The iPhone 3G has won the 2008 gadget of the year competition. Beating off extremely strong competition from a number of games consoles, a budget laptop and an iPod speaker system the Apple phone was declared the winner today.

Stuff’s Editor Fraser Macdonald said the nominated products were judged on their performance, design and value, as well as “that elusive cool factor”.

Having our readers vote for a number of the awards has been fascinating. They are the ones out there on the street buying gadgets and so they are a great barometer.

The magazine’s own gadget of the year prize, chosen by its editorial staff, went to the Asus Eee Pc, a no-frills laptop that costs less than 300 pounds.

The judges said it had made more of an impact than any other device and marked the start of a “laptop for everyone” era.