The Pocket-lint 2025 best in tech awards are here

• Best Phone
• Best streaming stick
• Best E Ink tablet
• Best gaming handheld

2025 has been an uneven year for tech, with much of the year dominated by uncertainties in the AI market, price hikes in the US due to government policies, massive layoffs, and giant mergers. However, there were some bright spots too, as we saw the blockbuster launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, which went on to be Nintendo’s biggest console launch ever, and TikTok narrowly avoided being banned in the US with some clever legal gymnastics.

Here at Pocket-lint we’ve seen some great tech this year, from phones to E Ink tablets, and wanted to take some time to acknowledge the gadgets we feel really improved our lives in 2025:

Best Phone

iPhone 17

The iPhone 17 is quintessentially Apple, combining refined hardware with a tried-and-true software formula, and releasing at a price point that remains palatable for the everyday consumer. For the first time on a non-Pro iPhone, the 17 ships with an advanced LTPO display capable of refreshing at up to 120Hz for silky-smooth scrolling, or all the way down to 1Hz to save on battery life. This hardware addition also allows for the inclusion of an Always-on Display (AOD), which adds a splash of convenience to the handset.

While it’s true that the iPhone 17 lacks a telephoto camera lens for zoom photography, just about everything else about the phone feels about as premium and meticulously crafted as it gets. The fit-and-finish here is best-in-class considering the price tag, the phone’s 6.2-inch form factor is something of a goldilocks size for most people, and performance is lightning fast with the custom A19 chipset working under-the-hood.

Of course, Apple’s new Liquid Glass aesthetic in iOS 26 is somewhat polarizing from a visual standpoint, and ecosystem lock-in might make or break your experience with using the device. Android purists will also still find friction in the customization department, even if the gap isn’t as pronounced as it once was. For fans of the iPhone, or for anyone looking to jump on the iPhone bandwagon for the first time, the 17 offers up an undeniably compelling smartphone package from top to bottom.

Runner-up: Google Pixel 10

With the Pixel 10, Google is targeting refinement over revolution. The flagship Android smartphone is visually similar to its predecessor, which is no bad thing: this is a well-built piece of kit, with the now-iconic camera bar design sitting proudly on the rear of the unit’s chassis, and with a new 5X telephoto lens housed under the glass — the first triple rear camera setup to hit a non-Pro Pixel handset. With a 6.2-inch display panel, the device also has compactness going for it, too.

The addition of a Qi2 ring of Pixelsnap magnets for improved wireless charging and for peripheral connectivity is another huge boon for the Pixel 10, making it compatible with Apple’s popular mobile MagSafe ecosystem. The handset also ships with Android 16 QPR1 out of the box, bringing with it a gorgeous new software design language called Material 3 Expressive that I personally can’t get enough of.

Of course, with all these pros on deck, there must be a catch, and in the case of the Pixel 10, that catch is the (relatively under-performing) Tensor G5 processor powering the product. If you’re a heavy mobile gamer, then the Pixel 10 is decidedly not the phone for you, but for most Android users, it’s a well-balanced package that’s genuinely hard to resist. Even for iPhone loyalists, there’s a lot to love here, especially with Pixelsnap finally bridging the magnetic ecosystem gap with MagSafe.

Best streaming stick

Winner: Roku Streaming Stick Plus

Earlier this year, Roku released the Roku Streaming Stick Plus, its new and improved 4K streaming stick. At $40, it packs a punch: full 4K HDR streaming, Bluetooth audio support, and, most importantly, easy access to all your favorite apps like Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, and more, thanks to Roku OS’s simple, intuitive interface.

Sure, it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of the Roku Ultra or the Roku Streaming Stick 4K — no Dolby Vision or Dolby Atmos here — but at $40 (and often on sale for as low as $20), it’s an incredibly capable streaming stick.

I’ve found myself recommending it to friends, family, and basically anyone looking for an easy, affordable way to stream in 4K. And let’s not forget The Roku Channel, which offers over 500 free live TV channels and can help you reduce your streaming bill. For its combination of versatility, ease of use, and price, it was an easy choice for Pocket-lint’s best streaming stick of 2025.

Runner-up: Fire TV Stick 4K Max

The current-generation Fire TV Stick 4K Max launched in 2023, but even in 2025, it’s still a powerful streaming device. At $60, it’s pricier than the Roku Streaming Stick Plus, but you get a bunch of extras: Wi-Fi 6E support, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of storage.

Like the Roku stick, the 4K Max often goes on sale, frequently dropping to around $40. But that’s still double the price of the Roku Streaming Stick Plus at its sale price, so if you don’t need all the fancy extras, the cheaper Roku stick is the smarter pick.

However, on the flip side, if your TV supports Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, or you just want a more powerful streaming device, the 4K Max is a fantastic option, and it’s become my go-to streamer for my LG OLED TV. Plus, the 4K Max is way more affordable than a Google TV Streamer or Apple TV. For those reasons, it easily earns an honorable mention for the best streaming stick this year.

Best E Ink tablet

Winner: Kindle Paperwhite

E-readers shine as single-use devices and must defend their simple roots every day in a world riddled with do-it-all devices. The one e-reader that does it the best is the Kindle Paperwhite – among all e-readers and Kindle models alike. Its premium features aren’t frilly, and don’t come with a price your wallet is sure to shy away from.

I often claim that the basic Kindle is the easiest E Ink tablet to recommend to casual readers, but the Kindle Paperwhite packs a few premium features that noticeably elevate any book binging. It packs the same entry-level 16 GB as the base Kindle, but boasts a bigger 7-inch display with an auto-adjusting front light, warm display filter for nighttime reading, and up to double the battery life (12 weeks on a single charge). Plus, as a poolside or bathtub reader, it has an IPX8 rating that actually protects it against water and dust, so I can devour my stories in peace (and get a tan while I’m at it).

None of its ‘premium’ features are frilly – unlike the 32 GB and useless wireless charging on the Signature Editions – that only exist to squeeze a few more dollar signs from your wallet. If there was a throne dedicated to a perfectly priced device with next to no drawbacks, the Kindle Paperwhite would be sitting proudly atop it at $160. But don’t balk at that, either – it’s almost always on sale.

Runner-up: Boox Tab X C

If you’re looking for an E Ink tablet that does more than open books, the Boox Tab X C is simply the best available. This ultra-thin tablet measures just 5.3mm thick and features a huge 13.3-inch 3200 x 2400 color E Ink screen, making it the perfect size for general tasks like drawing, reading textbooks, and of course, reading and marking up PDFs.

However, with a custom OS powered by Android 13 and an ​​Octa-Core CPU with 6GB of RAM under the hood, the Boox Tab X C is capable of doing a lot more, giving users the functionality of an iPad or laptop in an E Ink tablet. Though this device isn’t cheap, The Boox Tab X C earns high marks for being an innovative evolution of what E Ink devices are capable of in 2025, and I look forward to seeing how Boox continues to drive the industry forward in 2026 and beyond.

Best gaming handheld

Winner: Nintendo Switch 2

As a massive fan of the original Nintendo Switch, I was thrilled when Nintendo finally unveiled the Switch 2 earlier this year. I grabbed it on day one, and since then I’ve played it nearly every day. There’s a lot to unpack with the Switch 2, but the two biggest improvements over the Switch 1, in my view, are its performance and size.

The Switch 2 packs a much more powerful Nvidia Tegra chipset, making games look better and run smoother. That’s especially noticeable in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, which now run at a buttery-smooth 60FPS with significantly improved resolution in both handheld and docked modes. Thanks to the hardware upgrade, the Switch 2 can also handle AAA games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Star Wars Outlaws, delivering impressive visuals despite its compact form factor, and many more titles are coming in 2026.

Then there’s the screen. Nintendo upgraded it to a gorgeous 7.9-inch 1080p display, which completely blows the Switch 1’s 6.2-inch 720p panel out of the water.

At $450, it’s cheaper than other handhelds like the Steam Deck OLED or Xbox ROG Ally, and for Nintendo fans, the experience is leaps and bounds better than the original Switch. That’s why it’s earned its spot as Pocket-lint’s best gaming handheld for 2025.

Runner up: Lenovo Legion Go S

2025 saw more than a dozen handheld gaming PCs hit shelves from the high end MSI Claw 8 AI+ to the Xbox-branded ROG Ally X. However, though these handhelds made headlines for high price tags and brand name recognition, my favorite device this year is easily the Lenovo Legion Go S, a mid-tier device that is functional, affordable, and has all the features you need with nothing you don’t.

This handheld is also unique as it comes in two forms: the standard, Windows 11 version, as well as a Steam OS option, making it the only non-Steam Deck handheld to run the operating system. With plenty of options, versatility, and a price point that doesn’t immediately make me want to cry, this under-the-radar handheld is one that I have been recommending all year long to friends and family in 2025. It may not have the most advanced features, transformer-like controllers, or the Xbox name slapped on it, but if all you’re looking for is a simple device that plays the games in your library, the Lenovo Legion Go S is the perfect handheld.