And the Award Goes To…

What we loved at the 2021 Consumer Electronics Show.

E very year, our team of editors attend the Consumer Electronics Show searching for groundbreaking new technology for the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. While this year's CES was a much smaller, all-online event due to COVID-19, we still found plenty of new and exciting tech to share with you. The following awards go to our favorite gear we found that's coming to market this year.

AUDIO

Belkin SoundForm Freedom True Wireless Earbuds ($99.99)

We're perpetually on the lookout for wireless earbuds that can go toe to toe with Apple's AirPods Pro, and these fit the bill. These lightweight earbuds feature environmental noise cancellation, eight hours of playback (almost doubling the AirPods

Pro), and Devialet audio technology (which blew us away at Belkin's speaker demo last year at CES). Cool extra features include the ability to track down lost Belkin buds using Apple's Find My app and a quick wireless charging case that gets you 2 hours of playback from 15 minutes of charging. The Find My network uses crowdsourced data so that you can track down the location of your buds anywhere.

Speck Presidio Clickflip for AirPods Pro ($39.95)

This new

AirPods Pro case from Speck solves two of the most annoying issues with AirPods: the tendency of your AirPods to go flying when you drop their case and the grime that accumulates between the case and any protective cover you put on your case. The Presidio Clickflip was designed with a handy locking mechanism to keep your AirPods secure at all times, even when the case goes flying, and offers drop protection from up to four feet. The case's IP5X rating means it is dustproof and water resistant as well. And even though the cover is hardsided, the AirPods case still goes in and out easily. As a bonus, it is made from material with anti-microbial properties.

Anker SoundCore

Liberty Air 2 Pro Earbuds ($129.99)

Over four years ago, Apple AirPods changed the landscape of the wireless earbud world. But as is the case in technology, the costs to not only replicate but greatly improve on such innovations has democratized the earbuds. The Anker SoundCore have

taken the bulb and stem design cues from the AirPods and packed in its PureNote and HearID EQ technologies for better bass, wider frequencies, and personalized audio profiles, with up to seven hours playtime on a single charge. The fastcharging case can recharge the earbuds up to 90 percent in 15 minutes, while the six on-board noise-canceling microphones transmit your voice clearly. Even with these features, the Liberty Air 2 Pros are $30 cheaper than base model AirPods.

SMARTPHONE TECH

LG Rollable Phone (Price TBD, Available late 2021)

Beyond the brief glimpse of the phone's collapsing display at the end of LG's Virtual CES keynote presentation, not much more is known about

LG's response to Samsung's Galaxy Fold. LG has confirmed that the phone is expected to ship sometime later this year, but to what regions of the world and at what cost are still a mystery. Nevertheless, this device will likely use a flexible OLED display and will add competitive pressure on Apple to offer an an elegant collapsible display experience as well. After all, we wouldn't have an Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max if it wasn't for the market success of Samsung's Galaxy Note.

GAMING

Otterbox Mobile Gaming Accessories (Starting at $29.95)

Mobile gaming is taking another step toward delivering a console experience thanks to Otterbox's new lineup of gaming accessories. First up is the Easy Grip Gaming

Case ($54.95). What caught our eye about this product is that it houses a thermal pad that stops your phone from overheating, even when its graphics processor is working overtime. Otterbox is also launching the Mobile Gaming Clip ($29.95), a gadget that lets you hook your iPhone onto an Xbox controller, bringing the console experience you just can't get with a touchscreen to the iPhone. Finally, the Gaming Glass Privacy Guard ($49.95) is the only privacy screen protector that's optimized for entertainment mode (a.k.a. landscape mode) so that you can keep your gaming progress to yourself. Taken together, these products move the needle for mobile gaming toward console-level quality.

HEALTH

Targus

UV-C LED Disinfection Light ($299)

This small but powerful desktop disinfection device uses UV-C light to kill microorganisms on your workspace, keyboard, mouse, and anything else you place within its approximately two square-foot range, and runs for five minutes every hour to ensure regular disinfection. However, it won't run if it senses motion nearby, so you don't have to worry about it performing a UV-C cycle while you're trying to work. You could even set your charging stand beneath it so your devices are thoroughly disinfected while they charge.

CHARGING

Belkin BOOSTCharge Pro Wireless Charger Stand with MagSafe (Starting at $99.99)

Apple's new MagSafe technology means the iPhone 12 line comes with magnets built in that can connect with compatible thirdparty gear like this set from Belkin. The benefit? You can securely dock your iPhone to a wireless charger for a reliable charge without having to stick an adhesive magnet onto your pristine phone. In addition, MagSafe phones can charge at up to 15 watts—twice as much power as iPhones using regular Qi chargers.

Of all the companies jumping on the MagSafe bandwagon, we've been most impressed by the sleek and clever design of the Belkin BOOSTCharge line. Both the 2-in-1 Stand for the iPhone and AirPods ($99.99) and the 3-in-1 Stand for the iPhone 12, AirPods, and Apple Watch ($149.99) keep your phone at a usable angle while charging and keep the footprint small by tucking the wireless charging pad for the AirPods and/or Apple Watch below the phone. Metal finishes and leather charging pad make for a modern aesthetic.

Anker PowerCore Magnetic Wireless Power Bank (Starting at $39.99)

This magnetic power bank is Anker's MagSafe-compatible solution for simple and wireless charging. It fits easily in your palm and packs up to a 10,000mAh capacity, so you'll get several iPhone charges on one full charge of the Anker power bank. Our favorite feature is the built-in magnets, which allow it to attach to the back of your iPhone 12 gently but securely. They're strong, but you can still remove it easily when you need to recharge the power bank.

Targus 2Office Antimicrobial Backpack ($119.99)

This backpack is designed to keep your gear safe, no matter how many times you switch between your home office and your workplace. Targus' silver ion antimicrobial tech is featured in almost every part of this backpack, including nearly all touch points and the fabric itself. The modular, roomy bag features waterresistant materials and an antimicrobial tuck-away rain fly and an adjustable SafePort Sling laptop pocket to keep your computer safe from drops and falls. The clamshell opening accommodates any accessories you need to bring with you to work effectively, including small external monitors.

CAR GEAR

Pioneer DMHWC5700NEX In-Dash Receiver (Price TBD, Available Summer 2021)

Premiere audiovisual company Pioneer has a new in-dash car receiver with a 6.8-inch touchscreen display and full support for Apple's CarPlay along with Google Android Auto and even Amazon's Alexa smart assistant. The receiver boasts all the audio fidelity expected in a high-end in-dash receiver packaged in a modular design to match the shapes and styles of the variety of vehicles it can be installed into. Due to the complexity and modularity of the receiver, Pioneer recommends that the unit be professionally installed. Even so, this state-of-the-art multi-platform supporting media hub will turn your car into a rolling entertainment center capable of an optimized display experience regardless of whether it's Apple, Google, or Amazon interacting with it.

Scosche MagicMount MagSafe Compatible Cupholder Mount (Price TBD)

Scosche is the undisputed king of car mounts, so it came as no surprise when the company introduced its new line of MagSafe compatible car mounts. While any of the new mounts would be a great choice for an iPhone user, this telescoping cupholder car mount is great for anyone who wants a MagSafe-compatible option but doesn't like vent or dash mounts. The mount comes with a 20w USB-C car adaptor, but much like many of the original Apple Watch charging docks that required users to supply their own charging puck, Scosche's mounts don't include the MagSafe charging pad. In spite of that not-insignificant flaw, we love this mount and can't wait for it to be available for purchase. Note: While some award winners are or have been iPhone Life sponsors, the editorial selection process was independent of our advertising department; we just really liked these particular products.