IFA 2026 is underway in Berlin, bringing thousands of brands to the Messe Berlin Expo Center to showcase new AI-driven appliances, foldable smartphones, and sleep technology ahead of the show’s public opening on Friday, September 4, 2026.
Europe’s largest consumer technology showcase has officially kicked off its press events in Berlin. Every year over 200,000 people descend on Berlin for IFA, think CES, but with way more sauerkraut. More than 1,900 brands, including major manufacturers like Samsung, LG, Lenovo, and Acer, are expected at Messe Berlin through Tuesday, according to reporting from Cnet. While the massive exhibition hall does not open its doors to the general public until Friday, September 4, 2026, on-the-ground reporting has already revealed a wave of new consumer electronics, appliances, and transport concepts.
IFA itself runs from September 4th to 8th, but most of the biggest news arrives in the day or two before the show officially opens to the public. CNET is in Berlin getting hands-on with the biggest products and digging through the chaos to find the stuff actually worth paying attention to. Our team of seven is stomping the halls of the Messe Berlin Expo Center, tracking down all the coolest, weirdest and most jaw-dropping tech. Travel costs for CNET staff contributing to this liveblog were covered by IFA, Roborock, Xiaomi and Lenovo, though the judgments and opinions of CNET are their own.
Miele Launches AI-Powered Camera Dishwasher
Luxury German appliance manufacturer Miele used the pre-show events to debut a smart dishwasher featuring an integrated camera system, according to Cnet. Mounted on the back of the door, the camera utilizes image recognition technology to identify the contents of the appliance.
Known as the Diamond G8, the smart appliance evaluates what is loaded inside to select the optimal wash cycle, designed to balance thorough cleaning with minimized water, detergent, and energy consumption. Cnet reported that the appliance also schedules its cleaning cycles to run during periods when local energy costs are lowest.
Anker SleepLab Pro Tracks Sleep Without Wearables
Anker expanded its audio and wellness lineup with the introduction of the SleepLab Pro bedside speaker. The device features a circular speaker module that floats inside an orb-shaped shell and glows in multiple colors, maintaining a slim footprint despite its height.
A pop-up radar mounted on top of the device tracks a user’s heart rate, breathing, and sleep patterns, then generates customized audio tracks designed to help individuals fall and stay asleep. The system operates entirely without wearables. A non-Pro version of the same device omits the radar tracking mechanism while retaining the nightlight and soft music playback features.
XPENG Demos Detachable Flying-Car Concept
Among the unconventional exhibits on the convention floor, the XPENG booth drew attention with a flying-car concept developed under its umbrella by ARIDGE. The system pairs a six-wheel-drive ground vehicle, styled similarly to a van with something of a Cybertruck appearance, with an autonomous, detachable two-seater air module.
The ground vehicle acts as a mothership equipped with an onboard automatic separation-and-reconnection system designed to transport and deploy the air module from its trunk. Cnet noted that the vehicles were stationary on the show floor, with wide propeller arms folded on the air module.
Xiaomi Expands Foldable Lineup With Xiaomi 18 Fold
Following recent industry shifts toward passport-shaped foldable devices—such as Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8—Xiaomi showcased its new Xiaomi 18 Fold at IFA. The passport design creates a more squat form factor when closed, giving the interior screen a wider aspect ratio intended to improve video viewing capabilities.
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