IFA 2026 is lastly wrapping up. After strolling miles and visiting virtually all the 1,900-plus displays, BGR’s protection can be coming to an finish. In this 12 months’s commerce present, distributors have been excessive on AI, robotics, and the subsequent era of wearables. As tacky as it’s to say “The future is now,” IFA made the phrase notably pertinent, as most applied sciences introduced on the commerce present are both out there or slated for a launch in 2026 — together with the widest vary of humanoid robots.
With Chinese robotics firms dominating the present, I ponder how a lot room is left for American and European firms to innovate. Sure, Elon Musk might shock us with one thing like the dancing humanoid Tesla Bot we noticed in 2021, however it’s been very clear that the largest investments within the area are being made by Chinese firms in 2026. While a flawed humanoid robotic may signify an enormous fiasco for an American agency, Chinese firms preserve pushing out robots for real-life duties, giving them correct utilization information to assist iterate on upcoming merchandise.
While some humanoid robots are studying how one can write, others are serving as AI companions (and I imply very intimate companions). It appears like if in case you have just a few thousand {dollars} to speculate, you will get a robotic for absolutely anything. Still, IFA was marked by extra than simply robots, as house home equipment, on a regular basis devices, and extra have continued to make waves on the present.
Chinese firms have turn into the celebrities of the present at IFA
While Korean and Japanese firms have dominated commerce exhibits like this one up to now, IFA 2026 marked an attention-grabbing shift. For instance, Samsung went from being one of the essential exhibitors at IFA to having zero presence on the showroom ground in 2026, as an alternative opting to host its personal personal occasion close by. On the opposite hand, Xiaomi confirmed off over 380 merchandise, and Dreame was among the many prime manufacturers exhibiting on the commerce present. During ShowStoppers, many of the firms highlighted by BGR have been Chinese — or have a Chinese affect — and many of the finest devices within the present now come from China.
Even IFA’s CEO Leif Lindner, in an interview with BGR, highlighted the significance of Chinese firms on the commerce present. Without giving a quantity, Lindner mentioned that Chinese participation has grown considerably, and that the businesses collaborating appear to have cohesive, long-term plans for the American and Chinese markets. “Many of the Chinese brands have a 5- to 10-year plan. When they decide to go [in] a direction, they focus on that. Besides that, [China’s] government is also putting a lot of money [into robotics companies]. With their market shrinking [domestically], they have been expanding globally.”
Lindner additionally highlighted the significance of innovation. “Everyone is welcome at IFA, as long as innovation keeps coming. If it’s coming from Vietnam, Malaysia — they’re welcome. We also spent a lot of time in Taiwan, Singapore, Korea, and Japan telling [companies there] to come. Still, we have a rigorous process of accepting companies, and if they’re just copying products from others, even if they can pay to be here, we don’t want them.”
Everyday innovation additionally issues
On the present ground, BGR additionally noticed that the house equipment market continues to be a spotlight of firms. For house leisure, Xgimi and Jmngo launched their first true 4K 120Hz projectors. Meanwhile, robotic vacuum firms proceed to innovate by including options like steam cleansing, giving robots the power to climb stairs, and even securing well being certifications to make sure that individuals who undergo from bronchial asthma and different respiratory situations can breathe clear air.
For iPhone followers, IFA 2026 continued a yearly pattern of accent makers leaking what they count on to be the design of the brand new fashions. While the iPhone 18 Pro is anticipated to look virtually the identical because the iPhone 17 Pro (which additionally had its design leaked throughout IFA 2025), we bought a primary have a look at a number of the instances for the upcoming foldable iPhone. Brands are a bit extra cautious round sharing any ultimate specs, however all of them appear to agree that the passport-like form is about to turn into a actuality.
Still speaking about early seems to be, BGR had the chance to work together with the Xiaomi 18 Fold forward of its official debut on retailer cabinets and, fact be advised, I’m not the largest fan of the passport design — or of foldables typically. While the system is gentle and an engineering marvel, I believe followers of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Pixel 11 Pro Fold are overhyping their buy choices to common clients. Lastly, we additionally had an unique demo with Xreal’s Aura MR headset, and it really appears like a lighter Apple Vision Pro with an enormous concentrate on leisure and productiveness.