CES is never understated, and 2026 was no different. The yearly technology exhibition in Las Vegas provides authentic insights into the future of consumer tech, along with imaginative ideas that exist solely because someone discovered how to create them.

Throughout the week, Mashable reporters spread out across the exhibition floor, exclusive demo rooms, and off-site displays to evaluate what truly mattered. From neurotechnology headphones that significantly enhanced reaction times to boldly ambitious hardware concepts from Lenovo, CES 2026 presented a plethora of devices worthy of attention.

If you couldn’t navigate the distractions, demonstrations, and occasional sensory overload, here are TK highlights that encapsulate the finest, quirkiest, and wildest experiences from CES 2026.

1. Neurable’s brain-sensing headphones

Neurable’s EEG-driven gaming headset was one of the few demos at CES where the outcomes felt quantifiable instead of speculative. During my testing of the headphones, I noticed a significant improvement in my reaction time after utilizing Neurable’s PRIME system, even in suboptimal demo conditions.

PRIME operates like a brief guided meditation, supported by real-time brain data, visualizing focus and cognitive load instantly. Neurable executives presented it as “training your brain like you train muscle memory,” and while it’s not magic, the enhancement felt substantial enough to distinguish itself in a venue filled with hollow promises.

2. Lenovo’s rollable, extendable laptops

Lenovo’s rollable laptops were more about showcasing the company’s capability to attempt what others shy away from than practicality. As recounted in Mashable’s hands-on account, the concepts feature displays that physically stretch upward or outward at the press of a button, turning a conventional laptop into something resembling a desktop monitor.

Lenovo representatives characterized them as investigations into “adaptive screen real estate,” but the true allure was witnessing the mechanics operate seamlessly in person. They remain concepts, but unusually refined ones, the type that appear closer to market release than Lenovo is suggesting.

3. Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold

Samsung’s Galaxy Z TriFold may not have been the most practical phone at CES, but it was undoubtedly the boldest. Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth had the opportunity to interact with the device and described it as the most akin to sci-fi foldables yet, unfolding into a tablet-sized display while still compact enough to fit in your pocket.

Samsung presented the TriFold as a vision of future possibilities rather than a product intended for the masses, particularly considering its rumored $2,500 cost. It’s a show-off move, but a calculated one.

4. ROG Xreal R1 AR gaming glasses

Xreal’s yet-to-be-released ROG Xreal R1 gaming glasses struck that rare CES sweet spot where a product seems merely one generation away from becoming mainstream. They are the first AR glasses in the world equipped with a 240 Hz display, and part of a collaboration between Xreal and Asus ROG. In Mashable’s demonstration, the glasses were lighter, sharper, and less contrived than previous wearable displays, providing clearer visuals with improved comfort and reduced latency.

They remain niche, but unlike earlier efforts, these didn’t feel like something you’d only endure for a few minutes on a conference floor.

5. TDM Neo Headphones

TDM’s Neo headphones embody classic CES energy in tangible form. With a simple twist, the earcups rotate outward, converting the headset into a pair of portable speakers, a feature that exists simply because someone deemed it should. Mashable’s analysis described them as part impractical and part delightful, with unexpectedly good sound quality at an accessible price.

You might not need them, but watching the transformation unfold is undeniably enjoyable, and sometimes that’s enough.

6. Lego Smart Brick

Lego making a genuinely new appearance at CES wasn’t anticipated, but here it is. As reported by Matt Binder and Timothy Beck Werth, Lego’s new Smart Play system incorporates sensors, lights, and sound into otherwise ordinary bricks, responding to motion, color, and placement in real-time.

In demonstrations, cars revved when nudged, ducks quacked when flipped, and entire structures reacted without any screen in sight. Lego claims it’s the most significant evolution of the brick since the minifigure, which may sound like marketing hype until you witness children racing smart Lego cars toward a finish-line trophy that knows the winner. “Lego Smart Play is the next thrilling chapter in our Lego System in Play,” said Lego CMO Julia Goldin, and for once, that doesn’t come off as an exaggeration.

7. Lollipop Star

CES wouldn’t be complete without a product that makes you pause mid-stride and exclaim, “Wait, what?” Introducing Lollipop Star, a literal lollipop that plays music through bone conduction while you enjoy it. Yes, indeed. As Stan Schroeder explains, the electronics are concealed within the stick, transmitting vibrations through your jaw directly to your inner ear.

At $8.99 each, this isn’t intended to