5 tech splurges I thought I'd regret in 2025 (but now can't live without)

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As a tech reviewer, I get to trial galore costly products each twelvemonth -- whether I similar it oregon not. Some of them are truthful bully that I'd see dropping my wealth connected them if I had that overmuch wealth lying successful my slope account.

Also: 5 tech gadgets that I didn't expect to emotion this overmuch successful 2025 (including astonishment earbuds)

From an costly brace of wireless headphones to a trifold phone, determination are aggregate items connected this database that wouldn't beryllium considered worth for money. However, they excel successful 1 circumstantial task oregon person a unsocial diagnostic that nary different merchandise tin replicate. If you are looking to splurge wealth this New Year's, these are the products I recommend.

1. Bowers and Wilkins Px8 S2 headphones

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The Bowers and Wilkins Px8 S2 are premium wireless headphones that dependable exceptional and look luxurious. Their headband and receptor pads are covered successful nappa leather, the earcups athletics aluminum accents, and the aluminum yokes person an exposed braided cable. They are comfy to deterioration for extended periods (battery beingness lasts up to 30 hours). Plus, these headphones dependable arsenic astonishing arsenic they look.

Also: Why I enactment my Bose QuietComfort headphones distant soon aft investigating this competitor

When you usage the Px8 S2, you'll announcement clearer details successful euphony that you've been proceeding for years. The bass is articulate, and the vocals are beforehand and halfway with a wide soundstage. In presumption of connectivity, the caller Bowers and Wilkins headphones person Bluetooth 5.3, 24-bit/96kHz playback via wired USB-C connection, and an integrated amplifier and digital-to-analog converter. 

They besides enactment AptX Lossless and Adaptive Bluetooth codecs. The progressive sound cancellation isn't arsenic effectual arsenic that of the Bose and Sony rivals, but I'd bargain these for their fantabulous dependable clarity and high-end aesthetics.

2. Xgimi Horizon 20 Max projector

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I've loved watching movies connected the XGIMI Horizon 20 Max. It has efficaciously replaced my TV astatine night. The flagship XGIMI projector supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG, providing an immersive acquisition and delivering beardown opposition with vibrant colors. It is precise agleam (rated for 5,700 ISO lumens) and tin besides withstand ambient lighting.

Also: I replaced my chamber TV with this $180 Roku projector and can't spell back

It features coagulated built-in sound, which should beryllium capable for a tiny surviving room. But if you privation to adhd a soundbar to the system, you tin bash so, acknowledgment to eARC support. I couldn't trial the gaming performance, but it does diagnostic gaming capabilities, including 4K 120Hz support. There's nary existent downside to the Horizon 20 Max. If you tin spend it, bargain it.

3. Huawei Mate XT trifold phone

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The Huawei Mate XT was besides connected ZDNET's most innovative products of 2025 list. It is simply a one-of-a-kind instrumentality that combines a phone, a mini-tablet, and a wide-screen tablet into a 12.8mm design. When folded, you tin consciousness the thickness and its 298g value successful your hand, but unfold it erstwhile oregon twice, and its 3.6mm bladed plan genuinely shines.

Also: I tested Huawei's $3,600 tri-foldable phone

I emotion the Huawei trifold telephone for its all-in-one design. Need to marque a telephone oregon promptly reply to a text? Use it arsenic a 6.4-inch phone. Want to browse online oregon work e-books? Unfold it once, and you get a 7.9-inch show with 2048 x 2232 pixels resolution. Need to ticker videos oregon play mobile games? Open it each the mode for a 10.2-inch surface with a 16:9 facet ratio, providing minimal letterboxing and an immersive feel. It doesn't person Google services, but you tin instal those apps done assorted methods.

4. Asus ZenBook Duo laptop

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The Asus Zenbook Duo has 2 14-inch FHD OLED displays with enactment for Dolby Vision and a highest brightness of up to 500 nits. They are joined by a hinge, and yet the laptop is conscionable 19.8mm heavy and weighs 1.65kg. You get 1 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports, a full-size HDMI 2.1 port, and a 3.5mm audio jack, truthful there's nary existent compromise successful this signifier factor.

You tin usage the ZenBook Duo arsenic a accepted laptop by attaching the bundled wireless keyboard to the 2nd display, oregon utilize some displays simultaneously successful either horizontal oregon vertical orientations (on the built-in kickstand). It offers unmatched flexibility for a laptop. While I privation the artillery beingness were amended (my M4 MacBook Air has spoiled me), I'd prime it for its flexibility.

5. Apple iPhone Air

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The iPhone Air is 1 of my blameworthy picks connected this list. It is simply a compact telephone by value and not by surface size. You get a 6.5-inch large and agleam display, flagship powerfulness with the A19 Pro chipset, and the all-new 18MP Center Stage selfie camera. I would emotion to usage the skinny Apple iPhone arsenic my superior device, but its mono talker and 1 camera support maine from switching.

Also: I tested the iPhone Air for a week, and here's wherefore 17 Pro Max users shouldn't slumber connected it

I would emotion to usage the skinny Apple iPhone arsenic my superior device, but its mono talker and 1 camera support maine from switching. However, if those are a non-issue for you and you request an iPhone that doesn't compromise connected show oregon display, but weighs nether 170 grams, the iPhone Air is simply a bully choice.