LAS VEGAS—There’s pretty much no place on earth better for the press and public to witness the future of technology than at CES. This year, there were more than 4,100 exhibitors spread out across 2.6 million net square feet. A good number of them showcased prototypes that may or may not ever reach the market. Below, we highlight the nine most compelling of the almost-to-not-quite-ready products we saw at the show.
Lenovo ThinkPad Rollable XD
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Lenovo has already brought a rollable laptop display to market, but the brand-new ThinkPad Rollable XD prototype improves on that model with a rolling panel that stretches 180 degrees around the top of the screen lid. This creates additional, customizable screen space (about a third of the lid) that displays basic information, including weather, diagnostics, and notifications. The device’s 14-inch laptop screen extends to measure 17 inches on the diagonal (vertically), which will be a great boon for all sorts of professional work. Based on the state of the prototype, it seems likely that we will eventually see a final product. —Joe Osborne
Allergen Alert
(Credit: Andrew Gebhart)
The battery-powered Allergen Alert could save your life someday. Here’s how it works: Place a sample of your meal in a small plastic tube, insert the tube into the rectangular body, and press start. Within two minutes, Allergen Alert will inform you if the food contains gluten or any of nine other common allergens, including dairy, peanuts, and shellfish. We saw a non-working prototype at the show, but the company says that when it’s ready, Allergen Alert will be able to detect the presence of these allergens down to the parts per million. The device is expected to be available this fall for $200, although a $25 monthly subscription fee will be required for the disposable tubes. —Andrew Gebhart
Robotin R2 Pro
Credit: Joe Maldonado (Credit: Andrew Gebhart)
The Robotin R2 Pro sprays, shampoos, and dries your carpet as it vacuums. While slow compared with an ordinary robot vacuum—it washes 300 to 400 square feet in roughly three hours—its extra functionality could be a lifesaver. Better yet, the carpet cleaner is just one module that comes with the device; attach the other, and the R2 Pro turns back into an ordinary robot vacuum and mop. Other modules down the line might feature a robot arm that picks up after you. A company representative says the Robotin R2 Pro could go on sale this summer for $1,000 to $1,500, a reasonable price range for a premium model. —Andrew Gebhart
Neurable Brain-Sensing Headset
(Credit: Brian Westover)
We’ve heard a lot of promises about AI at CES, but one claim I wasn’t expecting? AI that can read your brainwaves. But that’s what Neurable is offering, as part of a new headset from the brand HyperX. The headset appears normal enough until you notice the stripes of conductive fabric on the earcups—contact sensors for a specialized Electroencephalogram (EEG). Neurable’s AI-powered software utilizes data collected by the headset and a dataset of thousands of real human brains to help gamers achieve a flow state. In the demo I had, the device guided me to relax and focus, which in turn boosted my gaming performance. There’s no word yet on availability or pricing. —Brian Westover
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Smart Hip Guardian
(Credit: Steve Clark)
Hip fractures affect some 300,000 seniors in the US each year, and typically result in a significant loss of mobility. The Smart Hip Guardian is designed to solve this problem. It straps to one’s waist like a belt and uses embedded sensors to monitor your movements, then automatically deploys airbags around your hips in the event of a fall. It promises to inflate 0.2 seconds before impact, offering padding to potentially save the wearer from a painful and debilitating injury. It easily secures with a buckle in the front, and is surprisingly unobtrusive, though the back part of the belt, which contains the airbag activator, is a little bulky. It offers around four days of battery life between charges. The product is expected to launch this year for $799.90 for a two-pack. —Angela Moscaritolo
ADATA Dock
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
We seldom see good open-air PC cases suitable for testing and building projects. ADATA’s early design of its Dock chassis takes a new approach—and it has us excited. The front of this full-ATX chassis is covered by a slant-mounted wooden face, which clicks off easily. Underneath, you’ve got the room for a full ATX build. It’s backed by an in-development “dynamic breathing” cooling system that utilizes special software and some of ADATA’s XPG smart fans to accelerate or decelerate individual spinners, achieving specific airflow goals. Potential accessories include a vertical LCD panel and a headphone hanger, and the chassis can accommodate two full 360mm radiators. ADATA hopes to bring it to market for under $200. —John Burek
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Afeela SUV EV
(Credit: Eric Zeman)
Sony has been showing off its Afeela 1 concept car, co-developed with Honda, since CES 2020. This year, the company debuted the final version of its EV, but surprised us with a prototype of a forthcoming SUV. That concept vehicle strongly resembles the Afeela 1 and features an interior that appears nearly identical. Sony didn’t share many details about the new SUV beyond that it is expected to go into production as soon as 2028 and may hit US roads around 2029. The Afeela 1 is priced at $89,900, so we expect the Afeela SUV EV will have a higher price tag. —Eric Zeman
Keychron Concrete and Marble Keyboard Prototypes
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
PC keyboard specialist Keychron showcased a pair of hefty prototype keyboards kitted out in concrete and marble. (Yes, really.) Both are remarkably heavy and feature hot-swappable key switches. The base of the solid-marble model shows off the striations of the stone, so that no two are alike. The cast-concrete one, meanwhile, looks and feels like the industrial wedge it is. —John Burek
Asus ROG NeoCore Wi-Fi 8 Router
(Credit: John Burek)
Wi-Fi 8 is not expected to deliver significant speed boosts, but it will reduce latency and handle a large number of household devices better than ever from a single router. We don’t expect the tech all that soon, but that didn’t stop Asus from showcasing an early router prototype under its ROG umbrella. And how’s this for a unique design? It resembles a Dungeons & Dragons 20-sided die. Whether Asus will actually stick to this look when the time comes for Wi-Fi 8 to launch is… well, a roll of the dice. —John Burek
