CES is a show made to show off the most outlandish and interesting technology imaginable, and while many of the concepts shown will never make it into the general audience’s hands, they stand as the principle of innovation. This is a showcase for dreamers, by dreamers, a showcase of what is possible, even if it pushes the boundaries of what maybe practice. This is why every year, CGMagazine takes the time and painstakingly selects our favourites from everything we see in Las Vegas. While our Best of CES list often has the most functional concepts, our most innovative rewards the impossible.
CES 2025 was an interesting year, filled with some truly unique and exciting tech. Over the week in Las Vegas, the team on the ground looked over all the latest from unique new laptops, innovative desks, and wondrous new ways to display your games and media. It is no question an exciting year, one that was filled with some of the most exciting technology imaginable.
Here is CGMagazine’s Most Innovative of CES 2025!
MSI MPG Z890I EDGE TI WIFI Motherboard
MSI is always innovating, and CES 2025 wouldn’t be the same if we didn’t see something we loved from them. The MSI MPG Z890I EDGE TI WIFI Motherboard stands out with its silver and white design, something we have come to love with MSI. Paired with that, this motherboard includes Thunderbolt 4 ports and Wi-Fi 7, keeping up with current trends.
That being said, the Z890I EDGE TI WIFI Motherboard is a micro-ITX board, and with that comes challenges, like featuring enough ports to keep PC enthusiasts happy, even in their smaller builds. What MSI is doing with the Z890I is bringing in an expander card, which adds an M.2 slot, 2 SATA ports, 2 USB ports and a system panel connector, meaning that builders don’t have to compromise anymore. This expander card is what earns the MSI MPG Z890I EDGE TI WIFI Motherboard our Most Innovative at CES 2025 award.
MSI Claw 8 AI+
The MSI Claw is not new to CGM or to CES. But at CES 2025, MSI brought the new MSI Claw 8 AI+ to the show, and this new gaming handheld aims to impress. MSI is still the only handheld game system that is powered by Intel, and the Claw 8 AI+ features the new Lunar Lake CPU with 2nd Gen Intel ARC Graphics, and they fly that banner proudly.
The onboard MSI App Player makes the Claw 8 AI+ the only device to bridge the gap between Windows PC and Android operating systems, allowing users to switch between the OS effortlessly. MSI has also brought in the MSI AI Engine, which automatically adjusts the hardware settings based on what the user is doing, which is something heavy hitters like HP and Razer are doing at CES 2025 with desktops and laptops. All of this combined make the MSI Claw 8 AI+ a handheld to watch this year, putting it on our Most Innovative at CES 2025 list.
NEX Generation Single Hand Controllers
This next product might not seem as flashy as others on the list, but the fact that it is not something that exists in full already is a huge oversight in the gaming community, unless you consider the old Wii controllers. The NEX Generation Single Hand Controllers bring a full handheld system that can be used by one hand. Outfitted with joysticks and standard buttons on regular gamepads you will find for Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PlayStation and PC, the Single Hand Controller places them on the front and back of one device, with textured surfaces and engraved labels to further add to its accessibility.
The NEX Generation Single Hand Controller is left and right-handed universally designed, meaning you can use it either way, and is ergonomically designed so that anyone from child to adult can use it. Gaming is universal, and seeing a company go out of their way to make sure everyone can game, and to do it well and with style lands the Single Hand Controllers on our Most Innovative at CES 2025 list.
HyperX Saga Pro Gaming Mouse
At first glance, the HyperX Saga Pro Gaming Mouse may look like your standard gaming mouse, just short of RGBs. However, what you get in the box are two different mouse shells, two sets of button covers, two sets of forward buttons and two sets of back buttons that allow you to essentially build the mouse that best fits your hand. An ergonomic design is crucial in both work and play, especially during long sessions, but very few mice come in a one-size-fits-all solution. HyperX is changing that with the Saga Pro.
With up to 16 different ways to mix and match the Saga Pro’s pieces, this device features ultimate customizability, but HyperX wanted to go one step further, and this is what pushed it over the edge to end up on our Most Innovative at CES 2025 list. The HyperX Saga Pro Gaming Mouse will come with 3D files of the included components so you can swap them out after wear and tear, or even print a new colour if it suits you. Pair all that with a 4K polling rate and optical switches, and we just might have the gaming mouse to beat in 2025.
Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Laptop
Lenovo and productivity go hand in hand, so it is no surprise that the company is making waves when it comes to innovation. At CES 2025, Lenovo announced the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Laptop that features Intel ARC graphics, Thunderbolt 4, Wi-Fi 7 and a stunning 120Hz OLED display with 400 nits brightness.
That all sounds pretty good, right? But what if we told you that this outstanding display features new rollable technology, allowing the screen to rise, removing the need for external monitors, allowing you to get that dual monitor set up on the go without extra devices. Of course, we will need to see the ThinkBook Plus Gen in long-term testing, but right now, Lenovo’s rollable display is definitely something to talk about, which puts it on our Most Innovative at CES 2025 list.
Razer Handheld Dock Chroma
A handheld dock may not sound new and innovative, but as Razer always does, they managed to listen to gamers and add some features that are generally overlooked with other docks. The Razer Handheld Dock Chroma allows gamers to connect their handheld devices to TVs and monitors, transforming them into a standard console. The device is compatible phones, tablets and handheld devices like the ROG Ally X, Steam Deck OLED, Lenovo Legion Go and more.
The Razer Handheld Dock Chroma features a gigabit Ethernet port, multiple USB connections, and HDMI out, 100W passthrough to keep your devices powered, a compact foldable design perfect for travel, and of course, Razer Chroma RGB. What landed the Razer Handheld Dock Chroma on our Most Innovative at CES 2025 list, however, was the ability to adjust the dock size to fit whatever device you’re using. This feature might seem small, but it has been missed by so many docks on the market today, and we are thrilled to see it implemented here.
LG UltraGear GX9 series 45GX990A
Walking around the CES 2025 show floor, there were plenty of monitors from a range of brands, but few managed to wow us with its innovative design like that LG UltraGear GX9 45GX990A. This stunning monitor makes a strong first impression with its vibrant 45-inch WOLED display, and even manages to be the world’s first gaming monitor capable of bending from a flat panel to a dramatic 900R curvature. This flexibility allows users to tailor their viewing experience, whether they prefer a traditional layout for everyday tasks or an enveloping curve during intense gaming sessions.
Beyond the innovative panel, the 45GX990A boasts a crisp 5K2K resolution (5,120 x 2,160) and comes equipped with a second-generation Dual-Mode function that offers customizable aspect ratios and quick toggling between preset refresh-rate combos. These advanced features promise a smooth and responsive experience for fast-paced titles, while the inclusion of an Anti-Glare & Low Reflection coating further enhances visual clarity in brightly lit environments. With its cutting-edge technologies and high-performance capabilities, the 45GX990A is an easy choice as one of the most innovative concepts from CES 2025.
Eureka J15 Max Ultra
Robot vacuums seemed to be everywhere you looked at CES 2025, and we have even looked at one from Eureka recently. However, the Eureka J15 Max Ultra robot vacuum brings their Transparent Liquid Stain Detection Technology to the table, changing how our little robots clean our floors. This innovative new technology allows the J15 Max Ultra to detect spills on your floors and then rotate the machine so that it prioritizes its mop heads instead of the vacuum portion of the device, stopping the liquid from entering the dust bin.
All of this is thanks to IntelliView AI 2.0: an infrared vision system and an FHD vision sensor. It creates two different views at once, detecting reflections and textures ahead of time. The Eureka J15 Max Ultra robot vacuum goes beyond just dodging complicated messes, and that earns it CGMagazine’s Most Innovative at CES 2025.
Aurzen ZIP Tri Fold Projector
I think we would be wowed by the Aurzen ZIP Tri Fold Projector simply because of how cute and interesting it looks, but there are also several innovative design ideas that make it something special. This device features a tri fold body which not only makes the device incredibly compact and great for travel, but it also allows the projector to double as its own stand, letting you set up anywhere on the go!
Aurzen also claims that “ZIP is the first foldable projector to display vertical videos, perfect for your TikToks and Instagram reels.” What is even better is that the device features AirLink Mirroring, which means it can stream anywhere, even without WI-FI through Miracast, AirPlay P2P, and Wireless HDMI. The Aurzen ZIP Tri Fold Projector pairs a compact design, portability, and its new vertical orientation could make the perfect projector for dorms, cottage life, travel and more, making it one of our picks for Most Innovative at CES 2025.
Insta360 Link 2 AI Webcam
The Insta360 Link 2 is the latest version of the original Link, which we loved here at CGM. After checking out the Link 2 at CES 2025, we can attest to the excellent DSLR-qualily, 4K picture and incredibly fast autofocus.
The Insta360 Link 2 carries forward the 2-axis gimbal, and with the press of a button or a flash of your palm, this webcam will follow you as you move around the room. Using their software, you can blur your background or adjust your picture quality, but you can even have the camera throw some makeup on you if you aren’t feeling your best.
