2025 has formed as much as be a yr of breakthroughs and experimentation for the tech business; smartphones and wearables do not simply look completely different, however have began to change into extra user-friendly, because of AI. Trifold units have arrived, ultra-thin designs are on the rise, and sensible glasses are gaining recognition.
On the similar time, throw in rising costs pushed notably by international tensions, and this yr additionally marked a turning level in client 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, a minimum of not on this a part of the world. Huawei’s Mate XT was the primary to show that this idea was certainly attainable; its restricted availability made it extra of a distant dream reasonably than a usable system.
However Samsung might have modified it in a single day. The corporate lastly launched the Galaxy Z Trifold on December 1, which is alleged to deliver the ability of “essentially the most superior foldable applied sciences” proper into the palm of your arms.
Basically, making the shape issue extra legitimate and extensively obtainable 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 may be prepared to subsidize it for customers. This additionally means builders will begin creating apps appropriate with multi-window help on a bigger scale. However it would not simply finish there.
Samsung’s intention wasn’t about including one other display, however to experiment with whether or not a trifold might truly be a usable product. Whereas it could not exchange conventional slab telephones anytime quickly, it might 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 might push rivals to make their very own tri-fold and probably 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 this point, generative AI has change into a core function of smartphones, to the purpose that it has been baked into each side of the system. It will probably actually “see” what you see, provide help to navigate higher, and even allow you to “attempt on” garments whereas buying on-line. From search and images to productiveness instruments, AI may even provide help to create higher workflows to handle your day. A lot in order that we even have an AI House robotic in our midst.
This yr wasn’t about flashy demos — it was about exhibiting us how AI might work its manner into our lives. Firms like Google, Samsung, and OnePlus additionally redefined the person expertise with extra intuitive AI. Now it would not simply reply to your instructions, nevertheless it learns out of your each day routine and provides you customized ideas in actual time.
AI has quickly transitioned from elective software program to a foundational function on smartphones. This has altered how we work together with our units, marking a monumental shift in client 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 required elements 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 de facto simply getting began. These units might 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 know-how, and extra, in a quest to slim down {hardware} with out compromising on efficiency.
Tariffs, Tariffs and, extra Tariffs
Properly, all wasn’t merry within the city of Tech. Earlier this yr, underneath 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 buyers, 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 outdoors the nation. The consequence?
This despatched all of the tech firms right into a frenzy, main Samsung to reportedly ramp up manufacturing of this yr’s Galaxy S25 sequence in a preemptive transfer and OnePlus to all of a sudden improve the worth of its Watch 3. These tariffs even focused semiconductor chips and key electronics, akin to reminiscence chips and circuits, that are principally imported from outdoors the nation, particularly from China. After a couple of days, the White Home determined to exempt sure electronics from these tariffs briefly.
That mentioned, it created sufficient confusion for customers and tech firms alike. This implies telephones do not get costly simply due to their {hardware}, but additionally the worldwide polices that dictate pricing. For now, Samsung and Google have each caught to the identical worth tags with their flagships; nonetheless, this might 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 operating Android apps but additionally an AI-powered system that understands your environment and responds by voice, imaginative and prescient, and gestures.
Meta additionally launched new AI-powered sensible 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 retaining your cellphone tucked away, from checking messages to mainly navigating by life, you get to do all of it with only one look on the in-lens show.
Google additionally did not shrink 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 supplied a primary have a look at Venture Aura from XREAL, which is reportedly geared up with a 70-degree subject of view and optical see-through know-how, set to launch in 2026.
