The internet is packed with product reviews by a huge herd of reviewers and service journalists telling you which products they think are best. That’s why, in 2026, we’re introducing our biggest feature yet: the first-annual CNN Underscored Innovation Awards. This new program aims to cut through that clutter and acknowledge the year’s truly inspired products that can improve your day-to-day through outstanding design, functionality and ingenuity.

These products aren’t just original, though; they also have a clear purpose, and they make users’ everyday lives more efficient, convenient and enjoyable. Think: a vacuum cleaner that picks up your socks, a meat smoker that brings the joy of barbecue indoors or an electric flosser that makes maintaining oral hygiene easy — and maybe even a little fun. Rather than bestowing yet another accolade upon the same old “award-winning” products you’re used to seeing on these lists, it’s the combination of inventiveness, usefulness and value that we’ll highlight through this initiative.

Winners will be determined via rigorous hands-on testing by our writers and editors, who will put these products through their paces in real-life scenarios. We’ll also focus on each product’s value — is it reasonably priced, and does the price sync well with the cost per use? — and consult experts to ensure we’re 100% confident in our recommendations.