Better of CES 2026: The tech gear and PC improvements that blew us away
No less than yearly, what occurs in Vegas is made very, very public. Because the official kickoff for all of the cool high-tech and cutting-edge merchandise and traits that customers ought to anticipate within the coming 12 months, CES is all in regards to the hype and publicity.
Shocking precisely nobody, quite a lot of that hype included AI in every little thing and robots. A few of which is legitimately thrilling.
However we’re PCWorld, so we naturally care deeply about how the newest merchandise and improvements will influence the close to way forward for our beloved pastime. What thrilling new elements and capabilities are coming to PCs and the way a lot additional will we be capable of push them? In fact, we’re not so singularly centered that we will’t get pumped about different tech life-style gadgetry, too.
With out additional ado, right here is our record of the good, most promising issues we noticed at this 12 months’s CES.
Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 7 Auto Twist
Mark Hachman / Foundry
I preserve excited about this Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 7 Auto Twist laptop computer and laughing just a little as a result of why is it turning to have a look at me? That feels unlawful. Nevertheless it’s additionally type of good as a result of I by no means sit nonetheless anyway — I tempo, I fidget, I discuss issues out and appear like I’ve misplaced my thoughts. Apparently, it has a motorized hinge that simply rotates the display screen to face you relying on the place you might be within the room. So, the concept that the display screen simply swivels alongside whereas I’m doing that? Weirdly interesting.
It feels just a little too alive, too sentient, however that’s type of the purpose. It’s not a standard laptop computer neither is it pretending to be, which I can respect. –Ashley Biancuzzo
Core Extremely Collection 3
Foundry / Mark Hachman
Intel claims that its Core Extremely Collection 3 chip (Panther Lake) affords the gaming efficiency of an older Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 laptop computer: Discrete GPU efficiency in an built-in bundle. In our first assessments, it comes shut, and upscaling and body technology can take it the remainder of the way in which.
We’re not able to name a winner but within the 2026 cellular CPU race, however Intel has come out sturdy, aggressive, and backed by the same old phalanx of consumers. It appears to be like powerful to beat proper now. –Mark Hachman
Nvidia DLSS 4.5
NVIDIA
Nvidia’s DLSS is the gold customary for AI upscaling and body technology, and it simply retains getting higher. The GeForce workforce introduced DLSS 4.5 at CES 2026, and shock! It appears to be like wonderful.
Nvidia bumped the upscaling characteristic to a second-generation “transformer” mannequin, which reinforces anti-aliasing and temporal stability whereas concurrently lowering the occasional nasty “ghosting” impact — all huge wins, and people enhancements are coming to all RTX GPUs.
Nevertheless it doesn’t cease there: If in case you have an RTX 50-series GPU, DLSS 4.5 can even introduce “Dynamic Multi-Body Era” this spring. DLSS 4’s multi-frame gen characteristic already makes janky video games really feel silky easy by inserting as much as 4 AI-generated frames between each historically rendered one. Dynamic MFG ups the ante by pushing that as much as 6x AI frames and algorithms that attempt to hit your screens most decision always.
Regular MFG already made 4K, 240Hz gaming attainable in 2025, at the very least should you had a high-end GPU like an RTX 5080 or 5090. DLSS 4.5 will allow you to push issues even additional — and probably assist extra midrange playing cards just like the RTX 5070 collection play like a dream on these god-tier shows. –Brad Chacos
HP EliteBoard
I’m very into uncommon type elements for compact computer systems—so HP’s upcoming EliteBoard, which stuffs a complete PC right into a keyboard, positively caught my eye. Discuss a sleeper PC: This 1.7lb system doesn’t instantly register as such, although it might probably pack as much as a AMD Ryzen AI 350, 64GB RAM, and 2TB SSD. One variation even contains its personal battery, making it a displayless laptop computer. Neat.
Whether or not or not you possibly can afford to package this out to the max is its personal query (RAM costs, ouch), however as a PC designed for hybrid employees, I’m precisely in the appropriate camp for this. I hardly ever journey past desks with screens and peripherals, and an EliteBoard might save me a pound or two whereas traipsing backwards and forwards from the workplace to dwelling, I’d take that in a heartbeat. —Alaina Yee
Second opinion
Generally an thought is so easy, so apparent, that it makes you marvel why it wasn’t already a factor. That’s the sensation I had about HP’s EliteBoard. Sure, stuffing a full-fledged laptop right into a keyboard type issue has been accomplished earlier than. However that is an implementation that has actual mainstream potential.
It’s not for everybody, thoughts you. However for anybody who totes a piece laptop computer between dwelling and workplace the place it will get related to stationary peripherals (a far bigger inhabitants on this new work-from-home period) this makes quite a lot of sense — if solely by shaving off a great chunk of a laptop computer’s weight. –Katherine Stevenson
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon
Within the present panorama of slowed {hardware} releases and horribly inflated costs, nothing warms my coronary heart greater than seeing laptops that prioritize repairability. Lenovo and HP each launched new laptops at CES that made a concerted effort to be extra repairable than the earlier technology, and the ThinkPad X1 Carbon particularly had an necessary story to inform.
Lenovo reps advised me that they have been so pleased with the earlier technology ThinkPad X1 Carbon that relatively than work to attempt to make it solely millimeters thinner and ounces lighter (which you most likely wouldn’t discover anyway) they determined to give attention to optimizing the internals in order that it may be simpler to restore. Throughout this course of an added facet impact was that they have been really in a position to match a bigger fan, which contributes to even higher cooling. So by refining what they’d they have been in a position to make the X1 Carbon simply repairable, carry out higher, all whereas sacrificing nothing!
This type of focus will permit these gadgets to have extended life and perhaps it would ease the cruel realities of our scenario proper now. Now, I need to encourage Lenovo and different PC distributors to carry these identical ideas to consumer-based strains. I imagine there’s a bigger want than they notice. —Adam Patrick Murray
Lenovo Legion Professional Rollable
Matt Smith / Foundry
An ultrawide display screen whereas on the go? That’s the dream. Simply think about having the ability to write, code, browse, and stream in your sofa in wonderful 21:9, all without having any exterior litter. The Lenovo Legion Professional Rollable speaks to me as a result of I’m at the beginning a laptop computer person who wants a lot of display screen actual property, and there’s one thing magical a few 16-inch laptop computer with a show that extends broad as much as 24 inches. To not point out that the panel is OLED. Whew.
Okay, certain, it’s nonetheless only a idea for now, and certain, it’s going to be tremendous costly if/when it comes out. However I simply love Lenovo’s ambition in growing a laptop computer like this. And given the relative success of the ThinkBook Plus Rollable, I believe the Legion Professional Rollable can even manifest as actual. This factor isn’t a gimmick—it’s purposeful. And if different makers begin following up with their very own ultrawides, we’ll all have Lenovo to thank for it. –Joel Lee
Asus ROG Kithara gaming headset
Asus
The Audeze Maxwell has largely been dubbed the very best sounding gaming headset for some time now due to its particular drivers. Whereas most gaming headsets have neodymium drivers, the Audeze has planar magnetic drivers for higher audio constancy. However now CES 2026 has produced a brand new contender, the Asus ROG Kithara, which additionally has planar magnetic drivers. What’s extra, this headset has an open-backed design which Asus says permits for higher sound separation in contrast with headsets with enclosed earcups. This headset goes all out as an audiophile-grade product so it’ll be attention-grabbing to see if it might probably dwell as much as expectations. The Audeze is eye-wateringly costly although, so right here’s additionally hoping the Kithara is fairly priced when costs lastly drop. –Dominic Bayley
Asus ROG Circulate Z13 Hideo Kojima version
It’s been a reasonably quiet CES on my entrance. I didn’t see something PC-related that simply blew me away. However probably the most attention-grabbing thingamabob that caught my eye was the Kojima version of the Asus ROG Circulate Z13. The gaming pill nonetheless isn’t one thing I’d purchase for myself — even with the wonderful Ryzen AI Max+ 395 for an influence plant, and sufficient graphical oomph to make a Steam Deck weep, it’s nonetheless operating on built-in graphics.
However who cares. This Kojima Productions version of the pill is all about type, with graphics and carbon fiber gildings designed by legendary Steel Gear collection artist Yoji Shinkawa. The pill and Floor-style keyboard are beautiful, however the included customized briefcase is the star of the present. It appears to be like like one thing that fell proper off of Sam Porter Bridges’ again.
I do not know what number of of those restricted version Z13 tablets can be made, or how a lot they’ll value once they develop into accessible. However I would like one deep in my gamer soul. –Michael Crider
Fraimic E Ink Canvas
Fraimic
Considered one of my favourite objects to return out of CES 2026 is the Fraimic E Ink Canvas. It’s a framed canvas that each generates AI artwork or lets you add your personal artwork, as effectively. This won’t be the primary time we’ve seen one thing of this sort, however the Fraimic units itself aside with some cool, distinctive options and a less expensive price ticket.
Proper off the bat, there is no such thing as a subscription required. You’re allowed 100 free OpenAI artwork creations per 12 months, and you should purchase extra should you so select. Moreover, if AI artwork isn’t your factor, you possibly can add your personal photos both by way of Fraimic’s web site or domestically as an alternative. The canvas additionally lets you swap out the body itself and there are not any fiddly apps to mess with. Oh, and the very best half is that it comes with “voice-to-vision” management, the place you possibly can describe precisely what artwork you need it to create and it’ll seem onscreen in just a few seconds.
The Fraimic makes use of a 13.3-inch Spectra 6 E Ink show with a decision of 200 dots per inch and solely makes use of battery when altering the show, so theoretically the battery life could possibly be years. Just like a colour E-paper pill, the pictures on the show are nice with a type of muted, desaturated look extra like correctly aged work.
The usual canvas show is already open for pre-orders and can set you again $399 with models anticipated to ship out this spring. –Sam Singleton
Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27UCWM / LG panel with 240Hz RGB stripe pixel construction
It is a joint award. LG debuted a boundary-pushing new OLED panel at CES 2026, and Asus was busy exhibiting it off within the type of the delectable ROG Swift OLED PG27UCWM.
OLED screens are drop-dead beautiful, leaving your jaw on the ground while you’re gaming or watching movies, however they’ve historically had a lingering disadvantage: Middling textual content efficiency. With the way in which conventional OLED subpixels work, textual content on web page can seem a bit blurry and jagged, a time period often called fringing. However LG’s new panel with its 240Hz “RGB stripe pixel construction” waves goodbye to that bugbear, offering a massively noticeable enchancment in textual content readability. Simply take a look at this close-up of the ROG Swift! It appears to be like regular — an enormous enchancment over conventional OLED.
If you wish to study extra in regards to the underlying know-how, take a look at my eyes-on with LG’s bleeding-edge OLED shows (this ain’t the one one!). However take my phrase for it: The distinction can’t be missed. It’s superior. –Brad Chacos
GameSir Shift Drive
After I noticed the press launch for GameSir’s revolutionary Shift Drive controller, I used to be skeptical (to say the least). Who desires a miniature racing wheel plunked down in the midst of a gamepad? However after taking part in round with it myself at CES, I can positively say: I certain do!
Whereas the Shift Drive I attempted is just a near-final engineering pattern, it’s already clear that GameSir in some way nailed it. The controller feels surprisingly comfy in hand, with the wheel falling naturally below your thumb. Higher but, the wheel has simply the correct amount of tactical suggestions for a semi-racing wheel; it responds sturdily but simply to your strikes, with out getting so free that racing feels sloppy. Finest but? That wheel additionally packs power suggestions haptics so you possibly can really feel each bump within the street and crack in your flipped-over autos body. –Brad Chacos
Ventiva/Compal laptop computer reference design
Ventiva’s futuristic cooling know-how was first seen final 12 months at CES, however in 2026, the corporate is exhibiting off a reference laptop computer design produced in a partnership with Compal that excites me in all types of how.
First, I’m excited by a future that strikes previous tiny followers and permits for radical new {hardware} designs because of utterly novel methods to chill gadgets. I had an opportunity to go to Ventiva’s labs in Fremont, California final 12 months to study extra about its ICE know-how, and one among my takeaways was that PC distributors can utterly rethink how they design skinny and lightweight gadgets like laptops and gaming handhelds with these new cooling applied sciences. The issue? What we’ve seen over the previous few years from corporations like Frore and even Ventiva have primarily been retrofits of present gadgets — and due to this fact aren’t permitting for the complete capabilities. So Ventiva had the intense thought to design their very own laptop computer (produced by Compal) to completely showcase the advantages of their cooling system. And if what Ventiva says is true, it performs in addition to different Core Extremely Collection 3 gadgets however with utterly silent operation. Thrilling stuff!
However the enjoyable doesn’t cease there. With the intention to showcase how the ICE cooling gadgets have been carried out within the laptop computer, they added translucent plastic throughout the again of the gadget. That alone made me gasp. I went to highschool within the 90’s, so clear gadgets hit dwelling in a approach that I don’t care to share. Now all I can take into consideration is how this 100% must be a pattern within the laptop computer area. The brand new Lenovo Rollable options this as effectively, so I’m crossing my fingers that we’ll see much more within the coming 12 months. — Adam Patrick Murray
Jackery Photo voltaic Mars Bot
Brad Chacos / Foundry
Billed as “a cellular solar-storage bot that finds the solar, costs itself, and delivers energy wherever you want it,” the autonomous Jackery Photo voltaic Mars Bot rover did precisely that in a tantalizing demonstration.
A vibrant mild within the nook of the sales space simulated the solar’s rays and periodically repositioned to level at totally different factors of the ground. The Photo voltaic Mars Bot recognized the place the sunshine was beaming every time with mosquito-like quickness, then scooted over to the brand new location earlier than settling all the way down to soak in these scrumptious energy-providing rays. The swing arm atop the bot has 4 photo voltaic panels that may fold out for optimum energy draw, and the facet pops open to disclose a bevy of ports to maintain all of your gadgets charged.
It jogs my memory of a cat lounging within the path of a sunbeam — in case your cat was a robotic that might preserve all of your gadgets charged in electricity-deprived areas (or a zombie apocalypse). –Brad Chacos
Second opinion
Name me a suspicious kind, however I haven’t fully purchased into the thought of robotic helpers but. Would I like a Rosey to cook dinner and clear for me? Completely. Do I feel we’re there but? Not fairly, however you already know what, the Jackery Photo voltaic Mars Bot is making me rethink my place just a little.
I are inclined to neglect to recharge all my tech gadgets (together with transportable batteries) recurrently, which implies generally I’m left with out energy when the native utility inevitably blows a transformer or in any other case goes down. (Thanks, however no thanks, PG&E.) However this solar-powered bot takes care of the work — it finds daylight to cost itself up. When my boss Brad Chacos had a take a look at it on the CES conference present flooring, it adopted the “solar” (mild simulating the solar’s rays) across the sales space, just like the lowest-maintenance cat in existence. Sounds good to me. —Alaina Yee
