It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to label the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) as the epicenter of contemporary smart home technology. While initial efforts were made prior to the century’s turn, the exhibition halls of CES have increasingly embraced a multitude of connected devices since the early 2000s, and CES 2025 is no exception.
This year, I have been scouring the exhibition floor to discover the finest smart home devices, ranging from the bizarre and whimsical to the more practical innovations that will influence the forthcoming years of connected home technology.
Eager to make your residence start functioning for you? Here’s my selection of CES 2025’s most impressive smart home offerings thus far.
Robot vacuums evolve
Some of the most significant smart home announcements at CES so far have revolved around robot vacuums, featuring intense competition from several leading brands in robot-assisted living.
This year, the stakes are rising; there are genuine shifts occurring in the sector that might soon see market availability. For instance, Roborock introduced a robot vacuum equipped with a sock-collecting arm, while Dreame unveiled an innovative robovac capable of overcoming obstacles of up to 4.2cm in a single leap, or 6cm in two efforts, utilizing what Dreame refers to as its ‘ProLeap System’. It’s a small advancement for Dreame, but a major leap for the robovac domain.
In other developments, software continues to take center stage, exemplified by robot vacuums like the Eureka J15 Max Ultra, which employs AI to identify even obscure clear spillages.
Smart beauty devices hit the shelves
Beauty technology is gaining traction, and CES 2025 is set to showcase some of the most exciting advances in skincare tech.
By far, my favorite so far has been Samsung’s AI-enabled micro-LED mirror, which analyzes your face to evaluate pores, pigmentation, wrinkles, and redness, and subsequently suggests a skincare routine based on the analysis. Samsung asserts that in the future, SmartThings-enabled beauty devices may also be compatible with the mirror, providing even deeper insights and advice.
However, a notable mention goes to L’Oreal’s latest tabletop skin analyzer, which the brand claims can inform you about your skin’s past, present, and future through a simple five-minute scanning process. Quite remarkable.
Smart lighting and switches become more intelligent
Smart lighting is poised to become significantly more advanced, as indicated by some of the major announcements from this year’s CES. Specifically, I was captivated by one of Govee’s latest smart lights; a pixel panel (aptly named Govee Pixel Light) that can utilize generative AI within the Govee app to produce illuminated visuals. However, there’s more; it can also be integrated with Govee’s sync boxes for a more immersive gaming experience. With supporting games, the Pixel Light will showcase game-related visuals, as demonstrated at CES with Mario Kart 8.
While it was not officially announced at CES, Philips Hue’s new generative AI assistant has also been generating buzz in the news, though specifics remain limited; and Nanoleaf introduced its subscription service, Nanoleaf Premium, featuring its new Orchestrator tool and Scenescapes.
Smart security for everyone
Smart locks haven’t undergone groundbreaking advancements as seen in some previous years, but that doesn’t imply it has been an uneventful year. I particularly appreciate SwitchBot’s latest renter-friendly retrofit smart lock options, which enhance the first-generation smart lock I reviewed a few years ago. The newer version boasts a sleeker design, and its more refined aesthetic means style is not forfeited for smart security.
In other news, Phillips has revealed its inaugural smart lock that is compatible with Matter, and Ultraloq’s newly introduced smart lock capitalizes on iOS 18’s UWB, showcasing a continued commitment to developing solutions for a broader range of consumers.
Home robots are poised for arrival
Leading the charge among these intriguing innovations is Samsung’s Ballie, which, after years of inconclusive information and minor tweaks to both hardware and software, is anticipated to hit the market in 2025. It will be equipped with a Full HD triple-laser adjustable lens projector, a 2K camera on the back, and a 4K camera on the front, along with LiDAR and Time of Flight (ToF) sensors.
Another regular participant at CES worthy of special recognition is Yukai Engineering, showcasing its quirky collection of robotic companions, including the Mirumi bag bot and Nekojita FuFu. The latter amazed my laryngitis-affected self with its capability to cool my tea.
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TechRadar will be thoroughly covering this year’s CES, providing you with all major announcements as they unfold. Visit our CES 2025 news page for the most recent stories and our firsthand assessments on everything from 8K televisions and foldable screens to new smartphones, laptops, smart home devices, and the latest advancements in AI.
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