CES 2026 | technology news and projects https://www.designboom.com/tag/ces-2026/ designboom magazine | your first source for architecture, design & art news Fri, 16 Jan 2026 11:52:22 +0000 en-US hourly 1 card-sized smartphone brings back tactile typing using case keyboard with power bank https://www.designboom.com/technology/card-sized-smartphone-case-keyboard-power-bank-ikko-mindone-ces-2026-01-11-2026/ Sat, 10 Jan 2026 23:01:49 +0000 https://www.designboom.com/?p=1172539 a modular device built around a physical keyboard, the case introduces a full QWERTY typing tool that attaches magnetically.

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Keyboard magnetically attaches to card-sized smartphone

 

At CES 2026, iKKo brings the card-sized smartphone MindOne, complete with a snap-in case keyboard that revives the days of tactile typing. A modular device built around a physical keyboard, the case introduces a full QWERTY typing tool that attaches magnetically, transforming the phone into a seemingly handheld laptop. The keyboard uses raised, separated keys arranged in a standard QWERTY layout. Each key has a sloped surface position, and unlike flat touch keyboards, it allows users to type without constantly looking at the screen. 

 

Once attached, the card-sized smartphone with keyboard behaves less like a phone and more like a handheld laptop, designed for writing, note-taking, messaging, and long-form input rather than short taps and swipes. The case integrates a built-in 500 mAh battery that provides backup power, and there’s also a 3.5 mm headphone jack included, supporting wired audio earphones and their heydays.

card-sized smartphone keyboard
all images courtesy of iKKo

 

 

Portable phone with camera that flips

 

Attached to this keyboard is the card-sized MindOne smartphone itself. The device measures just 86 × 72 mm and is only 8.9 mm thick. Its AMOLED display is protected by sapphire glass, rated at 9H hardness, which is thicker than standard smartphone covers and features precision curved edges to improve resistance to drops and scratches. The intent is to remove the need for screen protectors while extending durability in daily use. Even if it’s compact, it supports multiple connectivity systems, with the Pro model including built-in global internet access without requiring a SIM card. This vSIM system also allows the phone to connect immediately in many regions, with broader coverage available through top-ups across more than 140 countries. 

 

The phone runs Android 15 with iKKO AI OS, supported by NovaLink connectivity for AI tools such as real-time translation, voice notes, summaries, and an AI assistant. Combined with the keyboard, these tools reinforce the idea of MindOne as a pocket-sized productivity device rather than a media-first smartphone. For photography fans, there’s a 50MP Sony flip camera with a 1/1.56” sensor, optical image stabilization, and an F1.88 aperture. The camera rotates to face forward or backward, locking at any angle. After being shown at CES 2026, the card-sized smartphone and its keyboard are scheduled to be available starting February 8th, 2026.

card-sized-smartphone-typing-case-keyboard-ikko-mindone-ces-2026-designboom-ban

 

project info:

 

name: MindOne, Snap-In Case

brand: iKKo | @ikko.tech

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no driver, no wheel: world’s first retractable steering wheel is made for autonomous vehicles https://www.designboom.com/technology/no-driver-no-wheel-worlds-first-retractable-steering-wheel-vehicles-autonomous-ces-2026-01-09-2026/ Fri, 09 Jan 2026 11:20:14 +0000 https://www.designboom.com/?p=1172419 the design is a response to automated driving, where the vehicle can manage all driving tasks within certain conditions without human input.

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retractable steering wheel designed for autonomous vehicles

 

Autoliv and Tensor introduce a retractable steering wheel designed for autonomous vehicles, fully disappearing when the car drives itself. Unveiled at CES 2026, the design responds to automated riding, especially Level 4 driving, where the vehicle can manage all driving tasks within certain conditions without human input. The retractable steering wheel is co-developed with Tensor’s Robocar autonomous driving system. When the vehicle switches into Level 4 autonomous mode, the steering wheel retracts, clearing the driver’s area. This creates more space in the cabin and allows the front seat area to function more like a living or working space rather than a traditional cockpit. 

 

When manual driving is required, the steering wheel folds back into place, restoring a familiar driving setup. The airbag system changes depending on whether the vehicle is in autonomous or manual mode. A passenger airbag integrated into the instrument panel is activated when the steering wheel is retracted, while when the steering wheel is in use, the airbag inside the wheel is enabled instead. Autoliv says both configurations have the same level of protection, allowing safety systems to match the driving mode rather than relying on a single fixed layout.

retractable steering wheel autonomous
all images courtesy of Autoliv and Tensor

 

 

Users can choose between manual and self-driving

 

The design of the retractable steering wheel shies away from fixed, one-size-fits-all vehicle interiors. Autoliv’s Chief Technology Officer Fabien Dumont says that safety systems now need to adapt to different driving situations and user needs. Tensor CEO Jay Xiao adds that while full self-driving offers new experiences, many people still want the option to drive manually. The project is presented as a way to support both preferences in one vehicle. The folding mechanism design by the two companies helps users learn when and how autonomous systems operate. 

 

When the wheel retracts, it signals clearly that the vehicle is in full self-driving mode, and as soon as it comes back, it indicates that human attention is needed. The extra space created when the steering wheel retracts also improves comfort for users who are not actively driving. For passengers who are nervous about autonomous systems, the ability to sit back with more legroom and fewer controls in front of them can make the experience feel less like driving and more like being transported. So far, the Tensor Robocar featuring the retractable steering wheel, will be offered in the US, EU, and Middle East markets after the CES 2026.

retractable steering wheel autonomous
the wheel folds into the driver’s dashboard

retractable steering wheel autonomous
the system creates more space in the cabin and allows the front seat area

retractable steering wheel autonomous
the airbag system changes depending on whether the vehicle is in autonomous or manual mode

 

 

project info:

 

name: Retractable steering wheel

companies: Autoliv, Tensor | @autolivinc, @tensor.auto

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gamesir’s pocket taco converts your smartphone into a retro-style handheld console https://www.designboom.com/technology/gamesir-pocket-taco-convert-smartphone-retro-handheld-console-01-09-2026/ Fri, 09 Jan 2026 08:01:29 +0000 https://www.designboom.com/?p=1172323 once a smartphone is inserted, the pocket taco mimics the experience of a classic arcade format as gamesir leans on 8-bit nostalgia.

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pocket taco: the nostalgic handheld console reimagined

 

At CES 2026, GameSir unveiled its Pocket Taco, a device that feels familiar at first glance. The compact controller’s proportions echo early handheld gaming consoles while adapting to the dimensions of a smartphone. Held upright, the device frames the screen vertically to mimic the experience of a classic arcade format, leaning on 8-bit nostalgia through its posture and scale.

 

That familiarity extends to the way the Pocket Taco asks to be used. A smartphone snaps into a clamp-style grip, thus transforming into a self-contained handheld. Once seated, the screen sits close to the controls to create a focused playing field which nods to the gameboy-like consoles of decades past.

gamesir pocket taco
image via GameSir

 

 

gamesir’s intuitive layout

 

GameSir designs its Pocket Taco with a straightforward control layout. ABXY buttons, a d-pad, and shoulder controls sit within easy reach. The spacing encourages relaxed grip positions, allowing thumbs to move naturally without stretching across the surface. While it’s capable for longer play, the experience favors immediacy so that it’s accessible for first-time users.

 

Power comes from an internal battery, allowing the Pocket Taco to operate independently from the phone. A hollowed base keeps the charging port accessible, so play can continue even while the phone charges.

gamesir pocket taco
images via GameSir

 

 

designed to move with you

 

At pocket scale, the Pocket Taco emphasizes mobility. Its low weight and compact footprint make it easy to carry, supported by a simple storage case that protects the controller between sessions. Folded down, it slips easily into a jacket or bag, reinforcing its role as something meant to travel rather than stay docked at home.

 

In use, that portability translates into flexibility. The controller can be taken out, set up, and put away with little effort, fitting into short breaks or longer commutes alike. The experience feels casual and repeatable, shaped around moments rather than extended setups.

gamesir pocket taco
image via GameSir

 

 

restrained colors and surface materials

 

Color and material choices reinforce the Pocket Taco’s calm presence. A soft gray body and muted buttons reference arcade hardware without relying on overt decoration. The vintage influence comes through proportion and texture, allowing the controller to feel contemporary while carrying visual cues from earlier eras.

 

Details stay understated. Buttons, d-pad, and triggers sit flush with the shell, offering clear tactile feedback without visual noise. No single element dominates, allowing the overall form to remain cohesive and quiet.

 

The clamp area introduces a softer note through silicone padding. This layer protects the phone while also adding comfort, balancing the harder geometry of the shell. It acknowledges that the controller shares space with a device already marked by daily use, aligning the Pocket Taco with that same rhythm.


image via GameSir

 

 

The Pocket Taco is available for pre-order from GameSir at an estimated price of $35 USD, with shipments scheduled to begin on March 15th, 2026.


image via GameSir

 

 

project info:

 

name: Pocket Taco

brand: Gamesir

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cyber pet for homes with stretchable neck shows playful emotions using interactive display https://www.designboom.com/technology/cyber-pet-homes-stretchable-neck-shows-emotions-interactive-display-olloni-ces-2026-01-08-2026/ Thu, 08 Jan 2026 10:50:23 +0000 https://www.designboom.com/?p=1172233 designed to be a companion, the device is meant to live in a home the way a pet does: nearby, responsive, and emotionally present.

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Olloni is a cyber pet for homes with interactive screen

 

OLLOBOT introduces OlloNi, a cyber pet robot for homes that displays playful emotions using an interactive screen between its two eyes. Made to be a companion, the device is meant to live in a home the way a pet does: nearby, responsive, and emotionally present. Instead of copying the shape of a dog, a cat, or a person, OlloNi, designed by the teams at Swift Creatives and Minnray, has a soft, rounded body that feels friendly rather than mechanical. On top of its head are two horn-like shapes that users can touch to instantly stop the robot or mute it in emergencies. These horns also help the cyber pet for homes, OlloNi, see and understand the world. They work with cameras and facial recognition systems to notice faces, record moments, and sense emotional cues.

 

Instead of hiding these features inside the body, the designers made them visible so people can understand what OlloNi is doing at a glance. OlloNi’s eyes are screens rather than glass lenses, and these digital eyes can change shape, brightness, and movement, allowing the cyber pet for home to show feelings using pixels instead of facial muscles. When it is curious, excited, confused, or calm, its eyes shift to match its mood. This makes communication simple and clear, especially for children. You do not need instructions to know how OlloNi feels; you can see it. The device appears at the trade show CES 2026 in Las Vegas, on view between January 6th and 9th.

cyber pet homes olloni
all images courtesy of OLLOBOT

 

 

Cameras installed in the eyes record memories

 

The design teams at Swift Creatives and Minnray add a glowing, heart-shaped core for the cyber pet for homes OlloNi. This is where its memory system lives. It stores what it experiences, such as interactions, faces, and routines captured by the cameras installed in the two rounded eyes. By turning memories into a visible heart, the design team wants to show users that remembering, both digitally and physically, is part of the companionship that the device aims to offer. OlloNi is not just reacting in the moment but slowly building a sense of familiarity, like a pet that recognizes its home and the people in it.

 

OlloNi is not a robot built to clean floors, answer homework questions, or look like a tiny human. Its purpose is much simpler because it acts as a companion. The company OLLOBOT makes a careful choice to limit how ‘smart’ the cyber pet for homes OlloNi is. In this way, it doesn’t try to act like an intelligent assistant. Instead, it behaves more like a pet, which notices things, responds emotionally, and changes over time without controlling or interrupting daily life. OLLBOT brings out the cyber pet for homes at CES 2026, where users see how it can interact in real time.

cyber pet homes olloni
OLLOBOT introduces OlloNi, a cyber pet robot for homes that displays playful emotions using a screen

cyber pet homes olloni
its neck can stretch to extend the screen

the home device works as a companion gadget
the home device works as a companion gadget

the device is meant to live in a home the way a pet does
the device is meant to live in a home the way a pet does

OlloNi’s eyes are screens rather than glass lenses
OlloNi’s eyes are screens rather than glass lenses

cyber-pet-homes-stretchable-neck-emotions-interactive-display-ces-2026-designboom-ban

the device appears at CES 2026 where visitors can interact with it live

 

project info:

 

name: OlloNi

company: OLLOBOT | @ollo_bot

design: Swift Creatives, Minnray | @swiftcreatives_story

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first vegan electric car by mercedes-benz uses leather replica without animal fibers https://www.designboom.com/technology/first-vegan-electric-car-mercedes-benz-leather-replica-without-animal-fibers-glc-ces-2026-01-08-2026/ Thu, 08 Jan 2026 04:45:21 +0000 https://www.designboom.com/?p=1172157 brought to CES 2026 in las vegas, the car manufacturer’s GLC model is dubbed the first vehicle with vegan fittings in the cabin.

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Electric car with vegan interiors by mercedes-benz

 

Mercedes-Benz releases the first electric car with vegan interiors that use leather replicas without animal products or fibers. Brought to CES 2026 in Las Vegas, which runs between January 6th and 9th, the car manufacturer’s GLC model is dubbed the first vehicle with vegan fittings in the cabin. At the center of this design is a material called ARTICO, which looks and feels like leather, but it is made without animal products. Mercedes-Benz uses it for seat upholstery, steering wheel covers, and other surfaces people touch often. Alongside this, the company also uses certified vegan textiles and microfiber materials for door trims, pillars, headliners, and carpets.

 

The textiles used in seats, door trim, pillars, headliners, and other interior areas are fabric materials made without animal fibers, while the microfiber fleece is a synthetic fiber material, which replaces animal-based suede or leather and is used for soft interior surfaces. The textile-based floor and boot carpets are made without wool or other animal-derived fibers and mixed with recycled content. Some interior parts inside the vegan electric car of Mercedes-Benz use synthetic polymers instead of animal-based binders, coatings, or additives, and during production, there are no animal-based glues, dyes, coatings, or processing agents used, says the company.

vegan car mercedes-benz
all images courtesy of Mercedes-Benz

 

 

GLC vehicle earns trademark with new biomaterials

 

For the vegan interiors inside the GLC electric car, Mercedes-Benz worked with The Vegan Society, a globally recognized independent organization. The group tested and audited all the soft-touch materials used in the interiors of the vehicle, including checking the final materials and how they were made. The result is certification under the well-known Vegan Trademark, which is set to appear in the car manufacturer’s vehicle configurator when customers select the Vegan Package for the new GLC. Mercedes-Benz and The Vegan Society reviewed existing interior materials already used in the company’s series of vehicles to see if they contained any animal-based ingredients, even in small amounts like additives, coatings, or processing aids. 

 

If any material showed signs of animal origin, engineers and suppliers worked together to redesign it. After these changes, The Vegan Society conducted a full independent audit. Around 100 different material components from multiple suppliers were reviewed, and to earn the Vegan Trademark, materials had to meet several conditions. They could and should not contain animal products, by-products, or derivatives, as well as not involve animal testing. And manufacturers had to prevent cross-contamination with animal-derived ingredients as much as practically possible. With the new GLC electric car with EQ Technology, Mercedes-Benz is dubbed the first manufacturer to offer a vehicle interior certified with The Vegan Society’s Vegan Trademark. So far, the current vegan interiors for Mercedes-Benz’s GLC electric car are set to be available to the US clients starting the second half of 2026.

vegan car mercedes-benz
Mercedes-Benz releases the first electric car with vegan interiors that use leather replicas

vegan car mercedes-benz
at the center of this design is a material called ARTICO, which looks and feels like leather

the textiles used in door trim, pillars, and headliners are fabric materials made without animal fibers
the textiles used in door trim, pillars, and headliners are fabric materials made without animal fibers

GLC is the car model offered with vegan interior options
GLC is the car model offered with vegan interior options

 

 

project info:

 

model: GLC

car manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz | @mercedesbenz

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this lollipop lets music travel from your mouth to your ears as you bite into it https://www.designboom.com/technology/candy-music-mouth-ears-lollipop-star-lava-tech-brands-ces-01-07-2026/ Wed, 07 Jan 2026 15:30:29 +0000 https://www.designboom.com/?p=1172009 the project reimagines candy as an audio interface, embedding bone-conduction technology into a lollipop stick.

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lollipop star turns candy into a private sound experience

 

Making its debut inside the halls of CES 2026, Lollipop Star does something radically low-tech at first glance: it asks you to eat it. Developed by Lava Tech Brands, the project reimagines candy as an audio interface, embedding bone-conduction technology into a lollipop stick to deliver music directly through the teeth and jaw. 

 

Positioned online as ‘pure flavor and sound’ and released in limited early access via a waitlist, Lollipop Star proposes an intimate interaction that happens inside your head while you taste sugar. A small electronic module hidden inside the lollipop stick generates vibrations that travel through the teeth to the inner ear using bone conduction, a technology more commonly associated with niche audio wearables. Sound bypasses the air entirely. There are no speakers, no earbuds, and no outward noise. To activate it, users place the lollipop toward the back of the mouth and gently bite down with their molars, where the vibrations become perceptible as rhythm and melody.


all images courtesy of Lollipop Star

 

 

flavor, artists, and collectability

 

Each Lollipop Star flavor is paired with a specific artist and an exclusive track that can only be accessed through the candy itself. Peach and strawberry profiles are linked to Ice Spice, while other flavors correspond to Akon and Armani White. The pairing of taste and sound turns each lollipop into a one-time media object. The translucent color splits and glossy packaging frame the object as something to be shown, shared, and talked about as much as consumed.

 

On a show floor where many products compete by promising efficiency or optimization, Lollipop Star offers no solution to a problem. There is no screen to swipe, no button to learn, only a bodily gesture that activates sound through taste and pressure. Lollipop Star, amid the seriousness of CES, functions as a reminder that design can still afford to be playful, and that sometimes the most effective innovations are the ones that make you pause and smile.


peach and strawberry profiles are linked to Ice Spice, while other flavors correspond to Akon and Armani White


the project reimagines candy as an audio interface


each Lollipop Star flavor is paired with a specific artist and an exclusive track


the pairing of taste and sound turns each lollipop into a one-time media object

 

 

project info:

 

name: Lollipop Star | @lollipopstarpops

company: Lava Tech Brands | @lavatechbrands

debut: CES 2026 | @ces

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LEGO’s new ‘SMART brick’ is designed for interactive play without screens https://www.designboom.com/design/lego-smart-brick-interactive-play-screen-free-ces-01-07-2026/ Wed, 07 Jan 2026 02:15:39 +0000 https://www.designboom.com/?p=1171964 LEGO SMART play uses a sensor-driven SMART brick for screen-free, interactive LEGO building.

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‘smart brick’ brings a high-tech layer to the LEGO system

 

At CES 2026, The LEGO Group signaled a shift in how analogue toys might behave in the years ahead. The company introduced LEGO SMART Play, a new platform built around a ‘smart’ LEGO brick that allows builds to respond to touch, movement, and interaction without relying on screens.

 

If that premise sounds ambitious, it is meant to be. According to LEGO, this is its most consequential addition to the LEGO System-in-Play since the Minifigure debuted in 1978. Rather than adding apps or displays, LEGO SMART Play embeds sensing and sound directly into a brick that remains fully compatible with existing LEGO elements.

LEGO smart play
LEGO introduces SMART Play as a screen-free, interactive play platform | images courtesy LEGO Group

 

 

Inside the responsive Brick

 

At the center of the system is the LEGO SMART Brick, which contains a custom-made chip smaller than a standard LEGO stud. Inside are sensors, accelerometers, light detection, and a sound sensor, along with a miniature speaker powered by an onboard synthesizer. The brick charges wirelessly and is designed to disappear into builds, functioning less like a gadget and more like infrastructure.

 

The platform also includes LEGO SMART Tags and LEGO SMART Minifigures, which pair with the brick to trigger responses during play. Move a figure, adjust a structure, or interact with a tagged element, and the build reacts in real time with sound or behavior. The emphasis, LEGO says, is on open-ended play rather than predefined outcomes.

 

All of this is about keeping play physical,’ says Julia Goldin, Chief Product and Marketing Officer of the LEGO Group, during the CES presentation.As the world evolves, so do we — innovating to meet the play needs of each new generation. LEGO SMART Play is the next exciting chapter in our LEGO System in Play.’

LEGO smart play
LEGO® Star Wars™ SMART Play™: Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter™ building set

 

 

A screen-free storytelling platform

 

Tom Donaldson, Senior Vice President and Head of Creative Play Lab, frames the LEGO SMART Play platform as a way to extend storytelling without pulling children toward screens. ‘The launch of LEGO SMART Play brings creativity, technology, and storytelling together… all without a screen,’ he said, adding that the team sees it as ‘setting a new standard for interactive, imaginative experiences.’

 

The first test of that ambition will come through a familiar universe. LEGO confirmed that the initial SMART Play–enabled sets will launch under the Star Wars banner, with three ‘All-In-One’ sets scheduled to arrive in select markets on March 1st, 2026. Each will include a SMART Brick, charger, at least one SMART Minifigure, and a SMART Tag.

 

What LEGO did not dwell on, at least publicly, is just how far SMART Play might eventually go. The company says the platform includes more than twenty patented ‘world-first’ technologies and will continue to expand with future updates and releases. For now, LEGO appears intent on keeping the system modular, optional, and backward-compatible, traits that have historically helped it avoid alienating its core audience.

LEGO smart play
LEGO® Star Wars™ SMART Play™: Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter™ building set

LEGO smart play
LEGO® Star Wars™ SMART Play™: Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter™ building set


LEGO® Star Wars™ SMART Play™: Luke’s Red Five X-Wing™ building set

LEGO-SMART-brick-CES-designboom-06a

LEGO® Star Wars™ SMART Play™: Luke’s Red Five X-Wing building set


LEGO® Star Wars™ SMART Play™: Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter™ building set

LEGO-SMART-brick-CES-designboom-08a

LEGO® Star Wars™ SMART Play™: Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter™ building set

 

project info:

 

name: LEGO SMART Play

brand: LEGO | @lego

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hybrid headphones twist into portable bluetooth speaker for outdoor and group listening https://www.designboom.com/technology/hybrid-headphones-twist-portable-bluetooth-speaker-tdm-neo-ces-2026-01-06-2026/ Tue, 06 Jan 2026 11:10:42 +0000 https://www.designboom.com/?p=1171824 unveiled at CES 2026 in las vegas, the device combines headphones and a speaker in one, with no extra cables or setups needed.

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TDM’s audio device folds into a portable listening gadget

 

TDM introduces Neo, a pair of hybrid headphones that twist into a portable bluetooth speaker for outdoor and group listening. Unveiled at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, the device combines headphones and a speaker in one, with no extra cables or setups needed. By twisting the gadget, it folds into a speaker, which users can use to stream their music anywhere they go. In headphone mode, sound plays directly into the ears for privacy. In speaker mode, the sound moves to the built-in speaker drivers so everyone around the user can hear it.

 

Inside the hybrid headphones that turn into a portable bluetooth speaker, the design is engineered to work well in both forms. TDM uses four independent drivers and two amplifiers. The drivers are the parts that make sound, and having separate ones means the audio can stay clear and powerful whether the user is wearing the headphones or using the speaker. The bass is deep, voices sound clean, and details in the music are easy to hear, and the team adds that even though it is compact and weighs less than 350 grams, it is built to sound like much larger audio gear.

headphones portable bluetooth speaker
all images courtesy of TDM

 

 

hybrid headphones turn into a portable bluetooth speaker

 

Battery life is another big part of the Neo’s design. In headphone mode, the device can last more than 200 hours, so users can listen for days without charging. In speaker mode, it runs for over 10 hours, which is enough for trips, hangouts, or outdoor days. When it does need power, USB-C fast charging gives up to eight hours of listening in just five minutes, the design team says, which can make it reliable when the user is on the move. The battery is replaceable, as the brand wants users to swap it instead of throwing the whole device away and buying a new one.

 

The controls of the hybrid headphones that transform into a portable bluetooth speaker are also designed to be flexible. Users can choose what happens when they twist the device. Some people might want the music to switch automatically from headphones to speaker. Others might want the music to pause or even power down. There is also a mode where twisting does nothing and the speaker stays on. After CES 2026, the team expects to launch Neo soon, but there’s no official availability date yet for the foldable device.

headphones portable bluetooth speaker
TDM introduces Neo, a pair of hybrid headphones that twist into a portable bluetooth speaker

headphones portable bluetooth speaker
view of the foldable device

headphones portable bluetooth speaker
view of the device when folded into a speaker

the gadget works for outdoor and group listening
the gadget works for outdoor and group listening

users can stream their music using the gadget
users can stream their music using the gadget

hybrid-headphones-twist-portable-bluetooth-speaker-TDM-neo-CES-2026-designboom-ban

TDM uses four independent drivers and two amplifiers

 

project info:

 

name: Neo

design: TDM | @tdm_thebrand

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mobile robot with camera eyes monitors smoke and open windows at home https://www.designboom.com/technology/mobile-robot-camera-eyes-monitors-smoke-open-windows-home-zeroth-w1-ces-2026-01-05-2026/ Mon, 05 Jan 2026 17:01:11 +0000 https://www.designboom.com/?p=1171747 both a home and outdoor assistive device, the rolling gadget uses AI and LiDAR to understand its surroundings and sends out light to measure distance.

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Zeroth unveils assistive home and outdoor device, W1

 

Zeroth’s W1 is a mobile robot with track wheels and cameras in the eyes that can monitor smoke and open windows and doors at home. Both a home and outdoor assistive device, the rolling gadget uses AI and LiDAR to understand its surroundings and sends out light to measure distance, along with RGB cameras and other sensors. These systems help W1 see the world in real time so it can spot obstacles, plan a path around them, and keep itself balanced. Instead of waiting for commands every second, W1 can make smart decisions on its own as it moves.

 

The mobile robot with track wheels, which is on view at CES 2026 in Las Vegas from January 6th to January 9th, 2026, acts as a mobile security system. It can patrol areas by itself, both indoors and outdoors, and with its 360-degree awareness, it can watch for unusual movement, detect problems, and connect to smart home systems. If there is smoke, an open window, or a door that should be closed, the device can help monitor the situation. Unlike fixed security cameras, W1 is not stuck in one place. It moves, adapts, and stays alert.

mobile robot track wheels
all images courtesy of Zeroth

 

 

Mobile robot with track wheels can move around dirt

 

The mobile robot with track wheels is also for outdoors, designed to follow, carry, and power equipment. It can move with the owner, hold heavy gear, and even double as a power generator in camping sites when needed. Its body weighs 28 kilograms, but the team says it can carry up to 50 kilograms, meaning it can transport gear and other objects almost twice its own weight without becoming slow or unstable. 

 

Since it is a power storage, it can become a mobile hub, supporting speakers for music, games for fun, and even recording videos as users move around. Thanks to the cameras installed in the eyes, the mobile robot with track wheels can capture and record scenes without needing to hold handheld devices. The gadget also comes with tracks so it can move smoothly across grass, gravel, dirt, slopes, and uneven ground, making W1 useful both indoors and outdoors. So far, the team plans to ship the mobile robot with track wheels starting April 2026.

mobile robot track wheels
Zeroth’s W1 is a mobile robot with track wheels and cameras in the eyes

mobile robot track wheels
the device is used both at home and outdoors

mobile robot track wheels
outside, it can play with the children

the cameras in the eyes help with the home surveillance
the cameras in the eyes help with the home surveillance

the device is able to carry objects twice its weight
the device is able to carry objects twice its weight

mobile-robot-transports-gear-camping-W1-zeroth-designboom-ban

the team plans to ship the device starting April 2026

 

project info:

 

name: W1

company: Zeroth | @zeroth_the_official

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erwan bouroullec shapes samsung ‘music studio’ speakers around circular dot form https://www.designboom.com/technology/erwan-bouroullec-samsung-music-studio-speakers-circular-dot-form-ces-01-05-2026/ Mon, 05 Jan 2026 10:00:48 +0000 https://www.designboom.com/?p=1171671 debuting at CES 2026, music studio 5 and 7 translate a graphic reference to musical notation into spatial Wi-Fi speakers.

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Erwan Bouroullec and Samsung’s speakers to debut at CES 2026

 

At CES 2026, Samsung Electronics introduces the Music Studio 5 and Music Studio 7, two Wi-Fi speakers designed to coexist with interiors, operate flexibly within a connected system, and adapt to how people actually inhabit their homes. AI-driven sound processing plays a central role, with features such as dynamic bass management and spatial tuning responding to placement and room conditions, allowing the speakers to adjust themselves without demanding technical calibration from the user.

 

Developed in collaboration with Erwan Bouroullec, the Music Studio series adopts a restrained, circular dot form, an abstract reference to musical notation, positioning the objects somewhere between furniture, sculptural element, and instrument.


all images courtesy of Samsung

 

 

from standalone object to shared sound field

 

The Music Studio 7 is the more immersive of the two models. Configured as a 3.1.1-channel speaker with left, front, right, and top-firing drivers, it produces a sense of verticality and spatial depth from a single unit. Samsung’s Pattern Control Technology is used to limit signal overlap between channels, aiming for clearer directionality, while AI Dynamic Bass Control manages low frequencies to reduce distortion. Hi-resolution audio processing up to 24-bit/96kHz situates the speaker closer to high-fidelity listening than to lifestyle audio. It can function independently or expand into wider stereo or surround arrangements when paired with additional speakers or compatible Samsung TVs through Q-Symphony.

 

The Music Studio 5, smaller and more deliberately gallery-like, is designed for environments where visual calm is as important as acoustic clarity. A 4-inch woofer and dual tweeters with an integrated waveguide deliver balanced sound tuned by the company’s Audio Lab, while AI bass control enhances depth without overwhelming the room. Connectivity, Wi-Fi streaming, voice control, and Bluetooth via Samsung’s Seamless Codec are integrated without altering the visual simplicity of the object.


Samsung Electronics introduces the Music Studio 5 and Music Studio 7

 

 

Music Studio 5 and 7: a quieter proposition for home audio

 

What distinguishes the Music Studio speakers is their role within a broader, modular audio ecosystem. Through Q-Symphony, multiple speakers and TVs can operate together as a distributed sound field rather than a single focal point. Sound becomes something that can be layered across a room, adjusted to layout and placement, and scaled over time as needs change. Control is consolidated through SmartThings, reinforcing the idea of audio as an ambient system rather than a set of isolated devices.

 

Presented at CES 2026, the Music Studio 5 and 7 suggest a shift in how consumer audio is framed. The series prioritizes integration, between object and interior, sound and space, technology and everyday life. 


designed to coexist with interiors


AI-driven sound processing plays a central role


the design language is developed with Erwan Bouroullec

erwan-bouroullec-samsung-music-studio-speakers-circular-dot-form-designboom-large01

designed for environments where visual calm is as important as acoustic clarity

 

project info:

 

name: Music Studio 5 & Music Studio 7 

company: Samsung | @samsung

designer: Erwan Bouroullec | @erwanbouroullec

debut: CES 2026 | @ces

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