The best tech and gadgets we saw in Las Vegas

CES 2025 has come to a detailed — Friday was the ultimate day of the present — and workforce Engadget has departed Las Vegas. Our reporters and editors spent the week scouring limitless carpeted conference halls of the CES show floor, braving traces of chain people who smoke, overcoming nasty colds and sore ankles and fielding 1000’s of emails a day to seek out the perfect and most credible merchandise on the present.

It was fairly the problem, because the panorama was dotted with numerous contenders. As anticipated, the overwhelming majority of issues we saw this CES had an AI element, with a noticeable uptick in AR glasses, listening to help earbuds, solar-powered tech, robot vacuums and even emotional assist robots. (Apparently individuals actually like robovacs that can pick up socks.) Our workforce was inspired to see extra development in tech constructed to enhance the lives of these with disabilities and mobility points, too.

For all the brand new iterations we noticed on conventional tech like laptops, TVs and soundbars, we noticed a bevy of wonderfully weird off-beat tech on the present, too. And we have been pleasantly shocked to see quite a lot of of those just-announced CES 2025 products actually available for sale or preorder already.

However there was a small group of recent merchandise that rose above the remainder. Our listing of CES 2025 winners covers a wide range of classes, starting from typical areas like dwelling leisure, transportation and good dwelling to theme-based matters like sustainability and accessibility. After our workforce shortlisted nominees and voted on the perfect for varied classes, we then carried out one other spherical of voting to resolve on the perfect product of the present.

That stated, right here’s the total listing of our picks for the Better of CES 2025.

ASUS Zenbook A14

The ASUS Zenbook A14 feels impossibly mild, weighing between 2.2 and a pair of.4 kilos, and it has a beautiful 14-inch OLED display screen and an honest array of ports (USB-C, USB-A and HDMI)! What else ccould you need in a MacBook Air competitor? After years of mainly copying Apple’s MacBooks, ASUS proves it will probably out-innovate Apple with out resorting to gimmicks like twin screens or flashy lights. The Zenbook A14 is solely a tiny laptop computer that feels nice in your fingers, thanks largely to ASUS’s distinctive Ceraluminum case materials. ASUS claims it will probably last as long as 32 hours whereas taking part in video, nicely above the 18 hours Apple estimates for the MacBook Air. It could appear odd that the least flashy laptop computer of CES 2025 is one in every of our favorites, however typically pure practicality is simple. — Devindra Hardawar, Senior reporter, opinions

BioLite Backup

We’re at all times searching for model new, never-seen-before stuff at CES, however typically it’s the intelligent reinterpretation of current tech that catches our consideration. That’s the case with Backup by Biolite. It’s basically a cross between a common energy provide (UPS) and a whole-home backup battery, however improves on each.

The skinny, 40-pound 1.5 kWh battery lives between a wall outlet and your fridge (or every other plug-in machine) and retains these issues working within the occasion of an influence outage. It doesn’t require skilled set up, only a user-installed wall mount, and it’s skinny sufficient to cover behind your fridge or tuck underneath a counter. Although if it have been on show, the matte-silver end wouldn’t spoil any aesthetic.

The Backup Complete consists of two models that provide as much as 3 kWh, which is sufficient to energy a fridge, microwave, lights, in addition to refill telephones and a laptop computer. The three kWh capability and the truth that it’s an put in battery at the moment qualifies it for a 30 p.c federal tax credit score, which might carry the price all the way down to $2,100 for the Full. The only-unit Backup Core packs 1.5 kWh and goes for $2,000. Each can be found for pre-order now and will ship this summer time. — Amy Skorheim, Reporter, shopping for recommendation

Jackery Photo voltaic Roof

Jackery is already a longtime identify in home photo voltaic generator techniques, and its newest product fills a wavy hole in its product lineup. Jackery’s XBC curved solar roof shingles mimic a number of the most typical home kinds within the nation, they usually are available in terracotta or obsidian colorways for optimum HOA appeasement. These are the primary curved photo voltaic tiles to hit america market they usually ship a cell conversion effectivity of greater than 25 p.c. They will face up to excessive climate circumstances, together with temperatures between -40 levels F and 185 levels F, they usually’re designed in step with conventional roofing set up practices, that includes a modular setup that permits for versatile upkeep. Jackery’s new wavy photo voltaic tiles join with the corporate’s current photo voltaic technology and storage merchandise, making them an accessible and engaging possibility for whole-home sustainability. — Jessica Conditt, Senior reporter

Lenovo Legion Go S

The plight of the trendy handheld-PC gamer is attempting to resolve which OS to make use of. There are a ton of Windows 11-based units that supply unparalleled compatibility and powerful graphics assist. However all that comes on a platform that isn’t optimized for smaller devices with hooked up controllers. Alternatively, SteamOS presents a way more cohesive expertise with a greater UI and fewer efficiency overhead. The issue is that Valve’s working system was mainly solely obtainable on a single machine — the Steam Deck. That modifications now with the Lenovo Legion Go S, which will likely be obtainable in two flavors: a Home windows model and for the primary time on any handheld not made by Valve, a mannequin powered by SteamOS.

Except for the selection of platforms and completely different coloured shells, we admire that the 2 variants function nearly equivalent specs together with an AMD Ryzen Z2 Go processor, as much as 32GB of RAM, 1TB of storage and a decently massive 55.5Whr battery. Its 8-inch touchscreen seems to be nice too, because it presents a 120Hz refresh charge with assist for VRR, 500 nits of brightness and a 1,920 x 1,200 decision. And with costs beginning at $600 (or $500 for the SteamOS mannequin), it’s moderately inexpensive too. Maybe the most important draw back is that whereas the Home windows mannequin will likely be out later this month, we’re going to have to attend till Could for the one powered by SteamOS. However with the latter kind of lastly making good on the practically decade-old promise of Valve’s Steam Machines, holding out for a number of further months doesn’t appear so lengthy. — Sam Rutherford, Senior reporter, opinions

LG OLED evo M5

LG’s Better of CES crown is secure for an additional 12 months. The corporate is constantly on the prime of the perfect TVs we see annually in Las Vegas, and it continuously comes out the winner. For this 12 months’s OLED evo M5, the corporate managed to additional enhance its most premium shows, including the most recent α (Alpha) 11 AI processor Gen2 to enhance the look of lower-resolution content material and energy superior options.

For avid gamers, there’s a 165Hz refresh charge, alongside each NVIDIA G-SYNC and AMD FreeSync Premium certifications. This could easy issues out and preserve lag to a minimal. The corporate’s new Brightness Booster Final can obtain ranges which might be thrice brighter than “typical OLED” fashions, in line with the corporate. Plus, the function contributes to a UL Options’ “Good Black” and “Good Coloration” verification on the M5. It’s really gorgeous image high quality.

Lastly, LG’s Zero Join Field that’s been obtainable on the M-series for some time now’s lastly obtainable on screens under 77 inches. This machine means that you can join all your consoles and streaming gear with out working a number of HDMI cables to the TV. LG now says it doesn’t want line-of-sight clearance both, and that it may be hidden in a wood cupboard close to the M5. — Billy Steele, Senior reporter, opinions

Moonbird Moonbuddy

Devices made for rest shouldn’t be sophisticated. Moonbuddy has one goal — to make guided breathwork accessible and interesting to youngsters — and it nails the execution with no pointless frills. The corporate behind it first made an analogous stress reduction machine for adults, and Moonbuddy simplifies that have and places it right into a cuter package deal. Moonbuddy is an egg-shaped machine with a smooth space that expands and contracts in set rhythms, so youngsters can observe alongside and sync up their very own respiratory. It suits into an animal themed sleeve, so it seems to be like a toy. There are 4 completely different respiratory modes, every lasting a couple of minutes and designed to advertise a state of calmness.

The entire thing is tactile and screen-free, which is very good contemplating many mother and father might wish to incorporate it into the nighttime routine. And as a lot as I like the little animal outfits as an individual who gravitates towards cute issues, I additionally like that in case your child will get to that stage the place they reject all the things babyish, they will take the sleeve off and preserve utilizing it in its extra nondescript type. — Cheyenne MacDonald, Weekend editor

OhSnap MCON

The MCON by OhSnap mainly transforms any smartphone into a contemporary Xperia Play, full with trendy conveniences like Corridor impact analog sticks, silent buttons, flip-out grips, and a full bumper and set off format. It’s a cell gamepad that may slide into your pocket with out the sticks or handles getting caught on something, and it really works with just about each smartphone available on the market right this moment. The MCON makes use of MagSafe to snap onto the again of any current iPhone and it comes with an adapter for Android units to hitch in on the enjoyable. It even works with the Galaxy Z Fold, and its creator, Josh King, is engaged on an answer for the Z Flip, too.

The mockup that King dropped at CES 2025 felt light-weight but stable and comfy to carry, and the phone-snapping motion was supremely satisfying. After gaining a little bit of viral fame along with his thought, King partnered with established MagSafe accent producer OhSnap to push the MCON into full manufacturing, and it’s resulting from hit the market in August for $150. — Jessica Conditt, Senior reporter

Roborock Saros Z70

Robotic vacuums received a bunch of recent — and typically unusual — powers at CES 2025. However none made an even bigger impression than Roborock’s Saros Z70, which comes with a mechanical arm that may decide up socks, raise cords and seize different objects.

The OmniGrip arm can decide up objects as much as 300 grams (a little bit greater than half a pound) with the intention to clear underneath them or deposit them within the location of your alternative. Performance of the arm is managed by way of Roborock’s app and is extraordinarily customizable so you may program it to select up free trash and cat toys, however raise up cords to scrub beneath.

Once we noticed it in motion at CES, it deftly picked up socks and positioned them in a basket. However Roborock guarantees it will probably do rather more. The vacuum will routinely acknowledge 108 completely different objects — sure, like seemingly each different gadget we noticed at CES, it makes use of AI — however it’s also possible to train it to detect as much as 50 further gadgets so it would know the best way to deal with obstacles it’s most probably to come across in your house.

Surprisingly, the Saros Z70 wasn’t the only robotic vacuum with an arm we noticed at CES, however it will likely be the primary which you can truly purchase. — Karissa Bell, Senior reporter

Technics EAH-AZ100 earbuds

Technics’ new Magnetic Fluid drivers have garnered plenty of headlines this week, however all you really want to learn about the EAH-AZ100 earbuds is that the sound high quality is massively improved. Powered by these new elements, there’s extra readability, element and bass, all of that are upgrades from the already spectacular AZ80. Technics revised its earbud form for the AZ100 within the identify of consolation and match, whereas additionally making the buds smaller and lighter. Options like contact controls, multipoint connectivity for 3 units, spatial Dolby Atmos audio and LDAC assist are right here as nicely. And in contrast to most of what we see at CES, these new earbuds are already obtainable to buy. — Billy Steele, Senior reporter, opinions

Urtopia Titanium Zero

For the reason that pandemic, e-bikes, not electric cars, have been on the forefront of the EV revolution, and it’s simple to see why: Electrical bikes are much more inexpensive than their four-wheeled counterparts. Plus, right here at Engadget, we’re all for units that promote more healthy dwelling, and for a lot of, getting an e-bike could be transformational.

So when Urtopia confirmed up at CES 2025 with an idea e-bike that includes a novel motor design, I used to be excited. As my colleague Daniel Cooper notes in his writeup, e-bike motors have historically are available in two type elements, every with their very own set of concerns. The custom-designed Quark DMI.2 mid-drive motor Urtopia confirmed off alongside its Titanium Zero e-bike presents a 3rd path. It’s not as highly effective as conventional mid-drive motors, however it nonetheless options extra energy output than even the perfect hub motors. Better of all, the motor is sufficiently small to suit inside a backside bracket and weighs simply 2.6 kilos.

Urtopia hasn’t stated when it would begin manufacturing the Titanium Zero, however it’s simple to see a situation the place the design of the Quark DMI.2 evokes different bike makers and pushes the business ahead. — Igor Bonifacic, Senior reporter

WeWalk Sensible Cane 2

Of all of the merchandise at CES 2025 that had AI stuffed into them, WeWalk’s Smart Cane 2 stood out. The good cane for individuals with visible impairments received an replace this 12 months that not solely provides AI, but additionally addresses the unique’s shortcomings. It brings extra superior sensors, and better of all, nonetheless works as a traditional folding cane when these technological options aren’t engaged. The Sensible Cane 2 can detect obstacles and supply turn-by-turn navigation, and it has a ChatGPT-powered assistant that may present solutions to questions whereas somebody is strolling, with out the necessity to attain for a smartphone. WeWalk additionally refined the precise cane by making its deal with slimmer, changing the unique’s touchpad with tactile buttons and shaving a little bit of weight off.

Certain, you won’t be capable of belief ChatGPT to present you right solutions to each query possible but, however at the least on this implementation, the product isn’t prone to hurt customers even when the AI fails. Plus, it has helpful {hardware}, together with time-of-flight and movement sensors to enhance navigation, audio system to offer solutions and suggestions, in addition to a flashlight to make the visually impaired extra noticeable at evening. And once more, if the battery dies, you may nonetheless use this as a conventional, albeit pricier, cane. — Cherlynn Low, Deputy editor, opinions

Yukai Engineering Mirumi

One of the crucial memorable robots at CES this 12 months was the one which arguably does the least. We discovered ourselves powerless towards the heart-melting charm of Mirumi, a tiny, fluffy robotic made by Yukai Engineering that actually simply stares at individuals and appears round like a child discovering the surface world. It’s sufficiently small to slot in the palm of your hand, however even higher than that, it has lengthy posable arms that permit it to hold onto objects. So for those who put it in your bag strap, it would stare down everybody you encounter, and perhaps turn out to be a little bit shy after they return the eye.

Mirumi has no goal apart from to unfold pleasure, and I find it irresistible for that. Yukai beforehand introduced us the bizarre Qoobo pillow (the one with the tail) and the cat that nibbles your finger, and that is one other case through which it didn’t miss with one in every of its odd creations. — Cheyenne MacDonald, Weekend editor

Greatest in present: WeWalk Sensible Cane 2

At CES this 12 months, AI was unsurprisingly all over the place, typically in locations it didn’t actually appear to be it wanted to be. However the WeWalk Sensible Cane 2, a high-tech model of the mobility cane for people who find themselves blind, struck me as an software the place it may truly be actually useful. With a brand new voice assistant that’s powered by GPT, customers can converse on to the cane to get detailed navigation steering and on-demand data, like public transportation choices and menu gadgets. The good cane can also be full of sensors that permit it to alert the customers of upcoming obstacles. It does this with haptic suggestions within the deal with and by calling out a verbal warning.

WeWalk co-founder Kursat Ceylan, who’s blind, gave an indication of the cane within the chaotic setting of the Las Vegas Conference Middle, and it was spectacular. The voice assistant responded rapidly and precisely to his prompts, and the impediment detection alert was loud sufficient to be heard over the excitement of the CES crowd. It will probably additionally pair with headphones or earbuds by way of Bluetooth. For the reason that cane can deal with issues like turn-by-turn navigation, customers don’t have to fret about additionally holding a smartphone whereas they’re attempting to get round.

The good cane takes an current device that individuals are already accustomed to and enhances it. Importantly, it additionally looks like the corporate heard the suggestions of customers who had the primary model of the cane and improved the design to higher meet their wants. It has a slimmer deal with than the primary mannequin and tactile buttons, and weighs about the identical as a conventional white cane. — Cheyenne MacDonald, Weekend editor