The 5 best things I’ve tested as reviews editor in 2025, from a gorgeously bright 4K TV to a fuss-free coffee machine

I’m TechRadar’s reviews editor - here are the 5 best gadgets I’ve tested all year Features (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future / Josh Russell) (Image credit: Future) (Image credit: Future / Josh Russell) Josh Russell published The best tech I tested out in 2025 I’ve been TechRadar’s reviews editor for 18 months now. During that time, I’ve gotten to test some truly fantastic gadgets across a wide range of product categories. This year in particular, I’ve tried out some really exciting tech, which is why I wanted to share my personal highlights with you. From the best wireless speakers you can hear, the best coffee machines for apprentice Americano brewers and cappuccino connoisseurs alike, to the best drawing tablets for sketching up a storm, I’ve thoroughly tested a real range of tech this year. Now I want to share some of that experience with you all. If you're curious about some of the greatest gadgets from the past year, I’ve got the hands-on experience to make personal recommendations. So if you want to know what the top five gadgets I tested in 2025 are, read on below. Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro As an inveterate caffeine addict, the one thing I care about more than anything when I’m using a coffee machine is reliable, repeatable results. And that’s why I loved using this machine. When testing for my Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro review , I found it easy to produce shot after shot of consistent, polished espresso. While other machines require a heap of variable tweaking to ensure the coffee expresses correctly, it was super simple to hit the right grind size and tamping pressure to get great results out of the Gaggia. As a result, I was rewarded with delicious espresso topped with a light yet enduring crema. If you prefer a machine that holds your hand every step of the way, though, this isn’t it. There are no automatic, bean-to-cup buttons or personalizable profiles here. And the milk steamer is anything but high-tech, requiring a bit of a knack to get consistently frothy results. But if what you’re looking for is a workman-like espresso machine that will help you bash out brilliant brews, this will definitely get you there. TCL C8K OK, hands up: I’ll admit I’m cheating a bit here. I didn’t technically test this TV; the actual TCL C8K review was carried out by my colleague James Davidson. But I do own it, which effectively means I’ve been testing it in real-world conditions for the past five weeks now. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. I’ve never owned a TCL TV before this - previously, I would have gone straight for a big brand like Samsung or LG . But I’ll definitely always consider them in the future. This mini-LED marvel is just flat-out gorgeous. It’s seriously bright and offers very competent contrast, thanks to its 1,680 local dimming zones. However, my favorite thing about...

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