Welcome to CES 2025! The Engadget team has successfully landed in Las Vegas, gearing up to deliver in-depth coverage of the most significant annual tech conference. Our operational hub is buzzing with excitement as the team explores the latest innovations and prepares for a surge of updates in just a few hours. Although the main convention activities officially commence on January 7, we have a packed schedule of press conferences and exclusive briefings to attend starting tomorrow, where leading companies are set to unveil their groundbreaking advancements.

Drawing from our extensive experience and keen observation of emerging industry patterns, we are poised to make insightful predictions about the innovations showcased at this year’s event. Historically, CES has highlighted advancements in television technology, automotive innovations, smart home devices, and personal health technology, with an assortment of laptops and accessories making appearances as well. This year, we anticipate an unprecedented integration of artificial intelligence across all categories, alongside a fresh wave of new processors, laptops, wearables, health trackers, and even luxurious massage chairs. Yes, the massage chairs!

Key Announcements and Highlights Expected at CES 2025

We already have a wealth of information about eagerly anticipated announcements, thanks to the lineup released by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). Alongside numerous panels and discussions, we’re excited to hear keynotes from influential figures such as NVIDIA’s founder and CEO, Jensen Huang, and Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, as well as executives from major companies including Panasonic, SiriusXM, Waymo, and the Volvo Group. Notably, Linda Yaccarino, CEO of X (formerly Twitter), is set to be interviewed by journalist Catherine Herridge on January 7, while Evan Spiegel, CEO of Snap, will discuss the platform’s future goals on January 8.

Several companies have already begun to reveal their innovations ahead of the official CES launch. For instance, LG has followed its tradition by announcing the 2025 updates to its QNED evo line of LCD TVs weeks in advance. The company has also unveiled exciting new products such as a 45-inch UltraGear bendable OLED gaming monitor and a collection of curved OLED screens.

Here’s a quick overview of other exciting announcements from LG leading up to CES 2025:

Hyundai Mobis has made headlines by promising a look at its groundbreaking “Holographic Windshield Display,” which it claims to be a world’s first. They’ve even shared a sneak peek of their booth design at CES 2025, catering to those who find the layout of convention center booths intriguing.

Numerous other exciting announcements have already surfaced, such as Roborock’s innovative vacuum equipped with an arm designed to assist in picking up small objects and Belkin’s new creator bundle, which includes a tripod that simplifies hands-free video recording on smartphones. We will commence live coverage of all CES 2025 news starting tomorrow (Monday, January 6). In the meantime, make sure to return to Engadget.com for continuous updates and insights.

In addition to the confirmed announcements, our team has speculated on major trends and breakthroughs that may take center stage at CES 2025. Here’s a glimpse of what we expect to see at the show.

Exciting New Video Cards Expected from AMD and NVIDIA

2025 promises to be a groundbreaking year for PC gamers as NVIDIA is anticipated to unveil its highly awaited RTX 5000 video cards at CES. Simultaneously, AMD CEO Lisa Su has confirmed that we can expect next-generation RDNA 4 GPUs to debut early next year. Among the two industry giants, AMD stands to benefit the most from this upgrade, as its previous Radeon 7000 series cards, while commendable mid-range options, fell short compared to NVIDIA’s superior ray tracing capabilities and the AI-driven performance of its DLSS 3 upscaling technology.

During an October earnings call, CEO Lisa Su emphasized, “In addition to a substantial boost in gaming performance, RDNA 4 offers significantly enhanced ray-tracing capabilities and incorporates new AI functionalities.” This highlights AMD’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of gaming technology.

On the other hand, NVIDIA’s new hardware is generating buzz, particularly with rumors from the leaker OneRaichu (via DigitalTrends) suggesting that the RTX 5090 may deliver performance improvements of up to 70 percent compared to the already formidable RTX 4090. This is a GPU that has previously been described as possessing “unholy power.” Other high-tier models may also see performance enhancements ranging from 30 to 40 percent. While such advancements may entice RTX 4090 owners to consider an upgrade, those with RTX 4070 and 4080 models might want to hold off. However, for NVIDIA users clinging to RTX 3000 and older GPUs, next year could present an ideal opportunity to upgrade. — Devindra Hardawar, senior reporter

The Next Wave of AI-Powered PCs at CES 2025

Last year, I anticipated that AI PCs would dominate the CES landscape, and that prediction largely came to fruition. As we progressed through 2024, we witnessed the emergence of increasingly powerful NPUs in processors from Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm. Additionally, Microsoft intensified its focus on AI PCs with the launch of the Copilot+ initiative, which provided a substantial marketing boost for AI features and premium specifications, such as a minimum of 16GB of RAM.

Looking ahead to CES 2025, we can expect a continuation of this trend, with even more artificial intelligence integrated into a wide range of products. This year, particularly, PC manufacturers may capitalize on the impending end of Windows 10 support, encouraging consumers to purchase entirely new AI PCs equipped with the latest OS rather than merely upgrading their existing devices.

While 2024 was characterized by enthusiastic hype surrounding AI PCs, 2025 may usher in a period of accountability. Microsoft’s long-awaited Recall feature is gradually rolling out, revealing some significant security vulnerabilities, such as its failure to adequately remove sensitive information, including social security and credit card numbers from screenshots. Moreover, many users have expressed disappointment with the image generation capabilities of Apple Intelligence. As PC manufacturers have eagerly promoted the potential of AI features, they will now need to substantiate these ambitious claims in 2025. — D.H.

Innovative Earbuds Inspired by Apple’s Hearing Health Features

While I recognize that not every audio company possesses the resources to develop clinical-grade hearing tests and hearing aid functionalities, Apple’s recent enhancements for the AirPods Pro 2 should motivate competitors to incorporate some hearing health tools into their flagship products. Jabra was well-positioned for this, given its parent company GN has extensive experience in hearing aids. Unfortunately, the company announced earlier this year that it would cease production of earbuds.

However, Samsung and Google could feasibly integrate similar features to those introduced by Apple for the AirPods, thanks to their existing health platforms. If they pursue this, it’s likely we won’t see these announcements at CES, as both companies prefer to host standalone hardware events throughout the year.

That leaves Sennheiser as a leading audio brand that consistently reveals new earbuds and headphones at CES. Last year, they showcased several new models, including one equipped with heart-rate tracking designed for workouts. Additionally, they already provide hearing assistance with dedicated devices like the true wireless Conversation Clear Plus. This model is specifically tailored for hearing enhancement rather than general audio consumption, so it would be fantastic to see Sennheiser incorporate features from this device into its flagship Momentum line of earbuds. Perhaps a new Momentum True Wireless 4 Pro or Plus could be on the horizon, although the current model is relatively recent, having launched just nine months ago.

There’s ample opportunity for other brands to innovate in this space, and we can expect a diverse range of new earbuds to be unveiled in Las Vegas next month. CES has also traditionally served as a platform for various assistive devices and technologies from major accessibility companies like OrCam, alongside numerous smaller brands. My hope is that some of the new technology will include more general hearing tools that appeal to everyday consumers. — Billy Steele, senior editor

The Sky-High Surge in Vehicle Electrification

As electric vehicles gradually approach a significant milestone of representing 10 percent of new models sold in the US, it’s easy to overlook that the shift to battery-powered propulsion extends beyond traditional wheeled vehicles. Flying taxis have been a prominent feature at CES for several years, with concept vehicles showcased by major brands like Hyundai.

While these innovative modes of transportation resemble large drones with cockpit designs rather than the fantastical vehicles imagined in The Jetsons, companies such as Archer Aviation and Joby Aviation are on track to introduce eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) services in 2025, marking a significant leap towards the reality of air taxis. This could signify a transformative moment for urban transportation. — Sam Rutherford, senior reporter

Transforming Smartphones into Satellite Communication Devices

Since the debut of Emergency SOS via Satellite on the iPhone 14 in 2022, there has been a notable increase in the development of satellite communication technologies. Apple has since expanded its feature to facilitate non-emergency communication, prompting component manufacturers like Qualcomm to pursue similar capabilities for Android devices. The Snapdragon Satellite initiative was introduced at CES 2023 through a collaboration between Qualcomm and Iridium, but the project struggled to gain traction among smartphone manufacturers and was ultimately discontinued in November of that year.

In the intervening time, Google has successfully launched satellite calling capabilities on its Pixel 9 phones, while SpaceX’s Starlink satellite texting service has gone live in New Zealand through local provider One NZ. In the United States, T-Mobile has opened beta signups for its Starlink-powered satellite cell service this year. The satellite communication landscape is becoming increasingly crowded, with AT&T and partner AST SpaceMobile launching five satellites in September, alongside Amazon’s Project Kuiper, which aims to enhance its satellite internet network using space lasers.

This year, Garmin has introduced the inReach Messenger Plus, characterized as an “SOS Satellite Communicator with Photo and Voice messaging.” While satellite hotspots like this have existed for years from companies like Iridium and GlobalSat, they have traditionally been priced between $800 and $1,000 and offered limited messaging capabilities. Garmin’s new product may signal a trend towards more accessible satellite communication solutions. We are likely to see major smartphone manufacturers integrate satellite communication functionalities into their upcoming devices, and in the interim, we can expect a wave of satellite hotspots that ensure connectivity regardless of how far off the grid we venture. I anticipate that CES 2025 will showcase a plethora of devices enabling satellite access for communication and assistance. — Cherlynn Low, deputy editor

Innovative Dialog Enhancement Features on Soundbars

When it comes to soundbars, there is often a lack of substantial innovation from year to year. For instance, Samsung’s most significant update last year was the addition of HDMI 2.1 support for its flagship model, a feature that arguably should have been included from the start. Manufacturers are increasingly focusing on the transition to a cable-free experience, whether it involves wireless Dolby Atmos or eliminating transmission boxes altogether. Audio enhancement capabilities present a critical area for brands to distinguish themselves, with tools like Sonos’ TV Audio Swap and Bose’s Personal Surround Sound standing out as excellent examples. One area where nearly all companies could make improvements is in dialog enhancement, a feature that amplifies spoken words while reducing background noise for improved clarity.

Sonos has made significant strides in this area with its Arc Ultra, which now offers two additional settings for its Speech Enhancement feature. Previously, this was merely an all-or-nothing toggle, a common approach among many brands. The recent update allows for customization, enhancing the overall user experience thanks to the reengineered design of the new premium soundbar. This represents a clear pathway for other manufacturers to enhance their offerings.

Both LG and Samsung are expected to announce new soundbars at CES, along with a variety of smaller companies. It would be exciting to see all of them take dialog enhancement features a step further, ideally providing multiple options for customization. LG has integrated its AI Sound Pro technology from TVs since 2021, while Samsung’s home theater speakers feature Adaptive Sound. I anticipate both brands will not only improve the quality of their enhancements but also expand their functionalities significantly. — B.S.

Update, December 17 2024, 12:40PM ET: This story has been updated to include the companies and CEOs that will be making keynotes at the show.

Update, December 20 2024, 11:55AM ET: This story has been updated to include LG and Hyundai Mobis’ announcements ahead of CES 2025.

Update, December 25 2024, 10:00AM ET: This story has been updated to include a prediction about satellite communication devices being everywhere at CES 2025.

Update, December 30 2024, 12:00PM ET: This story has been updated to include a section titled “What we already know is coming,” that contains newer information about appearances by X CEO Linda Yaccarino and Snap CEO Evan Spiegel, as well as updates on LG’s UltraGear line. The intro was also updated to be more accurate about the time of year since we first published this piece.

Update, January 3 2025, 3:20PM ET: This story has been updated to include a list of announcements by LG, as well as to edit the intro so it is not outdated and reflects that we have, indeed, entered a new year.

Update, January 5 2025, 3:30PM ET: This story has been updated to include more news from LG, Belkin, and Roborock. The intro was also edited as the Engadget team has now arrived in Las Vegas and begun working.

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