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The most eye-popping tech of IFA 2015 (pictures)

From smartphone-controlled robot vacuums to HD Blu-ray players, sleep trackers, and smartwatches, this year's IFA show unveiled a ton of eye-popping tech. In this slideshow, we've mapped out the products we're looking forward to the most.

CNET staff
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1 of 13 Neato Robotics

Neato Botvac Connected Robot Vacuum

At this week's IFA trade show, California-based Neato robotics unveiled a Wi-fi-equipped vacuum cleaner that will sell for $699 when it hits retailers at the end of this year.

The Botvac Connected cleaner boasts a lithium ion battery for longer battery life, app-enabled smartphone controls, and an improved filter design that adds a protective mesh layer over the accordion-like folds of fabric.

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2 of 13 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Samsung UBD-K8500 HD Blu-ray player

The Samsung UBD-K8500 is capable of providing four times the resolution and 64 times higher color expression compared to standard Blu-ray and can upscale content to provide UHD resolution for any disc.

UHD streaming services are also available through the box, which features a curved design.

Samsung didn't specify any pricing, but said it would cost "less than $500" (roughly £350 or AU$700). It said the device will launch in the US and Europe early next year.

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3 of 13 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Samsung SleepSense

The Samsung SleepSense slips under your bed and tracks our movements while you sleep.

Samsung claims the device is 97 percent accurate at reading your sleep patterns, and it uses that info to generate sleep reports each morning with tailored advice on how to get a better night's rest.

Samsung hasn't announced what the asking price for SleepSense will be yet, when we'll see it in stores, or where it will be sold (though a company representative tells me to expect a global launch).

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4 of 13 Ry Crist/CNET

SmartThings Hub

The new SmartThings Hub looks about the same as the previous iteration -- it's still a squared-off piece of white plastic, but this version adds a Bluetooth 4.0 adapter alongside its Wi-Fi, ZigBee and Z-Wave radios, giving you the potential to control even more connected devices. The company says the new unit also has a more powerful processor, a new backup battery, and updated versions of SmartThings' own motion, sound and other detector accessories.

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5 of 13 Tyler Lizenby/CNET

Samsung Gear S2

The feature that immediately separates the Gear S2 from the current crop of high-profile smartwatches is the rotating bezel that's used to navigate through menus and apps.

The Gear S2 is available in two different styles, both 11.4mm thick. The main model -- called simply the Gear S2 -- has a modern, minimalist bent, while the more traditional Gear S2 Classic boasts a black body and leather band. The third option is a 3G-enabled version of the Gear S2, which means it'll be able to make calls without being tethered to a phone, Dick Tracy-style.

Samsung has confirmed that the Gear S2 and S2 Classic will go on sale in the US in October, with the 3G version to follow at an as-yet-unannounced time.

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6 of 13 Rich Trenholm/CNET

Sony Xperia Z5 Premium

Sony revealed what is claimed to be the world's first smartphone with a 4K display, the Xperia Z5 Premium.

Aside from the high-res display, the phone also has a fingerprint scanner built into the power button, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, and a whopping 23-megapixel camera.

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7 of 13 Sarah Tew/CNET

Motorola Moto 360 Fashion

The Moto 360 Fashion differs from the original because of its traditional watch lugs that make it easier to swap out the strap. The crown has also been relocated to the top right.

It will be available in two different sizes. There is a 46mm watch with a 22mm band, which is slightly larger than last year's 45mm standard model, and a smaller 42mm model with a 20mm band. Motorola also designed a special women's collection model that features a 42mm face and a slim 16mm strap.

Prices start at $300 in the US, which is a $50 premium over what the original model went for, and go up to $430, depending on the model and band you choose. International pricing and availability wasn't confirmed, but the US price converts to £195/AU$430 and £280/AU$610, respectively.

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8 of 13 Sarah Tew/CNET

Huawei Watch

The Huawei Watch is the the company's first smartwatch. Just like the Moto 360, LG G Watch R and Watch Urbane, the Huawei Watch runs Google's Android Wear operating system. It can display personalized Google Now cards and notifications for text messages, emails and calls from your iPhone or Android smartphone right on your wrist.

The Huawei Watch isn't cheap. The cheapest model will cost you $349, while the more expensive gold model tops out at $799.

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9 of 13 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Huawei Mate S

The Mate S has a 5.5-inch AMOLED display that extends almost to either side of the phone. According to Huawei, it takes up 73 per cent of the Mate S's front face.

The all-metal skin comes in "mystic champagne" and "titanium gray," and the Mate S has a fingerprint sensor just below the lens for unlocking the phone.

The 32GB model comes in gray or silver for €649, which translates to $729, £477 and AU$1,041. The 64GB model comes in pink or gold and costs €699 ($786, £513 or AU$1,122). It goes on sale in the US, UK, Australia and other countries in September.

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10 of 13 Sarah Tew/CNET

Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 260

The 12.5-inch Yoga 260 is 2.9 pounds, and can be configured with up to a full HD 1,920x1,080-pixel display and 512GB solid-state hard drive.

The larger 14-inch ThinkPad Yoga 460 weighs 3.9 pounds, and goes up to a 2,560x1,440-pixel-resolution display. Storage tops out at either a 1TB hard drive or 256GB SSD, and dedicated graphics, up to the Nvidia GeForce 940M chip, are available.

The biggest upgrade for both models is the move to Intel's sixth generation of Core i-series chips, also known by the code name Skylake. Both also add optional LTE wireless antennas, a feature seen less often now that phone tethering is so common for data on the go. A powered stylus, called the ThinkPad Pen Pro, can recharge when plugged into the slot built into the side of the chassis.

The 12.5-inch ThinkPad Yoga 260 will start at $949, while the 14-inch Yoga 460 starts at $1,049. International pricing was not yet available. The 260 will be available in November in the US and "select countries," according to Lenovo, while the 460 model is coming to the US in January 2016, but may be available internationally as early as October.

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11 of 13 Asus

Asus RT-AC5300U Router

The Asus RT-AC5300 is a tri-band router with three Wi-Fi bands: one on the 2.4GHz band and two on 5GHz.

The RT-AC5300 will support all existing Wi-Fi clients, including those using the obsolete 802.11b standard. To get the most benefit from it, however, the clients need to support 802.11ac and better yet the same performance tier that the router has.

Asus says the new router comes with eight dual-band detachable antennas, which is the highest number of external antennas on a home router to date.

According to Asus, the RT-AC5300 will ship by the end of the year. Its pricing is not yet available, but it's rumored to be around $400.

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12 of 13 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Acer Revo Build M1-601

Acer also revealed a new "block"-based modular PC system called the Revo Build.

Magnetic pins secure the Revo Build's base to the components above it. You can easily add extras to the system without tools or cables.

The Revo Build M1-601 will begin selling in Europe starting in October, with build prices starting at 199 euros.

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13 of 13 Sarah Tew/CNET

Lenovo IdeaPad Miix 700

Lenovo is adding another Windows 10 hybrid to its lineup, and this one starts off with a very familiar look.

The new Miix 700 could easily be mistaken for a Microsoft Surface Tablet from a short distance, and its functions and features are certainly similar. But the Miix 700 adds a few new wrinkles, including an Intel Core i5 CPU.

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