Category: Hardware

Volvo has unveiled its latest innovation in the electric vehicle (EV) market with the EX60 crossover, showcasing cutting-edge technology and a forward-looking approach. The EX60 boasts fast-charging capabilities and a revolutionary electric architecture, setting a new standard for Volvo’s EV lineup.

Featuring an impressive estimated range of up to 400 miles and an 800-volt architecture for rapid charging, the EX60 addresses common challenges of EV ownership while signaling Volvo’s commitment to sustainable transportation. Powering the EX60 is Volvo’s SPA3 platform, offering modularity for continuous enhancements and efficiency improvements. The vehicle incorporates a structural battery pack, integrating high-voltage cells into the chassis for enhanced performance and weight reduction.

Volvo emphasizes the EX60’s intelligence, labeling it as the brand’s most advanced vehicle yet. Equipped with HuginCore, a sophisticated hardware and software system, the EX60 integrates Volvo’s proprietary technology with components from tech giants like Google, Nvidia, and Qualcomm. This collaboration results in a vehicle that is not only fast and capable but also able to receive continuous enhancements through over-the-air updates.

The EX60 represents a significant step forward in the EV landscape, showcasing the convergence of automotive excellence and technological innovation. With a focus on sustainability, performance, and intelligence, the EX60 exemplifies Volvo’s commitment to driving the future of electric mobility.

Source: The Verge

Realme, a leading smartphone brand, has unveiled the P4 Power, a device that promises to revolutionize mobile power efficiency. Scheduled for launch in India on January 29th, the P4 Power boasts an impressive 10,001mAh battery capacity, which Realme claims can provide up to three and a half days of battery life under light use conditions.

Unlike traditional smartphones, the P4 Power not only powers itself but also doubles as a portable charger, thanks to its 27W reverse charging support. This feature allows users to utilize the device as a power bank to charge other gadgets, adding a new dimension to mobile power management.

Despite its massive battery capacity, the P4 Power remains remarkably lightweight at 218g, a testament to Realme’s engineering prowess. This feat is achieved through the use of a silicon-carbon battery, showcasing the brand’s commitment to innovation and user convenience.

While other phones with larger batteries exist, the P4 Power stands out for its compact size and sleek design, making it an attractive option for users seeking extended battery life without compromising on aesthetics. Realme’s introduction of the “TransView Design” further enhances the device’s visual appeal, setting it apart in the competitive smartphone market.

Source: The Verge

Asus, a prominent player in the tech industry, is reportedly halting its smartphone production, signaling a potential exit from the mobile market. Chairman Jonney Shih revealed to Taiwan’s Inside that Asus will cease introducing new models under its Zenfone and ROG Phone lines. Shih’s statement, translated with Google Translate, indicated that the company is currently not planning to release additional mobile phones in the future but left the door slightly ajar for a potential comeback. Asus plans to closely monitor the market dynamics, ensuring continued support for existing mobile phone users.

While Asus’s recent phone releases, such as the Zenfone 12 Ultra and ROG Phone 9 FE, have not generated significant buzz, the ROG Phone series has been recognized for its premium gaming features. Despite this, Asus appears to be shifting its focus away from smartphones, with uncertainties looming over its future in the mobile sector.

Although Asus has not officially confirmed its departure from the smartphone industry, the company’s current stance suggests a strategic reevaluation of its product portfolio. The decision, if finalized, could impact the competitive landscape of the smartphone market and reshape Asus’s technological roadmap in the coming years.

Source: The Verge

Asus has provided clarification on the status of its RTX 5070 Ti graphics cards, following initial reports of the product’s discontinuation due to supply constraints. The company has since retracted its previous statement, attributing it to ‘incomplete information’ from its PR representatives.

In response to inquiries, Asus has issued conflicting statements about the RTX 5070 Ti’s status, leading to uncertainty among retailers and consumers. This miscommunication highlights the challenges faced by hardware manufacturers in navigating the volatile GPU market.

Despite Nvidia confirming the continued shipment of all GeForce SKUs, Asus’ fluctuating messages have added complexity to the situation. While Asus now asserts that the RTX 5070 Ti is not being discontinued, the series is reportedly being ‘streamlined,’ indicating potential adjustments to product offerings.

This incident underscores the broader issue of supply chain disruptions impacting the tech industry, particularly in the realm of high-demand components like GPUs. The conflicting reports from Asus serve as a reminder of the importance of clear communication and transparency in addressing market uncertainties.

Source: The Verge

Asus is making adjustments to its production of the RTX 5070 Ti and 16GB RTX 5060 Ti GPUs due to supply constraints. Hardware Unboxed reported that Asus is winding down production of the RTX 5070 Ti and placing the model in end-of-life status, citing supply challenges. This decision also extends to the 16GB RTX 5060 Ti, with reports indicating difficulties for Australian retailers in sourcing these GPUs.

Nvidia’s Ben Berraondo confirmed that despite the constraints, Nvidia is still producing these GPUs to meet the strong demand. Berraondo highlighted the ongoing efforts to work closely with suppliers to optimize memory availability for all GeForce SKUs.

However, the situation appears to be specific to Asus, as Hardware Unboxed noted that other manufacturers may not be experiencing the same issues. For example, PNY’s recently announced DSS RTX 5070 Ti is set to begin shipping in February through various retailers like Best Buy and Amazon.

The impact of the memory shortage seems more pronounced on the more budget-friendly 50-series GPUs initially. Micron’s Christopher Moore explained the strategy of minimizing silicon variations to maximize output, emphasizing the need to stabilize demand to ensure efficient production.

Source: The Verge

Raspberry Pi has announced the release of the AI HAT+ 2, an add-on board designed to enable the Raspberry Pi 5 to run generative AI models locally. Priced at $130, the upgraded AI HAT+ 2 offers 8GB of RAM and a Hailo 10H chip with 40 TOPS of AI performance, expanding the capabilities of the previous model. This new board allows the Raspberry Pi 5 to offload AI workloads to the AI HAT+ 2, freeing up the main board’s Arm CPU for other tasks.

Unlike its predecessor focused on image-based AI processing, the AI HAT+ 2 comes equipped with onboard RAM and can handle small generative AI models like Llama 3.2, DeepSeek-R1-Distill, and Qwen models. Users can also train and fine-tune AI models using this device.

A demonstration showcased by Raspberry Pi illustrates how the AI HAT+ 2 can power AI models for text-based description generation from a camera stream and language translation tasks, such as translating French to English with Qwen2.

However, tech enthusiast Jeff Geerling discovered that a standalone Raspberry Pi 5 with 8GB of RAM generally outperformed the AI HAT+ 2 across supported models due to power draw limitations. The Pi 5 can operate at up to 10 watts, whereas the AI HAT+ 2 is capped at 3W.

While the AI HAT+ 2 may excel in specific scenarios, Geerling suggests that the additional 8GB of RAM may not provide a significant advantage over opting for the more versatile 16GB Pi with enhanced performance capabilities. The previous AI HAT+ model, priced at $70, remains a cost-effective solution for AI image processing.

Source: The Verge

The world’s leading memory manufacturers, including Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron, are redirecting resources from consumer products to lucrative deals with AI giants like OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and Meta. This shift has led to a severe shortage in Random Access Memory (RAM), a crucial component for powering servers in AI data centers.

The RAM shortage is not only causing price surges in PC memory kits but also affecting the production costs of various consumer devices such as laptops, smartphones, gaming consoles, and more. Companies like Raspberry Pi and Framework have already increased product prices in response, while others like Dell, Asus, Acer, Xiaomi, and Nothing have warned of impending price hikes.

This global memory shortage underscores the complex interplay between the growing demand for advanced technologies like AI and the supply chain challenges faced by traditional consumer tech manufacturers. As AI continues to drive innovation and data processing capabilities, the tech industry must navigate these disruptions to ensure the seamless availability of essential components like RAM.

Source: The Verge

BMW has unveiled its upcoming all-electric M-series performance sedan, the quad-motor M3, set to debut in 2027. The M3 will boast four electric motors and simulated gear shifting, a feature increasingly popular among electric sports cars, providing the benefits of both rear and all-wheel drive capabilities with the ability to decouple the front axle.

The electric M3 will be constructed on BMW’s cutting-edge Neue Klasse platform, featuring more efficient batteries, rapid charging, and advanced computing power. With an 800-volt architecture, highly efficient regenerative braking, and a striking design, the M3 is poised to impress on the streets.

The M3 will incorporate four computers managed by the ‘Heart of Joy’ component, streamlining traction, stability, and electric motor functions. This setup enables seamless over-the-air software updates, ensuring the vehicle remains up to date with the latest enhancements.

Additionally, the M3’s simulated gear shifting will introduce a ‘newly developed soundscape’ aiming to evoke raw emotion, catering to enthusiasts who value the tactile feedback of traditional gear shifting. BMW joins other automakers in embracing simulated gear shifting for electric vehicles.

After a series of i-series M performance releases, BMW’s electric M-series has long been anticipated, with the M3 poised to mark a significant milestone in BMW’s electric vehicle lineup.

Source: The Verge

Mercedes-Benz has decided to temporarily pause the introduction of its Drive Pilot, a ‘eyes off’ conditionally automated driving feature available in Europe and the US. The revised S-Class, set to launch at the end of this month, will not include the Level 3 system, as reported by The Verge. Mercedes was among the first automakers to provide a Level 3 driving system, offering hands-free, eyes-off driving at speeds up to 40mph in traffic jams on highways with the Drive Pilot feature. This capability allowed drivers to divert their attention away from the road, a notable advancement from the Level 2 systems seen in other vehicles.

However, Mercedes has decided to temporarily suspend the feature due to limited demand and the high costs associated with its development. In place of Level 3, Mercedes is gearing up to introduce a new Level 2++ feature called Drive Pilot Assist, which will be deployed later this year. This new system, similar to Tesla’s Full Self-Driving, allows driving assistance in urban areas but mandates driver attentiveness.

Mercedes spokesperson Tobias Mueller stated that the decision was driven by a focus on customer benefits, expressing that another system with greater advantages for customers is expected in the next few years. The Drive Pilot’s limitations in customer appeal were primarily attributed to its operational design domain, which defines the specific circumstances and criteria necessary for its operation.

Source: The Verge

Chinese tech company Dreame introduced its first action camera, the Leaptic Cube, at CES 2026. Unlike its competitors limited to 4K resolution, the Cube boasts impressive 8K video capabilities. Equipped with a 1/1.3-inch sensor and a 155-degree wide-angle lens, the Cube ensures high-quality footage even in low-light conditions, promising enhanced video quality post-sunset.

The Leaptic Cube stands out with its detachable design, allowing users to mount the camera in various locations while still having a live preview on the screen. The camera also features built-in stabilization, HDR support at 60fps in 4K, and up to 120fps for slow-motion shots.

Additionally, the Cube offers up to 220 minutes of battery life with an external battery dock and innovative functionalities such as AI-powered tracking, auto-framing, and voice command controls through a mobile app. Dreame’s wireless transmission system enables live streaming up to 98 feet away, enhancing the camera’s versatility.

While pricing and launch details are pending, the Leaptic Cube’s advanced technology and superior resolution are set to redefine the action camera market, catering to tech enthusiasts seeking cutting-edge video capabilities.

Source: The Verge

The PC market experienced unexpected growth in the holiday quarter of 2025, with shipments increasing by nearly 10 percent year-over-year to a total of 76.4 million units, as reported by IDC. This surge in demand, fueled in part by Microsoft’s end of Windows 10 support, comes at a time when the industry is facing challenges related to RAM shortages and rising memory prices.

PC makers have proactively built up inventory to counter the impact of potential tariffs and global memory scarcity. The surge in demand towards the end of 2025 was further intensified by looming memory shortages, prompting both buyers and brands to secure stock before anticipated price hikes in 2026.

Shortages in RAM and NAND/SSD components have been exacerbated by the high demand from AI data centers, leading to price spikes. Companies like Lenovo and HP have been stockpiling memory supplies, but these reserves are expected to deplete in the coming months, likely resulting in price increases and potential adjustments in PC configurations.

In response to the volatile market conditions, IDC forecasts a rise in average selling prices of PCs in 2026. Manufacturers are expected to focus on midrange and premium systems to offset the increased memory costs, indicating a challenging year ahead for the PC market, driven by AI-related demands.

For tech enthusiasts considering a new PC purchase, the advice is to act sooner rather than later this year to potentially avoid higher prices and configuration changes.

Source: The Verge

Framework, known for its customizable laptops, has announced price increases for its desktop PCs due to the ongoing global memory shortage. Following the earlier rise in RAM module prices, the Framework Desktop, equipped with 32GB of RAM and an AMD Ryzen AI Max 385 processor, will now start at $1,139, up from $1,099.

The company explained, ‘We had to update our Framework Desktop pricing today to account for the massive increase in LPDDR5x pricing from our suppliers.’ Prices for higher RAM configurations have also been adjusted, with the 64GB variant now priced at $1,639 and the 128GB option at $2,459.

In response to the possibility of further price adjustments, Framework had previously stated, ‘it is very likely we’ll need to adjust module prices again within the next month.’ This move highlights the impact of the global memory shortage on hardware manufacturers and the challenges they face in maintaining competitive pricing amid supply chain disruptions.

Source: The Verge

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved SpaceX’s proposal to launch an additional 7,500 Gen2 Starlink satellites, doubling the company’s total satellite count to approximately 15,000 worldwide. This decision comes with the relaxation of previous regulations that restricted overlapping coverage and capacity enhancements.

SpaceX initially requested authorization for 30,000 satellites, but the FCC has currently sanctioned only half of that amount. The company faces deadlines, with 50% of the Gen2 satellites required to be deployed and operational by December 1st, 2028, and the rest by December 2031.

While the significant increase in satellites orbiting Earth is expected to raise concerns among astronomers regarding light pollution and the risks of space debris and collisions, the allure of providing global cellular connectivity and high-speed internet of up to 1 Gbps seems to have outweighed these concerns. To mitigate collision risks, SpaceX had to readjust the orbit of many satellites earlier this year.

The move promises enhanced internet access in underserved regions around the world, despite recent public disputes between SpaceX’s CEO and the government. The relationship appears to be on the mend, as the FCC has approved this expansion of the Starlink satellite constellation.

Source: The Verge