Category: All News

  • Citizen Eco-Drive One Ultra-Thin Watch Green Dial

    Key Takeaway

    – Striking emerald green dial with rose gold accents and refined finishing
    – Ultra-thin 3.88mm case, among the slimmest solar-powered watches available
    – Powered by Citizen’s 1.0mm Eco-Drive movement, eliminating battery changes
    – Comfort-focused design with 5 ATM water resistance and contoured case back
    – Limited to 250 pieces worldwide, priced at $3,395


    A First Look at This Emerald Timekeeper

    If you’ve been thinking of splurging on a sophisticated dress watch that really stands out from the crowd, you might want to check out Citizen’s newest Eco-Drive One. Originally unveiled in Japan in late May, the watch has now officially made its way to the US.

    Design That Captures the Eye

    The Citizen Eco-Drive One AR5065-54W is visually arresting. It sports a unique emerald green dial with a brushed texture surrounding its deep black center, complemented by shimmering rose gold hands, markers, and an inner ring. The striking color combination gives the watch a refined yet contemporary personality, while the contrast between the dark center and vibrant green outer section adds depth and visual intrigue.

    Incredibly Slim Solar Technology

    Like other models in the Eco-Drive One collection, the AR5065-54W is defined by its remarkable thinness, measuring just 3.88mm thick—making it one of the slimmest solar-powered watches on the market. On the inside, you’ll findll find Citizen’s ultra-thin Eco-Drive 8826 movement, which itself measures only 1.0mm thick. Powered by light, the movement eliminates the need for regular battery replacements while maintaining an accuracy rating of ±15 seconds per month.

    A Case That Balances Sport and Elegance

    The sporty case design features sharp lines and four prominent screws on the bezel, giving the otherwise elegant dress watch a subtle technical edge. Citizen has also paid close attention to finishing. The stainless steel case and bracelet feature a refined hairline-brushed treatment, while the bezel’s beveled edges receive a mirror-like Zaratsu polish, creating a contrast between matte and glossy surfaces.

    Built for Wrist Comfort

    Comfort was clearly a priority during development. The case back adopts a two-piece construction without a traditional removable case back, which Citizen says helped achieve both the watch’s extreme thinness and its 5 ATM water resistance rating. The rear portion of the case is also shaped to better conform to the wrist.

    Limited Edition Pricing and Availability

    Limited to 250 pieces worldwide, Citizen’s limited-edition Eco-Drive One goes on sale in the US for $3,395. It will be available directly from the company’s online store.

    Comfort was clearly a priority during development. The case back adopts a two-piece construction without a traditional removable case back, which Citizen says helped achieve both the watch’s extreme thinness and its 5 ATM water resistance rating. The rear portion of the case is also shaped to better conform to the wrist.

    Limited to 250 pieces worldwide, Citizen’s limited-edition Eco-Drive One goes on sale in the US for $3,395. It will be available directly from the company’s online store.


    Sources

    • Deal: 96% Positive Review Feudal Japan Tactical Game 90% Off Steam

      Deal: 96% Positive Review Feudal Japan Tactical Game 90% Off Steam

      Key Takeaway

      – Tactical stealth gameplay set in feudal Japan with a team of five unique specialists
      – Highly praised on Steam: 96% positive reviews from over 38,000 ratings
      – Strong emphasis on planning and multiple strategies to complete missions
      – Currently 90% off at $3.99 on Steam until June 16, 2026, with a demo available
      – Minor flaws include occasional movement bugs and high difficulty


      Stealth Tactics in Feudal Japan

      Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is a tactical stealth game published by Daedalic Entertainment on December 6, 2016. Developed by Mimimi Games, its story plunges you into feudal Japan during the Edo period, when a new shogun came to power and brought peace.

      A Villainous Threat Emerges

      However, a mysterious warlord named Kage-sama is threatening the balance of the kingdom. Faced with this danger, you must lead a team of specialists and complete various missions, such as sabotage and espionage.

      The Squad and Thier Abilities

      There are five characters available, such as Hayato, an agile ninja and the team leader, Mugen, a samurai who can deliver powerful attacks, Aiko, a master of camouflage, Yuki, who can place various traps, and Takuma, a mysterious sniper.

      But be careful, because even though their abilities are powerful, you’ll need to analyze the situation and develop different strategies before each mission. As a result, there are many ways to achieve your objective, whether you’re in a castle, a monastery, or a forest.

      Player Feedback and Flaws

      Since its release in 2016, players have left more than 38,260 reviews on Steam, and 96% of them are positive. This game is highly praised for its gameplay, graphics, and story. However, despite its many strengths, it does have a few flaws. Some players have reported bugs related to character movement, and the difficulty is also high.

      Current Deal and Pricing Details

      Nevertheless, Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is currently 90% off on Steam until June 16, 2026. As a result, it’s priced at $3.99 instead of $39.99, according to SteamDB. But if you want to try it first, a demo is also available.

      Disclaimer: Notebookcheck is not responsible for price changes carried out by retailers. The discounted price or deal mentioned in this item was available at the time of writing and may be subject to time restrictions and/or limited unit availability.


      Sources

    • Halo Evolved PC vs Xbox: Campaign Performance Review

      Halo Evolved PC vs Xbox: Campaign Performance Review

      Key Takeaway

      – Xbox Series X delivers smoother 60 fps performance than all but the most powerful PCs
      – Mid-range PCs (e.g., RTX 4060) struggle to maintain 60 fps at 1440p due to CPU throttling
      – UE5 drawbacks like temporal noise and flickering persist
      – Handhelds like ROG Ally X and Steam Deck likely face major performance issues
      – Console version keeps ray tracing enabled via DRS at ~1080p, with minimal stuttering


      Xbox Showcases Halo: Campaign Evolved

      The Xbox Games Showcase confirmed a Halo: Campaign Evolved release date on July 28th. Fans are now seeing early performance impressions of the anticipated Combat Evolved remake. In the Digital Foundry preview, the site surprisingly revealed how the Xbox version had an edge over modest PC configs.

      Visuals and Frame Rate Comparrisons

      On both platforms, Digital Foundry noted dramatic improvments over the 2011 Anniversary Edition. Unreal Engine 5 introduces updated lighting effects, like Lumen global illumination, that make outdoor environments feel more natural. Reflections are also convincing as Master Chief traverses a sun-drenched coastline.

      The Halo: Campaign Evolved preview includes two missions, The Silent Cartographer and Assault on the Control Room. Xbox Series X players can expect a 60 fps performance mode, which was the only option available in the demo. The final build should offer a 30 fps quality preset with improved image quality.

      Console Performance and PC Challenges

      Digital Foundry praised the shooter’s performance on the Series X console. Dynamic Resolution Scaling (DRS) settles at around 1080p, but Unreal Engine 5 perks like ray tracing remain enabled. Most importantly, frame rates met the 60 fps target with minimal or no stuttering.

      The Halo: Campaign Evolved demo currently lacks Series S optimization, so the site turned its attention to the PC version. At 4K and max settings, an RTX 5090 configuration kept GPU utilization near 50%. Frame rates easily held at 60 fps with a cap applied.

      Mid-Range Hardware Limitations

      Unfortunately, mid-range and lower-end gaming rigs may encounter some limitations. A machine with an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, and an RTX 4060 produced mixed results at 1440p. DLSS balanced mode wasn’t enough to keep the fps counter at a consistent 60. CPU throttling is the likely culprit, particularly when many enemies are on the screen.

      Less capable hardware could raise even more concerns. The ROG Xbox Ally X gaming handheld struggled to stay at 30 fps using TSR upscaling. Digital Foundry suspects that the Combat Evolved remake will fare even worse on the Steam Deck.

      Common Unreal Engine 5 Drawbacks

      The Halo: Campaign Evolved performance preview also exposed common Unreal Engine 5 drawbacks. Temporal noise can manifest through flickering, detracting from overall image quality.

      Even with some shortcomings, the benchmarkers were largely impressed by the shooter. Still, ahead of its release date, the Xbox Series X console produces smoother visuals than all but the most powerful PCs.

      Sources
    • Youyeetoo K1: Modular Intel N100 PC with GPIO from $210

      Youyeetoo K1: Modular Intel N100 PC with GPIO from $210

      Key Takeaway

      – Modular design with replaceable compute module and standalone operation
      – Industrial-grade I/O including eDP, MIPI-CSI/DSI, GPIO, UART, I2C, and SPI
      – Flexible storage: eMMC, M.2 NVMe/SATA, and dedicated SATA connector
      – Fanless N100 handles Windows, Linux, and OpenWrt for light desktop/server/router use
      – Higher price than typical N100 PCs, justified by modularity and industrial features


      The budget mini PC market is crowded with near-identical Intel N100 boxes, but the Youyeetoo K1 stands out through its construction rather than its silicon. Instead of a single fixed motherboard, the system splits into two parts: an 82 x 71 mm processor module carrying the quad-core Alder Lake-N chip and up to 16 GB of LPDDR5 memory, and a 134 x 92 mm carrier board it slots into, SO-DIMM-style, much like a stick of RAM. In principle, that means the compute portion can be replaced without discarding the rest of the system.

      Modular Architecture and Standalone Operation

      In principle, the compute portion can be replaced without discarding the rest of the system. Moreover, the core board can even run standalone, with its own USB-C, MIPI display output and 12 V power input for space-constrained installations. This arrangement allows for future upgrades without scrapping the entire machine, wich is a rare feature in this price bracket. The core boards compact dimensions make it suitable for embedding into custom enclosures or DIY projects.

      Carrier Board Connectivity and Expansion Options

      The carrier board is where the K1 earns its keep. Alongside the expected dual Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI, mini HDMI, USB-C and four USB Type-A ports, the full-featured carrier variant adds connectors rarely seen on consumer machines, an eDP output for driving bare laptop-style panels, MIPI-CSI and MIPI-DSI for cameras and displays, plus 27 GPIO pins and UART, I2C and SPI headers for hardware tinkering. Storage is similarly flexible, with eMMC on the compute module itself, an M.2 2280 slot supporting NVMe or SATA SSDs, and a dedicated SATA data and power connector pair. An M.2 E-key slot accepts an optional Wi-Fi 5 or Wi-Fi 6 module with Bluetooth, with 4G LTE also available as an add-on, and the board even integrates NFC for tap-to-configure deployment.

      Operating System Support and Target Use Cases

      The 6 W N100 is no powerhouse, but it runs Windows 10/11, Ubuntu, Debian and OpenWrt comfortably for light desktop work, home servers, routers and kiosk or signage duty, the use cases this fanless platform is aimed at. Value is the main question mark, however. Conventional N100 mini PCs frequently sell for less, so buyers are paying specifically for the modularity, the industrial I/O and the documented open wiki ecosystem. The system runs silently due to its passive cooling, which makes it ideal for noise-sensitive environments.

      Pricing, Availability and Import Considerations

      The Youyeetoo K1 has been shipping since January 2026 and sells from $209.99 for the 8 GB / 128 GB eMMC configuration, with a 16 GB / 256 GB version priced at $260. Buyers ordering from Youyeetoo’s store directly may face import duties or taxes depending on their region. This pricing places it above many simmilar N100 boxes, but the added flexibility and unique modular design justify the premium for specific use cases. The optional Wi-Fi and LTE modules are sold seperately, increasing the total cost for fully equipped units.


      Sources

    • New 33-Player Co-op Action-RPG Launches on Steam at 33% Off

      New 33-Player Co-op Action-RPG Launches on Steam at 33% Off

      Key Takeaway

      – 33-player co-op raids are compressed into 25-minute sessions with instant matchmaking and no voice coordination required.
      – The three-world structure (Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso) naturally reduces player count from 33 to 22 to 11, increasing accountability without requiring fixed teams.
      – Launching on Steam only at 1.0—after building a reliable player base on Game Pass and other platforms—avoided the dead-lobby problem that kills many multiplayer indies.
      – The 1.0 release adds the final Paradiso realm and a hidden ultimate boss, alongside deep character customization and community-driven balance tweaks.
      – Full cross-play across Steam, Epic, Xbox, and Microsoft Store ensures a unified matchmaking pool.


      Unique Multiplayer Concept Finally Hits 1.0

      Thunder Lotus Games’ 33 Immortals is one of the more “actually” unusual multiplayer concepts to come out of indie development in years. The game has now officially launched into its full 1.0 version on Steam. The release dropped on June 10 across Steam, Epic Games Store, Xbox Series X/S, and Microsoft Store, capping a 15-month early access run and bringing the game’s complete three-world structure together for the first time. The price at launch is $9.97, which includes a 33% discount off the standard price.

      How the Game Actually Works

      The premise is quite straightforward on paper and equally bizarre in practice: up to 33 players simultaneously control damned souls rebelling against God’s final judgment. It draws inpsiration from the structure of Dante’s Divine Comedy as they fight through more and more punishing realms. What makes it work — or at least feel unlike anything adjacent to it — is the session design. Runs last roughly 25 minutes, use instant public matchmaking, and require no pre-formed groups, voice coordination, or scheduling. It’s basically raid-scale co-op gameplay compressed into a lunch break. The game uses a cross-play matchmaking pool across all platforms so everyone can play together.

      Smart Player Funnel Design

      The lobby funnel is the smartest structural decision in the game. 33 players enter Inferno together, that number narrows to 22 in Purgatorio, and the newly added Paradiso realm — the final world, held back from early access and shipping at 1.0 — takes just 11 players into the game’s most concentrated, demanding finale. Of course, each shrinking group increases individual accountability without turning the game into your runt-of-the-mill team-based experience. The new Paradiso world adds a complete 11-player endgame that was previously hidden during all of early access.

      1.0 Update and Content

      The 1.0 update also introduces a previously hidden ultimate boss encounter that Thunder Lotus kept under wraps throughout the entire early access period. It is accompanied by deep character customization, weapon and enemy balance tuning, and quality-of-life improvements shaped by over a year of community feedback. The update also includes new weapon options and a more refined progression system that better rewards continued play through each realm.

      Why Steam Was Delayed

      Steam’s absence during early access was a calculated bet, not exactly an oversight. A co-op game requiring 33 simultaneous players per session faces a very obvious structural risk: too small an installed base and sessions will simply never fill. Game Pass inclusion from day one — March 18, 2025 — got the title a reliable player-base while the other organic base grew on Epic and Xbox. Adding Steam only at 1.0, with a mature player pool already in place, likely helped the devs go around the dead-lobby problem that has killed several multiplayer indie launches in the past. The game is available on Game Pass at no additional cost for subscribers.

      Developer Background and Availability

      All platforms share a single cross-play matchmaking pool, so Steam players can directly join the same sessions as Epic and Xbox users. The game is also available through Xbox Game Pass at no additional cost. For context, Thunder Lotus is the Montreal-based studio behind Spiritfarer. It attracted over seven million players worldwide and built 33 Immortals as its first title designed completely around online multiplayer. You can read more about the game here – it’s purchasable for $9.97, thanks to a 33% launch discount. This pricing applies across all platforms and includes a permanent discount for the launch period on Steam and SteamDB.


      Sources

    • Honor OLED Tablet Leak: Flagship Snapdragon Chip Inside

      Honor OLED Tablet Leak: Flagship Snapdragon Chip Inside

      Key Takeaway

      – Honor may release a Win Pad Mini, a compact high-end OLED tablet.
      – It could feature an 8-inch OLED display with ultra-high refresh rate and narrow bezels.
      – The tablet would use a flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite series chipset.
      – It would compete with devices like the Oppo Pad Mini in the compact tablet market.
      – Honor has not officially confirmed the Win Pad Mini or the Honor Win 2 phone yet.


      Tipster Digital Chat Station has revealed that Honor may launch a new OLED tablet. The leak suggests it will be a high-end device and could launch under the Honor Win series as the Win Pad Mini. For context, the Honor Win lineup features gaming-focused devices. The standard Honor Win smartphone launched earlier this year with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, a built-in cooling fan, and a 10,000mAh battery. The lineup also includes the Honor Win Turbo and Win RT.

      Potential Specifications for the Honor Win Pad Mini

      As for the purported Win Pad Mini, it is said to have a compact form factor, putting it in competition with tablets like the Oppo Pad Mini (curr. $735 on TradingShenzhen). The tipster reveals that the tablet may feature an 8-inch OLED display with an “ultra-high” refresh rate and narrow bezels. The source also notes that it will use a flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite series chipset. This would make it a powerfull little device for gaming and productivity.

      Other Devices in the Honor Win Family

      Apart from the compact tablet, Honor is expected to launch the Honor Win 2 gaming phone with a 2nm chipset and a 6.89-inch display with a 185Hz refresh rate. So far, Honor has not officially confirmed either device. Thesse leaks from 数码闲聊站 on Weibo (in Chinese) are often accurate, but we shoudl wait for an announcment. The Win 2 sounds like a beast for mobile gamers.

      Sources
    • The Elder Scrolls VI Playable at Bethesda, Says Xbox Exec

      Key Takeaway

      – The Elder Scrolls VI development is taking significantly longer than previous entries (15+ years since Skyrim).
      – Bethesda is waiting for the “right moment” to reveal the game to ensure it’s the best possible version with a “coming soon” promise.
      – Xbox executive Matt Booty has seen the game in action and says it looks “amazing” and development is progressing well.
      – No official release date or trailer window has been given; fans speculate a reveal could happen on Bethesda’s 40th anniversary (November 15, 2026).


      A Long Wait for The Elder Scrolls VI

      Alongside GTA 6, The Elder Scrolls VI is arguably one of the most anticipated open-world games right now, but Bethesda and Microsoft have been testing the patience of the series’ fans for 15 years now. While only four years passed between the third and fourth installments of the series and only five years between Oblivion and Skyrim, the development of the sixth installment appears to be taking significantly longer.

      Matt Booty Visits Bethesda

      The Elder Scrolls VI was announced at E3 in 2018, but aside from a logo, Bethesda didn’t reveal any details about the game at the time. Eight years and a Microsoft acquisition later, Matt Booty, the Chief Content Officer at Xbox, spoke in an interview with Variety on the game’s current status. According to him, Bethesda wants to wait for the “right moment” to present the game to the public. That’s because when the game is shown, they want to demonstrate the best possible version of the game, along with a promise that it will be released “soon.”

      What We Know So Far

      Matt Booty says he visited Bethesda and saw The Elder Scrolls VI in action. The game is said to look “great,” and development is reportedly making good progress. However, Matt Booty gives no indication in the interview as to when the first trailer or even the game’s launch might be expected. Fans are speculating on Reddit that an announcement on Bethesda’s 40th anniversary on November 15, 2026, is a possibility. Matt Booty’s full statement reads as follows:

      A Statement from the Boss

      I would say one of the more challenging balancing acts of someone in a job like mine is balancing that you want to go show the world all the cool stuff you’re working on, and you want to get them excited early, but we also know that we want to wait till the right moment. And when you decide to show it, you want it to be the best you’ve got. And also that when you show the game, you’re also giving them a promise of, hey, it’s coming soon. So I can tell you, having visited Bethesda and sat with Todd and seen “Elder Scrolls” playing, it looks amazing, and it’s coming along well. And we’ll make sure to announce it and really reveal it at the right time.

      • Game was announced at E3 2018 with only a logo
      • Microsoft acquired Bethesda in 2021
      • Matt Booty confirms development is progressing well
      • No release date or trailer date has been given yet
      • Fans speculate a 2026 announcement for Bethesda’s 40th anniversary
      Sources
    • Spyro Devs Let Go: Microsoft’s Strategic Publishing Win

      Spyro Devs Let Go: Microsoft’s Strategic Publishing Win

      Key Takeaway

      – Toys for Bob became independent in May 2024 by “buying back” itself from Xbox and Activision.
      – The studio was previously forced to support live-service titles like *Overwatch 2* and *Call of Duty*, losing its core identity.
      – Microsoft and Activision supported the split on the condition that Toys for Bob’s next game be published by Xbox.
      – The resulting game is *Spyro: A Realm Beyond*, the first mainline *Spyro* entry in over 20 years.
      – *Spyro: A Realm Beyond* is multiplatform (Xbox, PS5, Switch 2, PC) and introduces true dragon-flying mechanics.


      Toys for Bobs Journey Back to Independence

      Toys for Bob was acquired in its entirety by Activision in 2005 and later brought under Microsoft’s umbrella through the Microsoft–Activision Blizzard deal. The studio was then relegated to supporting live-service titles like Overwatch 2 and Call of Duty. Eventually, Toys for Bob became independent by “buying back” its independence from Xbox and is now gleefully working on what the studio does best, i.e., platforming games. Still published by Xbox, Toys for Bob is now working on Spyro: A Realm Beyond.

      The Split and Corporate Changes

      Toys for Bob became independent from Activision Blizzard via a deliberate split in May 2024. The head of the studio, Paul Yan, sat down for an interview with GamesRadar+ and explained that once COVID hit, corporate priorities changed, and Toys for Bob had to support other titles. This shift was a massive turning point for the studio’s culture and its core focuss on platforming games.

      Yan stated: “During this timeline, COVID hit, and the world turned upside down. There were many, many changes that happened. One of the changes at the company was a corporate mandate to support large blockbuster IPs, such as Warzone, Modern Warfare, and Overwatch 2. So, Toys for Bob actually shifted into a support structure in order to support those teams, those initiatives, those games, those updates, those features, and we learned a ton. We spread out into territories that we weren’t familiar with. We learned a lot.”

      Loss of Identity and the Bold Plan

      However, Toys for Bob felt like it was losing its core identity. Yan and other studio members thought hard about the Microsoft–Activision Blizzard acquisition as they considered their future. They ultimately approached leadership at both Activision and Xbox with a “really bold plan.” This plan was risky but the studio believed strongly in their own vision for the future.

      In a separate interview with GamesIndustry.biz, the studio said it wanted to “buy back our independence and take back creative control, organizational control, and financial control of our team, and spin off as a completely separate company so that we can focus on the types of games that are near and dear to our hearts, and also preserve the team and all the tenure that’s been built up over the years.” Basically, Toys for Bob said it “placed a big bet” on itself.

      Microsofts Condition and The New Game

      To the studio’s surprise, Microsoft and Activision supported its decision, but on one condition: the studio would have to make a game for Xbox to publish. The result was Spyro: A Realm Beyond, which is the first mainline entry in the Spyro franchise in over two decades. This new title is a huge milestone for the studio and the franchise.

      • Spyro: A Realm Beyond will arrive as a multiplatform release on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC, and will feature the first true dragon-flying mechanics for Spyro the Dragon.
      Sources
    • Google Confirms New Home Smart Speaker Spring 2026

      Google Confirms New Home Smart Speaker Spring 2026

      Key Takeaway

      – Google confirms new smart speaker launch next week via a company email.
      – Release date is likely June 25, aligning with a previous Best Buy Canada listing.
      – Priced at $100, available in four colors: Berry, Hazel, Jade, and Porcelain.
      – Features a squished Apple HomePod mini shape and can pair with Google TV Streamer for surround sound.


      At I/O last month, it was a widely anticipated that Google would unveil details regarding its upcoming smart speaker. However, no such announcements materialized during the event itself. A recent listing from a retailer did indicate a June 25 release date, which does align with Google’s initial promise of a Spring 2026 launch window. As it stands now, a brand new update straight from Google has confirmed the product’s launch for the very next week.

      Email Confirmation and Release Details

      A check-in and thank you email, which was sent from Anish Kattukaran, who is the Chief Product Officer of Google Home & Nest, it reached our inbox and likely the inboxes of many other users too. This particular email talks about the various developments concerning Gemini for the home and also thanks customers for they’re continued feedback. Right at the end of the email, it states, “those of you who have been patiently waiting for a certain speaker… keep a very close eye on your inbox next week.” This is a pretty clear hint at the upcoming device.

      Timeline and Retailer Listings

      This is likely the very same Google Home Speaker that was first teased back in October of last year, with a previously announced release date was set for Spring 2026. Since the spring season is almost over, Google has now finally decided to share a concrete release timeline. Just recently, a Best Buy Canada listing showed up which originally had a June 25 release date. That date has since been changed to simply read “Coming soon.” It is a possibility that Google will make the official announcement for the new smart speaker between June 15 and June 22, and then sales will actually start on June 25.

      Design, Colors, and Pricing

      The Google Home Speaker will have a completly different shape compared to the old Google Nest mini speaker, it looks more like a squished up version of the Apple HomePod mini. The device will allow users to pair two of them together with a Google TV Streamer to achieve a full on surround sound experience. There will be four different colors avaliable to choose from, which are namely, Berry, Hazel, Jade, and Porcelain. Interestingly though, the Best Buy listing only shows off the Hazel and Porcelain color options. The speaker is going to be priced at $100.

    • Apple & Leaker Hint at MacBook Ultra Details

      Apple & Leaker Hint at MacBook Ultra Details

      Key Takeaway

      – A major MacBook Pro redesign is expected between fall 2026 and spring 2027.
      – The new model is rumored to feature an OLED panel and a touchscreen.
      – A leaker claims the inclusion of a touchscreen is “100% confirmed.”
      – Recent macOS updates include touchscreen-friendly gestures, hinting at the change.
      – The redesign would be the first significant update to the laptop’s fundamental features since 2021.


      A Shift in the Design of Apple’s Pro Laptop

      The current Apple MacBook Pro’s design ($1,549) goes all the way back to the model that came out in October 2021, which had the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips inside. Over the last five years, Apple’s flagship notebook has mainly just gotten new processors, meaning it got faster, but the company hasn’t touched core things like the overall look or the screen itself. This is all supposedly going to change pretty soon, if you believe the rumors floating around.

      New Rumors About a Touchscreen and OLED Panel

      According to whispers, a MacBook Pro with a totally new design will show up sometime between fall 2026 and spring 2027, and they might even call it the MacBook Ultra. For a while now, people have been saying this machine wont just have an OLED display, but it will also be the very first Mac to ever include a touchscreen. The usually spot-on leaker known as Instant Digital now backs up these claims, stating it’s “100% confirmed” that the next-gen model will indeed have touch capabilities.

      • The notebook could be marketed as the MacBook Ultra.
      • It will supposedly feature an OLED panel alongside the touchscreen.
      • Instant Digital claims the touchscreen is definitely coming.

      Clues Found Within Apple’s Software

      Apple themself have actually left several hints about a Mac with a touchscreen. The new operating system now allows the iPad to be controlled by its own touch when its used as an external monitor through Sidecar, and it even supports simple multitouch gestures. MacRumors dug up two other clues: first, you can refresh Safari webpages by swiping down with your finger, like on an iPhone or iPad. And second, the position and the taller shape of the new Spotlight and Siri windows look wierdly like they were made to fit around something like a Dynamic Island.