Hello from CES, where the most innovative and brilliant tech products make their debut.
Some products on show here will never make it past prototype, others will end up in our homes and pockets, shaping our everyday lives in ways we can’t imagine.
Having spent many years at Apple before joining Gigs—the company that turned telecom into a tech product—the innovations that always catch my eye are the ones changing the way we experience mobile connectivity.
So, setting aside AI supercomputers and humanoid robotics for one minute, here are the hottest innovations I’ve seen on the floor.
Signal via satellite
A great one for hikers, travelers and anyone that spends time in signal dead zones.
OffGrid, from HMD, is a hotspot device that lets you send texts, share your live location and access SOS services via satellite. While Google and Apple already offer this feature for some of their devices, OffGrid extends it to the masses, including Android as well as iOS users.
OffGrid isn’t just for adventurers. When natural disasters and extreme weather events take down cell towers, it provides a lifeline, allowing victims to reach emergency services and reassure their families that they’re safe.
The device currently works in the US, with global expansion planned for 2025. HMD will also be adding new features, potentially introducing voice clips and images in future.
A smartwatch that does more, for less
Coming in at under $100, the Amazfit 2 punches way above its price tag. With brightness and resolution to match the Apple Watch Series 10, precision health tracking, a variety of sports modes, tap-to-pay (in the EU), and a 10-day battery life, this smartwatch is a neat addition to the wearables market. It also looks great.
Samsung goes on a health kick
The bulging TV is picking up a lot of headlines, but Samsung's latest Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Ring updates are also pretty cool.
These include enhanced AI-powered features that offer better heart rate accuracy and sleep analytics. The Samsung Health app has also evolved to offer more personalized recommendations, including Symptom Radar, sleep coaching and nutrition tracking.
1% to full iPhone battery in seconds
You know that sinking feeling when you’re about to run out the door and you realize your iPhone is on 1%?
What if you could go from no battery to full charge in two seconds?
The Swippitt is a toaster-sized gadget which, when you post your iPhone inside, swaps out your depleted battery for a fresh one. It works on iPhone 14 models and newer.
The device doesn’t come cheap and the phone case that holds the battery is pretty bulky. But it’s definitely a cool (if not outside the box) solution to a problem we’ve all had.
