Best Tech Gadgets of 2025: From Smart Glasses to Folding Phones

2025 has been an incredible year for consumer technology. From folding phones that finally work properly to $99 smartwatches that rival $500 models, the gadget landscape has never been more exciting—or more confusing.

I've tested, researched, and analyzed the top tech releases of 2025 to bring you this definitive guide to the best gadgets you can buy right now. Whether you're a tech enthusiast or just looking to upgrade your daily drivers, this list has something for everyone.

The State of Consumer Tech in 2025

Before diving into specific products, let's understand the major trends shaping 2025's tech landscape:

Key Trends

1. AI Everywhere Artificial intelligence has been woven into nearly every aspect of consumer electronics—from smartphones to TVs. On-device AI chips and improved machine learning algorithms allow gadgets to perform complex tasks locally without cloud dependence.

2. Folding Phones Go Mainstream After years of questionable durability and sky-high prices, folding phones have solidified their place in the market with improved hinge mechanisms and more resilient screens.

3. Wearable Health Revolution Smartwatches, smart rings, and fitness bands now provide real-time health analytics including blood pressure, glucose levels, stress indicators, and comprehensive sleep tracking.

4. Smart Home Maturity Over 57% of US households now have at least one smart home device, and 75% use voice assistants to control their living spaces. The Matter standard has finally delivered on device interoperability.

5. Sustainability Focus Eco-friendly gadgets, renewable materials, and energy-efficient designs are no longer optional—consumers demand sustainable tech.

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Best Smartphones of 2025

1. Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 - Best Folding Phone

Why It's Great: The Razr Ultra addresses nearly every complaint about first-generation foldables. The hinge feels solid, the crease is less noticeable, and the Snapdragon 8 Elite delivers performance that rivals any flagship.

Who Should Buy:

• Style-conscious users wanting something unique
• Anyone nostalgic for flip phones
• People who want compact phones that unfold to full size

Skip If:

• You need best-in-class camera performance
• Battery life is your top priority
• You can't justify the folding phone premium

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2. Google Pixel 9a - Best Budget Smartphone

Price: $499
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (4.5/5)

The Verdict: For $499, the Pixel 9a delivers flagship experiences where it matters: camera quality, software updates, and AI features. It's the smartphone I recommend to most people asking "which phone should I buy?"

Best For: Budget-conscious buyers, students, anyone wanting great cameras without flagship prices

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Best Wearables of 2025

3. Amazfit Active 2 - Best Value Smartwatch

Price: $99
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 for value)

This is the biggest surprise of 2025. A $99 smartwatch that competes with $300+ options.

Key Features:

• 1.32-inch AMOLED display (466 x 466 resolution)
• 14-day battery life
• 120+ sports modes
• GPS, heart rate, SpO2, sleep tracking
• Alexa built-in
• Water resistant to 50 meters

Why It's Revolutionary: Premium features at budget pricing. The Amazfit Active 2 proves you don't need to spend $400+ for a competent smartwatch.

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4. Meta Ray-Ban Smart Glasses - Best Smart Glasses

Price: $329
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Smart glasses finally make sense in 2025.

What They Do:

• Take photos/videos from your perspective
• Listen to music via built-in speakers
• Make phone calls hands-free
• Voice-activated AI assistant (Meta AI)
• Live translation (new in 2025)
• Normal looking Ray-Ban frames

Real-World Use Cases:

• Parents: Capture kid moments without pulling out phone
• Travelers: Hands-free navigation and translation
• Content Creators: POV footage without GoPro bulk
• Professionals: Discreet video calls during commutes

Limitations:

• Battery life: 4-5 hours active use
• Privacy concerns (people don't know you're recording)
• Only works with Meta ecosystem

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5. Oura Ring Gen 4 - Best Health Tracker

Price: $349 + $6/month subscription
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

The Oura Ring pioneered the smart ring category and remains the best.

Health Metrics Tracked:

• Heart rate and HRV (24/7)
• Body temperature trends
• Sleep stages and quality
• Activity and calorie burn
• Stress and recovery scores
• Women's health tracking

Why a Ring vs. Watch:

• No screen = better sleep tracking (no light)
• Lightweight (4-6 grams)
• Battery lasts 5-7 days
• More discreet than smartwatches
• Accurate skin temperature sensing

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Best Smart Home Devices 2025

6. Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium - Best Smart Thermostat

Price: $249
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (4.5/5)

Save money while staying comfortable—the Ecobee pays for itself.

Features:

• Built-in Alexa voice control
• Room sensors included (3-pack)
• Air quality monitoring
• Smart scheduling learns your preferences
• Energy reports show savings
• Works with all major ecosystems (Alexa, Google, Apple HomeKit)

Real Savings: Users report average savings of 23% on heating/cooling costs. At $249, it pays for itself in 1-2 years depending on climate.

Setup Complexity: Moderate (or hire an electrician for $100-150)

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7. Ring Battery Doorbell Pro - Best Video Doorbell

Price: $229
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Security and convenience at your front door.

Key Features:

• 1536p HDR video (clearest doorbell camera)
• Head-to-toe view (taller field of view)
• Color night vision
• 3D motion detection (reduces false alerts)
• Pre-roll video (4 seconds before motion)
• Quick Reply messages for deliveries

Battery Life: 3-6 months depending on activity

Subscription: $4/month for cloud storage (optional)

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Best Computing & Productivity 2025

8. Apple MacBook Air M4 - Best Laptop for Most People

Price: Starting at $1,199
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

The M4 chip makes the MacBook Air an absolute powerhouse.

Performance Highlights:

• M4 chip: 40% faster than M3
• 18-20 hour battery life (real-world)
• Completely silent (fanless design)
• Stunning Liquid Retina display
• Handles 4K video editing smoothly

Who It's For: Students, professionals, creatives, and anyone needing a reliable laptop

Skip the Pro If: You're not doing intensive 3D rendering or 8K video editing. The Air handles 99% of tasks beautifully.

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9. iPad Pro M4 with Apple Pencil Pro - Best Tablet

Price: $999 (11-inch) + $129 (Pencil Pro)
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (4.5/5)

The iPad Pro is essentially a laptop in tablet form.

What's New in 2025:

• Ultra-thin design (5.1mm!)
• Tandem OLED display (stunning)
• M4 chip (laptop-class performance)
• Apple Pencil Pro with squeeze gesture and barrel roll
• Magic Keyboard redesign

Use Cases:

• Digital artists and designers
• Note-taking students
• Media consumption
• Light laptop replacement

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Best Audio & Entertainment 2025

10. Sony WH-1000XM6 - Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones

Price: $399
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Sony continues to dominate noise cancellation.

Improvements Over XM5:

• Even better ANC (40% improvement)
• Multipoint connection (3 devices simultaneously)
• 40-hour battery life
• Superior call quality
• Lighter weight (10% reduction)

Sound Quality: Exceptional across all genres

Comfort: All-day wearability with plush ear cushions

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11. Sonos Era 300 - Best Smart Speaker

Price: $449
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Spatial audio that actually sounds incredible.

Features:

• Dolby Atmos support
• Six-driver array for 3D sound
• Works with all major streaming services
• Pairs with other Sonos speakers
• Built-in voice control (Alexa or Sonos Voice)

Sweet Spot: Pair two for true surround sound experience

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Best Gaming & Entertainment 2025

12. PlayStation 5 Pro - Best Gaming Console

Price: $699 (disc version)
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (4.5/5)

The PS5 Pro delivers the 4K 60fps gaming we were promised.

Upgrades Over Base PS5:

• 67% more GPU compute units
• 45% faster rendering
• Advanced ray tracing (2-3x faster)
• AI-powered upscaling (PSSR technology)
• 2TB SSD storage

Target Audience: 4K TV owners and enthusiasts who want the absolute best console gaming experience

Skip If: You have a base PS5 and don't have a 4K 120Hz TV—you won't notice the difference

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13. Meta Quest 3S - Best VR Headset (Budget)

Price: $299
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

VR gaming at an accessible price point.

Key Features:

• 128GB storage
• Full-color passthrough AR
• Plays entire Quest library
• Standalone (no PC required)
• 2.5-hour battery life

Best VR Games 2025:

• Assassin's Creed Nexus VR
• Resident Evil 4 VR
• Beat Saber (still the best)
• Supernatural Fitness

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Best Health & Fitness 2025

14. Peloton Bike+ - Best Connected Fitness

Price: $2,495 (often on sale for $1,995)
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

The Peloton remains the gold standard for at-home fitness.

2025 Updates:

• Larger 24-inch HD swivel screen
• Auto-resistance matching
• Apple GymKit integration
• Improved speakers
• Better bike computer

Is the Subscription Worth It? $44/month gives you access to:

• Live and on-demand classes
• Strength, yoga, stretching classes
• Outdoor running/walking content
• Meditation and sleep content

Alternative: Peloton Row ($3,195) for full-body workouts

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Best Emerging Tech 2025

15. Rabbit R1 - Most Innovative Gadget

Price: $199
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐½ (3.5/5 - polarizing)

The Rabbit R1 is the most interesting experimental tech of 2025.

What It Does: AI-powered personal assistant in a dedicated device (not an app). Uses Large Action Models (LAMs) to actually complete tasks, not just answer questions.

Real-World Use:

• "Order my usual from DoorDash" → Actually places order
• "Book a flight to NYC next Friday" → Searches and books
• "Find and play my workout playlist" → Opens Spotify and plays

Why It's Polarizing: Half of reviewers say "this should just be an app." The other half love having a dedicated AI device separate from their phone.

Verdict: Wait for v2 unless you love experimental tech

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16. Humane AI Pin - Most Disappointing Launch

Price: $699 + $24/month
Rating: ⭐⭐ (2/5)

I wanted to love this. The reality is disappointing.

The Concept: Wearable AI assistant that projects information and replaces your smartphone for quick tasks.

The Problems:

• Projector barely visible in daylight
• Battery lasts 2-3 hours
• Expensive subscription ($24/month)
• Slow response times
• Overheats frequently

Verdict: Innovative idea, poor execution. Wait several generations.

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17. Rewind Pendant - Best Privacy-Focused AI Wearable

Price: $59 + $19/month
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

A wearable that records everything you say and see—surprisingly useful and less creepy than it sounds.

How It Works:

• Records all audio throughout your day
• Transcribes and indexes everything
• Searchable memory ("What was that restaurant recommendation?")
• AI summaries of meetings
• All processing happens locally (end-to-end encrypted)

Use Cases:

• Never forget a conversation
• Automatic meeting notes
• Remember casual recommendations
• Health journaling via voice

Privacy: All data encrypted, stored locally, you own everything

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Buying Guide: Which Gadgets Should You Actually Buy?

Let me simplify this with recommendation tiers:

Tier 1: Buy Immediately (Universal Recommendations)

Tier 2: Buy If You Need (Category-Specific)

• Folding Phone Curious: Motorola Razr Ultra 2025
• Apple Ecosystem: MacBook Air M4, iPad Pro M4
• Fitness Enthusiast: Peloton Bike+, Oura Ring Gen 4
• Gamer: PlayStation 5 Pro
• Early Adopter: Rewind Pendant

Tier 3: Wait for Next Generation

• Humane AI Pin (needs major redesign)
• Rabbit R1 (interesting but not essential)
• First-gen folding tablets (still too fragile)

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FAQ: Tech Gadget Buying 2025

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Conclusion: 2025's Tech Paradox

We're living through a fascinating moment in consumer technology. On one hand, we have $99 smartwatches that rival $500 models and $499 smartphones with flagship cameras. On the other, we have $699 AI pins that don't work and $999 folding phones still finding their audience.

The Winners of 2025

Best Value Revolution: Amazfit Active 2 ($99 smartwatch)

Most Refined Product: Sony WH-1000XM6 (headphones)

Best Mainstream Innovation: Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 (folding phone that works)

Smartest Purchase: Google Pixel 9a ($499 flagship experience)

Final Advice

1. Don't chase the bleeding edge unless you're an enthusiast
2. Wait for version 2 of experimental tech (Rabbit R1, Humane AI Pin)
3. Prioritize ecosystem compatibility over spec sheets
4. Buy what solves problems not what's cool
5. Refurbished flagship > new budget for phones and laptops

The best tech is the tech you'll actually use. A $99 Amazfit that you wear daily beats a $500 Apple Watch collecting dust.

Happy gadget hunting, and may your Black Friday deals be plentiful!

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Want more tech recommendations? Check out our guides on setting up the perfect smart home, choosing between iPhone and Android, and building a productivity-focused desk setup for 2025.