While CES 2026 is full of tech giants unveiling their latest innovations, the real excitement comes from discovering strange, unexpected gadgets that make you ask, “Who thought of this?”
We’re here to highlight the wildest products we’ve seen at CES 2026, from an AI-powered panda that responds to your touch, to Razer’s holographic anime assistant, and more weirdness that’ll make you do a double take.
An AI anime companion that watches you from your desk
It’s Razer AVA projectOriginally introduced last year as an AI esports trainer, it has evolved into something new: a 5.5-inch animated holographic desk companion that can help with game strategy, productivity, daily organization, and even personal advice. It is both a gaming ally and an everyday assistant. Users can choose from different characters, such as the anime girl Kira or the muscular Zane.
These digital avatars feature lifelike movements, eye tracking, expressive faces, and lip sync for realistic interactions. However, the most important thing is the constant monitoring – the device watches you and your screen using the built-in camera. It’s a bit disappointing, but since it’s still just a concept, there’s no guarantee it will become a real product.
A cuddly AI baby panda robot for parents
An’An, the newest AI pet from Mind with Heart Roboticscombines a charming design with a useful mission: supporting elderly care.
The panda bot has high-tech sensors all over its body, so it reacts naturally when you touch it. The emotional AI remembers your voice, how you interact, and what you like, so the more time you spend with An’An, the more personal it becomes. Provide round-the-clock emotional support to combat loneliness. Additionally, for older adults who may struggle with memory, An’An helps them stay engaged, remind them of daily tasks, and keep caregivers in the loop on their well-being.
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A $500 ice maker that uses AI to reduce noise
A smart home appliance brand GoveeLife announced a countertop smart ice maker that uses AI to keep things nice and quiet. The company’s patented AI NoiseGuard technology is designed to reduce all the annoying racket you’d normally get from a nugget ice machine. The AI detects when the engine is about to freeze and make noise, so it automatically defrosts before the noise happens.
The Smart Nugget Ice Maker Pro produces fresh ice in just six minutes and can produce up to 60 pounds per day. The bucket holds 3.5 kilograms of ice at a time. It’ll set you back $499.99 — which might make you think twice — but if you’re ready to upgrade your ice game, you can pick one up starting January 15th at Amazon, govee.com, Walmart, or Best Buy.
Ultrasonic chef knife that vibrates when slicing and dicing
Depending on who you ask, these kitchen gadgets can either seem silly or very useful. Unlike traditional knives, this one is from Seattle Ultrasonics features a blade that vibrates at over 30,000 times per second, allowing it to move through food with ease. This vibration technology means the knife is sharper than a physical edge, making tasks like slicing vegetables, meat, or bread easier for cooks. According to the company, the vibration is so subtle that you can’t see the blade move, hear, or feel anything on the handle.
The knife is priced at $399 and is available for preorder now.
Lollipop music that plays Ice Spice in the head
Musical toothbrushes exist, so why not have lollipops that play music? Lollipop Star presented a delicious product at CES, which transmits music via bone conduction while in the mouth. (This technology works by sending vibrations through the bones of the skull directly into the inner ear.) Lollipops also provide a fruity taste. You can choose from three artists: Ice Spice (peach), Akon (blueberry), and Armani White (orange).
This Wall-E inspired robot patrols your home and can even join you at camp
Zeroth Robotics introduced the W1 at CES, a WALL-E-like robot.
W1 is a programmable companion designed for families. according to company websitefor $4,999, the robot offers AI-powered rotating security, 360-degree mobile surveillance, and integration with smart home devices for instant smoke and noise alerts. It’s also marketed as an adventure companion that can carry camping gear, follow you around camp to take photos as a family photographer, and provide portable power so you can enjoy entertainment on the go.
However, the company didn’t mention that the robot could sort through trash or pick up knick-knacks — a missed opportunity, in our opinion.
An egg-shaped hormone tracking device
This egg-shaped device can evaluate reproductive health hormones. All it takes is a splash.
Mira $249 Ultra Hormone Monitor4 enables a convenient home test: just urinate on a stick and insert it into the device. The device analyzes your results and provides information about four reproductive hormones: follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estrone-3-glucuronide (E3G), and pregnanediol 3-glucuronide (PdG). Monitoring these hormones not only tells you 6 fertile days, but also provides insight into conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), perimenopause, and menopause.
Sounds pretty egg-cellent.
This story has been updated after publication to include more strange gadgets.