The number of gadgets I’ve tested over the past twelve months is comfortably into triple digits, so it’s a big deal when one of ’em stands out enough to keep me thinking about it into the new year. While smartphones, laptops and headphones made up the bulk of my 2025 review quota, the best thing about writing for Stuff is the variety – I’ve also looked at gaming gear, wearables, smart home kit and electric cars. But there are three I want to highlight here.
Before I dig deeper into those top picks, though, I do have some honourable mentions:
- The Galaxy Z Fold 7 showed me Samsung can still innovate when it wants to. As well as dramatically slimming down its book-style foldable compared to the previous generation, the firm fitted an impressively capable set of cameras. While rivals bested it for battery, the overall package was properly compelling.
- Zwift Ride transformed my fitness in 2025, helping me shed over 40lbs and stay motivated through virtual worlds that are great fun to cycle around, whatever the weather, and whether solo or with others.
- I never expected a projector to be something I’d regularly pack in my overnight bag, but the Xgimi Mogo 4‘s compact size, integrated Android TV and built-in battery makes it an ideal travel companion.
- I’ve worn a smartwatch of some kind every single day this year, but it’s the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro that clocked up the most wrist time. It’s a superb sports watch with plenty of smarts, and battery life is simply fantastic.
Touching the sky with the Antigravity A1
It felt like DJI had the drone market all to itself for a while there, but newcomer AntiGravity has risen to the challenge at the first time of asking. Having seen – but not flown – the Insta360-incubated firm’s A1 drone for the first time at Berlin’s IFA show in September, I wasn’t sure whether I had the stomach for first-person flying in 360-degrees. I needn’t have worried.
The A1’s Vision Goggles and Grip controller were brilliantly intuitive, and the drone itself perfectly stable in flight. The fancy filming angles and manoeuvres were just a menu away, so it didn’t matter about my lack of flying experience, and the video feed follows your head movements rather than being the dizzying, distorted view I’d feared. The companion app then did a great job picking out highlights stitching it all together.
Though the price of entry is a high one, and image quality isn’t quite on par with DJI’s rectangular recording, the fact the A1 sees everything in a single pass makes it the ideal one-and-done drone for creators. I’m still coming up with excuses to go out and fly it.
- Read more: Antigravity A1 review – this all-seeing eye in the sky is so fun to fly
Finding new perspectives with the Fujifilm GFX100RF
When I saw the price of Fujifilm’s rangefinder-style compact, I did a double-take. Could the GFX100RF really justify being three times as much as the excellent X100VI? The huge 102-megapixel medium format sensor was going to have to put in a strong shift in order to impress. I took it with me on a work trip to China, and it took me a while to get used to the stacked controls – but was quickly sold on its versatility.
Fuji’s film simulations were a highlight – they always are, adding vintage and analogue vibes to any scene – but it was the new aspect ratio dial that made all the difference. With so many pixels to play with, the GFX100RF let me get out of my 4:3 comfort zone without having to truly compromise on image quality. Cinematic panoramas and portrait-friendly proportions made me rethink my angles, making for better overall composition.
I mainly shoot architecture and street scenes, so the 35mm fixed lens’ f/4.0 aperture never felt like a limitation, and the lack of in-body image stabilisation wasn’t a deal-breaker either. If my lottery numbers came in it would still be a tough decision between this and a Leica Q3 – there’s just something about that iconic red dot that calls to me – but I think it’s the Fuji that would make me a better photographer in the long run.
- Read more: Reviewing the Fujifilm GFX100RF medium format compact made me think differently about photography
Exploring new cities on the VanMoof S6
Ever since electric bikes first started doing the rounds, I’ve known exactly what style I like: incognito. No unsightly battery packs for me, thank you very much. VanMoof was one of the first to truly capture that, fully integrating lights and power indicators into the frame and going big on connected features. It was disheartening to hear the firm had gone through the wringer post-COVID, like a lot of bike companies, but happily new backers Lavoie and McLaren Applied stepped in to right the ship.
I went to the firm’s Amsterdam base to ride the first all-new model since the takeover, and instantly fell for its Electric Blue charms. The S6 brings back VanMoof signatures like the boost button, which gets the front-mounted 250W hub motor up to fill speed double-quick, but refines all the oily bits for a smoother ride and easier maintenance. New additions like the optional suspension seat post and phone mount courtesy of Peak Design refine what was already a very slick e-bike, while the properly seamless frame welds make it look absolutely gorgeous in the metal.
2025 has definitely been the year I’ve clocked up the most miles on two wheels, but zipping around one of the world’s most bike-friendly cities on the S6 reminded me it’s just as much fun to slow down and take in the scenery. I’ll take mine in Pearl Mint colours, please.
- Read more: Back-to-back rides showed me how far the VanMoof S6 has been refined in a single e-bike generation
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