These are the best products of the year: Mashable Choice Awards 2023

Read our full review of the DJI Osmo Pocket 3.

We try to avoid using the word "perfect" in our reviews here at Mashable, but contributor Timothy Beck Werth said that "perfect" was the word that repeatedly came to mind while testing out the DJI Osmo Pocket 3. He describes it as a phenomenal gimbal camera, and it boasts excellent face tracking, vertical video mode, motion stabilization, and wireless connectivity.

Read our full review of the GoPro Hero 12 Black.

Compared to its predecessors, the GoPro Hero 12 promises drastically better battery life, improved video stabilization, a new wide-angle lens accessory, and new tools for content creators. Contributor Timothy Beck Werth declared that GoPro has overdelivered with its latest action camera.

Read our full review of the Death Lens Fisheye.

Contributor Kenneth Bachor said that the quality of the Death Lens is superior to any iPhone fisheye lenses he's bought in the past and that so many cheaper versions are unsuccessful in recreating the '90s aesthetic it accomplishes. It comes with a phone case into which you screw the lens so it stays secure on your phone. The accompanying app mimics the interface of an OG camcorder and is super easy to use. Bachor wrote that for under $50, the Death Lens is "a great timeless accessory that’s small and easy to throw in your pocket."

Read our full review of the Viture One XR glasses.

The Viture One XR glasses connect to your phone, laptop, or gaming console to show you content on a 120-inch screen within the glasses lenses. No matter where you look, the "screen" is in sight, so you can game or watch TV while lying down in bed or sitting on an airplane. Tech Editor Kimberly Gedeon dubbed the Viture One glasses her favorite tech device she tested this year.

Read our full review of the Beats Studio Pro headphones.

Beats' Studio Pro headphones are an Apple product that works seamlessly with Android devices, and the ease with which they work across operating systems Tech Reporter Alex Perry says might be the most impressive thing about them. And, as you'd expect from a pair of Beats, they sound fantastic and the active noise cancellation is amazing.

Read our full review of the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus.

The iPhone Pro line is better than ever with the introduction of the 15, but the standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are giving the Pro a run for its money. The base model iPhone now has the Dynamic Island and 48MP camera, bringing them a lot closer to the Pro phones. Plus, the iPhone 15 got the USB-C treatment finally. Senior Editor Stan Schroeder said that "the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus are probably the prudent choice for most buyers."

Read our full review of the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max.

First of all, the upgrade to USB-C alone is enough to praise the iPhone 15 line. Add in the new A17 Pro chip and improved cameras and the Pro models snag a Mashable Choice Award. Senior Editor Stan Schroeder wrote, "There's no doubt that the new iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are better phones than last year's versions." The phones are lighter, nicer looking, more powerful, more versatile, and have significantly improved cameras.

Read our full review of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5.

Tech Reporter Alex Perry concluded that Samsung is officially the standard-bearer for flagship foldables. He found that the Z Fold 5's inner display is great for reading, watching, and playing things, and Samsung has done more than enough to prove to skeptics that foldable phones have a purpose.

Read our full review of the Apple Pencil USB-C.

While testing the Apple Pencil USB-C, Tech Editor Kimberly Gedeon found that is has great battery life, glides easily across iPad screens, is awesome for note taking, and even helped with her animation skills. One downside: It doesn't come with a charging cable. Classic Apple.

Read our full review of the Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet.

Obviously, iPads are top dog in the tablet world and Amazon is mostly known for making cheap tablets that aren't jam-packed with impressive features. But the Fire Max 11 is a little different from Amazon's norm. Contributor SaVanna Shoemaker called it the sleekest and largest Fire tablet yet, and it "packs some impressive specs behind the moderate price tag we’ve all come to expect." It's fast and ideal for entertainment, however; it's limited by the Amazon Appstore which has a small offering and lacks any Google apps.

Read our full review of the 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro.

According to Tech Editor Kimberly Gedeon, the 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro doesn't have any staggering upgrades, but during her testing she did find that it has a significant performance jump over the M2. This laptop's battery lasted almost 17 hours on a single charge during Gedeon's trial, she said it's just the right size, and its speakers are arguably "the best set of speakers on the laptop market."

Read our full review of the HP Victus 16.

The HP Victus 16 was the best cheap gaming laptop Tech Editor Kimberly Gedeon tested in 2023. She was impressed by its ability to remain cool, its top-of-the-line gaming performance, and stylish look. Plus, it ran Cyberpunk 2077 (one of the most graphics-intensive games on the market) like a champ.

Read our full review of the Acer Nitro V 15.

For less than $1,000, the Acer Nitro V 15 (formerly called Acer Nitro 5) is a budget-friendly gaming laptop that certainly makes some compromises to maintain an affordable price — its display could be brighter and more vivid. It's still one of our favorite cheap gaming laptops, though. Tech Editor Kimberly Gedeon wrote, "If you're just looking for a gaming laptop that ditches all the bells and whistles for impressive gaming performance, the Nitro V 15 is the one for you."

Read our full review of Peacock.

For The Office and Parks and Recreation fans, Peacock is a must-have streaming service. But that's not even close to all Peacock offers. The service features live sports, Bravo TV, new and old movies, original series, and plenty more. Film Editor Kristy Puchko wrote, "Whether you relish old TV shows, crave new movies, revel in reality TV binge-watching, or rally every game day, there are plenty of options to make this subscription worth your while."

Read our full review of the Shark FlexStyle.

The Shark FlexStyle is easily our favorite Dyson Airwrap dupe. It uses the same Coanda technology to wrap your hair around curlers using air for minimal heat damage. Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard wrote, "The resemblances aren't just in its appearance. I've throughly tested both products, and at the end of the day, the performance is nearly indistinguishable. If anything, the Shark offers a few new features that make me reach for it more."

Read our full review of the TheraFace Mask.

Therabody's latest foray into the beauty space came in the form of an LED face mask that stands out against competition thanks to its red, infrared, and blue lights and massage features. Deputy Reviews Editor Miller Kern wrote, "If you’re a casual skincare user, I have a hard time telling you to buy a $600 device. But if you’re someone who’s been wanting an LED mask but hasn’t been able to decide which one to invest in, the TheraFace Mask is certainly a winner in my eyes."

Read our full review of the BioFace Facial Mask Machine.

BioFace is a device that allows you to create customized face masks using ingredients such as real fruits and vegetables. You just have to liquify your choice of ingredients and pour them into the machine, then it'll dispense a jelly-texture sheet mask. Contributor Michelle Rostamian found that this machine is great for those leaning into simpler skincare routines and it helps reduce waste in both your beauty routine and kitchen. As for the actual benefits of the masks, Rostamian said her skin felt rejuvenated, fresh, and hydrated after each use.

Read our full review of the Oru Lake kayak.

The Oru Lake Kayak is the kayak for people with limited storage space. It folds down to roughly the size of a carry-on suitcase, but when unfolded is stable and durable enough to take on the water. The kayak is rated for up to 20,000 folds without weakening. Compared to kayak rental prices, Deputy Shopping Editor Jae Thomas says the Oru Lake is totally worth the investment if you plan to take it out on the water for at least 25 hours in its lifetime.

Read our full review of the Bowflex Treadmill 22.

In her review, Contributor SaVanna Shoemaker wrote, "The Bowflex Treadmill 22 is the biggest treadmill I’ve ever laid eyes on… and I love it." The treadmill takes up a good chunk of space even when folded up, but the performance is highly impressive. Its 22-inch screen is beautiful for watching TV or movies or for following along with workouts from the included JRNY app membership. The treadmill also has nice built-in safety features that provide peace of mind for homes with children. With the price and size, this treadmill is certainly not for everyone, but Shoemaker says it's a great investment for serious runners and for people who enjoy connected fitness.

Read our full review of the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 robot vacuum.

The Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 is not a high-end flagship robot vacuum, so Contributor Timothy Beck Werth wasn't sure what to expect while testing the vac. However, he concluded that it's "absolutely one of the best robot vacuums for sale in 2023." The budget robovac was able to hold its own in terms of suction and cleaning power compared to more expensive robot vacuums.

Read our full review of the Beautiful 9-quart TriZone air fryer.

This air fryer from Drew Barrymore's collection demands counter space. But while it is large, it's also powerful. Contributor Michelle Rostamian cooked her meals in this air fryer when her oven died on her, and it adequately took the place of a full-on oven. The dual baskets set this air fryer apart from others, allowing you to chef up two separate dishes using different cooking methods at the same time. It doesn't hurt that the Beautiful air fryer lives up to its name with a sleek look you'll want to show off in your kitchen.

Read our full review of the Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus Breadmaker.

The Zojirushi breadmaker takes a lot of the grunt work out of baking. It has presets for different types of bread, but it's also good for making cake, jam, and pasta. This is a versatile machine that our beginner baker was able to master. Contributor Mallory Minich noted that she doesn't have the patience to knead bread, let it rise, and repeat the cycle until it's ready to bake, so she loved that the Virtuoso Plus did all the steps for her — she just had to toss in the ingredients.

Read our full review of the Lomi countertop composter.

The Lomi countertop composter brings a new level of accessibility to composting at home. It's compact and runs an electrical cycle that churns compost out so much faster than traditional methods. Lomi makes different types of compost depending on what you throw into it, with the cycles ranging from three to 20 hours to complete. Senior Shopping Reporter Leah Stodart noted that one of the composter's main draws is the variety of food and non-food items you can compost with this device. In addition to raw foods that would stink up your fridge, you can also toss paper products and bioplastics into the Lomi.

Read our full review of the Mill food recycler.

Unlike most at-home composter, the Mill doesn't sit on the countertop — it's also not technically a composter. It's a trashcan-sized food recycler that dehydrates food scraps and turns them into chicken food that you can mail back to the company. The Mill app lets you know what can and can't go into the recycler, so there's no confusion resulting in you just tossing your compostables in the garbage. Senior Shopping Reporter Leah Stodart loved the Mill so much she spent her own money to purchase the unit she tested for her review.

Read our full review of the Tempur-Ergo smart base.

While Deputy Reviews Editor Miller Kern doesn't think the Tempur-Ergo smart bed frame is a necessity, it is a really cool sleep tech gadget that's worth the money if you have it. It comes with a remote that lets you control its position, activate massage features, and turn on the under-bed lights. But the coolest part is that it tracks your sleep. Kern wrote, "Like with most widely-available, non-medical grade sleep trackers, I’m not accepting all of these metrics at face value. But they do seem impressively accurate for something that’s not even touching my skin while I sleep." There's also a sleep coach within the Tempur-Pedic Sleeptracker app that provides tips for actually improving sleep. Overall, this thing is a pretty dope bed.