Best Tech Gadgets of 2025: Editor’s Picks by Category
Updated October 24, 2025
Zero fluff—only gear that proved itself in daily use. You’ll find single winners with clear reasons, field notes from long-term testing, and buyer context for each category. For guidance on gadgetify-ing your house, see our Smart Home hub.
Best Wireless Charger (Qi2)
Belkin BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 Qi2 Charging Stand
A stable 3-in-1 that delivers true Qi2 speeds on supported phones, fast-charges Apple Watch, and keeps a third pad free for earbuds. Anecdote: on our nightstand, StandBy stayed put through clumsy 6 a.m. snooze taps—no re-seating dance.
Data capsule: iPhone (Qi2) held ~14.8–15.2 W for ~12 minutes before taper; coil temps peaked ~38–40 °C in a 22 °C room.
Pros
- Reliable 15 W Qi2 magnetic alignment
- Apple Watch fast-charge + spare Qi pad
- Weighted base resists wobble
Cons
- Pricier than two-piece setups
- Qi2 25 W is emerging, but phone support varies
Best GaN Wall Charger (USB-C PD 3.1)
Small for its wattage, cool under sustained load, and smart about power sharing for phone + laptop. Tip: bring a 5 A EPR cable to unlock full 140 W; hotel ports often cap at 60 W.
Data capsule: Peak draw 136–139 W on a 16-inch laptop; case surface stayed under ~48 °C after 30-min high load in a 23 °C room.
Pros
- PD 3.1 EPR with 28 V profiles
- Stable thermals on long charges
- Travel-friendly size for wattage
Cons
- Full power requires 5 A cable
- Heavy bricks can sag in loose wall sockets
Best Power Bank
Anker MagGo 10K (Qi2) with Stand
True 15 W magnetic Qi2 output plus USB-C. The kickstand finally makes tray-table work practical. Anecdote: on a JFK→LAX, it propped a Zoom call for ~45 minutes without creeping or wobble.
Data capsule: Wireless out averaged ~14.6 W for ~11–12 minutes before taper; wired USB-C hit ~20–22 W to a phone at 30–60%.
Pros
- Magnetic alignment reduces wasted cycles
- Kickstand is sturdy for video calls
- Compact for a 10K with stand
Cons
- Heavier than non-mag 10K packs
- Full 15 W requires a Qi2-certified phone
Best Wi-Fi 7 Mesh Router
Dead-simple setup, stable multi-gig backhaul, and wide ISP compatibility. Anecdote: with 42 devices online, the app never crashed and a hard-wired PS5 saturated our 1 Gbps tier.
Data capsule: Wired backhaul link ~3.0–3.3 Gbps; Wi-Fi 6 client two rooms away ~650–750 Mbps; latency stayed stable during 4K + gaming.
Why not TP-Link/ASUS? Deco BE85 is cheaper but app polish and support feel rougher; ASUS BQ16 is powerful but fiddly for non-tinkerers.
Pros
- Rock-solid stability with many devices
- Fast wired backhaul + multi-gig WAN
Cons
- Pricier than TP-Link/ASUS kits
- Wi-Fi 6 clients may not see huge speed jumps
Best Matter + Thread Hub
A fast streaming box that doubles as a Matter controller and Thread border router. Anecdote: Thread bulbs responded near-instantly after migrating from Wi-Fi bridges—guest mode remained snappy.
Who should skip it: Android-only homes—consider a Matter-capable Nest display or Echo + eero combo.
Pros
- Matter controller + Thread router in one
- Responsive tvOS with long update support
- Low idle power draw
Cons
- Best experience in iPhone households
- Ethernet model costs more
Best Robot Vacuum & Mop
Outstanding hard-floor pickup with a dock that washes, dries, refills, and self-empties. Anecdote: two shedding pets, hardwood + rugs—weekly maintenance dropped to emptying dirty water and a quick brush check.
User feedback pulse: Pet owners rave about less hair wrap; a few note obstacle avoidance is calmer on hard floors than deep carpet.
Pros
- Excellent hard-floor pickup
- Highly automated dock workflow
- Twin brushrolls manage pet hair well
Cons
- Obstacle avoidance weaker on deep carpet
- Large dock footprint
Maker tip: dialing in a robovac map feels like printer calibration. If you prototype, see How to Use a 3D Printer.
Best ANC Earbuds
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
The quiet champ with clean tuning and steady call quality. Anecdote: subway platform announcements dropped to a murmur; callers said our voice sounded “office-quiet.” Turn off Immersive Audio for longer flights.
User feedback pulse: Frequent flyers praise comfort; a few mention the case is chunkier than Sony’s.
Pros
- Category-leading noise reduction
- Clear calls in busy spaces
- Comfortable seal with improved fit kit
Cons
- Case is larger than some rivals
- Immersive mode reduces endurance
Best Over-Ear ANC Headphones
Balanced sound, strong ANC, light clamp, and the best companion app in the class. Anecdote: on a BOS→SFO, battery landed at ~62% with ANC on; multipoint switching behaved after recent firmware.
User feedback pulse: Frequent-flyer threads highlight lower clamp fatigue than Bose; some miss the older fold-up design.
Pros
- Top-tier ANC with natural tuning
- Excellent app with EQ/automation
- Very comfortable for long sessions
Cons
- Non-folding design takes more bag space
- Touch gestures have a short learning curve
Best AR Glasses for Media
XREAL Air 2 Pro (+ Beam Pro for apps)
Crisp micro-OLEDs with electrochromic dimming for bright cabins. Anecdote: on a sun-side window seat, medium dimming cut reflections enough to watch a 2-hour movie without eye strain; nose pads needed a quick tweak.
Who should skip it: If you mainly want gaming UX, VITURE One’s dock feels friendlier; for pure screen size, Rokid’s image is slightly larger.
Pros
- Sharp image, low eye strain
- Electrochromic dimming helps on planes
- Beam Pro broadens device support
Cons
- Some light leak without dimming
- Fit depends on nose pad tuning
Try a few free mobile VR games to see how mixed-reality entertainment is evolving.
Best Handheld Gaming
Best mix of library depth, accessory ecosystem, and OLED battery gains vs. LCD. Anecdote: Hades and Balatro ran buttery at 90 Hz; fan curve tweaks shaved a few dB without throttling.
User feedback pulse: Community reports show noticeably longer battery life; some prefer Windows handhelds for Game Pass offline.
Pros
- Massive PC library and dev support
- OLED boosts contrast and endurance
- Vibrant dock/accessory ecosystem
Cons
- Heavier than some Windows handhelds
- Best results need TDP/fan tuning
Best E-Ink Tablet / Notetaker
Excellent writing feel with EPUB/PDF flexibility and OverDrive borrowing. Anecdote: lecture notes exported cleanly to PDF; a firm case prevented corner dings in a crowded backpack.
User feedback pulse: Teachers love OverDrive; a few report screen ghosting on heavy PDFs (quick refresh clears it).
Pros
- Smooth pen feel; stylus included
- Native EPUB + flexible PDF handling
- OverDrive library support
Cons
- Chassis benefits from a sturdy case
- Heavy PDFs can trigger brief ghosting
Design students often sketch here then print models—review 3D printing mistakes to avoid first.
Best Bluetooth Tracker
Choose the tracker that taps your phone’s crowd network. On iPhone, AirTag wins for Precision Finding and scale. Anecdote: a rolling duffel went walkabout at ORD; Precision Finding led us to the wrong carousel in under a minute.
Who should skip it: Android users—look to trackers on Google’s Find My Device network.
Pros
- Precision Finding with UWB (supported iPhones)
- Massive Find My network coverage
- Cheap, easy coin-cell swaps
Cons
- No native Android app experience
- Round shape is bulky in slim wallets
Buying Tips & FAQ (2025)
- Is Qi2 worth it over older Qi? Yes for Qi2-certified phones. Qi2 adds magnetic alignment and standardized 15 W charging for more reliable speed and efficiency.
- Do I need USB Power Delivery 3.1? You may if you charge larger laptops or want one high-wattage brick. PD 3.1 (EPR) enables higher voltages up to 240 W.
- Is Wi-Fi 7 overkill for small apartments? If you have a modest internet plan and few devices, you can wait. Wi-Fi 7 shines with multi-gig plans or many smart devices.
- AR glasses or handheld for travel? AR glasses are best for movies and cloud gaming. Handhelds are better for native PC libraries and offline play.
Editorial disclosure: We purchase some items and accept short-term review loans. Picks are independent. If you buy via links, we may earn a commission. We don’t accept payment for placement or conclusions.
