CESpreorderslaunch deals

7 CES Products Worth Preordering — Where to Find Early-Bird Discounts

ttends

2026-01-23

12 min read

Map ZDNET’s CES 2026 picks to exact preorder channels with step-by-step tactics to capture early-bird discounts, trade-show savings, and model/serial-number alerts.

Missed the CES frenzy? Here’s how to preorder ZDNET’s hottest picks and lock in real launch discounts

Nothing stings a deal hunter more than hearing about a flash price after the product you wanted already sold out. CES 2026 brought another wave of fast-moving launches and limited preorders — and ZDNET called out seven products that matter right now. Below I map each ZDNET pick to where you can preorder it, the exact channels to watch for early-bird discounts, and tactical strategies (including model/serial-number monitoring) that save you money and time.

Why this guide matters in 2026

Retail behaviors changed in late 2025 — brands increasingly use VIP preorder windows, dynamic launch discounts, and serial-number-based firmware rollouts. That makes simple price tracking insufficient. You need a mix of:

Retail channel intelligence (brand store vs. big-box vs. marketplaces)
Timing plays (trade-show windows, post-review price corrections)
Model/serial-number strategies (how to identify revision batches or early firmware)

This article translates ZDNET’s picks into action steps that get you the best preorder deals in 2026.

Quick list: The 7 ZDNET picks worth preordering

Below are the seven products ZDNET flagged at CES 2026 — short descriptions and the high-level best place to preorder. Scroll down for deep-dive tactics for each item.

Ultra-thin 8K OLED TV (A-brand flagship) — Direct-to-consumer store + Best Buy
AI-first ultraportable laptop (X-brand) — Manufacturer store + Amazon
Mixed-reality glasses (AR startup) — Brand preorders / Kickstarter-style early-bird tiers
Home robot with LiDAR and home-mapping (robotics leader) — Brand and authorized retailers
Next-gen smart fridge with dynamic pricing insights — Retailer bundles (appliance stores)
High-efficiency EV home charger (utility partnered) — Direct + installer partners
Pro-grade mirrorless camera with new sensor (camera maker) — B&H / Adorama + manufacturer

How to read the deep dives

For each product below I cover:

Where to preorder now
How to score launch discounts and trade-show savings
Model/serial-number watch tactics (why it matters)
Quick checklist to act fast

1) Ultra-thin 8K OLED TV — Where to preorder and win the price

Where to buy

Primary: Manufacturer store (limited VIP preorders often start here)
Secondary: Best Buy (price-match windows and bundle deals)
Other: Amazon listings and specialty retailers like Crutchfield once inventory flows

Launch-discount tactics

Sign up for the brand’s VIP list — manufacturers frequently send site-only promo codes during the first 48–72 hours after CES.
Use Best Buy’s price-match within 15–30 days; if the brand runs a show discount after you preorder, file a price adjustment.
Stack cashback (Rakuten) + credit card protections that offer extended price protection or bonus points on electronics.

Model & serial-number watch

For TVs, model numbers reveal panel revision and firmware batch. Early batches sometimes ship with display calibration issues — retailers will label first-run SKUs (e.g., TV-1A-8K-2026) and updates appear as TV-1A-8K-2026-R2. Track SKU changes on:

CamelCamelCamel / Keepa (Amazon SKUs)
Manufacturer product pages — some list firmware or revision notes
Forums and early reviews — search the exact model string in Reddit, AVSForum, and ZDNET’s recos

Quick checklist

Sign up for brand VIP + Best Buy account
Add the model SKU to Keepa & Google Alerts
Enable price-matching notifications and set calendar reminders for the 30-day window

2) AI-first ultraportable laptop — Where to preorder and stack launch savings

Where to buy

Primary: Brand online store (often includes trade-in credits)
Secondary: Amazon Launchpad / Best Buy / B2B channels for business bundles

Launch-discount tactics

Trade-in programs: Brand trade-in credits often act like launch discounts — get an instant partial refund on preorder.
Education and business pricing: If you have a .edu or business account, confirm eligibility — these discounts are sometimes applied post-launch.
Student or developer programs: AI laptops in 2026 frequently include credits for AI services (free months) — value that offsets price.

Model & serial-number watch

Laptop SKUs reveal CPU/GPU/AI accelerator binning. Early serial batches may get priority firmware updates; later ones may fix issues. Track build IDs and BIOS updates on the brand’s support page and set a watch for firmware revision notes.

Quick checklist

Compare brand + Amazon preorder prices before checkout
Use trade-in, student, or business discount where applicable
Subscribe for firmware alert RSS from the manufacturer

3) Mixed-reality glasses (AR startup) — Preorder routes and early-bird tiers

Where to buy

Primary: Brand preorders — sometimes hosted on the company site or via a crowdfunding platform with tiered pricing
Secondary: Authorized retailers later, but early-bird savings are almost always on the brand site

Launch-discount tactics

Early-bird tiers: Start on day one; the first 500–2,000 backers usually get reduced pricing. Expect tiered increases over weeks.
Bundle incentives: Preorder bundles often include developer tools or subscription credits — quantify those in savings.
Alpha/beta trade-offs: If you want software stability, consider waiting for the later “R2” batch; if you want the lowest price, early-bird is best.

Model & serial-number watch

Startups sometimes ship with a sequence like MR-Glasses-v1.0.0 — community threads will flag v1.0.x vs v1.1.x differences. For expensive AR hardware, prefer units marked with later production runs unless you need shipping right away.

Quick checklist

Lock in a tier on day one if price is primary
Keep an eye on stretch goals that add value (software subscriptions)
Check refund & warranty terms for crowdfunding-style preorders

4) Home robot with LiDAR — Best preorder channels and trade-show pricing

Where to buy

Primary: Brand site and authorized resellers (e.g., Best Buy’s small appliance category)
Secondary: Robot-specific retailers and specialty channels (some offer maintenance bundles)

Launch-discount tactics

CES trade-show credits: Many robotics brands offered time-limited CES codes in late 2025 — watch PR emails for similar codes in 2026.
Subscription stacking: Preorder discounts that include a year of mapping/cloud services deliver real savings — compare bundled vs. bare unit pricing.
Authorized reseller bundles: Resellers sometimes add service plans or warranty extensions as launch incentives.

Model & serial-number watch

Robotics units have firmware tied to chassis revisions. Serial prefixes often indicate manufacturing month — e.g., RB-202601-xxxx. If early reviews flag navigation bugs, wait for next serial-series which usually includes fixes.

Quick checklist

Verify cloud service pricing beyond first-year credits
Monitor forums for early navigation reports by serial batch (community threads)
Confirm return & replacement policy for early units

5) Next-gen smart fridge — Where to preorder for maximum bundle value

Where to buy

Primary: Major appliance retailers (Home Depot, Lowe’s) and manufacturer D2C sites
Secondary: Local installers with bundled delivery/installation promotions

Launch-discount tactics

Check utility rebates: In 2026, utility rebates for smart appliances and energy-efficient models are more common — stack rebates with retailer discounts.
Installer promotions: Many appliance retailers run seasonal free-install or haul-away deals; combine those with manufacturer incentives.
Finance offers: 0% APR for 12–24 months during launches — but calculate total cost vs. upfront discounts.

Model & serial-number watch

Fridge model codes often reveal compressor type and software revision. Early models can have UI or refrigerator-management bugs. Wait for units with serial prefixes indicating later production months if stability is a priority.

Quick checklist

Confirm whether smart features require subscription
Compare utility rebate eligibility before buying
Lock installation window to get haul-away & free hookup deals

6) Next-gen EV home charger — Preorder channels and installer strategies

Where to buy

Primary: Manufacturer direct + EV infrastructure retailers
Secondary: Utility rebate portals and installer partners

Launch-discount tactics

Bundle with installation: Manufacturers sometimes reduce hardware price for certified installer bundles; negotiate both elements together.
Utility incentives: Rebate portals post-launch can drop effective price dramatically — apply early.
Fleet and multi-unit discounts: If you’re buying more than one charger (or a neighborhood hub), contact sales for launch pricing.

Model & serial-number watch

Chargers have firmware that controls load balancing and V2G features. Serial batches can show which units got the latest power distribution firmware. If you want future-proof V2G, prioritize later serial batches or documented firmware release notes.

Quick checklist

Check utility rebate timing and documentation needs
Get installer quotes and confirm scheduling before preorder
Watch firmware changelog for V2G and load-balance features

7) Pro-grade mirrorless camera with new sensor — Best preorder paths for gear buyers

Where to buy

Primary: B&H Photo, Adorama, manufacturer store
Secondary: Local camera shops and some authorized Amazon listings

Launch-discount tactics

Preorder bundles: Retailers commonly add lens or accessory bundles to preorders — these often represent better value than straight cash discounts.
Trade-in programs: Camera makers and retailers offer strong trade-in offers at launch, effectively reducing price.
Early-review price corrections: If early reviews praise the sensor, competition may trigger limited-time rebates — use price-match windows.

Model & serial-number watch

Camera serials indicate production run; early batches sometimes have shutter or AF refinement issues. Forums and pro reviewers usually annotate serial-related problems quickly — wait for later batches if reliability is priority.

Quick checklist

Preorder from reputable camera retailers for reliable customer support
Use trade-in + bundle logic to maximize value
Scan early review comments for specific serial-batch notes

Advanced tactics across all seven products

These platform-agnostic tactics are high-impact in 2026 and complement the product-specific playbooks above.

1. Track the exact SKU — not just the product name

Retailers and manufacturers use slightly different SKUs. Track the exact SKU string in price trackers and on forums. Example trackers: Keepa (for Amazon), PriceRunner, and dedicated RSS/IFTTT automations for brand pages.

2. Use model/serial prefix monitoring

Serial prefixes (the first 4–8 characters) can reveal the production month. Set Google Alerts for the exact model + serial prefix mentioned in early reviews — this flags early-batch issues fast.

3. Combine cashback portals + launch promotion codes

Stacking a manufacturer code with a cashback portal payout (Rakuten, Honey, TopCashback) plus a rewards credit card often beats headline discounts. Confirm retailer terms allow stacking. Read up on practical monetization tactics in Monetizing Micro‑Events & Pop‑Ups to judge bundled incentive value.

4. Watch for trade-show window price drops

Manufacturers sometimes run CES window codes valid for 72 hours after the show; retailers may follow up with small match offers. If you preorder early and a show price appears later, file for a price adjustment.

5. Use community intel for firmware-driven waits

“Sometimes waiting one production run can save you a firmware headache and a return.”

Read ZDNET’s hands-on followups and forum threads for batch-specific firmware notes. If early adopters report issues tied to serial batches, the smart move is to delay by 4–8 weeks; that’s often when the first big firmware patch lands. Community reporting and post-launch threads are well covered in Micro‑Events to Micro‑Communities.

6. Set short trigger rules — when to buy vs. when to wait

Buy now if: you need the product immediately, early-bird savings are >5–10% and bundled value is clear.
Wait if: major firmware risks exist, or early reviews show hardware defects tied to specific serial prefixes.

Case study: How a 2025 CES preorder saved 12%

At CES 2025 a similar approach captured a 12% effective discount on a flagship AI laptop. The buyer:

Signed up for brand VIP (got a 5% code)
Used a credit-card promo (3% back for electronics during the month)
Stacked a 4% cashback from a portal

Combined, these small channels beat the later site-wide sale. The buyer also monitored SKU revisions and confirmed the preorder was not part of the first buggy hardware run.

Tools & alerts cheat-sheet

Keepa / CamelCamelCamel — Amazon price history and SKUs
Google Alerts — exact model strings and serial prefixes
Slickdeals & Reddit — community-sourced coupon codes and early-batch reports
Retailer accounts (Best Buy, B&H, Adorama) — enable back-in-stock and price-drop alerts
Cashback portals — Rakuten, Honey, TopCashback
Manufacturer support page RSS — firmware & recall notices

2026 trends that affect preorder deals

VIP preorder windows: More brands are giving early access to mailing-list subscribers and registered users.
Firmware-aware buying: Serial-sensitive quality control and fast OTA patches mean buyers must follow revision notes closely.
Installed-value bundles: Manufacturers increasingly add software/subscription credits to make preorders more valuable than straight discounts.
Utility & regulatory incentives: Governments and utilities are accelerating rebates for energy-smart devices in 2026 — stack these with retailer offers.

Final actionable playbook (do this in the first 48 hours)

Identify the exact SKU/model string from the CES listing or ZDNET article.
Sign up for brand VIP and retailer accounts (Best Buy, Amazon, B&H).
Add SKU to Keepa/price tracker; set Google Alerts for SKU + serial prefix.
Check trade-in, student, and bundle options for immediate value adds.
Stack cashback portals and confirm stacking rules with the retailer.
Set a calendar reminder for the price-match/adjustment window (usually 14–30 days).

Wrapping up — your next steps

ZDNET’s CES 2026 picks are your shopping shortlist; turning interest into savings requires tactical preorder moves. Use the channel map above for each product, track SKUs and serials, and stack every legitimate incentive (trade-in, bundles, cashback, installer deals, utility rebates). The result: you buy sooner without overpaying — or you wait smartly and avoid early-batch headaches.

Want curated alerts for these seven picks? Subscribe to tends.online’s CES Preorder Radar for SKU-level alerts, verified coupon codes, and vetted trade-show discounts — we do the monitoring so you don’t miss the early-bird windows.

Call to action

Sign up for our free Preorder Radar newsletter and get one weekly digest that includes verified preorder links for ZDNET’s CES 2026 picks, exclusive early-bird coupon rounds, and model/serial-number watch summaries. Don’t let a flash discount or a firmware bug decide your buy — get the right deal at the right time.

tends

Contributor

Senior editor and content strategist. Writing about technology, design, and the future of digital media. Follow along for deep dives into the industry's moving parts.