CES 2026 day 1: the 11 best gadgets we've seen so far, from smart lights to LG's new OLEDs

Date:
Mon, 05 Jan 2026 19:14:56 +0000

Description:
CES 2026 has kicked off in style, and we've been busy finding the highlights from the show floor in Las Vegas.

FULL STORY ======================================================================TechRada r will be extensively covering this year's CES, and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our main CES page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from 8K TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI. And dont forget to follow us on TikTok and WhatsApp for the latest
from the CES show floor!

It's CES time again: the event formerly known as the Consumer Electronics
Show is now just CES, but still the biggest tech expo in the calendar. The 2026 edition is now underway in Las Vegas, and the TechRadar team has been checking out everything on show .

CES is an opportunity for tech companies huge and small to parade some of the products they've got coming across the rest of the year. Everything from laptops and smartwatches to fridges and smart lights appear at CES, and we quite often get some quirky and unusual tech at the same time.

Here's our round-up of the highlights we've seen on the first day of CES. Technically, it's 'day zero' the day when a lot of media briefings are given and a lot of press releases are issued and here's what caught our eyes, in
no particular order... 1. Pebble Round 2 Best feature: The 1.3-inch e-paper display The Pebble Round 2 is official (Image credit: Core Devices)

Pebble smartwatches are back, and the Round 2 is looking to fix some of the problems that held back the original Time Round (all the way back in 2015). Specifically, it brings with it a larger, e-paper display, and much improved battery life, at a cheaper price.

Smart features include the ability to track steps and sleep, and there's even some basic water resistance here as well. You can pair this with both iPhones and Android devices, and you can pick one up for $199 (that's about 145 / AU$295), with shipping in May. Read the full story: Pebble unveils Pebble Round 2 and fixes all the original's major pitfalls 2. JBL Soundgear Clips Best feature: That 'ear cuff' design The JBL Soundgear Clips (Image credit: JBL)

There are plenty of earbuds and headphones on show at CES 2026, but the JBL Soundgear Clips have caught our eyes or ears? As the name suggests, they're the first JBL earbuds to use the clip-on design, and they come in a variety
of bold colors like purple and copper.

We haven't used them yet, but we do know that they offer up to 32 hours of playback time on a single battery charge (if you include the case), and that they offer IP54 water and dust resistance. As for pricing, they're expected
to set you back $149.95 (about 110 / AU$225). Read the full story: JBL is going all-in on open earbuds at CES 2026 meet the firm's 3 new open-fit options 3. Govee Ceiling Light Ultra Best feature: Customized lighting patterns The Govee Ceiling Light Ultra (Image credit: Govee )

Govee has shown up at CES 2026 , with some brand new smart lights in tow. The pick of the bunch as far as we're concerned is the Ceiling Light Ultra, and you may be able to guess where in the room it goes based on the name. Yes, that's right, you fix it to the ceiling.

That positioning means it can cast an ambient aura of illumination all across the space it's fitted into, and with a choice of more than 20 color presets
as well as extra customization controls, there's lots you can do with this.
It also offers a decent 5,000 lumens brightness. Read the full story: Govee unveils 3 new smart lights, plus a host of new features to help you create
the perfect mood 4. Seattle Ultrasonics C200 knife Best feature: Effortless fruit and veg slicing @techradar

original sound - TechRadar

CES always plays host to a variety of more unusual and obscure gadgets, and
in this spirit, we give you the Seattle Ultrasonics C200 knife. It uses a carefully calibrated array of vibrating crystals to make slicing easier, with a minimal amount of force needed.

Think of it like bikes and e-bikes: you're using tech to do more with less effort. We've actually given this a try on the show floor, and it makes short work of cutting through a tomato. Shipping is set for later this year, with a price of around $399 (about 295 / AU$595). Read the full story: The C200 Ultrasonic Knife vibrates to cut through things, not with a motor but with micro vibrations to give you a new kitchen superpower to zip through vegetables 5. Samsung Galaxy TriFold Best feature: It has an extra fold We've spent some time with the Galaxy Z TriFold (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

The Samsung Galaxy TriFold was announced before CES, but with a US launch getting closer, we've been able to get some hands-on time with the tri-fold it's like a normal book-style foldable, but with an extra screen segment and hinge.

Our first impressions are very good, with Editor at Large Lance Ulanoff describing it as "unquestionably a remarkable design achievement" and a
device that offers "truly pocketable big-screen tablet productivity". Check out the full story for more details. Read the full story: I finally tried the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold and couldn't believe my eyes and hands I just hope it doesn't cost a fortune 6. Anker Soundcore Aerofit 2 Pro Best feature: An adjustable ear hook The Anker Soundcore Aerofit 2 Pro (Image credit: Anker)

Back to the wireless earbuds and we have the Soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro from Anker, yours for $179.99 (about 135 / AU$270). You've got a number of premium features to enjoy with these, including active noise cancellation, water and sweat resistance, and hi-res support.

Most interestingly though, the earbuds come with an adjustable ear hook,
which goes some way to solving the problem of finding the right fit for the buds you're stuffing into your ears. The audio balance is automatically adjusted to match the hook position too. Read the full story: Roborocks new robovac has a mechanical arm that can pick up your socks and maybe also play with your cat 7. LG W6 'Wallpaper' TV / LG C6H OLED Best feature: Super-slim profile LG has a new 'wallpaper' TV (Image credit: Future)

LG of course makes some of the very best TVs on the market, and it's looking to repeat the trick in 2026. The new LG W6 'Wallpaper' TV, for example, comes in a super-slim frame and uses the Zero Connect box to try and be as wallpaper-y as it possibly can be.

There's a lot more from LG this year too, including the LG C6H OLED: this brings with it a major bump in brightness thanks to brand new display tech, and you can pick it up in both 77-inch and 83-inch sizes. We're still waiting to hear how much these TVs will cost, though. Read the full story: LG announces new OLED TVs at CES brighter G6, the C6 splits in two, ultra-thin Wallpaper OLED, and the world's first 4K 120Hz cloud gaming TVs 8. Samsung S95H OLED / 130-inch Micro RGB TV Best feature: Significantly better brightness The new Samsung S95H OLED TV (Image credit: Future)

Speaking of TVs, Samsung has its own models to demo at CES 2026, starting
with the Samsung S95H OLED. This flagship television comes with something of
a design revamp, improved brightness, powerful upscaling, and better anti-glare tech for the display.

It's also worth mentioning the gigantic 130-inch Micro RGB TV that Samsung
has brought to the show floor as well. It's so big it comes with its own bespoke stand, so you don't need to worry about wall mounting it, although
you might need to worry about the cost. Read the full story: Samsung reveals upgraded OLED TVs and super-sized screens at CES 2026 9. Withings Body Scan 2 Best feature: Tracking 60+ different biomarkers The Withings Body Scan 2 is super-smart (Image credit: Withings)

Smart scales are getting smarter, and the Withings Body Scan 2 is a case in point. The device is capable of measuring more than 60 different biomarkers for a full picture look at your overall health, and all you need to do is stand on it briefly every day or so.

There's an LCD display here for at-a-glance results, plus of course a dedicated companion app for digging into your metrics. You might have to save up for this though, as the smart scale launches later in the year for $599.95 (that's currently around 445 / AU$895). Read the full story: The Withings
Body Scan 2 smart scale promises to be your 'longevity station' thanks to over 60 biomarkers that predict your future health 10. Clicks Power Keyboard Best feature: The slide-out form factor The Clicks Power Keyboard (Image credit: Clicks)

The latest BlackBerry-style phone keyboard attachment from Clicks brings with it some useful upgrades over its predecessor. First, it adopts a slide-out form factor, so you can neatly tuck the keyboard away when you're not using it, reducing the overall bulk.

Second, there's an integrated wireless charger here that you can use to power up your phone, as long as it's compatible with MagSafe or Qi2 wireless charging. We can see these $79 / 60 / AU$120 devices proving very popular
with phone owners as the year goes on. Read the full story: The new Clicks Power Keyboard can turn your phone into a BlackBerry and it doubles as a wireless charger too 11. SwitchBot Onero H1 robot Best feature: Learning on the job (Image credit: SwitchBot)

There are robots at CES 2026, and they're coming with AI on board, ready to take care of time-consuming and tedious household tasks for you. The
SwitchBot Onero H1, for example, can fold laundry, load up the dishwasher,
and even fetch you a drink.

The full capabilities of the Onero H1 are a bit vague though SwitchBot says that the robot is smart and versatile enough to learn how to do a variety of tasks, if you show it how, but we're not sure we're ready to trust it around kitchen appliances or kids at the moment. Read the full story: SwitchBot demonstrates Onero H1, the most accessible AI household robot

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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/tech-events/the-best-of-ces-2026-day-one


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