The lovable, the creepy and the totally complicated

CES at all times has its share of attention-grabbing robots. However this yr particularly appeared to be a landmark yr for robotics. The development in AI expertise has not solely given robots higher “brains,” it’s enabled new ranges of autonomy and given rise to an formidable, if generally questionable, imaginative and prescient for our robot-filled future.

From sassy humanoids to AI-powered pets and chore-handling assistants, we sought out as many cute, unusual and succesful robots as we may discover in Las Vegas. These are those that made the most important impression.

Agibot Humanoids

Of all of the humanoids we noticed at CES, Agibot’s made the biggest impression. The corporate was exhibiting off two fashions: the bigger A2 and the smaller X2 (pictured above). The latter impressed us with its dance strikes — the corporate advised us it might be taught surprisingly complicated choreography — however the A2 turned out to be surprisingly succesful at chatting up CES goers.

Later within the present, we got here throughout the A2 at IntBot’s sales space, the place the corporate had customized variations of each Agibot humanoids “operating” their sales space. I spent a number of minutes speaking with “Nylo” and was genuinely impressed by its conversational expertise, even when its roasts may use somewhat work. — Karissa Bell, Senior Reporter

Dreame’s robo vac legs and arms

Dreame was again this yr with some wild robotic vacuums. The corporate confirmed of the Cyber 10 Ultra, a robotic vacuum with a multipurpose extendable arm. The arm, which we acquired a glimpse of eventually yr’s present, can decide up stuff, however it additionally has its personal cleansing attachments, permitting the robotic to scrub hard-to-reach corners and different spots that would not in any other case be accessible.

Dreame additionally introduced its newest wild idea, the Cyber X, which has legs that propel it up and down full-size staircases. The legs are considerably unsettling — they appear alarmingly much like mini chainsaws — however watching it glide up and down stairs was spectacular all the identical. — KB

OlloBot

OlloBot is a type of semi-ridiculous CES robots that is simply inconceivable not to smile at. It has the goofiest face, with top-sitting frog eyes slapped onto a pill the place its mouth is displayed. Then, on high of that, it has a patch of sentimental fur on its neck and nowhere else on its physique, which is penguin formed and full with flappy little arms. There are two variations of OlloBot, one which’s quick with a hard and fast neck and one other the place the neck can stretch out to make it a lot taller. And naturally, it may be dressed up in foolish outfits.

It is a family-focused robotic that responds to voice instructions and contact, and is supposed to seize recollections as they occur, snapping pics and movies for its diary of notable moments. It may be used to make calls and management sensible dwelling gadgets. Every thing is saved regionally in its detachable coronary heart module, and there is a companion app for added interactions. — Cheyenne MacDonald, Weekend Editor

Rovie

Positive, we have seen a number of robots (notably robovacuums) that may decide objects up off the ground and put them away to make properties tidier, however this one is cute and has somewhat face. As a substitute of utilizing an arm to seize one factor at a time, Clutterbot’s Rovie has a dustpan-style tray with two sweepers that fold out from its entrance. It drives round and, utilizing laptop imaginative and prescient, identifies toys which were left on the ground and scoops them up. Then, it dumps them in a chosen bin the place they’re consolidated and out of the way in which.

It is nonetheless within the R&D section, a crew member stated after I visited the sales space, however that is one I am hoping to see turn into an actual, purchasable product quickly. For fogeys of babies who’re continually leaving their toys round, it might be fairly handy to have a tiny robotic choosing up after them. Additionally for me, who does not have kids however a really candy and hardworking cat who likes to steal socks after which ship them as in the event that they’re her kills, leaving socks scattered all around the home. Clutterbot crew, in case you’re studying this, please add socks to the listing of things Rovie can sweep up. — CM

Saros Rover

To not be outdone, Roborock additionally introduced a stairclimbing robotic vacuum to CES, Saros Rover. And, not like Dreame’s prototype, the Roborock may clear the steps whereas it climbs. No phrase on when will probably be out there or how a lot it may cost a little (in all probability rather a lot!) however the firm says it’s “an actual product in growth.” -KB

CLOiD

LG’s CLOiD was positively probably the most formidable robotic we noticed at CES 2026. The corporate confirmed its dwelling helper idea (slowly) folding and sorting laundry, fetching drinks from the fridge, placing meals within the oven and retrieving a set of misplaced keys. However whereas the 15-minute demo gave us a tantalizing have a look at the equipment maker’s imaginative and prescient for a “zero labor dwelling,” it is unlikely to be something greater than a slick demo anytime quickly. The corporate has made no dedication to really make a model of CLOiD individuals can truly purchase. — KB

Allex

WIRobotics introduced its new humanoid, Allex, to CES, and the robotic was actually hamming it up after we stopped by the sales space, hanging poses and fascinating with guests. It is a waist-up robotic with articulated elements, from its arms to its fingers, and is supposed to be a normal function software that might be utilized in manufacturing, the service trade and even households. Every hand can maintain objects of as much as about 6.6 lbs, and the robotic hand has 15 levels of freedom. The corporate’s web site exhibits the robotic’s fingers are dexterous sufficient to do the Gen-Z heart signal, however when it checked out Karissa and me it threw a millennial coronary heart up. Did Allex lowkey name us unc? — CM

Poketomo

Sharp’s Poketomo is an improbably lovable tiny meerkat. Nicely, technically it is an AI companion formed like a fuzzy, moveable meerkat. It’d appear like a toy, however the firm says it is truly to be a companion for adults.

It’s sufficiently small you’ll be able to carry it round with you all through the day (Sharp even makes a tiny Poketomo-sized clear backpack). Like plenty of AI companion gadgets we noticed at CES, it’s outfitted with a small digital camera and microphone that allows it to continually work together with you. The digital camera additionally permits its “reminiscence” so the pet can acknowledge and ship customized updates to its particular person. Poketomo launched lately in Japan, however sadly Sharp says it has no present plans to promote it in different markets. — KB

Bibo

It appeared like everybody was making an attempt to money in on Labubu hype at CES 2026. There have been Pop Mart-style bag charms far and wide and numerous merchandise that regarded suspiciously just like the now ubiquitous toy monster. We even acquired one pitch for a “a labubu-like robotic that talks to you” that, in actual fact, did not look like a Labubu in any means, form or type. However there was one really Labubu-like tiny robotic that managed to face out from the remaining and sort of stole my coronary heart, despite the fact that I am not notably into Labubus. (Please do not make me say Labubu ever once more.)

Bibo is a cute-as-hell AI toy that is meant to be a companion you convey with you in all places. It has somewhat digital camera on its head that it makes use of to see the world round it, and may acknowledge its proprietor’s face and tone of voice, so it might reply to interactions in an emotionally applicable means. It will hold a day by day diary of its actions, and whereas the toy is available in two beginning persona “varieties” — Sunny bibo (E-Kind), the bubbly extrovert, and Moony bibo (I-Kind), the light, delicate one — they’re going to develop extra distinctive personalities over time. Their fur is tender and heat, so it feels such as you’re petting a kitten.

On the sales space, the crew had a number of of them on show carrying varied outfits, in little dioramas exhibiting them in classroom and tenting scenes, and even deconstructed with the fur eliminated, which by some means made it look even cuter. Bibo is not out there to buy but, and when it’s, it will launch first in China earlier than doubtlessly increasing relying on its success at dwelling. — CM

Sharpa

Sharpa’s booth had rather a lot occurring and was positively one of many greater crowd-pullers. There was a humanoid robotic taking part in ping-pong, one other taking selfies with individuals and one other dealing  blackjack, together with a disembodied robotic hand that would mirror guests’ finger actions. The autonomous demos confirmed off what that extremely dexterous hand can do, and it was fairly spectacular — particularly seeing it draw particular person playing cards from the deck. — CM

Zeroth

Chinese language robotics startup Zeroth introduced two lovable dwelling robots to CES: a pint-sized humanoid companion bot and a rolling robotic that appears like Wall-E, with tank-style tracked treads so it might journey round outdoors. We did not see these guys doing an excessive amount of, however they certain have been cute. The one which resembles Wall-E, known as W1, sort of melted my coronary heart simply it. (Do not get hooked up, you’ll be able to’t afford it.)

The tiny humanoid, M1, prices $2,400 whereas W1 prices $5,000. Each are anticipated to ship this spring, with a tentative date of April 15. — CM

Sweekar

Takway’s Sweekar pocket pet was one thing I checked out and instantly thought, sigh, I will purchase that. It is a Tamagotchi-like virtual pet with AI smarts so it might type a persona primarily based in your interactions with it and the actions you do collectively. The concept is that it “grows” with you. Like a Tamagotchi, it’s going to require extra frequent care within the youthful phases of its life cycle. However after it reaches the grownup degree, it autonomously cares for itself, and it by no means dies. It could possibly finally hold itself entertained, and go off by itself digital adventures and convey you again tales of its travels.

Sweekar is tremendous cute as is, and it may be dressed up in little outfits for extra personalization. The system is available in gentle yellow, pink, and blue, and we noticed it sporting a snowboarder outfit and a full cowboy getup. — CM

Realbotix

Realbotix is an organization we have seen rather a lot at CES through the years, and it was on the present once more for 2026 with a number of of its extremely customizable, lifelike humanoid robots. As at all times, it was among the many most unnerving displays we noticed. New for this yr, Realbotix was demonstrating its Robotic Imaginative and prescient System, which permits its robots to see and react to their environment extra naturally, monitoring faces to look immediately at whoever is speaking and higher studying emotion from facial expressions. Rattling, it might sense my worry now… — CM

Onero H1

Switchbot shocked us with its personal chore-handling robotic, Onero H1, which additionally gained Engadget editors’ decide for best robot of CES 2026. We have been instantly taken by its weirdly lengthy physique and endearingly clean stare because it slowly wheeled round choosing up laundry and depositing the objects in a washer.

Like plenty of robotic demos we noticed at CES, we solely noticed Onero performing a small a part of what Switchbot says it is truly able to. However Onero additionally appeared way more lifelike when it comes to the kind of robotic helpers that folks would possibly truly see outdoors of CES, and the corporate advised us it does plan to promote Onero (albeit in restricted portions) by the tip of the yr.  — KB

Cocomo

One other robotic pet that gained us over instantly was Cocomo. Created by Japanese startup Ludens AI, Cocomo is an autonomous robotic pal that sure, makes use of AI to reply to voice and contact and is supposed to bond with its homeowners over time. The egg-shaped creature can scoot round on a wheeled base, or you’ll be able to carry it round with you.

However what we beloved about Cocomo is that it is not making an attempt to be one more AI assistant, give out life recommendation or carry out duties. Its aim is to supply companionship and properly, be your pal. And whereas it might reply to voice enter it does not precisely have a voice of its personal: it communicates through cute buzzing sounds, which is rather a lot much less creepy than among the speaking robots we noticed. — KB

Yonbo

Yonbo is a children’ AI companion robotic that completely charmed us. It sort of appears like a canine, and after we visited its sales space at Unveiled, there have been 4 of them playfully bopping their heads to a pop tune and biking by way of totally different cute facial expressions and emoji eyes (together with bowls of ramen). It is designed to be an clever playmate that may tag alongside for actions, discuss with a toddler and browse them tales, and even assist them work by way of feelings, like getting annoyed throughout a sport.

Yonbo’s motion is managed by a wristband, so it does not require a telephone to play with. It will also be used as an additional pair of eyes for fogeys round the home. In Parental Monitor mode, which the crew says is the one time its digital camera will be capable to stream and retailer video, dad and mom are capable of see what Yonbo sees. The robotic prices $800 and is out there now.  — CM

MÖFO

If we’re being fully sincere, the pitch for will.i.am‘s MÖFO (sure, MOFO, like motherfucker) had us a bit, um, perplexed for a sizzling second. We learn it and all of the accompanying supplies time and again making an attempt to determine what, precisely, this factor does. A number of the claims that added to this confusion: “the agent ‘octopuses’ throughout your digital ecosystem by way of its eight USB-C connections”; it “converts moments into objects”; it “turns life notes right into a life working system.”

We get it now, (we predict): It is agentic AI {hardware}, sort of like a Rabbit R1 or AI Pin however within the type of a teddy bear. Sadly, we did not get to see MÖFO up shut or watch it do something, however we’re nonetheless intrigued, if nonetheless a bit confused, by this unusual teddy bear. — CM and KB