Hardware · Top stories
Google launches Pixel 11 with Tensor G6, 30-hour battery, and slimmer camera bar
Google has released its Pixel 11 smartphone, featuring the new Tensor G6 processor, which contributes to over 30 hours of battery life and improved AI task handling. The device also includes a redesigned, slimmer camera bar with an upgraded 48-megapixel main lens and a 10.8-megapixel telephoto lens, marking significant hardware updates for the Pixel line.
Google Pixel 11 Series Introduces Camera Looks for Enhanced Image Control
Google is introducing a new "Camera Looks" feature for the Pixel 11 series, which rethinks how the camera processes and styles images. This feature provides users with more control over the camera's output by changing how image data is processed at the sensor level, moving beyond traditional computational photography to offer more authentic or traditional photographic styles.
Foxconn's Revenue from Apple Falls Below 29% as AI Server Production Surges
Foxconn's revenue derived from Apple products has decreased to below 29% in the last quarter, a significant drop from over 50% previously. This shift is due to a substantial increase in the company's AI server manufacturing, which now accounts for 51% of its revenue.
YMTC Becomes Top Three NAND Flash Shipper in Q2 2026, Enterprise SSDs Drive Market Growth
Yangtze Memory Technologies (YMTC) reached the top three global NAND flash shippers in Q2 2026, displacing Kioxia, with 14% of worldwide shipments. This shift occurred as enterprise SSDs consumed 48% of all NAND bits, significantly increasing from 26% a year prior, and overall industry revenue grew fivefold.
Samsung Foundry Delays 1.4nm Node to 2029, Plans High-NA EUV for 1nm-Class in 2030
Samsung Foundry updated its process roadmap, pushing its 1.4nm node (SF1.4) from 2027 to 2029 to prioritize refinement of its 2nm-class (SF2) manufacturing processes. The company confirmed it will adopt High-NA EUV lithography for its 1nm-class (SF1A) node around 2030, indicating a strategic shift in its advanced node development and adoption of new lithography technology.
Intel CEO hints at potential return to memory business, citing innovation opportunities
Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan indicated that the company is exploring new memory architectures, including stacking memory on top of CPUs, suggesting a potential re-entry into the memory market. This move is prompted by the current profitability and strategic importance of the memory industry, which Tan previously considered a commodity business.
SK hynix to expand Solidigm's Dalian fab capacity by 50% and considers NASDAQ IPO
SK hynix is resuming investments to expand its Solidigm subsidiary's NAND flash production capacity by 50% at its Dalian, China fab, with mass production expected by early 2027. Concurrently, the company is reportedly exploring a NASDAQ IPO for Solidigm to raise capital while maintaining control. This expansion addresses increasing demand for high-capacity SSDs and follows the granting of U.S. licenses for shipping semiconductor equipment to Chinese fabs.
Intel Raises $19.7 Billion Through Stock Sale to Fund Future Projects and 14A Production
Intel is raising $19.7 billion by selling new common stock to finance the development of next-generation process technologies like 14A and expand production capacity. This funding is crucial for Intel to compete with major foundries like TSMC and Samsung and secure orders from external clients.
US Lawmaker Calls for Enforcement of Chipmaker Due Diligence Export Control Rule
House Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar has requested the US government enforce an existing export control measure requiring chipmakers to verify end customers for advanced chips. This rule, known as the 'Foundry Due Diligence Rule,' was designed to prevent Chinese companies from circumventing restrictions on advanced chip acquisition, following instances where chips made by TSMC for Sophgo were identified as Huawei's Ascend 910B AI accelerators.
Researchers achieve 38.49% efficiency in laser-based drone charging with nanocrystals
Researchers at the Civil Aviation University of China developed a laser-based drone charging system that converts energy at 38.49% efficiency by using nanocrystalline material and air channels to manage heat. This advancement addresses a key challenge in achieving continuous flight for drones by improving the efficiency and thermal management of over-the-air power delivery.
Conflicting Reports Emerge on Apple's All-Glass iPhone Redesign for 20th Anniversary
Conflicting reports have emerged regarding Apple's rumored all-glass iPhone redesign for the device's 20th anniversary. Jefferies analyst Edison Lee downgraded Apple's stock, citing supply chain checks suggesting the cancellation of an all-glass iPhone due to low yield, while Bloomberg reports that a "glassy look" redesign for next year's iPhone Pro models remains on track.
Nvidia Reportedly Testing Rubin Ultra with Reduced Memory Configurations and HBM4
Nvidia is reportedly testing versions of its upcoming Rubin Ultra accelerator with less memory, including configurations with 192 GB or 256 GB and HBM4 instead of HBM4E, due to potential HBM supply constraints. This change could affect the performance and capabilities of Nvidia's next-generation AI accelerators, impacting future data center and AI infrastructure designs.
TSMC Reports 45% Year-on-Year Sales Surge in July Driven by AI Chip Demand
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) announced a 44.7% year-on-year increase in July revenue, reaching $14.5 billion, primarily due to strong demand for AI-related chips. This sales growth indicates continued robust investment in AI infrastructure across the tech sector, making TSMC's performance a key indicator for overall industry health.
Nvidia RTX Spark N1X Laptop Chip Surfaces in Prototype and Benchmarks
A prototype Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra featuring Nvidia's RTX Spark N1X SoC was reviewed, revealing a chip with 10 MediaTek-designed ARM CPU cores and a GPU comparable to an RTX 4070. Concurrently, Geekbench listings for the RTX Spark show 20-core and 18-core variants, with the 20-core model achieving a multi-core score of 23,126 points, positioning it competitively against other mobile chips.
CXMT DDR5 RAM Gains MSI Validation but Faces Performance Criticism
CXMT's DDR5 modules achieved validation for speeds of up to 8200 MT/s on MSI's motherboards after new BIOS updates. However, early tests suggest CXMT RAM underperforms compared to SK Hynix, particularly in overclocking capabilities, which could affect its competitive standing.
Wi-Fi 7 Adoption Quadruples in US, Driven by Cable and Fiber Providers
Wi-Fi 7 adoption in the US quadrupled year-over-year between Q1 2025 and Q2 2026, reaching 7.2% of deployed routers, according to Ookla's Speedtest data. This growth is largely due to aggressive bundling of Wi-Fi 7 gateways by cable operators like Charter and Comcast, and significant upgrades by fiber providers such as CenturyLink and Frontier.
AMD acquires Taalas, a startup specializing in hardwired AI inference chips
AMD has acquired Taalas, a Toronto-based startup that develops specialized chips for AI inference, which are hardwired for specific AI models. This acquisition allows AMD to expand its AI hardware offerings beyond general-purpose GPUs, addressing the growing demand for more efficient and cost-effective AI inference solutions.
Blue Origin identifies main oxygen valve as origin of New Glenn rocket anomaly
Blue Origin confirmed that the catastrophic New Glenn rocket anomaly in May originated at the main oxygen valve on one of its BE-4 engines. The company is making small modifications to the valve and aims to return the rocket to flight by the end of the year, despite not yet identifying the root cause.
EVgo to deploy licensed Tesla V4 Superchargers in the US this fall
EVgo announced it will begin deploying EVgo-made Tesla V4 Superchargers across its US network later this fall. These chargers will support both NACS and CCS1 plugs and will be integrated into Tesla's in-car navigation, marking a significant expansion of the Supercharger network beyond Tesla's direct control.
D-Wave Validates Dual-Rail Qubit Entanglement for Gate-Based Quantum Computing
D-Wave published a paper in Nature validating a key step in its dual-rail qubit technology, demonstrating that two qubits can be entangled while maintaining their error-detection capabilities. This development is significant because dual-rail qubits simplify error correction in gate-based quantum computers by making photon loss, the most common error, easily detectable.
Frore Systems Claims LiquidJet Can Reduce Nvidia Rubin GPU Temperatures by 10°C
Frore Systems published a white paper suggesting its LiquidJet coldplate technology can lower Nvidia Rubin GPU junction temperatures by up to 12°C, potentially increasing token generation by 15% with a 10°C reduction. This development addresses the critical need for improved cooling in high-power AI accelerators to maximize performance and efficiency in data centers.
Kioxia and Sandisk Unveil BiCS10 3D QLC NAND with Record 37 Gb/mm2 Areal Density
Kioxia and Sandisk introduced their BiCS10 3D QLC NAND device, featuring the world's highest areal density at 37 Gb/mm2 and 332 active layers. This development provides higher capacity and improved power efficiency for data center SSDs, potentially lowering costs for high-capacity storage solutions.
Sandisk and SK hynix Release High Bandwidth Flash (HBF) Specification via OCP
Sandisk and SK hynix have introduced the High Bandwidth Flash (HBF) specification through the Open Compute Project (OCP), combining 3D NAND non-volatility with HBM-like performance for AI inference systems. This open standard defines HBF packages with capacities up to 512GB and bandwidths ranging from 0.4 TB/s to 3.0 TB/s, aiming to provide a new memory tier for heterogeneous computing platforms.
Arctic Lowers PC Cooling Product Prices in US Following Tariff Refund
PC cooling manufacturer Arctic has reduced prices across its entire product lineup in the U.S. after receiving a tariff refund from the U.S. government. This action follows a February 2026 Supreme Court ruling that limited the President's authority to impose import duties without Congressional approval, potentially pressuring other hardware manufacturers to follow suit.
China Begins Mass Production of Domestic Immersion DUV Lithography Machines
Shanghai Aishengna Electronic Technology Group has begun mass-producing immersion deep ultraviolet (DUV) lithography machines, with initial deliveries expected this year to SMIC, Hua Hong Semiconductor, and ChangXin Memory Technologies. This development marks a step in China's efforts to achieve self-sufficiency in chip manufacturing technology, particularly as new U.S. legislation threatens to cut off Chinese firms from ASML sales and servicing.
Apple Achieves Over $10 Billion in Annual Sales in India for the First Time
Apple's annual sales in India surpassed $10 billion for the first time in its last fiscal year, marking a significant increase from approximately $9 billion the previous year. This milestone indicates Apple's growing presence in the Indian market, despite higher product pricing compared to the US due to local taxes.
Steam Hardware Survey: 16GB GPUs and 8-core CPUs Now Most Popular Configurations
The latest Steam Hardware Survey for July 2026 shows that GPUs with 16GB of VRAM and 8-core CPUs have become the most common configurations among users. This marks a shift from previous trends, indicating increasing hardware requirements for modern games.
China tightens regulations on chip design originality and enforcement
China has revised its regulations for integrated circuit (IC) layout designs, making it more difficult for companies to obtain legal protection for copied chip designs by strengthening originality requirements and enforcement measures. These changes aim to promote independent development within China's semiconductor industry and filter out weak claims of innovation.
India proposes extending tax breaks for foreign companies supplying equipment to contract manufacturers
India is drafting an amendment to extend a tax exemption for foreign companies that supply machinery and equipment to contract manufacturers in the country, pushing the expiration date from 2031 to 2041. This extension primarily benefits manufacturers of electronic devices and supports India's efforts to attract more electronics production, particularly for export.
Drone footage shows rapid construction progress at Elon Musk's ATCF chip fabrication facility in Texas
Drone flyovers reveal significant progress at Elon Musk's Advanced Technology Chip Fab (ATCF) in Texas, with groundwork and foundation work advancing quickly since its announcement in March. This facility is a joint Tesla-SpaceX project intended for developing accelerator chips that integrate logic, memory, and advanced packaging for various AI applications.
Dasharo v0.9.0 launches as first open-source firmware for AMD AM5 platform, supporting Zen 4 APUs
3mdeb released Dasharo v0.9.0, the first open-source UEFI firmware for AMD's AM5 platform, with initial support for Zen 4 Phoenix APUs and the MSI Pro B850-P WiFi motherboard. This development utilizes Coreboot and AMD's openSIL framework, offering enhanced security and compatibility compared to traditional closed-source firmware solutions like AGESA.
Honda Partners with QuantumScape for Solid-State Battery Development
Honda has partnered with American battery development firm QuantumScape to research and develop solid-state batteries and manufacturing techniques. This collaboration signals a shift in Honda's electric vehicle strategy, prioritizing solid-state technology for greater range, faster charging, lower costs, and enhanced safety.
NHTSA investigates 1.2 million Tesla vehicles for suspension failure reports
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating 1.2 million Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles due to reports of suspension failure that could lead to a loss of directional control. This investigation impacts Tesla's reputation for vehicle safety and could result in a significant recall if the defect is confirmed.
Researchers develop full-color night vision goggles using quantum dots and OLEDs
A team at the Beijing Institute of Technology has created night vision goggles that translate different infrared wavelengths into distinct visible colors, offering a full-color image instead of the traditional green monochrome. This development allows for a more natural visual representation of infrared light, improving upon existing night vision technology that primarily relies on brightness variations.
Apple Working on Second-Generation iPhone Air 2
Apple is developing a second-generation iPhone Air, improving camera capabilities and battery life. The device will feature the A20 Pro chip, marking an upgrade from the A19 Pro, and aims to address previous sales disappointments.
Apple Watch Water Lock Feature Disables Screen and Ejects Water
The Apple Watch's water lock feature disables the screen to prevent accidental taps and ejects water from the device. This feature significantly aids in protecting the watch during water activities, enhancing its usability for swimmers and divers.
Sovol M1D Open-Source IDEX 3D Printer Features Seven Swappable Toolheads
Sovol released the M1D, an open-source independent dual-extruder (IDEX) 3D printer with two nozzles and seven toolheads, capable of swapping toolheads in five seconds. This design allows for multi-material and multi-color printing with reduced waste and supports printing with advanced materials in the heated enclosure variant.
Apple's Q3 2026 R&D Spending Reaches Record $11.73 Billion, Up 32% Year-Over-Year
Apple reported a record $11.73 billion in research and development expenses for Q3 2026, marking a 32% increase from the previous year. This spending brings Apple's fiscal 2026 R&D total to $34.04 billion, nearly matching its full fiscal 2025 expenditure with one quarter remaining, and reflects increased investment in areas like AI.
Apple Reports Strong iPhone and Mac Sales Amidst Global RAM Shortage
Apple's third-quarter earnings report shows a 22 percent increase in iPhone sales and a 29 percent increase in Mac sales, totaling $109.4 billion in overall revenue. These sales figures occurred despite a global RAM shortage that has led Apple to raise prices on some devices and is expected to continue until at least 2027.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Leaks Reveal Open-Ear and Ear Hook Designs
Images and icons from a Samsung app have leaked two new Galaxy Buds designs: an open-ear model, possibly named "Galaxy Buds On" or "Galaxy Buds Able," and an ear hook model, codenamed "Buds Canal 5." These leaks indicate Samsung's expansion into new earbud form factors, with a potential debut at IFA in September.