Top tech trends in 2025: Futuristic gadgets you will use in 2026 - Part 1

Futuristic technology is moving fast out of concept and by the year 2026 most of the next generation technology will be in day-to-day lives. Personal mobility devices such as foldable e-bikes and miniature eVTOL flyers, artificial intelligence sleep headphones that can change soundscapes in real time, people will engage with technology in a way that was previously perceived only through science-fiction. The houses will have smart environmentally friendly designs like floating LED lamps and automatic water growing plant pods, and makers will use portable CNC robots to fabricate anywhere.

Gesture-control bands, smart projectors, real-time language translators, AI-controlled cameras, autonomous delivery robots and AI-controlled home assistants will transform day-to-day activities. Smart poles in cities will have IoT, devices will be faster on edge AI chips, and convenience and productivity at home will be made possible by home robotics and AR glasses. In the meantime, health wearables that are driven by AI will change personal health monitoring. All of these breakthroughs are what bring us to one definitive conclusion: in 2026, futuristic gadgets will no longer be viewed as futuristic, just like they are going to be a part and parcel of life. Here are the Top tech trends in 2026 that will be common and will make lives easy.

Personal mobility gadgets transforming urban travel

The cities all over the world are quickly changing to compact, electric, and hyper efficient mobility. Bikes that fold down, scooters literally half the size, even flyers (eVTOLs) the size of a small vertical takeoff and landing are becoming a reality. Lightweight foldable bikes have already become the daily mode of transportation of urban workers in the US, and businesses such as Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation are already undertaking FAA approved eVTOL test flights. Personal air mobility is also being tried in China and Europe on short routes. By 2030, the e-bike market will have reached 52 billion and the eVTOL industry will have reached 23 billion in 2028 which means mass production will be widespread in the urban centers by 2026.

• Personal mobility devices are transforming the city travel making the commute time quicker and more environmentally friendly. Here are some key examples:

• Foldable e-bikes (e.g., Brompton Electric, Xiaomi Mi Electric Folding Bike).

• Small e-scooters (e.g., Xiaomi Mi Electric Scooter, Segway Ninebot).

• E-skateboards (e.g., Segway Ninebot S).

• E-unicycles (e.g., InMotion V8)

• EVTOLs (e.g., Archer Aviation, Joby Aviation)

• Hoverboards owned by individuals (e.g. Segway Hoverboard).

• Balance wheels (e.g., Airwheel)

These devices are already changing the ways in which people travel in cities all over the world.

AR glasses emerging as smartphone alternatives

AR glasses are becoming lighter, stronger, and viable. In 2025, Ray-Ban display glasses by Meta will have a built-in notification and translation, and in 2026, Snap plans to launch consumer AR glasses. It has been reported that Apple is currently developing a vision Pro light. As AR/VR hardware is expected to increase by almost 30% annually, the AR glasses may become the first significant competitor to the traditional smartphone screens in 2026.

AR glasses are becoming an option to the phone industry, and new lighter and stronger models are available.Ray-Ban Meta glasses will have built-in notifications and translation in 2025, and in 2026, Snap will launch its consumer AR glasses.Apple is also said to be conducting work on a thinner version of Vision Pro.With the AR/VR hardware expected to increase by close to 30% every year, AR glasses may replace smartphones by 2026. Examples for daily use:

• Ray-Ban Meta Glasses

• Snap AR Glasses (upcoming)

• Apple Vision Pro (light version, future)

These gadgets will revolutionise the way we respond to the notifications, translations, and online content everywhere.

AI-powered mobile cameras replacing DSLR kits

Smartphone cameras are transitioning from hardware-driven imaging to AI-driven pipelines. Xiaomi and Samsung are already applying the latest computational photography to process photos once the shutter is released. What previously DSLR cameras could only do (such as noise reduction, motion smoothing and subject enhancement) can now be performed by AI in a matter of seconds. In 2026, smart algorithms will give photographers more than just bulky kits, with the phone becoming the key creation tool.

Instant replacements of the heavy DSLR kit are the AI-powered mobile cameras, which can produce high-quality work on the first try with the assistance of smart algorithms.Xiamen and Samsung are pacing with superior computational photography which takes care of noise reduction, motion smoothing and subject improvement immediately the shutter button is released.In 2026, most people will be using smartphones as the main device in photography, which will have no need for large kits. Examples for daily use:

• Xiaomi AI Camera

• Samsung AI Camera

• Google Pixel AI Camera

These are changing the way we take and edit photos anywhere.

AI-powered health wearables becoming life-saving tools

Fitness trackers have been transformed into predictive medical devices in the form of health wearables. The next generation will provide needleless glucose, early disease, and AI-assisted forecasts of heart or respiratory problems several days before they can manifest themselves. In a study conducted in 2025, AI models that processed wearable data were found to detect anomalies 22% better than traditional methods. As the market of medical wearables reaches a 26% growth rate per year, they will reach a vanguard of personal healthcare by 2026.

Smart health devices are now life-saving devices, as the AI-driven health wearables progress out of the fitness tracker and into a predictive medical device.Smartphones, watches, and bracelets now also provide such functions as needleless glucose sensors, the ability to predict heart or respiratory problems early and forecast days before symptoms develop with the help of AI.It has been found that AI models are capable of identifying anomalies 22 percent better than conventional techniques, and wearables will lead the field of personal healthcare by 2026. Examples for daily use:

• Apple Watch

• Fitbit Sense

• Oura Ring

• Samsung Galaxy Watch

• Omron HeartAdvisor

The wearables are revolutionizing the way we track and control health in real time.

Edge AI chips powering devices locally

The transition of cloud-based AI to on-device intelligence is increasing. Such chips as Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite and Apple Neural Engine allow immediate translation, voice recognition as well as picture editing without transferring data to servers- radically enhancing privacy and speed. The shipment of 167 million AI PCs is a significant shift to be experienced by 2027, according to IDC. Directly at the edge, most personal devices will be running AI by 2026.

Edge AI chips are transforming machines into mini-computers that enable them to run AI on their own, enhancing privacy, and speed in their day to day activities, such as instant translation, voice recognition, and photo editing.These chips enable smart phones, wearables, and other devices to process data on-board as opposed to using cloud servers. Examples for daily use:

• Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite

• Apple Neural Engine

• Google Edge TPU

• NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin

• Hailo-8 AI Accelerator

These smart devices are powered by these chips and perform AI tasks at the point of data generation, which makes personal technology lighter and more secure.

Home robotics becoming household essentials

The robots that are used at home are turning into more than just a new toy. Amazon Astro, which is already in a limited release, is a security monitor and a mobile assistant. Reportedly, Apple is coming up with a robot that will follow the users around the house. Robots such as Aibo made by Sony are already assisting the elderly in Japan. As the world population continues to experience a high demand, robotics in the homes will make it a multi-billion-dollar industry by 2026, which will provide cleaning services, surveillance, and companionship.

Home robotics represent a new necessity of houses that offers safety, cleaning, companionship, and helping in everyday tasks.The devices such as Amazon Astro are mobile security cameras and assistants, and Sony Aibo helps the elderly to engage in companies.Home robots will be a billion-dollar necessity as more people need them by the year 2026. Examples for daily use:

• Amazon Astro

• Sony Aibo

• iRobot Roomba

• Ecovacs Deebot

• Apple (rumoured home robot)

These robots are involved in surveillance, cleaning, and even emotional support and are part of the homes in the present day and age.

Smart sustainable decor redefining modern homes

Eco-interiors are becoming more mainstream and common with the help of smart decor that combines sustainability with a futuristic look. Modern home design is now being integrated with energy-saving levitating lamps, self-watering plant pods and furniture that serves as an air purifier. Eco-tech is entering daily living with the global market for smart homes projected to reach over $205 billion by 2026, and nearly 70% of the US households already owning one device of a smart home. The standalone Smart lighting is increasing at a 20% per year rate, which demonstrates that sustainability and design are now coming together.

The futuristic technology coupled with eco-friendly materials is transforming the modern home through smart sustainable decor.Levitating lamps, watering plant pods, air-cleaning furniture are now becoming a common practice and this way households are saving energy and can get better air quality. Examples for daily use:

• Levitating Lamps (e.g., Flyte, Levante)

• Self-Watering Plant Pods (e.g. Click & Grow Smart Garden)

• Air-Accompanying Furniture (e.g., Dyson Purifier+Cool Formaldehyde)

• Bamboo Dining (e.g., Bamboo dining table, chairs)

• Solar-powered Lights (e.g., LuminAID, Gama Sonic)

These pieces of decor will merge sustainability and intelligent technology, so eco-living will be popular and convenient.

Disclaimer: The information regarding the gadgets/devices listed in the table and article has been sourced from various secondary sources. For detailed product specifications, please refer to the brand sources.