The best tech I bought this year isn't actually from this year, and that's kind of the point. It's a 2024 LG TV, a 65-inch OLED model that I got on sale for $1,200 at a regional electronics chain. For an OLED TV, that's an incredible price, and it looks fantastic. It's hard to find now that inventories have cleared out, but its 2025 replacement, the LG C5, is a better, brighter TV. It's also pretty inexpensive right now.—Will Greenwald, Principal Writer, Consumer Electronics

After going through back-to-back Florida hurricanes and a roof leak last year, it was time to upgrade my ceiling fan. I opted for the reasonably priced, Editors' Choice-winning Dreo CLF521S due to its modern design and convenient smart features. It’s super-quiet, with in-app and voice commands to control the speed, light, brightness, and white color temperature. My only regret is that I didn't wait for the newer model with color LED lighting. —Angela Moscaritolo, Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics 

These TP-Link smart plugs help turn my lights on and off while I'm on vacation, and the three-pack was actually cheaper than any old-school, mechanical light timer I could find. I appreciate the ability to set random schedules so it appears I'm home. They’re also Matter-compatible, allowing me to control them in any way I choose, rather than relying on the manufacturer's app. —Tom Brant, Deputy Managing Editor 

I needed a faster computer for mixing and mastering music, so I sprung for a Mac Studio (M4 Max) with 64GB RAM and 1TB storage. The machine is incredibly fast, and the extra memory gives me plenty of breathing room for running hundreds of tracks and plug-ins in Logic Pro. It also features Thunderbolt 5 ports, which will become important when I upgrade my existing external SSDs in the future. —Jamie Lendino, Executive Editor, Reviews

Having recently moved to the suburbs, I had to figure out the whole mowing the lawn thing. My solution was the Eufy 15 Robot Lawn Mower. I love how quiet it is—so quiet, in fact, that I often have to check the app to make sure it’s doing its job (it always is). Setting it up and mapping the lawn were a breeze. The downsides: You can’t bag clippings, and you have to futz a bit to get the lawn boundaries right, but if you’ve got a small yard, it’s an excellent choice. —John Mihaly, Managing Editor, Shopping & Deals

I decided I wanted to read more, but I didn't want to pay for and store dozens of physical books. The combination of Amazon's Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (2024) and the library app Libby fits my needs perfectly. The ereader is light enough to hold for long periods and lasts weeks on a single charge. Plus, the automatically adjusting backlight makes reading in low light not only possible, but also enjoyable. —Ben Moore, Managing Editor, Software

Nintendo really stuck the landing with its sequel to the uber-successful Switch console. It features a larger 120Hz screen with HDR support, as well as a custom version of Nvidia’s DLSS, which supports modern AAA titles. What can be better than that? Well, Nintendo’s first-party lineup is stacked with bangers like Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, and Metroid Prime 4. —Zackery Cuevas, Writer, Hardware

As soon as I put these buds in my ears, I am transported to another world by the active noise cancellation (ANC). Subway screeches and loud crowds give way to my choice of music, full of notes I hadn’t heard in a long time. Better still, they let me listen to podcasts and audiobooks without having to blast the volume. —Iyaz Akhtar, Mobile Writer

The best present I bought for myself this year is a 12-credit Audible Premium Plus membership. Think audiobooks are just a shortcut for reading physical books? Maybe. But the ability to listen in the car, on a walk, or while folding laundry helped me finish a dozen titles in 2025. My favorite listen this year? Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. —Wendy Sheehan Donnell, Editor-in-Chief

I'm slowly filling my house with wireless chargers to replace all those unsightly cords, and this one I got for my wife handles not only phones, but also her Apple Watch and AirPods. In addition, it features built-in ambient lighting to help wake her up in the morning with the subtlety of the sunrise. —Eric Griffith, Senior Editor, Features

Expedition 33 both surprised and delighted me. Its combat style is fun, strategic, and reminiscent of Japanese role-playing games, such as the Final Fantasy series. The art design is straight out of a Renaissance painting, while the score and voice acting absolutely rocked my socks. But it’s the narrative—the game is a tearjerker about loss, with distinctly French sensibilities—that really moved me. —Andrew Gebhart, Senior Writer, Smart Home and Wearables

I’d been wanting a small tablet to use while watching TV or for casual browsing, checking email, and streaming video. After trying several budget Android devices that disappointed me, I picked up the Amazon Fire HD 8 for $55 on Black Friday and was impressed. Its battery lasts for weeks, and performance is smoother than my previous tablets. The downside: You don’t get all the Google Play apps, just the more-limited Amazon Appstore selection. —Michael Muchmore, Principal Writer, Software

The Sony SRS-XB100 has been a major musical upgrade for me. It's a top-tier, compact boombox that’s water- and dust-proof, lasts for several hours on a single charge, and supports phone calls. I've taken it to the beach, put it on in the background during work, and used it to set the stage at the monthly Dungeons and Dragons sessions I run. Try to find it on sale; I snagged mine on Amazon Prime Day. —Joe Osborne, Deputy Managing Editor, Hardware

Who knew vacuuming could be enjoyable? Although it's pricey, the Dyson V15 Detect is so effective at sucking up dust and hair that I feel happy after each cleaning session. The device is cordless and can be disassembled, making it easy to use, move around, and pack away when I’m done. A handy visual display shows how much dirt and pollen it's picked up. —Michael Kan, Senior Reporter

If you’re a fellow music lover and want to tinker with making your own samples, this app is a brilliant way to get started. Available for Android and iOS for just $4.99, it’s significantly cheaper than the Roland SP-404MKII ($430) or the Teenage Engineering EP–133 K.O. II ($300). It lets you sample sounds using your phone or tablet’s microphone, or upload your own audio files, and then easily chop, slice, and rearrange them. It’s the most fun I’ve had on a phone since Snake. —Craig Wilson, Deputy Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

The Retroid Pocket 5 was an impulse buy that made me regret not getting into handhelds sooner. I use it to play Android games and as a dedicated streaming device; its Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset is strong enough to handle most retro gaming emulators. Running games from my home PC over Wi-Fi goes smoothly and looks great on the 5.5-inch 1080p screen. —Francisco Lahoz, Junior Writer/Associate Producer

Did I need a new pair of Apple AirPods? Not at all. But we don’t hand out 5-star ratings lightly at PCMag, so when I saw the AirPods Pro 3 earn a perfect score, I knew I had to upgrade. I’m glad I did. In addition to brand-new capabilities like heart rate monitoring, they sound noticeably better and make it even easier to tune out the world with best-in-class noise cancellation. —Alex Colon, Executive Editor, Reviews

I grew tired of the ever-decreasing lifespan of my PlayStation 5 controller, so I opened the DualSense and replaced the battery myself (with the help of iFixIt’s guide). Success! I highly recommend doing the same if your PS5 controller is over five years old, as it's likely to have lost some of its power-holding ability. —James Peckham, Reporter

This small and highly portable smart telescope fits in the bottom of my backpack. I use it for astronomy and nature photography, both outside and perched on my New York City windowsill. It captures great wide-field shots of galaxies, nebulae, star clusters, and comets, and I've also used it to image faint quasars and supernovae. —Tony Hoffman, Senior Writer, Hardware

I unintentionally did myself a favor when I forgot my laptop’s charger at an event in February, because I love the replacement I picked up: a much smaller 60-watt GaN (gallium nitride) charger. This $29 Nekteck model, certified by the USB Implementers Forum, spans just under two inches on its longer sides with its prongs folded in and includes a 6.5-foot USB-C cable. —Rob Pegoraro, Contributing Writer

I've tried many dumbphones, but I've always encountered deal-breaking inconveniences, such as a lack of GPS, music, or messaging capabilities. The Jelly Star, however, has everything I need in a tiny package. I've been using it for three months, and it has fully replaced my traditional smartphone. I can access the full Android 13 experience, but my time spent on my phone has decreased dramatically. It's a great option if you're looking to disconnect without ditching modern conveniences. —Justyn Newman, Senior Writer, Security