9 Coolest New Gadgets Unveiled at CES 2020 (So Far)
Credit: Wikimedia / Greg Bulla
The world-famous Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is one of the largest trade shows of its kind. And during it, we get to see the latest and greatest of what the tech industry has to offer. While CES 2020 is set to kick off on Tuesday, there have been some early announcements and unveilings ahead of the official start date. Continue reading to browse nine of the coolest devices and gadgets that we’ve seen so far.
ThinkPad X1 Fold
While it’s not strictly Apple-related, PC maker Lenovo is set to show off a clever foldable personal computer at CES this year. Back when the firm first announced it last year, it was really the first foldable PC design prototype that we’ve seen. The computer, dubbed the ThinkPad X1 Fold, is a Windows 10 machine that aims to bridge the gap between tablet, smartphone and laptop. And, again, while not an Apple-related product, it could hint at potential future iPads or iPhone devices down the road.
A Wellness-Aimed Bathmat
You probably don’t think twice about your bathmat — and that’s really the point of the new Mateo “smart bathmat.” It’s a bathroom accessory that packs a built-in scale and other health-related metrics (such as your posture and muscle mass). The goal, it seems, is to allow you to weigh yourself every day without really thinking about it. And while it’s a third-party product, it comes with an integrated iPhone app and seems like a good fit with an Apple-based health system.
An AirPower Alternative
It’s been nearly a year since Apple canceled AirPower. But if you’re still looking for an all-in-one charging accessory, manufacturer Pitaka unveiled one that packs some innovative features. The Pitaka Air Omni is a charging pad that can juice up AirPods, Apple Watches and iPhones wirelessly, but also comes with a dedicated port with USB-C and Lightning adapters. It’s a sleek solution to charge all of your gadgets at once, but there are much more affordable options already available.
Withings ScanWatch
When Apple first debuted its ECG feature o the Apple Watch, it was really the first of its kind. But going forward, the Cupertino tech giant may see some stiff competition. Enter the Withings ScanWatch. At first glance, it looks like a standard wristwatch. But behind its classy-but-unassuming exterior, it’s also a smartwatch with all of the health and fitness tracking you’d expect — including a wristworn ECG (pending FDA approval).
This Samsung 8K TV
Impressive smart TVs are a dime a dozen at CES, but Samsung still managed to unveil a new TV set that’s sure to turn some heads. The Q950 packs a stunning 99 percent screen-to-body ratio, but is also extremely slim at just 15mm thick. The TV is the result of a new Samsung-developed chip that can deliver 8K resolution with far fewer components. It also comes with other new features, like a “digital butler,” baked-in health tracking, and multi-view so you can stream your phone’s screen alongside a show in side-by-side or picture-in-picture mode.
Alogic All-in-One Hub
Being a MacBook Pro user means that you’re probably used to carrying around a variety of different dongles, cables and hubs with you. But Alogic may have a solution that can cut down on the amount of things you need to carry. The device is essentially a USB-C hub that provides 60W passthrough power to a MacBook Pro, along with the standard USB-A, HDMI, SD and microSD ports. But aside from being a hub, it’s also a Qi wireless charger that packs a 5,000 mAh battery for keeping your iPhone beside you and charged on the go.
iKuddle
It seems like there’s a smart device or accessory for just about anything these days. And at CES 2020, a startup dubbed iKuddle is going to bring smart home automation to your furry friends. iKuddle unveiled several new smart pet care devices, including a water dispenser with smart alerts and filtration; a food holder with a backup battery and integrated camera; and a self-cleaning litterbox that packs waste automatically. The smart litterbox can monitor a cat’s health and is also self-cleaning.
Apple TV App for LG Sets
When it comes to accessing Apple TV content, the TV app is the way to do it. Unfortunately, aside from Apple’s own devices, the Apple TV app has been rolling out pretty slowly across third-party TVs and set-top boxes. Luckily for Apple fans, LG recently announced that its 2020 TV sets will ship with the Apple TV app, which can be used to stream Apple TV+, Apple TV channels and iTunes content. The Apple TV app is also coming to 2018 and 2019 LG TVs sometime this year.
Powerful Upcoming Mac Chips
Apple is largely expected to switch to a first-party processor for its Mac lineup in the future. But, in the meantime, the company will probably rely on Intel chips for its desktops and laptops. Because of that, a new Intel announcement bodes well for Mac users. The chipmaker is expected to unveil its new Comet Lake CPUs at CES this year. Potentially slated for future 16-inch MacBook Pros, the new chips could see processor speeds hitting and even exceeding 5GHz. That’s serious power for a laptop.