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07.01.2025 06:00 The original ROG Flow Z13 was always a bit of an odd machine. It felt like the strange lovechild between a Surface Pro and a traditional gaming laptop. But at CES 2025, ASUS is giving the tablet a much needed refresh that includes a massive performance boost thanks to the company’s updated XG Mobile graphics dock. One of the biggest departures from the previous model is that this time instead of relying on a CPU/GPU solution from Intel and NVIDIA, ASUS is going with an all-AMD configuration. The ROG Flow Z13 features up to a Ryzen AI Max+ 395 APU with unified memory that tops out at a whopping 128GB . Also, by using a chip with an increased emphasis on power efficiency and combining that with a larger 70Whr battery , ASUS says the Z13 should deliver improved longevity of up to 10 hours on a charge. Meanwhile, the system remains rather svelte, weighing just 2.6 pounds and measuring just half an inch thick. This means it should be an excellent choice for portable gaming and productivity. The Z13’s screen is also pretty impressive, because even though it’s not an OLED, its Nebula Display is powered by a vivid IPS panel with a 180Hz refresh rate, up to 500 nits of brightness and 100 percent coverage of the DCI-P3 spectrum. I also appreciate that even on a system this sleek, ASUS still found room for a full-size HDMI 2.1 jack in addition to two USB 4 ports, one USB-A, 3.5mm audio and even a microSD card reader. Some other subtle updates include a redesigned keyboard with larger keycaps, a more durable PU leather cover and a much bigger touchpad. Inside, there’s also a new steel vapor chamber that ASUS says outperforms traditional copper variants, while the addition of a customizable Action Key on the side of the system makes it easy to adjust display settings or summon whatever app you want. Of course, one of the coolest things about the Flow Z13’s adaptability is that when you want even better performance, you can connect it to ASUS’ ROG XG Mobile Dock, which has also gotten a major refresh for 2025. That’s because while it retains a similar design, it now supports up to an NVIDIA RTX 5090 for a massive boost in graphics power. The other big change is that instead of relying on ASUS’ proprietary XG Mobile port to connect the two devices together, this time the dock uses Thunderbolt 5. The dock also has a wealth of connectivity options including both HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 2.1 jacks, so you can use it as a hub when stationed at a desk. Finally, it’s also backwards compatible with the original Z13, so owners of the previous model have another way to extend the life of their machine. Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget Unfortunately, ASUS has yet to provide info regarding the ROG Flow Z13’s release date. However, we’re expecting the device to start at around $2,000 for a version with a Ryzen AI Max 390 chip or $2,200 when configured with a Ryzen AI Max+ 395 APU. Pricing for the XG Mobile dock is still to be determined, though with it sporting an RTX 5090, it will almost certainly cost a pretty penny.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/the-asus-rog-flow-z13-is-starting-to-make-more-sense-as-a-gaming-tablet-043027074.html?src=rss

07.01.2025 06:00 There's so much AI-powered nonsense at CES that it's kind of refreshing to see a very straightforward, classic gadget like the Swippitt. It's a breadbox-sized hub that contains five battery packs that can fit into a a custom-made iPhone case. When the battery is in the case, it works like similar product, keeping your phone juiced up. The trick is that when the battery is empty, you pop your phone into the top of the box and it automatically removes the battery from the case and drops in a fresh one. Keeping our phones charged up is definitely a problem, but it's fair to ask whether Swippitt is an over-engineered solution. For $450 you get the Swippitt hub and five batteries, but you'll also need to purchase a separate $120 case for your iPhone. The team is making cases for the iPhone 14, 15 and 16 series and is also working on ones for Samsung as well. If you're intending this to be a family solution for multiple phones, things could get pricy fast. Nathan Ingraham for Engadget That said, there's something charming about having a little box that can just drop a fully-charged battery into your phone case in seconds. I wish you could see the inside and actually see the batteries change — maybe we'll get a transparent model in the future. Naturally, there's also an app that'll let you check the status of all five batteries, whether they're in the charger or out being used. Parents can even get alerts for when their kids' phone drops below 15 percent. Probably the biggest challenge for Swippitt is keeping up with phones as they get slight tweaks and revisions every year that change their dimensions — and, more importantly, their batteries. Phone batteries will surely keep getting larger and require more power to recharge, so Swippitt will have to stay on top of both case design and battery pack design. It feels like a lot to ask for a small start-up, but they've already contended with such changes — Apple's addition of a dedicated camera button to the iPhone 16 series meant they had to quickly redesign the case. Nathan Ingraham for Engadget As for availability, Swippitt says it'll start shipping initial orders in April, but it expects it'll take a few months from there to get fully up to speed. And while the $450 price tag is steep, Swippitt is offering 30 percent off initial orders in January, plus you can grab a $100 off early CES discount through January 17, which considerably changes the financial equation. If you're hard on your phone's batteries and want to keep it juiced up without ever really giving it a thought, that convenience might be worth the cost.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/the-swippit-hub-keeps-your-iphone-loaded-up-with-fresh-batteries-041320116.html?src=rss

07.01.2025 06:00 At CES 2025, MSI is launching a huge lineup of upgraded laptops with various specs that cater to an array of budgets. But of everything, one system stood out and if you take even a quick look at it, I think you can see why. As part of MSI’s Titan Series, not only is the Titan 18 HX the biggest and most powerful system the company makes. However, the special Dragon Edition features a ton of unique design traits that ensure it will never get lost in a crowd. On its lid is a hand-drawn close-up of a scaled monster which was then acid-etched into the aluminum resulting in an incredibly detailed and textured surface. You're literally staring into the eye of the beast. But it doesn’t stop there because there are also Norse-inspired runes carved into its lid along with an RGB-lit logo. Meanwhile on the inside, there’s a metallic ring and a dragon sculpture embedded beneath the deck that MSI says was created using advanced 3D printing and layering techniques. And in case that isn’t enough, the touchpad also features customizable RGB lighting, because hey, it’s still a gaming laptop. The Titan 18 HX Dragon Edition isn’t all show and no go though, as it features top-of-the-line components including next-gen Intel HX series processors, NVIDIA RTX 5090 graphics, PCIe Gen 5 SSD storage, Wi-Fi 7 and a total device power of 270 watts. MSI also included a vapor chamber to help keep thermals in check while the massive 18-inch mini LED display features VESA DisplayHDR 1000 certification and a 120Hz refresh rate. Even the keyboard has been tweaked to include low-profile mechanical Cherry MX switches to deliver a thoroughly desktop-like experience but in a package that you can still carry around. The Titan HX Dragon Edition is also part of a bundle that includes a matching wyrm-themed mouse, desk pad and packaging. Sadly, because of certain embargo restrictions from MSI’s partners, I wasn’t allowed to power on the Titan 18 HX to see if its performance truly matches its roaring appearance. On top of that, MSI has yet to reveal official pricing or availability, though that last part might be a big deal as this system is clearly intended only for people with the heart of a dragon.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/the-msi-titan-18-hx-dragon-edition-is-fierce-as-hell-040055155.html?src=rss

07.01.2025 06:00 While parent company Dell is doing a big rebrand of its entire PC portfolio, at CES 2025 Alienware is sort of returning to its roots by bringing back the classic Area-51 name back for its new flagship laptop line. Available in 16- and 18-inch versions, the resurrected Area-51 gaming notebooks feature what Alienware is calling a brand-new industrial design. Though if you look closely, you can see some similarities to existing systems like the x14 and x16. Both models sport a striking anodized liquid teal paint job with an almost iridescent quality. Around back, the company’s Aurora lighting has been integrated into the rear of the system to create a striking gradient effect on the laptop’s thermal shelf. And as before, you still get plenty of customizable RGB lights on the inside including behind both the touchpad and keyboard. But the Area-51 laptop’s most distinctive feature might be its bottom, where Alienware has installed a Gorilla Glass window with an integrated vent to help manage airflow while also giving you a peek at the hardware inside. The company claims that thanks to its new thermal architecture, Area-51 laptops have 35 percent better airflow while being 15 percent quieter than before. There’s also a new hinge design that’s meant to hide exterior components while still allowing for easy access and stability. Naturally, as Alienware’s latest flagship gaming laptops, the new Area-51 notebooks should offer top-notch performance thanks to support for up to Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPUs, 64GB of RAM , 12 TB of PCIe Gen 5 SSD storage and next-gen NVIDIA RTX 5090 GPUs. More specifically, both models can handle up to 175 watts of total graphics power with an additional 105 watts dedicated to the CPU. Unfortunately, the devices I played around with were mostly locked down, so I wasn’t able to play games or meaningfully test their processing power. That said, as the two launch systems for a new generation of laptop design, there’s a lot to like about Alienware’s revamped Area-51 laptop line. I absolutely love the new color, which is closer to emerald than teal in my opinion. Meanwhile, having up to 280 watts of total device power means there’s no shortage of computing oomph. I even like the glass panel on the bottom, though I do wonder how much extra weight that added compared to sticking with aluminum like on the rest of the system. That’s because at 7.6 pounds for the 16-inch model or a whopping 9.8 pounds for the 18-inch version, these things definitely aren’t light. The other concern is that with high-end launch configurations starting at $3,199 when they go on sale sometime in Q1, they’re not exactly affordable either. However, Alienware says that less expensive “entry-level” models will arrive later starting at a more reasonable price of $1,999.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/alienware-revived-its-area-51-laptops-with-serious-performance-and-far-out-designs-040038956.html?src=rss

07.01.2025 06:00 HP only has one all-new laptop in its Omen gaming line to show off at CES 2025, but it looks like a doozy because the company claims it’s the most powerful 16-inch notebook it has ever made. The Omen Max 16 looks like HP took a standard Omen 16 and then crammed in as many high-end components as it could. This includes support for CPUs from both Intel and AMD with up to a Core Ultra 9 275HX or Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 along with a range of NVIDIA RTX 5000-series GPUs. Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget But the blazing specs don’t stop there, because the Max 16 can also be equipped with up to 64GB of DDR5 RAM , PCIe Gen 5 SSDs and either OLED or IPS displays with 240Hz refresh rates. So there shouldn’t be many questions about this thing delivering a ton of speed. Connectivity also looks solid with two Thunderbolt 4 ports , two USB-A jacks, Ethernet, 3.5mm audio and HDMI 2.1. But the features I like the most are some of the smaller touches HP added, like a new vapor chamber — the first ever on any Omen gaming laptop. Thanks to a new liquid Cryo compound, the Max 16 should have much improved thermal management, while the addition of reversible fans are designed to keep the inside of the laptop clean. HP’s thought process is that by occasionally spinning its fans backwards, the machine can blow out any dust stuck inside. This might not sound like a big deal, but let me ask, when was the last time you opened up your laptop and gave it a good cleaning? If you’re like most people, probably never. Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget Meanwhile, in case the Max 16’s RGB-lit keyboard doesn’t draw enough attention, there’s a new lightbar on the front of the system that pumps a ton of color. Alternatively, in a bit of company synergy, the laptop also has a built-in wireless receiver that allows it to connect to up to three different HyperX peripherals without the need for extra dongles or adapters. It’s not a game changer, but definitely nice if you already own a pair of late-model Cloud headphones. Finally, in an attempt to get the most out of the Max 16’s beefy hardware, HP is adding Omen AI to its Gaming Hub app. Admittedly, shoehorning AI into everything is a bit of an overdone trend, but the idea seems solid as the company says it will use machine-learning to adjust settings in order to deliver optimal performance with the touch of a single toggle. Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget Unfortunately, due to embargo restrictions from one of HP’s hardware partners, I wasn’t allowed to game on the Omen Max 16 myself. However, the company is claiming increased framerates by 25 percent or more depending on the title. Sadly, this means I’ll have to reserve judgement on the system until I can get one in for more in-depth testing. But, at least on paper and from some of its clever new features, it feels like HP has an intriguing new flagship for anyone looking for big performance from a relatively portable gaming notebook. HP has yet to announce official pricing for the Omen Max 16, though it is slated to go on sale sometime later this spring.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/the-hp-omen-max-16-is-its-most-powerful-gaming-laptop-yet-040025199.html?src=rss

07.01.2025 06:00 The Alienware Area-51 desktop PC, a line of high-end gaming rigs dating back to 1998, has returned after several years out of the game. The company announced the new model at CES 2025, describing the resurrected Area-51 as “retaking the throne” as Alienware’s latest flagship gaming PC. But royalty doesn’t come cheap, as its launch configuration will cost around $4,500. The new Area-51 PC has a full-sized 80L tower with headroom for over 600W of dedicated graphics power and 280W for processing. It supports the latest NVIDIA graphics cards and an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K CPU. The rig uses a positive-pressure system with only intake fans; exhaust comes exclusively from passive airflow. That setup includes dual 140mm fans that blow air upward to the GPU, dual 180mm fans aimed laterally from the front toward the GPU, CPU and RAM and dual or triple 120mm fans pulling air in from the top for liquid cooling configurations. The greater internal pressure passively forces heated air out of the back. Alienware says the new airflow system moves 25 percent more air, runs 13 percent cooler and is 45 percent quieter than the two previous Alienware Aurora desktops. The company says that leads to 50 percent more processing power. Alienware You can open its chassis by unlocking a knob on the back of the tower. Alienware says there’s plenty of room to fit your hands and move upgrade parts in and out. Inside are QR codes linking to instructional videos, which likely do little more than save you a few seconds of searching YouTube. The collection includes guides on swapping out the RAM, GPU, SSD, and power supply, as well as maintenance issues like cleaning its fans and three removable / cleanable filters. The Area-51 rig supports up to 64GB DDR5 XMP RAM at 6400 MT/s, 8TB of storage, and liquid cooling in 240mm and 360mm configurations . Configurations use a 1500W Platinum Rated ATX12VO or an 850W Gold Rated ATX12VO power supply. Shaun Lucas / Alienware The launch configuration, including a “next-gen NVIDIA GPU,” will cost around $4,500 when it arrives later in Q1 2025. Other builds will follow later, including a cheaper entry-level option.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/alienware-resurrects-its-area-51-desktop-pc-040024043.html?src=rss

07.01.2025 06:00 Acer just announced a trio of new Predator gaming laptops at CES 2025 that are packed with high-end specs. They arrive with different price points and feature sets, but all of them include NVIDIA RTX-50 series GPUs. The baddest of the bunch is the Predator Helios 18 AI. As indicated by the name, this laptop features an impressive 18-inch 4K Mini LED display. The refresh rate can typically go up to 120Hz, but a new dual-mode display feature lets users switch to FHD resolution at 240Hz. The brightness metrics are decent, at up to 1000 nits. Acer The Helios 18 AI is available with up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor and up to the NVIDIA GeForce 5090 GPU. It also includes a dedicated NPU for AI tasks, which allows for “premium graphical gaming and AI experiences.” To the latter point, this laptop ships with more than 150 optimized AI apps, including many popular LLMs and image generators. Users can soup this beast up with up to 192GB of RAM and up to 6TB of PCIe storage. The cooling tools have also been improved, as the laptop feature's Acer’s proprietary 6th-gen AeroBlade metal fans, which boost airflow by around 20 percent when compared to plastic fans. Purchasers also get Acer’s swappable MagKey 4.0 keyboard. The Predator Helios 18 AI will be available in the US in May, with a starting price of $3,000. The Helios 16 AI is pretty much the same laptop as the 18 AI, with an identical cooling system, MagKey 4.0 keyboard and the same available CPU and GPU options. The display is smaller, at 16-inches, and this one is an OLED panel with a refresh rate up to 240Hz. The memory takes a hit here, with configuration options up to 64GB of RAM. Storage caps out at 4TB. The Predator Helios 16 AI will be available in the US in June, with a starting price of $2,300. Acer The Predator Helios Neo 16S AI is the most budget-friendly of the bunch, while still retaining high-end features. This is a slim laptop, at just 19.9mm. It also supports CPU options up to the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX with an integrated NPU and includes the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti GPU. It can be outfitted with up to 32GB of RAM and 2TB of storage. The laptop comes with a 16-inch OLED WQXGA screen with up to a 240Hz refresh rate, a 100 percent DCI-P3 color gamut and integration with NVIDIA G-Sync. The price is where this computer really shines. It starts at just $1,700, with availability beginning in April. Acer In addition to the trio of laptops, Acer unveiled the Predator XB323QX gaming monitor. This 31.5-inch 5K IPS display boasts a 144Hz refresh rate and a 0.5ms response time. It supports NVIDIA G-Sync Pulsar, with 10-bit color depth and a 95 percent DCI-P3 color gamut. On the back, there’s a DisplayPort 1.4 and a pair of HDMI 2.1 ports. It features adjustable tilt, swivel and height and comes with an integrated two-watt speaker system. There’s no pricing or availability information on this one yet. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/acers-latest-predator-gaming-laptops-include-rtx-50-series-gpus-040018258.html?src=rss

07.01.2025 06:00 Alienware has just announced the Alienware 27 4K QD-OLED Gaming Monitor at CES 2025. According to the company, the monitor has the highest pixel density for an OLED or QD-OLED monitor at 166 pixels per inch . But that’s not all it offers. The monitor has Dolby Vision HDR and VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification for even better image quality. The 0.03ms response time is perfect for competitive gamers who value extreme speed, and the 240Hz refresh rate is nothing to sneeze at either. Finally, it comes with an AI algorithm that's supposed to protect against burn-in. The Alienware 27 4K QD-OLED Gaming Monitor will be available in North America in March, and other regions one month later. It will retail for $900.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/alienwares-new-oled-gaming-monitor-boasts-worlds-highest-pixels-per-inch-040010053.html?src=rss

07.01.2025 06:00 CES 2025 has officially begun and it has brought new products from Samsung, LG and, now, Razer. We have a first look at Razer's next generation Blade 16, a model the company claims is its "thinest Razer gaming laptop ever." The news comes one year after Razer announced its predecessor at CES 2024. So, how thin is thin? According to Razer, the newest Blade 16 is up to 32 percent slimmer than the 2024 model at 0.59 inches thick. We'll have to see how this reduced space impacts its battery life. The Blade 16's keyboard has also undergone a change, with 50 percent more travel at 1.5mm. Plus, the 16-inch screen has a QHD+ 240Hz OLED display that can respond in 0.2ms. Razer has also given the Blade 16 AMD Ryzen AI processors for the first time to support any AI-powered applications. The Blade 16 doesn't have a price yet but, given its predecessor starts at $2,700, it's unlikely to be cheap. Razer also used CES to announce an "AI esports coach" called Project Ava. It provides real-time support that draws from the slightly vague "community wisdom and knowledge bases." Gamers will be able to access it during breaks, in their headset while playing or in a chat box. It should be available in an upcoming beta version. Plus, Razer rolled out a range of new gaming accessories, including the Monitor Stand Chroma for $200. It can hold up to 44 pounds, has a 4-port USB-C hub and supports 16.8 million colors for custom lighting — all great features but still $200 for essentially a stand. There's also the Iskur V2 X, which has similar features to the Iskur V2 but with a larger seat base and a much more accessible price, $300 compared to $650. Speaking of chairs, Razer announced Project Arielle, a concept chair that offers heating and cooling systems. We're reporting live from CES 2025 in Las Vegas from January 5-10. Read our CES 2025 preview, and take a look back at our picks for Best of CES 2024.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/razers-new-blade-16-laptop-is-its-thinnest-model-yet-140032671.html?src=rss

07.01.2025 06:00 On the same day NVIDIA briefly became the most valuable company in the world, CEO Jensen Huang took to the CES 2025 stage to announce the company's new, long-awaited Blackwell family of graphic cards. The first salvo of RTX 50 series GPU will arrive in January, with pricing starting at $549 for the RTX 5070 and topping out at an eye-watering $1,999 for the flagship RTX 5090. In between those are the $749 RTX 5070 Ti and $999 RTX 5080. Laptop variants of the desktop GPUs will follow in March, with pricing there starting at $1,299 for 5070-equipped PCs. As for specs, the RTX 5090 Founders Edition will feature 32GB of GDDR7 RAM and 21,760 CUDA cores. Depending on the game, NVIDIA says the 5090 will deliver as much as twice the relative performance, with RT-intensive titles like Alan Wake 2 and Cyberpunk 2077 seeing the largest gains. In the latter, for instance, NVIDIA shared a video that showed the game running at 242 frames per second on the 5090 compared to a relatively paltry 109 fps on the RTX 4090. Of course, the performance uplift consumers can expect will depend, in large part, on whether a game supports NVIDIA's new DLSS 4. The tech can generate up to three additional frames for every one frame the GPU renders with traditional rendering techniques. Looking at the performance charts NVIDIA shared, games that are limited to DLSS 3 will see a smaller performance boost. However, the good news is that older RTX GPUs will support DLSS 4, though the tech's killer feature, multi-frame generation, will be exclusive to the company's new 50 series cards. Okay, but what about the RTX 5070, you ask? It will boast 6,144 CUDA cores and 12GB of GDDR7 memory . With DLSS 4, NVIDIA claims the 5070 will be as fast as the 4090. Again, it's important to stress those gains will come courtesy of DLSS 4, and rasterization gains, if there are any, will be far more modest. As for the 5070 Ti, the company says it's up to two times faster than the 4070 Ti. We knew going into tonight that the 50 series family would almost certainly be power hogs, and that proved to be true. On the top end, NVIDIA recommends a 1,000-watt PSU for the 5090 due to its 575 watts of total graphics power. If there's a silver lining, it's that all the new Founders Edition cards feature two-slot designs. RTX 5090 RTX 5080 RTX 5070 Ti RTX 5070 RTX 4090 Architecture Blackwell Blackwell Blackwell Blackwell Lovelace CUDA cores 21,760 10,752 8,960 6,144 16,384 AI TOPS 3,352 1,801 1,406 988 1,321 Tensor cores 5th Gen 5th Gen 5th Gen 5th Gen 4th Gen RT cores 4th Gen 4th Gen 4th Gen 4th Gen 3rd Gen VRAM 32 GB GDDR7 16 GB GDDR7 16 GB GDDR7 12 GB GDDR7 24 GB GDDR6X Memory bandwidth 1,792 GB/sec 960 GB/sec 896 GB/sec 672 GB/sec 1,008 GB/sec TGP 575W 360W 300W 250W 450W NVIDIA kicked off the Blackwell portion of its CES presentation with a demo of a next-generation Assassin's Creed game featuring the most realistic ray-traced graphics the series has ever featured. "All of this, with AI, is the house that GeForce built," said Huang, wearing a new snakeskin-like jacket instead of his signature leather jacket. "Now, AI is coming home to GeForce." Be sure to visit Engadget in the coming days as we'll have more on NVIDIA's new GPUs then. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/nvidias-rtx-5090-graphics-card-costs-2000-031133416.html?src=rss

07.01.2025 06:00 At CES 2025, Anker has a pair of new speakers under its Soundcore brand. The first, the Soundcore Rave 3S, is a $349 party speaker with AI-powered karaoke tricks and built-in light shows. Joining it is the SoundCore Boom 2 Pro, a more powerful follow-up to its non-Pro namesake, which adds boomier bass and better protection from water and dust. The appropriately named Rave 3S is described as an “AI party speaker” with 200W output and 108dB volume. Anker says it can fill spaces of up to 1,076 square feet. Like some other Soundcore models, its RGB LEDs can create a light show that syncs with the beat of your music. Red-shirt dude has perfected the art of couch-dancing.Anker The Rave 3S includes a pair of wireless microphones for karaoke nights. That’s where the AI comes in: The speaker has a vocal removal feature that can “turn any song into a karaoke track with just one click.” If it works as advertised , it could save you the trouble of scouring YouTube or paying for a service like KaraFun to get de-voiced versions of your go-to jams. It also includes a vocal enhancement feature, which adds clarity to your voice, and a reverb effect so you can sound like Phil Collins on your air-drum-inducing cover of “In the Air Tonight.” The Rave 3S has an estimated 12 hours of playtime, a bass-boost feature, IPX4 water resistance and a Spatial Audio mode. The party in a box will be available on March 10 for $349. Anker Also coming soon is the Soundcore Boom 2 Pro — the follow-up to last year’s Boom 2 and Boom 2 Plus. The new model has four drivers and a 140W output, making it better than its predecessor for outdoor spaces. Its bass can reach as low as 40Hz. The speaker has IP68 dust and water resistance , and Anker says it can float on water for pool parties. Like the party speaker, the Boom 2 Pro can produce an RGB light show, and it ships with a portable strap for slinging it over your shoulder. Anker says it has a 20-hour playtime. The Boom 2 Pro will launch in April for $249.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/ankers-ai-party-speaker-can-automatically-remove-vocals-for-karaoke-nights-030057069.html?src=rss

07.01.2025 06:00 CES is known for putting the spotlight on wacky innovations and Eufy came prepared for this year’s event. The company just revealed its E20 robot vacuum, which can actually transform from a traditional robovac to a manually-controlled stick vac. This is the first time we’ve seen something like this. Some robovacs include additional stick vacuums, but do not transform into them. The design seems simple. On the outside, it looks similar to competing robot vacuums from companies like Roomba. However, users can simply remove the vacuum module, which includes a motor and a filtration system, and pop it onto a stick attachment. It also comes with a handheld vacuum attachment, which works in a similar way. The company says transformations can be made “at any time without damage to the machine or sacrificing performance.” My bedroom rug, which is more cat hair than fiber at this point, would very much like to test that. Eufy It also includes some modern robovac accoutrements, like a base station that automatically empties debris. The company says the bin is large enough to handle 75 days of cleaning before requiring a manual trip to the garbage can. The vacuum ships with the company’s proprietary obstacle avoidance tech, which can identify and avoid items as small as 15mm. Did we mention it also transforms at will? Technological tomfoolery at its finest. The battery life here seems on point, with Eufy claiming it’ll clean for three hours before needing to charge. To that end, it can fully charge in around two and a half hours. The E20 will be available on February 10 and will cost $550. That’s actually fairly budget-friendly when compared to some of the newer robovacs heading to market, and those don’t transform at all. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/eufys-new-robot-vacuum-can-transform-into-a-stick-vac-030042390.html?src=rss

07.01.2025 06:00 Anker's empire is vast, spanning everything from cheap batteries to 3D printers, but more importantly, it's varied. Case in point, the company is introducing the Anker Solix Solar Beach Umbrella at CES 2025, a flexible, freestanding shade structure that can also charge your phone or power the company's EverFrost 2 cooler. Like a normal umbrella, the Solix Solar Beach Umbrella is portable, collapsible, and designed to protect you from rain . What makes this solar beach umbrella unique from what you might have laying around in your garage are the flexible solar panels it has attached on top. Anker Anker says it's using perovskite solar cells in its panels, which are supposed to offer "30 percent better performance" than traditional crystalline silicon cells, and translates to a solar rated power of up to 80W. The company has offered few details about how the Solix Solar Beach Umbrella works beyond that, including how much it will actually cost when it launches, but it's not a completely unexpected extension of what Anker was already doing with solar. The company launched its Solix line of home energy products in 2023, introducing Tesla Powerwall-esque home backup batteries, and retroactively branding portable solar panels and large capacity batteries in the process. The Solix Solar Beach Umbrella is expected to join the Solix lineup in either spring or summer 2025, according to Anker.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/anker-made-a-solar-beach-umbrella-because-of-course-030040245.html?src=rss

07.01.2025 06:00 Anker has a major presence at CES 2025, as the company has revealed a whole bunch of wild and wacky products. One such item is a newly-announced solar electric cooler, which is basically like a portable refrigerator/freezer combo. The Anker Solix EverFrost cooler is available in three sizes, from 23L to 58L, and uses air-cooled refrigeration technology for “faster and precise cooling.” To that end, Anker promises that these units cool more than 20 percent faster than rival products and allow for accurate temperature regulation from -4 degrees to 68 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s right. The temperature range is vast enough to refrigerate and freeze items. The largest model even has two independent compartments to do both at once. That’s pretty handy. There could be one side for beverages and another side for those all-important ice cubes. There are plenty of high-tech bells and whistles here. As stated before, this is a solar electric cooler. That means the detachable batteries can charge via an integrated 100W solar panel or by plugging into a standard power outlet. The batteries can also double as power banks for charging up smartphones and the like. Anker As for usage limits, Anker says these coolers can run for 52 hours with a single battery and up to 104 hours with two batteries. As you can see above, there's room enough for a pair of batteries. There’s also a proprietary app that lets people keep track of battery life and internal temperature. The EverFrost coolers include large six-inch wheels that can “overcome obstacles on rough terrain” and an IPX3 waterproof rating. However, portable solar-powered refrigeration doesn’t come cheap. Pricing starts at $700 for the smallest model and goes up to $1,000. The coolers will be available for purchase on February 21. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/kitchen-tech/ankers-everfrost-coolers-can-chill-or-freeze-food-using-only-solar-power-030028037.html?src=rss

07.01.2025 06:00 Anker announced a new wall charger at CES 2025 and this 140W model includes a nifty display for keeping track of various metrics. These data points include power usage per port, temperature and whether or not fast charging has been activated. The company has been popping displays on its larger chargers for a while now, but this is the first screen we’ve seen on something this small. The screen even displays something Anker is calling an odometer, which measures lifetime usage in hours. The diminutive charger boasts a surprising number of ports, which is always useful. All told, there are three USB-C ports and a single USB-A port. The design also makes it less prone to falling and loosening when plugged in. The Anker 3C1A supports multiple fast-charging options, including PD3.1 and UFCS, making it compatible with a wide range of devices. Could this be the mythical “one charger to rule them all?” That depends on pricing, and the company is remaining mum for now. We also don't know when this thing will be available for purchase, though we'll likely find out soon enough. Anker The company also announced a new power bank with retractable cables. That’s a really neat idea, but a bit risky since cables can easily fail. Anker thought of this, as the device includes additional standard ports. This power bank also boasts a display, similar to the charger, and offers support for fast charging.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/ankers-new-140w-wall-charger-features-a-handy-display-030027019.html?src=rss