Eye-Catching Consumer Tech at CES 2026

In a few days, Las Vegas will be flooded with engineers, executives, investors and members of the press – myself included – for the annual Consumer Electronics Show, one of the biggest technology events of the year.

If you can dream it, there’s a good chance it will be on display at CES 2026 (although admittedly much of this technology won’t necessarily make it to the general public). There will be a range of AI toys, AI note takers and “AI companions”. exoskeletons and humanoid robots, as well as health technologies to track your hormones, your brain activity and… your activity in the toilet.

This year’s event will feature keynote speeches from the CEOs of tech giants including AMD and Lenovo, as well as thousands of booths from companies ranging from legacy brands to brand-new startups.

I can’t wait to stumble across some unexpected new technology while walking around the living room. But as I prepare for this year’s event, here are some of the devices that have already caught my eye.

Headphones that can read your brain waves

Electroencephalography, or EEG, has been used in healthcare for decades to monitor neuronal activity. This usually involves a person wearing a helmet full of electrodes, but scaled-down versions of the technology are now being incorporated into consumer devices and could soon be ready for users.

Several neurotechnology companies using EEG will be present at CES this year. For example, Neurable (a company we’ve been following for years) will be there with its over-ear EEG headphones, which help users sharpen their focus and are now available for pre-order. Naox will also bring its in-ear EEG technology to consumer headphones. And Elemind, another company we’ve talked about, aims to help you sleep with its headband. While wearable devices already monitor vital signs, sleep and activity, 2026 could be the year our brainwaves join the list of biosignals we can track daily.

A toothbrush to detect health problems

Automatic massage roller to soothe sore muscles

RheoFit’s A1 Massage Roller is basically like what would happen if a foam roller and a massage chair had a baby. The device automatically rolls along your spine and offers two replaceable surfaces: a harder material that mimics a masseuse’s knuckles and a softer option that feels more like an open palm.

This will be the second year that the RheoFit A1 will be on display. To know if it’s worth the $449 USD price tag, I’ll have to try it out first hand.

Minimalist e-ink smartphone to eliminate distractions

Just before last year’s CES, several devices received new certification intended to reward technology designed to be less distracting. While most exhibitors will continue to compete for our attention, a few exploit a desire for calm and clarity.

Minimalist tech company Mudita, for example, will introduce its e-ink smartphone, which began sales in 2025. The phone is designed to reduce screen time with its paper-like black and white display, and the operating system is designed to work without Google. Like other not-so-smart phones (such as the Wisephone or Light Phone), the Mudita Kompakt offers the essentials (messaging, maps, camera, etc.) without constant notifications.

Food allergen detector to prevent anaphylaxis

Some new technologies surprise users with an experience they didn’t know they wanted. Others aim to deliver the solutions you dream of. For me, the French startup Allergen Alert falls into the second category.

The startup, one of the exhibitors listed at an early press event on January 4, is developing a portable system for testing food allergens in real time. I’ve eaten gluten-free for most of my life (not by choice) and I know how easily allergens can sneak into a dish with just a pinch of flour or a dash of soy sauce, especially when you’re traveling or eating out. For many people with severe allergies, a device like this could be a lifesaver.