Key Facts
- ✓ CES 2026 featured 15 award categories with Lego Smart Play receiving Best of Show
- ✓ Lego Smart Brick contains a 4.1mm ASIC chip smaller than standard studs with motion sensing and built-in speaker
- ✓ NVIDIA announced Alpamayo 1, a 10-billion-parameter AI model for autonomous vehicle navigation
- ✓ DLSS 4.5 and G-Sync Pulsar require 50-series GPUs for implementation
- ✓ Initial Lego Smart Play set with Darth Vader Minifigure, Smart Brick, and Smart Tag costs $70
Quick Summary
CES 2026 concluded this week in Las Vegas with extensive coverage of technology innovations across multiple categories. The event featured 15 awards presented to products ranging from smart home devices to gaming hardware.
The standout winner was Lego Smart Play, which received the Best of Show distinction. This new system integrates modern technology into traditional building blocks through Smart Bricks, Tags, and Minifigures. The Smart Brick contains a 4.1mm ASIC chip smaller than standard Lego studs, enabling motion sensing, orientation detection, and magnetic field awareness. Each brick includes a built-in speaker that produces audio responses tied to live play actions rather than pre-recorded clips.
Key announcements from NVIDIA included the start of production for the Vera Rubin supercomputer and the introduction of Alpamayo, an open-source reasoning model family designed for autonomous vehicle navigation. The company also revealed DLSS 4.5 and G-Sync Pulsar, both requiring 50-series GPUs.
Category award winners spanned diverse sectors including LG's Wallpaper TV for Best TV, Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold for Best Mobile Tech, and ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo for Best Gaming Tech. Additional products highlighted included accessibility technology, outdoor gear, and smart home solutions.
Lego Smart Play: Best of Show Winner 🏆
The Lego Smart Play system was named Best of Show at CES 2026, representing what organizers described as the antithesis of typical CES products. The system maintains Lego's traditional approach while incorporating modern technology that responds to play patterns without requiring smartphone pairing or screens.
The core technology centers on the Smart Brick, which features a 4.1mm ASIC chip smaller than a standard Lego stud. According to specifications, the brick senses motion, orientation, and magnetic fields. It also contains a tiny built-in speaker that generates audio tied to live play actions rather than canned clips.
The complete system includes three components:
- Smart Bricks with integrated chips and speakers
- Smart Tags for interaction detection
- Smart Minifigures including characters like Darth Vader
These parts detect and interact with each other, enabling complex setups ranging from simple character interactions to elaborate constructions like helicopters or X-Wing fighters.
Pricing positions the product as a premium gift option. One initial set containing a smart Darth Vader Minifigure, one Smart Brick, and one Smart Tag is priced at $70. While more expensive than basic Lego sets, the cost remains within the realm of special occasion purchases.
"Lego could almost be seen as the antithesis of the typical CES product."
— Aaron Souppouris, Editor-in-Chief
NVIDIA Announcements and AI Developments 🤖
NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang presented updates during CES 2026, delivering what was characterized as a refresher presentation rather than a barrage of new announcements. The presentation featured extensive discussion of AI applications and developments.
The company announced that production has begun for the Vera Rubin supercomputer, representing a significant infrastructure development.
Key AI announcements included:
- Alpamayo: A family of open-source reasoning models
- Alpamayo 1: A 10-billion-parameter chain-of-thought system
- DLSS 4.5: Graphics enhancement technology
- G-Sync Pulsar: Display synchronization feature
The Alpamayo models are specifically designed to guide autonomous vehicles through difficult driving situations. NVIDIA states that Alpamayo 1 can drive more like a human using chain-of-thought processing.
For consumer technology, DLSS 4.5 and G-Sync Pulsar were announced as requiring 50-series GPUs for implementation.
Category Award Winners 🏅
CES 2026 featured 15 award categories recognizing excellence across technology sectors. The winners represent diverse innovations from established manufacturers and emerging companies.
Best Robot: Switchbot Onero H1
Best Accessibility Tech: WheelMove
Best TV: LG's Wallpaper TV
Best AI Hardware: Subtle Voicebuds
Best Smart Home: IKEA Matter-compatible smart home system
Best Home Theater: Samsung HW-QS90H
Best Audio: Shokz OpenFit Pro
Best Outdoor Tech: Tone Outdoors T1
Best Toy: Lego Smart Play
Best PC or Laptop: Dell XPS 14 + 16
Best Health Tech: Eyebot eye test booth
Best Gaming Tech: ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo
Best Mobile Tech: Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold
Most Promising Concept: Lenovo Legion Pro Rollable
Best Emerging Technology: IXI autofocus lenses
Additional Product Highlights 📱
Beyond award winners, CES 2026 showcased numerous products across technology categories. Coverage included 19 CES gadgets available for immediate purchase.
Samsung featured prominently with the Galaxy Z TriFold smartphone, described as demonstrating that flexing capabilities represent believable innovation. The device represents continued development in foldable mobile technology.
Anker unveiled a new lineup of charging equipment, docks, and accessories at the event, expanding its portfolio of mobile power solutions.
Laptop coverage highlighted multiple manufacturers, with particular attention to devices that caught attention during the show. The Dell XPS 14 + 16 received Best PC or Laptop recognition.
The event also featured discussion about the PC industry's trajectory for 2026, with coverage suggesting challenges facing the sector. Additional topics included the weirdest technology seen at CES and various deals available during the show.
Smart home technology expanded beyond the IKEA award winner, with Matter-compatible systems gaining attention for interoperability potential.
