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Welcome to ZDNET’s Better of 2025 awards, our annual ceremony of the yr’s top-performing devices and gizmos, from 100-inch TVs to good rings to AI chatbots that provide help to get extra executed.
Over the past 12 months, our group has unboxed, benchmarked, dropped, submerged, and doom-scrolled on a whole bunch of gadgets. We’ve got worn dozens of good glasses in an try to grasp the following frontier of cellular expertise — whereas making face-worn geekery cool once more. We’ve got examined sufficient noise-canceling headphones to dam out the sound of a jet engine (and, sometimes, our personal editors arguing about nits of brightness). We’ve got spoken to so many AI assistants that we keep in mind each by voice.
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However amidst the deluge of “Professional,” “Extremely,” and “Max” monikers, true innovation usually sat quietly within the background. The winners listed beneath aren’t simply specs on a sheet; they’re the gadgets that survived our gauntlet of real-world exams. They’re the devices our writers and editors suggest with confidence.
Here is the complete checklist of our 2025 winners:
Greatest smartphone
This yr’s picks handle essentially the most important ache factors of earlier generations. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 distinguishes itself with a reimagined chassis; at simply 4.2mm skinny when unfolded, it presents an ordinary pill expertise with out the majority, whereas the upgraded 200MP predominant sensor lastly brings flagship images to the foldable type issue.
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The iPhone 17 was the sleeper hit amongst Apple’s flashier-than-usual 2025 lineup for democratizing “Professional” options, gaining the 120Hz ProMotion show and a devoted telephoto lens, making it essentially the most compelling base iPhone in years.
Whereas launched later within the yr, the Oppo Discover X9 Professional secures an award for its optical engineering, that includes a 200MP telephoto sensor that our reviewers discovered produces lossless readability at 10x magnification (with the mountable Hasselblad lens), setting a brand new benchmark for cellular telephotography.
Greatest laptop computer
This yr’s winners centered on specialised efficiency. The Lenovo ThinkPad X9 Aura Version is the premier alternative for enterprise customers, that includes helpful options like “Sensible Share” for immediate phone-to-PC file transfers and “Protect Mode,” which makes use of eye-tracking to blur the display screen when unauthorized customers are detected.
The Alienware 18 Space 51 serves as a real desktop alternative, using an 18-inch show and superior thermal headroom to maintain excessive body charges with out throttling.
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In the meantime, the MacBook Air M4 continues to steer in effectivity, now that includes hardware-accelerated ray tracing, which allows gaming efficiency with out compromising its already spectacular battery life.
Greatest AI
Generative AI has entered skilled workflows, and firms are unlocking new and profound methods to make the most of the expertise. Codex is the premier device for builders, as ZDNET’s David Gewirtz can attest, providing superior code era and debugging with improved accuracy.
OpenAI’s Sora 2 has refined AI video era, permitting creators to provide photorealistic B-roll clips appropriate for manufacturing use.
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In the meantime, Apple continued to increase its Dwell Translation characteristic to new merchandise, such because the AirPods Professional 3, integrating real-time, offline translation instantly into the working system, enabling seamless cross-language communication with out the necessity for third-party apps.
Greatest TV
The main focus in residence theater this yr was on processing, peak brightness, and a splash of AI. The Sony Bravia 8 II set data at ZDNET’s Louisville testing lab in picture processing and colour accuracy, using the XR chip to upscale low-bitrate streaming content material with distinctive readability.
The Samsung QN90F, though usually missed compared to its OLED siblings, makes use of Mini-LED expertise to realize excessive brightness ranges, making it the optimum alternative for well-lit rooms.
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And for our value-leading choose, the TCL QM8K delivers as much as 5,000 nits of peak brightness and sturdy native dimming efficiency at a considerably cheaper price level than its opponents.
Greatest headphones and audio
Developments in processing energy have considerably improved lively noise cancellation (ANC) and utility. The AirPods Professional 3 are the standout for his or her integration of well being sensors — able to coronary heart price monitoring — and real-time, in-ear translation options.
The long-awaited Sony WH-1000XM6 leads the over-ear class in pure noise isolation, using a brand new 12-microphone array and up to date processor to filter out a wider vary of frequencies. It is the definitive ANC champion, as decided by ZDNET’s audio specialists.
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Lastly, the Bose QuietComfort Extremely 2 stays the benchmark for long-haul consolation, introducing a brand new “Immersion Mode” that spatializes stereo content material for a extra pure listening expertise.
Greatest smartwatch and wearable
Wearables have developed from health trackers to complete well being screens. The Google Pixel Watch 4 (with Fitbit integration) is acknowledged for its “Lack of Pulse” detection system and a high-luminance 3,000-nit show that continues to be seen in harsh lighting.
The Apple Watch Sequence 11 introduces non-invasive hypertension notifications, permitting customers to trace blood stress developments with out the necessity for a devoted blood stress cuff.
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For these preferring a discreet type issue, the Oura Ring 4 Ceramic presents clinical-grade sleep monitoring in a scratch-resistant ceramic housing that accommodates a wider vary of finger sizes.
Greatest good glasses
Sensible eyewear has bifurcated into distinct use instances: health, seize, and show. The Meta Oakley HSTN is designed for athletes, eschewing a show in favor of a voice-activated teaching system and a sweat-resistant construct.
The Meta Ray-Bans 2 vastly enhance upon their predecessor’s digicam capabilities, providing 3K video recording and enhanced low-light efficiency for social seize. To not point out, longer battery life, which advantages each consumer.
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Rokid Glasses are the perfect alternative for productiveness and media consumption, providing a high-resolution AR show that mimics a multi-monitor setup or a theater display screen in a light-weight body.
Greatest pill
Show expertise defines this yr’s prime tablets. The TCL Nxtpaper 11 Plus encompasses a distinctive matte show texture that eliminates glare and reduces blue gentle, making it very best for prolonged studying periods.
Whereas the Exceptional Paper Professional bridges the hole between e-readers and tablets by introducing colour e-ink with excessive responsiveness, excellent for doc annotation. It is Exceptional’s most premium providing but.
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We acknowledge the iPad Professional (2025) for its efficiency enhancements because of the brand new M5 chipset. Paired with the ultra-thin OLED chassis, that is simply essentially the most transportable high-performance pill at present obtainable.
Greatest cellular accent
These equipment resolve particular friction factors for cellular customers. The AAWireless 2 Plus is a crucial improve for automobile infotainment, that includes a bodily toggle that enables customers to immediately swap the wi-fi Android Auto or CarPlay (lastly!) connection between a number of telephones.
The Nomad Stratos Band presents superior construct high quality, combining a sturdy titanium construction with a gentle FKM rubber inside for a mix of aesthetics and luxury. It is a mix of supplies that works surprisingly effectively collectively, bringing a few premium-looking but snug wearable expertise.
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For a strong and versatile charger, the Baseus Enercore 70W charger is notable for its built-in retractable USB-C cable, providing a streamlined charging resolution for laptops and telephones.
Greatest PC equipment
Within the peripherals class, show expertise and ergonomics took middle stage. The Dell Alienware 34-inch QD-OLED monitor is our prime choose for visible constancy, providing infinite distinction ratios and near-instant response instances that profit each artistic workflows and gaming.
The SanDisk 256GB ExtremeFit stays an important device, providing SSD-grade switch speeds in a rugged, compact type issue.
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For enter gadgets, the Logitech MX Grasp 4 refines the industry-standard productiveness mouse with an improved “Quiet Click on” swap mechanism and a well-known electromagnetic scroll wheel for exact navigation.
Greatest robotic vacuum
Robotic cleaners have improved their navigation and self-maintenance capabilities. The Roborock Saros 10R options an lively chassis system that may carry the unit to climb over excessive thresholds and thick rugs.
Then there’s the Ecovas Deebot X11, which offers a completely automated cleansing expertise, that includes a base station that empties mud, washes and mops with scorching water, and routinely detangles the comb roll.
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Lastly, ZDNET’s Maria Diaz believes the Eufy E25 presents the very best price-to-performance ratio, using twin-turbine suction to scrub carpets successfully with out the premium value of superior navigation options.
Greatest good residence gadget
The perfect good residence gadgets this yr centered on invisibility and security. The Stage Lock Professional conceals its Matter-over-Thread expertise inside the door mechanism, preserving the aesthetic of an ordinary deadbolt whereas offering good performance.
For one thing extra uncommon, we voted within the Ting Sensible Sensor, a safety-focused machine that screens a house’s electrical grid from a single outlet to detect micro-arcs that might result in fires.
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Lastly, any good residence proprietor would discover use within the Aqara Digital camera Hub G5 Professional, a conveyable safety digicam that prioritizes privateness with native video processing and “True Colour Evening Imaginative and prescient” for clear identification in low-light situations.
Greatest safety software program
Privateness instruments have tailored to new threats. NordVPN stays the best choice for velocity and safety, utilizing its proprietary NordLynx protocol to keep up excessive throughput for streaming and looking.
Incogni presents a definite service by automating the elimination of private knowledge from dealer databases, successfully decreasing the consumer’s digital footprint.
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Bitdefender is acknowledged for its low system affect, offering complete malware and phishing safety with out compromising PC efficiency.
