Leading Tech Triumphs of 2025

A Look at the Year’s Most Impactful Innovations and Players

Every December, Engadget’s editors curate a compilation spotlighting the major technological triumphs of the year. They meticulously examine articles spanning the past 12 months to highlight key personalities, businesses, innovations, and trends that have shaped the course of the year. Not everything listed is impactful for positive reasons, as some may reappear under the year's biggest disappointments. Dive in as we unveil 2025's most influential tech stories.

Nintendo Switch 2 Upgrade

Nintendo's latest console, the Switch 2, drew from the success of its predecessor, enhancing nearly every aspect that garnered praise. It features a streamlined design with robust, magnetic Joy-Cons, a generous 1080p display with HDR capabilities, remarkable performance improvements, intuitive mouse controls, and expanded storage capacity.

Gamers enjoyed an extensive game library from the outset, as most Switch titles are compatible, many benefiting from visual enhancements. Nintendo enriched its offering with top-tier games like Donkey Kong Bananza and Metroid Prime 4, alongside impressive third-party collaborations including Cyberpunk 2077 and Street Fighter 6. Anticipations rise for fresh arrivals such as Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade.

While the Switch 2 might not be revolutionary, it successfully builds on an already brilliant system. Its stellar review score of 93 underscores this achievement, and sales are projected to soar to 19 million units by the fiscal year's conclusion, surpassing initial estimates.

NVIDIA: A GPU Giant

Once mainly known for its gaming GPUs, NVIDIA has now become a cornerstone in the AI industry. Its impressive market performance, with shares rocketing from $13.56 in 2020 to over $200 by October 2025, is fueled by its GPUs being pivotal in AI model training and AI inference processes.

NVIDIA's commitment to parallel processing has yielded significant rewards. While their GPUs power a multitude of computations simultaneously, a task crucial for AI, their efficiency isn't perfect—stimulating demand for more power-efficient NPUs. Nonetheless, NVIDIA's place in AI processing remains formidable, although this landscape could evolve with competitors like Google and Microsoft entering the arena.

Tech Titans' Favor with Politics

Tech billionaires, especially with conservative inclinations, thrived in 2025 under the Trump administration's policies. Notably, figures like Elon Musk have benefitted from reduced government oversight and potential tax concessions. Strategic alliances and donations have granted these tech magnates unparalleled influence, affording them freedom to maneuver through significant business operations.

AI Video: Ubiquitous and Unstoppable

AI-generated video content surged in 2025, with giant tech companies like Meta and Google advancing tools that simplify generating hyper-realistic clips. Although platforms like Pinterest now offer ways to minimize such content, AI creations dominate social media feeds with applications ranging from satirical clips to fabricated narratives.

This explosion results in blurred lines between reality and AI construct, with concerns rising over the public's ability to discern actual footage from AI-generated material. Despite these challenges, the momentum of AI videos persists, reflecting a societal shift towards immersive and largely machine-driven media landscapes.

Galaxy Z Fold 7: A Foldable Revolution

Marking a significant evolution, Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7 offers a foldable phone experience that rivals conventional phone dimensions. It boasts a lightweight build, exceptional camera features, and dual functionality as both smartphone and tablet, progressively attracting a wider audience.

With enhanced practicality and aesthetics, the Fold 7 has boosted foldable sales remarkably, hinting at a promising future for flexible display technology. Samsung's strategic shift towards quality hardware over exaggerated AI reliance proves fruitful in reshaping consumer tech experiences.

Smart Glasses: Eyeing a Resurgence

Reviving interest, smart glasses have made a comeback with innovations from Meta and other brands, reshaping perceptions once clouded by early failures like Google Glass. Improvements in optics, battery life, and AI integration foster renewed potential for these devices to become a staple in digital lifestyles.

Accelerating with Fast Charging

Fast charging technology redefined device usage in 2025, significantly reducing battery anxiety. The Pixel Watch 4 exemplified these advancements with efficient power replenishment, a scenario echoed by other tech, including Apple's iPad Pro M5.

While rapid charging poses challenges like battery volatility, its integration across multiple gadget categories, including electric vehicles, marks it as a pivotal improvement facilitating modern energetic demands.

Magnetic Attachments: Magnifying Convenience

With Qi 2's support for magnetic attachments, Google's Pixel 10 series embraces this magnetic functionality, symbolizing a broader acceptance and application of accessory ecosystems like Apple's MagSafe. Such features heighten device functionality and mobility, affirming magnets' role in modern tech conveniences.

The creative utilization of magnets, evident in products like Apple's adjustable Crossbody Strap, illustrates their enduring appeal. This innovation emphasizes practical enhancements in tech products, providing seamless adjustments and generating enthusiasm among users who value fluid, versatile solutions.