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Welcome to ZDNET’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.
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.
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 ZDNET’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.
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 ZDNET’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.
Also: Black Friday TV deals are live now with massive sales: Here are our 40+ top picks
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.
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 ZDNET’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.
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.
Best smart glasses
Smart eyewear has bifurcated into distinct use cases: fitness, capture, and display. The Meta Oakley HSTN is designed for athletes, eschewing a display in favor of a voice-activated coaching system and a sweat-resistant build.
The Meta Ray-Bans 2 vastly improve upon their predecessor’s camera capabilities, offering 3K video recording and enhanced low-light performance for social capture. Not to mention, longer battery life, which benefits every user.
Also: Which Meta Ray-Bans model should you buy? I tested both pairs, and here’s how to decide
Rokid Glasses are the ideal choice for productivity and media consumption, offering a high-resolution AR display that mimics a multi-monitor setup or a theater screen in a lightweight frame.
Best tablet
Display technology defines this year’s top tablets. The TCL Nxtpaper 11 Plus features a unique matte display texture that eliminates glare and reduces blue light, making it ideal for extended reading sessions.
While the Remarkable Paper Pro bridges the gap between e-readers and tablets by introducing color e-ink with high responsiveness, perfect for document annotation. It’s Remarkable’s most premium offering yet.
Also: These are the 10 most popular tablets our readers bought this year (No. 1 is an older model)
We recognize the iPad Pro (2025) for its performance improvements thanks to the new M5 chipset. Paired with the ultra-thin OLED chassis, this is easily the most portable high-performance tablet currently available.
Best mobile accessory
These accessories solve specific friction points for mobile users. The AAWireless 2 Plus is a vital upgrade for vehicle infotainment, featuring a physical toggle that allows users to instantly switch the wireless Android Auto or CarPlay (finally!) connection between multiple phones.
The Nomad Stratos Band offers superior build quality, combining a durable titanium structure with a soft FKM rubber interior for a blend of aesthetics and comfort. It’s a blend of materials that works surprisingly well together, bringing about a premium-looking yet comfortable wearable experience.
Also: 10 most popular gadgets this year, according to thousands of readers
For a powerful and versatile charger, the Baseus Enercore 70W charger is notable for its integrated retractable USB-C cable, offering a streamlined charging solution for laptops and phones.
Best PC accessories
In the peripherals category, display technology and ergonomics took center stage. The Dell Alienware 34-inch QD-OLED monitor is our top pick for visual fidelity, offering infinite contrast ratios and near-instant response times that benefit both creative workflows and gaming.
The SanDisk 256GB ExtremeFit remains a vital tool, offering SSD-grade transfer speeds in a rugged, compact form factor.
Also: Upgrading your office? 12+ accessories that turned my laptop into the ultimate work machine
For input devices, the Logitech MX Master 4 refines the industry-standard productivity mouse with an improved “Quiet Click” switch mechanism and a familiar electromagnetic scroll wheel for precise navigation.
Best robot vacuum
Robotic cleaners have improved their navigation and self-maintenance capabilities. The Roborock Saros 10R features an active chassis system that can lift the unit to climb over high thresholds and thick rugs.
Then there’s the Ecovas Deebot X11, which provides a fully automated cleaning experience, featuring a base station that empties dust, washes and mops with hot water, and automatically detangles the brush roll.
Also: Best robot vacuum mops of 2025
Lastly, ZDNET’s Maria Diaz believes the Eufy E25 offers the best price-to-performance ratio, utilizing twin-turbine suction to clean carpets effectively without the premium price of advanced navigation features.
Best smart home gadget
The best smart home devices this year focused on invisibility and safety. The Level Lock Pro conceals its Matter-over-Thread technology within the door mechanism, preserving the aesthetic of a standard deadbolt while providing smart functionality.
For something more unusual, we voted in the Ting Smart Sensor, a safety-focused device that monitors a home’s electrical grid from a single outlet to detect micro-arcs that could lead to fires.
Also: My favorite 8 smart home upgrades of the year (and why they’ve already paid for themselves)
Lastly, any smart home owner would find use in the Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro, a portable security camera that prioritizes privacy with local video processing and “True Color Night Vision” for clear identification in low-light scenarios.
Best security software
Privacy tools have adapted to new threats. NordVPN remains the top choice for speed and security, using its proprietary NordLynx protocol to maintain high throughput for streaming and browsing.
Incogni offers a distinct service by automating the removal of personal data from broker databases, effectively reducing the user’s digital footprint.
Also: Best VPN services 2025
Bitdefender is recognized for its low system impact, providing comprehensive malware and phishing protection without compromising PC performance.
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Source: Robotics - zdnet.com
