The Best Smart Home Tech of IFA 2025: AI-Powered Appliances, All-Purpose Holiday Lights, and Stair-Climbing Vacs

BERLIN—Artificial intelligence found its way into every type of smart home device on display at IFA this year. Nearly all of the security cameras we saw touted new AI software to detect and describe events to make them easier to search. Even large appliances now incorporate AI to run more efficiently and with more transparency. With a lot of companies, AI software took precedence over cool new gadgets, but we saw plenty of interesting hardware as well. Robot vacuums stole the show, but we also saw innovative appliances, lights, locks, and other assorted gear to bring new tech to all parts of your connected house. We’ve collected all of our favorite new smart home gadgets below in no particular order. Bear in mind, not all of them will make it to the US, but the underlying tech is cool enough to keep our eyes on regardless. 

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Best Robot Vacuum

(Credit: Andrew Gebhart)

Eufy Marswalker

The Marswalker isn’t even a robot vacuum. Technically, it’s an accessory for a robot vacuum, but it climbs stairs. Due out this summer, it’ll be compatible with the Eufy RoboVac Omni S2 robot vacuum. It works like this: The S2 drives into the Marswalker’s central cavity. The Marswalker then shuts its front flap to secure the robot vacuum inside, turns, and drives up or down a nearby staircase, before opening the flap again so the S2 can go about cleaning on a different floor. If it works as intended, the Marswalker could solve one of the biggest limitations of robot vacuums and allow your automated cleaner to fully traverse your multi-story home. 

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Best Smart Lighting

(Credit: Andrew Gebhart)

Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights Prism

Christmas doesn’t have to be the only time of year you decorate your house with lights. These permanent outdoor smart lights let you fine-tune the colors to match the decor of any season. Each lighting unit contains three separate color-changing bulbs that can be individually controlled. Govee has refined the software from previous models to improve the brightness and color accuracy, and the lights are more durable now. The Outdoor Lights Prism will make a fine addition to your home if you’re looking for versatile, year-round decorations. 

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Best Appliance

(Credit: Andrew Gebhart)

Midea Chill Master

Midea’s refrigerator adds a very useful feature to the water dispenser. Select whether you want crushed ice, cubed ice, water, or a mix of ice and water, then put your glass on the base of the dispenser, hit the button, and walk away. The fridge senses the height of the glass, lowers the nozzle to just over the rim, and fills it up for you without spilling over, so you can do something else in the meantime. There’s also a pitcher nestled inside the door, and the fridge keeps that full as well, so you’ll always have chilled water on hand. While it might not come to the US for a while, the auto dispenser is a good example of a simple idea that could add a lot of convenience to your routine over time. 

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Best AI

(Credit: Andrew Gebhart)

LG Refrigerators

LG showed off a range of appliances at IFA, each powered by AI and meant to work with the others in the line. While the specific appliances on display will only be sold in Europe, the underlying tech could easily make its way to the US, and I came away from my trek through LG’s booth particularly impressed with the refrigerators. Embedded AI can detect what type of food is inside, and tailor the compressor operation to keep it fresh for longer. That’s a cool promise if it works as intended. I also like LG’s zero-hinge design, which allows the refrigerator to fit right next to cabinetry while still allowing the doors to open fully, offering the look of a built-in model.

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Best Robot Lawn Mower

(Credit: Tyler Hayes)

Roborock RockMow

Known for its robot vacuums, Roborock is using similar mapping tech to jump into the robot lawn mower category. The company showed off three different models at the show, with the RockMow Z1 headlining. The Z1 has four sturdy wheels, all-wheel drive, and the ability to climb steep inclines with an 80% grade. It should also be able to efficiently map and navigate your yard thanks to its embedded AI. While this exact model is meant for the European market, Roborock has promised that similar ones will be making their way to the US soon. 

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Best Video Doorbell

(Credit: Signify)

Philips Hue Secure Video Doorbell

Philips Hue showed off its first video doorbell at IFA alongside a number of other smart home products, including a new Hue bridge and strip lights. The Hue Secure Doorbell has some typical features for the category, including a 2K fisheye camera and two-way talk support. Perhaps most compelling, it comes with 24 hours of video history for free, allowing you to skip over a subscription. The doorbell is slated to launch in the US this October for $169.99. Hue says it’s planning to add facial recognition support through a software upgrade in 2026.

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Best Air Purifier

(Credit: Tyler Hayes)

Dyson HushJet Purifier Compact

The HushJet is tiny compared with most of Dyson’s other air purifiers, and it features a new nozzle designed to limit airflow noise. It’s meant to be as small and unobtrusive as possible, while still offering 80% of the capacity of the company’s larger models like the Big+Quiet. The HushJet seems like a promising option if you have a small space that needs purifying. It launches in the US at the end of this month for $349.99.

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See More of the Best From IFA 2025