If we buy Microsoft’s recent ad campaign logic that any Game Pass-running device is an Xbox, it’s time to congratulate LG smart TV owners: You’ll soon own an Xbox. (Yippee!!) Microsoft announced Monday that the Xbox app will arrive on LG’s latest smart TVs later this year, letting Game Pass Ultimate subscribers stream to their sets from Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Microsoft and LG said the Xbox app will only be available on “supported” models of LG’s newest smart TVs (without specifying any models). Once the app launches, you’ll find it in LG TVs’ new Gaming Portal, which will also include casual webOS games.
Microsoft says more details about the partnership will arrive “in the coming months.” Game Pass Ultimate costs $20 monthly.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/xbox-cloud-streaming-is-coming-to-new-lg-smart-tvs-204457962.html?src=rss
The makers of the camera-equipped bird feeder, Bird Buddy, introduced two new products at CES 2025 under a new brand called Wonder that let you spy on nature and help pollinators thrive.
Petal, a solar-powered camera with changeable lenses and Nature Intelligence (aka AI), can be mounted with a clip, a flexible arm or a stem, so it can be set up pretty much wherever you want outdoors. It’ll analyze everything it sees to let you know what birds, insects and other critters stopped by. The second product, Wonder Blocks, is a modular system that’s kind of like an apartment building for bugs and birds. It’s all very cute.
Wonder
The Petal camera comes in soft, bright colors like orange, blue and yellow, so it would look right at home in a flower pot or wrapped around the thin branch of a tree. It can record and livestream footage to your phone, and send commentary about “the sights and sounds of nature, from birds hatching to the flapping of butterfly’s wings, a flower blooming and bees pollinating it,” according to the company. If you also have the Wonder Blocks, you can use Petal to keep an eye on the little community that forms there.
There are several options when it comes to the components you can add to the Wonder Blocks; the full system includes a pedestal at the bottom, a bug hotel, a large base for plants, a seed tray, a bee hotel and a butterfly feeder on top. Both Petal and the Wonder Blocks will launch on Kickstarter this spring.
Wonder
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/new-bird-buddy-smart-garden-products-let-you-peek-into-the-secret-lives-of-pollinators-201510777.html?src=rss
Robot vacuums can make cleaning up a lot more convenient but, depending on your home’s layout, might not work with every floorplan. Chinese appliance maker Dreame is hoping to address that with its X50 robot vacuum that’s able to climb over small stairs without assistance.
Though the robot vac has yet to launch in the US, it’s already generated some buzz thanks to a teaser posted on YouTube last year (the X50 is already available in China). Now, the $1699 X50 is making its US debut at CES 2025, with Dreame offering an up-close look at its abilities.
Dreame says the X50 can handle stairs up to 6cm high (about 2.4 inches), thanks to its “ProLeap System,” which relies on a motorized arm underneath the vacuum that’s able to swing out and boost it over steps. So while the X50 won’t be able to climb up a full-size staircase (the average stair height in a home is between 7 and 8 inches, according to Google), it should be able to maneuver over smaller steps and other obstacles that may trip up other robot vacuums.
In addition to its stair-climbing abilities, the X50 can maneuver underneath furniture and identify up to 200 types of objects, which helps it detect obstacles in its path. It also has a built-in hot water mop and a specialized brush to sweep up hair without becoming a tangled mess.
Dreame is opening pre-orders for the X50 on January 7, with people who pre-order also getting an extended two-year warranty and an extra cleaning kit. The vacuum officially goes on sale on Amazon and Dreame’s website on February 14.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/dreames-x50-robot-vacuum-can-climb-stairs-200058312.html?src=rss
This year at CES 2025, Dell is announcing a huge rebranding for all of its consumer and commercial PCs. However, while this change is generally a move in the right direction, I think getting rid of the iconic XPS name is an unforced error.
As a quick recap, Dell’s new unified branding will see its laptops, desktops and other devices divided into three main families. Standard Dell machines are aimed at general consumers and designed for school, work and casual gaming. (Alienware gaming PCs are also getting updated names, but they will remain separate from Dell’s core computing products.) Then there are Dell Pro devices, which are primarily for businesses and meant to support pro-grade productivity. Finally, there is the Dell Pro Max line, which as its name suggests comprises systems built to deliver maximum performance (i.e. workstations).
Dell
But it doesn’t stop there, because within each family will be three tiers of products. Base models across the Dell, Dell Pro and Dell Pro Max lines will be entry-level machines and won’t get any special monikers. Meanwhile, systems featuring the Plus tag (e.g. the Dell Pro 14 Plus laptop) will serve as mid-range options. And then sitting on top are systems with a Premium label, which denotes Dell’s most powerful and luxurious machines within a given family.
Now while this new scheme might seem awkward at first, the rationale behind it makes sense (mostly). Dell believes that when customers buy gadgets they see the name of the company first (in this case Dell), so that’s what should be front and center on every product. So far so good. Another benefit of this change is that Dell is also ditching a ton of sub-brands like Latitude, Inspiron, Optiplex and others, which were often opaque and meaningless to most buyers. So in essence, the rebrand is providing a more streamlined naming scheme that should be easier to understand. A similar thought process was behind HP’s unifying and rebranding that took place last year, too.
Regular folk should shop for standard “Dell” models, businesses will buy Dell Pro systems and anyone who needs PCs with even more performance can opt for Dell Pro Max devices. Unfortunately, among all this, the XPS name is also getting killed off and in its place will be systems simply labeled Dell [product name] Premium. (Remember, non-Pro Dells are for normal people and “premium” denotes that a model sits at the top of the line.)
As part of the Dell's rebrand, the XPS 14 will now be called the Dell Premium 14.
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget
This is my big issue because I truly do not understand why Dell would want to get rid of the one sub-brand that people already know and have loved for more than a decade. For years, some version of the XPS has sat at the top of practically every Best Windows laptop list. The XPS name is an icon and unlike a lot of Dell’s other monikers like Inspiron or Latitude, it actually meant something. (Fun trivia tidbit: XPS officially stands for extreme performance system.)
In a lot of ways, XPS was already the way Dell let people know that one of its consumer devices was a premium system, so to go and replace it with a generic word feels like a step in the wrong direction. I would even argue that in a lot of situations, the XPS name even transcended Dell’s own. Previously when people asked me to recommend an ultraportable Windows laptop, I would simply say “Get an XPS.” No further instruction was necessary. So instead of replacing XPS with Dell Premium, wouldn’t it make more sense to just stick with Dell XPS?
After talking to numerous Dell employees about the name change, the counter-argument I’ve heard the counter-argument is that as someone who covers tech and nerds out about gadgets, I’m more familiar with specific products than the average joe. Dell seems to believe that people who only read reviews every four or five years right before they buy a new laptop just aren’t familiar with the XPS name — which might be true. But my retort is that the XPS line was always meant for enthusiasts — the type of discerning folk who care about design and are willing to pay more for fancier materials, better performance and shaving a couple millimeters or ounces off a device when possible. And to that crowd, the XPS name was a clear indicator that you were getting something way better than just OK.
A selection of Dell's new laptops including the Dell 14 Plus, Dell Pro 14 and Dell Pro Max 16.
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget
Another potential problem is that even with Dell’s new unified branding, it still feels like something is missing. Take for example the company’s new 14-inch consumer laptop — the Dell 14 Plus. We know the Plus indicates that it’s a mid-range system and that Dell is clearly the manufacturer that made it. So that means the name of the laptop is the “14?” Or is it “14 Plus?” Either way, that just sounds off. Even Apple, who Dell appears to have cribbed part of its naming scheme from, still has the decency to give each device a proper name. You have MacBook Airs, MacBook Pros, Mac Minis, iMacs and so on. And then there’s the issue of doing a full rebranding and ending up with a scheme that sounds a lot like what Dell’s competitors have already done, especially with the Pro and Pro Max lines drawing clear connections to Apple’s range of premium (there’s that word again) iPhones.
I’m not the only one who feels this way, either. We got a chance to learn about Dell’s rebrand during a preview shortly prior to CES. And during the Q&A, at least half of the questions were about why Dell was making this change. In fact, my colleague Devindra also has some more thoughts on this.
Devindra’s thoughts:
Sam, I’m fully onboard with your frustration, but I’d argue you’re still being too kind to Dell here! The company’s argument that this name change is all about simplicity falls apart once you start looking at sub-tiers for each brand. “Dell Pro Max” seems clear enough, but when you try comparing ”Pro Max Plus” and “Pro Max Premium” systems, all logic is lost. We’ve launched ourselves out of the orbits of normal consumers and towards over-priced consultants who likely suggested this name change. Doesn’t Max already mean best?
The situation gets even more hilarious when you look at the company’s desktops: Later this year, we can expect to see the “Dell Pro Max Slim” and “Dell Pro Max Micro” towards. Max Micro! What are we even doing here?! (And yes, you can expect those machines to also have their own plus and premium sub-branding.)
No one saying Dell should remove its logo from the lid. But at least for its high-end consumer systems, the XPS name still means a lot.
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget
It’s true, most consumers won’t cry over the loss of “Latitude” and “Inspiron,” and they would likely be better off with clearer model names. I just wish Dell had focused more on maintaining clarity without getting bogged down by engineer-brained sub designations. If you’re going to copy Apple’s naming scheme (and let’s face it, that’s what’s happening, despite CEO Michael Dell and other execs telling us otherwise), at least try to stick to Apple’s short and friendly style.
The loss of the XPS brand hurts Dell the most, though. Every PC maker has tried and failed to develop a premium brand that could go toe-to-toe with Apple. Sony’s VAIO PCs were all the rage in the ‘90s and 2000’s, before they threw in the towel. IBM ThinkPads became far less desirable once Lenovo snapped them up. HP’s Spectre machines are great, but aren’t exactly a household name. XPS, meanwhile, means something. Like you said, it was a brand that shone brighter than Dell itself.
XPS laptops started the ultra-thin bezel trend, something even Apple hasn’t fully adopted. The XPS 13 has been one of our highest-rated laptops for over a decade (save for some recent stumbles with its invisible touchpad and disappearing function row). Now instead of leaning on a brand that it built over the years with blood, sweat and cutting-edge hardware, the company is taking the most generic path possible. Dell Premium will just never hit the same as XPS.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/dell-killing-the-xps-name-is-an-unforced-error-200006195.html?src=rss
At a CES 2025 preview in early December, Dell leadership including CEO Michael Dell and President Sam Burd shared news of the company's big PC rebranding.
AMD is targeting both low-end and high-end AI PCs at CES 2025. The company unveiled a new family of Ryzen AI Max chips meant for "halo" Copilot+ AI PCs, which will sit above existing Ryzen AI 9 systems. In addition, it's also introducing Ryzen AI 7 and 5 chips for mid-tier and lower end AI PCs. Clearly, AMD wants AI PC options for everyone.
AMD
To its credit, AMD's Ryzen AI Max chips seem like powerhouses. They feature up to 16 Zen 5 performance cores, 40 RDNA 3.5 GPU compute units and 50 TOPS of AI performance with AMD"s XDNA 2 NPU. The company claims it delivers 2.6 times faster 3D rendering than Intel's Core Ultra 9 288V, as well 1.4 times faster graphics performance in benchmarks like 3DMark's Wildlife Extreme and Solar Bay. It also delivers comparable performance to Apple's 14-core M4 Pro chip, and when it comes to the Vray benchmark, it's significantly faster.
AMD
Ryzen AI Max systems will be available in the first and second quarter of the year, including the HP Zbook Ultra G1a, as well as the ASUS ROG Flow Z13 convertible.
As for the Ryzen AI 7 and 5 chips, they'll basically deliver slightly slower performance than existing Ryzen AI 9 PCs. The Ryzen AI 7 chip features 8 cores and a 5GHz max boost speed, while the Ryzen AI 5 340 offers up six cores and a 4.8GHz max speed. And for PCs that don't need a ton of AI power, AMD is also introducing Ryzen 200 chips in the second quarter. They'll offer up to 16 TOPS of AI performance (compared to 50 TOPS on the faster AI chips), and will max out with the eight-core Ryzen 9 270.
AMD
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/amd-takes-ai-pcs-to-the-max-with-ryzen-ai-max-chips-194600366.html?src=rss
HP announced three new 14-inch Elitebooks at CES 2025, all powered by the latest Intel processors. The laptop lineup includes the Elitebook Ultra G1i — it has a 3K OLED screen, a 9MP webcam and a haptic touchpad — and two Elitebook X models, one of which is a 360-degree-folding 2-in-1.
As to be expected, HP is billing these laptops as AI PCs. While that’s due in part to the unwritten rule that every new gadget must have AI stuffed inside, it’s also practically due to Intel’s Core Ultra 5 and 7 chips being built precisely for that purpose, with three compute engines for on-device AI tasks. All three Elitebooks are Copilot+ PCs and can zip through AI tasks at 48 TOPS (trillion operations per second).
All three Elitebooks ship in configurations with 16GB or 32GB of RAM and 256GB or 512GB of storage.
HP
The EliteBook Ultra G1i has a higher-end screen, webcam and touchpad than the others. Its display will be available in touch and non-touch configurations, both of which are 14-inch OLED panels with 2,880 x 1,880 resolution. The laptop has a 9MP webcam, and its onboard AI can upscale video calls beyond that. Its audio setup should impress, too, with “studio-quality dual microphones” and quad speakers.
The non-touch version weighs 2.63 pounds (just under 1.2 kg), and the touch model is slightly heavier at 2.68 pounds (around 1.2 kg). Its touchpad is haptic-based (like Apple’s MacBooks have been for years). That should make it evenly “clickable” — it doesn’t click inward but feels that way — across its entire surface.
HP EliteBook X Flip G1i
HP
HP’s EliteBook X G1i and EliteBook X Flip G1i are similar and differentiated mostly by form factor. The Flip earns its name by flipping back with a 360-degree hinge, while the standard one has a traditional clamshell design. Compared to the Ultra, these models have lower-resolution LCD panels: 1,920 x 1,200 in most configurations, with a 2,560 x 1,600 option also available for both. The machines also have a lower-resolution webcam (5MP) than the Ultra.
In line with its 2-in-1 nature, the Flip has a touchscreen in all variants, while the standard has touch and non-touch models. It works with (but doesn’t include) HP’s $99 Rechargeable Active Pen.
HP hasn’t announced pricing or release date info for any of the new Ultrabooks, but they’ll be on display at CES 2025 in Las Vegas this week.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/hp-at-ces-2025-the-latest-elitebooks-are-copilot-pcs-powered-by-intels-new-ai-chips-194559833.html?src=rss
Dell is introducing three new monitors at CES 2025, but the most interesting one includes a feature you might have already experienced with a pair of AirPods: spatial audio. The Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED Monitor is the first monitor with "AI-enhanced 3D Spatial Audio," according to Dell.
The monitor's 5x5W speakers are able to pull off their audio tricks thanks to "AI-driven head-tracking" that follows your head and adjust audio playback so you're always immersed. It's a system that seems similar to Razer's Leviathan V2 Pro PC soundbar from 2023, which also used head-tracking to simulate a spatial audio experience. Dell's just managed to cram the necessary sensors and speakers into a monitor, with likely tinnier sound as a tradeoff.
Dell
If you're more worried about the screen, you're in luck. The Dell 32 Plus 4K has a 31.5-inch QD OLED panel with up to a 120Hz refresh rate and 4K resolution, which sounds great for creative work or games. Bells and whistles like Dolby Vision, HDR TB400, and AMD FreeSync Premium mean you'll get the brightest and tear-free image when you actually sit down in front of the screen, too.
Alongside it's new spatial audio monitor, Dell is updating two sizes in its UltraSharp line, the Dell UltraSharp 27 4K Thunderbolt Hub Monitor and UltraSharp 30 4K Thunderbolt Hub Monitor. Dell claims both UltraSharps are the first "enhanced IPS Black monitors" which is supposed to mean they'll offer "three times the contrast of conventional IPS displays and 47% deeper blacks."
The Dell 32 Plus 4K QD-OLED Monitor will be available in China on March 27, before launching worldwide on May 22 for $799.99. Both the Dell UltraSharp 27 4K Thunderbolt Hub Monitor and UltraSharp 30 4K Thunderbolt Hub Monitor will be available on February 25 for $699.99 and $949.99, respectively.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/dells-new-4k-qd-oled-monitor-comes-with-spatial-audio-194551957.html?src=rss
After pioneering the use of 3D V-cache in CPUs — specifically, by stacking L3 cache modules on top of each other — AMD is adding another super-powered desktop CPU to the mix at CES 2025: the Ryzen 9 9950X3D. While it's not as groundbreaking as last year's 7950X3D, which managed to reach the same clock speeds as its siblings with 2D cache, the 9950X3D still stands out when compared to the competition from Intel. It features 16 Zen 5 CPU cores, a max boost speed of 5.7GHz, and most importantly, a whopping 144MB of total cache.
AMD
AMD's 3D V-cache technology allows its CPUs to juggle more data quickly without reaching out to RAM, since its cache is attached directly to the CPU package. AMD claims the 9950X3D is on average 20 percent faster than Intel's Core i9 285K across 40 different games. It's also 8 percent faster than the 7950X3D, so it's not exactly a compelling upgrade for anyone lucky enough to own that processor. When it comes to content creation, AMD claims the 9950X3D is 10 percent faster than Intel's 285K across a suite of 20 apps, including Photoshop's Pugetbench as well as Geekbench.
AMD
AMD also announced slightly slower 9900X3D chip with 12 cores, a 5.5GHz max boost speed and 140MB of cache. Consider it the slightly more sensible alternative to the 9950X3D's extravagant cache. Both chips will be available in the first quarter.
The company hasn't forgotten about laptops, either. At CES, AMD unveiled its "Fire Range" HX3D chips which will arrive in the first half of 2025. They'll be spearheaded by the Ryzen 9 9955HX3D with 16 cores and 144MB of total cache.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/the-amd-ryzen-9-9950x3d-is-another-16-core-beast-with-144mb-of-3d-v-cache-194535290.html?src=rss
AMD is following up its impressive Ryzen Z1 chip, which powered the original ASUS ROG Ally, with the Ryzen Z2 at CES 2025. You can pretty much guess what it delivers: More power, and potentially more battery life, but if you plan to wait for Valve to release a Z2-powered Steam Deck, don't get your hopes up. Following AMD's announcement, a Valve employee said "there is and will be no Z2 Steam Deck."
Leading the charge for the Ryzen Z2 family is the Z2 Extreme, featuring eight cores, a 5GHz max clock speed and 16 RDNA 3 graphics cores. The least powerful model is the Z2 Go with four CPU cores and 12 graphics cores. That could be a useful chip for cheaper handhelds, especially those that tout game streaming capabilities over local play.
AMD
AMD didn't have any performance metrics to share, but it likely won't be long until we see the Ryzen Z2 in action. It'll arrive in the first quarter of 2025 in revamped versions of the ASUS ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go. While Valve has said it's trying to avoid a horsepower rat race, constant leaks around a potential Steam Deck 2 indicate some sort of upgrade is on the way soon.
Update 4:00PM ET: Valve has clarified it's not working on a Z2-powered Steam Deck.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-amd-ryzen-z2-will-power-next-gen-gaming-handhelds-including-a-new-steam-deck-194531373.html?src=rss
So long XPS, au revoir Inspiron, later, Latitude. Dell is officially giving its existing PC brands the boot at CES 2025 and moving to terms that normal people will actually understand: Dell, Dell Pro and Dell Pro Max. Seems self-explanatory, no? Dell systems are purely consumer plays, while the Dell Pro line focuses on business users. Dell Pro Max, naturally, are super-powered workstations meant for the most demanding users.
The rebranding makes a certain amount of sense. Why should consumers have to learn about the difference between Latitude and Inspiron laptops? But it's also disappointing news for fans of the company's XPS lineup, as that's now officially dead. Going with "Pro" and "Pro Max" terms also evokes Apple's hardware more than anything from the land of Dell, so it's not exactly coming from a position of strength.
At a briefing around the rebranding in December, I asked CEO Michael Dell a simple question: "What does Dell gain by copying Apple?" Needless to say, he didn't look pleased. He and other executives were quick to point out that the term "Pro" has been used throughout the industry for years. I shouted back "I have an iPhone 15 Pro Max in my pocket!" Every tech company copies to a certain extent, but we all have eyes and ears. It's not hard to see who Dell is following with this rebrand.
While simplicity seems to have been the ultimate goal, like many PC makers, Dell couldn't help but muddy things up a bit. Within each new PC line are sub-tiers: Base, Plus and Premium. The XPS lineup will now live under the "Dell Premium" moniker, while other customers will have to figure out the difference between a "Dell Pro Plus" and "Dell Pro Premium" system.
Things get even more bonkers for Dell Pro Max systems, where you can also choose between Plus and Premium options. Doesn't Pro Max already mean the best? The naming logic breaks down entirely for desktops. Just try to read the names Dell Pro Max Micro and Dell Pro Max Mini without having your brain self destruct.
Dell Pro Premium 13 and 14.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
Oddly, Dell doesn't have any truly groundbreaking new hardware to celebrate its new naming scheme. The Dell Pro Premium 13 and 14 laptops look pretty sleek for business machines, but they still remind me more of Apple hardware than anything distinctly Dell. (It's hard not to associate the curved opening notch with anything but a MacBook Pro.)
At 2.36 pounds, the Dell Pro Premium 13 is definitely one of the lightest commercial systems I've ever seen, so that's a slight win. The company claims it gets 21.2 hours of battery life and offers 82 percent faster graphics rendering than Dell's last premium enterprise-focused system. The larger Pro Premium 14 will also be the first commercial notebook with a tandem OLED screen, which is more power efficient and brighter than a typical OLED.
On the consumer side, the Dell 14 and 16 Plus (along with their 2-in-1 versions) look like typical mainstream Dell laptops. The Dell Premium systems, formerly XPS, look completely unchanged from last year. (I've heard that we likely won't see any big changes for that lineup until next year.)
The Dell Premium 14 (formerly XPS).
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
As I wandered around Dell's rebranding event, I got the sense that many Dell employees weren't exactly thrilled with the new strategy. They typically described being a bit shocked about the news at first, especially those who devoted their lives to their specific Dell PC brand for years. Many eventually came around to the argument that simplicity will ultimately make life easier for consumers. Nobody, except for marketing leads, seemed genuinely excited about Dell's bold new journey. (I'm keeping the Dell workers anonymous to avoid any potential repercussions, especially since I noticed PR workers hovering nearby as I grilled their colleagues.)
Dell doesn't have the sort of brand loyalty that Apple does, so I doubt many regular consumers will miss the company's old PC brands. But this is surely a sad day for XPS fans, a brand that started out with Dell's premium desktops in the '90s.
The Dell Pro 13 and 14 Premium will be available today (we still don't have pricing details, unfortunately), while the Dell 14 and 16 Plus arrive on February 18 starting at $999. The Dell Pro Max 14 and 16 are set to arrive in March, and we're still waiting on pricing information.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/dell-dumps-its-pc-brands-to-be-more-like-apple-194524781.html?src=rss
Acer is a little late when it comes to releasing its first handheld gaming PC. But now at CES 2025, it seems like the company is trying to make up for lost time by going big. Really big. That’s because later this year, it’s planning to release a gigantic offering in the Nitro Blaze 11.
Packing detachable controllers and a built-in kickstand, the Blaze 11 shares a number of similarities with Lenovo’s Legion Go. However, when all that is attached to an 11-inch 2,560 x 1,600 IPS display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 500 nits of brightness, the result is something that feels very different. In some ways, it’s almost like holding a steering wheel with a tablet-sized screen slammed in the middle along with your typical assortment of joysticks, face buttons and shoulder triggers on either side.
As you’d expect from a device in this category, Acer has included some familiar gamer touches like RGB lighting surrounding analog sticks along with a new Acer Game Space app that’s meant to serve as a one-stop game launcher and control panel for settings. In person, the Blaze 11’s screen is bright and vivid to the point that I had to confirm that it wasn’t OLED. You also get what’s becoming a fairly standard set of ports: two USB-C, a 3.5mm audio jack and a microSD card slot. That said, I do appreciate that Acer found room for a USB-A port, which brings the total number of USB connections to three.
Meanwhile, on the inside, the Blaze 11’s specs look good, though not especially impressive, with an AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS chip and Radeon 780M graphics, 16GB of RAM (7500 MT/s) and up to 2TB of SSD storage (though Acer says initial configurations will come with 512GB).
That said, if an 11-inch gaming tablet seems a bit too unwieldy, Acer does have a second option in the Nitro Blaze 8. It features nearly identical specs and a very similar design minus the detachable controllers and kickstand, but with a smaller 8-inch IPS screen that has a slightly faster 144Hz refresh rate. Both models felt solid, though the Blaze 8 does win out in overall rigidity thanks to its non-detachable controllers. In case that’s not enough, there’s actually a third handheld that will be joining Acer’s ranks in the Nitro Blaze 7, which was announced back in September but has yet to go on sale (at least in the US).
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget
My one concern with the Blaze 11 is that while it seems totally serviceable, I’m not quite sure its gigantic dimensions alone will be enough to carve out a significant niche among rivals from ASUS, Lenovo, Valve and others, as it lacks much in the way of additional defining characteristics. That said, I did notice that the bottom of the Blaze 11 features pogo pins that suggests some peripherals (most likely a dock) will arrive at a later date. However, when I asked an Acer representative for confirmation, they said they had no official announcements regarding additional peripherals or accessories for the Blaze family at this time.
Acer says all three handhelds will go on sale sometime in Q2 2025, with the Nitro Blaze 11 starting at $1,100, the Blaze 8 at $900 and somewhere around $800 for the Blaze 7.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/the-acer-nitro-blaze-11-is-an-absolutely-massive-handheld-gaming-pc-194505881.html?src=rss
While all eyes are on NVIDIA for its RTX 5000 GPUs at CES 2025, AMD is also taking the opportunity to give us a glimpse at its upcoming RDNA 4 graphics architecture. While specifics are scarce, the company says its new GPUs will be built on a 4nm process with "optimized" compute units, "supercharged" AI computation and better ray tracing per compute unit. The big reveal, though, is that its new FidelityFX Super Resolution 4 (FSR4) will be powered by machine learning, just like NVIDIA's DLSS technology. AMD claims FSR 4 will offer "high quality" 4K upscaling, frame generation and low latency support with AMD Anti-Lag 2.
AMD
No surprises there, really, but it's nice to see AMD finally move beyond the more simplistic upscaling from previous versions of FSR. The company also briefly revealed the existence of its new Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT GPUS, as well as its new naming scheme which directly mirrors NVIDIA's. Now instead of trying to decode how AMD's video cards compete with NVIDIAs, you'll be able to directly compare the 9070 GPUs to NVIDIA's upcoming RTX 5070 lineup.
Less compelling, but somewhat notable, AMD is also adding a few generative AI features into its Adrenalin software. You'll be able to create AI images, summarize documents and ask "AMD-related" questions. Just what everyone has been waiting for!
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/amd-previews-rdna-4-graphics-with-ai-upscaling-teases-rx-9070-gpus-194500173.html?src=rss
Hisense just introduced its first consumer microLED television at CES 2025 in Las Vegas. The 136MX includes a high-density array of over 24.88 microscopic LEDs to “deliver unparalleled brightness, resolution, and precision.” As with all microLED displays, each pixel is its own light source. This allows for a near-infinite dynamic contrast ratio, with fantastic brightness and deep blacks. It's also a big ole beast, at 136 inches.
The TV is powered by the company’s proprietary Hi-View AI Engine X chipset, which uses AI algorithms for frame optimization. This should allow for ultra-precise color conversion and improved clarity even in well-lit spaces. To that end, the brightness levels here reach up to 10,000 nits, with a 95 percent color gamut.
It supports Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ and something called Filmmaker Mode that optimizes picture quality to “match both the content and environment, ensuring a cinematic experience in any setting.” As for audio, the 136MX supports Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual X. These sets run the company’s VIDAA operating system, so there’s access to all of the major streaming platforms right out of the box. It also pairs with Alexa and Google Assistant for voice controls.
For gamers, the 136MX includes features like 120Hz VRR, an auto low latency mode and FreeSync Premium Pro. We don’t have pricing or availability for this yet, but we’ll keep you posted. Hisense also announced a gigantic 116-inch TriChroma LED TV at this year’s CES event.
The lack of pricing here is something of a bummer, as microLED displays are typically extremely expensive. It would be nice if Hisense got the price down for regular consumers, but this is unlikely given the TV's massive size.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/home-theater/hisense-introduces-its-first-ever-consumer-microled-tv-194057452.html?src=rss
Samsung is rolling out an updated line of Galaxy Books at CES 2025. The new Galaxy Book5 Pro (available in 16-inch and 14-inch screens) and Book5 360 (15-inch display) are equipped with Intel’s newest Arrow Lake Core Ultra processors. Since those laptop chips are built for AI tasks, it’s no surprise that Samsung is touting the laptops’ long list of on-device AI features, including an equivalent of Google’s Circle to Search.
AI Select is Samsung’s branding for its Circle to Search equivalent. Much like Google’s AI trick for mobile devices, it lets you select an area on your screen and “instantly retrieve search results” for it. The Galaxy Book line also has an on-device photo upscaling feature that can sharpen details and clean up blurry pics using Intel’s speedy NPU. (It can process AI tasks at up to 47 trillion operations per second.)
Samsung
Both Galaxy Book5 Pro variants have a 2,880 x 1,800 AMOLED touchscreen with up to a 120Hz variable refresh rate. (Although that means the smaller model has a higher pixel density.) The 16-inch model is a svelte 0.49 inch (12.5mm) thick and weighs 3.44 pounds. It’s estimated for 25 hours of video playback.
Its 14-inch counterpart is a bit thinner at 0.46 inch (11.7mm) but is 21 percent lighter at 2.71 pounds. Its estimated battery life is significantly less at 21 hours of video playback.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy Book5 360 has a 15.6-inch AMOLED touch display with a mere 1,920 x 1,080 resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate. (Samsung launched a “Pro” variant late last year with a sharper and smoother 3K / 120Hz screen.) The company says its new model of folding 2-in-1 is good for 31 hours of video playback.
All three devices can be fitted with Intel Core Ultra 7 “Evo” processors, but that only comes standard in the 16-inch Galaxy Book5 Pro. The 14-inch model and Galaxy Book5 360 use a Core Ultra 5 “Evo” chip in their cheapest configurations. Both Galaxy Book5 Pro variants offer 16GB and 32GB memory options and 256GB, 512GB and 1TB storage tiers. The Galaxy Book5 360 is limited to 16GB of memory and 256GB or 512GB of storage.
Samsung says pricing and retail partner info are coming soon. All three Galaxy Book5 models will be available in February in the US, Canada, UK, Germany and France.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/samsungs-updated-galaxy-book5-pro-lineup-gets-an-intel-arrow-lake-boost-191600839.html?src=rss
Samsung Galaxy phones will finally support Qi2 in 2025, according to the stewards of the standard, the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC). Qi2 wireless charging was supposed to bring the convenience of the iPhone's MagSafe to any phone that supports it, but the vast majority of Android phone makers failed to to do anything with it in 2024. That set to change in 2025.
"The exceptional Qi2 growth story will continue in 2025," Samsung shared in the WPC's press release. "You can expect to see Android devices supporting Qi2 from Samsung Galaxy devices in 2025." Besides requiring the inclusion of magnets to make it easier to align smartphones with wireless chargers, Qi2 also supports up to 15W charging, which means Qi2 devices should charge faster than before, too.
Alongside Samsung, Google is also throwing its hat in the ring for Qi2, specifically by contributing "its own high-power wireless charging technology to WPC" for the development of Qi v2.2. Notably missing from Google's quote is a commitment to actually using the standard in its own Pixel devices however. The Pixel 9 was inarguably the best Android device the company has shipped to date, but it notably doesn't support Qi2.
In the more immediate future, WPC says that Qi v2.1 will include a new design for wireless car chargers with a moving charging coil that can adjust and seek out a phone regardless of its size or how awkwardly it's thrown on a charger.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsung-will-finally-support-qi2-wireless-charging-in-2025-190430230.html?src=rss
Similar to last year, TCL is showing off a new generation of NXTPAPER tech this week at CES 2025. The new NXTPAPER 11 Plus tablet is built around the (also new) NXTPAPER 4.0 screen, which uses "nano-matrix lithography” to improve clarity and sharpness. Color accuracy has improved too, with the new output measuring just one on the Delta-E scale (the metric measures how the human eye perceives color differences and any value of one or lower is said to be imperceptible to the human eye).
Since 2021, TCL has been trying to craft a screen that’s easier on the eyes with its NXTPAPER tech, and now it’s throwing AI into the mix (perhaps unsurprisingly). The new AI-powered Smart Eye Comfort Mode on the 11 Plus tablet adjusts output based on different usage scenarios, and the Personalized Eye Comfort Modes let users adjust eye-comfort settings to their liking.
The new tablet will support Google’s Circle to Search feature and the Smart Voice Memo function will transcribe and summarize recordings. There's a Smart Translator to handle language from voice, text and images and AI Subtitles offers real-time dialog transcription.
TCL’s NXTPAPER tech is relatively unique in the display industry, providing something that looks almost like E-Ink, but with the speed, resolution and sharpness of a traditional LCD display. Pricing and availability for the NXTPAPER 11 Plus are still forthcoming.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/tablets/tcl-announces-the-nxtpaper-11-plus-tablet-at-ces-2025-featuring-a-new-nano-etched-display-190042475.html?src=rss
TCL has long been a proponent of using Mini LED TVs as an alternative to OLED ones, and at CES 2025 the company is introducing what it claims is the best version of the idea yet in the TCL QM6K TV. The new QD-Mini LED TV is the first of several new options in TCL's new "Precise Dimming Series," and it includes several breakthrough improvements to the display technology.
The QM6K is the first of TCL's TVs to use the company's Halo Control Technology Suite, which is the catch-all name for the various tweaks it's made to the dimming and picture quality of its Mini LEDs. That includes things like a new "Super High Energy LED chip" that TCL claims increases brightness output and light efficiency, a new "Condensed Micro Lens" that allows for even more precise control over the light that comes from a TV's LEDs and updated "Quantum Dot Technology" that helps display up to 98 percent of the DCI-P3 color gamut.
TCL
TCL introduced the term "OD Zero" to describe 0nm optical distance between the backlights and the LCD panel of the Mini LED TVs it introduced in 2021, but the company has apparently found a way to top itself with its Halo Control Technology Suite screens. These new TVs have "Micro OD," which TCL says "virtually eliminates any halo effect" or blooming on the screen.
The QM6K will be available in a variety of bezel-less sizes, from 50 inches all the way to an extra large 98 inches, and will support a 144Hz refresh rate and "up to LD500 Precise Dimming." Features like Dolby Vision (and HDR10+ and HDR10), Dolby Atmos and AMD FreeSync certification are on board, and the TV runs Google TV so you should be covered as far as streaming apps are concerned, too.
TCL didn't provide a release date for the QM6K, but did say it's the first of several 2025 TVs it will release with the Halo Control Technology Suite. When it does come out, you'll be able to purchase a 50" model for $750, 55" for $800, 65" for $1,000, 75" for $1,300, 85" for $2,000 and 98" for $3,500.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/home-theater/tcls-new-mini-led-tvs-aim-for-oleds-throne-again-190023765.html?src=rss
Unlike some of the robots we’ve seen at CES 2025, Mi-Mo doesn’t have a face, but it still looks a little familiar thanks to its resemblance to the iconic Pixar lamp. Mi-Mo is still just a prototype, but there are some interesting ideas behind the unusual-looking robot walking around the show floor.
The creation of Japanese firm Jizai, the company describes it as a “general purpose AI robot” that “thinks and acts” on its own. It has a built-in camera and microphones, which allows it to move around and respond to voice prompts and commands. It runs on multiple large language models that enable its voice and image recognition capabilities.
When we saw it, Mi-Mo didn’t show many signs of being autonomous. It mostly shimmied around the show floor and “waved” at people passing by, which was honestly kind of cute. Jizai’s Yuji Oshima told me that the company envisions it as being useful for some childcare tasks, like reminding children to do their homework and then watching over them to make sure they actually complete it. (Jizai’s website notes the company is also interested in using robotics for elder care.)
This is Mi-Mo a "general purpose AI robot" that looks kind of like the Pixar lamp on top of a small table. pic.twitter.com/yTHq8Smnoz
But Mi-Mo wasn't created only to be a caretaker robot. Oshima said it’s meant to be an open platform for developers, researchers and others to find their own ways to use the robot. Jizai also intends for it to be somewhat modular so people can customize Mi-Mo with bespoke software, additional sensors or other hardware attachments.
Jizai plans to make Mi-Mo available as a developer kit later this year and has opened a waitlist where interested parties can sign up for updates.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/this-six-legged-lamp-might-help-your-kid-with-their-homework-183046893.html?src=rss
AMD’s CES 2025 presser is nearly upon us and rumors are swirling about new graphics cards, CPUs and more. (Follow Engadget's CES 2025 liveblog for real-time updates from the show.) The company regularly uses CES to promote upcoming chips and this year should be no different. To that end, the organization unveiled the AI-centric Ryzen 8000G desktop chips at CES 2024.
What to expect at the AMD CES 2025 press conference
Rumors have been flying for weeks regarding AMD’s probable CES 2025 announcements. There’s a safe bet that the company will reveal its new RX 9070 XT graphics cards. These will likely be based on the new RDNA 4 architecture and should operate as a great mid-range GPU option.
It’s also probable that AMD will finally announce the long-awaited next-gen 50-series GeForce RTX GPUs. The company typically sticks to laptop components during CES, but it’ll likely break tradition to unveil these desktop chips.
It’s been rumored that the company will even present the Strix Halo mobile chip. This one is expected to bring a 40 compute unit GPU onto a single die alongside the CPU. This could translate to smaller and lighter gaming laptops, without sacrificing power. Finally, some folks have been reporting that AMD will unveil a new gaming handheld CPU that could be a direct follow up to the Ryzen Z1 Extreme. The Z1 Extreme currently powers stuff like the Asus ROG Ally X and the Lenovo Legion Go.
AMD CES 2025 livestream
You can watch the AMD CES press conference as it happens below. The feed will start Monday, January 6 at 2PM ET.
Still to come at CES press day: Samsung, Sony and NVIDIA (among others).
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/amd-ces-2025-press-conference-watch-it-here-today-at-2pm-et-182557163.html?src=rss
Some of the best tech we see at CES feels pulled straight from sci-fi. Yesterday at CES 2025, I tested out Neural Lab's AirTouch technology, which lets you interact with a display using hand gestures alone, exactly what movies like Minority Report and Iron Man promised. Of course, plenty of companies have delivered on varying forms of gesture control. Microsoft's Kinect is an early example while the Apple Watch's double tap feature and Vision Pro's pinch gestures are just two of many current iterations. But I was impressed with how well AirTouch delivered and, unlike most gesture technology out there, it requires no special equipment — just a standard webcam — and works with a wide range of devices.
Neural Lab's software is compatible with tablets, computers and really any device running at least Android 11, Windows 10 and later or Linux. The technology was developed with accessibility in mind after one of the founders had trouble keeping in touch with their parents overseas because navigating video conferencing programs was just too difficult for the older generation. The Neural Labs representative I spoke with added how his parents preferred using an iPad to a computer/mouse/keyboard combo because touch controls are so much more intuitive. With AirTouch, they can use their TV much like they do a tablet.
In addition to accessibility, there are plenty of commercial applications too — such as letting surgeons manipulate MRI scans without touching anything or a more commonplace scenario like moving through slides in a presentation.
AirTouch tracks 3D hand movements and keys off of eye gazes to recognize intent, allowing it to ignore extraneous gestures. It currently supports nine gestures and customization allows users to program up to 15.
I tried out two demonstrations: a 3D screen with an animated image of a tree frog and a monitor displaying a webpage on a browser. On the 3D screen, holding up one finger dropped a pinecone on the frog's head, two fingers dropped an acorn, a thumbs up spun the frog around on its leaf perch and a quiet coyote gesture turned it back. It took me all of 15 seconds to learn and use the four gestures and soon I was raining down acorns on the poor frog like some ill-tempered squirrel.
It was nearly as easy (though not quite as fun) to control the screen displaying the web browser. Moving my hand around dragged the cursor across the screen and pinching took the place of clicking. I was able to scroll around on a streaming site, pick something to play, pause it and start it back up again within seconds of learning the hand movements. There were a few instances where my movements didn't do the thing I'd hoped, but after a few tries, I started to get the hang of the controls.
AirTouch is available now as a $30-per-month subscription for individuals (and $300 monthly for companies). Neural Labs says it takes just five minutes to install the software on any compatible device.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/neural-labs-airtouch-brings-gesture-control-to-windows-and-android-devices-with-just-a-webcam-180031750.html?src=rss
