The 2025 Esquire Gadget Awards

The Best New Phone

We can’t help but be excited for this one, because for the first time in what feels like a long time Apple has made an iPhone that feels radically different from the one that came before it. It’s beautiful and lightweight, and the camera is exactly what a man of normal shutterbug capabilities needs. If you’ve become used to holding the big, overpowered Pro models, the Air feels absurdly lightweight. The camera and processing power are industry standard and exactly what you need for your daily life. The real draw is the form factor. We really hope this turns the design tide toward thinner phones again.

The Best Android Phone

This should tell you something about how much we love Google’s flagship phone. The Pixel 10 offers minimal improvements from its predecessor, and yet it still retains the Android heavyweight belt. That said, the upgrades are much appreciated—the Pixel 10 ups the battery life, screen quality, and colorway options. The biggest change? The Pixel 10 comes equipped with Tensor G5, Google’s latest and greatest chip. Even Pixel diehards will notice the change in processing speed and AI capabilities. Don’t fix what isn’t broken, right?

Best Phone That’s Not a Smartphone

We’re always watching Light, the best designer of high-end dumbphones on the market. As an alternative to the two phones above and all the apps designed to steal as much of your attention as possible, a Light Phone is made to have the basic functions: calling, texting, alarm clock, and MapQuest-style directions (talk about an outdated tech reference). Now we have the Light Phone III, the first new model in half a decade. It’s something of a reverse flagship model, with the most functionalities of any Light Phone. You get a larger form factor, a more familiar OLED (still matte, though) screen, and a point-and-shoot fixed-lens camera. It gets you offline, away from the endless scroll, but you can still snap a picture to post on Instagram when you get home.

The Best Lightweight Laptop

Thin, lightweight laptops were once a rare sight, but thankfully they have become the norm. Those of us who commute on public transportation are grateful. You can finally get a Windows machine that performs well and doesn’t add a metric ton to your backpack load. Weighing in at just over two pounds, this Zenbook is the only laptop we can easily hold with one hand. It also has a stunning OLED screen, a tactile keyboard, and a battery life that continues to impress. It’s everything we need from a daily laptop and, dare we say it, more.

The Best Tablet

Last year, the laptop version of Microsoft’s revamped Copilot+PC Surface was our favorite laptop of the year. It was fast, with a crisp touch screen and next-level battery life. This year, Microsoft shrunk the tablet version down to the perfect portable size. If you attach the magnetic keyboard, you have one of the best mini laptops we’ve used in years. Remove it and you have the new biggest threat to iPad supremacy.

The Best Camera

The problem with most cameras is that you are not a professional photographer. Maybe you are, or you might be a pro-level shutterbug, but on the whole people want something straightforward that helps them make beautiful images or take memorable video. The Sigma BF does that to perfection. The interface is smartphone-esque in its simplicity, handled onscreen with three buttons and one dial pad, and the body is molded from a single piece of aluminum. The mirrorless camera has a full-frame sensor that makes taking high-end photos ridiculously simple.

The Best E-reader

Oftentimes when you tell people you love your tiny e-reader they roll their eyes. They didn’t ask for your unsolicited reading advice, and they don’t want to see another Kindle. Then you pull out the Boox Palma 2 and heads turn. Looking at it online doesn’t do it justice, but let us tell you, this thing really is the size of a smartphone. So why wouldn’t I just read a book on my phone? Because we believe in having a little bit of peace in your life here at Esquire. Log off, put your phone in your backpack, and let your eyes rest with the Palma 2’s e-ink screen on your commute home. Slip it in your pocket and you’ll realize what a pleasant way this is to read all without sucking the life out of your phone and being distracted by that work email.

The Best Kindle

We will, however, sing Kindle’s praises. The Amazon Kindle has been around since 2007, and there have been a dozen generations since. The Colorsoft is the first to offer an e-reading experience in color. With the display, you can read graphic novels and see illustrations in full color. Even if you’re not into manga, comic books, or other illustrated novels, it’s still fun to see every book cover in your library in color—and instead of ads, the Kindle Colorsoft has colorful illustrations and pictures as screensavers. Color also extends to its highlighting feature, letting you mark passages in different colors for easy note-taking. It also has an adjustable warm light for comfortable reading in bright sunlight or your bedroom at night.

The Best Work Tablet

The tablet was perfected with the iPad, but now it’s being refined into all its specialist versions. The best versions, as far as we’re concerned, are the slightly offline e-ink tablets made for work notes, journaling, and sketching. Other companies have made good options, but the handwriting experience is ever so slightly off, always too digital. Thankfully, Montblanc has entered the market. Similar to the high-end stationery we love at the Esquire offices, the Digital Paper brings real intention, real craftsmanship, to the world of digital writing. It’s the type of tech accessory that could only come from a real maison like Montblanc.

The Best Smartwatch

Samsung has finally brought style to the smartwatch game. The Galaxy-phone users among us have long loved Samsung’s health and sleep-tracking apps, and now you can have all those (free) features paired with a watch that doesn’t scream tech. Instead, the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic sports a rotating classic-watch-inspired bezel that gives it a distinct analog look and feel. You can choose from four band styles, but our favorite is the faux-leather Hybrid stitch—a classy accompaniment to the shiny hardware.

The Best Outdoor Smartwatch

When it comes to real-deal adventure watches, no one beats Garmin. And within the Garmin catalog, we don’t think anything beats the solar-charging Instinct line. If you want a fancy touch screen, this isn’t for you. But if you want a watch that tracks all your vitals and can keep up with your life, it certainly is the watch you need. It has all the high-tech Garmin technology—and modern amenities like loading your credit card on the watch—with a dead-simple interface handled by pushers around the case of the watch. The battery life is effectively unlimited if you get enough high-quality sunlight; otherwise it’s a very reasonable 28 days.

The Best Air Purifier

By now, we hope you’re tuned in to why you need one of these in your home; a purifier sucks up 99.97 percent of allergens, pollens, and particles, creating safer air to breathe. We won’t bore you with the stats that you see everywhere, but we will tell you that the Dyson HushJet is the best damn purifier you can spend your money on. The name has meaning too: The device was crafted to model a literal jet engine. It reduces noise and cycles air out of every corner of a room. And because of its automated technology that senses your room and adjusts throughout the day, you literally don’t have to think about this. Other devices of this caliber used to cost upwards of $1,000. In our opinion, this one is even better and less than $400. Dyson just changed the game with it.

The Best Humidifier

Humidifiers are a hot topic in the Esquire offices, because we hate most of them. They used to be ugly. They used to be hard to clean. Thankfully, more and more options have been coming out that we actually like using. This year, our favorite new model was from Blueair. The brand does what it’s most known for with a sleek design you won’t mind having on display. It sprays light mist in 360 degrees, so it evenly distributes and doesn’t oversaturate your home until it feels like a rain forest, all while giving you just the right amount of moisture. With a full tank, it can last up to 72 hours. Most importantly, it’s not a total nightmare to clean. We especially love that it has three light modes that you can use as a night-light.

The Best Robot Combo

This is currently the closet thing we have to the robot maid from The Jetsons. The Narwal Flow is a robot vacuum-and-mop combo you can operate from your phone at the push of a button. Schedule it to run when you want, doing the type of cleaning you want. It’s as smart as they come, with multiple cameras and real-time object analysis and detection for seamless navigation. The best part is that no matter where you are, you can open the app and have full control. Read our review for our fully detailed thoughts.

The Best Vaccuum

Shark has been making cordless vacuums since what feels like the dawn of time. This year’s best release combines generations of iterative design with intelligent tech. The PowerDetect cordless takes the guessing out of vacuuming. Just put it in detect mode and it will switch power and suction based on the surface and dirt it detects. No more switching between modes going from floor to carpet and back. Best of all, it’s easy to use, easy to clean, and easy to make the switch to handheld mode. It seriously just makes cleaning easy.

The Best Pet Vacuum

Vacuum choice is one of the most important things a pet owner has to think of. The Bissell PowerClean FurFinder proves it. Fur ends up in every damn corner and stuck to every surface. The handheld device on here is what really blew us away. Its strong suction took off a scary amount of fur stuck to our tester’s sofa. (Yes, you should be vacuuming your couch.) There’s a light on the stick vacuum attachment so you can see even the thinnest fur on the ground to pick it all up. Most importantly, the collection chamber has a HEPA filter so you don’t release more allergens when cleaning up. All this for less then $250 is pretty impressive in the vacuum world.

The Best Coffee Maker

In any given year, the best espresso machine released to the consumer market is going to be a De’Longhi. This year, we slightly prefer the Opera to the higher-end Maestro. It has fewer screens and attachments, which, we feel, gives a stronger focus on your own at-home barista skills. Spend time dialing in your grind and dose level, and the machine will always give you steady pressure and a perfect pull. We consider $1,000 the price to match or beat for espresso machines, and the Opera clocks in well under that.

The Best Sparkling-Water Maker

We love a good sparkling-water maker, and Smeg’s newest option wins purely on design. The photo doesn’t do it justice, but you wouldn’t believe how thin and lightweight this thing is. In the past, we’ve had problems with other brands having bulkier options that take up too much counter space. Not only does this one have a lighter footprint, but it’s also extremely light. Pick it up and tuck it away when you want to. The fill process is easy and intuitive, so within minutes you’ll have the fizz you were looking for. We find the bubble-to-water ratio to be just right too.

The Best Water Purifier

Every year, we test just about every new water filter on the market. There was no competition for this round when it comes to the AquaTru Carafe. Somehow this machine has it all but is still packed into a small device. It uses four-stage Ultra Reverse Osmosis filtration, which is more purifying than a tradition single-filter pitcher. But size is one of the most important factors here. The fill tank and the carafe are both on the large side, so you don’t have to keep refilling again and again. Yet this has one of the smaller footprints of the products we tested. The sleek curves on it make it feel tinier than it really is. In addition to the design, we love that the pitcher is glass as brands focus more on shifting away from plastics.

Best Cocktail Machine

This thing isn’t a personal bartender, but that tech actually hasn’t been invented yet. This is as close as we’ve ever gotten. For large-batch simple cocktails, it’s efficient and flashy enough for a party. The Barsys 360 takes the guesswork out of portioning. Add up to six ingredients of your choice to the machine and it will keep them chilled all night and ready to be mixed in any combination. The magnetic spinning plate and mixing cup ensure each drink is properly stirred (or shaken) every time. Even if you’re a novice mixologist, you can just plug all the ingredients into the app and have it spit out a list of cocktails you could be sipping in minutes. Soon, you’ll be throwing parties just to show off your robot bartender. House Negronis, anyone?

The Best Ice Cream Maker

Bring the CREAMi Swirl home and you’ll been surprised, above all else, how much fun it is. It’s incredible how easily a love of cooking and baking translates to the art (maybe more of a science) of crafting ice cream flavors and concocting frozen desserts. Rarely does a gadget allow that without getting in the way of itself with unnecessary software and attachments. The CREAMi Swirl just does what it needs to, and it does it perfectly. If you love cooking, experimenting, or hosting, there is not a better gadget on this list.

The Best Food Composter

One of our favorite innovations of the past few years comes from the Mill—the easiest and smartest way to be composting your kitchen waste and food scraps. Download an app to track your waste, fill it up, press a few buttons, and in eight to ten hours you’ve got some ready-to-use compost. We found that the time can vary depending on the amount of food scraps or whether they were wet. But either way, an overnight transformation is pretty impressive here. The Mill’s design is something else that really makes it a standout item. It doesn’t look like a composter at all but just like a chic trash can you could find in any stylish home. The footprint is small, but it still has a large bucket so you can get a decent amount. If you take your composting and recycling seriously (which you obviously should), we stand behind this being your next big investment.

The Best Washer & Dryer

Smart home devices have transformed our lives. With your phone’s apps, you can peek at your front door when you’re a thousand miles from home and start your dishwasher in bed. The peace of mind! The ease! We are living in the future indeed. But certain tasks don’t require added technology. The most essential chores call for a sturdy, reliable machine that doesn’t need an update or a terms-of-service agreement. Speed Queen has been making washers and dryers since 1928. In the home-appliance world, it’s a heritage brand. Mom used one. So did Grandma, maybe even Great-grandma. Reliable? Absolutely. But the Speed Queen side-by-side top-load washer and electric dryer set is not vintage. It’s a modern refresh of a classic, with cycles that will impress the most exacting neat freak. The dryer includes a steam option and a pet-hair remover. It’s a parent’s dream. And as the name promises, the cycles are fast—like, notably swift; like, you’ll brag to your friends quick—and the washer and dryer run so quietly they won’t disturb the kids or the dog. These are machines you can count on, every time.

Best Indoor Pizza Oven

Any amateur at-home pizza aficionados better grease up their pizza peels, because their new favorite toy just dropped. The best thing about the latest compact pizza oven from Ooni is that it works indoors. Honestly, it’s a bit like a high-powered toaster oven that can reach temps as high as the 800s. I can make wood-fired-esque pizza in a minute and a half and it can do it in a New York City apartment. And while the inside heats up, the exterior stays cool enough that it won’t burn any wandering hands. Fair warning, though: Practice sliding your pizza into the oven. The first few attempts may lead to burnt dough and toppings, but after that it’s better than anything you can call in.

The Best Digital Picture Frame

The Aura Aspen frame is our new favorite digital photo frame thanks to its interactive features and gorgeous display. It serves as a great way to keep in touch with friends and family, with the Aura app allowing anyone you invite to add photos to your frame, no matter where they are. The frame’s interactive touch bar lets you see information about each photo, like who took it and where and when it was taken. It even plays live photos and up to 30 seconds of videos and has a speaker you can turn on for videos’ accompanying sound (or keep on mute if your frame is at your work desk).

The Best Digital Art Poster

As our prior Gadget Awards show, we’ve been in love with the art-TV trend for a while. InkPoster is taking the idea of the digital art gallery on your wall and throwing the whole TV part out the window. It’s fine art made for the digital age. These gorgeous matte screens can display any painting that fits your mood from a gallery of thousands of options. Perfect for the art snobs and the indecisive interior decorators out there.

The Best TV of 2025

Take a note (mental or otherwise) so you can keep this one in mind next time you need to buy a TV. This isn’t just some fancy gadget or piece of exemplary tech, it’s the TV you’re going to use every day, so it better be a damn good one. The Hisense U7 shows up where it counts, delivering stunning 4K picture quality and contrast. It’s an excellent TV for gaming, with high-refresh-rate modes and access to all the most cutting-edge HD formats. If none of that means anything to you, just know the U7 will provide theater-quality picture and sound without your needing to fuss with too many settings.

The Best Art TV

There was a time when it seemed like art TVs were destined to be a passing fad in home trends. Would shoppers go for them? Would brands invest in making the technology more affordable? Would the art actually look good? Turns out the answers were yes, yes, and YES. The most recent entry into the fold comes from TCL, and we couldn’t be more pleased. Bright and beautiful and surprisingly slender, this smart TV makes things easy. We had it powered up and, thanks to the Google TV OS, were logged in within minutes—which left us plenty of time to browse the generous art library for our chosen aesthetic. There’s more, though: The price is über-competitive, the included wood frame for hanging is extremely pleasing, and with the 360 Google access, uploading our own photos for potential backgrounds was seamless.

The Best Home-Assistant TV

This device defies explanation, and that’s why we love it. Is it a 4K computer monitor? Yes. Well, it can be. Is it a smart 4K TV? Also yes, because it lets you easily access streaming apps and includes multiple HDMI outputs for gaming consoles. So yes, it is both of those things, all while being on wheels and boasting a screen that can swing between vertical and horizontal modes. Set it in landscape at the foot of the bed for Netflix but switch it to portrait mode for scrolling through a recipe while you’re in the kitchen. There is nothing that isn’t made more entertaining by a giant touch screen (remote included).

The Best Portable Projector

We still believe in the virtues of physical media and the theatrical experience. But sometimes, especially when we fall behind on all the TV we need to watch, we still give in to streaming. Which is how projectors have invaded our living rooms, affording us freedom from unwieldy TVs and bulky furniture to stand them on. The Xgimi MoGo 4 Laser is a new must-have if living-room space is a luxury and/or you seek minimalism in your life. The adjustable 360 degree stand affords flexibility in how and where to project the screen, while the 550 ISO means that color and light really pop; you never have to strain the settings for good picture.

When talking about projector brands, our main gripe is that none are actually amazing at taking a physical medium and making it digital. In New York City, our cinephile editors are blessed with regular original-print screenings, and at home, nothing has ever compared to what we’ve seen from Leica. A few years ago, the at-home-projector thing felt like a trend, but it hasn’t stopped. Now Leica has released the Cine Play 1. It’s bright enough to replace your TV, color accurate enough to do justice to your favorite film, and portable enough for backyard movie nights. Yes, there are cheaper projectors, but there are none better than this.

The Best Soundbar

Audiophiles don’t need our Gadget Awards to know what they like. But if you’ve never known where to begin with a home speaker system, this year’s new Bravia release is where we recommend starting. It comes with one capable, and compact, soundbar that by itself can deliver theater-quality immersive audio. Paired with it is the perfect starter subwoofer, and once that baby kicks on you’ll start to realize what you’ve been missing the whole time. This soundbar/subwoofer combo is the easiest two-piece solution to turn your modest space into a home theater.

The Best Bluetooth Speaker

This is the perfect party speaker. It’s big for a portable Bluetooth speaker but small enough to take on the go without having to lug around a ton of extra weight. With more than 30 hours of playtime on one charge, it’s a great option for long events (where a speaker dying could completely kill the vibe). It has the classic Marshall stack look in the brand’s signature black and cream colors, and the gold multidirectional knob on top is a nice touch. Plus, you can adjust bass and treble right from the top of the speaker, no app necessary.

The Best Record Player

This new turntable from Victrola is a dream come true for vinyl fans who aren’t afraid to step off their A/V high horse. In the simplest terms, it looks and sounds incredible, especially when connected to the brand’s Tempo Bluetooth Bookshelf Speakers (which pair automatically). The simple, stylish turntable comes in white, black, matte green, and matte blue (which I have and absolutely love). It’s modern, easy to put together, and very convenient, as you’re able to stream to any Bluetooth speakers or headphones and wirelessly transmit to any Auracast devices. If you want to go the old-school route, you can also connect to powered speakers, an external preamp, or traditional stereo systems using the RCA output on the back of the turntable.

The Best Headphones

British audio titan Bowers & Wilkins has once again raised the bar on the latest iteration of its best headphones. The flagship Px8 over-ears are now more luxe than ever—with napa-leather ear cups and gorgeous aluminum arms, the whole design screams elegance. They are better than ever in the sound department as well, with noise cancellation that finally rivals those from Bose and Sony. Each note you hear is clear, each bass hit powerful and balanced. And the closer microphone placement for better noise canceling and clearer calls is the icing on the cake.

The Best Earbuds

We tested a lot of great earbuds over the course of the last year, but you really can’t beat Apple’s latest update to the AirPods Pro line. You can read our full review here, and you’ll see that these impress far beyond sound. (Though the sound is pretty impressive too.) You do truly feel immersed in your music or podcast, with the constant fade in of the real world in adaptive mode. While the sound, noise canceling, and adaptive mode aren’t new to Apple, you can tell this model has very significant updates to its tech behind all three—clearer, faster. and cleaner than ever. But the real standout is live translation. The fact that you can use these to translate a handful of languages at the moment (more to come later this year) is pretty damn revolutionary if you ask us.

The Best Hearing Aid

There is one space we should absolutely not be ignoring in the tech world, and that’s the increase in gadgets that help the hearing-impaired. For decades, hearing aids have been overpriced, hard to get approved by insurance, and a hassle for people to attain. Considering, if you are hearing-impaired, that this is a necessity to your life, it shouldn’t be that way. We’re happy to see that Big Tech is finally invested in something good. As far as tech-savvy hearing aids go, we love Eargo. The 8 model is an upgrade from ones we tested before, and the new features make a big difference. Sound to real-life sound ratio has improved, and so has the battery life. The set comes with a two-year warranty and, more importantly, lifetime support. We’d like to note that our tester was someone who isn’t great with a computer (not to mention a smartphone), but they were able to navigate the whole experience and thrive using these.

The Best Smart Ring

With only its fourth iteration, we think it’s safe to say Oura has perfected the smart ring. The flush circular design and smoothed-out sensors make it indistinguishable from any other modest piece of jewelry. All the while, it’s tracking your vitals and activity with shocking precision. And of all the health-tracking apps we use on the regular, its is still the cleanest and easiest to navigate. We have yet to find a sleep tracker that’s more comfortable, and more accurate, than the Oura Ring 4.

The Best Wearable

For tracking workout data without a screen, you have a couple options. You can use a ring, but that isn’t an option if you’re lifting. Whoop is literally made for working out, though. It’s leading the charge with its smart bands. They are lightweight and easy to slip on and off, and the tech packs a big punch in a small package. The Whoop MG brings medical insights including daily blood-pressure and ECG readings, to an already fully developed suite of health-tracking tools. Whether you’re using it for marathon training or just to get deeper sleep, there are many ways the new medical-grade Whoop can help you out.

The Best Step/Sleep Tracker

This is the most feature-filled Apple Watch yet. But with an elegant design upgrade, the Apple Watch Ultra isn’t just for adventurers and outdoorsmen anymore. Yes, it’s still competing in the world of durable and element-resistant smartwatches, but it also finally feels made for your everyday user. Maybe that’s because with its latest update, Apple finally added detailed sleep tracking with scores and a whole new suite of fitness-coaching options to its health app. Or maybe it’s because the wireless-network capabilities have finally been upgraded to 5G. Whatever it was, it worked. This is the Ultra watch that finally got us to upgrade from the standard models.

The Best Red-Light Recovery

Red-light therapy has been around for a while, but now we’re starting to see it hit the home tech market. Put it on your face, put it on your foot, improve your whole life. We’re wary of miracle cures, but red light has been revolutionary for professional athletes, and now it’s available to the average consumer. Therabody started the percussive-massage craze, and it’s primed to do the same with red light, because it bet big on it this year. Our favorite product was the ThermBack. It’s pain relief for the low back through heat and vibration, but it also aids in actual cellular recovery with increased blood flow from red-light treatments.

The Best Recovery Device

Whereas Therabody started in the world of percussive massaging, Hyperice got its start doing cold, compress, and heat. We still remember the shots of NBA legends on the bench with their Hyperice on. This year, the new X2 Shoulder was as good as anything the brand has ever put out. Cold is colder; heat is hotter. The shoulder is a purely human piece of anatomy, something we use every day. If you play in a softball league, work out in any capacity, or have chronic tension, you will benefit from contrast therapy on the shoulder. This is the Rolls-Royce of that.

The Best Full-Body Recovery Mat

Higherdose’s Infrared PEMF Mat was one thing we didn’t expect to love, but we have officially entered woo-woo land. Marketed as a recovery device, it had us all in. The mat uses both infrared therapy (aka red light) and pulsed electromagnetic field. Basically, plug it in, set it on the level you want, and relax. The mat features four different “levels,” each with a slightly different benefit, ranging from grounding to heat and recovery. It kind of feels like lying on tiny warm rocks with a soft layer for a little bit of comfort. Our tester often used it when they weren’t feeling well, needed a post-workout recovery, or wanted to meditate before bedtime. They reported feeling relaxed after every use.

The Best Sleep Gadget

This year, we launched our inaugural Sleep Awards and tested a bunch of gadgets that promised to help us get better sleep. This is the one we’re still using. The Lunette is a simple, app-free way to calm down and focus on your breathing. Just set the handheld device on your chest, press the single button, and then try to time your breaths to the vibrations. Plus, the scented pods give each session that necessary dash of spa luxury. It all adds up to a phenomenal bedtime ritual.

The Best Home Gym

It’s funny: To us, the only thing stopping from the Tonal from taking off is the price point. The only people who are going to spend like this for lifting equipment would just as well spend the same money on a squat rack. But functionally there are very few people who would get more out of a traditional setup compared with a Tonal. It will do everything your gym will do—plus give you a virtual coach—while sitting flush on the wall of your extra room. If you do Olympic lifting, fine. But if you’re paying to go use machines at the gym, you ought to switch to a Tonal.

The Best Treadmill

We could write a book about the capabilities of this treadmill. About the smooth transitions between speeds and inclines and the stunning array of workouts (not just running, either!). About the embedded sound system or the glowing 24-inch touch-screen display or the quality of the iFit training programs. What about the fan, which automatically changes according to how hard you’re working? Or just the look of the thing. Pick your adjective: sleek, stunning, striking…? We would have to mention the concierge-level installation, where an iFit representative arrives on-site to activate the account and do a comprehensive walkthrough. It’s all absolutely remarkable. But perhaps what strikes us most deeply is that the makers so very clearly set out to make a truly premium machine and then invested in every single detail completely. They wanted to earn the price tag, which on its face almost seems absurd. In use, however, it feels, somehow, appropriate.

Best Cooling Sleep Device/Best Pillowcase

We awarded the Eight Sleep Pod in last year’s Gadget Awards. Its truly innovative tech uses AI power and temperature control to help you sleep and wake up better. The only hang-up we had with it was that the entire bed device is quite an expensive investment (even physically) to add to your space. Which is why we were excited to be one of the first to test the brand’s newest innovation: the Pod Pillow Cover. It has many of the same cooling and temperature-regulating features that the mattress cover is known for. We found that it definitely does help you sleep better while being more relaxed but is still a less intense experience than the entire pod. We fully endorse this as the next-best thing to purchase, though. It’s more affordable and easy to use. It’s time to dip your toe into AI sleeping.

The Best Body-Temperature Reader

The Core 2 is the next evolution in athletic performance and heat-adaptation training. The original Core was the world’s first noninvasive, real-time core-body-temperature sensor trusted by actual Olympians and elite athletes. Engineered in Switzerland, the new design is smaller, lighter, and even more precise, providing real-time insights to help you train smarter, recover faster, and avoid overheating. Beyond just data, the Core 2 offers a deeper understanding of how your body performs and adapts. In an ever-warming world, the Core 2 empowers athletes at every level to push limits safely and effectively.

Best Vibration Plate

We have to admit that we saw this trending on TikTok. (Gadget Awards are a safe place to say that, right?) We wanted to knock this, but honestly it’s great. If you’re wondering what a vibration plate does, well it does what it says on the tin. You sit or stand on the plate and vibration rhythms move throughout your body to help muscle activation, improve your lymphatic system, and help you with balance. If you’ve ever done cryotherapy, they immediately put you on one of these to wake the system back up. We do think there are a lot of overhyped fitness claims attached to it, but that doesn’t mean this thing isn’t good at warming up the body.

The Best Xbox and PC Headset

Never before has a gaming headset looked and felt luxurious in the way this one does. SteelSeries has gone above and beyond with the Nova Elite headset, and it really shows. Not only do the materials (and luxe travel case) live up to the elite moniker, but so does the sound. You can’t ask more from wireless audio. And with the included game hub, you will never suffer from Bluetooth-connection issues or be without a fully charged backup battery. As a whole package, it might just be the best gaming headset ever made.

The Best PlayStation Headset

The latest headset from Sony Inzone is a beauty. An ergonomic beauty, that is. It’s lightweight and perfect for all-night grind sessions. Adjusting the headset is literally a breeze with the aerodynamic slide-lock headband, and you can detach the mic when you’re diving into single player. On the sound front, it has the same booming drivers as Sony’s brand new WH-1000XM6 headphones, which are some of our favorite Bluetooth cans of the year. PlayStation gamers, this is the 2025 exclusive you should care about.

The Best Gaming Handheld

In our initial review of the Nintendo Switch 2, we stated that the latest console was the grown-up version of the original Switch. That statement still holds true. The Nintendo Switch 2 is a much-improved and -updated video game system that arguably should have been the modern console we’ve had since the Switch’s initial release. And after dozens of hours playing Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza, we can see that Nintendo is still exceptionally talented when it comes to creating entertaining and intuitive games. The idea that we would have missed out on anything this fun is simply unfathomable.

Best Gaming-Laptop Alternative

Gaming laptops have have always struggled with balance. Heft combined with poor battery life typically leads to an underpowered machine that you can’t take anywhere. On the other hand, anything designed to be genuinely portable is more or less a potato. The Rog Flow is a declaration that it’s time to take high-end gaming on the go seriously. And you can do it with a mouse-and-keyboard approach. Technically a tablet, this dedicated gaming machine comes with a sturdy detachable keyboard that you can take off at will. Say you want to just prop up the tablet and connect a controller; that’s totally viable. It’s portable and more powerful than an Xbox Series S.

The Best Gaming Mouse

Let us say something controversial: Pretty much all the gamers on staff prefer gamepad controls to keyboard and mouse. Sorry, we didn’t cut our teeth playing Doom on MS-DOS. We grew up on the PS2. Which is precisely why you need to hear us out when we say Razer’s DeathAdder V4 is a game-changer (pun slightly intended). The incremental improvements made over the V3, from its lighter weight to longer battery life, provide an experience that is leaps and bounds better than ever. We might not ever qualify for the Fortnite World Cup 0r Evo, but whether for work or play, the DeathAdder V4 has transformed how we feel sitting a monitor. Speaking of monitors...

The Best Gaming Monitor

When it comes to gaming monitors, we’re often presented with a series of choices. Between a high refresh rate, a 4K resolution, and a glitzy OLED screen, you often get to choose two at most. Not anymore. This MSI monitor has it all, boasting up to a 240Hz refresh rate and a stunning 32-inch panel. And yes, it’s also an OLED. A perfect device for extending the life of your PC-gaming rig and getting the most out of the year’s best games. It even breathes new life into the best-looking games from five years ago, like the first Death Stranding, Ghost of Tsushima, and Cyberpunk 2077. If you game to be immersed, this is the monitor to get.

The Best Gaming Keyboard

If you want something with flashing lights and a built-in OLED display, you’ve got plenty of options out there. But the reason this keyboard stands out for Esquire is because it chooses to buck the trend. It’s an excellent gaming keyboard at its core (with smooth, quiet, buttery feedback on each keystroke), but it’s the elegant wood casing that goes that extra mile. The dedication to pure class makes this a best-in-class work keyboard by day. And when you’re done and ready to switch to game modes, you can adjust the actuation points on each key for rapid-trigger action in your favorite competitive shooter.

The Best New Controller

If you’re looking for mouse-and-keyboard precision, the G7 Pro is the new controller for you. The design takes after the Xbox controller design but with a clicky-ness to all the face buttons and the D-pad that PC players will appreciate. It’s equipped with all the modern amenities, like programable paddles and trigger locks. It also has three swappable D-pad styles, so you can switch between them if you’re going from needing eight-way flexibility in a fighting game to four-way precision in a 2D platformer. It’s a jack-of-all-trades controller and the best we used all year.

The Best Smokeless Fire Pit

Maybe you’re surprised to see a fire pit on this list. Isn’t it just ... a fire pit? Absolutely not. This thing may not come with an app or a glossy high-tech interface, but the smokeless fire pit from Breeo is one of the best pieces of technology money can buy. It makes good on its name—we’ve built towering flames in ours while sitting comfortably around the perimeter. But best of all are the various cooking attachments. The rotisserie and outpost grill will have you feeling like Francis Mallmann in an instant.

The Best Pizza Oven

We’re officially in the middle of the pizza-oven arms race. Every start-up and established kitchenware company wants a (sorry) slice of the pie. One of our favorite additions to the market this year was All-Clad’s pizza oven. That comes down to a few reasons. First, it has a pretty small footprint; it’s not quite countertop-sized, but it’s not far off. Second, and this is the big one, All-Clad went for a rotating pizza stone. When a pizza gets cooked in a big wood-fired oven, the chef is constantly turning pies for even cooking. This oven does that work for you.

The Best Smart Garden

We never knew how easy it was to plant herbs right in our office until we tried Auk’s mini indoor herb garden. It comes with everything you need, including the full setup, coco fiber, nutrient spray, and basil and parsley seeds to get you started. It’s easy to set up and even easier to maintain; since the grow light does most of the work, all you really have to do is plant the seeds and make sure to fill the water every few days and add the appropriate amount of liquid nutrients with each refill. Our basil sprouted in six days, and our parsley sprouted in about two weeks. It took just four weeks for us to have fully grown basil and parsley ready to be harvested—and it tastes fresh and delicious.

The Best Power Generator

A slick and compact portable charger with a ton of power. This guy gets your tablet charged up from the red to 80 percent in no more than an hour, and the LCD display keeps you posted on its own battery level in real time. It recharges itself in 20 minutes on a little magnetic charging pad. It optimizes its own battery life and that of your devices in its EcoFlow app and fits right into your backpack’s side pocket. If you do anything where you need your phone across long days, it’s absolutely indispensable.

The Best Auto Sprinkler

You have a small lawn, way too small to justify in-ground sprinklers, but you don’t want to use an old-fashioned one from Walmart that’s going to waste a ton of water on your dime. Oto’s solar-powered sprinkler is the best solution we’ve found. Hook it up to your hose, set it in a spot where it’ll get occasional sunshine, map your yard, and you’re good to go. Within its 40-foot coverage zone, it’ll sync up with weather updates and precisely water your lawn. Never overwatered, never underwatered. If you have a slightly larger space or a tree that breaks up the backyard, Oto sells bundles at reasonable discounts.

The Best Robot Lawn Mower

Within the first year of home ownership, mowing the lawn quickly becomes a dreadful chore. The normal arc is that you suffer through it for decades until one day you wake up and, suddenly, you love cutting the yard. (This is when a man becomes an old man.) We prefer to skip the middle part. Husqvarna has given us a new set-it-and-forget-it mentality. Our tester’s lawn is perfectly groomed all the time, and they’re never out there pushing the mower. The initial setup does require some skill and time, but don’t worry: The brand offers professional installation. It’s quiet enough to have it run at night, and custom scheduling and cut height let you optimize its routine for your lawn so you can have the best-looking one on your block without lifting a finger.