SlashGear’s Best of CES 2020: The 13 products you should know

CES 2020 has come and gone, and as always the technology and automotive worlds have presented their best-and-brightest. Whether it’s compelling concepts, gadgets that democratize the best of cutting-edge tech, or just meaningful improvements on devices many already find essential, the competition at this year’s show was high. Read on for SlashGear’s Best of CES 2020. Best IoT/Smart Home Device: August Wi-Fi Smart Lock CES wasn’t short on smart lock options – nor Internet of Things devices in general – but August’s Wi-Fi Smart Lock caught our attention for its combination of established functionality and a clear improvement over previous models. 45-percent smaller than the old version, the new Wi-Fi Smart Lock’s biggest improvement is that it no longer needs a separate bridge to get it online. That convenience, along with easy installation and a solid app, makes it our pick of the smart locks at CES 2020. Best Ultraportable Notebook: NEC Lavie Pro Mobile Our wish-list for an ultraportable notebook is fairly short, but actually delivering an aesthetically-pleasing, slim and light, long-lasting laptop that doesn’t stint on performance is still tough to deliver. The NEC Lavie Pro Mobile ultrabook checks off all of those, with an ample 13.3-inch screen, 1.8 pound weight, and 0.62-inch thickness from its magnesium-lithium body. It’s enough to make it our pick of the ultraportables to slip in our bag after CES 2020. Best Laptop: Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Google demonstrated that Chromebooks don’t need to be cheap to be cheerful, and Samsung’s Galaxy Chromebook picks up that torch and runs with it. From its striking red finish to its excellent combination of specifications and portability, it’s a solid reminder that Chrome OS is more than capable of taking on Windows and Mac. Best Tablet: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold If 2019 was all about foldable phones arriving, then 2020 is the dawn of foldable PCs. Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Fold sets a good blueprint for what that should look like: a tablet when opened up, and a roughly book-sized clamshell when closed. It’ll be expensive, but ThinkPad-toughness and eye-catching design means life on the bleeding-edge should be rewarding. Best Gaming: Alienware Concept UFO Alienware isn’t committing to making the Concept UFO a production reality, but the success of the Nintendo Switch suggests Dell’s gaming division could do much worse than build a highly portable and flexible gaming PC. Like the Switch, you get removable control pads and the ability to connect a larger display when you’re back in your living room. Unlike Nintendo’s console, though, you should get the full array of PC titles to choose from. Best Content Creation Tool: Insta360 ONE R 360-degree cameras can be great, but when not every situation demands a spherical view, Insta360’s ONE R should fit the bill. Its modular design allows for switching between 360-degree, 4K wide-angle, and a Leica 1-inch sensor, all on top of the same battery base. It’s that flexibility that makes it our pick of the content-creation tools at CES 2020. Best Medical Device: Phonak
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