In one of the flashiest tech announcements at CES 2026, ROG has announced the Zephyrus Duo, a dual-screen gaming laptop to complement the more lifestyle-centric Asus Zenbook Duo.
When I reviewed the 2024 Zenbook Duo, I thought it was surprisingly competent at gaming, even though it wasn’t its primary purpose. That was largely because of the fairly robust integrated GPU of the Intel Core Ultra at the time.
Now, Asus’ gaming brand is making sure you can definitely play the most intense games on a dual-screen device. Confirmed as shipping with two 16-inch 3K OLED 120Hz-compatible displays, the ROG Zephyrus Duo is a far different beast from the similarly named laptop from a few years ago. Instead of a smaller screen on the bottom, the 2026 edition has screen size parity, top and bottom.
Image: ROG.
Exact specs are still coming through, but ROG confirmed that the novel gaming PC will sport the “latest Intel processor”, and up to an Nvidia RTX 5090 Laptop GPU. That’s a lot of power in a dual-screen PC. I shudder to think of what the eventual price tag will be.
2026 versions of ROG’s core range were also shown, including the Zephyrus G14 and G16 clamshell gaming laptops. Both have higher graphical power outputs (130W and 160W), in addition to supporting up to an RTX 5080 and 5090, respectively.
Each Zephyrus G laptop gets ROG’s brighter 1,100-nit displays, designed to better show HDR content. Alongside the laptops, ROG announced the G1000 desktop, which can show holographic visuals via its fan system.
More displays and peripherals than you can poke a stick at rounded out the gaming goodness. Among ROG’s spread at CES also included a mix of PC components, headsets, and a set of gaming augmented reality glasses.
RGB TV backlight technology is one of the big flavours of CES 2026, and Hisense has continued the trend in announcing this year’s TV range, headlined by its 116-inch flagship model.
Instead of using white backlights and colour filters, RGB Mini LED technology — and the Micro LED variant used by other TV brands — combines red, green, and blue LEDs to produce a wider spectrum of colours. Hisense says its new ‘evo’ technology introduces a fourth, sky blue cyan, LED type into the mix, which it claims is an industry first.
According to Hisense, the lighter blue colour is “one of the most commonly missing portions of the natural light spectrum.” Combined with an upgraded chipset, which works to analyse scenes quicker and more accurately, the 116UXS is said to produce more realistic imagery.
As is often the case for the headline acts at CES, the evo type of RGB Mini LED is likely aimed at early adopters with plenty of disposable income. Good news for the rest of us, Hisense is also bringing its RGB Mini LED (sans ‘evo’) technology to more of its TVs.
Starting with Hisense’s UR9 and UR8 TVs set to launch in Australia in the coming months, the newer technology will be available in screen sizes as small as 55 inches. That should mean more affordable prices, too.
These UR TVs will also benefit from a matte finish, with Hisense joining the anti-glare bandwagon. Samsung had success with its anti-glare TVs last year, so it’s little surprise to see other TV makers follow suit.
We’ll expect to see more about Hisense’s TVs, including its lower-priced ULED range, over the next few months.
At yesterday’s Samsung First Look press conference at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, CEO TM Roh promised to incorporate AI into every Samsung product to “create a seamless experience”. He also promised the “best AI experiences” and “strong user benefits”, though he did not specify what those user benefits would be.
He said that his goal was “unifying how our devices work together”, with consistent interfaces all around the home. In practice, this means that Samsung’s One UI is expanding to fridges and TVs, with Now Brief and Bixby being introduced across more devices.
Samsung just won’t let Bixby die.
Having now had hands-on with some of the TVs and fridges, it’s easy to see how this could be incorporated into the lives of Samsung users and give them a more seamless experience across devices. People often shout out Apple as having an ecosystem where everything just works together, and this seems to be Samsung’s way of saying, “hold my beer while your fridge scans it and notes the best before date”.
A more customised TV experience
In the carefully controlled demos at the event, the person running the demo was able to ask Samsung’s TV to mute the commentary during a soccer game, only playing the sounds of the stadium and the players.
In fact, there’s a whole AI soccer mode, designed to recognise the ball, players, commentary, atmospheric sounds and grass, and then use AI to enhance each of those details. Once again, in the controlled demos, it looked excellent and made me excited about getting to watch Matildas games on it.
During the conference, SW Yong, Head of Visual Display Business, talked up how Samsung had been the most popular TV manufacturer for the last 20 years. He boasted that all 830+ million TVs Samsung had sold in the last 20 years could wrap around the Earth side by side 24 times. That visual is perhaps less awe-inspiring and more horrifying than Yong was going for, but it certainly paints a picture.
Yong is now looking to the future, and says that the next 20 years will take TVs further than just picture quality. For Samsung, that vision seems to be placing the TV at the centre of the connected home. A screen you watch movies, shows and sports on, but also an art piece, with the OLED range now getting access to the art store for the first time (it uses a pixel shift technique to prevent burn-in).
Photos don’t do the 130-inch TV justice. Image: Alice Clarke.
The OLED TVs look stunning with the art on display, and it really does make the TV more than just a black mirror when it’s off. Beyond that, the aim is for the TV to control the connected smart home by being a Smart Things Hub, as well as using the new AI button on the remote to answer such hard hitting questions as “what is the movie I’m watching about” (the TV then continues playing the movie in a tiny window while it reads you a summary of the film and presents that summary in large text).
Beyond just looking at what the current TVs can do, Samsung is also pushing ahead with new screen technologies. Long term, Micro LED is where things are going, and the business screens on display were stunning (though they’re still impractical for home use at this point). In the medium term, Micro RGB is the future, and at CES, Samsung announced a 130-inch Micro RGB TV to go alongside the 115-inch that is currently available in Australia for more than $40,000.
The massive Micro RGB TV was announced to rapturous applause and mild profanity from the audience in Las Vegas. In person, it looks incredibly vibrant, with the extremely red red particularly standing out, even from a distance. Up close, I was stunned by how thin and beautiful the TV is. Truly, it’s the most vibrant and beautiful home TV I’ve seen so far. Samsung is also planning on announcing a full range of Micro RGB sizes, ranging from 55 inches, which should hopefully be more affordable (relatively speaking). It’ll be interesting to see what prices they land at and what adoption of the technology will be like.
With the Micro RGB range, Samsung is using HDR10+ Advanced and Eclipsa audio. Samsung is the first to implement HDR10+ Advanced. Prime Video will have some HDR10+ Advanced titles available soon, though it’s unclear how many “some” is. While I couldn’t properly hear the Eclipsa audio in a busy demo suite, the HDR10+ Advanced really did convey excellent depth of colour and texture. I can’t wait to properly test it later this year.
Outside TVs, K-pop group Rise was in the audience of the press conference. They did not perform. Ahn Hyo-seop (the voice of Jinu from KPop Demon Hunters) was also there, and I only barely restrained myself from asking for a picture with him.
Image: Alice Clarke.
Continuing the musical theme, Samsung announced a new Wi-Fi speaker series, Music Studio, which looks like a concave boob, or the negative space around a boob. The designer was inspired by a circle with a dot in the middle of it.
While I wasn’t impressed by how tinny the Music Studio 5 sounded (it would benefit greatly from a subwoofer), I was pleasantly surprised by how robust the Music Studio 7 sounded. For a small speaker, it had great depth and power.
Don’t tell me you don’t see what the shape of Samsung’s speakers looks like. Image: Alice Clarke.
Again, I was in a loud room, so I couldn’t do in-depth testing. However, my early impressions were promising. Interestingly, this Wi-Fi speaker system isn’t trying to replace Sonos, and instead is working with Spotify Play Everywhere.
Food recognition and smart appliances
In home appliances, the washer dryer combo is now even smarter, though I was unable to test that with a load of laundry, and the Family Hub fridge can now recognise more food types, keep track of them better and remind you to use them before they expire.
From a food waste perspective, I really love that vision. What made me a little uncomfortable was how Liz Anderson, VP of Appliance Integrated Marketing, spoke about the new Food Notes feature, which gives you a weekly food report telling you what you ate most of so you can make “smarter choices”.
If Food Notes worked by saying “hey, you ate all the peaches in the first two days of the week, you might want to get more of them, and buy less broccoli, because this is the third week in a row you’ve had to throw it out after it went bad and I think it’s time you just met yourself where you are” that would be great. Those are helpful, actionable insights without judgement.
If it’s saying “hey fatso, you ate a whole loaf of bread, try switching to something lower carb before they have to remove you with a crane, now drop and give me 20 pushups”, then that would be bad.
Image: Samsung.
I am noticing how we’re descending back into 90s-style diet culture, and I don’t love how many devices are trying to encourage people to count calories and “earn” their food. I’m really hoping this is a fridge that’s encouraging healthy attitudes towards food, rather than the attitudes of the stereotypical boomer parent. Because the feature wasn’t on show in detail, I wasn’t able to determine which camp it fell into.
The AI Vision (food logger) for refrigerators now uses Google Gemini to recognise more food types, and the fridge will get seven years of updates to core functions. The new fridges can recognise the differences between your voice and your partner’s voice, and customise the screen to suit the current user. This whole paragraph is a wild thing to write about a fridge, and it’s fun to see how far technology has come.
In other appliance news, the new AirDresser will steam your clothes in a new way to make them look ironed. The AirDresser is one of my favourite gadgets of all time, so I’m excited about this one. I hope they bring it back to Australia, because more people need to know the joy that is steam wardrobe ownership.
We don’t know when these products will hit stores in Australia, or how much they’ll eventually cost, yet. We’ll keep you posted.
Alice Clarke attended CES 2026 as a guest of Lego and Intel.
Kicking off its CES 2026 announcements, Belkin has launched a heap of charging accessories, ranging from speedy power banks to modular Qi2 wireless chargers, and a new case for the Nintendo Switch 2.
Belkin’s latest range includes the large-capacity UltraCharge Pro Laptop Power Bank. Equipped with a 27,000mAh capacity, and up to 140W USB-C charging speeds, it’s one of the brand’s most premium power banks, coming with a $269.95 price tag when it launches in Australia this May.
It’s joined by the 10,000mAh UltraCharge Pro Power Bank, which also supports 25W Qi2 wireless charging, alongside a pocket-sized 5,000mAh model dubbed the BoostCharge Slim.
27,000mAh is quite a large capacity for a portable power bank. Image: Belkin.
If you have a wall outlet nearby, Belkin also has two new 25W Qi2 wireless chargers on the way. One is the UltraCharge Pro 2-in-1 Convertible Charger, which is foldable, and can charge an iPhone and an Apple Watch at the same time. The other is the UltraCharge Modular Charging Dock, which can top up three devices simultaneously wirelessly.
Belkin’s new Nintendo Switch 2 charger
When Belkin re-entered the gaming accessories market last year, it began with several Switch 2 chargers and protectors, hinting at more to come. That time has arrived, with an upgraded charging case for Nintendo’s latest console.
Labelled the Charging Case Pro for Nintendo Switch 2, Belkin’s new accessory comes with what it calls a “sleeker” design with “more convenience”. This includes being able to charge the built-in 10,000mAh power bank without opening the case. Plus, the power bank now charges the Switch 2 at 30W, up from the previous generation’s 20W output.
Now you don’t have to open the case to charge the power bank. Image: Belkin.
Belkin’s case also doubles as a kickstand for the Switch 2, adding another option to the console’s built-in stand. Like the previous case, there are also secure compartments for game cards, AirTags, and the like.
Belkin is selling the Pro case in Australia for $149.95 when it launches in March. For comparison, the brand’s original charging case costs $99.95.
Connect to HDMI devices wirelessly
In addition to Belkin’s charging technology, the tech accessories brand announced a couple of adapters. The ConnectAir Wireless HDMI Display Adapter does what its name suggests: connecting devices to HDMI displays wirelessly.
It works without using Wi-Fi or any third-party apps, plugging into a TV, monitor, or a projector, allowing mobile devices to mirror their screens. Possibly handy for people with older, non-smart displays, Belkin’s adapter plugs into a USB-C device, which then transmits to a USB-A-to-HDMI dongle, casting in 1080p at 60Hz.
Image: Belkin.
Joining the wireless HDMI adapter is an eight-port USB-C hub that supports dual 4K display output at 60Hz. It comes with HDMI, USB-A 3.0, Ethernet, and USB-C PD connectivity with up to 100W charging available for connected devices, like laptops.
Belkin didn’t specify any Thunderbolt certification, but mentioned the hub supports data transfer speeds of up to 10Gbps. That’s not as quick as Belkin’s 40Gbps-capable Thunderbolt 4 hub, so this model is likely aimed at the convenience of connecting multiple devices in one spot.
Not every device shared at CES 2026 has a confirmed price or release date, so stay tuned.
Lots of people love mowing their lawns and making their yards look pristine. I’m not one of them. For people like me, robot lawn mowers are a welcome reprieve.
We recently tested out some of the Husqvarna Automower devices, comparing the difference between GPS and boundary wire technology. Both have their place, depending on the type of property you have. But for me, I’m just grateful to have a device that takes care of yet another dreaded chore.
One of the things I liked about trying the Husqvarna robot actually had little to do with the device itself. It’s the customer service that came from a local dealership that made the entire process a breeze.
Robotic appliances might be considered fairly new, at least when you think of indoor appliances, like vacuums. However, Husqvarna has been making robotic lawn mowers for more than 30 years. With that kind of track record, it’s fair to say they know what they’re doing.
Tipped to set the consumer technology agenda for the year ahead, the gadget bonanza that is CES 2026 has arrived. In the ‘Sin City’ of Las Vegas, the Consumer Electronics Show has long been a staple of the tech industry calendar. This year’s expo will double down on AI across all aspects of consumer technology, including computers, home appliances, and entertainment.
2025’s CES reveals spanned the flashiest TVs, more sophisticated robot appliances, and gadgets that added more functionality to your phone. Expect similar things from CES 2026, as the world’s biggest tech brands prepare to announce their flagship devices for the year.
To keep up with what’s happening at CES 2026, here are all the main details you need to know. Some of the major press conferences are on at Australia-friendly times, so you won’t have to sacrifice too much sleep, which is nice.
When is CES 2026?
This year’s CES officially takes place between 6-9 January, Las Vegas time (or 7-10 January, based on Australian clocks). But that only captures part of the picture. Realistically, CES takes up nearly an entire week, once you include the media day and all the pre-event announcements.
CES 2026 has a briefing day exclusive to media on 5 January (6 Jan our time), which is filled with back-to-back press conferences. It gets most of the announcements out of the way early, leaving the rest of the event for hands-on time on the exhibition floor. Some brands even show their wares before the media day.
Whenever you tune in this week, there will be something happening.
Australian times for this year’s main press conferences
Samsung
Even before the media day begins, Samsung has a pre-CES 2026 showcase, giving a first look at its tech on 5 January.
2:00 PM AEDT
1:30 PM ACDT
1:00 PM AEST
12:30 PM ACST
11:00 AM AWST
LG
LG is one of the first major CES 2026 press conferences, where it will showcase its upcoming range of TVs, home appliances, and more on 6 January, Australian time.
3:00 AM AEDT
2:30 AM ACDT
2:00 AM AEST
1:30 AM ACST
Midnight AWST
Hisense
Soon after LG, Hisense takes to the stage on 6 January to spruik the tech under its slogan “innovating a brighter life”.
5:00 AM AEDT
4:30 AM ACDT
4:00 AM AEST
3:30 AM ACST
2:00 AM AWST
The Lego Group
One of the surprise packets of CES 2026, Lego also has something up its sleeve for 2026. It’ll have a press conference on 6 January about “play in the next dimension”. Scheduled at the same time as Hisense, it’ll be interesting to see what Lego has to share.
5:00 AM AEDT
4:30 AM ACDT
4:00 AM AEST
3:30 AM ACST
2:00 AM AWST
Nvidia
Central to the current AI boom, expect plenty of interest in Nvidia’s CES press conference on 6 January. Even if it’s just to see what style of leather jacket CEO Jensen Huang wears.
8:00 AM AEDT
7:30 AM ACDT
7:00 AM AEST
6:30 AM ACST
5:00 AM AWST
ROG
Asus’ gaming arm, ROG, has big plans for CES 2026, as the brand commemorates its 20th anniversary. It’ll show its latest tech on 6 January via a livestreamed presentation.
10:00 AM AEDT
9:30 AM ACDT
9:00 AM AEST
8:30 AM ACST
7:00 AM AWST
AMD
Another company with a lot of sway at the moment, AMD CEO Dr Lisa Su will discuss the chipmaker’s next steps on 6 January.
1:30 PM AEDT
1:00 PM ACDT
12:30 PM AEST
12:00 noon ACST
10:30 AM AWST
Asus
Traditionally one of the busiest computer brands at CES, Asus will share its “Always Incredible” presentation on 7 January, Australian time.
Set to dominate the halls of CES 2026 is Las Vegas, Micro RGB TV is out to take on television’s picture quality heavyweights.
While OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) has been the gold standard for some of the best TVs for many years, there are several other display technologies vying for the attention of those in the market for a new big screen.
OLED stands out from the crowd thanks to the fact that, like plasma before it, OLED doesn’t rely on shining a white backlight through coloured pixels to create a picture. Instead, each individual OLED pixel is its own coloured light.
Turn off an OLED pixel, and it’s perfectly black, even if the pixel beside it is brightly lit. This is what allows OLED to produce really deep blacks with great contrast and plenty of detail in the shadows.
Alternatively, LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) televisions rely on shining a dimmable backlight through coloured pixels, which means they can struggle to completely block that light in dark scenes. If some of that light bleeds through, the picture can look a bit washed out.
Hisense is also dabbling with RGB backlighting technology. Image: Hisense.
These days, most LCD televisions have a bright but energy-efficient LED (Light-Emitting Diode) backlight.
The upside of using a backlight means that LED LCD televisions are generally brighter than OLEDs, which can be important if you’re watching in a brightly lit room. (To be fair, today’s OLEDs are more efficient, brighter and more resistant to the burn-in issues that plagued earlier versions.)
Mini LED improves on LED LCD by breaking the backlight into hundreds or even thousands of miniature white LED lights, which can be dimmed between zones. This significantly improves the picture when bright and dark objects appear on the screen at the same time.
Micro RGB TV hits the big time
The new generation of Micro RGB TV screens goes one step further than Mini LED by replacing the miniature white LED backlights with tiny clusters of red, green and blue LED backlights. While capable of combining to create white, that can also produce any colour, at any brightness.
Purists will point out that relying on any kind of backlight still puts Micro RGB TV at a disadvantage compared to OLED, but there is another perspective to consider.
Some view the emerging Micro LED technology as the holy grail, combining the best of OLED and LED. Micro LED does away with the backlight, which helps with the deep blacks. Instead, it relies on individual coloured LED pixels, which helps produce very bright, vibrant colours.
We’ve only seen a handful of Micro LED televisions so far, from the likes of Samsung and Hisense, but they’re typically enormous and ridiculously expensive. Micro LED’s day will come, but for now, it’s out of reach for most lounge rooms.
So, where does that leave Micro RGB TV? As the latest, brightest and most colourful rival to OLED, available at a wider range of sizes but still on the expensive side, at least for now.
So who makes Micro RGB TV?
All the usual suspects have entered the Micro RGB TV fray yet, as usual, they’ve all given it different confusing.
To be fair, the actual name of the technology is RGB LED. Samsung has dubbed it Micro RGB, although it has also used the confusing term “RGB MicroLED” – incorrectly implying that it lacks a backlight similar to Micro LED.
It depends on the sharpness of your eyes and the depth of your pockets. Micro RGB TV is another improvement on what some people will always consider to be an imperfect technology, because it relies on a backlight.
OLED fans are unlikely to budge until Micro-LED prices come down from the stratosphere. But for those looking for a new LED champion to take the fight to OLED, Micro RGB TV is the one to watch.
