Tech Advisor Best of CES 2023 Awards

CES remains the biggest trade show on the tech calendar as every January, industry representatives converge on Las Vegas to showcase the latest and greatest in smart home, automotive and PC technology – and more.

It’s rarely the busiest week for smartphone launches, but for just about everything else wired (or not, as wireless technology continues to improve) it doesn’t get any better.

Tech Advisor wasn’t able to come to Vegas in person this year, but we’re still covering everything at the show and there are some clear differences. So, without further ado, meet the winners of the Best in Show Award at CES 2023.

Asus ProArt Studiobook 16 3D OLED

Thought 3D technology was a thing of the past? Think again. Asus has new laptops with built-in technology, although you don’t have to wear glasses this time around.

The ProArt Studiobook 16 3D OLED allows you to switch between 2D and 3D modes at the touch of a button, with the latter really impressive in our testing. Along with a 120Hz OLED screen and top performance specs, it looks like a laptop from the future.

Also worth mentioning is the Vivobook Pro 16X 3D OLED, which is functionally identical except for the tactile trackpad and physical dial, and a slightly lower price.

HTC ViveXR Elite

HTC

The HTC Vive XR Elite is targeting the Meta Quest Pro by offering a standalone VR and AR headset with hardware like a dedicated depth sensor that can provide more precise positioning than the Meta option.

It also boasts a modular design that allows you to switch from a standard VR headset to a pair of sunglasses like the Vive Flow, and the battery is hot-swappable, also allowing you to go longer than two hours. HTC plans to release additional tracking modules later this year so you can save some money and only get the updates that matter most to you.

We’re only concerned about content: The HTC Viverse is lagging behind the massive library of apps and games in the Meta Store, even as it promises to release 100 new apps and games to coincide with its launch in a couple of months.

Sony PlayStation Project Leonardo

Sony

Better late than never: Sony has finally unveiled its answer to the Xbox Adaptive Controller, a gamepad designed to improve accessibility: Project Leonardo.

As the name suggests, this is a work in progress and the final features (not to mention the release date and price) are still up in the air. But what we’ve seen so far is promising: a controller that can lie flat on a variety of surfaces, has customizable and remappable buttons, and allows you to connect external inputs.

The best thing, as accessibility advocate Stephen Spon pointed outit fully Microsoft’s different approach doesn’t mean it’s better, but it’s now opening up new ways for people to play, which can only be a good thing.

LG gram style

LG

In a world where so many clamshell laptops look the same, the new LG Gram Style dares to be different.

Available in 14″ and 16″ models, iridescent glass on the back and keyboard gives it an eye-catching look that changes color as you move it around. The haptic trackpad is also completely hidden and only lights up when you touch it.

Paired with detailed 90Hz or 120Hz OLED displays and new Intel processors (also announced at CES), Gram Style makes no compromises.

Ring camera

Ring

Announced over two years ago, the Ring Car Cam is finally a real product and is now available for pre-order in the US.

Even though it may look like this, it is not a DVR. Instead, like other ring cameras, this gadget is a security camera for your car. It sits on your dashboard and has both front and rear cameras that provide an almost 360-degree view around your vehicle.

Recordings are stored locally, but what sets the Car Cam apart from most traditional dash cams is the optional LTE connection, which means you can get real-time alerts on your phone and watch videos remotely, just like a smart home security camera. Therefore, if someone gets into your car in reverse or tries to break into it, you will immediately know about it.

Nanoleaf Sense+ Controls and Nala Learning Bridge

Nanoleaf

Nanoleaf is best known for its decorative wall lights, but as the past few months have shown, the brand has so much more to offer. Back in November, it was one of the first companies to introduce a Matter-certified smart light.

Now he’s launched another groundbreaking one: a truly intelligent intelligent lighting system (which is also Matter-friendly). New products include Nanoleaf 4D, a TV screen mirroring device; wired and wireless smart light switches; and a modular ceiling light. But what sets it apart from other systems is Nanoleaf’s automated learning assistant, Nala.

Get the Nala Learning Bridge that doubles as a night light, and not only will you be able to control all your Nanoleaf lights together – yes, including your decorative wall panels, which will get a software update – but Nala will also learn your habits and predict lighting. You’ll like it. Nanoleaf calls it “the world’s first hands-free smart lighting.”

Lenovo Yoga Book 9i

Lenovo

While foldable phones are gaining popularity, there is some cynicism about the usefulness of dual-screen devices. However, we are fans who enjoyed using the Microsoft Surface Duo 2 and the LG V60.

If you agree, then you’ll love this slightly crazy dual-screen laptop/tablet from Lenovo, the Yoga Book 9i. This is a premium computer that looks like a laptop but has two 13.3-inch 2K screens instead of a keyboard – the keyboard comes with it in a folio case and you can position the device in several positions.

It might be overkill, but it can also be a good way to display more text and data, or run two full Windows apps at the same time.

Motorola ThinkPhone

Motorola

If you have any nostalgic feelings about Lenovo ThinkBook laptops with their austere looks accentuated by a little red bump that’s harder to use as a mouse than you remember, then this phone might be for you.

Lenovo-owned Motorola has released the first ever ThinkPhone – and it’s basically the Motorola Edge 30 Fusion, with a carbon-fiber Think-ish finish, a larger battery, and plenty of useful business software. Luckily, we liked the Edge 30 Fusion.

It’s aimed at businesses that Moto hopes will buy their parks, but anyone can buy it if you look at the looks. The price has not been confirmed.

Nvidia GeForce Now Ultimate

Nvidia

Nvidia may have captured the hearts of gamers with the unveiling (or should it be a re-discovery?) of the RTX 4070 Ti, but what caught our attention was the announcement of Nvidia’s GeForce Now Ultimate, a new level coming to the Nvidia cloud. video game streaming service in the next few months.

With the performance and power of the RTX 4080, a new streaming mode that supports 240fps gaming with lower latency than consoles, and a free upgrade for existing RTX 3080-level subscribers, this is an exciting step into the cloud gaming space.

Signature LG OLED M3

LG

The future of television lies with wireless networks. The 97-inch LG Signature OLED M3 still requires a power cable, but all of its media inputs can be connected to a “Zero Connect” box that can be placed up to 50 feet away and stream content to your TV without a single cable, even up to 4K at 120 Hz.

It’s perfect for wall mounting and solves your cable management issues, or at least moves them elsewhere.

We also saw more wireless TV from Displace, which doesn’t even need a power cord as it uses batteries that can last for weeks on a full charge. It even sticks magnetically to walls and windows, saving installation time, but it feels like it’s made for business—most of us don’t want to take the TV off once a month to charge it.