Xiaomi 18 Fold
Xiaomi 18 Fold

BERLIN — IFA 2026, Europe's largest consumer electronics trade show, opened on Friday and will run until Sept. 8 at Messe Berlin. Artificial intelligence features prominently across almost every product category this year, from smart home appliances to toothbrushes. Last year's event attracted 220,000 visitors from 140 countries and more than 1,900 exhibitors, and this year's show appears set to match that scale. Here are 10 of the standout technologies attracting attention on the show floor.

  1. Xiaomi 18 Fold. Xiaomi is using IFA week to build anticipation for its new "mid-fold" smartphone, which will officially launch in China on Sept. 7. The device has a 5.38-inch external display and a 7.58-inch internal screen, powered by Xiaomi's newly designed XRing O3 chipset with a 10-core CPU architecture. The company says the chip offers significantly better graphics performance and power efficiency than its predecessor, positioning the phone as a competitor to Samsung's and Huawei's wide-format foldable devices.
  2. LG ThinQ Claw. LG is introducing a conversational AI agent for its smart home ecosystem called ThinQ Claw. The system draws partly on the company's earlier acquisition of smart home platform Homey. LG says the assistant is designed to understand users' intentions and context, helping complete tasks by connecting and coordinating relevant services and devices, including both LG appliances and third-party smart home products.
  3. Dyson CameraJet. Dyson is entering the electric toothbrush market for the first time with its $500 CameraJet, which combines an AI-powered camera with an integrated water flosser. The camera tracks brushing patterns in real time and automatically releases mouthwash like a water flosser when it detects the brush passing over a gap between teeth. This allows users to brush and floss simultaneously with one device.
  4. XREAL Aura mixed reality glasses. XREAL is showcasing its new Aura mixed reality glasses at IFA, powered by Google's Android XR platform. Reviewers who tested the device compared the experience with a lighter version of Apple's Vision Pro headset, highlighting its solid display quality and increasingly mature software platform. The wider smart glasses market, however, is still searching for its ideal form factor. XREAL is targeting a release before the end of 2026.
  5. TP-Link Archer 8 Ultra and Deco 8 Ultra. TP-Link is among the first companies to develop hardware based on the still-unfinalised Wi-Fi 8 standard. At this year's show, it unveiled the Archer 8 Ultra tri-band router and Deco 8 Ultra mesh networking system. Both devices use the upcoming IEEE 802.11bn wireless standard. TP-Link is presenting them as solutions to everyday connectivity problems users actually experience, rather than products focused solely on incremental speed gains.
  6. Acer Project DualPlay Mini. Acer presented a concept gaming handheld that opens and swivels to reveal a hidden keyboard, transforming an 8-inch Windows gaming device into a compact laptop. The concept takes design cues from Acer's existing Predator Atlas 8 handheld and remains strictly a concept, with no confirmed price, specifications or production timeline. Acer also introduced the market-ready Predator Atlas 7, a smaller 7-inch handheld that is scheduled to reach consumers this year.
  7. Acer SleepLab Pro. Acer is also moving into sleep-tracking technology with the SleepLab Pro, a bedside speaker that uses 60GHz radar to monitor sleep stages, heart rate and breathing without requiring a wearable device. It also functions as a sleep aid, offering more than 180 built-in sounds and a 28-day guided breathing programme. Acer says core features will not require a subscription when the product eventually reaches the market.
  8. XGIMI Aura 3 projector. XGIMI is advancing home projection technology with its Aura 3 model, which combines high brightness with 4K resolution and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate designed for fast-moving sports and gaming content. Rival projector maker JMGO also displayed its N3 Ultimate model, although early hands-on impressions pointed to some colour distortion at the highest brightness settings.
  9. Beyerdynamic Aventho Y headphones. German audio manufacturer Beyerdynamic, which has been in business for a century, used IFA to introduce its new Aventho Y headphones. The design is reminiscent of Apple's AirPods Max, while replaceable ear cups are intended to support long-term repairability. The company, which is well known for supplying professional audio equipment to musicians and recording studios, is positioning the headphones as a consumer-focused extension of its studio-grade audio heritage.
  10. JLab ANC earbuds with Apple Find My integration. Among the more affordable products at the show, JLab introduced compact, low-cost active noise-cancelling earbuds featuring proprietary technology compatible with Apple's Find My network. The earbuds' charging case can function in a similar way to an Apple AirTag for location tracking. They are notably smaller and less expensive than many competing premium earbuds.

Beyond the individual products, IFA CEO Leif Lindner said during the opening ceremony that exhibitors were continuing to pursue AI-focused innovation despite wider industry pressures. These include a well-documented global memory chip shortage that has increased component costs across the consumer electronics sector. The pricing pressure has affected products ranging from smartphones to laptops, even as companies compete to distinguish their devices through AI-powered features.

Samsung and LG also dominated this year's IFA innovation awards, with the two South Korean electronics giants winning a combined 11 awards in categories including AI-powered appliances, next-generation display technology and audio innovation. LG additionally received the event's top overall "Best Brand" award, highlighting the intensifying competition between the two companies for leadership in AI-integrated consumer electronics across the European market.

IFA 2026 will continue through Sept. 8, with more product announcements and hands-on demonstrations expected during the remainder of the show. Exhibitors are continuing to unveil devices across smart home technology, wearables, gaming hardware and home entertainment systems for the hundreds of thousands of visitors expected at Messe Berlin before the event ends.

Originally published on ibtimes.com.au