According to Forbes, Ugreen unveiled its “Activate Smarter Living” vision at CES 2026, headlined by new NASync iDX Series network-attached storage devices with on-device AI. The iDX6011 and iDX6011 Pro models, powered by Intel Core Ultra CPUs with up to 64GB RAM and 196TB storage, offer local AI for searching files, transcribing audio, and organizing media without the cloud. The company also announced its SynCare Series smart home security ecosystem, featuring AI cameras and a video doorbell, set for release in the latter half of 2026. Rounding out the launch is the Nexode Pro 300W desktop charger with eight ports, shipping in March 2026. Pre-orders for the NAS are open now, with a Kickstarter in March offering the iDX6011 Pro for an early-bird price of $1,599.
The Local AI NAS Play
Here’s the thing: everyone’s slapping “AI” on everything, but Ugreen’s approach with the NASync iDX is actually interesting. They’re not just offering another cloud storage alternative; they’re pitching a private, local intelligence hub. The idea of having an AI that can sift through your personal files—photos, documents, voice notes—entirely offline is a powerful privacy sell in an era of data breaches and subscription fatigue. Asking it to “find dad riding a bike” and having it work is the kind of intuitive tech we were promised. But the real test will be how well that “Uliya AI Chat” model performs in practice. Local LLMs can be hit or miss. Is it genuinely useful, or just a clever party trick? The specs are beefy, though. Dual 10GbE and Intel Core Ultra chips mean this isn’t a toy; it’s aimed at pros and power users who need speed and privacy. For businesses or creators handling sensitive data, this could be a compelling proposition. You can check out more on the AI NAS features over at Ugreen’s site.
Entering the Crowded Smart Home Arena
Now, jumping into smart home security with SynCare is a much bigger gamble. This market is packed with giants like Google, Ring, and Arlo. Ugreen’s angle seems to be deep integration with its own NAS for local, encrypted storage, which is a smart differentiator for privacy-conscious buyers. The promise of “cross-camera awareness” and an AI that “anticipates needs” sounds great, but so does every other security system’s marketing. Execution is everything. Can Ugreen’s ecosystem provide the reliability and seamless experience people expect? And with a late 2026 availability, that’s a long wait in fast-moving tech. They’re betting that by tying it all back to a local hub—their own NAS—they create a sticky, proprietary ecosystem. It’s a bold strategy, but breaking established user habits is brutally hard.
The Power Station On Your Desk
The Nexode Pro 300W charger, though? That’s a monster, and it addresses a real, tangible pain point: the desk covered in a tangle of power bricks. Eight ports, with a dedicated 240W DC output for gaming laptops, is serious business. The included display and app control feel a bit like overkill for a charger, but for a family or a workspace with a dozen devices, intelligently managing that power load is useful. It’s a logical extension of Ugreen’s core strength in power accessories. Basically, they’re using the charger as a gateway into their smarter home ecosystem. Get your power from us, get your storage from us, get your security from us. It’s a full-court press for a slice of your connected life.
What It All Means
Look, Ugreen is making a clear pivot. They’re known for reliable cables and chargers, but at CES 2026 they’re signaling a desire to be a full-stack, ecosystem player. They’re trying to build a walled garden, but one where the walls are for your privacy, not their lock-in. The success hinges entirely on the “smart” features being genuinely intelligent and reliable, not just buzzwords. If that local AI is clunky or the security system is buggy, it all falls apart. But if they pull it off? They could carve out a nice niche for users who want advanced capabilities but don’t want their personal data living on a server farm somewhere. It’s a bet on a more private, personalized future of tech—and that’s a bet worth watching. For more on their broader product lineup, you can visit ugreen.com.
