The best smartphone gadgets at IFA 2023

The Digitec and Galaxus editorial team reports directly from Berlin from IFA 2023. You can find all the news and background information published so far in our overview:

Compact and transparent power banks

I really like the new Nano Powerbank from Anker. With its foldable USB-C plug, it connects directly to your smartphone and hangs on it as an extension. You can continue to use your phone much more conveniently than with a larger power bank and a cable.

At 22.5 watts, the charging speed is rather leisurely. This would be more annoying with a large power bank that I want to disconnect more quickly. With its 5000 mAh, the Nano Powerbank charges most smartphones once. It uses QuickCharge 3.0 as standard. It currently costs 25 euros. However, Anker is not yet prioritising Switzerland. However, the price in francs is likely to be in a similar range.

The accessory manufacturer Goui is a new discovery for me at IFA. The transparent power banks caught my eye. They certainly don't just remind me of the Shargeek Storm 2.

The Goui Flash has 10,000 mAh, an LED light and a display for the charging status. It offers one USB-A and two USB-C ports. The slightly smaller Nano 10 Pro and Nano 20 Pro only have one USB-A and one USB-C port. They are available with 10,000 or 20,000 mAh. The maximum output of the compact power banks is 22.5 watts. They cost between 34 and 53 dollars. So far, Goui's distribution in Europe does not appear to be well established.

Power banks: Design or new charging standard

We continue with the power supply via the socket. For me, two power supply units at the Sharge stand stood out from the crowd, especially in terms of design. The "Retro 67 GaN Charger" was modelled on the Apple Macintosh from 1984. The power supply delivers 67 watts and has three USB-C sockets.

Customs, who entered the hall after me, are unlikely to confiscate the power supply. At least there are no complaints yet, because our colleagues from the category have included it in our range.

There should be no problems with the following power supply unit. According to Shargeek, it has secured a licence for the film "The Wandering Earth". The science fiction action-adventure film was so successful in China in 2019 that the second part was released in cinemas in January 2023. The "Moss Charger" with 40 watts should appeal to many space fans visually, but takes up a hell of a lot of space in the power strip.

Other than that, the iPhone 15 casts its shadow ahead. Apple will unveil its new smartphone on 12 September. Accessory manufacturers are assuming in advance that a new standard for wireless charging will be introduced with Qi 2. This will allow wireless chargers to charge the iPhone with up to 15 watts without having to obtain MagSafe certification from Apple. Without this, only up to 7.5 watts are possible with Qi 1. However, this still applies to older iPhones even with the new charging stations.

While Belkin is only showing two charging stations, Anker has presented six stations and even a power bank. These should be available in autumn or by the end of the year at the latest.

Cases: All eyes on iPhone 15

While strolling through the exhibition halls, I am once again surprised at how many companies exist solely to offer cases for the iPhone. The selection is huge and colourful, but it's hard to find anything really special. I am most likely to get stuck with models like those from Pitaka. Carbon fibres promise low weight and strong resistance.

As an accessory manufacturer, you naturally have to keep up with the times. Accordingly, dummy cases for the iPhone 15 are already standing around, or empty cases are hanging on the stands. Companies such as Casetify and SBS are of course only using the rumours currently circulating about the iPhone 15 for their prototypes.

Listen to music for longer with solar speakers

Just before IFA, Urbanista announced the Malibu. The Bluetooth speaker can extend its battery life with a solar panel. From 30 to up to 45 hours. If you take a long enough break in between, you can even charge it without a power socket. If more power is required to charge the 3600 mAh battery, a USB-C port is provided.

The Urbanista Malibu will be available from the end of September. The recommended retail price is 169 euros, although there is no separate indication in francs.

In 2021, Urbanista already launched headphones with the same technology that Dominik criticised at the time.

Not just for smartphones: unobtrusive Wi-Fi thanks to a flat router

TP-Link also presented the Archer Air R5 shortly before IFA. The Wi-Fi 6 router is ideal for anyone who wants to discreetly accommodate their Wi-Fi stations. Only eight millimetres thick, the Air R5 sticks discreetly to the wall or cabinet. Only the power and network cable needs to be hidden just as discreetly.

Protect your lenses

One question remains at the end: Do so many people really break their iPhone camera lenses?

At least Panzerglass expects people to buy something like this for the "iPhone 2023".

Cover photo: Jan Johannsen