At CES, the world’s largest technology show, Las Vegas transforms into the center of the innovation universe. This is where industry behemoths share the stage with fledgling startups to unveil the most fascinating, futuristic and sometimes just plain wild tech that sets the stage for the year ahead.
CNET Group, in partnership with the Consumer Technology Association, took a special seat at the table this year to select 23 official Best of CES 2026 award winners, almost double the number from 2025. The finalists listed here, from microthin TVs to AI-controlled robots, were hand-selected here in Las Vegas by more than 40 expert journalists from CNET, PCMag, Mashable, ZDNET and Lifehacker, with a special assist from Ziff Davis sibling sites Everyday Health and IGN.
To be eligible for a Best of CES award, a product or service must be an official exhibitor at CES 2026 and either include a compelling new concept or idea, solve a major consumer problem, or set a new bar in performance or quality.
We’ll announce the winners live on stage on today, Wednesday, Jan. 7, at 4 p.m. PST. (If you’re at CES, join us at the CTA stage at the LVCC Central Hall Grand Lobby.) After our ceremony ends, we'll update this page with our winners, so keep your eyes here this evening.
Best Age Tech
iGuard This smart stove shutoff helps older adults live safely at home for as long as they can. This new version of the device uses radar to tell when a person is in the kitchen, and has a configurable 5-minute grace period. It can also report to a caregiver app if your loved one didn’t show up in the kitchen to make breakfast as usual. Read more at Lifehacker Close
Tombot Jennie Tombot's Jennie has been capturing hearts at CES for years, but the realistic robot puppy is finally launching in 2026. Designed to comfort people with dementia and help combat loneliness, Jennie is packed with sensors and motors, allowing it to move its head, raise its eyebrows, wag its tail and bark when you ask if it wants a treat. Read more at PCMag Close
Best AI
Nvidia Ruben Nvidia is once again the talk of CES, and the biggest announcement by the world's most profitable company is the Rubin AI platform. Nvidia’s six new Rubin chips work together to reduce the costs of data processed by AI, known as tokens. That's important for big tech companies, and all of us, as AI models become more compute-intensive. Read more at PCMag Close
Lenovo Motorola Qira Qira is Lenovo's answer to Apple Intelligence, a hybrid AI assistant that uses a mix of on-device processing and cloud-based models for a powerful personalized assistant that's available anywhere, even as you switch from the phone in your pocket to the laptop or tablet in your hand. Read more at CNET Close
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