Best gadgets for Gaming: Tech Awards 2021 Editor's Choice Results (Part 4)

Gaming has always been a huge deal but it gained even greater significance in the past year of the pandemic. Left with nowhere to go, many people turned to their PCs, consoles, and phones, to while away the hours and the days. Regardless of what kind of games you play, what devices you play them on, here's a list of the top devices to help you get the most out of your gaming sessions. These are the award categories that the editors have assessed for this segment to play your favourite games on:-

• Best Graphics Chip
• Best Graphics Card
• Best Gaming CPU
• Best Wireless Ultralight Gaming Mouse
• Best Wired Ultralight Gaming Mouse
• Best Gaming Headset
• Best Gaming Console
• Game of the Year
• Best Premium Smartphone
• Best TV
• Best Home Entertainment Projector
• Best Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Networking System

Other segments include the Best devices for Home, Mobility devices, Work and Gaming (this article). Not to forget, our Readers' Choice results for the Best Tech Brands.

Read on and find out who the winners are in each category! For this segment, we begin with what's arguably the most important component in every gaming PC – the graphics chip.

Best Graphics Chip

Last year was a defining year for PC gamers. Not just because of how the pandemic has confined us to working from home, but also how it made us look toward video gaming as one of the few rare entertainment outlets that allow us to connect and play with our friends and families. That both NVIDIA and AMD also launched their new GPUs, the GeForce RTX 30 series and Radeon RX 6000 series, came at an opportune time too, with games like Cyberpunk 2077 and The Medium demanding more processing power than ever.

Representing NVIDIA's newest GPU family is the flagship GeForce RTX 3080, which also paved the way for the more budget-friendly RTX 3070 and the incredibly monstrous RTX 3090 that NVIDIA is aptly nicknaming the BFGPU. Over at AMD's side, the company's Radeon RX 6000 series are their strongest push in the discrete GPU race yet with their own flagship, the Radeon RX 6800 XT, even giving the GeForce RTX 3080 a run for its money in some rasterized results.

But rasterized results do not tell the complete picture - not even half of it to be exact. In choosing the best GPU, we looked at how each company's flagship card fared not just in raw, brute performance. But also the new and/or improved technologies it brought to gamers. 

Nominees:

• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
• AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT

And the winner is...

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (and by extension, all graphics cards based on this GPU) is based on NVIDIA's latest Ampere architecture and comes with new features, such as RTX IO, which will speed up gaming loading and reduce game install sizes. Clearly, it's a graphics card that isn't all about frame rates and all the visual bells and whistles though when it comes to that, the RTX 3080 GPU is armed to the teeth with the newest generation of ray-tracing and DLSS 2.0. These two key defining features are also what set the RTX 3080 GPUs apart from AMD's RX 6800 XTs, which performed poorly in ray tracing benchmarks. Even its equivalent of the competition's DLSS, FidelityFX Super Resolution, was not ready at launch - and is still not ready yet.

With the RTX 30 series, and in particular the RTX 3080, the new cards represent a generational leap in performance. More so, when you consider that not only is the RTX 3080 Founders Edition more than twice as powerful on paper than the RTX 2080 Founders Edition, but going for the same launch price at US$699.  

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

References

• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 review: Say hello to 4K ray-traced gaming
• AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT: AMD is finally back

Best Graphics Card

It's without a doubt that NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 3080 graphics processor is very, very fast (as determined on the previous page). With DLSS 2.0 turned on, ray-tracing gaming at 1440p and even in some games at 4K without going below 60 frames per seconds is a common reality now. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Founders Edition is still our go-to card for pure looks and out-of-the-factory performance, but if you're looking to push things a little further then cards from AIB partners such as ASUS, MSI and Zotac are your best bets. These cards are usually overclocked out of the factory and comes with custom cooling solutions and more often than not, complete with fancy add-ons like RGB lighting and even extra fan headers.

To make the cut for this year's awards, the cards must be at least high-end representatives of their respective brand line-ups, so for instance, ASUS' would pick a card from their top of the line ROG rather than say, the TUF series. Unfortunately, even we were not immune to the global shortage of RTX 30 series. While ASUS managed (just barely) to sneak in an ROG GeForce RTX 3080 card for us, MSI sent one from their Gaming X Trio series, while Gigabyte's AORUS card could not reach us in time at this point of writing even after giving them many months lead time. 

Nominees:

• ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 3080 10G GDDR6X
• MSI Gaming X Trio GeForce RTX 3080 10G
• Zotac Gaming GeForce RTX 3080 Trinity

And the winner is...

The ASUS card ultimately came ahead because of its strong performance in areas that really matter, such as cooling. Cooling is the one area where there's an obvious and measurable difference between the cards, so ASUS scores big points here. On top of that, it comes with several value-added features to help it stand out, such as additional RGB and fan headers. The card also features a BIOS switch to change fan profiles and a toggle button to instantly switch off its LEDs. The biggest drawback is its price, which is selling significantly higher than its SRP because of the market demand and shortage. And that is, if you can even find one at retail.

The alternatives aren't too far behind, but differences between graphics cards of the same GPU class usually come down to differences that are pretty much down to your personal taste and if you prefer to save money or if you need all the bells and whistles. As such, we can only point out who has the best of the best offering, but these days, stock and availability are also valid purchase factors. If you must have an ASUS, their TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 3080 at S$1,299 was our previous shoo-in for this category before we managed to get hold of the Strix edition.

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

References

• ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 3080 10G GDDR6X review
• MSI Gaming X Trio GeForce RTX 3080 10G review
• Zotac Gaming GeForce RTX 3080 Trinity review

Best Gaming CPU

The perennial duel. The yin versus the yang. The single-core versus the multi-cores. That's right, it's the annual Intel and AMD fistfight.

Last year, AMD scored the bragging rights with their impressive Ryzen 9 3900X and the red company has gone from strength to strength since. For 2020, AMD came out punching with the Zen 3-based Ryzen 5000 series processors, led by the Ryzen 9 5900X flagship processor and has its eyes squarely fixed on the coveted "Best Gaming CPU" spot. The 3900X was the previous generation’s version of a CPU at the same price point as the 5900X, but didn’t manage to beat Intel’s competing effort of the Core i9-10900K in single-core speed (the crucial factor in gaming), nor did it have the chops to get the most out of a rig running an RTX 30 series graphics card.

The 5900X (and all Ryzen 5000 series CPU, for that matter) upped the ante and more. AMD has designed these processors from the ground up to increase efficiency and IPC performance by 19%, which is not exactly the sort of boost that comes easily. Intel would know – their last few generations of processors, including its own flagship Core i9-10900K, only had modest incremental improvements. 

To rub salt to injury, AMD even has a higher-tier Ryzen 9 chip, the Ryzen 9 5950X, which is more of a creator's workhorse CPU with 16 cores and has more in common with a Threadripper class product for professional consumers. You can imagine a big leap in price as well, and as such, we're not considering this model in this face-off.

Nominees:

• AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
• Intel Core i9-10900K

And the winner is...

Not exactly a surprise if you've been following our CPU reviews of last year!

The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X delivers in all the key areas, serving up excellent multi-threaded performance and this time, even setting the pace in gaming and effectively wrestling the "Best Gaming CPU" crown away from Intel. The Core i9-10900K may have been Intel's top mainstream offering in 2020, but did not quite compete with AMD's offering in terms of gaming and multi-threaded performance.

While some games still run better on Intel processors, the differences are minute enough that we will be happy to recommend the Ryzen 9 5900X for most gamers. Its lower S$849 price-tag also made it just more palatable than the Core i9-10900K's S$899.

References

• AMD Ryzen 9 5900X and Ryzen 9 5950X Review
• Intel 10th Gen Core i9-10900K Review

Best Wireless Ultralight Gaming Mouse

Ultralight gaming mice are commonplace today, but when you have to deal with the complexities of adding a wireless module and battery, their numbers are whittled down. In this category, we'll be comparing factors like weight, build quality, shape, and ease-of-use of software. Ultimately, because most mice today already have flawless sensors, it'll come down to what the brand has done to differentiate itself from the crowd and details like the quality of the switches, mouse feet and battery life.

To make the cut, the mouse has to be released in 2020 and has to be the brand's flagship ultralight wireless offering.

Nominees:

• Glorious Model O Wireless
• Logitech G Pro X Superlight Wireless
• Razer Viper Ultimate

And the winner is...

This year, the best overall wireless ultralight gaming mouse goes to the Razer Viper Ultimate because of its all-around stellar performance and rich feature set. 

For starters, you get an advanced 20,000DPI Focus+ optical sensor with Smart Tracking and Motion Sync. The former automatically calibrates the sensor for the particular surface you're using it on, while the latter syncs the sensor's signals at the same intervals that your PC extracts information. Few brands make the effort to push sensor tech in this way, and the mouse impresses in other areas as well. 

Battery life is excellent, and Razer has fixed the scratchy feet on the original Viper with smooth, pure PTFE feet. It's got a comfortable, ambidextrous shape that fits most grip styles, and is the only mouse of the lot to come with a charging dock with its own set of LEDs. Compared to the Glorious Model O Wireless and Logitech G Pro X Superlight Wireless, the Razer Viper Ultimate is the most well-rounded, boasting solid build quality, crisp optical switches, and polished, powerful software. The charging cord is also a flexible and supple paracord-style cable, which the Logitech G Pro X Superlight Wireless lacks.

Overall, the Razer Viper Ultimate is the best wireless gaming mouse you can get today. At S$239.90, it's not cheap, but it checks all the right boxes and outdoes the competition with a bevvy of neat, innovative technologies and comprehensive features.  

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

For more information on how the nominees fared in detail and thus helping us pick our winner, check out the full reviews and articles listed in the References below.

References

• Glorious Model O Wireless review
• Logitech G Pro X Superlight Wireless review
• Razer Viper Ultimate review

Best Wired Ultralight Gaming Mouse

2020 was a good year for mice. Brands decided en masse to make their own ultralight gaming mice, which means you're pretty spoilt for choice if you're looking for a more nimble tool to aim with. This is a highly competitive field, and brands like Ducky, HyperX, and G-Wolves have proven that they are capable of creating solid mice that can challenge established contenders like Razer. All these mice share many common features too – most of them weigh less than 70g and feature super flexible paracord-style cables. Tracking is flawless across the board, which means the winner will be decided based on things like shape, comfort, build quality, and how good the switches feel.    

This time however, we're not limiting ourselves to mice released in 2020. We've made space for select 2019 contenders that weren't competing in last year's awards, still remain extremely competitive in 2020 and are their respective brand's flagship wired offerings even today. 

Nominees:

• Cooler Master MM720
• Ducky Feather
• G-Wolves Hati S
• Glorious Model O-
• HyperX Pulsefire Haste
• Logitech G203 LightSync
• Razer Viper Mini
• Zygen NP-01

And the winner is...

The best overall wired ultralight gaming mouse is the Razer Viper Mini because of its combination of solid fundamentals and innovation. It has a safe, ambidextrous shape that works with most grip styles, and it has achieved a weight of just 61g without needing a honeycomb shell. Build quality is excellent, and the large mouse feet glide smoothly right out of the box. The Viper Mini has checked all the right boxes, and you also get an attractive underglow around the base of the mouse. Other than the Cooler Master MM720, it is also the only mouse of the lot to utilise optical switches, which offer improved durability because they don't rely on metal contacts to register a switch press.

Above all, the Viper Mini doesn't suffer from any of the flaws that plague some of the other mice, such as less-than-stellar build quality and lacklustre switch feel. Its shape lends itself well to precise aim too, unlike something like the Cooler Master MM720. 

Finally, it is among the most affordable mice out there at just $69. The Viper Mini simply offers great bang for your buck, and together with its polished design and easy-to-use software, it manages to edge out the fierce competition nipping at its heels. 

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

For more information on how the nominees fared in detail and thus helping us pick our winner, check out the full reviews and articles listed in the References below.

 

References

• Cooler Master MM720 review
• Ducky Feather review
• G-Wolves Hati S review
• Glorious Model O- review
• HyperX Pulsefire Haste review
• Logitech G203 LightSync review
• Razer Viper Mini review
• Zygen NP-01 review

Best Gaming Headset

Gaming headsets span the range from no-frills, affordable headphones to models that come chockful of features and with a price tag to match. This year, we're turning our attention to the high-end of surround sound gaming headsets – the ones that go beyond mere virtual (some sake fake) 7.1-channel surround sound and utilise proprietary tech to further your immersion in-game and improve positional accuracy with features like head-tracking and more.

To make the cut, the gaming headset has to be released in 2020 and feature unique surround sound technology that isn't just regular 7.1-channel up-mixing.

Nominees:

• Creative SXFI Gamer
• JBL Quantum One
• Logitech G Pro X Wireless
• Razer BlackShark V2 Pro

And the winner is...

The best overall gaming headset this year goes to the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro because of its solid all-around performance and exceptional comfort that few other headsets can match. 

At S$269.90, the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro makes for a steep investment. However, it feels reasonably priced when set beside something like the Logitech G Pro X Wireless and JBL Quantum One, both of which cost over S$300 (without discounts and vouchers). The Razer headset offers excellent positional audio accuracy and detail resolution, and it works well for both games and music, with a satisfying kick to the low end and clear, full-bodied mids.

It is the most well-rounded headset we've tested, with no major performance hitches – it is extremely comfortable and comes with excellent audio and a decent mic. Wireless performance is flawless too, and battery life should last you up to a week with moderate use. Top that off with a tasteful, all-black design, and Razer has made a good-looking performer that will fit in with most setups. 

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

For more information on how the nominees fared in detail and thus helping us pick our winner, check out the full reviews and articles listed in the References below.

References

• Creative SXFI Gamer review
• JBL Quantum One review
• Logitech G Pro X Wireless review
• Razer BlackShark V2 Pro review

Best Gaming Console

2020 was a historic year in gaming, as it saw the launch of a brand-new generation of consoles. Much like the last console generation, it came down to a contest between Microsoft and Sony - although this time, the competition felt a lot more fierce. Both companies' new consoles did a great job in offering interesting features to satisfy different audiences, but there's only one 'Best Gaming Console' award to give.

We compared each console's features, performance, launch titles and controller design to decide where that award would go. 

Nominees:

• PlayStation 5
• Xbox Series X

And the winner is...

The PlayStation 5 is our pick for Best Gaming Console of 2021. While Microsoft’s Xbox Series X was a solid runner-up, the PS5 simply launched with a more enticing set of updates, a fantastic lineup of launch titles and a great controller. 

It’s hard to actually see how much of an upgrade your next-generation console is without games that take advantage of its technology, and the PS5 had Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Astro’s Playroom and Demon’s Souls for that purpose at launch - three must-play games for all who own the console. The new DualSense controller is a huge upgrade from the DualShock 4 in our opinion, being a lot heftier and easier to wrap our hands around for hours at a time. New controller features like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers further immerse players into exclusives like Miles Morales and Demon’s Souls, and even older titles like Fortnite and Warframe. Astro’s Playroom also acted as a fantastic tutorial for the DualSense’s capabilities.

Visually, the PS5 stands out a lot more than its peers too. It’s a far cry from the black rectangles of old, and certainly a lot bolder than Microsoft’s simple black brick design for the Xbox Series X. When you’ve actually booted the console up, its user-friendly interface lets you navigate menus and start up games with little effort while also being easy on the eyes - we really like the new cosmic visuals. Blazing fast loading times and an integrated PlayStation Store also allow you to hop in and out of apps with very little waiting time, which is a massive boon all on its own. It even allows you to upgrade and expand the storage via a standard PC SSD stick - a big cost savings solution as compared to the ridiculously overpriced, proprietary, Seagate-made expansion card for the Xbox Series X.

The PS5 also comes with faster USB transfer speed and Wi-Fi 6 too, ensuring a better future-proof investment than the Xbox Series X. In short, Sony’s PlayStation 5 console launched with great games to play, a great controller to play them with and a list of other perks that made it worth the purchase in 2020 (and even now). You also have the option of getting a disc drive-less version of the console, if you prefer going digital or want to save some cash.

For more information on the nominees, check out the articles listed in the References below.

References

• PlayStation 5 
• DualSense controller
• Xbox Series X review
• Xbox Series S
• Xbox Series X|S controller

Game of the Year

Putting together a list of the best games of the year is always an incredibly difficult task. There are so many titles to consider for the different genres and platforms - and most turn out to be great in their own ways. Despite the pandemic, 2020 was no exception to this rule, bringing us masterpieces like Doom Eternal and The Last of Us Part II, and the industry continued growing steadily as more people turned to gaming to stave off cabin fever.

TL; DR: there were many, many games that we loved playing, and finding our game of the year was no easy task. We went through and re-evaluated them on every possible criteria – gameplay, visual fidelity, audio design and most importantly, the fun factor.

Accordingly, we've cut the list down to just five GOTY nominees. Out of these five incredible titles however, one game stands out from the rest, delivering an experience that's not only streamlined, engaging and dynamic, but above all, immensely enjoyable.

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

 

Nominees:
 

• The Last of Us Part II

The discourse around The Last of Us Part 2 is well-worn territory at this point, but there is so much about this game that Naughty Dog simply knocked out of the park. On a gameplay level, it takes the stealth and crafting elements of the first game and amps it all up, throwing in a better level design that also affords the player more options in how they want to tackle a tense situation. The core gameplay loop of fighting through enemies (or finding ways to get around them) and learning about the fallen world via notes and environmental clues in between story beats is admirable in its worldbuilding.

The story has been the subject of intense debate, but we believe that it is the only way to move Ellie and Joel’s journey forward in a way that not only makes sense for this world, but feels true to its characters. Visually, it’s nigh-photorealistic at times, and fantastic performances from the main cast coupled with Naughty Dog’s incredible motion capture tech bring this grim story to life with aplomb. 

• Final Fantasy VII Remake

Honestly, this nomination should be a no-brainer. Taking to the streets of the Mako-churning metropolis, Midgar as Cloud Strife again in the Final Fantasy VII Remake is truly an experience to remember, and it's obvious that Square Enix has spared no expense bringing this marvellous world to life.

Each environment from the original game has been expanded upon with gorgeous visuals and a jaw-dropping sense of scale. Boss fights are epic and intense, owing to a fantastic battle system that seamlessly blended turn-based and real-time combat for something truly unique. Characters like Tifa, Barret and Aerith returned (with Yuffie on her way as well!), and we got to spend so much more time with them and learn what makes them tick. There's still a lot more where that came from, though - we haven’t even gotten to play its upgraded PlayStation 5 version yet!

• Animal Crossing: New Horizons

For a game that almost immediately saddles you with a mountain of debt, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is far cosier than it has any right to be. Playing this game is akin to lying in bed on a rainy day, binge-watching anime with a cup of hot cocoa. You can’t not love it. Nintendo’s sequel in a beloved franchise sports an adorable art style, wonderful music, lovable villagers and the ability to build an entire island paradise from the ground up. This is a game we’ve returned to again and again since its launch last year, and there’s always something new to dig into. 

Even if there isn’t, why wouldn’t we want to drop by and say hi to Marina? What’s that, Marina? You want to leave? Oh, my sweet summer child. No one leaves this place. No. One.

• Doom Eternal

“There is only one dominant life form in this universe, and it carries a steel-barreled sword of vengeance.” Doom Eternal is an absolutely brilliant first-person shooter, perhaps even one of the best of all time. Gorgeous environments and varied level design provide jaw-dropping setpieces for players to explore in between all their demon-slaying.

Boss battles are showstoppers, and then they become dime-a-dozen enemies in brutally chaotic fights later on in the game. The bone-crunching sound design and head-bopping soundtrack pulls you through all this mayhem, as you hop from one demon to the next in search of something bigger and stronger to tear apart. Our hats are well and truly off - Id Software has perfected the Doom formula after more than 20 years with the franchise, and that is truly admirable. We can’t wait to see what they do next. 

• Ori and the Will of the Wisps

If you think it's odd that a platformer has made it all the way to our top five, rest assured that we were just as surprised as you. But there's no denying the facts: Moon Studios has delivered.

It's often said that beauty can take many forms, and while the simple, fantastical nature of Ori's adventure is a different ball game from the complex, detailed narratives of games like the aforementioned TLOU 2, that doesn't make it any less gorgeous. In a word, Ori and the Will of the Wisps is "magical", and as you get more and more enraptured in the forest spirit's journey, you just might find something you didn't realise you've lost along the way - that "childlike sense of wonder" that you used to have, exploring new and unfamiliar places.

Couple that with quirky, sparkly aesthetics and gameplay that's easily accessible to anyone, and you've got a title that really emphasises what we think a game should prioritise above all else - to put a smile on players' faces. 

With that said, it's time to cue the drum roll, as we reveal our best game for 2020. 

And the winner is...

Yes - 2020's Game of the Year is none other than the Final Fantasy VII Remake, and boy was it a close fight. The game's development can be traced all the way back to 2005, when Square Enix first showed off a technical demo remaking the game’s opening for the PlayStation 3. 15 years later, we got a massive remake for the PlayStation 4 - not a complete one, but massive and amazing nonetheless.

Just like series protagonist Cloud himself, we felt the game really goes above and beyond the call of duty when it needs to, bringing back both the adrenaline of a pulse-pounding RPG and the nostalgic flavours of the original. We will admit the contest between the top three games was nothing if not neck-to-neck, but what sealed the deal for us this year was the sheer gameplay novelty and the awfully tangible nostalgia that the FF7 remake delivers in spades.

While TLOU 2 certainly deserves all the praise that has been lavished upon it, we felt it didn't really bring anything "new" to gaming - it's simply an excellent story-driven game that is also really well done. The same logic goes for Doom Eternal as well - we do have immense fun blowing demonic heads off without a care in the world but at its core, its formula is still the quintessential "point, shoot and repeat". Accordingly, we found that the FF7 Remake, which has been able to blend two previously incompatible gameplay formats into a single, cohesive package really challenges us with something that we've never seen before.

So, make no mistake, this is a truly exceptional game, and between its stellar blend of gameplay concepts, enrapturing narrative and flawless aesthetics, there are simply far too many reasons to love this modern take on one of gaming's most beloved franchises. A well-deserved win through and through. 

References

• Final Fantasy VII Remake review
• The Last of Us Part 2 review
• Doom Eternal Review
• Animal Crossing: New Horizons review
• Ori and the Will of the Wisps review

Best Premium Smartphone

The best smartphone category is always tightly contested, and this year is no different with great phones from the world's major smartphone brands. Make no mistake though, as in this premium category, we’re judging design, build, benchmark performance, battery life, imaging competence, display quality, audio quality, handling, as well as any other extra features like advanced biometric security, AI capabilities, stylus and much more that go towards improving the phone's usage experience.

To make the cut, the phone has to be released in 2020 and has to be the brand's flagship offering that best embodies everything it has to offer - beyond just top phone specs.

Nominees:

• Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
• ASUS ROG Phone 3
• Huawei P40 Pro+ (the Mate 40 Pro is newer, but it's not as competitive)
• OnePlus 8 Pro
• Oppo Find X2 Pro
• Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra

And the winner is...

This year, the best overall smartphone goes to the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max. It's no secret that the iPhone 12 series had stellar general performance, but it also clocked the longest battery uptime we've ever tested in an iPhone handset. When it comes to power, it delivers both ways. 

That's not to say that the other phones that made the cut aren't up to par. It was so competitive, so Apple's attention to detail was the tie-breaker for many of these equally competent phones.

While the imaging capabilities aren't visibly better than its other variants, photo-taking for the Pro Max has been easier in many meaningful ways with the Apple phone. The iPhone 12 Pro Max has a sensor-shift stabiliser, a 47% larger main camera sensor, and many minor imaging changes befitting of a top-end, premium flagship device. That's a huge quality-of-life upgrade for the average person who just wants a good photo in minimal tries.

And, if you're from the professional side, the addition of 10-bit HDR and Dolby Vision recording, along with Apple Pro RAW, makes it so much better than before for purists.

Couple all that with its premium build quality (made from stainless steel and finished with an electromagnetic coating process), it's excellent display (OLED at 2,778 x 1,284 pixels resolution), and checking all the boxes for a premium phone (water resistance, wireless charging, 5G readiness), it's really hard to say no to the latest top-end iPhone. Just ask the iOS camp - or us.

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

For more information on how the nominees fared in detail and thus helping us pick our winner, check out the full reviews and articles listed in the References below.

References

• Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max review
• ASUS ROG Phone 3 hands-on
• Huawei P40 Pro+ review
• OnePlus 8 Pro review
• Oppo Find X2 Pro review
• Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra review

Best TV

4K TVs are a dime a dozen these days and it's no longer a spec or feature you would necessarily be chasing. These days, you can get a fairly usable 4K TV for just S$700 (or less). So what makes a great TV these days? A TV with a great UI, excellent support for the latest HDR standards, a screen that can express millions of colours vibrantly and brightly (and not dumb things down), offer a wide viewing angle that all your family members can enjoy the screen anywhere in the room, use AI processing to improve and enhance any content type you can throw at it, support high refresh rates synced to the source output for tear-free and super smooth gaming with high-performance PCs and the latest game consoles, smart home integration, voice recognition, a capable audio subsystem, and a first-rate cabinet design that will dazzle your visitors (and yourself).

All of the above necessitates the very best TVs in the market that would support the HDMI 2.1 feature set to support high frame rate (HFR) in 8K and 4K content, Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) to better support gaming needs, an enhanced HDMI Audio Return Channel (eARC) to support higher bandwidth uncompressed audio formats and newer object-based audio positioning to tackle Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and more. These are usually reserved for top-tier TV models, but aside from a feature set perspective that's usually supported by the latest TV processors used, the ability to translate all the digital video and audio signals to evoke a reaction from the human senses, the way you interact with the TV and how it responds in its visual presence be it in design or aurally, is what sets apart basic and good TVs from the very best in the market.

While this year's award segment was really to find the Best TV launched in 2020, in our process of testing and gathering relevant comparison details, screen sizes and their respective prices played out an interesting twist for recommendations where 4K models were better suited up to certain screen sizes (and technically, it made sense too), while 8K models were a much better fit for larger screen sizes. As such, without further ado, let us tell you the best TV models you can buy right now for the two most upgraded screen sizes as far as premium TVs are concerned - the Best 65-inch TV and the Best 75-inch TV.

Side note: Though 2021 TV models are just about trickling down to the market, it's unfortunate that we can't yet qualify 2021 TVs because not all the options are available yet for our testing at the point of concluding Tech Awards, while some models have yet to be released until later this year. 

Nominees:

• LG CX 4K OLED TV
• Samsung Q950T QLED 8K TV
• Sony A8H OLED 4K TV

Best 65-inch TV

LG continues to keep their OLED TV offerings fairly straightforward as you'll get all the important features in both their mainstream CX OLED and the more refined Gallery GX OLED lineup. As such, it's only to be expected that most buyers would opt for the more affordable CX OLED offering, which is what we've qualified in our assessment.

We found the LG CX 4K OLED TV offered great picture quality, with deep blacks, excellent contrast, pleasing colours and very wide viewing angles — just like all the LG OLED TVs that came before it and you won't be disappointed. The CX also supports Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, HDMI 2.1, NVIDIA G-Sync, FreeSync VRR and HGiG, as well as LG ThinQ AI smarts like smart home/IoT control and voice recognition — again, features that are all found on the higher-end Gallery GX model.

At the 65-inch size bracket, you have a lot of contenders and considerations to tackle. From a value perspective, the LG CX OLED is the cheapest option and given its stellar performance, it looks like the best option if you don't necessarily need a TV to be used in a very bright room. Sony's A8H and LG's CX are neck and neck in terms of picture quality and price but the A8H is hampered (if you’re a gamer) by its lack of HDMI 2.1 and associated features such as VRR and ALLM, even if it has better audio placement thanks to its Acoustic Surface Audio system. However, audio is subjective and in that sense, LG seems to be better placed where ticking the core checkboxes are concerned. Besides, Sony's TV interface and remote look a little dated.

This brings us to the next point where you would have to consider your viewing habits such as watching a lot of HDR content and bright room usage needs because these are areas where Samsung QLED TVs generally excel. Besides the inky blacks of OLED and G-Sync support, the newest QLED TVs perform just as well as the LG CX. The overly expensive Samsung Q950T even has the 8K resolution advantage, but it may not be obvious on a 65-inch screen to justify the premium even if its official price point bundles in a powerful S$2,599 Samsung HW-Q950T soundbar.

Samsung also has other high-end TV variants like the Q95T, a premium 4K TV at half the price of the Q950T and is a credible alternative to the LG CX. The Samsung Q95T offers better design (than the LG) and has useful audio features like object tracking sound for 3D sound even from stereo tracks, active voice amplification and more that are also present on the Q950T. Additionally, Samsung's One Invisible Connection and One Connect Box are thoughtful features for the modern home that we don't see elsewhere. There's also the Q800T model, which is a QLED 8K TV but with less design finesse and fewer frills. This will also net you a powerful soundbar as part of the official recommended retail price so that you can enjoy Atmos and Samsung's Q-Symphony feature. If you factor in the cost of the soundbar alone, the price of the Q800T is pretty close to LG's price point. In short, the Samsung QLEDs are every bit a consideration at the 65-inch size and you can't go wrong with either brand.

In the end, the LG CX OLED just happens to make the choice easier with a lower price tag, packs in all the essential features needed and offers great overall performance — a very easy winning combo that gets our nod for the Best 65-inch TV. On a related note, LG CX OLED also comes in sizes as small as a 48-incher which is perfect as the ultimate bedroom TV or an oversized desktop monitor for work and games.

Best 75-inch TV

If you decide to go bigger, OLED screens tend to be expensive compared to LED-backlit based options. For instance, the 77-inch 4K CX retails for S$18K and that's several grand more than the 75-inch 4K Q95T. At this sticker price, you can opt to get the Q950T, which remember, is an 8K TV. Basically, at 75-inch sizes and above, Samsung typically offers more options that are more attractively priced and pack extras to tip the value scale further in their favour.

At this size, Samsung's top-end Q950T model finally allows you to experience 8K TV resolution goodness in all its glory and you can truly start to appreciate the extra resolution that Samsung can pump out. Like last year, the TV's greatest strength is it can go really bright, which means the picture will look good whether you’re using it in a bright or dark room. And if you enjoy watching HDR content, the increased brightness comes in handy to enhance realism. Coupled with an Ultra Viewing Angle tech that solves past viewing angle problems, this TV can produce pretty convincing blacks and well defined bright objects without blooming. Of course OLEDs can still trump black levels (and thus contrast), there's so much more to the Samsung flagship TV than just its display.

A fantastic Infinity Screen design that has deleted all bezels and defies TV manufacturing, zero-gap wall mounting, Samsung's One Invisible Connection and One Connect box to help you easily manage connectivity options flexibly and without the cable mess, convincing Object Tracking Sound with audio content that's not explicitly coded such, a 4.2.2 multi-channel audio system, Q-Symphony feature to take advantage of speakers on the TV and selected Samsung soundbars collectively, Real Game Enhancer+ takes care of everything a gamer needs (minus official G-Sync support) and other convenience features like Tap View to cast your phone's screen effortlessly, or indulge in Multi-View to enjoy various screen inputs simultaneously, as well as Google Assistant Support.

The list is dizzyingly long and unique to Samsung's top-end TV models and if you can appreciate these creature comforts, along with the 8K resolution upsize bonanza, Samsung's Q950T QLED 8K TV is an ideal companion if you're looking to get the best overall experience with a really large screen TV. Best of all, you're not paying more than what the competition commands and Samsung is actually bundling in their top-end soundbar for you to enjoy Dolby Atmos and Samsung's Q-Symphony feature for a powerful audio experience.

All said and done, the Samsung Q950T QLED 8K TV is our pick for the Best 75-inch TV in the market.

What if you plan to go even bigger? Samsung has an 85-inch model at S$30k, while LG offers their Signature ZX, an 8K OLED TV that’s only available in 88-inch screen size for an eye tearing price of S$60k. So in some sense, the bigger you go, Samsung's QLED TV options offer more value.

 

References

• LG CX 4K OLED TV review
• Samsung Q950T QLED 8K TV review
• Sony A8H OLED 4K TV review

Best Home Entertainment Projector

2020 saw people hunkering down in their homes for extended periods and parents trying to keep their sanity by entertaining their kids while also trying to get work done at home.  Some say it's the curse of Covid-19, while others say it helped bring families closer. To increase the entertainment options and in a big way, home projectors were highly promoted by many of the usual vendors. Portable ones might seem handy and an easy way to add fun to any room easily. However, they still lack the vividness and brightness to hold the attention of young ones.

All said and done, you really do need a proper home projector to bring the fun home in a big way and with the impact that the projector companies want you to enjoy. Two years back, we assessed expensive home theatre class projectors that focus on bringing the finest in imaging on the big screen and cost well above S$7,000. 

This year, we're focusing on projectors that a tier below and are designed to perform in both bright and dark rooms, upscale content to 4K resolution, cast content from your phones, output from your game console or even the traditional TV box. These Home Entertainment class of projectors are made to tackle a wider variety of content options and genres that stretch from playing your favourite games, watching the latest sports tournament and of course, binge-watching your favourite serials or immersing yourselves in the latest box office movie release from the heart of your home.

To further qualify for our Tech Awards 2021 assessment, the project must have been launched within the last 12 to 15 months (projector refresh cycles don't happen often and not to mention the supply chain logistics disruption caused by Covid-19, hence we've extended the timeline), and priced around S$2,000.

So, for 2021, these boundaries brought us to qualify two 4K home entertainment class projectors for our assessment.

And the nominees are…

• BenQ TK800M
• Epson EH-TW7000

And the winner is…

Both projectors had the same basic specs, brightness levels, connectivity options etc., but the BenQ TK800M was easier to set up, more user-friendly and had better playback results.

The TK800M isn’t an ultra-short-throw projector but you can still get to project 100 inches across at about 3.3 meters from the screen. Even though it needs a fair bit of space between the screen and itself, fortunately, it is the more compact of the two models tested, is lighter and has a more modern vibe going for it.

One handy feature the TK800M had was excellent auto keystone correction. This allowed it to correct any screen distortion from misaligned placement during our setup and offers your more leeway to place the projector in your home. In fact, that was one of the standout things we liked about this projector. It was extremely user-friendly. Finding the right option you needed, or getting it set up to what you wanted was very straight forward without you needing to jump through hoops. In fact, we were up and running in around 20 minutes from unpacking the unit.

For playback, we found the projector's bright 3,000 lumens output was enough to produce 8.3 million pixels for 4K UHD (3,840 x 2,160) upscaled performance. HDR and HDR10 support allows for auto colour mapping, which is DCI-P3 and BT. 2020 compatible, bringing out life-like colour and tone rendering image to your big screen in the living room.

We found the TK800M had no problems handling our video materials to test its colour gamut. Blues and reds came out distinct and with little oversaturation. There was little motion blur noted while viewing the challenging escape scene from “The Martian” early in the movie. Our 4K video was played back with breath-taking graphics and colours along with crisp and sharp motion.

BenQ has also added a number of viewing modes, Football, Sport, Bright, Vivid TV and Cinema Mode, to the TK800M. Swapping between each optimises the projector for each genre although we found we preferred to use Vivid as the default mode for most viewing options.

In terms of connectivity options, the TK800M has two HDMI ports (one is HDCP 2.2 compliant for 4K devices, and the other is for 1080p devices), a VGA port, 3.5 mm audio in and out, and the power supply. The USB port can also be used to connect to a USB Wi-Fi dongle so it can connect to a home network. The projector also packs a usable speaker within its housing should you want a hassle-free and immediate playback.

Considering all the usability and performance aspects, we chose the BenQ TK800M as the winner for 2021 in our new Best Home Entertainment Projector category.

 

References

• BenQ TK800M review coming soon
• Epson EH-TW7000 review coming soon

Best Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Networking System

The adoption of Wi-Fi 6 has been swift. Nearly every new smartphone, tablet, and notebook worth buying today supports it. Wi-Fi 6 improves overall networking performance in two ways. The first is by increasing data transfer rates by increasing the maximum amount of data that can be carried by each stream. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, it enables routers and compatible devices to communicate with each other simultaneously – something that cannot be done using the older Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) technology. Do check out this Wi-Fi 6 (Wireless 802.11ax) guide for more details.

To make the cut for this year’s awards, the mesh networking system must have been released in the past year and it must be the company’s flagship tri-band system.

Nominees:

• ASUS ZenWiFi AX (XT8)
• Linksys Velop MX5300
• Netgear Orbi RBK853
• TP-Link Deco X90

And the winner is...

The ASUS ZenWiFi AX (XT8) was our undisputed winner in this category. It’s a very strong all-round system. To start, it’s the most compact mesh networking system. And while it may be small, it doesn’t skimp on connectivity. It’s packed with features and backed by a strong router management system, making it easy to it set up and configure options like port forwarding and parental controls. It also supports ASUS’ AiMesh technology so you can create a mesh network if you have other compatible ASUS routers. Performance was top-notch too, especially in mesh networking mode. Lastly, it’s reasonably priced and considerably more affordable than some of its rivals. With these in mind, it’s easy to see why it’s the winner.

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

References

• Wi-Fi 6 mesh networking shootout - coming soon

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