On this week’s show we rundown the “Best of CES” as reported by the tech sites. We also read your emails and take a look at the week’s news.

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Best of CES

On this week’s show we rundown the “Best of CES” as reported by the tech sites.

Engadget

LG OLED evo M5 - the company managed to further improve its most premium displays, adding the latest α (Alpha) 11 AI processor Gen2 to improve the look of lower-resolution content and power advanced features.

Technics EAH-AZ100 earbuds ($300) - Technics’ new Magnetic Fluid drivers have garnered a lot of headlines this week, but all you really need to know about the EAH-AZ100 earbuds is that the sound quality is massively improved. Powered by those new components, there’s more clarity, detail and bass, all of which are upgrades from the already impressive AZ80

CNET

LG G5 OLED TV - After seeing the picture quality, TV expert David Katzmaier singled this out as one of his favorite TVs of the show; he traditionally finds LG's OLED quality best-in-class (as do I for its monitors), and this year's is brighter with better contrast in ambient light.

Xgimi Ascend - It's not the LG OLED rollable screen of your dreams, but the Ascend may be more within your grasp. It's a retractable, ambient light-rejecting screen with built-in speakers and an ultra short-throw projector that looks like a piece of furniture when the screen withdraws. TV tech guru Geoffrey Morrison has been an ultrashort throw skeptic, but thinks this pair may solve some of the issues he's had with them. There's no pricing yet for the screen (the projector is $2,700), but it's bound to be less than models like the LG.

The Verge Awards at CES (Full List)

Best TV Panasonic Z95B OLED - At CES 2025, it’s the Panasonic Z95B OLED that I keep circling back to as my favorite. After a long hiatus from the US TV market, Panasonic is coming back for its crown. Like the G5, it features a new four-layer tandem OLED display that boosts brightness to new highs — this time without the micro-lens array technology that LG Display spent the last two years hyping. It also includes an impressive Dolby Atmos speaker array (tuned by Technics) that will rule out any need for a soundbar for many buyers. That audio hardware results in this being a thick TV by today’s standards: Panasonic obviously favored nailing the picture and sound aspects over a thin design. And you know what? I’m here for it.

Most no one asked for this, AI in TVs - AI is worming its way into everything, and at CES this year, it crawled into TVs and remotes. Naturally, that includes new sets from LG and Samsung, which are deploying AI to futz with your picture and sound settings and let you talk to a chatbot or analyze what’s on your screen. Over at Hisense’s “AI Your Life” booth, the company touted its AI Engine X that “optimizes every frame” with adjustments to color, brightness, and audio.

Best smart home device Switchbot K20 Plus Pro - Switchbot’s K20 Plus Pro is a robot vacuum that can have different devices strapped to its head using the company’s modular “FusionPlatform.” As well as being able to deliver items around your home, it can have various SwitchBot products attached to it to perform tasks autonomously: purify your air, be a mobile home security camera, and carry your tablet around for you. They’ve even made an attachment to put a mini fridge on top. (So, yes, it can bring you a beer.)

What intrigues me the most here is that its FusionPlatform is completely open; you can plug any device into its various power ports and customize this robot to do what you need. That’s smart.

Gizmodo’s Best of CES 2025 Awards (Full List)

Aurzen Zip Projector - The Aurzen Zip is the tiniest 720p projector I’ve ever seen. When folded, the $200 Zip is about the size of half an iPhone, making it the perfect on-the-go projector. The trifold projector can wirelessly mirror whatever is on your phone without a wifi connection. Two of the best features: it’s MagSafe-compatible and has a 90-minute battery life.

TCL QM6K TV - When it comes to TVs, bigger is always better—and it always comes with a higher price. But that’s not the case with the TCL QM6K TV, with the 55-inch model costing $749 and the 98-inch version topping out at $3,499. Before you write the QM6K off as a no-frills budget brand, check out some of the specs. As a QD mini-LED device, the QM6K can give some of the pricier heavy hitters a run for their money in the color and brightness categories. In fact, the QM6K is 53% brighter than previous models and 10% more light efficient. Plus, it has a host of powerful tech onboard to make its case, including HDR10, HDR+, and Dolby Vision. You get integrated Onkyo speakers, which should produce solid audio. However, the screen’s the star here, serving up captivating colors with deep blacks and sharp details. It’s an absolute beauty of a TV that brings all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a premium television at a fraction of the price.

Technics EAH-AZ100 Earbuds - It takes a lot to stand out in the crowded field of wireless earbuds, but Panasonic’s new flagship Technics EAH-AZ100 manage to do just that. Panasonic claims its $300 earbuds, available now, can offer reference class HiFi audio without needing large wired cans, thanks to “magnetic fluid drivers.” The buds’ sound quality was impressive, especially with the world snuffed-out with ANC mode turned on. The sound resolution and bass were especially surprising, even while surrounded by noisy throngs of CES goers.The brushed steel case design makes the buds feel as premium as their $300 price tag.

XGIMI Ascend - The Xgimi Ascend is a gorgeous 2-in-1 prototype ALR (Ambient Light Rejection) projector screen with a powerful soundbar. The Ascend houses a 100-inch motorized floor-rising screen for an immersive home theater experience. We’ve seen rollup displays before, but none of them match the style of the Ascend. The screen is adjustable, allowing it to be partially lowered for ambient modes, like a cozy fireplace display or a music visualization. Though still a prototype, the Ascend has the potential to attract anyone who wants a pop-up movie theater without spending tens of thousands of dollars.

AVS Forum Best of CES 2025 (Full List)

Valerion VisonMaster Max Lifestyle Projector - This was easily one of the most anticipated booth visits for both us and our readers. When we tested the Valerion Pro2, we were impressed by its performance, but it lacked some key features you’d want for a fully dedicated home theater system. Enter the Valerion Max, the flagship model that was teased during the brand’s Kickstarter campaign. It promised to deliver everything the Pro2 was missing, including a dynamic iris, and we finally got to see it in action.

LG G5 OLED - It’s easily one of the most impressive TVs we’ve seen at the show. Available in sizes ranging from 48 inches all the way up to 97 inches, the G5 is packed with features. All sizes (except the 48- and 97-inch models) include LG’s Brightness Booster Ultimate. LG also gave the remote a much-needed makeover. it’s now slimmer with fewer buttons, which is a welcome change.

TCL QM6K Mini LED TV - TCL is taking a different approach this year with a phased rollout of their TV lineup, starting...

Podcast #1184: Best of CES