IFA 2024 — Europe’s largest consumer electronics trade show held in Berlin, Germany — opened on September 6 with Samsung Electronics showcasing an impressive array of AI-powered products and services under its vision of “AI for All.”

Samsung Newsroom visited the company’s dynamic booth at IFA 2024 to see what innovative technologies captivated attendees.

▲ (Left) Samsung’s exhibit is located in CityCube Berlin in Messe Berlin. (Right) Crowds gathered at Samsung’s IFA 2024 booth.

Leading the Way to a Safer, More Sustainable Future

Upon entering the exhibit, visitors were welcomed by a range of SmartThings solutions — organized into key themes such as Security, Sustainability, Easy Connectivity and Control, Safety and Health as well as B2B Solutions. Each area highlighted SmartThings’ AI capabilities, illustrating how these innovations integrate into everyday life and reflect Samsung’s commitment to building a safer and more sustainable future.

▲ Calm Onboarding helps to manage the entire product journey, from registration to actual use and product maintenance. Meanwhile, Map View allows users to monitor devices in living spaces at a glance.

▲ SmartThings can adjust home appliances to create optimal sleep conditions when the Galaxy Ring determines the user is sleeping.

▲ The B2B-specific SmartThings Pro streamlines operations in residential or commercial spaces by connecting and managing lighting, temperature and humidity controls, cameras, home appliances and other IoT devices.

Personalizing Daily Life Through Bespoke AI Home Appliances

In the Bespoke AI space, guests witnessed the remarkable evolution of Samsung’s home appliances — now more intuitive and customized for spaces around the home. Notably, Samsung unveiled an upgraded version of the smart AI voice assistant Bixby alongside other state-of-the-art technologies that deliver tailored services based on the user’s voice and location.

▲ The 7-inch AI Home on Anyplace Induction helps users see and control their home appliances.

▲ The Bespoke AI Family Hub refrigerator uses AI for image recognition, recipe suggestions and more.

▲ The Bespoke AI Laundry Combo^TM received an A-grade energy efficiency class rating for its washing and drying capabilities.

▲ The Energy Leadership Zone explains to energy-conscious European consumers how Samsung’s AI home appliances and services reduce energy consumption.

Unlocking Next-Level Viewing Experiences

The AI TV space introduced visitors to the newest trends in AI TVs and other technologies that can be implemented around the home. The Transparent MICRO LED impressed with its crystal-clear image quality and high transparency, and the AI home companion Ballie drew attention as well.

▲ The Transparent MICRO LED stands out from other similar displays with its ultra-transparent and bezel-less design.

▲ Ballie offers personalized experiences by playing music or controlling various IoT devices.

▲ Visitors enjoy games on (left) the 49-inch Odyssey OLED G9 and (right) Samsung Gaming Hub on a Samsung AI TV.

▲ (Left) The Music Frame and (right) the 2024 version of The Premiere are displayed at IFA 2024.

Creating a Smarter Mobile Future With Galaxy AI

Finally, guests experienced the latest AI features across the Galaxy lineup in the Galaxy AI Ecosystem space. Showcasing a truly integrated experience, various devices from the Galaxy product family were on display — including the Galaxy Z series, Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Ring, Galaxy Buds and Galaxy Book.

Visitors expressed keen interest in the new levels of connectivity between devices, with some commenting that the practical features are exactly what they’ve been waiting for.

▲ Interpreter allows users to take advantage of both the main screen and cover screen when having a conversation in different languages.

▲ The Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Ring can track users’ health.

▲ The Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 was unveiled at IFA 2024.

The company showcased revolutionary accessibility features in its Bespoke AI appliances on September 6 (local time) at IFA 2024 — Europe’s largest consumer electronics trade show held in Berlin, Germany. Aligning with this year’s IFA theme of “Innovation for All,” Samsung is presenting a more comfortable lifestyle to users.

▲ Samsung Electronics’ press conference at IFA 2024

Personalizing Experiences According to Each User’s Voice

At IFA 2024, Samsung introduced Voice ID³ — a game changer in smart home technology that will offer personalized experiences by distinguishing between family members’ voices.

Home appliances that support Voice ID will be able to understand voice commands from users and provide customized solutions based on schedules, interests, health conditions and other personal characteristics.

For example, Voice ID will recognize a senior user’s voice, recommend dishes depending on their diet and find relevant recipes when they ask about dinner.⁴

Syncing Accessibility Settings Across Devices

Currently, accessibility settings need to be set up separately for each device. By the second half of this year, Accessibility Sync will allow users to apply accessibility settings from their smartphones to their home appliances during initial setup.

In the future, home appliances with Voice ID support will be able to synchronize accessibility settings with each user’s voice. For instance, Accessibility Sync will recognize a mother’s voice and apply her smartphone’s accessibility settings to the washing machine.

Improving Usability Through More Visible Screens and Voice Assistance

▲ Bespoke AI appliances inside Samsung’s booth at IFA 2024

At IFA 2024, visitors to Samsung’s booth can experience how the company is improving screen visibility on its Bespoke AI appliances. The 32-inch screen on the Bespoke 4-Door Refrigerator with AI Family Hub⁵ features black-and-white, color inversion and font enlargement for users with low vision. Meanwhile, the 7-inch AI Home⁶ on the Bespoke AI Laundry Combo supports high contrast to improve readability.

Voice Guide will further enhance accessibility by providing audible descriptions of an appliance’s status and operations. Once activated in settings, the feature will read what is displayed on the screen. Voice Guide will be progressively rolled out⁷ to products with displays.

Adding Convenience With a Light Touch

▲ Bespoke AI Laundry Combo with Auto Open Door

Designed to help users easily open doors, Auto Open Door is currently available on select refrigerators, washing machines, ovens and other home appliances. The Bespoke 4-Door Refrigerator with AI Family Hub opens with a gentle touch. Meanwhile, the Bespoke AI Laundry Combo door automatically opens at the end of a wash or dry cycle to allow moisture to escape or keep laundry fresh.

Samsung is constantly expanding its features to make home appliances more accessible to users. Fully committed to its “AI for All” vision, the company looks forward to breaking down barriers and setting new standards for inclusivity in home technology.

¹ Accessibility features of Samsung home appliances may vary by region and product.
² Results may vary depending on actual usage conditions.
³ Voice ID is expected to be available in 2025. The availability of features and content providers may vary by country/carrier/language/device model/OS version.
⁴ The following scenario may vary depending on user language settings or regional differences.
⁵ Product name may differ by region. North America: Bespoke 4-Door Flex Refrigerator with AI Family Hub+, Latin America: Bespoke 4-Door French Door Refrigerator with AI Family Hub+.
⁶ Does not mean all services available on the AI Home are AI or generate information or outcomes using AI. AI Smart Dial, AI Wash & Dry and Voice enabled with Bixby accessible through the AI Home utilize AI-based algorithms, which may be updated periodically to improve accuracy. AI-based algorithms may generate incomplete or incorrect information.
⁷ As of early September 2024, Voice Guide is only supported on select Family Hub refrigerators and Bespoke AI Laundry Combo.

Further expanding the AI for All vision, the conference included chapters “AI Meets the World” and “AI Meets You” where speakers from across the company and its partners demonstrated the critical role AI plays in improving users’ quality of life, equipping them with tools they can use to enrich their lives.

“Since our presentation at IFA last year, discussions around AI and its role in our lives have grown significantly,” said Benjamin Braun, Chief Marketing Officer, Samsung Europe. “At Samsung, we are proud to make AI more accessible and understandable, showing how it can simplify life rather than complicate it. We believe AI should act like multiple pairs of helping hands, meeting you needs and the world beyond them. Our AI-enabled products allow people more time to focus on the things they care about.”

▲ Benjamin Braun, Chief Marketing Officer, Samsung Europe, speaking about AI For All at Samsung’s IFA 2024 presentation, where the company unveils its latest innovations and celebrates the possibilities AI can create for everyone.

AI For All

Samsung’s AI for All spans a wide range of its AI enabled products, from mobile devices, home appliances and home entertainment systems. By the end of 2024, Samsung expects there will be 200 million Galaxy AI-enabled devices in users’ hands. Samsung understands its AI features need to adapt to how consumers want to live — as well as supporting the needs of the earth.

Central to this is the expanding SmartThings ecosystem, which connects over 500 million devices, offering seamless remote control of all Samsung AI-enabled products, from turning the heating on or off, managing all appliances when home or away and navigating Samsung TVs.

Never before has it been so easy for people across the world to use of the power of AI to take control of the world around them. Samsung AI enable products give this power to its users, allowing them to curate their everyday experiences. Whether striving for more sustainable living, expanding creativity or connecting with their loved ones.

However, only 15% of people said they have a full understanding of how AI can be used in their daily lives and yet 66% of us are looking for ways to create more time. This shows a clear opportunity for Samsung AI to give back to people, and why AI is for All.¹

Launching following IFA, the latest operating system upgrade, One UI 6.1.1, will make AI features from the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6, such as Live Translate and Circle To Search, available on the Galaxy S24, Z Fold5 and Flip5.

This rollout of One UI 6.1.1 will also include brand new apps which bring more opportunity for creativity and connection. Including, Sketch to Image, which allows users to visualise their ideas through image options generated from a simple drawing and Portrait Studio which propels creativity by helping users create a more personalised avatar to use online.

▲ Deborah Honig, Chief Customer Officer and VP of One Samsung, speaking about SmartThings at Samsung’s IFA 2024 presentation, where the company unveils its latest innovations and celebrates the possibilities AI can create for everyone.

AI Meets You

Samsung believes that its AI should enhance daily life by allowing users to personalise entertainment experiences. At IFA 2024, Samsung launched the Premiere 7 and 9 Projectors, Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 and Galaxy Book4 Edge 15-inch, all designed to help users focus on what they care about and who they share it with.

The Premiere 9 and The Premiere 7 projectors, bring advanced laser technology to home entertainment, delivering exceptional 4K resolution and immersive audio on screens up to 130 inches. They include AI-powered technology, including Upscaling, which enhances content to 4K quality, and Vision Booster, which adjusts brightness and contrast for optimal viewing in various lighting conditions. Designed to transform living spaces into premium home cinemas, these projectors offer a superior viewing experience with cutting-edge technology.

▲ Stephanie Chosen, Samsung Brand and Product Marketing Manager, speaking about The Frame and The Art Store’s collaboration with Jean-Michel Basquiat at Samsung’s IFA 2024 presentation, where the company unveils its latest innovations and celebrates the possibilities AI can create for everyone.

The Galaxy Book5 Pro 360, in collaboration with Intel, combines the power of the new Intel® Core Ultra processor with Samsung’s mobile leadership to unlock the next level of cross-device AI experiences. Featuring Galaxy AI, it offers personalised productivity and seamless connectivity. With all-day battery life, users can accomplish more efficiently, while its enhanced graphics and displays provide a premium entertainment experience within Galaxy’s extensive mobile AI ecosystem.

The ultra-thin Galaxy Book4 Edge 15-inch, designed with Qualcomm, is powered by the Snapdragon® X Plus processor for exceptional performance and long battery life. It integrates advanced NPU technology for top-tier AI capabilities and combines Copilot+ PC features with Galaxy AI. This portable device enhances creativity and connectivity on a vibrant 15-inch display.

Also showcased on stage at IFA were the latest innovations in Samsung TVs. Since 2015, Tizen OS has powered hundreds of millions of smart TVs, leading the evolution of television viewing. 2024 Samsung AI TVs will receive Tizen OS upgrades for seven years considering hardware specification.² This ensures that consumers can continue to enjoy the latest innovations and enhanced connectivity across all their Samsung devices.

Samsung’s Neo QLED 8K AI screens provide an enhanced viewing experience with built-in NQ 8 AI Gen 3 processors. These processors feature 512 neural networks — eight times more than before—and, when combined with the power of AI, deliver a customised, high-quality sound and picture experience. This technology upscales on-screen content to deliver the sharpest and smoothest picture yet.

The latest developments in The Frame and Art Store were also celebrated at IFA with the announcement of several new partnerships. Along with collaborations with Finnish design house Marimekko and Jean-Michel Basquiat, Samsung introduced an exclusive collection of 12 masterpieces by Belgian surrealist René Magritte. These partnerships enable users to bring extraordinary art into their homes, adding a touch of magic to their everyday surroundings.

Samsung also announced the exciting launch of the new Samsung Music Frame in partnership with Universal Picture’s Wicked. The Music Frame wireless speaker was launched earlier this year, delivering superior sound quality that fills any space with rich, clear audio. With built-in woofers and intelligent Dolby Atmos technology inside, the Music Frame intelligently adapts to your home acoustics and brings every sound and note to life. The limited-edition Wicked Music Frame comes with two movie art images and one wonderful exclusive image (only available as part of the limited-edition Music Frame) of the beloved Glinda and Elphaba, along with character autographs and an authenticity certificate.

Samsung is creating simple user experiences through its Bespoke AI appliances,³ which now offer enhanced voice control through Bixby upgrades. The upgraded Bixby can understand multiple commands in one sentence, recall previous context⁴ to carry out continuous commands for personalised responses and provide answers to product related questions.⁵ It allows users to express their needs more naturally and easily than before.

Samsung also opens up greater control and accessibility benefits for users. For example, Samsung developed and applied an Auto Open Door feature on some washing machine and refrigerator models so users can open doors with a light touch. A recent update allows people to open the door by simply saying, “Open the refrigerator door”, even without wake-up commands like “Hi Bixby”.

AI Meets World

Samsung believes that AI is a force for good and one which has a critical role to play in allowing us all to take better care of the planet and each other.

Samsung has continued its mission to become Net Zero by 2050, with 93% of its DX Division operations running on to Renewable Energy sources.⁶

Within its products, Samsung continues to prioritise energy efficiency and is passionate about using AI to make this possible. Whether that’s AI inside appliances such as its refrigerators and washing machines or using AI to unlock the potential of its SmartThings Eco System to save more energy.

Samsung’s AI Hybrid refrigerators have been built with energy saving front of mind. By combining two power sources, a compressor and Peltier cooling technology, the fridge intelligently responds when more energy than usual is being used. For example, if the fridge door is left open for longer, the Peltier technology works as an extra cooling source to improve overall energy efficiency.

On stage at IFA, Samsung revealed that the Bespoke AI Laundry Combo is now rolling out across Europe. The All-in-One washer and dryer combo is a single space efficient appliance that finishes the wash and dry cycle in one queue. The wash cycle not only meets but surpasses the minimum energy efficiency requirements for the A-grade rating by up to 20%,⁷ and the wash and dry cycle combined also meets the A-grade rating.⁸ This impressive performance is achieved through advanced heat pump drying technology, which dries clothes quickly, gently and efficiently at lower temperatures.

▲ Katharina Mayer, Samsung Head of LifeStyle Lab Europe – Digital Appliances, speaking about the Bespoke AI Laundry Combo at Samsung’s IFA 2024 presentation, where the company unveils its latest innovations and celebrates the possibilities AI can create for everyone.

The SmartThings Ecosystem remains at the core of Samsung’s ability to pioneer energy efficiency, as it can make lots of small changes to make a big difference. The AI Energy Mode in SmartThings Energy⁹ can save up to 70% of energy consumption for washing machines.^{10 11} Also with SmartThings Away Mode users never have to worry about forgetting to turn off a light or the TV when they go out. Sensors in various appliances sense when there is no-one in the room and then shut down systems to save energy.

Bespoke AI appliances can also save energy costs through Optimal Scheduling and Optimal Charging. These features delay the start of a wash cycle and charging to avoid peak hours in order to reduce energy costs when combined with smart tariffs.

For more information on the products mentioned within this release, please visit the Samsung Global Newsroom here.

The Samsung exhibition at IFA will be open from September 6 to 10 at the City Cube, Berlin.

* The content has been revised to provide more accurate information.

¹ This research was conducted between July 11th and July 19th, 2024, to gauge public sentiment towards AI across Europe. The survey sampled 11,000 adults from ten countries: the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark and Poland, with each country contributing 1,000 respondents, except the UK, which had 2,000 respondents.
² Details on supported models and features to be determined.
³ The update is available for appliances launched in 2024 including the Bespoke 4-Door Refrigerator with AI Family Hub; Bespoke AI Laundry Combo; Bespoke Slide-in Range; Bespoke Jet Bot Combo AI; and Bespoke AI WindFree Gallery Freestanding Air Conditioner (sold in Korea only).
⁴ Only available when the dialog box is open.
⁵ Understanding multiple commands and Recalling previous context are supported in the following languages: English (US, UK, India), Korean, Spanish (Latin America, Europe), French, German, Italian and Portuguese (Brazil). Answering product-related questions is currently available for English (US) and Korean. The following scenario is based on English (US) and may vary depending on user language settings.
⁶ In September 2022, Samsung announced its New Environmental Strategy which includes the company’s goals to achieve net zero Scope 1,2 emissions by 2050, maximize resource circularity to contribute to a circular economy and tackle environmental challenges through technological innovation. Samsung’s Device eXperience (DX) division aims to reach net zero Scope 1,2 emissions by 2030. The DX division achieved 93.4% renewable energy conversion as of the end of 2023 — which includes 100% renewable energy used at major global manufacturing facilities in the United States, Europe, Korea, China, Brazil, India and Vietnam.
⁷ Based on internal testing of energy efficiency of household washing machines according to Regulation (EU) 2019/2016. This 18kg washer model comes with 20 percent more energy efficiency (38.9 EEI) than the conventional A-rated energy efficiency class (52 EEI).
⁸ Based on internal testing. Complete operating cycle from washing to drying of this model is rated Energy efficiency class A as defined by EU Regulation 2019/2014.
⁹ Available on Android and iOS devices. A Wi-Fi connection and a Samsung account are required.
¹⁰ Savings amount estimated based on tests performed by Samsung. Estimated savings may differ from users actual savings. https://blog.smartthings.com/smartthings-energy/how-to-reduce-your-carbon-footprint-with-smartthings-energy/
¹¹ Wi-Fi connection, Samsung account and SmartThings required. Can be applied when the selected washing temperature is 20~40°C. Max saving results from washing a 40 degree cycle as a cold wash. Savings based on internal testing on the WW11BB944AGB model in normal usage conditions. Results: Power consumption without AI Energy Mode = 0.539 KWh. Power consumption with AI Energy Mode = 0.145 KWh. Results may vary depending on the actual usage conditions.

Home appliances and electronics have followed this evolution. What were once large, bulky machines have since become highly advanced, integrated devices and essential companions in daily life.

▲ Exterior view of the Messe Berlin exhibition grounds during IFA 2022

In the midst of this change, Samsung has positioned itself to lead the next 100 years of innovation by seamlessly connecting mobile devices, TVs and home appliances through SmartThings¹ — while offering enhanced control over devices through upgrades in Bixby,² the company’s voice assistant which can now better understand complex commands based on natural language.

IFA 2024 kicks off on September 6 under the slogan “Innovation for All.” Before its grand opening, Samsung Newsroom looked back at IFA’s century-long journey of innovation and Samsung’s legacy of technological breakthroughs.

From Radio Exhibition to Innovation Hub for AI Devices

In its early days, IFA served as a platform for the German government to showcase emerging radio technology in the 1920s. Albert Einstein even delivered the opening speech in 1930.

▲ Albert Einstein during his opening speech for IFA in 1930 (photo credit: IFA website)

This marked the beginning of a series of breakthroughs including the introduction of the world’s first car radio in 1932 and the first color TV in 1937. World War II halted IFA for several years in the 1940s, but technological progress continued. In 1971, the show was renamed Internationale Funkausstellung to become the IFA consumers know today.

The evolution of home appliances has been equally remarkable. Refrigerators and washing machines are no longer simple mechanical devices designed to reduce household labor. Innovations in compressors and motors — along with advancements in electronic components, smart features and connectivity — have turned these devices into sophisticated, high-tech tools for modern living.

Samsung first started exhibiting at IFA in 1991, showcasing monitors, PCs and more at a modest 43-square-meter booth during the trade show’s expansion beyond radio and television to include digital media devices. Twelve years later in 2003, the company upgraded its booth to a significantly larger 3,600-square-meter one in the prime location of Hall 20. Since 2014, Samsung has exclusively occupied CityCube Berlin and is ready to impress visitors once again with its 6,000-square-meter booth this year.

Growing With IFA and Leading the AI Era With a Connected Ecosystem

Samsung’s presence at IFA has continually increased as the company introduced groundbreaking technologies across home appliances, TVs and mobile devices. In 2006, the tech giant showcased the Bordeaux TV, which established Samsung as the global TV market leader. In 2011, the company introduced the industry’s first smart TV and the Galaxy Note — the latter of which heralded the “phablet era” by blurring the line between smartphones and tablets.

Samsung unveiled the world’s first curved UHD TV and the company’s first smartwatch, the Galaxy Gear, at IFA 2013. Three years later in 2016, the launch of the Family Hub refrigerator with a large touchscreen marked the transition of home appliances into advanced Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

▲ Samsung Electronics’ SmartThings booth at IFA 2023

In 2014, Samsung had recognized the potential for connected experiences to revolutionize consumers’ lives and acquired SmartThings just a month before IFA 2014. Today, SmartThings has since grown over a decade into a massive, global ecosystem of more than 340 partners and 350 million users.³

At IFA 2018, Samsung highlighted AI as a key focus, signaling that “connected living” would become a major trend in the electronics industry. The company proceeded to introduce 15 AI-powered appliances at IFA 2023, ushering in the AI era of home appliances. Last year, Samsung also introduced Samsung Food — an AI-powered food and recipe platform that connects home appliances, TVs and mobile devices to deliver a personalized cooking experience tailored to each household and individual.

▲ Samsung Food was unveiled at IFA 2023.

Samsung’s journey with IFA is now headed toward innovations in device control through more advanced voice commands. Basic machines designed to store food and wash clothes 100 years ago are now evolving into intelligent companions that communicate with users verbally and handle complex household tasks with ease.⁴

This transformation will be showcased at Samsung’s booth in CityCube Berlin at Messe Berlin during IFA 2024 from September 6-10.

¹ Available on Android and iOS devices. A Wi-Fi connection and a Samsung account are required.
² Bixby is Samsung’s brand of Internet of Things (IoT) voice assistant. Bixby service availability may vary depending on the country. Bixby recognizes certain accents/dialects of English (US, UK, Indian), Chinese, Korean, French, German, Italian, Spanish (Spain, Latin America) and Portuguese (Brazil). The user interface may change and differ by device. The availability of Bixby features and content providers may vary depending on the country/carrier/language/device model/OS version. A Samsung account log-in and data network connection (Wi-Fi or data network) are required.
³ As of August 31, 2024.
⁴ This function may produce inaccurate results, and will be updated periodically to improve accuracy.

One thing, however, has always remained the same and helped the trade show grow, and that’s this: Each year at IFA, electronics manufacturers present their latest consumer innovations, attracting attention from all over the world.

Samsung has presented its technical innovations in Berlin since 1991, and is one of the most prominent exhibitors at IFA today.

‘The Great German Radio and Phonographic Exhibition’

“Dear present and absent ones. When you listen to the radio, also spare a thought for how humanity obtained this wonderful instrument. The wellspring of all technical achievement is the divine curiosity, the ludic drive of the tinkering and pondering researcher, and no less the constructive imagination of the technical inventor.”¹

These were the words with which one of IFA’s most famous guests, Albert Einstein, opened the “Great German Radio and Phonographic Exhibition” – as IFA was originally known – in Berlin in 1930. The radio – the latest and, arguably, most important technical achievement in mass communications at that time – was the star of the show, and Einstein himself presented the exciting new technology to event attendees.

(Left) Albert Einstein opens the Great German Radio and Phonographic Exhibition in Berlin in 1930; (Right) Einstein explains the potential of the still-young communications medium to attendees. Source: Messe Berlin

Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt and Stuttgart

The first IFA trade show took place in December of 1924. The inaugural event gathered a total of 242 exhibitors, who fascinated crowds with their latest technological innovations for a total of twelve days.

The trade show was held each year until 1939, when the outbreak of WWII and the subsequent reconstruction forced it into hiatus. IFA made its return in Düsseldorf in 1950 and, on its 20^th anniversary, in 1957, moved to Frankfurt and added “television” to its title. Reconstruction operations in Germany would lead IFA to shift its location from Frankfurt to Stuttgart and then Berlin, only to return to Düsseldorf in the end.

Since 1971, the trade show has taken place exclusively in Berlin, under the official name of “Internationale Funkausstellung” – hence “IFA”. gfu, a corporation that promotes the advancement of consumer electronics, came onboard two years later, and has been organizing IFA² ever since.

The innovation cycles of many products have grown shorter and shorter over the years, and eventually, in 2005, IFA became an annual event.

Queues at the opening of IFA in 1973. Source: Messe Berlin.

Samsung – an Innovation Driver and Major Attraction

Samsung has been a fixture at IFA ever since it first exhibited at the trade show in 1991³. During that IFA, 26 years ago, Samsung presented screens and televisions in a 660-square-meter space.

2003 marked an important juncture in Samsung’s relationship with IFA. A move to Hall 20 meant that a substantially larger exhibition space would be available, turning Samsung into one of the show’s major exhibitors.

With keynote speeches in 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2014, Samsung strengthened its position as a global brand, establishing ground-breaking technologies and setting future trends. In 2008, for example, Park Jong-Woo, the then-President of Samsung Electronics Digital Media, predicted that the entertainment industry would take a gigantic leap forward by seamlessly networking a variety of devices. Nowadays, smartphones and tablets easily hook up to users’ TVs and Bluetooth speakers, and even some fridges and washing machines can be controlled on the go.

(Clockwise from top left) Samsung’s IFA booths in 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. Samsung has been one of IFA’s largest exhibitors since 2003.

2014: Samsung Becomes IFA’s Largest Exhibitor

2014 saw the opening of CityCube Berlin, which IFA’s host venue, Messe Berlin, invested over 83 million euros to build. Samsung moved into the three-story cube – which, along with featuring the largest product-exhibition space (approx. 6,000 m²), also houses several rooms (approx. 2,500 m²) for presentations and sales meetings – as soon as it was completed. The location has been used exclusively by Samsung at IFA ever since.

More exhibition space also opens up new possibilities. Samsung’s individual product divisions were previously presented spread across several halls, but the move to CityCube Berlin meant that they could be showcased under one roof. Today, Samsung has become IFA’s largest exhibitor, with 8,700 square meters of hall space.

In 2016, Samsung impressed IFA attendees with this TV installation at the heart of CityCube Berlin.

Picture quality remains one of the most important focuses for TVs, and is one of the hottest attractions for the trade show. Over the last eight years, the TV industry has mastered the leap from HD to Full HD to UHD resolution – each of which has been successfully established in the mass market.

IFA has also served as a popular showcase for introducing new product categories in other areas. In 2010, Samsung presented its first tablet to the world with the Galaxy Tab. One year later, the Galaxy Note marked the beginning of large-screen premium smartphones, or ‘phablets’. Samsung’s first smartwatch, the Galaxy Gear, was introduced in 2013, laying the foundation for Samsung’s smartwatch portfolio. And in 2014, the Galaxy ecosystem was further expanded with the Gear S and Gear VR.

This year, too, visitors to Samsung’s IFA booth are treated to a great many innovations and technical highlights, such as QLED TV, The Frame, the QuickDrive washing machine, Family Hub refrigerator, mobile devices, portable SSDs and more.

For more information on Samsung’s presence at IFA 2017, visit: https://news.samsung.com/global/samsung-electronics-shapes-lifes-new-normal-at-ifa-2017

¹Extracted from a recording of Albert Einstein’s opening speech at the Great German Radio and Phonographic Exhibition in Berlin in 1930. Source: http://landesarchiv-berlin.de/

²With the exception of 1985, 1987 and 1989.

³Samsung did not attend IFA in 2004.