The 20 most popular things everyone bought this year
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Here at Reviewed, we take a lot of pride in finding, testing, and recommending only the best products to our readers, so it's fun to look back at the end of the year and see which ones really stuck out for you.
We dug through our data to see what everyone was buying in 2018. While some like the Instant Pot and robot vacuums were no surprise, there were a handful that came out of left field. Whether there was an amazing Black Friday sale or something was a hit for the holidays, these are the 20 most popular purchases our readers made in 2018.
1. Instant Pot DUO60 6-qt. 7-in-1 Pressure Cooker
Year after year, the Instant Pot remains the supreme rulers of things people love. And I get it. This device does the jobs of so many appliances all in one, and it makes quick work of everything from soup to meatloaf to creme brûlée and more. It's a truly impressive kitchen gadget that home chefs and cooking novices alike adore. This is the most popular model, but there are actually a bunch to choose from.
Get the Instant Pot DUO60 6-qt. 7-in-1 Pressure Cooker on Amazon for $99.95
More: How to buy the right Instant Pot
2. Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen.)
When Amazon announced they redesigned a bunch of their Echo devices, including the Echo Show and Echo Plus, everyone went crazy for the new Echo Dot. The most affordable Alexa smart speaker was already the most popular option because it only costs $50, but then it went on sale for Black Friday for just $25 and they hovered at $30 for the rest of the holiday shopping season. So it's really no surprise so many people went crazy for it.
Even the older model 2nd-gen. Echo Dot was one of the top performers too, especially since the price dropped from $50 to $40 when they announced the new model, and then it went on sale for only $20 for the holidays.
Get the Amazon Echo Dot (3rd gen.) on Amazon for $49.99
3. Contigo Travel Mugs
Whether you're sick of picking up your coffee only to find it's gone cold, or you're trying to break up with your nearby coffee shop to save money, a travel mug is a must. Contigo is one of the most popular options, and it's one of the best travel mugs we tested. It keeps drinks warm for hours, and you can choose from a bunch of colors. Plus, virtually every color is available for under $20, which is a big perk many of our readers took advantage of this year.
Get the Contigo Autoseal West Loop 16-Ounce Travel Mug on Amazon for $10-$20 (prices vary by color)
4. Home Chef meal kits
Some food subscription boxes send you snacks to munch on, others, like Home Chef, give you all the ingredients to make a fancy and delicious dinner. After we tested 10 separate meal kit subscription services, we found that Home Chef was the best choice for pretty much everyone, and our readers seem to agree.
With an impressive array of recipe options, delicious flavors, and easy-to-follow recipes, this subscription service is perfect for anyone who loves to cook or wants to learn new recipes and techniques.
Try Home Chef starting at $7.99/serving
5. Eufy RoboVac 11S Slim Robot Vacuum
Robot vacuums are always high on the list of popular purchases, and we get it. Who wouldn't want a robot to do their chores for them? While no robot vacuum is quite as powerful or effective as a traditional vacuum and some elbow grease, they can be a huge help in keeping things tidy between your regular cleaning schedule. The RoboVac 11S is the best affordable robot vacuum we've tested. We especially love that it's got a lower profile so it can fit under more furniture for a more thorough clean.
Get the Eufy RoboVac 11S Slim Robot Vacuum on Amazon for $219.99
6. Habor Meat Thermometer
This year was a big one for grill masters and home chefs. Our favorite affordable meat thermometer is already a great deal at just $12, but when it dipped below the $10 mark a handful of times this year, our readers went crazy buying them up. Not only does a meat thermometer make it easier to cook your food just right, it ensures you've reached safe cooking temperatures whether you're grilling a steak or roasting a turkey.
Get the Habor Meat Thermometer on Amazon for $11.99
7. Wizgear Magnetic Phone Mount
I still can't get over how wildly popular this $8 magnetic car mount was this holiday season. Our readers saw an opportunity for something insanely convenient at an incredible price, and did not hesitate to pick these up in the final months of the year. Whether they got them as gifts for others or to improve their commute, we'll never know. But whoever's lucky enough to have one of these now is surely singing its praises.
Get the Wizgear Stick-On Magnetic Phone Mount on Amazon for $7.99
8. Ecovacs Deebot N79S Smart Robot Vacuum
It's no surprise to see another robot vacuum so high in the rankings. This one is our favorite affordable smart robot vacuum. Not only did it go on sale for less than $200 a handful of times this year, but it's also available at Amazon, Target, and Walmart under slightly different "exclusive" model names, so there was (and will likely continue to be) triple the opportunity to find it at a discount.
We love that you can control the N79 models from a smartphone all or with voice commands via Amazon Alexa. It's also got great suction.
Get the Ecovacs Deebot N79S Smart Robot Vacuum on Amazon for $159.89
Get the Ecovacs Deebot N79E Smart Robot Vacuum at Target for $159.99
Get the Ecovacs Deebot N79SE Smart Robot Vacuum at Best Buy for $159.90
9. Ancestry DNA Testing Kits
It's not that surprising that DNA testing kits are so high on the list this year. They not only make great gifts during the holidays, but Ancestry's kits also saw big sales for Black Friday and Prime Day back in July. With a massive database, Ancestry is the best choice if you're hoping to find a long-lost relative or find out if your family really did sail over with the Pilgrims.
Get an Ancestry DNA Testing Kit from Ancestry.com for $59
Not only was Ancestry a top option for the genetically curious, but 23andMe, one of the other most popular DNA kits out there, was equally as sought-after. The version people really loved was a little more expensive at $139, but it includes a closer look at your genetics as well as your heritage.
Get the 23andMe DNA Health + Ancestry Testing Kit on Amazon for $139
10. All-Clad Cookware
All-Clad is one of the most coveted names in cookware, and for good reason. Their pots, pans, and other products are all super well-made and always perform well in our tests. However, that quality comes with a higher-than-average price tag. So what is All-Clad doing on this list? Well, a few times a year, they have these massive sales on factory seconds (items that sustain minor cosmetic damage but are otherwise fine), and there were a few big Amazon sales this year too.
Sign up to be notified of the next All-Clad factory seconds VIP sale
You can either create an account or just sign up to be notified of the next sale.
11. Fire TV Stick Streaming Device
With more and more people ditching cable, it's no surprise that one of the best streaming devices was a big hit this year. Not only does the Fire Stick make it easy to watch Netflix, Amazon Video, Hulu, and more, but it's also got Alexa built right in, which makes searching for shows even easier. Plus, it was on sale for just $25 around the holidays.
Get the Amazon Fire TV Stick on Amazon for $24.99
12. Active Wow Teeth Whitening Charcoal Powder
Whether or not you believe that charcoal has medicinal properties and is capable of whitening teeth, this charcoal powder is the perfect chance to give it a try and find out for yourself. Not only is Active Wow a great price, but it's one of the products with a cult following on Amazon because people, including a lot of our readers, just love the stuff.
Get the Active Wow Teeth Whitening Charcoal Powder on Amazon for $19.99
13. Revlon Infrared Hairdryer
Our readers really adored the best affordable hair dryer this year. For less than $20, you can get a salon-quality blowout at home, so what's not to love? It's also one of lightest and quietest hair dryers we tested, making it ideal for anyone who hates loud noises and whose arms ache after finishing their hair.
Get the Revlon 1875W Infrared Hair Dryer on Amazon for $17.99
14. Crock-Pot Express Crock 8-in-1 Electric Multi-Cooker
At the beginning of the year, we pitted the famous Instant Pot against other popular electric pressure cookers. And the best affordable electric pressure cooker we've tested actually beat out the Instant Pot. They performed exactly the same in our tests, but the Crock-Pot model's lower price point made it a bargain for home cooks, especially when it went on sale for $45-$55. While the Instant Pot that connects to your phone is now the best model we're tested, the Crock-Pot is still one of the best options.
Get the Crock-Pot Express Crock 6-Qt. 8-in-1 Multi-Cooker on Amazon for $69
15. Lyric WiFi Water Leak and Freeze Detector
Honeywell makes the best smart water leak detector, and homeowners across the country snatched these handy little smart gadgets up every time they went on sale this year. Not only can they sense even the smallest spills, but they're able to send an alert to your phone, so you can handle the issue as quickly as possible, even if you're away when something goes wrong.
Get the Honeywell Lyric WiFi Water Leak and Freeze Detector on Amazon for $52.99
16. Calphalon 10-Inch Nonstick Fry Pan
Our readers also upgraded their kitchens with the best nonstick pan. We love that it's comfortable to hold and maneuver, and that the nonstick coating made it a breeze to whip up eggs and pancakes. It certainly doesn't hurt that you're getting amazing quality for a bargain price.
Get the Calphalon 10-Inch Nonstick Fry Pan on Amazon for $34.95
17. RAVPower Qi Wireless Charging Pad
I'd like to think that 2018 is the year of wireless charging. With Android and iOS devices coming out with built-in wireless charging capabilities, we saw an explosion of wireless charging options over the last year or so. RAVPower's charging mat was a reader favorite because it's super affordable. It may not be the fastest option out there, but it's small, less than $15, and perfect for nightstands and offices alike.
Get the RAVPower Qi Wireless Charging Pad on Amazon for $11.99
18. Nidra Luxury Sleep Mask
Whether you travel a lot or just have trouble drifting off to sleep because there's a streetlight right outside your window but you need sunlight to wake up, the best sleep mask is all you need to catch more Zzzs. We love the comfort of the contoured shape. And the soft material made it easy to wear all through the night.
Get the Nidra Luxury Sleep Mask on Amazon for $11.95
19. Barefoot Dreams Cozy Chic Lite Circle Cardigan
Nordstrom is one of those stores that anyone who is into fashion loves to shop, especially when things are on sale. And these sweaters were the most-purchased item at Nordstrom among our readers this year. There were a handful of awesome Nordstrom sales this year, but this sweater looks so cozy (and comes in nine different colors) that we think the full price, while on the steep side, is so worth it.
Get the Barefoot Dreams Cozy Chic Lite Circle Cardigan at Nordstrom for $116
20. PlayStation 4 Slim 1TB Spider-Man Bundle
This bundle was easily one of the hottest Black Friday deals of 2018. It first emerged in the days leading up to the biggest shopping holiday of the year, available at Amazon, Target, Walmart, and more. But as quickly as it arrived, it went out of stock because everyone, including many of our readers, grabbed the PlayStation 4 Slim bundle that came with one of the hottest (and most fun to play) games of the year.
Get a Sony PlayStation 4 Slim 1TB Spider-Man Bundle at Walmart for $324.95
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Prices are accurate at the time this article was published, but may change over time.
This article originally appeared on Reviewed.com: The 20 most popular things everyone bought this year
