So, naturally, our experts have encountered some quirky finds over time. Ahead of Black Friday, we've picked out some of the weird and wonderful products we've tested in 2023 below, in no particular order.
Quirkier doesn't necessarily mean better and it usually means more expensive, so you'll have to read our full reviews to see if these quirky products are more than just gimmicks.
Get our expert tips for making smarter consumer choices.1. Ear buds disguised as lipstick
Huawei dialled up the creativity when designing these ear buds. As is evident in the name, the FreeBuds Lipstick headphones are supposed to emulate the look of a lipstick tube. Huawei calls them 'beauty made into sound'.
As well as being well-camouflaged in a make-up bag, these wireless headphones are lightweight and designed to be noise-cancelling. You can even buy them in a scented gift box.
rowse and compare top models with our .undefined2. Flavoured air water bottles
It looks like your standard water bottle, but the Air Up uses a clever method to mask plain water as flavoured water. The craze has taken over many schools and gyms since launching in the UK in 2021.
Air Up uses fruity fragrances and other scents to bring extra flavour to your water, such as lemon, chocolate orange, watermelon, peach, cola, and even mojito. You attach an Air Up Pod to the top of your Air Up bottle, and the pod releases a scent as you drink, making you think the water is flavoured when it isn't. Air Up says each pod flavours five litres of water.
Or browse more with our handy guide.3. Air-purifying headphones
Adding some more unconventional headphones into the mix, we reviewed Dyson's Zone Absolute+ air purifying headphones this year.
Much like it says on the (very pricey) tin, these futuristic-looking headphones are designed to bring you 'realistic, detailed audio' and 'advanced noise cancellation'.
You can listen to music, answer calls and activate a voice assistant.
However, their unique feature is an attachable air purifying travel visor which gives you the slightly alarming appearance of a sci fi character as you jump on the bus or catch your train.
The visor, which we found largely comfortable (for ourselves, if not for others), brings clean air directly into your nose and mouth.
The headphones are bulkier than most, with the air purification system stored in the ear cups, and you'll have to install the filters yourself.
For our full evaluation, see our . Or see our favourite picks in our round up of the .4. A bendable television
Thanks to advances in speaker technology, it's now possible to get the kind of immersive sound experience in your living room you used to be able to get only in the cinema.
But a wraparound screen? That's something you don't come across at your local multiplex.
The LG OLED Flex 42LX3Q6LA, released in April 2023, has a screen designed to be curved into 20 positions up to 900R (R being the radius in mm), using a remote control.
The thinking is that the bendy screen would appeal to gamers, drawing them even further into the action and the TV also has all the bells and whistles of a high-end LG model, such as advanced smart features and 4K resolution.
Looking for a new TV this winter sales period? Don't miss our . Or read our expert reviews of .5. A super-smart fridge freezer
We reviewed the Samsung RS6HA8891SL this year - an American-style fridge freezer which is kitted out with a large screen on the front (named the 'Family Hub').
This lets you access a range of high-tech features, depending on the smart products in your home.
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