Consumer Electronics Show Report: Smarter Homes, Seamless Living
Here’s your inside scoop on four hot trends in home technology, energy efficiency and automation from the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show.
The Consumer Electronics Show was, as always, a shock of innovation. More than 150,000 visitors swarmed Las Vegas in January to explore more than 4,000 booths packed with robots, AI gadgets and smart home tech. Beyond the stair-climbing vacuums and laundry-folding robots, the biggest trend that stood out was products that are smart, adaptable and seamlessly integrated into daily life. From AI assistants to homes that anticipate every need, the next wave of technology is positioned as an active everyday partner.
Smart homes are getting truly intelligent with devices that continue to learn habits, anticipate needs and optimize for energy, privacy and comfort. Unified standards like Matter enable devices from different brands to work together easily, so it’s simpler than ever to build a connected home without sticking to one manufacturer. Homes, kitchens and security systems are learning, adapting, even anticipating our needs.
Here are four trends that independent hardware retailers need to know about for 2026.
CES highlighted robot vacuums as a fast-moving category, with Roborock drawing attention for its stair-climbing Saros Rover.
Trend #1: Floor Robots
Robot vacuums emerged as one of the most competitive smart-home categories, led by Chinese brands pushing beyond incremental upgrades. Roborock drew a crowd with its stair-climbing Saros Rover (that also did a choregraphed dance), while Dreame, Ecovacs, Narwal, Tineco, Eufy and MOVA highlighted new improvements in suction, wet-dry cleaning and AI-based object detection.
These brands emphasized premium, all-in-one platforms and smarter automation, signaling where the category is headed. In contrast, established players Samsung and LG focused on practical enhancements such as improved obstacle avoidance and higher-temperature mop cleaning. The show revealed a clean split: Nimble newcomers push bold innovation, while established brands doubled down on reliability and performance.
Smart locks continue to evolve into full home security hubs, with brands such as Eufy introducing advanced biometric access.
Trend #2: Smarter Security
Smart locks are getting smarter and becoming full-fledged home security hubs. From hands-free UWB unlocking to 3D facial and palm-vein biometrics, brands such as SwitchBot, Eufy and Chamberlain are making access effortless and ultra-secure. Solar-powered and wireless-charging models like Lockin V7 Max and Veno Pro solve battery issues, while Matter and Thread offer smooth cross-platform control.
Some locks function as security systems, like myQ Secure View’s 3-in-1 smart lock with various entry options including face recognition, or Eufy’s AI-powered E40 that monitors for loiterers. With smarter sensors, AI detection and ecosystem-ready connectivity, the smart lock is no longer just a lock—it’s the future of home security.
