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IFA 2026 in Berlin has firmly cemented a paradigm shift in the consumer electronics market: the era of standalone smart devices is over. Ecosystems that can make decisions on their own, orchestrate processes, and flexibly adapt to the context of our lives are now calling the shots, freeing up our most valuable resource – time.
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Two Philosophies, One Ecosystem
At the huge shared Hisense and Gorenje booth, this new approach materialized in two powerful yet complementary concepts. Hisense promotes the philosophy of “Innovating A Brighter Life,” focusing on cutting-edge technology and dynamism. Its ConnectLife ecosystem and operating system have evolved from a TV interface into a full-fledged “smart home orchestrator” – AIOS, which coordinates how your appliances operate based on your habits.
Meanwhile, European brand Gorenje champions the idea of “Life Simplified.” Its goal is to take as much daily routine off your hands as possible by combining smart solutions with impeccable European practicality.
During the hour-long tour with the brand representatives, I kept putting these innovations to the test against real-life scenarios. To avoid getting lost among hundreds of products, I came up with two ideal appliance-selection scenarios: one for a compact apartment with strict requirements for quiet operation and limited space, and another for a spacious house where there are no such constraints.
The Rational Apartment: Quiet, Autonomous, and Nothing Extra
Living in an apartment where quiet-hour rules dictate the terms and every square meter is precious, you start to appreciate minimalism. In the kitchen, my absolute favorite was Gorenje’s Smart KitchenFit refrigerator lineup, which can be installed with minimal clearances to create a seamless, monolithic look.
Meanwhile, for those seeking maximum AI integration, Hisense offers its Smart Screen ref. series. Thanks to built-in cameras, these refrigerators scan the shelves, recognize food items, update the inventory in the app, and alert you to expiration dates based on data from Amazon’s database.
This compact kitchen setup is rounded out by Gorenje’s narrow Slim Dishwasher. It makes efficient use of space while accommodating 11 place settings and offering an A energy-efficiency rating. The photo clearly shows just how compact this version of the dishwasher really is.
A real time-saver is Hisense’s Speed Oven, which cooks up to 60% faster thanks to its combination heating technology – an ideal solution for a fast-paced lifestyle.
The worktop will be equipped with Gorenje’s Induction Hob featuring StableHeat technology. From the entire range, I would go for the new matte-finish model, which is scratch-resistant and comes with an integrated extractor hood. During the demonstration, we were told that the surface can withstand even very hard materials without damage. These matte models are noticeably more scratch-resistant than their glossy counterparts. 
Hisense also has some interesting models, especially as part of its Hi5 series, but they require a separate extractor hood. One option would be Gorenje’s G600 series, which features a range of useful sensors for automatically turning the hood on or off in response to external triggers such as steam.
Laundry duties in the apartment are handled by Hisense’s AI Heat Pump lineup, which provides gentle care for your clothes while keeping noise to an absolute minimum. And there’s a handy detail worth mentioning: if the power goes out, the machine will automatically resume the wash cycle from where it left off once the power comes back, rather than starting the program all over again.
In the living room, I’d skip the massive fixed-screen TVs in favor of more flexible solutions. Instead of a huge display taking up half the wall, I’d go for a compact laser projector from Hisense’s Boundless Living lineup. For example, there are the classic C3 Pro models, the ultra-short-throw Laser Cinema PX4 Pro, or Hisense’s flagship XR10 laser projector.
They let you set up an immersive home theater only when you’re actually in the mood for a movie night. For a dedicated workspace, Hisense’s Gaming Hub would be an ideal choice – a versatile 5K monitor that can seamlessly transform from a productivity tool into a gaming station.
This smart space will be managed by Hisense’s AIOS, currently known as ConnectLife. It’s a true “orchestrator” that anticipates your needs and brings all the devices in the ecosystem together.
Spacious House: Unlimited Room for Experiences
When space is no longer an issue, the focus shifts to creating room for experiences. The centerpiece of the living room is undoubtedly Hisense’s flagship 116-inch 116UXS RGB MiniLED TV from the Natural Living series. Adding a cyan subpixel delivers spectacular colors while reducing eye strain. The experience is rounded out by premium audio for rich, immersive sound.
If you’re building a dedicated home theater, Hisense’s C3 Pro/Ultra Max laser projectors or the gaming-focused L9Q Laser TV will deliver a truly immersive experience.
The experience is rounded out by Hisense’s flagship UX1 audio system, with an 11.2.6 configuration that delivers deep, cinematic, and incredibly immersive sound.
AIOS will tie the entire space together as part of Hisense’s Companion Living concept. As soon as you select a movie, AIOS will automatically dim the lights and switch the HVAC system to its quietest mode. AIOS is still under development, but it is expected to replace the current ConnectLife control system.
In a spacious kitchen, the technological centerpiece is a premium Hisense refrigerator, again from the PureTouch Hub series. Its large display functions as a full-fledged AI hub: you can use it to search for recipes, create shopping lists, or ask the system to come up with dinner using the ingredients you already have. Through the ConnectLife ecosystem, you can also check what’s inside the refrigerator right from your smartphone – an ideal solution for quickly picking up everything you need for a party or restocking for the week. Another standout feature of the KitchenFit model is a dedicated vacuum drawer that removes air and keeps delicate foods fresh for significantly longer.
The cooking area turns into an Italian restaurant kitchen thanks to Gorenje’s G900 Oven, which offers AI Baking and Steam Cooking. But the real star of any party is Gorenje’s PizzaPlus technology, which can bake a pizza in just two minutes at 360°C. The oven can heat up to a maximum temperature of 600°C.
The cooking area is completed by a wide Gorenje Hood in Hob cooktop with an integrated extractor hood – a 2-in-1 solution with an A+++ energy-efficiency rating – or Hisense’s flagship Hi9 Hob lineup.
Rounding out the culinary setup is Gorenje’s Fully Automatic Coffee Machine, which brews the perfect cup of coffee straight from whole beans.
For a large family’s laundry needs, I’d go with Hisense’s advanced AI multi-scenario solution, specifically its innovative multi-drum configuration with three independent drums. Of course, it doesn’t replace a conventional washer-dryer, which is still essential for everyday laundry tasks; instead, it complements it perfectly.
The main advantage of this unique system is the huge amount of time it saves and its ability to handle multiple loads simultaneously. While the main drum is washing a large load of bed linens, the two additional drums can handle delicate items and children’s clothes at the same time, with AI automatically selecting the optimal cycle for each compartment.
A true lifesaver for an active lifestyle is Gorenje’s innovative ShoeWash system – a special shelf inside the drum that securely holds and gently cleans up to three pairs of sneakers at once, keeping both your athletic footwear and the washing machine itself completely safe.
From Vintage Aesthetics to the Screens of the Future
Gorenje’s Retro lineup deserves special attention, adding a modern twist to vintage-inspired design.
Gorenje’s Body & Personal Care category features water dispensers, high-speed hair dryers, curling irons, and stylers for perfect everyday care.
AIOS from Hisense takes care of managing this entire range of smart devices, with its potential fully realized on ultrawide TV formats. At the exhibition, we were shown a unique display designed for Hisense’s AI Companion Suite, where the familiar 16:9 content-viewing area is combined with an additional 5:9 segment dedicated specifically to the persistent display of the AI companion. Artificial intelligence turns this kind of panel into an intuitive central hub for conveniently controlling every smart device in the ecosystem – from climate-control systems to small household appliances. It’s worth noting, however, that this unusual form factor is currently exclusive to the Chinese market, but it offers an excellent glimpse into the future direction of smart interfaces.
But the absolute visual showstopper at the booth was Hisense’s colossal 163-inch 163MX MicroLED TV from the Natural Living lineup. Powered by microRGB technology, the display creates images using millions of tiny individually controlled pixels, delivering phenomenal contrast, perfect blacks, and peak brightness that literally redefines everything we thought we knew about the home viewing experience.
Scale That Is Reshaping the Industry
Behind all these scenarios are massive resources. Today, Hisense Group is a global technology giant that has successfully integrated Gorenje’s European practicality.
Multi-million-dollar investments in developing local language models, advanced display panels with added subpixels, and optimizing energy consumption point to a clear business strategy. Companies are no longer competing to sell conventional “hardware” with a list of specifications. They are investing in creating a safe, autonomous, and intelligent environment that understands our needs before we even voice them.
Read also: Report from the Motorola booth at #IFA2026: The company is stepping up its game!
