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The time for gift-giving is over. Now, all that’s left is the few days until New Year’s revelries and the resulting hangover. So while we’ve all been spending time with friends and family, the folks on Gizmodo’s consumer tech desk have also had the chance to reminisce on the year’s best, wackiest, wildest, and worst tech products. Thankfully, there were a few standout products that have kept things interesting even as we slide into the new year.
Long-promised gadgets, including pop-out mobile controllers and 360-camera drones, finally saw the light of day in December. In the same month, we went hands-on with some great, affordable earbuds and even an at-home facial device. December’s gadgets also proved that you can’t trust everything companies tell you, especially regarding newfangled AI devices. Senior consumer tech reporter James Pero tested out a purported “AI translator” that proved so bogus, the company that made the device asked us not to review it.
Next year will be a standout for gadgets. Come January, CES 2026 will unleash a deluge of tech products on our heads. Companies like LG, Samsung, and more are already promising all-new TVs and monitors to showcase your shows, artwork, and even the occasional bit of odd 3D gaming content. We expect to see more laptops, speakers, AR glasses, bird feeders, and far too many gadgets promising AI will change everything. At the same time, the ongoing RAM shortage caused by the proliferation of AI data centers will inevitably spike prices for all computing products, from desktops to laptops to game consoles. We can already tell that 2026 will—somehow—be even more chaotic than 2025.
Shark’s facial device is built to keep 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 boost circulation. There are a few too many moving parts to get it working, but actually using the device is relatively easy and fun.
See Shark FacialPro Glow at Amazon
The Soundpeats Air5 Pro+ prove you don’t have to spend well over $200 to get excellent portable audio. The $130 earbuds have a comfortable fit and an incredibly clear, even sound considering the price. The ANC on the earbuds was also surprisingly robust, partially aided by the tight, comfortable fit.
See Soundpeats Air5 Pro+ at Amazon
There is no drone like the Antigravity A1. It’s weird, occasionally perfunctory, and easily 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 skies like the good witch Glinda from The Wizard of Oz, floating in a giant bubble in the sky. The drone also uses a unique aim-and-fly controller that is easier to comprehend for any drone novices.
See Antigravity A1 at Best Buy
Mobile controllers are better when they are—well—mobile. MCON takes that idea and runs with it thanks to its MagSafe disc that connects to your phone. A single button press pops open to reveal a full suite of game controls, TMR joysticks and analog triggers included. Sure, it won’t feel as ergonomic as a regular controller or other Backbone-like mobile controllers, but it’s certainly the most portable of the bunch.
There are a few big reasons you don’t want the Boox Note Air 5C e-notetaker. Its color E Ink display won’t look as sharp as a regular iPad screen with its limitation of only 4,096 colors. It’s not as fast as other, non-E Ink devices, either. But for reading and taking notes with a wider color spectrum available, you won’t find many more devices for cheaper, at least not one with E Ink. It helps that the Boox Note Air 5C feels nice in hand and comes with a fantastic stylus.
See 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 physical Super Nintendo or Super Famicom cartridges on your PC, Mac, or Steam Deck. Like the similar $50 device built for Game Boy games, the $60 SN Operator hooks up to your PC and then uses software emulation to let you play your retro titles. The device will let you rip your game files to the PC, and it will support your saves on console or PC. In addition, the SN Operator has extra benefits, like checking for the authenticity of your cart. The connected app also supports RetroAchievements.
MP3 players will have their day in the sun once more, judging by how big audio nostalgia has become as of late. 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 up to a 2TB microSD card, so there’s no shortage of songs you can potentially pack into this pint-sized audio device. The MP3 player may eventually come to the U.S., and we’re hoping 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 earbuds: battery life. The Epic Pods cost $100 and promise around 13 hours of battery life when outside the case. When charging regularly with the case, JLab promises that you can get a total of 50 hours of run time without having to plug the pod in. The sound may not be the peak of quality, and there are plenty of solid earbuds that come in at cheaper prices. Still, for longevity, the Epic Pods have many beat for that price.
Pebble creator Eric Migicovsky’s first non-watch product for his revived brand was bound to be controversial. The Index 01 is a very simple product with a simple premise. It is a stainless steel ring built for offering users a chance to record thoughts when on the go. The small button activates the microphone, and thankfully there’s no internet connection or subscription needed. There’s also no sign of unnecessary AI integration like on so many other smart wearables. The catch is that the device does not have any rechargeable battery. When you’re done, Pebble expects users to send it back to the company to be recycled.
Ever since Robosen debuted its first Transformers self-transforming kit with its Optimus Prime figure, we’ve wondered how long it would be before we could get the fan-favorite communications lieutenant for the dastardly Decepticons. Robosen finally showed off its Soundwave figure that will automatically collapse into a tape deck. Here’s the important part: it won’t play your old cassettes, but it will act as a Bluetooth speaker. The figure will cost an astronomical $1,400, so just know there are far cheaper speaker options available elsewhere that—unfortunately—don’t transform into a cool robot.
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Kyle Barr
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