The smart home landscape at CES 2026 has definitively shifted from seeking new categories to refining the essentials. Rather than introducing bizarre, untested gadgets, manufacturers like Aqara and Roborock focused on maturing core staples such as smart locks, robot vacuums, and lighting.
The standout theme of the show was accessibility and interoperability. As predicted, the widespread adoption of the Matter protocol is finally bearing fruit. Now that companies are no longer burdened by the heavy engineering cost of supporting dozens of competing ecosystems, that capital is being redirected toward lowering prices and significantly improving reliability.
Highlighting this practical evolution was Lockin’s massive wireless-charging V7 display, proving that even existing tech can still offer visual ‘wow’ factor. Ultimately, CES 2026 wasn’t about reinventing the wheel; it was about making the smart home finally work seamlessly for the average consumer.
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