Coverage from CES 2026 points to a “refinement year” for smart homes: more capable versions of familiar devices—locks, robot vacuums, lighting, cameras, and TVs—rather than brand-new categories. Reviewers highlighted standouts like Aqara’s Smart Lock U400 and Roborock’s Saros Rover robot vacuum, while also noting a broad wave of practical, buyable gadgets across the show floor. A key driver is Matter interoperability: with cross-platform compatibility improving, outlets argue companies can spend less effort on integrations and more on features and pricing, which could make smart-home setups simpler for everyday households. Ikea’s expanded smart-home push drew particular attention for emphasizing affordability and a larger product lineup, suggesting mainstream brands want to make smart t...
Coverage from CES 2026 points to a “refinement year” for smart homes: more capable versions of familiar devices—locks, robot vacuums, lighting, cameras, and TVs—rather than brand-new categories. Reviewers highlighted standouts like Aqara’s Smart Lock U400 and Roborock’s Saros Rover robot vacuum, while also noting a broad wave of practical, buyable gadgets across the show floor. A key driver is Matter interoperability: with cross-platform compatibility improving, outlets argue companies can spend less effort on integrations and more on features and pricing, which could make smart-home setups simpler for everyday households. Ikea’s expanded smart-home push drew particular attention for emphasizing affordability and a larger product lineup, suggesting mainstream brands want to make smart tech feel more approachable in 2026.
Highlights:
- Security refresh: Home-security tech at CES 2026 included new approaches that CNET framed as potential “game-changers” for home safety, reflecting a strong focus on day-to-day protection and easier monitoring.
- Wireless charging locks: The Verge singled out a show-floor “giant version” of Lockin’s wirelessly charged V7 smart lock as a crowd-grabbing demo, signaling ongoing experimentation in making entry systems lower-maintenance.
- Buyable picks: ZDNET’s roundup emphasized “useful” devices the reviewer would purchase, suggesting the show leaned toward practical upgrades rather than far-off concepts.
- Ikea’s value bet: CNET described Ikea’s 2026 smart-home move as “full of promise” and centered on affordability, positioning it as a budget-friendly on-ramp for people who haven’t tried smart devices yet.
Perspectives:
- The Verge (smart home reviewer): CES 2026’s big smart-home trend was better features and lower prices in staples, helped by Matter reducing the burden of multi-platform integration. (The Verge)
- ZDNET (smart home reviewer): The most compelling CES smart-home products were practical and “useful,” the kind of devices the reviewer would actually buy. (ZDNET)
- CNET (Ikea smart home coverage): Ikea’s CES-era smart-home expansion stands out for aiming at very affordable products and a broader push into the category. (CNET)
- CNET (home security coverage): CES 2026 home-security announcements point to new product ideas that could materially change how consumers think about home safety this year. (CNET)
Sources:
- These are the smart home gadgets that impressed me at CES 2026 - theverge.com
- The 13 most useful smart home devices I've seen at CES 2026 (and would buy if I could) - zdnet.com
- Would You Let Ikea Take Over Your Smart Home in 2026? After CES, I Would - cnet.com
- Would You Let Ikea Take Over Your Smart Home in 2026? After CES, I Would - CNET - google.com