Innovation is one of the most important aspects for technology to move ahead. And, in the consumer electronics space, this happens at a rapid pace. This year, the foldable screen concept extended from phones to PCs while the innovation also happened more progressively on the smartphone foldables as well.
With masks still being one of the most used products in 2021, brands like Philips innovated here by adding tech. Smart home devices such as a smart speaker with a screen and all in one charger were also among some of the most innovative products of the year. After filtering through multiple devices, the votes are in. These are the winners for the most innovative gadget of 2021 for the Indian Gadget Awards.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 was selected as the winner of the Most Innovative Gadget of 2021 award, while the runner up is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3.
Most Innovative Gadget of 2021 – Indian Gadget Awards 2021 Nominees
- Philips Fresh Air Mask
- Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
- Amazon Echo Show 10
- StuffCool Centurion
Philips Fresh Air Mask
With masks being mandatory throughout the year for those who are stepping out of their house, this is one area where not many brands innovated, but there were some notable announcements around the same. The one that raised everyone’s eyebrow was the Fresh Air Mask from Philips, a company that is known for its home appliances. The mask redefines breathing comfort with its Air Power technology. The air mesh technology improves the breathing experience, which also protects people from pollution, germs, and offers protection. The built-in motor and air-fluid dynamic design reduce the exhalation resistance and improve breathing comfort. On the first use, the mask removes 95% harmful airborne pollutants and allergens up to 3 microns. Overall, the Philips Fresh Air Mask is one of the most innovative solutions for people to travel outside without having to worry much.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold
Usually, Lenovo’s ThinkPad lineup is popularly known for its notebook business lineup. However, in 2021, the company went ahead and launched a new foldable laptop. Called the ThinkPad X1 Fold, it is the world’s first foldable PC. It can be bent, stretched and transformed as per your need. The PC can be held like a book, transformed into a mini laptop, or unfurled into a giant tablet, and when not in use, it becomes a diary that slips into your handbag without taking too much space. The star of the show here is the bendable OLED display. The screen measures 13.3-inch. It also comes with a leather kickstand that lets you hoist the tablet upright on a surface. The machine can magnetically attach an optional Bluetooth keyboard on the bottom half, and use it as a mini PC with a 7-inch display. It is powered by an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB LPDDR4X memory and up to 512GB M.2 SSD.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G
The third-gen Samsung foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G is a pretty solid upgrade over the Z Fold 2. The company has added a layer of comfort by offering ingress protection, a stronger armored aluminium frame, and Gorilla Glass Victus protection on the rear panel plus the cover display. The hinge mechanism is also solid here with the right amount of resistance to make the opening and closing feel reassuringly good. It also gets an IPX8 water resistance rating. Samsung still offers best in class display with a 120Hz 7.6-inch tablet-like display when unfolded and a 120Hz 6.2-inch AMOLED panel when folded. Samsung has also made some tweaks to improve user experience. It has a 4,500mAh battery backed by 25W fast charging. Lastly, the camera setup is also capable with a 12MP f/1.8 main sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide lens and a 12MP telephoto shooter with 2x magnification. The phone is powered by Snapdragon 888.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
Arguably the best foldable phone of the year, that we could recommend to any user, the Galaxy Z Flip3 is a mainstream foldable device of the year. It comes with an exciting bunch of additions over the OG Flip like a brighter, smoother inner display, a bigger outer display, faster processor, water-resistance rating and wireless charging. More than anything else, the Z Flip 3 costs less than its predecessor. Its relatively small battery holds it back, but for the rest of the specs and features, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 won’t disappoint you. As for the specs, you get a 120Hz 6.7-inch foldable Dynamic AMOLED display, 1.9-inch secondary AMOLED screen, Snapdragon 888 SoC, 8GB RAM, 128/256GB storage, 3,330mAh battery, 15W fast charging, and IPX8 rating for water resistance.
Amazon Echo Show 10
The third-generation Amazon Echo Show 10 comes with a 10.1-inch display with 1280 x 800 screen resolution. For audio, you get a 10W speaker setup along with a driver unit. The display is attached to the base unit and for those who are paranoid about privacy, you get the one-click switch to the mute microphone or block the display’s integrated camera. The camera can also be blocked with the built-in physical slider. The screen also offers face tracking, which moves automatically to face you. The built-in 13MP camera allows you to make video calls and as always, the Alexa voice assistant allows you to interact to get information, control smart devices, and more.
StuffCool Centurion
With multiple devices like smartphones, laptops, earphones and smartwatches lying on the desk, it often gets hard to use four dedicated chargers for all these devices. That’s where the StuffCool Centurion comes in handy. The Centurion is a wall charging adapter with four USB ports 一 two USB-A and two USB-C offering simultaneous fast charging of laptops and phones. It is also capable of charging the new MacBooks. The device offers up to 100W fast charging through the USB-C ports, and up to 30W of maximum charging speed through the universal USB-A ports. The form factor and also the compatibility of the charger with most smartphones makes it a handy device to carry along.
