Here we are, caught in the hazy period between Christmas and New Years where not much actually happens.
It’s a good time for reflection, and unlike all the big brands that give you your annual year in review in November (what’s up with that!?), I’m reflecting on my year of reviews to pick out my 10 favourite products from the year that was.
Last year, I reviewed a huge 99 products for the annual review, but this year was significantly slower. I only managed to pump out 60 reviews this year, which might get to 61 or 62 this week before the fireworks explode to bring in the New Year.
But even if that happens, these were my 10 favourite products this year.
10: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7
Nick Broughall
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold7 was a massive evolution for the foldable design thanks to the incredible slim design.
Where devices like the iPhone Air brought slimness to the candy bar form factor, the battery sacrifice means that it’s just not worth it. But with a foldable like the Fold7, having a folded device that’s roughly the same thickness as a standard smartphone is game-changing.
Samsung is taking this to the next level with its upcoming tri-fold smartphone, which should give you a full phone-to-tablet transformer experience. But until then, the Z Fold7 is a prime example of what can happen when good engineering meets a delightful design.
🛒 Where to buy Samsung mobile devices
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9: DJI Osmo Mobile 8
Nick Broughall
I’ve been using the DJI Osmo Mobile 5 for a few years now to help me make videos for social media platforms. And it’s great, though maybe a little cumbersome. The biggest hurdle it has is that you sacrifice things like subject tracking if you would rather not use DJI’s software.
The new Osmo Mobile 8 changes that. Thanks to support for Apple’s Dockkit, you can throw up a hand signal while using the Osmo Mobile 8, and it will start tracking you as you move around. Which is particularly useful given that the gimbal can now spin around a full 360 degrees.
Plus, with its integrated tripod base and fill light, the Osmo Mobile 8 is well worth the upgrade. A great product for anyone wanting to step up their social video game.
🛒 Where to buy DJI
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8: Ankarsrum Assistant Original stand mixer
Nick Broughall
I’m not a baker. I do most of the cooking at home, but it’s pretty vanilla meat and vegetable-type food.
But I have to tell you that almost a year later, I still dream about the cinnamon scrolls I made with the Ankarsrum.
In many ways, my review of this mixer was both too much and not enough. I didn’t get to test out any of the optional accessories, like the meat mincer, which see you lay the mixer on its side to make it work.
But I did make those scrolls, and some absolutely delightful bread. I can’t say I have a lot of experience testing mixers, but I’d be sorely tempted to pick this up if I decided I wanted to do more baking (and my kitchen miraculously got bigger).
🛒 Where to buy Ankarsrum
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7: Apple MacBook Air M4
Nick Broughall
Apple’s MacBook Air has been an iconic laptop for years, but a couple of significant changes with the M4 model make it a remarkable step-up for anyone after a portable workhorse.
The first is the fact that despite the M4 chip being more powerful than previous chips, Apple somehow managed to carve $100 off the starting price for this year’s model.
The second is that this laptop has Apple’s Centre Stage camera, which will track your position during video calls so you are always front and centre during discussions. Every time I use the Air for a video call, it does its job well.
And the third is the fantastic 18 hours of battery life. I know that Windows now has CoPilot+ machines running Snapdragon to match that spec, but macOS is still a much more integrated OS than Windows will ever be.
I do wish that Apple would give an option for a USB port on the right side of the laptop as well as the left, but even with the one-sided connectivity, this is an exceptional work machine.
🛒 Where to buy Apple
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BTTR is independent, but we may earn money when you purchase through links on our site. This helps us cover costs and continue providing honest reviews. Find out why you should trust us.
6: espresso Displays 15 Pro
Nick Broughall
There aren’t a huge number of Australian tech hardware companies out there. But espresso is a key example of just how good Aussie ingenuity can be when it gets stuff out there.
The 15 Pro is a 4K portable monitor that can be powered by a single USB-C cable. The screen is bright, and the colour is vibrant and accurate. Over a billion colours and just 9 mm thick, the 15 Pro weighs just 800 grams, making it a great backpack option for those needing accurate picture quality to work on the go.
But the thing I really love is the Stand+, a magnetic stand that lets you position the 15 Pro above your laptop, giving you a vertically aligned dual-screen setup, regardless of where you work.
Like some other espresso monitors, the 15 Pro supports touch controls, even giving you touch support on macOS.
🛒 Where to buy Espresso Displays
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BTTR is independent, but we may earn money when you purchase through links on our site. This helps us cover costs and continue providing honest reviews. Find out why you should trust us.
5: Shokz OpenDots One
Nick Broughall
I tested these earbuds alongside the Shokz OpenFit 2+, which were arguably a much better pair of open-ear headphones. The OpenFit 2+ sounded better, had longer battery life and easy physical controls.
And yet, I found over my review period that I really preferred the OpenDots One.
The biggest thing for me was the comfort of the fit. These earbuds have a robust clip-on design that makes them look like a pair of large earrings, yet still let you hear what’s going on around you.
That means they can struggle in noisy environments, but the comfort and security of the fit were unmatched.
These may not be for everyone, but I loved them!
🛒 Where to buy Shokz
Available from these trusted retailers:
BTTR is independent, but we may earn money when you purchase through links on our site. This helps us cover costs and continue providing honest reviews. Find out why you should trust us.
4: Backbone Pro
Nick Broughall
I reviewed a whole range of mobile gaming controllers this year, but the Backbone Pro really stood apart.
A big part of that was how comfortable the controller sat in my hands. Razer’s Kishi Ultra feels more like a proper games controller, but the Backbone finds a better balance between portability and comfort.
The key difference, I think, is the intent of the BackBone Pro. It’s designed to be a controller-first solution to your gaming needs. Sure, it can connect to your phone with the USB-C port, but it can also connect via Bluetooth to any other gaming device you might have, from a laptop to a tablet, to a smart TV.
While some features of the controller are locked behind a subscription, you don’t need the sub to truly enjoy the controller.
But maybe the real thing that pushed this into the top 10 was the rise of really awesome games on mobile platforms. I am playing Red Dead Redemption on an iPhone with the Backbone Pro right now. Alongside Cult of the Lamb with Apple Arcade.
It’s a remarkable time for mobile gaming, and the BackBone Pro is the best controller I’ve tested to take advantage of it.
🛒 Where to buy Backbone
Available from these trusted retailers:
BTTR is independent, but we may earn money when you purchase through links on our site. This helps us cover costs and continue providing honest reviews. Find out why you should trust us.
3: Dyson PencilVac Fluffycones
Nick Broughall
The PencilVac is a truly impressive piece of vacuuming hardware. In the body of a broom, you get an entire vacuum, with about 25 minutes of suction time and a unique compression system for dust that lets you easily manage dust collection.
It has the green laser light that highlights the dust on your floor – which is eye-opening, let me tell you – and comes with a simple charging stand that houses the vacuum and a single flexi-brush attachment
Don’t get me wrong – there are clear sacrifices here. It only works on hard floors, so you still require another vacuum for your carpet or rugs. And it’s not cheap at all.
But like so many of my favourite products, the PencilVac Fluffycones brings a unique, versatile design to a category where everything just about looks the same.
🛒 Where to buy Dyson
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BTTR is independent, but we may earn money when you purchase through links on our site. This helps us cover costs and continue providing honest reviews. Find out why you should trust us.
2: Sony WH-1000 XM6
Nick Broughall
Undoubtedly, these are the best pair of headphones you can buy right now.
Sony has been dominant in the noise-cancelling headphones space for several years, but the XM6 step things up again.
The noise cancellation is incredible. Standing underneath my range hood with the noise-cancelling on completely removed the sound of cooking from my ears.
But that doesn’t come at the expense of the audio quality, either. Music is warm and detailed, and while you don’t get immersive Spatial Audio, you do get unbelievable sounding stereo.
If you can justify the price, these are definitely worth it. If you can’t justify the price, the arrival of the XM6 this year also means the previous generations, like the XM4 and XM5, are available at a discounted price almost everywhere.
Win-win, right?
🛒 Where to buy Sony
Available from these trusted retailers:
BTTR is independent, but we may earn money when you purchase through links on our site. This helps us cover costs and continue providing honest reviews. Find out why you should trust us.
1: Ninja Combi 14-in-1 cooker
Nick Broughall
Ninja had a pretty massive year this year. The viral Slushi launched on Australian shores, as did the Luxe coffee machine, and the Swirl by Creami soft-serve ice cream machine.
But the product that really impressed me this year was the Combi. This versatile 14-in-1 cooker can not only replace your air fryer and slow cooker, but can also combine cooking functions to cook a meal for a family of four in 20 minutes.
It can be slightly intimidating at first, but as I’ve gotten used to using it over the last few months, the versatility here is astounding. I rarely use my microwave or oven anymore, have given away my older air fryer, and my slow cooker hasn’t come out of the cupboard. I use it for everything from grilled cheese on toast to steaming dumplings.
The biggest hurdle is that it can be a pain to clean, particularly above the grill heating element. But it’s manageable, and that difficulty is outweighed by the convenience of cooking.
All told, it’s been my favourite product of 2025. I can’t wait to see what Ninja comes up with in 2026.
🛒 Where to buy Ninja
Available from these trusted retailers:
BTTR is independent, but we may earn money when you purchase through links on our site. This helps us cover costs and continue providing honest reviews. Find out why you should trust us.
What do you think? What did I miss?
I mean, obviously, there's no Nintendo Switch 2, because unfortunately I didn't get my hands on one this year. I need a few more subscribers to sign up before I can pick one up myself.
But then there were more gadgets I missed out on testing this year, like most of Samsung's flagship smartphones, and the ASUS Xbox Ally.
So I'd love to hear what other products stood out for you this year!
As we head into 2026, tell me what you think! What were your top products of 2024? Let me know in comments, or drop me a message on social media.
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