Revelations from CES 2026

Exploring New-Tech Displays and Smart Home Innovations

As the calendar flips to a new year, there's no leisurely start for those in the technology arena; CES 2026 is off to a roaring start. Companies of all sizes have converged in Las Vegas to unveil their cutting-edge innovations and share future plans.

Engadget's team is on site, checking out the latest and greatest gadgets. Highlights include Samsung's 'First Look' focusing on home electronics and LG's unveiling of its broad television lineup. Expect more from industry giants like NVIDIA, Sony, Lego, Hyundai, among others as the event unfolds.

Revolutionary Micro RGB Displays

In the buzzing realm of TV technology, Micro RGB is a term that will soon be commonplace. Similar to Mini LED technology but using RGB LEDs instead of traditional white backlights, these displays promise increased brightness and color fidelity, though they may not reach the contrast heights of Micro LED or OLED displays. The customizable dimming zones are a stand-out feature here.

At CES 2026, Samsung displayed a gigantic 130-inch model, expanding on their previous 115-inch release priced at $29,999. In 2026, Samsung is expanding its lineup with 55-, 65-, 75-inch offerings, with larger models such as 85-, 100-, and 115-inch soon available. LG introduced its own Micro RGB line-up, topping out at 100 inches and including 86- and 75-inch versions. Additionally, LG showcased a 100-inch OLED Wallpaper TV and its new Gallery TV concept, mirroring Samsung's Frame TV approach.

Samsung's Vision in Smart Home Tech

Samsung unveiled far more than their television innovations. They brought forth new soundbars, Music Studio speakers, monitors, an upgraded FreeStyle+ projector, and even plans to integrate Google Photos with TVs. During the 'First Look' event, they emphasized ubiquitous AI experiences, with highlights including the ultra-thin S95H OLED TV, which can be mounted seamlessly against a wall.

Samsung's home-oriented offerings showcased innovative features for refrigerators, such as advanced recipe options, AI-driven cooling, and Google Gemini-powered AI Vision capable of item recognition. Their new system, 'FoodNote', provides a weekly overview of fridge contents. The company also introduced an AI-powered laundry combo, a wrinkle-reducing Air Dresser, and a smart vacuum and mop capable of monitoring pets.

LG's Forward-Looking Concepts

LG, not to be overshadowed, presented its futuristic CLOiD robot, poised to manage household chores from laundry to serving meals—although still conceptual. This broadens the conversation about how automation can further ease domestic tasks.

In audio technology, LG revealed the LG Sound Suite. This modular system, created with Dolby, aims to rival leading brands like Sonos. In the lead-up to CES, LG also announced a new line of xboom speakers, monitors, and ultra-light Gram laptops made from a new material they call 'Aerominum'.