Accessory

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.

LG has announced that it will launch a new smartphone called Velvet in 2020. It will be powered by a 5G-enabled Snapdragon 7-series processor, and is believed to replace the flagship G-range. Now, there is also some evidence that suggests it will get a V60 ThinQ-esque case that adds a second display.

Apple is keen to build on the sales momentum of its AirPods line. According to the latest in a string of Apple-related leaks from Jon Prosser, a new model is inbound and set to join the line up as soon as May when the next round of Apple product releases is expected.

With the Optix MAG301CR, MSI has created a 21:9 monitor that not only has a 30-inch curved VA panel, but also one that supports up to 200 Hz refresh rates and AMD FreeSync. The Optix MAG301CR operates natively at 2,560 x 1,080 and has 1 ms response times, too.

Prices for the 400-series of motherboards from MSI have been leaked online, with the cheapest board costing €200 (US$217) and the most expensive board costing €960 (~US$1,044). These new components will support the LGA 1200 socket that is required for Intel’s upcoming Comet Lake-S series of desktop processors.

Adequate hand hygiene is one of the everyday measures recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to help combat Covid-19. Accordingly, Samsung has developed the ‘Hand Wash’ app for its watches. It promotes this activity through regular reminders, a tracker and a corresponding watch-face.

Two of the latest phones to join the popular Moto G smartphone series are now available for purchase on Motorola's US website. The G Power and G Stylus have very similar specs (the Snapdragon 665 SoC and 4GB of RAM included), although the latter has an in-built pen, a first for this brand.

A community project posted has turned a humble Raspberry Pi into a working Pipboy. Loosely based on the Pipboy 2000 MK VI, the project features a 3.5-inch display, a powerbank and a rotary encoder.

Huami has confirmed that the Xiaomi Mi Band 5 is still on course to launch later this year and that the working relationship between the two companies is as strong as ever. Recent rumors had suggested that Xiaomi was considering taking its considerable investment out of Huami, which could have scuppered plans for the Mi Band 5 wearable.

A new report from Bloomberg confirms that Apple is working on a set of on-ear or over-ear headphones. However, in a very Apple-like twist, the design is said to feature interchangeable parts to emphasize personal customization.

Posted to GitHub, the Mascobot utilises a Raspberry Pi as part of an open-source ventilator. The project uses an Arduino and off the shelf parts, too. Testing is already underway, with human trials planned for the beginning of May.

The Note 20s are YOBYBO's latest go at revolutionizing the TWS earbud form-factor. They have a unique asymmetrical shape that extend out of the wearer's ear while in use, as well as an equally innovative square charging case with a case rated to be up to 50% that those of competitors. They are available via their new Indiegogo campaign.

Billed as an electric grinder, an adjustable ceramic coffee mill, a measuring cup and a travel mug, the Beanque has already raised over US$15,000 on Kickstarter. The 3-in-1 coffee maker is available from US$49 and will ship in July 2020.

Xiaomi has now launched its new TWS earbuds, the Redmi AirDots S. The AirDots S looks to be a refresh of the first-gen Redmi AirDots and offers more of the same, with the addition of a new low latency game mode.

The latest variant of the Samsung Galaxy Buds+ are hailed as some of the best non-ANC TWS earbuds out there. However, they are also affected by the potential for severe wind-noise during voice calls. Their latest firmware update is touted to fix this problem.

OnePlus has unleashed new versions of its wireless earphones alongside its new 8-series of flagship phones. This new generation has an improved range of color options compared to its predecessors. It also features low-latency connections and a battery that can support up to 20 hours' worth of playback.

In accordance with some leaks and rumors, OnePlus has launched its first ever wireless charger today (April 14, 2020). This device is also compatible with devices besides the new 8 Pro phone, thanks to the Qi standard. It is rated to power its new companion flagship by about 50% in 30 minutes.

Lenovo has launched the A7 in China. It is a considerable departure from your average smartphone, in that the processor here is from Unisoc. Not only that, but it has a swappable 4000mAh battery. It does not have a sale price as yet, but is likely to exhibit an ultra-budget one on its announcement.

Razer has lined up a treat for Pokémon fans with the launch of its new themed Hammerhead variant. Targeted specifically at the Pokémon crazy Chinese market, the new headphones will undoubtedly also attract interest from die-hard fans everywhere.

We have now reached a part of April 2020 increasingly regarded as "iPhone SE 2 Week"; however, this has not stopped the new Apple Watch rumors coming thick and fast. They now point to a new form of authentication for this device, as well as the ability to detect anxiety as well as blood-oxygen levels in the user. There may also be new case-variants in the offing.