TL;DR
Early days of CES 2026 produced a flood of consumer gadget announcements, from humanoid robots to new mobile devices and a major update from Lego. Smart home upgrades and AI-powered features showed up across TVs, speakers, and appliances.
What happened
CES 2026 opened with a steady stream of product reveals spanning familiar categories and a few notable surprises. Manufacturers showed off new humanoid robots — including LG’s CLOiD, which the company framed as a home assistant capable of tasks such as folding laundry and making breakfast, though demonstrations have raised questions about actual capability. Mobile gadgetry drew attention too: the Clicks Communicator was singled out as a potentially practical new phone accessory, while foldable designs like Samsung’s Z TriFold continued to appear. Smart-home and entertainment updates were abundant, with new smart locks, blinds, smart mirrors, Matter-compatible shades, and AI features baked into TVs and party speakers. Lego announced its Smart Brick, called a significant evolutionary step for the brand. Across the floor, AI was a recurring theme, but the overall character of the show felt gadget-driven rather than dominated by any single technology.
Why it matters
- Robot demos highlight how marketing promises can outpace demonstrated capability for home-assistant devices.
- New mobile accessories and foldables suggest manufacturers are seeking practical, consumer-ready innovations after several experimental years.
- Wider adoption of smart-home standards and Matter-compatible products could make device interoperability easier for users.
- AI features integrated into everyday gadgets — from speakers to TVs — raise questions around usefulness, user control, and privacy.
- Lego’s Smart Brick signals a major product-direction shift for a long-established toy maker, potentially changing how connected toys work.
Key facts
- LG showcased a CLOiD home robot that the company says will fold laundry and prepare breakfast, though the product appears limited in demonstrated tasks.
- The Clicks Communicator was highlighted as an early favorite among new mobile-related gadgets at the show.
- Lego announced a Smart Brick described as the brand’s most significant evolution in 50 years.
- LG introduced a karaoke-ready party speaker that uses AI to remove vocals from songs.
- The Aliro smart-lock standard for NFC and UWB unlocking is slated to launch this year, according to early reports.
- GE Lighting announced Matter-compatible smart shades starting at $300.
- Lifx unveiled a smart mirror and a $30 dimmer switch capable of controlling smart bulbs.
- Bosch’s high-end coffee machine is gaining Alexa Plus support, and several smart-home vendors showed new hardware like wood blinds and wooden controllers.
What to watch next
- Whether LG’s CLOiD and other humanoid robots can deliver on practical household chores beyond staged demos.
- Market reception, pricing, and availability for the Clicks Communicator and other mobile accessories that aim for mainstream buyers.
- How Lego’s Smart Brick is rolled out — compatibility, pricing, and the kinds of experiences it enables for builders.
- Adoption and impact of new smart-home standards (Aliro, Matter, NFC/UWB integrations) on device interoperability and user setup.
Quick glossary
- CES: An annual trade show where consumer electronics companies showcase new products and technologies.
- Humanoid robot: A robot designed with a human-like body plan, often intended to perform tasks in environments built for humans.
- Matter: An industry standard designed to improve interoperability among smart-home devices from different manufacturers.
- UWB (Ultra Wideband): A short-range radio technology used for precise spatial ranging and secure device-to-device communication.
- NFC (Near Field Communication): A short-range wireless protocol commonly used for contactless payments and device pairing.
Reader FAQ
Are the humanoid robots at CES ready to handle household chores?
Manufacturers are presenting robots as home assistants, but demonstrations indicate limitations; LG’s CLOiD was shown in this light while appearing unable to fully perform tasks like laundry.
Is Lego’s Smart Brick available to buy now?
not confirmed in the source
Will the Aliro smart-lock standard be available this year?
According to early coverage, Aliro is expected to launch this year.
Did any major TVs or smart-home products return this year?
Several TV models and smart-home items were shown, including art-focused displays and Matter-compatible shades; specific release dates and full availability details are not confirmed in the source.
Is the Trump Phone available at CES?
The source notes the Trump phone missed another release date and was not present.
PODCASTS GADGETS TECH The robots, phones, and Lego of CES 2026 On The Vergecast: all the most important announcements from the early days of the biggest show in tech. by…
Sources
- The robots, phones, and Lego of CES 2026
- The coolest technology from Day 1 of CES 2026
- CES 2026 live: News, announcements, and cool finds from …
- CES 2026: Follow live as Nvidia, Lego, AMD, Amazon, and …
Related posts
- Meta adds teleprompter and EMG handwriting capabilities to Ray‑Ban Display
- Meta pauses international rollout of its Ray-Ban Display smart glasses
- Aqara Smart Lock U400 Debuts with Apple Wallet Home Key for Auto Unlock