A smart fridge and a musical lollipop are among the winners of the 2026 "Worst in Show" awards at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). These annual "anti-awards" aim to spotlight technology that is unfixable, wasteful, or invasive to user privacy.

The awards are led by Repair.org, an organization which campaigns for the right to repair consumer tech. It works alongside consumer groups to produce the awards, which cover tech shown at the Las Vegas conference.

The top dishonor for Overall Worst in Show went to Samsung's Family Hub Smart Fridge. Judges argued that adding complex features like voice-controlled doors, a large touchscreen, and advertising content introduces numerous new ways for a basic home appliance to fail.

Privacy and Security Concerns

In the privacy category, Amazon's Ring AI system was selected for expanding its surveillance capabilities. The platform's new AI features, including facial recognition and deployable camera towers, raised significant questions about how user data is collected and utilized. It's a potentially controversial award as this tech is arguably doing just what it advertises.

The Worst in Show Security Award went to the Merach UltraTread Treadmill, which features an AI fitness coach. The company's own privacy policy states, "We cannot guarantee the security of your personal information," a concerning admission for a device that collects sensitive biometric and behavioral data. (Source: oddee.com)

Wasteful and Unwanted Designs

The Lollipop Star, a single-use candy lollipop that delivers audio directly to the inner ear through bone conduction by vibrating the jaw, won for the worst environmental impact. The non-rechargeable gadget, inherently designed to work for just a few minutes, was criticized for turning a novelty moment into a piece of hard-to-handle electronic waste.

Bosch received two awards, one for its Personal AI Barista in the "Who Asked For This?" category, which adds a subscription and voice commands to a coffee maker. Another award for "Enshittification" went to the Bosch eBike Flow App, which could lock owners out of repairs for using unauthorized parts. (Source: ifixit.com)

The public also voted for a People's Choice award, selecting the Lepro Ami AI "Soulmate." The idea of a desktop surveillance device with an always-on camera and microphone being marketed as a companion was deeply unsettling to voters.

What's Your Opinion?

Do you believe adding smart features to everyday appliances provides real value or just creates more potential problems? How much personal privacy are you willing to give up for the convenience offered by smart home technology? Which of these "worst" products do you find to be the most concerning for consumers?