CES 2026 Insights: Latest on Televisions, Smart Glasses, Smartphones, and More

As we eagerly count down to the kick-off of the CES 2026, this week's flurry of headlines promises a bustling show.

Just days ahead of the massive Las Vegas tech gathering scheduled for Tuesday, January 6, top consumer electronics titans like Samsung, LG, and Hisense have begun unveiling major products.

This year, prepare for innovative proposals from both established and emerging companies. Key highlights include AI's evolving role in our everyday experiences, advanced transport methods stretching beyond traditional urban routes, and cutting-edge TVs breaking conventional boundaries in specifications and designs.

With any luck, several of these standout products will soon be ready for purchase once the event concludes.

Watching the CES 2026 Experience

Various online streams and keynote speeches offer ways to experience CES live. You can access the complete schedule, with some starting over the upcoming weekend, to catch these exciting presentations.

For in-depth analysis of this year’s top reveals, our dedicated ZDNET news tracker provides continuous updates courtesy of our on-ground editorial team and remote followers.

Real-time Updates (Refresh for New Developments)

A Reality Check for Starlink on United Flights

After years of development, United pleasantly surprised this morning's travelers by announcing that the flight from Newark to Las Vegas now features the new Starlink Wi-Fi service. It offers fast, complimentary internet for streaming, productivity, and more.

With this connectivity, I'm fully set to work throughout the five-hour flight, balancing multiple browser tabs, jotting down articles about upcoming news, and seamlessly managing media downloads and uploads.

Is BlackBerry Making a Comeback?

Smartphone aficionados, especially those with a fond memory of BlackBerry, will find something familiar in the new offerings by Clicks. Debuting two inventive accessories, one resembles the classic BlackBerry design.

The Clicks Power Keyboard, priced at $79, functions both as a keyboard and a wireless charger, adapting effortlessly between portrait and landscape modes on smartphones.

Clicks also introduces the Communicator—a retro-inspired device featuring a tactile QWERTY layout, display screen, headphone socket, and microSD slot, set to retail for $499 towards the end of this year.

The Future of Smart Glasses: eSIM Integration

This year, RayNeo is debuting two smart eyewear models at CES: the Air 4 Pro, which connects to devices like phones and computers, and the X3 Pro Project eSIM, which boasts built-in 4G, allowing independent online access and calls without a cellular device.

The X3 Pro is an intriguing evolution, reflecting technology's shift towards mobile independence, exemplified by items like the Meta Ray-Ban Display.

TCL's Nxtpaper Tablet: A Potential Game Changer

Before the CES officially starts, TCL showcases its Note A1 Nxtpaper tablet, an 11.5-inch device set to rival the Kindle Scribe and ReMarkable. Its standout feature? A full-color LCD with a 120Hz refresh rate, offering clear and fluid visuals.

At $549, the Nxtpaper positions itself as a competitive choice among professionals and students seeking a robust paper-like experience enhanced by digital functionality.

Project Luci: An AI Pinnacle

CES never ceases to surprise with its AI innovations, and Project Luci stands out. This compact, magnetically attached AI pin serves as a digital memory archive, capturing life's moments in a novel way.

Featuring a 12MP ultra-wide camera and dual microphones, it can provide continuous recording for up to four hours. Its proprietary AI, named Mavi, utilizes semantic searching to recall detailed information based on past events, ensuring privacy with a camera shutter and local data processing hub.

Valued at about $99, this device asks: Does augmenting memory with technology intrigue you?

The Comeback of 6K Monitors with 3D

TVs are not the only display tech in the spotlight—Samsung introduces its latest line of 6K monitors, offering not only higher resolutions but also intricate 3D visuals that cater to gamers and digital creatives.

While 3D monitors have cycled in and out of favor, the new Odyssey series could redefine expectations with glasses-free eye-tracking aimed at enhancing the authentic depth experience.

Micro RGB: This Year’s TV Revolution

Television technology is ever-evolving, with this year's term being “Micro RGB.” This refers to a fine-tuned LED arrangement enhancing light control for superior picture precision.

While many brands possess their versions of this technology, the central question is the affordability and availability of these advanced displays, especially since current models tend to be sizable and expensive.