© iStock.com / mactrunk
Key Points
- When choosing the best office toys and gadgets, there are several factors to consider, including your budget, how much space you have, and whether or not the gadget will make noise in the workplace.
- The Ember Mug 2 was voted the best overall office toy.
- If health is a concern, then the KOIOS Air Purifier for Home may be for you.
©iStock.com/mactrunk
Whether you are working in an office or remotely, having the best office toys and gadgets can make a big difference in your personal space and even your productivity.
While work will, of course, never be as fun as play, having the best office toys and gadgets will help the daily work grind all the more convenient, comfortable, and enjoyable. A boring, empty desk may create a struggle to stay inspired throughout the day— but having the right gadgets can offer a quick mental break, an easy solution to a problem, or a pleasant addition to make you smile.
With plenty of time to test out these gadgets from our work-from-home lives, we’ve put together a list of the best office toys and gadgets you should grab today:
- Best Overall: Ember Mug 2
- Best Paperweight Gadget: Natico Decision Maker
- Best Cleaning Gadget: ODISTAR Desktop Vacuum Cleaner
- Best Breaktime Toy: ArtCreativity Desktop Arcade Basketball Game
- Best Personalization Gadget: Elgato Stream Deck Mini
- Best Charging Gadget: Belkin 3-in-1 Wireless Charger
- Best Healthy Gadget: KOIOS Air Purifier for Home
Best Overall Office Gadget: Ember Mug 2
- LONGER LASTING BATTERY: Extended battery life on your temperature control mug keeps your drink perfectly hot for up to 80 minutes on a full charge or all day on the newly redesigned charging coaster....
- APP CONTROLLED: Ember smart mug allows you to control with your smartphone. Pair with the Ember app to set your temperature, customize presets, receive notifications and more.
- USE WITHOUT APP: Ember Mug is functional without connection to the app and will remember last used temperature. Out of the box, the Ember Mug is set to 135°F.
- AUTO SLEEP: Ember heated mug intelligently senses when to turn on and off. The mug enters sleep mode when empty or after 2 hours of inactivity. Ember wakes up when it senses movement or liquid.
- HAND WASH ONLY: An updated scratch-resistant coating is safe to hand wash. Ember Mug 2 is IPX7 rated and fully submersible up to 1 meter deep.
We’ve all been there: work starts piling up and you’re too busy jumping from one thing to the next, only to discover that your once-hot cup of coffee has gone cold.
The Ember Mug 2 is the perfect solution to this problem and our favorite office gadget we’ve discovered. This has been a lifesaver for us more times than we count as the self-heating and heat-maintaining mug can stay warm for up to 80 minutes while sitting on the charging coaster.
We used the 14oz Ember Mug 2, but it also comes in 6, 10, and 12oz versions, all of which have varying battery lifetimes (the 6, 10, and 12 oz versions have a 90-minute battery life).
The Smart LED at the base of the mug is a super helpful reminder for when your drink is starting to cool off.
Find it on Amazon here.
Best Paperweight Office Toy: Natico Decision Maker
- Makes a fun and entertaining gift for anyone in the office
- Functional and easy to use as a desk organizer and paperweight
- The perfect gift for any upcoming occasion. Great for the desk of any executive, analyst, psychologist, Entrepreneur or Investor.
Some days (or on some things), making decisions comes easier than others; It’s easy to get stuck and get into decision-making paralysis. That’s why the Natico Decision Maker is one of our go-to office toys when we need to make some kind of decision. It’s functional yet fun and offers you eight different decision options. Will you pass the buck, reorganize, or wait until tomorrow?
Every spin is different and that’s what makes it so fun—you never know which answer you are going to get (kind of like a magic eight ball!). It also makes a great paperweight, and as much as we are trying to go paperless, we are not fully there yet, so the Natico Decision Maker certainly comes in handy often. It would also make a great gift!
The only downside to this gadget is that it might cause you to make decisions you wouldn’t have otherwise!
You can buy it on Amazon here.
Best Cleaning Office Gadget: ODISTAR Desktop Vacuum Cleaner
- 【Cordless Convenience】Switch to battery power with 2 AA batteries (not included), so you can use the mini vacuum anywhere! Batteries will last 2-2.5 hours. Cordless convenience helps you get rid...
- 【360º Rotatable Design】With 360º rotatable design, our vacuum cleaner is an ergonomic and useful solution for your cleaning needs. You can easily reach to any corners and crevices when cleaning...
- 【Precise Cleaning& Long lasting material】Capture nozzle picks up larger debris with ease unlike other manual vacuum cleaner. You can easily cleaning dust of desktop, computer, keyboard, etc. It's...
- 【High Suction and Low Noise】Despite being powered by batteries, the Mini Desk Vacuum still has sufficient suction power of 1000pa, Table Vacuum Cleaner is strong enough to pick up even the largest...
- 【Easy to operate& Long lasting material】Easy to operate, suitable for students and elderly. Portable and Cordless vacuum for your desktop for quick cleaning. You just hold it by your hand and move...
It’s a vacuum, but for your desk! Try as we might, sometimes we just can’t help but eat at our desks. Even dust and pet hair can accumulate for work-from-homers! Having the ODISTAR Desktop Vacuum Cleaner has been a lifesaver for crumbs, dust, and anything else that makes its way onto our desks.
Powered by two AA batteries, the ODISTAR vacuum lasts for around 400 minutes before needing new batteries.
Its suction is great and it’s been perfect for keeping our keyboards nice and clean. Just turn it on and guide it with your hand along your desk, and watch the magic happen! It’s super easy to clean out and its disposal doesn’t fill up for a while.
They come in many different colors, from white and black to red, green, and blue.
Get yours today on Amazon here.
Best Breaktime Toy: ArtCreativity Desktop Arcade Basketball Game
- AWESOME ARCADE FUN: A classic arcade basketball shooting game that fits on a tabletop! This set comes with 1 desktop basketball game and 6 miniature basketballs. Set it up on your office desk or...
- MULTI-PLAYER GAME: Whether playing solo or with a friend, this arcade basketball game indoor set is a recipe for enthralling fun. Set up a ball on the spring-loaded launchers, let go, and see who can...
- FITS ON MOST DESKS: Looking for desk games for office for adults? An indoor basketball arcade game to spark a love for sports in kids or keep multiple children busy for hours? This table top...
- BEST GIFT IDEA: An amazing treat for basketball lovers and fans of all things sports. This table top arcade game comes in a sturdy box to make a great birthday gift for boys and girls, and a...
- BUY RISK-FREE: We fully stand behind our products with a best satisfaction and 100% money-back guarantee. Not satisfied with this desktop basketball game? We’ll send you a replacement or issue a...
Sometimes, we just need a break and, when we do, finding the right office toy is critical to bring us a welcomed distraction from emails, video calls, and constant things-to-do. The ArtCreativity Desktop Arcade Basketball Game is the perfect solution to take a quick break and clear your mind so you can press ahead with the rest of your day.
At a small size of 8.75 x 11 x 8 inches, it’s easily going to fit on most desks.
If you work at an office, you don’t have to play by yourself because the game comes two-player ready. We’ve spent way too much time on this game than we’d like to admit—it’s incredibly fun to play for a few minutes at a time (or 30 minutes, who’s judging?). We just wish the balls were a little more durable and not basic plastic.
Find it on Amazon The here.
Best Personalization Gadget: Elgato Stream Deck Mini
- Tactile Live Production: easily control your favorite tools and platforms.
- 6 Customizable LCD Keys: instantly trigger actions with a tap.
- Multi Actions: tap once to launch multiple actions simultaneously or sequentially with time intervals.
- Smart Profiles: create unique key configurations for different apps, and switch between them on the fly.
- Powerful Integrations: Elgato 4KCU, OBS, Twitch, YouTube, Twitter, Discord, Spotify, Philips Hue, vMix, VoiceMod, and more.
A gadget that flies under most radars is the Elgato Stream Deck Mini—an incredibly fun office gadget we’ve had a blast using. It has 6 fully customizable LCD keys that you can use to trigger unlimited actions. That action might be a shortcut to YouTube, Twitter, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or anything you prefer. Each time a button is pressed, the corresponding action opens on your computer.
Want a quick shortcut to open up a specific file or application on your computer like Photoshop? Personalize the action to open Photoshop and adjust the look, color, and style of the button to make sure you know this button means Photoshop. We made our shortcuts look like different Star Wars ships and the Death Star is Zoom. Just connect via USB and your computer and you’re in business. Setup for novices is a little complicated, so YouTube might be your best friend to get it up and running.
Get yours on Amazon today here.
Best Charging Gadget: Belkin 3-in-1 Wireless Charger
- 3-IN-1 CHARGER: Power your Apple iPhone & other devices with the Belkin 3-in-1 wireless Apple charging station. Charge multiple devices, including all Qi compatible iPhones, Apple Watches & AirPods
- FAST WIRELESS CHARGING STATION: The Belkin 3-in-1 phone charger is compatible with Qi-enabled Apple iPhones with charging speeds up to 7.5W. Apple Watch and Apple AirPods charge at 5W
- WORRY FREE WIRELESS CHARGER: Convenient phone stand design and integrated LED lights indicate charging status of your Apple iPhone, Apple Watch & AirPods
- SLEEK AND STYLISH: The compact design of this wireless charger will look great on your nightstand or home office, and is compatible with most iPhone cases
- 2-YEAR WARRANTY: The charging station comes with a 2-year limited warranty. The wireless charger is Qi Certified for safety, and compatible with most phone cases so you can rest assured that your...
A staple on our desks is the Belkin 3-in-1 Wireless Charger and it’s a must-own for any Apple device owner. Qi-enabled for wireless charging your iPhone at 7.5 watts, the Belkin also charges your Apple Watch and wireless-charging AirPods at the same time. Every iPhone, from the iPhone 8 to 13, is supported, plus every generation of Apple Watch and AirPods Pro, AirPods 3 and AirPods 2 with the wireless charging case.
You can choose from either black or white to match your desk aesthetic. Using this gadget for the last few months has helped us ensure we’re never out of battery while also organizing our desks at the same time. It’s a win-win, except for the price tag, as this is truly a premium desktop charger.
Get your devices charged up with the Belkin 3-in-1 Wireless Charger on Amazon.
Best Healthy Gadget: KOIOS Air Purifier for Home
- HEPA air purifier filters pollen, pet dander, and dust
- Eco-friendly air cleaner with 3-stage filtration
- Efficient air intake and discharge for fresh, healthy indoor
- Simple, easy to operate
- Operates smoothly and quietly
For those of us out there who suffer from more allergies than we care to admit, products like the KOIOS Air Purifier for Home are a wonderful addition to your desk. It’s compact and perfectly sized for a desk, all while blocking microfilter particles as small as 0.3 microns.
The KOIOS adds 360 degrees of air purification, which is great for blocking out dust particles, pet dander, allergens, and other unwanted particles and toxins in the air. Best of all, it’s very quiet and it’s never been an issue while on video calls, which makes it great to use all day long.
Its operation is super easy as it’s one button to control fan speed and one press to turn it on and off. It’s not super large to block out particles from your whole home, but it’s well-sized for a desk, so it’s a good middle ground. The only real downside is the need to purchase new air filters every six months, but we think it’s well worth it to improve your office’s air quality.
Get yours on Amazon here.
How to Pick the Best Office Toys and Gadgets: A Step-by-Step Guide
When choosing the best office toys or gadgets, there are a few things to consider, like:
- Space
- Price
- Noise
Space
Your desk is likely already home to a computer and potentially an additional monitor, mouse, keyboard, and other accessories for work. So, you want to make sure any office toy or gadget fits on your desk nicely without cramping it. Any desk product that requires something else to be moved (or removed) might end up being more of a nuisance than a welcome addition. Each of the products listed here have been chosen so as to ensure that you won’t have to sacrifice your keyboard or completely shift your monitor’s position around to make room.
©iStock.com/evgenyatamanenko
Price
The best office toys and gadgets don’t have to cost a lot and, in the case of this list, they don’t.
At the higher end, Belkin’s 3-in-1 Wireless Charger or the Ember Mug cost as much as $150, but you certainly get what you pay for by means of high quality. Both of these products are considered best-in-class in their respective categories in terms of reliability, durability, and features.
Other products like the ODISTAR Desktop Vacuum Cleaner cost very little, but you still get a handy product that you will use every day. Ultimately, it’s important to recognize the distinction while shopping between spending just enough and spending more to get the best products around.
Noise
Whether you work from home or in an office, noise is a central factor in deciding which best office toys and gadgets to purchase.
At home, you might already be dealing with noisy neighbors, landscapers, barking dogs, kids, and maybe city sounds. You definitely don’t want to purchase anything that adds to the noise factor. In an office, between co-workers, printers, doors opening and closing, and other bothersome noises. it’s easy to get distracted.
Each of the products selected here have been evaluated for noise to make sure they won’t add any more distractions to your day.
What To Know Before Buying The Best Office Toys and Gadgets
Before you buy any of office toys or gadgets, make sure you have the right amount of desk space for each product. In the case of the ODISTAR Desktop Vacuum, you need to evaluate how frequently you find yourself wiping away crumbs and dust particles from your desk. Is it daily? Every other day? If so, this might be the exact product you need to use regularly to keep your desk space clean.
For the Ember Mug, ask yourself how often do you make coffee or tea and not drink it until it’s cooled off? If this happens frequently, the Ember Mug 2 is the right product for you. The same goes for the KOIOS Air Purifier. Are you sneezing more during your workday as the air particles around you are full of microns? It’s really important to ensure you are surrounded by clean air and limit distractions brought on by feeling stuffy and sneezing.
So, it’s important to evaluate your needs and wants and how these products can benefit you during your work week.
Using The Best Office Toys and Gadgets: What It’s Like
We tested each of these products over the course of a few weeks to evaluate their space optimization, how well they work overall, and if they are even worth the cost.
Every one of these products would benefit both remote and in-office workers. This is especially true of the Belkin Charger, Natico Decision Maker, and Elgato Stream Deck Mini. We learned these products really stood as they worked exactly as promised. The Elgato Stream Deck took a little bit more time to learn than we anticipated, but when we figured everything out, it became a lot of fun to adjust shortcuts and icons. Just know that there is little question that this product, in particular, might distract you, if you like to personalize things.
The Natico Decision Maker was great at helping us make quick decisions. In fact, we used it to help write a few different articles, and it helped us decide which article we would start with first. Belkin’s 3-in-1 charger is a great addition to our workspace as many of us own iPhones, Apple Watches, and AirPods. Having to constantly charge each of these products separately made cord management a real headache and this product does the job at once and eliminates unsightly, pesky cables that take up room.
The Ember Mug 2 was so critical to our day and helped us get through so much writing. We definitely fall into the category of someone who makes a drink, gets distracted only to find our drink is cold. Can we call the Ember Mug 2 a lifesaver? It might be a stretch but when it comes to coffee, there’s some truth here. Last but not least, using the ArtCreativity Basketball Desk brought us some much-welcomed playtime to break up our days and it may have even annoyed those who were not on a break in our office and couldn’t play with us (it was that much fun).
Final Thoughts
Having the best office toys and gadgets can make all the difference in how well your workday goes and keeping your energy up throughout the week. Sometimes, you just need a distraction to take your mind off a difficult project or an overflowing inbox.
These products ensure that you will have just the right amount of distraction, charging space, warm drinks, and a clean desk to be successful in your work day.
