Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro (right) and Pro Max fit this year’s theme: better than last year but not dramatically better.
James Martin/CNET
For more than two decades, CNET editors have poked, prodded, tested, retested, intentionally dropped and even stayed up all night to assess the new products and services that promise to change the way we live and work.
Our new Editors’ Choice badge.
CNET
In 2022, our team of experts found 82 products and services in seven categories that we believe are worth celebrating and — most important — are worth honoring with a CNET Editors’ Choice Award.
From the smartphones, laptops and tablets we use daily to stay in touch to the routers, monitors and other nuts-and-bolts gear that make our digital ecosystems work, we continue to rely on tech to make sure we’re communicating and collaborating as easily and effectively as we can.
We also did deep dives to find the best TVs, Bluetooth speakers, kitchen appliances, robot vacuums, software and online services, including VPNs to keep your data private and language apps as many of you are traveling again.
The result of all that work has led to our picks for the CNET Editors’ Choice Awards, which we’re honoring this year with a new badge that we’ll use to identify those standouts in our reviews, best lists, product comparisons and other stories across our site.
Our mission, as always, is to help you navigate our changing world, whether you’re looking for top-of-the-line gear or more affordable options. And we back up these choices with extensive tips, explainers and how-to guides. Note that these products and services were evaluated in 2022 to help guide you as you decide which gear to add to your life in 2023.
CNET’s new Innovation Award badge.
CNET
One other note: In terms of innovation, 2022 was overall a modest year, with an emphasis on evolving products to make them better rather than blowing up new categories.
Even so, we were happy to find four products that we thought pushed the envelope and were worth another CNET honor: our Innovation Award, which recognizes tech that brings new and noteworthy ideas to the market. Check out our list below.
We’re happy to continue CNET’s tradition of rewarding products that offer the best combination of performance, design and value. We’d love to hear about your favorites, too. Find CNET on your favorite social media channel and tell us what you think.
Phones, smartwatches, headphones
- Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
- Google Pixel 6A
- Google Pixel 7 Pro
- Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus
- Apple AirPods Pro 2
- iPhone 14 Pro/14 Pro Max
- Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
- Google Pixel Watch
- Apple Watch SE
- Apple Watch Ultra
- Garmin Venue 2 Plus
- Withings ScanWatch Horizon
- Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones
- Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2
Computers
- Acer Chromebook Spin 714
- MacBook Air M2
- Dell XPS 8950 Desktop
- HP Chromebase AiO 22
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus
- Lenovo Yoga 7i (Gen 7, 14-inch)
- iPad Air 2022
Gaming
See the Innovation Awards below for more.
- Meta Quest 2
- Nintendo Switch OLED
- Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
- GeForce Now
- Apple Arcade
Home entertainment
- HBO Max
- Spotify
- TCL 6 Series TV (2022)
- Disney Plus
- Epson Home Cinema 5050UB projector
- Netflix
- YouTube TV
- Roku Streaming Stick 4K
- Roku Express 4K Plus
- BenQ CineHome HT2050A projector
- Anker Nebula Mars II Pro projector
- Roku Streambar
- Soundcore by Anker Motion Boom Plus
Software and services
- Duolingo
- Bitwarden
- Procreate
- Zoom
- ExpressVPN
- Surfshark
Home
- Arlo Pro 4
- Apple HomePod Mini
- D-Link EaglePro AI Range Extender
- TP-Link RE605X
- Eero 6 Plus
- TP-Link Archer AX21
- Dyson V15 Detect
- Tineco a11 hero
- Roomba s9
- Roborock S7
- Ninja Air Fryer
- Panasonic Flashxpress Toaster
- Ninja Twisti Blender
- Asus RT-AX86U
- SimpliSafe
- Wyze Video Doorbell Pro
- Amazon Smart Thermostat
- TP Link Deco W7200 Mesh Router
- Ring Alarm Pro
- Wyze Home Monitoring
- Xfinity Home Security
- Google Nest Hub (2nd gen)
Wellness
- Tonal
- Lululemon Align High-Rise 6-inch Shorts with pockets
- Layla Hybrid Mattress
- Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid
- Bear Original Mattress
- Zero Water
- EveryPlate
- Sunbasket
- Mosaic Foods
- Fresh N Lean
- HungryRoot
Innovation Awards
Recognizing products that bring new and noteworthy ideas to the market.
- Steam Deck
- Panic Playdate
- HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook
- Sony Xperia 1 IV
Correction, Dec. 15: The Chromecast with Google TV was incorrectly included as an Editors’ Choice recipient, but it is not. The Roku Streaming Stick 4K did win the award but was omitted from the original version of this list.