CES 2026 stay: Wild tech, bizarre devices, and the laptops everybody’s speaking about

1 hour in the past, By kstevenson

Now that the mud is settling, these are the merchandise that actually stood out

When you haven’t had time to comply with all of the bulletins and unveilings from CES, skimming this stay weblog may help catch you up. However for those who simply need to reduce to the chase and see a number of the coolest issues that caught our editors’ eyes, take a look at our record of the Better of CES 2026: The tech gear and PC improvements that blew us away.

Our counterparts at TechHive compiled a separate article targeted on probably the most spectacular good house and residential safety merchandise, as properly. –Katherine Stevenson

3 hours in the past, By bchacos

What’s subsequent for AMD’s Adrenalin software program?

Adam had an opportunity to talk with Andrej Zdravkovic, Senior Vice President at AMD, about Adrenalin software program options together with FSR “Redstone”, Linux updates, and an upcoming elective AI bundle. Test it out and make sure you subscribe to PCWorld’s YouTube channel for all the most popular PC information from CES and past.

3 hours in the past, By bchacos

Blasts from the previous

What’s previous could also be new once more: In interviews in Las Vegas, AMD and Nvidia execs hinted that the businesses might revive older chip traces to battle element shortages and skyrocketing PC costs.

Sigh. — Brad Chacos

3 hours in the past, By bchacos

I noticed a G-Sync Pulsar monitor and OLED has critical competitors

Nvidia didn’t deliver any new graphics playing cards to CES 2026, however it did introduce a pair of recent applied sciences designed to make your video games look so significantly better: G-Sync Pulsar displays and DLSS 4.5. It’s exhausting to seize the upgrades from the present ground with the way in which cameras work, however I used to be capable of go hands-on with every at Nvidia’s suite and belief me: Seeing means believing for Nvidia’s new DLSS 4.5 and G-Sync Pulsar displays. — Brad Chacos

4 hours in the past, By mhachman

Donut Lab is constructing a greater battery

One of many sizzling tales popping out of CES is Donut Lab, which claims to have a solid-state battery in manufacturing. Strong state is the Nice White Whale of EV expertise: 0-100% charging in minutes, no hearth danger, no vitality loss over time, huge capability.

At CES Unveiled, the corporate was arrange proper subsequent door to an EV sport bike firm which claimed to make use of the expertise.

There’s hypothesis that this may very well be all some kind of a quasi-hoax, as within the expertise is viable however not scalable or with another limitation.

I don’t know sufficient about it to say a technique or one other. However I can say that the exec I spoke to mentioned Donut had no plans to deliver its expertise to laptops on the present time. –Mark Hachman

17 hours in the past, By mhachman

Plugable helps reduce down backpack litter

That is the Plugable PS-6CC, a subtly good peripheral that’s actually nothing greater than an influence strip for telephones, tablets, and even PCs.

This $79.95 gadget takes as much as 100W (from a laptop computer charger, say) on the finish of the gadget and splits it between no matter gadgets are linked. As gadgets replenish, charging charges decelerate. That energy is then redirected to the opposite gadgets on the port.

You might have already got a USB-C charger with a number of ports. However give it some thought: as a substitute of toting a number of chargers, deliver one, in addition to a number of cables. By morning, every thing can be charged and able to go and not using a bunch of additional weight.

(Disclosure: Plugable equipped this energy splitter and the associated cables to PCWorld to guage. To this point, every thing works as meant!) — Mark Hachman

22 hours in the past, By bchacos

Y2K is again, proper?

Brad Chacos / Foundry

Take a look at this funky little man! Among the many varied graphics playing cards on show at Nvidia’s suite was Gigabyte’s Aorus RTX 5090 Infinity. It’s acquired a double flow-through design and an eye catching curvy design completely not like most different graphics playing cards on the market. With its huge spherical ends and the darkish, textured center part, it considerably evokes the spirit of yesteryear’s boomboxes. Slap it in your shoulder and occasion prefer it’s 1999, or in your gaming rig and occasion prefer it’s 2026. —Brad Chacos

Brad Chacos / Foundry

24 hours in the past, By mcrider

Get together prefer it’s 1999

Michael Crider / Foundry

AceMagic is displaying off mini PC ideas that may look acquainted to anybody whose beginning 12 months begins with a 1. These two ideas are deliberate to run on the identical fundamental specs, going as much as a Ryzen AI HX 470 processor, 64GB of RAM, and 4TB of M.2 storage. There’s no point out of value, in fact — the reminiscence crunch has everybody terrified to decide to a quantity. -Michael Crider

24 hours in the past, By mcrider

Godzilla keycaps are right here to demolish your desktop

Michael Crider / Foundry

Godzilla keycaps. And since a large monster at all times wants one thing to combat: Mecha Godzilla keycaps. Formally licensed from Toho, produced from PBT plastic, and bought for about $80 USD for a full set. These are nice for followers, particularly for those who just like the Showa period aesthetic. -Michael Crider

Michael Crider / Foundry

1 day in the past, By mhachman

Cell Ryzen coming to desktop sockets? Not no.

I’m sitting in with Jason Banta, AMD’s vice chairman and common supervisor of shopper at AMD, and the subject is socketed desktop processors.

A socketed desktop processor implies that you need to be capable of purchase and set up a alternative, proper? That’s what I used to be pondering once I sat down. However cell chips go on to laptop computer makers.

AMD is for now leaving open the chance that you simply’ll be capable of purchase a cell Ryzen laptop computer half and drop it right into a desktop socket. You’ve by no means been in a position to try this earlier than…however in 2026, who is aware of? -Mark Hachman

AMD

1 day in the past, By bchacos

The ten finest laptops of CES 2026

CES technically kicked off on Tuesday, however the PCWorld crew has been working round for glimpses of the most popular new tech since Sunday. And truthfully, we visited with a bunch of PC distributors earlier than the vacations for secret in-depth briefings forward of the present. That’s why we’re already capable of pinpoint the ten finest laptops of CES 2026 on day two of the present. From laptops with refined dual-stacked displays, to the return of Dell’s XPS model, to splendidly repairable ThinkPads and fire-breathing gaming laptops, we’ve zeroed in on the very best of the very best of present.

Keep tuned within the coming days for roundups of our favourite displays of CES and all of the gear that knocked our socks off in Vegas. We aren’t performed but! -Brad Chacos

1 day in the past, By mhachman

A sobering sight

Too busy to see in the event that they have been protesting a selected firm, however it’s attention-grabbing to see knowledge privateness handled as a basic downside to unravel. –Mark Hachman

Mark Hachman / Foundry

2 days in the past, By bchacos

That is an idea I can get behind

Farming is huge tech now. Among the greatest proper to restore legislation wins for customers have come from farmers suing John Deere for locking down their methods with excessive prejudice.

Brad Chacos / Foundry

However I nonetheless wasn’t emotionally ready to see Robocop’s entrance loader* on the Bobcat sales space amongst all the standard tractors and whatnot. I can envision this toiling autonomously within the towering trash fields exterior Cyberpunk 2077’s Night time Metropolis, nary a human in sight. — Brad Chacos

*AKA the Bobcat RogueX3 idea loader.

Brad Chacos / Foundry

Brad Chacos / Foundry

2 days in the past, By mcrider

Asus Wi-Fi 8 idea router is a essential hit

Michael Crider / Foundry

This Asus Wi-Fi router appears like a 20-sided die. That’s it. That’s all I’ve acquired.

Okay, not fairly. Asus is displaying off this next-gen Wi-Fi 8 router design at CES 2026, though it’ll be very long time earlier than that spec and {hardware} are prepared for customers. When it does, Asus says that ti may have double the velocity and double the protection of present networks, with higher help for dense crowds of individuals and gadgets. 

ut I’ve to confess, the Dungeons and Dragons nerd in me loves the concept of putting this factor out in full show, as a substitute of hiding it below my desk like my present wifi router. You may even mount it to the wall if you’d like. And sure, it’s able to a mesh community format…for those who get two, presumably your wi-fi sign will roll with benefit. -Michael Crider

2 days in the past, By bchacos

Simply take a look at these eyes

I’ll not know a lot about robots, however I do know I wouldn’t tangle a Pacific Rim-sized behemoth whose chest stands 10 ft tall!

Brad Chacos / Foundry

Huge boi greeted guests to the ZEROth robotics in North Corridor, the place I discovered a a lot much less intimidating lil boi. Hey, it’s Wall-E!

Brad Chacos / Foundry

Really, that is ZEROth’s W1, “a cell robotic constructed for actual work in actual environments.” This autonomous 28kg tiny man can carry over 110lbs (50kg) of drugs for you throughout all types of terrain, together with grass, gravel, slopes, and no matter uneven floor it’s essential to throw at it, because of these tank treads and large pet canine eyes that function the W1’s sensors.

However I’m simply pumped I acquired to fulfill Wall-E within the flesh… er, bolts. It’s out there for preorder now for $4,999. — Brad Chacos

2 days in the past, By bchacos

‘We have already got a Mars rover at house’

Brad Chacos / Foundry

Now THIS can be severely useful in a zombie apocalypse. Jackery is understood for its big selection of photo voltaic, energy, and charging applied sciences, however the Jackery Photo voltaic Mars Bot combines all three to super-cool impact — and tremendous sensible impact for those who’re working in a area with out dependable electrical energy.

Billed as “a cell solar-storage bot that finds the solar, fees itself, and delivers energy wherever you want it,” the autonomous bot did simply that in an lively demo on the ground. A shiny gentle within the nook of the sales space simulated the suns rays and periodically repositioned itself to level at completely different factors of the ground. Jackery’s Photo voltaic Mars Bot recognized the place the sunshine was beaming every time with mosquito-like quickness, then calmly scooted over to the brand new location earlier than settling right down to soak in these scrumptious rays.

The swing arm atop the bot has 4 photo voltaic panels that may fold out for optimum energy draw, and the facet pops open to disclose a bevy of ports to maintain all of your gadgets charged. Think about how baller you’d really feel bringing this alongside for a tenting journey together with your buds! – Brad Chacos

2 days in the past, By bchacos

This robotic got here to play

CES 2026’s North Corridor is the place you’ll discover extra superior gear, like good metropolis options, enterprise AI tech, and automation — and which means robots. LOTS of superior robots.

I’m only a gamer with a elaborate weblog so I’m not geared up to let you know whether or not one robotic hand is extra superior than one other, or if these shelf-stacking bots are really autonomous. However I CAN let you know that I watched Sharpa’s autonomous ping pong bot greater than maintain its personal in a VERY intense match in opposition to a human opponent, because of its ludicrous 0.02s response time.

Brad Chacos / Foundry

It was mesmerizing. Only a few balls made its well beyond the cybernetic defender, and it additionally managed to maintain the ball religiously in play — usually sneaking photographs previous its meat bucket rival. Simply take a look at the pose on it! Sharpa’s autonomous ping pong bot got here able to win, child, and the gang was going wild. — Brad Chacos 

2 days in the past, By mcrider

I do not need to stay on this planet anymore

A vendor promoting a pay bathroom lock used AI slop to generate a picture of the Rat Pack strolling by means of Las Vegas, with Frank Sinatra holding his groin like a toddler who wants to make use of the toilet. It’s simply the worst factor I’ve seen at CES 2026. — Michael Crider

Michael Crider / Foundry

bchacos

I feel I really like this bizarre controller

Brad Chacos / Foundry

I anticipated to hate GameSir’s Swift Drive controller once I noticed its press launch final week.

Like, I liked the funkiness of it — a gaming controller with a small power suggestions steering wheel plopped useless heart?! — however I used to be positive it will really feel like an abomination in my fingers.

I used to be completely flawed.

In a demo, the Swift Drive’s wheel managed to really feel good. Twisting the wheel together with your thumbs truly feels good, turning simply however with the exact quantity of pushback to keep away from feeling free. The power suggestions additionally impresses, letting you’re feeling bumps within the highway (and the ache of flipping your automotive over, I’m ashamed to confess). As a agency believer in specialised sim racing controls, not shoehorned-together controller concepts, I’m genuinely shocked at how pure the Swift Drive feels in my fingers. I may need to select on of those up for my Forza adventures when it launches someday in Q2. -Brad Chacos

2 days in the past, By bchacos

😎

Brad Chacos / Foundry

😎 — Brad Chacos

2 days in the past, By bchacos

Transfer over, Tom Cruise. There is a new Prime Gun on the town.

Talking of simulators (sorry, simply flexing that I GOT TO TOUCH A FREAKING MCLAREN FORMULA 1 CAR) verify this majestic beast out.

Brad Chacos / Foundry

Constructed by Play for Dream and Wrights Brothers Tech, this contemporary fighter cockpit simulator pitches and yaws as you man the cockpit controls, and will be paired with both a VR headset (as proven right here) or a wall of displays for whole Prime Gun-style immersion. I attempted it and it really felt like I used to be racing by means of the skies — an exhilarating sensation. — Brad Chacos 

2 days in the past, By bchacos

Pinball wizard

Nearly every thing runs on processors today. Living proof: Stern Pinball is right here with a full array licensed pinball machines to play on the ground.

Brad Chacos / Foundry

And yeah, that was a blast, however probably the most intriguing a part of the sales space was a station that exposed the inside workings of Stern’s Star Wars machine (hey, they know their nerdy CES viewers). Try the little board that powers all of the beeps, boops, and flashing lights! — Brad Chacos

Brad Chacos / Foundry

2 days in the past, By bchacos

Robotic arms on the prepared

Teradyne Robotics is displaying off an enchanting demo of absolutely unbiased, articulated robotic arms performing advanced duties, like adjusting a Rubics Dice or wiggling their fingers whereas the arm waves forwards and backwards. It’s the primary time I’ve seen one thing prefer it in particular person and it makes my thoughts boggle a bit, tbh.

Brad Chacos / Foundry

After all, it’s powered by a PC — however not one you or I are doubtless to purchase. After I talked about I work for PCWorld, the rep enthusiastically grabbed the workstation powering these setups: A single Nvidia Jetson Orin 64GB, which handles real-time picture processing from a paired digital camera to manage the arms in actual time. After I waved my hand close to the arms they shied away! — Brad Chacos

2 days in the past, By jphillips

Timeli private safety: A cool different to pepper spray and cell telephones

I’m not the goal market, however it solely takes 10 seconds to know why many ladies—or actually, anybody—might need to carry the Timeli private safety gadget. The all-in-one handheld {hardware} integrates a flashlight, video digital camera, mobile service, GPS, alarm, and two-way communication to offer its homeowners larger safety and peace-of-mind when strolling by means of darkish public areas.

With a button-press you possibly can activate the flashlight and stay video recording. When you start to really feel uneasy or sense urgent hazard, a second button press–this time the SOS button–prompts an alarm and then you definitely connect with a live-monitoring emergency service, which may see what you see by means of the digital camera.

At this level, you possibly can chat with the dispatcher to debate a response if crucial. They know the place you might be because of the built-in GPS. If nothing else, you’ll have somebody to speak with till you’re feeling protected.

Jon Phillips/Foundry

First, this can be a nice different to pepper spray, which requires the person to actively confront the unhealthy guys, and doesn’t at all times do the job. Second, it’s an ideal different for girls within the behavior of strolling again to their automobiles on their telephones, simply so somebody will know the place they’re heading and whether or not they’re protected. With Timeli, the person can combine that communication with a flashlight, alarm, and video digital camera.

Timeli prices $300, and features a 12-month subscription to the UL-certified safety monitoring dispatch service. After that, you pay $10 a month for the subscription. –Jon Phillips

2 days in the past, By bchacos

Bucket record merchandise, full

Brad Chacos / Foundry

OMG OMG OMG. I’m a large Formulation 1 (and particularly Lando Norris) fanboy. So are a shocking variety of tech engineers — Formulation 1 pushes the sting of what’s doable with mechanics, physics, and knowledge, each in actual time and by way of advanced simulations. Deloitte handles a variety of that knowledge processing for McLaren, this 12 months’s Constructors and Driver Championship crew, they usually’ve acquired the automotive entrance and heart in LVCC’s Central Corridor to flex their championship-winning cred.

I do know a number of GPU engineers who get collectively to compete in ultra-realistic iRacing sims simply to really feel that innovative themselves. Me? I simply bodily touched a McLaren F1 automotive when the attendant was wanting the opposite method. Let me repeat: OMG OMG OMG —Brad Chacos

Brad Chacos / Foundry

2 days in the past, By jphillips

Lollipop Star: Sorta gross. I like it

Is it simply me, or does Lollipop Star appear to be somebody got here up with a intelligent portmanteau, after which reverse-engineered a delivery product? I can’t say this merger of lollipops and pop stars is definitely good, however mad props to the initiative.

So, yeah, it’s an precise lollipop you stick in your mouth. But it surely additionally performs licensed pop music by means of the identical bone conduction expertise that’s been kicking round audio wearables for years. You stick some standard foam earbuds in your ears, press a button on the lollipop, after which begin sucking away. The Lollipop Star I dared to test-run performed a rap music by Ice Spice – however I bailed on it shortly as a result of the lollipop itself was insanely candy (11 grams of carbs whole if we’re counting).

I give Lollipop Star a B grade for idea; an A+ for packaging; a C+ for superstar partnerships; a D for audio high quality; and an F for sweet style. But it surely additionally earns an A+ for one the weirdest CES merchandise I’ve ever seen. I didn’t take pleasure in it. However I’ll always remember it! — Jon Phillips

Jon Phillips/Foundry

2 days in the past, By mhachman

De-coding the Core Extremely Collection 3 processors

One of many knots I’ve been making an attempt to untangle is what the distinction is between the 2 kinds of Core Extremely Collection 3 (Panther Lake) processors: the “plain” chips, and the higher-performance “H” fashions.  They’re listed in our launch article. 

My preliminary response was that they’re divided by the thermal design energy, or TDP. However Intel tells me that each core rely and cache dimension are the actual differentiator, and neither attribute is listed within the supplies revealed to the press. I’ve up to date the best way to inform the distinction in my separate story on Intel’s Core Extremely Collection 3 naming scheme. — Mark Hachman

2 days in the past, By bchacos

Panther on the prowl

Brad Chacos / Foundry

Panther Lake is stalking the Las Vegas strip mere hours after Intel’s huge Core Extremely Collection 3 launch. You could find all of the juicy particulars in our Panther Lake reveal protection. — Brad Chacos

2 days in the past, By bchacos

A noob’s journey by means of CES day 1

Enjoyable reality: I’ve been to five+ CES occasions and by no means truly attended CES itself — the massive, glitzy present on the Las Vegas conference heart. Most PC distributors have personal cubicles arrange in different accommodations throughout the Strip, so I often spend my days darting right here and there, studiously avoiding the mass of humanity across the LVCC. At the moment, the CES present ground opens for the primary time of 2026 — and I’ll be there. That is our first time doing a CES weblog, so I believed it’d be enjoyable to attempt to chronicle my journey by means of gigantic TV partitions and autonomous robots right here, so that you guys can be part of me in a noob’s first CES.

The doorways open at 10 a.m. Pacific. First, I would like a bathe and a few breakfast. Catch you quickly! — Brad Chacos

2 days in the past, By mcrider

Brad rocks out on LiberLive C2 good guitar

Sorry, retro gaming followers: PCWorld’s Brad Chacos isn’t shredding on a next-gen Guitar Hero controller. Nope, that’s an actual guitar, albeit an digital one which doesn’t want something so pedestrian as strings. 

Michael Crider / Foundry

The LiberLive C2 is the corporate’s second-gen instrument, which replaces strings on the fretboard with buttons to allow you to play the chords once you flick the paddles the place one would usually strum. A mixture of programmable buttons and two force-sensitive magnetic paddles enables you to play the total vary of sound out there on an actual six-string (although purists may assault me for that heresy). You don’t want an amp, both — the collapsible physique consists of its personal tweeter and upgraded 3.5-inch woofer audio system. 

LiberLive didn’t say when the upgraded mannequin or its accompanying software program and digital instruments can be out. However the value for the C1 model is $450.  

3 days in the past, By bchacos

Sandisk proves sensible SSDs do not have to be boring

Sandisk’s new inner drives could also be newly colorless, however the firm’s leaning in on whimsy for its transportable SSDs. On the CES 2026 Pepcom showcase, the corporate was displaying off transportable SSD drives disguised as big Crayola crayons, in addition to FIFA-branded rainbow-esque whistles and transportable drives.

We’ve already reviewed the Crayola SSD stick and located it an okay, advantageous performer however a complete lot of enjoyable. I’d count on no much less from the opposite merchandise however you recognize what? I need ’em anyway. The PC world wants extra colour to interrupt up the unending sea of black and grey — Brad Chacos

3 days in the past, By bchacos

Ice ice child

An ice sculpture within the desert??!! One thing one thing international warming one thing one thing. — Brad Chacos

3 days in the past, By bchacos

New Intel chips and Snapdragon chips and AMD chips and Nvidia…DLSS

CES doesn’t even formally begin till Tuesday however the information is already coming sizzling and heavy!

We’ve already talked about the launch of Qualcomm’s reasonably priced Snapdragon X2 Plus chips and Intel’s long-awaited “Panther Lake” Core Extremely Collection 3 launch right here this night. However wait, there’s extra! As a result of it wouldn’t be Vegas with out extra.

Tonight, AMD unveiled the Ryzen 7 9850X3D and new “Strix Halo” AI Max processors for desktops, a brand new AI max mini PC reference design for builders dubbed Ryzen AI Halo, and new Ryzen AI 400 chips for laptops and desktops alike. Whew!

To not be outdone, Nvidia swooped in shortly after. No, we didn’t see the launch of RTX 50 collection “Tremendous” variants, however don’t be disillusioned. Nvidia’s upgraded DLSS 4.5 tech helps midrange GPUs max out high-end 4K displays with a brand new “Dynamic Multi-Body Era” mode that inserts as much as six AI-generated frames between GPU-rendered frames to maximise visible smoothness as much as and past 240Hz, and picture high quality enhancements for all RTX playing cards. And say goodbye to blurry graphics: Nvidia’s G-Sync Pulsar displays goal to good movement readability in high-speed 1440p gaming displays. Sure please! — Brad Chacos

3 days in the past, By ayee

Watch AMD and Nvidia’s bulletins stay tonight with us!

Adam Patrick Murray / Foundry

Earlier at present, Intel leaned exhausting into speak about AI (particularly native AI) throughout its CES 2026 keynote—now it stays to be seen if AMD and Nvidia comply with. Nvidia in fact gave its primary keynote presentation earlier at present, however it’s holding a second stream tonight particularly for consumer-related information.

We should always get a peek of what to anticipate from AMD and Nvidia throughout 2026 in these upcoming displays later at present. And you’ll catch the streams stay on the PCWorld YouTube channel with commentary and evaluation at these instances:

6:30pm Pacific / 9:30pm Jap: AMD CES 2026 Keynote

9pm Pacific / 12am Jap: Nvidia CES 2026 Neighborhood Replace

Will there be any surprising reveals? Time will inform… -Alaina Yee

3 days in the past, By bchacos

Meet Panther Lake, the Intel CPU inside your subsequent laptop computer

Intel’s long-awaited Core Extremely Collection 3 “Panther Lake” processors launched at present, and their impression will reverberate all through the PC trade — particularly laptops. Main pocket book distributors are already unveiling product lineups constructed across the new chips — the primary constructed utilizing Intel’s 18A fabrication expertise — and with a power-per-watt enchancment of 15 %, it’s straightforward to see why. Hit the hyperlink above for the total Intel Panther Lake reveal by my colleague Mark Hachman, the CPU whisperer. — Brad Chacos

3 days in the past, By bchacos

4k gaming displays? That is so yesterday

Sorry fellow nerds. Your 4K ultrawide is out of date. Acer and LG are making 5K gaming displays the new new flex. — Brad Chacos

3 days in the past, By bchacos

‘I am not useless but’ says Dell XPS

Final 12 months, Dell introduced it was dropping its iconic XPS, Latitude, and Inspiron manufacturers in favor of iPad-esque names like Dell (no extras or superlatives), Dell Professional, and Dell Professional Max. We (and everyone else) mentioned that was silly. As a result of it was silly. At CES 2026, Dell admitted its folly… at the very least a bit. Whereas the trio of core names nonetheless exists, the Dell XPS is again child!

Hit the hyperlink for full particulars on the delightfully identifiable Dell XPS 14 and 16, powered by Intel’s new Core Extremely Collection 3 “Panther Lake” processors. — Brad Chacos

3 days in the past, By bchacos

Samsung’s Galaxy Guide 6 has Panther Lake and lasts for DAYS

I’m sorry WHAT?! With a “tuned” model of Intel’s new “Panther Lake” Core Extremely Collection 3 processors inside, Samsung claims its new Galaxy Guide 6 can obtain as much as 30 hours of battery life.

O.

M.

G.

Hit the hyperlink for all of the juicy particulars — together with a take a look at the thermal cooling expertise below the hood of this attractive new laptop computer. — Brad Chacos

(Ed notice — An earlier model of this entry acknowledged the anticipated battery run time as 40 hours. We remorse the error.)

3 days in the past, By bchacos

Asus reveals off the tech contained in the tech at CES

Asus’ CES sales space at all times has a variety of enjoyable, geeky demonstrations of the expertise inside their merchandise, and 2026 isn’t any exception. Right here’s a peek on the ultra-slim motherboard inside considered one of its Zenbook laptops!

And right here’s a take a look at the Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27UCWM, a brand new high-end gaming monitor that makes use of LG’s recent RGB stripe pixel Tandem WOLED show (teased earlier within the weblog!) to enhance textual content readability — a infamous situation with OLED displays. I used to be capable of summon the right-click context menu so you possibly can see that sure, the expertise certainly improves fringing textual content in comparison with rivals. (I delved deeper into this situation in my Corsair Xeneon Flex evaluation a pair years again).

Lastly, Asus additionally had ridonkulously huge mock-ups of the hot-swappable switches present in its ROG HE mechanical keyboard platform. I attempted mashing them however alas, no springy motion for these demo items.

I acquired much more photos of cool tech on the sales space, however I’m unsure how a lot of it’s prime secret, so keep tuned for extra behind-the-scenes glimpses sooner or later. — Brad Chacos

3 days in the past, By mcrider

MSI Professional Max, gaming energy for grown-ups

Michael Crider / Foundry

MSI’s new Professional Max collection goals to offer you choices for highly effective {hardware}, with out the gamer aesthetics. All-white PC elements, pre-built desktops, and displays have superior specs with sufficient energy for gaming, however with a glance that’s just a little extra button-down. That 27-inch monitor is a 4K OLED with 120Hz of refresh, and the bigger desktop will be configured with an RTX 5070 Ti. — Michael Crider

Michael Crider / Foundry

3 days in the past, By mcrider

CES 2026: Some meeting required

CES doesn’t formally begin till tomorrow, however we’ve been working all around the Vegas strip for the final two days masking tech that couldn’t wait. As usually occurs, some last-minute preparation has spilled over into the pre-show occasions. Strolling by means of the Venetian assembly rooms doesn’t truly require a tough hat…however possibly it ought to. — Michael Crider

Michael Crider / Foundry

3 days in the past, By bchacos

MSI’s RTX 5090 Lightning Z is the primary 1000W GPU

Throughout a press occasion at present, MSI revealed the GeForce RTX 5090 LIGHTNING Z — bringing again the legendary model to push GPUs to insane new ranges. How insane? Properly, an OC (overclocked) Mode pushes the facility limits to a whopping 800 watts, and an Excessive Mode jacks that as much as an totally ludicrous 1000W. Madness. No client GPU has ever pushed this stage of energy.

Seeing as how customary 5090s are going for near $4,000 on the streets today, count on this restricted 1,300-unit run, overclocking-focused beast to value greater than your first beater automotive did when it hits the road…someday. MSI’s tagged this with a “constructed to be good” slogan to match the insane 1000W output, in any case. Keep tuned for a deeper article on the location quickly! — Brad Chacos

3 days in the past, By bchacos

LG’s 5K2K OLED gaming panel made me drool on myself

Round these components I’m referred to as the monitor man. I’m a fiend for quick, lovely, farm-to-table gaming pixels — and at CES 2026, LG is pushing OLED gaming monitor panels to pleasant new frontiers.

I’ll have a full write-up later once I’m capable of finding a spot to crash, however I needed to whet your whistle with this — the world’s first-ever 39-inch 5K2K gaming OLED panel. Sure, “5K2K” as in “waaaaaaaaay greater than 4K.”

This humble iPhone pic doesn’t do the panel justice — it’s gobsmackingly attractive in actual life. I used to be drooling! Keep tuned for a full article later, the place I’ll additionally dive into LG’s new Tandem WOLED expertise, the world’s first OLED panel with a 240Hz RGB stripe pixel construction to enhance textual content readability (a typical gripe with OLEDs), a 720Hz 1440p OLED, and extra. Search for this new 5K2K panel to land in displays from a wide range of producers someday in Q2. — Brad Chacos

3 days in the past, By mhachman

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Plus pushes AI PCs extra mainstream

Qualcomm simply introduced the Snapdragon X2 Plus, a 10-core model of the Snapdragon X2 Elite processor it launched this fall. It’s a fast tweak to the processor structure that has had middling success within the PC house.

The argument continues to be the identical: ship higher efficiency for decrease battery life. The competitors for the Plus is the Intel Core Extremely 7 256H. To this point, we’re not listening to something by way of prospects, nevertheless.

I actually assume that Qualcomm and Snapdragon deserve a seat on the laptop computer desk, however Intel’s Core Extremely collection simply doesn’t permit a lot respiratory room for the Snapdragon: The battery life and efficiency are stellar.

I additionally noticed a number of notebooks constructed across the Snapdragon X2 Elite, the muse for the X2 Plus that Qualcomm launched this previous fall: the Asus VivoBook S16, ZenBook A14 and A16, plus the HP Omnibook Extremely and EliteBook X — and an Asus all-in-one. — Mark Hachman

3 days in the past, By bchacos

Stress-free Iron Man hugs

Bodyfriend makes wild full-body therapeutic massage chairs. I didn’t have an opportunity to strive the 733 mannequin on show myself, however hey, you probably have like $10,000 burning a gap in your pocket and need some snuggles from Iron Man, this seemed fairly cool. I want I had the chance to climb in however it was in sizzling demand! — Brad Chacos

3 days in the past, By bchacos

Provec’s killer shades bought me on ‘solid-state electrochromic sun shades’

I’m each an out of doors aficionado in addition to a diehard “cool shades” man. I actually, actually like what Povec Optics is doing with their new C1 Sun shades.

The C1 might appear to be another pair of sports activities shades, however they’re not: Povec calls these “the world’s first solid-state electrochromic sun shades.” I’m not going to attempt to Google what all which means on the subject of sun shades, or the declare’s validity.

However I can let you know these items are rad. There’s a touchstrip on the facet of the body. Transfer your finger in direction of the again of your head and the tinting transitions to darker hues; transfer it in direction of the entrance, and issues brighten up, all damned close to instantaneously. You may see the impact within the photos above and beneath — these have been the identical pair of demo glasses. They’d be a godsend whereas I’m climbing by means of the New Hampshire woods, biking across the neighborhood, or zooming my automotive across the topsy-turvy White Mountains.

Since these clearly goal lively varieties, they’re each very light-weight and boast IP65 water resistance, and a single cost (by way of USB-C) can last as long as 28 days at 4 hours per day.

Provec’s C1 isn’t low-cost at $249, however that’s not an excessive amount of greater than a pleasant high-end pair of shades will set you again anyway. I’m going to hound Provec for a evaluation pattern as soon as I’m out of Vegas so I can let you recognize if the practicality is as tantalizing because the promise. —Brad Chacos

4 days in the past, By bchacos

I hugged an owl and I favored it

Yo a large owl and I wrapped our arms round one another… for a superb trigger!

It’s not solely expertise corporations manning cubicles at CES Unveiled. The US Forest Service and the Nationwide Waste and Recycling Basis are right here, handing out stickers, pamphlets, and free owl hugs to unfold the phrase: Don’t neglect to show your batteries in.

You may’t simply chuck your batteries within the trash, though you do. (C’mon, you recognize you do.) And as a dude whose condominium burned down a number of years again, I’m all about avoiding random blazes. Right here’s what the group’s Battery Security Now web site says:

“Battery fires are occurring extra usually. They’ve destroyed properties, burned down rubbish vehicles and recycling facilities, and—tragically—taken lives. When a facility goes up in flames, trash and recycling companies will be shut down for weeks and even months. The excellent news? Battery fires are straightforward to stop.”

Keep in mind children: Solely YOU can forestall battery fires. And for those who play your playing cards proper, you’ll even get a hug from an owl sporting garments. (What occurs in Vegas stays in Vegas proper?) — Brad Chacos

4 days in the past, By mcrider

This robotic isn’t Wall-E

Michael Crider / Foundry

That is, most decidedly, not Wall-E. It’s a small tank-like robotic with movable, expressive eyes, that’s completely not, in any method, the Disney-owned mental property, Wall-E. The W1 robotic from Zeroth can allegedly carry as much as 50 kilograms because it follows you round, presumably someplace with out stairs. I used to be not capable of finding information on value or launch date, or whether or not any attorneys had me within the crosshairs only for taking a look at this factor.

4 days in the past, By mhachman

A monitor that fixes dyslexia? The Lili Display screen says sure

Mark Hachman / Foundry

Lili is right here at CES 2026, claiming that its Lili Display screen is the primary pc monitor particularly designed for pc customers with dyslexia.

It’s a 27-inch, 1440p display screen with a refresh fee of 75 Hz. The important thing to assuaging dyslexia, in line with Lili, is a user-configurable flicker, which the monitor produces together with a user-specified brightness setting. The Lili Display screen will ship in January for $649.

A Reddit thread on the associated Lili Lamp linked to this moderately irate weblog put up ( fairly skeptical of the fundamental expertise with out naming Lili straight. Principally, it’s an attention-grabbing product however deserves the total scrutiny of hands-on testing. -Mark Hachman

4 days in the past, By bchacos

Dephy Sidekick: Like Deus Ex, however with out implants

You gotta love the wild stuff at CES Unveiled. Like kinda-sorta-bionic ankles!

The Dephy Sidekick straps onto your legs and claims to offer a lift to your strolling effectivity, easing the pressure in your overused calves. Dubbed the world’s first ankle wearable, Dephy says the Sidekick “is light-weight, intuitive, and designed that will help you transfer farther, quicker, and with much less effort.” And it kinda makes you appear to be Robocop from the knee down!

Thankfully, Lifehacker’s Beth Skwarecki (who writes superior health and well being articles) had a pair strapped on once I visited the sales space, so you possibly can see the way it appears IRL. They’re chonky, however just like the Cyber Fidget, in a great way — kinda like gunslinger holsters in your calves.

It’s exhausting to get a bead on how properly the Sidekick sidekicks with out making an attempt them out ourselves, however turning into a cyborg cross-country runner doesn’t come low-cost. Despite the fact that Dephy explicitly states that is way of life gadget, “not a medical gadget,” the Starter Pack prices a cool $4,500. The rep I spoke to instructed it might present a variety of reduction to individuals with strolling pains and troubles. I counsel staying tuned for opinions, as a result of if the Sidekick pulls off what it claims (and one other rep identified that Dephy is a part of Nike’s Undertaking Amplify), enhancing your high quality of life might very properly be well worth the money. -Brad Chacos

4 days in the past, By bchacos

The Cyber Fidget is tailored for grown up nerds

I’m tooling round CES Unveiled, the place you’ll discover row after row of distributors hawking their wares and displaying off rad product demos. Only a few of those have something to do with PCs — however you’ll at all times discover some deeply attention-grabbing devices to poke and prod.