HWM+HardwareZone.com Tech Awards 2014: Editor's Choice - Part 1

HWM+HardwareZone.com Tech Awards 2014 - 78 Awards Given!

The 5th annual HWM+HardwareZone.com Tech Awards was held on February 20, and it served to honor the best in tech products and services that were introduced between December 2012 and November 2013. A grand total of 78 awards, consisting of 36 Editor’s Choice and 42 Readers' Choice awards, were handed out in categories ranging from computers, consumer electronics, communications, and digital entertainment. Something new this year are the Innovation awards. Part of the Editor's Choice segment, 4 Innovation awards were given out to recognize innovative products and cutting-edge technologies that emerged over the past year. Here's a snapshot of the event before we commence our Editor's Choice results segment:-

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Last week, we posted the results of the Readers' Choice polls, which we're delighted to have received more than 250,000 votes based on a four-week survey period in November 2013. 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 148 products were hauled into our labs, and put through a series of stringent benchmarking tests throughout the course of 2013. 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.

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 2014 event, you can refer to the following links:

• Tech Awards 2014: Readers' Choice Results
• Tech Awards 2014: Editor's Choice Results - Part 1
• Tech Awards 2014: Editor's Choice Results - Part 2
• HWM+HardwareZone Tech Awards 2014 Microsite

Best Point & Shoot Digital Camera

With smartphone cameras sporting more megapixels than ever, it may seem that the compact camera is obsolete. However, not all digital compact cameras are doomed. There are many things a  superzoom compact camera has that can't be matched by a smartphone camera: larger sensor, handling, better optics and of course, optical zoom. Digital zoom (utilized by smartphones) degrades image quality, and that's why it's still better to go with optical zoom when you need that extra reach. Thus, this year we have focused on super-zoom compact cameras accordingly; expect these cameras to offer you high zoom ratios and good image stabilization for better image quality and longer reach. Due to these attributes and the fact that they are portable, they are also often referred to as 'travel compacts'.

Nominees: 

• Canon PowerShot SX280 HS
• Nikon Coolpix S9400
• Olympus SZ-16
• Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ40
• Samsung WB800F
• Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V

And the Winner Is...

One of the limitations of the traditional digital compact camera has always been the inability to share images conveniently and quickly with others. We have seen many recent compact cameras come with Wi-Fi, but the Panasonic Lumix TZ40 takes it further by including NFC as well. Its sensor also sees a bump up in resolution from 14 megapixels in the TZ30 to an 18-megapixel sensor. User interface is easy to navigate and there’s a Quick Menu button to bring up a list of commonly-used settings. Best of all, the TZ40 has a touch-enabled display, so you can set the AF area by tapping on the screen.

The TZ40’s noise control is quite well-controlled as loss of detail was only observed at ISO800 onwards. Panasonic’s image stabilization remains one of the best; shooting at 20x optical zoom is no harder than shooting at 10x optical zoom. For all of its attributes combined, this makes the TZ40 our choice for the best point-and-shoot digital camera. 

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

The prosumer digital camera segment remains one of the main focuses of the digital compact camera market, with many manufacturers choosing to update the current models they have in their stable. But why is this an important camera class? This is because a good prosumer camera comes with advanced controls and good image quality, yet is compact and easy to use. Thus it works well as either a companion to your DSLR camera or as your main compact camera, even for beginners. With such a diverse range of requirements, it is no wonder digital camera vendors are heavily focusing on this segment to offer an ideal compact camera that suits many needs. As such, we've once again chosen appropriate contenders that were made available between December 2012 to November 2013 to vie for the title of the best prosumer camera that is compact, light and has both automatic and full manual controls.

Nominees:

• Canon PowerShot S120
• Fujifilm X20
• Olympus Stylus XZ-10
• Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1
• Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 Mark II

And the Winner Is...

Similar to its predecessor, the first RX100, the Mark II isn’t the slimmest or most compact model in the lineup, but what makes it outstanding is the fact that it houses a one-inch sensor inside a body not much larger than the Panasonic LX7. Because of this larger sensor, noise control is markedly better than the competition, with a slight softening of detail after ISO800.

It also gains a tiling LCD, something the original RX100 lacked. Of course, the Sony RX100 Mark II isn't perfect; the AF does get confused occasionally , which makes it a pity that the RX100 Mark II does not come with a touch-to-focus display. But if image quality in a compact is your priority, you can’t do any better than the Sony RX100 Mark II.

Take note that individual review ratings are applicable for each product at the time of publishing the respective articles, but a shootout or comparison of products conducted over a period of time may require adjustment in ratings to better reflect the products' standings across a group of products. Furthermore, pricing, availability of accessories and advancements in firmware over time also help contribute to each camera's standings. As such, taking all things into consideration across the board, we've adjusted the ratings for some of the cameras to better reflect our current comparison.

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 are getting better and better each year. If you want to take great photos without being weighed down by a big and heavy camera, mirrorless cameras provide a great option; with their large sensor sizes and ability to swap lenses. Our focus this year is on middle-range rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras which provide power without sacrificing portability.

Nominees:

• Fujifilm X-E2
• Olympus Pen E-P5
• Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7

And the Winner Is...

The GX7 is almost like playing catch-up for Panasonic, with the inclusion of built-in optical image stabilization and Wi-Fi. The 16MP sensor inside performs beautifully but doesn’t outclass the Olympus. But the company’s strength has always been in its user-friendliness, and when you pair that together with the specs the GX7 becomes something else. The fat grip is exceptionally comfortable, the camera handles smoothly with easy access to controls, the on-screen UI is smartly designed and opens up the camera to you.

When reviewed together with the Olympus E-P5, the contrast was even starker. While the E-P5 sounds like a more impressive camera on spec, the GX7 is a better camera to use. Together with the lush images it produces, we feel the GX7 is a final product that has genius beyond the sum of its parts, and therefore it wins our category 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 Entry-Level DSLR Camera

DSLR cameras today, even entry-level models, deliver stunning image quality at an affordable price and small body. However, with their complex inner workings and all, DSLR camera refresh don't come around as often as other product groups. As such, we could only qualify two models in our comparison this year that meet our requirements of being an entry-level model and was launched between December 2012 and November 2013.

Nominees: 

• Canon EOS 100D
• Sony Alpha SLT-A58

And the Winner Is...

The EOS 100D is the world’s lightest and smallest DSLR with an APS-C sensor, which makes it easier to carry around. That also leads to its biggest drawback; mounting large lenses will make the whole thing unwieldy.

Where the 100D shines is in its user-friendliness, it has a 3-inch capacitive touch-screen and a well-designed UI which makes it easy to change settings. The 1.04 million-dot display is rich and vivid, and is still a Canon standard that not every camera maker has reached. Thanks to the hybrid AF system, shooting in Live View is smooth, and you can even touch to focus. Good image quality is a given.

In the end, its user friendliness is what makes the Canon 100D win this category.

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 Midrange DSLR Camera

These days, the lines between professional and enthusiast DSLR cameras have seriously blurred. Mid-range DSLR cameras have become increasingly sophisticated, and full-frame entry-level DLSR and mirrorless models have been released in the past couple of years. For anyone wanting power without taking the leap to full-frame, these two APS-C cameras are your best bet.

Nominees: 

• Canon EOS 70D
• Nikon D7100

And the Winner Is...

The Nikon D7100 comes with a 24MP sensor, and – surprisingly – no optical low-pass filter. When used with an average lens, the difference in image quality is minute, but when paired with a good lens, the D7100 can capture much more detail than a camera with an OLPF.

In fact, DxOMark gives the D7100 an overall score of 83, while the 70D gets 68. It does state that in real world terms, it would be hard to see any difference though. And even though stills are rated slightly better than the 70D, video quality is not as good as the 70D’s. The D7100 also comes with the 51-point AF system used in Nikon’s best cameras, the D800 and D4, most importantly the 51 points cover a slightly wider area than the Canon 70D, which means that more of the frame gets covered.

The D7100 does come with its own weaknesses however. AF is slow in Live View, and the LV menus are sparse and badly designed. While the 70D sports a touch-screen, Nikon still has zero touch-screen DSLRs. The 70D also has built-in Wi-Fi, which the D7100 lacks. The 70D, thanks to its Dual Pixel AF, is a much better camera for shooting video. The lack of an optical low-pass filter, while enabling the D7100 to capture more clarity, risks the appearance of moiré artifacts.

But the D7100 has a tougher magnesium alloy body, weather and dust sealing, a larger screen with higher resolution, can hold dual SD cards, and has a larger AF area with more AF points. If you want a video DSLR or one with easy connectivity, the Canon 70D is the better camera. But for pure stills photography, we would say go with the D7100.

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 four of the top 1080p consumer-level camcorders in the market right now. So which is the one that we think is the best?

Nominees: 

• Canon Legria HF G30
• JVC GC-PX100B
• Panasonic HC-X920M
• Sony Handycam HDR-PJ790VE

And the Winner Is...

If you noticed, the Legria HF G30's 1/2.84-inch sensor packs only 3 million pixels, far less than most other camcorders, which try to also masquerade as a high-megapixel still camera. The assumption is that by packing fewer but significantly larger pixels, the camcorder is able to offer much higher sensitivity, better low light performance, and more details due to the expanded dynamic range. And for the most part, the Legria HF G30 does achieve all that. In addition, the camcorder's Intelligent IS image stabilizer is very effective, switching between four modes automatically based on scenarios, with the Dynamic mode employing a 5-axis correction.

The 1080p-capable G30 has several design wins too: a detachable lens hood with a built-in barrier in place of a lens cap, a front lens ring that makes focusing and zooming a breeze, a joystick at the back of the camera that makes menu selection easy, and the five customizable buttons found at various parts of the body. The built-in dual-band Wi-Fi is another highlight, allowing you to control the camcorder remotely or upload videos online via a mobile device. All that said, the G30 is also unmistakably heavier and bigger than its peers. Even though the hand strap is comfortable, at 765g, you'll feel the strain after prolonged use.

Coupled with a gorgeous 3.5-inch OLED touchscreen and a generous 20x optical zoom lens (with F1.8-2.8 maximum aperture) make the G30 the best flagship camcorder we've tested to date. But do remember to set aside some money for a few SDXC cards, as it doesn't come with any built-in storage. It's also worth pointing out that at S$2,499, it costs the same as the projector and 96GB flash memory-equipped Sony Handycam HDR-PJ790VE, which we put in second place. You can't go wrong with either camcorder really, but the G30's well though out controls just happened to appeal to us that little bit more.

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 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 three 3LCD projectors designed for conference room and classroom use, and which are priced no more than S$2,500 and are launched during our Tech Awards testing qualifying period. They all have an WXGA native resolution (that is, 1,280 x 800 pixels) and brightness of at least 3,700 ANSI lumens or greater.

Nominees: 

• NEC P451W
• Panasonic PT-VW345NZ
• Sony VPL-EW276

And the Winner Is...

The NEC P451W gets most of things one should look out for in a business-oriented projector right. At 4,500 lumens, it's the brightest of the three, which we found to be great for overcoming all but the strongest of ambient light in a boardroom.

Its 1.7x zoom lens is also the longest of the bunch; its 16W speaker the loudest; and it's the only projector here that comes with dual HDMI inputs. And let's not forgetting the vertical lens shift function, a rarity for projectors in this class. If you're looking for an entry-level installation projector for a large venue, the P451W should also make your shortlist.

Performance-wise, it's pretty much spot on out of the box, with razor-sharp text and good color saturation. Even for movies, we're impressed by its excellent contrast and preservation of shadow details. And if there's anything that you aren't happy with, there's a plethora of display controls you can fiddle with to get the image looking just right. If we've any gripe, it'll be that its otherwise excellent software tools are too Windows-centric.

The Panasonic PT-VW345NZ comes in a close second, but that's not because it's the cheapest of the bunch. It also turns in very good data and video performances; coupled with features like a 1.6x zoom lens, a compact and lightweight chassis (compared to the rest), fairly platform-agnostic software features, and Miracast support, it offers undeniably good value.

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

Sure, almost everyone today probably owns a smartphone with a sizable screen and perhaps even a tablet that they use to view and consume content. But when you want to get down to some serious watching or laze around to channel surf comfortably, users will always turn to their TVs. With a full range of smart features, 3D capabilities and upgraded synergy with smart devices thanks to the advent of technologies such as Miracast, modern Full HD TVs are more than deserving of their place at the center of your living room. To contest in this category, we picked nominees that were launched within our Tech Awards test qualification period, have a screen size of 55 inches, boast a complete Smart TV platform and cost under S$5,000.

Nominees: 

• LG 55LA8600
• Panasonic Viera TH-L55WT60
• Philips 55PFL8008S/12
• Samsung UA55F80000AK
• Sony Bravia KDL-W954A

And the Winner Is...

With premium LED TVs, it’s the little things that matter. The Samsung UA55F8000AK’s attention to detail, no matter how small, and stellar all-round performance make it worthy of the Best Premium Smart LED TV award. Every high-end television boasts a suite of smart features, but none of them are as coherently executed as the Samsung Smart Hub. With a user-friendly interface, navigating the wide selection of apps and options is easy, plus users can also issue voice and gesture commands. Additionally, the UA55F80000AK is Evolution Kit compatible, which means the TV can be upgraded to a newer Smart Hub, should the owner be willing to shell out a little extra cash. Performance for the Samsung UA55F8000AK is top-notch as can be expected from a product of this caliber. The overall tone is close to neutral. Colors for Blu-ray content are spot on and the TV also exhibited great black levels. As an added bonus, good noise cancelling features allow for DVD content to be viewed without much discomfort. Simply put, the UA55F8000AK delivers on every level one should expect from a premium smart LED TV.

LG's LA8600 was a close runner-up with fairly accurate colors, very good (but not exceptional) black details, and excellent motion performance. For the most part, 3D performance was great, with strong depth and flicker-free images. Sound quality is excellent (for a TV), especially with Clear Voice II enabled. Unfortunately, our two major gripes are the contrast loss when you're viewing from an off-center position and the slight input lag during gaming. Samsung's UAF8000AK, on the other hand, was free of these concerns and coupled with a smart TV platform that’s more evolved and refined, the Samsung F8000 offers a slightly better overall package and is the winner of this category.

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

The time for ultra-high definition, or 4K resolution as it is more commonly referred to, is upon us. Over the last year, we saw television manufacturers start increasing the depth and breadth of their 4K offerings. Ultra HD TVs moved away from their massive 80-inch to 100-inch sizes and started being offered in smaller panel sizes that can be accommodated in most homes with ease. So in this year's Best 4K TV segment, we've choosen to test out the range of 65-inch 4K TVs available in the market.

Nominees: 

• LG 65LA9700
• Samsung Series 9 UA65F9000AK
• Sony Bravia KDL-X8504A

And the Winner Is...

From the get-go the Samsung UA65F9000AK had an edge over the rest of the competitors due to its stunning visuals that put the screen at the center stage of the viewing experience. Much like the smart TV range found on Samsung’s full HD televisions, this 65-inch 4K TV also comes with the accomplished Smart Hub. While its 4K resolution already makes the UA65F9000AK better than standard TVs, it is the Smart Hub's good number of VOD services, news agglomeration and social media integration that help the UA65F9000AK gain an edge over the competition. Voice and gesture commands allow for a great deal of functionality as well.  4K resolution is the future of television, but meanwhile, the dearth of readily accessible 4K content means that deciding on the best 4K TV around depends on the upscaling capabilities of the contenders. Decent noise cancelling capability as well as spectacular blacks, along with a neutral tone, ensure that the UA65F9000AK is placed a cut above the rest.

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

For the sound bar product category, we have seen more improvements and upgrades over the last year. Interesting trends we've observed are that some manufacturers have focused on streamlining the design of their audio devices, while some have shifted focus on the sound bar’s core functionality of providing audio than trying to make the sound bar the center of the user’s AV ecosystem . That would mean directly hooking it up with relevant playback devices or using your TV as the hub for devices. This design choice tends to help reduce the price point of the sound bar and makes it even more accessible to a wider audience. Bearing in mind of our evaluation period, we rounded up suitable mid-range sound bars to find a worthy winner.

Nominees: 

• LG BB5530A
• Philips Fidelio HTL9100
• Samsung AirTrack HW-F850
• Sonos Playbar
• Yamaha YSP-1400
  
   

And the Winner Is...

Almost all of the contenders came equipped with wireless sub-woofers for improved placement flexibility and one of them, the Philips Fidelio HTL9100 even came with detachable wireless surround speakers. First seen in CES 2013, it has since become a highlight of the sound bar's surround sound experience. Indeed in our testing, this proved to be a strong advantage since the sound bar transforms from a typical 2.1- or 3.1-channel setup with virtual surround to one that mimics a 5.1-channel discrete speaker setup. Strong surround sound performance isn't the only thing going for it  as it has one of the best sounding sound bars that's able to recreate music that came closest to a neutral tone. Yet, it's also able to represent warmth, soul, emotion, clarity and render bass frequencies tastefully without being or overpowering the main audio. Topping its audio performance is easy setup, internet audio streaming services like Spotify and Deezer, and Bluetooth for direct playback from smart devices.

While the Philips Fidelio HTL9100 may not have a built-in Blu-ray player like the LG and Samsung counterparts, or the strong multi-room music expansion support and dead-simple setup process of the Sonos Playbar, the overall package offered by the Philips Fidelio HTL9100 and its strong audio performance more than made up for its asking price and is our natural winner of this year's best sound bar system category.

Yamaha's YSP-1400 made a very decent attempt to counter the other mid-range sound bar solutions, and to a certain extent it can hold its own considering that it's the only contender that doesn't come with a separate sub-woofer unit. It's in fact a one-piece sound bar solution and for what it is, it works great, but it's a bit bulky and it couldn't rival the best in our roundup.

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 In-Ear Earphones

For all the advances smartphones have made, the audio delivered either via the phone's speakers or its accompanying earphones still lack in quality. This is why in-ear earphones and smartphone purchases remain a classic pairing. With the surge in uptake of mobility devices from smartphones, to phablets and tablets, the need for comfortable, portable and great sounding earphones remain at an all-time high with a record number of brands and options made available in retail.  In this year's inaugural category of our Editor's Choice segment, we focused our efforts on quality performance in-ear earphones that would appeal to mainstream upgraders with products priced between S$200 and S$300 and have been launched within our qualification period.

Nominees:

• KEF M200
• Klipsch X4i
• Onkyo IE-HF300
• Philips Fidelio S2
• Sony XBA-H2
• Shure SE215 Special Edition
  
   

And the Winner Is...

The Shure SE215 Special Edition shows why everyone, barring none, should ditch the packaged earphones that came with their mobile device and invest in something better. The unique wearing style which loops the earphone wire over and around the ear may not be to everybody’s liking. But no one should have qualms with the audio performance of the earphones. Offering a great seal which keeps ambient noise out to an extent, the Shure SE215 Special Edition delivers powerful bass. The middle frequencies are rendered with a dynamic touch and the highs are vibrant. All in all, the SE215 Special Edition is one lively in-ear earphones that we would happily recommend.

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 Headphones for Everyday Use

If you are willing to forgo a little bit of portability, headphones are an excellent option for those looking to enjoy some quality audio. Modern headphones not only come with greater compatibility with smartphones, but are now designed for easy transportation and stowage. We round up a selection of high performance over-ear headphones priced between S$350 to S$500 that are perfect for everyday use and determine the victor.

Nominees: 

• Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro
• Bose AE2w
• Creative Sound Blaster Evo Zx
• Philips Fidelio X1
• Sennheiser Momentum
• Yamaha HPH-MT220
  
   

And the Winner Is...

If you’re looking for new on-ears, you can’t go wrong with the Sennheiser Momentum. The headphones have a modern aesthetic with a leather headband and metal constructed ear-cup sliders that should appeal to urban sensibilities. Extremely lightweight and portable, the Momentum also comes with a carrying case, making it easy to transport. The headphones themselves are comfortable when worn and provide great sound. While the tone might favor the lower frequencies a tiny bit, the overall melody is always rendered well whether the source is MP3s, music streaming services such as Spotify, CD tracks or even lossless recordings. The Sennheiser Momentum hits every mark any modern consumer would expect from their headphones. It looks stylish, sounds great, is comfortable and portable along with offering compatibility with smartphones.

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

Not every headphone with flashy aesthetics can be labelled with the "gaming" tag. To qualify as a legitimate gaming headphone, the product has to provide superior surround sound and greater levels of detail when compared to standard audio products. The year 2013 saw a slew of gaming headphones released and many of them came with USB based sound processing to help them emulate 7.1-channel surround sound. It is these contenders that we tried and tested to discover the best gaming headphone in this year's Editor's Choice award category.

Nominees:

• Plantronics GameCom Commander
• Razer Kraken 7.1
• Roccat Kulo 7.1
• Sennheiser PC 363D
• SteelSeries Siberia Elite
  
   

And the Winner Is...

The Sennheiser PC 363D is a rather drab looking gaming headset. But don’t let its appearance fool you. The headset is able to deliver unbelievably accurate, 7.1-channel surround sound with the help of Dolby technologies and an excellent USB based sound processor that is included as part of the package. With large, properly scalloped XXL ear-cups the Sennheiser PC 363D is a headset that users can keep on using for an extended duration. Over the course of our testing we found the Sennheiser contender to not only be the most comfortable but also had no complaints with regards to our ears overheating after prolonged usage. Brands like Razer and SteelSeries may be more recognizable to gamers. Both the Razer Kraken 7.1 and the Siberia Elite are gorgeous looking products, but if you’re serious about upping your game, the Sennheiser PC 363D’s performance levels should win you over.

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

Portable wireless speakers have been around for a few years and it looks like they are here to stay. But over the last year, we have seen them evolve to become more user-friendly and even more convenient to transport. Besides the Bluetooth capabilities, one of the major additions is NFC compatibility and AAC / Apt-X codecs. The former helps with the pairing process while the latter helps mitigate the loss of quality when data is transmitted over Bluetooth. For this year's consideration, we're considering portable wireless speakers that weigh below 1kg, have NFC support, must be battery-powered and is priced in the upper tier segment of around S$300.

Nominees: 

• Beats Pill
• Creative Airwave HD
• IUI Design Mirror Boombox (Union Jack)
• Logitech UE Boom
• Yamaha NX-P100
  
   

And the Winner Is...

No, this is not an oversized Toblerone bar, this is the Creative Airwave HD. This portable wireless speaker comes with a built-in lithium-ion battery that allows it to function without the need for it to be plugged into a power source. The Creative Airwave HD comes with both Bluetooth and NFC compatibility, which gives it an edge over the standard Bluetooth speaker. Pairing your smartphone with the Airwave HD is as simple as tapping your phone on the NFC tag. The audio from the Creative Airwave HD is also bereft of the common flaws associated with Bluetooth speakers. Bass is defined and does not lack impact, while mids are properly represented in the mix. The overall tone of the speakers is good and the Creative Airwave HD is great value for money.

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 Consumer Tablet (8-Inch & Below)

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 2013, the table market grew with more manufacturers focusing on the smaller tablet category of 8-inch and below. This award category seeks to pick out the best of them, one that's prized for its performance, portability, build and value.

Nominees: 

• Apple iPad Mini with Retina Display
• ASUS Nexus 7 (2013)
• Lenovo Yoga Tablet 8
• Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0

And the Winner Is...

Last year's Apple iPad Mini was a let-down as it comes with a display resolution that is lower than its competitors. In addition, a more expensive price tag made it hard for us or anyone else to justify it being the best 7-inch tablet. This year, there is no reason to deny Apple its claim to the throne.

Not only did Apple squeeze in a higher resolution display and a bigger battery capacity, but it achieved these without sacrificing portability. It remains one of the lightest and slimmest tablet in its class. The design, feel and build quality of the iPad Mini remain unparalleled.

As it is still more expensive than most of the competition, the iPad Mini with Retina Display does not have a clear victory by virtue of its hardware. What gave it the edge over the other tablets in this category is the app ecosystem. With over 475,000 tablet optimized apps, you can do much more on the iPad Mini with Retina display and in quality.

The Nexus 7 (2013) comes in at a close second, but its incremental upgrades and lack of tablet optimized apps disappointed us this year.

*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 Consumer Tablet (10-inch)

Following the 8-inch and below 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 usually comes with better screen technology, and of course, higher resolution than its smaller 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 six candidates that fit our timeline of consideration for our awards, have Full-HD or higher resolutions and are primarily targeted for content consumption. As such, our candidates are all from the iOS and Android OS categories:-

Nominees: 

• Apple iPad Air
• ASUS Transformer Pad TF701T
• HP Slatebook X2
• Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition
• Sony Xperia Tablet Z
• Toshiba Excite Write

And the Winner Is...

Apple embarked on its first major design revamp for the 9.7-inch iPad since its introduction in 2010. The company managed to reduce the overall volume of the iPad Air by 24%, making it one of the most portable tablets in its class. 

Much of the upgrades are under the hood; the iPad Air runs on the next generation 64-bit A7 processor. While there ain't many apps to take advantage of the extra processing power, you can be assured that Apple is preparing its entire iPad and iPhone portfolio to take advantage of what's to come in the years ahead - perhaps desktop class performance in a lighter, more portable form factor than laptops.

Sony challenges it with the Xperia Tablet Z, which is easily the most well-designed Android tablet we've seen thus far. It may be thinner than the iPad Air, but it cannot compete with Apple in terms of user experience. Performance-wise, the Xperia Tablet Z has much to catch up especially in the aspect of battery mileage. Its trump card is however dust and waterproof certification which none others can claim to have.

ASUS offers an alternative take on tablet-laptop hybrid with its Transformer Pad TF701T, one that can transform into a laptop with its keyboard dock. With it features and asking price, this tablet ranks high on value and versatility. However, consumers may not be able to do more beyond the standard web surfing and typing of documents and reply emails as it lacks a strong ecosystem of apps optimized for use on tablets. It also lacks the polished feel of the Apple iPad Air. As such, even though the ASUS Transformer Pad TF701T ranks higher in overall ratings (mostly due to its great value), the HWM+HarwareZone Tech Awards 2014 Editor's Choice for the best 10-inch consumer tablet goes to the Apple iPad Air for its better build, user experience and tablet optimized app ecosystem.

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 iPad AIr is still in a class of its own and a cut above the rest for most consumers.

*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$600, has LTE data connectivity and comes with all-round performance with a more affordable price bracket than their top-tier counterparts. In no order of merit, this year's nominees includes:

Nominees: 

• HTC Desire 601
• Nokia Lumia 625
• Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini with LTE
• Sony Xperia SP

And the Winner Is...

To be able to excel in all fronts is a difficult feat and the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini with LTE comes closer than any of its competitors.

On design and handling aspects, the Galaxy S4 Mini is the lightest and thinnest among the phones compared. As a result, the Galaxy S4 Mini feels quite comfortable to use in one hand which we think will appeal to most consumers looking for a device in this category.  

It may not have the best display resolution in this class, but the Galaxy S4 Mini impressed us with rich and vibrant colors of its Super AMOLED display. Samsung has equipped the Galaxy S4 Mini with a truckload of software features, some of which are useful such as Smart Stay. Its 8-megapixel rear camera also takes quite good photos.

More importantly, the Galaxy S4 Mini boasts the best battery performance in its class thanks to the power-efficient AMOLED display. Its 1,900mAh battery is also removable, thus easily serviceable in the future.

*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, BlackBerry, HTC, LG, Motorola, Nokia and Sony Mobile, all of which have shown compelling reasons to vie for the prestigious Best High-end Smartphone award. Most of the changes we've noticed in this segment of the industry revolved around phone makers shifting their focus to bigger displays and better camera hardware. As we shortlist the nominees for this year, take note that we've evaluated each device beyond the standard performance and usability aspects, to its supporting apps ecosystem. This year, the following devices have made it to the list:

Nominees: 

• Apple iPhone 5S
• The new ASUS PadFone Infinity
• BlackBerry Z30
• HTC One
• LG G2
• Nokia Lumia 1020
• Samsung Galaxy S4
• Sony Xperia Z1

And the Winner Is...

Apple has always led the innovation in the mobile space and the iPhone 5S is no exception. It stands out from the competition in three areas: biometric fingerprint sensor, 64-bit A7 processor, and its 8-megapixel rear camera.

Biometric fingerprint sensors are used on a number of devices before the introduction of the iPhone 5S, but they were troublesome to use or provided inconsistent user experience. This is where the iPhone 5S shines; its implementation is so seamless and smooth that you will not want to go back to using passcodes.

Its new A7 processor is a generation ahead of the competition even though it is just a dual-core processor. Apple's superior optimizations gives the A7 an edge over its quad-core counterparts in Android flagship smartphones. Meanwhile, its 64-bit processing nature would stand in good stead as the app ecosystem evolves in the near future to harness the extra processing throughput offered by the processor.

Last but not least, joining the megapixel race is never on Apple's game plan. Instead, it focused on increasing the sensor size and aperture for better low light photo captures. As it turned out, the 8-megapixel rear camera of the iPhone 5S holds up pretty well against the 13-megapixel cameras on some Android smartphones. 

Factor in these hardware advances along with the class-leading app ecosystem and it's easy to see why the Apple iPhone 5S is king despite tough competition from its competitors.

*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 Phablet

Not everybody wants a phone and a tablet to do different things. Nowadays, there is an increasing number of consumers who want the best of both worlds - one device that can perform the functions of two. Samsung created the "phablet" market in 2011 with the first Galaxy Note. Today, almost every brand has a phablet offering. 



For this new Editor's Choice category, it is not about having the biggest screen size anymore. We are looking at a combination of factors such as design, handling, features and performance. In no order of merit, this year's nominees includes:

Nominees: 

• HTC One Max
• Huawei Ascend Mate
• LG Optimus G Pro
• Nokia Lumia 1520
• Samsung Galaxy Note 3
• Sony Xperia Z Ultra

And the Winner Is...

Having created the phablet category three years ago, Samsung has more time and experience than any other brands to refine its phablets. As a result, the Galaxy Note 3 feels more complete as a phablet compared to its rivals.

Despite coming with a larger display, the third generation Galaxy Note is more ergonomically designed than its predecessor. Samsung managed to shave off some thickness and weight on the Galaxy Note 3, while we can't say the same for some competing brands. 

It may not have the biggest display at 5.7-inches, but Samsung is probably the only one who takes full advantage of the extra screen real estate on the Galaxy Note 3 with useful software features such as Multi-Window.

Furthermore, none of the competing phablets can offer a compelling alternative to Samsung's S Pen functionality on the Galaxy Note 3, which has been refined over three generations. Its suite of apps and services such as Air Command are optimized for use with the S Pen. Performance-wise, the Galaxy Note 3 pulls ahead of the pack with its ultra long battery life and smooth usage experience.

*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 Camera Smartphone

Camera smartphones have come a long way since the previous decade when these devices were typically equipped with VGA-resolution rear cameras. Their performance and expectations were so low that the conventional point and shoot camera reigned supreme by a large margin.

However, all that has changed significantly In the past three years as mainstream imaging is now handled primarily by smartphones and phone makers have kept improving the camera hardware in their phones. As these brands push the boundaries for smartphone imaging, there are a handful of imaging innovations such as HTC's UltraPixel and Nokia's PureView that can deliver stunning image quality. Without further ado, here's the list of nominees that qualify for this category:-

Nominees: 

• Apple iPhone 5S
• HTC One
• Nokia Lumia 1020
• Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom
• Sony Xperia Z1

And the Winner Is...

Nokia's innovation in camera technologies for smartphones is unrivaled in the industry. When we reviewed the Lumia 1020, we dubbed it as the camera phone to end all camera phones. This is due to the impressive camera hardware and software packed in the Lumia 1020.

Thanks to its larger-than-life sensor, wide aperture of f/2.2 and optical image stabilization, the Lumia 1020 delivers image quality that surpasses all other camera phones in any scenario, including low light photography. 

Aside from its hardware prowess, Nokia also developed the Camera app which guides beginners through the various photography tools such as exposure and shutter speed, and gives advanced users plenty of tools to edit their work. For more information on the Lumia 1020, do check out our review.

The Sony Xperia Z1's 20.7-megapixel G lens sounds impressive on paper, but in reality, its imaging performance leaves much to be desired. When shot with manual mode, photos are full of image noise and artificial-looking checkered artifacts. The one aspect where the Xperia Z1 excels are colors; they are rich and natural-looking. You can find out more about the Xperia Z1's imaging performance in our shootout article.

*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.

References

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