The smart home landscape at CES 2026 wasn’t defined by radical new categories, but rather by a crucial shift toward value and interoperability. The standout trend this year was manufacturers optimizing existing staples—locks, lighting, and cameras—offering better features at significantly lower prices.
While the floor was packed with gadgets, Aqara’s Smart Lock U400 and Roborock’s Saros Rover emerged as the “Best in Show,” setting a high bar for reliability and innovation. However, the broader narrative is the maturation of the Matter protocol. Now that integration headaches are fading, companies are redirecting R&D budgets from compatibility struggles to actual hardware improvements. Add in eye-catching novelties like Lockin’s giant wirelessly charged V7 lock, and it’s clear the industry is finally prioritizing user experience over hype.
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