The top ten music-making gadgets of 2025
In search of gift-worthy gadgets for the music maker in your life? We’ve got you covered — read our rundown
Christmas is almost upon us again, and for many of us, it’s a time of reflection. So, in what is surely the true spirit of the season, we’re reflecting on all the awesome musical gadgets that might make their way into our own letters to Santa.
Should you be a technophile music maker yourself, we hope this serves as inspiration for your own wish list. If, and this is perhaps more likely if you’ve been searching for “best musical gadgets 2025”, you’re shopping for someone else, then you’ve come to the right place.
Below, you’ll find our top picks for this year, along with our own evaluations of what makes each one worth its spot on the list — along with anything you might want to be aware of before clicking “buy”. Read on to see what made the cut.
ROLI Seaboard M
We’re kicking off this year’s list by staying close to home with our very own Seaboard M. Don’t be fooled by its size, its minimal appearance, or its relative affordability. This portable, wireless, and battery-powered device is one of the most expressive electronic instruments on the market. Pair it with the included ROLI Studio software, and it unlocks five full dimensions of musical expression for each and every finger at once.
Best for
Sonic explorers who never stand still.
Reasons to buy
One of the most expressive controllers on the market
Excellent value
Highly portable compared to similarly specced controllers
Comes with powerful software
Things to consider
Doesn’t make sound by itself — you need to connect a computer or tablet to make music
There’s a slight learning curve to playing fluently on Seaboard M’s miniature Keywaves
Dubreq Stylophone S1
The base model Stylophone hasn’t changed all that much since its introduction in 1968 — and why should it have? It’s a great, simple idea, it has a distinctive sound, and it’s still a lot of fun. Is it a toy? Yes. Is it a serious instrument? John Lennon, Kraftwerk, and David Bowie certainly thought so. Is it a top holiday music gadget? Definitely.
Best for
Padding out the Christmas stockings of beginner music makers and rock royalty alike.
Reasons to buy
One of the most affordable musical gadgets around
Easy to get to grips with
Timeless design
Unmistakable sound
Things to consider
The Stylophone only really does one thing, though it does it well
There’s a built-in speaker, so you’ll be hearing this a lot on Christmas morning.
Positive Grid Spark Go
Believe it or not, this tiny device is a guitar amplifier. In actual fact, it’s a modelling amplifier, meaning it may be more correct to say that it’s several different guitar amplifiers in one. It connects to your smartphone for access to the full features and comes complete with a library of emulated amps and effects. It also packs quite a sonic punch for its size.
Best for
Electric guitar (or bass) players who want the ability to practice anywhere without compromising on tone.
Reasons to buy
Incredibly portable
Impressively realistic sounds based on Positive Grid’s impressive amp-modelling tech
Positive Grid claims 8 hours of play time via the Spark Go’s rechargeable battery
Doubles as a USB-C audio interface for recording with a computer or tablet
Things to consider
You need the app to enable full functionality
Sounds great for its size, but won’t replace a “real” amplifier
Novation Launchpad Mini
Novation’s Launchpads have evolved over the years, but the 8x8 grid layout was originally designed to resemble that of the popular digital audio workstation (DAW) software Ableton Live. Each pad corresponds to an audio “clip” allowing you to build up arrangements of songs, perform live, and even create remixes. The smallest Launchpad in the range is the Mini, which makes a thoughtful gift for any Ableton Live user, particularly if they like to create on the go.
Best for
Ableton Live users who like to get hands-on with their production or live performance — and who value portability.
Reasons to buy
The most affordable Launchpad in the current range
Can be customised to fit just about any setup
Easy to learn for existing Live users
Lights up like a Christmas tree
Things to consider
Launchpad Mini supports a range of digital audio workstations (DAWs), but you’ll get the most out of it if you’re already an Ableton Live user
The Mini is the cheapest Launchpad in the range, but lacks some of the features of its bigger siblings, like velocity sensitivity and dedicated transport controls.
ROLI Airwave
Some of the gadgets on this list have already stood the test of time. Airwave, however, is brand new. Our latest innovation pairs with any MIDI keyboard and adds expressive superpowers, effectively allowing you to play the air above the keys. It uses computer vision to track your hands in 3D space, turning natural gestures into musical moments. For the ultimate expressive setup, consider pairing Airwave with the aforementioned Seaboard M or Piano M (which we’ll get to shortly).
Best for
Anyone excited by the prospect of finding new ways to express themselves.
Reasons to buy
Completely unique — you can be sure your chosen recipient won’t have anything quite like this already.
Instantly adds a great deal of expressive potential to a standard music-making setup.
Comes with plenty of inspiring sounds to get you started.
Works with any DAW.
Things to consider
Airwave is brand new and has generated a lot of hype. Depending on where you are, it may be tricky to get hold of one in time for Christmas.
It’s worth owning a sustain pedal to get the most from Airwave, since it allows you to hold chords and free up both hands for adding expression.
Shure MV7i
The MV7i is such a smart idea for a gadget; it’s surprising it didn’t exist sooner. A bit of history: One of renowned microphone manufacturer Shure’s best-loved products is the SM7B, a dynamic mic that’s become a fixture in music studios, radio booths, and podcasting and streaming setups alike. The later model MV7 condensed the SM7B’s best features into a USB microphone, negating the need for an audio interface. The recent MV7i has now incorporated an audio interface into the mic itself, allowing you to plug another mic or instrument directly into the rear and record both at the same time with no additional hardware needed. Genius.
Best for
Beginners who just need a no-fuss way to get clean, clear audio into their computer.
Reasons to buy
Great-quality sound for recording, right out of the box
No additional hardware needed, unlike traditional microphones
Useful built-in features, like noise gating, compression, and gain control
Features a headphone output for latency-free monitoring
Things to consider
May quickly be outgrown if your recipient plans on expanding their setup and needs a more fully-featured audio interface later
Cost-effective, yes, but not cheap by any means
Empress Effects ZOIA
ZOIA may look like a guitar pedal, and it can be that, but it’s also a modular-style multi-effect and synthesizer. This robust little box is effectively a blank canvas that allows you to combine preconfigured DSP modules however you like to create essentially whatever you like — from basic pedal-style effects to wild generative soundscapes. If you’re stuck for inspiration, you can download any of the hundreds of patches that other ZOIA users have created and shared online.
Best for
Sound-design enthusiasts with enough curiosity to reap the sonic rewards of ZOIA’s steep learning curve.
Reasons to buy
Inspiring sonic playground that rewards patient exploration
Effectively an audio multi-tool that could potentially find a home in any setup
For guitarists in particular, ZOIA instantly multiplies the sonic potential of any pedalboard
Stompbox form-factor makes it tough enough to withstand years of use
Things to consider
ZOIA packs a lot of processing power into a small package, but you may run into limitations with complex patches
We’ve focused on the pedal-format ZOIA here, but there’s also a “Euroburo” version that could be a better fit for musicians who are already into modular synthesis
ROLI Piano M
The final ROLI gadget on our list is Piano M, and this one’s a bit special. Like the rest of this list, it’s ideal for a music producer who’s looking for more expression than their standard keyboard offers (Piano M is MPE capable with per-key pitch bend and polyphonic aftertouch), but it’s also the perfect present for somebody who’s taking their first steps in music. That’s because Piano M pairs with the ROLI Learn app to teach musical basics via its glowing mini-keys and a growing library of hit songs, interactive video lessons, musical games, and more.
Best for
Anyone, really — whether they make music already or are just getting started.
Reasons to buy
Equally suited to beginners and advanced music makers (and perfect for beginners with aspirations of making their own music later on)
Comes with ROLI Studio — a pair of plug-ins packed with inspiring sounds
Expressive MPE features rarely found on bigger or more expensive keyboards
Like Seaboard M, it’s also battery powered, wireless, and highly portable.
Things to consider
Piano M’s 24 keys are great for learning or for playing simple chords, melodies, and basslines. For two-handed playing, you’ll likely want a second Piano M (they connect magnetically to create a single 48-key keyboard) or the full-size ROLI Piano.
The ROLI Learn app requires a subscription to use.
Teenage Engineering OP-1 field
Perhaps the most premium gadget on this list, OP-1 Field is the latest iteration of the tiny, portable musical workstation from achingly cool Swedish brand Teenage Engineering. It may look simple, but this is no toy — OP-1 Field packs seven different synth engines into its precisely machined chassis, along with stereo sampling capabilities, effects, and several tape-style recording options. It’s like having a full music studio that fits in your pocket.
Best for
Design-conscious music makers who want to capture good ideas whenever and wherever they strike.
Reasons to buy
The cool factor — if your recipient is both a musician and interested in gadgets (likely if you’ve read this far), they likely already want one of these
Perfect portability: OP-1 Field boasts around 24 hours of battery life on a single charge and fits in a small bag or even a jacket pocket
Impressive sound quality for a device of this size
Build quality is equally impressive — this gadget is made to last
Things to consider
This is a premium gadget with a correspondingly premium price, and by far the most expensive gadget on our list
There is a keyboard included, but it’s tiny — probably not ideal for playing two-handed piano parts.
TC Electronic Ditto 2 Looper
Last, but not least, we have a handy little tool that’s a common sight on guitar pedalboards, but equally useful for all sorts of musicians — either as a writing/practice aid or for live performance. Ditto 2 is a looper, and it’s about as simple as they come: click the button with your foot, play some music, then click the button again to hear it back in a loop. Another press allows you to record new sounds on top. Straightforward concept, endless possibilities.
Best for
Instrumentalists who perform live, particularly by themselves.
Reasons to buy
Simple, reliable, good-sounding loops for all occasions
Tried and tested: Ditto, in its several varieties, is one of the most popular loop pedals on the market
Essentially foolproof — in a live situation, having less to go wrong is a real plus
Very competitively priced
Things to consider
Simple may be good, but there are lots of loopers on the market, and more advanced models are available for just a little more money
Ditto 2 doesn’t run on batteries; it requires a 9V power supply (not included)
Join the ROLI community