The top gadgets and gear from this year’s massive consumer electronics show

It’s hard not to geek out over CES, the annual consumer electronics show that trots out zillions of new and updated tech products. I mean, just look at this guy:

This Agibot X2 was not being controlled remotely; it was just doing its own thing, shuffling and dancing for onlookers’ amusement. (Obviously it will, at some point, become sentient and hunt humans for sport, but for now it’s content to cha-cha.)

The Agibot was just one of hundreds of new gadgets I encountered during three days of walking the floor at the show, which spans multiple convention halls, casino venues and hotel rooms. In addition to some amazing robots, I also found a lot of genuinely useful products. I’m talking AI-equipped wearables that transcribe your conversations, family calendars to help manage chores and schedules and even a kiosk that generates eyeglass prescriptions on the spot.

Sure, there were dazzling TVs on display as well, with new technologies like Micro RGB and RGB MiniLED threatening OLED’s dominance. (Don’t worry, I didn’t understand most of that sentence either.) Just know that your next TV is likely to be brighter and more colorful than the last one.

If you’re looking for a deeper dive into the latest TV tech, the newest laptops — including ones with expandable screens! — and phones that can fold out into full-on tablets, I’d invite you to check out the in-depth CES coverage from my colleagues at Engadget. (I’m envious of their hands-on time with the new Lego Smart Play sets that debuted at the show, which they chose as the best overall product of CES.)

But I was on the prowl for gadgets and gear designed to make life easier, and — like those Legos — maybe a little more fun as well. And unlike many of the robots and flying taxis on display at the show, many of my choices are already on sale or said to be coming in the first half of the year. So with further ado, here are my personal picks for the best tech of CES 2026.

Amazfit Active Max

If the Amazfit Bip 6 is the smartwatch for budget buyers (and it is), the new Active Max is its sports-enthusiast equivalent. Basically an upgraded version of the also-great Active 2, the Max packs a ton of features — starting with virtually unrivaled battery life.

Amazfit says it can last for up to 25 days of typical use, 13 days of “heavy” use and 64 hours of continuous GPS (in case you’re running, say, an ultra-marathon?). If the Active Max hits even half of those numbers, it’s still blowing away the battery life of the latest Apple Watch models. You also get 4GB of onboard storage for music, podcasts and/or maps — not a ton by today’s standards, but certainly better than the 512MB available on the Active 2.

The Max has a gorgeous 1.5-inch AMOLED display. And it’s round; call me old-fashioned, but that’s how I like my watches. You can purchase this right now for $169.99.

Amazon Ember Artline

This was far from the most dazzling TV I saw at CES, but it was arguably the one that excited me most. See, I’m a huge fan of art TVs like the Samsung Frame and Hisense CanvasTV, which are designed to simulate framed art when they’re not streaming Stranger Things.

But until now there have been precious few options available. Amazon getting into the game should open the floodgates — and the Ember Artline is looking pretty good in its own right: ultra-thin design, a low-glare matte screen and interchangeable frames to help complete the “art” look.

You’ll have access to some 2,000 pieces of free art to adorn your wall, but the Artline can also pull images from your Amazon Photos account. And it includes a motion sensor that’ll turn the display on or off as people enter or leave the room.

The Artline starts at $899 for the 55-inch model and is expected to ship in the late spring. To help whet your appetite, check out our roundup of the best art TVs.

Antigravity A1 drone

OK, this is a total splurge purchase. Want to fly like Superman? The Antigravity A1 drone is the closest you can get while staying safely on the ground. This nimble, folding flier transmits full 360-degree video to a pair of lightweight (and gloriously geeky) goggles, meaning you can see in any direction, not just wherever the drone is pointed.

That puts it a notch above my beloved DJI Avata 2, which has only a front-facing camera. And it can do auto-tracking as well, following or circling a selected subject — and giving you considerably more video footage to work with (remember: 360 degrees) when it comes time to edit.

The A1 isn’t for everyone — it starts at $1,599, for one thing — but my demo flight at CES knocked my socks off. The technology here is just amazing.

Artonic Komutr

Never have earbuds handy when you need them? That won’t happen again; the Komutr is a pair of ANC earbuds that live inside a surprisingly slim MagSafe charging case. In other words, they ride piggyback on your iPhone, so they’re always at the ready.

That case doubles as a kickstand, which I love, and it even has Apple Find My built in. I managed a super-quick demo at CES; the earbuds sounded surprisingly good, and the case snapped securely to my iPhone. More to come in a future review.

I first spotted a Komutr (pronounced “commuter” — get it?) prototype at CES 2024; I’m excited to see that it’s now a final, shipping product. It sells for $149, though it’s currently on sale for $129.

BMX SolidSafe 5K Solid-State Magnetic Battery Pack

Everyone needs a mobile phone charger. No one needs to worry about it bursting into flames. New solid-state batteries, like this one, are reported to be much safer, as there’s no liquid to combust.

I used the SolidSafe 5K (which I’d received just prior to CES) while visiting the show floor. After long days shooting lots of photos and video, it saved me from a dead iPhone battery, which would have been massively inconvenient. (How would I order my Uber?) I like the small display that’s built in, showing how much power is remaining and how many watts the connected device is using. I also like that the battery can increase output by using MagSafe and USB-C simultaneously.

It does still generate heat, however, something to be mindful of before sticking it in your pocket. The SolidSafe is available now for $79.99; a thicker 10,000-mAh version sells for $99.99.

Eyebot

The next time you get a prescription for eyeglasses, you might find yourself in front of a kiosk instead of a doctor. The Eyebot gives you a detailed vision test in under 15 minutes, then delivers a prescription shortly thereafter.

I was able to try the kiosk on the show floor. A simple, user-friendly interface walked me through the vision test; about 10 minutes later, a professional eye doctor (working remotely) had reviewed the results and sent my prescription via e-mail.

I compared that prescription with the one I’d gotten from my actual eye doctor about eight months prior; it was a spot-on match. And if you work with an Eyebot partner like The Framery, your prescription is automatically uploaded to simplify ordering glasses online.

Ultimately, Eyebot aims to supplant what is typically a medical experience with one that happens at retail, allowing you to buy glasses like you buy shoes. Of course, you’ll still want to visit the optician for a more detailed examination of your eye health, but for refreshing your spectacles, this is a big step up for convenience.

InkPoster

Is this the beginning of the end for traditional framed art? Maybe: InkPoster is a framed color ePaper poster that can display thousands of artworks, including your own.

I’ll admit I had low expectations for this technology — I haven’t been super-impressed with color e-readers like the Kindle Colorsoft — but in person it looks pretty sweet. And I love that there’s no power cord running down your wall: InkPoster runs on a rechargeable battery that the company says can last up to a year. So just hang it wherever, same as you would a regular framed piece.

The process of changing images is a little weird: It takes around 30 seconds and involves a lot of screen flashes. (That’s the nature of this display technology.) But this isn’t a digital photo frame, something that churns through a slideshow; you might only change the art every few days or even weeks.

The InkPoster is available in three sizes — 13.3, 28.5 and 31.5 inches — with a 40.5-inch version (pictured above) coming soon. Just be prepared: The small one runs $500, and prices rise sharply from there.

I still love this, though. I want three.

Pebble Index 01

Remember Pebble, makers of one of the earliest smartwatches? After a storied collapse, the brand is back with the nostalgia-inducing Pebble Round 2 — a gorgeous update of the original, widely loved Pebble Time Round from way back in 2015.

But what really caught my eye was another big swing from this small company: The Pebble Index 01 is a ring with a microphone. Whenever you have a thought, idea, reminder or something else you want to record, just press its button and talk into it. The voice note is sent to your phone and converted to text, which you can route to any applicable destination (reminders, notes, etc.).

The Index doesn’t require an internet connection or any kind of subscription. Even more interesting, it relies on a self-contained battery that never needs charging (and can’t be replaced, alas). Pebble says you can expect up to two years of operation.

Honestly I’m not sure if this is a great idea or just an interesting one (see the Plaud NotePin below for an AI-infused alternative). But we’ll find out: The ring is available now for preorder for $75; it’ll cost $99 when it goes on sale later this year.

Plaud NotePin S

Look, AI was everywhere at CES. Was any of it good or even useful? My answer for now: It depends. For example, the just-launched Plaud NotePin S is something I could see being very useful, even though I didn’t get a chance to field-test it.

About the size of a flash drive, the NotePin can be worn a variety of ways: clip, magnetic pin, lanyard or wristband. With just the press of a button, it records conversations and later transcribes them using AI — a tool that’s incredibly useful whether you’re a journalist recording an interview or a patient at a doctor’s office. And never mind everyday meetings; the NotePin will keep track of who’s speaking, distill the conversation into action items and much more.

The device itself is a little pricey at $179.99, but that includes 300 minutes’ worth of audio transcription per month. Only if you need more do you need to pay for a subscription.

Skylight Calendar 2

A family calendar can keep everyone’s schedules in sync while offering an easy way to manage chores, recipes and more. The original Skylight Calendar has legions of fans; the just-launched Calendar 2 is likely to grow those numbers.

This updated model features interchangeable magnetic frames to better suit the home decor, a brighter 15-inch touchscreen, faster operation and an angle-adjustable stand.

What really struck me about the device was the friendly, playful interface; kids can tap to mark chores as complete, triggering animations and earning them points toward real-world rewards (set by the parents, of course).

And when it’s not doing calendar duty, the Calendar 2 transforms into a digital photo frame, displaying family memories in a running slideshow. It ships in February with an expected list price of $299.99. Stay tuned for a full review.

Soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro

Open-ear headphones or noise-cancelling earbuds? Until now, you had to choose one or the other. Soundcore’s AeroFit 2 Pro levels up our favorite open-ear headphone by adding ANC, letting you toggle between the two modes as needed. Um, yes, please!

That means you can have environmental awareness while walking or running, then block out noise while you’re on the subway or in a crowded coffee shop.

To its credit, Soundcore notes that while the AeroFit 2 Pro should fit 90% of users, the product is “not for everyone.” If you buy directly from a company, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee in case the fit isn’t good.

I wasn’t able to demo the earbuds, but stay tuned for a full review. The AeroFit 2 Pro is expected to ship in February with a list price of $179.99. (Interestingly, there’s already competition: The Shokz OpenFit Pro is another dual-mode headphone, though it’s priced at $249.99. I got a super-brief test of that one at the show, but too much noise and too many distractions made it difficult to evaluate. A proper review is forthcoming!)

TDM Neo

Speaking of versatile audio products, the TDM Neo is an on-ear headphone with a twist: literally. Take them off your head, twist the earcups and they coil into a freestanding speaker, automatically switching modes in the process. Very cool. And I love the company’s commitment to long-term usability: The battery is actually replaceable.

I tested the Neo on a crowded, noisy show floor. As headphones, they sounded extremely good, but it was hard to get a sense of the speaker quality. Stay tuned for a hands-on review.

It may be a while, though: The product is headed to Kickstarter later this month, with an expected price of $249 and as-yet-unknown ship date.