CES 2026 Preview What to Expect from Techs Biggest Conference in January CES does not start until January, but the early whispers are already forming. The official show floor at the Las Vegas Convention Center opens from January 6 through 9, with events and press conferences kicking off earlier. As always, Engadget will be there to cover the announcements and hands-on demos. While specific product details will emerge closer to the event, we already know the schedule of major press conferences and can make educated guesses about the key tech trends that will dominate the show. What We Already Know About The Consumer Technology Association has published the exhibitor directory and official schedule. The press conference lineup is set. Samsung starts the event on Sunday, January 4 with The First Look, a presentation by CEO TM Roh on the companys vision and new AI-driven customer experiences for 2026. Monday, January 5 is packed. LG leads off with its Innovation in Tune with You presentation focusing on Affectionate Intelligence. Intel will launch its new Core Ultra Series 3 processors for laptops. Sony Honda Mobility will hold a press conference on its first car. The day concludes with a keynote from AMD CEO Lisa Su covering upcoming chip announcements. On Tuesday, January 6, Lenovo CEO Yuanqing Yang hosts the Lenovo Tech World Conference at the Sphere. The theme is delivering smarter AI for all. As Lenovo owns Motorola, we might see new AI-powered phones or foldables featured as part of this vision. New Chips from AMD, Intel and Qualcomm CES is traditionally where the year’s new silicon begins its rollout into consumer devices. AMD is expected to detail new Ryzen processors at its keynote, likely including the rumored Ryzen 7 9850X3D for gaming and the Ryzen 9000G series. The company may also demonstrate its new FSR Redstone AI upscaling technology. Intel has already announced it will launch its next-generation Panther Lake chips, officially called Intel Core Ultra Series 3, at CES. These are built on a new 2-nanometer process and are aimed at premium AI PCs, promising significant performance gains. Qualcomm is rumored to be ready with its follow-up to the Snapdragon X series. The anticipated Snapdragon X2 Elite chips should start appearing in new laptops at the show, showcasing improved speed and AI capabilities. Brighter, Truer Screens CES is a major TV show, and display technology is always a headline act. Sony introduced new Bravia TVs in 2025, but the company has also developed a new display technology called General RGB LED Backlight Technology. This uses individual red, green, and blue Mini LED backlights for potentially brighter and more accurate colors without burn-in concerns. Sony has trademarked the name True RGB, which could debut at CES. If not on TVs, Sony might showcase a new 240Hz PlayStation monitor. Samsung is also expected to push screen standards forward. The company is reportedly preparing to demo an updated HDR10+ Advanced standard. This would be Samsungs answer to Dolby Vision 2, offering features like improved brightness, genre-based tone mapping, and intelligent motion smoothing. Ballie Watch 2026 and the Robot Wave The spherical Samsung Ballie robot, first shown in 2020 and again with a projector in 2024, was promised for a 2025 release. It has not materialized. CES 2026 could be its third announcement attempt, but robotics will be big regardless. Robot vacuums and mops were a highlight of CES 2025, and the next generation will aim to navigate better. Innovations like the retractable arm on the Roborock Saros Z70 or the stair-climbing legs of the Dreame X50 could become more common. Roborock may also show its new Qrevo Curv 2 Flow with a retractable roller mop. Beyond mobility, improving robot intelligence will be a key theme. The AI industry is shifting focus toward world models, which give AI a deeper understanding of physical space. This technology is crucial for making home and workplace robots more competent and will likely be a major discussion point at the show. We will update this preview as more information and rumors surface leading up to CES 2026. Update, December 11 2025: This story has been updated to include detail on Lenovo being Motorolas parent company and how the latter might have a part in the Tuesday presentation.
