2025 was a strange year for gadgets. On one hand, everything felt louder, more AI, more features, more promises. On the other hand, it was also a year where innovation showed up in smaller, more personal ways, shaping how we actually use technology day to day. So instead of doing another run-of-the-mill ‘best of the year’ list based purely on launches and specs, we decided to keep it simple. We asked the Digit team one straightforward question: what was your favourite gadget of 2025, something you actually used, lived with, and genuinely enjoyed? The answers were refreshingly honest. Some picks are obvious, some are unexpected, and a few have nothing to do with phones at all. What they all share is this: they made everyday life a little better, more fun, or more interesting. And honestly, that’s what a good gadget should do.
What started as a boring year for gadgets kind of got exciting by the end of it. I liked some small pieces of innovation we saw this year, like the teleconverter kits that came with the Vivo X300 Pro and Oppo Find X9 Pro or the Lumio Arc, which made affordable projectors a reality. However, the one that stood out for me is the Meta Ray-Ban Glasses (Gen 1). They were launched in India this year, and how well they have been received. While smart glasses have flirted with the mainstream for years, it’s only now that the category feels ready. The product has been such a hit that Meta has already launched two more Ray-Ban smart glasses in the country.
The biggest win for the Meta Ray-Ban glasses is the ease of use. A single tap on the frame or a voice command is all it takes. There’s no screen to distract you, no constant framing anxiety – you’re present in the moment. As a secondary camera, especially for travel, experiences and everyday moments, they are incredibly compelling. Under the hood, the glasses run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 platform, which processes everything really quickly and keeps the overall experience quite seamless. Most importantly, Meta Ray-Ban Glasses (Gen 1) might just be the biggest win for smart glasses as a category.
Not quite a daily driver yet (I hope one day soon in the near future), but I really liked the looks of a prototype device I saw during my visit to Qualcomm’s HQ earlier this year. It resembled a CD / DVD in likeness, and almost as thin, labelled simply as Longcheer Mini PC. That it had 32 gigs of RAM, 1 terabyte of storage, and an 18-core Snapdragon X2 Elite SoC at its heart was quite frankly unbelievable to my unsuspecting eyes. This thing packed a punch despite its razor-thin profile with a nostalgic vibe, pumping out 4K video output while upconverting a video on Topaz’s software suite, without breaking a sweat or overheating on the touch. The sucker that I am for SFF PCs, I can’t wait to be able to buy this thing off the shelf!
My favourite gadget of 2025 is a phone, but not like any other phone I used this year. I’m talking about the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, the OG slim phone of 2025. While rumours were flying around about Apple launching an ‘Air’ model and all sorts of things, Samsung quietly went ahead and set the trend, and did it really well.
Also read: Galaxy S25 Edge Review: Samsung’s thinnest smartphone is weirdly wonderful
What I loved most about the Galaxy S25 Edge is just how slim and handy it feels. I enjoyed the big-phone experience, but without the bulky profile. It’s sleek, light, and genuinely different from anything else I’ve used this year. Yes, I know slim phones usually trigger battery anxiety for a lot of people. But honestly, my experience was perfectly fine. I’m almost always near a charger, in the car, at my desk, or at home, so battery life never really became an issue for me.
So yes, the Galaxy S25 Edge is easily my most loved gadget of 2025. I only had it for about a month, and I really wish I’d spent more time with it, but even in that short window, it left a lasting impression. Looking forward to the next iteration!
After over a decade of looking at more smartphones and laptops than anyone reasonably should, it takes something genuinely practical to get me excited. This year’s best gadget purchase has been the BOSCH GSB cordless impact drill, a tool that has quietly become the centrepiece of my DIY setup. It is the kind of buy that feels like it will still be around years from now, not because it is trendy, but because it is useful in a dozen different ways.
Yes, it handles the obvious jobs, drilling into wood, metal, and masonry without much fuss, but the real win is how easily it shifts into problem-solver mode. With the right bit, it is a dependable driver for long screws and stubborn fasteners. Add a few attachments, and it turns into a mini workshop: grinding, polishing, even the occasional ‘wait, this exists?’ accessory, such as a paint spraying or a reciprocating saw adapter. The 18V motor is the cherry on top. That extra torque is exactly what you want when you are trying to shake loose old, rusted bolts or muscle through tougher materials. It is not flashy, but it makes you feel capable, and that is a pretty great gadget in my books.
If I had to pick one favourite gadget of 2025, without thinking too much, it would be the Vivo X300 Pro. I test phones every day. Phones keep coming and going, but some devices make you pause for a moment. The X300 Pro is one of them.
The strongest point of this phone is obviously the camera. It’s a reliable photography phone, and once you start using the zoom, it clearly moves into a different league compared to other flagships. There’s also an optional telephoto lens accessory that gives you true optical-quality zoom. Apart from that, the display is so accurate that you can comfortably edit photos and videos directly on the phone. So yes, in 2025, if I had to name one gadget that’s not just impressive but genuinely dependable, the Vivo X300 Pro is a clear pick for me.
Also read: Vivo X300 Pro Review: The Optical Overlord
For me, 2025 was all about meaningful AI and a sleeker form factor, and with that, I would say my favourite gadget of the year was the Galaxy Z Fold 7. Without a doubt, it is the first foldable that no longer feels like a compromise. It definitely worked as a normal phone when closed and as a truly useful tablet when opened. I used it for a few weeks for work, gaming, reading and watching content, often forgetting it was foldable at all. The sleek design, almost flawless displays, and solid performance made it easy to rely on rather than admire at a distance.
After reviewing a lot of phones, laptops, Bluetooth speakers and other tech, one product genuinely stood out for me was the Luminous Edge Go 1500.
To explain what it is, think of it this way – a 1200W portable power station that you can use to power or charge almost everything around you, such as laptops, cameras, smartphones, ring lights, speakers, projectors, gaming consoles, TVs, and more. It comes with multiple charging options and offers up to 8 output ports, so you’re never really fighting for sockets.
But that’s not even the best part.
Along with being a power station, it also packs 90W speakers that are more than enough for outdoor parties. And to make things even better, you get two high-quality mics, turning it into a proper karaoke setup for fun nights with friends.
All in all, it’s one of those cool products that makes you stop and think there should be more products like this entering the market. Smart, practical, and genuinely different.
Logitech’s MX Master 4 has been my favourite gadget this year. I didn’t really know I needed this mouse until I started using it, and it has greatly helped in my day-to-day work.
This is different from any other mouse I’ve used before, since I usually go for gaming mice that weigh around 50-80 grams. But this one, featuring an ergonomic shape and 150 grams of weight, is built for some serious productivity. The Actions Ring feature makes it unlike anything I have ever used. It also comes with a USB Type C dongle, super impressive battery life, and silent clicks that won’t draw attention even in pin drop silence. For someone like me who prefers working quietly and fast, this is a game-changer.
My favourite piece of tech this year has to be the Sony WH-1000XM6. I already own the WH-1000XM4, so this felt like a clear upgrade over both the XM4 and the XM5. Especially compared to the XM5, the design is just better. The foldable hinge makes it easier to carry, the materials and build feel more solid, and the magnetic clasp on the case makes it easier to pack the headphones.
Sony’s tuning leans warm but textured with strong sub-bass control and clear mids. It is one of the best-sounding headphones. And its ANC is also class-leading. The company has also improved the processing pipeline and the external microphone setup for a cleaner call quality.
All in all, you can’t go wrong with Sony’s flagships, and as I said in my review, these are one of the most complete headphones yet.
I was genuinely in need of cleaner air. When I returned from my hometown to Noida, I could immediately feel how heavy the air was, and the pollution started affecting my body. My throat felt itchy, and it was clear something had to change. I ended up ordering the Qubo Q400 Smart Air Purifier on Blinkit, and it slotted into my routine almost instantly. The Wi-Fi connectivity, app control and Alexa support made it easy to manage. I could turn it on or off remotely, set schedules, and control how aggressively it ran. Day to day, there’s nothing dramatic or memorable about using it, which is honestly the point. It just does its job quietly. That said, I did make a video about it, which went viral, so all things considered, it turned out to be a pretty great value-for-money purchase for me.
Thanks to Oppo Find X9 Pro’s Teleconverter Kit, I was able to capture a photo of someone very close to my heart, Lionel Messi. Those photos made everything worth it. Getting there, however, was an adventure on its own. I was stopped at the stadium entrance because of the teleconverter lens, and what followed was a full-blown discussion with 4-5 police officers. A lot of explaining, convincing, and patience later, they finally allowed me to take the teleconverter lens inside.
In the end, I got the shots I dreamed of. That moment alone makes the Oppo X9 Pro my gadget of the year.
Looking back at 2025, if there’s one gadget that truly stood out for me, it’s the Vivo X300, and honestly, it has also become one of my favourite phones of all time.
I liked the Vivo X300 overall, but what really amazed me was the camera. The Zeiss-tuned system delivers photos that look gorgeous, natural, and actually true to life. And trust me, there’s a difference between a phone that takes good photos and one that can consistently deliver breathtaking shots. The X300 firmly sits in that second category.
A special shoutout has to go to the telephoto lens. If you love taking close-ups, portraits, or just appreciate that natural depth of field in your photos, this phone will win you over very quickly. When you add in top-tier performance, a smooth display, and battery life that comfortably lasts through the day, the Vivo X300 feels like a genuinely complete phone.
In 2025, the gadget I enjoyed using the most was the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7. It’s compact, stylish, and genuinely fun to use. Samsung has finally made the outer display genuinely useful, so you don’t have to open the phone every time. You can access Google Gemini right from the cover screen, along with features like Now Bar and Now Brief that deliver glanceable information and quick, convenient widgets.
I also want to mention the Infinix GT 30 Pro, which impressed me with its GT triggers, which made a real difference in my gameplay. They improved my control and reaction time, and I could clearly feel my gaming performance getting better.
My favourite gadget of 2025 has to be the Realme Buds T300. As someone who commutes daily for long hours, I needed something that could help me relax and stay mentally fresh, and music has always been the perfect solution.
After trying several wired and wireless earphones over the years, these buds turned out to be my most satisfying purchase. What truly made them stand out was their dependable Active Noise Cancellation, which performed well in real-life commuting situations, along with punchy bass and clear sound that kept the listening experience engaging. I used them almost every day during bus rides, train journeys, and short breaks, which made them an essential part of my routine. While call quality could have been slightly better, their overall performance and value for money made them a memorable gadget of the year.
The Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 stood out because it completely flipped my expectations of what a ‘good’ headset should be. While most premium audio gear focuses on shutting the world out with noise cancellation, this device was memorable for how it let the world in. It was the first time I used bone conduction technology that didn’t feel like a compromise; the new DualPitch technology finally solved that annoying ‘tickle’ on my cheekbones that plagued earlier models by offloading bass to air conduction drivers. The shift to a standard USB-C charging port was also a massive practical win, eliminating the need to carry a proprietary cable, making it much easier to integrate with the rest of my tech kit.
In real life, this headset became my go-to for navigating busy city streets. I used it primarily for running, where its ‘hyper-awareness’ was a literal lifesaver, being able to enjoy my playlist while still clearly hearing traffic and horns in a city like Mumbai is a new kind of experience. It also surprisingly found a place in my office routine; I abused the Multipoint Bluetooth to switch seamlessly between laptop calls and phone music without ever taking the headset off, all while remaining available to colleagues speaking to me.
