Alienware localises Aurora Borealis entirely within your gaming laptop

The Alienware Area-51 range has long represented the best of what Alienware has to offer gamers. The range took a little break, but it’s now back at CES 2025 and sleeker than ever.

The Alienware Area-51 Desktop is the crown jewel of the range. It supports up to the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 GPU and Intel Core Ultra 9 285K CPU, with more than 600W of graphics power and 280W of processing power. RIP to gamers’ power bills, but that’s some ridiculous performance. With an 80L tower design, it’s scalable and able to grow with gamers as their budget and technology shift.

The tower is designed to be as cool and quiet as possible, with three different fans pulling cool air from outside, and gaskets inside the chamber seal it against leaks and build positive pressure to expel heat out the back of the computer. It has a passive exhaust, so there are no exhaust fans, reducing air recirculation. For those curious about how it works, here’s how it was described in the announcement:

Dual 140mm fans direct cool ambient air upward toward the GPU fans ensuring maximum graphics performance. Larger dual 180mm fans push air laterally toward the GPU, CPU and memory from the front of the chassis. Lastly, dual or triple 120mm fans are included for liquid cooling configurations to pull in additional air from the top. This creates a greater internal air pressure compared to the outside and forces heated air to expel through the rear of the chassis.

By combining these larger fan sizes and advanced liquid cooling configurations, the positive pressure design moves 25% more air through the chassis, helping Area-51 run up to 13% cooler and 45% quieter during graphics intensive tasks.

One eyebrow-raising spec is that the dual channel RAM config can only support up to 64GB DDR5 XMP (2x 32GB) at 6400 MT/s. This seems like an odd choice when some competing products at CES can go up to 192GB of RAM. 64GB almost feels limiting in a PC that’s supposed to be future-proofed.

The launch config price overseas is US$4,499 (with an RTX 5080 GPU), so brace yourself for that Australian pricing when it comes.

Alienware Area-51 laptop also returns to Earth

Not limited to just the desktop, there is also an Alienware Area-51 Laptop range, in 18-inch and 16-inch flavours. The new liquid teal anodised aluminium finish looks absolutely gorgeous. It also reportedly changes colour with the light.

Most notably, it’s got a translucent thermal shelf that lights up to imitate the Aurora Borealis, at any time of year, at any time of day, in any part of the country, localised entirely within a very nice gaming laptop.

Image: Alienware.

It dedicates up to 175W of total graphics power and up to a 105W thermal design profile to the processors simultaneously, for a ridiculous amount of power in a laptop. For those with cash to splash, it can be configured up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU and up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU.

The launch configuration will cost US$3,199 (with up to an RTX 5080 GPU) and the entry-level config is US$1,999, which seems surprisingly reasonable for a laptop this sleek and fancy. It’ll be interesting to see Australian pricing when it’s released later this year.

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Starlink satellite text messaging to help connect remote Australia

The partnership between Telstra and Starlink is taking another step forward today, with a test for satellite-based text messaging currently in the works.

Referred to as “Satellite-to-Mobile”, the technology is designed to enable communication in remote Australia regardless of which phone you have. Recent iPhones, for example, support a feature called “Emergency SOS“, letting you contact emergency services outside of regular network coverage. Telstra and Starlink’s test aims to bring similar functionality to more devices.

Telstra’s existing network currently spans three million square kilometres, or 99.7% of Australians, which the telco claims is “more than one million square kilometres greater” than its closest competitor, which would be Optus. Shailin Sehgal, Telstra Group Executive of Global Network and Technology, explained that working with Starlink will help cover any coverage gaps.

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“…Australia’s landmass is vast and there will always be large areas where mobile and fixed networks do not reach, and this is where satellite technology will play a complementary role to our existing networks,” Sehgal said.

As it rolls out, Satellite-to-Mobile text messaging will add to Starlink’s satellite broadband available through Telstra. Telstra first announced its commercial arrangement with Starlink in 2023, including plans for satellite-enabled voice calls.

In theory, Satellite-to-Mobile will mean network connectivity for anyone with a direct line of sight to the sky. That’s even in areas not serviced by existing telco network infrastructure.

Telstra hasn’t confirmed an exact timeline for the current test. In a media announcement, the telco confirmed that it’s “testing and refining a Satellite-to-Mobile text messaging capability for Australian conditions, ahead of a commercial launch.”

Beyond text messaging, future plans include support for satellite-based voice and data to mobile devices. For now, the technology could help expand two-way communication for those who need it most.

Read more telco news on GadgetGuy

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Wireless charging just got even cheaper thanks to this device

Popular accessories brand Belkin announced a full new range of chargers and portable batteries at CES 2025 this week, with a more affordable wireless charger at the top of the list.

For those who like to use magnetic charging, but want a cost-effective solution, the $49.95 BoostCharge Pro Magnetic Wireless Charging Pad 15W is the answer. Coming to Australia in July, it supports Qi2 wireless charging up to 15W and has a long 2m USB-C cable. This Qi2 support means it conveniently connects to compatible phones using magnetic technology.

Belkin hasn’t forgotten those who just want to plug in phones with a cable. The BoostCharge Compact USB-C Charger comes in two sizes and power strengths: a 50W option (35 x 35 x 39.5mm) and a 67W option (42.2 x 42.2 x 42.4mm). They’re designed to charge phones, laptops, tablets and anything else that needs a decent amount of power via a USB-C port. They’re launching in May for $49.95 (50W model) and $59.95 (67W model).

Wall chargers keep getting smaller and smaller. Image: Belkin.

Lastly, for users on the go, there’s the BoostCharge Power Bank 20K with Integrated Cable. It’s aimed at people who always need a power pack, but don’t want the mess of packing an additional cable.

With 20,000mAh capacity, it’s close to the maximum that can be brought on a plane, while having enough juice to fully charge an iPhone 16 three times. Its charging speed is 30W, so it won’t be quite enough juice to run a laptop, but it could charge headphones, a phone and a watch simultaneously, thanks to having additional USB-C and USB-A ports as well as the integrated USB-C cable. It’ll be available in black, white, blue and pink colour options from April this year for $99.95.

More details are available on Belkin’s website.

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Gamers get their wish with Lenovo’s new handheld gadget

This week at CES 2025, Lenovo announced not just one, but two handheld gaming PCs, both stemming from 2023’s Lenovo Legion Go.

The first device is a prototype of an upgrade to the existing handheld gaming PC. Based on user feedback regarding its comfort, the updated Legion Go comes with a few changes. It contains up to double the RAM of the previous generation, and a bigger battery, alongside an 8.8-inch 144Hz OLED screen.

It retains its detachable controller design while still running Windows. Depending on the configuration, it can be specced up to the new AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor with RDNA 3.5 graphics and up to 32GB of 7500Mhz LPDDR5X RAM.

Lenovo Legion Go S gets SteamOS support

The more intriguing new device is closer to a true Steam Deck competitor: the Lenovo Legion Go S. Available in both Windows and SteamOS versions, it’s the first non-Valve handheld gaming PC to officially ship with the latter operating system.

It’s a big deal because SteamOS gives a more console-like experience. It neatly side-steps many of the issues that some Windows-based handhelds run into when trying to convert an operating system designed for keyboard and mouse to operate with controllers. Of course, SteamOS is also limited to just Steam games (although there are workarounds if you want to play games like Fortnite). Regardless, the streamlined OS is attractive to many gamers.

Image: Lenovo.

Its form factor is another major difference. Instead of including detachable controllers, the Lenovo Legion Go S has fixed inputs as part of its smaller build. It weighs just 730g, has a 3-cell 55.5Whr battery, up to 32GB of 7500Mhz LPDDR5X RAM, and an 8-inch WUXGA 16:10 120Hz touch display. There are also different processor options: the Lenovo-exclusive AMD Ryzen Z2 Go chip or the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor.

Other devices announced include the Lenovo Legion Pro series of laptops, the most powerful laptops in the Legion range, which combine portability with ridiculous levels of grunt. Then there’s the Lenovo Legion 5i and 7i laptops, Legion Tower 7i desktop PC, Lenovo Legion Tab tablet, and the ridiculously pretty Lenovo Legion Pro 34WD-10 gaming monitor and accessories range.

Price and release date in Australia

At this stage, only the Windows version of the Legion Go S has a confirmed price and release date in Australia. It’s coming this month for a retail price of $1,299, so expect to see it in the country soon. Lenovo’s SteamOS version is due out in May 2025 but there’s no set local price yet. For comparison, the US version of the Windows model is US$729.99, while the Steam variant is US$499.99.

While we wait for the rest of the official pricing and availability details in Australia, Lenovo has the full spec sheets ready for you to check out.

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Could a cinematic 21:9 TV be the new living room normal?

Based on what I’ve seen at CES 2025 so far the prevailing trend coming to TVs is interactivity. Brands like Samsung have worked on improving image and panel quality for years, so now they’re thinking about how we interact with TVs. However, with Micro LED advancements on the way, TV hardware hasn’t hit the ceiling yet.

A big part of this interactive focus is Samsung Vision AI. It’s a holistic set of integrated features that uses AI to embed smart home features, live translation, and search tools on your living room screen. Click to Search, for example, lets you look up live information about whatever you’re watching. That could include actor biographies or suggestions for what to watch next.

Samsung still uses AI to help upscale image quality, like on its flagship 8K TV, but its approach goes beyond producing a picture. Like the brand’s gallery-inspired The Frame TVs that display art when not in use, you can now show all sorts of wallpapers on Samsung’s other TVs, including ones generated by AI.

On the CES show floor, Samsung also demoed its 144-inch Micro LED TV, the brightest TV made by the company so far. It has a very cinematic flavour, coming in a 21:9 aspect ratio versus the standard 16:9 widescreen format in most living rooms.

Although you can’t walk into a store and buy it just yet, it’s a glimpse at what future TVs might look like. In the here and now, Samsung’s QN990F TV is bringing more wireless connectivity to your home, while the Premiere 5 projector lets you “touch” the image it projects.

We’ve got more of Samsung’s highlights on our YouTube channel, including transparent Micro LED technology and even more OLED options.

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Valens Quinn attended CES 2025 as a guest of Samsung, LG, Hisense, Roborock, Ayonz, TP-Link, Ecovacs, Asus, and Dreame.

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LG’s fancy new Signature fridge gets a transparent OLED screen

LG announced at CES 2025 that it is expanding its Signature range of home appliances with second generation products. While the appliances have a minimalist vibe on the outside, inside they’re packed with AI-driven features, some of which users will find helpful.

The crown jewel of the range is the new LG Signature French Door refrigerator with a “T-OLED” door panel. Transparent OLED TVs are big news at this CES, so why not put one in a Dual InstaView panel? You can see the contents of the fridge without opening the door, and then the transparent OLED panel can apparently display “hologram-like” visuals to “blend the virtual with the real in a fusion of art and technology”. Leftover noodles never looked so artistic.

The fridge also has access to a curated playlist of music for people to enjoy while using their fridge, and presumably also speakers. I am not making any of this up, this is real (though, unfortunately, the streaming service with the playlist might not be available in Australia).

The fridge also has a ThinQ food management system and an AI camera to recognise food in the fridge. This is so the fridge can tell the user when their food is about to expire, suggest recipes using what they’re already got, and allow people to quickly check if they’ve already got milk when they’re down the shops.

Screens abound for LG Signature kitchen and laundry range

The LG Signature microwave, which features a 27-inch Full HD touchscreen with InstaView, built-in speakers and Wi-Fi connectivity, is another highlight. It’s at its best when paired with the LG Signature Slide-in Double Oven Induction Range, which has cameras for real-time cooking monitoring and time-lapse creation. You can get the microwave to display the progress of what’s in the oven so they don’t need to bend down and look through the oven window.

Image: LG.

For those after a dishwasher, the new LG Signature Dishwasher is designed to blend in with existing cabinets, and lies flush with the bench until it senses a hand, at which time it will open automatically. It will also clean dishes using LG QuadWash Pro and Dynamic Heat Dry technologies.

Continuing this CES’ theme of Put A Touch Screen On It (see Samsung’s appliances), LG’s Signature washing and drying machines all have a seven-inch touchscreen, in addition to LG Artificial Intelligence DirectDrive (AI DD) 2.0 for fabric care.

Do you want screens on all of your appliances? By the looks of things, you’re getting them anyway.

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Wireless TVs are getting closer with the 2025 LG QNED range

LG is most famous for its OLED line-up, with many reviewers agreeing that the LG OLED Evo is the pinnacle of TV technology. However, that doesn’t mean that LG doesn’t still produce a range of fancy LED TVs with QNED technology. Its new range of LG QNED TVs revealed at CES 2025 has several features with the potential to change up the living rooms of those who can afford them, as well as some solid TV options for brighter rooms at other price points.

The headline new feature is the Zero Connect Box for the top-of-the-range QNED9M, which was first announced last year. It takes the idea of Samsung’s One Connect Box (which uses a single cable to connect the TV to a “brain” that you can plug game consoles and other things into to keep things neat when wall-mounted) and one-ups it by transmitting everything wirelessly.

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The only thing that needs to be physically plugged into the TV is a power cable. You can place the Zero Connect Box anywhere else in the room to keep things extra neat. LG claims that the box can transmit 4K 144Hz images without any delay or loss of picture quality. This feature was previously only available on the top-of-the-range LG OLED TV (with prices starting at around $24,000), so it’ll be interesting to see how the price has changed with time, and how it performs on the QNED TV.

For most of the rest of the range, the biggest improvement will be a wider colour gamut, compared to previous generations, using LG’s proprietary Dynamic QNED Colour Solution instead of quantum dots (though the QNED92 Mini LED TV still features quantum dots).

2025 LG QNED TVs get the AI treatment

Of course, it’s not CES in the 2020s without mentioning AI, and the 2025 LG QNED range features the α8 AI Processor, which LG claims will improve AI performance by up to 70% compared to the previous model, though it’s unclear how that’s measured.

The AI features include AI upscaling to “analyse the filmmaker’s intent” to adjust picture noise, objects, text and backgrounds and, interestingly, when presenting faces on screen. However, the announcement doesn’t elaborate on what exactly that means. Will it brighten and lighten? Fix bad cosmetic surgery? Remaster botox errors? Reduce the seven signs of aging?

As well as that, AI will use Dynamic Tone Mapping Pro to fine-tune HDR and brightness for each zone, and convert two-channel sound to virtual 9.1.2 sound to upscale older content to be closer to Dolby Atmos. Most helpfully, it will aim to distinguish voices from background noise, to make it easier to hear what people are saying in poorly mixed Netflix shows (and other sources).

A new AI Magic Remote is included with an AI button and AI Voice ID for personalisation. LG gives the example of users being able to ask the remote things like “recommend movies to watch on a trip to Paris”, and then the TV will recommend movies set in Paris.

The full range will be available in sizes from 40-100 inches. Like last year’s TVs, the 2025 QNED range will be eligible for five years of WebOS upgrades as part of LG’s Re:New Program.

Local pricing and availability will be announced in the coming months, for those who are keen.

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