Consumer Reports today revealed its second annual list of Ten Top Electronics. Selected from among the thousands of electronics CR tested in the past year, the ten standout products were chosen because each pushes technology or performance to new heights. The products listed below appear in no particular rank order.
- Apple iPhone 5s ($200)
- LG G2 ($149 at AT&T or $99.99 at Verizon)
- Amazon Kindle Fire HDX ($229)
- Samsung KN55S9C ($9,000)
- Sony XBR-55X900A ($4,000)
- TDK Life on Record A33 ($149)
- Canon EOS Rebel SL1 ($749)
- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V ($450)
- Google Chomecast ($35)
- Sonos Playbar ($700)
Apple iPhone 5s
The pocket-friendly iPhone 5s, which uses Apple’s newest operating system (iOS 7), is hard to beat when it comes to intuitive, foolproof access to core smartphone functions. Apple’s flagship phone maintains its $200 price point with contract.
LG G2
This phone has a stunning 5.2-inch display and a battery that doesn’t know when to quit. Pricing with 2-year contract is currently $149 at AT&T or $99.99 at Verizon.
Amazon Kindle Fire HDX
The latest Kindle has one of the highest-resolution 7-inch displays available, great for watching videos and reading books and magazines. 16GB model starts at $229.
Samsung KN55S9C OLED TV
This 55-inch model is one of the first to use OLED (Organic LED) technology, which combines the best attributes of plasma and LCD TVs but has none of their shortcomings. Buying the best will cost you $9,000.
Sony Bravia XBR-55X900A
This 55-inch Sony LCD (which has LED backlighting) 4K TV has excellent high-def picture quality and very good sound. 4K for $4,000.
TDK Life on Record A33
Very easy to use portable wireless speaker that sounded equally good whether it was connected to a music source using a wire or via Bluetooth. Available now for $149.
Canon EOS Rebel SL1
A more portable SLR digital camera with very good image quality, a very good LCD, and is easy to use. MSRP $749.
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V
It packs a long, 30x optical zoom lens, with very-wide-angle capabilities, into a slim camera body that’s only an inch-and-a-half thick. Priced at $450.
Google Chromecast
One of the smallest and lowest-priced devices for streaming online video to your TV, the Chromecast eliminates the need to deal with yet another black box. Just $35.
Sonos Playbar
A sound bar that gives you great music wireless music playback as well as satisfying TV and movie sound. Buy it now for $700.
Editor’s Note: This article appeared in the December 2013 issue of Consumer Reports magazine and online at ConsumerReports.org.
