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Ayaneo Pocket Micro: One-minute review

The Ayaneo Pocket Micro truly needs to be held in your hands to be believed. It’s an incredibly small Android tablet, weighing under 9oz / 250g and coming in at just 6.1 x 2.5 x 0.71in / 156 x 63 x 18mm, with in-built thumbsticks, D-pad, face buttons, and shoulder inputs. It sports a colorful 960 x 640 3.5in IPS touchscreen75, in a 3:2 aspect ratio that is perfect for playing Game Boy Advance games.

It’s no secret that this has been designed as an emulation handheld first and foremost, as it even comes with a custom Android launcher and Ayaneo app suite useful for importing a wide range of retro games - even if it is a bit jagged and unpolished at times. Links to top emulators on the Google Play Store, plus the easy-to-access microSD card slot, make it surprisingly simple to get a library full of games up and running.

Diving into Game Boy Advance classics like The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Pokémon Ruby is a treat, thanks in no small part to the wonderfully responsive controls. If you’ve ever tried your hand at mobile emulation, you’ll know that touchscreen inputs feel nowhere near as good as the real thing. The buttons and D-pad here are pleasantly soft, with a spongy feel reminiscent of the Nintendo 2DS. GBA games run perfectly and look sublimely crisp. This even includes more demanding titles that skirted with 3D visuals, like the open-world crime caper Driver 3.

While Game Boy titles are the focus thanks to the size of the display, the Ayaneo Pocket Micro is also capable of emulating a wide range of other systems. Performance does begin to suffer if you attempt anything more advanced than a PSP, however, which is to be expected given the use of the more budget-oriented Helio G99 chipset.

This is also the story with native Android gaming. Simple 2D experiences like Stardew Valley or the Vampire Survivors-like 20 Minutes Till Dawn run superbly, while complex 3D worlds like those in Genshin Impact or Zenless Zone Zero cause frame rates to tumble. It’s also hard to ignore the quality of the speakers which are pretty poor. It’s reasonable to expect these kinds of cutbacks at this price point, but the muddy audio makes headphones almost a necessity even when you’re gaming at home.

(Image credit: Future) Ayaneo Pocket Micro: Price and availability

• Currently available via IndieGogo
• Prices start at $189 (around £153) via early bird pricing
• Retail prices start at $219 (around £177)

The Ayaneo Pocket Micro is currently only available via IndieGogo.

A basic model with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage will set you back $189 (around £153) via early bird pricing, or $219 (around £177) at retail. You can also grab a more premium version with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage starting at $249 (around £202) via early bird pricing, or $279 (around £226) at retail. IndieGogo will ship to a wide range of regions, but just bear in mind that prices can vary depending on the current exchange rate.

Multiple colors are available for each version. The more affordable variant comes in a cute red or sleek black, while the more premium model is offered in black or a clearly Game & Watch-inspired gold and maroon.

This price is certainly not a huge amount to pay for an Android tablet, let alone one with a specialist design like this. It is roughly the same price as other modern Game Boy successors, like the premium Analogue Pocket which starts at $129.99 (around £174), so a pretty good value proposition on the whole.

Ayaneo Pocket Micro: Specs Ayaneo Pocket Micro: Design and features

• Very robust metal shell
• Pleasant buttons and D-pad
• Full Android functionality

When you take the Ayaneo Pocket Micro out of the box, the first thing you’ll probably notice is that it’s built like a tank. I tested an early production sample, but you wouldn’t know it from the quality of the overall feel. It’s constructed using a CNC aluminum alloy frame, lending the outside of the tablet an incredibly robust feel. It seems considerably more sturdy than the likes of the Nintendo Switch Lite, and could probably go head to head with the brick-like original Game Boy in a drop test - though for obvious reasons I wasn’t too keen to test that.

The back of the tablet is plastic, which helps keep the weight at a manageable 8.21oz / 233g. My model came in the black colorway, so the front is a clean black with a bezel-less 3.5-inch screen. To the left of the screen, you will find the well-sized D-pad and left thumbstick. On the right are the face buttons (in the traditional Nintendo layout) and the right thumbstick. Both thumbsticks are very small but are still capable of more than enough motion for 3D gaming.

Underneath all of that, there are two sets of small rectangular buttons. The first set serves as the start and select button in games, while the others are an ‘Aya Button’ (which calls up a floating settings menu) and a button that returns you to the system’s home screen.

On the top of the console, there are four shoulder buttons, a power button with an integrated fingerprint reader (an excellent feature that saves you from having to enter passwords on the tiny little screen), and a simple volume rocker. That’s not all, though, as the console’s flat right side features a dedicated home button and a mappable ‘RC’ button.

(Image credit: Future)

If you want to expand your storage, there’s a microSD card slot on the left-hand side under a little rubber flap. No microSD card is included, so you will need to source your own. I found that it was incredibly tricky to insert a card on my model, as the flap was difficult to open and the card itself just didn’t seem to click into place properly. Thankfully, Ayaneo states that this is a known issue with pre-production versions of the device and should be ironed out by the time you get your hands on one.

As you might expect, there is your usual USB-C port for charging on the bottom of the system.

In terms of overall features, the Ayaneo Pocket Micro is a fully-fledged Android tablet. You can download apps using the Google Play Store, though the small screen will make it difficult to perform tasks like messaging, document editing, and so on. Gaming is definitely where this device shines, and the custom Ayaneo software is designed to ensure a simple gaming experience. Links to recommended emulators (both paid and free) are easy to access from the AyaSpace app and the system’s in-built controls were immediately recognized by every one that I tried.

(Image credit: Future) Ayaneo Pocket Micro: Performance

• Perfect for Game Boy emulation
• Also plays basic mobile games
• Speakers are poor

The Ayaneo Pocket Micro excels at Game Boy emulation. Every GB, GBC, and GBA game that I tested ran perfectly. Running at 4x the original Game Boy Advance resolution, the picture is incredibly crisp. While not OLED, the colors of the IPS screen are still very vibrant with great viewing angles that are well-suited to portable play. The screen is also bright enough to be used comfortably outdoors without any glare.

You will begin to encounter some performance issues if you attempt more intensive emulation, however. PlayStation 2 titles are hit-and-miss and I found that the screen size actually made it difficult to work out what was going on in detailed environments like the open world of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. PSP games ran acceptably too, but again the screen size made it difficult to read tutorial text in the likes of God of War: Chains of Olympus.

Attempting to emulate more recent consoles results in a stuttery, laggy mess but that’s to be expected given the relatively modest chipset here. This is definitely one to buy if you’re most keen to play Game Boy games.

Unlike a conventional mobile phone, the Ayaneo Pocket Micro has an in-built fan for active air cooling. It can get slightly loud when you crank it up to the maximum power in the settings menu, but it seems very effective at keeping the device cool while you play.

As an Android tablet, the Ayaneo Pocket Micro can also be used for native mobile titles but keep your expectations in check. This is not a high-spec gaming phone, so it’s going to struggle if you don’t stick to the simplest titles. Throughout my testing, I managed to consistently achieve 5-6 hours of battery life which is pretty solid given the tablet’s miniscule size. It should comfortably last for the duration of a commute, where its pocketable nature really shines.

That said, the rectangular shape did start to dig into my palms when I attempted longer sessions. The corners have been rounded off slightly, which definitely helps, but your palms are still going to get sore after a few hours.

There is one bigger problem with the Ayaneo Pocket Micro though: its speakers. They’re very poor, producing a weak, muddy sound that lacks any bass or real clarity. In-game music sounds tinny and sometimes even a little crackly.

It’s not massively noticeable when you’re playing Game Boy titles, as they have relatively limited audio capabilities in the first place, but is incredibly apparent when trying out more modern games. Headphones are an absolute must, which makes the lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack a real shame. Bluetooth is an option, but having to fiddle with headphone pairing is an obstacle every time you want to play.

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Ayaneo Pocket Micro? Buy it if...

You want a modern Game Boy
The Ayaneo Pocket Micro is ideal for emulating GB, GBC, and GBA games. They run flawlessly and look absolutely superb on the small 3:2 screen. The physical controls are also a joy to use.

You’re after a cheap tiny gaming tablet
The Ayaneo Pocket Micro might not be the most powerful tablet out there, but it’s incredibly small and easy to stash in your pocket.

Don't buy it if...

You want higher specs
The MediaTek Helio G99 is a modest mobile chipset. Dedicated gaming phones will offer significantly better performance in mobile games, while handheld consoles like the Nintendo Switch Lite will run retro titles more smoothly at a similar price.

Also consider...

After a device like the Ayaneo Pocket Micro? Consider these two alternatives.

Modretro Chromatic
The Modretro Chromatic is capable of playing your favorite GB and GBC cartridges natively. It’s got excellent buttons, superb overall build quality, and a shape incredibly reminiscent of the original handheld.

For more information, check out our full Modretro Chromatic review

Nintendo Switch Lite
Plenty of GB, GBC, and GBC games are available on Nintendo Switch Lite as part of the Nintendo Switch Online subscription services or in various retro collections. It also benefits from a huge library of great exclusive games, plus a compact all-in-one design.

For more information, check out our full Nintendo Switch Lite review

(Image credit: Future) How I tested the Ayaneo Pocket Micro

• Tested for three months
• Played a wide variety of Game Boy games
• Tried at home and out and about

I tested the Ayaneo Pocket Micro over a period of three months. I used the 8GB + 256GB model in its black colorway, accompanied by a case provided by the manufacturer. In addition to the built-in storage, I relied on a SanDisk Extreme microSD card to transfer game files from my PC.

I played a wide variety of Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance games on the Ayaneo Pocket Micro. This included Tetris, Pokemon Red, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, Wario Land 3, Pokemon Ruby, Driver 3, Metroid Zero Mission, and more. I also tested a small handful of PlayStation, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation Portable games in addition to a few other platforms. I was also careful to evaluate the handheld's performance in native mobile titles, such as the popular Call of Duty: Mobile.

Throughout my time with the handheld, I constantly compared the playing experience to my hands-on testing of gaming smartphones and a wide range of gaming handhelds. For audio, I relied on a pair of Beats Solo Buds.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed January 2024.

• Intel SSD division became Solidigm when it was sold to SK Hynix
• SK Hynix launched its own consumer SSD products
• Expect more brands to exit the cut throat B2C SSD market in 2025

Solidigm, a subsidiary of SK Hynix, has officially announced the discontinuation of its consumer solid-state drives (SSDs), the P44 Pro and P41 Plus models.

The company, which began operations in 2021 after SK Hynix acquired Intel’s NAND and SSD business for $9 billion, has removed the "Client SSD" section from its website.

The "Client Product Category" hyperlink on the site redirects to a "Discontinued Products" page. This confirms (via ITHome and Guru3D) that Solidigm will no longer produce its last two consumer-grade SSD models and older Intel-era drives like the 660p and 670p.

Solidigm shifts focus to Data Center Solutions

According to Solidigm, there are no plans for replacement products in the consumer SSD lineup, marking Solidigm's exit from the consumer market.

Since the acquisition, Solidigm has focused more on the enterprise and data center markets. The company is now prioritizing high-capacity SSDs, especially for artificial intelligence applications.

The consumer SSD market has been difficult, with oversupply leading to lower prices and shrinking profit margins.

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CES 2025 is over, and a frazzled TechRadar team has returned with strange memories of weird furry robots and light therapy face masks. Yes, CES can be an odd place, but it's also a reliable taster of the kinds of gadgets and tech trends we're likely to see in the year ahead – so we've gathered all the big ones here in one handy place.

Don't worry; it won't all be about AI. In fact, we've left that out of this list, given that everyone, bar uncontacted Amazon tribes, knows that AI will be baked into every product under the sun in 2025 – despite the lack of breakout CES stars like the Rabbit R1 at this year's show.

Instead, we've focused on the trends we think will make the most difference to the average tech fan. That means advances in TV tech (like wireless connection boxes and RGB backlighting), fascinating laptop screen innovations, and the rapidly growing world of smart glasses.

It's not all mainstream tech ideas, though, as we also shine a light on the gadgets coming to boost our coffee drinking and the lives of our furry friends in 2025. So take a break from your floundering New Year's resolutions for a moment and join us on a ride through this year's biggest tech trends, as predicted by CES...

1. RGB backlighting is the future of TVs

(Image credit: Future)

Robots try to steal the limelight, but TVs have always been at the heart of CES. And this year's show's most significant TV trend was undoubtedly RGB backlighting tech for LCDs.

Naturally, the tech giants all have their own confusing names for this technology, with Hisense, Samsung, and TCL all showing off their versions at CES 2025. But all you need to know is that it's a new twist on making LCD TVs that will make them even brighter or at least more power efficient at the same brightness.

Currently, most mini-LED backlights use a grid of blue LEDs, which pass through a color filter to create the final picture. Instead, RGB backlights (as the name suggests) use red, green, and blue backlights, which means the color filtering layer does much less work and allows the brightness to shine through.

While the tech won't go entirely mainstream this year, Samsung's 'RGB Micro LED Backlight' will likely come in a 4K TV this year, with TCL's following in 2026. So, if you happen to win the lottery, Hisense's 116-inch TV with its 'TriChroma RGB Backlight' will also land later this year. We reckon it'll be a toss-up between RGB backlighting and wireless connection boxes for the TV trend of 2025.

• Read more: 5 TV innovations I saw at CES 2025 that will shape the next generation of TVs

2. Massive TVs will continue their hot streak

(Image credit: HIsense)

Enormous TVs aren't exactly a new CES trend, but this was the first time we've seen 100-inch sets from virtually every big manufacturer. Breaking that barrier at the show were Hisense, Samsung, TCL, and LG, while Samsung also showed off a 115-inch version of its premium Samsung QN90F Neo QLED set.

Last year, we saw 97-inch TVs hit new levels of popularity due to a combination of lower prices (for more affordable VA LCD panels, at least) and a post-pandemic upgrade cycle that saw many replace the sets they bought during lockdowns. So, does that mean 100-inch sets will become the norm in 2025?

Not necessarily – as TechRadar's TV hardware expert James Davidson has argued, many of the big sets on show at CES will be at the premium end (think somewhere in the region of $15,000 / £20,000 and above, based on today's models). Also, 4K or UST (ultra short throw) projectors will likely continue to offer better bang-for-buck at these larger screen sizes.

Still, CES 2025 has shown that 100-inch monoliths are no longer concepts or one-offs, and the rising popularity of huge TVs will likely continue this year.

• Read more: Big-screen TVs are everywhere at CES 2025, but I doubt they'll replace projectors anytime soon

3. E Ink will save us from screen overload

(Image credit: Continental / Pocketbook)

It can sometimes feel like we spend 90% of our waking hours looking at screens, which is probably because E Ink (or epaper) displays were again something of a trend at CES 2025. Yes, they're also screens, but they're a bit more eye-friendly (and less power-hungry) than an OLED.

We saw Continental reveal car dashboards with personalized E Ink displays, which we're pretty fond of compared to the huge head-up display of BMW's new iDrive system. The InkPoster, which uses E Ink's new advanced Spectra 6 color tech, also looks like a subtle wall art alternative to Samsung's The Frame Pro TV.

However, our favorite twist on the trend was the TCL 60 XE, which won our CES 2025 award for Phone innovation. It may not use electronic paper technology, but TCL's phone does have an NXTPaper switch that lets you instantly turn on a mode that's close to replicating an Amazon Kindle.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

Switching between the two modes looks like the iPhone's NameDrop effect, and the benefits are that it both sips power (for potentially week-long battery life) and creates a refreshingly distraction-free reading experience for a phone. More of this please, Apple and Samsung.

• Read more: The next big EV trend could be these special-edition E Ink dashboards – and I'm all for it
• Read more: This awesome E Ink poster frame looks like the future of wall art, if you can stomach the price tag
• Read more: TCL's ultra-affordable 60XE uses NXTpaper to potentially break all kinds of battery life records

4. Robot vacuums will learn useful new tricks

(Image credit: Roborock / Switchbot)

Robot vacuums were like the court jesters of CES 2025, entertaining the crowds with many fancy new tricks. But they weren't just showing off – some of the new features look genuinely useful.

The Roborock Z70, for example, has a mechanical pincer arm that picks up stray socks you've inconveniently left in its path and tosses them in a laundry basket. Unfortunately, rumors that it also tuts to itself while doing this were sadly unfounded.

Taking the multi-tasking theme even further was the SwitchBot K20+ Pro, built on a modular platform that lets you add convenient extras like an air purifier, security camera, and even a little tray for sandwich delivery.

But on a practical level, the Dreame X50 Ultra Complete probably has the best superpower – the ability to climb stairs. Its little legs can help it climb obstacles up to 4.2cm in height in a single step (or 6cm in two). Best of all, this mode is called 'ProLeap.'

• Read more: This robot vacuum can also bring you a sandwich, and it might be the greatest gadget we've seen yet at CES

5. Smart glasses will go truly mainstream

(Image credit: Halliday / Future)

It's taken a few years, but smart glasses are slowly becoming socially acceptable – and CES 2025 shows that this could be their big bang year.

Two stood out among the many Ray-Ban Meta glasses rivals on show (which are still our pick as the best AI smart glasses). The Halliday Smart Glasses achieved the feat of looking precisely like traditional eyewear, mainly because they pack in a tiny display rather than trying to use waveguide tech to project info on the lenses.

That screen looks like a 3.5-inch monochrome display when it's up close to your eye – and it's a solution that left us in two minds, considering full AR specs are expected from Meta, Snap, and more in the next year or two. Still, it works, and the Halliday AI app means it can do voice translation, turn-by-turn navigation, teleprompting and more.

The winner of our best AR glasses award at CES 2025, though, was the Xreal One Pros. Building on the Xreal One (a personal wearable screen) from a few months ago, they give you Full HD visuals and a powerful X1 chip with native spatial computing powers. We called it an "extremely impressive experience" and look forward to testing them in the real world soon.

• Read more: Look out Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, Xreal is coming for your crown with its new AR specs

6. Health tech will blend into the background

(Image credit: Withings / Amp Fitness)

Smart home tech can still feel frustratingly dumb, but there were signs at CES 2025 of what we've always wanted – personal health monitoring that blends into traditional homeware, like bathroom mirrors.

Currently, mirror tech tops out at LED lights and unnecessary motion sensors. But the Withings Omnia (sadly just a concept for now) promises to sync with other gadgets to give you a full picture of your health (to help explain the tired-looking person in the reflection).

The mirror's base can also measure your weight, heart health, and metabolic health, so there's no need to shell out for a load of other gadgets. It'll also apparently be able to run ECG (electrocardiogram) scans and check for signs of atrial fibrillation, all in an accessory that looks very Black Mirror, in a good way.

Elsewhere at CES 2025, we also let Samsung's AI-powered micro-LED mirror examine and judge our skin health before reeling off a list of recommendations (which surprisingly didn't include 'try sleeping for more than two hours'). Meanwhile, discreetly tucked away on a wall was our favorite piece of workout tech at the show, the Amp Fitness machine – think Peloton for cable-based strength training.

• Read more: The new Withings Omnia smart mirror promises to give you a full-screen scan of your health
• Read more: I looked into Samsung’s AI-powered micro-LED mirror and now I’m ready for some scientifically backed looksmaxxing
• Read more: This AI-powered strength machine could be Peloton for gym rats, and it looks incredible

7. Our pets will have a gadget blast in 2025

(Image credit: Pawport / LG)

We didn't directly ask any cats or dogs what they thought of CES 2025, but we imagine many gave the show an approving nod. There was a wealth of tech designed for our furry friends, and a few in particular caught our eye.

Okay, the first of these – the Levoit Pet Odor & Hair Air Purifier – is more for pet owners than the family doggo. It's programmed to quickly detect what are politely referred to as "key substances" and adjust the fan to quickly clear the offending odor, while a carbon filter helps neutralize them. If it means your dog spends less time being banished from the living room, we're sure it'll approve.

Cats will also certainly purr with approval at LG's AeroCatTower, an air purifier that acts as a podium for a cat bed. The tower includes a heater to keep your cat toasty warm, and there's even a built-in scale so you can surreptitiously measure its weight. The only downside is that your lap may suddenly become a less appealing dozing spot for your kitty.

With a new version of the Pawport pet door and a next-gen dog tracker called Tractive (which promises to tell you why your dog is barking) also on show at CES 2025, there's no doubt that pets – and even bugs – are going to have a fun, tech-fueled year.

• Read more: Levoit’s new pet-parent air purifier will switch on the fans when it senses your dog is being stinky

8. Laptops will give us more screen estate

(Image credit: Lenovo / Asus)

We're not talking about big-screen laptops – instead, we're referring to standard-size laptops that miraculously grow some extra screen estate from seemingly nowhere, like the new Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable.

Debuted at CES 2025, this ThinkBook is the first of its kind – a laptop with a 'rollable display' that you'll actually be able to buy. As you can see in the video below, that screen grows from a 14-inch landscape display to a 16.7-inch vertical one with the press of a button.

While we certainly have reservations about wear and tear, plus fixing that rolling mechanism if it breaks, it's hard not to be excited about the sheer gadget joy that Lenovo has created here. Well, until you see the $3,499 (around £2,865 / AU$5,685) US price tag.

Rollable displays aren't the only way that laptops will give us more screen estate in 2025, either. The latest Asus Zenbook Duo (2025) also massively impressed us at CES 2025 – it has two gorgeous 14-inch, 3K resolution OLED touchscreens, but it can also be used as a traditional laptop using a traditional keyboard that sits on top of one of them.

We called it the “king of on-the-go functionality,” and it's another example of how much more versatile laptops will become in 2025.

• Read more: Lenovo unveils world's first rollable display laptop, the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable, at CES 2025

9. Oura and Samsung will get big smart ring rivals

(Image credit: Ultrahuman / Circular Ring)

Last year's CES 2024 was where smart rings took the baton from smartwatches as the most exciting thing in wearables – and this year, we saw the little health trackers really mature.

The battle for the title of best smart ring is no longer just Oura vs Samsung. At CES 2025, the Circular Ring 2 arrived with a couple of handy innovations – an app-based sizing system that's slicker than trying on plastic rings and an FDA-cleared AFib detection algorithm.

Meanwhile, Ultrahuman has gone full Apple Watch Edition with some new 18K gold and platinum versions of its smart rings. These new Ultrahuman Rare models (prices start at £1,499, or around $1,900 / AU$3,000) won't exactly be ones we're rushing out to buy, but they show the smart ring market is expanding.

Despite their compact size, there's still room for innovation in smart rings, too – the South Korean startup VIV Health revealed the VIV Ring at CES 2025, which can generate customized sounds to help you sleep based on analysis of your snoozing data.

• Read more: Circular Ring 2 unveiled at CES – and it's the end of plastic sizing kits for smart rings

10. Coffee will get the tech treatment

(Image credit: KaraPod / AstroBrew)

According to coffee insiders, the big trends this year will be premium pods, sustainably-sourced beans, and a growing number of home espresso connoisseurs. But if CES 2025 is anything to go by, we can also add strange and eccentric coffee gadgets to that list.

Perhaps the oddest was the KaraPod, which never needs filling with water –instead, it uses condensed air from your home to make your brew. That concept left us a bit torn between the undoubted environmental benefits and the slightly odd sensation that we'd be drinking the (albeit filtered) moisture from our drying washing.

Still, some other neat ideas we spotted included the AstroBrew machine (which promises to whip up a tasty cold brew in minutes) and the Midea Barista Brew system, which inevitably uses AI to learn your taste preferences. Whatever your tastes, a cup of instant will no longer cut it in 2025.

• Read more: This coffee machine brews espresso using water condensed from the air in your home

11. The AI robots are coming

(Image credit: Future)

It's painfully obvious to say that AI is going to be a tech trend of 2025, so we left it out of this list. There's also understandably some hype fatigue among tech fans who sense that AI might be working harder for shareholders than it is for them. But one AI-adjacent space where it's having a fascinating impact is robotics.

Last year, we chatted to the maker of the Ai-Da robot, which rustled up a painting that sold for over $1 million, and we can expect a lot more stories on that theme in 2025. That's because robotics companies like Realbotix are using AI to make their humanoids even more scarily realistic.

@techradar

Realbotix Aria humanoid robot interview! She moves, talks, can use AI to identify emotions, and more! Oh, and she costs $175k. #ces2025 #techtok #techradar #ces #viral #lasvegas #robot #humanoidrobot #humanoid #uncanny #uncannyvalley

♬ original sound - TechRadar

We chatted to the Realbotix Aria at CES 2025 above (yours for a cool $175,000) and, while there's still some way to go, its ability to talk more conversationally and also respond to your physical health using an infrared camera are signs of where this tech is quickly heading.

On a similar theme, Agility Robotics (the maker of the Digit robot below) spoke of their plans to become the first humanoid robot company to make a robot that can safely work side-by-side with humans. If you though the human-machine lines were blurring in 2024, then 2025 has got some surprises for you...

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• The SE940 is Adata's first USB 4 portable SSD
• It reaches up to 4GBps on read/write
• Expect far more USB 4 external SSDs to launch in 2025

At CES 2025, Adata introduced a range of new storage products, including the Adata XPG SE940, a portable SSD which marks the first time Adata is using USB 4 technology.

Adata is also tipping the SE940 as the smallest USB 4 external SSD to be commercially available.

It can reach speeds of up to 4,000 MB/s for reading and writing data. This makes it not only the fastest portable SSD in Adata’s line-up but also a contender in the broader external storage market.

New benchmark for portable SSD performance

The SE940 uses a modern single-chip controller from Silicon Motion, which gives stable performance, uses power efficiently, and works smoothly.

It also has a built-in fingerprint reader, and comes with storage options of up to 8 TB, providing plenty of space for big files, multimedia work, or backups.

Adata also announced several other SSDs at CES. The XPG MARS 970 Storm and Blade are Gen 5 M.2 NVMe SSDs (up to 8TB) that offer up to 14 GB/s read and 12 GB/s write speeds.

The company also announced the SR800 and SR820, portable SSDs that offer up to 20GB speeds, USB 3.2 Gen 2 and up to 4TB capacity.

To wrap things up, Adata announced the SDXC SD 8.0 Express memory card which leverages PCIe 3.0 x2 for speeds up to 1600 MB/s reads and 1200 MB/s writes.

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