Consumer technology manufacturers launched new automated appliances, sleep-tracking devices, foldable phones, and flying-car concepts as the IFA 2026 tech show opened in Berlin, Germany.
IFA 2026 is underway in Berlin, bringing together more than 1,900 brands at Messe Berlin through Tuesday, according to Cnet. While the massive European tech showcase does not officially open to the public until Friday, press events began earlier in the week. Major manufacturers including Samsung, LG, Lenovo, and Acer turned up to demonstrate products ranging from smart home gear to new computing equipment, with artificial intelligence featuring across computers and appliances alike. Cnet reported that travel costs for its staff contributing to its live coverage were covered by IFA, Roborock, Xiaomi, and Lenovo.
Miele Dishwasher and Anker Sleep Tech Launch at Messe Berlin
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Luxury German appliance maker Miele introduced a smart dishwasher equipped with an AI-powered camera mounted on the back of the door, as reported by Cnet. Named the Diamond G8, the appliance uses image recognition to identify what is inside the dishwasher, allowing it to select the ideal washing cycle to clean dishes while minimizing soap and energy use. The system also times its cleaning cycles to run during periods when energy costs are lowest locally.
Meanwhile, Anker debuted its SleepLab Pro bedside speaker. The device features a circular speaker module that floats within an orb-shaped shell, glowing in multiple colors while maintaining a slim footprint. A pop-up radar mounted at the top tracks sleep, heart rate, and breathing without requiring wearables, then plays tailored audio designed to help users fall and stay asleep. Anker is also offering a non-Pro version of the same device without the radar tracking, which functions as a nightlight and plays soft music to lull users to sleep and wake them up in the morning.
XPENG Flying-Car Concept and Xiaomi 18 Fold Debut
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Outdoor exhibition areas and booths hosted unusual transport concepts, including a flying-car prototype displayed at the XPENG booth. Developed by ARIDGE under the XPENG umbrella, the concept combines a six-wheel-drive ground vehicle referred to as a “mothership” van with an autonomous, detachable two-seater air module. The mothership’s trunk transports the air module to different locations and deploys it using an onboard automatic separation-and-reconnection system.
In mobile communications, Xiaomi showed off its Xiaomi 18 Fold at IFA to rival passport-style folding phones like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 and rumored upcoming Apple folding devices. The passport shape gives the Xiaomi 18 Fold a squatter appearance when closed, but provides a wider aspect ratio for the larger inner screen, making it better suited for watching videos.
Unresolved Questions in Wearable-Free Sleep Tracking and Air Mobility
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Despite the wide array of hardware on display, several practical questions remain unanswered as the exhibition continues through Tuesday. Cnet’s reporting notes uncertainty regarding how Anker’s bedside radar tracking functions when multiple people share a bed, raising questions about whether sleep data might be skewed by the presence of a second person. Similarly, the static display of the XPENG flying-car concept left observers questioning how the wide, outstretched propeller arms of the air module physically fit inside the mothership van’s trunk deployment mechanism, leaving the viability of these futuristic concepts open to scrutiny as the show floor opens to the public.
