From ultra-bright TVs and AI translation earbuds, to stringless guitars and slick new soundbars, these are the products that won our Best of CES 2025 Awards
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We’ve seen and demo’d a lot of compelling problem-solving gadgets this week (and more than one obligatory, cutesy robot), but it was all for one and “AI” for all at the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. While there seemed to be less of a buzz this year about shoving open source AI into every consumer product from toaster ovens to toothbrushes (listen, we’re already there, and we’ve been there for the past two years) thankfully, we’ve entered the “streamlined for productivity” era of AI.
That is to say, while some of the trends at the show can feel repetitive, there was overall less gimmicky bloatware and more quality-of life upgrades and practical use cases for working alongside artificial intelligence, perhaps to the point where it can almost becomes unnoticeable — think taking crystal-clear calls over JBL’s latest headphones thanks to their built-in AI algorithm, or kicking up your feet and binge-watching your favorite series with Hisene’s brilliantly colorful new TVs, quietly optimizing for picture and sound quality in real time. During their press event, President of Hisense Americas David Gold even said, “when AI is done right, you don’t notice it — it just makes living better.”
Overall, we were surprised and delighted by some key product innovations this year, AI-infused and otherwise. So we dug through the digital noise, attended keynotes, and demoed products on the show floor, and found 39 gadgets deserving of our Rolling Stone “Best Of CES 2025″ Award. We chose our CES 2025 award winners based on design, functionality, and innovation, focusing on unique products that help solve everyday problems, upgrade our lives, or push the limits of current technology. Scroll through to see the companies and products that made our Best of CES 2025 list.
JBL Tour One M3
JBL’s latest flagship headphones Tour One M3 pushes the boundaries of connectivity, making them worthy competitors with Sony’s and Apple’s top models. By adding a touchscreen Bluetooth transmitter (similar to the one built into previous CES Award-winners, the Tour Pro 3 buds), it opens the door to a world of new audio experiences. You can now plug into in-flight entertainment systems, get lossless audio through 3.5mm and USB-C wired connections, and more — so you never have to compromise on your listening experience again.
Technics EAH-AZ100
While there were a lot of buds unveiled at CES this year, Technics EAH-AZ100 stood out as one of the most impressively-engineered wireless earbuds we’ve listened to. Compared to their predecessors, EAH-AZ100’s eye-catching design upgrades alone would be worth switching out your old buds for — these are sleeker, lighter, and more compact than ever. But the highlight here is their new proprietary fluid magnetic drivers, which gives the earbuds an impressively wide soundstage and crisp accuracy. Masterfully-executed, reference quality sound packed into a pint-sized package — what more could you ask for?
Samsung HW-QS700F Soundbar
Samsung’s HW-QS700F sets the bar for home audio, an all-new speaker that’ll turn any sized room (big or small) into an audiophile’s dream. With a unique set up, you can place it on a shelf or TV stand, or mount at 90 degrees flat on a wall under a TV. But any way you want it, thanks to a built-in gyro sensor, the QS700F can optimize the sound based on how you’ve situated it for the best performance possible. Combined with support for Samsung’s new 3D audio standard Eclipsa, your favorite tracks will get unmatched depth and precision that rivals Dolby Atmos, and it hits all the right notes for us.
Shokz OpenMeet Headset
Shokz has turned their bone-conduction tech into a home-office must-have with their new headset, the OpenMeet. Featherlight and comfortable enough to wear for your entire 9-5 (even with glasses on!), they sport a top-notch, noise-cancelling boom mic that’ll easily cut through any workplace chatter or café noise. While the open-ear design won’t block out everything, Shokz shows you don’t have to sacrifice crystal-clear call quality for all-day wearability. For remote workers who still want to stay tuned to their surroundings, this headset is the one to beat.
Shure MV7i
Shure’s first-of-its-kind MV7i smart mic is a true game-changer, a standalone recording system that’ll save musicians and content creators alike the hassle of confusing setups and expensive accessories. There’s unbeatable recording versatility here, with a built-in interface that lets you plug in a second XLR mic or an instrument without any extra hardware — perfect for 1-on-1 podcast interviews or recording demos. With Shure’s best-in-class audio quality and 60dB of gain, it’s an all-in-one solution for creatives looking to streamline their setup.
Victrola Wave Turntable
Victrola’s stylish entry-level turntable Wave makes it more convenient than ever to create a hi-fi sound system that anyone can jam out to. It’s got connectivity galore, including built-in Bluetooth and supports aptX Adaptive and aptX HD streaming, but most notable is its support for Auracast. This audio-sharing feature means you can stream vinyl to any Auracast-ready speakers and headphones in your home, making the Wave a true crowd-pleaser for vinyl lovers everywhere.
Govee Lamp 2 Pro x Sound by JBL
Like an audiophile’s idea of a lava lamp, Govee‘s Table Lamp 2 Pro is designed to sync its psychedelic display with whatever music you’re playing through its built-in JBL speaker. Pick presets of warm and cool light, or program any color scheme you can possibly imagine from an array of 210 independently-controlled LED beads. With room-filling sound and vibrant visuals, it’s a synesthetic delight that looks as cool as it sounds.
JLab Epic Lux Lab Edition
JLab’s first entry into the world of premium headphones are a triumph by offering higher-end features for half the price of their competitors. At an attractive $200 price point, their 32mm dynamic drivers promise high-fidelity sound and can play LDAC high-resolution audio files, while head-tracking spatial audio and a monstrous 60+ hours of battery life with ANC on make them a serious contender for the best value headphones of all time. Just based on specs alone, we think JLab’s Epic Lux Lab Edition delivers the most bang for your buck on the market today.
Aurvana Ace Mimi Earbuds
A standout in personal audio, Creative’s Aurvana Ace Mimi earbuds successfully make CD-quality sound accessible without breaking the bank. Their dual xMEMS driver setup supports the highest-resolution LDAC files over Bluetooth and delivers crisp highs and thumping bass that outperform buds at a higher price range. But speaking of “personal” — the addition of Mimi sound personalization is what really makes the most exciting buds you’ll use this year, adjusting the sound to match your personalized hearing profile based on a quick hearing test, all for the cost of entry-level AirPods.
Onkyo Creator Series GX-30 ARC Speakers
Despite a well-known legacy for their AV receivers, Onkyo’s re-entry into the speaker market with the Creator Series GX-30 ARC comes out of the gate swinging, and fully deserves a place on your desktop. These sleek powered speakers are a serious plug-and-play solution for musicians and streamers looking for an affordable audio system that punches far above it weight, supporting Bluetooth streaming and plenty of wired connections — including a built-in MM phono preamp (they’ve even got an HDMI-ARC connection that let them pull double-duty as TV speakers). Bottom line? Onkyo proves that great-sounding speakers don’t need extra amps or equipment to produce seriously impressive results.
LiberLive C1 Stringless Smart Guitar
At first glance, LiberLive’s C1 unibody smart guitar seems like the Guitar Hero of the future — but it’s so much more than that, a technological marvel that’ll transform how you perform, beginners and pros alike. You can easily become a one-person band, because not only is this axe stringless, but with a built-in drum machine, bassline, and Micro DAW chip for any instrumental sounds you can imagine, playing solo has never been more fun. LiberLive C1 also stands out from your ho-hum instrument learning platforms with an integrated app for custom cords. Rocking out with the guitar’s high-fidelity speaker system, you’ll achieve stunningly authentic acoustic tones every time.
Earfun Air Pro 4+
For travelers who don’t want to constantly rely on translation apps or anyone needing to quickly communicate across language barriers, Earfun’s Air Pro 4+ changes the game. An impressive AI-powered, real-time translation feature opens the door to unimpeded connection with others, so you can talk across 40 languages without ever needing to pull out your phone. If that weren’t enticing enough, they also deliver aptX Lossless tech and Snapdragon Sound for clean, detailed audio quality that can stand up against premium buds any day. Toss in some seriously solid 50db noise-cancellation capabilities and a whopping 54 hours of battery life, and Earfun has once again sets a new benchmark for what true wireless earbuds can achieve for under $100.
LG PF600U
While CES always brings out the do-it-all device crowd (some more successful than others — does your robot vacuum also need to be a home security camera and an air purifier?), none enrich your home living space and look good doing it more than LG’s multi-purpose projector. With thoughtful features that go above and beyond its unique design concept, hidden inside a chic, minimalist mood lamp is a powerful Bluetooth speaker and a projector with FHD (1,920 x 1,080) resolution and 300 ANSI lumens of brightness. While it’s still in development, it’s a groundbreaking step in fitting smart home tech seamlessly into your life, livening up — and not detracting from — other features of your room.
Hisong AirStudio One
Hisong, a startup looking to make a streamlined alternative for creators who don’t want to lug around a plethora of equipment, have created one of the most eye-catching audio innovations of the year by putting an all-in-one professional recording studio into your pocket. The AirStudio One is already an elegantly-designed wireless condenser mic, but there’s a few hidden gems buried inside — mainly, a professional audio interface, a wireless USB-C dongle and a pair of true wireless headphones. Forget the soundproof booth, because thanks to its lightweight design, AirStudio One shines by letting you capture crystal-clear quality audio whenever (and wherever) the inspiration strikes.
Soundcore Rave 3S Party Speaker
Soundcore’s new party speaker uses AI to take your karaoke performances to the next level, stripping away the vocals of any song so you always grab the spotlight. The Rave 3S would be a beast of a speaker on its own at 200W, powerful enough to fill up a massive room — but beat-synced LED lights and wireless mics turn it into an instant party-starting package. Combine that with 12-hour battery life and IPX4 splash-proofing, and this becomes the perfect portable speaker for at-home karaoke enthusiasts.
Valerion VisionMaster Max
After becoming the most funded Kickstarter project of 2024, startup Valerion has proved that their VisionMaster Max delivers a cinematic experience rivaling any big-screen theater. The key to this buzzworthy 4K projector’s appeal is the ability to swap out alternate lenses (a feature typically only seen in professional-grade home theater equipment) so you can change the size of the image it produces or how far it can project. But even with the original lens, by offering stunning 3,000 ISO lumens picture, high 15,000:1 contrast ratio (for dark black colors), support for HDR10+, Dolby Vision and IMAX-enhanced certification, this home theater in a box is undeniably best in class.
Samsung Frame Pro
Samsung’s upgraded Frame Pro demands to be at the center of your home, a perfect harmony of technology and artistic-minded design. Two significant updates make it stand out from its predecessor, mainly adopting a Neo QLED display — the same Mini LED tech that powers the company’s high-end QN900 series TVs — that brightens up and compliments every painting it’ll put on display. Speaking of which, the Wireless One Connect box lets you mount the Frame Pro on a wall like you would a painting without having to worry about messy wires, so it’ll feel more like a part of your home than any other TV this year.
Hisense 116UX TriChroma LED TV
Hisense’s impressive new 116-inch TV is a tour de force when it comes to bringing cinema-quality visuals into your home. The company’s Trichromia 116UX is a mini-LED TV that uses thousands of RGB optical lenses for its backlight system to achieve the most accurate color of any LED model on the mark. Notably, it also utilizes local dimming that, in our opinion, gives it the best picture quality you can get from a 100+ inch television. By getting creative with panel technology, you’ve got the most dynamic viewing experience of the year, and the future of mini-LED tech for years to come.
LG G5 OLED TV
While LG is always the one to beat at CES when it comes to TV releases, the G5 OLED has some of the best picture quality we’ve ever seen. They’ve done away with micro-lens-array (MLA) tech here in favor of an improved OLED panel that offers unparalleled brightness and breathtaking picture quality. Along with the panel, LG’s Brightness Booster Ultimate and Filmmaker Mode with ambient light compensation monitors your room’s lighting and adjusts your TV’s brightness accordingly, delivering visuals that take the top spot in our books, no matter what you’re watching.
HP OmniStudio X
HP’s all-in-one answer to Apple’s iMac, the OmniStudio X, is packed with powerful hardware and thoughtful AI features that make it an absolute workhouse of a PC — and creatives will rejoice. Available in 31.5- and 27-inch screen options, both sizes comes with built-in speakers, microphones, and a five-megapixel IR camera above the display for video recording. But it’s what’s under the hood that’s really impressive, integrating Intel Core Ultra 7 258V chips and a 47 TOPS NPU that’s powerful enough to handle Copilot+ PC productivity companions (think file organization), so optimizing your workflow has never been easier.
Asus Zenbook A14
Asus’ Zenbook A14 seriously ups the ante in the world of powerful, portable laptops. It delivers the one-two punch cleverly cool features (like sliding touchpad controls for volume, brightness and track selection), and the long-lasting battery (up to 32 hours) to tackle everything you want to get done with them. The luxe ceraluminum finish and OLED display are gorgeous, but performance is really the name of the game here — a Qualcomm Snapdragon X processor gives it Copilot+ PC capabilities like AI summarization, all for less than 2.2 pounds, making it the lightest Copilot+ PC yet. Being able to use a computer this capable anywhere is a game changer, and Asus is leading the way with the Zenbook A14.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 GPU
Nvidia undeniably stole the show with the announcement of their Cosmos AI model, but the performance of the GeForce RTX 5090 GPU took our breath away. The most powerful card Nvidia has ever produced, it’s an incredible feat of engineering, with the ability to double the frame rates of your favorite games compared to the RTX 4090. It also comes with a massive 32GB of GDDR7 VRAM, so it’ll handle professional graphics work with ease, as well as gaming at 4K resolutions with all the settings maxed out. In fact, Nvidia’s crowning achievement here might just be in making the first genuine 8K graphics card — no other GPU on the market can compare.
Lenovo Legion Go S
The Lenovo Legion Go S stands out amongst the crowd with the potential to change the future of handheld gaming forever in supporting not one, but two different operating systems: Windows 11 and SteamOS. It’s sophomore release not only makes for a serious Steam Deck alternative, but improves upon the original Legion Go in nearly every way. It’s cut the bulk (and the price), but now boasts two USB 4 ports, a bigger battery, and a variable refresh rate (VRR) screen at an impressive 1200p resolution for its mobile chip. That means ultra-smooth gameplay, all in the palm of your hands.
TCL 60 XE NxtPaper 5G
If you’ve ever stat outdoors and tried to catch up on a good book with your e-reader or smartphone, you know it’s virtually impossible to see the screen when the sun’s out. With a custom display, TCL’s 60 XE NxtPaper 5G is the android phone to beat this year, and can transform from an FHD+ to a matte grayscale that’s akin to reading from a newspaper. The nano-matrix tech keeps the images sharp and crisp, too, for a visual experience leagues above your typical matte-textured e-reader. With the added benefit of also being a $199 smartphone, it’s as easy on the eyes as it is on the wallet.
Xreal One Pro Smart Glasses
In the crowded world of smart glasses, Xreal’s One Pro checks off all our boxes for sleek design, stellar visuals, and most importantly — coolness factor. It’s like your own wearable, private theater, with a whopping 57-degree field of view that’s the widest we’ve seen from AR glasses of its kind, effectively eliminating any kind of edge blur or need to turn your head too much. By incorporating motion-sensing features and adjustable display settings, it’s also the most seamless experience we’ve gotten from a prism-based pair. Paired with a 12MP camera and strong Bose audio, you’ve got yourself a bonafide generational breakthrough in smart display tech.
Circular Ring Gen 2
Not only is Circular Ring 2 the most impressive smart ring we’ve ever seen, it’s a standout when it comes to breaking down barriers of entry for those who want to take their fitness journey into their own hands. By offering a fully digital sizing process that takes mere minutes to complete (we even did it on the bustling show floor!), it eliminates the need to buy a pricey sizing kit before you even invest. Even with the distinction of being the first finger-based wearable with an ECG sensor and FDA-approved AFib detection, it’s also, perhaps most notably, subscription-free. With that extra cost out of the way, we have no doubt that the Circular Ring 2 is going to change some lives.
Belkin Stage PowerGrip
Maybe we’re just having a moment of technological nostalgia (remember that “retro” keyboard phone case from last CES?), but Belkin’s Stage PowerGrip is undeniably the coolest mobile accessory of the year, transforming your iPhone into a point-and-shoot camera with ease. The DSLR-style ergonomic grip for iPhone photography (with a Bluetooth-enabled the “shutter button”) attaches with MagSafe via a magnetic ring, but we like to think of it as the Swiss Army knife of mobile photo-taking. It doubles as a 10,000 mAh battery pack with wireless charging and a retractable USB-C charging cable, and can be used as a phone stand or a stabilizer grip for shooting content. Whether you’re a snap-happy content creator, or yearn for the disposable cameras of decades past, the Stage PowerGrip will make you want to say “cheese!”.
Anker 165W Power Bank
Anker’s new 165W power bank steals the show as an elegant solution to an everyday problem, thanks to one unique trick it has up its sleeve. Yes, you can charge your iPhone 14 times over with this 25,000mAh power bank, or even fully charge a MacBook Air M2 and still have juice in the tank — that’s an impressive feat alone. But the 8.6-inch and 27-inch retractable cables are the star here, letting you charge your smartphone or laptop without having to have the power bank practically strapped to your hip. It may not be the most powerful portable charger on the block, but as a travel companion, it just can’t be beat.
HMD OffGrid
HMD’s OffGrid solves the issue of phones turning useless in signal dead zones better than any accessory we’ve seen so far. At the size of a small wallet, it lets Android phones or iPhones send text messages and contact emergency services through a satellite networks connection. It’ll even be able to share a user’s live location with up to five people in intervals from every four hours to every three minutes. For disasters when networks go down, or for those who like to travel off the grid, the OffGrid is so simple, yet so effect — and could potentially be life-saving.
Swippitt Instant Power System
Swippitt’s Instant Power System is the most clever charging gadget we’ve seen in a long time, a first-of-its-kind power solution that eliminates the need to stay tethered to a power bank or wait around for a full charge. All you need to do is insert the phone, case and all, into the toaster-looking Swippitt Hub, and in two seconds, it swaps the battery in your case for a fresh one. With five batteries ready on deck in the hub, it’s all set for whenever you need a top-off, presenting an ingenious way to stay connected without any extra bells and whistles (i.e. a tangled mess of cables).
Delta Concierge
Announced in a show-stopping presentation at the Sphere this CES, Delta Concierge, a new gen AI-powered personal assistant, soars above the rest when it comes to helping travelers make it to their next destination with ease. Assisting passengers on the Fly Delta app and other Delta digital channels, it could potential handle everything from arranging an Uber to your hotel, to sharing reminders about touchless TSA security options, and even reporting your mileage earnings on the flight. Delta’s prepared to go above and beyond the customer service counter, showing that the only limit to practical, everyday AI helpfulness is the sky.
Roborock Saros Z70
Roborock’s Saros Z70 “handy” vacuum-mop hybrid wipes the floor with the competition, all thanks to a nifty mechanical arm that can sense, pick up and put away the errant sock or stray tissue. With an extra appendage, the Saros Z70 won’t just detect objects with an AI-powered camera, bob and weave — but drive over and place it gently wherever you want it to go (like your laundry hamper). By making the shift from object avoidance tech to object removal, Roborock has set the bar for a new generation of do-it-all home cleaning, delivering on a robot vacuum that can finally lend an extra hand around the house.
Shark CryoGlow LED Face Mask
Shark has entered the ring of high-tech red light therapy devices with an impressive showing, the CryoGlow LED face mask. But what they’ve really done here is create the perfect marriage of traditional skincare and wellness, avoiding becoming a single-use device like so many other red light masks on the market. Of course you’ll get different wavelengths of LED light that stimulate different things in the skin (red to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, blue for acne, and deep infrared to stimulate collagen). But the cryo-inspired InstaChill technology really stands out, featuring cooling plates that really succeed at achieving the aaah home spa factor.
Jackery Solar Roof
Jackery’s Solar Roof is a standout in eco-friendly home design, an attractive alternative to traditional solar panels by sheer aesthetic value of being practically indistinguishable from regular terracotta roofing tiles. It can be added on top of your existing roof, blending into the rest of your home while still reportedly performing at 25% cell conversion efficiency. That’s an outstanding accomplishment, putting it far beyond the pack (others tap out at 24%) and making it one of the most efficient solar cells we’ve ever seen. With energy costs soaring, the Solar Roof offers a way to cut back on expenses without sacrificing style for substance.
Hyve Smart Home Delivery Pod
Trying to find an unbeatable way to curb porch pirates for good? Hyve might offer the best defense yet, a delivery lockbox made for the modern age that cleverly solves a problem 1 in 6 Americans have encountered. While there are plenty of tech-y package boxes out there, Hyve surpasses them all with an impressive design and smart features — mainly, an 18-month charge and the ability to generate delivery codes which you can assign by retailer or delivery service. While yes, it’s Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled so you can get alerts for when your package is dropped or when the lid is open, low-tech components like a clear window for couriers to provide proof of delivery prove that Hyve is the best all-in-one solution for protecting your parcels.
Ultraloq Bolt Mission
The future of home security is here, and it’s right at your front door with the Ultraloq Bolt Mission, perhaps the most secure smart lock to date. While we’ve seen everything from fingerprint locking to palm recognition locks this year, this is the first smart lock to support UWB (ultra-wideband) technology. What that means — it’ll be able to sense your location within inches and know if you’re inside or outside your door, similar to a car keyfob. Oh, and there’s also half a dozen ways to unlock it otherwise, with NFC for tap-to-unlock entry, voice control, a keypad, and yes, a traditional key. With battery life of up to a year, Ultraloq Bolt Mission is easily the smartest way to protect (and enter) your home.
Craft Gen 3 Beer Brewer
IPA aficionados, Craft Gen 3 has got you covered — forget the kegs, because now you can effectively turn your kitchen into a micro-micro brewery with this app-controlled appliance that lets you craft 1.6 gallons of beer in three to 30 days. Thanks to reverse heater/cooler tech, Exobrew’s vessel can craft a wide variety of beer styles (even ciders and kombucha) using fresh, all-grain ingredients. Follow pre-made recipes or “draft” your own, but you don’t need mad brewmaster skills to bring the pub home with you, and that’s where the Craft Gen 3 succeeds where other home brewing kits have failed.
Roam SodaTop
“Sparkling water on the go” seems like a no-brainer ask, but the Roam SodaTop is a godsend for bubbly bevvy lovers everywhere. Like a personal SodaStream you can take with you everywhere, we’re shocked that no one has thought of doing this before. Just fill your bottle with cold water, put on the SodaTop (the magic’s in the cap), and drop in a CO2 canister. Twist on a lid to puncture the seal, carbonate your water, and you’ve got a delicious sparkling drink ready to sip. The SodaTop is ingenious, and accomplishes what many AI-bloated kitchen tech fails to do: offer a solid, simple gadget for everyday enjoyment.
Segway Xafari Electric Bike
Segway is killing it with their sleek new Xafari e-bike that’s bringing some of the most exciting tech we’ve witnessed in e-mobility. The biggest draw here is Segway’s “Intelligent Ride System”, which can adjust the power of the bike in real-time so you can tackle the biggest climbs without having to tweak any setting on the fly (or pedal harder). This e-bike also has full suspension, a 750W motor, 88 mile range, and the ability to unlock it hands-free, simply approaching your bike. Xafari practically begs you to get out on the road, and it’ll be the most intelligent ride you can get.
