The phones, tablets, smartwatches of IFA 2014

BY GreenBot Staff

Published 5 Sep 2014

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ifa 2014

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were not expecting IFA to turn into a fanfare of new devices, but lucky for you trigger-happy, tech-loving consumers, you’ll soon have a large spectrum of new gadgets to choose from.

Here’s a quick run through of all the devices we went hs-on with at IFA, including smartwatches, smartphones, tablets. ’ve also included some newly announced devices we missed at the beginning of the conference, so you don’t feel like you missed out on the event.

Sony Smarttch 3 SmartB Talk
sony watches

The Sony Smarttch 3 SmartB Talk are two very different wearables. The SmartB Talk is meant for the fitness enthusiast, while the other is simply the company’s rushed effort to be a part of the Android ar scene.

I liked the SmartB Talk because it reminded me of a FitBit with a little more functionality, I could snap my fingers it would perform a function. The Smarttch 3, on the other h, was seriously underwhelming.

Sony Xperia Z3 Z3 Compact
xperia z3  xperia z3 compact

Sony’s new flagship phones are definitely worth paying attention to in the upcoming quarter, especially since they have finally been freed from T-Mobile’s exclusive clutches. Its curved, metal-trimmed edges are super sleek, its 20.7-megapixel camera is top-notch, its speaker capabilities might even be better than the HTC One (M8)’s. I blasted a Ke$ha song (hush now!) while I was on the show floor I was impressed at how well I could hear the song despite all the commotion around me. 

Oh, they’re the first phones to work as a remote display for your 4 via the Remote ay feature.

I am worried about one thing, however: the demo phone I tried out got really hot while it was playing music. It’s a phone covered in glass, so when it gets hot, it’s almost too uncomfortable to hold. 

Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact
sony z3 tablet compact

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This tablet was love at first sight. It’s simply a beautiful Android device, one of the thinnest I’ve ever held. Its 8-inch display also means it’s the perfect size for Android users who want a capable piece of hardware they can still hold with one h. 

I also tested out the speakers on this particular device they sounded great, even in the loud convention hall. The Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact also comes with Intelligent Noise Reduction. I put on a pair of earbuds to try it out, while it didn’t have the same noise canceling effect as, say, a pair of Bose over-the-ear headphones, I could barely here the loud TV in the booth that was blaring above me. I also appreciate that Sony made its tablet with audio quality in mind, because watching Beverly Hills, 90210 on my second-gen Nexus 7 is an underwhelming experience. And like the Xperia Z3 phones, this tablet will also support 4 Remote ay.

Samsung Galaxy Tablet Active
samsung galaxy tab active ifa

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Samsung sprung this tablet on us out of nowhere. It’s essentially a blown-up version of the companion Galaxy S5 Active phone, despite the common software its internal hardware, it’s nothing like the rest of the Galaxy Tab family.

For starters, it’s much heavier, definitely not the kind of tablet you want if you aim to just watch TV shows around the house. It’s also really bulky, doesn’t strike me as something that would actually be comfortable lugging around in a bag. I could see this being a worthy buy for someone who camps often or works outdoors in a rough environment, but this is definitely a niche product for a narrow subset of tablet users. 

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Samsung Galaxy Note ge
samsung galaxy edge

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Speaking of niche products, both the Galaxy Note 4 Galaxy Note ge made their debut on the first day of IFA. The Note 4 looks feels like a solid piece of hardware, while the Note ge feels a little ahead of its time, with an OD display that is bent sharply along the right edge. If you want to try something new, still want all the capabilities of the phablet-sized Note 4, the ge could end up being an interesting smartphone experience. 

Samsung Gear S
gear s

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Yes, we have a few more Samsung products to get through here. The Gear S is essentially a computerized cuff you wear on your wrist. It’s big, bulky, powered by Tizen. You can kind of use it as a stalone phone, but then you also kind of can’t? ’ll get more details once the carriers start announcing specific plans for the device. Oh, you can get it bedazzled too if you want to spring for the Swarovski version.

Asus Zenwatch
Asus Zenwatch

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The Asus Zentch is a seriously good looking smartwatch, it doesn’t cost too much. For a first generation Android ar product it’s not bad at all, that leather b with works for both men women who want to be a part of the wearables trend. 

G tch R
lg g watch r

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st, but certainly not least, is the G tch R. It’s the watch we wished had launched when Android ar made its debut. The watch face is made of steel aluminum features markings that make it indistinguishable from a TAG Hueur from afar. Its b is pure leather, too, much more comfortable than some of the other smartwatches coming this fall. If only it weren’t so manly-looking.