Category: Consumer Tech

Samsung’s innovative spherical Ballie robot, a promising addition to the world of smart home technology, may not see the light of day as it appears to have been shelved, according to a report by The Verge. Initially announced in 2020 and anticipated since then, Ballie was noticeably absent from CES 2026, raising questions about its future.

The decision to shelve Ballie comes amidst a surge of AI robots showcased at CES, such as LG’s CLOiD robot, hinting at the fierce competition and evolving landscape of smart home technology. Samsung’s move raises questions about the company’s strategic direction and the future of consumer robotics.

Source: The Verge

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) has long been a platform for showcasing the latest technological advancements, and CES 2026 was no exception. As reported by The Verge, the event featured several notable announcements that captured the attention of industry experts and tech enthusiasts alike.

One of the standout reveals was Motorola’s introduction of the Razr Fold, a foldable device that marked a departure from the company’s traditional flip phone design. This move signifies Motorola’s embrace of futuristic design elements while maintaining its iconic brand identity.

Furthermore, companies such as Asus, Broadcom, and MediaTek made waves by announcing Wi-Fi 8 routers and chipsets at CES 2026. Despite the IEEE 802.11bn successor to Wi-Fi 7 not being fully ratified until late 2028, these companies plan to launch hardware based on the draft specification this year. This cutting-edge technology is expected to push the boundaries of connectivity, although it may face challenges in ensuring compatibility with the final standard.

Roborock also unveiled an innovative robot vacuum, the Saros Rover prototype, capable of climbing and cleaning stairs. This feature addresses a common concern among users, offering a solution for efficient navigation in multi-level spaces.

Overall, CES 2026 showcased a diverse array of technological advancements, underscoring the industry’s relentless drive for innovation. These developments not only demonstrate the evolution of existing technologies but also hint at the exciting possibilities that lie ahead in the world of consumer electronics.

Source: The Verge

Logitech recently addressed a technical issue affecting macOS users who encountered problems with their Logitech mouse functionality. The problem stemmed from an expired certificate necessary for Logitech’s control configuration app, Logi Options Plus, to operate correctly.

Multiple Reddit users reported issues such as disrupted scrolling, button malfunctions, and unresponsive gestures due to the malfunctioning app. Logitech’s gaming devices management software, G Hub, was also impacted by the certificate expiration.

Fortunately, Logitech promptly released a patch to rectify the situation. This fix, essential for macOS 26 Tahoe, macOS 15 Sequoia, macOS 14 Sonoma, and macOS 13 Ventura users, ensures the preservation of device settings and customizations post-installation.

Mac users were solely affected as macOS mandates a valid Developer ID certificate for app execution, a security measure that has previously influenced other applications. Logitech acknowledged the oversight and apologized to affected users, emphasizing the company’s commitment to addressing the inconvenience caused.

Source: The Verge

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is known for showcasing a wide array of cutting-edge technologies, from sleek TVs to innovative smartphones. However, amidst the impressive gadgets, some of the most intriguing innovations unveiled at CES 2026 were the ones that left attendees intrigued and perplexed.

One such creation that caught attention was a crescent-shaped hair drying device by Dreame. This unconventional contraption allows users to dry their hair comfortably while lounging on the sofa, combining functionality with a unique design. Priced at $700, this multifunctional gadget also doubles as a lamp, adding a quirky touch to any living space.

Another eye-catching invention, the Mor device, aims to address a delicate concern with a bold solution. Designed to prevent premature ejaculation, Mor utilizes electrodes attached to a patch that is strategically placed on the perineum. This unconventional approach to a common issue is available for purchase at an approximate cost of $300.

Glyde introduced a different kind of haircare innovation with its smart clippers that boast ‘mistake-proof’ haircuts. By leveraging artificial intelligence, these clippers automatically adjust their blades for precision. To use this technology, users must wear a ‘fade band’ that helps the clippers detect the hair’s position, promising a seamless haircutting experience.

Source: The Verge

Lenovo has joined the growing trend of smart glasses by revealing a pair of concept AI glasses at CES 2026. Although not a working prototype, these glasses showcase Lenovo’s direction in the wearable technology space, featuring lightweight frames with a 2MP camera and a green monochrome display in both lenses. The glasses offer touch and voice controls, hands-free calling, music playback, and the unique ability to connect to PCs.

Additional functionalities include live translation, intelligent image recognition, and summarized notifications from multiple devices. Despite some intriguing features, such as the 28-degree field of view and 1,500 nits of brightness, questions remain about the practicality of the 2MP camera and the differentiation between PC and smartphone connectivity. Lenovo’s decision to keep these glasses as a concept device for now allows room for further refinement and development.

Source: The Verge

Motorola has unveiled its inaugural smartwatch, the Moto Watch, at CES 2026. This Android-powered wearable features a remarkable battery life of up to 13 days, advanced health tracking capabilities powered by Polar, open-source software, and dual-frequency GPS technology, setting it apart from competitors like Apple and Google.

The standout feature of the Moto Watch is its exceptional battery life. Motorola claims the 47mm device can last up to 13 days on a single charge, or approximately seven days with the always-on OLED display activated. This performance surpasses industry leaders such as the Apple Watch Series 11, Google Pixel Watch 4, and Fitbit’s Charge 6, which typically require daily recharging with always-on displays in use.

By collaborating with Polar, a pioneer in wireless heart rate monitoring, Motorola enhances the Moto Watch’s health and fitness offerings. The device integrates dual-frequency GPS for more precise outdoor location and distance tracking, a feature found in many sports-oriented watches. While Google incorporated this technology into the Pixel Watch 4, it remains absent from the Apple Watch Series 11.

The Moto Watch features an always-on OLED display and a 47mm case, tracking essential fitness metrics like steps, distance, continuous heart rate, and sleep patterns. Advanced features such as Nightly Recharge assess overnight stress levels to recommend tailored activity levels for the following day, while Activity Score evaluates workout intensity against preset goals.

Source: The Verge

Roborock, a prominent player in the robot vacuum market, introduced the latest additions to its lineup at CES 2026. The Roborock Saros 20 and Saros 20 Sonic feature an upgraded AdaptiLift Chassis 3.0, enabling them to navigate various surfaces with ease. One notable capability is the bots’ ability to climb over thresholds up to 3.3 inches tall, including double-layer thresholds. Additionally, the dynamic chassis elevation allows for improved carpet cleaning by automatically adjusting the bot’s height for different carpet pile heights, up to 1.2 inches high.

These enhancements not only improve cleaning performance but also reduce the need for user intervention, as the robots can free themselves when stuck. Furthermore, the Saros 20 Sonic model boasts an enhanced VibraRise 5.0 sonic mop, offering superior mopping capabilities with customizable water flow and vibration settings for diverse flooring types.

Roborock has yet to disclose the pricing details for these advanced robot vacuum cleaners, but they are expected to hit the market later this year, catering to consumers seeking cutting-edge cleaning solutions.

Source: The Verge

Roborock, a leading robotics company, has introduced its latest innovation in the lawn care industry – the Roborock RockMow X1 LiDAR. Unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), this advanced robot lawn mower boasts cutting-edge features such as autonomous navigation, all-wheel drive, and advanced 360-degree 3D scanning using LiDAR and Visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (VSLAM) technologies.

The RockMow X1 LiDAR is designed to tackle challenging terrains, capable of handling slopes of up to 80% and overcoming obstacles as high as 3.1 inches. While it may cover slightly less ground per day compared to its predecessor, mowing up to half an acre (approximately 2,000 square meters), its efficiency and precision are unmatched.

In the US market, the RockMow X1 LiDAR will face competition from other robotic lawn mowers utilizing similar LiDAR technology, showcasing a growing trend towards autonomous solutions in lawn maintenance.

Source: The Verge

Pila Energy, a leading tech company, has introduced a home battery system that combines functionality with an appealing design. These power stations are crafted to seamlessly blend into modern living spaces, catering to homeowners’ desires for both style and substance. Unlike traditional bulky batteries, Pila’s home batteries offer a unique solution for powering essential devices during outages while also optimizing energy consumption.

The Pila home battery features a durable 1.6kWh LFP battery paired with an AC inverter capable of delivering continuous power output. This ensures uninterrupted operation of vital appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, and small kitchen appliances. With the ability to stack multiple units for increased capacity or distribute them strategically throughout the home, Pila’s system provides flexibility and reliability in managing household power needs.

Moreover, the Pila App allows users to monitor and control their home battery system conveniently via Wi-Fi or onboard cellular connectivity. This level of smart integration enhances user experience and energy efficiency, empowering homeowners to make informed decisions about their power consumption.

While the initial cost of Pila home batteries may seem high, starting at $1,299, the long-term benefits in terms of energy savings and peace of mind during emergencies make them a worthwhile investment for tech-savvy consumers.

Source: The Verge

The 2026 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas has showcased a range of cutting-edge gadgets and technologies. While familiar offerings like large TVs, smart home sensors, and phone accessories continue to be present, this year’s event has also unveiled new innovations that offer a glimpse into the tech industry’s vision for the future.

Among the notable highlights are the introduction of humanoid robots, including LG’s unveiling of a robot capable of performing laundry tasks. The event also saw the debut of new mobile devices, such as the Clicks Communicator, which has generated interest as a potential game-changer in the consumer tech space.

The CES 2026 showcase also features a surge in smart home technologies, TV innovations, and even a standout party speaker. However, one notable absence was the much-speculated ‘Trump Phone,’ leaving attendees curious about its non-appearance.

While artificial intelligence (AI) remains a prominent presence at CES, this year’s event emphasizes a return to the gadget-centric essence of the show. The fusion of AI with traditional gadgetry underscores a tech renaissance that captivates attendees and signals a promising trajectory for the industry.

Source: The Verge

Meta, the company behind the Ray-Ban Display glasses, has introduced new features to enhance the user experience without the need for a phone or keyboard. The latest addition, called EMG handwriting, allows users to write with their hand on any surface instead of typing text. This feature, announced at CES, is currently being introduced as an early access option in WhatsApp and Messenger.

Additionally, Meta has introduced a teleprompter feature for Ray-Ban Display users, enabling them to transfer notes from their phone to customizable text cards visible on the glasses. Navigation through these cards can be done using the neural band. The teleprompter functionality will be gradually rolled out this week.

Moreover, the Pedestrian Navigation feature on the glasses now supports four new cities: Denver, Las Vegas, Portland, and Salt Lake City. This beta feature allows users to receive walking directions directly on their glasses, although it is currently limited to a select few cities.

Source: The Verge

Chamberlain has unveiled its latest innovation, the myQ Secure View 3-in-1 Smart Lock, at CES 2026. Priced at $279.99, this smart lock not only secures the door but also functions as a 2K HDR video doorbell. The standout feature of this device is its use of facial recognition technology to automatically lock or unlock the door based on the approaching individual. To enable this feature, users must scan their faces within the myQ app, allowing the lock to recognize authorized individuals and respond accordingly.

The myQ Secure View 3-in-1 Smart Lock is compatible with Chamberlain’s garage door openers and other accessories like the myQ Chime and Smart Garage Video Keypad. It offers multiple unlocking options, including fingerprint, PIN, mobile app, or physical key. The device connects via Wi-Fi and boasts rapid two-second unlocking speeds with up to six months of battery life.

Subscription to the $7.99 per month myQ service unlocks premium features like video storage for 30 days, detailed alerts, and enhanced motion sensitivity. While basic functionalities like lock access and motion notifications are available without a subscription, advanced features are reserved for subscribers.

Source: The Verge

At CES 2026, Ugreen announced its foray into the smart home technology market with the introduction of the SynCare product line. This lineup includes the ID500 Pro and ID500 Plus indoor cameras, the OD600 Pro outdoor camera, and the Video Doorbell DB600 Pro, scheduled for release in the latter half of 2026. Pricing details are set to be disclosed at IFA 2026.

The indoor cameras boast 4K capture capabilities, pan and tilt functionalities, f1.0 aperture for optimal low-light performance, colorized night vision, and utilize multimodal AI to identify individuals, pets, and specific events. The video doorbell offers comprehensive 4K capture from head to toe, alongside intelligent package detection.

One distinctive feature is the cross-camera awareness, where if one camera detects a baby crying, another camera within the network can broadcast an AI-announced message alerting to the situation. The AI-enabled behavior analysis can generate alerts for various scenarios, such as identifying strangers approaching the front door.

The outdoor camera is designed to withstand various weather conditions, featuring a hybrid bullet design with pan, tilt, and optical zoom capabilities. It supports monitoring across multiple zones aided by AI. In case of an intrusion, the camera will automatically capture footage, trigger a warning light and notification, and even sound an audible alarm in the most extreme cases.

Ugreen’s venture into AI-powered smart home surveillance marks a significant step in the evolution of consumer tech towards enhanced home security and monitoring capabilities, leveraging advanced AI algorithms for real-time detection and response.

Source: The Verge

Networking company TP-Link’s smart home brand, Tapo, is set to introduce Aireal, an AI assistant, at the upcoming CES event, as reported by The Verge. Aireal aims to integrate AI into daily life by offering features such as understanding home environments, promptly resolving Wi-Fi issues, and controlling devices through natural language commands.

The AI assistant will be compatible with TP-Link’s smart home devices and Wi-Fi networking products, and will be integrated into the Tapo and Deco apps. Users can issue commands using natural language in the app, enabling tasks like creating new smart home routines or controlling devices by describing desired actions. For instance, one can instruct, ‘Start vacuuming after I leave the house.’ Additionally, Aireal will provide AI-generated text descriptions of footage captured by Tapo cameras, offering more context than generic alerts like ‘pet detected.’

Furthermore, Aireal introduces facial recognition capabilities to Tapo cameras, allowing users to receive alerts with identified individuals. The facial ID data is securely stored in the cloud and encrypted for privacy. This innovation represents TP-Link’s effort to enhance user experiences and streamline smart home management through AI integration.

Source: The Verge