CES 2026 news: Live updates on TVs, smart glasses, phones, and more we’ve seen so far – ZDNET

CES 2026 news: Live updates on TVs, smart glasses, phones, and more we’ve seen so far – ZDNET

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CES 2026 news: Live updates on TVs, smart glasses, phones, and more we’ve seen so far – ZDNET

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

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We’re officially counting down the hours until CES 2026 begins, and a quick glance at this weekend’s news cycle paints a clear picture of just how packed the show will be this year. 

Ahead of the Las Vegas trade show, which opens its doors to thousands of journalists, analysts, and industry professionals on Tuesday, January 6, we’re already seeing major announcements from the world’s leading consumer electronics brands, including Samsung, LG, and Hisense.

Also: The most exciting AI wearable at CES 2026 might not be smart glasses after all

This year’s agenda? Expect more ambitious pitches from companies, small and large, including how AI will assist and enhance our daily lives in various ways, modes of transportation that extend beyond city streets, and TVs that surpass conventional specifications, form factors, and sizes. 

If we’re lucky, we’ll discover several notable products that you can actually buy shortly after the curtains close.

How to watch CES 2026

You can tune into CES through various livestreams and keynotes. The full schedule of presentations can be found here; some of them start as soon as this weekend. 

For a more comprehensive overview of the biggest announcements this year, refer to ZDNET’s live news tracker below, curated by our ground team of reporters and editors, as well as individuals monitoring the latest announcements from home.

The latest news (refresh for updates)

Samsung First Look CES 2026

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Jan. 5 at 1:27 a.m. ET

Fans of the term “AI” ate well during Samsung’s First Look event tonight. The company spent about an hour going over the various ways it’s further integrating AI, whether it’s spill detection in robot vacuums, upscaling in Micro RGB TVs, or recipe suggestions in smart refrigerators. Our CES favorite, Ballie, didn’t make an appearance, though.

Beyond the home ecosystem, Samsung also highlighted its focus on health detection — specifically, tracking early signs of illnesses, dementia, and other problems. It was at that moment, when the crowd was the most silent, that a unified sense of the matter’s importance prevailed.


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I saw the LG Wallpaper TV, and it’s got CES written all over it

By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Jan. 5 at 12:20 a.m. ET

There was no greater “Welcome to CES” moment for me this weekend than LG presenting the new Wallpaper TV on a glass panel. It’s the return of an old model, now with improved processing power, a high 165Hz refresh rate, Zero Connect box support for wireless connectivity, and an ultra-thin profile.

LG hasn’t confirmed the official price and availability of the TV, but it did hint that it’ll fall within the lines of the brand’s other premium OLED sets, so I’d ballpark between $2,000 to upwards of $20,000.

Also: I saw LG’s ultra-thin Wallpaper TV at CES 2026, and it made my OLED feel outdated


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Will this robot do your chores for you?

By: Nina Raemont, Wearables and Health Editor / Jan. 4 at 10:00 p.m. ET

I’d gladly let this robot fold my laundry and wash my dishes for me. SwitchBot unveiled the Onero H1 ahead of CES. It’s a wheeled robot that cleans, washes, and cooks for you. 

“The robot learns and reacts to its environment using visual perception and tactile feedback to perform tasks such as grasping, pushing, and opening, which are necessary for household chores,” ZDNET’s smart home expert, Maria Diaz writes in her news story. 

Onero H1 is coming to the market “soon.” In the meantime, you’ll have to mop your floor yourself.


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We’ve made it to CES Unveiled

By: Nina Raemont, Wearables and Health Editor / Jan. 4 at 9:57 p.m. ET

The official convention doesn’t start until Tuesday, but you wouldn’t know we have a day to go if you stepped into CES Unveiled, one of the first media previews of the technology convention. 

The Las Vegas convention floor was bustling with tech developers and enthusiasts alike. AI-powered massage chairs, smart glasses, robot vacuums, AI stuffed animals and toys, glucose monitors, hair cutting devices, and more were on display. If this gives us a preview of what’s to come on day one of CES, I’m jazzed.  


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This palm-sized e-reader could replace my Remarkable Pro Move

By: Nina Raemont, Wearables and Health Editor / Jan. 4 at 9:49 p.m. ET

Move over, Remarkable Paper Pro Move. There’s a new handheld reader in town. 

Small e-readers, ones that can fit in your back pocket, are having a big moment. “The DuRobo Krono is small and lightweight enough to make a compelling Kindle replacement, and its added features bring it over the top,” Diaz writes. 

The e-reader has 128GB of storage for keeping documents, apps, voice recordings, and, most importantly, books all in one place. It’s now commercially available with a pre-order price of $280. It ships later this month. 

Also: This handheld e-reader has effectively replaced my Kindle


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Withings unveils a smart scale with hypertension risk-detecting capabilities

By: Nina Raemont, Wearables and Health Editor / Jan. 4 at 9:40 p.m. ET

There’s a new smart scale from Withings, and the second-generation Body Scan 2 measures a whole new slate of biomarkers, from cardio reactivity to hypertension risk. The French health technology brand is seeking FDA clearance for select metrics used in Body Scan 2. The app delivers insights and recommendations for the reversal of problematic biomarkers, all in the name of strengthening metabolic, cardiovascular, and cellular resilience, the press release says. 

Also: Withings’ new smart scale gives its most detailed readings yet


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There’s a new smart lock brand in the US – and it’s a big deal

By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Jan. 4 at 9:00 p.m. ET

Lockin is releasing the V7 Max smart lock this year, which features a unique charging technology called AuraCharge. It effectively receives power from an optical output device plugged within four meters’ distance to wirelessly recharge its internal battery. Crazy, right?

This feels like a conventional vaporware product at CES, but the company is confident that the lock will perform as intended when it finally hits the market. We’ll have to see for ourselves.

Also: This unassuming smart lock has a useful charging feature I’ve yet to see on the market


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Hyper Trackpad Pro is the premium PC accessory you didn’t know you needed

Belkin ConnectAir

Belkin/ZDNET

Xreal’s most interesting product might not be smart glasses

By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Jan. 4 at 1:36 p.m. ET

Xreal has been putting out some impressive smart glasses over the past few years, but its best product of this year’s show might not be a wearable. Instead of the Xreal 1S that the company just launched, its companion accessory, the Xreal Neo, deserves some praise too. 

Also: Xreal’s new XR glasses may be the most immersive ones I’ve worn at CES 2026

The Xreal Neo is a portable charger that doubles as a display adapter, making it ideal for both keeping the smart glasses topped up and also connected to consoles like the Nintendo Switch. In a way, it saves you from needing a dedicated video dock for the Switch, and therefore saves you the bulk when traveling.


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AI in a robot vacuum makes so much sense

By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Jan. 4 at 10:40 p.m. ET

Narwal has unveiled the Flow 2 robot vacuum, which makes one of the most convincing cases for incorporating AI into consumer hardware. With it, the robot can perform adaptive tasks, such as cleaning more quietly when near a baby’s crib, send reminders for misplaced items, and even notify you if it detects something that you have marked as missing.

Also: This robot vacuum at CES 2026 can find lost items on your floor and alert you of them

It’s also just a really solid robot vacuum, with 30,000Pa of suction, the ability to mop and wash, and prolong its battery life by self-docking.


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Samsung Display innovations are at it again (and wilder)

By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Jan. 3 at 10:45 p.m. ET

It seems that every year, whether at CES, MWC, or a different trade show, Samsung Display, the part of the company that pioneers various display solutions to pitch to partnering manufacturers, has something to catch our eyes. This year is no different, with several demonstrations showcasing what the company’s display tech can achieve.

The list includes a moving robot (like Wall-E) with an interactive AI OLED display, a dashboard-like display in the interior of cars, a “watch-sized display with three times the pixels of a 4K TV,” and an impact test for foldable panels. I plan on checking out the booth here at CES later this week, so stay tuned for the first look, and hopefully hands-on, with the tech.


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This digital picture frame turns your words into AI artwork

By: Nina Raemont, Wearables and Health Editor / Jan. 3 at 7:10 p.m. ET

The latest smart home decor makes artwork out of your own words. Fraimic is an e-ink canvas that’s powered by OpenAI, and it generates artwork based on user-provided prompts. People can also upload their favorite artwork through the Fraimic app for further customization. The smart canvas gives home decorators further control of their space — as well as a personalized, changeable touch. 

Could it make paper artwork prints obsolete? Not so fast, since it’ll run users $399 for the standard canvas and $999 for the large canvas. Kickstarter shipments begin in May and direct-to-consumer availability is estimated for June. 


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The Pebble Round 2 brings the classic look back

By: Nina Raemont, Wearables and Health Editor / Jan. 3 at 6:42 p.m. ET

It was 11 years ago when Pebble unveiled its first-generation round smartwatch, the Pebble Time Round. Eleven years later, the watch brand announced the Pebble Round 2, featuring updates that will please both veteran Pebble wearers and newcomers alike. The smartwatch is not as thin as the famously slim Pebble Time Round (it’s 0.6 mm thicker), but it offers ten days of battery life and maximizes the 1.3-inch e-paper display. 

Also: Cult favorite Pebble returns with Pebble Round 2 – and it’s built to look as analog as possible

Widening the display made reading notifications and messages far easier and more legible on the new watch during a side-by-side demo. The watch isn’t designed for hardcore exercise tracking; instead, it excels at basic health tracking (sleep and steps) while keeping the watch thin, elegant, and as close to analog as possible. 

“With this product, we wanted it to be the most stylish, elegant Pebble ever, and one of the things is to make it feel like it isn’t a block of technology on your wrist. It feels more like a timepiece. To do that, it had to be thin,” Eric Migicovsky, Pebble’s CEO, told me in an interview. 

Pre-orders for the Pebble Round 2 are now open. 


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LG unveils two Gram models that are lighter than ever

United Starlink promotion

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Jan. 3 at 12:56 p.m. ET

It’s been in the works for years now, but I was met with a surprise this morning when United announced at the gate that my flight from Newark to Las Vegas would support the new Starlink Wi-Fi service — free, faster internet speeds for streaming, work, and more, essentially.

If that’s not a sign for me to get work done these next five hours, then I don’t know what it is.

Also: High-speed Starlink internet rollout on United Airlines planes begins – and it’s free

And, so far, it’s legit. I have multiple tabs open in my Chrome browser, writing articles about news you’ll learn more about in the coming days, and downloading and uploading photos and videos without any issues. Here’s to hoping this holds for the rest of the flight.


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The return of BlackBerry?

By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Jan. 3 at 12:40 p.m. ET

Smartphone enthusiasts — particularly those who long for the days of the BlackBerry – are likely familiar with the brand, Clicks. This year, the company is releasing two new accessories, one in the form of a MagSafe keyboard that doubles as a wireless charger, and another that functions like a BlackBerry.

The former, the Clicks Power Keyboard, is launching at a relatively accessible price of $79, and its snap-on nature allows you to operate your phone in both portrait and landscape orientations.

Also: My search for the ultimate MagSafe accessory is over: This keyboard checks all the boxes

The Clicks Communicator features a similar physical QWERTY keyboard, but also has a display, 3.5mm headphone jack, and microSD card slot, effectively serving as a secondary device for messaging. That will go on sale later this year for $499.


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Smart glasses with eSIM may be the next move

By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Jan. 2 at 5:11 p.m. ET

The folks at RayNeo are showcasing two new pairs of smart glasses at CES this year: the Air 4 Pro, which extends off of your phone, computer, or gaming console, and the X3 Pro Project eSIM, which supports a built-in 4G connection, allowing you to browse the web or make phone calls without pairing the glasses to a cellular device.

Also: Can the world’s first HDR10 smart glasses replace your $2,000 OLED TV – these specs say yes

The latter of the two products is more intriguing to me, as it feels like a natural next step for smart glasses. The Meta Ray-Ban Display has given us a glimpse of what it’s like to compute without having to pick up our phones. What if we didn’t have to even have our phones present to get things done?


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TCL’s new Nxtpaper tablet may be a sleeper hit

By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Jan. 2 at 5:05 p.m. ET

Ahead of CES, TCL has unveiled the new Note A1 Nxtpaper tablet, an 11.5-inch digital notepad that competes with the likes of the Kindle Scribe and ReMarkable. There is one unique aspect with the TCL, though: It has both a full-color LCD display and a 120Hz refresh rate, yielding both vivid and smooth visuals as the user browses, sketches, and more.

Also: TCL’s newest E Ink tablet beats the Kindle and Remarkable with this display tech

The Note A1 Nxtpaper is priced at $549, and positions itself as a faster, more versatile hybrid for professionals and students who want a paper-like tablet experience without the traditional imitations of E Ink.


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If Humane AI Pin and Rabbit R1 had a baby

By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Jan. 2 at 5:02 p.m. ET

CES is home to many things, including AI vaporware, but Project Luci may change that narrative. It’s a compact, magnetic AI pin designed to act as a searchable digital archive of your daily life. 

Like the Meta Ray-Ban glasses, it features a 12MP ultra-wide camera and dual microphones capable of recording continuously for up to four hours. 

Also: The most exciting AI wearable at CES 2026 might not be smart glasses after all

Using a proprietary AI model called Mavi, the device allows users to perform “semantic searches” to recall specific details, such as what they ate or who they met. To address privacy concerns, it includes a physical camera shutter and a dedicated companion hub for local data processing. 

Priced at approximately $99, does a “memory-augmented” experience entice you at all?


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6K monitors are back (and with a 3D twist)

By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Jan. 2 at 5:00 p.m. ET

Alongside TVs, Samsung has unveiled a new batch of 6K monitors. Sorry, I should specify that they’re both 6K in
resolution and 3D in playback, allowing gamers to be more immersed in various titles and professionals to be a better feel for their digital creations.

We’ve seen 3D monitors before, especially at CES, but Samsung’s new Odyssey line may be the most polished, with glasses-free eye-tracking that makes the 3D feel more realistic. However, we’ll have to see these monitors in person before deciding if they’re worth it or not.

Also: Samsung unveils 6K 3D monitors ahead of CES 2026, and I’m already dreading the splurge

“It’s hard not to be skeptical. 3D TVs were all the rage a decade ago, only to fall out of favor due to their propensity to muddy colors, worsen image quality, and cause motion sickness,” says my ZDNET colleague, Cesar Cadenas. Here’s to hoping Samsung overpromises and overdelivers.


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It’s all about Micro RGB for TVs this year

By Kerry Wan, Managing Editor / Jan. 2 at 4:50 p.m. ET

There’s never a dull moment with TVs, and I blame manufacturers and their extensive dictionary of tech jargon for that. This year’s hot word is “Micro RGB,” a meticulous arrangement of LEDs that produces enhanced light control and accuracy. Samsung has a version of this, LG has a version of this, Sony has a version of this, and so on.

The big question is how accessible this recent display tech will be, as most TV models in the market currently are both too large and too expensive.


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