The Verge·Sunday, January 4, 2026

The Verge - Sunday, January 4, 2026

10 stories~15 min

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Stories Covered

Aliro arrives – the smart lock standard is set to launch this year

The Aliro standard will launch this year. The long-delayed smart lock standard Aliro is finally launching. The first specification, which standardizes NFC-based tap-to-unlock and UWB hands-free unlocking for smart locks, will arrive early this year, according to the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA). "We're delighted to share that Aliro, the CSA's standardized credential and communication protocol that lets trusted smartphones and wearables act as digital keys with smart locks and readers

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LG says its CLOiD home robot will be folding laundry and making breakfast at CES

Lots of time to think about the robot uprising while folding laundry. LG teased that it would be showing off a new robot for a "zero labor home" at CES. We now have a bit more detail on what to expect. The company says that its CLOiD home robot can fetch milk from the fridge, put a croissant in the oven, and even do some laundry, including folding and stacking clothes. CLOiD isn't the first laundry-folding robot we've seen, it's not even the only one at CES this year - SwitchBot's Onero H1 wi

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You can charge the battery in Belkin’s new Switch 2 power case without opening it

Belkin has announced a new version of one of its first accessories for the Switch 2 at CES 2026. The Charging Case Pro for Nintendo Switch 2 carries forward the same 10,000mAh internal battery as the original, but it's been redesigned so you don't need to remove the battery to charge it, and you no longer need a short cable to connect it to the console. On the outside of the Charging Case Pro you'll now find a USB-C port that makes charging the internal battery a little more convenient, alongsid

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Belkin’s new 3-in-1 charging dock isn’t limited to the Apple Watch

As convenient as 3-in-1 chargers can be, the vast majority of them work with a variety of smartphones and wireless earbuds, but only support one wearable: the Apple Watch. That's what sets the UltraCharge Modular Charging Dock that Belkin just announced at CES 2026 apart. Its design can accommodate different smartwatches, but you'll need to supply your own charging puck. Belkin expects the UltraCharge Modular Charging Dock to launch in "select markets" sometime in Q1 2026 where it will sell for

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Belkin’s new HDMI adapter wirelessly connects to screens over 130 feet away

Belkin has announced a new wireless display adapter that works without the need for a Wi-Fi network. The ConnectAir Wireless HDMI Display Adapter includes a USB-C transmitter you connect to devices like laptops, tablets, and phones, and an HDMI receiver that plugs into a display. You don't need to install drivers or stick to compatible apps, and Belkin says the adapter's range maxes out at 131 feet, so you can use it while crashed in a hotel room or to present through a distant projector in a co

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Plaud updates the NotePin with a button

You must be able to trust the NotePin S — doctors use it! Plaud has updated its compact NotePin AI recorder. The new NotePin S is almost identical to the original, except for one major difference: a button. It's joined by a new Plaud Desktop app for recording audio in online meetings, which is free to owners of any Plaud Note or NotePin. The NotePin S has the same FitBit-esque design as the 2024 original and ships with a lanyard, wristband, clip, and magnetic pin, so you can wear it just about

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SwitchBot says its humanoid household robot can do your laundry

The Onero H1 is a humanoid household robot on wheels. | Image: SwitchBot SwitchBot is bringing a new household robot to CES 2026. The smart home company is launching the Onero H1, which it calls "the most accessible AI household robot." The announcement follows last year's debut of its multitasking household bot - a robot vacuum mounted to a mobile platform. SwitchBot says the Onero is a general-use humanoid robot designed to eliminate housework that can complete "everyday actions such as gras

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You can unlock SwitchBot’s first deadbolt smart lock with your face

The Lock Vision deadbolt replaces your existing door lock instead of being retrofitted over it. SwitchBot has announced a new deadbolt smart lock that can be unlocked with a glance. Like the Keypad Vision that SwitchBot launched last year, the new Lock Vision series unveiled at CES uses 3D facial recognition technology to enable "near-instant unlocking" after scanning your face. The Lock Vision is the first smart lock from SwitchBot that needs to be installed directly into your door in place o

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SwitchBot’s new E Ink display seems great for weather nerds

One of SwitchBot's most interesting products announced at CES 2026 is one of its most basic. The Weather Station, as it's called, is a 7.5-inch framed E Ink screen that's packed with weather-related data. Its interface shows info including the date, time, weather, a six-day weather forecast, and when the sunrise and sunset will happen, as well as metrics gathered by its built-in sensors, like indoor temperature and humidity. There's an AI component to the Weather Station that's accessible via on

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SwitchBot’s AI audio recorder is a ‘second brain’ for memories

The button-like SwitchBot AI MindClip can be discreetly attached to your clothing, bag straps, or lanyards. SwitchBot is joining the AI voice recorder bandwagon, introducing its own clip-on gadget that captures and organizes your every conversation. The SwitchBot AI MindClip announced at CES records spoken information from your daily life and work meetings and converts those conversations into summaries, to-do actions, and a personal audio memory database. This announcement follows competing A

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