module and extend around the television, giving the system a furniture feel. Available in 55, 65, 77 and 83-inch screen
sizes,
the audio system uses two 165mm woofers, two 29mm silk-dome tweeters, passive radiators and four-channel Class-D amplification, with proprietary BACCH 3D processing. It can also operate independently of the television, as a standalone music system. Apple AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Roon, TIDAL, Spotify Connect and DLNA are all supported. It’s an interesting proposition that appears
24 Rise of the robots
Ever larger screen sizes, ubiquitous AI and an influx of robotics marked IFA 2026. Steve May reports from the show floor…
here was a definite changing of the guard at this year’s IFA Berlin. Brands that have traditionally dominated the exhibition stepped away from the limelight, allowing a new generation to claim their space and attention. The product mix was like nothing I’ve seen before. The
T numbers were strong. IFA 2026
welcomed 240,000 visitors from 155 countries over its five days, according to the organisers. The show also expanded its programme and immersive experience areas, reinforcing its role as a meeting point for retailers, manufacturers, start-ups, media, creators and the wider technology industry. The most obvious change was the sheer amount of robotics on show. I stumbled into an entire hall of machines doing jobs that, until recently, were generally performed by humans. There were autonomous lawnmowers, window- cleaning robots, pool-maintenance machines, household assistants and humanoid robots. At one point, while heading towards the press
room, I had to step aside to let a robot dog pass. It was dressed as a dinosaur. I have no idea why.
Artificial intelligence was, predictably, everywhere.
That said, many familiar names were conspicuous by their absence. Sony didn’t exhibit. Panasonic operated a trade-only booth,
where it was conducting a charm offensive around its incoming range of Panasonic- Skyworth models. The new company was keen to stress that established brand values would remain in place under the new structure. “Panasonic TVs are still Panasonic TVs” I was reassured. Samsung moved away from its
familiar
location at the Berlin Cube, staging a standalone event elsewhere in the city. With IFA already demanding a considerable amount of walking, and Berlin traffic doing its best to complicate matters, I never managed to visit. However, there was a Samsung presence of sorts at the main exhibition, courtesy of a collaboration with Danish audio specialist Canvas HiFi.
The collaboration saw Samsung’s S99H OLED incorporated into a designer sound system. The result is an unusually high-end looking alternative to the conventional telly-and- soundbar arrangement. The visual treatment is particularly distinctive. Horizontal timber slats surround the audio
to be squarely aimed at Bang & Olufsen customers. No news yet on a UK release Another IFA newcomer, Winmau Autodarts,
scored big at the show. The connected, camera-driven digital darts platform has turned a pub staple into a cutting edge entertainment system. Given the growing interest in darts, the brand seems to have timed its activity well. It even enlisted PDC World No. 2 Gian van
Veen to help promote the system, challenging the UK media in a series of head-to-heads.
TCL goes large TCL used IFA to stress its AV prowess, with ultra-large displays front and centre. A collection of 98-inch X11L SQD-Mini LED
screens greeted visitors. The model, which has a native 144Hz refresh rate and features Audio by Bang & Olufsen, boasts a peak brightness up to 10,000 nits. It’s really impressive. Unfortunately, the 98-inch model isn’t coming to the UK.
The C8L SQD-Mini LED will provide a UK
alternative, offering the same 144Hz gaming focus and B&O sound tuning.
The question of how far the ultra-large
television market can continue to develop inevitably came up during a TCL panel discussion. When quizzed by ERT, CTO Daniel Sun suggested that it all depends on panel technologies and production constraints.
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