CES 2025 Insights
With 141,000+ attendees, 4,500+ exhibitors, and 6,000+ media, content creators, and industry analysts, CES is the most influential tech event in the world.
Sony Honda Mobility unveils the “Afeela 1” at CES 2025
Brimming with ideas and inspiration, the Outside Source team returned from an exciting week at CES in Las Vegas. However, one recurring theme stood out after conversations with tech leaders:
The product is impressive, but the mobile app falls short.
Connectivity issues, difficult onboarding experiences, and broken apps aren’t just frustrating—they’re fundamental barriers that prevent users from using their IoT device. These issues erode trust in the product and the brand as a whole.
As IoT UX designers and software engineers, we specialize in understanding users and analyzing data. Inspired by our CES conversations, we reviewed the list of 4,500+ exhibitors as a bellwether for emerging technology trends. Here are our initial observations:
Top 11 Product Categories
CES 2025 featured 39 product categories represented by over 4,500 exhibitors.
Exhibitors could select multiple categories. The percentages below reflect the percentage of exhibitors who listed each category on their CES profile.
Insights
Emerging Technologies: Categories like AI, Robotics, and Smart Home suggest an emphasis on automation, connectivity, and future-forward innovation.
AI & Sustainability Lead: Across multiple categories, these two themes dominate and influence broader trends. AI is the the most prominent category, showing its impact across industries like healthcare, automotive, and retail, indicating the broad adoption of predictive analytics, automation, and personalization.
Smart Home, Health & Wellness, and Sustainability are notable categories, showing the increasing importance of connected and eco-friendly technologies.
IoT’s Reach: Many categories (e.g., Smart Home, Wearables, Automotive) rely on IoT as a foundational technology. Growth in connected home devices, focusing on energy efficiency, security, and automation, signals the increasing mainstream adoption of smart living technologies.
Post-Pandemic Priorities: Health & Wellness and Digital Health are surging due to shifting consumer needs.
Emerging Niches: Categories like Space Technology and Pet Technology reflect expanding markets.
Diverse Focus: Exhibitors tend to span multiple categories, reflecting the cross-disciplinary nature of technology today.
Countries with the Highest Percentage of Exhibitors (Top 10)
Exhibitors at CES 2025 represented 39 different countries, highlighting the global scope of the event.
Insights
The United States accounts for nearly one-third (31.9%) of all exhibitors, making it the largest contributor. This reflects the strong local presence of CES as a U.S.-based event.
China ranks second with nearly 25% of exhibitors. The high representation suggests a focus on technology manufacturing, hardware, and innovation exports.
Germany is the top European country represented, with 17.1% of exhibitors. European exhibitors collectively hold a significant share but are fragmented across countries.
Asia: South Korea (13.2%) and Japan (8.9%) highlight the region’s prominence in consumer electronics, robotics, and automotive technology.
North America: Apart from the U.S., Canada contributes a modest 2.3%.
Smaller Contributors: Countries in the “Other” category account for just 1.8%, demonstrating a diverse but smaller presence from the rest of the world.
Key Themes
The table below highlights the most frequently mentioned themes in the About section of exhibitors, including the percentage of companies referencing each focus area.
Insights
Innovation is a Common Narrative: Nearly 37% of exhibitors frame their focus around innovation, reflecting CES’s identity as a hub for groundbreaking technologies.
AI & Machine Learning Prevalence: Over 21% highlight AI and machine learning, revealing its role as a transformative force across industries.
Sustainability is a Strong Trend: Approximately 16% of exhibitors discuss eco-conscious solutions, signaling a major global focus on sustainability.
Consumer Technologies Lead: Smart Home (14%) and IoT (10%) remain prominent themes, with many exhibitors emphasizing connected living.
Healthcare Priorities: Health & Wellness accounts for 13% of mentions, with exhibitors focused on wearables, telehealth, and fitness solutions.
Rising Focus on Cybersecurity and Robotics: Cybersecurity (9%) and Robotics (8%) reflect increasing attention to safeguarding data and leveraging automation.
Social Media Presence
The chart below shows the social media platforms listed by exhibitors on their CES profiles.
Insights
LinkedIn Dominates: Over half of the exhibitors have a presence on LinkedIn, highlighting its importance for professional networking in the tech industry.
Twitter Follows: At 39% of exhibitors, X is the second most popular platform, showing its role in real-time engagement and announcements.
Instagram’s Appeal: 26% use Instagram, indicating its relevance for visual content and branding.
Facebook’s Role Declining: While 19% still use Facebook, it’s significantly less popular than LinkedIn and Twitter, suggesting a shift away from this platform for B2B engagement.
Niche Platforms: YouTube (13%) and TikTok (6%) are less commonly used but likely reflect targeted approaches for video content or specific demographics.
Summary
CES 2025 showcased the diversity and innovation shaping the future of technology. From AI and sustainability to smart home and health solutions, the exhibitor data highlights key trends driving the industry forward. Innovation remains a central theme, with nearly 40% of companies emphasizing cutting-edge advancements. As connectivity, automation, and eco-consciousness continue to grow in importance, it’s clear that CES remains the ultimate bellwether for what’s next in tech.