You can always count on CES for an exciting look into the future of tech, and it was no different this year. From AI-powered monitors to long-range wireless charging, there was no shortage of innovation to spark the imagination. Aside from keeping an eye out on the latest products, CES is also a great way of getting more face time with our vendor partners, which is why Elliott Hodgeon, Craig Smith and Harpreet Sahni were there representing VIP UK. Join us as we take a look at some of the best highlights from CES 2024.
ASUS
ASUS has recently announced their new Zephyrus G14 & G16 laptops, which feature a sleek, thinner, and lighter design more akin to the Apple MacBook. Despite their slim profile, these laptops still contain powerful components that deliver strong gaming performance. They also feature OLED displays, which is a first for ASUS.
In addition to their Zephyrus laptops, ASUS has also released the latest addition to the Zenbook Duo lineup. Previous Duos typically came with one full size primary screen, and a smaller secondary display right above the keyboard, this revamped 2024 version takes things up a level. Featuring two 14” OLED screens, the Zenbook Duo offers flexible configurations thanks to the detachable keyboard. Use the keyboard on top for a traditional setup, attach it to the bottom for an extended screen, or remove it entirely for a dual screen display. The laptop even transitions between vertical and horizontal modes for various viewing experiences.
Laptops weren’t the only mobile devices that saw innovations from ASUS. The ROG Phone 8 series features a new sleek design and has been made lighter, thinner, and given better cameras than before. The ROG Ally, while not newly announced, is still an interesting device to see up close. It runs on Windows 11 and can play games from Steam, Epic Games, Xbox Game Pass, and other stores since it is not limited to a specific platform.
ROG Ally (Image source: MSI)
MSI
MSI had an eye-catching display at CES this year, with their new LED Crystal Film Screen for cases. The flexible transparent display could be seen lining the interior of the new MEG Maestro 700L PZ limited edition chassis. Although it’s still too early to tell, this unique innovation hints at the future of customisable PC aesthetics.
MSI LED Crystal Film Screen
AI is everywhere, from your phone to your browser to your OS, and now MSI has introduced AI to your monitors. The MEG 321URX is MSI’s first AI-enabled monitor and it has already raised a few eyebrows ahead of its Spring 2024 release. The impressive 240Hz QD-OLED display uses AI to augment the gaming experience and help players in a few ways; like with the ‘Spectrum Bar’, a light strip on the bottom of the screen that is linked to the health bar of the game being played. Some of the other AI features have raised concerns regarding cheating, particularly regarding the implementation of SkySight.
AI SkySight (Image Source: Tom’s Hardware)
Powered by an onboard AI accelerator, SkySight analyses a games mini map to automatically detect enemy positions and display their direction on screen. Despite how useful the technology sounds, it has raised concerns around cheating. By putting the technology in the monitor, it bypasses most cheat detection measures because they typically take place on the pc, potentially making the technology undetectable. Given that some gaming monitors already offer crosshairs and zoom features, the jury is still out on whether this tech crosses the threshold of what is considered cheating.
Not to be left out of the handheld gaming space, this year MSI unveiled the Claw A1M, the world’s first gaming handheld powered by an Intel® Core™ Ultra Processor. Featuring Intel Arc graphics, the handheld will also feature up to 16GB of RAM; a 7-inch, 1080p resolution, 120Hz IPS display; 512GB or 1TB of storage; Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4; and a 2-hour battery life under full workload.
HYTE
HYTE had a great showing at CES this year, announcing the latest additions to its ‘Powered By Nexus’ lineup. First shown at Computex 2023, the meticulously crafted THICC Q60 liquid CPU cooler was the crown jewel of HYTE’s CES stand this year, and for good reason. To earn it’s ‘THICC’ moniker, the award-winning Q60 features a 5" IPS Display, 42-Pixel qRGB Array, 52mm Heat Exchanger, and 32mm THICC FP12 Fiberglass reinforced Liquid Crystal Polymer fans.
THICC Q60 (Image source: HYTE)
Another eye-catching announcement from HYTE was the introduction of the Keeb TKL, the company’s first mechanical keyboard. Housed in a crystal bubble polycarbonate case, the qRGB lighting in this keyboard is incredibly vibrant, and unlike most of its competition, the lighting isn’t just around the keys but instead permeates through the entire keyboard. The innovations aren’t just cosmetic, HYTE has kitted the Keed TKL with plenty of enthusiast-grade features that make it sound and perform like a truly high-end mechanical keyboard. Whether it is their own hot-swappable Fluffy Lavender switches, the 4 layers of gasket mounted sound-dampening material, or the customisable dual magnetic rollers, every detail of the Keeb TKL has been well considered.
Keeb TKL
Smart Home
It's not all about computer hardware at CES, smart home tech continues to be a big area of focus, with plenty of innovations to get excited over. A big takeaway from this year’s event was 'invisibility’, as many products shared a sleek and unassuming design philosophy aimed at seamlessly integrating their devices into the home rather than having them standout. We also noticed more smart home functionality was being developed with a focus on accessibility, the elderly and disability assistance.
We saw smart locks continue away from physical keys to bring in new ways to access your home. The Visage smart lock, from Lockly, can be opened in plenty of ways: via keypad; with your fingerprints; with RFID cards, eKeys and eBadges; and with Apple Home Key. However, the flagship feature is that the Visage, can be unlocked via facial recognition.
Philips’ Wi-Fi Palm Recognition Smart Deadbolt
If facial recognition isn’t doesn’t pique your curiosity, perhaps Philips’ Wi-Fi Palm Recognition Smart Deadbolt will. As the name suggests, this lock can be opened by just opening your hand. The first of its kind smart lock works by detecting the unique vein pattern in your palm, which gives it “unparalleled security”, according to Philips. While more traditional unlock methods like a pin code or a key are still available, the convenience and accessibility that palm recognition promises makes it the more compelling proposition, especially for older customers.
Wireless Power/Charging
There is always so much going on at CES that it’s hard to settle on just a few innovative products but ‘Cota’ from Ossia was a standout worth taking a closer look at. Cota aims to deliver power over the air, for a truly wireless charging experience.
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Cota Wireless Charging (Image source: Ossia)
Cota works by using a receiver, built into a device, that sends a signal to a transmitter; the transmitter then sends power back to the receiver, calculating the most efficient route to reach the receiver. By doing this, the signal can bend around any obstacle to maximise charging efficiency, which has always been a major limiting factor for over-the-air charging. This technology has the potential to fundamentally change how devices are designed, so we will be watching its progress closely.
Conclusion
All in all, CES really set a positive and inspiring tone for the industry this year, and we can’t wait to see more of this tech make its way out to consumers.