When TIME magazine publishes its annual “Best Inventions” list, tech enthusiasts and casual users alike brace themselves for new definitions of innovation. In 2025, Apple once again reminds everyone why it’s a household name—not just for what it makes, but for how it redefines the very meaning of ‘smart’ accessories.
A Landmark Year for Innovation: Apple Stands Out
- TIME’s 2025 Best Inventions list is the most comprehensive ever, honoring 300 breakthroughs in robotics, artificial intelligence, health, and consumer electronics.
- Apple’s portfolio makes not one, but three appearances—proving lightning truly can strike more than once.
Among the standout names from around the globe, Apple’s latest generation AirPods Pro 3 grabbed the spotlight in the Consumer Electronics category. The editors at TIME, including Chris Stokel-Walker, noted that these are no everyday earbuds—they climbed to the top through a trio of cutting-edge features, cementing Apple’s role as both trendsetter and innovator.
AirPods Pro 3: Not Just Earbuds, But Conversation Starters
The AirPods Pro 3 did not appear on the TIME list out of the blue. These earbuds earned their place with:
- Advanced noise cancellation, eliminating up to twice as much ambient noise as their predecessors
- Optical heart-rate tracking to keep you in tune with your own health (with bonus points for every time you nervously check your pulse mid-meeting)
- A revolutionary live translation feature, making its debut in this generation
According to John Ternus, Apple’s Vice President of Hardware Engineering, the AirPods Pro 3 represent “a massive leap forward.” They do more than mute noisy subway rides—they can actually serve as a hearing aid for those with hearing loss. But the true showstopper? The live translation feature. Leveraging Apple Intelligence, these earbuds translate real-time conversations between five languages—English, French, Uzbek, German, Portuguese, and Spanish. If you’ve ever wanted to smoothly navigate a six-way conversation across continents, now’s your chance! And don’t worry, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese are expected to join the translation party by the end of the year.
Other notable gadgets on the same TIME list include the 70mai Dash Cam 4K Omni, Belkin’s Stage PowerGrip and Switch 2 Charging Case, the Antigravity A1 Drone Camera, and the Biwin Mini SSD. Clearly, the crowd is as diverse as ever, but the AirPods Pro 3 headline the consumer tech class.
Double the Glory: Apple Watch Series 11 Joins the Hall of Fame
Just when you think Apple’s done, it turns out they scored another spot in TIME’s 2025 selections. Under the “Special Mentions” for the year’s most intriguing wearables, the Apple Watch Series 11 takes center stage. This isn’t just another incremental upgrade. The Series 11 introduces a first-ever FDA-approved blood pressure monitoring feature that not only measures but also notifies users of possible signs of chronic hypertension. All this, right on your wrist! (Imagine your watch nagging you about your blood pressure as lovingly as your mother does—it’s practically family now.)
The wearables hall of fame did not end with Apple. Others from institutions and tech giants include:
- Anthropic’s Claude Sonnet 4
- Adobe’s Podcast Enhance Speech
- DeepSeek R1
- Nothing Headphone (1)
- Nintendo Switch 2
- Dyson PencilVac
- Google DeepMind Genie 3
- Meta Ray-Ban Display
- ReMarkable Paper Pro
Despite this field of worthy adversaries, Apple’s dual recognition this year makes a clear statement about its position at the cutting edge.
The Takeaway: How Apple Continues to Shape What “Smart” Means
Reviewing TIME’s entire list, one thing stands out: Apple doesn’t just ride the waves of consumer tech trends—it makes them. With the AirPods Pro 3, Apple stretches the very concept of a ‘smart’ accessory, proving once again that simple upgrades aren’t enough. Genuine innovation means raising expectations across the board.
So, if you’re tempted by the latest from Cupertino, know this: you’re not just buying a gadget, but a glimpse into the future of personal technology—one where languages, health, and silence itself bend to your wishes (or at least your playlist).
