I have spent the last several weeks acquiring another collection of interesting gadgets found on Amazon, ranging from mobile gaming peripherals to off-grid communication tools. My evaluation included items I purchased personally as well as units provided by manufacturers for review purposes.
You can check out the haul video here!
Note that some of these products I purchased with my own funds, and others were provided free of charge by their manufacturers. However this was not a sponsored review and none of the manufacturers of these products reviewed or approved the video prior to uploading. All links to products below are compensated affiliate links. You can see a link to all of the reviewed items on Amazon here.
I began by testing the 8bitdo FlipPad, a compact controller that connects to smartphones via USB-C and sits over the lower portion of the screen in portrait orientation. It is compatible with both Android and iOS devices and was immediately recognized by the RetroArch emulator during my testing. Retroarch places the game play screen high enough in portrait mode to not be covered by the controller, but some emulators may be problematic if they don’t have display adjustments.
The buttons offer a tactile, clicky response, though the placement of the shoulder buttons requires some adjustment to muscle memory as they are on the face of the controller. One notable design feature is its ability to flip away from the screen, allowing access to the phone’s touch interface without disconnecting the hardware. While it fits comfortably on phones with thin cases, those using thicker protective covers may encounter connectivity issues. 8bitdo provided the controller free of charge.
In a more domestic category, I looked at a self-contained rechargeable light bulb designed for lamps located away from power outlets. This bulb attaches magnetically to a lamp base and operates on an internal battery (charged via its USB-C port) rather than drawing power from a cord. It includes a remote control for adjusting brightness and color temperature, providing roughly six to nine hours of use per charge. However, because it is not integrated into the lamp’s electrical system, it must be turned off manually or via remote, as the physical lamp switch has no effect on its operation. I paid for the bulbs with my own funds.
For those looking to expand the utility of their mobile devices, the Elecrow Lapdock functions as a 14 or 15-inch docking station that mimics the form factor of a laptop. When connected to any HDMI device or a smartphone with desktop mode capabilities, such as a Google Pixel or Samsung device, it provides a 1080p display, keyboard, and trackpad. While the keyboard and trackpad feel somewhat spongy, the unit includes an internal 5,000 mAh battery to power the connected device. It also features a bridge board system for single-board computers like the Raspberry Pi 5, effectively turning a bare circuit board into a portable workstation. Elecrow provided the Lapdock free of charge to the channel.
I also evaluated the ESR Magnetic Shift Case for the iPad that I picked up for my daughter’s iPad A16. This case uses a magnetic mounting system that allows the tablet to be positioned at various heights and angles. It notably supports a portrait orientation, which is a departure from many standard landscape-only cases. The design includes a storage slot for an Apple Pencil and provides a modular back protector that can be detached from the main stand while remaining protected. I paid for the case with my own funds.
In the peripheral space, the Lenovo 800 wireless keyboard stands out for its lack of a traditional battery. It utilizes a supercapacitor charged by a photovoltaic panel at the top of the unit that is sensitive enough to be charged just with overhead lighting in a home or office. According to the specifications, it can run for a month in total darkness on a full charge. While the typing experience is softer and spongier than a mechanical keyboard, the device is waterproof and supports switching between three different Bluetooth connections. I paid for the keyboard with my own funds.
For the radio nerds like me, I tested the Seeed Studio SenseCAP Solar Node P1 Pro, a device designed for the Meshtastic and Meshcore off-grid communication networks. This weather-sealed solar powered unit acts as a repeater for license-free radio signals, allowing users to send messages without relying on traditional cellular infrastructure. After 18 days of exposure to high temperatures and rain out in my garden, this solar-powered node maintained a full battery charge and successfully processed over 100,000 data packets being transmitted around my area. For those that don’t want to build a node of their own, this is a nice out of the box solution that also includes mounting hardware. I paid for the node with my own funds.
On the simpler side of the spectrum, Retro Fighters released a storage case for Nintendo Switch games modeled after a VHS tape, specifically themed for the 35th anniversary of the film Terminator 2. The replica VHS tape opens up to hold 12 games and four microSD cards. It has a magnet to keep it from flopping open. This is similar to the blockbuster themed case I reviewed previously. Retrofighters provided the case free of charge.
Additionally, Retrofighters just released a “dock for a dock” for the Nintendo Switch 2 called the Battledock. This base fits over the standard Switch 2 dock and adds four wired GameCube controller ports for players who prefer using retro controllers with a wired, low-latency connection for games like Super Smash Bros. The dock includes a black, silver, atomic purple and orange interchangeable front plates and for some aesthetic customization. Retrofighters also provided the dock free of charge.
Sabrent sent over their utilitarian Voltik 252w charger to the channel free of charge, which manages its power budget by splitting 125 watts to each side; with a single device able to pull up to 100 watts, while multiple devices share the available capacity. The construction is dense and sturdy, though the included power cable is relatively short. If you have two high powered devices, this is a good solution. It’s big and heavy with rubber feet that keep it securely grounded to a desktop. Sabrent also includes wall mounting hardware in the box.
Finally, I tested an Orei video capture device capable of recording 4K video at 60 frames per second. Unlike many budget USB capture cards that downscale output to 30 frames per second, this unit maintained the full 4k60 frame rate in my tests with OBS software. It includes a loop-out port for lag-free gaming on a secondary display and supports higher refresh rates at lower resolutions. While it is a USB 3.0 5 gigabit per second device, the image quality remains sufficient for standard streaming and recording needs. Orei sent this to the channel free of charge.
These videos are always a fun exercise and tend to get many more views than doing individual reviews of each. I’m always on the lookout for more stuff like this for future hauls so do let me know what I should get next!
