CES 2026 was a bit of a mixed bag. AI still dominated the convention for the most part, and advanced robots aren’t exactly a new thing either. So we didn’t get any real surprises this time around.
However, it’s a consumer technology show. And there’s plenty that consumers will be able to get their hands on in the near future. So, while we could bang on about John Deere’s massive combine harvester, or Boston Dynamics’ humanoid robot, it’s probably better to talk about things you can actually buy. Here are five bits of tech you should keep a close eye on in the coming months, and will likely be using before the year is out.
The iX3 is the most revolutionary BMW in decades
$60,000 will get you a Kia EV6 with a decent trim, or a Nissan Murano, or a specced out Mustang Mach E. Or you could get one of the most exciting cars of this decade. BMW’s iX3 is a bit of a reinvention for the brand. It boasts a good amount of space, an impressive estimated range, and the sort of quality interior you would expect from the Bavarian Marque.
The iX3 also has a new display and infotainment system with BMW’s Ai assistant at the center. The assistant is now backed by Amazon Alexa + which means increased understanding, increased functionality, and a user experience ahead of anything else I’ve seen in a vehicle. A lot of the EV “hype” has died off in recent months, but the iX3 may be exactly what the platform on the whole needs at this time. If you’re looking for a new vehicle, and electric is an option, keep an eye on this one.
Pebble is back, and could shake up the smart watch game
You remember Pebble right? They were an early smartwatch company that was sold to Google and then kind of just disappeared? Well they’re back, they’ve reacquired the name from the Silicon Valley giant they sold it to, and they have numerous devices on the way.
The flagship is likely to be the “Pebble Round 2,” a round smart watch that uses buttons as much as it does a touchscreen. There’s also a square version, and a smart ring you can use to record your thoughts. The smart ring wins in the battery life department, with two years of charge. But the catch is, once it’s dead, it’s dead. You have to send it in for recycling and buy another. The watches aren’t too bad themselves, with an e-ink display and several weeks of battery life — those can be recharged. Everything seems to be made of steel and quite well made, which means Pebble is arguably the best quality smart watch you’ll be able to get for a mid-range price.
Samsung’s Tri-Fold could be the next step forward in smartphones
Folding phones have been around for a few years, so where do we go from here? Well, you obviously pop an extra fold in and give the user a standard device that can double as a 10-inch tablet.
The trade off is it’s going to weigh a little more than a standard phone. Which isn’t surprising as it essentially has an extra display and bit of case crammed on there. But if you swear by folding phones, then this is definitely one to watch out for. Particularly as competitors from brands like Huawei aren’t for sale in the United States due to certain political considerations. And while the price tag for the Tri-Fold will certainly be hefty, it’s still probably cheaper than importing a phone that isn’t supposed to work here in the first place.
There’s a ring that might make you feel like James Bond
Pebble has a smart ring that can record in short bursts and lasts for two years. A company called Vocci has taken a different path. It offers eight hours of recording and an eight hour battery life and you can recharge it. It also has an AI assistant to capture “insights.” Everything is locally encrypted too, so whatever you say stays between you and your ring.
It’s worth noting that I didn’t get to properly test one of these out at CES. So I can’t comment on the audio quality or range of the ring, nor can I verify the overall claims. However, there’s a large group of people who like to pretend they’re James Bond every now and then. You know who you are, you keep clicking on the Aston Martin articles. This is definitely going to join the list of everyday gadgets that look like something Q-Branch would have handed Roger Moore in the 70s only to receive a charmingly smutty joke in return.
Not everything I saw at CES costs money
If you’re a journalist or other non-booth based attendee, CES involves a lot of walking. Which is why I probably should have downloaded “Tough Talk” before the show instead of finding out about it on the second last day. It’s a free app (with some cosmetic things for sale) that monitors your steps and uses your progress to level up a fighter. You can then battle other users, like a kind of walking-based pokemon battle.
There’s also an “AI Personal Trainer” to help motivate you along the way and answer questions. According to the creator, more exercises will be added along the way. But if you want to encounter something I encountered at CES immediately, and for free, give this one a look.
