Accessory

The Beanque is a bean-to-cup coffee maker advertised as being ultra-portable and delivering "superior coffee". With USB Type-C charging, a conical ceramic burr grinder, a double-wallled filter, a measuring jug and a travel mug, then Beanque should represent good value for money at US$49. Its ergonomics let it down, in our opinion.

Phones with dedicated keyboards are more or less a thing of the past at this point. However, OPPO has patented a new product that may bring them back, albeit on an optional basis. The resulting "keyboard case" has a layout probably chosen for its relatively small footprint.

It seems LG has dropped all pretense of keeping its upcoming premium mid-ranger, the Velvet, under wraps until its May 2020 launch. It has been spotted in one of this OEM's physical stores in South Korea. This new leak may confirm a build quality to match its looks, and also how it looks with its Dual Screen cover.

According to a report published in a medical journal, a patient's Apple Watch successfully detected a serious anomaly missed by diagnostic hospital equipment. However, when the individual pointed out ECGs matching the health issue in question generated by her wearable to doctors, it was apparent treatment was in order.

The Haylou GT1 Plus was one of the first cheap TWS earbuds to be powered by Qualcomm's QC3020 aptX HD-compatible chip. How good exactly is it, though, especially considering its meager US$25 MSRP?

The PowerVision Robot Corporation has launched a new drone. This one sets itself apart with what its maker describes as weatherproof attachments, one of which even allows the PowerEgg X to land on water. It is also rated for 4K/60 frames per second (fps) recording in flight.

Three supposed images of the Xiaomi Mi Band 5 wearable fitness tracker have been leaked. The images originate from a popular Chinese social networking site and feature the wearable in switched-on and turned-off states. There is a distinctly visible capacitive button taking up a good portion of the narrow-bezel display.
Noted Xiaomi tipster believes the images are fake.

Sony has reportedly filed a patent for a pair of truly wireless (or TWS) earphones. However, successors to the well-received WF-1000XM3s they are most likely not: they have a more original design that incorporates a large attachment on which physical controls are found.

While Sony is putting the finishing touches to the WH-1000XM4, Microsoft has been spotted certifying new Surface Headphones. Possibly called the Surface Headphones 2, the noise-cancelling headphones will offer up to 20 hours of battery life, improved head tracking, Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity and aptX support. There will be no design changes for the new Surface Headphones, though.

Based on the Sony IMX477, the Raspberry Pi High Quality Camera Module is a big upgrade over the existing Raspberry Pi Camera Module. Featuring interchangeable lenses, a back-focus adjustment ring and a tripod mount, the 12.3 MP camera retails for US$50.00.

Priced at US$112 and £89.99 in the UK, the Huawei FreeBuds 3i is the AirPods Pro on a budget. Featuring Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), three microphones and silicone ear tips, the FreeBuds 3i doesn't half look like original AirPods too.

Costing US$349.99 at launch, the WH-1000XM4 include several design changes from the WH-1000XM3, along with Bluetooth 5.0 and 40 mm drivers. Battery life should be improved too, but do not get your hopes up for aptX or aptX HD support.

JBL has introduced another set of TWS earbuds as it continues to assert itself in an already extremely competitive market. Promising excellent sound quality, long battery life and many exciting features, the JBL Live 300TWS miss out on one crucial function.

Combining a Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ and off-the-shelf parts, the project requires no 3D printing or soldering. Suitable even for beginners, the resulting unit can deliver weather forecasts on its easy to read ePaper display.

An XDA contributor claims to have "exclusive" access to info on Realme's 2nd-gen wearable. This product will apparently simply be called the brand's Watch, as with other OEM's answer to Apple's device of this category. The new leak apparently consists of renders and several UI snapshots.

Having received almost US$450,000 in crowdfunding, castAway has expanded from a case with a second screen to a platform of accessories. Featuring a gamepad, a wallet a wireless charger and more, the castAway accessories can give almost any smartphone an upgrade.

Chinese sources report that Samsung has finished development for the 150 MP sensors and started work on the 250 MP ones. The first 150 Mp sensors are expected to launch with Xiaomi's flagship handhelds later this year, while the 250 MP sensor could arrive in late 2021.

Samsung recently filed trademarks for the Galaxy Buds X in India, the UK, and the European Union. The trademark filing comes just a month after leaked renders for a new, bean-shaped Buds SKU popped up, indicating that the Galaxy Buds X are likely Samsung's next contender in the TWS space.

Some new TWS earbuds from Apple have passed through Federal Communications Commission (FCC) testing. These products are not new AirPods, however: their new certification lets their Beats branding slip, in addition to the fact they closely resemble the existing Powerbeats Pro. Therefore, they are most likely to be a 2nd generation of the same.

The Realme Buds Wireless are of the 'neckbud' form-factor. Now, it seems the brand has a Pro variant of the same ready to go. A product under this name has been spotted in the hands of Singaporean and Taiwanese regulators ahead of their launch.

In January, Lenovo announced a new ThinkPad keyboard accessory that features the iconic red TrackPoint. Four months later, the keyboard is finally available for order.

The GreatScottLab has turned a single-board computer into a particularly affordable Windows 10 tablet. The portable device features a large touchscreen and should be well suited for enjoying retro video games.

Drone specialist DJI is on the verge of presenting version 2 of the Mavic Air. Ahead of its expected release, marketing renders and a complete specification sheet have leaked, leaving little to the imagination.

Today, (April 27, 2020) a new app for Google's Pixel Buds 2 went live on the Play Store. It was even more unexpectedly followed by the TWS earphones themselves on the Mountain View giant's store. They support OEM-specific features such as Instant Translation, Assistant integration and Adaptive Sound.

Snoreyn, also known as designer Giuseppe Spinelli, has posted a great new PlayStation 5-related video on YouTube with the focus firmly on the DualSense controller. Although the PS5 console does make an appearance in the concept design clip, the star of the show is the DualSense, which looks even more fetching when decked out in red.

Philips has announced the new 345M1CR Momentum UltraWide gaming monitor, which could be an option for gamers pondering about what to use with a future purchase of either a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X. The 34-inch curved-screen monitor can manage a 144 Hz refresh rate and offers a high WQHD resolution (3440x1440).

Apple Watch is by a long way the world’s most popular smartwatch and it is now five years old. To mark the occasion, one of the former lead designers for the Watch has taken to Twitter to reveal some behind the scenes details never before revealed.

Samsung has reportedly had a new product certified with the MIIT regulator in China. Based on its model number, it is likely to be a full-screened wearable. Therefore, a successor for the Galaxy Watch Active 2 may be in the offing.

OPPO has filed an intriguing new trademark with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). Based on the series of products it appears to be associated with, it may turn out to be a new phone. However, there are other possibilities for the new moniker.

The Edge+ is Motorola's first flagship phone to have wireless charging. Now, a matching accessory from this brand is available on the US market. It can charge the Edge+ at 15 watts (W) and boasts the "thermal management" necessary to do so safely.

HYPER's 2nd-generation USB type C hub for laptops such as MacBooks has been launched via crowd-funding platforms. The resulting Indiegogo campaign has now attracted over US$1 million in backing, whereas the company had originally looked for about a tenth of that. This version of the HyperDrive has 3 SKUs with up to 18 ports each.

Based around a Raspberry Pi Zero W, a community project has transformed the popular single-board computer into a compact weather station. Comparatively easy and inexpensive to create, the system can be wall-mounted and features a 2.8-inch touchscreen display.

TCL launched its latest 10-series of smartphones earlier in April 2020. Now, it has announced that the Pro variant of the same has won some prominent awards. In addition, the OEM's PLEX phone has also won similar gongs, as has 1 of its Wi-Fi routers.

Oranth is a company that makes smart TV equipment, some of which are sold under the brand-names of other OEMs. It has announced that a new 4K series of the same will run on SoCs supplied by HiSilicon, a division of Huawei also responsible for more premium Kirin smartphone chipsets.

Huawei has ditched the design of the FreeBuds 3, according to leaked renders of new TWS earbuds published by WinFuture. Featuring a white design, silicone tips, ANC and a compact charging case, the FreeBuds 3i will likely be pitched as AirPods Pro competitors.

Said to be launching on May 6 in Germany, the Surface Earbuds are rather late the party. Announced last October for US$249, it seems that their delay has coincided with a price cut. The Surface Earbuds will not come cheap, though.

Mobvoi - the OEM behind the TicWatch line of wearables - has unveiled its latest product, the Cololight. It consists of hexagonal LED panels that can be connected and thus arranged into a variety of patterns at the user's discretion. Its starts at a pack of 3 lights and their necessary components for US$59.99.

From the MacBook Pro 14 to the iPhone 12 and everything in between, Apple is planning a bumper hardware refresh by the end of the year. Expect new iMacs, AirTags, Watch Series 6 and MacBook Pro 16 releases.

Huawei's latest tablet is the MatePad 10.4, a slate with a 2K display with the diagonal length it is named for. It is powered by the Kirin 810 and has 4GB or 6GB RAM options, which come in Wi-Fi only and Wi-Fi or LTE SKUs. The OEM has revealed that its starts at 1899 yuan (~US$269).

There is good news for those considering an upgrade from their existing rigs with a Noctua cooler and that are based on an Intel 300-series chipset to one with certain newer 400-series options instead: they may be able to switch the former from one to another. Some of this brand's products are even compatible with Comet Lake-S processors out of the box.

The Magic Keyboard with an integrated trackpad looks elegant and lightweight. However, it turns out that there is a good reason why Apple has kept the weight of the case a secret so far; it is damn heavy. So heavy is the Magic Keyboard that it makes the 12.9-inch iPad Pro outweigh the new MacBook Air.

Steel Series has launched its Cyberpunk 2077 ahead of the game’s launch in September. The new range includes the all-new Arctis 1 Wireless headsets for Xbox, PS4, Android, Switch and PC. Users of the Arctis Pro series can also purchase Cyberpunk 2077 a themed ‘Booster Pack’ to customize their headsets as well.

Update: Amazfit has finally announced a launch date for the X: April 28, 2020. This 92-degree curved wearable was first introduced as a concept device in 2019. Now, however, it is ready to become a reality via its upcoming Indiegogo campaign.

The manufacturer promises compatibility with PlayStation 4 and Xbox gaming consoles, PCs, laptops, and Macs. The drive itself will be protected by a shock-absorbing aluminum chassis for improved durability.

Aukey has announced that its new 100 watt (W) charger with a USB type C port is now available to pre-order. This Omnia 100W is based on gallium nitride (GaN) technology, which leaves it with a depth of 32 millimeters. This, according to the OEM at least, makes it more portable than a comparable MacBook Pro power-brick.

It seems likely that Xiaomi will release the very affordable Redmi Band onto the European market as the Mi Band 4C. The fitness tracker has been spotted in registration certificates as the Mi Smart Band 4C, but some detective work has unearthed the evidence that points to this wearable simply being a rebranded Redmi Band.

Samsung's Galaxy Watch Active 2 just got certified by South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) to measure blood pressure. It works by reading input data from the wearable's heart rate sensor and comparing it with pre-calibrated values measured via a traditional cuff-based blood pressure monitoring system. The feature will be available to everyone by Q3 2020.

Canon has yet to launch what is to be the "most advanced" full-frame mirrorless unit it has ever made, the EOS R5. In the meantime, the OEM aims to keep enthusiasm for this camera going with a deeper dive into its full specs. They include more on its 8K recording capabilities and the memory it will support.

Based on the desk terminal from Fallout 4, the project features a 3.5-inch display and a 3D printed case. The result looks great, in our opinion.