Waveform: The MKBHD Podcast – Summary
Episode: CES 2026 Actually Has Some Bangers?
Date: January 9, 2026
Hosts: Marques Brownlee (MKBHD), Andrew Manganelli, David Imel, Ellis, Eric
Episode Overview
The first episode of 2026 dives into the latest—and surprisingly good—tech reveals from CES 2026, alongside lively discussions about ambitious (and questionable) AR startups, long-awaited gadget upgrades, and bold predictions for the coming year. Marques and the team balance excitement with critical perspective, scrutinizing hyped products and sharing honest impressions.
Key Topics & Discussion Points
1. Catching Up: Personal Tech Upgrades & MKBHD’s Hasselblad Story
- Ellis upgrades from iPhone 12 Mini to iPhone 17 Pro (01:22–08:13)
- Jumps five generations, marvels at battery life and camera controls.
- “You wait as long as you possibly can until your phone is on its dying breath.” – Marques (02:48)
- Team reminisces about phone struggles and the weirdness of muscle memory after a big upgrade.
- Marques finally receives backordered Hasselblad X2D Mark II camera (10:54–14:13)
- Story of six months’ wait, possible order prioritization mishaps at B&H.
- Raises questions about order fulfillment bias for high-demand gear.
2. News Bites: Key Tech Industry Updates
- Pixel users rejoice: Can finally toggle off “At a glance” (14:24–15:32)
- Podcast team reacts to a long-campaigned-for Pixel feature.
- ASUS Cancels Zenfone and ROG Phone for 2026 (15:32–17:13)
- No new models this year, sparking discussion on the pitfalls of mainstreaming niche devices.
- “When you’re for everyone, you’re for no one. That’s what they say.” – Eric (17:13)
3. AR Glasses Startup “Pickle” – Deep Dive
Product Pitch & Hype
- Pickle: AR ‘Soul Computer’ Glasses (17:39–21:57)
- Announced Jan 1, viral due to over-the-top claims: world’s lightest PC, 12hr+ battery, AI-driven, context-aware overlays.
- “This is a computer for the soul... a technology I think would be really cool.” – Marques (18:01)
Vaporware Red Flags
- Community skepticism and Twitter wars (24:24–26:46, 28:32–30:10)
- Engineers and skeptics debunk battery claims, field of view, possible over-promising.
- CEO responds: Glasses primarily offload compute to your phone, not as standalone as implied.
- Demo videos shown to be largely After Effects overlays, not live product capabilities.
General Skepticism Around AR Hardware Launches & Marketing
- The meta-narrative: Over-produced, Apple-inspired marketing often hides unfinished/over-promised products (36:25–40:00).
- “Sell you on the two-years-later version... only possible if you believe us and you all get in now.” – Marques (39:53)
- Debate: Should startups be more transparent about their stage and limitations?
- All agree: don’t buy v1 for promised future upgrades!
- Comparative Insight: Meta and Snap approached AR launches with more transparency and workable demos (43:14–44:21).
4. CES 2026 – “Actual Bangers”
a. LEGO Smart Bricks (52:41–60:08)
- LEGO debuts Bluetooth/NFC-enabled bricks—interactive, audio/visual/reactive, mesh network capabilities, not AI-driven.
- “This is unequivocally... the best story of CES.” – Marques (56:49)
- Playful discussion on implications for creativity, open-ended usage versus set-specific features.
b. Other Notable Tech from CES
- Ugreen AI NAS (storage server with semantic ML tagging/search) (62:00–64:10)
- Large-format color e-paper frames (64:26–66:15)
- Corsair Galleon keyboard with integrated Stream Deck (66:30–67:43)
- Razer Project Ava: “AI Companion” Desk Hologram (68:08–76:46)
- Powered by Grok, questionable “3D hologram” claims.
- Samsung 130” Timeless Frame TV & Frame TV knock-offs (77:09–81:47)
- Motorola and Lenovo: Rollable screens, foldables, concept devices (89:18–93:00)
c. Fun & Weird:
- Seattle Ultrasonics Chef’s Knife (vibrates at 33kHz for easier cutting) (82:21–88:58)
- Hosts both laugh and marvel at demonstration videos.
5. Startups & Niche Hardware
Clicks – Physical Keyboard Powerbank & Communicator Phone (94:00–112:14)
- Clicks Power Keyboard: MagSafe/Chi2-attached battery pack with physical keyboard and Bluetooth multi-device support.
- Clicks Communicator: A “communicator phone” (square display, physical keyboard, notification LED, all the nerdy stuff).
- Product strategy discussion: Smart to avoid flagship camera/processor arms race.
- Practical debate: Weekend “focus phone,” can it be a main device? Various notification and convenience features geek out.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “When you’re for everyone, you’re for no one. That’s what they say.” – Eric (17:13)
- “This is unequivocally... the best story of CES.” – Marques on LEGO smart bricks (56:49)
- “This is an ad is the bottom line.” – Eric, critiquing over-produced AR startup launches (39:27)
- “Don’t buy a product based on the promise of future updates.” – Marques (44:28)
Important Timestamps
| Segment | Description | Timestamp | |---|---|---| | Ellis upgrades phone | Moving from iPhone 12 Mini to 17 Pro, battery/camera chat | 01:22–08:13 | | Marques’ Hasselblad story | 6-month wait for camera, order fulfillment shenanigans | 10:54–14:13 | | Pixel ‘At a glance’ toggle | Long-awaited feature becomes reality | 14:24–15:32 | | Zenfone & ROG Phone hiatus | ASUS suspends new models, niche-to-mainstream critique | 15:32–17:13 | | Pickle AR Glasses saga | From launch hype to vaporware accusations | 17:39–44:00 | | LEGO smart bricks | CES “actual banger” – brick computing and mesh networks | 52:41–60:08 | | Razer Project Ava | AI hologram companion (snarky team analysis) | 68:08–76:46 | | Weird at CES | AI chef’s knife segment | 82:21–88:58 | | Clicks keyboard/communicator | Physical phone keyboard returns, startup hardware insight | 94:00–112:14 |
2026 Predictions & Friendly Bets (118:19–145:10)
- Will certain products ship? Team places predictions (e.g., “Cyber Cab won’t ship” – Marques, 119:05).
- No folding iPhone in 2026? Andrew bets against it (120:30).
- Silicon carbon batteries in Apple/Samsung? Most say not this year (126:31).
- Pixel 11 redesign? Debate over what counts as a redesign (127:28).
- Phone of the Year picks: OnePlus 16 (Andrew), Pixel (Marques), OnePlus 18 (Eric), iPhone Fold (Caller/Ellis).
- Which Google product gets killed in 2026? NotebooksLM, Google Assistant, AI Overview, Project Starline, YouTube voice comments.
Fun & Trivia
- Tech trivia returns: ASUS Padfone vs. Phonepad (answered around 145:21–147:29), most expensive LEGO set, and legendary “LEGO is the world’s biggest tire manufacturer” factoid (151:02).
Tone & Style
The team’s energy is lively, nerdy, and approachable, with honest banter and critical takes. They poke fun at marketing absurdities but get genuinely excited for well-executed, tangible products. Both skepticism and optimism are given voice—especially as the team reflects on industry patterns of hype, vaporware, and which launches to trust.
Episode Takeaways
- Best of CES: LEGO’s smart bricks—fun, approachable, and actually shipping.
- Gimmicks vs. Reality: Vaporware still rampant, especially in AR/AI hardware. The team urges listeners: “Wait for real reviews, not promises.”
- Emergent Nostalgia: Physical keyboards, notification LEDs, and clever form factors are making a comeback—for a niche but enthusiastic market.
- Industry’s Growing Pains: Startups and big companies alike keep over-promising, under-delivering. Meanwhile, user trust is eroding.
- 2026 Predictions: Still more questions than answers, but the team is keeping track for a year-end scorecard.
For gadget lovers, skeptics, and tech futurists alike, CES 2026 proved there were actual bangers—and a bunch of questionable ambitions. Stay tuned: the next hardware surprise, or vaporware flop, may be just around the corner.