CES week always fills the news feed with strange, interesting, and occasionally useful gadgets. Some of it will ship, some of it will disappear, and some of it is just a company testing whether people are paying attention.
In this TechBits episode, I went through my usual morning tech feed and pulled out the stories that actually caught my eye: Lenovo handhelds, rollable screens, Thunderbolt 5 gear, local security cameras, Wi-Fi 7, smart package boxes, and a few software tools I still think are worth knowing about.
Quick Answer
The short version: CES 2025 is showing a lot of familiar ideas getting refined. Handheld gaming PCs are getting better screens and controls, laptops are experimenting with rollable displays, Thunderbolt 5 storage is aimed at people moving very large files, and home tech is slowly shifting toward faster networking and more local control.
My practical takeaway is that most people do not need to rush out and buy this stuff immediately. The interesting pieces are the ones that solve real problems: local security footage instead of cloud-first access, bootable Mac backups when something breaks, faster storage if you edit big video files, and Wi-Fi 7 only when your home network is actually ready for it.
How I Follow Tech News
This episode was less of a single-topic review and more of a look at how I keep up with current tech stories. I do not really like having everything curated for me by an algorithm. I prefer following specific companies, people, and sources, then scanning for the things that seem useful, odd, or worth watching.
That means some stories are quick reactions and others turn into bigger questions. CES is especially good for that because the line between useful product and flashy demo can get blurry fast.
Lenovo Had A Big CES Moment
Lenovo showed up repeatedly in the feed, especially around handheld gaming and experimental screens. The Legion Go update stood out because it sounds like Lenovo is addressing the basics that matter on a handheld: comfort, controls, and display quality.
The model I looked at was described as having a more comfortable design than the original Legion Go, sculpted grips, new hair triggers, an 8-inch OLED screen, and a 120Hz variable refresh rate. At around $499, that puts it in the same conversation as other handheld gaming PCs, but the real question is still how it feels in the hand and how well the software experience holds up.
The ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable was the more futuristic Lenovo story. A rollable laptop screen is exactly the kind of CES idea that makes you stop scrolling. I am interested in where that goes, but I would still treat it as early-generation hardware until real-world durability and usefulness are clearer.
Thunderbolt 5 Is Interesting, But Not For Everyone
There were also Thunderbolt 5 hubs and rugged SSDs aimed at creatives. Thunderbolt 5 is impressive on paper, and for people moving huge video projects around, it could matter.
The big question is whether most people need it right now. If you are editing large video files directly from an external drive, especially on a newer M4 device that supports Thunderbolt 5, then maybe this starts to make sense. If you are mostly doing everyday file transfers, photo work, documents, or normal backups, Thunderbolt 4 is probably still more than enough.
That was my reaction to the Thunderbolt 5 SSDs too. They are cool, but the use case needs to justify the cost. Faster hardware is only useful if your workflow is actually waiting on storage speed.
Streaming Apps Want More Attention
Peacock testing mini-games and vertical short videos felt a little strange. The idea seems to be giving users more to do inside the app, possibly to keep attention between shows or around sports and live events.
I am not sure that is what I personally want from a streaming service. If I open a streaming app, I am usually there to watch something, not to scroll short-form clips or play a mini-game. But this is part of a bigger trend where every app wants to become more than the thing it started as.
AR Glasses Are Still Trying To Find The Shape
The RayNeo X3 Pro AR glasses caught my attention because the hardware is getting smaller, but the design still looks noticeable. The specs mentioned micro-LED projectors, a 25-degree field of view, and a weight around 3 ounces.
My personal reference point is Apple Vision Pro. I am all in on Vision Pro, but I also know the next big step is getting this kind of experience down to something closer to normal glasses while keeping the useful features. Once we get closer to a Google Glass-sized device with real capability, that is where things get very interesting.
For now, I am watching the category more than recommending a specific pair of AR glasses to most people.
Security Cameras And Local Footage Matter
Ring bringing 2K video to more cameras is a useful upgrade, but resolution is not the only thing I care about anymore. I used Ring cameras for a long time, then moved to Eufy about a year ago because I liked the idea of keeping my footage local.
My concern with cloud-first security footage is access. If law enforcement or anyone else wants footage, I think the owner should know and should be asked first. That is one of the reasons local storage matters to me.
That does not mean every local system is perfect, but it does mean the conversation should be about more than camera resolution. Privacy, access, and control are part of the product.
Getty And Shutterstock Merging Is A Big Deal
The Getty Images and Shutterstock merger jumped out because I have some history with the stock photography world. Earlier in my career, I was a director of IT for an international photography agency, and I watched Getty buy up companies left and right.
That is why this merger feels bigger than a normal business headline. Stock photography already has a long history of consolidation, and when two major names combine, it raises real questions about competition, pricing, licensing, and what photographers and publishers are left with.
I was surprised the monopoly question was not louder right away, because I have seen similar concerns come up before in this industry.
HDMI 2.2 And Wi-Fi 7 Are Future-Proofing Stories
HDMI 2.2 cables are getting into wild bandwidth numbers, with packaging talking about 96Gbps. That is impressive, but like Thunderbolt 5, the practical question is what you need it for and how far the cable can actually run at that level.
Wi-Fi 7 is another one of those future-looking upgrades. Netgear Orbi moving to Wi-Fi 7 is nice, and I will probably need to upgrade my own setup eventually. I currently use Eero units, but I have had more problems since Amazon bought Eero, and I feel like the product has gone downhill for my needs.
That does not mean everyone needs Wi-Fi 7 today. Your internet speed, house layout, devices, and current router problems matter more than the number on the box.
Smart Home Gadgets Are Still A Mixed Bag
CES always brings plenty of smart home ideas. Some are useful, some are funny, and some feel like companies adding AI or robotics because everyone else is doing it.
Robot vacuum mops are a good example. I use one, and I like it, but these machines do not replace actual mopping. They help with dust and keep floors looking a little nicer between real cleanings. That is useful, as long as expectations are realistic.
I also looked at package security boxes and compared one to the Eufy SmartDrop I use at home. The Eufy box has worked well for me for a couple of years, and the camera built into the box was the selling point. A locked package box is useful, but having video right on the package box adds a layer that a separate doorbell camera may not cover as well.
Apple Vision Pro, iPhone Visual Intelligence, And Gaming
GeForce support coming to Apple Vision Pro also caught my attention. People have been using third-party browser options to work around limitations, so native or Safari-supported access would be a nice step if it works well.
On the iPhone side, I have been trying Visual Intelligence. It works pretty well and feels like it is moving in the right direction, though I still think Google Lens has been stronger in some situations.
Gaming came up a few times too, especially with handheld PCs and cloud gaming. I had high hopes for Google Stadia and was surprised when it disappeared. In my experience, it had some of the best low-latency streaming gaming at the time.
Mac Backups Still Deserve Attention
One of the more practical items near the end was Carbon Copy Cloner. I have used it for years, although one version had trouble for me after moving up to macOS Sequoia. It looks like there is a newer version working again, which is good to see.
The reason tools like Carbon Copy Cloner and SuperDuper matter is simple: they can make a one-to-one copy of your Mac to another drive. In the right setup, that gives you a backup you can boot from quickly if something goes wrong.
Apple has made this harder over the years, but I still think bootable or near-bootable backup strategies are worth understanding, especially if your Mac is important for work.
Key Takeaways
- CES 2025 is full of interesting hardware, but most of it should be judged by real use, not the demo headline.
- Lenovo’s updated Legion Go sounds more practical than flashy because it focuses on comfort, OLED, refresh rate, and controls.
- Thunderbolt 5 storage is worth watching for video editors and creative workflows, but most people probably do not need it yet.
- Local security footage matters. Camera resolution is useful, but access and privacy are just as important.
- Wi-Fi 7, HDMI 2.2, and rollable displays are future-facing upgrades, not automatic must-buys for every home.
- Carbon Copy Cloner and SuperDuper remain useful tools to know about if you want a serious Mac backup plan.
Watch the Video
The video above above for the full TechBits walkthrough, including the live feed scan, CES reactions, and the extra side notes that did not all make it into this written companion article.
