Gadget

Laser microphones may sound like a sophisticated spy kit, but as YouTuber SomethingAboutScience has proven, they are surprisingly easy to build. Users are just a handful of components away from capturing modulated light and transforming it into sound.

The Garmin Instinct 2X Solar uses solar charging to stay up and running theoretically indefinitely in smartwatch mode. The Instinct 2X is also water-resistant up to 100 m, and it features a built-in LED flash light for emergencies. The Instinct 2X Solar has dropped to an all-time low price thanks to an Amazon deal.

The Keychron Q4 HE aims to combine high performance wireless connectivity and premium build quality with the versatility of Hall-effect switches for a keyboard that's just as comfortable gaming as it is at work.

Cherry’s latest H3 Wireless gaming headset brings 100 hours of runtime on a single charge and low latency connectivity via a USB dongle. The headset is priced at $99 and works with PC, PS4, PS5, and the Nintendo Switch.

The XG275D-4K from ViewSonic is a budget entry into the dual display feature niche with gaming monitors. At $500, it lets gamers switch between 160Hz@4K and 320Hz@1080p.

Canon's latest teaser on X all but confirms the existence of a new EOS RV compact camera launching on March 26 alongside the US and international launch of the PowerShot V1 compact camera. The teaser hints at a "new chapter" suggesting the new EOS V camera will be the start of something new.

A new reliable leak has tipped full specifications for the upcoming Fujifilm X100RF, confirming that the new fixed-lens camera will be surprisingly compact, especially for its medium format sensor. It also confirms that the GFX100RF will have a leaf shutter and a wide enough lens for daily use, with an aspect ratio dial for more flexible shooting options.

We were able to take a look at the upcoming Fenix flashlights at IWA 2025. The TK17, TK21R, and LD35R will be released in the next few months. The LD35R might also be interesting for tinkerers thanks to an integrated magnet.

Nanoleaf lights now illuminate nearly every nook and cranny of a home. The new Nanoleaf PC Mirror Lightstrip targets monitors, previously ignored parts of gaming rooms. Using a USB-C connection to reduce latency, the monitor backlight kit will cost $49.99.

Ricoh has all but confirmed that a monochrome GR III compact camera is in development. Meanwhile, a Ricoh ambassador hints at something bigger to come early next year, potentially confirming previous leaks of a Ricoh GR IV. Whatever it is, it won't feature a focus on video.

The DeathAdder V3 Pro is on sale and gamers looking for an ergonomic lightweight wireless gaming mouse should consider it as a strong contender. The deal is live on Amazon and is applicable on both the black and white variants.

Despite skyrocketing megapixel counts, computational photography has always been the key to the success of smartphone cameras. OM System has apparently taken a page out of the smartphone photography playbook and plans to lean into computational features, even at the cost of megapixels.

OM System has responded to rumours claiming a new Pen compact Micro Four Thirds camera is in development. That does not mean there is no Pen camera on the horizon, though, as OM System seems to suggest a lot of thought and planning has gone into what a new Pen will look like.

CheckMag According to recent reports, Microsoft will be dipping its toes into the gaming handheld market later this year with a device designed in collaboration with Asus. From new suggestions that Microsoft will charge at least $499 for an AMD Ryzen Z2 Go APU to it being 'a proof of concept' that will not play Xbox games, Xbox 'Project Kennan' already sounds dead on arrival.

It looks like the Canon PowerShot V1 will launch in late March alongside a video-focussed refresh of two of its popular mid-range EOS full-frame and APS-C cameras. The Canon PowerShot V1 is likely to launch at around the same $900 price point internationally as it sells for in Japan.

The Anker Solix F3800 Plus is a new and quite capable power station with expandable capacity and official generator compatibility. If severe weather is in the forecast, the battery can be charged quickly and automatically.

The Oukitel P1000 Plus is a new, fairly portable power station capable of handling devices that require more power. It can also be controlled with an app via Bluetooth.

Following a massive layoff and a string of exits from top executives, Sonos new leadership has made the decision to cancel an upcoming product. The Android streaming device would have been a rival to the Apple TV 4K and Google TV Streamer.

Both the 13-inch and 16-inch Huion Kamvas Pro QLED pen displays have been discounted substantially in a new Amazon deal, with up to 33% off. The Huion Kamvas line-up features battery-free pressure-sensitive pen tech, excellent colour reproduction, and matte display glass for smoother drawing, making them great options for digital artists, photographers, and even video editors.

Despite being small enough to fit on a key ring, the Cowzry is a new power bank that provides a decent amount of charge for your smartphone and even supports wireless charging.

Xiaomi has launched a pre-sale event for the Walkie Talkie 3 Chat Edition. This amateur radio is currently only available in China and is said to offer up to 5 m (~3.1 miles range). Plus, Xiaomi claims that the device is quick to set up thanks to an accompanying app, where you can also adjust various settings.

Canon executives at Japan's CP+ show have hinted that new Canon compact cameras are on the way, confirming that the PowerShot V1 will be the flagship of the lot. They also dropped subtle hints that recent leaks of a new compact APS-C camera were credible.

The JBL Flip 7 is a new Bluetooth speaker that should be very easy to transport. The American manufacturer advertises decent audio quality and long battery life.

CheckMag Looking for a Valentine’s Day gift that’s a little more thoughtful this year? Smart rings are a modern twist on classic jewelry, combining style with handy features like health tracking and notifications. They’re perfect for anyone who loves tech, values wellness, or just appreciates a sleek accessory.

70mai has launched a new dash cam, the 4K Omni. With a list price of $329.99, the 4K Omni dash cam features a 340° rotating design, night vision, 70mai’s Lumi Vision, HDR, AI motion detection 2.0, built-in GPS, collision detection, and WiFi 6 connectivity for high-speed transfers. It’s now available in the US via Amazon.

OM System confirmed in a recent interview at CP+, OM System executives confirmed that the recently released OM-3 is not a replacement for the Pen line-up. It seems as though a new Pen camera is in the early stages of development at OM System.

Roughly three months have passed since a renowned Apple analyst received word that the so-called Smart Home Hub had been delayed beyond its Q1 2025 release window. Now, a separate source has shed new light on the state of the project.

Images have leaked online of the Canon EOS RV, which appears to be a compact APS-C camera with an interchangeable lens, much along the lines of the EOS M50 and Sony ZV-E10 II. The leaks also suggest that the new compact EOS camera will target content creators.

Google's affordable mid-range Pixel 9A has been shown off in all its glory ahead of the suspected mid-March launch. The leaked images appear to be official marketing images, and they reinforce previous leaks that saw the Pixel 9A receive a massive visual overhaul.

Would-be deal hunters and anyone looking to get into an action camera would be remiss to discount the DJI Osmo Action 4 at its current Amazon discount. The Osmo Action 4 features two bright touch screens, a 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor, video recording at up to 4K 120 fps, and a waterproof rating that allows in depths of up to 18 m, even without the waterproof case accessory.

The price of the Garmin eTrex Solar handheld has been slashed by 20% on Amazon. The GPS runs up to 75 days on battery power, with infinite runtime on solar power, enabling long spring break excursions into the wilderness.

Bluetti asserts that its latest portable power stations are ideal for hikers and adventurers in that they come with their own custom backpacks. The Handsfree 1 and 2 are designed to fit gear such as cameras and drones as well as the user's essentials and LiFePO₄ batteries with outputs of 300 and 700 watts (W) respectively. Each backpack has its own AC socket as well as USB-C and -A ports, and can use solar charging.

A new budget-friendly PS5 controller from Hori is available for pre-order. It costs $100 and comes with remappable back buttons, wireless connectivity, six face buttons, and a swappable D-pad.

ChatGPT and AI features have made their way to ball point pens with the One Smart AI Pen. The Kickstarter campaign for this steel and plastic, 30-gram pen is live with a goal of $10,000.

Panasonic's Lumix LX100 compact camera line-up may be getting a new model to compete with the recently announced Canon PowerShot V1, as Panasonic executives confirmed plans to address high compact camera demand. This will likely be the latest iteration of the compact camera with a Four Thirds sensor since the LX100 II, which launched in 2018 but remains wildly overpriced thanks to high demand and dwindling supply.

Keychron today announced the K4 HE as a bigger version of the K2 HE, using the same wood-and-aluminium design and unique OSA keycaps on the special edition. The K4 HE offers adjustable actuation, SOCD, Rapid Trigger, and Analog Mode, all packed into a 96% form factor that optimises desk space without sacrificing the num pad.

The Pure 70 Pro has launched with on-trend features such as a rear camera hump with a periscope zoom lens and a large AMOLED display. It is probably the least surprising of its OEM's latest crop of smartphones, having debuted alongside the Doogee Moment: a brand-first "ultra-thin" projector smartphone. Meanwhile, the new Note series integrates extra-large silicon-anode batteries, while the Doogee V Flip is a first-gen clamshell foldable.

The Hubsan Zino Mini Pro 2025 is a new and lightweight drone that sports a 4K camera and foldable design. A remote is included, and the flight time on a full charge sounds decent.

Olight’s Javelot Turbo 2 has received an upgrade to USB Type-C while retaining its MCC port for charging via a magnetic cable. The flashlight can be controlled with a 2.4GHz remote.

Acebeam has introduced a new flashlight at IWA in Germany. It offers multiple LEDs in a compact design. However, the UC25 is still a work in progress, as evidenced by the unfinished design of the new EDC flashlight.

The Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro is Xiaomi's latest set of high-end TWS earbuds. While the Buds 5 Pro look like the AirPods Pro 2 and Galaxy Buds3 Pro, Xiaomi's new earbuds have a Hi-Fi trick up their sleeves.

Tecno has unveiled two smart glasses with AI features as part of its MWC 2025 lineup. Designed like regular glasses, they offer features such as object recognition, translation, text summarization, and even an AR display.

Fenix has officially put its new 21700 batteries with particularly high capacity on sale. Their capacity increases from 18 to 21.6Wh, but the battery is also slightly thicker. Additionally, a new variant that doesn’t require a special charger is in development.

Infinix has introduced the concept of a completely new kind of smartphone in the form of its new Zero Series prototype device. As the name suggests, it can fold like Huawei's groundbreaking Mate XT - albeit horizontally rather than vertically and with a potentially more compact footprint. The OEM asserts that it will be able to replace the user's smartwatch and action camera as well as their conventional smartphone one day.

Mixx Audio purports to offer the perfect way of celebrating National Retro Day today (February 27, 2025) with its new, appropriately-named record player. The Retro 65 is backed to deliver the traditional warm sound of vinyl with its full-sized turntable, belt-driven to support both 33 and 45 rpm modes. The player can also work with wireless external speakers and devices such as smartphones via Bluetooth.

Two years after its release, Sony has announced it is permanently slashing the price of the PSVR2 across all regions. The price cut should help the Japanese tech giant sell more units of the headset which has had poor sales since its launch in 2023.