The 2018 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is here and, believe it or not, this year is poised to be different. Google has a huge presence at this year’s show, which is rare given that it and Apple usually distance themselves from CES (Apple is still a no-show). There are also rumors floating around that a new flagship smartphone could be announced (stay tuned). Aside from that, expect to see Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant integrated with just about everything. There will be troves of product releases, too, ranging from drones to 4K TVs, autonomous cars and laptops. For the latest CES coverage, follow #CES2018 on Twitter or check in with us each day. We’re here to filter out the best products that you need to know about.
This is Part III of our coverage of CES 2018. To view our other installments in this coverage in the coming days, visit our tech section or Gear Patrol’s home page.
Canary View
The Canary View is basically the exact same security camera as the original Canary — just cheaper. Its $99 price tag makes it one of the most affordable smart security cameras you can buy. (Its competitors, like the Nest Cam Indoor ($199) and the recent Amazon Cloud Cam ($120) are a fair amount more expensive.) Like the original Canary, the Canary View still has a 147-degree wide-angle lens that can record video in full HD (1080p). You can also get motion alerts and use the two-way Canary Talk feature, the latter of which needs a Canary Membership subscription. The only real difference is that, unlike the Canary, the Canary View does not support HomeHealth, which allows it to monitor things like your home’s temperature and air quality; but we’re guessing that most people won’t care too much about this omission. You can purchase the Canary View now on the company’s website.
Matias RGB Backlit Wired Aluminum Keyboard for Mac
Do you love your Mac’s keyboard, but also wish it had a little more — like RGB-backlit keys? Matias, the keyboard and laptop accessory manufacturer, announced just the thing at CES 2018: the Matias RGB Backlit Wired Aluminum Keyboard for Mac. The keyboard looks nearly identical to the wired Mac keyboard with number pad and, as its name implies, it has RGB-backlit keys. The only other difference is that this Matias keyboard has a color dial, allowing users to switch the colors of the backlit keys by simply turning the dial. (There is a full spectrum of colors to choose from). The keyboard will be available in silver and space grey, which Apple fans will surely appreciate. You can preorder the $99 keyboards now from the Matias website, and you can expect delivery at the end of February.
Audio-Technica ATH-ANC700BT QuietPoint Wireless ANC Headphones
The ATH-ANC700BT are the company’s first over-ear active noise-canceling headphones. I tried out a pair for a few minutes at CES, and the ANC works great, blocking also all ambient sounds. Plus, they’re lightweight and super comfortable. The ATH-ANC700BT also have an excellent battery life, lasting roughly 25 hours when in wireless and ANC modes. I’m looking forward to testing these headphones further in the near future, but I can tell you they will be released this Spring and cost about $270.
Technics SP-10R Turntable
Technics is calling the SP-10R its most premium-to-date turntable. It’s a coreless direct drive motor turntable that has a 7kg heavy platter. And, according to the company, it boasts “the most impressive Sound to Noise ratio, rotational stability and flutter, and wow ratio of any of its turntables.” All in all, this is an accurate and super elegant turntable that we can’t wait to test. There’s no exact release date or pricing info yet.
Samsung VL3 and VL5 Speakers
The new Samsung VL5 and smaller VL3 Bluetooth and wi-fi-enabled speakers have a classic design, but, more notably, they have a unique and detachable dial that lets you control the volume. This dial, which is in many ways similar to a Microsoft Surface Dial, can stick to any magnetic surface, allowing you to control the volume of the speakers from just about anywhere in the room. Both speakers can also be controlled through Samsung’s SmartThings app. The larger VL5 has three 5-inch woofers and two tweeters. And the VL3 has a single woofer and two tweeters. No pricing or availability info has been announced.
Jabra Elite 65t Truly Wireless Earbuds
The Jabra Elite 65t are the company’s latest truly wireless earbuds. At $170, they’re just a touch more expensive than Apple’s AirPods. And compared to Jabra’s other truly wireless earbuds, the more sport-focused Elite Sport ($150), the Elite 65t have a couple different features you might like. They have more touch-friendly buttons to control play/pause, volume and answer calls. Also, they can control the amount of ambient noise you hear around you — a great feature if you plan on listening to them while you commute. The real upgrade, however, is that the Jabra Elite 65t support Alexa. With these headphones you can request songs, set alarms, or ask about the weather — just like you would with your Amazon Echo.
Sennheiser Ambeo 3D Soundbar
This isn’t just the German audio giant’s first ever soundbar — it’s their first ever speaker altogether. The Sennheiser Ambeo 3D Soundbar, which is just a prototype and isn’t the product’s official name, has six four-inch woofers, five tweeters and two top-firing speakers — that’s 13 total drivers. The soundbar is a 5.1.4 speaker that’s able to produce a number of virtual height channels and create a completely immersive experience. We can’t wait to test this soundbar in full, but Sennheiser hasn’t announced any type of pricing or release date yet.
3M Filtrete Smart Air Filters
The air filters in your home’s heating and air conditioning system needs replacing. However, you oftentimes don’t know when to replace them until too late. That’s where 3M’s new smart air filters come in. They have a Bluetooth-connected pressure sensor that monitors the air flow through the filter. When it’s too congested, an alert will get sent to your phone to let you know that the air filter needs to be replaced. Additionally, you can check the filter’s status (and the general air quality of your home) by logging onto the Filtrete Smart app. The filters will be available sometime in Q2 of 2018, and they’re expected to cost between $20 and $30.
SteelSeries Rival 600 Gaming Mouse
Serious PC gamers will know how often they lift their mouse and put it down, and how often their mouse loses its place because of it. The Rival 600 aims to correct that. It has a dual-sensor system to accurately track the mouse when it’s lifted off the mouse pad and then placed back down. Additionally, it has customizable interior weights so you can adjust how the mouse feels and moves. The Rival 600 has a couple other nice features — 12,000 CPI and a 350 IPS optical sensor — but it’s really a dependable and affordable mouse that PC gamers will love. It’s available now.
Garmin Forerunner 645 Music Smartwatch
If you’re a runner looking for a serious smart watch, this might well be it. The Garmin Forerunner 645 Music is the company’s first GPS smartwatch with internal storage for music. It can store up to 500 songs, allowing you to listen to music (when paired with Bluetooth headphones) without your smartphone nearby. And it also comes with the company’s top-of-the-line fitness sensors to accurately track your workouts. Also noteworthy, the Forerunner 645 Music has a five-day battery life. The downside is it isn’t LTE enabled, so you can’t stream music unless it’s saved to the smartwatch, and it doesn’t support Spotify yet. You can pre-order the Forerunner 645 Music now.
