Rolling Stone’s Best of CES 2020
From 8K TVs to studio-inspired headphones and even a surprising concept car debut, here’s what made our list for the Best of CES 2020.
From 8K TVs to studio-inspired headphones and even a surprising concept car debut, here’s what made our list for the Best of CES 2020.
Headphones and speakers got a ton of attention at CES 2020, boosted in part by a couple of celebrity co-signs. The DJ and producer, Kygo, threw an intimate dinner Thursday to unveil his “Xellence” true wireless earbuds, and his “Grand Piano X1” speakers.
They’re the latest releases from his fledgling X by KYGO lifestyle brand, which the DJ says has been a tremendous opportunity for him to expand the ways in which he uses sound to connect with people around the world. More importantly, Kygo says he wants the products to stand on their own — regardless of whether you like his music or not.
“It was important to me that all the new products and designs used the same technology that creates the soundscapes and frequencies I use to produce music,” he says, “and I’m really looking forward continuing to share the gift of music with consumers everywhere who are looking for a premium listening experience, no matter the genre.” Pricing: $299.00 on KygoLife.com.
Best known for their microphones and professional recording equipment, Shure is making inroads into the audio space this year with the introduction of its AONIC 50 Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones, and AONIC 215 True Wireless Sound Isolating Earphones, both built following the same designs musicians use for in-ear monitoring on-stage.
They’re built tough too — Shure had a full IKEA-style machine stretching out a pair of headphones to prove its durability. The other big announcement from Shure: an Adam Levine-fronted campaign for the new products launches this spring. Pricing: TBD on Shure.com.
JBL ditched the main Vegas Convention Center this season, deciding to hold court at the Hard Rock Hotel instead. There, the audio giant showcased a number of new products, including its Quantum Range gaming headsets, which use integrated sensors to keep the sound moving around you no matter how you turn your head.
Music lovers, meantime, will want to pick up these JBL CLUB ONE Headphones. Inspired by the headphones used by touring musicians, these cups are the flagship model in JBL’s newly-launched CLUB headphone series, with adaptive noise cancellation, a whopping 45 hours of playback time and clean, authentic sound (I.e. none of that fake bass or boosted audio that other companies deliver). Use the JBL app to customize your listening preferences, and the headphones will remember your preferred settings for the next time you put them on. Purchase: $349.95 on JBL.com.
The rise of 8K TVs continued to be a huge trend at CES this year, with a number of companies launching new big-screens that push out 8K technology (that’s four times more detail than traditional 4K). While there still isn’t a wealth of 8K content in the market, these TVs will automatically upscale whatever you’re watching, to be as close to 8K quality as possible.
LG topped our list with the release of their OLED ZX Real 8K TV. The super crisp and vivid display boasts more than 33 million OLED pixels for pretty spectacular contrasts and more life-like images. Noise reduction reduces blurring and banding, while LG uses AI to identify faces and text to pull them out on screen. Tone-mapping technology helps to enhance details — especially great for watching dark-lit movies or that episode of Game of Thrones.
Of course, the GoT showrunners disputed claims that the “Long Night” episode was too dark, saying it was always intended to be aired that way. That begs the question: what if filmmakers don’t want their content to be upscaled or “manipulated?” LG’s new “Filmmaker Mode” solves that dilemma, by letting you remove any automatic enhancements so you can see a movie or show the way the creators intended.
These new 8K TVs don’t come cheap. Expect to pay in the mid-five figures for one of these units. A slightly more affordable bet is LG’s GX Gallery Series OLED TV (available in 55, 65 and 77-inch sizes). The ultra-thin TV hangs on the wall like a piece of art, with everything self-contained in a smooth, uniform package. Its good looks are matched only by its host of features, from AI capabilities to the ability to use voice prompts to customize your content without needing to pair with a separate assistant. “Hi LG! Show me what’s playing.”
Pricing for LG’s new 8K TV and the 77GX have yet to be announced but both units are expected to be available on LG.com this spring.
Forget flip phones, the buzz at CES this year was over Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Fold, dubbed as “the world’s first foldable PC.” The dazzling 13.3-inch screen can be folded in half to roughly the size (and thickness) of a hardcover book.
Use the ThinkPad Fold as a tablet, monitor or mini laptop (you can type directly on the screen). Pair the Fold with a wireless keyboard (sold separately) for a more traditional computer setup. Pricing: $2499 on Lenovo.com.
Our favorite speakers from CES were these L82s, a modern take on JBL’s legendary L100 speakers, first released in 1970. The L100s have been used by everyone from Lenny Kravitz to the Foo Fighters’ Taylor Hawkins, and the new speakers reproduce the same full, natural sound (music doesn’t feel artificial or boosted).
What we like: the L82s retain many of the same retro-inspired design cues as their older sibling, with the colored foam grilles and real wood veneer. Purchase: $2500/pair on JBL.com.
Peloton may have stumbled with its much-derided holiday commercial (that even Ryan Reynolds poked fun at) but the at-home fitness craze shows no signs of slowing down. Whereas infomercials used to sell us ab crunchers and clunky Bowflex machines, the new crop of at-home workout devices are significantly more streamlined — if not more beneficial as well.
This week saw the unveiling of the Huami Amazfit HomeStudio. Think of it like a Peloton plus. A treadmill wirelessly connects to a 3.5-foot tall “SMART GYM HUB,” which works as a regular mirror when turned off, but displays virtual instructors and training classes when turned on.
Take a treadmill class, or move the treadmill out of the way and take yoga, stretching, pilates, and sculpting classes too. The mirror has a built-in camera to track your movements, ensuring that you’re doing everything correctly — and safely. Expect the Amazfit HomeStudio to launch later this year. Pricing has yet to be announced. Purchase on us.amazfit.com.
Just call it a TV for the TikTok set. Samsung’s Sero Frame TV is the first-ever TV that rotates, so you can view content horizontally or vertically. Use the remote to rotate the screen, or sync it to your Samsung phone; every time you turn your phone, the TV turns with it.
The Sero (which means “vertical” in Korean) comes with a sleek, 43-inch QLED display. Samsung says the TV “combines the cutting-edge functions of Samsung’s top-level displays while providing a new approach to home entertainment technology that meets the needs and habits of the growing mobile viewing audience.” Purchase and pricing info have not yet been announced but it’s expected to launch later this year on Samsung.com.
We’ve sung the praises of Jabra’s wireless earbuds before and the company’s new Elite Active 75t take top marks in our book once again. The true wireless earbuds are super grippy (they won’t fall out of your ears!) and they’re IP57-rated waterproof, making them great for running outdoors or for working up a sweat. The secure fit makes them great at isolating noise too, so you can focus on your music — and not the annoying chatter around you.
There were a ton of great earbuds released at CES this year but these delivered the most bang for your buck. They’re the only completely waterproof and sweatproof buds that also delivered on sound. Audio is rich and dynamic, with well-balanced levels for a more immersive listening experience. Battery life is decent – get 7.5 hours on a single charge and up to 28 hours with the included charging case. Purchase: $199.99 on Jabra.com.
Belkin assembled a small group of press Wednesday to unveil what its CEO called “next generation transformational experiences.” Among the innovations touted by the brand: a Linksys 5G mobile hotspot, and a 5G modem, mesh gateway and router. Their prized release though was this SOUNDFORM ELITE smart speaker and wireless charger in one.
Belkin teamed up with renowned French audio brand Devialet on the new home speaker, which delivers super loud, booming sound in a premium-looking package. The large charging surface offers fast charging capabilities for any Qi-enabled device. The unit can be paired with Google assistant for voice commands too. Purchase: $299.99 on Belkin.com.
Swann unveiled a trio of completely wire-free home security solutions this year. Among them: this WiFi tracker, that is the first compact, non-mechanical, pan-tilt security camera in the market.
The camera uses Swann’s Light Flow Detection technology to auto-track and record moving objects. Its auto zoom feature lets you focus in on targets faster and more clearly too. The footage is all recorded to a micro SD card for easy viewing. All this from a camera no larger than a beer glass. Purchase: TBD on Swann.com.
Harman is making a play for the design-conscious consumer this season with the release of its Citation Series compact soundbar. The Citation Multibeam 700 delivers sleek, sophisticated looks — it’s wrapped in a contemporary wool fabric — that help it stand out from basic black soundbars on the market (it comes in a chic gray color too).
Seven speaker drivers deliver very full, deep, immersive sound. Pair it with the Citation Sub (Harman’s new compact subwoofer) for even bigger bass. Purchase: $699.95 on Harman.com.
For Sony, it was less about upgrading the hardware, but more about promoting its advancements in technology this year, namely with its much-lauded 360 Reality Audio.
With 360 Reality Audio, music seemingly moves around you, rather than coming at you left and right. Live Nation has already installed 360 Reality Audio production hubs in their studios, and a number of artists and producers are incorporating the technology into their songs as well. “360 Reality Audio from Sony is essentially giving creators and musicians a whole new way to write music,” says Mike Larson, a sound engineer who’s worked with Pharrell Williams for more than a decade. “You can take an already released song and re-imagine it for 360 Reality Audio, or create new songs with it in mind. By being able to imagine yourself in the middle of that 360 sphere and place sounds all around you, it creates a totally new and immersive experience for the listener.”
Sony did throw out one big gun at CES, with the unveiling of its VISION-S Prototype car. The electric car’s striking looks are backed by some serious tech, including 33 sensors installed both inside and outside the car for safety, a grippy all-wheel drive, two 200 kW electric motors, and a top speed of 149 mph. Of course, the entertainment system will be pretty tricked out too, with an intuitive wide touchscreen and Sony’s 360 Reality Audio built-in.
For all the talk of augmented reality and future tech at CES, it was nice to get our hands on something practical that we can use right away. That’s why we liked the mophie powerstation go, a portable battery pack with enough juice to jumpstart a full-sized SUV.
The charger comes with a set of mini jumper cables, while its wireless charging surface lets any Qi-enabled device pick up a little boost too. A 115V AC output port charges larger items like laptops and cameras with up to 65W of power.
Great for your car’s emergency kit, the powerstation go also has a built-in LED light. Purchase: $159.99 on Zagg.com.