From the moment you arrive at IFA 2026, a tangible shift is immediately palpable. Someone has been listening, and the changes are resoundingly positive. With an influx of new brands and a sharp focus on innovation—particularly artificial intelligence and its capacity to elevate hardware capability—this year marks a seminal evolution in IFA’s rich history. Welcoming over 240,000 visitors from 155 countries and featuring more than 2,000 exhibitors, this record-breaking edition firmly reaffirmed IFA’s position as an indispensable global stage for consumer technology.
Since its inception in 1924, IFA Berlin has served as the premier platform where technology leaders, innovators, and industry experts gather to shape the future of consumer electronics. Uniquely positioned as the only trade show where B2B and B2C audiences converge seamlessly in one venue, it fosters direct interaction between suppliers, trade professionals, and end consumers. This dynamic dialogue yields invaluable feedback, deep insights, and lucrative business opportunities.
Innovation took centre stage this year, with unprecedented solutions operating alongside vastly enhanced products powered by AI. As the CEO of Google DeepMind predicted, the sheer velocity of change driven by artificial intelligence is accelerating progress at a pace tenfold greater and faster than the Industrial Revolution. On the exhibition floor, traditional appliances gave way to hyper-connected home ecosystems and autonomous helpers, cementing AI and robotics as the central focal points of IFA 2026.
While debate persists around democratising AI and addressing its broader societal impact, the technology’s ability to solve complex global challenges and drive human progress is undeniable. Exhibitors showcased everything from advanced humanoid assistants designed for daily chores, to AI-driven robotic pets offering emotional companionship. Intelligent home appliances—such as next-generation refrigerators that actively manage inventory and highly automated floor cleaners- were ubiquitous. However, the standout product for me was the Hypershell Halo: a remarkably lightweight mobility exoskeleton providing structural assistance during walking and running.
In the context of consumer electronics (CE), we stand on the precipice of a major hardware super-cycle as products evolve to deliver enhanced consumer utility. The overall outlook remains positive, underscored by a 16.6% growth in the global CE sector since 2021. However, with a local slowdown of -5% in China, Chinese brands are aggressively expanding into international markets. Navigating this shift represents one of five macro challenges impacting the global CE landscape alongside consolidation, memory shortages, regional conflicts, and currency fluctuations.
Hisense demonstrated this trajectory with its generative AI companion suite, transforming traditional user interaction. By sensing, evaluating, and adapting to household habits, the system customises interface layouts and recommendations in real time. Grounded in a privacy-first foundation, Hisense’s AIOS ecosystem spans across its entire lineup of televisions and smart appliances; including an AI-enabled oven engineered to streamline meal preparation.
This approach is shared across the sector, with television and major domestic appliance (MDA) manufacturers leveraging software-driven AI functionality to complement hardware refinements. Sleek aesthetic choices—brushed steel finishes, flush controls, and minimalist designs—created striking showroom displays, even if their practicality for high-traffic domestic environments remains to be seen.
Could the end of manual domestic chores be near? That was the core theme of Miele’s presence at IFA Berlin, where the company highlighted how AI, advanced sensors, and connected systems can minimise decision-making in daily tasks.
Leading their flagship lineup was the new G8 Diamond dishwasher, featuring an integrated camera that uses AI to analyse load contents and capacity, automatically optimising wash and dry cycles. Miele also showcased Cary, a concept washing machine engineered to detect fabric types automatically, alongside CulinaryCoach, an AI assistant providing tailored culinary guidance via the Miele app. Miele’s strategy focuses on deliberate simplification: deploying intelligent hardware to alleviate cognitive load for the consumer.
While Samsung Electronics opted out of a traditional exhibition booth at IFA 2026, hosting an off-site event in Berlin’s museum district instead, their presence reinforced the ubiquity of integrated AI. Their showcase included the Bespoke AI Washing Machine, the interactive Premiere 5 projector, and an expansive TV portfolio highlighting Micro RGB displays and gaming-focused enhancements. Although Samsung delivered a comprehensive connected narrative across home and entertainment, their off-site strategy opened up significant room for rival brands exhibiting directly on the IFA floor to capture primary attention.
Meanwhile, Anker Innovations introduced MindBase, a smart-home central hub built on local AI processing. Powered by its TrueSmart Agent, MindBase processes security feeds and event summaries locally without heavy cloud reliance, supporting Matter protocols and major platforms like Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Apple HomeKit, with expandable storage up to 48TB.
In automated garden care, Anker eufy introduced the Robot Lawn Mower S2 Max, featuring a retractable trimming arm designed to eliminate manual edge trimming along walls and driveways. Utilising onboard 3D mapping and AI navigation, it operates without boundary wires across areas up to 3.7 acres and gradients up to 80%.
IFA also gave the public the opportunity to meet AiMe, TCL’s modular AI companion robot being showcased at IFA Berlin. Designed to feel more like a companion than a conventional smart-home device, AiMe can hold conversations, play games, tell stories and learn household routines. It can also move around the home, capture photos and videos, and respond to voices, expressions and emotional cues.
Its modular design brings together three detachable components: the expressive Baby Core, mobile Drive Core and portable Mini Core, allowing AiMe to adapt to different moments and spaces.
What caught our attention was TCL’s focus on giving AI a sense of personality and physical presence, exploring how future technology could offer interaction as well as functionality.
In specialised display tech, Sylvox highlighted its Frameless Pro Outdoor TV, featuring a 1.5mm ultra-narrow bezel, 2,000-nit peak brightness for direct sunlight visibility, IP56 weather resistance, yes, to rain also and integrated Google TV with an AI wallpaper generator.
Smart cleaning innovations were equally prominent at Dreame’s display, headlined by the Aqua20 Pro Ultra Roller X Complete vacuum. Equipped with 180°C steam mopping, extendable rollers, and AI cameras recognising over 320 object types, it exemplified the shift toward higher automation in floor care.
Collectively, industry leaders like Dreame, TCL, Haier, Midea, and Miele demonstrated how AI integration, space optimisation, and premium finishes are redefining modern residential living, establishing a strong momentum heading into retail channels.
Robotics maintained an omnipresent force across the venue, spanning a range of functional and creative implementations:
- Senso by Soildtech Technologies: An AI plant sensor delivering real-time soil, temperature, and sunlight tracking via a gamified interface.
- Rise by Viaim: AI agent earbuds designed to record, structure, and convert verbal conversations into actionable work items.
- TRON by Airseekers Robotics: A wire-free robotic mower combining vision-based navigation with a FlowCut mulching system.
- Solvia 8×32 by MatataXplore: AI-powered outdoor binoculars integrating species identification and media recording.
- SunLED Life Science: Near-infrared light therapy devices designed for passive workplace wellness and mood enhancement.
- 733 Healthcare Robot by Bodyfriend: An AI wearable massage robot offering customised joint mobility and active stretching routines.
- Omni S2 & MarsWalker by Anker eufy: A multi-floor robotic cleaning solution utilising a tracked stair-climbing carrier.
- AiMe by TCL: A modular companion robot combining adaptive social AI with detachable functional hardware cores.
Wearable technology is moving beyond wrists and glasses, and not only the standout wearable but also the overall standout innovation of the show mentioned above; the Halo exoskeleton from Hypershell. Featuring a carbon-fibre and titanium frame weighing 2.6kg, it coordinates four quad-motors and over 30 sensors to assist lower-body movement up to 20km. Portable and foldable, it represents a transformative leap for mobility assist tech at an accessible price point.
Ultimately, IFA 2026 underscored an industry moving decisively toward intelligent, autonomous living. For savvy retailers and consumers alike, the rapid integration of AI across hardware promises a compelling new wave of opportunities with products reaching store shelves and consumers’ homes in the immediate future.
To read the full published article by Daniel Todaro, CEO, Gekko Group, please visit ERT Magazine
