My favourite Amazon purchases of 2025

In anticipation of the Black Friday sales starting next week, I wanted to round up all the best things I bought on Amazon last year. None of these items are sponsored in any way, they are simply items that I am truly happy with and would wholeheartedly recommend.

The following list is also compiled from my favorites to my least. So, look at the top five to ten things that are rated 5/5, and then other things will just come in handy, but don't go overboard.

A magic bag for your neck.

This little packet is filled with oats, and you can microwave it briefly for almost instant shoulder pain relief. It's definitely not a technical item, but my partner and I have been using it constantly since we bought it. It's affordable, effective and made in Canada, so you can't go wrong. I also think this is a simple gift that anyone can give, but the older the recipient, the more they will appreciate it due to their bad back. I hope my family isn't reading this because everyone is getting one for their Christmas tree this year.

The magic bag costs $25. and comes in a variety of colors. There are other forms, but this is my favorite.

UGreen Nexode Pro Flat Charger

I bought this charger because I needed a small 65W power supply for my Switch 2 Portable Dock (later on this list), but it has since become my main power source. It's not perfect, and its power will drop to around 30-40W if you fast charge for a while and it starts to overheat, but its pocket-sized form factor and three USB ports more than make up for that. It's great for travel, has a great metal design, and one of the ports is USB-A, allowing you to connect almost anything to it.

This a charger typically costs between $60 and $45.and I think it's worth it for me, but if you can snag it on sale for even less, I'd consider it a great deal.

Magnetic suction cup for my iPhone.

This thing is amazing. It uses MagSafe to attach to your phone, so you can attach it to any flat surface. I often use it in the toilet if I want to watch something while in the shower. I also bought a second one to attach to the backsplash above the sink so I can keep an eye on what's going on while cleaning up the kitchen. I know it sounds like a small thing, and you could get a very similar experience by just putting your phone on a shelf, but there's something nice about this thing.

Honestly, IIt usually costs $18 and is a great stocking filler. for those who watch a lot of videos on their phone. I can't stress enough how much my partner and I use ours.

Ulanzi portable magnetic tripod.

There have been many times in my life when I wished I had a tripod to take photos or videos when I'm on the go, and since I bought this tripod, that problem is basically solved. It's not perfect, but it's tiny and part carabiner, so it can easily be clipped to a belt loop or bag. However, it is so small and thin that I never had a problem putting it in my pocket. Obviously it's not as versatile as a larger tripod, but with a little creativity you can get a lot out of it. I was even able to use it to take really amazing astrophotography photos on my iPhone.

This is another item that I see on sale quite often. but it usually costs $50.

BlackBerry on Blu-Ray

I've actually bought a lot of movies on Amazon since they go on sale often, but my favorite of the year is Blackberry 2023 movie. The Canadian production, directed by Matt Johnston, is a masterclass in independent filmmaking, and the commentary track and BTS on this film are truly entertaining. I felt like I learned a lot and for $14 it wasn't hard to support Canadian cinema.. Not to mention, this movie is one of the best tech biopics of all time.

My other honorable mentions that I received this year include: 4K Oceans 11which also has an excellent comment, box set of six Shrek films (often sold for cheap) and criteria set version Thelma and Louise in 4K (stunningly beautiful).

Color-Coded HDMI 2.1 Cables

This is a bit of a cheat as I have purchased these cables three times now. However, I found that the colored ends make it immediately clear which cables support HDMI 2.1, and the colors also help with cable management when everything is connected behind the TV or desk. It's a minor feature, but since most HDMI cables are nondescript black cords and plugs, having something recognizable helps a lot. Honestly, it's a lot easier than plugging every cable into my PS5 and then going into settings to make sure it supports 4K 60fps.

If you're in the market for new HDMI cables, give these a try and I think you'll find them as user-friendly as I did. I have purchased both six foot and three foot models in the past. Prices range from $23 to $29..

Matte Screen Protector

Ever since I started using Nano Coating on my MacBook Pro, I've been addicted to matte screens. Earlier this year, I even splurged and bought a Samsung S95F OLED to achieve the same effect on my TV. So to achieve the same effect on my iPhone, I needed to buy a matte screen protector. I ended up going with this Mothca because it came with the hardware to ensure perfect alignment. Since I got mine, two of my friends and my partner have also jumped on the matte shade bandwagon and got it too.

Version with iThe mounting bracket costs $26. and comes with two screen protectors. If you break them, you can also buy a slightly cheaper kit without the installation hardware.

Jemdo Switch 2 Docking Station

This is a small wildcard. I use it, but you need to visit the semi-schematic website to Upload the firmware to it to make it compatible with Switch 2.. I did this and everything was fine, but make sure you follow the instructions exactly or you may block the cable. There's currently a 4K 144Hz model available on Amazon's page, but I'd recommend avoiding that and opting for the 4K 60fps model instead. This worked well for me and MobileSyrup alum Patrick O'Rourke

I received black and white cable that cost $31.but if you'd rather save a few bucks, the neon red and blue is $27. Both are the same except for the cable color.

Tragically fashionable alphabet

Late last year I became an uncle, and so far one of the gifts I've given my niece that people seem to like the most is an early ABC book that uses Tragically Hip songs and Canadian iconography to help kids learn the alphabet. It's cute, Canadian, and will hopefully help my niece tune into Hip early.

the book costs 25 dollars and it actually has great illustrations.

Clear Elago Strap for Apple Watch

Okay, I admit we're getting to the end of my favorite things from Amazon, but I recently saw a friend with this band and then when Liquid Glass came out I had to buy it. It comes with shiny silver lugs so it pairs best with the Natural Titanium watch, but I also wore it with the Slate Series 11 and it was fine.

This group more convenient than it looks and only costs $15..

Apple Charging Cable 240W (2m)

You wouldn't expect it, given the plethora of cables available on Amazon, I would recommend the expensive Apple one, but I had to buy this as a last resort when I was on Apple campus and it has since skyrocketed to the top of my USB rankings. It just has a nice weight to it and feels much nicer than many other USB cables I have that are this long. I usually connect it to the slim charger I mentioned above and it's fantastic. It even got a thumbs up when I lent it to Dave2D on our way back from an iPhone event.

This cable costs $34but if you're looking for something cheaper, I bought this Voltme for my mom at the beginning of the year and it holds up pretty well too, it's just not as good and doesn't support charging above 100W. However, it is currently on sale for $9.

Adjustable night lights

I moved house earlier this year and after a dangerous phone call and nearly falling down the stairs one night, I decided I needed night lights in my life. While scouring Amazon I came across this pack of two and I think they look a little better than your average night light. Plus, they turn on automatically in the dark and their brightness can be adjusted using a simple slider.

I bought them for 28 dollars, it's a little high for a night light, but for the ambience it creates and the fact that it's a pack of two, it's worth it for me.