If there is any tech show that sets a benchmark for bringing new, innovative devices into the public eye, it has to be CES, and the 2023 edition of the annual tech expo is now underway, with plenty of gadgets seeing first light.

Obviously, it wouldn't be a tech show without publications awarding their favorite devices, and MUO has got boots on the ground checking everything out (or as much as possible, anyway, have you seen the size of CES?!!).

So, without further ado, here are MakeUseOf's Best Tech of CES 2023 awards, straight from the floor.

Best Bluetooth Speaker at CES 2023: Bluesound Pulse M

bluesound pulse m bluetooth speaker

Bluesound has impressed us before with its Powernode streaming amp and Pulse Flex speakers. Now it is back with the latest speaker to add to your Bluesound ecosystem; the impressive Pulse M.

What is so good about this speaker? Well, the Pulse M has an upward firing woofer and angled tweeters, which Bluesound has precision engineered to offer a true 3D soundstage. Plus, the Bluesound stamp of quality backs this device, so you know you're getting an audiophile experience here. Obviously, the device runs on BluOS, so it will tie in nicely with any other BluOS devices in your home, all controllable via the dedicated app.

Best Wireless Headphones at CES 2023: Urbanista Phoenix

urbanista phoenix earbuds

Urbanista announced their Phoenix headphones in September '22, and now they're releasing them in line with CES 23. These aren't just any old earbuds, either. They have quite the innovative charging method, which is sure to be a game changer across the wireless headphone landscape.

Why? The case features a small solar panel, meaning (somewhat obviously) that you can charge the case and the headphones using the power of the sun. So, if you're ever out of juice and don't have access to a power source, just pop your case in direct sunlight and enjoy free charging, the way nature intended.

Best TV at CES 2023: LG G3 OLED TV

LG OLED TV G3

LG continues its run of glorious displays with the latest in its G-series; the G3. This is an OLED TV; technology still very much spearheading the TV movement, and the new range comes loaded with the latest α9 AI Processor Gen6, which promises greater brightness, alongside incredible image quality and audio reproduction.

The TV comes in a range of sizes, following on from the G2 predecessor, so there's plenty of opportunity to grab plenty of immersive real estate for you to view your favorite shows and movies, or play video games.

Best Smart Home Device at CES 2023: Nanoleaf Skylight

nanoleaf skylight

Nanoleaf continues to innovate the smart light space and our award winner for the best smart home device is proof of that. The Nanoleaf Skylight is the latest in the brand's line of smart lighting solutions and seeks to replace tired old batten lights with something infinitely more spectacular. Plus, it is fully conversant with Matter, so if you run devices using this protocol, you're onto a winner.

The Skylight fixes to the ceiling in your home, much like the aforementioned tube lights, and—powered by Nanoleaf's proprietary app—is ready to bask your ceiling and walls in any colour you like from the RGB spectrum. Goodbye boring, uneconomical tube bulbs, and hello world of infinite color possibilities.

Best Laptop at CES 2023: HP Dragonfly Pro

hp dragonfly pro chromebook

Our favorite laptop at CES 2023 has to be HP's latest Chromebook; the Dragonfly Pro. This is the consumer iteration of the Dragonfly, so expect good things when it lands in stores later this year. Plus, if you're not a fan of the Chromebook ecosystem, then a Windows version is also set for release alongside.

The device comes in a black or white chassis with a rather snazzy RGB backlight keyboard (the white model lacks the RGB element). The screen is impressive, too. Not only does it come in 2560 x 1600 resolution, but peak brightness stands at 1200 nits, which is an unheard-of statistic in laptop display terms, nevermind Chromebooks. A worthy winner of best laptop at CES 2023.

Best Home Audio Device at CES 2023: NAD CE-3050 LE

nad c-3050 le

NAD wows us at CES 2023 with the latest in its line of audiophile amplifiers; the CE-3050 LE. Not only are you assured of premium audio quality, NAD has also included its MDC2 technology, which serves to render premature obsolescence... obsolete. No more upgrading entire units, just swap input/output modules at the rear of the device.

To explain further, NAD uses modular technology in its amplifiers, which allows you to switch out inputs/outputs at the back of the amp, meaning you can remove components that are no longer required, and add new inputs/outputs as the technology develops, future proofing your device in the process. Truly a deserved award winner.

(Note, the LE is a limited edition device, with only 1971 units available. NAD will release a standard edition in March/April 2023).

Best Gaming Monitor at CES 2023: Acer Predator X45

acer predator x45 gaming monitor

Curved screen? Check. OLED display? Check. 1440p resolution? Check. If you're on the lookout for a new gaming monitor, then you can't go wrong with the Acer Predator X45, which boasts some of the best specs out there for serious gaming prowess.

Aside from the above criteria, you're also looking at a splendid 240 Hz refresh rate, so your games are flicker free, and a 0.01 ms response time, meaning you'll be avoiding those headshots before snipers have even pressed the trigger. And talk about curves; this 45 inch behemoth has an 800 radian swoosh to its form, making it one of the most immersive displays out there.

Best Gaming Device at CES 2023: Sony PSVR2

psvr2 sony

Sony PlayStation has (finally) officially unveiled its impressive PSVR2 virtual reality headset, and make no mistake, this is not a device you PS5 owners want to miss out on. Building on the original PSVR, the new iteration offers all manner of upgrades to bring its VR offering bang into the current generation of gaming.

With redesigned hand controls featuring adaptive triggers and haptic feedback (like the stunning DualSense controller), and a headset boasting a 110-degree field of view, 4K resolution, and HDR, your PlayStation VR experience is about to reach dizzying new heights (almost literally if you plan to play No Man's Sky...). This has got to be one of the most hyped devices at CES 2023, and deservedly so.

Best Gaming Headset at CES 2023: Audeze Maxwell

audeze maxwell gaming headset

We love Audeze around these parts, so when we heard it was showcasing its Maxwell gaming headset at CES 2023, we had to check it out. As you can imagine, we are not disappointed, as Audeze incorporates its incredible planar magnetic technology into its latest gaming gear, compatible with PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC.

So what does this mean for gamers? Well, the Maxwell's planar transducers have an excellent response time, meaning that gaming sound effects and music will not only sound incredible, but they will also reach your eardrums quicker than a traditional transducer, giving you that additional split second you just might need to win your online match by a whisker. Trust us, these are some amazing gaming cans, make no mistake.

Best Soundbar at CES 2023: LG SC9 Soundbar

lg sc9 soundbar

Continuing its run of success, we have another entry from LG; this time, its SC9 soundbar. LG actually has two soundbars to launch at CES 2023, and the SC9 is the larger of the two (the SE9 being a more compact variant). It'll delight you to hear that the SC9 soundbar supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, so you can rest assured of top-notch cinematic soundscapes when you're enjoying your media.

Also, if you plan to invest in one of the LG TV's the brand will release this year, then you can benefit from what LG is dubbing "WOW Orchestra", which is basically LG-chatter for an enhanced soundstage, meaning sound spreads across a wider perceived range—just like it would appear if there was a physical stage in front of you.

Best Portable Air Conditioning Device at CES 2023: EcoFlow Wave 2

ecoflow wave 2 air conditioning portable

EcoFlow continues to make heatwaves in the air-con sector. Its Wave 2 debuts at CES 2023, and is set to become a consumer go-to for air-conditioning options. This compact device can both heat and cool your living space (by 6100 BTU and 5100 BTU respectively), and features numerous power options (five in total) to keep it running even when your usual power source is out of action.

Weighing only 14 kg, this portable air-con solution is easy to install and maintain, and you can move it around wherever you please. It is fully conversant with the EcoFlow app, too, so you can control settings from anywhere in your home. Plus, it boasts an eight-hour backup battery, which will ensure your kept warm or cool no matter what external forces are at play. An excellent device for smart heating and cooling, anywhere.

Best Smartphone at CES 2023: Samsung Galaxy A14 5G

samsung a14 5g smartphone

You might expect us to pick a flagship handset for our best smartphone at CES this year. Not so; we've opted for Samsung's brilliant, budget-busting A14 5G, which it has launched at the show. This is very much in the affordable range of Samsung's smartphone portfolio, but it still packs a punch for a sub-$200 handset.

You've got a MediaTek Dimensity 700 chip driving the handset, and up front is a nice 6.6-inch display; FHD+ with a snappy 90 Hz refresh rate. Round the back is a no-at-all-shabby 50 MP main sensor, and 2 MP macro and depth sensors. While storage isn't the best (64 GB), you can expand this to up to 1 TB, using the sim tray. It even still has a headphone jack, which is almost unheard of nowadays.

Best Projector at CES 2023: XGIMI MoGo 2 Pro

xgimi mogo 2 pro projector

XGIMI is forging ahead in its attempts to dominate the projector market, and it is doing so with great success, as it still rides the crest of the wave caused by its stunning AURA 4K UST projector in 2022. Now, XGIMI's back with a brand-new invention; the MoGo 2 Pro—a portable powerhouse projector.

If you want to take entertainment literally everywhere, then the MoGo Pro has got your back. The device weighs a tiny 2.2 lbs, so you can stream movies no matter where you are. The improved and innovative ISA 2.0 technology (intelligent screen adjustment) means the projector can adjust the picture quickly and accurately, in order that you can project on a wide range of surfaces with zero effort, no matter your projector experience.

Best Tablet/e-Reader at CES 2023: Rakuten Kobo Clara 2E

kobo clara E2

Rakuten takes best e-reader and does so with ease thanks to its supremely eco-conscious Kobo Clara 2E. This device's casing is made from 85% recycled plastic, with other components also coming from the circular economy, making this the most environmentally friendly e-reader available.

Aside from its environmentally friendly chops, the e-reader is a Kindle killer for several other reasons, too. Namely, its IP rating (this is a waterproof e-reader) and the glut of file types it supports: EPUB, EPUB3, PDF, FlePub and MOBI (with CBZ and CBR for comics, and JPG, GIF, BMP, PNG, and TIFF for images). In all, this is an excellent e-reader, and that environmental awareness really seals the deal for us.

Best Smartwatch at CES 2023: Xplora X6 Play Child Smartwatch

xplora x6 play childrens smartwatch

With child safety very much at the forefront of every parent's mind, Xplora is at CES 2023 with its latest children's smartwatch; the X6 Play. This is an excellent starter smartwatch for children, while also being an excellent safety device for concerned parents out there.

It has limited functionality in terms of applications you can link it to, so no harmful social media will be available to your child via the watch, and you can set up safe zones whereby you will receive a notification should your child leave the map boundaires you set on the parental control app. It even has a school mode so your child can't play with it when they should be learning. A perfect solution to giving your child their first real smartwatch while maintaining your parental peace of mind.

MUO, Bringing You the Best of CES 2023

There you have it; 15 new devices set to take the next twelve months by storm in their respective sectors. Now all we need to do is look towards 2024, and what CES will bring us then!