Engadget's best of 2025

Read our Pixel 10 Pro review

With its capable cameras, helpful software features, attractive, premium build and long-lasting battery, the Pixel 10 Pro is an excellent, well-rounded smartphone. Of course, for anyone that’s an iPhone diehard, this title probably means nothing, but the tenth-generation Google smartphone should make any Android user question their allegiances. The Pixel 10 Pro offers support for Qi2 wireless charging, including MagSafe compatibility, and Google’s line of Pixelsnap accessories are thoughtfully designed in a way that even rivals some of Apple’s own magnetic attachments. Oh and Samsung? Forget about it — a Galaxy flagship that supports magnetically attached accessories doesn't yet exist. 

While Gemini might feel a little too in your face on Google’s other software products and services, on the Pixel phones the AI proves genuinely helpful. There are photography-centric features like Add Me or Camera Coach, for example, while the Magic Cue feature that surfaces shortcuts and actions in your messages or calls based on what you’re saying can reduce a ton of friction. It’s as if Google actually thought about how people use their phones rather than how to include tired generative AI tools like summarizing, proofreading or rewriting into the device. The Pixel 10 Pro’s suite of software showcase just how AI should be implemented in our lives, and in 2025, this helped set it apart from the sea of other phones on the market. — Cherlynn Low, Managing Editor

Read our iPhone 17 Pro review

While the Pixel 10 Pro got the highest score of all the smartphones we reviewed this year, the iPhone 17 Pro is worth a mention. When deciding what result to award the Apple flagship, I looked at the competition (like I usually do). While it’s hard to compare an iOS device directly to an Android one, it was clear the Pixel had the advantage thanks to its AI features that are actually helpful.

But the race was close, and the iPhone 17 Pro is a significant plot twist in Apple’s playbook, eschewing a more-premium glass-and-titanium design in favor of a sturdier-looking aluminum case. Despite criticisms around its propensity for scratches or pointedly not-as-elegant appearance as the iPhone Air, the iPhone 17 Pro is Pro where it matters. Its A19 Pro processor deftly handled AI image generation and other intensive tasks, all while keeping relatively cool under pressure thanks to a new vapor chamber. Its triple 48-megapixel camera system is the best out of all of Apple’s phones and makes shooting much more versatile. Throw in the unique and genuinely useful Center Stage selfie camera, respectable battery life and an eye-catching new color option and the iPhone 17 Pro is easily the best iPhone around, and fell just short of the best smartphone title. — C.L.

Read our Galaxy Z Fold 7 review

As much as I appreciate Google's software and AI tools on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, the design of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 just can't be denied. Samsung put an even larger 8-inch flexible OLED screen inside an impossibly thin chassis that measures 4.2mm thick (or 8.9mm folded) and weighs 7.5 ounces. That's even lighter and practically just as thin as its closest sibling — the Galaxy S25 Ultra — and the design update finally solves one of the biggest issues with foldables as a category: their extra bulk. On top of that, you also get great performance from its Snapdragon 8 Elite chip and strong battery life. The only drawback is that it's still really expensive at $2,000. But make no mistake, if you want the best foldable phone on the market right now, it's hands down the Galaxy Z Fold 7. — Sam Rutherford, Senior Reviews Reporter

Read our MacBook Air M4 review

The MacBook Air has been one of our favorite laptops for years, and now it’s even more accessible with a lower starting price of $999. While Apple hasn’t changed the Air’s design over the last few years, it’s still one of the thinnest and well-designed laptops on the market. And with the addition of Apple’s M4 chip, it’s faster than ever. There’s also a new 12-megapixel Center Stage camera, which makes video calls sharper and more dynamic. While we’ve seen lighter computers from a few PC makers, they almost always compromise power and battery life somehow — not so with the Air. It can render videos in a pinch and it’s zippy for most productivity tasks. The MacBook Air’s fan-less design also makes it absolutely silent, though that also means you’ll have to avoid getting it too hot with serious workloads. — Devindra Hardawar, Senior Reviews Reporter

Read our Dell 14 Premium review

Even though it's not an XPS anymore, the Dell 14 Premium still has the same design from when it was. Not only does that make this system the last member of one of the most iconic gadget lineages ever, it also ticks all the right boxes for an ultraportable laptop. It features a super sleek design with the right number of ports, support for both touch and non-touch displays (including a vivid OLED panel), above-average battery life and a great keyboard. You can even configure it with discrete graphics, which gives you extra oomph for editing videos or playing games. And while they might not be everyone's favorite feature, Dell's capacitive touch buttons and seamless trackpad are a lovely addition. With the Dell 14 Premium slated to get a redesign next year, the current model is both a tribute to its predecessors and a smart buy. — S.R.

Read our Apple Watch Series 11 review

Apple didn’t do much to advance its smartwatch this year — at least, on the outside. But it brought one crucial thing to the Series 11: increased battery life. That, together with watchOS 26 updates, new hypertension notifications, as well as a nifty and responsive wrist flick gesture, helped cement its place atop the smartwatch pile.

The Apple Watch Series 11 might not be the prettiest (that may well be the Pixel Watch 4), but it has some of the nicest watch faces on the market. Its ability to remotely control and work with iPhones is, obviously, unrivaled, making it the best smartwatch to use with any iOS device. Of course, those on Android should still opt for one from Google or Samsung instead. If you’re looking for an Apple smartwatch that should serve most of your needs (meaning you don’t need an ECG, for example), you should consider the Apple Watch SE 3, which finally has an always-on display. Otherwise, the Apple Watch Series 11 is easily the best smartwatch we’ve reviewed this year. — C.L.

Read our iPad Air review

While Apple's just-updated iPad Pro M5 is a stupefyingly good tablet, it's also incredibly expensive, to the point that it'll be overkill for most potential buyers. Fortunately, the company has an alternative that gets you 90 percent of the way there. The iPad Air comes in 11- and 13-inch sizes, just like the iPad Pro, and has the M3 chip inside. That’s not Apple’s most cutting-edge technology, but in my experience the M3 is more than powerful enough for anything you’ll want to do with an iPad. More casual tasks like gaming, writing, browsing, watching videos and generally using the thousands of great apps in the App Store are no issue. And it can tackle more involved workloads like editing video, creating music or working with various AI-tools without a challenge as well.

It’s extremely versatile, as the Apple Pencil Pro makes it the best drawing tablet on the market (aside from the iPad Pro). The Magic Keyboard is an expensive accessory, but it also offers a great typing experience without having to worry about pairing or charging. My only real complaint with the iPad Air is that its 60Hz LED touchscreen could use an update. But other than that, the iPad Air is the best tablet (and certainly the best iPad) you can buy. — Nathan Ingraham, Deputy News Editor

Read our Mac Studio M4 Max review

Apple’s Mac Studio M4 Max is a content creation beast at a surprisingly reasonable price. With a high-end M4 Max processor, it delivers some of the highest synthetic benchmark scores we’ve seen. More importantly, it offers rapid and fluid real-world performance for demanding creator apps including DaVinci Resolve and Adobe Lightroom, along with AI programs that run locally like Bolt AI. It has generous expansion available for storage, monitors and accessories with six USB-C ports, including four high-speed Thunderbolt ports, along with HDMI and ethernet. It’s even decent as a gaming machine for the few titles available on macOS. Pricing is competitive, with the sweet spot being the $2,500 M4 Max model with a 16-core CPU and 40-core GPU, plus 48GB of unified memory. The main downside is Apple’s typical lack of upgradeability compared to Windows PCs, so choose your configuration wisely. — Steve Dent, Contributing Reviews Reporter

Read our Switch 2 review

The old adage goes "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." But in the world of tech where the number of transistors doubles every two years and gamers demand better and better graphics, that mantra doesn't quite translate. For the Switch 2, instead of reworking the entire device, Nintendo retained the basic design and spirit of the original while making everything else better. It has much faster performance, a brighter screen with a higher refresh rate, more storage and an improved kickstand. But the real icing on the cake is Nintendo's new magnetic attachment system for the Switch 2's Joy-Con, which makes taking its controllers on and off incredibly easy. Despite a countless number of copycats that have emerged since the original came out, the Switch 2 is carrying on its predecessor's legacy as the best hybrid console for home and on the road. — S.R.

Read our Sony WH-1000XM6 review

Somehow, Sony manages to keep making the best wireless headphones even better. The company's WH-1000XM6 is the latest entry in a long line of impressive audio devices with improvements to sound quality, active noise cancellation (ANC) and fit. Sony has also amasses a truckload of handy features, like automatic sound adjustments and DSEE upscaling, that its rivals simply can't match. Some of those still need work (Speak-to-Chat, for example), but there's plenty of options to help you fine-tune your sound or allow the headphones to automatically change settings throughout the day. Sure, you can find better ANC and better sound individually elsewhere, but none of the competition offers a complete package that's as good as the WH-1000XM6. — Billy Steele, Deputy Reviews Editor

Read our AirPods Pro 3 review

Active noise cancellation (ANC) powers much of what makes the AirPods Pro 3 the best earbuds we reviewed this year. From pure noise-blocking ability to Live Translation and hearing health, Apple's ANC tech is used in various ways besides just blocking environmental noise. The company also improved sound quality in this model and it's transparency mode offers the most natural sound you'll find anywhere. Factor in extended battery life on a single charge and the new foam-infused ear tips and there's a significant overhaul to some familiar-looking earbuds. — B.S.

Read our AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D review

AMD’s Ryzen 9 9950X3D is the ultimate desktop CPU for creators and gamers alike. It features 16 CPU cores, a 4.3GHz base clock speed and a 5.7Ghz boost speed. But what makes it special is its 144MB of L2 and L3 cache using AMD’s 3D V-Cache technology. Compared to the standard 9950X, which has 80MB of cache, the 9950X3D has more room to tackle processing loads without hitting RAM, something that could take eight to ten times as long according to AMD. It’s also an ideal option if you’re streaming and running intensive games at the same time. While it’s far from a great deal at $700, if you can afford it, the 9950X3D is the best desktop CPU you can buy today. — D.H.

Read our NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti review

In a year that’s seen strong competition from AMD’s Radeon RX 9070 line, NVIDIA’s RTX 5070 Ti still comes out on top as a serious 4K gaming performer. It’s noticeably faster than the RTX 4070 Ti, and thanks to the power of NVIDIA’s DLSS 4 AI upscaling and frame generation technology, it can also deliver high frame rates in demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077. The RTX 5070 Ti is an ideal option if you actually want to game in 4K, or if you want to satisfy the demands of high refresh rate monitors, like LG’s insane 480Hz Ultragear. Just watch out for price gouging, as plenty of retailers are pushing the RTX 5070 Ti well beyond its $750 MSRP. — D.H.

Read our DJI Mavic 4 Pro review

DJI’s Mavic 4 Pro is easily the most advanced drone on the market, with the best video quality, obstacle detection and subject tracking. The trademark feature is the triple-camera “Infinity Gimbal” module that can rotate freely for improved stabilization and interesting camera angles. The new Four Thirds main camera shoots up to 6K 10-bit D-Log video at 60 fps or 4K at 120 fps. The result is sharp video with high dynamic range, even in low light situations. At the same time, it houses a 70mm 1/1.3-inch (2x) and a 168mm (5x) camera. The Mavic 4 Pro is best in class for obstacle detection with six sensors and a new LiDAR sensor that works even at night. And no drone can follow subjects better, letting you capture swooping video while manually controlling camera moves. Other key features include up to 460GB of internal storage, 51 minutes of battery life and 18.6 miles of transmission range. It’s available with the new RC-2 foldable controller with a bright and sharp 7-inch HDR display. The primary drawback is the price that starts at $2,999, largely due to tariffs. — S.D.

Read our Sony A1 II review

Though very expensive, Sony’s A1 II is the best hybrid mirrorless camera in the world. It offers improved handling over the original A1 and includes flagship features like a 9.44-million-dot EVF, 8.5 stops of in-body stabilization and dual SD-UHS II and CFexpress memory card slots. Inside, it packs Sony’s awesome stacked 50MP sensor. With high readout and capture speeds, the camera allows RAW burst shooting at up to 30 fps, matching or beating its main competition. It also has the fastest and most accurate autofocus of any mirrorless camera, keeping even fast moving subjects sharp. Sony’s latest AI features lock onto human eyes and faces with uncanny accuracy, while also tracking birds, animals and vehicles. The A1 II is also an outstanding creator camera with the ability to capture up to 10-bit 8K 30 fps log video or 4K at 120 fps. The main drawbacks with the A1 II is that it is largely the same as the original A1 and very expensive at nearly $7,000 for the body only. — S.D.

Read our Ray-Ban Meta (2nd gen) review

Smart glasses have come a long way in the last year, and the second-generation Ray-Ban Meta frames offer the best mix of what most people will want in a pair. The glasses blend classic Ray-Ban style with a solid camera, open-ear speakers and Meta's increasingly capable AI assistant. The latest-generation frames also add a noticeable boost to battery life and video quality. And with third-party app integrations, new camera modes and Meta AI upgrades on the horizon, there's a lot to look forward to.

All that said, smart glasses still aren't quite mainstream, and these devices don't make sense for everyone. If you typically wear prescription lenses, then fitting out a pair will cost quite a bit extra. Plenty of people also have understandable concerns about the privacy implications of these devices. But if you're even a little curious about what a great pair of smart glasses can do, it doesn't get any better than the second-gen Ray-Ban Meta frames. — Karissa Bell, Senior Reporter

Read our Anker Nebula X1 review

The best consumer projector you can buy right now, both for indoor and outdoor use, is Anker’s Nebula X1. It has a three-laser engine inside that beams out a category-leading 3,500 ANSI lumens at 4K resolution. At the same time, it offers impressive color accuracy and is one of the rare projectors that supports Dolby Vision HDR. With all that, it’s bright enough to comfortably watch a soccer match on a sunny day without the shades lowered or enjoy a movie in a darkened room exactly as the creators intended. Audio quality is solid too thanks to the four built-in speakers with 40 watts total output or 200 watts with the optional Nebula-branded satellite speakers. Another nice feature is built-in Google TV that includes a Netflix app with supports for 4K Dolby Vision HDR content. The main negative point is the $3,000 price tag and lack of Dolby Atmos support. — S.D.

Read our Ninja Swirl review

The Ninja Swirl is the definition of a luxury kitchen gadget. The original model could already make ice cream, and it did so quite well. Does the ability to make soft serve justify a big price hike alongside a significantly larger machine? Not really. But the first time you pull down that lever and dispense a frozen treat that would otherwise be incredibly difficult to make at home, you instantly realize why the Swirl exists. It's a magical device that turns milk, sugar and anything else you toss in into edible magic. And hey, if you want to use it to make milkshakes, fruit whips or any other icy treat you can think of, it can do that too. You may not need the Ninja Swirl, but you definitely want what it makes. — S.R.

Read our ThermoWorks RFX review

Temperature is everything in grilling, and there's one company I've come to rely on more than any other when it comes to temperature tracking: ThermoWorks. The company's wireless food probe, the RFX, allows you to use Wi-Fi to keep tabs on your status from anywhere using your phone. The results are more accurate than the competition as well, since ThermoWorks only uses food sensors in the main probe and relies on a separate one for ambient grill temperature. There's plenty of data for the barbecue nerds and the IP69K-rated RFX probe can withstand temperatures of up to 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. That means you can use it for deep frying and high-heat searing before tossing it in the dish washer for cleaning. And if you need to add more RFX probes, the included Gateway in the starter kit can connect to over 50 of them simultaneously. — B.S.

Read our 2026 Nissan Leaf review

Nissan’s third-generation Leaf is one of the best EVs we’ve ever seen, with a striking new design and up to 300 miles of range. Best of all, it still starts around $30,000 without skimping on features. It sports comfortable seats, expansive infotainment screens and an optional panoramic sun roof. Step up a bit in pricing and you can also get a “Bose Personal Plus” system, which puts speakers right in the headrest to gently whisper navigation instructions to your ears. The Leaf’s new redesign gives it a stronger frame and more sturdy suspension, which makes zipping around town and highways feel like a dream. While it could use more storage space with the second row up, the Leaf still managed to hold a few scooters, a tricycle and a small cooler all at once. And if you drop that second row down, you get much more storage than the older Leaf. — D.H.

Read our Proton VPN review

It's hard to pick my favorite thing about Proton VPN. What initially attracted me was its background. It gets a lot of financial support from the nonprofit Proton Foundation, and is majority-owned by its original founders. That means there's little chance of it compromising your security to make a buck — or being acquired by a parent company that will.

But Proton VPN isn't just about eating your privacy vegetables. It's also a joy to use, with sensible app designs you'll never struggle to find your way around. Speed, that all-important metric when choosing the best VPN, is a non-issue, as my tests showed Proton retained 88 percent of starting download speeds and 98 percent of upload speeds. It gets into foreign streaming libraries without getting caught, and with servers in 117 countries, you've got plenty of locations to choose from.

No recommendation for Proton VPN would be complete without mentioning its free plan, one of the few on the market that doesn't cap your data usage. You can't choose your own server location, so it's not too useful for streaming, but it's a fantastic way to secure your online privacy on a budget. — Sam Chapman, Senior Reporter