There’s more than one way to create content with all the tools available, and CES doesn’t disappoint in offering new tools to consider. Unlike previous years, CES isn’t too big for mobile devices. For example, it’s rare to see a phone launched at the event, and even tablets aren’t that common as a new release. It’s the same story with cameras although several camera brands make a tech pilgrimage to Las Vegas every January.

It’s a different story with accessories for creating content, which cover the gamut, even more so for mobile devices. It’s also often a great showcase for action cameras and camera accessories. There was a lot to see during the show, and here are some of the highlights.

insta360

Insta360 is best known for its action cameras, and the camera had its full release at CES. Although its newest product—the Ace Pro 2—is already out, there are other products in the company’s lineup that are worth considering. That Insta360 Go 3S is an interesting option because its separate camera offers a different way to capture content. It stays attached via magnet but you can also attach it to your person to take photos or record video in 4K.

Equally impressive are the company’s latest smartphone gimbals that use AI to track any subject, like the Flow Pro. The Insta360 app offers six different tracking modes to keep footage stable. There are 10 shooting modes, including a mode made for basketball called Hoop mode, and the ability to record video using Apple ProRes on compatible iPhones. Android users won’t get as many features for third-party integrations, although you do get the full scope of the Insta360 app, so it’s not a total loss.

SnapStudio Shiftcam Light

The new SnapStudio Light completes the suite ShiftCMorning has been out since summer 2024. It’s a ring light that comes in a rectangular design to fit the common form factor of smartphones and features a MagSafe mount to keep it stable when taking selfie content. It pumps out up to 600 lumens of light, which is very bright for this size. Additionally, you can adjust the color temperature for cooler whites or warmer colors.

It has thread holders on all sides so you can orient it vertically or horizontally as you like. It’s also compatible with the other SnapSeries accessories in the Shiftcam line, of which there are a total of eight. That includes stands, lights, mounts, and other useful equipment.

Even more tantalizing is the Planck, perhaps the smallest SSD I’ve ever seen that connects directly to the phone as external storage. It can transfer 200GB of data in just three minutes, so it’s very fast. That’s why it can record Apple ProRes video at 4K/120fps directly to the drive, not to the phone’s storage. This one will start as a crowdfunded project but will eventually launch retail, so stay tuned.

SanDisk Creator Series

Stick to storage, SanDisk unveiled a range of new Creator Series storage options at the event. Easily distinguished by their sky blue color, they come in a variety of shapes. One that caught my eye was the Creator Phone SSD which uses MagSafe to attach to the back of compatible phones. You do need to connect the drive to your phone with a short cable but otherwise it works as external storage of up to 1TB or 2TB. The body is sturdy enough to withstand falls from a height of three meters and has IP65 water and dust resistance. While leaning towards the iPhone, I can confirm that it works well on Android after testing it on a OnePlus 13 at the event.

In the same vein, there is the Creator Phone Drive, a stick with Lightning and USB-C connectors that can accommodate up to 256 GB of storage. Like the Creator Phone SSD, you can automatically back up your entire Android phone using the SanDisk Memory Zone app. USB-C Flash Drives are designed to do the same thing on computers. Same with the Creator Pro Portable SSD, which is based on SanDisk’s existing line of small SSD drives. The rest include microSD and UHS-II Creator cards with capacities up to 1TB for cameras and drones.

The Creator Desk Drive is a larger unit (though still quite small) that you can use to back up any files you want at home or the office/studio. Meanwhile, SanDisk also has a Fortnite-themed portable SSD drive that caters to gamers.

Lexar Armor memory card

Storage is an ongoing theme here and Lexar attracts attention with new UHS-II memory cards made of stainless steel. The company first announced the Armor series at IFA in Berlin in September 2024, but seeing it in the final design is exciting. It’s a solid piece that doesn’t bend at all, giving you peace of mind if you’re worried about possibly damaging your card when inserting it in or out. Lexar claims they are 37 times more powerful than your average memory card.

The metal body for the Armor series also provides IP68 dust and water resistance for more rugged content purposes. They will come in 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB and 1TB capacities

This is not a new product as it has been launched since 2023 but it still works effectively either alone or with a Mac or PC. This also opens up the opportunity for something new to emerge from Wacom that I can’t reveal because the company hasn’t announced it yet. Whatever the choice, the Cintiq and Intuos lines are ideal for working with illustrators, animators, and anyone in the visual arts field. They can also serve photo editors who need to make fine adjustments to images that are difficult to do with a mouse or trackpad. See them all the newest Wacom device available today.

HoverAir X1 Pro

The HoverAir X1 Pro and ProMax are small drones that can take off and land from your hand. Competitors from DJI NeoThe HoverAir X1 Pro and ProMax were previously announced but have gone through several software updates. They are also an improvement over the original HoverAir X1. It can record 4K video at 60fps with a 104-degree field of view, while the X1 ProMax can record 8K video at 30fps with 4K/120fps slow motion. A 1/1.3-inch CMOS image sensor and 14 stops dynamic range provide flexibility in composition. Like the Neo, this drone has AI tracking with an automatic mode that you can utilize via the Hover X1 app.

Additionally, the HoverAir Beacon offers another way to control the drone with a detachable joystick and a 1.78-inch OLED display to see what the drone is seeing. You can use it for one- or two-handed operation and activate HoverLink, sending a signal to connect with the drone up to 1 km away.

There’s much more to come

I saw another device for content creators at CES but can’t talk about it because they haven’t announced it yet. Of course, there’s more to come, and perhaps even more as time goes by to reveal what gear will hit the market in 2025.

In the meantime, be sure to explore the latest camera accessories to keep content creators at the forefront.