Best of IFA: SwitchBot S10 Robot Vacuum with self-emptying and water refill

One interesting trend we saw last year with robot vacuums was the combination of dust bags and water tanks in a docking station. These big stations could automatically empty your robot vacuum after vacuuming your floors. The docking station could replenish the vacuum's water tank if they mopped the floor and needed more water. However, a pain point for users was emptying the water after mopping. At IFA this year, Switchbot introduced a new robot vacuum that address this problem. It's their SwitchBot S10. It can self-sufficiently clean a user's home, removing the need to manually refill its tank with fresh water and pour out sewage. This provides users with a completely hands-free operation.

How does the SwitchBot S10 refill the water tank and discard dirty water?

It works just like washing machines and dishwashers. SwitchBot has accessories that connect the robot vacuum's water inlet pipe to a water intake or faucet and connect the drainage pipe to the drain port. This ensures the Water Station can help S10 auto-refill and drain itself without human intervention.

Best of IFA: Aqara the Ceiling Light T1M with Matter

At IFA this year, Aqaran introduced the Ceiling Light T1M. This new smart ceiling light is the second smart lighting device the company has launched for the global market. It has a diameter of 50 centimeters and offers a broad spectrum of hues ranging from dimmable whites to 16 million vibrant colors. Users can set the atmospheric lighting for different occasions and moods. The Ceiling Light T1M also features an independent addressable RGB ring for gradient effects and can be easily integrated into compatible home automation platforms, including the new wireless protocol Matter. For instance, using the RGB ring as a status light in conjunction with compatible smart hub and devices on that platform, users can use it to indicate potential threats like an open door or water leak.

And speaking of compatibility, the new T1M is compatible with other Zigbee devices from Aqara. It features low idle consumption, Matter-over-bridge support, and compatibility with major platforms like Apple HomeKit. Learn more on the Aqara website.

Best of IFA: Eve Play AirPlay 2 Receiver

The Eve Play AirPlay 2 Receiver is a small, wireless device that can add AirPlay 2 capabilities to any existing stereo system. It has optical, coaxial, and RCA audio outputs so that it can be connected to a wide variety of speakers and amplifiers. The Eve Play also has a built-in digital-to-analog converter (DAC) for high-quality sound.

To use the Eve Play, connect it to your home Wi-Fi network (2.4GHz or 5GHz) and then connect it to your stereo system using the appropriate audio output. Once connected, you can stream music, podcasts, and other audio content from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac to your stereo system using AirPlay 2.

The Eve Play also supports multiroom audio to create a whole-home audio system. With multiroom audio, you can play the same song on all of your AirPlay 2-enabled speakers or different songs on different speakers.

The Eve Play is great for adding AirPlay 2 capabilities to your stereo system. It is easy to set up and use and delivers high-quality sound.LG Suitcase TV StanbyMe Go 27" TV.

Best of IFA: Samsung Food App with AI

Drawing from the extensive database of Whisk, a smart food platform acquired by Samsung Next in 2019, the company announced at IFA 2023 the new Samsung Food app. This new software version will help users unite the disparate sides of smart cooking: the recipes, the food itself, and the kitchen appliances. It uses AI technology to deliver a food platform that truly adapts to the needs and lifestyles of its users.

The Samsung Food app offers a variety of features, including:

• Over 160,000 recipes tailored to user preferences and dietary requirements
• Personalized meal planning
• Connected cooking, which allows you to control your kitchen appliances from the app
• Social sharing so that you can share your recipes and cooking experiences with friends and family

The app is also integrated with Samsung's SmartThings platform, allowing you to control your smart home devices. This means that you can use the app to turn on your oven, start your coffee maker, or even adjust the temperature of your thermostat. You need to make sure your Samsung appliances are compatible with the Samsung SmartThings platform.

The Samsung Food app is a comprehensive and powerful tool for anyone who loves to cook. It is available for free on the App Store and Google Play.

Best of IFA: Dreame Roboticmower A1

Dreame Technology introduced a new robotic lawnmower at IFA this year that caught our eye. This new smart robotic lawnmower incorporates a 3D lidar solution, which is relatively seen in robotic lawnmowers. This lidar solution helps the robotic mower to detect distances of up to 70 meters and a 360°x59° omnidirectional super-large viewing angle. This allows it to perceive the environment from all directions and enables the robotic lawn mower to instantly and accurately create a 3D map of the garden. Building a map can be challenging for a lawn mowing robot, as it often encounters complex outdoor environments, particularly when the signal needs to bypass obstacles like houses and trees. However, with the high-precision lidar technology of the Dreame Roboticmower A1, the signal remains stable and is less prone to loss.

And to help the robot lawn mower avoid obstacles, the Dreame Roboticmower A1 comes with point cloud data environmental information collection technology. It integrates an intelligent obstacle-avoidance algorithm similar to that of a chasing robot. This assists the robot lawn mower in identifying over eleven common obstacles in a garden, ensuring safe operation and a smoother mowing experience.

The Dreame Roboticmower A1 will debut and enter the European and North American markets early next year (2024).

Best of IFA: New Jabra Wireless Earbuds: Elite Active 8 and Elite 10

At IFA, Jabra introduced two pairs of true wireless earbuds with the most advanced sound experience and long battery life in a compact design: the Elite 8 Active and Elite 10 wireless earbuds.

These new additions to Jabra's Elite true wireless earbuds line are ideal for hybrid work-and-play solutions. The Elite 8 Active, tested to be the world's toughest earbuds, and the Elite 10, Jabra's most advanced earbuds for work and life with clear calls, all-day comfort, and an immersive Dolby Atmos experience through Dolby Head Tracking. Both offer the best combination of comfort, sound, and calls anywhere for work and life. And are available for purchase today.

Buy Jabra Elite 10 Earbuds on Amazon

Best of IFA: Withings ScanWatch 2 with Temperature Readings

The Withings ScanWatch 2 is a hybrid smartwatch that combines the classic look of an analog watch with the health-tracking features of a smartwatch. It is also the first smartwatch or wearable to provide baseline readings of your body's day and night temperature readings. It can do this because Withings has combined a miniaturized heat-flux sensor with a temperature sensor alongside heart rate and accelerometer input calibration to assess your body's temperature.

In addition, the ScanWatch 2 comes with a stainless steel case and a sapphire crystal display, making it both durable and scratch-resistant. This next-gen ScanWatch tracks various health metrics, including heart rate, SpO2, sleep, and activity. It also has an ECG sensor that can be used to detect atrial fibrillation (AFib). It also provides sleep tracking with sleep stages and scores, activity tracking with heart rate zones and calories burned, and water resistance up to 50 meters. The hybrid smartwatch has a battery life of up to 30 days.

The Withings ScanWatch 2 is an excellent option for people who want a stylish and functional smartwatch to track their health. It is available in two sizes: 38mm and 42mm.

Best of IFA: Belkin Qi2 Wireless Charging Stations

At IFA this year, Belkin announced three new Qi2-enabled wireless charging products: BoostCharge Pro Universal Easy Align Wireless Charging Pad 15W, BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad with Qi2, and BoostCharge Convertible Qi2 Wireless Pad to Stand. For those who don't know about Qi2 wireless charging, it is the next generation of the Qi wireless charging standard. It was announced in January 2023 by the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) and is designed to be faster, more efficient, and more compatible than the original Qi standard.

Our award for best of IFA goes to each one, but we like Belkin's BoostCharge Convertible Qi2 Wireless Pad to Stand. This new wireless charger supports the Qi2 standard and provides faster charging speeds and improved efficiency than Qi chargers. The Belkin Qi2 Wireless Charging Station can charge compatible devices at up to 15W, the maximum speed supported by the Qi2 standard. It is also compatible with older Qi-enabled devices but will only charge them at the slower 7.5W rate. The charger is also compatible with MagSafe-enabled devices.

Buy on Belkin

Best of IFA: New JBL Authentic Speakers with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant

If you want a new smart speaker, JBL has a few to consider buying this holiday season. Last week, JBL introduced the JBL Authentics series, a new wireless speaker line consisting of three different vintage-looking smart speakers: the 500, 300, and 200. Each smart speaker comes with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant compatibility, which you can set up using the JBL One app. According to JBL, this simultaneous integration is an industry-first.

Besides these smart voice integrations, each speaker features multi-room playback, automatic self-tuning, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi (Ethernet) connections, a quadrex grille, and a retro design and will be available on September 15th.

What's the difference between these smart speakers? The JBL Authentic speaker has Dolby Atmos, three 1" tweeters, three 2.75" midrange woofers, and a 6.5" down-firing subwoofer. The other speakers don't have Dolby Atmos. JBL Authentic 300 is the only battery-powered speaker of the bunch, which makes it a good travel speaker. It provides up to 8 hours of playback on a single charge. The last new JBL smart speaker, Authentic 200, is the smallest of the lineup and features 1" tweeters, a full-range 5" woofer, and a down-firing 6" passive radiator said to create deep bass.

Best of IFA: Philips Hue Smart Lights and Security Camera Work With Matter

At IFA, Philips Hue announced their entry into the smart home security market with Philips Hue Secure. The company introduced many new smart security devices, including smart security cameras (wired and wireless) and contact sensors, which will work with the Philips Hue app. The company also offers easy integrations with your existing Philips Hue products for these new security devices and cloud storage for storing your videos.

The company also announced as of September, all of their products will be Matter compatible as long as they are connected through the Hue Bridge. Your system will be able to get a firmware update to make the Hue Bridget a Matter-compatible controller, which is needed to get all Matter-compatible products to work seamlessly together.

These announcements and new products help make Philips Hue more than a lighting company but a smart home system that offers easy-to-set-up lighting solutions that work in tandem with a smart home security system to keep you safe and secure.

Pre-order Philips Hue Security Cameras

Best of IFA: Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Mini

The Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Mini is a compact soundbar that delivers immersive 7.1.4 surround sound. It is powered by Sennheiser's proprietary AMBEO technology, which uses software and hardware to create a virtual surround sound experience. The soundbar has six drivers, including two upward-firing drivers, to create a soundstage that goes beyond the physical dimensions of the soundbar.

The Ambeo Soundbar Mini also features a number of other features, including voice enhancement, which makes voices clearer and easier to understand, even in noisy environments. It has a night mode to reduce the bass output to make it easier to listen to the soundbar at night without disturbing others. You can use the upmixing feature to transform stereo audio into a surround sound experience. The soundbar works on Bluetooth and has built-in Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa voice platforms. You can use voice commands to control the soundbar.

The Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Mini is an excellent option for people who want a compact, immersive soundbar that delivers exceptional sound quality. It is also a good choice for people who want a soundbar that can be controlled with their voice.

Best of IFA: Yeelight New Smart Lighting Solutions

At IFA this year, Yeelight introduced two new smart lighting products under the Yeelight Fun line. For those who don't know, the Yeelight Fun product line is designed to inspire users to express themselves and create their exclusive RGB settings, transforming any space into a vivid reflection of their personality. At IFA, the company introduced the Beam RGBIC Light Bar, a dual-light combo preferably placed on tabletops, and Obsid RGBIC Light Strip, a charcoal-color-based addressable light strip. These smart lighting products from the Fun product line will be Matter-compatible, providing seamless connectivity. The company also mentioned its new AI-driven learning and generated lighting effects to enrich its lighting effects pool. The Yeelight app has a new section, "Graffiti Studio," coming soon to the Yeelight Station community around October.