Storage

SK hynix Inc. has unveiled its latest graphics memory, GDDR7, which boasts a 60% increase in speed and 50% higher power efficiency compared to GDDR6. Expected to begin mass production in Q3 2024, GDDR7 can reach speeds of up to 32Gbps, and handle over 1.5TB of data per second. The memory uses new packaging technology for better heat dissipation. GDDR7 DRAM is anticipated to be widely used in AI, high-spec 3D graphics, and autonomous driving applications.

With the PD20 Mini, TeamGroup presents an external SSD that weighs just 22 grams, yet is protected against environmental influences and equipped with up to 4 TB of storage. The SSD is designed to achieve speeds of up to 16 Gbit/s or 2,000 MB/s via USB-C 3.2 Gen 2x2.

Sandisk's 1.5 TB micro SD card has received a substantial price cut on Amazon. Prime members can buy it for $83.59 while non-members will have to pay $87.99

Western Digital has expanded its WD Black SN850X NVMe SSD lineup with an 8TB model. Designed for gamers and content creators, the drive leverages PCIe Gen4 and TLC 3D NAND to deliver sequential read speeds of up to 7,200 MB/s. The 8TB capacity offers ample storage for large game libraries and media files, and is priced at $899 (with a heatsink).

The 4TB version of the Samsung 990 Pro has dipped below $300 on Amazon for the very first time this year. Although the quick PCIe 4.0 SSD has already been cheaper in the past, this is a good time to grab the enthusiast-grade storage module.

Sony has discontinued the production of select Blu-ray recording and optical recording discs as its first step towards exiting the optical disc business as demand falls. The Tagajyo factory in Miyagi, Japan is the last remaining factory capable of producing 128 GB BDXL Blu-ray recordable discs. Sony is seeking voluntary, early retirement from 250 of 670 employees at the plant.

The 220 4G (2024) is the latest version of HMD's durable Nokia-branded feature phone. It is touted to let the user play Snake for days on its 2.4-inch display, and to play the music stored on a microSD card over Bluetooth. Then again, it does not have a rear camera or much scope for offline apps.

With the MP600 Mini R2, Corsair presents one of the fastest M.2-2230 SSDs in the world. Despite a length of just 30 millimeters, the SSD achieves data rates of up to 7,000 MB/s when connected via PCIe 4.0.

Thanks to a 42% discount, the 2 TB version of the popular Samsung 990 EVO PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD is now down from $239.99 to $139.99 on Amazon. Although $10 higher than the lowest price ever, the current listing is quite attractive. Those happy with 1 TB can enjoy a 43% discount and snatch that version for $84.99 instead.

The Armor 700 is a fast and robust SSD from Lexar that can be used in a variety of scenarios, including as Apple ProRes storage and thus as a storage medium for film recordings. The device is compatible with various platforms and encryption is possible.

Jackery has announced its latest portable power station as a second generation of its existing Explorer 1000: the 1000 v2. It is is more compact compared to its predecessor, yet has increased maximum output thanks to updated battery technology. The Explorer 1000 v2 also has ChargeShield 2.0 technology for a faster input, even when solar panels are involved.

Lenovo's ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 is now officially the first laptop to have been torn down by iFixit in search of its LPCAMM2 module. The emerging RAM type is hailed as a more powerful, efficient and sustainable form of memory thanks to its ease of removal from its place relative to a PC's CPU - which also boosts the ability to replace or upgrade it.

The SanDisk Desk Drive is a new storage solution with a high capacity, a particularly high data transfer rate and compact dimensions. It is compatible with both PCs and Macs.

TerraMaster is offering a new storage solution that is designed to support both particularly fast and comparatively inexpensive storage devices. A total of eight mass storage devices can be installed.

Realme has partnered with a popular online retailer to preview the GT Neo6 for its Chinese audience. The Android smartphone can now be reserved with >100W charging to go with its new Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 SoC and a particularly generous amount of internal storage. The device might also hit the international market soon with the same specs.

EZVIZ asserts that its latest pan/tilt (PT) outdoor Wi-Fi camera comes with double the security as it has double the lenses. Both of the H9c's cameras are rated for a resolution of 2K, although they have discrete zoom and wide-angle functions. Combined, the OEM backs them to achieve up to 2x the detail and an extended color night vision range compared to its predecessors.

A new, external enclosure for high-performance SSDs can accommodate two flash storage devices and run them in a RAID configuration. The model is said to be quite robust and can be configured and used without the corresponding software.

The Moto G85 5G has been outed as the next alleged Motorola smartphone for the Indian and European markets - even though its predecessor has been on the market for much less than a year. Nevertheless, there are early signs that it will be replaced by a device capable of delivering some of the same core specs for roughly the same amount of money.

CheckMag Whether its questionable privacy practices, incorrectly categorising images as child pornography, or using your data for its AI training models, storing your photos with Google continues to be a privacy nightmare. Thankfully a self hosted solution is making waves in the community, and for good reason.

Amazon is running a sale on some of Samsung's PCIe NVMe SSDs. The sale includes the popular 990 EVO, which has been discounted 47% to an all-time low price. Other SSDs on sale include drives from Samsung's 980 Pro and 990 Pro series.

One of Samsung's most sought-after M.2-SSDs is back on sale on Amazon, which is where the heatsink-equipped 2TB model of the PCIe 4.0 storage module is now on sale for $149.

The Crucial T705 PCIe Gen 5 SSD is currently on sale. For a limited time, you can get the 1 TB variant of the storage drive for just $154.99. The 2 TB option, which is among the fastest drives in the market with up to 12.4 GB/s read and 11.8 GB/s write speeds, is also generously discounted. It's currently available for $279.99.

According to a recent report by TrendForce, consumers can expect significant price hikes in SSD and HDD product segments, thanks to a surge in demand for storage solutions due to the ongoing AI hype as well as alignment with broader user upgrade cycles, further magnified by supply chain bottlenecks.

The Go version of the OnePlus Pad has finally reached another market. It brings an "industry-leading" 2.4K Eye Care display and quad Dolby Atmos-enhanced speakers to Europe, along with a 4G/LTE-capable SoC and 8GB of RAM. It has debuted with an introductory discount and a free gift.

Despite its new name, the Dimensity 6300 has all too much in common with some MediaTek predecessors of years gone by. Then again, the OEM asserts that the smartphones to be based on this silicon will have all they need to compete in the affordable 5G handset arena of 2024 with up-to-date features such as HyperEngine "gaming technologies" and 5G UltraSave 3.0+ power-efficiency tweaks.

CFExpress Type A cards are an interesting competitor to SD cards, as they are also quite small but slightly thicker. OWC is now announcing new models with particularly high writing and reading speeds. The card also supports a minimum write rate of 400 MB/s.

Instead of packing a few dozen high-end SSDs into your backpack, Western Digital offers the Ultrastar Transporter, a storage solution that allows users to easily transport a massive 368 TB of SSD storage.

Sandisk's first (micro) SD Express cards are coming soon. These tend to be smaller cards but with particularly high speeds. New card readers are only needed if you want to take advantage of the high speeds.

Samsung has announced the latest iteration of EVO Plus and EVO Select microSD cards. These, according to the company, are designed to give mobile devices and handheld gaming consoles the right storage boost. With transfer speeds of up to 160 MB/s, they offer a 23% performance increase over predecessors.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency is still using a control system that's essential for the operation of the light rail, which requires floppy disks. Introduced in 1998, it was supposed to operate for up to 25 years. Due to the increasing risk of failure, it should be replaced soon, but that could take around a decade.

CWWK is offering a new and compact mainboard that is particularly suitable as a basis for creating your own network storage. The system comes with several high-performance Ethernet ports and SATA connections. However, the do-it-yourself NAS is unlikely to be inexpensive fun.

Fossibot has unleashed the F106 Pro as a rugged smartphone with a >100 decibel (dB) speaker to go with its bright rear-firing lamp. The new device also offers a huge battery, NFC and up-to-date software out of the box. It can be pre-ordered for less than $250 from now.

Team Group has introduced new SD memory cards. The storage media should be compact and secure, with the ability to read memory card status. With these models, the company aims to appeal to professional users in particular.

Oukitel may have been inspired by the Honor Magic6 to make its next upcoming smartphone - although its take on the design has reportedly resulted in a profoundly chunky version thanks to its 10,000mAh+ battery and IP68/IP69K/MIL-STD-810H ingress protection ratings. It will launch with more up-to-date software than the average rugged phone and microSD card support, although its main advantage is said to come with a potential drawback.

The Seagate FireCuda 520N M.2 2230 SSD's 2 TB version is now on sale for just $115 on Amazon. Its PCIe Gen4 interface and compact form factor make it ideal for handheld consoles and laptops alike.

The iQOO Pad series of Android tablets is now tipped to upgrade not merely to Pro status in its second generation but to a 13.1-inch display in 2024. It is believed to debut with a premium MediaTek Dimensity processor that will drive the OEM's signature fast refresh rate, and to have a generously-sized battery with relatively fast charging.

The GT 6 5G is now tipped to launch as the first ever Realme smartphone to debut with the new Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 processor. The device is also now believed to launch with premium specs such as Android 14 out of the box and a battery with a capacity comfortably exceeding 5,000mAh. It has reportedly been certified by groups such as the FCC, thereby hinting it might even get the global launch denied its predecessor.

With the Spatium M580 Frozr, MSI offers a new and extremely fast SSD. This is said to deliver particularly high performance over a longer period of time, thanks to a rather expansive heatsink and, unsurprisingly, uses PCIe 5.0

Radxa has an expansion board on offer that makes it relatively easy for users to turn the Raspberry Pi 5 and other single-board computers into network storage with several conventional storage media. It is also possible to connect external storage devices, and a fan and display can be connected via an expansion port.

The sought-after 4TB SSD from Western Digital might not be as cheap as it was back in 2023, but storage enthusiasts who have set their sights on the WD Black SN850X can now take advantage of one of the largest discounts in months.

The Infinix GT 20 Pro is expected to launch as an affordable smartphone, yet one equipped with 5G, Android 14 and a large-ish battery. Its latest leak now purports to confirm a RAM upgrade for the device, and that it will launch with a rear panel augmented with LED accents.

CheckMag Any PC can run Windows, Linux or other OS of choice, but the average multicore processor provides enough headroom for a multitude of simultaneous tasks. Go beyond multitasking in a single OS and make your PC your home hub with this guide to the best home lab software solutions.

The Corsair MP600 Mini 1 TV PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD can be bought on Amazon for just $69.99. It offers sequential read/write speeds of up to 4,800 Mbps, allowing it to be used as a primary boot device on a wide range of devices.

OnePlus has officially announced that its upcoming Ace 3V will be a world first, in that it will introduce a new Snapdragon 7-series SoC to the Android smartphone market. The chipset is touted to pack the "core advantages" of its top-end 8-series counterparts. They include "flagship AI capabilities" alongside potentially segment-leading power-efficiency and gaming proficiency.

The Pova 6 is shaping up to launch as an Android 14 smartphone with the same high-capacity battery with upgraded charging, and, perhaps, the same Ultra-Slim Bezel screen as its recently-launched Pro sibling. Then again, some compromises have been made to render it the vanilla variant of its series.

The traditional and anything but quick SATA SSD from the American storage manufacturer may never drop back to its all-time low of 2023, but thankfully, Amazon is now offering the 2.5-inch Crucial MX500 with 4TB of capacity for a comparatively reasonable sale price.