Echo Dot for kids: music and autonomy

Wirecutter’s staff tests thousands of products every year, and of that mountain of items a few always stick out as the best of the best. To close out 2025, we asked our experts to share the things they loved most–and what they think would make great holiday gifts. 

Whether you’re still finishing up your holiday shopping or you’re just here to soak up some end-of-year delight, this roundup is full of recommendations straight from the people who test stuff for a living. 

If you’d like to receive hand-picked gift recommendations right to your inbox, subscribe to Wirecutter’s gifting newsletter, The Gift!

Products we reccommend: 

• Annemarie Conte enjoys the Yummi 12” Handcrafted Taper Candles 
• Jackie Reeve used The Company Store Company Cotton Voile Quilt to keep cozy after surgery
• James Austin gave his groomsmen gemstone dice as a personalized gamer gift
• Amy Kravetz gave her kid the Swatch Flik Flak Watch for a dose of nostalgia
• Trey French takes the Sawyer Squeeze Water Filtration System on every hike
• Brent Butterworth loves the Sangean WR-15 tabletop radio with a bluetooth receiver for everyday, ad-free audio at his desk
• Jennifer Hunter says the TWP Next Morning Shirt is a splurge-worthy wardrobe upgrade
• Jon Chase added an Amazon Echo Dot to his child’s room for on-demand music and hasn’t looked back
• Rachel Cericola thinks every nature lover deserves the Birdbuddy Pro bird feeder
• Catherine Kast enjoys the OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Scraper & Chopper for making everyday kitchen tasks a little easier
• Thom Dunn’s kitchen renovation was postponed by loving the Cosori Original Air Fryer Toaster Oven
• Ellen Lee loves the OMY Hair Chalk for a fun dash of color in anyone’s hair
• Liam McCabe has found numerous uses for the handy Calculated Industries AirShim Inflatable Pry Bar & Leveling Tool
• Nicola Fumo says Prada lip balm in a metal tube is instantly giveable (and refillable!)
• Kaitlyn Wells uses the dracula-themed Ototo Gracula Garlic Crusher to help chop garlic without pain
• Mel Plaut is sharpening all their knives (utility & kitchen) with the Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker
• Kathleen Squires keeps every holiday roast perfectly cooked with the ThermoPro TP971 TempSpike Plus

Additional Reading: 

• This Tiny Airbag Has the Power to Lift an Entire Fridge
• These Candles Made Me a Candle Person. Now I Eat My Cheerios by Candlelight.
• The Best 53 Christmas Gifts for Everyone on Your List 
• I Test Kitchen Tools for a Living. This $12 Staple Is the One Item I’ll Never Give Up.

We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more›

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The Wirecutter Show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel.Engineering support from Maddy Masiello and Nick Pitman. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Efim Shapiro, Rowan Niemisto, Sophia Lanman, and Sonia Herrero. Original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Diane Wong. Wirecutter’s deputy publisher and general manager is Cliff Levy. Ben Frumin is Wirecutter’s editor-in-chief. Hosted by Rosie Guerin, Caira Blackwell and Christine Cyr Clisset.

Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast