Is Berlin’s IFA challenging Las Vegas’ CES for title of biggest consumer gadget show?

Berlin's IFA consumer electronics trade show

Berlin’s IFA consumer trade show wrapped up last week, drawing big crowds and generating a lot of buzz.

Naturally, organizers were trumpeting the event as a big success, and it certainly seems to be getting a lot of attention. Still, it got me wondering: How does IFA compare to CES, the big daddy of consumer gadget shows?

Here’s a look at the official numbers released by CES from its last edition in 2016 and from IFA, following its latest conference last week. Worth noting: CES had started capping its growth recently in recognition that it has become monstrously huge.

ATTENDANCE

CES: 177,393 (2016); 176,676 (2015)

IFA: 240,000 (2016); 245,000 (2015)

EXHIBITORS

CES: 3,887 (2016); 3,600 (2015)

IFA: 1,823 (2016); 1,645 (2015)

EXHIBITION SPACE

CES: 2.47 million square feet (2016); 2.2 million square feet (2015)

IFA: 1.7 million square feet (2016); 1.62 million square feet (2015)

REGISTERED MEDIA

CES: 7,545 (2016); 6,952 (2015)

IFA: 1,800 (2016); 2,700 (2015)

Bottom line, CES is still the bigger of the two by all measures and is hanging tough. IFA, by some of its own measures, had a mixed year, at best, and it will be interesting to see whether it can continue to convince big tech companies that it’s a must-attend event.
[Source:-VB]

Saheli