A blend of wish list (Santa, please) and a well-earned celebration of the hit bits of tech that have helped us through the year. From the sublime to the faintly ridiculous, from old-school style to the very latest in processing power, taking in quiet AI, ultra-convenient battery packs, elegant optics and limited-edition smartphones, read on to discover the tech that makes us tick.
Of the many AI-enabled objects that crossed my desk in 2025, the one I’m still using is the Plaud Note Pro. This credit card-sized note-taker might not be all that more functional than a modern smartphone, but it’s the act of taking it out and turning it on – mimicking the traditional reporter’s recorder – that makes it work so well.
Conversations are swiftly and accurately transcribed, with summaries and speakers identified if you take the time to teach it. All I need are the words and I thank Plaud for that.
Plaud Note Pro
Battery packs are hardly the most groundbreaking sector (although the makers of the Alma charger might want a word), yet this new device from Better Mobile Xperience (BMX) is a wireless battery pack that uses solid-state cells to improve safety and longevity.
The neat lanyard conceals a short USB-C cable, and the 5K, 10K and 10K+ sizes offer something for everyone. The largest model also has onboard microSD storage.
The first of several unashamedly old-fashioned typologies to feature in this year’s selection. Parisian firm We Are Rewind is gearing up to launch its GB-001 – which we previewed back in May – and we’d like to be the first in the queue. Blending Bluetooth, illuminated VU meters and classic boombox style, the cassette player will be coveted by many.
Also on offer from the canny cassette cultists is this new, ultra-glittery edition of the WE-001 portable cassette player, this time blessed with the timelessly tacky-chic stylings of Duran Duran. Complete with a limited-edition cassette of the boys’ 2000 album Pop Trash (which doesn’t feature John Taylor, you have been warned).
Can you imagine Google, Apple or Samsung making a ‘community edition’ of one of their high-end devices? Nothing continues to do things differently with this limited-edition issue of the Nothing Phone (3a). Hot on the heels of last year’s Phone (2a) Plus Community Edition, the Community Edition is the result of a call for entries from the brand’s many design-savvy fans.
The Dice Box, created for Nothing by Louis Aymond
Some 700 responded and the result is this device, with brightly coloured hardware overseen by Emre Kayganacl, together with Ambrogio Tacconi and Louis Aymond (who created the quirky Nothing Dice accessory), Jad Zock (who designed the Lock Screen clock and wallpaper), and Sushruta Sarkar (who shaped the marketing campaign). Just 1,000 units will be made, available worldwide from today (9 December 2025).
Everyone from bedroom guitarists to studio professionals and, bizarrely, church worship band leaders, has been salivating over the newest gear from Yamaha subsidiary Line 6. The new Stadium XL Floor is a flagship guitar effects processor, taking over from the original Helix launched back in 2016.
Helix Stadium XL Floor and Helix Stadium Floor
The XL will be joined by a smaller Stadium in due course and promises to out-process its predecessor, with new amp modelling technology, an 8-inch touch screen, and more ins and outs than Piccadilly Circus station. There’s also the promise of more functions to come, thanks to Line 6’s exceptional reputation for updates and refinements.
Photographers are spoilt for choice these days as the top-tier manufacturers vie for their attention with rich feature sets and excellent design. If we had to choose one camera from these rich pickings, we’d take the Fujifilm X-T30 III. A mirrorless compact camera that somehow blends the best of old-school analogue design with a lightweight body, interchangeable lenses and a 26MP sensor.
Perhaps its finest horological moment to date, the Watch Ultra 3 represents a decade of design and tech evolution for Apple’s wrist-born computer. We’ve marvelled at the 3D-printed titanium case and the elegant selection of bands, but most of all, the Watch Ultra 3 is a masterclass in miniaturisation.
Zoom never stops shrinking its studio-quality recording devices and layering on more and more functionality. The latest H6 Studio is a case in point, a veritable recording studio in the palm of your hand, capable of recording eight tracks of clip-free sound with limitless applications. Podcasters need look no further for the new industry standard.
A choice that is a terrible betrayal of age, the Spectrum Collector’s Edition repackages and updates the late Sir Clive Sinclair’s ZX Spectrum for a rabidly nostalgic age. You can pre-order now for delivery in summer 2026 – perhaps stoking some of the anticipation that came as standard in the 8-bit era in the process.
Spectrum Collector's Edition: Microdrive USB
The Collector’s Edition bundles an all-white Spectrum with a replica of the chuntering thermal Sinclair printer, the cutting-edge (for the 1980s) Quickshot II joystick, and a thumb drive in the shape of Sinclair’s innovative Microdrive tape unit (with a whopping 85K of storage per cartridge). Whether the gaming experience will live up to the memories is another matter.
A guaranteed good time is available via the Analogue 3D, which offers access to Nintendo’s fabulously stocked N64 games library. Now available in a suite of boiled sweet-style clear plastic cases, together with matching 8BitDo 64 controllers, this one should run and run.
Finally, the latest from Leica Sports Optics. The Ultravivid White Ocean are high-performance binoculars that wouldn’t look out of place on the bridge of a superyacht.
With 7x optical magnification and materials that befit the intense marine environment, including stainless steel, white leather and a special water-repellent AquaDura finish, these binoculars provide the perfect look-out for fishermen, sailors and even inquisitive land-lubbers.
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Blue skies beckon for the magnificent multi-functional Citroën ELO conceptFeaturing an ingenious interior and new materials, Citroën’s conceptual collaboration with Decathlon and Goodyear has create a true automotive all-rounder
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Edra’s wintry marvel of a chair heralds the 2026 OlympicsEdra unveils a snow-white, special-edition chair by Estudio Campana to mark the upcoming Winter Olympics, as part of its ‘Casa Italia’ showcase of Italian excellence for the event
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In South Wales, a remote coastal farmhouse flaunts its modern revamp, primed for hostingA farmhouse perched on the Gower Peninsula, Delfyd Farm reveals its ground-floor refresh by architecture studio Rural Office, which created a cosy home with breathtaking views
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Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold is a pocket tablet that takes folding screens to new extremesSamsung has announced its newest flagship device, the Galaxy Z TriFold. Featuring three folding screens, this ultimate smartphone can transform into a ten-inch tablet
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Four new keyboards are fresh and functional desktop companionsMechanical keyboards are all the rage, bringing with them new ways of personalising your desktop. We’ve found four devices that hark back to the early days of computing
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Hunker down in a perfectly equipped work-from-home hub this winterIf your WFH set-up needs an upgrade, or if you need to kit out a new small business from scratch, we’ve got you covered
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New Leica Q3 Monochrom camera sees the world in black and whiteDefined by its crisp 60MP monochrome sensor, the Leica Q3 Monochrom is a camera designed for those who want to focus only on light, shadow and form
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Apple Watch Ultra 3 has innovation at its heart – a 3D-printed titanium caseWe delve into Apple’s pioneering use of 3D-printed metal, and how it ties in with the company’s path to carbon neutrality
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LG rolls out its ThinQ AI into a sleek new crew of connected home helpersThe age of thinking washing machines is well upon us, thanks to companies like LG and its ThinQ AI system, which harnesses artificial intelligence for better appliance integration
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Swedish tech brand Transparent launches its Aroma Diffuser for the homeThe audio specialist moves into the olfactory zone with its latest product, the elegant Aroma Diffuser
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Teenage Engineering gets playful with two new devices, Riddim and TingThe new EP–40 Riddim and EP–2350 Ting from Teenage Engineering are infused with authentic dub and reggae sounds and effects
