Solving Small Frictions, One Thoughtful Product at a Time

At CES 2026, the Rolling Square booth was the kind of place visitors lingered. There were no massive screens or cinematic vision videos, yet product after product triggered the same reaction, this is something I have always found inconvenient. Based in Zurich, Rolling Square has long been known for obsessing over small, everyday frictions, and its approach at CES was consistent with that reputation. What felt different this year was how far that thinking had matured.

The most attention went to two Bluetooth trackers, AirCard Pro Dual and AirNotch Pro Dual. Their significance was not simply that they were well designed anti loss devices, but that they became the first trackers to support both Apple’s Find My network and Google’s Find Device network in a single product. Until now, users had to choose trackers based on smartphone platform. Switching phones often meant replacing accessories as well. Rolling Square questioned that assumption. By prioritizing user experience over platform allegiance, the company delivered a single device that works seamlessly across iOS and Android.

Design That Reinforces the Idea

The industrial design reinforces this philosophy. AirCard Pro Dual is ultra thin and credit card sized, fitting naturally into a wallet. AirNotch Pro Dual takes a rugged key holder form factor designed for harsher use. AirCard supports wireless charging and runs for up to twelve months on a single charge, while AirNotch operates for around twenty months on a coin cell battery. Both include loud speakers for audible location tracking and QR codes that allow a finder to identify and contact the owner. Priced at forty dollars per unit, the trackers were repeatedly described at CES as striking the right balance between design and practicality.

A Deliberate Contrast, Await

Rolling Square extended this thinking further by introducing a sister brand, Await. Its debut product embraces the digital film camera trend popular with Gen Z. The camera intentionally limits users to twenty four photos per cycle, provides no immediate preview, and requires transferring images to a smartphone later. The friction is intentional. Photos are rendered in a lo fi style rather than heavily polished, and the pastel colored body feels closer to a fashion accessory than a traditional camera. In contrast to instant digital consumption, Await is designed around waiting and selection as part of the experience. Still in prototype stage, the camera is targeting a launch price between seventy and one hundred dollars.

A Pattern, Not a Pivot

This is not a sudden change in direction. Since around 2018, Rolling Square has built a strong track record through Kickstarter with products like the inCharge six in one charging cable, the TAU magnetic mount, and ultra compact power banks. Under the banner of a Lifehackers’ Company, it consistently identifies overlooked problems and brings them to market quickly. At CES 2026, this included modular mounts that attach beside a laptop screen to hold and wirelessly charge a smartphone, as well as ring shaped Bluetooth remotes. Among them, the dual network tracker stood out as the first product officially certified by both Apple and Google, earning praise from outlets such as WIRED and AppleInsider for benefiting users regardless of platform choice.

Why Rolling Square Stands Out

The challenges ahead are clear. The accessory market has low barriers to entry, and large brands are increasingly launching similar products. Yet Rolling Square continues to operate from a different starting point. It looks first at user context, not platform dominance or trend chasing. Crowdfunding enables fast feedback, brands like Await allow generational experimentation, and cross platform compatibility and privacy considerations are built into the design from the beginning.

Perhaps Rolling Square’s true strength lies not in declaring bold futures, but in its refusal to accept everyday inconveniences as inevitable. At CES 2026, the company did not present a grand vision of tomorrow. Instead, it offered a series of small, concrete ideas that make today just a little easier.