IFA 2024 was ‘cool’ – in some cases quite literally. Some companies aimed to look cool by rebranding older tech with new buzzwords, others showcased some genuinely ‘cool innovations’, and some focused on making ‘devices cooler’. Let’s delve into these three categories with a particular emphasis on the latter two.

Firstly, we congratulate the organisers of IFA for celebrating 100 years of showcasing the latest innovations in consumer electronics, home appliances, smart home technology, and now even e-mobility and automotive sectors. This year, IFA, the world’s largest consumer electronics and home appliance show, spanned two venues. The main event took place at Messe Berlin from September 6th to 10th, while the concurrent IFA Global Markets was held at STATION Berlin from September 8th to 10th, 2024. In total, IFA 2024 featured more than 1,800 exhibitors, and nearly 200 speakers, and attracted an audience of over 200,000 from 138 countries.

The ShowStoppers event on the evening of September 5th saw innovative companies and start-ups presenting their latest products and solutions, with some winning innovation awards from the research firm, Omdia.

Looking Cool – From ‘Smart Connected’ to ‘AI-Driven’

I won’t dwell too much on this category, but it’s worth noting that what was once termed ‘Smart Connected’ technology a decade ago seems to now be fashionably promoted as ‘AI-driven’ technology with only minor tweaks or changes in the narrative.

Many major and smaller home appliance companies rebranded their smart connected cookers, washers/dryers, fridges, ovens, and coffee machines as ‘NEW AI-Driven’ technology appliances. These appliances claim to know you and your usage patterns better, predicting and operating autonomously based on your past habits.

Essentially, aside from a few innovative appliance companies, there wasn’t much new technology or smartness added to the appliances at IFA 2024. Most of it was rebranding, repositioning, and remarketing. However, a notable addition to the existing offerings of smart, connected, energy-efficient, sustainable, and environmentally friendly appliances is their new focus on ‘reducing your stress.’ Subtly, attention seems to have been paid to ‘mental health and wellbeing.’

These smarter, AI-driven appliances aim to alleviate the stress of conducting regular household chores, including cooking. For example, we have Bosch, Siemens, Samsung Bespoke AI, ‘Affectionate AI’ from LG, and many others setting the trend.

Cool Innovations: A Wireless Power Perspective

1. Wireless Power Consortium launched final specs of Ki standard: The Wireless Power Consortium (WPC), an industry body, confirmed the launch of its much-awaited industry-standard solution for cordless small kitchen appliances, termed ‘Ki’. This new wireless power standard aims to eliminate the use of cables and power cords from small kitchen appliances like toasters, kettles, blenders, air fryers, and coffee machines, among others. This technology can be easily integrated into large induction-based cooktops as well as installed on kitchen countertops.
   • With the standard now ready, appliance companies will be able to submit their Ki-wireless power-integrated products for Ki certification before the end of this year.
   • Some of the companies presenting their Ki solutions at the WPC booth at IFA included Midea, Philips, Jabil, EGO, and others.
   • Midea appears to be the first large home appliance manufacturer to adopt the Ki wireless power solution, as it also showcased this ‘Future Kitchen’ concept at its booth as well.
   • WPC’s Ki solution also won the ‘Innovators Award’ at IFA 2024, organised by Omdia.
2. A growing ecosystem of WPC’s Qi2 wireless power solution: In line with the above, WAWT observed the fast-growing ecosystem of WPC’s Qi2 wireless power solution primarily used for smartphones. We saw the integration of Qi2 and Apple’s MagSafe solution across a wide range of product categories, including single/multiple mobile chargers, car in-cabin chargers, tabletops, kitchen countertops, lamps, smart speakers, power banks – a rapidly growing category for wireless power adoption. More new categories are expected to follow. Additionally, we came across EcoFlow’s Power Hat, which features a phone-charging solar panel.
   • Companies like Aukey, Anker, Belkin, Zens, Scoche, Ugreen, SwitchBot and many others presented their innovative range of Qi2/MagSafe-based solutions at IFA 2024. The emerging application of wireless charging-enabled power bank (battery pack) continues to grow through innovation, with some thin, sleek, and larger capacity designs being developed by key players such as Aukey, Loowoko, and others.
   • Towards the end of 2023, WAWT predicted an increase in the charging capabilities of WPC’s Qi2 solution beyond the current standard levels of 15W. This was confirmed at Apple’s latest ‘Glowtime’ on September 9^th, where it subtly enhanced faster wireless charging capability from 15W to up to 25W for its recently launched iPhone 16 series smartphones using its proprietary MagSafe technology.
3. Surge in Smart Rings at IFA 2024: IFA 2024 featured several companies offering ‘Smart Rings’ with various features. As predicted by WAWT, smart rings are emerging as the next big device within the wearables and healthcare sectors, particularly from the wireless charging perspective.
   • This prediction was confirmed as WAWT observed several companies adopting either their proprietary inductive-based or industry-standard NFC Wireless Charging technology to power their smart rings.
   • This potentially makes smart rings the fastest application to adopt wireless charging technology, considering this is a newly emerging category (less than 2 years old). For a full list of smart ring OEMs who were the first movers to adopt wireless power technology, please get in touch with us.

Making Devices Cooler

There certainly are some drawbacks and constraints to fast charging, whether wired or wireless. To combat the challenges related to the heating of smartphones and their batteries, IFA 2024 showcased some innovative approaches and solutions. On one hand, mobile phone accessory makers are developing graphene heat dissipation-based phone cases, and graphene-coated phone screen protectors. Software-based solutions are also being explored to enable faster charging.

On the other hand, companies like Aukey have developed award-winning innovative wireless chargers integrated with cooling fans. These ‘cool’ solutions are expected to reduce the heat and temperature by up to 20C levels, enabling the fast charging feature to run for a longer duration. Such cooling fan-based chargers would certainly be favourites among those who use their phone for extended periods, like gamers or binge-watchers. While Aukey is one example, a few other manufacturers are also developing similar solutions.

As we move towards high-power charging to enable fast charging speeds, we will continue to see such innovative products and solutions.

The emerging wireless power technology had a limited presence with relatively fewer players beyond the mobile ecosystem exhibiting this year at IFA 2024. However, the limited attendance of wireless power companies at the IFA event floorplan should not underestimate the extent of work being conducted in the background to develop and promote innovative wireless power solutions.

This year at IFA 2024, WAWT witnessed fewer-than-expected applications and devices showcasing the adoption of wireless power technology. WAWT anticipates changes in market dynamics and the competitive landscape in the wireless power technology sector in the coming quarters.

WAWT has endeavoured to capture as much news and insight on the wireless power market through its full presence at the IFA 2024 Trade Show and by engaging with industry associates before and after this key event.

This is a summarised version of WAWT’s insight report which highlights the latest news and trends across the wireless power market based on IFA 2024 segmented by general theme. Please note that the above is not a complete and exhaustive list but represents the profile of news and announcements made at IFA 2024, particularly related to the wireless power technology market. Additionally, the news items listed above are not presented in any specific order or hierarchy.

We would appreciate your feedback on the above insight report from WAWT™ covering the IFA 2024 event. More details on such news, trends and insights are covered in WAWT’s subscription-based ‘Wireless Power Intelligence Service’.

To discuss these insights the and latest market trends further, please feel free to contact our subject matter expert, Dinesh Kithany, Founder and Chief Analyst of Wired and Wireless Technology (WAWT) at analyst@wawt.tech or write to us at WAWT™.

Wired and Wireless Technology (WAWT)™ is the leading and most trustworthy strategic technology analyst and consulting firm focusing on the wireless power and power supply industry. No one delivers data, insights, and strategy on these markets like WAWT.