The Greatest Devices of September 2025

Just a few issues occurred in September, and by “a few” I imply a metric ton. We had Apple’s annual fall {hardware} dump, which included a number of new iPhone 17s, just a few new Apple Watches, AirPods Pro 3, and the iPhone Air. That was adopted up by Connect, Meta’s annual dev convention, the place it unveiled the long run for sensible glasses, and once more, concerned a number of new devices, together with a first-of-its-kind pair of sensible glasses with a display in them. Oh, and who can neglect the flood of devices from IFA 2025 in Berlin?

As a pleasant digestif, we even had Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Summit, which gave us a preview of the way forward for computing from the within. The wild half is, all of these conferences and occasions don’t even cowl all the devices we favored in September, so we made this checklist to be sure you bought all of final month’s wild releases down.

Apple may not be the primary of the massive cellphone suppliers to go super-thin in a flagship cellphone (that distinction belongs to Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge), however that is nonetheless the primary hyper-thin iPhone, and that’s a giant deal. My colleague, Gizmodo’s Senior Editor of Consumer Tech, Raymond Wong, known as it a “magic slab of glass,” and whereas I haven’t had an opportunity to make use of the cellphone in-depth myself, I did get to not less than maintain it, and I see the attraction.

It’s as skinny and lightweight as promised, and the truth that Apple managed to cram all the compute energy within the high portion of the cellphone and nonetheless ship a serviceable battery life actually is a feat of engineering. You don’t want an iPhone that’s this skinny and lightweight, however after getting one in you’re hand, you’re going to be tempted to purchase one, even when the digital camera is barebones.

After attempting Insta360’s new motion digital camera out, we’re going to have so as to add swordplay to our checklist of normal exams. In case you missed it, Gizmodo Staff Writer Kyle Barr, tried out the Insta360 Go Ultra and, sure, it survived a blow from a sword, which is sweet information for anybody who’s bringing motion cameras to a renaissance truthful or to a reenactment of the film Hook.

It’s not simply sturdiness; the Insta360 Go Ultra can document in 4K at 60 fps and comes with a magnetic mount that permits you to repair the digital camera in numerous locations, together with sq. in the course of your chest in case you’re sporting a shirt whereas filming, which you most likely needs to be. If you’re in search of a high-res, transportable motion digital camera that may survive sword assaults, that is value a glance.

After a number of lengthy years, Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 bought an actual quantity replace, and it was definitely worth the wait. While the AirPods Pro 3 retain the identical $250 beginning value because the final technology, they get just a few key upgrades, together with higher energetic noise cancellation, a redesigned match, extra ear tip sizes, and maybe most significantly, two model new capabilities: coronary heart charge monitoring and dwell translation.

Apple appears to be embarking on a brand new id for its AirPods with well being options specifically, and in case you’re in any respect focused on conserving tabs in your biometrics, however don’t really feel the necessity to strap an Apple Watch in your wrist, the AirPods Pro 3 might be the proper gateway. AirPods Pro 3 are proof that you simply don’t want a technology replace each single yr—you simply want one which feels definitely worth the anticipation.

Would you purchase a mouse that doesn’t click on? Sounds like a trick query, however within the case of Logitech’s G Pro X2 Superstrike, that query is sort of literal. This mouse makes use of haptics to simulate clicking, which appears like a gimmick, however is definitely helpful in case you’re a aggressive gamer. According to Logitech, the structure of its G Pro X2 Superstrike mouse (Haptic Inductive Trigger System, for anybody ) provides 30 milliseconds decrease latency than a mouse with an optical change, which makes use of a beam of infrared mild to find out while you press the button.

Are you quick sufficient to even benefit from know-how like this? Probably not, however the truth that you might is spectacular, and utilizing haptics in a mouse as a substitute of real-life clicks is objectively fascinating if nothing else.

Sure, the iPhone Air could have stolen the present, however the base iPhone 17 and the 17 Pro/17 Pro Max variations additionally had quite a bit to love. We known as the iPhone 17 base the “best iPhone value in years” because of its 120Hz always-on show, its nice battery life, and its wonderful efficiency, whereas the 17 Pros additionally held it down with the longest battery, the perfect efficiency, the perfect cameras, and a brand new “Cosmic Orange” mannequin. Sure, the scratching didn’t assist the fanfare, however you’re most likely going to slap a case on this stuff anyway. If you’re in want of an iPhone improve, now could be the time.

What do I say in regards to the Meta Ray-Ban Display? I’ve delved deeper and deeper into the burgeoning world of sensible glasses during the last yr, and Meta’s Ray-Ban Display (the corporate’s first pair of sensible glasses with a display in them) feels just like the pair I’ve been ready for.

They include navigation talents, message notifications, translation, a POV digital camera characteristic, and Instagram integration for watching Reels—and that’s on high of doing all of the stuff that earlier non-display sensible glasses have completed.

Sure, privateness issues abound, and so they’re not fairly a cellphone alternative but, however primarily based on my hands-on with them at Meta’s annual Connect convention, the Meta Ray-Ban Display are an thrilling begin and may simply be the primary pair of sensible glasses you wish to purchase. Trust me, Meta’s Neural Band (a wristband that allows you to management the sensible glasses’ display along with your fingers) is simply as magical because it sounds.

Wired safety cameras is perhaps a ache to arrange, however they’re additionally superior in the truth that they’ve a better chance of staying powered up—no battery and no climbing ladders to cost them once they die. The Reolink Elite Floodlight WiFi safety digital camera is not any completely different and delivers pretty high-res 4K footage and doesn’t require a subscription. It’s bought an enormous 180-degree FOV, too. You will have to purchase a microSD card to retailer your footage—there’s no cloud storage right here—however the simplicity will possible attraction to some.

If the iPhone 17 is the best-value iPhone in years, the Apple Watch SE 3 could take the title for the smartwatch aspect of issues. For $250, you get the proverbial “greatest hits” from the Apple Watch characteristic set, together with an always-on show, an S10 chip, and even Apple’s “double-tap” gesture. There’s additionally 32 hours of battery life, which will not be sufficient for individuals who want essentially the most out of an Apple Watch (that’s what the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is for), however needs to be loads for many.

We would have favored to see some new colours right here, however nonetheless, a very good worth is tough to beat, and that’s a word that the Apple Watch SE 3 hits completely in tune.