This year's most astonishing tech products: robotic vacuum cleaners, foldable smartphones, electric bicycles, and Nintendo gaming consoles leading the trend

If I were to describe this year’s tech products in one sentence, it would be exciting, crazy, yet with a touch of eccentricity. From the beginning to the end of the year, new products have emerged like waves, almost every tech category trying to “redefine itself.” Smartphones are evolving towards foldable, flip, and ultra-thin designs; smart earbuds and AR smart glasses are competing for users’ senses and attention. In this rapidly changing industry rhythm, The Verge’s editorial team has selected the most representative and impressive tech products of the year, from robot vacuum cleaners, electric bicycles, laptops, to AI wearables and imaging cameras, outlining the key trends and directions for tech development in the coming year.

Robot vacuum cleaners walk like humans

In the smart home field, senior reviewer Jennifer Pattison Tuohy’s top pick is the Matic robot vacuum, a product built by former Google Nest engineers that almost overturns people’s fixed impressions of robot vacuums. It no longer gets stuck frequently or gets lost like a wandering robot, but moves in a way closer to “human walking logic,” balancing cleaning efficiency and quiet operation. More importantly, it doesn’t rely on the cloud, so it can work normally even without Wi-Fi. Its design also abandons the bulky charging dock, making it easier to blend into home spaces. For Jennifer, this is the first robot vacuum that she no longer feels frustrated with, symbolizing that household robots are moving toward a more humane and mature future.

On the AI front, she chose Amazon’s Alexa Plus, a generative AI voice assistant that elevates smart homes from a simple “give commands—execute” mode to one that can proactively understand and predict user needs. Although it can be overly talkative at times, it has temporarily led Alexa in the AI assistant race, with Google and Apple still catching up.

Will phones be split in the future? Major brands launch foldable phones

In mobile devices, senior phone reviewer Alison Johnson awarded the best phone of the year to Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. This is a product that truly makes people forget the “drawbacks of foldable phones”: ultra-thin, lightweight, with almost no sacrifice when unfolded. Although the price is high and the camera still lags behind mainstream flagships, it clearly demonstrates the future market potential of foldable phones—no longer just a gimmick, but practical and captivating.

TMB electric bicycle features line-controlled replaceable seat and pedals

Transportation tech editor Andrew J. Hawkins recommends ALSO’s TMB electric bicycle, which boasts features like line-controlled pedals, replaceable seats, removable batteries, and portable power sources. The line-controlled pedal system indicates no mechanical connection between the pedal and motor, controlled entirely by software. Priced at $4,500 initially, American consumers typically spend about $1,000 to $2,000 on e-bikes, so it seems to target the high-end market.

AI wearables becoming mainstream fashion?

In wearables, Victoria Song did not pick a single product but highlighted the emerging category of AI Wearable. Whether it’s Apple Watch’s AI fitness features, Gemini-integrated smart bands, or AI glasses that can explain the world in real-time, it shows that tech companies are trying to make AI a “constant presence.” This may be unsettling, but also highly attractive.

Framework Computers

Computer editor Antonio Di Benedetto’s top choice is Framework Computers’ laptops. He believes both the Laptop 13 and Laptop 12 are excellent, with the Framework Laptop 13 upgraded to AMD Ryzen AI 300 series processors, and a design that is lightweight and adorable.

Nintendo Switch and PlayStation Portal are gaming favorites

In gaming, Ash Parrish recommends the Switch 2 and PlayStation Portal. The former finally adds voice chat and social features, while the latter enables true cross-space gaming through cloud streaming, redefining “where to play games.”

Sora 2 blurs the line between real and virtual

Senior AI journalist Hayden Field believes Sora 2 is the most impactful product of the year. It is extremely realistic and prompts society to rethink trust, creation, and the boundaries of truth and falsehood.

Insta360 X5 360 camera captures creative perspectives

Filmmaker Owen Grove chose the Insta360 X5. He thinks this 360-degree camera may not be the most professional, but it is full of creative fun, capable of capturing cool motion and distortion effects, symbolizing that technology not only pursues efficiency but also brings joy in creation and play.

This article, “The Most Surprising Tech Products of the Year: Robot Vacuums, Foldable Phones, Electric Bicycles, and Nintendo Consoles Lead the Way,” originally appeared on Chain News ABMedia.