This week, a few hundred thousand members of the tech industry descend on Berlin for IFA, Europe’s biggest tech show.IFA 2022, Europe’s biggest tech show, is back and this time it’s happening in person after a hiatus of two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The show runs from Friday, September 2 through Tuesday, September 6 with keynotes, events and announcements all day and night. However, the conference actually starts today, with many companies intended to offer a preview of what’s about to come next. LG, Samsung, Asus, and Nokia are usually the big names that showcase the latest consumer devices and appliances.
In recent years, the focus has shifted. Many big companies have opted to make announcements on their own stages. That being said, tech shows like IFA are still relevant. Asus, for instance, used IFA 2022 to launch its first laptop with a foldable screen. LG, meanwhile, will be showcasing the world’s largest OLED TV as well as a 42-inch OLED TV with a bendable display. There’s plenty to see and take in beyond TVs and laptops.
Most of the new tech we see in Berlin won’t ship right away. But IFA remains a good opportunity to see what our big tech companies are thinking about the coming months or years.
The Nokia X30 5G is a premium smartphone, featuring a classic made of aluminium and a polycarbonate rear cover. The phone has a 6.43-inch AMOLED screen with a 2400 x 1080 pixel resolution, a 4,200mAh battery, and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 processor with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM, and 128GB or 256GB of storage space. It is durable with an IP67 water resistance rating and Gorilla Glass Victus over the screen.
Got a pair of limited-edition Nike Air Jordans or Gucci sneakers? You need the Styler ShoeCase and ShowCare from LG. Announced at IFA 2022, LG ShoeCase features transparent panels that allow you to showcase in an organised way. LG says the ShoeCase will also protect against humidity and fabric-discolouring UV light The LG Styler ShoeCare meanwhile, uses the company's TrueSteam technology to refresh shoes and there are 10 courses to choose from depending on the fabric of the shoe, all of which soak up moisture and help remove smells.
Lenovo has made a pair of AR glasses that are designed to give you a large second-screen experience. The company’s new Glasses T1 features micro OLED screens, swappable noise clips, adjustable arms, and even support prescription lenses. The idea is to use these glasses when you need to get the work done when you are travelling and have limited space. Just plug the glasses into smartphones or PC (any device with display output via USB-C), and you get a large virtual monitor. The Glasses T1 also work with iPhones. We don’t know the price yet, but Lenovo says the Glasses T1 will first hit the Chinese market later this year, followed by other “select markets” next year.
Lenovo is updating its ThinkPad X1 Fold, a foldable laptop with huge potential. It has now a bigger 16..3-inch OLED screen - when folded up, you now get a device that’s closer to a 12-inch. It can be used opened up in portrait or landscape mode or you can fold it at an angle and have it as a mini laptop, thanks to the optional Bluetooth keyboard. Inside, it’s powered by the Intel Core 12th generation U processor - and yes, there are no fans inside. The ThinkPad X1 Fold will hit retail stores in November, with prices starting at $2499 in the US.
JBL has introduced a new pair of earbuds that come with the world's first smart charging case. The JBL Tour Pro 2 buds ship with a charging case packing a 1.45-inch LED touchscreen display. The small display let users know about the remaining battery life for each earbud as well as they can notifications without having to reach for their phone. The buds feature 10mm dynamic drivers and connect wirelessly via Bluetooth 5.3. They also feature active noise cancellation.
LG has showcased what appears to be a bendable display that curves to improve immersion or rest flat for viewing shows or movies. The LG OLED Flex has a 42-inch screen with support for 4K visuals and a 120Hz refresh rate. This type of device will certainly be a hit among gamers.
At IFA 2022, Asus finally gave us concrete details about the company’s first foldable laptop. Dubbed, the Zenbook 17 Fold OLED, the device features a massive 17.3-inch OLED foldable display which can be used in multiple orientations. Under the hood, an Intel i7-1250U processor can be found accompanied by 16GB of RAM, an Intel Iris XE GPU, and a 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD. It will also come with Windows 11 preinstalled by default. The Zenbook 17 Fold OLED was first unveiled in January at CES 2022 in Las Vegas.