NDTV Gadgets 360 Awards is back with its 2025 iteration. The biggest tech event will honour tech excellence in 40 different categories, including smartphones, laptops, SoC, tablets, Smart TVs, TWS, wearable, and more. India’s largest tech award show will take place on March 25, in New Delhi. This also marks one important milestone for Gadgets 360 as we celebrate our 10-year journey of tech, trust and excellence. Our esteemed jury panel of industry experts and veterans have already handpicked the winner from over 140 nominations this time. Moreover, we also have a dedicated Users Choice segment, where our readers and users will have complete control over choosing the winner. In this article, we have listed all the categories and the respective nominees. Let’s take a closer look.

NDTV Gadgets 360 Awards Nominations for Mobiles

This year’s award show will honour smartphones in 13 different categories ranging from the super affordable segment to the flagship ones. Check out the nominations for these categories:

Best Budget Smartphone [Under 15K]

The budget segment indeed had a great lineup this year. Most importantly, almost every smartphone was 5G enabled. These smartphones provided excellent performance at an affordable price tag.

1. Xiaomi Redmi 13 5G
2. Moto G64 5G
3. Lava Blaze X
4. Tecno Pova 6 Neo 
5. Vivo T3X
6. Poco M7 Pro 
7. Infinix Note 40X

Best Mid-Range Smartphone [Under 25K]

The smartphones launched at under Rs. 25,000 have some promising features. Most phones in this price segment delivered elegant designs and power-packed performances in different departments. Check out the nominations here:

1. iQOO Z9s Pro 
2. Nothing Phone 2a
3. Poco X7 Pro
4. Motorola Edge 50 Fusion
5. Infinix GT 20 Pro
6. OnePlus Nord CE 4
7. Redmi Note 14 Pro

Best Smartphone (Mainstream) [ 25K – 35K]

The smartphones under the Rs. 35,000 segment showed that you don’t need to pay a fortune to get some flagship-grade features. Whether it be premium design or flagship-level chipsets, these smartphones created a lot of buzz in the Indian tech industry.

1. Motorola Edge 50 Pro
2. OnePlus Nord 4
3. Nothing Phone 2a Plus 
4. Realme GT 6T
5. Samsung Galaxy F55 5G
6. Realme 14 Pro+
7. Redmi Note 14 Pro+

Best Mid-Premium Smartphone [35-50K]

Regarding this segment, people generally want the best Android with the latest and greatest specifications. Brands like OnePlus, iQOO, Vivo, and more have delivered excellent products with flagship-grade performance. Let’s look at the nominees in the mid-premium smartphone category, which are priced under Rs. 50,000.

1. OnePlus 13R
2. Oppo Reno 13 Pro
3. Vivo V40 Pro
4. Xiaomi 14 Civi
5. Motorola Edge 50 Ultra
6. Tecno Camon 30 Premier 5G
7. Samsung Galaxy A55 5G

Best Selfie Smartphone [Mainstream]

Check out the nominations of the best selfie-centric smartphones that captures crisp and well-detailed portraits and selfies: 

1. Honor 200 
2. Motorola Edge 50 Pro
3. OnePlus Nord 4
4. Samsung Galaxy F55 5G
5. Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 
6. Vivo V40
7. Oppo Reno 13

Best Gaming Smartphone [Mainstream]

The mobile gaming segment is on a steep rise this year with multiple brands launching smartphones in the mainstream category so that more people can do gaming without facing frame drops or stutters. Check out the nominations for the best gaming smartphone:

1. Poco F6
2. Redmi Note 14 Pro+
3. Realme GT 6T
4. Infinix GT 20 Pro
5. Realme 14 Pro+ 
6. OnePlus Nord 4
7. iQOO Z9s Pro 

Best Gaming Smartphone [Overall]

The mobile gaming segment is on a steep rise, and now, we have gaming smartphones capable of handling such daunting tasks. Check out the nominations for the best gaming smartphone here:

1. Realme GT 7 Pro
2. iQOO 13
3. Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro
4. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
5. iPhone 16 Pro Max 
6. OnePlus 13
7. Oppo Find X8 Pro

Best Camera Smartphone [Mainstream]

The 2024 also showed an increasing demand for good camera features in the mainstream category. We saw multiple brands launching smartphones in this price segment to provide the best camera experience for the customers. Check out the nominations here:

1. Honor 200 
2. Motorola Edge 50 Pro
3. OnePlus Nord 4
4. Realme 14 Pro+
5. Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 
6. Vivo V40
7. Oppo Reno 13

Best Camera Smartphone [Overall]

The camera segment in the smartphone space was one of the most-talked features as multiple brands tried their best to deliver a phone that could excel in both front and rear camera departments. Check out the nominations here for the best camera smartphone of 2024:

1. Vivo X200 Pro
2. Oppo Find X8 Pro
3. Xiaomi 14 Ultra
4. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
5. Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max 
6. Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
7. OnePlus 13

Best Mainstream Smartphone SoC

Here are the nominations for the best smartphone SoC that powers the mainstream smartphones this year. 

1. Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 
2. MediaTek Dimensity 9300+
3. Qualcomm Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3
4. MediaTek Dimensity 8300
5. Samsung Exynos  2400e

Best Flagship Smartphone SoC

Check out the nominations for the best flagship smartphone SoC that defined the mobile computing of 2024: 

1. Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite 
2. MediaTek Dimensity 9400
3. Apple A18 Pro
4. Google Tensor G4
5. Samsung Exynos 2400

Best Foldable/ Flip Smartphone

The smartphone industry saw a surge in foldable and flip phone models this year, with multiple brands challenging Samsung’s dominance in the category. To discover which brand will be crowned the winner at the NDTV Gadgets 360 awards, check out the best foldable/flip smartphone nominations.

1. Vivo X Fold 3 Pro
2. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
3. Tecno Phantom V Fold 2 
4. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6
5. Motorola Razr 50 Ultra
6. Tecno Phantom V Flip 2
7. Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold 

Best Premium Smartphone [Under 1L]

The premium segment brings all the best-in-class features and specifications. We have seen some fantastic smartphones in this price segment, but only a few made a long-lasting impact. Check out the nominees for this segment:

1. OnePlus 13
2. Xiaomi 14
3. iPhone 16
4. Samsung Galaxy S25
5. Vivo X200 Pro
6. Oppo Find X8 Pro
7. Google Pixel 9

NDTV Gadgets 360 Awards Nominations for Tablet

Best Tablet [Mainstream]

The tablet segment saw steady growth throughout the year. Brands like Xiaomi, OnePlus, Realme, Samsung, and more have launched tablets with impressive specifications for the masses. Check out the nominees for the Best Tablet in the mainstream category.

1. Xiaomi Pad 7
2. Infinix XPad
3. Lenovo Tab Plus 
4. Redmi Pad Pro 5G
5. Realme Pad 2 Lite
6. OnePlus Pad 2

NDTV Gadgets360 Awards Nominations for Laptops

Best Affordable Laptop (Under Rs 50,000)

Check out the best affordable laptop nomination for this year’s NDTV Gadgets 360 Awards:

1. Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5
2. Infinix Inbook Air Pro+
3. Asus Vivobook 15 
4. Honor MagicBook X16 Pro
5. Acer Aspire 3

Best Gaming Laptop [Overall]

We saw a great influx in demand for gaming laptops this year. These laptops delivered a great balance between value-for-money features and exceptional gaming features. However, only a select few managed to get consumers’ attention this year. Here are the nominees for the Best Gaming Laptop category for the upcoming NDTV Gadgets 360 Awards.

1. Dell Alienware m18 R2
2. HP Omen Transcend 14
3. Acer Predator Helios Neo 16
4. ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16
5. MSI Raider 18HX
6. Lenovo Legion 9i

Best Thin and Light Laptop [Overall]

The ultrabooks were, by default, users’ favourite as they delivered excellent performance in a thin and light form factor. Check out the Best Thin and Light Laptop nominations and see whether your favourite product is here!

1. Dell XPS 14
2. Apple MacBook Pro M4
3. Lenovo Yoga Slim 7X
4. Asus Zenbook S14 OLED 
5. Acer Swift Go 14 
6. HP Elitebook Ultra G1q

Best 2-in-1 Laptop [Overall]

The 2-in-1s were in demand this year as we saw multiple brands introducing a slew of laptops in this category. Check out the Best 2-in-1 Laptop nominations and see whether your favourite product is here!

1. Dell XPS 14
2. Apple MacBook Pro M4
3. Lenovo Yoga Slim 7X
4. Asus Zenbook S14 OLED 
5. Acer Swift Go 14 
6. HP Elitebook Ultra G1q

Best Mainstream Laptop SoC

Here are the nominations of the best mainstream laptop SoC that powered most of the laptops in the year 2024:

1. Dell XPS 14
2. Apple MacBook Pro M4
3. Lenovo Yoga Slim 7X
4. Asus Zenbook S14 OLED 
5. Acer Swift Go 14 
6. HP Elitebook Ultra G1q

Best Flagship Laptop SoC

Here are the nominations of the best flagship laptop SoC that powered most of the premium laptops in the year 2024:

1. Dell XPS 14
2. Apple MacBook Pro M4
3. Lenovo Yoga Slim 7X
4. Asus Zenbook S14 OLED 
5. Acer Swift Go 14 
6. HP Elitebook Ultra G1q

Best Gaming Handheld

Gaming handheld also saw a sharp increase in the Indian market. The concept of on-the-go gaming finally came into the mainstream with brands like Asus, MSI, and Lenovo introducing budget-friendly gaming handhelds in the country. Check out the nominations of the best gaming handheld for Gadgets 360 Awards:

1. Asus ROG Ally X
2. MSI Claw A1M
3. Lenovo Legion Go

NDTV Gadgets 360 Awards Nominations for Smart TVs, TWS, and Smartwatch Categories

Best Smart TV [Under 55-inch]

Check out the nominees here:

Sony BRAVIA 2 (K-55S25B)
Toshibha M550NP
LG QNED 55-inch
Samsung Crystal 4K Vivid Pro D Series 55-inch
Vu 55VIBE24 55 inch UHD Smart QLED TV
TCL  55C655
Redmi Smart Fire TV 55-inch

Best Smart TV [65-inch and Above]

The smart TV segment also saw the introduction of newer technologies, especially QLEDs, which were adopted at a mass level. These Smart TVs stand out from the crowd with a perfect blend of top-notch features. Check out the nominees here:

Sony Bravia 9
Vu Masterpiece Frame TV 
LG OLED Evo G4
Samsung 85 inch Smart Neo QLED TV
Haier 65C10
Xiaomi X Pro QLED 65-inch
TCL 75C655

Best TWS

The truly wireless earbuds category delivered some advanced features this year. The compact form factor, versatile performance, and improved battery life help enhance the on-the-go listening experience. Take a look at the nominations in this category:

1. Google Pixel Buds Pro 2
2. Apple AirPods 4
3. Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro
4. Marshall Minor IV 
5. OnePlus Buds Pro 3
6. Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4
7. JBL Live Beam 3

Best Smartwatch

The wearables segment also saw the launch of some of the best smartwatches in the country. These smartwatches offered some good health-centric features that helped customers keep a real-time check on their health activities. Here are the nominees that delivered great features.

1. Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
2. Apple Watch Series 10 
3. Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra
4. OnePlus Watch 2
5. Amazfit GTR 4
6. Google Pixel Watch 3

NDTV Gadgets 360 Awards Nominations for AI Category

Best AI Integration By A Smartphone Brand

AI took the centre-stage in the smartphone segment with brands like Samsung, Google, Apple, and more introducing their own personalised AI features to a range of smartphones. So, this year, we will honouring those who have done a good job by implementing useful AI features in the smartphone. Without further ado, let’s check out the nomination for the Best AI Intergration by a Smartphone Brand:

1. Samsung
2. Google
3. Vivo
4. Oppo
5. Motorola 
6. OnePlus
7. Apple 

Best AI Integration By A Laptop Brand

Artifical Intelligence also made an impact in the laptop segment. With manufacturers like Asus, Lenovo, HP, and more introducing a wave of Co Pilot Plus laptops. Here are the nominations of the Best AI Integration by a Laptop Brand:

1. Asus
2. Samsung
3. HP
4. Dell
5. Lenovo
6. Apple
7. MSI

NDTV Gadgets 360 Awards Nominations for Users’ Choice Categories

Gadgets 360 believes that our readers have the right to decide the winners. This is why we have introduced some interesting categories in which your vote alone will decide the winner. Check out the users’ choice categories to decide the winners!

Best Disruptor Smartphone Brand

1. Samsung
2. Xiaomi
3. Vivo
4. Oppo
5. Nothing
6. Motorola 
7. OnePlus
8. Google

Best Disruptor Laptop Brand

1. Asus
2. Samsung
3. HP
4. Dell
5. Lenovo
6. Apple
7. MSI

Best Kitchen Appliance Brand

1. Philips
2. Bajaj
3. Prestige
4. Eureka Forbes
5. Kent
6. Usha
7. Crompton
8. Wonderchef

Best Washing Machine Brand

1. Haier
2. IFB
3. Godrej
4. LG
5. Samsung
6. Panasonic
7. Whirlpool
8. Voltas Beko

Best Refrigerator Brand

1. Samsung
2. Godrej
3. IFB
4. Panasonic
5. Onida
6. LG
7. Whirlpool
8. Haier

Best Refrigerator Brand

1. Samsung
2. Godrej
3. Mitsubishi
4. Panasonic
5. LG
6. Whirlpool
7. Haier
8. Voltas Beko
9. Blue Star
10. Llyod
11. Hitachi

Game of the Year

1. Astro Bot
2. Black Myth: Wukong
3. Helldivers 2
4. Metaphor: ReFantazio
5. Batman Arkham Shadow
6. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown 
7. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
8. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

Best 5G Network

1. Airtel
2. Reliance Jio

Best Smart Security Solution Brand

1. Qubo
2. Ezvis
3. Tapo
4. CP Plus
5. Xiaomi

Best Smartphone [Overall]

1. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
2. Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max 
3. Vivo X200 Pro 
4. Google Pixel 9 Pro 
5. Xiaomi 14 Ultra 
6. Oppo Find X8 Pro 
7. OnePlus 13

Best Air Purifier

1. Philips Smart Air Purifier AC4221
2. Qubo Q600 Smart Air
3. Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Gen1
4. Honeywell Air Touch V5
5. Havells Meditate AP 400 Air Purifier
6. Sharp FX-J80M-H Air Purifier

Best Robotic Vacuum Cleaner

1. Xiaomi Robot Vacuum Cleaner X10
2. ILIFE A20 Pro Robot Vacuum Cleaner
3. ECOVACS Deebot Y1 Pro Plus 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum Cleaner
4. DREAME L10 Prime Robot Vacuum Cleaner
5. AGARO Alpha Robot Vacuum Cleaner
6. Eureka Forbes Robotic Vacuum Cleaner

Amazon is reportedly informing Echo users that the voice requests sent to Alexa will soon stop supporting local processing. As per the report, the Seattle-based e-commerce giant is planning to stop on-device processing of voice recordings for Echo devices starting March 28. The company is reportedly making the change since the new artificial intelligence (AI) version of the virtual assistant, Alexa+, will be entirely cloud-based. Those users who continue to keep their devices set to local processing will reportedly lose the Voice ID functionality of Alexa.

Amazon Reportedly Ending Local Voice Processing for Echo Users

The tech giant added the functionality of on-device voice request processing on Echo devices in 2021, allowing users who do not want to give Amazon access to their conversations with the voice assistant to opt for a privacy-focused approach. However, now, the company is said to be taking a 180-degree turn on that feature.

According to an Ars Technica report, Amazon sent an email to Echo users informing them that they will no longer be able to process Alexa requests locally. These emails were reportedly sent only to those users who had enabled the “Do Not Send Voice Recordings” feature on their devices.

“As we continue to expand Alexa’s capabilities with generative AI features that rely on the processing power of Amazon’s secure cloud, we have decided to no longer support this feature,” the email stated, as per the publication.

The company is said to be planning to stop supporting local processing starting March 28, likely in preparation for deploying the new AI-powered Alexa+. Those who do not disable the setting will reportedly not be able to use one of the most integral features of the virtual assistant dubbed Voice ID. This feature allows Alexa to personalise user experience and share information such as calendar events, reminders, music, and more.

Alexa Voice ID is set to receive a major upgrade with the new AI version as it will be able to understand contextual information and make recommendations more personalised. It will also be able to recognise different voices of users. However, even those Echo users who do not wish to use the AI features, will not get to use the legacy version of Voice ID after March 28, the report claimed.

Ars Technica also shared the rest of the email where Amazon claimed that Alexa voice requests sent to cloud servers will always be encrypted with multiple security layers to keep users’ information safe. Despite the assurance, the move is likely to raise concerns of some Echo users who prefer the privacy aspect of the device.

Notably, in 2023, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a lawsuit against Amazon over allegations that the company was illegally collecting and indefinitely storing data on children under the age of 13 without parental consent. As per a TechCrunch report, the e-commerce giant settled the lawsuit by paying a fine of $25 million (roughly Rs. 216.9 crores) and deleting the existing data.

Amazon.com devices chief Panos Panay is adding a premium tier to the next generation of artificially intelligent Alexa gadgets.

The introduction of tonier hardware, which will coexist with lower- and mid-priced products, is a bid to give consumers more choice while generating new excitement for an Alexa franchise that has lost luster in recent years. 

Panay is pledging to reengineer Amazon’s hardware, from the gadgets’ silicon guts to the design and materials. Whether they fall into the “entry, core or signature” tier, he said, they’ll get the same care and attention. The speakers will sound better, battery life will improve, and the devices will boast the best security available, Panay said.

“I want perfection in every single product that we ship — period,” he told Bloomberg News, while providing few specifics. “There won’t be a corner cut. It won’t matter if we tried it before. It won’t matter what you thought it used to be.”

The voice assistant’s new AI operating system — Alexa+ — will sit at the center of the ecosystem. Thanks to coming “edge-processing” chip upgrades, the devices will eventually be able to handle more AI crunching themselves. That approach, mirroring Apple Inc.’s, could speed up response time and boost privacy. 

The ultimate aim is to facilitate new and more helpful experiences as users move from one gadget to another. “We’re envisioning what’s the next thing for a customer when it comes to AI devices and we have some incredible ones” in development, Panay said. 

The decision to add premium gadgetry to the lineup echoes the strategy Panay employed while running Microsoft Corp.’s hardware division. It’s something of a departure for Amazon. Though the company has previously offered some higher-end hardware, including the Echo Studio speaker and Kindle Scribe reader-notebook combo, Amazon is better known for sub-$50 television sticks and plug-in smart speakers.

It’s an audacious vision and will be tough to execute amid economic uncertainty and with a team that once had almost unlimited budgets but has since suffered waves of job cuts.

Surface Launch

Amazon poached Panay about 18 months ago from Microsoft, where he helped launch the Surface, a tablet with a detachable keyboard that was designed to compete with Apple’s iPad. The first take flopped, but subsequent versions gained traction and spawned a line of laptops, tablets and an all-in-one desktop PC.

Panay became a rare pitchman at a famously nerdy company, donning a hip wardrobe to wax poetic about a laptop’s aluminum sheen or the smooth hinge action of a computer stand. By the time Amazon lured Panay away, the Surface lineup featured plenty of well-reviewed, high-end hardware.

The question now is whether he can help create similar magic at Amazon.

While the company has sold millions of Alexa devices since the voice assistant’s 2014 debut, many people use them as timers or trivia finders. Besides winnowing the hardware team as part of a companywide cost-cutting effort, Chief Executive Officer Andy Jassy has killed several key gadgets, including a fitness-tracking wristband and a video-chat device for kids.

Still, Jassy & Co. see Alexa as a way to attract more Prime members, who will get the new Alexa+ service as part of a $139 annual subscription that also includes free shipping and video streaming.

It’s not yet clear how well the rebooted voice assistant will fare against ChatGPT and other AI bots, but Panay says the new software will give all the devices in the Alexa+ ecosystem an “IQ bump,” even gadgets that debuted a half-decade ago.

Previously Amazon had a tendency to flood the market with Alexa-powered devices, from microwave ovens to finger rings. Panay aims to be a lot more selective. “Ultimately Alexa+ is going to open up a host of new products and experiences,” he said, adding that his team would identify “the ones that matter most.”

AR Glasses

Panay hinted that augmented reality glasses and new wrist-worn devices could be part of the lineup. And while Amazon’s home robot Astro hasn’t sold well, he doesn’t rule out doing more on that front — but only if he’s sure a bot would give customers more reasons to use Alexa.

“At the end of the day, that’s what matters,” he said. “And if a robot is part of that, then I’ll make sure we have a great robot.”

For years, the lack of a smartphone has loomed as a serious limitation for Amazon. The company’s Fire phone famously flopped a decade ago. Panay said he currently has no plans to develop a new handset but didn’t rule out doing so. “It would be foolish of me to not step back and look at how the world’s changing in front of us,” he said. “You always have to evaluate.”

He acknowledged that Amazon needs gadgets that can be untethered from the home or office. The company’s current entrants, developed before Panay’s arrival, are basically me-too devices: Echo Frames, a camera-free take on the smart Ray-Bans from Meta Platforms Inc., and Echo Buds, a slower-selling version of Apple AirPods. Hardware upgrades and an Alexa+ infusion are coming, he said.

Panay will unveil the first products he has overseen in the fall, but owing to development timelines, supply-chain constraints and other challenges, it will take time to put his stamp on the full product lineup. Still, he insists that Amazon will get there.

“The patience and investment are unmatched,” Panay says. 

© 2025 Bloomberg LP

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)