20 Hot New Products At CES 2021
From laptops and monitors for WFH, to IoT and gaming devices, here are some of the hot new products being showcased at CES 2021.
Hot CES Products
For the first time in its five-decade history, the massive CES tech show is going all-digital. But even with the showcases of new products going online rather than in person for CES 2021, major tech vendors are seizing the opportunity to unveil innovative new products—from new laptops and monitors primed for WFH, to VR headsets and PC accessories, to IoT and gaming devices. Top tech companies debuting hot new products at CES 2021 include Samsung, Dell, Lenovo, HP, Acer and Intel.
And there will be plenty more new CES products to look for throughout the week of CES—which runs Jan. 11-14—even if the products are being shown off in a digital venue rather than in sprawling Las Vegas convention spaces.
What follows are 20 hot new products at CES 2021 to know about.
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro
Lenovo will be using CES 2021 to showcase a number of new devices including the IdeaPad 5 Pro. The notebook sports a 16-inch display with a 16:10 aspect ratio for a wider amount of usable screen space; reduced blue light technology; up to 350 nits of brightness; and slim bezels for a 90 percent screen-to-body ratio. The laptop also features an all-metal body in “Cloud Grey” or “Storm Grey” color options. On performance, the IdeaPad 5 Pro will be powered by AMD Ryzen H-Series processors and will be available with Nvidia GeForce RTX graphics and up to 32 GB of RAM. Other key capabilities include an IR camera that enables Windows Hello facial authentication log-in and includes time-of-flight sensors to automatically pause a video when the user walks away. Meanwhile, the IdeaPad 5 Pro will feature the new Alexa Show Mode capability, which adds voice control via the Amazon Alexa assistant and “turns your PC into an Echo Show-like display,” Lenovo says.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro will have a starting price of $1149.99 and is expected to be available in May. Alexa Show Mode is expected to become available in the second quarter.
Lenovo Tab P11
Lenovo is also expanding its 2-in-1 tablet lineup at CES with the launch of the Lenovo Tab P11, an Android tablet that can connect to a detachable keyboard and supports the Lenovo Precision Pen 2 stylus (both sold separately from the tablet). The Tab P11 features an 11-inch display with 2,000 x 1,200 resolution, an 85 percent screen-to-body ratio, 400 nits of brightness and technology for reduced blue light. On performance, the tablet includes Qualcomm’s eight-core Snapdragon 662 processor and 6 GB of RAM, and offers up to 15 hours of battery life on a charge. Additionally, the Tab P11 features Dolby Atmos speakers, an aluminum alloy body and a built-in kickstand.
The Lenovo Tab P11 has a starting price of $229.99 and is available now.
HP Reverb G2
HP Inc. will be using CES 2021 to show off the recently debuted second-gen version of its virtual reality headset, the HP Reverb G2, which is aimed at both commercial users as well as gamers. Developed with the help of Microsoft and Valve, the Reverb G2 includes what HP is calling “the world’s highest resolution VR headset among major vendors,” with resolution of 2,160 x 2,160 per eye panel. Enhancements over the first-gen version include Valve-designed lenses that offer greater clarity, better tracking through the inclusion of additional cameras and higher-quality audio from Valve speakers. The headset also offers improved comfort with the ability to adapt the width of the lenses for different eye distances and an increased cushion size on the face mask.
The HP Reverb G2 is available now for $599.
Dell Latitude 9420
At CES 2021, Dell Technologies is unveiling its new Latitude 9420 notebook, available both as a 2-in-1 or a clamshell model. The notebook will include a 14-inch display with FHD+ resolution (clamshell model) or QHD+ resolution (for the 2-in-1 model), as well as a 16:10 aspect ratio to offer a 5-percent larger viewing area and brightness of 500 nits. The clamshell version has a starting weight of 2.9 pounds and a thickness of just 0.55 of an inch. In terms of connectivity, the Latitude 9420 will offer optional support for high-speed 5G or LTE, along with WiFi 6. Key collaboration features include a built-in speakerphone, dedicated mute and mic keys, and an enhanced webcam with capabilities for background blur and automatic light correction.
Other key features include ExpressSign-in 2.0--which leverages Intel Visual Sensing Technology to enable faster auto-wake and auto-lock--and the AI-powered Dell Optimizer, which enhances app performance through learning the way that each individual user works. Meanwhile, on security, the Latitude 9420 also offers what Dell is calling the “industry’s first automatic webcam shutter,” which “knows when to automatically open or close by syncing with your video conferencing applications,” the company says.
The Dell Latitude 9420 will have a starting price of $1,949 and will be available in the spring, the company said.
Dell OptiPlex 3090 Ultra / OptiPlex 7090 Ultra
Dell is also unveiling a more affordably priced model for its modular form factor desktop PC, with the launch of the OptiPlex 3090 Ultra (pictured). That model joins the new OptiPlex 7090 Ultra, an update to the original OptiPlex 7070 Ultra. The OptiPlex Ultra PCs come in a form factor that is small enough to fit entirely inside the back of a custom monitor stand, offering a “zero-footprint” desktop PC design while still providing full desktop-level performance, according to Dell. The new OptiPlex Ultra models include 11th-generation Intel Core processors (up to Core i5 for the 3090 and up to Core i7 for the 7090), along with up to 64 GB of 3200MHz DDR4 RAM. Key updates for the OptiPlex 7090 Ultra include the ability to connect to up to four 4K monitors at a time, Dell said. The OptiPlex Ultra models also can be easily removed, allowing them to be swapped out, upgraded or serviced as needed.
Dell said the OptiPlex 7090 Ultra will have a starting price of $769, while the OptiPlex 3090 Ultra will start at $659. Both will be available Jan. 28.
Dell 34 Curved Video Conferencing Monitor (C3422WE)
At CES, Dell is also debuting a new series of monitors aimed at improved video conferencing, including the Dell 34 Curved Video Conferencing Monitor. The 34-inch WQHD curved monitor is geared toward use with Microsoft Teams and features a dedicated button for joining Teams meetings, as well as other collaboration-friendly capabilities such as a pop-up 5-megapixel IR camera, dual 5W integrated speakers and noise-canceling microphones. Additionally, Dell is announcing two other curved video conferencing monitors in this series, offering 24-inch and 27-inch display sizes.
The Dell 34 Curved Video Conferencing Monitor (C3422WE) will have a starting price of $1,149.99, and will be available Feb. 16.
Acer Nitro XV282K KV
Also in the realm of monitors, Acer has some good news for gamers at CES with the launch of its Nitro XV282K KV gaming monitor. The 28-inch monitor offers 4K/UHD resolution and an ultra-sharp 100,000,000:1 contrast ratio, as well as offering 144 Hz refresh rate and 1 millisecond response time through the use of AMD FreeSync Premium technology. Notably, the Nitro XV282K KV is the first gaming monitor from Acer to include HDMI 2.1 connectivity--which will support 4K gaming at 120 Hz with a variable refresh rate while using consoles such as the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Other key features on the display include technologies aimed at reducing eye strain, such as with reduced blue light.
The Acer Nitro XV282K KV will have a starting price of $899.99 and will be available in May.
Acer Chromebook Spin 514
The Acer Chromebook Spin 514 stands out as the company’s first Chromebook to feature AMD Ryzen 3000 C-Series processors and AMD Radeon graphics, which enable strong performance, responsiveness and battery life (up to 10 hours), Acer says. The Chromebook Spin 514 includes a 14-inch display with FHD resolution, and the device is highly durable with Gorilla Glass on the display and a reinforced aluminum chassis, according to the company. Other notable features include slim bezels around the display (for a 78 percent screen-to-body ratio) and a thickness of 0.68 of an inch, as well as options for up to 16 GB of RAM and up to 256 GB of storage. Additionally, Acer is offering a variant of the convertible notebook aimed at business users—the Acer Chromebook Enterprise Spin 514—with additional security and management capabilities.
The Acer Chromebook Spin 514 has a starting price of $479.99 and is planned for availability in February. The Acer Chromebook Enterprise Spin 514 starts at $749.99 and will be available in March.
Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2
Samsung is also debuting a new 2-in-1 Chromebook at CES 2021, with the second-gen update to the Galaxy Chromebook. For the Galaxy Chromebook 2, Samsung has brought in what it’s calling the first-ever Chromebook display that uses QLED—the quantum-dot technology that has previously been used in Samsung TVs. The 13.3-inch convertible FHD display is “capable of producing over a billion different colors” through the use of QLED, making “every visual” bright and vivid, Samsung says. Other key features include Smart AMP sound (which Samsung says offers 178 percent louder audio than the typical amplifier); a new keyboard with wider keys; a thickness of just 0.55 of an inch and weight of 2.7 pounds; and up to the Intel Core i3-10110U processor.
The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 will have a starting price of $549.99 and will be available during the first quarter.
OWC Thunderbolt Hub
Makers of docking solutions such as OWC are also using CES 2021 to showcase their latest offerings, as the boom in work-from-home has led to increased demand for such solutions. The new OWC Thunderbolt Hub is the “world’s first Thunderbolt port expander,” according to the company--featuring four Thunderbolt/USB-C ports as well as one USB-A port. The solution is compatible with Thunderbolt 4 PCs and new Macs powered by Apple’s M1 processor, as well as Intel-powered Macs with Thunderbolt 3 that are running macOS 11 Big Sur. Capabilities include the ability to connect two 4K displays or one 5K/6K/8K display, as well as the ability to deliver 60W of power for charging a laptop.
The OWC Thunderbolt Hub is priced at $149 and is currently in pre-orders, with shipping estimated at early February.
Intel RealSense ID
Intel RealSense ID is a new facial authentication device from the chipmaker that uses an active depth sensor and a specialized neural network to authenticate identities for a variety of devices, ranging from locks and access control systems to point-of-sale machines and ATMs. The device, which comes with a dedicated system-on-chip, can adapt to changing appearances over time, and it’s built to withstand spoofing, with a one-in-1-million false acceptance rate. Availability and pricing are not known.
Low Light Energy Harvesting Solar Cells
Low Light Energy Harvesting Solar Cells are solar cells that can generate energy for IoT devices using only ambient indoor light. The vendor, Ambient Photonics, says the solar cells provide three times the energy of conventional indoor cells and eliminate the need for expensive, inconvenience and wasteful disposable batteries. Availability and pricing are not known.
Analogue Pocket
The Analogue Pocket is a handheld video game device that can play nearly 3,000 game cartridges from Nintendo’s Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Color Advance libraries. The device uses a field-programmable gate array chip, or FPGA, to recreate the experience of playing game cartridges on their original systems. The base device costs $199.99, and it starts shopping in May.
EVAD-1 Eyewear
The EVAD-1 is advanced connected eyewear for athletes that displays performance data in the lens. The type of information EVAD-1 can display includes beats per minute, pace, speed and distance, and it will be able to display other types of data using Bluetooth connectivity to other devices. Availability and pricing are not known.
LUMI Keys 1
LUMI Keys 1 is an advanced, illuminated keyboard that aims to make piano learning fun and easy with an integrated software and content platform. The keyboard’s app lets users choose songs from a wide library of music and then teaches them how to play by lighting up the appropriate keys. The keyboard is expected to retail for $299.99, and it starts shipping this year.
DriveU.auto
DriveU.auto is a connectivity platform for remotely operating autonomous vehicles through low-latency 4K video. The platform is deployed as software or hardware on public roads, and it makes use of technology such as dynamic video encoding, low-latency algorithms and cellular bonding to transmit high-quality video reliably. Commercial availability and pricing are not known.
Airthings Mold Risk Indicator For Wave Mini
The Airthings Mold Risk Indicator for Wave Mini is an expanded capability for the Wave Mini smart home sensor that uses an algorithm to determine the likelihood of mold growth indoors. The Wave Mini automatically sends air quality data to a companion app, which sends alerts when various readings reach certain thresholds. The Wave Mini costs $79.99 and is available now.
Mudra Band
The Mundra Band is a wristband for the Apple Watch that lets users make gestures with their fingers to make calls, control music and other actions. The wristband uses sensors to detect neural electrical impulses, which are then interpreted using AI processes to discern finger movement. Availability and pricing are not known.
VOY Tunable Glasses
The VOY Tunable Glasses are nano-precision glasses that can adjust focus in seconds for a variety of uses, from reading to driving. The glasses support a focus range of -5D to +2D. The glasses come in a number of styles, and the lenses include anti-reflective and anti-scratch coatings as well as blue light and UV blockers. The glasses are available now and start at $59.
Vespera
Vespera is a portable space observation station that is a “perfect hybrid between a smart telescope and a camera.” With the aim to make astronomy more accessible, the app-enabled telescope is easy to use thanks to being fully automated, and it allows users to take photos and view findings with the app. The device will cost $1,499, and it’s expected to start shipping in December.