A Guide to High-Tech Coffee Tables

Until very recent history, the full function of a coffee table was to complement the room it was placed in and to provide surface area for glossy magazines, art books, floral arrangements and, yes, the occasional cup of coffee.

But the smartening of every object in our abodes has not left behind this formerly more-form-than-function piece of furniture, and the more cutting edge of coffee tables can now serve as entertainment devices, smart home hubs, data stores and much more.

Below, a few coffee tables you’ll be buzzing about.

Sobro

Talk about a table upgrade. What started as an Indiegogo project, the now-shipping Sobro is a coffee table that comes complete with USB chargers, power outlets, a Bluetooth-enabled speaker, ambient LED lighting, and a tempered glass top that renders coasters irrelevant. The Sobro’s coolest feature, however, is quite literally cool—the table includes a refrigerator drawer, which can be temperature-controlled via the touchscreen table top, for storing perishable foods and frosty beverages for easy access.

The Sobro is available for $1,499 and comes in three models (White, Black, Wood Grain)

Ideum Duet

Perhaps the most powerful coffee table available—from a computing performance perspective. The Ideum Duet, which is available in 43 inches, 49 inches, or 55 inches 4K Ultra High Definition touchscreen displays, comes standard with an Intel Quad Core i7 computer system, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD hard drive, and a dedicated NVIDIA GTX 1070 graphic card—each of which is upgradable for even more performance and power. Add in the Duet’s Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/Ethernet connectivity, Windows 10 operating system and two 10W integrated speakers and the end result is a TV-sized touchscreen computer of unbelievable clarity—which will also hold a cup of coffee. Most impressively perhaps, the Duet is designed to work with physical peripherals, meaning you can place a removable knob on the table which will control the volume of your audio output, as one would on a standard sound system.

Pricing dependent on level of customization. Inquiries should be made at Ideum.com

Nucleus

A coffee table for a very specific type of consumer, the Nucleus by Surface Tension marries new technology with nostalgia. Comprised of a solid wood frame (available in wood, oak or birch ply) and a glossy glass surface, the Nostalgia contains a next level secret—a retro arcade featuring over 100 classic video games. A hidden control panel, equipped with the timeless joystick and button combination, slides out from underneath the surface, granting the player access to all the entertainment from their misspent youth. If users are looking for newer fare or indie titles, the Nucleus is capable of connecting to Steam, allowing you to play your new favorites. And even if you aren’t an 8-bit enthusiast, the Nucleus still has something to offer. The table is able to stream Spotify and connect to video services like Netflix, Amazon and YouTube, offering hours more entertainment than your standard living room furniture.

The Nucleus is available for $4,659 to $5,592, depending on upgrade options.

La Table Kineti

The perfect pairing of high design and high technology, La Table Kineti is the touchscreen coffee table that will get the neighbors talking. Featuring a decidedly modern construction, La Table Kineti will add a fashion forward aesthetic to any living space—but its functionality is no less impressive. Designed with practicality in mind, La Table Kineti makes transferring from device to table or table to device as simple as a swipe. Users can easily "toss" photos from their phone to the table for a larger display, or send a movie selection from table to TV for room-wide viewing, or annotate a map on the table and send it to your phone before heading out. Better still, La Table Kineti can be split into separate work environments so multiple family members can make use of the tables many functionalities at the same time.

La Table Kineti is available at select retailers for $5,600.