The engineers at CRS Technology Consultants have a pulse on the industry, including 2026 tech trends that will impact businesses and consumers.
While 2025 came and went without a major breakthrough, 2026 is shaping up to be a year of evolution for certain categoricals within tech.
John Joyce, co-owner and CEO of CRS Technology Consultants, recently shared insights on 2026 tech trends with viewers of Gulf Coast News in Fort Myers. In the segment titled “Tech Bytes: New tech on the horizon for 2026,” John notes three types of products positioned for big jumps in 2026.
A recap of 2025 tech
During the Gulf Coast News segment, John effectively summarized tech developments in 2025 with one word.
“This was the year of the sequel,” he said.
For example, John noted the Nintendo Switch 2 was a hot product among gamers.
“When you look at the Switch 2, it is an objectively newer, better, faster, stronger Switch,” he said. “It’s not a new category. 2025 was not a year of ‘Look at this new thing that we’ve never had before.’ It was about refinements, new iterations, the next generation of things we already enjoy.”
That’s why John characterizes 2025 as a so-so year for tech. Manufacturers didn’t really unveil any products that made our jaws drop or cause us to stand in lines overnight to be the first to get our hands on something.
In December 2024, John appeared on Gulf Coast ABC to share his thoughts on 2025 tech trends. That segment covered three tech trends:
- Artificial intelligence (AI)
- Smart homes and smart offices
- New devices
Tech manufacturers always look for a buzzword to sell something new to consumers. Terms like high speed, smart and intuitive were hot terms in prior years. In 2025, AI was the buzzword. John expects that to continue into 2026 as manufacturers continue integrating AI into devices. Computers and smartphones now come with AI as a standard feature; you can’t not have it.
Tech experts are pondering how AI will evolve in 2026. ChatGPT, Perplexity and other platforms have reached their early maturity, and many businesses still haven’t figured out exactly what to do with this technology.
2026 tech trends
Engineers around the world have been trying to design the “next big thing” in technology. John says there may be some contenders in 2026, but advises not to expect once-in-a-lifetime product launches that change our lives and our businesses. Developments like the smartphone, microwave or automobile have that power.
Technology seems like it’s been evolving at a snail’s pace. John notes three categoricals are set for big jumps in 2026:
Foldables
Product to watch: Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold. Features to note include:
- Three folds instead of two
- 10” main screen; 6.5-inch cover screen
- 12MP ultra-wide camera; 10MP selfie camera
- $2,500 price tag
Discussion: Foldables are “new toys we have to play with,” but John notes they are not yet mature product categories. He questions whether Apple plans to join the foldable trend in the near future.
“We know what an iPhone looks like at this point,” John said. “Now, does Apple arrive on the scene with something like this in 2026 and completely shake up what we think of as an iPhone? That’s what we have to see.”
Wearables
Product to watch: Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses. Features to note include:
- Full-color display built into the right lens
- Up to 3K Ultra HD resolution for videos and photos
- High-quality open-ear audio for calls, music and live Meta AI
- $799+ price tag
Discussion: Meta touts AI capabilities of its more stylish Ray-Ban Display glasses to help sell the product, but John isn’t convinced that people want it.
“AI is the feature on the box,” John said. “It’s not the one we find out that people are actually using.”
Playables
Product to watch: Valve Steam Machine gaming PC. Features to note include:
- Compact PC gaming system – first real competition for Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo consoles
- 4K resolution
- $700+ price tag
Discussion: Portability helped laptops and smartphones become popular. The same holds true for gaming devices. The latest generation, though, proves the term “portable” can be something of a hybrid between a large and small screen.
“It is your gaming PC in your bag – certainly not in your pocket,” John said. :You can take it with you anywhere. The games I’ve been playing for years and years and years, or ones that just came out yesterday, I can take with me on the go.”
Buying tech products in 2026
Businesses and consumers often ask if this is a good year to purchase new technology. The answer is always yes. Every year is a good year to buy tech… if you need it. It’s best to establish a plan to purchase new technology that is based on “need” more so than “want.” Tech purchases are expensive, so budgeting is a necessity for most.
Many tech experts are predicting across-the-board price increases for 2026. They attribute looming price increases to the AI revolution requiring more memory and component shortages, as well as tariffs. The sunset of Windows 10 also is inspiring computer users to purchase new products, driving up prices. The need for smartphones to have more memory also is leading to higher sales prices.
CRS Technology Consultants encourages businesses to create a replacement cycle for tech. For example:
- Year 1: Server upgrades
- Year 2: Hardware (computers)
- Year 3: Software (Windows, CRM)
- Year 4: Ancillary products (printers, telephones, webcams)
Individual consumers can implement a similar replacement cycle:
- Year 1: Cell phone
- Year 2: Laptop
- Year 3: Gaming system
- Year 4: Tablet
LISTEN: Solid State Podcast
Look back, look ahead
Want more insight into 2026 tech trends? John, along with Security Lead Eric Sargent and Systems Engineering Team Lead Cody Toscano, also cover tech trends in the trio’s Solid State Podcast. Below are two episodes worth a listen:
- Episode 131: A look back at the tech of 2025
- Episode 132: What’s next… in 2026?
New episodes of the Solid State Podcast are posted weekly across podcasting platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, PodBean and Listen Notes.
Additionally, CRS Technology Consultants publishes blogs covering a variety of tech topics, include those featured on Gulf Coast News. Below are links to tech blogs posted in 2025:
CES 2025 offers peek into our tech future
Businesses should adopt smart home security principles
IRS tax return security still exists with electronic filing
The evolution of fax machines in the workplace
Headphone etiquette an important consideration for businesses
Businesses eye options to create a wireless office
Don’t memorize passwords; use a password manager
Microsoft’s sunset of Windows 10: What is means for your business
