Innovation

Photos: The weird, the wacky, and the cool tech of CES 2020

By · January 9, 2020, 4:07 PM PST · teena_maddox

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  • Hey, Google

    This is the third year in a row that Google has offered its giant gumball-like machine for giveaways, and it's also the third year in a row that CES attendees stood in two-hour lines waiting to win Google products. 

    Funny sidenote overheard in the hallway as Google was training its employees for the conference: "A smile is your friend."

    SEE: CES 2020 photos: A first glimpse at the tech of CES Unveiled

    Affiliate disclosure: When you click through from our site or one of our downloads to a retailer or vendor and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay.

    Image: Teena Maddox/TechRepublic

  • LG display

    This giant LG display greeted people as they entered the LG booth--and it stopped them in their tracks.

    SEE: CES 2020: The big trends for business (ZDNet/TechRepublic special feature)

    Image: Teena Maddox/TechRepublic

  • Bell.AI robot

    There's nothing like a quirky robot to brighten your day at CES.

    SEE: The 8 coolest robots spotted at CES 2020 (TechRepublic)

    Image: Teena Maddox/TechRepublic

  • CellReturn LED mask

    Channel your inner superhero with CellReturn's near-infrared LED mask for "skin energy."

    SEE: More must-read CES 2020 coverage (TechRepublic on Flipboard)

    Image: Teena Maddox/TechRepublic

  • HairMax

    There's always a plethora of hair growth products at CES. This year, HairMax was among the contenders.

    SEE: More must-read CES 2020 coverage (TechRepublic on Flipboard)

    Image: Teena Maddox/TechRepublic

  • Kakao Friends humidifier

    If there was an award for cutest product, Kakao Friends would get it for its lineup of home care products, from humidifiers, to scales, to nightlights.

    SEE: More must-read CES 2020 coverage (TechRepublic on Flipboard)

    Image: Teena Maddox/TechRepublic

  • OxySpa

    OxySpa bills itself as a Total Mentalcare System. Okay.

    SEE: More must-read CES 2020 coverage (TechRepublic on Flipboard)

    Image: Teena Maddox/TechRepublic

  • Royole thin display on a purse

    Royole's thin AMOLED displays are flexible and can be used on a range of surfaces, including this purse. It seems that purses of the future are going to be really weird.

    SEE: More must-read CES 2020 coverage (TechRepublic on Flipboard)

    Image: Teena Maddox/TechRepublic

  • Simplehuman talking garbage can

    The Simplehuman talking garbage can. Enough said.

    SEE: More must-read CES 2020 coverage (TechRepublic on Flipboard)

    Image: Teena Maddox/TechRepublic

  • TOTO Neorest smart toilet

    TOTO's Neorest NX1 is a $10,000 toilet, and TOTO said that it is "inspired by the natural beauty of pebbles shaped by water over time." 

    Sorry, they lost us at $10,000.

    SEE: More must-read CES 2020 coverage (TechRepublic on Flipboard)

    Image: Teena Maddox/TechRepublic

  • WELT Smart Belt Pro

    The WELT Smart Belt Pro is the latest rendition of the WELT Belt, which first appeared at CES in 2016 as a way to watch what you're eating by automatically tightening as you consume a meal. The new version has a fall prevention function in addition to waist measurement, sitting time measurement, monitoring for overeating, and step counting. Just call it the belt that does everything.

    SEE: More must-read CES 2020 coverage (TechRepublic on Flipboard)

    Image: Teena Maddox/TechRepublic

  • Xenoma

    Xenoma allowed CES attendees to watch someone sleep in their booth--and people did. That in itself qualifies for weird and wacky status.

    SEE: Photos: Top 10 sleep tech products at CES 2020 (TechRepublic)

    Image: Teena Maddox/TechRepublic

  • Varna Tech Halo smart storage lid

    These Varna Tech Halo smart storage lids will tell you every time someone opens a jar. The company says it turns the "classic and beloved Mason jar into a vault of glass."

    SEE: More must-read CES 2020 coverage (TechRepublic on Flipboard)

    Image: Teena Maddox/TechRepublic

  • Klipsch

    Klipsch had the coolest tech in its booth with this car.

    SEE: More must-read CES 2020 coverage (TechRepublic on Flipboard)

    Image: Teena Maddox/TechRepublic

  • Royole tree

    Royole's thin AMOLED displays made up a super cool tree that drew a constant crowd of gawkers at CES 2020.

    SEE: More must-read CES 2020 coverage (TechRepublic on Flipboard)

    Image: Teena Maddox/TechRepublic

  • Sharp see-through display

    Sharp's see-through display was one of the more fascinating items at CES 2020.

    SEE: More must-read CES 2020 coverage (TechRepublic on Flipboard)

    Image: Teena Maddox/TechRepublic

  • Wavee toothbrush

    The Wavee toothbrush bills itself as the world's first toothbrush speaker system. Because we all need a toothbrush speaker system?

    SEE: More must-read CES 2020 coverage (TechRepublic on Flipboard)

    Image: Teena Maddox/TechRepublic

  • MarsCat robot kitty

    Real cat or robot cat? MarsCat makes the decision a real one: This creepy, cool kitty is from Elephant Robotics, and it walks, runs, sleeps, sits, and even bites its nails.

    SEE: More must-read CES 2020 coverage (TechRepublic on Flipboard)

    Image: Teena Maddox/TechRepublic

  • Samsung Neon

    Neon, the artificial human from Samsung's STAR Labs, is one of the most talked-about tech projects at CES 2020.

    SEE: More must-read CES 2020 coverage (TechRepublic on Flipboard)

    Image: Teena Maddox/TechRepublic

  • Charmin toilet paper robot

    Charmin's RollBot toilet paper robot debuted at CES 2020. It'll bring you a roll of toilet paper if you find yourself stranded on the toilet without a square.

    SEE: More must-read CES 2020 coverage (TechRepublic on Flipboard)

    Image: Proctor & Gamble

  • Inupathy for dogs

    Inupathy for dogs will tell you what your dog is feeling.

    SEE: More must-read CES 2020 coverage (TechRepublic on Flipboard)

    Image: Teena Maddox/TechRepublic

  • V.I.Pee from the Charmin GoLab

    The V.I.Pee from the Charmin GoLab is a way that concert goers can run to the bathroom without missing a minute of the action on stage.

    SEE: More must-read CES 2020 coverage (TechRepublic on Flipboard)

    Image: Proctor & Gamble

  • Kohler Numi 2.0

    If anyone is in the market for a $7,000 toilet, the Kohler Numi 2.0 offers ambient lighting, Bluetooth, and a heated seat. Maybe you could use it with the Charmin toilet paper robot.

    SEE: CES 2020: A first glimpse at the tech of CES Unveiled (TechRepublic)

    Image: Teena Maddox/TechRepublic

  • Bartesian cocktail maker

    The techie cocktail makers just keep coming. The Bartesian is a pod cocktail maker that allows you to insert juice pods and alcohol to make a craft cocktail. But it really seems like it will just take up more counter space than you really need, when a cocktail shaker will do.

    SEE: More must-read CES 2020 coverage (TechRepublic on Flipboard)

    Image: Teena Maddox/TechRepublic

  • Juno beverage chiller

    The Juno beverage chiller can chill a can of soda in two minutes. Um, okay.

    SEE: More must-read CES 2020 coverage (TechRepublic on Flipboard)

    Image: Teena Maddox/TechRepublic

  • RCA Victor Trimette TV

    This throwback to 1968 was on display in the RCA booth. The 18-inch black and white TV is a Victor Trimette.

    SEE: More must-read CES 2020 coverage (TechRepublic on Flipboard)

    Image: Teena Maddox/TechRepublic

  • Source water

    Source water is made from air and sun. Isn't that the way it's always been done?

    SEE: More must-read CES 2020 coverage (TechRepublic on Flipboard)

    Image: Teena Maddox/TechRepublic

  • Lumi by Pampers

    Lumi by Pampers is one of those products that seems unnecessary. It is a sensor that goes onto your baby's diaper to tell you when your baby needs to be changed. It also tells you what percentage of dampness the diaper is and more. It's a lot of information.

    SEE: More must-read CES 2020 coverage (TechRepublic on Flipboard)

    Image: Teena Maddox/TechRepublic

  • Kyoto's mui Lab wood marker

    Again, something that just isn't necessary. mui Lab describes this as a "family memory archiving system featuring a connected wooden pillar you can write and draw on with a digital pen."

    SEE: More must-read CES 2020 coverage (TechRepublic on Flipboard)

    Image: Teena Maddox/TechRepublic

  • Kohler Moxie showerhead

    Want to sing in the shower? Kohler has updated its Moxie showerhead and added in Alexa technology. It's pretty fancy: The waterproof speaker attaches to Kohler's showerhead via magnets and emits a white noise-cancelling frequency so that it can be heard over the sound of running water.

    SEE: More must-read CES 2020 coverage (TechRepublic on Flipboard)

    Image: Teena Maddox/TechRepublic

  • TCL 8K televisions

    There were 8K televisions everywhere at CES 2020, including this one from TCL. And they were cool.

    SEE: More must-read CES 2020 coverage (TechRepublic on Flipboard)

    Image: Teena Maddox/TechRepublic

  • Samsung Frame TV

    Now Samsung is offering its Frame TV in 32-inch to 75-inch models, and they're an artistic centerpiece for anyone who doesn't want to look at a blank TV screen. Put these into the cool category.

    SEE: More must-read CES 2020 coverage (TechRepublic on Flipboard)

    Image: Teena Maddox/TechRepublic

  • IBM quantum computer model

    IBM placed its quantum computer model in the Grand Lobby of the LVCC Central Hall. File this under cool. 

    SEE: IBM research director at CES 2020: We will hit the quantum advantage this decade (TechRepublic)

    Image: Teena Maddox/TechRepublic

  • 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

    Every year, it seems Ford has a Mustang outside Central Hall, and it never fails to draw a crowd. This year's 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 did not disappoint.

    SEE: More must-read CES 2020 coverage (TechRepublic on Flipboard)

    Image: Teena Maddox/TechRepublic

Hey, Google

This is the third year in a row that Google has offered its giant gumball-like machine for giveaways, and it's also the third year in a row that CES attendees stood in two-hour lines waiting to win Google products. 

Funny sidenote overheard in the hallway as Google was training its employees for the conference: "A smile is your friend."

SEE: CES 2020 photos: A first glimpse at the tech of CES Unveiled

Affiliate disclosure: When you click through from our site or one of our downloads to a retailer or vendor and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay.

Image: Teena Maddox/TechRepublic

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By Teena Maddox

Teena Maddox is Associate Managing Editor at TechRepublic. She oversees TechRepublic's news team and TechRepublic Premium. She focuses on tech and business and how the two worlds intersect. Teena's lifelong journalism career has included writing on s...

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