2025 has formed as much as be a yr of breakthroughs and experimentation for the tech trade; smartphones and wearables do not simply look completely different, however have began to turn into extra user-friendly, because of AI. Trifold units have arrived, ultra-thin designs are on the rise, and good glasses are gaining reputation.
On the similar time, throw in rising costs pushed notably by international tensions, and this yr additionally marked a turning level in shopper tech, giving us a sense that we’re certainly residing sooner or later.
The foldable glow up: Trifold goes mainstream
Whereas tri-fold units aren’t a brand new idea, they did not actually catch on, not less than not on this a part of the world. Huawei’s Mate XT was the primary to show that this idea was certainly doable; its restricted availability made it extra of a distant dream moderately than a usable system.
However Samsung could have modified it in a single day. The corporate lastly launched the Galaxy Z Trifold on December 1, which is alleged to deliver the facility of “essentially the most superior foldable applied sciences” proper into the palm of your fingers.
Primarily, making the shape issue extra legitimate and broadly accessible to the broader smartphone market. When Samsung launches a brand new system, your complete ecosystem follows, from Google optimizing Android for it to carriers that is perhaps keen to subsidize it for customers. This additionally means builders will begin creating apps suitable with multi-window assist on a bigger scale. But it surely does not simply finish there.
Samsung’s goal wasn’t about including one other display screen, however to experiment with whether or not a trifold may truly be a usable product. Whereas it might not substitute conventional slab telephones anytime quickly, it may double as a pill and a productiveness device. This sort of shift in thought from “Why would you need this?” to “Who is that this truly made for?” is a big deal. This transfer by Samsung may push opponents to make their very own tri-fold and doubtlessly drive folks to contemplate proudly owning this system.
AI takes middle stage as firms shift focus
For the previous few years, AI has been a buzzword for each main tech firm. Nevertheless, in 2025, we have lastly began to see it pulling its weight with fashions like Gemini 3 Professional, ChatGPT 5.2, Meta’s Llama 4, and so forth.
As a substitute of being within the background on many units to date, generative AI has turn into a core function of smartphones, to the purpose that it has been baked into each side of the system. It may well actually “see” what you see, show you how to navigate higher, and even allow you to “attempt on” garments whereas procuring on-line. From search and images to productiveness instruments, AI may even show you how to create higher workflows to handle your day. A lot in order that we even have an AI Residence robotic in our midst.
This yr wasn’t about flashy demos — it was about exhibiting us how AI may work its manner into our lives. Corporations like Google, Samsung, and OnePlus additionally redefined the consumer expertise with extra intuitive AI. Now it does not simply reply to your instructions, but it surely learns out of your day by day routine and provides you personalised strategies in actual time.
AI has quickly transitioned from non-compulsory software program to a foundational function on smartphones. This has altered how we work together with our units, marking a monumental shift in shopper tech.
The rise of the ultra-slim smartphones
This yr, we additionally witnessed a number of tech firms obsessive about making super-thin units just like the Galaxy S25 Edge and the iPhone Air, measuring 5.8 mm and 5.6mm, respectively. Becoming all the mandatory parts into such extremely slim casings is an engineering marvel in itself.
Regardless of the hype each firms tried to create with telephones, the S25 Edge and the iPhone Air noticed underwhelming gross sales, a lot in order that Samsung has reportedly determined to ditch the Edge lineup for good.
But we really feel that the slim-phone period is absolutely simply getting began. These units could function essential stepping stones towards future foldables and even slimmer rollable telephones. It virtually feels just like the producers are utilizing these designs to experiment with new supplies, improved battery expertise, and extra, in a quest to slim down {hardware} with out compromising on efficiency.
Tariffs, Tariffs and, extra Tariffs
Nicely, all wasn’t merry within the city of Tech. Earlier this yr, beneath the Trump administration, the U.S. imposed hefty tariffs that impacted the tech provide chain.
At first, a ten% tariff was levied on all Chinese language imports, which was later elevated to twenty%. On the similar time, the U.S. additionally imposed 25% tariffs on items from Canada and Mexico. At one level, tariffs went as excessive as 145%, which actually shook up Apple traders, and the dialogue rapidly broadened to incorporate all smartphone producers. That imposed a 25% tariff on smartphones, together with Apple, Samsung, and different OEMs that manufacture telephones exterior the nation. The end result?
This despatched all of the tech firms right into a frenzy, main Samsung to reportedly ramp up manufacturing of this yr’s Galaxy S25 collection in a preemptive transfer and OnePlus to abruptly enhance the value of its Watch 3. These tariffs even focused semiconductor chips and key electronics, similar to reminiscence chips and circuits, that are largely imported from exterior the nation, particularly from China. After a number of days, the White Home determined to exempt sure electronics from these tariffs quickly.
That stated, it created sufficient confusion for customers and tech firms alike. This implies telephones don’t get costly simply due to their {hardware}, but in addition the worldwide polices that dictate pricing. For now, Samsung and Google have each caught to the identical value tags with their flagships; nevertheless, this may change together with your subsequent cellphone.
XR lastly will get its second
XR had its greatest moments this yr as a number of firms raced to place the way forward for tech in your face. Android pushed deeper into XR and VR with the launch of Samsung’s much-awaited Galaxy XR headset in October, to problem Apple’s Imaginative and prescient Professional.
Galaxy XR got here constructed on Android XR, and with Google’s Gemini AI baked proper in. This implies it’s not only a headset working Android apps but in addition an AI-powered system that understands your environment and responds via voice, imaginative and prescient, and gestures.
Meta additionally launched new AI-powered good glasses this yr, and the Meta Ray-Ban Show glasses push the boundaries of wearable tech. As these glasses allow you to do just about something whereas maintaining your cellphone tucked away, from checking messages to principally navigating via life, you get to do all of it with only one look on the in-lens show.
Google additionally did not draw back from exhibiting off its personal improvements within the XR subject. It gave us a fast shock demo of its glasses at I/O and provided a primary take a look at Mission Aura from XREAL, which is reportedly outfitted with a 70-degree subject of view and optical see-through expertise, set to launch in 2026.
