This is the final piece in the series of personal reflections on 2024 from the editors and authors of "Mezha". We've discussed video games, movies and series, books, so now it's time to delve into the hardware and technologies that amazed us throughout the year.
As always, there are no strict rules. Some might share personal acquisitions and upgrades, others their thoughts on promising technologies, while some might highlight key industry trends. Let’s dive in!
Taras Mishchenko, the chief editor at “Mezha”
This year has been great for device releases, so much so that I had to narrow down my list of gadgets I wanted to mention in my reflections. Despite that, the list remains quite extensive, so I’ll start with a slightly unconventional gadget.
I generally don’t pay much attention to the development of robot vacuums, so after a few weeks of using the Samsung Jet Bot Combo AI, I was truly impressed. It wasn’t just about its ability to recognize objects and avoid tangling wires from chargers, but also the significant leap forward in development made by mopping robot vacuums. Now, they go beyond simply carrying a damp cloth for light cleaning; they utilize specialized fabric discs that spin rapidly and adjust their height to effectively clean any hard surfaces. From a user’s perspective, everything is extremely simple: Jet Bot Combo AI autonomously fills its water reservoir at the dock station and moistens the cleaning discs, identifies surfaces (it vacuums carpets but doesn’t mop them), washes the discs, and even dries them. You only need to occasionally refill the water, empty the dirty water, and change the dustbin. Given this experience, my next robot vacuum will definitely feature a similar floor-washing system — it’s truly convenient.
This year, the laptop processor market has seen some expansion, with a new player entering the scene — Qualcomm. Another attempt to launch Windows laptops on ARM-based processors proved more successful. I had the chance to use the ASUS Vivobook S 15 with the Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100 processor for an extended period, and in my typical workflow, I didn’t encounter any software issues. On the contrary, I experienced a significant boost in performance while working on battery power and excellent battery life. Therefore, I’m looking forward to an increase in the number of Windows laptops on ARM next year, along with a growing selection of software specifically tailored for this platform.
This year, I spent the longest time using the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, and it’s one of those cases where the model hasn’t lost its relevance even nearly a year after its release. The smartphone still offers top-tier performance, an excellent screen with anti-glare coating and high scratch resistance, top-notch camera capabilities, and good battery life. I’m not sure what improvements will come with the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but the S24 Ultra will remain a solid purchase for several more years.
Another device that surprised me this year is the new Mac mini. Apple has managed to create a very compact computer with high performance, capable of handling even some gaming. Considering the price of the base model, the 2024 Mac mini is a great option for those looking to start exploring the macOS operating system.
Motorola has not been very active in the flagship smartphone market in recent years, and I didn’t have high expectations for them this year. However, my experience with the Edge 50 Ultra left a very positive impression. The version available in the Ukrainian market immediately offers 16 GB of RAM and 1 TB of built-in storage, a solid camera setup, a fairly powerful platform, and extremely fast charging. I hope that next year, Motorola will improve its software support, although towards the end of this year, the situation began to improve, with devices like the Edge 50 Ultra quickly receiving updates to Android 15.
Oleh Kasich, editor at "Mezha"
This year has been rich in interesting components for PCs. Developers actively updated both desktop and mobile platforms, striving to capture users' attention and improve their positions in the competitive market. While there weren’t any revolutionary products that dramatically changed the industry, several items undoubtedly deserve a mention at the end of 2024.
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
A notable mention on the list is the 8-core Ryzen 7 9800X3D – the fastest gaming chip at the moment. AMD’s innovative approach with additional Level 3 cache continues to perform exceptionally well, providing maximum frames per second (fps) in most projects. Alongside the Zen 5 architecture, Ryzen 9000X3D chips use second-generation 3D V-Cache physically positioned beneath the silicon die with computing cores, significantly boosting clock speeds and simplifying CPU cooling. This time, the X3D chip doesn’t just excel in gaming but also performs admirably in productivity tasks. However, the downside remains its scarcity and high price, with prices in Ukraine reaching $800+ instead of the recommended $479 (for the U.S. market).
Intel Core Ultra 200V
Among mobile processors, the Core Ultra 200V series stands out with its unique Memory on Package (MoP) design, which integrates memory directly onto the CPU substrate—a rare feature for x86 solutions. The Lunar Lake family models come with integrated Xe2-LPG graphics and a powerful NPU (48 TOPS) for AI processing acceleration. The tile-based Intel Foveros 3D architecture has enabled the creation of efficient and performant chips, with laptops based on these CPUs capable of competing with ARM-based models in terms of battery life. It’s a technologically intriguing development, though its further expansion is uncertain due to high manufacturing costs.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER 16 GB
At the beginning of 2024, NVIDIA introduced several SUPER variants for its GeForce RTX 40 series GPUs. Among the most anticipated updates was the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER, featuring a 256-bit memory interface and 16 GB of memory. This configuration would be ideal as the base model for the RTX 4070 Ti, but better late than never in this case. The updated version addresses the dilemma of choosing a stock GPU for a progressive gaming configuration for the "PC of the Month" — offering performance almost on par with the more expensive RTX 4080, while also providing sufficient memory capacity for experimenting with maximum quality settings at 1440p resolution.
Intel Arc B580 12 ГБ
Despite Intel's challenging times, the company fulfilled its promise and at the end of this year introduced a new generation of Battlemag family GPUs. The Intel Arc B580 12 GB confidently competes with the GeForce RTX 4060 8 GB, offering a significant advantage when 8 GB of memory is insufficient for storing and processing textures. This is especially noticeable in Full HD mode, and even more so in 2560×1440 gaming. Intel positions the new model with a recommended price of $249 as the most affordable solution for 1440p gaming. In this capacity, the Intel Arc B580 12 GB looks quite confident, strengthening competition in this segment.
Looking ahead to January 2025, a variety of components are set to be announced, potentially making the list of "Hardware of the Year" next time. This includes the ultimate GeForce RTX 5090 with a robust GPU, a 512-bit memory interface, and 32 GB of memory, as well as mobile AMD Strix Halo processors with integrated graphics surpassing entry-level discrete GPUs. Later, we can expect more powerful Intel Battlemag adapters and system adjustments for Arrow Lake-S processors, which will fully harness the potential of the LGA1851 platform. Great expectations are set for the further development of "ARM on PC" concepts. Next year promises to be even more generous with landmark innovations.
Oleh Danylov, editor at “Mezha”
Initially, like last year, I wanted to choose "Hardware of the Year" as SpaceX's Super Heavy rocket and the SpaceX Starship spacecraft. What SpaceX achieved during the fifth test launch of this incredible duo is truly impressive. The way Super Heavy was caught using the launch tower is truly incredible.
However, I later realized that the true hero and savior for me this year was the Anker PowerHouse 757 charging station, which helped me work and even play during prolonged power outages this summer and fall. We have written a separate article about charging stations and other solutions used by members of the editorial team to ensure their energy independence.
A full upgrade of my gaming PC was completed in September 2023, so in 2024, it was time to refresh some peripherals and other home devices. The biggest purchase for me this year, after the Anker PowerHouse 757, was the 11-inch Apple iPad Air with the M2 processor (2024). It replaced the 10.5-inch Apple iPad Pro (2017), which faithfully served its 7 years and was showing signs of aging (almost dead battery, slowness, outdated iOS version, and some apps and games no longer working on this hardware). For my family, the iPad is our main content consumption device and even a partial work tool. We watch movies and series, read books, comics, browse social media, and play on the tablet. Additionally, it serves as a means for paying utility bills, ordering sushi, pizza, and pretty much anything online. Occasionally, I write and even do some drawing on the iPad. So yes, for my family, the iPad is even more important than the desktop PC, which mainly serves as my work and gaming tool.
Regarding peripherals, I finally bought a small speaker system to enhance game audio and listen to music while working, as it's not always convenient to wear headphones, especially during hot summer days. My choice fell on the compact acoustic system F&D V620 Black. I specifically looked for something that could fit neatly under the monitor, as my desk space is limited. The sound quality fully satisfies my simple audio needs.
Additionally, I replaced my collection of old Microsoft Xbox 360 Wireless Controllers with the modern Microsoft Xbox Series X|S Wireless Controller. It's a significant upgrade.
Lastly, I made another small but meaningful purchase that greatly improves the overall "user experience" – the RZTK Map gaming surface measuring 900 × 400 × 4 mm, offering ample space for both the mouse and keyboard, as well as my smartphone. Plus, this world map notably excludes russia.
Oleksii Kupriienko, author at “Mezha.”
The most interesting hardware for me in 2024 was a somewhat non-essential but intriguing combination of PlayStation 5 Pro paired with the best accessory – PlayStation Portal.
The mid-cycle update for the PS5 wasn’t entirely necessary, earning quite a bit of criticism from both players and reviewers. However, the new "Pro" version introduced several minor improvements for players who heavily rely on their console and were looking for more power in certain games. And PlayStation 5 Pro delivered those improvements.
The Portal device was launched worldwide in 2023, but it only arrived in Ukraine in 2024, making it my accessory of the year now. This device added flexibility in choosing gaming locations both at home and beyond, especially when paired with the standard PS5. However, it truly shines when used with the PS5 Pro, offering even better visuals with fewer artifacts. I look forward to the addition of cloud gaming for Ukrainian players to fully unlock its potential.
Serhii Svitlychnyi, editor at “Mezha”
Perhaps, like Oleg Danylov, I should mention a power station that has greatly helped with work during blackouts… But I’m not particularly fond of the idea of adding to my list of "devices of the year" something I would gladly do without if given the option.
Therefore, my list this year will be very short, consisting of only two points. The first "device" I’ll mention is… the now outdated portable console Nintendo 3DS. Back in the day, I played a lot on the Nintendo DS and had my eye on its successor, but for some reason, it didn’t work out. However, earlier this year, I remembered it again – and purchased a used console on OLX. For the next few months, I enjoyed playing old yet still interesting hits, while thoroughly evaluating the device from a technical perspective (especially impressed by the portable 3D screen, although I know it wasn’t liked by everyone).
But the most important "device" for me this year is undoubtedly the VR headset Meta Quest 3 – as I mentioned in the article “Games of 2024 on 'Mezhizna'.” It has become my primary gaming platform and continues to lead, even more than half a year after purchase. Despite the fact that VR games still lag far behind in scale and budgets compared to console and even purely computer-based projects, virtual reality itself – its appearance and the ability to implement game mechanics that aren’t accessible with traditional controllers – make Meta Quest 3 a much more attractive gaming system than PCs or PlayStation 5, at least in my view.
Kyrylo Balalin , author at "Mezha"
In 2024, the most interesting and significant piece of personal equipment for me was a solar panel system with a combined capacity of 4 kW, which I ironically installed in November — at the beginning of the worst season for generation. This has elevated my previous journey towards energy independence to the next level — essentially the final stage, as the idea of personal generation, having a fully functional power station capable of feeding excess energy into the grid, represents the pinnacle of private energy solutions. Beyond this, only capacity can be increased, but the principles of system operation will remain unchanged, no matter how advanced the technology. However, I'll provide a more detailed article about the solar panel system in spring once I gather more statistical data on its performance.
The piece of hardware I've spent the most time with is the Razer Blackwidow V4 75%. The ability to finally replace switches in a Razer keyboard was so inspiring that I spent a couple of months diving into switches, keycaps, stabilizers, soundproofing, lubrication, wires, artisans, and everything else related to keyboard modding. This resulted in building "the Blackwidow of my dreams," which I decided not to replace even with the wireless Pro 75%, and the creation of three more custom keyboards in the process. Lately, I've started paying closer attention to another trend – the reduction in mouse weight, so I suspect I'll soon dive into more practical research as well…
As a reviewer, I would collectively award the title "Hardware of the Year" to portable gaming consoles for PC gaming without specifying a particular model (though I have personal experience with MSI Claw A1M). Technically, all of them combine ultrabook platforms with a compact tablet screen and gamepad ergonomics. This Nintendo Switch-like format was successfully adapted for running regular games from existing libraries by an unexpected newcomer – Valve with Steam Deck – whose release was initially overlooked in Ukraine due to a very valid reason: it happened on February 25, 2022. Since then, Valve has released a version with an OLED screen, but more importantly, other established brands have picked up the idea, leading to a variety of models on the market, including ASUS ROG Ally, MSI Claw, and Lenovo Legion Go. It seems that we can soon expect more models, like those from Acer and Zotac.
To be honest, all manufacturers, including Valve, face their own issues with these devices, which is why most have already announced new or updated generations of consoles. As consumers, we are currently waiting for OLED screens from someone besides Steam Deck. We are looking forward to more powerful integrated GPUs in newer processors. Most importantly, we hope vendors take into account battery capacity – yes, it adds weight, but ideally, devices should have at least 80Wh to make the term "portable" in the class name reflect not just size, but the ability to handle energy-intensive games for at least 3 hours without being connected to a power source.
Despite the shortcomings of existing models, devices of this type are revolutionizing gaming just as much as Nintendo Game Boy once did. Psychologically, they offer a certain lightness for casual sessions in "real," or non-mobile, games – whether it's a 30-minute play session, you pick up the console with its display, play, and set it aside without any ceremonies with a desktop PC or console + TV.
Additionally, with Windows available on all devices except Steam Deck, they can serve as highly energy-efficient, fully functional PCs even in challenging conditions. And if this seems like an overly stretched use case, it’s worth remembering that 15 years ago, ultra-mobile office devices, UMPCs, were offered as a whole class, and even nominally, without accounting for inflation, they were twice as expensive as today’s mobile consoles. Now, all this modern functionality comes at no extra cost alongside gaming capabilities. In short, this is a very promising segment that could bring many exciting innovations in 2025.
Oleksandr Chub, editor at "Mezha"
This year hasn’t brought many standout experiences regarding new "hardware" for me. Smartphones have been fairly predictable and uninspiring. New laptops have also seen evolutionary performance gains, but nothing radically groundbreaking. Among the interesting models I had the opportunity to use in 2024, ASUS Zenbook S 16 stood out. This is quite surprising because I’m not a fan of large-format laptops. However, the device proved to be a very convenient tool for work, while also leaving a pleasant aesthetic impression.
Continuing the topic of ASUS, the ASUS ROG Ally X portable console brought me many positive emotions this year. All games played on the console ran at native Full HD resolution with a frame rate of 60+ FPS, without the need to deal with large pixels offered by Steam Deck. This is critical for me, which is why I do not consider the “deck” as an option.
This year, I had my first experience with low-profile mechanical keyboards, and it has been quite successful. Despite my appreciation for "classic" mechanical models, adapting to the Logitech G515 Lightspeed TKL was quick, painless, and most importantly – enjoyable.
As a kind of future announcement, a review of the Noble Audio FoKus Apollo headphones will be published soon. This model, released in 2024, fully deserves a place in today’s publication. It is the manufacturer’s first full-size model, and it has been quite successful. Noble Audio is primarily known for its in-ear monitor headphones, so the FoKus Apollo represents a bold experiment with a hybrid design featuring both dynamic and planar-magnetic drivers.
Ihot Sushon, editor at “Mezha”
Since our format doesn't have strict rules, I'd like to start by recalling a device I really didn’t want to say goodbye to after reviewing — the ROG Zephyrus G16. Personally, I’m more of a fan of laptops than desktops, and I had the chance to spend a bit more time with this model than usual for reviews. During this relatively short period, I grew quite attached to the new "Zephyrus."
The gaming laptop turned out to be smaller and lighter than my MacBook Pro. One would think this would affect performance… but no, it allows for comfortable gaming. A quality OLED display — check. Great speakers — check. Biometric authentication — check. Necessary ports — check (you could add another USB-A, but that’s just a formality). Excellent controls — check. A clean design without excessive RGB lighting — check.
What I particularly appreciated is that the visually closed case doesn’t blow hot air from all sides. At the same time, one of the “feet” at the bottom separates the intake of cool and exhaust of hot air. At first, I had some skepticism about this solution, but in practice, it works quite well. Moreover, the working surface doesn’t turn into a frying pan even after several hours of gaming.
Thus, the gaming ROG Zephyrus G16 also served as the base for the ProArt P16, which has some differences but is also an interesting option. However, like any other good things, ROG Zephyrus G16 comes at a hefty price. And how unfortunate it was to part with it…
As for smartphones this year, they mostly disappointed. And the culprit for this is artificial intelligence. No, I’m certainly not against new technologies and definitely not worried about Skynet (because I always communicate politely with chatbots). However, it seems to me that manufacturers have paid too much attention to AI functions, many of which are difficult to call necessary, and some still don’t work (or have local restrictions).
For example, let’s take image generation in notes. How did we live without it, right? What smartphones can generate, likely can’t captivate like the latest versions of Sora. I agree that generating certain text is indeed convenient, but globally, it’s not a function I’d want to listen to for half an hour during presentations.
Siri, Google Assistant, and Amazon Alexa once promised to fundamentally change the way we interact with everyday things. But now, they mostly set timers in the kitchen while cooking and turn off lights in the living room. It seems these are not the “innovations” envisioned when voice assistants hit the market. Let’s hope AI’s fate will turn out better.
Laptops have also been affected, and now almost all new keyboards come with a Copilot button. It would be interesting to see real usage statistics and common use cases among ordinary users, not just IT professionals and enthusiasts.
However, the biggest disappointment of the year for me personally was the Apple Vision Pro headset. Yes, let’s be honest, I didn’t even have the chance to try immersing myself in Apple’s virtual or augmented reality. But here’s the thing — I didn’t have a strong desire to either.
Right now, let’s set aside the issue of the exorbitant cost of the headset and its relevance for purchase. I couldn’t find a single use case that would make me “engage.” There was only one example of the emotion “Oh, cool” — watching Formula 1 with a wealth of additional information displayed alongside the main broadcast screen. But for $3,499, you can purchase several very good monitors that will do the same. Moreover, you won’t need to sit in a helmet with a tethered battery, but can freely move your head or wipe your eyes during morning Grand Prix. Unfortunately, I’m not such a film enthusiast, and I won’t get that deeply immersed in watching movies to keep the headset on my head for extended periods.
Before the release of Apple Vision Pro, there were many discussions that the device’s arrival would lead to a boom in new use cases offered/developed by creators. However, so far, I haven’t seen solutions that would make me want such a gadget. Of course, I’m not going to predict its fate or dismiss the device entirely. But, as one subjective conclusion — Apple Vision Pro (hopefully, for now) hasn’t sparked any interest, despite the expectations of “Apple magic.”
(By the way, at the time of writing, it’s easier to find a TV series for the evening on the manufacturer’s homepage than Apple Vision Pro. Just saying.)
From solar panels and charging stations to processors, GPUs, portable consoles, and VR headsets – "Hardware 2024" has been surprisingly diverse. As always, we encourage readers to share their own "Hardware 2024" experiences in the comments.
Here's a concise summary for the previous parts of the 2024 year-end reviews on "Mezha":
On the Verge of a New Year: What We Played in 2024
On the Verge of the New Year: What We Watched in 2024
On the Verge of the New Year: What We Read in 2024