CES 2023: The Good Housekeeping Institute's Top Picks

The new LG MoodUp fridge is designed with color-changing LED door panels to add a flexible aesthetic to your kitchen. Using the LG ThinQ app, you can choose from 22 colors for the upper panels and 19 colors for the lower panels — or use one of the pre-set color themes (Season, Place, Mood or Pop).

Nicole Papantoniou, director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Kitchen Appliances & Innovation Lab, loves that the interior of this fridge is just as thoughtfully designed as the exterior, with lots of space, good lighting, impressive ice-making capabilities and more. It also features LG's advanced refrigeration and smart tech, so you can rest assured you're not sacrificing food freshness or convenience for design.

Expected release: Later in 2023

Dyson has spent the last decade researching the issues around indoor and outdoor pollution, especially in big cities where both air and noise pollution can deliver an assault on the senses. Enter the Dyson Zone, a pair of air-purifying, noise-canceling headphones that allows you to make calls, listen to music and get filtered personal air.

DiClerico, who got a first-hand look at the Zone, loved the fit and feel. "The engineering is superb, what you'd expect from Dyson, including a sleek design and intuitive controls," he says.

The question on everyone's mind: does the Zone protect against COVID? Unfortunately no, as its development began years ahead of the pandemic, with an eye toward city pollution (think toxic gases, allergens and particulate matter). But the contact-free mouth visor can be used with N95 masks for maximum protection against airborne viruses, in addition to other pollutants.

Expected release: Appointment-only pre-order begins in March, with prices starting at $949

Since roughly 30-40% of the food supply in the U.S. becomes food waste, we're dedicated to helping families find practical ways to reduce food waste. Enter the Reenacle Prime, a composter designed to reduce up to 90% of your food waste by turning it into rich fertilizer that you can spread on top of your lawn soil, garden or potted plants.

Papantoniou likes that the system uses a long-lasting filter, so you won't have to constantly replace it, plus it has a motion-operated, motorized lid for easy depositing of food. Our pros on the show floor were impressed with the minimal sounds it made during operation, as well as its sleek, yet unobtrusive design.

Expected release: Available now

The U-Scan by Withings is a cartridge-based platform designed to detect, measure and analyze biomarkers in urine at home. While it is not a medical device, it's a convenient way to better understand your health. At launch, there will be two cartridges, Cycle Sync for help tracking menstrual cycles and Nutri Balance for tracking hydration and nutrition. Personally, I can't wait until it can quickly test for UTI (urinary tract infection) strains.

Expected release: Availability in Europe will start at the end of Q2 2023 for €500

A few years ago, you'd be hard-pressed to find a single backup battery power station at CES. It was still all about gas-powered backup home generators. "This year, I counted about a dozen brands demonstrating portable batteries, most of which can be powered by the sun," says DiClerico. "It was definitely one of the hottest categories at the show."

He likes the Geneverse HomePower ONE Pro for its ease of use, lightweight design and relatively low cost. The station can be charged from a solar panel, AC outlet or carport. A full charge, which it claims to hold for a full year, can power a refrigerator for up to 30 hours. As with all power stations, it's safe to run inside, unlike a gas-powered generator, which emits deadly carbon dioxide fumes and must be placed outside, a safe distance from your home. No wonder portable power stations were everywhere on the show floor!

Expected release: Available now

The benefits of smart lighting include convenience, safety and energy efficiency — but also, sometimes it's just plain fun! That's how our pros feel about CYNC's Neon Rope Light, which can be used to create colorful installations at home.

The flexible strips come with mounting clips and a layout template that you can use to design the shape of your choice, including stars, the moon, waves or a flame. Then use the app to program different colors (16 million in all) for the illuminating works of art. "It's a clever application of smart lighting," says DiClerico, who also loved CYNC's hexagonal wall panels, which can be used for similar effects.

Expected release: Spring 2023

The GE Profile Smart Mixer combines what appears to be a well-built mixer with smart tech. Features includes a built-in scale to help measure ingredients more precisely (a must for effective baking), sensors to help eliminate overmixing or undermixing, voice-control capabilities and integration with an app for guided recipes.

"This is the first time we've seen this level of technology applied to a stand mixer," says DiClerico. "It's part of the 'assisted cooking' trend that's intended to help novices in the kitchen achieve expert results."

Expected release: Available now exclusively at Crate & Barrel; prices start at $999

It's not CES without the launch of a few bigger, brighter, thinner, faster TVs — and LG did not disappoint on this front. Its upcoming 2023 OLED TV lineup takes an already impressive product and elevates it even further with the latest Z3, G3 and C3 OLED evo series.

Think brighter, better color accuracy and ultra-precise details, thanks to an enhanced processor and learning algorithms. At the show, Lipski noted that the LG's picture quality was exceptional, but the thin design also left virtually no gap when mounted on the wall. Plus, she was impressed with the improvements to the webOS platform in terms of its redesigned user interface that offers increased personalization options.

Expected release: Later in 2023

The brand-new Ring Car Cam is designed to be used when your car is in motion and when it's parked, thanks to its wide-angle, dual-facing camera recording capabilities (one road-facing, one cabin-facing). Using the Ring app, you can get real-time alerts for motion detection and use the two-way talk feature.

While we have yet to test this product, knowing the quality of other Ring devices we expect detailed night vision footage and accurate sensor detection. Lipski was impressed with the Car Cam's compact size and range of use cases, like when you want to check your car’s surroundings while walking back to it late at night. She also likes that it's adjustable, offering a wide field of view.

Expected release: Available now for pre-order

Babyark, a company founded by an aeronautical-engineer-turned-parent, is focused on improving child safety. Its first product will be the Babyark convertible car seat, set to launch this summer.

With 14 embedded sensors, a parent will be informed if the seat is installed incorrectly or if a child has been left in the vehicle after the caregiver exits. With some estimates showing over half of car seats are installed incorrectly, if the Babyark can deliver a safe ride and ensure correct installation, it will definitely be a game-changer! Lipski was impressed by the product’s built-in shock-absorbing system and durable construction materials, which include carbon fiber and D3O.

Expected release: Pre-order now for release in Summer 2023; prices start at $1,190

The newly announced Wowwee Dog-E is an app-connected toy pet that uses six built-in sensors and a microphone to bond with you.

Equipped with a speaker, lights and projected imagery, Dog-E will know when it's being touched or spoken to, so it can let its owner know when it's hungry, wants to play or just needs some cuddles. The pet's personality will transform based on your interactions with it, into either a lovable, energetic, protective or lazy pup. Eyes, paws, tails and even hearts will vary, so each owner will feel like they have their own best friend.

Expected release: Pre-order now for release in September 2023; prices start at $80

Developed with support from L'Oreal scientists and engineers, HAPTA is a handheld, precision makeup applicator that can help the estimated 50 million people living with limited fine motor skills apply makeup.

While I still have a lot of dexterity, I have a familial tremor, so applying lipstick, eyeliner or mascara can be a challenging task for me. I love that L'Oreal is dedicated to inclusivity, and Birnur Aral, executive director of the GH Institute's Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab, agrees with me. "I applaud L'Oreal for empowering those who otherwise couldn't express themselves in this way to feel confident and independent," she says.

Expected release: Not yet announced

If you want to upgrade your bathroom experience, the Swash Eco Thinline Luxury Bidet Toilet Seat delivers a luxurious option. Even though it's still a full-featured bidet seat, with warm water cleansing, a stainless steel nozzle, air-dry capabilities and more, DiClerico was impressed by its low-profile design. He appreciates the sustainability angle as well. "With the use of some recycled plastics, the design adds to the overall eco-mindedness of bidet seats, which help reduce the use of toilet paper," he says.

Expected release: Spring 2023

The Bartesian Duet provides the technology the brand is known for in a slimmer profile. At just 9.5" wide, you can put it on a bar cart or kitchen counter, and it will take up minimal space.

Like a single serve coffee maker, but for booze, pop in a capsule that contains cocktail varieties (think bitters, extracts, juices and other mixers) and up to two spirits, and the Duet can customize the pour strength of your personalized cocktail. For those of us that ordinarily can't nail a homemade cocktail (read: me), this system will take the guesswork out of your preparations.

Expected release: Available now

The Anker 551 USB-C hub is a productivity powerhouse, allowing you to adjust the angle, height and orientation of your tablet. It's also outfitted with multiple ports (USB-C input, 4K HMDI 2.0, 2 USB-A, 3.5 mm audio and a microSD/SD card slot).

The setup allows you to easily connect to a larger 4K display, quickly transfer files and comfortably view your next Zoom, all from the convenient stand. Lipski likes how this this helps you turn your tablet into a workstation wherever you go, without the need for a bulkier or heavier laptop.

Expected release: Available now

Jackery, a brand known for its innovative portable solar and backup power solutions, recently announced the LightTent-AIR, an eco-minded outdoor living solution. For those keen on camping, this portable, self-inflating tent is designed to be water- and weather-resistant. Outfitted with solar panels on the canopy, it's also able to provide 1200W of power — enough to charge its built-in storage modules.

Expected release: Not yet announced

Samsung's Bespoke Home lineup of customizable appliances continues to grow with its 4-Door Flex With Family Hub+ fridge, designed to serve as your family's entertainment and communication HQ, thanks to its large 32" full HD screen.

You can use it to check in on other Samsung SmartThings-enabled appliances, rotate family photos via the integrated Google Photos app or even watch TV while prepping meals. Papantoniou is especially impressed with how seamlessly the SmartThings app works across Samsung appliances.

Expected Release: Early 2023; pricing still to be announced

While we love waking up to the sound of birds chirping, don’t you wish you could know a bit more about them? This year at CES, Bird Buddy launched its Smart Hummingbird Feeder.

Like the previous iteration, a built-in AI-powered camera snaps adorable shots of hummingbirds as they snack on food outside your home, but it can also identify 350 hummingbird species according to the brand (and over 1,000 bird species). This smart bird feeder sends notifications straight to your phone when you have a new or repeat visitor. “The camera’s picture quality is impressive, and I just love that you’re able to learn fun facts about each bird species in the app,” says Lipski. You’ll also get notifications when your feeder is running low on food, and there’s a solar-powered option if you don’t want to deal with recharging the camera’s battery.

Expected Release: Late 2023

Audio powerhouse JBL didn’t disappoint at this year’s CES, launching the world’s first smart charging case for its latest Tour Pro 2 wireless earbuds.

While we haven’t yet tested the sound quality and performance in the Media & Tech Lab, we love that the case features a 1.45" LED touch display. Lipski likes that you'll be able to control your music and manage messages, notifications and even receive calls directly from the case when the product launches later this spring – that’s right, you won't need to reach for your phone! We also like that the headphones feature 40 hours of playtime and active noise cancelation to block out any distracting sounds.

Expected Release: Not yet announced