We're at the halfway point of 2012, with a whole slew of new devices coming out in the first six months of the year.

Not surprisingly, Apple is still at the top of its game with the new iPad and a huge update to the iPhone's software in the pipeline.

But what about the rest of the pack?

And what gadgets should you be carrying around with you right now?

We've assembled a list of our favorite gadgets of the year — so far. This is obviously subject to change as new products come out.

This also isn't a definitive list. If there's a kind of gadget missing, let us know in the comments below!

BEST SMARTPHONE: The iPhone 4S.

Price: $200

Sorry, haters, but we cannot, in good conscience, recommend a smartphone other than the iPhone 4S.

The iPhone has a huge network of app developers and more than 600,000 apps on the App Store. The best apps will typically hit the App Store before every other smartphone.

It's also one of the best-designed phones on the market, with a gorgeous display and a some of the best hardware on the market.

Apple also has a huge update to its iPhone software coming out later this year, which will add a bunch of new features — and a brand new mapping application (though we're a little worried about this one).

So far, the only phone that has come remotely close to it is the Galaxy S III — which isn't even out yet.

SMARTPHONE RUNNER UP: The Galaxy S III.

Price: $200

If you absolutely cannot stand the iPhone (or you've had it for so long that you're sick of it), then the Galaxy S III is the next-best thing on the market.

It's packed with some of the best hardware on the market and has a screen that can compete with the iPhone's high-resolution display.

It also has one big advantage on the iPhone: a much bigger screen. Android also runs about as smoothly as the iPhone operating system on the Galaxy S III. These phones are also on a much faster mobile broadband network.

But it is still hard to argue with the impeccable design of the iPhone 4S. Even the last generation iPhone, the iPhone 4, is still one of the best phones on the market thanks to its design.

But most developers opt for the Apple App Store, so you will likely have to wait for the best applications (like Instagram) to appear on Android.

BEST 10-INCH TABLET: iPad with Retina display.

Price: $500

You'd be surprised how much of a difference a high-resolution screen makes when it comes to a tablet.

You're typically holding the device very close to your face, so it's easier to see the effects of a crisp display compared to a computer. It makes just about everything — including web pages and apps, as long as they are specified for that resolution — look absolutely stunning.

On top of that, the iPad still sports top-of-the-line specifications, and beats a lot of the competition on a price-per-quality basis. The iPad starts at $500, while a similar competitor like the Asus Transformer sells for $500 with a much lower-quality screen.

It's disappointing that a competitor has yet to come close to the iPad, but there's plenty in the pipeline from both Google and Microsoft.

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