Hardware · Top stories
Nvidia RTX 50-Series GPU Prices Increase Globally, Driven by Component Costs
Prices for Nvidia's RTX 50-series graphics cards have increased significantly across various regions, including China, South Korea, Japan, and the US. These price hikes, ranging from 10% to over 50% above MSRP for some models, are attributed to rising costs of components like TSMC wafers and GDDR7 memory, as well as high demand for AI hardware.
MacBook Pro Redesign Expected with OLED Display, Touchscreen, and Hole-Punch Camera
Apple is expected to release a redesigned MacBook Pro in October, potentially featuring an OLED display, a touchscreen, and a hole-punch camera cutout instead of a notch. These changes would introduce display technology and input methods already present in other Apple products and competing devices.
Rumors Suggest iPhone 18 Pro Max Will Feature Larger Battery and Increased Weight
Leaks suggest that the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro Max will have a significantly larger battery of up to 5,567mAh, compared to 5,088mAh in the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and may weigh more at 240g, attributed to the increased battery size. These changes are expected to impact the model's weight and differentiate it further from the iPhone 18 Pro. Verification of these details is still pending due to the unconfirmed nature of the leaks.
Nvidia Reports $96.2 Billion in Revenue, Projects $108 Billion Next Quarter
Nvidia announced a record $96.2 billion in revenue for the past quarter, with projections to reach $108 billion in the coming months. This growth is primarily driven by its data center business, which generated $89 billion and more than doubled year-over-year, indicating its increasing dominance in the AI hardware market.
SK Hynix Raises $26.5B in Historic U.S. IPO Amid AI Memory Demand
SK Hynix raised $26.5 billion through a Nasdaq IPO, marking the largest-ever U.S. debut for a foreign company. The South Korean chipmaker, capitalizing on AI-driven demand for memory chips, issued American depositary receipts priced at $149 each. This significant capital influx will support expansions to address global memory shortages.
Meta updates smart glasses to disable camera if privacy light tampered
Meta is releasing a mandatory update for its smart glasses that disables the camera if the privacy LED is tampered with. This initiative addresses privacy concerns and misuse incidents involving covert recording. The update coincides with reports of new Meta glasses that may continuously record without a privacy light, raising further privacy issues.
Apple to release new iPad mini with OLED display, A19/A20 Pro chip, and water resistance
Apple is preparing to release an updated iPad mini, marking the first refresh in two years. The new model is expected to feature an OLED display, a more powerful A19 Pro or A20 Pro chip, and improved water resistance, potentially arriving as early as October.
Samsung's Android XR 'Intelligent Eyewear' reportedly launching in December
Samsung is reportedly launching its Intelligent Eyewear line, running Android XR and featuring Gemini, in the US and South Korea in mid-December. These smart glasses are positioned as a smartphone companion, differentiating them from Meta's post-smartphone wearable strategy.
Google Pixel 11 Series Leaks: August Launch, Higher Prices, No 128GB Option
A leak reveals Google Pixel 11 will launch in August, with increased prices and no 128GB model. Offering 256GB as the base storage, prices rise by €100, placing them in flagship territory. This shift hints at intensified competition with high-end smartphones.
Apple Ramps Up Production of Foldable iPhone Ultra Amid High Demand
Apple plans to increase production of its first foldable iPhone, tentatively named 'iPhone Ultra', to 10 million units for its scheduled launch in September 2026. This adjustment from initial estimates reflects rising demand expectations despite potential supply constraints. The phone's price is expected to be between $2300 and $2500, influencing the broader foldable market. Apple aims to release multiple iPhone models by 2027, navigating component shortages via expanded sourcing arrangements.
YouTuber identifies potential cause of iPhone Duo screen cracking issue
A YouTuber dissected an iPhone Duo and identified a weak point in its hinge mechanism that may be causing widespread screen cracking. The issue stems from a thinner, notched link within the complex hinge design that appears to snap under stress, leading to screen damage.
Apple Reportedly Preparing Three New Smart Home Devices for Launch
Apple is reportedly preparing to launch three new smart home devices: an updated Apple TV, a new HomePod mini, and a smart home hub with a 7-inch display. These products are expected to feature faster chips to support enhanced Siri AI capabilities and expand Apple's presence in the smart home market.
Samsung Unveils Galaxy Z Fold 8 Series and Watch 9 at Unpacked Event
Samsung announced its latest devices at the Galaxy Unpacked event held on July 22 in London. The event debuted the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series, including a new Ultra model, and the Galaxy Watch 9. The Z Fold 8 series introduces wider designs and improved displays featuring 'Flex Titanium' technology to reduce crease visibility. Samsung also announced preorder incentives and pricing, reflecting higher component costs and competition from Apple's potential foldable devices.
Apple to Launch Redesigned Entry-Level MacBook Pro with Touchscreen in 2027
Apple is reportedly planning to redesign its entry-level MacBook Pro, targeting a release in the first half of 2027. The update will align the model with higher-end versions by introducing a touchscreen and potentially a thinner form factor. The move is part of a broader strategy to integrate advanced features and chips across Apple's device lineup.
Google Pixel 11 Series Leaks Reveal New Colors, Pixel Glow Feature and Pricing
Ahead of its August 12 launch, Google's Pixel 11 series leaks reveal new color options like 'Pine' and 'Fuchsia' and introduce the 'Pixel Glow' feature, a multi-colored LED light integrated in the camera bar. The leaks include design changes for the Pixel 11 Pro Fold with a narrower camera bar and price increases of approximately €100. This matters as Google shifts its strategy in the competitive smartphone market.
Micron Reports Strong Q4 2026 Results Driven by AI Memory Demand
Micron reported fiscal Q4 2026 revenue of $54.23 billion and adjusted EPS of $33.42, exceeding analyst expectations. The company anticipates continued strong demand for memory products, particularly High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM) for AI applications, leading to tight supply through 2027 and 2028.
Chip Stocks Decline Amid Competition Concerns from China's CXMT and AI Financing Worries
Technology stocks, including Micron, SK Hynix, and Samsung Electronics, fell following news of China's CXMT developing a new chip architecture and broader concerns about AI financing. This development signals increased competition for established memory chip manufacturers, impacting market leaders.
Amazon Replaces Fire Tablets with New Alexa Tablet Line, Introduces Premium 12-inch Model
Amazon has launched a new series of Alexa Tablets, discontinuing its Fire tablet brand and shifting towards higher-priced devices. The lineup includes 8-inch, 11-inch, and 12-inch models, with the flagship Alexa Tablet 12 Pro featuring a Nanomatte display option and Google Play Store access. This move marks a change in Amazon's tablet strategy, focusing on improved hardware, deeper Alexa integration, and a broader app ecosystem.
Apple Updates Mac Mini with M6 and M5 Pro Chips, Base Model Price Increases to $899
Apple has released new Mac Mini models featuring the M6 and M5 Pro chips, replacing the M4 and M4 Pro models. The base M6 model now starts at $899, a $300 increase from the previous M4 model's original $599 price point. This update brings performance improvements and new connectivity options, but the higher price diminishes its previous value proposition.
Apple Releases New Mac Studio with M5 Ultra Chip, Targeting Local AI and Pro Workloads
Apple has launched updated Mac Studio models featuring the new M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips, replacing the M4 Max and M3 Ultra. The M5 Ultra model, with up to a 36-core CPU and 80-core GPU, demonstrates significant performance gains, including up to 30% faster CPU performance and 63% higher GPU rendering scores compared to the M3 Ultra. This update positions the Mac Studio as Apple's high-end desktop, particularly for AI developers and demanding visual effects professionals, and is noted for its ability to run local AI models efficiently.
OpenAI Launches $230 Codex Micro Keyboard for AI Coding Assistants
OpenAI has introduced the Codex Micro, a $230 RGB-lit mini-keyboard designed in collaboration with Work Louder to enhance user interaction with Codex AI agents. The device features color-coded keys for live feedback, a joystick, and rotary controls to streamline coding tasks. The Codex Micro represents OpenAI's first foray into branded hardware as the company faces a separate legal battle with Apple.
Apple's Inventory Surges 154% Amid "Unprecedented" Memory Chip Price Hikes
Apple's inventory increased by 31.1% quarter-over-quarter and 154.3% year-over-year, reaching $14.54 billion in Q4, driven by rising memory chip costs. CEO John Ternus described the current memory pricing as "unprecedented" and anticipates even higher costs in the December quarter, which will impact gross margins. Apple has already raised prices for iPads, MacBooks, and iPhones to offset some of these increased expenses.
Images of Meta's 'Project Phoenix' Mixed Reality Headset Leaked from HorizonOS Firmware
Images of Meta's "Project Phoenix" mixed reality headset have surfaced from a HorizonOS app, revealing a slim, glasses-like form factor. The leak suggests Meta is developing a device that bridges the gap between smart glasses and full VR headsets, potentially competing with products like Xreal or Viture.
Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 to feature AI-powered daily recaps using sensor data
The upcoming Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 will include a new AI feature that generates daily recaps of user activities and conversations by utilizing microphone, GPS, and other sensor data. This development positions the Apple Watch as a competitor in the AI wearable market, offering automated personal assistance for logging daily events.
Microsoft discontinues 'Copilot Plus PC' branding for new Surface devices
Microsoft is no longer using the 'Copilot Plus PC' brand for its new 12-inch Surface Pro and 13-inch Surface Laptop, despite these devices meeting the technical requirements. This change indicates a shift away from the branding, which was originally intended to highlight PCs with built-in AI capabilities.
Qualcomm Unveils Dual Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Chips with Enhanced On-Device AI
Qualcomm announced two new flagship smartphone processors, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, both built on a 2nm process. These chips focus on improving on-device AI capabilities, enabling local execution of large AI models and enhanced personalization for AI agents. The Extreme version offers additional performance improvements in AI processing, video capture, and gaming, positioning them for premium Android smartphones.
Google Launches Pixel Tag Item Tracker with UWB and Bluetooth Channel Sounding
Google has released the Pixel Tag, a new item tracker priced at $29, designed to compete with Apple's AirTag. It features Ultra Wideband (UWB) for precision finding and Bluetooth Channel Sounding, integrating with Google's Find Hub network to help Android users locate lost items.
GoPro Merges with Starman Optical for $285M, Expands into AI Data Centers and Defense
GoPro announced a $285 million merger with optical-photonics company Starman Optical, with GoPro shareholders receiving $1.14 per share and retaining 10% ownership. This deal will clear GoPro's $92 million debt and enable the company to enter the AI data center market, defense, robotics, and aerospace sectors, diversifying its business beyond action cameras.
OpenAI's Jalapeño AI Chip Shows Faster Responses and Higher Throughput in Benchmarks
OpenAI has released benchmark results for its custom Jalapeño AI inference chip, developed in partnership with Broadcom. The chip demonstrated 1.5 to 1.9 times more AI work per watt and 1.7 to 3.6 times lower latency compared to Nvidia's GB200 or GB300 superchips in InferenceX tests. This development aims to improve the efficiency and responsiveness of AI systems, particularly for multi-step agent tasks.
Apple Seeks Approval to Source RAM from Blacklisted Chinese Supplier CXMT
Apple is testing and seeking approval to use RAM chips from ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), a blacklisted Chinese supplier, for its devices sold in China. This move is part of Apple's strategy to alleviate supply chain pressures amid rising RAM prices. The situation highlights ongoing geopolitical tensions and security concerns regarding U.S.-China tech relations.
LG Monitors Trigger Unwanted McAfee Ads on Windows PCs
LG monitors, when connected to Windows PCs, can trigger automatic installation of software promoting McAfee, without user consent. This occurs through the LG Monitor App Installer, leading to privacy concerns and user complaints about unwarranted pop-up ads. Such behavior reflects broader issues of unsolicited software installs linked to hardware.
AI Demand Drives PC Component Price Surge, Reversing Decades of Declines
Prices for PC components like RAM, SSDs, and hard drives have increased significantly over the past year, with some memory prices returning to 2007 levels. This surge is attributed to high demand from AI infrastructure buildouts, impacting PC builders and leading some manufacturers to shift focus to enterprise AI solutions.
Macronix Exits ROM Chip Business, Impacting Nintendo Switch Cartridge Supply
Macronix, a primary supplier of ROM chips for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 game cartridges, is phasing out its ROM production to focus on NOR and NAND flash chips for data centers. This decision, confirmed by CEO Miin Wu, follows a significant decline in ROM sales, which now account for 5% of the company's revenue, down from 26% last year. The shift could lead to increased cartridge prices for Nintendo or a greater reliance on digital game sales.
Amazon's Bee Introduces Two New AI Devices: Frontier Wearable and Eclipse Card
Amazon's Bee has launched two new AI-powered devices: the Bee Frontier, a wearable, and the Bee Eclipse, a credit-card-sized device. These devices record and transcribe conversations, using AI to generate summaries, to-dos, and insights, and integrate with Amazon services and Google accounts. The Frontier is priced at $74.99 and the Eclipse at $99.99, marking Amazon's expansion in the personal AI gadget market.
TSMC and Samsung Commit to ASML's High NA EUV Chipmaking Tools
TSMC and Samsung, the world's largest chipmakers, have committed to using ASML's High NA extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines for advanced chip production, driven by increasing demand for AI applications. This adoption signifies a move towards more intricate chip designs and improved manufacturing efficiency, with Samsung planning to use the technology for DRAM production from 2028.
Leaked DLSS 5 Library Found in NBA 2K27, Modders Get it Running in Control
A new Nvidia library, nvngx_dlssnr.dll, associated with DLSS 5 neural rendering technology, was found in the early access version of NBA 2K27. Modders successfully implemented this leaked DLSS 5 library into the game Control, demonstrating its functionality and initial performance characteristics on Blackwell GPUs. This leak provides an early look at Nvidia's upcoming rendering technology ahead of its official fall release.
Waymo reveals details of custom computing hardware powering its robotaxis
Waymo has disclosed key details about the custom computing hardware, including its silicon chip, that powers its autonomous robotaxis. This revelation provides insight into the technology enabling Waymo's driverless operations, which currently involve 4,000 vehicles across more than 10 cities.
Sonos Ace Ultra Headphones with Voice Control and New Colors Revealed in FCC Filing
Sonos is preparing to launch new over-ear headphones, potentially named Sonos Ace Ultra, following an FCC filing. These headphones, model S52A, are expected to be a premium successor to the 2024 Sonos Ace, featuring support for voice commands and five color options. This release aligns with Sonos's strategy to integrate AI and conversational computing into its hardware ecosystem.
HP Launches OmniBook 5 14 Laptop with OLED Display Starting at $699.99
HP introduced the 2026 HP OmniBook 5 14 laptop, featuring an OLED display across all configurations and starting at $699.99. The device includes Intel Core 5 or Core 7 processors, up to 16GB RAM, and up to 1TB SSD storage, positioning it as a competitor in the budget-friendly laptop market.
Apple May Launch Camera-Equipped AirPods This Fall, Codenamed B790
Apple may release a version of camera-equipped AirPods, codenamed B790, as early as next month, according to references found in iOS 27 code and internal roadmaps. This potential release precedes another rumored variant, B798, which is anticipated in 2027. The cameras could expand health features, including vision assistance for blind and low-vision users when combined with Apple's AI-powered VoiceOver.