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This year's CES felt more like a marathon than any other. In between shuffling through crowds of visitors, hunting down Ubers, and remembering what meal was skipped for the day, the ZDNET team was searching for the next best thing.
Alas, we crowned the official Best of CES winners, in collaboration with our sibling publications of CNET Group. However, like previous CES years, not every "best" product will make its way into the market -- the glitz and glamour often wear off in the ensuing months after the Vegas tech show.
Also: CES 2026: Biggest news | Best of CES 2026 Awards (CNET)
As a tech enthusiast, I like to stay hopeful, hopeful that the passion and enthusiasm I see in meeting these product managers, founders, and various representatives will lead to developments that solve real-world problems, make life easier, and ultimately reach the hands of consumers.
After a week of surveying hundreds of exhibitors at CES, here are the top products that I would personally buy -- as soon as they go on sale.
While the Samsung S95H OLED happens to be the Best TV of CES this year, I'd personally buy one for two reasons that go beyond picture quality.
Firstly, my current living room TV is set up adjacent to the main windows, so I often find myself pulling my curtains around to block incoming sunlight, reducing glare and general light reflections. With Samsung's glare-free display tech, which doesn't detract from the overall brightness, color performance, and contrast of content, it would be much more enjoyable to watch movies and shows during the daytime.
Also: We saw dozens of TVs at CES 2026: Keep these 5 models on your radar this year
Now, you may be asking, "Why not just buy last year's S95F, which has a similar (if not the same) glare-reduction panel type for a lower price?" To that, I respond with flexibility in port selections.
I've got various consoles, speakers, and other companion devices that I usually hook up to my TV, so the ability to swap between the S95H's on-board I/O, and what's available in the optional Wireless One Connect Box, makes a big difference for me. If you're in the same boat, but are more patient, always wait until holiday sales events to buy a new TV. Always.
What's better than a chef's knife? A chef's knife that vibrates 30,000 times per second, as pitched by the folks at Seattle Ultrasonics. With a press of a button, the pulsations of the knife allow it to slice through various types of food, including soft-skinned tomatoes and rough and hard potatoes.
Also: What it's like to slice food with an ultrasonic knife (CNET)
My CNET colleague David Watsky described the experience as "an odd sensation, but not uncomfortable in any way." If there's anything that may cause discomfort with the C-200, it's the $400 price. But for a knife that gets the job done with minimum mess and effort, it's a price I might just be willing to pay.
Turning to other tools that do more than they should, how about Roborock's stair-climbing vacuum cleaner? The Saros Rover is the first robot vacuum on the market capable of lifting itself up flights of stairs, thanks to its frog-like legs.
Also: I saw a two-legged robot vacuum climb up stairs at CES, and it blew my mind
Beyond the impressive mechanics, you can expect the Saros Rover to simply be a reliable home cleaner, as we've found Roborock's higher-end offerings to be throughout years of testing.
In a private showcase of Samsung Display's various concepts this week, I got a glimpse of what appeared to be a creaseless foldable phone screen, something that even Samsung's latest Galaxy Z Fold 7 lacks.
It was quite refreshing to swipe my finger across the center of the screen, only to feel no dip or bump. More importantly, there wasn't any glare that distracted from the screen content.
Also: Want a foldable iPhone? Apple thinks you and millions of others will this year
Besides its aesthetic significance, such a display panel may be exactly what Samsung ends up supplying to Apple for its rumored iPhone Fold.
After all, Apple is notorious for releasing hardware that's well-polished and short of design flaws. Given that the crease is the main flaw of existing foldables, it's safe to assume that Apple would want something different. And if it has anything like what Samsung showed me, I'm all in.
I've always been a Windows and Mac guy, with the former being my home desktop PC and the latter being my work laptop. The new Dell XPS 13 might just convince me to fully invest in Windows.
As the name suggests, Dell has revived the XPS branding (after it was sunset last year), marking a return of the company's edgy, design-forward laptop lineup. The latest model comes equipped with the new Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors for enhanced performance and efficiency, a tandem OLED display, a long-lasting battery, and more.
Also: Dell just made its boldest product decision yet at CES 2026, and XPS fans should rejoice
Gone are the uncomfortably blended keycaps, invisible trackpad, and a build that's generally difficult to repair. While the 14- to 16-inch models are available for preorder now, I'll have to wait until later this year to get the 13-inch option, which is my preferred size for work and travel.
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