If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.
The Best of CES 2022
Products featured are independently selected by our editorial team and we may earn a commission from purchases made from our links; the retailer may also receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
After the completely virtual Consumer Electronics Show (shortened to CES) of 2021, tech companies were ready to dust themselves off and strut their tech in-person. Then, Omicron hit. As the ambitions for a “post-pandemic” convention were set aside, the show switched to a distinctly hybrid model.
Of course, there were still grand activations and product demos to be seen in-person. But we were lucky that CES had already taken the year to reflect and decide that it made sense in our new hybrid world to offer digital options for product announcements from some of the world’s biggest tech companies.
So in many ways, we ended up doing much of the same as last year — attending virtual conferences, touring booths over video calls, and even live-streamed product unveilings, to find 32 gadgets deserving of our “Best Of CES 2022” award.
We chose our CES 2022 award winners based on design, functionality and innovation, focusing on unique products that help solve everyday problems, upgrade our life, or push the limits of technology. Scroll through to see the companies and products that made our Best of CES 2022 list.
LG C2 OLED TV
Like we’ve previously said, LG’s OLED TVs are generally considered to be the best-in-class, with unparalleled picture quality across the board. And while Samsung almost eked them out for the title this year, announcing their very first (and quite impressive) OLED TV, we can’t deny that this year’s new LG C2 model is a winner for a reason.
Despite their flagship G2 model being a stunning follow-up to last year, it’s huge (the world’s first 97-inch OLED — where would you even put it?). Their C2s incorporate much of what we love in a more compact, affordable package.
The flagship OLED TV uses a new, custom-made a9 processor to automatically adjust its brightness and color fidelity based on what you’re watching in real time. It also expands their sound AI, so you’ll get virtual 7.1.2 surround sound right out of the box. That’s a practically theater-worthy upgrade for your living room.
LG also managed to switch things up again by changing the physical design of this series, featuring a thinner bezel (the border around the TV) for a sleeker, more immersive viewing experience. It’s also the world’s first 42-inch OLED TV, ideal for console and PC gaming, although sizes go up to 83 inches.
With the C2, LG makes some solid, key updates to their OLED TV line that make premium features more accessible for everyone. Purchase: $TBD at LG.com
Jabra Elite 4 Active
Jabra’s Elite 4 Active are the latest fitness-minded earbuds from one of our favorite audio companies.
We already expected these ergonomic earbuds to be incredibly durable from our experience with Jabra’s previous Active line — and they absolutely are. With IP75 water resistance, these are built ready for your sweatiest workouts. But immersive audio was the bigger focus here, with solid active noise cancellation to ignore your gym’s terrible sound system, and HearThrough tech for when you need to pause and chat.
Jabra says the buds get up to seven hours of battery life with noise-cancelling turned on, and an additional 28 hours of playback time thanks to the charging case. If you want to boost the bass or push the treble, Jabra Elite 4 Active also lets you customize the sound of your workout soundtracks through their app.
Jabra includes five silicone eartips to ensure a perfect fit, which is essential for their thumping bass and sound isolation. CES always features flashy new headphones, but the Jabra Elite 4 Active’s impressive audio features combined with rugged strength helped them stand out. Purchase: $119.99 at Jabra.com
Astell&Kern ACRO CA1000
For audiophibles who can’t let go of that losseless, wired sound, Astell&Kern have launched an impressively unique portable headphone amplifier.
The ACRO CA1000 is half-digital desktop audio player and half-HiFi headphone amp, with four built-in DACs: a balanced 2.5mm and 4.4mm, and unbalanced 3.5mm and 6.35mm output. If you’re someone who won’t compromise on HiFi sound, the amp also supports native DSD512 and 32bit/384 kHz playback.
The built-in music player has a 4.1-inch touchscreen with 256GB of storage, enough for an ample library of hi-res audio files. And you don’t even need wired headphones necessarily, thanks toBluetooth 5.0, aptX HD, WiFi and LDAC support. For taking your tunes on the go, the system has a 8,400mAh battery and supports USB-C fast charging.
Upgrading to a HiFi listening experience is easy with the ACRO CA1000. Pre-orders start January 14. Purchase $2199 at AstellnKern.com
Samsung Eco Remote 2022
Forget constantly replacing the batteries on your TV remote — Samsung’s new environmentally-friendly Eco Remote wireless charges through your WiFi.
In fact, the Eco Remote doesn’t have any batteries at all, replacing them with RF (radio frequency) tech that stores energy that it gathers from signals within 40 meters of your router. By wireless charging standards, that’s a pretty wide range, so you won’t have to wave around at weird angles to pick up a charge.
Similar to the previous Eco Remote Samsung announced at last year’s CES, it also supports solar charging. If your router is down for some reason, you can always place it in some sunlight to give it a boost.
The Eco Remote is available in black and white, but the only way you’ll be able to get one is with a purchase of Samsung’s new 2022 QLED 4K and 8K TVs. Although it practically pays (and charges) for itself. Purchase: $TBD at Samsung.com
OnePlus 10 Pro
Android users will want to keep their eyes on OnePlus’ latest flagship smartphone for their next upgrade. The OnePlus 10 Pro is a sleek, fast-charging model with even better camera quality than its predecessors.
They’ve impoved upon previous models with a bigger 5,000-mAh battery for fast 80W charging. Under the hood, the OnePlus 10 Pro also features the company’s proprietary OxygenOS 12 system (similar to Android 12) and Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Processor for a display that refreshes even faster at 120Hz.
What we really like: OnePlus has partnered again with Swedish lens specialist Hasselblad in updating the triple rear camera system for some truly excellent camera quality.
OnePlus has been slow and sparse with their details about the phone’s specs and details (including display size or resolution) but from what we’ve seen so far, the OnePlus 10 Pro is a worthy contender against mainstream Samsung models. Purchase: $TBD at OnePlus.com
TCL NXTWEAR Air
While TCL joined the race this year, creating AR smart glasses fit to compete with Meta or Apple, they also released a pair of stylish, wearable display glasses fit for easy streaming on your couch.
The TCL NXTWear Air can plug into smartphones and other devices (it’s compatible with over 100 types) and works as an external monitor, similar to VR goggles. The pair displays video in 1080p with a 16:9 ratio, and is the equivalent of watching a 140-inch screen in a movie theater.
If you’re a gamer, you may want to spring for one of the more innovative VR-specific releases this year (we’re waiting on the PSVR2 ourselves), since the 60Hz refresh rate is a bit slow. But overall, this is a huge upgrade and a much more immersive experience than squinting down at your smartphone or trying to watch Netflix on your laptop.
Best of all, TCL’s fashionable design improvements feel more “RayBands” and less “tech headset”-y than before. They weigh just over 2.6 ounces, 30 percent less than their first edition. For a more lightweight, portable way to experience TV, these slick shades can’t be beat. Purchase: $TBD at TCL.com
Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 3
For everyone with paper notes scattered around their desk, work calendar-checkers, and creative doodlers, Lenovo has one of the freshest and unique laptop designs we’ve ever seen at CES.
The ThinkBook Plus Gen 3 is a two-for-one special, with the main screen featuring an ultrawide 17.3-inch laptop, a 21:10 aspect ratio, and 3,072×1,440-pixel resolution at 120Hz. But then there’s the second, smaller 8-inch touchscreen display with 800×1,280 resolution embedded to the right of the keyboard and touchpad.
There was clearly a lot of thought that went into the ways different laptop users might utilize the second display, and everyone will love it for different reasons. Creatives can make quick edits to digital sketches with the wireless pen. Remote workers can move documents down from the main display, or even use Microsoft’s Your Phone app to mirror your phone screen and check mobile notifications and files.
It also has all the features you would expect from a Lenovo business laptop, from 12th-gen Intel Core H-series processors, to 32GB of memory, and a full-HD webcam. But Lenovo is showing that sometimes more is more, and with this innovative dual-screen display, the possibilities are endless. Purchase: $1,399 at Lenovo.com
Nextbase iQ Dash Cam
Car tech has gotten a lot more advanced in the past few years, and that includes companies incorporating AI software to boost safety while you’re driving.
Nextbase iQ Dash Cam is a two-camera smart dash cam which packs in a lot of AI-powered driver assist features. The forward-facing camera captures in 1080p, 1440p or 4K, with the second aimed in the cabin in either 1080p or 1440p. You can control it using your voice to start recording or activate a new Witness Mode during tense situations like police stops, which uploads a real-time video stream to the cloud and notifies emergency contacts.
The iQ’s built-in 4G LTE and Wi-Fi connection also allow it to automatically send precise location and even medical information to emergency responders in case of an accident. These features are cool and useful, and this doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface.
Nextbase iQ Dash Cam can help you breathe a little easier on the road, and is an auto upgrade that’s not only useful, but might help save your life. Purchase: $TBD at Nextbase.
Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 Monitor
Video games have become a bigger industry than movies and sports combined according to Marketwatch, which is why Samsung’s upcoming Odyssey Neo G8 monitor stood out to us at CES 2022.
In fact, this 34-inch monitor is the first monitor with both 4K resolution and a 240Hz refresh rate, so we predict it’s going to be absolutely killer for PC gaming. The Odyssey Neo G8 has a full 3840×2160 resolution, and a substantial 1000R curve design.
Gamers need this type of fidelity to remain competitive during online play, but it’s impressive that Samsung also built the same Mini LED tech from their 2022 TVS into this display for the richest color contrast possible. Basically, the Odyssey Neo G8 is an absolute powerhouse of an external monitor, and gamers will rejoice.Purchase: $TBD at Samsung.com
Noveto N1
Noveto’s N1 release at CES 2022 has the potential to shake up the entire landscape of speaker tech, giving you an immersive audio experience like no other.
The N1 is a fascinating and incredibly cool sound bar-type device Noveto calls “invisible headphones”. By emitting ultrasonic waves through the air, it creates two audible pockets of three-dimensional sound around your ears — which everyone else around you can barely hear (there’s a 90% audio reduction from three feet away).
Smart motion sensors track your head so the sound performance stays accurate, so it sacrifices some portability in that sense. But for shared office spaces, this could be a great solution to having to constantly take out your earbuds to answer a coworker’s question.
The N1 speaker also features 3.5mm and USB-C ports, as well as built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi wireless capabilities. If it works as well as we think it will, the N1 could give a whole new meaning to the phrase “wall of sound”. Purchase: $TBD at Noveto.com
Sengled Smart Health Monitoring Bulb
Smart light bulbs are typically relegated to Bluetooth color-changing tech that would fit right into TikTok aesthetics, but Sengled’s latest tech doesn’t just want to help you set the mood — it also aims to help you keep track of your health.
Sengled’s Smart Health Monitoring Lights uses non-invasive radar technology to track your sleep, heart rate, temperature, and other vital signs.
You can install one bulb, or connect a series of lights around the house over WiFi or Bluetooth so together they create a virtual map of your home and can detect everyone in the area. It could even potentially detect if someone has fallen and they can’t get up.
This is the part where we emphasize that the bulbs’ biometric tracking doesn’t involve cameras, and won’t record you. While Google has used similar sleep-tracking with radar, this is one of the most fascinating and practical applications of the tech we’ve seen. If you’re hooked to your fitness smartwatch or using a sleep tracker, Sengled’s bulbs are the next step forward into the future. Purchase: $TBD at Sengled.com
Razer Blade 17
Razer brought all the updates you’d want to their Blade laptops this year at CES, and their lagtest Blade Pro 17 gave us the best combination of gaming PC power and laptop portability in one dynamic package.
The machine has beefed up with 12th-gen Intel Core chipset, NVidia’s high-end GeForce RTX 3080 graphics card, 16GB of memory (but upgradable to 64GB), 1TB storage, and a wide array of ports. That’s a lot of extreme performance packed into an incredibly portable model.
If you’re a PC gamer who wants the freedom to plug into a monitor at your desk and log onto your game on the go without lugging around several cables, the latest Razer Blade 17 is your answer. Purchase: $2,699 at Razer.com
Victrola Premiere V1 Music System
Victrola’s Premiere V1 Music System aims to be an easy-to-use, all-in-one option for everyone who wants an unpretentious vinyl-listening experience.
The setup features a turntable with built-in stereo speakers, and a separate wireless subwoofer so you spin your records and stream them over Bluetooth using their VinylStream tech. This eliminates the need to spend hours searching for the perfect amplifier, or having a mess of wires take over your living room.
The volume is controlled either through the turntable’s illuminated knob, or through a remote. According to Victrola, the Premiere V1 delivers rich bass and clear highs with no disturbances or needle skips. If you’re still skeptical about built-in speakers though, the unique belt drive system makes it so vibrations won’t distort your record’s sound.
For an entry-level setup, Victrola’s Premiere V1 Music System adds much-needed convenience and accessibility back to the fun of putting together a vinyl sound system. Purchase: $499.99 at Victrola.com
Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra
Roborock is not only smarter than your average vacuum, but finally fulfills the promise of robot vacuums and mops delivering a truly hands-off cleaning experience.
Their latest flagship robot cleaner, the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra, has all the trappings of previous models, from cameras and smart object detection, to impressive suction and automatic mop lifting technology while going across carpets.
What really makes the S7 MaxV Ultra stand out is that once docked in the Empty Wash Fill Dock, the S7 MaxV Ultra will get auto-refilled with water and have its dust bin emptied into the container. The dock also self-cleans the robot’s mop, so you won’t have to constantly replace pads or wash it every time. Roborock says the auto-refill is good for 300 square meters of mopping, and the dust bag in the dock holds up to seven weeks of dust.
Combined with updates to the vacuum’s ReactiveAI, which improves object avoidance, we doubt that any robot cleaner can come close to the sheer level of human-free deep-cleaning you’ll get out of Roborocks’ S7 MaxV Ultra right now. Purchase: $1,399.99 on Roborock.com
Garmin Venu 2 Plus
Move aside Apple Watch — there’s a new smart watch in town to help you take your next outdoor run or HIIT session to the next level.
Garmin’s previous Venu 2 was already a pretty stellar fitness watch, but the added improvements make them worthy of being your go-to workout companion. The Venu 2 Plus fixed a major problem with its predecessor, and now has a dedicated speaker and microphone, so you can take calls and use voice assistant without having to pull your phone out during a workout.
The bright AMOLED display also makes it easy-to-read while working out under direct sunlight, and it comes in a 43mm size. The battery lasts up to nine days on a single charge, longer than the Apple Watch Series 7.
It shares much of the best features fitness watches have to offer, including workout modes, vitals tracking, sleep tracking, and built-in GPS for runners. But the addition of that one key speaker massively improves the Venu 2 Plus overall. Purchase: $449.99 at Garmin.com
Archer AXE200 Omni Router
Now that we’re going to be spending a bit more time back at home (again), maintaining a stable, reliable WiFi connection is more important than ever.
Archer’s AXE200 Omni Router is one of the few WiFi 6E-enabled routers, and it uses a unique, bug-like design with four round antennas that automatically rotate to detect the best possible connection for all your devices, and a longer range to boot.
This quadruple-threat makes it a worthy alternative to placing multiple routers around different spots in your house just to catch a signal. Plus, the WiFi 6e tech adds a much larger frequency spectrum, from just 2.4Hz and 5.0GHz, to 6-7 GHz for significantly faster speeds.
While your devices still need to be capable of using WiFi 6 speeds, the performance alone is worth the eventual upgrade. Gamers especially will appreciate the fast Ethernet port, which works best for AR/VR devices and 4-8K streaming.
With an eye-catching design coupled with unparalleled performance, the AXE200 Omni is simply unmatched. Purchase: $TBD at TP-Link.com
Asus Zenbook Fold 17 OLED
If you thought foldable phones were cool, get ready for one of the world’s first foldable laptops. Asus’ Zenbook 17 Fold has enough versatility and custom software to make it a winner beyond the initial allure of its design.
One of the strongest laptop showings at CES 2022, we were impressed by the flexibility of how you can actually use the touchscreen. The 2,560 x 1,920 OLED touchscreen has a 4:3 aspect ratio, and can be folded up behind the spacious bluetooth keyboard to create a pretty solid-feeling 17.3-inch desktop. Or, you can simply fold it in half and convert the screen into a 3:2 aspect, 12.5-inch clamshell with an on-screen touch keyboard on the bottom half. Custom software helps the folded display differential which half of the folded display different apps appear on.
Overall, it works and feels like a sleeker, suped-up tablet computer, with the latest 12th-gen Intel Core i7 U-series processor (which we saw a lot of this year), and up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. It’s even lighter than a Macbook Pro, but still packs a 75Wh battery and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity.
If the way that we work and do schooling has gone hybrid, why shouldn’t our PCs reflect that mobility? Asus Zenbook 17 Fold thoughtful features go above and beyond just a unique conceptual design. Purchase: $TBD at Asus.com
VIZIO M-Series Elevate Sound Bar
There was a flurry of CES announcements and awards from Vizio, but it’s actually their sound bars that really caught our eye this year
The new M-Series Elevate is its mid-range option, offering a 5.1.2 speaker system that’s minimalist enough to fit into any living room. Vizio’s latest Innovation Awards Honoree adds a subtle design around their rotating drivers, which automatically swivel up to bounce Dolby Atmos or DTS:X sound off the ceiling and create 5.1.2 surround sound.
The sound bar also comes with a newly-designed wireless subwoofer that delivers awesome bass without sacrificing aesthetics, and two surround sound speakers. The M-Series has HDMI eARC, 4K Dolby Vision passthrough, Bluetooth, and a dedicated voice assistant connection, for maximum connectivity .
Vizio’s M-Series Elevate has the innovative audio technology and sleek design to turn any living room into a home theater. Purchase: $699 at Vizio.com
JBL Boombox 3
JBL had a strong showing all-around at CES this year, but we think their newly-designed third generation portable boombox speaker will be the most likely to blow you away.
JBL says The Boombox 3 brings a deeper bass than previous versions, and has more intense clarity and powerful sound. This is thanks to a new three-way speaker system consisting of a powerful racetrack-shaped subwoofer, two mid-range drivers and two tweeters.
Equipped with Bluetooth 5.3 and 24 hours of playtime on a single charge, The Boombox 3 is practically built for partying from sunup to sundown. Its IP67 rating makes it waterproof and and dustproof for most weather conditions.
JBL continues to build their speaker system up, since you can pair the Boombox 3 with other PartyBoost-enabled JBL speakers to create some massive stereo sound. Whether you’re dancing around in your living room, or taking your tunes on the go, JBL’s Boombox 3 is sure to keep the party going anywhere. Purchase: $500 at JBL.com
Anker Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K Portable Projector
Anker, the maker of one of our favorite portable projectors, came out swinging with a new Nebula model that adds 4K laser technology and much higher brightness levels for a projector that’s the total package.
The Nebula Cosmos Laser shines in both 1080p and extra-crisp, theater-quality 4K (the Nebula Mars Pro II capped out at 750p). It also quite literally shines with laser phosphor light for 2,400 lumens of brightness.
Dual 10-watt speakers also add a more robust sound, which is absolutely necessary for backyard and outdoor film-viewings. For streaming, the projector still uses Android TV 10 to give you access to multiple streaming apps.
While the price tag might turn heads, Anker’s Nebula Cosmos Laser projector is bigger, bolder, and brighter in all the ways that count. Purchase: $1,599+ at SeeNebula.com
Chipolo Card Spot
Losing your wallet used to mean a rush to cancel credit cards and frustratingly retracing your steps, but the Card Spot is one simple tool that has changed all of that.
Chipolo’s Card Spot was one of the many products and accessories that found interesting ways to integrate Bluetooth-based trackers at CES this year, and they teamed up with Apple’s Find My network to help make it easier to track down your lost wallet.
Simply pair the Card Spot to your iPhone, tuck the tracker inside your purse or wallet, and you’ll be able to add the tracker within the pre-installed Find My iPhone app.
It’s remarkably slim at just 0.09 inches, so it should fit most wallets. Unfortunately, while there’s no battery to swap out or way to recharge it, Chipolo says the device should last up to two years. Bottom line, the Chipolo Card Spot solves a common problem better than any similar accessory we’ve seen so far. Purchase: $35 at Chipolo.com
HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless
Gaming headsets have been a must-have accessory for the past few years, but advancements in sound quality have only made them more appealing to audiophiles. HyperX has really stepped up their game with the Cloud Alpha, an over-ear headset which lacks the usual wires, but boasts an impressive battery life.
The headset claims to have up to 300 hours of battery life on a single charge — that’s 12 and a half days of powered gaming, if you’re counting. It’s a bold declaration, as most gaming headsets last for 20 to 50 hours before tapping out.
Most of the specs are much of what we love from previous HyperX headsets, including DTS Headphone X surround sound and 50mm drivers to hear your opponents from any direction. The noise-canceling microphone is also great for staying focused and delivering clear instructions to your teammates.
For getting the most out of your gaming sessions, the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless is the best at helping you power through to that next level. Purchase: from $200 at Hyperxgaming.com
AnkerWork B600 Video Bar
AnkerWork’s new B600 Video bar aims to solve your biggest work from home teleconferencing frustrations, from cluttered wires, to poor lighting in one compact device.
The video bar gets you Zoom-ready in seconds with a built-in light, and a camera with 2K resolution built-in. You take your remote calls with ease without worrying about if your coworkers can hear you (or if you hear them), thanks to dual speakers and four-way mic.
It’s also an excellent webcam for content creators who want a simple set-up without breaking the bank. But the AnkerWork B600 Video Bar is poised to become a work from home essential for anyone in virtual meetings for the near future. Purchase: $219 at Anker
Wemo Smart Video Doorbell
Belkin Wemo has stepped out of their Wi-Fi-connected lights wheelhouse and jumped into the home security ring, upping their game significantly with their Smart Video Doorbell.
The doorbell has all the standard features you would expect: two-way talk, live streaming and activity zones, but stands out in a couple ways. It offers premium privacy and security features comparable to the Ring system, all in compact package.
First, the 178-degree field of view allows you to better see who’s at the door, and the camera includes end-to-end encryption, as well as local processing of person, animal, and vehicle alerts.
But the big winner here is the inclusion of a facial recognition that integrates with Apple’s HomeKit Secure Video Set. This feature helps the camera recognize people in the Photos app, or who are tagged in the Home app.
This might be Belkin’s first entry in the smart home game, but their Smart Video Camera proves they’re serious about delivering quality home security. Purchase: $249.99 at Belkin.com
KOHLER PerfectFill
In these stressful times, smart home tech should make you feel less frustrated and more aaaah. And now, taking a calming bath just got easier with Kohler’s new PerfectFill smart home system. Forget checking the water temperature by hand or waiting around to check on the water levels while filling up in the tub.
Use voice commands, or through the Kohler Konnect app, the PerfectFill system will automatically draw you a bath without needing to keep an eye on it (it drains automatically, too). Set your ideal temperature and water depth, and even pre-plan your baths for when you come from home from work or after a sweaty workout.
There are 10 saved pre-set bathing experiences for everyone in the house. An included touchscreen digital pad mounted on the wall lets you make adjustments. Save yourself the stress, and invest in your wellness with Kohler’s PerfectFill system. Purchase: $2,700+ at SmartHome.Kohler.com
Klipsch Reference Series R-605FA Floor Standing Speakers
For a long time, Klipsch speakers have been known for their sharp looks and clean sound, and the unveiling of their latest References series shows exactly why they’re one of the best in the game.
Their brand new range of Reference speakers includes, three new floorstanders, two new bookshelves, two centers, an affects speaker, and two subwoofers. But we were most impressed with their floorstanding speakers, which like the others, received and updated woofer material, but with a much more minimalist and streamlined design.
The R-605FA floorstander contains two, 6.5-inch woofers and an up-firing Atmos driver. Klipsch says the Dolby Atmos connectors and the built-in wire management have been improved from previous models. It’s some of the most sophisticated surround sound in the home audio world, and these updates only improve upon the accuracy and sound clarity.
While the live music experience may be on a bit of a break right now, it’s hard not to get excited by the similar sound you’ll get out of speakers like these. $1,660 (Estimated) at Klipsch.com
LG PuriCare Aero Tower
Having clean, fresh air in your home shouldn’t be a luxury, but that doesn’t excuse the boxy, industrial-looking look of typical air purifiers that often stand out. LG’s PuriCare Aero Tower takes the functionality of multi-directional Dyson purifier and combines it with elegant design.
The design also serves a specific purpose. Unlike other air purifiers which only intake and expel air in one direction, depending on how you position the PuriCare Aero Tower, you can get direct, diffused, or 360-degree wide airflow. It’s also whisper quiet, at only 23 decibels, so you won’t have to deal with a constant, loud whirring sound in your living room.
But just cause it’s easy on the eyes doesn’t mean it doesn’t pack powerful filtration — its True HEPA multi-filtration system captures 99.97% of fine dust and allergens. You won’t have to settle for less than the best with LG’s PuriCare Aero Tower. Purchase: $TBD at LG.com
Mark Levinson No. 5909 Headphones
Who says headphones can’t feel luxurious? Mark Levinson No. 5909 is a pair of over-ear headphones that are some of the most premium on the market. But for what’s under the hood, we think they’re worth it.
The headphones have immersive, highly-effective active noise cancellation, get up to 34 hours of music playback per charge, and have an ambient mode that filters important sounds (i.e. traffic sounds, or a passing train) while still feeling seamless with your music playing. They’ll even pause your tunes if you take them off for a few seconds, and resume playing when you put them back on.
But what’s truly impressive is the No. 5909’s support for high-res audio, including Sony’s LDAC and Qualcomm’s AptX Adaptive codecs for near-lossless Bluetooth streaming. While you can adjust the EQ in the app, the depth and purity of sound is great as-is.
You might see many of these features become standard in headphones under $300, but we’re not quite there yet. In terms of sheer audio quality and aesthetics, this is the creme of the crop. Purchase: $999.99 at Crutchfield.com
Satechi 2-in-1 Headphone Stand with Wireless Charger
Stop tossing your valuables like your phone and headphones all over your desk — Satechi’s new desk accessory allows you to stay organized and also take advantage of the best personal MagSafe charging tech the industry has to offer.
The stand allows you to stow away headsets on a sleek, stainless-steel arm with padded grips, while the wireless charging pad on the base keeps essential devices powered like Apple’s Airpods or your iPhone. Perfect for keeping your items powered through long work days, we also like how the minimalist frame will look on a desktop. A built-in light confirms when the charging is done.
Satetchi’s new 2-in-1 Headphone Stand with Wireless Charging has successfully combined organization and convenience into one useful device for everyday life. Purchase: $79.99 at Satechi.net
GE Lighting Cync Smart Thermostat
GE’s new “Cync” brand impressed us last year with their home security camera, but they continue to follow up with more stellar smart home offerings, including this year’s Cync Smart Thermostat with one standout feature.
Or rather, the one key thing it doesn’t feature – the thermostat actually doesn’t need a C-wire, an extra wire used in many smart thermostats on the market to provide extra power to HVAC systems, to function. The Cync Smart Thermostat gives you temperature control from anywhere on your phone, or through voice commands.
To help save energy, you can also enable the thermostat’s eco mode when you’re not home and monitor your HVAC’s usage. Saving on your energy bill might not seem revolutionary, but GE makes little daily improvements even easier with their Cync lineup. Purchase: $120 at Lowes.com
ICON.AI Sound Mirror
ICON.AI’s Sound Mirror is for everyone who’s ever sung in front of the mirror with a hairbrush in hand, or blasts music during their showers. Besides snagging an innovation award from CES 2022 this year, the mirror also just looks damn good.
The “Acoustic Mirror” is both a full-sized bathroom mirror and a smart speaker, with a speaker grill on the bottom quarter of the base. The best part — it’s completely hands-free, so you can use Alexa to stream music, check on the weather, hear the latest news, and set alarms. It’s Bluetooth compatible, so you can link it up to other smart home devices.
If you’re worried about a steamy room fogging up any of the circuitry, the Sound Mirror is almost waterproof with an IPX6 rating. Although you don’t have to hang it in the bathroom, as it can be installed anywhere in the house with four different finishes.
While there’s no details yet on the audio specs (drivers, subwoofers, etc,) ICON.AI’s mirror is a beautifully intelligent integration of AI that expands the smart home category. Purchase: $TBD at SoundMirror.ai
