Although IFA Berlin 2024 has been behind us for a while now, it’s still worth taking a moment to share the top trends that dominated the show. Celebrating its 100th anniversary, the fair is an established event for must-see innovations shaping the future of smart home appliances. Balancing rapid technological advancements with real consumer needs and affordability, manufacturers aim to push boundaries with AI-driven features and sustainable solutions. Yet they’re grappling with challenges around production costs, scaling smart technologies, and ensuring these innovations truly add value to users’ lives without creating unnecessary complexity.
Sustainability takes center stage
Sustainability was more than just a buzzword at this year’s IFA, it was an essential part of the conversation. Across multiple sessions and workshops on next-gen products, leaders discussed the circular economy, right-to-repair and ecodesign. Many manufacturers unveiled energy-saving features in their household appliances, as well as initiatives around plastic recycling and pilot projects for circular appliances. Notable examples include the Midea Ecomaster AI program, which optimizes energy use, and Miele’s circular vacuum cleaner, which redefines what it means to go green.
AI powers the rise of a truly smart home
AI was a star player at IFA, with big brands showcasing intelligent systems that are taking a smart home to the next level. Companies like Bosch, LG, and Midea are integrating AI to create home assistants that manage everything from energy use to daily chores. These systems offer advanced features like auto-dosing, smart cooking, and self-cleaning, all designed to enhance convenience and efficiency.
Robotics also made a strong showing, with devices for every corner of the home. We saw a new generation of vacuum and window-cleaning robots, garden maintenance bots, and even personal assistants and entertainment companions like LG’s two-wheeled Self-Driving AI Home Hub, a worthy competitor to Samsung’s Ballie.
One trend we couldn’t ignore was the rapid growth in air purification devices. Integrated into fans, heaters, tables and even cat furniture, air purification technology is proving itself essential in our everyday environments. Another is facilitating indoor gardening with products like Balconyfarm and Grovero, which help users grow plants, herbs, and micro-vegetables in the comfort of their homes.
Size matters: from tiny gadgets to massive screens
While household appliances were our primary focus, we couldn’t resist exploring some of the other incredible tech on display. The latest gadgets combine AI with miniaturized sensors and batteries to deliver magical results. Tiny but mighty innovations like the Plaud smart note pin, the Nuance hearing aid, and Vixion’s autofocus glasses showcase how compact technology can deliver immense benefits. Meanwhile, drones like DJI’s Neo are raising the bar in the affordability of cutting-edge recreational tech.
When it comes to screens, IFA remains a playground for the latest in display technology. TVs are getting bigger, image quality is more astonishing than ever, and portable projectors are now small and affordable enough to fit in a pocket, making them perfect for camper vans, kids’ rooms, and beyond. Samsung captivated us with their transparent microLED displays and Hisense with the demo of their AR glasses, which project a virtual 130” screen right in front of your eyes with impressive image quality, given the small and light device.
Focused evolution of technology
While this year’s IFA didn’t showcase many disruptive new ideas, it did provide a powerful reminder of the mindblowing evolution of technology. We’re seeing the refinement of existing trends – like AI, smart health, IoT, sustainability and robotics – with much of the innovation happening beneath the surface. This kind of ‘invisible’ progress is reshaping our lives, and it’s up to manufacturers to harness these trends to create intelligent, data-driven features that increase convenience, improve quality of life and reduce environmental impact.
Key takeaways for the future
For companies inspired by the trends from IFA, here are some actionable areas to focus on:
- User-centered design: understand what users value by combining design research with value engineering to create products that resonate with today’s needs.
- Cost-effective smart tech: invest in technologies that blend low-cost and robust sensors with sensor fusion and onboard intelligence to monitor things like food readiness, clothing cleanliness, and more.
- Intuitive digital extensions: develop user-friendly digital interfaces and scalable IoT solutions to extend product functionality and enhance user experience.
- Sustainable manufacturing: focus on cost-effective manufacturing techniques to maintain affordability in a competitive, price-sensitive market.
If IFA has sparked ideas and inspired you to innovate, reach out! We’d love to discuss how we can work together to turn your breakthrough ideas into reality.
