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The time for gift is finished. There are only a few days left before the New Year festivities and the resulting hangover. So while we all spent time with friends and family, members of Gizmodo’s consumer tech desk also had a chance to reminisce the best of the yearthe wackiest, craziest and worst tech products. Luckily, there were a few standout products that kept things interesting even as we enter the new year.
Long-promised gadgets, including pop-out mobile controllers And 360 camera dronesfinally saw the light of day in December. That same month, we got our hands on some great, affordable headphones and even a facial device for the home. December’s gadgets also proved that you can’t trust everything companies tell you, especially when it comes to new AI devices. Senior consumer technology reporter James Pero tested a so-called “AI translator” that turned out to be so wrongthe company that made the device asked us not to review it.
Next year will be a banner year for gadgets. Next January, CES 2026 will unleash a deluge of technological products on our heads. Companies like LG, Samsung and more are already showing promise brand new televisions And monitors to highlight your watch, work of artand even some occasional oddities 3D gaming content. We hope to see more laptops, speakers, AR Glasses, bird feedersand far too many gadgets promising that AI will change everything. At the same time, the current shortage of RAM caused by the proliferation of AI data centers will inevitably drive up the prices of all computing products, since desktop computers has laptops has game consoles. We can already predict that 2026 will be, in one way or another, even more chaotic than 2025.
Shark’s facial device is designed to save you from spending extra money at the salon for something you can do just as easily at home. The device includes several attachments that will help exfoliate your skin, tighten pores and stimulate circulation. There are a few too many moving parts to make it work, but in reality, using the device is relatively simple and fun.
See Shark FacialPro Glow on Amazon
The Soundpeats Air5 Pro+ proves that you don’t need to spend more than $200 to get great portable sound. The $130 headphones have a comfortable fit and sound incredibly clear and even considering the price. The ANC on the earbuds was also surprisingly sturdy, helped in part by the snug, comfortable fit.
See Soundbeats Air5 Pro+ on Amazon
There’s no drone like the Antigravity A1. It’s strange, sometimes superficial, and by far the most innovative drone to arrive in years. Instead of a single gimbal-mounted lens, the drone uses a 360 camera. Combined with the AR headset, this lets you experience the sky like the good witch Glinda from The Wizard of Ozfloating in a giant bubble in the sky. The drone also uses a unique aim and flight controller that is easier to understand for all drone novices.
See Antigravity A1 at Best Buy
Mobile controllers are best when they’re…well…mobile. MCON takes this idea and runs with it through its MagSafe drive that connects to your phone. A simple button press opens to reveal a full suite of gaming controls, included TMR joysticks and analog triggers. Of course, it won’t be as ergonomic as a regular controller or the like Backbone mobile controllersbut it’s certainly the most portable of the group.
There are a few big reasons why you don’t want the Boox Note Air 5C electronic note taker. Its E Ink color display won’t look as sharp as a regular iPad display with its limitation to just 4,096 colors. It’s also not as fast as other non-E Ink devices. But for reading and taking notes with a wider color spectrum available, you won’t find many more cheaper devices, at least not one with E Ink. It helps that the Boox Note Air 5C feels great in the hand and comes with a fantastic stylus.
See Boox Note Air 5C on Amazon
The same company that brought us the excellent GB Operator now offers a new way to let you play physical Super Nintendo or Super Famicom cartridges on your PC, MacOr Steam bridge. Like the similar device for $50 Designed for Game Boy games, the $60 SN Operator connects to your PC and then uses software emulation to let you play your retro titles. The device will allow you to extract your game files to the PC and will support your console or PC saves. In addition, the SN operator offers additional benefits, such as verifying the authenticity of your basket. The connected app also supports RetroAchievements.
MP3 players will have their day in the sun again, judging by what great audio nostalgia has become in recent times. The Snowsky Disc is an MP3 player with a few modern amenities, including a circular touchscreen for controls. Otherwise, the digital audio player has ports for a 3.5mm and 4.4mm headphone jack alongside USB-C. It supports a microSD card up to 2TB, so there’s no shortage of songs you can potentially fit into this pint-sized audio device. The MP3 player could eventually come to the United States, and we hope it does soon so we can finally escape the hell that is Spotify.
There’s one big reason to pay attention to JLab’s latest ANC headphones: battery life. The Epic Pods cost $100 and promise around 13 hours of battery life outside of the case. When you charge regularly with the case, JLab promises you can get a total of 50 hours of battery life without having to plug in the pod. The sound may not be at peak quality, and there are plenty of solid headphones available at cheaper prices. However, in terms of longevity, the Epic Pods have many advantages for this price.
Pebble creator Eric Migicovsky’s first non-watch product for his relaunched brand was bound to be controversial. The Index 01 is a very simple product with a simple principle. This is a stainless steel ring designed to provide users with the ability to record their thoughts on the go. The small button activates the microphone, and luckily no internet connection or subscription is required. There’s also no sign of unnecessary AI integration like on so many other smart wearables. The problem is that the device does not have a rechargeable battery. When finished, Pebble expects users to return it to the company for recycling.
Since Robosen launched its first Transformers self-transforming kit with sound Optimus Prime figurewe wondered how long it would be before we could get the fan-favorite communications lieutenant for the dastardly Decepticons. Robosen finally presented his Soundwave figurine which will automatically transform into a tape recorder. Here’s the bottom line: it won’t play your old cassettes, but it will act as a Bluetooth speaker. The figure will cost a staggering $1,400, so be aware that there are much cheaper speaker options available elsewhere that, unfortunately, don’t turn into a cool robot.
