From pocket AI assistants to humanoid robots, this year's hardware innovations showcase the growing convergence of artificial intelligence, crypto, and consumer tech.
Despite concerns that the AI boom could lead to more toxic waste materials by 2030, more and more products are being introduced. The hardware landscape has transformed dramatically, with companies large and small rushing to bring AI out of the cloud and into consumers' hands.
Meanwhile, crypto hardware continues to cater to its users, with manufacturers learning hard lessons about pricing and practicality.
This year's standout products paint a picture of an industry in transition, where success hinges not just on technological innovation but also the sweet spot between a product's capability and accessibility.
In no particular order, we've rounded up seven devices that captured attention in 2024—and in some cases, redefined their categories entirely.
Rabbit R1
In a year dominated by AI hardware launches, the Rabbit R1 emerged as a standout or even a front-runner. Priced at an accessible $199, this pocket-sized AI assistant has earned praise for delivering where others stumbled.
The device's "Large Action Model" technology allows it to control other apps with impressive speed—most responses come within 1.5 to 2 seconds, according to tech reviewer Lewis Hilsenteger of Unbox Therapy.
Rabbit R1 Reviews Herald ‘Standout’ AI Assistant After Disastrous Humane Pin Launch
The handheld AI assistant Rabbit R1 has landed in the hands of its earliest adopters, and its public reception carries an air of relief from fans of the nascent hardware category. The emerging category of AI-powered personal assistants has few entrants, most prominent among them the much-maligned Humane AI Pin, which was panned for its sluggish performance and lack of real-world utility. In contrast, the R1 seems to have struck a pleasant chord. The Rabbit R1 debuted at CES 2024, and offered a u...
"What the hardware represents is an opportunity to get people excited in a new input method, which is no longer touch-based and no longer app-based," Hilsenteger noted in his video review.
The R1's success shows some contrast to more expensive competitors, suggesting that in the nascent AI hardware market, affordability and practicality could trump premium positioning.
Humane AI Pin
If the Rabbit R1 represents AI hardware's potential, then the Humane AI Pin serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of overpromising and under-delivering. Despite backing from tech industry luminaries and a sleek design, the $699 device—plus a $24 monthly subscription—faced brutal reviews following its launch.
"Should you buy this thing? That one's easy. Nope. Nuh-uh. No way," wrote David Pierce in The Verge's scathing review. Critics pointed to slow performance, limited functionality, and a constant need for internet connectivity.
Humane AI Pin Reviews Pile On a Half-Baked Device
It was in the comparable primordial days of AI hardware when the Humane AI pin was announced, a $700 wearable that was teased on a fashion runway and led a nascent category of device that soon included the $200 Pocket AI and the yet-to-be-released Rewind Pendant. Months later, the review embargo finally expired, and dozens of tech media and influencers went live with their early-adopter thoughts. The overall verdict was grim. “A promising mess” declared a Washington Post headline, while Wired sa...
The pin's reception has become a learning moment for the industry, highlighting the gap between AI's promise and its current practical limitations.
Figure 02 Humanoid Robot
While consumer AI grabbed headlines, Figure AI quietly advanced the state of the art in humanoid robotics with its Figure 02. The robot's enhanced AI system and improved computer vision are powered by six AI-enabled RGB cameras, alongside other advancements in hardware.
The company's partnership with OpenAI brings advanced language and visual processing capabilities to the platform.
Figure AI Debuts New Humanoid Robot to Challenge Tesla
Robotics startup Figure AI has unveiled the brand new Figure 02, the latest iteration of its humanoid robots following the debut of its Figure 01 model in March. The new model features significant upgrades, including enhanced AI systems, improved computer vision with six AI-powered RGB cameras, and a redesigned battery pack. Some changes give the model some advantages over its competitors, like its brand new set of hands. The new iteration has 16 degrees of freedom, which is more than any top-of...
"These robots can eliminate the need for unsafe and undesirable jobs—ultimately allowing us to live happier, more purposeful lives," said Figure AI founder Brett Adcock.
With a $2.6 billion valuation and backing from tech giants like Microsoft and Nvidia, Figure 02 signals that the age of practical humanoid robots might be closer than we think.
Solana Seeker
Following the unexpected success of its Saga smartphone, Solana Mobile is doubling down with the Seeker. Revealed this year and set to release in 2025, the $500 device has already secured 140,000 pre-orders, suggesting a strong market appetite for crypto-native mobile devices.
The Seeker promises significant improvements over its predecessor, including upgraded cameras (108-megapixel and 32-megapixel sensors), enhanced battery life, and what Solana Mobile General Manager Emmett Hollyer calls "a meaningful step up" in processing power.
"Of course, it will be a rewards magnet," Hollyer told Decrypt, referencing the airdrop appeal that helped the Saga sell out in late 2023. “But it also is going to open some one-of-a-kind experience doors that I think will be new to Seeker versus Saga."
BitBoy One Gaming Handheld
Bridging the worlds of retro gaming and crypto, the BitBoy One represents a novel approach to hardware wallets. This $500 device combines gaming capabilities with Bitcoin storage and DePIN mining features, wrapped in a nostalgic, Game Boy-inspired design.
While its processing power limits it to PlayStation-era games and earlier, the device's multi-functionality could appeal to crypto enthusiasts looking for more engagement than traditional hardware wallets offer.
Bitcoin, Sui and Solana Gaming Handhelds: Here's How They Stack Up
Suddenly, crypto gaming handhelds are a thing. Last week, the Bitcoin-centric BitBoy One gaming handheld and hardware wallet was revealed—and that was followed on Wednesday by the announcement of the SuiPlay0x1, a Steam Deck-like portable PC gaming device built for crypto games on Sui and beyond. Add last year’s Solana Saga smartphone to the list—and next year’s “Chapter 2” successor—and you’ve got options if you want a portable device that plays games while also playing nice with crypto. But wh...
We also wrote about other crypto gaming handhelds that made waves this year, and the burgeoning space looks exciting as 2025 approaches. The BitBoy One recently started shipping, and Decrypt is currently testing it out—stay tuned for more coverage in the new year.
Nakamoto Chronograph
Luxury watchmaker Franck Muller's limited edition Nakamoto Chronograph brings high-end horology to the crypto world. We didn't write about this timepiece, but one of Decrypt’s writers had the chance to try it on at Token2049 in Singapore earlier this year.
Limited to just 100 pieces, the carbon fiber timepiece features the manufacturer's signature Vanguard shape and sophisticated Swiss automatic movement. Inside its 45mm case, the Chronograph showcases Muller's signature craftsmanship with its FM 0800 Swiss automatic movement, which provides a 42-hour power reserve. The watch is also water-resistant to 30 meters.
The carbon fiber construction and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal protect the intricate mechanics, while the black alligator leather strap and double-fold clasp provide the elegance required for a true collector's piece.
Who is Satoshi Nakamoto, The Creator of Bitcoin?
Bitcoin arrived in 2008, but its creator to this day is known only by pseudonym: Satoshi Nakamoto. Many have spun up theories about who Satoshi really is—either to solve the mystery or, in some cases, to further an agenda of their own—but no one has offered a definitive answer. Adding to the intrigue, wallets linked to Satoshi, which collectively hold approximately 1.1 million BTC mined in Bitcoin’s earliest days, have remained untouched for years. The last known transaction from these wallets o...
“Satoshi Nakamoto ingeniously intertwined technical, economic, and legal complexities to design Bitcoin,” the watchmaker said, comparing the Bitcoin creator to Muller’s propensity for “timeless” symbols of elegance and innovation.
The watch's tribute to Bitcoin's anonymous creator extends beyond its name, with design elements referencing blockchain technology and crypto culture.
While its price point—valued at a whopping $54,600—places it firmly in the luxury category, the Chronograph represents the growing mainstream acceptance of crypto culture in more traditional domains.
AirMoney Degn
As decentralized physical infrastructure networks or DePINs gained traction this year, some projects were quick to capitalize on the trend: AirMoney's Degn device comes in claiming to be the first hardware wallet specifically designed for this emerging ecosystem.
The device combines traditional wallet security with active network participation features, including built-in node operation capabilities and physical controls for trading. The project positions its device as "purpose-built" for crypto engagement, similar to how a Kindle is explicitly designed for reading.
Its most striking feature is its physical interface: a tactile knob for adjusting trading leverage, and OLED buttons that provide haptic feedback during transactions. The design philosophy prioritizes tangible interaction with digital assets, marking a departure from the purely screen-based interfaces common to most crypto hardware.
This focused approach could set a new standard for crypto hardware, moving beyond simple storage to more active ecosystem participation.
Edited by Sebastian Sinclair and Andrew Hayward