IFA 2016: the best laptops, tablets, smartphones and more

Philipp Rüegg

1.9.2016

Translation: machine translated

At the IFA international trade fair in Berlin, manufacturers are competing with each other with new products. We've rounded up the most interesting, funniest and most unusual products from the show.

The IFA took place from 2 to 7 September. During this period, we don't know where to turn with all the products presented by manufacturers. We took to the battlefield and collected the most important things for you.

No more novelties
The manufacturers have revealed all. But don't let that put you off. Here, we've rounded up the most unusual items from IFA.

3:30 pm: Garmin launches affordable GPS sports watch [[image:6436675]]

The Forerunner 35 has GPS, a heart rate sensor and is available in various colours. With a price of around 200.-, it puts it in the entry-level range. When linked to an iPhone or Android device, it shows notifications like a smartwatch or allows you to control the music.

2:20pm: waterproof cover for "Pokémon GO" [[image:6436462]]

If anything was missing, it was a cover for "Pokémon GO". Anyone still hunting these little monsters could do with this creation by Catalyst Tool. Not only is it dust and water resistant, it also has a plastic rail to always throw pokéballs straight.

13 hours: Philips presents its first OLED TV [[image:6436200]]

Philips is also getting into OLED and combining Ambilight with 4K, HDR, an integrated soundbar and Android TV. The 55-inch 901F will be released again this year.

11:10 Uhr: the Acer Chromebook is foldable
. [[image:6435846]]

Acer has a new 2-in-1 Chromebook. The R13 works as both a tablet and a laptop. It can fold up and, thanks to touch input and Android apps, be used like a traditional tablet. Chrome OS ensures greater productivity. Under the bonnet are 64GB of memory, 4GB of RAM and a 720p screen. USB C, USB 3.0 and HDMI connections offer great connectivity. It is due for release in October for 400 euros.

10 hours 30: Withings makes its analogue watch a little more digital [[image:6435721]]

The Steel HR remains true to Withings' style: classic analogue design with great battery life. It has also been given a small screen that displays various data (calories, steps, etc.) and smartphone notifications. However, there is no GPS or apps. It's due out in October for $180.

10 hours: this hockey puck is also a GPS [[image:6435263]]

In fact, it's only a GPS. If it had really been a puck, its use would have been unique. In terms of design, TomTom is breaking new ground, initially aimed at people who drive scooters. The VIO connects with the smartphone, but has its own GPS. It is waterproof and can also be used with gloves.

8 hours 40: 3D printing via pen with the 3Doodler PRO
. [[image:6434959]]

The 3Doodler is a pen with which you can print three-dimensional objects. After setting the trend, the first version only got average reviews. The new PRO version is equipped with various practical functions that should make the work of architects and others easier. Speed, temperature, fan, etc. can all be adjusted directly using a thumbwheel. Now, more than 65 materials are available for printing.

Friday - 8.15am: Logitech peripherals for the budget-conscious gamer
. [[image:6434911]]

With the Prodigy series, Logitech wants to appeal to a wide range of gamers. These include the G213 Prodigy RGB keyboard for CHF 90. Compared to the G810, it has a wrist rest.

Then there's the G403 Prodigy, a gaming mouse with and without a cable. With a 12,000 DPI sensor and just 90g, it doesn't need to hide behind its more expensive siblings. Price: CHF 90/120

The latest device in the new Prodigy series is the G231 headset. Equipped with Neodym 40mm drivers, it should also delight more demanding ears. Price: around CHF 70

16 hours 40: the new
. [[video:35364]]

Two new buttons, a fast processor (Snapdragon 2100), but relatively little that's new. The ZenWatch 3 is the logical evolution of the ZenWatch 2. However, without a decisive upgrade to Android Wear, not much happens. Price: 230 euros.

16 hours 10: the one with the golden Walkman [[image:6433573]]

For particularly sensitive ears, Sony offers a golden Walkman. The NW-WM1Z costs €3300 and is milled from a block of oxygen-free copper. 256GB of music have space in the device, which plays uncompressed tracks in HiRes resolution with up to 384kHz / 32 Bit as well as DSD material with up to 11.2MHz. For navigation, the Walkman is equipped with a 4-inch touchscreen. Bluetooth via Sony's LDAC codec is possible. For all those who find it too expensive, can always redirect to its little brother, the NW-WM1A for the modest sum of 1200 euros.
15:30: Samsung's trio of gaming monitors with Quantum Dot technology
. [[image:6433416]]

The technology should provide a very good picture. The monitors are available in 24-, 27- ((CFG70) and 34-inch sizes. The two smaller ones have Full HD resolution with 144Hz. Gamers will love it. The 34-inch comes in 21:9 format with 3440x1440 pixels and 100Hz. All three are AMD FreeSync compatible. The devices cost US$400, US$500 and US$1,000.

3:15pm: Sony's new noise-cancelling headphones let you hear the voices [[video:35356]]

Instead of cancelling out all noise, Sony is thinking outside the box with its MDR-1000X. The wireless noise-cancelling headphones block out noise, but let voices through. The function is switched off at the touch of a button. Transmission works via Bluetooth. It supports LDAC technology and the battery should last for 20 hours. The device should be available from October for €400.

14 hours: Sony says: blue is the new pink
. [[video:35354]]

Sony has unveiled two new smartphones in the Xperia series. The XZ and the X Compact. The XZ is available in black, silver and blue. The latter colour is particularly elegant. The XZ has a 5.2-inch screen with Full HD with Gorilla 4 glass, a Snapdragon 820 processor and 3GB of RAM. A microSD card slot is once again integrated. The 23MP camera on the back is complemented by a 13MP selfie camera. The 2900mAh battery should last a good while. Sony has also turned to USB C with the XZ.

The Xperia X Compact is also available in three colours: black, white and light blue. The processor is a Snapdragon 650 and the screen is 4.6in with 720p resolution. At 2700mAh, the battery is also a little smaller and the front camera is just 5MP. Otherwise, the two devices are more or less identical in terms of equipment.

12 hours: the new HTC One A9s [[image:6432003]]

After the success of the A9, HTC is offering a more affordable version with the A9s. The metal design has been retained, as has the fingerprint sensor which is, nowadays, almost standard. The 5-inch screen, however, has a lower resolution of 720p. The resolution of the 13MP camera has also been reduced. The f/2.2 sensor is a little slower than the A9's f/2.0, and has no optical stabiliser. The processor is a Helio P10. Then there's 2GB or 3GB RAM, 16GB or 32GB memory and a 2300mAh battery. The exact price is not yet known.

11:25am: ZTE presents its new flagship
. [[image:6431925]]

ZTE has done a good job with the Nubia Z11. The sleek case measures 7.5mm high and includes a 3000mAh battery. Otherwise, it comes with a 5.5in display with Full HD resolution, a Snapdragon 820 processor, a fingerprint sensor and 4-6GB of RAM. Photo and video enthusiasts can load the device with up to 128GB of data. It should be available in September.

10 hours 40: the Asus Zenbook 3 is the MacBook for Windows
. [[video:35346]]

Asus already presented the new Zenbook a few months ago. Now IFA visitors have had the chance to take the device in hand. The work is, as always, high-end, but the aluminium design should please. Asus has yet to give exact specifications, but it's certain that the Zenbook is banking on an Intel i7 processor with up to 16GB of RAM. It weighs just one kilogram and is 11.7mm thick. It launches soon and costs around €2,000.

10 o'clock 15: modular smartphone with Hasselblad camera element [[video:35344]]

Lenovo has, with the Moto Z Play, presented the little brother of the Moto Z. It is also available with various additional modules such as a Hasselblad camera. With the True Zoom element, the smartphone turns into a real digital camera with x10 optical zoom and flash. This module is available for €300. The Moto Z Play has a Snapdragon 625 processor, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of memory and a 5.5-inch Full HD display.

10 hours: Samsung Gear S3 [[video:35337]]

With the Gear S2, Samsung has already delivered a good product and is upping the ante again with its successor. It's a little thicker (12.9mm instead of 11.4mm), but still has the rotating ring for intuitive use. GPS and 4G have been added as options. The 1.3-inch screen is made of special Gorilla glass and has a particularly long-lasting battery - whatever that means for a smartwatch.

9 hours 40: the new HP PC looks like a speaker [[image:6431245]]

HP hasn't introduced a new Bluetooth box, but rather the Pavilion Wave compact PC. The device is made to blend in unobtrusively with the rest of the interior. HP is therefore targeting a wide audience with a price starting at 530 US dollars. Inside you'll find a Skylake i3 or i5 processor, a 1TB hard drive or a 128GB SSD. It's accompanied by 8GB or 16GB RAM and an integrated AMD R9 M470 graphics card.

9 hours: Acer introduces the world's thinnest and thickest notebook
. [[image:6431032]]

The Acer Swift 7 is just under 1cm thick with a 13-inch Full HD display and weighs 1.1kg. It's powered by an Intel Kaby Lake i7 processor, a 256GB SSD and 8GB of RAM. It even has room for two USB C connections.

In a completely different segment is the Predator 21 X. The IPS screen measures 21 inches (2560x1080) and is even curved. Inside the monstrous case are TWO GTX 1080s, up to 64GB of RAM and a 4TB SSD. With 5 fans, this machine weighs 8kg. If it's portable, it's portable seems to be Acer's motto. A touchpad hides beneath the swivelling numeric keypad. What's more, Acer offers an excellent mechanical keyboard. The icing on the cake is the eye-tracking system (tobii), which offers a better overview in games and makes it possible, for example, to aim at your opponent with your eyes. The device should be available from January.

Thursday - 8.40am: Lenovo releases perhaps the most innovative tablet in recent years
. [[video:35329]]

2-in-1 devices are all the rage at the moment. Lenovo is going one step further and combining the tablet with a keyboard and pad. The 10.1-inch Yoga Book runs either Android or Windows and weighs just 690 grams. The keyboard cannot be detached, but it serves as a graphics tablet at the same time. That's because the keyboard has no physical keys, relying instead on responsive touch input. Alternatively, you can write on it as you would on a pad, and the Yoga Book digitises your input. It comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of memory that can be extended with a microSD card. Prices are currently at €499 for the Android model and €599 for the Windows model.

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Philipp Rüegg

Senior Editor

Philipp.Rueegg@digitecgalaxus.ch

Being the game and gadget geek that I am, working at digitec and Galaxus makes me feel like a kid in a candy shop – but it does take its toll on my wallet. I enjoy tinkering with my PC in Tim Taylor fashion and talking about games on my podcast http://www.onemorelevel.ch. To satisfy my need for speed, I get on my full suspension mountain bike and set out to find some nice trails. My thirst for culture is quenched by deep conversations over a couple of cold ones at the mostly frustrating games of FC Winterthur. more