Worst of CES 2025: Disappointments, no-shows, and head-scratchers

Yearly, Windows Central dispatches an elite group of journalists to CES to uncover the top – as well as the bottom – innovations, updates, and product launches. Although there’s often a broad selection of new technology at CES, our concentration on PCs, concept gadgets, and gaming equipment ensures we stay busy with significant announcements.

At Las Vegas’ CES 2025, which started on January 6 with a keynote address by NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, the main events were already unveiled. The exhibition continues until January 10, but we’re currently busy summarizing the highlights of this exciting event.

In this piece, instead of showcasing the best of CES 2025 Awards as Windows Central did, which my colleague Ben Wilson curated with noteworthy moments from the exhibition, I’ve chosen to compile all the major letdowns and puzzling inventions that we encountered at CES 2025.

Alienware’s Area-51 gaming desktop returns with two RAM slots

At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025, Dell brought back one of its iconic sub-brands under Alienware – the Area-51 label, signifying the comeback of their top-tier gaming PC. According to Dell, this latest version is more upgradeable than any previous model, but certain design decisions could pose challenges.

Instead of the previous custom motherboard shape that made DIY upgrades nearly impossible due to its scarcity, the new Area-51 now incorporates a more standardized (yet not completely standard) ATX board. Although it still follows an Alienware design, you’ll need to purchase a separate mounting harness if you ever wish to swap out the motherboard with one from another brand. It has only two RAM slots available.

The statement that caught my attention was about a large, high-powered computer (80L) which doesn’t provide users with the ability to divide its RAM into four separate sticks. If you’re considering spending $4,499 or more on a pre-built gaming PC, I suggest taking a look at MAINGEAR’s latest APEX FORCE models, unveiled at CES 2025.

Lenovo’s Yoga Book 9i 14 (Gen 10) didn’t get the upgrades I wanted most

Among the many surprises I encountered in 2024, one that stood out was my newfound affection for dual-screen laptops. Specifically, the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i 14 (Gen 10) and ASUS Zenbook DUO were two models that impressed me in this category. During CES 2025, both devices received updates, with Lenovo Yoga Book 9i 14 receiving a more significant makeover compared to the ASUS Zenbook DUO.

In a significant upgrade, the Yoga Book 9i’s dual displays have been expanded from 13.3 inches to 14 inches each. Additionally, these displays now support a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz (previously fixed at 60Hz). Remarkably, Lenovo has successfully reduced the weight of the device despite incorporating larger screens and a bigger battery.

One issue I have with the Yoga Book 9i, especially compared to the Zenbook DUO’s seamless design, is that its keyboard feels somewhat like an additional feature rather than a central part of the device. Regrettably, it lacks backlighting, a physical touchpad, and built-in storage when you’re on the go.

My wishlist with a redesigned keyboard and stand setup will have to wait at least another year.

Lenovo’s Legion Pro 7i 16 (Gen 10) loses its rear port bank

Among the initial gaming laptops I reviewed, one noteworthy model with a hidden bank of ports behind the display hinges was from Lenovo’s Legion series. This unique aspect quickly found its way onto my list of must-have features, and since then, many other gaming laptops have adopted this design as they were updated.

What is it about this characteristic that I find so appealing? It arranges the long-term cables such as HDMI, AC power, and USB-A at the rear, minimizing mess and making the laptop more convenient to manage. For those who often utilize a gaming laptop on a desk, this feature proves particularly valuable.

At CES 2025, I came across Lenovo’s latest gaming powerhouse – the Legion Pro 7i 16 (Gen 10). This beauty underwent a redesign to accommodate an enhanced cooling system, a necessity given Intel and NVIDIA’s cutting-edge hardware performance. Unfortunately, the rear port bank seemed to have taken a back seat in this revamp.

NVIDIA’s RTX 5090 costs $2,000

At CES 2025, NVIDIA was honored with a Windows Central Best of CES Award for its innovative new line of RTX 5000 “Blackwell” graphics cards, including the RTX 5090, RTX 5080, RTX 5070 Ti, and RTX 5070. This announcement, however, was met with some audible sighs from the on-site audience and a somewhat tense keynote address by NVIDIA’s CEO, Jensen Huang.

Discussing the highly anticipated Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090, which generated buzz upon unveiling its $2,000 cost. This aspect was crucial for many PC gamers, and although we anticipated a steep price, the additional $400 compared to its RTX 4090 predecessor leaves a sour taste.

It is claimed by NVIDIA that the performance of the RTX 5070 matches that of the RTX 4090, priced at $549. While there’s a significant amount of AI and frame generation work backing this assertion, the question arises: will it make a difference if the visual quality remains unchanged?

Acer’s Nitro Blaze 11 is enormous … with a price to match

I’m withholding my definitive opinion until I witness its capabilities, but for the moment, the Acer Nitro Blaze 11 gaming handheld appears quite unrealistic. Frankly, the promotional image Acer provides makes it seem enormous. Isn’t it huge?

Acer unveiled both the 11-inch Nitro Blaze and the 8.8-inch variant, sharing similar features except for size and screen dimensions. However, it’s worth noting that the larger model comes with a relatively smaller 55Wh battery, while the ASUS ROG Ally X boasts an 80Wh battery for comparison. Unfortunately, there is no option for a more powerful CPU in this model yet.

Acer seems to be venturing into innovative territory with the Nitro Blaze, offering a spacious system that caters to individuals seeking a bigger screen without necessarily needing a full-fledged laptop. The standout aspects of this device might include its built-in support and detachable controllers; however, the $1,100 starting price may be a potential turnoff for some. More insight will be available when these handhelds hit the market in Q2 2025.

Dell does away with decades of brand recognition

As an analyst, I would advise against discarding years of established brand recognition, particularly when it comes to a name synonymous with laptops, even among those who may not closely follow PC news. Instead, consider leveraging that strong brand identity as a foundation for continued growth and innovation.

As an analyst, I can share that Dell, at CES 2025, unveiled their plans to streamline their product lineup for the era of AI-centric PCs. This rebranding effort includes phasing out established names such as XPS, Precision, Latitude, OptiPlex, among others. The question you have about the new monikers will be addressed once Dell officially reveals them in due course.

Indeed, t The brand is simply called “Dell” for their consumer laptops. For those in the professional market, there are Dell Pro laptops to consider. Lastly, the top-tier options are Dell Pro Max, offering a blend of premium hardware suitable for both consumer and commercial needs.

Additionally, each brand offers three levels: ‘Standard’, ‘Advanced’, and ‘Premium’, giving us examples like Dell Pro Max 16 Advanced. Is that sufficient descriptors? We’ll find out as the new computers are scheduled to ship in February 2025, marking Dell’s bold rebranding move. Will it be successful? Only time will tell.

Instead of maintaining decades-long tradition, Dell has opted for a fresh start by simply naming its latest lineup of laptops as “Dell”, offering “Pro” and “Pro Max” variations.

AMD no-shows its RDNA 4 GPUs

At CES 2025, we received an advance press pack from AMD to stay ahead of the announcements. However, some of the information conflicted with their live demonstration, leaving us puzzled about where the RDNA 4 GPUs were mentioned.

According to Tom’s Hardware, it was reported that AMD overlooked something during their 45-minute presentation, and they attribute this mistake to time constraints. Here is a statement from AMD executive David McAfee, as shared by Tom’s Hardware:

To clarify from the outset, the absence of RDNA 4 during this press conference is not related to our product development process or its progress. In fact, the chips are currently undergoing testing in the lab and are meeting all expectations for both performance and power consumption.

It was clear that AMD had no intention of competing with NVIDIA for high-end GPU market share, but their absence has undoubtedly upset fans of Team Red. Here’s to hoping the upcoming GPUs, such as the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT, will impress us when AMD unveils them.

2025-01-10 20:09