The world of technology is constantly evolving. Every week brings new gadgets, software that changes how we work, and innovative services, all vying for your attention and hard-earned money. Navigating this crowded landscape to find genuinely exceptional products can feel overwhelming.
Also: How we test products and services at ZDNET
How do you separate the truly great from the merely good, or even the overhyped? That’s why we, the editorial team at ZDNET, are thrilled to announce the launch of our Editors’ Choice program.
What is the ZDNET Editors’ Choice?
The ZDNET Editors’ Choice badge represents our highest endorsement for a technology product or service. It’s a distinction awarded exclusively by our seasoned team of expert editors, analysts, and reviewers.
This badge isn’t handed out lightly; it signifies products and services that have not only met but exceeded our rigorous testing standards, leaving a lasting positive impression on our team through outstanding quality, innovation, performance, and value, and giving us the confidence to recommend them to you.
When you see the ZDNET Editors’ Choice badge, you know that the product or service hasn’t just been reviewed — it’s been meticulously evaluated, tested hands-on (often against its direct competitors), and ultimately, recognized by our experts as one of the absolute best options available in its category. It’s our definitive stamp of approval.
How does a product or service earn the Editors’ Choice badge?
Qualification for an Editors’ Choice award goes far beyond a simple review score or a mention in a buying guide. To earn this distinction, a product or service must truly stand out. This involves:
- Rigorous evaluation: Our experts conduct thorough hands-on testing, often incorporating lab testing where applicable, pushing products to their limits to assess real-world performance.
- Comparative analysis: We evaluate products not in isolation, but against key competitors within their category to understand their strengths and weaknesses relative to the market.
- Expert selection: The final decision rests with our experienced editorial team, who consider performance benchmarks, innovation, build quality, user experience, value, and overall impact.
- Setting the standard: An Editors’ Choice product or service often sets a new benchmark for its category or represents the pinnacle of what’s currently achievable.
Covering the core tech categories
ZDNET’s Editors’ Choice program will initially focus on identifying outstanding products and services across six fundamental areas of modern technology:
- Mobile: The devices we carry everywhere. This includes smartphones that excel in performance, camera quality, and innovation, as well as essential mobile accessories like chargers, cases, and more that enhance the mobile experience.
- Wearables: Technology that integrates seamlessly with our lives. We’ll be awarding the best smartwatches for fitness and connectivity, health-tailored smart rings, and top-performing headphones (including earbuds and over-ear models) for audio fidelity and features.
- Computing: The tools for productivity and creativity. Look for our badge on exceptional laptops offering the best blend of power, portability, and value, alongside versatile tablets that redefine mobile computing.
- Home Entertainment: Creating immersive experiences at home. This category covers standout TVs with stunning picture quality, high-performance projectors for big-screen viewing, and speakers (including soundbars and smart speakers) that deliver superior audio.
- Smart Home: Making homes more convenient, secure, and efficient. We’ll identify the leading robot vacuums that truly clean autonomously and the most reliable security cameras and systems to protect your home.
- Software & Services: The invisible engines powering our digital lives. This includes crucial VPN services for privacy, transformative AI platforms and tools, essential antivirus software for security, and other impactful applications and services.
Look for the badge
Moving forward, keep an eye out for the ZDNET Editors’ Choice badge on our reviews, buying guides, and product roundups. It’s your shortcut to identifying the technology that has earned our highest recommendation — products and services we believe are truly worth your investment.
We’re incredibly excited to bring this new layer of guidance to our readers and to celebrate the technology that genuinely impresses us. Stay tuned.
Featured reviews
<!–>
–>
