2026 Global Sources Best of Innovation Awards Unveiled! 58 Practical Products Hold the Keys to Trade Breakthroughs

HONG KONG, April 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- In April 2026, the Global Sources Best of Innovation Awards, organised by Global Sources, were announced live at the Global Sources Hong Kong Show. The Awards leverage the core platform of the exhibition to incentivise corporate innovation and build trade bridges. Their goal is to set industry benchmarks and drive enterprises to enhance product value through innovation upgrades. This year's edition continues its partnership with the European Product Design Award (EPDA)™, adding a "Best Product Design Award" to specifically recognise outstanding integration of aesthetic design and innovative functionality.

Diverse Innovation Across Seven Categories, Four Criteria Rooted in Trade Realities
This year's Best of Innovation Awards focus on seven core categories: Consumer Electronics, Gaming & eSports, Mobile Electronics, Batteries & Energy, Smart Home, Security & Home Appliances, and Quality Living. The evaluation system is built on four criteria highly relevant to the trade environment: Practicality, Cost-Effectiveness, Technological Maturity, and Market Demand Fit.

The judging panel comprises experts from industry associations, technology media and other fields. Of over 380 submitted products, 103 were shortlisted, and ultimately 58 products stood out to win honours. This year's winning products demonstrate multi-dimensional breakthroughs in trade innovation, with notable strengths in AI-hardware integration, functional adaptation for niche scenarios, and compliance-driven quality upgrades. These directions closely align with the core needs of current global trade: enhancing product premiums, mitigating market risks and meeting diverse consumer demands.

Dual Awards Lead Innovation; Selection Mechanism Highlights Industry Value
This year's Awards feature two parallel tracks: the "Innovation Award" and the "Best Product Design Award". The Innovation Award serves as the core pillar, focusing on commercial viability. Within this category, the jury also specially selected one product to receive the "AI Innovation Award", recognising its outstanding integration of AI technology. The "Best Product Design Award" serves as a vital complement, introducing international design standards and evaluating products across dimensions such as aesthetics, user experience and sustainability. Together, these awards provide clear guidance for companies seeking to uncover differentiated competitive advantages and achieve a leap in trade value.

John Kao, Vice President of Global Sources Hong Kong & Overseas Shows, stated: "The mission of the Best of Innovation Awards is not only to recognise outstanding achievements but also, through clear selection criteria, to help companies identify key points for differentiated competition. Products that balance technological applicability, design quality and compliance are increasingly favoured — and this represents the core competitiveness of the future global consumer electronics trade."

Laurent Devos, CEO of the European Product Design Award (EPDA), added: "In today's global trade environment, product design is not just about looking good. Great design quickly attracts consumers, builds differentiated recognition in commoditised markets, effectively lowers marketing costs, and directly drives product premiums and user loyalty through an enhanced user experience."

Industry Takeaway: Creating Great Products Starts with Innovation
The results of this year's Best of Innovation Awards further confirm the industry consensus that "creating great products starts with innovation".

The Global Sources Best of Innovation Awards serve as an important platform for bringing this philosophy to life. Winning companies not only gain authoritative industry recognition but also leverage the exhibition to achieve efficient alignment from innovation through to market promotion. The Awards will continue to act as a bridge, providing industry trend insights and resource matching, helping companies sustain growth momentum in global markets, and promoting the evolution and advancement of the industrial ecosystem.

 

About Global Sources
Based in Hong Kong, Global Sources is a globally recognized B2B sourcing platform. With 55 years of dedicated service in facilitating international trade, it has earned the trust and recognition of the global business community through its proven track record of connecting quality buyers worldwide with verified top-tier Asian manufacturers. As a sourcing hub for market-ready innovative consumer products, Global Sources provides efficient and convenient trade services to over 14 million registered buyers and users worldwide.

** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **

2026 Global Sources Best of Innovation Awards Unveiled! 58 Practical Products Hold the Keys to Trade Breakthroughs

2026 Global Sources Best of Innovation Awards Unveiled! 58 Practical Products Hold the Keys to Trade Breakthroughs

10 Years of Expert Knowledge. Now AI-Enabled.

HANGZHOU, China, April 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- HIKMICRO is celebrating 10 years of global leadership in smart thermal imaging by introducing SuperScene™ Mode. This AI-powered breakthrough facilitates faster, simpler, and more accessible thermal inspections for trade professionals and DIY enthusiasts of any skill level.

Far more than just a new feature, SuperScene™ Mode represents a transition from simple image capture to instant actionable insight. By embedding a decade of field expertise into AI-driven analysis, HIKMICRO is removing the complexity that has traditionally limited thermal imaging while setting a new benchmark in usability and performance.

"Our vision from day one was to take thermal imaging solutions from niche applications to the mass market, adding more intelligence and accessibility," says Stefan Li, Overseas General Manager at HIKMICRO. "SuperScene™ Mode marks a new chapter in that vision. This advanced technology embeds the knowledge of experienced trade professionals directly into our products, enabling any user to work like an expert."

From Detection to Decision

Thermal imaging can reveal hidden issues, but correct device configuration and image interpretation have long-proved barriers. Adjusting parameters, understanding thermal patterns, and making accurate diagnoses typically require training and experience. SuperScene™ Mode eliminates these obstacles through its two-layer architecture.

First, Expert Presets, See like an Expert, automatically optimize camera settings for common inspection scenes that include Water Leak, Insulation, Floor Heating, Electrical, Macro, Solar Panel, and more. This saves time and eliminates guesswork, so every inspection starts with the right settings. For professionals, advanced scenes like Insulation Pro and Condensation deliver enhanced visual alerts and environmental data integration for deeper diagnostic insights.

Second, Smart SuperScene™, Think like an Expert,  applies AI to analyze thermal images. In key scenes like Water leak, Insulation, and Floor Heating, the system detects and flags anomalies on screen, turning raw data into clear, actionable information. The result is an instant step change in ease of use. What once depended on specialist expertise can now be completed with greater speed, consistency, and confidence.

Positive Feedback

Using the technology to see and think like an expert is already delivering gains in the real world.

"The visual indicators, such as anomaly markers, are clear and highly effective," states Aleksandar Stojanović, a Level 2 certified thermographer. "They streamline the inspection process and make it much easier to communicate findings, as issues are immediately visible and easy to explain."

Get an AI-Enabled Advantage

Since its foundation in 2016, HIKMICRO has engaged closely with trade professionals that include electricians, plumbers, HVAC service personnel, and energy auditors to understand thermal imaging in practice.

SuperScene™ Mode reflects this collaboration. HIKMICRO AI learns from thousands of real-world examples, adapting to different environments without rigid rules. By combining thermal imaging with visible light, the camera understands what it sees: a wall, a floor, or a pipe. A leak is only flagged when both temperature and scene context make sense. The result? A reduction in false alarms from 90% to near zero, with detection accuracy up by 61%.

Everything runs on-device. There is no cloud, no delay, and no privacy worries, providing real-time answers right in the hand of the user.

Looking ahead, HIKMICRO will continue to extend its product AI capabilities, further reduce false positives, and expand into applications such as solar inspection and automotive diagnostics.

Update to v5.5.112 and unlock SuperScene Mode. With this upgrade, HIKMICRO is setting a new industry benchmark by making smart thermal imaging accessible to all, a fitting way to celebrate a decade of industry-leading innovation. SuperScene Mode is available now on Eco Series, B Series, and Pocket Series (select models only - contact HIKMICRO for specific compatibility) thermal camera devices. For more information visit www.hikmicrotech.com or the official Amazon Store.

** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **

HIKMICRO, World Leader in Smart Thermal Imaging, Marks 10th Anniversary with Launch of Trailblazing AI-Powered SuperScene™ Mode

HIKMICRO, World Leader in Smart Thermal Imaging, Marks 10th Anniversary with Launch of Trailblazing AI-Powered SuperScene™ Mode