Technology

• Swann debuts new home security tech at CES 2025
• The MaxRanger range includes an AI doorbell and new security cameras
• The Xtreem4K is an AI security camera that can talk to intruders

As an owner of one of the best video doorbells, I’ll be the first to admit that while being able to chat with someone through the device – such as talking to a delivery driver while I’m out – is a nice idea, in practice I never use it. If I’m not able to answer my door it’s usually because I’m busy doing something else, but what if my doorbell could answer for me? That’s a question Swann has answered with new AI-powered doorbell and camera options that it unveiled at CES 2025.

Back in October last year we covered the SwannBuddy4K – which we gave four-stars in our SwanBuddy 4K review – but now there’s the MaxRanger4K Video Doorbell. It's a wireless doorbell which boasts Ultra HD full-color video day and night, and comes with zero subscription fees (so there's no paywall to lock you out of the most useful features).

The MaxRanger4K doorbell boast up to 300m wireless range from the hub, a roughly three-month battery life per charge, and 64GB of storage. Oh, and it can talk to visitors for you, just like the SwannBuddy.

Under the MaxRanger name, Swann is also showcasing some non-AI security cameras. They all also boast no extra fees and 4K video day and night, but offer a wider security ring around your home. The Mini can be placed up to 300m from your hub with 64GB of storage, meanwhile the MaxRanger4K Max boasts a 600m range from the hub with 64GB of storage, and the Pro model offers a 1km max range from the hub, and 128GB storage.

(Image credit: Swann)

If you want to take things up a notch however, Swann is also debuting the Xtreem4K with SwannShield AI Defender Security Guard.

This is a wireless security camera with many of the same specs as the models above such as a three-month rechargeable battery, 4K color video capture day and night, and free local recordings up to 32GB. It also packs heat and motion sensing, which can trigger lights, sirens and recording.

Though unlike the MaxRanger cameras above, the Xtreem4K has has an AI feature that takes a more active intruder deterrent approach, with SwannShield Defender being able to respond to motion to determine what caused it and either welcome guests, deter unwanted visitors, or escalate if it believes there’s a security threat.

We’ll have to test these gadgets out to determine their effectiveness, but we’ve been impressed with Swann’s tech before so we’re excited to test them out when they launch in the US, UK, and Australia.

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TechRadar will be extensively covering this year's CES, and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2025 news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from 8K TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.

And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok and WhatsApp for the latest from the CES show floor!

• Asus announces Nvdia RTX 50-series powered laptops
• A new Asus gaming tablet is on the way
• We're getting a new Asus desktop too

CES 2025 is expected to be a big one for computing tech – what with next-gen chips from major brands like Nvidia, Intel and AMD set to usher in next-gen performance – and one of the many brands taking advantage of those upgrades is Asus with its suite of new gaming machines.

Though to get things out of the way now, no new Asus gaming handheld has been announced with new and improved specs, and for all the devices below we're still waiting for precise prices and release dates across all regions.

Starting with the ROG Zephyrus G16, this sleek gaming hardware boasts up to 32GB of RAM, a 2.5K OLED ROG nebula display (with a max refresh rate of 250Hz and up to 500 nits brightness), and up to an Nvidia RTX 5090 GPU in a package that’s just 1.49cm thin and weighs 1.85kg – ideal for a gaming laptop you want to take on the go.

Next up are the Strix G16 and G18 laptops which come with an Intel CPU, and either 16-inch or 18-inch displays. It will pack up to an RTX 5080 (a slightly less powerful Nvidia GPU compared to the Zephyrus), but still boast up to 32GB of DDR5 5,600MHz RAM, 2TB Gen 4.0 SSD, and a 240Hz 2.5K display.

If you care about style and substance then you might appreciate the Strix Scar 16 and 18 – again, separated by their display size. The pair boast next-gen Intel and Nvidia parts (up to a Ultra 9 processor 275HX, and RTX 5090), with up to 64GB of DDR5 RAM and 2TB of SSD storage alongside a 2.5K Mini-LED screen – with 3ms delay, 240Hz refresh rate, and a 1,200 nits peak brightness. On the lid you’ll see AniMe vision decoration – previously called AniMe Matrix sync – which features an array of customizable LEDs so you can create custom images and animations as you play.

Not all just laptops

(Image credit: Future)

As we enter the back half of Asus's announcements things start to get a little different.

The 2025 ROG Flow Z13 is a gaming tablet hybrid that’s super light and thin – 12mm thick, and 1.2Kg thick. Yet it features a Strix Halo AMD processor, an RGB keyboard cover, and a 180Hz touchscreen display. It won’t boast anything like the same performance as the bulkier PCs in Asus’ lineup, but if portability is your priority it’s one to keep your eye on especially considering previous ROG Flow Z13 tablets scored fairly well in reviews – we gave the 2022 model four stars in our review calling it “one of the best choices for a portable gaming laptop.”

If you want to give your Asus gaming tablet a performance boost, the new ROG XG Mobile could lend a hand. This puck boasts an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 GPU, in-built lighting, and vapor chamber cooling, and can be used to boost the performance of your other device. Previous models received mixed reviews, but as with all of the devices we’ll have to test Asus’ new gaming tech for ourselves to get a grasp of their performance capabilities.

Bringing up the rear is the only non-portable in Asus’ CES 2025 lineup: the ROG G700. This classic desktop tower features a quad-fan system, up to the latest Intel Ultra 9 processor, and the latest Nvidia GPUs, with a clear case that allows for tool-less access with standard size components so you can more easily swap in new parts when it eventually starts to show its age.

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• World's largest PC vendor joins Apple and Dell in extensively reusing cobalt in new devices
• New Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 and X9 15 are powered by Intel's latest Core Ultra 7 CPU (Series 2)
• Despite their flagship status, both still only use PCIe 4.0

Lenovo has announced its latest premium business laptops, the ThinkPad X9 14 and X9 15 Aura Editions, at CES 2025.

These high-performance laptops are powered by Intel Core Ultra 7 (Series 2) processors with Intel Arc Xe2 graphics, up to 32GB of LPDDR5x RAM clocked at 8533 MT/s and support for up to 2TB of PCIe Gen4 SSD storage.

Given their flagship status, we’d have liked Lenovo to have moved beyond PCIe 4.0 for these, but sadly that’s not the case.

Customer-replaceable batteries

(Image credit: Lenovo)

The laptops include dual Thunderbolt 4 ports conveniently housed in a redesigned "engine hub" for easy docking and servicing access, and HDMI 2.1.

Wireless connectivity comes in the form of Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. There’s a large glass haptic touchpad and a redesigned keyboard. The laptop’s communication bar integrates an 8MP MIPI camera with IR support and dual noise-canceling microphones for high-quality video conferencing.

The main differences between the ThinkPad X9 14 and X9 15 Aura Editions lie in their display size, battery capacity, and weight. The X9 14 features a 14-inch OLED screen available in two configurations: a WUXGA non-touch panel with 400 nits brightness or a 2.8K touch display with 500 nits, HDR600 support, and a 120Hz variable refresh rate. It weighs 2.66 lbs (1.21 kg) and includes a 55Wh battery.

The X9 15 steps up to a 15.3-inch OLED screen, also available in touch and non-touch options, supporting 500 nits brightness, HDR600 True Black certification, and a variable 120Hz refresh rate. With a 80Wh battery, it is better suited for longer work sessions and heavier workloads. The larger laptop weighs 3.19 lbs (1.45 kg).

In a welcome touch, both models feature a customer-replaceable battery using 100% recycled cobalt cells, which not only reduces reliance on virgin materials but also extends the lifespan of the devices by making maintenance much easier.

Cobalt batteries are known for their high energy density, providing longer runtimes and efficient power delivery within a compact size, so they are ideal for use in premium ultrabooks. Apple and Dell have already embraced recycled cobalt in their devices, so it's good to see Lenovo following suit.

Both models will be available starting February 2025, with the ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition priced from $1,399, while the X9 15 Aura Edition starting at $1,549.

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• Panasonic reveals its 2025 TV lineup
• The range is headlined by the flagship Z95B OLED TV
• The lineup includes the W95B mini-LED and W70B LED TVs

Panasonic has revealed its 2025 TV lineup at CES 2025. The reveal consists of three TVs – the flagship Z95B, the W95B mini-LED, and the W70B, a more entry-level LED TV. There is currently no pricing info or release dates for these models.

The Panasonic Z95B, successor to the Panasonic Z95A, one of 2024's best OLED TVs, is the flagship set in the 2025 lineup. It will use a new 'Primary RGB Tandem Panel' instead of the micro-lens array (MLA) OLED panel used in its predecessor, which Panasonic says will result in higher brightness, better detail and greater color volume.

The Panasonic W95B will have an improved mini-LED panel with up to 2.5x more dimming zones compared to last year's W95A, which will result in improved contrast and better black levels.

The entry-level Panasonic LED series will support HDR10+ (decode only), HDR10 and HLG formats and will have a slim-bezel design.

All three sets use Fire TV as their smart TV platform. Both the Z95B and W95B will feature a new Prime Video Calibrated Mode, a picture mode optimized for watching Amazon Prime Video content, as well as Calman and ISF calibration tools to fine-tune picture settings, a first for a Fire TV model. In the US, both the Z95B and W95B will also feature an ATSC 3.0 NEXTGEN TV tuner for broadcast TV.

The Z95B and W95B will be available in both the US and the UK, while the W70B will be available in the US only. Scroll down for more detailed information on each TV.

Panasonic Z95B OLED TV

The Panasonic Z95B on display at CES 2025 (Image credit: Future)

The Panasonic Z95B will be available in 55, 65 and 77-inch sizes, with the smallest and largest models available for the first time in the US (the Z95A was only available in a 65-inch size last year).

The Z95B's biggest upgrade over its predecessor, the Z95A, is a new quad-layer Primary RGB Tandem Panel, which is coupled with Panasonic's own ThermalFlow cooling system. Panasonic says this will make the Z95B bolder, brighter, more colorful and more detail-rich than the Z95A.

The new panel is in place of the micro-lens-array(MLA) OLED panel used in the Z95A, as well as the LG G4. It's not officially confirmed whether this quad-layer panel is the same 'four-stack' panel set to feature in the LG M5 and G5 OLEDs, but this seems likely.

The Z95B features an HCX Pro AI Processor MK II, which will support both Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ HDR formats. There is also a Precision Detail feature, designed to "unlock more from Dolby Vision content".

The Z95B's built-in speaker system has been re-designed to allow for a wider soundstage and improved processing for spatial audio. It will support Dolby Atmos audio format as well. If its speaker system is anything like the Z95A's, which was arguably the best TV for sound released in 2024, we have high hopes.

The Z95B supports gaming features you'd expect to find on the best gaming TVs, including 4K 144Hz, VRR (AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync), ALLM and Dolby Vision gaming, as well as a True Game Mode.

Panasonic W95B mini-LED TV

(Image credit: Panasonic )

The Panasonic W95B is the mini-LED entry in Panasonic's 2025 TV lineup. It will be available in 55, 65, 75 and 85-inch sizes in both the US and UK.

The W95B features a mini-LED panel that will deliver enhanced contrast, better black levels and better detail than previous mini-LED models, according to Panasonic. With 2.5x more local dimming zones than the W95A (this depends on screen size), the W95B promises better backlight control, resulting in an overall better picture.

The W95B will feature the same HCX Pro AI Processor MKII found in the Z95B. It will support Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ formats, along with a Precision Detail feature that "unlocks more from Dolby Vision content".

The W95B is also well suited for gaming, with 4K 144Hz, AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync VRR, ALLM and Dolby Vision gaming, which is also supported at 144Hz.

The W95B's built-in sound system has yet to be confirmed, but we do there is a 20W subwoofer included.

Panasonic W70B LED TV

(Image credit: Panasonic )

The Panasonic W70B will be available in the US in 43, 50, 55, 65, 70, 75 and 85-inch sizes.

The W70B uses an LED panel and supports 4K HDR formats including HDR10+ (though this is decoded), HDR10 and HLG. It will also feature MEMC for fast-paced images and sports viewing.

There are four HDMI ports for connectivity, though there is no confirmation as to whether any of these will support HDMI 2.1 for gaming.

The W70B will feature voice control as part of Fire TV, which can be exectuted using the Alexa voice remote.

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And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok for the latest from the CES show floor!

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