CES 2026 introduced ground-breaking security tech, some of our favorite "why not?" products and a handful of devices that could change the way we live in the near future.
Our home and wellness team was especially impressed with the gadgets that could make everyday life easier. Here's a look at the innovations that caught our eye in the home tech world at CES 2026.
To explore our favorite products in 21 categories, check out our Official Best of CES 2026 Awards.
Ecoldbrew
The Ecoldbrew is one of CNET's Best of CES 2026 winners.
The Ecoldbrew can make cold brew coffee in just five minutes. Yes, you read that correctly. No more waiting 12 or more hours for your beloved, and highly concentrated, coffee to steep. The gadget stores coffee beans, grinds them and then uses water from the cup, reminiscent of a Stanley Cup, to make a tasty cold brew. A dial on top also allows you to choose your preferred grind size. It will sell for $99, but there is no set release date at this time.
The world's first ultrasonic knife
Slicing tomatoes required almost no force and released easily.
Seattle Ultrasonic has created the first-ever ultrasonic chef's knife, which can cut through tomatoes, potatoes and more with almost no effort. Managing Editor David Watsky got to test it out at CES 2026 and said that it vibrates more than 30,000 times per second. It's available for $399.
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Compact smart ovens may be the next hottest kitchen appliance
Using weight sensors and a built-in camera, the AISO oven identifies the geometry of food and deploys an ideal cooking time and temperature.
At CNET, we typically aren't wowed by smart ovens, but this one caught Watsky's attention due to its compact size and features. AISO, from the company Apecoo, has an internal camera and weight sensors and uses AI to determine how long a specific type of food should be cooked.
Watsky only saw the oven in action with fake food, so we can't speak to how well it works on an actual meal, but if it does what's promised, it could be a breakthrough in the smart kitchen industry. It is currently available for pre-order and will sell for $998.
A robot vacuum with legs
The Saros Rover can climb the same of stairs multiple times without any problems and clean them each time.
If a cordless vacuum doesn't impress you too much these days, maybe this stair-climbing one will. The Roborock Saros Rover features legs that help it seamlessly climb and clean stairs.
CNET's editor Ajay Kumar watched the vacuum in action and said it can make sudden stops, turns and hops. Pricing and availability have not been announced yet.
A wireless smart lock that requires no charging ever
Both the V7 Max and Veno Pro feature AuraCharge wireless charging.
Wireless smart locks are a great solution for those who can't or don't want to run wire to the door, but those types of locks typically require batteries that need to be changed often. Not anymore.
At CES 2026, Lockin unveiled the wireless V7 Max and Veno Pro locks, which never require recharging. The locks stay charged due to AuraCharge, or optical wireless charging, the company's CEO announced. They will be available for preorder after CES. Learn more about the state-of-the-art locks from our reporter who was at CES.
The world's first carpet-cleaning robot
The Robotin R2 is the first robot vacuum that can wash a carpet just like a carpet cleaner.
The Robotin R2 hopes to be the first carpet-cleaning robot on the market. Kumar watched the robot in action and said it successfully cleaned a small strip of carpet. The bot is expected to be released this spring, but pricing details have not been shared.
A breakthrough in gluten and dairy detection
The Allergen Alert mini lab can detect gluten and dairy in food.
Every now and then, we come across an item that could truly be life-changing for some people. This could be one of them.
Allergen Alert is said to be able to detect gluten or dairy in any food, and it's pocket-size, so you can take it with you to restaurants or while traveling. It is currently in development, but is being tested by professional chefs. The company behind the device stated that it hopes to expand to other allergies in the future.
A self-sufficient robot pool cleaner
CNET's David Watsky got a sneak peek at Beatbot's new self-emptying robot pool cleaner at CES 2026.
Although it's not pool season quite yet in most of the US, we always welcome exciting news for pool owners, so here it is: The first self-emptying robot pool cleaner is here.
The Beatbot AquaSense X ecosystem can empty itself once it is docked in its station, eliminating an exorbitant amount of labor for pool owners.
Worthwhile washer-dryer combos
LG's Signature can wash and dry a 10-pound load of laundry in under 90 minutes.
Although washer-dryer combos aren't too common of a pick right now, LG may be the brand that's about to change that.
LG's new Signature washer-dryer ventless combo machine was unveiled at CES 2026, promising to complete a 10-pound load of laundry in under 90 minutes. This is noteworthy because its previous model took up to two hours to do the same task.
Laundry-folding robots
CLOiD is the first multitasking robot that LG has produced.
Speaking of laundry, we've all dreamed about never having to fold a piece of laundry again, haven't we? Now that dream is coming to fruition -- well, maybe.
In addition to the washer-dryer combo, LG also unveiled CLOiD, a household helping robot, at CES 2026. The brand says it can fold laundry, unload the dishwasher and handle light cooking tasks, but after an in-person demonstration, it's clear to see that it doesn't move too quickly.
When CNET shared the demo on Instagram, viewers seemed unimpressed with the speed and efficiency. "He's moving at the speed of my husband," one commenter wrote.
Govee's new ceiling lights can take your smart home up several notches
Govee's visuals including moving patterns that simulate a real sky.
Regular, color-changing smart lights aren't anything new, but the Govee Ceiling Light Ultra and the Sky Ceiling Light are definitely exciting. The Sky Ceiling Light has the ability to make your ceiling look like a skylight, providing a natural transition into daytime, while the Ceiling Light Ultra is endlessly customizable.
"They showed me one, which was a map of the world, and I could see myself using it in a living room or foyer as more of an art statement rather than just a light," Kumar said. "It's also a lot bigger than I expected in person, and could easily cover a larger room."
A launch date and pricing have not been announced yet.
Cordless vacuums from Bosch
CNET's Ajay Kumar tested both the Unlimited 9 and 10 and said the automatic sensor seemed to work pretty well at detecting messes.
Bosch recently unveiled the Bosch Unlimited 9 and Unlimited 10 cordless vacuums, and Kumar says they may become a good competitor to the well-known Dyson and Shark vacuums. You can read his full thoughts here and see his current round-up of the best cordless vacuum cleaners.
No installation needed for this water monitor and leak detector
The modest Droplet, which made its CES debut in 2026, is the easiest water monitor you'll ever install.
Installing a water monitor and leak detector has never been easier. That's because Droplet, unveiled at CES 2026, requires no installation whatsoever. Instead, it clips onto the pipe and uses ultrasonic sensors to collect 50 water flow samples per second, according to the brand. It can detect leaks, bursts and monitor water usage. It is available for $200.
The fridge that scans barcodes
A handy built-in scanner helps keep track of grocery items as you run low.
You may wonder why a fridge would need a built-in barcode scanner, but the answer is simple: to help you keep track of the grocery items you're running low on, making your trip to the grocery store as seamless as possible.
GE Profile unveiled the new fridge at CES 2026, and in addition to the barcode scanner, it also has a live camera that's meant to help reduce food waste. An accompanying app can give you recipe suggestions based on the contents of your fridge.
A handheld security device
The Timeli device can connect directly to emergency dispatch.
The Timeli device is a flashlight, video recorder, alarm, GPS location service and instant two-way communication with emergency dispatch, all in one. You can hold it while you run or clip it onto a bag for added peace of mind. It is currently available for purchase.
Ikea's new smart home lineup
Ikea's smart lights have bold designs and easy app controls.
Ikea doesn't just offer modern and affordable furniture, it now has a smart home lineup that is giving other brands a run for their money. With smart lights, affordable home security and Bluetooth speakers, even our smart home expert, Tyler Lacoma, is impressed.