CES 2026: The biggest tech trends to watch out for

The annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is just a few days away, which means it’s time to take a look at what to expect from the world’s most recognized tech brands.

Companies like Samsung, LG, and AMD will showcase new products that range from futuristic ideas to physical and practical things you can buy soon. Between foldable phones, cool new TVs, robots, and hardware, there’s going to be a lot to talk about in the coming week. Let’s dig in.

Here are the biggest tech trends to expect at CES 2026.

Multi-color, large TVs

Television sets always take center stage at CES, and 2026 appears to be no different. However, one thing that will be different is the color technology used in many of the TVs on display this year.

Specifically, RGB TVs (representing red, green, and blue) are in fashion at CES 2026. A regular TV has backlights that emit white or blue light, depending on what’s on the screen, but RGB TVs have many small red, green, and blue lights that create a picture instead. The idea here is to create greater color accuracy than you would get from a different type of display. As a bonus, these screens can achieve higher brightness levels and better contrast as well.

We know for sure that Samsung, LG, and Hisense are all showing RGB TVs at CES, but other companies will probably have something in the booth. Besides the RGB of it all, it seems that these same companies are pushing hard at the big shows this year as well. Leaks suggest that Samsung is showing off a 98-inch version of its Frame TV, while LG’s line of RGB sets starts at 75 inches and goes up from there. This doesn’t mean that small TVs are going away, but it does mean that the big ones are here to stay.

New laptops

Intel has new chips coming.
Credit: Thomas Fuller/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

The atmosphere around computer components at CES 2026 is currently a bit muted, given the soaring prices of memory these days. Over the years, we’ve seen powerful consumer-grade GPUs showcased at CES, but this isn’t the case it seems it will be the same this year.

However, that doesn’t mean there won’t be anything to chew on. For example, AMD will deliver a keynote to kick off the show, which it may use to announce its Ryzen 7 9850X3D CPU, which is reportedly designed for incredibly fast PC gaming. Intel, on the other hand, has already announced its Panther Lake chips, which will likely be shown in laptops and powerful PCs at CES. The same goes for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Elite chip. Whether they’re completely new laptops or refreshes of older models, expect to see machines with those chips inside this year’s show.

As always, keep an eye out for new innovative concepts, such as scrolling screens and other unusual form factors. We don’t know anything at this particular stage yet, but it’s always there something like this at CES.

(Hopefully) useful robots

Where are you?
Credit: Kim Gedeon/Mashable

Robots always show up at CES in one form or another, and 2026 seems no different.

In fact, we already know about one in advance. Its name is CLOiD, and it comes from LG. The Korean tech company hasn’t shared any images, specs, or pricing information about the CLOiD, but we do know that it will eventually have two limbs with activated digits, a menagerie of sensors to navigate and interact with your home, and an AI-powered robot brain that will personalize its responses to its owners over time. At least, it will do all that in theory. CLOiD could be one of those far-fetched concepts I mentioned earlier, something that doesn’t take off for a long time, if at all.

Speaking of which, Samsung has been threatening to release Ballie, a round robot assistant, since CES 2020. After that first show, Ballie was silent for several years, and reappeared at CES 2024. We have not received any concrete information about whether (or if) Ballie will be available to consumers. There is no guarantee that Ballie will appear this year, but it is worth talking about until Samsung gives some answers.

At least two new foldable phones

Great phone!
Credit: Jung Yeon-je / AFP via Getty Images

The much rumored iPhone Fold it is impossible to appear at CES, but other foldables are expected to be revealed.

First, Samsung just launched its much-anticipated Galaxy Z Tri-Fold in Asia, and we expect it to arrive in the US in early 2026. That doesn’t guarantee it will appear at CES, but given Samsung’s large presence at the show this year, it wouldn’t be at all surprising to see the TriFold make its Western debut at the show. In case you haven’t been following along, this is a large, book-style fold with two creases instead of one. In other words, when revealed, it will almost look like three smartphone displays attached to each other.

Interestingly, Samsung is reportedly working on another new phone with a wider display than its previous devices. That may be a long way off and it’s not guaranteed to show up at CES, but it’s worth keeping an eye on.

And while we know less about this than the TriFold, Motorola will apparently show off a new folder of its own at CES. The company has sent physical invitations to some media outlets that have revealed a new book-style wrap (unlike the clamshell-style devices made by Motorola), and it may have a wooden finish, giving it a different look. Other than that, however, we don’t know anything about this device. That will likely change next week.

Smart glasses

Smart glasses are making a comeback.
Credit: IAN MAULE/AFP via Getty Images

Between last year’s CES show and the growing market saturation of Meta and Ray-Ban, smart glasses have made a modest comeback in 2025. Don’t be surprised to see more of them at CES 2026.

We don’t have many firm predictions about which companies will show which glasses at CES, but in general, you should expect to see more glasses with built-in displays than in previous years. Those have been around for a while at CES, but it’s starting to sound like a class of device that could actually be used by regular consumers in the near future, rather than just a distant technological dream. Well, maybe, anyway. It depends on whether tech companies can figure out a way to navigate all the scary privacy implications of wearing a camera on your face.

AI will be everywhere

Finally, as a general prediction, expect the word “AI” to be used frequently in relation to any and all of the device categories above. The new laptops will be optimized for AI applications. Smart glasses and home robots will be powered by AI. New TVs will probably use AI in some way. And of course, foldable phones will come with built-in AI features, just like non-foldable phones do.

Is there anything new or new? It’s impossible to say. We will get together soon.

Go to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news and live updates from the biggest tech game, where Mashable reporters report live.