Samsung’s connectivity vs. LG’s sustainability at IFA 2023

BERLIN – South Korea’s household names in home electronics are set to show off their high-tech home electronics boasting upgraded connectivity and higher energy efficiency at IFA 2023, Europe’s biggest tech trade show to be held from Sept. 1 to 5 in Berlin, Germany.

At this year’s show, Samsung Electronics Co. will showcase its advanced Internet of Things (IoT) technology that enables seamless communications among home appliances and devices through its dynamic appliance and device integration platform SmartThings.

Benjamin Braun, chief marketing officer at Samsung Europe, said during Samsung’s press conference on Thursday that the Korean tech giant will further expand its SmartThings ecosystem to enable users to experience smarter connectivity among devices that can have a meaningful impact on their lives.

He noted that a majority of European consumers showed high expectations for smart home innovation in a recent Samsung survey.

SMARTTHINGS

Currently, more than 15 million home appliances are connected via Samsung’s SmartThings, used by 280 million people across the world.

The company shared its expanded vision of SmartThings a year ago at IFA 2022, with a vow to ensure that Samsung devices will be 100% Wi-Fi enabled within this year.

Visitors to City Cube Berlin, Samsung's independent booth at IFA 2023 that is the biggest at the tech show this year commanding 6,026 square meters, will be able to experience Samsung’s highly connected devices and appliances through various SmartThings features, the company explained.

Of them, SmartThings Energy allows Samsung appliance users to predict the monthly energy consumption of each appliance and to automatically turn on its AI saving mode when its energy consumption nears its pre-set energy usage level.  

Samsung will introduce this service in nine Bespoke-line appliances, including refrigerators and washers, as well as TVs to be sold in 68 countries within this year. 

The Korean electronics giant has also unveiled SmartThings-backed home monitoring service to prevent a break-in or a fire and Samsung Food, an integrated food platform offering tailored recipes for healthy diets via Bespoke kitchen appliances, in a world premiere.

Its focus on smart connectivity, however, has not distracted it from its long-term goal of developing sustainable technology.

Sustainability is the core value manifested in Samsung’s management and product value chain, the company said. It actively incorporates upcycled materials in its products, such as recycled plastics used in Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Fold 5, as well as Galaxy Tab S9.

LG’S SUSTAINABLE HOME SOLUTIONS

But regarding sustainability, LG Electronics Inc. is second to none at this year's IFA.

Korea’s leading home electronics company, which recently vowed to transform into a platform company, has boldly revealed its ambition to lead the global electronics market with green technologies

Under the theme of Sustainable Life, Joy for All at IFA 2023, LG has set up The Smart Cottage, its future housing solution powered by its cutting-edge heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and energy technologies, as well as its latest smart home appliances and services at its booth.       

The Smart Cottage, a compact modular home, is fitted with a 4 kilowatt (kW) solar panel that can produce enough power for two people to use per day and LG’s all-in-one heating and hot water solution Therma V Monobloc, which can significantly save energy use, according to the company.

LG also displays high energy efficient appliances such as dryers and refrigerators with A and above energy ratings.

It will also unveil the Universal UP Kit, comprising various handles and accessories, such as detachable handles for more effortless door opening for disabled people and detergent drawers for LG washers.

They are designed to facilitate accessibility for users, and some are painted with high-contrast color options for people with amblyopia, or lazy eye.  

“We will strive to offer our customers sustainable fun in their daily life with our eco-friendly and high energy efficient appliances,” said Ryu Jae-chul, head of LG Electronics' Home Appliance and Air Solution (H&A) division.

RIVALRY CONTINUES IN WASHERS AND TVS

The Korean home electronics archrivals will also go all-out to prove their superiority in washer/dryer and TV technologies at this year’s IFA.

Both will unveil new all-in-one washer-dryer combos on Friday.

LG Signature Washer-Dryer, the second generation of its kind, is a front loader washer combined with a heat pump-powered dryer, perfect for a small home with limited space.

It is fully Wi-Fi enabled so it can be controlled by the LG ThinQ app.  

Samsung will also present its own all-in-one washer and dryer combo for the first time, with an "Eco Bubble" feature and its digital inverter heat pump technology for fast drying.

LG and Samsung will also compete for attention with their new TV models.

LG Signature OLED M is powered with the latest wireless technology, which enables the TV to transmit high-definition images remotely, and Dolby Atmos, with its spatial audio technology.

Samsung Electronics will show off ultra-large TVs with 98-inch screens in three models -- Neo QLED 8K, Neo QLED and QLED.

Write to Ik-Hwan Kim at lovepen@hankyung.com

Sookyung Seo edited this article.