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Reviewed

Welcome to our 2020 Best of Year awards!

The Reviewed team lab-tested over 1,000 products this year. These are our favorites.

Welcome to Reviewed's 2020 Best of Year awards Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar

Products are chosen independently by our editors. Purchases made through our links may earn us a commission.

It was a year like no other. A year in which the world saw—amongst a great deal of general tumult—dramatic changes in what and how we shopped. For a hot minute there, it seemed like the humble roll of toilet paper might be the most sought-after product of 2020, but the new normal proved to be something more than just a raid on the "paper products" aisle.

Entire product categories rose and fell. Out: travel goods. In: Home office, home improvement, home gyms, and basically anything else home-centric. And through it all, the Reviewed team was there doggedly testing everything we could get our hands on.

So far this year, we've tested over 1,050 products. When we couldn't do it in our labs (due to social distancing), we tested in our own kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms, and yards. We evaluated dozens of face masks for grown-ups and kids. We built a new-and-improved testing chamber for air purifiers. And, in case you needed to take some frustration out, chain saws.

In short, we did what you did: we made the best of it. Fortunately, so did a lot of the companies that make these products.

The Reviewed Best of Year Awards represents the absolute best of what we've experienced in 2020. Ranging across eight categories—Tech, Home Appliance, Kitchen & Cooking, Laundry & Cleaning, Smart Home, Health & Beauty, Parenting, and Pets—we've winnowed down hundreds of nominees to just 102 winners. You'll see some old favorites returning, as well as a lot of new faces.

Congratulations to all the winners. You made 2020 just a little easier for us and we thank you. Scroll down to see a short list of some highlights or jump over to see the complete 2020 Best of Year award winners.

Home Appliances

Credit: Frigidaire
Electrolux EFME627UTT Dryer
Credit: Electrolux
Best Front-Load Washer
Electrolux EFLS627UTT

The Electrolux EFLS627UTT front-load washer stands as one of the best front-load washers on the market. One reason? It is the world's first washer to have a special place for detergent pods in the drawer, allowing for even distribution of soap. However, this washer also is powerfully competent at removing stains and efficient cycles; it managed to do a solid stain-removal job in both the 46-minute-long Normal cycle as well as a quick 15-minute-long wash time. See all Home Appliance winners.

Pros

  • Pod detergent slot

  • Excellent stain removal

  • 15-minute Fast Wash

Cons

  • Expensive

The iRobot Roomba i7+ is the best robot vacuum currently on the market
Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar
Best Robot Vacuum
iRobot Roomba i7+

Thanks to the iRobot Roomba i7+, a robot vacuum can finally empty its dirt bin all by itself and then continue vacuuming. The i7+ also offers excellent cleaning performance and useful smart features, representing the benchmark to which to compare all high-end robot vacuums. See all Laundry & Cleaning winners.

Pros

  • Can empty itself

  • App allows you to choose what rooms to clean

  • Powerful dirt pickup

Cons

  • Expensive

Buy now at Amazon

Kitchen & Cooking

Home Chef Banner
Credit: Home Chef
Best Meal Kit
Home Chef

Like its name suggests, Home Chef provides customers with the tools necessary to become true masters of the kitchen. From Home Chef’s fresh, high-quality ingredients to well-written recipes that break down intimidating cooking methods into digestible steps, everything about this service made me feel like we were preparing restaurant-worthy (or at least guest-worthy) meals without running around like a maniac. See all Kitchen & Cooking winners.

Visit HomeChef.com

Pros

  • Large variety of appealing dishes and extras

  • Big portions

  • Straightforward recipes

Cons

  • Recipe timing can be inaccurate

  • Vegan offerings are limited

Buy now at HelloFresh

Tech

Sony WH-1000XM4 Headphones
Credit: Reviewed / Lee Neikirk
Best Headphones
Sony WH-1000XM4

When Sony’s new WH-1000XM4 over-ear noise canceling-headphones launched this year, we were very excited—and for good reason. The latest version of Sony’s flagship headphones deliver the same plushy, padded materials and pleasingly detailed sound we’ve come to expect, while adding in some really cool extra features. Throw in great battery life and some of the best noise canceling in the industry and you’ve got a recipe for the best headphones this year. See all Tech winners.

Pros

  • Excellent audio quality

  • Top-notch noise cancelling

  • All day comfort

Cons

  • Effective operation has a learning curve

$198.00 from Amazon

$199.99 from Best Buy

$199.99 from Target

$198.00 from Abt
A shot of the HP Envy x360, showing its display and keyboard.
Credit: Reviewed / TJ Donegan
Best Laptop for the Money
HP Envy x360 13

HP's Envy x360 series is meant to be its mid-range model, the budget alternative to its stellar Spectre laptops. Instead, HP took all our favorite design cues from the Spectre, added the wonderful AMD Ryzen processor, and produced an incredible all-around laptop that is perfect for students, professionals, and everyone in between. Best of all? You can get an extremely fast version for around $700 that keeps up with laptops costing twice as much. See all Tech winners.

Pros

  • Great battery life

  • Impressive performance

  • Powerful processor

Cons

  • Nothing we could find

Buy now at HP
LG CX series OLED TV
Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar
Best TV
LG CX OLED

The LG CX OLED is our pick for the best TV of the year thanks to its stunning, class-leading picture, its cutting-edge features, and its sensational design. Whether you’re a casual channel surfer or a diehard cinephile, you’ll likely be blown away by the CX’s phenomenal performance, which features perfect black levels, voluminous color, and excellent motion handling. Gamers will be thrilled with the LG CX’s HDMI 2.1 support, which paves the way for next-generation gaming features. All told, there’s not a better TV we’ve tested in 2020. See all Tech winners.

Pros

  • Amazing picture quality

  • Future-ready

  • Premium design

Cons

  • Not as bright as competition

Buy now at Amazon

Smart Home

Arlo Pro 4 in rain
Credit: Arlo
Best Smart Outdoor Security Cameras
Arlo Pro 4

Arlo’s Pro 4 is a reliable outdoor security camera that captures sharp video in 2K resolution, sends timely alerts, can differentiate between cars, people, and animals, and is loaded with other must-have security features for your home. The night vision is even in color. Nice. See all Smart Home winners.

Pros

  • Free software and cloud backup

  • Long battery life

  • Very reliable connection

Cons

  • Night vision lags behind

Buy now at Amazon

Health & Beauty

The Nectar Mattress appears in a space for testing.
Credit: Nectar Sleep
Best Mattress in a Box
The Nectar Mattress

For a mattress that suits all sleepers’ needs at a mid-tier price, look to Nectar. Our tester raved that it struck the must-have balance between firm and plush, and neither she nor her partner felt nary a stir if the other tossed or turned during the night. The company is so confident that you’ll love it, too, it offers a full-year trial period for returns if you’re not satisfied. See all Health & Beauty winners.

Pros

  • Cradles body

  • Stays cool

  • May be good for side sleepers

Cons

  • May be too soft

  • Felt warm at times

  • Limited edge support

Buy now at Nectar

Buy now at Amazon

Parenting

Mom and child with Baby Jogger City Mini GT2 stroller
Credit: Reviewed / Lisa Lawrence
Best Stroller
Baby Jogger City Mini GT2

The sturdy Baby Jogger City Mini GT2 is incredibly easy to use for everyday life in the city and suburbs alike. Lifting it in and out of the car (or up and down stairs) did not leave us sweaty, cursing, and near tears. It even held up well to being hosed down after an entire ice cream cone got dropped on the seat. Plus, it can be folded in seconds with a single pull of its innovative Quick-Fold handle. See all Parenting winners.

Pros

  • One-hand fold

  • All-terrain wheels

  • Easy to put together

Cons

  • Small storage pocket

  • Awkward to buckle harness

  • Tight fit through doorways

$399.99 from Amazon

$399.99 from Target

Pets

A smiling dog sits inside an aqua Sleepypod Air pet carrier that sits on a wood floor
Credit: Reviewed / Sarah Zorn
Best Pet Carriers
SleepyPod Air

If you and your pet are going anywhere together, you'd do well to tote them in the SleepyPod Air carrier. This sleek pet carrier, which boasts a snuggly plush lining, can be adjusted to fit below the seat of an airplane—when needed for takeoff and landing—but can also be expanded, giving your fur baby a little more space to stretch out while staying contained. Its upper is made of polyester mesh and opens completely, providing excellent air circulation and easy in-out transitions. See all Pet winners.

Pros

  • Contracts and expands with ease

  • Includes seatbelt straps for car travel

  • Excellent air circulation

Cons

  • Expensive

Buy now at Amazon

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