Christo Wessels
As we begin the year, smartphones and connected devices are poised to become smarter, faster and environmentally friendly. The sensors that surround you at home and work, the devices you wear and carry, and the latest artificial intelligence (AI) tools will start blending together into an ambient network that anticipates your needs, adapts to your routines, and helps you get things done.
Here are some of the trends that will shape 2026 in connected living and working.
1. Ambient computing makes tech blend into your life
Ambient computing refers to technologies that are so deeply woven into your everyday life that you may almost forget you are using a computer. They use natural interfaces like voice and gestures, rather than touchscreens and keyboards. And they automate routine tasks in the background so that the technology supports you without demanding your attention.
Smart home devices like smart speakers, for example, let you get the news headlines, manage your smart home environment and play music with voice commands rather than a screen. And sensors and devices like smart thermostats execute tasks such as adjusting temperature settings without needing your input.
We can expect to see a rapid innovation in this space in 2026 and beyond as artificial intelligence (AI) and edge computing allow manufacturers and software developers to come up with exciting new ambient use cases in homes, offices, malls, cars and more. Because edge-AI reduces latency and cloud dependency, devices in your home and other settings could respond faster to human cues and behaviours, or biometric data like facial recognition.
What’s more, all the systems in an environment could work together to offer smoother experiences. Consider, for example, a smart home setup that dims the lights when it detects you are winding down or fires up your workout playlist and adjusts the lights when you are getting ready to exercise. MediaTek Genio platform is designed to power a wide range of smart devices, including smart home appliances, industrial IoT solutions, smart displays, voice assistants, robots, and more.
2. Wearable computing is a market to watch
The smartwatch and fitness wearables market has moved well beyond the early adopter phase into the mainstream, creating a whole new category of digital lifestyle and wellness devices. In the next phase of development, we can expect to see new classes of wearable devices break into the mass market after several false starts, one example is smart eyewear.
According to research from McKinsey and the Business of Fashion, smartwatches represent 35% to 40% of watch market volume. But smart eyewear and smart rings represent less than 10% of their respective market volume. This suggests high growth potential in 2026 and beyond as users look for more convenient, hands-free ways to interact with technology.
Factors that are driving the smart wearables market include falling prices as well as improvements to the technology that enable manufacturers to make lighter, cheaper and more energy efficient devices. According to McKinsey, sales of wearables reached $42 billion in 2025, equating to 230 million units. Growth of this market is forecast to continue at 9% a year through to 2028.
3. AI assistants that live on your smartphone
Generative AI has already proven to be transformative for the smartphone market, with Gartner estimating that worldwide spending on GenAI phones reached $298.2 billion by the end of 2025. One of the major factors driving this growth is the growing accessibility of smartphones with built-in neural processing units (NPUs) capable of running small language models.
Platforms such as the MediaTek Dimensity 9500, for example, feature dedicated AI processors that are designed to handle on-device Gen AI models quickly and efficiently, allowing you to do more on your phone without accessing the cloud. Our chipsets are designed to be powerful and energy-efficient, enabling smoother multitasking, faster response times and more secure processing of personal data directly on your phone.
This allows you to benefit from innovative features, like real-time translations, AI notetaking and summaries in meetings, and more. In 2026, on-device GenAI models will continue to evolve from static voice assistants into context-aware companions that understand your tone, emotion and habits. For instance, your smartphone could make smart calendar scheduling recommendations or curate content for you to watch after work.
4. On-device AI: a green win for smartphones
People and businesses are paying more attention to environmental and sustainability concerns than ever before. According to the GSMA, 85% of consumers globally consider sustainability to be important when purchasing a device, exceeding other criteria such as device aesthetics (73%) and AI capabilities (67%).
More than 70% of consumers would be prepared to spend more for environmentally friendly phones. Technology makers are responding to the call by making more use of recycled and sustainable materials in manufacturing, extending device lifespans by offering extended warranties and ensuring devices are easier to repair, and offering responsible e-waste disposal and recycling options to customers who are upgrading their devices.
AI’s impact on the planet is also under the spotlight. By processing data locally on the smartphone rather than sending it to the cloud, on-device AI eliminates energy-intensive data transmission and reduces dependency on distant servers. This approach supports the industry’s move towards lower carbon emissions, in addition to the other benefits it offers end-users.
5. Connectivity for a smarter, always-on world
Seamless personal area, local area and mobile broadband connectivity is essential for applications such as augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), generative AI, ultrahigh definition streaming and intelligent home or industrial IoT networks. Two key developments are worth mentioning in this regard.
In 2026, we can expect the move to Wi-Fi 7 to accelerate. This standard provides much faster wireless networking speeds compared to previous versions. This brings the wireless standard much closer to the performance of Ethernet cables and lets users enjoy the full benefit of high-speed broadband with quicker file downloads.
At MediaTek, for example, our MediaTek Filogic series of high performance, power-efficient and reliable Wi-Fi systems-on-chip (SoCs) support great user experiences for heavily trafficked network environments and real-time applications. They are ready for Wi-Fi 7 integration into notebooks, routers and other equipment as soon as the standard is certified.
On the 5G side, MediaTek’s RedCap (Reduced Capability) modems bring cost-effective, low-power 5G connectivity to wearables, lightweight AR devices, IoT modules, and edge-AI applications. MediaTek RedCap is a scaled-down version of 5G technology defined in 3GPP Release 17. It enables a wider range of devices to connect efficiently, with smaller form factors, longer battery life, and lower costs.
Seamless digital living
From on-device AI that reduces reliance on cloud servers to low-power 5G solutions enabling always-on connectivity, the next wave of technology is about making devices seamlessly fit into our daily lives. Next-generation technology will be more powerful, flexible, efficient and secure. This points to a future where connected living feels intuitive, responsive and effortless wherever you are and whatever you are doing.
Christo Wessels, MediaTek’s Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa. He writes in his personal capacity.
