Published On: January 14, 2025

HomeTheaterReview’s Best of CES 2025 Awards

Published On: January 14, 2025
Last Updated on: January 28, 2025
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HomeTheaterReview’s Best of CES 2025 Awards

HomeTheaterReview’s Best of CES 2025 Awards spotlight the most innovative and impactful advancements in home entertainment and smart technology from this year’s show.

HomeTheaterReview’s Best of CES 2025 Awards

  • The staff at HomeTheaterReview.com is comprised of experts who are dedicated to helping you make better informed buying decisions.

CES 2025 brought an abundance of exciting technologies and groundbreaking products, from upgraded TVs and projectors to smart home devices and audio solutions. We had the challenging task of evaluating these innovations and selecting the standouts worthy of the Best of CES 2025 Awards. Here is a detailed look at the winners across key categories, showcasing why they earned this prestigious recognition.

Best TVs, Projectors, and Monitors

Best Premium TV: Samsung S95F

Samsung S95F OLED TV.

Samsung’s S95F impressed us with its upgraded QD-OLED panel, promising up to 30% more full-screen peak brightness compared to its predecessor, the S95D. With a peak brightness of 2,000 nits in 10% of the screen, the S95F is ideal for high-contrast scenarios. Additionally, the refresh rate has been increased to 165Hz, catering to PC gamers seeking smoother visuals.

Under the hood, the NQ4 AI Gen 3 processor powers new features like “AI Upscaling Pro” and “Vision AI,” enhancing content discovery and delivering intelligent wallpapers. While the design and audio remain similar to the S95D, the improvements in brightness and processing make the S95F a worthy addition to Samsung’s premium lineup. Read more here.

Best OLED TV: LG OLED M5

LG OLED M5 with Zero Connect Box.

LG’s flagship wireless OLED M5 captivated us with its cutting-edge Zero Connect Box, which eliminates cable clutter while delivering 4K video and Dolby Atmos audio wirelessly. Featuring four-stack WOLED panels, the M5 achieves unprecedented brightness levels, making it the brightest OLED TV to date. Available in sizes up to 97 inches, this TV exemplifies innovation by combining advanced picture quality with user-friendly wireless technology. Read more here.

Best MiniLED TV: Hisense TriChroma 116UX

Hisense TriChroma 116UX MiniLED TV.

Hisense’s TriChroma 116UX introduced a novel approach to local dimming, using RGB Local Dimming optical lenses for precise color reproduction. This setup not only delivers vibrant visuals with 97% BT.2020 color space coverage, but also reduces blue light emissions by 32%, offering a more comfortable viewing experience.

With 10,000 nits of peak brightness and Dolby Vision IQ support, the TriChroma 116UX dazzled in both technical performance and innovation, earning it the title of Best MiniLED TV. Read more here.

Best Value TV: TCL QM6K

TCL QM6K MiniLED TV.

The TCL QM6K redefined value in the MiniLED market. Featuring TCL’s Super High Energy LED Chip, the QM6K is 53% brighter than previous models while maintaining energy efficiency. Innovations like the Condensed Micro Lens and Micro OD backlight system ensure sharper contrasts and minimized blooming, providing exceptional quality at an accessible price point. Read more here.

Best Lifestyle TV: Samsung The Frame Pro

Samsung The Frame Pro TV in living room.

Samsung’s The Frame Pro seamlessly blends aesthetics and technology with its Neo QLED panel and Wireless One Connect Box. This updated version includes an NQ4 Gen 3 AI processor that upscales content to 8K resolution, while its partnership with Art Basel enhances its Art Store offerings. By combining style and substance, The Frame Pro stands out as a lifestyle TV designed to inspire. Read more here.

Best Portable TV: LG StanbyME 2

LG StanbyME 2 portable TV.

LG’s StanbyME 2 brings portability and versatility to the TV market. With its improved 1440p resolution and extended four-hour battery life, this device caters to on-the-go users. Accessories like the Smart Folio Case and Harness for Hanging add practicality, while features like vertical viewing enhance its usability as a portable entertainment solution. Read more here.

Best TV Operating System: Google TV Gemini AI

Google TV Gemini AI

Google’s Gemini AI redefines TV interaction with natural language processing, replacing traditional voice commands with conversational queries. Demonstrated capabilities include planning vacations, explaining scientific concepts, and suggesting tailored content. By integrating visual content and AI-powered insights, Gemini AI offers a more engaging and intuitive user experience. Read more here.

Best UST Projector: Hisense L9Q

Hisense L9Q Laser TV.

The Hisense L9Q Laser TV brings together the convenience of a television with the immersive scale of a projector, offering projection sizes up to an impressive 150 inches. Powered by the TriChroma laser light engine, it achieves a stunning 5,000 lumens of brightness, ensuring vivid and clear visuals even in well-lit rooms. The L9Q boasts 110% coverage of the BT.2020 color space, providing vibrant, lifelike colors that enhance the viewing experience.

For those concerned about room lighting, the L9Q comes bundled with Ambient Light Rejection (ALR) screens, which enhance contrast and brightness by minimizing the effects of external light sources. This feature makes it a practical choice for both dedicated home theaters and multi-use living spaces. Read more here.

Best Value Projector: Valerion VisionMaster Max

Valerion VisionMaster Max projector.

Valerion’s VisionMaster Max is redefining the home cinema experience with its 3,000 ISO lumens brightness and pure RGB triple laser light source, ensuring stunningly vibrant and precise visuals. The projector’s ability to cover 110% of the BT.2020 color gamut means you get to enjoy colors as intended by filmmakers, whether you’re watching blockbuster movies or artistic films.

Its flexibility shines with customizable settings that adapt to a variety of spaces and screen sizes—from an intimate 40-inch setup to a colossal 300-inch display. This level of adaptability makes it ideal for both compact rooms and spacious home theaters. Read more here.

Best Gaming Monitor: Samsung Odyssey G7

Samsung Odyssey G7 gaming monitor.

Samsung’s Odyssey G7 made waves as the first-ever 40-inch 5K gaming monitor, offering a perfect combination of advanced technology and immersive visual quality. The monitor’s 5120 x 2160 resolution ensures incredible detail, while the 180Hz refresh rate delivers buttery-smooth motion, making it an excellent choice for both high-speed gaming and creative work. 

The impressive 139 pixels per inch (PPI) adds to its appeal by ensuring crisp and sharp imagery, whether you’re exploring open-world games or editing high-resolution photos and videos. Read more here.

Best Audio Products

Best Hi-Fi System: Onkyo Icon Series

Onkyo Icon Series.

The Onkyo Icon Series, including the P-80 Network Preamplifier, M-80 Power Amplifier, and A-50 Network Integrated Amplifier, represents a thoughtful fusion of cutting-edge digital capabilities with traditional audiophile sensibilities. These components feature DIDRC technology, designed to minimize distortion and deliver crystal-clear audio across a variety of inputs.

The built-in room correction software further tailors the listening experience to your specific environment, ensuring optimal sound quality regardless of the setup. For vinyl enthusiasts, the Icon Series offers precise phono preamplification, while streaming users will appreciate the seamless integration of high-resolution audio platforms. Read more here.

Best Turntable: Victrola Wave

Victrola Wave turntable.

The Victrola Wave introduces Auracast broadcast audio, a feature that revolutionizes how vinyl enthusiasts can share their music. By enabling playback on multiple Bluetooth devices simultaneously, the Wave creates a new group listening experience. Paired with the Tempo Bookshelf Speakers, this setup enhances the listening environment, whether at home, a social gathering, or a unique venue.

Leveraging the energy-efficient LE Audio Bluetooth standard, the Wave supports long-range Auracast functionality, allowing seamless connectivity with a wide variety of devices within a range of 30 to 100 meters, depending on the environment. Read more here.

Best High-End Soundbar: DynAudio Symphony Opus One

DynAudio Symphony Opus One soundbar.

Dynaudio’s Symphony Opus One impressed us with its ability to deliver a 360-degree sound field, enhanced by advanced spatial audio algorithms. This 73-inch soundbar houses an impressive array of 24 drivers, including six soft-dome tweeters, 14 mid-bass drivers, and four dual-diaphragm force-canceling subwoofers, all powered by 1,500 watts of digital amplification. These components work in harmony to create a highly immersive audio experience, delivering precise sound localization that rivals full-blown multi-speaker setups. Read more here.

Best Value Soundbar: Samsung QS700F

Samsung QS700F soundbar.

Samsung’s QS700F introduced Eclipsa Audio, a new royalty-free 3D audio technology developed in collaboration with Google, setting a benchmark for accessible spatial sound. This compact soundbar is designed with versatility in mind, making it a practical choice for smaller spaces where users don’t want to compromise on audio quality.

The QS700F’s innovative Eclipsa Audio delivers an immersive experience that envelopes listeners in rich, detailed sound. Its convertible design adds to its appeal, allowing it to function seamlessly whether mounted on a wall or placed on a table. By supporting a royalty-free spatial audio format, the QS700F makes advanced audio technology accessible to a broader range of users. Read more here.

Best Headphones: JLab Epic Lux Lab Edition

JLab Epic Lux Lab Edition headphones.

The Epic Lux Lab Edition headphones are packed with features that elevate their performance far beyond their modest $199.99 price tag. They come equipped with Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation (AANC), which intelligently adjusts to your environment, ensuring a quieter, more immersive listening experience. For those who love spatial audio, the Lab Spatial Audio feature with head tracking creates a 360-degree soundscape.

What particularly impressed us is how these headphones bring premium features, like Hi-Res audio support and advanced sound customization, to a more affordable price point. With a sleek design and thoughtful additions like long battery life and improved call quality, the Epic Lux Lab Edition manages to deliver innovation and accessibility in one package. Read more here.

Best Earbuds: Technics EAH-AZ100

Technics EAH-AZ100 earbuds.

Technics’ EAH-AZ100 redefines earbud performance with its innovative Magnetic Fluid Driver technology, which significantly reduces distortion and enhances clarity. This unique design uses a liquid magnetic layer to improve driver efficiency, resulting in sound that is not only more accurate but also richer across the frequency range. 

With a frequency response starting as low as 3Hz, these earbuds capture deep bass tones you can feel as much as hear, making them perfect for bass enthusiasts and audiophiles alike. Read more here.

Best Smart Home Devices

Best Robotic Vacuums: Roborock Saros Z70 and Dreame X50 Ultra

Roborock Saros Z70 robotic vacuum.

Roborock’s Saros Z70 takes robotic cleaning to the next level with its innovative OmniGrip grabber arm, designed to handle obstacles like socks, small toys, and lightweight shoes. This five-axis foldable arm doesn’t just detect these items; it picks them up and moves them to designated spots, such as a basket or closet, before continuing its cleaning routine. Paired with advanced AI and object recognition, the Saros Z70 ensures a smarter, more thorough cleaning experience. Read more here.

Dreame X50 Ultra robotic vacuum.

Equally impressive is the Dreame X50 Ultra, another standout robotic vacuum introduced at CES 2025. This model features the ProLeap system, which equips the vacuum with motorized legs capable of climbing obstacles up to 6 centimeters high. It easily navigates over door thresholds, cables, and even small steps—problems that typically stump standard robot vacuums. Read more here.

Together, the Saros Z70 and Dreame X50 Ultra exemplify how robotic vacuums are evolving to tackle real-world cleaning challenges with remarkable efficiency.

Best In-Wall Control Panel: Aqara Panel Hub S1 Plus

Aqara Panel Hub S1 Plus.

The Aqara Panel Hub S1 Plus revolutionizes traditional light switches by transforming them into 6.9-inch touchscreen panels that serve as a central control hub for your smart home. With an intuitive interface, users can manage everything from lights and cameras to thermostats with just a few taps.

This sleek panel is compatible with Matter, ensuring seamless integration with a wide range of smart home ecosystems like Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, and Google Home. Its practical design means it replaces a standard light switch, blending functionality and convenience in one sophisticated package. Read more here.

Best Security Camera: TP-Link Dual-Lens Tapo C675D

TP-Link Dual-Lens Tapo C675D.

The Tapo C675D is a versatile security camera that combines a wide-angle lens for broad area coverage with a pan-and-tilt camera for precise close-ups, making it ideal for keeping an eye on larger spaces or specific zones. Its 4K resolution ensures that every detail is captured clearly, whether it’s identifying a person at your gate or monitoring activity in your yard.

What sets this camera apart is its use of on-device AI, which reduces false alarms by accurately detecting people, vehicles, or pets—eliminating distractions caused by swaying trees or shifting shadows. With its combination of flexibility and smart features, the Tapo C675D makes securing your home both easy and effective. Read more here.

Best Smart Shades: Lutron Caséta Smart Shades

Lutron Caséta Smart Shades.

Lutron’s Caséta Smart Shades won the Best of CES 2025 Award for bringing professional-quality window treatments to the DIY market at an accessible $399 price for most standard sizes. These shades make controlling natural light as simple as managing your smart lamps or overhead lights, with options to use schedules, voice commands, or the Lutron app. They integrate seamlessly with the Caséta lighting system, offering a unified smart home experience.

Designed to work with popular platforms like Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple Home, and Josh AI, the Caséta Smart Shades provide flexibility for any smart home setup. Read more here.

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