If you're eager to know which technological marvels are poised to shape our lives in the coming year, you're in the right place. The much-anticipated official 'Best of CES' 2026 awards have been announced, showcasing the most innovative products and services from the world's largest tech trade show.
The Future of Tech Unveiled at CES 2026
CES 2026, the premier global technology event, once again served as the launchpad for groundbreaking innovations. Amidst the bustling Las Vegas Convention Center, a panel of esteemed judges from leading tech publications, including CNET, PCMag, Mashable, ZDNET, and Lifehacker, meticulously evaluated hundreds of entries. After days of hands-on testing and rigorous deliberation, the official 'Best of CES' 2026 winners were revealed, highlighting 22 categories of remarkable advancements, alongside a coveted 'Best Overall' award.
To qualify for these prestigious accolades, products and services had to be official exhibitors at CES 2026. They were judged on compelling new concepts, their ability to solve significant consumer problems, or their establishment of new benchmarks in performance, design, or quality. The winners represent the pinnacle of technological achievement, offering a glimpse into the future of how we live, work, and play.
Age Tech and AI Enhancing Daily Life
The 'Best Age Tech' award went to Tombot Jennie, a lifelike robotic puppy designed to provide comfort and companionship to seniors, particularly those with dementia. Its advanced sensors allow for realistic interactions, responding to touch and voice. Meanwhile, Lenovo Motorola Qira took home the 'Best AI Tech' award for its hybrid AI assistant. This system seamlessly blends on-device and cloud-based processing, offering a personalized and ubiquitous AI experience across multiple Lenovo devices.
In the realm of AI, Nvidia Rubin was recognized for its AI platform, which aims to reduce the computational costs of processing AI data. This is a crucial development as AI models become increasingly complex and resource-intensive. Another notable mention in AI is the Pebble Index 01, an AI wearable designed for effortless note-taking. Users can simply speak their thoughts, and an AI-powered app processes and organizes the information, even taking actions on behalf of the user.
For those concerned about safety in the home, the iGuard smart stove shutoff offers peace of mind for older adults. This updated version uses radar to detect presence in the kitchen and can alert caregivers if a loved one hasn't been active, promoting independent living.
Audio and Computing Powerhouses
The 'Best Audio Tech' was awarded to the Samsung Music Studio 5. This home speaker boasts a sophisticated design, integrating a 4-inch woofer and dual tweeters. It offers both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, along with the Samsung Seamless Codec for enhanced integration within the Galaxy ecosystem. Emerging audio technology like the xMEMS Sycamore-N loudspeaker chip promises to enhance the audio experience in increasingly popular smartglasses, delivering high-fidelity sound in an ultra-thin form factor.
In computing, Intel Core Ultra 300 (Panther Lake) was crowned 'Best Deep Computing Tech.' This platform sets a new standard for integrated graphics performance in consumer laptops, featuring up to 12 new Xe3 Xe cores for unparalleled gaming and graphics capabilities on portable devices. Competitors like the Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Plus and AMD Ryzen AI Max Plus series also showcased impressive performance, particularly in AI processing capabilities, aiming to democratize high-end computing power for a wider range of devices.
Energy and Futuristic Play
Willo secured the 'Best Energy Tech' award for its revolutionary alignment-free wireless power technology. This system enables simultaneous charging of multiple devices over the air, eliminating the need for pads or docks. It's a significant step towards a truly wireless future. Another innovative energy solution is the Superheat water heater, which offsets energy costs by using excess heat from Bitcoin mining to heat water, demonstrating a clever synergy between cryptocurrency and home efficiency.
The 'Best Future Tech' award celebrated the Lego Smart Play System. This innovative system uses sensor-equipped Lego bricks to create interactive play experiences, responding to movement and building structures with light and sound effects. It breathes new life into traditional construction toys, merging physical play with digital interaction. The concept of Ixana Wi-R also points to a future of data transmission, proposing a body-generated hyperlocal field as an alternative to Bluetooth and WiFi, promising lower power consumption.
Gaming, Kitchen, and Mobile Advancements
For gamers, the Lenovo Legion Pro Rollable Concept was a standout, winning 'Best Gaming' tech. This concept laptop features a rollable OLED display, enabling an ultrawide gaming experience on a portable device. Imagine a true portable battlestation that can adapt to your needs. Meanwhile, Asus ROG Xreal R1 AR glasses, developed in partnership with Xreal, offer an immersive 171-inch virtual OLED display with a 240Hz refresh rate, bringing big-screen gaming on the go.
In the kitchen, the Ecoldbrew won 'Best Kitchen Tech'. This compact device combines a portable grinder and brewer, capable of making cold brew coffee in just five minutes. It's designed to be convenient and stylish, fitting onto its own thermos or any standard one. The C-200 UltraSonic chef's knife also impressed with its vibrating blade, allowing for effortless slicing through food without sticking, a significant upgrade for home cooks.
The 'Best Mobile Tech' award went to the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold, a device that perfectly embodies the evolution of foldable phones. It transforms from a standard smartphone into a 10-inch tablet, offering incredible versatility. The Motorola Razr Fold was also recognized for its robust features, including stylus support, making it a strong contender for productivity-focused users. For mobile gaming enthusiasts, the OhSnap Mcon provides a pocketable Bluetooth controller that enhances the smartphone gaming experience.
Parenting, Pets, and Robots Evolve
Parenting tech saw a significant advancement with Coro winning 'Best Parent Tech'. This innovative device simplifies the process of measuring a baby's food intake, a task many parents find challenging. Another helpful product is Earflo, a sippy cup-like device that uses nasal masks to help alleviate fluid buildup in children's ears, potentially reducing the need for surgery. For families looking to enhance playtime, the Lego Smart Play System, with its interactive smart bricks, offers new ways for children to engage with their creations.
Pet owners will appreciate the Satellai Collar Go, awarded 'Best Pet Tech'. This smart collar and accompanying AI software proactively monitor a dog's behavior for early signs of health issues and can alert owners if their pet strays from the yard. The Petkit Yumshare Daily Feast offers a sophisticated solution for feeding cats, with scheduled meals and consumption monitoring via an integrated camera.
The 'Best Robot' category was dominated by Boston Dynamics Atlas. This humanoid robot impressed with its naturalistic gait and is slated for deployment in Hyundai manufacturing facilities. The Beatbot RoboTurtle, a biomimetic swimming robot, stands out for its potential in environmental research, designed to monitor underwater ecosystems with minimal disturbance. This highlights the growing role of robotics in scientific exploration and conservation efforts.
Smart Homes, Startups, and Sustainability
In smart home innovation, the Roborock Saros Rover took the top prize for 'Best Smart Home Tech'. This robot vacuum is groundbreaking because it can navigate stairs, allowing it to move between floors autonomously. It even cleans stairs as it ascends. The Lockin V7 Max smart lock offers a unique charging solution, utilizing a light beam for wireless power transfer, eliminating the need for traditional batteries. The Robotin R2 pushes the boundaries further, acting as a robot vacuum, carpet cleaner, and dryer all in one unit.
The 'Best Startup' award went to Allergen Alert, a French company developing a portable, affordable device to test food for allergens. This technology, licensed from bioMérieux, has the potential to significantly improve safety for individuals with food allergies. Another promising startup is Nirva AI jewelry, which uses continuous audio recording to offer personalized advice and act as an AI companion, learning from daily life to provide support.
Sustainability is a growing focus, and Clear Drop Soft Plastic Compactor won 'Best Sustainability Tech'. This device compacts soft plastics into dense bricks, facilitating recycling into new products like furniture and preventing landfill waste. The Beatbot RoboTurtle also contributes to sustainability by enabling non-invasive environmental research. The Cambridge Consultants Ouroboros smartwatch concept champions the right-to-repair movement, demonstrating a self-repairable smartwatch without compromising on design.
Transportation, Travel, and Home Entertainment
Transportation technology saw innovation with the Strutt Ev1 winning 'Best Transportation' tech. This electric mobility scooter offers autonomous navigation via voice commands and can self-correct to avoid obstacles, merging mobility, accessibility, and autonomy. In the automotive audio space, Pioneer Sphera allows users to add Dolby Atmos spatial audio to existing car systems, enhancing the in-car entertainment experience. The Donut Labs solid-state battery represents a significant leap in EV technology, promising improved energy density, charging speed, and safety.
For travelers, WheelMove was recognized as 'Best Travel Tech'. This portable attachment transforms any standard wheelchair into an electric-powered device, making travel over varied terrain significantly easier. Jitlife Rideable Luggage offers a practical solution for navigating large airports, functioning as a suitcase that can also be ridden, combining convenience with mobility.
In home entertainment, the Samsung S95H OLED TV was crowned 'Best TV or Home Theater Tech'. It offers increased brightness, flexible wired and wireless connectivity, and artwork display capabilities with advanced anti-burn-in technology. Competing displays like the Hisense 116UXS with its RGB LED technology and the ultra-thin LG W6 OLED TV further push the boundaries of visual fidelity and home theater integration.
The Truly Weird and Wonderfully Well
CES always delivers its share of peculiar innovations, and the 'Best Weird Tech' award went to Lepro Ami AI soulmate. This is a small, animated AI companion housed in a cylinder, designed purely for interaction and companionship, adding a unique, albeit strange, element to personal tech. The Lollipop Star offers a bizarre yet intriguing way to experience music through bone conduction technology embedded in a lollipop. iPolish digital nail polish provides instant color changes for press-on nails via a smartphone app, offering a novel approach to personal style.
Wellness technology is rapidly advancing, with Peri winning 'Best Wellness Tech'. This wearable device is designed to track and help manage the symptoms of perimenopause, empowering users with data-driven insights. OhmBody offers a wearable neurostimulation device to alleviate period pain and cramps, targeting specific nerves to restore balance. The Allergen Alert device, also recognized in this category, provides a portable solution for testing food for common allergens on the spot, crucial for managing severe food allergies.
Finally, the Beatbot AquaSense X ecosystem earned 'Best Yard or Outdoor Tech'. This pool robot cleaner features a self-emptying dock, eliminating the tedious task of manual debris removal. The Luba 3 AWD smart mower offers advanced wire-free navigation and obstacle avoidance for effortless lawn care. The Birdfy Hum Bloom, a smart hummingbird feeder with a 4K camera, identifies bird species and captures stunning slow-motion footage, bringing nature closer.
Best Overall CES 2026
Capping off the awards, the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold was named 'Best Overall' at CES 2026. This device masterfully blends the functionality of a full-sized tablet with the portability of a smartphone. Its innovative design and seamless user experience set a new benchmark for hybrid mobile devices, proving that futuristic technology can also be remarkably practical and pocketable. It truly embodies the spirit of innovation celebrated throughout the official 'Best of CES' 2026 awards.
