As we gear up to wrap up 2021 has been and welcome 2022, it’s that time of the year again. It’s time to look back at the year that 2021 has been and its offerings in terms of tech launches. This is where the Indian Gadget Awards 2021 comes into the picture. It’s a collaboration between 30 top tech publications and YouTubers with a combined audience base of more than 100 million to crown a winner across 30 award categories.
The Indian Gadget Awards 2021 comprises a jury panel of over 40 top reviewers and experts in the industry. Together they will crown the best gadgets of 2021 across categories. There are also Users’ Choice Awards, where users can vote for their favourite tech launches of the year gone by. Let’s take a look at all the award categories and their respective nominees.
Indian Gadget Awards 2021: best phone of 2021 under Rs 10,000
The budget smartphone segment under Rs 10,000 is arguably the most competitive segment of the Indian smartphone market. With brands like Xiaomi, Realme, Samsung, and Motorola gunning for the crown in this segment, the competition is fiercer than ever. Here are the nominees for the best phone of 2021 under Rs 10,000.
- Moto E40
- Samsung Galaxy M02
- Realme C25
- Infinix Hot 11
- Redmi 9 Activ
- Realme Narzo 30A
Indian Gadget Awards 2021: best phone of 2021 under Rs 20,000
While the sub-Rs 20,000 has been Xiaomi’s stronghold for years now, 2021 witnessed brands like iQOO and Motorola making their presence felt strongly as well. This segment has several contenders from POCO, Xiaomi, Realme, Samsung, and Motorola. Here are the nominees.
- POCO X3 Pro
- Redmi Note 10 Pro Max
- iQOO Z3 5G
- Moto G60
- Realme X7 5G
- Samsung Galaxy A22 5G
- Redmi Note 11T 5G
Indian Gadget Awards 2021: best phone of 2021 under Rs 30,000
While the OnePlus Nord revolutionised the sub-Rs 30,000 segment last year, the Nord 2 lived up to its reputation this year. However, it faced stiff competition from the likes of Realme, POCO, Xiaomi, and iQOO, among others. Here are the nominees for the premium mid-range category of smartphones.
- iQOO Z5 5G
- Realme X7 Max 5G
- OnePlus Nord 2 5G
- POCO F3 GT
- Samsung Galaxy M52 5G
- Realme GT Master Edition
- Xiaomi Mi 11X
- Motorola Edge 20
- Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G
Indian Gadget Awards 2021: best phone of 2021 under Rs 50,000
Recently, mid-range flagship or affordable flagship has now become a norm in the industry. Today, every established phone brand has a lineup of mid-range smartphones with flagship features. Here are the nominees for the best phone of 2021 under Rs 50,000.
- OnePlus 9 5G
- iQOO 7 Legend 5G
- iQOO 7 5G
- Realme GT Neo 2
- Xiaomi Mi 11X Pro
- Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G
- OnePlus 9R 5G
- Vivo X70 Pro
- Realme GT 5G
- Motorola Edge 20 Pro
Indian Gadget Awards 2021: best phone of 2021 – Premium
When budget is no bar, these are the smartphones that are the most obvious choice for anyone. Loaded with flagship specifications and premium builds, these smartphones are the cream of the crop. Needless to say, the list is dominated by Apple and Samsung. However, in 2021, Xiaomi made a comeback in this segment with its ambitious Mi 11 Ultra. Vivo and OnePlus also have solid contenders in this segment.
- Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G
- Apple iPhone 13
- Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
- Vivo X70 Pro+
- OnePlus 9 Pro 5G
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G
Indian Gadget Awards 2021: best selfie phone of 2021 – Mainstream
With the ongoing pandemic situation and boost in video calling apps, brands started launching smartphones with powerful selfie cameras. Considering not everyone can afford premium smartphones, brands have started equipping their affordable smartphones with commendable selfie cameras. Here are the nominees of the best selfie phone of 2021 in the mainstream segment.
- Realme 8 Pro
- Redmi Note 10 Pro Max
- iQOO Z3 5G
- Tecno Camon 17 Pro
- Realme X7 5G
Indian Gadget Awards 2021: best selfie phone of 2021 – Premium
There was a time when brands neglected the selfie camera on their flagship offerings and instead focused on the main camera module on the back. Not anymore, as brands like Samsung and Apple upgraded their front cameras, while Xiaomi allowed users to take selfies with a 108MP camera on the back using the tiny secondary display. Here are the nominees of the best selfie phone of 2021 in the premium segment.
- Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G
- Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
- Vivo X70 Pro+
Indian Gadget Awards 2021: best camera phone of 2021 – Mainstream
Gone are the days when buying a good camera phone meant having to burn a hole in your pocket. Brands like Redmi, Realme, and Motorola have introduced powerful 108MP camera phones in the mainstream category as well. Here are the nominees of the the best camera phone of 2021 – Mainstream category.
- Redmi Note 10 Pro Max
- Moto G60
- Realme 8s 5G
- Samsung Galaxy A22 5G
- Realme X7 5G
Indian Gadget Awards 2021: best camera phone of 2021 – Premium
For those who have a budget for a high-end premium smartphone, the sky is the limit. From the dedicated V1 imaging chipset by Vivo to Hasselblad-branded cameras, 2021 had some interesting offerings when it comes to flagship camera phones. Here are the nominees for Indian Gadget Awards 2021 in this category.
- iQOO 7 Legend 5G
- Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra
- Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
- Vivo X70 Pro+
- Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G
- OnePlus 9 Pro 5G
Indian Gadget Awards 2021: best gaming phone of 2021 – Mainstream
With the comeback of PUBG Mobile in India as Battlegrounds Mobile India and the subsequent launch of PUBG: New State, the popularity of mobile gaming has been on an all-time high recently. Thanks to affordable gaming-centric chipsets launched by MediaTek and Snapdragon, today we have mainstream powerful smartphones that can handle these games with ease. Here are the top affordable gaming phone launches in 2021 vying for the crown of the best gaming of 2021 in the mainstream category.
- POCO X3 Pro
- iQOO Z3 5G
- Redmi Note 10 Pro Max
- Realme X7 5G
- Moto G60
Indian Gadget Awards 2021: best gaming phone of 2021 – Premium
While flagship processors can handle powerful games with ease, it’s the gaming-centric features that make the whole gaming experience enjoyable. Keeping that in mind, here are the nominees of the best premium gaming phone of 2021.
- ASUS ROG Phone 5
- POCO F3 GT
- Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iQOO 7 Legend 5G
Indian Gadget Awards 2021: best phone of 2021 – Overall
We have now arrived at the most coveted awards in the phone category, which is the best phone of 2021 overall. These smartphones are the best of the best in their category and are battling for the best phone of the year award. Here are the nominees for this category.
- POCO X3 Pro
- Redmi Note 10 Pro Max
- Realme X7 Max 5G
- iQOO 7 5G
- Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G
- Apple iPhone 13
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
- Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra
- Vivo X70 Pro+
Indian Gadget Awards 2021: best tablet of 2021 – Mainstream
The year 2021 witnessed the return of tablet wars in the affordable segment with Realme, Nokia, and Motorola launching their first tablets in India. Here are the nominees for the best tablet of 2021 in the mainstream category.
- Realme Pad
- Nokia T20
- Moto Tab G20
- Lenovo Tab K10
- TCL 10 TabMax
India Gadget Awards 2021: best tablet of 2021 – Premium
The premium tablet segment has always been dominated by Apple and Samsung, which is evident from the list below as well. However, this year there were solid contenders from the likes of Microsoft and Lenovo as well.
- Apple iPad Mini
- Apple iPad Pro
- Lenovo Tab P11 Pro
- Microsoft Surface Go 3
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE
Indian Gadget Awards 2021: best TV of 2021 – Mainstream
It was Xiaomi that revolutionised the affordable TV segment in India with its Mi series of televisions. However, the success of Mi series encouraged brands like Realme, Blaupunkt, and even Samsung to launch TV offerings that cater to the mainstream masses. Below are the nominees for the best TV of 2021 in mainstream category.
- Redmi Smart TV X50 (50-inch)
- Realme Smart TV 4K (50-inch)
- Samsung AUE70 Crystal (43-inch)
- HiSense 43A6GE (43-inch)
- Blaupunkt Cybersound (43-inch)
Indian Gadget Awards : best TV of 2021 – Premium
Sony, LG, and Samsung are the usual suspects when it comes to flagship televisions with premium features in India. Xiaomi also made an entry with its Mi QLED TV series. Here are the contenders for the best TV of 2021 award in the premium category.
- LG C1 65
- Samsung The Frame
- Sony A80J
- Xiaomi Mi QLED TV
- Sony Z9J
Indian Gadget Awards 2021: best laptop of 2021 – Mainstream
Laptops were considered essential in the year gone by considering the whole work-from-home and online classes culture that came to the fore. People were looking for laptops that were easy on the pocket but didn’t skimp on features. Here are the nominations for best affordable laptop of 2021.
- Realme Book Slim (i5 8GB + 512GB)
- RedmiBook 15 Pro (i5 variant)
- MSI Modern 14 B11MO-093IN (Core i5 11th Gen)
- Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i 82H700J7IN (Core i5 11th Gen)
- Mi NoteBook Pro (8GB + i5)
- HP Pavilion Laptop 14-ec0036AU
- Dell Vostro 3400 14-inch (Core i5 11th Gen)
- Acer Aspire 5 A515-45 (Core i5 11th Gen)
- ASUS VivoBook K15 OLED K513EA-L301TS
Indian Gadget Awards: 2021: best laptop of 2021 – Premium
If the price is no bar, you can buy laptops that score high in design, display, performance, and battery life. From Apple to HP, this category has a contender from nearly every brand. Here are the nominees for the best premium laptop of 2021.
- Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M1 Max)
- HP Spectre x360 ea0077TU
- Dell XPS 15 9510
- Fujitsu UH-X 4ZR1D71993
- ASUS ExpertBook B9 (B9400)
- Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Carbon 82EV003WIN
Indian Gadget Awards 2021: best gaming laptop of 2021 – Mainstream
Not all PC gamers can afford an expensive machine. Thankfully, brands like Acer, HP, ASUS, and MSI have commendable offerings in this category. Here are the nominees for the best mainstream gaming laptops of 2021.
- Acer Nitro 5 AN515-57 (Core i7 11th 11800H)
- HP Victus 16d0003TX (Core i5 11th Gen + RTX 3050)
- ASUS TUF Dash F15 FX516PM-HN156TS (Core i5 11th Gen + RTX 3060)
- ASUS Zephyrus G14 GA401QH-HZ076TS
- MSI Katana GF66 11UC – 477IN (Core i7 11th Gen + RTX 3050)
Indian Gadget Awards 2021: best gaming laptop of 2021 – Premium
According to the HP India Gaming Landscape Report 2021, a whopping 89 percent of gamers believe that PC gaming is far better than mobile gaming. Thanks to the powerful graphics card, dedicated graphics RAM, faster SSD storage, and more, these laptops can handle any gaming title with eases. Here are the nominees for the award of best gaming laptop of 2021 in the premium category.
- ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 G533QS-HF210TS
- Lenovo Legion 5 Pro 82JQ009DIN
- MSI GE 66 Raider 10UG
- ASUS Zephyrus M16 GU603HR-K8004R
- ASUS ROG Flow X13 GV301QH-K5040T
- Dell Alienware X17
Indian Gadget Awards 2021: best truly wireless earbuds of 2021 – Mainstream
The Indian TWS market reported 55 percent YoY growth in the third quarter of 2021 to reach the highest shipments ever at around 8 million. This was made possible by affordable launches from local and smartphone brands. Here are the contenders for the award of best TWS earbuds of 2021 in the affordable category.
- Realme Buds Air 2
- Jabra Elite 2
- Soundcore Life Note E
- JBL C115
- boAt Airdopes 501 ANC
- omthing By 1MORE AirFree Pods
Indian Gadget Awards 2021: best truly wireless earbuds of 2021 – Premium
Despite the affordable segment of TWS earbuds gaining popularity, the premium TWS earbuds are very much in demand still thanks to audiophiles. These premium TWS earbuds offer high-end features like ANC, low latency, and high-resolution audio support, among others, which are a must for an audiophile. Here are the top premium TWS earbuds in contention for the best premium truly wireless earbuds of 2021.
- OPPO Enco X
- Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro
- Jabra Elite 85t
- Apple AirPods 3
- OnePlus Buds Pro
- Nothing ear (1)
- Google Pixel Buds A-Series
- LyperTek PurePlay Z7
Indian Gadget Awards 2021: best wearable of 2021 – Mainstream
Wearables ceased to be a novelty and became more of a lifestyle accessory in 2021. This was brought upon by the mostly sedentary lifestyle led by many during the last couple of years and health became a priority for many. Here are the contenders for the best affordable wearable of 2021 award.
- Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 6
- Realme Watch 2 Pro
- Amazfit Bip U Pro
- Redmi Watch GPS
- Noise ColorFit Pro 3
- Crossbeats Orbit
- Huawei Band 6
Indian Gadget Awards 2021: best wearable of 2021 – Premium
There’s no dearth of loaded options with advanced health and wellness features if you are willing to pay more. Below are some of the best wearables from 2021 fighting for the best premium wearable of 2021 title.
- Apple Watch Series 7
- Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Classic
- Fitbit Charge 5
- Fitbit Sense
- Mi Watch Revolve Active
- Fossil Gen 6
- Amazfit GTR 3 Pro
Indian Gadget Awards 2021: most innovative gadget of 2021
From a foldable laptop to high-end face masks, the year 2021 witnessed a lot of innovations come to the fore. Here are the top innovative gadgets of 2021 showcasing cutting-edge technology.
- Philips Fresh Air Mask
- Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
- Samsung Odyssey G9 49-inch
- Amazon Echo Show 10
- StuffCool Centurion
Indian Gadget Awards 2021: best Mobile SoC of 2021 – Mainstream
As the affordable and mid-range segment of smartphones started churning out best sellers for phone brands, chipset makers – Qualcomm and Snapdragon launched several mainstream chipsets in 2021. Below are the processors in contention for the award of the best mainstream mobile SoC of 2021.
- MediaTek Dimensity 810
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 768G
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 860
- MediaTek Dimensity 700
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 678
Indian Gadget Awards 2021: best Mobile SoC of 2021 – Premium
High-end flagships require powerful mobile processors with support for cutting-edge technology, which can then be enabled for smartphones. In this segment, Samsung and Apple also make an appearance alongside the usual suspects – Qualcomm and MediaTek.
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+
- Apple A15 Bionic
- MediaTek Dimensity 1200
- Exynos 2100
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 870
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G
Indian Gadget Awards 2021: best Mobile SoC of 2021 – Brand of the Year
When it comes to launching mobile platforms, the onus is upon the chipset brands to bring support for the latest tech, which can then be implemented by smartphone brands in their offerings. Below are the chipset makers in contention for the brand of the year award in the mobile SoC category.
- Qualcomm
- MediaTek
- Unisoc
Indian Gadget Awards 2021: best laptop CPU of 2021 – Mainstream
As budget laptops gained popularity in the year 2021, mainstream laptop CPUs were discussed at length throughout the year. Here are the nominees for the best mainstream laptop of 2021 award.
- Intel Core i3-1115G4
- Intel Core i5-11300H
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
Indian Gadget Awards 2021: best laptop CPU of 2021 – Premium
The premium laptop CPUs are the latest and greatest from the brands with ample performance chops and support for all future tech. Here are the top premium laptop processors that are in contention for the best premium laptop CPU of 2021.
- Intel Core i9-11900H
- Intel Core i7-11800H
- AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX
- AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS
- AMD Ryzen 7 5800H
- Apple M1 Max
