9 Handy Smart Tools & Gadgets That Can Help You Stay Organized
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What do parents, students, remote workers, and business owners have in common? They always have a lot going on in their lives, and there's a chance it can get frustrating, confusing, or overwhelming. If you're among these people and you need help staying organized, there are some gadgets that you can buy to help streamline certain aspects of your daily routine.
To help you make the right choices for your situation, we've identified nine handy smart tools and gadgets that can help you stay organized, using different kinds of technology. This list includes a charging station to keep all your cables in order, a digital calendar accessible to the whole family, and a rugged portable solid-state drive (SSD) to store and safeguard your important files.
The products that we've selected for this roundup are all available on Amazon, where they've received at least 1,000 ratings from buyers and have earned a respectable average score. To make sure that they work as promised, we also consulted feedback from shoppers and reviews from trustworthy websites and channels.
reMarkable Paper Pro digital notebook
Writing your thoughts in a notebook is one of the most basic ways of collecting your ideas, but a digital notebook like the reMarkable Paper Pro can further improve your organization. The device has earned an average score of 4.2 stars after nearly 1,200 ratings, partly because Amazon's customers love its 11.8-inch colored e-ink screen, with many saying that it replaces multiple notebooks and stacks of paper. Not only will you be able to sort your notes into folders and apply tags to them, but you'll also be able to reduce the clutter on your desk once you transition to using this digital notebook.
As mentioned by How To Do Stuff in its review of the device, another way that the Remarkable Paper Pro helps with organization is that it leaves you with only your thoughts. Compared to using a tablet that comes with distractions from notifications and the presence of social media apps, this digital notebook allows you to focus on the task at hand. How To Do Stuff does note that you'll need a Remarkable Connect subscription for functions such as saving on cloud storage and searching within handwritten notes, but Amazon shoppers said that it's worth the price of $3.99 per month after a 50-day trial. They said the same thing about the Remarkable Paper Pro itself, which is available on Amazon for $679 with the Marker Plus stylus.
Anker Prime A2345 charging station
If you're always charging multiple devices at the same time, plugging them into your wall outlet or a power strip with separate charging blocks can result in a messy space. Charging stations like the Anker Prime A2345 are accessories that can eliminate cable clutter, as they'll organize your cords by connecting them to just one device. For $149.99 on Amazon, this gadget has four USB-C ports at the front and two USB-A ports at the side with a total output of 250 watts. The first USB-C port is capable of up to 140 watts, which Anker says can charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro from zero to 50% in only 25 minutes. If all six ports are in use, the first USB-C port will supply 100 watts, the other USB-C ports will give 45 watts, and the two USB-A ports will split 15 watts, according to How-To Geek, which added that these are sufficient numbers to support multiple kinds of devices that you may have on your desk.
This Anker charging station has received almost 2,200 ratings from Amazon's customers, earning an average score of 4.6 stars, with many noting that they appreciated that it organizes your workspace. They said that the front display, which can show the power coming from each port, can further reduce the clutter on your desk by doubling as a clock. The device's twist knob will let you adjust settings like screen brightness and cycle through charging modes, but How-To Geek recommends pairing it with the Anker app so that you can also create schedules for when each port will be active.
Belkin BoostCharge Pro MagSafe wireless charging stand
If you own Apple devices, you can store and charge them on a single gadget like the Belkin BoostCharge Pro wireless charging stand. It's a third-party MagSafe product, but the device appears to utilize Apple's magnetic technology well, as Amazon's shoppers have given it an average score of 4.1 stars after more than 3,700 ratings. The retailer's customers said that this charger reduces clutter on your work desk or bedside table by charging your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods on one unit instead of having three separate chargers and cables, which makes it a worthwhile purchase at $78.99.
Digital Camera World also highlighted the organization that this Belkin MagSafe wireless charging stand provides for Apple device owners, and added that it feels like a premium gadget with its minimal design and polished metal components. The review said that the product is simply well built, supported by plenty of feedback from Amazon customers that the MagSafe charger securely holds their iPhone in place. They also said that the Apple Watch and AirPods stay in place, with no issues charging the three devices simultaneously.
Supvan E10 label maker
If you've decided to keep your stuff in storage bins and other similar compartments, you need a label maker so that you can easily find a particular item when you need it. It's among the common tech gadgets that are underrated kitchen upgrades, but it's also a big boost for organization anywhere in the house, and the Supvan E10 is a well-reviewed option on Amazon at 4.3 stars following more than 21,000 ratings. For $28.98, you'll get the device and one roll of label tape, and it takes only minutes from setting it up with its app to printing, according to the retailer's customers. This was confirmed by Freakin' Reviews, which also demonstrated the entire process from creating the labels on the app to sticking them on objects.
Freakin' Reviews showed the wide range of templates that you can access through the app for this Supvan label maker, as well as the customizations that you can make, such as font adjustments, icons, and even black-and-white photos. Amazon's customers said that the app is easy to navigate for creating personalized labels. They added that one of its advantages over other options on the market is that its labels are not limited in length, so you can print whole sentences if that's what you need to organize your things.
Life360 Tile Essentials Bluetooth trackers
The Life360 Tile Essentials are budget Bluetooth tracker alternatives to the Apple AirTag. For $74.99 on Amazon, you get two units of the Tile Mate and one unit each of the Tile Slim and Tile Sticker. The package holds an average score of 4.3 stars following nearly 2,900 ratings from the retailer's customers, who are impressed by the sleek designs of the Bluetooth trackers, and they appreciate that the gadgets work with both iOS and Android devices. Shoppers and SafeWise both mentioned that the gadgets are seamless to set up using the Tile app, which will show the location of the trackers as long as they're within Bluetooth range and their last known location when they're beyond that range.
SafeWise said that the Life360 Tile Essentials package provides Bluetooth trackers for different objects and situations. For organization, you can attach or insert them into objects that are easy to misplace so that you can find them when you need them. For example, you might use the Tile Mate for your car keys, the Tile Slim for your wallet, and the Tile Sticker for your TV's remote. In addition to checking item location through the app, you can have the Tiles play a sound to make them easier to find. Amazon's customers said that these conveniences save them from wasting time searching for their items.
Skylight Calendar 2 digital calendar
Organizing your own schedule can already get difficult, and it becomes much harder if you also need to consider those of other family members. Digital wall calendars can upgrade your planning, but they can also help you keep track of everything that's going on, and the Skylight Calendar 2 is one of the most popular models of the device. Available for $319.99 on Amazon, where it has received more than 7,100 reviews for an average score of 4.4 stars, shoppers said that it has allowed everyone in the household to stay on top of each other's schedules, which has prevented incidents such as missed gatherings or overlapping commitments.
The Skylight Calendar 2 connects to your home's Wi-Fi network and pulls everyone's Google Calendar to display all your schedules on its 15-inch Full HD touchscreen. This synchronization is the backbone of the device, according to Reviewed, which noted that any changes made on the digital calendar or your Google Calendar will show up in both of them. Reviewed also highlighted the Tasks tab, where you'll be able to assign chores to everyone and quickly check what has or hasn't been finished. Amazon's shoppers said that with the fun graphics and rewards, this feature has made children more involved in helping out with stuff around the house.
ScanSnap iX1300 scanner
Instead of keeping documents such as contracts, prescriptions, and receipts in boxes or binders, you can use a scanner to organize them inside your computer, stored in folders with proper labels. You won't need a bulky model that takes up a lot of space on your desk, though, as there are compact options like the ScanSnap iX1300. At $316.49 on Amazon, this scanner is more expensive than some flatbed models, but TechRadar said that it's definitely worth the price because of its compatibility with Windows PCs, Mac computers, Chromebooks, and even iOS and Android mobile devices. The review also highlighted that you can connect the iX1300 via Wi-Fi or USB and that you can have it send the scanned files directly to cloud storage services like Google Drive.
Amazon's customers, who have given this ScanSnap scanner an average score of 4.2 stars after more than 1,800 ratings, said that setting up the gadget takes just minutes. They report that the device quickly scans up to 20 pages of documents at a time, even when you choose to scan both sides. Shoppers added that the resulting files are crystal clear, and since the device is small, it's easy to slide it into a drawer when you're not using it.
SanDisk Extreme Gen 2 portable SSD
Storing your digital files on a portable SSD allows you to organize them into folders, and using a rugged model like the SanDisk Extreme Gen 2 also keeps them safe over time. There are files you should never upload to cloud storage, and for these instances, you can trust this device, which has an average score of 4.6 stars on Amazon after more than 92,500 ratings. The retailer's shoppers admitted that this SanDisk device is more expensive than other options (starting at $285.99 for the one-terabyte model), but they say it's worth the premium because of its quick file transfers, sturdy construction, and small size. They also appreciate that it comes with a password protection option to prevent unauthorized access to any confidential documents that you may have saved in the gadget.
TechGearLab confirmed the speed of this SanDisk portable SSD, as results showed that it had the fastest file transfer speeds for both Windows and Mac computers among all models that the site tested. The review also highlighted the device's durability, including its IP65 water and dust resistance, shock and vibration resistance, and drop resistance from a height of up to nearly 10 feet. TechGearLab said that this portable SSD is among the best external hard drives that you can buy, echoing the sentiments of Amazon customers who have tried other models from different brands.
Amazon Echo Show 11 smart display
Amazon's Alexa+ is the upgraded version of the digital assistant that's powered by generative AI, and it's a valuable tool for organization. You can access it through the Amazon Echo Show 11, which further expands its capabilities with a generous 11-inch display. CNET said that it's great for the kitchen, as it offers clear and room-filling audio output, visual reminders and timers, and access to smart home devices elsewhere in the house, but these features also make it an excellent addition in the bedroom, the living room, or home office.
The Amazon Echo Show 11 carries an average score of 4.2 stars on the retailer's platform after nearly 9,200 ratings, with shoppers left impressed by the synergy of the smart display and Alexa+. There is plenty of positive feedback on the gadget's sharp and colorful screen that you can see across the room, as well as on the intelligence of the digital assistant. Customers have used Alexa+ to create reminders, set timers, search for information, and control other smart devices, which can help make your home much more organized.
How we chose these tools and gadgets for organization
In choosing this list of organization tools and gadgets, we limited our picks to products that can be purchased on Amazon, where you'll be able to take advantage of the benefits of an Amazon Prime membership and potential discounts. All of these picks have also received an average score of at least 4.1 stars following a minimum of 1,000 ratings from the retailer's customers, which helps ensure you'll be happy with your buys.
To further support our choices for this roundup, we showcased insights from shoppers and professional reviewers on how these tools and gadgets are excellent for organization. We combined these insights with a discussion of the product features and explained how these products can help bring more order to your life.