Google has unveiled its annual Holiday 100 list, spotlighting the year’s most in-demand gifts across categories such as electronics, home, fashion, beauty, toys, and wellness. The selection reflects search data from across the United States, measured between May and September 2025, capturing products that saw record-breaking or sharply rising interest ahead of the holiday shopping rush.
Rather than ranking overall bestsellers, Google’s list highlights what has gained traction most recently. The data was gathered from Google Trends and refined through the company’s internal analytics tools. Products made the cut if they reached all-time highs in search activity, displayed dramatic growth compared with previous years, or showed notable regional differences in interest.
Search Patterns Behind the Season
This year’s data points to a mix of nostalgia, practicality, and self-care in American shopping habits. Among the most searched items were movie projectors, up more than 900 percent, and packing cubes, which hit their highest interest level yet. Accessories such as crescent bags and stackable ring sets also drew attention, while drop waist dresses made a surprising comeback, echoing retro influences from early 2000s fashion.
Home-focused searches reflected comfort and convenience, with growing curiosity around red light therapy and weighted vests. The recurring holiday spike in hair styling wands continued, showing how certain seasonal routines have become a tradition in themselves.
Gadgets Take the Spotlight
Electronics remain a key driver of holiday curiosity, and Google’s dedicated category for tech gifts hints at what shoppers may be wrapping this year. The Nintendo Switch 2, which drew record search volume in 2025, led the list, followed by Skullcandy’s Crusher PLYR 720 gaming headset and a new generation of Google Pixel Buds Pro 2. Compact LED projectors also featured prominently, as more people seek affordable ways to create home theatre experiences.
Some readers may also notice that Google’s own products, such as Pixel Buds and the Pixel Watch, appear prominently on the list, raising questions about whether editorial choices overlap with brand promotion. While this doesn’t necessarily diminish the accuracy of the trend data, shoppers may wish to treat such inclusions with healthy caution.
Other trending devices included the Google Pixel Watch 4, a mini portable photo printer, and even an electric toothbrush, showing that personal care tech continues to merge practicality with design appeal. Google also encouraged users to take advantage of its price insights tool, which identifies when products are selling at typical, low, or high prices, a subtle reminder that the company’s ecosystem now extends well beyond search into active shopping guidance.
A Blend of Data and Discovery
The Holiday 100 is not strictly a popularity ranking but a reflection of cultural momentum. By focusing on products rising quickly in visibility, it offers retailers clues about what to highlight and gives shoppers an early glimpse of what might trend before shelves empty. While Google notes that some featured products could appear through brand partnerships, the overall list still mirrors wider search behaviour across millions of queries.
For consumers, it is both a trend report and a practical shopping tool. For marketers, it is an early signal of where attention is moving. Whether someone is eyeing a projector for their living room, a set of earbuds for daily commutes, or a bag that became a viral favourite, Google’s Holiday 100 quietly maps how curiosity turns into commerce each December.
Notes: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools.
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