What’s Exciting at CES 2026? The Rise of LEGO Smart Play, AI Toys, and Nerd Bait

Not every tech event needs reporting on, and with the CES 2026 show being debated on, it’s time to decide! Not everything is worth needing and the big talk is certainly on one thing: LEGO’s new Smart Play tech is shaping up to be a dream come true for TRON enthusiasts, especially when you think about how some past interactive concepts could be resurrected. That said, with Star Wars carrying far more mainstream momentum, it’s no surprise the first sets using this technology will land there before anywhere else.

These bricks are getting embedded microchips designed to trigger sound effects and blinking lights when placed near one another. At the show, the company staged a massive Death Star trench run experience in front of The Sphere, where visitors could “fly” a LEGO X-Wing in an attempt to destroy it. One can only imagine the sound, and the chaos, if crashing into the structure had been allowed. The cleanup alone would have been legendary. But only time will tell which other licensed properties will get smarter.

It’s an exciting prospect, but it also raises the question: what other electronic releases are out there to whet a geek’s appetite?

Below is a selection of products that are expected to release over the coming year. Whether they’re truly needed or simply tempting depends on the size of one’s wallet and tolerance for novelty. Several entries fall into the AI companion category, a concept long explored through animated shorts and science-fiction films. While we’re still a long way from anything approaching Asimov’s rules of robotics, self-awareness thankfully isn’t on the table yet. Still, here’s what’s coming.

8BitDo FlipPad

For the retro gaming purist, 8BitDo revealed the FlipPad, a USB-C controller designed specifically for portrait-mode gaming. It won’t be available until summer, but eager emulator fans may already be eyeing preorders.

The controller sits just a few millimetres away from the phone’s display, yet the buttons remain satisfyingly clicky, with good travel. The layout works well for simpler emulators like Mario. Not every game will cooperate, but for those chasing the tactile feel of old arcade cabinets, this is one to watch.

Arbiter Studio Godzilla Collection:
Mechagodzilla Keycap Set

This kind of cool is hard to ignore. Typing across the metallic back of Mechagodzilla might even make a few people feel like they’re reprogramming the beast itself. It’s not practical in any meaningful way, but for kaiju fans, resistance is futile.

Buddyo Smart Base

Buddyo positions its Smart Base as a way to bring existing collectibles, including Funko Pops, Amiibos, and even legacy Disney Infinity figures, into an interactive, AI-driven space. The device is presented as a smart pedestal that uses NFC tagging to associate a figure with a chosen identity, after which a built-in speaker and “AI personality” allow users to converse with the character.

What remains unclear is how the system actually recognises what’s placed on it in real time. Funko Pops do not contain embedded NFC chips. The only way possible is to assume they are not taken out of the box, and the sales barcode is visible. Without that clarity, the experience risks being less about right personality manifesting more AI roleplay triggered by user input.  Buddyo isn’t promising a Toy Story scenario, and to be fair, no current consumer tech can deliver that. With competing products already circling the same idea, execution and honesty will likely determine whether Buddyo feels magical or forgettable.

HeyMates AI Figures

CES is acting as a proving ground for this Kickstarter project, and if it succeeds, Funko may want to pay close attention. Early previews suggest a similar concept, but with designs that are noticeably cuter and far less blocky. The figures also appear to offer richer conversational personalities, promising more engagement than their closest competitor.

Ask Edison why E=mc² matters and you might get a playful, character-driven response, something closer to how they grouped together and were funny in Night at the Museum 2. If that charm gets delivered in this, HeyMates could end up feeling less like a novelty and more like a genuinely charming desk companion.

But the longer-term ambition is to license media personalities capable of learning from the user and having better interactive responses over time. That said, not everything at CES got inspired from the movies or television.

With the next group of product demos, Rosie from The Jetsons continues to feel less like fiction as domestic AI creeps forward. Whether that’s with the next generation of vaccuum cleaners or companions, let the buyer beware!

OlloNi “Cyber Pet” Robot,  An’An Bionic Panda, and Related Products

Originally introduced in 2025, An’An is being reintroduced as a companion-style device. Designed as a soft, responsive presence, it offers gentle conversation, reacts to touch, and provides a sense of being acknowledged. For older adults who may hesitate to burden family members with daily worries, this kind of judgment-free listening can quietly improve long stretches of solitude.

Baby FuFu & Slow Skateboarding AI Penguin

Baby FuFu supports interchangeable skins and, at CES, was demonstrated as a plastic bear toy that functions as a fan. Air is expelled through its mouth, with enclosed blades safely hidden behind a slit plate. Even if a curious finger finds its way toward the opening, it remains safe. While this alone isn’t a major selling point, toys designed with infant safety in mind often find unexpected creative uses later on.

Elsewhere, Beijing Walkarrive Technology believes it has something special with its AI-powered animal toys. These products use artificial intelligence to recognise their environment and adapt to user interaction. They can jump, make sounds, and react when they need feeding. There’s entertainment value here, though it’s hard not to feel a sense of déjà vu.

Improved Virtual Reality Headsets at CES 2026

At last, one of VR’s longest-standing complaints is being addressed. Headsets are shedding bulk and becoming easier to wear for longer sessions. Pimax VR is leading the charge with higher-resolution displays in slimmer housings, while Goertek isn’t far behind. Both offerings reportedly weigh under 200 grams and are already available for preorder, with initial shipments expected to begin by the end of the month.