2019 is only just getting started yet we already have a roadmap for what kinds of tech we’re going to be seeing this year. The biggest takeaways from CES 2019, held in Las Vegas this year, are that technology is still changing in new and exciting ways.
If you’re curious about what kinds of tech trends are in store for the year, look no further. Today we’re going over some of the biggest show-stoppers and coolest tech seen at CES 2019. The future is closer than you think!
Coolest Tech Seen at CES 2019
5G Networks
Often discussed and rarely seen, 5G devices are being hyped up like you wouldn’t believe. Verizon, Sprint and pretty much every other company at the show wouldn’t shut up about 5G. And that’s cool! It’s the future of network infrastructure and will likely change the landscape for internet connectivity. What’s weird is how much talk there was compared to how little actual 5G-enabled tech was seen at the show.
There were a few glimmers of 5G devices here and there, but nothing to write home about. An old Moto phone with a snap-on 5G modem was the saddest and silliest of them, though the 5G home router was also quite humorous. The only proper 5G device seen was squirreled away in Samsung’s booth: a prototype Galaxy phone with 5G capabilities.
While the 5G wave is being hyped like crazy, it’s still unclear how soon we could expect to see the tech go live. Some are saying we’ll be seeing the earliest roll-out to metropolitan areas in late 2019, though it may be late 2020 (or later) before we see the tech rolled out to the rest of the country.
8K TV Screens
If you’re anything like us, you probably haven’t even caught up to the 4K standard yet. It feels like just recently that 4K was the top-of-the-line for TV panels, but now all the buzz is around 8K displays. And these 8K displays are absolutely, ridiculously, absurdly big. For instance, Sony and Samsung will be hitting the market with 98-inch 8K TVs this year. Who has a living room big enough for a 98-inch TV? We wish we did…
LG will be hitting the market with a massive 88-inch 8K TV with OLED tech inside, as well. If you’re thinking these will be expensive, you’re right! The cheapest one seen at the show was a 65-inch 8K from Samsung that starts with the low, low price of $5,000. You know, chump change. Especially considering that these screens, while impressive-sounding, don’t yet have any content to support them. Remember when 4K first came out and there was nothing you could run at 4K on your awesome new 4K screen? Yeah, 8K will be like that again.
Apple’s Playing Nice
Speaking of TV, Apple surprised a lot of people by changing their stance on TV makers. At CES, the Cupertino-based tech giant confirmed that AirPlay 2 will be compatible with Vizio, LG, Sony, and Samsung displays. While Samsung’s TVs will be the only ones allowed to display iTunes on-screen, the others will all have access to AirPlay through the Apple interface.
AirPlay, for the uninitiated, is a way to send media from an iPhone, Mac or iPad to a big screen for viewing or listening. The technology is not dissimilar from Chromecast, allowing you to show guests and parties media that you don’t want them to have to huddle around a phone or iPad to see.
Robots
Robots are a sci-fi staple. Nearly every sci-fi future has robots everywhere, yet our real world is disappointingly robot-free. Well, if CES 2019 is any indication, that won’t be continuing for much longer. There were robots everywhere at the show, from sports-playing bots to air-purifying bots. Samsung showed off flexible bots that could be retail sales robots, health monitors or many other tasks. Groove X also introduced a companion robot, an adorable little guy called Lovot.
While some might worry about the morals or ethics of these robot companions, it’s clear that they’re the next step for human technology. Many people are lonely or just want someone to hang out with, and robots are a great alternative to being alone. They can help people feel more relaxed and happy, they can do menial tasks for humans and they can even help make our lives better.
In short, this CES was one of the most exciting seen in years. Huge leaps and bound in technology have us excited to see where technology goes as the years go on!