After every week of high-profile releases, CES 2025 is over and there was some terrible stuff on show. Here is the worst and weirdest merchandise on the present.
There’s a whole lot of wonderful tech at CES. This yr, I used to be significantly shocked to see that not solely have been there a whole lot of new merchandise, however most of what I noticed was imminently delivery.
That is an enormous departure from yr’s previous the place most merchandise have been purely vaporware. You may see my current roundups of gear for Apple customers and for the .
It isn’t all constructive although. Amongst the glitz and glamor are various merchandise which can be straddling the road between bizarre — and horrible.
Here is what I discovered, although there is definitely a lot extra on the market there.
Stringless guitar
Selecting up the LiberLive C1 feeling like holding a futuristic model of a Guitar Hero gaming controller. I am nonetheless undecided if that is factor or unhealthy factor.
I simply cannot get behind these guitars. They appear cringy to me. Picture Credit score: LiberLive
With rudimentary guitar coaching underneath my belt, I am under no circumstances proficient within the instrument however a stringless guitar appears soulless to me. It additionally required unlearning a lot of what I knew on really enjoying.
I acquired to see knowledgeable enjoying with the LiberLive guitar and it was unimpressive to say the least. Whether or not it was the performer feeling just a little nervous in a singular surroundings or the awkwardness of the guitar itself.
There are conditions the place I may even see this guitar making sense. Somebody who does not play guitar however desires to might theoretically decide this up and get going.
Picture Credit score: LiberLive
However with a $500+ price ticket, that is an enormous ask and undoubtedly pigeonholes one into sticking with this guitar versus the flexibility to purchase any design or model of guitar sooner or later.
I do know there are those that love these, however I do not suppose it should be my cup of tea.
AI-powered washer
Samsung has been including AI capabilities to its machines for years however its newest Bespoke AI Laundry Combo might have taken issues too far.
Apparently, the AI is able to adjusting the washing cycle primarily based on material. I’ve a lot of questions although similar to “how actually helpful that’s..!”
A washer most likely does not want a full-on AI mannequin. Picture credit score: Samsung
I am unable to think about that AI goes to regulate the wash cycle a lot extra effectively that I have to pay that prime of a premium in comparison with the essential settings which have been on washing machines for ages.
Even with current sensible washing machines, like I’ve in my house now that provide app connectivity and alerts on my TV — which is helpful — the customized settings are principally ineffective as a result of there actually aren’t that many issues to alter.
Behind the continued pointless pushing of AI, this washer can also take telephone calls. No. I simply do not want my washer to handoff my telephone calls whereas I do my laundry.
Cellphone charging toaster
Swippitt is pitching a brand new gadget the place you place your telephone inside what appears like an outsized toaster it offers you a complete contemporary new battery in just some seconds.
Do not put a Swippitt in your house. Picture credit score: Swippitt
If the pitch sounds too good to be true, that is as a result of it completely is. What this large equipment really does is mechanically exchange the battery of their proprietary battery case.
It is principally all of the comfort of a Mophie Juice Pack with added value, counter house, and pointless app management. The holder homes a number of batteries so you possibly can place your telephone inside to get a contemporary one whereas those within the holder are all charged up.
Possibly it is simply me, however I fail to spot the utility of this. The mechanical switching is one more level that would fail within the product. It appears far simpler to get everybody in the home their very own MagSafe battery and name it a day.
This battery altering toaster is $500. Picture credit score: Swippitt
We have seen docking stations for a number of battery packs, like the one from RAVPower, however the Swippitt complicates this whereas including value on the identical time.
The added comfort is minor and definitely does not compensate for the litany of downsides. The one potential use case I can see for a product like that is in a industrial surroundings.
Possibly there an worker is on the ground utilizing an iPhone as a cellular POS or stock gadget and as an alternative of getting to connect a magnetic battery, they will stroll to the again and immediately have it swapped out and every little thing stays hid and managed. Maybe, it might make sense then.
However do not put this in your house.
Photo voltaic charging jacket
Anker makes a few of the greatest charging merchandise we have reviewed from whole-home backup to moveable battery stations to MagSafe battery packs. Their newest idea product is a bit head scratching although.
It is a jacket, not bejeweled in spectacular 90’s trend, however as an alternative emblazoned with a large array of photo voltaic panels. It appears neither modern nor snug.
The Anker Solix photo voltaic jacket looks like an answer and not using a downside. There are higher choices on the market. Picture credit score: Anker
That is not essentially the purpose although, I presume. It is to offer useful energy whilst you’re off-grid.
That utility although, appears minimal. The photo voltaic panels all cannot be dealing with the solar on the identical time and, even carrying one thing like a backpack would nearly actually block chunk of the panels, too.
In actuality, I feel a photo voltaic hat or blanket would make extra sense and can be way more sensible. Or, simply use a couple of carabiners and clip a photo voltaic panel to the again of your backpack as you stroll.
I am simply not prepared for a large photo voltaic panel-covered coat. Possibly sooner or later when the cells are small and versatile sufficient that it appears and works principally as an everyday coat I will get on board.
Furry purse robots
I assume the one factor you possibly can’t argue with is that the Mirumi robotic is sort of cute. So it has that going for it!
In any other case, I’ve to file it not less than underneath peculiar. It offers me vibes very paying homage to the notorious finger-nibbling cat that was proven at CES for a couple of years in a row (seems I used to be proper because it’s the identical firm that developed each.)
It is cute! However why?! Picture credit score: Yukai Engineering
This little robotic that appears like a little bit of a mixture of a sloth and an owl clings to the aspect of your tote or purse. It is supposed to be just a little shy and can flip its head to bury its face if approached by a stranger.
It has distance sensors in it in order individuals go by, it can lock on and “watch” them. Then after all will get shy if they arrive as much as it.
The corporate plans to open preorders in February for $70.
Sensible glasses
Do not name me a pessimist right here, however I simply cannot get on board with the sensible glasses but. I do suppose that these have the potential to be the longer term, just like the rumored Apple ones, however proper now, they simply aren’t sensible.
Halliday glasses aren’t helpful sufficient but. Picture credit score: Halliday
I attempted most likely a dozen completely different sensible glasses ideas at CES 2025 and none of them have been near feeling like one thing I would purchase or use.
A lot of them have related issues of getting to be an indoor or out of doors utility. Transition lenses nonetheless aren’t quick sufficient but to not look odd and common glasses by no means look pure with darkish lenses and vice versa.
Which means you are caught utilizing them indoors for work or out of doors for issues like navigation, responding to messages, or audio playback. Not to mention how a lot bulk they nonetheless add — few look pure.
We’re simply not fairly to the purpose of creating them a mass market product.
There have been a pair standouts they usually did catch my eye as a result of they frankly did not *strive* to do an excessive amount of. Quite simple duties very nicely.
Even Realities G1B glasses look as regular as you get. Picture credit score: Even Realities
The Even Realities G1 seem like regular glasses via and thru. They’ve tremendous skinny titanium frames that seem like something you’d discover at your native glasses store.
For the tech, they’ve a tiny in-screen show that exhibits your typical, high-contrast, low-res, bight inexperienced textual content. It is projected simply above your eye so you possibly can look as much as see it.
Your telephone does all of the processing so it truly is only a small low-res show hidden in some normal-looking glasses that I would not thoughts carrying. I acquired to demo real-time translation and navigation — each of which labored nicely for these duties.
Chamelo additionally acquired me excited. They’re glasses that may change their tint degree or coloration.
Whereas these could be helpful for simply typical sun shades or for filtering gentle inside, there are tons of purposes right here. Think about ski goggles that may modify or ones designed for fishing to assist block the water however can go clear whenever you want them.
Additionally they simply seemed good.
Once more, I do suppose that sensible glasses are rising in reputation however primarily based on all those I noticed at CES, we’re nonetheless a couple of years away from something being sensible or reasonably priced sufficient to be useable each day.
Most every little thing now could be a gimmick, impractical, costly, ugly, or simply awkward. We’ll should see how they evolve earlier than I am prepared to start out utilizing some with any regularity.
