Comment: What did YOU get for Christmas 2025? 🎅❄️🎄

It's that time of year again! Has Santa visited you this week?

2025 has been a really strange year in tech. We've seen massive disruptions to the landscape in years past, but nothing like the havoc being wrought by artificial intelligence. Microsoft says it is all-in on artificial intelligence technology, but the delivery has been a mixed bag thus far.

One thing that will make Santa mad is the wholesale decline of Microsoft consumer products. Whether it's Surface, Xbox, or Windows itself, Microsoft often seems intent on exiting the consumer space at breakneck speed, sacrificing consumer confidence and retail presence to chase the promises of OpenAI's Sam Altman.

In the coming year, we might discover it was the right play ... or, we might discover that it was all a bubble and that the business model doesn't work long term at scale, owing to bottlenecks around resources. Whether it's electricity, exploding DRAM prices, or simple consumer ambivalence, I think we're far from saying AI is a certainty for Microsoft.

The things that have been a certainty over the years, Xbox, laptops, Surface, and so on, have had a bit of a cloud hanging over them too. Although people still need laptops for work and play, and as RAM prices continue to climb ... now might be the last good time to score a good deal for a hot minute.

So, we ask you, humble Windows Central readers, what cool tech did you get this year? What did you buy for your families? Did you get a new cool TV, new Xbox Ally, new Steam Deck? Did you grab a Surface, or a laptop from another OEM?

Drop by in the comments and let us know!

I grabbed my mom a Google Pixel 9A. Up until this point, she'd been using a battered Nokia clamshell phone. Has been a bit fascinating watching her adjust to a touch screen and the power of tools we take for granted, like WhatsApp picture messaging and video calling and such. I've also been helping some friends set up their new Xbox Ally handhelds, since a few people have grabbed those in the recent sale of the white Xbox Ally base model. Be sure to take a look at our Steam Deck beginner's guide and Xbox Ally beginner's guide to help you get started, if you also grabbed one.

Either way, I hope you had a chill Christmas and holiday season if you are celebrating. Happy New Year too from myself and everyone at Windows Central. We'll see you soon.

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