Today's Consumer Tech Pulse
Apple to embed a distilled Gemini model in Siri, boosting on‑device AI
Apple is integrating a trimmed version of Google’s Gemini large‑language model into Siri, enabling many queries to be processed on the iPhone’s Neural Engine while larger tasks stay in the cloud. The partnership also adds Nvidia’s Confidential Computing platform to encrypt user data during cloud processing.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Airbnb leads $58M Series C in WeRoad
ASUS Unveils ROG NUC 16 Compact Gaming PC With RTX 5080
ASUS Republic of Gamers unveiled the ROG NUC 16, a 3‑liter mini‑PC built around Intel’s Core Ultra 9 290HX processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU. The system supports up to 128 GB DDR5‑6400 RAM, 16 GB of GDDR7 graphics memory, and delivers 1,334 AI TOPS for on‑device inference and generative workloads. ASUS equipped the chassis with a revamped QuietFlow cooling solution that maintains noise below 38 dBA while improving thermal coverage by 12 %. Connectivity includes Thunderbolt 4, five‑display support up to 8K, and a new Moonlight White aesthetic.
Best Google Pixel Phone to Buy in 2026
Google unveiled the Pixel 10 series in May 2026, covering the budget‑friendly Pixel 10 A at $499, the mid‑range Pixel 10 at $799, the high‑end Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL with advanced camera systems, and the new Pixel 10 Pro Fold. All models run Android 16, feature the Tensor G5 processor and...
Razer Blade 18 Launches with 24‑Core Intel CPU and $7,000 Top‑End Model
Razer announced the 2026 Blade 18 laptop, equipped with a 24‑core Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus processor and configurable up to an Nvidia RTX 5090 GPU. Prices start at $3,999 for the base model and climb to $7,000 for the fully specced...
Innovative Eyewear Posts 70% Revenue Surge as Lucyd Armor Smart Glasses Dominate Q1
Innovative Eyewear Inc. announced unaudited Q1 2026 results showing net revenue of $773,561, a 70% year‑over‑year increase. The surge stems from strong demand for its Lucyd Armor smart safety glasses, while the company expands distribution through major retailers and wins...
Asus Launches ROG Xreal R1 Gaming AR Glasses
ASUS and Xreal have launched the ROG Xreal R1, a gaming‑focused augmented reality headset that ships globally today. The glasses feature a world‑first 240 Hz micro‑OLED panel with a 0.01 ms response time, delivering a virtual display equivalent to a 171‑inch screen...
PongBot Aura Is a $499 AI Ball Machine for Tennis, Pickleball, and Padel
PongBot introduced Aura, an AI‑powered ball machine that switches between tennis, pickleball and padel from a single chassis. The device is offered at an introductory $499 price, roughly half the cost of comparable single‑sport units, before rising to a $999...
Google Expands Gemini AI with Spark Agent, Cursor-Aware Features, and Android Integration
Google announced at the Android Show 2026 that its Gemini AI will power a new agent called Gemini Spark, a cursor‑aware assistant, and deeper integration into Android, Chrome and Autofill. The rollout begins with Pixel and Samsung Galaxy phones and...
SDL Library Adds Support For The New Steam Controller Without Depending On Steam
Valve’s newly released Steam Controller, priced at $99, now works with the SDL 3 library without requiring the Steam client. A pull request merged this week adds support for the controller’s touchpads, capacitive stick sensors, and grip‑sense features. Testers confirmed full...
Samsung Positions Galaxy XR Headset as Springboard for Future AR Smart Glasses
Samsung executive James Choi said the Galaxy XR headset establishes a scalable ecosystem that will extend to smart glasses, positioning the $1,800 device as a stepping stone toward lighter, AR‑focused wearables. The move pits Samsung against Apple’s Vision Pro and...
Motorola Razr Fold Impresses with Design, AI, Cameras
Me in a nutshell: using one camera to take a picture of me taking a selfie with another camera, all to review the Motorola Razr Fold. A nice foldable with decent cameras, lots of AI, and an unusual design. Read...
5 Smart Home Routines that Actually Make My Life Easier (Not Just Party Tricks)
Tech writer Chris Hachey outlines five practical smart‑home routines that go beyond novelty. He shows how a smart plug can automate tea brewing, motion sensors can trigger lights and video feeds, a timed smart lock prevents accidental unlocks, and vacation‑mode...
OpenAI Says Codex Is Coming to Your Phone
OpenAI has integrated its Codex AI coding assistant into the ChatGPT mobile app for iOS and Android, letting users monitor and control live development environments from their phones. The preview feature is available to all subscription tiers, expanding remote workflow...
Head‑Tracked Ray‑Ban Display Runs Games and Spotify
during testing for the Meta RayBan Display webapp SDK I ported several games. I did Tetris, Tamagotchi, ZORK (but a BTTF Clone), built my own Spotfy app so I could search and select music without using my phone (the built-in...
Connected 603: Ungraded for Style
The latest Connected 603 podcast episode revealed that Apple’s upcoming iOS 27 will likely feature AI‑driven widgets and deeper system‑wide intelligence. Google announced a new line of slimmer, ARM‑based laptops aimed at both education and enterprise users. Host Stephen Hackett...
Dell Launches AI‑focused 14S, 16S and Alienware 15 Laptops with up to 97% Performance Boost
Dell introduced the 14S, 16S and Alienware 15 laptops, positioning them as AI‑enabled consumer and gaming devices. The 14S starts at $1,269.99, the 16S at $1,319.99 and the Alienware 15 from $1,299, with claims of up to 97% higher multitasking performance and...
Martha Stewart’s New AI Startup: A Good Thing?
Martha Stewart has launched Hint, an AI‑native home‑management platform slated for a summer debut. The service pulls publicly available property data and lets users upload inspection reports and insurance policies to monitor repairs, expenses, and maintenance. Hint raised $10 million in...
IPhone 17 Sales Miss Forecasts as Inventory Climbs
"Carrier survey in April indicates iPhone 17 sell-through was below expectations, as store-level sales declined while inventory levels rose, reflecting a slowdown in iPhone 17 sales" via KeyBanc
The Retro Fighters Hunter Is a Fierce Wireless OG Xbox Controller, but I'm Torn on Whether Its Too Much Like...
The Retro Fighters Hunter is a wireless controller that revives the original Xbox’s look while borrowing modern ergonomics from the Series X/S gamepad. It adds hall‑effect thumbsticks, extra shoulder buttons, and a 2.4 GHz receiver, making it compatible with both the OG...
TCL Posts $46M Q1 Profit Surge as Samsung Mulls BOE Panels for Galaxy S27
TCL Electronics announced a Q1 profit of HK$359.34 million (≈$46 million) and a 15.3% revenue increase to HK$29.2 billion (≈$3.7 billion), underscoring robust demand for its TVs and smart‑home devices. At the same time, Samsung is in early talks to add Chinese display maker...
Magnetic Privacy Filter Shields MacBook From Shoulder Surfers
Tired of shoulder surfers seeing everything on your MacBook screen when working in public? Then you'll want to learn all about the Afterplug Magnetic Privacy Filter Screen, which I demo and test in my latest review video: https://t.co/dVTvZyGDMc #privacy #macbook...
![Sony’s Awful ‘AI Camera Assistant’ for Xperia Is the Final Boss of the Worst Camera Trend [Gallery]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://i0.wp.com/9to5google.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/05/sony-xperia-ai-camera-4.jpg?resize=1200%2C628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Sony’s Awful ‘AI Camera Assistant’ for Xperia Is the Final Boss of the Worst Camera Trend [Gallery]
Sony has rolled out an AI Camera Assistant on its new Xperia 1 VIII, touting "Xperia Intelligence" and a telephoto sensor that is roughly four times larger than previous models. Early demos show the AI dramatically brightening scenes, flattening contrast, and oversharpening...
![Snapseed 4.0 Update Adds Camera Shortcut on Android [Changelog]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://i0.wp.com/9to5google.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/05/Snapseed-4-cover.jpg?resize=1200%2C628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Snapseed 4.0 Update Adds Camera Shortcut on Android [Changelog]
Snapseed 4.0.1 for Android is now rolling out with a new long‑press shortcut that instantly opens the app’s built‑in Camera, plus volume‑button capture. The patch (4.0.1.91 5151253) also stabilizes the suite, fixing crashes in tools such as Color, Portrait, and Frames,...
Moto Razr Fold Shines, Smart Connect Takes Spotlight
Just WOW. The @Moto Razr Fold is impressive on so many levels, but the updated Smart Connect feature is probably my favorite. #Razrfold @MotorolaUS https://t.co/CS94oLVoq7
AI to Infest Eight in Ten Premium Phones Within Two Years
Counterpoint Research predicts that over 80% of premium smartphones will embed agentic AI capabilities by 2027, while a similar share of wearables will be AI‑enabled by 2032. The shift is driven by new chipsets such as MediaTek’s Dimensity 9400 and...
The Biggest Changes Coming to Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro Max
Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro Max refines the flagship line with subtle design tweaks, including a smaller Dynamic Island and four new color finishes. The device upgrades its camera suite to 48‑megapixel sensors with variable aperture, delivering sharper images and better...
Samsung Could Get Google's Impressive Android Upgrades First – Even Before Pixel
Samsung is set to be the first manufacturer to ship Google’s new Gemini Intelligence AI on its upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 devices this summer. The rollout will coincide with the launch of One UI 9, allowing Samsung users to...
Microsoft Nearly Solved One of Folding Phones’ Worst Problems: New Patent Reveals Spring-Loaded Hinge Design for Canceled Surface Duo 3
Microsoft’s newly uncovered patent reveals a spring‑loaded hinge that would have equipped a third‑generation Surface Duo, codenamed "Neon," with one‑hand opening capability. The design proposes two implementations: a button on the device spine or integrated into the power button. Filed...
Google Launches Premium Googlebook Laptops, Positioning AI‑first Hardware Against Chromebooks
Google announced the Googlebook, a new high‑end laptop series that runs on a proprietary AI‑focused OS and integrates Gemini Intelligence across the desktop. The line, built with five major OEMs, aims to offer a premium alternative to Chromebooks and expand...
Why Your Android Phone Will Never Look the Same with Andorid 17
Google unveiled Android 17, a major OS upgrade that embeds Gemini Intelligence—a sophisticated AI engine that automates browsing, form‑filling and task management. The update expands personalization with customizable widgets, Rambler‑powered voice typing, and new 3D emojis, while boosting creative workflows...
"I'm Confident Alienware Can Deliver" — A New Budget Gaming Laptop Is Here, but How Does It Compare to the...
Dell’s Alienware brand has entered the budget gaming laptop segment with the new 15‑inch Alienware 15, priced from $1,299. The model offers AMD or Intel CPUs paired with RTX 4050‑5060 GPUs, matching the core hardware of the higher‑priced 16 Aurora. The Aurora starts...
Garmin-Rival Coros Just Gave Its Popular Running Watch a Gold Medal Makeover
Coros has launched a limited‑edition Pace 4 watch honoring Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen. The new model keeps the standard Pace 4’s hardware—1.2‑inch AMOLED screen, dual‑frequency GPS and optical heart‑rate sensor—but adds a black‑and‑gold aesthetic, a transparent dial, and a custom strap. Premium...
The Razr Fold Is Stuck in the Middle
Motorola’s first book‑style Razr Fold launches in the U.S. at $1,900, touting a 6,000 mAh silicon‑carbon battery that outperforms rivals in endurance. The phone’s premium design and a flexible multitasking UI receive praise, while its camera shows occasional color shifts and...
Motorola Razr (2026) and Razr Fold Pre-Orders Open, but You Should Wait
Motorola opened pre‑orders for its 2026 Razr lineup, including three clamshell models and the first book‑style Razr Fold. The Razr+ and Razr Ultra are essentially refreshed 2024 devices, offering only a new hinge and modest battery gains at $1,099 and $1,499 respectively....
I've Tested the Motorola Razr Fold for Two Weeks, and Samsung Has a New Reason to Be Nervous
Motorola’s Razr Fold marks the company’s first book‑style foldable, debuting at $1,900 with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 processor, 16 GB RAM and 512 GB storage. The device boasts an 8.1‑inch 2K inner display, a 6,000 mAh battery that clears a day of use, and a...
Alienware's Budget Gaming Laptop Starts at $1,299 — Last-Gen Parts and a Plastic Shell Bring the Premium Brand Into the...
Dell’s Alienware brand has launched a budget‑focused 15‑inch gaming laptop starting at $1,299, a stark price drop from its usual premium tier. The entry model pairs an AMD Ryzen 5 220 or Intel Core i5 210H CPU with an Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU, 16 GB DDR5...
What Makes the BOOX Poke 7 the Ultimate Pocket E-Reader
The BOOX Poke 7, a 6‑inch 300 PPI e‑ink e‑reader, is set to debut in China on May 21, 2026. It combines a ribbed ergonomic back, a flush front display, and an open Android operating system that supports multiple reading apps. Storage is configurable...
The Hidden Feature Apple Just Added to iPhone in iOS 26.5
Apple rolled out iOS 26.5, a security‑heavy update that adds end‑to‑end encryption for RCS messaging, a dynamic Pride Luminance wallpaper, and privacy‑focused ads in Apple Maps. The release patches more than 50 vulnerabilities and improves interoperability with third‑party wearables to...
Ray-Ban Meta Prescription Glasses: What You Need to Know
Meta’s Ray‑Ban Meta line now includes two prescription‑first smart‑glass frames—Blayzer Optics Gen 2 and Scriber Optics Gen 2—priced at $499 for the frame and sold through LensCrafters, Sunglass Hut, Meta.com and Ray‑Ban.com. Both models support –6.00 to +4.00 diopters, single‑vision, progressive and Transitions lenses,...
Headspace Debuts Apple Watch App That Uses Heart‑Rate Data to Prompt Real‑Time Breathing Breaks
Headspace rolled out an updated Apple Watch app on May 13, 2026 that analyzes heart‑rate variability from Apple Health and sends users a 60‑second breathing exercise when stress is detected. The feature, available on all recent Watch models in 190...
James Bond Swaps Spy Gadgets for AI Smart Glasses in Surprising New Partnership
Even Realities announced that its AI-powered G2 smart glasses will be integrated into IO Interactive's upcoming 007 First Light video game, a collaboration that also involves Amazon MGM Studios. The G2 distinguishes itself with a low‑profile heads‑up display that delivers...
FCC Extends Firmware Update Deadline for Foreign‑Made Wi‑Fi Routers to 2029
The Federal Communications Commission announced on May 8 that foreign‑made Wi‑Fi routers will continue receiving firmware updates until Jan. 1 2029, two years beyond the original March 1 2027 cutoff. The move provides relief for consumers, grants exemptions to Netgear and Eero, and underscores ongoing...
Galaxy S24 User Endures a Nightmare, Phone Goes up in Flames During Use
A South Korean Reddit user reported that their Galaxy S24 swelled and burst into flames while in normal use, causing burns and smoke inhalation. Samsung has reached out and is cooperating with the user’s investigation. The incident mirrors a similar fire...
PlayStation 6: Rumour Sees 24 GB Instead of 32 GB RAM as a Possible Cost Limit
A new rumor, cited by Wccftech and linked to leaker KeplerL2, claims Sony may equip the upcoming PlayStation 6 with 24 GB of RAM instead of the previously expected 32 GB, citing cost constraints. The speculation comes amid reports that rising DRAM prices...
5 Of The Cheapest Amazon Alexa Devices You Can Buy In 2026
Amazon’s lineup of budget‑friendly Alexa devices spans smart displays, speakers, car companions, alarm clocks, and a home hub, all priced under $180. The Echo Show 5 ($89.99) adds a 5.5‑inch screen for video and home‑control tasks, while the Echo Pop ($39.99)...
Ambiq Micro Posts 59% YoY Sales Surge in Q1, Driven by Edge AI Chip Demand
Ambiq Micro reported Q1 2026 net sales of $25.1 million, up 59.3% year over year, as demand for its ultra‑low‑power Edge AI chips expands beyond wearables into medical, industrial and smart‑home markets. The company highlighted diversification of its customer base and...
Beatbot Launches iSkim Ultra Pool‑Cleaning Skimmer for Home Use at $599
Beatbot introduced the iSkim Ultra robotic pool‑skimming robot, priced at $599 after a $400 discount, marking the company's first dedicated surface‑cleaning device for residential pools. The launch broadens Beatbot's portfolio beyond indoor floor cleaners and signals growing consumer interest in...
Android Rolling Out AI-Powered ‘Contextual Suggestions’ that Learn From Your Habits
Google is rolling out an on‑device AI feature called Contextual suggestions on the Pixel 10 series running Android 16. The system analyzes app usage, location and routine activities to predict helpful actions, such as offering a workout playlist or prompting a TV...
(Podcast) Clockwise 656: *Heavy Sigh*
In this episode of Clockwise, the hosts dissect Google’s upcoming Chromebook replacement, arguing it signals a renewed focus on education and enterprise markets. They contrast the shift toward dedicated laptops with the convenience of smartphones, emphasizing how purpose‑built hardware can...
Ceconomy Posts €92 Million Q2 Loss, Boosts FY26 EBIT Guidance
Ceconomy AG announced a widened second‑quarter net loss of €92 million ($100 million) versus €33 million a year earlier, while adjusted EBIT climbed to €27 million ($29 million). The company also reaffirmed its fiscal‑2026 adjusted EBIT outlook of roughly €500 million ($545 million), underscoring both pressure on...
ChromeOS Adds Device-Specific Passwords for Easier Login
Finally, Chromebook users can set up a device-specific password to simplify logging in! If you hate PINs and don't want to use your Google password, this is a fantastic quality-of-life ChromeOS upgrade. Here's how to set it up: https://t.co/BSMMAzxde3 #chromebook...