There is no shortage of folks who have modest performance expectations from their systems, but require a large display for entertainment and creativity purposes. ASUS has introduced a massive new laptop seemingly intended for such people, dubbed the Vivobook 18. As the name suggests, the laptop sports a large 18.3-inch display with an aspect ratio of 16:10. As we shall find out later, the product is affordably priced, which justifies the 1080p IPS display. At its size, a higher-resolution panel would've certainly been a welcome addition. Thankfully, however, the display boasts a refresh rate of 144 Hz, which should allow for an excellent motion experience. The display is also claimed to cover 100% of the sRGB color gamut, which is pretty neat.

At its heart, the Vivobook 18 is powered by the Ryzen 7 260 APU with 8 Zen 4 cores and 16 threads paired with up to 32 GB of DDR5 memory. The APU is no slouch, and packs enough grunt to trade blows with the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H CPU. There is no option for discrete graphics, which means that any graphically demanding task will have to solely rely on the integrated Radeon 780M iGPU. For non-intensive workloads and casual lightweight gaming, the RDNA 3-based Radeon 780M should easily suffice. An M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 x 4 slot takes care of storage requirements, with 512 GB as standard. The memory is also upgradeable, courtesy of the single unpopulated SODIMM slot.

ASUS today announced ASUS NUC 14 Essential, an ultracompact, entry-level mini PC powered by the latest Intel Core N-series processor. Designed for exceptional performance and enhanced power efficiency, the capabilities of NUC 14 Essential are further boosted by a versatile array of ports including Bluetooth 5.3 and Intel Wi-Fi 6E (Gig+). Support for up to three 4K displays provides users with smooth multitasking experiences, allowing them to stream videos, create content, and analyze data with ease.

Energy-efficient performance in a compact package
The latest Intel Core N-series processor enables ASUS NUC 14 Essential to make light work of daily office tasks. Featuring up to eight E-core architectures, the processor offers a perfect balance of energy efficiency and performance, offering a 42% improvement over previous-generation processors. NUC 14 Essential lets users browse the web, attend videoconferences, stream videos, or create content with ease, making it ideal for office workers and students.

Audio-Technica announces the launch of its ATH-CKS50TW2 earbuds, bringing best-in-class battery life with all the powerful, full-spectrum sound of the originals now with even greater convenience. The earbuds give you up to 65 hours of playback - 25 hours from the fully charged headphones, plus an additional 40 hours available from the charging case. With noise cancelling on, enjoy 15 hours from the earbuds and 25 additional hours from the case. Additionally, if you're in a rush, a quick 5-minute charge provides up to 90 minutes of use.

The ATH-CKS50TW2 earbuds feature Audio-Technica's new patented Magnetic Switch technology which allows the earbuds to turn off when joined by built-in magnets, helping to preserve power when you're out and about without the charging case. The earbuds feature exclusive 9 mm high-definition drivers, specially made by Audio-Technica to deliver clear, full-range audio with deep, powerful bass.

Technics announces the EAH-AZ100, its latest true wireless earbuds, adding to the family of award-winning audio products backed by 60 years of sound engineering and product development. The EAH-AZ100 levels up users' sound experience with a newly developed, proprietary "Magnetic Fluid Driver" that creates clean, high-resolution, low-vibration and low-distortion sounds for the most authentic, balanced audio that's true to the original source.

For stress-free communication, the EAH-AZ100 introduces "Voice Focus AI"- an innovative feature that combines an AI noise reduction chip and three microphones in each earbud. This advanced technology delivers precise tuning, ensuring the ultimate call quality for both the speaker and the listener. "Voice Focus AI" goes beyond eliminating common call distractions, such as busy street traffic wind or other background noise. It actively analyses incoming sound, enhancing the sound of the caller.

At CES 2025, Lenovo unveiled a bold lineup of AI-powered business solutions designed to redefine the modern workplace. Highlights include the boldly redesigned Lenovo ThinkPad X9 Aura Editions, the innovative and unique ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 with rollable display, and the latest commercial desktops, including the high performance ThinkCentre M90a Pro Gen 6, and the groundbreaking ThinkCentre neo 50q QC powered by Snapdragon. Lenovo also introduces its next-generation ThinkVision P Series monitors and a comprehensive ecosystem of smart accessories, all engineered to elevate productivity and connectivity. Rounding out the announcements, Lenovo showcases cutting-edge proof-of-concept innovations that push the boundaries of technology, offering a glimpse into the future of intelligent, adaptable business solutions.

Lenovo Unveils ThinkPad X9 Series: Revolutionary Design Meets Pro-Level Performance
Lenovo introduces the ThinkPad X9 14 and X9 15 Aura Editions, its latest premium business laptops designed for innovative thinkers from prosumers to small and medium businesses to large corporations. These Copilot+ PCs powered by Intel Core Ultra processors are cutting-edge, AI-enhanced devices for creative professionals that combine powerful and efficient Intel and Windows 11 platforms, personalized AI-enabled experiences, in an all-new progressive design. ThinkPad X9 offers the ideal toolkit for today's hybrid users who demand high performance, proven reliability, and seamless productivity.

Acer today launched the new Nitro Blaze 8 and Nitro Blaze 11 handheld gaming devices, designed to elevate mobile gaming experiences with cutting-edge performance and versatile features. Powered by AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS processors, 16 GB of LPDDR5X memory, and up to 2 TB of storage, the Nitro Blaze series boasts lightning-fast performance and responsiveness. Their WQXGA touch panels (8.8-inch or 10.95-inch) featuring Radeon Super Resolution and AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution technology, ensure fluid image quality. The dedicated Acer Game Space application simplifies managing and accessing popular games and applications on handheld gaming PCs.

The new Nitro Mobile Gaming Controller enhances the mobile gaming experience by enabling users to game anywhere and anytime with its foldable design. It supports fast charging to allow uninterrupted gaming sessions while powering mobile devices quickly.

JBL, a boundary pushing trailblazer in audio, has announced the next generations of the JBL Endurance, Tune and Vibe series. Among the category-defining new products are the JBL Tune 2 and Vibe 2 series headphones which feature stand-out upgrades like noise cancelling technologies, enhanced drivers and extended battery life, all while delivering classic JBL Sound at remarkably attractive price points. For sports and wellness enthusiasts, the latest JBL Endurance Race series offers similarly exciting new upgrades for high-performance workouts that test the limits. With a dozen new upgrades across all three JBL collections, there is an option for every type of listener and lifestyle.

"At JBL, we leverage innovative technology to deliver superior sound experiences that meet the diverse needs of each and every listener," said Carsten Olesen, President, Consumer Audio at HARMAN. "With multiple wearing styles to choose from and countless new upgrades to enhance the listening and streaming experience, consumers will have the opportunity to find the model that best fits their lifestyle."

Audio industry trailblazer JBL is raising the bar once again with the introduction of the JBL Tour ONE M3, the ultimate blend of innovative audio technology and seamless connectivity with the first JBL SMART Tx audio transmitter. This latest addition to JBL's headphones lineup pushes the boundaries of what high-performance over-ear headphones can achieve, combining lossless audio, Hi-Res Bluetooth, and advanced True Adaptive Noise Cancelling 2.0. Designed for music lovers, audiophiles, travelers, and everyone in between the Tour ONE M3 delivers an unmatched listening experience with every use.

At the forefront of the JBL Tour ONE M3's innovations is the introduction of the JBL SMART Tx, a JBL first in over-ear headphones. Made for listeners who want to uplevel their audio experience, the JBL SMART Tx acts as a wireless audio transmitter, enabling everywhere entertainment from any USB-C or analog audio source such as an inflight entertainment system, PC, tablet or television. The direct proprietary wireless connection between transmitter and the headphones improves latency, stability and call quality, making it the perfect pairing for any audio content form, wherever listeners are.

Microsoft is introducing Windows 365 Link, a compact cloud PC for business users. The device costs $349 and measures just 120 x 120 x 30 mm, making it smaller than Apple's Mac mini. The compact size comes from the fanless cooling design and the fact that the device doesn't have local storage capabilities. This small computer has quite a variety of connectivity options, including one USB-C, three USB-A ports, HDMI, DisplayPort, and Ethernet connections, supports two 4K monitors, and has Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6E wireless capabilities. The specific hardware details are not yet revealed by Microsoft.

It requires Windows 365 with Microsoft Intune and Entra ID, and it works with 365 Frontline, Enterprise, and Business editions. As with other cloud-based solutions, Microsoft will lock some of the security options, "features like Secure Boot, the dedicated Trusted Platform Module, Hypervisor Code Integrity, BitLocker encryption, and the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint detection and response sensor can't be turned off, further helping to secure the device". Microsoft plans to launch the device in April 2025, with early previews in the US, Canada, UK, Germany, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Businesses interested in testing the device can contact their Microsoft account team before December 15, 2024, to join the preview program.

Apple today announced the new iMac, featuring the powerful M4 chip and Apple Intelligence, in its stunning, ultra-thin design. With M4, iMac is up to 1.7x faster for daily productivity, and up to 2.1x faster for demanding workflows like photo editing and gaming, compared to iMac with M1. With the Neural Engine in M4, iMac is the world's best all-in-one for AI and is built for Apple Intelligence, the personal intelligence system that transforms how users work, communicate, and express themselves, while protecting their privacy. The new iMac is available in an array of beautiful new colors, and the 24-inch 4.5K Retina display offers a new nano-texture glass option. iMac features a new 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View, up to four Thunderbolt 4 ports, and color-matched accessories that include USB-C. Starting at just $1,299, now with 16 GB of unified memory, the new iMac is available to pre-order today, with availability beginning Friday, November 8.

"iMac is beloved by millions of users, from families at home to entrepreneurs hard at work. With the incredible features of Apple Intelligence and the powerful performance of Apple silicon, the new iMac changes the game once again," said John Ternus, Apple's senior vice president of Hardware Engineering. "With M4 and Apple Intelligence, gorgeous new colors that pop in any space, an advanced 12MP Center Stage camera, and a new nano-texture glass display option, it's a whole new era for iMac."

For over 70 years, Marantz has led the way in high-performance audio products that combine innovative technology and effortless musicality with beautiful, luxurious and intuitive design. Now, the brand is bringing its unique expertise to the wireless speaker category thanks to two radically advanced new models that will transform customer expectations in the market.

Introducing the Marantz Horizon and its larger sibling, the Marantz Grand Horizon; two luxurious new wireless speakers crafted for passionate, discerning listeners who demand both exceptional sound and timeless elegance.

Sound shapes the way we experience games, adding dimension and depth to every action, interaction, and atmosphere. From the epic swell of a battle soundtrack to the quiet tension of a stealth mission, audio plays a crucial role in creating unforgettable gaming moments. That's why we've refreshed the Xbox Wireless Headset, introducing key enhancements to elevate your audio experience to new heights.

Now featuring Dolby Atmos at no additional cost, this updated headset delivers immersive, spatial audio that brings games to life in vivid detail. We've also improved battery life, offering up to 20 hours of playtime, upgraded the microphone with enhanced auto-mute and voice isolation for crystal-clear communication, and now feature Bluetooth 5.3. Combined with its sleek, all-black design, the new Xbox Wireless Headset remains an essential addition to any gaming setup.

Skullcandy announces the return of its iconic headphone franchise with the launch of the all-new Icon ANC. Nearly 20 years after the original Icon headphones made waves in the boardsports community, the new and improved Icon ANC is here to elevate the listening experience with active noise cancellation, sweat- and water-resistance, and an impressive 60 hours of battery life. Icon ANC is available globally now for $99.99 MSRP at Skullcandy.com and select retailers nationwide.

"The original Icon was a true fan favorite in the boardsport community. We took our fans' requests to heart and gave it a stylish and versatile makeover that's perfect for any adventure," said Justin Regan, VP of Marketing at Skullcandy. "Transcending its heritage, Icon ANC is all about embracing an active lifestyle for a new generation. From the slopes to the streets, these headphones aren't just an accessory—they're a statement."

Creative Technology today announced the release of the Sound Blaster GS5, a sleek and compact soundbar designed to elevate the audio experience while taking up minimal space. With versatile connectivity and exceptional audio performance powered by SuperWide technology, the Sound Blaster GS5 creates a wider, more immersive soundstage—perfect for intimate gaming sessions or cozy movie nights with family and friends.

Despite its compact size, this soundbar packs a punch with deep bass and crystal-clear sound. It is powered by advanced full-range racetrack drivers and a built-in port tube with a peak power output of up to 60 W, making every sound—from subtle whispers to dramatic explosions—come alive.

Today, Bose welcomes a new addition to its iconic SoundLink Bluetooth speaker family: the SoundLink Home Bluetooth Speaker. Compact yet powerful, the SoundLink Home Speaker delivers premium sound in a sleek design capable of blending seamlessly into any room. Wireless and versatile, it offers great acoustics and aesthetics — capable of tuning any space to your musical mood.

Premium, proven audio with no fuss, just music
Hear every note as a full-range transducer and dual passive radiators turn vibrations into deep bass that fills any room, producing a sensorial experience defying its size. The SoundLink Home Speaker has been optimized for flexibility with a USB-C audio input to plug and play from a laptop or any other music source. Turn up the volume by linking two SoundLink Home speakers together to create a unique stereo experience using the speakers as left and right channels.

Samsung Electronics today unveiled the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S10+, Samsung's first tablets purposefully built for AI. The premium hardware includes 14.6-inch and 12.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays—the ideal canvas for the intuitive S Pen bundled with both models. Performance upgrades for the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra include an 18% increase in CPU, 28% increase in GPU and 14% increase in NPU compared to the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra.

This improved processing power enables faster and more responsive AI features, which are now easily accessible with written prompts using the new Galaxy AI Key on the Book Cover Keyboards to customize AI assistant. Cutting-edge software includes features such as Note Assist and Drawing Assist, optimized for the tablet form factor. The Galaxy Tab S10 series also acts as a home AI device, with a 3D Map View that gives a visual overview of the home and all connected devices to streamline device management across the SmartThings ecosystem. Robust Samsung Knox security ensures data privacy and control, while innovative materials underscore Samsung's commitment to a more sustainable future.

Today, Bose is introducing an extension to its acclaimed QuietComfort line, unveiling the new QuietComfort Earbuds. The new buds are designed for everyday use, featuring proven, powerful audio with renowned noise cancellation, customizable tap controls, seamless voice commands to take calls or selfies in the moment, a wireless charging case and up to 8.5 hours of staying power—all in a compact, powerful, and durable package.

The new QC Earbuds are available starting today at www.bose.com for $179 in three color options: Black, White Smoke, or Chilled Lilac.

Belkin, a leading consumer electronics brand for over 40 years, today announced 4 new products across its SoundForm audio category, underscoring Belkin innovation, quality and its commitment to building products more responsibly. Belkin International can be found on the IFA show floor, Exhibit Hall 3.2, stand #210.

Designed in its in-house labs at Belkin Global Headquarters in California, every SoundForm product undergoes 150 meticulous quality tests, ensuring perfection before it reaches consumer's ears. Design, sound quality, comfort, voice-calling performance, enhanced features and value are all considered with each new addition to the SoundForm portfolio.

Bang & Olufsen today announced its new flagship headphones Beoplay H100, reaching back into almost a century of history to redefine the listening future. Building on the success of Beoplay H95, Bang & Olufsen's most successful headphones to date, Beoplay H100 is improved in every discipline: unrivalled high-quality sound, outstanding digital noise cancellation, a new modular construction and a beautiful design that builds on Bang & Olufsen's design icons.

"Beoplay H100 elevates what we have accomplished over the past ten decades and defines our future: an era where beautiful sound is built to last. It represents the true potential of what a Bang & Olufsen audio wearable can be, and we cannot wait to bring the headphones to our customers," says Bang & Olufsen CEO Kristian Teär and continues: "Drawing inspiration from the unparalleled performance of our Beolab speakers, our iconic designs from the past and the modular construction that embraces material excellence and circularity, Beoplay H100 truly embodies our design and innovation capabilities."

SoundMAGIC, renowned for its high-value, high-performance audio products, is thrilled to announce the launch of its latest innovation: the P58BT ANC wireless headphones. Designed from the ground up with a fresh aesthetic and implementing cutting-edge technology, the P58BT ANC promises to redefine the standard for affordable, portable headphones.

Available to purchase on the 27th August in the UK and EU for £79.99/€79.99 from Amazon and other selected retailers. US price and availability is TBC and will be announced soon.

JBL, a trailblazer in audio technology, has announced the new JBL Tour PRO 3, the most advanced True Wireless Stereo (TWS) earbuds yet. With the introduction of dual drivers, JBL Spatial 360 with Head Tracking, True Adaptive Noise Cancellation 2.0, and a Smart Charging Case packing truly unique features, JBL Tour PRO 3 redefines the TWS listening and user experience.

Seamless Convenience with 'Everywhere Entertainment'
At the forefront of the JBL Tour PRO 3's innovations is the second-generation Smart Charging Case. The case not only provides full control of the earbud features, but also acts as a wireless audio transmitter, enabling 'Everywhere Entertainment' from any USB or analog source such as an inflight entertainment system. Simply plug in the charging case for an instant and automatic connection to your earbuds.

GIGABYTE today debuted its AMD 800-series motherboards with the launch of the premium X870E AORUS Master. This will go on to be the company's second most premium product on this chipset, as the company is also planning the X870E AORUS Xtreme. The AORUS Master is still packed to the gills with everything this chipset has to offer, along with high-end onboard devices. The board is built in the ATX form-factor, and draws power from a combination of 24-pin ATX and two 8-pin EPS power connectors. It offers a 16+2+2 phase digital VRM featuring 110 A power stages. The board is laid out on a premium 8-layer PCB. You get tall extruded aluminium heatsinks for the CPU VRM, and the topmost M.2 NVMe Gen 5 slot.

The AMD Socket AM5 is wired to four DDR5 DIMM slots that support up to 192 GB of dual-channel DDR5, at speeds of over DDR5-8000. It also puts out no less than three M.2 NVMe Gen 5 slots. Two of these are wired to the dedicated x4 interfaces from the AMD "Raphael" or "Granite Ridge" processor, while one of them subtracts 4 lanes from the board's PCI-Express 5.0 x16 PEG slot. The board's fourth M.2 NVMe slot is Gen 4, and wired to the chipset. The only other expansion slots are a couple of PCI-Express 4.0 x16 (electrical Gen 4 x1). Besides the M.2 slots, you get four SATA 6 Gbps ports completing the board's storage connectivity.

Colorful Technology Company Limited, a leading brand in gaming PC components, gaming laptops, and Hi-fi audio products, is proud to announce the CVN Z790D5 ARK FROZEN motherboard for the 14th Gen, 13th Gen, and 12th Gen Intel Core processors. The motherboard supports DDR5 memory and comes with four PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots for high-speed NVMe SSDs.

The design of the CVN Z790D5 ARK FROZEN is inspired by the powerful CVN-class battleships. The motherboard features a titanium gray color from the heat sinks to the PCB finish. The motherboard features a 14+1+1 digital power phase design with 90 A high-spec DrMOS VRMs with tantalum polymer capacitor to support high-end Intel Core i9 processors with ease. The CVN Z790D5 ARK FROZEN motherboard comes with a 2.5 GbE Ethernet port and Wi-Fi 6E with Bluetooth 5.3. The motherboard has single PCIe 5.0 X16 slot that's backward compatible with PCIe 4.0 devices such as the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 Series graphics cards. There's also a bottom PCIe 4.0x4 slot for add-in devices such as RAID controllers, capture cards, and others.

Award-winning designer of personal audio technology JLab, today announces the UK availability of its JBuds Lux ANC Wireless Headphones. The new over ear headphones are JLab's first foray into the higher end headphone market, delivering a suite of advanced features like Immersive Lab quality sound, smart active noise-cancelling, spatial audio support, and Bluetooth. These features, paired with impressive 40 mm drivers for expansive sound and up to 70 hours of playback, make the £79.99 JBuds Lux ANC headphones a no-brainer for anyone looking for a premium listening experience at a great value. The new headphones are available from the JLAB UK website, Argos, Very, JD Williams and John Lewis and Amazon in three different colorways, cloud white, graphite, sage and mauve.

"Everyone deserves to experience the magic of exceptional audio quality. However, not all music lovers have $300 to spend on great headphones. We took that as a challenge," says JLab CEO Win Cramer. "The JBuds Lux ANC wireless headphones redefine the category, demonstrating how much is possible at a relatively low entry point. We integrated the best Bluetooth technologies, exceptional noise-canceling capabilities, an incredibly comfortable platform, and all the bells and whistles to produce exceptional sound. Lux offers an unparalleled listening experience for sub-£100 headphones, and we can't wait for you to try them on for size."

CTL, a global cloud-computing solution leader for education and enterprise, announced today the introduction of the new CTL Chromebook PX141E Series. This series equips educators, staff, and students with the powerful performance and connectivity they need for all-day productivity. Easy ChromeOS device manageability combined with CTL's lifecycle services reduces the burden on IT departments.

"We are excited to refresh our product line with the next-generation 14" Chromebook. As the new powerhouse performer in our Chromebook lineup, we know our education and enterprise customers will appreciate the upgraded power, Wi-Fi, memory, and storage to support all day teaching and learning, while new conveniences such as the webcam privacy shutter and additional USB-A port enhance useability," said Erik Stromquist, CEO of CTL.