Engadget
Maybe even better than "As Seen on TV" items are those "As Seen in Japan."
Japan is known for making gadgets that solve problems you didn't even think needed solving. Plenty of Japanese tech makes its way to the U.S. but the country also has a long tradition of creating hyper-specific inventions, like its useless dining gadgets, that tend to stay within its borders.
Some are high-tech, like a meerkat-inspired AI companion that remembers your conversations. Others are much simpler, like an umbrella with a fan built into the shaft.
You can already chat with AI on your phone, ask it questions and even give some chatbots a personality.
For now, it's a gadget you're far more likely to see in Japan than on an American store shelf. The robot costs about $400 before its monthly subscription.
When Americans think about a high-end Android phone, the same names tend to dominate: Samsung, Google and maybe OnePlus.
The AQUOS R11 has hardware you'd expect from a 2026 flagship, including a 6.5-inch Pro IGZO OLED display with a variable 1Hz to 240Hz refresh rate and up to 3,600 nits of peak brightness. Its Leica-supervised camera system includes 50.3-megapixel standard and ultrawide cameras, along with a 38.5-megapixel telephoto camera with 2.9x optical zoom.
The R11 also uses AI for more practical tasks, including Smart Fit Zoom, which recognizes people or pets and automatically adjusts the zoom to help frame the shot.
At about $1,100, it's priced like the premium gadget it is.
TeteMousse launched in Japan in November 2025 and is still available.