Everybody in the world of consumer and entertainment technology has their eyes set on Las Vegas, where CES 2023 is set to open its doors in early January.

Once again, the event will take place virtually for those unable to visit in person, but as with last year, it will also be an all-singing, all-dancing, fully live event with hundreds of thousands of industry visitors expected from around the world.

CES is traditionally the annual launchpad for the new generation of TVs and other home electronic devices we will have the opportunity to buy over the next 12 months. However, it also gives us an opportunity to look further ahead, with a multitude of concept models and technological showpieces designed to demonstrate how electronics will impact our lives over the longer term.

So, here’s my overview of what to expect from the world’s largest consumer technology event and a roundup of some of the most exciting products and innovations that are expected to make an appearance.

What can we expect to see?

After last year when several big names decided not to take part due to ongoing concerns over the Covid-19 pandemic, many giants of the consumer electronics and technology industry have confirmed they will return. Those known to be taking part include Google, Microsoft, LG, Sony, ASUS, Garmin, Panasonic, Nvidia, Intel, Hisense, JBL, and AMD. These heavy hitters will be joined by around 2,400 other exhibitors of all shapes and sizes.

This year, the growing involvement of the automotive industry is set to see the event become the biggest auto show in the US for the first time. Visitors can expect to see new commercial and concept EVs from the likes of Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Toyota, Honda, and many others, and keynotes will focus on ongoing attempts to commercialize autonomous vehicles, sustainability initiatives, and in-car entertainment innovation. A returning highlight of the event will be the Indy Autonomous Challenge, which will see fully AI-piloted vehicles racing at speeds of up to 190 mph at the Las Vegas Speedway.

One of the perennial features of CES is the unveiling of the latest and greatest in television technology from all of the big manufacturers, and 2023 is set to continue this trend. While headlines in recent years have focused on innovations such as roll-up screens, OLED, and 8K resolutions, this year, we are expecting to see a focus on consolidation across models at lower and mid-range prices.

Of course, there will still be super-size unveils, such as expected 100-inch-plus MicroLED models from Samsung and Sony, for those happy to spend tens of thousands of dollars on their screens for their home cinema rooms.

And those fed up with wires running across their living rooms will no doubt be interested to see the world’s first totally wireless OLED TV from new US manufacturer Displace. Their 55-inch 4k set runs off a rechargeable battery, and buyers can combine multiple panels to create larger higher-resolution displays.

Wearable technology is also set to be big news – particularly anything to do with health and fitness. Watches, in particular, will lead the way in the announcements, and here “hybrid” will be a keyword. This will cover watches that double up as fitness trackers, where the trend is for a growing number and sophistication of sensors able to monitor more aspects of our health and wellness. It also covers new wristwear models that attempt to bridge the gap between smartwatches and traditional analog timepieces. There are suggestions that after a few years where the focus has been on devices that allow us to exercise while stuck inside, this year might see a renewed focus on tools and gadgets designed to encourage us to head outside and enjoy the great outdoors.

Elsewhere, Smart Homes will no doubt continue to be a key trend. Here a strong trend is expected to be devices using new, unified platforms such as Matter. This is a collaborative smart home device standard backed by more than 500 tech companies, including leaders in the field like Amazon, Google, and Apple. Hopefully, this will do away with the need for consumers to choose between becoming “locked in” to one manufacturer’s ecosystem or juggling a pile of often conflicting and competing networks and apps while attempting to install and manage their smart home setups. Devices utilizing the Matter standard from a number of manufacturers are expected to be on show at the event.

Innovation Awards

Although many of the big announcements are kept quiet until the event, we often get a few hints about what will be generating headlines thanks to the annual CES Innovation Awards. This year, 46 awards honors went to Samsung for products across its range of TVs, watches, computer hardware, smart phones and washing machines.

Winners in the Sustainability, Eco-design, and Smart Energy category included Grinergy for its sustainable lithium-ion starter battery technology to replace the dangerous and polluting lead-acid batteries traditionally used to start vehicles.

Also recognized in the same category was the Clean Water Pathfinder from ACWA Robotics – a robot designed to live inside pipework and reservoirs maintained by water utility companies and contribute towards saving some of the 32 billion cubic meters of water lost every year due to damage or poorly maintained infrastructure.

Another honoree was Schneider Electric for their Wiser Home Energy app, which assists homeowners wanting to do their bit in reducing the 20 percent of global carbon emissions that are created in private homes. It does this by providing owners with a “new level” of insights into their domestic energy use, from heating systems to EV charging, and allowing them to monitor power consumption in real time.

CES 2023 Basic Information.

As ever, CES is a trade-only exhibition meaning it is only open to people working in the consumer electronics industry or related media. This is the case for both the virtual and in-person events, which both take place from Thursday, January 5, to Sunday, January 8. If you fit the criteria, you can register to attend here.

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About Bernard Marr

Bernard Marr is a world-renowned futurist, influencer and thought leader in the field of business and technology. He is the author of 21 best-selling books (and winner of the 2022 Business Book of the Year award), writes a regular column for Forbes and advises and coaches many of the world’s best-known organisations. He has over 2 million social media followers, over 1.2 million newsletter subscribers and was ranked by LinkedIn as one of the top 5 business influencers in the world and the No 1 influencer in the UK.