Shubham Sawarkar
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Welcome to IFA Berlin 2023, the world’s premier stage for consumer electronics and home appliances innovation. This year’s event, hosted at the expansive Messe Berlin Exhibition Grounds from September 1st to 5th, has been curated under the theme “Fertilizers 2023: Where Food and Energy Markets Meet.” As Europe’s largest consumer electronics trade show enters its 99th year, it boasts an impressive gathering of over 2,000 tech vendors hailing from nearly 50 countries. With close to 140,000 square feet of exhibition space, IFA Berlin 2023 is a cornucopia of innovation, featuring heavyweights such as Samsung, LG, Hisense, Honor, Bosch, Fitbit, Miele, Panasonic, Sharp, and TCL, among others.
Best Tech Gadgets At IFA Berlin 2023
Honor V Purse: A Futuristic Folding Concept
One of the most intriguing revelations at IFA Berlin 2023 is the Honor V Purse. This concept smartphone not only embraces the folding form factor but also doubles as a fashion accessory. Its unique design features a screen that wraps around the exterior, reminiscent of the Huawei Mate X, and includes a convenient strap for easy carrying. While it may lack storage space for cosmetics, the concept’s ability to change the screen’s design and switch out the strap to match your outfit is an exciting glimpse into the future of foldable phones that merge technology with fashion.
However, it’s worth noting that the Honor V Purse is a concept phone and may never hit the market. Despite its potential limitations, Honor deserves credit for pushing the boundaries of what a smartphone can be.
Honor Magic V2: The Thinnest Folding Smartphone
Honor has unveiled the Magic V2, claiming it to be the world’s thinnest and lightest book-style smartphone, measuring a mere 0.39 inches (9.9mm) thick and weighing 8.15 ounces. Comparatively, the Google Pixel Fold is 0.5 inches (12.7mm) thick and 10 ounces, while the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 is 0.53 inches (13.5mm) thick and 8.92 ounces. The Magic V2 boasts impressive durability, capable of enduring over 400,000 folds thanks to a titanium alloy hinge.
With an outer OLED display measuring 6.43 inches and an inner OLED screen spanning 7.92 inches, both featuring high resolutions and refresh rates of up to 120Hz, the Magic V2 offers a remarkable visual experience. It’s powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, offers up to 16GB of RAM, and comes with storage options of 256GB or 512GB. Additionally, the device houses a 5,000mAh battery with support for rapid 66W wired charging and runs on Honor’s MagicOS, based on Android 13. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 7, 5G, Bluetooth 5.3, and NFC. While a release date is confirmed for the EU and UK later this year, pricing details remain undisclosed.
Lenovo Legion Go: A New Player in Handheld Gaming
The handheld gaming console market continues to expand, and Lenovo is joining the fray with its $699 Legion Go. Running on Windows 11 and powered by an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, this device boasts 16GB of DDR5 memory and up to 1TB of storage. What sets the Legion Go apart is its 1600p, 144Hz screen, the largest and sharpest on any handheld console to date at 8.8 inches.
The Nintendo Switch-style twin detachable controllers are another standout feature, featuring a built-in touchpad, D-pad, mouse wheel, and 10 mappable buttons and triggers. While the competition is fierce, with Nintendo‘s Switch and the Steam Deck leading the charge, Lenovo’s Legion Go is worth keeping an eye on when it hits the market in October 2023.
Lenovo Legion Glasses: Immersive Gaming Experience
For gamers seeking an immersive experience without monopolizing the TV, Lenovo presents the Legion Glasses. These lightweight glasses utilize micro-OLED lens technology to deliver a high-resolution, virtual display that can expand from 82 inches at three meters to a staggering 163 inches at five meters. With swappable nose pads and the option for prescription lenses, these glasses promise to elevate your mobile gaming experience.
Lenovo ThinkVision 27 3D Monitor: The Future of Displays
The Lenovo ThinkVision 27 3D Monitor brings a new dimension to your viewing experience, eliminating the need for 3D glasses. Paired with real-time eye-tracking technology for lifelike 3D visuals, this 27-inch monitor offers a 4K resolution with impressive color gamut coverage. It also features built-in speakers, USB-C docking, and modular camera support, catering to both work and play.
Lenovo Legion 9i Gaming Laptop
While IFA isn’t typically associated with laptop launches, Lenovo’s liquid-cooled Legion 9i commands attention in any crowd of new notebooks. Designed for enthusiastic gamers, this gaming laptop combines elements from Lenovo’s popular Legion Slim and Legion Pro lines with groundbreaking innovations. With a starting price of $3,799.99 (price may vary after configuring), it targets gamers who demand uncompromising performance.
The Legion 9i boasts a 16-inch panel within a chassis that measures less than an inch thick. It’s powered by a 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13980HX CPU and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 GPU. What sets it apart is its closed-loop liquid cooling system, a first among laptops, ensuring optimal performance during intense gaming sessions. The carbon-fiber lid features unique random fiber textures, guaranteeing that each Legion 9i is one of a kind. Add RGB lighting and extensive connectivity options to the mix, and the Legion 9i becomes a dream gaming laptop, albeit one with a premium price tag.
DreameBot L20 Ultra Robot Vacuums
The bustling IFA show floor featured a slew of robot vacuums, but one machine truly stood out: the DreameBot L20 Ultra. This high-end hybrid floor cleaner takes cleaning to the next level with its innovative AI-powered MopExtend feature. DreameBot claims that this technology allows the L20 Ultra to mop closer to wall corners and edges than any of its competitors. When the robot detects wall corners and edges, it intuitively shifts its mopping pad to the side, closing the cleaning gap seamlessly.
In addition to its unique mopping prowess, the DreameBot L20 Ultra offers a suite of features akin to premium 2-in-1 competitors such as the Ecovacs Deebot X1 Omni and the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra. This includes the ability to wash and dry its mopping pads and even refill its own water tank. When it comes to vacuuming, the L20 Ultra delivers up to 7,000Pa of suction power and supports automatic dustbin emptying, making maintenance hassle-free.
Anticipated to hit the market this month, the DreameBot L20 Ultra comes with a price tag of $1,499.99, making it a high-end choice for those seeking top-notch cleaning performance.
Dolby Atmos FlexConnect
At IFA Berlin 2023, we also witnessed a revolution in home audio with Dolby Atmos FlexConnect. This technology empowers users to connect compatible speakers to their TVs wirelessly and position them anywhere in the room. Unlike traditional setups, these speakers can be mismatched and don’t require precise mirroring of one another’s positioning. The FlexConnect system automatically calibrates the speakers, using their sounds to physically locate them in relation to the TV and assess their range and capabilities. The end result is a unified soundscape that seamlessly integrates the TV with these speakers.
One prime example of this innovation is the TCL Tutti Choral Speakers, leveraging Dolby Atmos FlexConnect. This speaker set allows users to place the wireless Tutti Choral speakers anywhere in the same room as their TV. Once the setup process, guided by Dolby’s algorithm, is initiated, the speakers find each other and the TV, creating a full surround sound experience. Astonishingly, this entire process takes less than 13 seconds.
While TCL has yet to unveil pricing or a release date, the Tutti Choral Speakers offer a promising solution for those seeking a hassle-free and immersive surround sound experience.
DTS Play-Fi: Immersive Audio Gets a Boost
DTS Play-Fi, a home theater solution, has received a substantial update at IFA Berlin 2023. This update expands its capabilities to 12 channels (7.2.4), offering a bigger, taller, and more immersive audio performance in any room. It’s not just spatial content that benefits; stereo content can now be “upscaled” and transmitted to surround speakers, enhancing the audio experience for films and music alike. With DTS Play-Fi, creating a cohesive home cinema with exceptional audio quality has never been easier.
Fairphone 5: Sustainability Meets Top-Notch Performance
The Fairphone 5, the fifth-generation offering from Fairphone, continues the company’s commitment to sustainability and ethical production. What sets this smartphone apart is its complete repairability, allowing users to disassemble and replace individual components as needed. Fairphone is dedicated to supporting the Fairphone 5 with software updates for the next eight years, surpassing even the most substantial commitments in the Android world.
Beyond its repairability, the Fairphone 5 impresses with a 90Hz display refresh rate, a formidable 50MP primary camera, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and a rare microSD card slot for expansion of up to 2TB.
The Fairphone 5 is currently available for pre-order in Europe at €699 (around $755). While it’s not yet available in the United States, a “de-Googled” version will arrive eventually, with pricing yet to be disclosed.
Jabra Elite 10: Noise-Canceling Wonders
Jabra’s flagship Elite 10 noise-canceling true wireless earbuds firmly establish themselves in the same category as the top-end models from industry giants like Apple, Bose, and Sony. What sets these earbuds apart is their large 10mm dynamic drivers, which deliver an impressive frequency range of 20Hz to 20kHz. Equipped with Bluetooth 5.3, they support essential AAC and SBC codecs. The IP57 rating adds a layer of durability, making them ideal workout companions. Jabra estimates a respectable six hours of usage per charge, with the case holding an additional 21 hours of power when ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) is active.
The Elite 10 earbuds not only excel in noise cancellation but also deliver a powerful, low-frequency response. Moreover, they come with an excellent companion app that allows users to manage and customize their listening experience. Priced at $249, these well-rounded earphones offer exceptional value for audiophiles and tech enthusiasts alike.
JBL Soundgear Sense: Unique Open-Ear Design
In a sea of true wireless earbuds, the JBL Soundgear Sense dares to stand out with its unique open-ear design. Unlike conventional earbuds, these do not cover your ear canals, allowing you to enjoy your music while remaining aware of your surroundings. This distinctive feature provides an immersive yet safe listening experience.
JBL‘s audio prowess shines through with ample bass, thanks to a bass-enhancing algorithm and 16.2mm drivers. Additionally, users gain full control over settings and EQ through the JBL Headphones app. With an IP54 rating, these earbuds are well-suited for workouts and active lifestyles.
The JBL Soundgear Sense is already available in Europe for €149, with a US release slated for $149 in the near future.
CASETiFY Ultra Bounce Case: Protecting Your Investment
CASETiFY continues its tradition of producing exceptional smartphone accessories with the Ultra Bounce Case. Designed for the iPhones, this case is set to launch shortly after IFA. Stylish and robust, CASETiFY knows how to safeguard your smartphone, providing peace of mind for the clumsiest of users.
The case features robust rubber bumpers on each corner, mitigating the impact of accidental drops and minimizing the risk of damage. It also offers comprehensive coverage for the phone’s rear, ensuring that the delicate glass fascia remains intact even after a fall. Given the high cost of iPhones, investing in a CASETiFY case is a prudent choice for protecting your valuable device.
Withings ScanWatch 2
In the world of smartwatches, design plays a pivotal role alongside features and battery life. The Withings ScanWatch 2 combines timeless aesthetics with modern functionality. It inherits the classic look and impressive 30-day battery life of its predecessor, with the addition of new sensors for all-day body temperature tracking.
Withings employs TempTech24/7 technology, allowing the ScanWatch 2 to track body temperature from the wrist more accurately than rival devices. It combines a miniaturized heat flux sensor with a high-accuracy temperature sensor, heart rate data, and accelerometer input to deliver precise body temperature variations throughout the day. Unlike competing devices that typically measure temperature only at night, Withings’ confidence in its technology enables it to offer daytime measurements, accounting for environmental and lifestyle factors.
The ScanWatch 2 comes in two models: the flagship ScanWatch 2 ($349.95) and the pared-down ScanWatch Light ($249.95), catering to users at various stages of their wellness journey. Both models are available for pre-order and set to launch in October 2023, offering impressive versatility and style.
Samsung Food: Cooking Simplified with AI
In a nod to the culinary world, Samsung made a significant announcement at IFA 2023 by rebranding the Whisk app as Samsung Food. This app, available for free and not restricted to Samsung devices, is a delightful blend of functionality and user-friendliness. One of its standout features is a recipe finder that harnesses the power of artificial intelligence to suggest recipes based on the ingredients you have at home. No more last-minute grocery store runs — let your pantry guide your meal choices.
Moreover, Samsung Food empowers users to effortlessly capture recipes from any website and automatically generate shopping lists, simplifying meal planning with a few taps on your screen. This app isn’t just a kitchen companion; it’s a game-changer for anyone looking to elevate their cooking game.
JLAB JBuds Mini: Compact Comfort and Exceptional Sound
For those seeking earbuds that provide a snug fit without discomfort, JLAB presents the JBuds Mini — the tiniest earbuds available on the market. These diminutive wonders combine a compact design with impressive sound quality, offering an audio experience that defies their size.
Despite their small stature, the JBuds Mini boasts remarkable battery life, making them an ideal choice for music lovers on the go. With a compact charging case to match, these earbuds prioritize comfort while delivering impressive audio performance.
TCL X955
TCL’s latest flagship TV, the X955, ushers in a new era for mini-LED technology, taking it to new heights. With a claimed brightness of 5,000 nits and an astonishing 5184 dimming zones for impeccable contrast, this TV is a visual marvel. Witnessing its brilliance in person is an experience to remember, positioning it as a formidable contender among top-tier TVs.
Beyond its exceptional brightness, the TCL X955 impresses with bold and realistic colors, delivering clean and crisp white highlights. The black tones are deep and inky, with minimal blooming, showcasing superior control. TCL’s X955 heralds a new era of television technology, offering a viewing experience that’s both immersive and captivating.
TCL 40 NXTPAPER: A Revolution in Smartphone Displays
TCL introduces its groundbreaking NXTPAPER technology to smartphones with the TCL 40 NXTPAPER. This device features a unique display coating that replicates the tactile feel of paper, elevating the smartphone experience to a whole new level. Not only does it feel pleasing to the touch, but it also reduces blue light emissions, making it an ideal choice for late-night reading without straining your eyes.
While it may not be a premium flagship, the TCL 40 NXTPAPER is tailored for budget-conscious consumers. Starting at €199 in European markets, it offers a MediaTek Helio G88 chipset, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. The Full HD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate ensures a solid user experience. Anticipated for release in September, this smartphone promises to bring a touch of innovation to the budget-friendly smartphone segment.
Sony Xperia 5 V
Sony’s Xperia 5 V follows in the footsteps of the earlier Xperia 1 V, delivering a compact flagship device with a touch of design refresh. This smartphone embodies Sony’s trademark excellence, offering a 21:9 display, substantial processing power, and an impressive battery life. What’s more, it comes at a more wallet-friendly price point compared to its predecessor, making it an attractive proposition in every sense.
Amazfit Balance: The Flagship Lifestyle Watch
Amazfit’s Balance takes the stage as the new flagship lifestyle watch, captivating users with its slim and lightweight design. Sporting a charming 1.5-inch display and featuring built-in Alexa functionality, this watch seamlessly combines style and substance. It proudly carries the torch of Amazfit’s renowned sports functions, offering an impressive array of features that cater to fitness enthusiasts and those seeking a balanced lifestyle.
Xgimi Horizon Ultra: A Vision of Projection Excellence
Xgimi, renowned for crafting high-quality projectors, presents the Horizon Ultra as its flagship offering. This projector ticks all the right boxes, boasting 4K support, Dolby Vision, a remarkable brightness of 2,300 ISO lumens, and 12W Harman Kardon speakers. What sets it apart is its innovative Dual-Light technology, which combines LED and laser light sources to deliver stunningly accurate colors.
For the minimalist at heart, the Horizon Ultra comes with a built-in case that conceals the lens when not in use, ensuring both safety and discretion. Priced at $2,260, this flagship projector is available for pre-order, with shipping commencing on September 15.
Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar Mini: Mighty Sound in a Compact Package
In the realm of soundbars, the Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar Mini stands tall, delivering powerful audio in a compact form factor. This pint-sized marvel boasts virtualized surround sound and an impressive array of six drivers, making it a perfect addition to any home cinema setup. Whether you’re looking to save space or stay within budget, the Ambeo Mini offers a compelling solution.
The Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar Mini is available for order now, priced at $799.95. If you’ve been in search of a compact yet robust soundbar, your quest may well end here.
Garmin Venu 3
Garmin, renowned for its feature-rich smartwatches, introduces the Venu 3, an evolution of its popular Venu lineup. This smartwatch boasts an array of new skills, including advanced sleep tracking with the ability to monitor naps and provide sleep coaching. Notably, it now extends support to wheelchair users, enhancing inclusivity in its user base. Despite retaining a familiar size and appearance, the Venu 3 offers extended battery life, equipping it for the demands of modern life. Additionally, it comes equipped with a speaker and microphone, enabling calling and voice control, making it a truly versatile companion.
Urbanista Malibu: Solar-Powered Sound Companion
Urbanista, known for its light-powered headphones, takes a leap into the realm of solar technology with the Urbanista Malibu. This Bluetooth speaker integrates a Powerfoyle solar charging panel on its top surface, allowing it to harness energy from both sunlight and indoor lighting. Its IP67 rating ensures durability, making it resilient against sand, dust, dirt, and water. At home, simply place it near a window, and it will continuously charge, ensuring it’s always ready for your audio needs, whether you’re indoors or on an outdoor adventure.
TiVo OS: The New Contender in Smart TV Software
TiVo OS, a fresh entrant in the smart TV operating system market, shows immense promise in challenging established players like Google and Roku. While its smart layout prioritizing recommendations is visually appealing, where TiVo truly shines is its voice search feature. Taking voice search up a notch, TiVo’s implementation sets it apart from the crowd, potentially making it a top-tier choice in the smart TV software arena.
Anker MagGo: Future-Proof Wireless Charging
Anker, a pioneer in wireless chargers and charging accessories, unveils the updated MagGo series at IFA 2023. What sets these products apart is their support for the Qi2 standard, enabling faster wireless charging. This forward-looking approach future-proofs these devices, ensuring compatibility with upcoming Android phones equipped with this technology, expected to hit the market in 2024. The new Qi2-powered MagGo lineup is set to roll out starting in October 2023.
LG Standby ME Go: Portable Entertainment on the Move
In a surprising twist, LG introduces the Standby ME Go, a television in a suitcase. While one might not immediately think of a demand for a suitcase TV, this innovation brings a sense of fun and versatility to the world of portable monitors. The 27-inch display offers three hours of use before requiring a recharge, making it a whimsical yet practical addition to the realm of consumer tech.
TCL RayNeo X2: The Resurgence of Smart Glasses
Smart glasses are experiencing a renaissance, and TCL’s RayNeo X2 is at the forefront of this resurgence. These smart glasses are a remarkable piece of tech that seamlessly overlays your smartphone onto the world around you. Beyond the typical features like music playback and notifications, the RayNeo X2 introduces novel capabilities. In a captivating demo, we witnessed real-time language translation, where spoken Chinese was instantly translated into subtitles for the wearer, who could then respond in kind. It’s a truly futuristic experience.
Equipped with a built-in camera, microphones, and speakers, these smart glasses promise a wealth of exciting possibilities. While their exact availability in North America and Europe remains unclear, a Chinese launch is imminent, with plans for a global release.
SwitchBot 10: The Ultimate Robot Cleaning Companion
Robot vacuums have promised to take care of everything, but in reality, some maintenance is required, particularly for the mop function. Enter the SwitchBot 10, a game-changing addition to the world of robotic cleaning. It features two docks — one for emptying the vacuum and another connected to your water supply for refilling and draining. This ingenious system ensures that the robot always has clean water for mopping and efficiently manages waste disposal.
Additionally, a third dock serves as a humidifier, allowing the robot to transport water from the refill dock to the humidifier dock, ensuring a consistent supply of moisture for your indoor environment. The SwitchBot 10 redefines convenience in robotic cleaning.
Roborock Q8 Max: The Robotic Marvel
This year, the vacuum world is witnessing remarkable advancements, and the Roborock Q8 Max is a shining example of innovation. Priced at $600, it falls into the upper-midrange segment but comes with cutting-edge technology. Roborock’s Reactive Tech, based on 3D imaging, enhances obstacle avoidance, making it adept at navigating around common items like shoes and pet toys.
While its mopping capabilities may not rival some competitors, the Q8 Max’s blend of high-tech obstacle avoidance and other desirable features make it a standout choice. It combines the allure of advanced technology with affordability — a Best of IFA pick that may resonate with a wider audience.
Philips Hue Secure: Bridging Security and Illumination
Philips has masterfully extended its Hue brand into the realm of home security with Hue Secure. This suite of products is designed to seamlessly integrate with existing Hue lights, creating a unified experience. Your Hue lights can now serve as an integral part of your security setup, all managed through the Hue app. The product lineup includes a range of cameras, from battery-powered to wired and floodlight options, as well as a door sensor. To unlock the full potential of this new system, a subscription is required, positioning Hue Secure as a formidable competitor to the likes of Arlo and Ring.
Eve Play: Effortless Wireless Audio Integration
Eve Play addresses a common predicament faced by iPhone and iPad users with home theater systems — streaming music wirelessly to the audio system. This innovative solution simplifies the process. Connect Eve Play to one of your receiver’s inputs using optical, RCA, or coaxial cables, and link it to the internet via Wi-Fi or Ethernet. Once set up, you can effortlessly use AirPlay to transmit audio from your Apple devices to your receiver. Essentially, this device enables any receiver, even those lacking native AirPlay support, to become AirPlay-compatible. Sometimes, simplicity is the hallmark of great products!
Priced at $149.95 / €149.95, the Eve Play will start shipping on November 14, 2023, and can be purchased directly from Eve’s website.
DeLorean Alpha Mini: A Dash of Nostalgic Speed
Who could resist an electric go-kart adorned with the iconic DeLorean branding? DeLorean Alpha Mini promises an exhilarating ride for kids of all ages, including those young at heart. While it operates silently, speakers integrated into the kart deliver revving sounds and tire screeches to evoke the feel of a traditional go-kart. DeLorean is gearing up to make this exciting vehicle available in the US for the 2023 holiday shopping season, with an estimated price of around $1,500.
Shark Detect Pro: Vacuuming Redefined
SharkNinja’s announcements at IFA 2023 included a range of innovations, and the Shark Detect Pro cordless vacuum is a standout. Beyond its lightweight and powerful cleaning capabilities, what truly sets it apart is the inclusion of a charging dock that automatically empties the vacuum cylinder after use. This bagless dock can store debris for up to 45 days, compacting its contents as it fills. This translates to emptying the base just 6-8 times a year, depending on your cleaning habits. Additionally, the base incorporates Shark’s Odor Neutralizing Cartridges, ensuring a fresh-smelling home.
MSI MEG Trident X2: A Gaming Powerhouse with a Touch
MSI‘s bid to conquer the gaming PC arena brings us the MSI MEG Trident X2, a formidable machine boasting a 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13900KF processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 graphics. However, what truly captivates is the touchscreen on the front, known as the “Human Machine Interface.” This LCD touchscreen offers a myriad of functions, from launching software and controlling your music library to optimizing performance and managing monitor settings for MSI displays. It even features a countdown timer for those who need a touch of discipline. The MSI MEG Trident X2 is more than just a gaming powerhouse; it’s a sophisticated tool for streamlined control and efficiency.
