Past years brought mostly small upgrades, but 2025 brought changes that redefined expectations across several gadgets categories.
Foldable phones finally moved past their experimental phase, laptops launched with more power while becoming lighter and easier to carry. Smartwatches evolved from simple fitness trackers into full health companions.
This year was not just about new ideas, but about refining existing ones. Manufacturers focused on fixing problems; making folding phones slim enough for pockets, extending laptop battery life beyond a full day, and adding smart features that are actually useful in daily life.
Best Gadgets of 2025
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: Best Foldable Phone of the Year
After years of iteration, Samsung delivered its most complete foldable yet with the Galaxy Z Fold 7. The device is just 8.9mm thick when folded and weighs 215 grams, close to a standard flagship phone.
This represents a 26% reduction in thickness compared to the previous model, the biggest leap in the Z Fold’s seven-year history.
The redesigned hinge reduces the screen crease and improves durability. The cover display now uses Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2, while the frame is built with stronger aluminium.
Samsung also fixed one of the Fold’s biggest weaknesses: the camera. The Z Fold 7 now uses the 200MP main sensor from the S25 Edge, producing much sharper photos than earlier models.
It runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy with 12GB of RAM, handling multitasking, gaming and DeX mode smoothly. One UI 8 on Android 16 adds improved Galaxy AI tools, including advanced photo editing and sound removal from videos.
Key Features
- 9mm thick when folded, 4.2mm when open (26% thinner than Z Fold 6)
- 215g weight, lighter than most flagship phones
- 200MP main camera
- 8-inch main display, 6.5-inch cover screen (up to 2,600 nits)
- Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor
- Seven years of OS updates
- New Armour FlexHinge for added strength
Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold: Best Android Phone for Durability and Intelligence
Google took a different path with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, prioritising durability over slimness. With an IP68 rating, it is the first foldable phone that offers full dust and water resistance. The new hinge is twice as strong as its predecessor and is rated for more than 10 years of folding.
At 5.2mm unfolded and 10.8mm folded, it is thicker than the Z Fold 7, but it compensates with features. The 8-inch inner display is the largest on any foldable phone, with both screens reaching nearly 3,000 nits of peak brightness. The 5,015mAh battery delivers over 30 hours of use and supports 30W wired and 15W wireless charging.
Google’s software is the standout. Magic Cue pulls useful information from calendars, emails and messages to make suggestions. Camera Coach helps users improve their photography, while Auto Best Take selects the best shot from group photos. The phone runs on the Tensor G5 chip with 16GB of RAM, tuned for heavy on-device processing.
Key Features
- First foldable phone with full dust and water protection (IP68)
- 8-inch main display, the largest on a foldable
- Hinge rated for 10+ years of use
- 5,015mAh battery with 30+ hours of usage
- Tensor G5 chip optimised for advanced processing
- Wireless charging support
- Seven years of software updates
iPhone 17 Series: Apple’s Most Refined Lineup Yet
Apple’s 2025 iPhone lineup introduced meaningful changes across the board. The base iPhone 17 now features a 6.3-inch display with ProMotion (120Hz), finally bringing smooth scrolling to all models. The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max adopt a refreshed design with a tougher aluminium build and improved thermal performance.
The Pro models feature a redesigned camera system with three 48MP lenses: main, ultra-wide and a new telephoto offering 4x optical zoom and up to 8x through sensor cropping.
This gives the best zoom performance on any iPhone so far. The front camera has also been upgraded to 18MP, using a square sensor that supports flexible orientation.
The biggest surprise is the iPhone Air, a new model positioned between the regular and Pro versions. It is just 5.6mm thick, the thinnest iPhone ever made, and weighs only 165 grams.
All models feature Apple’s N1 chip, enabling Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread support. The A19 and A19 Pro chips power enhanced Apple Intelligence features, while vapour chamber cooling on Pro models improves sustained performance by up to 40%.
Key Features
- ProMotion (120Hz) on all models
- Base model now starts at 256GB storage
- Three 48MP cameras on Pro models with 4x/8x zoom
- 18MP front camera
- Advanced cooling on Pro models
- iPhone Air: 5.6mm thick, 165g
- N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6
Best Wearable: Apple Watch Ultra 3
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is the most advanced smartwatch for fitness enthusiasts and outdoor users. It features the largest display ever on an Apple Watch, up to 42 hours of battery life, and satellite connectivity for emergency messaging when cellular service is unavailable.
The display supports a 1Hz always-on refresh rate, allowing continuous updates without draining the battery. With 3,000 nits of brightness, it remains clear even in direct sunlight. The addition of 5G connectivity improves reliability in weak signal areas.
Apple also expanded health tracking with hypertension notifications that analyse long-term blood pressure trends. Combined with Sleep Score, ECG, SpO2 and cycle tracking, it functions as a comprehensive health monitor.
Key Features
- Largest Apple Watch display with 1Hz refresh rate
- 42-hour battery life (up to 72 hours in Low Power Mode)
- Emergency SOS via satellite
- 5G connectivity
- High blood pressure alerts
- Advanced sleep tracking
- Precise GPS
- Water resistance up to 100 metres
Best Game Console: Nintendo Switch 2
Launched in June 2025, the Nintendo Switch 2 sold more than 3.5 million units in just four days, becoming Nintendo’s fastest-selling console ever. By September, global sales had crossed 10.36 million units.
The console brings major upgrades. It supports 1080p at 120Hz in handheld mode and 4K at 60Hz when docked. The 7.9-inch display is larger, and the new Joy-Con controllers can function like a mouse. Users can also connect a USB mouse directly.
The Switch 2 supports backward compatibility with older Switch games, both physical and digital, though some titles have limitations. Nintendo also added GameCube titles to Nintendo Classics, exclusive to the new console.
Key Features
- 9-inch 1080p display at 120Hz (handheld)
- 4K at 60Hz when docked
- Mouse-style Joy-Con controls
- Backward compatibility with Switch games
- GameCube titles on Nintendo Classics
- Strong launch lineup, including Mario Kart World
Apple MacBook Pro (M4, 2025): Best Performance
Apple’s M4 MacBook Pro represents the peak of laptop performance in 2025. Available in 14-inch and 16-inch sizes with M4, M4 Pro or M4 Max chips, it delivers desktop-level power in a portable design. The base model now starts with 16GB of memory, replacing the earlier 8GB option.
The display received notable upgrades. SDR brightness now reaches 1,000 nits, up from 600 nits, making outdoor work easier. HDR content still peaks at 1,600 nits, and the optional nano-texture finish reduces glare without sacrificing image quality.
Connectivity includes three Thunderbolt ports (Thunderbolt 5 on Pro and Max models), HDMI, an SD card reader and MagSafe charging. The M4 Pro supports two external 6K displays, while the M4 Max supports up to four.
Battery life remains excellent, even under heavy workloads, and the cooling system stays quiet compared to most high-performance laptops.
Key Features
- M4, M4 Pro or M4 Max chip options
- 16GB memory standard
- 1,000 nits SDR and 1,600 nits HDR brightness
- Optional nano-texture display
- Thunderbolt 5 on Pro and Max models
- Up to 128GB RAM and 8TB storage
- All-day battery life with efficient cooling
Dell XPS 16 (2025): Best for Creators
Dell refreshed its flagship laptop in 2025, rebranding it as the Dell 16 Premium. While the name changed, the core design remains similar to the XPS 16, with major upgrades under the hood.
The laptop features Intel Core Ultra 7 255H or Core Ultra 9 285H processors, paired with graphics options ranging from Intel Arc to the RTX 5070. At 19.05mm thick and 2.11kg, it balances power with portability.
Its standout feature is the 16.3-inch 4K OLED touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate and full DCI-P3 colour coverage. Brightness peaks at 484 nits, lower than Mini LED rivals but still suitable for indoor work. All USB-C ports support Thunderbolt 4 at 40Gbps.
Dell retained the signature design elements, including the invisible touchpad and touch-based function keys. While not for everyone, they give the laptop a clean, modern look. The aluminium chassis feels premium and incorporates recycled materials.
Battery life averages six to seven hours under heavy use. Performance improvements from Arrow Lake CPUs and RTX 5070 graphics offer 30–40% gains over the previous generation.
Key Features
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255H or Core Ultra 9 285H
- RTX 5070, 5060 or 5050 GPU options
- 3-inch 4K OLED touchscreen at 120Hz
- 05mm thickness, 2.11kg weight
- Thunderbolt 4 on all USB-C ports
- Up to 64GB RAM and 2TB storage
- Invisible touchpad and touch function keys
Framework Laptop 16 (2025): Best Laptop for Gamers
Framework delivered something unique in 2025: a gaming laptop designed for long-term upgrades. Owners of older models can replace individual parts, extending the device’s lifespan.
The new version features AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 or AI 7 350 processors, offering strong gains in coding and multitasking. The highlight is the upgradeable Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 graphics module, which delivers 30–40% better gaming performance than the previous generation.
Framework also introduced the world’s first 240W USB-C charger, eliminating the need for proprietary power bricks. The modular design allows users to customise ports, keyboards and internal components with ease.
The 16-inch display runs at 2560×1600 resolution with a 165Hz refresh rate, Nvidia G-Sync support and full DCI-P3 colour coverage. Cooling is effective, though fan noise can increase under heavy gaming.
This laptop is not for everyone. Battery life is average, the price is high, and the modular seams are visible. However, for users who value repairability, sustainability and true ownership, it stands apart.
Key Features
- AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 or AI 7 350 processors
- Upgradeable RTX 5070 graphics module
- 16-inch 165Hz display with G-Sync
- Six expansion slots for custom ports
- Modular keyboard layouts
- 240W USB-C charging
- Fully user-replaceable components
Conclusion
Most devices released in 2025 included intelligent features that are genuinely useful. Be it Magic Cue anticipating information, Camera Coach improving photography, or health monitoring running quietly in the background, smart features are becoming essential rather than optional.
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 shows that foldable phones are now practical and ready for wider adoption. Google’s focus on durability with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold reinforces that shift.
The ultra-thin iPhone Air points to another trend: pushing design limits without sacrificing performance. Expect more experimentation in 2026.
Ultimately, the best gadgets of 2025 were not about radical change, but careful refinement. Manufacturers took familiar ideas and made them better, more reliable and more useful. The groundwork is now ready for even bigger innovation in the years ahead.
