Berlin – September 09, 2026 -- TCL used IFA 2026 in Berlin to showcase a lineup of AI-driven televisions, smartphones, appliances and smart-home devices, running through September 8 at Messe Berlin's Hall 21A.

The X11L TV pushes mini LED brightness to 10,000 nits

TCL's flagship SQD-Mini LED television, the X11L, features up to 20,736 dimming zones, a WHVA 2.0 Ultra panel, and coverage of 100% of the BT.2020 color gamut, paired with Bang & Olufsen-tuned sound. The company also displayed the X3A OLED+ gaming monitor with dual high-refresh-rate modes and the Q95K Soundbar, which uses an 11.1.4-channel speaker array. TCL confirmed its Gemini integration for Google TV is now live in several markets, including the UK, France, Italy and Spain.

Offenbach, Germany – September 09, 2026 -- Hyundai Motor Company has signed a multi-year deal to become the Official Automotive Partner of the UEFA Champions League, starting with the 2026/27 season and running through the end of 2030/31.

The deal extends nearly 30 years of Hyundai's football sponsorships

Hyundai has backed football at major international tournaments and clubs for almost three decades. This agreement, struck with UC3 -- UEFA's joint venture with European football clubs -- moves that commitment to the top tier of European club competition.

"Football has been part of Hyundai for almost 30 years," said José Muñoz, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company. "The UEFA Champions League is the best club football in the world, played every week in front of the most passionate fans in Europe." Muñoz, who is from Madrid, said the partnership follows Hyundai's involvement at this summer's World Cup.

Berlin – September 09, 2026 -- Hisense used IFA 2026 to unveil a lineup of TVs, projectors and audio gear built around brighter colors and reduced eye strain, headlined by the European debut of its 116UXS Mini-LED television.

The Hisense Soundbar UX1 wins an IFA Innovation Award

The UX1 took top honors at the IFA Innovation Awards, while the 116UXS Mini-LED TV, the UR8 TV, the REGZA RGB-Mini-LED ZX-series TVs and the XR1 laser projector were named honorees.

The 116UXS reaches 110% of the BT.2020 color space

Built on Chromagic 2.0 technology, the 116UXS adds a dedicated cyan light source to its red, green and blue backlight, pushing color coverage to 110% of BT.2020. The set has earned both "Pantone Validated RGB MiniLED" and "Pantone Color" certification. It pairs peak brightness of 10,000 nits with the Hi-View AI Engine RGB and an Obsidian panel for what Hisense describes as improved color accuracy, contrast and depth.

Berlin – September 09, 2026 -- TECNO picked up two Global Product Technology Innovation Awards at IFA 2026, recognizing its ultra-thin modular smartphone and a compact Lamborghini-branded gaming PC.

The modular phone measures just 4.9mm thick

The TECNO Modular Phone won the Ultra-Slim Magnetic Modular Technology Innovation Gold Award. TECNO calls it the world's slimmest modular smartphone at 4.9mm, built on proprietary Modular Magnetic Interconnection Technology that pairs a precision magnetic array with pogo-pin connectors. The device supports ten interchangeable high-performance modules that snap on and draw power directly, while the host itself carries a 3000-4000mAh battery. Its portless unibody design carries an IP rating for dust and water resistance, and mass production is set to begin soon.

Unterföhring – September 09, 2026 -- German late-night show "TV total" airs its 200th episode on ProSieben and streaming service Joyn on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 8:15 p.m.

Pufpaff has hosted the show through major political and cultural moments

Host Sebastian Pufpaff has anchored the program, mixing comedy sketches with celebrity interviews and stunts. In episode 5, broadcast on December 8, 2021, he impersonated soccer coach Marco Rose using the hashtag #echteLiebe. In episode 134, aired on February 18, 2025, he interviewed the German chancellor in the midst of an election campaign.

The show has also taken its format on the road, appearing at Munich's Oktoberfest, various festivals, and the ZDF Fernsehgarten. Pufpaff has attempted wrestling, tower diving, and wok racing as part of the show's recurring stunt segments.

Mainz – September 09, 2026 -- German broadcaster ZDFinfo has confirmed five schedule changes for its documentary lineup during week 41, affecting viewers tuning in between October 3 and October 8.

Saturday's deep-sea special is replaced by a forest documentary

On Saturday, October 3, the 3:45 a.m. slot originally reserved for "Terra X: Extreme der Tiefsee - Eisige Abgründe" will instead air "Terra X Harald Lesch: Der Wald - Wunderwelt im Wandel," a 2026 German production. Programming resumes as scheduled from 4:15 a.m.

Sunday morning history slot shifts to World War II diplomacy

On Sunday, October 4, at 10:30 a.m., "Pakt der Diktatoren: Wie Hitler und Stalin den Weg in den Krieg planten" (2020) replaces the previously listed "Terra X History: Reporter in Hitlers Krieg. Von d. Diktatur in die Demokratie." Regular programming continues from 11:15 a.m.

Mainz – September 09, 2026 -- A new ZDF documentary examines how the global matcha craze is driving up prices, causing supply shortages, and fueling a market flooded with fake products. "Matcha – Genuss mit Beigeschmack" ("Matcha – A Bitter Aftertaste") streams on the ZDF platform starting Friday, September 11, 2026, at 8:30 a.m., and airs on ZDF television Sunday, October 13, 2026, at 3:30 p.m.

Reporter Victoria Reichelt travels to Japan for the film, directed by Laura Hohmann, to trace matcha from tea field to social media feed.

Berlin – September 09, 2026 -- ECOVACS has picked up two Gold Awards at the 2026 IDG Global Product Technology Innovation Awards, presented during IFA Berlin, for robots that push automated cleaning beyond the living room floor.

The WINBOT W2S PRO OMNI wins for window-cleaning innovation

The window-cleaning robot took the Window Cleaning Robot Innovation Gold Award. Judges cited its intelligent frame detection, systematic deep-cleaning routine and enhanced safety mechanisms, features designed to handle hands-free window maintenance in households without user supervision.

The T1000 4WD Pro lawn mower earns edge-trimming recognition

ECOVACS' T1000 4WD Pro smart robotic lawn mower received the Smart Edge Trimming Technology Innovation Gold Award. The mower's four-wheel-drive mobility and intelligent path planning are built to navigate complex, uneven lawn layouts while trimming edges with high precision.

Cologne – September 09, 2026 -- Social-impact brand share and RTL Deutschland have launched a joint campaign to support equal opportunities for children, centered on a new share x RTL snack bar sold at six major German retailers.

Every bar purchased triggers a donation from the "Stiftung RTL - Wir helfen Kindern e.V." to breakfast4Kids e.V., a nonprofit that provides a healthy breakfast to roughly 1,400 children daily across 35 schools and daycare centers in the Aachen and Cologne region.

TV presenters Frauke Ludowig and Jan Köppen front new campaign spots

Two TV ads airing across RTL Deutschland channels feature Ludowig and Köppen being approached by children who highlight unequal opportunities faced by many kids in Germany. The ads frame each bar purchase as a direct contribution toward better chances for those children.

Stuttgart – September 09, 2026 -- Stationery maker LEITZ ACCO Brands has rolled out a new range of notebooks and pads designed to catch fleeting ideas before they disappear, arguing that good thinking rarely happens at a desk.

Ideas often strike away from the office, the company says

According to LEITZ, flashes of inspiration tend to arrive in the shower, on the commute, or over coffee -- moments when a laptop typically isn't within reach. The company positions its new hardcover notebooks and spiral-bound pads as tools meant to travel: into meetings, onto trains, or into cafés.