Accessory

Fitbit has announced that its own-brand ventilator has been sent to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for testing. Despite being known for wearables, this company has also recently devoted some of its resources to the production of this new item, which is to be used in the treatment of Covid-19-affected patients.

The Xiaomi Mi Band 5 has now been certified by the Taiwan National Communications Commission, and there are new rumors arising in regard to the upcoming wearable’s potential price and release date. The Xiaomi Mi Band 4C is also apparently almost ready for market; the rebranded Redmi Band is expected to be cheaper than the Mi Band 4.

UGREEN's latest power brick has 4 ports: 3 USB type Cs and 1 USB type A; therefore, it may suit the need of many users with multiple devices that can charge at up to 65 watts (W). The OEM also claims that it will be smaller than its 61W Apple counterpart. However, only the end of its new crowdfunding campaign may supply the proof of that.

1More has introduced its new Dual Driver ANC Pro Wireless In-Ear Headphones. This new product is not truly wireless, but does improve on its predecessor through the addition of Bluetooth 5.0 and a Wind Noise Resistance mode on top of its active noise cancellation (ANC) spec. The buds are also rated for twice the battery life of their previous generation.

The supposed US, Canadian, European, and British price tags for the PS5 DualSense controller have been leaked. Apparently, the crucial PlayStation 5 accessory will be made available for purchase from November 20 onwards. However, some fans may be more interested in a transforming concept version of the well-received controller.

Huami has been teasing a new product on the Chinese social network Weibo in the form of a sporty smartwatch. The somewhat rugged-looking Amazfit Ares is scheduled to be launched on May 19 and offers a host of features for smartwatch users, such as dozens of sport modes and a specialist fitness tracker.

Apple's first keyboard case with trackpad for the iPad Pro is just as expensive as it is heavy. A new X-ray image has shown why it is the latter, and partly explains the former too. Featuring a design more complicated than that of some laptops, the Magic Keyboard case is certainly intricate.

There have been multiple reports from Galaxy S20 Ultra owners of their phones developing cracks on the huge camera glass. Some claim it happens even without dropping the phone or any such impact. While the veracity of such claims remains in doubt, Nillkin is already selling a case for the S20 series that offers a dedicated slider for the camera glass.

Realme has let it be known that it is to launch up to 8 new devices or accessories on May 25, 2020. Therefore, speculation is now rife that this event may debut the rumored X3 series. One of them is also now thought to be a gaming phone code-named "Blade Runner".

Sony has launched the HT-G700, a new partially-wireless 400 watt (W) soundbar system rated for up to 7.1.2-channel audio reproduction and effective room coverage. It supports standards such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X while using its HDMI eARC, and also incorporates a standalone sub-woofer for bass.

Sony has announced new additions to its SRS-XB line of wireless speakers. Their generation features programmable lighting strips in their IP67 housing and are engineered for "deep, punchy bass" and a 3D surround effect. There are 3 models in this line-up that are available to pre-order from today.

Rumoured to be launching for US$349, Apple's first over-ear headphones are also said to be jam-packed with advanced features. Sporting Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Transparency Mode like other AirPods, the AirPods Studio will apparently support custom EQ settings in macOS and iOS too.

It has been reported that both Xiaomi and Redmi are working on new monitors. A planned 23.8-inch Redmi Display is expected to be even cheaper than the new Xiaomi Mi Display 1A external monitor. Xiaomi’s upcoming range will include gaming and 4K displays, which apparently includes a potential 29.5-inch 4K monitor.

Rumour has it that Apple has lent the AirPods brand to its upcoming over-ear headphones. Called the AirPods Studio, the highly-customisable headphones will debut at WWDC 2020 for a competitive US$349, putting them at parity with the Bose 700 and the Sony WH-1000XM4.

The first information about the next GoPro action camera has leaked. A successor to the GoPro Hero 8 or GoPro Max and, the unit will feature an updated UI, Bluetooth 4.2 and 802.11 ac Wi-Fi. The camera may even have dual-screens too Likely priced between US$399.99 and US$499.99, expect the next GoPro to land in late Q3 2020.

Xiaomi is renowned for being innovative and now the Chinese OEM is claiming a world’s first with the Midian Zero-blu-ray Bedside Sleep Aid Lamp. The device, which is currently going through a crowdfunding campaign, is apparently the world’s first zero blue light bedside lamp. The retail price for the eye-saving light is 329 yuan (US$47).

Today, (May 8, 2020) Xiaomi's gaming brand Black Shark has announced the beginning of open sales for its latest generation of flagship phones, the 3 and 3 Pro. These devices pack the Snapdragon 865 SoC, along with some genre-specific hardware tweaks. However, only some SKUs are actually available to order at present.

Sony has introduced new completely wireless in-ears, which have strong features and one of the largest batteries of all TWS. The waterproof, durable earphones are perfect for athletes, but the feature set also makes them interesting for everyone else.

The TUV Rheinland body has reportedly certified a new power supply unit (PSU) from the OEM OnePlus. This apparent next-gen Warp Charger is rated for a maximal rate of 10 volts (V)/6.5 amps (A) - or 65 watts (W). Therefore, it could boost charging speeds using this company's in-house system considerably.

The third-party Apple charger blends in well with all your Apple products and it gets the charging job done almost as fast as a cable despite some minor design setbacks.

Temperatures will definitely go down, but we want to find out by just how much and if the increase in fan noise would be worth the trade-off. With 4.5 stars and over 11,000 reviews on Amazon, we have our expectations set quite high.

The popular PC/Mac accessory-maker Cable Matters now sells a dock that combines USB type C and Thunderbolt 3 speeds. Therefore, it can drive dual 4K monitors at up to 40 gigabits per second (Gb/s). It also has 3 type A ports to accommodate peripherals or storage media.

Microsoft still refuses to equip its Surface devices with Thunderbolt 3 ports, precluding many compatible third-party docks from being compatible with the likes of the Surface Book 3 or Surface Go 2. The Surface Dock 2, on the other hand, uses the proprietary Surface Connect port, allowing Microsoft to outperform the competition. Microsoft has released a new USB-C Travel Hub too, which is compatible with non-Surface devices.

With the E1, OKdo has introduced a new developer board that is as small as it is affordable. Based on the NXP LPC55S69JBD100 microcontroller, the board has a host of other features, making it ideal for industrial IoT or automation projects.

Recent FCC documentation shows that Apple has what appears to be Powerbeats Pro 2 in the works. They have now picked up further certifications that probably put them close to an unveiling. Therefore, they may be launched in the US, Korea and Malaysia at the least.

Launched alongside the Surface Earbuds, the Surface Headphones 2, Surface Go 2 and Surface Book 3 will all start shipping later this month. The Surface Book 3 makes the jump to Ice Lake-U processors and up to a Quadro RTX 3000 GPU too, but there is no AMD Ryzen version as there is with the Surface Laptop 3.

Details and marketing images of new Sonos speakers have leaked. Featuring a new soundbar, the trio of speakers will start at £499 and will launch on June 10.

More and more Android OEMs are also releasing wearables these days; now, it seems that Vivo is about to join them. A Twitter leaker claims to have found images, apparently derived from a "patent", showing that this company has designed its first-gen smartwatch.

The OEM Meizu has already confirmed that its upcoming premium smartphone 17-series will come with 30-watt (W) "mCharge" standard. Now, it has hinted at the prospect of a powerbank with the same technology. This would be handy in the absence of the gallium nitride (GaN) charger the phones are also rumored to ship with.

LG has announced that the soundbars designed to go with its 2020 OLED and NanoCell TVs will be available in the US soon. These products are rated to deliver between 380 and 770 watts (W) of audio power, and feature enhancements such as Dolby Atmos, DTS-X and Meridian tuning.

The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) has released specifications for its new DisplayPort (DP) Alt Mode version 2.0 standard. This video output modality allows USB type C ports to drive even 16K/60Hz displays, as it can leverage USB 4's 4 lanes to transmit nearly 80 gigabits of data per second.

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.