The year 2026 has been a remarkable period for technological breakthroughs, witnessing a surge of innovative products despite global challenges such as component scarcity and escalating costs. The TechRadar Readers' Choice Awards for 2026 recognize the leading devices and brands across a spectrum of categories, including mobile phones, photographic equipment, computing solutions, gaming hardware, home entertainment systems, audio accessories, health and fitness gadgets, and smart home technology. These awards are particularly significant as they reflect the collective voice of tech enthusiasts, who cast their votes for the products that truly impressed them with their performance, value, and forward-thinking design.
Among the standout winners, Apple's iPhone 18 Pro was crowned 'Phone of the Year' and 'Best Camera Phone', lauded for its advanced camera system, powerful chipset, and sleek design. Sony dominated the camera and home entertainment categories, with its A7R VI mirrorless camera winning 'Camera of the Year' and 'Best Professional Camera', and the Bravia 9 II TV taking 'TV of the Year' and 'Best mini-LED TV'. Google's Pixel 11 Pro earned recognition as the 'Best AI Phone', showcasing its deep integration of artificial intelligence features. The awards also celebrated breakthroughs like the Antigravity A1, the world's first 360-degree drone, and Philips Hue Essential series, making smart lighting more accessible. These selections underscore a year where innovation continued to flourish, offering consumers advanced and thoughtfully designed technology.
Mobile Devices and Photography Excellence
In the realm of mobile technology, readers overwhelmingly favored Apple's iPhone 18 Pro, crowning it 'Phone of the Year' and 'Best Camera Phone.' Its advanced camera system, featuring a variable aperture and professional controls, along with a high-speed chipset and impressive battery life, truly set it apart. Apple also secured 'Phone Brand of the Year,' demonstrating its comprehensive appeal across various user needs, from high-end flagships to more budget-friendly options, all while maintaining a high standard of quality and offering genuine enhancements over previous models. Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 was recognized for 'Phones Innovation of the Year' due to its novel passport-shaped foldable design, offering a portable yet expansive screen experience. The iPhone 17e garnered the 'Best Value Phone' award, showcasing that affordability within the premium brand can still deliver robust features and longevity.
The iPhone 18 Pro, along with the iPhone 18 Pro Max, truly excelled with its camera capabilities, boasting a triple 48MP camera setup that includes wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto lenses. The unique variable aperture on the wide lens, coupled with new professional controls, gives users unprecedented creative freedom and precision in their photography. Beyond its camera, the iPhone 18 Pro's A20 Pro chipset and enhanced thermal management ensure smooth performance, making it an excellent choice for gaming as well, hence its 'Best Gaming Phone' accolade. Apple's ecosystem continues to offer a superior selection of high-quality, optimized games. The iPhone 17e, though not the cheapest, offers exceptional value with double the storage of its predecessor at a competitive price, retaining features like MagSafe and the powerful A19 chipset, promising long-term usability and value retention. Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8's innovative form factor, which is both pocketable and provides a large unfolded screen, alongside its powerful performance and display quality, makes it a true pioneer in the foldable phone market. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 was also celebrated as the 'Best Flip Phone,' for its new vlogging features and slimmer design, solidifying Samsung's leadership in the foldable sector. The Google Pixel 11 Pro emerged as the 'Best AI Phone', integrating AI features deeply into its operating system for practical enhancements like voice dictation and advanced photography, offering a compelling alternative to Apple and Samsung's dominance.
Computing, Gaming, and Home Entertainment Innovations
In the computing sector, Apple's impact was once again evident, securing 'Computing Brand of the Year' with its accessible MacBook Neo, which offered a premium experience at a competitive price point, pushing competitors to innovate. Nvidia's DLSS 4.5 was lauded for 'Best Computing Innovation,' dramatically improving PC gaming performance with superior image quality and advanced frame generation. The Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (2026) was recognized as the 'Best Gaming Laptop,' delivering desktop-level performance with its powerful RTX 5090 GPU and Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, complemented by a stunning mini-LED display. For handheld gaming, the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X20 was praised as the 'Best PC Gaming Handheld' for its refined design, OLED screen, and improved controls, providing a budget-friendly yet high-quality option. Turtle Beach dominated the gaming peripherals, with its Stealth Pro 2 headset winning 'Gaming Device of the Year' and 'Best Gaming Headset,' and its MC7 mouse taking 'Gaming Innovation of the Year' for its integrated touchscreen.
The MacBook Neo's introduction at a surprisingly low price by Apple spurred significant competition in the laptop market, making premium computing more accessible despite subsequent price adjustments. Nvidia's DLSS 4.5, with its enhanced Dynamic Multi Frame Generation and 6X Frame Generation capabilities, marks a significant leap in AI upscaling, allowing gamers to experience higher frame rates and superior visuals without compromising performance. The Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (2026) exemplifies high-performance gaming on the go, packing a powerful RTX 5090 laptop GPU and Intel Core Ultra 9 processor into an 18-inch mini-LED display that offers breathtaking visuals, albeit at a premium cost. The Asus ROG Xbox Ally X20, a refinement of its predecessor, provides a more affordable entry into PC handheld gaming with an impressive OLED screen and enhanced haptic controls. Turtle Beach's Stealth Pro 2, a five-star rated headset, earned its 'Gaming Device of the Year' title through exceptional sound quality, extended battery life, and a refined design. The Turtle Beach MC7 gaming mouse, with its innovative built-in touchscreen for macros and shortcuts, pushed the boundaries of gaming peripheral functionality, leading to its 'Gaming Innovation of the Year' award. Xbox Game Pass was recognized as the 'Best Gaming Service,' providing excellent value with a vast library of games, while the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Race KD3 wheel was honored as the 'Best Console Accessory' for its immersive racing experience. The Turtle Beach Pacific Skyline Wireless Controller, with its retro aesthetic, RGB lighting, and customizable features, stood out as the 'Best Gaming Controller'.
