These would be the 11 greatest tech tendencies of 2026, in accordance with CES 2026

CES 2026 is over – and a weary TechRadar workforce is now again house recovering with their AI emotional help pets.

It was one other monster of a tech present, and we have already picked the 25 finest devices we noticed at this yr’s CES. However what concerning the larger image stuff? What tech tendencies did we see that give us a style of what we’ll see over the subsequent twelve months?

That is what we have summed up for you beneath. Whereas it would not embody each single tech pattern of 2026 (that may be a really lengthy checklist), CES is historically a powerful indicator of the concepts and themes that can dominate the remainder of the yr.

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So if you wish to take a break out of your floundering new yr’s resolutions and get a glimpse of the close to future, this is what the world’s greatest tech present has predicted…

1. Foldables will go creaseless

Telephones do not historically have an enormous presence at CES nowadays, however Samsung bucked that pattern this yr by displaying off its creaseless folding OLED show.

Whereas it was solely a tech demo, it was nonetheless an enormous deal. A folding display screen that is utterly clean and blemish-free when unfolded has been a holy grail for foldables for the previous seven years. Sarcastically, the rumored iPhone Fold might be the primary beneficiary.

The rumors recommend Apple might be the primary to make use of this new OLED display screen later this yr as a result of the panel has been made by Samsung Show (a separate entity from Samsung). Sadly, it is prone to be very costly, which is why we have argued that, for Android foldable followers, seeing it debut on the iPhone Fold may nonetheless be a blessing in disguise.

2. It will likely be the yr of RGB LED TVs

At CES 2025 final yr, it grew to become clear that RGB LED backlighting was the subsequent huge factor in TVs – and at this yr’s present, we acquired glimpse of the units which can be truly going to hit the market.

What precisely is that this new tech? The tech giants all have their very own names for it, with Samsung and LG each calling the tech ‘Micro RGB’, and Hisense and TCL going for RGB MiniLED. However the huge advantages throughout the board are a wider vary of colours plus improved brightness (or the identical brightness as at this time with decrease vitality use).

You’ll be able to learn our in-depth information to RGB TVs for the total low-down, however the standout at CES 2026 was Samsung’s 130-inch Micro RGB TV. After encountering one on the present, we described it as a fantastic beast of a TV, with the one draw back being that it is only a showpiece proper now. Nonetheless, it options the identical tech as you may discover in Samsung’s Micro RGB TV lineup, which can arrive in 55- to 115-inch display screen sizes, so begin saving.

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3. We’ll all get AI emotional help pets

From SwitchBot’s KATA Buddies to Ecovacs’ LilMilo, AI-powered pets have been throughout CES this yr. Most can reply to gestures and petting, observe you about with lifelike eyes, acknowledge your voice, and a few may even inform what sort of temper you are in.

AI provides them a character and allows them to be taught as you play with them. Whereas they will positively be seen as toys – most have the choice to buy natty outfits and equipment, like a souped-up Construct-A-Bear – many manufacturers stress that they will have actual worth as emotional help companions, offering firm and luxury for individuals who maybe cannot have an actual pet.

We definitely discovered them surprisingly straightforward to type a bond with. And whereas some have Funzo from The Simpsons vibes, we reckon numerous folks will welcome a furry, AI-powered pet into their lives this yr.

4. AI wearables will develop into your second mind

AI {hardware} has been one thing of a flop thus far – keep in mind the Rabbit R1 from CES 2024, or the poor Humane AI Pin? However that did not cease tech giants from cooking up extra contenders at this yr’s CES, and so they all had one factor in widespread.

The large theme was AI wearables that wish to be your second mind. For instance, the Pebble Index O1, a sensible ring that permits you to add notes to your calendar, transcribe notes and extra. Or the Switchbot AI Mindclip, just a little lapel pin (sure, one other one) that information and summarizes conversations.

That is clearly the route of journey for AI devices in 2026. There have been dozens of different examples – from the Lenovo’s pendant-housed Qira assistant to Anker’s Soundcore Work – and we have individually heard that OpenAI’s mysterious ChatGPT gadget may take the type of an AI-powered pen. Will we truly purchase this stuff? That is more durable to say, however we definitely will not be wanting choices this yr.

5. Lawnbots will get LiDAR eyes

Robotic garden mower navigation capabilities have come a great distance up to now few years, and the brand new scorching tech making its solution to your yard in 2026 is LiDAR.

It really works by bouncing beams of sunshine off static objects to create a 3D map of an area, and is already the usual in one of the best robotic vacuums. In smaller yards with loads of objects to bounce off, it is a good way of delivering correct navigation with out the necessity to depend on good satellite tv for pc sign.

Just about each lawnbot model we noticed at CES 2026 – from Segway Navimow to Mammotion and Roborock – was showcasing no less than one LiDAR-based mannequin, so anticipate the tech to develop into the norm this yr.

6. ‘Longevity’ would be the new health-tracking buzzword

‘Longevity’ might not sound like probably the most inspiring health intention, but it surely was greatest well being tech buzzword at CES 2026.

Firstly, there was the NuraLogix Longevity Mirror, which may pull an enormous variety of metrics – together with your physiological age and extra – simply from your poor, drained January face. Naturally, it does that by way of a mixture of AI wizardry and a built-in digital camera.

Then there was the Withings Physique Scan 2, a set of good scales that guarantees to be your ‘longevity station’. To help that declare, it tracks over 60 biomarkers – out of your hypertension danger to artery well being and metabolic effectivity – to foretell your long-term well being.

Not everybody will wish to see their well being dissected in such ruthless element, however in case you do there will be a military of equipment keen to present you a glimpse into your health future.

7. Sensible glasses will go actually mainstream

With solely a few false begins alongside the way in which, CES 2026 is the place good glasses appeared to lastly go mainstream – as everybody and their aunt had a pair of specs to debut. Anticipate them to actually take off this yr.

We coated a number of in our greatest good glasses of CES roundup – with highlights together with the Asus ROG Xreal R1 AR with 240Hz refresh price for players, and RayNeo’s Undertaking eSIM teasing the primary actually phoneless good glasses.

What actually made good glasses really feel like a significant pattern of the present, nevertheless, have been all the opposite glasses we couldn’t squeeze into our spherical up, as a result of it might in any other case have been a mile lengthy. We even acquired a significant Meta Ray-Ban Show replace as a part of CES, although it wasn’t all excellent news.

8. Intel will mount a significant fightback

The previous couple of years haven’t been nice for Intel. Whereas the corporate has lengthy been the market chief on the subject of processors, its seen its dominance threatened by Apple ditching its merchandise for its personal Arm-based M-series chips, a resurgent AMD getting loads of vital and industrial approval for its rival merchandise, and Qualcomm’s Arm-based Snapdragon chips turning into ever extra in style in laptops.

So, it was nice to see the corporate come out swinging with its new Panther Lake cellular processors, often known as the Intel Core Extremely Sequence 3. From what we’ve seen it might be Intel’s finest probability to combat again due to improved efficiency, higher energy effectivity (for longer battery lives) and built-in graphics.

To show that time, CES noticed the likes of Dell, Asus, Acer and Lenovo all launch laptops powered by Intel’s new chips. 2026 might be the yr Intel fights again.

9. Strong-state batteries will likely be tantalizingly shut

One other huge buzzword you may hear loads in 2026 will likely be ‘solid-state batteries’ – and whereas the next-gen battery tech is thrilling, you may as well anticipate to see loads of smoke and mirrors.

The large announcement at CES 2026 was Verge Bikes asserting that it’s going to develop into the primary producer to place an all solid-state battery into manufacturing “within the coming months”. If that is true, it would be an actual game-changer – and guarantees to unlock electrical motorbike figures like 370 miles on a cost, with a 10-minute prime up offering an additional 186 miles of vary.

Thrilling stuff in concept, however we’ll be ready to see how this performs out earlier than getting too excited. On the same theme, we have additionally lately heard about semi-solid state battery packs (which use a gel-like electrolite substance) arriving for telephones, promising improved security and larger longevity. In the event you’re an early adopter of recent battery tech, 2026 might be your yr.

10. Retro tech will give us our consideration again

In the event you suppose the golden age of tech was round CES 2012, then you definately’ll be heartened to know that retro tech was out in full drive at this yr’s present – and it wasn’t nearly nostalgia.