ZDNET’s Best of 2025 awards designate market-leading consumer technology across devices and services. The awards identify winners from major vendors such as Samsung, Apple and Oppo. Therefore they highlight competitive shifts in hardware, software and services. Because the program aggregates lab and field testing, it emphasizes measurable performance, longevity and user experience. As a result, stakeholders use the Best of 2025 awards to calibrate product road maps and retail strategies. ZDNET editors note that “ZDNET Recommends” reflects consensus testing and expert review. Winners include flagship smartphones, premium displays and AI-enabled wearables. This signals a broader trend toward high-refresh displays, advanced imaging and systems-level integration. Analysts will interpret the results as tactical data for supply chain planning and pricing. Investors and procurement teams can use the awards to benchmark category leaders and anticipate market share movements. The results will shape 2025 procurement and product strategies.
Market implications of the Best of 2025 awards
The Best of 2025 awards codify ZDNET’s category leaders across smartphones, displays and AI-enabled wearables. Because winners reflect both lab metrics and field testing, the outcomes carry procurement weight. As a result, OEMs such as Apple and Oppo gain leverage in retail placement and pricing. Retailers use the awards to update assortments quickly and prioritize higher-margin SKUs, thereby shaping shelf visibility. Analysts interpret the citations as signals for component demand, supply chain prioritization and inventory forecasts. For example, ZDNET’s “ZDNET Recommends” designation signals rigorous review and market validation for listed products. Therefore investors adjust earnings models and competitive positioning assumptions for leaders and challengers. Consequently, product road maps emphasize imaging, high-refresh displays and integrated AI features to maintain category leadership.
Comparison of select Best of 2025 awards winners and strategic highlights.
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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 — Best foldable smartphone
Notable achievements and strategic highlights: 4.2 mm unfolded thinness; 200 MP main sensor; signals premium imaging focus
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Apple iPhone 17 — Best flagship smartphone
Notable achievements and strategic highlights: 120 Hz ProMotion display; dedicated telephoto lens; strengthens premium segmentation
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Oppo Find X9 Pro — Best camera phone
Notable achievements and strategic highlights: Dual-periscope 10x zoom; competitive imaging innovation from Chinese OEM
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TCL QM8K — Best TV display
Notable achievements and strategic highlights: Up to 5,000 nits peak brightness; robust local dimming; targets cinematic HDR market
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Sony WH-1000XM6 — Best noise-cancelling headphones
Notable achievements and strategic highlights: 12-microphone array; noted noise isolation; positions Sony in premium audio
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Google Pixel Watch 4 — Best smartwatch display
Notable achievements and strategic highlights: 3,000-nit display; emphasizes visibility and wearable brightness leadership
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Meta Ray-Bans 2 — Best smart glasses
Notable achievements and strategic highlights: 3K video recording; advances AR capture use cases for social wearables
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Dell Alienware 34 240Hz QD-OLED Monitor — Best gaming monitor
Notable achievements and strategic highlights: 240Hz QD-OLED; highlighted for visual fidelity and esports performance
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SanDisk ExtremeFit USB-C 256GB — Best portable storage
Notable achievements and strategic highlights: 256GB capacity; compact form factor; appeals to mobile professionals
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Roborock Saros 10R — Best robotic vacuum
Notable achievements and strategic highlights: Active chassis climbs obstacles; improved navigation and reliability
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Ecovacs Deebot X11 — Best robot mop and vacuum
Notable achievements and strategic highlights: Base empties, washes and mops with hot water; reduces maintenance burden
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Level Lock Pro — Best smart lock
Notable achievements and strategic highlights: Matter-over-Thread support; advances smart home interoperability and security
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Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro — Best privacy-focused camera
Notable achievements and strategic highlights: Local video processing; True Color Night Vision; prioritizes on-device privacy
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Logitech MX Master 4 — Best productivity mouse
Notable achievements and strategic highlights: Quiet Click switch; electromagnetic scroll wheel; targets hybrid work users
Strategic behaviors and competitive responses triggered by the Best of 2025 awards
Industry stakeholders execute rapid tactical moves once ZDNET’s Best of 2025 awards publish category winners. Because award recognition improves shelf visibility, original equipment manufacturers increase channel incentives and co-marketing spend. Consequently retailers prioritize awarded SKUs in assortments and promotional plans. OEMs also accelerate SKU tiering to protect share-of-wallet in premium segments.
Product road maps shift toward the capabilities that earned recognition. For example, Apple and Oppo leverage imaging and display wins to justify higher R&D and component allocation (Apple and Oppo). Therefore competitors reweight investment to match those feature sets. As a result, procurement teams seek stronger agreements with display and sensor suppliers to secure lead-time and price stability.
Investors and analysts react to the awards as forward-looking signals. ZDNET’s designation carries credibility for forecasting demand and margin expansion (ZDNET). Consequently equity research may revise volume and ASP estimates. Meanwhile channel partners renegotiate promotional funding and logistics priorities to reduce stockouts.
Overall, the Best of 2025 awards function as a tactical trigger. They catalyze innovation surges, supply chain reprioritization, and short-term alliance reshuffling across the consumer tech ecosystem.
ZDNET’s Best of 2025 awards consolidate measurable product leadership across consumer tech categories.
They deliver clear signals about winners in smartphones, displays and wearables.
Because the awards rely on lab and field testing, they influence procurement and retail decisions.
Investors and analysts use results to adjust forecasts and re-evaluate competitive positioning.
Consequently, OEMs reallocate R&D and supplier commitments to defend or expand market share.
Retailers prioritize awarded SKUs and renegotiate promotional funding to optimize margins.
Therefore the Best of 2025 awards function as a tactical input for supply chain planning.
Longer term, the awards accelerate innovation in imaging, high-refresh displays and integrated AI.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Best of 2025 awards?
The Best of 2025 awards are ZDNET’s annual recognitions for consumer technology. They combine lab measurement, field testing and editorial review. Because editors use standardized protocols, results reflect measurable performance and user experience. ZDNET labels winners under “ZDNET Recommends”.
How rigorous is the selection process?
ZDNET employs lab benchmarks, hands-on testing and cross-review. Therefore results weight durability, performance and real-world usability. Independent testing and editorial consensus reduce bias and ensure repeatability.
How do the awards affect procurement and retail?
Retailers prioritize awarded SKUs for placement and promotions. As a result OEMs receive stronger channel leverage. Procurement teams use the awards to validate supplier commitments and adjust inventory forecasts.
Do awards denote sustained market leadership?
They signal current category leadership. However awards do not guarantee long-term dominance. Companies must sustain R&D, supply resilience and pricing discipline.
How should stakeholders use the awards?
Use them as benchmarking inputs for road maps and vendor negotiations. Investors, buyers and channel partners can integrate award outcomes into forecasting and assortment decisions.
How should stakeholders monitor the sustainability of winning products?
To ensure sustainability, stakeholders should outline factors such as product durability, software update cadence, repairability, and analyze the long-term total cost of ownership. These aspects are crucial for informed procurement decisions and maintaining supply chain resilience.
How often are Best of 2025 awards updated?
The awards follow an annual cycle with category refreshes as needed. This periodic update allows for adjustments in pricing strategy and supply chain arrangements to accommodate new technological advancements and market demands.
What are the Best of 2025 awards?
The Best of 2025 awards are ZDNET’s annual recognitions for consumer technology. They combine lab measurement, field testing and editorial review. Because editors use standardized protocols, results reflect measurable performance and user experience. ZDNET labels winners under “ZDNET Recommends”.
How rigorous is the selection process?
ZDNET employs lab benchmarks, hands-on testing and cross-review. Therefore results weight durability, performance and real-world usability. Independent testing and editorial consensus reduce bias and ensure repeatability.
How do the awards affect procurement and retail?
Retailers prioritize awarded SKUs for placement and promotions. As a result OEMs receive stronger channel leverage. Procurement teams use the awards to validate supplier commitments and adjust inventory forecasts.
Do awards denote sustained market leadership?
They signal current category leadership. However awards do not guarantee long-term dominance. Companies must sustain R&D, supply resilience and pricing discipline.
How should stakeholders use the awards?
Use them as benchmarking inputs for road maps and vendor negotiations. Investors, buyers and channel partners can integrate award outcomes into forecasting and assortment decisions.
How should stakeholders monitor the sustainability of winning products?
To ensure sustainability, stakeholders should outline factors such as product durability, software update cadence, repairability, and analyze the long-term total cost of ownership. These aspects are crucial for informed procurement decisions and maintaining supply chain resilience.
How often are Best of 2025 awards updated?
The awards follow an annual cycle with category refreshes as needed. This periodic update allows for adjustments in pricing strategy and supply chain arrangements to accommodate new technological advancements and market demands.
