Yukai Engineering’s latest gadget at CES is a fan for babies

Yukai Engineering, maker of the weirdly cute Mirumi robot, has another interesting gadget at CES 2026. Baby FuFu is a portable fan for babies that attaches to strollers.

Baby FuFu is modeled on the company’s smaller (but otherwise identical-looking) drink-cooling gadget, Nekojita FuFu. “Baby FuFu grew out of Nekojita FuFu fans’ feedback that their children love not only cooling their food with it but also playing with it, pretending to fan their faces and blow-dry their hair,” Yukai Engineering CEO Shunsuke Aoki said.

Baby FuFu, positioned on the stroller handle.

Image by Mat Smith for Engadget

The company says the fan blades are concealed behind a slit plate that blocks even the tiniest fingers from entering. The cat-like fan’s “hands” and “feet” are designed to latch onto stroller handles. Parents can angle Baby FuFu to aim airflow at the child’s face (or anywhere else). It has three airflow settings, adjustable with a single button. It charges via USB-C.

Baby FuFu

Image by Mat Smith for Engadget

Yukai Engineering plans to launch Baby FuFu in mid-2026 for somewhere between $50 and $60. It will join the company’s “shy” Mirumi charm robot, which has raised over $250,000 on Kickstarter. Mirumi’s crowdfunding campaign expires on January 22.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/yukai-engineerings-latest-gadget-at-ces-is-a-fan-for-babies-000000172.html?src=rss 

LG reveals its laundry-folding robot at CES 2026

LG has unveiled its humanoid robot that can handle household chores. After teasing the CLOiD last week, the company has offered its first look at the AI-powered robot it claims can fold laundry, unload the dishwasher, serve food and help out with other tasks. 

The CLOiD has a surprisingly cute “head unit” that’s equipped with a display, speakers, cameras and other sensors. “Collectively, these elements allow the robot to communicate with humans through spoken language and ‘facial expressions,’ learn the living environments and lifestyle patterns of its users and control connected home appliances based on its learnings,” LG says in its press release

The robot also has two robotic arms — complete with shoulder, elbow and wrist joints — and hands with fingers that can move independently. The company didn’t share images of the CLOiD’s base, but it uses wheels and technology similar to what the appliance maker has used for robot vacuums. The company notes that its arms are able to pick up objects that are “knee level” and higher, so it won’t be able to pick up things from the floor.

The CLOiD robot unloading a dishwasher.

LG

LG says it will show off the robot completing common chores in a variety of scenarios, like starting laundry cycles and folding freshly washed clothes. The company also shared images of it taking a croissant out of the oven, unloading plates from a dishwasher and serving a plate of food. Another image shows it standing alongside a woman in the middle of a home workout, though it’s not clear how the CLOiD is aiding with that task.

We’ll get a closer look at the CLOiD and its laundry-folding abilities once the CES show floor opens later this week, so we should get a better idea of just how capable it is. It sounds like for now LG intends this to be more of a concept rather than a product it plans to actually sell. The company says that it will “continue developing home robots with practical functions and forms for housework” and also bring its robotics technology to more of its home appliances, like refrigerators with doors that can automatically open.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/lg-reveals-its-laundry-folding-robot-at-ces-2026-215121021.html?src=rss 

Belkin announces a wireless HDMI dongle that doesn’t need Wi-Fi access

Belkin has announced a plug-and-play casting system at CES 2026 that allows for screen sharing from a laptop, tablet or smartphone to another display without Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. The $150 ConnectAir Wireless HDMI Display Adapter comes with a USB-C transmitter dongle and a USB-A to HDMI receiver that can be connected to a TV, monitor or projector to wirelessly cast over a range of up to 131 feet (40 meters). 

Belkin’s ConnectAir Wireless USB-C transmitter and HDMI receiver

Belkin

The ConnectAir Wireless casts in 1080p at 60Hz, with latency under 80ms according to Belkin. It’s compatible with USB-C devices that support DisplayPort Alt Mode, including Windows, macOS and ChromeOS laptops, tablets such as the M1 and M2 iPad Pro and iPad Air, and smartphones with video output. Belkin also says it supports multi-user screen sharing at up to 8 transmitters. The dongle comes in black and while it’s not available to purchase just yet, it’s expected to be released early this year. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/belkin-announces-a-wireless-hdmi-dongle-that-doesnt-need-wi-fi-access-215513179.html?src=rss 

LG’s ‘Aerominum’ Gram Pro laptops feel impossibly light and strong

For years, LG has pushed its ultra-light Gram laptops as a way to stand out from the PC crowd, for better or worse. I was’t a big fan of the flex-prone case in the 2017 Gram, and we had similar concerns with the first 17-inch Gram in 2019. But in fairness, it’s been a while since we’ve reviewed one, and we found a lot to like in our preview of last year’s AI-equipped model. Now LG is back with a major Gram Pro redesign at CES 2026, which features a new aluminum/magnesium alloy it’s dubbed “Aerominum.” And finally, it seems LG has found a balance between building a super-light notebook (the 16-inch Gram Pro weighs just 2.6 pounds), and crafting something that actually feels durable.

Admittedly, the Gram Pro doesn’t look particularly impressive at first glance. It has a large 16-inch 2.8K OLED screen, which certainly looks nice, but doesn’t really stand out from the glut of other OLED laptops on market. It’s also powered by Intel’s new Panther Lake chips, and it supports dual NVMe SSDs. The magic happens when you pick it up: My brain had a hard time computing how such a large computer felt so light in my hands. And best of all, it didn’t flex much when I tried to squeeze the case.

LG Gram Pro 16 side ports.

Devindra Hardawar for Engadget

There’s still a bit of give, to be clear, but it didn’t feel as precariously bendy as earlier models. I wouldn’t stress too much about throwing it into a messenger bag without additional protection. The more I handled the Gram Pro, the more I wished other PC makers strived for similar weight reduction. The Gram Pro weighs about as much as the 13-inch MacBook Air! That’s certainly an impressive feat.

The LG Gram Pro 16’s disappointing keyboard.

Devindra Hardawar for Engadget

I just wish LG spent as much time refining the Gram Pro’s keyboard as its case design. There’s barely any key travel, which made for an unresponsive and unsatisfying typing experience. I get it, LG probably doesn’t have the available vertical height for much key movement, but there are other ways to make typing feel more dynamic. The Gram Pro’s trackpad, meanwhile, is serviceable, but it also didn’t feel as smooth and responsive as what we see from Apple’s notebooks or Microsoft’s Surface Laptop.

LG Gram Pro 17

LG

In addition to the 16-inch Gram Pro, LG also debuted a 17-inch model with an Aerominum case, which is notable for being the lightest notebook at that size with an NVIDIA RTX GPU. Specifically, it’s toting the RTX 5050, which should be enough to play most games at the laptop’s native 2,880 by 1,800 resolution (or 1440p blown up a bit). Given the more powerful hardware, the Gram Pro 17 is heavier than the 16-inch model, but it still comes in under four pounds. I didn’t get a chance to play any games on the laptop, unfortunately, but overall it looks like a decent option for someone who wants a large screen with a bit of horsepower.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/lgs-aerominum-gram-pro-laptops-feel-impossibly-light-and-strong-200317743.html?src=rss 

Plaud’s latest AI wearable has a button for flagging key moments

Plaud is back with another conversation-recording AI wearable. This one, the NotePin S, is only a minor iteration on the original NotePin. This model adds… a button.

The recessed recording button replaces the squeeze-to-record mechanism on the 2024 original. A single long press starts recording. It also adds a new “press to highlight” feature. The idea is to flag what’s most important in a conversation, helping the AI learn what to emphasize in its summary.

Otherwise, you’re getting the same package as in the first NotePin. The capsule-sized “S” model still has two microphones, weighs 0.6 ounces and has an advertised reliable recording range of 9.8 feet. (Students may want to keep that last point in mind before considering one for classes in lecture halls.) It includes hardware to set it up as a pin / lapel, lanyard, wristband or clip.

The NotePin S is available today for $179. You can order it from Plaud’s website and Amazon. Just be sure to look out for your fellow humans and get their consent before recording them, okay?

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/plauds-latest-ai-wearable-has-a-button-for-flagging-key-moments-170000172.html?src=rss 

This Belkin charging case for the Switch 2 has a screen for checking battery life

Belkin just introduced the appropriately-named Charging Case Pro for Nintendo Switch 2 at CES. This is a high-end charging case specifically designed for Nintendo’s latest console.

The 10,000mAh power bank delivers up to 30W of fast charging, which is a decent enough metric. I’m more excited, however, about the bells and whistles. The Charging Case Pro boasts an LCD screen on the exterior, making it easy to keep track of remaining battery life. It also doubles as a tabletop stand, which is always nice. The built-in Switch 2 stand is better than what we got with the first Switch, but it’s still not the sturdiest thing in the world.

Belkin

It also includes a dedicated flap for game card storage and a hidden compartment for smart trackers. Take that, would-be Switch 2 thieves. Belkin promises this case has been made from premium materials and has been designed for “long-term durability.” The Charging Case Pro for Nintendo Switch 2 is available right now and costs $100.

The company also introduced a number of other charging accessories at CES. The UltraCharge Pro Power Bank juices up two devices at once and also costs $100, with availability in February. The BoostCharge power bank is an extremely slim unit that easily slides into pockets. That one starts at $60, but isn’t coming until later in the year.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/this-belkin-charging-case-for-the-switch-2-has-a-screen-for-checking-battery-life-170029450.html?src=rss 

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