It's that exciting time of the year for tech-heads of all kinds, as the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) once again threw open its doors and invited the public to see the latest devices in a massive range of categories. Naturally, the Windows Central team was some of the first on the floor in Las Vegas, Nevada, to meet representatives from our favorite manufacturers and see the best of what they had to offer.
There was plenty to see, and much of it (unsurprisingly) involved AI in one way or another. Nevertheless, our top picks of each category stood out with individual strengths and come with a strong sense of excitement for their release, whether current or far off in the future. 2026 looks especially exciting, with new components inside redesigned hardware, and these are our 13 favorites.
Best innovation: HP EliteBoard G1a
Mini PCs have seen an increase in popularity over the last few years, as reliable hardware is now small enough to fit in compact form factors. HP took the idea of a small computer and turned it on its head by creating the EliteBoard G1a, a mini PC that doubles as a keyboard. Just add a monitor and mouse, and you're good to go.
A battery-powered mini PC built into a rugged but slick keyboard that replaces your laptop during daily commutes to the office? I'm into it.
Ben Wilson, Senior Editor
The EliteBoard G1a also has multiple configuration options within the AMD Ryzen AI PRO line, offers up to an integrated AMD Radeon 860M graphics, up to 64GB DDR5 RAM, and up to 2TB SSD. If that wasn't impressive enough, the memory and storage are upgradeable. We're thoroughly impressed.
Full coverage: HP put a mini PC inside a keyboard, and I love it
Best laptop: Dell XPS 14/16
Not only has Dell reverted back to its XPS naming convention this year following last year's rebrand debacle, which "underperformed," but it also overhauled the latest Dell XPS 14 and 16 laptops. What results are striking and efficient devices.
(Dell) addressed some of the biggest complaints — and yes, they do look a bit Apple-ish, but all I can say is in person, they're gorgeous.
Daniel Rubino, Editor-in-Chief
The latest XPS 14 and XPS 16 laptops offer record-setting 40+ hours of battery life, a return to traditional function keys, an effective new cooling system, combined with powerful performance from Intel's new Core Ultra Series 3 processors and Intel Arc graphics. These truly are this year's best laptops.
Full coverage: Dell’s great undoing: XPS returns in 2026 after a year of missteps
Best gaming laptop: Alienware 16 Area-51
Dozens of gaming laptops vied for the best spot at CES 2026, but none of them really compare to the majestic Alienware 16 Area-51. While it offers customizable RGB lighting associated with gaming hardware, its elegant design doesn't look out of place in a more formal setting either.
This flagship RGB gaming laptop offers configuration options, including Alienware's CherryMX mechanical laptop keyboard, which I fell in love with last year.
Rebecca Spear, Gaming and News Editor
Then of course, it houses powerful configuration options, up to the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop graphics, 64GB DDR5 RAM, and 2TB SSD. Users even have the option of getting one with a CherryMX mechanical keyboard that offers a far more satisfying typing and gaming experience than most laptop keyboards. Talk about a standout gaming laptop.
Full coverage: Here's what Alienware revealed at CES 2026
Best 2-in-1 laptop: ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo
When it comes to 2-in-1 laptops that can be used in both laptop and tablet modes, there was one device that stood miles apart from all the others this year — the ASUS Zephyrus Duo. Where most 2-in-1s focus on efficiency and balance, this new offering is a dual-screen OLED powerhouse designed specifically for intensive gaming and creative workflows, with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop graphics card.
As someone who regularly creates digital art and spends my free time playing video games, I'm also very interested in getting my hands on it.
Rebecca Spear, Gaming and News Editor
Like its Zenbook Duo sibling, it comes with a magnetic keyboard and a stand that allows the screens to be oriented horizontally or vertically. You can even place the keyboard over the bottom screen and use it like a traditional laptop. It's by far the most versatile and powerful 2-in-1 from CES 2026.
Full coverage: Our favorite dual-screen laptop just got even better
Best Ultrabook: Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Ultra
There are plenty of impressive ultrabooks coming to market this year, but the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Ultra makes a case all for itself. Rather than just focusing on getting slimmer, this laptop maintains a thin design while housing some powerful components.
Lenovo somehow managed to squeeze a premium PC into a chassis that weighs just 2.15 pounds. You have to see it to believe it.
Cale Hunt, Contributor
Despite only weighing 2.15 pounds (0.98kg) and being 0.55 inches (13.9mm) thin, it packs up to an Intel Core Ultra X9 (Series 3) processor with integrated Intel Xe graphics, up to 32GB of LPDDR5x-9600MT/s RAM, and a 2TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD. It's slim but mighty.
Full coverage: Lenovo's new ultralight laptop blew us away
Best business laptop: HP EliteBook X 14 G2i
As our own Zachary Boddy previously wrote, HP does something utterly unique with its new laptops by letting you choose between Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm processors. On top of that, it offers an ultra-lightweight design that's perfectly designed for office workflows.
It's enough to reassure me that Panther Lake will be a very strong generation for Intel. Even unfinalized, the new EliteBook X 14 is beautifully responsive and smooth.
Zachary Boddy, Staff Writer
It isn't easy for a laptop manufacturer to swap out processors from different companies while maintaining the same overall laptop design, but HP somehow managed it. This freedom to create the EliteBook X 14 variant you want makes it the best business laptop from CES 2026.
Full coverage: HP's next-generation business laptop is so light, I thought I had been sent a dummy unit by accident
Best mini PC: Lenovo Yoga Mini i
Most mini PCs have the same square shape, but the latest Lenovo Yoga Mini i offers an even smaller puck design, which doesn't take up a lot of room and doesn't draw attention to itself.
Despite having such a tiny frame, Lenovo has packed in some impressive performance hardware and additional features to improve the user experience.
Cale Hunt, Contributor
You can configure the Yoga Mini i with up to 32GB of LPDDR5x-8533MT/s RAM and up to 2TB of M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD storage. Plus, it offers a good range of ports to fit your connection needs. It's perfect for creating a minimalist PC setup in your home.
Full coverage: Lenovo's new mini PC is so small we thought it was a speakerphone
Best All-in-One PC: Lenovo Yoga AIO i Aura Edition
There were more All-in-One (AIO) PCs at this year's CES than we saw last year, but the new Yoga AIO i Aura Edition offers a unique design we've never seen before. Ambient lighting below the 32-inch OLED screen not only adds a fun effect for your desk, but hides the adjustable stand to make it look like the display is floating.
Beyond syncing with video, it can also be configured to light up when you receive certain messages or notifications. It's all completely customizable.
Cale Hunt, Contributor
Designed for creators, this new AIO impresses with the latest Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors, up to 32GB of LPDDR5x-9600MT/s RAM, and a 2TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD. The OLED display reaches 3840x2160 (UHD) resolution and hits a 165Hz refresh rate while producing a gorgeous color range. It's the most beautiful PC that comes with everything you need.
Full coverage: Lenovo's new Yoga AIO appears to float on lights
Best display: Dell UltraSharp 52
Every year, companies release new displays designed to wow and impress, but the new Dell Ultrasharp 52 curved ultrawide caught our eyes the most, due to its premium specs and massive 52-inch size.
It’s overkill in the best possible way, impeccably engineered, and genuinely delightful to use. But it’s also a tool with a very specific mission.
Daniel Rubino, Editor-in-Chief
Windows Central's Editor-in-Chief Daniel Rubino already had the opportunity to use this display. As seen in his Dell Ultrasharp 52 review, he praised the 52‑inch 6K, 120Hz screen as a "productivity monster that redefines the single‑monitor workstation." There's no denying it's the most epic display shown off at CES 2026.
Full coverage: This is the world's first 52-inch ultrawide curved 6K monitor
Best gaming handheld: Lenovo Legion Go 2 (SteamOS)
The gaming handheld PC market has steadily received next-gen devices and new variants at CES for the last few years. Among the latest round of reveals was the SteamOS version of the Legion Go 2, which is expected to launch this June.
RELATED: Legion Go 2 (SteamOS) vs Steam Deck
| Legion Go 2 (SteamOS) vs Xbox Ally X
The Legion Go 2 truly offers the most versatile and premium playing experience. Now, it's even more appealing thanks to SteamOS.
Rebecca Spear, Gaming and News Editor
As discussed in my Legion Go 2 Windows vs SteamOS guide, the new variant offers the same configurations as the original Windows version; up to the same AMD Ryzen Z2 SoC, 8.8-inch OLED touchscreen, up to 16GB RAM, and up to 2TB SSD. Many gamers prefer SteamOS to Windows since it is better optimized for handhelds. In some ways, Legion Go 2 (SteamOS) offers a more powerful Steam Deck experience.
Full coverage: New SteamOS Legion Go 2 finally solves the biggest gripe with Lenovo's flagship handheld gaming PC
Best desktop CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D
AMD stole the show when it came to desktop processors, with the reveal of the Ryzen 7 9850X3D, which is an improved version of 2024's 9800X3D.
Yes, it's nearly identical to the 9800X3D — AMD says it's essentially a fine-tuned 9800X3D. You can expect roughly a 3% average boost.
Cale Hunt, Contributor
The Ryzen 7 9850X3D features 8 cores, 16 threads, a 5.6GHz boost clock, 104MB of combined L2 and L3 cache, and a 120W TDP. It's an impressive processor that once more secures AMD's desktop CPU supremacy going into 2026.
Full coverage: Did AMD just make the Ryzen 7 9800X3D obsolete?
Best laptop CPU: Intel Core Ultra X9 388H
Intel came to CES 2026 with a vengeance, showcasing its latest Intel Core Ultra Series 3 chips, which are more than ready to challenge AMD's line of laptop processors. There are currently 14 confirmed Intel Core Ultra Series 3 SKUs with more expected to release this year, but the Core Ultra X9 388H is the mightiest.
The focus on disaggregation means Intel can be a lot more flexible in three tiers: low core count, high core count, and high core count with a powerful GPU.
Zachary Boddy, Staff Writer
With its 16 cores, 16 threads, 5.1GHz boost clock, 18MB cache, NPU with peak 50 AI TOPS, and a default 45W TDP, expect to see the Core Ultra X9 388H chip coming to many of this year's premium laptops that don't have discrete GPUs. It's a massive leap forward for performance, efficiency, graphics, and yes, AI.
Full coverage: Panther Lake is officially Intel Core Ultra Series 3
Best sequel: ASUS Zenbook A16
Last year, the ASUS Zenbook A14 won laptop of the year in our best of CES 2025 awards, and this year's refresh builds upon what made the last model so good, with a larger 16-inch offering — the Zenbook A16 with Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 silicon.
The new Zenbook A16 is among the very first laptops equipped with the flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme SoC, an 18-core monster.
Zachary Boddy, Staff Writer
As a reminder, the Snapdragon X2 Elite offers an insane 80 TOPS NPU, a massive increase over the original Snapdragon X Elite's 45 TOPS. Meanwhile, the Zenbook A16 takes the A14's beautiful design and scales it up. It's faster, sleeker, and manages to be even more impressive than its predecessor.
Full coverage: ASUS introduces the Zenbook A16, a newly expanded 16‑inch option that joins the lineup
Follow Windows Central on Google News to keep our latest news, insights, and features at the top of your feeds!
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
