Seven in ten Brits admit struggling to keep up with how fast technology is changing, with 69% saying there is too much choice. New research from Currys reveals 24% have pretended to understand a tech term when they had no idea what it meant, and 28% have nodded along to an explanation despite being baffled.
To cut through the confusion, Currys has announced the winners of its second annual Tech of the Year Awards. A panel of four experts, led by TV presenter and former Gadget Show host Ortis Deley, assessed the latest technology and innovations across 14 categories to find the best in computing, cooking, entertainment and wearable tech.
Winners include Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy and Sonos
Winners include Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy and Sonos, with the focus on products that really deliver for the customer. Ortis Deley added: “There’s more brilliant tech out there than ever before, but that doesn’t necessarily make choosing what to buy any easier.”
“When you’re faced with endless models, features and specs, it can be difficult to separate what you really need from what simply sounds impressive. With the Currys Tech of the Year Awards, we’ve done the homework, assessed the latest innovations and picked out the tech that really delivers.”
Awards aim to simplify tech buying
Ed Connolly, chief commercial officer at Currys, said: “At Currys, we are always trying to make buying tech as simple as possible. The Tech of the Year Awards are about helping shoppers make decisions easier - bringing together trusted experts to celebrate the best products that we think deserve their place in our customers’ homes.”
“It’s all part of our mission to help everyone enjoy amazing technology, using our unique position as the number one omni-channel tech retailer to help de-mystify the world of tech so that customers can spend their time enjoying it, not worrying about it!”
Best of the year winners
Best AI Assistant: Google, Google Gemini. Judges’ verdict: Powerful multimodal capabilities, a huge context window and seamless Google Workspace integration make Gemini a particularly strong tool for research and productivity.
Best Mobile AI Feature: Google Pixel, Voice Translate. Judges’ verdict: A breakthrough use of AI that tackles a genuine, everyday problem by enabling natural, real-time conversations across languages.
Best Computing AI Feature: Microsoft, Copilot+ PC. Judges’ verdict: By bringing AI into the heart of the PC, Copilot+ combines on-device processing with useful system-level tools to deliver a faster, more integrated experience.
Best Entertainment AI Feature: Samsung, AI Motion Enhancer Pro. Judges’ verdict: Intelligent motion processing that identifies fast-moving action and prioritises clarity where it matters.
Best Kitchen AI Feature: Samsung, AI Wash. Judges’ verdict: A practical use of AI that tailors water, detergent and cycle settings to each load, reducing waste while taking the guesswork out of everyday laundry.
Best Connected Home & Wearables AI Feature: Meta, Hands-Free AI. Judges’ verdict: A glimpse of the future, moving useful AI beyond the screen while unlocking major accessibility benefits.
Best Mobile Feature: Samsung Galaxy, Privacy Display. Judges’ verdict: A simple but increasingly important real-world solution, giving users peace of mind by protecting sensitive information from prying eyes in public.
Best Computing Feature: ASUS Zenbook DUO, Dual 14" 3K OLED Touchscreens. Judges’ verdict: An innovative rethink of the laptop, bringing the productivity benefits of a dual-screen setup into a portable machine.
Best Entertainment Feature: LG, RGB Primary Color Pro. Judges’ verdict: A significant evolution in LCD TV technology, using dedicated red, green and blue LEDs to deliver exceptional colour richness, purity and precision.
Best Kitchen Feature: Ninja, Creamify. Judges’ verdict: An original kitchen innovation that eliminates the need to pre-freeze bowls, opening up new possibilities for making ice cream and frozen desserts at home.
Best Connected Home & Wearables Feature: Sonos, Multi Room Audio. Judges’ verdict: Seamless, whole-home listening that makes it effortless to enjoy great sound wherever you are.
Accessibility Award: Neff, Slide&Hide Retractable Oven Door. Judges’ verdict: Effortless accessibility through smart physical design, removing barriers, improving safety and working for everyone without the need for software or setup.
AI Feature of the Year: Google Pixel, Voice Translate. Judges’ verdict: A breakthrough use of AI that makes real-time, natural conversation across languages possible, with the potential to remove one of the world’s biggest barriers to communication.
Feature of the Year: Samsung Galaxy, Privacy Display. Judges’ verdict: A brilliantly simple hardware innovation that solves a very real and increasingly important problem, protecting sensitive information from prying eyes in public without compromising the everyday screen experience.
