Yahoo shares Singaporeans' top searches for 2022

• Top tech brand is Google, with Apple for top products
• AirAsia tops most travel related search with Agoda 2nd

It’s that time of the year again for the Yahoo Year in Review 2022 which spotlights all the top news and topics from the year in Singapore. From badminton pride Low Kean Yew to Apple’s iPhone 14 and football favourite Liverpool, Yahoo Year in Review 2022 is a roundup of the top things that have captured the attention of users in Singapore and fuelled their passions this year.

Yahoo Singapore 2022 Year in Review was compiled by analysing users’ anonymised interest patterns based on what was searched. It takes into account a number of factors, including absolute volume and growth from previous periods to see which themes and trends bubble to the surface.

Yahoo also notes the results are not necessarily a representation of a popularity contest or voting.

Top Tech Brands

In 2022, a lot of Singaporeans went to Yahoo to look for Google as it made its foray into wearables in addition to the release of its Pixel 7 series, followed by Microsoft. Amazon also made it on the list in third place, further cementing its reputation as a global leader in the e-commerce space.

Top 5 tech releases

Tech releases by tech giant Apple dominate the list, with three Apple products clinching the top three spots. A perennial favourite, the iPhone 14 ranked as the top searched tech release this year, followed closely behind by the latest generation of iPad and Apple Watch.

Homegrown monitor brand PRISM+ Monitors stirs local pride as it comes fourth on the list, gaining popularity among consumers who were in the market for new 4K monitors for all their gaming, viewing, and working needs.

Most Searched Online Travel Portals and Travel Related Searches

With travelling firmly back on the cards following the ease of travel restrictions earlier this year, Singaporeans are busy planning for their next holiday. AirAsia leads the list of most searched online travel portals, while Singapore-based Agoda (2nd) and Skyscanner (3rd) round up the list.

Even as borders opened up worldwide, users in Singapore looked for local and convenient holiday options - staycations and cruise trips were popular among users looking for their getaways.

Local hotel and resort, Shangri-La Singapore (1st) and Resorts World Sentosa (2nd), and cruise lines, Genting Dream Cruise (3rd), Royal Caribbean Cruises (4th), and Resorts World Cruises (5th), make up the top five on the list of travel-related searches.

Nearby destinations in neighbouring countries Malaysia and Indonesia were also popular, with Desaru Beach Resorts (6th) and Bintan Island Resorts (10th) in the most searched list.

Most searched Athletes

Singapore national shuttler Low Kean Yew is the first Singaporean to win the Badminton World Championships and be nominated for the BWF Male Player award. He was also recently named the Sportsman of the Year at the annual Singapore Sports Awards ceremony. Now he is the top-searched athlete in Singapore. He also rose to third place in the BWF’s rankings - marking the first time a Singaporean male shuttler has reached the coveted top three positions in the world.

Former Manchester United player and Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo occupied the second spot on the list after a year of off-the-field issues and the release of his controversial interview with Piers Morgan.

It was an eventful year for tennis, too: Rafael Nadal (5th) made headlines after a career-defining season, while his on-court rival, Roger Federer (10th), narrowly made the list following his retirement in September as the world bid farewell to one of the greatest players in tennis history.

Most searched EPL clubs

From its sold-out pre-season match in Singapore to a poor start to the season and the recent news of the club's potential sale by owner Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool emerged top of the list for most searched EPL clubs.

Once the undisputed biggest sports team in the world, Manchester United had fans searching for hope as the Red Devils attempted to reset after a jittery transfer season.

Arsenal (3rd) sits five points clear at the top of the EPL table and will look to build on their hot streak as favourites Manchester City (7th), Newcastle United (5th), and the rest of the pack resume their title chase after the FIFA World Cup.

Top 5 beauty products

The beauty industry got a reboot of its own as pandemic regulations were relaxed. French multinational retail giant Sephora, with its newly opened cashless “store of the future”, came out tops in searches.

Next is the apothecary brand Kiehl’s, known for its potent facial creams and serums that cater to all face types.

K-Beauty cult favourite Innisfree ranks third, its skincare products containing the finest ingredients from Jeju Island, followed by The Body Shop, widely known for its natural beauty and personal care products.

Rounding up the list is the homegrown Singaporean brand, Browhaus, which specialises in brow and lash grooming services.

Most searched local celebrities

Big-name local celebrities such as Lawrence Wong, JJ Lin, Desmond Tan, Fann Wong, Zoe Tay, and Joanne Peh continue to stay in the hearts and minds of Singaporeans, coming in the top ten for the most searched local celebrities for the fourth year running.

Male

Jeanette Aw, Kim Lim, Jamie Chua, and Elvin Ng also made the cut again after appearing in last year’s top ten list.

Singaporean actor Lawrence Wong took the top spot for most searched local male celebrities for two years in a row. Following his breakout role in the hit imperial drama, Story Of Yanxi Palace, Lawrence Wong continues to make waves on screen; starring in main roles for drama series such as The Ferryman: Legends of Nanyang and Summer Wind.

Meanwhile, ex-actor Ix Shen landed at the second spot as he returned to Ukraine with his wife to help with humanitarian aid as a volunteer, while Mandopop superstar JJ Lin, who remains a fan favourite, moved down one spot to third on the list.

Female

In the list of most searched local female celebrities, Felicia Chin came out on top. Her announcement about leaving Mediacorp for faith-based ministry, hhm.sg, took many Singaporeans by surprise. Back in October, she also tied the knot with her boyfriend of seven years and local actor, Jeffrey Xu (6th in the local male celebrity category).

Rebecca Lim also made headlines as she joined a star-studded cast for the Hong Kong zombie film, Chungking Mansions, which featured Japanese action star Rina Takeda, Hong Kong singer Anson Lo, and fellow Singaporean actor Desmond Tan (5th in the local male celebrity category), amongst others.