January isn’t just the beginning of the new year, it is the beginning of new technology trends for the year, set at CES (Consumer Electronics Show). The past two years were low-key with virtual launches, but now in 2023 it is finally happening. It is a big stage for tech manufacturers and a sneak-peak for techies to look at upcoming technology. This year’s event has several major announcements, from a futuristic-looking Sony-Honda car, a disco fridge to a chopping board with a built-in screen. While some of these maybe concept designs, and others may take time to be mainstream, there were a lot of CPUs, smartphones, and TVs that were announced that could be months away from arriving in the markets. Here are some of the most exciting products we can look forward to.
The chipset game
Processors have gotten faster. Intel announced their 13th generation of processors to power upcoming line-up of laptops. This new processor line-up is called Raptor Lake, with the higher-end models offering up to 24 cores and 32 threads. Intel says the integrated graphics on these new CPUs are now capable of driving 8K 60 fps HDR videos and support up to four 4K displays simultaneously. Intel’s 13-generation chips will also improve DDR5 RAM support up to 5600 MHz, compared to 4800 MHz on the 12th Gen processors.
AMD has also tightened its game with its Ryzen 7000 series CPUs. The mobile chipsets are said to be nearly 50 per cent faster than the 6000 series models, which means you can expect major performance improvements from upcoming laptops. The Ryzen 7000 Mobile introduces two separate CPUs for different segments. The 7040 series focuses on efficiency and size, and the 7045 series for laptops that needs raw performance.
On the desktop side, the Ryzen 7000 series CPUs now come with more V-Cache memory, improving gaming performance. There are 3 CPUs supporting this feature, giving users more flexibility to choose. NVIDIA also made numerous announcements for gamers and creators using the power of GeForce RTX GPUs to accelerate performance. The biggest highlight was its new GeForce RTX 4070 Ti, an addition to the existing GeForce RTX 4000 series GPU line-up. NVIDIA says this GPU targets gamers who want to game 1440p (2560 x 1440) resolutions.
Innovation in the laptop segment
While hardware manufacturers are racing to deliver more power, laptop brands are bringing in more innovation to design. Though there were several laptop launches at CES 2023, the most notable one was the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i. It debuts a dual 13.3-inch OLED display, with a 16:10 ratio and Dolby Vision support. It runs on Intel’s 13th gen CPU and has 16 GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512 GB storage. The laptop can be used as a full-fledged tablet, and you can also fold it and place a wireless keyboard over its half screen for a traditional laptop experience.
Another noteworthy launch from Lenovo is the ThinkBook Plus Twist, a rotating screen laptop whose display lid houses a colourful 12-inch, 12 Hz refresh rate e-ink display. The device has a 13-inch OLED screen, and both displays support the Lenovo Pen. It’s an extremely versatile device which can be used in the clamshell and tablet format.
Asus introduced its ProArt StudioBook 16, a creator’s workstation with a 3D display which can be used without 3D glasses. On the ultrabook side of things, laptops like the LG Gram Ultraslim grabbed everyone’s attention. This 1 kg laptop boasts a 15.6-inch OLED display, 13th gen Intel CPUs and up to 512GB storage.
PC-grade smartphones
CES isn’t a pro-smartphone event, but this year there were a few notable announcements like the Motorola ThinkPhone. This phone brings a carbon fibre finish and enterprise-grade security like ThinkPad laptops. It has Gorilla Glass Victus at the front, and it comes with MIL-STD-810H certification and an IP68 water-resistant rating. The device runs Android 13 and promises three years of Android updates along with 4 years of security patches.
Another noteworthy launch was the Samsung Galaxy A14, a budget 5G phone with strong internals. It’s a 6.6-inch device with a 90Hz display and a solid 5,000mAh battery. It comes with a 50MP primary camera, and it runs Android 13.
Age of wireless TVs
Most of us know terms like wireless content streaming, but have you ever heard of wireless TVs? LG has introduced its Zero Connect OLED TV, that could change the future of televisions. This 97-inch display runs a 4K resolution with its 120Hz display and comes with a Zero Connect box that can be placed anywhere near the TV. The Zero Connect box helps to create a cleaner, distraction-free viewing experience. LG says it uses its proprietary video and audio transmission technology that ensures there is no input lag while watching content.
Another interesting product that is similar is the Displace TV. It’s a 4K 55-inch battery-powered television that stick directly into the walls without any mounts. It has active-loop vacuum technology, so you can easily stick the TV to a wall or glass. However, this TV still seems to be in its development stage and may take a little longer to be mainstream.
Brands like Samsung also impressed everyone with its compact 8K Micro ED TVs. They start from a 50-inch screen that goes all the way up to 140 inches. There is no clarity on pricing yet, but Samsung says the new models are going to be some of the most affordable 8K TVs in the market. Budget-friendly brands like Hisense also introduced their ULED Micro LED TV which offers 16-bit light control and up to 2,500 nits of brightness.
If you are looking for a mainstream TV, the LG G3 would be the ideal option. LG has announced this TV in 55, 65 and 75-inch sizes. These TVs are said to deliver better picture quality than before with their new Alpha 9 Gen 6 processor. These TVs also claim to be 70 per cent brighter than previous OLED models. They also ship with the latest WebOS 23 which refines the smart TV experience.
CES brings together the best tech innovations and shows us the exciting times ahead. We hope to see most of the products we mentioned to be available in some form, in the Indian markets soon. To know more about the latest in tech, keep following us at www.reliancedigital.in.
