Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a major cause of premature death worldwide and increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney damage. Nearly half of U.S. adults have it, according to the CDC. Yet it often causes no noticeable symptoms, so feeling fine does not necessarily mean your blood pressure is where it should be.

The Huawei Watch D3 puts blood pressure measurement on your wrist, using an inflatable airbag built into the strap and offering scheduled readings throughout the day and night. That sounds like a recipe for a bulky, rather clinical accessory, but the watch I received looks nothing of the sort. More importantly, it is comfortable enough that I was happy to keep wearing it, including overnight. Huawei has squeezed some unusual hardware into a familiar package, and after living with it, I am impressed by how little fuss it adds to my day.

Designer: Huawei

Aesthetics

Huawei has made the Watch D3 surprisingly discreet, and that is one of its biggest design strengths. This is a health-focused smartwatch with more going on under the surface than most, yet it does not look overly technical or awkwardly bulky. Instead, it comes across as clean, polished, and easy to wear, which helps it feel like a proper everyday smartwatch rather than a specialist device.

Visually, it sits somewhere between the clean familiarity of an Apple Watch and the more assertive presence of an Apple Watch Ultra, giving it a look that feels both familiar and slightly more rugged. Huawei offers the Watch D3 in three color options: White, Black, and Mocha Gold. I received the Mocha Gold version, and it gives the watch a warmer, slightly more elevated look than the other finishes. The rectangular-shaped case is paired with a color-matched fluoroelastomer strap, which also houses the airbag used for blood pressure measurement.

Ergonomics

For a smartwatch with a tiny airbag tucked into its strap, the Watch D3 is surprisingly easy to wear. On paper, it is not a small device at 1.83 x 1.61 x 0.44 inches, but it never feels ungainly or overengineered once it is actually on your wrist. The 1.92-inch rectangular display fits well and doesn’t overwhelm the wrist, keeping the overall look streamlined. Huawei has also trimmed the thickness down from 0.52 inches on the Watch D2 to 0.44 inches here, and that slimming makes a real difference. The D3 feels less like a specialist gadget and more like a smartwatch you can throw on in the morning without a second thought.

In practice, the bigger surprise is how quickly it stops feeling unusual. The Watch D3 feels like an ordinary smartwatch on the wrist in the best possible sense. The strap is inevitably thicker than a conventional smartwatch band because it contains the inflatable airbag, but I never found it cumbersome. If anything, that unusual construction fades into the background faster than expected, which is not something I would have assumed before wearing it.

The weight helps here too. At around 1.41 ounces without the strap, the Watch D3 feels substantial enough to come across as a proper piece of hardware, but not heavy enough to become annoying over the course of a full day. Fit matters more on the Watch D3 than it does on a typical smartwatch. Huawei accounts for that with a paper measuring guide and two strap sizes. A watch built around blood pressure readings needs to fit properly, and the D3 feels better for that extra attention.

Performance

Blood pressure monitoring is the main reason to consider the Watch D3, but what surprised me first was how quiet it is. It makes virtually no sound during a reading, with the increasing pressure around my wrist providing the only obvious sign that anything is happening. The sensation is noticeable, as you would expect from an inflatable strap, but the process feels discreet enough that taking a reading does not become a bother.

There are medical credentials behind the feature, too. According to Huawei, the Watch D3’s blood pressure measurement has obtained NMPA medical device registration in China and CE certification under the European Union’s Medical Device Regulation, commonly called CE-MDR.

The Watch D3 also supports ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, or ABPM, which schedules repeated measurements over a 24-hour period, including while you sleep. Rather than giving you one isolated reading, it builds a record of how your blood pressure changes throughout the day and night. Huawei Health brings those results together into a report showing daytime, nighttime, and overall averages, which you can save or share with your doctor.

That does not mean you can forget about the process entirely. During waking hours, you still need to pause, keep still, and hold the watch at heart level, following the positioning instructions. You can adjust the measurement schedule rather than stick with the default intervals. Overnight, the watch takes readings automatically without requiring you to assume the daytime posture. Thankfully, those nighttime readings did not bother me or wake me up.

There is also a dedicated feature for measuring blood pressure before and after six workout types, covering indoor and outdoor running, walking, and cycling. You take an initial reading before starting, then begin another measurement within two minutes of finishing. There is a reason those changes are worth studying. Research using clinical exercise tests has linked certain blood pressure responses during exercise and recovery with a higher risk of developing hypertension or experiencing cardiovascular events later on.

Beyond blood pressure, the D3 covers heart rate, sleep, blood oxygen saturation, and skin temperature, with ECG available in supported regions. Fitness tracking is solid too, with more than 80 workout modes. It works well as an everyday companion for keeping an eye on activity, workouts, and daily movement without making every walk feel like homework.

The everyday smartwatch features are more familiar. The D3 runs HarmonyOS and works with both Android and iOS, although the experience is not identical across the two platforms. Bluetooth calling and music playback are supported, but the limited third-party app selection leaves less room to expand beyond the built-in tools.

With a compatible Android phone, you can respond to supported messages using quick replies or the on-screen keyboard. Message replies are not supported when the watch is paired with an iPhone, which is worth knowing before you buy. Offline maps are available for supported models, while NFC payment support depends on your region and the available payment service. Having NFC hardware does not automatically mean it will work with your usual cards.

Battery life has been good in my use, too. Huawei quotes up to six days under typical conditions, dropping to around one day with ABPM enabled. My typical-use results were close to that six-day claim, while I comfortably passed a day with ambulatory monitoring enabled. Measurement frequency matters here, since Huawei’s ABPM battery test uses 15-minute intervals, so your results may differ depending on your settings.

Charging speed is okay rather than especially quick, but outside ABPM sessions, I was not constantly looking for the charger. The supplied charger uses a USB-C rather than USB-A, which is a welcome change. That is one less reason to keep an older USB-A power adapter around.

Sustainability

The Watch D3 has an IP68 rating, but that is not an invitation to take it swimming or into the shower. Huawei advises against both because of the air openings used by the blood pressure system. The watch is not water- or dust-resistant while taking a measurement, so those openings need to stay clean and dry. It requires a little more care around water than you might expect from an everyday smartwatch.

The strap feels durable, although Huawei does not provide wear-test figures to put that impression into context. It is removable, so a tear would not necessarily mean replacing the whole watch, provided Huawei makes compatible replacement straps available. That is useful for keeping the D3 in service, but the broader sustainability picture remains unclear. I would have liked more information about recycled materials, repair options, and long-term software support.

Value

The Watch D3 costs £399.99 (roughly $533) in the UK and €449 (roughly $505) in Europe, so it is not exactly an impulse purchase. Whether that feels expensive depends on what you want from your watch. The D3’s appeal is having cuff-style blood pressure readings and 24-hour ambulatory monitoring in something you can wear throughout the day and overnight.

If those are features you will use regularly, the price becomes easier to justify, especially given how comfortable I found it. I am also impressed by how streamlined the whole package feels, considering the specialized hardware tucked inside the watch and strap. You are getting more than an extra health metric on a screen, without having to wear something that feels like medical equipment. If you mostly want notifications and workout tracking, though, I would be less inclined to pay for blood pressure hardware that rarely gets used.

Verdict

The Watch D3 impressed me most by making its unusual hardware so easy to live with. Blood pressure readings are quiet, the strap never felt cumbersome, and overnight measurements did not wake me up. Battery life was good, too, particularly outside ambulatory monitoring sessions. I never felt I was putting up with an awkward gadget just to use its blood pressure features.

I would still like a broader selection of third-party apps and clearer information about repair options and long-term support. The price also makes more sense if blood pressure monitoring will be a regular habit rather than an occasional curiosity. It is a tool to use alongside professional care, not a reason to diagnose yourself or change medication based on your readings. With that understood, the D3 earns my recommendation for combining useful blood pressure features with the comfort and discretion of an everyday smartwatch.

The post Huawei Watch D3 Review: A Game Changer for On-Wrist Blood Pressure Monitoring first appeared on Yanko Design.

Japanese audio brand Final has introduced Porta, a pair of wireless on-ear headphones that rethink one of the most familiar elements of headphone design – the headband. Unlike most headphones with a conventional padded arch, the Porta uses a minimal, single-wire structure called AirWire, reducing the headphones’ weight to approximately 40 grams while aiming to make extended listening more comfortable.

The AirWire design minimises the area of contact between the headphones and the wearer’s head. According to Final, this approach reduces pressure on the top of the head, a common source of discomfort with traditional headphones. The lightweight construction also gives the Porta an unusually stripped-back appearance, with a thin metal-like frame connecting two compact earcups. The pair of cans is a minimalist accessory that goes well with your other no-nonsense gadgets.

Designer: Final

Porta’s aesthetic draws on the visual language of older portable audio equipment. Its orange ear pads recall the bright accents associated with classic Sony Walkman headphones, while a black version offers a more understated alternative. Both variants share the same main body, with the ear-pad colour providing the visual distinction. Final also plans to sell replacement ear pads separately in 2027, giving owners the option to refresh the look without replacing the entire product.

Despite its lightweight construction and retro appearance, the pair of cans incorporates modern wireless connectivity. Bluetooth 5.4 enables connection to compatible devices, while support for the SBC and AAC audio codecs provides compatibility with a broad range of smartphones and other Bluetooth audio sources. The headphones have a stated frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz.

Final says the Porta has been tuned to deliver a lively presentation, with a sense of depth and substance in the midrange and lower frequencies. The company highlights vocal weight as a particular consideration in its sound design, addressing the challenge of maintaining a full listening experience in a lightweight headphone enclosure. These are manufacturer claims rather than independently verified performance results.

A 57mAh lithium-ion battery provides up to eight hours of music playback on a charge. Recharging takes approximately 90 minutes through USB-C, keeping the charging process straightforward. The headphones also carry an IPX4 rating, indicating resistance to water splashes, which offers some protection during everyday use and light exercise.

The design does involve trade-offs. The Porta does not offer active noise cancellation, a feature found in many contemporary wireless headphones. Its modest battery capacity and eight-hour rated playback time also place the emphasis on everyday convenience and low weight rather than extended listening between charges.

Final has priced the Porta at ¥12,800 (approximately $80), with availability in Japan scheduled for October 23, 2026. International availability has not been confirmed, although the brand sells products through its Amazon storefront.

The post Final’s Porta wireless on-ear headphones strip back the headband to just 40 grams first appeared on Yanko Design.

The new Kindle Colorsoft brings updated hardware and optional page-turn accessories, while Kobo Libra Colour offers built-in buttons and stylus support for less.

The post Kindle Colorsoft vs Kobo Libra Colour: Which E-Reader Should You Buy? appeared first on TechRepublic.

Kindle Scribe combines ebook reading with handwritten notes, while reMarkable Paper Pure focuses on writing and document workflows. We compare features, costs, and usability.

The post Kindle Scribe vs reMarkable Paper Pure: Which Should You Buy? appeared first on TechRepublic.

Magnetic charging makes attaching a battery easy, but it doesn’t guarantee that the battery will fit your phone’s shape. Apple’s folding iPhone Duo introduces a shorter body that gives accessories less room to stretch. BMX’s SolidSafe Duo responds with a compact, 5,000mAh power bank designed around those proportions, bringing a rotating stand, color display, and attached USB-C cable along for the ride.

The difference starts inside, where a custom-shaped battery cell lets the enclosure follow the Duo’s footprint instead of extending beyond its edges. The black, CNC-machined aluminum housing has rounded corners and a broad face that sits below the cameras. That gives the accessory a more deliberate relationship with the phone, although matching its outline doesn’t make the added thickness disappear, of course.

Designer: BMX (Better Mobile Experience)

A circular ring folds out from the back and rotates 360°, giving the phone support in portrait or landscape orientation. Reading a recipe on the counter could give way to watching a video over lunch without detaching the battery. The stand makes particular sense for an unfolded screen, which offers more room to watch but also more phone to hold in your hand.

Nestled inside that ring is a full-color display showing the power bank’s remaining charge and live charging wattage. The distinction matters because the percentage belongs to the accessory, not your iPhone. It also gives you a way to check both your reserve and the current power output, rather than assuming that an attached battery is always charging at its advertised maximum speed.

The attached USB-C cable doubles as a lanyard, so wired charging doesn’t begin with a search through your bag. Plug it into a compatible device for up to 20W output, or use it to refill the power bank at up to 15W. It’s a simple detail, but it keeps the wired option available even when the rest of your charging gear is elsewhere.

Wireless charging, meanwhile, tops out at a claimed 15W, below the iPhone Duo’s supported 25W maximum. You’re getting a tailored shape rather than the phone’s fastest wireless charging. Connecting two devices also changes the numbers, splitting output between 10W over USB-C and 5W wirelessly. That could help another device through the afternoon, but neither connection retains its single-device maximum in that arrangement.

The SolidSafe name also needs a little unpacking. BMX uses semi-solid-state cells and says their reduced liquid electrolyte content helps lower fire risk compared with conventional lithium-ion batteries. That’s a reduced-risk claim, not a promise that the battery can’t fail. The rigid aluminum enclosure also helps dissipate heat, according to BMX, rather than preventing the pack from becoming warm while it charges your phone.

Available for $79.99 in the US, SolidSafe Duo adds about 0.43 inch of thickness and 4.47 ounces to your phone. Those numbers deserve as much attention as its compact outline, particularly when the phone itself already folds shut. Having a stand and cable built into the battery means fewer loose accessories to pack, but a thicker stack to slide back into your pocket.

The post SolidSafe Duo Magnetic Power Bank Is Shaped to Fit Apple’s Folding iPhone first appeared on Yanko Design.

Keychain cameras have a certain appeal for those who love to carry a bit of nostalgic charm with them. Well, technically, they’re still digital cameras, but there’s a retro feel to them that appeals to those who remember taking photos before smartphones. They’re cute and tiny enough to carry as accessories, but they still let you take photos and videos to add to your collection.

Kenko Tokina has released another tiny camera to add to the fun. The Kenko Pieni III is an ultra-small digital toy camera designed to be worn as a necklace or an accessory. It comes with a neck strap for that purpose. It’s not meant to replace your bigger camera, of course, but it offers another way to take photos and videos.

Manufacturer: Kenko Tokina

This version of the Pieni camera is just over two inches wide and weighs approximately 18 grams, excluding the memory card and accessories. It comes in a classic camera-style design, so it can also serve as a camera-shaped accessory or a decorative display. But when you want to use it as an actual camera, it can capture still images at 1440 × 960 pixels and videos with audio at 720 × 480 pixels and 30 frames per second.

There’s an important detail behind those photo dimensions, though. The sensor has only 320,000 effective pixels, or 0.32 megapixels, and the camera interpolates the images to create larger files. That doesn’t give you the detail of a higher-resolution sensor. It’s worth keeping your expectations in toy-camera territory rather than expecting crisp images suitable for large prints. But I think this lo-fi aesthetic is part of the appeal of using these toy cameras as a secondary way to capture moments.

It doesn’t have a screen or a viewfinder, so you can’t preview your framing or immediately review what you’ve taken. It can be a way to enjoy capturing a spontaneous moment without worrying about making it perfect, although aiming without a preview may be a challenge for some. There’s also a difference between accepting an imperfect photo and accidentally leaving someone out of the frame, so that uncertainty is part of the trade-off.

The controls are simple in number, with just two buttons. One handles power and the shutter or video recording, while the other switches between photo and video modes. LEDs indicate which mode you’re using. There aren’t many controls to navigate, although you’ll still need to learn the button presses and signals. The camera also has an integrated rear magnet, so you can attach it to compatible magnetic surfaces, such as a refrigerator or a suitable metal railing. This could be useful for recording yourself when you don’t want to hold the camera. You’ll still need to find a secure position and judge where it’s pointing, especially since there’s no screen to help you set up the shot.

Photos and videos are saved to a separately purchased microSDHC card, with supported capacities ranging from 4 GB to 32 GB. There’s no user-accessible internal storage, so the card is something you’ll need before you start shooting. That’s a small but important extra purchase if you’re planning to give the camera as a gift. To see the results, you can connect the camera to a computer or transfer files directly to a compatible USB-C smartphone using the included USB-C-to-USB-C cable. Kenko Tokina cautions that it doesn’t guarantee compatibility with every smartphone. The USB connection also handles charging, keeping the basic setup fairly compact.

The Pieni III is available in four colors: Soda, Strawberry, Milk, and Black. There are also five character versions in the separate Sanrio Character Toy Camera STREET line, which has the same basic performance as the Pieni III. The range includes Hello Kitty, My Melody, Kuromi, Cinnamoroll, and Hangyodon.

For moments you absolutely need to capture correctly, the lack of framing and immediate review may be frustrating. But if you’re happy to take a few chances, there’s something appealing about putting the camera away without checking every shot. You get to find out later which pictures worked—and which ones missed what you were aiming for.

The post Kenko’s 18-Gram Pieni III Camera Shoots Without a Screen first appeared on Yanko Design.

Keyboards and mice have shared our desks for decades, but our hands still have to travel between them whenever typing gives way to clicking. That familiar shuffle becomes especially noticeable when there’s barely enough room for a laptop, let alone another accessory. The Clevetura S offers an interesting solution by turning the keys themselves into a touchpad, giving your fingers another way to get around without leaving the keyboard.

Also known as the CLVX S, this compact, 78-key keyboard brings Clevetura’s TouchOnKeys technology to a more portable design. The Windows version reviewed here can handle familiar gestures without additional software, although there’s plenty to customize if you want to. More importantly, it makes an unusual interaction surprisingly useful, even if sliding across letters and keeping resting fingers from triggering gestures take a little getting used to.

Designer: Clevetura

Aesthetics

Upfront, the Clevetura S looks almost like someone forgot to leave space between the keys. The flat keycaps sit unusually close together, giving the 78-key layout a tidy, almost tiled appearance. There’s a practical reason for that, of course. Fingers need to travel across the surface as comfortably as they press down on it, and generous gaps would make that second job considerably less inviting.

An anodized aluminum base gives the keyboard its silver lower half, while polycarbonate covers the top and ABS plastic forms the keycaps. Both black and white versions retain that silver body, which is particularly noticeable against the darker finish. I would have preferred an entirely black option for a simpler look, though the contrast does make the thin profile a little more obvious when viewed from the side.

Otherwise, there isn’t much to distract from that continuous field of keys, save for the extra markings explaining their secondary functions. Two buttons below the spacebar provide physical left- and right-click controls, recalling the arrangement on older laptops. Then there’s the per-key RGB lighting, which can turn this relatively understated keyboard into something considerably more colorful. Fortunately, those lights also have practical roles beyond decorating your desk.

Ergonomics

At roughly 403g, the Clevetura S doesn’t ask for much commitment when you’re packing a laptop bag. Its body measures approximately 11.5 inches wide, 5.12 inches deep, and just 0.49 inches (12.4mm) thick, making it easy to accommodate on smaller desks, too. The closely fitted keycaps don’t leave many edges sticking out, although I’d still use the included fabric pouch rather than let them rub against everything else.

The scissor switches feel familiar if you’re coming from a decent laptop keyboard, with around 1.2mm of travel. Typing is perfectly serviceable, though it probably won’t steal the attention of someone devoted to mechanical switches. Folding feet let you raise the back, but there’s only one elevated position. That keeps setup simple, provided you’re comfortable with either the flat profile or the available incline.

The more interesting benefit shows up when you need to scroll through a reference or reposition the cursor between sentences. Instead of reaching sideways, you can make that movement right where you’ve been typing. Your chair and screen position still matter, of course. The Clevetura S simply reduces the back-and-forth, although its flat, closely fitted keys take some getting used to when finding your usual typing rhythm.

Performance

The central key area doubles as the touchpad, automatically switching between recognizing finger movements and registering keypresses. Sliding across letters feels a little peculiar at first, but my fingers didn’t catch on the edges, and pointer control worked well. Scrolling through a document becomes especially convenient when you’re jumping back into writing every few moments. A light tap handles clicking without requiring you to press a letter.

That automatic switching does have to contend with personal habits, however. Mine involves keeping fingers on the home row, which happens to sit inside the touchpad area. This frequently triggered three-finger gestures when I hadn’t intended anything of the sort. Sensitivity adjustments and the option to disable unwanted gestures provide useful flexibility, though finding the right balance is something to budget time for rather than expect immediately.

Clevetura’s Adaptive Intelligence, or AI, can help by selecting a sensitivity level after studying 10,000 typed characters. Training requires the TouchOnKeys app and a USB connection, with touch recognition disabled while it runs. A separate mouse is handy during that process, although you can pause training if necessary. Thankfully, this particular AI has a fairly modest assignment: learning when your fingers mean to type rather than swipe.

The lighting makes that second role easier to follow, and a little more entertaining, too. In my setup, a white trail followed my finger across the keys, almost like leaving a trace of magic behind. Checking the battery dims the surrounding lighting and uses illuminated number keys to show the remaining charge. Even the function row gets involved, with touch sliders for volume and backlight brightness.

Windows recognizes supported touchpad gestures without installing additional software, but TouchOnKeys opens up more settings, including profiles for different apps. Three Bluetooth slots and a USB-C connection let you select between up to four devices, one at a time. That’s useful if your desk serves more than one computer. The cable also handles charging and provides the wired connection required for firmware updates.

Clevetura advertises up to 44 hours of continuous use without backlighting, which is an important qualification for anyone drawn to those colorful effects. That’s the manufacturer’s estimate rather than a result measured here, so it shouldn’t become a promise of weeks between charges. Wired operation remains available at a desk, while wireless endurance deserves particular attention if you’re planning to travel with the lighting switched on.

Sustainability

The aluminum and plastic construction follows a fairly familiar recipe, and there’s no documented recycled content to give the CLVX S a particular advantage on materials. Clevetura rates its keys for 3 million presses, although that remains a manufacturer specification rather than a prediction of service life. The more useful question is how easily this unusual keyboard can be maintained once everyday use starts leaving its mark.

Here, the same integration that makes TouchOnKeys possible also limits what owners can replace. Clevetura warns against removing or swapping keycaps because doing so can damage the keyboard, and the battery isn’t easily user-replaceable either. Routine surface cleaning and manufacturer support therefore matter more than they would on a board designed for tinkering. It’s worth understanding that arrangement before expecting mechanical-keyboard levels of customization or straightforward repairs.

Value

At $199, discounted from $209, the Windows model sits well above the price of many conventional compact keyboards. The extra cost is easier to understand when you consider what you’re paying for: typing and pointer control in the same footprint. Separate devices offer more freedom to choose each component, but they also need more space. Clevetura’s appeal is having those everyday functions share one portable object.

That could be particularly attractive when you’re writing code, checking references, or moving between shortcuts and controls in creative software. Quick navigation stays close, even if detailed drawing or extended pointer work still calls for a separate mouse. The Clevetura S doesn’t have to handle every task equally well to be useful. Its value depends on how often you make those small trips away from the keys.

Verdict

Combining a keyboard and touchpad sounds simple enough until your fingers have to tell the two jobs apart. Clevetura gives that idea a thoughtful physical form, from the closely fitted keys to lighting that explains what’s happening beneath your hands. My habit of resting on the home row made gesture sensitivity especially important, but the pointer control itself worked well and gave the unusual surface a practical purpose.

The Clevetura CLVX S makes the strongest impression when space is limited and typing is regularly interrupted by a scroll or a click. Its price deserves consideration, and the flat surface won’t replace everyone’s favorite keyboard feel. Still, there’s something pleasing about editing a sentence, sliding across the letters to move the cursor, and carrying on without sending a hand off to find another device.

The post Clevetura S Keyboard Review: Swipe Across the Keys Instead of Reaching for a Mouse first appeared on Yanko Design.

Get the key details on Google Fitbit Edge, including health tracking, Gemini coaching, battery life, US pricing, compatibility, and which version to buy.

The post Google Fitbit Edge Cheat Sheet: Price, Features, Battery Life, and More appeared first on TechRepublic.

Apple unveils HomeView, Apple TV 4K, HomePod mini 2 and smart home accessories. Compare prices, release dates, device requirements and subscription costs.

The post Apple Unveils HomeView and More: What Buyers Should Know appeared first on TechRepublic.

When I first saw the ASUS ExpertBook A7, I had to double-check that it was really meant for business. This laptop immediately cuts a different silhouette compared to the usual gray rectangles that fill airport lounges and open offices. Instead of relying on harsh edges or a boxy build, the A7 projects an air of modern sophistication that feels more at home next to a designer handbag than lost in a sea of generic briefcases. It is refreshing to see a company put such clear effort into making work hardware truly attractive.

With this launch, ASUS introduces an all-new A series to its commercial lineup. Pricing in the US starts at $1,299, which places it among premium options for professionals who care about their tools’ aesthetics as much as their productivity. The combination of an aluminum body with a vivid OLED screen ensures it stands out from the crowd while still promising plenty of business features beneath the surface.

Designer: ASUS

A Work Companion Designed with Intention

From the first touch, you notice how carefully built the ExpertBook A7 feels. ASUS says this device is milled from a single block of 6000 series aluminum alloy, which is better known for its use in airplanes than office cubicles. This construction helps reduce visible seams and eliminates weak points that could otherwise catch on your bag or wear down over time. The result is a chassis that feels reassuringly solid in everyday use.

Sustainability gets its due as well. Nearly all of the aluminum used around the keys and top cover comes from recycled sources, while the bottom case uses 70% recycled material, too. That focus on sustainability does not just make environmental sense; it gives the laptop a cool touch and premium finish that plastic simply cannot match. Color choices remain subtle yet attractive. You can pick either Lunar Silver or Eclipse Black, both of which offer understated style wherever you work or play.

Measuring just under half an inch thick and weighing less than three pounds, this laptop is easy to slip into any bag without adding bulk or strain. Carrying it around feels closer to bringing along a glossy magazine than hauling old-school work equipment. For people who are always on the move, this lightweight build is more than just convenient.

Display That Draws You In

Flip open the lid, and you will immediately notice why ASUS is proud of its screen technology. The 14- inch panel offers 3K resolution at 2880×1800 pixels, using OLED technology for richer colors and true black levels. With a refresh rate of 120Hz, everything from scrolling through presentations to watching videos appears fluid and sharp.

For those who spend time editing photos or creating graphics, full coverage of the DCI-P3 color space means you get accurate color reproduction for creative work as well as daily tasks. Some versions offer an anti-glare coating to help keep reflections at bay if you often work near windows or bright lights. There is no touch input on this model. Instead, all interaction happens through a backlit keyboard and a glass haptic touchpad that gives gentle feedback with every click or gesture.

Thoughtful Features for Real Workdays

The port selection keeps you ready for any meeting or workspace setup without forcing extra adapters into your bag. Two USB-C connectors handle charging and video output while USB-A supports older accessories you might still rely on day to day. HDMI makes connecting to projectors or external monitors simple, and there is also a headphone jack when wireless audio just will not do.

ASUS includes small touches that make daily use easier than expected. For example, you can open the lid with just one hand, thanks to the carefully tuned hinge resistance. This proves surprisingly handy when juggling coffee cups or paperwork during a busy day. In my own hands-on time with the device, I found screen wobble kept nicely under control even while typing quickly.

Performance starts strong out of the box with Intel Core 5 processors available up to Core 7 models depending on your configuration needs. 16GB of memory comes standard along with 512GB of solid-state storage, so multitasking rarely slows things down.

Battery Life and Security That Keep Up

ASUS advertises up to 26 hours of battery life based on controlled video playback tests using their 65 WHr battery pack. In real-world situations filled with conference calls, dozens of browser tabs, and relentless emails, expect something less, but fast charging back up to 50% capacity in 30 minutes can help keep you unplugged longer when needed.

Security features include fingerprint sign-in support along with enterprise-level BIOS protection. Plus, regular updates are promised for five years after purchase. Buyers also receive three years of warranty coverage, which brings extra peace of mind when investing in premium hardware.

The post ASUS ExpertBook A7 Gives the Business Laptop a Sleeker Look first appeared on Yanko Design.

Your phone can shoot video, run a demanding game, and carry an entire music library. It can also leave you holding a warm slab of glass, untangling a charging cable, or trying to photograph someone under terrible lighting. Those are the gaps worth designing for. A useful accessory should fix a specific irritation without creating three more, preferably through a mechanism you can understand before opening a thick instruction manual.

These nine selections tackle cooling, listening, cable clutter, misplaced cards, awkward camera controls, and backup power. Some attach to the phone; others give it a useful companion on your desk or in your bag. Start with the problem that actually bothers you most each day.

1. OnePlus Ice Card Mini

OnePlus has squeezed a phone cooler into a small card footprint rather than a bulky gaming attachment. The Ice Card Mini is listed in OPPO’s China store and described as a 50-gram body measuring 70mm by 53.4mm. Its thermoelectric chip works with an air-cooling system, while magnets hold the accessory against the phone. That compact packaging is the appeal: cooling becomes something you might carry alongside a cable, rather than reserve for a dedicated desktop gaming setup.

The practical tradeoff is power. The Mini draws up to 3.5W through USB-C and can run from a phone, power bank, or wall adapter. An included magnetic plate lets you attach it to phones without built-in magnets. It gives heat-conscious gamers a relatively discreet option, but drawing power from the phone adds another demand on its battery.

What we like

• Compact, 50-gram magnetic format.
• USB-C power accepts several sources.

What we dislike

• Consumes power rather than supplying it.

2. StillFrame Headphones

If earbuds bother your ears, a phone’s music library deserves another way out. StillFrame Headphones, designed by Tatsufumi Funayama, use an on-ear format with a stainless steel headband and magnetically attached fabric cushions. Circular and square geometry share the housings, with circuitry deliberately exposed. The retro reference has a practical point: you can choose headphones that sit against your ears without choosing the bulk of a conventional over-ear design for everyday listening.

Bluetooth 5.4 handles wireless listening, while the supplied USB-C cable supports wired playback. The headphones include 40mm drivers, noise cancellation, and a transparency mode; the maker claims up to 24 hours of playback. Those choices make StillFrame worth considering for desk listening or commuting when you prefer an alternative to in-ear buds. There’s one unusual operating detail: both sides need charging and separate button presses to power on. Light construction also doesn’t prove comfort or effective noise cancellation by itself.

Click Here to Buy Now: $245.00

What we like

• Low weight and removable magnetic cushions.
• Both wireless and wired playback.

What we dislike

• Both sides require charging and separate power-on presses.
• A full charge takes approximately three hours.

3. SuperCalla Magnetic Charging Cable

A charging cable shouldn’t need its own accessory just to stay organized. SuperCalla builds the organizer into the cable, placing magnets at intervals along its length. Line them up and the cable holds a coil or folded arrangement without a separate tie. The useful distinction is that these magnets manage the cable’s shape; they aren’t detachable charging connectors. For a bag that also carries keys, headphones, and adapters, keeping the loose length contained addresses a very ordinary frustration quite directly.

The manufacturer’s USB-C to USB-C listing separates a 60W, USB 2.0 version from a 100W, USB 3.1 Gen 2 option. That matters because neat storage says nothing about charging speed or file transfer performance. Choose the connector and electrical specification your phone actually needs, then treat the magnetic organization as the bonus.

What we like

• Magnetic organization without a separate cable tie.
• Multiple folding and coiling arrangements.

What we dislike

• Cable variants have different data capabilities.
• Dated shipping information needs clarification.

4. Battery-free Amplifying iSpeakers

The Battery-free Amplifying iSpeakers take a pleasingly literal approach to phone audio: put the phone in a shaped metal enclosure and let the geometry do the work. Designed by Ooi Masato and made in Japan, the accessory uses duralumin rather than a powered amplifier. There’s no Bluetooth pairing, battery gauge, or charging cable involved. For someone who wants to listen aloud at a desk, it offers a dedicated place for the phone without adding another electronic device to the routine.

The attraction is simplicity, not a promise of room-filling volume. The phone remains the sound source, so this makes more sense as a casual listening accessory than a replacement for powered speakers. Check your phone and case fit before buying, along with the position of the speaker opening. Optional +Bloom and +Jet modules redirect sound and are sold separately. It’s an appealing desk object for people who value avoiding chargers and want their phone to have a permanent desktop home.

Click Here to Buy Now: $179.00

What we like

• No battery, charging, or wireless pairing.
• Japanese-made duralumin construction.

What we dislike

• Phone and case fit need checking.
• Optional sound-directing modules cost extra.

5. MOFT Trackable Snap-on Phone Stand & Wallet

A magnetic wallet makes leaving the house with less stuff appealing, right up until you detach it and forget where it went. MOFT’s Trackable Snap-on Phone Stand & Wallet builds Apple Find My support into a folding accessory that also serves as a grip and stand. The current product listing specifies two cards and a 6mm thickness. Its usefulness comes from keeping those functions together, rather than asking you to carry a wallet, separate tracker, and stand every single day.

Find My gives the wallet a way to report its location and sound an alert, making it easier to look for when separated from your phone. MOFT claims around six months between wireless charges, and the folding construction supports portrait, landscape, and floating viewing positions. The limitation is equally clear: this is an Apple-oriented solution with room for just two cards. Its tracking battery is built in and nonreplaceable, so rechargeability is welcome but doesn’t resolve eventual battery serviceability concerns.

What we like

• Find My tracking without a separate tag.
• Wallet, grip, and stand share one folding structure.

What we dislike

• Holds only two cards.
• The tracking battery is not replaceable.

6. WUBEN E1 Magnetic Phone Light

A good phone camera still depends on the light in front of it. WUBEN’s E1 gives you another source to position, combining an adjustable ring light with a magnetic phone mounting arrangement. Brightness is adjustable, and warm, neutral, and cool settings let you choose the color of the light rather than accept whatever the built-in flash provides. The hinged support lets you redirect the light and use the assembly as a stand for your phone too.

This makes the E1 interesting for video calls, close-up filming, and selfies where a small adjustable source is more useful than simply pushing exposure higher. WUBEN rates output at up to 300 lumens, but that specification alone doesn’t establish how flattering the light will look. It recharges through USB-C and needs magnetic phone compatibility or an adapter ring. Check the selected retail bundle carefully: the product page lists the bracket separately among its variants; don’t assume the mount is included.

What we like

• Adjustable brightness and three color-temperature settings.
• Hinged mounting adds control over light direction.

What we dislike

• Adds another battery to recharge.
• Bracket inclusion requires careful checking.

7. Leica LUX Grip

Touchscreens are wonderfully adaptable until you want a control you can find without looking. Leica’s LUX Grip attaches magnetically to a compatible iPhone and adds a two-stage shutter button, two customizable buttons, and a control dial. Half-press the shutter to focus, then press fully to take the photograph. That physical sequence is the point: it brings a recognizable camera action to a device otherwise dominated by glass, giving regular phone photographers a different way to hold and operate their camera.

The aluminum housing weighs approximately 130 grams, and Leica specifies roughly 1,000 exposures per charge. There’s an important software boundary, though: the grip works with the Leica LUX app, not Apple’s built-in Camera app. Registration includes twelve months of LUX Pro, with paid access afterward if you retain the subscription. It’s a specialized choice for someone happy to adopt Leica’s workflow. It does not change the iPhone’s sensor or optics, and it cannot double as a phone-charging power bank either.

What we like

• Physical shutter and configurable controls.
• Supports portrait and landscape attachment.

What we dislike

• Limited to the Leica LUX app.
• Pro access becomes paid after the included year.

8. KUXIU D5 Charging Station

The annoyance here lives around the phone: an Apple Watch charger, an earbud cable, and adapters competing for desk space. KUXIU’s D5 gathers three compatible devices into one wireless charging station, with an adjustable phone platform and a motorized Apple Watch module that retracts into the body. The hidden watch charger is an unusually specific design decision. You only need that protrusion when a watch is charging, so the dock needn’t keep it permanently extended across your desk between sessions.

The display shows input voltage, current, and power, plus individual charging status, giving the dock more feedback than a single indicator light. KUXIU also includes an active cooling fan that can be switched off. Phone charging is advertised at up to 25W, but actual speed depends on the handset’s support. The watch module is specifically for Apple Watch, and earbuds need a wireless-charging case. For a compatible trio, the benefit is consolidation, not a guarantee that everything suddenly charges faster.

What we like

• Three charging positions in one station.
• Retractable watch module and informative display.

What we dislike

• Watch charging is Apple Watch-specific.
• Maximum phone charging speed depends on compatibility.

9. RetroWave 7-in-1 Radio

A smartphone becomes a much less useful companion when the battery runs down, and there’s no outlet nearby. The RetroWave 7-in-1 Radio brings a modest backup battery together with things a phone shouldn’t have to supply indefinitely: a flashlight, an SOS siren, and radio reception. Its 2,000mAh battery can provide a phone top-up, while AM, FM, and shortwave listening work without an internet connection. The tuning dial also provides a direct physical control instead of another screen to navigate.

Bluetooth playback gives RetroWave an everyday role as a phone speaker, while USB and microSD playback let it handle music independently. That matters for an emergency companion: it has reasons to stay accessible rather than disappear into a drawer. Be realistic about its charging options. USB is the primary method, the hand crank is intended for emergencies, and solar charging is supplementary. The small battery won’t replace a substantial power bank, but it offers a useful reserve alongside standalone functions.

Click Here to Buy Now: $89.00

What we like

• Phone charging alongside independent radio and lighting.
• Bluetooth and offline music playback.

What we dislike

• Limited 2,000mAh backup capacity.
• Solar and crank charging are secondary options.

Buy for the Problem You Actually Have

The sensible way to choose from this collection is to start with the irritation, not the accessory. If cables are your daily nuisance, a more elaborate charging station may be unnecessary. If touch controls interrupt your photography, a grip deserves more attention than another camera specification. Match the mechanism to the task, then check the phone, case, app, and charging requirements that determine whether it will actually work for you.

The less obvious question is where the accessory belongs when you’re finished using it. Something that folds, coils, docks, or stays useful independently has a better chance of fitting into a routine than something you must keep rearranging. There’s no need to buy all nine. A phone already does enough jobs; the right companion should remove one small source of friction without giving you another object to manage every day.

The post 9 Smartphone Accessories That Solve the Annoying Problems Your Phone Still Has first appeared on Yanko Design.

Desktop computers have become smaller, but even a little box needs somewhere to sit and cables to connect it. HP’s EliteBoard G2a removes that separate enclosure by putting the computer inside a full-size keyboard. This Windows PC keeps the surface you already type on and gives it another job, making a compact workstation easier to carry between home and office.

The gray body measures 14.1 by 4.7 by 0.7 inches and weighs about 1.49 pounds, depending on configuration. Low-profile keys, a numeric keypad, and backlighting preserve the familiar business-keyboard layout rather than shrinking everything into a travel accessory. That makes the design’s restraint rather convincing: there’s no separate machine competing for attention, although you’re still setting aside space for a full keyboard.

Designer: HP

Of course, the missing piece is a screen. Connect the G2a to a compatible USB-C monitor and you can bring your computer to a desk where the display already lives. A single cable can carry video, data, and power, provided the monitor supplies the required 65W. Otherwise, the included power adapter is still needed. A USB-C socket alone doesn’t guarantee that tidy arrangement.

The cable itself comes in attached and detachable versions, a small choice with consequences when packing up. An attached lead stays with the machine, so there’s one less item to leave behind. A detachable cable separates from the keyboard for storage or replacement. The second USB-C connection handles accessories, but USB-A devices and wired Ethernet require adapters, adding clutter to the setup.

Underneath, AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 435 or Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 processors distinguish this G2a from the older G1a. Both include a 50-TOPS neural processing unit for compatible local AI software. The listed configurations pair 16GB or 32GB of RAM with a 512GB SSD. These prove the existence of a powerful computer beneath the keys, not a keyboard controlling something hidden behind your monitor.

An optional 32Wh battery gives the arrangement another advantage when you’re changing desks: the computer can stay running while disconnected. That doesn’t turn it into a laptop, since you’ll still need a display when you arrive. Integrated speakers and microphones reduce the peripherals needed for audio calls, and a prepaired wireless mouse completes the controls. Video calls still need a separate camera, of course.

Putting everything beneath the keys could make a damaged keyboard an expensive problem, which is why serviceability matters here. HP makes the top-mounted keyboard replaceable, alongside the RAM, SSD, and optional battery. Two accessible memory slots support upgrades to 64GB. You don’t have to treat the computer as disposable because its most frequently touched part wears out, although repairs still require appropriate skills.

That said, the price is harder to hide than the computer. Listed US configurations start at $3,028, while the attached-cable version with 32GB of RAM is priced at $3,846. A compatible monitor remains a separate purchase. For someone moving between equipped workspaces, carrying a keyboard instead of a desktop makes sense. Paying that much to avoid a separate box, however, is a considerably bigger decision.

The post HP EliteBoard G2a Hides a Windows PC in an Ordinary-Looking Keyboard first appeared on Yanko Design.

2026 is the year when Trainers everywhere celebrate Pokémon’s 30th anniversary, so we expected a lot of new merchandise, themed events, and collaborations with other well-known brands. We’ve seen footwear and apparel rollouts with adidas and PUMA, LEGO sets, even a partnership with the European Space Agency, and food collaborations like Pokémon-themed Hershey’s Kisses. If you’re looking for audio equipment featuring your favorite monster, you’re in luck with this newly announced collaboration.

The Pokémon Beats Pill is a Bluetooth speaker announced by audio brand Beats in partnership with The Pokémon Company International. It features two familiar Pokémon characters, the ubiquitous Pikachu and the more mysterious Mimikyu. It brings the bright yellow and minimalist gray associated with these characters to a portable speaker with what Beats calls its signature sound. Both Beats collectors and Pokémon Trainers may want to have this special-edition collaboration to bring their music and other audio content to life.

Designers: Beats x Pokémon

The speaker’s design is a contrast between the electric yellow most identified with Pikachu and a grayscale interpretation of Mimikyu, with the latter hiding beneath a cloth that resembles the former. More than just attaching a logo to the Bluetooth speaker, this is a character-driven design. Both Pokémon appear on the grille, while the speaker itself remains compact and elongated like other Beats Pill devices.

According to Beats, this is also the first Pill release that comes with charms. Trainers who like collecting accessories get the iconic Poké Ball, Pikachu-inspired lightning bolts, and the equally recognizable Beats “b.” The color-matched gray carry lanyard is removable, so there’s a practical carrying accessory alongside the collectible details. It also comes with interactive packaging, which Beats says includes a movable piece, plus special-edition stickers. The exact packaging mechanism isn’t explained in detail on the collaboration page.

The familiar shape has a practical side, too. Its 20-degree upward tilt is designed to direct sound toward your ears when it sits on a table, while the soft-grip silicone backing is intended to make it easier to hold. At 8.6 inches long and 24 ounces, it’s portable enough for a bag, although not pocket-sized. Keeping the existing Pill shape also means the Pokémon treatment doesn’t turn it into a bulky character figurine that needs its own dedicated space.

Specs-wise, the speaker has a bespoke acoustic system that Beats says delivers room-filling sound and deep bass for your favorite tunes, podcasts, or audiobooks. It offers up to 24 hours of battery life and has an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance. That battery figure is a manufacturer claim, not a guarantee for every listening session. You can also charge a compatible phone from the speaker via USB-C, using some of its battery in the process.

You can listen over Bluetooth or plug in a compatible device via USB-C for high-resolution lossless audio. The wired connection matters here; lossless playback isn’t being promised over Bluetooth. You can even pair two Beats Pills together in Amplify Mode or Stereo Mode. The former synchronizes playback across both speakers, while the latter separates the left and right channels. You’ll need a second Pill for either option.

The speaker also supports both iOS and Android devices, so you don’t need an iPhone to use it. One-touch pairing and supported device-location features add to its everyday usefulness. It can also serve as a speakerphone, letting you take calls through the paired speaker rather than reaching for your phone every time. The Pokémon Beats Pill is scheduled to become available in the United States for $149.99 on October 15, 2026, at 8 a.m. PDT, through Apple and Target online and at select Target stores.

For Pokémon fans, the appeal is having a collectible that doesn’t have to stay on a shelf. The collaboration’s announced changes focus on appearance, accessories, and packaging, rather than a Pokémon-specific audio upgrade. If you already own a Pill, the reason to choose this one is mainly the character treatment. For someone looking for a portable speaker, though, Pikachu and Mimikyu give a familiar everyday device some personality.

The post Pokémon Beats Pill Adds Charms Without Raising the Price first appeared on Yanko Design.

For fifteen years, Apple was the friend who shows up to the party an hour late and then insists it brought the best snacks. Tim Cook even had a motto for it, saying Apple was perfectly fine with not being first. Then John Ternus took over on September 1, and the snack table got crowded fast. In six weeks Apple has revealed the foldable iPhone Duo, a HomeView smart display in tabletop and wall-mounted versions, and nine smart home accessories. That makes twelve fresh designs, a wild number for a company that used to agonize over one hinge.

HomeView and the foldable will get the splashy coverage, but the real fun is the smart home gear. LG Electronics and Schneider Electric helped Apple build a video doorbell, a floodlight cam, outdoor and indoor cams, a deadbolt, two thermostats, and two sensors. They start arriving in December, with prices running from $39.95 for a sensor to $399.95 for the floodlight cam. Apple’s fingerprints are all over them, from the aluminum to the black glass to the rounded shapes. I am here to tell you why that deserves a small celebration.

Designers: LG and Schneider for Apple

The ROKR Taught Apple to Keep the Design and Rent the Factory

In September 2005, Steve Jobs launched the Motorola ROKR E1, a rebadged Motorola phone with an iTunes button and a cap of 100 songs. The demo stumbled and the phone flopped. Jobs looked pained onstage, and you can see why, since Apple’s software was riding around in someone else’s hardware. Roughly sixteen months later he unveiled the iPhone. The ROKR was a stepping stone he needed, taken at exactly the moment he needed it.

Ternus gets to run that play with the lesson already learned. Bloomberg reports that Apple shaped the design, features, and engineering of the LG gear, while LG handles manufacturing and support. The ROKR was Motorola’s design wearing Apple’s software. This is Apple’s design wearing LG’s factory. Ternus joined Apple in 2001, so he watched the ROKR saga from the inside, and the LG deal likely began on Cook’s watch but ships under Ternus, which puts it in his column.

Nine Products, One Family Look From Two Different Companies

Line up the lock, camera, thermostat, and doorbell from Apple’s photo and the family resemblance is hard to miss. The Smart Deadbolt pairs a black glass keypad with a pill-shaped aluminum plate, and the Video Doorbell is an aluminum column capped in black glass. The Indoor Cam’s round head swivels on a chrome pivot that echoes the hinge on HomeView. The big 68 on the thermostat belongs to Schneider, yet it shares the same soft rounded-square body. Two companies, one look.

The Indoor Cam physically tilts down to stop watching the moment the first person gets home, which is the friendliest privacy gesture I have seen on a camera. The doorbell carries a 2.5K front camera plus a 1080p lens aimed at the doorstep for packages. The deadbolt uses Ultra Wideband (a precise short-range radio) to unlock as you walk up with your iPhone or Apple Watch, and it keeps working without internet. Everything sets up with one tap on your iPhone. There is no extra app and no extra account.

Ternus Ships What Is Ready Instead of Waiting for Perfect

Cook’s way was to wait until Apple could do it perfectly, and the home hub paid for it, slipping from spring 2025 while Siri caught up. Ternus, per Bloomberg, wants Apple to ship faster, experiment more, and spread launches through the year instead of two big events. HomeView still waited for Siri AI, so the rulebook did not change overnight. What changed is that the wait no longer stalls everything around it. The doorbell, lock, cameras, and thermostats are ready now, and Apple is shipping them.

The Home Collection starts at $39.95 for a sensor, with the lock at $349.95 and the floodlight cam topping out at $399.95. It arrives in December in the U.S. and Canada, the cameras and doorbell are also heading to the UK, and select items slip to early 2027. You can see the full lineup in Apple’s Home Collection announcement. Cook’s Apple was the friend who showed up late with the best snacks. Ternus’s Apple shows up on time, brings the snacks, and even has gluten-free options because he listened to his audience.

The post Twelve New Designs in Six Weeks: Why I Love the new Apple under John Ternus first appeared on Yanko Design.

Gaming soundbars became popular in the 2017s, but the trend faded; in the last couple of years, this category of audio accessories has seen renewed interest. Razer kicked off the new wave, with several mainstream brands and some offbeat makers releasing their own versions. Creative recently launched their B3 soundbar for gamers at a very affordable price, and now Edifier is upping the ante with an even sweeter deal.

The China-based audio accessories maker, known for high-end bookshelf speakers, has come up with a very cool-looking soundbar for gamers. Dubbed the Hecate G2000 Bar, the desktop audio boomer is all set to be available from 16 October onwards for a price tag of 349 yuan ($52), which is an introductory price slashed from the normal price of 387 yuan ($58).

Designer: Edifier

The G2000 Bar combines a compact footprint with an angular, mecha-inspired design intended to fit into a gaming setup without taking up much desk space. It will be available in black and white, with a built-in five-degree upward tilt that directs sound toward the listener rather than across the desktop. Five interchangeable themed stickers let users customize the front panel, while 12 RGB lighting effects, including rainbow and flowing-light patterns, add some visual flair. Lighting can be adjusted via the Edifier Connect mobile app or Hecate PC software.

Under the hood, the soundbar uses two 56mm full-range drivers with copper-clad aluminum wire voice coils, paired with two 60mm passive radiators. The arrangement is designed to deliver fuller audio and reinforce low frequencies without requiring a separate subwoofer. Output is rated at 3W per channel, or 6W in total, with peak power reaching 12W. The stated frequency response spans 67Hz to 20kHz.

For gaming, the G2000 Bar supports THX 7.1.4 spatial audio processing, which aims to create a more immersive, surround-like listening experience from a desktop soundbar. Six dedicated audio presets cater to different gaming genres, including first-person shooters, role-playing games, and racing titles. These modes give players a way to tailor the sound to different types of gameplay without manually adjusting equalizer settings.

The other notable addition is a detachable microphone mounted on top. It uses AEC 2.0 acoustic echo cancellation, a dedicated digital signal processor, and AI-assisted noise reduction to limit background sounds and reduce audio feedback from the speakers. This could make voice chat more convenient for players who prefer open speakers to a gaming headset, although performance will depend on the surrounding environment.

Connectivity includes Bluetooth 6.0 and USB sound-card input, allowing the soundbar to work with compatible PCs, laptops, mobile devices, and consoles. An independent 9V DC power adapter supplies power, while physical controls on the top metallic panel provide access to volume adjustment, microphone muting, and audio-mode switching.

With its compact design, customizable lighting, spatial audio processing, and integrated voice-chat features, the Hecate G2000 Bar brings several gaming-focused conveniences to an affordable desktop soundbar. Its initial pricing makes it an interesting option for players looking to simplify their setup without committing to a separate speaker system and microphone.

The post Edifier’s $52 gaming soundbar lets you ditch your headset without losing voice chat first appeared on Yanko Design.

Desktop speakers usually have a pretty straightforward job and an equally straightforward appearance. That makes sense when all you want is music, but it doesn’t leave much room for personality. Divoom’s Astrotoo takes a different approach, putting a display and oversized physical controls into a speaker that looks like a tiny computer terminal. It definitely gives your desk something playful and personal, and your friends something to be jealous of.

The rounded housing and recessed side panels give Astrotoo the appearance of equipment from an imagined future, albeit one with chunky buttons. White, pink, and green finishes offer different levels of restraint. At roughly 4.2 by 4.3 inches across its base, it won’t need the space of a computer, although its upright screen certainly makes it harder to overlook than a conventional speaker.

Designer: Divoom

Of course, those buttons aren’t simply there to complete the retro disguise. Three raised mechanical keys, a joystick, and an orange Back button handle music and display functions. You can reach over to control playback without opening another app, though customizing the display still involves your phone. It’s a familiar division of labor, with physical controls for everyday actions and software for the changes.

Despite the pixel art theme, Astrotoo doesn’t limit you to blocky characters and low-resolution graphics. Its 3.95-inch IPS display has a 480×480 pixel resolution, accommodating photographs and detailed clock faces as well. That means you can keep a family photo beside your monitor without making room for another frame. Music visualizations are also available, if you’d rather have your speaker put on a show.

The Divoom app lets you change visual content and clock faces, giving the device something to do when the music stops. Weather and stock information bring a more practical side to that small screen. That said, another dashboard isn’t necessarily what a busy desk needs. A favorite picture might be a better companion than financial numbers quietly competing for your attention all afternoon.

Divoom positions the 20W speaker for listening nearby, so the desktop proportions aren’t entirely about appearance. Playing music while answering emails or listening to a podcast during a break fits that purpose. Of course, the power rating doesn’t tell us how balanced the sound will be. The styling is easier to judge than the audio, which needs listening rather than a specification sheet.

Bluetooth 6.0 handles wireless audio, while microSD playback lets you bring a collection of stored music along without keeping a phone connected. Wi-Fi supports the connected display features. There’s also a battery, with Divoom claiming up to six hours of operation. That’s enough to move it between rooms for a while, but don’t expect it to stay unplugged through an entire workday.

The $199.99 US price makes this a considered desk accessory rather than a casual decoration. Divoom lists approximately 3.5 hours for USB-C charging, so it probably makes sense to leave a cable nearby. You can dress the screen as a futuristic control panel, but there’s nothing futuristic about discovering that your tiny computer needs plugging in before the afternoon playlist.

The post Divoom Astrotoo Is a Desktop Speaker Dressed as a Retro Computer first appeared on Yanko Design.

Smartphones have become rather good at convincing us they belong beside the bed, if only because we need an alarm in the morning. Unfortunately, that also puts every source of distraction within reach the moment you open your eyes. To fight that, Habity’s E-Paper Bedside Clock takes over the alarm, sleep sounds, and nightlight duties with physical controls and a display that doesn’t glow continuously, giving your phone fewer reasons to stay.

The clock has a rounded rectangular body and a slightly tilted face, but its most useful details are the ones your fingers encounter. A large side dial handles settings and volume through turning and pressing. On top, a yellow stop button sits beside a broad snooze key. Their different shapes separate two decisions you probably don’t want to confuse when you’re half asleep.

Designers: Peter Arvad, Jesper Westendahl

Of course, the screen is where Habity really parts ways with your phone. Its 3.7-inch e-paper display reflects ambient light rather than relying on continuous illumination. That means darkness calls for a little help. Interacting with the clock activates a warm frontlight for 10 seconds, enough for a quick check without leaving the time glowing beside your pillow all night long.

There’s also a built-in speaker for sleep sounds, which don’t need an app or subscription. Rain and ocean waves are familiar choices, but a sleeping dog and dishwasher bring a surprisingly domestic touch to the collection. Double-press the snooze button to start playback and turn the dial to change volume. Sessions can last up to eight hours, without borrowing your phone for the soundtrack.

Mornings get a little more flexibility than a single repeating alarm. Habity lets you choose weekday schedules or different wake-up times for individual days, although you’re limited to one wake-up alarm per day. The built-in light can gradually brighten up to 30 minutes beforehand. Once the alarm sounds, that broad snooze button grants another five minutes, as many times as you care to negotiate.

Perhaps the most curious detail is what happens when you stop touching the clock. After 10 minutes, an optional idle screen introduces an illustrated face and shrinks the time. The hour is still there, just less prominent. It’s a small concession for people who don’t want a constant reminder of how late it’s getting, and you can disable it if you’d rather keep watching the, er, watch.

Despite those straightforward controls, Habity hasn’t completely shut the door on connected features. Optional Wi-Fi provides automatic time setting and integrations with Philips Hue Bridge, Home Assistant, and Homey. That requires USB-C power, however. Leave it offline and the alarms and sounds still work, so your morning routine doesn’t need to depend on whether the router is having a good day.

Habity estimates two weeks of battery life, depending on use, but a full recharge can take up to 24 hours. You’ll want to plan that USB-C top-up rather than squeeze it in before bedtime if you’re using it unplugged. Getting one won’t move your phone to another room, of course, so you’ll still have to decide where it spends each night.

The post Habity’s E-Paper Bedside Clock Makes a Case for a Phone-Free Nightstand first appeared on Yanko Design.

Extra buttons on a game controller can be handy, at least until they get in the way of holding it. Razer’s Wolverine V4 Pro gives players a little more say in that arrangement, with magnetic back buttons you can remove instead of simply ignoring them. Available for Xbox and PC, the wireless controller also lets you change its thumbstick caps and even take off its faceplate.

The four rear buttons come off without tools, making it possible to keep all of them, use only a pair, or clear the back entirely. Blank inserts replace the unwanted controls, following the controller’s contours rather than leaving little gaps behind. It’s a small detail, but an important one when that surface is where your fingers spend most of their time during a game.

Designer: Razer

Of course, keeping those buttons attached makes sense when you’re juggling several actions at once. Their mouse-click switches can handle commands such as jumping or reloading, letting your thumbs stay on the sticks while your other fingers do the work. Two additional shoulder buttons bring the total to six remappable inputs, giving frequently used actions somewhere to go besides the familiar face buttons.

The thumbsticks get their own set of options, changing both their height and the surface beneath your thumbs. Short convex caps provide a rounded surface, while tall concave versions give your thumb a recessed resting spot and more height to work with. Razer recommends the taller caps for precise aiming. You can mix the supplied options, but swapping caps doesn’t mean you’re replacing the sensors underneath.

That flexibility continues with the triggers, which can switch between a short mouse-click action and a full analog pull using rear-mounted locks. The shorter setting suits firing in a shooter, while the longer travel lets you ease onto the throttle in a racing game. Through Razer Synapse, you can also adjust each trigger’s activation point to suit how you play.

Even the exterior is open to a little tinkering, thanks to a magnetic faceplate that lifts off without tools. Personalize that panel, or leave it off entirely to reveal the translucent housing underneath. The working components remain enclosed, so you’re changing the controller’s outer appearance rather than exposing its electronics. It’s an option for people who prefer seeing a bit of machinery.

The software takes care of the changes you can’t make with magnets. Four onboard profiles hold different button assignments and sensitivity settings, so a racing setup doesn’t have to overwrite your shooter preferences. You can also adjust thumbstick dead zones, deciding how much movement registers as input. That said, greater sensitivity can pick up tiny thumb movements you didn’t intend.

At $199.99 in the US, this level of customization doesn’t come cheap, and there’s no included carrying case to keep the removable pieces together. You’ll have to find your own place for spare caps and unused buttons. After spending that much on a controller you can rearrange, a dedicated home for the bits you’ve removed would have been rather welcome.

The post Razer Wolverine V4 Pro has four back buttons, but none have to stay first appeared on Yanko Design.

Apple HomeView is reportedly due in November. Explore its expected designs, colors and Siri features, plus the compatibility questions buyers should ask.

The post Apple HomeView Expected in November: What Buyers Should Know appeared first on TechRepublic.

PC prices could stay high through 2027 as IDC forecasts an 18.3% increase in average selling prices. Here's what PC buyers and IT teams should know.

The post PC Prices Could Stay High Through 2027: What Buyers Should Know appeared first on TechRepublic.