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CES 2017 Editors' Choice Award Winners

From hundreds of entries, these are the products that won us over

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Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.

The annual CES show puts some truly astonishing numbers up on the board, but no stat boggles the imagination so much as the sheer number of products that debut here.

It's not lost on us that each product is the result of months—sometimes years—of planning, which makes CES the culmination of an unfathomable number of hours in labs, garages, and conference rooms across the globe.

For the big companies, a debut could make or break their profitability. For startups, it's nothing less than their dreams on the line.

And it's our job to judge them all.

We do it because our mission is to help you, the readers, figure out what to buy. CES is ground zero for new stuff—and not all of it good. This event abounds with vaporware and phonies; trends that look cool on the show floor can flop in stores.

The Reviewed.com CES Editors' Choice awards are about the steak, not the sizzle. The winners listed below hit just the right blend of our four criteria: Innovation, Design, Core Technology, and Value.

Congratulations to all the winners, and watch for this article to be updated throughout the show as we publish and link to in-depth looks at each product.

TVs & Home Theater

Sony XBR-AE1 OLED
Credit: Reviewed.com / Kyle Looney

Sony XBR-A1E Series OLED TV

Sony stole the show at CES this year by introducing its first ever OLED TV. Far from late to the party, the XBR-A1E is right on time.

The new TV wields an OLED panel from LG Display, who has nearly perfected the notoriously difficult technology over the past few years. With a minimalist design and unique speakers that are built into the screen itself, we think the A1E might just turn out to be one of the best OLEDs yet. Read more

LG W7 Wallpaper OLED TV

LG's flagship 4K OLED TV for 2017 hangs flush on the wall like a piece of digital art. All of the TV's components are housed in a 4.2-channel Dolby Atmos soundbar, leaving the screen entirely clean and free of clutter.

Of course, the W7 Series will still deliver the impeccable picture quality of past 4K OLEDs, including premium High Dynamic Range performance. But we’re willing to bet the ultra-thin design will attract the most attention—and highlight the futuristic possibilities of OLED. Read more

Samsung Q9 Series LED TV

If you’re looking for brightness and color, look no further than the new Q9. Samsung has made a major breakthrough in the research and development of quantum dot tech, and the ​company's flagship Q9 Series is the embodiment of that work.

The new dots enable a noticeable increase in color volume, color saturation, and overall brightness, making the Q9 Series possibly the brightest and most colorful consumer TV ever made.​ Read more

Sling AirTV Streaming Box

Cutting the cord in 2017 is easier than ever, but replacing cable often means juggling an HD antenna, a streaming box, and multiple services. Sling's new AirTV box solves that headache by integrating Netflix, Sling TV, and your OTA broadcast channels in one simple interface, giving you one more reason to ditch cable for good. Read more

Samsung H7 Wi-Fi Speaker

There are a lot of wireless speakers on the market, but Samsung’s newest model has something the others don’t: Style.

The H7 is a premium Sonos competitor that puts a strong emphasis on design, sporting a low-key silver finish and pleasantly weighted physical controls. Dieter Rams would be proud—and you can even put it in your own living room.

Smart Home

Sevenhugs Smart Remote
Credit: Reviewed.com / Nick Schmiedicker

Sevenhugs Smart Remote

Finally, a universal remote that's actually universal. This Smart Remote from Sevenhugs uses a number of internal and external sensors to map a room in your home and then dynamically adjust its touchscreen interface based on what device you point it at.

No more fumbling with multiple remotes to handle your entertainment center, smart lights, or Nest thermostat. Better yet, it even works with services like Uber. Read more

Lenovo Smart Assistant with Alexa

If you didn’t like how the Amazon Echo looked or sounded but still wanted a speaker with an Alexa voice assistant, you didn’t have many other choices.

That is, until now. Lenovo’s new Alexa-compatible speaker is the first third-party device to directly challenge the Echo. It comes in multiple colors and different versions: At $129—a full $50 cheaper than the Echo—you get the basic version. Or you can spend $179—the same price as an Echo—and get a Smart Assistant with upgraded Harman/Kardon sound. Read more

Baldwin Evolved Smart Lock

This might just be the first smart lock that looks as good as your home. Baldwin’s premium smart locks come in 18 finishes and multiple designs, but feature the same innovative technology that keeps Kwikset’s Kevo smart locks secure.

Just keep your smartphone (or a special fob) in your pocket, and touch the panel on the front of the lock. Your door will unlock instantly, all thanks to a secure Bluetooth connection. You can even give “temporary” codes to house sitters, dog walkers, and service techs.

Laptops & Mobile

HP Spectre x360
Credit: HP

HP Spectre x360 15-inch Laptop

We are head-over-heels for the 13-inch HP Spectre X360, with its incredible design chops that beat the pants off the latest MacBook Pros. This new 15-inch model keeps most of the same design cues but expands the display up to the larger size. It’s lightweight, extremely powerful, and simply one of the best-looking laptops we’ve ever seen. Read more

Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 Laptop

The Dell XPS 13 is, among most experts, the best all-around Windows laptop you can buy. The first series to feature the slim bezel-free displays that are all the rage right now, the XPS 13’s only missing feature is a convertible design that lets you use it like a tablet. The new XPS 13 2-in-1 finally changes that, but retains everything we adore about the rest of the series. Read more

Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon (2017)

Lenovo’s Thinkpad line has historically made more noise in the business world than among consumers, but the X1 Carbons are changing that. The latest model has the same iconic Thinkpad branding, but it’s seen a host of upgrades highlighted by its sleek, nearly bezel-free display that fits a 14-inch display in a 2.5-pound, 13-inch form factor. Read more

Asus Chromebook Flip C302

The Asus Chromebook Flip quickly developed a reputation last year as the best Chromebook for the money, but the company’s newest may have it beat. With a fast Intel Core M3 processor, a beautiful aluminum design, and support for almost every Android app on the market, the new Chromebook C302 is an absolute steal at its sub-$500 price point.

Asus ZenFone AR

The Asus ZenFone AR’s main claim to fame is that it’s one of the first phones to support Google’s depth mapping technology, called Tango. But the ZenFone AR is also just an incredible all-around smartphone that is lightweight, sleek, beautifully crafted, and features a highly advanced camera that can stitch together high-resolution still images.

Headphones

Audio-Technica DSR9BT
Credit: Reviewed.com / Kyle Looney

Audio-Technica ATH-DSR9BT

It's hard to find innovation in a category that's so well-established as headphones. Luckily, Audio-Technica rose to the challenge and developed the Pure Digital Drive technology found in its latest wireless models, the DSR9BT and the DSR7BT.

This new system should, in theory, greatly improve the audio quality over Bluetooth. Even on a crowded show floor, these blew us away and gave us a better appreciation of music we've been listening to for years. Read more

Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC Wireless

Sennheiser has a near-sterling reputation when it comes to audio equipment that shines through in its new HD 4.50 BTNC Wireless headphones. Boasting the slick finish and comfort that Sennheiser is known for, the HD 4.50's also match excellent sound with the NoiseGard active noise cancellation we crave—perfect for drowning out the world, whether you’re stuck on a crowded subway car or airplane.

Photo & Video

Panasonic GH5
Credit: Reviewed.com / Brendan Nystedt

Panasonic GH5

Panasonic Lumix GH5

If you want a camera that can take pro-quality stills and video in one compact package, the Panasonic GH4 has been the slam-dunk choice for years. The GH5 improves on it in nearly every way, with cinema-quality 4K video and a 6K Photo mode that captures even the fastest action shots. Read more

Nikon D5600

Nikon’s DSLR line only gets better with each passing year, and the new D5600 combines the image quality chops we know and love with improved wireless connectivity and puts it in a lightweight body you won’t mind taking with you everywhere you go.

If you want to easily share snaps from your DSLR on Facebook or Instagram, you’ll especially love the D5600’s effortless SnapBridge technology. Read more

PowerVision PowerRay Drone

For drones, we thought the sky was the limit—turns out, we were wrong. The PowerRay is an underwater drone that can dive down to depths of 98 feet. Armed with a 100° fisheye (pardon the pun) lens, this aquatic drone can capture video in 4K, take 12-megapixel pictures, or stream in 1080p. It also has a built-in sonar fish finder, and you can even bait it. Read more

Kitchen & Appliances

LG CordZero Stick Vac
Credit: LG

LG CordZero Stick Vac

LG’s new portable stick vacuum may have you leaving your full-sized vacuum in the closet. This new CordZero can clean your house for up to 40 minutes on a single charge. If the house still isn’t clean, you can swap out the lithium-ion battery for a spare, which stores conveniently in a wall-mounted charger.

We think it will be a great competitor for the popular Dyson V8 cordless. With four color choices and a sleek design, LG’s vacuum has a unique, appealing aesthetic.

Samsung POWERbot VR7000 Robot Vacuum

Samsung’s new robot vacuum is slimmer than its predecessor and can be commanded to clean with voice control thanks to Alexa compatibility. The coolest part, however, is the Corner Master—a little dustpan and brush that automatically extends from the robot whenever it hits a corner, scooping up any dirt that hides next to baseboards and walls. It will even clean every corner three times just to be sure. Read more

Samsung FlexWash and FlexDry

Samsung has brought a game-changing advance to the laundry room with its new washer and dryer pair, capable of washing and drying four loads of laundry at the same time.

It’s designed to save time—and save your clothes. You can bleach white fabrics in a smaller washer up top, at the same time that a large load cleans in the main 5.0 cu. ft. drum. When you’re done, you can dry delicates without tumbling them at a mild 95ºF in a drying rack up top—all while a heavy comforter dries below. Read more

Whirlpool Smart All-in-One Care Washer-Dryer Combo

All-in-one washer dryer combos already exist, but none are quite as impressive as this new one from Whirlpool. In addition to transfer-free laundry (no more dragging wet clothes from the washer to the dryer), this combo automatically dispenses enough detergent for each wash, and reorders soap when you run out. Read more

LG Smart InstaView Refrigerator

Almost an entire door of this massive fridge is a 29-inch touchscreen you can use to write grocery lists, leave notes, track a calendar, and play music. Tap on it twice, however, and the LG WebOS interface will turn transparent, revealing a clear window to the food inside.

Cameras inside the fridge send pictures of your inventory to your smartphone, so you can check to see how much milk you have even if you’re at the grocery store. And if you don’t feel like swiping and scrolling, the fridge itself connects to Amazon’s popular Alexa voice assistant. No matter what you think about smart appliances, you have to admit LG’s flagship fridge is a technical tour de force. Read more

Gaming

The Android Shield TV
Credit: Reviewed.com / TJ Donegan

Nvidia Shield TV Streaming Box

The latest Nvidia Shield is very similar to the model that it’s replacing, but it comes absolutely stuffed with new features, including support for 4K and HDR gaming and streaming. It’s already one of the most powerful streaming solutions around, and Nvidia is taking it mainstream by including support for the incredible AI-powered Google Assistant service.

Asus VivoPC X Desktop PC

While most gaming PCs are big, expensive, bulky, and look like they just landed from another world, the Asus VivoPC X is the exact opposite. Affordable, powerful, and yet small and discreet enough that you could put it in your living room, this $799 VR-ready PC is a grown-up gamer’s dream.

Kids' Tech

Lego Boost
Credit: Reviewed.com / Jonathan Chan

Lego Boost

Does your kid pretend that his or her Legos are alive? Well, the new Lego Boost kit makes those bricks move, thanks to some simple robotics and an easy-to-understand programming app.

Bricks combine with motors, sensors, and a companion app to let your kids build everything from a robot cat that “drinks” milk to a robot that can build other robots. Once kids learn how all the pieces fit together, there’s no telling what kinds of creations they’ll dream up. Read more

Nabi Aristotle, by Mattel

Part video baby monitor, part teaching tool, and part imaginary friend, Aristotle helps parents keep an eye on their kids with a secure video feed. When connected to an Amazon Echo, it can run kid-centric apps, and even help Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant recognize a toddler’s speech patterns.

When they can’t sleep, it’ll tell them a bedtime story. And when they have questions, it’ll put child-appropriate restrictions on Alexa’s answers. Read more

Fisher-Price Think & Learn Smart Cycle

This kid-size stationary bike is perfect for keeping your little one active mentally and physically—even if the weather is bad or you don’t have a great space to play outdoors.

Connected to a tablet or TV, your kids can pedal their way through educational games that help with language and math. It’s designed for ages 3-6. Read more

Heath & Fitness

New Balance Run IQ
Credit: Reviewed.com / Dave Kender

New Balance RunIQ Smart Watch

If you’re serious about running, you should check out New Balance’s first ever fitness tracker, which the footwear company developed with the help of Google and Intel.

The wearable not only includes the Strava running and cycling tracker, GPS, and plenty of fitness tracking abilities, but it also lets users tote offline music from Google Play—even if they leave their phones at home.

Sure, some of the functions—like music streaming—won’t work unless you pair it with an Android device. But we’re still sold on the RunIQ's sturdy design and impressive functionality.

Sleep Number 360 Smart Bed

We were almost instantly sold on this adjustable, app-enabled bed when we learned about its foot warming function. That’s right: Before you head to bed, the Sleep Number 360 will heat up the foot of the bed to keep your toes toasty. But it also offers so much more.

For instance, it automatically adjusts firmness and angle as the user moves in his or her sleep. If you move from your back to your side, it will adjust accordingly. And if it senses you or your partner snoring, it will automatically adjust one of the individual headrests to make it stop.

It can even tell when you’re ready to wake up, and will adjust your alarm accordingly so you don’t get out of bed groggy.

Willow Breast Pump

Though breast pumps aren’t usually what you think of when you think of a tech event like CES, the Willow is one of the most innovative products we’ve seen at the show, bar none.

Though it does integrate with your smartphone, the killer feature here is a game-changing, easy-to-use design that smooths over many of the biggest pain points of current pumps. Read more

Bloomlife Smart Pregnancy Wearable

Bloomlife’s marquee product is a slim, lightweight sensor that moms-to-be can attach to their belly to get automatic feedback and timing of contractions. It's similar to what you'd find at a hospital, but designed to be worn at home, keeping track of your contractions as your due date approaches.

While that alone solves a major headache for moms (and dads!), the company’s long-term plan is to use the data it collects to turn the sensor into an all-in-one hub for accurate updates on what your baby is up to in the womb.

Automotive

Ford Sync
Credit: Reviewed.com / Kyle Looney

Ford Sync 3 Alexa Integration

Last year, Ford teased us with the promise that its Sync 3 infotainment system would work with Amazon’s Alexa virtual assistant. This year, we know for sure that upcoming Ford vehicles will come with the must-have voice recognition setup.

That means you’ll be able to ask your Amazon Echo to unlock your doors at home, turn on the lights in your living room, and check to see if the garage door is open—all from behind the wheel, no matter where you are. When you’re home, you can even ask Alexa to warm up the car on a cold day, or check when you’re due for an oil change. Read more

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