Laptop trends at CES: Bigger, faster, OLED display
Open, close – are all laptops the same? No way. Because this year, the CES technology exhibition presents laptops with new ideas and great power.
Las Vegas – 3D without heavy 3D glasses? And the latest video games in full optical quality on a laptop? Looking at what’s new in laptops at the CES tech show (until January 8), there are still other trends. Some may need a bigger backpack soon. Overview, General Evaluation.
– More power: The difference in the stand is noticeable. Powered by Nvidia’s new Geforce GTX 40 series, next-generation gaming laptops consume significantly less power, delivering higher frames per second and better rendering.
According to Nvidia, two things make this possible: on the one hand, a new chip architecture called Ada Lovelace. On the other hand, Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS 3). Simply put, this means increased performance and more frames per second thanks to artificial intelligence.
And because the new notebook graphics chips consume less power than the previous generation, more powerful chips can now be installed in thinner computers.
– New old sizes: 18-inch gaming laptops were all the rage, then they disappeared from the market and now they’re back. 17 inches sounds a bit like 2022. Alienware and Acer each offer an 18-inch model with Geforce RTX. Unlike in the past, large notebooks are now quite a bit lighter, though the Acer Predator Helios 18 isn’t quite at 3.25 pounds.
Let’s go back to the old dimensions for the screens too: the 16:9 format is gradually giving way to 16:10 – so there’s more space in the height again. So why these new dimensions? There are no clear answers in the show. Some say: too small laptops are impractical for many in the home office. Others say: meanwhile, larger screens with quality or OLED technology have become affordable.
– Always more OLED: The benefits of self-illuminating OLED screens for laptops are actually clear. More colors, better contrast, deeper blacks and lower power consumption depending on the application. The challenge so far: “It has to develop in favorable areas first,” said one industry representative. It is done now. Be it Lenovo, Acer, LG or Asus, not forgetting the gaming brands, they all have one or more models with OLED screens in their offers for the living room.
– More screens: Lenovo is introducing a dual-screen laptop twice. The Yoga Book 9i consists of two screens connected by a 360-degree hinge with a built-in speaker. Thus, the device can be used both as a dual screen and as a virtual keyboard and a laptop with one and a half screens.
The Thinkbook Plus Twist takes a different route. The laptop has a dual display – a 4K OLED display on the inside and a full-color E-Ink display on the outside. This allows, for example, writing or reading on the move while saving energy. The vertical hinge allows you to move from one side of the screen to the other.
– Glasses-free 3D: Spatial depth on a flat screen – some still know it from the Nintendo 3DS mobile console. In the case of the Acer Predator Helios 300, two cameras placed above the screen track the user’s eyes and create a 3D image using images that intersect the screen. This image can only be seen by people sitting directly in front of the computer, but the effect is quite impressive. Also no need to wear annoying 3D glasses.
Asus’ ProArt Studiobook also uses this 3D technique with eye tracking. But here, during the presentation of this professional laptop in the context of a trade show, the focus is more on knowledge transfer or virtual shopping applications.
– Continuity: A big word, but there are also concrete examples of success in terms of recycling or more respectful use of resources. For example, Acer’s Vero range, which includes the Windows Aspire Vero laptop and the Chromebook Vero. The chassis is made up of one-third recycled plastic – and more specifically, post-consumer plastic, meaning recycled and discarded plastic items. The result is a sober and elegant gray chassis that is pleasant to the touch.
According to Acer, future models should also get marine plastic keyboard keys. Another advantage: if you want to replace the SSD memory or RAM, the case can be opened with a regular Phillips screwdriver. Lenovo and Asus are betting aggressively on recycled materials, both in devices – Lenovo uses recycled magnesium and aluminum – and in packaging. Renewable and compostable raw materials are used here. dpa
