1- Smartphone
CES in Las Vegas is not traditionally a show where a lot of new smartphones are unveiled, whereas the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona takes place a few weeks later.
However, there are some remarkable new features, starting with the all-new Samsung Galaxy A8 (2018), replacing the highly successful A5. It's a rather high-end smartphone with a design very similar to that of the flagship S8, with its large 5.6-inch 18.5:9 Amoled display with very limited borders. A flattering presentation in glass and metal for performances adjusted slightly below the S8 with a slower chip but just as much RAM (4 GB) and 32 GB of capacity (expandable with a micro SD card), while the 3,000 mAh battery should give it good autonomy, appreciated in the A series models. Slightly heavier than the S8 (+20g) and available in 3 colours, the A8 is priced at €499, and that's where the problem lies, as prices for the S8 reference have dropped and it is now possible to find it for a few dozen euros more.
A number of other classic models have been revealed, from the Chinese manufacturer HiSense for example, with a range of stretched 18:9 screens. Sony with three mid-range models (Xperia L2, XA2 and XA2 Ultra) priced between €229 and €429.
More original, even strange, Chinese ZTE introduces its Axon M dual-screen display, which can be treated as a two-screen workstation, either separate or linked as required. In another original genre, Planet Computers introduces the Gemini, which will bring back memories for old Psion-type PDA users. This mini handheld runs on Android, and its keyboard offers better typing than any smartphone virtual keyboard or BlackBerry integrated keyboard.
Another interesting solution, even if it has already been seen with other brands, the Moviphone offers an Android smartphone with a built-in HD pico-projector (50 lumens of brightness) for around €600.
Finally, a long-awaited feature seems ready to see the light of day: the long-announced fingerprint sensors hidden under the glass on the front of the smartphone are finally coming out, with Chinese Vivo which is presenting the first model of its kind at CES.
While Apple is obviously not present at CES (the star brand never takes part in this type of event, organising its own grand messes), there is no shortage of accessories dedicated to the iPhone, such as the countless protective cases for the iPhone X, with integrated magnetic car mount (Speck) or completely waterproof (Catalyst).
USB-C charging solutions are also legion, now that this is becoming standard on all new Android products. Note the very generous battery Mophie 22,000 mAh AC Powerstation, which can even charge a MacBook Pro USB-C (200 $) or, even more powerfully, theOmnicharge The Omni20 is capable of powering a PC from a conventional wall socket, thanks to a 20,400 mAh battery and a 100 W output (approx. €250). A precious ally, compact, stylish and relatively light (630 g).
We also spotted a clever universal socket adapter with a fuse that automatically resets itself after an overload. Zendure Passport.
Finally, for travellers going to areas with less network connectivity, there is a clever device that provides a minimum level of security by linking two people with two modules (€199) and enabling them to send text messages and GPS coordinates to each other, thanks to goTenna Mesh.
2- Laptop computer
Ever faster, lighter and more durable, PCs are being revamped at CES, with one innovation in particular catching the eye: the arrival of the Qualcomm Snpdragon 835 processor from Android smartphones in high-performance, extremely durable Windows tablets at a very competitive price.
Among the classic and highly mobile high-end products at CES, the HP Spectre 13 is one of the most talked-about, with its beautiful aluminium and carbon fibre finish, more than 11 hours of autonomy and a rapid 50 % battery charge in 30 minutes. The HP Spectre X360 is the first to feature a hybrid chip combining an Intel processor and an AMD Radeon graphics card. This is a top-of-the-range 15.6-inch convertible PC with a fingerprint reader and Windows Hello facial recognition, scheduled for launch in the spring, initially in the United States at around 1,400 $.
Windows 10 tablets (version S, with the option of upgrading to Pro free of charge) have recently been able to run on a Qualcomm 835 processor, the same as that used in 2017's top-of-the-range smartphones. The advantage of this is very low power consumption, giving the Lenovo Miix 630 20 hours of autonomy announced!
This 2-in-1 tablet with a 12.3-inch touchscreen offers great connectivity (4G nano-SIM slot) and remains relatively light (1.33kg) and is priced at 800 $ (price in France not announced) with keyboard and stylus. It's a shame, though, that it only has one USB Type-C port. Lenovo is also presenting its ThinkPad T480S (1,269 $ at launch in the USA), a classic high-end, lightweight business PC that will delight brand loyalists and stands out for its comprehensive security features, including an infrared camera for Windows Hello facial recognition, a fingerprint sensor and a webcam that can be closed on demand with the ThinkShutter system.
At AcerSwift 7 also claims to be the thinnest ultra-book in the world (less than 0.9 cm), with features that put it in direct competition with the new Dell XPS 13 (the smallest in the world...), 2018 model, with its 8th-generation Intel processor, particularly meticulous in its details, with a sophisticated thermal treatment that prevents it from transmitting heat to points of contact with the hands. It offers around twenty hours of theoretical autonomy with the screen in full HD version, and a top-of-the-range price starting at €1,349. The Dell XPS 15-inch 2-in1 is a bulky top-of-the-range model weighing in at just under 2 kilos, but boasting excellent performance thanks to its latest-generation processors and graphics cards.
Asus offers the ZenBook 13, a classic top-of-the-range notebook, neat and ultra-light (under a kilo), equipped with classic Intel i5 or i7 processors, 8 to 16 GB of RAM and up to 1 TB of SSD storage. It promises up to 15 hours of autonomy.
At SamsungThe NoteBook 7 Spin (8/256 GB) includes a fingerprint scanner, Windows Hello secure login and an optional Active Pen stylus. It can be rotated 360° and its screen is touch-sensitive.
Finally, while the most powerful smartphones (Samsung Note 8, Huawei Mate 10 Pro) are designed to be used for presentations or office work connected to a screen, the USB-C Asus Zenscreen Go 15.6" full HD, with a 7,800 mAh battery and weighing 900 g.
3- Audio
Headphones are faithful companions that can be used to create an oasis of concentration, to relax, to make phone calls, and they can become real assistants. They can be used as sports coaches, amplifying sounds if necessary, filtering them on the fly, or even translating or searching for information on the Internet.
A strong trend at CES 2018, personalised sound takes many forms. The IQBuds wireless in-ear headphones from Nuheara (€309) has a range of modes for isolating or amplifying conversations in noisy environments. While we're on the subject of wireless in-ear headphones (like Apple AirPods), we should also mention the following brands Bragione of the pioneers of the genre with the Dash Pro and its coach using artificial intelligence - it's all the rage - and a built-in music player (€249) and JabraAt CES, the company is presenting a new, less sports-oriented and more affordable model, the Elite 65Tt, priced at €179. Mymanu Click wireless Bluetooth headphones can translate conversations into 37 languages.
At the German BeyerdynamicThe engineers have worked with a start-up called Mimi to personalise the sound to your exact ear (a standard profile is created using a specific application) on the top-of-the-range Aventho Bluetooth travel headset (€449, 30 hours' autonomy).
Another very specific innovation, the French start-up Orosound presents Tilde (€299 ex VAT), selective and directional noise-cancelling headphones for noisy environments, leaving just the sound field free for the person opposite the Bluetooth headphone. The other way round, Samsung offers a portable directional loudspeaker that allows you to direct sound precisely without your neighbours hearing it.
More traditional, but so effective, active ambient noise reduction (ANC) systems are becoming increasingly widespread among manufacturers. Here are just a few of the models we spotted in the aisles at CES, including one from Japan Audio-Technica the ATH-ANC700BT (approx. €199), which is comfortable, solidly built and efficient.
There are also some great new products at JBL in its Everest range, which now offers access to Google Assistant in the headphones themselves.
Finally, among the very classic newcomers in the faithful travel companion category, the Scots from RHA Introducing the MA 750 Wireless, a relatively top-of-the-range model (€150) that's well-balanced, solid with its metal construction and holding its own for a good 12-hour day, i.e. its battery life.
Finally, a diversion into mini-speakers is in order here: to free your ears once you've arrived at the hotel, there's nothing better than a powerful, lightweight mini-speaker to listen to music or hold a conference call in comfort. The Harman-Kardon Traveler (approx. €150) is perfectly calibrated for this purpose, with 10 hours of autonomy, a dual microphone for teleconferencing use, and an integrated 2,500 mAh battery to act as a nomadic charger, all in a very compact and elegant format (black, blue, mother-of-pearl).
More original, the JBL Soundgear (€199), which won a CES Award this year, is a small neckband speaker designed for a variety of uses, including telephone conversations thanks to its two built-in microphones.
4 - Transport
At CES, all the ins and outs of high-tech are taken into account and, with all that beautiful equipment to transport, it's important to protect it properly.
Here are just a few examples of products that have won us over. In a more relaxed vein, the backpacks Solo New York are designed to protect laptops and accessories. More original, the top-of-the-range Hi-Fi brand Morel proposed with Nomadic Audio a carry-on suitcase incorporating a Bluetooth speaker which, when the suitcase is emptied at its destination, uses its volume as a sounding board to reinforce its bass. Quite astonishing to hear. The unit can also charge a laptop when the batteries run out. Clever to the core, it won an Innovation Award. The package costs €500.
More complex, the CX-1 suitcase from ForwardX is equipped with artificial intelligence to follow its owner around an airport, detecting obstacles, using a facial recognition camera, surveillance cameras, gesture control, 4-wheel drive (!) and promising a top speed of 10 km/h... This ambitious project is currently at the project stage on Kickstarter. Rendezvous next year to see if it has been industrialised.
