Best Outdoor Tech for 2024
Enjoy springtime in your backyard with the best outdoor tech available.
Our Experts
- 6 years working professionally in the 3D printing space / 4 years testing consumer electronics for large websites.
Our Picks
Winter is coming to an end and we’re beyond ready for warmer days. We’ve spent the last few months getting ready for springtime goodness, which typically includes outdoor parties. In preparation for all the festivities, we've tested grills, coolers, outdoor projectors and audio equipment, as well as keeping tabs on various outdoor lighting and other great gadgets for your outdoor space. These are some of the best outdoor tech devices for 2024.
You can (and should!) go down the rabbit hole on other outdoor tech, particularly grilling accessories and outdoor security cameras, but this list is all about entertaining in an outdoor space. If you spend your warmer days -- or cooler ones if you have a good fire pit -- with your friends and family, have a large enough backdoor space and want to make the most of it, then any or all of these great tech choices are for you.
Pizza ovens are an outdoor cooking sensation. Smaller than your average grill, this propane-powered pizza preparer is simple to use and can evenly cook pizza, and other dough-based deliciousness at a rapid pace.
The hot stone in the center of the oven is heavy and needs a good amount of preheating before you put your pizza on, but once it's ready, a homemade pie takes about six minutes to cook to perfection. The stone rotates so there's no need to take the food out to move it or worry that it will be undercooked on one side.
The liftable lid is the other feature that really sets the Halo Versa apart from most pizza ovens. Once the food is cooked you tilt the lid up, giving you far more access and making it easy to get the food out without dropping it (something I've occasionally done on a normal oven).
Warmth and beauty
East Oak patio heater
Most propane patio heaters have two issues: they are ugly, and they heat from the top. The East Oak patio heater has this cool fire effect running through the center that looks excellent and helps heat you and your friends. A normal heater rains heat down on your tall friend's head, but this one radiates it out so you can all enjoy the 48,000 BTU it gives off, enough to heat a 15-foot diameter space.
Best visual experience
Sylvox 43-inch Pool Pro series
This is easily the most extravagant thing on this list, but if you spend hours in your backyard like we do, having a TV designed to last is well worth it. This entry from Sylvox is water resistant against rain and splashing from the pool, can work in freezing temperatures as well as hot weather and is smart too.
The Google TV integration makes the entire TV very snappy and you get all of your favorite apps to play with. The volume is decent, though nothing to write home about, but the screen is incredibly bright. Even on the brightest day, I was able to watch Miraculous Ladybug with my daughter without any issues.
Best cooler for around $100
Igloo MaxCold cooler
For the last two years, we've rounded up coolers across the price spectrum, from $10 disposable models to $300 coolers made of rotomolded plastic. The Igloo MaxCold isn't the most amazing performer, but it's in the top five, above coolers that cost more than $200. If you want to splurge, Cabela's, Orca and Yeti all have rotomolded designs that will keep their contents colder for longer, but the small gap between those models and this $100-ish Igloo MaxCold make it hard to justify spending more.
Perfect for cooking hotdogs
Pit Boss Cowboy Fire Pit
Roasting marshmallows over a fire pit is a tried-and-tested good time, I think we can all agree. But what if we want to take it to the next level? This cowboy fire pit from Pit Boss lets you cook hotdogs, burgers and chicken legs over a fully open flame as if you were hanging out in the wild west.
The entire fire pit is very sturdy, and though it's designed for pellets, it can easily burn logs too. It isn't smokeless like some of the other fire pits we've tested, but you want some smoke to add to the flavor and ambiance when cooking food over a flame.
Power anywhere you need it
Ecoflow River Pro
Having a solar generator with you when you go places is great. I recently took my family to the local lake, and by setting up the Ecoflow River and its solar panel, I could keep all our devices charged and even help out some of our lakeside neighbors. I could also power the pump for all the inflatables on the beach!
The power station is helpful even at home, where I have outlets near. I have it set up at the other end of the yard with lights and seats for people to escape the noise and keep their phones charged.
Best portable speaker
Treblab Bluetooth speaker
While many Bluetooth speakers suffer from poor bass reproduction, the HD-Force from Treblab sounds deep and rich at any volume. The battery will last the length of any outdoor gathering, and the flashing lights on top add a party atmosphere in the evenings.
The HD-Force also has an IPX6 water rating, meaning it can survive an extended blast of high-pressure water or splashing. You won't want to drop it in the pool, but it can handle all the splashing or sprinklers you could want.
Light up your outdoor space
Govee RGBICW ground lights
Outdoor lighting can be very boring, but it doesn't have to be. These smart lights from Govee are designed to be staked into the grass along pathways, and they work great to highlight your path in assorted colors. I used them a little differently, though.
Using command strips I attached them around the rail on my balcony. Now, because they are controlled by your phone and can dance to the music, I have an awesome light show when I have friends over to party.
