IFA 2026 is back, and as expected, there's a lot to see on the show floor at Messe Berlin. IFA is traditionally more focused on consumer electronics, such as smart home devices, more than mobile products like smartphones.
However, there were a few mobile devices scattered about the show, including phones and wearables, as well as a bevy of accessories that managed to catch my eye. Here are some of the coolest things I've seen while exploring IFA 2026.
Xiaomi's whole thing
Xiaomi's IFA debut was a big one, with the company showcasing its family of products across a massive space spanning 3,300 square meters. The company showed off how its family of products can work together using HyperOS and AI, allowing you to seamlessly move across devices as you navigate your home and even your car.
But beyond that, the company also showed off a cool humanoid robot that walked around its space for photo ops. The company says it's exploring the use of humanoid robots to enhance its manufacturing, stating that it has already seen a massive improvement with tasks like nut tightening in its Auto Factory.
But the thing I was most interested in was the one item attendees couldn't get their hands on: the Xiaomi 18 Fold. The device was secured behind glass in a striking red color, showing the device both closed and open. It has a wider foldable design, similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 8, although with rounder corners, which is a design cue we're expecting on the rumored iPhone Ultra.
The Xiaomi 18 Fold has a triple-camera system and is powered by the company's in-house XRING 03 chip, enhanced for on-device AI. The full launch is just days away, on September 7, so we'll learn more about this exciting phone soon.
Move over, Robot Phone
I often ignore ruggedized phones because they serve a particular market segment I'm just not very interested in. However, the RugOne Xsnap 7 Pro from Ulefone does something unique that caught my eye.
Unlike the Robot Phone, which has a very cool robotic gimbal camera, the Xsnap 7 Pro has a detachable camera that can be used as a remote action cam. Ulefone had a number of accessories on display that the camera could be attached to, including a tripod, a selfie stick, a clamp, and more. And when you're done being adventurous, you can easily snap the camera back into place, where it's paired with a 50MP and 64MP camera system.
The phone is powered by a respectable MediaTek Dimensity 8400 and is IP69K-, IP68-, and MIL-STD-810H-certified for high-grade durability. It's clear this is for a certain type of consumer, which I am not, but I can't help but want this phone.
Smart rings that vibrate and much more
I'm a big fan of smart rings, but the small form factor brings some limitations. Fortunately, some of the latest smart rings from Circular seem to be addressing some of them, with both rings featuring vibration alerts.
This is actually something Circular has featured in previous versions of its smart ring, but it was unfortunately omitted from the Circular Ring 2. Now it's back with the Circular 3 series, which can vibrate for wake-up alarms, health alerts, bringing exercises, and more, all while being nearly as slim as the Oura Ring 5. They also feature NFC payments, which is a feature I would love to see on more smart rings.
The Circular Ring 3 Slim is the thinner of the two and, as a result, misses out on some advanced health-tracking features found in the Circular Ring 3 Pro, such as blood pressure trends. However, it still gets haptic feedback, which is impressive on such a small form factor.
The Circular Ring 3 series is bound to give the Oura Ring 5 a run for its money when it arrives in 2027.
Your next AI running glasses
I checked out BleeqUp's first smart AI glasses at last year's MWC, and this year the company has a new pair with welcome enhancements that make it an even more enticing alternative to the Oakley Meta Vanguard.
Compared to the BleeqUp Ranger, the new Rover glasses feature an updated 3K60 resolution with HDR and improved low-light performance. Interestingly, the camera can tilt up or down, offering greater versatility in your sports shots.
There's also more AI integration for things like emergency recording, proactive safety alerts, and for sports monitoring to track things like your breathing rhythm and provide activity summaries.
Finally, there's better waterproofing, double the internal storage, and support for BleeqUp's accessories like the remote control and battery extender.
Tecno bezel-less concept
Tecno is no stranger to showing off cool concept at trade shows such as this (remember that cool modular phone?), but the bezel-less concept phone feels like a product I could actually see it bringing to market. At first glance, it looks and feels just like a regular phone, but turn it on, and you'll notice just how immersive the viewing experience is.
It's really just display and frame, and while my hands-on time was short, it feels like a phone made for a not-too-distant future.
The back is also really interesting, sporting a unique design with a 3D-like effect that thoroughly impressed myself and other onlookers almost as much as the bezel-less display.
The only portable projector you'll need
The Aurzen Zip Pro took what I loved about the original Aurzen Zip and supersized it. It's still one of the coolest portable projectors I've seen, and it's not much larger than the original, while still remaining easy to fold up and carry. It also weighs as much as two flagship smartphones.
It has better picture quality with a higher 1080p resolution, enhanced color, and 4-point keystone correction, so the picture should look great no matter where you throw it from. Plus, it features a small top display you can use to control the device.
It also has longer battery life, although at 2.5 hours, you'll wanna keep it plugged in for any "Lord of the Rings" marathons. But if you do need a charge, it now supports 65W charging speeds, which is pretty nice for on-the-go charging.
This is the droid you're looking for
There's always someone showing off some cool robot thing, and PrimeBot Q1 managed to steal my heart. It's a cute toddler-sized robot that you can talk to or control using your Android smartphone, and thanks to high-torque QDD joints, it moves very quickly for things like dancing (which it does surprisingly well).
I also watched as someone grabbed the Q1's hand and guided it around the show floor, as if it were an actual child you didn't want to lose in the hustle and bustle of a grocery store. My heart immediately melted at the sight of this.
The PrimeBot Q1 is also customizable, so you can either take it as is or dress it up to look like a Gundam, Power Ranger, and so much more.
For now, availability is limited to China, but it's set to come to Europe in 2027. Here's hoping it also makes it way to the U.S.!
