Look, I’ll be honest with you—when I first saw someone using a spoon that electrically shocks your tongue to make food taste saltier, I thought it was a joke. Then there’s the robot vacuum with an actual mechanical arm that’s supposed to pick up your kid’s toys. My immediate reaction? “Yeah, right.”
But here’s the thing that got me curious: I kept seeing these gadgets pop up everywhere. And not just in marketing materials—real people were buying them. Using them. Some even swearing by them. So I started digging deeper, testing what I could get my hands on, and talking to folks who’d actually lived with these weird contraptions for months.
What I found surprised me. Some of this stuff? Total gimmicks. But others? Game-changers hiding behind ridiculous exteriors.
What Makes a Gadget “Bizarre but Brilliant”?
A bizarre but brilliant gadget challenges everything you think you know about how products should look and work, yet somehow manages to solve real problems better than conventional alternatives. These devices combine novelty with genuine practicality—they’re the tech equivalent of discovering that the weird ingredient actually makes the recipe work.
Why Some Impossible-Looking Tech Actually Works
Remember when people said smartphones would never replace cameras? Or that we’d never talk to our houses? The gadgets that seem most absurd today often become tomorrow’s standards.
Take that electric salt spoon I mentioned—the Kirin model that won CES Innovation Awards in both Digital Health and Accessibility. It’s not magic or pseudoscience. The thing uses mild electrical currents to concentrate sodium molecules on your taste buds. Studies with 31 participants showed it made food taste about 1.5x saltier without adding actual salt. Initially launched in Japan for roughly $127, and yes, it genuinely works. Though I should mention—you look absolutely ridiculous using it.
Then there’s the Roborock Saros Z70, which completely changed my mind about robot vacuums. This thing costs $2,599 (£1,799 in the UK, AU$3,999 down under), making it the priciest robot vacuum I’ve tested. But it’s got the industry’s first mass-produced five-axis mechanical arm—they call it OmniGrip—with precision sensors, dual cameras, and LED lighting. It can identify and lift objects up to 300 grams.
Here’s where it gets interesting: I tested this in my house for three weeks. The arm worked about half the time in fully autonomous mode. Sometimes it would perfectly pick up a sock and set it aside. Other times it would push the same sock around for two minutes like it was playing hockey. But that 50% success rate? That’s still 50% less pre-cleaning I had to do before running the vacuum.
The Tech That Makes Weird Gadgets Possible
Better sensors everywhere: The Saros Z70 packs in RGB cameras, pressure sensors, and AI-powered object recognition. Its sensors can tell the difference between your expensive headphones and a crumpled tissue. Usually. The pressure sensors adjust grip strength so it doesn’t crush your stuff—though I’d still keep it away from anything truly fragile.
Everything’s getting smaller: Despite housing a mechanical arm, dual cameras, and 22,000 Pa of suction power (that’s strong enough to audibly whoosh across hardwood), this vacuum is only 7.98 cm tall. That’s actually Roborock’s slimmest design as of early 2025.
Devices finally talk to each other: Most new smart home gadgets in 2025 support Matter, that interoperability protocol that launched in 2022. This means your weird new gadget probably works with your existing setup without downloading yet another app. Probably.
What Actually Works: Real Testing, Real Results
Robot Vacuums with Mechanical Arms
Roborock Saros Z70
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars | Price: $2,599 USD
Check it out here
Vacuum Wars did extensive testing on this—their review lines up with my experience. The arm successfully grabbed objects about half the time, and where it placed them was… let’s call it “creative.” Right now it recognizes around 108 specific items. So if you’ve got slide-style slippers, small towels, or standard socks lying around, you’re golden. Leather dress shoes? Not so much.
What I loved:
- Genuinely powerful suction—22,000 Pa isn’t just a number, you can hear the difference
- Dual rubber brushes that actually resist tangling (my dog’s hair agrees)
- FlexiArm tech extends the side brush into corners where regular round vacuums give up
- The charging dock heats water to 176°F to wash the mop, then dries it at 131°F so it doesn’t get funky
What drove me nuts:
- That price tag. Ouch. Most expensive robot vacuum I’ve encountered.
- Object recognition feels like it’s still in beta—worked great on some things, completely missed others
- You need ideal lighting and positioning for the arm to work reliably
- More moving parts means more things that could eventually break
Best for: Families drowning in floor clutter who can afford the premium and understand this is version 1.0 of genuinely revolutionary tech.
Save money instead: The Roborock Saros 10 at $1,599.99 or Dreame L40 Ultra for $1,499.99 clean just as well without the experimental arm.
Health and Wellness Gadgets
Kirin Electric Salt Spoon
My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars | Price: ~$125 (Japan only, for now)
CES Innovation Award details
I tried this at CES 2025. The effect is real but weird—you feel a faint tingle on your tongue, and suddenly your under-salted miso soup tastes properly seasoned. The catch? You have to hold the spoon at this specific awkward angle for several seconds. I spilled soup on myself twice in five minutes. Not my finest moment.
What works:
- The science checks out—that 2022 study wasn’t just marketing fluff
- Four intensity settings so you can dial it in
- Now dishwasher-safe in the 2025 version (thank goodness)
- Actually addresses a real problem, especially in Japan where average adults consume over 10.1 grams of salt daily—way more than the WHO’s recommendation
The problems:
- Only available in Japan right now, with no firm US launch date
- The handle is chunky and awkward to hold
- Can’t use it if you have a pacemaker or history of seizures
- Works better on some foods than others—ramen gets great results, but it barely did anything for my bland chicken breast
Who should buy it: People on doctor-ordered low-sodium diets who really miss salty flavors and happen to live in Japan. For everyone else, wait until it launches internationally and they work out the ergonomics.
My Framework for Evaluating Weird Tech (Learned the Hard Way)
Step 1: Figure Out If You Actually Need This Thing
Marketing makes every gadget sound essential. Resist that. I once bought a UV phone sanitizer because the ads scared me about germs. Used it three times. It’s in a drawer somewhere.
Ask yourself three hard questions:
- Do I deal with this problem at least once a week?
- What do I do now to solve it, and how much does that annoy me?
- Will I honestly still care about this feature in six months?
If you can’t immediately think of five specific times you’d use this gadget in the next month, you don’t need it.
Step 2: Trust People Who’ve Actually Used It Long-Term
Here’s my research strategy now:
Check professional reviews from sites like Tom’s Guide or Vacuum Wars first—they do controlled testing with real benchmarks. But they also get the product for free and test it for maybe a month.
Then hit up verified purchase reviews on Amazon or Best Buy. Sort by “most recent” and look for 3-6 month old reviews. That’s when the honeymoon phase ends and people tell you about the stuff that actually breaks or stops working.
Finally, search Reddit and specialized forums. People there will tell you about the annoying thing nobody else mentioned—like how the charging dock is too wide to fit in standard cabinets, or how customer service ghosted them after two emails.
Red flags I watch for: Glowing professional reviews but angry long-term users. Lots of reviews right at launch, then nothing. Marketing videos but nobody actually demonstrating it hands-on.
Step 3: Calculate What This Really Costs
That sticker price? Just the beginning.
I learned this with a “smart” spice dispenser that used proprietary capsules at $2.50-$3.50 each. Seemed fine until I realized I’d spend $150 a year on capsules. For spices. That I could buy for $20 total at the grocery store.
Factor in everything:
- Replacement parts or consumables you’re locked into buying
- Whether you need additional hubs or adapters to make it work
- If there’s US-based customer support or if you’re emailing overseas
- Setup time and learning curve (your time is worth money too)
- Warranty coverage—and actually read the fine print about what voids it
Step 4: Find Real Test Data
Look for reviewers who actually measure things. For robot vacuums specifically, I want to see:
- Suction power tested in Pascals, not just “strong”
- Battery runtime during actual mixed cleaning, not manufacturer claims
- Navigation accuracy percentage and how often it gets stuck
- How often you really need to clean the brushes and empty the bin
Sites like Tom’s Guide, TechRadar, and Vacuum Wars put stuff through standardized tests. That matters way more than someone’s TikTok unboxing.
Step 5: Check the Return Policy Before Buying
The only way to know if weird tech fits your life is testing it in your actual house. I now refuse to buy gadgets without at least a 30-day return window.
What I verify before ordering:
- Minimum 30 days to return (60 is better)
- No restocking fees if it’s unopened or lightly used
- Who pays return shipping—you or them
- How easy they make the return process (do you need to call customer service or can you just print a label?)
Best Buy’s been great for this. Amazon usually is too, though watch out for third-party sellers with sketchy policies.
Where Bizarre Gadgets Actually Make Sense
If You’ve Got Kids or Pets
The problem: My house has a permanent layer of dog toys, kid socks, and random debris. Pre-cleaning before the robot vacuum kind of defeats the purpose.
What works: The Saros Z70 can detect obstacles, mark them, then come back for a second cleaning pass after moving stuff aside. When it works, it’s genuinely useful.
Real talk: Right now it handles slide slippers, socks, crumpled tissues, and towels under 300 grams. That covers maybe 60% of the junk on my floors. Roborock keeps adding items through firmware updates, but you’re buying into something that’ll improve over time, not something perfect today.
My take: Worth it if you’re comfortable being an early adopter and can stomach the price. If not, wait a year for version 2.0.
If Your Doctor Put You on a Low-Sodium Diet
The problem: Low-sodium food tastes like cardboard. People cheat on these diets constantly because bland food is miserable.
What works: That weird electric spoon actually makes low-sodium food taste saltier without adding salt. The effect is real—I’ve tried it.
Real talk: You look silly using it. Takes several seconds to activate. Works great on soup and miso, barely helps with dry foods. Can’t use it if you have certain medical devices.
My take: If your doctor says cutting sodium is critical for your heart or kidneys, and you’re in Japan or willing to wait for international release, this could genuinely help you stick to the diet. Otherwise, skip it.
If You’re Deep in the Smart Home World
The problem: I’ve got devices from five different brands that mostly refuse to talk to each other. My phone has eight different smart home apps. It’s absurd.
What works: Matter protocol is finally making cross-brand compatibility real. Most 2025 gadgets support it, meaning they work with your existing stuff without another app.
Real talk: Not every device supports Matter yet. And even Matter-certified devices sometimes need setup tweaking to work perfectly. But it’s way better than the fragmented mess we had two years ago.
My take: For new purchases, Matter support is non-negotiable for me now. Future-proofs your investment as you slowly replace older gear.
What US Buyers Need to Know
Prices Keep Climbing
Recent tariff changes hit imported tech hard. That Roborock Saros Z70 costs more than they originally planned because of this. Budget an extra 10-20% above announced prices for stuff manufactured overseas. Yeah, it sucks.
Warranty Coverage Matters More with Weird Gadgets
Before buying anything unusual, I verify:
- The warranty actually works in the US, not just the manufacturer’s home country
- There are US-based repair facilities—international shipping adds weeks or months to repairs
- Whether mechanical parts and electronics have separate warranty terms
- What actually voids the warranty (you’d be surprised how many random things do)
Where to Buy
Amazon: Biggest selection, buyer protection through A-to-Z guarantee, but you might get a counterfeit or unauthorized seller. Check who’s actually selling it.
Direct from manufacturer: Best warranty validity, real customer service access, genuine product guaranteed. Usually no sales or price matching though.
Best Buy: My go-to for a balance of everything. Genuine products, in-store support if something goes wrong, competitive pricing, and that sweet 30-day return policy.
Your Questions Answered (The Real Talk Version)
Are these gadgets worth the money or just expensive toys?
Depends entirely on whether they solve YOUR problem. That $2,599 robot vacuum with the arm? Total waste of money if you’re neat and don’t have much floor clutter. But for my household with two kids, a dog, and random stuff everywhere? The time I’m saving is worth it to me.
Before buying, list three specific scenarios where you’d use the unique feature this week. Can’t think of three? You’re buying a toy, not a tool.
How do I know if it’s actually innovative or just clever marketing?
I cross-check three things now:
First, independent testing from sites that actually measure stuff—Tom’s Guide, TechRadar, Wirecutter. They do standardized tests and don’t just repeat marketing claims.
Second, verified purchaser reviews from 3+ months after launch. That’s when the truth comes out about what actually breaks or stops working.
Third, can you explain what problem it solves in your own words without repeating the ad copy? If you’re just parroting marketing language, you don’t actually understand what you’re buying.
If professional reviewers love it but long-term users are frustrated, trust the users every time.
What happens when this thing breaks?
The Saros Z70’s arm is the first mass-produced version of this tech. More moving parts means more stuff that can break. Before I bought it, I:
- Googled “Saros Z70 repair” to see what problems people were having
- Confirmed Roborock has US service partners
- Checked that replacement parts were available and not insanely priced
- Read the warranty carefully to know what’s covered and for how long
For any complex gadget, do this research BEFORE buying. Finding out the manufacturer has no US support after your gadget breaks is a painful lesson.
Are unusual gadgets harder to use than regular ones?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. The Saros Z70 has voice control (“Hello Rocky”) that works without internet, plus app control. Setup took me about 15 minutes. Using it is basically identical to any other robot vacuum—you just get the bonus arm feature.
The electric salt spoon though? That has a weird learning curve. You need to hold it just right, wait several seconds, and the effect varies by food type.
My advice: YouTube real user demonstrations for at least 10 minutes. Not the slick marketing videos—actual people using it in their actual homes. You’ll quickly see if the interface is intuitive or frustrating.
Do they actually work as well as advertised?
Rarely exactly as advertised, but most work adequately. Vacuum Wars found the Saros Z70’s object pickup worked “about half the time” with inconsistent placement. That’s useful but nowhere near the “completely autonomous” vibe from the marketing.
Set realistic expectations: First-generation tech works okay, not flawlessly. Budget for 6-12 months of firmware updates fixing initial problems. If you need perfection day one, stick with mature technology.
What’s the biggest mistake people make buying this stuff?
Buying it because it’s cool, not because you need it. I’m guilty of this—that smart water bottle that needed charging constantly? Bought it because it looked neat. Used it for two weeks.
Now I apply the 90-day test: Will I genuinely use this feature three months from now? If the answer isn’t an immediate “absolutely yes,” I don’t buy it.
Second mistake is ignoring compatibility. That amazing gadget that doesn’t work with anything else you own becomes an isolated island. Check integration options before purchasing.
My Final Verdict: When to Buy Weird Tech
Buy it if:
You’ve got a specific problem this actually solves. The Saros Z70’s arm addresses real pre-cleaning hassles for cluttered households. That’s concrete, measurable value.
You’re okay with first-gen quirks. Right now, object recognition is limited but growing. If you understand you’re buying into gradual improvement, not immediate perfection, you’ll be happy.
The basic functionality is solid even without the weird feature. The Saros Z70 delivers excellent cleaning, easy setup, and impressive mopping. The arm is a bonus. Never buy something where the gimmick is the only reason to purchase it.
Wait if:
The tech is too new. That 50% success rate on autonomous object handling? Not reliable enough for truly hands-off operation. Wait 12-18 months for second-gen improvements.
Regular options exist. The Roborock Saros 10 ($1,599.99) or Dreame L40 Ultra ($1,499.99) clean just as well for over $1,000 less. Unless you specifically need the arm, save your money.
It’s not available in your country yet. That electric salt spoon is Japan-only with no confirmed US launch date. Importing creates warranty headaches and support nightmares. Just wait.
Skip it if:
You’re not the target customer. The electric spoon solves a problem that’s mainly relevant to Japanese dietary patterns and specific health conditions. If that’s not you, it’s solving a problem you don’t have.
The price makes your stomach hurt. At $2,599, the Saros Z70 is the most expensive robot vacuum I’ve tested. If that number makes you wince, you probably can’t justify the premium for experimental tech. And that’s totally fine.
Bottom Line
Weird gadgets earn their place through results, not novelty. I wouldn’t have recommended the Saros Z70 if it didn’t clean exceptionally well. The arm is revolutionary engineering—it just happens to be imperfect right now.
Before spending money on unconventional tech:
- Identify your actual problem—be specific
- Read reviews from independent testers like Tom’s Guide who measure real performance
- Compare it to boring conventional alternatives
- Verify US warranty and support exist
- Start with one lower-risk purchase to test if you’re the “weird gadget” type
Technology’s future embraces unconventional solutions. Sometimes the best answer comes in a package that makes you go “wait, what?” You just need to separate genuine innovation from expensive toys.
Ready to try something different? Check out Tom’s Guide’s latest reviews for hands-on testing, or browse Best Buy’s selection with their generous return policy. Pick one gadget that solves a real frustration in your life. Then you’ll know if weird tech is your thing—or if you’re happier sticking with the boring stuff that just works.
