The lovable, the creepy and the totally complicated

CES all the time has its share of attention-grabbing robots. However this 12 months specifically gave the impression to be a landmark 12 months for robotics. The development in AI expertise has not solely given robots higher “brains,” it’s enabled new ranges of autonomy and given rise to an formidable, if typically questionable, imaginative and prescient for our robot-filled future.

From sassy humanoids to AI-powered pets and chore-handling assistants, we sought out as many cute, unusual and succesful robots as we might discover in Las Vegas. These are those that made the largest impression.

Agibot Humanoids

Of all of the humanoids we noticed at CES, Agibot’s made the biggest impression. The corporate was exhibiting off two fashions: the bigger A2 and the smaller X2 (pictured above). The latter impressed us with its dance strikes — the corporate informed us it might be taught surprisingly advanced choreography — however the A2 turned out to be surprisingly succesful at chatting up CES goers.

Later within the present, we got here throughout the A2 at IntBot’s sales space, the place the corporate had customized variations of each Agibot humanoids “operating” their sales space. I spent a number of minutes speaking with “Nylo” and was genuinely impressed by its conversational expertise, even when its roasts might use a bit of work. — Karissa Bell, Senior Reporter

Dreame’s robo vac legs and arms

Dreame was again this 12 months with some wild robotic vacuums. The corporate confirmed of the Cyber 10 Ultra, a robotic vacuum with a multipurpose extendable arm. The arm, which we bought a glimpse of eventually 12 months’s present, can choose up stuff, however it additionally has its personal cleansing attachments, permitting the robotic to scrub hard-to-reach corners and different spots that would not in any other case be accessible.

Dreame additionally introduced its newest wild idea, the Cyber X, which has legs that propel it up and down full-size staircases. The legs are considerably unsettling — they give the impression of being alarmingly just like mini chainsaws — however watching it glide up and down stairs was spectacular all the identical. — KB

OlloBot

OlloBot is a type of semi-ridiculous CES robots that is simply not possible not to smile at. It has the goofiest face, with top-sitting frog eyes slapped onto a pill the place its mouth is displayed. Then, on high of that, it has a patch of soppy fur on its neck and nowhere else on its physique, which is penguin formed and full with flappy little arms. There are two variations of OlloBot, one which’s quick with a set neck and one other the place the neck can stretch out to make it a lot taller. And naturally, it may be dressed up in foolish outfits.

It is a family-focused robotic that responds to voice instructions and contact, and is supposed to seize recollections as they occur, snapping pics and movies for its diary of notable moments. It may be used to make calls and management good dwelling units. All the pieces is saved domestically in its detachable coronary heart module, and there is a companion app for added interactions. — Cheyenne MacDonald, Weekend Editor

Rovie

Positive, we have seen a number of robots (notably robovacuums) that may choose objects up off the ground and put them away to make houses tidier, however this one is cute and has a bit of face. As a substitute of utilizing an arm to seize one factor at a time, Clutterbot’s Rovie has a dustpan-style tray with two sweepers that fold out from its entrance. It drives round and, utilizing laptop imaginative and prescient, identifies toys which were left on the ground and scoops them up. Then, it dumps them in a delegated bin the place they’re consolidated and out of the way in which.

It is nonetheless within the R&D part, a crew member stated after I visited the sales space, however that is one I am hoping to see grow to be an actual, purchasable product quickly. For folks of young children who’re always leaving their toys round, it might be fairly handy to have a tiny robotic selecting up after them. Additionally for me, who does not have kids however a really candy and hardworking cat who likes to steal socks after which ship them as in the event that they’re her kills, leaving socks scattered everywhere in the home. Clutterbot crew, should you’re studying this, please add socks to the listing of things Rovie can sweep up. — CM

Saros Rover

To not be outdone, Roborock additionally introduced a stairclimbing robotic vacuum to CES, Saros Rover. And, not like Dreame’s prototype, the Roborock may also clear the steps whereas it climbs. No phrase on when will probably be obtainable or how a lot it may cost a little (most likely rather a lot!) however the firm says it’s “an actual product in growth.” -KB

CLOiD

LG’s CLOiD was undoubtedly essentially the most formidable robotic we noticed at CES 2026. The corporate confirmed its dwelling helper idea (slowly) folding and sorting laundry, fetching drinks from the fridge, placing meals within the oven and retrieving a set of misplaced keys. However whereas the 15-minute demo gave us a tantalizing take a look at the equipment maker’s imaginative and prescient for a “zero labor dwelling,” it is unlikely to be something greater than a slick demo anytime quickly. The corporate has made no dedication to really make a model of CLOiD folks can truly purchase. — KB

Allex

WIRobotics introduced its new humanoid, Allex, to CES, and the robotic was actually hamming it up after we stopped by the sales space, hanging poses and interesting with guests. It is a waist-up robotic with articulated components, from its arms to its fingers, and is supposed to be a basic goal instrument that might be utilized in manufacturing, the service trade and even households. Every hand can maintain objects of as much as about 6.6 lbs, and the robotic hand has 15 levels of freedom. The corporate’s web site reveals the robotic’s fingers are dexterous sufficient to do the Gen-Z heart signal, however when it checked out Karissa and me it threw a millennial coronary heart up. Did Allex lowkey name us unc? — CM

Poketomo

Sharp’s Poketomo is an improbably lovely tiny meerkat. Effectively, technically it is an AI companion formed like a fuzzy, moveable meerkat. It would appear like a toy, however the firm says it is truly to be a companion for adults.

It’s sufficiently small you’ll be able to carry it round with you all through the day (Sharp even makes a tiny Poketomo-sized clear backpack). Like loads of AI companion units we noticed at CES, it’s outfitted with a small digital camera and microphone that allows it to always work together with you. The digital camera additionally allows its “reminiscence” so the pet can acknowledge and ship customized updates to its individual. Poketomo launched not too long ago in Japan, however sadly Sharp says it has no present plans to promote it in different markets. — KB

Bibo

It appeared like everybody was attempting to money in on Labubu hype at CES 2026. There have been Pop Mart-style bag charms in all places and numerous merchandise that regarded suspiciously just like the now ubiquitous toy monster. We even bought one pitch for a “a labubu-like robotic that talks to you” that, in truth, did not look like a Labubu in any approach, form or kind. However there was one really Labubu-like tiny robotic that managed to face out from the remainder and form of stole my coronary heart, regardless that I am not notably into Labubus. (Please do not make me say Labubu ever once more.)

Bibo is a cute-as-hell AI toy that is meant to be a companion you convey with you in all places. It has a bit of digital camera on its head that it makes use of to see the world round it, and might acknowledge its proprietor’s face and tone of voice, so it might reply to interactions in an emotionally applicable approach. It will preserve a every day diary of its actions, and whereas the toy is available in two beginning character “sorts” — Sunny bibo (E-Kind), the bubbly extrovert, and Moony bibo (I-Kind), the mild, delicate one — they’re going to develop extra distinctive personalities over time. Their fur is comfortable and heat, so it feels such as you’re petting a kitten.

On the sales space, the crew had a number of of them on show carrying varied outfits, in little dioramas exhibiting them in classroom and tenting scenes, and even deconstructed with the fur eliminated, which by some means made it look even cuter. Bibo is not obtainable to buy but, and when it’s, it’s going to launch first in China earlier than probably increasing relying on its success at dwelling. — CM

Sharpa

Sharpa’s booth had rather a lot happening and was undoubtedly one of many greater crowd-pullers. There was a humanoid robotic taking part in ping-pong, one other taking selfies with folks and one other dealing  blackjack, together with a disembodied robotic hand that would mirror guests’ finger actions. The autonomous demos confirmed off what that extremely dexterous hand can do, and it was fairly spectacular — particularly seeing it draw particular person playing cards from the deck. — CM

Zeroth

Chinese language robotics startup Zeroth introduced two lovely dwelling robots to CES: a pint-sized humanoid companion bot and a rolling robotic that appears like Wall-E, with tank-style tracked treads so it might trip round outdoors. We did not see these guys doing an excessive amount of, however they positive have been cute. The one which resembles Wall-E, referred to as W1, form of melted my coronary heart simply it. (Do not get connected, you’ll be able to’t afford it.)

The tiny humanoid, M1, prices $2,400 whereas W1 prices $5,000. Each are anticipated to ship this spring, with a tentative date of April 15. — CM

Sweekar

Takway’s Sweekar pocket pet was one thing I checked out and instantly thought, sigh, I’ll purchase that. It is a Tamagotchi-like virtual pet with AI smarts so it might kind a character based mostly in your interactions with it and the actions you do collectively. The thought is that it “grows” with you. Like a Tamagotchi, it’ll require extra frequent care within the youthful levels of its life cycle. However after it reaches the grownup degree, it autonomously cares for itself, and it by no means dies. It might ultimately preserve itself entertained, and go off by itself digital adventures and produce you again tales of its travels.

Sweekar is tremendous cute as is, and it may be dressed up in little outfits for extra personalization. The gadget is available in gentle yellow, pink, and blue, and we noticed it sporting a snowboarder outfit and a full cowboy getup. — CM

Realbotix

Realbotix is an organization we have seen rather a lot at CES through the years, and it was on the present once more for 2026 with a number of of its extremely customizable, real looking humanoid robots. As all the time, it was among the many most unnerving reveals we noticed. New for this 12 months, Realbotix was demonstrating its Robotic Imaginative and prescient System, which permits its robots to see and react to their environment extra naturally, monitoring faces to look instantly at whoever is speaking and higher studying emotion from facial expressions. Rattling, it might sense my concern now… — CM

Onero H1

Switchbot shocked us with its personal chore-handling robotic, Onero H1, which additionally gained Engadget editors’ choose for best robot of CES 2026. We have been instantly taken by its weirdly lengthy physique and endearingly clean stare because it slowly wheeled round selecting up laundry and depositing the objects in a washer.

Like loads of robotic demos we noticed at CES, we solely noticed Onero performing a small a part of what Switchbot says it is truly able to. However Onero additionally appeared way more real looking when it comes to the kind of robotic helpers that folks may truly see outdoors of CES, and the corporate informed us it does plan to promote Onero (albeit in restricted portions) by the top of the 12 months.  — KB

Cocomo

One other robotic pet that gained us over instantly was Cocomo. Created by Japanese startup Ludens AI, Cocomo is an autonomous robotic pal that sure, makes use of AI to reply to voice and contact and is supposed to bond with its house owners over time. The egg-shaped creature can scoot round on a wheeled base, or you’ll be able to carry it round with you.

However what we liked about Cocomo is that it isn’t attempting to be yet one more AI assistant, give out life recommendation or carry out duties. Its objective is to supply companionship and effectively, be your pal. And whereas it might reply to voice enter it does not precisely have a voice of its personal: it communicates by way of cute buzzing sounds, which is rather a lot much less creepy than a number of the speaking robots we noticed. — KB

Yonbo

Yonbo is a youngsters’ AI companion robotic that completely charmed us. It form of seems to be like a canine, and after we visited its sales space at Unveiled, there have been 4 of them playfully bopping their heads to a pop music and biking via totally different cute facial expressions and emoji eyes (together with bowls of ramen). It is designed to be an clever playmate that may tag alongside for actions, speak with a baby and skim them tales, and even assist them work via feelings, like getting annoyed throughout a recreation.

Yonbo’s motion is managed by a wristband, so it does not require a cellphone to play with. It can be used as an additional pair of eyes for fogeys round the home. In Parental Monitor mode, which the crew says is the one time its digital camera will have the ability to stream and retailer video, dad and mom are capable of see what Yonbo sees. The robotic prices $800 and is obtainable now.  — CM

MÖFO

If we’re being utterly trustworthy, the pitch for will.i.am‘s MÖFO (sure, MOFO, like motherfucker) had us a bit, um, perplexed for a sizzling second. We learn it and all of the accompanying supplies time and again attempting to determine what, precisely, this factor does. A few of the claims that added to this confusion: “the agent ‘octopuses’ throughout your digital ecosystem via its eight USB-C connections”; it “converts moments into objects”; it “turns life notes right into a life working system.”

We get it now, (we expect): It is agentic AI {hardware}, form of like a Rabbit R1 or AI Pin however within the type of a teddy bear. Sadly, we did not get to see MÖFO up shut or watch it do something, however we’re nonetheless intrigued, if nonetheless a bit confused, by this unusual teddy bear. — CM and KB