Apple’s iPod mini has been awarded the ‘best mobile device’ prize at PC Magazine’s 21st annual tecnhical excellence awards, held yesterday.

Editors at PC Magazine revealed decision makers felt “compelled” to award the prize to the iPod mini because of the device’s “perfectly crafted interface and controls, its pioneering use of the one-inch 4GB hard drive, and the enormous impact it has had on the music player market”.

“Other music players might cost less or have more memory, smaller bodies, or more features, but none offer the iPod mini’s combination of silky smooth operation, graceful design, and techno-chic style,” added the report.

“We love that we can charge it using the USB 2.0 connection and that it’s sturdy enough to survive drops and falls.”

The choice of the iPod mini for the prize was reportedly made easier by the chic reputation the device has rapidly attained, by innovations such as the click wheel which regularly update and refresh the device and its overwhelming commercial prominence.