Gadget

Anker has launched the 625 Solar Panel, converting up to 23% of sunlight into solar energy. The portable device has an adjustable kickstand and carrying handle. You can charge a power station via XT-60 output at up to 100 W. Built into the device are USB-C and USB-A ports, allowing you to charge two devices simultaneously.

Elephant Robotics has launched the MechArm 270-Pi, a robotic arm controlled by a Raspberry Pi 4B chip. The arm has six DOF, a 270 mm (~10.6-in) motion radius and a maximum payload of 250 g (~8.8 oz). You can connect to the gadget via Bluetooth, control it with voice commands and trigger motion via object or facial recognition.

The Anker 535 PowerHouse has launched in European countries, including the UK, Netherlands and Sweden. The power station has a 512 Wh capacity, a 500 W maximum power output and a total output of 716 W. Multiple ports are included on the device, such as USB-C, USB-A and AC outlets, plus it has a built-in light.

The Xiaomi Band 7 is the definite successor to the Xiaomi Band 6, and appears to promise improved health monitoring thanks to Goodix's health sensor which delivers heart rate and Sp02 monitoring with high accuracy and low power consumption.

The Zipforce ONE kit can transform your standard bicycle into an e-bike. The kit comes with a motor that can assist you at speeds up to 25 kph (~16 mph) and a rechargeable battery with a range of up to 60 km (~37 miles). Also included in the package, currently available in some European countries, are a charger, pedal sensor and bike mount.

Toyota has started to deliver its bZ4X EV to customers in the US, as the vehicle officially launches in the UK. The car will be delivered to European customers this summer, but higher than expected demand has pushed the Australian release date back to next year. The vehicle has a maximum range of 317 miles (~510 km) and a top speed of 100 mph (~161 kph).

Microlino has opened up a configurator tool for customers to adapt their microcar. So far, the EV has received over 30,000 reservations. The vehicle is around a third of the size of an average car, capable of carrying two passengers and up to 220 L of luggage. The Microlino has a top speed of 90 kph (~56 mph) and can accelerate from 0 to 50 kph (0 to 31 mph) in 5 seconds.

A new Indiegogo campaign for the AMU PLUS non-invasive blood glucose monitor has started. The company behind this particular push, Vanguide, claims the AMU+ only takes one minute and one touch to offer up four test results, including glucose levels. However, diabetic buyers should beware, especially if they are hoping for a finger-stick replacement.

The DreameBot D10 Plus Robot Vacuum and Mop is now available to pre-order. The device comes with an auto-emptying dustbin, which the company suggests can provide 45 days of hand-free cleaning. The gadget has 4,000 Pa suction power and can be controlled using Alexa or Google Assistant voice commands.

The STEPVR Gates01 VR deck has been revealed. The cube-shaped device includes an omnidirectional treadmill and a harness to keep you centred as you moved. The gadget comes with a 4K headset and will be launched later this year. A similar, more compact device for personal use will be released early in 2023.

DJI has begun teasing its next hardware event, which will occur on June 15. Dubbed as setting 'a new standard', it seems that DJI will reveal the RS3 and RS3 Pro gimbals, which have leaked previously. Separately, more photos of the RS3 and RS3 Pro have arrived, plus a likely confirmation that there will be no RSC3.

KEF has revealed the LSX II Wireless Hi-Fi System that will launch on June 23rd. The device builds on the award-winning LSX speaker, with connectivity options including Apple AirPlay 2, Google Chromecast and an HDMI eARC port. Each speaker has a 100 W output, with a maximum combined volume of 102 dB.

The Canyon Spectral:ON e-mountain bike range has launched with a 900 Wh battery for up to 60 miles (~97 km) of assisted range. The series has three carbon frame bikes, with the lightest weighing 50.16 lbs (~22.75 kg). A Shimano EP8 motor delivers up to 85 Nm of torque for the 12-gear vehicle.

New products from the IKEA and Swedish House Mafia partnership, a range named OBEGRÄNSAD, have been revealed at Milan Design Week. The latest items include an armchair, a desk built for music producers and a record player. The player will have multiple speaker connection options, plus a replaceable cartridge and needle.

A product page on the global Xiaomi site for the Electric Scooter 3 Lite has appeared. In Germany and Italy, listings for various certifications have been spotted, suggesting that the vehicle will soon be available in these countries, and perhaps in Europe more widely. The lightweight scooter weighs 13 kg (~29 lbs) and has a top speed of 25 kph (~16 mph).

Samsung will launch the Galaxy Z Fold4, Galaxy Z Flip4, and Galaxy Watch 5 at Unpacked this year. Contrary to previous rumors, however, the company's next-gen premium earbuds, the Galaxy Buds Pro 2, look set to miss out on that event.

The Fucare HU3 Pro seated electric scooter mini bike is now available in the US. The vehicle has a 250 W motor with a maximum speed of 20 mph (~32 kph) and can travel up to 40 miles (~64 km) between charges. Features of the foldable e-scooter include Cruise Control and Walk Boost modes and an LCD display.

Omvos has launched a Kickstarter campaign for the Vida-a-gogo electric scooter. The vehicle has a 400 W motor, a top speed of 19 mph (30 kph) and a 31 mile (50 km) range. Other features of the seated e-scooter include a keyless remote start and an anti-theft wheel locking and alarm system.

Reports suggest that Samsung is working on a device which it will call the Samsung Wireless Charger+. Filings with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) give little information about the device besides its name. However, it could be similar to the recently released 15 W Super Fast Wireless Charger Pad.

Rockrider has launched the E-ST 500 27.5-in e-mountain bike. The E-MTB has a 250 W centrally mounted motor that can assist you at speeds up to 25 kph (~16 mph). The eight-gear bike has three speed modes and comfort features such as an Evo saddle and an upright sitting position.

Samsung has a slew of highly anticipated mobile products to bring to the market in a few months, and a new leak has now revealed launch details of the devices—the Galaxy Z Fold4, Galaxy Z Flip4, and Galaxy Watch 5 series—well ahead of schedule.

LG has announced that it will showcase its Objet Collection Posé and Easel TVs at Milan Design week before launching them this Fall. The lifestyle TVs have unusual designs, with the Easel mimicking its namesake and the Posé aiming for a high-end look. Both devices feature LG’s OLED evo technology.

The vivo 50 W Wireless FlashCharge charger is now available globally from distributors, including Giztop, which currently offers a 45% discount. The device can fully charge some vivo smartphones in 42 minutes. You can also charge other Qi-compatible devices with the gadget, though these are limited to 15 W wireless charging.

Kingston has revealed the IronKey Vault Privacy 50 Encrypted USB series. The devices have both Brute Force and BadUSB attack protection, and read-only settings. You can set 16-character passwords in Complex mode, plus the gadget has a new passphrase mode allowing you to set a password with up to 64-characters.

The Xiaomi Smart Door Lock M20 is now available to pre-order in China. There are seven ways to unlock the device, such as with your fingerprint, an NFC tag or an iOS device, thanks to support for Apple HomeKit. The gadget also comes with a backup physical key and an indoor emergency fast unlock knob.

Xiaomi has introduced the Mi Box 4S MAX in China, where it sells for CNY 499 (~US$75). Listed as supporting 8K content, the Mi Box 4S MAX has HDMI 2.1 connectivity, relies on an Amlogic S905X3 chipset and has 4 GB of RAM.

The European Commission (EC) has now completed its deal to make USB type-C a "common charging port" across its jurisdiction. The decision is now set to ensure that new devices of a swathe of consumer electronics categories can use the same cables and power bricks anywhere in the European Union - laptops and iPhones included.

PINE64 now has stock of the Quartz64 Model B, a single-board computer powered by a Rockchip RK3566 chipset. Currently, the Quartz64 Model B only ships with 4 GB of RAM and also lacks built-in storage, although eMMC and microSD card expansion is available.

Orange Pi has presented the Orange Pi 800, its version of the Raspberry Pi 400. The Orange Pi 800 comes with a Rockchip RK3399 SoC, 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of storage and a 6-row keyboard, among other features.

Byrdbyte is currently crowdfunding for its Case X MacBook USB-C hub on Kickstarter. The attachable laptop case has six ports, including microSD and SD card readers, and a 100 W USB-C port. USB-A ports on the device can handle data transfer at speeds up to 10 Gbps, and one model has an SSD interface.

The Bluetti EP500Pro Power Station is now available in Europe. The device has a long-lasting LiFePO4 5,100 Wh battery that you can charge at up to 4,000 W via AC and solar panels. The gadget has multiple ports, including AC outlets, USB-A and USB-C ports, plus wireless charging pads.

The New York State Senate and Assembly have approved the motion to sign the Digital Fair Repair Act into law. The bill is intended to oblige OEMs to make it easier for users to restore their personal devices on their own within the state. Its new law is now viewed as a watershed moment for right to repair throughout the rest of the United States.

Satechi has launched the USB-C Slim Dock for 24-in iMacs. The dock features a built-in NVMe SATA NGFF enclosure compatible with M.2 SSD. Also included are multiple ports, such as USB-C and USB-A ports, capable of data transfer speeds up to 10 Gbps; however, these cannot be used for charging.

IKEA will release a wireless charging shelf accessory shortly for its SYMFONISK Shelf Wi-Fi speaker. The adapter will enable you to charge smartphones and other Qi-compatible gadgets wirelessly, plus the device has an 18 W USB-C port. IKEA released the second-generation SYMFONISK Shelf Wi-Fi speaker earlier this year, built in partnership with Sonos.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 debuted last year with a massive US$1799 price tag. The company's foldable phones have typically come with a significant price premium but that may change in the future, with word on the grapevine claiming Samsung now has a mid-range foldable in the pipes—a Galaxy A Fold, if you would.

Huawei has filed a patent for what it describes as a "detachable electronic device" that can dock onto 2 additional objects with compatible connectors. The new IP's images make it more clear that it is intended to be a "core" of sorts for a display and keyboard that can slot into the machine at the user's discretion. This, then, might be a new take on an emerging modular trend.

Samsung and Naver have partnered to present South Korea's first ever private 5G network. It exists to support a cloud that co-ordinates a new fleet of robots at the latter's new HQ. They are intended to move around the place by themselves, serving the company's employees with their meals, mail and coffee throughout the building.

Anker has launched the 521 Power Strip, which you can use to charge six devices simultaneously. The gadget has three USB-A outlets and two 12 W USB-A ports. Plus, a 30 W USB-C port can charge an iPhone 13 in less than half the time needed when using a standard 5 W charger. Anker suggests that you could use the gadget to declutter a desk, dorm or hotel room.

The Bluetti EB3A Solar Generator is due to launch on June 14th. You can charge the portable power bank via AC, car outlet, or solar panels. There are many ports on the device, including a 100 W USB-C port and a 15 W wireless charging pad. Customers who order the device early may be eligible for a 23% discount.

During a press conference in China, Sharp announced the AQUOS XLED F8. The XLED F8 is a 65-inch Mini LED TV, priced at RMB 16999 (US$2500 approximately). The F8 features a 4K 120Hz display with 2160 local dimming zones and an eye-searing 1800-nit peak brightness. Unfortunately, the XLED F8's launch appears to be limited to China at the moment.

The Xiaomi Mijia Desk Lamp 1S Enhanced is available in China. The LED lamp produces light similar to natural light with up to 520 lm brightness, and you can adjust the brightness and color temperature settings. The gadget is compatible with Apple HomeKit, enabling you to control the device with Siri voice commands.

Hisense has unveiled the Vidda C1 4K Full Color Laser Projector. The gadget is now available to pre-order in China, with deliveries expected to start next month. The projector can produce images up to 150-in wide, with a 240 Hz refresh rate and low latency. Plus, technologies from Dolby and DTS are supported.

The Huawei Smart Screen SE55 Pro and SE65 Pro TVs are available to pre-order in China. The 4K TVs have over one billion colors, and MEMC technology enhances the image. You can connect to the device via an HDMI 2.1 port for ultra-low latency gaming, and a built-in camera can be used for video calls and AR workouts.

Sony has revealed more details about the European release dates of its BRAVIA XR A75K and A90K TVs. Both are now available to pre-order in the UK and will shortly be available in other European countries. The TVs feature the Cognitive Processor XR, plus the new BRAVIA CAM for gesture control.

FriendlyELEC has begun offering the NanoPi R5S, its latest single-board computer. Available with and without a case, the NanoPi R5S has a Rockchip RK3568 SoC, 2 GB of LPDDR4x RAM and expandable storage. The NanoPi R5S is orderable globally from FriendlyElec's website.

The Xiaomi Mi Band 7 is up for sale in China, and it is likely a global variant of the fitness tracker will soon follow. Owners of the Mi Band 6 (aka Mi Smart Band 6) may wonder if an upgrade is worth the money, which will partially depend on how important a continuous blood oxygen measurement feature is to the wearer.

Sony's latest flagship TWS earbuds have been re-released in Japan as new special editions dedicated to the 20th anniversary of Kingdom Hearts. They can be ordered alongside one of the OEM's latest Walkmans, which has been given the same treatment. The 2 new SKUs can be ordered via an official store online.

Powkiddy has decided to copy another popular games console. Unmistakeably, the Powkiddy X51 resembles a Nintendo Switch, albeit one with a much smaller display and without detachable controllers. The Powkiddy X51 has three USB ports, an HDMI port and microSD card expansion, among other features.