Which gadgets are winning the holidays?

People have officially hit their limit on tech for tech’s sake.

I hear it everywhere — in carpool lines, group texts, even at my own dinner table. Adobe Analytics’ latest holiday shopping reports confirm it: shoppers are ditching digital clutter and choosing tech that actually does something useful.

The breakout gadgets of 2025 aren’t the ones shouting the loudest with shiny features or splashy marketing campaigns. They’re the ones giving something back — time, calm, connection. People want devices that bring families into the same room again instead of scattering everyone onto separate screens. 

At the same time, value matters more than ever. Deep discounts pushed shoppers toward smarter spending, and refurbished marketplaces like Back Market as families stretch budgets without sacrificing quality.

Still, the products people gravitated toward reveal something bigger about where tech is headed next.

Together Tech Takes the Lead

Few categories capture this shift more clearly than the rise of “together tech” — devices designed to bring families back together instead of stuck behind individual screens. Board is one standout. It’s a tabletop gaming console that blends video games and board games into a single communal experience. Its 24-inch touchscreen recognizes taps, gestures, and even physical pieces, making digital play feel tactile and social again.

Nex Playground is another hit, turning the entire family into the controller for movement-based games through full-body motion tracking. No remotes, no wrist straps — just people jumping, swinging, dancing, and laughing together.

Even the pricey HP Sprocket Photobooth cracked the list. At $599, it’s not an impulse buy, but it’s the rare gadget that instantly changes the energy in a room, giving families a hands-on way to make memories without staring into another phone.

The trend is unmistakable: “tech that brings us together instead of pulling us apart” isn’t a feel-good slogan — it’s where the sales are going. Expect an even bigger boom in 2026.

Home Tech That Earns Its Keep

Another defining theme this year: people want tech that gives them back time.

Robot lawn mowers — once the punchline of “rich tech guy” jokes — went mainstream in 2025 thanks to lower prices, YouTube lawn-care culture (including my own deep-drive with the best models), and the universal dream of never pushing a mower again. The Mammotion LUBA Mini AWD 1500 became the standout for smaller yards. It trims grass quietly, avoids flowerbeds and toys, senses rain, and returns to its dock without wandering.

Robot vacuums made the same leap. The Matic Robot Vacuum, which I first wrote about at CES  2024, uses a true vision system instead of bump sensors. It recognizes floor types, shoes, toys — even dog messes — and cleans like it actually understands your home, not like it’s guessing its way through it.

AI Gets Personal — In Ways People Actually Appreciate

AI isn’t just powering corporate chatbots; it’s quietly enhancing everyday life.

Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 totally delivers deep noise cancellation and surprisingly accurate heart-rate tracking built into the buds. A beta real-time language translation mode hints at where earbuds are headed next — even though these latest models tend to slip out of my ears.

The Lenovo Yoga 91 Aura Edition uses AI to adjust performance and brightness automatically, stretch battery life, and even help you find files by describing them aloud. It’s not just powerful — it’s perceptive.

And in beauty tech — a category that exploded this fall — Nanoleaf's Light Therapy Mask and Wand are runaway hits by avoiding gimmicks and sticking to dermatologist-backed wavelengths that actually improve skin.

Fun Wins Too — Especially When It’s Shareable

Practical tech may be driving the season, but joy is selling just as fast.

Screen-free kids’ tech is booming. The Yoto Player and Yoto Mini remain bestsellers with their “no ads, no internet, no algorithm” approach to storytelling. The 2025 ZhuZhu Pets reboot — complete with 40+ reactions and modular playsets — is a nostalgia-fueled phenomenon.

Even AI toys got thoughtful. The Imagix AI Crystal Ball acts as an interactive storytelling companion instead of another digital distraction.

Stocking stuffers followed suit: the Dad Joke QR Mug, Rocketbook notebook, and Tiny Vinyl mini records all earned their spots by being fun, useful, or both.

Tech That Makes Everyday Life Easier

Not everything has to spark joy — some gifts just need to make life run better. This year’s biggest hits delivered comfort, calm, or a smoother day in small but meaningful ways.

I showed off Ororo's heated jackets on the Today Show on Dec. 12. These top comfort-tech lists by solving a simple problem: staying warm without layers of bulk. 

The Zyllion Shiatsu massager continues to sell out because it actually works — a rare thing in its category. And the Ninja Swirl earned its place with pure dessert magic: soft serve and fruit whips at home, no ice-cream shop required.

These aren’t flashy gadgets; they’re the ones people — including me — actually use.

What’s Next?

The story this holiday season reads loud and clear: we still love gadgets, but expect more from them. We need devices that strengthen relationships, save time, and protect attention. We all want tech that adapts to our lives, not the other way around.

Expect that demand next year as well. 2025 made tech practical again. 2026 will test how human it can become.

Jennifer Jolly is an Emmy Award-winning consumer tech columnist and on-air contributor for "The Today Show.” The views and opinions expressed in this column are the author's and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY. Contact her via Techish.com or  @JennJolly on Instagram.