We have seen the best CES 2026 has to offer, from robots folding laundry to singing lollipops. Now it is time to begin serious about what’s impressing us probably the most. For me, that features sitting down and placing on my deep-thinking frown for all of the home security improvements I’ve witnessed.
It has been an attention-grabbing present for safety tech, together with shocking new lock applied sciences, anticipated presence-sensing know-how and a flood of “AI” devices (some extra spectacular than others). Listed below are the most important traits I noticed, the standout manufacturers and merchandise, and the place I feel dwelling safety is heading.
Wi-fi charging involves our sensible locks
Each the V7 Max and Veno Professional function AuraCharge wirelessly charging and are available at dramatically totally different value factors.
My favourite standout know-how for smart locks at CES this 12 months was wi-fi charging. Meaning charging your sensible lock battery robotically, without having to take away a battery pack or change AA batteries each few months. That is by far probably the most annoying a part of a smart lock, particularly if batteries fail whilst you’re away (don’t fret, there are many emergency backup choices when that occurs).
Desloc, for instance, arrived with a fully integrated solar panel on the entrance of its V150 Plus lock. Entrance doorways are usually fairly shady, however Desloc stories that its lock can decide ambient mild and alter its energy consumption and different components to maintain the ten,000mAh battery as charged as potential. If true, that will be a big advance for solar-charging dwelling batteries.
Safety model Lockin supplied two wireless charging options at CES. One among its locks, the Aeon, additionally encompasses a built-in photo voltaic panel designed to function even in overcast skies. Nonetheless, extra attention-grabbing was the “AuraCharge” know-how that empowered its different locks. AuraCharge makes use of a separate base station that beams power to the sensible lock repeatedly (Lockin assured us it was secure for our eyes and different delicate elements).
I am undecided how photo voltaic charging or AuraCharge will work in follow. These applied sciences rely closely on their usability in the actual world. However for now, wi-fi charging is the tech to look at for all issues lock-related.
IKEA steps up with its first line of sensors
Ikea’s safety sensors are extremely inexpensive.
IKEA has lengthy been the bastion of inexpensive furnishings and unpronounceable names. Any smart home choices had been largely collaborations with different firms. All that modified at CES 2026, as Ikea’s first CES, and its alternative to unleash a number of first-party strains of lamps, smart speakers — I am going to check these for sensible dwelling use ultimately — and safety sensors.
That is proper, IKEA is transferring into the house safety sphere, particularly specializing in dwelling security and monitoring. Their 21 sensible dwelling units embody entry sensors for doorways and home windows, a movement sensor for exercise monitoring, a water leak sensor and even air and temperature screens. In addition they provide nice price range costs, with nearly all falling beneath $10 (uncommon for a majority of these sensors).
“Their complete lineup is de facto notable for being low-cost,” my colleague Ajay Kumar confirmed. “A lot of the new sensible bulbs price round $5-7 and help Matter. The Bluetooth speaker is simply $10.”Given Ikea’s long-term reliability, I am keen to check them out and see what deserves a suggestion.
Additionally, don’t fret: The sensors have charmingly IKEA-fied names like Myggspray, Timmerflotte, Kilppbok and Alpstuga.
Presence sensing evolves dwelling safety administration
Aqara’s sensor has many methods to trace exercise in a room.
I predicted presence sensing would be a smart home theme at CES 2026, and I used to be not disillusioned. Presence sensing is a time period that encompasses every kind of non-invasive individual or exercise sensing — it notes what is going on on with out utilizing cameras, recordings, facial recognition, or different applied sciences that individuals would possibly really feel uncomfortable with.
A few of this presence-sensing know-how was pretty gentle, similar to new sensible locks utilizing it to mild up when individuals method, or Motion’s Wi-Fi sensing smart plug. Safety manufacturers like ADT, nonetheless, envisioned presence sensing as a multi-pronged approach utilizing older infrared know-how, plus newer radar know-how, to make safety techniques into one thing new — one thing that may talk with us about our power use, security habits, and extra.
Aqara additionally impressed me with its all-in-one presence-sensing device, the FP400 Spatial Multi-Sensor. Utilizing mmWave radar, it might probably monitor as much as 10 our bodies in a room, monitoring their presence, motion, and posture, whether or not they’re standing, sitting, or mendacity down.
That is not solely helpful for monitoring, say, potential falls for individuals getting old in place at dwelling. The Multi-Sensor may also connect with platforms like Apple House and Google House. Then, customers will have the ability to use it as a set off for lights, sensible locks, and even arm or disarm safety techniques primarily based on close by exercise. In the meantime, lesser-known manufacturers, similar to Irvinei with its Oval know-how and Arqaios with Allie, introduced their very own presence-sensing hubs designed to attach a number of security and sensible options into one proactive machine.
That is just the start of what presence-sensing know-how is bringing to dwelling safety. Consider it as a extra superior automation know-how that helps out without having cameras.
AI continues to rise in cameras, now for third events
Ulticam is partnering with Google’s Gemini for AI capabilities, a tactic that is rising extra frequent.
We noticed a lot AI at CES, it might be onerous to quantify. Nonetheless, within the dwelling safety sector, the time period “AI” primarily refers to algorithms utilized in security cameras that may facilitate extra superior object recognition, video descriptions, and even the flexibility to reply questions.
By now, I am effectively aware of this. AI video evaluation hit its stride this 12 months and is already out there on main model safety cameras, from Gemini in Google Nest Cams to Arlo’s video recognition tech, in addition to Blink and Ring’s AI-powered descriptive alerts. What I seen at CES was how AI know-how is spilling over lesser-known manufacturers that did not have already got it.
Some AI add-ons had been comparatively gentle, similar to Desloc’s S150 Max sensible lock, which is video-capable and options AI-powered alerts for extra superior object and face detection. Different manufacturers, like Xthings’ Ulticam IQ V2, used Google Gemini to energy their very own video summaries and object recognition, partnerships Google is bound to encourage within the coming years.
Then there are previous, acquainted manufacturers like Jem World’s Energizer (of battery bunny fame), which is including AI detection to sure safety cameras with its Energizer Connect platform.
In different phrases, the rollout of more and more superior AI options to safety cameras is not slowing down. Corporations that do not have already got cutting-edge options like video descriptions or summaries will really feel vital stress to undertake. Personally, I feel it is a use case the place AI proves time-saving and handy, should you do not thoughts merchandise like Gemini peering by way of your video recordings.
Video sensible locks proceed to look — however are individuals ?
Sensible locks have tried embracing video, however I am undecided it will catch on.
It could sound snide to say video smart locks had been “so final 12 months,” however, effectively, they had been. CES 2025 noticed the primary huge bulletins of video locks, a know-how that basically combines a video doorbell and a wise lock right into a lock with a digital camera on it.
At CES 2026, I noticed just a few stragglers late to the social gathering, asserting their very own variations of video sensible locks. That features MyQ with its Secure View, SwitchBot, which is refining its method to video locks with the brand new Lock Imaginative and prescient Collection, and different varied firms leaping on the bandwagon.
Here is the factor: I am undecided video sensible locks will ever take off. Not one of the actually huge safety title have proven an curiosity in these combo fashions besides Eufy, they usually’re inherently awkward. Door locks are positioned low to the bottom and can’t be angled, so it is a poor spot to place a safety digital camera when a battery video doorbell presents rather more versatility — and is much more inexpensive, too.
Perhaps video sensible locks will take off, however I am not holding my breath. Let’s verify in subsequent 12 months and see if any main names are taking part.
An period of assembly safety customers the place they’re
That is the primary safety cam I’ve seen with so many modular elements.
Lastly, I noticed encouraging indicators that some safety firms are placing thought into how customers behave across the dwelling and what options can finest meet their wants there. That makes room for distinctive releases and fewer copying what everybody else is doing.
For instance, Lockly had an attention-grabbing CES lineup with releases extra centered on modern security needs than the most recent tech methods, which considerably paradoxically made them one of the vital revolutionary firms I noticed.
Lockly’s cute little OwlGuard battery camera, for instance, is not simply sensible. It homes a brand new method to safety with an onboard standing display screen and recording that works with out Wi-Fi to foil energy outages or Wi-Fi jammers (that are displaying up in headlines lately). And the cam comes with equally cute add-ons like a literal magnifying glass for higher zoom-ins, a sunshade for shiny areas or a privateness blindfold to cease viewing, assured.
TapCom is a rental resolution match for the trendy age.
Likewise, Lockly was the one firm I noticed addressing one other frequent difficulty — trip rental administration for each homeowners and tenants. Its TapCom platform is made for Airbnb conditions, permitting friends to make use of sensible units and locks with a faucet of their cellphone or enter a right away video name with homeowners without having to obtain an app. House owners, in the meantime, get a complete technique to handle all their entry units without delay, together with not simply Lockly however widespread manufacturers like Yale and Schlage. Each side sorely wanted these choices.
I hope different safety firms undertake a extra consumer-first method within the coming 12 months. If there’s one factor CES 2026 has proven, it is that chasing traits or AI labels is not practically as spectacular as placing within the work to offer individuals an “Oh, I want that” second. That may very well be slightly owl digital camera, an extra-affordable line of sensors, or simply eradicating an age-old headache from sensible locks.
Talking of needing that, check out my favorite smart products of 2025 that I am nonetheless utilizing in my own residence, lengthy after I’ve completed writing my evaluations.
