CES 2026: What we know and what we expect
CES 2026 runs from January 6 to 9 in Las Vegas and is once again the main global show for consumer tech hardware, unlike developer or pro-focused events such as COMPUTEX, GTC, GDC, or Hot Chips, which often center on infrastructure, servers, and roadmaps rather than what ends up on store shelves.
This year the spotlight on PCs is clear. AMD and Intel have full keynotes or launch events on the official schedule. NVIDIA and Qualcomm do not have CES-branded press conferences listed, but both are confirmed as exhibitors with large demo spaces and partner meetings.
The next CES will likely revolve around AI and Copilot+, but in this list we are trying to avoid that topic.
AMD: Ryzen 9000X3D, 9000G and AI 400 updates
Dr. Lisa Su will open CES 2026 with a keynote on Monday, January 5, 6:30 p.m. PT, in the Palazzo Ballroom at The Venetian, covering AMD’s AI strategy across cloud, enterprise, edge, and consumer devices. AMD will also run its AMD Connect demo area in the Titian rooms 23022305 at The Venetian from January 6 to 9, showing AI PCs, gaming hardware, data center and edge AI products, and related software.
- Ryzen 7 9850X3D Very Likely
AMD itself has briefly exposed the Ryzen 7 9850X3D on its driver pages, confirming that there is an update to company’s best selling gaming CPU coming soon. It’s worth noting that the original rumor also mentioned the Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 with dual 3D V-Cache, but this SKU is yet to be confirmed. - Ryzen 9000G desktop APUs Very Likely
Earlier AGESA update hinted that AMD is preparing a Ryzen 9000G APUs update, featuring Zen 5 and RDNA 3.5 parts for AM5 socket. If these rumors are correct, AMD will reuse its Krackan and Strix Point silicons for desktops. - Ryzen AI 400 “Gorgon Point” laptops Very Likely
This one is almost a certainty: Ryzen AI 400 “Gorgon Point” is as a refresh to Strix Point for laptops, with up to 12 Zen 5 cores and a stronger NPU.
What we’d like to see (but probably won’t) : Zen 6 demo, RDNA5 update.
Intel: Panther Lake for next-gen laptops
- Core Ultra Series 3 launch at CES Official
Intel’s CES page confirms a global launch for Core Ultra Series 3 “Panther Lake” during CES, with activities in Las Vegas from January 5 to 9. The event is framed around AI PCs and new client processors. - Xeon 6 Workstation Expected
The entire lineup was already leaked two weeks ago. It’s an update to Intel’s spiritual successor to Core X series, the HEDT platform, now primarily targeting high-end workstation systems like AMD Threadripper. - Nova Lake updates Expected
Intel could showcase a new client roadmap slide that mentions Nova Lake desktop and future AI PCs, coming to the market the year or so after Panther Lake.
What we’d like to see: Battlemage G31 (Arc A770) GPU updates
NVIDIA: new laptops
- CES Foundry presence Official
NVIDIA is a strategic partner for the CES Foundry Experience at the Fontainebleau hotel, Azure Ballroom, where it will show AI-focused demos on RTX PCs, data center platforms, robotics, and automotive. No separate NVIDIA keynote is listed on the CES keynote page right now. - RTX AI PCs and new gaming laptops Very Likely
NVIDIA’s official CES page and CTA material frame its presence around AI. The company is expected to push RTX AI PCs , refreshed gaming laptops with existing RTX 50 mobile GPUs. NVIDIA will likely promote new laptops powered by AMD Ryzen 400 and Intel Core Ultra 300 CPUs. - Automotive and embedded demos Very Likely
Given previous CES years and the Foundry program focus, it is reasonable to expect NVIDIA Drive demos, robot platforms, and other embedded AI devices. That still feeds back into consumer tech in cars and smart devices, but it is not a desktop GPU launch.
What we’d like to see (but probably won’t): RTX 50 SUPER, NVIDIA N1 consumer SoC update
Qualcomm: X2 Elite
- Snapdragon X2 Elite and X2 Elite Extreme laptops Likely
Qualcomm has announced Snapdragon X2 Elite and X2 Elite Extreme as its next PC chips, with the first systems due in the first half of 2026. Hardware reveals are expected at CES in Las Vegas, covering laptops, mini PCs, and possibly all-in-one desktops.
What we’d like to see: Gaming X2 Elite gaming demos
