LG’s IFA 2026 showcase put ThinQ at the center of an AI home ecosystem designed to connect appliances, displays, energy systems and third-party devices. The company used its CLOiD robot as the visual centerpiece, positioning it in an “AI Orchestra” installation where it conducted connected washing machines, refrigerators, TVs, climate equipment and speakers.
CLOiD remains a Physical AI concept with a wheeled base and two articulated arms, built to manipulate objects and interact with ThinQ appliances. LG’s wider “Zero Labor Home” pitch, however, is not dependent on putting an articulated robot in every home. The stated goal is to reduce manual device control through connected routines, contextual automation and AI assistance.
That strategy is also behind ThinQ Claw, LG’s newly introduced AI agent. LG presents Claw primarily as a text-based conversational agent integrated with the ThinQ ON hub, rather than as a standalone voice assistant. It is intended to interpret broader requests using information such as household schedules, indoor conditions, connected cooking appliances and learned preferences. A request about guests arriving, for example, could trigger suggestions based on those inputs.
The ThinQ platform is being extended through Homey, the smart-home platform developed by Athom, which LG acquired. Homey adds compatibility with products from other brands. LG’s Home Energy Management System also links appliances with solar panels, batteries, smart meters and EV charging hardware.
LG demonstrated how that approach could reach individual appliances. AI Fresh refrigerators learn when a household usually opens the door and can begin cooling in advance, while Full Convert Drawer and Dual FRESHConverter+ compartments support different temperature settings for different food types. A new LG SIGNATURE Refrigerator adds LLM-based voice recognition for natural-language controls and storage guidance.
In laundry, AI Wash detects load characteristics and adjusts drum motion and the wash cycle. LG says some of its new European washing machines can consume up to 70% less energy than the threshold required for an A energy rating under the standard measurement program. Its dishwasher updates include QuadWash Pro, which uses microbubbles to help detergent tackle food residue, Hybrid Air Dry, and a Wash & Dry cycle claimed to take about an hour under LG-defined conditions.
Displays, gaming hardware and personalized TV software
The company also brought unusually high refresh-rate gaming hardware to Berlin. The 24.5-inch LG UltraGear G5 25G590B runs at a native 1,000Hz in Full HD using an IPS panel, with an overclocked mode reaching 1,100Hz. It is clearly aimed at competitive esports and fast-paced FPS play, where motion clarity and low latency are the priority.
At the other end of the lineup, the curved 39-inch UltraGear evo GX9 combines an OLED panel with 5K2K resolution. It operates at 165Hz at 5K2K, with a dedicated speed mode capable of reaching 330Hz.
LG’s 2026 TV lineup included the OLED evo G6, powered by the α11 AI Gen3 processor, alongside Micro RGB evo models for larger screen sizes. Micro RGB is an LCD-based approach using finely controlled RGB backlighting, distinct from both OLED and Micro LED. The company is emphasizing color spectral purity and more granular lighting control.
New TV software features include Voice ID, which recognizes a speaker and switches to that person’s profile, apps and recommendations. LG is also adding an AI Chatbot for picture and sound troubleshooting, Gemini and Copilot integrations, and LG Shield security protections for user data and accounts. Gallery+ offers more than 5,000 images and artworks, including over 100 works from the Metropolitan Museum of Art collections.
Other products on display included the 32-inch StanbyME 2 Max, a 4K touchscreen display with up to 4.5 hours of battery life that can switch between portrait and landscape orientations and be removed from its wheeled stand. The stand is manually moved; the display does not autonomously follow its owner.
LG also showed its xboom Stage 501 party and karaoke speaker. It delivers up to 220W when connected to mains power, offers up to 25 hours of battery life, and includes AI Karaoke Master, a feature designed to reduce vocals in songs and adjust key.
The breadth of the IFA installation underscores LG’s attempt to make ThinQ the common layer across its product categories, from premium LG SIGNATURE appliances and transparent OLED displays to mass-market home devices. The remaining question is how broadly ThinQ Claw, ThinQ ON and the newest appliance features will roll out across regions and existing LG hardware.
