How we chose the 2023 Giftable Tech Awards winners

First and foremost, our team compiled all previous coverage from NBC Select’s tech and tools-related categories. From there, we chose products that were featured in our articles and did a competitive market research analysis on new and additional products, including ones that are expert-recommended and highly rated. We focused particularly on products our team owns personally or has had extended time using.

When we look at any product, we look at it comprehensively. To be our favorite in a category requires fulfilling a multitude of our readers’ needs. We want to provide products that perform well, but we also want to share ones that are exciting to see as you reveal them from underneath gift wrapping paper.

Each category required different criteria to consider. The products were evaluated, among other things, on the below criteria:

Build quality

• Does it feel comfortable to use in the hand, ear, or wrist?
• Does it attract scratches, dents or dings from normal, everyday use?
• Do the outdoor and travel products have some level of dust and water resistance?

Functionality

• Is this product the best at what it sets out to be? 
• Does it provide convenience and comfort?
• Does it deliver enjoyable and memorable content?
• Does it provide excellent sound quality? 
• Does it offer useful and actionable data? 

Ease of use

• Can non-tech people understand and enjoy the product within the first five to ten minutes of using it?
• Would this product be exciting to receive as a gift, or feel like unboxing a chore to deal with?

Value 

• Does this product offer quality and features unmatched by competitors at a lower price?
• Would it make the giftee smile? Spark joy?

What our badge means

When a product carries the Select badge, you can trust that our team of editors as shopping experts vetted the item thoroughly. We are journalists, first and foremost, which means we will always do our research and reporting.