The IFA 2015 consumer electronics show is still a few days away, kicking off on September 4-9 in Berlin, Germany, but we’re already seeing some big announcements from major players in the tech industry. Let’s check out the latest announcements and rumors as to what we can expect from one of the biggest tradeshows of the year.

Samsung

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. will be showcasing the Gear S2, Gear S2 classic and Gear S2 3G at IFA 2015. The devices feature a 1.2-inch circular AMOLED display (320×320, 302ppi), 1.0GHz dual-core processor, Samsung’s own Tizen based wearable platform, IP68 dust and water resistance, 4GB of onboard storage, 512MB of RAM, NFC, heart rate monitor, Wi-Fi (b/g/n), and 250mAh batteries claimed to last from two to three days on a single charge and can be wirelessly recharged, but the 3G version features a 300mAh battery. The devices also feature rotating bezels, as well as Home and Back buttons.

The South Korean tech giant will also be featuring the latest addition to its innovative SMART signage portfolio that lets businesses deliver more engaging and captivating content; three new wireless speakers – the R5, R3 and R1 models – which features a more intuitive interface; and finally a new subtitling format called the HbbTV 2.0 will demonstrated at the event. The new format is said to deliver accessibility for the deaf and hard-of-hearing to live streaming and on-demand content.

LG

LG Electronics Inc. will also be showcasing a plethora of products at the event. Attendees will be able to see LG’s SmartThinQ Sensor which adds smart functionalities to old appliances as well as new connected appliances, the Smart Lightwave Oven and Smart Air Conditioner that are both compatible with AllJoyn, an open platform for the internet of things (IoT) developed by the Allseen Alliance.

Another smart appliance making its way to IFA 2015 is the LG Styler, a smart steam clothing care system. The unit that not only steams germs and wrinkles out of clothes and other items that can’t be washed normally, but it also features Smart Diagnosis which send notifications to the user’s smartphone when it the unit needs maintenance or repair and NFC Tag-On which allows the activation of customized cycles with a simple tap of the device.

LG will also be showcasing the Watch Urbane Luxe, a premium limited edition smartwatch made in collaboration with REEDS Jewelers, which will sell for $1,200 starting October 2015.

Huawei

We can expect a variety of devices from Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.’s booth, but before the event, it will be hosting a press event on September 2, 2015 at 2:30PM CEST where it is expected to announce its upcoming smartwatch, tablets and smartphones.

According to reports, Huawei will be unveiling at least two devices, including the Mate S and Mate 7S. The Mate S rumored to feature a pressure-sensitive touch screen, Kirin octa-core processor, 3GB RAM, 64GB onboard storage, a 20MP rear camera, 8MP front camera, and a fingerprint scanner. The Mate 7S or Mate 8 is said to feature a near-borderless 6-inch QHD display, an octa-core Huawei Kirin 950 processor which consists of four Cortex-A53 cores and four Cortex-A72 cores, 3GB RAM and 32GB of storage or 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, dual SIM slots with one doubling as a microSD card slot, and an 8MP front camera with LED flash.

Sony

Sony Corp. is hosting a press event on September 2 at 10:15AM ET. The Japanese company is expected to unveil its first smartphone with 4k display. Rumors suggest that there will be two smartphones, a 5.2-inch Xperia Z5 and 5.5-inch Xperia Z5 ‘Premium’. Both devices are said to feature a Snapdragon 810 SoCs, 3GB RAM and 32GB of internal memory. Leaks also suggest that the device/s will have a 23MP sensor for the camera which means better quality of photos and videos. Also, both devices are expected to be water and dust-proof.

We might see a prototype of the Wena (Wear Electronics Naturally) wrist, a watch that features a smart band. All the smart technology was engineered on the strap of the device and is directed at making contactless payment much easier. The device was crowdfunded on First Flight, Sony’s fundraising site and was able to raise raise ¥10 million ($83,000) in 60 days. The watch itself comes in two styles, the $287 ‘Three Hands’ model which features a regular watch face and has a battery that could last up to three years, and the $576 Chronograph model with a battery that could last up to five years. As for the band itself, a single charge can last up to a week. The device is expected to go to market in early 2016.

Acer

Acer, Inc. is hosting a press conference on September 2 at 11am CEST where it is expected to showcase two devices the – the Acer Liquid Z630 and Liquid Z530.

The Acer Liquid Z630 will feature a 5.5-inch screen with 720p resolution and IPS. Power comes from a MediaTek MT6735 chipset with a 1.3GHz Cortex-A53 processor and a Mali-T720 GPU for graphics and 2GB of RAM. Internal storage is said to be 18GB and the device supports LTE and has dual SIM slots and an 8-megapixel camera.

As for the Acer Liquid Z530, it will have a smaller 5-inch 720p screen and the same CPU and 2GB of RAM as the Z630. It supports LTE but lacks dual SIM slots.

Asus

ASUSTeK Computer, Inc. will be presenting the ZenFone Zoom, ZenFone Max and next-gen ZenWatch. The ZenFone Max features a 5,000 mAh battery which allows the device to function as a powerbank, a 5.5-inch HD (720×1280 pixels) IPS display, Snapdragon 410 processor with 2GB of RAM and 8GB and 16GB storage options expandable to 64GB via microSD, and a 13MP camera with laser focus. Details of the other two devices are expected to be revealed at the event.

Photo by James Cridland