The quirkiest and most unusual mobile tech at CES 2023

CES 2023 isn’t the place to see new smartphones, as only a few have been announced at the show, but don’t think that means it’s completely devoid of mobile-related products.

In addition to the many wearables, the show is home to a variety of unusual, quirky, and often life-changing mobile devices that aren’t phones. Here we have collected the best.

L’Oréal Open L’Oreal

L’Oréal’s pitch perfectly sums up what we like to see at CES. It’s fantastic technology used in an innovative, potentially life-changing way. It’s described as an “intelligent computerized handheld makeup applicator” and is designed to help those with limited hand and arm movement better apply makeup. It combines smart motion controls and an ergonomic design to make consistent lipstick application easy at home.

The hatch has a magnetic connection with 360 degrees of rotation and 180 degrees of bending, while the head can be locked in position during use. Details on exactly how it works are scarce, but it sounds a bit like a hand needle. The internal battery lasts about an hour of continuous use. The heads are also interchangeable, ready to use for other makeup applications besides lipstick.

L’Oréal says it will release Hapta in 2023 with the lipstick applicator through the Lancôme brand, and it joins L’Oréal Brow Magic as the company’s exciting announcements at CES 2023.

Loovic

Loovic is a navigation device that you wear around your neck and prevents you from looking down at your phone screen when using a map or navigation app. It is specially designed to help people with spatial awareness challenges and those who have difficulty learning directions. It uses a series of haptic and audio cues to guide the user, with the software selecting landmarks and identifying features that are easier for people with disabilities to follow.

The video above shows how Loovic is designed to work, and a prototype of the device itself. According to the company’s website, Loovic is still in the early stages of development, so it’s not yet available for purchase. Digging into the details, it appears that Loovic is also being considered for in-car use and as a way to guide those speaking different languages ​​in the event of natural disasters requiring evacuation.

Ashirase Ashirase

Like Loovic, Ashirase is a wearable navigation device, but this time it’s attached to a shoe and uses haptic feedback for guidance, along with voice assistance through an app on your phone. The small device weighs 65 grams, has an IPX5 water resistance rating and comes in three different colors. The internal battery lasts up to 12 hours before needing a recharge.

Ashirase’s design can easily be swapped out for different shoes and is less intrusive than Loovic’s neck strap design, although both serve different people. The companion app has various accessibility features to make it easier to use. The device is not yet available for purchase, but the website indicates that it will be released soon.

Nowatch

This is Nowatch, pronounced Now-watch, not no-watch, and it’s a smartwatch that’s all about being in the moment. There’s no screen on the Nowatch and it measures stress, mood and sleep, rather than pushing notifications or even telling the time, avoiding things that take you away from what makes you happy and keeps you relaxed. It does this through the use of sensors, including a heart rate monitor, and special triggers that prompt you back to reality.

It looks really special with a choice of gemstone face – options include rose quartz, white agate, Tiger’s Eye and amethyst – and a choice of stainless steel, gold or silver. Battery life is short at just four days, and it costs $499 and up, plus there’s a subscription package that goes along with it.

LG Breeze LG

LG Breeze are sleep headphones that monitor brain waves. An EEG sensor monitors brain activity in real-time, meaning the headphones act as a sleep-tracking device, but that’s just the beginning. It also monitors activity during the day through a companion app and will play special EEG-synced sounds to ensure you not only get the best sleep, but also the most restorative sleep based on your activities.

EEG-synchronized sounds are not the only options. It has 80 built-in songs, including ASMR sounds, and can also connect to YouTube. Interestingly, the case used to store the headphones has a “UVnano” function, where ultraviolet light keeps them clean and bacteria-free.

It is not clear if the LG Breeze, also known as the LG Brid.zzz, will be released internationally. The press release indicates that they will be released in South Korea during the first half of 2023. Sleep headphones are nothing new, with the Bose SleepBuds 2 and QuietOn 3 being notable examples, but the brain-monitoring ‘buds your while sleeping are far less common material and pure strange CES.

Pepaminto Pepaminto Mattress Ball

At first glance, this is a smart home product, but to use it properly you need an Apple Watch. The Pepaminto mattress topper uses clock sensors and heart rate tracking to adjust the temperature of the bed while you sleep, and can even make subtle changes to different areas of the body. It even takes into account the air quality in the bedroom when keeping you comfortable. Temperature changes can also be made manually using the Digital Crown on the Apple Watch.

The foam top has thin heating strips inside and cooling strips made of graphite, so not only does it keep you warm, but it will also cool you down. Pepaminto will be unveiled at CES 2023, then get a test launch in the UK and Switzerland, with more markets to follow later in the year.

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