CES 2026 is here. Think of CES like a harbinger of what’s next in technology. Every January, the industry descends upon Las Vegas to pull back the curtain on the products that will power the upcoming year.

It's that time again when I start to reminisce about the literally countless gadgets and gizmos that have been through my hands over the past year. And just to give you an idea of how many that is, the content that gets reviewed here on ZDNET is just a fraction of what I've started testing.

I’ve been TechRadar’s reviews editor for 18 months now. During that time, I’ve gotten to test some truly fantastic gadgets across a wide range of product categories. This year in particular, I’ve tried out some really exciting tech, which is why I wanted to share my personal highlights with you.

Realme 16 Pro+ combines eye-catching design, solid cameras and a powerful Snapdragon chip, making it a well-rounded phone for users who want style without compromising on daily performance.

Motorola Edge 70 stands out by delivering more while appearing to use less. It combines an ultra-thin design with flagship-grade durability, a colour-accurate display, dependable performance, and a th