Just one day left before we enter 2026. After doing a roundup of the biggest tech news of 2025, it's time to make predictions for 2026. We are not astrologers and we don't have a big crystal ball to see the future so allow us to make five technology predictions that will happen within 12 months from now.
1. All Devices Will Become More Expensive
This is not a prediction from Nostradamus, Mystic Meg or Pak Belalang. It is a CERTAINTY that the selling prices of all smart devices in 2026 will be more expensive than this year. Once again, a middle finger is raised towards AI data centers that require a large amount of memory chips. It can already be seen that global Redmi devices are sold with a base memory of 8GB RAM while the previous model was offered with 12GB RAM.
Laptops and basic phones will also be offered with low memory and smaller storage. Prepare to be labeled as a nobleman if you can afford a PC for gaming purposes. Micron has been shut down while NVIDIA is reportedly cutting graphics card production by up to 40% to meet the demand for artificial intelligence chips. In 2026, everyone will finally see the short-term impact of the global AI war, not just the people sitting near data centers.
2. The Era of Smart Glasses
We predict that 2026 will be the year of smart glasses. Google confirmed that the first Android XR smart glasses will be released this year through Samsung and Gentle Monster. Meta proved that there is a market for smart glasses that are fully controlled by voice commands. When Google first entered the market, other manufacturers were given a visa to come along.
Two versions of the smart glasses will be offered. One is similar to the Ray-Ban Meta with a camera but without a screen. The other is glasses with a built-in screen like the demos that Google has shown several times over the past eight months. Apple may also show their own version but it is not yet ready for sale. After the failure of Google Glass a few years ago, the latest version with Android XR and Gemini will once again realize Larry Page's original dream.
3. The Era of AI Agents
2022 is the year of chatbots followed by 2023 with generative AI generating images then 2024 will generate generative AI generating videos before 2025 will be the year it takes over the task of writing code on a large scale. 2026 according to our prediction will be the year when AI agents take over not only human work on an industrial scale but will also eliminate several websites. Meta just acquired the AI agent firm Manus today and it will be integrated into the Meta ecosystem soon.
Two weeks ago OpenAI, Anthropic, and Block collaborated to establish the Agentic AI Foundation which is a scary standard for AI agents to allow them to interact with each other. In the near future, buying a plane ticket will be as easy as giving the command “buy or not a plane for work next week”.
AI agents will read the calendar and know the date you need to fly and the destination. It remembers that you like to fly with airline A and starts chatting with company A’s AI agent to buy a ticket. Banking information is saved and tickets are purchased before being sent to the Wallet app and a confirmation email to your inbox. At the same time, an AI agent makes hotel reservations at the destination. All without you having to lift a finger.
4. Big Batteries Are Becoming the norm
This year, 6000-8000 mAh batteries were introduced, allowing smartphones to last up to a day before needing to be recharged. Honor has already launched a slim phone with a 10,000 mAh battery with the Honor Win and next month with the Honor Power 2. Chinese battery technology allows high capacity to be packed into a slim battery and it supports fast charging.
The era of power banks may start to end next year. Chinese manufacturers will be offering devices with big batteries in Malaysia in the near future. There is no reason for certain companies to continue offering devices with small batteries that have been recycled for the past three years. They need to follow the market and buyers want devices with big batteries that last a long time.
5. More and more new smartphone camera gimmicks
This year's gimmick is smartphones paired with additional zoom lens kits such as those supported by Oppo Find X9 and Vivi X300. Collaboration with photography companies will be enhanced because the difference in camera quality between this year's model and last year is becoming more pronounced.
We predict that new gimmicks will be a bet by phone manufacturers to differentiate themselves from competitors. Huawei with two telephoto lenses paired with one sensor. Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition becomes
