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When I asked Lenovo CEO Yang Yuanqing what he'd say to AI skeptics at CES 2026, where AI has been a constant topic of conversation, he summed it up simply: "Nobody can avoid it."

Last night, at a live keynote event at The Sphere in Las Vegas, Lenovo leaders announced a personal AI assistant called Qira designed to work across Lenovo and Motorola devices, along with a new line of futuristic AI laptops and devices. Unsurprisingly, artificial intelligence has been the dominant theme at CES 2026, with companies like Lenovo and Samsung outlining a vision of a future in which AI is integrated into every aspect of our lives, from sunrise to sunset.

AI wearables, like the concept Project Maxwell AI wearable Lenovo announced at CES, will see and hear everything you see and hear to better assist you. Meanwhile, AI will be integrated across every device. CES has brought us AI smartphones, AI laptops, AI TVs, AI washing machines — AI, essentially, everything.

The morning after the Lenovo Tech World Event at The Sphere, I got the chance to participate in a question-and-answer session with Yang and Lenovo’s Chief Technology Officer, Tolga Kurtoglu. So, I asked them what they would say to AI skeptics. 

What about the consumers who don't want AI to see and hear everything they do? Who don't want an AI washing machine or refrigerator?

"I strongly believe AI will be the trend," Yang said. "Nobody can avoid it. But AI will not replace you; it will only empower you, empower each of us, so that is why we think utilization will help you so that you can do more, be more creative. So that will be the trend that you cannot avoid."

Kurtoglu also had a blunt answer: "I don’t see a world without AI."

Lenovo CEO Yang Yuanqing and Chief Technology Officer Tolga Kurtoglu speak to the media at CES 2026. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

However, Kurtoglu also emphasized the importance of responsible AI development in Lenovo’s approach.

“One of the fundamental principles with which we develop AI is our belief in responsible AI. Of course, there are guardrails and very strict processes that we follow as a company as we build our own AI. And then globally and locally, there are regulations and compliance requirements about privacy and security and other things that we follow very strictly,” Kurtoglu said.

Check out the full list of Best of CES 2026 finalists, as selected by CNET Group, here.

Likewise, Lenovo stressed the opt-in nature of Qira and its AI tools repeatedly during its keynote at The Sphere, and Kurtoglu echoed this sentiment to Mashable. "If you want to participate and get the value-add[ed] that AI brings to you, you opt in, and you give your permission, and then you get what the AI enables for you. Otherwise, if you don’t want to participate, of course, it’s all up to you. We’re going to continue to follow our strong belief in responsible AI development.”

However, as AI gets integrated into virtually all types of hardware, opting out isn’t so simple. Lenovo itself states that AI PCs will account for 70 percent of the global market by 2028. Laptops and smartphones are following a similar trend, although not all consumers share the same enthusiasm for AI as industry leaders. In a recent survey, CNET found that just 11 percent of smartphone users upgrade their devices because they want to take advantage of new AI tools. (Disclosure: CNET and Mashable are both owned by Ziff Davis.)

During the media Q&A, Yang also addressed concerns that we’re approaching an AI bubble, downplaying these concerns.

"We believe AI is not a bubble," Yang said. “The demand will be booming, so everybody will have their personal AI, and every enterprise will need to leverage their data to generate intelligence. So, the demand is just beginning. It’s not a bubble at all."

Head to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news and live updates from the biggest show in tech, where Mashable journalists are reporting live.

On Wednesday, SAG-AFTRA announced the nominations for the 32nd Annual Actor Awards (formerly known as the SAG Awards), and there are two frontrunners: One Battle After Another and Sinners.

SEE ALSO: The 25 best movies of 2025, and where to stream them

Fresh off its Critics Choice Award win for Best Picture, One Battle After Another picked up a record-breaking seven nominations, including nods for Leonardo DiCaprio, Chase Infiniti, Benicio Del Toro, Sean Penn, and Teyana Taylor, as well as nominations for the entire cast and the stunt ensemble. Following closely on its heels is Sinners, which earned five nominations, for Michael B. Jordan, Miles Caton, Wunmi Mosaku, the entire cast, and the stunt ensemble.

One Battle After Another and Sinners have been the two frontrunners going into the 2026 awards season, and with both films' considerable Actor Awards nominations, that race shows no signs of letting up. Other contenders on the film side include Frankenstein, Hamnet, and Marty Supreme. On the TV side, The Studio leads with five nominations, while The White Lotus and Adolescence each picked up four.

Read on for the full list of nominations for the 2026 Actor Awards presented by SAG-AFTRA.

Film nominationsOutstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

Frankenstein

Hamnet

Marty Supreme

One Battle After Another

Sinners

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

Timothée Chalamet, Marty Supreme

Leonardo DiCaprio, One Battle After Another

Ethan Hawke, Blue Moon

Michael B. Jordan, Sinners

Jesse Plemons, Bugonia

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role

Jessie Buckley, Hamnet

Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You

Kate Hudson, Song Sung Blue

Chase Infiniti, One Battle After Another

Emma Stone, Bugonia

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role

Miles Caton, Sinners

Benicio Del Toro, One Battle After Another

Jacob Elordi, Frankenstein

Paul Mescal, Hamnet

Sean Penn, One Battle After Another

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role

Odessa A’Zion, Marty Supreme

Ariana Grande, Wicked: For Good

Amy Madigan, Weapons

Wunmi Mosaku, Sinners

Teyana Taylor, One Battle After Another

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture

F1

Frankenstein

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning

One Battle After Another

Sinners

TV nominationsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

The Diplomat

Landman

The Pitt

Severance

The White Lotus

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

Abbott Elementary

The Bear

Hacks

Only Murders in the Building

The Studio

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series

Sterling K. Brown, Paradise

Billy Crudup, The Morning Show

Walton Goggins, The White Lotus

Gary Oldman, Slow Horses

Noah Wyle, The Pitt

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series

Britt Lower, Severance

Parker Posey, The White Lotus

Keri Russell, The Diplomat

Rhea Seehorn, Pluribus

Aimee Lou Wood, The White Lotus

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series

Ike Barinholtz, The Studio

Adam Brody, Nobody Wants This

Ted Danson, A Man on the Inside

Seth Rogen, The Studio

Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series

Kathryn Hahn, The Studio

Catherine O’Hara, The Studio

Jenna Ortega, Wednesday

Jean Smart, Hacks

Kristen Wiig, Palm Royale

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a TV Movie or Limited Series

Jason Bateman, Black Rabbit

Owen Cooper, Adolescence

Stephen Graham, Adolescence

Charlie Hunnam, Monster: The Ed Gein Story

Matthew Rhys, The Beast in Me

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a TV Movie or Limited Series

Claire Danes, The Beast in Me

Erin Doherty, Adolescence

Sarah Snook, All Her Fault

Christine Tremarco, Adolescence

Michelle Williams, Dying for Sex

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series

Andor

Landman

The Last of Us

Squid Game

Stranger Things

The Actor Awards presented by SAG-AFTRA stream live on Netflix on March 1 at 8 p.m. ET.

LG and SwitchBot can promise chores-doing robots all they want, but robot vacuums are still the most practical way to automate a household task by far. A handful of promising new robot vacuums have been announced at CES 2026 so far, and they're not trying too hard to be fancy like they were in 2025. The emphasis is on more vigorous cleaning power and more flawless navigation around the home — the factors that actually determine whether a robot vacuum can be more reliable than a manual vacuum.

SEE ALSO: 8 gadgets from CES 2026 that you can buy right now: Dell, Xreal, Soundcore, more

Below, I'm breaking down the most important vacuum news out of CES as of Jan. 7, from the best robot vacuums announced to intel about upcoming cordless vacuum innovations. Feel free to scroll leisurely or use the table of contents to drop down to a specific brand.

Roborock Credit: Roborock Credit: Roborock

Roborock didn't try to right the wrongs of the Saros Z70's wonky mechanical crane arm from last year. Instead, the brand focused on improving the other already-great 2025 Saros robot vacuums with the new Saros 20 and Saros 20 Sonic. Roborock also introduced the Qrevo Curv Flow 2, its first roller mop robot vacuum.

The "sonic" difference between the Saros 20 and Saros 20 Sonic has to do with the mopping mechanism. The Saros 20 Sonic takes a risk by stepping away from spinning mopping pads and going back to Roborock's VibraRise flat mopping pad system, but with a much-needed twist: sonic scrubbing along edges.

The vibrating mopping pad of the Saros 20 Sonic physically extends out past the round part of the vacuum, cleaning as close as zero millimeters against baseboards or furniture legs. That level of precise edge scrubbing is much of the reason that the Roborock Saros 10R was my favorite robot vacuum for most of 2025. If the Saros 20 Sonic's extendable sonic mop is just as meticulous as the Saros 10R's hinged spinning mopping pad, it's an automatic contender for best robot vacuum mop combo of 2026.

SEE ALSO: As an anxious cat mom, I love my robot vacuum with a livestream camera

The Roborock Saros 20 offers the same wicked 35,000 Pa suction power that the Sonic model does, but mops with dual rotating pads instead. Both vacuums automatically adjust their chassis height based on floor type in order to administer optimal airflow for debris pickup, including a special Deep Carpet Cleaning mode for plush carpets up to 1.2 inches thick. Based on the release prices of last year's models, I could see the Saros 20 costing the same $1,599.99 as the Saros 10 and 10R, and the Saros 20 Sonic costing $1,699.99 or $1,799.99.

The Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow also claims pro corner cleaner with a roller mop that automatically pops out when a wall edge or corner is detected. Since it's Roborock's first stab at a roller mop robot vacuum, I'm curious to see how it'll compare to my experiences with roller mop models like the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller or Eufy E28. Unfortunately, the Qrevo Curv 2 Flow's 20,000 Pa of suction power is surprisingly low for a 2026 CES debut. At any rate, it will be available to buy starting Jan. 19, with an opening promotional price of $849. After Feb. 1, the Qrevo Curv 2 Flow will cost $999.

A legitimate stairs-climbing robot vacuum from Roborock has also been confirmed. The Saros Rover will be a two-wheel robot vac that can raise and lower independently of each other in a motion that mimics human walking. It is officially in development, but there's no time frame or price point talk as of now.

Narwal Credit: Narwal Credit: Narwal

Narwal staggered announcements of the new versions of its two main botvac series: The newest Narwal Freo came out in September, and now, the Narwal Flow 2 is the flagship representing Narwal at CES 2026. The big difference is the roller mop.

It looks like Narwal's signature millennial gray is here to stay, though the Flow 2's gold accents and frosted glass panel do give it a more premium look than the Freo Z10 Ultra. The Narwal Flow 2 is also the higher-end pick in terms of cleaning power: The Flow 2 is a sturdy roller mop robot vacuum that scrubs with hot water and rinses itself mid-cleaning as the roller gets dirty. Water flow and scrubbing time are determined in real time as the Narwal assesses the type of dirt and mess level in its cleaning path. The Flow 2's 30,000 Pa of suction power initially positions it as the better choice over the Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow. If this Narwal ends up costing less than $1,000, it's the new roller mop robot vacuum to beat.

Narwal also introduced "Family-First Scenario Modes," like Pet Care Mode, which includes auto pet zone cleaning, find my pet, and smart pet video calling, and Baby Care Mode, where the robot automatically switches to quiet mode near the crib.

Dreame The X60 Max Ultra has stronger suction power than the Aqua10 Ultra Roller. Credit: Dreame The Dreame Cyber 10 Ultra looks like something we've seen before. Credit: Dreame

Dreame already unveiled a chunk of its new vacuum lineup in August, including the flagship Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller. With 30,000 Pa of suction power, that was the most powerful robot vacuum mop combo on the market for a few months... until Dreame outdid itself with the X60 Max Ultra at CES. Like the Roborock Saros 20 models, the Dreame X60 Max Ultra has 35,000 Pa suction power

But wait, that wasn't the only robot vacuum Dreame teased at CES 2026. This year, it's Dreame — not Roborock — who's trying to make a robot vacuum with an arm happen. The Dreame Cyber 10 Ultra and its CyberDex HyperFlex Arm made a brief appearance at CES demos, where it was apparently able to successfully pick up a ball. The arm's total weight limit is 500 grams (just over one pound), which should make it a more worthwhile object picker-upper than the Roborock Saros Z70's 300-gram max. Dreame calls the Cyber 10 Ultra the "first-ever robot vacuum with autonomous tool-utility technology, able to take out and use tools like a human and to execute with robotic perfection."

Whatever that means past picking up balls is still up in the air. We'll find out more when Dreame gives more info on its official release. A legitimate stairs-climbing Dreame vacuum, the Cyber X, is also in the works.

Cordless vacuums announced at CES The green light is giving Dyson, but it's actually Narwal's first stick vacuum. Credit: Narwal Tineco's folding wet-dry vacuum weighs under eight pounds. Credit: Tineco

If you trust stick vacuums more than robot vacuums, several new cordless stick vacuum options also just hit the scene at CES, along with a handful of cordless wet-dry vacuums. And none of them are Dyson — Dyson did announce a slew of new vacuums at its Dyson Unveiled event in September, but it wasn't present at CES 2026. And while we're still waiting on confirmed prices and release dates for those new Dyson vacuums, other vacuum brands just made the competition a whole lot closer.

Roborock

Along with three new flagship robot vacuums, Roborock also announced the F25 Ace Pro. It's an upscaled version of its current F25 Ace Combo wet-dry vacuum and self-washing station that now features Roborock's JetFoaming technology, said to produce millions of microbubbles to dissolve and lift stains better than a typical squirt of liquid solution. The F25 Ace Pro will retail for $699 after a brief early bird discount to $549.99 between Jan. 19 and Jan. 30.

Dreame

Though Dreame announced more than one cordless vac with its August announcement, it did save its new Aero series cordless models for CES. There are two Aero iterations: the regular Aero, a cordless wet-dry vacuum with a dual tank roller mop that prevents cross contamination and a self-cleaning base, and the Aero Pro, with enhanced battery life over the Aero and 185-degree Fahrenheit hot water self-cleaning. Both feature a 180-degree hinge to lay flat for cleaning under low-clearance furniture.

SEE ALSO: CES 2026: The Dreamie phone-free sleep device wants to help you stop doomscrolling before bed Tineco

Surprisingly enough, Tineco is one popular vacuum brand that hasn't dabbled in robotic cleaning yet. But the family of cordless cleaners debuted at CES seems quite robust. The most unique is the Tineco i7 Fold: It weighs less than eight pounds (super compact for a duo wet-dry vacuum) and can fold 180 degrees flat to wash hard-to-reach floors under furniture, which may typically have only been accessed by a mopping robot vacuum.

Tineco also debuted three versions of the new Floor One S9 series. The Floor One S9 Scientist is decked out with LED accents and bold lighting ("cyberpunk" was mentioned in the press release) and features smart mess detection and high-temperature deep cleaning. The Floor One S9 Artist is aimed toward more design-forward living spaces and features high-pressure angled water, a StreakFree Scraper, and a self-cleaning station that automatically replenishes hot water and dries the mop. The Floor One S9 Master is being coined as Tineco's highest level of performance, complete with a green dust-revealing headlight.

Narwal

Narwal doesn't just want to be a competitive name in the robot vacuum space. The brand's CES spread also included its first cordless vacuums, plus an interesting cordless mattress deep cleaner. The Narwal V50 is a compact auto-emptying stick vacuum that weighs just 3.1 pounds — about two pounds lighter than the Dyson V12 Detect Slim. The launch also teases an ultra-slim slim unnamed Narwal vac with double-headed green lights, resembling the upcoming Dyson Pencilvac.

Head to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news and live updates from the biggest show in tech, where Mashable journalists are reporting live. 

If you don't regularly wear glasses, why would you ever wear AI-powered smart glasses? That's the question posed to us by Razer at CES 2026 this year – and it's a good point!

This is why Razer has been working on a new wearable that the company unveiled at CES this week called Project Motoko, an AI-powered headset.

Project Motoko is very much in the prototype stage, without any scheduled release date or price point currently in mind. Razer gave Mashable an up-close look at the Project Motoko during a private demo at CES, and some of you might hope that Razer hurries along with that release after hearing about our experience.

Credit: Mashable A headset that sees the world around you

With Project Motoko, Razer has essentially inserted a full-fledged AI assistant into a pair of headphones. The headset is powered by Snapdragon and features two dual eye-level cameras outfitted in the device for contextual awareness. 

To showcase what these capabilities for Project Motoko mean, Razer provided a fictional scenario where we were traveling in Japan and pulled out a restaurant menu that was written in Japanese. The Project Motoko headset was able to read the menu thanks to its cameras, and translate the menu to us via audio within the headphone set. We were then able to ask Project Motoko questions about the menu such as which flavors were available or if we could afford a certain menu item based on the amount of money we had available to us. Project Motoko answered our questions and even suggested an alternative menu item when informing us that our item of choice was out of our budget.

In another example during the demo, Project Motoko was able to recognize a physical replica of the Rosetta Stone and provide corresponding information about that.

As explained by Razer, Project Motoko is not tied to any specific AI model and can be used with the user's large language model (LLM) of choice.

AI headphones vs smart glasses

Razer thinks there are quite a number of bonuses to having an AI assistant in your headphones rather than your smart glasses. The demo showed off another one: The AI assistant is talking to the user within the headphone set. With smart glasses, it's much easier for people to eavesdrop on what your AI assistant is telling you.

However, as a headset, Project Motoko is missing one central feature that smart glasses can provide: A display. Yes, that seems obvious but it's also important to point out. But, when you consider that not all smart glasses even provide an in-lens display feature, it might not be a dealbreaker.

Razer's inspiration here is clearly that the company believes that more potential customers wear headphones throughout their day than a pair of glasses or even a watch. Plus, users who want AI wearables want ones that feel like products they already utilize. And, in our hands-on with Project Motoko, it just felt like a regular pair of headphones. It seems like Razer is on to something here.

Head to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news and live updates from the biggest show in tech, where Mashable journalists are reporting live.

The Pitt fans, rejoice! HBO Max's Emmy–winning medical drama returns Thursday, Jan. 8, meaning your favorite doctors and nurses are almost back and ready to tackle every gruesome injury this new shift throws at them.

SEE ALSO: 'The Pitt' Season 2 review: Big changes ahead for Noah Wyle's stellar medical drama

Since The Pitt is such a buzzy show, and since social media is bound to be crawling with spoilers as soon as it airs, we recommend watching live in order to experience The Pitt's twists and turns to their fullest extent. So what time does Season 2 premiere?

The Pitt's Season 2 premiere kicks off at 9 p.m. ET on HBO Max, after which it will be available for streaming. The rest of the season will follow the same schedule: Each new episode premieres at 9 p.m. ET on Thursdays, with the finale airing April 16.

Season 2 of The Pitt picks up months after the end of Season 1, taking viewers into a very eventful July 4th shift. Not only does the Emergency Department have to contend with some gnarly holiday-related injuries — think of all the ways grilling or fireworks can backfire! — but they're also on the brink of massive change. Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch (Emmy winner Noah Wyle) is about to head out on a three-month sabbatical, and his replacement attending, Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi (Sepideh Moafi), already has new ideas about how to improve the department.

So what does the future have in store for the ED? Tune into The Pitt Season 2 to find out.

The Pitt Season 2 premieres Jan. 8 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO Max.

CES turns Las Vegas into the epicenter of the tech world every January, bringing together industry giants and scrappy startups alike to debut the ideas that will shape the year ahead. From cutting-edge AI and robotics to TVs, laptops, and some truly weird tech, CES 2026 delivered no shortage of bold claims and ambitious hardware.

Now, we’re excited to announce our official Best of CES 2026 finalists.

Selected on the ground in Las Vegas, these finalists represent the most compelling, innovative, and forward-thinking products at the show. They were hand-picked by more than 40 expert journalists from CNET, Mashable, PCMag, ZDNET, and Lifehacker, with additional input from Ziff Davis sister sites Everyday Health and IGN.

To qualify, products had to be official CES 2026 exhibitors and stand out by introducing a meaningful new idea, solving a real consumer problem, or raising the bar for performance, design, or quality. The result is a finalist list that spans 22 categories, from AI and robotics to wellness, sustainability, and future tech.

Best of CES 2026 Finalist Categories

• Best Age Tech

• Best AI

• Best Audio

• Best Deep Computing Tech

• Best Energy Tech

• Best Future Tech

• Best Gaming

• Best Kitchen Tech

• Best Laptop

• Best Mobile Tech

• Best Parent Tech

• Best Pet Tech

• Best Robot

• Best Smart Home Tech

• Best Startup

• Best Sustainability

• Best Transportation

• Best Travel Tech

• Best TV or Home Theater

• Best Weird Tech

• Best Wellness Tech

• Best Yard or Outdoor Tech

The official Best of CES 2026 winners will be announced live today, Wednesday, Jan. 7, at 4 p.m. PST on the CTA stage at the LVCC Central Hall Grand Lobby.

After the ceremony, we'll update this page with the full list of winners — so check back soon.

With CES 2026 in full swing, we've already seen a slew of product announcements from Taiwanese tech giant Acer. From new laptops to an electric scooter, there's a lot of new tech to look forward to this year from the brand. One thing we're particularly pumped about is the lineup of new gaming monitors.

Acer unleashed three new monitors at CES on Monday to fulfill gamers' needs for speed, precision, performance, and of course, aesthetics. Whether you're seeking the absolute fastest refresh rate, gorgeous imagery, or a mix of the two, the latest releases are sure to satisfy. While none are available for purchase quite yet, we've broken down all the details we know so far — including the price and timeline of when they'll be up for grabs.

Be sure to follow along with Mashable's live CES 2026 updates for the latest and greatest announcements all week long.

Acer Predator XB273U F6 gaming monitor

First up is the Predator XB273U F6, a 27-inch, 2560 x 1440 QHD IPS panel with an ultra-fast 500Hz refresh rate ideal for high-level esports. That refresh rate can jump to an astonishing 1000Hz if you use the Dynamic Frequency and Resolution (DFR) mode, which lowers the resolution to 1280 x 720. Motion blur and ghosting? Never heard of them. Other specs include a 2,000:1 native contrast ratio and 350 nit brightness, two HDMI 2.1 ports, a DisplayPort 1.4, audio out, and dual integrated 2-watt speakers, an ergonomic and adjustable stand, and a remote control smart dial for convenience.

"With its 500 Hz refresh rate, advanced IPS technology, and 1000 Hz dynamic mode, it delivers both speed and visual fidelity that redefine what competitive gamers can expect from a monitor," said Charles Wang, Senior Manager, Product Management, Digital Displays at Acer.

The Predator XB273U F6 will be available sometime in the spring of 2026 starting at $799.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Acer Acer Predator XB273U F6 gaming monitor starting at $799.99 Learn More Acer Predator X34 F3 curved gaming monitor

For those who prefer their games to physically wrap around them, Acer has announced a new Predator X34 F3 QD-OLED curved gaming monitor. It packs a more modest (but still great) 360Hz refresh rate, a 34-inch curved QD-OLED panel with a native resolution of 3440 x 1440, a 0.03 ms gray-to-gray response time, and an 1800R curvature for breathtaking clarity, lightning-fast responsiveness, and truly immersive gaming. Its ideal for both competitive players and content creators, as the 99% DCI-P3 color gamut, 1.07 billion color support, 500 nit peak brightness, and 1,000,000,000:1 Adaptive Contrast Management (ACM) ratio deliver gorgeous highlights, deep blacks, and vibrant colors all around. Other perks include ergonomic tilt, swivel, and height adjustment, and dual 5-watt integrated speakers.

The Predator X34 F3 will also be available this spring for a starting price of $1,199.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Acer Acer Predator X34 F3 curved gaming monitor Starting at $1,199.99 Learn More Acer Nitro XV270X P gaming monitor

Finally, we have a new Acer Nitro gaming monitor, the XV270X P. This 27-inch IPS monitor combines creator-grade 5K resolution with esports-level 330Hz performance. Sure, that's not as high of a refresh rate as the other newly announced monitors, but it's still a beast of a monitor. And as our friends at PCMag (also owned by Ziff Davis) pointed out, casual gamers probably won't notice a huge difference beyond the 240Hz mark (at least on a laptop). At 5120 x 2880 (5K) resolution, it'll run at 165Hz via HDMI 2.1 or DisplayPort 1.4 for crystal-clear details and vibrant imagery. When you need fluidity and responsiveness for gameplay, it offers a blazing-fast 2560 x 1440 at 330 Hz.

Other features include AMD FreeSync Premium, a 0.5 ms minimum GTG response time, a 1,000,000,000:1 native contrast ratio, up to 400 nit peak brightness, 95% DCI-P3 color gamut, dual 2-watt speakers, and an ergonomic stand with tilt, swivel, and height adjustments.

The Nitro XV270X P gaming monitor will hit shelves this spring with a starting price of $799.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Acer Acer Nitro XV270X P gaming monitor Starting at $799.99 Learn More

If you're in need of a new gaming monitor and simply cannot wait for the new products to drop, we've also rounded up a few excellent options you can buy right now. Some are even on sale.

Acer gaming monitors you can buy right now: Acer Predator X34 OLED $699.99 Shop Now Acer Nitro XV272U W2 gaming monitor $199.99 (save $100) Get Deal Acer Nitro EDA343CUR V3 curved gaming monitor $269.99 (save $50) Get Deal Acer Predator X27U W1 QD-OLED gaming monitor $544 Get Deal

It’s hard right now to be a progressive Democrat in the heart of America’s tech industry.

CES 2026 has been full of big announcements — advances in the chips that power AI, major product launches, and more — but the Vegas tech convention is also known as a haven for weird tech.

We here at Mashable are lovers of weird tech and odd gadgets, and, thankfully, CES 2026 has not disappointed thus far. We've got folks on the ground in Vegas scoping out everything odd on the showroom floor — here are six of the weirdest and most fun things we've seen.

Teeth music

Ever wondered how your music...tastes? Well, you can now find out...kind of. The Lollipop Star is a device that plays music through your teeth. The company sells $9 lollipops that use bone conduction to play music into your inner ear, while you also get a sugar fix.

For less than a ten-spot, you can buy your favorite song and have a little novelty treat. Not a bad deal.

Credit: Lava Brand Brain-sensing headphones

Neurable showed off headphones at CES that measure how fast you think. The idea is that gamers, especially, could track their reaction times and thought processes. Using this data, the company has developed a system that should help you focus better. Mashable's Chance Townsend tested it out and found it pretty cool.

"The feeling afterward was quite pleasant, all things considered," Townsend wrote. "Everything on screen felt slightly slower, but I was reacting more quickly."

Credit: Mashable / Chance Townsend Headphones that twist into speakers

In a bit of old-school gadgetry, new audio brand TDM debuted headphones that can twist into a speaker at CES 2026. It's a neat idea — go from private listening to sharing with one physical movement.

Credit: TDM A vibrating chef's knife

Mashable's Haley Henschel tested Seattle Ultrasonics' C-200 UltraSonic Chef's Knife, which vibrates as you use it to make cutting easier. Though the vibrations are nearly indetectable to the naked eye, the movement helps slice more easily.

Wrote Henschel:

"I had no trouble getting it to cut paper-thin pieces of tomato with a light touch. Seattle Ultrasonics' rep likened it to riding a bike versus pedaling an e-bike in that it makes your experience more effortless."

The $399 knife could prove useful for many home chefs, especially those with disabilities or physical limitations.

Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable Panda companion bots

In a bit of strange-but-sweet tech, Mind With Heart Robotics showed off its AI-powered panda An'An. The idea is the fuzzy little guy will be an interactive companion for elderly folks with cognitive decline or kids working on social skills.

Credit: Mind With Heart Robotics The AI soulmate

Chinese company Lepro displayed its Ami device at CES 2026, a desktop OLED screen that houses an AI "soulmate" to keep you company. And that is not sat...at all.

The company pitched the Ami as a companion that would be empathetic and connect with its users on a deper level. Giving an AI companion a physical form is certainly an interesting choice.

Wrote Mashable's Chance Townsend:

"Most AI companions today live where everything else already lives: your phone, your browser, your notifications. They blur into the same infinite scroll that's already exhausting us. Lepro Ami, by contrast, asks for a dedicated spot on your desk. It doesn’t follow you everywhere. You have to choose to keep it around."

Credit: Mashable / Chance Townsend

CES is always good for some truly wonderful and strange tech — thankfully, 2026 delivered in both regards.

Want to see more of the best in weird tech at CES 2026? The finalists for the Best of CES 2026 awards have been announced. See the nominees and learn when the winners will be announced.

Head to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news and live updates from the biggest show in tech, where Mashable journalists are reporting live.

SAVE $15: As of Jan. 7, get the Anker Nano Charger for $29.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $44.99. That's a discount of 33%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Anker Nano Charger $29.99 at Amazon
$44.99 Save $15.00   Get Deal

If you're tired of trying to find a charger when your phone is dead or you're thinking about one you can use solely for travel, Anker has your back. The company, which has tons of chargers and power stations to choose from, has one particular model on sale right now that's perfect for either situations, and you can get it for a low price.

As of Jan. 7, get the Anker Nano Charger for $29.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $44.99. That's a discount of 33%.

SEE ALSO: The Anker Solix F1500 just dropped back to a record-low price at Amazon

This 100W foldable USB-C charger can help get all your devices back up to 100% in no time, thanks to its fast-charging tech. Despite its small size, it can charge tech like a 14-inch MacBook Pro to 50% in less than 30 minutes.

It's just 4.23 ounces, so it's perfect for stowing in a bag or purse (or even your pocket) and take with you. You never know when you're going to need a charger and an outlet. And with ActiveShield 2.0, which monitors the device's heat and power output, you don't have to worry about any accidents when you forget and leave it plugged in.

With an included USB-C cable, this charger deal is a great option no matter whether you need it for home or travel. But get it while it's still on sale if you want to get the best discount.

When it comes to the fun parts of CES, robotics are rarely boring and are sometimes silly or surprising as well.

That's not to say they aren't useful, of course. But CES isn't necessarily a showcase of purely utilitarian factory floor robots. These are often meant to (eventually, someday) live in people's homes, which means they're often humanized or otherwise given characteristics that make them stand out. Here are four of the weirdest (even if they might be practical) robots we've seen at CES.

SEE ALSO: CES 2026 live updates: See the latest news, surprises, and strange tech from LG, Samsung, Lego, and new startups CLOiD will fold your laundry

LG's CLOiD is admittedly not that weird in the realm of home robots, in the sense that it looks vaguely humanoid and seemingly does things that are actually useful. However, it's still pretty futuristic and out-there to have Rosey from The Jetsons roaming around your house, so it makes the list.

CLOiD is still in the concept stages and may not hit the market for quite some time (if ever). LG did give CES-goers a live demo, though, which included showing off its ability to speak, its two functional arms that each have five digits at the end, and the fact that it can fold your laundry for you. Hopefully you'll be able to send it to the laundromat if you don't have an in-unit washer/dryer combo, otherwise that's a lot of lost value.

Sweekar is barely a robot, but it's still worth a look Adorable. Credit: Takway

Easily the strangest device on this list is Sweekar, courtesy of the company Takway. It's not a robot in the traditional sense; it won't do your chores or anything like that. But it will be your friend, and maybe that's more important.

Sweekar is, essentially, a super advanced Tamagotchi that changes shape over time. It starts as an egg, and as you take care of it, it will gradually hatch out of its shell and form some kind of personality using generative AI. Taking care of it seems to be a game in and of itself, similar to a Tamagotchi, but the gimmick that it grows over time is certainly unique. It's also highly customizable, which is nice.

Switchbot onero H1 looks like a tackling dummy Hit the sleds, boys. Credit: Switchbot

Lastly, Switchbot's onero H1 is in the same category as CLOiD: It might actually be handy to have around, but we're still not used to seeing these sorts of things, so it makes the list.

To its credit, onero H1 does seem like something that could help around the house. It's basically a lanky, rolling robot with a head and two arms that it can use to perform chores. It seems fairly practical, but to be honest, I can't look at it without seeing one of those tackling dummies they use at football practices. It just looks like something you're meant to hit and not something you're meant to rely upon.

Head to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news and live updates from the biggest show in tech, where Mashable journalists are reporting live.

OpenAI is quietly testing its advertising future as it heads into 2026, according to insiders who have heard of revived plans to pilot sponsored content in ChatGPT.

The new rumors stem from comments reportedly made by OpenAI's CEO of applications Fidji Simo, who recently published a breakdown of OpenAI's R&D goals in a post on Substack. Offline, sources say Simo mentioned an additional plan to begin testing ads on internal, employee-only chat models in the new year, reported Alex Heath, journalist and author of blog Sources. Simo has been laying a strong commercial foundation for ChatGPT's advertising future, including partnerships with Walmart, Instacart, Target, and Shopify.

SEE ALSO: Robots at CES: A history in photos

OpenAI has been relatively tight-lipped about its plans to inject public-facing ads directly into chatbot responses or chat windows, despite forward momentum from its competitors like Google and leaked references to ad functionality already being built into the ChatGPT app. In December, user outrage over responses that appeared to read as undisclosed advertisements for products like Peloton exercise bikes and fitness classes, led OpenAI team members to disclose that while the chatbot may make related product "suggestions" to users, there was no monetary advertising model in place. For now.

That same month, CEO Sam Altman told employees that plans for app advertising were on hold while the company entered a "code red" and redefined its priorities for the upcoming year, which included delaying the release of a new personalized assistant model called Pulse.

But the company hasn't fully shelved its ad business goals, which could provide a more stable source of funding for the company (and a profitable use case for the store of personalized user data its compiled). According to reporting by The Information, employees have in recent weeks tested various ad layout mockups and floated disclosures for sponsored responses in ChatGPT conversations, with the goal of creating "a new type of digital ads" that wouldn't immediately turn users away and into the arms of competitors.

"As ChatGPT becomes more capable and widely used, we're looking at ways to continue offering more intelligence to everyone," an OpenAI spokesperson told the publication. "People have a trusted relationship with ChatGPT, and any approach would be designed to respect that trust."

When I was in a band, performing on stage in front of hundreds of people fundamentally changed my relationship with music. It turned it into work. Instead of getting lost in the experience of a concert, I got hung up on the mechanics of playing the music and putting on a show. I lost the excitement a little bit. 

Today, I review phones. I have reviewed every flagship phone launched in the U.S. for the past five years (and many others before that), and it's fair to say it has changed my relationship with phones, making it harder to get excited.

The Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold, which I got to try at CES 2026, makes me excited.

Book-style foldables have been great up until this point, don't get me wrong. There is a reason I don't walk onto a trade show floor with anything other than a foldable. It's great to be able to see more information at once as you try to navigate the streets of Las Vegas, or the floor of the Las Vegas Convention Center during CES. But previously foldables have always felt like half-tablets. They were never really big enough to give you that full tablet experience. The Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold is definitely big enough.

SEE ALSO: CES 2026 live updates: See the latest news, surprises, and strange tech from LG, Samsung, Lego, and new startups

This is a phone that fits in your pocket and expands into a full 10-inch display with a roughly 4:3 aspect ratio. That's large enough that it begins to feel like a computer screen, which is just remarkable. You can finally sit down with a phone, bust out a foldable keyboard such as my favored Protoarc XK01 TP Foldable Bluetooth keyboard, and just get some work done. Another key selling point of the Galaxy Z TriFold, beyond the additional screen space, is the fact that DeX can run on the device, giving you a full windowed interface. It's like walking around with a small laptop in your pocket.

How thick is the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold?

Now, let's address the elephant in the room: the phone is extremely thick, though, right? Well, that depends on how you look at it. The Z TriFold is 12.9mm thick when fully closed. That's a lot compared to the 8.9mm Z Fold 7, but still less than the 13.4mm Z Fold 5, which is just two generations old. Users managed that just fine, and there are still people walking around today with the Z Fold 5 in their pocket. So really, the Z TriFold isn't that thick.

Just like the Z Fold 7, the Z TriFold's cover screen measures 6.5 inches. It's very comfortable to use when closed, being wide enough to type on with ease, which isn't something that could be said for any Samsung Galaxy Z Fold prior to 2025. The Z TriFold also uses the same camera setup as the Z Fold 7, including a 200-megapixel main camera, 12-megapixel ultrawide, and 10-megapixel telephoto lens. You can read our full review of the Z Fold 7 to get a sense as to what the camera experience will be like. 

The Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold runs on the same Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor featured in the Z Fold 7. Qualcomm has since announced a new generation of mobile processor in September — the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 — but few phones in the U.S. are using it today. The Z TriFold is available with 16GB of RAM along with 512 GB or 1TB of storage. We don't yet know what pricing will look like in the U.S., but it's fair to say it will be north of $2,000 and likely in the neighborhood of $2,500 or higher. Innovation comes at a price.

The Galaxy Z TriFold transforms from phone to workstation 

As far as using the Galaxy Z TriFold is concerned, there is one pain point that seems unavoidable for Samsung, even if some other manufacturers have managed it thus far. 

Other phones which fold like the Z TriFold give you choices. For example, the Huawei Mate XT allows you to use it closed, with one screen open, or with all the screens open, and the operating system dynamically adjusts with how you're using the phone. In contrast, Samsung's Galaxy Z TriFold gives you two options — open and closed — and that's it. Depending on your use case, the U-shaped closure of the phone might also not be ideal. 

I'm actually okay with this design decision. I use my foldables while they're closed most of the time, and consider protecting the Z TriFold's delicate inner screen a higher priority.

Credit: Adam Doud

Personally, I see the Galaxy Z TriFold as a phone that expands into a workstation. I'm good with that. 

Others might want that square screen that a current foldable gives you, but that isn't possible here. If you try to open just one screen, nothing happens until you open both. Then, if you try to close the wrong screen first, the phone buzzes and warns you that you're closing it incorrectly. That's a good safety feature, but it also emphasizes that the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold is not for the same audience as single-fold phones.

As for using the phone, like most foldables, it takes a bit of an adjustment period to get used to holding it and using it on the screen. The most startling thing about the Z TriFold is how thin and light it is when unfurled. At its thinnest when unfolded it is 3.9 millimeters thick. That is not a typo. It’s ridiculous how thin this phone is.

SEE ALSO: CES 2026: Lollipop Star is a speaker that plays music through your teeth. Yes, really.

The Galaxy Z TriFold is thick when folded, measuring the same as the Z Fold 5, however it has a very usable cover screen that's a comparable width to the X Fold 7. This is still a tad too narrow for my taste, but it’s light years better than Samsung foldables prior to the Fold 6.

As for usability, I'd need a full review period to adequately figure out how the Galaxy Z TriFold integrates into my workflow. Still, the extra screen space is amazing and I can fully buy into using this phone as a sort of mini laptop. The one bummer is that the phone case with the stand is not included in the box, though I’m pleased to report that, at least in overseas models (the only ones currently available), a charger is included. So, that’s a pleasant surprise.

Samsung DeX on the device is really solid. I did not have the opportunity to pair a mouse and keyboard to the device, which in my mind will be the real "killer app" here. But the expansive canvas that you get will make this very close to a laptop experience. What’s more, Samsung gives you the ability to have up to four desktop layouts and switch between them in the multitasking interface. You can have both a productivity layout and a gaming layout, for example.

There are some oddities that I noticed during my time with Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold. Notably, the ability to continue what you were doing from the small screen to the larger one and vice versa is missing. I asked Samsung about that and am awaiting further details— stay tuned for our full review.

Another strange quirk is that Samsung’s own news app would not resize or move into a side-by-side mode because it wouldn’t change the aspect ratio. This seems like a weird miss considering this is Samsung’s app on Samsung’s phone. Not a great look.

Even so, these were the only potential issues I identified during my brief time with the Z TriFold. I desperately want to take this phone out for a spin to find out what it’s capable of, and explore everything that a 90-minute hands on experience won’t reveal. 

Put simply, I am genuinely excited to use the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold, and you should be too.

SAVE $300: As of Jan. 7, get the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold for $1,499 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,799. That's a discount of 17%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold $1,499 at Amazon
$1,799 Save $300   Get Deal

New year, new you. If that also extends to your smartphone, it might be time to go ahead and upgrade. Luckily, we've found one that's on sale for a significant discount. And if you're an Android user or plan to become one, you'll want to pounce on this deal.

As of Jan. 7, get the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold for $1,499 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,799. That's a discount of 17%.

SEE ALSO: The Google Pixel 9 is back to its lowest-ever price at Amazon — save $300 right now

This unlocked smartphone is Google's version of the folding device. It boasts the largest and brightest screen of the Pixel lineup at eight inches, and is built to utilize Google's Gemini AI features. It features a high-strength hinge that Google claims will give you up to 10 years of folding, as well as Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 that protects the screen.

It has the Google Tensor G5 processor on board, with an improved TPU and CPU, and a 24-hour battery life with support from Qi2 wireless Pixelsnap magnetic charging. And with its high-quality camera array, you can manage some seriously impressive photos.

Mashable's Alex Perry took the Pixel 10 Pro Fold for a spin and praised its "bigger battery and a stronger chip powering it" in comparison to last year's model. Perry also appreciated its "solid performance".

If it's time for a big smartphone upgrade, it might be time to go ahead and lock in this deal.

SAVE $144: The DJI Mini 3 Fly More Combo is on sale at Amazon for $575, down from the list price of $719. That's a 20% discount and the best price we've seen since 2024.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 3 Fly More Combo $575 at Amazon
$719 Save $144   Get Deal

For months now, it's been a struggle to get hold of a DJI drone. The brand that makes content-creator approved drones, mics, and portable power stations, has run into issues with getting product into the U.S., but it's not totally impossible. You can still find models at Amazon from trustworthy third-party sellers. That's the case today but with an added bonus of coming with a great discount.

As of Jan. 7, the DJI Mini 3 Fly More Combo is on sale for $575 at Amazon, marked down from the list price of $719. That works out to a savings of $144 from a 20% discount. It's also the best price we've seen since 2024.

The DJI Mini 3 Fly More Combo is a great model for both experienced drone fliers and beginners. It comes in at under 249 grams which make it safe to fly without a license in most areas, not to mention making it easy to pack along on adventures.

SEE ALSO: Gear up for winter with the DJI Power 2000 portable power station while it's $500 off

DJI added other great features to the Mini 3 like the ability to transmit video from over six miles away and wind resistance for gusts that measure up to 23 miles per hour. And all of this comes while recording in 4K.

Beginner-friendly attributes include easy one-tap take off and landing, plus a return to home function. You can also take advantage of easy edits, a map that indicates no-fly areas, and a library of beginner tutorials.

The combo includes the DJI Mini 3, three DJI Intelligent Flight batteries, a DJI RC, three spare propellers, a shoulder bag for easy transport, and plenty more. Before this sale price vanishes, get the comprehensive DJI Mini 3 Fly More Combo for $575 at Amazon. You'll be on your way to capturing epic footage in no time.

SAVE $20: As of Jan. 7, the Nothing CMF Headphone Pro is down to just $79 at Amazon as a Lightning deal. That's 20% off the $99 list price and matches the best price ever for the noise-cancelling headphones.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nothing Nothing CMF Headphone Pro $79 at Amazon
$99 Save $20   Get Deal

If you're in the market for new noise-cancelling headphones, the Nothing CMF Headphone Pro should be on your radar — especially if you're looking to save some cash.

As of Jan. 7, the CMF Headphone Pro noise-cancelling headphones are down to only $79 at Amazon as a Lightning deal. That's 20% off the usual $99 list price and matches the best-ever price from the holiday season. Lightning deals disappear once all units have been claimed or the deal timer runs out — whichever comes first. So you'll want to add it to your cart ASAP if you want to get the discount.

While we haven't had a chance to test the CMF Headphone Pro, released just a few months ago, we truly adored the British brand's other 2025 releases — like the retro-inspired flagship headphones and the CMF Watch 3 Pro. Why would the Headphone Pro be any different? Like other products from the CMF line (Nothing's budget brand), they have top-notch specs at an absurdly low price point. The CMF Headphone Pro noise-cancelling headphones feature a mighty impressive 100-hour battery life (50 with ANC turned on), up to 40db of adaptive noise cancellation, spatial audio, custom EQ, intuitive on-ear controls, and comfy interchangeable ear cushions.

Typically, specs such as these would cost you well over $100. At only $79, the CMF Headphone Pro wireless cans are honestly a steal. They come in two shades of gray and a fun light green.

SAVE 14%: As of Jan. 7, you can get the 11-inch Apple iPad (A16, 128GB, WiFi) for $299, down from $349, at Amazon. That's a 14% discount or $50 in savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple 11-inch Apple iPad (A16, 128GB, WiFi) $299 at Amazon
$349 Save $50   Get Deal

If you missed out on the holiday tech sales, Amazon is keeping the momentum going with a solid discount on Apple's newest entry-level tablet.

SEE ALSO: Apple iPad Air M3 review: The smallest of upgrades

As of Jan. 7, the 11-inch Apple iPad (A16 chip, 128GB, WiFi) is on sale for $299 at Amazon. That's a $50 discount off its $349 list price. While we saw it hit $274 during Black Friday, this is the best price we've tracked since the calendar turned to 2026.

Apple announced this 11th-generation model in March 2025 as a pretty substantial "freshening up" for the base iPad. It uses the A16 Bionic chip, which Apple says is roughly 30 percent faster than the A14 found in the previous generation. The most practical change, though, is the storage boost. Apple finally killed off the 64GB base model and started this one at 128GB. That alone makes it a much easier recommendation since you won't have to spend your life deleting old photos just to download a movie for a flight.

You'll also get an 11-inch Liquid Retina display and a 12MP front camera that's already positioned on the landscape edge. It still uses Touch ID on the top button and charges via USB-C, so it’ll work with the cables you probably already have lying around.

SAVE 36%: As of Jan. 7, you can get the Star Wars: Unlimited TCG Spark of Rebellion Booster Display (24 Booster Packs) for $76.10, down from $119.76. That's a 36% discount, or $43.66 in savings.

Star Wars: Unlimited TCG Spark of Rebellion Booster Display (24 Booster Packs) $76.10 at Amazon
$119.76 Save $43.66   Get Deal at Amazon

If you’re still trying to fill the holes in your first-edition collection or just want to feel the rush from cracking open a fresh pack, this is your chance to grab a box without paying the usual "out of print" tax.

As of Jan. 7, the Star Wars: Unlimited TCG Spark of Rebellion Booster Display (24 Packs) is on sale for $76.10 at Amazon. That's a 36% discount off the $119.76 list price. For context, the current market value for this display is $80.97, so you're snagging it for about $5 under the going rate.

SEE ALSO: Star Wars goes quiet. How long will the Dark Times last?

Each of the 24 booster packs comes with 16 cards, including a guaranteed foil and a leader card. If the Force is actually on your side, you might even pull a Showcase variant — some of which, like the Leia Organa or Emperor Palpatine cards, have been known to trade for hundreds of dollars.

Since this is the first set in the Unlimited series, supply has been notoriously spotty since it launched. Finding a sealed display box for under $80 is a solid win, especially since prices have been known to creep back up toward the $100 mark whenever stock gets thin.

SAVE $500: The DJI Power 2000 portable power station is on sale at Amazon for $799, down from the list price of $1,299. That's a 38% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Power 2000 portable power station $799 at Amazon
$1,299 Save $500   Get Deal

The world of content creation is pretty great. From our couch, we can now join people on a cruise that goes around the world, step into a grocery store in Sweden, or watch incredible drone footage of winter skiing. If you happen to be one of these content creators, you know the struggle of keeping everything powered up, but there's a simple solution in a portable power station. If you're looking for a model that's great for creators, check out this Amazon deal.

As of Jan. 7, the DJI Power 2000 portable power station is on sale for $799 at Amazon, marked down from the normal price of $1,299. That's a 38% discount that takes $500 off the usual price.

If you're a fan of DJI drones, you'll love the two SDC ports on the Power 2000. In addition, it comes with four AC ports, four USB-A, and four USB-C options (140W max) for recharging everything you'll need to create content. In total, the DJI Power 2000 offers up 2,048Wh of battery life with long-lasting LiFePO4 battery cells.

SEE ALSO: Get ready for the big chill with the Bluetti Pioneer Na(Sodium) portable power station while it's $500 off

DJI mentions this is also a great model for using at home during power outages. You'll be able to recharge a phone, tablet, and a 2100W oven all at the same time with the DJI Power 2000. Other scenarios include keeping the WiFi router on for over 150 hours, or the refrigerator cooling for 40 hours.

Another major benefit of the DJI Power 2000 is its expansion ability. The station can connect with up to 10 DJI expansion batteries, which would offer a grand total of 22,528Wh. In real-life terms, DJI says that can power a whole house for four to six days.

Before you head off on the next content creation project, upgrade to the DJI Power 2000 to ensure your tech can stay charged up. Today's sale price at Amazon means you can save $500 on the station that will also be great at home during power outages.

How does your music taste? Or, perhaps, how does your lollipop sound?

These have just become legit questions as one company just launched a lollipop at CES 2026 that doubles as a loudspeaker.

SEE ALSO: CES 2026 live updates: See the latest news, surprises, and strange tech from LG, Samsung, Lego, and new startups

Called the Lollipop Star and created by Indian company Lava Brand, this unusual combo isn't the type of speaker you buy once and use for years. Instead, they're affordable, quick, sweet bites that play a tune while you eat them.

At nine bucks a piece, these are going to be hard to say no to. Credit: Lava Brand

The company said it's teamed up with global pop icons for the music, and that each Lollipop Star, priced at $8.99, will carry its own beat, flavor and vibe. Examples include a peach-flavored lollipop that plays music from Ice Spice, or a blueberry-flavored one that plays Akon.

So how does it work? Lollipop Star uses bone conduction tech to deliver the sound, with the electronics hidden in the stick. As you bite down on the lollipop, vibrations travel from your jaw to your inner ear. You probably shouldn't expect too much in terms of sound quality, but at nine bucks a piece, it won't break the bank, either. It's the type of product that makes it near impossible to say no to once your kids first encounter it.

Featured Video For You Motorola is entering the wearable AI game

Lollipop Star isn't available yet, but it should launch after CES. If you're interested, you can head on to the company's website and join the waitlist to get updates about the product.

Head to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news and live updates from the biggest show in tech, where Mashable journalists are reporting live.