The IFA is one of the world’s biggest and most closely-watched consumer electronics shows. Here are just some of the great products that were on display at the 2016 edition held in Berlin last month.
By Laith Abou-Ragheb
Acer Predator 21 X
www.acer.com
This behemoth of a gaming laptop features dual GeForce GTX 1080 graphics chips, a 21-inch curved display, Tobii eye-tracking technology, and a heavy duty mechanical keyboard that’s built to withstand hours upon hours of intensive game play.
The bottom line: An absolute beast of a machine, the Predator 21 X is the final word in gaming-on-the-go.
Price: $5,000
Garmin Forerunner 35
www.garmin.com
Monitor your heart rate and track your runs with this new fitness watch from Garmin. Slim, lightweight, and affordable, the Forerunner 35 does the basics superbly, and comes in a variety of eye-catching colors. It also automatically uploads all your data to Garmin’s free online fitness community.
The bottom line: A fuss-free entry-level device that ticks all the right boxes.
Price: $200
Sony Xperia XZ
www.sony.com
For its latest flagship smartphone, Sony cannily decided to meld together elements from its previous X and Z series of devices. The hybrid comes with a 5.2-inch full HD display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, 3GB of RAM, and a choice of 32GB or 64GB of onboard storage. Typically for a Sony smartphone, the XZ’s 23-megapixel camera is one of the best around.
The bottom line: An impressive device. But will it be enough to give a much-needed boost to Sony’s shrinking share of the smartphone market?
Price: $600
Philips 901F
www.philips.com
With 55-inch 901F, Philips has finally joined the ranks of manufacturers producing next generation OLED TVs. But as well as super sharp display, this gorgeous-looking box also boasts Philips’ Ambilight 3 technology, which projects shimmering LED light from the rear of the TV to enhance the image on screen. As an added bonus, the 901F comes with a built-in sound bar and Android operating system.
The bottom line: In a world of identikit TVs, Philips should be commended for trying to stand out from the crowd with a clever imaging feature that’s more than just a gimmick.
Price: $TBA
