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Check out these 10 awesome crowdfunding campaigns in August

We’ve got fume extracting solder stations, pixel art, portable consoles and more this month.

ayaneo-air-crowdfunding-campaign
Image: AYANEO

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

Crowdfunding is a cool way for innovative products to see the light of day without the restrictions placed on in-house development at large companies. It’s also a great place to check out video games from small studios, movies, and campaigns for social good.

With all those campaigns competing for your attention, finding ones based on your interests can be tricky. Let KnowTechie do all the hard work for you with our picks of the crop for August.

Check out these 10 awesome crowdfunding campaigns this month

So… with how many crowdfunding campaigns are out there, how do you choose what to back?

Well, I use a combination of checking out their campaign page, looking to see if any of the comments on their prior campaigns show dissatisfied backers, and also companies I’ve already had successful pledge fulfillment from.

READ MORE: 11 great crowdfunding campaigns to check out in September

I also tend to stick to gadget areas I know a bit about, like photography, cooking, maker tools, and writing implements. That way, I can judge whether or not the campaign’s aspirations are within reach, which adds to my decisions.

I’m also picking campaigns with some time left to run, as it’s no fun finding out about cool campaigns after they’ve finished.

So, with all of that out of the way, here are some of the crowdfunding campaigns I’ve found worthy of attention in August:

Magfast Lux and Extreme

Charging cables suck. Especially the one devices come with, which often fray or break quickly. Magfast gives you a lifetime warranty on cables, so you can keep throwing them in your bag with abandon.

They come in USB-C to USB-C, or USB-C to Lightning, and come with an adapter for use with USB-A ports.

Then there’s Extreme, the power bank with three Qi Charging ports, five USB ports (Two C, three A), and enough power to jumpstart your car (with the accessory cable). Whew.

The other thing to know? Shipping will start in December now for Lux cables, as the campaign is already so successful they had to adjust their factory order. The Extreme power banks are scheduled to ship in March of next year.

[letsreviewaffiliate url=”https://magfast.kckb.st/knowtechie” text=”see at indeigogo” size=”small” rel=”nofollow” target=”newwindow” accent=”#d6c9e2″ border=”off”]


OEPLAY 

Want your speakers to look as good as they sound? OEPLAY might be just what you’re looking for. The combination of AMT tweeters and powerful subwoofers brings clear, crisp audio with smooth bass.

That combination of speakers produces a 33Hz to 55kHz response range – more than most speakers or headphones can manage. Then they add Bluetooth 5.0 to the mix for wireless connectivity from any device. Oh, and it looks great, and can be paired for true stereo sound.

[letsreviewaffiliate url=”https://oeplay-a-studio-grade-hi-fi.kckb.st/knowtechie” text=”see at indiegogo” size=”small” rel=”nofollow” target=”newwindow” accent=”#d6c9e2″ border=”off”]


minbay Pixel Artboard

If you’ve ever wanted a dedicated device to do pixel art on, this is your time. Minbay’s Pixel Artboard is a pocketable, portable device dedicated to pixel artists. Never be far from your tools, so wherever inspiration hits you can push those pixels around.

[letsreviewaffiliate url=”https://minbay-pixel-artboard-edc-art.kckb.st/knowtechie” text=”see at kickstarter” size=”small” rel=”nofollow” target=”newwindow” accent=”#d6c9e2″ border=”off”]


AYANEO Air

It’s easy to forget that in the wake of the Steam Deck release, other companies have been cranking out portable Windows handsets for years.

AYANEO’s latest crowdfunding campaign, the Air, uses a 1808p OLED screen for crisp, colorful visuals. It’s powered by either the AMD Ryzen 5 5560U or the Pro model uses the Ryzen 7 5825U.

Get ready to say “cya” to joystick drift, as the Air uses the hall effect for both the triggers and joysticks. That’s when they measure the angle with magnetic fields, instead of physical parts that wear out over time. Oh, and it weighs less than the Switch OLED!

[letsreviewaffiliate url=”https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/ayaneo-air-first-ultra-thin-oled-windows-handheld#/” text=”see at indiegogo” size=”small” rel=”nofollow” target=”newwindow” accent=”#d6c9e2″ border=”off”]


F1, World’s First Digital Soldering w/ Fume Extractor

Most people don’t have a dedicated fume cabinet at home. That’s a problem when working with solder, as the fumes contain noxious chemicals, or even lead.

The F1 aims to fix that by combining a fume extractor hood with a digitally-controlled soldering iron. The 75W soldering iron can reliably heat to a range of 50C – 480C. Pull the 360-degree tube to where you’re soldering, and hit the fan. Fumes are instantly reduced, and your health is protected.

[letsreviewaffiliate url=”https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fly-carve-f1/fly-carve-worlds-first-digital-soldering-w-fume-extractor” text=”see at kickstarter” size=”small” rel=”nofollow” target=”newwindow” accent=”#d6c9e2″ border=”off”]


ALuminate – The Ultimate Illuminated House Sign

Tired of delivery drivers not finding your address, especially at night? Wish they could read your house number from halfway down the block?

You want an ALuminate house sign, with its tasteful illumination and brushed metal or matte black finish. Give your delivery drivers a break, and give your house the classy sign it deserves.

[letsreviewaffiliate url=”https://aluminate-the-ultimate.kckb.st/knowtechie” text=”see at kickstarter” size=”small” rel=”nofollow” target=”newwindow” accent=”#d6c9e2″ border=”off”]


JOYO: An Out-of-this-World Smart Board Game Experience

Physical board games are great, but what about adding some AI magic? The JOYO system consists of a flying UFO playing piece that serves as a console, arbiter of rules, and more.

The crowdfunding campaign reads hidden code on your board and pieces to determine how the rules work for your game. Play variants of Battleship, or test your memory, play fantasy adventures, chase ghosts, and more.

[letsreviewaffiliate url=”https://joyo-smart-board-game.kckb.st/knowtechie” text=”see at kickstarter” size=”small” rel=”nofollow” target=”newwindow” accent=”#d6c9e2″ border=”off”]


GPD WIN Max 2

GPD usually makes pocketable powerhouses of ultraportable Windows laptops. Now it’s supersized its latest UMPC, the Win Max 2.

It’s got a 10.1-inch IPS screen to play on, a keyboard you can type on comfortably, and a built-in gaming controller.

It’s powered by either the 12th gen Intel i7-1260P with Xe Graphics, or the Ryzen 7 6800U with Radeon 680M, 16GB of RAM, 1 or 2TB of NVME storage, and Windows 11. Oh, and there’s an optional LTE module, for connectivity wherever, whenever.

[letsreviewaffiliate url=”https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/gpd-win-max-2-handheld-gaming-pc-4g-lte-amd-6800u#/” text=”see at indiegogo” size=”small” rel=”nofollow” target=”newwindow” accent=”#d6c9e2″ border=”off”]


Afreda S6: A Fold-in-1s Reverse 3-wheel E-bike

Most e-bikes want to trim wheels, but this crowdfunding campaign for a reverse trike puts a second one at the front for smooth, stable cornering.

It’s got a 37-mile range with a 22mph max speed, tons of shock absorption, and stronger braking as it brakes on two wheels. Oh, and it unfolds in one step, in one second. That’s insane.

[letsreviewaffiliate url=”https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/afreda-s6-a-fold-in-1s-reverse-3-wheel-e-bike#/” text=”see at indiegogo” size=”small” rel=”nofollow” target=”newwindow” accent=”#d6c9e2″ border=”off”]


Wejoy touch screen 4k projector

Turn any surface into a touchscreen computer, with this portable 4K projector. Running on Android 9.0, the Wejoy has auto focus and keystone correction, and 600 lumens of brightness.

Pair it with the rechargeable interactive pen for presentations, or play any Android game you want on the wall. The optical engine is sealed for dust proofing and heat issues are a thing of the past.

[letsreviewaffiliate url=”https://wejoy-the-ultimate-touch.kckb.st/knowtechie” text=”see at kickstarter” size=”small” rel=”nofollow” target=”newwindow” accent=”#d6c9e2″ border=”off”]


These are just a small selection of the currently-available crowdfunding campaigns this month. We’ll be back next month with more crowdfunded tech, gadgets, and toys.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

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Maker, meme-r, and unabashed geek with nearly half a decade of blogging experience at KnowTechie, SlashGear and XDA Developers. If it runs on electricity (or even if it doesn't), Joe probably has one around his office somewhere, with particular focus in gadgetry and handheld gaming. Shoot him an email at joe@knowtechie.com.

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