IFA is one of the big technology trade shows on the calendar, alongside CES in January (Las Vegas) and MWC in March (Barcelona). It falls in September and this year the dates are 1-6, although press conferences take place prior to the show opening at Messe Berlin. As usual, we’ll have a team of Tech Advisor reporters over in Germany to bring you all the news and hands-on reviews of the new products but we before we pack our bags and jump on an early morning flight, we like to take a look at what might be unveiled.
Samsung at IFA 2017
There was a time when Samsung would announce a bunch of new devices at IFA every year – in particular the latest Galaxy Note phone – but nowadays, it does some things ahead of the show. For 2017, the Galaxy Note 8 will be unveiled at its Unpacked event on 23 August but will be on display in Berlin, we assume. It’s unlikely that the Note 8 will be the only new product we’ll see there and the main other one is the rumoured Gear Sport, a fitness orientated smartwatch. IFA is about a lot more than mobile tech so you can expect all sorts of possibilities including Windows tablets, TVs, fridges, washing machines and more.
Sony at IFA 2017
IFA remains a highly important show on the tech calendar for Sony and we’re expecting quite a few new devices from the Japanese company this year. Most notable is a trio of phones which will be follow-ups to existing handsets and will run on Android Nougat. For starters there will be the Xperia XZ1 along with a smaller XZ1 Compact. Thirdly is a supposed Xperia X1. You can expect a lot more from Sony, too, since it makes devices across almost all tech categories. The issue is that they are not the kind of things that get leaked. Last yes Sony announced new TVs, audio gear and even a new Walkman so anything could happen this year. We’d love to see a new Xperia tablet but it seems unlikely.
LG at IFA 2017
While it’s somewhat unknown what some companies will announce at IFA, there’s no wondering about LG. Following plenty of leaked information, LG has confirmed that it will be launching the new V30 smartphone. The Korean firm has nothing to hide it seems as it has also confirmed elements such as the UX and an f/1.6 camera. We expect it to announce more details in the run up to IFA so there might not be much left to find out on the day. Last year LG announced new monitors ahead of the show so it might not just be phones in terms of new devices. The firm has seen some success with wearables so that’s a good bet for 2017.
Motorola at IFA 2017
So far this year, Motorola (still under Lenovo) has launched almost countless new phone including the Moto Z2 Play, Moto G5S and Moto E4 to name just three. That doesn’t mean there won’t be more though as this bumper year is set to continue with the rumoured Moto X4 which will reportedly launch at IFA. There could also be a new flagship in the form of the Moto Z2.
Huawei at IFA 2017
The increasingly popular company that is Huawei doesn’t always use IFA to launch a new flagship but we’ve got our fingers crossed for 2017. With the Galaxy Note 8 coming ahead of the show, it would be a great time for Huawei to introduce the Mate 10 as some healthy competition. More mid-range phones are possible but we’re holding out for the new Mate following the impressive Mate 9. Tech Advisor’s Reviews Editor, Chris has been reviewing all kinds of tech for over 10 years and specialises in audio. He also covers a range of topics including home entertainment, phones, laptops, tablets and more.
