Eliana Willis

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One of the great things about this job is that I get to write about all sorts of gadgets. Many times, the stuff that catches my eye isn’t the hot-ticket item like a new iPhone, but the smaller, stranger, more obscure stuff. These are things you might never have known existed, but they enter your life and change it for the better.And looking at the list of top-selling gadgets (by number of units sold through our story links) that ZDNET readers have been buying in 2025, it seems that readers share my taste for smaller, more obscure gadgets that turn out to be super useful in their own way. So let’s take a quick look at what our readers have been buying this year. (Your privacy is protected — we only have access to aggregate data from our user base, and there is no way for us to identify individual people’s purchases.)Also: 10 DIY gadgets I never leave out of my toolkit (and why each one earns its spot)Who knows, maybe there’s something here that will catch your eye or that you missed. Some are also on sale for Black Friday (you can find my favorite gadget deals live now, too).
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If you’ve ever been in an area with low or no service, you’ve probably noticed your battery drops quickly. That’s because your iPhone is constantly scanning to locate and connect to a cell tower, and that consumes power. Cellular data also uses more energy than Wi-Fi, since it has to transmit and receive signals over long distances and maintain connections with distant towers. In short, cellular connections can drain your battery, fast. If you need to conserve power, switch to Wi-Fi, but be cautious on public networks.How to use Wi-Fi over cellular on iPhone:Open Settings > Wi-Fi and toggle it on, and then join a known network.In Settings > Cellular, toggle off Cellular Data.Optional: In Settings > Cellular, disable Wi-Fi Assist to prevent auto-fallback to cellular. More

Current price: Starting at $20 (up to 50% off) Original price: Starting at $40 This isn’t a tech product, but it’s one of my most frequently used items of all time. My Stanley tumbler was worth every penny I spent, and I paid full price. It’s ludicrously capricious, sure, but as a WFH employee, it’s an excellent way to keep myself hydrated during the day and encourage drinking more water. Hydration, of course, is crucial to physical wellness, which is why I feel justified in including this deal on the list. Plus, when tons of colors in both the 30-oz and 40-oz variations are on sale for 50% off, it’s too good to pass up. I already purchased three of these — one to gift this Christmas and two others to use later in the year as gifts for other events. I’ve gifted these several times and always love filling them with small goodies. Everyone loves them because they keep drinks cold and are completely dishwasher-safe, and they last a long time with proper care. You can’t beat getting one for $20.  More

Google Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source<!–> on Google. ZDNET’s key takeaways Android and iPhone users can now share files. Currently, only Pixel 10 phones support the feature. Google says it will expand the tech to other Android devices. I use an iPhone as my primary mobile device. From my phone, I can easily share […] More

Asus ExpertBook P3 <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Asus ExpertBook P3 is currently on sale at the company’s website for $1,230. It’s a great laptop, boasting a compact design, a long-lasting battery, and powerful speakers. However, the dull display and weak webcam keep it from being a perfect all-rounder. more buying choices Follow ZDNET: Add us […] More

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Bim/iStock/Getty Images Plus Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source<!–> on Google. ZDNET’s key takeaways Ghost tapping tries to exploit tap-to-pay to steal your money. The scammer targets physical payment cards and mobile wallets. The scam can be hard to pull off, but scammers persist. Tapping to pay for an item using your phone’s […] More