The 25 Products That Won Over Our Editors

Once a year, the Consumer Technology Association hosts a show-and-tell in Las Vegas. From the revolutionary VCR to gaming’s Nintendo Entertainment System to home entertainment’s DVDs and a whole new way to watch television with Sling TV, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) has always been at the forefront of not just what’s happening in technology, but a window to see what’s coming in the future.

Our editors, of course, take a keen interest in the products presented at CES each year. We groan at the duds, and cheer the unusual but not-really-feasible -in-daily-life products. We marvel most at the truly innovative products that seemingly come out of left field, destined to impact the world around us in amazing ways.

In our unique Tech for Humans approach, we’ve selected 25 products from the thousands introduced at CES 2026 that we think will make your life easier, safer, or maybe just a bit more fun in the future. Enjoy!

Smart Home and Connected Life

Smart home tech isn’t just about novelty these days. It’s about convenience, connection, and solving real problems. These are the smart products we loved most this year.

Roborock Saros Rover

CES was packed with robots this year, but only one made us stop and think about chores. Meet Roborock’s Saros Rover, a nimble little cleaning bot designed for real homes—the kind with messy living rooms, carpeted stairs, and people who really don’t enjoy vacuuming. Still in development (and yes, mopping is rumored), this is one robot worth saving up for, thanks to its wild party trick: articulated legs on wheels that let it walk, climb, and even clean stairs while you go do literally anything else.

Powered by AI motion planning and 3D spatial awareness, the Saros Rover seems unfazed by the things that usually stop robot vacuums in their tracks. Uneven thresholds, sloped floors, weird staircases—it takes them all in stride. Roborock says its StarSight 2.0 system, backed by Dual-Flash LiDAR, is smart enough to map your home, dodge obstacles (including pets), and even avoid a tossed tennis ball mid-roll.

There’s no release date yet, but if this robot delivers on what it’s promising, it could finally be the do-it-all home cleaner people have been waiting for. Staircases included. File this under ‘worth the splurge’; when it does hit the market, this is the robot your budget will eventually forgive you for.

Sonic Fire Tech Home Defense System

External fire threats are among the most challenging dangers for homeowners to plan around, especially when embers can travel fast and far. Stopping those threats is difficult, if not impossible, at times. But Sonic Fire Tech has introduced a new type of fire protection in the form of its Home Defense System.

This product takes a radically new and different approach to fire protection by using sound waves to neutralize embers before they land. This process literally disrupts embers mid-flight, preventing ignition before it can happen. It’s a surprisingly smart, very 21st-century way to prevent fires before they can cause damage. The related app lets you control the system from anywhere, too.

For homeowners who need an advantage against unpredictable external fire threats, this modern layer of defense offers a smarter way to stay one step ahead.

Blue Device Nanoparticle Solar Smart Window

If homes could truly power themselves, they wouldn’t rely on wires running everywhere. Until now, though, that’s been the reality. But Blue Device, a Korean company, is rethinking that model in a big way.

It has developed a smart window that generates its own energy using a proprietary nanoparticle liquid sealed directly inside the glass, turning each window into a self-contained power system. These windows are powered entirely by solar panels and/or indoor ambient lighting and operate without indirect emissions, a truly innovative approach to smart windows.

This process means that the windows can slash a building’s energy use by up to 40 percent. They also eliminate expensive installation costs that have kept solar windows out of reach for most homeowners and businesses. Because the liquid is embedded within the glass itself (not applied as a film), it doesn’t peel, degrade, or need replacement, and the window operates without indirect emissions or harsh chemicals.

Will we all have these very cool windows in our homes in the future? We’re betting we will. While it might take time for the home building industry to catch up, this is the kind of quiet innovation that eventually becomes the standard. We’re here for it.

Aqara Smart Lock U400

If you’ve ever stood at your own front door juggling bags, digging for keys, or waiting for a smart lock to finally realize it’s you, this product will feel oddly satisfying. Aqara’s Smart Lock 400 uses Ultra-Wideband (UWB) to tell where and who you are, as well as whether you actually want to come inside, so the door just opens when it should.

There’s no tapping your phone, no fingerprints, no face scans. You walk up, it unlocks. That’s it. You can also share that access with others, making it surprisingly practical for families or frequent guests. If you want more control, it still has every backup option you’d expect—Apple Home Key, fingerprints, passcodes, app access, voice assistants, NFC, and even a physical key.

The Smart Lock U400 runs on Matter over Thread, a newer networking protocol, which plays nicely with Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, and SmartThings without feeling laggy or unreliable. This is how doors should have worked all along.

Euhomy Luna Pro Portable Crescent Ice Maker

Euhomy makes some of our favorite products; we already love its budget countertop ice maker. You can imagine our reaction when the company showed off a new smart, compact model. This one cranks out commercial-grade, slow-melting ice in custom sizes in just minutes, which immediately caught our attention.

Fast ice is kind of Euhomy’s thing, but the smart upgrades are what really set it apart. One-touch self-cleaning with UV sterilization and app-based controls let you manage ice production, cleaning cycles, cube thickness, and maintenance alerts right from your phone. Smart homes shouldn’t stop at lights and voice assistants; they should quietly solve everyday annoyances.

If you’ve ever run out of ice at the wrong time, this countertop ice maker fits perfectly into our idea of a connected home, done right.

Computers and Stuff

Computing isn’t just about one device anymore; it’s more of a personalized ecosystem. These are the tools we see defining the next wave of how we work and live.

Lenovo Yoga Mini i

If your work moves around with you, hauling a full desktop to every location stops making sense pretty quickly. Lenovo’s Yoga Mini i caught our eye, partly because it wakes up when you approach. It’s built for people who bounce between desks but still want a functional computer.

It’s small and light enough (just 1.3 pounds) that you can drop it into a bag without thinking twice about carrying it. But don’t let the size fool you: This tiny footprint supports up to four high-res displays, and you get all the normal connection points: USB-C and Thunderbolt 4 for modern gear, plus USB-A and HDMI for older displays and accessories. Security is handled through a fingerprint reader, and the built-in speaker and mic mean fewer desk accessories to drag along and minimal setup as you move locations.

One of the nicest touches is the subtle lighting system, which signals when there’s something to pay attention to. It’s the kind of small detail that makes the Mini i feel thoughtfully designed for modern, on-the-go work. We approve. (Watch for this to hit the market in June.)

Asus Zenbook A16

If you avoid most laptops because they tend to feel bulky and overbuilt, the ASUS Zenbook A16 Copilot+ PC is worth a closer look. It suits people who want a single machine that can handle work during the day and games at night, without juggling devices or hauling around excess weight. Even with a 16-inch display, it manages to remain light enough (under three pounds) to carry around comfortably, which isn’t something you can say about most laptops this size.

Performance is another strong point. The Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme processor keeps things moving smoothly, whether you’re working in creative apps, running several tools at once, or playing games. Thanks to a smart airflow design, it stays impressively quiet under load, so it doesn’t become a distraction when you’re trying to focus.

The 3K OLED display delivers sharp, fluid visuals, especially when motion is involved. Add a solid selection of ports and all-day battery life, and this is clearly a laptop you can rely on wherever the day takes you.

Dell UltraSharp 52 Thunderbolt Hub Monitor

If your job or hobby means juggling documents, chats, timelines, and “just one more reference tab,” this is the kind of screen that changes how you work. The Dell UltraSharp 52 is built for people who always feel short on space, even with multiple monitors. Instead of stacking screens and dealing with distracting bezels, everything lives on one massive, gently curved display that everything in view.

The extra room is where the benefits shine, and the magic happens. You can snap windows to the sides, park dashboards where you need them, and still keep a main workspace front and center. It also lets you display multiple monitors simultaneously, allowing you to split the screen and switch between machines using the same keyboard and mouse. The 6K resolution keeps text sharp and detailed, while the curve and low blue light help the screen stay comfortable to look at for long hours.

Just one Thunderbolt cable powers your laptop and connects your gear through the built-in hub. For most people, switching to a single-screen setup like this means fewer cables and displays, making the modern desk easier to work from. This isn’t just a bigger monitor; it’s a calmer, smarter way to work. Who couldn’t use that?

HP EliteBoard G1a Next Gen AI PC

Minimalists tend to notice when a desk feels busy for no good reason. Extra cables, miscellaneous hardware, pile up when all you want is a screen and a place to type.

The HP EliteBoard G1a solves that problem in the most straightforward way possible by hiding the entire PC inside the keyboard, leaving the rest of your workspace open.

Just plug the keyboard into your existing display, and you’re up and running. There’s no bulky tower or laptop to clutter your space. And yes, even speakers and microphones are built in, so there’s much less hardware to set up and manage. An optional battery lets you unplug and move to another desk without restarting everything, which feels surprisingly refreshing.

If you like your tech powerful but invisible, this is a refreshingly clever rethink of what a keyboard can be. With everything hiding in plain sight, it’s a setup that respects your sanity. We approve.

HyperSpace Bluetooth Mouse

Controlling multiple devices at your desk should be as simple as using just one, shouldn’t it? That’s the simple idea behind the HyperSpace Bluetooth Mouse, which pairs with up to three devices so you can switch between them instantly with the press of a button.

That means everything runs through this one mouse. Universal compatibility means it works seamlessly across laptops, desktops, and tablets without additional pairing or extra gear every time you change screens. Just set it up once, and then forget about it.

You also get some welcome customization so you can control things to your liking. There’s a built-in DPI switch for adjusting the cursor speed, and the programmable buttons along the side can be mapped to shortcuts or macro triggers to speed up your workflow. This little mouse made our list because it’s designed for the way modern work is done; it’s the kind of upgrade you notice immediately. Where has this mouse been all our lives?

Phones and Accessories

Which phone do you have? However you use it today, these products hint at what’s coming next.

Samsung Z TriFold

If your phone constantly feels too small for real life, this tri-fold phone is the kind of upgrade that could actually change how you use it. Samsung’s Galaxy Z TriFold unfolds into a full 10-inch display, nearly as big as some laptops, turning quick tasks into something you can actually accomplish without the need for another device.

Fully unfolded, you can work across multiple apps at once, read documents without squinting, edit photos side-by-side, and even use your favorite tools without bouncing between screens. Closed, it slips back into your pocket like a normal phone. That easy switch—from big screen to pocketable—is where the magic lies.

We already love folding phones, and multi-fold designs like this could replace the “phone + tablet + laptop” gear bag for many people. Can you imagine having one device that finally keeps up with how you live, work, and unwind? Samsung raised the smartphone bar again, and this time it’s impossible to ignore.

Hohem SSD-01

Running out of storage on your phone, especially if you take tons of photos or record a lot of video, is a very real problem. No one needs a camera that stops recording mid-moment, right?

Hohem’s solution is refreshingly simple. It introduced the Hohem SSD-01 at CES, a pocket-sized solid-state drive designed for people who create on their phones and don’t want storage limits calling the shots.

It’s plug-and-play, which is extremely handy, and it does much more than just store files. You can charge your phone while recording, connect a microphone, and offload massive video files in real time without juggling multiple dongles or adapters. It also handles high-quality formats like ProRes, 4K120, or RAW video without breaking a sweat, so you don’t have to worry about storage limits or battery drain.

It works with iPhones, Android phones, and virtually any USB-C device (laptops and tablets, for example), and it’s fast enough that it won’t disrupt your workflow. This is the kind of behind-the-scenes gear you forget about until you really need it, and then you’re very glad it’s there. Think of it as storage anxiety relief, pocket-sized.

Punkt MC03 Smartphone

Ready to stop asking who owns the stuff your phone collects about you? The Punkt MC03 smartphone is exactly the kind of device that pushes back on that quietly powerful question: It puts your privacy first.

The MC03 runs a security-centric operating system that separates your most trusted tools from everything else, giving you control over what stays private and what goes online. There’s no hidden tracking, no opaque profiling, and a built-in VPN that protects you on public Wi-Fi without another app to configure. It’s the kind of security we wish every smartphone had, honestly.

The hardware feels solid too: There’s a bright 6.7-inch OLED display, a removable battery you can replace when it wears down, and a thoughtful design built in Europe.

If you’re carrying this phone, you won’t have to worry about digital surveillance or your data being used to build someone else’s product (or worse). Instead, you’ll have peace of mind in your pocket. Once the phone arrives in the US in the spring, that is.

j5create Aero Drop CrossLink Wireless Dongle

Windows and Apple generally don’t play well together, and moving files between them can be a challenge. But j5create just gave us a first look at the Aero Drop CrossLink Wireless Dongle, which fixes one of the most annoying everyday tech gaps by allowing your iPhone or iPad and PC to actually work together.

The idea seems straightforward until you realize how hard it is to execute well. But j5create nailed it.

Once it’s set up, you can send photos and files back and forth without cables, email workarounds, or third-party cloud uploads. You can even extend your laptop’s screen onto an iPad, turning it into a portable second monitor when you need more space. For multitaskers, there’s also unified control, which lets your laptop’s keyboard and mouse control your phone or tablet without switching devices.

The best part? It’s not locked to one ecosystem. CrossLink works with iPhones, iPads, and Android devices, making it a genuinely useful bridge rather than another Apple-only feature. This is the kind of small accessory that quietly removes friction from your day. Once you have it, you’ll wonder why it wasn’t always this easy.

Motorola Razr Fold

2026 is shaping up to be the year of the book-style folding phone, and CES brought yet another entry from the beloved Motorola Razr family. The Razr Fold takes what people like about foldables and pushes it toward everyday usefulness, opening up a generously sized 8.1-inch, 2K display that gives you room to actually do things, not just scroll.

Unfolded, it’s easier to read documents, multitask across apps, or watch videos without feeling cramped, especially with the optional stylus support. The 6.6-inch cover screen means it’s compact enough to be pocketable, so you’re not committing to carrying a tablet around all day. It’s the kind of phone that adapts to what you’re doing, instead of forcing you to adapt to it.

For anyone curious about foldables but not looking to overhaul their entire tech routine, this feels like a practical next step that’s familiar, flexible, and finally big enough to matter.

Home Entertainment

However you unwind—watching, listening, or sharing the moment—these are the entertainment upgrades we see leading the way forward.

Fender MIX

Even if you’re not an audiophile or music buff, the Fender name carries weight, and now the company is showing off its first foray into the world of over-ear headphones. Fender’s MIX over-ear wireless headset feels like a natural extension of the brand: bold, practical, and built with longevity in mind.

Battery power is pretty stellar on the MIX, estimated at up to 100 hours without active noise canceling (ANC) mode (and an impressive 52 hours when it’s on). The distinctive modular design makes repairs or personalization easier than usual. And, if you forget to charge your headset, you can use the backup 3.5mm wired mode.

These tricked-out headphones also deliver Spatial Audio and three listening modes, including lossless, low latency, and Auracast for sharing audio across devices. It’s a thoughtful, feature-packed debut that feels designed for real-world use, not just spec sheets, and Fender shows up strong out of the gate. Hey, Bose! There’s a new headphone sheriff in town.

LG OLED evo W6 Wallpaper TV

If you’ve ever struggled with a large TV that doesn’t seem to fit anywhere or with cords that dictate your TV’s placement, you’ll appreciate this product. LG’s Wallpaper TV is making its triumphant return as the wireless LG OLED evo W6, and it has our full attention.

This TV is a mind-boggling 9mm thin and comes with an upgraded wall mount that allows the TV to sit completely flush against the wall for that true wallpaper look.

For folks who hate cord-wrangling, the Zero Connect Box will be music to your ears; this container keeps all the TV inputs tucked away neatly as far as up to 33 feet away. Yes, you get it. It really is wireless, so you can place it almost anywhere in a room.

But we’d be remiss not to mention that this is an incredibly bright TV, up to about four times brighter than your traditional OLED display. It also has visually lossless 4K video and supports 4K 165Hz refresh rate, so you can switch between movies and gaming with ease.

Another impressive feat? This TV has earned the Reflection Free Premium certification from Intertek, meaning even the brightest light won’t interfere with the viewing experience. This future-leaning TV is hard not to love.

Geeks Loft Perisphere Headphones

It wouldn’t be CES without something that makes you stop and say, “Wait… what?” Enter the Geeks Loft Persiphere.

These are headphones, sure, but when you flip down the FHD display, suddenly you’ve also got your own private 2D or 3D screen for watching videos and other media or a camera for capturing what you’re seeing in photos or 3D video. These headphones create an immersive environment by converting stereo music to 9.1 channel surround sound when the display is down.

Don’t want the display? Just flip it back up and use only the compact headphones, which have ANC.

Perisphere is clearly designed for people who want to blend Spatial Audio, augmented reality, and virtual reality into everyday life, not just gaming sessions. It’s a weird-in-a-good-way idea that feels very CES and futuristic, and while they won’t launch for a few months, they’re absolutely worth keeping on your radar.

Samsung Freestyle+ Projector

The first-generation Samsung Freestyle projector is a Lifewire favorite, so we were paying close attention its successor, the Freestyle+, at CES this year.

At a glance, the Freestyle+ looks a lot like the original, but the real changes are under the hood. It introduces AI OptiScreen, a set of AI-powered tools that automatically adjust the image to whatever space you’re in. AI features like 3D auto keystone, real-time focus, automatic screen fit, and wall calibration handle awkward angles and imperfect surfaces for you.

It’s kind of idiot-proof, really, which is exactly the kind of projector we need in our homes and a big reason we chose this product.

430 ISO Lumens means the Freestyle+ is nearly twice as bright as the first model, it can rotate 180 degrees, it’s small and portable, and it has surprisingly bold sound thanks to a built-in 360-degree speaker. Add Samsung’s Gaming Hub, and you can stream and play games without plugging in anything extra, making the Freestyle+ feel even more like an all-in-one entertainment gadget than before.

This feels like the version Samsung probably wanted to make the first time, but couldn’t without AI. We’re all in.

Klipsch: The Fives II, The Sevens II, & The Nines II

Everyone talks about the screens when they think of home entertainment. We do, too, but we also want the amazing, immersive sound that makes those screens truly come alive. This year, Klipsch delivered that sound in a big way with a new powered speaker series — The Fives II, Sevens II, and Nines II.

If you want big, room-filling sound without turning your living room into an audio science project, Klipsch brings it with this full home-theater-level experience from just two speakers, and they have a simple setup with no separate receiver required. It’s all based on a new Onkyo-engineered electronics platform, which includes a single-piece BMC baffle with an integrated Tractrix horn, and Jet Cerametallic woofers . . . which is a lot of geeky talk for flat-out amazing sound.

All that is fabulous, but here’s why this speaker series stood out to us: The speakers are designed to handle everything in one place: music streaming, TV audio, vinyl playback, and even immersive formats like Dirac Live and Dolby Atmos. Add in advanced room correction to help them sound great in real spaces, not just perfect demo rooms, and plenty of inputs so it’s easy to connect whatever you already own, and you’ve got a banging home entertainment system second to none.

The real appeal is how effortless they make great sound feel. Plug them in, dial them to your space, and you’re done. For anyone who wants premium audio without a pile of gear, this series hits a rare sweet spot between power, polish, and everyday usability. Nice work, Klipsch. Very nice.

Watch for these to come this spring.

Internet and Security

The internet is such a part of life now that most people don’t really think about the tech behind it. Nor do they worry about security and safety the internet and other technologies can provide. We worry about that for you. Here are our favorite CES picks this year.

MediaTek Filogic 8000 Family

We usually spotlight a single standout product, but MediaTek surprised us by unveiling an entire family of Wi-Fi 8 tech all at once. And yes, before you say it: Most of us are still wrapping our heads around Wi-Fi 7. But stick with us for a minute. Wi-Fi 8, expected around 2027 or 2028, is designed to work hand-in-hand with cellular networks, making internet connections faster, more reliable, and better at handling heavy traffic.

Translated into real-world terms: think dramatically faster speeds (potentially up to 100 times faster than today’s Wi-Fi 7) and fewer dropped connections. By rolling out a full ecosystem instead of a single chip, MediaTek is making an early, confident bet on where wireless is headed next. The first chipset aimed at business customers is expected later this year.

The Filogic 8000 family is definitely a chess move worth paying attention to.

Timeli Smart Video Safety Flashlight

Fumbling for your phone in a tense moment could cost you your safety. But Timeli has come up with a pretty innovative solution: a Smart Video Safety Flashlight for moments when something feels off, and you need help immediately.

At first glance, it looks like just a standard flashlight, but it does much more. One button press connects you over LTE to a live dispatcher who can see what you see, hear what’s happening, and guide you through the next crucial steps. Add in an integrated alarm to draw attention to yourself and potentially deter a threat, while live GPS sharing helps first responders and trusted contacts know exactly where you are, even if you don’t (or can’t speak).

One of the best parts of this product is that it works completely on its own, so there’s no phone required. This is the kind of device you hope you never need, but feel safer knowing it’s close at hand. It’s a simple idea, really, that’s executed in a way that actually makes sense in the real world. Impressive work, Timeli.

pureLiFi Bridge XC

If your broadband signal falls apart the moment it hits brick, concrete, or even thick glass, you’re not alone in your frustration.

PureLiFi’s Bridge XC LiFi system takes a different approach to the whole issue, and that’s why we chose it for this list: It uses light to bring strong outdoor broadband signals directly inside your home without drilling holes or running messy cables. Once it’s installed, you have your own gigabit broadband, no technician needed.

Setup is refreshingly simple, by the way: a small unit sits on each side of the window, you plug them in, and suddenly your indoor network can pull in 5G, satellite, or fiber like it’s already inside the house. That means faster, more reliable internet in areas that traditionally struggle to receive a strong signal (especially in urban buildings or rural areas with weak reception).

For anyone fed up with dropped calls, endless buffering, or mysterious dead zones, this isn’t another flashy gadget to try. It’s a smart yet quiet fix that just makes connectivity behave the way it should. And when your internet works as expected, everything else tends to fall into place. It’s currently in consumer field trials; we’re hoping to see this baby hit the market later this year.

Sometimes the smartest tech is the stuff that disappears into the background, isn’t it?

Lockin V7 Max Smart Lock

A smart lock that never needs charging sounds like a fantasy, but the Lockin V7 Max is very real—and very clever.

We’re selecting a second smart lock because this one, instead of using solar power or batteries, uses wireless optical charging beamed via a wall-mounted transmitter, which means it just… stays powered. No low-battery alerts, no surprise lockouts, no mental note to grab AAs at the store.

That alone would be impressive, but the innovation doesn’t stop there.

The V7 Max leans hard into vein recognition technology for multiple key-free access methods, including palm, finger, and 3D face scanning. Plus, it delivers all the perks you’d expect from a smart lock, including two-way audio, video doorbell performance, and broad smart home flexibility across multiple platforms. Add in AI-powered delivery monitoring to help deter package theft, and it starts to feel less like a lock and more like a very attentive doorman.

This is smart tech doing what it should, quietly making things easier and safer. Well done, Lockin.

Xthings Ulticam HaLow Security System

Most security camera systems fall apart the moment you ask them to cover real space. Xthings Ulticam HaLow doesn’t. It’s one of the first camera systems built on Wi-Fi HaLow, a long-range wireless standard designed to reach way beyond what traditional Wi-Fi can handle (think: driveways, barns, detached garages, and far-off corners of a property).

Instead of dealing with extenders or digging trenches for cables, Ulticam HaLow (802.11ah) is a complete camera-and-hub system ready to go out of the box. Each camera uses what Xthings calls Intelligent Vision, combining on-device object detection with cloud-based analysis to figure out what’s actually happening—not just that something moved. The result is security that doesn’t just record video, but gives you useful context about events, so you know why you’re getting an alert, not just seeing what the camera saw.

The sub-GHz connection is built for distance and wall penetration, so the signal stays strong where normal Wi-Fi gives up. You still get smart features like person and vehicle detection, fewer false alerts, and a single hub that can manage up to four cameras without turning setup into a project.

Fewer false alerts, more useful information, and a security system that can see farther than any other? Count us in.