Google, Samsung, LG and more are headed to Las Vegas. Here’s what to expect at the greatest gadget show on Earth.
Our editors have traveled across the country and across the pond to attend CES 2018, and we really are getting to the show by any means possible. Two of our editors are in the homestretch of a 2,5000-mile road trip that started in New York City, testing all the latest tech along the way. Think they can make it to Sin City in time for the first press conference? Follow along with our The Road to the Show 2018 liveblog to find out.
CES 2018 welcomes companies from around the world to the cavernous halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center, as well as other locations sprinkled throughout the city. CES basically takes over the town for one whole week, so you can imagine there’s a lot to see and experience in a way that only Vegas can offer. We’ll be there with around 185,000 of our closest friends, so stick with us as we see everything CES 2018 has to offer.
Admittedly, CES, which stands for the Consumer Electronics Show, may not be as buzz-worthy as it once was. This is largely due to manufacturers opting to throw their own standalone product launches throughout the year, as opposed to vying for exposure at an international trade show where seemingly every company under the sun is in attendance (which is kind-of true).
This means companies typically hold off on announcing their major new products at the show. Instead, many wait until Mobile World Congress, a proper phone show, to unveil devices like flagship smartphones. MWC 2018 that takes place one month after CES.
Artificial intelligence promises to be a big theme of the show
Despite a little lost luster, we think the hustle and bustle of CES is all part of the excitement. And rest assured that this year’s edition will feature must-see gadgets, jaw-dropping gizmos and sneak peeks at innovations that could change the tech world as we know it. If you can dream it, chances are someone at CES 2018 will have turned it into a reality.
It’s important to note that CES is a trade-only event, so unlike Cirque du Soleil, the general public can’t get a ticket to it. But never fear; the TechRadar team is on the ground in Las Vegas to bring you all the latest news and hands-on reviews. You won’t feel like you’re missing out, we promise!
Read on for the latest CES 2018 news and rumors, as well as our top predictions for what some of the biggest companies will bring to CES in Las Vegas.
Samsung is always a major point of focus at CES, and for good reason. The tech giant typically unveils a number of noteworthy devices – not counting its updated line of smart washing machines, refrigerators and dishwashers – and sometimes shows off hardware that’s a little bit out there.
Two years ago, it was a bendable TV (watch the video below). At CES 2018, it could be a bendable phone. You see, whispers are circulating that the Galaxy X, Samsung’s rumored foldable smartphone, could debut at this year’s show.
As Forbes notes, the timing would be a bit odd since, unlike MWC, CES isn’t a major phone show. However, it would also be a prime opportunity to show off a completely new device to an international audience. Samsung did unveil the Galaxy A3 phone at last year’s CES, so there’s some precedent.
What’s more, Samsung debuted its bendable display tech way back at CES 2013, so it’d be fitting to unveil the culmination of five years’ development in a consumer-ready bendable phone at CES 2018.
Samsung’s mobile boss has said the company is targeting a bendable phone launch in 2018. Unveiling the Galaxy X now could be the first step towards a full-blown release later in the year.
However, the waters were muddied a bit when a leaked model number seemingly belonging to the Galaxy X turned out to be for a different phone. This could mean the Galaxy X won’t launch as soon as we’d hoped.
We could also be in for an early look at the Samsung Galaxy S9 during the show – or not. Let us explain.
Notable leaker Evan Blass reported that the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus could make a cameo appearance at CES 2018. That would obviously be big news… even if the design of the new phones is iterative and not innovative.
However, on December 6,2017, a report surfaced quoting a Samsung representative saying « it is unlikely » the company will bring the Galaxy S9 to CES. This probably means we won’t see the Galaxy S9 until a potential launch in March. Our bet? You won’t see the Galaxy S9 announced at CES 2018.
In addition to some possible Galaxy phone unveilings, Samsung is also rumored to be showing off a gigantic TV at CES. How big? Try 150 inches on for size. This would be no ordinary TV (obvi), as TweakTown reports, because it would also feature MicroLED tech.
This screen tech essentially has the LED elements engraved into the silicon substrate, according to the site. The substrate is so small that it acts as individual pixels. MicroLED is said to allow for greater pixel density, less power draw and the elimination of image burn-in. All good things for TV owners.
We also wouldn’t be surprised to see Samsung to announce new wearables, either on its own or in partnership with others and new Galaxy Tab tablets in addition to new TVs. There’s a good chance Samsung will update its QLED TV tech to the next generation (and maybe go for a new name, like QLED+).
Samsung has already unveiled a 34-inch monitor ahead of CES. *Yawn*, you may think, but know that the CJ791 ultra-wide QLED monitor is the first curved panel to boast Thunderbolt 3 connectivity. So there.
Keeping with the computing theme, we’ve also already seen the new Samsung Notebook 7 Spin, which features Windows Hello secure login for extra security and support for the Active Pen stylus. This is in addition to the earlier announced Notebook 9 Pen and updates to the existing Notebook 9 laptops. We should hear more details on these machines during CES.
As for home entertainment tech, Samsung has already shown off one device in the form of the NW7000 Sound+ soundbar, a 53.5mm-deep speaker that comes close to matching the thinness of modern televisions.
And if all this wasn’t enough, Samsung will also show off new conceptual tech at CES 2018. These include a new respiratory medical device called GoBreath, a pair of glasses to help the visually impaired see better, and speakers that direct sound so only you hear what’s being played.
Google Assistant Playground to be featured at CES 2018
Google will have quite the presence at CES 2018 as it has a large booth and eight hospitality suites reserved for the show.
A few days before CES, the tech giant provided further insight into just what it’ll have cooking at its centrally located booth at the Las Vegas Convention Center. It’s plans can be summed up in two words: Google Assistant.
The digital helper is now available on more than 400 million devices, Google wrote in a blog post on January 5. It’s becoming more useful in addition to becoming more ubiquitous, and Google seems keen to show off Assistant at a so-called Google Assistant Playground at its show-floor booth.
Here, attendees are encouraged « to check out some of our new integrations, devices, and newest ways you can use your Assistant. »
This bodes well for new Google Assistant-backed devices to be unveiled during CES, though it’s doubtful these will be manufactured by Google proper. Rather, look for partners like GE and others to show off wares that feature Google Assistant in ways that could rival Amazon’s Alexa.
Still, as Chrome Unboxed speculates, CES could bring us new Chromebooks to follow up the well-received Google Pixelbook. We could even see Chromebooks that take on a whole new form factor, such as ones that transform into tablets with detachable screens.
Android Auto to go wireless at CES 2018
One announcement we know is happening already is the introduction of a few wireless Android Auto units, courtesy of JVC Kenwood. This makes Google’s in-car operating system wire-free for the first time, allowing you to keep your phone unplugged while still enjoying the benefits of connectivity.
Whatever Google has planned, this is an exciting addition to the CES 2018 lineup. When the major players come to Las Vegas, there’s usually pay off in the form of exciting news.
In recent years Sony has used CES to focus on its audio and office lines, unveiling devices like new headphones and cheaper 4K projectors along with its latest Bravia TVs.
The Bravia range always dazzles, as do Sony’s other top-notch goods. So far, there’s nothing to indicate Sony will deviate from this script very much. We expect the next line of Bravias to feature OLED screens, which the Japanese firm only last year started producing again.
The one surprise Sony could have up its sleeve may be the unveiling of new Xperia smartphones. While Sony usually reserves such things for MWC, notable leaker Evan Blass gave word Sony could announce three new phones at CES instead. Though not of the high-end variety, the new devices will bring a new design, something Sony’s handsets desperately need.
Plus, listen up, audiophiles: there’s a good chance we’ll see a new high-res turntable from Sony at CES 2018. Because Sony is all about turning old-school audio tech into something amazing.
We’ll find out all during Sony’s CES press conference, which takes place at 5pm PT on Monday, January 8 at the Sony booth.
LG unveiled what might possibly have been the thinnest OLED TV ever at CES 2017. If you don’t remember the OLED W7 Signature Series TV, take a minute to watch the video above.
LG is pushing the boundaries of TV tech once again with its 2018 lineup, and we’ve outlined all of LG’s newest screens in one handy guide. From OLED to FHD, we break down the TVs you can expect to see on sale this year and exactly what all those flashy specs mean for regular users. A noteworthy addition to LG’s TV lineup is Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa support, bringing voice control smarts to your living room viewing experience.
Not on the list but already turning heads is the company’s plan to bring an 88-inch 8K OLED TV to the show, which is not only a record breaker due to its sheer size, but a screen with an eye-watering resolution of 7,680 x 4,320 pixels.
We’ll see it for ourselves during LG’s press conference, which kicks off at 8am PT on Monday, January 8. We’ll bring sunglasses, just in case.
On the mobile front, LG came to CES 2017 with some low- to mid-range phones in tow, including the LG K10 2017 and LG Stylus 3, so we could be in for a few LG mobile surprises at this year’s show.
