The best PCB holders and helping hands for soldering: 8 board holders, mini vises and magnetic helping-hands stations (Hakko Omnivise, PanaVise 201, QuadHands, Stickvise and more) compared on grip, adjustability, stability and heat resistance.
7 open-barrel crimping tools ranked for JST and DuPont connectors, from the ENGINEER PA-09 and PA-20 to the IWISS SN-28B, SN-2549, SN-01BM, SN-48B and IWS-3220M, with verified Amazon listings, real die specs and honest verdicts.
The best anti-static ESD mats and wrist straps for electronics work: 8 picks including the Bertech high temperature mat kit, the SCS 2214 wrist strap, the iFixit portable mat, Kaisi, StaticTek and StarTech, compared on surface resistivity, heat resistance, grounding hardware and honest pros and cons.
The best digital calipers for makers: 8 picks including the Mitutoyo 500-196-30, iGaging Absolute Origin, Mitutoyo 505-742J dial, Clockwise Tools DCLR-0605, NEIKO 01407A and Starrett, compared on accuracy, encoder type, IP rating and data output for 3D printing, electronics and hobby machining.
The best Arduino Pro Mini boards compared: genuine SparkFun 5V/16MHz and 3.3V/8MHz boards, HiLetgo clone packs, a CP2102 starter kit, a 5-pack lot and the FTDI programmers you need to upload code.
8 Banana Pi boards compared: BPI-M7, BPI-M5 Pro, BPI-R4, BPI-M5, BPI-W3, BPI-M4 Berry, BPI-M2S and BPI-M4 Zero, with verified specs, honest pros and cons and live Amazon links.
The best STM32F4 Discovery boards compared: STM32F407G-DISC1, STM32F429I-DISC1, STM32F469I-DISCO, STM32F411E-DISCO and STM32F412G-DISCO, ranked on MCU speed, memory, display, on-board sensors and audio.
Seven Orange Pi single board computers ranked and compared, from the tiny Allwinner H618 Zero 3 to the RK3588 powered Orange Pi 5 Plus, with real specs, honest verdicts and direct Amazon links.
8 BeagleBone-family boards compared: BeagleBone Black Rev C, AmpOhm360 BBB, PocketBeagle 2, BeagleBone Green Gateway, BeagleBoard X15, starter kits and the Grove sensor bundle, with verified specs, PRU guidance, honest pros and cons and live Amazon links. Includes an honest note on why the BeagleBone AI-64 is not sold on Amazon.
7 ROS2-compatible robot platforms compared: Hiwonder MentorPi M1 and A1, Waveshare UGV Rover and UGV Beast, Yahboom MicroROS Pi5 and ESP32 kits and the ROSMASTER M3 Pro, with verified specs, honest pros and cons and live Amazon links.