Background information
Our favourite items of 2025
by Samuel Buchmann
Our flop products 2025
23.12.2025
Translation: machine translated
We get our hands on countless devices every year - for testing, but also privately. Here are our personal flops of the past year.
Most of the products we test or buy ourselves we like. But some leave us baffled or drive us crazy. We wouldn't put these personal flops from the past year under anyone's Christmas tree. The reasons range from excessively high prices and immature technology to questionable lock-in constraints.
Michael gets upset about AI slop in book form
My biggest slop this year was not a brand new gadget, but a book. The cheaply copied together «illustrated biography» by Lamine Yamal, which was delivered to me in the summer, should put every AI's server to shame.
Source: Michael Restin
Three months after my enquiry, the Munich-based publisher behind Flip Flop Verlag claimed that its biographies were of course made by people and that it was a misprint. How can individual authors with un-Googleable commonplace names publish dozens of books a month, what does AI Publix GmbH have to do with the publisher and where do all the good reviews for the «great gift books» on the net come from? Silence in the forest. In any case, the publisher's works are no longer available here. And that's a good thing.
Martin has no love left for Synology
The Synology DS925+ is a 4-bay NAS with solid mid-range hardware and, as usual, powerful software. Nevertheless, it fails my product test - not because of the technology, but because of the manufacturer's company policy.
Source: Martin Jud
Until October 2025, only overpriced hard drives and SSDs with the Synology label were permitted for the NAS. The company has since backtracked and at least allows HDDs from other suppliers again. However, M.2 SSDs are still subject to the block. If you need a new NAS, I would currently recommend one from Ugreen.
Laura's pigeon defence remains unsuccessful
A friend of mine had a serious pigeon problem on his balcony in the summer. They came, pooped and ... stayed. Half out of fun, half out of compassion, I gave the balcony owner the Isotronic pigeon repeller as a birthday present. It promises to keep pigeons and other birds away with the help of ultrasonic waves that are barely audible to us. And it does so within a radius of 40 square metres.
Source: Laura Scholz
It's just a shame that this information didn't get through to the pigeons. They continued to besiege the balcony in question. They even sat fat and cheeky next to the Isotronic device in the flower pot. Thanks for nothing. Incidentally, these wind spirals were more successful
Philipp is unhappy with gaming handhelds
Gaming handhelds are becoming increasingly popular and yet none of them really convince me. Especially the countless PC handhelds such as the Asus ROG Ally X, the Lenovo Legion Go 2 or the hundredth Ayaneo are just a disappointment.
Source: Philipp Rüegg
Every device fails in at least one aspect: too unwieldy, too slow, too poor a screen, too bad buttons or simply too buggy. The Nintendo Switch 2 also belongs in this category. No OLED display and poor ergonomics are two key reasons why it is gathering dust in my dock.
Simon's lunchbox is a disappointment
The Steasy could have been so good. A storage container that heats food with steam and is self-sufficient thanks to its rechargeable battery. Developed in Switzerland and produced in Europe. I'd be willing to pay 300 francs for that. Unfortunately, the plastic parts are so poorly made that closing the Steasy is a mess. The battery lasts for exactly one cycle, but charges for five hours. And I've never managed to start the Steasy without an app. It's an overpriced, immature prototype.
Flo finds the budget iPhone too expensive
The iPhone SE series was popular. The second generation cost 449 francs at market launch, the third 479 francs. The relatively inexpensive iPhones were a financially low-threshold entry point for people who only needed the basics - but would rather have an iPhone than an Android device. A clever move. And what does Apple do? Lets it die and launches the iPhone 16e, a device that no one has ever heard of.
Source: Florian Bodoky
The 16e is not a bad phone. But it's too expensive for people who previously went for the SE. And too slimmed down for people who want the full iPhone power. The minimal price difference to the regular iPhone 16 (around 120 francs at launch) left me perplexed. No wonder, the sales figures are rather poor.
Debbie's juicer is e-waste
For years, I have been using an electric juicer to squeeze citrus fruit. Unfortunately, it gave up the ghost in the summer. As the same appliance was no longer available, I started looking for something new. Thanks to the good reviews and the well-known brand, I chose the WMF Stelio juicer. A mistake that I regret every time I use it.
Source: Debora Pape
I. Hate. This. This. device. I could have gathered from the description that it's smaller and made of more plastic than expected. But the overly delicate spout, which clogs up at least once during every pressing session, is a design flaw. I'm constantly poking around in it with a knife, cursing, to push the pulp aside. The collection container is also far too small. And how the hell am I supposed to clean the outlet thoroughly? I'd have to remove the part with a screwdriver. I don't like throwing away working appliances, but I'm on the verge with this one.
Lorenz searches in vain for good selfie monitors
I shoot videos for my social media channels all the time. I often film myself. Selfie cameras on today's smartphones are okay, but the ones on the back would be better. But then I can't see myself. Full of anticipation, I therefore ordered the Selfie Monitor from Rollei as a test device. The display mirrors the smartphone screen and can be magnetically attached to the back.
Source: Lorenz Keller
The idea is good, the implementation is not. The instructions are inaccurate, the screen doesn't work with every device and not in my preferred 4K 30-frame video resolution. The operation is cumbersome and the battery life is mediocre. I would have preferred to spend a little more money and get a well thought-out gadget in return. So I'd rather stick with the selfie camera if I need a quick and uncomplicated solution.
Domis smartphone leads to embarrassing situations
The Sony Xperia 1 VI is actually great. I love the camera, the battery lasts a hell of a long time and the thing just feels good in the hand. Unfortunately, this expensive flagship has two major flaws that almost make me despair.
Firstly, the fingerprint sensor on the side. Depending on how I slide the phone into my trouser pocket, I unintentionally unlock it because my thumb touches the sensor. And with an unlocked mobile in my trouser pocket, chaos and anarchy are inevitable. I write weird WhatsApp messages, trigger an emergency call or play music out of nowhere. If my mobile phone speaker suddenly shouts «Who's the baddest bitch in this club» at a family dinner, it leads to unpleasant questions.
Secondly: the NFC chip. For some reason, Google Pay never works with the Sony smartphone at the first attempt. I approach the payment terminal and receive an error message before I'm even within realistic contact distance. I'm told to hold my mobile closer to the terminal. My brother in Christ, that's what I want to do, but you won't let me.
Michelle doesn't understand the Huion tablet
Huion is known for graphics tablets with good value for money. However, the Kamvas Slate 11 I can not recommended at all - neither for art nor for multimedia entertainment or gaming. It doesn't have enough power for drawing and the screen resolution is terrible.
Source: Michelle Brändle
I wouldn't even give this device to a child. It's quite heavy for its small size and also poorly made. When I tried to take the tablet out of the included case, the display briefly detached from the frame. I wouldn't put something like that in the hands of my offspring.
Kevin tests a keyboard from hell
Sometimes I'm glad that I can test products. It saves me from making a bad purchase. Not that I would have even considered my hated product. My most intensive custom keyboard phase may be over, but I still attach great importance to a high-quality, self-built input device.
Source: Kevin Hofer
The GMBK 75% from Glorious is exactly the opposite. I wouldn't even sell it to my worst enemy - if I had one. From the build quality to the membrane switches to the typing feel and acoustics it's a flop. The keyboard is the first product that I have only given one star.
Header image: Florian Bodoky
Samuel Buchmann
Senior Editor
Samuel.Buchmann@digitecgalaxus.chMy fingerprint often changes so drastically that my MacBook doesn't recognise it anymore. The reason? If I'm not clinging to a monitor or camera, I'm probably clinging to a rockface by the tips of my fingers.
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