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Best of CES 2019: what are our favourite new gadgets?

Best of CES 2019

CES is the world’s largest technology show. 180,000 visitors converge on Las Vegas in January each year for a five-day tech fest, with thousands of products released. Sifting through this landslide of new tech is a challenge, so save time and read our pick of the products. Want to know the best of CES? It’s right here.

Best of CES 2019: Lenovo Smart Clock with Google Assistant

Lenovo Smart Clock with Google Assistant
Ask the Lenovo Smart Clock anything – so long as the mic is switched on

Think Lenovo and you probably think laptops and PCs, but this Smart Clock shows the Chinese giant is about far more than Windows-powered machines. As the name betrays, this ever-so-adorable device is based on Google Assistant. Say “Hey Google, good morning” and it will start your wake-up routine, whether that’s switching on the lights and radio or hooking up to other smart home devices you own. Privacy is at the forefont too, with a physical switch to turn off the microphone – and no prying camera.

$80 (no UK price yet), spring 2019 launch

Best of CES 2019: HP Spectre x360 15 with AMOLED

HP Spectre x360 15 with AMOLED best of CES 2019
The screen on the left is AMOLED, the one on the right is conventional IPS

Dozens of laptops were released at CES this year, but there was one thing that made the HP Spectre x360 15 stand out: its gorgeous AMOLED screen. Images and videos looked so vivid it’s difficult to go back to a normal display afterwards, and what makes this laptop even more compelling are all HP’s design touches. As the x360 part of its name gives away, it’s a convertible so can slip seamlessly between laptop, “tent” and tablet modes.

No price or availability yet

Best of CES 2019: Royole flexible screen technology

With one twist, this phone becomes a tablet

Despite all the hype, there isn’t much technology on show at CES 2019 where you think, “wow, that’s going to change the world”. While Royole’s flexible screen tech isn’t as revolutionary as the first iPhone (despite the CEO’s claim at one pre-event session we attended) we can see it releasing a new wave of designs thanks to the way the screen bends and twists. It’s durable too, with the FlexPai – the phone/tablet Royole has released as a commercial product to showcase the technology – being designed to survive 200,000 bends.

Pre-order now: 128GB version costs $1,318 direct from Royole.com

Best of CES 2019: Asus ROG Mothership

Best of CES 2019
Don’t want a keyboard? No problem, just detach it.

Bear with us, because the concept sounds stupid. Who really wants a 4.7kg hulking beast of a gaming laptop that mimics the Surface Pro’s design with a kickstand and detachable keyboard? Well, gamers will love it. Naturally it’s packed with powerful components – including a Core i9-8950HK processor and GeForce RTX 2080 graphics – but the design will make you stand out from the crowd. Uou can stand it up and plug in your own gaming keyboard and mouse, without the detachable keyboard getting in between you and the 17.3in Full HD 144Hz display.

Price TBC, due for release April 2019

Best of CES 2019: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 7

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 7th Gen
Carbon-powered: the 7th Gen ThinkPad X1 Carbon

It’s safe to say that our penultimate laptop choice, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon, is a tad more conservative than the Asus ROG Mothership. And in all honesty, it isn’t a radical departure from last year’s release. However, you just need to type on the keyboard or pick it up by one of its beautifully thin edges to realise that this is a top-quality laptop. New touches like the weaved pattern on the lid and an optional Ultra HD 14in screen that almost looks as colourful as the HP Spectre’s above.

Find out more in our first look review. Prices TBC, available in June.

Best of CES 2018: Shiftall DrinkShift

beer fridge that restocks itself
Drink up: the DrinkShift knows when it’s running dry

After all that work on the ThinkPad, you’ll need a beer to relax. But, oh no! You’ve run out. What a chore to head down to the shops and refill your fridge. Thank your lucky stars, then, that Tokyo-based Shiftall has designed a fridge that places an order when stocks run low. With 13 slots, there’s plenty of room for beer inside the fridge too.

Read our first-look review here. Price and availability TBC.

Best of CES 2019: Arcade1Up

Arcade1Up
Too cool for old-school: Street Fighter II on Arcade1Up

We admit: this one is a bit frivolous. But if you hanker after the arcades of your lost youth, or perhaps you’re a retro-loving millennial/Gen Z/whatever-the-latest-made-up-term-is, then you’ll love the Arcade1Up. It’s essentially a 3/4-height cabinet that could have stepped out of a 1990s arcade. While it comes pre-decorated with one particular game, you can choose to play classics such as Pac-Man, Mortal Kombat and Space Invaders.

Read our first-look review here. Price will be around £300 from CostCo in the UK.

Best of CES 2019: Huawei MateBook 13

Huawei MateBook 13 CES 2019
Trust us, this ultraportable is a little bit special

We know, we know – another laptop. But this 13in ultraportable is both lovely to hold and to behold, even if Huawei is keeping the attractive “cherry gold” finish for Chinese rather than British customers. Weighing 1.3kg and just 14.9mm thick, it’s both portable and packed with power – including a GeForce graphics chip if you choose the $1,299 option. We think it might turn out to be the class leader for 2019.

Prices $999 and $1,299 in the US, UK prices TBC.

Other highlights from CES 2019:

About the author

Tim Danton

Tim Danton is editor-in-chief of PC Pro magazine and has written about technology since 1999. He enjoys playing with gadgets, playing with words and playing tennis. Email tim@bigtechquestion.com

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