The IFA in Berlin, which takes place in the coming weeks, promises to become one of the most powerful editions of the German event of all time. And it seems that the major companies have agreed to launch large smartphones and complete ecosystems of devices at the show, something that could not be calculated as the year began. LG, Sony and Samsung, the three most notable.
And in fact, they're going to completely eclipse the other companies. Why did they do this? Well, that's why, to eclipse them. ZTE and Huawei They had managed to gain fame in the market with competitive proposals. The approach of the large companies was simple: with own events They managed to focus all the attention on themselves, and therefore, they presented simple mid-range smartphones at crowded trade shows, reserving their flagships. Thus, brands like ZTE and Huawei were protagonists in these global showcases and were gaining market share, something that the big ones intend to tackle this year: the three major Android manufacturers will attend the IFA with star devicesWhat awaits us?
Sony, new flagship
Sony is one of the companies that will stand out the most. It will present its new flagship, the Sony Xperia i1, which would be commercially known as XThis will have a processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 800, and a five-inch Full HD display, plus a high resolution camera with around 20 megapixels. By the way, it would also have compatibility with the new accessory cameras, also presented at this edition of the IFA. We are talking about those that attach to a smartphone and have a high-resolution sensor and advanced optics (QX10 and QX100 series), controlled by an application and with real optical zoom, a proposal designed for those looking for high-quality photos without carrying a traditional compact camera. It will undoubtedly be the star of the event.
Samsung, with new Galaxy Note
Samsung isn't the one that surprises us. And it's not because it doesn't have a high-end smartphone to present, but because this one was simply expected. Samsung Galaxy Note The third-generation Note will be presented at a similar time to the previous Notes. But this time it's set to become the South Korean company's best smartphone. It will feature a next-generation processor, which could be the new Samsung Exynos, or the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800. The RAM could be 3 GB, with a screen of 5,68 inch Full HD and improvements in S Pen and multitasking software. It will undoubtedly be another of the protagonists.
And all without forgetting one renewal of your Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet, lighter and thinner, with improved performance and display, reinforcing Samsung's positioning in creative productivity with a stylus. In this way, the company puts together a coherent catalog that encompasses large smartphones, tablets, and watches.
And all without forgetting the Samsung Galaxy Gear, the watch the company is supposedly launching at IFA. Will it be a standalone smartwatch? Will it be an accessory that depends on a smartphone? Will it be cheaper than the Sony SmartWatch? Beyond that uncertainty, everything points to it being designed for accompany the smartphone with a screen 1,63-inch AMOLED, built-in microphone and speaker for hands free calls, and functions to receive notifications, control music, and use small apps. It boasts a robust design and a compact weight that allows you to carry it all day.
Duel between Sony and Samsung
And not only will these companies be in the spotlight for launching high-quality smartphones, but they've also decided to hold their launch event on the same day. Sony will hold it hours before the South Koreans, so it will be official. Sony Xperia i1/Xperia Z1 before him Samsung Galaxy Note next-generation. We don't know what's best for each one, but Samsung's phablet doesn't seem like it's going to surprise with its format factor, so the Xperia could eclipse to Samsung's new smartphone thanks to its focus on photography and its accessory lenses.
LG also wants followers
Now, they are not the only ones that will present new devices. LG would also present two new high-end terminalsOne of them would be the tablet, the company's new venture into a market it abandoned for a time after a difficult start. They believe the new LG G Pad It's a product that will become a market success, and it will be unveiled at the IFA in Berlin. It will rival the iPad mini in size, performance, and multimedia experience, and we'll see if it doesn't become one of the best-selling tablets of the year.
And all this without forgetting the LG Vu 3, the new smartphone with a screen whose proportion is 4:3. It will be 5,2 inches and its price would be cheaper than the high-end models on the market. A clear rival for the Sony Xperia Z Ultra and the Samsung Galaxy Note which will be presented at the new event. In addition, LG would take advantage of the opportunity to highlight its G2, with the striking back button and great frame optimization work, as proof that it's ready to fight at the highest range.
Nokia and its phablet
While Samsung's bet is a safe bet, everything points to the fact that Nokia prepares its leap to large-format phones with what would be known as Lumia 1520, The first phablet of the house. Rumors speak of a screen close to 6 inches, Windows Phone 8, processor Snapdragon 800 and a camera around 20 megapixels which, while not reaching the 1020's, would maintain the photographic bar very high. It would be its first large-diagonal phone to compete with the Note and company.
HTC will have something prepared
The HTC One have been very interesting, both the original model and the Mini. The one that completes the family is missing: the HTC One Max. I would keep the metallic design line, raise the screen up to about 5,9 inches and could incorporate a fingerprint reader. Potentially, it is expected that Snapdragon 800 to go head to head with the heavyweights.
BlackBerry Z30, the challenge of relaunching
Although BlackBerry is not going through its best moment, it continues to bet on new releases. BlackBerry Z30 It aims to be an evolution of the Z10, with 5 inch and resolution of 1280 Ă— 720, maintaining the fully touch format with BB10 and autonomy improvements. The key will be whether it achieves re-engage your users and conquer new ones.
More brands and Android ecosystem: Lenovo, Asus, Acer, Archos and company
The list is long. Lenovo wants more prominence outside of China with smartphones like the slim Vibe X (Android, 5 inch, camera of 13 SM, 2 GB of RAM) and the tablet IdeaTab S5000 de 7 inches, which boasts of being very light. ASUS will renew its range MeMO Pad with models of 8 and 10 inches (1,6GHz quad-core processor and 1GB of RAM) and will continue to showcase its vision of hybrid between Windows and Android. Acer will surprise you with the All-in-One DA214HL with Android and screen 24 inches, in addition to new proposals with Windows 8 and Liquid family with capabilities of high-resolution video recording. Archos, for its part, usually uncovers several affordable ranges of Android smartphones and tablets, and it wouldn't be unusual to see a device designed for gaming.
4K TVs and more closer to the living room
Although mobile phones are the kings of consumer electronics, the IFA in Berlin is also the great catwalk of TVsThis year we will see how the 4K low in diagonal and in price compared to the first generations. Philips usually uses the fair to show its most affordable 4K bet, and Sony prepares series such as 4K 850 with HDMI 2.0 y Triluminos in 55 and 65 inches, designed to make the leap without breaking the bank. Samsung will dazzle with giant diagonals that reach almost 110 inches, and LG will show off its elegant TV OLED curve Ultra-thin. All this is accompanied by new sound bars, multi-room systems, and more connected homes.
Hybrid and 2-in-1 PCs: Intel makes its move
Beyond the mobile phone, the computer evolves. Intel will present its XMM 7160, a modem Multi-mode 4G LTE and multiband very compact and efficient, and will reinforce your message new generation of Core processors, which allows manufacturers to combine PC performance and tablet mobility in increasingly slim 2-in-1 devices. We will see striking proposals such as HP Envy Recline, a touch All-in-One that is reclines smoothly thanks to its counterweight system; Toshiba Satellite Encore, tablet of 8 inches with Windows 8.1; The Sony Vaio Flip, convertible with a high-resolution screen that rotates on itself; and large-format equipment such as the Flex 20 and Panasonic Toughpad 4K, a tablet of 20 inches and resolution 3840 x 2560 designed for professional use.
Cell phone watch or cell phone watch: the wearable effect
The Smart watches They cease to be a curiosity and become a real complement to the mobile phone. Galaxy Gear Samsung's is designed to accompany smartphones: with its 1,63-inch AMOLED screen, may be received calls, posts y post, access apps and make hands-free calls thanks to its microphone and speaker on the strap. Sony counterattacks with his SmartWatch Renewed, durable, and more useful, integrating with the Xperia ecosystem. The debate is no longer whether there will be wearables, but how they are integrated and what uses best resolve them.
Those who are there but are not there
Without any classic presentations on the agenda, there are several important brands with a presence in Germany and possible surprises:
- HTC: The One Max It is still the candidate to appear, with a large diagonal, Snapdragon 800 y Ultra pixel.
- Nokia: In addition to showing off its camera technology, the Windows RT tablet could come as a surprise.
- Acer: bet on affordable Android tablets, ultrabooks and convertibles.
- Lenovo: strengthens its strategy in smartphones and tablets for global markets, not just China.
On the eve of Keynote
The event is important, without a doubt, but even more so if we take into account that we are on the eve of a new Apple Keynote in which they could present themselves new iPhone and services. A few weeks could separate the launches of LG, Samsung and Sony Apple's. The market is going to change dramatically over the next two months, and the IFA in Berlin will be the starting point for this phenomenon. With almost a century of history behind it, the fair is reaffirming its position as the great European showcase for Christmas campaign, occupying hundreds of thousands of square meters where mobile phones, TVs, computers and smart appliances coexist.
This issue is not just about numbers and specifications: it is about ecosystems and digital workplace strategy. Sony seeks to differentiate itself with mobile photography High-end; Samsung strengthens its reign in the large format by adding w; LG returns with force to tablets and phablets; and a platoon of brands (Nokia, HTC, BlackBerry, Lenovo, ASUS, Acer, Archos, Philips, Panasonic, Toshiba, HP, and Intel) are bringing innovation across the board, from 4K to 2-in-1s. Everything points to a vibrant season, with plenty to test and compare.