Now that 2025 has officially here, it’s time to anticipate a fascinating year for technology. Since AI software took center stage last year, new hardware was kind of an off-season. Numerous devices were released, but not all of them—especially the doomed AI devices—passed muster. But as the year drew to a close, we listened for information about what will probably be released in the upcoming months. With the Consumer Electronics Show in early January and running through 2025, it appears that the year will be lively for new tech items.
2025 is the year you finally build that gaming PC you’ve always wanted or get a virtual reality headset, thanks to amazing breakthroughs in computer graphics and new developments in augmented, virtual, and mixed reality. Additionally, we’re likely to see new products from Samsung and Apple in new product categories. Samsung is partnering with Google to halt the Meta Quest 3’s momentum, while Apple is launching smart home devices.
This year is rapidly approaching as one that will ultimately lift the uncertainty that has hung over the sector for a number of years. Despite the unpredictable times we live in, one thing is almost certain: these seven pieces of gear will rank among the most innovative new tech goods of 2025.
GPUs from the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5000 series
The upcoming Nvidia consumer graphics card generation is arguably the most eagerly awaited technological advancement of 2025. The company’s RTX line of GPUs has evolved over the last few years from being merely computer components to more of a status symbol. To AMD’s Pepsi (which produces Intel RC Cola), they are the Coke. More than two years have passed since the RTX 4000 series was introduced in 2022, and those cards continue to provide some of the greatest graphics experiences available.
It is anticipated that the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5000 series will go on sale sometime in the first quarter of this year. The Consumer Electronics Show, which is scheduled for January 7–11 in Las Vegas, is one possible location for its premiere. Although we don’t have specific information regarding the cards, we can anticipate a few things. Notably, because these are the first RTX cards to be released amid the current wave of AI mania, AI will be given more attention than ever before. More Tensor and CUDA cores should be available soon to support parallel computing and AI inference.
We think the RTX 5090 will replace the still-great RTX 4090 as the GPU to beat for the foreseeable future because further specifications have apparently leaked from partner manufacturers. Among other specifications, we’re talking about 600W of power and 32 GB of GDDR7 VRAM. However, the competition is intensifying. With the recent release of new Arc Battlemage cards, Intel shown that you shouldn’t write off team blue just yet. AMD’s superb Radeon GPUs are still being refined. Nevertheless, Nvidia is ready to surpass them in every aspect except cost. The RTX 5000 series is predicted by economic trends to be Nvidia’s most costly GPUs to date. Being green isn’t cheap.
Apple’s latest tablet for smart homes
Back in November 2024, we covered this story since it seems like Apple’s upcoming tablet might be a smart home control panel mounted on the wall that runs a new operating system. This is the kind of thing we would ignore if the source weren’t so reliable—fanboy daydreaming. The device, codenamed J490, is expected to go on sale as early as March 2025, according to a report by Bloomberg that broke the news.
Apple’s upcoming product is set to bridge the gap between affordable wall-mounted smart home control panels like the Control4 and versatile devices like the Google Pixel Tablet, which doubles as an ambient smart home controller when docked. According to reports, the new device will have a square design, approximately the size of two iPhones placed side by side. One of the standout features mentioned in a Bloomberg report is a premium $1,000 version equipped with a robotic arm that enables mobility for video conferencing. Unlike iPads, which rely on cropped static cameras for tracking, this innovation would offer dynamic movement during calls.
Additionally, Apple may launch other smart home devices alongside this control panel, signaling a more aggressive entry into the rapidly expanding smart home market, projected to grow steadily through 2032. With the iPhone dominating the U.S. smartphone market, Apple is well-positioned to challenge Amazon’s leadership in this space. While the tech giant has previously dabbled in smart home technology with the HomePod speaker and Apple Home (formerly HomeKit), it has yet to establish a significant presence. This could be the year Apple solidifies its role in the smart home ecosystem.
Meta’s New Smart Glasses: Ray-Ban with a Tech Twist
Meta is working on smart glasses that could shape the future of augmented reality. While its advanced “Orion” AR glasses aren’t ready for the public yet, Meta’s partnership with Luxottica, the maker of Ray-Ban, has already seen success. Their first collaboration, the Meta Ray-Ban glasses, featured cameras and a built-in AI assistant. Now, reports suggest the next version will include a small display to show notifications, similar to what a smartwatch offers.
This update will put Meta closer to achieving what Google attempted with its Google Glass over a decade ago but with a more stylish design. Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s CEO, believes that glasses could eventually replace smartphones. Meta is pushing toward this goal with its Quest VR headsets and advancements in smart glasses technology.
Android XR and Samsung’s New VR Headset
Google is diving deeper into augmented and virtual reality with its Android XR platform, designed for headsets and smart glasses. This platform will allow users to run apps in 3D space, similar to Meta Quest devices or Apple Vision Pro, while leveraging Google’s AI features.
The first device using Android XR will be Samsung’s upcoming VR headset, codenamed “Project Moohan.” It resembles ski goggles and is powered by a Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chip. Early testers have praised its AI capabilities, which can manage tasks across apps and environments. Google is also testing AR glasses, but those may not be available this year.
Slim Tech Is Making a Comeback
Thin gadgets are trending again! After a lull caused by issues like Apple’s infamous “bendgate” with the iPhone 6, manufacturers are returning to sleek designs. Apple and Samsung are both rumored to release ultra-thin smartphones this year.
Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy S25 Slim at its Galaxy Unpacked event. Apple may follow with the iPhone Air, a thin version of its popular phone, during the iPhone 17 launch. These devices are designed to offer a lightweight alternative to bulky smartphones without compromising functionality.
Nintendo Switch 2: A Next-Gen Upgrade
The Nintendo Switch has been a massive hit since its launch in 2017, but fans are eager for an upgrade. The new Nintendo Switch 2 is expected to arrive this March. It will be backward-compatible with original Switch games, so you won’t lose access to your existing library.
Leaks suggest the Switch 2 will have magnetic Joy-Con controllers, a bigger screen, 12 GB of RAM (up from 4 GB), and 256 GB of storage (compared to 32 GB on the original). It’s expected to be a hot item, with Nintendo ramping up production to avoid scalping issues.