The Best New Tech at the 2022 Consumer Electronic Show

While this year’s Consumer Electronics Show was smaller than those pre-COVID, there was no shortage of cool products on display—both live and via cyberspace. The annual event, which ended yesterday in Las Vegas, featured a slew of innovations that the Wall Street Journal called “pragmatic, flat-out bonkers or both at once.”

As expected, the major tech companies zeroed in on the fact that we’ve spent the last two years hanging out at home. Anything to make life easier, healthier, or more comfy took front and center stage—think air purifiers that pump out relaxing scents and smart beds designed to gently nudge you when it’s time to wake up.

Here, some of the best in show:

QLED and OLED Televisions

Noteworthy new TVs come in myriad shapes and sizes. For big-screen aficionados, TCL introduced a 98-inch QLED screen priced at just under $8,000—not cheap, but definitely more affordable than its similarly sized counterparts. (In case you’re wondering, QLED stands for Quantum Light-Emitting Diode—in non-geek-speak, that means it’s just like a regular LED TV, except it uses tiny nanoparticles called quantum dots to super-charge its brightness and color.)

On the other end of the spectrum, LG launched the smallest OLED (organic light-emitting diodes) television, delivering amazing color saturation, perfect blacks, and wide viewing angles. Bridging the gap between TV and gaming monitor, the 42-inch screen is an ideal fit for offices, small bedrooms, and other tight spaces.

TCL Wearable Display Glasses

Unlike virtual-reality glasses, these stylish specs create a movie-like experience right in front of your eyes. TCL is also developing other models, including one with nearly clear lenses that look like regular glasses.

Razer Gaming Chair

Razer’s next-generation chair promises to make gaming and streaming PC content a “full-body experience.” It performs a mind-boggling 65,000 variations of vibrations and motions that complement what’s appearing on your computer screen.

Racing game enthusiasts will be able to “feel every corner of the track,” touts the Razer website. The chair is also compatible with movies and music titles.

Asus Zenbook 17 Fold

You’ve got to love this Asus computer for its versatility—the 17.3-inch display can be used a touchscreen laptop, tablet, PC monitor, or giant e-reader. Fold in half and it becomes a convenient 12.5-inch clamshell notebook. An added plus: the detachable Bluetooth keyboard and touchpad detach means it also functions like a traditional notebook.

Wisear Mind-Controlled Earbuds

Forget controlling earbuds with your hands or a voice assistant. Wisear has created a “neural interface” that allows you do things like play music or answer a call with your mind. Tiny electrodes in the buds record your brain and facial activity, then AI transforms the signals into controls.

“We aim to make breakthroughs in this field, making neurotechnology more accessible than ever before,” according to the French start-up.

Noveto N1 Invisible Headphones

While it looks like a soundbar, this Noveto device pairs with your computer or smartphone via Bluetooth to beam audio to your ears sans bulky headsets. Along with its WFH benefits, the N1 also seamlessly supports at-home wellness, creating a personalized, cocoon-like experience.