Best Tech of 2024: Top Predictions & Trends

As tends to happen every year, CES is here to ring in 2026, and with it comes some of the most exciting tech of the whole year. CES always sets the stage for the next 12 months, and as per usual, this year’s edition brings us some incredible new devices to look forward to.

The XDA team is on the show floor to bring you the latest coverageand of course, we’re here to tell you about the best and coolest devices we’ve seen at the show so far. So, without further ado, let’s get right into it.

Dell XPS 14

Lighter, better, faster, stronger

Dell’s XPS lineup disappeared for a while last year when the company decided it was somehow a better idea to start calling it Dell Premium. But this year, the XPS family is back, and now the XPS logo is even replacing the Dell brand on the lid, so you can show off your love for the brand.

But it’s not just about looks. Dell has massively reengineered this laptop to shave off nearly half a pound off its weight, making it roughly three pounds. It’s also the company’s thinnest laptop, at just 14.6mm thick. With new Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors, Dell also redesigned the cooling system to enable more performance, with larger, yet thinner fans, plus an 8MP/4K webcam that’s the smallest and thinnest ever in a Dell laptop, plus an industry-first: the XPS 14 is the first laptop to use 900ED batteries, allowing the laptop to be as thin and light as it is.

All in all, this 14-inch laptop is now smaller than a 13-inch MacBook Air, yet it has a larger display and some top-tier specs. Consider us very excited to spend more time with this one. — João Carrasqueira, Segment Lead, OS and Devices

Asus Zenbook A16

Lightness, expanded

Last year, Asus introduced the Snapdragon-powered Zenbook A14, and that laptop made it to our best of 2025 list for its incredibly

lightweight design while still offering a great experience. So, of course, when Asus brings that featherweight mentality to a larger screen with the Asus Zenbook A16, we’re all on board.

Asus Zenbook A14-1

The Asus Zenbook A14 is underpowered, but I sure love it

It’s just so beautiful

This new model comes with a 16-inch, 3K OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and brightness up to 1100 nits, plus a top-tier Qualcom Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme chipset to deliver a fantastic experience across the board. Plus, you get six speakers with Dolby Atmos and Snapdragon Sound, a solid supply of ports, and a premium-feeling Ceraluminum chassis, all in a laptop that weighs just 1.2kg, or roughly 2.65lbs. This could very well be one of the best laptops of the year, and we can’t wait to see it when it launches later this year. — João Carrasqueira, Segment Lead, OS and Devices

Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Plus 10-core

Mid-range laptops are getting a big upgrade

A Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Plus chip with a badge reading "XDA Best of <a href=CES 2026"” data-img-url=”https://static0.xdaimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/qualcomm-snapdragon-x2-plus-1.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=2″ src=”https://static0.xdaimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/qualcomm-snapdragon-x2-plus-1.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=2″ class=”img-brightness-opt-out”/>

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Plus feels like a quiet yet still important shift in the Windows-on-Arm ecosystem. Rather than chasing high-end performance at any cost, the latest platform from Qualcomm is clearly focused on scaling its Copilot+ PC experiences to more affordable, mainstream laptops without sacrificing either responsiveness or battery life. That matters, because for a lot of buyers, the promise of Arm on Windows has always sounded great… until price or availability got in the way.

Built around a 3rd Gen Qualcomm Oryon CPU and paired with an 80 TOPS NPU, Snapdragon X2 Plus still promises serious AI horsepower, even if consumer interest is generally lacking in that area. What consumers will be interested in are the performance improvements that the company is promising, with claims of 35% faster single-core CPU performance than the previous generation while using significantly less power. In turn, that should translate directly into quieter, cooler, and longer-lasting laptops. Combined with Wi-Fi 7, optional 5G, and built-in security via Snapdragon Guardian, this platform looks ready for thin, portable machines that are always connected and genuinely usable for an entire day. We’ve already seen good things from Qualcomm in this regard, and given that we’ve seen what Arm can do in the form of Apple’s MacBooks, improvements are always welcome.

HERO Image_Snapdragon X2 Plus-1

The Snapdragon X2 Plus promises to be way better than the previous gen

The original Snapdragon X Plus 8-core wasn’t great

What’s most interesting about this launch, though, is the positioning. With devices landing in the first half of 2026 from multiple OEMs, the Snapdragon X2 Plus could be the chip that finally makes Copilot+ PCs feel less like a premium experiment and more like a default option in the mid-range. If that is indeed the case, then this may be one of Qualcomm’s biggest launches of the year. — Adam Conway, Lead Technical Editor

HP OmniBook Ultra

Two architectures, one clear vision

HP’s OmniBook Ultra is less about choosing sides in the Intel-versus-Arm debate and more about giving buyers a genuinely good option in both categories. This is the same thin and light 14-inch laptop regardless of configuration, built from forged anodized aluminum and seemingly designed for people who spend as much time moving around with their laptop as they do working.

As a result, the most interesting thing here is in the philosophical differences when it comes to launching the same product with two different architectures. The Qualcomm-powered OmniBook Ultra leans hard into efficiency and on-device AI, pairing multiple SKU options of the Snapdragon X2 SoC with up to 85 TOPS of NPU performance. That translates into strong Copilot+ and on-device AI features, alongside excellent battery life thanks to the included 70 Wh battery. You’ll get up to 64 GB of LPDDR5x 9522 MT/s RAM, too, along with a Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) 120 Hz display.

HP OmniBook Ultra Flip-11

HP OmniBook Ultra Flip review: Literally everyone should buy this

It’s true to the Spectre x360 brand

The Intel version takes a different approach, focusing on raw versatility and graphics muscle. It packs Intel’s next-generation AI processors, alongside its updated integrated graphics, enabling more demanding graphics workflows, higher external display bandwidth (including support for 8K displays over Thunderbolt 4), and more complete gaming experiences. It’s the option that makes the most sense if your workflow still leans heavily on traditional x86 software or multi-monitor desk setups, and HP gives consumers the option to choose.

What ties both versions together is the same core experience: a 2880×1800 OLED display, a 5MP IR webcam, quad speakers tuned by Poly Studio, and a set of posture, privacy, and attention-aware tools. Whichever platform you choose, the core experience remains the same, and which you choose is all about the software that you use. — Adam Conway, Lead Technical Editor

Motorola Razr FIFA World Cup 2026 Edition

Because why not

Motorola’s Razr foldable phones have been a consistent presence in the past few years, and they’re generally pretty solid, but the design and looks is where they shine the brightest. And this year, to celebrate the upcoming FIFA World Cup being hosted in North America, Motorola has taken that to the next level.

Motorola Razr Ultra-13

The Motorola Razr Ultra is the most beautiful flip phone with its rich, wood finish

Motorola’s Razr lineup is beautiful and practical, as always

The Razr FIFA World Cup 2026 Edition is a flip-style foldable phone that comes in a mostly green colorway, featuring a pattern inspired by the official World Cup imagery, as well as an emblazoned World Cup logo on the rear cover of the phone. Green is one of my favorite colors, so this edition may be the most beautiful foldable phone yet. This model will be available on February 12 and only on Verizon, but that doesn’t stop us from loving this design. — João Carrasqueira, Segment Lead, OS and Devices

Lenovo Yoga AIO i Aura Edition

Making all-in-one PCs beautiful

Angled view of the Lenovo Yoga AiO i Aura Edition with a badge reading "XDA Best of CES 2026"

All-in-one PCs don’t usually get a lot of love from the industry, but Lenovo is changing that this year with the Yoga AIO i Aura Edition. This new desktop computer features Intel Core Ultra X7 Series 3 processors, and it comes with a stunning 32-inch 4K OLED display to deliver a great visual experience.

The front angle view of the Lenovo Yoga AIO 9i

Lenovo Yoga AIO 9i review: A stunningly beautiful PC that puts the iMac to shame

The Lenovo Yoga AIO 9i is one of the most beautiful PCs I’ve ever used, and it makes the iMac look embarrassing.

But what really makes this PC stand out at a glance is the integrated Adaptive Lighting. Below the screen, a transparent panel is illuminated by an RGB light strip that reflects what’s on the screen, illuminating your desk to create an even more immersive experience, whether you’re gaming or watching a movie. You’ve probably seen some TVs and dedicated accessories that do similar things, but having this integrated into an all-in-one PC with such an elegant design is truly something else, and it makes for a stunning centerpiece in any PC setup. — João Carrasqueira, Segment Lead, OS and Devices

Lenovo Legion Pro Rollable Concept

Of course, Lenovo had to steal the show

Lenovo always takes home some of our awards at tech shows because the company keeps putting out crazy ideas and concepts that make us swoon. And the Legion Pro Rollable Concept is no different. While it’s not a real product (yet), this laptop based on the Legion Pro 7i features a rollable display, not unlike the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 we reviewed last year, but now, it expands sideways.

lenovo-thinkbook-plus-gen-6-review-16

Lenovo’s rollable ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 shouldn’t be as good as it is

Rolling out the red carpet for Lenovo.

What starts as a 16-inch 16:10 display can expand all the way to become a 24-inch ultrawide panel that’s perfect for competitive gaming. It aims to replace dedicated desktop monitors for those who travel to compete in esports events, but of course, that will only happen if it becomes a real product. Lenovo tends to deliver on its concepts a few months later, so we’re keeping our eyes peeled for this one. — João Carrasqueira, Segment Lead, OS and Devices

Lenovo ThinkPad Rollable XD Concept

Rolling its way into our hearts

Not content with one rollable PC this time, Lenovo actually brought two of them to CES 2026. The Lenovo ThinkPad Rollable XD Concept is yet another rolling laptop, and this one is more similar to the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 in that it starts aas a 13.3-inch panel and expands vertically to a tall, 16-inch display.

What makes this one extra special is what’s around that, because this laptop features a transparent glass lid and, perhaps more notably, a second display on the top third of that lid, showing additional information. Lenovo says this can be useful for things like retail signage and interactions even when the lid is closed. We’ll have to see if this becomes a real product and what use cases there end up being for it, but as it stands, it’s at the very least one of the most interesting devices of this show. — João Carrasqueira, Segment Lead, OS and Devices

HP EliteBoard

A desktop that disappears into your desk

The HP EliteBoard G1a is weirdbut in the best possible way. Instead of another small box competing for space, HP has effectively hidden the entire computer inside of a full-size keyboard, creating a genuinely minimalist desktop setup that won’t take up a whole lot of space.

Despite its understated design, the EliteBoard doesn’t compromise on capability. With AMD Ryzen AI processors (up to the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 PRO 8C) offering up to 50 TOPS of local AI performance, support for multiple 4K displays, and a surprisingly robust selection of ports via USB4, this is a pretty serious productivity machine. Included is optional support for a 32 Wh battery, adding even more flexibility, meaning that it can function almost like a dockable hybrid between a desktop and a portable system.

The HP EliteBoard seemingly leaves nothing out of the equation when it comes to features, as it really does pack everything. It has up to 64 GB of DDR5 RAM, stereo speakers, microphones, and supports dual 4K monitors. It throws everything and the kitchen sink into a single keyboard chassis, and it’s one of the most unique products that I’ve ever seen. — Adam Conway, Lead Technical Editor

Acer Swift Edge 14

It’s light, it’s powerful, and it has an interesting touchpad

Acer’s Swift Edge laptops have been some of our favorites for a couple of years now, and this time around, the company is introducing an interesting new twist. At its core, the Swift Edge 14 is a top-notch laptop for 2026, with Intel Core Ultra series 3 processors, up to 32GB of RAM, and a 3K OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, providing a great experience across the board.

Shot of Acer Swift Edge 16 (SFE16-44)

Acer Swift Edge 16 (SFE16-44) review: Lightweight but lacks power

Acer’s Swift Edge 16 (SFE16-44) is one of the lightest 16-inch laptops on the market, but falls short on performance and endurance.

What helps this one stand out is actually its touchpad. It uses what Asus is calling a “multi-control” touchpad, so not only does it act as a mouse, but you can use it of easy media playback controls, moving PowerPoint presentations along, and more, thanks to built-in controls and LED lights on the touchpad itself. The idea of multi-purpose touchpads isn’t totally new, but it’s not done often, and we’re always happy to see cool ideas like this — especially when they’re built into an already great laptop like this one. — João Carrasqueira, Segment Lead, OS and Devices

MSI GeForce RTX 5090 32G LIGHTNING Z

Incredible power

The price of RAM and GPUs has put a damper on the PC building scene, but that hasn’t stopped MSI from having a little fun. The company managed to score some big wins in the overclocking game with the all-new GeForce RTX 5090 32G LIGHTNING Z. It’s the first Lightning GPU we’ve seen from MSI since the RTX 2080 Ti, seven years ago.

What makes this RTX 5090 so special? It has the capability to be overclocked to an extreme level. I’m not talking a few percent above stock settings like you’d typically find on graphics cards either. This thing can draw up to 2500 W from the PCI slot and a connected power supply. It’s an absolute beast and looks the part.

MSI slapped a massive high-definition display on the GPU block, and there’s a thick radiator with high-performance fans to keep the card running cool under load. Although if your budget can stretch to purchase one of these limited edition GPUs, you’ll likely swap everything out and use your own solution. Still, this is one stunning piece of kit, and it has the internal grunt to match the design. — Richard Pinnock-Edmonds, Lead PC Hardware Editor

Asus ROG Xreal R1

Gaming glasses on another level

A man wearing the Asusx ROG Xreal R1 gaming glasses

Wearable displays have become a big presence in the tech world in recent years, and now Asus is joining the fray by partnering with Xreal to make the most advanced gaming glasses we’ve seen yet. The Asus ROG Xreal R1 glasses are the world’s first to feature a micro-OLED Full HD panel with an ultra-fast 240Hz refresh rate. The combination of the OLED panel and fast refresh rate makes for some of the clearest image quality you can get from glasses like these.

The glasses use a single-cable USB-C connection for devices like the ROG Ally family, but if you have a desktop PC or other device, it also comes with the ROG Control Dock, so you can use a standard HDMI or DisplayPort output to connect to the glasses. Plus, they use electrochromic glass to tint the lenses on demand and feature “premium sound” by Bose, so this is sounding like one of the best on-the-go gaming experiences you can get. If you’ve been waiting for the perfect gaming glasses, these may just be it. — João Carrasqueira, Segment Lead, OS and Devices

Welcome to a new year of exciting tech

The year has just begun, but as you can see here, it’s already full of potential. Companies have brought their A game to CES 2026, and we’re very excited to get extended testing time with these products. Plus, we’re sure there’s more to come as the year goes on.

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