The doors to Europe’s largest consumer tech show haven’t opened to the public yet, but IFA 2026 in Berlin, Germany, is already spewing gadgets like a particularly productive volcano. If you’re struggling to keep up, here’s a rundown of the best new announcements - including rope lights that refuse to show their LEDs, a phone that moonlights as an e-reader, and a laptop that wants to hug the sun.
Anker’s sleepbuds are back, and they’re here to silence your snoring roommate - or at least drown them out. The $349.99 Soundcore Sleep Earbuds 4 Pro now come with a charging case sporting a round OLED display, so you can check your sleep stats, pick a soundscape, or set an alarm without reaching for your phone. Inside your ears, they pack in-ear PPG sensors to track sleep quality, heart rate, HRV, and other metrics that might explain why you wake up feeling like a zombie.
Oukitel’s RG14-P borrows Lenovo’s solar-powered laptop concept and slaps a panel on the lid that can recharge at up to 10W under “optimal sunlight conditions.” That means roughly six hours of sunbathing to get a dead battery to 50% - so, you know, plan your solar siestas accordingly. It’s set to launch in November with a 14th gen Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, and 512GB storage, ready to soak up rays and productivity.
Philips Hue’s new Liane 360-degree Rope Lights are here to eliminate the dreaded LED dotting effect. Using OmniGlow technology, they emit diffuse light in all directions, with adjustable colors. You can line architectural features, hang them from ceilings, or shape them with clear clips. But your wallet will feel it: a 3-meter version costs $399.99, and a 5-meter one runs $549.99. Because even lighting should be a luxury.
Awol Vision’s LuxVision ultra-short throw projector will set you back $5,999 when it launches later this year - but think of it as a TV killer. From just 7.5 inches away, it projects a 4K/120Hz image up to 120 inches with 6,000 ISO Lumens of brightness. It’s actually cheaper than a comparable flat-panel TV, and its lens can physically shift to reposition the image without digital corrections. It even comes in customizable finishes to match your decor, so your living room can look like a projector showroom.
TCL’s Nxtpaper technology continues its quest to merge phone and e-reader. The new P80 Ultra is the first Nxtpaper phone with a 6.83-inch, 120Hz OLED display, boasting 1.5K resolution and 3,200 nits of peak brightness with an anti-glare coating. A button press activates Max Ink Mode, turning the screen into a paperlike monochrome display with a stripped-down Android UI that reduces distractions and boosts battery life. Because sometimes you need to read without the world screaming for your attention.
Packard Bell - yes, that Packard Bell - is back. Acer is resurrecting the brand for its new 14.5-inch DotBook laptop, plus a collection of colorful accessories: keyboards, speakers, a 4G feature phone, audio glasses, and even a record player. Because nostalgia sells, even if the original brand dates back to 1933 and had its heyday in the 90s.
The smart home has expanded to include fish care, apparently. Dreame’s LumaTempo is a smart fish tank controlled via a mobile app, letting you schedule feedings, check when your fish last ate, and monitor water temperature. It’s expected next year, but pricing remains a mystery - maybe they’ll throw in a complimentary goldfish.
Acer’s DualPlay Mini concept flips the gaming laptop script: it’s a Windows handheld that transforms into a tiny portable PC via a swiveling display that sits atop a mini keyboard. The 8-inch screen might make spreadsheet work a bit like reading a novel through a keyhole, but hey, it’s perfect for answering emails on your commute and then docking to a bigger monitor for real work.
The Dell 14S isn’t as svelte as the XPS 13, but it’s aimed at students and budget-conscious folk. Starting with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage (upgradeable to 16GB/1TB), it sports a 1080P webcam with face unlock, two USB-C ports, a headphone jack, and four color options: linen, dusty rose, washed denim, and velvet green. Because your laptop should match your wardrobe.
iRobot’s Roomba Max 875 Combo ($1,199) introduces “SealForce,” which lowers a skirt around the cleaning head when it detects carpet, creating a better seal for deeper suction. It offers up to 35,000 Pa of suction, mopping, lidar and camera navigation, and can climb obstacles up to 3.5cm. It’s basically a tiny tank for your floors.
Jsaux’s new Voidjoy brand brings the $49.99 SkyLark S1 Pro controller. It’s got drift-resistant TMR thumbsticks, analog triggers, and three connection methods: Bluetooth, USB-C, and 2.4GHz. With 2.4GHz, you can pair two controllers to a single transmitter and swap between them - handy for co-op gaming with a kid who might need a little help.
Is Framework’s repairability ethos finally catching on? Acer’s 16-inch Vero 16 offers tool-free access to its SSD and battery, and the processor can be upgraded - though you’ll need to send it to an Acer service center for that. Pricing is unknown, but it’s expected early next year outside North America.
Finally, for those clinging to their original Nintendo Switch Pro controller, Jsaux’s Elite Extender is a $39.99 aftermarket add-on that attaches to the back, adding four mappable buttons. It has its own rechargeable battery, but you’ll lose Amiibo functionality while it’s attached. Small price to pay for extra buttons, we suppose.