Accessory

Anker has launched a new GaN wall charger, the 511 Charger (Nano 3). With a 30 W output, the compact device is 70% smaller than the Apple equivalent and has foldable pins. The device launched with two new cables from the brand, with an exterior casing material containing plant-based products from corn and sugarcane.

While the GoPro Hero 11 Black looks set to be an incremental update on last year's Hero 10 Black, GoPro has now been touted to bring a new action camera to the market later this month as well. This camera, the Hero 11 Black Mini, appears to be a smaller, cheaper sibling to the Hero 11 Black.

The Xiaomi Smart Band 7 Pro seems to be headed to Europe and possibly a wider global market thanks to two recent appearances for the wearable. The Xiaomi Smart Band 7 Pro (known as the Mi Band 7 Pro or just Band 7 Pro in China) offers attractive upgrades over its non-Pro counterpart, including GPS, NFC, and a more traditional watch-style design.

The USB Promoter Group has unveiled specifications for USB4 Version 2.0, the next-gen standard for type-C ports that might increase data-transfer speeds by 2x, even through some existing cables. It is also rated as compatible with its PCIe and DisplayPort counterparts, and may improve performance for some USB 3.2 devices.

OtterBox has revealed the Premium Pro Fast Charge range, including wall and car chargers. Various models are available with single, dual or triple ports and a maximum output of 60 W. The wall charges use GaN technology to keep them compact, while the car chargers have a grooved stem for easy removal.

The Bluetti EP600 Powerstation has been shown at IFA. The gadget has a maximum output power of 6,000 W and a 4,960 Wh capacity. The device partners with B500 modular batteries, which can be charged using solar panels or a wall outlet. Plus, the company announced that it plans to launch the Bluetti EB3A portable powerstation in Europe.

EcoFlow has unveiled the DELTA 2, a portable power station with a 1,025 Wh capacity. The gadget has a maximum power output of 1,800 W, with AC and 100 W USB-C ports. You can recharge the device with solar panels or a wall outlet and view real-time information in an accompanying smartphone app.

Rumors of a first-gen "Apple Watch Pro" have emerged again in what might be the device's last leaks ahead of its imminent debut. They purport to outline the differences between this allegedly inaugural variant and the more predictable vanilla Series 8. The new tips also hint that the Pro might get even bigger than previously thought.

The 1080p IPS monitor promises HDR, Freesync, 2.5 W stereo speakers, and even 99 percent sRGB coverage to turn your XBox Series S into a quasi portable gaming console.

Could the 14 series be the iPhones to finally ditch the Lightning port? Regardless of whether the nearly imminent flagship smartphones really adopting USB ports or not, a research group claims to have found that people are very interested in knowing about the possibility. Searches along the lines of "USB iPhone" have tripled in volume over the last 5 years, with some spiking in conjunction with iPhone launches.

A well-known Apple tech correspondent has backed a second-gen Watch SE to launch alongside its vanilla Series 8 counterpart during the OEM's imminent and major September 2022 product event. The accessible variant is believed to launch in the absence of any significant design updates; then again, it is now thought to have the same new processor as the 'main' Series 8 variant.

The Tour ONE M2s are JBL's latest headphones, and as such feature large drivers enhanced with the brand's "PRO" and "Spatial" Sound features. They have an up-to-date wireless standard and are rated for lengthy battery life, although it is at its best when their new, "true" adaptive noise cancellation (ANC) is turned off.

JBL touts its latest Tour-series wireless earbuds as the world's first to come with their own touchscreen. The case-mounted LED panel is capable of displaying music controls as well as those for the PRO 2's advanced active noise-cancelling (ANC) functions. The case is also rated for up to 30 hours of additional play-time, while the earbuds pack "true adaptive" "immersive" JBL Spatial Sound.

An OPPO representative has confirmed that the original packaging for some of its smartphones will no longer contain power bricks, starting in 2023. Instead, consumers who need the SuperVOOC accessories the new devices might need for their full charging speeds may have to buy them from the OEM. The announcement may thus overshadow the European launch of the Reno8 series somewhat.

The mophie snap+ multi-device travel charger has been launched in the US. The gadget can charge up to four gadgets simultaneously and is compatible with various devices such as the iPhone and Apple watch. The maximum wireless charging power is 15 W, though this varies based on the gadget and the number of ports in use.

The iPhone 14 series arrives next week, including the iPhone 14 Pro Max. Ahead of Apple's September 7 hardware event, a reliable leaker has shared pictures of a Lacoste-branded case for the iPhone 14 Pro Max. Pictured with the upcoming smartphone's huge camera housing, the case manufacturer has taken a guess at its new punch-hole Face ID and camera set up too.

Bose has partnered with Qualcomm to secure the new S5 Audio series of chipsets for its next-gen product portfolio. The SoCs will power future soundbars and speakers from the well-known brand as well as its headphones and earbuds. Therefore, they might be capable of the latest in wireless connectivity as well as "high-performance" sound at reduced levels of power consumption.

Qualcomm and Meta have teamed up at IFA 2022 to unveil plans for custom chipsets to power the next generation of the latter's Quest hardware. They will be co-developed by the 2 companies, although they will be based on Snapdragon XR platforms. The collaboration is touted to deliver further advancements in augmented or virtual reality (AR/VR) experiences over the next few years.

Samsung has now made the Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro official as the latest addition to its "extreme" (and extremely business-like) line of slates. It has launched with an upgrade to sub-6GHz 5G connectivity and Wi-Fi 6E, and even supports "private 4G/LTE" bands on top of that. Its 10-inch display runs off a battery that is user-replaceable and supports fast-charging via a POGO-pin interface.

OtterBox has launched two new devices to charge Apple gadgets wirelessly. The Charging Station can simultaneously charge three devices at up to 15 W, and the Charging Stand is designed to charge an iPhone solely. Plus, the gadgets are currently 15% off at the OtterBox online store.

The Jackery SolarSaga 80 W double-sided solar panel has been demonstrated at IFA. The portable gadget has a 95% transmittance rate and a 25% conversion rate and is made with durable, low iron toughened glass. Plus, the device is compatible with the new Jackery Explorer 1000 Pro Powerstation, also debuting at the event.

Huawei has announced that a new tablet PC called the MateBook E Go will debut imminently, alongside the Mate 50 series of flagship smartphones. The device will ostensibly ship with Windows 11 and has been revealed to support a keyboard dock thus far. It also has at least 1 USB type-C port and has a 3.5mm headphone jack.

One might be forgiven for thinking that the rumored, inaugural 6.7-inch display variant of the vanilla iPhone 14 would be called the Max, so as to mirror the corresponding 14 Pro series. However, according to new case renders that may have been posted accidentally in advance and spotted by an eagle-eyed Twitter leaker, Apple has chosen to go another way with its alleged first-gen big-screen SKU.

The two new portable speakers from Danish startup Audiocase, namely the S5 and S10, can hit an SPL of 125 dB and feature Class-D amplifiers with advanced DSP and up to 30 hours of playtime. Both are available on Kickstarter for a limited period at promotional prices: US$541 (S5) and US$702 (S10).

Available on Amazon starting today, the GameSir X2 Pro is an Xbox licensed mobile gaming controller that was designed for Xbox cloud gaming on Android smartphones. Its features include ALPS analog joysticks and Hall Effect analog triggers, textured rubber grips, and more. The price tag reads US$79.99.

Lenovo touts its latest Chromebox for Enterprise as the mini-workstation for nearly every conceivable 2022 use-case with up-to-date specs, support for business-grade cloud management and streamlined, even remote, installation options crammed into a chassis of just about 1 liter (l) in volume. It also features security and support features from both Google and Lenovo.

The ThinkVision S25e-30 is Lenovo's latest 24.5-inch FHD monitor. It has a starting price in line with its HDMI 1.4 spec; nevertheless, it has launched with the same new, red-accented design of its higher-end siblings that integrates its own joystick for easier physical control. It also benefits from potentially realistic color reproduction and a faster-than-average refresh rate.

DIZO has announced that its next smartwatches will launch as its Watch D Talk and Watch R Talk. They will be square- and round-faced respectively, and will both have the up-to-date spec of support for calls over Bluetooth. One will have an AMOLED display, whereas the other will have a larger-than-average screen for its class.

The Belkin BOOSTCHARGE PRO Dual USB-C GaN Wall Charger has been launched in the US. The GaN charging plug is available in 45 W or 65 W versions, with two USB-C outputs simultaneously charging a pair of gadgets. The device is compatible with products like the iPhone 13, MacBook Pro and Google Pixel 6.

The budget IPS portable monitor is now on sale for $139 USD to be one of the least expensive and lightest 15.6-inch models available. Display quality is decent with a fair list of cut corners considering the low price.

OnePlus has been rumored to add a Watch to its mid-range Nord series of devices, although its alleged product name has never been confirmed - until now. It is part of the OEM's new Bluetooth SIG registration for a device confirmed as a wearable, and, thus, now much more likely to debut soon.

The XMUND XD-PS10 portable power station is currently selling for the discounted price of €361.01 (~US$360.75) on Banggood. The gadget can be powered by solar panels or recharged via a wall outlet or car charger. The device has a maximum output of 600 W, with AC, USB-A and USB-C ports.

The Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign for the iNNOPOWER S100W will end on September 9. The two-in-one device is a solar panel that can be folded and used as a table. The solar panel has a 22.7% efficiency and can power a generator at up to 100 W. Plus, the device can bear loads up to 66 lbs (~30 kg) as a table.

If all you need is a no-frills lightweight gaming mouse with a high 10,000 DPI optical sensor, then the new Cooler Master MM311 might be worth a closer look.

Rumors of a first-gen "Apple Watch Pro" to be released alongside more conventional Series 8 variants have intensified to such a degree that the new model is now expected to launch alongside the iPhone 14 series in early September. Now, the Cupertino giant is thought to unveil a whole new range of bands alongside the new kind of wearable, as it will not fit those of, say, the Series 7, as usual.

The Oukitel P2001 power station is currently selling for the discounted price of US$1,399. The portable device has a maximum power output of 2,000 W and a 2,000 Wh battery capacity. Ports on the gadget include USB-A and 100 W USB-C outputs. Plus, other portable power stations from the brand are on sale, such as the Oukitel CN505 614 Wh and P501 505 Wh models.

The well-known portable/off-grid power supply OEM Jackery has announced that it is coming to IFA 2022 with a new product in tow. The company has yet to reveal any specs for the new unit, although Jackery has also revealed that it can be reserved from its launch date, and that its first 300 pre-orders will come with free gifts.

Apple is said to have plans to dive into the mixed-reality (MR; which might involve augmented or virtual reality (AR/VR) use-cases) arena with its first-gen headset in the near future. Now, Bloomberg contributors claim to have found out how the Cupertino giant intends to brand this new product line on its launch. The new leak hints at additional, health-related applications for the possibly upcoming Apple hardware.

Starting tomorrow, the top-of-the-line SK hynix Platinum P41 PCIe NVMe SSD will get a 15 percent off coupon for the 2 TB and 1 TB models. This Amazon deal will only be available until Wednesday, August 31. The Gold P31 SSD with the same capacities is also available with the same discount until Wednesday.

It's not exactly cheap at $169 USD, but it'll probably be the best and only power bank you'll need. The informative OLED display in particular helps separate it from most other power banks in the market.

OnePlus' latest audio accessories might be a potentially welcome throwback thanks to their lesser-spotted non-wireless interface. Now, Nord-series fans in India will be able to buy these earphones through Amazon or the OEM's own web-store soon. The Wired 3.5mm also boast OnePlus' magnetic clips and physical in-line controls.

Zepp Health is the fitness-tech ODM responsible for the popular Amazfit brand, and that also makes fitness trackers for Xiaomi. The company has reported that its second-quarter 2022 (2Q2022) revenues increased by 46.4% compared to 1Q2022 - however, they also shrank by 39.6% compared to 2Q2021. This decline was linked to a disruption in its normal product cycle due to the chip shortage, as well as prevailing socio-political upheaval.

The Space Q45 headphones and Space A45 wireless earbuds have launched simultaneously from Soundcore as the Anker brand's latest audio accessories with "ultra long" play-times between charges. They also share adaptive active noise-cancellation (AANC) specs rated to block up to 98% of all environmental sounds.

Razer has started offering the Basilisk V3 Pro, a gaming mouse that has a Pixart PAW3950 optical sensor and 11 programable buttons. Available from US$159.99, the Basilisk V3 Pro weighs 112 g and supports popular Razer accessories, including its Mouse Dock Pro.

The ROG Keris and Gladius III are Wireless AimPoint mice designed by Asus with a Push-Fit Switch Socket II design that allows the user to replace their stock switches for others. The accessories support wired and wireless modes and have a build rated for "precise control" and a battery estimated to last for over 100 hours per charge.

Asus has announced the expansion of its X670E motherboard offerings at Gamescom 2022, with new ROG Crosshair, ROG Strix, Prime and ProArt variants. They are all rated to upgrade to DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 support as well as that for the latest AMD Ryzen chipsets - plus USB4 in some flagship cases. Meanwhile, the OEM's popular Thor series of power supplies has just been joined by a first-gen Loki variant with an 80 PLUS Platinum certification.

Asus has already unleashed routers with heavy ROG branding and the gaming-friendly features one might expect as a result; now, the OEM has gone one further with a new mesh system. The GT6's modules packs a new antenna array, tri-band Wi-Fi 6 support and the potential for blazing-fast speeds into a distinctly Rapture-series design.

Sony has unveiled the DualSense Edge Controller, a new controller for the PlayStation 5. Featuring a more modular design than the regular DualSense, the DualSense Edge Controller appears to be Sony's answer to the Xbox Elite Series 2 Controller, which Microsoft already sells.

The Anker 621 Magnetic Battery (MagGo) 5000mAh has been launched in the US on Amazon. The gadget has been designed for the latest iPhone models, with a maximum power output of 7.5 W. MiniCell technology keeps the portable device compact at 0.45-in (~11 mm) thick and weighing 5 oz (~142 g), with strong magnets to hold your phone in place.