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It’s been nearly five years since

Regardless of how 2024 went for you, 2025 is another chance for all of us to make the new year better than the one that came before it. New Year’s resolutions are usually set with the best intentions, but it’s no secret many people fail after just a few weeks — old habits die hard. It’s important to have a support group, people who can cheer you on during those particularly hard days. But it’s also important to have the right tools to make achieving your goals easier.

While there remain regular laptops and gaming laptops, the line that separates them has nearly disappeared. Today, if you have a fast CPU and graphics card, along with perks like a big screen and a good cooling system, you can play a decent number of games on your laptop. Besides, not everyone wants a big, garish gaming rig, nor does everyone want to spend the money required to get one of those. If you’re considering a new laptop for school, there are more options now than ever before that can both get you through your most challenging studies and keep up with your next AAA play through.

While the number of subscriptions and services out there now may seem daunting, that can come in handy this time of year. These can be life-saver gifts for the most hard-to-shop-for folks on your holiday list. Whether you have a loved one who’s constantly looking for a new TV show to dive into, a voracious reader or a lifelong learner, there are dozens of subscriptions out there to consider gifting them this year.

When it comes to finding the best PC monitors, there’s something for everyone, whether you’re after a reliable second screen, a higher resolution 4K display or a gaming setup that packs a punch. With options ranging from cheap monitors to high-end displays, today's market offers a wealth of choices for all budgets. But the world of monitors is about more than just screens; it’s about getting the right pixel density, understanding ergonomics and selecting the right match for your workspace or gaming setup.

If you've just picked up the new iPad mini, or any iPad for that matter, you're probably already loving its versatility. But the right accessories can take your tablet experience to a whole new level. From productivity boosts to style upgrades, accessories are essential for getting the most out of your iPad.

Think about your digital footprint. How many accounts have you created online since you first started using the internet? How many of those use the same passwords, so you have an easier time logging in? It’s a habit we’ve all fallen into, but it greatly weakens our ability to stay secure online. Just one password leak can compromise dozens of accounts.

It doesn’t take much to make your gaming stream look and sound professional — you just need the right tools, and then let your sparkling personality and on-screen skills take care of everything else. Here, we’ve collected more than a dozen of the best streaming gadgets that you can buy today, separated into five categories: microphones, headphones, cameras, lights and accessories. You won’t need everything on this list, but there’s a good starting point for most budgets under each heading.

Fitness trackers are a solid option if you really want to hone in on tracking, well, your fitness. Some of the best fitness trackers also include additional sensors to track things like stress, sleep and other health metrics. Sure, you could opt for the best smartwatch, but if you’re not interested in all of the extra features they offer, a fitness tracker might be a better (and more affordable) option.

We review a number of the best laptops with Windows 11 Home and other versions of the OS every year at Engadget, but the cheapest among them often fall to the bottom of the list. Unlike our top picks for best Windows laptop, or even more niche devices like the best gaming laptops, these machines don’t have pricey OLED panels, high-powered graphics cards or super thin-and-light designs.