Samsung Galaxy S2 beats iPhone 4 to T3 gadget award

HTC Desire won last year.

It's worth pointing out that this is a UK award, so some things are different from the U.S. market e.g. iPhone is available on all networks, but it's easier to save money if you buy a less full featured phone, less people own Macs, both Nokia and Blackberry have strong (though fading) presences, texting was a social force before the US (and local calls generally weren't free) and this pushed mobile adoption amongst the young earlier compared to the US.

Also, I think, this was based on tech-mag reader votes i.e. the slightly nerdy.

Well then, Samsung wins. Clearly.

I'm not sure who reads T3 or takes their opinion seriously, but it's no one that I know.

Regarding the magazine you are right to an extent, in that it isn't a source for people who really want to understand the gadgets/tech that it covers. That said, it can serve as a decent way of bringing new products to your attention, which you can then look into online (that's why I read it, sometimes) - and there are plenty of less-technical people who want exactly what the magazine gives them, i.e. bitesize basic gadget-lust.

As to the T3 awards, completely different matter. The judges know their stuff (http://awards.t3.com/judges - and my judgement is a mix of knowing them and/or knowing people who know them). And it's a big industry event, a lot of people are there - it's not just a magazine writing up their list, it's an actual awards show that happens to be branded by a magazine.

So whatever you think about the magazine (and I am with you to an extent), it isn't relevant to T3 Awards.

The Samsung Galaxy S2 was competing against the 16 month old iPhone 4 so I'm not surprised that the judges gave it the nod.