CES 2026 once again delivered a flood of announcements, prototypes, and polished consumer products. Starting right around the beginning of the year, and continuing through the end of the annual trade event, our inbox was overflowing with announcements, fighting for our attention. And that’s before you hit the show flow floor and see thousands of things vying for your attention.
Try as we might, it’s practically impossible trim things down to a definite list; there’s just too many things we liked or excited us from Las Vegas.
This year’s Best of CES selections reflect devices that aim to improve daily routines, reduce friction, or rethink familiar categories in meaningful ways. From smarter home infrastructure to personal tech with a practical edge, these 16 products earned attention for more than just novelty. We’ll be eagerly awaiting the arrival of each of these.
TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro: A Phone That’s Easier on Your Eyes
TCL’s NXTPAPER 70 Pro is built around a simple idea more phones should try: your screen doesn’t need to feel like a spotlight aimed at your face. The matte, paper-like display cuts glare and makes scrolling, reading, and late-night doomscrolling feel noticeably calmer.
The best part is that it’s still a full Android smartphone, not a “detox device” that asks you to give up modern life. With a physical shortcut that can shift the screen into more subdued or grayscale modes, it’s a smart pick for anyone who reads a lot on their phone, hates harsh screens, or wants a little more “focus” without going off-grid.
Roborock Saros 20: The Robot Vacuum That Doesn’t Get Stuck Living in Your House
Roborock’s Saros 20 is exciting because it tackles the most annoying robot vacuum problem: getting hung up on thresholds, transitions, and thick rugs like it forgot how floors work. This one is designed to climb and adapt, so it can actually cover more of your home without you “baby-proofing” the layout first.
It also aims to combine strong cleaning power with smarter avoidance, so it can work confidently around everyday clutter. The takeaway is simple: the Saros 20 looks like a robot vacuum built for real homes, not showroom floors, and that’s exactly the direction this category needs.
Aiper Scuba V3 Ultra: The Pool Robot That Acts Like It’s Paying Rent
Pool ownership comes with a full-time side quest: debris, walls, waterline gunk, and the constant sense that the pool is slowly judging you. Aiper’s Scuba V3 Ultra is compelling because it’s positioned as more than a basic floor cleaner, aiming to handle multiple parts of the pool without needing constant supervision.
It’s the kind of product that appeals to anyone who wants their pool to be a “nice thing to have,” not a weekend job. The promise is simple: fewer manual cleanups, more consistent results, and a pool that stays guest-ready with less effort.
Dreame Furcatch Air Purifier FP10: Built for Homes With Pets (and Pet Chaos)
Most air purifiers are great at smoke and dust, then immediately tap out when pet hair gets involved. Dreame’s Furcatch FP10 is interesting because it’s designed to handle the reality of shedding: hair that clogs intakes, mats up filters, and turns “air cleaning” into another weekly chore.
Instead of letting fur build up until performance drops, it’s engineered to keep the intake cleaner over time and make maintenance feel less constant. For pet owners, that’s the dream: cleaner air, fewer odors, and less time babysitting a device that’s supposed to make life easier.
GoveeLife Smart Nugget Ice Maker Pro: Nugget Ice, Without the Noise Penalty
Nugget ice machines are fun until they sound like they’re chewing rocks in your kitchen. GoveeLife’s Smart Nugget Ice Maker Pro is exciting because it focuses on the two things that actually matter: reliability and quieter operation, so you’ll use it every day instead of only when company’s over.
It also leans into scheduling and app control, which is a genuinely practical perk for parties or routine use. If you want nugget ice at home, this feels like the more livable, less “temperamental appliance” take on the category.
DESLOC V150 Plus: A Smart Lock That’s Trying to Outgrow Battery Anxiety
Smart locks are convenient until the battery worry creeps in, especially on busy doors where you don’t want another device to manage. The DESLOC V150 Plus stands out because it leans into self-charging, aiming to reduce the “when did I last swap batteries?” mental overhead.
It also brings a security-first vibe with multiple ways to unlock, so households can choose what feels easiest day to day. The headline here is peace of mind: a smart lock should feel like a set-it-and-forget-it upgrade, not a new thing on your maintenance checklist.
Pebble Round 2: A Smartwatch for People Who Miss Simple
Pebble’s comeback energy is real, and the Round 2 is exciting because it leans into what made Pebble beloved in the first place: simplicity, battery life, and a smartwatch that doesn’t try to be your second phone. It’s built for the basics, like notifications, quick info, and daily convenience.
There’s also something refreshing about a device that respects your attention instead of trying to consume it. For anyone burned out on charging every night and managing endless watch features, Pebble Round 2 feels like a return to a calmer, more intentional kind of smartwatch.
Nirva: A Wearable That Pays Attention to Stress, Not Just Steps
Fitness wearables are great at telling you what your body did. Nirva is interesting because it tries to help you understand how you’re doing emotionally, not just physically. The concept centers on patterns in your voice and daily rhythm, with the goal of turning vague stress into something you can actually notice and manage.
The design matters here too: it’s meant to look like jewelry, not a gadget screaming for attention. If this category takes off, Nirva could be an early example of a wearable that helps with self-awareness in a way that feels private, practical, and easy to live with.
UGREEN NASync iDX Series: A Private “Cloud” You Actually Control
UGREEN’s NASync iDX series is exciting because it frames home storage as something normal people can want, not just IT folks and video editors. The big promise is control: your photos, files, and backups live with you, not in a subscription you keep paying forever.
The more interesting angle is smarter organization and search without sending your personal data off to someone else’s servers. For families, creators, and anyone tired of juggling storage plans, this is the kind of product that makes “build your own cloud” feel less like a hobby and more like a practical upgrade.
Aspura Smart Range Hood: Kitchen Ventilation That Doesn’t Hijack the Room
Range hoods often force a bad trade: clear the air, or keep your ears. Aspura’s smart range hood is exciting because it targets the most common complaint head-on, aiming for powerful ventilation without turning your kitchen into a wind tunnel soundtrack.
It also prioritizes easier upkeep, which matters because the “clean your filters” reality is what makes a lot of hoods quietly miserable to live with. If Aspura delivers on quiet performance and simpler maintenance, it’s the kind of upgrade that makes cooking feel more pleasant, not more complicated.
Pawport: A “Smart” Pet Door That Actually Feels Secure
Pet doors are often a compromise: convenience for your dog, but a drafty, insecure hole in your home. Pawport is exciting because it treats the pet door like a real entry point that deserves real protection, using precise proximity tech so it opens for your pet at the right moment, not whenever it feels like it.
The design also looks more intentional and premium than the average flap situation, which matters when it’s literally part of your house. For pet owners who want freedom for their dog without sacrificing security and insulation, Pawport feels like the first “no apologies” option.
Cearvol Liberte: Hearing Support That Looks Like Modern Audio Gear
A lot of people delay hearing help because traditional hearing aids still carry stigma and friction. Cearvol’s Liberte is exciting because it aims to feel like a premium consumer audio product first, making hearing support look more like something you’d choose, not something you’d hide.
The open-style approach is also appealing for comfort and awareness, especially for people who don’t want the “blocked ear” feeling. If the goal is to make hearing care easier to adopt and easier to wear, Liberte feels like a meaningful step in the right direction.
Timeli: A Personal Safety Tool That’s Ready Before You Need It
Timeli is exciting because it doesn’t treat personal safety like a “tap this app if things get scary” problem. It’s a dedicated, handheld device that looks like a flashlight but behaves like a connected safety system, built for the moments when your brain is loud and your fine motor skills are not cooperating.
The core idea is simple and smart: most people already carry or reach for a light in sketchy, low-visibility situations (parking garages, dark sidewalks, late-night dog walks). Timeli turns that natural habit into a head start. You’re not scrambling to unlock a phone or dig around for something you hope you never need. You’re already holding the tool.
XReal S1: A Pocketable Big Screen for Travel, Work, and Play
XReal’s S1 is exciting because it focuses on the most practical reason people want AR glasses: a bigger screen anywhere, without carrying a monitor. Whether you’re traveling, working from a laptop, or gaming in a tight space, the appeal is instant: you put them on and your “screen” gets dramatically larger.
Instead of leaning on sci-fi gimmicks, this is about everyday utility. For frequent travelers, remote workers, and anyone who wants a personal big-screen setup that fits in a bag, the XReal S1 is one of the more grounded and compelling takes on AR right now.
OhSnap MCON: A MagSafe Controller That Makes Phone Gaming Feel Legit
Phone gaming keeps getting better, but touch controls are still the weak link. The OhSnap MCON is exciting because it makes physical controls feel effortless: snap it on magnetically, start playing, no clamp gymnastics or case removal rituals.
It also leans into the idea that portability matters as much as performance. This feels like the kind of accessory you’ll actually bring with you, which is the whole point. For commuters, travelers, and anyone who wants real controls without carrying a full-size gamepad, MCON looks like a smart, modern solution.
Botslab G980H: A Dash Cam That Captures the Full Picture
The Botslab G980H rethinks what a dash cam should do. Its modular, multi-camera approach dramatically reduces blind spots, covering front, rear, and side views at the same time. That broader perspective is especially useful for lane-change disputes, parking lot damage, and curbside incidents where traditional dash cams often come up short. The flexibility to run fewer cameras or go all-in makes it a practical fit for commuters, rideshare drivers, delivery vehicles, and small fleets alike.
By capturing moments before an event is triggered, it helps show how an incident unfolded, not just the impact itself. A split-screen display and voice controls make it easier to use while driving, and synced GPS playback turns footage into a clear, easy-to-follow timeline afterward. Add always-on parking protection and no subscription fees, and it feels like a complete, long-term safety solution rather than just another dash cam.
