What to expect at IFA 2016

Consumer electronics trade show IFA takes place in Berlin at the beginning of September every year.

It’s been the platform for some major launches over the last couple of years from the first few generations of Samsung Galaxy Note devices to some of Sony’s biggest announcements.

What can we expect at IFA 2016 though? We been doing some speculating, as well as rounded up any rumoured devices we’ve heard about. As usual we will update this feature over the next few months as we hear of more potential announcements.

Apple at IFA 2016

Apple notoriously doesn’t have a presence at IFA, or any other trade show for that matter. It does normally steal some of the limelight back with its own event around the time of IFA though.

Don’t expect anything from Apple at IFA itself but the iPhone 7 is likely to be announced within a couple of days of the show, if last year is anything to go by anyway. You can read all the rumours for the next iPhone in our separate feature.

Huawei at IFA 2016

Huawei announced the Mate S at IFA 2015 and revealed the price and availability for its Android Wear smartwatch.

There aren’t currently any rumours suggesting what the Chinese firm will present us with at this year’s IFA but expect something. We’d place our bets on a new smartphone if nothing else.

LG at IFA 2016

LG tends to use IFA to make several announcements from new TVs to wearables to smart appliances.

There have been rumours to suggest the South Korean company will unveil the G Flex 3 smartphone at the show but we don’t expect that to be all it has up its sleeve.

We wouldn’t be surprised to see a new range of TVs, along with a couple of other surprises. Perhaps an Ultra HD Blu-ray player will make an appearance? Who knows.

Motorola at IFA 2016

Lenovo-owned Motorola announced three versions of the Moto 360 smartwatch at IFA 2015. We’ve already seen the Moto G arrive and the Moto X or Moto Z as it is also being called is due to follow before IFA begins.

If the smartphones are out of the way, will that mean Motorola turns its attention to wearables again? If the Moto 360 3 graces us with its presence, hopefully it will be without that black bar.

Panasonic at IFA 2016

Like LG, Panasonic also uses IFA as a platform to make several announcements. It launched a 4G home monitoring camera at IFA 2015, along with a 65-inch THX-certified 4K OLED TV.

The company also tends to keep things interesting by featuring a few conceptual pieces on its stand too. What it will present at IFA 2016 remains to be seen but we’d expect TVs and smarthome to both be high on the agenda.

Panasonic already has an Ultra HD Blu-ray player but it isn’t cheap so maybe we’ll see a cheaper one appear at IFA 2016.

Philips at IFA 2016

Philips has several brands and segments within its portfolio so expect a few announcements from the company at IFA 2016.

The company revealed a suite of health products at IFA 2015 including the Health Watch. We already know the Health Watch will be made available from this year’s IFA for around €250 but what else Philips and its brands will announce is a guessing game for now.

Samsung at IFA 2016

In the past, Samsung has used IFA to launch its Galaxy Note smartphone. This all changed last year when the company opted to announce the Note 5 early though, using IFA to reveal the Gear 2 Tizen smartwatch and an Ultra HD Blu-ray player instead.

We don’t expect the Note 6 or Note 7 as it has recently been called to appear at IFA 2016. We do however expect Samsung to unveil some new TVs and we wouldn’t be surprised to see a focus on VR, as well as possibly another wearable for good measure. We’re just guessing for now though.

Sony at IFA 2016

IFA is a big show for Sony. It not only launches new TVs, but it also tends to expand its audio range, mobile line-up and every now and then it throws in a couple of extra devices for good measure.

Sony has yet to come to market with an Ultra HD Blu-ray player so we wouldn’t be surprised to see one of those appear on its stand, as well as a new mobile flagship. You can read about all the rumours for the next Xperia flagship in our separate feature.