The 7 Best Green Gadgets to Buy in 2023

Best Lamp: Dyson Lightcycle Desk Lamp

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Much like the other products on Dyson’s list, the Lightcycle Desk Lamp is an extremely premium take on what might otherwise seem like a mundane category. As a task light, this product is seriously capable, providing more than 1,000 Lux of brightness to avoid eye strain and offering three axes of adjustment to give you virtually any angle or position for the work you’re doing. You’ll also get smart features like an app that helps the light adapt to you based on your age and needs. It will also aim to simulate the quality of natural light, even acting as a sunrise simulation lamp. And then there’s of course the well-known Dyson design, which is both modern and classic at the same time.

This is all fine and good, but what makes it green? The environmental consideration comes in three key points. First, there’s a motion sensor to allow for auto on/off features. This means that you won’t accidentally leave your light on wasting energy. There’s also what Dyson is calling “Heat Pipe Technology,” which keeps the six super-bright LEDs safe for up to 60 years of use (eliminating waste in the number of light bulbs you’ll need down the road). Finally, Dyson has also managed to get the Energy Star certification so you can be sure the light is an efficient use of energy. Of course, the thin, stick-like design isn’t for everyone and this is hardly an affordable lamp. But if the functionality, smart features, and attention to environmental impact are important to you, this lamp is a great bet.

Best Water Bottle: LARQ Insulated Self-Cleaning Stainless Steel Water Bottle

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To a certain extent, all reusable water bottles are technically “green” because they prevent you from dumping more single-use plastic into a landfill. The LARQ takes the all-around water bottle to new levels with a ton of features. First, there’s the BPA- and toxin-free design which means you can be confident that the materials used in the bottle are good for you and the environment. The 24-ounce bottle also features an insulated build, which keeps your water cold for up to 24 hours. This helps the environment because it’ll keep your water refreshing, for longer—no more throwing out lukewarm water or having to use ice cubes.

Then there’s the real trick up LARQ’s sleeve. The cap has a built-in UV light that is activated using a button on the outside. This allows the bottle to safely clean and sanitize its inner surfaces, making it ideal for long days or weekends on the trail. You can even set the bottle to automatically activate the cleaning mechanism every two hours, to ensure that you’ve always got fresh water that doesn’t smell musty. The UV function is also rechargeable via micro-USB and the charging function is resistant to moisture up to a degree of IPX7. However, due to all the components inside the bottle, it is a little heavy and bulky. You can pick up the LARQ in five colors that range from white to mint to black.

Best Charger: Anker 21W 2-Port USB Portable Solar Charger with Foldable Panel

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It wasn’t that long ago that solar panels were new, expensive, and prohibitive tech. Now, many homes are opting to put panels on the roof, and you can even bring them in your backpack with you, as is the case with this 21W Solar Charger from Anker. Anker is a brand known for its battery tech, and it’s nice to see them going for a clean, energy-efficient method of the charger. The high-durability PET plastic and the foldable polyester shell used in the construction make the device totally portable and plenty resilient to being knocked around a bit. The four solar panels provide a total of three amps of charge, provided you have access to direct sunlight, with PowerIQ technology that optimizes where those amps are being sent (depending on what you have plugged in).

This means you won’t need to use wall outlets to charge your phone, thus saving on the less clean, less efficient energy your home uses. While solar panels can sometimes be unsafe for electronics if not checked, Anker has put in some surge protection to ensure your devices are safe. It isn’t the fastest charging device, and you do need pretty strong sunlight for it to work properly, but that’s a small concession to make for clean, solar energy powering your devices.

Best Speaker: Ultimate Ears Hyperboom

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The Ultimate Ears Hyperboom is basically everything you could ask for in a portable, Bluetooth party speaker. UE has made a name for itself in recent years with impressive cylinder-style Bluetooth speakers, but while those are great for quick poolside jams in small gatherings, the Hyperboom aims to bring a party-caliber speaker system to the Bluetooth battery world. What UE is touting as their “loudest and bassiest” speaker yet, is actually just supported by a sizable and complex array of drivers (two main drivers, a tweeter, and some massive oval-shaped subs pointed in all directions) and an adaptive EQ function that tries to read the room or environment you’re in for maximum precision.

The device supports four inputs, with two being via Bluetooth version 5, one through an aux input, and one through an optical input. UE has even managed to build IPX4 water resistance into the device, which is impressive for the size of the speaker… though it isn’t the highest rating you can get, so being cautious with water is important. It all fits nicely into the UE ecosystem, pairing with other speakers as well.

What makes the product green is the new approach that Logitech (UE’s parent company) is taking to manufacturing. Many of the tech company’s top products, including the Hyperboom, are made with recycled plastics moving forward—specifically plastics that get the Post-Consumer Resin designation. Overall, the Hyperboom is a great option for parties, but at 13 pounds with a very boxy shape, the speaker isn’t the most portable—even when you factor in the carrying handle.

Best Batteries: Panasonic Eneloop Rechargeable Batteries and Charger

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This Panasonic Eneloop Battery kit is a great option if you’re looking to get into rechargeable double-A batteries. To a certain degree, all rechargeable batteries are environmentally friendly because it prevents you from buying disposable batteries and contributes more single-use waste to the environment. What makes these batteries interesting is they use Ni-MH technology. This tech is safer than lithium-ion because there’s a much lower risk of combustion, which is in turn safer for the environment as well.

The Eneloop batteries can be charged more than 2100 times and will retain about 70% of their capacity over time (which is better than lower-quality Ni-MH batteries). The batteries will even come pre-charged using solar energy, just to compound even more “green” value to the product. The wall charger allows you to charge four batteries at once and it has an automatic shutoff feature to prevent overcharging the batteries. The price point is also pretty solid for the functionality. The downside is that the batteries aren’t as reliable over time as their lithium-ion counterparts, but the Ni-MH is much better if you want to be environmentally conscious.

Best Watch: Seiko Solar Watch

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By some measures, watches have always been ahead of the curve with mechanical technology. With the Seiko SUP250 and the men’s counterpart the SUP880, you get classic watch technology in an earth-friendly solar package. Because Quartz movement draws power from built-in solar cells, not kinetic movement or batteries, the whole thing is more sustainable, making it easier for you to use and easier on the planet. What’s more is that once the charge is fully topped off, the power lasts you about 12 months, so you won’t need to worry about the solar power failing on you very often.

But it isn’t just a novelty. Any watch aficionado will tell you that a Seiko mechanical watch is the beginner’s mechanical watch that will earn you cred with the six-figure watch lovers of the world. The SUP250 is the classic Tanko example that sports an 18mm gold-tone stainless steel case, a Cabochon crown, and a durable leather strap. It’s also water resistant up to 30m, which wouldn’t put it into a “Diver” category, but is certainly plenty for the average daily wearer. So, while this isn’t the marquis Seiko watch, it’s certainly a great entry point, and you won’t ever need to worry about replacing the battery.