From Robots to Warming Sex Toys, These Are the Best Tech Launches From CES 2021
CES is always one of the biggest annual events, and this year’s all-digital edition is no exception. The virtual event set the stage for a plethora of consumer technology products, from industry leaders and ambitious startups, to make their debuts.
Many of the products highlighted at CES 2021 are tailor-made for the socially distanced, remote work landscape, which isn't too surprising since it feels like this new reality isn't changing anytime soon. For example, there were portable air purifiers, antimicrobial backpacks, and gadgets that spew out a fog for sanitization purposes.
Like in previous years, we also saw versatile desktop and laptop computers, impressive noise-canceling headphones, emerging fitness tech, and a handful of home appliances that'll hopefully make your life a little less hectic. Plus there were robots, warming sex toys, and even a $16,000 bathtub that may cost more than your car, but would surely eliminate all your problems.
After many hours of product briefings, sifting through press releases and specs, and discussions with industry experts, we selected 20 products that captivated our attention the most. In addition to the mandatory design and hardware evaluation, we also focused on the products’ ability to help consumers be more productive, better entertained, healthier, and more level-headed. Below, learn more about the best tech from CES 2021.
For enjoying family time, entertaining loved ones, and experiencing immersive video games.
BEST TV › LG G1 SERIES OLED
Price: N/A
Availability: Spring 2021
LG’s incredibly elegant G1 Series 4K TVs are brighter than other OLED TVs, thanks to a display panel with an additional layer, and more emissive material used in its making. By having a higher maximum brightness, it can display even more vibrant colors than its already captivating predecessors.
Powered by a fourth-generation α9 processor, the LG G1 Series utilizes artificial intelligence to enhance the onscreen content. Like the 2020 LG OLED models, the newcomer is also a perfect match for the Sony PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X gaming consoles. It supports gameplay with a high refresh rate and ultra low response time.
The LG G1 series will be available with up to a 77-inch OLED display panel when they launch in the coming weeks. Even though the price hasn't been released yet, they most likely won’t be cheap.
Best Soundbar › JBL Bar 5.0 Soundbar
Price: $399.99
Availability: Spring 2021
The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam is compatible with Virtual Dolby Atmos-enhanced sound — an impressive feat for such a compact soundbar. Thanks to JBL’s proprietary MultiBeam tech, the Bar 5.0 can deliver an immersive sonic experience without the need of a subwoofer or satellite speakers.
JBL’s latest soundbar has an easy installation, support for Apple AirPlay 2 and Google Chromecast wireless playback over a Wi-Fi network, as well as Bluetooth connectivity.
The Bar 5.0 will become available to order in the coming months for $399.99.
Best Headphones Under $100 › Sennheiser HD 250BT
Price: $69.99
Availability: January 2021
The Sennheiser HD250BT wireless headphones grabbed our attention with a timelessly cool design, top-tier ergonomics, and big-brand cachet at an amazing sub-$100 price point. For $69.99, the cans will become an instant contender for the best in their price range.
Key specs of the Sennheiser HD250BT headphones include futureproof Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, support for top-shelf AAC and aptXTM audio codecs, and up to 25 hours of battery life with a USB-C connector for charging. Users will be able to tune the sound to their liking via a mobile app.
Best Gaming Gear › HyperX ChargePlay Duo Controller Charging Station for Xbox
Price: $39.99
Availability: February 2021
For whatever reason, the latest Xbox consoles use AA batteries instead of rechargeable ones to power its controllers. This new $40 accessory from HyperX swaps the AAs for much more convenient 1,400maH rechargeable battery packs.
The packs are sleek and slide right in your Xbox Series X/S wireless controller’s battery bay without adding any bulk. When you’re done gaming, you just place the controllers right on the dock (which is weighted so it won’t tip over). It even has LED indicators that’ll show the charging status for each of your controllers.
Surely this convenient accessory will pay for itself in the long run, especially since we’re playing video games more than ever under lockdown. Not to mention, rechargeable batteries create less environmental waste.
Best Gaming Laptop › Razer Blade 15
Price: Starts at $1,699
Availability: March 3, 2021
The updated Razer Blade 15 is our favorite gaming laptop that debuted at CES 2021. It brings cutting-edge hardware specs, while retaining the same peerlessly elegant design and craftsmanship that made its predecessor a fan favorite. The highlights include NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 series graphics and sharper display options with a higher refresh rate, among others.
Razer will offer two distinct Blade 15 variants — a Base model and an Advanced model. The Base model will pack a six-core Intel Core i7 CPU, up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 GPU, and an optional display panel with QHD resolution and 165 Hz maximum refresh rate. The Blade 15 Advanced model, on the other hand, has beefier processor and graphics card options, and display panels with an even higher refresh rate.
The new Razer Blade 15 is already available to pre-order. Pricing kicks off at $1,699.99.
The latest, greatest, and most reliable appliances for your kitchen and utility room that’ll improve your quality of life.
Best Washing Machine › LG WashTower
Price: $1,998.00
Availability: Now Available
The LG WashTower is a two-for-one laundry solution that consists of a clothes dryer on top and a washing machine underneath — but all in one single unit. The luxurious-looking appliance offers a large capacity — a 4.5-cubic-foot washer and 7.4-cubic-foot dryer — and it’s 3.5 inches shorter than a typical washer-dryer stack, saving you precious space in your laundry room.
What sets the WashTower apart from other machines is that its washer and dryer communicate with each other to save energy and cut down laundry times. The dryer will even preheat when the washing is near completion. Its integrated sensors detect fabric texture, load size, and it can automatically adjust water temperature and wash motions to achieve the perfect clean.
Best Robot Vacuum › Roborock S7
Price: $649.00
Availability: March 24, 2021
Robots are a dime a dozen at CES, and Roborock’s flagship S7 robot vacuum stood out most to us. Not only will it help vacuum your floors, but it is also equipped with a vibrating sonic mop that scrubs your hard floors. Even cooler, the vacuum can detect carpet and will automatically lift its mop out of the way when approaching it, making it the first robotic cleaner that vacuums and mops during the same cleaning job.
The Roborock S7 is expected to run for up to three hours on a single charge, it has a rubber brush to prevent pet hair from tangling on it, and its 2,500Pa of suction effortlessly lifts dust and debris that’s buried deep within carpet fibers. The vacuum offers excellent navigation tech and can vacuum specific rooms of your home. Roborock also plans to sell a separate dock that automatically empties its 470-milliliter dust bin.
Best Refrigerator › LG InstaView Refrigerator with Voice Recognition
Price: N/A
Availability: N/A
The LG InstaView is an elegant and modern refrigerator that packs serious space, sleek looks, a slew of convenient features, and some smarts to boot. Users can speak simple voice commands like “open the refrigerator door” and the fridge will do just that, which will definitely come in handy when your arms are full of grocery bags.
As cool and futuristic as that sounds, there’s much more to love about this french door fridge. It is equipped with dual ice makers and a Craft Ice feature, that makes 2-inch slow-melting ice balls for keeping your cocktails cool. It has a fingerprint-resistant stainless steel exterior, plenty of interior lights for seeing everything inside, and a self-cleaning water dispenser. Another unique feature is its “InstaView” door, so you can knock twice on the glass panel to illuminate its interior and see what’s inside without even opening the fridge.
LG’s new lineup of refrigerators offers buyers up to 30 cubic feet of food storage space, and one of its four doors can be reconfigured to become a deep freezer.
Useful equipment for getting work done from the comfort of your own home.
Best Charging Tech › Belkin BOOST↑CHARGE PRO 2-in-1 Wireless Charger with MagSafe
Price: $99.99
Availability: Spring 2021
Belkin’s BOOST↑CHARGE PRO 2-in-1 charging stand has a beautiful design and craftsmanship. The accessory has a fast and convenient MagSafe charger for iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro, as well as a wireless charging pad for AirPods or AirPods Pro in its base. It will be available in black or white when it hits the shelves.
Apple’s innovative magnetic technology makes charging the latest iPhones as easy as snapping them onto the BOOST↑CHARGE PRO 2-in-1. We like that the gadget doubles as a viewing stand with easily adjustable angles for watching videos or Facetiming loved ones.
Best Desktop PC › Lenovo Yoga AIO 7
Price: $1,000.00
Availability: March 2021
The Yoga AIO 7 all-in-one desktop PC by Lenovo will set a new standard for versatility in its product category. The product stands out among its rivals with a rotating 27-inch 4K display, which can seamlessly switch between landscape or portrait viewing modes.
Lenovo has complemented the captivating screen of the Yoga AIO 7 with equally impressive, JBL-tuned stereo speakers. An upcoming update will also allow users to wirelessly stream video content on the screen from their phone or tablet.
Hardware-wise, the Lenovo Yoga AIO 7 has powerful AMD Ryzen 4000 desktop processors and optional NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 graphics. A detachable webcam and compatibility with Amazon Alexa voice commands are also among the product’s noteworthy highlights.
Best Monitor › Dell UltraSharp 40 Curved WUHD
Price: $2,099.99
Availability: January 2021
Dell’s all-new UltraSharp 40 curved monitor has a vast 40-inch panel, which can easily replace that duo of smaller monitors on your desk. The ultra wide panel has WUHD (5,120-by-2,160 pixel) resolution, which makes it the sharpest in its class.
The UltraSharp 40 monitor has compatibility with a wide color gamut, as well as an excellent set of wired connectivity options. They include an ultra fast Thunderbolt 3 connector with a maximum power output of 90 watts (enough to charge a big-screen laptop).
Dell will begin offering the UltraSharp 40 monitor later this month. The big monitor will have an equally sizable $2,099.99 price tag.
Best Laptop › HP ENVY 14
Price: $999.99
Availability: January 2021
HP’s latest Envy 14 is our favorite new laptop of CES. The elegant notebook packs powerful and futureproof hardware, including 11th-generation Intel processors and up to an NVIDIA GTX 1650 Ti (Max-Q) graphics card.
Such a capable GPU is typically found in bigger laptops. It makes the Envy 14 not only a mighty, ultra portable workstation, but also a respectable gaming rig.
Starting at $999.99, the metal-clad laptop also features an immersive 14-inch display with a 16:10 ratio, dual speakers tuned by Bang & Olufsen, and an excellent selection of wired and wireless connectivity options. We also like that it has integrated privacy features, including a camera shutter, as well as a button for disabling its microphone.
Best Noise-Canceling Headphones › V-MODA M-200 ANC
Price: $499.99
Availability: March 2021
The V-Moda M-200 ANC wireless headphones are the audio brand’s first to offer noise cancellation. Users will be able to customize the new feature, as well as the headphones’ sound, via an intuitive mobile app — another first for a V-Moda headset.
The over-ear cans have the audio maker’s signature design, headlined by hexagonal ear cups with customizable shields. Their craftsmanship is impeccable, too. According to V-Moda, the M200 ANC will last up to 20 hours between charges.
Gear for the whole family that will help you feel relaxed and refreshed.
Best Bathroom Gear › TOTO WASHLET C2
Price: $675.00
Availability: Now available
A bidet is something everybody should try, and we believe that once you have one of your own, you won’t know how you lived without it. Toto’s Washlets are about as luxurious as you can possibly get. These bidets feature a deodorizer and preheated seat so you won’t have to be self-conscious about smells, or be startled by a freezing-cold seat when you sit down.
The new Washlet C2 model offers users new features like one called EWater Plus, which cleans the spray nozzle inside and out before and after each use. Compared to previous Washlets, it also has a more streamlined design that’s easier to clean. This model heats the water before spraying you clean, and it has a warm air dryer for when you finish your business.
Best Personal Care Tech › Philips Sonicare Prestige 9900 Toothbrush
Price: N/A
Availability: N/A
Although the Prestige 9900 moniker immediately made us think of Brennan and Dale’s business pitch from the movie Step Brothers, we think the new Sonicare toothbrush looks much more promising. It’s Philips’ most advanced electric toothbrush yet. The brush uses sensors to determine how much pressure you apply while brushing. When you brush too hard, it’ll automatically adjust the intensity to offer the ultimate clean while removing plaque, stains, and improving gum health in the process.
Philips says its new and improved all-in-one brush head is its best ever and it will also help you achieve a whiter smile. The brush pairs with a complementary app that guides you on proper brushing techniques. Plus, it’ll make sure you brush as long as necessary. The Sonicare 9900 Prestige also comes with an elegant leather-like carrying case that keeps it recharged when you’re traveling.
Best Baby Tech › ainenne
Price: N/A
Availability: N/A
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Our editors are big fans of white noise machines for helping their little ones (and themselves) drift off into a restful sleep. Aineene is a new white noise machine that also functions as a bedside lamp. What sets it apart from the dozens of other sleep machines is that this one is more than just a white noise machine. It’s a full-blown sleep trainer that uses data and algorithms to help babies adjust their sleep and circadian rhythm.
Believe it or not, it even has a crying pattern analysis that helps you understand why your child is crying. Ainenne teamed up with the National Center for Child Health and Development to analyze the cry patterns of 150,000 babies across 150 countries. The device provides recommendations on when it’s best to wake up your baby, and its LED light can replicate the morning sun for a pleasant awakening.
All the fitness tech and outdoor gear you need to reach your fitness goals and spend time outside.
Best Wellness Gear › AirPop Active+ Mask
Price: $149.99
Availability: Early 2021
Face masks have become part of our new normal. At CES, AirPop announced an incredibly futuristic mask that’s unlike anything we’ve seen before. The AirPop Active+ mask has an integrated sensor, dubbed the Halo, which tracks air quality and records information about your breathing rate, so you can get a better grasp on your respiratory health.
The mask works in tandem with a filter that blocks allergens, dust, and particles. You pair the mask to a smartphone app and it’ll even remind you when it’s time to replace the filter. Athletes will appreciate the mask’s Active Mode which tracks metrics like breaths per minute and breaths per pace. The mask is washable and has a soft-to-the-touch membrane, and since its filter is kept off the wearer’s face, it’s comfortable and easy to breathe from, even if you’re exercising.
Best Fitness Product › Ultrahuman
Price: $13.99 per month, $40.99 for 6 months, or $74.99 for 1 year
Availability: Now available on the App Store and Google Play
Ultrahuman is a newly launched fitness platform that was created to help people meditate, work out, and improve their overall quality of sleep. The fitness platform is available on both Android and iOS devices and it integrates with the Apple Watch to measure and improve the efficiency of your exercises.
The service features an extensive content library filled with thousands of hours of content ranging from fitness workouts, yoga classes, recovery work, meditation exercises, and even bedtime stories and music to help you relax and fall asleep. Programs are led by athletes, fitness experts, neuroscientists, and psychologists who will help keep you on track to improve your overall wellbeing.
Best Wearable › JLab JBuds Frames
Price: $49.00
Availability: Early Spring
The JLab JBuds Frames are one of those products that on the surface seems gimmicky, but once you experience them for yourself, you’ll see how convenient they actually are. The audio accessory is essentially two tiny modules that clip to the temple of your glasses (or sunglasses) so you can have open-ear access to music or podcasts in seconds.
Speaking as someone who previously tested a pair of audio frames, I can attest to the convenience of having easy access to audio anytime and anywhere, without having to fuss with Bluetooth pairing, taking earbuds out of a case or a pocket, and the annoyance of sticking them in your ears.
The JBuds Frames are water-resistant, equipped with a decent 16-millimeter driver, work for phone calls, and deliver 8 hours of audio playback. Best of all, they only cost $50. The JBuds Frames are expected to be released early this spring.
Best Waterproof Speaker › JBL Charge 5
Price: $179.99
Availability: April 2021
The JBL Charge 5 is an upgrade to one of our favorite waterproof speakers with a sleeker design, an even more durable build, and a more futureproof Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity. Equipped with a racetrack-shaped audio driver, a tweeter, and a duo of passive bass radiators, it will likely deliver a thunderous sound, too.
Users can expect up to 20 hours of wireless sound from the JBL Charge 5. We like that, like the JBL Charge 4, the latest iteration can charge other gadgets via a USB-C output.
The Charge 5 waterproof speaker will become available to order in April for $180.
Read More:
The Best Tech Gifts at Every Price Point
Sony PlayStation 5 Review: An Innovative and Highly Immersive Gaming Machine
The Best Speakers to Bring a Movie-Theater-Like Experience to Your Living Room
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