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The annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, is the biggest tech showcase in the world, and Mashable reporters are on the ground reporting live from the event all week long.

Every year at CES, tech giants like Samsung, LG, Sony, and Lenovo preview their latest innovations, as well as futuristic concept products unlike anything you'll find in stores. CES is also a hub for ambitious startups, electric vehicle brands, and robotics companies. You never know what bizarre new gadgets (or laundry-folding robots) you'll find on the convention floor.

As part of the CNET Group, Mashable reporters will help select the winners for the official Best of CES 2026 Awards, so follow along as we cover the event in real-time. Keep checking back as we provide live updates, photos, and videos directly from the show floor.

For most apps, the addition of AI tends to be considered unwanted bloat rather than a useful feature. But when properly implemented, it can be a lifesaver in some of the apps we use daily. Google is adding Gemini everywhere, and I don't love it—except in these four apps.

I spent many nights of sleep over a few months trying out earplugs and earbuds ranging from $50 to $349 to find the best of what's out on the market — and to see if getting earbuds just for sleep is actually worth it.

As a note, we generally no longer recommend the Ozlo Sleepbuds as their price point isn't on par with the features offered by their competitors. At their full price point, I'd say to skip them. However, if you're especially intrigued by their design (and have no qualms with the lack of ANC), grabbing them for $299 instead of their usual $349 is the absolute most we'd recommend paying for these earbuds to get true value.

SEE ALSO: Dodow review: A simple sleep gadget that's best for back sleepers The best earbuds for sleeping

Below, I pulled three of the best sleep earbuds on the market. Between the overall best, upgrade, and earplug picks, there's a wide range of price points, but as with any product, the most expensive of the bunch isn't necessarily the best overall. With that in mind, I highlighted where each earbud excelled, whether that be in comfort, noise cancellation, or ease of use, to help you pick the best sleep earbud possible.

UPDATE: Aug. 18, 2025, 9:45 a.m. EDT As of April 2024, the Ozlo Sleepbuds increased in price from $299 to $349 on Ozlo's website and Amazon in the United States due to tariffs. While we initially scaled back our recommendation to only grabbing them on sale, since testing the Soundcore Sleep A30s, which offer similar feature sets for far less, we no longer recommend the Ozlo Sleepbuds as one of our top pick sleep earbuds.

How are sleep earbuds different than normal earbuds?

A confession: I used to wear AirPods nearly every night to sleep. More accurately, I used to wear a single AirPod so I could actually sleep on my side.

After testing earbuds designed for sleeping, I can tell you that everyday earbuds don't match up to the sleep earbud experience. For starters, standard earbuds aren't designed to be worn while you're lying on your side, so they often stick out of your ears and put hard plastic in contact with your ear. Not to mention, earbuds typically cap out at six to seven hours of battery life per charge, so if you're getting at least eight hours of sleep, you run the risk of interrupting it with the sound of your earbuds powering off.

Sleep earbuds, like the Soundcore A20 ones pictured in the middle, have a much thinner profile than traditional earbuds. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

Sleep earbuds, on the other hand, can offer white noise options, better battery life, and significantly more comfort (that actually allows you to wear more than one earbud at a time). The pairs I tested came without microphones and with touch controls that worked but were less sensitive than traditional earbuds, so you can lie on your side without activating them. When I initially tested options for this guide, there weren't really any with active noise cancellation, but that has since changed thanks to the Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds. Still, you'd be surprised at how well passive noise cancellation, a good fit, and white noise work.

SEE ALSO: The 7 best earbuds to buy in 2025 from Bose, Sony, and more Is it safe to wear earbuds to sleep every night?

First and foremost, it's important to consider that sleep earbuds aren't the only way to approach nighttime noises that might be keeping you up.

I consulted Dr. Ashley Kita, an otolaryngologist and assistant professor in the Department of Head and Neck Surgery at UCLA, to discuss any risks associated with wearing earbuds all night. While she didn't warn against using earbuds, she suggested that if what's keeping you up is a partner's snoring, you start looking for solutions there.

SEE ALSO: Loop earplugs are actually worth it — here's how to choose the right pair

"If you're doing all of this to avoid a partner who is snoring, sometimes gently encouraging that person to investigate why they're snoring is kind of an important consideration," Kita said. "Because we find that obstructive sleep apnea is really underdiagnosed, and snoring, for some people, is the only sign of it."

If, however, what's keeping you up is less in your control, then you do want to be aware of three main aspects of using earbuds all night: proper hygiene, safe noise levels, and your ear comfort.

Proper hygiene

When I started testing these earbuds, I realized I was now wearing earbuds uninterrupted for longer than I typically would in the course of a day, even as someone who tests headphones for a living. When I asked Dr. Kita how that wear time might raise someone's risk for infection, she drew a comparison to the wear time of hearing aids:

"Many individuals wear hearing aids for longer hours during the day than they sleep at night," she said. And yet, folks who wear hearing aids don't often have ear infections, though long wear times may increase their risk.

SEE ALSO: How to set up Hearing Aid mode on your AirPods

With the long wear times, Kita said the main concern she could anticipate was wax buildup since the natural path for wax to exit the ear canal would be blocked. However, she said it's not necessarily a cause for concern, as wax can typically exit the ear canal at other points during the day when you're not wearing earbuds (or blocking your ear canal in any other way).

As for any heightened infection risk, Kita shared that it can increase when there's greater wax buildup that can then trap bacteria. She recommended cleaning the buds with isopropyl alcohol and a cotton pad after each use, if possible. (One of the brands we tested, Ozlo, recommends a weekly cleaning.) With all that said, someone's risk for infection really comes down to personal susceptibility — some people are more prone to ear infections than others. If you fall into that category, being more proactive about cleaning your earbuds is a good practice.

Noise levels

Noise-induced hearing loss is the second most common type of hearing loss (behind age-related hearing loss), so it's important to be aware of the level of noise you expose yourself to. Kita pointed me in the direction of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) chart for how long people can be exposed to certain decibel levels safely.

In its FAQ, Ozlo also cites OSHA's recommendation, as well as the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's recommendations, which top out at 90 decibels and 85 decibels for eight hours, respectively. We reached out to a rep from Soundcore to see if its earbuds have specific upper decibel limits, and will update this guide when we hear back. In general, though, Kita said the less noise, the better, recommending that you always try to use the lowest volume possible.

SEE ALSO: Video game industry makes it easier to find accessible games for disabled players

"While I don't necessarily love the idea of extra noise when you're not even conscious to appreciate it, if it's the thing that's keeping you asleep or letting you sleep, it just comes in this category of risks and benefits," Kita said. "Just make sure that it's quiet enough, then it really isn't that much different than using a white noise machine on your nightstand."

Comfort

Earbuds fitting comfortably is important for you to be able to fall asleep, but also for your ear health.

"Everyone's ear canal is shaped differently," Kita said. "And so something that might be really comfortable for your ears might really cause my ears to ache."

In other words, giving yourself earbuds-induced earaches every night can actually impact your ear health. If one of the below recommendations really isn't sitting right, even with adjustments to the ear tip sizes, don't be afraid to return them.

Other sleep earbuds we tested

At the end of the initial testing period, the one product that didn't make the cut was the 1More Sleeping Earbuds Z30, which, at $89.99, were the least expensive earbuds I tested. While significantly cheaper than the earbuds that did make the cut, their battery life, app features, and fit didn't quite match up to the other options on my list. However, if you're looking for very barebones low-profile earbuds (and don't mind hearing them die in the early hours of the morning), these aren't a bad option under $100.

1More Sleeping Earbuds Z30 $59.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon

In keeping up with my value criteria, I decided to ultimately pull the Ozlo Sleepbuds as our best upgrade pick. After their price jumped up from $299 to $349 — far outpricing our existing picks (and most premium standard ANC earbuds, for that matter) — I determined their features didn't justify their price tag. The addition of sleep tracking (which is in the works) or ANC would make these earbuds much more competitive. On that note, the newly-released Soundcore Sleep A30 took their spot, as the only sleep earbuds with ANC on the market at the time of writing.

Ozlo Sleepbuds $274 at Amazon
$349 Save $75   Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Ozlo

Next up in our testing pipeline is the Sleep A30 Special earbuds from Soundcore, announced at CES 2026. The model is an upgrade to one of our existing picks, the Sleep A30 earbuds, with improved battery life and a lower price point at $199.

Acer had a ton to show off at CES 2026.

The Taiwanese tech giant blew out the show with a slew of announcements, ranging from enterprise hardware to routers and beyond. It's honestly too much to fit in one place, so here are the coolest Acer announcements from CES that you absolutely need to know about.

SEE ALSO: CES 2026 live updates: See the latest news, surprises, and strange tech from LG, Samsung, Lego, and new startups New ultra-thin laptops Look at that touchpad. Credit: Acer

Acer refreshed its Swift line of thin laptops with five new models. For starters, there's the new Acer Swift 16 AI (yes, they all have "AI" in the name now), which Acer is positioning as the choice for digital creators. It has what Acer calls "the world's largest haptic touchpad" which offers stylus support for sketching and other similar activities. To ensure that whatever you're creating looks as good as possible, it comes with a 16-inch 3K OLED touch display, too.

Beyond that, there are two new Acer Swift Edge AI laptops in 14-inch and 16-inch variants. The smaller of the two measures in at just 13.95mm of thickness and weighs less than 1kg, making it perfect for business professionals who need something lightweight, according to Acer. These come with Intel Core Ultra 9 processors and up to 32GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage, to go along with 3K OLED displays with 120Hz refresh rates.

SEE ALSO: Roborock dropped 3 new robot vacuums at CES 2026. Of course they set a new suction power record.

Lastly, the Acer Swift Go 14 AI and 16 AI models seem to be sort of middle ground options for people who don't want to go too far in the creative or business directions. They offer 2K or 3K displays with up to Intel Core Ultra X9 processors, up to 32GB RAM, and up to 1TB of storage. Of course, all of these machines come equipped with AI capabilities thanks to Microsoft Copilot, hence the "AI" in their names. Acer has not shared price information on any of these devices yet.

Powerful gaming laptops Premium performance. Credit: Acer

Acer also showed off a few new gaming laptops, starting with the Predator Helios Neo 16S AI. Catchy name! Anyway, the Predator Helios laptop is the top-of-the-line model with an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU, up to 64GB of RAM, and up to 2TB of storage. It's also got a big 16-inch OLED display with HDR support to make your games look as fresh as possible.

After that, there's the new Nitro V 16 AI laptop, which has an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor and the same 5070 GPU as the previously mentioned model. You "only" get up to 32GB of RAM on this one, but you can still get up to 2TB of storage. There's also a smaller Nitro V 16S AI model with a thinner chassis and similar specs, but as a more "accessible" price point that Acer didn't see fit to share in the press release.

Four decadent new monitors (and a projector) Curvy. Credit: Acer

For your display needs, Acer also introduced three new gaming monitors, a creator-focused monitor, and a new projector. The first of the three gaming monitors is the $799.99 Predator XB273U F6, which has a 2560x1440 resolution and a blistering fast 500Hz refresh rate that can actually go all the way up to 1000Hz if you feel like lowering the resolution to 720p. The $1,199.99 Predator X34 F3, meanwhile, has a relatively more modest 360Hz refresh rate to go along with a 3440x1440 resolution and a curved QD-OLED panel.

Finally on the gaming side, there's the $799.99 Nitro XV270X P monitor with 5K resolution at a staggering 27-inches of size. This one's refresh rate "only" goes up to 330Hz, but still, it's a beast of a monitor. It's joined by the even more beastly ProDesigner PE320QX display. That one is a 31.5-inch behemoth with support for 6016x3384 resolution at 60Hz and peak brightness that goes all the way up to 600 nits. This one is definitely intended for pro-level creators and it shows.

SEE ALSO: 3 major takeaways from Nvidia Live at CES 2026

Just for laughs, there's also a new 4K RGB laser projector called the Vero HL1820. It has a 1080p/240Hz mode for gaming purposes, but it'll also work great for cinema lovers, too. Unfortunately, this one is only slated for release in Europe, the Middle East and Africa for now, according to the press release.

And an electric scooter? That thing looks awesome. Credit: Acer

Last but certainly not least is the new Predator ES Storm Pro e-scooter, sadly only slated for release in Europe at this time.

Acer describes the ES Storm Pro as being best for "high-performance city riding," so it's definitely intended for urban commuters. It's a folding scooter with a 500W rear hub motor and up to 1200W of peak output and several different riding modes for different scenarios. It can travel up to 60km on a charge and even has convenient built-in holders for smart tags, so it won't get lost. I kind of want one, honestly.

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 Audi S3 and Volkswagen Golf GTI occupy similar territory on paper: compact, sporty hatchbacks that deliver engaging performance and everyday usability. But when you start comparing price tags, the S3’s premium badge and added features raise a common question for buyers: is it truly worth the extra money over a more affordable rival? With both cars offering turbocharged power and sharp handling, understanding the real differences in refinement, tech, and driving dynamics becomes key to making a smart choice.

CES 2026 is proving to be another great showcase for PC hardware. In addition to new processors from Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm, we're seeing plenty of fun accessories and components. One such example the CyberPowerPC MA-01 case, which looks more like an art piece than a container for your gaming PC.

The KDE development team promoted last week that it was making several small but meaningful changes and fixes for KDE Plasma 6.6.0 and 6.5.5. One of those fixes will address a thorn in my side I've had for over a year: power management changes during sleep.

There’s a lot to be excited about where HBO Max’s January lineup of new content is concerned. For starters, the streamer is kicking off the New Year with the major anniversary celebration that is the release of The Pitt, season two, exactly one year to the day after season one premiered. Also, the new Game of Thrones prequel is in store for us, as are two new HBO Original documentaries, season 4 of Industry, and season 24 of Real Time with Bill Maher. We’ll also see the debut of two big A24 films.

Epson's projectors are getting smarter in 2026. In a continuing collaboration between the brands, Epson announced at CES 2026 that Google TV with Gemini is coming to select new Lifestudio projectors. The AI-powered system promises a seamless streaming experience, no auxiliary streaming devices required.

Lifestudio projectors from Epson utilize MediaTek's system on chip (SoC) smart projector platform already, which brings streaming platforms directly to the device. Now the system will have Google TV with Gemini integrated into MediaTek's SoC. The addition of Google TV and Gemini creates an efficient viewing experience for users, particularly those who hate bouncing between a dozen different streaming services.

Google TV with Gemini provides AI-based recommendations to help decide your next watch. Credit: Epson

Gemini, now fully integrated in Google TV, provides a personal AI assistant, helping you find your next watch and providing personalized suggestions across your apps based on what you've already watched. Google TV also aims to put all the content available to you in one place, no more jumping between apps trying to find your next watch. Plus, all of your shows and movies are in one place. A single watchlist collects everything you want to watch across streamers, and when you're away from home, you can even add and edit the list from your phone.

However, the Google TV with Gemini integration into Epson's projectors goes beyond entertainment. It also serves as a smart home headquarters, controlling compatible lights, doorbells, thermostats, and more.

The Google TV with Gemini integration is coming to the Lifestudio Grand projector in 2026. More Epson projector models compatible with Google TV will be announced later in the year.

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.

Anker Soundcore is upgrading its earbuds lineup for the new year with the launch of the Soundcore Sleep A30 Special sleep earbuds and the AeroFit 2 Pro open earbuds at CES 2026 on Monday.

Notably, the new AeroFit 2 Pro earbuds offer both an open design and active noise cancellation, a combination we've never seen before.

Now that CES 2026 has kicked off, brands like Anker are unveiling a ton of new products, so head to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news.

Soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro launch

For CES, Anker announced the launch of the Soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro earbuds, which are designed to give users the choice between open earbuds and active noise-cancellation within one product — a choice not usually found with traditional open earbud designs.

SEE ALSO: The 5 best noise-cancelling earbuds include the most comfortable buds we've ever tested

This is the first dual-form design from the brand, and a unique design in the market at large. Typically, investing in open earbuds means foregoing any form of ANC, as open earbuds are designed to sit outside the ear canal. However, the AeroFit 2 Pro earbuds have an adjustable ear hook — worn one way, the earbuds sit outside the ear for an open listening experience. Adjust the hook, and the earbuds then go into the ear canal like traditional noise-cancelling buds.

The earbud itself has five adjustment levels on the ear hook, with the intent that even within the open and noise-cancelling wear positions, users can find their most comfortable fit. Each earbud houses two sensors, which detect the type of wear and adjust the equalizer to provide the best sound possible.

The AeroFit 2 Pro will be available in four colorways, but only one upon launch. Credit: Soundcore

In the open earbud mode, the earbuds will hold seven hours per charge with 34 hours in the case, while the ANC wear mode holds five hours per charge and 24 hours with the case.

The original AeroFit 2 earbuds are one of Mashable's top picks for open earbuds overall, thanks to their comfortable fit, sound quality, impressive translation features, and price point.

Like the original AeroFit 2, the Pro earbuds will have an IP55 water- and dust-proof rating. They retail for $179.99 and come in three different colorways: matte black, gloss white, gloss blue, and matte purple. The matte black is available for purchase as of Jan. 6, while the latter two are available for preorder — all colorways have a special launch pricing of $149.99 at Soundcore when you use the code WSTDA3875US.

Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro $149.96 at Soundcore
$179.99 Save $30.03 Save $30 with code WSTDA3875US Shop Now Soundcore Sleep A30 Special earbuds launch

The Soundcore Sleep A30 Special is the less innovative but more surprising upgrade. Soundcore just released the Sleep A30 earbuds this past August as the first sleep earbuds with true active noise cancellation — a feature not previously found on sleep earbuds (even on premium options costing hundreds of dollars).

After testing them out, Mashable named the new Sleep A30 buds the gold standard for premium sleep earbuds. They did have a shortcoming, however, in their nine-hour battery life (which drops down to six and a half hours with Bluetooth streaming on). For reference, the previous gen Sleep A20 buds had 14 hours of battery life per charge.

The side-sleeper friendly earbuds from Soundcore now come with better battery life and a lower price point. Credit: Soundcore

With the Sleep A30 Special earbuds, Soundcore is adding an additional hour of battery life for late sleepers. And rather than charging extra for this update, Soundcore is instead lowering the price on the new earbuds to $199.99 (down from the Sleep A30's $229.99). The Special buds will also feature a new integration with the Calm app, which will also be available with the regular Sleep A30 buds.

The Sleep A30 Special earbuds are available to preorder as of Jan. 6 in mist lilac, lunar white, moonlit white, and mist green.

Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Soundcore Sleep A30 Special $199 at Souundcore
  Pre-order 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.

SAVE 40%: As of Jan. 6, the Roborock Qrevo Edge S5A robot vacuum and mop is back to its record-low Black Friday price of $599.99. That's $400 off its usual $999.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Qrevo Edge S5A robot vacuum and mop $599.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $400   Get Deal

Roborock's 2026 spread of robot vacuums just dropped at CES on Jan. 6. While exact prices haven't been revealed yet, we can expect the flagships to sit near the $1,599.99 price point of Roborock's 2025 CES robot vacs. If you're looking for something a little more budget-friendly, Amazon has an amazing $400 off deal on another solid 2025 Roborock: Get the Roborock Qrevo Edge S5A for a record-low sale price of $599.99, matching its Black Friday price.

The Roborock Qrevo Edge's 18,500 Pa of suction power isn't far off from the 22,000 Pa seen in all three of Roborock's Saros vacuums from last year. Those numbers have since been upstaged by the 35,000 Pa suction power of the new CES drops, but anything over 15,000 Pa is still more than enough suction power for carpets or homes with a pet or two.

SEE ALSO: I tested 25 robot vacuum and mop combos and found 6 that actually scrub

But where the Qrevo Edge really shines is its corner and edge mopping. (Perhaps its name gave it away.) One of its two pressurized spinning mopping pads operates on a hinge and can flex out from under the robot vacuum to scrub along walls, cabinets, and furniture legs — tight spots that a round robot vacuum body can't squeeze into otherwise. I've tested this exact mopping system with the Roborock Qrevo Master and Saros 10R, and it was a game-changer for keeping my kitchen and bathroom corners free of mystery sticky splatters, hair, and dust.

A new, fully local voice control application called EasySpeak has arrived on the Linux desktop, with accessibility and hands-free control for users running modern GNOME environments. Developed by Matt Hartley, EasySpeak is free, open source, and designed to turn voice commands into action.

SAVE $100: As of Jan. 6, the Amazon 55-inch 4-Series 4K Fire TV (2025 release) is on sale for only $359.99 with an on-page coupon. That's 22% off its list price and its lowest price on record.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 55-inch 4-Series Fire TV (2025 release) $359.99 at Amazon
$459.99 Save $100 Use code SAVE100 Get Deal

It's NFL playoffs time, baby, which means it's officially the second-best time to upgrade your TV. If you're rocking an old model that's lost its vibrancy, now's a great time to buy a new one, as you can save a good chunk of change.

Case in point: Amazon's 55-inch 4-Series 4K Fire TV (2025 release) is on sale for just $359.99 at Amazon with the on-page coupon code SAVE100. That's, as the coupon suggests, $100 off its list price and its best price ever (yes, even beating Black Friday).

It may not be the most impressive TV in Amazon's lineup, but it is the most popular. If the main things you care about are price and picture, the 4-Series is a solid choice. It was redesigned in 2025 to sport an ultra-slim bezel that fades into the background, making your content front and center. It also features a new quad-core processor for quick loading time and 4K UHD picture quality with support for HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Digital Sound. The 2025 model also features Amazon's Omnisense technology, which is essentially a series of sensors that wake the display when you enter the room to show you artwork or your favorite TV show in a snap.

If a new TV is on your wishlist this playoffs season, consider this Amazon's gift to you — a 4K TV for its lowest price on record.

Asus is launching a 16-inch version of its award-winning MacBook Air competitor.

Announced at CES 2026 on Tuesday, the new Asus Zenbook A16 is a thin, light Windows laptop with a fresh Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme chip and a 3K OLED touchscreen featuring a sleek 90 percent screen-to-body ratio. Its tan chassis is made from Asus' patented "Ceraluminum" material, a durable and featherlight magnesium-aluminum alloy, and it weighs as little as 2.65 pounds depending on the version of Windows it runs. That makes it nearly an ounce lighter than Apple's 13-inch laptop. (For reference, the other 16-inch Windows laptops that Mashable has tested in recent months come in at 3.3 to 4.7 pounds.)

The Asus Zenbook A16 comes in a tan finish called "Zabrinskie Beige." Credit: Asus

The Zenbook A16 is a larger version of the Asus Zenbook A14, a 14-inch Copilot+ PC that debuted to acclaim at CES 2025 last January. It featured peppy last-gen Snapdragon X series chips, a 2K 60Hz OLED display, a good mix of ports, and a 22-hour battery life. As Asus' first all-Ceraluminum laptop, it weighed as little as 2.18 pounds depending on the configuration.

SEE ALSO: The best laptops in 2025

Asus originally priced the Zenbook A14 at $899.99, but President Trump's spring tariffs on Chinese imports led to a $100 price increase. Even still, it was a solid spec sheet at a decent value, paired with an astoundingly airy yet sturdy design.

The Asus Zenbook A14's 2026 update involves a new processor, thinner bezels, and a matte keycap coating. Credit: Asus

After taking home the CNET Group's "Best Laptop of CES 2025" award, the Zenbook A14 was named Mashable's top ultraportable Windows laptop of the year following more in-depth testing. It also nabbed a spot on Oprah's Favorite Things list for 2025, marking the first time a laptop has appeared on the iconic gift guide since the Sony VAIO FJ in 2005.

For 2026, Asus is refreshing the Zenbook A14 with a Snapdragon X2 Elite chip, thinner bezels, WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and a matte keycap coating for extra durability. Its base configuration will start with 512GB of storage and 24GB of memory, up from 16GB RAM.

All of Asus' 2026 Zenbooks have full Ceraluminum chassis. Credit: Asus

Asus is going full send on Ceraluminum for the rest of the laptops in its light, minimalist Zenbook series. The 2026 iterations of the Zenbook S14, S16, and the dual-screen Zenbook Duo will be made entirely from plasma ceramic aluminum material, which is scratch-resistant, shock-resistant, fingerprint-resistant, and 100 percent recyclable.

Asus Zenbook A16 specs The Asus Zenbook A16 has a beauteous 90% screen-to-body ratio. Credit: Asus

Compared to its 14-inch counterpart, the new Zenbook A16 will have a bigger, brighter, crisper screen, an extra slot for an SD card reader, a faster processor, and more memory. (It comes with 48GB of RAM compared to the Zenbook A14's 24GB or 32GB.) Here's a full rundown of its spec sheet:

• Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme CPU

• Qualcomm Hexagon NPU (up to 80 TOPS)

• Qualcomm Adreno GPU

• 48GB RAM

• 1TB SSD storage

• 16-inch 3K (2,880 x 1800) OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate; 500 nits of typical brightness and up to 1,100 nits of peak brightness for HDR content

• FHD webcam

• Two USB-C ports, one USB-A port, one HDMI port, one SD card reader slot, and a headphone jack

• 70Wh battery

• WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4

• 13.92 x 9.54 x 0.54-0.65 inches

• 2.65 pounds with Windows 11 Pro, 2.87 pounds with Windows 11 Home

• Zabrinskie Beige finish

The Zenbook A16 isn't the lightest 16-inch laptop out there, but it's one of the lightest that will be available for purchase in the U.S. The Acer Swift Air 16 launched at IFA 2025 in September with AMD Ryzen AI 300 Series processors, an optional 120Hz AMOLED display, and a starting weight of only 2.18 pounds (matching the heft of the lightest Zenbook A14 configuration — or rather, lack thereof). It's only available in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, with a starting price of €999, or approximately $1,165.

Asus has yet to confirm pricing and availability details for the Zenbook A16 and the updated Zenbook A14. It will be interesting to see if the company can maintain the competitive value of the 14-inch model amid the ongoing RAM shortage. This could also prompt some edits to both sizes' spec sheets by the time they hit store shelves. Committing to 24 to 48GB of memory for consumer laptops may be unrealistic.

SAVE $209.99: As of Jan. 6, get the Alienware AW2723DF Gaming Monitor (27-inch) for $340 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $549.99. That's a discount of 38% and its lowest price yet.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Alienware AW2723DF Gaming Monitor (27-inch) $340 at Amazon
$549.99 Save $209.99   Get Deal

Whether you just got a ton of new games over the holidays or you've been thinking about upgrading your setup for a while, a gaming monitor is the perfect way to level up how you experience games. If you've been looking for a good reason to lock in and pick up a new monitor, we've got one right here for you.

As of Jan. 6, get the Alienware AW2723DF Gaming Monitor (27-inch) for $340 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $549.99. That's a discount of 38% and its lowest price yet.

SEE ALSO: The ASUS ROG Swift gaming monitor is down to its best-ever price at Amazon — save $400

This 27-inch display boasts a 2560 x 1440 resolution with 1 ms response time, up to 280Hz overclocked refresh rate (native 240Hz), and QHD visuals with IPS Nano Color technology. In other words, it's built to help you be the best at your favorite games while keeping you immersed.

This crisp monitor is all about a smooth picture and quick response time. It's certified compatible with Nvidia G-Sync as well as VESA Adaptive Sync for low-lag, tear- and stutter-free pictures as well. All of this, and it offers 95% DCI-P3 color coverage and VESA DisplayHDR 600 color certification.

If you're looking for a large and in charge monitor to accompany your game time, this one is a great option. Don't miss it while it's on sale.

Are you still buying those cheap throw-away printers every time you need to print a book report? Yes, they’re cheap, but they end up costing you way more money than you think they do.

LIVE PREORDERS: Preorder the new Soundcore Sleep A30 Special earbuds for $199.99 at Anker in four colorway options. Anker expects preorders to begin shipping at the end of January.

Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Soundcore Sleep A30 Special earbuds $199.99 at Anker
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The holiday chaos might be over, but the world of consumer tech is not taking a break. This week, the annual CES in Las Vegas is bringing us all sorts of exciting new products like an LG domestic helper, a solar-powered robot, and an AI bartender. But if you deal with sleep issues, there's a special CES product you should know about.

Anker just debuted the Soundcore Sleep A30 Special earbuds at CES, and they're already available to preorder. The sleep earbuds sell for $199.99 and come in four colorways including calming hues like Lunar White, Mist Lilac, and Mist Green. Anker notes they expect preorders for the new Sleep A30 Special to begin at the end of January.

SEE ALSO: CES 2026: Soundcore introduces new open earbuds with active noise cancellation

Getting a new version of the Soundcore Sleep earbuds was not something we expected from CES 2026. Soundcore only launched the Sleep A30 earbuds in August of 2025, but we're already getting nice improvements with the new Sleep A30 Special. And as an added surprise, the list price for the improved Sleep A30 Special is just $199.99, which is lower than the standard Sleep A30 list price of $229.99.

The new Soundcore Sleep A30 Special earbuds come with better battery life compared to previous models and there's also the integration of the Calm app, which could make for extra restful slumber. When it comes to sleep earbuds, Mashable Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard was impressed by both previous version of the Soundcore Sleep collection, the A20 and the A30 earbuds.

Soundcore designed the A30 Special earbuds to be comfortable to wear all night, even for side sleepers. You'll be able to help mask the noise of a snoring partner or housemates thanks to the ANC. You can also tap into the sound library on the Soundcore app to get access to calming sleep tracks. The Calm app integration means you can fall to sleep with the app's popular sleep stories.

If you have health and wellness resolution in 2026, consider the benefits of getting better sleep. If you tend to deal with interrupted sleep because of unwanted noise, the new Soundcore Sleep A30 Special earbuds could be your simple solution. Preorder today from Anker and with fingers crossed, these will be on their way to your doorstep at the end of the month.

It's official: Roborock has already outgrown its grabby arm phase. Unlike 2025, the three new robot vacuums from Roborock's CES 2026 showcase don't exactly have any viral video-worthy features — instead, they're more powerful, more precise versions of Roborock vacuums that everyone already loves. That's exactly the type of innovating that I want to see as someone who reviews robot vacuums for a living, and the exact type of down-to-earth upgrades that the average person wants to see before splurging on a premium robot vacuum.

Here's what we know about the new Roborock Saros 20, Saros 20 Sonic, and Qrevo Curv Flow 2 ahead of their release dates, plus a sneak peek at what Roborock has up its sleeve for 2027 and beyond.

SEE ALSO: Your Roomba will still work despite iRobot's bankruptcy filing, but don't rule out unplanned obsolescence Roborock Saros 20 and Saros 20 Sonic

Mopping style: Extendable flat sonic mop (Saros 20 Sonic) and dual spinning pads (Saros 20)

Suction power: 35,000 Pa

Threshold climbing max: 3.3 inches

The Roborock Saros 20 Sonic has a mop design we've never seen before. Credit: Roborock The Roborock Saros 20 looks very similar to the Saros 10R from last year. Credit: Roborock

The Saros legacy lives on with two new Saros models, the main difference between them being the way that they mop. If the Saros 20 Sonic's extendable sonic mop is as precise a corner cleaner as Roborock advertised at CES, the Saros 20 Sonic might just be the robot vacuum to beat at CES — and might be an automatic contender for best robot vacuum mop combo of the year.

SEE ALSO: CES 2026 TV trends to watch: Everyone's releasing an RGB TV, and 85 is the new 65 inches

The Saros 20 Sonic features a long-awaited upgrade to Roborock's VibraRise mopping system: sonic scrubbing along edges. Previously, stationary flat mopping pads (like all of Roborock's older VibraRise models) haven't exactly been able to scrub past where a round robot vacuum could fit, rendering most corners and wall edges impossible to be sufficiently scrubbed. Instead of putting all of its eggs in the rotating mopping pads basket, Roborock finally found a way to bring that hinged flexibility to its famed sonic mopping system. 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. The mopping pad itself has stronger downward pressure and has 27 percent more vibrating area than previous models for more thorough scrubbing on the first pass.

The Saros 20 Sonic will also be one of the most powerful robot vacuums in the current market. Its 35,000 Pa of suction power is quite the jump from last year's most powerful Roborock model with 22,000 Pa.

Roborock also introduced the Saros 20 (no "Sonic") at CES, which features the same beastly 35,000 Pa suction power and anti-tangle DuoDivide brush roll of the Saros 20 Sonic, but retains the flexible dual spinning mopping pads seen on last year's Saros 10. 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. All in all, both new Saros models are shaping up to be wicked competitors in the mix for best robot vacuums for carpet and pet hair.

The new Saros models can't climb stairs, but they can still kind of climb

They're no Saros Rover (scroll to the bottom for more), but the new Saros models do have a leg up — literally — on most other robot vacuums in terms of their ability to scale thresholds. These vacuums can cross single-layer thresholds up to 1.77 inches tall or double-layer thresholds up to 1.57 inches tall, thanks to a new third climbing arm that helps the bot to carefully hoist and lower without the harsh crashing sounds. Think sunken living rooms, sunrooms with shallow steps, or steep floor type transitions, plus a better shot at not getting stuck on the corner of a plush rug or bathmat.

The Saros robot vacuums can clear your home's thresholds with a new climbing arm. Credit: Roborock

Both new Saros models also have improved small obstacle recognition, said to be able to successfully avoid laundry, charging cables, and more everyday objects as small as 0.7 inches tall or wide — good news if you've been frustrated with a vacuum's unsuccessful cord recognition in the past. At 3.1 inches tall, the Saros 20 and Saros 20 Sonic are slightly taller than the 2.85-inch-tall Saros 10, but are still much slimmer than flagships from competing brands.

Of course, both new Saros models have a built-in livestream video camera and features for finding and checking in on pets.

We don't know how much the Saros 20 or Saros 20 Sonic will cost yet, but we can predict a price range while we wait for official numbers. Based on last year's debut price of $1,599.99 for the Saros 10 and Saros 10R, I could see the Saros 20 costing that same $1,599.99, and the Saros 20 Sonic costing $1,699.99 or $1,799.99.

Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow

Mopping style: Roller mop

Suction power: 20,000 Pa

The new Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow adopts a roller brush-style mop. Credit: Roborock The iconic curved dock is more chic than clunkier competitors. Credit: Roborock

Roller mops were one of the biggest robot vacuum trends in 2025. Roborock was one of the only big robot vacuum brands that didn't have one yet, and that gap set up the perfect way to revive the viral Qrevo Curv.

The new Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow has the same iconic curved dock, but replaces the dual spinning pads with a large fluffy roller intended to tackle bigger messes in fewer passes. The Roborock SpiralFlow mop continuously rinses itself in real time to ensure that the spill isn't merely being smeared across the rest of the floor. The roller itself covers a lot of ground, spins at 220 RPM, and applies downward pressure similar to that of a human with a paper towel — the ideal combo for sopping up large puddles of liquid or thicker splatters.

Like the roller on the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller, the Curv 2 Flow's roller extends out past the circular body to clean right up against edges or around chair legs. The roller pops out automatically when an edge is detected during mopping, and Roborock says that the mop can get less than half an inch away from the edge in question. In my at-home testing, the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller's extending roller mop missed far more fine debris and droplets along edges than I had hoped. Let's hope Roborock's approach is a little more thorough.

The Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow 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. At that price, I would expect more suction power than 20,000 Pa. Not to be a buzzkill from the jump, but I already see the Qrevo Curv 2 Flow struggling to compete with the 2026 releases from budget-friendly brands like Dreame and Narwal.

A Roborock robot vacuum that climbs stairs isn't far off

While there's no robotic arm to be found in Roborock's 2026 spread, I never said there weren't any robotic limbs in the works at all.

The stairs climbing Saros Rover is officially in development. Credit: Roborock

Roborock has also confirmed the development of the Roborock Saros Rover: a two-wheel robot vac that can raise and lower independently of each other in a motion that mimics human walking. Roborock says the Saros Rover should be able to execute small jumps, make agile turns, stop or change directions suddenly, and yes, climb actual staircases (including curved ones). We don't have much more than this prototype image right now, but if it's any indication of the vibes for CES 2027, we may finally be entering the era of climbing robot vacuums within the next year.

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.

TL;DR: Live stream Ivory Coast vs. Burkina Faso in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There's only one place left in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations quarter finals. Ivory Coast will face off against Burkina Faso to secure that last spot. We're expecting a thrilling contest between two talented sides. Ivory Coast might be the favorites, but anything can happen in tournament football.

If you want to watch Ivory Coast vs. Burkina Faso in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Ivory Coast vs. Burkina Faso?

Ivory Coast vs. Burkina Faso in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off at 2 p.m. ET on Jan. 6. This fixture takes place at the Marrakech Stadium.

How to watch Ivory Coast vs. Burkina Faso for free

Ivory Coast vs. Burkina Faso in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is available to live stream for free on Channel 4.

Channel 4 is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock Channel 4 to stream AFCON for free from anywhere in the world.

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Live stream Ivory Coast vs. Burkina Faso for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit Channel 4

5. Watch Ivory Coast vs. Burkina Faso for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of AFCON without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Ivory Coast vs. Burkina Faso (plus more 2025 Africa Cup of Nations fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Channel 4?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Channel 4, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $78.18 and includes an extra four months for free — 78% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch Ivory Coast vs. Burkina Faso in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

SAVE $191.99: As of Jan. 6, get the 192-piece DeWalt Mechanics Tool Set for $98 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $289.99. That's a discount of 66% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon DeWalt Mechanics Tool Set $98 at Amazon
$289.99 Save $191.99   Get Deal

Looking to get some work done around the house? Maybe you know someone who's in dire need of some additional tools to do just that. You'll want to make sure you head over to Amazon to save big on a massive tool kit that's taken an even bigger price cut.

As of Jan. 6, get the 192-piece DeWalt Mechanics Tool Set for $98 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $289.99. That's $191.99 off and a discount of 66%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: Amazon just dropped the Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus to a record-low price

This massive set includes 192 piece, with 1/4", 3/8" ratchet and 1/2" drive ratchets, a 1/4 socket set, 1/2 socket sets (SAE and metric), combination wrenches, extensions, adapters, hex keys, ratchet set metric wrench set, metric socket set, deep socket sets, and other accessories. Everything is hand-stamped so you can find what you need fast, too.

Every tool is crafted from chrome vanadium steel, with a mirror-polished finish meant to help resist corrosion. They also include DeWalt's DirectTorque tech to stave off fastener rounding, with 6-point socket designs for better grip. Plus, everything comes in a hard-shell storage case to keep all your tools nice and tidy, so it's all nicely put away for when you need them again.

Whether you're a big proponent of DIY work to make sure your home is running smoothly or you know someone who is, this is an excellent deal you won't want to miss out on. Grab it while it's still here.