I Can't Stop Thinking About These Home Security Game-Changers at CES

As CES wraps up, we were wowed by incredible tech from vacuums that could climb stairs to terrifyingly fast and realistic robots. But how did home security tech fare? 

I discovered a variety of new security inventions and tech evolutions I never expected (plus a big dose of AI). My favorites were innovative, affordable products that meet us right where we are in homes and rentals. That includes cute owl cams, major releases from Ikea and brilliant smart lock technology. Let’s dive in to the most impressive examples.

Wireless charging comes to our smart locks

My favorite standout technology for smart locks at CES this year was wireless charging. Being able to charge your smart lock battery automatically, without needing to remove a battery pack or replace AA batteries every few months, is a huge step forward. The most annoying part of a smart lock is if batteries fail while you’re away (though there are emergency backup options when that happens).

Desloc arrived with a fully integrated solar panel on the front of its V150 Plus lock. Front doors tend to be pretty shady, but Desloc reports that its lock can judge ambient light and alter its power consumption and other factors to keep the 10,000-mAh battery as charged as possible. If true, that would be a significant advance for solar-charging home batteries.

Security brand Lockin offered two wireless charging options at CES. One of its locks, the Aeon, also features a built-in solar panel designed to operate even in overcast skies. However, more interesting was the AuraCharge technology that powered its other locks. AuraCharge uses a separate base station that continuously beams energy to the smart lock. (Lockin assured us it was safe for our eyes and other sensitive parts.)

I’m not sure how solar charging or AuraCharge will work in practice. These technologies depend heavily on their usability in the real world. But for now, wireless charging is the tech to watch for all things lock-related.

Ikea steps up with its first line of sensors

Ikea has long been the bastion of affordable furniture and unpronounceable names. Any smart home offerings were largely collaborations with other companies. All that changed at CES 2026. It was Ikea’s first CES, and it used the opportunity to unveil multiple first-party lines of lamps, smart speakers and security sensors.

That’s right, Ikea is moving into the home security sphere, specifically focusing on home safety and monitoring. Its 21 smart home devices include access sensors for doors and windows, a motion sensor for activity monitoring, a water leak sensor and even air and temperature monitors. It also offers budget prices, with almost all products falling below $10 (unusual for these types of sensors). 

“Their entire lineup is really notable for being cheap,” my colleague Ajay Kumar confirmed. “Most of the new smart bulbs cost around $5 to $7 and support Matter. The Bluetooth speaker is just $10.” 

Given Ikea’s long-term reliability, I’m eager to test them out and see what deserves a recommendation.

And not to worry, the sensors have charmingly Ikea-fied names like Myggspray, Timmerflotte, Kilppbok and Alpstuga.

Presence sensing evolves home security management

I predicted presence sensing would be a smart home theme at CES 2026, and I was not disappointed. Presence sensing is a term that encompasses all kinds of noninvasive person- or activity-sensing. It notes what’s going on without using cameras, recordings, facial recognition or other technologies that people might feel uncomfortable with.

Some of this presence-sensing technology was fairly mild, such as new smart locks lighting up when people approach, or Motion’s Wi-Fi-sensing smart plug. Security brands like ADT, however, envisioned presence sensing as a multipronged approach using older infrared technology, along with newer radar technology, to transform security systems into something new — something that can communicate with us about our energy use, safety habits and more.

Aqara also impressed me with its all-in-one presence-sensing device, the FP400 Spatial Multi-Sensor. Using mmWave radar, it can track up to 10 bodies in a room, monitoring their presence, movement and posture, whether they’re standing, sitting or lying down.

That’s not only useful for tracking, say, potential falls for people aging in place at home. The Multi-Sensor can also connect to platforms like Apple Home and Google Home. Then, people will be able to use it as a trigger for lights, smart locks, and even arm or disarm security systems based on nearby activity. 

Meanwhile, lesser-known brands, such as Irvinei with its Oval technology and Arqaios with Allie, announced their own presence-sensing hubs designed to connect multiple safety and smart features into one proactive device.

This is just the beginning of what presence-sensing technology has to offer in home security. Think of it as a more advanced automation technology that helps out without needing cameras.

AI continues to rise in cameras, now for third parties

We saw so much AI at CES, it’d be hard to quantify. However, in the home security sector, the term “AI” primarily refers to algorithms used in security cameras that can facilitate more advanced object recognition, video descriptions, and even the ability to answer questions.  

By now, I’m well familiar with this. AI video analysis hit its stride this year and is already available on major brand security cameras, from Gemini in Google Nest Cams to Arlo’s video recognition tech, as well as Blink and Ring’s AI-powered descriptive alerts. What I noticed at CES was how AI technology is spilling over to lesser-known brands that didn’t already have it.

Some AI add-ons were relatively mild, such as Desloc’s S150 Max smart lock, which is video-capable and features AI-powered alerts for more advanced object and face detection. Other brands, like Xthings’ Ulticam IQ V2, used Google Gemini to power their own video summaries and object recognition, partnerships Google is likely to encourage in the coming years.

Then there are old, familiar brands like Jem Global’s Energizer (of battery bunny fame), which is adding AI detection to certain security cameras with its Energizer Connect platform.

In other words, the rollout of increasingly advanced AI features to security cameras isn’t slowing down. Companies that don’t already have cutting-edge features like video descriptions or summaries will feel significant pressure to adopt new technologies. Personally, I think this is a use case where AI proves time-saving and handy, if you don’t mind products like Gemini peering through your video recordings.

Video smart locks continue to appear, but are people interested?

It may sound snide to say video smart locks were “so last year,” but, well, they are. CES 2025 saw the first major announcements of video locks, a technology that essentially combines a video doorbell and a smart lock into a lock equipped with a camera.

At CES 2026, I saw a few stragglers late to the party, announcing their own versions of video smart locks. That includes MyQ with its Secure View, SwitchBot, which is refining its approach to video locks with the new Lock Vision Series, and other various companies jumping on the bandwagon.

Here’s the thing: I’m not sure video smart locks will ever take off. None of the major security brands have shown interest in these combo models, except for Eufy, whose products are inherently awkward. Door locks are positioned low to the ground and can’t be angled, so it’s a poor spot to put a security camera when a battery video doorbell offers much more versatility — and is also a lot more affordable.

Maybe video smart locks will take off, but I’m not holding my breath. Let’s check in next year and see if any major names are participating.

An era of meeting security users where they are

Finally, I saw encouraging signs that some security companies are putting thought into how people behave around the home and what solutions can best meet their needs there. That creates room for unique releases and reduces the copying of what everyone else is doing.

For example, Lockly had an interesting CES lineup with releases focused more on modern security needs than the latest tech tricks, which somewhat ironically made it one of the most innovative companies I saw.

Lockly’s cute little OwlGuard battery camera, for example, isn’t just smart. It houses a new approach to security with an onboard status screen and recording that works without Wi-Fi to foil power outages or Wi-Fi jammers (which are showing up in headlines these days). And the camera comes with equally cute add-ons, such as a literal magnifying glass for better zoom-ins, a sunshade for bright areas, or a privacy blindfold to block viewing, guaranteed.

Likewise, Lockly was the only company I saw addressing another common issue — vacation rental management for both owners and tenants. Its TapCom platform is made for Airbnb situations, allowing guests to use smart devices and locks with a tap of their phone or enter an immediate video call with owners without needing to download an app. Owners, meanwhile, get a comprehensive way to manage all their access devices at once, including not just Lockly but popular brands like Yale and Schlage. Both sides sorely needed these options.

I hope other security companies adopt a more consumer-first approach in the coming year. If there’s one thing CES 2026 has shown, it’s that chasing trends or AI labels isn’t nearly as impressive as putting in the work to give people an “Oh, I need that” moment. That could be a little owl camera, an extra-affordable line of sensors, or just removing an age-old headache from smart locks.  

Speaking of needing that, take a look at my favorite smart products of 2025 that I’m still using in my own home, long after I’ve finished writing my reviews. 

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