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CES 2017 had more than one “best” list. Engadget named the LG OLED W-Series its Best of the Best; Digital Trends chose the Samsung Chromebook Plus as its Best of Show. Those were separate editorial awards, not CES Innovation Awards from the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). Here are the winners and the other products that stood out, with their 2017 context made clear.
What won Best of CES 2017?
There was no single universal CES 2017 winner. Engadget and Digital Trends published their own editorial awards, while CTA ran a separate Innovation Awards program. The most useful way to read the results is to keep those award-givers distinct.
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| Award-giver | Top award | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Engadget | Best of the Best | LG OLED W-Series |
| Digital Trends | Best of Show | Samsung Chromebook Plus |
| CTA | CES Innovation Awards | A separate program; these editorial winners should not be presented as CTA award winners. CTA says it does not test or endorse Innovation Award-winning products. |
Digital Trends said its awards covered 17 products plus one overall Best of Show. It judged entries on innovation, practicality, and design. CTA describes its current Innovation Awards scoring as including engineering and functionality, aesthetics and design, and uniqueness and innovation; that program is not the same as either publisher’s editorial awards.
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Engadget’s CES 2017 award winners
Engadget’s picks ranged from a high-end television to accessibility technology, appliances, toys, and a projection concept. Its overall winner, the LG OLED W-Series, also won Best TV Product.
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| Category | Engadget pick | What stood out in 2017 |
|---|---|---|
| Best of the Best; Best TV Product | LG OLED W-Series | A wallpaper-thin OLED panel with inputs and smart-TV functions housed in a separate Dolby Atmos soundbar. |
| Accessibility | WHILL Model M | Recognized in Engadget’s accessibility category. |
| Startup | Amber Agriculture grain-monitoring sensors | Applied sensor technology to grain monitoring. |
| Digital health and fitness; wearable | Willow smart breast pump | A bra-worn portable pump paired with a companion app. |
| Automotive; innovation | Honda Riding Assist | A self-balancing motorcycle technology drawing on Honda’s Uni-Cub and Asimo research. |
| Home theater | Dish AirTV | At the time, its interface combined live over-the-air channels, Sling TV, Netflix, Android TV apps, and remote voice search. |
| Connected home | Whirlpool WLabs Zera Food Recycler | A home appliance recognized in Engadget’s connected-home category. |
| Mobile | ASUS ZenFone AR | Named Engadget’s mobile pick. |
| Gaming; People’s Choice | Razer Project Ariana | A 4K projection concept designed to extend game imagery beyond a monitor; it was a concept, not a product available to buy at the time. |
| Offbeat product | Fisher-Price Smart Cycle | A connected toy recognized in Engadget’s offbeat-products category. |
| Maker-friendly technology | LEGO Boost | A kit that built five motorized creations and let users program actions through a tablet app. |
| PC | Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 | A convertible laptop also recognized by Digital Trends. |
| Robots or drones | UVify Draco HD | Engadget’s pick in its robots-or-drones category. |
Engadget’s list illustrates why CES awards are best understood by category as well as by headline winner: the products addressed quite different needs, and some were demonstrations or concepts rather than things shoppers could immediately purchase.
Digital Trends’ separate Best of CES picks
Digital Trends’ top award went to the Samsung Chromebook Plus. Its other category picks included the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1, which was also on Engadget’s list, and products across 3D printing, games, audio, photography, home technology, and wearables.
| Digital Trends category or distinction | Pick |
|---|---|
| Best of Show | Samsung Chromebook Plus |
| Computing | Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 |
| 3D printing | Monoprice Delta Mini |
| 3D printing | Ability3D 888 |
| Gaming | InfiVention Square Off |
| Power | Goal Zero Yeti Lithium 3000 |
| Virtual reality | HTC Vive Tracker |
| Audio | Beyerdynamic Xelento Remote |
| Kitchen technology | GE FirstBuild Paragon Mat |
| Home theater | GoldenEar Triton Reference |
| Television | Sony Bravia A1E |
| Mobile | Huawei Honor 6X |
| Photography | Panasonic Lumix GH5 |
| Home | Sleep Number 360 Smart Bed |
| Wearables | Garmin Fenix 5S |
| Health technology | Willow Breast Pump |
The different overall winners are not a contradiction: each publisher made its own editorial judgment. The Dell convertible and Willow pump appearing in both organizations’ coverage are examples of products that drew attention across separate award lists, not evidence of a shared judging process.
Which gadgets and technology trends stood out?
Contemporary CES 2017 coverage highlighted self-driving cars, home robots, Alexa integrations, convertible computers, thin laptops, and large televisions. These were reported themes and editorial characterizations, not the results of a quantified industry survey. The show was described at the time as CES’s 50th year.
Mobility and automotive ideas
Honda Riding Assist was a striking demonstration of self-balancing motorcycle technology, not an announcement of a current consumer motorcycle for sale. Toyota Concept-i and the PowerRay underwater drone were among other notable mobility-related examples covered at the time.
Smarter homes and assistants
Home technology ranged from appliances and sleep products to voice assistants. TIME reported that Lenovo announced a planned $130 standard Smart Assistant and a $180 Harman Kardon version in January 2017. Those were announced 2017 prices, not present-day prices or current availability claims. Mattel Aristotle and Mohu Airwave were also among TIME’s noteworthy examples.
Computers, phones, and concepts
Thin laptops and convertibles were visible themes, with the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 recognized by both Engadget and Digital Trends. Other contemporaneous examples included Intel Compute Card, ASUS ZenFone AR, and Razer Project Valerie, a concept laptop with multiple displays. Razer Project Ariana likewise needs to be read as a concept rather than a shipping gaming accessory.
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These awards are historical snapshots from January 2017, not current buying advice. A CES award indicates what a publisher or program selected; it does not by itself establish that a product shipped as shown, remained available, or is still compatible with current systems.
Quick Recap
- Separate the award systems: Engadget and Digital Trends made editorial selections; CTA’s Innovation Awards are a distinct program. CTA explicitly says it does not test or endorse its Innovation Award winners.
- Distinguish a product from a concept: Razer Project Ariana and Project Valerie were concepts in the contemporary coverage, while products such as LEGO Boost were physical kits.
- Treat old prices and availability as historical: Engadget reported AirTV at $130 and purchasable at the time, and TIME reported the Lenovo assistant’s planned 2017 prices. Neither report establishes what is sold or costs now.
- Use the category to understand the judgment: an award for a pump, robot, TV, or maker kit measures its appeal within that category, not a direct comparison against every other CES product.
Sources
- Engadget: Best of CES 2017
- Digital Trends: Best of CES 2017 awards
- Digital Trends: Best of CES 2017
- TIME: CES 2017 products and trends
- CTA: CES Innovation Awards
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
