We’re solely a few weeks into 2024, however the yr is beginning off sturdy with the annual Shopper Electronics Present (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada. Loads of corporations had been there, displaying off their newest units, improvements, and ideas, from huge corporations like Google, LG, Samsung, and ASUS, to new and smaller corporations you might not have heard of (however will in all probability hear extra about all year long).
But, whereas there’s loads that occurred on the CES 2024, we needed to spotlight a few of the merchandise that basically caught out to Android Central, from telephones to wearables, TVs, combined actuality units, and even some ideas that will or might not see the sunshine of day.
ASUS ROG Cellphone 8 Professional
CES is not identified to have loads of main cellphone launches, however that did not cease ASUS from giving us what is likely to be probably the greatest gaming telephones of the yr. We went hands-on with the ASUS ROG Cellphone 8 Professional, and it appears almost excellent. It has a clear design, notably for a gaming cellphone, a robust new Snapdragon chipset, as much as 24GB of RAM, and a handy guide a rough 165Hz OLED show. And whereas gaming telephones aren’t identified for having the perfect cameras, the 50MP main digital camera on the ROG Cellphone 8 Professional is already proving to be fairly an enchancment over earlier iterations.
If you happen to like RGB lighting, you may need the non-Professional model, however the Professional has a brand new dot matrix panel dubbed AniMe Imaginative and prescient that helps numerous animations for notifications, cost degree, incoming calls, and extra user-customizable choices.
The ROG Cellphone 8 Professional is out there for $1,199, whereas its base Cellphone 8 sibling may be grabbed for $1,099.
Samsung In&Out Flip
Corporations love to point out off upcoming merchandise at CES, however in addition they prefer to tease us with ideas that will by no means truly go on sale. Samsung had fairly a spectacle at CES with its TVs, however the firm additionally gave us a glimpse at some spectacular show tech, particularly the In&Out Flip. It is an evolution of the Galaxy Z Flip line that not solely folds in like a daily flip cellphone but additionally flips outward. That is why there’s just one show and no cowl display; you possibly can simply flip the cellphone outward whenever you simply need to use a part of the show or use each on the back and front.
As a result of the In&Out Flip solely makes use of a single versatile show, Samsung says the cellphone achieves a “sleeker and thinner design,” which is a purpose for foldable telephones, as they solely get thicker whenever you fold them in half.
Sadly, it does not seem to be we’ll get this on a industrial cellphone any time quickly, but it surely’s cool to take a look at, and we will solely hope.
Evie Ring
Good rings are slowly however absolutely changing into a factor as extra corporations launch their very own takes. The Oura Ring has just about led the sensible ring cost, however the Evie Ring is among the newest challengers to enter… the ring. What’s attention-grabbing about this system is the quite distinctive design and the truth that the Evie Ring is geared towards girls with options like interval monitoring and temper logging. And due to the companion app, there’s AI that may be taught extra about you to offer useful insights about your well being.
Battery life comes brief in comparison with different units just like the Oura Ring, clocking in at 4 or extra days. Nonetheless, the charging case tops up the system in simply 60 minutes, and you’ll take it anyplace with you. And the perfect half is that there is not any subscription to make the most of your options.
Movano first debuted the Evie Ring again in 2022, so it is taken a while for the corporate to convey it to market. Nonetheless, it is lastly that can be purchased for simply $269 when you’re an iOS consumer, with Android assist coming later this yr.
XREAL Air 2 Extremely
Good glasses are one other rising piece of tech, with numerous corporations attempting to seize their piece of the pie. XREAL is not any stranger to the sport, having launched a couple of fashions already, and the newest pair has its sights squarely on Meta and Apple. The Air 2 Extremely incorporates a light-weight design that isn’t a lot bigger than a daily pair of sun shades. In fact, these do way more, due to its reasonably priced tackle combined actuality.
It comes with two Sony Micro-LED panels with 1080p decision per eye and as much as 120Hz refresh price, a wider 52-degree subject of view, and 6 DoF monitoring enabled by the 2 front-facing 3D sensors so you possibly can transfer round and work together with digital objects inside your house.
The place they differ from the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional or Meta Quest Professional is that these glasses must be plugged into an exterior system to work, similar to a Galaxy S23 or a PC. Nonetheless, these are additionally less expensive than its opponents at simply $700, which is one approach to get combined actuality units into the arms of extra shoppers.
Rabbit R1Â
That is an attention-grabbing one. The Rabbit R1 seems just like the weirdest cellphone, though it isn’t precisely a cellphone within the conventional sense. It is a bodily AI assistant that just about tries to switch your cellphone by studying learn how to use the apps you utilize and carry out the features that will usually require you to navigate settings and apps. Because of the massive motion mannequin powering it and assist from ChatGPT-4, the Rabbit R1 can find out how you do these items, and with the press of a button, you possibly can inform it to do issues from beginning a Spotify playlist to procuring on-line.
The show will current you with playing cards associated to your question, and the system does not run a standard working system, so you will not discover apps right here. That stated, the Rabbit R1 can hook up with your apps to find out how you utilize them. There’s additionally a digital camera you should utilize for image-based queries.
With the rise in AI tech over the previous yr, it is no shock corporations need to create methods to create devoted units to faucet into it. And whereas it isn’t instantly clear how useful a tool like this actually is in sensible use, the Rabbit R1 has already bought 10,000 models on its first day, and the system is anticipated to ship in Q2 2024.
LG Signature OLED T
LG made some huge bulletins at CES, together with the truth that its new TVs will now have Google Solid built-in. However one explicit TV actually stands out from the pack, and it is the brand new Signature OLED T. It is not LG’s first clear OLED show, but it surely’s the primary meant for shoppers, and it really works nearly fully wi-fi due to the Zero Join Field that beams your content material on to the tv.
When the TV is in transparency mode, it can provide sure content material a degree of depth that you do not get with a standard TV. Then, whenever you need that standard viewing expertise, you possibly can convey again the black distinction display so it seems like a daily OLED. And when the TV’s not in use, it has an AOD operate that may make the show appear like a fish tank, whereas a small bar on the backside makes use of the distinction movie to show information alerts, climate, and different bits of knowledge.
It might sound a bit gimmicky, however there is not any denying that it is a cool piece of tech, and the 77-inch 4K TV will go on sale for an unspecified value someday this yr.
Anker MagGo Charging Station (Orb)
With Qi2 on the rise, extra corporations are starting to launch merchandise that assist the usual. Anker is among the many first, having proven off a couple of new charging merchandise at CES. Certainly one of them is a big orb that fees MagSafe-compatible telephones on the entrance, with loads of ports to cost different units on the again. It is an 8-in-1 charging station that features three AC retailers, two USB-C ports, and two USB-A ports, making it excellent for any workspace.
The Anker MagGo Magnetic Charging Station is out there now for $99, however iPhone customers are the one ones who can take full benefit of the MagSafe charger, no less than till we begin seeing Android telephones with Qi2 assist.
XGIMI Aladdin
Who wants a TV in your room when you possibly can simply have a ceiling lamp? Yeah, I stated that proper; this ceiling lamp can be a projector. The XGIMI Aladdin is able to projecting a 100-inch 4K picture with a 2000:1 distinction ratio and assist for DTS audio. It is all tucked away inconspicuously into your ceiling. It is also powered by Android TV, so you may have entry to loads of apps and content material.
And when you do not want it as a TV, the projector additionally works as a standalone Bluetooth speaker, that means it may show you how to get the celebration began.
Withings BeamO
Withings is considered one of our favourite well being corporations, making a few of the greatest sensible scales available on the market. Now, the corporate has a brand new system dubbed “BeamO” that acts as a private DIY well being checkup system. It is a 4-in-1 “multiscope” that features a thermometer, electrocardiogram (ECG), oximeter, and stethoscope, permitting customers to watch their well being at residence in a approach that will in all probability usually require a physician’s go to. The system has highly effective sensors and a show that may present your information in real-time because it’s being measured. All the info syncs to the Withings app, which may then be despatched to your physician, and like different Withings units, BeamO helps as much as eight totally different customers, so it is excellent for households.
You may have to attend a while to get your arms on this CES Improvements Award Honoree, as it is going to go on sale in June 2024 for $249.
Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid
One system that took us abruptly is the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid. It is a 2-in-1 Home windows laptop computer that doubles as an Android pill with the press of a button. As such, you even have two separate units of specs and processors to run every OS: a brand new Intel Core Extremely 7 for Home windows and a Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 for Android.
As an Android pill, it runs Android 13 and has 12GB of RAM, which is not too shabby. As a Home windows laptop computer, you get 32GB of RAM, 1TB of storage (versus 256GB for the Android aspect), an extra USB-C port, and a bigger battery. Each share the 14-inch 2.8K OLED panel.
You get two units in a single for $1999, which might usually be rather a lot for a single system. Once you’re getting each in a single, the worth appears fairly cheap. And whereas some might have most popular a ChromeOS/Android hybrid, the Home windows/Android duo feels like a profitable mixture. You get the enjoyable bits from Android, such because the in depth library of apps, and it’s also possible to use it as a productiveness system when used as a Home windows laptop computer — one thing Android tablets all the time appear to intention for however all the time fall in need of reaching.
Lenovo says the ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid can be accessible in Q2 2024.
