PEPCOM is the media-only event I look forward to the most at CES every year, because it’s the fastest way to see what’s actually coming to market soon—real products, not just flashy concepts. In this video I walked the floor and pulled out 26 standout things that genuinely caught my attention across smart home entry, interior controls, home energy, robotics, pet tech, and a couple of personal safety/AI devices. And yes… the food and beverage still deserves a shout. A few themes really showed up this year. Smart locks are finally starting to look as good as the doors they’re installed on, without giving up ecosystem support—Kwikset leaning more modern with Bluetooth + Matter, Lockin showing a ton of styles, and Lockly pushing tap-to-unlock for new construction and rentals. Inside the home, design is finally catching up: Lutron’s wood shades and a humidity sensor that can trigger fans is exactly the kind of “quiet” automation I want, and GE Lighting + Jasco Enbrighten are making smart lighting feel like decor instead of tech accessories. Power was a big deal too—Anker SOLIX is making modular home energy feel approachable (I’m installing one at my house), EcoFlow is swinging for true whole-home backup, and Jackery is going more rugged for outdoor/emergency use. Then we get into robots: Roborock expanding indoor navigation strengths into robot mowers, plus a wave of lawn care options like Eufy’s A3000 edge attachment, Sunseeker’s beefier mower, and simpler newcomers like Goko. I also hit Birdfy/Bird Buddy, Pet Door controlled access, and the “Lucky” AI wearable that I’m testing through the rest of CES.