It is that point once more. PCMag is headed to Las Vegas for CES 2026 this weekend to convey you all the small print on what the key shopper electronics corporations have in retailer for the yr.
Anticipate bulletins from PC and element makers, in addition to information about good house and wearable improvements. Cell information is normally reserved for MWC in March, however there may very well be a couple of new telephones and tablets on the CES present ground, too.
In Vegas, PCMag shall be collaborating with our sibling websites—CNET, Mashable, ZDNET, On a regular basis Well being, IGN, and Lifehacker—to select the Better of CES. We’ll announce the finalists in 23 classes on Wednesday, Jan. 7, at 8 a.m. PST forward of a 4 p.m. Better of CES Awards present hosted by PCMag Cell Editor Iyaz Aktar and CNET Editor at Giant Bridget Carey.
Till then, look again at PCMag’s picks for the Better of CES 2025 and the place they’re now. After which take a look at what our consultants count on to see on the bottom at CES 2026.
Laptops
For starters, count on a wholesale rush of refreshed variations of the laptops we all know and love. Why? Within the fall, we have been briefed on Intel’s upcoming “Panther Lake” Core Extremely laptop computer processors, in addition to Qualcomm’s Arm-based Snapdragon X2 Elite line. We’d absolutely count on the same old system-maker suspects to roll out their newest hits—current designs and new ones in shopper and enterprise laptops—constructed round these new chips. If AMD follows swimsuit with a 3rd 2026 laptop-CPU entrant—a follow-on to its highly effective Ryzen AI 300 household of 2024, which would appear due—that may full the CPU trifecta.
(Credit score: Intel)
Efficient, muscular neural processing models (NPUs) are actually part of—or will quickly be a part of—virtually all new mainstream laptop computer chips. With Panther Lake, Snapdragon X2, and the present Ryzen AI 300, devoted AI processing sufficient for Microsoft Copilot and rising AI background duties shall be displaying up en masse in most new machines in early 2026, with the attainable exception of gaming laptops and cell workstations. (Intel, no less than, has not proven its hand but with CPUs that includes bulked-up NPUs, suited to these sorts of methods.) However quickly, on the entire, the rising “AI PC” of the previous couple of years shall be simply “the PC” as soon as once more; AI processing shall be a given. And the AI software program ecosystem ought to hold evolving and bettering.
(Credit score: John Burek)
The one factor we don’t count on intense motion on? Gaming laptops. The Panther Lake and Snapdragon X2 chips detailed to date are extra centered on effectivity and on a regular basis content material creation/productiveness than on powering brutish gaming rigs. But when AMD throws a chip curveball, or Intel is holding an HX-grade CPU shock in its again pocket, we may very well be incorrect. —John Burek
Desktops and PC Parts
CES in 2025 was all about new {hardware}, with AMD, Intel, and Nvidia asserting new, cutting-edge graphics playing cards and processors with a key give attention to AI prowess. We’d like to see the identical at CES 2026, however we don’t see a lot new core desktop silicon on the fast horizon.
On the CPU entrance, AMD and Intel may each push out restricted refreshes of their desktop processor strains. (We’ve heard rumors of a desktop “Arrow Lake Refresh” for some time, for one factor.) If both firm does so, these new merchandise will seemingly be based mostly on the identical silicon as final yr (Intel “Arrow Lake” Core 200S Sequence, AMD Ryzen 9000) with refinements or delicate upticks.
What which means: We may see some new processors which can be kind of the identical as these at present in the marketplace, however with delicate will increase to clock velocity to spice up efficiency. AMD and Intel are inclined to launch one thing new every year, normally across the similar time because the earlier yr. For now, count on solely minor updates. Bigger launches are extra seemingly later in 2026.
(Credit score: Joseph Maldonado)
The graphics card business, in the meantime, has seen some turbulence these days as a result of value skyrocketing for every kind of reminiscence. This might upend any plans that AMD (Radeon), Intel (Arc), or Nvidia (GeForce) need to launch new graphics playing cards within the close to future. Persistent rumors have circulated about Nvidia releasing a brand new GeForce RTX Tremendous line of its RTX 50-series graphics playing cards (much like earlier generations of Tremendous card), in addition to rumors of Intel introducing a brand new Arc graphics card. However right now, nothing is definite. The shortage of credible leaks round RTX Tremendous playing cards places a damper on that for CES, to our eyes.—Michael Justin Allen Sexton
Wi-Fi and Networking
Each time a brand new Wi-Fi era goes mainstream, the business rapidly turns to its successor. With Wi-Fi 7 now firmly established, which means Wi-Fi 8 would be the buzzword at CES this yr. The Wi-Fi Alliance is much from certifying Wi-Fi 8, however the first chipsets based mostly on the draft normal exist already, and we may see extra introduced at this yr’s present.
For shoppers, because of this lots of the wild prototype gadgets that may undoubtedly be teased (assume rollable-screen shows, solar-powered laptops, and different such futuristic improvements) will help Wi-Fi 8 when (or if) they ultimately come to market.
As for the usual itself, it gained’t convey meaningfully sooner speeds, however it ought to enhance the reliability of wi-fi connections, which is what most individuals who personal a Wi-Fi machine (so…everybody) really need.—Tom Brant
Shows and Displays
Relating to gaming displays, we will count on excessive refresh charges to turn out to be extra commonplace. We already know that Phillips and AOC are teasing 500Hz 1440p gaming panels with 1,000Hz various 1080p modes. It stays to be seen if that is really 1,000Hz, or an alternate “efficient 1,000Hz” method of some form.
And adore it or hate it, AI implementations in displays looks like a no brainer pattern that may proceed. Anticipate extra AI that enhances image high quality and optimizes efficiency. We could even see extra superior chatbots enabled in good displays and shows.
As for panel expertise, we’ve seen OLEDs turn out to be broadly accessible and more and more inexpensive; extra OLED variants may emerge. Chinese language show maker HKC additionally introduced the M10 Extremely, the “world’s first” RGB Mini-LED gaming monitor, so count on extra information on this and different new panel applied sciences, as nicely.
The HDMI Licensing Administrator (HDMI LA) confirms that HDMI 2.2 prototypes shall be on show in Las Vegas. HDMI 2.2 doubles the bandwidth to 96Gbps for future-proofing high-end visuals and audio, supporting resolutions similar to 8K at 240Hz and 16K at 60Hz (with compression). Good luck discovering any content material to help these targets, although.—Zackery Cuevas
Storage
The previous few months have seen an increase in SSD costs, because the surging calls for of AI information facilities and a shift in manufacturing priorities to fulfill their wants have led to a tighter provide of NAND flash, and DRAM for shopper merchandise. Elevated SSD pricing is prone to proceed into and thru 2026, and CES storage bulletins could replicate this.
(Credit score: Joseph Maldonado)
We will count on some SSD producers to attempt to compensate for these reminiscence worth hikes by using less expensive parts, similar to DRAM-less controllers and QLC NAND flash, of their merchandise. Each of those parts have turn out to be extra prevalent in consumer-grade inside SSDs over the previous yr or so, regardless of any worth stress. We may see extra bulletins of energy-efficient PCI Specific 5.0 SSDs as producers search to mainstream them to be used in suitable desktops (and to a lesser extent, laptops), ditching the huge heatsinks required to tame first-generation Gen 5 SSDs.
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With exterior SSDs, we count on to see bulletins of merchandise with Thunderbolt 5 and USB4 connectivity, as extra computer systems now natively help these high-speed interfaces than they did final yr. —Tony Hoffman
Synthetic Intelligence
Firms do not normally announce new AI chatbots or giant language fashions at commerce reveals, and little means that’s altering. Accordingly, we do not count on a lot in the way in which of AI software program at CES 2026. Regulate the social media accounts (and newsrooms) of your favourite AI software program corporations if you wish to sustain with any surprises.
New fashions and chatbots is probably not anticipated, however the chips that energy them shall be in all places. AI-ready {hardware} shall be in each PC as AI PCs proceed to evolve, and we count on the key chip makers to additionally make bulletins for AI infrastructure, with new {hardware} from information facilities to edge gadgets. However AI {hardware} may present up in different methods, with devoted devices which you can carry or put on, and that take your favourite AI assistants in all places you wish to go. Whether or not any of them shall be any good is the larger query, however we count on to see a number of corporations vying to be that breakthrough machine.—Ruben Circelli and Brian Westover
TVs and Dwelling Theater
RGB LED TVs would be the largest pressure in house theaters at CES. LG and Samsung already obtained head begins by asserting that their latest RGB LED TVs shall be on the present (LG’s first, the Micro RGB evo, and Samsung’s full line of display sizes following the 115-inch Micro RGB TV it launched in 2025), and so they virtually actually gained’t be the one ones. RGB LED is a brand new backlight tech that makes use of purple, inexperienced, and blue LED clusters as a substitute of simply white or blue LEDs to gentle a TV’s LCD panel, and from what I’ve seen, they will produce a a lot wider shade vary than even OLED TVs. 2026 may very nicely be the yr of RGB LED.
Micro RGB evo (Credit score: LG)
On the audio aspect, the factor I’m paying probably the most consideration to is Dolby FlexConnect. Dolby’s new speaker expertise wirelessly syncs suitable audio system, soundbars, and TVs, and robotically calibrates audio stability between them to offer Dolby Atmos spatial audio even when the audio system aren’t positioned within the typical left-right-center-side-rear satellite tv for pc positions. TCL already launched FlexConnect audio system and enabled compatibility with sure 2025 TVs, and LG simply revealed the primary FlexConnect soundbar, but when extra producers announce their very own FlexConnect merchandise, we may actually see the beginning of a complete new house theater ecosystem. The large query is whether or not FlexConnect audio system and TVs shall be mix-and-match between producers, which isn’t but clear.—Will Greenwald
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Good Dwelling
Robotic vacuums have been the fastest-moving discipline within the good house for a few years. Final yr, we noticed a mannequin with a robotic arm. At IFA within the fall, we noticed a robotic vacuum that would traverse stairs with the assistance of a rover attachment. This yr, robotic vacuums will little doubt be a giant a part of CES once more, maybe with new robotic limbs in tow or new motion capabilities. If latest developments maintain regular, the most recent robotic ground cleaners will proceed to push the envelope with stronger suction energy and improved mop designs.
Other than robotic vacuums, I count on CES 2026 to be a giant present for good locks. The Matter good house protocol has been proliferating for some time, making it simpler for various gadgets to speak to one another. The Aliro normal is an underlying protocol that is nearing its preliminary launch. Aliro is supposed for good locks particularly, and it primarily permits locks to detect the presence of your telephone with exact accuracy. Its functionally is much like Apple’s Dwelling Key, however ought to work with all main telephone manufacturers.
In any other case, search for AI in all places, however particularly in safety cameras, which not too long ago gained Matter help as nicely. Interoperable gadgets that may watch your porch and inform what is going on on must be plentiful on the present, and we’ll be looking out for surprises.—Andrew Gebhart
Health and Well being Tech
At CES, smaller wellness-focused manufacturers get to shine as large corporations like Apple, Google, and Samsung already debuted their most up-to-date smartwatches in late 2025. CES can be a time for uncommon tech to steal the highlight. (Final yr, a spoon that simulated the style of salt grabbed our consideration.) That stated, count on to see wearables proceed to broaden past the wrist with devices like good rings, glasses, and earbuds.
Search for well being tech built-in in uncommon locations. We have seen good mirrors for a few years in a row, so this CES may very well be a primary likelihood for the tech to turn out to be extra broadly accessible and inexpensive. Lastly, look ahead to AI. Large manufacturers all built-in new AI well being monitoring options into their newest wearables, so search for smaller corporations to introduce further ways in which synthetic intelligence may help you keep completely happy and wholesome.—Andrew Gebhart
VR, AR, and Good Glasses
Whereas I’m excited to see how Android XR will impression XR headsets and good glasses sooner or later, I don’t assume it’s going to be at CES. Google solely began displaying off its good glasses growth kits, and XReal’s Venture Aura dev package, in December with plans to start out sending them out in 2026. Which means there’s been little, if any, lead time for headset and glasses makers (moreover Samsung with the Galaxy XR) to truly make something for the brand new unifying XR platform. I think each XR headsets and good glasses proven off in Las Vegas shall be iterative enhancements of fashions which have already come out. However CES 2027? That could be the place we actually see these classes making large jumps ahead.—Will Greenwald
Vehicles
Waymo at CES 2025 (Photograph by Artur Widak/Anadolu by way of Getty Photographs)
For the previous three years, CES has been a main EV launch occasion, however the business has seen a serious slowdown in electrical innovation since Donald Trump returned to the White Home and killed the $7,500 federal EV tax credit score. Progress on new fashions has stalled for the US market, as automakers shift their focus to Europe, the place EV adoption is hitting new data.
Within the US, there’s additionally a push for affordability, which is the precise reverse of the automotive developments we’ve seen at CES in years previous, the place slick software program and expensive batteries have reigned supreme. Instead, we will count on extra gas-powered automobile debuts, in addition to hybrids. Extra broadly, the business has a give attention to autonomous automobile expertise, and alternate makes use of of batteries (like Ford’s newest effort to energy AI information facilities). —Emily Forlini
Tech Coverage
As a tech gathering produced by an business group working simply outdoors Washington, CES can’t keep away from obsessing over coverage in addition to merchandise. However this time round, the political banter on the Client Know-how Affiliation’s flagship occasion will focus much less on conventional notions of coverage constructions than on what one individual needs in the mean time: President Trump.
On the one hand, you may count on widespread help for strikes by Trump to advance AI, similar to his AI Motion Plan to spice up data-center buildout whereas banning “woke AI” or his government order outlining punishments for states that enact AI rules that Trump doesn’t like. We gained’t be shocked if Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s CES keynote shall be as MAGA-minded as his keynote on the GPU big’s GTC DC convention this summer time.
However, Trump’s tariff fixation continues to vex your complete electronics business. CTA has constantly argued in opposition to these import taxes however has been no simpler than anybody else in Washington at stopping them and even persuading Trump to chorus from dialing them up and down. However with this administration’s insistence on private loyalty and resentment of dissent, it will likely be fascinating to see how far tech executives go in pushing this level.
One other factor you may count on folks to tiptoe round at CES: the Trump household’s personal ventures into expertise, similar to Trump Media & Know-how Group’s not too long ago introduced merger with the fusion-power startup TAE Applied sciences and the still-vaporware Trump Cell T1 telephone.—Rob Pegoraro
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