It’s fair to say that CES 2021 was a first tech show: no huge windfall of gadgets and sprawling booths in Las Vegas, but still plenty of news delivered virtually instead. As always, the TVs were big, the laptops powerful, and the gadgets weird, well, weird. Read on for the best of this year’s show from SlashGear.
Best IoT / Smart Home Device: Philips Hue Wall Switch Module
Filling a space Hue fans have long been asking for, the Hue Wall Switch Module slips into a regular light switch and gives it a connected upgrade. No more inadvertently shutting off your smart bulbs from the grid, and best of all, it can be programmed to launch a specific scene. The smart home has never been so discreet.
Best ultraportable laptop: Acer Chromebook Spin 514
Sleek, rugged, and ideal for our new work-home and school-at-home lifestyles, the Acer Chromebook Spin 514 also has the advantage of being affordable. $ 480 gets you a brand new Chrome OS notebook, with Android app support and a 360-degree hinge.
Best laptop: Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2
Following in the footsteps of the dear but charming Galaxy 2020 Chromebook, the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 has plenty to do. It hits the mark with a more affordable price tag, the same style that turns heads, and a new QLED display.
Best tablet: Lenovo ThinkPad X12 detachable
Lenovo’s ThinkPad line might not be the first place you’d expect to find a tablet, but the ThinkPad X12 Detachable is no ordinary slate. Resolutely focused on getting things done, it’s not just about hardware and usefully includes built-in LTE, still rare on Windows PCs.
Best Game: OtterBox Xbox Game Wallet
CES 2021 had no shortage of powerful gaming PCs, but it was OtterBox’s Xbox gaming portfolio that caught our eye. Intended to get the most out of Xbox game streaming, the range connects your phone to your Xbox Wireless Controller, as well as keeping everything safe in your bag. With next-gen consoles significantly focusing on game streaming, these are the kind of accessories no gamer on the go should be without.
Best content creation tool: Sony Airpeak
Drone, meet professional quality photography. The Sony Airpeak isn’t the first time we’ve seen top-notch camera tech loaded onto a drone, but it promises to take it out of the realm of big-budget movies and put it in the hands of a larger one. range of content creators. . Considering Sony’s well-deserved reputation for image quality from Alpha cameras, it’s no surprise that filmmakers and photographers are excited.
Best Medical Device: Razer Project Hazel
It was only after 2020 that a smart face mask could cause such a splash. Razer’s Project Hazel is – for now – a concept, but given the reception the modular, color-changing face mask has received, we’d be very surprised if it didn’t upgrade to a full product in the Razer lineup. the company.
Best TV: Samsung Neo QLED 4K
Bigger is not enough in TVs anymore: picture quality is where it is, with a sleek design. Samsung’s Neo QLED 8K line-up isn’t as lavish as the company’s MicroLED sets, but that should make them much more accessible in 2021. They also come with the company’s solar-powered smart remote, removing the batteries. disposable.
Best Accessory: Dell UltraSharp 40 Curved WUHD Monitor
If you work from home, your laptop screen won’t cut it off anymore. The Dell UltraSharp 40 Curved WUHD Monitor isn’t small, but its 5k2k resolution is certainly a luxury most of us would love to sit in front of.
Best smartphone: TCL Rollable / Scrollable Concept phones
TCL may not be a household name in smartphones yet, but the company aims to change that. Its roll-up and pull-down concepts sound like science fiction, but the company says it wants to release at least one, for those who demand a large screen but in a more portable form factor.
Best laptop: Lenovo ThinkReality A3 smart glasses
Want a big monitor, but stuck in a small apartment? Lenovo’s ThinkReality A3 smart glasses focus on adding functionality where it’s needed most, connecting to a Windows PC and allowing up to five virtual screens to expand your desktop, regardless of the size of the computer. office itself.
Best audio: V-MODA M-200 ANC headphones
Active noise canceling headphones are all the rage right now, a bubble of peace in the midst of bustling houses. V-MODA’s M-200 ANC headphones might not be the cheapest example on the market, but the company’s commitment to excellent audio quality and its flexible ANC system help them stand out.
Best car: Mercedes-Benz MBUX Hyperscreen
Automotive technology has come to dominate CES in recent years, and few garner attention like Mercedes-Benz’s MBUX Hyperscreen. By replacing the entire dashboard with a sleek series of screens and touchscreens, it’s not a brilliant concept but a preview of what drivers of the upcoming all-electric EQS luxury sedan will be able to enjoy.
Best of CES 2021: Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 2 i
In a year when our homes have suddenly had to serve as offices, classrooms and movie theaters – among other things – the idea of such a flexible device is very appealing. Lenovo’s ThinkBook Plus Gen 2 i takes the unusual idea of its predecessor, an e-paper touchscreen on the lid of a convertible laptop with stylus support and long battery life, and l ‘refined. The result is not only one of the most striking laptops from CES 2021, but also one that epitomizes the multitasking and versatile world we live in today.
