Sharp 4LifeHub Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

Ashlee Clark Thompson/CNET

Sharp is the third company at this year’s IFA trade show here in Berlin to debut its own take on the smart refrigerator. First, Samsung announced a smaller, European version of its Samsung Family Hub Refrigerator. Then LG debuted its LG Smart Instaview Door-in-Door Refrigerator. Sharp joined the fray Thursday with the 4LifeHub smart refrigerator.

All of these manufacturers have equipped these appliances with Wi-Fi, large touchscreen control panels and apps designed to make domestic life easier.

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But the Sharp 4LifeHub looks to set itself apart by connecting to other large appliances in the kitchen. According to Sharp, you can use the 21-inch control panel built into the refrigerator to manage the settings of your other Sharp appliances such as the dishwasher, oven or washing machine.

The Sharp 4LifeHub will be available only in Europe from early 2017, and the company hasn’t announced the price yet. But the Japanese company’s entrance into the smart fridge race shows that fridges with giant touchscreen panels may not be going away any time soon.

• For all of CNET’s coverage from IFA, click here