The Future Tech Awards have arrived with support from five special sponsors

Future Tech Awards 2020
Future Tech Awards 2020 (Image credit: Windows Central)

The Future Tech Awards are here. The annual event has taken place right alongside CES 2021 with our entirely virtual "Innovation Week." And, this latest awards event has been made possible by five special sponsors: HP Inc., Roborock, Thermaltake, Tello and Wondershare.

The Future Tech Awards event has been broken up into three categories:

  • Future Choice - The best products, as voted for by Future Tech's editorial committee
  • Reader's Choice - The best products as voted for by Future Tech's readers
  • Future 50 - The top 50 tech people, across five key tech industry categories

Every year, we get a ton of new technology dropped in front of us. From the latest in big screen displays and compact smartphones to smart cars and smart vacuums that free our hands for less menial activities, there are new gadgets and software that standout at the forefront of the tech space, and the Future Tech Awards are there each year to recognize those products and the people behind them. Even though 2020 was a trying year for most, the tech industry pushed ahead.

"Despite what we might have expected, we are delighted to note that technology is expanding and advancing at a faster rate than ever before. 2020 saw the launch of dozens of incredible new computers, phones, speakers, games, and home automations," said Keith Walker, Managing Director, Specialist Consumer Tech for Future. "In an all-digital format, this year's Future Tech Awards will commemorate these advances and effectively set the stage for an even bolder 2021."

"In this year when so many people have been spending more time at home as a result of the pandemic, smart home technologies can be genuinely helpful. For instance, robot vacuums help keep floors clean of dust, while smart door locks can eliminate the need to handle keys, preventing the risk of bringing the virus into the home," Roborock Head of Brand Andy Knight explained. "Smart home devices from temperature controls to voice assistants take away many irritating chores and 'must-dos' leaving people free to focus on the things that bring them joy."

With technology making our home life more convenient, we can then turn to more enjoyable activities. Entertainment has been especially important in the last year, and it will continue to be. That includes streaming video, of course, but gaming has also seen a boom recently.

In response to that popularity, Thermaltake has chosen to expand their premium gaming offerings. "We have decided to create a gaming series that can be enjoyed at all levels, including visual, auditory, and tactility while providing users to game and compete at the highest levels. The ARGENT series is a concept about creating an ecosystem, the hardware, software, and even the illumination can evolve to a state-of-the-art level. A truly immersive gaming and art enjoyment!" said Kenny Lin, the CEO of Thermaltake.

Consuming entertainment content isn't the only way people are spending their time. Some also turn to making their own content as a way to entertain themselves and others. Wondershare has been working to make that creative capability as easy as ever. "We are devoted to simplifying the video-making process so our users can free up time for creativity," says Tobee Wu, CEO of Wondershare. "Whether you're a YouTube creator, a small-business owner, or just making great videos for your friends and family, the all new Wondershare Filmora X will change the way creators interact with video editing."

For 2021, Future Tech Awards are an all-digital feature on all of Future's relevant properties. You can see the winners now, so be sure to check out the best of the best from the Future Tech Awards here.

You'll be able to find all the latest from the Future Tech Awards in our new "Innovation Week" hub alongside the latest news from the entirely virtual CES 2021. We'll keep you fully informed with multimedia content, exclusive technology partner programming, demos, news and video interviews. So, make sure you tune in here for all the latest content from Future's Innovation Week.

Dan Thorp-Lancaster

Dan Thorp-Lancaster is the former Editor-in-Chief of Windows Central. He began working with Windows Central, Android Central, and iMore as a news writer in 2014 and is obsessed with tech of all sorts. You can follow Dan on Twitter @DthorpL and Instagram @heyitsdtl