Beyond the Hype: The Most Interesting Gadgets of CES 2025
Cutting Through the Noise
Another CES has come and gone, leaving behind a trail of press releases, “world’s first” claims, and a whole lot of vaporware. It’s easy to get cynical about the annual Las Vegas tech circus. But amidst the transparent TVs and AI-powered everything, there are always a few products that offer a genuine glimpse into the future.
I’m not talking about the most expensive or the most outlandish products. I’m interested in the gadgets that solve a real problem, refine an existing category, or just make life a little bit easier. Based on CNET’s extensive coverage, here are a few of the highlights that caught my eye.
The Smart Home Gets Practical
For years, the “smart home” has been a messy collection of competing standards and half-baked ideas. But we’re finally starting to see products that deliver on the promise of a more convenient and automated life.
The Ultraloq Bolt Mission is a perfect example. It’s a smart lock that uses ultra-wideband (UWB) to unlock your door automatically and hands-free as you approach. No more fumbling for keys or your phone. It just works. This is the kind of seamless experience the smart home was always supposed to offer.
On the appliance front, the Panasonic HomeChef 4-in-1 multi-oven combines a microwave, air fryer, convection oven, and broiler into a single unit. But the real innovation is the app integration, which not only lets you control the oven remotely but also provides recipes and step-by-step instructions. It’s a small step, but it points to a future where our kitchen appliances actively help us cook better.
The Evolution of Personal Tech
In the personal gadget space, the trend is towards refinement and specialization. The Ozlo Sleepbuds, created by former Bose engineers, are designed for one thing and one thing only: to help you sleep. They don’t play music or take calls. They just mask environmental noise with a comfortable, secure fit. In a world of do-everything devices, this kind of focus is refreshing.
We’re also seeing a maturation of the handheld gaming PC market. The Lenovo Legion Go S is a simpler, more streamlined version of its predecessor. By removing some of the more complex features and fixing the controls to the body, Lenovo is making a play for a more mainstream audience. It’s an admission that sometimes, less is more.
The Little Things That Matter
Sometimes the most interesting tech isn’t a flagship phone or a giant TV, but a small accessory that solves a common annoyance. The ESR FindMy Stylus Pen is a $30 alternative to the Apple Pencil that integrates with Apple’s Find My network. For anyone who’s ever misplaced their pricey stylus, this is a no-brainer.
And then there’s the Nékojita FuFu, a tiny, adorable robot cat that sits on the rim of your mug and blows on your hot coffee or soup to cool it down. Is it necessary? Absolutely not. Is it a delightful and whimsical application of technology? 100%.
These are the products that stick with me after the CES hype has faded. They show a tech industry that is, in some corners at least, focused on creating products that are not just innovative, but genuinely useful and user-friendly.
