I missed CES 2025, and while I usually wouldn’t mind skipping the long flight and crowded casinos, this year’s event sparked some serious FOMO. From afar, I watched colleagues discover gadgets that weren’t just fun but genuinely desirable. Here are seven that caught my eye, plus one trend that left me disappointed.
Innovative Home Tech
This year’s CES showcased some exciting advancements in home technology, offering convenience and futuristic aesthetics.
The Plantaform Smart Indoor Garden.
Plantaform’s Smart Indoor Garden captivated me with its self-cleaning and self-watering features. My current indoor plants suffer from my neglect, but this automated system, combined with its striking design of colored lights and internal fog, seems like the perfect solution. I envision filling it with ornamental plants and flowers, creating a captivating centerpiece for my home.
Yukai Engineering
Yukai Engineering, known for its quirky and delightful robotic creations, unveiled the Nekojita FuFu. This charming cat-like robot incorporates an internal fan designed to cool down hot food and drinks. As a fan of coffee, cats, and robots, this gadget ticks all the boxes for me.
A promotional image showing the LG Aerocat Tower.
With a new kitten in my home, LG’s AeroCat Tower, an air purifier with integrated cat health-tracking technology, piqued my interest. The tower features sensor-equipped platforms for sleeping and sitting, allowing for weight and sleep monitoring via the LG ThinQ app. While the multi-functional design appeals to me, I’m skeptical about my kitten’s willingness to use it, given its current indifference to most of its toys.
Robotics and AI Companions
CES 2025 also highlighted the continued development of robots and AI companions, moving closer to a future where these technologies play a more integral role in our lives.
Samsung Ballie being chased by a dog.
Samsung’s ball-shaped robot, Ballie, made another appearance at CES and is reportedly nearing its release date. This AI-powered companion, part house robot and part pet sitter, has long been on my wishlist. While I might regret getting a kitten before Ballie’s arrival, I’m sure it will find a place in my increasingly automated home.
Health and Lifestyle Tech
Several innovative gadgets focused on health and lifestyle improvements were showcased, offering potential solutions to everyday challenges.
The Amazfit V1tal sitting on a table with its screen on.
The Amazfit V1tal tackles the often tedious task of food logging. Using a camera and sophisticated software, it analyzes your meals and calculates calorie and macro intake. While the concept of a camera observing my eating habits feels slightly unusual, the potential benefits of automated food tracking are compelling.
Innovative Displays
CES 2025 also saw exciting developments in display technology, pushing the boundaries of form and function.
Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Rollable
The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6, with its expandable rollable screen, is undeniably cool. While its practicality might be debatable, the novelty of a 14-inch screen transforming into a 16-inch display is undeniably appealing.
The PocketBook InkPoster on a wall.
For those struggling with interior design decisions, the PocketBook InkPoster offers a unique solution. This large-format E Ink display allows you to cycle through pre-loaded images or display your own, creating a customizable art piece for your wall.
A Disappointing Trend
While CES 2025 showcased many exciting innovations, one trend left me underwhelmed.
Mockup of BMW
The proliferation of screen-heavy car interiors, exemplified by BMW’s Panoramic iDrive dashboard, is a disappointing development. These designs lack character and individuality, creating a homogenized aesthetic across different brands.
Conclusion
Despite missing the event in person, CES 2025 revealed a wealth of intriguing gadgets. From innovative home tech to advancements in robotics and AI, the future of technology looks bright. While some trends, like the overreliance on screens in car interiors, are less inspiring, the overall showcase of innovation makes me even more eager to attend CES next year.
