A lot happened in the world of tech in the past year. OLED TVs have gotten brighter, AI has spread everywhere, phones got thinner, and Apple continued pretending it had AI under control. I’ve tested some of the best tech from the year including the Tesla Model Y, iPhone 17, Whoop MG, and LG G5 OLED.
With this year’s best (and worst) tech moments behind us, I’ve sat down and looked into a crystal ball to lay out my tech predictions for 2026. Okay, I haven’t done that, but I am qualified to dish out my own predictions. Feel free to bookmark this page and come back a year down the line. You can either praise my all-knowing, tech-predicting abilities or start calling me names.
1. Lithium’s out, silicon‑carbon is in
I genuinely think silicon‑carbon battery tech is about to go properly mainstream. Not just tucked away in Chinese smartphones or power banks, but baked right into flagship smartphones you’ll actually buy.
These batteries use silicon‑rich anodes that can store more energy without bloating the device or melting your hand. Expect major Android brands to start making a fuss about battery life again. OnePlus is the most well-known brand to use the new battery tech, with the OnePlus 15. But in 2026, I expect Samsung, Google, and maybe even Apple will try their hand at it.
2. Fewer, but better, AI hardware devices
We’ve had our fun with the gimmicks. The Humane AI Pin promised a Star Trek future and delivered… well, something you’d leave at home. Rabbit R1 tried to hop into our lives and just sat there like a bright orange paperweight. Consumers and I are tired of these “AI for the sake of AI” gadgets.
2026 will be the year the chaff gets binned and genuinely useful devices take centre stage. Think hardware that actually solves a problem rather than tech that makes you explain it every time someone asks what it’s supposed to do. Pebble’s Index 01 smart ring is one of the first examples I’ve seen of this, designed with form, function, and no room for fluff.
3. 2026, the year of the robotaxi
If you’ve ever fantasised about never speaking to another Uber driver again, this one’s for you. Robotaxis are about to take over the roads. Waymo’s gearing up for expansion into more cities, including a proper attempt at launching in London, and Tesla’s ditching safety monitors in its Robotaxi fleet.
If you’ve never been in one, that might sound terrifying. But robotaxis can’t get tired, are starting to react to one-of-a-kind situations like a human, and are much cheaper to operate. 2026 could be the year autonomous ride‑hailing moves from novelty to norm. Just don’t be surprised if your first robotaxi has the personality of a wet sock.
4. Apple and OpenAI get cosier
Apple’s been floundering when it comes to AI – let’s not pretend otherwise. Its major Siri updates are still nowhere to be seen, and its generative efforts have been… minimal. I’m betting 2026 is the year Apple throws pride out the window and locks arms with OpenAI to finally give iOS users an AI that feels like it belongs in this decade.
This won’t just be a licensing deal. It’ll be deep integration, probably with lots of Apple gloss over it so they can pretend it’s theirs. ChatGPT is already baked into iOS at a system level, and there’s even an Apple Music app for the AI chatbot now. Besides, I can’t see Apple and Google working too closely together.
5. The iPhone Fold flops
Here’s a hot take I’m willing to stand behind: the iPhone Fold will flop. Apple will launch it with all the fireworks – probably call it revolutionary, game‑changing, whatever. But people are over the honeymoon phase with foldables.
They’re expensive, awkward, and most apps still hate them. The latest rumours suggest Apple’s may be more awkward than any others (see the above 3D printed models shared on Reddit). Besides, Apple being Apple, it’ll probably cost over two grand, and people will try it for the flex, then go straight back to their normal phone. Lovely idea. Still a niche.
6. Blue ticks mean something again
Remember when blue ticks used to mean someone was important? Then social platforms turned them into badges for anyone willing to pay for them. At least they’re real people and not AI. Most of the time.
In 2026, we’ll start seeing a bit of a reversal. Social media platforms are never going to stop the AI slop – it captures too many eyeballs. But what they might do is begin issuing new verification badges aimed at identifying quality human content. After all, what’s a better look: labelling the majority of your content AI slop or calling out the high quality stuff?
At least it’s a step in the right direction. Maybe.
7. Legacy car brands pull back on EVs
Not everyone wants to buy an electric vehicle. For the past few years everyone has been going all-in on electric cars, but some legacy automakers are quietly tapping the brakes. With EV mandates softening in parts of Europe and the US, big players like Ford are starting to rethink their all‑electric strategies.
Expect more hybrids, fewer overly optimistic EV timelines, and a more pragmatic tone from companies that used to scream “100% electric by 2030.” Turns out, building charging infrastructure is a bit more complicated.
8. Netflix pulls a Spotify-style deal
You thought Netflix was done expanding after the Warner Bros bid? Think again. In 2026, it’s going to pull a Spotify and ink a massive exclusive deal with a top YouTuber or podcaster. Not just licensing back catalogue stuff, I’m talking new content built exclusively for the platform.
It’s all about boosting subscriber numbers with more than just movies and shows. Expect a multi‑million‑dollar headline deal with someone internet‑famous and vaguely controversial. Because clicks. Always the clicks.
9. Someone marries an AI chatbot
Yes, really. This one’s bleak but probably inevitable. We’re already seeing people develop real emotional attachments to AI chatbots, complete with anniversaries and virtual dates.
In 2026, I reckon someone’s going to take it a step further and attempt to either legally attempt to marry their bot beau, or at least throw a very public ceremony about it. Maybe livestreamed. Maybe even on a reality TV show. Let’s just say future generations are going to have a hard time explaining this to historians.
10. Computer says “Oh no”
Humanoid robots are coming, and I’m excited for them. Think one robot that can do everything rather than a fleet of robot vacs, mops, mowers, and the rest. But let’s not kid ourselves, the road to get there isn’t going to be hiccup-free. Like self-driving cars and robotaxis, there will always be a “first” accident.
And in 2026 we’re going to see our first robot accident. Whether it’s a bot slipping down some stairs or accidentally putting a hole in someone’s Range Rover, 2026 is likely to deliver our first real news segment for humanoid robots. It won’t be Skynet, but it’ll be enough to make people nervous. And yes, there’ll be video. There’s always video.
11. A streaming service bites the dust
Not bought out. Not merged. Properly gone. There are simply too many streaming platforms, and the average person has the attention span and budget for maybe three of them.
Subscription fatigue is hitting hard, and the content gold rush is drying up. Dwindling subscriber numbers mean a change in strategy is needed – or giving up entirely. I predict one service is going to blink, pull the plug, and vanish. If you’ve ever looked at your TV and thought, “I forgot I even paid for that one,” you’ll know the one I mean.
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