USA TODAY's 50 Top Picks for CES 2026

Article by Marc Saltzman, Special to USA TODAY.

I’ve seen the future in Las Vegas this week, and here’s one thing you can bet on: your tech is getting a lot smarter.

Artificial intelligence (AI) was one of the pervasive themes at the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show (now just called "CES"), which once again serves as a glimpse into the coming years.

(This is the show that first introduced the VCR in the ‘70s, the CD player in the ‘80s, HDTV in the ‘90s, and driverless cars a decade ago.)

For 2026, it’s AI everything – embedded in cars, televisions, laptops, robots, and even toothbrushes – if my time at the Las Vegas Convention Center and surrounding hotels and other facilities is any indication.

Let's take a closer look at USA TODAY's picks for the top innovations from the big tech show, divided into various categories.

This list covers extraordinary products that have earned USA TODAY’s “CES Top Picks” award. Many of our picks were based on hands-on demos, even if they were prototypes. In other instances, we weren’t able to try them out, but conceptually, they proved innovative and something we could see ourselves using in the future. 

Health & Fitness

Immersion Sound Chair by Samuelson Furniture

Though Samuelson Furniture boasts a 90-year legacy, the fourth-generation family brand turned heads at its CES debut with the Immersion Sound Chair.

While Bluetooth-integrated seating isn't new, especially for gamers, this high-back wing chair elevates the concept by delivering a truly private audio envelope without the "directional firing" speakers typical of gaming chairs. Specifically engineered for aging adults, the design aims to reduce hearing strain while supporting music therapy, cognitive wellness, and relaxation.

Read the full original article here.