CES 2017: 7 devices I would actually buy

The Consumer Electronics Show has rocked Las Vegas once again – the 50th anniversary of the annual convention, in fact – where roughly 200,000 attendees converge to get their hands on tomorrow’s tech today.

For geeks like yours truly, it’s the proverbial kid in a candy store. A candy store that’s nearly 2.5 million square feet, that is.

From self-driving cars and delivery drones to wireless wearables and voice-controlled smart home gadgets, CES dishes out a glimpse into the near future. And at the risk of overhyping what’s to come, it’s simply extraordinary.

After roaming much of the massive showrooms, the following are just a few showstoppers from the 2017 CES.

Phone it in

While Barcelona’s Mobile World Congress typically has all the coolest upcoming smartphones, Changhong’s H2 – the world’s first molecular-sensing smartphone — made its official debut at CES this past week. By partnering with Consumer Physics, the Israel-based maker of the SCiO sensor, and Analog Devices Inc., a U.S.-based semiconductor products and solutions maker, the 6-inch Android-powered H2 lets you scan an object and immediately receive feedback on its chemical composition – whether it’s food items (like fruits and vegetables, dairy products and meat), medication, and even body parts. Simply place the infrared spectrometer over an item, then captured info is uploaded to a cloud database, and you’ll see an itemized list of properties on the screen. For example, scan a chicken breast and it'll tell you the amount of protein, fat, calories, and so on. The H2  will be out the U.S. later in 2017.

Thanks for the memory

Imagine on your keychain you could carry 768,000 photos, 531,344 songs, or nearly 1,800 full-length movies? While it might sound like science fiction, Kingston Technology Company chose the 2017 CES to unveil its 2-terabyte DataTraveler Ultimate Generation Terabyte (GT), the highest capacity USB Flash drive on the planet. With up to USB 3.1 performance, you could also speedily transfer large files to and from a laptop. Available in February and with no price announced just yet, this DataTraveler Ultimate GT is made of a zinc-alloy metal casing for shock resistance, and includes free technical support and a 5-year warranty.

Lap it up 

Bestowed with a CES 2017 Innovation Award Honoree nod, Dell’s XPS 13 2-in-1 (from $999.99) is the world’s smallest 13-inch 2-in-1 computer that squeezes a 13-inch InfinityEdge display into an 11-inch laptop frame. Like its award-winning predecessor, it’s called a “2-in-1” because the UltraSharp QHD+ screen is on a durable 360-degree hinge that lets you use it like a laptop or a tablet, when the display is bent back all the way (disabling the keyboard and trackpad while tucked underneath). Powered by a 7th Gen Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, this Windows 10 machine also boasts up to 10 hours of battery life between charges.

One of the best laptops we've tested is turning into a tablet

Storytime gets surreal

Whether it’s a child playing in their room or story time while tucking in the little ones, a new line of products adds magical augmented reality (AR) experiences to a rug and bedding. From TILT, the SpinTales Jungle Rug and SpinTales Enchanted Duvet ($99.99 apiece) both wowed the crowds at CES as the cartoon characters seemingly come alive on the rug or duvet and pillows, when viewed through the lens on a smartphone or tablet (free apps for iOS or Android). On the rug, characters like Milo and Huggy dance in the jungle, jump in a river and climb up a tree, while the bedding adds a modern twist to classic tales like Little Red, Three Pigs, and Magic Beans.

Pixel perfect

Televisions are a big draw at CES, and this year was certainly no exception. Amid much fanfare, Sony took the wraps off its first consumer OLED TVs, including its flagship XBR-A1E BRAVIA OLED TV. Televisions with OLED panels (“organic light-emitting diodes”) offer higher contrast ratios compared to LED-backlit LCD televisions, as well as delivering better brightness, more vibrant colors, and wide viewing angles. Pronounced “oh-led,” these OLED TVs are also much thinner – as no backlighting is required – plus they’re more energy efficient than other TV panel types. In sizes ranging from 55 inches to 77 inches, the A1E is a 4K HDR (High Dynamic Range) TV with impressive Acoustic Surface audio, too, with sound that emanates directly from the screen itself. The built-in Android TV platforms gives you access to thousands of apps and Google Home compatibility. No price or availability has been announced.

Sony finally reveals its own OLED TV—was it worth the wait?

Wishy washy

While you might not think there’s much innovation when it comes to washing machines and dryers, Samsung’s FlexWash and FlexDry machines are in a word, brilliant. Sold separately or as a matching pair, the FlexWash is a front-loading washing machine with over five cubic feet of capacity – the largest in its class – while a top-loading second compartment adds another cubic foot of capacity that operates independently (or at the same time if you want). This top section is ideal for smaller loads, delicates, or to separate clothes by color – saving you on time and money. FlexDry also has two compartments: a larger front-loading drum and a smaller top-load drying compartment. The optional app notifies you when the load is done, and more. The pair should be available in March, but no price has been confirmed.

Samsung's latest innovation does four laundry loads at once

All in the wrist

Called BEON, it’s the world’s first removable 360-degree panoramic camera housed in a wristwatch. With the touch of a single button, instantly capture both panoramic and hemispheric photos and videos. Keep it on your wrist — and if you like, line up your shot with a live preview on the accompanying iOS and Android app — or take off the splash-proof 5-megapixal cam to hold in your hand or mount via a variety of included accessories. The Wi-Fi- and Bluetooth-enabled HD camera can do live streaming, too. The watch shows time and can notify you of texts, and such. Despite the “always on” system, the company Spacemap says battery life is an impressive two hours of continuous recording and up to four days on standby mode. No price or launch date has been confirmed.

Columnist Marc Saltzman writes on tech devices and trends for USA TODAY. Follow Marc on Twitter: @marc_saltzman.