HWM+HardwareZone.com Tech Awards 2013: Editor's Choice - Part 1

HWM+HardwareZone.com Tech Awards 2013 - 77 Awards Given!

The 4th annual HWM+HardwareZone.com Tech Awards was held on February 27, and it served to honor the best in tech products and services that were introduced between December 2011 and November 2012. A grand total of of 77 awards, consisting of 36 Editor’s Choice and 41 Readers' Choice awards, were handed out in categories ranging from computers, consumer electronics, communications, and digital entertainment. That's an increase of eight more award categories handed out than the previous year.

Just a couple of days ago, we posted the results of the Readers' Choice polls, which we're delighted to have received more than 249,000 votes based on a four-week survey period in November 2012. That's more than 60% increase compared to last year, which further cements the clout and familiarity of our annual Tech Awards event. Do check out the results if you've not already done so, and see if any of your favorite brands won. Alternatively, you can go to our Tech Awards microsite for a condensed version of all the results.

For the Editor's Choice awards, a total of 159 products were hauled into our labs, and put through a series of stringent benchmarking tests throughout the course of 2012. After evaluating these products through a specific criteria consisting of performance, consumer benefits, value, and technology advancements, we finally have our list of 36 winners. If you haven't noticed, a few of the Editor's Choice categories are newly created (e.g. Best Windows 8 Ultrabook and Best 4K TV); this is to keep up with the ever-changing tech landscape, and after considering feedback from our ardent readers.

Due to the number of categories, we've decided to split the Editor's Choice results article into two parts - consumer electronics and computing. In this article, we start off by taking a look at the best in consumers electronics. For individual scores and breakdowns for each product category, just hit the appropriate jump in the drop list located at the top or bottom of the article.

*Note: Prices and ratings listed in this article are accurate at the time of individual product evaluation.

For a full list of content related to the HWM and HardwareZone.com Tech Awards 2013 event, you can refer to the following links:-

• Tech Awards 2013: Readers' Choice Results
• Tech Awards 2013: Editor's Choice Results - Part 1
• Tech Awards 2013: Editor's Choice Results - Part 2
• Tech Awards 2013 Event Coverage: Photos, Video
• The Secrets Behind Tech Awards 2013 - A Case of The Missing Award Trophies
• A Condensed List of All Winners

Best Point & Shoot Digital Camera

Because the point & shoot is the most basic type of compact digital cameras, there's an overwhelming number of choices available in the market. Even for the most seasoned of photographers, picking the best one from literally hundreds of models is no easy task. Design, handling, operation speed, software, and many more all play a part in determining if a point & shoot is worth your money. But most importantly, it still boils down to image quality. As the popular adage goes, "A picture is worth a thousand words." This year, we focused on travel-oriented super-zoom compact cameras that offer high zoom ratios (18x or higher) and good image stabilization as our nomination criteria within the sea of digital compacts.

Nominees: 

• Canon PowerShot SX260 HS
• Fujifilm FinePix F800EXR
• Nikon Coolpix S9300
• Olympus SZ-14
• Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ30
• Samsung WB150
• Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V

And the Winner Is...

The 12.1MP Canon PowerShot SX260 HS shoots images that are of good quality and have vivid colors. It also possesses the most contemporary design of the lot, managing to squeeze an impressive 20x optical zoom into a compact body. The image stabilization also works pretty well, as we were able to get clear shots even at the len's longest end. If you like taking landscapes or group shots, you'll also appreciate that the wide-angle end starts at 25mm.

With a 10.3fps burst rate, the SX260 HS is also a decent digicam for capturing moving subjects. And if you were to use it as a compact travel zoom camera, the built-in GPS will come in handy for tagging your photos with time and locations. All in all, the SX260 HS’s ease of use, powerful zoom lens, good image quality, and generally great overall package prompted us to award it our Editor's Choice ward for Best Point & Shoot Digital Camera. The only caveat is that the battery is rated to last about 230 shots, which is about 90 shots fewer than what's rated for the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V.

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best Prosumer Digital Camera

2012 saw a slew of prosumer digital camera releases, with fast lenses and large sensors the main draws. With so many choices, there's bound to be one for users looking for an upgrade to a better compact camera, as well as for those looking for something smaller to complement their existing DSLR camera. But a good prosumer camera will definitely appeal to both types of users, with advanced controls and image quality, while still being user-friendly. This category seeks to find the camera that offers the best balance of performance, advanced controls and features, and interface simplicity in a compact package.

Nominees:

• Canon PowerShot S110
• Fujifilm XF1
• Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7
• Samsung EX2F
• Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100

And the Winner Is...

While the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 looks like an ordinary digital compact, it is anything but. Sony has managed to fit an impressive 1-inch sensor into the RX100’s svelte body compared to the others' smaller sensors. This large sensor lets the RX100 outperform the rest of the prosumer compacts in terms of image quality and noise performance. Controls are well laid out and the ability to add up to seven functions to the control ring only serves to sweeten the deal, making the RX100 ideal for advanced shutterbugs who prefer customizing their controls. Of course, the RX100 is just as comfortable and capable with shooting in Auto mode.

The RX100 doesn't possess a built-in ND filter which does limit the ability to shoot at wide apertures at times, but this is something most users may not notice unless they're shooting wide open frequently. Naturally, all of the good points of the RX100 come at a price, and at S$999, the RX100 is the most expensive camera of the lot. But what you get is great image quality as well as a good deal of control customization in an unassuming, compact package.

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end. 

Best Mirrorless Camera

Mirrorless system cameras have grown since their introduction in 2008; and with Canon's entry into the market with the EOS M last year, there are now eight mirrorless systems in the market.

The Micro Four Thirds standard currently has the largest selection of lenses, while those who aren't concerned about lenses will find cameras from the Sony NEX series rivaling the image quality of entry-level DSLRs, due to their equally big sensors. While Nikon hasn't entered the mirrorless game with large sensors, the Nikon 1 series introduces another variable to choose from, with their cameras' exceptionally quick auto-focus and burst shooting speeds. Canon's EOS M uses the same APS-C size CMOS sensor found in its mid-range DSLR camera, and offers easy compatibility with its DSLR lenses through an adapter.

This year, we've focused on the entry-level mirrorless system cameras, for those looking to ditch their tiny fixed lens point and shoot for a more powerful, but nonetheless compact mirrorless camera. With that in mind, we paid extra attention to pick out the ones that allow the beginners to get good images right from the get-go.

Nominees:

• Canon EOS M
• Nikon 1 J2
• Olympus PEN Lite E-PL5
• Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
• Samsung NX1000
• Sony Alpha NEX-F3

And the Winner Is...

The 16.1MP Sony Alpha NEX-F3 wins with its performance, making best use of that large APS-C sensor to deliver detailed and colorful images. The body is beautiful, and the 3-inch swivel monitor gives you even more framing flexibility. ISO sensitivity ranges from 200 to a good 16,000. The NEX-F3 is also a capable camcorder replacement, as it shoots full HD video using the AVCHD format. But this is really an automatic camera best for entry-level users; to make any manual changes involves way too many trips into the menu. 

NEX lenses are huge, so if you want a smaller camera, you're better off looking at the Nikon 1 or a Micro Four Thirds system based camera. Sony's NEX system also has a smaller number of lenses, eleven today compared to Micro Four Third's 37, but Sony has said that they will increase the number to 15 lenses by the end of 2013. Otherwise, the NEX cameras' have the advantage of having large APS-C size sensors, which help them to produce beautiful-looking images. Even though both the Canon EOS M and the Samsung NX1000 also employ APS-C size sensors, the Canon EOS M has slow auto-focus and the Samsung NX1000 doesn't handle as well as the Sony.

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best Entry-Level DSLR Camera

DSLR cameras today, even entry-level models, deliver stunning image quality at an affordable price and small body, and this year's nominees were all impressive in their own right. The Canon 650D is the first DSLR camera to come with a touch-screen (capacitive, at that), the Nikon D3200 shoots high-resolution 24MP images and the Sony A-57's translucent mirror technology gives it the powerful ability to shoot 10 frames per second.

Nominees: 

• Canon EOS 650D
• Nikon D3200
• Sony Alpha SLT-A57

And the Winner Is...

The 18MP Canon 650D is an all-round capable entry-level DSLR like its predecessors before it, and it presents one of the most user-friendly entry-level DSLR cameras for beginners thanks to its 3.0-inch touchscreen. Users can touch controls and swipe photo previews, just like how they've become accustomed to on smartphones. The new 9-point AF system (all the points are cross-type) is fast and accurate. The experience of shooting in live view still leaves something to be desired, so don't expect to use the monitor to shoot like you would with a mirrorless or compact camera. Still, the ease of live view and movie shooting is improving by the day, thanks to the use of a hybrid AF system where both conventional contrast AF and phase detection AF are used in conjunction with continuous AF mode. Full HD 1,920 x 1,080 pixels resolution movie recording at 30p/25p/24p is possible.

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best Semi-Pro DSLR Camera

The lines between professional and enthusiast DSLR cameras have blurred even further, thanks to the release of two 'affordable', 'entry-level' full-frame DSLR cameras by Canon and Nikon. While the S$3000 or so price tag isn't exactly cheap, these are the most accessible, modern-day full-frame cameras you can find on the market today, which use the large full-frame sensors found in the highest-end DSLR cameras used by professionals. This means you get much better image quality and access to full-frame lenses without the crop factor.

Nominees: 

• Canon EOS 6D
• Nikon D600

And the Winner Is...

Simply put, while the Canon EOS 6D is like a beefed-up simple camera, the Nikon D600 is like a professional camera simplified. Some might appreciate the 6D's simplicity, but handling and control-wise, it leaves too many things out for experienced users. Compared to the 6D, the D600 has more AF points (39 compared to 11), an additional SD memory card slot, built-in flash, faster shooting and flash sync speeds. That's why the Nikon D600, in our book, gets the vote - it does much more and has much more.

Build quality feels superb on the D600; handling should be familiar to anyone who has used Nikon's pro-grade cameras, with controls within easy reach, and the camera responding quickly to your commands. Image quality is as good as you'd expect from a professional body, close to the D800 but without that camera's crazy high resolution.

There is one important caveat though: Even though we believe the D600 is the superior product, it seems that some D600 cameras might have a tendency to accumulate dust on their sensors. Nikon has issued an official advisory on this problem.

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best Professional DSLR Camera

Canon and Nikon both released their flagship DSLR cameras last year, top of the line performers with tough bodies, amazing low-light performance, great image quality and Full-HD video shooting capabilities. For professionals who need the best cameras for any situation in demanding environments, there really is no other.

Nominees: 

• Canon EOS 1D X
• Nikon D4

And the Winner Is...

On specs, the Canon 1D X looks like it has a leg up in nearly every aspect, from a faster frame-rate to a larger resolution. The Nikon D4 however, edged out for us when it came to real-world usage.

In terms of handling, the Nikon D4 feels a tad better than the Canon 1D X. The Power switch is conveniently located around the shutter release, which means you can power on and shoot with one hand. Nikon has borrowed the joystick from Canon, and this makes it easier to switch AF points with the D4 (an advantage previously enjoyed by Canon). Images straight out of the D4 are just as we expected: Clean, crisp with vibrant color and good skin tones. Besides a little recovery and heightened contrast, there is little need to tweak the images, which is good news for sports photographers who need to transmit quickly.

The D4's one misstep would be its adoption of an XQD card slot. While the technology offers more benefits over CF, it has proven unpopular – the D4 is the only camera on the market to use it, and Sony is the only manufacturer to make it (Lexar is expected to release its own XQD cards in Q3 of 2013). It also forces photographers to buy an additional accessory.

The most important point about the D4 however is its more consistent auto-focus performance in low-light. In low-light, the 1D X's AF accuracy drops and exhibits irregular behavior, like racking in and out of focus inexplicably and failing to lock focus at times.

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best Digital Video Camcorder

Like compact digital cameras, sales of digital video camcorders have been on the downward trend for a few years now. On one end, this is due to exploding popularity of smartphones and their increasingly better optics and software, sensors, and processing power. On the other end, they're attacked by video-recording-capable digital SLRs and mirrorless cameras. That said, many consumers still prefer the 'traditional' camcorders as they’re still easier to handle and have more video-oriented features (such as power zoom, peaking, frame rate options). For this category, we've selected three of the best flash memory-based, full HD consumer-level camcorders in the market right now. So which is the one that we think is the best?

Nominees: 

• Canon Legria HF M52
• Panasonic HC-X900M
• Sony Handycam HDR-PJ760VE

And the Winner Is...

The Sony HDR-PJ760VE packs a ton of features: full HD 1080p video recording (both 50p and 25p), 24.1-megapixel still picture recording, 96GB of internal flash memory, a built-in DLP-based LED projector, and a reworked Balanced Optical SteadyShot image stabilization system. It’s the only camcorder here to record 1080p using AVCHD because it supports the AVCHD Progressive format. Two other things also stood out in terms of usability: a built-in USB cable that’s hidden in the hand strap, and the manual dial/button combo at the front. The former lets you charge the battery through the USB port; the latter lets you switch between automatic and manual operation modes of several shooting parameters (such as focus, exposure, white balance shift).

Under favorable light, the Sony has the best noise performance. The Panasonic has slightly better colors under the same light, but it’s the reverse under low light, where the Sony now has more accurate colors. Other than sensitivity (which the Canon does better than both), the Sony is a great low light performer. The PJ760’s 1080p footage is also the best in terms of smoothness and the lack of artifacts; however, Panasonic’s footage looks sharper. That said, while the Panasonic is unrivaled in terms of 1080p sharpness, the Sony is unmatched in terms of image stabilization effectiveness. Because of the latter, in real world usage, the Sony has a higher chance in getting less shaky (and thus, sharper) images.

In conclusion, both the Panasonic HC-X900M and Sony HDR-PJ760VE have truckloads of advanced features, and are neck-to-neck in terms of video quality. But the Sony is a better all-rounder due to its higher 24MP photo quality, more storage (96GB vs. 32GB), and a decent (but useful when you really need it) built-in projector. It also has the best image stabilization in its class and very good battery life. These pluses ultimately land Sony the award.

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best 3LCD Portable Business Projector

Compared to DLP projectors, 3LCD projectors tend to produce sharper images and punchier-looking colors. Most of them also sport longer zoom lenses. And since they always display the primary colors (red, green, and blue) simultaneously, 3LCD projectors don’t suffer the ‘rainbow’ effects like single-chip DLP projectors do. For this category, we look at four business-oriented 3LCD projectors that are priced no more than S$1,500 and are launched during our Tech Awards testing qualifying period. They all have an XGA native resolution (that is, 1,024 x 768 pixels) and brightness of around 3,000 ANSI lumens.

Nominees: 

• Canon LV-7392A
• Epson EB-X15
• NEC M311X
• Sony VPL-EX245

And the Winner Is...

From a features point of view, Both Canon and Epson's offerings lose out to the pair from NEC and Sony. The Canon LV-7392A only has three video inputs, doesn't do monitor out, no USB port for PC-less presentation, and no Wi-Fi option. The Epson EB-X15 doesn't have wired networking support, but we do quite like its onboard horizontal keystone correction. The NEC M311X and Sony VPL-EX245 have almost matching (core) specs: same number of I/Os, built-in wired LAN support, optional Wi-Fi (via an adapter), and USB port for PC-less presentations. But the former throws in more software for PC control, and it has an iOS app. The M311X's rear connectors are arguably better organized and labeled, and it has some nice thoughtful touches such as the sliding lens cover that mutes both audio and video.

Another thing that tilts in favor of the NEC M311X is its 1.7x lens zoom ratio, which is the longest in the group. Besides placement flexibility, we're happy to find that even when zoomed in all the way, the light output didn't dip too much. For data projection, all four projectors are capable of very sharp text and vibrant colors. The same goes for PC video. For movie sources like DVD/Blu-ray, the NEC M311X and Sony VPL-EX245 gave us the most film-like look. Another good thing about the M311X is that it has a lot of image parameters that you can adjust if you really want to nail things down.

For a conference room/classroom projector, Eco and lamp life performance are equally important. This ultimately swings the result in favor of the NEC M311X. Its 5,000 hours under typical usage is already unmatched in this class, but now it can go up to 10,000 hours under Eco mode. The Sony VPL-EX245 claims 7,000 hours for Eco mode, but it lasts just 3,000 hours under High lamp mode. All things considered, the NEC M311X has the best mix of features, performance, and value for its intended users.

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best Mainstream LED TV

The price margin between traditional CCFL and LED back-lit LCD televisions has shrunk significantly in 2012; in fact, these days, most sales come from the latter. This year, our Editor's Choice Awards for the Best Value LED Smart TV requires the nominees to fulfill the following criteria: 46 to 47 inches, a full-HD panel, edge-lit LED backlights, Smart TV features, and a retail price of around S$1,500.

Nominees: 

• LG 47LS5700
• Panasonic Viera TH-L47E5S
• Philips 47PFL4007H
• Samsung Series 5 UA46EH5306

And the Winner Is...

Competition was close, but Panasonic came out tops overall to clinch this award. The Viera E5S does not harbor handsome good looks to swing votes in its favor, but it still topped this category nonetheless, thanks to the TV's remarkable picture quality. Images rendered were nicely detailed, while colors appeared natural and true. Viewing angles were great, discounting the mild contrast shifts by the sides. In addition, the display managed to steer clear of motion artifacts as well. The deal clincher, however, has to be its True Cinema preset, and how the IPS panel struck a lovely balance of shadow detail and black levels. The inclusion of an SD Card slot also suggests that shutterbugs can slot in their storage card to preview images right off the set. If you're looking for a full HD set with a decent picture performance, look no further than the E5S.

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best Premium Smart LED TV

These five Smart LED TV contenders are undoubtedly the cream of the crop from major TV brands for the year 2012. And they do come in all sorts of flavors and combinations. Other than being edge-lit LED TVs with a full HD resolution and running on a Smart TV platform, there are several criteria for this category that are different from those in the Best Mainstream LED TV category. For one, the TVs here are all 3D TVs with a screen size of 55 inches. They also cost much higher than their mainstream counterparts and offer more comprehensive Smart TV features.

Nominees: 

• LG 55LM8600
• Panasonic Viera 55ET5S
• Samsung UA55ES8000M
• Sony Bravia KDL-55HX855

And the Winner Is...

Although Sony is still using the 'Monolithic Design' moniker for their latest range of Bravia TVs, it's clear that the dress code for their 2012 models has gone through a few changes. Some examples include the HX855's D-shaped base and a more refined Bunchin Stand. We like the HX855's clean and unfettered look, and it's nice to know that Sony has retained the HX925's OptiContrast panel and Corning Gorilla Glass on the HX855 too. At only 35mm thin, the panel is also slim and sexy enough to be wall-mounted. But what really sets this Bravia apart from its rivals is its visual acumen for both 2D and 3D aspects. We were also impressed by how Sony managed to engineer an even backlight distribution on the edge-lit model. Sony still has some room for improvement in terms of noise filters, color gradations (on the darker scale), and shadow detail. However, the HX855 does not suffer from clouding issues or blotchy presentations. The runner-up, LG's LM8600, has a superior Smart TV platform and controls, more comfortable passive 3D technology, but it was outdone by Sony's raw image performance on all accounts by a small degree.

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best Plasma TV

With plasma TV sales on the downward trend (no thanks to LED TVs) and a fairly quiet PDP scene in 2012, this year's award for Best Plasma TV is a face-off between two players: Panasonic and Samsung. The criteria for this category is simple: the TVs must use a full HD plasma panel, support 3D, have a Smart TV platform, boast a screen size of about 65 inches, and cost no more than S$6,500. We all know that Samsung has cemented its leadership position in the TV market (both LED and plasma TVs), but does it make the best plasma TV in our opinion?

Nominees: 

• Pansonic Viera TH-P65VT50S
• Samsung Series 8 PS64E8000

And the Winner Is...

Panasonic's VT50S is undoubtedly the best looking plasma display from Panasonic's VT-series yet. The metallic trims and single slate of glass do demarcate the VT50S from its early predecessors, which are relatively boring in the looks department. We're not too hot about the all-plastic pedestal stand, but at the very least, it does offer a decent amount of stability for the hefty panel. Panasonic's inclusion of the Touch Pad remote is a welcome addition. It's a useful controller when it comes to managing the web browser or Viera Connect applications. The advanced Professional modes also make this PDP a nice lure for AV enthusiasts who're keen on tuning the finer aspects.

As for its picture quality, the VT50S breezed through our visual tests unscathed, save for its noise filtering and inverse telecine capabilities. The THX modes offer slightly warmer tones, but judging by our calibrated results, they do not deviate much from the THX default settings in comparison. Black levels and contrasts are deliciously deep and sharp as anticipated. The Infinite Black Ultra filter helped block a sizable degree of soft ambient light, but they're pretty much ineffective against the harsher glare of daylight. As for native 1080p24 content, like Blu-ray titles for instance, the VT50S is capable of 48Hz and 96Hz (24p Smooth Film) playback without raising odd judders or artifacts. Plasma noise has been visibly reduced as well. Its standard-definition performance is decent, and we would say it's comparable to Samsung's E8000 in terms of their up-converting prowess. However, the VT50S truly made its mark when it came to high-definition and 3D materials. Its low black luminance levels, combined with high contrasts and judder-free motion processing, easily crowns this Viera as one of the most formidable plasma televisions in the market.

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best 4K TV

With 3D a standard feature in almost every new TV, manufacturers have started working on delivering the next big thing: 4K (or Ultra HD 4K). Just look at the number of UHD TVs showcased in this year's edition of CES. While more of these ultra high-resolution (read: 3,840 x 2,160 pixels) TVs are expected to arrive this year, in 2013, the contest was between the two 84-inch behemoths from LG and Sony.

Nominees: 

• LG 84LM9600
• Sony Bravia KD-84X9000

And the Winner Is...

LG's 84LM9600 primary strengths lie with its elegant profile, robust sonic arsenal (with two woofers), and compelling picture quality. We also fancy its dashing Smart TV Home Dashboard interface, peer-to-peer wireless standards like Intel's WiDi and Wi-Fi Direct, and not forgetting LG's 2D to 3D conversion feature which was truly out of this world when tried with 4K content. The practical Magic Remote is another plus too. Performance wise, we did not expect LG to pull off a miracle when upscaling DVD content, and true enough, minor defects such as aliasing and noise artifacts of the film's smaller resolution were evident on closer inspection. Nonetheless, the overall image quality was laudable at an ample viewing distance, considering there are 3,840 by 2,160 pixels to fill. On the contrary, its rendition of Blu-ray and native 4K materials were downright impressive. And the same goes for its gratifying 3D delivery as well. Coupled with its more affordable price tag, it is only right we award the Best 4K TV accolade to LG.

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best Sound Bar System

No home theater is complete without a sound system capable of delivering audio with impact and great directionality. Our Sound Bar category seeks to find the best set of speakers to augment the performance of your television in the audio department. The criteria for this category have not changed from last year’s installment: the products need to have a dedicated subwoofer and a horizontal speaker bar. In addition to the products selected to be launched in our assessment timeline, the price point for the category is set at around the S$1,000 mark.

Nominees: 

• Philips Fidelio HTB9150
• Pioneer HTZ-HW929BD
• Samsung HT-E8200

And the Winner Is...

Unlike last year when the Yamaha YHT-S401 easily walked away with the crown for Best Sound Bar of 2012, this year, the contest this year is a much more closer one. The eventual winner is the Philips Fidelio HTB9150. The product impresses with its simple and elegant aesthetics, as well as sturdy build quality. When switched on, the intuitive user interface makes the menus easy to navigate. Its Blu-ray playback performance also gets in our good books with its short loading times and prompt operations. Out of the box, the audio wasn't spectacular, but with a little bit of tweaking with the EQ settings, we managed to get a great, balanced sound. Philips’ Ambisound feature also helps this product cast a wide and expansive soundstage, helping you gain maximum enjoyment from movies.

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best Portable Wireless Speakers

While many manufacturers still produce docking speakers, the trend these days belong to their wireless counterparts. Indeed, who like wires, and the inflexibility of having to dock their Android or iOS device while they move about in the room? For this year's Best Portable Wireless Speakers category, we sought to include devices with Bluetooth capabilities and the ability to function without being plugged into a power socket. Of course, the ease of portability is an important evaluation criteria. The four candidates that we've here have a price range of between S$200 and S$500. Regardless your pick, you can't go wrong with either of them - but let us tell you which is the one that gets our nod.

Nominees: 

• Bose SoundLink II
• Jawbone Big Jambox
• Logitech UE Boombox
• Yamaha PDX-B11

And the Winner Is...

For this category, the Bose SoundLink II is the clear winner. Nice aesthetics, we like its bi-fold cover that helps to protect the device when it is being carried or stowed away, and which also doubles up as a stand. Compatible with the Bluetooth A2DP profile, you can playback content from iOS and Android devices with ease. Bose has fitted the SoundLink II with full range drivers and dual opposing passive radiator design enclosed in waffle cone surrounds; and along with an an improved DSP, sound quality is indeed very high. With bright highs and mids, the SoundLink II projected a strong presence and is the best speaker for pop and top 40s audio fare.

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best High-End Headphones

This year, we continue to ascertain the best pair of circumaural cans. Our set of specifications for this category is relatively simple. Any headphones deemed to be the flagship product by its manufacturer, and aimed at meeting the expectations of even the most ardent audiophile while still being accessible to the regular consumer are eligible. We also chose a price bracket between S$1,000 and S$1,500. This has led to an eclectic collection of headphones sporting both open back and closed back designs, from American, Japanese, and German audio companies.

Nominees: 

• Audio-Technica ATH-W3000ANV
• Beyerdynamic T90
• Denon AHD-7100
• Sennheiser HD 700
• Shure SRH1840

And the Winner Is...

For this category, the Beyerdynamic T90 and the Sennheiser HD 700 raced ahead of the pack, and were neck and neck for most of our testing procedures. But in the end, the HD 700 merged victorious. Its new and innovative design looks futuristic and appeals to the eye while remaining extremely functional. The headphones are extremely comfortable to wear, and we experienced little to no problems with over-heating after listening to them for several hours in one sitting. This is one area the HD 700 did better than the T90. Sound quality-wise, the Sennheiser headphones also left most of the other products trailing in the dust. The audio was extremely balanced, and it navigated through a variety of tracks ranging from rock, pop, to orchestra with consummate ease. While we could point out the Beyerdynamic T90 as being an excellent headphone for jazz lovers, the HD 700’s performance was so uniformly good that it was impossible to peg it to a niche. For its exceptional comfort and unmatched all-round performance, the Sennheiser HD 700 headphones get our vote.

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best Gaming Headphones

Headphones which can be classified as being intended for "gaming" need to not only handle movies and music, but must also possess excellent virtual surround sound capabilities and mimic 5.1 or 7.1 channels of audio. We focused on all of these characteristics when we tried to sieve out the best gaming headphones from this excellent group of candidates. The price bracket of our final seven shortlisted headphones range anywhere between S$150 and S$400; however, you'd be surprised that sometimes, the most expensive isn't necessarily the best.

Nominees:

• Armageddon Avatar Pro X9
• ASUS ROG Orion Pro 7.1
• CM Storm Sirius S 5.1
• Corsair Vengeance 1500 7.1
• Creative Recon3D Omega Wireless
• Razer Tiamat
• Roccat Kave 5.1

And the Winner Is...

After thoroughly testing the field, the battle for top spot was fought primarily between the Razer Tiamat and the Creative Recon3D Omega Wireless. The latter eventually won thanks to its fine balance of features, performance, and value. For the uninitiated, the product is actually a bundled set of wireless headphones and a dedicated USB sound card. Audiophiles generally scoff wireless headphones. But for gaming, cutting the cord makes sense. Not only is wireless connectivity convenient, removing the hassle of wires when gaming, the use of the 2.4GHz spectrum for connectivity by the Creative Recond3D makes the connection robust while offering good data transmission rates when compared with competing technologies such as Bluetooth. Furthermore, with the Sound Blaster Recon3D external sound card, the headphones are capable of meeting THX TruStudio Pro levels of surround sound quality (in other words: they sound great). In addition, a Scout Mode is provided to expand the soundstage for gaming. Its excellent rendering of audio directionality, actually helped us play FPS games with better proficiency.

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best 7-Inch Tablet

What makes a particular tablet the ONE to buy? By now, you should be aware that it's not all about the specs. In fact, a purchase decision is based on a variety of factors such as apps, branding, build quality, design and price, which can be summed up in two words - user experience.

In 2012, we not only saw the proliferation of Android tablet devices, but the attention paid to the smaller tablet category by manufacturers. A particular niche of tablet users found the usual 9.7 to 10.1-inch tablet size too big for comfort, and this is where the 7-inch tablets fit in. This category seeks to pick out the best 7-inch tablet, one that's prized for its performance, portability, build, and affordability. One of our requirements for assessment was that the chosen tablets had to have cellular capability (3G/4G data connectivity).

Nominees: 

• Apple iPad Mini
• ASUS Nexus 7
• Huawei MediaPad 7 Lite
• Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7
• Toshiba Regza Tablet AT270

And the Winner Is...

The Android camp has lagged behind Apple for the past two years, but 2012 is the year where Android tablets pose a serious threat to the Apple iPads. The Google Nexus 7, manufactured by ASUS, is certainly the cream of the crop with the perfect combination of good design, decent build quality, top-notch hardware and software, superb performance - all at an unbelievably low cost.

If the price isn’t sufficient to convince you of its appeal, its status as the only tablet so far to garner our standalone Editor’s Choice Award should be a strong indicator of how good the ASUS Nexus 7 is when compared to the competition. This is even after considering strong contenders like the updated Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 which boasted much better battery life and improved usability from an OS update. Since our original review of the Galaxy Tab 7.7 was based on a much older Android OS with sub-par experience, we've adjusted its ratings to better reflect its current state with Android version 4.04. These changes were first mentioned in our Apple iPad Mini review.

*Note: Prices listed in this article are accurate at the time of product evaluation.

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best 10-Inch Tablet

In addition to the 7-inch tablet test segment on the earlier page, of course we can't ignore the 10-inch tablet space which made a grand splash a couple of years back and kickstarted the tablet adoption in a big way. The typical 10-inch tablet typically comes with better screen technology, and of course, higher resolution than its 7-inch peers. They are also usually outfitted with better hardware specs, generally because of what they are primed for - entertainment, multimedia viewing, gaming, and increasingly, for work and content creation.

However, the same question still applies - what makes a particular tablet the ONE to buy? By now, you should be aware that it's not all about the specs. In fact, a purchase decision is based on a variety of factors such as apps, branding, build quality, design and price, which can be summed up in two words - user experience. With that, we rounded up five candidates that fit our timeline of consideration for our awards, have cellular connectivity and are primarily targeted for content consumption. As such, our candidates are all from the iOS and Android OS categories:-

Nominees: 

• Apple iPad (2012, 4th Gen)
• ASUS Transformer Pad TF300TG
• Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1
• Sony Xperia Tablet S (3G)
• Toshiba Regza Tablet AT300

And the Winner Is...

Apple, well-known for making tablet devices mainstream since 2010, led a breakthrough in the industry when it unveiled the third generation iPad with a Retina display. The active community of developers has redesigned their apps for use on the Retina display, resulting in extremely detailed and lifelike animations on the iPad. This culminates a user experience that is rarely found elsewhere beyond the iPad.

Google and Samsung may have one-upped Apple on this front with the Nexus 10, but they're unable to maximize the potential of their slightly better display to the extent that Apple has. Add to the limited availability and that's the main reason Nexus 10 wasn't part of this comparison.

The other competing tablets put up a good show and are ideal for certain users, but from an overall experience and content consumption perspective, the fourth generation iPad with its Retina display is still in a class of its own and a cut above the rest for most mainstream users.

*Note: Prices listed in this article are accurate at the time of product evaluation.

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best Value Smartphone

Finding the right balance between price and performance on a smartphone is no easy task. At times, manufacturers have to cut back on certain hardware features, all in the name of reducing the cost of its smartphones for consumers. Being the cheapest smartphone out there doesn't automatically make it the Best Value Smartphone. To be considered for the award, the nominee has to prove that it is priced under a sufficiently affordable price bracket, and has adequate performance that is expected of smartphones. In short, we are looking at the price to performance ratio. In no order of merit, this year's nominees includes:

Nominees: 

• BlackBerry Curve 9320
• HTC One V
• Huawei Ascend G330
• Nokia Lumia 610
• Samsung Galaxy Ace 2
• Sony Xperia U

And the Winner Is...

As always, HTC covers its bases well with a wide variety of Android smartphones. From the high performing powerhouse devices, to the basic, yet adequately equipped entry-level smartphones, the Taiwanese company managed to once again do it with the HTC One V for those looking for an affordable, but no less capable smartphone.

The One V is primarily targeted at those who are looking for a fuss-free device without forking out a large sum of money; performance-wise, this single-core processor phone might not come up tops in terms of benchmark scores, but it is still pretty fast for general purpose tasks, like surfing the Internet. To add on, the device is well-stocked with Android 4.0 and Sense 4.0 UI out of the box.

At S$398, the HTC One V is a truly value-for-money smartphone with looks to boot. HTC has had a record of making phones that are fashionable and sleek-looking, and we are pleased to see the line of execution emulated even in their lower-end models.

*Note: Prices listed in this article are accurate at the time of product evaluation.

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best Mainstream Smartphone

In the recent years, we see manufacturers branching into mid-tier phones that have close to top-tier specs but are priced more affordable than their flagship devices. Somewhat between a best value and best high-end smartphone, the best mainstream smartphone typically costs about S$700, and comes with all-round performance with a more affordable price bracket than the latter. In no order of merit, this year's nominees includes:

Nominees: 

• HTC One S
• Huawei Ascend P1
• Nokia Lumia 820
• Samsung Galaxy Beam (2012)
• Sony Xperia P

And the Winner Is...

The Nokia Lumia 820 is meant to be an affordable companion to its higher-end 920 sibling, but thankfully, it doesn’t feel that way. The point being, it's actually armed with the same speedy Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor clocked at 1.5GHz and 1GB RAM as the 920, along with a fluid Windows Phone 8 OS and Nokia's suite of extra applications and wireless charging accessories. To add on, it is the only device in this group to come suited with LTE connectivity.

On the multimedia side, its 4.3-inch AMOLED screen with ClearBlack Technology exhibited good color reproduction with deep blacks and its 8-megapixel camera performed well. Its reduced internal storage capacity of just 8GB might be low for some users, but thankfully, it features a dedicated microSD slot for storage expansion.

*Note: Prices listed in this article are accurate at the time of product evaluation.

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best High-End Smartphone

Choosing the best smartphone of the year is all about finding the right balance between design, performance and most importantly, usability. The contenders for this year includes smartphones from Samsung, Apple, ASUS, HTC, LG, Motorola, Nokia and Sony Mobile, all of which have shown compelling reasons to win the prestigious Best High-end Smartphone award.

2012 is the year where we saw the rise of smartphones powered by quad-core processors, refreshed operating systems, advanced camera technology, larger and more power-efficient displays with optimal screen technology and LTE connectivity taking their places in the spotlight. As we shortlist the nominees for this year, we evaluated each device beyond the standard performance and usability, to its supporting apps ecosystem. This year, the following devices have made it to the list:

Nominees: 

• Apple iPhone 5
• ASUS PadFone 2
• HTC One X+
• LG Nexus 4
• Nokia Lumia 920
• Samsung Galaxy Note II LTE
• Sony Xperia Ion

And the Winner Is...

The Samsung Galaxy Note II is not only a phone that does it all, it does with finesse. The smaller Galaxy S III was already a phenomenal hit when it came out and the Galaxy Note II brings this unparalleled experience to another notch. The main sphere of excellence starts from its exceptional 5.5-inch HD Super AMOLED display and innovative TouchWiz software additions (such as multi-screen capabilities).

That plus its efficient power management and large battery capacity (tops the list at 769 minutes) ensures that it will be able to attend to your needs throughout a busy day. In terms of software innovations, Samsung continues to outdo itself with the introduction of Smart Stay, Multiple Windows, Popup Play, and the S Pen.

*Note: Prices listed in this article are accurate at the time of product evaluation.

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

Best Smartphone Innovation

With largely similar hardware components being used, it takes some effort for smartphones manufacturers to truly different their offerings from the rest besides design. The nominees for this year’s Best Smartphone Innovation award were chosen based on their unique properties and the practicality of their implementation. Case in point: Nokia 808 PureView’s astounding camera technology, ASUS PadFone 2’s refined and sleek tablet dock, and of course, Samsung Galaxy Note II’s enhanced phablet software and hardware additions.

Nominees: 

• ASUS PadFone 2 (for tablet/smartphone convergence)
• Nokia 808 PureView (for PureView camera technology)
• Samsung Galaxy Note II (for phablet form factor and software enhancements)

And the Winner Is...

Smartphones have gradually substituted point and shoot cameras since a mobile phone is the one thing that (almost) everyone brings everywhere. Unsurprisingly, manufacturers have jostled hard to be the best in this area, with some providing extra software modes and lenses with bigger apertures. The Nokia 808 PureView represents the next cutting edge in camera technology for smartphones, providing unrivaled imaging quality. For one, the device is backed up by an astounding 41-megapixel camera with a backside illuminated sensor. (As a point of reference, smartphones typically come with 5 to 12-megapixel camera sensors.)

The camera can effectively use a maximum of 38 megapixels when shooting at an aspect ratio of 4:3 (an aspect ratio common in compact digital cameras), and 34 megapixels when shooting at an aspect ratio of 16:9 (the aspect ratio of HD movies). The result is photographs that are nothing short of clarity and details - for a cameraphone, that is.



To add on, Nokia has plans to port the PureView Pro technology to other devices in the future, although no specific time frame has been mentioned at the moment. We are excited to see how this technology would pan out on other Nokia devices, especially on smartphones running on Microsoft's Windows Phone mobile OS.

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

References

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