The Screens Of CES GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO News > Smart & Connected Life

The Screens Of CES

You’ll never look at screens the same again

By Charlie Sorrel Charlie Sorrel Senior Tech Reporter Charlie Sorrel has been writing about technology, and its effects on society and the planet, for 13 years. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on January 11, 2021 02:36PM EST Fact checked by Rich Scherr Fact checked by Rich Scherr University of Maryland Baltimore County Rich Scherr is a seasoned technology and financial journalist who spent nearly two decades as the editor of Potomac and Bay Area Tech Wire. lifewire's fact checking process Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Smart & Connected Life Mobile Phones Internet & Security Computers & Tablets Smart Life Home Theater & Entertainment Software & Apps Social Media Streaming Gaming

Key Takeaways

Everything has a screen in 2021; even your refrigerator.The most gimmicky-yet-impressive screen so far is LG’s bendy screen/speaker hybrid.34-inches is considered 'small' these days. Cadillac When you visit CES in person, there’s always a giant, unbelievably high-resolution TV screen somewhere in the place, and it’s always impressive. This year, CES is online, and there’s no giant screen to see. But there are still plenty of weird displays, from LG’s "smallest” OLED to Mercedes' 55-inch dashboard-shaped "hyperscreen." Let’s take a look at the screens of CES. When you think of screens, cars may not be the first place you look. CES has always had a massive car component, and this year we have a great crossover between cars and screens. Cadillac has put a 33-inch display behind the wheel of its Lyriq EV, and Mercedes has managed to squeeze in a 55-inch monster. Now, like pretty much every other consumer gadget, from microwaves to cameras, these cars are operated by touch screens. Gone are the easy-to-remember knobs and dials of the olden days—knobs that can be clicked and twisted without looking. Instead, you have to look away from the road in order to activate some pointless feature, while a distracted child steps out in front of you, unseen. Still, at least they have cool names. Mercedes’ is called MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience). Actually, Mercedes’ screen is also called “Hyperscreen,” while Cadillac’s has no name. It does, however, claim "the highest pixel density available in the automotive industry today," and can display over a billion colors. That should reassure any pedestrians you hit while marveling at it.

LG s Bendy TV

Here’s another great idea: A bendy television. The snappily named Bendable Cinematic Sound OLED from LG starts out as a regular 48-inch TV, and can bend around the user when they play games. And if that doesn’t impress you, then this will: Instead of having built-in speakers, the screen is the speaker. The panel vibrates to create sound. LG One wonders if this vibrating screen might also perfectly simulate the way your eyeballs vibrate when rattling over cracked blacktop at 100 mph, which sounds perfect for a driving game.

The Mandalorian Screen

One genuinely impressive screen at CES is the Crystal LED display, as used in Disney’s excellent Star Wars spinoff, The Mandalorian (which is not, despite its name, a show about a creature that is half man and half DeLorean car). The Mandalorian’s set uses a giant circle of these curved, high-resolution displays to show the various alien environments in the show. It’s like a fancy version of the rear-projection trick used in old movies, only it looks incredible. Sony The other neat part is that, because the displays wrap almost the whole way around the set, the characters are lit perfectly by their environment. There’s no need for expensive and slow post-production to add lighting, because it’s all done during filming. This makes shooting convincing virtual sets way easier and cheaper, and the actors have something to interact with.

The See-Through Refrigerator Screen

How about a refrigerator with a giant screen in the door? Well, it’s more of a window than a screen, but it still responds to touch: Two sharp raps on the door will illuminate the refrigerator’s interior, so you can see what’s inside without opening the door. And if you do want to open it, you can ask the fridge to do it for you. Yes, LG’s 2021 InstaView fridge is voice activated, and if you tell it to open the door, it will. You’ll still have to reach in to grab your food/beverage of choice, but even so. Everyone’s tired of opening refrigerator doors, right? LG There will surely be more "excellent" screens and displays announced this week during CES, but if it’s not a bendy, wraparound screen that turns your refrigerator into the Mandalorian set, then we’re not interested. Want more? See all our coverage of CES 2021 right here. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire Cars Are the Perfect Venue for Apple Music’s 3D Spatial Audio What Is the Screen Door Effect? The 3 Best Smart Fridges of 2022 CES 2022: What to Watch For This Year What Is a Smart Refrigerator? The 10 Best Products from CES 1967 - Present How to Remove Background Noise in Audacity The 9 Best TVs of 2022 How to Fix a Stuck Car Window The Biggest CES Flops of All Time The 8 Best TVs for Gaming in 2022 The 7 Best Smart Home DIY Hacks of 2022 CES 2023: Dates, News, Announcements, Rumors, and Everything Else to Know The 6 Best 17-Inch and Larger Laptops of 2022 SunBriteTV 55-Inch Veranda 4K TV: A Robust HDR TV That Can Take a Beating How to Degauss a Traditional CRT Computer Monitor Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies