Gutentag and willkommen to our round-up of the hottest tech at this year’s IFA (Internationale FunkAusstellung aka Berlin International Radio Exhibition): the five-day tech show that’s one of the longest-running in the world. We’ve picked eight products that caught our eye from the multitude on show, and have summarised all the key info for you below. So without wasting any time, let’s dive in!
Most innovative AI product: LG Self-Driving AI Home Hub
Hands-down the most envelope-pushing product we saw at IFA 2024 was this little robot from LG. Essentially a mobile Smart-Home hub combined with AI, this pioneering gadget resembles something straight out of a sci-fi movie: whether that’s thrilling or unsettling depends on your perspective!
The Self-Driving AI Home Hub drives around on two wheels, using cameras and sensors to navigate, and uses ChatGPT 4.0 tech to allow it to respond to your commands and interpret information. The example given was that it could follow your children when it’s time for bed, automatically dim the lights without being told, and then tell them an AI-generated bedtime story based on its interpretation of a drawn image: crazy stuff!
If this innovative assistant interests you, it’s slated for release in early 2025: initially in South Korea, and likely in other markets not long after.
Best drone: DJI Neo
Solidifying their dominance of that affordable drone market, DJI showed off their new Neo drone: an ultralight and compact device with 4K video capability. Weighing in at a mere 135g /4.76oz and measuring 130 x 157 x 48.5mm the drone is small enough to rest on the palm of your hand, meaning it can navigate small spaces, particularly when the propeller guards are fitted to give some protection against accidentally bumping into walls.
Capable of shooting in 4K video or taking 12MP still photography, the DJI Neo comes equipped with camera stabilization and AI-driven tracking, allowing it to keep the subject centered in the frame even as it moves. It comes with six standard flight movements pre-programmed (Boomerang, Circle, Dronie, Helix, Rocket, and Spotlight) and can be controlled via dedicated remote or even just a mobile phone app (plus comes with voice commands).
With an MSRP of $199 (for the drone on its own) or $289 (for the full combo kit), this very reasonable pricing makes it a great option for those starting out.
Best AI laptop application: Lenovo Auto Twist AI
The Lenovo Auto Twist AI PC, despite the name, is a laptop that incorporates AI tracking technology and a rotating screen hinge to constantly turn to face you, even if you’re moving around the room. The screen also responds to voice commands, which let you close/open the lid, switch it between landscape and portrait mode, and more! The design is intended to be ideal for those making presentations who want the freedom to move around a bit, or could be well-suited for streamers working from their laptop. Although the range of the hinge is limited to 180° of movement, this is still very impressive.
This specific laptop is a show unit only, and it’s uncertain whether we’ll see it reach the consumer market, however, we strongly suspect that we’ll see this tech released in some laptops over the coming years.
Best gaming laptop concept: Acer Project Dual Play
Acer had a couple of products at IFA 2024 that caught our eye, and the first of them was another concept laptop, this time with a gaming focus. The Project Dual Play is a gaming laptop with a built-in controller that docks below the keyboard, acting as a trackpad. When released from its housing, the controller flips over to reveal a full-size, dual-stick controller, with a D-pad and myriad buttons. Even better the controller can separate into two sections that work just like Nintendo Switch’s Joy-Cons, allowing for cooperative or competitive multiplayer gaming.
Currently, the Project Dual Play is just a prototype and is not expected to be available for purchase in its current form. We hope to see something similar hit the retail market in the near future though.
Best handheld gaming device: Acer Nitro Blaze 7
The gaming handheld space is getting increasingly competitive, and that can only be a good thing for the consumer! The latest device to enter the fray is the Acer Nitro Blaze 7, which comes with a 1080p 7″ touchscreen with 144Hz max refresh rate and FreeSync Premium support. This mini gaming device is powered by a Ryzen 8840HS processor with Radeon 780M graphics and 16GB LPDDR5x RAM (7500MT/s). You also get AMD Radeon Super Resolution support to enhance performance.
Remarkably, the Nitro Blaze 7 offers a very tasty 2TB of SSD storage for your games, matching the capacity of many desktop PCs. It supports Wi-Fi 6E and includes two USB4 Type-C ports. Running on Windows 11, the device utilizes an app called Acer Game Space for game management and is reported to have a battery life of approximately 8 hours. We don’t yet know when the Nitro Blaze 7 will be hitting the shelves, but our bet is just before Christmas (for obvious reasons), certainly no later than Q1 2025.
Best smart TV: TCL X11H
Buying a new smart TV represents a sizable bit of expenditure, so we’re always pleased to see new products in the more mid-range pricing band rather than just the high-end, as this is where the majority of people will be buying their device.
TCL has become a respected name in the mid-tier TV space in recent years, and their latest TCL X11H model comes with an impressively bright 6,500 nits mini-LED panel, enhanced color accuracy, and an increased number of dimming zones, with over 10,000 on the 85-inch version, the net result being superior contrast. You can expect to see the TCL X11H hit the shelves in H1 2025.
Fastest gaming monitor: Acer Nitro XV240 F6
There’s a new claimant for fastest gaming monitor in the West: the Acer Nitro XV240 F6. This 24-inch display has a blistering 600Hz maximum refresh rate and runs on a TN panel meaning it should have great gray-to-gray response times as well. In refresh rate terms, there’s nothing out there that can match this beast.
This device is definitely geared towards competitive gamers only, coming with the classic 1920 x 1080 resolution to ensure maximum performance: if you’re looking for a more immersive screen for singleplayer titles, we’d probably opt for something bigger with a 1440p/1600p, at the expense of refresh rate.
The Nitro XV240 F6 is expected to launch in Q1 2025, with a retail price of $599 / €899.
Best smartphone: Honor Magic V3
We’ve already seen the Honor Magic 3 hit the shelves in China to great acclaim, but now this foldable smartphone is launching in Europe (though sadly not the US). We’ve seen foldable phones before but none this slim or lightweight: measuring just 9.2mm thick when folded and 4.4mm when unfolded, and weighing only 226g, it’s great to see how far mobile technology has come. Despite its sleek and light build, it houses a robust 5,150mAh battery that can easily last more than a day when folded, or around 8 hours when unfolded and viewing videos etc. The phone supports fast wired and wireless charging, allowing it to reach full charge in under an hour.
It is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and includes a dual telephoto rear camera setup (50MP and 50MP with 3.5x zoom), along with a 40MP ultrawide camera.
The phone looks great overall, featuring a 6.43-inch cover screen for regular use and a 7.92-inch foldable internal display, perfect for viewing videos on the move or for using like a mini tablet.
