Nintendo Switch 2 Officially Announced!!!
After months of speculation, Nintendo has dropped the official Switch 2 announcement with a new trailer. A whole new era for the console has begun. Here’s everything we know so far. New Features Shown in the Trailer The trailer shows some of what the Switch 2 has in store. The new console takes the original Switch and adds to it by: Bigger Screen: A bigger screen for a better gaming experience. Redesigned Joy-Con: The Joy-Con have been redesigned but not much is known about the features. Backward Compatibility: The console will support physical and digital games from the original Switch library but not all games will be compatible which may be a concern for long time fans. It also showed what looked to be a new Mario Kart game but no official confirmation or additional game info was given. Release Window and Future Announcements The trailer did confirm the Switch 2 will launch in 2025 but no specific date. The wait won’t be long though since Nintendo has announced a Nintendo Direct for the new system on April 2, 2025. Global Hands-On Events After the announcement, Nintendo will be hosting hands-on events in select cities around the world where players can try out the new handheld before it launches. Cities: 1.North America 2.New York 3.Los Angeles 4.Dallas 5.Toronto 6.Europe 7.Paris 8.London 9.Milan 10.Berlin 11.Madrid 12.Amsterdam 13.Asia and Oceania 14.Tokyo 15.Seoul 16.Hong Kong 17.Taipei 18.Melbourne Registration opens January 17, 2025 and Nintendo account is required to attend. What’s Next for the Switch 2? The Switch 2 is launching globally later this year. What do you want to hear about-specs, exclusive games, how it will improve upon the original? There is much more to come. April’s Nintendo Direct should answer many of these questions. For now, Switch 2 is looking like the hottest gaming handheld of 2025.
Samsung Is Now Offering Two New Size Options For Its Galaxy Ring
Samsung entered the smart ring market last year with the first Galaxy Ring and wowed the tech world with its sleek design and health focused features. But user feedback said more size options would be needed to reach a wider audience. Samsung listened and is expanding its offerings and big updates are coming at the Galaxy Unpacked event. New Galaxy Ring Sizes Samsung just announced two new sizes, 14 and 15, to the Galaxy Ring lineup after user feedback. These two new sizes will be available from January 22, 2025. Now the Galaxy Ring will have sizes from 5 to 15. Not only are the new sizes about inclusivity but it’s also a competitive advantage for Samsung in the wearables market. Such an expansion of the Galaxy Ring shows the company’s commitment to refine its product based on user feedback and stay ahead in the growing smart ring space. Expansion to More Markets The Ring started rolling out to more markets from July 2024. Since it launched in 38 markets including Australia, Canada, China and Turkey among others, Samsung has added 16 more regions and now the device is available in 53 markets globally. By offering both size options and expanding market availability Samsung wants to compete with the incumbents like Oura Ring which has been in the smart ring space for long. Improved Sleep and Health Features Samsung is also improving the health tracking of the Galaxy Ring. In addition to the hardware updates, the company is updating the Samsung Health app to give users more advanced sleep health features. Some of the new features: Sleep Time Guidance: Individual guidance to help users sleep better. Mindfulness Tracker: Track your mental well-being. Sleep Environment Report: Room temperature, noise levels and other factors that affect sleep. These new features shows how serious Samsung is in providing more than just basic activity tracking for health. Next Gen Prep Not much is known about the second gen Galaxy Ring but speculations are high that it will be announced at the Galaxy Unpacked event. Many are waiting to see what’s next, more battery life and other health metrics. Conclusion New sizes, more markets and more health features. Samsung is solidifying its position in the smart ring space. The Galaxy Ring is becoming a more inclusive and feature rich wearable for all types of users and heating up the wearables market. Now all eyes are on the Galaxy Unpacked event where more updates for the smart ring might be announced. Source
Nintendo Switch 2: Computing Power Revealed Through Leaks
Data mining has potentially uncovered some key details about the Nintendo Switch 2’s computing power and GPU performance. It looks like the new console will have a balance of handheld convenience and docked power to stay relevant in the ever changing gaming landscape. Leaked GPU Performance According to Zachy at Famiboards, the Nintendo Switch 2 will have separate GPU clock speeds for handheld and docked modes. 561 MHz in handheld mode which is 1.71 TFLOPS. 1000 MHz in docked mode which is 3.1 TFLOPS. Its not as powerful as high end desktop GPUs like NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 3060 at 12 TFLOPS, but this isnt even a fair comparison as the RTX 3060 is a desktop GPU. A more relevant comparison would be to the Xbox Series S at 4 TFLOPS. It’s slightly less powerful but for developers the Switch 2 performance is close enough to use Xbox Series S configurations as a baseline for porting games. Hardware Specs and Benefits The Switch 2 is said to use NVIDIA’s Tegra 239 system-on-chip (SoC) which has an 8 core CPU and a GPU based on NVIDIA’s Ampere architecture with 2048 CUDA cores. This brings some big improvements especially in modern rendering capabilities. One big plus over the Xbox Series S is the claimed implementation of NVIDIA’s DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) Super Resolution and Ray Reconstruction on the Nintendo Switch 2. Ray tracing might not be used much since the GPU is not strong enough but DLSS will boost performance in games by upscaling low res graphics to higher res. This will give a more responsive gaming experience by saving system resources. Backward Compatibility and Release Date Another big plus of the Nintendo Switch 2 is its backward compatibility with the current Nintendo Switch library. This will give the new console instant access to a huge library of games so existing users can easily switch. Nintendo will release more info by the end of March 2025 which is at the end of their fiscal year. With leaks and rumors coming out daily the anticipation is building for an official announcement. 1 A Bright Future for the Nintendo Switch 2 The Nintendo Switch 2 is the bridge between portability and power. Maybe not as powerful as the Xbox Series S. But with a few features and DLSS support there’s hope for gamers around the world; so the world waits for Nintendo’s next move. Source Images: @91Mobiles
Apple Watch SE To Get A Redesign, Watch Ultra 3 Will Feature BP Monitor
Fans of the Apple smartwatches line their calendars every September, knowing the Apple Watch sees its refresh. But the latest Power On newsletter from veteran tech journalist Mark Gurman may shine some light on exactly what that might entail for Apple’s wearable lines. Let’s take a closer look. Apple Watch SE: New Design The entry-level Apple Watch SE was last updated in 2022 and is due for a design refresh. Details remain scant, but the company will probably keep the SE 3’s design after the Series 7 to Series 9 models, following tradition. That would move the SE into modern style while still making sure it stays more budget-friendly. Apple Watch Series 11: Incremental Changes After the big design refresh that came with the Series 10, the upcoming Series 11 models will likely enjoy only minor casing revisions. Though the new cases might essentially look indistinguishable from their predecessors, word is that the Series 11 will boast many additional hardware updates, especially in performance and functionality rather than a design refresh. Apple Watch Ultra 3: Connectivity Upgrades The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is supposed to look the same as its predecessor, launched in 2022. Still, Gurman suggests some significant hardware updates, such as satellite connectivity and 5G RedCap support. The latter is a new technology that reduces 5G bandwidth for non-phone devices, which could mean better connectivity for outdoor adventurers and fitness enthusiasts. Groundbreaking Health Features Blood pressure monitoring has been the most yearned-for feature across the lineup. First said to be coming with Series 10, this had been delayed due to some reliability problems during test courses. Apple seems ready to launch this revolutionary health feature in 2025, probably setting a new record when it comes to wearable health technology. Additionally, it’s said to be working on bringing AI workouts to the smartwatch platform, which would line up with plans to push deeper into health and fitness features in the medium term and make the Apple Watch a far more complete wellness device. Wareable’s Take This adds credibility to the claims, considering Mark Gurman’s track record in predicting Apple’s plans. The refresh of the design of the SE model makes sense since it has an outdated look. But for the Series 11 and Ultra 3, their rumored upgrades might be a bit underwhelming for some enthusiasts, especially considering the unchanged looks of both models. The Ultra series, which started in 2022, has missed a major refresh since its launch. Many were expecting a big refresh in 2025, but the rumored upgrades seem more incremental and closer to what one would expect from a normal yearly refresh cycle. What’s Next? Of course, these details paint a small picture of what Apple will offer, but much is left to question. As has often been the case with updates, features and designs can change in the upcoming months. Fans of Apple will have to wait until September for an official unveiling. Keep watching for the latest on the Apple Watch as more rumors and details emerge over the coming months. Source
iPhone 17 Air Will Be Thinner Than Previously Anticipated
A Thin Replacement for the Underperforming iPhone 16 Plus Apple is reportedly working on an iPhone 17 Air, an ultra-thin version that will replace the underperforming iPhone 16 Plus. It is not a lonely move from the company, as it once attempted refreshing its lineup by replacing the ill-received iPhone Mini with the Plus variant. The iPhone 17 Air will be Apple’s thinnest phone yet, even beating the 6.9mm thickness of the iPhone 6. More recent rumors-including those from prolific analyst Ming-Chi Kuo-indicate that it could go as low as 5.5mm at its thinnest point, pushing the boundaries of phone design to a whole new level. Challenges of Ultra-Thin Design That’s no small achievement, and rumor has it Apple has been dealing with some design issues to make this extreme thinness possible. Kuo says that this minimal thickness can be so less that it could allow the utilization of eSIM technology only since there would not be enough room for a physical SIM card slot. While this technology is more common in the U.S., that is not necessarily the case globally, which may raise more issues for Apple internationally. But the “thinnest part” terminology used in the leaks suggests this 5.5mm thickness may not apply to the entire device, which probably means the phone will sport a camera bump, a common design element in modern smartphones. For context, the iPhone 16 measures 7.8mm at its thinnest point, but the camera bump brings the overall thickness to 11.28mm. If the iPhone 17 Air follows a similar pattern, that camera protrusion could make the device a fair bit thicker even if the base design remains ultra-slim. Rumored Features and Sacrifices To achieve this slim profile, the iPhone 17 Air will reportedly use only a single rear camera lens, compared to the dual- and triple-lens arrangements that have dominated most recent iPhones. That’s cause for some concern, but Apple has managed to deliver great 2x zoom on non-Pro models using advanced pixel-binning technology in the past. But the sacrifices may not stop at the camera. Kuo thinks the iPhone 17 Air will have “downgraded components paired with a high price.” That’s a mix that could make the device less attractive to consumers, especially if performance or features are noticeably sacrificed. Price and Availability This ends those very early rumors that had the iPhone 17 Air as Apple’s most expensive handset. Instead, it appears the device will slot in for the $899 iPhone 16 Plus within Apple’s lineup. Of course, that still leaves open the possibility of a general price hike across all iPhone models in 2025. The iPhone 17 Air is rumored to be announced in the latter half of 2025, which perfectly fits into Apple’s usual September releases. If all goes well, it could bring a whole new perspective to ultra-thin smartphone design, but it has yet to be seen if its compromises balance out its innovative form factor. Conclusion The iPhone 17 Air is perhaps Apple’s boldest attempt at making an ultra-slim smartphone. Although its innovative design may garner some attention, challenges like reduced features and the limited adoption of eSIMs will likely dampen its success. As the tech world awaits further details, one thing is for sure: the iPhone 17 Air could be the beginning of a whole new era in how Apple approaches the design of its smartphones. Source
New iPad Air Models To Launch This Year With M4
Apple will put the M4 chip in its iPad Air lineup so the series above the base model will get an upgrade. Until now the M4 chip was in the top of the line 11- and 13-inch iPad Pros so the Air will get big performance and efficiency boosts without a price increase. iPad Air Upgrade to Get M4 Chip According to Mark Gurman at Bloomberg the new iPad Air will keep the current 11- and 13-inch designs but swap out the M2 chip for an M4. The Air lineup currently starts at $549 for the 11-inch with 128GB and $699 for the 13-inch so the M4 models may keep the same pricing. This will be competitive pricing and a great value proposition for the M4 chip. Why M4 Matters M4 is a huge leap forward for Apple’s silicon. The chip is fabbed on TSMC’s 2nd gen 3nm process and is up to 45% faster in some benchmarks (Geekbench 6) than the M2. M4 is faster and more power efficient than M3 Pro and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite. M4 supports ARM’s Scalable Matrix Extension which makes complex tasks easier. Good for productivity and gaming; older AAA titles like Death Stranding run smooth on this chip. Features and Limitations M4 will give the Air more performance but the tablet won’t have premium features like OLED and ProMotion which are exclusive to the pro models. These omissions will keep the iPad Air cheaper and more consumer friendly. Apple skipped the M3 chip for the Air and that’s a good sign as the M3 was a transition chip. By going to the M4 Apple is positioning the iPad Air as a powerful and efficient device in its segment. Market Impact As long as Apple keeps the Air at $599 for the M4 models this new lineup will cut through the noise. Big performance and energy efficiency at a very competitive price makes the iPad Air a great option for those who want high performance without the premium of the iPad Pro. Design and display stays the same but with M4 power the iPad Air will remain one of the best values in its segment. That’s just another proof that Apple is bringing the latest tech to all products that reach the most people. Via
OnePlus Open 2: What We Know So Far
Introduction According to the latest rumors, the OnePlus Open 2 won’t be out until July 2025. Being the successor of the first gen OnePlus foldable which was launched last October 2023, Open 2 must have big updates in design and performance. Shared Designs Between OnePlus and Oppo OnePlus is a subsidiary of Oppo under BBK Electronics and they often share designs and features. BBK Electronics is also the parent company of other popular brands like Vivo, Realme and iQOO. So it’s not surprising that the OnePlus Open 2 will take inspiration from Oppo’s upcoming book-style foldable called the Find N 5. Ultra Thin Design with Premium Materials According to the usually reliable leaker Digital Chat Station, the Oppo Find N5 will come with a titanium body so it will be thinner than any folded device in existence. If true, the 9.2mm when folded and 4.35mm when unfolded record of the Honor Magic V3 will fall. That ultra thin design will likely be on the OnePlus Open 2 and will make it one of the most beautiful and pocketable foldables out there. Advanced Camera and Performance Upgrades Other info from another leaker, Smart Pikachu, the Oppo Find N5 will have a Hasselblad triple camera system with a periscope lens which may be on the Open 2. This device is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor which will give it class leading performance in multitasking, gaming and productivity. Bigger Battery and Class Leading Features For example the Oppo Find N5 will have a bigger battery, up to 6000mAh from 4805mAh of its predecessor. If true then that means the OnePlus Open 2 will have it too which will translate to longer usage time. Other features may include satellite connectivity and wireless charging. Competing with Samsung Galaxy Z Fold The OnePlus Open 2 if based on the Oppo Find N5 will seriously give Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold a run for its money. In a slim size, with high performance hardware and lots of premium features the Open 2 will be one of the strong contender in the foldable market. Launch Timeline The OnePlus Open 2 will be out in mid 2025 but the Oppo Find N5 may be announced as early as February 2025. That will give us a sneak peek of what the Open 2 will have and for the fans to see the design and features ahead of time. Conclusion It looks like the OnePlus Open 2 will be one of those foldables with latest technology and not compromising on design. Feature packed with titanium body, Hasselblad cameras and elite processor-Snapdragon 8 Elite it seems to be rewriting the spec sheet of foldable devices. And till that time comes we will have to see Oppo Find N5 to get a glimpse of what’s coming: Source Image Credit: Smartprix
iPhone 17 Pro: Smaller Camera Sensor and New Design Leaked
iPhone 17 Pro – Camera Sensor Changes Future models of the Apple iPhone 17 Pro are rumored to sport a smaller primary camera sensor than the ongoing iPhone 16 Pro series. If a recent leak by the Weibo-based source Digital Chat Station is anything to go by, the upcoming models will pack a 1/1.3-inch sensor for the main 48MP camera in place of the 1/1.28-inch sensor utilized on the iPhone 16 Pro. The difference between the two sensor sizes is relatively minor. The 1/1.28-inch sensor is a bit larger, but the real-world effect on everyday photography will be negligible. Apple will very likely adopt other enhancements in the camera system to ensure that overall image quality remains the same or even improves. Three 48MP Cameras for the First Time Other changes to come with the iPhone 17 Pro series is an unprecedented trio of 48MP cameras. This update will offer more flexibility to end-users across a variety of photo and video shooting tasks, allowing users to have higher-resolution experiences from capture to creation. Why the Smaller Sensor? A possible reason for a reduced sensor size may be due to space constraints that come with the redesigned camera bump. The rumor claims that Apple will move away from the glass camera bump utilized in the predecessor and settle for an increased, aluminum rectangular-style camera bump on the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro variants. Reports from sources in the supply chain and leaks out of China point to a new camera bump, oval-shaped and elongated, with a smoother transition to the rear cover. Given the design change, a smaller sensor may be used to fit the updated module in the compact form factor of the device. Design Overhaul: A Return to Aluminum The iPhone 17 Pro design changes by Apple are part of a broader return to using aluminum in its construction. The move is expected to make the device more durable and visually distinct from previous models. With the larger camera bump, combined with the aluminum material, this may offer a premium look and feel while improving heat dissipation for better performance. Launch Timeline and Expectations The iPhone 17 series is expected to arrive in mid-September 2025, according to Apple’s traditional release schedule. With a smaller camera sensor, redesigned bump, and three 48MP cameras, the iPhone 17 Pro models promise a mix of innovation and refinement. Although the shrinkage in sensor size may raise several question marks for some, Apple’s history of balancing hardware and software improvements means these new devices will most likely perform excellently. The new design and advanced camera system are likely to appeal to photography enthusiasts and tech-savvy consumers alike. As the launch date draws closer, more details about the iPhone 17 Pro are likely to emerge, giving more insight into the next flagship lineup from Apple. Source
Nubia Music 2 Announced For Audiophiles
ZTE has launched its latest budget phone, the Nubia Music 2, for music lovers who want great audio without the hefty price tag. While the phone has great audio features, the overall specs may not be for those who want high end performance. Great Audio Features Nubia Music 2 stands out with its audio focus. According to ZTE’s official website, the phone has 2.1 channel audio system with 3 full range speakers. It has DTS:X Ultra and can go up to 95dB max volume. It also has spatial audio and 3.5mm headphone jack, a rare feature in modern phones. Noticeably, this phone ditched the dual headphone jack of its predecessor and went with a single 3.5mm jack instead. ZTE probably thought the dual jack was just a gimmick. Hardware and Display Being a budget phone, Nubia Music 2 is powered by Unisoc T7200 (also known as Unisoc T606) with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. This combo may not be top notch but should be enough for basic usage and media playback. It has a 6.7 inch HD+ LCD display with 120Hz refresh rate, smooth visual experience. The resolution is standard for budget phones but the 120Hz refresh rate is a nice bonus. Battery and Charging Nubia Music 2 has 5,000mAh battery, decent for daily use. However, 10W wired charging is slow compared to industry standard. Camera For camera, Nubia Music 2 has 50-megapixel main camera and 5-megapixel front camera. The cameras are not great but enough for casual photography and video calls. Additional Features The phone has modern connectivity options like Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, Wi-Fi and VoLTE. Security is via side mounted fingerprint sensor. It runs on “Android U” which is speculated to be Android 14. Upgrading to Android 15 seems unlikely since the phone is budget but it’s not a big deal for the target audience. Price and Availability The phone is available in Malaysia for around $85 (€75) in Shopee and Lazada. It comes in two color options: Melody Wave and Pop Art, perfect for younger and style conscious users. Verdict Nubia Music 2 is a music focused budget phone with great audio and big display. Not great hardware and camera but affordable and audio focused so it’s a good option for music lovers on a budget. Source
Galaxy S25 Slim To Also Feature A Snapdragon 8 Elite With Overclocked Performance Cores
Samsung is going to add not three but four models in its Galaxy S25 series, which it is going to do with the inclusion of a new entrant called the Galaxy S25 Slim. For the very first time, this will be a “Slim” member of the flagship lineup from the Korean tech giant. Early benchmark leaks have shown some interesting inclusions but also some probable performance trade-offs. Slim form factor meets powerful hardware. The Galaxy S25 Slim, model number SM-S937U, has now cropped up in some benchmark tests that confirm the presence of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. Its high-performance processor comes with performance cores clocking in at a blistering 4.47GHz and efficiency cores at 3.53GHz. And despite the phone’s svelte frame, the S25 Slim packs the same amount of memory as the base Galaxy S25-12GB of RAM. Only the Galaxy S25 Ultra is likely to differ with up to 16GB of RAM. Performance: Impressive Specs, Disappointing Results While the Galaxy S25 Slim boasts high-end specifications, its performance in Geekbench 6 tests leaves much to be desired. The device scores 3,005 in single-core tests, slightly outperforming the base Galaxy S25. However, in multi-core tests, it manages only 6,945 points, significantly lower than expected for a device featuring the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. This performance was probably because of the slim design of the S25 Slim, whereby the small chassis overheats with this powerful processor inside, throttling its performance when doing intensive tasks. Thin Design: A Double-Edged Sword It seems that Samsung’s decision to go with a svelte form factor has taken its toll on the device’s sustained performance capability. While the Galaxy S25 Slim is certainly stylish and light, it doesn’t seem to handle heat very well, which curbs its potential in more resource-intensive applications. Notably, Geekbench 6 gives the output for hardware capabilities for only a very short time during tests; sustained performance reflecting real-world usability may be different when the device is tested under various conditions. Galaxy S25 Launch: What to Expect With the official launch of the Galaxy S25 lineup scheduled for January 22, Samsung is getting ready. This is where things will get serious, and a proper idea about the real-world performance of the Galaxy S25 Slim and its siblings will be obtained. The Slim variant will be joined by the standard Galaxy S25, S25+, and the high-end S25 Ultra in the series. Final Thoughts The Galaxy S25 Slim is going to bring a whole new dimension to Samsung’s flagship series, pairing high-end hardware with a sleek design. But according to early benchmarks, this could well come at a performance cost. Until an official reveal at least, a guess is as good as anyone’s on whether or not the Galaxy S25 Slim will be able to balance style and substance. Keep watching for the latest on Samsung’s January 22 launch, where the full capability of the Galaxy S25 series will be unleashed. Source