With the year 2025 looming, we are taking a moment to revisit our extensive reviews from the past year. Indeed, we have reflected on every gadget we’ve explored and scrutinized. This year stood out not only for significant smartphone and laptop advancements—such as Google’s remarkable Pixel lineup and Apple’s continued excellence with its pro iPhone models—but also for an impressive array of drones and camera technology, which kept our reviewer, Steve Dent, quite occupied.
Given that we can’t examine every single device on the market, we strive to create a well-rounded selection that includes both reputable brands known for their reliable products and intriguing devices that challenge the status quo. Among our highlights is the top gaming laptop of 2024 along with Apple’s sustained success in their MacBook range powered by Apple Silicon.
On a different note, we also unveiled two of the more disappointing products tested this year—both prominently featuring artificial intelligence.
— Mat Smith
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The Major Tech Developments You Might Have Overlooked
An Increase in Curved Displays
One standout announcement comes from LG, which recently introduced its latest OLED monitors ahead of CES 2025’s kickoff. The new UltraGear GX9 series showcases curved WOLED displays integrated with webOS software featuring an anti-glare finish designed for low light reflection. Particularly notable is a 45-inch bendable screen boasting a remarkable resolution of 5K2K; it can transition “from entirely flat to a sophisticated 900R curvature in just seconds,” as per LG’s announcement.
A New Series Arrives on Disney+
The upcoming series titled Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man will take audiences back into Peter Parker’s youthful escapades as he navigates high school life alongside his budding superhero abilities. Stylistically reminiscent of traditional comic book art, this iteration appears set to diverge notably from existing Marvel Cinematic Universe narratives.
This Year’s Extreme Weather Patterns
The tumultuous weather events throughout 2023 brought forth devastating consequences including droughts, wildfires, storms, and flooding. With statistics indicating that last year was recorded as one of the hottest ever globally—and predictions suggest this trend will continue into this year—the World Weather Attribution (WWA) released its annual “Extreme Weather” report detailing how anthropogenic climate change has intensified these occurrences leading to “unrelenting heatwaves.” This year’s report tallied up over 219 significant meteorological events meeting strict criteria set forth by WWA for impactful conditions attributed directly to climate extremes; alongside these findings emerged discussions around some poignant yet grim gaming trends emerging in response—not just fiction but reflection on our present reality.