BERLIN, September 9 — The shift is clear: standalone cameras are stepping out of the smartphone shadow and into their own niche, with IFA 2026 showcasing a wave of hybrid devices that blur the line between action cam and creative tool. Hohem, best known for its gimbal stabilizers, unveiled its first-ever standalone camera at the Berlin trade fair — the EyePic.
Designed as a 4K/60 fps gimbal camera, it features a detachable, waterproof module that can be worn on a lanyard or magnetically clipped to metal poles, while live previewing footage on the handle’s touchscreen from up to 30 feet away. Rotating the 2.5-inch display switches to native vertical video without cropping — a detail aimed at social-first creators.
Though the prototype showed some glitches during demo, Hohem confirmed plans for an early 2027 launch, with pricing expected to undercut DJI’s Osmo Pocket series. Elsewhere, Lenovo turned heads with Project Swan, a concept ultrabook under 18mm thick and weighing 3.5 pounds. Its standout feature?
A display that stretches from a standard 14-inch size to 17 inches, offering flexibility in a laptop form. The company also showcased the $700 IdeaPad Vibe, an entry-level notebook positioned against Apple’s MacBook Neo.
It offers a processor choice between Qualcomm Snapdragon X or AMD Ryzen AI 400, alongside four USB ports, a microSD reader, and HDMI — a rare spread of connectivity in today’s thin-and-light market. Dyson brought its CameraJet toothbrush to IFA, first seen in Paris the prior week. The device focuses on targeted water flossing, though fair rules prevented hands-on use.
Anker followed with the Nano Universal Charger — a compact brick with built-in US, UK, and EU plugs, delivering up to 100W to a single device. It includes a display for voltage and temperature, plus three USB-C and one USB-A port for charging four devices simultaneously. Belkin’s Compact Magnetic Ring Stand drew attention as a MagSafe-compatible mount with articulating hinges and a suction base — effective on smooth surfaces, but less reliable on rough or thin laminate finishes.
The fair also highlighted a rise in 360-degree cameras and gimbal-action cam hybrids, with rivals sensing opportunity as GoPro navigates its next chapter. Apple’s influence echoed throughout third-party aisles, visible in colorful mice, keyboards, and chargers.
Watch this space: the trend underneath is clear — creators want tools that adapt, not just record. Whether it’s a lens that detaches, a screen that stretches, or a charger that does multiple jobs at once, IFA 2026 proved the future of personal tech is modular, mobile, and made for movement.
