Introduction
CES or Consumer Electronics Show is known as the most powerful tech event in the world, which takes place annually in Las Vegas. This year, CES 2026 was another exciting time for many tech enthusiasts. From January 6 to January 9, more than 148,000 individuals attended CES 2026 from all around the globe (Forgione, 2026). More than 4100 exhibitors, including industry leaders and decision-makers, came together at CES to showcase technologies that will define the trends and future of innovation.
Major Trends and Gadgets Spotted at CES 2026
1. Physical AI
Physical AI is an emerging trend that was seen in nearly every booth at CES this year (Forlini, 2026). The idea of physical AI is using artificial intelligence to make physical devices more intelligent and functional for consumers. From humanoid robots to self- driving cars, physical AI is becoming the latest trend. For example, Roborock’s Saros Rover is the world’s first robot vacuum that can climb stairs and clean them (The Verge Awards at CES 2026, 2026). The robot vacuum has froglike legs built onto its wheels, enabling the robot to climb a flight of stairs and vacuum at each step.
2. Foldable Phones
Foldable phones are becoming more common in the mobile tech industry. Companies like Samsung announced new versions of their foldable phones at CES (Forlini, 2026). Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold is a foldable phone that has three panels and can be folded up like a wallet (The Verge Awards at CES 2026, 2026). It gives the flexibility of turning a regular phone screen of 6.5 inch to a large 10-inch screen when you want to use it as a tablet. These foldable devices provide larger screens than traditional, slab-style phones without compromising the space it occupies in your pocket.
3. Smart Home Devices
Smart home technology is becoming more popular over the years. There were a wide range of smart home devices shown at CES from smart locks to smart vacuums and smart blinds (Forlini, 2026). For example, Fraimic Smart Canvas is a canvas powered by AI that displays AI-generated art using digital E ink (The Verge Awards at CES 2026, 2026). The canvas is also equipped with a built-in microphone and voice controls. Users can talk to the canvas and ask it to regenerate a new piece of AI-generated art at any time.
4. Smart Toys
From tech-enhanced Rubik’s cubes to AI pet toys, many exciting smart toys were shown at CES this year (Davies, 2026). One smart toy that has captured the most attention was Lego Smart Bricks. Lego Smart Bricks are regular Lego bricks but equipped with tech like an accelerometer, light detector, sound sensor, and mini speaker (Andronico et al., 2026). These sensors allow Smart Bricks to detect motion, position, and distance, allowing the bricks to interact with surrounding bricks (McCallum et al., 2026). Smart bricks are intended to bring Lego sets to life by producing sound, light, and reaction to movements.
Final Thoughts
There were many more interesting products shown at CES this year. The event showcased various trends such as physical AI, foldable devices, and smart home devices. Numerous unique products like Lego Smart Bricks, the Roborock Saros Rover, Samsung’s Galaxy Z TriFold, and the Fraimic Smart Canvas caught people’s attention. Overall, CES 2026 had provided a platform for many exhibitors to demonstrate groundbreaking ideas and offered everyone a glimpse of the future of consumer electronics.
Citations
Andronico, M., Casey, H. T., Stone, C., & Altland, R. (2026, January 9). Best of CES 2026: The top 18 gadgets worth watching. CNN. Retrieved January 12, 2026, from https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/electronics/best-of-ces-2026
Davies, P. (2026, January 9). Tamagotchi-like robots, Rubik's Cube, and LEGO all get digital upgrades at CES 2026. Euronews.com. Retrieved February 3, 2026, from https://www.euronews.com/next/2026/01/09/tamagotchi-like-robots-rubiks-cube-and-lego-all-get-digital-upgrades-at-ces-2026
Forgione, C. (2026, January 9). CES 2026: The Future is Here. Canada Newswire. Retrieved January 11, 2026, from https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/ces-2026-the-future-is-here-863598814.html
Forlini, E. (2026, January 10). From Exoskeletons to Ultra-Vivid TVs, These Are the Trends That Stole the Show at CES 2026. PCMag. Retrieved January 12, 2026, from https://www.pcmag.com/news/top-tech-trends-ces-2026
McCallum, S., McMahon, L., & Calder, E. (2026, January 6). Lego unveils tech-filled Smart Bricks – to play experts' unease. BBC. Retrieved January 12, 2026, from https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crmlnmnwzk2o
The Verge Awards at CES 2026. (2026, January 9). The Verge. Retrieved January 12, 2026, from https://www.theverge.com/tech/858494/ces-2026-best-new-tech-tv-car-wearabl
