What to expect at IFA 2017
The summer might be coming to and end but that means loads of new tech devices are coming very soonincludingsmartphones,tablets,smartwatchesandTVs. One of the big tech shows on the calendar is IFA 2017 and here’s what to expect from the big names including Samsung, LG, and Sony.
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 latestGalaxy Notephone – but nowadays, it does some things ahead of the show.
For 2017, theGalaxy Note 8will 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 theXperia XZ1along with a smallerXZ1 Compact. Thirdly is a supposedXperia 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 newV30 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 theMoto Z2 Play,Moto G5SandMoto E4to name just three.
That doesn’t mean there won’t be more though as this bumper year is set to continue with the rumouredMoto X4which 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 impressiveMate 9.
Author: Chris Martin, Reviews Editor, Tech Advisor
Chris got his break as a reporter at infamous site The Inquirer and has been at Tech Advisor for more than 12 years. With a BA degree in Music Technology, audio is his specialism, but over the years he has reviewed all kinds of gadgets, from smartwatches to mesh Wi-Fi to coffee machines.
