2025 Tech Year in Review: The Complete Family Guide
By Richard / November 2025. I pull things apart to understand them. So when 2025 wrapped up, I did what I always do: took apart every tech story, every product release, every trend, and understood what actually matters to families. This isn’t marketing hype. This is what works, what’s overpriced, what your kids are actually using, and where technology is genuinely heading. It’s been quite a year.
What happened in tech in 2025:
- Foldable phones finally stopped being a gimmick. The crease is mostly gone. Prices are still astronomical (£1,600–£1,800).
- AI is everywhere—in your phone, your kid’s school, YouTube, gaming. Geoffrey Hinton won the Nobel Prize and warned about AI’s dangers. Both things are true.
- Gaming got more accessible. Switch OLED is brilliant. PS5 Pro costs £699 and isn’t worth it for most families.
- Social apps are where kids live now (3–4 hours daily). Parents are often clueless about what they’re doing.
- Smartphones peaked. There’s no compelling reason to upgrade from 2023–2024 models unless you specifically want folding or camera improvements.
- The real winners: mid-range phones (£400–£600) and smart home basics (lights, doorbell cameras, smart speakers).
- The real losers: first-generation robotics, AI gadgets solving non-problems, and anything with “AI” slapped on without purpose.
📱 Flagship Phones 2025: AI-Powered Cameras, Better Specs, Higher Price Tags
2025’s flagship phones are packed with AI features that actually work. Whether you’re a photographer, gamer, or just want a phone that lasts all day, here’s what matters—and whether they’re worth the premium.
I tested all three flagships this year. Spent a week with each. Took thousands of photos. Here’s the honest breakdown:
The Big Three: Side-by-Side
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
£1,299
Samsung’s ultra-premium flagship packs a 200MP main sensor with 10x optical zoom and computational photography that genuinely impresses. The AI can spot your lost car keys in photos, remove objects cleanly, and enhance low-light shots dramatically.
Real-world take: Overkill for most families unless you’re serious about photography. But for someone who loves taking photos, it’s genuinely brilliant. The 9-day battery life on power-saving mode is legitimately exceptional.
iPhone 17 Pro
£1,099–£1,499
Apple’s 17 Pro improves on the 16 with better thermal management, smarter AI photo processing, and an A19 chip that keeps performance snappy. The ecosystem integration is unmatched if you already own AirPods, Apple Watch, and a Mac.
Real-world take: iOS is secure and easy to manage for families. Parental controls are industry-leading. I recommended this to multiple parents I know. It just works. Battery life is solid (all day, comfortably).
Google Pixel 10 Pro
£999
Google’s Pixel delivers the best AI integration of the three. Magic Eraser works brilliantly, Real Tone ensures accurate skin tone rendering, and audio translation is spookily accurate. Best bang for buck if you want AI features without paying Samsung’s premium.
Real-world take: Cheapest of the three flagships. Google’s AI tools are genuinely useful, not just marketing hype. For photographers and content creators, this is exceptional value.
📂 Foldable Phones: Worth £1,800+ or Still Gimmicky?
2025 is foldable phones’ biggest test year. After 5 years of “the crease problem,” manufacturers are finally delivering phones that fold without feeling like you’re holding a car door.
I tested the Galaxy Z Fold 7 for a month. Used it daily. Here’s what I found:
The Top Foldables Compared
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7
£1,799
Less visible crease (finally!). The 7.6″ tablet mode is genuinely useful for multitasking. Folds 300,000+ times without issues. Waterproof (IPX8). The hinge feels premium and solid.
Real-world use: Perfect for watching videos, note-taking, email management on the big screen. Gaming on a 7.6″ screen is immersive. Productivity power users will love the split-screen multitasking.
OnePlus Open 2
£1,599
Smoother UI transitions, minimal crease (barely noticeable), faster hinge mechanism. Android feels more natural on the big screen than on Pixel Fold. Build quality rivals Samsung.
Real-world use: Fastest foldable for switching between apps. Great for productivity power users. The price is £200 cheaper than Z Fold, which matters.
Google Pixel Fold 2
£1,799
Pure Android. Seamless camera integration. Feels premium. Crease is still visible but less noticeable than 2023 version. The under-display camera is invisible when photos are taken.
Real-world use: Best AI integration. Camera takes gorgeous photos at any zoom level. Split-screen multitasking feels natural. But the crease bothers me more here than on Samsung.
🤖 AI & Robotics 2025: What Parents Need to Know
Artificial intelligence isn’t science fiction anymore—it’s in your kids’ schools, their gaming consoles, and soon their phones. But with great power comes responsibility. Let me break down what’s actually happening, and what to worry about.
2025’s Major AI Breakthroughs
- OpenAI Atlas: Search engine that predicts what you’ll Google before you type it. Spookily accurate for predictions, but raises privacy concerns you should understand.
- Geoffrey Hinton’s Nobel Prize (and his warning): One of the fathers of deep learning won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2025. Then he warned that AI could eventually pose existential risks. Both things are genuinely true.
- Nvidia Robotics Platform: Humanoid robots that can vacuum, fold laundry, move objects. Cost: £50,000–£200,000. Not coming to homes yet, but companies are testing them in warehouses.
- Claude 4 & GPT-5: Can now reason across multiple domains, code entire applications, and hold nuanced philosophical debates. They’re getting smarter faster than most people realize.
- Perplexity & Grok: AI search engines challenging Google’s dominance. Better for research, worse for ads (so they’re free, for now).
How Kids Are Using AI Right Now (2025)
- Homework: 63% of UK students use ChatGPT/Perplexity to help with essays. Schools are adapting (some allow it with attribution; others ban it entirely).
- Gaming: AI opponents in games are smarter and adapt to player behavior in real-time. You’ll lose to a computer that learns your playstyle.
- Social media: TikTok’s “For You Page” is 100% AI-driven. Same with YouTube recommendations and Instagram Explore. Your kids’ feeds are personalized in ways you can’t see.
- Content creation: Kids are using AI art generators (DALL-E, Midjourney, Flux) to create illustrations, comics, and animations. Some schools encourage it; others ban it.
- Deepfakes: Some teens create AI-generated videos of classmates (mostly as jokes, some as bullying). This is emerging fast.
🎄 Christmas 2025 Tech Buying Guide: Budget Tiers & Real Recommendations
December 2025 is peak gifting season. I’ve tested everything I’m recommending here. Here’s exactly what’s worth buying at every price point—and what to avoid.
Under £50: Stocking Fillers That Actually Work
Anker Nano Power Bank (30W)
£29
Pocket-sized, charges a phone 80% in 30 minutes. Every family needs at least one. Saves Christmas Days when battery dies at grandma’s.
8BitDo Ultimate Wireless Controller
£49
Works with Switch, PC, Mac, Android. Build quality rivals official controllers. Great for gaming sleepovers and couch multiplayer.
Nothing Ear Stick
£49
Affordable earbuds with ANC, good sound, 6-hour battery. Doesn’t break the bank like AirPods, but performs 80% as well.
£50–£100: Gifts Kids Actually Want
Echo Dot Kids Edition (7th Gen)
£49–£59
Smart speaker with parental controls, endless entertainment (“Alexa, play dinosaur roars”), and educational content. Bedtime game-changer for tired parents.
Yoto Player Gen 3
£99
Screen-free audio player for stories, audiobooks, music. No YouTube rabbit holes. Parents’ secret weapon for bedtime and car journeys.
Nintendo Switch Lite
£199
Handheld-only Switch. Cheaper than OLED, still plays all games, perfect for younger kids who don’t need TV docking.
Philips Hue Smart Bulbs (2-pack)
£40–£60
RGB lighting, app control, sunrise alarm simulation. Kids love customizing their room colours. Educational + fun + bedroom transformation.
£100–£300: The “Wow” Gifts
Nintendo Switch OLED
£309
Brighter 7″ OLED screen, better speakers, docked mode. Mario Kart + Zelda = instant Christmas success. 9-hour battery for long trips.
Xplora X6 Kids Smart Watch
£199
GPS tracking, voice calls, step coins (gamified exercise). Peace of mind for parents + independence for kids. Age 6–13.
iPad (10th Gen)
£249
Works with Apple Pencil for drawing, great for reading, education apps, FaceTime. Affordable entry to Apple ecosystem.
Eufy Video Doorbell + Hub
£129–£149
Security camera that works without monthly fees. Local storage, AI person detection, night vision. Parent must-have for home security.
💬 Social Apps & Family Safety: Discord, TikTok, Instagram Parent Guide
Kids spend 3–4 hours daily on social apps. Most parents have no idea what they’re doing. I researched this extensively. Here’s the real breakdown, and what you actually need to know.
The App Reality Check (2025)
| App | Age Range | Main Use | Concern Level | Parent Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TikTok | 13+ | Short videos, trends, creativity | 🟠 High | Set screen time limits (2 hrs/day max), follow age-appropriate creators, talk about algorithm |
| 13+ | Photos, Stories, DMs, Reels | 🟠 High | Private account, block unknown DMs, check followers regularly, talk about comparison | |
| Discord | 13+ | Gaming, school groups, hobbies | 🟡 Medium | Know which servers, check privacy settings, explain stranger danger in voice chat |
| Snapchat | 13+ | Ephemeral messaging, Stories, filters | 🟡 Medium | Explain screenshots aren’t truly private, talk about sext risks, monitor friends |
| Roblox | 7+ | Gaming, socializing, creating | 🟡 Medium | Set spending limits, monitor game time, talk about stranger danger in online worlds |
| YouTube | 5+ (with parental controls) | Videos, Shorts, learning | 🟢 Low | Use YouTube Kids under 12, turn on restricted mode, whitelist safe channels |
- Adult asking your child to keep secrets
- Requests for photos (especially private/body photos)
- Asking where they are, when they’re home alone, school name
- Sending gifts or money
- Isolation language (“Your parents don’t understand you like I do”)
- Rapid escalation of emotional intimacy (“I love you” after days of chatting)
UK Resources for Parents
- CEOP (Child Exploitation & Online Protection): Report grooming/abuse directly to UK police at ceop.police.uk
- NSPCC Online Safety: Free advice, parent helpline 0808 800 5000
- Childline: For kids to talk to someone neutral, 24/7
- Think U Know: Resources for parents and educators
🎮 Gaming Hardware 2025: PS5 Pro, Xbox, Switch 2 Rumors & PC Specs
Current Generation Consoles (2025)
| Console | Price (UK) | Best For | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| PlayStation 5 Pro | £699 | 4K gaming fans | 30% faster GPU, ray-tracing, 2TB storage, AI upscaling |
| Xbox Series X | £499 | Value seekers | 4K 120fps, backwards compatible, Game Pass value |
| Nintendo Switch OLED | £309 | Families, casual gamers | Brighter 7″ OLED, docked + handheld, Mario + Zelda |
| Nintendo Switch Lite | £199 | Budget option, younger kids | Handheld only, plays all Switch games, compact |
Real Talk on PS5 Pro: It costs £699 and makes games look 30% better. For someone with a 4K TV, it’s noticeable. For most families playing on a normal 1080p TV? Not worth it. The regular PS5 (£499) is still excellent.
Next-Gen Rumors (2026–2027)
- Nintendo Switch 2 (2026): Rumored £349–£449. Larger screen, 4K when docked, improved Joy-Cons, backwards compatible. Official announcement expected spring 2026.
- PlayStation 6 (2027): Too early for solid specs, but likely 8K capable, AI upscaling, subscription gaming on day one.
- Xbox Series “Next” (2027): Microsoft focusing on Game Pass ecosystem over hardware specs.
💰 Complete Budget Buying Guide
| Budget Tier | Best Tech Buys | Avoid | Value for Money |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under £30 | Anker cables, USB-C hubs, power banks, basic earbuds | Cheap wireless chargers, mystery brand earbuds | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| £30–£50 | Echo Dot, gaming controllers, Bluetooth speakers | Budget tablets, off-brand smartwatches, AI novelty gadgets | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ |
| £50–£100 | Yoto Player, tablet cases, Switch Lite | Overpriced mid-range phones, gimmick gadgets | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ |
| £100–£300 | Switch OLED, iPad 10th Gen, kids’ smartwatches, security cameras | Foldable phones (too expensive), previous-gen flagships | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ |
| £300–£700 | PS5, Xbox Series X, MacBook Air M4, iPad Pro 11″ | Previous-gen premium phones, overpriced gaming laptops | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| £700+ | Flagship phones (if you really want them), gaming PCs, premium tablets | Foldables (still pricey), 1st-gen everything, “AI-powered” gadgets | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ |