The 25 Best Gadgets of 2012

15. Microsoft Surface

As we implied in our Best Tablets (and e-Readers) roundup, Microsoft did the unthinkable and bridged the gap between the tablet and laptop with the Surface. The “convertible” dons a sleek and sturdy design accompanied by a dope kickstand. But on the specs side of things, we’re looking at a 10.6-inch display, impressive battery life, and lag-free performance from NVIDIA’s T30 chip. And the most questionable facet of the device, its touchcover keyboard, manifested itself into the sick peripheral we expected.

14. Logitech Harmony Touch

Logitech’s high-tech remote is not your traditional channel flipper. The touchscreen, rechargeable device features over 50 customizable channel icons, making it easily accessible to swap between your favorite programs. It can also be paired with some of the company’s previous remotes. How’s that for harmony?

13. Nexus 4

Say what you want about Google’s flagship phone not carrying LTE support and its overexposed glass veneer. Truth be told, the Nexus 4 remains the most refined Android experience on a smartphone at the moment. Jelly Bean right out the box played to its advantage, which brought responsive execution and great system performance. There was no denying its marveling 4.7-inch True HD IPS+ and awesome camera features as well. LG stepped up their mobile game.

12. Sony Cyber-Shot RX100

Big things are known to come in small packages. In the case of Sony’s latest shooter, consider the aphorism an understatement. This pocketsize point-and-shoot packs a superb 20MP, 3.6x zoom lens with an aperture range between f/1.8 and f/4.8 that produces shots closely rivaled to any top-notch DSLR out. Other notable features include a flexible flash, customizable controls, and manual and autofocus options. Click!

11. iPhone 5

Call us sacrilegious for going against the grain and placing Apple’s smartphone just short of the Top 10. But even with its impeccable ecosystem, updated design, and (finally) LTE service, the iPhone 5 wasn’t the game-changer we anticipated. However, that’s not to say it wasn’t an amazing mobile. A 4-inch Retina Display that dished 1136 x 640 resolution, along with a powerful A6 processor and improved iSight camera speak in unison for the Apple faithful.