The 5 biggest announcements from ShowStoppers at IFA 2026

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

IFA 2026 officially starts this Friday. For its 102nd edition, the traditional German trade fair continues to focus on AI, robotics and wearable technologies amid global uncertainty and rising prices. A pre-event tradition is the ShowStoppers exhibition, which offers a barometer of products and trends to expect from the show. As AI continues to be a global trend and hundreds have gathered at IFA to showcase their products to international media at this event, some have caught the attention of BGR for their innovative technologies, bold ideas and cutting-edge features. One of the highlights is the Aura 3 light projector from XGIMI, the innovative UltraCharge Pro power supplies from Belkin with new battery technology and the Aura mixed reality glasses from XREAL.

In addition to these companies, ShowStoppers also featured a little bit of everything, including several smartphone accessories, peripherals for Apple’s lower-cost MacBook Neo, robot dogs, robot vacuums, AI girlfriends, and much more. Yet, as IFA CEO Leif Lindner pointed out during the opening ceremony, this year companies are showing how they continue to innovate while doubling down on AI, despite the global memory crisis. Even century-old companies, like Beyerdynamic, have been able to show why they remain so fresh in an ever-changing world. These are the biggest announcements from ShowStoppers at IFA 2026 that you should know about before the official Berlin show.

XGIMI is a brand known to BGR readers. We found that the company’s Horizon series continues to combine an even brighter projector with crisp colors, excellent sound quality, and Google TV support. We even crowned the XGIMI Horizon 20 Max the best 4K home projector yet. At CES and MWC, the company chose to promote its camera-less MemoMind glasses, which could be the first smart glasses you’ll actually want to wear. The Chinese company returned to its roots for IFA, focusing on its traditional Aura series, now featuring a higher refresh rate and incredibly high brightness.

Available in Pro and Max versions, the XGIMI Aura 3 Max offers up to 5,700 ISO lumens, which helps maintain a sharp image even with direct venue light on the projector. The company said this was possible thanks to a Dual Dynamic Iris, which is a first for this type of short throw projector. The result is better contrast, more depth and more detail with the projections. The company also touted what it calls an X-Vision AI picture processor, which XGIMI says is capable of true 4K at 120Hz. The company focused on these details in part to appeal to gamers.

Like the latest releases, XGIMI finally offers Google TV built-in, meaning users have access to all their favorite streaming apps, including Netflix. With a Kickstarter launch on October 20,

Belkin is one of the most prolific charging accessory companies and has continued this tradition by introducing its new UltraCharge Pro power bank, available on its website starting September 3.

What makes this product shine is its new BoostSolid Cell semi-solid-state battery, with 5,000 mAh and 10,000 mAh options, at $70 and $90 respectively. According to the company, these batteries have a much longer lifespan and higher density than current models, but remain safe as existing options. This is possible because this product adds what the company calls “a gel-like layer” to enable these improvements. Thanks to this technology, the 5,000 mAh battery is only 8.8 mm thick and the company was able to add 15W Qi2 wireless charging. In real life, this means users can charge their iPhone up to 50% in about an hour.

In the box, Belkin also offers a 2-foot braided USB-C to USB-C cable, which works with its included 22.5W USB-C port so owners can charge even faster and waste less power with wireless transmission. USB-C includes dual-chip protection to monitor temperature in real time and ensure everything is working as expected.

The UltraCharge Pro has an additional smart display that shows information about the amount of battery available, power output, and thermal monitoring. It also complies with TSA Carry-on rules, making it an easy choice for traveling.

IFA is barely getting started and I’m already inundated with robot vacuum cleaners. From new, more powerful robots from Roborock to Movas, Ecovacs, Dreame and even DJI, what really caught my attention this year was Anker, under its Eufy sub-brand, and its $1,300 Omni E35. Although it looks like a regular high-end robot vacuum cleaner with 35,000Pa suction power, roller cleaning capabilities and of course AI, what sets this product apart is the health accreditations. It is certified by the Maternal and Infant Cleaning Robot mark of TÜV SÜD, which meets high standards for bacterial elimination, mite sterilization, low operating noise and internal self-cleaning efficiency. The robot also has an Asthma & Allergy Friendly certification from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of American, proven to reduce up to 98% of dust mite and cat allergens on carpets and 99.9% on hard floors.

In a market where most companies look the same, these certifications help Anker stand out. Other robot vacuums can sometimes trap fine particles rather than remove them, ultimately sending microscopic allergens back into the air, triggering asthma attacks and other respiratory problems. That said, this product may be ideal for families with infants who crawl on the floor or for family members with allergies and asthma. By capturing fine microdust, it neutralizes biological allergens, while operating quietly, the company said. The Omni E35 robot vacuum cleaner is currently available for pre-order in the US ahead of its September 25 launch. The company is offering the vacuum to early birds for $1,000, instead of the expected $1,300.

Smart glasses remain a trend at the show. While most of the market focuses on AR experiences, cameras, or even just a smart display, XREAL has partnered with Google to showcase the capabilities of the internet giant’s Android XR and Gemini AI. These somewhat bulky glasses work like Apple’s Vision Pro, with sensors that pick up your movements, allowing you to pinch and move your hand to perform actions. What intrigued me the most about ShowStoppers is that the device is not made to replace a smartphone. Instead, the company wants its glasses to replace a computer.

Even though the claim is bold, users can get a proper computing experience with their glasses and they can navigate between PC and mobile applications. The smart glasses offer an immersive Google Maps experience, dynamic video content and immersive YouTube VR videos, in addition to fun little games to showcase the technology.

In my testing, using XREAL’s XR glasses was like trying on a lighter Apple Vision Pro. Google’s Android XR looks very mature, the display quality is quite good, and it points in a direction that many industry peers have abandoned. In an uncertain smart glasses market, while companies are still trying to figure out how best to approach this new category, XREAL is introducing a bold device – and the company is still aiming for a release before the end of 2026.

Finally, Beyerdynamic, the century-old German audio company, also launched its new Aventho Y headphones. They have a bit of an Apple AirPods Max look, including replaceable earbuds. But what caught my attention the most were the features and the commitment to repairability. Beyerdynamic is known for being one of the biggest names in artists, studios, and a trusted premium consumer brand. Now, the company is targeting everyday customers with its $150 Aventho Y’s series, which will be available in four colors.

The headset has excellent ANC capabilities, effective enough to block out most of the noise from the ShowStoppers showroom. It also offers a transparency mode that helps you stay aware of your surroundings. The Aventho Ys feature 45mm dynamic drivers, which the company says bring fuller sound to everyday listening.

What made this product so interesting, and why it is an all-in-one, is that Beyerdynamic is going to offer additional accessories to cover a wide range of customers. For example, the company will offer an additional microphone to turn the headphones into a gaming set. It will also offer different ear cushions that are more breathable and offer finer sound quality, designed for recording podcasts or editing audio. Beyerdynamic’s app also allows users to set their preferred equalizer, check battery, and other benefits.

Finally, the earbuds will last 60 hours with ANC on, or up to 90 hours with ANC off. Once customers need to replace the headset’s built-in battery, the company says it will offer replacement parts.