Gadget or gimmick? The truth behind viral tech products

April 18, 2025

By Kim Komando

Oh, it’s Friday. Let’s lighten our tech brains and hearts. 

Every week, some new gadget promises to make your life easier. There’s a fine line though between “tech that improves your life” and “tech that ends up in a junk drawer next to the USB lava lamp.”

I ran them through the highly scientific Kim Scale™ so you don’t have to. Let me break down the viral tech everyone’s talking about.

👓 Blue Light Glasses

Claim: Reduce eyestrain and improve sleep by filtering blue light from screens.
Reality: Studies show these glasses might help with sleep, but most digital eyestrain comes from not blinking and staring too long, not blue light itself.
Kim Scale: ★★☆☆☆
Verdict: A little helpful if you’re doomscrolling at night, but don’t expect miracles. Honestly, blinking more often is free. Your move, capitalism.

📴 EMF Blockers

Claim: Shield your body from harmful electromagnetic radiation.
Reality: There’s no solid scientific proof that EMF-blocking stickers or necklaces actually do anything, but they’re big business.
Kim Scale: ☆☆☆☆☆
Verdict: Science and I both say skip it. It’s giving a “tinfoil hat, but make it on Etsy” vibe.

🖥️ Anti-Spy Screen Filters

Claim: Keep people from viewing your screen from side angles.
Reality: These actually work! If you’re checking email at a coffee shop or handling private info on a plane, they’re a smart choice.
Kim Scale: ★★★★☆
Verdict: Privacy win. Good for privacy, or for pretending you’re working when you’re definitely not.

🛏️ The Self-Making Smart Duvet

Claim: Makes your bed with the push of a button.
Reality: This thing literally inflates inside your duvet to straighten your sheets every morning. Cool? Yes. Practical? Depends how lazy you want to get.
Kim Scale: ★★☆☆☆
Verdict: Equal parts impressive and ridiculous. Coming soon: a Roomba that brushes your teeth and tells you you’re special.

🍌 The Banana Phone

Claim: A Bluetooth-enabled banana-shaped handset that lets you make and receive calls. 
Reality: Connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth, allowing you to talk into a banana-shaped device. 
Kim Scale: ★★★☆☆
Verdict: A-peeling.

Well, there you have it. Is there a killer gadget I should add into the next edition? Let me know by replying to this email. I read every one, even if it says — Sent from Banana Phone. 

🤦‍♀️ Speaking of … I inherited a magic device that floats in the sky and weaves magic carpets. You might say it’s a “family air loom.” (Sometimes I crack myself up writing these!)

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