Samsung, LG to unveil high-efficient, AI home appliances at IFA in Germany

Prior to IFA 2023, Samsung Electronics Co.’s outdoor advertisement is displayed on the exterior of the CityCube Berlin building, where the company’s exhibition hall has been set up. [Courtesy of Samsung Electronics]

South Korean tech giants Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Electronics Inc. will showcase their latest environmentally-friendly and artificial intelligence (AI)-based products at Internationale Funkausstellung (IFA) 2023, the world’s leading exhibition for consumer electronics and home appliances.

According to industry sources on Wednesday, major home appliance manufacturers including Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics will participate in this year’s trade show taking place in Berlin from September 1 to 5.

IFA is one of the world’s top three home appliance exhibitions, along with the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in the U.S. and the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Spain.

Over 2,000 companies from 48 countries are expected to participate in this year’s event, up 50 percent from last year, as Chinese companies that were absent last year due to the pandemic will be returning this year.

One of the main themes of IFA 2023 is “environmentally friendly.” The show, for the first time, will have a dedicated zone to share sustainable ideas, including electronic waste repair and maintenance.

The European Union (EU) is a global leader in terms of green regulations. Last year, the EU introduced the REPower EU initiative to reduce the use of Russian fossil fuels and expand eco-friendly energy. Energy management has become a key focus especially in the wake of rising energy prices due to the Russia-Ukraine war.

Korean companies will also introduce eco-friendly technology-equipped products.

LG Electronics Inc.’s exhibition hall at IFA 2023, in Berlin, Germany. [Courtesy of LG Electronics]

LG Electronics will showcase energy-efficient home appliances under the theme of Net Zero House. Its new drum washing machine is about 40 percent more efficient than the highest energy efficiency grade.

The new dryer has the highest energy efficiency level among products available on the market, with an energy efficiency rating of A+++. The new dryer also incorporates the next-generation, eco-friendly refrigerant R290 with a global warming potential (GWP) of 3.

The company will also unveil a new refrigerator that is about 20 percent more efficient than the highest energy grade.

Samsung Electronics will unveil features such as the AI Saving Mode, which allows users to reduce energy consumption through its own app, SmartThings, while showcasing highly efficient eco-friendly appliances.

Samsung Electronics will also introduce the Samsung Food platform at the event, which creates personalized diets using AI technologies, essentially serving as an app-based nutritionist.

Users can input preferences or desired nutrients, and the platform will provide tailored recipes. The service will launch on Thursday in 8 languages across 104 countries.

Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics will also present features that focus on hyper-connectivity. The companies have been concentrating on connecting all household appliances to enhance the user experience.

They will introduce an interconnection service, which allows a user of an LG Electronics TV to be able to turn the TV on or off using Samsung’s SmartThings app. A user of a Samsung air conditioner will be able to control the temperature with LG’s ThinQ app.

The interconnection service will initially apply to nine types of appliances, including refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners. The two companies plan to expand the smart home ecosystem this year in eight countries, including Korea and the U.S.