CES DAY 2: Less Hype, More Help?
The smartest gadgets today aren’t flashy — they’re actually useful.
Some people call it the Super Bowl of tech — we call it our new year, new “looking fresh on three hours (or less) of sleep a night and 10,000 steps before breakfast” routine.
CES, the world’s buzziest consumer electronics show, officially kicks off today in Las Vegas and already, a clear theme is emerging: It’s time for tech to stop showing off — and (finally!) start showing up.
I’ve been hands-on with gadgets built to quietly take things off your plate and give you back time, control, and peace of mind. From smarter home security and cleaner pools to TVs that actually work in bright rooms and tools that cut through digital clutter, this is tech that doesn’t beg for more attention — it gives some back.
Here are a few that stand out so far.
***Our production or marketing department might work with some of the companies included in this review. That work is separate from our editorial reviews.***
myQ Secure View 3-in-1 Smart Lock
I’m looking for those unicorn gadgets that solve common problems — like getting locked out of your house or struggling to open the door with your arms full. This new myQ Secure View 3-in-1 Smart Lock is the perfect fix — combining a traditional lock, a video doorbell, and a security camera into one device. It gives you five ways to get in your door: face access that works in less than 2-seconds, fingerprint, PIN, the app, or a regular key. It’s all super fast — perfect for families, guests, dog walkers, and deliveries. 14+ million homes already use this tech for their garage door tech and now the front door lives there too.
Price: $279
Aiper Scuba V3
There are more robots here than Elvis impersonators — and a few you’ll actually want to invite home. This Aiper Scuba V3 pool cleaner uses cognitive AI and AI vision, adapting in real-time to target the dirty areas for up to 40% less runtime and ten times faster results. That means quicker cleanings, fewer missed spots, and less wasted energy — and you don’t lift a finger. It’s lightweight, cordless, and truly “drop-in-and-go”gadget that you don’t need to babysit at all. Plus — it’s secure: all camera data stays on the device, so nothing gets uploaded, stored, or shared anywhere. Available in early 2026.
Price: $1099
Dolby Vision 2
Dolby Vision 2 makes your TV picture sharper, brighter, and more realistic than ever before. Their demo actually gave me the chills. It looks and feels like the images on the screen are coming into your room — not holographic or 3D — just blending in more seamlessly and naturally than ever before. Paired with Dolby Atmos for sound to match, entertainment comes alive all around you.
Where this really shines is in live sports. You see richer colors, better contrast, and more detail. You can hear the crowd, the swish of the net, the kick of the ball. It’s like you’re actually there. The best part is … it just works. You don’t have to touch settings; it just works.
Peacock also announced its expanding live sports in Dolby, so more games will look and sound better than anything we’ve experienced before. It’s the closest thing to courtside — without paying arena prices. First Dolby completely transformed how your TV sounds, not it’s transforming how they look.
Elgato Stream Deck MK.2
The Elgato Stream Deck MK.2 looks like a small keypad with 15 LCD screen keys — but what it really does is give you back total control of everything that’s been hijacked by apps. You program each key to do something you do every day — launch Zoom, mute your mic, open email, paste a reply, control music, even turn on smart lights — all with one tap. No digging through menus. No hunting for tiny icons. Think of it as a control panel for your digital life — built for people sick of clicking around.
Price: $149.99
TCL Note A1 NXTPAPER
A lot of tablets are bright, shiny distraction machines. The TCL Note A1 NXTPAPER is all about focus. Its screen looks and feels more like paper — no glare, softer on the eyes, and easier to read for long stretches. You can write on it with a stylus that even simulates pen pressure and texture, so jotting notes or sketching feels natural instead of slippery-glass awkward. Think Kindle-meets-iPad — a tablet that’s actually perfect for writing, planning, and creating rather than endless notifications. For students, journalists, and anyone who still thinks on paper, this finally bridges the gap.
Available late February 2026.
Price: $549
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***All prices are correct at time of publication, but might change over time.***
***Our production or marketing department might work with some of the companies included in this review. That work is separate from our editorial reviews.***
The NXTPAPER approach is quietly smart. Most tablets optimize for vividness, not sustained focus, which creates this weird tension where the device meant to help you work actually fatigues you faster. The stylus texture simulation is interesting too because pressure mapping without tactile feedback always felt hollow, like typing on glass without haptics. I've used similar e-ink/paper-texturd devices for drafting and the retention is notably different when the medium itself doesn't scream for attention.