Quirky Gizmos We Crave and Extraordinary Wonders We Can’t Resist

Transparent televisions. Stair-climbing robotic vacuum cleaners. Vacuums equipped with robotic arms. AI-driven everything. Just another January at CES, which used to go by the name Consumer Electronics Show. I’m participating in spirit, meaning I’m living vicariously through this year’s event — with plenty of assistance from the team at Engadget, who are on the ground in Las Vegas. (If you seek a taste of what it’s like to be present, check out their ongoing CES 2025 live report.)

As always, CES features a vast array of tech gadgets — some impressive, some “meh,” and some simply outrageous. (I’ll never forget the WheeMe rolling robotic back massager from a few years back. Surprisingly, that never hit the market.)

Below, I’ve compiled the most peculiar tech gadgets of CES 2025, followed by some delightful ones that genuinely excite me.

The most peculiar tech gadgets of CES 2025

EcoFlow Power Hat

Major kudos to Engadget’s Daniel Cooper for this opening statement: “Another CES, another chance for the tech industry to launch a trebuchet’s worth of molten lead at the last remnants of my dignity.”

How else to characterize a product that resembles Crocs for your head? The EcoFlow Power Hat is a fashion catastrophe, something I would never be seen wearing—unless I desired to keep the sun from my face and the energy flowing to my device.

Because, let’s be honest, your head is the ideal location for solar panels, and typically, beaches lack AC outlets. The Power Hat is priced at $129 and is currently available (with a $40 discount coupon!)

Kirin Electric Salt Spoon

There’s no way to put a positive spin on it: a low-sodium lifestyle is tough. Technology comes to the rescue! The Kirin Electric Salt Spoon aspires to make your dishes taste saltier — without actual salt.

How? Oh, just with a quick jolt of electricity delivered to your tongue. From what

I’ve heard from individuals who tried the product, it appears to genuinely function — though you must grip the spoon with a sort of clumsy hold that doesn’t seem particularly enjoyable.

Naturally, for anyone who’s greatly longing for the salt in their broth, who cares? This could be a transformative device. Unfortunately, the Kirin Electric Salt Spoon is not presently (presently — understand?) accessible in the U.S.

Nutrix cortiSense

Turn your head and … spit? If you’re uncertain if you’re experiencing stress, this small gadget will provide insight. It achieves this by assessing cortisol concentrations in your saliva — and anticipates that you’ll undergo the test four times daily. (My levels escalate just considering that.)

Listen, I’m all for anything that aids in minimizing my stress, but measuring it is an entirely different issue. While the evaluations are appropriate for home use, Nutrix appears to have aspirations for corporate clients, aiming to assist in tackling workplace fatigue. (Just a notion, employers: More time away?)

Check out Engadget’s spit take (eh? eh?) to find out more about the cortiSense.

Samsung Ballie

First showcased at CES 2020, Ballie (rhymes with “WALL-E”, hint-hint) is Samsung’s rolling AI-integrated robot that, um, does tasks. What tasks? Vague. It features both a camera and a projector, the latter capable of displaying films — provided it finds an appropriate spot to park itself. (Let’s hope you have some unoccupied wall area and ample space in front of it.)

The small ‘bot can react to verbal commands, manage smart-home devices and so forth — quite similar to your smartphone or various other gadgets. One fascinating accessibility aspect is its ability to project “buttons” on the floor that you would step on to engage with something or make a selection.

Samsung has not disclosed pricing or a shipping date (beyond “sometime in 2025”), but it showcased the device at CES. Beyond “aw, how charming!”, it remains unclear what actual benefit Ballie might deliver to the household.

Spicerr

Measuring out various spices can certainly delay your recipe preparation. Spicerr is an automated dispenser that holds six replaceable spice cartridges. With a few taps on its touchscreen, you could sprinkle, for example, a quarter teaspoon of cinnamon or a tablespoon of paprika.

The Spicerr does not grind; it merely dispenses. It depends on proprietary, sealed cartridges; it seems that you cannot refill them with your own spices. And if you often need to change cartridges to meet specific recipe requirements, are you genuinely saving time?

Pricing for the product has yet to be revealed, but the company intends to initiate a Kickstarter campaign post-CES. My assumption is it’ll be priced in the hundreds of dollars, with spice cartridges retailing for approximately $15-20 each. I suppose I’ll just stick to my measuring spoons.

thanks.

Update, Jan. 9, 2025: As stated by a Spicerr spokesperson, the gadget will retail for $129 during the promotional period (which includes a 12-spice introductory kit) and will rise to $159 afterwards. Spice capsules will be priced between $2.50 and $3.50 each, containing approximately 0.7 ounce. That is significantly less than what’s typically found in an average container, yet the spokesperson highlights that numerous spices go unused before they expire. The sealed construction of the Spicerr capsules guarantees prolonged freshness.

Swippit Hub

Ever dreamt of placing your iPhone into a device that looks like a toaster, only to have it pop out with a rejuvenated battery? That’s essentially the Swippit Hub; however, it does not substitute the built-in battery (which would be impractical); rather, it replaces the battery within a specific iPhone case.

What’s the cost of all this? The hub itself is priced at $450 and comes with five batteries; the case will set you back another $120.

I’ll pass, hard. It’s a firm no. The case is cumbersome and unattractive, and if I have to burden my phone with something like that, I’d prefer to manage battery replacements myself, thank you.

The remarkable tech items of CES 2025

Amazfit Active 2 smartwatch

Amazfit has established a stellar reputation for creating durable smartwatches at budget-friendly prices. The new Active 2 continues this trend.

Starting at $100, it features a 1.3-inch screen housed in a stainless-steel case and is equipped with numerous health/activity trackers: sleep, heart rate, auto-detection for over 25 workouts, and more.

All of this comes with a battery that’s claimed to last for up to 10 days on a single charge, per Amazfit. The Active 2 is now available for preorder. Stay tuned for our in-depth review! In the interim, don’t miss Amazfit’s other fascinating CES reveal, the V1tal. (It likely fits into the “Weird tech” category.)

Circular Ring 2

To echo Beyoncé, if you value your life, you should put a Ring 2 on it. Circular’s latest wearable features not only the standard health-management capabilities but also ECG monitoring and FDA-approved AFib detection — potentially, it could save your life.

It all begins with Circular’s application, which is capable of measuring ring sizes directly from your device, ensuring you receive the correct size when placing your order. That’s quite impressive, and there’s more: The Ring 2 can operate for as long as eight days on a single charge.

Offered in four finishes and retailing at $380, the Ring 2 is set to be dispatched by March of the current year.

Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable

Do I require a laptop with a display that can expand to become nearly 50% taller? Probably not. But do I desire a laptop that magically generates additional visible space for spreadsheets, Word documents, web pages, and similar tasks? Absolutely.

Not surprisingly, you’ll incur a substantial cost for this enchantment: The Rollable is projected to begin at approximately $3,500 when it launches later this year. Discover more about this extraordinary concept made tangible.

Nuance Audio OTC Hearing Aid Glasses

For those who wear spectacles and require hearing aids, there’s good news: A product is now available that can enhance your sight and hearing simultaneously. Nuance Audio’s spectacles cater to individuals with mild to moderate hearing challenges; they utilize beam-forming technology to enhance discussions and diminish ambient noise — but you can also adjust the six integrated microphones so they can amplify all sounds.

Particularly exciting: When you remove the glasses, it turns off most of the microphones to conserve battery life (which is approximately eight hours, as stated by the manufacturer).

Regrettably, these are not yet for sale in the U.S., as the manufacturer awaits FDA approval. In the meantime, consider the Apple AirPods Pro earbuds, now boasting remarkable hearing aid capabilities.

PocketBook InkPoster

I am completely sold on the notion of an art television, which also functions as a display for paintings when it’s not being used for binge-watching Netflix. Nevertheless, they are quite pricey, their screens don’t exactly mimic canvas, and they come with power cords that are a hassle.

This is why I am thrilled about PocketBook’s latest InkPoster collection: framed color e-paper displays that run on battery. Anticipated to be available in

Available in sizes of 13.3, 28.5, and 31.5 inches, these devices can display either selected artworks or your personal digital images. PocketBook anticipates that a single charge will last you up to a year, making the need to connect to a power outlet an annual task.

There remain numerous questions yet to be clarified, such as “when?” and “what will be the cost?”, but I genuinely hope this category gains significant traction. Despite the imperfections of my current art television, it brings me considerable delight. I would love to see more of these throughout my home.

Shokz OpenFit 2

The inaugural Shokz OpenFit was recognized among the finest open-ear headphones, and I am thrilled to observe (and experience) its successor.

The manufacturer has already established itself as one of the most comfortable headphone producers in this emerging segment; the OpenFit 2 seeks to improve the average sound quality (by incorporating both a woofer and tweeter in each earpiece) and the restricted touch controls (by integrating multifunction buttons).

Additionally, it features Bluetooth 5.4, a significant advancement (which should resolve the audio/video latency problems I experienced during my evaluation).

The Shokz OpenFit 2 is offered in black or beige, priced at $180, and is available for immediate purchase.