My favourite Amazon purchases of 2025

Ahead of the Black Friday deals kicking off next week I wanted to round up all of the best things I’ve bought off Amazon this past year. None of these items are sponsored in any way, they’re all just things I’ve been really satisfied with and wholeheartedly recommend.

The following list is also ranked from things I love the most to the least. So consider the top five to ten things 5/5 reviews, and then other things are just handy, but don’t go much above and beyond.

Magic Bag for your neck

This little bag is filled with oats, and you can warm it up for a short time in the microwave for near-instant shoulder relief. This definitely isn’t a tech item, but both my partner and I use it all the time since we’ve bought it. It’s affordable, effective, and Canadian-made, so you can’t go wrong. I also think this is a simple gift that anyone can give, but the older the receiver is, the more they’ll appreciate it for their bad back. I hope my family isn’t reading this, because everyone is getting one of these under the tree this year.

The Magic Bag costs $25 and comes in a wide variety of colours. There are also other shapes, but this one is my favourite.

UGreen Nexode Pro Flat charger

I bought this charger because I wanted a small 65-watt brick to use with my portable Switch 2 Dock (further down this list), but since then, this has become my main power supply. It’s not perfect, and it will throttle down to around 30-40 watts if you’re fast charging for a while and it starts to overheat, but its pocketable form factor and trio of USB ports more than make up for that. It’s great for travel, has a great metal design, and one of the ports is even USB-A, letting you connect just about anything to it.

This charger usually costs between $60 and $45, and I think it’s worth that to me, but if you can catch it on sale for even cheaper, I’d consider that an amazing deal.

Magnetic suction pad for my iPhone

This thing is amazing. It uses MagSafe to attach to your phone so you can basically stick it to any flat surface. I use it often in the washroom if I want to watch something while in the shower. I also bought a second one to stick on the backsplash above my sink so I can watch things while tidying my kitchen as well. I know this sounds like a small thing and you could have a very similar experience by just putting your phone on a shelf, but there’s just something satisfying about this thing.

Honestly, it’s usually $18 and is a great stocking stuffer for anyone who watches a lot of videos on their phone. I can not stress enough how much my partner and I use ours.

Ulanzi portable magnetic tripod

There have been a ton of times in my life when I wished I had a tripod to take photos or videos when I’m out and about, and ever since I bought this one, that problem has mostly been solved. It’s not perfect, but it’s tiny and part of it is a carabiner, so it can easily clip onto a belt loop or your bag. That said, it’s so small and slim that I’ve never had issues putting it in my pockets either. 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 with my iPhone.

This is another item I’ve seen on sale quite often, but it’s usually priced at $50. 

BlackBerry on Blu-Ray

I’ve actually bought a lot of movies on Amazon since they often go on sale, but my favourite of the year is the Blackberry movie from 2023. The Canadian-made production led by Matt Johnston is a masterclass of independent filmmaking, and the commentary tracks and the BTS for this movie are really entertaining. I felt like I learned a ton, and for $14, it was a no-brainer to support Canadian cinema. Not to mention this movie is one of the best tech biopics ever.

My other honourable mentions that I got this year include the 4K of Oceans 11, which also has a great commentary, the six movie Shrek boxset (often on sale for cheap), and the Criterion Collection version of Thelma and Louise in 4K (stunningly beautiful).

Colour-coded HDMI 2.1 cables

This one is a bit of a cheat, as I’ve bought these cables three times already. However, I find that the coloured ends make it clear which cables support HDMI 2.1 at a glance, and the colours also aid in cable management when everything is wired up behind my 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 can support 4K 60fps.

If you need some new HDMI cables, try these out, and I think you’ll find them as user-friendly as I did. I have bought both the six-foot and three-foot models in the past. Prices range from $23 to $29.

Matte Screen protector

Ever since I started using the Nano Coating on the MacBook Pro, I have been addicted to matte screens. I even ponied up and bought a Samsung S95F OLED earlier this year to have the same effect on my TV. So to get the same effect on my iPhone, I needed to buy a matte screen protector. I ended up with this Mothca one because it came with installing hardware to make sure you get the perfect alignment. Since I got mine, two of my friends and my partner have all jumped on the matte bandwagon and gotten them as well.

The version with the installation bracket costs $26 and comes with two screen protectors. If you break them you can buy a slightly cheaper set without the install hardware as well.

Jemdo Switch 2 dock

This one is a little wildcard. I’ve been using it, but you need to visit a semi-sketchy website to download some firmware onto it to make it compatible with the Switch 2. I did this and it was fine, but make sure you follow the steps exactly or you could brick your cable. There is now a 4K 144Hz model available on the Amazon page, but I would recommend avoiding it and opting for the 4K 60fps model instead. It’s worked well for me and MobileSyrup alum Patrick O’Rourke

I got the black and white cable, which was $31, but if you’d rather save a few bucks, the neon red and blue one is $27. Both are the same beyond the colour of the cable.

The Tragically Hip ABCs

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

The book costs $25 and actually has really great illustrations.

Elago Clear Apple Watch band

Ok, admittedly, we’re getting towards the bottom of my favourite things from Amazon, but recently I saw a friend with this band, and then when Liquid Glass came out, I had to have it. It comes with shiny silver lugs, so it fits best with the Natural Titanium watch, but I’ve worn it with the Slate Series 11 as well, and it’s been fine.

This band is comfier than it looks and only costs $15.

Apple 240w charging cable (2M)

You wouldn’t expect that, given the plethora of affordable cables on Amazon I’d recommend the expensive Apple one, but I had to buy this in a pinch while at the Apple Campus and since then, it’s skyrocketed to the top of my USB rankings. It’s just weighted nicely and feels much nicer than a lot of other USB cables I have that are this long. I typically pair this with the slim charger I mentioned above, and it’s fantastic. It even got a nod of approval when I lent it to Dave2D when we were coming back from the iPhone event.

This cable costs $34, but if you’re looking for something a little cheaper, I bought this Voltme one for my mom at the start of the year, and it’s held up pretty good too, it just doesn’t feel as nice or support charging above 100 watts. That said, it’s currently on sale for $9. 

Adjustable nightlights

I moved earlier this year, and after a close call, almost falling down the stairs at night, I decided I needed some night lights in my life. After scouring Amazon, I came across this two-pack, and I think they look a little nicer than a regular night light. Additionally, they turn on automatically in the dark, and you can adjust their brightness with a simple slider.

I got these for $28, which is a little high for a nightlight, but for the vibe it gives and the fact that it’s a two-pack makes it worth it for me.