The Best Things We Saw at CES 2022

After an all-digital 2021, the annual Consumer Electronics Show is roaring back to life with both digital and IRL components, though a ton of companies have backed out of the second part at the last minute. From OLED TVs to stunning turntables, huge desktop monitors and exiting new cars — these are the best gadgets we saw at this year’s show.

Samsung Odyssey Ark

Courtesy

Samsung announced a host of new monitors at CES 2022, but the Odyssey Ark is definitely the standout. It’s a 55-inch curved 4K monitor — which is the largest curved monitor out there — with a 16:9 aspect ratio, and the kicker is that it has a special stand that allows the display to be rotated and viewed either horizontally or vertically. Not a lot of other information has been released about the Odyssey Ark (including its price or release date), but if it actually becomes available it looks to be a hella-cool monitor for gaming and just general multitasking.

Cadillac InnerSpace Concept

Courtesy

Cadillac may be known for SUVs and super-sharp performance sedans these days, but back in the day, the brand was known for its giant, elegant coupes — two-door personal luxury cars that represented the epitome of style and coolness. The InnerSpace concept is a throwback to those coupes of yore: a massive, sleek machine designed to transport two people in absolute comfort. Of course, it does so with a couple futuristic twists: it runs on GM’s Ultium electric vehicle platform, and it’s designed to be fully autonomous, so you can concentrate on the view (or, let’s face it, the giant entertainment screen spanning the dash) rather than the road. Don’t expect to see it reach production anytime soon, but do expect some design cues to make their way to future Caddys like the flagship Celestiq coming in 2023.

LG 2022 OLED TVs

Courtesy

LG announced its latest and greatest OLED TVs at CES. The new models boast a new of improvements in brightness, processing power and other smart technologies to improve overall picture quality. However, the most notable thing about its 2022 line might be sizes. The 2022 C2 series (flagship) and G2 series (gallery) will both have 42-inch models, which is the smallest that each has ever been available in before. And the G2 series will include a 97-inch model, which is absolutely huge. Pricing and availability will be announced later in the spring.

Cambridge Audio Alva TT V2 and Alva ST

Courtesy

Cambridge Audio released the Alva TT turntable in 2019 and, at the time, it was the first turntable that supported wireless aptX HD audio, meaning it could stream high-resolution audio (up to 24-bit/48kHz) wirelessly to an amp, speaker or headphone. At this year’s CES, the British hi-fi maker announced two spinoffs of that original Alva. The Alva TT V2 ($1,999) is the second-generation version that has a few key upgrades, including an improved tonearm with a detachable headshell (in case you want to upgrade later on), a switchable phono stage and Bluetooth support. Then there’s the Alva ST ($999), which is a more affordable turntable that still looks beautiful and supports aptX HD wireless hi-res streaming. Both turntables will be available this spring.

Jabra Elite 4 Active

Courtesy

The Jabra Elite 4 Active is the company’s new pair of workout-focused wireless earbuds. They feature active noise-cancellation and have a IP57 water-resistance rating, so they’re perfectly suited for workouts in noisy environments. They also are compatible with Jabra’s app so you can adjust the EQ of your music. They cost $120 and are available right now.

Shure Aonic 40

Courtesy

Shure announced new wireless noise-canceling headphones, the Aonic 40 ($249), which are essentially a slightly smaller and more affordable (by $50) version of the its existing Aonic 50. The new models lack the same hi-fi support as the Aonic 50 (up to 32-bit audio with LDAC support), but boast superior battery life, a new fast-charging ability and they have a more packable/collapsible design.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Fan Edition (S21 FE 5G)

Courtesy

Samsung announced a more affordable version (by $100) of its Galaxy S21 smartphone called the S21 FE (“Fan Edition”). It packs many of the same flagship features, including the same processor and fast-charging ability. Its display is very similar, too. The main tradeoff is that it lacks a shiny finish (it’s matte instead) and it’s pro-grade camera system isn’t quite as great; the most notable difference is that the S21 FE’s telephoto lens has a 8MP sensor instead of the 64MP sensor on the S21. On the plus side, the S21 FE actually has a bigger battery. It will be available for purchase on January 11th for $699.

Chevrolet Silverado EV

Chevrolet

With Ford taking the F-150 electric (and, with more than 200,000 pre-orders in the books, finding enormous interest for it), it was all but inevitable that the Chevy Silverado would follow suit. Unlike the F-150 Lightning that rides on a modified version of the gas-powered truck’s platform, the Silverado EV will use a bespoke electric vehicle platform, much like the new GMC Hummer EV. General Motors estimates the electric Silverado will be able to go more than 400 miles on a charge; a preview image released ahead of the reveal (seen above) reveals the new EV truck will also pack a giant moonroof and an enormous infotainment screen, while Chevy has also revealed the truck will have four-wheel steering for added agility. Expect to see it on the road in early 2023.

Astell&Kern ACRO CA1000

Courtesy

The ACRO CA1000 is Astell&Kern’s first “carryable” headphone amplifier that, according to the company, combines the functionality of a high-performance headphone amp and the portability of a digital audio player. It has four built-in DACs (ES9068AS) and is capable of playing high fidelity audio (32-bit/384kHz PCM and native DSD512). It also has a built-in 8,400mAh battery and support for USB-C fast charging. If you’re somebody who takes hi-if super seriously, the ACRO CA1000 will be available late January or early February 2022. Price is TBD.

Chrysler Airflow Concept

Courtesy

Stellantis — the merged company created by the union of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and France’s PSA Group — has been rather late to the electric vehicle party, especially in the United States, where its brands Dodge, Ram, Jeep and Chrysler have been concentrating more on gas-powered muscle cars and off-roaders than eco-friendlier vehicles. That’s set to change soon, however, and long-neglected Chrysler will help lead the charge with the Airflow. Technically, it’s a concept, but it looks extremely production-ready (and pretty damn good, too). It offers an estimates 350-400 miles of range and semi-autonomous driving; we suspect something like it will be on the road by 2025, as that’s when Chrysler says it’ll have its first EV out by.

Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX

Mercedes Benz

With most new electric cars offering comfortably more than 200 miles of range on a charge and many — like the Mercedes EQS — exceeding 300, “range anxiety” isn’t as big of a concern as it used to be. Still, electric cars remain a long way from matching the driving range of most internal-combustion automobiles — at least, for now. Mercedes-Benz’s Vision EQXX concept car is set to presage the Three-Pointed Star’s future long-range EVs; packing an extremely aerodynamic shape and impressive efficiency, the brand is claiming it’ll be able to go more than 620 miles in the real world. Note that turn of phrase: don’t be surprised to see a production version arrive before too long.

LEARN MORE

AnkerWork B600 Video Bar

Courtesy

Anker announced a neat new webcam for your work-from-home setup. The B600 Video Bar is unique because it has an integrated light bar and built-in speakers. It also packs a 2K sensor (capable of up to 30fps) and number of AI smart technologies (such as zoom, autofocus and adjustable field-of-view) to make sure your face looks its shiny best. The webcam will cost $220 and it’ll be available later this month.

Satechi 2-in-1 Headphone Stand with Wireless Charger

Courtesy

Satechi announced a headphone stand that’s specifically designed for Apple’s AirPods Max (but it can really be used with any headphones). The stand is made of aluminum and has a space gray base, so it should match well with your other Apple devices, and there’s an integrated USB-C charging port as well as a Qi-wireless charger at the base of the stand; this allows you to charger your AirPods Max as they hand while also charging your smartphone. There’s also an integrated cable management hook so you can conceal your charging cable. It’s available for preorder for $80.

BMW iX M60

Courtesy

BMW’s electric future is being led by the iX — a crossover with looks only a mother could love, but packing enough advanced technology and performance to more than make up for any appearance-related demerits. But BMW is still as much about performance as tech, and its M division’s sportier models sell like gangbusters — so it’s no surprise to see BMW M has taken a swing at it with the iX M60. Granted, this is one of the M Lite models, not a full-fat M-car like the M3 or M5; still, with 610 horsepower and 811 lb-ft of torque at its command, odds are good it’ll beat plenty of sports cars off the line.

LG UltraGear 17G90Q

LG

The LG UltraGear 17G90Q is the company’s first-ever gaming laptop. It’s a 17-inch laptop that has a slim aluminum design, RGB backlit keys and a supposedly killer speaker system capable of 3D audio. Inside it packs an Intel 11th-gen Tiger Lake processor and a Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Max-Q graphics card. And it’s 1080p display has a 300Hz refresh rate. Pricing of this high-performing machine has yet to be released yet.

Samsung 2022 Neo QLED TVs

Courtesy

Samsung revealed its newest line of high-end Neo QLED TVs, which are its 4K and 8K smart TVs that you might actually buy (not the super expensive MicroLED TVs that cost more than most cars). The 2022 Neo QLED TVs combine the company’s Quantum Mini LED display technology with its Neo Quantum processor so that they deliver excellent picture quality, but Samsung has given them new technologies (like a new “Shape Adaptive Light” technology to automatically adjust brightness depending on what’s on the screen) and more gaming-specific features (like a built-in gaming hub that’ll let you access cloud-based games from Google Stadia and Nvidia GeForce Now with no extra hardware). Release date and pricing information is TBD.

Samsung 2022 Eco Remote

Courtesy

Samsung’s newest environmental TV remote, the Eco Remote, has a solar back panel so it can stay charged by light (indoor or outdoor) — but the 2021-version of the Eco Remote also had this capability. What’s new with the 2022 version is that it has been integrated with radio frequency (RF) harvesting technology so it can also use the energy from your home’s Wi-Fi router as well. Basically, you’ll never have to worry about charging it. Also, it’s available in black or white so it can match your Samsung TV.

Sony 2022 OLED TVs

Courtesy

Sony announced its 2022 lineup of OLED TVs and Mini LED TVs, which have historically been some of the best TVs that money can buy. The upgrades to the new models mostly have to do with improved picture (mostly brightness) and sound quality (such as support for Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound Mapping technology), as well new smart technologies that allow the TVs to adjust itself so that that sounds and looks the best for the rooms they are in.

Fluance RT85N

Courtesy

Fluance is well known for its excellent and budget-friendly turntables, and this week it announced a new high-end turntable. The RT85N is exactly the same as the company’s RT85, which is its most expensive and reference-quality turntable, but the new “N” model adds a Nagaoka MP-110 cartridge (which goes for about $170 by itself) for improved and more balanced sound. The RT85N costs $500 and is available now.

BMW iX Flow Featuring E_Ink

Courtesy

You can’t tell from this still image, but BMW’s big news for CES 2022 — apart from the 31-inch 8K TV they plopped into the back of a car — is color-changing paint. Actually, it’s a color-changing wrap, one that uses e-ink — y’know, the stuff in a Kindle — to flick the exterior of the car from charcoal black to egg white in seconds when a current is implied. Basically, it’s the official version of that scene from the Queen Latifah / Jimmy Fallon movie Taxi where Gisele Bundchen and her crew of supermodel bank robbers change the color of their Bimmer to escape the police. (It was not a great movie.)

Anker Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K Projector

Courtesy

Anker announced a new Nebula portable projector that’s neat because it’s the company’s first to produce a true 4K picture. Like previous Nebulas, the new model has a built-in Android 10 operating system, so it doesn’t need to be connected to a laptop, smartphone or streaming stick to play content from apps like of Netflix or Disney+. It also has a pair of integrated speakers so it should sound pretty decent out of the box, too. At $2,199, it is quite a bit more expensive than most 4K TVs, but it also promises to produce a significantly larger picture. (Anker has specified screen size, but most other Nebulas produce an image size of up to 100 inches.)

The Nebula Cosmos will launch as a Kickstarter on January 11 and is expected to be available for purchase sometime in mid-March.

LG S95QR

LG

The LG S95QR is the company’s new flagship soundbar that supports Dolby Atmos. It’s a 9.1.5 system that comes complete with a wireless sub and two wireless surround sound speakers. However, the real unique thing about the ​​S95QR is that it has an upward-firing center channel (an industry first, according to LG), so it’s capable of creating an even more immersive sound.

LG UltraFine Pro Monitor

LG

LG has announced updated versions of the UltraFine Pro, its pro-level OLED monitors, that it released last year. They have a few new features, including support for LG’s DisplayHDR 400 True Black technology for even better contrast while photo/video editing, but the big news is that there will be a new 27-inch model for people who don’t necessarily need a 32-inch model (or fork over the $4,000 for it). There’s no word on pricing for the upcoming 27-inch model just yet.

TCL Book 14 Go

Courtesy

Best known for their affordable-yet-great 4K TVs, TCL is now getting in the computer business. The Book 14 Go is the company’s first laptop and, starting at $349, it’s aimed at the entry-level market. It has a 14.1-inch display, runs Windows 11 and has an older Snapdragon processing chip (to keep the price low). It does also boast a 12-hour battery life. It will be available sometime this spring.

Razer 2022 Blade Gaming Laptops

Courtesy

Razer announced its new line of Blade gaming laptops for 2022. The new 14-inch, 15-inch and 17-inch models aren’t night-and-day upgrades over their predecessors, but Razer did give each improved internals (Intel’s 12-gen processors, faster RAM and support for Nvidia’s newest RTX graphic cards). As for the hardware, Razer did increase the size of the keyboards and gave each laptop better speakers. Each new model will be available for preorder in late January or early/mid February.

Line Linestand

Courtesy

The Linestand is a neat take on the traditional multi-device wireless charger. It’s a 3-in-1 wireless charger — designed to simultaneously charge your iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch — but it also has an integrated VESA mount on its back, meaning you can hang it on a monitor arm or even your wall (VESA mounts are commonly used for TVs). It will be available to purchase next week (January 14).

Related Topics