It might seem like CES 2020 just started, but How-To Geek’s editorial team has been running all over Las Vegas for the past week, checking out the latest and greatest product announcements. After careful deliberation, the team has awarded the following 15 products with How-To Geek’s Best of CES 2020 awards.
Best in Show: Roland Go:Livecast
If you’re looking at the photo above and wondering why that product won Best in Show, it’s because Roland took the difficult task of setting up a live streaming studio and compacting it into an easy-to-use box. What you see in the image is the Go:Livecast and it allows you to connect any iPhone, iPad, or Android and go live using the company’s free-to-download app.
When you’re ready to up the quality of your livestream, the Go:Livecast can help you quickly add music, videos, and graphics from your device’s local storage. You can also wirelessly add a second phone or tablet and introduce multiple angles to your stream happening on Twitch, Facebook, or other supported services.
Best Chromebook: Samsung Galaxy Chromebook
Google rules the roost of high-end Chromebooks, but Samsung’s convertible Galaxy Chromebook is looking to make a nest for itself, too. With its striking red chassis and drool-worthy 4K OLED screen, it’s bringing premium features typically reserved for the most expensive of Windows-powered ultrabooks. We’ll have to see if the 8MP camera on the keyboard deck, combined with Samsung’s suite of Android apps, can make it double as a premium tablet too.
Best Computer Monitor: Asus ROG Swift 360Hz
When it comes to monitors, almost everyone agrees that higher frame rates produce better gaming experiences. While other companies are still working on perfecting 240Hz displays, Asus took to Vegas with its 24.5-inch 1080p ROG Swift 360Hz. You’ll need a powerful GPU to run the monitor, but at least your next Overwatch or CS:GO match will be smoother than ever before.
Best Computer Accessory: Fujitsu Happy Hacking Keyboard
The Happy Hacking keyboard has long been a pricey favorite among mechanical keyboard fans (don’t call it a rubber dome). Fujitsu is bringing the latest update from Japan to the international market, with new models upgrading connectivity and charging to USB-C. The cheaper Pro 3 Classic model is wired only for purists, while the Pro 3 Hybrid can use Bluetooth. The Pro 3 Hybrid Type-S uses quieter switches, if you’re willing to upgrade for the sake of your co-workers.
Best TV: Samsung Sero TV
It’s hard for some of us to admit it, but Samsung had the most exciting TV design at the show, trumping cheaper OLED and Mini-LED models with a form factor that some might find appealing. The Sero TV rotates itself ninety degrees to display vertical video in fullscreen, addressing and, unfortunately, validating one of social media’s increasingly frequent annoyances.
Best Smart Home: GE C Series Smart Switches
Most of the time, if you have to choose between smart bulbs and smart light switches, you should get the switch. But there’s a problem: most smart switches require neutral wires and maybe a hub. Older homes often don’t have neutral wires, and hubs are complicated and expensive. Now, C by GE has a new smart switch for you that ditches the neutral wire and the hub.
Best Wearable: Withings ScanWatch
The ScanWatch looks a lot like Withings’ previous hybrid wearables, but the additional trick of detecting heart arrhythmia and sleep apnea via SpO2 sensors and data crunching is well worth your attention. Nailing essential smartwatch functions and focusing on health is a solid proposal for those who aren’t ready or willing to dive into a more complex smartwatch without the comfort and readability of a conventional dial.
Best Home Audio: Vizio Elevate Soundbar
Speaking of rotating gadgets, Vizio’s Elevate soundbar pulls a similar trick with its outermost speaker drivers. While plenty of soundbars say they’re great for stereo music content, Vizio’s putting its best face forward by rotating the up-firing surround drivers to deliver more oomph on the left and right stereo channels.
Best Mobile Accessory: PopSockets PopPower Home
PopSockets, the company that took the smartphone accessory world by storm with its expandable grips, now makes a wireless charger—and it works really well. As you can see, the PopPower Home has a spot for your attached PopSocket to fit into, making it super easy to align your phone over the Qi charger. But don’t worry, if you don’t rock a PopSocket on your devices, this fast wireless charger is still worth the $60 price tag.
Best Automotive: Bosch Virtual Visor
When you think of innovation in the automotive industry, you might initially think of better infotainment systems. Bosch took an alternative approach and tackled a problem many have with their car’s sun visors. By using an LCD display and eye-tracking technology, the Bosch Virtual Visor can monitor where a passenger is looking and selectively darken parts of the person’s face.
Best Household Product: Moen Smart Faucet
At first glance, the U by Moen Smart Faucet doesn’t stand out from other kitchen faucets. But under the hood, you can use your favorite voice assistant to ask the home appliance to measure a given amount of water and set it to a specific temperature. Plus, with a battery built into the faucet, you don’t need an electrician to run a separate power outlet just for your sink.
Best Concept: OnePlus Concept Phone
The Concept One by OnePlus has a first on a smartphone: it uses electrochromic glass to hide the rear camera array and flash when it’s not in use. When the camera app is closed, the rear glass covering the camera array is totally opaque. Fire the camera up and bam, the cameras and flash are exposed instantly (well, in 0.7 seconds) as the glass goes transparent. What makes this feature truly game-changing for us, though, is that the electrochromic glass doubles as a neutral density filter.
Best Wellness: Muse S
At CES 2020, Muse—known for its meditation headbands—announced a new wearable called the Muse S. In addition to being an upgraded meditation accessory, the Muse S assists in helping you fall asleep. Thanks to the device’s “real-time biofeedback,” ambient sounds, comfortable design, and soothing narration, the wearer can go on a “Go-To-Sleep Journey” and peaceful fall into a deep sleep.
Editor’s Choice (Cameron Summerson): Lenovo IdeaPad Duet
Without actually seeing Lenovo’s IdeaPad Duet, you might be quick to dismiss it as a neat idea. But after we saw it, we knew that this thing is special. It’s a 10-inch Chrome OS tablet with a fold-out kickstand, but it’s also a little-bitty laptop thanks to its magnetic keyboard/trackpad attachment. To put it bluntly, this is what the Surface Go should’ve been.
Editor’s Choice (Michael Crider): Marseille mClassic
We’ve seen upscaling gadgets before, even those meant specifically for classic game consoles. But the Marseille mClassic has a great collection of features that make it both flexible and affordable. Its HDMI-to-HDMI setup leaves the analog conversion to more specialized gadgets, focusing on making every edge and pixel of early 3D consoles like the PlayStation and Dreamcast sing on a 4K TV. From the demonstration we saw, it’s also without any noticeable lag and preserves color exceptionally well.
