It should come as no surprise that TVs are going to be more expensive this year, but not in the way you might think. Although it might be perfectly normal for TV prices (and, in general, electronics prices) to rise year over year, 2026 may give way to even broader price hikes. And it's all thanks to AI.

In the heat of CES last week, after announcing its 2026 TV lineup, Samsung warned of this coming dilemma. According to the brand, prices are set to surge in line with the rise in demand for DRAM and RAM, which are directly linked to data centers that power AI chatbots, such as ChatGPT and Gemini. Currently, RAM prices are at an all-time high, hence the still ongoing RAMageddon crisis.

TVs won't be the only ones affected. Everything from phones to laptops could see significant price hikes in 2026, but one question remains: How bad will it be? Here's everything we know so far about how the RAM crisis may affect TVs this year.

Samsung's warning

Speaking candidly with Bloomberg at CES 2026, Samsung President and Head of Global Marketing, Wonjin Lee, explained how the spike in memory will trickle down to everything. Samsung is in a prime position to speak about these issues, as it's a leading provider of DRAM and SSDs, the very same components at the heart of the RAMageddon crisis.

"There’s going to be issues around semiconductor supplies, and it’s going to affect everyone. Prices are going up even as we speak," Lee says. "Obviously, we don’t want to convey that burden to the consumers, but we’re going to be at a point where we have to actually consider repricing our products."

This also puts Samsung ahead of market rivals, as it can source these components more easily than others, including LG, Hisense, and TCL. While that doesn't necessarily mean Samsung TVs will be cheaper than their competitors, it does give Samsung an advantage.

Market rivals, such as LG, Hisense, and TCL, could have an uphill battle this year if the cost of components has risen significantly. According to market research firm Omdia, TV-specific DRAM prices have increased by 50%. TVs require Flash NAND eMMC memory, which has doubled over the past year, and Omdia claims the spike will most certainly impact the market in 2026.

What are other brands thinking?

I reached out to a variety of TV makers to find out if there is any pressure this year to raise prices due to RAMageddon. However, very few responded in time for this article, which makes sense, given that TV prices are still in limbo at most distributors.

According to Hisense's Kenneth Hong, the hammer has still yet to drop, but the issue might be mitigated by tighter collaboration between suppliers and manufacturers.

"The memory supply is putting some pressure on our supply chain, ergo, we have and are strengthening collaboration with our suppliers," Hong said in response to an email from Tom's Guide. "To date, the RAM issue has not had any material impact on our delivery plans."

In an email correspondence between LG and Tom's Guide, a company spokesperson said, "LG has not yet announced pricing on 2026 TVs, so we'd be unable to comment at this time." Initial production on the LG C6, C6E, and G6 has likely begun already, which could mean the rise of Flash NAND eMMC prices could lead to more expensive LG OLEDs.

It all comes down to market shifts, and much of it is a guessing game at this point.

TV price hikes outlook

While there's good reason to feel nervous about TV price hikes in 2026, nothing is set in stone at this point. Most TV manufacturers have yet to fully announce their entire TV lineups, and ditto for official pricing.

Even if TVs have a slightly higher launch price, it's worth noting that TV prices tend to dip very fast. Almost every TV maker offers steep discounts after a solid five to six months following release, which is how all those enticing savings can be had during the holidays.

So what's a TV shopper to do? Well, even if TV prices are extreme in 2026, you'll have plenty of alternative options to choose from. Several 2025 and 2024 TVs are still available and will be heavily discounted heading into the new year. In fact, depending on 2026 TV prices, 2025 TVs might even be the safer bet to buy this year.

For now, all we can do is wait and see. New TV prices typically aren't announced until March or April, so we'll have a better understanding of what to expect later in the year.

More from Tom's Guide

• Hisense’s new RGB Mini-LED is probably the best-looking LCD TV at CES 2026
• Should you buy a Micro RGB TV this year? Here are all of the RGB TVs coming in 2026 from brands like Samsung, Hisense and LG
• Micro RGB TVs vs OLED TVs — here's the TV I'd buy in 2026

CES 2026 was the epicenter of innovation in the tech industry. In keeping with tradition, new TV innovations were on display, and the brands behind the best TVs in the business unveiled many of their newest models.

But while LG and Samsung showed off some (if not most) of their mainline 2026 TVs at CES, Hisense focused almost exclusively on its souped-up, cutting-edge displays. Instead of the immensely popular U6, U7 and U8 Series that shoppers have gravitated toward in recent years, we were treated to the big-screen models with fancy technology and lofty price tags.

That raises some questions: Why are all of the Hisense 2026 TVs we know about the sets that are bound to be more niche in their appeal, and probably pricier than the company’s perennially popular, mainline series? If Hisense is gearing up to launch another slate of Mini-LED TVs in 2026, why haven’t we seen them yet?

New Hisense TVs are almost here

Over the last couple of years, Hisense has treated CES almost exclusively as an opportunity to showcase its biggest TVs and its fanciest display innovations. This is why we’ve learned all about the Hisense UR9 and UR8 (the brand’s first RGB Mini-LED TVs to be made available in smaller, more-popular screen sizes), as well as its 116-inch and 163-inch models (the latter of which uses an ultra-premium Micro-LED display).

Most TV-makers treat CES similarly, the difference being that we also usually learn a lot more about the rest of their lineup. Hisense will almost certainly wait until late March or early April to reveal the successor to the entry-level U65QF, the U75QG, and of course, the Hisense U8QG — one of the brightest TVs we’ve ever tested.

After last year’s CES, Hisense didn’t unveil its primary Mini-LED TV lineup until the last week of March. I haven’t received any advanced notice about such an announcement, but I’m inclined to believe that the brand will follow a similar trajectory in the coming months.

Hisense's main TV lineup probably won't feature RGB Mini-LED backlighting

Hisense is remaining tightlipped about the newest versions of the Hisense U6, U7 and U8, so for now, these model names remain unconfirmed.

However, the U7 and U8 were briefly shown on screen during Hisense's CES keynote, which momentarily caused me to believe that Hisense's primary TV lineup would also feature RGB backlighting. Today, a representative from Hisense informed me that the models shown belonged to the brand's global RGB Mini-LED lineup.

They added, "the 2026 U.S. lineup will only feature the 116UXS RGB Mini-LED evo, and the RGB Mini-LED UR8 and UR9 Series. We’ll have more to come on our US lineups in the next couple of months."

If you read between the lines, it's not a stretch to interpret the "more to come" as a sign that we'll eventually get a formal announcement about more TVs, and that these models are wholly separate from the brand's premium, RGB Mini-LED catalogue.

Does that mean that Hisense will skimp on the innovations in its mid-range Mini-LED TVs? I doubt it. But, for now, all we can do is speculate as to what's to come for some of the most affordable, value-priced TVs on the market.

More from Tom's Guide

• Hisense’s new RGB Mini-LED is probably the best-looking LCD TV at CES 2026
• Should you buy a Micro RGB TV this year? Here are all of the RGB TVs coming in 2026 from brands like Samsung, Hisense and LG
• Micro RGB TVs vs OLED TVs — here's the TV I'd buy in 2026

The Garmin Venu 4 is one of my favorite fitness-tracking smartwatches. Packed with tools to help you log your daily efforts, train, recovery, and improve your overall well-being, it also supports a decent number of non-fitness apps, like Google Maps and Garmin Pay, while offering solid battery performance, a bright screen, and all-around stylish looks.

For all of these reasons, I opted to wear the Garmin Venu 4 on a recent trip to Las Vegas, Nevada, to cover CES 2026 for Tom’s Guide. Over the course of four action-packed days, the Venu 4 kept tabs on my efforts from the moment I left my room until the second I returned for the night.

After 65,000 steps, here are seven things I learned about the Garmin Venu 4 (and myself).

I walked 65,000 steps with the Garmin Venu 4

Check out my core metrics, recorded by the Garmin Venu 4 over the course of four days in Las Vegas covering CES 2026, above.

1. GPS battery life lasted a full day without issue

Each day, I fired up a walking workout on the Garmin Venu 4 and allowed it to track my efforts uninterrupted, while navigating cavernous convention center hallways, never-ending rows of tech products, smoke-filled casino floors, intriguing liminal spaces, ornate stucco exteriors, and lots of one-on-one meetings.

In terms of hours spent recording, day one was my longest, with the Garmin Venu 4 running the GPS for ten hours and eight minutes straight. When all was said and done, and I returned to my room, I had just shy of 25% battery remaining.

Garmin says that the larger, 45mm Venu 4 (the one I wore) should get between 17 and 19 hours of usage when using multi-GPS to track a workout. However, my experience suggests that GPS battery life is slightly less than that in real-world use.

Fortunately, day one at CES was my longest day out and about, and the Venu 4 had more than enough battery power to easily cruise through each of the remaining days with ease.

2. The Venu 4 is surprisingly comfy, even on the right wrist

While I almost always opt to wear my watches, smart or dumb, on my left wrist, for this trip, I wore the Garmin Venu 4 on my right wrist to allow for a traditional mechanical watch on my left. When I first set out rocking double watches, I was a little concerned that the Venu 4 would become bothersome. That, surprisingly, wasn’t the case.

With a manageable weight of 56 g with the silicone strap attached, the 45mm Garmin Venu 4 has enough heft to let you know it’s there without actually feeling hefty. The standard silicone strap is soft, stretchy, and doesn’t get itchy when I start to sweat (an issue I’ve had with other silicone straps).

3. Riding a taxi and monorail messed up my distance data

I did encounter several hiccups with my tracking data from the Garmin Venu 4. While the step counts, calories burned, and accent data are all sound, my distance covered seems off, given the step counts, for days two, three, and four.

Upon further inspection, it appears that a short Lyft ride from the Venetian Expo Hall to the Las Vegas Convention Center was included in my day two total, plus a bus ride back, while that same journey to and from also got added on day three distance total, except that the Las Vegas monorail was my non-walking means of transportation.

For day three, my several-mile taxi ride to the airport also got logged as distance covered.

4. I burned a lot of calories and did a ton of sweating

Over the course of four days, walking 65,000 steps with the Garmin Venu 4, I burned a total of 8,500 calories or roughly 2,125 calories a day. I also sweated out nearly 26 liters of water, or roughly 6.4 liters a day. Good thing I was hell-bent on staying hydrated! The desert dryness is no joke.

5. I climbed nearly the height of One World Trade Center

I generally tend to think of Las Vegas as a flat city, being in a desert and all, but over my four days at CES with the Garmin Venu 4, I ascended roughly 1,702 feet, or nearly the height of One World Trade Center in New York.

For what it’s worth, I purposely opted to take the stairs versus escalators every chance I had. This was both for the added calorie burn and to navigate the show with speed (folks don’t leave room for walkers on escalators in Vegas).

Aside from the distance-related hiccups, all of the rest of the data captured by the Garmin Venu 4 over the four days I recorded my trials and tribulations as a modern tech journalist appears sound. So much so that I wouldn’t hesitate to wear the Venu 4 during the next major event I cover, assuming the total time spent out and about doesn’t exceed 12-ish hours.

If it does, I'll just grab the impossibly-long-lasting Garmin Instinct 3 instead.

More from Tom's Guide

• I tracked my day at CES with the new Garmin Instinct 3 — and walked over 17,000 steps
• These are the 7 coolest wearable tech gadgets I tried at CES 2026
• 5 wearable tech predictions for 2026 — from futuristic Fitbits to the ever-elusive Apple Ring

I checked out more than a dozen new smart rings last week, while covering CES 2026, the world's largest consumer tech show, chatting with another half dozen brands about new models launching this year.

As a result of those conversations and booth visits, several themes emerged surrounding the future of smart rings. From haptic feedback to gesture controls to lots of litigation, these are my seven biggest predictions for smart rings in 2026.

1. Custom gesture controls are coming

Up until this point, the best smart rings have been centered around holistic, fitness, sleep, and women's health tracking, but that's about to change. I spoke with a handful of brands actively building customizable gesture controls into their smart rings.

One example is the Aivela Ring Pro, which was created by a former Apple product designer and offers a total of 14 programmable gesture controls alongside impressive wellness tracking insights.

The Aivela Ring Pro supports both standard gestures, like tapping the side of the ring to start or stop music, sliding your finger to scroll through your TikTok feed, or pressing and holding the side of the ring to begin recording a workout, as well as "air" gesture controls, like drawing a heart with your finger to like a post on social media.

The Even Realities R1 is another noteworthy ring with gesture controls. However, unlike the Aivela Ring Pro, which is designed to control just about any piece of tech in your life, the R1's gesture controls are primarily for navigating the brand's (excellent) G2 smart glasses.

And just like the Aivela Ring Pro, the Even R1 also offers comprehensive wellness tracking tools.

2. Say hello to alerts via haptic feedback

I chatted with two different brands launching smart rings in 2026 with haptic feedback. In the case of the RingConn Gen 3 — expected to launch this summer — the device's smart vibrations can be set up as a gentle means to wake a user or as an alert for health notifications.

RingConn also says the ring will be able to alert you to new insights via subtle vibrations. However, there's no word yet on whether users will have full control over the feature. I could imagine a finger vibration every time you get a new text message could get old fast and potentially be a major battery drain.

3. Unlock blood pressure insights

Look out, Apple, the best Apple Watch models aren't likely to be the only wearables with hypertension tracking in 2026. In addition to haptic alerts, RingConn is also bringing blood pressure insights to the forthcoming RingConn Gen 3 model.

While not exactly the same as Apple's hypertension alerts, blood pressure insights on the Gen 3 will monitor a user's long-term blood pressure trends, helping users track whether their cardiovascular health is improving or not.

This is not a blood pressure monitor, nor is it a diagnostic tool for hypertension. However, it does represent a major expansion of what smart rings are capable of, health-monitoring-wise. Moreover, I fully expect the other major smart ring players to follow suit with similar features.

4. Choose from even more subscription-free options

The Oura Ring 4 remains the best smart ring at the start of 2026. (I'm especially fond of the Ceramic models.) However, in addition to the cost of the ring itself, which starts at $349, you need to spend another $69 a year for an Oura app subscription.

If you loathe subscription pricing, I've got good news. You can expect even more Oura Ring alternatives in 2026 that are completely subscription-free. These include the Aivela Ring Pro, the Pebble Index 01, and the Even Realities R1.

The RingConn Gen 3, meanwhile, will also remain subscription-free, just like its predecessors.

5. Major smart ring players will have a comeback

Toward the end of 2025, the U.S. smart ring market took a massive hit: the latest Ultrahuman Ring Air was yanked from store shelves and barred from being sold by the manufacturer. The reason? A successful lawsuit on the part of Oura, claiming Ultrahuman, along with RingConn, violated the brand's patents with their latest products.

While RingConn settled with Oura for an undisclosed amount, Ultrahuman opted to take its smart ring off the U.S. market and regroup.

This is, of course, not the end of Ultrahuman in the U.S. In addition to continuing to support U.S. customers who bought Ultrahuman smart rings before the band, all signs point to the brand figuring out a way to work around the patent issue with a new or altered model.

This could mean removing certain pieces of tech or turning off certain features, similar to what Apple had to do with its blood oxygen tracking feature on various Apple Watch models after the infamous Masimo legal debacle.

However, there's also a chance that Ultrhuman will build around the issue and find new means of accomplishing the same holistic feats, all without touching on Oura's patents. Whatever route the brand takes, my money is on a new Ultrahuman smart ring for 2026.

6. Additional patent lawsuits will be filed

Of course, the Oura vs. RingConn vs. Ultrahuman legal drama is most likely not the end of the lawsuits between smart ring rivals. In fact, you can count on additional litigation in 2026 from the major players.

Unfortunately, the mass filing of patents as a means of beating the competition is essentially par for the course when it comes to consumer tech brands in 2026. Really, the only question is, which smart ring company will be the first to drop fresh litigation this year, and how soon will it come?

7. Battery life will keep getting better

The Pebble Index 01 is one of the most intriguing new smart rings I demoed at CES 2026. It doesn't have any health or fitness tracking features, but it does offer a single, customizable clicky button that can be set up to do any number of tasks, like record voice memos.

What's even more remarkable about the Index 01 is its ring's battery life. It's designed to last the entire product life of the ring, two to three years.

While we likely won't see any traditional health-focused smart rings with unlimited battery in 2026, longevity is, across the board, improving. The RingConn Gen 3, for instance, is rated at 13 days per charge, a notable increase over its predecessor's 10-day battery, and way better than the Oura Ring 4's eight-day battery.

More from Tom's Guide

• These are the 7 coolest wearable tech gadgets I tried at CES 2026
• How to shop for your first smart ring in 2025 — and start your health-tracking journey
• 5 wearable tech predictions for 2026 — from futuristic Fitbits to the ever-elusive Apple Ring

Just like it always does, Lenovo wowed us with futuristic concepts and rollable screens at CES 2026. But behind the hardware was perhaps its most important announcement yet: a cross-device AI tool called Qira.

We’re currently living in an era where every tech giant is shoehorning a new chatbot into every available corner of our digital lives. (I’m looking at you, Microsoft Copilot.) Lenovo’s solution aims to be the antithesis of that "bloated" experience — an ambient intelligence that works quietly in the background, only stepping forward when you actually need it.

The goal? To let you do more with AI without getting lost in it.

Following a brief glimpse of Qira’s potential at Lenovo’s Sphere keynote, I sat down with Ryan McCurdy, SVP and president of Lenovo North America. We discussed how this "AI Twin" approach is designed to break through AI fatigue and why, in his view, the best version of AI is the one that gives you your time back.

An always present AI

While most AI tools these days require you to go out of your way to download or open them, Lenovo is baking Qira directly into the operating system — whether that be Windows or Android. It’s not just another website you have to bookmark; it’s going to be a core part of how your Lenovo laptop and Motorola phone actually work when it rolls out later this year.

Right now, even for someone like me who loves gadgets, using AI can feel like a chore. You’re constantly jumping between a browser for one tool, a desktop app for another, and then maybe grabbing your phone for a third. It’s a total juggling act.

When I spoke with McCurdy, he explained that this “siloed” approach is exactly what’s holding people back. He doesn't think the future of AI is just another app you have to remember to check. Instead, Qira is designed to be “always present" and “aware of what you’re doing.” It’s not just sitting in a sidebar waiting for you to click on it; it’s working across your ThinkPad and Motorola Razr at the same time.

Think of it this way: with Qira, you won’t have to waste time explaining the context every time you open a new chat window. Since it’s already seeing what you’re working on across your devices, Qira already knows. It’s a much more "elegant solution" that actually feels like it's helping you rather than giving you more work to do.

Not just a chatbot but a personal twin

It’s easy to get stuck in the habit of using just one AI tool, especially when it’s already sitting there on your taskbar. But if you only use Microsoft Copilot, you’re missing out on what Gemini does best, and vice versa. You might want Copilot to handle a massive Excel spreadsheet, but you’d probably rather have Gemini do your deep research.

Instead of trying to build a new chatbot to compete with everyone else, Lenovo is making Qira an "orchestrator." It doesn't want to be your only AI tool — it wants to be the one that picks the best tool for whatever you're doing. It’s also not going to be a total data hog; it uses your laptop’s NPU to handle things locally whenever possible to keep your data private.

To make this work, Lenovo has spent the last year buddying up with Intel, AMD, Nvidia, and Microsoft. The goal is to make sure Qira has the "keys" to all the best tech on the market so it can act like a conductor for your digital life. This approach could actually be the cure for AI bloat — instead of you managing ten different AI apps, you just have one "assistant" managing them for you.

This is where the "Personal Twin" comes in. Since Qira is with you on your phone and your laptop, it’s watching how you actually work. Over time, it learns your habits and your tone until it basically becomes a digital clone of your workflow. The idea is that your "Twin" can handle the boring, repetitive stuff across all your different apps and devices, leaving you to focus on the things that actually require a human brain.

More time for what matters

We’ve only just scratched the surface of what Qira can do, but one of the most practical features I saw during Lenovo's Tech World keynote was Catch Me Up. We’ve all been in that position where you step away for a few hours and come back to a mountain of notifications. This tool is designed to summarize everything you missed — from work emails to family group chats — so you don’t have to waste time digging through your inbox or scrolling endlessly through social media.

Even on a normal day, Catch Me Up feels like a massive win for anyone trying to cut down on their screen time. It’s essentially a personalized briefing that gets you up to speed before you even log on for the day.

While McCurdy is busy running Lenovo’s North American business, he’s also a family man with 12 siblings and a big family of his own. When I asked him if he’d be using Qira to keep track of everyone, he didn't give me a "corporate" answer. Instead, he explained that for him, the best version of AI is one that handles the digital legwork so he can actually be present with his friends and family instead of constantly checking his phone.

It’s a bit ironic, but it seems like one of the main goals of Qira is to help you use technology so efficiently that you can finally afford to put it away.

Qira outlook

Unlike Apple Intelligence, which often feels like a "coming soon" teaser, you’ll actually be able to get your hands on Qira sooner than you’d think. Lenovo confirmed that Qira will start shipping on select PCs in the first quarter of this year, with Motorola devices following later this year via over-the-air updates.

If you’re wondering if your current gear — like my trusty ThinkPad — will work with this new tool, the answer is a hopeful “maybe.” While Qira is launching on flagship devices first, Lenovo is planning to release software updates for select older models, like those already using Lenovo AI Now. However, there is a hardware catch: to handle that heavy "local lifting" and keep your data private, you’ll likely need a newer machine equipped with an NPU.

I’m cautiously optimistic. Lenovo’s presentation at the Sphere wowed me in a way that hasn’t happened for a while in the AI space. If Lenovo and Motorola can really make our PCs and smartphones work together as one unified brain, they might just be the ones to put "AI fatigue" to bed for good.

More from Tom's Guide

• I went hands-on with the Lenovo Yoga Mini i and it could be the perfect companion for your desk
• AI is quietly breaking the internet and most people don’t even realize it yet
• I tested Amazon’s new Echo Show 8 with Alexa+ — here’s how it stacks up to its predecessor

Rumors of an Apple smart ring have been circulating for as long as I can remember. With numerous patents filed over the past decade, each hinting at a potential finger-based wearable from the Cupertino King, there’s still no hard evidence that such a device will ever see the light of day.

But what if the Apple Ring wasn’t launched by Apple at all, but rather by former Apple product designers? That’s where the Aivela Ring Pro enters the chat. With former Apple industrial designer Hartmut Esslinger leading the charge, the Aivela Ring could be the next best thing to an actual Apple Ring.

Combining health and fitness tracking features with gestures that can be used to control just about any piece of Bluetooth-enabled tech in your life, I just got my hands on an early version of the Aivela Ring Pro, and I’m impressed. Here’s everything you need to know.

Aivela Ring Pro: Price and availability

The Aivela smart ring launched on Kickstarter in September 2025 and quickly reached fully-funded status. However, you can still secure an Aivela Ring Pro for $179 via early-backer pricing if you move quickly.

Compatible with Android and iOS devices, the Aivela Ring Pro is subscription-free.

The ring has already begun shipping to early backers, with units continuously released in batches. Check the Aivela Ring Pro Kickstarter for more details on availability.

Aivela Ring Pro: Design

I tried on the Aivela Ring Pro, and it’s impressively lightweight and fairly sleek-looking. The exterior is titanium, while the interior is resin to maximize on-skin comfort. Users can choose from sizes seven through 14.

Depending on your size selection, the Aivela Ring Pro weighs between 2.4 and 3.6 g, which is definitely on the lighter side compared to the best smart rings I’ve tested. Water resistance is 100 meters, which is par for the course and more than enough protection for bathing and swimming.

Finishes include matte black, rose gold, silver, and gold.

Aivela Ring Pro: Health tracking

When it comes to health and fitness tracking, the Aivela Ring Pro has the basics covered and then some. The ring monitors your heart rate, blood oxygen saturation levels (SpO2), body temperature, movement, sleep quality, and ovulation cycles (for women).

Like the best fitness trackers, including the Oura Ring 4, the Aivela Ring Pro provides a daily sleep score out of 100, along with a "vitality" score similar to Oura’s readiness score.

Users can also view a breakdown of their sleep cycles and nightly movement, while keeping tabs on daily calorie intake, workouts, step count and more.

The companion app even includes an AI coach you can chat with via text for personalized insights, tips, and wellness plans. It also generates custom two-minute "podcasts" aimed at breaking down your health data.

Aivela Ring Pro: Programmable gesture controls

The coolest feature of the Aivela Ring Pro is support for gesture controls. A small "optical finger navigation" sensor on the exterior of the device is what makes the magic happen.

In total, the Aivela Ring Pro supports eight standard gesture controls — like tap, swipe, double-tap, double-tap-and-hold, etc. — along with six "air" based controls, like making a heart pattern with your ring-worn finger.

In theory, these gesture controls can be programmed to do just about anything, from scrolling through your phone’s TikTok feed by swiping the side of the ring to starting a workout tracking session in Strava with a double-tap.

Other examples include controlling music or podcasts, flipping through slide decks, or snapping photo/videos. Better yet, with support for both Android and iOS devices and the ability to control everything from earbuds, smartphones, TVs, and more, the customization possibilities are nearly endless.

Aivela Ring Pro: Battery

The Aivela Ring Pro battery is rated at seven days per charge, which is fairly competitive. By comparison, the latest Oura Ring 4 offers an eight-day battery life rating.

Meanwhile, the battery recharge time for the Aivela Ring Pro is an impressive 30 minutes or so.

Aivela Ring Pro: Outlook

To put it bluntly, the Aivela Ring Pro promises a lot, from competitive holistic tools and battery life to a comfortable and lightweight design to supporting loads of gesture controls for all your favorite tech gadgets.

The question is, can it deliver on the user experience side? When I demoed the Aivela Ring, it was admittedly a little buggy in terms of gesture control support. While I did observe a brand rep showing off the ability to browse TikTok by swiping the OFN sensor, it took several tries. (To be fair, shoddy internet could be to blame, as we were in the dark depths of the Venetian Convention Center in Las Vegas during CES 2026.)

Ultimately, I love the idea of nonchalantly tapping my smart ring with my thumb to skip to the next track on Spotify or turn on my smart TV. Combine that with reliable holistic tracking, and you’ve got a winner in my book. Stay tuned for a full review of the Aivela Ring Pro.

More from Tom's Guide

• These are the 7 coolest wearable tech gadgets I tried at CES 2026
• I just went hands-on with the RingConn Gen 3 — and it beats even the Oura Ring 4 in several crucial ways
• I got barefoot at CES to test the Withings Body Scan 2 — and unlocked tons of longevity insights in just 90 seconds

While one of the best laptops will certainly do the job for most people, I’ve always found them limiting. From their non-modular designs to the constant worry of keeping a battery topped off, I prefer to work on a desktop whenever possible.

In fact, I’ve gone so far as to bring one of the best mini PCs with me when I travel, and more recently, I ditched my laptop entirely for a pocketable mini PC and a pair of AR glasses. The catch is that I still have to bring a keyboard. But what if I didn’t?

The Raspberry Pi 400 was the first device to truly put the keyboard-PC back on the map. At less than $100, you aren't paying a premium for the form factor, but being limited to ARM-based Linux meant it could never be my daily driver for work.

HP recently showed off its new EliteBoard G1a, which feels much better suited for a mainstream audience as it offers a full Windows 11 Pro experience that easily fits in a backpack. After going hands-on with it, I think I’m finally one step closer to leaving my mini PC behind and just working from a keyboard — even if the dream isn't quite perfect yet.

Finally, a pro-level keyboard-PC

At first glance, the HP EliteBoard G1a doesn’t look that different from any other keyboard you’d find in an office setting, as it has a full-size layout with a numpad on the right. It’s only when you see it from the side that you notice the laptop-like vents and two USB-C ports on the top left corner.

On the version I saw, these were the only two ports on the device — one is a high-speed USB4 port and the other is USB 3.2 Gen 2.

What surprised me most about the EliteBoard G1a is that both of these ports are capable of video out. With one of the best monitors that has at least 65W of USB-C Power Delivery, you can actually run a dual-monitor setup right from the keyboard. This effectively turns your display into a docking station, leaving your desk completely clutter-free.

When you flip the EliteBoard G1a over, the cooling vents reveal its true nature. Powered by an AMD Ryzen AI 300 Series processor with up to Radeon 860M graphics, it’s a legitimate powerhouse.

Beyond standard office work, it’s equipped to handle creative apps like Photoshop and even light gaming — tasks that would bring a Raspberry Pi 400 to its knees.

The device can also be outfitted with an optional 32Wh internal battery. This isn’t meant for working on the go with a portable monitor; instead, like with the Khadas Mind mini PC, it’s designed to let you move from one desk to another without shutting down or rebooting.

Even the power button feels "Elite." A solid white LED means it’s powered on, while a blinking light indicates Modern Standby — ready to wake up with a single tap. You can even opt for a version with an integrated fingerprint sensor for Windows Hello, so you can securely login as you’re powering up the device.

During my hands-on time, the experience was snappy and, more importantly, practically silent. An HP rep explained that it’s tuned to stay at or below 38dB, backed by a TÜV certification for low noise. For a moment there, I almost forgot there was a whole computer underneath my fingers.

Close but it doesn't quite track

I was quite impressed with the EliteBoard G1a, but it isn’t without its shortcomings, the most significant of which is the numpad on the right. If you’re an accountant or a real number cruncher, you probably need those keys, but for the rest of us, it feels like wasted space.

A trackpad would be a whole lot more useful for a device meant to be a portable all-in-one. HP is actually exploring adding a trackpad version to the EliteBoard G1a lineup, but in the meantime, the device at least comes with a pre-paired wireless mouse to bridge the gap.

As someone who couldn’t imagine working without one of the best mechanical keyboards, the real deal-breaker for me is the typing experience. To achieve that ultra-thin 12mm profile, the EliteBoard G1a features a low-profile scissor-switch membrane keyboard instead of true mechanical switches.

The silver lining is that the design is remarkably modular; the keyboard deck is spill-resistant and easy to replace if it gets damaged or if you accidentally douse it in coffee.

If the EliteBoard G1a had mechanical keyswitches and a trackpad on the right, it would be the perfect device for me, especially given how much power that AMD Ryzen AI 300 chip packs into such a tiny form factor. Unfortunately, it’s currently designed for business users where a quiet membrane keyboard is par for the course.

Now that HP has shown you can cram a powerful Windows 11 computer into a keyboard, I'm hopeful other PC makers will follow suit. Here’s to hoping one of them decides to go all-in on the premium typing experience and gives us a keyboard-PC with both mechanical switches and a trackpad.

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• The 5 things I'm glad I knew before buying a mini PC
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Asus pulled out all the stops with its lineup of next-gen gaming laptops at CES 2026, with its bonkers dual-screen Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo and a Death Stranding-inspired ROG Flow Z13. But one key device surprisingly didn't make an appearance: the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 with Panther Lake.

In many ways, this is Asus' flagship machine that's one of the best laptops around, and while there were updated machines with RTX 50-series, the leaked integrated model was canned. Well, sort of, as we got a chance to see the ROG Zephyrus G14 with an Intel Core Ultra Series 3 chip during a hands-on demo in December, and there was no discrete GPU in sight.

Sporting an Intel Core Ultra X9 388H with integrated Intel Arc B390 graphics, this would be the first Zephyrus G14 without a GPU. As with the current Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025), these laptops usually come with graphics cards now up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080. However, with the power to game on an Intel Panther Lake chip, Asus was looking to shift gears.

For now, though, this wasn't meant to be. The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 with an Intel Core Ultra Series 3 chip mysteriously vanished despite an upcoming reveal, but we now have some insight behind its apparent cancellation.

What happened?

During the lead-up to CES 2026, we got a preview of the ROG Zephyrus G14 with Intel Arc B390 power during an Asus hands-on event in December. Because of this, we were anticipating its big reveal during the CES showcase.

However, at the last-minute, Asus pulled the laptop from the show. It was briefly seen at Intel's demo booth, but was reportedly later removed from the area and wasn't seen again (as told by French outlet Les Numériques).

Many believe the ROG Zephyrus G14 was cancelled or at least postponed due to supply chain issues, with Asus later confirming a "change in strategy" for the laptop. Due to this, it is now looking to be cancelled.

After hearing about the Intel Core Ultra X9 G14's cancellation, we started asking around and found other companies confirming a struggle to nail down supply. So our own Jason England put the question to Intel themselves in an interview that will be published soon.

"A perfect combination of industry-level component shortages, significantly increased demand because of how good the chips are and also ramping up production, you're getting mixed signals depending on where the different partners are," Nish Neelalojanan, Senior Director of Product Management at Intel, commented.

"Good news is there are plenty of X9 designs available. So as a gamer, you will be able to go buy an X9 system from your favorite retailers. There will be availability."

While we will see laptops equipped with an Intel Core Ultra X9 chip for integrated graphics gaming performance, it won't be from the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 right now. But perhaps this wouldn't have been the best fit after all.

Not the right fit?

During an interview with Asus, I asked whether we'd see integrated graphics on laptops, with Asus' Director of Technical Marketing Sascha Krohn stating: "I would say we're definitely getting into the territory where that becomes a possibility." However, the timing may not be right for the ROG Zephyrus G14.

It's clear that gaming on an Intel Core Ultra Series X9 or X7 processor has seen significant improvements in integrated graphics, being able to play the likes of Battlefield 6 at over 140 FPS at max settings without a discrete GPU. However, it still doesn't reach the heights of an RTX 50-series GPU, and the ROG Zephyrus G14 is known for its top-level performance in a compact design.

Asus may have changed plans to make sure its flagship gaming laptop still offered plenty of power to run the latest PC games at a high level of settings, but as Intel states, demand for the chip would mean a very limited supply for the G14, too.

However, this doesn't take away from the perks of an Intel Panther Lake chip being used in a laptop that isn't just made for gaming, but also for productivity, too. After testing Intel Panther Lake, we've seen major gains in power efficiency, and this should result in machines with gaming performance that have a much longer battery life.

At the very least, we will be seeing an Asus TUF Gaming A14 with an AMD Strix Halo chip, giving us powerful integrated graphics in the company's more budget lineup of laptops.

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• I just went eyes-on with Nvidia G-SYNC Pulsar, and now my own gaming monitor feels obsolete
• 'Basically a photograph interacting with you at 500 frames per second': Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang shares his vision of the future of PC gaming, and how the company plans to tackle GPU pricing crisis
• I just tested Lenovo’s Legion Pro Rollable concept, and now my gaming laptop feels boring

Well, it was only a matter of time. Lenovo has pulled back the curtains at CES 2026 on its next handheld gaming PC, and it's the Lenovo Legion Go 2 with a very much welcome upgrade: SteamOS.

It's a tale we've heard before. An all-new gaming handheld arrives on the scene with specs that outshine the Steam Deck, only for it to be hindered by the power-consuming and performance-draining Windows 11. Microsoft's operating system is just ill-suited to handhelds. The Xboxified Windows 11 (the Xbox Full Screen Experience) does alleviate the issue, but only somewhat.

Lenovo understood the woes of Windows 11; its Lenovo Legion Go S was the first official gaming handheld to receive SteamOS outside of the Steam Deck, and we sang its rightful praises.

In fact, when the Windows version of the Legion Go S arrived in our hands, our own Tony Polanco simply said, "I'd wait for the SteamOS version." Well, it appears history is repeating itself now that Lenovo finally revealed a SteamOS-certified Legion Go 2.

As announced, the Lenovo Legion Go 2 powered by SteamOS (a dedicated Steam button included) will be available in June 2026, with prices starting at $1,199. Now, we know the latest gaming handheld is one pricey machine, even compared to the $999 ROG Xbox Ally X, so will it be worth it now that SteamOS is onboard?

Same-same, but different

When the SteamOS-powered Lenovo Legion Go 2 arrives, it will come with the exact same specs that we've seen on the model that's now available. That means an extremely powerful AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip, up to 32GB of DDR5X RAM, a 74Wh battery and a dazzling 8.8-inch (1920 x1200) OLED 144Hz touchscreen.

Combined, all of these specs make the best parts of Lenovo's latest handheld. The only real problem holding it back was (you guessed it) Windows 11, and it affects the performance in gaming and battery life of these portable consoles to the point that it shaves off precious frames and a significant amount of time for keeping it turned on.

Don't get us wrong, the Legion Go 2 still impresses with its gaming chops (and beautiful OLED display), but knowing it could be better with a lightweight OS that's specifically built for gaming makes its current state a tad lackluster — especially at its full $1,349 price point.

So what kind of performance jump can we look forward to with SteamOS? Well, if it's anything like the Legion Go S models, it will be quite the improvement. Just check out the differences we benchmarked below.

Of course, we'll need to do some hands-on testing in our labs with the upcoming Legion Go 2 with SteamOS to see if gaming performance is massively improved, but the signs are clear. Even the short time I played The Witcher 3 and Black Myth: Wukong on the all-new SteamOS edition made it clear that Valve's operating system offers plenty of benefits.

It's almost like playing on a Steam Deck 2, what with the Legion Go 2's visually delicious OLED display and ergonomically pleasant detachable controllers. Essentially, it unlocks what the latest Legion Go could actually offer.

So, expected better performance and longer battery life just with a change of OS; no hardware changes needed. That fixes two of our biggest gripes with the current Lenovo Legion Go 2, but that price is still eye-wateringly high.

Still worth the price?

The Lenovo Legion Go 2 is just about the most expensive handheld gaming PC on the market, even compared to the other options like the ROG Xbox Ally X or MSI Claw A8 (all boasting the mighty AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip). But with SteamOS, the price is a little more justified.

Anyone after the pinnacle in portable handheld gaming will find the Lenovo Legion Go 2 is already a treat, thanks to its impressive specs, OLED display, adjustable ergonomics and more. But with SteamOS fixing the issues it has? That just makes this premium machine all the more worth it if you've been saving up for a top-quality gaming experience.

It remains to be seen just how well this upcoming Lenovo Legion Go 2 with SteamOS will fare, especially now that Xbox FSE makes Windows 11 a hugely more tolerable OS on handhelds. But as history details, SteamOS reigns supreme on handhelds, and on one of the strongest portable systems around, that's a good combination to look forward to.

Wondering what's next for on-the-go gaming? Check out what we expect for gaming handhelds in 2026.

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The biggest tech event of the year has come to a close, and while the industry’s leading TV brands didn’t announce all of their newest TVs at CES 2026, we’ve seen enough of their upcoming lineups to get the lay of the land. And, as it turns out, 2026 is shaping up to be the biggest year yet for what have come to be known as lifestyle TVs.

It’s an umbrella term for a relatively new class of TV that puts a particular emphasis on design. More specifically, lifestyle TVs are built to harmonize with the viewer’s life and living space, both aesthetically and functionally. The majority of these sets resemble framed, wall-mounted portraits — and they were everywhere at CES.

I’ve long been a fan of lifestyle TVs, if only for the fact that they fill an interesting niche. I love the idea that a TV can fulfill an aesthetic purpose even when not in use, and while traditionally they’ve compromised on performance, it’s clear to me that they’re only getting better in 2026. Here’s what might grace your wall this year — from affordable lifestyle QLEDs to an incredible LG OLED.

LG's Wallpaper OLED TV sets a new standard for lifestyle TV performance

This year, the most advanced display to get the lifestyle treatment is LG's Wallpaper TV, also known as the LG W6. It harnesses one of LG Display's top OLED panels and places it within an ultra-thin, wall-mounted design that sits flush against the wall — hence the Wallpaper moniker.

Indeed, the W6 has a bit more in common with LG's G Series OLEDs, which historically have also been engineered for a flush, wall-mounted configuration. In fact, the "G" in G Series once stood for Gallery, as the overall design of these premium sets have always been heavily curatorial.

However, if TVs like the LG G5 and LG G4 can be considered lifestyle-adjacent, the W6 is closer to full-on lifestyle. Its entire body — both panel and chassis — has been engineered to be as thin as possible. It's an astonishing 9mm thick, and its uniform design allows it to hang right up against the wall.

While pricier than just about every other lifestyle TV we've seen in recent years, the W6 will potentially the best-performing TV in this space in 2026. It leverages LG Display's newest Tandem OLED panel and features the brand's newest performance-related innovation: Hyper Radiant Color Technology.

LG claims that the display can get up to 3.9 times brighter than "conventional OLEDs," and given the benchmark set by the LG G5 (which taps an older version of LG Display's Tandem OLED panel), I'm willing to bet that it gets brighter than most OLED TVs on the market.

The W6 is also wireless, so you can bask in its elegance without peeping cables all over the place. It comes with LG's Zero Connect Box, which transmits the signal of your connected devices from up to 10 meters away.

A note on price: While it's true that the W6 will cost a pretty penny compared to most lifestyle TVs, it's shaping up to be lower in price than one might expect. A representative from LG told Tom's Guide Global Editor in Chief Mark Spoonauer that the W6 would sell for roughly the same as the brand's G Series OLED TV.

Amazon eyes affordability with the Ember Artline QLED

Searching for something a bit more affordable that still plays the role of a thoughtfully designed, gallery-inspired TV? Amazon might have what you're looking for this year.

At CES, the company unveiled the Ember Artline TV — a model that blends the clever, customizable frames of traditional lifestyle TVs with the budget-friendly pricing we've come to expect from Amazon-branded sets.

It runs the newest, updated version of Amazon's Fire TV smart platform (complete with apps to showcase artwork), and shoppers can choose from ten different magnetic frames to complete the portrait-inspired look.

It'll come in two sizes at launch: 55 and 65 inches. What sets the Ember Artline TV apart from some of its competitors in the QLED-equipped lifestyle class is its price; the 55-inch version will debut at just $899 — that's about $200 less than the current price of Samsung's The Frame.

Samsung expands size options for The Frame

Obviously, Samsung is enjoying a bit of a head start as one of the most popular purveyors of lifestyle TVs, but there are some minor changes coming to Samsung's lifestyle lineup in 2026.

While the Samsung 2026 TV lineup doesn't currently include brand-new versions of The Frame and The Frame Pro, Samsung is nonetheless expanding the series to include new size options this year.

The Frame Pro, which taps a variation of Samsung's Neo QLED display with edge-lit Mini-LEDs, is now available in a 55-inch version. Previously, Samsung's top-performing version of The Frame was only available in 65-, 75- and 85-inch models.

Similarly, the basic version of The Frame will now be available in a room-dominating, 98-inch version. Unlike the The Frame Pro, the entry-level variant offers a basic QLED panel rather than the more nimble Mini-LED display found on the step-up version.

While it's a tad disappointing that Samsung doesn't seem prepared to bring bigger, hardware-based updates to its super-popular lineup of lifestyle TVs, the expansion of these series could be an indication that people are buying more of these TVs than ever before.

LG certainly saw the writing on the wall ahead of 2026. And hopefully, now that TV-makers are blending lifestyle designs with higher-level hardware, we've only just begun to see what the lifestyle class has in store for viewers in the coming years.

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Could 2026 be the year that Amazon’s AI-powered assistant really comes into its own? While Alexa+ is still technically in its early-access phase, it’s now available in millions of Echo smart speakers and displays, and Amazon recently updated both its smartphone app and launched Alexa.com last week, which allows users to access the company’s AI assistant through a web browser.

Since the launch of Alexa+, engagement with the assistant has jumped by scores over the older Alexa, with customers using it two to three times more frequently. In particular, Alexa+ users are interacting with smart home devices — such as creating routines or even just turning their lights on and off — more than 50% more than before.

So what has Amazon seen over the past year with the rollout of Alexa+, and what could this year bring for its assistant? To find out, I sat down with Dan Rausch, the Vice President of Alexa and Fire TV, at CES 2026 to ask him where Alexa+ has come, and where it’s headed.

This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

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If you were to look at what Nvidia announced at CES 2026, I wouldn’t blame you for thinking Team Green may not be a PC gaming company anymore. A huge portion of its $5 trillion valuation is driven by the AI gold rush, and on-stage, CEO Jensen Huang talked entirely about new data center tech and robotics.

But behind closed doors at a Q&A with Huang, we were really able to get into gaming with him and talk about the future of GPU tech, how AI will continue to push the gaming envelope than what we see now with the likes of DLSS 4.5 and how it’s the key to exceeding physical limitations of traditional chip technology. AI could also be used as a workaround to the RAM pricing crisis that is starting to hit the best GPUs.

Oh, and of course, we got answers to the most important meme question in the computing community — what is it with all the leather jackets?

AI is the key to generational leaps

So let’s start at the beginning. After a whole lot of questions about the new Vera Rubin data center tech, we were finally able to get a question about gaming, which made Jensen’s eyes light up.

"GeForce brought CUDA to the world, which brought AI to the world, and then after that, we used AI to bring RTX to gamers and DLSS to gamers,” Huang commented. “And so you know, without GeForce, there would be no AI today. Without AI, there would be no DLSS today. It's harmonious."

Now, I know some of you reading this are looking at the use of AI here and rolling your eyes. Fake frames is something I’m commonly asked about in reader emails, and in my time testing DLSS 4.5, all I can say is that steps are being taken to generate frames only when you need them. It’s a positive shift from hitting it with a 4x blunt instrument!

But is AI being used to overcome physical chip limitations? Huang says yes, and we may have seen the biggest possible GPU for raw graphics rendering come with the RTX 5090.

“Moore's Law ended, and we make these chips as large as we possibly can. If you look at a 5090, holy cow, it's giant. You're really at the physical limits, and that's the reason why we invented DLSS in the first place.”

And much like the Blackwell GPU architecture made the move from data center cards to the RTX 40 and 50 series, it seems obvious that you will see the Rubin architecture jump over for the RTX 60 series. So pay attention to what these cards can do.

Neural rendering is the future

But by steering this PC gaming car into the skid of AI, there’s much more that can be done — you’re seeing the signs of this happening already with some of the RTX neural systems, Nvidia ACE AI NPCs and more. But as Jensen himself says, the future is “neural rendering.”

DLSS is already kind of an example of this in some sort of way: taking some pixels rendered by the GPU and predicting the rest based on a trained model, and DLSS 4.5 in my eyes-on is quite the breakthrough in extracting more performance you wouldn’t normally see. The next step will be leaning more on the AI side of things.

“In the future, it is very likely that we'll do more and more computation on fewer and fewer pixels. By doing so, the pixels that we compute are insanely beautiful, and then we use AI to infer what must be around it.” Huang said.

And in Team Green’s labs, Huang says the company is working on things that are just “utterly shocking and incredible.” To put a more specific point on it, he talked about extreme photo realism: “basically a photograph interacting with you at 500 frames per second.”

These will lead to a growing “fusion between rendering and generative AI” in Jensen's eyes — taking the tradition generative models we know now and having them run at the pace of a video game to create infinite worlds.

AI will touch every part of a game’s DNA

Now, Nvidia has been showing its AI gaming tech isn’t just limited to making titles look prettier and run smoother. We’ve tested Nvidia’s AI NPCs (named ACE) in the past, and while it’s definitely a fun demo feature at the moment, Huang predicts that AI will move beyond just graphics to control the characters and physics within the game world itself.

“You should also expect that future video games are essentially AI characters within them. Every character will have their own AI, and will be animated robotically using AI,” Jensen predicted.

And you can see this coming hand-in-hand with some of the AI work Nvidia’s doing in the enterprise world — such as Cosmos driving robotics and full self-driving to breed interoperated human behavior.

Relying on AI processing isn’t just the shortcut to better performance over raw rasterization of graphics, it could be the key to unlocking the next generation of entire titles.

"All the characters as I mentioned earlier will be AI-based, all the animation will be AI-based and, and all of the fluid dynamics won't be computational based, but AI-emulated physics,” Huang said. “Everything is just going to look so incredibly real, and so immersive."

Looking back to survive RAMageddon

If there’s one topic of conversation that dominated the halls of CES this year, it’s the RAM price explosion. So who better to ask about the great AI gobble-up of DRAM chips than the guy at the center of using them. When asked about rising costs and potential shortages for gamers, Huang went into Nvidia’s role as a major memory purchaser.

“We also purchase GDDR for our graphics cards, and we’ve been a very significant consumer for a very long time, and so we’ve been planning that out with all of our suppliers for quite some time.”

To push further, my friend Paul Alcorn from Tom’s Hardware managed to get a question in, and connected it to the rumor that Nvidia may be bringing the RTX 3060 back from the dead amidst the memory shortage.

Jensen had an interesting answer to this, saying it’s a “good idea,” while also expanding on what could be done. “We could bring the latest generation AI technology to the previous generation GPUs,” Huang commented. “That’ll require a fair amount of engineering, but it’s also within the realm of possibility. I’ll go back and take a look at this.”

This would be an interesting concept and a huge bet on the capabilities of Nvidia’s AI gaming tech. Rendering on older CUDA cores, while doing the guesswork on the latest Tensor cores could produce some interesting results — both in affordability and performance.

Deciphering the leather jacket lore

And of course, the most critical question — the main reason why you’re here. What gives with all the leather jackets? All of us who report on Nvidia’s work have our own theories on the jackets picked and worn for each specific event.

Mine is a simple one: the shinier the jacket, the bigger the announcement. So I was so happy that someone brought up Jensen Huang’s signature attire, and asked if he has a road map for his style in the future.

“Somebody else’s road map, I just wear it,” Huang joked. Of course there’s going to be a stylist behind the scenes, and I have so many questions for them — hopefully to validate my theory on the leather jacket lore.

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At-home preventative healthcare was a hot topic at CES 2026. In addition to the Withings BodyScan 2 smart scale, which can estimate your approximate heart, metabolic, and cellular health age, I also tried out the Nuraxlogix Longevity Mirror, which similarly seeks to reside in your bathroom and help you monitor the aging process.

While the Body Scan 2 involves standing on the scale and gripping hand sensors for 90 seconds, the Longevity Mirror completes its measurements via a 30-second ‘selfie’ video. From it, the device offers loads of insights into your long-term health outlook.

I tried the Longevity Mirror

Here’s everything you need to know about the Nuralugix Longevity Mirror, based on my CES 2026 show floor demo.

Nuralogix Longevity Mirror: Price and availability

The Nuralogix Longevity Mirror is predicted to start shipping in early 2026 for $899. In addition to that cost, the Mirror also comes with an annual subscription cost of $99, though it’s waived for the first year.

Intended for use by the whole family, you can save up to six user profiles per Longevity Mirror.

Nuralogix Longevity Mirror: Loads of longevity insights in just 30 seconds

In just 30 seconds, using Nuralogix’s patented transdermal optical imaging process to observe blood flow patterns just beneath a user’s facial skin, the Longavity Mirror provides insights into your 'cardiovascular resilience, metabolic balance, stress and recovery, physiological age, and lifestyle-linked risks.'

To generate these insights, all of the data from the scan gets processed through Nuralogix’s AI engine. Once complete, the star of the show is the overall longevity score — on a scale from one to 100 — that’s meant to clue you in to how you might age over the next twenty years.

This score is further broken down into individual categories, each with its own score, including a general health score, metabolic health score, heart health index score, physiological age score, and mental health index score.

Like the Withings Body Scan 2, the Longevity Mirror also offers details on how well you’re aging versus the average person your age. From my scan, the Longevity Mirror noted a facial skin age akin to a 39-year-old, a little over a year older than my actual age (I blame the Vegas sun). My physiological age, or the average age of my vital organs, meanwhile, came in at 42-years-old (again, I blame Vegas).

The Longevity Mirror can additionally tell you your potential risk for chronic conditions based on the 30-second scan, including Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and fatty liver. This, of course, is not a diagnosis but a way to monitor long-term trends and seek further medical assessment if troubling signs persist.

Other insights include your average pulse, heart workload, vascular capacity, and warnings for irregular heartbeats. But that’s not all! The Longevity Mirror also scores your sleep quality, anxiety levels, and overall mental stress levels using a combination of heart rate variability and other metrics.

As if that wasn’t enough, Nuralogix has submitted three of the core Longevity Mirror measurements for approval with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. If approved, this would mean they are as accurate and reliable as an actual medical device. The measurements include pulse rate, breath rate, and blood pressure.

Nuralogix Longevity Mirror: Outlook

The Nuralogix Longevity Mirror could very well prove to be the smart mirror of the future. In addition to all of the health benefits, it also doubles as, you guessed it, a plain old mirror with LED strip lights built into the side.

Of course, $900 it a lot to spend on a bathroom mirror, and no one likes an annual subscription-free. However, the benefits of using this device daily — assuming the measurements are indeed mostly accurate — could pay dividends down the road when it comes to your long-term health.

Stay tuned, as we hope to get a Longevity Mirror in for further testing once review units become available.

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Every January, the Tom’s Guide team heads to Las Vegas for the biggest tech show of the year. While the cool new concepts at CES may get the most headlines, there’s just one problem: you can’t buy them. In fact, some of these gadgets will never actually turn into real products. Fortunately, every device on this list is a real product you can get your hands on.

From the Xreal 1S AR glasses that put a massive screen right in front of your face to the Aqara U400 smart lock that lets you open your door just by walking up to it with your iPhone or Apple Watch, there’s plenty of futuristic tech you can already add to your arsenal. While a few of the products below are currently in the preorder stage, most of them are available to buy and ship right now to give your life a much-needed upgrade.

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I got my hands on the forthcoming RingConn Gen 3 smart ring at CES 2026, and it could be a serious contender for the best smart ring of 2026 when it debuts (likely) this summer.

Slated to have better battery performance than even the Oura Ring 4, my top smart ring pick, the RingConn Gen 3 also brings smart vibrations into the equation, plus blood pressure insights, new finishes, and additional sizes.

Here's everything you need to know about the new RingConn Gen 3.

RingConn Gen 3: New finishes and more sizes

The RingConn Gen 3 will sport the same basic design as its predecessor, the RingConn Gen 2, which at the time of its launch was dubbed the 'world's thinnest and lightest' by the brand. That said, the exact dimensions and weight figures for the Gen 3 have yet to be released.

RingConn is adding two new finishes to the mix with the debut of its latest flagship, including brushed silver and brushed rose gold (the two furthest left in the above photo). These join matte black, polished silver, and polished gold.

The brand is also expanding its size offering. While the Gen 2 comes in sizes 6 through 14, the Gen 3 will ship in sizes 6 through 15.

There's no firm launch date or pricing info yet for the RingConn Gen 3, but I'm told a June or July 2026 debut is possible. For what it's worth, the RingConn Gen 2 is priced at $299 (and subscription-free), and my bet is the Gen 3 will cost around the same.

RingConn Gen 3: Smart vibrations

I spoke to a handful of smart ring manufacturers at CES 2026, looking to include smart vibrations into their devices, including RingConn. Personally, I think it's a great idea, assuming it doesn't end up being a massive drain on battery.

For the RingConn Gen 3, users will be able to use the vibrations as a finger-based alarm clock or as a gentle way to be alerted to any new health notifications or insights.

While I haven't confirmed it, I also suspect that the smart notifications can be used to alert you to any concerning health patterns, like if signs of sleep apnea are detected or your blood oxygen levels drop significantly.

RingConn Gen 3: Blood pressure insights

The RingConn Gen 2 already supports a lot of health monitoring tools, including heart rate and respiratory rate monitoring, sleep and stress tracking, women's health tracking, sleep apnea detection, and blood oxygen monitoring. The Gen 3 will support all of these tools, plus one more: blood pressure insights.

This is by no means a blood pressure monitoring tool, nor is it a diagnostic tool for high blood pressure. Instead, it's intended to monitor long-term blood pressure trends, helping users understand how their lifestyle may be impacting their cardiovascular health over time.

RingConn Gen 3: Better battery life

The RingConn Gen 2 already has our best smart ring pick, the Oura Ring 4, beat when it comes to battery life. While the former is rated for ten days per charge, the latter is rated at eight.

The RingConn Gen 3, meanwhile, will have a battery life rating of greater than 13 days, according to the brand reps I spoke to at the RingConn booth. It's worth mentioning that rated battery life and actual battery life aren't the same when it comes to smart rings. The former is under ideal conditions.

For example, when we reviewed the Oura Ring 4, the actual battery life was closer to six days per charge. Likewise, for the Ringconn Gen 2, I've found it gets closer to eight days per charge.

RingConn Gen 3: Outlook

The RingConn Gen 3 appears to have a lot going for it, from cool new smart features, like vibration alerts, to added health features like blood pressure insights, to seriously impressive battery life.

With more sizes and styles to choose from, could the Gen 3 catapult RingConn into the upper echelons of the smart ring space, alongside the likes of Oura and Samsung? Possibly.

With Ultrahuman down for the count and unable to sell its current flagship smart ring in the U.S., and with no new models seemingly on the horizon from the budget wearables brand, Amazfit (maker of the Helio Ring), RingConn has a serious chance to make a bigger splash. This is, of course, assuming all of the features work as advertised and the starting price stays competitive.

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Racing wheel peripherals have always fascinated me, but considering how I don’t often play racing games and that I live in a small apartment, I never seriously considered buying such a large and expensive peripheral. Thankfully, our friends at GameSir are set to launch a racing controller that’s ideal for folks like me.

During CES 2026, I went hands-on with the GameSir Swift Drive. And as you can see in the images on this page, it’s a game controller with a steering wheel stuck in its center.

GameSir says the controller is powered by the world’s smallest drive direct motor, which the company developed. This allows the small steering wheel to provide realistic steering. It also has reactive RGB lighting and haptic motors to deliver a more immersive experience.

Using the Swift Drive is an interesting experience, to say the least. I found that keeping your thumbs in the “10 and 2” position gives you the most control, just like with a real steering wheel. The wheel rumbles and twists realistically for its size. While the motors and haptic feedback can be powerful, I was told you can adjust the sensitivity to make it less intense.

The actual wheel has a textured surface that grips nicely to your thumbs. It also feels nice when it’s spinning. The controller is somewhat smaller than an Xbox or PlayStation controller, which is smart since it makes it easier to reach the trigger buttons on the back for accelerating and braking. Despite the steering wheel in its center, I found that the controller was easy to hold and well-balanced. It’s also pleasing to the eye thanks to its white and gray tones.

Though this is a controller designed specifically for racing games, you can use it to play other games. For instance, the right thumb stick on a typical controller exists here as a small nub. It’s admittedly odd to use, but it works well enough for moving the in-game camera around.

The face buttons, shoulder buttons, and left thumb stick also feel good to use and have a great response. Also, the left thumb stick and right nub utilize Hall Effect sensors, so they shouldn't wear out on you any time soon.

One pleasant surprise is that the Swift Drive controller is platform agnostic. That’s important because controllers are usually compatible with just PS5/PC or Xbox/PC (for example). I can’t speak to how well the controller works across different games and different platforms, but the fact that you can ostensibly use it on your gaming machine of choice is significant.

Outlook

The GameSir Swift Drive is easily the most innovative controller I’ve ever seen. While there have been controllers that attempted to include a built-in steering wheel, the Swift Drive takes things further by incorporating a fully functional steering wheel that acts almost identically to the ones on larger peripherals. If I could only play racing games with just one controller, it would be this one.

We don’t yet have pricing for the GameSir Swift Drive, but I was told to expect the controller to launch later this year. As soon as it comes out, you can bet I’ll put it to the test and let you know if it lives up to the hype. If it does, don’t be surprised if it finds a spot in our best PC game controllers list.

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CES 2026 might be almost over, but there are still tons of exciting innovations to uncover, particularly in the world of projectors. While Micro RGB and RGB Mini-LED TVs stole the limelight this year, these projectors stand out in the home cinema market, offering massive screen sizes and intriguing new features..

From the Aurzen ZIP Cyber Edition (a portable EV projection companion), to AWOL Vision's Aetherion series (a next-level 4K powerhouse), there's a ton of upcoming devices to track if you're a fan of laser projectors.

AWOL Vision Aetherion series

AWOL Vision might not be the first name that comes to mind when thinking about projectors, but its new Aetherion series could end up including some of the best projectors to launch this year. What sets them apart is AWOL’s proprietary PixelLock technology, which aims to maintain the clarity of a 4K image on larger screen sizes.

This issue can be a pain point on some projectors, largely due to pixel density. Pixels typically follow screen size, meaning a larger image taps larger pixels and fewer Pixels Per Inch (PPI). This can lead to a lack of sharpness and degradation in image quality.

Both the Aetherion Max and Aetherion Pro put these concerns to bed thanks to a complicated projector system that offers superior 4K preservation — even at 200 inches.

Aurzen ZIP Cyber Edition

Despite its small, cellphone-like appearance, the tri-fold Aurzen ZIP projector still offers quite a punch with 720p resolution and a screen size up to 100 inches. The relatively low resolution might be a letdown for some, but for a far-throw projector you can fit in your pocket, it's certainly pretty nifty.

The Aurzen ZIP launched last year, but this is the first time it’s leaping over the pond for a U.S. release. The Cyber Edition also adds a tasteful retro-futuristic flair to the device — I’m a sucker for clear-body tech products, and the ZIP Cyber Edition nails the aesthetic.

Aurzen positions the ZIP Cyber Edition projector as a “flexible companion for EV owners on the road,” making those long drives feel far more cinematic. It offers up to 1.5 hours of battery life with USB-C fast charging, and can even mirror your devices without Wi-Fi using AirLink One-click. If only I had one for my road trips back in the day.

XGIMI Titan Noir Max

Meet the crème de la crème of 2026 far-throw projectors. This spider-bot lookalike is XGIMI's new Titan Noir Max. It's a fitting name for such a feature-rich projector that packs some of the most advanced specs I've seen.

For starters, thanks to its new IRIS system, it offers a contrast ratio of 10,000:1. XGIMI aptly cites that it isn't so much "about deeper blacks or brighter highlights, but mood, emotion, and immersion that improve real-world viewing."

It's built on a double-laser design with SST-enhanced DMD architecture that allows it to beam out images with higher light tolerance and thermal power. XGIMI has yet to announce official brightness metrics, but seeing as the XGIMI Titan offers around 5,000 ISO lumens, I'm willing to bet the Noir offers the same (if not potentially more).

Of course, you can expect the full range of HDR support, including Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and HDR10. IMAX Enhanced is also along for the ride. Gamers get up to 240Hz at 1080p, plus VRR and ALLM ensure console gamers get 4K/120Hz support.

Samsung Freestyle+

Samsung might design some of the best TVs in the market, but it's also bringing some heat in the projector market in 2026. Allow me to take a moment to gush over Samsung’s newest design: the Freestyle+.

As the name suggests, the Freestyle+ is the next iteration of the Samsung Freestyle, offering improved brightness (up from 220 ANSI lumens to 430 ISO lumens) and a simplified setup process. Samsung calls it AI OptiScreen, though there is minimal AI involved. The system employs several features, including Screen Fit, Real-time focus, Wall calibration and 3D Auto Keystone, ensuring the projected image holds up on practically any surface.

This isn’t exactly revolutionary for projectors, as several models employ similar features, but from the demos I’ve seen of the Freestyle+, it’s pretty intuitive and works almost instantly.

Let's say someone bumps into the projector while walking around the room. The Freestyle+ instantly detects the anomaly and fixes the image. That’s hard to come by when sifting through projectors.

Overall, the projector industry's focus this year seems to be on elevating software rather than hardware. This could be a major development for the market, so long as prices come down over time.

Check out our CES 2025 hub for all the latest news from the show as it happens. Follow the Tom’s Guide team in Las Vegas as we cover everything AI, as well as the best new TVs, laptops, fitness gear, wearables and smart home gadgets at the show.

And be sure to check out the Tom's Guide TikTok channel for all the newest videos from CES!

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Watch out, Whoop: There's a new screen-less fitness tracker in town, and it has your flagship consumer model, the Whoop 5.0, beat in three big ways.

I just went hands-on with the Luna Band at CES 2026, and I'm impressed. Priced at just $149 and capable of keeping tabs on your heart rate, body movement, temperature, respiratory rate, sleep quality, and more, the Luna Band may sound like just another budget-friendly Whoop alternative, but it's much more than that.

Here's everything you need to know about the new Luna Band fitness tracker.

Wallet-friendly price, subscription-free app

The Luna Band is just $149 and subscription-free. By contrast, the Whoop 5.0 costs either $199 for the year or $239 for the year, depending on your subscription tier (the device is included free with the subscription).

On the other hand, you have the Amazfit Helio Band, which offers a similar form-factor and feature set to the Luna Band and Whoop 5.0 for just $99 with no subscription cost. However, Luna Band has one major advantage over the Amazfit (and Whoop). More on that below.

Screen-less, lightweight, discreet

I tried on the Luna Band at CES 2026 and found it extremely comfortable, remarkably lightweight, and surprisingly stylish. If discreet health and fitness tracking is the goal, this may be a solid option.

The Luna Band will be offered in matte black, silver, and gold, with a variety of straps to choose from, including cloth and silicone options. No word on when the device will ship, but 2026 seems likely.

Voice support, AI-powered wellness guidance

What really sets the Luna Band apart from the competition is support for voice commands, along with wellness guidance backed by the brand's LifeOS adaptive AI engine.

Using your smartphone's onboard assistant (Siri only for now), users can interact with Luna's AI coach, including asking for wellness or fitness advice, logging food, stress, and other life events that may impact health, and digging deeper into one's holistic insights and trends.

Luna Band fitness tracker: Outlook

I'm not a big fan of subscription pricing for health and fitness wearables, so it's refreshing to have another one-time-purchase alternative to the market leader in screen-less, wrist-based wearables, Whoop.

The Luna Band is also cheaper on its own than the latest Whoop 5.0. The former is $149 with no additional costs to speak of, and the latter is $199 for one year.

Finally, I'm looking forward to putting Luna's AI wellness logging and coaching to the test. If it works as advertised, the Luna Band will likely usurp the $99 Amazfit Helio strap as my favorite affordable, screen-less fitness tracker in 2026. Stay tuned for a full review.

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I’ve enjoyed VR gaming (especially in sim racing), but PC VR has been something I’ve avoided. Why?

Well I could never get the hype of wearing some massive headset that weighs the equivalent of a small car on your face — just to get more immersed into a game. The tech needs to be shrunken down into something actually usable, and the Pimax Dream Air is exactly that.

Available right now, I got to test it for its grand launch here at CES 2026, and trust me when I say I’ll never avoid PC VR ever again. These bring seriously premium specs to a headset that weighs less than six ounces!

Making smart choices

The Pimax Dream Air packs all the specs you’d expect from a premium PC VR setup: 4K resolution per eye, 110-degree field of view, eye tracking for foveated rendering (rendering only the part of the screen you’re looking at in the moment to free up precious GPU memory), sensors for hand tracking, a split cable design to have the cord run down your back and more.

So how did they cram all of this in this tiny chassis? Well, it comes down to making some clever choices in the way certain elements are designed. Take the pancake lenses for example — normally with a flatter lens you’d have to put more depth on the front of the headset to account for a wider field of view.

Here, however, the lenses dish-in — they’re concave. That is the cheat code to expanding the view while not requiring additional bulk. And there are many more small design choices made to shave off size and weight here and there.

Gunning for pole position

So to test it, I went back to my favorite adversary of a circuit — Lime Rock Park in iRacing — and grabbed an open cockpit racer to try and achieve a best lap time.

Before even locking in and racing, the first thing I noticed immediately was both the crispy, flash flood of color that comes from those Sony Micro-OLED panels, the impressive 90Hz refresh rate smoothness, and (surprisingly) the high volume and nice bassy depth of those speakers on the headstrap.

Also shout-out to the magnetic gasket that packs plenty of plus padding for long-term comfort, and the dual fans that both keep the headset cool (and quiet) and provide ventilation for my face too.

Getting into the cockpit, though, my main problem in VR racing with bulky headsets has been my inability to look into an apex.

When racing in real-life, the common trick to making sure you nail your line through a corner is to look towards the apex of a corner and beyond to the exit. That way you can just eyeball your way in and nail it with your depth perception every time.

With a massive headset, it always feels like a chore to move your head. With Dream Air, it’s effortless, and before long, I got into my flow and shaved four seconds off my lap time.

There’s so many incredible PC VR experiences that I feel have been gatekept by the size and weight of the devices needed to play it. Pimax just primed a breakthrough that could change that.

Outlook

Let’s be real — a combination of advanced tech that’s condensed and crammed into a super slim chassis like this was always going to be pricey. You can grab the Dream Air at prices starting $1,999, but luckily there’s a Dream Air SE model that you can pre-order for $899. The main differences are a lower resolution and smaller field of view.

But whatever you go for, my main obstacle to PC VR gaming has always been the size and weight of it. To don a massive headset is always a complicated process for the sake of a couple hours of gaming.

When that size and weight is removed, and you’re still getting a drop dead gorgeous window into your virtual world, that changes things significantly. It doesn’t feel like an Olympic sport to turn your head, packing your headset doesn’t require an entire cupboard. Put simply, this smushing down of the size and weight is exactly what I’ve been looking for to believe one thing: the PC VR hype is real.

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Lenovo is no stranger to delivering wild and innovative tech concepts, and it pulled out all the stops at CES 2026. We've seen the Legion Pro Rollable concept bringing ultra-wide gaming to laptops and the Auto-Twist turning heads. Now, I've spotted a keyboard that's switching things up — literally.

Named the Lenovo Adaptable Keyboard Concept, this board already appeals to the eye with its sleek, minimalist design, but it has a secret trick up its sleeve that's all in the name: instant switch-type adjustability. One moment, the key touch will be whisper quiet with tactile switches, the next, I'm getting the satisfying click-clacks of a mechanical keyboard.

That's all at the click of a button; no keycap removal kit needed. That means changing keyboard switches on the fly to suit your situation — whether you need to work silently in an office or want the tactile touch for precise inputs when gaming with plenty of thocks.

After some brief hands-on time with Lenovo's keyboard concept, I could tell this would be an interesting choice for those after the perks of different key switches without having to change them manually each time, key by key. Sure, it may not have the complete accuracy of the real switches found on the best keyboards, but it's a concept that many will appreciate officially coming to the market.

Switching switches

I fully appreciate how spec'd out keyboards have become, offering a selection of switches to choose from to get the exact feel you're after. Enthusiasts will have whole kits to swap out key switches and caps, depending on the activity they're doing, but for others, that can be a slog.

With that in mind, I can also appreciate a board that offers a selection of three switches to, well, switch between instantly. Fittingly named, the Lenovo Adaptable Keyboard Concept offers Red (Linear), Blue (clicky) and Brown (tactile) to choose from.

As explained by a Lenovo representative, it does this through magnetic switches that automatically adjust the response and stroke depths of each key instantly once you press a special key on the top-right corner.

Even better, the RGB backlight will change to the color coordinated with the switch, so you'll know just what switch you're using. Well, Brown isn't exactly an exciting color, so it uses a purple background instead (thankfully).

It was amazing to feel the clear difference between each key switch, and even hearing the louder clicks compared to the near-silent sounds between Red and Blue switches. Whether I'm writing documents or sprinting around in Battlefield 6, making that change is now easy.

Now, compared to the extremely satisfying type feel of my Lemokey P1 HE (which also uses magnetic switches), Lenovo's Adaptive keyboard doesn't feel quite as rewarding. But it's not completely far off, either. All that in an ergonomically pleasing and compact board? That's a welcome leap for keyboards.

This is just a concept, so it's still up in the air if this board will be wireless or wired, despite my seeing that it has a Bluetooth icon at the top of the frame. As stated, there's still more work to be done before a finalized product arrives, and potentially, it could have even more switch-type variations.

Outlook

Again, this is a concept, but Lenovo mentioned that if it were to arrive we could expect to see it on shelves by the end of 2026. And I certainly hope that this comes to fruition.

I'm a fan of the idea of a keyboard that, yes, adapts to your situation, instead of needing to get a specific board for your needs or switching out key switches constantly. And adjusting switches instantly is what really impresses.

Now, I can imagine the Lenovo Adaptive Keyboard Concept would be a pricey piece of kit, one that isn't exactly as affordable as the amazing sub-$100 keyboards we've tested in the past year alone. That remains to be seen, but either way this is one keyboard innovation I'd love to see in 2026.

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The MSI Meg X is an AI gaming monitor designed to provide meaningful assistance, regardless of the title being played. This isn’t a new thing, as MSI and other companies have released similar monitors in recent years. While this device's AI capabilities are certainly impressive, it’s also a brilliant gaming monitor thanks to its 34-inch QD-OLED 360Hz curved panel.

I briefly went hands-on (or eyes-on) with the MSI Meg X at CES 2026, and was impressed by its rich contrasts and vibrant colors. The sleek design also caught my eye, as the monitor would look perfectly at home in an office or gaming den. I was also intrigued by the possibilities that the built-in AI assistive tools can provide. In short, the Meg X has a lot going on.

Here are my first impressions of the MSI Meg X gaming monitor.

Display

Like the also newly announced MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36, the MSI Meg X is a 34-inch curved gaming monitor. It covers the basics, such as a sharp 3440 x 1440 resolution, a smooth 360Hz refresh rate, and a low 0.03ms response time. The visual clarity and smooth picture were very evident during my preview.

The monitor features a 5th-generation tandem QD-OLED panel, which utilizes an RGB Stripe sub-pixel layout meant to virtually eliminate color fringing while also enhancing text clarity. MSI claims this tech also boosts light efficiency by 30%.

What does all that mean? It means you get an image that delivers inky blacks, scorching whites, and is overall smooth and sharp. It’s something you’d need to experience first-hand, as words can’t do justice to the beautiful image quality this monitor dishes out.

AI features

The main selling point of the MSI Meg X is its built-in AI assistance, which analyzes on-screen visuals in real time and doesn’t require support from specific games. That means you’ll get assistance no matter what game you’re playing.

There are six smart assist features available. This includes AI Tracker, AI Gauge, AI Vision+, AI Scene, AI Goggle, and AI Scope. AI tracker highlights enemies so they won’t get the drop on you, while AI Scope automatically zooms in so you can get a clearer shot. AI Goggle dims the screen if there’s a bright enough explosion, such as from a flashbang.

As you can see, these features heavily favor first-person shooters like Call of Duty. It’s also clear they’d give you an unfair advantage over anyone who doesn’t also own this monitor. As a result, MSI recommends utilizing these AI features in single-player games. Whether gamers will take that advice is a matter for another day.

Lastly, there’s a feature called AI Robot Lite, which is a “hands-free” smart assistant you can talk to. MSI says it can act like an extra hand during critical gaming moments, potentially giving you advice on how to defeat a particularly challenging boss (for example). The AI can also serve as a PC assistant, quickly opening settings or menus for you. I didn’t see this in practice, but it sounds intriguing for sure.

Outlook

I’m still not 100% sold on AI assistance for video games, but I see the appeal. But even without AI features, the MSI Meg X has the makings to be a fantastic gaming monitor.

As someone who reviews these devices for a living, I can’t wait to get a unit in the office so I can start messing around with it. And who knows, maybe I’ll find the AI features more useful than I expected. There’s no release date or pricing for the MSI Meg X, so stay tuned for updates.

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CES 2026 has been a good one for laptops. So far, it’s been a ton of sleeper hits and insane concepts. Well, Lenovo just added another one onto that first pile, as the Yoga Slim 7i Ultra Aura Edition is a pretty remarkable feat of engineering — packing impressive Intel Core Ultra Series 3 performance and power efficiency into a premium chassis that is less than 1kg.

And to do all of this without compromising the premium nature of its components, the sound ergonomics of a great-feeling keyboard, a drop-dead gorgeous OLED display and fantastic haptics on the touchpad are impressive in all the right ways.

And since you could spec this all the way up to the X9 388H chipset, you could be in with a gaming monster of a machine to boot.

A true MacBook Air competitor

Whenever anyone thinks about making a MacBook Air killer, they’re quick to think about flash. But ultimately, it’s the ones who dare to just think about the fundamentals that succeed. That’s exactly what Lenovo has done here, and it all starts with that slimline ultra-premium design.

Weighing in at 975g, the amount of lifting force I applied to pick it up almost made me launch this system into the stratosphere, and the feeling of that magnesium alloy shell in the hand feels both sleek to the touch and impressively durable too — hiding fingerprints really well.

Then you open it up and find that 14-inch 2.8k OLED panel running at a buttery smooth 120Hz. That makes content super pretty to look at from all the videos I watched on this thing, and surprisingly, the speakers in here pack plenty of volume and clarity to boot.

Looking further south, that keyboard has the classic Lenovo attention to detail for great tactility on every key press, the glass touchpad feels effortlessly smooth to glide over and all of this (plus three Thunderbolt ports) is achieved in a chassis under 14mm thin.

Beefing up the power

But let’s get into the real reason why I love this thing — and the reason why it felt like a no-brainer to give Intel Core Ultra Series 3 our top best of CES 2026 award. You see, normally with notebooks, you always deal with compromise. The core counts are reduced, and the GPU is cut down. It’s a good system for casual productivity, but not much else.

However, you could spec this up to an Intel Core Ultra X9 388H… Yes, you read that right. That chip with the monstrous built-in GPU, that is surely the future of integrated graphics in gaming.

Of course, I could talk about how this really speeds up content creator workloads (4K edits zip by in a flash), but the real headline of it is seeing your <1kg notebook play Battlefield 6 at nearly 200 FPS. That is crazy.

And you’re getting vastly improved power efficiency for your day-to-day workloads, too. What this all means when combined altogether is that you don’t need to worry about compromise. You don’t need to make a decision to get a gaming laptop that can play games well, but also sort of nail the work on the side.

You can now get an ultralight notebook that’s great for portable productivity, but just so happens to play games really well. You’ll be able to pick one up at some point between April and June of this year at prices starting from $1,499.

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RayNeo has come a long way in the AR glasses space, dishing out some of the best smart glasses for the price. Now, it looks to carry on the flame with the all-new RayNeo Air 4 Pro AR specs — this time with HDR10 support.

That's right. These are the world's first AR glasses to deliver HDR10, providing better color and contrast to everything you watch or play on TCL's RayNeo Air 4 Pros. The end result? Super crisp, 200-inch visuals while playing games on your PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, Steam Deck and more.

That, along with the Bang and Olufsen side speakers delivering detailed audio, made these AR glasses a treat to wear while throwing shells in Mario Kart World (through the Joydock accessory that allows Switch 2 connectivity, no less).

Set to launch on January 25 for $299, TCL's latest smart glasses are still seriously competitively priced, even compared to other specs we've seen here at CES 2026, like the Asus ROG Xreal R1 (with its price still up in the air).

They're easily among the best smart glasses we've tried out at CES, so if you're looking for a huge, personal display right on your face while watching shows or playing games, keep these on your radar.

Giving gaming the cinematic treatment (for less)

When putting on the RayNeo Air 4 Pro, I was already impressed by its comfort and lightweight design. The AR glasses weigh just 2.6 ounces, even lighter than the RayNeo Air 3S Pro (at 2.8 ounces). I'd barely notice these specs weighing me down when playing games — it's just like putting on a regular pair of glasses.

That's the goal of wearing AR glasses: having a pair of high-tech specs that are seamless when playing games right before your very eyes. It's a good thing, then, that the SeeYa 0.6-inch Micro-OLED display offers a similar experience of just playing titles on a TV or monitor.

Thanks to the usual 1,200 nits of perceived brightness, lighting doesn't get in the way of making full use of these specs as a full-blown display to play comfortably on. Sure, its 120Hz refresh rate isn't the highest we've seen now (the ROG Xreal R1 goes up to 240Hz now), but for a majority of console games, that's already enough for most.

I realized I was only playing Mario Kart World at the standard display settings when I opened the options. It already looked great, as with TCL's other AR glasses, but switching to HDR10 made the picture quality feel more natural. As in, I may as well have been playing on a physical screen.

That's the goal of AR glasses, after all — watching shows or playing your favorite titles with a personalized cinema experience without any drawbacks. Sure, compared to the best gaming monitors, the level of detail doesn't quite match up, but for many PC, PS5 or Switch games, that's hardly a major nuisance.

Being able to connect the RayNeo Air 4 Pro to virtually any device, whether your smartphone or gaming console, opens plenty of options for those on the go or simply playing in bed. And, most importantly, at just under $300, it's a great investment for anyone after a portable screen that stays fixed to your face.

Another perk is the elevated sound you'll get from the Bang and Olufsen speakers. Its boosted bass and clear audio delivered a proper gaming experience for me, even with a crowd chattering behind me. Of course, I only got to wear the RayNeo Air 4 Pro for a brief time, so this would need to be fully tested.

In any case, though, it's already a welcome level up from the RayNeo Air 3s Pro. While its 3D video wasn't on show (one element we couldn't praise the 3s for), anyone after a solid pair of specs boasting vivid colors, a bright Micro-OLED display and a massive screen for binge-watching shows or playing the latest games will appreciate what the Air 4 Pros have to offer, especially at its price compared to the competition.

Outlook

We'll need more hands-on time with TCL's RayNeo Air 4 Pro, but I've very much enjoyed my time failing to drift around corners in games like Mario Kart World. They're comfortable to wear, offer high-quality displays, and let you watch shows or play games in an immersive, virtual experience.

They may not reach the heights of its Xreal competition right now, but it won't cost as much.

The RayNeo Air 4 Pros continues its legacy of offering a more affordable way to jump on the AR glasses bandwagon, without compromising a premium visual experience. AR glasses just keep improving, and even though these specs will still stay strictly on your face at home or in transport (they are evidently AR glasses that don't exactly scream "I've got style"), it's clear the Air 4 Pro AR specs are ones to look out for in 2026.

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AWOL Vision is lighting up CES 2026 with two new projectors in its Aetherion series which feature an exciting proprietary technology called PixelLock.

It's a pixel-alignment technology that aims to maintain 4K image quality on massive screens despite their larger size. The new technology is at the heart of AWOL's newest projectors, the Aetherion Max and Aetherion Pro. Aside from their brightness, they're quite similar, offering next-level gaming features, a 0.2:1 throw ratio, several HDR formats and a max 200-inch screen size.

AWOL's new projectors go on sale in March, with the Aetherion Max priced at $4,499 and the Aetherion Pro priced at $3,499.

AWOL's newest Aetherion lineup

At the top of AWOL's new range of projectors is the Aetherion Max, offering superior brightness at a whopping 3,300 ISO lumens and a 6,000:1 contrast ratio. The slightly less expensive Aetherion Pro is essentially identical to the Max, but provides less brightness at 2,600 ISO lumens.

They're both built on AWOL Vision's DLP engine, which combines a variety of systems including triple lasers, special processors and the aforementioned PixelLock technology. The DLP engine is what nets the Aetherion series a remarkable 6,000:1 native contrast ratio. It also includes a 7-level IRIS system and EBL Shadow Refinement.

UST models are often some of the best projectors money can buy, but one thing often sets them back: dust. It easily builds up on the lens, requiring consistent cleaning with a special microfiber cloth (typically included with the device). However, AWOL's Aetherion series features a motorized lens cover that keeps the dust at bay, similar to the XGIMI Aura 2.

Gamers can rejoice, as well: The AWOL Valeiron projectors are equipped with VRR, ALLM, 1ms input latency at 240Hz and are the first models to support Dolby Vision Gaming. They're also equipped with Wi-Fi 7 support for enhanced speeds and improved stability when watching some of the best streaming services.

PixelLock keeps big-screen 4K content stunning

PixelLock technology could be a game-changer for UST projection. When watching 4K content on larger screens, the picture is susceptible to distortion, since you're essentially stretching the pixels to their max. PixelLock aims to mitigate this issue.

The proprietary technology (which AWOL says "isn't just software") aims to maintain 4K picture quality at higher screen sizes. In its press release, AWOL calls PixelLock "an integrated optical + mechanical + digital alignment system that compensates for lens element tolerances, temperature-induced expansion, micro-warping of UST angles, reflective path inconsistencies, and DLP sequencing artifacts."

That's a lot of jargon, but it basically means that 4K images will retain more natural clarity even in higher screen sizes — like the 200 inches offered in the AWOL Aetherion series. The entire system is made up of several parts, including one of the thinnest terminal imaging lenses, a sapphire-series optical lens and an industry-first Diamond-Like Carbon-coated lens system.

We'll have to see just how well AWOL's PixelLock technology performs once we get it in for testing, but the potential benefits are particularly intriguing. If you're interested, you'll have to wait until March once the Aetherion Max and Aetherion Pro go on sale for $4,499 and $3,499, respectively.

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Another product launch from CES 2026? You bet. This time, though, we're heading straight out into our backyards come fall as we've spotted a whisper-quiet leaf blower, new to the market for 2026.

The T1 Tone essentially ticks all of our leaf-blowing woes — it's cordless, charges fast, has an adjustable shoulder strap, and it works at a noise level of less than 52 dB. That, BTW, is similar to the hum your refrigerator makes while it's on and the door is closed. Impressive to say the least.

This new product launch will be (literal) music to the ears of those who hate the job of tidying the leaves in the fall — it means you can finally listen to that podcast on normal volume while doing this job. Even better? With an integrated light, leaf blowing knows no time of day — you needn't get yours done early on in the day, come winter.

Tell your neighbor to thank me later and keep reading for more news on when you can purchase this mind-blowing (in more ways than one) new garden gadget.

For a quiet clean

Blowing the leaves away from your backyard or driveway has got to be up there with the most boring household chores. It sits right behind waiting for paint to dry for the next coat, and cleaning the oven. With the release of T1's Tone Leaf Blower, though, you can now pop your headphones in instead of your ear muffs and listen to your playlist while doing the chore you dislike the most.

Fitted with a rechargeable 5.0 Ah battery, it will last for an average of 50 minutes of use in Eco mode. It takes only 90 minutes to charge to 100%.

Yes, there are five modes to choose from, all differing in noise, too. Plus, it only requires one hand for use, so the other can relax (or wave to a neighbor). Other than the low noise, its second-best feature has to be its built-in nightlight, which means you can use it even in the dark.

What it lacks in noise, it makes up for in design — choose from green or gold and store it in your shed year-round, as it can withstand temperatures from 0°F to 140°F. Weight-wise, it's light enough to hold with just one hand, and even if you're a left-handed user, it's convenient.

Without ever compromising on power, this leaf blower can offer impressive air velocity speeds of 150mph. Yes, you read that right. Its blowing force can hit 25 Newtons, too. For reference, this is usually what you'd expect from a professional leaf blower.

Simply enough, it ticks all our boxes, and the price tag? $599.99, including the battery and shoulder strap.

What else to use it for?

We all know that leaf blowers go beyond just clearing stray leaves from your drive in fall, right? This one, thanks to its 50-minute battery life, low noise, and one-handed operation, can be used for clearing small amounts of snow from pathways in the winter. You can use it for blasting debris from your patio furniture in spring, ready for a deep clean, and in summer, for drying your car faster.

You could even take it over to family members' homes to give their driveways a quick clean, should they be unable to do it themselves. No hassle required fiddling around with cords. And you won't upset their neighbors, either. Especially handy if you live in an apartment.

Availability

You can already pre-order this leaf blower directly via T1. All that's required is a $100 deposit, and the remaining $499.99 will be charged to your account on August 26, 2026.

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Whether it’s massive TVs with almost no bezels, rollable laptops with screens that expand on command, or robot vacuums like the Roborock Saros Rover that can actually climb stairs, CES always makes us feel like we’re living in the future. All of the excitement on the show floor here in Las Vegas is the perfect way to kick off the new year.

The Tom’s Guide team has spent a busy few days trying out all the new and upcoming products at CES 2026. While we’ve seen some that we can’t wait to get our hands on to test out even further back home, others have left us scratching our heads. From lollipops that play music through your jawbone to digital nail polish that changes color with an app, the "weird" factor is at an all-time high this year.

It’s not that these gadgets are bad — far from it. Instead, they represent the wacky, experimental spirit that makes CES special. Here are the weirdest gadgets we saw at CES 2026. Once you're done diving into the oddities, you can also see which products truly impressed us in our Best of CES 2026 awards. There is some crossover between the two lists though, as sometimes the weirdest ideas also happen to be the most innovative.

SwitchBot Kata Friends

What would CES be without a robot that’s also adorable? Although SwitchBot's robotic companions first made their debut back at IFA 2025, its Kata Friends Series was out on the show floor on full display at CES this year. Don’t let those big blue eyes fool you though, this AI pet is packed with tech.

This SwitchBot Kata Friend may have a soft exterior, but inside, it’s running an on-device large language model (LLM) and a cloud-powered video language model (VLM). By combining the two with an in-depth understanding of human emotions, these robotic companions can comfort you, recognize your current mood and respond in real time. Pretty impressive for a stuffed animal that looks like a cross between a bear and an Ewok.

Strutt ev1

Mobility scooters are nothing new, but this spin on the idea from Strutt takes things to a whole other level. The Strutt ev1 almost looks like a combination of Professor X’s wheelchair and a Tesla, but this four-wheeled “personal everyday vehicle” is exactly the kind of strange but surprisingly useful device we’d expect to find at CES.

You can drive the Strutt ev1 like your standard seated scooter but since it also has voice controls as well as LiDAR and navigation built-in, you don’t have to. Instead, you can just tell it where you want to go, and its 360-degree sensor array will make sure you get to your destination without bumping into anything or anyone. There’s also a small display on the right armrest so you can see exactly what the ev1’s cameras are capturing in real time.

Our own Mike Prospero drove it around a crowded conference hall and as soon as he got close to an obstacle, the ev1 would stop right in its tracks.

LG CLOiD

This robot may look cute but the LG CLOiD surprised us all when it stumbled with a task that’s simple enough for humans but quite difficult for its metallic hands to pull off. Designed as a helpful home robot, the CLOiD was quite impressive, that is until it started trying to fold towels.

By using AI and vision-based tech, CLOiD is able to perform a number of household tasks to make your life a little easier, but it also doubles as an AI-powered home hub. With a built-in display for its eyes along with a speaker, cameras and various other sensors, the CLOiD might have struggled to fold towels — don’t we all? — but it is able to “talk” to other LG appliances to pull off smart automations like starting your oven when you’re on the way home or changing the temperature in a particular room if it’s too hot or cold.

Razer Project Ava

Instead of an AI chatbot on your phone, what if you had an AI companion on your desk? Well, that’s the idea behind Razer’s Project AVA. In the demo Tony Polanco saw, it was powered by xAI’s Grok engine but you can use whatever chatbot you want to drive this animated 5.5-inch 3D hologram.

During the demo, a spunky girl named Kira broke down the ins and outs of a first-person shooter, but it will work in any game to give you useful tips and advice on how to improve your gameplay. Project Ava is more than just another CES concept though and you too could have an AI-powered companion on your desk later this year.

Hormometer

Health tech was just as big as AI at this year’s show and with just an $8 test, Eli Health’s Hormometer is designed to give you a reading of your current hormone levels. This at-home saliva-based hormone test will soon be able to tell you just how high (or low) your testosterone or progesterone levels are.

After installing the Eli Health app on your phone, you then put the Hormometer’s saliva collection cartridge in your mouth for 60 seconds. After pulling on a tab, the results start “developing”, though you will need to wait 20 minutes before you can snap a photo of the saliva stick and its AI starts analyzing your results. The Hormometer won’t replace your doctor, but it can give you some insights before your next appointment.

HyperX Neurable

Although the HyperX Neurable might look like just another gaming headset, this concept device is able to read your brainwaves to improve your gameplay. By using built-in EEG sensors, AI and a bit of mindful exercise, the headset can read the stresses in your mind, calm you down and overclock your brain’s focus.

Our own Jason England tested it out and once his mindful focus exercise was done, he felt like time was slowing down, which could really up your game when playing fast-paced first-person shooters. Think Neo using bullet time in the Matrix. If the HyperX Neurable moves beyond a concept to a real product, it could easily shake up the competitive gaming scene.

Skywheel

There isn’t always fresh powder on the mountaintop when you feel like skiing but with the Skywheel, you can ski through the streets instead. Equipped with electric motors that are paired with a remote to control their speed, the Skywheel is quite different from the electric scooters we saw on the show floor.

Our senior fitness writer Dan Bracaglia strapped a pair of them onto his own feet and took them for a spin on the first day of CES 2026. During his demo, a company rep explained that it takes “about 20 minutes” to get the hang of the Skywheel’s precise tilt controls. After that, you’ll effectively be able to carve turns like you would on a traditional pair of skis. Dan didn’t quite get that far, though.

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Are robot lawnmowers about to have their day in the sun? At CES 2026, I’m seeing more models than ever — and more importantly, they look to be easier than ever to set up in your yard. Just a couple of years ago, you had to run a boundary wire all around your yard; last year, you only had to install up a GPS tower.

However, this year, we’re seeing new robot lawnmowers that do away with that as well; thanks to LiDar, combined with ever more sophisticated AI and vision systems, getting it up and running should be no more difficult than with a robot vacuum. And, when they're not mowing, some of these models can even act as sentries, patrolling your yard.

Aside from their tech, a lot of the lawnmowers — at least the top-end models — are all starting to adopt a similar design, one that looks kind of like a Formula One car, while lower-priced models have tended to retain a more bulbous shape.

Here are some of the more interesting robot vacuums that launched at CES.

Segway X4

Segway is launching five new robot lawnmowers (including one designed for golf courses, and another that starts at $999) but its flagship X4 really stands out for its performance. This four-wheel drive model has two front-wheel steering motors, which gives it zero-turn capabilities, so it’s more maneuverable than before, and it can climb up slopes of up to 40 degrees. A Traction Control System also helps to make sure that it doesn’t slip on wet grass.

The X4 also has a dual cutting deck with 12 blades in total that covers 17 inches, and has onboard network RTK, so you don’t need to set up a separate base station; the X4 can connect directly to satellites to navigate your yard, and has a 360-degree RGB vision system to detect and avoid objects. The X4 is also IPX6-rated waterproof and includes Apple “find my” support, a rain sensor, and smart home integration for Google Home, Amazon Alexa and Home Assistant.

It’s a beast of a bot, though, weighing 63 pounds and measuring 33.5 x 24.0 x 13.8 inches. The X4 is available in two models: the X430 ($2,499) for yards up to 1 acre and the X450 ($2,999) for yards up to 1.5 acres.

Roborock X1 LiDar

Roborock is expanding from inside the home to outdoors with several robot lawnmowers, including the flagship Rockmow X1 LiDar, which is designed for yards with lots of obstacles. It has 360-degree 3D LiDar as well as VSLAM technology, which captures up to 200,000 data points per second, and can avoid objects like garden hoses and toys.

In addition, the X1 does not require a base station, which should make setup a lot easier. It has four-wheel drive, and can climb slopes of up to 38 degrees, and ride over obstacles up to 3.1 inches high. Underneath are six cutting blades that can be adjusted from 1.5 to 3.5 inches high, and the X1 can handle up to half and acre per day. Additionally, the robot has geofencing and will emit a siren if it’s lifted or moved outside of your yard. It will be available in the U.S. in 2026, though pricing has not been announced.

Yarbo M Series

Yarbo is releasing a smaller version of its modular robot lawnmower, which should be better suited for those with smaller yards and pocketbooks. Like its current Y Series model, the M Series will be available with a series of attachments that can turn it from a lawnmower to a snow plow, leaf collector, or edge trimmer. The company announced that consumers will be able to select two mower modules, a plow blade (the Y Series has a snowblower attachment), a leaf collector, a trimmer, and a smart assistant module.

Like the Y Series, the M Series is a tracked vehicle, which distinguishes it from most other robot lawnmowers that have three or four individual wheels. It will be able to climb slopes of up to 35 degrees, and can tow up to 220 pounds. The Yarbo M Series will launch on Kickstarter, and be available later this year.

Mammotion LUBA 3 AWD

Mammotion is also launching several new robot lawnmowers, headlined by the Luba 3 AWD, which also uses 360-degree LiDar and AI vision with dual cameras to navigate your yard and detect not just obstacles, but potential dangers like edges.

Similar to Segway, Roborock, and others, the LUBA 3 AWD has NetRTK built in, so you don’t need to install a base station when setting it up. This all-wheel drive model can also climb grades of up to 38 degrees, and has dual cutting disks with a 15.8-inch wide cutting width. It has a 15Ah battery, and can mow up to 1.75 acres per day or 7,000 square feet per hour. We also like that Mammotion offers free 4G connectivity for three years, which is helpful if you’re worried that someone might take your robot mower. The LUBA 3 AWD is available to pre-order with starting at €2299/£2099//$2399 in the EU, UK and North America.

Dreame A3 AWD

Like Roborock, Dreame is another robot vacuum brand that’s also expanding to the outdoors. It too, has 360-degree 3D LiDar for navigating your yard, with dual-camera AI vision to detect and avoid objects. It uses all-wheel drive to be able to climb hills up to 38.7 degrees and go over curbs as high as 2.2 inches. It also has dual 15.7-inch cutting blades that can be adjusted from 1.1 to 3.9 inches. When it’s not mowing your lawn, you can also use the A3 to patrol, and use its cameras to keep on the lookout for people or pets.

Lymow One Plus

The Lymow One Plus shares a lot in common with these other robotic lawn mowers, and just like them, it features a rugged tank-like design that’s equipped to handle challenging conditions with its all-terrain tracked treads for stability on slopes and gravel. But what makes it really unique is that it does more than just cut grass on its own; it can also handle fallen leaves and other yard debris — effectively acting as a blower.

This is achieved through its Cyclone Airflow System that supposedly lifts grass blades for an even cut, while a single discharge port helps to prevent clogs and keeps sidewalks clean. It’s plenty powerful, too, backed by reinforced SK5 steel mulching blades to cut up leaves with ease. And since it features RTK-VSLAM technology, it can detect common yard objects and can navigate without any boundary wires.

Pre-orders will be available starting in February for $2,999, with shipments beginning in March 2026.

Mova LiDAX Ultra Series

Another robotic lawn mower brand that should be on your radar is Mova, which announced its LiDAX Ultra Series at CES 2026. They share the same set of features, including 360-degree high-precision LiDAR that works in conjunction with an AI-enhanced 1080p HDR camera, to detect obstacles in its path up to 230 feet away.

These bots are also really easy to set up, offering the same quick setup that doesn’t require an RTK antenna or any boundary wires. Both models have the gear to tackle challenging lawns and terrains, like a specialized UltraTrim 1.0 system, that allows it to edge trim lawns by extending its lower disc to get closer to boundaries and edges. Their rugged designs are complete with off-road wheels that allow it to climb slopes up to 45-degrees, while overcoming small pits.

One of the cooler features of the LiDAX Ultra Series is that it acts much like a sentry on your property through its TrueGuard Security feature. It’s like having a security system on wheels because these bots auto-patrol during non-cutting hours, while also alerting you to any potential threats. They’re actually priced modestly, with the LiDAX Ultra 1000 costing $1,299 and covering up to 0.25 acres. Meanwhile, the LiDAX Ultra 2000 can cover up to 0.5 acres and will cost $1,799.

Sunseeker S4

The Sunseeker S4 may be a bit more modest-looking than some of the other models on this list, but it too is equipped with 360-degree 3D LiDar and AI-powered cameras, so that you can simply drop it on your lawn and let it go.

It has a smallish cutting deck of 7 inches, but its cutting height can be adjusted from 0.8 inches to 2.4 inches. It can cover up to 0.25 acres, and its rear-wheel drive can handle grades of up to 22 degrees (42% slopes). It also can detect edges, and in the app, you can create up to 100 separate mowing zones.

The Sunseeker S4 will cost $1,299 and will be available in the second quarter of this year.

You might also be interested in: Don't make a costly mistake: 7 signs your yard isn’t suitable for a robot lawnmower.

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At the close of CES day four, we named the 27 best gadgets at this year's show. But that doesn't mean we're packing up and going home. There's a lot more interesting tech from our fourth day walking the show floor to tell you about.

The smart home space is always a big draw in Las Vegas and there's been no shortage of announcements this year. We found a mind-reading headset, the first Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme laptop, and the return of IKEA's viral 'donut lamp'.

If you missed our day three round-up, you can find it here, and don't forget to keep checking our CES 2026 live blog for the very latest updates. Without further ado, here are seven of the best new gadgets from day four.

IKEA 'donut lamp'

The mighty IKEA turned up at CES with a load of new tech, including some very cheap Bluetooth speakers. But we were excited to see the new version of the IKEA Varmblixt — more commonly known as the 'donut lamp'.

Created in collaboration with Dutch artist and designer Sabine Marcelis, the new and improved Varmblixt lamp will now be able to change color and dim. It can also be controlled remotely and will transition gently between a range of custom hues.

Available both as a wall light and a table lamp, the updated IKEA Varmblixt will cost $99 and be available from April 2026.

HyperX Neurable

The HyperX Neurable gaming headset is not like the rest of the best gaming headsets, it uses EEG sensors along with AI to effectively read your brain to help you focus. Contact strips built directly into the earcups will pick up the noise of your brain and narrow it down to the focus, stress and cognitive load signals it needs to look for when it comes to improving focus.

My colleague Jason England tried it for himself and said it put him through a mindful breathing and focus exercise with a visualizer of dots floating in a sphere. The headphones will track when your brain has been boosted to just the right level, while simultaneously relaxing your body. In Jason's case, he said it made him feel like time had slowed down. Like a real-life version of the Dead Eye mode in Red Dead Redemption 2. Cool.

Navee E-Wagon 4X

Who doesn't need a rideable, electric-powered cart in their life? The Navee E-Wagon 4X is designed to haul everything from camping gear to camera and video equipment, while you sit up front and steer.

It's available today and priced at $2,099, so although it's not cheap, it'll come in clutch for anyone who needs to regularly lug lots of gear. Power comes from a 3000W motor and a detachable 36V rechargeable battery, which charges up in four hours. You'll reach a top speed of 10mph and the max carrying capacity is 1,300 pounds, while the total storage volume is 183 liters.

Here's what our writer Dan thought of the Navee when he took it for a spin.

Withings BodyScan 2

The original Body Scan from Withings is our top pick when it comes to the best smart scales, so getting hands on with the follow-up has been a CES highlight. It's very simple to use and took just 90 seconds to give my colleague Dan Bracaglia a full health breakdown. The scale measures 60 biomarkers, that get combined into categories like heart age, vascular age, muscle-to-fat balance, visceral fat score and more.

Moreover, this is the first smart scale to include notifications if signs of potential hypertension are detected in a user. This feature is by no means a diagnostic tool, but it could prove to be a lifesaver nonetheless. This new flagship smart scale is estimated to ship in the summer of 2026 for $599.

Segway Myon e-bike

Segway is better known for scooters than bikes, but the Segway Myon is the company's latest attempt at a city-based e-bike for commuters. Starting price is $1,999, and you get a 500W rear hub motor and a range of up to 80 miles on a single charge.

Rideability seems on point and my colleague Mike Prospero got to test it out on Segway's track. There's an electronic shifter on the right handlebar above a small rocker switch that lets you adjust the level of pedal assistance. Below that is a thumb lever for the Myon's throttle.

Similar to the company's electric scooters, the Myon comes with Apple FindMy, as well as remote locking, and GPS and a Lost Mode (where you can remotely track the bike) if you sign up for a subscription.

Razer Project AVA

Razer has turned our heads with a few new innovations at CES this year but this one may just take the cake. The Project AVA AI desk companion is designed to live alongside you and while Razer's CES demo used xAI’s Grok engine, it's platform agnostic, so you could use ChatGPT or Claude if you preferred.

It’s brought to life as an animated 5.5-inch 3D hologram, and Razer says it uses human-like vision and audio sensing for full contextual awareness. My colleague Tony Polanco's demo featured a spunky girl named Kira, but other companions will also be available.

Although Razer is predominantly known for gaming, and Tony's demo included asking it for the right loadout for an FPS session, you can just as easily use it for everyday purposes like organizing your schedule. Neither a release date (beyond “calendar year 2026”) or a price has been revealed yet. But you can read Tony's thoughts on Project AVA here.

Asus Zenbook A16

We've had a glut of laptops to drool over at CES 2026, but the team in Las Vegas was particularly interested in the Asus Zenbook A16 because it's the first laptop to arrive sporting the all-powerful Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme chip.

The Asus Zenbook A16 impressed my computing colleague Darragh Murphy with its slick design and incredible build. Being 0.54 inches thin and weighing an ultra-lightweight 2.65 pounds, not only is that one of the thinnest 16-inch laptops around, but it's even lighter than many 13-inch laptops. Oh, and there's a 3K (2880 x 1800) OLED display with an impressive 120Hz refresh rate.

Our best laptops list is set to receive some major updates this year.

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One of my favorite CES memories is spending eight hours working with a professional THX Home Installation trainer to understand the dynamics of sound. We reviewed how to best place subwoofers to reduce standing waves in a room and angle speakers for the widest sound dispersion.

But not everyone gets to spend a full day learning how to make their speaker system really, truly sound its best. Heck, some people don’t even have a few hours to spend on it.

That’s where the LG Sound Suite audio system comes in. Thanks to Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, you can put satellite speakers anywhere in the room and get calibrated spatial audio sound tuned to wherever you want to sit. It's just become available on LG's website and it's changed the way I think about surround sound.

Who needs channel-based audio anyways?

If you have a passing familiarity with speaker systems, you’re probably used to seeing them described by the number of channels they have.

A 5.1 system describes a setup with left and right channel speakers, plus one center channel, two back satellite speakers and a subwoofer. A 7.1 system adds two extra speakers to the mix... so on and so forth.

That’s not quite how LG Sound Suite works. The speakers don't need to be placed in a regular configuration — the system calibrates itself to your living environment.

Say you only buy two LG M7 surround speakers. You might want to put them on either side of your couch, where they’ll work like regular left and right paired speakers.

But rather than the traditional placement, you could also put one behind you to the left on a table and the other in front of you somewhere. Well, guess what? You can do that, too, and it won’t sound weird.

If, next week, you decide to get a new end table and want to move the front speaker onto it, there are no cords that need to be re-measured and cut or settings to change. You simply re-run the calibration tool on either your LG TV, the ThinQ AI app on your phone, or via the Sound Suite Soundbar. Voila, your system is now reconfigured to the new layout.

Dolby Atmos in any room with any speaker configuration

There are several pieces of technology at play to make the system work so seamlessly. The first is Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, which adapts the sound depending on how many speakers you currently have set up. The other is Sound Follow, an LG technology that uses ultra-wideband to get the speaker levels just right for wherever you’re sitting.

In my CES 2026 demo, LG had four M7 surround speakers and a W7 subwoofer connected to the Sound Suite H7 soundbar. Each surround speaker was set up in a normal configuration (to the left, right and behind me) and I got immersive spatial audio from where I was sitting.

Halfway through the demo, the demonstrator picked up one of the surround speakers and moved it right next to where I was sitting. Normally, moving a speaker this close would require you to re-calibrate the whole system. If you don’t, the closest speaker will sound significantly louder than the others and ruin the mix.

That didn’t happen. Instead, the system recognized there was a change and re-calibrated itself on the fly. Within 30 seconds, the system was once again balanced.

Versatility and convenience at a cost

The LG Sound Suite demo was impressive. I’ve been walking around CES just thinking how much time FlexConnect would save me when setting up a new system, and every wired surround sound speaker now just feels like a load of extra work that I don’t want to deal with.

Unfortunately, given the cost of the LG Sound Suite, I’ll still have a few more years of setting up my surround system the old-fashioned way — it’s just too expensive for me right out of the gate.

The Sound Suite H7 soundbar, for example, will set you back $999. Each of the four M7 surround speakers comes in at $399 apiece, while the W7 subwoofer is $599. That means the cost of the system I was listening to was well over $3,000.

That’s not unreasonable — especially considering a Sonos Arc Ultra starts at $1,099 — but wired surround systems can be had for half the price or less.

Overall, LG Sound Suite is among the coolest audio technologies I’ve yet to hear at CES 2026 and I really respect all the engineering that had to go into it. Still, at this price, I probably won’t be able to get it in my own home for another few years.

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Let’s clear the air. I ran over someone's foot at CES 2026 today, specifically, while testing the just-released Navee E-Wagon 4X, a rideable, electric-powered cart designed to haul everything from camping gear to camera and video equipment. Did I mention that it’s rideable?

Not only that, the Navee E-Wagon Cart 4X accelerates nothing short of what I’d classify as ‘heckin fast.’

There’s a slight learning curve, which I attempted to overcome in a crowded convention center hall, with varying success. Overall, though, Navee’s latest electric ‘vehicle’ is both a blast to ride and incredibly practical. Here’s why.

Navee E-Wagon Cart 4X: Price and availability

The Navee E-Wagon Cart 4X is available today, on its launch date, albeit in limited quantities. Priced at $2,099, it’s certainly not cheap, but for folks used to lugging lots of gear (drummers, gardeners, outdoor adventurers, filmmakers, content creators, etc.), that price could be easily justifiable.

Navee E-Wagon Cart 4X: Speed, battery and power

The top speed on the Navee E-Wagon Cart 4X is 10 mph, which might not seem all that quick, but let me assure you, when you’re sitting about two feet off the ground, it feels like you're flying.

Power comes from a 3000W motor and a detachable 36V rechargeable battery. The total charge time is four hours, and I fully expect Navee to make additional batteries available soon. Nevertheless, the max range per charge is roughly 45 miles.

According to brand reps, the E-Wagon should also have enough gusto to make it up even the steepest of hills. For example, with a load of 220 pounds, the Navee cart is rated for inclines as steep as 50% grades.

Navee E-Wagon Cart 4X: Design and cargo capacity

The Navee E-Wagon can haul a seriously impressive amount of stuff as well, including yourself, a friend, and enough camping gear to keep you both comfortable. The max carrying capacity is 1,300 pounds, while the total storage volume is 183 liters.

For easy transport, the cart collapses down small enough to fit in the trunk of most cars. It also sports 6.5-inch tires with plenty of traction to navigate gravel and other off-road environments.

Navee E-Wagon Cart 4X: Lights, display and USB charging

A 2.4-inch Full-Color TFT screen in the center of the handlebars relays speed and other key details, like whether the front and rear navigation lights are switched on. The Navee E-Wagon Cart 4X also offers a port to charge up USB-C devices from the onboard battery.

Navee E-Wagon Cart 4X: Outlook

I’m a sucker for small, electric-powered vehicles that don’t require a license, especially ones that offer more than just the thrill of riding.

From its foldable design, simple-to-use steering, acceleration, and braking, massive carrying capacity, long range, impressive power, and ludicrously fast acceleration, the Navee E-Wagon Cart 4X is something I gladly work into my daily life, both for pleasure and practicality.

Stay tuned for a full review!

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This feels like cheating, but it’s actually one of the most mindblowing gaming headsets I tried at CES 2026. The HyperX Neurable gaming headset concept is able to read your brainwaves and make you better at games.

By using EEG sensors, AI and a little bit of mindful exercise, this set of cans is able to read the stresses in your mind, calm you down and overclock your brain’s focus. And after testing it myself, I went from a skeptic to a pro gaming believer.

A 30-something gamer who fell off a long time ago in first person shooters found his swagger all over again, and I look forward to popping the young’uns like I’m 14 playing Halo 2 all over again.

How it works

So I know this is the first question a lot of you are going to have. Given a lot of EEG machines require pads placed directly on the temple to read brain signals, how on Earth is this able to do the same with just headphone cups?

Because you can see the contacts built directly in there (those grey strips). By pairing it with an AI inferencing model, it’s able to read the wider noise of your brain and narrow it down to the focus, stress and cognitive load signals it needs to look for when it comes to improving focus.

And by putting you through a mindful breathing and focus exercise — staring at a peaceful visualizer of dots floating in a sphere — it can track when your brain has been boosted to just the right level, while simultaneously relaxing your body.

This puts your entire being into a state that is ready for the quick twitch reactions you need for competitive gaming.

“I felt like time was slowing down”

I’d understand if that sounds a little too good to be true, but I really felt like time was slowing down. I went through this mindful focus exercise, and once the timer started to shoot as many targets as possible again, my trigger finger was a whole lot faster and more accurate too.

To put it into specifics, my high score on the shooting range went up by over 5,000 points, my accuracy increased by two percentage points, but most importantly, my response time to a target decreased by nearly 100 milliseconds.

These are critical stats that help you be far more economical and efficient with the ammo you have in any FPS, and for the first few seconds, it felt a little bit like the Dead Eye mode in Red Dead Redemption 2 in terms of focusing like with rapid response to dispense of my targets.

All I can do is pray that this becomes a real product I can buy, because imagining this for my sim racing — especially during endurance competitions — is a mightily exciting prospect.

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I tried the new Withings Body Scan 2 at CES 2026 and was blown away by all the longevity-based wellness insights it generated in just 90 seconds, including details about my heart, metabolic, and cellular health.

Incredibly simple to use, this new flagship Withings smart scale, estimated to ship in the summer of 2026, is built around the concept of empowering users with vital health data to help them reverse and/or slow the aging process.

Here’s everything you need to know about the new Withings BodyScan 2, the latest entry to our best of CES 2026 list.

Withings Body Scan 2: Price and availability

Before jumping into features, you’re probably wondering how much this thing costs. The Withings BodyScan 2 will be priced at $599 and is tentatively expected to ship by this summer. Several of the features have been submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for approval, and the smart scale will likely hit the market shortly after.

You can expect the BodyScan 2 to be sold through Withings directly, as well as Amazon and other major retailers.

Withings Body Scan 2: First smart scale with hypertension alerts

Following in the footsteps of the best Apple Watch models, the Withings Body Scan 2 provides notifications if signs of potential hypertension are detected in a user. This feature is by no means a diagnostic tool, but it could prove to be a lifesaver nonetheless.

Moreover, the Withings Body Scan 2 is the first smart scale I'm aware of (and I did some digging) with such a cutting-edge feature.

Of course, if you do receive a hypertension alert from the Body Scan 2, don’t panic, but do make an appointment with a medical professional for further assessment.

Withings Body Scan 2: Lots of logevity insights

Withings has dubbed the Body Scan 2 smart scale ‘the world’s first science-backed longevity station.’ Indeed, the insights into aging are pretty darn cool. Better yet, the scanning process is so straightforward that a penguin could probably do it.

Toward the front of the smart scale is an extendable handle with thumb sensors and a small display that guides you through the process. To take my reading, I simply gripped the handle tightly with both hands while standing barefoot — yes, I took off my shoes and socks on the CES show floor — on the scale’s platform.

90 seconds later, your results are ready to see. While the Body Scan 2 measures 60 biomarkers, those get combined into categories like heart age, vascular age, muscle-to-fat balance, visceral fat score, and more. For this demo, I got insights into these four specifically (they kept it simple for the show).

For example, the Body Scan 2 said that my heart age is comparable to that of a spry 36-year-old (I’m 37). Withings calculates this score by combining a user’s ECG (Electrocardiogram) and ICG (Impedance Cardiography) readings, taken during the scan using electrodes in the base and handle of the device.

My vascular score, meanwhile, was in line with my age group, while my muscle-fat-balance and visceral fat score were both below the average (or ‘optimal’) for my age (nice!).

These scores are accompanied by AI-powered insights to paint a clear picture of what they mean, how they compare to your peers of a similar age, and what actions you might want to take to improve them.

Withings Body Scan 2: Battery life

As you’d hope from such a high-priced smart scale, the Body Scan 2 features a built-in rechargeable battery that can last for a super-long time. I’m talking up to 15 months per charge.

Withings Body Scan 2: Outlook

Even though I barely scratched the surface of what the Withings Body Scan 2 will ultimately be capable of, I’m already hooked. Like the Withings Beamo at-home stethoscope I covered at CES 2025, the brand designed the Body Scan 2 so that literally anyone can take a comprehensive reading with minimal effort.

That sounds like a perfect combination of features and usability to make our best smart scale list. However, as with all CES releases, I'll hold off making a final judgment call until I've spent quality time with a Body Scan 2 review unit.

Ultimately, Withings hopes that the insights provided by its latest flagship smartscale will help users live longer and happier lives, which is an ethos I can definitely get behind.

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If you’ve ever lost a drone in water, my condolences. While on land, the ubiquitous ‘return to home’ feature found on most drones tends to work reliably, the opposite is true when flying a drone from any sort of watercraft. Fortunately, HoverAir is here to ensure no drone sinks to Davey Jones’ locker ever again.

The new HoverAir Aqua, announced at CES 2026, is a completely waterproof (IPX67-rated) drone that is easily spottable thanks to its bright orange color, and which gently floats along the surface. Here’s everything you need to know about it.

HoverAir Aqua: Price and availability

The HoverAir Aqua drone is live on IndieGoGo right now, with an early-bird price of $999 for the standard combo. Said combo includes the drone, battery, a waterproof bag, and a repair kit.

It also comes with a waterproof, arm-mountable controller for managing take-offs and landings from the comfort of a wakeboard, surfboard, boogie board, stand-up paddle board… you get the idea.

HoverAir Aqua: A light yet capable drone

Lightweight (under 250 g) and easy to fly, the HoverAir Aqua is capable of capturing 4K capture at up to 100 fps for a slow motion effect using a 1/2.8-inch sensor (similar in size to what you’d find in a modern smartphone).

It also offers all the handy follow-me features found in the brand’s lineup of land-based compact drones, like the HoverAir X1 Pro. The Aqua also boasts 128GB of onboard storage and a nifty 1.6-inch AMOLED screen built into the top of the device.

With an emphasis on helping outdoor enthusiasts document their adventures, from mountain top to forest floor, the Aqua isn’t just waterproof, it’s also designed to withstand all the bumps and bruises of life in the great outdoors.

HoverAir Aqua: Lots of tracking modes and long flight times

The HoverAir Aqua can take off from land or sea with a single press of the drone’s top button. You can even toss it in the air to start a flight. However, you’ll want to select your flying mode first. Options include follow tracking (noted above), orbital tracking, birds-eye tracking, and many more (there are 15 total).

The average flight time for the HoverAir Acqua is a respectable 23 minutes. Better yet, the battery is swappable. A full recharge takes roughly 55 minutes.

HoverAir Aqua: Solid speed and wind resistance

Of course, it can get pretty windy when you’re scaling peaks or out on the high seas, which is why the HoverAir Acqua boasts an impressive wind-resistance rating of up to 33 knots. It can also cruise at speeds up to 34 mph, which is, coincidentally, right around the top speed I tend to snowboard at.

HoverAir Aqua: ‘Turtle flip’ feature

Okay, so the HoverAir Aqua floats on water, but what if you accidentally land it upside down in the wet stuff? Worry not! A nifty self-correcting ‘turtle flip’ mode rights the drone in one swift, and splash-inducing movement.

It may sound far-fetched, but based on my CES demo of the features, it works remarkably well.

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If its newest ride is any indication, Segway could soon be known for its electric bikes as much as its scooters. At CES 2026, I had a chance to test ride the Segway Myon, a new e-bike tailored for commuters and city riders, and was impressed with its performance, features, and price.

Here's a quick rundown of all that the Segway Myon offers, and how it handled on an indoor test track in Las Vegas. It could definitely be in the running as one of the best electric bikes, but we'll have to test it more to find out.

Segway Myon: the tl;dr

• Starting price: $1,999
• Motor: 500 Watt rear hub (750 peak)
• Ebike class: 2 (3 outside of California)
• Battery: 722 Ah (range of up to 80 miles)
• Tires: 27.5 X 1.95
• Weight: 73 pounds
• Max payload: 300 pounds

Last year, Segway introduced its first two ebikes, the Xyber and the Xafari, which were aimed at more of an outdoorsy and adventure-seeking set. The Myon, by contrast, is a bit more sedate in its specs, but should have a wider appeal for those who want an everyday ebike.

That's not to say the Myon is without its amenities. It features a 500-Watt rear hub motor (750W peak) with a max torque of 85 nm, which should be more than powerful enough to get you up most hills.

Segway also outfitted the Myon with an electronic shifter, which was really smooth in my test ride. I simply thumbed a small switch on the right handlebar to shift up or down. Right below this is a small rocker switch that lets you adjust the level of pedal assistance.

Below that is a thumb lever for the Myon's throttle. When I pressed down on that, the bike accelerated smoothly and quickly, and before I knew it, I was rocketing around the track at 20 MPH.

Over on the left handlebar are controls for the turn signals in the handlebars, as well as a button to navigate the center display, and another for the electronic horn. (The bike also has an old-school bell, giving you a belt-and-suspenders approach.)

Similar to the company's electric scooters, the Myon comes with Apple FindMy, as well as remote locking, and GPS and a Lost Mode (where you can remotely track the bike) if you sign up for a subscription.

Loads of accessories

Similar to Rad Power, Segway is planning to offer a host of accessories for the Myon, including a rear rack with radar; when attached, lights on the handlebars will light up if the bike senses that a car is approaching you from the rear too fast.

Other accessories include a dropper post, a top tube for increased rigidity, as well as front- and rear-mounted baskets.

Initial impressions

I've ridden my share of ebikes, and Segway's newest model feels very well-rounded. At $1,999, the Myon is not the cheapest nor the most expensive, but given the features it offers, such as the electronic shifters, and security features, it seems a reasonable price.

I'll have to wait until there's warmer weather to give the Segway Myon a full rundown. But, from my initial impressions, it was very comfortable to ride, its controls were well within thumb's reach, it shifted easily and it responded quickly to my inputs and pedaling.

The Myon is currently for sale, though unlike Segway's scooters which you can buy online, the Myon has to be purchased through a local bike dealer, which you can find at Segway's site.

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I just checked out Razer’s Project AVA AI desk companion, and I’m not going to lie, it’s pretty awesome. Though I’m still largely skeptical about chatbots, even I see the appeal of having an AI avatar helping you out in video games or just keeping you organized in daily life. The fact that said chatbot sits right on your desk inside a cool-looking cylinder is also kind of fun.

I received a brief demonstration of Project AVA at CES 2026 to see how it works. Though this is a Razer product, you can use it for everyday purposes beyond gaming. This is actually the aspect I found most interesting, especially as AI companions are becoming more sophisticated. Having the AI provide gaming tips is really more of a bonus than a main feature for me.

Here’s my experience with Project AVA, along with a rundown of how it works.

How Project AVA works

Project AVA is a 24/7 AI companion that’s designed to live right alongside you. Razer used xAI’s Grok engine to demo Project AVA, but I was told it’s platform agnostic, meaning you’ll be able to use other chatbots like ChatGPT to drive it.

AVA has a dynamic personality that learns and evolves based on the interactions you have with it. It’s brought to life as an animated 5.5-inch 3D hologram, and Razer says it uses human-like vision and audio sensing for full contextual awareness. For my demo, the companion in question was a spunky girl named Kira, but other companions will also be available.

As I said before, AVA can simplify your life by doing things such as organizing your schedule, consulting with you on work tasks and, of course, being your gaming wingman. It's pretty versatile.

My Project AVA experience

In the demo, the Razer representative asked Kira to help him create an ideal loadout for a shooting game. The AI companion took a few seconds to respond, but when it did, it gave a detailed rundown of the gun it saw on the screen and suggested a loadout. I was told it can also show you the best routes to take on the map, and also deliver other tips to give you an edge.

I asked if the AI only works with first-person shooters, and was told it can help you in any game. I’m already thinking about using AVA when I’m playing Street Fighter 6, so it can tell me how I can improve and which areas need improvement.

Project AVA is trained on several languages. When I said I also speak Spanish, the Razer rep asked Kira to respond in Spanish. I then had a quick chat with it in “Gamer Spanglish” and was surprised at how accurate its responses were. Switching back to English, the rep asked Kira how to get to Samsung’s booth from our location, and it gave detailed directions.

Outlook

I was very impressed by Project AVA's accurate and lifelike responses. Again, I’m not exactly an AI proponent, but even I have to admit that Project AVA can be legitimately helpful for life and gaming. In fact, I’m actually more interested in the life assistant aspect, even though I’m a huge gamer.

There’s no solid release date for Razer Project AVA, but I was told it will launch in “calendar year 2026.” Pricing also hasn’t been disclosed. You can reserve one now, and it will ship around the launch window. You can rest assured I’ll review this device when it’s out, so stay tuned!

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CES 2026 is heating up as Google announces a slew of enhancements to Gemini on Google TV, making settings adjustments and search that much easier.

Beyond content curation and enhanced search functionality, Google is also making it easier for Google TV users to access its suite of AI features, specifically Nano Banana and Veo. You'll also be able to explore your Google Photos albums with Gemini search, letting you leverage Photo Remix to create breathtaking slideshows directly on your TV.

These updates will be available on select TCL TVs and Google TV devices over the next few months. Google did not specify which other TV manufacturers use the platform, such as Sony and Hisense, but we can assume their sets with Google TV will also receive Gemini upgrades later this year.

Use your voice to change TV settings

Ever wanted to just speak your TV tweaks into existence without having to dig through various settings menus to find what you need? Well, now you can, thanks to these new Gemini updates on Google TV.

Google noted several key ways the functionality works, such as telling Gemini "the dialogue is lost" if you need audio adjustments or "the screen is too dim" if you need to tweak the brightness. On the one hand, it not only makes it easier to make changes on the fly, whether to the picture or the sound, but also lets you never leave your favorite content to make them.

It's unclear at this time how in-depth these voiced tweaks go. For instance, if I wanted to change certain privacy settings or make more complex changes to gaming peripherals, would Gemini be able to distinguish them? We won't know until we can really test the new upgrades out for ourselves, but this one in particular seems especially promising for Google TV users.

Gemini also now feels more personal. Google explains in its blog post that it uses "a new visually rich framework that adapts Gemini's responses to your queries." Answers to your various questions are brought to life using imagery, videos, real-time sports updates, and more, offering an additional level of interactivity and liveliness.

Google aptly calls them "Deep Dives," offering narrative explorations of your favorite topics. It's a handy tool if you need a broad explanation of a certain topic or need clarification on current events, like sports scores and the like. You can also use Gemini to find other exciting content across the best streaming services that suit your interests.

Use Gemini AI features right on your display

Now you can broaden your creativity and imagination with Nano Banana and Veo available to use right on your screen. With these Gemini AI features, you can now create your own original media from your couch or even reimagine some of your own photos.

Previously, you could only use Gemini on Google TV to create generative AI wallpapers, but with these new features, a whole doorway of creativity has been opened. What will you create first on your living room display?

Google is also updating how you interact with your Google Photos. Using Gemini, you can now search your library for moments and people in photos, making it easier to find your most cherished memories. Gemini also lets you transform these photos into brilliant slide shows directly on your TV screen, or elevate them with tweaks using Photos Remix.

Google will roll out the update over the next few months, starting with TCL TVs and Google TV devices, such as the Google TV Streamer. It's unclear when Sony and Hisense sets might get these updates, but Tom's Guide has reached out for comment.

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The annual CES 2026 show is hitting its stride in Las Vegas this week, and "AI" remains one of the most popular buzzwords you'll hear at the show. From Nvidia's AI-driven DLSS 4.5 upgrade to AI-powered robot pets, the tech industry's fascination with AI shows no signs of slowing in 2026.

That's not a huge surprise given basically the same story played out last year at CES 2025, where nearly every major laptop maker was talking up the promise of the AI PC. It's a vague marketing term that typically connotes PCs packing CPUs with onboard NPUs (Neural Processing Units) optimized for AI-driven work like blurring your background on video calls.

Dell was one of the big promoters of AI PCs at CES last year, rebranding their laptop lines and repositioning many as AI PCs. But this year the PC vendor took a different tack, reversing last year's rebranding (XPS is back!) and clearly stating that it's pulling back from promoting its new computers as AI-first PCs.

How come? According to Dell exec Kevin Terwilliger, people just aren't buying computers based primarily on their AI capabilities.

People aren't buying based on AI

Terwilliger said so during a pre-briefing for Dell's CES 2026 product announcements, which include new Dell XPS laptops packing the latest Intel Panther Lake CPUs. And as our sister site PC Gamer helpfully pointed out, the Dell exec made a point of saying that while Dell isn't abandoning AI features, it's not going to keep trying make them a primary selling point of PCs.

"One thing you'll notice is the message we delivered around our products was not AI-first," Terwilliger said. "So, a bit of a shift from a year ago where we were all about the AI PC."

He went on to note that while every new product Dell unveiled at CES this year has an NPU inside, the company refrained from promoting their AI features first and foremost because it believes people aren't buying new PCs based on AI.

That's a significant bit of insight into how people are buying laptops and desktops from one of the biggest suppliers on the planet. And as someone who personally had to review a fair number of "AI PCs" over the last year or two, I can tell you they're nearly always all style and no substance.

"What we've learned over the course of this year, especially from a consumer perspective, is they're not buying based on AI," added Terwilliger. "In fact I think AI probably confuses them more than it helps them understand a specific outcome."

This was a common note during Dell's CES 2026 presentation, echoing folks like Dell COO Jeff Clarke claiming "we have this un-met promise of AI" that's struggling to convince folks to buy laptops right as "we're about ready to enter 2026 with a memory shortage that is pretty significant."

Outlook

So while all of Dell's new laptops will support the latest AI features in Windows 11, you can expect them to return to the classic XPS branding and feature a bit less AI-focused advertising.

As someone who's been reviewing laptops for decades I gotta say, this sounds like good news to me. I've reviewed over a dozen "AI laptops" in the last year and I've yet to actually use any of their AI features in my day-to-day work. They're typically fun to play around with for five or ten minutes, but unless you like a robot rewriting your words or fiddling with your scribbles in Paint they aren't much help.

Even better, Dell has brought back not just the XPS branding but a few other features I loved about the old XPS laptops as well, including a visible touchpad and physical function keys instead of the frustrating old capacitive versions. I'm looking forward to getting a chance to review Dell's 2026 XPS lineup when they ship later this month—stay tuned!

After months of anticipation, I finally got my hands on the first laptop equipped with a Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme CPU. That's Qualcomm's most powerful chip to date, and Asus has delivered such a slim, lightweight notebook to handle its performance.

Over at CES 2026, I got the chance to check out the all-new Asus Zenbook A16 — a 16-inch laptop featuring a dazzling OLED display and weighing as little as 2.65 pounds. To put that into perspective, you'll find the smaller MacBook Air M4 weighs 2.7 pounds. But it isn't just design where this Zenbook shines.

Sporting the all-powerful Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme, the Zenbook A16 is already primed to topple many of the best laptops we tested in 2025, both in performance and power efficiency. It takes what we enjoyed on last year's Asus Zenbook A14 with Snapdragon X power, from its gorgeous OLED display and insane battery life, but gives it an edge with Qualcomm's latest flagship processor.

During my brief time with the Asus Zenbook A16, I could already tell that this could be a laptop to beat in 2026. How so? Well, the benchmarks I've seen don't lie.

Asus Zenbook A16: Specs

Thinner, lighter, faster

The Asus Zenbook A16 is quite the stunner, with a full ceraluminum design that give its that premium appeal that works in an office, coffee shop — wherever you place it. But what truly impressed me was picking up.

Being 0.54 inches thin and weighing an ultra-lightweight 2.65 pounds, not only is that one of the thinnest 16-inch laptops around, but it's even lighter than 13-inch laptops. I mean, take that, 16-inch MacBook Pro (coming in at 0.6 inches and 4.7 pounds).

It's not like Asus sacrificed other premium features for this design, either. You're still getting a 16-inch 3K (2880 x 1800) OLED display with an impressive 120Hz refresh rate and crazy fast 0.2ms response time. That's a display even gaming laptops would be jealous of, and technically, this isn't one!

But the real kicker here is that Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme CPU with 18 cores and 80 TOPS for AI power. While I couldn't benchmark the laptop, I have previously benchmarked the chip, and it already beats the likes of the MacBook Pro M5, and even the M4 Pro, when it comes to multi-core performance.

That's one powerful processor, and having that in a laptop that's thinner and lighter? It's a very welcome combination. Plus, the X2 Elite Extreme has gaming chops, which will put that OLED display to good use.

Another perk from the chip is the Zenbook A16's battery life, which is claimed to be up to a whopping 21 hours. That isn't just speculation, as we've already seen the Zenbook A14 with a Snapdragon processor reach over 18 hours. It's already looking to be one of the best laptops for battery life.

Being a 16-inch laptop, it would have been nice to see the Zenbook A16 fully utilize its space by having a keyboard with a number pad, but at the same time, it makes the machine look and feel more compact.

Throw in its 48GB of DDR5X memory, Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity, and this laptop ticks all the right boxes for power users on the move.

Outlook

Of course, once we get the Asus Zenbook A16 in our testing labs, we'll find out if it reaches the high bar it's setting on paper. But even from my hands-on time with the laptop, it's already one to keep an eye out for once it arrives later in 2026.

It already has to contend with the new Dell XPS 14, and its price will show just how premium this laptop will be. But in any case, I'm looking forward to seeing how far Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme pushes next-gen performance.

With mighty Intel Core Ultra Series 3 CPUs also heading to laptops this year, it's clear we're set to see a leap in mobile computing in 2026 — and we're very much here for it.

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Nvidia G-SYNC Pulsar just got announced at CES 2026, and Team Green has some lofty claims about its capabilities.

Targeting 27-inch 1440p 360Hz gaming monitors (the sweet spot for esports enthusiasts), the big number here is “1,000Hz of perceived motion clarity.” So, of course, I had to put it to the test.

That would be significantly above the 600Hz panel I tested last year, and it’s all done through looking at the entire tech stack of a monitor and making efficient choices to deliver the sharpest fast-moving picture I’ve ever seen on a screen.

What Nvidia G-SYNC Pulsar monitors are available?

Nvidia is aiming its sights on the 27-inch 1440p 360Hz monitor segment for esports — kicking off with four monitors that launched at CES.

• Acer Predator XB273U F5
• AOC Agon Pro AG276QSG2
• Asus ROG STRIX Pulsar XG27AQNGV
• MSI MPG 272QRF X36

Talking to Nvidia, the company confirmed the tech will be expanded to more monitor dimensions, resolutions and refresh rates over time.

How Nvidia G-SYNC Pulsar works

To catch you up, G-SYNC is gaming monitor tech that uses a combination of variable refresh rate (VRR) and extreme low motion blur (ELMB) to deliver the crispiest possible gameplay at buttery-smooth frame rates.

Pulsar takes this to the next level by going into the DNA of the monitor itself — in particular, the strobing of the backlight that illuminates your picture. In traditional panels, the entire backlight will strobe independently of frames being presented on screen (known as a scanout).

As that happens, the trails of previous frames will exist. Granted, it's the tiniest amount, especially at higher refresh rates. But this is still perceived by the human eye as blur.

What G-SYNC Pulsar does instead is use a rolling backlight strobe that pulses in lock step with each frame scanout. This means every pixel is given time to show a stable image before every hit of that backlight.

Next-level sharpness

For you, that means a 360Hz picture with 1,000Hz of perceived motion clarity. And to my peepers, there’s nothing else quite like it when it comes to sharpness — unlocking depth perception I never knew I had.

Take “Overwatch 2” for example. For me, I normally have to alter my depth perception to blur the background so I can see the text floating about my allies and targets. In G-SYNC Pulsar, it was much easier to just see the text float by in my vision while still focusing on the level behind it.

It’s the difference between seeing the target and not, which, in split-second shooter scenarios in an esports context like this, is significant. And ever since this demo, every other monitor I’ve tested here at CES has looked good, but the traditional blur is so noticeable.

If crispiness is essential to you, this is a generational leap in gaming monitor tech. Plus, shout-out to G-SYNC Ambient Adaptive Technology for saving people’s eyes with real-time brightness and color temperature adjustments.

More from Tom's Guide

• Best of CES 2026 Awards: The top 25 new gadgets
• The Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo is so overkill and I love it — like if a Nintendo DS got freaky with an RTX 5090
• I just tested Lenovo’s Legion Pro Rollable concept, and now my gaming laptop feels boring

We’re knee-deep in new TVs at CES 2026, and unsurprisingly, Samsung is showcasing a slate of exciting, bleeding-edge models. But of all the sets in the Samsung 2026 TV lineup, one is shaping up to be a popular pick for savvy shoppers: the S90H OLED.

The S90H is the follow-up to one of the best OLED TVs of 2025, the Samsung S90F. Like its predecessor, the S90H is a mid-range set. It sits between the Samsung S85H OLED and the brand’s next flagship offering, the S95H OLED.

As a mid-range option — and a direct competitor to LG’s sure-to-be-popular C6 OLED — the S90H is inherently poised to make a splash in 2026. But two of its advertised features took me totally by surprise, and they could be the difference-maker for people trying to pick between LG and Samsung this year.

Samsung’s glare-free display is expanding

In 2025, one of the key differences between the mid-range Samsung S90F and the flagship S95F OLED (other than performance) was the design. The S90F has a standard, glossy screen, while the higher-end S95F features Samsung's glare-free, matte finish.

This year, the all-new S90H will rock the glare-free look, too, meaning the design flourish is no longer limited to Samsung's highest-priced OLED.

The glare-free look is more than a gimmick. While not everyone's cup of tea, Samsung's matte screen (seen above on an older model) dramatically reduces glare by scattering light across a wider area.

It's a divisive design decision among A/V enthusiasts because, in an average-lit room with a fair amount of ambient light, the matte finish tends to lift the OLED's inky, perfect black levels into a darker gray.

Despite some viewers' reservations, I'd estimate that more people appreciate the look than those who don't. And, in 2026, the feature will find its way into the mid-range tier of Samsung's OLED lineup.

Regardless of where you stand on matte-style screens, it's worth emphasizing how effective the design is at mitigating direct glare. For viewers with strong light sources in and around their living room, the feature goes a long way towards minimizing the potential visual distraction.

At the time of publishing, the S90H and flagship-level Samsung S95H are the only two Samsung OLED TVs confirmed to carry the glare-free display in 2026. The feature is also available on the brand's Micro RGB flagship TV, the Samsung R95H.

HDR10+ Advanced is here — and it’s not just for high-end TVs

In the HDR format ecosystem, a new contest is beginning to unfold: Dolby Vision 2 vs. HDR10+ Advanced. Both represent the newest version of the most popular enhanced HDR formats (Dolby Vision and HDR10+), and the Samsung S90H is confirmed to support HDR10+ Advanced.

Given the newness of Dolby Vision 2 and HDR10+ Advanced, I didn't expect to see many TVs at CES 2026 that supported either, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that HDR10+ Advanced support is already reaching Samsung's mid-range OLED.

HDR10+ Advanced is the open-source, royalty-free answer to the next iteration of Dolby Vision. Its relatively rapid expansion into Samsung's portfolio suggests the brand is comfortable doubling down on its commitment to a royalty-free version of Dolby Vision, despite the current popularity of Dolby's enhanced HDR format.

HDR10+ Advanced is designed for the newest, highest-end displays on the market. It builds upon the HDR10+ formula, offering creators more ways to ensure that content looks as intended on current- and next-generation displays.

The new format reportedly improves motion handling thanks to an added feature called HDR10+ Intelligent FRC (frame rate conversion), taps AI-based algorithms to balance brightness on a scene-by-scene basis and more.

While you may not find yourself needing HDR10+ Advanced for the time being, it's something that might be nice to have in your TV's back pocket when more movies, shows and games are mastered for HDR10+ Advanced sometime down the road.

We probably won't get our hands on the Samsung S90H for formal testing until sometime in the spring. I'm eager to see how its new look and features resonate with OLED TV shoppers in 2026.

More from Tom's Guide

• These are the 7 best TVs we’ve seen at CES 2026, from OLEDs to Micro RGBs
• Samsung TV lineup 2026: new OLEDs, Micro RGB TVs and Neo QLEDs announced at CES
• Dolby Vision 2 vs HDR10+ Advanced: Read this before you buy your next TV

One of the hardest parts about making homemade cakes, cookies, bread, or even meringues isn't the actual baking. It's not the weighing of the ingredients. And it's definitely not the mixing — we've got a stand mixer for that. It's knowing when your food is actually ready to come out of the warm oven and onto your room-temperature countertop. If you're anything like me and tend to leave foods in the oven for a little longer, just to be on the safe side, then things are about to be switched up big time in your kitchen.

Among the releases of new tech for 2026 at CES is the new LG Signature Oven range that will prove itself to be especially handy for bakers. Fitted with LG's AI Core-Tech inside, aptly known as Gourmet AI, each oven has a specially-designed camera sitting inside it to monitor your food at all times while it's switched on and warm. Once your bake looks perfectly browned, it'll alert the app on your phone, ready for you to check and remove from the oven. Talk about taking the guesswork out of baking.

Better yet? All of this is wrapped inside a neat, modern package that will bring a sophisticated feel to your kitchen. Think gold accents, minimalist designs, and convenience at your fingertips.

LG's Signature Oven

How exactly does this oven work? With a bank of 85+ dishes to choose from, you need to prepare your bake as normal and then tell it what you're making on the app. It will then program your oven with the right temperature setting and timer for cooking this specific bake.

While baking, the Gourmet AI camera will continuously monitor your food and send an alert via the ThinQ app when it detects that it appears ready. You can even view the contents of your oven from your phone, adding some serious convenience to your life, especially if you're often forgetting you've got the oven on in the first place.

Undeniably handy when it comes to perfecting those delicate-to-cook items such as meringues, cakes, and even some types of bread, this way you won't ever have to risk opening your oven and your bake collapsing. This handy technology can offer an extra insight into cooking than your recipe book, all while giving you control, whether you're in your kitchen doing the dishes while your food is baking, or on the sofa watching your favorite movie.

What else is new?

Among the other LG products released at CES 2026 were two refrigerators:

The New LG Signature Refrigerator is fitted with A 6.8" display and inside lives smart AI, which works hard to keep your fridge fresher than ever. It anticipates fridge openings based on getting to know your regular patterns, and to keep your fridge at the perfect temperature, it pre-cools before it anticipates an opening.

The LG Signature Smart InstaView Refrigerator boasts an internal camera that can identify ingredients, suggest recipes based on the contents of your fridge, and more. It's fitted with a T-OLED InstaView panel on its front for both convenience and style.

More from Tom's Guide

• Asus confirms price hikes just days ahead of CES 2026 — what you need to know
• LG Gallery TV is coming to battle Samsung’s The Frame
• CES 2026 Preview: What to expect

Washing machines haven't changed much visually over the years. But, there's something happening amongst the big home appliance brands. Increasingly, we're seeing multi-drum machines being unveiled which offer a whole new approach to how we do laundry.

Take the Hoover Multi-Wash, for example, which is quite possibly the weirdest washing machine I've ever seen, but it solves a major problem. With three drums, it offers you the change to wash and dry at the same time. But, Hoover isn't the only one making waves. At CES 2026, Hisense led the washing machine innovation with its newest model, which has an unusual name.

What's better than one drum?

Called the X-Zone Master, Hisense has called its latest innovation "the world's first infinitely scalable modular washer-dryer system." We're talking the a multi-drum design that starts off with one main unit and can be expanded over and over again with matching mini-modules to suit your needs.

If you want, you could have a home full of mini drums washing everything you need at the same time from baby clothes, to delicates, sports gear, pet bedding and more. Though I'm not sure I'd like to see my water bill after I get my multi-drum cleaning on rotation.

Apart from the name sounding like a spaceship straight out of sci-fi movie, I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the way Hisense's newest innovation looks and I'd be a little worried that my home would quickly turn into a laundromat.

But, no-one's asking me to put in all the mini-drums, instead the X-Zone Master could simply be the main drum and two additional mini-modules – and that's an idea I can get fully on board with. Running separate loads simultaneously is a bit of a dream, especially with two small kids, and when I discovered that the entire system operates at under 46dB, I was even more impressed.

Hisense and Hoover aren't the only companies revolutionizing the washer-dryer though. Back in September 2025, Xiaomi also unveiled the Xiaomi Mijia Three-Zone Washing Machine Pro Drum 10kg, capable of three loads at the same time, which apparently is the magic number. Or five, or seven, or nine, if Hisense has anything to say about it...

The future of laundry?

It's certainly hard to innovate on a tried-and-tested method that's worked for years. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, right? But, with the new washer-dryer machines from Hoover, Xiaomi and now Hisense, I'm starting to become pretty convinced that multi-washing could be the staple in homes of the future. Or, a lot sooner than we think.

With these three huge companies all entering the market with the unique configuration of separate washer-dryer zones (akin to one big shocked mouth and two smaller eyes), there's certainly competition already emerging. But, are they competitively priced?

Well, it's pretty hard to say since they're not quite available to buy yet. In China, you can pick up the Xiaomi Mijia Washing Machine Pro for CNY 4,699, which is around $670/£500. Compared to some of the best washing machines, that's actually a surprisingly affordable price, but we'll have to wait and see what these prices actually look like when these models hit the global market.

More from Tom's Guide

• How much laundry can you fit into a full load and still get your items clean?
• You could be ruining your washing machine without knowing it — try these 3 cheap hacks to extend its life
• This one item is your secret weapon against washing machine mold — and it's not vinegar or baking soda

This year’s CES was a litmus test for AI of sorts. Just because artificial intelligence can be put in practically everything that doesn’t mean you should. So for Tom’s Guide’s CES 2026 Awards we wanted to recognize real-world innovations that incorporate AI in truly helpful ways that have the potential to upgrade your life. This includes a fridge smart enough to read the labels on your food and automatically tell you what you need and a wearable that can help you record and summarize your day for you while also helping you gain more insights into your emotions. We also saw a new form of AI from Lenovo in Qira, which anticipates your needs and serves as a true companion.

But what about just really compelling hardware? CES 2026 had plenty of that, too, from a TV so thin it makes a pencil look thick to a gaming laptop with a rollable display that can grow from 16 to 24 inches on command. Robot vacuums are getting way smarter, too, with the ability to climb stairs and clean as they go. After meeting with dozens of companies — and hearing AI way too many times — these are the very best new products at CES 2026.

Best of Show: Intel Core Ultra Series 3

We’ve known that Intel was already preparing to unleash its Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors, but Team Blue finally showed off what these chips can offer during its big keynote at CES 2026. And what a show it was. The much-anticipated Panther Lake not only shows just how much faster and more power-efficient these CPUs are compared to their Lunar Lake predecessors, but also what they can achieve to bring a new era of laptops into the fold.

Coming to the latest laptops this year, Intel Core Ultra Series 3 chips are primed to set the standard of what a laptop (and gaming handhelds) can reach. Yes, being built on the new Intel 18A node should bring significantly better performance and over 20 hours of battery life, but seeing the latest PC games like Battlefield 6 reaching over 140 FPS at the highest settings without a dedicated GPU is more than enough to detail what can be achieved with a CPU right now. Intel is preparing to kick off a new era of laptops — one that’s ripe to make our list of the best laptops you can grab this year. — Darragh Murphy

Best Design: LG Wallpaper OLED TV (Evo W6)

A pencil. That’s about how thin the new LG Wallpaper TV is at just 9mm thick, and it’s a sight to behold. This TV nearly disappears when you look at it from the sides, and it offers a huge improvement over the original Wallpaper TV from 2017: it’s wireless. A Zero Connect box delivers all the inputs you need from up to 10 meters away at 165Hz for lossless 4K video and audio. It gets better.

The new Wallpaper TV also boasts Hyper Radiant Color Technology, which improves black levels, color vibrancy and brightness in a panel that offers the lowest reflectance among LG TVs. LG hasn’t released pricing info, but the Evo W6 won’t be that much more expensive than the G6 series. So at least this work of art will be attainable. — Mark Spoonauer

Best robot vacuum: Roborock Saros Rover

The ability to climb stairs is the final threshold — both literally and figuratively — for robot vacuums. At CES 2026, we saw a few companies try to tackle that problem, but the Roborock Saros Rover did it with the most elegance.

This robovac has two wheels at the end of extendable legs that can lift it up, one step at a time, to go from one floor of your house to the next. Even better, it can vacuum each tread of your stairs as it ascends. It’s also pretty agile. In our hands-on with the Saros Rover, we saw it lean back and forth on each leg, glide effortlessly down a ramp, and even jump up and down. When was the last time you saw a robot vacuum do that? — Mike Prospero

Best TV: Hisense RGB MiniLED 116UXS

You can’t walk more than 15 feet in the Las Vegas Conference Center without seeing a sign for some brand’s Mini RGB technology. It’s everywhere. But of all the brands, Hisense has come away with the best model in my eyes — a 116-inch behemoth in the Hisense RGB Mini-LED 116UXS that not only uses RGB-subpixels but even throws in a new fourth color in the mix (cyan) to display 110% of BT2020’s coverage area.

In layman’s terms, this is the most colorful TV you’ve ever seen in your life. The tradeoff is that it’s not the slimmest, nor does it have the best anti-glare filter, but the picture is absolutely sublime. If Hisense manages to shrink this display technology and bring it to its award-winning mid-range models, it’s game over for the competition. — Nick Pino

Best concept: Lenovo Legion Pro Rollable

If there’s one thing that’s inevitable, it’s Lenovo introducing a fun rollable display concept at CES. But what I didn’t expect was a rollable prototype that I actually pray that the company makes. And that’s exactly what we have in the Lenovo Legion Pro Rollable.

Simply put, it would be the perfect bridge between my home gaming setup of an ultrawide monitor and my gaming laptop — a display that can extend from the 16-inch 16:9 panel all the way up to 24:9 at a impressive 24 inches at a 240Hz refresh rate. Whatever genre of game you’re playing, you’ve got exactly the right screen aspect ratio to play it with. — Jason England

Best Innovation: Samsung's Crease-Free Display

Samsung Display may have just solved one of the biggest complaints people have about foldable phones: the crease. I saw the company’s Mont Flex prototype OLED display here at CES, and tried as I might I couldn’t see a line down the middle from any angle. The display is designed to unfold mechanically flat with narrow bezels while offering a thin and light design. But it’s the lack of any crease whatsoever that impresses most, especially since Samsung put the advanced crease-less panel right next to the reference design that comes from the Galaxy Z Fold 7.

With Apple rumored to be working on a crease-free iPhone Fold for 2026, this could be the technology that makes it happen. — Mark Spoonauer

Best use of AI: Gemini in Samsung Family Hub

Right now, the Samsung Family Hub refrigerator has a pretty neat trick. Using a camera inside the door, it can identify what foods you’re taking in and out, and offer you recipe suggestions. But its database is rather limited, so it’s not the most accurate. I should know — I’ve been using it for several months.

However, coming later this year, Samsung’s AI vision is about to be supercharged with Gemini, which will not only vastly increase its ability to recognize what you’re adding and removing, but give you better ideas on what to do with your food. How good will it be? According to Samsung’s VP for Digital Appliances, powerful enough to read the labels, so it will know when your milk is about to expire. And, it will know which foods you use more than others, so it can not only offer more recipe ideas, but help you proactively order ingredients before you run out. If it can save me a last-minute trip to buy more eggs, then I’m all in. — Mike Prospero

Best AI Wearable: Nirva

The big trend right now is to put AI in pretty much everything. But Nirva actually makes sense. This AI wearable looks like stylish jewelry but can auto-journal your life and help track your emotions. The device packs dual microphones for listening, an ALS (UV) sensor for lighting info and sunlight exposure and an IMU for motion content. But it all comes to life in the Nirva app, which can help track your mood, energy and stress.

For example, the app senses the tone of your voice and how that might change based on who you’re talking to, so you can get a sense of which person might be “draining your battery.” The app can provide insights and advice to help improve your mood and reduce stress, and you can get personalized guidance by calling or texting Nirva. — Mark Spoonauer

Best smart glasses: Xreal 1S

Well, I mean it had to be the Xreal 1S…right! There were a whole lot of smart glasses on the show floor — many providing AI smarts. But when I see glasses that offer maximum bang for your buck like these, there’s no real alternative!

The Xreal 1S packs all the features of its bigger siblings, the Xreal One, while also improving them and reducing the price by $50. It all starts with a 1200p display (16:10 aspect ratio) to extend the verticality for productivity. Next, the additional Neo Hub is easily the best way to connect to a Nintendo Switch 2 and play to your heart’s content.

And third, that X1 chip on board is not just used for picture clarity anymore. You can also use it to transform any 2D content to 3D super fast, and it really works well! Jason England

Best TV innovation: Dolby Vision 2

Dolby Vision 2 was finally demo-able at CES 2026, and boy was it worth the wait. Seeing the full suite of enhancements like “Precision Black” and “Authentic Motion” at work really convinced me that this is the true successor to Dolby Vision HDR that we’ve been waiting for.

While high-end TVs will see a noticeable difference in motion processing, lower-end models will actually see the biggest improvement when Dolby Vision 2 rolls out. We’ll see better color expression and contrast in TVs that cost a fraction of the flagship models … as long as creators, streaming services and TV chip manufacturers all pitch in and support the platform. — Nick Pino

Best TV Value: Samsung S95H OLED

It feels a bit strange nominating a flagship QD-OLED TV for the “Best TV Value” award at CES — but hear me out. For starters, the Samsung S95H OLED will come packed with a bespoke wall-mount. It’s a gorgeous all-metal design that looks both sleek and minimalist at the same time. It’s also cheap in comparison to the 130-inch Micro RGB TV that’s the torchbearer for the brand in 2026.

Will it be cheap when it releases later this year? Probably not. But at a show that’s absolutely bursting at the seams with massive Micro and Mini-RGB TVs, it’s the most affordable option in its class. — Nick Pino

Best Laptop: Dell XPS 14 (2026)

Everybody loves a comeback story, especially when it looks like this. The Dell XPS 14 undoes the mistake that was killing the XPS brand by putting it front and center on a sleek new laptop that packs a heck of amount of power into a design that’s more compact than the MacBook Air.

You get the latest Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors, an amazingly vibrant tandem OLED display that can scale all the way down to 1Hz and a redesigned 70WHr battery that promises up to 27 hours of juice (with the 2K LCD display option). Plus, the physical functional keyboard has returned (huzzah!), and there’s proper etching around the touchpad so it’s easier to use. — Mark Spoonauer

Best 2-in-1 Laptop: Asus Zenbook Duo

The Asus Zenbook Duo finally did the thing I always wanted it to do. The redesign makes this 2-in-1 truly shine by eliminating the distracting lip between those two 14-inch OLED panels. On top of that, the battery is now shared between both sides for better weight distribution; the aluminum chassis is slimmer and sleeker; and this comes strapped with our best of show winner: Intel Core Ultra Series 3. That’s sure to bring the power efficiency this dual-screen beast needs.

For the past couple of years, the idea of a 2-in-1 has always been a convertible laptop. In 2026, dual-screen laptops have a real shot of breaking through thanks to the Zenbook Duo. — Jason England

Best Phone: Motorola Razr Fold

Motorola has officially joined the book-style foldable phone race with the new Razr Fold, and it could very well give Samsung and Google a run for their money when it launches this summer. The Motorola Razr Fold features a 6.6-inch cover display and a huge 8.1-inch internal screen that’s slightly bigger than the Galaxy Z Fold 7’s 8 inches.

The device is pretty thin when open, and I especially like the soft-touch finish on the Lily White color option. You also get a trio of 50MP rear cameras and access to Motorola’s helpful AI tools like Catch Me Up and Next Move. If the price is aggressive enough, the Razr Fold has the potential to make serious waves. — Mark Spoonauer

Best Monitor: Asus ROG Swift OLED PG34WCDN

Upon first glance of the Asus ROG Swift OLED PG34WCDN (it’s a mouthful, I know), I was immediately blown away by the visuals. I mean, there’s the clarity of the best gaming monitors, but then there’s this 34-inch QD-OLED display with next-gen RGB Stripe Pixel OLED technology boasting a 1800R WQHD (3440 x 1440) curved panel. The results? Crystal-clear visuals with draw-dropping colors and true blacks.

We’ve seen monitors reach well over a 360Hz refresh rate and a 0.03 response time, but Asus claims this is the world’s first RGB OLED gaming monitor on the market. It offers a 40% uplift in perceived blacks thanks to the ROG BlackShield film, along with richer colors, making the ROG Swift OLED PG34WCDN a monitor for gamers and creatives to keep an eye on for 2026. — Darragh Murphy

Best mini PC: Lenovo Yoga Mini i

The Lenovo Yoga Mini i — the company’s second Yoga-branded mini PC — trades the traditional rectangular chassis for a sleek, aluminum puck powered by Intel’s new Core Ultra 3 chips. While the integrated fingerprint reader in its power button and the generous selection of rear and side ports (including dual Thunderbolt 4 ones) are a welcome addition, the Mini i really stands out as a dedicated physical hub for Lenovo’s new Qira AI assistant.

The device uses Wi-Fi sensing to detect your presence, greeting you with a customizable RGB underglow as you approach. Rather than fumbling with apps, a simple tap on the top of the case summons Qira instantly, while the built-in speaker and far-field microphones allow you to chat with the assistant while you work. It’s a clever evolution of the form factor, transforming the mini PC from a computer you might mount behind your monitor into an interactive desktop companion. — Anthony Spadafora

Best gaming peripheral: HyperX Clutch Tachi

If you’re a serious fighting game fan, then you’re no doubt excited about the HyperX Clutch Tachi leverless controller. Utilizing TMR magnetic switches, the Clutch Tachi promises to be one of, if not the most, responsive and accurate controller of its kind. Beyond its promising performance, the Clutch Tachi features an ergonomic design that will make it easier for you to grind it out in training mode for hours.

The controller is also small and light enough to easily carry to your friend’s house to show him how to really play Street Fighter 6. Leverless controllers are the de facto weapon for fighting game players at tournaments, and I can see the HyperX Clutch Tachi becoming a coveted controller in those circles. But even for a non-professional yet passionate gamer like me, this is a fantastic gaming peripheral. — Tony Polanco

Best gaming innovation: Nvidia DLSS 4.5

Nvidia dropped a proverbial bomb at CES when it announced the updated Nvidia DLSS 4.5. The company is now targeting 4K path-traced gaming at 240 frames per second. Why is that important? Because anyone using low to mid-range RTX 40 or RTX 50-series GPUs can enjoy smoother and sharper gameplay without resorting to breaking the bank on the most high-end Nvidia GPU.

Though some hardcore gamers may scoff at using AI to enhance gameplay, the average person doesn’t care so long as their games look and run great. Nvidia DLSS is already the gold standard for AI-powered frame generation and image enhancement for graphics cards. DLSS 4.5 is the next natural evolution in that process and is definitely the best gaming innovation of CES 2026. — Tony Polanco

Best gaming laptop: MSI Stealth 16 AI+

Gaming laptops are never really stealthy. Hell, even the one with stealth in the name wasn’t too stealthy. But finally, MSI gave the Stealth 16 AI+ a significant redesign to actually be a much more premium notebook in nature that holds a whole lot of power.

You can spec it up to an RTX 5090 with Intel Core Ultra 9 386H and a whopping 128GB RAM, and all of it is kept impressively cool with a well-thought-out thermal optimization package containing a massive heatsink and a huge back vent. That ensures maximum wattage to your components, to make the most of that 240Hz OLED display. Put simply, this is MSI’s real comeback of sneaky gaming laptops. It’s a true stunner! — Jason England

Best smart lock: Aqara U400

What if you could just walk up to your door and have it magically unlock without you having to do anything? That’s what separates the Aqara U400 from other smart locks. Thanks to its use of Ultra Wide Band (UWB) technology, it can sense when you (and your iPhone or Apple Watch) are approaching your door, and will unlock it automatically. No fuss. And, the technology is good enough that it can recognize if you’re merely walking past your door rather than to it, or if you’re inside, rather than outside your house.

We’ve had a chance to review the Aqara U400, and found its only real downside is that its key selling point is only available for Apple users. It shouldn’t be long before we see this for Android, too — which will be the real key to its success. — Mike Prospero

Best Fitness Wearable: Luna Band

The Luna Band is a new, wallet-friendly, screenless health and fitness tracker from the India-based wearables brand best known for its smart rings. This $149 alternative to the latest Whoop band is completely subscription-free and plays nicely with both Apple and Android devices.

As you might expect, the Luna Band tracks all essential holistic metrics, including heart health, body temperature, movement, respiratory rate, and sleep quality. Insights are viewable from within the companion Luna app.

Lightweight and minimalist in its physical design, what sets the Luna Band apart from the competition is support for audio commands. For example, users can log a stressful day, a meal, or a bad night of sleep by simply speaking to the Luna Band. Better yet, the device provides wellness guidance when prompted, with responses based on your personal holistic data and backed by Luna’s AI health engine. — Dan Bracaglia

Best Audio: Klipsch The 9s II

Klipsch is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year by refreshing some of its most popular speakers of the last decade: At CES 2026, the brand took the wraps off its new The Fives II, The Sevens II and The Nines II, but it’s the latter that has me the most intrigued.

Powered by Onkyo audio processing and built with Klipsch’s new Tractrix horn, these powered speakers deliver wider sound dispersion with pinpoint clarity. Built for both two-channel music listening and Dolby Atmos-powered films and shows, Klipsch’s The 9s II offers a multitude of connectivity options including everything from AirPlay 2 to USB-C and HDMI.

There’s auto-room calibration powered by Dirac Live and even support for XLR inputs. At $2,399 for the pair they’re not cheap, but they sounded absolutely divine at Klipsch’s booth. — Nick Pino

Best rideable: Strutt ev1

What if your electric scooter or ebike had a self-driving mode? That’s one of the coolest features of the Strutt ev1, a new kind of four-wheeled personal electric vehicle that can get you from Point A to Point B by you simply telling it where you want to go. That’s because the Strutt is outfitted with LiDar and other sensors that map obstacles and steer around them.

When I tried the Strutt ev1 in a crowded room, it didn’t come close to hitting anyone or anything. And thanks to built-in LLM, you can also speak your commands to the chair, another benefit for those who might not have full use of their limbs. Strutt is marketing the ev1 as a fun personal transportation device — and it definitely was a lot of fun to ride — but we can see it being very useful to those with mobility issues. — Mike Prospero

Best Health Tech: Garmin Nutrition Tracking

Garmin Connect+ caused a stir among users when the $7 per month (or $70 per year) subscription tier was introduced, but the service just got more useful with the addition of nutrition tracking.

Once you've confirmed your personal details and health targets, the paywalled service will set a personalized calorie target and break it down into different macros. And while logging all your food is always going to be a chore, Garmin's service is trying to make it as easy as possible. You can either scan the barcode on your food's packaging or search through the extensive database of food to find what you need. If that's too much work, simply snap a picture of your plate, and it'll estimate the calorie content for you.

Food tracking services are nothing new, but having it built into the Garmin ecosystem and mapped to some of the best sports watches you can buy could convince even more people to sign up for Garmin Connect. — Jeff Parsons

Best Sleep Tech: Ceragem Neuro Wellness Youth Bed

Does your teen complain about not getting enough sleep? While the best smart beds and mattresses should help just about anyone, the Neuro Wellness Youth Bed is designed specifically for adolescents, who more than anyone need to get enough rest for their developing bodies and brains. It does so through a combination of light, aroma, sound therapy and thermal control, as well as a spinal thermal massager to promote physical growth.

And, in case your kids procrastinate with their homework, a display can remind teens to review learning materials and books before they nod off. — Mike Prospero

Best Wellness Monitor: Withings BodyScan 2

Withings, the Paris-based wellness gadget company, is doubling down on at-home preventative health monitoring. The new Withings Body Scan 2 looks pretty similar to a standard, run-of-the-mill smart scale, but it’s that and so much more. In 90 seconds, this new smart scale can provide deep insights into your metabolic, cardiovascular, and cellular health using a whopping 60 biomarkers.

I tested the Body Scan 2 on the tradeshow floor and discovered that I have the heart health of a 36-year-old (I’m 37) and the vascular health of someone exactly my age. The scanner also provides metrics for muscle-to-fat ratios (mine were ‘typical’ or in the bottom 50% of users my age) and visceral fat levels (within optimal range). All of these metrics are accompanied by text explaining how each score was determined, along with how the results compare to your peers. Heart health age, for instance, is based on a user’s ECG (Electrocardiogram) and ICG (Impedance Cardiography) readings.

Priced at $599 and expected to ship around summer 2026, my favorite aspect of the Body Scan 2, beyond the useful insights, is just how easy it is to use. Simply step on the scale platform barefoot and firmly grip the hand sensors. A small but easy-to-read display guides you through the process, which involves little more than standing still for a minute and a half. — Dan Bracaglia

Best Gaming Headset: HyperX Neurable concept headset

Imagine a gaming headset that can read your brainwaves and actually make you better at gaming — one that does so by overclocking your brain. That’s what the HyperX Neurable concept headset does, and it feels like a cheat code that turned me into an FPS monster.

Using EEG pads built into the headphone cups and an AI inference model, the headset is able to read your brain signals and use a visualizer to form a focus exercise that both relaxes your body and increases your brain’s focus simultaneously.

And in my test, I saw my top score in Aim Labs FPS shooting range go up by 5,000 points, my accuracy go up by a couple of percentage points, and my time to respond to targets reduced by nearly 100ms. The applications of this are huge in the gaming space, and I so want to try one with my sim racing league. — Jason England

More from Tom's Guide

• CES 2026 Day 1 — Top 10 new gadgets you need to see
• CES 2026 Day 2 — The top 11 new gadgets you need to see
• CES 2026 Day 3 — The top 9 new gadgets you need to see

IKEA is giving its viral 'donut lamp' a smart makeover. Announced today at CES 2026, the IKEA Varmblixt is the latest smart home release from the iconic furniture brand, and I think it's going to become an instant classic.

Created in collaboration with Dutch artist and designer Sabine Marcelis, the new and improved Varmblixt lamp now features color-changing and light dimming capabilities, can be controlled remotely and will transition gently between a range of custom hues. Available both as a wall light and a table lamp, the IKEA Varmblixt will cost $99 and be available from April 2026.

Mmm... donuts

The donut lamp will automatically transition between 12 preset colors in subtly shifting tones when first switched on, but when paired with the IKEA Home Smart app, you can select from over 40 shades and adjust both light intensity and dimming.

“We spent a lot of time fine-tuning the transitions between the curated colors," says Sabine Marcelis. "What makes this lamp unique is that switching between colors is not a sudden change, but a very smooth journey through all the hues to get to the next color. The light slowly moves through color to in turn transform the color of a space.”

What else is new?

As part of the collaboration, IKEA will also be selling a smart version of its $149 Varmblixt pendant light, which will also sensitively transition between shades of light, this time with a focus on white light. Like the donut, it can be controlled with the included remote, or controlled as part of your smart home setup.

The entire line is built on the Matter standard and can be paired to a range of smart home systems, meaning it'll be easy to pair with your existing setup.

IKEA also announced 21 new smart home gadgets back in November, signalling a wider shift into the smart home market.

We'll be first in line to test the new Varmblixt lights ahead of their release in April 2026.

More from Tom's Guide

• IKEA is selling a tiny new USB-C charger for just $4 — and I'm buying one for every bag
• Govee announces 3 new smart lights at CES 2026, including a ceiling light for windowless spaces
• I used this smart light strip to transform my living room

Day three of the Consumer Electronics Show 2026 has come to a close, and there have certainly been some incredible reveals. The first day was focused on TVs, and the second showed off some of the innovations coming to the laptop space, but day three has been more of a mix and match of new tech.

For instance, we’ve seen robots that can climb stairs, feature-packed vacuums and even a host of new smartwatches. Of course, it’s not just home-based products, as we also saw new smartwatches, laptops and more. We've seen everything from stair-climbing vacuums to rollable laptop displays and more.

Make sure that you keep an eye on our CES 2026 live blog for all the new releases as we see them. Also, make sure you check out the day 1 roundup of the 10 best new gadgets we saw, as well as the top 11 that we saw on CES day 2.

Samsung flexes the world's brightest OLED TV

If there’s one thing that we love to see, it’s innovations in display technology, and Samsung certainly isn’t disappointing. One of the biggest complaints around OLED TVs is that they just don’t get bright enough. However, Samsung showed off its latest project, a QD-OLED TV that can reach a peak brightness of 4,500 nits.

That’s an insane level of brightness, and Samsung told Tom's Guide it was only possible by combining the maximum brightness of each RGG component to overall effect.

A representative told Tom’s Guide’s Global Editor in Chief Mark Spoonauer the TV can get this bright because of the improved light efficiency of the panel, improved TFT circuitry and a more sophisticated T-Con (timing controller.)

An AI-powered pet companion

If you’re looking for companionship, then a pet can be a great investment; however, looking after a real-life dog or cat requires a lot of attention and sacrifice. Ecovacs may have a new solution for those seeking a fluffy friend, but lacking the time to devote to a flesh-and-blood version: LilMilo.

According to Ecovacs, the robotic dog combines multi-sensory perception with expressive, pet-like behavior, which comes together to introduce a new form of digital companionship.

The model that we saw was made to look like a small, fluffy dog and can use advanced AI and biometrics to learn from its user, recognising habits and voices, and develop its own personality over time.

Razr’s Project Motoko could be the future of AI wearables

My colleague Anthony Spadafora got the chance to try out Razr's new Project Motoko headset during CES 2026 to see what it could offer. This wearable utilizes dual eye-level cameras that allow users to capture images and ask the built-in AI Assistant about them. Of course, this isn’t the only thing that it can do, as you can also have the cameras continuously capture what you see for real-time interaction.

What’s noteworthy is that it actually looks comfortable to wear. Modern smart glasses might give you Clark Kent vibes, but wearing them isn’t the best experience if you don't naturally need glasses. In Razer's case, the extra room inside the headset’s earcups makes it much easier to put a reasonably sized battery inside, massively improving the battery life compared to even the best smart glasses.

A robot vacuum that can climb stairs

Roombas and other robotic vacuums have been around for a while, but they still have one major weakness: stairs. Fear not, the days of watching your robot vacuum bump furtively against the steps in your house could be nearing an end. Roborock has unveiled what it’s calling a world first: the Roborock Saros Rover, a two-wheel-legged robot.

This new design enables the robot vacuum to navigate over steps, high thresholds, and other awkward spaces. While we’ve seen other Robovac models feature things like extendable arms or adapt-lift chassis, this is the first that is designed to mimic human movement for a more sturdy and reliable clean.

The Rolls-Royce of electric scooters

Electric scooters are a familiar sight across most major cities, but the latest release from Navee adds a dash of class with a supercar-inspired design. The Navee UT5 Ultra X electric scooter uses a design based on the Rolls-Royce Phantom supercar and offers a top speed of 43 mph.

Tom's Guide's own Dan Bracaglia got a chance to test drive one and, aside from a few near crashes at the start, had a lot to praise about the scooter. The Navee UT5 Ultra X sports not one but two onboard motors with a maximum output of 240W each, allowing it to reach 0-12 mph in under two seconds. Not only that, the motor placement makes it possible to climb gradients of around 46 degrees, which is more than enough for most cities.

Motorola steps up its foldable game

We had heard rumors that Motorola was planning to showcase something interesting at CES 2026, and Tom's Guide got a chance to get a hands-on with the new Motorola Razr Fold. While the Motorola Razr series has been a staple in the foldable market for a couple of years now, this new release stands apart as being the first book-like foldable from the brand.

It features a 6.6-inch display on the outside and a large 8.1-inch 2K LTPO screen on the inside. We don’t know much about most of the hardware when it comes to the new phone, but we do know that it features a 50MP main Sony LYTIA sensor, a 50MP ultra-wide/macro, and a 50MP 3x periscope telephoto.

If you’re a selfie fan, then the phone also has a 32MP external selfie camera and a 20MP internal camera on the main display.

A head turning laptop that turns alongside you

Have you ever worried that your computer was watching you? Well, the new Lenovo Auto Twist actually is, but for a good reason.

The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 7 Auto Twist has a motorized dual-rotation hinge that automatically tracks your face when you move. However, a laptop is more than just rotation and, thankfully, the Lenovo Auto Twist offers some impressive hardware, especially the vivid 14-inch 2.8K OLED panel. The display comes with a 120Hz refresh rate and can be configured with up to 32GB of RAM and 2TB of SSD storage.

The release window for this laptop is set for June 2026, with a starting price of $1,649. And be warned that higher configurations will obviously increase that price.

The future of gaming laptops: a rollable screen

Lenovo also used CES to unveil a new concept for the future of gaming laptops, the Lenovo Legion Pro Rollable. This new design allows you to extend the screen from 16 inches to a massive 24 inches with an ultrawide 24:9 aspect ratio. The actual computer on display is no slouch thanks to the RTX 5090, Intel Core Ultra 9, all the LPDDR5X RAM, and a massive SSD, but really, the point here is that display.

As stated, the screen starts as a 16-inch OLED panel running at 240Hz, but the thick lid is hiding the three-step ultrawide panel that you can adjust to match the requirements of the game you're playing. If you’re worried about the mechanism breaking, Lenovo has you covered, as it’s supposedly been tested for 25,000 expansions and contractions.

IMAX-grade earbuds for theater level audio

Another world first has to be the Zohn-1 from company Breggz, the first earbuds to feature IMAX Enhanced and DTS certifications. That means they're tuned for high-quality audio in films and music, as well as sporting "custom 3D-printed shells" to reduce audio leak without relying on noise cancellation.

The Zohn-1 comes in two different sizes to accommodate a wide variety of ears and boasts balanced armature drivers, an integrated hearing test that lets you fine-tune the sound to your own ears and six pairs of swappable ear tips for optimal fit.

We don’t have a release date for the IMAX-certified earbuds just yet, but hopefully they'll be ready to buy when Avatar: Fire and Ash comes to streaming.

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• You can find your missing iPhone with one text message thanks to Apple Shortcuts — here’s how to set it up
• Watch: The LG CLOiD robot failing to fold laundry is the most mesmerizing thing I’ve seen at CES 2026

CES 2026 is well underway, and the talk of the show for TV fans has been RGB Mini-LED TVs. TCL is taking things a bit differently with a new subset of Mini-LED models called its SQD (Super Quantum Dot) Mini-LED series, which offer enhanced dimming zones and broader color coverage for superior picture performance.

At the forefront of its 2026 TV lineup is the TCL X11L SQD Mini-LED TV, one of its most advanced sets of the year and the first of its kind. It's equipped with up to 20,000 dimming zones and a purported 10,000 nits of peak brightness, according to TCL. The X11 isn't alone, as TCL will also be launching the QM8L and QM7L SQD Mini-LED TVs.

TCL also announced a new RM9L RGB Mini-LED TV that will use similar technology to other models in the market with the X11L's UltraColor filter. Pricing and an official release date are still to be determined.

TCL 2026 TVs: X11L SQD Mini-LED TV

The TCL X11L SQD Mini-LED is a jaw-dropping display that boasts serious upgrades over its primary competition, including Mini-LED and QLED models. Think of the X11L as a step above Mini-LED TVs, offering 20,000 local dimming zones, up to 10,000 nits of peak brightness, and 100% coverage of the BT.2020 gamut.

We'll have to wait and see just how accurate those numbers are once we get the X11L in our labs, but the star of the show is the so-called "Super QLED Crystals," for which Super Quantum Dots (SQD) gets its name. Essentially, the X11L uses highly advanced quantum dots to deliver superior color.

Here are the prices and available sizes for the TCL X11L SQD Mini-LED series:

• TCL X11L 75-inch: $6,999
• TCL X11L 85-inch: $7,999
• TCL X11L 98-inch: $9,999

Note that the 75-inch model will be introduced at a later date, while the 85-inch and 98-inch models launch in January. You can already pre-order the TCL X11L SQD Mini-LED TV at TCL's web store.

Several standout features also make the cut on the X11L, unlike several of its competitors, including Dolby Vision 2 Max. This is thanks to the advanced TSR AI processor, which supports Super Resolution, which also gives the X11L access to HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG.

Any concerns about blooming are also put to bed as the X11L features TCL's Deep Color System that combines its UltraColor Filter and Advanced Color Purity algorithm to get as close to life-like accuracy as is possible. It also aims to diminish color crosstalk, otherwise known as blooming, so the image keeps its fullness even with bright whites and darker scenes take up the screen.

There's a lot to love about the new TCL X11L. It's a promising look at the future of Mini-LED TV technology, but it's still too early to tell how well it fares against the more premium RGB Mini-LED sets also debuting at CES. The X11L isn't the only SQD Mini-LED TV set to launch this year, as it is also bringing to market the QM8L and QM7L.

TCL 2026 TVs: QM8L & QM7L SQD Mini-LED TVs

TCL is launching two additional SQD Mini-LED TVs in 2026, which include the QM8L and QM7L, which will also act as successors to the TCL QM8K and TCL QM7K from last year's lineup. It will also be debuting a budget Mini-LED model in the QM6L that takes up from the 2025 TCL QM6K, one of our favorite budget Mini-LED TVs.

There's precious little extra information available about these sets at this time, as TCL has focused primarily on the X11L for CES 2026. We can expect more details, including release dates and pricing, to be unveiled later this year, potentially in March or April.

TCL 2026 TVs: RM9L RGB Mini-LED TV

Like many of its counterparts, TCL is also bringing to markets its own RGB Mini-LED TV, but decided against showing it at CES. Called the TCL RM9L RGB Mini-LED TV, the advanced display is riddled with mystery. TCL has thus far only announced the name of its new RGB Mini-LED TV, offering minimal additional details about pricing, sizes, and specs.

However, TCL did note that the RM9L features the same UltraColor Filter found on the TCL X11L, which should give it a hefty leg up with enhanced accuracy and contrast, as well as diminished blooming. That's about all we know about the RM9L at this time, but keep your eyes peeled for more information as it's unveiled later this year.

TCL 2026 TVs: outlook

As others tout their advanced technologies, noting the enhanced colors and picture performance available in RGB Mini-LED TVs, TCL decided to take a step back for CES this year. The TCL X11L is an excellent starting point for TCL's 2026 strategy, offering a small glimpse into what can be expected from the brand beyond where the industry as a whole is moving.

However, we still know very little about its main Mini-LED lineup, which could be some of the best TVs to come out in 2026. The TCL QM6K Mini-LED TV remains one of our favorite budget models, and the QM6L could be yet another go-to budget gaming set that offers enhanced features over its predecessor.

Similarly, the TCL QM8L and TCL QM7L could give Hisense a run for its money. This is where the real battle will take place for TCL, noting the leaps and bounds its SQD Mini-LED TVs offer against prime competition, particularly against Hisense's U8 and U7 series TVs.

It's challenging to delineate where the new RM9L RGB Mini-LED TV lands in the ever-growing pool of similar models, as information about the model is currently sparse. We'll have to wait and see what else TCL is cooking up for the rest of 2026.

More from Tom's Guide

• CES 2026 LIVE: All the biggest tech and gadget news as it happens
• Samsung TV lineup 2026: new OLEDs, Micro RGB TVs and Neo QLEDs announced at CES
• I went hands-on with TCL’s first SQD Mini-LED TV — and it made me forget about RGB TVs

CES 2026 is awash with RGB Mini-LED TVs. From LG and Samsung to TCL and Hisense, everyone has shown up to Las Vegas with cutting-edge colorful TVs.

However, while Samsung and LG have only just embarked on their RGB Mini-LED TV journey at this year’s CES, Hisense was the first to release an RGB model back in 2025. Now, at CES 2026, the company is introducing its second-gen RGB Mini-LED screen, dubbed the 116UXS.

Not only does its RGB Mini-LED backlighting system make it more colorful and energy efficient, but it could fix the brand’s longstanding issues with red color fringing and upscaling. Here’s what it was like to watch it in-person.

Hisense RGB Mini-LED 116UXS: Design

The Hisense RGB Mini-LED 116UXS is, in some ways, a successor to the brand’s larger Hisense UX models: It is physically imposing.

This is not the TV you’re going to want to buy if you want that super-slim, picture-on-wall design — I’ll instead refer you to the LG W6 Wallpaper OLED — but its thick chassis holds both a 6.2.2 audio system and the key to the TV’s success: a Mini-LED lighting system that trades a quantum dot film for a new cyan subpixel.

With that new subpixel in place, Hisense says that the 116UXS can display 110% of BT2020’s coverage area…though, importantly, it’s not quite one-to-one to the BT2020 color spectrum, but extends beyond it in the green and blue hues. A weird caveat, for sure, but one worth clarifying.

If you had hopes of squeezing one of these new TVs into your home, I’ve got bad news — so far, the Hisense RGB Mini-LED evo is only available in a single 116-inch screen size.

Potentially some of Hisense’s RGB Mini-LED technology will make its way down to some upcoming mid-range models, but for now, the 116UXS is the big star of the show. (Emphasis on big.)

Hisense RGB Mini-LED 116UXS: Performance

It’s a toss up between the Hisense 116UXS and the TCL X11L SQD-Mini LED TV which claims the title of best LCD TV at CES, but I’ve got to give the nod to the Hisense.

From color and contrast to motion control, everything looked stunning on Hisense’s RGB Mini-LED. Although the demo content was limited, the 116UXS delivered an uncompromising picture.

Deep and rich colors were obviously the highlight here, but I also appreciated the incredible contrast that, at points, gave Samsung’s new S95H QD-OLED a run for its money.

A large part of that is due to the new cyan subpixel, yes, but I’ve also got to give credit to Hisense’s refined Hi-View AI Engine RGB processor. It’s the one actually puppeteering the contrast control zones and keeping color cross-talk to a minimum.

The only issue that my eyes couldn’t help but see was the glare from the show floor’s overhead lighting. Hisense says it was a conscious decision not to overdo the anti-glare filter on the TV, as that would result in muted colors. (There is a glare reduction coating, don’t worry, it’s just not as powerful as the anti-glare, matte finish you’ll find on, say, Samsung’s OLED TVs.)

If you have a light-controlled environment like a proper home theater space or a light-controlled living room, however, this shouldn't be an issue.

Hisense RGB Mini-LED 116UXS: Outlook

There's a very good chance that the Hisense RGB Mini-LED 116UXS won't be in my price range. Most 116-inch TVs aren't cheap, so I'm not expecting one that uses cutting-edge processing and backlight technology to suddenly cost less than last year's crop of Mini-LED models. (We'll get official pricing and release date information in a few months.)

Still, I think the Hisense RGB Mini-LED 116UXS is a great blueprint of what's to come from the brand in 2026. If Hisense can take this technology and shrink it down to more manageable screen sizes, I think we're looking at potentially the best TVs of 2026.

For now, however, I'll settle for calling it the best LCD TV of CES 2026.

More from Tom's Guide

• CES 2026 LIVE: All the biggest tech and gadget news as it happens
• Samsung TV lineup 2026: new OLEDs, Micro RGB TVs and Neo QLEDs announced at CES
• I went hands-on with TCL’s first SQD Mini-LED TV — and it made me forget about RGB TVs

CES continues with aplomb, and the audio gadgetry has me salivating from thousands of miles away. There's been all sorts of new stuff at the show, from a fancy new bass driver in a Bluetooth party speaker to a new line of headphones from an older HiFi brand.

Which devices have me going cookoo for speakers and sonic tech after day 3 of the show? Let's take a walk through the Vegas showfloor to find out.

A brand new bass driver

Brane already broke the laws of physics for more bass with the Brane X speaker, but now it looks like the brand's new bass driver smashes them with a sledgehammer and then drags them through the dust for good measure.

Brane announced two new things at CES 2026, and both look pretty special. There's the RAD 2 bass driver, which builds upon the company's "Repel Attract Driver" from the old model, taking it to the next level.

There's a 30% boost in bass from conventional models, and if the older model is anything to go by, that's about right. They're putting this new and improved model, which is more efficient, into a very snazzy-looking party speaker.

Well, two of them. For more bass. You know, for all the bass. I want... nay, I need one.

New Klipsch gear

Klipsch came fully equipped for CES this year. There were updates to the brands powered speaker line, including the Threes, the Fives and the Nines, and a whole bunch of cool amplifier tech that should get any audio nerds lips a-quivering. But it was some headphones that really piqued my interest.

There are three new models that Klipsch is showing off. There's the wireless Atlus HP-1, which is a noise-cancelling option to rival the best headphones from Sony and Bose. Specs are thin on the ground at the moment, but they look like a premium option.

Then there are two wired options. There's the closed back Atlus HP-2 and the open backed HP-3. I'm excited to try out all three models when they land some time in the summer.

Bose makes ANOTHER appearance without being at the show

You know, for a brand that has no significant presence at CES this year, Bose's name crops up a whole lot. Case in point; the moto sound flow, a speaker that combines Motorola's design with Bose sound for a very slick looking Bluetooth speaker indeed.

It's got a handy charging base to keep the battery topped up when you're not using it, and, as you might have guessed, Bose has tuned the sound. It's IP67 water resistant as well, so you'll be able to use it poolside risk free.

Pantone colors keep it current, and a 6000mAh battery keeps it playing. For how long, though, we're not told. Most interestingly, there's a WiFi connection for streaming higher quality music. Color me very much intrigued — could this be a Sonos Move 2 killer?

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• I saw Samsung’s 2026 flagship OLED and Micro RGB TVs side by side — here's the one I like more
• 10 products Tom's Guide writers actually spent their own money on in 2025
• I just held the world's thinnest tablet at CES 2026 — and it makes the iPad Pro look bloated

Smart lights are having a big moment at CES 2026, and perhaps the most exciting update comes from Philips' Hue lineup. Thanks to the brand's new 'SpatialAware' update, your lights can now adapt scenes to your specific home layout. And I'm obsessed with the results.

I've got two Philips Hue lights in my home, and while I love how they look when synced up on the same setting, they're ultimately just running the two settings independently. Now, thanks to Philips' SpatialAware update, they can collaborate to bring my chosen setting to my space, in a more cohesive way.

The SpatialAware feature analyzes the layout of your room and the placement of your Philips Hue lights, and then creates the best possible lighting experience in your space. According to Philips, "It’s like having a lighting designer in your pocket."

Introducing SpatialAware

SpatialAware will be available to Philips Bridge Pro users, with rollout expected in the weeks to come. And the existing settings aren't going anywhere, meaning your lights just got a big glow up to offer you more custom lighting than ever.

Above is a good example of how your Philips lights interact without SpatialAware. While all lights run the same scene simultaneously, they don't interact with one another. So while your home lighting is cohesive in cycling through the same hues, they don't distribute the colors amongst your specific lights.

Whereas below, according to Philips, is an example of how SpatialAware will elevate your lighting setup. To me, that's an exciting difference.

How will it work? According to Philips, the Hue app will use augmented reality to analyze the layout of your room and the location of your Philips lights. From there, it generates the ideal lighting experience for your chosen room.

Alongside this update, Philips has continued to expand its AI capabilities. Now, it can create automations based on specific user requests, such as "wake me up at 6.45am on every day except Saturdays."

I can't wait to try these new settings in my own home, and will bring you my thoughts as soon as I do.

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• I used this smart light strip to transform my living room
• I just installed Govee’s new outdoor Prism lights — and they’re the ultimate one-time splurge
• I just installed Govee’s new Curtain Lights Pro and this hidden feature makes me want to leave them on all the time

The Lenovo Yoga Mini i is an absolutely tiny mini PC in a puck-shaped chassis that still manages to pack a serious performance punch thanks to the inclusion of Intel’s new Core Ultra Series 3 chips. However, it has quite a few tricks up its sleeve that could easily earn it a place amongst the best mini PCs.

Unveiled during CES 2026, this is the second mini PC from Lenovo’s Yoga line, and as such, it sports the same aluminum finish from the company’s premium line of consumer laptops. Despite its small size, Lenovo has outfitted the Yoga Mini i with an excellent selection of rear ports, but there are also a few handy ports on the side.

I briefly went hands-on with the Yoga Mini i at CES, but its unique form factor immediately made it stand out. However, it wasn’t until I learned more about this mini PC that its unique design and built-in AI capabilities truly clicked.

Here are my initial thoughts on the Yoga Mini i and why I think it just might be the perfect desktop companion.

Lenovo Yoga Mini i hands-on review: Specs

Lenovo Yoga Mini i: Price and availability

The Lenovo Yoga Mini i will have a starting price of $699 and is expected to launch in June 2026. However, we’ll likely learn more about other, more powerful configurations of this mini PC and what they’ll cost when we get closer to its release this summer.

Lenovo Yoga Mini i: Design

At 5.12 x 5.12 x 1.91 inches, the Yoga Mini i is slightly larger as well as slightly shorter than Apple’s Mac mini M4 and it also features a case that’s made from aluminum. However, its round form factor instantly sets it apart, especially among other rectangular mini PCs.

On the front, the Yoga logo is visible in the center with two holes for its built-in microphone above, and the Lenovo logo is etched onto the top of its case. Conveniently, on the side of the Yoga Mini i, there’s a Thunderbolt 4 port along with a 3.5mm combo headphone and microphone jack.

Then around back, there’s a single USB-A port, an HDMI 2.1 port, two USB-C ports — one of which is used to power the device with 100W PD-in — a second Thunderbolt 4 port and a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port. This is quite a lot of ports for a device this size, given the limitations that come with using a rounded case instead of a rectangular one.

When you flip the Yoga Mini i over, there’s a small stand on the bottom of the device with a rubber ring that wraps all the way around to keep it firmly planted on your desk. Then above that, there are circular holes all the way around this mini PC, which serve a dual purpose. Not only do they provide ventilation as part of their 360-degree airflow system, but they also provide audio output from the Yoga Mini i’s built-in speaker.

It’s clear a lot of thought went into the design of this mini PC, but as I said before, it has a few more tricks up its sleeve.

Lenovo Yoga Mini i: Qira and Wi-Fi sensing

When I first went hands-on with the Yoga Mini i, Lenovo hadn’t announced its new Qira AI Assistant yet. However, when I went and checked it out again after the announcement, I finally saw the full picture.

At first glance, the Yoga Mini i looks just like one of the best smart speakers and it actually kind of is, in a sense. Although you can bring up Lenovo’s new AI assistant from within Windows, you can also tap on the top of the Yoga Mini i to do so as well. While I haven’t gotten a chance to try this out yet, I can already see how useful this could be when working at your desk.

In addition to opening Qira, you can also tap the top of this mini PC to share files and to turn its RGB underglow light on or off. Speaking of its built-in lighting, you can also have this light sync to music playing from its built-in speaker.

For its final trick, Lenovo has equipped this mini PC with Wi-Fi sensing capabilities. By constantly monitoring how its wireless signals reflect off of walls and furniture, the Yoga Mini i can detect when a large physical object like a person walks in front of it.

By opening the Lenovo AI Turbo Engine app, I was able to customize the color of the Yoga Mini i’s underglow light and pick from several different lighting effects. After setting the light’s color to red and the lighting effect to breathing, I stepped away from the device, and the instant I was back in front of it, it greeted me with a cool little light show.

Now I don’t know how useful this will be on an everyday basis yet, but I’m excited to try this out for myself in my full review later this year. However, I can already imagine using this feature to quickly see if my PC is still on when I come back into the room.

Lenovo Yoga Mini i: Performance and in use

Like I mentioned before, I was only able to briefly go hands-on with the Yoga Mini i, and I won’t know how well it actually performs until we get one into our testing lab. Still, it was quiet, apps opened quickly and it didn’t feel sluggish at all, likely because it’s rocking one of Intel’s new Core Ultra Series 3 chips.

I can already see myself using this device as my next mini PC, with it front and center on my desk. I really like how there’s a fingerprint reader integrated into its power button, as this will let me quickly log into Windows without having to enter a PIN. Likewise, I won’t have to plug in a pair of speakers to listen to music or to watch videos and its built-in microphone will probably work in a pinch for meetings, though it will probably be more useful for using Lenovo’s Qira AI assistant.

Even though the Yoga Mini i is small enough to fit in your pocket, it can actually drive up to four high-resolution displays thanks to its dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI 2.1 port and high-speed USB-C port that supports video out. I’ll have to try this out for myself, but from what I’ve seen so far, the Yoga Mini i already looks like an impressive mini PC.

Lenovo Yoga Mini i hands-on review: Outlook

The Lenovo Yoga Mini i is far from your typical mini PC, for better or worse. You can’t mount it behind a monitor and I doubt you’ll easily be able to open it up to add another SSD or to swap out its RAM. However, if you’re after a smaller device with a unique design and more than a few features you won’t find anywhere else.

I’m looking forward to putting the Yoga Mini i through its paces and using it as my daily driver later this year. Hopefully Qira is as impressive as Lenovo has made it out to be but even if it’s not, this sleek mini PC certainly stands out from the crowd. Either way, stay tuned for my full review.

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