The strength of China's technology enterprises cannot be ignored anymore.

Driven by the generative AI trend, technological advancements are accelerating in 2024. Following CES, MWC, and AWE, IFA, which showcases the technological trends in the digital consumer industry for the second half of the year, is about to kick off. After comprehensive coverage of CES, MWC, and AWE, Leitech will once again send editors to Berlin, Germany, to report on IFA.

IFA, short for Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin, has been held since 1924 and is celebrating its 100th anniversary. As one of the world's three largest electronics exhibitions, IFA showcases a wide range of AI hard tech, including consumer electronics, traditional and smart appliances, smart homes, interactive entertainment, smart health, XR spatial computing, and smart wearables.

According to official information, IFA 2024 will be held at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds in Germany from September 6 to 10, 2024. The expected number of visitors is over 182,000, with over 2,200 exhibitors from 139 countries participating.

Image Source: IFA

Since their first appearance at IFA in 1980, the proportion of Chinese exhibitors has continued to rise, reaching approximately 67% in 2023, making them a significant force at the exhibition. In 2024, IFA may see even more participation from China. Leitech understands that many hard tech brands, including Lenovo, Honor, TCL, Hisense, Changhong, Longsys, Timekettle, NARWAL, Dreame, Romoss, XGIMI, Dangbei, Baseus, UGREEN, Insta360, DJI, and Leifen, will exhibit. Brands like Lenovo, Honor, TCL, and Hisense, which prioritize overseas markets, especially Europe, attach great importance to IFA. So far, many manufacturers have officially announced their participation in IFA 2024 and even revealed their exhibition highlights. Leitech was among the first to investigate and compile this information, providing an exclusive preview of IFA 2024.

Bringing the Museum to IFA: Longsys Showcases China's Storage Innovation

Unlike CES, which focuses on the entire consumer electronics industry, or MWC, which specializes in mobile technology, IFA's rich history lends a unique charm to the exhibition, perfectly aligned with Longsys' Information Storage Museum concept.

On the occasion of IFA's 100th anniversary, Longsys will showcase the evolution of storage technology over the past century. From early binary storage on punched cards to portable USB drives, each exhibit represents a milestone in the development of information storage. Visitors can explore the endless possibilities of the digital world through these artifacts.

Image Source: Longsys

Furthermore, Lexar, a storage brand under Longsys, will showcase its innovative high-end data storage solutions at IFA, including professional image storage, personal system storage, mobile storage, and innovative storage options.

As the poster proclaims, storage technology 'creates infinite possibilities.' During its 25-year history, Longsys has witnessed breakthroughs and advancements in domestic storage technology. In the first half of 2024, Longsys generated revenue of RMB 9.039 billion, a year-on-year increase of 143.82%, with a net profit of RMB 594 million, up 199.64% year-on-year.

Longsys is actively transforming from a traditional memory manufacturer to a semiconductor storage brand. Riding on the wave of generative AI, we look forward to seeing more innovative products across different fields in the future.

AI PCs in Focus: Lenovo and Honor Kick Off Official Announcements

Last year, Honor CEO Zhao Ming emphasized the importance of the European market and will undoubtedly attend IFA 2024. As early as August 19, Zhao Ming officially announced Honor's participation on social media.

Image Source: Honor

Honor's product highlights for this exhibition include bringing the Magic V3 foldable phone, the MagicPad 2 tablet, and the MagicBook Art 14 laptop to the global market. These products were previously launched in China, so their specifications and user experience will not be elaborated upon here.

As evident from the posters, the global launch of these products is just one aspect. More importantly, Honor can showcase its AI PCs and edge AI capabilities to the industry through these products.

In February this year, Honor unveiled its first AI PC at MWC 2024, demonstrating how the product integrates AI technology with the user experience through a comprehensive technical architecture, enabling platform-level AI to fully empower human-computer interaction. Given that AI is one of the core themes of IFA 2024, Honor is bound to showcase its latest practices and concepts for AI PCs. Leitech will pay close attention to this.

Lenovo is also focusing on AI PCs. As one of the hottest concepts in the PC industry, 'AI PC' has received a positive response from most PC manufacturers since its introduction by Intel, and Lenovo is no exception.

On the eve of IFA 2024, information source Evan Blass tweeted on platform X, revealing that Lenovo will launch a series of groundbreaking new products at the exhibition, including highly anticipated AI PC models from the ThinkPad X1, ThinkBook, Yoga, Yoga Pro, and Legion product lines, all showcasing their latest features.

Image Source: X

Notably, Lenovo stated that they would also unveil an 'unprecedented' product at the event. Although Lenovo has not disclosed more details, the description suggests confidence in the product. Considering Lenovo's breakthroughs and advancements in the PC sector this year, this new product has garnered significant attention.

From AI to Scenarios: TCL Leads the Way in Mini LED TVs

2024 is widely regarded as the inaugural year of AI hardware, with manufacturers intensively launching AI-powered mobile phones, PCs, and home appliances.

Smart home appliances are no longer a novel concept, but AI-powered applications in home appliances are just beginning. As the hub of smart homes and the core of large-screen entertainment in living rooms, TVs are likely to lead the integration of AI large models and home appliances.

Recently, TCL announced that it would showcase a comprehensive range of smart terminals and solutions, including TVs, air conditioners, refrigerators, washers, AR glasses, and in-car devices, under the theme 'Intelligent Technology, Unleashing the Future' at IFA 2024. TVs will be the star attraction at the exhibition.

Image Source: TCL

For instance, TCL will showcase the world's first HDR 6500nits QD-Mini LED TV, the X965, and the third-generation Art TV from the A300 series. As a leader in the TV industry, TCL's backlight zoning and peak brightness specifications are well-known. However, what surprises Leitech is the integration of AI with TVs.

Leveraging AI computing power and deep learning models, TVs can enhance picture quality systematically. Additionally, AI TVs incorporate innovative AI applications such as content recommendation, AI-generated artwork, AI image optimization, and AI fitness programs, offering users ample imagination space.

Chinese Brands Dominate Smart Cleaning: Who Will Provide the Optimal Solution?

In 2024, the cleaning appliance market continues to evolve with robot vacuums, moppers, floor washers, and vacuum cleaners progressing in parallel. Robot vacuums were the first widely adopted smart cleaning devices, with all-in-one stations rapidly becoming mainstream. Manufacturers continue to iterate and innovate in this space. Additionally, floor washers are gaining momentum, encroaching on the vacuum cleaner market.

According to Leitech, top smart cleaning brands Dreame and NARWAL will showcase innovative products at IFA 2024.

Dreame plans to exhibit the L40 Ultra robot vacuum, H14 Pro floor washer, lawn mower robot, and pool cleaning robot at IFA. The L40 Ultra features Dreame's world-first dual mechanical arms, enabling edge cleaning through brush extension and lifting. Its self-cleaning function and 11,000Pa suction power make it adept at tackling both ground and carpet stains.

Image Source: Dreame

While NARWAL has yet to announce its exhibition lineup, Leitech notes that NARWAL recently launched the J5, a new generation of smart robot vacuums. It's possible that NARWAL will showcase this product at IFA, demonstrating its features and user experience to international audiences.

Despite numerous advancements, robot vacuums still struggle with edge cleaning and hair entanglement. NARWAL's J5 addresses these issues with its innovative hair-free technology, enabling the side brush to untangle hair automatically. Even stubborn stains in corners can be tackled with its biomimetic hand-mopping system.

At IFA 2024, what other powerful smart cleaning devices will smart cleaning manufacturers unveil? Stay tuned for Leitech's on-site reports.

Endless Innovations in Smart Hardware: Timekettle and Insta360 Unleash Big Moves

The impact of AI technology on various industries is evident at this year's consumer electronics exhibitions. For instance, at CES 2023, Timekettle's AI translation TWS earbuds, the Timekettle X1, required only pressing a button and speaking into the device for automatic translation playback. In bidirectional translation scenarios, one earbud per person triggers the AI translation engine for real-time, two-way communication, significantly enhancing cross-lingual communication experiences.

Leitech understands that Timekettle will launch a new AI simultaneous interpretation earbud at IFA 2024, and Leitech will continue to monitor and report on the latest developments.

Image Source: Timekettle

Joining Timekettle at IFA is Insta360, a leading global panoramic imaging brand. Since its debut at IFA in 2016 with the first consumer-grade panoramic camera, the Nano, this will be Insta360's sixth participation. Insta360 will showcase its comprehensive product line, ranging from consumer-grade to professional-grade devices.

Image Source: Insta360

Products on display include the flagship 8K panoramic action camera X4, the Ace Pro series of all-in-one wide-angle action cameras, and professional-grade products like the 11K VR panoramic camera Titan and the 8K VR panoramic camera Pro 2.

AI Takes Center Stage Again, Driving Consumer Electronics Innovation

In recent years, a major theme at IFA has been the intelligent and sustainable innovation of consumer electronics, a trend that spans across the entire industry rather than being limited to specific sectors. However, intelligence and innovation are endless pursuits; there is always room for improvement.

Over the past decade, the underlying logic of all smart hardware, including smartphones, smart computers, and smart homes, has been based on 'perceptual intelligence' rooted in deep learning. While these devices can recognize environmental elements like faces and voices, they lack cognitive abilities. Many devices can be labeled as 'smart' or 'intelligent' simply by being connected to the internet and interacting through apps, but their actual user experiences often leave much to be desired. Some 'smart appliances' are even derisively labeled as 'pseudo-intelligent' or 'idiotic appliances.'

Since the beginning of this year, AI large models have played a significant role in various industries. With the advent of the AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) era, AI can comprehensively understand and simulate the real world. Simply put, AI products bypass the cognitive intermediary of humans, truly serving users from their perspective. For instance, AI PCs can better adjust to users' habits, enabling truly intelligent office work. Similarly, robot vacuums can better map room environments, achieving truly intelligent cleaning.

It is foreseeable that AI, particularly generative AI, large models, and AGI, will be the absolute focus of IFA 2024, as evidenced at previous CES and MWC exhibitions. However, with a higher proportion of Chinese companies participating in IFA, the AI products they will bring are the biggest highlight of this year's exhibition.

Leitech will report live from IFA, bringing you a series of exclusive content, including on-site exploration, in-depth observations, exclusive interviews, new product updates, product experiences, and video vlogs. Please search for 'Leitech' and follow us to stay tuned.

Source: Leitech