Well, that’s it for another year. As the annual consumer electronics show (CES 2024) draws to a close, we’re reflecting on the notable trends that we saw at this year's event.
While we didn’t attend the event with any expectations (it was our first time), what was unveiled and what was on the demo gave a clear indication of what we can expect to see and hear more about in 2024. The home and yard are the spaces that we spend with our family, friends, and personal chill time, so making the chores more streamlined is only going to help us settle into our downtime. Appliances and yard equipment that take up less space, are better connected, and offer more versatility are ultimately what the focus is going to be this year.
With this aim to streamline, we’re going to need to get our hands on the right products to do the job. From finding the best washer dryer combo to the best robot vacuum, 2024 is going to be the year that we step away from spending hours on chores so that we can take more time for relaxing and entertaining.
CES trends 2024
1. Robot lawn mowers
The robot lawn mower as we know it is getting bigger, better, and smarter. We remember them when there was no app, and you needed to spend a good few hours laying the boundary wire.
This year, brands such as Mammotion and Yarbo have either recently launched or are about to launch a robot lawn mower that requires no boundary wire. Before these wires (tried to) contain the robot lawn mower to stay within the parameters of the yard - without them, they’d keep going in any direction until it was out of Wi-Fi signal or it ran out of battery.
Removing the boundary wire is going to save you on the set-up time. It’ll also extend the distance that the robot mower is capable of achieving since you won’t be limited so much by how much wire you have.
The apps are also getting smarter. They are becoming similar to the functions available in a robot vacuum. You’ll be able to schedule, adjust the cutting height, and check in where they are with an onboard camera.
This will help you feel more connected to the robot lawn mower while giving you the flexibility not to get up from the couch to cut the grass.
A fleet of some of our existing favorite brands is launching a robomower product category for the first time, too. ECOVACS’ is set to launch the GOAT, a fully automated mowing system that combines vision and SmartMove tech to identify the natural lawn boundaries, and Dreame is set to release the Roboticmower A1, an all-in-one lawn mowing solution for mapping, localization, and obstacle avoidance.
2. Washer dryers
A washer-dryer is a major appliance that has been available to buy for a number of years, and this year, the category is getting a facelift across several brand portfolios.
They are a machine that’ll wash and dry your laundry in one unit, which is already going to save you a bunch of time and space. In 2024, we’re going to see a bigger drum capacity, quicker cycles, and stripped-back designs.
For example, the GE Profile Energy Star 4.8 cu. ft. Capacity UltraFast Combo with Ventless Heat Pump Technology Washer/Dryer has a 4.8 cu ft / 12lbs capacity, which will wash and dry your laundry within two hours. Samsung is going to launch a similar offering this year as part of their Bespoke range, with the added integration of their app and presented in a paired-back graphite gray color.
The washer-dryers we’re set to see are all front loaders, which could perhaps be perceived as another trend. Top-load washers can take up more space because you can not store anything on top of the machine. They are also an impeller unit rather than an agitator, which means that there’s a central column in the machine to turn the laundry when on a cycle. This can damage the laundry if not maintained and loaded correctly.
Other brands, such as Roborock, are going to be branching out into the laundry category, with a specific focus on washer-dryers in one unit, too. This suggests that there is going to be a big shift over to this type of major appliance over the next year or so as competition to be a market leader heats up.
3. All-in-one appliances
In a bid to save yet more space, we saw a tonne of brands combining more than two products into their listings - some weren’t even from the same product category.
One of our show highlights was the Eureka Dual Washing Bot. This is a 4-in-1. It’s a washer /dryer with robomop. The robot vacuum and mop can connect to the pipework and drainage system of the washer and dryer, which eliminates the need for you to fill and empty clean or dirty water. Come to think of it, it’s a genius idea that totally makes sense.
ECOVACS' is also launching a robot vacuum with a stick vacuum under one SKU to make vacuum cleaning across all levels of the home more accessible. And Tineco is offering a wet-dry vacuum with a stick vacuum to help keep the hard floors and carpets clean.
For a countertop appliance, the Panasonic HomeChef was announced, which is a microwave, air fryer, broil, and convection all in one. While it's the same size as a microwave, it can do so much more than that.
This year, we’ll even be in a position to get our hands on a robot lawn mower combo, the world's first robot lawn mower with a snow blower module. Yardo are the guys leading the way for this innovation with their S1 Snow Blower, which will enable you to take care of the lawn all year round, all from one piece of equipment.
