The Internationale Funkausstellung (IFA) consumer electronics trade show is one of the biggest and oldest tech exhibitions in the world. The 2023 event marks 99 years since the show was first held in 1924 in Berlin, Germany. Over the decades, it has evolved to feature all kinds of gadgets with wearables becoming one of the prime interests in recent times.

As we double down on improving our fitness and overall well-being, it’s becoming increasingly important to gather insights about our health, sleep, workouts, and more. There are plenty of smartwatches out in the market, here are the ones we saw at IFA 2023 that aim to bring something new to the table.

Garmin Venu 3/3S

You can’t talk about wearables without mentioning Garmin. Unlike its other lineups that are more sporty and focus on performance and being rugged, the Garmin Venu is a lifestyle-oriented watch series with a stylish design. The newly-added $449 Venu 3 and Venu 3S offer a similar experience to the Venu 2 series but with a couple of notable improvements.

For instance, there are new health-tracking modes, including one that lets you track your naps and one designed specifically for people who use a wheelchair. As the watch tracks and learns your sleep cycles, it gives you insights into how much sleep it thinks you need.

It can also tell you how much time you need to recover after a workout and what your “fitness age” is based on how fit you are compared to your actual age. With up to 14 days of battery life, the Garmin Venu 3 was one of the best wearables at IFA 2023.

Withings ScanWatch 2

If you’re someone who has always wanted a smartwatch but prefers the look and elegance of classic analog watches, the $349 Withings ScanWatch 2 is for you. Just like its predecessor, the Withings ScanWatch 2 is a hybrid smartwatch which means it’s a fusion of an analog watch and a smartwatch.

While it doesn’t have WearOS and all the features that a normal smartwatch does, the ScanWatch 2 can track your heart rate,blood oxygen levels (SpO2), sleep, steps, and more. We’re also expecting the heart rate detection to be more accurate than last time.

The new highlight feature of the ScanWatch 2 is its 24/7 temperature monitoring. It uses a combination of four sensors (thermistor, heat flux, PPG, and accelerometer) to monitor fluctuations in your body temperature and build a baseline. A sudden rise or drop in temperature suggests you have an apparent health issue.

Because the ScanWatch 2 is a hybrid watch, it doesn’t consume as much power as a normal smartwatch—allowing Withings to claim a jaw-dropping 30-day battery life. If you’d rather not spend upwards of $300, there’s also a lower-end but fashion-focused ScanWatch Light available for $249.

Solum Healthcare Earx

If smartwatches aren’t your thing, we’re sure you’ll find the Solum Healthcare Earx wireless earbuds pleasantly surprising. Originally a spin-off company of Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Solum describes itself as a global ESL (Electronic Shelf Label) leader.

Its latest innovation, the Earx, is a pair of what it calls “Bio TWS” that combines the functionalities of wireless earbuds and a smartwatch. Because earbuds are smaller, the Earx uses a pair of ultra-miniaturized PPG and temperature sensors and an accelerometer tomeasure your heart rate, body temperature, and posture.

It also offers real-time voice coaching, personalized workout programs, and health progress reports. The earbuds are IPX4 sweat and water-resistant, have Active Noise Cancelation of up to 47dB, support aptX Adaptive Bluetooth codec for clearer calls, and last up to 24 hours with the charging case.

One feature in particular that caught our attention was the color-changing LED indicator. Each pair of Earx has an LED indicator at the bottom of the stem which can sync up to other pairs that people in your running crew are wearing. The idea does have merit as it can indicate to people on the street to move out of the way when your running crew is about to pass by.

TicWatch Pro 5

The $349 TicWatch Pro 5 is probably your best bet if you’re looking for a Galaxy Watch alternative. The watch is made of 7000 series aluminum and has Gorilla Glass protection and metal bezels to add to its durability—all while weighing just 44.3 grams.

One of the best features of the TicWatch Pro 5 is its dual-display design. When the watch is resting, it defaults back to its Ultra Low Power Display which essentially serves as an Always On Display, showing essential info such as the date and time, your step count, and heart rate.

Pressing the crown or tapping the screen activates the main OLED. You can also rotate the crown to navigate the WearOS UI—similar to the rotating bezel on the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic.

The TicWatch Pro 5 offers up to 80 hours of battery life—that’s twice as much as the Galaxy Watch 6 which tops out at 40 hours. It can also charge up to 50% in just 25 minutes and survive up to five atmospheres of pressure underwater. The new Recovery time feature can let you know when your body will be ready for the next workout.

Amazfit Balance

We also came across theAmazfit Balance at IFA 2023which is the company’s latest addition to its lifestyle series of smartwatches. It has a host of new AI-powered features. Zepp Coach, for instance, uses AI to generate personalized workout plans and “helps you balance activity and recovery by letting you know when to step things up, or when to take a rest.”

The new Readiness score feature tracks your resting heart rate, sleep heart rate variability, breathing quality, and temperature while you sleep and gives you a score every morning indicating how mentally and physically recharged you are. Also, for the runners out there, Race Achievement Predictions can show you how likely you are to perform in your next race.

The watch also features upgraded sensors for more accurate health readings and location tracking. There’s also (finally) a contactless payment feature called Zepp Pay—made possible via a partnership between Amazfit and Mastercard—that allows you tomake purchases via NFC technology.

The Best Wearables at IFA 2023 Surpass Expectations

IFA 2023 showcased some of the best wearables we’ve seen yet that are not just practical but also fashionable. The Garmin Venu 3’s Wheelchair Mode is a great step towards accessibility. The Withings ScanWatch 2’s timeless design and incredible battery life are hard to look past.

The Solum Earx are probably the most advanced fitness-focused earbuds ever made. The TicWatch Pro 5 has more features to offer than you could ever ask for. And the Amazfit Balance’s new AI-powered fitness features are no less than revolutionary.