CES 2026: These color-changing sunglasses are like something out of a sci-fi movie

CES 2026 doesn't officially start until Tuesday, but Mashable is already reporting live from Las Vegas, where the festivities have kicked off early at CES Unveiled. This preview event offers a first look at some of the exhibitors coming to the annual consumer tech show, and in between all the robots, smart cameras, and AI toys, a unique pair of sunglasses caught our attention.

I got the chance to try on the Povec C1 sunglasses, which the company's cofounder Alexis Marc Pons described as the world's first electrochromic sunglasses.

So, what does that mean? These sports sunglasses can switch from tinted to untinted with the swipe of a finger. Simply slide your finger along a panel on the frame of the glasses, and the tint level changes instantly. Normally, you would need an entirely new pair of sunglasses or some type of lens attachment to achieve this effect. It also looks really cool, which is always a nice bonus in a new piece of technology. The glasses feature an on-trend sports frame, which will come in a variety of colors.

While user-controlled tint may not be a show-stopping innovation like some of the advanced robotics on display at CES Unveiled, it's the kind of product that anyone can appreciate. I can see these glasses going mega-viral.

A Povec Optics representative said that the electrochromic technology was originally developed for automotive use in the Audi E5 Sportback, but that they have an obvious use case for outdoor athletes like cyclists, skiers, runners, and boaters. The sunglasses do need to be charged via USB-C, and the company says the glasses should go about 28 days between charges.

Povec Optics isn't the first company to explore user-controlled tinted sunglasses. Mashable previously checked out similar sunglasses from Chamelo Eyewear at last year's CES, which could not only change their tint, but their color as well. Chamelo's glasses are already available for purchase, though Povec will no doubt provide some interesting competition once it launches.

The startup said it's targeting a May 2026 launch with a price range between $250-$350, so they're priced like designer glasses. For updates, you can follow the Povec Optics on Instagram.

Head to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news and live updates from the biggest show in tech, where Mashable journalists are reporting live.