As soon as I held the Pebble Round 2 in my hand, I suddenly realized what Id been missing for the better part of a decade. Ive always felt smartwatches should supplement, rather than supplant, your phone, but thats an attitude that feels almost quaint these days. After all, Apple and Samsung believe everyone wants a watch that can do almost everything your phone can do. But that wasnt the prevailing opinion at the dawn of the smartwatch era, either philosophically or from limitations in the technology. Back then, companies like Pebble, Vector, Basis and others all built devices that added a second screen to the device in your pocket, and were all the better for it. Thankfully, Pebble founder Eric Migicovsky agrees, and if his project to revive the company is successful, perhaps well once again see these alternative approaches flourish. The first step on this very long road is the Pebble Round 2, which aims to be the standard bearer for a new generation of comparatively less smart, but fundamentally more useful, smartwatches.
Round 2 was announced on January 2, and is the second product in Core Devices (Migicovskys new company) lineup of revived Pebbles. The first was the revamped Time 2, aping the form of its more successful predecessor, while the Round 2 is an attempt to correct the mistakes of 2015s Pebble Time Round. That watch, when it debuted, was met with disappointment from critics who loved its aesthetics but little else. Back then, building a Pebble with a round face required plenty of compromise, including a higher price, shorter battery life, fewer features and a massive bezel. A decade on, and the technology has come along sufficiently to render such compromises moot, making for a much better device overall.
The new watch has a 1.3-inch color e-paper touchscreen which stretches to the end of the case. Its display has been bonded to the glass crystal, dramatically improving the viewing angles and reducing glare. You should expect to get two weeks of life on a single charge, but it remains just 8.1mm thick, and you can really feel that lack of heft when its in your hand. In fact, compared to so many of its smartwatch peers, you could almost unironically describe it as dainty, making its case size feel almost comically large. On the materials side, the case feels strong enough that I think it would withstand the rigors of daily life, and Im quite smitten with both the polished rose gold and brushed silver finishes.
On one hand, its hardly the major reason to buy a watch, but Im deeply smitten by how much text the Round 2s display can render. Even the fanciest of smartwatches arent that willing to display big reams of text for your ease of reading. I was tickled to read a lengthy Slack message which reminded me, again, of what Ive been missing for all of these years. Perhaps thats a sign of the broader benefits a device like this offers, which is the ability to tweak its UI to what you need, rather than being tied by the UI designers in Cupertino and Mountain View.
There are plenty of omissions in the spec list, including no optical heart rate sensor, no GPS and no speaker. Im not weeping over any of them: Ive not used my smartwatchs GPS in years and yes, and Pebble is swerving away from the health and fitness market. I dont want to take calls from my wrist, either, and while the omitted heart rate sensor is harder to take given their ubiquity, its been done to ensure the watch is thinner than many of its competitors.
Migicovsky is candid about Pebbles failure, saying the company spent too much to become a global hardware brand. He invested heavily in inventory in anticipation of blockbuster sales that never came, similar to Pelotons post-COVID slump. This time around, the focus is on ensuring the company remains sustainable over the long term and, hopefully, building a succession of products. Rather than big investments, hell make small batches of devices to cater to pre-orders and wont water down his philosophy in the hope of attracting a broad user base. He even said the Pebble website may include recommendations for alternative smartwatches from other companies to ensure hes only catering to the faithful.
Three Pebble Indexes side by side on a table.
Daniel Cooper for Engadget
Its his hope that this approach will give him the time and space to make more products, such as the already-announced Pebble Index 01. Its a $75 ring equipped with a microphone, Bluetooth and a single push button, where users can record brief reminders to themselves. Rather than add weight and complexity with a rechargeable battery, each Index has a sealed-in cell that the company promises will last for up to two years. A month before the battery is due to expire, youll be asked if you want to buy a replacement, sending in the original for recycling. Its an unusual arrangement but one that Migicovsky believes is more compelling than some others. After all, users arent saddled with any monthly subscription fees, and they only need to buy a new one if theyve actually gotten the benefit out of their existing model. As with the revived Pebbles, the prevailing attitude is that nobodys twisting your arm here.
Image of the rear sides of the Pebble Round 2
Daniel Cooper for Engadget
More broadly, Migicovsky has the time and money now to explore these product ideas free from the usual pressures. He has no investors or backers demanding instant returns and fast growth, giving him license to pursue his ideas as far as he wants to take them. And he is determined to return a small degree of whimsy to consumer electronics, building gadgets that are in some way fun. Lets hope he succeeds, because the industry cant survive another decade of homogeneity.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/pebble-seeks-to-remedy-the-wearable-industrys-original-sin-170000834.html?src=rss
Multiple of Satechi's Thunderbolt 4 docks are on Engadget's list of the best docking stations, so when the company announces a new accessory, it's usually worth a look. At CES 2026, Satechi is finally making the jump to Thunderbolt 5 with a new docking station and cable. The Thunderbolt 5 CubeDock with SSD Enclosure and Thunderbolt 5 Pro Cable leverage the faster speeds of Intel's cable tech, and in the case of the dock, also include extra benefits like space for SSD storage.
The CubeDock is made from a block of solid aluminum and is clearly supposed to evoke Apple's desktop Macs, like the new Mac mini. Satechi already made a Mac mini hub that can do some of the same things as CubeDock, but that accessory was focused on Thunderbolt 4. With the Thunderbolt 5 on the CubeDock, the new docking station can offer support for multiple 8K monitors, 180W smart power delivery and up to 120 Gb/s transfer speeds.
The back of a Satechi CubeDock displaying multiple types of ports.
Satechi
The dock also features a microSD card slot, SD card slots and headphone jack on the front, with multiple other input options on the back, including Thunderbolt 5 ports and an ethernet port. If you're interested in extra storage, you can also pop off the bottom of the CubeDock and add up to 8TB of SSD storage.
To pair with the CubeDock, Satechi is also releasing its own Thunderbolt 5 cable. The Thunderbolt 5 Pro Cable supports up to 120 Gb/s uni-directional or 80 Gb/s bi-directional data transfers, 240W power delivery and either dual 8K/60Hz displays or a trio of 4K/144Hz displays.
The Satechi Thunderbolt 5 Pro Cable coiled on a white background.
Satechi
Satechi says you can pre-order the Thunderbolt 5 CubeDock with SSD Enclosure on the company's website for $399.99, and it will ship in Q1 2026. The Thunderbolt 5 Pro Cable is available to order now for $39.99 from Satechi, Amazon and other retailers.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/satechi-is-embracing-thunderbolt-5-at-ces-with-a-new-dock-and-cable-170000137.html?src=rss
Corsair just revealed a gaming keyboard with a built-in Stream Deck controller at CES 2026. The Galleon 100 SD is a mechanical keyboard with a 5-inch screen, two rotary encoders and a full complement of Stream Deck buttons.
For the uninitiated, the Stream Deck is basically a collection of hot keys that execute various commands. It's been incredibly popular for streamers and the like, but it's also become a boon for PC gamers.
Corsair is advertising the Galleon 100 SD directly to gamers, so it boasts of hot keys being used to "access abilities, call in airstrikes and manage inventory without diving through menus." The Elgato Marketplace offers profiles for specific games, eliminating the need to manually program the buttons. The included screen can display relevant stats while playing.
However, this is a real Stream Deck. It has 12 big buttons, which can be programmed to do all kinds of things beyond gaming. People use it to stream, yes, but also to control smart home devices, assist with creative tasks and a lot more.
Corsair
It's also a true mechanical gaming keyboard with hyper-polling rates up to 8,000Hz, which the company says "transmits your keystrokes up to eight times faster" than standard releases. It features MLX Pulse keyswitches that have been "tuned for fast actuation and smooth yet tactile feedback."
Everything is housed in a durable aluminum frame with gasket housing and six layers of sound dampening. There's a cushioned palm rest and configurable RGB lighting.
The Galleon 100 SD is available right now, but there's a catch. It costs $350, which is a lot of dough for a gaming keyboard. For that amount of money you could buy an actual Stream Deck XL and a decent keyboard and still have plenty to spare.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/corsair-made-a-keyboard-with-a-built-in-stream-deck-163158296.html?src=rss
ElevationLab makes a battery case for your AirTag that can power it for 10 years and the accessory is on sale now for 30 percent off. Normally retailing for $23, you can pick one up for $16.
The TimeCapsule case uses two AA batteries to offer up to 14 times the lifespan of the CR2032 battery that powers an AirTag. The company based those estimates on Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries, so your mileage may vary. Once an AirTag is seated inside the case, which is a compact 4.45 x 1.57 inches, it is sealed shut with four screws at the corners. The case is fiber-reinforced, according to Elevation Lab, and rated IP69 waterproof.
The company says its intended for use cases where you might place an AirTag for long periods of time, like in a vehicle, a piece of luggage or a work bag. We've already got a couple of Elevation Lab products on our list for best AirTag accessories, so while we haven't reviewed the battery case, we tend to like this company's products.
If you're in the market for more AirTags or considering picking some up for the first time, you can still get a pack of 4 for just $65, which is only a few dollars off the lowest price we've seen.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/elevationlabs-timecapsule-extended-battery-case-for-airtags-is-30-percent-off-162308689.html?src=rss
CES remains a key stage for laptop makers to lay out their plans for the year ahead. At CES 2026, that meant new flagship productivity machines, reconsidered gaming notebooks and solid incremental updates across several major lineups. While were still seeing embargoes lift and hands-on time on the show floor, the announcements below reflect the most significant laptops weve seen so far. Plus, the list will grow as more companies reveal details throughout January 6 and beyond.Samsung Galaxy Book6 seriesNew Samsung Galaxy Book6 laptops offer NVIDIA RTX 50-series GPUs.Samsung announced the Galaxy Book6 family at CES 2026, introducing three new laptops built around Intels Panther Lake chips: the Galaxy Book6, Book6 Pro and Book6 Ultra. The focus this year is on slimmer designs, improved thermals and longer battery life, with Samsung claiming up to 30 hours of video playback on the Book6 Ultra and Pro.The 16-inch Galaxy Book6 Ultra sits at the top of the lineup, with configurations offering up to Intel Core Ultra X9 processors, Intel Arc graphics and NVIDIA RTX 50-series GPUs, including RTX 5070 and RTX 5060 options. Samsung says the Ultra delivers up to 1.6x better CPU performance and 1.7x improved graphics compared with the previous Galaxy Book generation, helped by a wider vapor chamber and a new dual-path fan system for GPU cooling.Both the Book6 Ultra and Book6 Pro feature upgraded 2,880 x 1,800 AMOLED 2X displays with touch support, adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz and peak brightness of up to 1,000 nits. The laptops are thinner than their predecessors, with the Ultra measuring 15.4mm thick and the Pro coming in at 11.9mm and Samsung has added haptic trackpads across the series for the first time. Pricing and release dates have not yet been announced.ASUS ROG Zephyrus DuoOn top of having two displays, the Zephyrus Duo's screens also feature excellent brightness at up to 1,100 nits.ASUS brought its dual-screen design into the gaming space at CES 2026 with the ROG Zephyrus Duo, a laptop that pairs two full-size 16-inch displays with high-end gaming hardware. Unlike productivity-focused dual-screen systems, the Zephyrus Duo is positioned as a hybrid machine designed to handle gaming, content creation and multitasking in a single portable setup.Both 16-inch Nebula OLED panels support HDR with up to 1,100 nits of peak brightness, NVIDIA G-SYNC, stylus input and high color accuracy. Performance comes from Intels latest Core Ultra processors paired with NVIDIA RTX 50-series GPUs, up to an RTX 5090. While the systems 135W power budget means it wont match the raw performance of some single-screen gaming laptops, ASUS is clearly prioritizing versatility over maximum output.The Zephyrus Duo includes a detachable wireless keyboard, a built-in kickstand and multiple usage modes, including stacked dual-screen layouts and drawing configurations. Despite weighing a whopping 6.28 pounds, ASUS has kept the chassis relatively slim at 0.77 inches and equipped it with a six-speaker system, vapor chamber cooling and a broad selection of ports including Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1 and a full-size SD card slot. Pricing and availability have not yet been announced.MSI Stealth 16 AI+MSI's most powerful gaming laptop.MSIMSI updated its Stealth lineup at CES 2026 with the Stealth 16 AI+, a gaming laptop designed to balance performance and portability. The system measures just 16.6mm thick, weighs under two kilograms and is equipped with NVIDIA RTX 50-series graphics alongside Intel Core Ultra 200HX processors.Despite its slim profile, the Stealth 16 AI+ includes dual memory slots and dual SSD bays, giving it more upgrade flexibility than many thin gaming laptops. MSI is positioning it as a versatile machine for users who want gaming performance without the bulk typically associated with high-end hardware.MSI Crosshair 16 Max HXThe Crosshair 16 Max HX represents MSIs more traditional gaming approach, pairing Intel Core Ultra 200HX processors with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50-series GPUs. It sits below the companys flagship Raider models but still targets players who want strong performance in a relatively streamlined chassis.Buyers can opt for an optional QHD+ OLED display with a 165Hz refresh rate, adding sharper visuals and smoother motion for gaming and media. Alongside the Max HX, MSI also announced a Crosshair 16 HX variant, giving the Crosshair line a broader range of configurations aimed at mid-to-high-end gaming buyers.HP OmniBook Ultra 14HP claims the Omnibook Ultra 14 has passed 20 different MIL-STD 810H tests for things like extreme temperature and shock resistance.HP used CES 2026 to debut its new flagship consumer laptop, the OmniBook Ultra 14. Its a premium ultraportable built around an ultra-thin but durability-focused design. The laptop measures just 0.42 inches thick and weighs 2.8 pounds, et HP says it passes 20 MIL-STD-810 tests for shock, drops and extreme temperatures. Rather than a traditional unibody chassis, HP uses a forge-stamped aluminum construction designed to improve strength and bend resistance.The OmniBook Ultra 14 features a 3K OLED display and can be configured with up to 64GB of memory and 2TB of storage. Buyers can choose between Intel Core Ultra processors or Qualcomms Snapdragon X2 Elite, with the Snapdragon version offering a more powerful NPU rated at up to 85 TOPS for AI workloads. HP has also added a vapor chamber for the first time in an OmniBook to support sustained performance in such a slim chassis.HP rounds things out with a large touchpad, quad speakers and three USB-C ports supporting Thunderbolt 4, DisplayPort 2.1 and fast charging. The OmniBook Ultra 14 is expected to go on sale later this month starting at $1,550.HP Omen Max 16HP also refreshed its gaming lineup at CES 2026 with the Omen Max 16, which the company describes as its most powerful 16-inch gaming laptop to date. The system is built around Intel Core Ultra 200HX processors and NVIDIA RTX 50-series GPUs, with configurations reaching the high end of HPs mobile performance offerings.Designed for sustained gaming workloads, the Omen Max 16 features expanded thermal headroom and high-refresh-rate displays aimed at competitive players. HP is positioning the laptop as the flagship of its Omen lineup, sitting above refreshed Omen 15 and Omen 16 models that target more mainstream gaming buyers.Pricing and availability for the Omen Max 16 have not yet been announced, with HP expected to share more details later this year.Acer Swift 16 AIPromo photo of the Acer Swift 16 AI laptopAcerAcer expanded its flagship Swift lineup at CES 2026 with the Swift 16 AI, a large-screen ultraportable that leans heavily into input innovation and display quality. The standout feature is what Acer says is the worlds largest haptic touchpad, which supports MPP 2.5 stylus input and is designed to improve precision for creative and productivity tasks.The Swift 16 AI features a 16-inch 3K OLED WQXGA+ touchscreen with HDR support, a 120Hz refresh rate and full DCI-P3 color coverage. It can be configured with up to an Intel Core Ultra X9 388H processor and Intel Arc B390 graphics, with up to 32GB of memory and 2TB of storage. Despite the large display, the laptop measures just 14.9mm thick and weighs about 3.4 pounds.Acer says the Swift 16 AI is part of the Copilot+ PC program, positioning it around on-device AI features alongside performance and portability. Pricing and availability have not yet been announced.Dell XPS 13, XPS 14 and XPS 16Dell wouldn't let me take photos of the XPS 13 prototype model, but here's a teaser it provided for CES. DellHaving a bit of déj vu? Youre not alone. Dell killed its XPS branding last year only to bring it back this year after admitting it had made a mistake. Instead of simplifying its product offering, the rebranding only bewildered consumers and tech journalists alike, both of which had come to know the XPS lineup to be synonymous with quality. Now, Dell is getting back to its roots and coming out with a whole refreshed lineup of XPS laptops, including new XPS 13, XPS 14 and XPS 16 machines. Specific details for each model still remain under wraps, and theres no word yet on when they will hit the market.Alienware gaming laptopsAlienware used CES 2026 to tease a new ultra-slim gaming laptop designed to sit below the companys Area-51 flagships. The laptop measures roughly 17mm, or about 0.67 inches, thick and will be offered in both 14-inch and 16-inch sizes.According to Alienware, the 16-inch version will feature NVIDIA discrete graphics paired with new, highly efficient CPUs. Rather than positioning it as a pure gaming machine, Alienware says the laptop is intended to balance gaming performance with creative work, productivity and everyday use.Alienware has not shared pricing, availability or full specifications, and it remains unclear how the 14-inch and 16-inch models will differ beyond size.Alienware also previewed a new entry-level gaming laptop aimed at expanding its reach to more budget-conscious players. While specs remain limited, the company says the system will deliver strong gaming performance at its most accessible price point yet.Alienware suggests pricing should come in below the $1,199 starting price of the Alienware 16 Aurora, potentially making it the most affordable gaming laptop the brand currently offers. As with the ultra-slim model, full details are expected later this year.Alienware Area-51 and AuroraAlongside its new teasers, Alienware announced updates to several existing laptops. The Alienware 16X Aurora and Alienware 16 Area-51 are gaining new anti-glare OLED panels with up to 620 nits of peak HDR brightness and a 0.2ms response time, as well as Intel Core Ultra 200HX processors.The Alienware 18 Area-51 is also being refreshed with the same CPUs. Alienware says the updated Alienware 16X Aurora, Alienware 16 Area-51 and Alienware 18 Area-51 laptops will be available in Q1 2026. Pricing has not yet been announced.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/all-the-laptops-that-caught-our-eye-at-ces-2026-160610752.html?src=rss
LG just announced its fastest and brightest OLED gaming monitor yet at CES, the 27-inch UltraGear GX7. The new QHD display, which uses LG Display's 4th-gen RGB Tandem 2.0 OLED tech, can hit 335 nits typical brightness and is DisplayHDR True Black 500 certified. At the same time, it offers an outstanding 540Hz refresh rate at QHD (720Hz at HD) and a .002ms grey-to-grey (GtG) response time. So in other words, about 5,000 times faster than the best human reflexes.
Though a gaming monitor by design, the GX7 would make an excellent content creation monitor too thanks to the true 10-bit panel that delivers 99.5 percent DCI-P3 color gamma coverage and Delta E<2 color accuracy. It's also UL certified for anti-glare, flicker-free, low blue light, reduced blue light and reduced circadian stimulating blue light. Finally, it carries VESA's ClearMR 21000 certification for the highest motion-clarity tier, eliminating the faint blur that can occur around fast moving objects. And as you'd expect, it's NVIDIA G-SYNC and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro compatible.
Appearance wise, it's what LG calls "virtually borderless" and has adjustable height, tilt, swivel and pivot controls. For connectivity, you get Dual HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.1 and Thunderbolt USB-C connectivity, along with two USB 3.0 downstream ports and a 4-pole headphone jack for audio and comms.
The RGB Tandem OLED technology in the UltraGear GX7 is designed for speed and brightness and should not be confused with LG's RGB V-Stripe OLED technology. The latter tech maxes out at 240Hz and is oriented more toward clarity of text and other display elements. The UltraGear GX7 is now available for pre-order at LG.com and anyone who orders before February 1st will receive a $299 27-inch FHD 240Hz gaming monitor for free.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/lgs-ultragear-gx7-is-its-fastest-and-brightest-oled-gaming-monitor-to-date-160059443.html?src=rss
McDonald's UK has turned years of customer creativity into an official menu, launching its first-ever Secret Menu across restaurants in the UK and Ireland. The lineup features fan-engineered combinations like the Surf N' Turf melding a Filet-O-Fish with a cheeseburger and the Chicken Cheeseburger, which layers beef and chicken patties in one bun. The roster also includes the returning Chicken Big Mac, Big Mac Sauce as a standalone dip, an Espresso Milkshake served as separate components for customers to mix themselves, and the Apple Pie Mini McFlurry that invites diners to dip a warm pie into soft-serve ice cream.The fast food giant is codifying what its audience has already been doing in the wild. Social media has long buzzed with menu hacks: unofficial mashups that blur the boundaries between standard offerings. By legitimizing these experiments, McDonald's acknowledges that its customers don't just consume products; they remix them. The move signals a shift from brands as sole creators to brands as curators of customer ingenuity, transforming everyday orders into collaborative acts of culinary play.TREND BITEMcDonald's Secret Menu reveals how brands can thrive by ceding creative control. When customers hack your products stacking, mixing and inventing new combinations they're not undermining your offering, they're expanding it. Time to recognize that grassroots innovation and make it official? This isn't just about novelty items. It's about acknowledging that in a remix culture, consumers expect the tools to personalize, the permission to play, and the validation that comes when their hacks are publicly recognized. The question isn't whether your customers will remix your brand. It's whether you'll empower them to do it, and then celebrate their creativity.
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