Hardware · Top stories
Breville Launches Spiral Luxe Auto Pour Over Coffee Machine with Integrated Grinder
Breville released the Spiral Luxe Auto Pour Over, a $600 coffee machine that automates the pour-over process by integrating a coffee grinder and a rotating water spout. This device aims to simplify pour-over coffee preparation, making it accessible for daily use rather than just occasional brewing.
Analogue Pocket Handheld Console Restock Scheduled for October 2
Analogue will reopen pre-orders for its Pocket handheld console and Analogue Dock on October 2 at 11 AM ET. This restock provides another opportunity for consumers to purchase the device, which plays original Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance cartridges.
Freckle Launches $199 Smartphone for Kids with Focus on Outdoor Exploration and Parental Controls
Freckle, a New York City-based startup, launched a $199 smartphone for children aged seven to 13, requiring a $25 monthly cellular subscription. The device, running on "ClayOS," aims to provide kids with independence while maintaining parental connection, by limiting access to social media, streaming, and app stores.
Moist-Electric Wallpaper Harvests Indoor Energy and Manages Humidity
Researchers developed a "moist-electric wallpaper" capable of harvesting energy from indoor humidity and managing moisture levels. This technology could provide a new method for low-power energy generation and humidity control in enclosed spaces.
Ethernet Specification Version 1.0 Published by DEC, Intel, and Xerox in 1980
The first version of the Ethernet specification was published on this day in 1980 by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), Intel, and Xerox. This standard enabled the widespread adoption of local area networking, evolving from 10 Mbps coaxial cable to modern multi-gigabit fiber optics.
Some iPhone 18 Pro users report speaker 'pops' or 'clicks'
A small number of iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max users are reporting a speaker issue where a faint "pop" or "click" sound occurs, particularly when switching applications. The cause is currently unknown, with speculation pointing to either a software or hardware problem.
Unigrid Ships Sodium-Ion Home Batteries, Faces Supply Chain and Material Concerns
US-based Unigrid has begun shipping sodium-ion home batteries, with demand increasing from Europe for energy storage. The company currently uses Chinese-made sodium-ion cells and faces questions regarding the use of chromium-3 in its cathodes, which could potentially form toxic chromium-6.
iFixit Teardown Reveals First Repairability Improvement in New AirPods
iFixit's teardown of the new AirPods 5 shows that the earbud batteries can be removed and replaced without destroying the device, resulting in a 2/10 repairability score. This marks the first time AirPods have scored above zero for repairability, indicating a minor design change for battery servicing.
Zotac denies warranty claim for RTX 3060 in India due to import date policy
Zotac denied a warranty claim for an RTX 3060 graphics card in India, stating the card was out of warranty based on its import date, despite the customer's purchase date and product registration falling within the advertised warranty period. This incident highlights a discrepancy between Zotac's stated warranty policy and its application, potentially affecting consumers who purchase products that have been in retail inventory for extended periods.
Technics EAH-A1000 headphones feature magnetic fluid drivers for reduced distortion
Technics released the EAH-A1000 over-ear adaptive noise-canceling headphones, incorporating 40mm magnetic fluid drivers for the first time in their over-ear line. This technology, along with a surround sound technology (SST) edge, aims to reduce audio distortion. The headphones also offer multipoint connectivity for up to three devices and support the LDAC codec.
SteelSeries Launches Rival Pro and Sensei Pro Wireless Gaming Mice with UWB and Swappable Batteries
SteelSeries has released new Rival Pro and Sensei Pro wireless gaming mice featuring ultra-wideband (UWB) connectivity, swappable batteries, and lightweight designs. These mice aim to provide lower latency and consistent high polling rates for competitive gaming.
Fairphone to launch Fairbuds 2 repairable wireless earbuds on October 14th
Fairphone will release its new Fairbuds 2 wireless earbuds on October 14th, featuring seven replaceable parts and support for Sony's LDAC codec. The Fairbuds 2 continue Fairphone's focus on repairability, offering an alternative in the wireless earbud market.
QALO Introduces SL-1 Smart Band to Complement Existing Smart Ring
QALO launched the SL-1 Smart Band, a screen-free wearable that tracks vital statistics like movement, sleep, and heart rate. The company aims to differentiate itself with no monthly subscription and an ecosystem approach, allowing users to combine the band with their existing QALO smart ring.
Intel Nova Lake Platforms Pass USB and PCIe Compliance Testing
Intel's upcoming Core Ultra 400-series 'Nova Lake' mobile processors and 900-series desktop chipsets have passed USB and PCIe compliance tests, appearing on the USB Implementers Forum and PCI-SIG Integrators Lists. This indicates that these components meet industry standards for interoperability and are progressing towards their official launch.
Marshall unveils Bromley 150, its smallest and most portable party speaker
Marshall introduced the Bromley 150, a new party speaker weighing 14 pounds with a 40-hour battery life. This model is half the size of the Bromley 450 and features true stereo sound and independent volume controls for microphones and instruments, making it suitable for portable use.
Ayaneo's Konkr Pocket Block is an $89 retro gaming handheld with a Game Boy form factor
Ayaneo's sub-brand Konkr released the Pocket Block, a new handheld gaming device starting at $89. The device features a Game Boy-inspired design and is intended for retro game emulation, shipping in October.
Pioneer enters MagSafe accessory market with SDA-SC600 car mount featuring Qi2 charging
Pioneer released the SDA-SC600, a new MagSafe-compatible car mount that includes Qi2 wireless charging and an integrated cooling fan. This product marks Pioneer's entry into the MagSafe accessory market, offering a solution for in-car device charging and mounting.
TCL launches new 'Designer Series' Google TVs with flush mount and matte display
TCL introduced its new "Designer Series" of Google TVs, featuring a flush-mount design and matte display to integrate into home decor. This series offers 4K QLED and QD-Mini LED panel options, starting at $899.
Motorola's upcoming wide foldable, possibly named 'Razr Flex,' to feature smaller displays
A leak suggests Motorola is developing a new wide, book-style foldable phone, internally called "Razr Flex," with significantly smaller outer and inner displays compared to existing models. This device, codenamed "Parker," is expected to launch in mid-December and features a Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 processor and a 5,000 mAh battery, potentially offering a more compact foldable option.
Noctua and Thermal Grizzly release quieter WireView Pro II GPU power monitor
Thermal Grizzly and Noctua collaborated to release the WireView Pro II Noctua Edition, a GPU power monitoring device with a quieter cooling fan. This new version addresses user feedback regarding fan noise in the original model by integrating Noctua's low-noise cooling technology.
ASRock X870E Challenger Wifi Motherboard Offers Robust Features at $230 Price Point
ASRock released the X870E Challenger Wifi White motherboard, priced at $230, featuring robust power delivery, a flagship audio codec, and fast USB connectivity including USB4 ports. This AM5 board provides a competitive option for its price, despite some performance and BIOS limitations.
Turtle Beach Releases Rematch Wireless Controller for Switch 2 with RGB Lighting
Turtle Beach has launched the Rematch Wireless Controller for Switch 2, featuring Nintendo-inspired designs, RGB lighting, and TMR thumbsticks. This new gamepad offers motion controls, a 40-hour battery, and customizable back buttons, providing an alternative to the official Switch 2 Pro Controller.
Philips Sonicare Next-Generation DiamondClean 9900 Prestige Smart Toothbrush Launches
Philips launched its Sonicare Next-Generation DiamondClean 9900 Prestige smart toothbrush in Europe and the US. This new model incorporates AI for motion tracking and pressure sensing, aiming to guide users to brush more effectively.
Anker releases 25W Prime MagSafe 3-in-1 charger with active cooling and portable design
Anker launched a new 25W Prime MagSafe 3-in-1 charger featuring Qi2.2 support and active cooling, designed for portable use. This charger provides 25W wireless charging for iPhones, AirPods, and Apple Watch, addressing the need for faster charging in a compact form factor.
Thoughtful Things Launches Engram, an AI-Powered Sampler for Experimental Music
Music startup Thoughtful Things launched a Kickstarter campaign for Engram, a sampler and groovebox that uses local AI to generate experimental and "hallucinated" audio. The device is designed for sound designers to explore AI audio models and create unique sounds, rather than producing mainstream music.
Custom 24-carat gold mini PC costs $1.7 million, weighs 28.7 pounds
A custom Kubb Fanless mini PC was ordered with a 24-carat gold chassis, increasing its cost to $1.7 million and its weight to 28.7 pounds. The gold chassis provides 30% to 50% faster heat transfer compared to aluminum, potentially improving Core Ultra chip performance.
Yanxi Technology's Yansyn-X2 Robot Demonstrates Crying on Command
Yanxi Technology unveiled the Yansyn-X2 robot at the 2026 Inclusion Conference in Shanghai, showcasing its ability to shed a single tear on command. This development highlights advancements in affective computing, aiming to make human-robot interactions more natural by enabling robots to mimic human emotional expressions.
Cooler Master V Platinum 3000W PSU offers Platinum efficiency and 12-year warranty
Cooler Master introduced the V Platinum 3000 Workstation power supply, providing 3000W output with 80 PLUS Platinum efficiency and a 12-year warranty. This power supply is designed for multi-GPU AI development boxes and rendering workstations, featuring four native 12V-2x6 connectors.
PNOĒ Launches Self-Serve Metabolic Breath Testing Device PNOĒ 2.0
PNOĒ is releasing the PNOĒ 2.0, a new version of its metabolic breath testing device that allows users to administer tests themselves. This change aims to make lab-grade metabolic analysis, traditionally limited to elite athletes and medical settings, more accessible to a wider audience in fitness centers and potentially pharmacies.
SanDisk Releases Optimus GX Pro 850P SSD, a Rebranded WD Black SN850P
SanDisk launched the Optimus GX Pro 850P SSD, which is a rebranded version of the WD Black SN850P, offering high-end Gen 4 performance with a pre-installed heatsink for PS5 compatibility. The new drive is available in 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB capacities but is priced higher than its WD counterpart.
La Croix can improves iPhone 18 Pro sustained performance by 25% in thermal throttling test
A tech enthusiast used a cold can of La Croix sparkling water to cool an iPhone 18 Pro during benchmarking, resulting in a 25% improvement in sustained performance. This demonstrates how external cooling can mitigate thermal throttling in mobile devices under heavy loads. The test shows that even simple methods can impact device performance during prolonged use.
ULTRALOQ Releases Bolt Mission UWB Smart Lock with Apple Home Integration
ULTRALOQ launched the Bolt Mission smart lock, which uses ultra-wideband (UWB) technology for precise, hands-free unlocking with Apple Home. This UWB integration allows the lock to accurately detect user approach direction and distance, improving on previous location-based auto-unlock systems.
Meadow Launches Minimalist Android Phone for Reduced Smartphone Dependence
Meadow introduced a minimalist Android phone designed to allow users to leave their primary smartphone at home while retaining essential functions. The device supports apps like Uber and Apple Music, aiming to provide a balance between connectivity and unplugging.
Insta360, a dominant 360-camera maker, explores mirrorless cameras and smart glasses
Insta360, which holds 73% of the worldwide 360-camera market, is expanding its product development beyond 360 cameras. The company is experimentally building its own mirrorless cameras and smart glasses to become a broader imaging technology company. This move signifies Insta360's ambition to compete with established camera brands and explore new hardware categories.
86Box Emulates Pentium II 600MHz with Voodoo 3 on M6 Mac Mini
86Box, a hardware-level PC emulator, successfully emulated a Pentium II 600MHz system with Voodoo 3 graphics on an M6 Mac Mini. This achievement highlights the M6's single-core performance and improvements in 86Box's ARM CPU emulation and Voodoo graphics JIT recompiler.
Sony patent describes PlayStation controllers accepting tap-to-pay credit card and gift card payments
A recently published Sony patent details a system allowing PlayStation controllers to accept payments via tap-to-pay credit cards, smartphones, and gift cards. This system could simplify purchases of games and in-game content directly through the controller.
Copper updates Charlie induction stove with higher power and dual-voltage support
Copper released an updated Charlie induction range with a more powerful broiler, faster oven preheating, and stronger burners. The new model also supports both 120-volt and 240-volt outlets, simplifying installation for consumers. Miele will now manufacture the Charlie ranges, which could increase production and reliability.
Razer Releases Kiyo V2 Pro Webcam with 4K 60fps Capture and AI Features
Razer launched the Kiyo V2 Pro webcam, an upgraded model featuring 4K video capture at 60 frames per second using a Sony 8.3-megapixel STARVIS 2 sensor. The new webcam includes AI features like auto-framing and one-click output enhancement, along with improved low-light performance and dynamic range.
Lisuan Tech LX 7G100 GPU performance trails older AMD and Nvidia cards
Recent benchmarks show the Lisuan Tech LX 7G100 GPU performs comparably to the nine-year-old Radeon RX 580 and lags significantly behind the seven-year-old GeForce RTX 2060. Despite driver updates, the LX 7G100 does not compete with modern mid-range graphics cards, indicating a technological gap for Lisuan Tech.
Meta collaborates with Blackpink's Lisa for new smart glasses designs
Meta announced a collaboration with Blackpink's Lisa for two new styles of Meta Glasses, featuring custom elements and accessories. The company also introduced a new, cheaper Meta Adventurer frame and expanded availability to more countries.