CES 2016 Preview: What to Expect at Tech’s Biggest Show

Daniel Howley
·Technology Editor

On January 6, while the rest of the world is still nursing its collective New Year’s hangover, tech titans from across the globe will descend on the sunbaked city of Las Vegas to take part in the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

For years CES has served as the coming-out party for an array of new technologies, ranging from the first flat-screen TVs to smartphones, drones, and smartwatches.

What kind of new gadgets and tech do we expect to debut at CES 2016? Funny you should ask…

More 4K TVs

We’ve been talking about ultra-high-definition 4K TVs for a few years now, but they still haven’t quite caught on. For the unfamiliar, 4K displays offer screen resolutions of 2160x3840 pixels — four times as many as standard 1080p HDTVs. The more pixels a screen has, the more information it can display, which results in sharper images on increasingly larger panels.

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One problem that has kept 4K TVs sales low is that most were still more expensive than their 1080p counterparts. That changed this year as manufacturers began lowering prices on their 4K offerings. As a result, we should start to see even less expensive 4K TVs hitting store shelves in 2016.

Related: More coverage of CES 2016.

As Rob Pegoraro pointed out in September, TV makers like Samsung and Sony are now using superior color quality as a major selling point for their sets.

Of course, 4K TVs have also suffered from a lack of content. What’s the point of buying a 4K TV if you’re only going to use it to watch 1080p video? Sure, UHDTVs can upscale 1080p video to 4K, which can improve image quality, but it’s not going to look anywhere near as good as true ultra-high-definition programming.

So far Netflix is already offering 4K content, though you’ll have to ensure you have a fast enough internet connection to support it. Direct TV is also building up its 4K efforts, and could start broadcasting live UHD shows in 2016.

There’s a good chance CES will bring more announcements from streaming services or cable providers regarding new 4K offerings.

VR gets ready for its close-up

Like 4K TVs, virtual reality headsets have been riding a years-long hype train, and have yet to break through to the mainstream. That’s about to change, as Facebook’s Oculus, HTC and Valve’s Vive, and Sony’s PlayStation VR are expected to hit the consumer market in the months following CES.

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The Oculus Rift VR headset.

As you can imagine, that means we’ll be seeing plenty of virtual reality headsets, apps, games, and other VR-related software debut at CES. And if my inbox is any indication of the trends we’ll see at CES, you can expect a metric ton of VR porn at the big show. (Yes, really.)

Unfortunately, Oculus, HTV, and Sony aren’t expected to make any major announcements at the show, though we might learn more about the release schedule for the Oculus Rift and Vive. Instead, they’ll likely be on hand to show off their wares and latest software offerings. That, however, opens the door for smaller VR outfits to make a splash. We expect a small tsunami of virtual reality gloves, vests, headphones, and other accessories to make their debut in Vegas.

Smart homes

Here’s something that’s actually started to take off: the connected home. With lights, surveillance cameras, washers and driers, and even coffee makers already connected to the Web, CES 2016 will only bring more of your home’s most mundane appliances online.

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A smart coffee maker from Mr. Coffee — who else?

That means we’ll likely see plenty of new products taking advantage of Apple’s HomeKit and Samsung’s SmartThings smartphone platforms. Lowes Hardware’s newly updated Iris connected home system is also likely to be on full display on the show floor.

We won’t, however, see one connected home system to rule them all. The market is just too new and still needs to shake out. You’ll have to wait at least another year for that to happen (maybe).

Outside of those ecosystems, we’ll likely see a good deal of one-off appliances that you can control from your smartphone, including washers, and dryers, and HVAC systems.

Will this be the year your toilet is finally able to communicate with your refrigerator? Will I finally be able to talk to my coat rack back home while at the office? These and more questions will undoubtedly be answered in just a few weeks.

Connected cars

CES has become the auto industry’s de facto technology showcase, with carmakers showing off everything from new propulsion systems to in-car apps and Internet access. This year, you can expect to see more app and smartphone integration in vehicles, whether that be through Apple’s CarPlay, Google’s Android Auto, or a automaker’s proprietary systems like Ford’s Sync AppLink.

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This year’s CES should also give us a closer look at the various self-driving systems automakers have in the works. We might also get more information on how car manufacturers are building out systems that let vehicles communicate with traffic lights, stop signs, and the road itself, as well as with other cars.

Wearables

The wearables market won’t likely see many major innovations at CES this year, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. That’s because the show will likely give us plenty of new gadgets that offer a more focused approached to fitness tracking.

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We’ll also likely see trackers embedded in a wider variety of devices beyond the simple wristband. That can include clothes and shoes that track your workouts or simply provide feedback on your overall activity level throughout the day.

As for the smartwatch market, don’t expect much in the way of big announcements. Chances are we’ll likely see some new Android Wear watches, but nothing that will blow us away.

Tablets and smartphones

There’s no doubt CES 2016 will see a smattering of new smartphones and tablets, but don’t expect to see any major announcements from big players like Apple or Samsung.

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That’s because Samsung generally announces its flagship products during its own press events or at other trade shows, while Apple simply doesn’t participate in the yearly fracas.

That being said, smaller, lesser known companies are sure to show off their latest wares. That means we’ll see handsets and slates from the likes of Alcatel OneTouch, Huawei, and Xiaomi.

Tons of weird stuff

While CES is a great place to check out some of the latest technologies coming in the next year, it’s even better for spotting tons of weird crap.

Those “hoverboards” you hear about catching fire? They first debuted at CES. A potty training toilet with an iPad attachment? That showed up at CES too. Heck, last year we saw a smart fork that’s supposed to help you track your eating habits.

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And let’s not forget the litany of insane iPhone cases and batteries we’re sure to see at the show. Yes, CES is always insane. And this year should prove no different.

What do you think we’ll see at CES 2016? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned for all of our CES coverage live from Las Vegas.

Email Daniel at dhowley@yahoo-inc.com; follow him on Twitter at @DanielHowley or on Google+.

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