Ever since its inception in the 1960s as the Consumer Electronics Show, CES has provided a showcase for wacky innovations and prototypes, as well as the tech that consumers would actually be buying and using in the near future.
This format still holds true, with CES 2025 providing an entertaining mix of bizarre concepts, practical gadgets and everything in between.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and robots were predictably at the forefront and sometimes spanned both extremes of the spectrum.
At one end was the £140,000 ‘robot girlfriend’ Aria from US robotics company Realbotix.
CEO Andrew Kiguel said that Aria could be deployed in care settings as she can process data such as when medication should be taken.
The human-looking AI-powered robot can also provide “a sense of connection” to combat “the loneliness epidemic”, he added.
Kiguel was adamant that this was not a sex robot, however, adding that you would get an electric shock if you tried.
Elsewhere, Japanese start-up Yukai Engineering garnered a lot of attention for its cute, furry AI robot Mirumi, which can clip onto a handbag and interact with passers-by.
Huge TVs, smarter vacuums and lots of gadgets on display
On the practical side, television always plays a big part at CES, and RGB backlighting, which uses red, green and blue LEDs to enhance brightness, appears to be a strong trend.
Huge TVs also look here to stay, with almost every major manufacturer showing off models with 100-inch-plus screens.
A number of robot vacuums were showcased, including the Roborock Z70, with its pincer arm for picking up larger detritus such as stray socks.
The SwitchBot K20+ Pro has a modular design that allows extra functionality such as an air purifier, security camera and even a tray for it to fetch you a snack.
The Dreame X50 Ultra Complete, meanwhile, has little legs that allow it to climb stairs – previously the nemesis of robot vacuum cleaners.
There were a number of new smart glasses on show with invisible or blacked-out sunglasses-style displays, which could see them surge in popularity while reigniting debates on privacy and potential misuse.
Other eye-catching gadgets included Swippitt, a battery-swapping hub that can give you a full smartphone charge in just two seconds, and a mobile personal assistant called Ballie from Samsung.
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