IFA 2026 is finally over. After traveling miles and visiting almost all of the more than 1,900 exhibits, BGR’s coverage is also coming to an end. At this year’s trade show, vendors focused on AI, robotics and the next generation of wearables. As cheesy as it may sound to say “The future is now,” IFA has made this phrase particularly relevant, as most of the technologies presented at the show are either available or scheduled for release in 2026, including the widest range of humanoid robots.
With Chinese robotics companies dominating the show, I wonder how much room there is for American and European companies to innovate. Sure, Elon Musk might surprise us with something like the dancing Tesla humanoid robot we saw in 2021, but it’s very clear that the biggest investments in the space will be made by Chinese companies in 2026. While a faulty humanoid robot could represent a big bust for an American company, Chinese companies continue to pitch robots for real-world tasks, providing them with proper usage data to help them iterate on upcoming products.
While some humanoid robots learn to write, others serve as AI companions (and I mean very intimate companions). It seems like if you have a few thousand dollars to invest, you can get a robot for just about anything. However, IFA wasn’t just about robots, as home appliances, everyday gadgets and more continued to make waves at the show.
Chinese companies have become the stars of the IFA show
While Korean and Japanese companies have dominated shows like this in the past, IFA 2026 marked an interesting shift. For example, Samsung went from being one of the largest exhibitors at IFA to having zero showroom presence in 2026, choosing instead to host its own private event nearby. On the other hand, Xiaomi presented more than 380 products and Dreame was among the main exhibiting brands at the show. During ShowStoppers, most of the companies BGR highlighted were Chinese – or had Chinese influence – and most of the show’s best gadgets now come from China.
Even IFA CEO Leif Lindner, in an interview with BGR, highlighted the importance of Chinese companies at the show. Without giving a number, Lindner said Chinese participation had increased significantly and that participating companies appeared to have consistent, long-term plans for the U.S. and Chinese markets. “Many Chinese brands have a 5-10 year plan. When they decide to go in one direction, they focus on that. Besides, the (Chinese) government is also investing a lot of money (in robotics companies). With their market shrinking (domestically), they have expanded globally.”
Lindner also stressed the importance of innovation. “Everyone is welcome at IFA, as long as the innovation keeps coming. If it comes from Vietnam, Malaysia, they’re welcome. We’ve also spent a lot of time in Taiwan, Singapore, Korea and Japan telling (companies there) to come. Still, we have a rigorous process for accepting companies, and if they’re just copying other people’s products, even if they can pay to be here, we don’t want them.”
Daily innovation also counts
At the show, BGR also noted that the household appliances market continues to be at the center of companies’ concerns. For home entertainment, Xgimi and Jmngo introduced their first true 4K 120Hz projectors. Meanwhile, robot vacuum makers continue to innovate by adding features like steam cleaning, giving robots the ability to climb stairs, and even obtaining health certifications to ensure that people with asthma and other respiratory illnesses can breathe clean air.
For iPhone fans, IFA 2026 continued an annual trend of accessory makers revealing what they expect to be the design of the new models. While the iPhone 18 Pro is expected to look almost identical to the iPhone 17 Pro (the design of which was also leaked at IFA 2025), we got our first look at some of the cases for the upcoming foldable iPhone. Brands are being a little more cautious about sharing final specs, but they all seem to agree that the passport-like shape is close to becoming a reality.
José Adorno/BGR
Still speaking of first looks, BGR had the opportunity to interact with the Xiaomi 18 Fold before its official debut on store shelves and, truth be told, I’m not the biggest fan of the Passport design – or foldables in general. Although the device is lightweight and an engineering marvel, I think Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Pixel 11 Pro Fold fans are exaggerating their purchasing decisions to regular customers. Finally, we also got an exclusive demo of Xreal’s Aura MR headset, which really feels like a lighter Apple Vision Pro focused on entertainment and productivity.
