Gaming tablets have always occupied this weird middle ground between smartphones and laptops, never quite knowing what they want to be. Most manufacturers either go full throttle with aggressive designs that look like they belong in a sci-fi movie, or they play it safe with boring slabs that could put you to sleep. The REDMAGIC Astra Gaming Tablet tries to walk this tightrope.

At 9.06 inches, the REDMAGIC Astra presents itself as something different, a gaming device that doesn’t scream for attention but whispers confidence instead. It’s compact enough to slip into a backpack without making you look like you’re carrying a small TV, yet powerful enough to handle whatever you throw at it. But does this tablet actually deliver on its promise of being both a serious gaming machine and a device you’d be proud to use in public? We give it a spin to find out.

Designer: REDMAGIC

Aesthetics

The REDMAGIC Astra represents one of those rare Android tablets that actually gets gaming aesthetics right without going completely overboard. While other gaming devices look like they were designed by someone who watched too many Transformers movies, the Astra opts for restraint. The flat design eliminates that annoying camera bump that makes tablets wobble on desks, creating clean lines that wouldn’t look out of place anywhere.

The “transparent” metal body sounds way cooler than it actually turns out to be. It’s basically just a small window at the top of the device, which is marketing speak for a tiny see-through section. But honestly, it works better than expected. This design choice adds just enough visual interest without making the tablet look like a prop from a cyberpunk movie. The aviation aluminum frame feels premium in your hands, giving you that satisfying weight that screams quality.

What really sets the REDMAGIC Astra apart are the configurable RGB lighting elements strategically placed on the REDMAGIC branding and within the turbofan assembly. Unlike those garish gaming laptops that light up like Christmas trees, these lights can be customized or turned off completely. You can match your mood, your setup, or just turn them off when you want to look professional during video calls. It’s that kind of flexibility that shows thoughtful design.

The color options are refreshingly simple, with Eclipse (black) and Starfrost (silver) variants that both look sophisticated. The flat design philosophy extends to every surface, creating a device that sits flush on tables and feels comfortable in your hands. Even the bezels, at just 4.9mm, manage to look intentional rather than cheap, framing the display without wasting precious screen real estate.

The overall aesthetic strikes that perfect balance between “I’m serious about gaming” and “I’m not embarrassed to use this in public.” It’s the kind of design that makes you want to show it off to friends, but not in a flashy way. The REDMAGIC Astra looks like it belongs in the hands of someone who knows what they’re doing, whether that’s dominating a mobile game or presenting in a boardroom.

Ergonomics

At 370 grams and just 6.9mm thick, the REDMAGIC Astra feels almost impossibly light for what it packs inside. You can easily hold this thing with one hand for basic tasks, though gaming naturally requires both hands for any serious action. The weight distribution feels perfectly balanced, preventing that awkward hand fatigue you get with poorly designed tablets during extended sessions.

The real genius lies in the off-center USB port placement, which might seem like a weird design choice until you actually start gaming. This positioning allows you to charge the tablet while playing in horizontal orientation without the cable getting in the way of your hands. It’s one of those small details that shows REDMAGIC actually thinks about how people use their devices in real life, rather than just making them look pretty.

Physical button placement follows conventional tablet wisdom, so you won’t spend time hunting for the power button or volume controls. The Magic Key adds a nice touch of customization, defaulting to Game Space access but letting you assign it to whatever function you use most. The surface textures on the aluminum frame provide just enough grip without making the device feel rough or cheap. Everything feels deliberate and well-considered.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, boosted by REDMAGIC’s RedCore R3 Pro gaming chip, delivers the kind of performance that makes you forget you’re using a tablet. Real-world gaming tests show this thing can handle demanding titles without breaking a sweat, maintaining smooth frame rates even during those intense battle royale moments when everything’s exploding on screen. It’s the kind of power that makes other tablets look like toys.

The REDMAGIC Astra stands out as one of the few tablets with a built-in turbofan, complete with configurable speed settings. You can hear it working, but it’s not obnoxiously loud like some gaming laptops. The fan does its job keeping things cool, though the device still runs noticeably warm during intensive gaming sessions. It’s not uncomfortably hot, just warm enough to remind you there’s serious hardware working inside that aluminum frame.

The 2.4K OLED display with its 165Hz refresh rate makes everything look buttery smooth. Colors pop with that OLED richness that LCD screens just can’t match, and the high refresh rate means fast-paced games feel incredibly responsive. The 90.1% screen-to-body ratio creates an immersive experience that draws you into whatever you’re playing, while the 1,600 nits peak brightness ensures visibility even in bright sunlight.

Gaming performance really shines with features like frame interpolation technology that makes games look smoother than they actually are. The Game Space software provides quick access to performance tweaks, screen recording, and other gaming-focused tools without cluttering up the main interface. It’s the kind of thoughtful software integration that enhances the experience rather than getting in the way of what you’re trying to do.

Fast charging lives up to the hype, getting the massive 8,200mAh battery from zero to full in about 71 minutes when using the proper 35W charging brick. That’s genuinely impressive for such a large battery, and it means you’re not tethered to a wall outlet for hours when you need a quick top-up between gaming sessions. No wireless charging, though, which isn’t that unusual for a tablet.

The cameras do their job without trying to be something they’re not. The 13MP rear and 9MP front cameras handle video calls and casual photos adequately, which is exactly what you’d expect from a gaming-focused tablet. They’re not going to replace your smartphone camera, but they don’t need to. This tablet knows what it is and doesn’t pretend to be a photography powerhouse.

Sustainability

The integrated turbofan, while great for performance, introduces some legitimate concerns about long-term durability. Moving parts always represent potential failure points, and the IP54 rating provides only basic protection against dust and water. For a device with active cooling, you’d really want better protection against particles that could gum up the works over time. It’s a trade-off between performance and longevity.

The build quality appears solid, with premium materials that should withstand normal use without showing excessive wear. The aluminum frame and glass construction feel robust, though the specialized gaming features might require more careful handling than your average tablet. Repairability remains a question mark, especially regarding the cooling system and internal components that make this device special. That turbofan could become a costly repair down the line.

REDMAGIC hasn’t committed to any specific software update schedule for the Astra, which creates uncertainty about how long this tablet will stay current. Without guaranteed update timelines, you’re essentially gambling on the company’s goodwill for future Android versions and security patches. This approach feels outdated when other manufacturers are promising years of support for premium devices. It’s honestly disappointing for a tablet at this price point.

Value

Pricing starts at $499 for the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage model, jumping to $649 for 16GB/512GB and $849 for the top-tier 24GB/1TB configuration. These aren’t budget prices by any stretch, but they reflect the specialized hardware and premium materials packed inside. You’re paying flagship tablet money for flagship tablet performance, plus gaming-specific features you won’t find elsewhere in this form factor.

Compared to mainstream tablets in similar price ranges, the REDMAGIC Astra offers unique gaming-focused features that justify the premium. The active cooling, high-refresh OLED display, and gaming-optimized software provide value that generic tablets simply can’t match. If you’re serious about mobile gaming, these features become essential rather than nice-to-have extras. The question becomes whether you actually need what this tablet offers.

The device proves worth every penny for users who fully utilize its gaming capabilities and appreciate the thoughtful design choices. However, casual users looking for general tablet functionality might find better value in mainstream alternatives that prioritize different features. The REDMAGIC Astra succeeds as a specialized tool for dedicated mobile gamers willing to pay for performance and unique capabilities that you can’t get anywhere else.

Verdict

The REDMAGIC Astra Gaming Tablet successfully navigates the tricky balance between gaming functionality and mainstream appeal. Its thoughtful design choices, from the restrained aesthetics to the practical port placement, show a genuine understanding of what users actually want from a gaming tablet. While it’s not perfect, particularly regarding sustainability concerns and premium pricing, the device delivers on its core gaming promises with surprising style and sophistication.

For design-conscious users seeking serious mobile gaming performance, the REDMAGIC Astra represents a compelling option that doesn’t compromise aesthetic sensibilities. Its combination of premium materials, thoughtful ergonomics, and powerful hardware creates a device that feels equally at home in professional environments and gaming setups. The REDMAGIC Astra proves that gaming devices can be both functional and beautiful, setting a new standard for what portable gaming should actually look like.

The post REDMAGIC Astra Gaming Tablet Review: Compact Power, Premium Design first appeared on Yanko Design.

When it comes to all-weather camping, I would seldom choose a ground tent over a roof tent option or a camper. But then many among us would give up anything for a good tent, and that’s who the all-new T4 Overland EXP Hub tent is built for. This all-weather tent from Gazelle takes on the competition to revive the four-season camping trend, favoring ground tents for a multitude of reasons, as listed in the article below.

Primarily, the Gazelle T4 Overland EXP Hub Tent is designed and built to extend your camping season from summer months to the rains and even the harsh, snow-covered winter. For this, we learn that the tent features a rugged design and a quick setup, making it an easy-to-use and durable ground tent for all types and all-season camping adventures.

Designer: Gazelle

As a rugged tent, the T4 Overland EXP Hub is made to handle the elements and present an option for enthusiasts who value setup convenience and foremost, comfort from their rig. Hassle-free setup comprising an integrated hub frame allows the tent to be pitched in minutes. The durable yet lightweight tent features a fiberglass frame and poles that come pre-assembled and fully connected, allowing the tent to be fixed and set up in under 90 seconds. This is made of an X-frame roof and a connected central hub that, when pulled up together from a nice structure in seconds, the loops can then be secured with guy lines and stakes for stability, and the provided Foundation Feet can be installed for extra firmness when staking out the tent. As smooth as the setup, taking down the tent is equally effortless.

Once it’s in place, the Gazelle T4 Overland EXP Hub Tent offers a spacious living area measuring 61 sq ft inside with a standing height of 78 inches, apt for a family of four. Made from 300 denier Oxford polyester, its tub-style floor (which is removable and washable) blocks out ground moisture, keeping the tent dry, while the 210 denier Ripstop polyester shell and rainfly rated at 2000MM HH ensure waterproofing, and shield the occupants from rain and snow. An interesting aspect of the tent is its power cord port and pair of closable vents for AC and heating.

The interior of the T4 Overland EXP Hub Tent has ample storage slots and built-in pockets for your gear. So, when you’re inside the tent, things are well sorted and you have a clean living space for yourself. The convenience of the Gazelle is further enhanced with its water-resistant duffel bag; it folds into itself for easy storage and transportation. The 57-inch-long bag can fit in the backseat or trunk of most cars and should be good to tag along no matter where your next adventure takes you. You can get all this for a starting price of $600.

The post Gazelle’s all-season T4 Overland EXP Hub is super durable ground tent that sets up in seconds first appeared on Yanko Design.

Starting your culinary journey shouldn’t require emptying your wallet or cluttering your countertops with unnecessary tools and gadgets. The most accomplished home cooks understand that delicious meals emerge from mastering a few essential tools rather than collecting every kitchen contraption imaginable. These five kitchen essentials feature an intersection of clever design, practical functionality, and accessible pricing that transforms novice cooks into confident culinary creators.

From Japanese craftsmanship that brings centuries of blade-making tradition to your cutting board, to innovative designs that transform how we interact with our cooking tools, this collection offers both aesthetic appeal and daily usability. The beauty of these selections lies not just in their individual capabilities but in how they work together to create a cohesive cooking experience that grows with your skills and confidence in the kitchen.

1. Iron Frying Plate

The Iron Frying Plate breaks down the barrier between cooking vessel and serving dish. This innovative tool transforms the traditional frying pan into a multifunctional piece that serves both as your cooking surface and your plate. Crafted from 1.6mm-thick mill-scale steel, this beautifully engineered piece brings restaurant-quality searing capabilities to your home kitchen while maintaining rustic elegance that makes it worthy of your dining table. The detachable wooden handle system allows seamless transition from stovetop to table.

The mill scale steel surface develops natural non-stick properties through use, becoming more seasoned and effective with each cooking session. The rust-resistant finish means you can focus on perfecting culinary techniques rather than worrying about maintenance complexities that often discourage beginner cooks. Working with quality steel cookware teaches essential techniques like proper preheating, temperature control, and natural seasoning development.

Click Here to Buy Now: $69.00

What we like

• Eliminates the need for separate serving dishes, reducing cleanup time and kitchen clutter.
• Develops natural non-stick properties through use, improving performance over time.

What we dislike

• Requires proper seasoning and maintenance to prevent rust and maintain performance.
• Limited to single-portion or small-batch cooking due to compact size.

2. Precision Chef Kitchen Scissors

Kitchen scissors are often an afterthought in most home kitchens, relegated to opening packages rather than fulfilling their true potential as precision cutting instruments. These Precision Chef Kitchen Scissors elevate the humble shear into an elegant culinary tool that handles everything from delicate herb trimming to robust meat preparation. The specially designed curved serrated blade creates clean cuts through tough connective tissues, while the ergonomic structure ensures comfortable extended use during lengthy prep sessions.

The black oxidation finish serves both aesthetic and practical purposes, creating a fade-resistant surface that maintains its professional appearance through years of heavy use. This finish process goes beyond mere cosmetic enhancement, actually improving the durability and longevity of the steel while creating a distinctive visual identity that complements modern kitchen aesthetics. These scissors transform tedious food preparation tasks into efficient, enjoyable processes.

Click Here to Buy Now: $69.00

What we like

• Curved serrated blade design makes cutting through tough meats safer and more efficient.
• Durable black finish resists fading and deterioration while looking professionally sleek.

What we dislike

• Specialized design may require learning proper technique to maximize effectiveness.
• Higher price point compared to basic kitchen scissors may stretch tight budgets.

3. OXO Good Grips Salad Dressing Shaker

The OXO Good Grips Salad Dressing Shaker turns the often messy and inconsistent process of creating homemade dressings into a foolproof operation that encourages culinary creativity. This ingeniously designed vessel allows you to combine oils, vinegars, herbs, and seasonings with perfect emulsification every time, eliminating the guesswork that often leads beginners to rely on store-bought alternatives.

The watertight construction with its innovative flip-top lever ensures zero spills during mixing and pouring, while the compact 1.5-cup capacity provides the perfect portion size for most salad preparations without creating waste. Crafted from BPA-free Tritan material, this shaker combines durability with complete transparency, allowing you to monitor the mixing process and achieve consistent results. The break-resistant construction withstands daily use while remaining dishwasher-safe for effortless cleanup. The dual-function lever flips back for smooth pouring and forward for secure sealing, making storage simple and leak-proof.

Click Here to Buy Now

What we like

• Watertight design with an innovative lever prevents spills during mixing and pouring
• BPA-free Tritan construction offers durability while remaining completely dishwasher-safe

What we dislike

• Single-purpose design may not justify counter space for minimalist kitchen setups
• Compact capacity requires multiple batches when preparing dressings for larger gatherings

4. Black Kitchen Knives

Crafted in Seki, Japan, a region renowned for centuries of blade-making excellence, these Black Kitchen Knives offer the best of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary design sensibilities. Each blade is created through a meticulous hand-forging process that ensures unique character while maintaining consistent performance standards. The molybdenum vanadium steel core receives a titanium coating that creates the impressive black finish while enhancing durability and corrosion resistance far beyond what standard knife steel can achieve.

The full-scale double-edged construction provides superior balance and cutting performance. Working with professionally crafted knives transforms your relationship with food preparation from chore to craft. The superior edge retention means you spend less time sharpening and more time developing proper cutting techniques that improve both speed and safety in the kitchen.

Click Here to Buy Now: $99.00

What we like

• Hand-crafted Japanese steel construction ensures exceptional sharpness and edge retention.
• Titanium coating provides superior durability while creating a distinctive professional appearance.

What we dislike

• Premium materials and craftsmanship result in a higher initial investment than budget alternatives.
• Requires proper maintenance knowledge to preserve performance and prevent damage.

5. Playful Palm Grater

The Playful Palm Grater gives the traditional box grater a makeover through a lens of ergonomic innovation and whimsical design. Crafted from a single aluminum alloy plate and shaped to nestle perfectly in your palm, this compact tool transforms the often awkward task of grating into an intuitive, controlled process. The paper-curl aesthetic brings unexpected delight to routine kitchen tasks while the thoughtful sizing ensures you maintain complete control over the grating process.

Available in multiple vibrant colors, this grater allows you to inject personality into your kitchen toolkit while maintaining serious functionality. The single-piece construction eliminates the joints and seams where food particles typically accumulate in traditional graters, making cleanup significantly easier and more hygienic. This palm-sized grater excels in situations where precision and control matter most. You can grate ingredients directly over dishes with pinpoint accuracy, eliminating waste while ensuring even distribution of flavors.

Click Here to Buy 2 & Get 10% off: $45.00 $50.00

What we like

• Ergonomic palm design provides superior control and comfort during grating tasks.
• Single-piece aluminum construction ensures easy cleaning and long-lasting durability.

What we dislike

• Compact size limits efficiency when processing large quantities of ingredients.
• Novelty design may not appeal to cooks who prefer traditional kitchen tool aesthetics.

Creating your kitchen sanctuary doesn’t need you to sacrifice style or break your budget. These five kitchen tools combine smart design and professional performance, while co-existing with accessible price points. From the dual-purpose elegance of the Iron Frying Plate to the precision engineering of Japanese black knives, these tools serve multiple roles while maintaining a commendable aesthetic appeal.

Building Your Culinary Foundation On A Budget

The beauty of this collection lies in its synergy. Together, these tools cover every fundamental cooking technique while teaching proper methods through superior materials and construction. The playful palm grater encourages fresh ingredient experimentation, while the dressing shaker transforms simple salads into culinary statements.

Quality scissors and knives build confidence through reliable performance. Investing in well-designed essentials creates a foundation that grows with your skills. These tools convert your kitchen into a workspace and showpiece, inspiring creativity while delivering results that make every meal feel like an achievement worth celebrating.

The post Best Budget Kitchen Tools For Beginner Chefs: 5 Must-Haves Under $100 first appeared on Yanko Design.

Stress relief gadgets usually look like what they are: cheap plastic toys designed to be squeezed, spun, or clicked until they inevitably break. Most fidget devices prioritize function over form, leaving you with something that works but looks completely out of place on your desk or bookshelf.

The TROPHY concept takes a completely different approach to mental care products by disguising stress relief as sculptural art. This portable device looks more like a modern art piece or an elegant trophy than a typical fidget toy, making it something you’d actually want to display in your home or office.

Designer: Mingi Cho

TROPHY works by combining the proven benefits of tactile stimulation with intentional design aesthetics. Users can hold, grip, and manipulate both the trophy-shaped object and its textured metal stand, using physical movement and touch to help manage negative emotions and stress. The concept leverages acupressure principles and the playful elements found in fidget toys, but packages everything in a form that feels sophisticated rather than childish.

Research supports the effectiveness of tactile fidget tools for emotional regulation. Studies have shown that stimulating the tactile system can help improve sensory processing along with related emotions and behaviors, particularly for people dealing with anxiety or attention challenges. Physical movement, even small tactile actions, releases dopamine and norepinephrine, which can increase attention and help sharpen focus.

The analog approach feels refreshing in a world saturated with app-based wellness solutions and digital mental health tools. Instead of requiring screens, notifications, or connectivity, TROPHY relies entirely on physical interaction and sensory feedback. The device provides responsive communication through vibration, haptics, and rotation, creating a more immediate and tangible experience than smartphone-based stress management apps.

What makes TROPHY particularly clever is how it addresses the social stigma often associated with stress relief tools. Traditional fidget toys can look unprofessional or childish in adult environments, but this sculptural approach allows users to engage in stress management without drawing unwanted attention or feeling self-conscious about their coping mechanisms.

The concept’s tagline, “Things that never come back,” hints at the temporary nature of stress and negative emotions. By providing a physical outlet for these feelings, TROPHY encourages users to acknowledge their stress, engage with it through touch and movement, then let it go rather than carrying it around mentally.

The textured surfaces on both the trophy and its stand invite exploration and repeated interaction, much like worry stones or prayer beads that people have used for centuries to manage anxiety and promote mindfulness. This tactile engagement gives the mind something concrete to focus on, creating a meditative break from overwhelming thoughts or emotions.

TROPHY demonstrates how thoughtful design can elevate everyday wellness tools from functional gadgets into meaningful objects that people actually want to use and keep around. By combining proven stress relief techniques with sculptural aesthetics, this concept shows that mental care products don’t have to sacrifice style for effectiveness.

The post TROPHY Mental Care Concept Transforms Stress Into Sculptural Art first appeared on Yanko Design.

I transitioned to GaN bricks last year and never looked back. One power brick, powerful enough to charge my laptop, phone, iPad, AND my watch – all at the same time. It just made sense. Not just because having a 4-in-1 charger cuts the cable and plug/socket headache… but it makes travel EASY. As someone who has to unpack his laptop bag every time he walks through security at an airport, the idea of pulling out 5 different chargers only to then put them all back one by one was just extra trouble than I needed. Now, I have one power brick, three cables, and enough juice to take care of all my devices. However, there was still a problem – the GaN Charger I had only came with a US plug layout. The Voyager 205 solves that.

Hear me out – 205W power output, 8 ports for all your devices, AND a universal design that works with ALL plug types. The Voyager 205 is compact, built for travel, and is powerful enough to singlehandedly power two laptops at once. Slip it into your backpack along with 2-3 cables and you don’t need to carry a single charger around with you. This $89 GaN power brick will juice your phone, laptop, tablet, drone, Nintendo Switch, power bank, smartwatch, AND your TWS earbuds… all at the same time.

Designer: TESSAN

Click Here to Buy Now: $89 $128 ($39 off). Hurry, only a few units left!

“Our journey into travel adapter innovation was never just business – it was personal,” say the folks at TESSAN… and it shows. I love my GaN adapter, but I struggled with plug points in China, India, and the EU. The Voyager 205 just adds that last layer of ease and access the power brick industry needed. It’s ruthlessly capable, has so many ports you’ll run out of gadgets, and still manages to be compact enough to fit in the palm of your hand. The secret lies in how far GaN technology has come in these years.

For newbies, GaN is the latest tech breakthrough in semiconductors. Every product you currently own runs on silicon-based chipsets – the problem, however, is that silicon (as great as it is) doesn’t have a track record for remarkable efficiency. The higher the output, the beefier the chipset, the more heat it generates, and the more power gets lost in the process. It’s why your laptop’s power brick is so huge… but switch to GaN and things change. GaN, or Gallium Nitride is much more power-efficient than Silicon, which means that a palm-sized power adapter can actually pack upwards of 100W of output… or in this case, 205W.

That much wattage is enough to simultaneously charge two laptops at the same time. With 205W and PD3.1, the Voyager 205 isn’t enough power for you, it’s enough power for your entire family. Your laptop, your partner’s laptop, your kid’s iPad or Switch, and even a travel appliance – this thing takes care of it all. The adapter comes with 7 USB ports (2 USB-A ports and 5 USB-C ports), as well as your standard universal AC outlet for anything with a plug, be it a travel kettle, an iron, your beard trimmer, or a hair dryer. Aside from pure unadulterated power, the Voyager 205 is smart enough to divert enough electricity to each gadget. The adapter distributes power to each device depending on their needs, sending more to laptops and tablets (up to 140W to a single port), an intermediate amount to phones, and then distributing an adequate amount to your smaller gadgets like your wearables. It still ensures all your gadgets fast-charge, which is what makes everything worth it at the end of the day.

A universal design means the Voyager works anywhere. Sliders let you eject/retract plug designs based on the country/continent you’re in. The Voyager is designed to be globally compatible, and ships to over 200 countries, which means regardless of where you are, you’re sorted. It measures 3.9 inches tall, 2.1 inches wide, and 2.2 inches deep. The adapter weighs 0.7 lbs (326 grams), making it perfect for slipping right into your backpack and forgetting about any cable or charger woe for the foreseeable future. And for the safety-conscious, it’s made from flame-retardant polymer, and has all the safety checks for power delivery.

At $89, it’s practically a no-brainer, considering it offsets as many as 8 chargers thanks to its 8-in-1 design. For posterity, my 140W charger cost me nearly $100 and charges only 4 devices at a time. If (like me) you’re considering upgrading your existing charger routine to something that’s powerful, travel-friendly, and future-proof, the Voyager 205 ships globally starting November 2025. Each adapter comes with a ___ year warranty, and is built by TESSAN, which currently ranks as the #1 travel adapter brand on Amazon. For good reason, if you ask me.

Click Here to Buy Now: $89 $128 ($39 off). Hurry, only a few units left!

The post This 205W GaN Travel Adapter is the ONLY charger you need to carry in 2025 first appeared on Yanko Design.

Close your eyes and think of a cyberpunk poster of a city skyline. Focus your attention on the sunset – usually, it’s represented by a circle split in two… with the upper half being a solid yellow or orange, and the lower half being a set of lines, looking like the sunset’s ripples on an ocean or sea. Just google Cyberpunk Sunset and you’ll see exactly what I’m talking about. Now, imagine that as an actual lamp and you get the Bauhaus Sunset Lamp from Simig Lighting – a minimally gorgeous lamp that abstracts the sun into something familiar digitally, represented physically.

For long, the internet was dominated by sunset lamps, those cylindrical lights with fisheye lenses that cast a perfect circle of light on any wall, looking like a sunset of sorts. While that sunset lamp had its ‘time in the sun’, this one is slowly and surely taking over the internet, enchanting an entire generation of cyberpunk-loving people who now graduated to loving IKEA, Pottery Barn, and West Elm.

Designer: Simig Lighting

The lamp looks great on its own, but even more so when placed in front of a large window, allowing its reflection to be superimposed upon a dusky sunset. The illusion gets created perfectly (just look at the image above), as you see a cyberpunk-ish sun floating in the air, hovering right above the horizon. The lamp’s warm orange/ochre color makes it look exactly like a sunset too, creating what I can only describe as the perfect optical illusion!

The lampshade comes made from a combination of glass as well as acrylic. The glass dome sits on top, diffusing the light from two LED bulbs wonderfully into that pastel-ish yellow glow. Meanwhile, orange-colored acrylic rings on the bottom catch the rest of the light, glowing in entirety thanks to acrylic’s edge-lighting property. This allows the sun to look the way it does, as the lamp’s upper dome and lower rings glow with almost the same intensity, creating the perfect effect. No other material could have done the same kind of magic.

Each Bauhaus Sunset Lamp is powered by three E27 bulbs, and comes in multiple sizes depending on the kind of interior space you have. Simig Lighting makes a blue and white version too, which personally isn’t my cup of tea. This colorway right here is as perfect as it gets, given that it does such a remarkable job of nailing the aesthetic it’s trying to go for. The lamps start at $88 for the smallest size (6.3 inches wide), going up to $183 for the largest size which measures almost a foot in diameter.

The post The ‘Viral’ Sunset Lamp on TikTok just got a Cyberpunk/Bauhaus upgrade first appeared on Yanko Design.

Most tiny homes can make you feel like you’re living in a glorified bunk bed, but the Luna by Australia’s Häuslein Tiny House Co. tries a different strategy. Instead of forcing you to climb a ladder every time you want to sleep, this 8.2-meter home puts everything on one level where it belongs. The real genius lies in that slide-out section that expands the entire living space when you’re parked, then tucks away neatly for travel. It’s one of those ideas that seems so obvious once you see it working, you wonder why everyone else is still building vertical puzzle boxes.

As you enter through the wide double glass doors, you immediately understand what makes this design different. The living area feels spacious thanks to that slide-out expansion, with room for a proper sofa and coffee table instead of the built-in bench seating most tiny homes force on you. There’s even space to mount a TV on the wall like you would in any normal home. The glass doors themselves flood the space with natural light while creating a seamless connection to the outdoors that makes the interior feel even larger.

Designer: Häuslein Tiny House Co.

The kitchen setup shows how much you can accomplish when you’re not fighting against a cramped footprint. Extensive cabinetry provides real storage space, while the induction cooktop and sink handle daily cooking needs without compromise. The dining table gives you a proper place to eat meals rather than balancing plates on your lap. What’s impressive is how Häuslein designed space for full-sized appliances most tiny homes can’t accommodate—dishwasher, microwave, oven, even a washer and dryer. These aren’t afterthoughts crammed into corners; they’re integrated options that make the Luna feel like a real home.

The Luna works for couples who want to maintain their sanity. When that slide-out section expands, you have enough room to coexist peacefully. The kitchen flows into the living area without creating a hallway effect, and the bedroom feels separate enough that one person can sleep while the other stays up reading. The bathroom includes all the basics you’d expect: a vanity sink, proper shower, and flushing toilet, with the option to upgrade to a composting toilet for true off-grid living.

The home does have quite a few perks: no ladder means no carrying coffee, laundry, or anything else up and down narrow steps. No loft means no hitting your head on low ceilings or trying to make a bed in a space where you can’t stand up straight. The single-level layout handles heating and cooling more efficiently, and you can arrange furniture like a normal human being instead of working around vertical obstacles.

The Luna gracefully shows us that good tiny home design isn’t about cramming the most stuff into the smallest space. It is about building and creating a truly livable home that happens to be small, rather than a small thing trying desperately to function like a home.

FAQs

1. What are the benefits of a single-level tiny house compared to a lofted design?

Single-level tiny houses, like the Luna, eliminate the need for ladders or stairs, making them safer and more accessible for people of all ages. They allow for more traditional furniture arrangements, easier heating and cooling, and a more open, connected living space. This layout is especially appealing for couples, seniors, or anyone who prefers convenience and comfort over climbing into a loft every night.

2. How does the slide-out feature in the Luna tiny house improve space and functionality?

The Luna’s slide-out section expands the living area, providing enough room for a full-sized sofa, coffee table, and dining area—features rarely found in traditional tiny homes. When parked, the slide-out creates a spacious, open-plan interior, while still allowing the home to be compact and road-legal for travel. This innovation maximizes usable space without sacrificing mobility or design.

3. Can the Luna tiny house be customized for off-grid living in the US?

Yes, the Luna can be equipped for off-grid living. It offers options like a composting toilet, solar power systems, and energy-efficient appliances. These features make it possible to live comfortably in remote locations or areas with limited utility access, while still enjoying the full amenities of a modern home.

The post Single-Story Tiny Home With A Slide-Out Design Beats Lofted Tiny Homes For Comfort & Accessibility first appeared on Yanko Design.

YouTube just dropped something that’s going to change how we think about design portfolios. Their new AI video creation tools can take any photo from your phone and turn it into a moving, breathing video. No fancy software, no animation skills needed.

Designer: Google

The Tech That Makes It Happen

Google’s Veo 2 AI model powers this whole system. You upload a static photo, pick from some creative suggestions the AI gives you, and your image starts moving. The AI figures out what should wiggle, flow, or shift based on what it sees in your picture.

Here’s what you’re actually working with though. These clips are short video segments, though Google hasn’t specified exact duration limits for YouTube Shorts. The AI excels at simple movements like gentle camera pans across landscapes, subtle lighting changes, or basic object animations. Your architectural rendering won’t show a complete day-night cycle, and your product mockup won’t demonstrate every feature.

The platform actually offers three different tools. Photo-to-video is the main attraction, but there are also AI effects for selfies and drawings, plus something called AI Playground for generating content from scratch. YouTube plans to upgrade everything to their newer Veo 3 model, though no specific timeline has been announced.

Current results work best with certain image types. Landscapes with water or clouds perform beautifully. Group photos where people can have subtle movements look great. Complex technical drawings or detailed infographics? Those might not translate as well.

What This Actually Means for Designers

The short duration limits what you can accomplish, but that constraint might actually be helpful. You’re not animating complete user interface walkthroughs or detailed product assembly processes. Instead, you’re adding just enough movement to make people stop scrolling.

Consider practical applications. Your portfolio piece of a living room design could show sunlight slowly moving across the space. That demonstrates how natural light affects the room throughout the day. A product shot might feature gentle rotation or subtle zoom that highlights key details without overwhelming viewers.

Fashion designers could see fabric gently swaying or catching light differently as camera angles shift slightly. Graphic designers might animate logos with subtle movement that brings brand identity to life without distraction. These changes aren’t groundbreaking, but they provide the polish that makes work stand out on social media.

Accessibility represents the real breakthrough here. Previously, adding motion to design work required learning After Effects, buying expensive software, or hiring specialists. Now you can accomplish this while your coffee brews.

Don’t expect miracles from AI-generated movement though. This technology won’t replace professional motion graphics for serious projects. Think of it as social media enhancement and quick portfolio upgrades rather than client presentation material.

Your Instagram posts will look more engaging. LinkedIn portfolio updates might attract more views. Client presentations still need something more polished and controlled.

The interface lives right inside YouTube’s Shorts camera, so existing Shorts creators will feel comfortable immediately. You tap the photo-to-video option, select an image from your phone, and the AI presents different movement options based on image content. The suggestions show real intelligence. Upload a landscape, and you might see options for gentle camera movement or atmospheric effects. Upload a portrait, and the AI might suggest subtle facial animation or background motion. You pick your preference, wait a minute or two for processing, and your animated clip is ready.

The Bigger Picture

This moment feels like when creative barriers suddenly drop. Remember Canva making graphic design accessible to everyone? This could parallel that shift for basic video animation.

Design agencies charging premium rates for simple motion graphics might need pricing adjustments. Why spend hundreds on basic logo animation when AI delivers decent results in minutes? Professional motion designers could benefit by focusing on complex, creative work while AI handles simple tasks. The tools perform well, but human creativity remains irreplaceable.

Design students and new freelancers gain significant advantages. Their portfolios can achieve polish that previously required expensive tools and specialized skills. Everyone else gets the same access though. Standing out will depend more on creative vision and less on technical barriers.

That’s probably beneficial for design overall, even if competition intensifies. The democratization of creative tools usually pushes the entire industry forward, forcing professionals to elevate their work beyond what automated systems can produce.

The post YouTube’s New AI Tools Transform Static Photos Into Dynamic Shorts: A Design Perspective first appeared on Yanko Design.

Most robots today look like they belong in a factory or a science fiction movie, with their cold metal frames and intimidating mechanical movements that make you think twice about getting too close. There’s something inherently off-putting about the way most robotic designs prioritize function over approachability, creating machines that feel more like tools than companions, even when they’re supposed to help us in our daily lives.

That’s what makes Reachy Mini such a refreshing departure from the typical robotics playbook. This compact desktop robot from Hugging Face feels more like a curious pet than a piece of industrial equipment, with its expressive LED eyes and animated antennas that give it genuine personality. At just 11 inches tall and weighing 3.3 pounds, it’s sized more like a stuffed animal than a traditional robot.

Designer: Hugging Face, Pollen Robotics

Hugging Face, the machine learning platform often called “the GitHub of AI” for its vast community of developers sharing AI models and datasets, has taken its first step into physical robotics with this charming little companion. The company’s open-source, community-driven philosophy translates beautifully into hardware, creating a robot that’s designed to be modified, customized, and shared rather than locked down by proprietary restrictions.

The design itself is surprisingly endearing, with two animated antennas that move expressively and a head that can rotate with six degrees of freedom, giving Reachy Mini an almost pet-like quality. When it goes into sleep mode, it actually shrinks down to about 9 inches tall, which adds to its charm in a way that most tech products completely miss. The wide-angle camera and 5W speaker are integrated so seamlessly that they don’t disrupt the friendly aesthetic.

What’s particularly clever about Reachy Mini is how it comes as a kit with 3D-printable components, making customization not just possible but encouraged. You can choose between a Lite version for $299 that connects to your computer, or the full autonomous version with a Raspberry Pi 5 that can operate independently. The fact that everything is open-source means you’re not just buying a robot, you’re joining a community of makers who share modifications and improvements.

The AI integration is where things get really interesting, though. Reachy Mini taps directly into Hugging Face’s ecosystem of AI models, giving it conversational abilities, object recognition, and even emotional expression that feels surprisingly natural. You can have actual conversations with it, use it as a coding tutor, or even turn it into an interactive art project, all through simple Python programming that’s accessible to beginners.

Of course, there are some practical considerations to keep in mind. The early development phase means you’re essentially becoming a beta tester, and the full autonomous version won’t ship until fall 2025 at the earliest. The Lite version, arriving late summer 2025, requires a tethered connection to your computer, which limits its mobility somewhat.

The educational potential here is enormous, particularly for STEM programs where students can learn programming, AI, and robotics through hands-on experimentation rather than abstract theory. The growing community around Reachy Mini is already sharing projects, modifications, and educational resources that make advanced robotics accessible to everyone, not just engineering students.

Reachy Mini succeeds because it understands that the future of robotics isn’t about creating more sophisticated machines, but about making technology more human-centered and approachable. By combining expressive design with open-source accessibility, it proves that the most innovative robots might just be the ones that feel less like robots and more like companions we actually want to spend time with.

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You can expect tablet-level versatility from your TV when LG is involved. The South Korean electronics giant previously demonstrated this with the Go model of its wireless StandbyME, which came in a carry case and was designed for outdoor use. Now making its global debut, the new StanbyME 2 offers even greater flexibility. The device is fully detachable from its movable docking stand, allowing it to function as a tablet, hang on a wall as a digital clock, or serve as an ambient display. And if that’s not fun enough, you could even pack the damn thing in the boot of your vehicle and take it camping or to a family picnic.

But it’s not just the portability and multi-orientation abilities that have changed with the StanbyME 2. The new model features an upgraded resolution and enhanced options for customizing audio, visuals, and controls, which can be tailored to users’ personal preferences and diverse media consumption needs, based on the environment it’s being used in.

Designer: LG

The portability of the StandbyME 2 is made possible by a built-in battery, which provides up to four hours of video playback on a full charge. The battery can be charged by docking the display to the stand and using USB-C. With no need for a constant power source, LG’s new display is convenient for both indoor and outdoor use. Like the original StandbyME, the StandbyME 2 comes mounted on a wheeled docking stand for easy mobility. The device can be detached from its base with a single click to be used independently for binge-watching shows, playing board games, or setting up at your creative workspace.

The StanbyME 2 is not a small device. It features a 27-inch QHD display with a native resolution of 2560 × 1440 pixels. Interestingly, it offers a dedicated 60Hz refresh rate – don’t bother gaming if you were thinking – but of course, you can find many other practical uses for the detachable screen. If you don’t want to use it as a large display tablet, you can use its built-in strap to get it up on the wall, where it’s your photo frame in disguise.

Of course, it’s portable, but the StanbyME 2 measures 623 × 364 × 28.5 mm and weighs 4.3 kg without the stand. So, it’s no kid’s play to fiddle with it or even think of detaching and moving it around. With the stand included, the display weighs 15.2 kg. The device is powered by LG’s α8 AI processor, runs WebOS 24, and supports voice control. The gadget is not dust and water-resistant, and it is advised to be placed away from direct sunlight.

Courtesy of the AI processor, the device can adjust brightness and tone based on ambient lighting. The 10W side-firing speakers (change output automatically based on the screen orientation) support Dolby Atmos and AI Sound Pro for virtual 9.1.2 surround sound. Clear Voice Pro feature helps enhance speech clarity on the device, Dolby Vision delivers cinematic visuals, while Bluetooth 5.1, Wi-Fi 5, HDMI with eARC, a pair of USB 2.0 ports, and a 5V USB port take care of the connectivity. Scheduled to start shipping in the US later this month for $1,400, the StanbyME 2 includes LG ThinQ, Apple AirPlay, Google Cast, and Google Home integration.

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Samsung just took the covers off the Galaxy Z Fold7, and it represents the biggest change in the foldable flagship since the Galaxy Z Fold3 introduced S Pen support in 2021 and the Galaxy Z Fold5’s new hinge in 2023 that allowed it to close completely flat. This year’s highlights include the thinnest Galaxy Z Fold yet, better durability, larger screens, and, finally, upgraded cameras. It’s not all good news, of course, like the bulging camera bump, but perhaps the change that sent waves across the Internet was the removal of S Pen support.

I have been a great fan of pen-enabled devices, seeing them as the near-perfect fusion of digital and analog worlds, particularly when it comes to drawing and note-taking. Samsung was one of the first few tech companies that embraced this, from the Galaxy Note phones and tablets to the old Samsung ATIV PC line. Although styluses, both active and capacitive, aren’t that rare anymore (thank you Apple Pencil), Samsung remains part of a small group that uses the famed Wacom’s technologies for its smartphones and tablets. Despite my self-professed obsession with the stylus, I think Samsung made the right call in removing it from the Galaxy Z Fold7, but I don’t think the story ends here either.

Designer: Samsung

Why Samsung Removed The Z Fold7 S Pen

Imagine whipping out your smartphone, unfolding it into a tablet, and immediately sketching inspiration or jotting down ideas the instant inspiration strikes. It’s almost like pulling out a paper sketchbook or pocket notebook but with the advantage of apps and the cloud. It’s one of the advertised features of Samsung foldables since the Galaxy Z Fold3 and a dream come true for digital creators. Except, it turns out, very few actually use these devices that way.

The Web, especially YouTube, is filled with anecdotes and examples of artists, designers, and even architects using tablets for their work, but not so much on foldables. Yes, there are very few pen-enabled foldable phones in the market, but there are even fewer voices showing how they use these devices for those very specific purposes. Reading, watching, or even typing, are all covered, but drawing with a stylus and handwritten notes are almost always limited to one-time reviews and demos.

It’s not that the stylus use case is invalid but because, at least at this point in time, consumers have bigger concerns about foldables than where to store the S Pen (more on that later). They are more interested in how thin the phone is when folded, how usable it is as a phone, and, more importantly, how durable that fragile flexible main screen is. As it happens, those are exactly the things that Samsung addressed in the Galaxy Z Fold7, choosing to focus on what people need here and now, while still keeping the doors open for the return of the pen.

Why The S Pen Fold Edition Didn’t Work

Popularity wasn’t the biggest problem of the S Pen for the Galaxy Z Fold. Quite the contrary, it was the symptom, not the cause. The reasons why even die-hard stylus users shy away from the accessory’s foldable version can probably be boiled down to two things: confidence and convenience.

Let’s face it: even with all the marketing and figures, even foldable owners are still a little bit wary of the durability of the foldable inner screen. It tends to be a little softer than a regular phone screen, and poking it with a stylus or pressing down hard on it might cause some to worry. The technology is getting better, of course, but not yet to the point of completely dispelling fears.

There’s also the design of the foldable phone itself, which leaves no room for the stylus unless you don the right case. Tablets have it easy with a large body that can be used to magnetically hold and charge their stylus, but not so much a device that folds down to the size of a pocketable phone. Not unless you have a silo like on the Galaxy S Ultra, but then you’d be going back to the problem of thickness.

There’s also the matter of awkwardness when using the foldable phone as a digital canvas because of its almost square aspect ratio. An iPad mini with the same screen size has a larger surface area and a more rectangular shape that matches paper and notebooks more closely. It’s definitely a minor gripe, but one that gnaws at the creator’s subconscious little by little.

One Chapter Closes, The Next Is Yet To Be Written

To some extent, the removal of S Pen functionality from this year’s flagship foldable definitely feels like a huge loss, but I don’t think the story ends there completely. There are still plenty of ways that foldables can be improved that would allow the triumphant return of the stylus. Samsung does seem to be moving in that direction, though it’s not yet clear when all the pieces will fall into place.

For one, there’s the tri-fold device that Samsung will be unveiling later this year. That will help solve the awkward feeling of scribbling on a square display since it will give you a regular tablet-shaped screen to work with. Whether the “G Fold” will actually come with S Pen support or not is still uncertain, but given the Galaxy Z Fold7, I’m leaning more towards a “no” for now.

Samsung is also rumored to be working on a new stylus technology that is more like the Apple Pencil or Microsoft’s Surface Pen. That means using a stylus that requires a battery in order to remove the need for a digitizer layer underneath the screen. This digitizer is one of the reasons for the thickness of previous Z Fold models, and its removal helped trim down the Galaxy Z Fold7’s size a lot. Of course, this also means no longer using Wacom technology, but that might be a small price to pay in the grand scheme of things.

Such a technology would also mean that Samsung will be able to continue improving the durability of a foldable screen with better Ultra-Thin Glass (UTG). That, in turn, helps give confidence that every press and stroke won’t take the foldable phone closer to its demise.

The Big Question: Galaxy Z Fold7, Skip or Buy?

Setting aside the awkward, bulging camera bump for a moment, the answer is rather a simple one. If the stylus has never captured your fancy, then the Galaxy Z Fold7 represents the best of Samsung’s foldable design and technology. It’s super slim, more usable as a phone when folded, and can take better pictures. It’s still catching up to some of its rivals, especially in the photography department, but it’s encouraging to see some bold choices being made, even if it meant taking out one key feature.

For those who buy Samsung foldables for the stylus experience, the answer is even easier: no. Stick to the Galaxy Z Fold6, which is a decent device on its own, and wait for the next chapter in the story of the Galaxy Z Fold to be written. It’s exciting to finally see some movement from Samsung in this space, and hopefully, all the signs pointing in that direction will come to pass.

The post Samsung Removed the Galaxy Z Fold7 S Pen, and This Stylus Lover Agrees first appeared on Yanko Design.

The Commodore 64 was one of those computers that defined an entire generation’s relationship with technology, complete with its chunky beige case and that satisfying mechanical keyboard that made every keystroke feel deliberate. These days, most of our computing happens on sleek, minimalist devices that prioritize function over personality, which makes the new Commodore 64 Ultimate series feel like a breath of fresh air.

What makes this modern revival particularly interesting is how it doesn’t just slap some retro styling onto contemporary hardware and call it a day. Instead, the Ultimate series comes in three distinct flavors, each designed to appeal to different types of nostalgia seekers while actually being useful computers you can plug into your modern setup.

Designer: Commodore

The BASIC Beige edition is probably what most people picture when they think of a faithful C64 recreation. It sports that familiar cream-colored plastic case that screams 1980s home computing, complete with a proper mechanical keyboard that delivers the same tactile satisfaction as the original. Of course, underneath that nostalgic exterior, you’ll find modern conveniences like HDMI output and USB ports, so you won’t have to hunt down vintage monitors or deal with finicky RF connections.

Then there’s the Starlight Edition, which takes the retro concept in a completely different direction. This version features a translucent case packed with sound-reactive LEDs that pulse and change colors based on whatever game or music you’re playing. The effect is pretty spectacular, especially when you consider they’ve also created the world’s first translucent mechanical keyboard PCB, allowing the internal lighting to shine through each key as you type.

The real showstopper, however, is the Founders Edition, which is limited to just 6,400 units. This golden beauty takes inspiration from the legendary millionth C64 that Commodore produced back in the day, featuring a translucent amber case that gives off a warm, premium glow. The attention to detail here is impressive, with 24k gold-plated badges, satin gold keycaps, and a comprehensive collector’s package that includes everything from a commemorative certificate to an exclusive t-shirt and even a gold dog tag necklace.

All three editions share the same modernized guts, which means you get contemporary features like SD card slots for easy game loading, Ethernet connectivity, and compatibility with both vintage peripherals and modern accessories. The mechanical keyboards across all versions aren’t just for show either, they’re fully functional and maintain compatibility with original C64 software, so these aren’t just expensive display pieces gathering dust on your shelf.

What’s particularly clever about this approach is how it taps into the growing trend of technostalgia without falling into the trap of being purely decorative. Sure, these computers look fantastic sitting on your desk, but they’re also genuinely useful for anyone interested in retro computing, programming, or just experiencing what home computing felt like before everything moved to touchscreens and cloud services.

That said, you’ll need to be prepared for some compromises. The limited production runs mean these won’t be cheap, and the Founders Edition in particular is clearly aimed at serious collectors rather than casual users. The translucent cases and LED lighting, while visually striking, might not appeal to everyone’s aesthetic preferences either.

The Commodore 64 Ultimate series succeeds because it understands that good retro design isn’t just about copying old aesthetics. Instead, it takes the best parts of the original experience, the tactile keyboard, the distinctive case design, the immediate boot-up satisfaction, and combines them with modern reliability and connectivity. The result is something that feels both familiar and fresh, proving that sometimes the best way forward is to take a thoughtful look backward.

The post Commodore 64 Ultimate Returns in Style with Glowing and Gold Editions first appeared on Yanko Design.

Good design often exists at the intersection of scarcity and accessibility. The watch industry typically forces consumers to choose between mass-produced affordability or exclusive luxury at astronomical prices. Montoir’s new MWMOD-01 V2 People’s Choice Collection carves out an intriguing middle path with just 100 numbered timepieces spread across three community-selected colorways. These Swiss-made mechanical watches deliver premium specifications at $375 (currently 50% off future retail), challenging conventional pricing models through direct-to-consumer distribution. The collection represents something increasingly rare in today’s market: genuine exclusivity without artificial inflation.

The watches themselves tell a compelling design story through vibrant, carefully considered dial options. The “Watermelon” variant (limited to 25 pieces) features a soft green dial with a light red seconds hand. “Banana Creme” (50 pieces) offers a warm yellow face paired with a crisp white seconds hand. The “White Fume” edition (25 pieces) showcases a smoky, vignetted white-to-grey gradient with a bold red seconds hand for contrast. Each colorway emerged from months of community voting, making these designs a direct reflection of enthusiast preferences rather than corporate market testing. This approach has produced timepieces with genuine character in a segment often plagued by derivative aesthetics.

Designer: Montoir Watches

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The 40mm case strikes an ideal balance between presence and wearability, measuring just 11.9mm thick with a comfortable 47.8mm lug-to-lug span. Constructed from surgical-grade 316L stainless steel, the case architecture features clean lines, brushed finishing, and a 120-click unidirectional bezel with a luminous pip. The flat sapphire crystal includes an anti-reflective coating for improved legibility, while the screw-down crown ensures the watch maintains its impressive 200-meter water resistance rating. Each caseback comes individually numbered and decorated with an engraved vintage diver’s helmet motif, reinforcing both exclusivity and thematic coherence.

Montoir has equipped these watches with a Swiss-made mechanical movement, custom modified to eliminate the “ghost date” function. This thoughtful adjustment creates smoother winding action and removes unnecessary crown positions, demonstrating attention to detail often reserved for much pricier timepieces. The movement beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour, offers hacking and hand-winding capabilities, and provides approximately 38 hours of power reserve. BGW9 Super-LumiNova adorns the hands, hour markers, and bezel pip, ensuring nighttime legibility. The included premium FKM rubber strap comes color-matched to each dial variant, combining vintage tropic styling with modern materials and comfort.

The watch industry increasingly relies on artificial scarcity and inflated pricing, with many brands producing “limited editions” in quantities that strain the definition of exclusivity. Montoir takes a different approach by genuinely limiting production to 100 total pieces, individually numbering each watch, and committing to never repeating these exact configurations. This strategy creates authentic collectibility without exploiting customer FOMO or manipulating secondary market values. The transparent pricing model further distinguishes Montoir from competitors, delivering Swiss mechanical quality at a price point typically associated with mass-produced quartz timepieces from fashion brands.

The watches represent a compelling value proposition for design enthusiasts and collectors alike. The 40mm case size suits most wrists, while the sub-12mm thickness ensures comfortable daily wear. The combination of vibrant dials, quality construction, mechanical movement, and serious water resistance creates versatile timepieces suitable for both casual and professional environments. With most units already claimed and production scheduled to deliver in early 2026, these watches demonstrate how thoughtful design, community involvement, and transparent business practices can create genuinely desirable products in an increasingly crowded marketplace. For those interested in securing one of the remaining pieces, Montoir offers an additional $15 discount with code “YANKO” at checkout.

Click Here to Buy Now: $360 $375 ($15 off, use coupon code “YANKO”). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

The post Montoir’s MWMOD-01 V2 People’s Choice Collection: Swiss Mechanics Meet Community Design first appeared on Yanko Design.

I can only imagine the look on the TSA’s face as you walk up to them with a massive AirPods case strapped to your back. You’ll definitely get a few looks from the people around you, and maybe a few covert videos as you pop open the lid to reveal two massive AirPods-looking containers inside the bag… only for them to slide out and be, well, actual containers.

Designed by New York-based Bravest Studios, the AirPack is equal parts EDC and social commentary. The quirky design enlarges the AirPods to the size of a 44-liter backpack, playing on scale, design, and familiarity in a way that should easily grab everyone’s attention. There’s nothing ‘special’ about the backpack’s design if you look at it just objectively. But unless you’ve lived under a rock for the past decade, just a glance at the AirPack will instantly make you think, “Did that guy just walk past me with a massive AirPods case strapped to his back??”

Designer: Bravest Studios

The design’s meant to grab eyeballs, something fairly important in today’s economy. It comes with a fairly surprising level of detail. The top of the bag pops up exactly like an AirPods case’s lid, revealing two AirPods-shaped masses on the inside. The interior of the lid has the negative indentations to make space for the ‘AirPods’, and a close look reveals a fairly impressive level of detail with the hinge mechanism too.

However, slide the AirPods out and you’ll realize that they’re just regular containers. Designed to hold anything from clothes to sneakers, or even some of your tech and EDC, the two containers organize your belongings into ‘left’ and ‘right’ channels. Zippers mean you can use each container individually too, although they make much more sense when popped into the backpack! Besides, there’s even space for a laptop in the backpack, although images don’t really show where you’d store your laptop or how you’d access it. I’m inclined to believe Bravest Studios, though.

That’s because the AirPack isn’t a concept or vaporware. It’s a real product that will go on sale at Bravest’s NYC Soho popup on the 19th of July. There’s no word on pricing yet (although expect this limited-edition drop to be on the more expensive side), but if you can afford the AirPack, promise me you won’t desecrate it with those godawful Labubu accessories. I beg you.

The post This Gigantic ‘AirPods’ Backpack actually holds (and organizes) your items first appeared on Yanko Design.

So, I was in Macau a month and a half ago, walking through all the grand casinos to get to the expo venues where I was attending a trade show. The casinos were decked up in a rather Vegas-like fashion. Glitz, glamor, gold, with a hint of scarlet. You’d see lush green boards with red dice rolling around, and while that looked nice, a month later, I was in a D&D campaign, using similar dice, looking at it and just thinking – these look so out of place with the mythic/mystic/rustic vibe of my game. The reality is, most polyhedral dice are sort of a template – six or more sides, made from either plastic or, if you’re lucky, metal, with really no aesthetic match to the game you’re playing. Enter Prophecy Dice, the latest oddball object to catch the attention of the RPG crowd and, frankly, anyone who loves a slick gadget.

What if dice don’t look like dice? Asked the guys at Dragonstonegaming, who developed the Prophecy Dice – a pocket-watch-shaped gizmo that fits a trigger-activated spinner with a ‘Dice meets Wheel of Fortune’ vibe. The spinner looks like something from an alternate timeline where Victorian-era adventurers carried precision instruments for determining their fates. Press a button, watch the internal mechanism spin, and let the pointer reveal your roll. It carries the ceremonial weight of traditional dice rolling but packages it in a form factor that appeals to the EDC enthusiast in me, but more broadly, really fits the thematic DNA of RPG games. It’s engineered for “balanced and fair” outcomes, which is always the line, but Dragonstone appears to have invested in actual spin-testing and symmetry too.

Designer: Dragonstonegaming

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The mechanism feels less like rolling dice and more like spinning the Wheel of Fortune, with a tactile immediacy that’s weirdly addictive. You select your die type (d4 through d100, all the classics), line up the internal indicator, and let it rip. The pointer snaps to rest in a window, and boom – you’ve got your roll. The simplicity is deceptive; this is a precision-milled device, not a kitchen timer, and the Kickstarter video shows off the smooth, almost hypnotic spin.

At first glance, this feels like peak EDC gadget territory – the kind of thing that makes you wonder if we really needed to reinvent the humble d20. But dig deeper into the engineering, and there’s actually some thoughtful design philosophy at work here. The all-metal construction addresses one of the biggest complaints about traditional dice: inconsistency. Anyone who’s spent serious time rolling knows that cheap plastic dice can be weighted, chipped, or just plain unreliable. Metal spinners, when properly balanced, eliminate those variables entirely.

The 7-in-1 functionality is where this gets interesting from a UX perspective. Instead of fumbling through a bag of different polyhedrals mid-game, you’re looking at a single device that covers d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, d20, and d100. The push-button mechanism feels deliberately analog in our increasingly digital world, giving you that tactile feedback that smartphone dice apps can never replicate. Windows on both sides of the dice let you access the different ‘polyhedra’.

What really sells me on the design is the pocket watch aesthetic. This could have easily been another generic gadget in a plastic housing, but Dragonstone Gaming understood that EDC gear for D&D needs to look the part. The metallic finish and classic proportions mean this actually works as a conversation starter, especially if your game is centered around vintage or steampunk themes. The Dice comes in two styles – one with a storm-summoning witch named Selene Tidecaller, and another with a valiant Knight named Edric Thornsworn. Both designs have the same relief-style carving on the front, back, and sides, making this truly look like something your great-grandfather would hand down to you.

The engineering challenges here are more complex than they initially appear. Creating a truly balanced spinner that delivers fair results across seven different dice types requires precise calibration of weight distribution, friction coefficients, and stopping mechanisms. Traditional dice rely on physics and probability over thousands of rolls, but a spinner needs to be mathematically fair on every single use. The fact that they’re claiming “balanced and fair” results suggests they’ve put serious thought into the internal mechanics, though I’d love to see some independent testing data on the actual randomness distribution.

The Kickstarter numbers are, frankly, wild. Prophecy Dice aimed for a modest $2,000 and currently sits north of $340,000 with weeks left to go, over 3,300 backers deep. That’s not just hype, that’s people with dice fatigue looking for something better, or at least different. Tabletop gaming lives and dies by its rituals and accessories, and Prophecy Dice slots perfectly into the EDC arms race: a gadget that feels essential without ever being necessary. The $69 price is what you’d expect for a premium, all-metal, limited-run object, but backers seem happy to pay for novelty that actually works. The campaign is loaded with stretch goals and metallic finishes, and I wouldn’t be surprised if custom engravings show up next.

Although I’m curious to see how it holds up to months of real play. Will the spin wear out? Will the mechanism jam after a few too many critical fails? That’s the risk with any Kickstarter, especially one that blends analog charm with moving parts. However, this isn’t Dragonstonegaming’s first campaign. Their SpinDice from last year also blew past its funding goal, with over 800 backers bringing the project to life. The Prophecy Dice feels like the next iteration, and ships with an optional leather handmade slip case, or a ‘relic’ mount. The Prophecy Dice ships globally starting October 2025.

Click Here to Buy Now: $69 $118 (42% off) Hurry! Only 150 left of 2300.

The post Gaming Dice turned into Gentleman’s EDC: Meet the 7-in-1 Prophecy Dice Spinner first appeared on Yanko Design.

What if your vacuum didn’t just clean your home, but became part of it? The Electrolux/AEG 800/8000 cordless vacuum cleaner doesn’t shout for attention. It quietly earns its place, designed with such subtlety and intelligence that it feels like it was always meant to be there. This isn’t just an upgrade, it’s a rethinking of what home cleaning should look and feel like.

At the heart of this transformation is the philosophy of effortless living. The 800/8000 series was crafted to eliminate the very friction we’ve come to accept in everyday maintenance. Tangled cords, dusty filters, messy emptying, all of it replaced with streamlined elegance. Designed with Scandinavian minimalism in mind, the vacuum and its components blend smoothly into home environments without disrupting the aesthetic. It’s cleaning technology that finally understands the modern home doesn’t want to look like a storage closet.

Designer: Jakob Dawod

But the visual integration is only the beginning. The real leap lies in its performance and usability, especially with the introduction of its companion: the all-in-one automatic emptying station. This station doesn’t just charge your vacuum; it takes care of it. One tap and the dustbin is emptied from the bottom, reducing mess and eliminating dust contact entirely. Inside, a secondary battery sits fully charged, ready to swap in when needed, while a subtle red indicator light informs you when the dust bag needs replacing. Hidden compartments hold maintenance tools and filters, and a clever access system allows you to remove and clean them without fuss. Even the rarely used HEPA filter is easily reached through an eject button on the base.

The vacuum itself has been refined to deliver premium-level performance while keeping the user’s day-to-day experience smooth and intuitive. When docked, the cleaner’s telescopic tube automatically compresses, saving space and kickstarting the charging and emptying process. Docking doesn’t require precision, just roll it in and lift slightly. The rotational base allows you to access the cleaner from different angles, adapting to your space and your routine. Every interaction feels intentional and considered.

This design didn’t emerge in a straight line. It was the product of countless sketches, ideas, and experiments, from early cardboard mockups to 3D-printed prototypes and detailed, high-fidelity appearance models. The development journey was marked by iteration, collaboration, and constant refinement. Engineers and designers worked side-by-side to solve real user frustrations, resulting in features like intuitive accessory storage, effortless hand-unit release, and even a compact accessory bag that’s as aesthetic as it is practical.

The experience doesn’t stop at dry cleaning. The evolved wet mop attachment expands the vacuum’s role into full-surface care. Controlled via the smart UI on the hand unit, users can maintain the perfect dampness of the mop pads with different drip speeds or target tough stains with a quick spray activated by a long button press. It’s this attention to detail, this layering of functionality onto an already elegant system, that transforms cleaning into something closer to satisfaction than obligation.

Underneath the polish, the 800/8000 system represents a deeper commitment to sustainability. Not only does it reduce waste by encouraging proper upkeep through smart maintenance tools, but it also supports longevity through design. Removable batteries, cleanable filters, and thoughtfully constructed accessories extend the product’s life far beyond the average vacuum, supporting Electrolux’s mission to be a truly sustainable brand.

And behind all this innovation? A team that believed in the power of design to change behavior. Cross-functional collaboration within the Electrolux Group made this complex product feel remarkably simple. From the closest design partners to the engineering teams who transformed sketches into smooth, real-world mechanics, every detail was a testament to shared vision and dedication.

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You’d think the world had run out of challenges for LEGO builders. After all, we’ve seen ‘functional’ lawnmowers, instant-photo Polaroid cameras that spit out LEGO “photos,” and even a ‘working’ rotary phone, all meticulously engineered, all somehow feeling like they’re right at home in the pantheon of LEGO absurdity. Yet, every so often, a builder comes along who ups the ante and rewrites the rules of what counts as “functional.” This time, that crown goes to a Rubik’s Cube, the kind that actually works. Not a blocky facsimile or a fidget toy with half-hearted spin, but a LEGO-built, fully twistable, color-matching, soul-crushing 3×3 Rubik’s Cube that might just be the most precise and satisfying “MOC” (that’s “My Own Creation” for the LEGO uninitiated) you’ll see this season.

Precision is the name of the game with Rubik’s Cubes. Every speedcuber, every fidgeter worth their salt, knows that the difference between a good cube and a mediocre one is measured in microns. A single click or jam, and your whole solve is toast. So making a functioning cube out of LEGO, with its famously not-quite-millimeter-perfect clutch power and those tiny mold-parting lines, feels like tempting fate. Yet here it is, spinning with the kind of smoothness that would make Erno Rubik himself do a double take. The builder, whose project recently surfaced on the LEGO Ideas platform, didn’t just aim for “works in theory.” They built a full-size, color-accurate cube that moves with the same crispness and tactile feedback you expect from a real puzzle.

Designer: Kragle Dog

The mechanism underneath those glossy 3×3 tiles? A clever lattice of LEGO Technic and system bricks, ingeniously stacked and interlocked to mimic the familiar spindle-and-corner arrangement of the original. It’s a feat that takes patience and an obsessive eye for tolerances, because even a fraction of a millimeter’s error can mean the difference between a cube that spins and a cube that simply locks up.

Size-wise, this thing’s a beast. Scale it against a standard Rubik’s Cube, and you’re looking at a puzzle that’s roughly four times the volume of the pocket original, clocking in at 15.6cm or over 6 inches per side. That extra space isn’t wasted, though. It gives the mechanism inside room to breathe and function, letting each axis rotate independently and with minimal play. The outer tiles are color-matched to classic Rubik’s specs, with red, blue, green, yellow, orange, and white plates snapping into place like a proper 80s icon. The result is a cube that looks like it was plucked directly from the world’s nerdiest toy store and dropped onto your desk, ready for a scramble.

“The Rubik’s Cube truly is an iconic toy, shoulder-to-shoulder with the likes of the LEGO brick,” says LEGO builder Kragle Dog. “So, being a fan of both LEGO bricks and Rubik’s Cube, I decided to try a new challenge and combine those two legendary toys into one epic idea.” The resulting build uses a staggering 2,216 bricks (that’s just the cube, not counting the base or the Rubik minifigure).

What really gets me is how this project manages to bridge the gap between playful creativity and mechanical purism. Most LEGO MOCs err on the side of whimsy, sacrificing accuracy for charm. Here, though, the builder’s gone full engineer, wrangling LEGO’s sometimes-fussy tolerances into something that actually works. That’s no small feat. The prototype reportedly holds together under repeated twists and turns, resisting the kind of catastrophic blowouts that plague less robust builds. There’s sheer genius in how each piece interlocks, trading the usual friction-fit for a system that’s both sturdy and forgiving. It’s the kind of object that makes you want to pick it up, scramble it, and maybe even try to speedsolve just to see if it can keep up. And no, you’re not allowed to use a Brick Separator to ‘solve’ the cube, even though that’s technically possible.

The flex doesn’t stop at the cube itself. The builder included a custom 357-brick display stand, elevating the puzzle into the realm of functional sculpture. There’s even a minifigure of Erno Rubik, the Hungarian architect who kicked off the global cubing craze back in 1974, complete with his signature hair and a tiny cube of his own. It’s a wink at the history and the culture surrounding the puzzle, and a reminder that behind every great invention is a designer obsessed with the details. The stand’s got just enough visual heft to make it a centerpiece on any shelf, while the figure adds a layer of narrative that most LEGO MOCs skip over in favor of pure form.

If you do want to see this project come to life, it just requires you to vote for it on the LEGO Ideas forum – a platform created for LEGO enthusiasts to share unique creations and vote for their favorite builds. We’ve covered hundreds of MOCs at this point, and I for one continue to be surprised by the kind of ingenuity LEGO builders possess, even after covering this beat for over 10 years!

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It is easy to take for granted how much technology we surround ourselves with every day, but somehow, even surrounded by screens, real connections at home can feel harder than ever. That is the challenge at the heart of ITDA, a concept design from Korea that aims to help families find each other again in the most gentle and thoughtful way possible.

The name ITDA comes from a Korean word that means “to connect,” and that philosophy runs through every detail. This is not just another smart gadget or an app notification fighting for your attention. Instead, ITDA is a collection of gentle, tactile objects designed to quietly restore the little moments we have been missing, those exchanges of feeling and warmth that get lost in the shuffle of daily life.

Designers: Hyunwoo Jung, Yehoon Cho, Sieun Cha, Gayeon Kim

At the center of the system is TOPI, a device that looks more like a minimalist home sculpture than anything you would expect from a tech product. Set it on the kitchen table or by the entryway, and it becomes a gentle hub for conversation. Instead of sending out alerts or lighting up with endless information, TOPI introduces topics when family members are together, using a display that feels inviting rather than commanding. There is even a little shelf on its back for keys or treasures, which feels like a reminder that the belongings we carry say as much about us as our words do.

The rest of the collection is just as quietly clever. TILO gives a more humane spin on that drab office time card. Instead of something you dread, it welcomes you home with a familiar voice as soon as you step in the door and put in your personal card. It is the kind of touch that could easily become a small but meaningful ritual, the sound of someone who cares, right when you need it most.

Then there is TOK, a pebble-shaped device made for those times when words are tough to find. Instead of forcing a conversation, TOK lets you send a simple signal, by inserting the pebble-shaped object into TOPI that matches your mood, messages that say, “I am thinking of you,” or “I would like to talk.” It is nonverbal, simple, and maybe even a little poetic, especially for anyone who has ever wished they could reach out without having to explain everything.

What is striking about ITDA is how little it asks of you. There are no complicated screens to navigate, no endless setup menus, and no pressure to perform. The forms are gentle and approachable, meant to blend into your home rather than take it over. Every element, from the way you interact with the devices to the materials themselves, feels designed for comfort and calm.

It is worth remembering that ITDA is just a concept right now, not something you can buy and plug in tomorrow. But as a piece of design thinking, it feels especially timely. In a world where smart often means louder, brighter, and busier, ITDA turns the volume down and gently nudges us back toward each other. Maybe that is the real innovation: a reminder that sometimes, the most important connections do not happen on a screen, they happen in the quiet spaces we make for each other.

The post ITDA Concept Offers A Minimalist Approach to Family Connection at Home first appeared on Yanko Design.

Ever feel like AI is always hiding in the background, tucked away on your phone or buried behind a dozen browser tabs? Most of us interact with digital assistants through screens, which, let’s be honest, makes technology feel a little distant from our actual lives. But what if AI could be more present, accessible, and even a little bit stylish? That’s where the Copilot Fellow concept comes in, and honestly, it’s hard not to get a little excited about the idea.

The Copilot Fellow isn’t just another gadget to add to your collection. Picture a pill-shaped device, smooth and minimal, with a flat front and back. The front features a camera and a bold Copilot button, the heart of the design. Tap it, and you’re instantly connected to your AI assistant, ready to ask a question, set a reminder, or get a quick weather update. It’s designed to be intuitive, something you can operate without fiddling around or losing your train of thought.

Designer: Braz de Pina

What really makes Copilot Fellow stand out, though, are the four shortcut buttons, two on each side, that you can program for your favorite prompts or voice commands. Imagine setting one for “What’s on my calendar?” and another for “Send a quick note.” There’s no scrolling through endless menus or getting lost in settings. It’s simple, direct, and focused on the way you actually use AI day to day.

Now, here’s a little twist to that premise: While the front is all about that single, satisfying Copilot button, the back features a discreet screen. If you want to read your prompts or see some quick info, it’s there. But since it’s hidden away on the reverse side, it never gets in the way. This design choice keeps your interactions as screen-free as you want them to be, which feels like a breath of fresh air in our notification-heavy world.

One of the coolest things about Copilot Fellow is how you can wear it. You’re not locked into any one style, it works as a pendant around your neck, or you can just toss it in your pocket. It feels less like another gadget and more like a little presence you carry with you, always ready to help but never demanding attention. There’s something almost companion-like about it, which is a big leap from the usual “Hey Siri” or “Okay Google” voice floating out of your phone.

It’s important to remember that this is still a concept design, and Microsoft is unlikely to make one itself. But honestly, wouldn’t it be cool if someone DIY’ed their own version? The simplicity and flexibility make it feel approachable, even for tinkerers. Copilot Fellow reimagines how we might invite AI into our lives: more personal, more tangible, and a lot more stylish. Would you wear your AI around your neck, or are you sticking with the old-school phone in your pocket? Either way, this concept makes us rethink what AI gadgets could be.

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