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The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you have a sweet tooth.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for January 8, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Bodily response

• Green: Small crimes

• Blue: A crank

• Purple: Chocolate

Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Bit of a response to strong emotions

• Green: Break the rules

• Blue: First-class levers

• Purple: Starting with candy bars

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #942 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Bit of a response to strong emotions: CHILL, GOOSEBUMP, SHIVER, TINGLE

• Break the rules: JAYWALK, LITTER, LOITER, SPEED

• First-class levers: CLOTHESPIN, CROWBAR, SCISSORS, SEESAW

• Starting with candy bars: AEROPLANE, DOVETAIL, HEATHERS, MARSALA

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 8, 2026

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you love binging competitive shows.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 8, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 8, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: That's just reality (TV)

The words are related to TV.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe a popular reality show.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is The Traitors.

NYT Strands word list for January 8

• Shield

• Castle

• The Traitors

• Banishment

• Faithful

• Mission

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're used to things exploding.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 8, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for January 8, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

An explosion.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter B.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

BLAST

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 8, 2026

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

SAVE $80: The TheraGun Prime massage gun is on sale at Amazon for $249.99, down from the list price of $329.99. That's a 24% discount that matches the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: TheraGun TheraGun Prime (6th Gen) $249.99 at Amazon
$329.99 Save $80   Get Deal

Now that we're a week into 2026, you might be dealing with muscle soreness if you've been working on a fitness resolution. Instead of waiting to get a massage appointment, it might be worth adding a massage gun to your at-home arsenal of workout gear. Check out this nice deal at Amazon that'll help ease soreness.

As of Jan. 7, the TheraGun Prime massage gun is on sale for $249.99 at Amazon, marked down from the normal price of $329.99. That works out to a savings of $80 thanks to a 24% discount. Today's sale price matches the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

Back in the day, we all had to either schedule a massage appointment or enlist the help of a friend to work out muscle knots. These days, we have percussive massage in a compact gadget that can be a huge relief. TheraGun makes some of the most advanced models, and the sixth generation of the TheraGun Prime is the brand's most durable massage gun yet, being built to withstand drops of up to 10 feet.

SEE ALSO: The new Hyrdow Arc Rower offers a great indoor winter workout

After a hard workout or a long day at work, the TherGun Prime can tackle your worst pains from shoulder knots to sore calf muscles. In addition, Therabody says percussive massage can speed up muscle recovery and increase flexibility.

The TheraGun Prime is designed to get up to two hours of use before you'll need to recharge, and the simple controls make it easy to operate. You get two attachments to use on the Prime — a dampener for more sensitive areas like near bones and a standard ball for use across sore muscles of all sizes.

Connect up with the TheraGun app, and you'll be able to follow along with tutorials on how to help with back pain, sciatica pain, or sore legs. The five massage speeds mean you'll be able to adjust the TheraGun to the setting that feels best.

Instead of dealing with sore muscles for days after a big workout, enlist the help of the TheraGun Prime percussive massage gun. It's on sale for the lowest price we've ever seen, and it'll be a great addition to your at-home fitness equipment.

SAVE $60: As of Jan. 7, get the Anker Prime Docking Station for $239.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $299.99. That's a discount of 20%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Anker Prime Docking Station $239.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $60   Get Deal

If you like to get things done, no doubt you're the type of person who works with multiple displays at your computer desk. And if you aren't just needing more screen real estate, you probably need better cable management. Tackle all those needs at once with this great deal on a docking station from Amazon.

As of Jan. 7, get the Anker Prime Docking Station for $239.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $299.99. That's $60 off and a discount of 20%.

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This docking station boasts 14 connections, including a 140W 10Gbps USB-C port, two 100W 10Gbps USB-C ports, one 100W 5Gbps USB-C port, two HDMI ports, one DisplayPort, two 5Gbps USB-A ports, one 480Mbps USB-A port, and a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port. It also has a headphone and mic combo jack for good measure.

In addition to all these ports that you can connect to, you can power three external monitors at once, with one dispalying 8K for a crisp, satisfying picture. Each port can also support charging and data transfer, so you get more than just a place to plug everything in. This docking station can do it all. And you don't have to worry about overloading it, thanks to its built-in fan and Anker's ActiveShield 3.0, which is meant to keep everything running cool.

If you're ready to upgrade your computer space at home and whip some of your wayward cables into shape, this is an excellent (and very easy) way to do it. Get one now while you can still score a significant discount on it.

TL;DR: Office 2024 Home & Business gives you Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook with new AI tools, faster performance, and lifetime access — all for $149.97 (reg. $249.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC Lifetime License $149.97
$249.99 Save $100.02   Get Deal

Free productivity apps are great until you need the power, polish, and reliability that only Microsoft Office delivers. That’s why Office 2024 Home & Business, available as a lifetime license for $149.97, feels like an upgrade that actually supports how modern professionals live and work.

This version of Office isn’t about bells and whistles — it’s about smarter workflows. You get Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, redesigned with a unified interface that feels cleaner, faster, and more intuitive.

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Whether you’re drafting reports, organizing your inbox, building data models, or creating presentations, everything works the way a real professional suite should.

Performance gets a noticeable lift, too. Excel handles large datasets more efficiently, PowerPoint lets you record full presentations with audio and video, and Outlook includes enhanced accessibility tools and improved search. Word introduces Focus Mode and Smart Compose, giving you a writing space that feels distraction-free and intelligently supportive.

Perhaps the biggest win? Offline access and a one-time purchase. Your license is tied to your Microsoft account — not your device — so you get continuous use without subscription fees. You also benefit from Microsoft’s built-in security improvements, including new protections against malicious add-ins.

Whether you’re a small business owner, a freelancer navigating multiple clients, or someone who simply prefers dependable offline tools, Office 2024 Home & Business delivers the streamlined experience free apps can’t match.

A modern suite for modern work — without monthly payments.

Get lifetime access to Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for your Mac or PC while it’s on sale for $149.97 (reg. $249.99).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Jimmy Donaldson, known as MrBeast, has almost become synonymous with YouTube. With almost 460 million subscribers, MrBeast has the largest following on the platform. Last year, he launched his reality competition series, Beast Games, on Prime Video. With the show's second season about to premiere, Donaldson sat down with Mashable's Executive Producer, Mark Stetson, to discuss his rise to stardom, how he built his YouTube empire, and what we can all expect from the new season of Beast Games.

Early in his career, Donaldson saw the value in leaning into YouTube as the main outlet for his content. "Right now, 2 percent of humanity's time is spent on YouTube. When I was 11 years old, I didn't know YouTube would grow this big. Accident? Yes. The luckiest thing that ever happened to me was I fell in love with making YouTube videos. Over the last 16 years, certain mediums have died and YouTube has grown exponentially. I got very lucky that the thing I fell in love with, that I devoted my life to, happens to be growing endlessly."

Donaldson has grown his love of making videos into a major content empire. Not only does he have the most subscribed channel on Youtube, he is also the third most-followed creator on TikTok. Jimmy has launched multiple brands, founded non-profits, and now has his own reality competition series on Prime Video.

The second season of Beast Games premiered on Jan. 7, with a hundred of the world's smartest people versus a hundred of the word's strongest people battling for a $5 million prize. The show set multiple Guinness World Records such as: the largest physical cash prize on set ($5 million) and the most money won in a single episode of a competitive reality TV show ($2.02 million).

One major adjustment Donaldson was passionate about implementing between seasons of Beast Games was to focus more on the emotional drama contestants were facing between challenges. "A lot of people wanted to know the contestants more. In season 2, the first three episodes, there are a lot of shots in the city where it's just them hanging out. It's the contestants being normal. Which is funny because we have all this footage of these big, multi-million dollar sets, doing these crazy things. People aren't asking me to build more giants sets. They are not asking me to do more crazy games. They're actually asking for, in between those, just show the contestants talking."

Donaldson has built his career on creating experiences people have never seen on screen. Even when Donaldson was starting out, at the young age of 11 years old, he wanted to do things no one else has done. "That's always been my goal: to make content you can't find anywhere else. If someone else has done it and you're just slightly making it different than it doesn't feel as special. But if every video we make, you can't find anywhere else in the world, that's stuff people notice. And I think that's why we get the views we get and why people really resonate with the videos." Donaldson feels a responsibility to his audience to deliver on that ethos.

"I feel like I owe it to the audience to try to always mix it up and give them something they've never seen."

The first three episodes of Beast Games Season 2 are currently streaming on Prime Video. The following episodes will be released weekly on Wednesdays.

SAVE 36%: As of Jan. 7, you can get the Keurig K-Express Single Serve Coffee Maker for $69.99 at Amazon, down from $109.99. That's a 36% discount.

Keurig K-Express Single Serve Coffee Maker $69.99 at Amazon
$109.99 Save $40   Get Deal at Amazon

If you’re still trying to clear the post-holiday brain fog, you probably need something more effective than just "willpower" to get you through your first week back at work — like, a strong cup of coffee you can actually afford.

As of Jan. 7, the Keurig K-Express Single Serve Coffee Maker (Evergreen) is on sale for $69.99 at Amazon. That's a 36% discount off its $109.99 list price. While this isn't the lowest we've seen this model sell for, $70 is still well below the average $77 price point we’ve tracked over the last few months.

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It features a 42-ounce removable reservoir, which is large enough to get you through about four cups before you have to trek back to the sink for a refill. You can choose between eight, 10, or 12-ounce servings; there's also a "Strong Brew" button if you need a richer, more intense cup to get through a heavy morning of deadlines.

The Keurig K-Express is super easy to use and includes a removable drip tray, making it compatible with travel mugs up to 7.4 inches tall. It also has an auto-off feature that powers the machine down five minutes after your last brew (a must-have for anyone prone to leaving the house and immediately wondering if they left the coffee pot on).

TL;DR: SwiftScan VIP gives you high-quality mobile scanning and document tools for life — all for $39.97 with promo code SCAN until Jan. 11.

Opens in a new window Credit: SwiftScan SwiftScan VIP: Lifetime Subscription $39.97
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Keeping your papers organized doesn’t have to feel like a constant struggle. SwiftScan VIP lets you quickly digitize, sort, and store your documents, turning piles of paper into a clean, accessible digital library. It’s an easy way to stay on top of your files and reclaim your workspace.

Whether you’re a student scanning notes, a professional managing files, or a small business owner juggling receipts, this app makes organizing your paperwork simple — and you’ll never need to pay for it again with this lifetime subscription, on sale through Jan. 11 for $39.97 with code SCAN (reg $199.99).

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SwiftScan transforms your phone into a high-powered scanner that creates crystal-clear, professional-quality scans. From receipts and contracts to IDs and class notes, it handles all kinds of documents effortlessly. Need to tweak the results? The built-in editing tools let you crop, adjust, and clean up your scans so they look sharp and polished every time.

Once scanned, your files are ready to be stored, shared, or sent wherever you need them. SwiftScan integrates seamlessly with popular cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, and iCloud, keeping your documents organized and accessible across all your devices.

The best part? This one-time payment gives you lifetime access to SwiftScan VIP’s powerful tools — no subscriptions, no hidden fees, just unlimited scanning and organization at your fingertips.

Streamline your workflow, clear the paper clutter, and keep your important documents in check for good with a lifetime subscription to SwiftScan VIP for $39.97 with coupon code SCAN until Jan. 11 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

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The first trailer for Stray Kids: The dominATE Experience is here, and as someone who saw this tour four times across four different cities, including the Los Angeles stop at SoFi Stadium, it immediately dropped me back into the controlled chaos that defines a Stray Kids concert.

Speaking from personal experience, the trailer captures what made the world tour such a defining moment for Stray Kids: momentum. These weren't shows that eased you in. They hit hard from the jump, stacking explosive choreography, blistering rap verses, and emotional pivots into a set designed to never let the energy dip. Bang Chan anchoring the chaos, Changbin and Han trading rapid-fire intensity, Hyunjin and Felix commanding the stage with physicality and presence, Lee Know's razor-sharp movement, Seungmin delivering steady vocals while casually instigating chaos, and I.N grounding it all with sincerity — every member played a specific role in keeping that engine running.

And now, fans will get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into how they brought it all together.

SEE ALSO: Want to match Stray Kids' Hyunjin's floral phone case aesthetic? We found this K-pop idol's fave.

Anchored by footage from the sold-out SoFi Stadium performances in Los Angeles, the film documents a turning point for the K-pop act. Seeing Stray Kids command a venue of that size on their first global stadium tour made clear just how far they've grown not only as performers, but as artists confident enough to trust their own vision on the biggest possible stage.

Directed by Paul Dugdale (Taylor Swift: Reputation Stadium Tour) and featuring documentary segments directed by Farah X (The Remix: Hip Hop x Fashion), The Dominant Experience is built for scale. The film opens globally on Feb. 6, 2026, screening in IMAX®, SCREENX, 4DX, and ULTRA 4DX where available. (Do I want to be physically pelted in the back every time the bass drops or Changbin spits a verse? Honestly...maybe.)

Tickets are already on sale at STRAYKIDSMOVIE.COM, and if the trailer is any indication, this concert film is a snapshot of Stray Kids at full force.

When I asked Lenovo CEO Yang Yuanqing what he'd say to AI skeptics at CES 2026, where AI has been a constant topic of conversation, he summed it up simply: "Nobody can avoid it."

Last night, at a live keynote event at The Sphere in Las Vegas, Lenovo leaders announced a personal AI assistant called Qira designed to work across Lenovo and Motorola devices, along with a new line of futuristic AI laptops and devices. Unsurprisingly, artificial intelligence has been the dominant theme at CES 2026, with companies like Lenovo and Samsung outlining a vision of a future in which AI is integrated into every aspect of our lives, from sunrise to sunset.

AI wearables, like the concept Project Maxwell AI wearable Lenovo announced at CES, will see and hear everything you see and hear to better assist you. Meanwhile, AI will be integrated across every device. CES has brought us AI smartphones, AI laptops, AI TVs, AI washing machines — AI, essentially, everything.

The morning after the Lenovo Tech World Event at The Sphere, I got the chance to participate in a question-and-answer session with Yang and Lenovo’s Chief Technology Officer, Tolga Kurtoglu. So, I asked them what they would say to AI skeptics. 

What about the consumers who don't want AI to see and hear everything they do? Who don't want an AI washing machine or refrigerator?

"I strongly believe AI will be the trend," Yang said. "Nobody can avoid it. But AI will not replace you; it will only empower you, empower each of us, so that is why we think utilization will help you so that you can do more, be more creative. So that will be the trend that you cannot avoid."

Kurtoglu also had a blunt answer: "I don’t see a world without AI."

Lenovo CEO Yang Yuanqing and Chief Technology Officer Tolga Kurtoglu speak to the media at CES 2026. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

However, Kurtoglu also emphasized the importance of responsible AI development in Lenovo’s approach.

“One of the fundamental principles with which we develop AI is our belief in responsible AI. Of course, there are guardrails and very strict processes that we follow as a company as we build our own AI. And then globally and locally, there are regulations and compliance requirements about privacy and security and other things that we follow very strictly,” Kurtoglu said.

Check out the full list of Best of CES 2026 finalists, as selected by CNET Group, here.

Likewise, Lenovo stressed the opt-in nature of Qira and its AI tools repeatedly during its keynote at The Sphere, and Kurtoglu echoed this sentiment to Mashable. "If you want to participate and get the value-add[ed] that AI brings to you, you opt in, and you give your permission, and then you get what the AI enables for you. Otherwise, if you don’t want to participate, of course, it’s all up to you. We’re going to continue to follow our strong belief in responsible AI development.”

However, as AI gets integrated into virtually all types of hardware, opting out isn’t so simple. Lenovo itself states that AI PCs will account for 70 percent of the global market by 2028. Laptops and smartphones are following a similar trend, although not all consumers share the same enthusiasm for AI as industry leaders. In a recent survey, CNET found that just 11 percent of smartphone users upgrade their devices because they want to take advantage of new AI tools. (Disclosure: CNET and Mashable are both owned by Ziff Davis.)

During the media Q&A, Yang also addressed concerns that we’re approaching an AI bubble, downplaying these concerns.

"We believe AI is not a bubble," Yang said. “The demand will be booming, so everybody will have their personal AI, and every enterprise will need to leverage their data to generate intelligence. So, the demand is just beginning. It’s not a bubble at all."

Head to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news and live updates from the biggest show in tech, where Mashable journalists are reporting live.

On Wednesday, SAG-AFTRA announced the nominations for the 32nd Annual Actor Awards (formerly known as the SAG Awards), and there are two frontrunners: One Battle After Another and Sinners.

SEE ALSO: The 25 best movies of 2025, and where to stream them

Fresh off its Critics Choice Award win for Best Picture, One Battle After Another picked up a record-breaking seven nominations, including nods for Leonardo DiCaprio, Chase Infiniti, Benicio Del Toro, Sean Penn, and Teyana Taylor, as well as nominations for the entire cast and the stunt ensemble. Following closely on its heels is Sinners, which earned five nominations, for Michael B. Jordan, Miles Caton, Wunmi Mosaku, the entire cast, and the stunt ensemble.

One Battle After Another and Sinners have been the two frontrunners going into the 2026 awards season, and with both films' considerable Actor Awards nominations, that race shows no signs of letting up. Other contenders on the film side include Frankenstein, Hamnet, and Marty Supreme. On the TV side, The Studio leads with five nominations, while The White Lotus and Adolescence each picked up four.

Read on for the full list of nominations for the 2026 Actor Awards presented by SAG-AFTRA.

Film nominationsOutstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

Frankenstein

Hamnet

Marty Supreme

One Battle After Another

Sinners

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

Timothée Chalamet, Marty Supreme

Leonardo DiCaprio, One Battle After Another

Ethan Hawke, Blue Moon

Michael B. Jordan, Sinners

Jesse Plemons, Bugonia

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role

Jessie Buckley, Hamnet

Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You

Kate Hudson, Song Sung Blue

Chase Infiniti, One Battle After Another

Emma Stone, Bugonia

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role

Miles Caton, Sinners

Benicio Del Toro, One Battle After Another

Jacob Elordi, Frankenstein

Paul Mescal, Hamnet

Sean Penn, One Battle After Another

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role

Odessa A’Zion, Marty Supreme

Ariana Grande, Wicked: For Good

Amy Madigan, Weapons

Wunmi Mosaku, Sinners

Teyana Taylor, One Battle After Another

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture

F1

Frankenstein

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning

One Battle After Another

Sinners

TV nominationsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

The Diplomat

Landman

The Pitt

Severance

The White Lotus

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

Abbott Elementary

The Bear

Hacks

Only Murders in the Building

The Studio

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series

Sterling K. Brown, Paradise

Billy Crudup, The Morning Show

Walton Goggins, The White Lotus

Gary Oldman, Slow Horses

Noah Wyle, The Pitt

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series

Britt Lower, Severance

Parker Posey, The White Lotus

Keri Russell, The Diplomat

Rhea Seehorn, Pluribus

Aimee Lou Wood, The White Lotus

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series

Ike Barinholtz, The Studio

Adam Brody, Nobody Wants This

Ted Danson, A Man on the Inside

Seth Rogen, The Studio

Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series

Kathryn Hahn, The Studio

Catherine O’Hara, The Studio

Jenna Ortega, Wednesday

Jean Smart, Hacks

Kristen Wiig, Palm Royale

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a TV Movie or Limited Series

Jason Bateman, Black Rabbit

Owen Cooper, Adolescence

Stephen Graham, Adolescence

Charlie Hunnam, Monster: The Ed Gein Story

Matthew Rhys, The Beast in Me

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a TV Movie or Limited Series

Claire Danes, The Beast in Me

Erin Doherty, Adolescence

Sarah Snook, All Her Fault

Christine Tremarco, Adolescence

Michelle Williams, Dying for Sex

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series

Andor

Landman

The Last of Us

Squid Game

Stranger Things

The Actor Awards presented by SAG-AFTRA stream live on Netflix on March 1 at 8 p.m. ET.

LG and SwitchBot can promise chores-doing robots all they want, but robot vacuums are still the most practical way to automate a household task by far. A handful of promising new robot vacuums have been announced at CES 2026 so far, and they're not trying too hard to be fancy like they were in 2025. The emphasis is on more vigorous cleaning power and more flawless navigation around the home — the factors that actually determine whether a robot vacuum can be more reliable than a manual vacuum.

SEE ALSO: 8 gadgets from CES 2026 that you can buy right now: Dell, Xreal, Soundcore, more

Below, I'm breaking down the most important vacuum news out of CES as of Jan. 7, from the best robot vacuums announced to intel about upcoming cordless vacuum innovations. Feel free to scroll leisurely or use the table of contents to drop down to a specific brand.

Roborock Credit: Roborock Credit: Roborock

Roborock didn't try to right the wrongs of the Saros Z70's wonky mechanical crane arm from last year. Instead, the brand focused on improving the other already-great 2025 Saros robot vacuums with the new Saros 20 and Saros 20 Sonic. Roborock also introduced the Qrevo Curv Flow 2, its first roller mop robot vacuum.

The "sonic" difference between the Saros 20 and Saros 20 Sonic has to do with the mopping mechanism. The Saros 20 Sonic takes a risk by stepping away from spinning mopping pads and going back to Roborock's VibraRise flat mopping pad system, but with a much-needed twist: sonic scrubbing along edges.

The vibrating mopping pad of the Saros 20 Sonic physically extends out past the round part of the vacuum, cleaning as close as zero millimeters against baseboards or furniture legs. That level of precise edge scrubbing is much of the reason that the Roborock Saros 10R was my favorite robot vacuum for most of 2025. If the Saros 20 Sonic's extendable sonic mop is just as meticulous as the Saros 10R's hinged spinning mopping pad, it's an automatic contender for best robot vacuum mop combo of 2026.

SEE ALSO: As an anxious cat mom, I love my robot vacuum with a livestream camera

The Roborock Saros 20 offers the same wicked 35,000 Pa suction power that the Sonic model does, but mops with dual rotating pads instead. Both vacuums automatically adjust their chassis height based on floor type in order to administer optimal airflow for debris pickup, including a special Deep Carpet Cleaning mode for plush carpets up to 1.2 inches thick. Based on the release prices of last year's models, I could see the Saros 20 costing the same $1,599.99 as the Saros 10 and 10R, and the Saros 20 Sonic costing $1,699.99 or $1,799.99.

The Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow also claims pro corner cleaner with a roller mop that automatically pops out when a wall edge or corner is detected. Since it's Roborock's first stab at a roller mop robot vacuum, I'm curious to see how it'll compare to my experiences with roller mop models like the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller or Eufy E28. Unfortunately, the Qrevo Curv 2 Flow's 20,000 Pa of suction power is surprisingly low for a 2026 CES debut. At any rate, it will be available to buy starting Jan. 19, with an opening promotional price of $849. After Feb. 1, the Qrevo Curv 2 Flow will cost $999.

A legitimate stairs-climbing robot vacuum from Roborock has also been confirmed. The Saros Rover will be a two-wheel robot vac that can raise and lower independently of each other in a motion that mimics human walking. It is officially in development, but there's no time frame or price point talk as of now.

Narwal Credit: Narwal Credit: Narwal

Narwal staggered announcements of the new versions of its two main botvac series: The newest Narwal Freo came out in September, and now, the Narwal Flow 2 is the flagship representing Narwal at CES 2026. The big difference is the roller mop.

It looks like Narwal's signature millennial gray is here to stay, though the Flow 2's gold accents and frosted glass panel do give it a more premium look than the Freo Z10 Ultra. The Narwal Flow 2 is also the higher-end pick in terms of cleaning power: The Flow 2 is a sturdy roller mop robot vacuum that scrubs with hot water and rinses itself mid-cleaning as the roller gets dirty. Water flow and scrubbing time are determined in real time as the Narwal assesses the type of dirt and mess level in its cleaning path. The Flow 2's 30,000 Pa of suction power initially positions it as the better choice over the Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow. If this Narwal ends up costing less than $1,000, it's the new roller mop robot vacuum to beat.

Narwal also introduced "Family-First Scenario Modes," like Pet Care Mode, which includes auto pet zone cleaning, find my pet, and smart pet video calling, and Baby Care Mode, where the robot automatically switches to quiet mode near the crib.

Dreame The X60 Max Ultra has stronger suction power than the Aqua10 Ultra Roller. Credit: Dreame The Dreame Cyber 10 Ultra looks like something we've seen before. Credit: Dreame

Dreame already unveiled a chunk of its new vacuum lineup in August, including the flagship Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller. With 30,000 Pa of suction power, that was the most powerful robot vacuum mop combo on the market for a few months... until Dreame outdid itself with the X60 Max Ultra at CES. Like the Roborock Saros 20 models, the Dreame X60 Max Ultra has 35,000 Pa suction power

But wait, that wasn't the only robot vacuum Dreame teased at CES 2026. This year, it's Dreame — not Roborock — who's trying to make a robot vacuum with an arm happen. The Dreame Cyber 10 Ultra and its CyberDex HyperFlex Arm made a brief appearance at CES demos, where it was apparently able to successfully pick up a ball. The arm's total weight limit is 500 grams (just over one pound), which should make it a more worthwhile object picker-upper than the Roborock Saros Z70's 300-gram max. Dreame calls the Cyber 10 Ultra the "first-ever robot vacuum with autonomous tool-utility technology, able to take out and use tools like a human and to execute with robotic perfection."

Whatever that means past picking up balls is still up in the air. We'll find out more when Dreame gives more info on its official release. A legitimate stairs-climbing Dreame vacuum, the Cyber X, is also in the works.

Cordless vacuums announced at CES The green light is giving Dyson, but it's actually Narwal's first stick vacuum. Credit: Narwal Tineco's folding wet-dry vacuum weighs under eight pounds. Credit: Tineco

If you trust stick vacuums more than robot vacuums, several new cordless stick vacuum options also just hit the scene at CES, along with a handful of cordless wet-dry vacuums. And none of them are Dyson — Dyson did announce a slew of new vacuums at its Dyson Unveiled event in September, but it wasn't present at CES 2026. And while we're still waiting on confirmed prices and release dates for those new Dyson vacuums, other vacuum brands just made the competition a whole lot closer.

Roborock

Along with three new flagship robot vacuums, Roborock also announced the F25 Ace Pro. It's an upscaled version of its current F25 Ace Combo wet-dry vacuum and self-washing station that now features Roborock's JetFoaming technology, said to produce millions of microbubbles to dissolve and lift stains better than a typical squirt of liquid solution. The F25 Ace Pro will retail for $699 after a brief early bird discount to $549.99 between Jan. 19 and Jan. 30.

Dreame

Though Dreame announced more than one cordless vac with its August announcement, it did save its new Aero series cordless models for CES. There are two Aero iterations: the regular Aero, a cordless wet-dry vacuum with a dual tank roller mop that prevents cross contamination and a self-cleaning base, and the Aero Pro, with enhanced battery life over the Aero and 185-degree Fahrenheit hot water self-cleaning. Both feature a 180-degree hinge to lay flat for cleaning under low-clearance furniture.

SEE ALSO: CES 2026: The Dreamie phone-free sleep device wants to help you stop doomscrolling before bed Tineco

Surprisingly enough, Tineco is one popular vacuum brand that hasn't dabbled in robotic cleaning yet. But the family of cordless cleaners debuted at CES seems quite robust. The most unique is the Tineco i7 Fold: It weighs less than eight pounds (super compact for a duo wet-dry vacuum) and can fold 180 degrees flat to wash hard-to-reach floors under furniture, which may typically have only been accessed by a mopping robot vacuum.

Tineco also debuted three versions of the new Floor One S9 series. The Floor One S9 Scientist is decked out with LED accents and bold lighting ("cyberpunk" was mentioned in the press release) and features smart mess detection and high-temperature deep cleaning. The Floor One S9 Artist is aimed toward more design-forward living spaces and features high-pressure angled water, a StreakFree Scraper, and a self-cleaning station that automatically replenishes hot water and dries the mop. The Floor One S9 Master is being coined as Tineco's highest level of performance, complete with a green dust-revealing headlight.

Narwal

Narwal doesn't just want to be a competitive name in the robot vacuum space. The brand's CES spread also included its first cordless vacuums, plus an interesting cordless mattress deep cleaner. The Narwal V50 is a compact auto-emptying stick vacuum that weighs just 3.1 pounds — about two pounds lighter than the Dyson V12 Detect Slim. The launch also teases an ultra-slim slim unnamed Narwal vac with double-headed green lights, resembling the upcoming Dyson Pencilvac.

Head to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news and live updates from the biggest show in tech, where Mashable journalists are reporting live. 

If you don't regularly wear glasses, why would you ever wear AI-powered smart glasses? That's the question posed to us by Razer at CES 2026 this year – and it's a good point!

This is why Razer has been working on a new wearable that the company unveiled at CES this week called Project Motoko, an AI-powered headset.

Project Motoko is very much in the prototype stage, without any scheduled release date or price point currently in mind. Razer gave Mashable an up-close look at the Project Motoko during a private demo at CES, and some of you might hope that Razer hurries along with that release after hearing about our experience.

Credit: Mashable A headset that sees the world around you

With Project Motoko, Razer has essentially inserted a full-fledged AI assistant into a pair of headphones. The headset is powered by Snapdragon and features two dual eye-level cameras outfitted in the device for contextual awareness. 

To showcase what these capabilities for Project Motoko mean, Razer provided a fictional scenario where we were traveling in Japan and pulled out a restaurant menu that was written in Japanese. The Project Motoko headset was able to read the menu thanks to its cameras, and translate the menu to us via audio within the headphone set. We were then able to ask Project Motoko questions about the menu such as which flavors were available or if we could afford a certain menu item based on the amount of money we had available to us. Project Motoko answered our questions and even suggested an alternative menu item when informing us that our item of choice was out of our budget.

In another example during the demo, Project Motoko was able to recognize a physical replica of the Rosetta Stone and provide corresponding information about that.

As explained by Razer, Project Motoko is not tied to any specific AI model and can be used with the user's large language model (LLM) of choice.

AI headphones vs smart glasses

Razer thinks there are quite a number of bonuses to having an AI assistant in your headphones rather than your smart glasses. The demo showed off another one: The AI assistant is talking to the user within the headphone set. With smart glasses, it's much easier for people to eavesdrop on what your AI assistant is telling you.

However, as a headset, Project Motoko is missing one central feature that smart glasses can provide: A display. Yes, that seems obvious but it's also important to point out. But, when you consider that not all smart glasses even provide an in-lens display feature, it might not be a dealbreaker.

Razer's inspiration here is clearly that the company believes that more potential customers wear headphones throughout their day than a pair of glasses or even a watch. Plus, users who want AI wearables want ones that feel like products they already utilize. And, in our hands-on with Project Motoko, it just felt like a regular pair of headphones. It seems like Razer is on to something here.

Head to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news and live updates from the biggest show in tech, where Mashable journalists are reporting live.

The Pitt fans, rejoice! HBO Max's Emmy–winning medical drama returns Thursday, Jan. 8, meaning your favorite doctors and nurses are almost back and ready to tackle every gruesome injury this new shift throws at them.

SEE ALSO: 'The Pitt' Season 2 review: Big changes ahead for Noah Wyle's stellar medical drama

Since The Pitt is such a buzzy show, and since social media is bound to be crawling with spoilers as soon as it airs, we recommend watching live in order to experience The Pitt's twists and turns to their fullest extent. So what time does Season 2 premiere?

The Pitt's Season 2 premiere kicks off at 9 p.m. ET on HBO Max, after which it will be available for streaming. The rest of the season will follow the same schedule: Each new episode premieres at 9 p.m. ET on Thursdays, with the finale airing April 16.

Season 2 of The Pitt picks up months after the end of Season 1, taking viewers into a very eventful July 4th shift. Not only does the Emergency Department have to contend with some gnarly holiday-related injuries — think of all the ways grilling or fireworks can backfire! — but they're also on the brink of massive change. Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch (Emmy winner Noah Wyle) is about to head out on a three-month sabbatical, and his replacement attending, Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi (Sepideh Moafi), already has new ideas about how to improve the department.

So what does the future have in store for the ED? Tune into The Pitt Season 2 to find out.

The Pitt Season 2 premieres Jan. 8 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO Max.

CES turns Las Vegas into the epicenter of the tech world every January, bringing together industry giants and scrappy startups alike to debut the ideas that will shape the year ahead. From cutting-edge AI and robotics to TVs, laptops, and some truly weird tech, CES 2026 delivered no shortage of bold claims and ambitious hardware.

Now, we’re excited to announce our official Best of CES 2026 finalists.

Selected on the ground in Las Vegas, these finalists represent the most compelling, innovative, and forward-thinking products at the show. They were hand-picked by more than 40 expert journalists from CNET, Mashable, PCMag, ZDNET, and Lifehacker, with additional input from Ziff Davis sister sites Everyday Health and IGN.

To qualify, products had to be official CES 2026 exhibitors and stand out by introducing a meaningful new idea, solving a real consumer problem, or raising the bar for performance, design, or quality. The result is a finalist list that spans 22 categories, from AI and robotics to wellness, sustainability, and future tech.

Best of CES 2026 Finalist Categories

• Best Age Tech

• Best AI

• Best Audio

• Best Deep Computing Tech

• Best Energy Tech

• Best Future Tech

• Best Gaming

• Best Kitchen Tech

• Best Laptop

• Best Mobile Tech

• Best Parent Tech

• Best Pet Tech

• Best Robot

• Best Smart Home Tech

• Best Startup

• Best Sustainability

• Best Transportation

• Best Travel Tech

• Best TV or Home Theater

• Best Weird Tech

• Best Wellness Tech

• Best Yard or Outdoor Tech

The official Best of CES 2026 winners will be announced live today, Wednesday, Jan. 7, at 4 p.m. PST on the CTA stage at the LVCC Central Hall Grand Lobby.

After the ceremony, we'll update this page with the full list of winners — so check back soon.

With CES 2026 in full swing, we've already seen a slew of product announcements from Taiwanese tech giant Acer. From new laptops to an electric scooter, there's a lot of new tech to look forward to this year from the brand. One thing we're particularly pumped about is the lineup of new gaming monitors.

Acer unleashed three new monitors at CES on Monday to fulfill gamers' needs for speed, precision, performance, and of course, aesthetics. Whether you're seeking the absolute fastest refresh rate, gorgeous imagery, or a mix of the two, the latest releases are sure to satisfy. While none are available for purchase quite yet, we've broken down all the details we know so far — including the price and timeline of when they'll be up for grabs.

Be sure to follow along with Mashable's live CES 2026 updates for the latest and greatest announcements all week long.

Acer Predator XB273U F6 gaming monitor

First up is the Predator XB273U F6, a 27-inch, 2560 x 1440 QHD IPS panel with an ultra-fast 500Hz refresh rate ideal for high-level esports. That refresh rate can jump to an astonishing 1000Hz if you use the Dynamic Frequency and Resolution (DFR) mode, which lowers the resolution to 1280 x 720. Motion blur and ghosting? Never heard of them. Other specs include a 2,000:1 native contrast ratio and 350 nit brightness, two HDMI 2.1 ports, a DisplayPort 1.4, audio out, and dual integrated 2-watt speakers, an ergonomic and adjustable stand, and a remote control smart dial for convenience.

"With its 500 Hz refresh rate, advanced IPS technology, and 1000 Hz dynamic mode, it delivers both speed and visual fidelity that redefine what competitive gamers can expect from a monitor," said Charles Wang, Senior Manager, Product Management, Digital Displays at Acer.

The Predator XB273U F6 will be available sometime in the spring of 2026 starting at $799.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Acer Acer Predator XB273U F6 gaming monitor starting at $799.99 Learn More Acer Predator X34 F3 curved gaming monitor

For those who prefer their games to physically wrap around them, Acer has announced a new Predator X34 F3 QD-OLED curved gaming monitor. It packs a more modest (but still great) 360Hz refresh rate, a 34-inch curved QD-OLED panel with a native resolution of 3440 x 1440, a 0.03 ms gray-to-gray response time, and an 1800R curvature for breathtaking clarity, lightning-fast responsiveness, and truly immersive gaming. Its ideal for both competitive players and content creators, as the 99% DCI-P3 color gamut, 1.07 billion color support, 500 nit peak brightness, and 1,000,000,000:1 Adaptive Contrast Management (ACM) ratio deliver gorgeous highlights, deep blacks, and vibrant colors all around. Other perks include ergonomic tilt, swivel, and height adjustment, and dual 5-watt integrated speakers.

The Predator X34 F3 will also be available this spring for a starting price of $1,199.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Acer Acer Predator X34 F3 curved gaming monitor Starting at $1,199.99 Learn More Acer Nitro XV270X P gaming monitor

Finally, we have a new Acer Nitro gaming monitor, the XV270X P. This 27-inch IPS monitor combines creator-grade 5K resolution with esports-level 330Hz performance. Sure, that's not as high of a refresh rate as the other newly announced monitors, but it's still a beast of a monitor. And as our friends at PCMag (also owned by Ziff Davis) pointed out, casual gamers probably won't notice a huge difference beyond the 240Hz mark (at least on a laptop). At 5120 x 2880 (5K) resolution, it'll run at 165Hz via HDMI 2.1 or DisplayPort 1.4 for crystal-clear details and vibrant imagery. When you need fluidity and responsiveness for gameplay, it offers a blazing-fast 2560 x 1440 at 330 Hz.

Other features include AMD FreeSync Premium, a 0.5 ms minimum GTG response time, a 1,000,000,000:1 native contrast ratio, up to 400 nit peak brightness, 95% DCI-P3 color gamut, dual 2-watt speakers, and an ergonomic stand with tilt, swivel, and height adjustments.

The Nitro XV270X P gaming monitor will hit shelves this spring with a starting price of $799.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Acer Acer Nitro XV270X P gaming monitor Starting at $799.99 Learn More

If you're in need of a new gaming monitor and simply cannot wait for the new products to drop, we've also rounded up a few excellent options you can buy right now. Some are even on sale.

Acer gaming monitors you can buy right now: Acer Predator X34 OLED $699.99 Shop Now Acer Nitro XV272U W2 gaming monitor $199.99 (save $100) Get Deal Acer Nitro EDA343CUR V3 curved gaming monitor $269.99 (save $50) Get Deal Acer Predator X27U W1 QD-OLED gaming monitor $544 Get Deal

CES 2026 has been full of big announcements — advances in the chips that power AI, major product launches, and more — but the Vegas tech convention is also known as a haven for weird tech.

We here at Mashable are lovers of weird tech and odd gadgets, and, thankfully, CES 2026 has not disappointed thus far. We've got folks on the ground in Vegas scoping out everything odd on the showroom floor — here are six of the weirdest and most fun things we've seen.

Teeth music

Ever wondered how your music...tastes? Well, you can now find out...kind of. The Lollipop Star is a device that plays music through your teeth. The company sells $9 lollipops that use bone conduction to play music into your inner ear, while you also get a sugar fix.

For less than a ten-spot, you can buy your favorite song and have a little novelty treat. Not a bad deal.

Credit: Lava Brand Brain-sensing headphones

Neurable showed off headphones at CES that measure how fast you think. The idea is that gamers, especially, could track their reaction times and thought processes. Using this data, the company has developed a system that should help you focus better. Mashable's Chance Townsend tested it out and found it pretty cool.

"The feeling afterward was quite pleasant, all things considered," Townsend wrote. "Everything on screen felt slightly slower, but I was reacting more quickly."

Credit: Mashable / Chance Townsend Headphones that twist into speakers

In a bit of old-school gadgetry, new audio brand TDM debuted headphones that can twist into a speaker at CES 2026. It's a neat idea — go from private listening to sharing with one physical movement.

Credit: TDM A vibrating chef's knife

Mashable's Haley Henschel tested Seattle Ultrasonics' C-200 UltraSonic Chef's Knife, which vibrates as you use it to make cutting easier. Though the vibrations are nearly indetectable to the naked eye, the movement helps slice more easily.

Wrote Henschel:

"I had no trouble getting it to cut paper-thin pieces of tomato with a light touch. Seattle Ultrasonics' rep likened it to riding a bike versus pedaling an e-bike in that it makes your experience more effortless."

The $399 knife could prove useful for many home chefs, especially those with disabilities or physical limitations.

Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable Panda companion bots

In a bit of strange-but-sweet tech, Mind With Heart Robotics showed off its AI-powered panda An'An. The idea is the fuzzy little guy will be an interactive companion for elderly folks with cognitive decline or kids working on social skills.

Credit: Mind With Heart Robotics The AI soulmate

Chinese company Lepro displayed its Ami device at CES 2026, a desktop OLED screen that houses an AI "soulmate" to keep you company. And that is not sat...at all.

The company pitched the Ami as a companion that would be empathetic and connect with its users on a deper level. Giving an AI companion a physical form is certainly an interesting choice.

Wrote Mashable's Chance Townsend:

"Most AI companions today live where everything else already lives: your phone, your browser, your notifications. They blur into the same infinite scroll that's already exhausting us. Lepro Ami, by contrast, asks for a dedicated spot on your desk. It doesn’t follow you everywhere. You have to choose to keep it around."

Credit: Mashable / Chance Townsend

CES is always good for some truly wonderful and strange tech — thankfully, 2026 delivered in both regards.

Want to see more of the best in weird tech at CES 2026? The finalists for the Best of CES 2026 awards have been announced. See the nominees and learn when the winners will be announced.

Head to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news and live updates from the biggest show in tech, where Mashable journalists are reporting live.

SAVE $15: As of Jan. 7, get the Anker Nano Charger for $29.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $44.99. That's a discount of 33%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Anker Nano Charger $29.99 at Amazon
$44.99 Save $15.00   Get Deal

If you're tired of trying to find a charger when your phone is dead or you're thinking about one you can use solely for travel, Anker has your back. The company, which has tons of chargers and power stations to choose from, has one particular model on sale right now that's perfect for either situations, and you can get it for a low price.

As of Jan. 7, get the Anker Nano Charger for $29.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $44.99. That's a discount of 33%.

SEE ALSO: The Anker Solix F1500 just dropped back to a record-low price at Amazon

This 100W foldable USB-C charger can help get all your devices back up to 100% in no time, thanks to its fast-charging tech. Despite its small size, it can charge tech like a 14-inch MacBook Pro to 50% in less than 30 minutes.

It's just 4.23 ounces, so it's perfect for stowing in a bag or purse (or even your pocket) and take with you. You never know when you're going to need a charger and an outlet. And with ActiveShield 2.0, which monitors the device's heat and power output, you don't have to worry about any accidents when you forget and leave it plugged in.

With an included USB-C cable, this charger deal is a great option no matter whether you need it for home or travel. But get it while it's still on sale if you want to get the best discount.

When it comes to the fun parts of CES, robotics are rarely boring and are sometimes silly or surprising as well.

That's not to say they aren't useful, of course. But CES isn't necessarily a showcase of purely utilitarian factory floor robots. These are often meant to (eventually, someday) live in people's homes, which means they're often humanized or otherwise given characteristics that make them stand out. Here are four of the weirdest (even if they might be practical) robots we've seen at CES.

SEE ALSO: CES 2026 live updates: See the latest news, surprises, and strange tech from LG, Samsung, Lego, and new startups CLOiD will fold your laundry

LG's CLOiD is admittedly not that weird in the realm of home robots, in the sense that it looks vaguely humanoid and seemingly does things that are actually useful. However, it's still pretty futuristic and out-there to have Rosey from The Jetsons roaming around your house, so it makes the list.

CLOiD is still in the concept stages and may not hit the market for quite some time (if ever). LG did give CES-goers a live demo, though, which included showing off its ability to speak, its two functional arms that each have five digits at the end, and the fact that it can fold your laundry for you. Hopefully you'll be able to send it to the laundromat if you don't have an in-unit washer/dryer combo, otherwise that's a lot of lost value.

Sweekar is barely a robot, but it's still worth a look Adorable. Credit: Takway

Easily the strangest device on this list is Sweekar, courtesy of the company Takway. It's not a robot in the traditional sense; it won't do your chores or anything like that. But it will be your friend, and maybe that's more important.

Sweekar is, essentially, a super advanced Tamagotchi that changes shape over time. It starts as an egg, and as you take care of it, it will gradually hatch out of its shell and form some kind of personality using generative AI. Taking care of it seems to be a game in and of itself, similar to a Tamagotchi, but the gimmick that it grows over time is certainly unique. It's also highly customizable, which is nice.

Switchbot onero H1 looks like a tackling dummy Hit the sleds, boys. Credit: Switchbot

Lastly, Switchbot's onero H1 is in the same category as CLOiD: It might actually be handy to have around, but we're still not used to seeing these sorts of things, so it makes the list.

To its credit, onero H1 does seem like something that could help around the house. It's basically a lanky, rolling robot with a head and two arms that it can use to perform chores. It seems fairly practical, but to be honest, I can't look at it without seeing one of those tackling dummies they use at football practices. It just looks like something you're meant to hit and not something you're meant to rely upon.

Head to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news and live updates from the biggest show in tech, where Mashable journalists are reporting live.