The world's biggest technology trade show is here, and Jordan Calhoun, Beth Skwarecki, Jake Peterson, and Michelle Ehrhardt are on the ground in Las Vegas.

As 2025 comes to an end, we take a look at ten gadgets (and one more) that came with a cool factor in what was generally a rather lukewarm year in terms of innovation.

If 2025 taught us anything, it’s that “inexpensive” doesn’t have to mean “cheap” when it comes to the latest tech products. Some of our favorite gadgets of the year came in at a cool $50 or less, from innovative power strips that kept our cables organized to cases that improved our phones’ and earbuds’ style and functionality.

Often the coolest announcements come from offsite meetings or fringe events – there are plenty of hotel suites and event spaces stuffed with brands wanting attention. The main rule is that your next appointment will be at the other end of the Strip from the current one (CES is a very big start to the year for Uber drivers in Las Vegas).