Must-have gadgets

Best streaming projector
The 3M Streaming Projector packs the full power of a Roku box in a pico projector, making for an undeniably cool gadget, even with its limited battery life.

Best e-ink reader
With an excellent built-in light and Amazon's best-in-class e-book selection, the Kindle Paperwhite rises to the top of the e-reader pack.

Best tablet overall
With a host of improvements--faster graphics, 4G wireless options, a better camera, and a gorgeous high-res screen--the latest iPad cements its position at the head of the tablet pack.

Best iPhone ever
The iPhone 5 completely rebuilds the iPhone on a framework of new features and design, addressing its major previous shortcomings. It's absolutely the best iPhone to date, and it easily secures its place in the top tier of the smartphone universe.

Best ultrabook/best laptop
This year's MacBook Air opts for gradual improvements rather than anything revolutionary, but lowered prices continue to make it the go-to mainstream recommendation for any MacBook owner-to-be.

Best tabletop PC
It's the best of the small handful of current tablet/all-in-one hybrids, with a subtle, sophisticated design and good battery life, but this new genre is still in its early days.

Best tablet under $200
With a beautiful screen, fast performance, a comfortable design, and overall great media options, the Nexus 7 is easily the best 7-inch tablet available and one of the top tablets on the market.

Best design in a smartphone
A few quibbles notwithstanding, the powerhouse HTC One is a beautifully crafted, near-ideal smartphone.

Best wireless speaker under $100
The JBL Flip's decent performance and attractive design make it a worthy Bluetooth speaker contender at $100.

Best universal remote for under $70
Sick of all those remotes on your coffee table? The PC- and Mac-programmable Harmony 650 will replace five of them, and bring sanity to your living room.

Best ultracheap headphones
For under $10, you'll be hard-pressed to find in-ear headphones that sound better and are more comfortable than the Panasonic ErgoFit RP-HJE120s.

Best 2013 TV (so far)
The midlevel price and outstanding quality of the Panasonic TC-PST60 series make it our strongest TV recommendation ever.

Best media streaming box
The Roku 3 is the best streaming-video box yet, with tons of content sources, lightning-fast performance, and an innovative remote with built-in headphone jack.

Best overall Android phone you can buy
Its laundry list of features require time and effort to truly master, but the Galaxy S4 is the top choice for anyone looking for a big-screen, do-everything smartphone.

Best wireless audio system
The Sonos Play:3 can stream nearly every online radio station and music service--Spotify, Rhapsody, Slacker, Mog, Pandora, and the like--as well as your PC-based music collection. And it's all controlled by a free remote app on your tablet or smartphone.

Best consumer compact camera
The feature-rich Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V has a great mix of speed and photo quality. It replaces 2011's DSC-HX9V as our go-to pick for best compact camera.

Best budget sound bar
The Sony HT-CT260 is our go-to budget sound bar pick, with excellent sound quality, built-in Bluetooth, an adaptable design, and no major missteps.

Best sub-$800 laptop
While it's not going to dazzle anyone, the Toshiba Satellite U845T is a great example of exactly how much laptop $799 should buy in 2013.