With 1,093 vendor companies present at the event, picking the most innovative and exciting products from the IFA 2022 show floor was a challenge. While I wasn’t able to visit every booth of the show, I got my fair share of steps in traversing the compound’s 27 exhibition buildings. As a result, the threshold for the products that made this final list was quite high, and each of the highlighted products comes from a market segment or company approaching pertinent challenges in an innovative way.
If some of the names on this list are unfamiliar to you, don’t worry. All of the manufacturers and products included below have a strong foothold for distribution in the United States and are all feasible options for independent retailers to carry in stores nationwide. IFA is a unique tradeshow for those of us that focus on the U.S. market since so much of the innovation present here flows from the European market. As a result, IFA provides an amazing opportunity to discover products and sectors that would otherwise not be on our horizon.
Without further ado, here is an in-depth look at four of the more innovative products that I saw at IFA 2022.
Carbon8: Infinity Spring
MSRP: $319
At-home sparkling water dispensers are nothing new — think Soda Stream — but most traditional consumer-minded carbonation devices use a straw to inject C02 into a bottle. Carbon8 provides a unique and innovative process where the water is carbonated and dispensed on-demand with the press of a button. Surprisingly, Carbon8 is the first consumer-oriented device to ‘turn on the tap’ for sparkling water.
The device has a two-liter water tank with an integrated UV light to sanitize the water and prevent any nasty bacterial growth. It also has the sleek profile of a PS5, and according to founder Andreas Hansen, the product design was inspired by the work of famous British-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid, who is best known for her radical deconstructivist designs. Moreover, while Carbon8 provides its own C02 exchange, any other standard 60L sparkling water C02 cylinders work with the device.
Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro + Four SolarSaga 200
MSRP: $3,999.00
As someone who likes to spend time both on the road and outdoors, I am always drawn to products that provide off-grid energy solutions. However, up until now, my biggest qualm with the sector has always been practicality. Charging a 1000W generator off of solar panels could take upwards of six hours in pristine conditions, which are often hard to find in the backcountry.
What makes the Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro revolutionary is that users with four 200W solar panels can bring the generator to full charge in just 1.8 hours, which is a vast improvement over previous generations. For those looking to charge up the generator before heading into the backcountry, the device also reaches full charge in 1.8 hours when plugged into a wall outlet. The battery is designed to last for 10 years on one full usage a week.
Modulo from Pret a Pousser
MSRP: $199.99
The U.S. is becoming increasingly curious about sustainable agriculture as consumers push back against the processed food industry. Modulo from Pret a Pousser is an innovative hydroponic indoor gardening solution designed for ease of use. It allows users to grow herbs right on a countertop, and the company’s mission is to make “home growing accessible to anyone.”
The system is extremely easy to set up. Simply fill each pot with water, insert the seed pods and plug into a wall outlet. The seed pods are 100 percent biodegradable and all the nutrients the plant needs for growth are included in the seed capsule. The plant floats on a reservoir of water, which needs to be refilled every 2 to 4 weeks. A dozen small LED lights — which are designed to mimic the sun — provides the plant with all the necessary luminescence. Possibly the niftiest feature of the device is the accompanying mobile app that allows users to customize what times the plants receive light
EVO II Pro & Smart Controller from Autel Robotics
EVO II Pro MSRP: $2,593.00
Autel Smart Controller MSRP: $1,299.00
I think we can all agree that drones are an extremely exciting consumer technology segment that is rapidly growing in popularity and innovation. Shenzhen-based Autel Robotics provided the sleekest and most impressive drones that I found on the show floor. The EVO II Pro can be controlled remotely from distances exceeding nine miles. The device also has a highly respectable run time of 48 minutes and can capture images in stunning 8K.
The company also provides a wide range of controller options to choose from, headlined by the Autel Smart Controller. Featuring a 7.5-in. display, the Autel Smart Controller is powered by a Samsung Exynos 8895 8-core processor and has 128GB of internal memory. The controller is also designed to operate in rugged conditions and can withstand working in temperatures ranging from -4° to 104°F.
