Approaches to Regulating Artificial Intelligence: A Primer

Best Of CES 2021: The 25 Best New Products, Gadgets And Tech

The Best of CES 2021 includes gadgets, appliances, upgrades for your health and yes, masks. The Consumer Electronics Show took place online this year instead of spread across Las Vegas, but it remains the place for seeing the most exciting new tech of 2021.

We've roamed the virtual halls, joined Zooms and took deep dives to see what the best new tech of 2021 promises. The most impressive new gadgets include upgrades to TVs, Wi-Fi, refrigerators and other typical CES gadgets. But we also see new technology that can improve our lives this year as we continue to work from home, take more control of our health and continue to adapt to spending more time at home.

Here are the best products of CES 2021.

The Samsung Neo QLED 4K and 8K TV sets deliver better image quality and loads of smart features. The Samsung Neo QLED 4K and 8K TV sets deliver better image quality and loads of smart features. Samsung Samsung Neo QLED 4K & 8K TVs

The Samsung Neo QLED TV features a new mini-LED backlighting technology that uses incredibly small LEDs that allow Samsung to deliver better blacks and brighter HDR highlights without the brights spilling into shadows.

We also get enhanced upscaling, which makes HD content look better on the 4K and 8K models so that you can get the most out of your TV while you wait for more 8K content to arrive. Pair this with enhanced game mode, new health features, voice assistants and optional video chat features, and you have a well-rounded set of 4K and 8K TVs for 2021.

Acer Chromebook Spin 514 The Acer Chromebook Spin 514 is a new AMD powered Chromebook for 2021. The Acer Chromebook Spin 514 is a new AMD powered Chromebook for 2021. Acer

The Acer Chromebook Spin 514 with AMD Ryzen Mobile processors and AMD Radeon graphics. These new processors deliver enhanced performance, quick startup and long battery life.

This 14-inch Chromebook also features a metal chassis and military-grade durability, a convertible form factor so that you can use it as a laptop or as a tablet. The Acer Chromebook Spin 514 with AMD arrives in February, starting at $479.

Honor MagicBook Pro The Honor MagicBook Pro brings a lot to the table for around $1,000. The Honor MagicBook Pro brings a lot to the table for around $1,000. Honor

The Honor MagicBook Pro features a 16.1-inch display, Full HD screen, and it's now available with an Intel 10th generation processor and Nvidia GeForce MX350 GPU. This model also includes 16GB RAM and a 512GB SSD.

Fast charging delivers a 50 percent charge in about 30 minutes, and battery life is rated at 11.5 hours on a full charge. You can expect the MagicBook Pro to start around $1,000 when it arrives in the U.S.

Belkin BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1 Wireless Charger Stand with Magsafe The Belkin BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1 MagSafe Charger is the perfect companion for your desk or nightstand. The Belkin BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1 MagSafe Charger is the perfect companion for your desk or nightstand. Belkin

The Belkin BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1 Wireless Charger Stand with MagSafe delivers 15W MagSafe charging and wireless charging for AirPods Pro or AirPods with Wireless Charging on the base.

This stand uses magnets to keep the iPhone 12 series on the charger. You can place the phone in portrait or landscape mode, so it's great for video calls or simply watching videos. It goes on sale in March or April for $99.95.

IOGEAR UpStream Mobile Video Capture Adapter The IOGEAR UpStream Mobile Capture Adapter is your go-to solution for mobile streaming. The IOGEAR UpStream Mobile Capture Adapter is your go-to solution for mobile streaming. IOGEAR

The IOGEAR UpStream Mobile Capture Adapter is a simple and easily portable live streaming solution that lets you capture up to 4K video from HDMI capable cameras and Android smartphones. You can attach the adapter to a camera, a tripod or other devices with the 1/4-inch mount.

This portable solution is great for DSLR, action cameras, game consoles and many other devices. This is an excellent option for a single camera streaming setup. The UpStream Mobile Capture Adapter is available now for $149.95.

Bose Sport Open Wireless Earbuds The Bose Sport Open Earbuds allow you to enjoy music while you workout and still stay aware of your surroundings. The Bose Sport Open Earbuds allow you to enjoy music while you workout and still stay aware of your surroundings. Bose

The Bose Sport Open Earbuds keep you going with music, calls, podcasts and audiobooks without blocking the world around you. This is essential if you work out or walk-in busy areas while you are on calls or enjoying music.

These headphones let you hear traffic, your surroundings and have conversations while listening. Unlike many solutions, these direct sound to your ear instead of relying on bone conduction. You can preorder now at Bose and Best Buy for $199.95, and they ship in mid-January.

LG Ultrafine OLED Pro Monitor The LG UltraFine OLED Pro monitor brings the OLED tech we love on their TVs to a monitor. The LG UltraFine OLED Pro monitor brings the OLED tech we love on their TVs to a monitor. LG

The LG UltraFine OLED Pro monitor joins the UltraFine monitor lineup with a 4K OLED display. This is a 31.5-inch 4K display that includes more than 8 million pixels. The display hits all the marks that creative professionals need, including 99 percent of DCI-P3 and the Adobe RGB color spectrum.

The monitor includes a USB C port cable of delivering 90W charging, two DisplayPorts, three USB A Ports, an HDMI port and a 3.5mm headphone jack. We're still waiting on pricing and specific release date.

Lutron Caseta Outdoor Smart Plug The Lutron Caséta Outdoor Smart Plug is an essential smart home upgrade. The Lutron Caséta Outdoor Smart Plug is an essential smart home upgrade. Lutron

The Lutron Caséta Outdoor Smart Plug is an outdoor plug that connects to your Lutron Caséta smart lighting setup, allowing you to connect your string lights, landscaping and other outdoor lights.

The IP65 rating means that it is safe for year-round use in dust, dirt and water. It can handle hot and cold environments. You can connect this to Ring to automatically turn on lights when motion is detected, set up schedules in the Lutron app and control with HomeKit, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It arrives in March for $79.95.

Shure Motiv MVC5 Home Office Microphone The Motive MV5C Home Office Microphone is an essential work from home upgrade. The Motive MV5C Home Office Microphone is an essential work from home upgrade. Shure

The Shure Motive MV5C Home Office Microphone is a simple upgrade that dramatically improves your home office audio setup. After hearing a comparison of the MV5C and the microphone on an iMac, the difference is like night and day.

With simple setup and the option to plug in headphones to monitor your audio if you want that feature, it is a nice entry-level home office upgrade that can grow as your needs change. The microphone connects directly to Mac or PC with USB-A or USB-C. The MV5C is available now for $99.

PopSockets MagSafe Grips Now PopSockets work with MagSafe and make wireless charging easier. Now PopSockets work with MagSafe and make wireless charging easier. PopSockets

The PopSockets MagSafe Grips attach to the back of your new iPhone 12 with magnets and deliver the PopSocket that you've grown used to. Now it is easy to charge your iPhone 12 wirelessly by removing the PopSocket Grip and then using MagSafe accessories.

PopSocket announced an array of accessories, but we are most impressed with the PopGrip for MagSafe, PopWallet+ for MagSafe and the PopMount for MagSafe lineup that includes a home and car mount. The PopGrip and PopWallet+ arrive this spring.

TCL XL Collection TVs The TCL XL Collection includes three 85-inch TVs starting at $1,599. The TCL XL Collection includes three 85-inch TVs starting at $1,599. TCL

While TCL is making waves of the 6 Series arriving with an 8K resolution, the new TCL XL Collection stands out by delivering huge screens in our homes with an incredibly tempting starting price.

These new 85-inch 4k TCL XL Collection TVs start with an 85-inch 4 Series at $1,599 and will go up to an 85-inch 4k HDR QLED, and even an 85-inch Mini LED 8K TV. Pricing on the higher-end models is not yet available.

Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige The Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige toothbrush adapts to your brushing style. The Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige toothbrush adapts to your brushing style. Philips

Does your dentist continually tell you that you brush too hard? If so, the new Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige toothbrush is exactly what you need. The toothbrush uses sensors to detect the pressure and motions you use and then adjust the intensity if you are pushing too hard.

The toothbrush connects to an app that can track your brushing habits, give you feedback on better brushing. The Sonicare 9900 Prestige features a premium design and comes with a vegan leather case that charges by USB-C.

Kensington StudioDock The Kensington StudioDock is an iPad Pro docking station with built in chargers. The Kensington StudioDock is an iPad Pro docking station with built in chargers. Kensington

The Kensington StudioDock is an iPad Pro docking station for your desk. It's designed for people who use the iPad Pro as a standalone tool or to use it next to your computer when drawing, using the iPad as an external display or for video calls.

This dock includes three USB-A ports, a USB-C port, HDMI 2.0, a 3.5mm headphone jack, an SD card reader and a Gigabit Ethernet port. We're still waiting on pricing and availability.

Roborock S7 The Roborock S7 takes robot mopping to a new level with the ability to recognize surfaces. The Roborock S7 takes robot mopping to a new level with the ability to recognize surfaces. Roborock

The Roborock S7 is a robot vacuum and mop that can detect the surface to lift the mop and avoid carpets automatically. When mopping, it can scrub at 1,650 times a minute to 3,000 times a minute. This speed and power allow it to break up even dried-on messes.

When the S7 detects carpet, it automatically lifts the mop, allowing it to clean hard floors and carpets in one go without anyone stepping in. The large battery promises up to three hours of cleaning in quiet mode. The Roborock S7 goes on sale in March for $649.

Targus UV-C LED Disinfection Light The Targus UV-C LED Disinfection Light keeps yoru mouse and keyboard clean. The Targus UV-C LED Disinfection Light keeps yoru mouse and keyboard clean. Targus

The Targus UV-C LED Disinfection Light uses a UV-C LED to clean your keyboard and mouse, or anything you leave sitting under it at your desk. The cleaning light runs for five minutes an hour, and if you are using your computer, the motion sensors will delay cleaning until you leave.

We're waiting on pricing and availability, but if you want to keep your work area clean at home or in an office, this looks like an essential accessory for 2021.

TP-Link Deco Voice X20 The TP-Link Deco Voice X20is a mesh Wi-Fi system that is also a smart speaker. The TP-Link Deco Voice X20is a mesh Wi-Fi system that is also a smart speaker. TP-Link

While Wi-Fi 6e is making waves at CES 2021, it will be a little while before we see it in tons of devices. The TP-Link Deco Voice X20 is a mesh Wi-Fi system that supports wi-fi 6 and is a smart speaker with Alexa built-in.

Now you can improve Wi-Fi around your home and add speakers to rooms at the same time. This is compatible with existing Deco mesh networks. You can stream Spotify, Amazon Music and other services on the smart speaker.

AirPop Active+ Face Mask The AirPop Active+ mask tracks breathing data and much more. The AirPop Active+ mask tracks breathing data and much more. AirPop

At CES 2021, we saw several masks and mask concepts, but the one that stood out the most is the AirPop Active+ face mask. This is a smart mask that can collect data about your breathing and connect that to air quality based on your location.

This mask is also designed to capture biometric data during normal use and while working out. The AirPop Halo sensor tracks breathing behavior and cycles as well as pollutants blocked. In Active Mode, it can even track breathers per minute or per pace. It's expensive at $149.99, but it is a tempting option for users looking to track data.

Noopl Noopl is a hearing accessory for the iPhone that works with AirPods Pro. Noopl is a hearing accessory for the iPhone that works with AirPods Pro. Noopl

Noopl is a made for iPhone accessory that plugs into an iPhone and works with AirPods Pro to deliver better hearing in noisy situations. While we might not be spending our evenings in noisy restaurants, this can also help users hear better at the store where masks muffle speech.

With the Noopl device plugged into the iPhone and AirPods Pro in your ears, the user can better hear conversations around them without losing important details to background noise. It is coming this year for $199.

JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam Soundbar The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam is an affordable Dolby Atmos soundbar. The JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam is an affordable Dolby Atmos soundbar. Harman

The JBL Bar 5.0 MulitBeam soundbar is a very affordable entry into Dolby Atmos with a $399.95 price tag, and it includes smart features like AirPlay 2 and Chromecast support for streaming.

This is a virtual Dolby Atmos setup, and it uses MultiBeam, which is JBL's beam-forming tech, to deliver a more immersive experience without surround speakers. The price point and features help it stand out in a sea of soundbars.

Dell UltraSharp 40-Inch Curved Monitor The Dell UltraSharp 40 Curved WUHD monitor is ideal for creative professionals or users working deep in data all day. The Dell UltraSharp 40 Curved WUHD monitor is ideal for creative professionals or users working deep in data all day. Dell

The newest Dell monitor is the Dell UltraSharp 40 Curved WUHD monitor, and it packs in a breathtaking array of features. The 40-inch curved display features a 5,120 x 2,160 resolution and delivers the color accuracy that creative professionals need.

It also includes a 90W charging port over Thunderbolt 3, a wide array of ports, and it includes eye comfort technology to help keep your eyes fresh after staring at the monitor all day. This monitor goes on sale January 28 and starts at $2,099.99.

Rise Personal Garden The Rise Personal Garden simplifies growing your own vegetables at home. The Rise Personal Garden simplifies growing your own vegetables at home. Rise

The Rise Personal Garden is a small, smart hydroponic garden that you can keep on your countertop and use to grow fresh food at home without outdoor space. This smaller version of the Rise gardens can grow four large plants, eight medium-sized plants or a dozen small plants.

The system can accommodate a wide range of vegetables and even supports microgreens. You can use voice control with Alexa to activate lights and pumps as well as get care and harvest advice. The Rise Personal Garden is $279.

2021 Razer Blade Gaming Laptops The new 2021 Razer Blade Gaming laptops offer a wide array of display options and various power configurations. The new 2021 Razer Blade Gaming laptops offer a wide array of display options and various power configurations. Razer

The Razer Blade 15 and Razer Blade Pro 17 gaming laptops arrive with a fresh 2021 update delivering upgraded graphics options and new pricing that starts at $1,699.

These gaming laptops are available with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 Series Laptop GPUs, delivering better ray-tracing in games. Both sizes are available with three different display options at various refresh rates starting at 360Hz in full HD, and there is an Ultra HD OLED screen option on the Razer Blade 15.

Catalyst Total Protection Case for iPhone 12 Series The Catalyst Total Protection Case for iPhone 12 delivers complete protection and still works with MagSafe. The Catalyst Total Protection Case for iPhone 12 delivers complete protection and still works with MagSafe. Catalyst

The Catalyst Total Protection Case for iPhone 12 Series offers 33-foot waterproof protection and 6.6-foot drop protection. It includes a built-in screen protector, rotating mute switch and is designed to deliver good sound even when sealed.

This design works with MagSafe charging and Qi wireless charging, plus there is an oversized Lightning port for when you want to charge with a cable. The Total Protection Case is available for all the new iPhone 12 models. It is up for preorder for $89.99.

LG InstaView Door-in-Door Refrigerator With Craft Ice and UVnano LG's latest refrigerator expands the Instaview feature and adds Craft Ice. LG's latest refrigerator expands the Instaview feature and adds Craft Ice. LG

The new LG side-by-side refrigerator features the Instaview Door-in-Door technology to show you what is inside your fridge with two knocks. This keeps the fridge cool while you browse for a snack. This model features a larger viewing window than the previous model.

One of the most impressive features is the Craft Icemaker, which churns out slow-melting ice spheres that are perfect for upping your home cocktail game. The water dispenser on this model can also automatically clean itself.

Honor Band 6 The Honor Band 6 is an affordable fitness band with tons of must-have features. The Honor Band 6 is an affordable fitness band with tons of must-have features. Honor

The Honor Band 6 is a super affordable fitness tracker with a 1.47-inch screen. It includes a heart rate monitor, blood oxygen sensor and can track an array of workouts.

It is water-resistant and includes up to 14 days of battery life. The Band 6 can show notifications for texts, apps and calls. It is available in three colors and will retail for approximately $35.

What To Expect From The Best Smartphones In 2021

The new year is a time to look forwards into the future as well as backwards into the past, and thanks to a series of leaks, rumors and early announcements, we already know (or think we know) what's coming down the line for smartphones in 2021.

Here we're going to take a look at some of the biggest and best phones we're expecting to see over the next 12 months, and the sort of technology they should be carrying along with them. Your next phone upgrade might be listed somewhere here.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Look for three S21 models to match the three S20 models shown above

Samsung

According to those in the know, the Samsung Galaxy S21 will be the first flagship phone out of the gate in 2021 – nothing is official yet, but the most reputable tipsters say January 14 is when the handset will be unveiled. That's earlier in the year than normal for the Galaxy S series, so Samsung would seem to be keen to get a head start.

It looks as though three phones are on the way: the 6.2-inch S21, the 6.7-inch S21 Plus and the 6.8-inch S21 Ultra. The Ultra is rumored to be the real star of the show, with substantial camera upgrades (perhaps a 10x optical zoom) and support for the S Pen stylus on the cards. That may or may not mean the demise of the Note series of phones in 2021, with some speculating that Samsung will turn all of its attention to the S series and its foldable phones over the coming year.

All three S21 models are apparently coming with the latest Snapdragon 888 chipsets on board (at least in the US), and screens with 120-Hz refresh rates for super-smooth scrolling (watch out for this to become commonplace in 2021). There's also a slight redesign, with the rear camera array wrapping around the top corner of the phone.

Apple iPhone 13 The iPhone 13 may well look a lot like the iPhone 12 shown above – though the notch might be smaller

Apple

Apple tends to innovate more slowly than some of its competitors – a foldable iPhone isn't predicted until 2022 – so expect the usual upgrades in terms of processor speed and camera quality in the next batch of iPhones. Indeed, the iOS 15 announcement around June time might be more exciting than the mobile hardware Apple is preparing.

According to the rumor mill, we'll see 120-Hz refresh rate displays (apparently originally planned for the iPhone 12, but pulled due to battery life concerns) and LiDAR depth sensing on all the iPhone 13 models (it's only on the Pro phones right now). While the distinctive screen notch won't disappear in 2021, it might get smaller.

September is the month to watch out for new iPhones: Apple is said to be back to its normal launch schedule after the disruption of 2020, when the iPhone 12 was delayed. Once again, it looks as though four models are on the way, matching the same names and sizes as we saw with the iPhone 12.

Google Pixel 6 (and Pixel 5a) Google could follow the mid-range Pixel 5 (above) with a mid-range Pixel 6

Google

Google put most of its time and energy into the mid-range smartphone market in 2020, which makes us think that the Pixel 5a will be an important phone for the company: it could well launch earlier in the year than the Pixel 4a, which appeared in August after pandemic-related supply chain problems.

The Pixel 5 was the most premium smartphone Google put out last year, but it was upper-mid-range at best, with Google aiming to offer value for money rather than top-end specs. We haven't heard too much about the Pixel 6 in terms of leaks and rumors, but the Pixel line is well overdue a camera optics upgrade, even if Google's image processing software continues to be among the best in the business. As usual, there will be performance boosts too.

One recent patent suggests a selfie camera embedded in the display – no notch required – is coming to the Pixel 6, but considering Google's recent mid-range focus, that might be a better bet for the Pixel 7. In-screen camera technology remains a little rough around the edges, so it's not clear if it'll be widely adopted in 2021.

OnePlus 9 This is the OnePlus 8T, which should get a successor around March time

OnePlus

It's been a year of expansion for OnePlus, with mid-range and budget models appearing under the OnePlus Nord umbrella. That's likely to continue into 2021, but the next flagship phones from the company will be the OnePlus 9 and the OnePlus 9 Pro, which are rumored to be arriving as early as March.

While the OnePlus 9 is unlikely to completely rewrite the rules of the smartphone industry, we are anticipating boosts in battery capacity and both wired and wireless charging speeds. In a market where there's little major innovation to be found, look for a lot of smartphones in 2021 to charge faster than ever – and if phones only need a few minutes charge to replenish their batteries, battery life isn't such a problem any more of course.

Based on the leaks that have surfaced so far, the OnePlus 9 will also be running the Snapdragon 888, like the Galaxy S21 and several other flagships – and that is reportedly going to be accompanied by 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. Design-wise, it doesn't look as though much is going to be changing in terms of OnePlus flagship phones.

The best of the rest Xiaomi has already announced its first phone of 2021, the Mi 11

Xiaomi

The phones we've mentioned above are just a small sample of the handsets that will be released in 2021, but they do represent most of the big-name flagship phones that are going to appear. The likes of Nokia and Motorola will continue to produce value for money handsets, Sony will continue to plot its own course, and Chinese manufacturers like Xiaomi will have a lot of new tech to show off as well (though not necessarily available to buy in your region).

Don't expect to see anything too dramatic in terms of smartphone evolution in 2021. Foldable phones should get more reliable in 2021, with the likes of Samsung and Motorola likely to launch updated handsets, but technology like port-less smartphones and in-screen cameras may have to wait until 2022 or later to go mainstream. If you want a phone that's truly different, it's always worth keeping an eye on LG.

The smartphones of the next year will of course be faster in terms of performance, and look for big jumps in terms of screen quality (both pixel density and refresh rates) and charging speeds as well. A lot of the advances may well come from the software side, as image processing and other artificial intelligence operations look set for another boost.

The Weirdest New Tech At CES 2021

CES delivers some real winners each year, but it also has a rich history as a breeding ground for weird technologies. 

In years past, the show has yielded peculiarities such as cell phone radiation-blocking underwear, a waistline-monitoring smart belt, and a vending machine for fresh loaves of bread. It's hard to forget Charmin's 2020 RollBot, a robot that can bring you a spare roll of toilet paper when you run out (strangely foreshadowing the great TP shortage that came just months later). 

Despite being all-digital this year due to the coronavirus, CES 2021 offered no shortage of oddities. On the list of strange new innovations is a poop-analyzing toilet that offers dietary advice, smart perfume you can customize from an app, and a headless robotic pet meant to soothe your angst. And it only gets weirder from there.

Toto Wellness Toilet

Experiencing digestive distress? In the future, your toilet might be able to help. The Toto Wellness Toilet examines your stool to determine whether you're healthy. Its companion app then offers recommended dietary changes to improve your digestion. It's just a concept at this point, but it could hit the consumer market in the next few years. 

Qoobo

If you're having trouble coping with loneliness amidst COVID-19, getting a pet can help. But if you're not in a position to care for a living animal, the Qoobo furry therapeutic robot might be the next best thing. Designed to bring you the same type of joy as an actual animal, the Qoobo doesn't have a head, but it has a tail that wags in response to your affection.

Ninu Smart Perfume

These days, practically everything is smart—and now your perfume or cologne is getting a high-tech upgrade, too. Dubbed the world's "first smart perfume," the Ninu works with an artificial intelligence-powered app to let you create a personalized fragrance blend with a few clicks. If you get tired of the scent, or want to change it up for a special occasion, you can easily do so in the app. Like a lot of products announced at CES, the Ninu is currently in the prototype phase. The company expects to start taking pre-orders in March and kick off mass production in the second half of the year.

XPG Mana Gaming Gum

Known for its SSDs and PC cases, XPG is branching out to a new market: Chewing gum. Meant to be chewed during long gaming sessions, the XPG Mana gym packs lutein, a vitamin that's good for your eyes, and, of course, caffeine to keep you awake.

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GM Cadillac Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) Vehicle

There's no shortage of vehicle technology at CES, but GM's futuristic electric flying taxi concept was the weirdest car we saw at this year's show. The Cadillac Vertical Take-Off and Landing is basically a giant self-driving drone with four helicopter-like propellers. It promises to transport a single passenger at a speed up to 55 miles per hour, and GM is also working on a version with two seats. The company hopes to one day use the vehicle as part of a zero-emission air taxi service.

Pet Portal

Pet doors aren't weird, but a smart one that costs $3,000 is certainly out of the ordinary. If you're a dog owner with money to burn and an eye for aesthetics, you might be interested in the Pet Portal from MyQ. It works with a custom collar sensor to open like an elevator, either automatically or by request, when your dog wants to go out or come back in. It also lets you monitor your pup's comings and goings from your phone in real time or on demand. It's available for pre-order now (with a $100 deposit) and slated to start shipping in limited quantities this spring.

Recommended by Our Editors Razer 'Project Hazel' N95 Mask

Wearing a face mask has become the new norm, but many CES 2021 vendors showed off high-tech COVID-19-fighting face coverings with capabilities that extend beyond filtering germs. Binatone's MaskFone can eliminate some of the muffle when you're talking on the phone, and the AirPop Active+ can monitor your breathing and keep track of when you need to change the filter. But Razer's prototype 'Project Hazel' is the weirdest (and flashiest) mask we saw at the show. It features customizable lighting zones on each ventilator that can shine 16.8 million colors, bringing the aesthetics of a gaming rig to your face. There's no word on pricing or when it may hit the market.

Samsung Bot Handy

We can all use an extra hand around the house, and a new prototype robot from Samsung aims to do just that. With the ability to "pick up objects of varying sizes, shapes and weights," the one-armed Bot Handy can help with household chores, like sorting the dishes and tidying up messy rooms. Employing advanced artificial intelligence technology, it's even smart enough to differentiate the material of various objects, so it knows how much force to use when picking something up. 

ColdSnap

Keurig revolutionized the way we make coffee, and now, a device called ColdSnap aims to do the same for ice cream. Place one of the shelf-stable ColdSnap pods in the rapid freezing machine, and you'll have a single servicing of ice cream in 120 seconds or less. It's also capable of making frozen yogurt, coffee, smoothies, and cocktails. Best of all, there's no mess to clean up. 

Ampere Shower Power

Shower singalongs could soon get a major upgrade thanks to a new waterproof Bluetooth, the Ampere Shower Power. It fits any showerhead, and should never run out of battery because it's charged by the flow of water. It's currently available on Indiegogo for $79.

About Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

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