CES 2026: Top Tech Innovations and Award Winners

CES 2026 in Las Vegas featured over 4,000 exhibitors, showcasing a wide array of new technology. The event highlighted a shift towards tangible products, moving beyond the AI buzzwords that dominated early press conferences.

Key innovations included:

• Helper robots intended for consumer sale
• Accessibility tech for manual wheelchairs
• Ultra-thin televisions and affordable smart home devices
• Specialized audio and gaming hardware

The LG OLED Evo W6 and Lego Smart Play system were among the most notable winners.

Robotics took center stage with practical applications for daily life. The Switchbot Onero H1 was named the best robot for its ability to pick up clothes and load a washing machine. The company intends to sell the device this year, promising a price under $10,000. While the demo was limited, the robot is designed to assist with various household chores.

In accessibility technology, the WheelMove system offers a simple upgrade for manual wheelchairs. This add-on attaches to the front bars, lifting small caster wheels off the ground to navigate rough surfaces like grass and uneven dirt paths. It provides power assistance with five speed options and a range of about 15 miles. The device is portable and helps prevent speeding on downward slopes.

Home entertainment saw significant advancements with the LG OLED Evo W6, dubbed the 'Wallpaper TV.' It is approximately the depth of a pencil and no longer requires a soundbar. The TV uses a wireless control box to minimize cabling, requiring only a power cord. It features LG's latest OLED technology, promising to be about 20 percent brighter than previous generations.

For smart home enthusiasts, IKEA debuted with a focus on affordability and function. Their lineup includes 21 Matter-compatible devices, such as a $6 smart bulb, an $8 smart plug, and a $6 smart remote. These devices require a hub, such as IKEA's DIRIGERA or an existing Matter hub.

Audio innovations included:

• Shokz OpenFit Pro: Open-fit earbuds with effective active noise cancellation and an over-the-ear hook design.
• Samsung HW-QS90H: A soundbar featuring a 'Quad Bass' woofer system that moves in two directions to provide deep bass without a separate subwoofer.

Computing hardware featured the return of the Dell XPS line. Dell introduced the XPS 14 and XPS 16, featuring new chassis, Intel chips, and tandem OLED displays. The company addressed previous criticisms by returning to a classic row of function keys and segmented touchpads. The XPS 16 is also lighter, dropping a pound compared to the previous generation.

Gaming tech was represented by the ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo, a laptop with two OLED displays. It supports up to an NVIDIA RTX 5090 GPU and offers up to 1,100 nits of brightness. In mobile tech, the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold was showcased, offering a 10-inch tablet experience within a 6.5-inch smartphone form factor. It features a 200-megapixel camera and a large battery, with an estimated price around $2,500.

Concept devices offered a glimpse into the future. The Lenovo Legion Pro Rollable concept features a screen that expands from 16 inches to 23.8 inches at the touch of a button, offering aspect ratios like 21:9 for gaming. Meanwhile, IXI introduced autofocus lenses that use cameraless eye-tracking to switch focus between near and far distances in approximately 0.2 seconds.

The Best in Show award went to Lego Smart Play. This system uses a 'Smart Brick' with a tiny chip that enables motion, color, and proximity sensing without requiring a screen. It launches with Star Wars sets, allowing builds to interact with audio effects.