# IFA 2026 bets on local AI, robots and thinner devices > Source: > Published: 2026-08-28 07:40:39+00:00 • 6 min read # IFA 2026 bets on local AI, robots and thinner devices IFA 2026 runs September 4–8 in Berlin, with Xiaomi’s debut, DJI robot vacuums, local AI PCs and new smart-home hardware in focus. Image: [Tom's Guide](https://www.tomsguide.com/tech-events/ifa-2026-what-to-expect) IFA 2026 will run from **September 4–8** at Messe Berlin, bringing practical on-device AI, robot vacuums, laptops, displays and smart-home hardware to industry attendees and the public. Xiaomi will make its first IFA appearance, DJI has confirmed a launch for its Romo 2 robot-vacuum series, and TCL says it will bring new displays, phones, glasses and appliances. The event is open to the public. Adult tickets start at **€21.50 in advance** or **€28 at the door**, while children aged 15 and under enter free. IFA attracted roughly **220,000 visitors** in 2025, below the **238,700** recorded in 2019. For US readers, the more immediate question is product availability: the show is a European launch venue, and the supplied announcements don’t establish US pricing or release dates for most of the expected devices. The event follows [our earlier preview of IFA 2026](/ifa-2026-ai-smart-home-tech/), but the confirmed exhibitor details make the computing and smart-home focus clearer. ## Local AI moves from laptops into appliances AI will be a major theme, but the more meaningful shift is where processing happens. Laptop makers are expected to emphasize workloads handled locally by CPUs with dedicated NPUs rather than sending every request to a cloud service. That approach can reduce dependence on network connectivity and keep some personal data on the device, although the sources provide no performance figures, model sizes or power measurements for the systems expected in Berlin. The same design direction is moving into appliances. Robot vacuums and washing machines are expected to use AI for functions such as recognizing objects, adapting cleaning cycles or operating in the background. The open technical question is how much of that processing will actually run on-device and how much will still require a vendor account or cloud connection. Recommended reading Apple’s M6 Mac mini jumps to $899 as Mac Studio goes Ultra Tomas Berg • • 6 min read Autonomous agents are another expected topic. Instead of waiting for a user prompt, these systems are designed to perform tasks independently, with more powerful laptops and mini PCs potentially running some agents locally. Nvidia’s new RTX Spark-powered laptops are preparing to launch in fall 2026. No independent benchmark or battery-impact data has been supplied. Acer has confirmed a September 2 event in Berlin ahead of the show: “AI PCs, gaming devices, and next-generation display technologies.” AMD executive Jack Hyunh is scheduled to deliver IFA’s opening keynote. Laptop manufacturers, peripherals companies, smart-glasses makers and component suppliers are also expected to have a larger presence than in previous years, although the precise products from many of them remain unannounced. ## Xiaomi’s debut expands the phone and smart-home contest Xiaomi says its first IFA appearance will connect “personal devices, the smart home and, increasingly, smart mobility” and will include “several European firsts” across its ecosystem. The company also announced on **August 24, 2026**, that the **Xiaomi 18 Fold** is coming in September, making the rumored wide foldable a plausible IFA announcement—but not a confirmed show-floor launch. The show’s display lineup is expected to include Samsung Micro-RGB televisions, LG OLED models, TCL SQD-Mini LED sets and Hisense’s lower-cost RGB technology. Samsung’s **S95H OLED** and LG’s **C6 OLED** are also expected to appear. Xiaomi could show the TV S Mini LED models already sold in the Netherlands, Spain, Italy and Germany, or introduce a new television for its IFA debut. TCL has confirmed that it will exhibit the following categories in its official IFA announcement: “flagship SQD-Mini LED displays, NXTPAPER mobile devices, and the latest RayNeo smart glasses.” The company also plans to show air conditioners and washing machines. New NXTPAPER phones or tablets are possible, as are Android XR glasses, but neither is confirmed. Google has said Android XR glasses are coming in fall 2026, which creates a narrow window for announcements around the show. Samsung is a major sponsor of IFA’s Creator Hub but isn’t expected to make a substantial announcement in Berlin. The company is launching the **Galaxy S26 FE on August 27**, while the Galaxy Tab S12 series is expected at some point but isn’t tied to IFA by the available information. ## Robots, mobility devices and home automation DJI has confirmed an IFA launch event for its **Romo 2** robot-vacuum series. Other robot-vacuum makers are also expected to use the event to demonstrate navigation, object recognition and more autonomous cleaning. Roborock will hold an opening keynote, while the regulatory status of robot vacuums in the US is described only as a looming ban in the supplied material; no legal scope, effective date or product list is provided. The show is also expected to feature battery-powered exoskeletons from companies including Hypershell and Ascentiz, along with mobility devices from Segway and Volkswagen. Their specifications, prices and US availability are unknown. Smart-home hardware will share the floor with wearables. A modular AI pendant called **iKairos** is expected to log surroundings and thoughts, while RingConn, Circular, Luna Ring, Dreame and Ultrahuman may introduce new smart rings. Those products could appeal to buyers who want health tracking without a screen, but the reporting doesn’t establish sensor sets, subscription requirements or US launch plans. IFA’s appliance emphasis also includes washing machines, coffee machines, projectors and other household devices. The technical question is whether “AI” adds measurable automation or simply shifts control into a companion app. The available previews describe intended use cases, not test results. ## Phones, laptops and concepts fill the gaps HONOR could use Berlin to bring its **Robot Phone** beyond China. The device has a **200MP main camera** mounted on a gimbal arm, but it has not launched in global markets. HONOR may also tease a wide foldable phone or announce related tablets, laptops and audio products. TECNO is expected to show a phone with a truly bezel-less display after previously presenting its **5.93mm TECNO Slim** phone and the **Pocket Go** Windows AR gaming system. Whether the bezel-less concept becomes a shipping product is unresolved. Acer’s September 2 event could include a successor to last year’s sub-1kg Copilot Plus laptop. Lenovo’s presence is less certain, but possible announcements include Legion gaming hardware, Windows PCs, accessories and another concept device. The company previously showed a laptop whose display could rotate into portrait orientation and an Auto Twist AI PC Concept that followed a person by automatically twisting its screen. ## Audio, wearables and the limits of the preview The audio side of IFA is expected to span retro products and conventional headphones, earbuds and speakers. We Are Rewind may show new cassette players or boomboxes, while Marshall, Status Audio, JLab, EarFun and Edifier are expected to bring products. Sony and Bose are also attending, with possible home-theater announcements, though neither has announced its plans in the supplied reporting. For US buyers, the key question is which products actually ship outside Europe. IFA takes place ahead of the holiday shopping season, but the current announcements leave pricing, launch regions, cloud requirements and independent performance data open for many of the most interesting devices. Xiaomi’s first appearance and DJI’s Romo 2 launch are firm anchors; much of the rest is still a forecast. [Tomas Berg](/authors/tomas-berg/) Computing Editor Tomas lives in the terminal. He covers chips, laptops, and operating systems with a focus on performance and efficiency. He reads kernel changelogs the way other people read fiction, and he's always on the hunt for the perfect mechanical keyboard switch. If it processes data, Tomas has an opinion on it.