Honorable Mentions

Cameras: The Nikon Coolpix S01 ($180; nikonusa.com) is smaller than a deck of cards, but packs in seven scene modes and high-definition video. The sturdy Canon PowerShot D20 ($349; usa.canon.com) takes 12.1-megapixel pictures—up to 33 feet underwater.

Smartphone: The Motorola Razr M ($99; razr.com) is slim and narrow, yet it has an enormous 4.3-inch screen, all-day battery life, and international roaming capability. Plus, its 8-megapixel camera takes stellar photos.

E-Reader: Readers with a big virtual bookshelf of Amazon titles will love the Kindle Paperwhite ($120; amazon.com), which has better contrast and resolution than earlier models, a built-in front light, and a two-month battery life.

Portable Speaker: Durable and capable of high volumes, the Jabra Solemate ($200; jabra.com) is a wireless stereo speaker with a rubberized “sole” that grips on to surfaces.

Laptop: Weighing in at less than 3 pounds, the speedy Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook ($999; dell.com) starts up in seconds and fits a whole 13-inch HD display into a body that’s just a little bigger than an 11-inch MacBook Air, its closest competitor.

See more Best of 2012 coverage.