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Welcome to 's Best of 2025 awards, our annual ceremony of the year's top-performing gadgets and gizmos, from 100-inch TVs to smart rings to AI chatbots that help you get more done.
Over the last 12 months, our team has unboxed, benchmarked, dropped, submerged, and doom-scrolled on hundreds of devices. We have worn dozens of smart glasses in an attempt to understand the next frontier of mobile technology -- while making face-worn geekery cool again. We have tested enough noise-canceling headphones to block out the sound of a jet engine (and, occasionally, our own editors arguing about nits of brightness). We have spoken to so many AI assistants that we remember each one by voice.
Also: 10 most popular gadgets this year, according to thousands of readers (including surprise picks)
But amidst the deluge of "Pro," "Ultra," and "Max" monikers, true innovation often sat quietly in the background. The winners listed below aren't just specs on a sheet; they are the devices that survived our gauntlet of real-world tests. They are the gadgets our writers and editors recommend with confidence.
Here's the full list of our 2025 winners:
Best smartphone
This year's selections address the most significant pain points of previous generations. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 distinguishes itself with a reimagined chassis; at just 4.2mm thin when unfolded, it offers a standard tablet experience without the bulk, while the upgraded 200MP main sensor finally brings flagship photography to the foldable form factor.
Also: The best phones to buy in 2025
The iPhone 17 was the sleeper hit amongst Apple's flashier-than-usual 2025 lineup for democratizing "Pro" features, gaining the 120Hz ProMotion display and a dedicated telephoto lens, making it the most compelling base iPhone in years.
While released later in the year, the Oppo Find X9 Pro secures an award for its optical engineering, featuring a 200MP telephoto sensor that our reviewers found produces lossless clarity at 10x magnification (with the mountable Hasselblad lens), setting a new benchmark for mobile telephotography.
RECOMMENDS
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7
RECOMMENDS
Apple iPhone 17
RECOMMENDS
Oppo Find X9 Pro
Best laptop
This year's winners focused on specialized performance. The Lenovo ThinkPad X9 Aura Edition is the premier choice for enterprise users, featuring useful features like "Smart Share" for instant phone-to-PC file transfers and "Shield Mode," which utilizes eye-tracking to blur the screen when unauthorized users are detected.
The Alienware 18 Area 51 serves as a true desktop replacement, utilizing an 18-inch display and advanced thermal headroom to sustain high frame rates without throttling.
Also: The best laptops of 2025
Meanwhile, the MacBook Air M4 continues to lead in efficiency, now featuring hardware-accelerated ray tracing, which enables gaming performance without compromising its already impressive battery life.
RECOMMENDS
Lenovo ThinkPad X9 Aura Edition
RECOMMENDS
Alienware 18 Area 51
RECOMMENDS
Apple MacBook Air M4
Best AI
Generative AI has entered professional workflows, and companies are unlocking new and profound ways to utilize the technology. Codex is the premier tool for developers, as 's David Gewirtz can attest, offering advanced code generation and debugging with improved accuracy.
OpenAI's Sora 2 has refined AI video generation, allowing creators to produce photorealistic B-roll clips suitable for production use.
Also: The best AI chatbots of 2025
Meanwhile, Apple continued to expand its Live Translation feature to new products, such as the AirPods Pro 3, integrating real-time, offline translation directly into the operating system, enabling seamless cross-language communication without the need for third-party apps.
RECOMMENDS
OpenAI Codex
RECOMMENDS
OpenAI Sora 2
RECOMMENDS
Apple Live Translation
Best TV
The focus in home theater this year was on processing, peak brightness, and a splash of AI. The Sony Bravia 8 II set records at 's Louisville testing lab in image processing and color accuracy, utilizing the XR chip to upscale low-bitrate streaming content with exceptional clarity.
The Samsung QN90F, although often overlooked in comparison to its OLED siblings, utilizes Mini-LED technology to achieve high brightness levels, making it the optimal choice for well-lit rooms.
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And for our value-leading pick, the TCL QM8K delivers up to 5,000 nits of peak brightness and robust local dimming performance at a significantly lower price point than its competitors.
RECOMMENDS
Sony Bravia 8 II
RECOMMENDS
Samsung QN90F
RECOMMENDS
TCL QM8K
Best headphones and audio
Advancements in processing power have significantly improved active noise cancellation (ANC) and utility. The AirPods Pro 3 are the standout for their integration of health sensors -- capable of heart rate monitoring -- and real-time, in-ear translation features.
The long-awaited Sony WH-1000XM6 leads the over-ear category in pure noise isolation, utilizing a new 12-microphone array and updated processor to filter out a wider range of frequencies. It's the definitive ANC champion, as determined by 's audio experts.
Also: The top 10 headphones readers bought in 2025 (and they're not the usual suspects)
Lastly, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 remains the benchmark for long-haul comfort, introducing a new "Immersion Mode" that spatializes stereo content for a more natural listening experience.
RECOMMENDS
Apple AirPods Pro 3
RECOMMENDS
Sony WH-1000XM6
RECOMMENDS
Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2
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 system and a high-luminance 3,000-nit display that remains visible in harsh lighting.
The Apple Watch Series 11 introduces non-invasive hypertension notifications, allowing users to track blood pressure trends without the need for a dedicated blood pressure cuff.
Also: The best smartwatches 2025
For those preferring a discreet form factor, the Oura Ring 4 Ceramic offers clinical-grade sleep tracking in a scratch-resistant ceramic housing that accommodates a wider range of finger sizes.
RECOMMENDS
Google Pixel Watch 4
RECOMMENDS
Apple Watch Series 11
RECOMMENDS
Oura Ring 4 Ceramic