CES 2026 has been filled with significant announcements, including progress in AI chip technology and notable product launches, but the Vegas tech convention is also renowned for highlighting unusual technologies. At Mashable, we have a fondness for quirky tech and odd gadgets, and CES 2026 has certainly met our expectations. Our team is onsite in Vegas exploring all the eccentricities on the showroom floor—here are six of the most peculiar and entertaining items we’ve come across.
Check out the complete list of Best of CES 2026 finalists, as chosen by CNET Group, here.
Teeth music
Have you ever thought about how your music preferences might be expressed? Now you can discover, more or less. The Lollipop Star is a gadget that plays music through your teeth. The company offers $9 lollipops that employ bone conduction to transmit sound to your inner ear while you relish a sugary delight. For less than ten bucks, you can purchase your favorite track and savor a novelty treat. Not a terrible deal.
Brain-sensing headphones
Neurable exhibited headphones at CES that assess your cognitive speed. The concept is that gamers, in particular, could monitor their reaction times and thought processes. Utilizing this information, the company has crafted a system aimed at enhancing your concentration. Mashable’s Chance Townsend evaluated it and found it rather impressive. “The sensation afterward was pleasantly surprising, all things considered,” Townsend noted. “Everything on screen felt marginally slower, yet I was responding more swiftly.”
Headphones that transform into speakers
In homage to retro gadgetry, new audio brand TDM unveiled headphones at CES 2026 that can morph into a speaker. It’s a smart idea—transition from private listening to sharing with a simple motion.
A vibrating chef’s knife
Mashable’s Haley Henschel tried out Seattle Ultrasonics’ C-200 UltraSonic Chef’s Knife, which vibrates to facilitate easier cutting. Although the vibrations are almost imperceptible, they assist in achieving more efficient slicing. Henschel commented, “I had no difficulty making paper-thin slices of tomato with a gentle touch. Seattle Ultrasonics’ representative compared it to riding a bike versus pedaling an e-bike, as it makes your endeavor much simpler.” The $399 knife could prove advantageous for many home cooks, particularly those with physical disabilities or limitations.
Panda companion bots
In a bit of quirky yet endearing technology, Mind With Heart Robotics unveiled its AI-powered panda An’An. The aim is for this cuddly companion to serve as an interactive friend for elderly individuals facing cognitive decline or children honing their social skills.
The AI soulmate
Chinese company Lepro presented its Ami device at CES 2026, featuring a desktop OLED screen that houses an AI “soulmate” for companionship. The company promoted the Ami as a friend that would exhibit empathy and form deeper connections with its users. Granting an AI companion a physical presence is certainly a fascinating choice. Mashable’s Chance Townsend wrote, “Most AI companions today reside where everything else already does: your phone, your browser, your notifications. They blend into the same endless scroll that’s already wearing us out. Lepro Ami, in contrast, requires a dedicated space on your desk. It doesn’t accompany you everywhere. You need to choose to have it around.”
CES consistently delivers some truly marvelous and bizarre technologies—thankfully, 2026 provided in both categories.
Want to explore more of the most intriguing tech at CES 2026? The finalists for the Best of CES 2026 awards have been revealed. Check out the nominees and find out when the winners will be announced.
Visit the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news and live updates from the premier tech show, where Mashable journalists are reporting live.