CES 2026 REVIEW
Where the channel meets the future CES has long been the premier global event for the IT channel, and the 2026 edition once again reaffirmed that position. Held from 6–9 January in Las Vegas, the show proved why it remains the essential destination for understanding not only what is launching now, but also which trends, form factors and technologies will shape the channel in the years ahead. While often described as a consumer technology showcase, CES plays a far more strategic role for the channel: translating innovation into opportunity.
Although CES 2026 was widely billed as the year of AI and robotics, the evolution of IT hardware stood out just as strongly. Laptops, desktops, mobile devices, wearables, and peripherals all showed meaningful reinvention, driven by AI acceleration, new silicon platforms, sustainability demands and changing work patterns. Rather than replacing existing devices, vendors are rethinking them, making them more adaptable, modular, powerful and intelligent. The inspiration of CES is amplified by its setting, from the Las Vegas Strip to headline venues like the Sphere. Yet beyond the spectacle, the real value lies in insight. Keynotes from AMD, NVIDIA, Lenovo, Intel, and others brought together industry heavyweights to explain not just what is coming next, but how
Lenovo at the Sphere
the channel will help deliver it. For those unable to attend, revisiting these sessions online provides essential clarity around platform roadmaps, AI strategy, and ecosystem direction.
Ultimately, CES 2026 was about execution. With more than 4,100
exhibitors across 2.6 million square feet, it was an overwhelming showcase of innovation. But clear themes emerged: AI PCs are now real, new form factors are moving from concept to commercial reality, sustainability is becoming measurable, and wearables, particularly smart glasses, are edging toward mainstream adoption. CES didn’t just preview the future; it showed how close it already is.
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