The Coolest Innovation Trends of 2025

The tech and innovation space is always evolving, and 2025 is the year of thinking smaller. No, the teeny-tiny mobile phones of the early 2000s aren’t having an unexpected comeback. This isn’t necessarily a year for killer apps or one that will be defined by a game-changing gadget. Instead, this year’s most intriguing innovation trends are all about small changes with big impact.

On social media, the rise of smaller platforms like Bluesky and Rednote is giving rise to more deeply connected communities, as users turn their backs on larger platforms like Facebook and X. On the road, the vogue for fully electric vehicles has faded, paving the way for a surge in hybrid vehicles that offer phenomenal fuel economy and a top-tier driving experience. And at home, fitness enthusiasts have a host of new tools to make their workouts more effective than ever. Read on for more about the year’s most compelling trends in innovation.

See our full 2025 trends forecast here.

Nike’s 24.7 Collection Is Setting the Standard for 2025 Athleisure in Menswear

[PARTNER] Nike’s 24.7 collection takes athleisure to the next level with premium comfort and sleek design, further pushing the evolution of modern menswear. Featuring two innovative fabrics—ImpossiblySoft for plush, flexible coziness, and PerfectStretch for a tailored look without sacrificing movement—this collection is perfect for any occasion, from gym sessions to casual outings. With Dri-FIT tech to keep sweat at bay, the collection includes half-zips, crewnecks, joggers, chinos, and more, all designed with thoughtful details like tonal branding and locker loops. Nike is leading the charge in athleisure, setting the standard for 2025 menswear trends.

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Predicting how the internet will shift over the course of the next year is a tricky business. But we’re going to give it a stab. The fractured political landscape will undoubtedly be a major force behind the potential changes for social media in 2025. Over the past few years, X, TikTok, and Meta have dominated the discourse and our attention spans. We don’t have any expectations for these behemoths to suddenly fade away. But, as internal issues and external political controversies swirl around these tech giants, several new players have entered the scene. 

Will the Big 3 in social media be knocked off their podium? Will we all migrate to virtual neighborhoods on Discord? Maybe not. But this year will certainly mark a significant change in how we use social media. 

—John A. Paradiso

Smaller networks like Bluesky and Rednote have popped up as alternatives to larger social media platforms. Since the November election alone, Bluesky has added 14 million users, according to CNET. And Rednote saw a single day influx of 3 million users amid the threat of TikTok bans. Could these two apps overtake their legacy alternatives? It’s possible. But, even if newer platforms rise to prominence in 2025, they’ll need to maintain sustained growth. And while the novelty factor can offer a quick boost, these platforms will have to innovate on what their counterparts currently provide.

Another common theme that we’re keeping an eye on is the rise of isolated and insulated social communities. Chat rooms and virtual message boards have always existed on the internet, but there’s been a clear shift toward establishing authentic and user-maintained communities.  Community-centered platforms like Discord, Slack, and Twitch provide groups of like-minded individuals a self-moderated channel, and they also provide brands the chance to directly reach their target audience. Already 76 percent of global internet users participate in online communities and, according to Forbes, 60 percent of people are more likely to trust a brand if there is community access. These smaller communities offer a better experience for users, and can yield significant results for brands, too.  

Authenticity has always been a catchy term for content creators and brands on social media. These platforms have always promised a unique experience where users can connect with the “true” version of an influencer or company. But we expect to see the concept of “authenticity” to creep even further into the lexicon of the terminally online, as brands and creators source more user-generated content and interact in ways to demonstrate a real, honest version of themselves. With the rise of AI content—and lingering skepticism from audiences and consumers—these accounts will want to differentiate themselves by placing a bigger emphasis on direct, authentic content.

Weight Loss by Hims & Hers

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Not so long ago, EVs were the darling of the automotive world. Automotive manufacturers were investing billions in their electrification strategies, and plans were underway to dump gas-powered models in favor of electric versions. But EV love has leveled off in recent months, with many automakers scaling back those ambitious electrification plans. Market research firm J.D. Power recently revised its EV sales forecast to be flat for 2025. There are numerous factors at play here, such as waning interest in EV juggernaut Tesla, impending import tariffs, and increases in mainstream automotive brands’ EV sales. Regardless of the reasons for the shift, it means hybrid vehicles are getting their time in the sun.

The proof is in the pudding. 187,426 hybrid vehicles made it into the hands of American car buyers in 2024, a whopping 40 percent increase from the year before. In terms of market share, hybrids accounted for an astounding 20 percent of all vehicle sales in the U.S., an all-time high. Meanwhile, EVs are hovering at around 9 percent. All evidence points to EV adoption leveling off rather than growing at the same rate as it did just a year ago. 

Gas-electric hybrids are far more convenient than plug-in hybrids. PHEVs provide gas-free commuting that still requires plugging into a charger, whereas true hybrids provide a battery that charges as you drive via regenerative braking and coasting. They can boost efficiency and power, providing the best of both worlds. Here are the three best vehicles that best exemplify the growing hybrid trend.

—Amos Kwon

When you put the words Civic and Hybrid side-by-side, you might think Honda’s smallest car is a miserly snoozer, but you’d be wrong—very wrong. That’s because the gas-electric Civic has the same 200 horses as the sporty Civic Si and 40 more lb-ft of torque, so it’s actually the quicker of the two. (The hybrid goes from 0 to 60 in just 6.2 seconds). Honda’s direct-drive CVT gearbox is brilliant, unlike so many others, because it mimics shifts by modulating revs and pauses as if it’s moving between gears. It also makes gas-powered car sounds while getting off the line, like an EV. There’s nothing weird here—only driving pleasure that also nets an impressive 47 mpg on the highway. 

Dial the Civic Hybrid into Sport mode, and it becomes easier and more fun to drive by providing a near one-pedal driving experience, along with heftier steering that will make you forget you’re driving a fuel sipper. Hustling along roadways rarely makes you feel the additional weight of a hybrid powertrain, and the front strut and rear multi-link suspension keep body roll in check in the twisties. The Si is more agile, but the Hybrid is more than competent. 

Step inside, and you’ll quickly discover that Honda did its homework. Not only is the styling spot-on, with sporty honeycomb dash trim that incorporates the HVAC vents, but the physical controls are some of the best around. The tactility and action of the climate control knobs are as satisfying as a fidget toy, and the ergonomics are excellent. Look for a hatchback version offering even more cargo space to come this summer.

Learn more at Honda, starting at $24,250

Lexus finally has a three-row family hauler with adult-sized space from front to back. In addition to roomy rows, the TX 500h boasts rakish looks and hybrid power. The gas-electric hybrid version mates a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors for a total output of 366 horsepower. All-wheel drive comes standard and provides four-season sure-footedness. A six-speed automatic and all-wheel drive are both standard. 27 miles per gallon in combined driving for a vehicle this size with power to all four wheels is icing on the cake. 

The TX 500h is no slouch when it comes to performance, getting to 60 mph in a quick 5.7 seconds. It even stops shorter and handles better than its Toyota Grand Highlander sibling. The TX 500h with the F Sport badge gets adaptive dampers, which err on the side of comfort versus road feel. It’s something most families will truly appreciate over many miles of smooth driving. 

Inside, the TX 500h capitalizes on the brand’s bold new path that combines superb in-car technology, clean styling, and excellent ergonomics. The 14-inch touchscreen offers great visibility, combined with integrated physical knobs for climate control and audio. You can choose open pore wood, supple semi-aniline leather upholstery, and a 21-speaker Mark Levinson audio system that’s one of the best available anywhere. The front seats feature 10-way power adjustability for the perfect driving position, and they’re heated and ventilated, too. Space in the second row captain’s chairs is almost as good as the front seat, and back-row occupants won’t complain thanks to solid headroom and legroom. 

Learn more at Lexus, starting at $70,010

We never thought we’d see the day when Corvette would build a mid-engine hybrid, but that’s exactly what the E-Ray is. It combines the base Stingray’s powerful 6.2-liter 8-cylinder with a permanent-magnet electric motor for a total of 655 horsepower and 592 lb-ft of torque routed to all four wheels via an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. That’s right, it’s an all-wheel drive ‘Vette that’s quicker than the monster Corvette Z06. Don’t let the fact that it’s a hybrid make you think this C8 Corvette was built for efficiency, but it can travel on electric power only at speeds of up to 45 mph for short distances. 

The E-Ray will rocket to 60 mph in a mindboggling 2.5 seconds, and that’s on all-season performance tires, not summer rubber. This is a Corvette you can drive in winter, believe it or not, as long as you’re not trying to get through a blizzard. 

The cabin of the Corvette E-Ray is like a luxury fighter jet. A squared-off steering wheel, contrast-stitched leather, and real carbon fiber abound. You can choose between coupe and retractable hardtop convertible configurations and three different trim levels: 1LZ, 2LZ, and 3LZ. Each one is powered by the same potent hybrid setup and all-wheel drive, but when you travel up the trim ladder, you can get features like a heads-up display, wireless charging pad, and a premium Bose 14-speaker audio system. No matter what trim level you choose, everyone will be staring at you when you deftly drive your hybrid Corvette through the snow. 

Learn more at Chevrolet, starting at $106,900 

A subcategory of health tech that was once reserved for the health-obsessed and Ironman triathletes in training, wearables (think Apple Watches, Oura Rings, Whoops, and Fitbits, are now mainstream. Everyone from your co-workers to MLB pitchers to your mother-in-law is wearing something that tracks steps, sleep, stress, and more. We have access to more information about our bodies and health than at any other time in history. Still, it can be confusing to know what to do with all this data.

Just when it seems like wearable technology can’t improve anymore, a new generation of products is emerging, focused on not just tracking your workouts and health but actually improving them in ways you can experience almost instantly. This new technology is as much about productive workouts as productive recovery, recognizing that bodies at work must also rest. Doing more with less is the name of the game, so these are all made ready-to-travel, which means only the days off that you want to be off.

From bands that help improve your workout and recovery time to futuristic muscle activations and headbands that help your brain fall asleep, here are three of the most exciting new innovations to improve fitness and overall health in 2025.

—Sylvie Florman

Studies show that Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) training can help improve your overall muscle growth and reduce your recovery time by essentially tricking your muscles into working harder—without actually changing the way you’re working out. Here’s how it works: when blood flow is reduced to an area, that area is starved of O2. This puts your body into a state that replicates that of high-intensity training without actually doing the high-intensity thing.

SAGA Fitness’s BFR Cuffs are first-of-its-kind auto-calibrating blood flow restricting cuffs that can be worn during your workout to help amp up your training. The smart-adaptive technology and wireless system ensure seamless integration into whatever your usual workout routine is. Sold in pairs for arms or legs.

Buy at SAGA Fitness

Behold, a futuristic-looking body suit for the future of exercise. Like the BFR Cuffs, the Katalyst suit is all about fitting into your current routine and helping you get stronger efficiently and effectively. Katalyst uses what is called electro-muscle simulation (EMS), which sends gentle electrical impulses (completely painless) to specific active muscles. It’s the same tech used for individuals recovering from spinal cord injuries.

For fitness, EMS helps target specific muscles and contract certain muscles to create resistance, so you can feel like you’re lifting weights without really lifting weights. There’s an accompanying app with targeted plans, individualized training sessions, and even sports-specific activities to improve your game on and off the court.

Yes, you will look like a robot. Yes, it’s worth it.

Buy at Katalyst

Most of us aren’t getting enough sleep. That probably doesn’t surprise you, because you’ve probably had a night (or twenty) of tossing and turning and never feeling rested. Sleep is one of the best things we can do for the longevity of our brains and bodies. This is why the sleep lab at UC Berkeley helped develop Somnee, a headband that puts your brain at ease so you can fall and stay asleep more easily.

You wear Somnee for 15 minutes before you go to bed. During this time, it does a quick mapping of your brain using EEG sensors and a customized algorithm before delivering 15 minutes of therapeutic stimulation (transcranial electrical stimulation). This gentle stimulation helps mimic your natural sleep patterns and improve your overall sleep experience. It’s painless and manageable—besides a few small lights you might find annoying. The stimulations are personalized to your brain rhythms and can help change the brain’s state to help you achieve a better, more restful night’s sleep. Once the session ends, you take it off the headband and (hopefully) fall asleep.

Buy at Somnee Sleep