CES 2021 recap: the best product launches from the consumer electronics show

The featured products are independently selected by our editorial team and we may earn a commission on purchases made from our links; the retailer may also receive certain verifiable data for accounting purposes.

If there’s a central theme, tech companies like to talk about the disruption.

The internet has disrupted newspapers, social media disrupted long distance phone calls, computers disrupted typewriters, smartphones disrupted computers, etc. The goal is always to be the company to make the next big disruption in hopes of changing the world (and ahead of the competition). But after a year like 2020, even the world’s biggest electronics companies have had to take a step back.

CES 2021: The 20 best things we saw at the consumer electronics show

The Consumer Electronics Show (abbreviated as CES) will take place last week, going virtual for the first time in its 53-year history. Last year 189,000 people – including us – descended on a massive convention hall in Las Vegas, this year companies presented live or pre-recorded video via Microsoft Teams. For once the world has disrupted the tech world.

To their credit, each company began their presentation by recognizing that Covid-19 is a global problem that impacts the lives of everyone on the planet. They recognized that we all had to change our plans and offered their sympathy to those who suffered the most.

Next, they talked about their upcoming gadgets, which are primarily meant to help you enjoy your time indoors. This is best summed up by Sebastian Seung, president and director of Samsung Research, who kicked off the company’s press conference by saying, “Our world is different and you have been faced with a new reality, one where, among other things, your home has taken on greater importance.

CES has always been a show about the latest innovations in television technology, and this year was no exception. This time around, the focus was on 8K TVs, which have twice as many pixels as a 4K TV. The world isn’t ready for 8K just yet – the screens are there, the content isn’t – but there’s no denying that that future is ahead.

The most exciting TV ads have come from TCL and LG, the two companies that go out of their way to create the best possible settings. TCL has announced its first 8K TV, which will use a technology called AiPQ to enhance (sharpen, enhance) 4K or HD content for better appearance. LG’s Evo G1 has an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) display, which produces a more detailed picture than a traditional LED panel. LG has also designed a dedicated game mode to reduce lag and uses a custom processor to optimize the video quality of whatever you watch or play.

Both companies recognized that screens were getting bigger and pushed the boundaries of TV size. LG’s Evo is available in an 83-inch configuration, and TCL’s XL-TV series has sets up to 85 inches. “Bigger screens mean a more impactful, more immersive and more engaging experience,” said Aaron Dew, director of product development at TCL North America. Dew also said screen size is the second most important factor people consider when buying a TV, the first being price.

Sony broke new ground on the speaker side by unveiling the SRS-RA5000, a unique speaker capable of simulating surround sound using a custom technology called “Reality 360 Audio”. The enclosure follows this trend of improving your home, without taking up a lot of space, which most of us don’t have. It also pushed the boundaries of design by curving the speaker so that its drivers point outward in different directions for more immersive sound.

As impressive and exciting as these gadgets are, they represent an evolution of existing technology rather than something totally original. CES is an event where tech companies go wild with big, bold ideas, and I couldn’t help but think this year’s announcements were a bit safer. On the upside, you’re much more likely to see this equipment available on the market this year.

The most striking “new” technology announced on the show was, oddly enough, a state-of-the-art face mask. Face masks have become a big part of our lives in 2020, and tech companies are looking to disrupt them.

Razer, whose gaming laptops are undergoing major revisions in 2021, announced “Project Hazel,” which it calls “the world’s smartest face mask.” Their version of the N95 includes a pair of smart pods that filter out at least 95% of airborne particles. They are also designed to have high resistance to fluids (think moisture from sneezing).

It even has a built-in microphone to boost your voice, making it easy for you to understand even when it’s on. While “Project Hazel” sounds like functional, futuristic technology, it’s hard to forget why we need it in the first place. Charlie Bolton, Design Director at Razer Inc, said, “By designing this goggle to be safe, social, durable, comfortable and personalized, Project Hazel is our response to what the world’s smartest goggle can. be.

Another underlying theme of CES 2021 was that established companies are moving into entirely new areas. GE, which started launching smart home accessories last year, renamed that division to Cync and announced its first smart, connected HD camera. Samsung, known for its TVs and soundbars, has unveiled the smartest robot vacuum we’ve ever seen, with a built-in camera and sensors that can use AI not only to detect objects, but also to determine what they are and how to do it. Again, these two gadgets are designed to make your home time easier.

The third trend we saw at CES 2021 was the idea of ​​making something at home. This was characterized by Roland’s Verselab MV-1, an all-in-one home studio that lets you record vocals and instruments, loop beats, sequence sounds, and add effects. For a solo musician, the MV-1 is a huge step forward, replacing several pieces of single-use equipment with a multi-tasking one.

Another highlight is Lenovo’s 5G-capable IdeaPad laptop. Its internal cellular radio lets you work from anywhere, opening doors for photographers to take, edit and download photos from more remote locations. Musicians can stream live broadcasts even if the venue (or even their home) has spotty Wi-Fi, and students in more rural areas have a better chance of staying in touch with their classmates and their parents. teachers.

At best, technological improvements make our lives a little easier, our work a little faster, and our opportunities a little bigger. While 2021 is still going to be a strange year, CES has offered a clearer view of what lies ahead.