Here are the 7 coolest tech products I saw at my very first CES

Every year in Las Vegas, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) welcomes approximately 40,000 businesses, professionals, and attendees to get up close with the technology shaping consumer, business, and medical sectors of the future. During CES 2025, an impressive 141,000 guests flocked to the Las Vegas Strip, including myself for the first time. I’ve been a part of this field for several years, but it wasn’t until now that I had the opportunity to experience CES on my own.

After getting back home and recharging, I felt compelled to shine a light on the most outstanding technologies I encountered. It’s important to clarify that there won’t be any AI jargon, impractical prototypes, or overly complex tech gadgets in this list. Instead, you will find seven tech products that have genuinely impressed me; what sets them apart is their availability this year.

At Windows Central, we’ve previously highlighted the 15 winners of our “Best of CES 2025” awards and addressed some letdowns from the event as well. Moving forward, I’d like to share with you my top 7 favorite tech products that caught my eye during my inaugural visit to CES in 2025.

1. Lenovo Legion Go S

The Lenovo Legion Go S, our chosen winner for “Best Gaming Handheld of CES 2025”, is part of the newest lineup of potent gaming handhelds. While not exactly a successor to the initial Legion Go, the Legion Go S offers an improved and more ergonomic all-in-one design as an alternative. I was the first member of the Windows Central team to get hands-on with this new hardware and found myself instantly smitten.

The Lenovo Legion Go S combines an 8-inch, 120Hz IPS LCD screen with a curved plastic body, Hall Effect thumbsticks, and AMD Ryzen technology. As my main gaming handheld, I typically rely on the ASUS ROG Ally X, but the Lenovo Legion Go S feels equally comfortable to hold, despite its larger display. After playing Forza Horizon 5 on the Lenovo Legion Go S, I must admit that I’m finding myself leaning towards this design over the trusted ROG Ally X – a remarkable achievement for Lenovo indeed.

Instead of repeating all details about the Lenovo Legion Go S (you can find them by clicking on the provided links), I’ll highlight two distinct advantages this device offers within the gaming handheld market. Firstly, unlike other devices, it won’t simply have Windows installed; instead, it will be the first officially licensed SteamOS gaming handheld. This means it will serve as a genuine alternative to the Steam Deck in a few months.

I’m really looking forward to exploring the Lenovo Legion Go S further, as it’s set to hit stores in January 2025 for around $729.99 at Lenovo. Additionally, less expensive SteamOS and Windows versions priced at $500 and $600 respectively are expected to be released in May 2025.

2. ASUS Zenbook A14 (2025)

Without a doubt, the ASUS Zenbook A14, unveiled at CES 2025 and our choice for “Best Laptop of CES 2025”, is undeniably the most remarkable laptop announced at the event. This cutting-edge device is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon X series, being one of the first to showcase the new Qualcomm Snapdragon X, a cost-effective chipset from the efficient ARM lineup. It’s this chipset that gives this laptop its unique edge.

As I delve into the review of the ASUS Zenbook A14, I’m struck by its remarkable weight – barely reaching 2.16 lbs, equivalent to the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 13) that has left me impressed. Remarkably, the Zenbook A14 manages this featherweight without breaking the bank, offering a price point significantly lower than its counterpart. Yet, you won’t find any compromises in build quality here. The entire chassis is crafted from ASUS’ proprietary “Ceraluminum,” essentially magnesium adorned with a sleek ceramic coating.

As a researcher, I must admit that I was taken aback by the Zenbook A14’s weight of 980g. However, its robust construction and impressive 70Whr battery, capable of supporting up to 19.5 hours of web browsing on its 1200p, 60Hz OLED display, left me utterly captivated upon first use. This laptop truly defies expectations – it’s light but sturdy, a perfect blend that I can only describe as exceptional performance for its weight (pun intended). It’s set to retail at $900 starting January 2025, although the ASUS Zenbook A14 will initially be available for $1,099 on ASUS’s official site. In a few months, a more budget-friendly model will also be available at Best Buy.

I’m thrilled to discover that the Zenbook A14 model offers an option to upgrade with a Snapdragon X Elite processor, a 2.8K and 120Hz OLED screen, and a massive 32GB of RAM. This setup promises a top-tier computing experience while maintaining its remarkable lightweight design. In fact, the Windows Central team can’t wait to get their hands on it; they’re all eager to conduct the review!

3. Razer Blade 16 (2025)

In my review of the Razer Blade 16 (2024), I admired its exceptional craftsmanship but found fault with its outdated style, so-so keyboard, and questionable performance. However, a year later, Razer has revamped their top-tier Blade 16 with a completely fresh design… along with other significant upgrades that won it the title of “Best Gaming Laptop at CES 2025.

The newly released Razer Blade 16 (2025) stands out as the slimmest gaming laptop in Razer’s history, measuring approximately 14.9mm thick compared to last year’s 22mm. This slimmer design is nothing short of stunning. Remarkably, despite its streamlined appearance, it retains all its ports and even offers an improved keyboard with a 50% increased key travel and more robust, tactile switches. In essence, the new Razer Blade 16 boasts a captivating design while maintaining essential features.

In an unprecedented move for their flagship product, Razer opted for AMD Ryzen AI processors instead of Intel in the Blade 16. This is a notable change as it’s the first time Razer has made such a switch in a premium device. The benefits are substantial: the Blade 16 becomes slimmer, lighter, and more efficient due to this shift. Furthermore, it transforms into a Copilot+ PC with an embedded Neural Processing Unit (NPU). To top it off, you can expect up to the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 GPU for superior gaming performance.

The new Razer Blade 16 (2025) is not due for a few more months, and we’re yet to learn about its pricing. However, my enthusiasm isn’t waning! I’ve had the opportunity to try it out myself, allowing me to compare it with its previous version. The improvements are striking, and Razer might just have a real gem on their hands. For more details, check out their website at Razer.com.

4. XREAL One Pro

Despite the bad weather at home almost preventing me from attending CES 2025 and exploring XREAL’s newest offerings, a fortunate turn of events kept me in Las Vegas an extra day. I’ve long admired XREAL since my encounter with them at GDC 2024 and getting to try out the XREAL Air 2 Pro AR glasses at home. However, much has evolved since then. Now, XREAL is venturing into creating its own custom silicon for AR, which opens up fresh possibilities for their latest products.

At CES 2025, I had a chance to explore the upgraded XREAL One and One Pro AR spectacles. These new models are slimmer, more intelligent, and offer a premium feel. Driven by the XREAL X1 AR processor and sporting larger, more reactive screens, the XREAL One lineup also includes 3DoF technology. This feature enables spatial tracking in three dimensions, enabling you to position your personal displays anywhere you desire. As a result, your content remains stationary even when you look away.

I recently enjoyed playing some of the Arkham series on my Xbox Series X, all while donning the XREAL One Pro glasses. It’s undeniable that their internal displays are more substantial and visually striking. These glasses seem like a significant leap in terms of performance in almost every aspect, marking a new chapter for XREAL. The ability to have a massive, personal, immersive display with spatial audio, regardless of your location or device, has already shown great appeal. However, XREAL aims to solidify its leadership position with the One series.

The latest model, XREAL One, can be purchased now for $499 directly from XREAL. On the other hand, the advanced XREAL One Pro, offering an expansive field-of-view and a three-stage electrochromic lens adjustable for tint, is set to ship starting March 2025 at a price of $599 on XREAL’s website.

5. Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i 14 (Gen 10)

If you’re discussing aesthetics, it’s hard to overlook the latest Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i 14 (Gen 10). This device, which won our “Best Ultrabook of CES 2025” award, could be Lenovo’s most attractive laptop yet – a title I’ve long associated with their flagship devices. The distinctive design, characterized by smooth edges and the familiar “Communications Bar” on the lid, is enhanced by a stunning cat-eye-like 3D sheen on the lid, thanks to a layer of durable Gorilla Glass.

This laptop boasts an exceptional shine that I haven’t seen in a while, but it’s not just its sheen that sets it apart. The real star here is its display. Lenovo’s “PureSight Pro” 4K OLED panel comes back with a fluid 120Hz refresh rate, covering 100% of all three primary color gamuts and factory calibrated, boasting 750 nits of peak brightness, and an impressive 98% screen-to-body ratio. This means the Yoga Slim 9i is nearly all screen, and that screen is sharper, swifter, brighter, and more color-accurate than most laptop displays on the market today.

This innovative laptop achieves its impressive 98% screen-to-body ratio by integrating an under-display front camera, a groundbreaking feature in the mainstream laptop market. The 32MP camera sensor is discreetly placed beneath the OLED display, and when recording, it deactivates those concealing pixels for crystal-clear footage. Once you’re done, the screen instantly returns to a smooth viewing experience with no visible seams. This laptop is visually stunning, yet under the hood, it remains a premium Lenovo ultrabook powered by Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) and top-tier hardware components.

Due to its compact size compared to typical 14-inch laptops, the touchpad on this Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i 14 (Gen 10) is relatively small. Also, there’s no haptic touchpad feature this time. Despite these limitations, I’m eagerly anticipating its launch in February 2025, and it can be preordered now at Lenovo, starting from $1,759.99.

6. ASUS ROG Flow Z13 (2025)

Among the unusual laptops showcased at CES 2025, the ASUS ROG Flow Z13 (2025), which was crowned the “Best 2-in-1 Laptop of CES 2025”, can also be referred to as a “gaming version of the Surface Pro”. This device functions as a Windows tablet, featuring a retractable kickstand, detachable keyboard, and support for active styluses. However, it’s not just a regular tablet; it’s also a robust gaming laptop powered by AMD’s top-tier Ryzen AI MAX+ chipset and its potent RDNA 3.5 integrated graphics processor.

You’re receiving a 13.4-inch IPS LCD, QHD+ display with a fast 180Hz refresh rate, encased in a robust, gaming-inspired aluminum frame measuring only 13mm thick. A distinctive RGB-illuminated rear window offers a glimpse of the Flow Z13’s internal components. Frankly, I appreciate this hardware, and it’s great to see companies like ASUS continuing to innovate with unique products such as the ROG Flow Z13. Although the market for a laptop combining Surface Pro-like features with gaming may not be vast, it’s still remarkable that the ASUS ROG Flow Z13 exists, and that’s terrific.

The ROG Flow Z13 doesn’t challenge the Razer Blade 16 head-on, but it boasts a stronger CPU and GPU compared to top-tier gaming handhelds, making it capable of running all the latest high-end PC games comfortably. It also offers an impressive 128GB of rapid memory, and a substantial 70Whr battery aims to provide extended operation beyond just a few hours.

I have a strong affection for Windows tablets and unique gaming PCs, so this new product is perfect for me. Expected to launch in 2025, the ASUS ROG Flow Z13 (2025) will retail at ASUS starting from $1,999.99. This clearly positions it as a premium choice in the market.

7. Razer Immersive Ecosystem

To wrap up, I’d like to draw attention to the Razer Immersive Ecosystem, a fresh endeavor driven by a revamped Razer Chroma engine. Lately, I’ve been impressed by the Razer Gamer Room, which includes Aether smart home lighting products and has positioned Razer as a top player in this sector. Now, this product range is growing further while integrating more closely with Razer’s other “immersive” technologies.

In terms of sound, you get immersive 7.1 spatial audio thanks to Razer’s collaboration with THX; for tactile feedback, you have SensaHD Haptics incorporated into products such as the Razer Kraken V4 Pro headset and the Razer Freyja seat cushion (reviewed by my colleague); for visual immersion, there’s Razer Chroma, a wide-ranging RGB lighting system that supports numerous accessories, peripherals, and lights from Razer and external partners. The “Razer Immersive Experience” combines all these aspects seamlessly.

At CES 2025, I had the privilege of experiencing the capabilities of the new Razer Chroma engine firsthand through an exclusive preview of Dune: Awakening. In the near future, Chroma will boast full 3D spatial awareness, allowing it to precisely locate all connected devices and synchronize them seamlessly with whatever’s displayed on your screen. This can occur automatically, but for the optimal experience, developers can specifically design their games to harmonize with the Razer Immersive Ecosystem.

Using a cutting-edge Razer Wolverine V3 Pro controller, equipped with Razer SensaHD Haptics, I immersed myself in an interactive gaming setup that offered remarkable responsiveness and accuracy across audio, visual, and tactile aspects. The lighting synchronised flawlessly with the surroundings, responding dynamically to my actions, movements, and gunfire; the haptic feedback responded realistically to recoil, incoming fire, and impacts; the speakers kept me attentive to all events taking place around me. It was a unique and captivating encounter that I can’t point you to as a single product, but it undoubtedly ranked among the most impressive demos I encountered at CES.

You can find more information on the Razer Immersive Ecosystem at Razer.com.

2025-01-14 18:10