IFA 2026 puts smarter, stranger consumer tech in the spotlight

IFA 2026 has opened in Berlin with manufacturers showing off devices that stretch the boundaries of familiar consumer technology. The event runs at Messe Berlin from September 4 to 8 under the theme “The future is now.”

Tecno brought a bezel-less concept phone whose 6.78-inch OLED display curves beneath the metal frame, leaving almost no visible border. Lenovo demonstrated the ThinkBook Project Swan, a 14-inch laptop that can expand its flexible OLED display horizontally to 17 inches.

Robotic cleaning is taking a more elaborate turn. iRobot unveiled the Roomba Duo concept, pairing a larger vacuum-and-mop machine with a smaller robot carried on top. The smaller unit can be sent into areas the main cleaner cannot reach, while both machines share a map of the home to coordinate their work.

Other exhibits included Oukitel’s laptop with a solar panel built into its lid, Anker sleep earbuds that monitor heart rate and sleep quality, and Philips Hue’s Liane 360-degree rope lighting, which spreads adjustable light in every direction rather than exposing individual LEDs.

The show also features products between established categories. Acer revived the Packard Bell name for a laptop and accessories, while its DualPlay Mini concept converts a handheld Windows gaming device into a miniature computer by shifting its screen over a keyboard. TCL’s Nxtpaper P80 Ultra combines smartphone and e-reader ideas.