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A brand new year means brand new tech being showcased at CES 2024. We were on the ground in Las Vegas, scouring the show floors for cool gadgets and impressive innovations. We’ve highlighted some of our favorite products from the event, giving you a taste of what to look forward to this year.
Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Carbon series combines the best of Lenovo’s laptop design with the build quality and hardware features of the legacy ThinkPad laptops, and theX1 Carbon Gen 12takes that even further. It’s equipped withthe latest Intel Core Ultra processors, up to 64GB RAM, up to 2TB NVMe SSD storage, a fingerprint reader, and a camera privacy shutter. The spacious 14-inch screen can be configured with up to a 120Hz 2.8K OLED touch panel.
The X1 Carbon Gen 12 has a slightly changed design, with accessibility improvements in the keyboard layout, a larger 120mm trackpad (with a haptic feedback option, like Apple’s recent MacBooks). There’s still the same TrackPoint “nub” in the center of the keyboard, and you may even set custom actions for when it’s double-tapped. The laptop has great connectivity options as well, including two Thunderbolt 4 Type-C ports, two USB Type-A 5Gbps ports, HDMI 2.1, an audio jack, Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, and optional LTE or 5G.
The new Thinkpad X1 Carbon Gen 12 looks like a fantastic Windows laptop, but it’s also priced to match: it starts at $2,989. Some configurationsalready went on sale in December, but the rest of the configuration options will be available starting in March 2024.
Best Router: TP-Link Deco BE65 Pro Mesh Router
While wireless devices that support theWi-Fi 7 standardaren’t common just yet, you’re able to prepare for them with theTP-Link Deco BE65 Pro Mesh Router. Amesh Wi-Fi systemis ideal when you need to cover a lot of ground with your wireless network and can’t rely on the weak performance of Wi-Fi extenders. The BE65 Pro system supports a multi-gig network with a 2.5 Gbps WAN port on the base node, along with two Ethernet ports hitting aggregated speeds of 5 Gbps. It also boasts what TP-Link calls “AI-Roaming technology,” promising a seamless experience as you move from room to room with your wireless devices. A mobile yet reliable connection will be critical for using the latest AR headsets and gaming handhelds.
These features complement everything offered by the Wi-Fi 7 standard, whosefinalized version was also unveiled at CESthis year. That means you can expect to see fully compatible wireless devices entering the market this year. Even if you don’t live on the cutting edge, once available, the TP-Link’s cylindrical mesh units should keep you sitting pretty in terms of wireless capabilities for a long time.
Best Gaming Laptop: Razer Blade 16
Razer sells a lot of gaming laptops, but the Blade series has stood out from the competition for its more subtle design: it fits just as well in a boardroom meeting as a LAN party. Thenew Razer Blade 16maintains that look and feel but with even more impressive hardware.
The updated Razer Blade 16 has a 16-inch OLED panel with a refresh rate of 240Hz, giving you super-smooth gameplay with deep blacks and vivid colors. It’s also using the new Intel Core i9-14900HX processor and can be configured with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card. That gives you alotof power for demanding productivity work and gaming.
The new Razer Blade 16 might be the Windows laptop to buy if you want the best graphics performance possible in a sleek and minimalist form factor. It’s definitely expensive, though, with a starting price of $3,000. You canbuy it todayfrom Razer’s website.
Best Bluetooth Speaker: JBL Go 4
JBL makes some of the best portable Bluetooth speakers on the market, and itannounced a few new models at CES. The JBL Go 4 is its new small, portable speaker withAuracasttechnology, which lets you connect multiple speakers together for a bigger sound. The Go 4 has a cute rounded-rectangle design with a sturdy strap, and it’s available in six colors.
It’s often hard to get a sense of audio quality at trade shows, but our own Jason Fitzpatrick had a chance to try out the JBL Go 4. He said, “The Go series has always sounded pretty solid for its size, but the Go 4 is surprisingly good” and “The first palm-size Bluetooth speaker I’d actually consider regularly using.”
JBL says the Go 4 is rated for 7 hours of battery life. It’s IP67 rated, has Bluetooth 5.3, andBluetooth LE audio. It will be available in June for only $50, which is $30 cheaper than the JBL Clip 5, the company’s slightly larger portable speaker.
Best Mouse: Cherry M64 Pro Wireless Mouse
Already acclaimed for itsmechanical keyboard switches, CHERRY acquired a Swedish esports gear manufacturer in 2023 to form the CHERRY XTRFY gaming brand, and its debut releases were on display at CES this year. Well, we liked what we saw, with the M64 Pro taking our pick for the best mouse at the show.
Designed with input from professional esports players, the M64 Pro features a slender and ergonomic design and launches alongside the M68 Pro, a symmetrical model with identical specs otherwise. We definitely preferred the ergonomic design, which felt very comfortable in the hand. You could say it had good mousefeel.
Marking XTRFY’s sixth generation of mice (though this is the first under the CHERRY XTRFY brand), the M64 Pro offers better grip and control than previous M4 and M8 models while cutting the weight to an airy 55 grams.
The highlight feature, though—and what separates the pro mouse from its non-pro counterpart—is its 8,000Hzpolling rate. Most gaming mice only offer 1,000Hz, making the M64 Pro up to eight times more responsive. That means smoother cursor movement, sharper control, and some ofthe lowest click latency ever measuredon a wireless gaming mouse.
Launching alongside keyboards, microphones, and otherCHERRY XTRFY gaming gear, the M64 Pro will be available for $139 in Q2 of 2024.
Best TV: LG G4 OLED
LG smashed it out of the park with 2023’s G3 TV, which garnered high praise for itsmicrolens array (MLA) technology, bringing impressive brightness to OLED panels. It’s still our pick forthe best OLED TV, but that’s set to change with the release of the G4, which caught our eye at this year’s show.
Building on the stunning 4K picture quality of last year’s model, the G4 ups the variable refresh rate to 144Hz and promises even more improvements thanks to LG’s latest AI-powered processor, the a11.
LG saysthe a11’s AI performance is four times betterthan previous processors, resulting in 30% faster processing speed and 70% better graphic performance. The AI within this chip is used to sharpen images, both in the foreground and background; refine the colors, saturation, and contrast; enhance the audio for a bigger sound with clearer dialog; and more.
Of course, you’re free to disable any of this if you please—the non-AI-enhanced panel is still one of the best-looking TVs around, which is why we like it.
LG hasn’t revealed the price or release date for the G4 OLED yet, but last year’s model was released in March and started at $2,300. The G4 will range in sizes from 55 inches all the way up to 97 inches, though the very top size lacks the MLA technology.
Best Projector: XGIMI Horizon Max
XGIMI took to CES to unveil the XGIMI Horizon Max, a long-throw projector that is the first to have IMAX Enhanced Certification. This means that the projector can deliver the best possible picture and sound quality, as well as work with IMAX Enhanced content. The XGIMI Horizon Max boasts a 4K resolution, a bright 3,100 ISO lumens, a high 2,000:1 contrast ratio, and a huge screen size of up to 180 inches.
The XGIMI Horizon Max is also a smart projector that will run on Android TV/Google TV, which will make it easy to access thousands of apps and streaming services. Our own Andrew Heinzman was at CES and had this to say about the projector: “An excellent looking projector. The extreme brightness, long throw ratio, motorized gimbal, and automatic keystone features are perfect for large home theaters or small venues. It’s a substantial upgrade from the Horizon Ultra, which was already great in its own right.”
XGIMI says the Horizon Max is scheduled for a late 2024 release, and while it didn’t share specific pricing details, it will cost less than $3,000.
Best Keyboard: Satechi SM1 Slim
You might not think of CES as a show for computer keyboards, but there’s a big market for high-quality accessories. TheSatechi SM1 Slim keyboardis a wireless mechanical keyboard with a low-profile design. It features low-profile brown switches, which offer the best of red and blue switches—meaning tactile but quiet. The keyboard also has a sleek aluminum enclosure, removable keycaps, and adjustable feet for comfort and stability.
This keyboard is designed to work seamlessly with both Mac and Windows devices, as well as Android, iPhone, and iPad, thanks to its Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity and swappable keycaps. It can also connect to four devices at a time, making it easy to switch between them. The keyboard has a white backlight with 14 different patterns to suit your mood and environment. The rechargeable battery can last up to 16.5 hours with the backlight on or a whopping two months without it.
The Satechi SM1 Slim keyboard retails for $99.99, but the company is offering 20% off for CES with code “CES20” if you’re interested in buying it right now.
Best Smartphone Accessory: Belkin Auto-Tracking Stand Pro
The newBelkin Auto Tracking Stand Prois a battery-powered phone stand with facial tracking, but it’s better than others who’ve tried something similar. Not only did it work flawlessly, but it doesn’t need a companion app to work with the iPhone. It’ll do face tracking right inside the stock iPhone camera app.
Our Editor-in-Chief gave it a try, and here’s what Jason had this to say: “Not only did the Auto-Tracking Stand Pro impress me with the flawless side-to-side and up-and-down pan movements, but it stayed laser-locked onto me even despite the crowd of people watching me use it.”
This 360-degree swiveling phone stand is impressive. Once it identifies your face, it tracks you with ease. It’s perfect for video calls, work meetings, content creation, or being a webcam for your Mac. The Belkin Auto Tracking Stand Pro is a bit more expensive than your traditional phone stand, costing $180, but it has a 5-hour battery life, and when it’s plugged in, you’ll get 15W wireless charging for your phone. Grab yours from Belkin’s website at the end of January.
Best Robot Vacuum: Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra
Robot vacuums have gotten progressively more advanced over the years, and now Roborock is taking things up a notch with appendages. TheRoborock S8 MaxV Ultrawas announced at CES with a small flip-out arm. While it’s not a literal arm that can pick up items that are in the way (yet), this can help the vacuum reach those tough spots.
The arm pushes the typical robot vacuum spinning brush out farther away from the body, which should help it get into corners. There are also mops for cleaning hard floors on the back, and they can also stick out to reach nooks and crannies. Guiding the cleaning are cameras on the front and back, along with a new voice assistant called “Rocky.“It’s a similar idea to Ecovacs' “Yiko” assistant.
One other pretty cool feature is the option to buy a base station that can be connected to your home’s plumbing. That means you’ll never have to refill or drain the mopping tanks. Our Justin Duino was at the show to check out the vacuum, and he had this to say: “Being able to auto-refill the water tank and dump dirty water through your home plumbing takes even more work off of your home cleaning responsibilities. Add in the extendable brush arm, and the S8 MaxV Ultra should keep your home looking as clean as possible.”
As expected, all this tech comes at a price. The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra costs $1,800 and will be launching in April.
