U AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation (ANC) it should be a slam dunk, but the short battery life and loose fit make it hard to recommend it over the previous generation AirPods. While the addition of ANC is a welcome upgrade, it struggles to block out louder city sounds like horns and sirens. If ANC is a top priority, the AirPods Pro 2 are a much better option for those committed to the Apple ecosystem. The battery life of the AirPods 4 is even more disappointing; it doesn’t fail to last a full working day before needing a refill.
MSI Claw
U MSI Claw launched at an unfortunate time, it enters a market crowded with impressive handhelds. Its design was reminiscent of the Asus ROG Ally, but its ergonomics were awkward, and the shoulder buttons were disappointingly spongy. While the handheld received several updates to improve its performance, it still couldn’t compete with the AMD laptops powered by the Z1 Extreme. To make matters worse, the $800 price tag felt steep for what it offered.
Explorer VR indoor chair
The $800 Explore indoor VR the chair is a perfect example of a great concept left by poor execution. It is a VR gaming chair designed to rotate in the direction the head turns. In theory, this sounds immersive and exciting, but in practice, it feels more like a carnival carnival ride, constantly stopping and starting. The biggest downside is that the Explorer doesn’t work well in games that require more dynamic movement than just turning your head. While there are many interesting experiences with Explorer VR, it ultimately undermines what we love most about VR: freedom of movement.
Meta Ray-Bans
Don’t get me wrong – I really enjoy wearing mine Meta Ray-Bans. Not only are they stylish, but they’re also perfect for capturing high-quality first-person video and photos. Plus, they’re a convenient way to listen to music or listen to your messages without picking up your phone. However, the big problem with the Meta Ray-Bans are the AI features, which are hit-or-miss. They often provide inaccurate or irrelevant answers to your questions or requests. We’ve joked that smart glasses have a bit of a “dad-brain” because of the confidence that it gives the wrong answer. Meta recently added a live translation feature, which is a nice addition, but it struggles to keep up when the speaker is speaking too quickly in another language.
