CES 2026

Lego launches the Smart Brick

It reacts based on what set it’s in.

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To say that “Lego is going through a renaissance” is a massive understatement. The iconic toy found a new profitable market in aging millennials who want to relive their childhood. Though the brand has subsisted on them for a while now, Star Wars and Lord of the Rings sets can only do so much. It’s time for an evolution. During CES 2026, Lego did just that by unveiling the new Smart Brick.

The Smart Brick is, literally, the infamous 2×4 brick packed with technology inside. As part of Lego’s Smart Play initiative, the new technology aims to change how you interact with sets. More specifically, the brick carries a 4.1mm ASIC chip that’s supposedly smaller than a single stud on the same brick. It can detect orientation, motion, and location. It also has an accelerometer, LED lights, and a tiny speaker.

The Smart Brick then interacts with Smart Minifigures which contain a Smart Tag. The Tag can tell the Brick what it needs to be. For example, if attached to a car, the Smart Brick might have flashing lights and a revving noise.

All of these work under a local BrickNet, which tells both pieces how far they are from each other. Going back to the same example, the technology can tell which of several racing cars crosses the finish line first.

The Smart Brick is already shipping out in upcoming sets. It’s no surprise that a Star Wars-themed sets are getting them first. Launching in March, a TIE fighter set, a Red Five X-Wing set, and a Throne Room Duel set will all have the Brick.

CES 2026

ASUS upgrades most of its lineup for 2026

They’ve got tablets, laptops, and PCs.

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Previously, ASUS unveiled all the developments coming to ROG. As expected, there are a lot of things to get excited about this year. But ASUS isn’t just about gaming. To cap off its stay in CES 2026, the brand has revealed more of its devices tailored for other segments.

ProArt PZ14

Compared to a generation ago, tablets don’t hold as much of an esteemed position in everyone’s repertoire anymore. Tablets are still useful, though. Via the new ProArt PZ14, ASUS once again stakes a claim that tablets can be essentials for creators.

The ProArt PZ14 is ASUS’s most powerful creator tablet to date. Even its looks can confirm that. The tablet was built with CNC-machined aluminum, bolstered with a Nano Black Finish and Smudge-Free technology.

Inside, the tablet has the Snapdragon X2 Elite chipset with 18 cores. This processor is supplemented with up to 32GB of RAM and up to 1TB of internal storage. And, of course, what’s a tablet for creators without strong graphics? It comes with an Adreno GPU just for that purpose.

Because creators need a brilliant screen to edit and display their work, the tablet has a 14-inch ASUS Lumina Pro OLED screen with 1000nits of peak brightness and 144Hz refresh rate.

Finally, the tablet comes with a flurry of handy accessories including the ASUS Pen 3.0, the durable ProArt Backpack, the ProArt Keyboard, and Mouse.

ProArt PX13 GoPro Edition

During CES 2026, ASUS announced a collaboration with GoPro. Naturally, adrenaline junkies can be creators, too. The GoPro Edition of the ProArt PX13 comes with a design inspired by GoPro’s motifs. It also has a dedicated GoPro button for easy access to the action camera’s interface. To top it all off, the exclusive version comes with a free 12-month subscription to GoPro Premium+.

Now, even without the GoPro Edition, the ProArt PX13 features an AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processor, bolstered by up to 128GB of unified memory. It has a 3K ASUS Lumina OLED touchscreen display, support for a stylus, and an ASUS DialPad for easy control over creative apps.

Zenbook DUO

Yesterday, ROG unveiled the new Zephyrus DUO, a gaming notebook with two fully functional screens. If you’re not a gamer but want to take advantage of two screens, ASUS is refreshing the Zenbook DUO for 2026.

The new Zenbook DUO features the newest Intel Core Ultra processor, up to 32GB of memory, and up to 2TB of internal storage. This time, both screens have anti-reflective coating for a better viewing experience.

As with the previous generations of the DUO, this iteration comes with a detachable keyboard and a variety of different use cases for the dual-screen notebook.

Zenbook A / S series

A few years ago, ASUS stumbled on a goldmine when it introduced the first Zenbook with Ceraluminum. The unique texture added some flair to the lightweight productivity machine. Embodying the spirit of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” the brand is introducing a modest upgrade to its iconic lineup of Zenbooks.

The new Zenbook A14 and A16 both hover around only 1 kilogram in weight. Plus, with a 70Wh battery on both versions, the series can remain unplugged and outside for an entire day. The A14 comes with a 14-inch FHD OLED screen and the Snapdragon X2 Elite. Meanwhile, the A16 comes with the same processor but with a 16-inch 3K 120Hz OLED screen.

Meanwhile, the Zenbook S14 and S16 offers the same lightweight portability but with beefier hardware. The 14-inch model comes with an Intel Core Ultra 9 chipset, while the 16-inch version has an AMD Ryzen AI 400 series processor. The series also boasts up to a 3K 120Hz ASUS Lumina OLED display with 1100nits of peak brightness. It also comes in the new Antrim Gray finish.

Vivobook S series

If Ceraluminum isn’t your thing, ASUS is also giving the Vivobook series a mild upgrade. Both the 14- and 16-inch variants will carry either the Intel Core Ultra Series 3 or the AMD Ryzen AI 400 series chipsets. Meanwhile, the 16-inch version will also have a model with the Snapdragon X2 Elite.

Both versions will have a WUXGA OLED screen or a 2.5K IPS 144Hz display. Though the series is slightly heavier, it’s still lightweight enough for everyday use, starting at only 1.35 kilograms.

ASUS V400 AiO

The ASUS V400 AiO is built for those who need something bigger and stabler than a notebook. It has everything you need from an all-in-one device. Inside, it has a Snapdragon X chipset for everyday use, up to 32GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of storage. The whole package is placed inside a sizable 24-inch FHD IPS LCD screen. Plus, the whole thing weighs only 4 kilograms.

ASUS V700 Mini Tower

Finally, ASUS unveiled a new pre-built PC that fits inside any household. Designed with a wood-like aesthetic in mind, the V700 Mini Tower is as much a piece of furniture as it is a PC.

It features up to an AMD Ryzen AI 7 processor, up to 64GB of RAM, and up to 2TB +1TB of HDD/SDD storage. You can even pack it for gaming with up to a GeForce RTX 5060 GPU. It also has copper heat pipes and a larger fan for effective cooling.

It is available in Dark Wood and Grey Weave.

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CES 2026

GIGABYTE: New AI gaming laptops, motherboards, refreshed GiMATE, more

AI-focused innovations at CES 2026

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GIGABYTE has unveiled its expanded AI PC vision at CES 2026, through the release of new AI gaming laptops and a refreshed GiMATE interface.

The company also introduced new motherboards, graphics cards, and monitors, all tailored for this era of computing.

Bannering the new laptops is the flagship powerhouse, AORUS MASTER 16. This offering pairs an AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D processor with up to a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 GPU.

The NVIDIA Blackwell-powered graphics bring game-changing capabilities to both gamers and creators.

Together with NVIDIA DLSS 4 and NVIDIA Studio, users can expect image generation at unprecedented speeds.

For its cooling, the WINDFORCE Infinity EX design combines vapor chamber cooling and an asymmetric Frost Fan.

This monster of a gaming laptop also comes with up to 64GB of DDR5 memory and up to 4TB of SSD storage.

In front is a 16-inch OLED panel with up to 240Hz refresh rate, 100% DCI-P3, and 1,000,000:1 contrast.

Features include an MUX Switch, AMD FreeSync, Dolby Vision, and more. This display is complemented by Dolby Atmos quad speakers.

Moreover, there is also an assortment of I/O ports for peripherals and an FHD webcam for streaming and other purposes. For connectivity, the AORUS MASTER 16 supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4.

Other gaming laptop offerings include the GIGABYTE AERO X16, which comes with Ryzen AI 400 Series processors.

There’s also the GIGABYTE GAMING A18 PRO with up to RTX 5080 GPUs, delivering stable performance for gamers, creators, and more users who need ample AI laptop performance.

AORUS gaming motherboards, X3D Turbo Mode 2.0

GIGABYTE is also unlocking the potential of the AMD Ryzen 9000 Series processors with AMD 3D V-Cache technology.

That’s through its exclusive, AI-powered X3D Turbo Mode 2.0, which is optimized and ready for the processors.

This enables GIGABYTE to deliver real-time adaptive performance that pushes X3D CPUs beyond traditional limits.

Highlighting the breakthrough is the flagship X870E AORUS XTREME X3D AI TOP. This motherboard is engineered for users seeking uncompromised performance.

It supports DDR5 speeds of up to 9000+ MT/s, enabling exceptional memory bandwidth and stability.

Its advanced thermal architecture includes the CPU Thermal Matrix. DDR Wind Blade XTREME lowers module temperatures by up to 9°C as well.

Plus, the M.2 Thermal Guard XTREME reduces SSD temperatures by up to 22°C for sustained speed and performance.

For more options, there’s the X870E AERO X3D WOOD model, plus sleek black additions to the PROJECT STEALTH series, including the X870 and B850 AORUS STEALTH motherboards.

Updated GiMATE

Built for clearer navigation and faster decision-making, the updated GiMATE AI agent brings real-time system insights and intuitive, voice-driven control into one streamlined hub.

The newly introduced AI Power Gear III enhances efficiency and flexibility with direct MUX switching between Discreet and MSHybrid modes.

A new Auto Mode also disables the GPU on battery to maximize runtime, while Optimus Mode delivers a smoother and balanced performance. Moreover, Eco Mode provides extreme power saving on AC power and battery.

For creators and builders, GiMATE Creator expands its generative capabilities with the addition of Qwen-Image. This supports both English and Chinese prompts to bring powerful visual AI to users.

In addition, GiMATE Coder lowers the barrier to development by enabling natural-language code generation, correction, and optimization. This makes coding more accessible even for beginners while accelerating it for experienced users.

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CES 2026

The HP EliteBoard G1a is a full AI PC in a keyboard form factor

More innovations unveiled at CES 2026

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At CES 2026, HP showcased its latest PCs, laptops, and services, headlined by the HP EliteBoard G1a.

Reimagining traditional desktops, the EliteBoard G1a is a full AI PC built into a keyboard, making it the company’s the smallest and lightest AI PC.

This CES 2026 Innovation Award honoree powers the future of work with a design that moves, connects, and adapts to any workspace.

It is ultra-thin at 12mm and weighs just about 750 grams, allowing for a minimalist and clutter-free setup. Dual mics and speakers are likewise packaged onto its sleek design.

And yet, the HP EliteBoard G1a is capable of up to 50 TOPS NPU to power next-gen workloads. At its heart is an AMD Ryzen AI 300 Series processor.

Other features include HP Smart Sense, AMD’s Auto State Management (ASM), and HP Wolf Security for Business.

To complement the device, users can pair it with the HP Series 7 Pro 4K Monitor. This 4K Neo:LED visual hub features cutting-edge IPS black performance and a professional-grade factory calibrated color accuracy.

It comes with a 140W Thunderbolt 4 port for high-speed data and video processing.

For the future of work

HP also introduced further next-generation premium business laptops built for the AI era, including the HP EliteBook X G2 Series.

The new HP OmniBook Ultra 14 and HP OmniStudio X also beef up the company’s OmniBook consumer portfolio.

The OmniBook Ultra 14 is 52% lighter than the previous generation, and is thinner than a 2025 MacBook Air 13 (M4). It is powered by a Snapdragon X2 Elite processor for up to 85 TOPS NPU. In front is a 3K OLED display.

In addition, the laptop has been proven tough with 20 MIL-STD-810 tests. These include drops, shocks, temperature extremes, and more.

Meanwhile, the OmniStudio X 27 AIO delivers professional-grade viewing with Neo:LED and dual 100% color coverage.

It has next-gen Intel Core Ultra 7 processors with Intel AI Boost and an optional NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 GPU.

Users can also connect it with a laptop via Thunderbolt Share, where they can control the AIO and laptop with one keyboard and mouse.

Moreover, HP has unified its OMEN and Hyper X brands into one master gaming brand — HyperX.

Along with this update, HP has unveiled the HyperX OMEN MAX 16, a powerful gaming laptop with fully internal cooling.

New models under the HP EliteBook X G2 Series have likewise been introduced.

For peripherals, HP has likewise introduced the following tools:

  • HP Tilt Ergonomic Mouse 720M
  • USB-C HP 65W GaN Wall Charger
  • HP Protective Series laptop sleeves and more

Copilot integration into HP printers

Furthermore, HP announced HP for Microsoft 365 Copilot, a new Workpath app that brings Copilot’s generative AI capabilities directly to HP’s multifunction printers.

The integration unlocks powerful capabilities right from the printer panel:

  • AI-generated summaries of scanned documents or files in OneDrive and SharePoint
  • smart file naming and storge suggestions
  • on-device translation powered by Copilot

HP for Microsoft 365 Copilot accelerates productivity with direct scans, secure and automated file handling, and enterprise-grade security.

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