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Best of IFA 2017: Smartphones, TVs, cameras, smart speakers, wearables and more

Best of IFA 2017: Curious what new gadgets, smartphones, TVs, cameras and speakers were unveiled at this year at IFA? Wonder no more – here is our handy round-up.

IFA is one of the biggest tech trade shows of the year and for 2017 it’s certainly living up to that reputation with loads of huge announcements. From smartphones and speakers to cameras, TVs and wearables, we have been at ground zero to see and experience it all.

You can think of this article as your one-stop-shop for all the biggest and best IFA 2017 announcements. So read on for every product worth knowing about, especially as we will be updating it as we discover new stuff over the next couple of days.

Check out all of the biggest IFA launches at our IFA 2017 hub.

Best mobile phones of IFA 2017

Several new smartphones were launched at IFA this year, including some super-powered and feature-packed flagship devices from the likes of Sony and LG. Here’s our pick of the most enticing kit.

Sony Xperia XZ1 & Xperia XZ1 Compact

Two new flagship smartphones from Sony have been unveiled to join the XZ Premium that was revealed earlier in the year.

The Sony Xperia XZ1 is here to replace the XZ with its 5.2-inch Full HD and HDR screen, 19-megapixel MotionEye camera on the rear and 13-megapixel selfie snapper in the front. That rear camera offers Super Slow Motion and 4K resolution video recording, while you also get HDR visuals like on the XZ Premium.

The XZ1 Compact, as the name probably gives away, is a smaller version with a 4.6-inch 720p display. But you do still get that stonking 19-megapixel rear camera plus an 8-megapixel front shooter with a wide-angle lens.

Sony Xperia XZ1 & XZ1 Compact Camera Hands-on Review

LG V30

Can LG top the media powerhouse of the G6 with another high-end handset? It certainly looks that way judging by our hands-on time with the V30.

This beast offers a 6-inch 2880×1440 OLED screen, complete with HDR10 support for impressively realistic visuals. Power is provided by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, backed with 4GB of RAM. LG has once again gone for two-for-the-price-of-one with the camera tech, and the Crystal Clear dual-lens snapper looks to be one of the best mobile cameras of 2017. Finally you have the latest UX 6.0+ software on board, which packs tons of extra features on top of Android.

All that adds up to what has to be one of the best handsets at the show this year.

LG V30 Hands-on Review: A revamped G6 with a ‘Crystal Clear’ camera

Motorola Moto X4

We also went hands-on with the new Motorola Moto X4, which is a mid-range mobile offering seriously impressive value for money. Can’t afford the flagship devices above? The X4 could be your perfect portable pal.

For just £349 SIM-free here in the UK, you get a dual-lens camera like the V30, as well as a gorgeous screen and expandable storage. The clean Android UI is a joy and Alexa support is built-in, for unbeatable hands-free operation.

Check out our full Moto X4 hands-on review for our in-depth thoughts.

Best wearables and smartwatches of IFA 2017

We also saw a lot of new fitness tracking watches and bands revealed out in Berlin this year. Here’s our favourites that we went hands-on with.

Samsung Gear Sport, Gear Fit2 Pro & Gear IconX

Samsung has really gone all out this year when it comes to wearables, launching three of the beauties at once. The Samsung Gear Sport is a sports watch that also works as a smartwatch. Two for one, essentially.

Meanwhile the Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro is a Super AMOLED screen-toting band that also packs in GPS for a complete sport tracking device in a compact form.

Then there’s the next generation of the Gear IconX earbuds that now have Bixby AI built-in and can even store offline Spotify music to offer tunes and tracking without your phone.

Samsung Gear Sport vs Gear Fit2 Pro vs Gear Icon X vs Gear Fit: What’s the difference?

 
 

Fitbit Ionic

This reveal was a little before the show but pretty much setup to ride the IFA 2017 wave. The Ionic is a GPS-toting smartwatch from Fitbit, a first for the company. Previously it offered the Blaze but that needs to use a connected smartphone’s GPS for location.

The Fitbit Ionic can store music and connects to Bluetooth headphones for tunes on the run without a phone needed. You also have onboard heart rate tracking and even NFC to allow for contactless payments if you get thirsty on that longer-than-planned run.

Fitbit Ionic vs Fitbit Blaze: What’s the difference?

Best VR headsets of IFA 2017

Mobile VR was of course a hot topic as always, with lots of booths offering a virtual reality experience of some description. We also saw some big new VR headsets launched out at IFA 2017, including the following.

Dell Visor

The mighty Dell has also revealed a mixed reality headset at the IFA 2017 show. The Dell Visor uses the Windows platform to offer mixed reality experiences using a PC. Unlike Microsoft’s £3,000 HoloLens, however, the Dell Visor is a far more accessible £350.

The Dell Visor scans the room and overlays virtual objects and images to create a 3D scene that can be interacted with in a whole new way.

Asus Windows Mixed Reality Headset

 

Asus showed off its version of the future of augmented reality with its Windows Mixed Reality Headset. The headset weighs in at 400g and offers both augmented and virtual reality experiences via Windows machines.

Usefully, this VR headset doesn’t need external sensors or extra software to operate, which keeps things simple. Here’s hoping the price reflects that fact when it gets announced.

Best TVs of IFA 2017

Another IFA, another set of telly tech launched for the masses to enjoy a veg-out session. Our pick of the lot was the following massive Panasonic effort, boasting 4K HDR visuals.

Panasonic 77-inch 4K HDR TV

Panasonic got in early to reveals its new kit in the form of the Panasonic 77-inch 4K HDR TV and GA10 Google Assist Speaker.

This mighty TV is a 77-inch version of its EZ1002 model meaning HDR, 4K and OLED tech is all present and correct. It’s also able to replicate Hollywood-level viewing monitor quality pictures so expect it to be cheap at your own financial peril.

Best camera tech of IFA 2017

We had a play with some cool new camera tech out at IFA as well, including some new action cams and of course 360-degree cameras that can shoot VR video on the go.

Sony RX0

There is a new action camera in town from Sony and it’s called the RX0. This very compact snapper and video taker can record full HD internally and 4K externally and snap pictures at up to 16 frames per second using a 15.3 Exmor CMOS sensor and Zeiss TessarT 24mm F4 fixed aperture lens.

Super slow motion can be enjoyed at up to 1,000 frames per second, while the ability to generate RAW photo files and record video in S-Log2 means you can edit and grade your efforts with potentially better results.

The first shipments are going to take place in October, 2017. There is no UK price just yet, but Sony says it will cost €850 in Europe.

Sony RX0: Everything you need to know about the GoPro Hero wannabe

Acer Holo360 & Vision 360

Yup, Acer is also in on the mixed reality headset action this year. It announced a headset in the form of the Vision 360, which uses Windows machines to run. It will cost $429 (£330) and be out in November for the US, before hitting the rest of the world later in the year for €349 (£320).

The Acer Holo360 is an LTE connected 360-degree camera running Android 7.1. The idea is to let you capture pictures and videos in surround, which can be shared instantly from the device regardless of whether you have your phone on you.

Best smart home tech and smart speakers of IFA 2017

Amazon’s Echo speaker and the Google Home will find themselves facing even more rivals in the smart speaker realm, after IFA 2017 saw the launch of a few new connected blasters with AI assistants. We also saw some snazzy new smart home tech from Nest as well, to keep you warm this winter.

Sony LF-S50G Smart Speaker

The likes of Amazon, Google and Apple have already launched their own form of smart speaker, designed to offer hands-free information and smart home control in your household. Now you can add Sony to that list, with the launch of its catchily-titled LF-S50G device.

Using the Google Assistant AI, this speaker offers the same core functionality of the Google Home, with a similar short and squat appearance. You get a 360-degree speaker, gesture controls as well as voice commands, and a splash-proof finish.

Check out our hands-on Sony LF-G50S review at IFA, complete with our video demo.

GA10 Google Assist Speaker

The Panasonic GA10 Google Assist Speaker is its own personal version of the Google Home. You get Hi-Fi quality audio performance and voice controls via Google Assistant, just like with the Sony speaker above.

Nest Thermostat E

Google-owned Nest has launched a new affordable thermostat aimed at making smart heating more accessible. The Nest Thermostat E features a frosted glass front and white control circle for the lower price of $169 (£130).

Like the Nest Learning Thermostat, the Nest Thermostat E can be controlled using voice with the help of Amazon Echo or Google Home. Neat, eh? It’s already available in the US and should soon roll out worldwide.

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