The Tech That Took Home the 2026 Awards (and What It Means for You)

Sarah Johnson · 2026-10-01

Every year, a whole lot of tech passes through our labs. Some of it's forgettable. Some of it's genuinely great. And then there's the small handful that makes our reviewers stop, take notice, and say, "okay, this one's special." Those are the products we celebrate with the Trusted Reviews Awards, back again for 2026 in partnership with eBay. We've now announced every winner across the board, so here's your full rundown. Whether you're shopping for a new monitor, hunting for a laptop, or just curious what the smart money's on this year, this is the list worth bookmarking. ### How the Awards Actually Work The awards celebrate the best tech that has passed through our labs and our experts' hands. Categories span Computing & Gaming, TV & Audio, Mobile, Homes, and Cameras. There's also a special Sustainability Award with eBay for products that don't just perform well but tread a little lighter on the planet. Each category has one winner and a shortlist of nominees, so even if your favorite didn't take the top spot, you're still looking at a lineup of genuinely excellent products. ### Computing & Gaming Winners This is where the competition gets fierce. Here's who came out on top: - **Best Monitor:** Dell UltraSharp 32 U3226Q, edging out the Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 G60SF and LG UltraGear GX9 45GX950A-B - **Best Mouse:** Logitech MX Master 4, beating the Razer Viper V4 Pro and SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2 - **Best Headset:** SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite, ahead of the Sony Inzone H6 Air and Astro A20X Lightspeed Wireless - **Best Gaming Handheld:** Asus ROG Xbox Ally X, topping the MSI Claw A8 and Lenovo Legion Go 2 - **Best Keyboard:** Ducky OK-M-98, over the Gravastar Mercury V60 Pro and Sony Inzone KBD-H75 - **Best VPN:** NordVPN, ahead of ProtonVPN, ExpressVPN, Mullvad, and Windscribe - **Best Gaming Laptop:** Medion Erazer Beast 16 X1 Ultimate, beating the MSI Stealth A18 AI+ and Acer Predator Helios 18 AI - **Best Student Laptop:** Acer Swift Go 14 AI, over the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x Gen 11 and Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 - **Best Laptop:** Samsung Galaxy Book 6 Pro, topping the Asus ProArt P16 and Acer TravelMate P6 14 AI - **Best Gaming Monitor:** LG UltraGear GX9 45GX950A-B, ahead of the Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 G60SF and BenQ Mobiuz EX271UZ ### Homes Winners So Far The Homes category is all about the gadgets that make daily life a little smoother. In the coffee corner, the **Nespresso Vertuo Up** took Best Coffee Machine, beating out the Ninja Prestige Dualbrew System and the KitchenAid Semi Automatic Espresso Machine. The bean-to-cup category is still being finalized, so keep an eye out for that one. ### What to Take Away From This Year's List Here's the thing about award lists like this: they're not just a pat on the back for the brands. They're a shortcut for you. If you're in the market for a laptop, a monitor, or even a VPN, these winners have already been put through their paces so you don't have to gamble on a spec sheet alone. > "The best tech doesn't always shout the loudest. Sometimes it just quietly does everything right, day after day, until you can't imagine working without it." That's the thread running through this year's winners. A few of them are the obvious picks. A few might surprise you. Either way, each one earned its spot. ### The Bottom Line The 2026 awards are in the books, and the winners are a solid snapshot of where tech is heading: smarter, more efficient, and increasingly built with sustainability in mind. Whether you're upgrading your setup or just window shopping, this list is a great place to start. We'll keep updating as the remaining categories wrap up, so check back soon for the full picture.