Bold opening: The year’s best gadgets aren’t just about bigger numbers—they’re about real, everyday improvements you can feel. And this is where the story gets nuanced...
Welcome to ZDNET’s Best of 2025 awards, our annual celebration of the top-performing gadgets and gizmos—from massive 100-inch TVs to sleek smart rings and AI assistants that actually boost productivity.
Over the past year, our team has unboxed, benchmarked, dropped, submerged, and doom-scrolled through hundreds of devices. We’ve worn dozens of smart glasses to grasp the next era of mobile tech—and to keep face-worn tech from feeling like cosplay. We’ve tested enough noise-canceling headphones to rival the roar of a jet engine (and, yes, sometimes our editors argued about brightness nitpicks). We’ve spoken with numerous AI assistants, so we can recall them by voice as if they’re old friends.
If you’re curious about what readers loved most this year, check out: 10 most popular gadgets this year, according to thousands of readers (including surprise picks).
But amid the flood of “Pro,” “Ultra,” and “Max” badges, true breakthroughs often hide in the background. The winners below aren’t just specs on a page; they’re devices that stood up to our real-world tests. Our writers and editors recommend them with confidence.
Here are the 2025 winners, organized by category:
Best smartphone
This year’s selections target the major pain points of earlier models. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 stands out with a reimagined frame; when unfolded, it’s only 4.2 mm thick, delivering a tablet-like experience without the bulk. The upgraded 200 MP main sensor finally brings flagship photography to a foldable format.
Also: The best phones to buy in 2025.
The iPhone 17 was the sleeper hit in Apple’s 2025 lineup, democratizing “Pro” features with a 120 Hz ProMotion display and a dedicated telephoto lens, making it the most compelling base iPhone in years.
Although released later in the year, the Oppo Find X9 Pro earns an award for its optical engineering. It features a 200 MP telephoto sensor that reviewers found delivers lossless clarity at 10x magnification (with the optional Hasselblad lens), setting a new benchmark for mobile telephotography.
Best laptop
This year highlighted specialized performance. The Lenovo ThinkPad X9 Aura Edition is the top choice for enterprise users, offering practical features like Smart Share for instant phone-to-PC file transfers and Shield Mode, which uses eye-tracking to blur the screen when an unauthorized user is detected.
The Alienware 18 Area 51 serves as a genuine desktop replacement, with an 18-inch display and robust cooling that maintains high frame rates without throttling.
Also: The best laptops of 2025.
Meanwhile, the MacBook Air M4 remains a standout for efficiency, now with hardware-accelerated ray tracing that enables gaming performance without sacrificing battery life.
Best AI
Generative AI is moving into professional workflows, unlocking new and powerful uses. Codex is presented as a premier tool for developers, offering advanced code generation and debugging with improved accuracy.
OpenAI’s Sora 2 has refined AI video generation, letting creators produce photorealistic B-roll clips suitable for production.
Also: The best AI chatbots of 2025.
Additionally, Apple expanded Live Translation to new products, such as the AirPods Pro 3, integrating real-time, offline translation directly into the OS for seamless cross-language communication without third-party apps.
Best TV
This year’s home theater focus centered on processing, peak brightness, and a touch of AI. The Sony Bravia 8 II set records in image processing and color accuracy at ZDNET’s labs, using XR upscaling to improve low-bitrate streams with clarity.
The Samsung QN90F, often overlooked next to OLEDs, uses Mini-LED technology to reach high brightness, making it ideal for bright rooms.
Also: Black Friday TV deals are live now with massive sales—here are our 40+ top picks.
For value-minded buyers, the TCL QM8K offers up to 5,000 nits of peak brightness and strong local dimming at a substantially lower price.
Best headphones and audio
Advances in processing power have elevated ANC and overall usefulness. The AirPods Pro 3 stand out for health sensors, including heart-rate monitoring, and real-time in-ear translation features.
The Sony WH-1000XM6 leads the over-ear category in pure noise isolation, thanks to a new 12-microphone array and a faster processor that filter a broader range of frequencies. It’s widely regarded as the ANC benchmark by ZDNET’s audio experts.
Lastly, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 remains a long-haul favorite, introducing Immersion Mode to spatialize stereo for a more natural listening experience.
Best smartwatch and wearable
Wearables have evolved from fitness trackers to comprehensive health monitors. The Google Pixel Watch 4, with Fitbit integration, is recognized for its Loss of Pulse detection and a bright 3,000-nit display that stays visible in bright conditions.
The Apple Watch Series 11 adds non-invasive hypertension notifications, enabling tracking of blood pressure trends without a dedicated cuff.
For those who prefer a discreet form factor, the Oura Ring 4 Ceramic offers clinical-grade sleep tracking in a scratch-resistant ceramic shell that fits a wider range of finger sizes.
Best smart glasses
Smart eyewear has split into use cases: fitness, capture, and display. The Meta Oakley HSTN targets athletes with a voice-activated coaching system and a sweat-resistant build, foregoing a traditional display.
The Meta Ray-Ban 2 markedly improves camera capabilities, delivering 3K video and better low-light performance for social capture, along with longer battery life.
Rokid Glasses provide a high-resolution AR display that behaves like a multi-monitor setup or a theater screen in a lightweight frame, making them strong for productivity and media consumption.
Best tablet
Display technology dominates the top tablets this year. The TCL Nxtpaper 11 Plus features a matte display that reduces glare and blue light, ideal for long reading sessions.
Remarkable Paper Pro merges e-reader and tablet strengths with color E Ink and fast responsiveness, perfect for annotating documents. It’s Remarkable’s premium offering to date.
We also recognize the iPad Pro (2025) for performance gains from the new M5 chip. Coupled with a slim OLED chassis, it’s arguably the most portable high-end tablet available.
Best mobile accessory
Accessories tackle specific pain points. The AAWireless 2 Plus upgrades wireless Android Auto and CarPlay, adding a physical toggle to switch connections between multiple phones easily.
The Nomad Stratos Band combines a titanium exterior with a soft inner rubber for a premium, comfortable fit that feels durable and stylish.
For a charging solution that’s both powerful and versatile, the Baseus Enercore 70W charger includes a retractable USB-C cable for easy packing and quick power.
Best PC accessories
Peripherals this year emphasize display quality and ergonomics. The Dell Alienware 34-inch QD-OLED monitor delivers exceptional color and near-instant response, benefiting both creators and gamers.
The SanDisk 256GB ExtremeFit remains a compact, rugged storage option with fast transfer speeds.
For input devices, the Logitech MX Master 4 refines the productivity mouse with a quieter switch and a familiar electromagnetic scroll wheel for precise control.
Best robot vacuum
Robot vacuums have improved navigation and self-maintenance. The Roborock Saros 10R features an active chassis that can lift to climb thresholds and thick rugs.
The Ecovas Deebot X11 offers a fully automated cleaning experience, with a base station that empties dust, mops with hot water, and detangles the brush roll.
ZDNET’s Maria Diaz notes the Eufy E25 as the best price-to-performance option, using twin-turbine suction to handle carpets well without the premium navigation features.
Best smart home gadget
Smart home devices this year prioritized invisibility and safety. The Level Lock Pro hides its Matter-over-Thread technology inside the door mechanism to preserve the aesthetic of a traditional deadbolt while adding smart functionality.
For a more unusual pick, the Ting Smart Sensor provides electrical-grid monitoring from a single outlet to detect micro-arcs that could spark fires.
Other notable upgrades include the Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro, a portable security camera that emphasizes privacy with local processing and True Color Night Vision for clear identification in low light.
Best security software
Privacy tools have evolved to meet new threats. NordVPN remains a top choice for speed and security, leveraging its NordLynx protocol to support fast streaming and browsing.
Incogni offers a different approach by automating the removal of personal data from data broker databases, effectively shrinking the digital footprint.
Bitdefender earns recognition for low system impact while providing comprehensive malware and phishing protection.
If you’d like more detail or a deeper dive into any specific category, I can expand with examples, use-case scenarios, or quick buyer tips.
