If the most memorable inventions at CES 2026 are the ones that make us laugh, wonder or scratch our heads, perhaps that is the point: even as technology gets smarter, the future remains unpredictably human
The Consumer Electronics Show has always thrived on excess. The bigger the television, the louder the pitch, the more improbable the promise, the better.
Yet what keeps CES compelling year after year is not just scale but surprise, the reminder that technology’s future is rarely linear.
Yes, CES 2026 has delivered the expected parade of enormous screens, faster computers and artificial intelligence embedded into nearly everything.
But scattered across the convention halls are products that feel less inevitable and more curious — devices that prompt a second look, a raised eyebrow or an unplanned conversation.
After two days on the show floor, here are 10 of the most striking, unusual and occasionally delightful technologies spotted so far.
Lego, Reimagined as a Thinking Toy
Lego bricks have always been marvels of design, but they have also been stubbornly inert. That is changing. Lego unveiled Smart Bricks which are standard-sized blocks embedded with sensors, circuits, lights and speakers that respond to one another when assembled.
The idea is to turn static builds into interactive systems, capable of reacting to movement or proximity. The first commercial sets using the technology will be Star Wars themed and arrive in March, blending nostalgia with embedded intelligence.
Ice, Made Faster Than a Drink
The problem of ice scarcity during a crowded gathering is familiar. The Euhomy Leopard X1 aims to eliminate it. The countertop machine produces bullet-shaped ice in five minutes, faster than most people can finish mixing a cocktail.
For those inclined toward ceremony, the company also demonstrated the Rock Pro Sphere, which forms perfectly clear ice spheres intended for whiskey glasses and slow sipping.
A Keyboard Makes Its Comeback
Touchscreens won the smartphone wars long ago, but nostalgia for physical keyboards has never fully faded. The Clicks Communicator leans into that longing.
An Android-based phone with a tactile keyboard, it can operate independently or serve as a minimalist companion to a primary smartphone. There is even a headphone jack, a detail that drew knowing smiles from longtime phone users.
A 130-Inch TV That Wants to Disappear
Gigantic televisions are a CES tradition, but Samsung’s Micro RGB Backlit R95H drew attention for reasons beyond its size. The 130-inch display uses Micro RGB LEDs capable of delivering the full BT.2020 color gamut, producing richer hues than conventional backlighting systems.
Samsung has also applied its glare-free coating, a necessary feature on a screen large enough to double as a wall. Pricing and availability remain unannounced.
A Phone That Unfolds Into Something Else
Foldable phones have gradually moved from novelty to category. Samsung’s Galaxy Z TriFold pushes the concept further, unfolding into three panels to create a tablet-sized workspace that still fits into a bag.
Though announced before CES, the show marked the first extended hands-on experience for many reviewers, who found it notably thin and focused on productivity rather than spectacle.
Motorola Enters the Folding Fray
Motorola, a pioneer of earlier phone eras, is returning to foldables with the Razr Fold.
Unlike the brand’s iconic flip phones, this is a book-style design, featuring a 6.6-inch external screen and an 8.1-inch internal display.
Details are limited, but its arrival adds momentum to a market that is rapidly becoming crowded.
A Lollipop That Plays Music
Some CES ideas defy easy categorization. Lollipop Star is one of them.
The candy uses bone-conduction technology to transmit sound through the jaw while the user eats. Bite down, and music plays.
Three flavors correspond to three artists — Ice Spice, Akon and Armani White — turning the lollipop into a hybrid of confection and wearable audio device.
It costs $9 and does exactly what it promises.
A Fake Skylight for Windowless Rooms
Govee’s Ceiling Light Ultra is designed for rooms that will never have windows. Mounted flush to the ceiling or wall, the circular lamp uses a dense LED matrix to mimic natural daylight, clouds or subtle sky patterns.
With up to 5,000 lumens of brightness, it aims to replicate the psychological effect of a skylight without the roof work.
A Ring That Remembers Conversations
Smart rings have tracked steps and sleep. The Vocci AI ring listens.
Activated manually, it records conversations or spoken notes, then generates transcripts and summaries afterward. A button press can also mark moments of interest, allowing the software to surface insights later. It is not always listening, a design choice meant to ease privacy concerns.
A Smart Lock Without a Battery
Smart locks usually fail for one reason: dead batteries. Lockin’s V7 Max proposes an alternative. The lock is powered wirelessly through optical charging from a base station positioned inside the home.
The energy supports biometric security features including finger vein, palm vein and 3D facial recognition, all without sunlight or manual charging.
A Show That Still Surprises
CES has grown larger, louder and more predictable over the decades. Yet every year, amid the familiar promises of faster and smarter, there are products that feel genuinely new, not because they will dominate the market, but because they expand the imagination of what technology can be.
The week is still young. History suggests more surprises are coming.
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