The time for gift-giving is over. Now, there are only a few days left until the New Year celebrations and the result of fasting. So while we’re all spending time with friends and family, the folks at Gizmodo’s consumer tech desk also had a chance to reminisce about the year’s best, flashiest, wildest, and worst tech products. Thankfully, there have been a few standout products that have kept things interesting as we head into the new year.
Long-promised gadgets, including outgoing mobile controllers and 360-degree camera drones, finally saw the light of day in December. That same month, we’ve partnered with some great, affordable earbuds and a home facial device. December’s gadgets prove once again that you can’t trust everything companies tell you, especially about new AI devices. Consumer electronics reporter James Pero tested an “AI translator” that proved to be a fake, which the company that makes the device asked us not to review.
Next year will be a highlight of gadgets. Come January, CES 2026 will unleash a flood of tech products on our heads. Companies like LG, Samsung, and more are already promising new TVs and monitors to display your shows, artwork, and even the odd 3D game content. We expect to see more laptops, speakers, AR glasses, bird feeders, and more gadgets that promise AI will change everything. At the same time, the ongoing shortage of RAM caused by the proliferation of AI data centers will inevitably increase the prices of all computer products, from desktops to laptops to game consoles. We can already tell that 2026 will – in some ways – be even more chaotic than 2025.
The shark facial device is designed to keep you from spending extra money at the salon for something you can easily do at home. The device includes several attachments that will help exfoliate your skin, tighten pores, and improve blood circulation. There are quite a few moving parts to make it work, but actually using the device is easy 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 the best portable audio. The $130 earbuds fit well and are surprisingly clear, even loud considering the price. The ANC on the earbuds was also incredibly strong, with a little help with fit, and comfort.
See Soundpeats Air5 Pro+ at Amazon
There is no drone like the Antigravity A1. It’s weird, it’s sporadic, and easily the most innovative drone in years. Instead of a single lens mounted gimbal, the drone uses a 360 camera. Combined with an AR headset, this allows you to enjoy the sky like the beautiful witch Glinda from The Wizard of Ozfloating in a large bubble in the sky. The drone also uses a unique aim-and-fly controller that is easy to understand for any drone novice.
See the Antigravity A1 at Best Buy
Mobile controls are better when they—well—go well. The MCON takes that idea and runs with it thanks to its MagSafe disk that connects to your phone. One push of a button opens up to reveal a full list of game controls, TMR joysticks and analog triggers included. Sure, it won’t feel as ergonomic as a standard controller or other mobile controllers like the Backbone, but it’s certainly the most portable of the bunch.
There are a few big reasons why you might not want the Boox Note Air 5C notebook. Its E Ink color display won’t look as sharp as a regular iPad screen which is limited to only 4,096 colors. It’s not as fast as other, non-E Ink devices, either. But for reading and writing notes with a wide color spectrum available, you won’t find other devices cheaper, at least not one with E Ink. It helps that the Boox Note Air 5C feels good in the hand and comes with an excellent stylus.
See the Boox Note Air 5C at Amazon
The same company that brought us the excellent GB Operator now has a new way to let you play Super Nintendo cartridges or Super Famicoms on your PC, Mac, or Steam Deck. Like a similar $50 device built for Game Boy games, the $60 SN Operator plugs into your PC and uses software emulation to let you play your retro titles. The device will allow you to rip your game files to PC, and will support your saves to console or PC. In addition, SN Operator has additional benefits, such as checking the authenticity of your cart. The connected app also supports RetroAchievements.
MP3 players will have their day in the sun again, considering how big audio nostalgia has been as of late. Snowsky Disc is an MP3 player with several modern features, including a circular touch screen control. Otherwise, the digital audio player has 3.5mm and 4.4mm earphone jack ports next to USB-C. It supports a microSD card up to 2TB, so there’s no shortage of songs you can pack into this pint-sized audio device. The MP3 player may finally come to the US, and we hope it happens soon so we can finally escape the hell that is Spotify.
There’s one big reason to pay attention to JLab’s latest ANC earbuds: battery life. The Epic Pods cost $100 and promise about 13 hours of battery life without a case. If you charge regularly with the case, JLab promises you can get a total of 50 hours of runtime without having to plug in the pod. Sound quality may not be the limit, and there are plenty of solid earbuds that come in at low prices. However, in terms of longevity, the Epic Pods have many beats for that price.
See JLab Epic Pods on Amazon
Pebble creator Eric Migicovsky’s first non-watch product for his revamped product was going to be controversial. Index 01 is a very simple product with a simple base. It is a stainless steel ring designed to give users the opportunity to record thoughts on the go. A small button activates the microphone, and thankfully no internet connection or registration is required. There’s also no sign of unnecessary AI integration like in many other smart wearables. The catch is that the device does not have a rechargeable battery. Once done, Pebble expects users to return it to the company for recycling.
Ever since Robosen first appeared Transformers transformation kit with its own Optimus Prime figure, we wondered how long it would be before we got our hands on the fan-favorite communications lieutenant of the dastardly Decepticons. Robosen finally revealed his Soundwave figure that would automatically collapse into a tape. Here’s the important part: it won’t play your old tapes, but it will work as a Bluetooth speaker. The figure will cost an astronomical $1,400, so know that there are much cheaper speaker options available elsewhere that—unfortunately—don’t turn out to be a cool robot.
