5 Costco Gadgets That Solve Problems You Didn’t Know You Had

There is no denying how much technological gadgets have improved our daily routine and overall quality of life. For example, when refrigerators were invented, people could now buy perishable foods in bulk without worrying about how to store them effectively. Likewise, when smartphones became a staple in everyone’s pocket, people were able to instantly communicate with anyone, just about anywhere.

Yes, history has taught us that most gadgets were created because people faced practical problems that needed to be solved. But while there are indeed devices designed to solve obvious everyday problems that jump out at you, there are also others that solve problems you didn’t even know existed. These are tiny inconveniences that you just tolerate and accept as normal over time. Take the inability to hear ambient noise when wearing a wireless earphone or dealing with cable clutter, which most people consider unavoidable inconveniences. Of course, you can go on with your life without tackling them, but if you’re looking for a gentler and more comfortable lifestyle, there’s no harm in exploring these devices. To get started, here are five of the smart, under-the-radar problem-solvers available at Costco, all of which are selected based on their overall usefulness and user reviews.

We’re so used to having a charger for every gadget we own that cable clutter is becoming so normal. But a multi-device charging station like the Belkin 3-in-1 Charging Stand from Costco can significantly eliminate cables from your charging regime.

This is a fast wireless charger that can handle three devices at the same time: a phone, a wireless earphone charging case, and a smart watch. It is built with Qi2 wireless charging technology and can deliver a maximum power of 25W. In terms of compatibility, the charger can support a wide range of Android and Apple devices. Its smartwatch charger is MFi certified, which means it is safe to use for Apple Watches. You can use the charging stand with iPhones in the iPhone 12 series, Apple Watch Series 1-10, and select AirPods (AirPods 4, AirPods 3 with MagSafe Charging Case, and AirPods Pro 2). The charging stand also supports Google Pixel 10 and Samsung Galaxy S26 series.

Belkin claims this $70 wireless charging stand takes about half an hour to charge an iPhone 16 from 0 to 50 percent and an Apple Watch Series 10 from 0 to 80 percent. But for iPhone 12 to 15 series, you only get a maximum of 15W, so the charging time will be longer. When the watch and earphone chargers are not in use, the charging stand can be folded. You can then lay your phone flat on the wireless charger. This also makes it easy to take the charger with you to school or work.

Wireless headphones have become a must-have when working outdoors, but you may not realize that they pose a problem: they prevent you from fully hearing what is around you. Of course, some modern wireless headphones include a so-called transparency mode. But they still physically block your ears, so sounds aren’t as raw and natural. If you want to enjoy music while remaining fully aware of what’s going on around you, try Shokz OpenRun SE from Costco.

These are open-ear Bluetooth headphones, which means they don’t fit into your ears. Instead, the earbuds sit just outside your ear, allowing you to completely hear ambient sounds. OpenRun SE works by using bone conduction technology to stream music. It creates mechanical vibrations that then pass through your skin and temporal bone to reach the cochlea. Since they differ from traditional wireless earbuds, OpenRun SE might not produce sound as good as some of the best wireless earbuds.

In terms of battery life, the earbuds can last up to eight hours and take less than two hours to fully charge. If you forgot to fully charge it before using it, you can do a 10-minute charge which Shokz claims will give you a maximum battery life of 1.5 hours. As for daily use, the OpenRun SE comes with a noise-cancelling microphone. There are also built-in controls on the earbuds, including a volume plus and minus button and a multi-function button for pausing, skipping to the next or previous song, and answering calls.

Since the OpenRun SE is designed for outdoor use, it has an IP67 rating. It’s dust and water resistant and should work even when exposed to sweat or rain. However, you cannot use it for swimming.

Outdoor security cameras are never a bad idea, but they’re not exactly the definition of easy installation. Most often, you need a few extra pieces of hardware to make them work: a drill to install the camera mount, a power source (if the camera isn’t solar or battery powered), and sometimes even an external light to get color video at night. Usually you just follow the steps to get it over with, but if you browse Costco’s website you’ll find a more practical solution to your outdoor security camera problem.

The Wyze 2k Bulb Cam is priced at $65 and integrates a smart bulb and security camera into one device. The bulb provides 3000K dimmable illumination and 800 lumens, while the camera offers 2K HD color night vision and a 160-degree field of view. When installing the Bulb Cam, you can screw the bulb base into any existing E26 light fixture. If your fixture has a cover, you can adjust the camera downward using its telescopic rod. You can also rotate or tilt it as needed.

During the day the bulb is off, but you can set it to turn on automatically at night. You can also let the camera stay in Ambient Light (low light) mode and only switch to full brightness once motion is detected. In addition to motion detection, the Bulb Cam also supports two-way audio, a 95 dB siren, and support for enhanced group lighting with up to five accessory bulbs. Additionally, you can integrate the device with systems like Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT.

Leaks are among the most catastrophic accidents that can happen in a home, but most homeowners don’t realize how devastating they can be until it’s too late. Before you find yourself in a real water emergency, it’s best to equip your home with a preventative measure: a water monitor like the Moen Flo Smart Water Monitor with Smart Leak Detector from Costco. This is one of the essential smart home gadgets that you should use for your peace of mind.

Operating the Moen Flo is simple. The water monitor itself is professionally installed directly into your main water system, then connected to your wall outlet and home Wi-Fi. Leak detectors, on the other hand, go under water sources like your sink and dishwasher. They’re battery operated with a two-year lifespan, so you can set them and forget them. Every day the monitor performs a microleak test. As soon as the detectors detect a leak, the monitor shuts off the water supply to prevent further damage.

Moen Flo works automatically on its own, but if you want to control it manually, you can do so through Alexa and Google Assistant. You can also use your phone if you want. The free companion app lets you turn the water on or off and track water activity in your home, including consumption, pressure and flow. You will be notified through the app whenever a leak is detected or when detectors detect high humidity or extreme temperatures.

Food waste has been a problem for most people forever, but it has become a habit to simply throw away leftovers and forget about their existence. However, with a food recycler, you can dispose of your food waste in a more sustainable and environmentally friendly way. One option available at Costco is the FoodCycler Eco 3 for $399.

This Costco gadget turns waste into soil amendments through a process of drying, grinding, and cooling. It can handle leftovers, such as bones, cores and peels. It can even grind shellfish, eggshells, and non-food items like paper towels and tissues (but you’ll need to make sure they’re cut first). To avoid bad odors from waste, you can use carbon pellets in the Eco 3. However, you will need to replace them every three to four months or 500 cycle hours.

To use the Eco 3, you need to take out the removable 3.5L bucket and put your waste in it. It can hold enough leftovers for a family of three. Then place the bucket inside the machine again, press the power button and wait for the cycle to finish. Depending on the type of food scraps you added, a cycle can last anywhere from four to nine hours. You can leave the machine on your kitchen counter as it is quite compact, measuring 11 x 9 x 13 inches.

In choosing these product recommendations, we prioritized those that focus on the problems unknown to the user, the little inefficiencies at home that no one really complains about but that still put some friction in their daily routine. The products also had to have good reviews, with at least a 4.1 out of 5.0 star rating on the Costco site or the manufacturer’s website.