The Best of CES 2026, From Hi-Fi Audio and TVs to Smart Glasses and Folding Phones

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The Best of CES 2026, From Hi-Fi Audio and TVs to Smart Glasses and Folding Phones

Jonathan Zavaleta

Mon, January 12, 2026 at 6:14 PM UTC

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Every January, CES takes over the Las Vegas Convention Center (and most of the Strip, for that matter), as top tech brands and startups alike showcase what the future of tech looks like. Or rather, could look like. As usual, CES 2026 was a mix of prototypes and works-in-progress, some of which may or may not come out anytime soon. But there were also plenty of real, ready-to-ship products, preorders, and promising experiments.

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CES offers products and innovations of an impossibly broad scope — this year featured everything from a lollipop that plays music to a multi-ton automated combine harvester. But there are still some big trends and through-lines this year, which paint a picture of the future of consumer tech.

CES Trends: Micro RGB TVs, Robots, and Surprising Newcomers

In TVs, always a big category at CES, micro-RGB technology was the hot new trend. Major brands like Samsung and LG showed off micro-RGB TVs with greater color accuracy and contrast, with the former opting to go as big as possible and the latter emphasizing thinness.

Robots were everywhere at CES 2026, with bipedal droids that promise to do … something. Given how slowly most of the robots on display moved, it seems like we might be a ways off from humanoid butlers that can actually do our chores for us, but it was an undeniable trend this year.

Health tech was a major sector this year as well, with more brands promising ways to optimize your well-being. AI got physical, as artificial intelligence increasingly moves from phones and laptops to robot companions and wearable gadgets.

Naturally, Rolling Stone‘s music enthusiasts are always on the lookout for great audio products, and speaker and headphone brands made a big splash at CES. Venerated Hi-fi companies like Klipsch and Cambridge rolled out new powered speakers, and there were tons of earbuds and headphones from the likes of Shokz and Fender Audio.

Two Scandinavian newcomers turned heads: Lego and Ikea. Neither company has shown at CES before, and both made exciting debuts. Lego showed off its new Smart Play system, which uses sensors to bring playsets to life with lights and sounds, reacting dynamically during play. Meanwhile, Ikea showed off a wide array of new products as it makes a big push into the smart home space, from Bluetooth speakers and lamps to smart switches and sensors.

The Best of CES 2026: Our Favorite Tech

We spent hours roaming the halls of LVCC and attending demos to find the best tech on display at CES, from modern spins on hi-fi speakers to cutting-edge smart glasses. This is the tech we’re most excited about following CES.

Best of CES 2026: Our Favorite Audio Products, Tech, and More

BEST DEBUT

Lego Smart Brick

see at lego

There were a lot of heavy-hitters at CES, from Lenovo to NVIDIA to TCL. But one of the most unexpected was Lego — a brand best known for making decidedly analog experiences. Their latest innovation is the Smart Brick, which features lights and sound effects when paired with compatible minifigures. The Smart Brick uses NFC tags embedded in the minifigures, and even responds to motion — you can hear the vroom of a Tie fighter as you move it through the air or the clash of lightsabers as Darth Vader and Luke face off. Lego is rolling out the Smart Brick with its Star Wars sets first, but look out for more innovative experiences for kids — and kids at heart — in the future.

BEST ACTIVE SPEAKERS

Cambridge Audio L/R Speakers

see at cambridge audio

Cambridge Audio is best known for making HiFi amplifiers and receivers, but the venerated British brand is betting big on powered speakers. There are three new models, all with strikingly modern designs. The cabinet features built-in lights and passive radiators on the side of the speaker, plus a double woofer design with one in front and one underneath. In short, these are not your average bookshelf speakers. The three models range from mid-sized and compact bookshelf speakers to a small desktop speaker, all of which are expected to be available later this year.

BEST SUBWOOFER

SVS R/Evolution Subwoofer

see at svs

Home theater experts SVS are known for bringing the bass thanks to their powerful subwoofers. The latest is the 3000 REvolution, which delivers immersive, room-shaking bass for movies and music alike. There are sealed and ported versions, and SVS will also roll out a smaller Mini version later this year for apartment-bound bass hounds. The brand is burnishing its home audio bona fides even further with a new Dolby Atmos soundbar, featuring nine total drivers.

MOST STYLISH TV

LG Wallpaper TV

see at lg

A TV that’s supposed to look like art when turned off is nothing new, but LG’s latest Wallpaper TVs take things to the next level. The new TVs feature an impossibly thin design that, as the name suggests, are supposed to feel like wallpaper. But what about your ports? The TV connects wirelessly via a separate box, allowing the screen itself to be paper-thin. When we got a look at CES, we were impressed with the picture quality, both as a passive art display and a TV.

BEST SMARTPHONE

Samsung Galaxy Z Trifold

see phones at samsung

Samsung rolled out its Galaxy Z Trifold at CES this year, after first announcing it in December. The new release pushes the concept of a foldable to its logical extreme: the phone unfolds into a whopping 10-inch display, arguably making it the rare device that lives up to the promise of a phone-tablet (or phablet, if you absolutely must).

BEST LIGHTING

IKEA Lamp

see at ikea

IKEA made a big splash at CES, rolling out a number of smart home and tech products ranging from an adorable $10 Bluetooth speaker to smart bulbs. It’s the Swedish giant’s first year at CES, highlighting how seriously the world’s most well-known furniture store is taking the smart home. Much of its new tech is Matter compatible, meaning it will play well with whatever your preferred smart home ecosystem is. One of the most delightful new products is IKEA’s Varmblixt lamp, which now features smart home compatibility and a light-changing design.

BEST EARBUDS

Shokz OpenFit Pro

preorder at shokz

Shokz is best known for its open-ear and bone-conduction earbuds, but the brand’s latest release brings noise-canceling to the equation. The latest OpenFit Pro features an ear-hook, open-ear design, making it well-suited to workouts. But Shokz added surprising noise suppression, reducing loud sounds without compromising awareness. When we briefly tested them, the OpenFit Pro earbuds felt comfortable and delivered crisp, balanced sound.

BEST HOME THEATER

LG Sound Suite

preorder at lg

There are many barriers for movie buffs looking to upgrade their home theater system — from not having enough space to lacking technical know-how, setting up any multichannel audio system is difficult. LG is striving to make it easier with its impressive Sound Suite. The app makes room tuning easy, even allowing you to adjust the sweet spot based on where you like to sit. In short, you don’t have to break out the tape measure to place your speakers.

BEST HI-FI SPEAKERS

Klipsch The Sevens II

see at klipsch

While the Sevens II might be a mathematically challenging name, the speakers themselves are a sonic delight. Klipsch upgraded its bestselling powered speakers to toast the brand’s 80th anniversary. Klipsch teamed up with amplifier experts Onkyo on the internals, while maintaining the speakers’ distinctive horn-inspired tweeter design. Whether you’re listening to music or watching movies, the Sevens II have the sound quality — and connectivity options — to keep up.

BEST TABLET

TCL Note A1 Nxtpaper

see at tcl

It’s well documented that writing by hand improves recall, but sometimes you want the convenience of a digital device to find your notes later. That’s why e-ink writing tablets have become so popular, and TCL’s Nxtpaper tablet is an impressive, versatile option. It’s not actually e-ink, but a matte display with a 120Hz refresh rate. That means it will respond quicker than e-ink, while maintaining the strain-free look and feel of paper.

BEST 4K TV

Samsung Micro RGB TV

Buy Now at samsung

Micro RGB was one of the big trends in TVs this year, with brands like Samsung and LG rolling out new models. Samsung lived up to its reputation for driving innovation as well as form, with its new Micro RGB TV boasting a whopping 130” screen. It features an art-inspired “Timeless Frame” that houses the display. It’s an exciting release from one of the most innovative TV brands — assuming you have the space for it.

BEST AUDIO INNOVATION

Victrola Soundstage

see at victrola

It’s probably a familiar journey for beginner vinyl enthusiasts. You buy the vinyl, then the turntable, and the speakers often come last. That’s because choosing between passive and powered speakers can be complex and costly, but Victrola’s new Soundstage seeks to simplify the process. The affordable speaker sits directly below turntables, making it easy to set up while saving space. And since vibrations and vinyl don’t go together, the down-firing woofers are designed to provide sufficient rumble without transferring the vibrations to the turntable.

BEST FITNESS TECH

ACEMATE Robot

preorder at acemate

We previously heard about the Acemate when it showed at IFA, and now we got a closer look at it at CES. The tennis ball machine is outfitted with cameras, moving around the court to catch balls and return with a realistic cadence. Finding time to practice with a partner can be challenging, and the Acemate is an impressive, useful companion for tennis enthusiasts.

BEST OUTDOOR TECH

Birdfy Feeder Vista

see more at birdfy

Actually being able to identify the birds you see — creatures notorious for not staying in one place — is a challenge for any novice birder. Birdfy’s bird feeders are an actually-smart use of AI, helping users more easily identify the birds that come visit their feeder. The smart camera can identify 6,000+ bird species, making it easy to familiarize yourself with the local birds wherever you live. Given the importance of backyard birders in conservation efforts, Birdfy is an easy way for even the most field-guide-averse to get engaged.

BEST CAR AUDIO

Pioneer Sphera

see at pioneer

Want to bring modern sound to an older car? Pioneer, a brand known for aftermarket car audio solutions, launched Sphera at CES. The in-dash receiver is the first-ever aftermarket receiver to feature Dolby Atmos in Apple CarPlay, allowing you to enjoy immersive audio on the road. The new receiver uses autotuning technology, adjusting the performance based on the car’s layout. The receiver is expected to launch in Spring.

BEST AR GLASSES

XReal 1S

Buy Now at xreal

XReal demo’d its latest 1S glasses with Mario Kart at CES, adding an engaging 3D element to the game. What’s most impressive is the compact form factor, compared to unwieldy AR goggles of yore. And, like other smart glasses, the 1S can be used to record audio and video, and they feature Sound by Bose for an engaging listening experience.

BEST MINI LED TV

TCL 85" X11L Series

see at tcl

While other brands focused on Mini RGB, TCL instead focused on its Mini-LED line, rolling out the SQD TV. The TV features wide viewing angles and up to 10,000 Peak Nits, and the 144HZ refresh rate makes it well-suited to sports and gaming. The audio is engineered by Bang & Olufsen, while the OS uses Google TV for an easy, smooth experience.

BEST KITCHEN GADGET

Euhomy Ice Leopard X1

see at iceleopard

Let’s face it, a lot of CES products are solutions in search of problems. That’s why it’s always exciting to see a product that solves a real-world headache. Trivial to some, not having enough ice can throw off your drink game, whether you’re a cold brew enthusiast or an amateur mixologist. The Ice Leopard X1 makes about nine cubes of ice in a mere five minutes. It’s modestly-sized and priced, featuring a slim profile and retailing for $150.

BEST THROWBACK

Clicks Communicator

see at clicks

Everything old is new again. The Clicks Communicator bears a striking resemblance to the BlackBerrys of the late 2000s, with a tactile QWERTY keyboard. Clicks already made a keyboard attachment for Android phones, but the Communicator is the brand’s first fully functional phone. Clicks sells it as either a replacement for your smartphone or a companion to your daily driver. With Android 16, it’s capable of running any major app available on Google Play. And yeah, it has a headphone jack.

BEST HEALTH TECH

Withings Body Scan 2

Health tech was huge at CES, but French tech brand Withings has been in the game for over a decade and a half. Its latest innovation is the Body Scan 2, a smart scale that it claims can measure up to 60 biomarkers. It’s designed to assess factors such as hypertension risk, arterial health, cellular health, and more. The goal is to create a more complete health picture that’s also easily digestible.

BEST GAMING GEAR

8BitDo

see more at 8bitd0

Between Clicks’ aftermarket keyboard and suction mounts, phone accessories have gotten much wackier than the standard protective case or wireless charger. 8BitDo, maker of retro-inspired gaming accessories, is jumping on the trend with its FlipPad, an Android and iPhone-compatible controller for on-the-go gaming.

BEST HEADPHONES

Fender Audio Mix Headphones

see at fender audio

What makes the new headphones from Fender Audio, a licensee of the iconic guitar brand, stand out is the modularity. You can easily swap the earcups for different colors, and even replace the battery. The versatile headphones can be used wired, passively, a rarity in Bluetooth headphones these days. When we briefly put them to the test, we found that they looked great, had decent audio performance, were comfortable to wear, and had great tactile controls.

BEST ROBOT VACUUM

Roborock Saros Rover Vacuum

see at roborock

Roborock’s Saros vacuum isn’t the first stair-climbing robot vacuum, but it is the first to feature a two-legged design with mobility inspired by humans. The vacuum can not just climb stairs but clean them as it goes. The legs allow it to make sudden turns, and it can even jump. There were a lot of questionably useful robots on display at CES, but the Saros vacuum is a promising innovation in the crowded robot vacuum category.

BEST VALUE HEADPHONES

EarFun Wave Pro X

see at earfun

EarFun, known for packing high-quality audio performance into affordable buds and headphones, is rolling out new models later this year, including a clip-on-style earbud and over-ear headphones. The Wave Pro X features high-res audio codecs LDAC and aptX Adaptive, a long 100-hour battery life, AI-powered language translation, and more, for an expected price of $130. In short, EarFun’s latest headphones are shaping to be yet another release combining great sound in an affordable package.

BEST COMPUTER

HP's EliteBoard G1a

see at hp

HP’s EliteBoard G1, which has drawn comparisons to the Commodore 64 (which itself debuted at CES), is a powerful PC stuffed into a keyboard. If you’re the type who likes to work on the go but prefers a standalone monitor, the HP EliteBoard G1a is an innovation that’s as quirky as it is clever. It’s built with the office in mind, but it wouldn’t be surprising if this takes off for everyday home use among minimalists.

BEST DESIGN

Samsung Studio 5

see at samsung

There were a lot of striking audio products this year, but Samsung may have created the most uniquely stylish with the Studio 5. While many brands opt for a retro-inspired look, the Studio 5 is decidedly modern, with a rounded, minimalistic aesthetic. The speakers are WiFI and Bluetooth enabled, although pricing and a release date are still TBD.

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