T3 AWARDS 2020
GADGET OF THE YEAR
ONEPLUS 8 PRO
This was the one. The phone that took OnePlus from plucky also-ran status to wiping the floor with the competition. The phone that proved brand superiority is not a case of being most established or having the shiniest logo, it’s about making arguably the best Android phone out there. The price hike from previous phones is worth every penny; perhaps OnePlus should have used its expertise to make the jump to full-on premium a little earlier.
The company’s biggest win with the 8 Pro isn’t necessarily in design, because that’s something OnePlus has had a handle on for years previously; we’d argue this is every bit as beautiful as, say, Samsung’s flagship handsets. But the elements that comprise that design are just so perfect. A glorious 120Hz QHD+ HDR10+ AMOLED screen, a tiny and unobtrusive pinhole selfie cam, a Snapdragon 865 processor backed by 12GB LPDDR5 RAM and an Adreno 650 GPU – this is no-compromise stuff, with wireless charging, 5G and full waterproofing wrapping everything up and tying a bow on top.
This was a transitional year in which many of the biggest brands failed to find the right path. OnePlus has drawn up its own map. Others might have slightly better cameras, or other unique features the OnePlus 8 Pro doesn’t have, but that’s really not the point. The company has listened to its user base, and thrown everything at improving the factors that matter to them. In doing so, it’s created a flagship phone that’s great for everyone else too.
From £799, oneplus.com
BEST GADGET UNDER £100
CAMBRIDGE AUDIO MELOMANIA 1
The Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 are a real treat for the ears. You can get a very healthy nine hours between charges and handy on-board touch controls let you stop and start music playback, skip tracks, adjust the volume and answer calls, all without pulling your phone out.
More than anything else though, it’s the sound quality that stands out here – thanks to the careful Cambridge Audio craftsmanship, the graphene-enhanced 5.8mm drivers, and the support for the latest Bluetooth 5.0, these earbuds give you a listening experience that’s second to none. From the deepest bass to the highest treble, every note and vocal leaves an impression.
Add in the very competitive and close to unbelievable price, and you’d need a very good reason to pick another pair of true wireless earbuds.
£99.95, cambridgeaudio.com
TECH INNOVATION AWARD
NIKE ZOOMX VAPORFLY NEXT%
What if your trainers could actually help you run faster? That’s the promise of the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next% running shoe, a shoe that can actually get you to the finishing line in a shorter amount of time.
Everything about these trainers is configured for speed, from the lightweight AtomKnit fabric that reduces weight and improves breathability, to the carbon fibre plate underneath the shoe that means your foot snaps back from the ground. Then there’s the advanced cushioning: Zoom Air Pods and ZoomX Foam maximise the energy return on every step that a runner takes through a race.
For Nike to produce such a level of innovation in a product that’s been around for as long as the running shoe is a mind-blowing achievement.
£239.95, nike.com
BRAND OF THE YEAR
AMAZON
No company can weather a storm like Amazon, be it one of controversy or crisis. Amazon maintains an inimitable
