Panasonic has trotted out all sorts of audio gear since reviving the iconic Technics brand in 2014. Recently, that list includes a smattering of true wireless earbuds and headphones, and at CES 2022, the company has yet another portable device ready to debut. With the EAH-A800, Technics has built a pair of hi-fi-ready wireless headphones with active noise cancellation (ANC) and claims of a whopping 50 hours of use on a charge. 

The over-ear EAH-A800 packs in 40mm drivers that Technics says are the result of its experience building hi-fi audio gear. In addition to a new design and materials for that component, an Acoustic Control Chamber manages air flow to assist with driver performance and bass response. The company has also leveraged capacitor tech from its high-end amplifiers to limit distortion and maintain sound quality. The EAH-A800 supports LDAC for higher quality audio over Bluetooth, in addition to the typical AAC standard. 

Technics/Panasonic

Technics promises "industry-leading noise cancelling" via a dual hybrid setup. An analog filter equipped feed back mic and a digital filter outfitted feed forward mic monitor unwanted clamor inside and out. The EAH-A800 also has Natural Ambient and Attention modes. The difference is that the latter makes it easier to hear voices while the former is a more universal transparency setting. Technics also provides multi-point pairing here, which will allow you to connect to two devices simultaneously over Bluetooth and easily switch between them. 

The company is also making big promises when it comes to call clarity. Using a total of eight microphones, the EAH-A800 employs four to pick up your voice and four more to combat any environmental noise. Additionally, Technics says the feed forward mics are designed and positioned to reduce wind noise. 

Perhaps the most impressive claim on the EAH-A800 is the stated 50 hours of battery life. Technics says you can achieve this figure with ANC on listening to AAC audio. If you are listening via LDAC, the company says you can expect up to 40 hours of play time. Disable noise cancelling on either sound codec and listening time increases by 10 hours. So if you're willing to go without ANC or higher quality audio, you can get 60 hours of use out of these according to Technics. What's more, a 15-minute charge will give you 10 hours of use (ANC on, AAC quality streaming). 

The EAH-A800 will be available in black and white color options in February for $350 (£299/€349). 

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Acer’s flagship line of Swift X notebooks is going to be one of the first to tote around Intel’s new Arc graphics. The 16-inch model, at least, will be Acer’s first with Intel’s attempt at toppling NVIDIA’s leadership position in the mobile graphics space. That comes with a handful of other quality-of-life improvements, including a 400-nit (up from 300 nits last year), 100 percent sRGB, 16:10 display. You can choose either a WQXGA (2,560 x 1,600) or WUXGA (1,920 x 1,200) resolution screen to cram inside, too.

Build-to-order options include a new 12th-generation Intel Core processor paired with the new Arc graphics. That will be paired with up to 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to 2TB SSD storage, as well as WiFi 6e. In person, it’s a little lighter than its immediate predecessor although if you were walking past it in a hurry you’d barely know the difference. The webcam is now FHD, too.

I wasn’t able to take any benchmarks on the pre-release hardware I was able to see in the flesh, but Acer is feeling bullish about the performance here. It says that its new dual fan design, bigger air vents (and they are beefy) and bigger inlets on the keyboard should expel up to 10 percent more heat than previous versions. You’ll also be able to switch to silent running should the need arise, albeit at the cost of much of your performance.

Acer also made it clear that the existing Swift X, which is currently shipping with the option of an RTX 3050 / 3050 Ti, will remain on shelves for the foreseeable. That way, should you find Intel’s new silicon not to your taste, you can still get the upgrade you crave.

The 14-inch model, meanwhile, gets all of the other hardware bumps, including the better display options, the 12th generation Intel Chip, up to 16GB RAM and Windows 11. But graphics-wise, you’re left with the RTX 3050 / 3050 Ti, which is probably enough for most users who aren’t yet ready to jump feet-first into Intel’s new ocean.

We don’t have US pricing or availability for the Swifts just yet, but in the UK we’re expecting them to arrive by the end of February or the start of March for around £1,000 (around $1,350).

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Often, the laptops that are announced at CES aren’t as exciting as the silicon that’ll be nestled inside them. Acer’s Nitro 5 is one such example, where less attention will be paid to the more refined design, since everyone will be talking about its new brains. Like the fact that it’ll be able to use both AMD’s Ryzen 6000 and Intel’s 12th-generation Core processors. That will be paired with anything up to NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 3070 Ti, 32GB DDR4 3200 RAM and, depending on chip options, either a FHD 144Hz or QHD 165Hz panel.

Naturally, Acer has made a big effort to refine the chassis, despite it being a tiny bit thicker than its immediate predecessor. Rather than lots of chunky accents, the system goes for a more refined striped design, dialing down the more aggressive elements of its design. In addition, several ports are now sat on the back of the chassis since Acer knows that lots of people will use the Nitro 5 as a desktop replacement.

Sadly, I wasn’t able to do much beyond touch the new Nitro 5 and certainly there’s nothing too dramatic about the exterior changes. Acer was in no mood to allow me to run benchmarks, so all we can say for now is that we’re hopeful that it’ll do what AMD's other 6000 systems have been doing for a while.

In terms of when you can expect to be able to get your hands on one of these things, Acer says that the Intel edition will drop at some point in March, with the base model priced at $1,050. The AMD-toting version, meanwhile, will drop in April, with prices running from $1,099 up to whatever your budget and heart will allow.

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Acer is often quick to embrace the latest chips in its gaming laptops, and that's particularly true this year. The brand has updated its Predator Helios and Triton portables to use both Intel's 12th-generation Core processors and NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 30 Ti graphics. The Helios 300 (above) is the star of the show with synced RGB light bar on the deck, up to the latest Core i7 chip, as much as 32GB of DDR5 memory and ether RTX 3070 Ti or RTX 3080 graphics. You can also expect a "cleaner" chassis, improved cooling (such as liquid metal thermal grease) and a 1440p screen with a speedy 165Hz panel.

You can also expect a raft of modern connections that include 2.5Gbps Ethernet, WiFi 6e, an HDMI 2.1 port, Thunderbolt and regular USB-C and -A connectors. The new Helios arrives in May starting at $1,650 for a 15.6-inch system and $1,750 for its 17-inch counterpart.

Acer

The Triton 500 SE (middle) is billed as a 'thin' gaming rig, but it might just offer some advantages in the performance realm. You'll have options for a Core i9, RTX 3080 Ti video and the same 32GB DDR5 memory ceiling. Acer is promising aggressive cooling that includes liquid metal, heat pipes and the latest "3D" fans. Only a 16-inch display is available, although the 240Hz 1600p panel isn't hurting for resolution or speed.

You won't have to wait so long for the Triton with its March release, although you'll have to pay a premium with a starting $2,300 price. You'll have to spring for the new Nitro 5 (also unveiled today) to pick up a more affordable Acer gaming laptop — these are for enthusiasts willing to splurge.

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For the longest time, console gamers were second-class citizens when it came to gaming accessories. Keyboards and mice are, of course, mainly PC gaming peripherals, and the vast majority of customization software is made for desktop machines. Even most headsets were built with PC gaming in mind, though that’s changed in recent years. But for most folks a gamepad is the iconic console gaming accessory, and the options outside of first-party controllers have been lacking until recently. Now gamers have their option of high-end accessories from companies like Scuf, Razer and today, HyperX.

HyperX

This week HyperX introduces its first gamepad, the Clutch Wireless Gaming Controller. It’s an Xbox-style peripheral, with two thumbsticks, a D-pad on the left, dual shoulder buttons and triggers, and the standard four lettered buttons on the right. The name “clutch” comes from the included clip, which makes it possible to mount an Android phone to the controller, or prop up a phone on a surface for tabletop play. 

HyperX

The $50 Clutch is mainly intended for use with Android devices, and connects wirelessly via Bluetooth 4.2 or a USB-C wireless receiver. (A USB-C to USB-A cord is included for wired gameplay with the PC or console of your choice.) However, those wireless options should also make it compatible with the Nintendo Switch. Given that your gamepad selection for the Switch is mostly limited to the official Pro Controller and the various offerings from 8BitDo and PowerA, this is a welcome addition to the market, one which we’ll have to test once it ships in March.

HyperX

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Intel hasn't forgotten about Evo, its premium branding for PCs that meet its array of performance benchmarks. Now in its third iteration (remember it was originally called Project Athena), the company says it's also adding a foldable specification for Evo PCs this year, along with new requirements around "intelligent collaboration" and support for faster H-series 12th-gen chips. So, in addition to guaranteeing long battery life and instant wake, new Evo PCs will also need to include WiFi 6E support, tap into the company's AI noise cancellation capabilities as well as Intel's Connectivity Performance Suite. The goal, as always, is to make sure consumers get the best experience possible when they're buying an "Intel Evo" branded PC.

Intel

Intel also offered more details around its plans for Screenovate, a recent acquisition that gained notoriety for integrating iPhones and Android devices with Windows PCs. (It also powers Dell's Mobile Connect tool, which allows you to send files to your phone and control its screen remotely.) According to Josh Newman, Intel's VP of Mobile Innovation, the company plans to bring Screenovate's technology to Evo PCs in the 2022 holiday season. The goal, naturally, is to offer it to more PCs eventually, but Newman says Intel wants to ensure that it's a high quality experience before that. The company plans to work with partners, including Apple, to make that happen.

While Intel's specialized Project Athena/Evo PC branding seemed more like a marketing stunt at first, it's actually pushing PC makers to build better hardware. Newman says that partners are building off of Intel's foldable PC design, while also adding their own twists. The specification also gives Intel a bit more leverage: for example, it's requiring partners to design keyboard accessories for their foldables. While Intel can't force them to include keyboards in the box, company representatives tells us they're being "encouraged" to do so. 

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HP has unveiled its latest Envy desktop PC. Instead of an all-in-one like many of the company’s past Envy-branded workstations, it adopts a traditional form factor. The design and brushed aluminum exterior make the case reminiscent of boutique ITX enclosures like the Dan C4. On the top, you’ll find three USB-A ports, a USB-C connection, an SD card slot and a headphone jack. The Envy Desktop PC features a one-touch tool-less design HP says makes it easy to upgrade the internal components.

You can configure it with the latest 12th-generation processors from Intel, including the 125-watt Core i9-12900K. HP will offer both NVIDIA and AMD GPUs, with the RTX 3080 Ti and RX 6700 XT as the top-end options from each company. As for RAM and storage, the choices you have there are to add up to 128GB of DDR4 memory and a combination of NVMe SSDs and mechanical drives.

HP

HP announced two ultrawide monitors alongside its new PC. The first of those is the 40-inch Z40c G3. It features a factory-calibrated ISP panel with a 5,120 x 2,160 resolution, 98 percent DCI-P3 wide color gamut coverage and a 1000:1 static contrast ratio. In what’s been a trend at CES 2022, the Z40c G3 features a built-in 4K web camera that supports Windows Hello authentication. On the back of the monitor, you’ll find two Thunderbolt 3 ports that can provide up to 100W of power delivery to your devices. It also comes with four USB-A ports, an ethernet jack and HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.4 connections.

For those looking for a slightly smaller ultrawide monitor, HP will also offer the Z34c G3. It’s a 34-inch display with a 3,440 x 1,440 IPS panel that features 85 percent DCI-P3 color gamut coverage, a 1000:1 contrast ratio and a peak brightness of 350 nits. It too comes with a built-in web camera. In this case, it’s a 5-megapixel one, though it still supports Windows Hello. As for ports, the Z34c G3 comes with a similar selection of connections as its more expensive stablemate, the only difference being that it features a single Thunderbolt 3 port.

HP

The Z40c G3 and Z34c G3 will cost $1,500 and $949 respectively when they become available sometime later this month. HP will release the Envy Desktop sometime in the spring, at which point it will be sold through the company’s website, as well as Amazon and Costco.

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If you use a wireless headset for gaming, there’s a good chance you’ve had its battery die on you at the worst possible time. While its latest peripheral won’t stop that from happening altogether, HyperX does hope it will make it a much less frequent occurrence. At CES 2022, the company, which was recently acquired by HP, announced the Cloud Alpha Wireless.

It’s a headset that features up to 300 hours of battery life on a single charge. That means you can get almost a full two weeks of continuous use before they need recharging. The headset also comes with new 50mm drivers that are slimmer and lighter than the ones you’ll find on the Cloud Alpha’s wired predecessor but deliver the same audio performance. Other features include a detachable noise-canceling mic, support for DTS’s Headphone: X technology and onboard controls you’ll find on the earcup.

HyperX

HyperX announced a handful of other peripherals. Some of the highlights include the Clutch wireless controller and Plusefire Haste wireless mouse. The former is an Xbox-style Android and PC gamepad that connects to your device over a Bluetooth 4.2, 2.4Ghz or wired connection. Battery life comes in at 19 hours on a single charge and the controller ships with an adjustable clip that can expand from 41 millimeters to 86 millimeters, so it should be able to hold most phones without issue.

The Pulsefire Haste, meanwhile, has a lot in common with the Aerox 3 mice from SteelSeries. It’s a wireless mouse with a perforated honeycomb design that’s protected against spills by an IP55 rating. HyperX says you can get 100 hours on a single charge from the device and the switches are rated for up to 80 million clicks. A nice touch here is that it will come with an extra set of skates for when the original ones wear out.

HyperX

Provided the pandemic doesn’t delay shipments, the Cloud Alpha Wireless will go on sale in February for $200. As for the Clutch controller and Pulse Haste mouse, they’re due in March and February for $50 and $80, respectively.

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How do you help your gaming monitor stand out when it's neither one of the largest nor a huge bargain? Cater to console gamers, apparently. HP has revealed the Omen 27u, a 27-inch monitor with full support for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. The 4K screen, HDMI 2.1 input, DisplayHDR 400 support and built-in speakers aren't novelties in themselves, but should be appreciated if you want to play some console games at 120Hz without buying a separate TV.

The Omen 27u should be a solid monitor even if you don't care for console games. The IPS panel and 144Hz support will be helpful for color accuracy (95 percent of the DCI-P3 space) and action-heavy PC games, but you might also appreciate the RGB lighting and slicker profile. This is HP's first Omen monitor with thin bezels on all sides — it might be a good fit for a multi-display setup.

You'll have to be patient when the Omen 27u is only due to ship sometime this spring. At $700, though, it will cost significantly less than last year's Acer's HDMI 2.1-equipped Nitro monitor and competes well with other well-equipped 4K rivals. It's certainly easier to rationalize than a full-fledged gaming TV if desk space is at a premium.

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After debuting its hybrid 12th-gen CPUs for desktops in October, Intel is ready to bring them to notebooks. To recap, the company's new CPUs (previously codenamed Alder lake) combine performance cores (P-cores) and efficient cores (E-cores) on a single chip. The idea is that they'll be able to better handle the demands of real-world computing, like juggling gaming on the faster cores while the slower ones power your livestream. In addition to faster performance, that tag-team approach could also lead to better battery for laptops.

Intel's 12th-gen laptop CPUs will top out at 14 cores, consisting of six P-cores and eight E-cores (that's two fewer P-cores than the desktop versions). At this point, Intel is mainly focusing on its powerful H-series 12th-gen chips, which are meant for 14-inch ultraportables, gaming notebooks and other beefy machines. The company also unveiled specs for its its U and P-series chips, which it'll discuss further in the first quarter. Those will be aimed at smaller ultraportables, as well as "performance thin and light" machines (like Dell's new XPS 13 Plus), respectively.

As for other new features, Intel's 12th-gen mobile hardware will also support DDR5-4800 and low-power LPDDR5-5200 RAM. Expect to pay a premium for DDR5-equipped machines, though, as PC makers predict stock will be limited throughout 2022. Wi-Fi 6E is also baked in, just in time to hop onto the new 6GHz bands from last year's 6E routers. And of course, Thunderbolt 4 is back to deliver 40Gbps of bandwidth goodness.

Intel

While we haven't been able to test out Intel's 12th-gen desktop chips, early reviews have praised their multitasking performance, especially with the increased bandwidth from DDR5 RAM. We'd expect a similar upgrade on the notebook front. For now, though, all we have to go on are Intel's numbers: the company claims 12th-gen is up to 40 percent faster than 11th-gen chips overall. The top-end Core-i9 12900HK is also up to 28 percent faster in gaming, and it has a commanding lead over the Ryzen 9 5900X across many titles.

In Hitman 3, a notoriously CPU-heavy game, the 12th-gen chips saw an 8 percent FPS bump through better workload prioritization. The P-cores handled rendering and more demanding tasks, while the E-core focused on background audio. As for productivity tasks, the 12900HK was 44 percent faster than 11th-gen hardware in the Premiere Pro PugetBench test, as well as 30 percent quicker when it came to Blender rendering. Intel's own benchmarks also showed Apple's M1 Pro and M1 Max, as well as the Ryzen 5900HX, trouncing the Core i9-11980HK in Blender. In many ways, the 12th-gen hardware feels like an apology for last year's chips.

Intel

More so than the fastest 12th-gen hardware, it'd be interesting to see what sort of performance gains Intel can eke out from its more accessible Core i5 and i7 chips. The i5-12450H features 8 cores (4P and 4E) with a max Turbo speed of 4.4GHz, whereas last year's 11500H had six cores that maxed out at 4.6Hz on a single core. Both chips have 12 threads (only P-cores support Hyperthreading, so their thread number is doubled), but the 12th-gen chip should be able to use its power more wisely. That could be good news for mainstream PC buyers who can't quite justify a core i9 machine.

Intel's new hybrid architecture also leads to some interesting configurations for its other mobile processors. The fastest U-series model, the Core i7-1265U, is equipped with 2 performance cores and 8 efficient cores. That technically makes it a 10-core chip, whereas the previous U-series hardware topped out at four cores. The P-series performance notebook chips, meanwhile, sport up to 6 P-cores and 8 E-cores in the i7-1280p. Each mobile CPU line also has up to 96 graphics EUs (execution units), just like the 11th-gen chips.  

In addition to new mobile CPUs, Intel also unveiled the rest of its 12th-gen desktop lineup. It starts with the Celeron G6900, which has just two performance cores, and tops out with the 16-core i9-12900. (Overclockers are better off with the unlocked 12900K that debuted in October.) Surprisingly, Intel isn't including any efficient-cores in its mainstream i3 and i5 chips; they're all P-cores, so they're not actually hybrid CPUs at all. System builders can buy unlocked i5 CPUs with four E-cores, but I'd wager that could make things confusing for shoppers. Why is the i5-12600 a six-core chip when the i5-12600K (thanks to the addition of four E-cores) has 10?

Intel is still lagging behind AMD and Apple when it comes to node size — the 12th-gen chips are a refined version of its 10nm process, while AMD has been building 7nm chips since 2019 and is eyeing 5nm this year — but the company's hybrid design shows plenty of promise. Just like with its recent desktop chips, though, the real question is how Alder Lake will compete with what AMD and Apple have in store for 2022.