Probably the most spectacular CES 2026 merchandise had been refreshingly AI-free

I have been to loads of commerce reveals over the previous couple of years, and one theme I’ve seen throughout occasions like MWC 2025 and IFA 2025 is manufacturers forcing AI into all the things to make it sound futuristic, eye-catching, and enjoyable.

Firms love to point out how AI improves their merchandise and provides worth, even when that is not all the time true. CES 2026 has come and gone, and as anticipated, most manufacturers on the present ground had been as soon as once more targeted on AI.

Be it HP’s new laptops or NuraLogix’s sensible mirror, many manufacturers leaned on AI as a buzzword to make their merchandise appear extra fascinating and crowd pleasing to each media and customers.

That mentioned, there have been additionally a number of merchandise on the present ground that saved issues easy, and people with out AI or sensible options stood out essentially the most. Listed below are among the most intriguing merchandise from CES 2026 that did not use AI however nonetheless grabbed my full consideration.

Clicks Communicator

A whole bunch of smartphones launch yearly, however nobody has managed to recreate what BlackBerry as soon as did so properly, which is distraction-free communication. Every time I open my telephone to answer to an e mail or a textual content from a colleague, I typically find yourself doomscrolling X or Instagram, and that is precisely what Clicks Communicator goals to repair.

Clicks, the corporate behind bodily iPhone keyboard instances, has launched a brand new smartphone at CES 2026 that does not give attention to AI options however is as an alternative constructed for efficient communication. It has a BlackBerry-style bodily keyboard, a small 4.03-inch AMOLED show, and runs Android 16, so it nonetheless works like a standard smartphone once you want it to.

Nonetheless, with its minimal and retro design, the Communicator looks like a contemporary tackle the previous BlackBerry philosophy. It’s clearly meant for people who find themselves uninterested in observing big screens all day and simply desire a telephone that helps them talk and get on with life.

It is just a prototype for now, however it’s anticipated to launch within the second half of 2026. And actually, the concept of a telephone constructed that will help you disconnect a bit of feels extra interesting than ever.

Pebble Spherical 2

Pebble shouldn’t be a smartwatch model I anticipated to listen to about once more in late 2025 or 2026, however right here we’re. After launching the Pebble Time 2 final 12 months, the corporate showcased its new Pebble Round 2 smartwatch at CES 2026.

The Pebble Spherical 2 is the successor to the long-lasting Pebble Time Spherical from 2015 and encompasses a 1.3-inch edge-to-edge round shade e-paper show. Not like most smartwatches at the moment, it’s not targeted on deep well being insights, sports activities monitoring, or AI options.

As a substitute, the Pebble Spherical 2 is a clear, handsome spherical smartwatch that gives as much as two weeks of battery life together with primary well being monitoring like sleep and step counting.

It runs on Pebble’s personal open-source working system and, somewhat than making an attempt to do all the things, it goals to be a easy watch with a shade e-paper show that tells the time and allows you to swap between enjoyable watch faces.

LEGO Good Brick

Credit score: Lego

In case you are a LEGO fan, you’re going to love this. LEGO has unveiled a brand new sensible brick that can be utilized in upcoming minifigures, permitting them to work together otherwise primarily based on the place they’re connected or positioned close by.

These sensible bricks pack sensors, accelerometers, lights, audio system, and a customized chip and react to components like movement, shade, sound, and close by Good Tags or minifigures, triggering interactive lights, sounds, and reactions. Plus, they’re wi-fi and spatially conscious.

Sure, this implies these bricks have to be charged and last as long as 45 minutes of intense play on a single cost, however they present how LEGO is constructing one thing genuinely fascinating in 2026 with out counting on AI.

Roborock Saros Rover

Credit score: Roborock

One of many largest limitations with most robotic vacuums is that they will solely clear the ground they’re positioned on. In the event you reside in a multi-floor dwelling, you normally want a separate robotic vacuum for every stage, and that’s precisely the issue the brand new Saros Rover from Roborock goals to resolve.

The Saros Rover encompasses a two-wheel-leg structure that enables it to climb stairs and step over excessive obstacles. It makes use of a number of sensors to map multi-story properties, detect advanced obstacles in actual time, and even clear particular person steps because it strikes between flooring.

For now, the Saros Rover stays an idea mannequin showcased at CES 2026. Nonetheless, Roborock has confirmed it’s a actual product in improvement, despite the fact that a launch timeline has not been introduced but.

Aqara U400 sensible door lock

Credit score: Aqara

Whereas Google continues to push extra AI into its cameras and doorbells with the rollout of Gemini for Home, Aqara’s new door lock takes a less complicated strategy to what sensible door locks are supposed to do, with out counting on AI or pointless extras.

The lock makes use of an iPhone or Apple Watch’s ultra-wideband (UWB) know-how to detect if you end up approaching and robotically unlocks the door, so you do not want to make use of a fingerprint, PIN, or your telephone.

The UWB sensor depends on time of flight and angle of arrival to find out route and distance, which additionally helps stop unintentional unlocks if you end up inside or merely strolling previous the door.

The primary disadvantage is that the lock doesn’t work as successfully with Android telephones, nevertheless it makes use of sensors already constructed into the iPhone to resolve a easy drawback properly. The Aqara U400 can be accessible beginning January 28, 2026, with pricing starting at $270.