Reading time: 10 minutes | Last Updated: December 28, 2025
TL;DR
CES 2026 kicks off January 6-9 in Las Vegas, and this year’s theme is clear: AI as infrastructure, not just a feature. Samsung’s bringing a tri-fold phone to the US, NVIDIA and AMD are keynoting with next-gen chips, Intel’s launching 18A Panther Lake CPUs, and Lenovo might unveil a Steam Deck competitor. Oh, and robots. Lots of robots.
Table of Contents
- Event Details
- Major Keynotes and Presentations
- Samsung – Galaxy Z TriFold and AI Everything
- LG – TVs, Robots, and “Affectionate Intelligence”
- Intel – Panther Lake and AI PCs
- AMD – Ryzen AI 400 and FSR Redstone
- NVIDIA – GeForce 50-Series and Robotics
- Qualcomm – Snapdragon X2 and Automotive
- Lenovo – The Sphere, Steam Deck Competitor
- Other Notable Announcements
- Key Themes for CES 2026
- FAQ
- Related Articles
- Folds twice for a tablet-sized display
- Three-screen configuration
- Premium positioning
- Micro RGB TV (next evolution of MicroLED)
- Enhanced AI processing for picture quality
- Gaming-focused display features
- Improved AI interactions
- Enhanced home monitoring
- Projector capabilities
- Smarter refrigerator recommendations
- Washer/dryer cycle optimization
- Cross-device AI coordination
- Next-generation OLED panels
- Enhanced gaming features (VRR, low latency)
- AI picture processing improvements
- Voice interaction
- Home monitoring
- Smart home control hub
- Dedicated NPU (Neural Processing Unit)
- On-device AI processing
- Windows Copilot+ compatibility
- Local AI inference capabilities
- AI-enhanced frame generation
- Improved visual quality
- Competitive with NVIDIA DLSS 4
- Mobile variants of RTX 5080, 5090
- Thinner laptop designs with new thermal solutions
- DLSS 4 gameplay demonstrations
- Industrial robot applications
- Autonomous vehicle development tools
- Digital twin technology
- Video generation capabilities
- Image editing acceleration
- 3D model creation
- Improved Oryon CPU cores
- Enhanced AI capabilities
- Extended battery life claims
- Advanced driver assistance
- In-vehicle AI experiences
- Connected car features
- Potentially running SteamOS instead of Windows
- Improved controls
- Better battery life
- Direct Steam Deck competitor
- OLED panel technology
- Innovative form factor
- Productivity use cases
- Intel Panther Lake options
- AMD Ryzen AI 400 options
- Snapdragon X2 options
- SQD-Mini LED TVs
- NXTPAPER eye-care smartphones
- E-note tablets
- AR glasses
- Potential new foldable phone reveal
- Book-style fold (first for Motorola)
- PlayStation-branded monitor
- New Bravia TVs
- Audio products
- Advanced health wearables
- Medical-grade sensors
- Preventive health focus
- Quantum computing demonstrations
- AI + quantum integration
- Enterprise applications
Event Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Dates | January 6-9, 2026 |
| Location | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Main Venues | Las Vegas Convention Center, The Venetian Expo, Sphere, ARIA |
| Pre-show Media Events | January 4-5, 2026 |
| Registration | ces.tech |
The Las Vegas Convention Center recently completed a $600 million renovation, so expect upgraded facilities for 2026.
Major Keynotes and Presentations
Confirmed Keynotes
| Company | Speaker | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| NVIDIA | Jensen Huang | AI, robotics, gaming, content creation |
| AMD | Dr. Lisa Su | Ryzen AI, gaming, FSR advances |
| Samsung | TBD | “The First Look” – DX Division vision |
| LG | TBD | “Innovation in Tune with You” |
| Intel | TBD | Panther Lake launch, AI PCs |
Samsung – Galaxy Z TriFold and AI Everything
Samsung’s “The First Look” event will outline their Device Experience (DX) division vision for 2026.
Confirmed/Expected Announcements
Galaxy Z TriFold (US Debut)
The tri-fold phone that sold out in Korea finally comes to the US. This is Samsung’s most ambitious foldable yet:
New TV Technology
Samsung is expected to showcase:
Ballie Robot Update
The spherical home robot gets an update. Expect:
Bespoke AI Appliances
Samsung’s premium appliance line gets deeper AI integration:
LPDDR6 Memory Chips
Samsung’s semiconductor division will likely announce LPDDR6 specifications, previewing the memory standard for 2026-2027 devices.
My analysis: Samsung’s tri-fold phone is the headline, but the LPDDR6 announcement matters more long-term. Memory speed improvements unlock better AI performance, higher refresh rate displays, and faster multitasking. Watch this space.
LG – TVs, Robots, and “Affectionate Intelligence”
LG’s presentation, titled “Innovation in Tune with You,” emphasizes what they call “Affectionate Intelligence” – AI that adapts to emotional and contextual cues.
Expected Announcements
New OLED TVs
LG traditionally uses CES for major TV reveals:
Dolby Atmos Modular Soundbars
Modular sound systems that can be expanded or reconfigured – a unique approach for home audio.
CLOiD Home Robot
LG’s take on the home robot assistant:
ThinQ Smart Appliances
Deeper AI integration across LG’s smart home ecosystem.
Intel – Panther Lake and AI PCs
Intel is expected to officially launch its “Core Ultra Series 3” processors (Panther Lake) at CES 2026.
Panther Lake Specifications
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Process Node | Intel 18A |
| Target | Premium laptops |
| Focus | AI PC capabilities |
| NPU Performance | Significant improvement |
What “AI PC” Means
Intel’s pushing a specific definition:
Arc B770 Graphics (Rumored)
Intel may preview its next-generation Battlemage discrete graphics card, following the Arc A-series.
AMD – Ryzen AI 400 and FSR Redstone
AMD CEO Dr. Lisa Su’s keynote will focus on their AI and gaming roadmap.
Expected Announcements
Ryzen AI 400 Series (Gorgon Point)
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Architecture | Zen 5 cores |
| Graphics | RDNA 3.5 integrated |
| NPU | Next-gen AI engine |
| Target | AI-capable laptops |
FSR Redstone
AMD’s next-generation upscaling technology:
My reasoning here: AMD’s FSR technology has been playing catch-up to NVIDIA’s DLSS, but each generation closes the gap. If FSR Redstone achieves parity or near-parity with DLSS 4, it becomes a genuine alternative for the ~60% of gamers not on NVIDIA hardware.
NVIDIA – GeForce 50-Series and Robotics
Jensen Huang’s keynote is always a CES highlight. This year’s focus areas:
GeForce RTX 50-Series in Laptops
NVIDIA launched their 50-series desktop GPUs in late 2025. CES 2026 will likely feature:
Robotics and Simulation
NVIDIA’s Omniverse platform and robotics initiatives continue to expand:
Content Creation
New creative tools leveraging AI:
Qualcomm – Snapdragon X2 and Automotive
Qualcomm’s presence at CES 2026 focuses on both PC and automotive.
Snapdragon X2 Elite
The next generation of Qualcomm’s PC chips:
Snapdragon Digital Chassis
Updates to Qualcomm’s automotive platform:
Lenovo – The Sphere, Steam Deck Competitor
Lenovo is hosting their Tech World press conference at The Sphere venue – a statement about their ambitions.
Expected Announcements
Legion Go Gen 2 (Rumored)
A major revision of Lenovo’s handheld gaming device:
Rollable OLED Laptop (Rumored)
A laptop with a screen that can roll out for more display area:
ThinkPad and IdeaPad Updates
Standard laptop refreshes with:
My analysis: If Lenovo ships a Legion Go running SteamOS, that’s significant. Valve’s operating system has matured considerably, and a major OEM officially supporting it validates the platform. Windows handheld gaming has struggled with usability – SteamOS solves most of those problems.
Other Notable Announcements
TCL
Motorola
Sony
Withings and Ultrahuman
D-Wave
Key Themes for CES 2026
1. AI as Infrastructure
The shift from “AI features” to “AI embedded everywhere” is complete. Every product category – TVs, appliances, cars, wearables – will have AI as a core component rather than an add-on.
2. Humanoid and Home Robots
Samsung’s Ballie, LG’s CLOiD, and various others signal that home robots are moving from concept to product. 2026 might be the year robots become normal home appliances.
3. 2nm and Advanced Chips
Multiple manufacturers (Intel, potentially Samsung) will showcase chips on cutting-edge process nodes. The performance-per-watt improvements unlock new device categories and capabilities.
4. Foldables Go Mainstream
With Samsung’s tri-fold, potential Motorola book-fold, and various others, foldable phones are becoming a standard product category rather than novelty items.
5. Digital Health Maturation
Wearables are evolving from fitness tracking to genuine health monitoring. Medical-grade sensors in consumer devices could change preventive healthcare.
FAQ
Q: When is CES 2026?
A: January 6-9, 2026, with media events starting January 4.
Q: Where is CES 2026 held?
A: Las Vegas, Nevada. Main venues include the Las Vegas Convention Center, The Venetian Expo, Sphere, and ARIA.
Q: What’s the biggest announcement expected?
A: Subjectively – NVIDIA’s 50-series laptops for gamers, Samsung’s tri-fold for mobile enthusiasts, or Intel’s Panther Lake for PC users.
Q: Will Apple be at CES 2026?
A: Apple doesn’t exhibit at CES. Any Apple news during CES week would be coincidental.
Q: How can I attend CES 2026?
A: Registration is available at ces.tech. Industry badges require verification.
