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When Rolls-Royce hits a milestone, the world watches closely. This year marks the 100th birthday of the Phantom, the marque’s flagship model, and the brand chose to celebrate it in a way no one could ignore—by dropping one straight into a swimming pool. It wasn’t just for show; it was a bold nod to the Phantom’s rebellious spirit and its rich connection to music and culture.
The Phantom has always been more than just a car. Since its debut in 1925, it has served as the ultimate symbol of wealth, creativity, and luxury self-expression. Kings and queens have travelled in one, rock stars have customized them wildly, and today’s hip-hop icons still rap about its glowing Starlight Headliner. Elvis Presley, John Lennon, and Pharrell Williams all counted themselves among Phantom’s owners, and each helped cement its reputation as the vehicle that transforms presence into power.
But despite its prestige, the Phantom remains closely linked to myth and mischief. This is most evident in the famous story of Keith Moon, the drummer for The Who, who was said to have sent a Rolls-Royce into a hotel pool during one of his notorious parties. Whether it happened exactly as told doesn’t matter—the story has become legend. And a century later, Rolls-Royce embraced that legend by creating a modern reimagining that showed the Phantom still knows how to make a splash.
Highlights:
Rolls-Royce celebrated the Phantom’s 100th birthday by immersing a Phantom Extended body shell inside the Lido in Plymouth, England.
The stunt honours the myth of Keith Moon, drummer of The Who, who was said to have driven a Rolls into a hotel pool in the 1970s.
The selected location also links to John Lennon and The Beatles, who were photographed at the same lido in 1967 during Magical Mystery Tour.
Today, a used Phantom V sells for around USD $150,000, while a new Phantom Extended commands well over USD $600,000.
Rolls-Royce Phantom Extended in Pool | Image: Rolls-Royce
The Phantom’s history reflects the history of Rolls-Royce itself in many ways. The Phantom I replaced the legendary Silver Ghost in 1925 and quickly gained a reputation as the “best car in the world.” Successive generations pushed the limits: the Phantom III introduced a V12 engine in the 1930s, while the Phantom VII redefined modern Rolls-Royce luxury in 2003 under BMW’s ownership.
Today, the Phantom VIII continues the tradition with a twin-turbocharged 6.75-litre V12 delivering 563 horsepower, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Add in Rolls-Royce’s renowned “Magic Carpet Ride” suspension, and you get a driving experience so smooth it feels less like motoring and more like gliding.
Yet the Phantom’s true genius lies not only in its engineering but also in how it serves as a canvas for its owners. Every Phantom is handcrafted at Goodwood in England, with clients having the freedom to personalize nearly every aspect. From custom paintwork and rare wood veneers to bespoke embroidery and even one-of-a-kind artworks displayed in the “Gallery” dash, a Phantom is never just bought—it’s commissioned. That individuality has made the Phantom not just a vehicle but a statement piece, one as distinctive as the personalities who select it.
Rolls-Royce Phantom Extended in Pool | Image: Rolls-RoyceRolls-Royce Phantom Extended in Pool | Image: Rolls-RoyceRolls-Royce Phantom Extended in Pool | Image: Rolls-RoyceRolls-Royce Phantom Extended in Pool | Image: Rolls-Royce
Of course, no story of the Phantom is complete without its link to music. Lennon’s yellow Phantom V became a symbol of the 1960s, while Elvis added Hollywood glamour, and hip-hop culture has kept the car’s image alive for decades. Pharrell Williams and Snoop Dogg rolled a Phantom into their 2004 hit Drop It Like It’s Hot. Lil Wayne featured one on his Tha Carter II cover. And countless artists have mentioned the Starlight Headliner in lyrics as a metaphor for living under your own personal galaxy. As Chris Brown-ridge, Chief Executive of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, expressed it:
“From the Golden Age of Hollywood to the rise of hip-hop, over the last 100 years, music artists have used Phantom to project their identity and challenge convention. Their motor cars often became icons in their own right, with a lasting place in the history of modern music. This enduring connection reminds us that Rolls-Royce and the extraordinary people who are part of the marque’s story are united by one ambition: to make their presence felt.”
That legacy made the Plymouth stunt even more fitting. On what would have been Keith Moon’s 79th birthday, Rolls-Royce submerged a Phantom Extended body shell into the Art Deco Tinside Lido, overlooking the English Channel. The choice of location was deliberate: it was here in 1967 that The Beatles posed for one of their most famous photographs during the filming of Magical Mystery Tour. The symbolism was clear—this was a celebration of the Phantom’s ties to music, history, and myth all at once.
Rolls-Royce Phantom Extended in Pool | Image: Rolls-Royce
For those concerned about the destruction of a million-dollar Rolls, there’s no need. The Phantom used for the centenary splash was a prototype shell already headed for recycling. Its silky V12 engine and driveline were gone, but much of its interior trim remained, creating a striking image of an unmistakable Rolls-Royce gliding into the water. It wasn’t wasteful—it was performance art, celebrating a century of legends.
These days, a used Phantom V can be found for around USD $150,000, while a brand-new Phantom Extended will cost well over USD $600,000. However, no figure can measure the Phantom’s worth as a cultural icon. It has been immortalized in music, art, and film. It has served as a prop for rebellion, a symbol of elegance, and a sign of achievement. And now, it has even made a splash—literally—to celebrate its 100th birthday.
A hundred years on, the Phantom remains the car that captures imagination like no other. Dropping one into a pool wasn’t just a stunt for shock value—it was a reminder that this car has always been larger than life, a machine that exists as much in legend as on the road. And if history is any guide, the next century of the Phantom will be just as extraordinary as the first.
Elias Albay is the Founder and Director of Many Men Magazine, a Toronto-based digital publication dedicated to promoting modern masculinity through style, culture, and self-improvement. What started as a personal turning point became a purposeful platform. — born from Elias’ desire to create something meaningful after completing his studies and finding no career path that truly matched his ambitions. With a background in Civil Engineering from York University and experience in Commercial Flight Operations at CAE, he applied skills, and resilience from both fields to forge a new path.
Our team of editors and experts thoughtfully chooses each product. If you decide to buy through one of our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more. Want to know how we test products? Click here for more details.
First, welcome to Many Men Magazine’s very first CES. We’re excited to have you here as we step into one of the biggest weeks on the tech calendar, exploring the ideas, products, and innovations shaping the year ahead. This marks an important moment for us, and we’re glad you’re joining us as we take a closer look at what stood out at CES 2025.
The beginning of a new year might mean a slowdown for many, but in the tech industry, January is when things speed up. CES 2025 has officially opened its doors, gathering brands and ideas that will shape the months ahead. After years focused on bigger screens and gaming hardware, this year felt like a turning point, with artificial intelligence moving from a headline feature to the foundation of modern technology.
Electric vehicles, smart homes, laptops, smartphones, televisions, and personal devices all relied heavily on intelligence that promises to be more helpful than flashy, which is why AI quietly worked its way into almost every category. The pace of innovation was exciting, sometimes overwhelming, and impossible to ignore. If this year’s show is anything to go by, technology is steadily progressing towards a future where it anticipates our needs instead of just reacting to them.
Here’s everything we’ve seen and heard that’s worth your attention — the ideas, products, and moments that really impressed us at CES 2025.
Best Tech From CES Overview:
CES 2025 offered a wealth of new ideas, covering everything from everyday technology to ambitious concepts designed to reshape entire categories. Among all the announcements, a few products stood out for balancing innovation, practicality, and impact effectively. Below are the releases that impressed us most so far, with more updates expected as the show continues.
The first thing that caught our attention at CES 2025 was Honda’s vision of what lies ahead. Amid a sea of concepts and prototypes, the Honda 0 Series stood out immediately—not because it was the loudest or most flashy, but because it felt intentional. With this new lineup, Honda outlined the next phase of its drive toward a more sustainable automotive future, previewing a generation of electric vehicles scheduled to debut in 2026 that appear more like science fiction than traditional road cars.
At the show, Honda revealed two concepts that outline the future of the 0 Series. The 0 Saloon is the flagship model, built around the brand’s new “thin, light, and wise” philosophy. The first two are easy to spot in its low-slung profile and minimalist design, while “wise’ reflects what’s happening beneath the surface. Honda is heavily investing in its own software and AI systems, employing advanced sensors and automated driving assistance to support decision-making and reduce driver workload—without entirely removing the human element.
Sharing the same design language but aimed at a very different audience, the 0 Space-Hub reimagines what an electric people mover could be. Rather than focusing on performance or status, it prioritizes space, comfort, and flexibility, with a rear seating layout that feels closer to a premium lounge than a traditional family vehicle. It’s important to remember these are still concepts, and production models may evolve significantly, but Honda has confirmed one key detail: the 0 Saloon is expected to arrive in 2026, with pricing and availability still to be revealed.
Inspired by the proportions of a floor lamp, its stand-and-pole design feels natural rather than technical, allowing it to serve as a projector, Bluetooth speaker, and LED mood lamp without appearing gadget-like. It’s designed to suit various occasions—movie nights, background visuals, or music sessions—by shifting the atmosphere instead of dominating it.
Under its minimalist exterior, the PF600U offers a full HD 1080p image suitable for screens between 30-120 inches and brightness of 300 ANSI lumens. It is supported by LG’s webOS for seamless streaming without the need for extra devices. Stereo speakers with passive radiators deliver a fuller, more immersive sound than expected from such a compact device, while the built-in mood lighting provides flexibility with multiple colour and brightness options. A tilting head and automatic screen adjustment enhance its versatility, making the PF600U feel less like a fixed installation and more like a flexible companion—adapting to how you use your space, not the other way around.
The HW-QS700F stood out at CES 2025 for its versatile design that fits almost any space, whether sitting neatly on a TV console or mounted flat against the wall beneath a screen. A built-in gyroscope automatically detects the soundbar’s orientation and adjusts the audio output accordingly, ensuring consistent performance regardless of room size or placement. It’s a small but clever feature that takes much of the guesswork out of setup.
In terms of sound quality, the QS700F aims to provide depth and accuracy without overwhelming a room. Its support for Samsung’s Eclipsa 3D audio standard adds a layered, immersive experience to music and movies, creating a sense of space similar to more complex systems. Paired with clear dialogue and a controlled bass, this soundbar focuses on balance rather than raw power, offering a subtle yet enhanced listening experience suitable for everyday use without requiring audiophile-level attention.
Alienware’s decision to bring back the Area-51 name at CES 2025 felt deliberate—and a tad cheeky. In an event dominated by sleeker, quieter, more “responsible” tech, Alienware embraced its extraterrestrial roots and reminded everyone that high-end gaming hardware can still be bold. The revival includes desktops and laptops, clearly targeting gamers who prioritize power over subtlety.
The new Area-51 laptops, available in 16-inch and 18-inch sizes, are built with serious performance in mind. They’re set to feature next-generation NVIDIA GeForce laptop GPUs, paired with Intel Ultra 7 or Ultra 9 processors and up to 64GB of dual-channel DDR5 memory. High-refresh 300Hz displays at 1600p highlight the intent—these machines are designed for smooth, high-frame-rate gaming, where you blame yourself for missing the shot, not the hardware. Alienware expects them to arrive in the coming months, and they look every bit the desktop replacements they claim to be.
Then there’s the Area-51 desktop, which everyone is excited about, where restraint is completely abandoned. Built around next-gen desktop-class NVIDIA GPUs and high-core-count Intel Ultra processors, it’s designed to run modern games at max settings while still handling heavy creative workloads. With extensive cooling, upgrade-friendly internals, and up to 64GB of DDR5 RAM, this thing is a monster—and it knows it. If you’ve ever wanted a PC that laughs at system requirements, this is definitely in that category.
Along with the Area-51, the brand teased a refreshed Aurora desktop, delivering similar performance in a smaller chassis. With these two options, Alienware caters to both ends of the high-performance spectrum—whether you need a gaming command center for long sessions or a more discreet setup that fits under your desk, with optional RGB lighting.
If that wasn’t enough, you might want to check out Razer’s new Blade 16, which Razer revealed during CES 2025 to demonstrate how far it’s willing to push the limits in gaming laptops. The new Blade 16 is the thinnest gaming laptop the brand has ever made, combining a sleek, almost MacBook-like design with serious performance goals. It’s designed to show that high-end gaming hardware doesn’t have to look or feel bulky, even when it’s built to handle demanding workloads.
Inside, the Blade 16 pairs NVIDIA’s next-generation 50-series laptop GPUs with AMD Ryzen 9 processors, delivering the kind of power that can easily handle modern games and creative applications. To maintain control, Razer has redesigned its cooling system with an ultra-slim dual-fan setup aimed at reducing heat and noise during intensive use. It remains largely a performance machine—so lap gaming isn’t recommended—but it should operate cooler and quieter than previous Blades. The new Blade 16 is expected to arrive in Q1 2025, with pricing still to be confirmed, and it looks to be one of the most attractive premium gaming laptops of the year.
Speaking about gaming, the Legion Go S feels like Lenovo’s direct response to feedback from the first Legion Go—and that’s a good thing. While the original impressed with raw capability, it was never the most portable handheld around. The Go S streamlines everything, slimming down the design and shifting the focus firmly toward comfort and everyday usability. It’s the kind of refinement you hope to see in a second attempt, rather than a ground-up rethink.
The Go S features an 8-inch display, drops the detachable controllers and kickstand, and is noticeably lighter than its predecessor at 730 grams, down from 850 grams, which Lenovo opted for a more traditional handheld approach. That weight reduction alone makes a real difference during longer play sessions. Even more interesting is Lenovo’s decision to offer the device in both Windows and SteamOS configurations, giving players the freedom to choose between PC flexibility and a more console-like experience.
The Windows version launches first in January, with the SteamOS variant following in May, making it one of the more immediately relevant handhelds shown at CES 2025. Taken together, the Legion Go S feels less like an experiment and more like a considered response to how people actually want to play on the go—lighter, simpler, and much easier to live with than before.
Among the many wireless earbuds showcased at CES 2025, the Technics EAH-AZ100 quietly stood out for the quality of its engineering rather than just noise cancellation. They are noticeably more refined than previous models—smaller, lighter, and sleeker in design—making them easier to wear and more comfortable for everyday use. However, the true story is the sound. Technics’ new driver technology offers a wider, more open soundstage with impressive clarity and control, giving music with a level of detail that feels closer to studio calibration than typical consumer headphones. What more can anyone ask for?
The 116UX Trichroma LED is the brand’s largest ULED X television yet, designed for viewers who desire a true big-screen experience without resorting to a projector, making it Hisense’s biggest statement at CES 2025. At this size, Hisense emphasizes control as much as scale, utilizing a dense Trichroma mini-LED backlight to keep highlights vivid and shadows well-balanced, even in brighter rooms where large displays often struggle.
Driven by Hisense’s latest processing engine, the panel delivers extremely high brightness alongside a remarkably wide colour range, giving films and live sports a vivid but balanced look rather than an overcooked one, which separates 116UX from the rest in how it handles colour and light. Add support for premium HDR formats and a surprisingly slim, clean-edged design, and the 116UX feels less like a novelty and more like a serious alternative to dedicated home cinema setups—one designed to be lived with, not just admired.
LG once again set the benchmark for premium televisions at CES 2025, and the G5 OLED clearly showed why the brand remains a leader in the category. This time, LG moved away from micro-lens-array technology, choosing instead a newly developed OLED panel that provides significantly higher brightness without compromising contrast. The result is one of the most impressive OLED images we’ve seen—vivid, punchy highlights combined with the deep blacks that OLED excels at.
That performance is supported by LG’s Brightness Booster Ultimate, which enhances luminance at the pixel level, and intelligent ambient light compensation that actively adjusts the image based on your room’s lighting. Whether you’re watching during the day or in a darkened room, the G5 maintains balanced clarity without washing out details. Powered by LG’s Alpha 11 AI Processor Gen2, the TV also uses advanced upscaling and picture optimisation in real time, ensuring older content appears as polished as modern productions. With over 8.3 million self-lit pixels, colour accuracy and contrast remain consistently precise.
Beyond picture quality, the G5 is designed to handle everything you throw at it. Film lovers get Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and FILMMAKER MODE for a more authentic cinematic experience, while gamers enjoy a 165Hz refresh rate, ultra-low response time, and support for NVIDIA G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium, making it one of the best TVs of the year if you ask us.
Samsung’s Frame Pro advances the concept of a TV as art more than ever before. The main upgrade is its transition to a Neo QLED display, utilizing the same Mini LED technology found in Samsung’s premium models to produce brighter highlights and improved contrast, making both artwork and everyday viewing appear more realistic. Equally important is the Wireless One Connect box, which enables the Frame Pro to be mounted neatly on the wall without visible cables, enhancing the illusion that it’s a framed piece rather than a conventional television. It’s a careful evolution that makes the Frame Pro feel less like a compromise between style and performance, and more like a natural feature in a thoughtfully designed home.
Hisense Saturn Wireless Home Theatre | Image: Hisense
Hisense Saturn Wireless Home Theatre
Brand: Hisense
Model: Saturn Wireless Home Theatre
Category: Home Audio
Revealed at: CES 2025
Hisense’s Saturn Wireless Home Theatre is designed for the reality of modern, large TVs. Instead of assuming everyone wants a traditional receiver-and-speaker setup, Saturn offers a cleaner, wireless-first approach, providing immersive sound tailored for very large screens. With support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, the system aims to deliver a layered, room-filling experience using a compact soundbar, four wireless satellites, and a standalone subwoofer—without making setup complicated.
The more interesting aspect is how Saturn works with compatible Hisense TVs instead of replacing them. Using the brand’s Hi-Concerto Technology, the system combines output from the TV’s built-in speakers with the Saturn array, dynamically shaping the sound to fit the room. Hisense says it can “analyse your room’s acoustics and automatically adjust the audio output,” pushing sound through the satellites and subwoofer to deliver what it calls “robust, room-filling audio.” The result is a home theatre setup that emphasizes scale and immersion while remaining accessible for everyday living rooms.
The Valerion VisionMaster Max debuts at CES 2025 with serious momentum behind it, having already made waves as one of the most successful Kickstarter projects of last year—well-deserved recognition. This 4K RGB triple-laser projector is designed to mimic a cinema experience at home, combining high brightness, deep contrast, and support for premium formats like HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and IMAX Enhanced. A notable feature is its interchangeable lenses, typically found in professional home theater systems, enabling users to modify image size and throw distance without sacrificing quality. Even with its standard lens, the VisionMaster Max delivers a crisp, high-contrast image with rich blacks and vibrant colors, making it feel more like a complete home cinema system than a single box—ambitious, flexible, and confidently targeting the big screen.
There was a lot going on with Hisense, and this one definitely grabbed our attention at CES 2025. The Laser TV ambitions with the L9Q Trichroma, the most advanced version of its L9 Series so far, are impressive. Available in screen sizes from 100 inches up to a massive 150 inches, the L9Q is clearly aimed at people who want true cinema scale at home without the hassle of a traditional projector setup. Beyond size, the real improvement is in picture performance, with Hisense focusing strongly on colour accuracy and brightness—areas where Laser TVs have historically found it tough to convince mainstream buyers.
This features Hisense’s core upgrade, the TriChroma triple-laser light engine, which greatly expands the colour range while increasing brightness to levels suitable for typical living rooms. With coverage that extends beyond standard colour spaces and contrast tuned for deeper blacks, the L9Q offers an image that feels vibrant without appearing artificial. Paired with Ambient Light Rejection screens designed for those large sizes, the system is built to perform well even in rooms that aren’t fully darkened.
Where the L9Q truly impressed us was in its design, featuring a Black Walnut décor panel, subtle ambient lighting accents, and brushed metal detailing. It feels much more premium than previous Hisense models—closer to high-end audio-visual furniture rather than typical consumer electronics. Hisense describes it as “the largest and most flexible Laser TV on the market,” and while those claims are always open to debate, there’s no denying the L9Q makes a strong case as a statement piece for modern home theatre setups.
This is probably what we have been looking at for CES 2025, with Segway Xafari Electric Bike showcasing a surprisingly broad lineup of personal transport tech, but the Xafari electric bike quickly emerged as one of the most interesting reveals. Designed with off-road capability in mind, the Xafari leans more toward adventure than daily commuting, pairing a rugged aluminium frame with a powerful electric drive system that prioritises torque and rapid acceleration. It’s built for riders who want something more aggressive than a typical city e-bike, even if that ambition comes with some trade-offs.
Power originates from a high-output direct-drive motor, providing punchy acceleration that easily handles hills and loose terrain. This performance is balanced by a large dual-battery setup, which adds significant weight but also offers impressive range—enough for long rides without frequent recharging. Depending on how it’s ridden, Segway claims the Xafari can cover well over 100 kilometres, though pushing it at full speed will understandably reduce that distance.
At launch, the Xafari occupies an unusual niche as an unclassified e-bike, meaning it isn’t designed for public road use. Segway has confirmed that a road-legal, Class-2 compliant version is planned for later in the year, expanding its appeal beyond private land and trails. The Xafari is available for pre-order now, with deliveries expected in early 2025, and it forms part of a broader Segway mobility initiative that also includes more accessible e-bikes and updated electric scooters.
As the smart ring category continues to mature, the Circular Ring 2 debuted at CES 2025 as one of the more quietly confident entries. While bigger brands like the Samsung Galaxy Ring are still establishing themselves in this space, Circular is advancing health tracking by integrating ECG monitoring and atrial fibrillation detection directly into a ring form factor—something few competitors have achieved convincingly so far. Even more noteworthy is that Circular states this functionality has already received FDA clearance, a significant milestone that lends the Ring 2 substantial credibility beyond just lifestyle tracking.
The Ring 2 collects health data from your finger and sends it to a companion app that prioritises simplicity over complexity, featuring an AI assistant to help users interpret their readings and trends. Sleep tracking is also included, providing insights into sleep stages, duration, heart rate variability, and wake times—perhaps not the most detailed available, but more than enough for daily awareness.
While much of the wearables space has taken a back seat in recent years, Halliday used CES 2025 to make a convincing case for smart glasses done differently. Rather than leaning into bulky hardware or novelty features, the brand focused on proactive AI assistance delivered through a discreet near-eye display that sits just within your line of sight. The result feels less like a sci-fi experiment and more like a practical extension of everyday computing—subtle, lightweight, and designed to be worn for hours without fatigue.
The standout feature is Halliday’s near-eye display module, known as DigiWindow, which appears as a small floating screen in the upper corner of the lens and remains visible even in bright outdoor conditions. It’s designed to surface useful information at a glance, from live navigation and real-time translation across dozens of languages to summaries, note-taking, and quick answers to complex questions. All of this is powered by an integrated AI assistant working quietly in the background, positioning Halliday’s glasses as a hands-free companion rather than another screen competing for your attention.
Now, for those of you who didn’t know but were big fans of turntables, Victrola’s Wave turntable caught our attention this year with a refreshingly modern take on vinyl that keeps things simple without feeling stripped back. It’s designed to make building a hi-fi setup easy, blending the tactile joy of records with flexible wireless connectivity, including Bluetooth with higher-quality streaming support. The standout feature is Auracast, which lets you broadcast your vinyl to compatible speakers or headphones throughout the home, turning record listening into a shared experience rather than a one-person affair.
Liberlive CI Stringless Smart Guitar | Image: Liberlive
Liberlive CI Stringless Smart Guitar
Brand: Librelive
Model: CI Stringless Smart Guitar
Category: Musical Instruments
The Liberlive CI resembles a guitar in shape but breaks nearly every traditional rule. There are no strings to tune or break, and no steep learning curve to play a clear chord. Instead, touch-sensitive surfaces manage notes and expression, making it easy to use while still allowing for creativity. Inside, it functions as more than just a single instrument, with built-in rhythm tracks, bass support, and an onboard sound engine that enables layering and performing without external gear. The accompanying app offers chord customization and learning features, while the integrated speaker provides surprisingly natural tones. It’s not trying to replace a traditional guitar—it’s offering a different approach that makes playing, experimenting, and performing fun and straightforward.
Now, this is where things start to get interesting with the OmniStudio X, HP’s all-in-one that competes with Apple’s iMac. It was designed for creatives and professionals who want serious performance in a clean, cable-free setup. Available in 27-inch and 31.5-inch sizes, it comes fully equipped with built-in speakers, microphones, and a 5MP IR camera for video calls and content creation straight out of the box—no extra accessories required.
Powered by Intel Core Ultra 7 processors and supported by a dedicated 47 TOPS NPU, it’s designed to handle AI-assisted workflows with ease, including Copilot-style productivity tools that help organise files and streamline daily tasks. The result is an all-in-one that doesn’t just look good on a desk—it works hard behind the scenes, offering a credible alternative to the iMac for anyone whose workload demands more than surface-level performance, and we can’t wait to test this ourselves.
Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro 16-inch | Image: Samsung
Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro 16-Inch
Brand: Samsung
Model: Galaxy Book 5 Pro (16-inch)
Category: Laptops
Revealed at: CES 2025
Samsung has clearly raised its game with the Galaxy Book 5 Pro 16-inch, addressing many of the issues that have held back its laptop lineup in the past. This model focuses heavily on AI-powered productivity, featuring tools such as AI Select, Photo Remaster, Storage Share, and Second Screen better to connect the laptop to the broader Galaxy ecosystem. The goal from this was to make things alot easier to switch between phone, tablet, and PC without hassle, transforming the Book 5 Pro into a valid extension of Samsung’s mobile ecosystem rather than just a standalone device.
Performance is built around the Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processors, combined with NPUs capable of reaching up to 47 TOPS, providing the laptop enough headroom for AI-assisted workflows and forward-looking productivity tools. Samsung claims battery life of up to 25 hours, positioning the Book 5 Pro as a device that can reliably last through lengthy workdays without frequently searching for a charger. This practical focus makes the laptop seem more dependable for real-world use, not just for spec-sheet comparisons.
Samsung has applied its expertise from mobile to equip the laptop with a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel featuring 3K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate, which is where the display of the Book 5 Pro excels. The result is a screen that feels sharp, fluid, and colour-rich—perfect for creative work, media consumption, and everything in between. Overall, the Galaxy Book 5 Pro 16-inch feels like Samsung’s most confident laptop yet: a polished, AI-ready productivity device that finally highlights the brand’s strengths.
The DEEBOT X8 PRO OMNI marks a significant step forward for Ecovacs, establishing itself as the company’s most advanced all-in-one cleaning robot so far. At the heart of the upgrade is its new OZMO Roller mopping system, which continually cleans the mop while in use. Instead of dragging a dirty pad across your floors, the X8 Pro refreshes the roller in real time, helping to achieve cleaner, streak-free results from start to finish—an approach that makes a noticeable difference in everyday cleaning.
Developed in collaboration with appliance specialist Tineco, the roller applies increased pressure and faster rotation to better lift stubborn spills and dried-on messes. Combined with powerful vacuum suction and Ecovacs’ latest ZeroTangle 2.0 tech to prevent hair wrap, the X8 PRO OMNI is designed to handle everything from pet fur to sticky kitchen floors without constant intervention.
As with previous OMNI models, the experience is completed by a fully automated base that handles emptying, cleaning, and recharging on its own. The outcome is a robot vacuum that truly deserves its “hands-off” reputation—one that not only maintains your floors but also actively reduces how much you need to think about cleaning.
Here’s another robot vacuum, and trust us, you definitely want to check out this one called Roborock’s Saros Z70, which takes robot vacuums into truly new territory by adding something no mainstream model has managed before: a robotic arm. Yup, thats right, you heard it here first. Dubbed OmniGrip, this five-axis, articulated arm is designed to handle small yet pesky household items—like socks, tissues, light towels, or sandals—so the robot can clear its own path instead of working around clutter. Roborock says the arm can manage objects weighing up to 300 grams, which may not sound like much, but in day-to-day living, it covers a surprising amount of mess that usually stops robot vacuums in their tracks.
The Saros Z70 continues to offer the brand’s trusted strengths in navigation, vacuuming, and mopping, leveraging advanced mapping to confidently move around a home and adapt its cleaning approach as needed. The addition of OmniGrip simply enhances its usefulness, transforming the robot from a passive cleaner into one that can actively handle small, time-consuming tasks most people don’t typically notice until they become an obstacle.
Roborock describes the Saros Z70 as the “world’s first mass-produced robot vacuum cleaner equipped with an OmniGrip intelligent and foldable robotic arm.” While that’s a mouthful, the idea behind it is refreshingly simple. If it arrives as promised by June 2025, it could mark a meaningful shift in what people expect from home robots—not just cleaning floors, but tidying them too. Pricing hasn’t been confirmed yet, but alongside this launch, Roborock also hinted at a broader push into intelligent home appliances, signalling that this arm might be the beginning.
At CES 2025, Acer gave its sustainability-focused lineup a significant refresh with the Aspire Vero 16, demonstrating that eco-conscious design can still be practical and well executed. The new model boosts its use of recycled and bio-based materials across the chassis—including oyster shell–derived compounds—while Acer states that over 70 percent of the exterior now consists of recycled or renewable sources. It’s a clear progression of the Vero philosophy, emphasising environmental considerations without turning the laptop into a niche product.
It’s powered by Intel Core Ultra 200H-series processors, with configurations offering up to 32GB of memory and 2TB of storage, making it more than capable for everyday productivity and multitasking. The spacious 16-inch display provides rich colour coverage and a wide aspect ratio, while new AI-assisted features introduce subtle workflow enhancements. The Aspire Vero 16 feels less like a statement piece and more like a practical option for anyone seeking a capable laptop with a lighter environmental impact.
In my opinion, this is going to be one of the most popular smart home products to hit the market—and for good reason. The Ultraloq Bolt Mission feels genuinely useful for almost everyone, and it clearly points toward the future of smart homes. As the world’s first smart deadbolt to use ultra-wideband (UWB) technology, it can accurately detect your location within inches, enabling true hands-free auto-unlock as you approach your door—similar to a modern car key. That innovation alone earned it recognition at CES 2025, but Ultraloq didn’t stop there. The lock also supports NFC tap-to-open, fingerprint access, keypad entry, voice control, app unlocking, and even a traditional key for peace of mind. With up to a year of battery life, the Bolt Mission isn’t just futuristic—it’s practical, seamless, and offers a strong glimpse into the future of smart home security.
Here’s another brand pushing the same forward-thinking concept that’s beginning to shape smart homes, where security reduces friction instead of adding to it. Lockin’s Veno 7 Pro is designed around touchless palm vein recognition, letting the door unlock just by raising your hand near the sensor, without keys, codes, or physical contact. The system scans the unique vein pattern inside your palm, providing a level of accuracy that feels both advanced and comforting.
A wide 180-degree camera watches your doorstep, while AI-driven alerts help distinguish between visitors and delivered packages, acting as a complete front-door system rather than just a lock. Two-way audio replaces the need for a separate doorbell, and features like automatic locking and party mode make managing guests easier. With optional solar power support available, the Veno 7 Pro fits well into the growing trend of smarter, more convenient, and energy-efficient homes.
The Swipptt Instant Power System is one of those rare charging ideas that feels instantly obvious once you see it. Instead of waiting around for a power bank to do its job, you simply slide your phone—case and all—into Swipptt’s compact hub, which looks a bit like a modern toaster, and within seconds it swaps the battery in your case for a fully charged one. Pretty interesting, right? The hub can hold multiple spare batteries at once, so there’s always a fresh cell ready when you need it, removing cables, downtime, and the usual charging anxiety altogether. It’s a smart, almost effortless way to stay powered that prioritises speed and convenience over flashy extras, and it feels like a glimpse of how everyday charging could work in the future.
This is one of those gadgets that everyone ends up gathering around—friends, family, kids, and anyone even vaguely interested in the night sky. The Dwarflab Dwarf 3 feels designed for shared moments, whether that’s a backyard get-together or a camping trip far from city lights, and it’s exactly the kind of product we’re eager to try. Small enough to toss into a backpack, it removes the usual intimidation of telescopes and replaces it with something inviting, compact, and genuinely fun to use.
Despite its size, the Dwarf 3 features a 35mm telephoto lens with a periscope-style design that gathers more light than the previous model. A larger Sony sensor and built-in filters help produce crisp, detailed images. Its true strength lies in its smart features. AI-driven processing improves images, automatically tracks celestial objects, and even stitches together large panoramas or time lapses. Paired with an intuitive app offering guided astronomy tools and one-tap controls, the Dwarf 3 makes star exploration accessible and rewarding, even for complete beginners.
Only Belkin would consider a power bank that also addresses one of the biggest frustrations with modern smartphones. The Stage PowerGrip is a 10,000mAh magnetic battery that attaches directly to your phone, providing extra power and making it easier to hold your device comfortably. The result is a setup reminiscent of an old-school point-and-shoot camera, giving your hands a substantial grip when taking photos or recording videos.
That added ergonomics matter more than ever as phone cameras continue to improve, while phone bodies remain thin and awkward for long shooting sessions. The PowerGrip makes extended filming far less tiring and adds genuine usefulness beyond just charging. It also reflects personality, launching in six colours from neutral blacks and greys to pastel blue, yellow, and purple. Belkin has confirmed a US launch in May 2025, with international availability expected later in the year, making this one of the more practical and creatively minded accessories to keep an eye on.
It’s worth taking a moment to understand what CES is and why it holds so much weight in the tech world. The Consumer Electronics Show, better known as CES, is the world’s largest annual technology showcase and takes place every January in Las Vegas. It’s where global tech giants, ambitious startups, and industry leaders gather to unveil the products, ideas, and concepts that will shape the year ahead, often well before they reach store shelves.
What makes CES so important isn’t just its size but also its influence. This is where trends start, directions are explored, and entire industries begin to change. From smart homes and mobility to personal devices and emerging technologies, CES offers an early glimpse of what’s coming next and why it will soon shape how we live, work, and interact with technology.
When is CES 2025?
CES 2025 runs from Wednesday, 8 January through Saturday, 11 January 2025, offering four full days of announcements, showcases, and hands-on reveals. Throughout the week, brands unveil their biggest ideas for the year ahead, with each day building momentum as new products and concepts are introduced.
Who is at CES 2025?
CES 2025 brings together a wide mix of global brands, innovators, and industry leaders across technology, automotive, health, mobility, and smart living. From well-known names to emerging companies, these firms leverage CES to showcase their upcoming projects and their visions for the future. Here are just a few of the brands that made their mark at this year’s event.
Elias Albay is the Founder and Director of Many Men Magazine, a Toronto-based digital publication dedicated to promoting modern masculinity through style, culture, and self-improvement. What started as a personal turning point became a purposeful platform. — born from Elias’ desire to create something meaningful after completing his studies and finding no career path that truly matched his ambitions. With a background in Civil Engineering from York University and experience in Commercial Flight Operations at CAE, he applied skills, and resilience from both fields to forge a new path.
