The Official Best of CES 2026 Award Winners Have Been Announced, Featuring 22 Outstanding Achievements in Technology.
In the heart of the Las Vegas Convention Center, amidst the world’s largest tech show , the awards ceremony took place. Among the spectators were nominees—from large companies like Nvidia to ambitious startups introducing themselves to the world—as well as journalists, tech industry insiders, and enthusiasts gathered to witnessthe Best of CES 2026 awards ceremony. After days of touring the showrooms, talking to innovators about their new technologies, and six hours of discussion, experts from CNET, PCMag, Mashable, ZDNET, and Lifehacker selected the finalists and winners. I had the honor of judging and presenting several awards, and beyond the appreciation for the experience, my conclusion is simple: there are many new technologies that deserve attention.
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CNET Group, in partnership with the Consumer Technology Association (CMA), announced the winners in 22 categories, as well as the “Best of CES” award. To be considered for the “Best of CES” award, a product or service had to be an official exhibitor at CES 2026 and either represent a compelling new concept or idea, solve an important consumer problem, or set new standards for performance, design, or quality. The official“Best of CES 2026” winners were announced live on Wednesday, January 7, at 4:00 PM PT. Here are all the “Best of CES 2026” finalists and winners.
Best of CES 2026 Award Winners
The best age-related technologies
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Tombot’s robotic puppy Jenny has been captivating CES attendees for years, but its lifelike appearance will finally hit the market in 2026. Designed to comfort seniors with dementia and help combat loneliness, Jenny is equipped with numerous sensors and motors that allow it to move its head to look at you, raise its eyebrows, wag its tail, and bark when you ask it for a treat. Seniors at the nursing home we visited were thrilled with Jenny.
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iGuard is an intelligent stovetop shutoff system that helps seniors stay home. The new version of the device uses radar to detect a person’s presence in the kitchen and has a configurable five-minute grace period. It can also transmit information to a caregiver app if your loved one doesn’t show up to make breakfast as usual.
The best artificial intelligence technologies
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Qira is Lenovo’s answer to Apple Intelligence, a hybrid AI assistant that uses a combination of on-device processing and cloud models to create a powerful, personalized assistant available anywhere, even when you switch from the phone in your pocket to the laptop or tablet in your hand.
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Nvidia Ruby
Nvidia is once again the center of attention at CES, and the most important announcement from the world’s most profitable company was its Rubin AI platform. Six new Rubin chips from Nvidia work together to lower the cost of AI processing, known as tokens. This is important for large tech companies and for all of us, as AI models become increasingly computationally intensive.
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Pebble Index 01
This AI-powered wearable takes us back to our roots. Users can quickly jot down notes throughout the day that they don’t want to forget by simply pressing a button and speaking into the ring. The LLM app will then process your words for quick access and even perform necessary actions.
The best audio equipment
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Samsung Music Studio 5 (Winner)
The Samsung Music Studio 5 speaker system features a 4-inch woofer and two tweeters, making it one of the most attractively designed home speakers we’ve ever seen. In addition to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, it supports the Samsung Seamless codec for compatibility with other Samsung Galaxy ecosystem products.
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xMEMS Sycamore-N speaker chip
As smart glasses become more widespread, they require an audio chip as advanced as their AI capabilities. The xMEMS Sycamore-N chip improves audio quality in smart glasses. Our tests show it delivers high-quality sound, and its one-millimeter thickness directly contributes to the reduced thickness and weight of the smart glasses.
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The H7 soundbar, part of the LG Sound Suite, expands the capabilities of Flex Connect technology on any TV with an HDMI input. The soundbar looks great and sounds great when watching movies. The only drawback is that it only supports LG Flex Connect speakers, not speakers from other manufacturers.
The best deep computing technologies
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Intel Core Ultra 300 (Panther Lake) (Winner)
The Intel Core Ultra 300 Series “Panther Lake” platform is our winner for “Best Integrated Graphics Performance” in the mainstream consumer market. This top-of-the-line chip offers up to 12 new Xe “Xe3” cores, delivering the best integrated graphics performance ever in an Intel processor, enabling graphics and gaming applications across a wide range of portable notebooks through 2026 and beyond.
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Performance is king: the mainstream version of the Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 processor for laptops supports the 80 trillion operations per second (TOPS) performance of the more powerful X2 Elite chips. It’s expected to be installed in laptops starting at $800, promising industry-leading neural processing unit (NPU) performance at a lower price.
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AMD Ryzen AI Max Plus 392, AI Max Plus 388
The expanded AMD Ryzen AI Max+ platform democratizes workstation capabilities with the 392 and 388 models, featuring 40 RDNA 3.5 GPU cores, 60 TFLOPS of compute power, and 192 GB of unified memory. These chips deliver elite local AI performance and GPU-less workloads in thinner, more affordable devices with excellent price-to-performance ratios.
The best energy technologies
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After two years of developing wireless charging without alignment, Willo has demonstrated the ability to transmit power over the air to multiple devices simultaneously, regardless of their position or movement. This represents a breakthrough in energy technology, offering wireless charging without the need for a pad, coil, or dock.
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Jackery, a solar-powered robot, has demonstrated its ability to follow you around like a puppy, but its real job is to follow the sun, collecting energy using retractable 300-watt solar panels. The idea is that this autonomous robot will always be able to find the sun and then deliver power when you need it.
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Overheat
A water heater that automatically generates bitcoins with daily use. It uses excess heat generated during bitcoin mining to heat your home’s running water, offsetting up to 80 percent of your electricity and water costs with the revenue generated. For easy management and control, you can use the app or web console.
The best technologies of the future
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Lego Smart Play System (Winner)
A single 2×8 Lego brick, equipped with light, sound, and proximity sensors, opens up new play possibilities. This small block, along with a tiny removable instruction piece, can control everything from lightsaber duels to board games, adding color and sound effects depending on what you build and how you play.
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Iksana Vi-R
Ixana’s Wi-R is a chip that transmits data via the hyperlocal field generated by your body. This alternative to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi is still in the concept stage, but it has several advantages over traditional data transfer protocols, such as lower power consumption and reduced signal congestion.
Best games
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Lenovo Legion Pro Concept Foldable Laptop (Winner)
Rollable OLED displays have been around for a couple of years, but until now, they’ve only been available in business laptops, if they’ve ever hit the market at all. The Lenovo Legion Pro Rollable concept uses this technology to bring gaming to ultra-wide laptop screens for the first time. Are rollable displays the future? We don’t know, but it would certainly make the perfect portable gaming station.
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Multi-monitor gaming PCs have become the norm, and while portable monitors have been around for a while, until recently there weren’t many ways to implement such a feature on a laptop. The Asus Zephyrus Duo takes the multi-monitor setup Asus has been working on since the original Zephyrus Duo and expands it into something truly useful: a full-fledged second display.
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Xreal’s augmented reality glasses are among the best, and now PC maker ASUS is partnering with Xreal to make them even better, especially for gamers. These augmented reality glasses have everything you need to satisfy even the most demanding gamers, giving you a virtual 171-inch screen right on your face. This screen is an OLED with a 1080p resolution, but the real highlight is the 240Hz refresh rate. This means smooth, big-screen gaming on the go.
The best kitchen technologies
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Ecoldbrew is a compact device that combines a portable coffee grinder and coffee maker, brewing a single cold brew in five minutes. This clever device attaches to its own thermos, but its standard size makes it easy to attach to your own thermos if you prefer. A Kickstarter campaign is planned for the near future, with an affordable price starting at $99.
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The C-200 UltraSonic chef’s knife from Seattle Ultrasonics features a Japanese steel blade that vibrates approximately 30,000 times per second. Its movement is so subtle that you won’t see or hear it, but you’ll notice how easily it cuts through food without sticking. The C-200 retails for $399, comparable to other high-quality knives. The first batch will go on sale this month.
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We already talked a lot about smart ovens at CES, but Apecoo has stripped it down to the bare essentials. This compact oven uses a camera on top and a scale on the bottom to detect the type and size of food, then launches a precise cooking program developed using a sophisticated AI algorithm. A perfectly cooked steak, anyone? This machine can detect the precise thickness of meat or the volume of vegetables like no other oven before it. It even recognizes multiple food types simultaneously and uses the appropriate cooking time and temperature for each. And best of all, it’s about half the size of a typical smart oven.
The best laptop
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Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 Aura Edition (Winner)
Modular laptop designs for improved serviceability and eco-friendliness are a clear trend at CES 2026, and the latest ThinkPad X1 Carbon is a prime example. Lenovo’s flagship business laptop introduces its Space Frame design, which allows for easy access and replacement of individual components in the event of a breakdown, eliminating the need to buy a new laptop.
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Yes, it’s clearly inspired by the MacBook Pro, but MSI’s larger, updated Stealth adds a touch of class. This sleek system features Intel Core Ultra 300 (Panther Lake) processors and GeForce graphics up to the powerful RTX 5090, along with an improved cooling and ventilation system. Furthermore, MSI’s new, more discreet design and Gorilla Glass panel with a 240Hz refresh rate will please both gamers and professional content creators.
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The Asus Zenbook Duo is a niche device, but it’s the most elegant embodiment of a dual-screen laptop we’ve seen to date. The 2026 Zenbook Duo has significantly improved its design compared to last year, with thinner bezels, a more robust stand, and a more secure hinge. Equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 9 386H processor, it’s well-suited for a variety of creative tasks.
The best mobile technologies
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Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold (Winner)
This is the culmination of Samsung’s efforts to create a sleeker and more versatile foldable phone. It’s a true hybrid device, functioning as a standard phone when closed and revealing a huge 10-inch display when unfolded, making it a practical two-in-one device that fits securely in your pocket.
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The Motorola Razr Fold is a worthy representative of the book-style foldable phone category thanks to its large screens, clean software, and powerful cameras. Combined with stylus support, it’s a great option for those looking for a productivity-focused device.
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The OhSnap Mcon is a Bluetooth controller with a retractable mounting platform for an iPhone (via MagSafe) or Android phone (magnetically) for portable gaming. This compact accessory can be used three ways: as a handheld device, as a wireless game controller, or as a gaming console connected to an external monitor.
The best parenting technologies
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Coro seems like a product that should have been around for years. It solves the problem of measuring a child’s food intake in a simple and straightforward way. I wish it had been around when my kids were little.
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Earflo is a medical device designed to look and function like a sippy cup for children aged two and up. When drinking from the sippy cup, a small mask fits snugly over the nose, and air is drawn through with each sip. Pressure on the nasal cavity helps drain fluid buildup in the ear. In a peer-reviewed study, after four weeks of using Earflo, 90% of children did not require ear tubes after three months.
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Children and parents already spend a lot of time building Lego sets. Now, at CES, Lego is unveiling its new Smart Bricks as part of its new Smart Play platform, which brings Lego creations and characters to life. Inside each Smart Brick is a tiny chip that allows Lego builders to detect color, direction, distance, sound, and more. Now, Lego creations can interact with families, allowing them to spend more time together.
The best technology for pets
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Satellai’s new collar (Satellai Collar Go) and software (Petsense AI) are preventative monitoring tools that can detect subtle changes in your dog’s behavior before they become overt health issues. They can also alert you when your dog leaves your yard, and are reasonably priced at $79.
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Pawport released its smart pet door in late 2025. The door uses ultra-wideband technology that can detect how close your dog is to the door. This allows you to customize the distance your dog must be before the door opens, both when entering and leaving the house. It also extends the battery life of the collars from 12 to 18 months.
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One of the debut devices is the Yumshare Daily Feast automatic cat feeder, which Petkit describes as its first robotic feeding system. The device can dispense food on a schedule for seven days, monitor consumption using a built-in camera, and automatically remove spoiled or leftover food.
The best robot
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Boston Dynamics Atlas (Winner)
Among the many humanoid robots debuting at CES 2026, Boston Dynamics’ Atlas stands out. The prototype showcased at the show impressed us with its natural gait, and the sleek production version is ready for deployment at Hyundai’s manufacturing facilities this year, where it could very well be used in the creation of your future car.
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The Solar Mars Bot may never reach Mars, but it solves a number of problems associated with portable generators. It’s much easier to move and can follow the Sun without interference.
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The RoboTurtle robot turtle is both a beautiful example of biomimicry and a robot on an important mission. This swimming robot is designed for ecological research and, once deployed, will monitor underwater ecosystems with minimal impact on wildlife.
The best technologies for a smart home
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The Roborock Saros Rover robot vacuum cleaner can overcome the biggest obstacle for robot vacuums: stairs. It’s the first model that can navigate between floors autonomously, without the aid of any additional equipment. This is achieved thanks to a pair of flexible legs that the robot controls independently, avoiding obstacles, and can even clean stairs as it climbs.
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The Lockin V7 Max is a new smart lock that requires no recharging or battery replacement. Instead of a removable battery, the V7 Max uses the Lockin AuraCharge—an external device that connects approximately four meters away and sends a beam of light to a receiver on the lock. The lock converts the light into energy to charge its battery.
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Robotin R2
The Robotin R2 is the first robot vacuum cleaner that can wash and dry carpet like a regular carpet vacuum. It comes with a base module and two modular attachments that let you switch between cleaning and washing modes or cleaning and drying modes. It cleans a 300-400 square foot room in about an hour, and dries in two hours. The kit also includes a large base station with two fresh water tanks, a large dust bin, and a dirty water tank.
Best Startup
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This could save lives. A French startup has created a $200 portable device for testing food samples for allergens. At CES, Allergen Alert only presented prototypes of the device, but it is licensing the technology from the French biotech company bioMérieux. If the startup successfully tests food, it could have a huge impact. The device is expected to be available in the second half of this year.
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If that name sounds familiar, it’s because Pebble was the first company to popularize smartwatches in the 2010s. After several changes in its corporate structure, the brand is returning as a startup with a new line of affordable watches with improved battery life and a streamlined form factor. They also have a new AI-powered ring.
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Nirva AI jewelry is a startup whose goal is to continuously learn from your real-life behavior by recording audio throughout the day. Based on these recordings, the device offers advice on work, relationships, and everyday decision-making. Nirva positions itself as a personal AI companion designed to understand your life as it is. Think of it as an “audio diary” after a long day.
The best technologies for sustainable development
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Clear Drop Compactor for Soft Plastics (Winner)
Worried about plastic waste? The Clear Drop soft plastic baler can crush it into dense briquettes that can then be recycled, for example, into garden furniture. The Clear Drop product and subscription guarantee that none of your recycled soft plastic sheets will end up in landfills.
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The RoboTurtle robot turtle is both a beautiful example of biomimicry and a robot on an important mission. This swimming robot is designed for ecological research and, once deployed, will monitor underwater ecosystems with minimal impact on wildlife.
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Ouroboros Smartwatch from Cambridge Consultants
Cambridge Consultants’ conceptual smartwatch design marks the beginning of a new era of right-to-repair legislation. It proves that it is possible to create a smartwatch that allows for self-repair without compromising design or usability.
The best transport
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Autonomous vehicles are much talked about, but Stutt is bringing next-generation technology to an accessible application. The Ev1 mobility scooter can map and navigate autonomously, allowing users to navigate using voice commands. It can also automatically adjust manual navigation to avoid obstacles. It’s a rare device that combines mobility, accessibility, and autonomy, and it’s hard not to be impressed.
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Dolby Atmos literally adds a new dimension to your car’s audio system. However, not everyone can afford to buy a new luxury car just to improve sound quality. The Sphera receiver from Pioneer allows virtually anyone to add Dolby Atmos via Apple CarPlay to an existing car with existing speakers and immerse themselves in spatial sound.
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Solid-state battery from Donut Labs
Solid-state battery technology promises significant improvements in energy density, charging speed, and safety, and is a cherished dream for electric vehicles, home energy, drones, and many other applications. Donut Lab was the first to commercialize a solid-state battery in a production electric vehicle, using it in the TS Pro Gen 2 motorcycle from its partner, Verge Motorcycles.
The best technologies for travel
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Wheelchairs are available at airports, hotels, resorts, theme parks, and cruise ships, but standard wheelchairs require constant effort and can struggle to navigate difficult terrain. WheelMoves is a portable wheelchair accessory that converts any standard wheelchair into a power wheelchair, allowing people to move more easily wherever they are.
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The Jitlife JS07i is a travel suitcase that travelers can use for long-distance trips through airports. It’s the size of a standard carry-on, but holds up to 250 pounds (approximately 113 kg), has a top speed of 8 mph (approximately 13 km/h), and can travel 6 miles (approximately 10 km) on a single charge. Already popular abroad, travel luggage is gaining popularity in the US, and the Jitlife is the best option we tested.
The best TVs or home theater equipment
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The Samsung S95H TV impressed us most at CES for several reasons. First, it’s 35 percent brighter than before. Second, it’s a wired TV, great for gaming, but also offers a wireless option for a cleaner look and expanded connectivity. Third, it’s the first OLED TV capable of displaying artwork from the Samsung Art Store—the S95H features anti-burn-in technology, allowing it to function like The Frame but with even better picture quality.
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Hisense 116UXS
The 116UXS TV takes the still-new and promising concept of RGB LED TVs even further, adding even more color. Its mini-LED array utilizes red, green, and blue LEDs, and adds a fourth cyan LED, which, according to Hisense, covers 110 percent of the BT.2020 color gamut.
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The LG W6 is LG’s “wallpaper TV,” an OLED TV just 9 mm thick that can be mounted virtually flush against a wall. It’s one of LG’s brightest OLED TVs, and it’s virtually wireless thanks to its Zero Connect box, which can be placed up to 9 meters away to transmit video, as well as support for Dolby Atmos FlexConnect and LG Sound Suite for a 3D audio system.
The Best Weird Technologies
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Soulmate Lepro Ami AI (Winner)
Having a tiny animated girl living on a small screen inside a physical cylindrical case is certainly a strange experience. Lepro’s new AI companion, Ami, is exactly that. She’s not exactly an AI assistant designed to perform real-world tasks. She’s an AI created for a lonely person seeking companionship. The characters dance and squirm within the case and can do so at the user’s request, further enhancing the sense of strangeness.
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Suck on this lollipop and listen to a song directly from your mouth to your ears, using bone conduction technology to “taste the music.” I tried it, and although I had to bite down a bit to hear the music, it worked. It’s a weird, fun novelty. It costs $8.99.
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iPolish bills itself as the creator of “the world’s first digital color-changing nails.” These are press-on nails that can be individually inserted into a small wand to instantly change color, choosing from over 400 shades in the app.
The best technologies for health and well-being
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Perimenopause affects women transitioning to menopause and is typically characterized by symptoms such as anxiety, hot flashes, and night sweats. Peri is a wearable device designed to track these symptoms and help you make informed decisions about how to manage them—whether through lifestyle changes, supplements, or hormone replacement therapy.
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Most women who menstruate complain of severe menstrual cramps. This wearable neurostimulation device is designed to reduce the symptoms and cramps that occur during menstruation. Attached to the ear and delivering gentle neurostimulation, the device targets the auricular branches of the trigeminal and vagus nerves, regulating menstrual symptoms and helping the body return to a calm state.
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Food allergies are common and can cause a wide range of unpleasant symptoms. Severe reactions can be fatal. Allergen Alert is a miniature, portable lab that allows you to test food for common allergens on the spot at a restaurant, school, or anywhere else you dine. A single-use bag analyzes a food sample placed in the device and displays the results within minutes.
The best technologies for landscaping your yard or surrounding area
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Beatbot AquaSense X Ecosystem (Winner)
Beatbot has introduced the world’s first self-cleaning robotic pool cleaner. In addition to industry-leading navigation and suction power, the AquaSense x Ecosystem eliminates the most annoying task associated with robotic pool cleaners: emptying waste bins filled with wet leaves, slime, and insects. The autonomous cleaning dock empties debris into a disposable bag in a container located underneath. It then rinses the internal mechanisms with clean water supplied by an attached hose, keeping the filter, waste bins, and vents clean.
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At CES 2026, the Luba 3 AWD robotic lawn mower made a splash, easily tackling slopes up to 80 percent thanks to its all-wheel-drive design. This smart mower also offers wireless navigation enhanced with LiDAR and artificial intelligence, as well as an adjustable cutting height. This attractive robotic mower can also navigate and avoid obstacles in your yard, from tennis balls to stray hedgehogs.
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The Birdfy smart hummingbird feeder with 4K resolution has a beautiful, unique design that more closely resembles a real flower. Most importantly, it records slow-motion video at 120 frames per second, allowing you to see the fluttering wings of hummingbirds fluttering above your yard. Using artificial intelligence and an 8-megapixel camera, Hum Bloom recognizes 150 different species of avian visitors.
Best overall
Samsung Galaxy Z Trifold (Winner)
The Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold, a pioneering combination of beautiful design and genuine functionality, has won CES’s top honor, “Best Overall.” This sleek device delivers on the promise of a foldable, full-size tablet-phone hybrid that’s equally functional and pocket-friendly. Its futuristic look and impeccable usability elevate technology to a new level while remaining accessible.