CES 2026: Solver adds configurable haptic buttons to your smartphone

CES 2026 has officially kicked off with the annual CES Unveiled event, where tech companies of all sizes showcase their unique new products. One of those more unique items this year is Solver, a small, rectangular object that brings a pair of programmable haptic buttons to your smartphone.

That's right, Solver literally adds two physical buttons to your mobile device. The tiny add-on magnetically clips on to the back of your iPhone or Android so you can easily tap on the buttons to activate them without having to even turn on your smartphone.

And what do those two buttons do? Whatever you want. Solver's buttons are programmable, meaning each individual user can affix any action to each button. This means a tap on the top of Solver could simply directly open an app like Notes, YouTube, or Spotify. Alternatively, a user could get more adventurous with their programming and have a button tap launch a series of actions or Shortcuts. 

For example, a user can program Solver so that a tap of a button could automatically start recording video in an emergency, then when the recording ends that video can be automatically sent to a specific user via Messages. During the demo, Solver's team showcased an even more advanced set of actions where a user can share their location with a specific contact, place a 911 phone call, record audio, and sound an alarm all with a single tap on Solver.

Even more interesting is how Solver works. There is no need to charge Solver. In fact, there's no battery or wire or even Bluetooth connection involved at all. Solver connects with your smartphone using Near Field Communication (NFC) technology.

If you miss having more physical buttons on your iPhone, or just like the idea of being able to launch actions without even having to unlock your mobile device, Solver may be for you.

Solver is officially launching at CES this year, with multiple different color options, at a price point of $140.

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.