So, IFA 2020 has come and gone. As the dust settles on Messe Berlin and the Funkturm Berlin, it's time to reflect on the best hardware releases and announcements from this year's streamline edition.
The Honor MagicBook Pro is one of the most talked-about bits of hardware from IFA 2020. Honor's MagicBook Pro is a 16.1-inch, almost bezel-less laptop, complete with a powerful Ryzen 5 4600H processor, 512GB SDD storage, and 16GB DDR4 RAM.
You'll get around 11 hours of battery life with normal usage, and the fast-charger can deliver a 50 percent charge in just 30 minutes. Furthermore, the MagicBook Pro weighs 1.7kg and is only 16.9mm thick.
If that sounds good, here's some more info on the Honor MagicBook Pro and Honor's other releases at IFA 2020.
The ZTE Axon 20 5G made waves at IFA 2020 as the first smartphone to feature an under-display camera.
A front-facing camera is a vital smartphone feature. As most smartphones move to bezel-less designs, manufacturers still need to house the front-facing camera. Current solutions include cut-outs and teardrop designs. But the holy grail is an under-screen camera without any of these perforations---and that's what the ZTE Axon 20 5G delivers.
The Axon 20 5G uses several special technologies to allow the camera to pass through the screen without interference, including a special display material and a special pixel matrix.
Aside from the under-display camera, the ZTE Axon 20 5G comes with a 6.92-inch FHD+ display, a very reasonable Snapdragon 765G processor, and multiple configurations for memory and storage. The main camera is worth noting, too, with a 64-megapixel camera flanked by three extra sensors.
As a long-standing leader in the audio-visual market, Philips always brings a strong roster to IFA 2020. Backing up this claim is the Philips OLED+935 TV, an impressive model available in 48-, 55-, and 65-inch models.
The OLED+935 features four Ambilights that project color from each side of the screen onto the surrounding walls. The 935 is a step up from existing models, adding an extra Ambilight for total coverage.
In terms of the screen itself, the OLED+935 includes better Perfect Natural Reality (PNR) than previous models, increasing sharpness by up to 30-percent. You'll also find a new Philips P5 chipset that is better equipped to protect against OLED burn-in. Philips claims the new system "removes the burn-in problem for 95 percent of static images" via a grid with 32,400 detection zones.
The screen will support HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, and Dolby Vision. Furthermore, Philips continues its relationship with British audio specialists, Bowers & Wilkins. The 935 includes 10 drivers in the 70W 3.1.2 channel speakers.
Robotic vacuums are a life and timesaver, especially now they are sufficiently advanced. Neato's D10 robotic vacuum features a new, cleaner design, and with much longer battery life, the new model is the perfect cleaning companion.
Other new additions include a HEPA filter for extra particle filtration and updates to Neato's LaserSmart navigation system. You might also note the shape of the vacuum, which is shaped like a "D" to help the D10 get further into your dusty corners.
The TCL 10 TABMAX is a new tablet from Chinese manufacturers, TCL.
The first thing to note is the size of the tablet, a 10.4-inch IPS touchscreen with 16m colors, and a decent 2,000x1,200 resolution. There's also 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, a 13MP rear camera, and an 8MP front-facing camera. TCL notes that there is a 2.0GHz octa-core processor in the 10 TABMAX, but didn't reveal the exact model.
The 10 TABMAX also features a giant 8,000mAh battery (for context, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7 has a 4,000mAh battery), which should keep you powered for a long time.
There was a lot of 5G talk at IFA 2020. As the new network connection stands on the precipice of widespread adoption, manufacturers are getting serious about integration. Enter the Acer Spin 7, Acer's first 5G-connected laptop model.
Not only is the Spin 7 Acer's first 5G model, it is also the first laptop to use Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8CX Gen 2 5G chip. The chip enables the Spin 7 to access both the mmWave and sub-6 5G spectrums and is also expected to provide excellent power efficiency. As such, Acer touts the Spin 7 as a "multi-day" laptop, allowing you to work and play for multiple days on a single charge.
You'll also find a 14-inch IPS FHD touchscreen panel with Antimicrobial Corning Gorilla Glass, two USB-C ports, and a handy USB-A port for older devices.
IFA 2020 was filled with earbud and headphone announcements. One of the best earbuds on display were Sennheiser's CX 400BT true wireless earbuds.
The CX 400BTs feature 7mm full-range dynamic drivers, aptX Bluetooth connectivity, SBC and AAC codec support, and touch-sensitive controls you can customize through an EQ adjustment app. The earbuds weigh 6g-per-bud and have a combined 20 hours battery life between the buds and the carry case.
In terms of sound quality, the CX 400BT earbuds rank highly. They don't feature Active Noise Cancellation, which is the only downside.
If you have ever attempted to create a home security camera network, you can probably attest to the difficulty of connecting and maintaining certain camera types. Amazon's new Blink Indoor and Blink Outdoor wireless security cameras aim to solve that issue.
Blink goes for the jugular, making it easier to connect, easier to manage, and with batteries that can last up to two years (with up to four years with a battery expansion kit!).
The new models will record in 1080p, include IR night vision, two-way audio, and motion detection. When the camera detects motion, automation notification is sent to your device. Furthermore, you can connect to each camera via the Blink Home app and watch the live camera feed.
Samsung announced The Premier at its IFA 2020 alternative launch show after deciding not to attend the Berlin tech show. Samsung's standalone show didn't disappoint and highlighted some great new products.
The Premier is an Ultra Short Throw laser projector. That means it can project an incredible image at a very short distance from directly underneath the target wall. Instead of installing an expensive and fiddly projector mount, you pop The Premier on a table and start watching your favorite films.
You can use The Premier to project 120- or 130-inch 4K experiences. It also includes integrated speakers and woofers, with Acoustic Beam surround sound.
Rounding up the best products of IFA 2020 is the fabric-covered Lenovo Smart Clock Essential, an affordable smart clock that connects to a multitude of devices. The beauty of the Lenovo Smart Clock Essential comes in its style and simplicity.
The Smart Clock Essential sits alongside your bedside. It is ready to accept commands, play music, and control other smart devices in your home. Most importantly, it tells the time and sets your alarm bell ringing at the appropriate moment. Plus, it does all of that while looking rather neat.
There is much more to talk about from IFA 2020 than we can fit into a basic list. There are gaming laptops, wireless mice, cooking and cleaning appliances, smartwatches and fitness wearables, and even a motorsport training tool (the Garmin Catalyst, in case you're wondering).
There are always heaps to talk about after a major tech show. Despite IFA 2020 being smaller in size, its hardware announcements lived up to the stature of the name.
