Tech trends 2025: This year’s boldest innovations revealed

6 mins read
Tech trends 2025: This year's boldest innovations revealed

In 2024, tech trends and breakthroughs – such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and IoT – changed how we work. Alongside these advancements, sustainability became a core focus as the need to develop greener, more efficient solutions became clearer.

These advancements laid the groundwork for 2025.

This year promises to build on the momentum, introducing trends that promise to further transform industries, enhance personalisation, and simplify complexity across various sectors.


This feature was provided by Huawei as part of a collaboration with Tech Nation. It includes commentary from Tech Nation’s co-founder, Cheryl Kahla.


In the new year, the tech landscape will likely be defined by a blend of key factors:

  • Regulation,
  • Innovation,
  • Resilience, and a
  • Drive for inclusivity and sustainability.

These factors will address both the opportunities and challenges of the rapidly evolving tech ecosystem.

Let’s see what 2025 has in store.

Tech trend #1: AI omnipresence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) was at the forefront of emerging technologies in 2024 and this will likely continue into 2025 – most likely at an accelerated rate.

According to Tech Nation co-founder, Cheryl Kahla, generative AI will be everywhere this year, powering more large language models (LLMs), agents, and applications than ever before.

“AI is going to be everywhere, infused into everything, from our smartphones and smart homes to our cars and even home appliances,” mirrors Akhram Mohamed, managing director of The Blank Canvas and Editor at Geekhub.co.za.

“Think personalised experiences, smarter automation and devices that become an extension of ourselves.

AI in smart homes and wearables

Mohamed adds: “Imagine a smart home that anticipates your needs, adjusting the lighting and temperature before you even ask, or a fitness tracker that creates a personalised workout plan based on your sleep patterns and recovery rate.”

“AI is about to make our devices feel like they were designed just for us.” 

Akhram Mohamed

He says AI will change how we engage with entertainment, with streaming platforms delivering hyper-personalized recommendations and smart speakers offering contextual responses.

Your personal companion

“It’s all about creating a seamless, intuitive experience that makes technology feel more like a personalised companion”.

Meanwhile, Kahla says: “For the first time in history, we are able to ‘talk’ to our data. We can upload a PDF with user data into an AI agent and have a conversation with it.”

She adds: “And as chatbots and agents continue to advance, we are progressively shifting towards a reality where we could ‘talk’ to our devices the way we’re already talking to ChatGPT.”

Tech trend #2: Device transformation 

Innovations in devices and wearable technology are changing how we engage with tech, blending form and function to usher in a new era of convenience and personalisation in everyday life.

Leading the charge is the foldable revolution, transforming mobile and computing devices with unmatched flexibility and portability. While still not widespread, foldable phones are no longer considered a novelty.

“We can expect to see more foldable devices, from smartphones and tablets to laptops and even TVs, but that is likely to kick off in 2026,” notes Mohamed.

Smarter systems, better health

At the same time, enhanced integration across devices and systems will boost connectivity in 2025, streamlining workflows and creating smarter ecosystems.

Personalised health gadgets are also expected to take centre stage, empowering users with real-time monitoring and insights tailored to their unique needs, encouraging better control over their well-being.

“Consumers crave seamless interactions between our smartphones, home devices, and entertainment systems, wherever we can get it. And we can expect to see much deeper integration create more connected and intuitive ecosystems,” adds Kahla.

“Additionally, as seen at CES 2025, most health and wellness devices are already using AI to provide tailored insights and wellness management in real-time.” 

Tech Trend #3: AR’s potential

Augmented reality (AR) has long been seen as a bridge between the digital and physical worlds, and 2025 might be the year this game-changing tech truly comes into its own. As AR continues to evolve, its practical and immersive uses are expanding well beyond entertainment.

“This technology has the potential to truly revolutionise the way we interact with technology and become an extension of ourselves,” says Mohamed.

Picture using smart glasses to display helpful information in your field of view, whether it’s step-by-step repair guides or virtually trying on clothes. At home, AR could help users visualize furniture placement, control devices with gestures, or merge virtual and real spaces to create interactive experiences.

This growing trend is closely linked to advancements in smart devices, with wearables like smart glasses paving the way. It’s expected to gain significant traction in 2025 and the years ahead.

Education and media

AR also holds transformative potential for industries like education and the media landscape. 

“Enhancing educational tools could make learning so much more interactive and immersive,” Kahla explains. “And perhaps this will be the year that SA newsrooms tap into the capabilities of AR as well – international weather channels are already using AR to make weather conditions appear larger than life, and Seen TV has been telling stories with AR for years.”

However, personal and data privacy concerns loom, especially in public spaces where non-users may have little control over what is captured and shared.

As Mohamed notes; “We still need to navigate the rough terrain of personal and data privacy that comes with the use of AR.”

Despite these hurdles, 2025 could mark the tipping point for AR, ushering in a new era where technology seamlessly integrates into daily life, enhancing how we work, learn, and play.

Tech trend #4: Sustainable tech

Sustainability and affordability will be critical pillars for the tech industry as companies strive to meet growing consumer expectations and global environmental goals.

Achieving these objectives requires a delicate balance, but innovative approaches can drive progress on both fronts, creating a technology landscape that is greener and more inclusive.

“Sustainability will no longer just be a niche feature, it will become a core component for businesses,” explains Kahla.

“And, as more companies adopt sustainable practices, the cost of eco-friendly materials and processes should decrease. This could also provide an opportunity for companies to even go the as-a-service model route – where consumers pay for services rather than owning devices outright, thereby reducing waste and promoting longer lifecycles for electronics.”

Circular economy

Additionally, circular design principles, such as creating modular, repairable, and upgradable devices, offer another practical path forward. 

“By creating modular, repairable, and upgradable devices, manufacturers can extend product lifespans while reducing waste,” adds Mohamed.

“For example, smartphones with replaceable batteries or laptops made from recycled materials demonstrate how sustainability and practicality can coexist.”

But it is affordable?

On the affordability front, addressing barriers to access is crucial as smart devices are essential for social and economic development. Companies must offer solutions that cater to diverse budgets. 

“Offering a range of price points and partnering with government and non-profit organisations to provide subsidies or financing options can help close the accessibility gap,” says Mohamed. 

By aligning affordability with sustainability, the tech industry can pave the way for a future where technology is not only more environmentally responsible but also accessible to all, fostering a more inclusive and equitable digital world.

Tech trend #5: 5.5G closer than you think

5.5G, or 5G-Advance, promises to revolutionise capacity and user experience by increasing network capacity by 10 ten times and enabling new applications.

But South Africa must overcome certain hurdles before it sees its widespread adoption. Progress has been made with successful tests conducted in 2024, but spectrum availability, terminals, applications, and policies, remain underdeveloped for full 5.5G deployment.

As noted by Lars Liu, Wireless & Cloud Core MSSD, Huawei Technologies South Africa, “It’s not difficult for operators to upgrade their network from 5G to 5.5G, this can happen when the local ecosystem is ready.”

5.5G in logistics and commerce

5.5G’s low-latency capabilities, particularly its reduced latency from 10ms to 1ms, have the potential to open up new business models, especially in logistics and e-commerce.

It promises to improve operational efficiency by enabling real-time applications like remote telemedicine, machine control, and IoT solutions.

These advancements can enhance industries such as logistics, providing lower-cost IoT solutions for tracking goods and improving delivery times.

“In South Africa, real-time applications like connected vehicles and smart cities could address urban challenges, enhancing road safety and helping to reduce traffic accidents through its Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) capabilities,” notes Liu.

Smart Cities all the way

Additionally, smart city applications using passive IoT could improve urban management, connecting assets like smart lamps, buses, and airports.

Achieving this requires industry collaboration, including government policy support, spectrum regulation, and partnerships between operators, vendors, and ecosystem partners. 

“To leverage 5G and 5.5G network APIs for business innovation and new revenue streams, South African enterprises should also look at successful global cases in industries such as smart manufacturing, agriculture, and traffic. This could help accelerate digital transformation and position South Africa to benefit from 5.5G’s full potential,” says Liu.

2025’s tech trends: final thoughts

As we look toward 2025, it’s clear the tech landscape is set to be shaped by rapid innovation with advancements in AI, connectivity, and sustainability.

These breakthroughs will drive progress – on a business and societal scale.

While challenges remain, the continued push for smarter, integrated systems promises a future where technology enhances convenience and personalisation while crucially addressing global and local challenges.

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Huawei
Huawei Technologies is a global leader in ICT infrastructure and smart devices, dedicated to fostering digital connectivity and innovation across 170+ countries. With cutting-edge solutions in 5G, AI, and green energy, Huawei is shaping the future of a connected, intelligent world.

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