The Takeaway

Hey there! Looking for the top tech blogs and websites to follow in 2024? I‘ve got you covered. As an experienced tech professional, I‘m constantly researching the latest trends and innovations. Over the years, I‘ve identified the very best publications that combine breaking news with in-depth analysis.

Let‘s explore my top 10 list of must-read tech blogs for staying on top of this dynamic industry in 2024 and beyond…

1. Wired

Wired has been a leading tech publication since its founding way back in 1993. Nearly 30 years later, it continues to deliver an unmatched mix of journalism, sharp commentary, and creative visual storytelling.

With over 30 million monthly views, Wired is essential reading for anyone interested in how emerging technologies are shaping business, politics, entertainment, our society, and our lives.

Some reasons you should subscribe:

  • Long-form feature articles take deep dives into complex issues like artificial intelligence, cryptocurrencies, biotech ethics, and cyberwarfare. For example, a recent 7,000+ word profile explored the promise and perils of ChatGPT and generative AI ["Will AI Usher in Utopia or Dystopia? Two Visions of the Future Go Head to Head," 1/3/2023].
  • Thought-provoking columns by industry experts provide unique insider perspectives. Writer Steven Levy‘s latest on Apple‘s MR headset revealed key innovations and strategic direction ["Apple‘s Reality Pro Headset Reveals Its Vision for the Future of Computing," 1/18/2023].
  • Creative visuals including info-graphics, illustrations, and photography enhance the reader experience. The iconic monthly print issue highlights these visuals.
  • Breaking news and reviews on emerging tech like Web3, space exploration, biometric surveillance, and quantum cryptography.

With talent like Editor-in-Chief Nick Thompson leading the way, Wired continues pushing the boundaries of tech journalism.

2. TechCrunch

When it comes to startups, venture capital, and tech entrepreneurship, TechCrunch is the top news source with over 7 million readers. Founded in 2005, its in-depth coverage of emerging companies gives unique visibility into market trends and innovations.

Some key areas that make TechCrunch a must-follow include:

  • Funding news on startup investments, acquisitions, public offerings, and more. For instance, a February 2024 article revealed a $300 million raise by Fuzzy, an AI analytics platform ["Fuzzy raises $300M led by Coatue to scale its data analytics infrastructure," 2/9/2023].
  • Launch announcements of new products and services from young companies. A recent story broke the news of music NFT platform Royal‘s expansion into film/TV collectibles ["Royal acquires assets from Frame.io for film/TV NFT‘s," 2/10/2023].
  • Profiles of entrepreneurs and founders across the globe shaping industries. Features have included rising stars like Web3 platform Talao‘s CEO Clement Jeanneau ["Talao collects $11M pre-sale for its Web3 marketplace," 2/7/2023].
  • Market analysis of startup ecosystems in Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia. The site‘s dedicated regional desks keep tabs on tech innovation across the planet.

With conferences like TechCrunch Disrupt, it has become a nexus of startup activity worldwide. The blog‘s talented reporters like Anita Ramaswamy break stories that reverberate across the industry.

3. Recode

For an incisive look at how tech is impacting business, politics, and society, Recode delivers. With Pulitzer Prize winning journalists like Kara Swisher leading coverage, it offers sharp commentary and astute analysis.

Here‘s why Recode has become an indispensable source for tech news:

  • Nuanced coverage of complex issues at the intersection of tech and public policy. For example, an investigator series on Meta‘s response to teen mental health risks provided meaningful scrutiny ["Inside Meta’s Faltering Efforts to Prevent Teen Suicide," 2/9/2023].
  • A roster of high-profile opinion columnists like NYU professor Scott Galloway provide bold takes. His latest critiqued Apple‘s over-reliance on China ["Apple’s Dangerous Dance with China," 2/8/2023].
  • Recode‘s Code Conference interviews tech execs like Sundar Pichai and Mark Zuckerberg in detail on controversies and competition.
  • Demystifying coverage explaining blockchain, AI bias, quantum computing and more emerging technologies.
  • Watchdog reporting on misinformation, privacy abuses, algorithmic discrimination and tech ethics.

Backed by Vox Media‘s resources, Recode boasts an all-star team of reporters covering Silicon Valley and beyond.

4. Mashable

Looking for a fun, accessible take on technology and digital culture? Mashable reaches over 50 million readers/month with entertaining tech coverage and Internet nostalgia.

Founded in 2005, Mashable excels at:

  • Explaining complex tech and science breakthroughs in straightforward language. For example, a February piece broke down the discoveries from NASA‘s James Webb Space Telescope in simple terms ["10 standout discoveries from the James Webb Space Telescope‘s first images," 2/17/2023].
  • Reviews and recommendations of new consumer tech products and services across categories like smartphones, laptops, cameras, apps, and smart home devices. Its recent Lasso Loop pet collar review highlighted key features pet owners will appreciate ["Lasso‘s Loop is a nearly perfect smart collar for your dog or cat," 2/15/2023].
  • Viral news, memes, and pop culture commentary at the intersection of the Internet and entertainment. Pieces like "How one Twitch streamer Walmart-ified her setup" show Mashable‘s lighter side.
  • Advice on software tips, digital media trends, and productivity/work skills for the modern world. For instance, a recent article shared time management strategies to fight decision fatigue ["5 ways to beat decision fatigue and be more decisive," 2/14/2023].
  • Videos! Mashable produces great explainers, product reviews, interviews and more watchable tech content.

For an upbeat take on how tech is changing our lives, Mashable is a must-follow.

5. CNET

When I need expert buying advice and in-depth reviews before purchasing a new gadget, CNET is my go-to with over 76 million readers. It‘s the #1 destination for unbiased tech product reviews, comparisons, and recommendations.

CNET has unmatched experience evaluating technology since launching in the early 90s. Here‘s what I love about their coverage:

  • Side-by-side comparisons of the latest smartphones, TVs, laptops, cameras and other gadgets put through extensive hands-on testing. For example, its Nikon Z9 vs Sony A1 camera face-off helped buyers choose the right advanced mirrorless ["Nikon Z9 vs. Sony A1: Best high-end camera for 2024," 1/4/2023].
  • Category buying guides help identify the best tech products overall as well as by budget. The TV buying guide narrows down the ideal models ranging from budget Vizio‘s to high-end Samsung QD-OLED sets ["Best TV for 2024," 2/3/2023].
  • Ratings from editors synthesize months of testing into an overall score from 1 to 10 so you can quickly compare products. The Pixel 7 Pro‘s 8.9 rating shows it‘s one of the top phones ["Google Pixel 7 Pro review: Nearly perfect," 10/24/2022].
  • Real-world use cases demonstrate how tech performs for different needs. For example, the Nest Cam Outdoor review revealed it has some limitations for home security use cases ["Nest Cam Outdoor review: A solid outdoor camera with room to improve," 6/14/2022].

With experts like senior editor Ty Pendlebury leading TV coverage, CNET is my top source for tech product intelligence.

6. The Verge

The Verge offers breaking tech news and product reviews with an irreverent edge. Its insightful analysis cuts through the hype to cover how technology impacts our lives.

Some reasons The Verge attracts over 65 million visitors each month:

  • Thoughtful long-form feature stories on complex topics like Web3 ["Ex-Y Combinator head warns crypto winter could last years, with few startups surviving," 2/6/2023].
  • Science explainers making cutting-edge research accessible, such as NASA‘s recent discoveries about the edge of the Solar System ["There’s something strange about the edge of our Solar System," 2/6/2023].
  • Creative video features like the Smart Home showroom tour demonstrating connected gadgets in action ["Welcome to The Verge’s Smart Home showroom," 2/3/2023].
  • Product teardowns providing visual examinations of new devices like Samsung‘s Galaxy S23 Ultra ["Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: torn down to the core", 2/2/2023].
  • Culture commentary at the intersection of tech and entertainment from writers like Alex Cranz ["Tim Cook’s Apple deals with its critics like an android would," 2/1/2023].

Led by co-founder and editor-in-chief Nilay Patel, The Verge delivers tech intelligence with an independent perspective.

7. VentureBeat

VentureBeat is the leading publication for transformative enterprise technology coverage reaching over 45 million readers. It delivers the latest on frontier tech as well as market trends across industries.

Some topics they excel at covering include:

  • AI – news on research, platforms, applications in healthcare, finance, transportation, and more. Pieces like "Microsoft makes progress on using GPT models safely" provide key insights [2/10/2023].
  • Blockchain – cryptocurrency trends, Web3 platforms, metaverse developments, and blockchain opportunities. Their recent NFT brand index highlighted market data ["The state of NFT brand index: Where are the biggest brands now?" 1/12/2023].
  • Cloud computing – product launches from AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure and more. The cloud startup guide helps emerging vendors navigate the ecosystem ["The 8 experts VCs call before investing in a cloud startup," 1/30/2023]
  • Fintech and cybersecurity – security threats, data vulnerabilities, critical infrastructure risks and more. See "Enterprises pushed ‘easy button‘ on multi-cloud security, with disastrous results" [2/14/2023].

With reporters like Kyle Wiggers covering AI, VentureBeat is essential for forward-looking tech coverage.

8. Slashdot

If you‘re a techie seeking the latest on Linux, gaming, computer hardware, and IT security, Slashdot is a long-running tech community.

Launched way back in 1997, Slashdot bills itself as "News for Nerds. Stuff That Matters." With its retro forum feel, the site has an old-school charm. Some key Slashdot topics include:

  • Open source news – Software releases, contributions, trends related to Linux, Mozilla, Creative Commons and more. See the community debate around Docker considering a move to Rust over Go ["Docker Could Drop Go for Rust Because of Slow Build Times," 2/1/2023].
  • Cybersecurity – Hacking exploits, new attack vectors, vulnerabilities in software/hardware. For instance, a piece broke down an NSA cyberattack tool being used by China‘s APT31 ["NSA-Linked Chinese Hacking Group APT31 Now Using NSA Hacking Tools," 1/30/2023].
  • Gaming tech – Graphics cards, gaming laptops, VR headsets, and other enthusiast PC hardware. Check out the discussion of AMD‘s forthcoming RDNA 3 GPU specs ["AMD‘s RDNA 3 GPU Architecture Promises up to 50% Higher Performance Per Watt," 1/4/2023].

With tech veterans like founding editor Rob Malda, Slashdot attracts experienced IT professionals. It‘s a niche yet lively corner of the Internet covering open source, security, and geeky tech.

9. Gizmodo

Gizmodo brings a loose, irreverent perspective to the world of consumer technology and science. Part of G/O media, it tackles everything from gadget rumors to bleeding-edge science with a dose of snark.

Some highlights of their unique tech coverage:

  • Gadget leaks, rumors, and early peeks at unreleased products from iPhone leaks to Star Wars spoilers. For instance, they leaked images of the PlayStation VR2 headset before launch ["Leaked Images Show Off Sony’s Slick New PS VR2 Headset," 1/21/2022].
  • Quirky inventions and scientific discoveries on the fringes of technology. Pieces like "Real Frankensteins Graft Human Scalp Tissue Onto Mice" highlight weird tech [2/14/2023].
  • Commentary and controversy surrounding issues like online censorship, unionization at big tech firms, and government regulation.
  • Fun galleries of images related to tech innovations, visualizations of space discoveries, concept cars of the future and more eye candy.
  • Science fiction analysis through reviews of movies, shows and games as well as their take on real-world scientific breakthroughs.

For offbeat, experimental, and sensational tech coverage, Gizmodo delivers.

10. Engadget

If you‘re researching the latest gadgets and hardware, Engadget should be your go-to with over 55 million readers. Known for rigorous benchmark testing, it delivers expert reviews on laptops, TVs, smartphones, and nearly any techie toy.

Some of Engadget‘s specialties include:

  • Smartphone reviews with detailed performance assessments from display quality to battery benchmarks. Reviews like the "Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra review" offer definitive analysis [2/1/2023].
  • Laptop reviews focused on real-world usage for work, creative tasks, and gaming. The new M2 MacBook Pro review breaks down performance upgrades vs the M1 model [6/29/2022].
  • Evaluating the latest developments in electric vehicles, autonomous driving tech, concept cars of the future and more automotive tech coverage.
  • Cutting-edge audio gear like speakers, headphones and streaming tech put through expert testing. See the Beats Fit Pro review for wireless buds optimized for workouts [11/1/2021].
  • Gaming hardware reviews including monitors, GPUs, accessories and more equipment for PC gamers and console fans.

With experienced reviewers like Cherlynn Low covering personal tech, Engadget evaluates the latest gadgets with technical depth.

Staying on top of the fast-moving tech industry requires following trusted publications with expert reporting and analysis. This list of top tech blogs includes long-running sites as well as relative newcomers bringing fresh perspective.

Bookmark a few of these essential destinations to ensure you get quality journalism, product intelligence, and informed commentary on technology trends in 2024. Let me know if you have any other favorite tech sites I should check out!

Written by Jason Striegel

C/C++, Java, Python, Linux developer for 18 years, A-Tech enthusiast love to share some useful tech hacks.