There’s no better place to get a sense of what’s going on in tech than CES. Here’s what stood out to our team in Las Vegas this week.
our team fanned out across CES 2026 in Las Vegas, encountering thousands of new products, many of which are poised to revolutionize the way we interact with technology.
It’s not all about AI, though, of course, that’s a big theme. We saw some extra wacky robots this year, as well as exoskeletons that you can wear. The latest devices—TVs, laptops, and mobile phones—are featuring innovative new displays, powered by next-gen chips. In the smart home category, companies are focusing on ease of setup and use, bringing a practical breath of fresh air to the space.
Here are the major trends you need to know as we kick off 2026. For more coverage from Vegas, head to our CES hub. And check out the Best of CES 2026 Awards, where experts from PCMag and our sibling publications narrow down the list of the most cutting-edge AI tech from the show.’Physical AI’ Is the New Buzzword
After a few years of software-focused chatbots like ChatGPT, people are ready to interact with AI hardware. The new buzzword for this is «physical AI», and it was the throughline of nearly every booth at CES. We saw self-driving cars, humanoid factory workers, robot puppies, butlers, bartenders, and much more.
The idea is to make physical devices smarter and more practical than ever. A car, for instance, could handle more nuances on the road without driver input. A robotic factory worker could troubleshoot an anomaly on the assembly line without glitching out. A faux puppy could comfort you when you’re crying, becoming a meaningful companion.
In Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s keynote, he predicted that as AI models become more accessible, it is inevitable that anyone, not just large companies, will be able to program and customize robots for their work and home. Nvidia has been touting this vision for several years now, and the rest of the industry appears to be catching up.TVs With Ultra-Vivid Screens
If you’re shopping for a TV this year, look for one with an RGB LED screen. That stands for red green blue light-emitting diode, and it’s what all the latest models have, replacing the OLED and mini-LEDs that have dominated the high-end TV market for the past few years. At CES, Hisense showcased its 116UXS model featuring RGB MiniLED evo technology. Samsung also has a new lineup of Micro LED TVs, as does LG.
In the past, LEDs in TVs typically emitted only white or blue light. They could adjust to improve contrast, but not color vividness.
