Acer has also released a ton of laptops, desktops, and monitors, but one that caught my eye was their DualPlay concept laptop with a pop-out controller. The controller magnetically plugs into the Predator laptop and acts as a trackpad while built into the laptop, but can also pop out to be used as a controller for gaming or split into two like the Switch Joy-Cons. The DualPlay also has a pair of 5-watt speakers that pop out on either side to make it even more annoying to people around you. Again, this is a concept, so it’s unclear when or if we’ll see something like this in an actual product.
HMD’s Fusion is a modular phone
Photo: HMD
HMD is on a roll. A few weeks ago they released their first Qi2 Android phone (although there were some issues with the implementation), and recently announced the Barbie Phone. Now it’s time to do some funky stuff with the HMD Fusion. Previewed at Mobile World Congress earlier this year, the $299 Android phone is reviving the modular smartphone concept that was popular circa 2016 (remember Moto Mods or Google’s Project Ara?). With Apple’s MagSafe system making it standard to stick magnetic things to the back of the device, this time it might actually work. HMD is also open-sourcing the tech, so anyone can make “outfits,” as HMD likes to call them. There’s a smart pin at the base of the phone, and unlike MagSafe accessories, these outfits can wirelessly transmit data to the phone and can also draw power from the Fusion’s battery.
First, HMD is making a few of these outfits. The Game Controller outfit adds controls to the side of the phone, turning it into a sort of gaming handheld. Some are simple, like one that adds wireless charging support, while others are more complex, like the Rugged outfit, which makes the Fusion more durable with an IP68 waterproof rating and also adds an SOS button and a push-to-talk button. Some outfits add a flash, similar to a ring light, that can be pointed at the front of the phone so there’s enough light when taking selfies. HMD also showed off some fan-created outfits, including a projector, an E Ink back panel, and a solar panel that can fold up the back of the phone to charge it. Rather than bring these outfits to market, the company wants to allow users to create and sell their own outfits.
With a 108-megapixel main camera, a Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset, and a 5,000 mAh battery, the Fusion looks like a solid $299 phone. It will get two Android OS upgrades, three years of security updates, and several components of the phone are user-serviceable; you can access the insides by simply removing a screw, and parts will be sold by iFixit for seven years. Opening the phone won’t void your warranty. The Fusion will be available in the US in the fourth quarter of this year (between October and December). —Julian Chokatu
Honor’s flip phone is super thin
Honor had a few devices on show at IFA, but the highlight was the impressive Honor Magic V3 (8/10, WIRED Recommended). It’s the thinnest foldable smartphone ever, and it comes with some interesting AI features that you can read about in our review. It’s just 9.2mm folded, making the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 feel chunky. It’s a shame it’s not available in the US.
Honor also launched the MagicPad2, a 12.3-inch OLED Android tablet with a smart pen and snap-on keyboard that gives it a laptop-like feel and includes productivity-focused AI features like speech-to-text and math and handwriting recognition. The Honor MagicBook Art 14 and Honor Watch 5 round out the new lineup. (Honor hosted WIRED at a media event at IFA and covered some of the reporter’s travel expenses.)
Deepfake Detector
Photo: Simon Hill
As deepfakes continue to evolve, the ways they can threaten us are manifold and growing rapidly. Fraudsters are already using deepfake technology to impersonate real people during video calls, so the ability to detect it is crucial. As part of Honor’s AI efforts, the company showed off a new deepfake detection system at IFA. Running in real time on an Honor laptop, the detector was able to scan video calls to determine possible tampering. It’s a prototype, but it will likely be rolled out to Honor devices as a software update once it’s ready.
Tado wants to integrate the energy of his home
Heating specialist Tado aims to be a one-stop shop for home energy management. I previously reviewed Tado’s Smart Thermostat V3 (8/10, WIRED Recommended), and the company has since launched its X-series, which includes a heat pump optimiser and a Matter-enabled radiator thermostat with rechargeable battery. The company announced a new wireless smart thermostat for the X-series at IFA, which will be available in the UK in November.
Tado also showed off some interesting new app features designed to help people with solar panels make the most of the electricity they generate: Tado’s new solar forecasts ensure that sunlight is sent to heat pumps and EV chargers, and the app can drill down into real-time usage, but a home battery seems like an obvious missing piece of the home energy puzzle.
Intel Unveils Lunar Lake Processors
It’s hard to get excited about Intel’s Core Ultra 200V laptop CPUs until you consider the promise of faster frame rates and longer battery life. Intel says its Lunar Lake chips beat Qualcomm and AMD in several areas, including gaming and AI performance in the thin and light laptop class. With this overhaul focused on power efficiency, laptop batteries may be the biggest winner. (A general trend seen on Copilot+ PC)
It also has Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 and at least two high-speed Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports. New versions of the Dell XPS 13 and Asus Zenbook S 14 with the chip are coming soon, with more models to follow. These are some of the first “Copilot+ PCs” capable of performing certain AI tasks without a Qualcomm chipset.
Aqara launches new smart home products
Photo: Akala
Smart home brand Aqara had a string of interesting announcements at IFA, including the Valve Controller T1, which can detect leaks and automatically shut off water and gas in your home. Aqara also unveiled its Garage Door Controller T2 kit, which can control two garage doors and adds support for geofencing, voice assistants, and automation with the Matter-enabled platform. The releases continue with a new smoke detector, several smart switches, a new LED bulb T2, and deeper integration with Matter, Home Assistant, and Tesla. Aqara’s own Voice Mate H1 is a voice-controlled, battery-powered device that only wakes up when picked up for maximum privacy.
