Have you ever wondered what‘s inside the latest iPhone box or gotten excited seeing someone unbox a new gaming laptop? Unboxing videos give us a first look at hot new gadgets – and tech YouTube channels have turned unboxings into an art!
As smartphones, wearables, gaming rigs and even cars get packed with new features these days, unboxing videos have exploded in popularity. Over half of consumers watch unboxing videos before making major tech purchases now according to McKinsey research.
These videos let us go hands-on with devices virtually and see all the accessories included in the box. Top tech reviewers on YouTube build the excitement and suspense of opening a new high-end gadget we can‘t wait to try.
In this article, I‘ll highlight 10 of my favorite YouTube channels that specialize in tech unboxings and first look videos. As a tech industry analyst for over 20 years, I closely follow all the top gadget reviewers online. I‘ll tell you what sets each popular channel apart and why millions of people subscribe to them.
Let‘s dive in and explore my picks for the top destinations for unboxing videos by tech category!
Smartphone Stardom – Unbox Therapy Leads the Pack
When it comes to high production smartphone unveilings, Unbox Therapy tops the charts. Lewis Hilsenteger has built an unboxing empire with over 18 million subscribers. His iPhone, Galaxy S and Google Pixel videos draw up to 60 million views each!
Lewis definitely has a unique style. He delivers slick videos with a sense of humor packed with specs and feature rundowns. Now he has an entire creative team behind the scenes too. They‘ve expanded into comedy sketches,animations, and even full documentary formats.
But even as Unbox Therapy experiments with new types of content, Lewis still hosts live unboxing specials himself. He flew all the way to Apple headquarters to unveil the iPhone 14 for fans worldwide.
Between 2011 and today, Unbox Therapy has evolved from a solo hobby into a multimedia production house centered around new product launches. Based on Engagement Labs data, Lewis drives more discussion than any other solo tech creator measured.
All smartphone companies court Lewis now to unveil their latest devices. And it‘s easy to see why – his mix of entertainment and insights sparks conversations.
Battle of the Tech Reviewers – MKBHD and UrAvgConsumer
If I had to pick two smartphone and technology channels to recommend overall today, it would be Marques Brownlee (aka MKBHD) and UrAvgConsumer. Both have perfected the art of gadget critiques spiced up with plenty of personality.
MKBHD now has over 16 million loyal followers with billions of total views. He made his name unboxing major new phones and giving us his trademark first impressions. But now Marques covers laptops, smart home tech, electric vehicles, and more.
He was one of the first prominent African American tech celebs on YouTube. And his production quality leapfrogged most creators early on.
UrAvgConsumer, run by former Wall Street analyst Judea Aura, is all about showcasing innovations and inventions regular brands ignore. With over 3 million subscribers, he‘s carved out a distinct niche highlighting offbeat gadgets.
Judea keeps his videos conversational while packing in tons of detail on camera gear, smartphones, drones and VR tech. He also loves featuring cool mods you can do to trick out basic devices.
Both of these channels have benefitted from early access to devices that makers directly sponsor now too. So they stay on top of what‘s coming next.
I always watch MKBHD and UrAvgConsumer videos when making major tech purchases myself. They strike the perfect balance of being informative and approachable as reviewers.
All About Apple – iJustine and Jonathan Morrison
No list of leading tech channels is complete without iJustine. One of the most popular female creators ever on YouTube, Justine Ezarik has attracted over 5 million diehard Apple fans.
She built her audience documenting her obsession with Apple products for over a decade. iJustine snags all the latest iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches and MacBooks to unbox of course.
While her videos focus on all things Apple, Justine covers other categories too now. She posts vlogs about using new gadgets in her everyday life. And she attends major industry events like the annual Consumer Electronics Show to showcase upcoming gear.
If you want to see real-world tips and tricks using Apple kit from someone who knows these devices inside out, iJustine is your best bet. She geeks out over incremental upgrades that power users care most about.
Veteran YouTuber Jonathan Morrison is right up there too when it comes to Apple insight and entertainment. The creator behind channels like TLD and Detroit Borg has amassed over 2 million loyal followers now.
Jonathan unboxes every iPhone model days before the official launch to leak details early. He also tears apart devices on camera to examine their components and specs much closer up.
While he‘s branched out into other categories like smart home tech and productivity gear, Apple device videos still drive most his views. Jonathan has developed secret industry sources over the years who feed him launch intel ahead of time. So his videos offer rare insider perspective.
Custom PC Kings – Linus Tech Tips and Austin Evans
If your obsession is building the ultimate, high-powered gaming PC rather than smartphones, two YouTubers you should follow are Linus Tech Tips and Austin Evans. They specialize in creating crazy custom systems – and their audiences eat up this niche content.
Linus Tech Tips is the largest PC DIY channel on YouTube with over 15 million subs. Linus Sebastian makes detailed tutorial videos showing exactly how to assemble rigs from parts. His team also reviews new GPUs, CPUs, cases and peripherals constantly.
With a giant production facility and special licensing from Intel, Nvidia and other hardware makers, Linus gets exclusive early access to components. He built LMG – Linus Media Group – into a fully-fledged media company now too.
Austin Evans caters to more mainstream tech consumers versus just hardcore gamers. He tackles everything from laptops to tablets to streaming devices on his channel with over 2 million followers now.
But Austin invests tons of time testing components and showing how to construct budget-friendly systems. His custom PC build videos distill everything beginners need to know concisely step-by-step.
Both Linus Tech Tips and Austin Evans also offer great tech buying advice beyond just computers. They post monitor purchasing guides, help choose accessories and keep viewers informed on industry news.
Specialist Channels – Gaming, Phones and More
Beyond multi-category channels, there are several stand-out single-topic YouTube stars too:
- Android Authority – My #1 stop for Android-specific news and reviews from smartphone launches to tablet teardowns. Over 2 million loyal viewers and counting.
- MrWhoseTheBoss – Arun Maini entertains over 3 million subscribers with his offbeat sense of humor while unboxing gadgets.
- TechnoBuffalo – Jon Rettinger brings over 1 million followers hands-on smartphone videos with his own mark of comedy.
- TLD Today – Jonathan Morrison mixes Apple insight with gaming gear critiques for 2 million viewers.
While I watch these channels myself, my recommendations focus on either broader tech reviewers or PC building specialists. Let me know if you want me to profile other YouTube genre dominators in future posts!
I hope you‘ve discovered at least a few new YouTube channels to help guide your next computer or smartphone purchase from this list. Let me know if you have any other questions – I‘m happy to provide personal recommendations based on brands or models you‘re researching anytime!
