Best of CES 2024: this year's top gaming tech

2024-01-12

GamingEvents & ConferencesBest of CES 2024: this year’s top gaming techWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

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(Image credit: Future)

gaming tech on a purple background with best of ces banner

CES 2024 is drawing to a close, and with AI dominating everything from appliances to go karts this year’s show has brought us new tech across all walks of life. We’re only interested in the gadgets that are going to change your gaming setup this year, though, and with 4K QD-OLED monitors, super streamlined laptop designs, and even a new handheld to pore over there’s plenty on the showfloor for gamers right now.

We’re highlighting the absolute best of the best here, the tech we can see making a real difference for everyday gamers. Between MSI, HP,Razer,Alienware, andAsus, the top gaming brands have brought their A-game to Vegas in 2024 - but we’re also looking to the worlds of projectors, TVs and even fitness for our CES 2024 digest this year.

MSI Claw

(Image credit: MSI)

MSI Claw with best of CES banner

MSI threw a curveball at us at CES this year, a Meteor Lake rungaming handheld. While it may look like theSteam DeckorAsus ROG Ally(and even shares a startlingly similar screen to the latter), the MSI Claw ditches theAMDinternals others have adopted in favor of Intel’s Core Ultra 5 or Core Ultra 7 155H and Arc graphics. To keep all these components running smoothly, the Claw also reportedly has a higher max power draw compared to the ROG Ally at 40W. A 53WHr battery is being touted as lasting 50% longer than the market average (translating to two hours in full power mode compared to the Ally and Steam Deck’s hour).

HP Omen Transcend 32 QD-OLED gaming monitor

(Image credit: HP)

HP Omen Transcend 32 gaming monitor with best of CES banner

Some of thebest gaming monitorson the market use a QD-OLED panel to help their games shine, and CES 2024 brought a whole new crop of new devices to the showfloor. The headline this year is 4K. WithSamsungand Alienware both showing off 4K 240Hz QD-OLED panels this year, it looks like the display tech has hit its ceiling for the moment - but our favorite entry was HP’s Omen Transcend 32.

The Omen Transcend 32 packs a serious visual punch with those specs, but the brand also claims it’s the first gaming monitor with switchable inputs. That KVM switch functionality means you’ll be able to hook up two PCs (or, more likely, a PC and a laptop) and interact with both at the same time.

Not only that, but it’s the first OLED gaming monitor with a 140W USB-C power delivery for charging and docking to boot. Throw in an independent cooling solution, two HDMI 2.1 connections, and of course plenty of RGB and HP has come out on top this year.

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Razer Blade 16 laptop

(Image credit: Razer)

Razer Blade 16 with best of CES banner

We’re sticking with display tech for a little while to talk about the Razer Blade 16. Razer brought Samsung into the mix for its 16-inch model this year, in efforts to debut the world’s first 240Hz OLED panel on a gaming laptop at CES. The 0.2ms response time, VESA certified DisplayHDR True Black, and Calman certified 100% DCI-P3 make this an impressive display. These were all go-to specs for OLED screens just last year, but with the speed and resolution to keep up with tomorrow’s games, this is the first time we’re seeing an OLED panel sitting well on a high-end gaming laptop.

Asus ROG NUC PC

(Image credit: Asus)

Asus ROG NUC with best of CES banner

There are cheaper configurations available, with either Intel’s Arc GPUs or anRTX 4060on the shelves instead, but even these cheaper models still pack Intel’s Core Ultra 7 155H CPU and 32GB DDR5 RAM. Should you wish to take it apart further down the line, Asus has also stated that it’s a completely tool-less chassis for easy access when upgrade time comes.

XGIMI Aladdin projector

(Image credit: XGIMI)

XGIMI Aladdin with best of CES banner

While they aim to make a big impact on your living room entertainment, thebest projectorsare the ones that can fade into the background when not in use. That’s where the XGIMI Aladdin excels. The projector is cleverly disguised as a ceiling lamp (and also doubles as both lighting and a Bluetooth speaker), designed to sit atop your room.

With a 1080p resolution and short throw 100-inch screen capability, as well as those Harman Kardon speakers, this is a particularly well-rounded affair. On top of that you’ve got got a few non-traditional uses here. The Aladdin can default to displaying a series of dynamic wallpapers when not in home entertainment use, while also playing interactive children’s stories or ambient sounds. The entire operation is voice activated without a remote.

The XGIMI Aladdin is set for release in Japan first of all, hitting the shelves in June this year. Unfortunately there’s no information surrounding a worldwide release at the moment.

LG OLED M4 TV

(Image credit: LG)

LG OLED M4 with best of CES banner

LGdebuted its Zero Connect Box on the OLED M3 last year, and CES brought the tech back to the showfloor with the LG OLED M4. The separate box keeps all your consoles and streaming devices plugged in, but wirelessly transmits all their signals to your TV completely removing the need for any ugly cables ruining a clean setup. That’s a gift for those wall mounting their screens.

LG pairs its industry leading OLED panel with micro lens array tech here, for a supremely crisp final picture and the full force of a new Alpha 11 processor for additional AI enhancements. The key here, though, is the bump from 120Hz to 144Hz refresh rates.

Alienware M16 R2

(Image credit: Dell)

Alienware M16 R2 gaming laptop with best of ces banner

Dell has redesigned its Alienware M16 machine this year and the R2 features are much longed for change. There are very fewAlienware laptopsthat can truly be considered portable, and even the cheaper M16 range was far too bulky to realistically throw in a backpack before this year. That was largely due to a particularly wide shelf at the rear of the machine which, while providing additional cooling, extended the footprint of the whole device. That’s completely gone for 2024’s Alienware M16, leaving us with an almost svelt design that prioritizes quality of life over high-end performance.

That means the M16 R2 has had a 15% reduction in size while still offering some significant power boosts under the hood. That comes from Intel’s Ultra H Series processors as well as the boosted 8TB SSD configuration option. Of course, there’s a sacrifice to be made here.

In shrinking the M16, Dell has done away with both RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 options for its more affordable model. Instead, you’ve got the choice between an RTX 4050, 4060 or 4070 GPU. That’s not as cut throat as it might seem, though. It opens the M16 up to a more affordable shelf slot, where players are more concerned with buying an all in one machine they can take on the go while also being able to enjoy the latest games.

Wild Card - FitXR Slam Studio

(Image credit: FitXR)

FitXR Slam Studio with best of CES banner

CES wild cards can get wild. But FitXR’s Slam Studio feels like it was made for the Vegas showfloor. The mixed reality system uses theMeta Quest 3to create an interactive fitness experience was showcased for the first time at this year’s event. FitXR is well established in the VR workout game, but its latest studio is the first to offer its gamified exercises in mixed reality. It’s a sneaky way to meet your fitness goals while reveling in all the dopamine a high score can provide.

In Association with ROG Ally

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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS

1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

Nemesis board game models and tokens laid out on a board

1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”

Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”

3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”

Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”

4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”

5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”

Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”

1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

Shadow brandishes a gun in Sonic The Hedgehog 3

1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”

Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”

3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”

Squid Game season 2

1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”

Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”

2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”

Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”

3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”

Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”

5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”