Top Smart Home Gadgets That Stole the Show at CES 2026
I chose Aqara’s Smart Lock U400 and Roborock’s Saros Rover robot vacuum as the top smart home gadgets from CES 2026, but there was an overwhelming array of impressive tech on display.
This year marked a significant leap for smart home devices, with a focus not on new categories but on enhancing existing staples like smart lighting, locks, cameras, and TVs while making them more affordable.
The launch of the interoperability protocol Matter has paved the way for this progress. With companies no longer bogged down by the need to integrate with multiple platforms, they can now concentrate on innovating and reducing costs. As more Matter-compatible devices emerge, I anticipate even greater advancements.
Here’s a glimpse at some standout gadgets from the show floor:
**Ikea’s Varmblixt Smart Donut Lamp**
This charming lamp adds a playful touch to any smart home. It comes with a paired Bliresa remote for adjusting the warmth of its white LED lighting and cycling through 12 preset colors. For more control, connect it to Ikea’s HomeSmart app via the Dirigera hub, enabling Matter-over-Thread connectivity for additional color options and brightness controls. Priced at $99.99, it’s set to launch in April 2026.
**Lifx’s Smart Mirror**
This stunning smart mirror combines functionality with vibrant lighting. It features front and back LEDs to illuminate your face and create ambient effects. With four buttons for controlling a de-fogging feature and a makeup check, it cycles through daylight colors to help you look your best. Three buttons can be customized to control other Lifx devices or any Matter-connected smart home items. Launching in Q2 for under $200.
**Aqara Thermostat Hub W200**
Aqara’s first thermostat for the US doubles as a smart home hub, utilizing dual-band Wi-Fi, Thread, and Zigbee to connect various Matter devices. Its touchscreen serves as a video doorbell viewer, displaying snapshots from a connected Aqara doorbell and allowing you to unlock your door directly from the screen. It features mmWave presence sensing to save energy and supports Apple’s Adaptive Temperature and Clean Energy Guidance. Pricing is still pending, but it’s expected to be mid-range.
**Lockin V7 Max Smart Lock**
This advanced mortise door lock showcases Lockin’s new AuraCharge wireless charging technology. The V7 Max uses a small puck for wireless optical charging, enabling features that traditional locks can’t offer. It includes three biometric unlocking methods, dual external cameras for a video doorbell, and an AI system for monitoring your front door. It supports Matter for seamless integration with your smart home. Pricing is yet to be announced, but it’s expected to be on the higher end.
**LG’s Cloid Home Robot**
LG introduced CLOiD, a robot designed to enhance smart homes by performing tasks that traditional appliances can’t. It can fold laundry, load washers, and manage ovens, all while orchestrating appliances through an integrated LG ThinQ smart home hub. If it ever hits the market, it could work with any Matter or HCA-compatible devices.
**GE Lighting Smart Shades**
These stylish smart roller blinds are easy to install and utilize Matter over Thread for reliable connectivity. GE Lighting revamped a high-end product to create an affordable option that doesn’t require a proprietary hub. Starting at just over $300 for a 24-inch shade, they come in two colors and offer light-filtering or blackout options.
**Aqara G350 Matter Camera**
Aqara’s dual-lens G350 indoor camera is one of the first to support the Matter 1.5 spec. It functions as a Matter controller, Thread border router, and Zigbee hub, offering 360-degree, 4K coverage with a 9x zoom. Footage can be stored on a microSD card or via Aqara’s cloud service, with compatibility for various Matter platforms.
**GE Profile’s Smart Fridge**
The GE Profile Smart 4-Door French-Door Refrigerator features a built-in Android tablet for managing shopping lists, recipes, and meal planning. A camera inside the fridge allows you to see what’s in your produce drawers, and voice control makes adding items to your list easy. The panel is replaceable, ensuring you won’t be stuck with outdated tech.
**Amazon’s Ember Artline TV**
Amazon’s Ember Artline TV offers a stylish alternative to traditional TVs, featuring swappable frames and built-in Alexa voice control. It includes a mmWave sensor for smart home integration and a redesigned FireTV interface for easy access to connected devices. Launching this spring, it starts at $899 for sizes ranging from 55 to 65 inches.
