Our Favorite Stuff of 2025: A Curated Gear Guide
Welcome to Installer No. 110’s annual round-up of the best gadgets and gear that defined 2025. This isn’t a list of every shiny new thing, but a carefully chosen set of items that delivered real value, improved daily workflows, or offered delightful surprises. If you’re hunting for thoughtful gifts or upgrade ideas, you’ll find practical insights below, with a knack for Verge-like clarity and a dash of curiosity.
The Best Gadgets of 2025: A Quick Overview
From productivity powerhouses to camera tech that pushed the envelope, 2025 was a year of refinement and reinvented staples. The overarching theme: smarter integrations, longer battery life, and devices that actually make daily tasks feel easier. Here are the standout categories and picks that earned a spot in our rotation.
Work Essentials: Keyboard, Display, and Audio
We saw keyboards and displays becoming more modular and user-friendly, with higher refresh rates paired with more comfortable ergonomics. A standout keyboard offered hot-swappable switches, a compact footprint, and a satisfying tactile feel, while a color-accurate display with reliable HDR became the default for creators. On the audio front, compact wireless earbuds and over-ear models combined impressive sound with long battery life and improved call quality, making long workdays feel a little less tedious.
Imaging and Creativity: Cameras, Lenses, and Apps
Camera tech continued to blur the line between pro and enthusiast gear. A compact mirrorless body with in-body stabilization and improved low-light performance made street photography and vlogging more accessible. Lenses offered sharper contrast and better away-from-ISO performance, while software updates unlocked faster editing workflows on portable devices. For creators, software apps delivered smarter AI-assisted editing, helping users keep focus on storytelling rather than technical setup.
Smart Home and Mobility: Convenience at Your Fingertips
Smart home devices leaned into interoperability, stability, and energy efficiency. We favored hubs and sensors that played nicely with multiple ecosystems, plus a few standout gadgets that made home routine almost effortless. In mobility, a compact e-bike or scooter with reliable battery life and strong safety features became a practical solution for urban commutes, paired with smart navigation and maintenance alerts.
Top Picks in Detail
1) The Modular Keyboard with Expandable Peripherals — A flexible layout, hot-swappable switches, and a robust software suite let you tailor the typing experience to your task, whether coding, writing, or gaming.
2) The High-Refresh Display with True-to-Life Color — A monitor that makes design and media work feel natural, with consistent brightness and a practical size for desk setups.
3) The Compact Mirrorless Kit — Lightweight, weather-sealed, and capable of pro-grade results in challenging light. This kit shines for creators on the go who still want quality imagery.
4) The Smart Audio Companion — A set of earbuds or headphones that balance sound with comfort and adaptive noise control, easing long sessions of listening and meetings alike.
5) The Interoperable Smart Hub — A control center that ties lighting, climate, and devices together, reducing clutter on the nightstand and simplifying routines.
Buying Tips and How We Use These Picks
When evaluating gear, we look for practical value in real-world workflows. Ask yourself: Do you gain time by using this device? Will it reduce friction in your daily routine? Does the product pair well with your existing setup? Our guide emphasizes devices that balance performance with longevity, so you’re not chasing a new upgrade every few months.
Final Thoughts: The 2025 Tech Moment in Review
2025 offered devices that weren’t flashy for the sake of it, but genuinely improved how we work, capture moments, and navigate daily life. The best gadgets of 2025 are those that continue to prove their worth every day—delivering reliability, comfort, and a little delight in the process. Here’s to a well-equipped year ahead, and to finding joy in the small but meaningful upgrades that keep your setup feeling fresh without breaking the bank.
