The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is always a big deal for consumer and gaming monitors, and 2026 was no exception. The highlights this year included a new type of Samsung QD-OLED panel with improved text clarity, which has found its way into several new monitors. That same panel technology will also bring a wave of new 34-inch ultrawide OLED monitors with a 360Hz refresh rate. That’s not all from Samsung. The company also introduced the world’s first 1,000Hz monitor (actually up to 1,040Hz). Though it’s regrettably not an OLED display, and can only achieve that at 720p resolution, it’s a sign of where monitors are going. Refresh rates are up across the board, and 120Hz is starting to look like the new 60Hz. LG also went hard, though it put an emphasis on resolution with several new 5K2K ultrawide monitors. Dell also had several huge displays, including a gigantic 52-inch Ultrasharp display with support for Thunderbolt and Ethernet. I got to see it all on the show floor and there were some clear winners among them. Here are the best monitors at CES 2026. Acer ProDesigner PE320QX: 6K resolution at a reasonable price Matt Smith / Foundry Acer came to CES 2026 with the ProDesigner PE320QX, a 31.5-inch 6K display for creative professionals and prosumers who want superb pixel density. It packs an IPS-LCD panel with 6016×3384 resolution. That works out to almost 220 pixels per inch, which is a massive upgrade over the roughly 140ppi of a 32-inch 4K display. The monitor also has excellent connectivity thanks to a USB4 port with 100 watts of power delivery. That connects to downstream USB4 with 15 watts of power delivery. Other features include dual 5-watt speakers and a proximity sensor that can dim or turn off the monitor when you step away. It’s also VESA DisplayHDR 600 certified. Acer says the monitor will retail for $1,499.99 when it arrives in North America, though it won’t hit stores until Q2 2026. Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27UCWM: Tandem OLED at 4K and 240Hz Matt Smith / Foundry The Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27UCWM is the company’s new flagship tandem OLED gaming monitor. It has a 26.5-inch tandem OLED panel with 3840×2160 resolution. It’s also a dual-mode display with support for a refresh rate up to 240Hz at 4K, or up to 480Hz at 1080p. If you’re thinking “Wait, didn’t Asus just release a tandem OLED monitor?”, you’d be right. PCWorld’s review of the Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQWP-W went up right before CES 2026. That monitor sticks to 1440p resolution, however, and offers a higher refresh rate up to 540Hz at 1440p, or 720Hz at 720p. The new PG27UCWM targets lower refresh rates but offers the crystal clarity of 4K. The new PG27UCWM also offers a USB-C port with up to 90 watts of power delivery, a feature that wasn’t often found on Asus’ ROG monitors in 2025. Other features include a Neo Proximity Sensor (which can dim or turn off the display when you’re away to prevent OLED burn-in) and DisplayPort 2.1a video input. While most of the monitors on this list are wider or larger, the humble 27-inch monitor is the practical choice for many gamers. And if that’s the size of monitor you want, the PG27UCWM will be hard to beat. Pricing and availability remains to be announced. Asus ROG Swift OLED PG34WCDN: A new ultrawide with all the tricks Matt Smith / Foundry If you want a wider monitor than 27 inches, Asus has you covered with the new ROG Swift OLED PG34WCDN. It has a 34-inch ultrawide OLED panel with 3440×1440 resolution and a maximum refresh rate of 360Hz. That’s a nice bump from prior generation OLED ultrawides, which often topped out around 240Hz. That’s not all. The PG34WCDN has Samsung’s new 5th-gen QD-OLED panel with RGB Stripe. This changes the QD-OLED subpixel arrangement from its prior triangular shape to a more traditional striped arrangement (with the red, green, and blue subpixels in a row) to improve clarity of some objects and fine text—a struggle for past QD-OLED monitors. I saw the monitor first-hand and, to my eyes, it was a noticeable improvement. I didn’t see obvious color fringing around text, and while small text still wasn’t crystal-clear, that appeared to be due to the limits of 1440p resolution rather than any issue inherent to the QD-OLED panel. Like its 27-inch cousin, the PG34WCDN will have a USB-C port with 90 watts of power delivery, DisplayPort 2.1, and a Neo Proximity Sensor. This monitor’s pricing and availability remains to be announced. Dell Ultrasharp 52 Thunderbolt Hub Monitor (U5226KW): The ultimate command center Michael Crider / Foundry Dell’s Ultrasharp 52 Thunderbolt Hub Monitor is a command center for multitaskers who have nearly as many devices on their desk as tabs open in their web browser. My colleague Michael Crider even thinks it might replace his triple-monitor setup altogether. To that end, it includes an impressive Thunderbolt 4 hub. Connectivity spans a Thunderbolt 4 port with 140 watts of power delivery, as well as two more USB-C ports with 27 watts each. The hub also includes USB-A ports, 2.5Gbps Ethernet, and a KVM switch for up to four PCs. The monitor also has an IPS Black panel with 6K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. Other features include an ambient light sensor. Interestingly, the monitor lists support for not only Windows and macOS but also Linux Ubuntu and ThinOS. Dell’s Ultrasharp 52 Thunderbolt Hub Monitor will be available on January 6th, 2026 and will retail for $2,899.99 with an adjustable VESA stand, or $2,799.99 without the stand. Dell Ultrasharp 32 4K QD-OLED (U3226Q): An OLED for creative professionals Matt Smith / Foundry The majority of QD-OLED monitors target gamers, but an increasing number now also target professionals and prosumers. The Dell Ultrasharp 32 4K QD-OLED (U3226Q) joins these ranks. It has a 31.5-inch 16:9 QD-OLED panel with 4K resolution and a refresh rate up to 120Hz. Because it’s meant for professional creative work, the monitor includes an integrated colorimeter, customizable “direct keys,” and Dell’s color management software, among other features. It’s also a Thunderbolt 4 hub. It has a single Thunderbolt 4 port with 140 watts of power delivery, as well as a 27-watt USB-C port and 10-watt USB-A port. 2.5Gbps Ethernet is available, too. The monitor is compatible with Windows and macOS. It’ll launch globally on February 24th, 2026 for $2,599.99. LG UltraGear EVO 52G930B: It’s even bigger than you think Matt Smith / Foundry Did you ever look at a 49-inch super-ultrawide gaming monitor and think “Hmm, that’s too small”? The LG UltraGear EVO 52G930B is for you. This is a 52-inch monitor with a 21:9 aspect ratio—a stark contrast to the 32:9 aspect ratio used by typical 49-inch super-ultrawides like the Philips Envia 8000. Three extra inches might sound trivial but, due to the difference in aspect ratio, it’s actually a huge deal. The UltraGear EVO 52G930B offers a roughly 56 percent gain in display area. Most of that is vertical display space, as the 52G930B is about 7 inches taller than a 49-inch super-ultrawide. That’s good news if you want a big, immersive display for simulation and first-person games. Size aside, the EVO 52G930B uses a vertical alignment (VA) LCD panel with a maximum resolution of 5120×2160 (which works out to about 106 pixels per inch) and a refresh rate up to 240Hz. It’s definitely not as attractive as an OLED monitor, but it provides decent color performance and better contrast than most IPS-LCD monitors. LG has yet to announce price or availability. LG UltraGear EVO AI 39GX950B: A 5K2K ultrawide for gaming Matt Smith / Foundry The UltraGear EVO AI 39GX950B is LG’s new flagship gaming monitor and, if you ask me, the best gaming monitor at CES 2026. It has a 39-inch curved ultrawide tandem OLED panel. The monitor can reach a pixel-packed 5120×2160 resolution at a refresh rate up to 165Hz, or a more modest 2560×1080 resolution at up to 330Hz. The 5K resolution mode crams about 142 pixels into every inch, a huge upgrade over the roughly 110ppi of a typical 34-inch 1440p ultrawide. LG has thrown a few AI features into the mix. The monitor can upscale lower-resolution content to 5K for improved sharpness, and LG claims the process doesn’t introduce additional latency. The monitor also has built-in speakers with an AI sound enhancement for enhanced clarity. Really, though, this monitor is all about the pixel-dense ultrawide OLED panel. You’ll need a beefy GPU to handle 5K2K resolution, but if you’ve got it, I think you’re in for a treat. Pricing and availability not yet announced. MSI MPG 341CQR X36 QD-OLED: MSI’s new ultrawide flagship Matt Smith / Foundry The MSI MPG 341CQR X36 has a 34-inch ultrawide panel with 3440×1440 resolution and a refresh rate of up to 360Hz. Like the Asus ROG Swift OLED PG34WCDN, the MSI MPG 341CQR X36 has Samsung’s new 5th-generation OLED with V-Stripe, which improves text clarity. It also has a new type of glossy finish (called DarkArmor) that reduces glare and should make the display surface more scratch-resistant. MSI emphasized HDR performance. The MPG 341CQR X36 quotes up to 1,300 nits of HDR brightness, and MSI also provides extensive HDR control features which can be used to adjust the HDR curve to a customized setting (or to one of several preset HDR modes). I suspect this could prove rather useful because HDR content on the PC is often far less optimized than HDR content on an HDTV. The monitor also has a USB-C port with up to 98 watts of power delivery and an AI Care Sensor that can automatically dim, adjust, or darken the display when you turn away or walk away to prevent OLED burn-in. MSI says the MPG 341CQR X36 will be available for $1,099. MSI MAG 272QRF X36: Bringing Nvidia G-Sync Pulsar to the masses Matt Smith / Foundry The MSI MAG 272QRF X36 is a 27-inch widescreen gaming monitor with 2560×1440 resolution and a 360Hz refresh rate. Its real claim to fame, though, is support for Nvidia’s G-Sync Pulsar. Nvidia G-Sync Pulsar is a backlight strobing technology. Backlight strobing is a popular technique used to improve motion clarity, but it’s not usually compatible with variable frame rates. Nvidia G-Sync Pulsar solves this, allowing use of backlight strobing (which MSI calls MPRT) with G-Sync engaged. MSI claims a 4x improvement in motion clarity. MSI’s MAG 272QRF X36 wasn’t the only G-Sync Pulsar display at the show, but earned its place on this list with a second feature: an ambient light sensor. MSI says the sensor can be used to automatically adjust screen brightness and color temperature in both SDR and HDR—a rather handy feature on any display, but often absent on gaming monitors. The MAG 272QRF X36 will hit stores at $649. Samsung Odyssey G6 (G60H): Gaming at 1,040Hz Samsung If you told me 5 years ago that we’d have a legit 1,000Hz monitor in 2026, I wouldn’t have believed you. But Samsung’s latest Odyssey G6 (G60H) is one of several new monitors that make it a reality. There’s a catch, though. The Odyssey G6 is a dual-mode display and it can only achieve 1,040Hz at 720p resolution. That’s definitely going to limit its appeal, but the monitor can still hit up to 600Hz at 2560×1440 resolution, which is nothing to laugh at. Refresh rate aside, the monitor’s specifications are typical for a mid-range gaming monitor. It has a 27-inch IPS-LCD panel and offers support for both AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync. The monitor also supports HDR, HDMI 2.1, and DisplayPort 2.1. The price was not announced but, given the monitor’s cutting-edge refresh rate, I don’t think it will be cheap. Read...

Audio tech startup Tomorrow Doesn’t Matter (TDM) has unveiled an unusual product at CES 2026. It’s a headphone called the Neo Hybrid, which can twist into a portable Bluetooth speaker. At first glance the Neo Hybrid looks like a conventional pair of headphones. But the flexible headband can be rolled around the earcups to transform the device into a compact speaker. There’s no software to navigate or parts to snap on; you just give the device a literal twist and it turns into a palm-sized speaker for your whole room. Headphones that transform into speakers aren’t entirely new, but TDM has taken a unique approach to the Neo Hybrid’s design. Each earcup houses two 40mm drivers — one inward facing and a second facing outward. When the headphones become rolled up or switched via a button, the internal drivers shut off, and the outward drivers kick in, allowing audio to be heard without the need for the sound to come out of the earcups. TDM TDM says this setup provides a crisp, detailed sound profile as headphones and surprisingly decent volume when used as a speaker. Users can also, if they wish, customize what happens when the headphones are twisted, with the choice of automatically switching modes, pausing playback, powering down, or acting as just a physical toggle. The headphones have a built-in microphone for calls. Connectivity is via Bluetooth 6, with multipoint pairing and Auracast support. There’s also a 3.5mm wired option. The device uses two replaceable 1,500mAh batteries and the battery life is very decent. TDM claims up to 200 hours playback in headphone mode with that dropping to 10 hours in speaker mode. The device also features USB-C fast charging that TDM says can deliver eight hours of battery life in headphone mode from just five minutes charge. There’s no active noise cancellation to speak of with the headphones relying on passive noise isolation instead. The Neo Hybrid will be available in black and white color options and be priced at $249. It’ll launch on Kickstarter later this month. Read...

At CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Aiper marked a new chapter in its smart yard ecosystem by officially announcing its brand positioning as the World’s No. 1 Smart Robotic Pool Cleaner, which was credited by Euromonitor* for its innovative products that are smart, reliable and carefree. The company showcased a fourth-generation lineup designed to deliver smarter performance, reliable real-world operation, and the carefree ownership experience modern homeowners increasingly expect. HGTV star and outdoor living expert Chip Wade appeared at the Aiper booth at CES and headlined the brand’s new product launch event. Introduced by Chip Wade, the new portfolio includes three breakthrough innovations: the Scuba V3 series, the world’s first cognitive AI powered robotic pool cleaner series; the IrriSense 2, the world’s first 4-in-1 multi-zone smart irrigation system, and EcoSurfer Senti, the world’s first AI powered skimmer with water quality management. Learn more about Aiper`s full CES 2026 lineup Cognitive AI: A smarter, more autonomous cleaning engine At the heart of Aiper’s next-generation systems is Cognitive AI, a new intelligent engine that constantly loops through four functions—see, interpret, decide, and adapt. Unlike earlier AI-vision systems that simply recognized pool debris, Cognitive AI continuously learns from real-world conditions. It interprets pool size, daily and seasonal weather patterns, and historical cleaning data to optimize routes, frequency, and intensity. This self-improving intelligence allows Aiper devices to deliver a fully automated, carefree cleaning experience all week long without requiring user intervention. Scuba V3 Series: World’s first Cognitive AI powered robotic pool cleaner series Leading the lineup is the Scuba V3 Series, Aiper’s most advanced robotic pool cleaners yet and the world’s first to fully leverage Cognitive AI, including the Scuba V3, Scuba V3 Pro and Scuba V3 Ultra. Aiper The 2026 CES Innovation awards winner Scuba V3 Ultra, the world’s 1st cognitive AI powered 6-in-1 robotic pool cleaner, is introducing 6-in-1 full-coverage cleaning, 20cm shallow-area operation, and the industry’s first dual-camera AI Patrol Cleaning system. Its Cognitive AI Navium™ mode delivers hands-off, week-long automation by analyzing environmental conditions and cleaning history to intelligently schedule and adapt each cleaning cycle. The Ultra also features JellyFloat™ Energy-Smart Lift Engine—an anti-stuck hovering and energy-efficient lift system that helps the robot glide smoothly across varying surfaces. Vertical jet propulsion and active buoyancy let the robot rise, pivot, and reroute freely, escaping obstacles and moving smoothly between deep and shallow zones. The sleek Scuba V3 brings the same core innovations—AI Patrol Cleaning, Cognitive AI Navium™ mode, and feather-light design—along with TÜV-Certified Data Privacy Protection, ensuring the onboard camera collects only cleaning-related data and stores nothing externally. Aiper Together, the Scuba V3 Series offer practical, meaningful benefits for everyday pool owners: Carefree Pool Cleaning: Autonomous scheduling and adaptive cleaning keep pools pristine all week long without monitoring. More Precise Cleaning: AI detection of over 20 debris or object types delivers up to 10× faster cleaning efficiency. Smart Scheduling: Automatic adjustments based on weather, pool size, and historical patterns ensure consistent performance with zero manual planning. EcoSurfer Senti: World’s first AI powered skimmer with water quality management Aiper Aiper also expanded its reach above the pool cleaner with 2026 CES Innovation Award honoree EcoSurfer Senti, the first solar-powered surface skimmer to pair AI vision with water-quality management. Its AI Surface Patrol system uses a high-precision camera with a 2-meter detection range to identify over 20 floating debris/object types. A DebrisGuard™ anti-leakage design and 150µm fine filtration basket maximize debris capture while keeping the system clean and efficient. What truly sets EcoSurfer Senti apart is its built-in water quality testing suite, measuring pH, free chlorine, ORP, and temperature with high accuracy. Combined with an automated management system and real-time safety dashboard, EcoSurfer Senti helps maintain balanced water around the clock. Its solar-powered architecture and anti-stranding engineering enable 24/7 uninterrupted, energy-free cleaning—providing continuous surface cleaning and safer, clearer water with no effort required from the owner. IrriSense 2: World’s first 4-in-1 multi-zone smart irrigation system Aiper Rounding out the lineup, IrriSense 2 extends Aiper’s mission beyond the pool to the entire Smart yard ecosystem. This pioneering irrigation solution combines four traditionally separate components—an irrigation controller, rotor sprinkler, electrical valve, and nutrient feeder—into one single device capable of managing multiple customized zones with intuitive point-line-area mapping. Designed for water-smart outdoor care, IrriSense 2 delivers: Up to 40% water savings through perfect precision with customizable watering zones and automatic weather-responsive system. It maintains consistent pressure for even, efficient watering across all zones, backed by TÜV certification for reliable water pressure stability, plus safety and performance; Nurture the soil and plants: EvenRain™ technology, which simulates natural rain for even watering across up to 4,800 sq. ft, with adaptive Re-Spray to eliminate blind spots and protect soil and seedlings. SoilPulse™ Microbial Organic Soil Amendment enhances soil fertility and moisture retention while breaking down residues, and promoting stronger roots and healthier plants; Easy to use: 15-minute DIY installation and robust app control with smart scheduling and remote Wi-Fi connectivity. It supports up to ten irrigation maps with independent schedules and watering depths, delivering precise care tailored to lawns, flowerbeds, shrubs, and trees.d robust app control with smart scheduling and remote Wi-Fi connectivity. A smarter, more carefree and reliable Smart Yard future With Cognitive AI at the center of its 2026 portfolio, Aiper is transforming the smart yard ecosystem into a seamlessly automated experience—from crystal-clear pools to healthier gardens. The innovative new lineup reinforces Aiper’s leadership as the world’s No. 1 smart robotic pool cleaner while expanding its vision for smarter, more reliable, and truly carefree smart yard experience. To learn more about Aiper at CES and its 4th generation product line, visit aiper.com. World`s Number 1 Smart Robotic Pool Cleaner Learn more about Aiper`s full CES 2026 lineup *Aiper is the No.1 brand of smart robotic pool cleaner in the world in terms of sales volume. Source: Euromonitor International Co., Ltd., in terms of 2025 manufacturer sales volume (units) in the world. Smart robotic pool cleaner is defined as: intelligent service robots integrating mechanical, electronic, software algorithm and sensor technologies. They autonomously or with minimal human intervention perform pool cleaning and maintenance tasks, typically featuring smart navigation, path planning, and multiple cleaning modes. Research completed in 2025/12. Read...

Though CES 2026 is coming to a close, there’s still more to learn. We just heard from Nvidia about DLSS 4.5 and how it’s going to offer all kinds of features and performance boosts to modest graphics cards. Before that, there was big talk (and big disappointment) around AMD’s FSR Redstone tech that was meant to supercharge Radeon RX 9000 cards. At CES 2026, PCWorld’s Adam Patrick Murray was able to chat with Andrej Zdravkovic, AMD’s Senior Vice President of Software Development, about the future of its Adrenalin software in regards to FSR Redstone, Linux support, and an upcoming (optional) AI bundle. It’s just one of the many AMD stories floating around this week—far from the most interesting, though. You have the new Ryzen 7 9850X3D processor, hints of possibly being able to drop mobile Ryzen chips into desktop PCs, bringing back older chips to fight shortages, and a bona fide clapback to shade thrown by Intel. Learn more about AMD’s plans in this Q&A discussion. For more on the latest in CPUs and GPUs, be sure to subscribe to PCWorld on YouTube and check out our weekly podcast The Full Nerd. Read...

As the FCC looks to accelerate ATSC 3.0 adoption for over-the-air TV, broadcasters are eager to show off options that don’t involve replacing your TV or giving up DVR. Ahead of this week’s CES trade show, the broadcaster consortium Pearl TV announced a certification program for no-frills converter boxes that will plug into the HDMI port on any TV. Anne Schelle, Pearl TV’s managing director, said in an interview that the goal is to have converter boxes available this fall that will be priced at less than $60. Also at CES this week, broadcasters are touting advancements in ATSC 3.0 “gateway” boxes that offer live TV and DVR on multiple TVs throughout the home. Both Zapperbox and ADTH are developing whole-home DVR solutions that work with encrypted ATSC 3.0 channels, clearing some longstanding hurdles with digital rights management. All of this suggests a new level of urgency as broadcasters push to wind down the current ATSC 1.0 standard. If they want the FCC’s approval for a full transition to ATSC 3.0, they’ll need to show that they’re not leaving people behind. Sub-$60 converter boxes (maybe) ATSC 3.0 allows for new features, such as 4K HDR video, dialog enhancement, interactive programming, and potentially better reception, but the standard is not compatible with the ATSC 1.0 tuners built into most televisions. Viewers who want to access these features must either buy a TV with an ATSC 3.0 tuner or connect an external tuner box. Today, the least-expensive tuner box from ADTH costs $90, and Zinwell’s NextGen TV box is even pricier at $129. Pearl TV aims to bring prices down with a new class of converter boxes that shave away features such as DVR and possibly some interactive features. It also plans to negotiate IP (intellectual property) and component costs on behalf of certified device makers while also helping to secure retail distribution. The idea is that Pearl TV will have more bargaining power than any individual device maker. “What we’re asking for, for this box, is to act as if the market’s there already, and [suppliers should] give us what that discount would have been at millions, instead of tens of thousands [of units],” Schelle said. Just don’t expect the government to help pay for the hardware. Unlike with the analog-to-digital transition, Pearl TV is operating under the assumption that congressionally mandated federal dollars won’t be available to subsidize ATSC 3.0 converter box purchases. Pearl isn’t guaranteeing the $60 price point, either. With uncertainty over tariffs and and DRAM shortages inflating the price of all sorts of consumer electronics, these converter boxes could end up being pricier, Schelle said. DVR progress Jared Newman / Foundry Meanwhile, broadcasters want to show that tech enthusiasts can still have full-featured DVRs in the ATSC 3.0 era, even as broadcasters encrypt their-over-the-air channels. A3SA, the broadcast group that serves as the security authority for ATSC 3.0, this week pointed to a couple of whole-home DVR gateway solutions, from ZapperBox and ADTH respectively. While both companies actually revealed their plans late last year, A3SA is using CES to draw new attention to them. ZapperBox, which offers an array of ATSC 3.0 tuner boxes with DVR support, now sells a tuner-free ZapperBox Mini that extends the DVR to additional televisions, with full support for encrypted channels and recordings. Apps for streaming devices are coming later this year. allowing access a single DVR across multiple televisions without extra hardware. ADTH is also working on a whole-home DVR for its $90 tuner. A forthcoming firmware update will let users access live and recorded TV via ADTH’s Fire TV and Android TV apps, although the company hasn’t set a release date. And while SiliconDust’s HDHomeRun networked tuner remains unable to access encrypted ATSC 3.0 channels, there are signs of progress on that front, too. SiliconDust announced in November 2025 that it had become an ATSC 3.0 Certificate Authority for NextGen TV, and the company had a demo stall at the modest ATSC booth at CES for the first time. Pearl TV has previously said that HDHomeRun was ineligible for DRM certification because it uses a chip from a subsidiary of Huawei, which the FCC has deemed a security threat. In an interview at CES, SiliconDust CTO and founder Nick Kelsey said the chip isn’t relevant to handling encrypted channels, and that HDHomeRun doesn’t even do the decryption itself. (Instead, it passes the video along to streaming devices, such as a Fire TV or Android TV, to handle the decryption.) Kelsey said the allegations were “weird,” as the company had a great working relationship with Pearl previously, but added that those relations have since gone back to normal. He’s now hoping that HDHomeRun devices will support encrypted ATSC 3.0 channels this year without any additional hardware. “It’s not something that’s going to drag on further, and that’s not just us. Everyone in the industry is of a similar opinion,” he said. These developments won’t allay every concern about ATSC 3.0. Gateway devices still require an internet connection for DRM, and out-of-home viewing won’t be possible. It also remains unclear if tuners will be able to work with third-party DVR software, such as Plex and Channels. For those reasons, ATSC 3.0 might remain toxic among tech enthusiasts even as the DVR options improve. The FCC is watching The impetus for all this activity is, of course, the FCC’s notice of proposed rulemaking on accelerating ATSC 3.0 adoption. It calls for an end to the requirement that broadcasters simulcast their ATSC 3.0 channels in ATSC 1.0, but it also asks some pointed questions about DRM and the lack of affordable ways to keep accessing free over-the-air TV. The FCC still needs to vote on its proposals, which could happen in the fall, Schelle said. So far, however, the FCC’s proposed rules don’t include a cutoff date for ATSC 1.0, nor does it mandate ATSC 3.0 tuners in televisions. The National Association of Broadcasters is hoping to be rid of ATSC 1.0 by 2028 in the 55 largest U.S. markets, and everywhere by 2030. Now the broadcast industry is trying to show that it will actually be ready for that. Sign up for Jared’s Cord Cutter Weekly newsletter for more streaming and over-the-air TV advice. Read...

Here’s something I’d like to see more of: a tech manufacturer choosing not to brick one of its older cloud-connected products.  In this case, we’re talking Bose, which just months ago was poised to yank cloud functionality from its more-than-decade-old line of SoundTouch Wi-Fi speakers and soundbars, a move that would essentially rob them of their smarts.  Now, Bose is changing course, and while direct access to music-streaming services is still on the chopping block, local networking features will remain. More importantly, Bose is opening up its SoundTouch tech to outside developers.  According to the original plan, SoundTouch owners would see their apps go dark by February 18, meaning they would no longer be able to stream tunes from Spotify, Pandora, TuneIn, or the like from the SoundTouch app. Instead, they’d have to pipe audio to the speakers via HDMI, Toslink, AUX jacks, or Bluetooth. In other words, their smart SountTouch speakers—which cost anywhere between $400 to $1,500—were about to turn dumb.  Naturally, livid SoundTouch users gave Bose a piece of their collective mind, and it appears Bose actually listened. As ArsTechnica reports, the popular home audio brand relented, to an extent: while it’s still cutting cloud service for SoundTouch speakers (it’s extended the deadline to May 6), it will keep Spotify Connect and AirPlay functionality, the latter of which will allow multiple SoundTouch speakers to play the same tunes simultaneously.  And while the SoundTouch app will lose access to cloud features, it will still let you control local functionality for your SoundTouch speakers, including Bluetooth, AirPlay, and Spotify Connect streaming, remote playback, pause, and volume, speaker grouping, and setup and configuration.  Even better, Bose will allow developers to poke around SoundTouch API, meaning they could build their own apps to control the speakers.  It’s not unusual for owners of soon-to-be-bricked tech to call on the manufacturer to open-source their products before they turn into paperweights. It happened when Google chose to yank support for its first- and second-generation Nest thermostats, and while Google has thus far remained unmoved, hackers have taken matters into their own hands.  So it’s a nice change of pace to see a major brand like Bose lay bare the SoundTouch API, essentially giving their nearly defunct products a new lease on life.  This news story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart speakers. Read...

Microsoft is testing a comprehensive visual update to its Edge browser, making it more similar to the Copilot app, reports Windows Central. The new visual design includes new settings pages, updated quick menus, and a new tab page with shapes, colors, and fonts taken directly from the Copilot app. The changes are not tied to AI mode and are applied even if Copilot features are not enabled. Mustafa Suleyman, Microsoft’s CEO of AI, has previously said that the company wants to develop Edge and integrate it with AI features, rather than creating a completely new AI browser. The new design is currently visible in the Canary and Dev versions of Edge. It’s unclear when it will appear in the full release. You can see an example of what it looks like from Windows Central below: Windows Central Read...

One of the things that has made me enjoy working outside of my home office more is getting a portable laptop monitor. It’s so much more suitable for my workflow to have that extra screen, and it’s nice to have it with me when I’m working on the go. If you wish you had more screen real estate while working on your laptop, you’ll love this Uperfect 2K portable monitor for $134 (that’s 30% off on Amazon). View this Amazon deal This Uperfect 2K monitor has a 16-inch IPS panel boasting a 2560×1600 resolution. That’s a ton of screen space to split all the apps you need and push your productivity to new heights. A 2K resolution is also perfect for all those movies and streams you’re bound to watch. With its 120Hz refresh rate, the visuals are smooth and responsive, and it can even be used for light gaming (assuming your laptop is powerful enough). This monitor was built to be used in all sorts of environments, as the screen outputs 400 nits of brightness, which means you’ll see just as fine on it when used in a cozy-lit room as in a brightly-lit area. The monitor features two USB-C ports and a Mini HDMI port, so you can connect it to laptops, smartphones, or gaming consoles just as easily. One of the coolest things about this monitor is that it also comes with a smart cover that doubles as a stand for your screen. In this way, you don’t have to worry about what you’re going to prop the monitor on or scratching it while carrying it around in your bag. Don’t miss out on this 30% discount—grab the Uperfect 2K monitor for $134! Now`s your chance to get this 16-inch 2K portable monitor for 30% offBuy now at Amazon Read...

Microsoft is currently working on a new version of Windows 11 that breaks from the usual update cycle. Windows 11 version 26H1 will be a variant that’s specially adapted for Snapdragon X2 systems, which we reported on previously. However, it was unclear when exactly Windows 11 26H1 would be officially released. Back in November, Microsoft released an initial test version of 26H1, which was initially reserved for Windows Insiders, but kept the full release date under wraps. Now, Windows Latest claims to have learned from official sources at CES that the first PCs with Snapdragon X2 and Windows 11 26H1 on board will be shipped by April 2026 at the latest. This new generation of Arm-based devices is expected to be even more powerful, running on up to 18 CPU cores while consuming significantly less power. AI will also be used, of course. Windows 11 will feature a new AI agent that acts more intelligently and optimizes Copilot+ PCs so that they can perform tasks optimally. Apart from that, however, 26H1 will not differ fundamentally from the current Windows 11 25H2. It’s not a major feature update, but rather a technical adjustment for the new devices. Microsoft took a similar approach back with the release of the first Copilot+ PCs. What about “normal” users? Existing Windows 11 users don’t need to expect any changes for the time being. Version 26H1 will be more of a “silent update” that will pass most people by. Nevertheless, it’ll be exciting to see how Microsoft adapts Windows 11 for the new generation of powerful AI PCs. As usual, most users can expect a new major Windows 11 version in the second half of 2026. Windows 11 26H2 is expected to be released with new features and improvements that will run on all systems (assuming it doesn’t suffer from the usual problems in major Windows 11 updates). Read...

This shouldn’t come as a surprise–AI is omnipresent these days–but Gmail is getting a big old AI upgrade, and this time Google’s taking a hammer to its paywall. During a press briefing led by Ross Reichardi from Gmail PR and Blake Barnes, head of Gmail product, Google announced a wide rollout of AI-powered Gmail features to all U.S. users for free. That includes tools like Help Me Write, AI-generated summaries in email threads, and more advanced Smart Replies, which were previously limited to paying customers. There’s a brand-new Proofread feature that helps you spiffy up your email drafts in real time. It helps with things like fixing incorrect word usage and grammatical errors, and breaking up sentences that go on and on into infinity. You don’t have to use these suggestions if you don’t want to–they’re one-click optional. There’s also an undo button if you’re not feeling it. Google Paying subscribers get some exclusive perks, though. Google One Pro and Ultra users now see AI overviews in Gmail’s search bar. This lets you ask questions like, “How much was my last electric bill?” and get summarized answers based on your email history. You don’t have to endlessly scroll to find whatever it is you’re looking for. Google They also introduced a new feature called AI Inbox, which transforms your inbox into a kind of personal assistant. It uses Google’s Gemini to read entire threads and pull out emails that require immediate attention. Don’t worry, the traditional inbox you know and love is still there, and now you can toggle between the views. AI Inbox is rolling out to testers starting today, January 8.  Privacy was a big talking point throughout the briefing (as it should be!). Google stressed that personal Gmail content used for these AI features is processed in a private, isolated environment and is not used to train Gemini models. You can also turn these features off entirely. So, what did I take away from this meeting? I see it as a clear push to make Gmail feel less overwhelming and more approachable. I’m not entirely closed off to it, as my own inbox contains years of email exchanges. That said, I’m still leery of the idea of AI further worming its way into my personal digital space.  The rollout is live today for consumer accounts and Pro/Ultra subscribers, though the AI Inbox is limited to a select group of testers, with wider availability coming later. Read...