After dozens of categories, winners, runners-up and honourable mentions, we come to the pinnacle of this year’s awards. At long last, we can reveal the Big Kahuna, the cream of the crop, the tech top boy, and the grandest gadget of them all.

Unlike others we don’t publicise our longlist or accept money for entries. All our winners are chosen by the team behind this website and Stuff magazine, editorially independent of any commercial concerns. 

So, with all that said, and with no further ado, let’s get to it. Here’s 2023’s best gadget, along with five more products that troubled it for the top spot.

• See all our Stuff Gadget Award winners

Best gadget of the year: Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

It might be that the days of great annual leaps forward for the iPhone are behind us, but even so Apple manages to find ways to improve upon its iconic smartphone year on year on year.

In this case it’s a new titanium enclosure that’s lighter and slightly thinner without compromising on strength; a user-configurable Action button; a raft of upgrades to the camera, including a 5x optical zoom on the telephoto lens; the latest A17 Pro processor chip; and, yes, that long overdue USB-C port, ushering in significantly faster transfer speeds to suit the workflows of professional videographers and photographers.

Not all these improvements are revolutionary, sure, but the cumulative effect is formidable – this is a phone with power to spare, a glorious array of cameras, a beautiful (if unchanged display) and rapid and flexible connectivity. It’s a glorious piece of technology, and this year’s best gadget.

• Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max review

Highly commended: Sonos Era 300, Sony PlayStation VR2

We’ve got two worthy runners-up this year. First up, Sonos’ wonderful Era 300, a premium wireless speaker that pulls no punches, gleefully serving up transformative spatial audio, excellent stereo and – if you add Alexa – functions as possibly the best smart speaker on the planet. If you’re looking for a reason to kickstart your home’s multiroom era, it’s raising both hands in the air like an overeager school kid.

• Sonos Era 300 review

Then there’s Sony’s revolutionary PS VR 2 – perhaps not a gadget for everybody, but a welcome slice of pioneering riskiness from a company not always renowned for such boldness. It’s an expensive add-on for an expensive console and it demands you invest in expensive VR games, but it’s a massive improvement on the original PS VR and quite simply a wonderful piece of mainstream tech.

• Sony PlayStation VR 2 review

Also shortlisted: Sony WF-1000XM5, Dyson Gen5 Detect, LG C3 OLED

Big, year-sized props are deserved by a further three tech starlets: the Sony WF-1000XM5 true wireless earbuds (exceptional noise-cancelling and comfy buds), Dyson’s Gen5 Detect (hands-down the best handheld vac on the scene) and the LG C3 OLED (a TV with no weaknesses whatsoever). Pats on the back all round.

• See all our Stuff Gadget Award winners

Want some more affordable phones? Check out our picks for mid-range and affordable phone of 2023.

While genuine cutting-edge innovation has largely been replaced by incremental nudges forward among big names like Apple, Samsung, Google et al, 2023 has seen the introduction of some superlative, feature-packed models that represent the very best smartphones these brands have produced to date. And there is innovation to be found – even if it’s just changing one type of connection for another.

We might be some years from another major breakthrough in design or performance, but it’s difficult to be disappointed with this year’s haul of top-of-the-range smartphones.

• See all our Stuff Gadget Award winners

Best flagship phone of the year: Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

Future history books may remember this as the first premium iPhone to ditch the Lightning port for USB-C (a change that brings with it a chunk of benefits like quicker transfer speed, easier SSD hook-up and use of USB hubs) but we found so much more to adore about the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Its titanium body is a little lighter and feels a lot nicer in the hand than the previous Pro Max, and Apple’s improvements to the camera – such as a new 5x telephoto zoom replacing the 3x zoom – are wonderful. The upgrade from the 14 Pro Max still feels evolutionary rather than something more radical, but nevertheless, this is the best iPhone Apple has made yet.

• Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max review

Highly commended: Google Pixel 8 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

Sorry. We tried to pick a single runner-up, honestly, but 2023’s phone crop was so munificent that we couldn’t stick with just the one. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is an absolute beast of a handset, offering all-round performance, IP68 build quality, an incredible screen, all-day battery life, stonking camera setup and an asking price that’ll make your eyes water.

• Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra review

Meanwhile, the Pixel 8 Pro is another photographic triumph from Google, delivering excellent shots no matter the lighting conditions, and its AI-assisted editing tricks feel anything but gimmicky.

• Google Pixel 8 Pro review

Also shortlisted: Honor Magic 5 Pro, OnePlus 11, Xiaomi 13 Pro, Sony Xperia I V

But what a year it’s been for smartphones! In addition to our winner and runners-up, we also feel compelled to tip our hat to a further four models that left us mightily impressed in 2023: the Honor Magic 5 Pro (a truly stellar shooter), he OnePlus 11 (flagship specs at an amenable price), the Xiaomi 13 Pro (outstanding all-round performance) and the Sony Xperia I V (superb manual camera capabilities and stonking 4K screen).

2023 has been another stellar year for headphones of all shapes, sizes and price points. Dozens of cans, buds and things in between have passed over our reviewers’ lugholes. From cyberpunk-esque air purifying and noise cancelling headphones to sporty bone conduction neckband buds primed for active types, there really is something for everybody here. So cue up your favourite tune and find out which of this year’s releases hit the heights. We’ve four different sub-categories for you: over-ear, true wireless, affordable and fitness.

• See all our Stuff Gadget Award winners so far

Best over-ear headphones of 2023: Focal Bathys

Focal’s no stranger to the world of high-end over-ear headphone. The Bathys is the French company’s first pair to come equipped with Active Noise Cancellation technology. They also come at a price that makes most of their competitors (including models we’ve heartily recommended as the best noise-cancelling headphones around) look positively bargain bucket-suitable in comparison. So they’d have to be pretty darn special to earn a nod from us. Needless to say, they are. These handcrafted ‘phones offer not only glorious audio (including hi-res, thanks to a wired listening option) but excellent battery life and a comfortable fit. Perfect for those long-haul flights.

• Focal Bathys review

Highly commended: Dyson Zone

Possibly the strangest mainstream gadget we’ve ever reviewed, the Zone isn’t just a pair of headphones. It’s also a facial air purifier that leaves the wearer looking like something out of the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Luckily its appeal goes further than Space Marine cosplayers, because the sound quality, design and bespoke tech inside are all top-notch. It’s clear that these really aren’t for everybody, but we can’t help but admire Dyson’s pioneering chutzpah in launching them.

• Dyson Zone review

Also shortlisted: JBL Tour One M2, Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2

Not all the ear-wrappers we adored in 2023 were staggeringly expensive. The JBL Tour One M2 are top-tier noise cancellers with a pillow-comfy design and give the imperious Sony XM5s a run for their money. And Skullcandy’s aptly named Crusher ANC 2 not only take beefy bass to almost comical levels of boom but do a great sideline in noise cancelling.

Best true wireless headphones of 2023: Sony WF-1000XM5

For years and several product generations, Sony has quietly (no pun intended) sat at the top of the tree when it comes to active noise-cancelling true wireless headphones. The WF-1000XM5 is the company’s fifth iteration of its top-of-the-range noise-killing buds. They’re another category-defining product that, in the face of challengers from the likes of Bose, Sennheiser, Apple and Technics, makes vital improvements and tweaks across the board. If you’re looking for well-rounded true wireless ‘phones with zero weaknesses, these are the buds for you.

• Sony WF-1000XM5 review

Highly commended: Technics EAH-AZ80

Envisioned as do-it-all headphones we can use at home, on the commute and in the gym (thus negating the need to own multiple sets of cans), these versatile buds offer up a genuine alternative to the stellar XM5s through a combination of nicely tuned audio, effective noise cancelling tech and a secure and comfortable fit.

• Technics EAH-AZ80 review

Also shortlisted: Ultimate Ears Fits, Urbanista Phoenix

The best of the rest of the bud bunch this year were the Ultimate Ears Fits providing excellent made-to-measure tips for perfectly snug lughole placement. Plus there’s the unique Urbanista Phoenix, which uses solar charging to run and run and run.

Best affordable headphones of 2023: Nothing Ear 2

They might be a tad pricier than the unbelievably cheap Ear 1, but Nothing’s Ear 2 is still extremely affordable for a pair of quality true wireless headphones – especially when they look so striking and offer such a lively audio performance (including support for hi-res codecs). The active noise cancelling is also impressive, but perhaps the best improvement over the originals comes from the companion software, which is more streamlined and offers more customisation options.

• Nothing Ear 2 review

Highly commended: Soundcore VR P10

Coming in at well under $100/£100, the VR P10s are built with virtual reality headsets in mind. To that end, they have zero latency (to reduce any disorientation that may occur due to desyncing) and dual source connectivity (to connect to both your headset and your phone at the same time). They make a fine upgrade for any VR explorer.

• Soundcore VR P10 review

Also shortlisted: Huawei FreeBuds 5

As well as the above, we have a lot of time for Huawei’s FreeBuds 5, which we think are the best open-fit buds at this affordable price point thanks to great battery life and call quality.

Best fitness headphones of 2023: JLab JBuds Air Sport (3rd Gen)

These buds are built for long haul workouts. With 44 hours of battery life (including case recharging – although suchs re-ups are refreshingly rapid) and an unflappable fit via their earhooks, they keep going and stay where they’re supposed to far better than some pricier rivals. Would they win an award for their audio performance? Probably not, but we’ll happily take merely acceptable sound in an affordable earbud that’s this focussed on fitness.

Highly commended: Shokz OpenFit

These comfy, secure buds deploy an innovative ‘air conduction’ design that keeps your ear canals free to pick up ambient noise from your surroundings – all the better to avoid getting into scrapes with traffic while on your morning jog or your bike ride to work. Despite the contact-free drivers, sound quality is surprisingly strong – and we loved the fact you can customise it to your tastes.

• Shokz OpenFit review

Also shortlisted: Oraimo Open Ear Headphones

We’ve a soft spot for Oraimo’s neckband ‘phones too. Designed for users who want to maintain awareness of their surroundings, the Open Ear Headphones use bone conduction tech to deliver powerful sound.

• Best running and workout headphones 2023: wireless earphones for sport reviewed

That’s why this year we’ve introduced a new award to our regular line-up – a gong going to the most bleeding-edge, innovative and mould-shattering tech product introduced this year. And to clarify, this award is restricted to actual products rather than concepts, as very few of the latter actually make it on to the market.

With no further ado, let’s take a look at into the future…

• See all our Stuff Gadget Award winners so far

Innovation award winner: Apple Vision Pro

This mixed reality headset has been dubbed “the most advanced consumer electronics device ever” by its makers. But while Apple is no stranger to hype and hyperbole, the company might well be right this time.

The Vision Pro is certainly the most radical device to emerge from Cupertino since the original iPhone, and while it isn’t even officially available yet (an early 2024 release is scheduled, and the rollout will likely be slow and selective), it’s clearly breaking new ground.

We’ve seen VR and AR headsets before, but nothing like this. The Vision Pro overlays information and images onto the real world and – for starters at least – will lean towards doing so to enhance apps and services you already use: FaceTime, Messages, Safari, Disney+.

Despite its high price, Apple is clearly aiming at this being a practical, useful device for a wide audience rather than a proof-of-concept for tech nerds; the headset is sleek and small compared to similar devices, and future versions will be smaller still. If anybody can convince the world that they need to see their text messages floating on their bedroom ceiling, it’s this company – so we’re very excited to see where the Vision Pro takes us next year.

• Apple Vision Pro: everything you need to know
• Apple Vision Pro: first impressions

Highly commended: LG OLED TV M3

We’ve all seen the promotional photos of sleek televisions that somehow need no wires to operate, only to writhe in frustration when we set up our own and have to suffer unsightly cable clutter doing a number on our living room’s feng shui. The fact is, connecting set-top boxes, consoles, Blu-ray players and the like means cables, and lots of them. The LG OLED TV M3 laughs at this concept, with its Zero Connect box accepting all your inputs, then wirelessly transmitting video and audio signals to the TV. No wires required. Even 4K/120Hz signals travel lag-free here, making this the most wireless telly we’ve ever laid eyes on.

• Hot Stuff: LG OLED TV M3

Also shortlisted: Dyson Airstrait, Apple A17 Pro

We’re also making nods in this category to Apple’s latest superpower smartphone chip, the A17 Pro which is based on a manufacturing process nobody else is currently matching. Then we’ve also picked out the Dyson Airstrait (not yet out in the UK) which combines styling and drying at the same time. There are other options from Shark and GHD, but the Dyson’s tech is mind-blowing.

Cheaper, smaller, lighter, less stressful to own – there are myriad reasons to pick up a handset that isn’t top of the line, and every year we encounter dozens of mid-range and entry-level smartphones that leave us mightily impressed. We’ve picked out the very best here.

We’ve also added a new category to the awards this year: best camera phone. Because, for many of us, a smartphone is a camera first and a pocket-sized communications device second; with all the advances we’re seeing in smartphone photography and videography, we felt it was high time to give camera phones their own place in the spotlight. Read on and you’ll also discover the identity of our inaugural camera phone of the year.

• See all our Stuff Gadget Award winners so far

Best mid-range phone of the year: Nothing Phone 2

Who said mid-range mobiles are full of compromise and lacking in character? Upstart brand Nothing cares little for the old conventions, and this year served up its second smartphone – a gorgeous big-screen blower that’s effortlessly stylish, packed with personality and more than powerful enough to handle all your day-to-day demands. Its bespoke and bloat-free Android UI is a joy to use, the 6.7in OLED screen is almost a match for the big flagships, and the cameras hold their own in all but the most challenging shooting conditions.

• Nothing Phone 2 review

Highly commended: Asus Zenfone 10

A boon for those who are small of hand or petite of pocket, the pint-sized Zenfone 10 is nothing less than a breath of fresh air in this era of jeans-stretchingly outsized smartphones. Here is a phone that offers flagship-class storage and power, thoughtfully optimised software and excellent gimbal-assisted video stabilisation, all squeezed in a colourful package compact enough for comfortable one-handed use.

• Asus Zenfone 10 review

Also shortlisted: Sony Xperia 10 V, Motorola Edge 40 Pro

Other mid-tier blowers that piqued our interest this year, you ask? Well, we were impressed by the Sony Xperia 10 V’s incredible battery life, while the Motorola Edge 40 Pro’s marriage of potent hardware and lowish price needs a mention.

Best affordable phone of the year: Google Pixel 7a

Despite costing half as much as a flagship phone, the Pixel 7a is anything but bargain bin fodder. Sure, the back is made of plastic but there’s nothing second-rate about the aluminium frame, Gorilla Glass screen and IP67 waterproofing, while the tech specs (90Hz 2400 x 1080 OLED screen, 4385mAh battery, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage) scream ‘respectability’. The camera setup punches well above its weight too, with the 64MP main and 13MP ultrawide delivering superb stills for the price.

• Google Pixel 7a review

Highly commended: Honor 90

Honor’s no stranger to serving up budget bangers, and the 6.7in 90 is no exception. The glorious curved OLED screen is the first thing you notice, but it’s not its only virtue: build quality is reassuringly solid, the 200MP camera really delivers on detail, 66W fast charging is as rapid as non-flagships get and the 512GB of storage feels stupendously luxurious.

• Honor 90 review

Also shortlisted: Samsung Galaxy A54

As cut-price blowers go, we also loved the way the Samsung Galaxy A54 offers flagship touches like an in-display fingerprint sensor and water resistance in an affordable package.

Best camera phone of the year: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

Samsung’s range-topping flagship goes big on the camera front, offering up a winning package based around a 200MP main camera using the company’s brand-new home-grown HP2 image sensor. Not only is this able to preserve tons of detail in ideal lighting conditions, it can also deploy 16-to-1 pixel binning to wring stunningly clear, noise-free and rich HDR photos after the sun goes down. The other rear cameras – 12MP ultrawide, 10MP 3x telephoto zoom and 10x telephoto zoom – and the 12MP selfie camera are all of very sound quality too, adding up to a total package that we couldn’t ignore when it came to awards season.

• Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra review

Highly commended: Google Pixel 8 Pro, Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

It was far from an easy decision to pick the Galaxy S23 Ultra with these two around, however. The Google Pixel 8 Pro deserves huge props for its AI-assisted editing capabilities for both photo and video, including a cloud-based feature to massively enhance the detail in your footage and the context-award Magic Editor tool, which lets you move objects around within a photo.

And as usual Apple’s top iPhone was in the running, with the 15 Pro Max boosting its telephoto capabilities and improving all-round photo ability while ramping up its ProRes video to 4K/60fps for users able to output to an external drive. Pro stuff indeed.

• Google Pixel 8 Pro review
• Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max review

Also shortlisted: Oppo Find X6 Pro, Sony Xperia 1 V

Hat tips also go to the Oppo Find X6 Pro (which has three superb 50MP cameras on the back but is sadly only available in China) and the Sony Xperia 1 V (offering an arsenal of manual modes that any experienced photographers and videographers will appreciate).

• Best upcoming phones: future phones for 2024

This isn’t just about style – although this year’s best Bluetooth and wireless speakers are all fantastic-looking pieces of industrial design. And it’s not even about portability or convenience – although we’ll go on the record as saying we really, really appreciate not having to trail miles of wires around the house to get sound in any room (or the garden).

No, what’s most notable about the speakers here is that they all deliver fantastic, engaging audio, filling the air with wonderful sound no matter where you choose to put them. Without further ado, here are the winners.

• See all our Stuff Gadget Award winners so far

Best wireless speaker of 2023: Sonos Era 300

The Era 300 makes no apologies for being a premium speaker with a price tag to match – but five minutes after you first hear it in action you’ll be on the blower to Natwest begging them to raise your overdraft limit so you can stick one in every room of the house. This is especially true if you’re listening to spatial audio, where the speaker’s quality brings fresh details and nuance to tracks you’ve heard hundreds of times before, but it impresses when it comes to good old-fashioned stereo stuff too. A worthy award winner – in any Era.

• Sonos Era 300 review

Highly commended: Devialet Mania

Devialet deviates from its bread and butter (eccentric and not entirely practical audio products) with its first ever portable wireless speaker – and we found ourselves very much on board. Resembling a sci-fi kettle bell, the Mania is far bassier than its portability and size suggest, and while this suits certain styles of music more than others, it’s undeniably an impressive feat of sonic engineering.

• Devialet Mania review

Also shortlisted: Bluesound Pulse M

We also need to mention the Pulse M for being Bluesound’s best-looking speaker to date, adding ‘aesthetics’ to a list of talents including solid build quality and entertaining sound – particularly when given hi-res audio to work with.

Best Bluetooth Speaker of the Year: Orange Amps Orange Box

It isn’t just the vinyl, wood, wicker and leather styling of this stage amp-inspired speaker that screams ‘retro throwback’: it also includes a genuine analogue amplifier inside, allowing it to deliver a wonderfully warm and engaging sound that truly soars when playing live instrumentation and offers a subtlety of depth and tone you won’t find in many digital-only rivals. It does make some welcome concessions to modernity with a built-in battery and aptX streaming, though, and we have no hesitation in giving it the nod as the best Bluetooth speaker of the year.

• Orange Amps Orange Box review

Highly commended: Soundcore Motion X600

Compact, lightweight, affordable and beautiful to behold, the Motion X600 could be forgiven for serving up an audio performance that’s functional rather than transportive. But this tiny speaker (which offers up to 12 hours of battery life) can go loud and spatial when it needs to, imparting an enveloping and immersive sound that’s perfect for everyday listeners.

• Soundcore Motion X600 review

Also shortlisted: Huawei Sound Joy, LG Xboom 360 XO3

We also want to show our appreciation to the diminutive Huawei Sound Joy, a wonderfully cheap, rugged and loud cylindrical speaker that you can take pretty much anywhere. And the LG Xboom 360 XO3’s customisable LED lighting turns any listening session into a potential party.

• Best Bluetooth speaker: reviewed and rated

This article covers two distinct categories: fitness trackers (including health-focused smartwatches) and fitness gadgets, the latter being pretty much everything that isn’t a tracker you wear on your wrist. Read on for our full list of winners, runners-up and other 2023 highlights.

Oh, and if you’re looking for our picks of the year’s best fitness headphones, you’ll find them alongside other headphones in the awards.

• See all our Stuff Gadget Award winners so far

Best fitness watch or tracker of the year: Garmin Forerunner 965

An elegant design and beautifully colourful AMOLED touchscreen gives the Forerunner 965 the look and feel of the brand’s pricier, full-featured outdoorsy smartwatches, but make no mistake: this is a fitness watch through and through and is absolutely bursting at the seams with tracking capabilities. Its multi-frequency positioning mode locks on to several signal bands to ensure data collection is right on the money, whether you’re running, riding or hiking. While great for swimmers (50m waterproof!) and cyclists, it’s definitely at its best when used by pavement pounders of all stripes, and will even analyse your running technique and form without the need for additional sensors.

Highly commended: Suunto Vertical

Lovers of the great outdoors will find much to appreciate in Suunto’s rugged ‘adventure watch’. Not only is it equipped with built-in dual-band GPS, it offers offline topographical maps, solar charging and a battery powerful enough to last you at least a week in the wilderness. Hikers and climbers get tracking for steps, calories burned and continuous heart rate monitoring, among other things – and if Suunto could just refine the software for its next iteration, it might be in with a shot of bagging the big prize.

• Suunto Vertical review

Also shortlisted: Coros Apex 2, Fitbit Versa 4

Other impressive trackers this year included the lightweight Coros Apex 2, a fine all-rounder for multi-sports users that benefits from long battery life, as well as the Fitbit Versa 4, an affordable fourth-generation Fitbit watch that’s great for keeping tabs on your general wellness.

Best fitness gadget: Garmin Edge 1040 Solar

A boon for bicycle riders planning lengthy multi-day trips on their two-wheeled steed, this premium bike computer sucks up the sun’s rays to give it a stonking 45 hours of ride time on a single charge. But longevity isn’t its only virtue: there’s the large 3.5in screen and bumper 64GB of storage to admire too, not to mention best-in-class route planning, dual-band GPS for highly accurate location tracking and enlightening training insights via Garmin Connect. It’s not cheap, certainly, but you get a lot for your money.

Highly commended: Nike Vaporfly 3

If you’re a wannabe racer when it comes to running, Nike’s ultra-lightweight shoe will keep you up to speed. The Vaporfly 3’s ZoomX midsole foam offers superb stability and, when required, pavement-chomping oomph, while the foot-long carbon fibre plate encourages explosive push-offs. The perfect super-shoe for repeatedly smashing your PBs.

• Which trainers should you buy? The best workout shoes for running, training and exercise

Also shortlisted: Bowflex VeloCore Bike, Concept2 RowErg

Fitness tech can go a lot bigger than just wearables, of course, and we also loved the Bowflex VeloCore Bike, an exercise bike that, while bulky and pricey, is substantially cheaper than the Peloton while offering a similarly rich and tech-led fitness experience. The fantastic Concept2 RowErg, meanwhile, is the go-to rower for some real-life Olympians due to its app support and authentic rowing sensation.

Not too deep, mind you, with the main award winner for gaming hardware being something we’re confident any gamer will be well aware of. But we’ve also handed gongs to the best accessories for both PC gaming and console gaming, and the triumphant tech products in these categories may not be quite so familiar to the average joypad enjoyer.

Whatever flavour of gamer you consider yourself, however, we’re confident that there’s something here – whether winner, highly commended or just honourably mentioned – that’ll be of interest. So read on and game on.

• See all our Stuff Gadget Award winners so far

Best gaming hardware of the year: Sony PlayStation VR 2

The PS VR 2 had plenty going against it at its launch early in the year: an asking price greater than the PlayStation 5 console you’d need to run it; a lack of backwards compatibility with games for the original PS VR; and simply a lack of new games overall. And yet Sony’s revamped virtual reality headset had us entranced with the myriad improvements it offered over its predecessor. The simple one-cable setup, grown-up Sense controllers and a gorgeous 2000 x 2040 OLED display all represent massive generational glow-ups – and thankfully the supply of VR titles has grown substantially since launch day. It’s still an expensive add-on for an expensive console, but its potential remains gargantuan.

• Sony PlayStation VR 2 review

Highly commended: Asus ROG Ally

Don’t call this Windows-powered portable a Steam Deck rip-off. Hardware-wise, it’s considerably more impressive than Valve’s machine thanks to a higher res (and VRR) screen, whisper-quiet cooling and the ability to run any PC game around – not just Linux-friendly titles. Software is the other side of things of course, and here the ROG Ally falls short of its rival (as it does when it comes to battery life). Overall, though, this is a fantastic alternative to the market leader.

• Asus ROG Ally review

Also shortlisted: Retroid Pocket Flip, Logitech G Cloud

So many retro handhelds feel like cheap, tacky gimmicks exploiting our nostalgia, but not so the Retroid Pocket Flip – a well-made clamshell filled with decades of gaming history. Logitech’s G Cloud, meanwhile, is a much more future-facing handheld that’s a compelling reminder of cloud gaming’s huge potential.

Best console gaming accessory of the year: Thrustmaster T300RS GT Edition

Designed for the PS5 as a tie-in for Gran Turismo 7, this almost life-size steering wheel also works with the PS4 and PC. But whatever you connect it (and its included three-pedal set) to, the T300RS GT Edition’s beefy force feedback motors transform any racing game from a bit of arcade fun into an immersive driving simulation – particularly if using in conjunction with a VR headset. Wonderful stuff at a mid-range price.

• Thrustmaster T300RS GT Edition review

Highly commended: Victrix FS Pro

Aside from carting an actual Street Fighter II cabinet in your living room, there’s no better way to bring home the arcade fighting experience than to plug a Victrix FS Pro into your console. It’s far from cheap, but this is built for the best players around: its durable aluminium case contains the same premium-quality buttons and stick as real-life Japanese cabinets while its USB-C cable keeps lag to a minimum.

• Victrix FS Pro review

Also shortlisted: Sony PS5 DualSense Edge, Backbone One PlayStation Edition

We also loved Sony’s PS5 DualSense Edge, a customisable premium version of the already excellent DualSense controller with a sturdy modular build and pioneering function buttons (but soooo expensive). And the Backbone One PlayStation Edition is a wonderful Android phone control pad that plays very nicely with the PS5’s Remote Play.

Best PC gaming accessory of the year: Samsung Odyssey OLED G9

With a price and size that essentially place it in its own category of super luxe gaming monitor, Samsung’s 49in ultrawide is the only OLED model of its size and aspect ratio to offer a 240Hz refresh rate. Its curved expanse of a screen is wider than some desks, but if you have the necessary space, bank balance and gaming rig there’s really nothing better around; the colour reproduction, HDR performance and smoothness of motion is simply glorious to behold. We can only dream of owning a monitor this outrageously immersive, but we have no hesitation in giving it this award.

• Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 review

Highly commended: Logitech Pro X Superlight 2

Here at Stuff we may be at the point where our aging brains, eyes and muscles are the true barrier against top-tier FPS gaming performance, but we’re still looking for the best gear to keep reaction times as rapid as possible in those Doom, Destiny or Counter-Strike sessions. So it’s no wonder we took this ultra-lightweight, ultra-responsive wireless mouse to heart in 2023.

• Logitech Pro X Superlight 2 review

Also shortlisted: Alienware AW3423DWF, Razer Blackshark V2 Pro (2023)

Also on this year’s award radar were the Alienware AW3423DWF, a premium QD OLED monitor that’s slightly less luxurious (and a little cheaper) than the Samsung above, plus the Razer Blackshark V2 Pro, a top-notch wireless headset with esports-friendly flair.

• Best gaming laptop: powerful portables for PC games

Gone are the days of having to resort to bulky substandard sets, with budget brands now producing some great-looking and capably performing tellies. But even with this uptick in quality, not all TVs are equal, and it’s been our task and privilege to put dozens of sets through the reviews ringer this year in search of the very best.

And you can relax, for our search has been fruitful. Spread across three sub-categories (premium TV, mid-range TV and affordable TV), here are the 2023 models that left us agog in visual wonder (or smirking at their sheer price-to-performance ratio).

• See all our Stuff Gadget Award winners so far

Best premium TV of 2023: LG OLED65C3

There’s nothing particularly envelope-pushing about this 65in OLED, but while it may not plough through any new ground it simply does everything so well (and a little bit better than the previous generation) that we couldn’t help but hand it this year’s premium TV gong. LG is currently making the best OLED tellies around (the fact that it’s the only company actually producing the OLED panels), and this is just a brilliantly accomplished example that’s a dab hand at everything picture-related: films, TV or gaming. Its refined webOS interface and wide range of connectivity is merely a bonus.

• LG OLED65C3 review

Highly commended: Philips 65OLED+937

If USPs are your televisual bag, this 65-incher has them in abundance. By which we mean there are two of them: Philips’ venerable and rightfully revered Ambilight LED setup, which bathes the wall behind the TV in light that matches the colour and intensity of the on-screen image; and a fantastic soundbar-based audio system crafted by Brit hi-fi stalwarts Bowers & Wilkins. The latter (and the TV’s general all-round spec) make this one of the priciest sets you’ll find outside of the true luxury brands, but you get a lot for your bread.

• Philips 65OLED+937 review

Also shortlisted: Philips 55OLED+907

The Philips 55OLED+907 is another Ambilight-toting Philips telly with an eye-watering asking price, but the way this 55in OLED delivers both bright, contrast-rich visuals and punchy audio means it very much deserves a mention.

Best mid-range TV of 2023: Sony XR-55A80L

While it’s tempting to have your head turned by the latest, greatest technological innovations, sometimes what you really need is just for something to be done well – and that’s precisely what you get with this ‘regular’ OLED model. We reviewed its 55-inch variant back in May and found its image quality so darn watchable and assured (with both movies and gaming) that we had little else in mind when it came to choosing our mid-range TV of the 2023.

• Sony XR-55A80L review

Highly commended: Samsung S90C

Samsung once disdained OLED display tech, proudly claiming that its own Quantum Dot LCD system was much more adept at serving up a contrast-heavy image. Funnily enough that line’s gone out the way of the dodo now that Samsung makes its own Quantum Dot-flavoured OLED TVs – and very impressive they are too. This 55in mid-range model delivers on picture quality, build quality and sound, and might have troubled with Sony above if Samsung had included Dolby Vision HDR.

• Samsung S90C review

Also shortlisted: Hisense 65U7KQTUK

Well worth a mention, the 65in Hisense 65U7KQTUK offers so much for under a grand: a big 144Hz panel, four HDMI inputs and a fine array of smart TV features.

Best affordable TV of 2023: TCL Roku TV RC630K

If a 55in QLED TV for just £420 seems like a steal, it is – and with this model there really don’t seem to be any glaring omissions or flaws to give you pause before handing over the readies. TCL’s 4K 60Hz panel supports all flavours of HDR, there are four HDMI inputs available for hooking up all your gear and you get Roku video streaming functionality baked right into the set. It even features a clever stand that can be adjusted to sit stably on both wide and narrow media units. All things considered, a triumph for thrifty telly addicts.

• TCL Roku TV RC630K review

Highly commended: Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED

Amazon’s own-brand telly comes in a range of sizes (43in to 65in), but all fit the retail giant’s cheap and cheerful approach to tech products. While there’s nothing on show here that’ll trouble the premium brands, this TV’s Echo Show smart home and Alexa integration makes it one of the best hands-free goggleboxes we’ve ever seen – ideal if your mitts are full of snacks while you’re watching.

Also shortlisted: TCL 55C645

If Roku’s not your bag, the similarly specced TCL 55C645 offers 4K QLED thrills for even less cash. Its Google TV smart TV setup isn’t the fastest, mind you.

That can leave those of us who want to live on a clean, green and non-hot planet feeling very uncomfortable about buying and using such products. Thankfully, manufacturers have started to make a more concerted effort towards a sustainable future; some more than others, yes, but the outlook is a lot rosier (or greener) than it was a decade ago.

This year, in light of this slow but vital shift, we’ve dedicated a new award to the most sustainable gadget around – a piece of tech that you can buy and use without feeling guilty about your purchase.

• See all our Stuff Gadget Award winners so far

Sustainability award winner: Fairphone 5

The smartphone equivalent of the Ship of Theseus concept (or Trigger’s broom, if you’re an Only Fools and Horses fan), the Fairphone 5 is built to be rebuilt. The company’s most repairable phone to date, almost every element of this handset is replaceable – and replaceable by the owner rather than the maker or some cash-grabbing middleman licensed agent. The Fairphone 5’s screen, battery, camera sensors and more can be swapped in for fresh versions when required, and the SIM tray and SD card storage slot are easily replaceable too. The company also guarantees that buyers will be able to make at least five OS upgrades to the stock Android 13 platform on which the phone runs.

We’re massive fans of Fairphone’s ethical approach, which extends to paying all its workers and suppliers a living wage bonus and using fair-mined and recycled materials where possible. And the phone itself is pretty lovely too, with IP55 water resistance (not bad for a non-sealed repairable handset) and a lovely OLED screen alongside solid performance.

• Fairphone 5 review

Highly commended: Apple Watch SE/Series 9/Ultra 2 Carbon Neutral

Apple has long been a proponent of sustainability, but it’s gone a step further with its new Apple Watch models. In a first for the company, these products are available in case and strap combinations (an aluminium case with any of the new Sport Loop straps) that make them entirely carbon neutral. Apple says it’s achieved this through innovations in design, engineering and operations, allowing it to reduce emissions from electricity, materials and transport use – and claims it will go further by making its entire product line carbon neutral by 2030.

• Apple Watch Series 9 vs Ultra 2: what’s the difference?

Shortlisted: Nokia Nokia G22 and G42 5G (iFixit self-repair)

Repair specialist iFixit is involved with HMD Global’s latest Nokia devices, enabling you to buy spare parts and fit them yourself. It’s fairly easy to replace parts like the battery – though it isn’t tool-free – and you’ll need to buy the parts of course. HMD guarantees the parts will be available through iFixit for five years,

• Nokia’s G42 continues the drive towards user-replaceable parts