“The near-future of technology entails tiny computers, ultrabright screens and lots and lots of bots. That and more was on display at the annual carnival of gadgets in Las Vegas known as CES (aka the Consumer Electronics Show). No surprise, there was a fire hose of AI-infused tech. While today's AI gadgets haven't quite found their footing, tomorrow's look promising.
I didn't attend this year, but I did sift through the show's many, many announcements. I found some genuinely novel stuff -- with and without AI -- ranging from smart Lego bricks to wall-size TVs. Some of the wackiest ideas will never see the light of day, but the best might end up in one of our tech gift guides.
Here are my picks for the most interesting, potentially useful inventions.
Tiny phone accessories
Everything is a charm now. (Hi, Labubu.) How about a functional charm?
The PicoGo AC22 from Baseus is a 10,000-milliamp-hour battery pack that's about the size of an AirPod case. (Be impressed: It holds two to three times as much juice as your phone.) Due in February for $60, it has a strap that doubles as a USB-C fast-charging cable.
ShiftCam's Planck Studio is a solid-state drive the size of a chocolate square that can hold 4 or 8 terabytes' worth of photos and videos.
Like any great phone accessory, it is both MagSafe and compatible with both Apple and Google Find My. It better be trackable, with a starting price of $399! Meanwhile, Sandisk released a 1-terabyte $128 USB-C flash drive so small you can just leave it plugged in.
Then there's the Shure MV88, a $159 high-fidelity USB-C microphone the size of your pinkie. Finally upgraded from its Lightning predecessor, this model features real-time auto-leveling and a background-noise remover.
Smart Lego bricks
Sticking with puny but potent items: Lego unveiled its Smart Play system, which incorporates bricks stuffed with mini computers. It follows Lego's Nintendo crossover from 2024, with Mario characters interacting digitally on brick-built courses.
The new Smart Play system sets the standard for future tech-y Lego sets. The smart brick contains an accelerometer, a mini speaker and sensors for light, sound and the NFC chips embedded in compatible Smart Play tags and minifigures. When a smart brick gets near a tag or minifig, it emits programmable sounds and lights.
Available March 1, the first sets will be Star Wars-themed and start at $70. In one, as mini Emperor Palpatine sits on the throne, "The Imperial March" song will play.
Seems fun, but as a parent, I dread yet another toy that needs battery maintenance. Lego says it will sell a wireless charging pad.
Mega bright TVs
TV makers are getting serious about a new display technology called micro RGB, which is capable of extreme brightness yet doesn't wear out like today's top-of-the-line OLED screens.
Even if you're content with the TV in your living room, it's hard to ignore the vibrancy of micro RGB, which display nerds describe as producing "pure" color. Instead of a single white backlight, it uses tens of thousands of red, green and blue LEDs for super saturated hues.
Samsung showed off luscious flower fields on a 130-inch beast that's more highway billboard than home TV. (Smaller versions are also coming.) LG unveiled its competing line, called Micro RGB Evo. No pricing yet, but any display with this brand-new tech will be pricey, says Jitesh Ubrani, a research manager at the market intelligence firm IDC.
AI on the big screen -
Of course AI gadgets played a starring role in this year's show. Google TV is getting more Gemini. You can see cool visual responses when asking for sports scores and other queries, and use the image generator Nano Banana and video maker Veo to remix your own media or dream up new visions. More important: AI gives you easier access to settings, so you don't have to futz with menus. Saying "I can't hear the dialogue" will auto-adjust the sound. The new Gemini features are coming to TCL TVs first, then to other Google TV models over the next few months.
- on your desk -
Videogame-accessory maker Razer showed off Project AVA, a 5-inch hologram AI friend powered by xAI's Grok. Your avatar buddy is housed in a little jar with an LED projection system to display and animate it. You can pick a green blob, a buff, tattooed Zane, gamer girl Kira or even virtual versions of real people such as the esports star Faker. According to a concept video, AVA can watch and listen -- "You were snoring again" -- and even coach your gaming live. Razer says AVA will be available by the end of the year but hasn't announced pricing.
- and on your body -
I've tested real-time AI translators with mixed results. Timekettle, which makes interpreter earbuds and handhelds, has a promising update. It can pick from various models -- from Meta, OpenAI, Google or DeepSeek -- to do live translation from one language to another. I'm looking forward to trying the new system, which rolls out to existing Timekettle devices this year.
Smart rings have amassed a cult following, primarily as health trackers. Pebble Ring ($75, shipping in March) offers a different take. Press a button to record what pops in your head. It uses AI to process the speech on your phone, where all your thoughts, to-do's and reminders are stored. I love its simple, privacy-oriented design.
Home bots
So. Many. Bots. And they're all on the move.
There is a pool cleaner from Mammotion [1] that can pull itself out of the water to recharge.
LilMilo is a fluffy, expressive pup from Ecovacs that can bob its head in your direction using the movement-tracking camera in its nose.
Roborock's Saros Rover robot vacuum has two legs and can climb stairs, cleaning each step as it ascends. The wheel-legs can independently raise, lower and land small jumps. Roborock said the Rover "is a real product in development," but didn't provide pricing or availability.
A few humanoid robots made appearances. A video showed LG's CLOiD home bot pushing a wheelchair, squeezing juice and folding laundry.
SwitchBot is developing Onero H1 [2] to wash dishes, make coffee and water plants -- tasks I'd happily outsource to a robot.
As we know from my colleague Joanna's experience with 1X's Neo, concept videos don't match reality. During a live onstage demo, CLOiD loaded a single towel into a washing machine. Very slowly.” [3]
1. Does a pool cleaner from Mammotion work in salty ocean water?
Yes, Mammotion pool cleaners like the SPINO E1 are specifically designed to work in saltwater pools, but you must rinse them thoroughly with fresh water after each use because the salt is corrosive and can damage internal components over time, even in saltwater-rated models. While they handle the salt content for cleaning, proper post-use care is crucial for longevity.
Key Points for Mammotion in Saltwater Pools:
Saltwater Compatible: Models like the SPINO E1 explicitly state they are built for saltwater systems.
Corrosion Risk: Salt is inherently corrosive, so rinsing with fresh water after use is essential to prevent damage to seals, motors, and other parts.
Maintenance is Key: Treat it like any other pool equipment; rinse after each use and store it properly.
Brushless Motors: Mammotion uses brushless motors, which is good for durability, but saltwater still requires diligent rinsing for overall machine health.
In Summary: A Mammotion cleaner will clean your saltwater pool effectively, but regular rinsing with fresh water is non-negotiable to protect the device from salt corrosion and ensure it lasts.
2. SwitchBot hasn't announced the final price for the Onero H1 yet, but they confirmed it will launch in late 2026 for under $10,000, positioning it as a relatively affordable household humanoid robot compared to industrial models. While some reports mention a potential $1,000 target, most sources emphasize the "less than $10,000" goal as a realistic figure for its CES 2026 unveiling.
Key Price Information:
Target: Less than $10,000.
Status: Price not finalized, but aiming for accessibility.
Launch: Expected late 2026.
This price point makes the Onero H1 a significant entry in the consumer humanoid robot market, aiming to be practical for everyday chores like laundry.
SwitchBot is a smart home company primarily based in Shenzhen, China, where its headquarters are located, though it also has operations and a presence in the United States (Artesia, California) and targets global markets.
Key Locations:
Shenzhen, China: This is listed as the main headquarters location.
Artesia, California, USA: The company has a presence here, indicating US operations, as mentioned in some company profiles.
While rooted in China, SwitchBot serves a global audience with its smart home products, as seen on its international websites.
3. Climbing Bots, Smart Bricks Star at Biggest Gadget Show --- Searching for what's new -- and what's real -- coming out of CES 2026. Nguyen, Nicole. Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y.. 14 Jan 2026: A10.
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