Highlights from CES 2026: CNET Group Announces 22 Category Champions and Top Overall Winner

Insights from ZDNET

Throughout the past week, ZDNET experts immersed themselves in CES 2026 at Las Vegas, interacting hands-on with an array of emerging products and services anticipated to shape the tech landscape in the coming year.

Their direct observations, in association with the Consumer Technology Association, shaped the selection of winners. These winners, identified by a team of over 40 proficient journalists from CNET, PCMag, Mashable, Lifehacker, and ZDNET, are now accessible on CNET.

Recognized Leaders of CES 2026

Participation at CES and meeting at least one critical criterion—whether it be introducing an innovative idea, addressing a consumer need, or elevating performance or quality standards—was essential for a product or service to be considered.

Our editorial team engaged in thorough demonstrations, in-person assessments, and inquisitive dialogues to strategically choose nominees and victors across various technology categories.

Representing the comprehensive perspective ZDNET maintains throughout the year, we aimed to spotlight products likely to integrate seamlessly into daily life post-event. The CNET Group honored 22 category frontrunners along with an overall Best of CES title, nearly doubling the count of accolades from the previous year.

Mobile Innovations (and Best Overall)

According to ZDNET's Kerry Wan, the TriFold epitomizes the direction foldables have been advancing toward, offering an expansive 10-inch screen that enhances multitasking and content interaction. Despite needing two hands and lacking stylus support, it's hailed as a groundbreaking phone-tablet hybrid marking a pivotal moment for foldables.

Artificial Intelligence Advancement

Sabrina Ortiz from ZDNET discussed how Lenovo and Motorola's Qira transcends the traditional chatbot framework, emerging as an ambient, contextually aware AI capable of executing tasks across multiple devices. By functioning in phones, PCs, wearables, and an innovative AI pin, Qira enhances user experience by reducing friction and safeguarding privacy, offering a seamless alternative to existing tools like Copilot and Gemini.

Laptop Innovation

Kyle Kucharski from ZDNET highlights the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 for its substantial enhancement—a focus on serviceability through a revolutionary dual-sided "Space Frame" motherboard. Although not externally apparent, this modification allows users to conveniently replace essential parts, prolonging the laptop's usability without sacrificing iconic ThinkPad aesthetics or performance.

Home Theater Enhancement

Samsung's S95H OLED takes a significant leap forward with up to 35% brighter display, an all-metal structure, and the capability to showcase static art from the Art Store without burn-in risk. This leading television introduces a wireless Zero Connect box, a dual-purpose metal bezel, and features favorable for gamers, like a 165Hz refresh rate, Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), and anti-glare technology.

Smart Home Innovation

ZDNET's Maria Diaz introduced the Saros Rover, an innovative robot vacuum employing a wheel-leg mechanism for autonomous stair climbing and multi-level cleaning. Utilizing AI and 3D spatial insights, it's engineered to maneuver through spaces distinctively, making it a standout in robotics.

Wellness Tech

Spotted by ZDNET's Nina Raemont, Peri emerges as a pioneering wearable intended to track perimenopause symptoms non-invasively. Its patch-like design detects biomarkers related to symptoms such as sleep interruption, anxiety, and hot flashes, aiming to replace guesswork with data-driven understanding of symptom variation.

Unusual Tech

Described by Kerry Wan as a remarkable AI companion, Lepro Ami exists in a futuristic state with a constant holographic-like presence on an OLED screen. It raises speculative thoughts about the extent to which AI could occupy personal or emotional spaces for individuals.

Parenting Technology

Coro, as noted by ZDNET's Alison DeNisco Rayome, impressed as an essential parenting device at CES, transforming breastfeeding tracking with real-time data collection. The lightweight silicone shield provides precise milk intake measurements, offering invaluable insights into infant feeding behaviors.

Emerging Startups

Nina Raemont discussed Allergen Alert, a portable solution designed to identify allergens in food, crucial for those with allergies. Launch plans set for mid-2026 include capabilities for testing gluten and lactose, with intentions to expand into detecting other allergens.

Audio Excellence

ZDNET's Prakhar Khanna described Samsung's Music Studio 5 as a modern, colorful alternative to the larger Studio 7. The single woofer and dual tweeters deliver excellent sound quality, competing with speakers like the Sonos Era 100, although it omits high-resolution audio support.

Additional CES 2026 Recognitions

For a comprehensive overview of all CES 2026 award recipients and categories, details are available on CNET. Beyond highlighted sectors, ZDNET continues to assess innovations in the energy sector and will unveil further insights as they finalize direct engagements with emerging technologies shaping future consumer experiences.