CES 2026 showed how fast-device cycles are moving. The show logged more than 4,100 exhibitors and over 148,000 attendees, a clear signal that new form factors and AI PCs will hit enterprise fleets this year. Your B2B ITAD workflows must keep up with the volume, the mix, and new data risks.
What changed in the 2026 device mix
AI PCs are now standard; most ship with NPUs for local inference. Dual-screen laptops and compact mini PCs also gained attention. These designs add components that your teams must test and validate before resale.
Consumer coverage from CES also noted that buyers still care more about performance and battery life than “AI features,” so remarketing teams should grade and list devices by real benefits, not vague labels.
Smart displays and connected gear continue to expand, often with microphones and local storage. Intake must flag any device capable of storing data, not only PCs and phones.
Update your data security controls
Adopt NIST SP 800-88 Revision 2 as your default. Map each asset type to an erase, purge, or destroy method and attach verification to the certificate of sanitization. NIST released Rev. 2 in September 2025 and provides sample documentation.
For NVMe SSDs, use controller-level commands where supported. NVMe sanitization or formatting with secure options can purge data more reliably than file-level overwrites. Log command results per serial number.
Align environmental and reuse controls with R2v3. Keep your procedures current with SERI’s documents library and formal interpretations. Make sure your chain of custody and downstream vendor checks reflect the standard.
Remove resale blockers before pickup
Remote locks stall resale and create storage drag. Build a pre-pickup checklist with your client’s IT team.
- iPhone and iPad, confirm Activation Lock is off, and the device is erased and unlinked from the owner’s Apple ID.
- Android, confirm Factory Reset Protection is cleared or that override accounts are in place through the MDM.
- Windows, remove devices from Intune and deregister them from Windows Autopilot, especially for tenant transfers or motherboard swaps.
Battery risk, handle at scale
More laptops, tablets, handhelds, and smart home gear mean more lithium-ion cells in your inbound stream. Treat these as regulated materials in transit and in storage. Establish battery triage upon receipt, separate suspect packs, and use proper packaging and labels for transport.
EPA notes that most discarded lithium-ion batteries are hazardous waste, with fire risk if mishandled. Train teams and document incident response.
For air shipments, follow IATA guidance, including the state-of-charge limit for UN3480 cells and batteries, and use UN performance packaging where required.
Protect circular value
Test what matters to buyers. On AI PCs, add quick checks for NPU, GPU, RAM, and SSD health, then list those pass results in your marketplace notes. Coverage from CES confirms interest in practical gains like battery life and performance, which map well to resale value.
Use a clear routing model, reuse first, then parts harvest, then material recovery. Publish yields and average resale days in your client reports. You can point sustainability teams to reuse and recycling metrics for Scope 3 reporting.
The environmental context your clients care about
The Global E-waste Monitor projects 82 million tonnes of e-waste by 2030, up from 2022 levels, which continues to put pressure on verifiable outcomes. Put weights, reuse rates, and downstream destinations into every monthly report.
What to implement this quarter
- Refresh SOPs to align with NIST SP 800-88 Rev. 2, and include command logs or screenshots with each certificate.
- Expand device taxonomy and work steps for AI PCs and compact form factors.
- Add a client offboarding checklist to remove Apple Activation Lock, Android FRP, and Windows Autopilot, before pickup.
- Tighten lithium-ion handling and shipping practices under DOT and IATA rules, and train your team.
- Publish ESG-ready summaries with device counts, reuse rates, recycling yields, and diversion.
The Path Forward
If you want a fast audit of your current workflows, start with a review of your sanitization logs and offboarding checklist. Then align your reporting to the ESG artifacts your stakeholders already use. See HOBI’s ITAD and vITAD services for the path forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
What changed at CES 2026 that affects ITAD planning?
AI PCs with NPUs are now standard, and small-form-factor systems are gaining traction. These designs add test steps and new parts to validate before resale.
Is NIST SP 800-88 Rev. 2 required?
It is the most referenced standard for media sanitization. Many enterprises expect conformance and evidence with each certificate.
Which certifications do clients ask for most?
R2v3 is widely requested for environmental and reuse controls. Your data destruction services may be validated through NAID AAA audits.
How can ITAD teams improve resale returns in an AI-heavy cycle?
Expand functional tests to include NPU and GPU checks, confirm lock removal before pickup, and grade listings by battery life and performance.
What ESG proof do clients expect?
Device counts, weights by stream, reuse rates, recycling yields, and downstream destinations, all tied to R2v3-aligned processes.