Category: Computers

  • Asus Unveils Lightest Copilot+ PC with 32-Hour Battery Life

    Asus Unveils Lightest Copilot+ PC with 32-Hour Battery Life

    Asus is preparing to unveil what they’re calling the lightest Copilot+ PC in the world. This new Zenbook model is designed to be extremely portable and boasts an impressive battery life. The laptop is said to draw inspiration from nature and minimalism, offering up to 32 hours of usage on a single charge.

    Battery Life Insights

    The remarkable battery life claim hints that the laptop might utilize Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X platform, known for its efficient power consumption. Other devices with similar capabilities, such as Lenovo’s ThinkPad T14s featuring the Snapdragon X Elite, have demonstrated 21 hours of battery life in tests. While this falls short of Lenovo’s 24-hour guarantee, it still represents a significant achievement.

    Competing in the Market

    In the quest for the lightest laptops, Asus faces stiff competition from LG’s Gram series and Fujitsu’s Lifebook UH-X line. These competitors have successfully produced laptops weighing under 1 kg without compromising on performance.

    Launch Details

    The specific specifications, pricing, and the actual weight of the laptop will be kept under wraps until Asus’s “Always Incredible” event on January 7, which aligns with CES 2025 in Las Vegas.

    The event will also be streamed globally for audiences around the world.

    Source: Link

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  • $1,500 Icebreaker Aluminum Keyboard with Durable Aluminum Keycaps

    $1,500 Icebreaker Aluminum Keyboard with Durable Aluminum Keycaps

    Serene Industries has introduced a stunning aluminum keyboard priced at an astonishing $1,500, but its value goes beyond just the cost. Dubbed Icebreaker, this uniquely designed keyboard takes the form of a wedge and is crafted from a single piece of CNC-machined aluminum. Additionally, it features aluminum keycaps, which may not appear remarkable at first glance, but the keyboard is equipped with a customizable RGB backlight.

    Innovative Keycap Design

    To enable light to shine through the metal keycaps of the compact 65% keyboard, Serene Industries revealed that they had to create hundreds of micro-perforations—exactly 800 to be precise. These minuscule openings allow users to witness the light glowing through the indented keys when using the Icebreaker in low-light conditions.

    User-Friendly Features

    On the left side of the Icebreaker, there is a rotary encoder that can be utilized to adjust volume levels. Interestingly, this encoder can also be customized for various functions, like serving as a scroll wheel or a scrubber for video editing. Below the keys, a generous palm rest is included, and the manufacturer adds a silicone dampener beneath the bottom lid, which supports the PCB while also functioning as non-slip feet for the keyboard.

    Unique Mounting Options

    Another fascinating feature is the set of 1/4-20” mounting points located at the front and bottom of the keyboard. Serene claims that these widely used mounts allow users to attach different items, which could include tripod mounts, monitor arms, or even a handle of an axe—if you’re adventurous enough to use the keyboard for ice-breaking!

    The Icebreaker also offers a Bluetooth option and is powered by a 4,000mAh battery, which Serene Industries asserts can deliver up to 3 months of usage. Moreover, the keyboard does not require software for keymap customization since it utilizes a browser-based configuration.

    Pricing Details

    Serene Industries is selling the keyboard in Clear color for $1,500, with an additional charge of $100 for the Bluetooth version or a wired variant that comes with hall effect switches. Opting for the black version will set you back an extra $500. A set of keycaps is also available for purchase at $415.

    Currently, the keyboard is available for pre-order, although there is no confirmed shipping date. The official website states that production will commence right after the pre-order period ends, and buyers can request a full refund as long as their order hasn’t been shipped yet.

    Source: Link

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  • US to Investigate China’s Semiconductor Industry for Antitrust Issues

    US to Investigate China’s Semiconductor Industry for Antitrust Issues

    The White House has declared a new probe into China’s trade behaviors, claiming they have diminished competition in the semiconductor sector. The Biden administration asserts that China “consistently employs non-market policies and practices,” which undermine competition and foster dependencies on “foundational semiconductors.”

    Investigation Details

    The US Trade Representative’s Office will oversee the inquiry, looking closely at how China’s policies and practices affect “the creation of silicon carbide substrates or other wafers utilized as components in semiconductor manufacturing.”

    China’s Response

    A representative from China’s Ministry of Commerce expressed to the New York Times (through Engadget) that the nation “strongly opposes and regrets” the investigation. They stated that it will “employ all necessary actions to firmly protect its rights and interests.”

    Ongoing Tensions

    Tensions between the two nations have been escalating since 2022, following President Biden’s introduction of new export regulations that limited the shipment of GPUs, CPU lithography machinery, and design software to China. Earlier this year, the US increased tariffs on products imported from China.

    In 2023, China retaliated by prohibiting the use of Apple iPhones, as well as AMD and Intel CPUs, in government sectors and enterprises. In October, it also initiated an investigation into Nvidia, accusing the company of anti-monopoly infractions related to its $6.9 billion acquisition of Israeli network products provider Mellanox Technologies back in 2020. Just this month, China restricted the export of crucial minerals needed for microchip production to the US.

    Whitehouse.gov | Engadget | New York Times

    Source: Link

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  • Strix Halo iGPU Beats RDNA 3: Radeon 8060S & 8050S Leaks

    Strix Halo iGPU Beats RDNA 3: Radeon 8060S & 8050S Leaks

    Following the path set by their new “Ryzen AI” naming convention for the Strix Point APUs, AMD is preparing to revamp its GPU branding. Instead of the “RX xx00 XT” style used for the RDNA 3 GPUs, AMD plans to adopt the “RX x0x0 XT” naming format. For instance, while the 70-class RDNA 3 graphics card is called the RX 7700 XT, the soon-to-be-released RDNA 4 entry is expected to be labeled as the RX 9070 XT.

    Changes in iGPU Branding

    This new branding approach is also extending to Team Red’s forthcoming integrated GPUs. The Strix Halo Ryzen AI Max processors will feature iGPUs named under the “Radeon 80x0S” label. Currently, the only two Strix Halo iGPUs confirmed are the Radeon 8060S and the Radeon 8050S. These chips appear within the Ryzen AI Max+ Pro 395 and the Ryzen AI Max Pro 390, and they have recently shown up in the PassMark database. This offers us a first glimpse into the synthetic performance of the Strix Halo iGPUs.

    Performance Insights

    According to the data from PassMark, the Radeon 8060S and the Radeon 8050S achieved scores of 15,965 and 16,663, respectively, in the 3D Graphics test. Interestingly, the Radeon 8050S, which has 8 times fewer compute units, is reported to be faster than the Radeon 8060S. This suggests that the PassMark results are based on early samples of the Strix Halo and not the final retail versions.

    Nevertheless, these initial scores allow us to gauge the expected performance of the Strix Halo iGPUs. The scores indicate that both the Radeon 8060S and 8050S outperform the RX 7600 by a small margin. Furthermore, the RTX 4070 laptop GPU achieves around 19,609 points in the same 3D Graphics test, positioning the Strix Halo iGPU around 15% slower with its 16,663 score. It’s reasonable to predict that the retail version of the Radeon 8060S will narrow this performance gap.

    Overall Expectations

    In summary, the forthcoming Strix Halo iGPUs are anticipated to represent a significant upgrade over the current AMD iGPUs. Users can look forward to these iGPUs potentially rendering entry-level to mid-range dedicated mobile GPUs obsolete or, at the very least, far less appealing.

    Source: Link

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  • HP Omen Max 16 Gaming Laptop Leaks with Intel and Nvidia Specs

    HP Omen Max 16 Gaming Laptop Leaks with Intel and Nvidia Specs

    With CES 2025 just around the corner, there are more and more leaks about products that are set to be revealed at the show. Recently, we learned about Nvidia’s complete laptop GPU range and Intel’s new Arrow Lake laptop CPUs. Now, there’s news of an HP laptop that will feature both of these technologies.

    Specs of the HP Omen Max 16

    The leaker @MysteryLupin has provided details on the HP Omen Max 16. This laptop is equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 9 275 HX processor, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 graphics card with 16 GB of VRAM, 32 GB of DDR5-5600 RAM, and a 1 TB NVMe SSD. At first sight, it may not appear very distinct from the previous model (you can read our detailed review here), but if you take a closer look at the keyboard, you will notice that the arrow keys have been reduced in size and a full Numpad has been added.

    Design Changes and Dimensions

    Some other modifications include a slightly bigger chassis. The previous generation measured 10.2 inches in length, whereas the new HP Omen Max 16 will measure 10.5 inches. Additionally, it will be a bit thicker at 1.08 inches compared to the earlier model’s 0.925 inches. These adjustments are crucial for fitting the larger keyboard and enhancing cooling capabilities. If we look at past HX chips, the Core Ultra 9 275 HX is likely to require significant cooling, as will the GeForce RTX 5080.

    In summary, the leaks surrounding CES 2025 are revealing exciting new products, like the HP Omen Max 16, which seems set to impress with its powerful specs and thoughtful design changes.

    Source: Link

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  • Minisforum V3 SE Launches Worldwide at $799 Price

    Minisforum V3 SE Launches Worldwide at $799 Price

    Well over a year has gone by since Minisforum first hinted at the V3. However, the 2-in-1 has only been available for about eight months now, featuring an AMD Ryzen 7 8840U APU, 32 GB of RAM, and a 1 TB SSD (currently priced at $949 on Amazon).

    New Variants on the Market

    Despite this, the device has now seen its second update after Minisforum launched a more basic 16 GB RAM version in the spring. Just to note, reducing the RAM by half will affect the iGPU performance. Now, the company has begun offering a further stripped-down model at a more appealing price.

    V3 SE Launch Details

    To give some context, the V3 SE has made its global debut just over a month after it was introduced in China. In summary, the V3 SE shares many components with the V3, but it comes with a less powerful AMD Ryzen APU and a downgraded display. It still boasts a 50.82 Wh battery that charges at 65 W, along with an M.2 2280 SSD and LPDDR5 RAM that runs at 6,400 MT/s.

    Performance Comparisons

    On the downside, Minisforum has swapped the Ryzen 7 8840U for the Ryzen 7 7735U, leading to a 15% decrease in performance. In contrast, the Radeon 680M in the new model is about 10% less powerful than the Radeon 780M in the original Ryzen 7 8840U.

    The V3 SE also comes with a 1200p, 60 Hz display with 320 nits brightness, while the V3 has a superior 1600p, 165 Hz display with 500 nits. Nevertheless, the V3 continues to maintain the same 14-inch, 16:10 form factor as its sibling. Right now, the V3 SE is available directly from Minisforum for $799, featuring 16 GB of RAM and a 1 TB SSD. It’s expected that the 2-in-1 will also show up on Amazon soon for the same price.

    Source: Link

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  • Lenovo Yoga Slim 9 14 with Under-Display Webcam Teased for CES 2025

    Lenovo Yoga Slim 9 14 with Under-Display Webcam Teased for CES 2025

    Leaker ‘WalkingCat’ has disclosed the name of Lenovo’s secret Yoga laptop. To summarize, WalkingCat shared four images of a device that looked like this year’s Yoga Slim 7x (currently priced at $997.97 on Amazon), but it featured an under-display webcam. Interestingly, these images came out right after Evan Blass posted similar visuals of the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 and Yoga Book 9i.

    New Launch Expected

    As per WalkingCat, Lenovo plans to launch its first laptop sporting an under-display webcam called the ‘Yoga Slim 9 14’. Notably, Lenovo has previously unveiled Yoga Slim 9 models. Therefore, it’s likely that the Yoga Slim 9 14 will be a commercially available device, rather than just a concept like the ThinkBook Auto Twist that Lenovo displayed at IFA 2024 in September.

    Features and Specs

    Furthermore, the promotional video leaked by WalkingCat suggests that the Yoga Slim 9 14 will feature Intel‘s Lunar Lake architecture, similar to what the Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition had earlier this year. The leaked footage emphasizes the laptop’s battery longevity and AI features, which Intel highlighted when they first introduced the Lunar Lake processors. It’s expected that the Yoga Slim 9 14 will be unveiled during CES 2025 next month in Las Vegas, although Lenovo has yet to confirm this information.

    Source: Link

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  • Ryzen 9 9950X3D Leaks: 16-Core Zen 5 X3D Performance Revealed

    Ryzen 9 9950X3D Leaks: 16-Core Zen 5 X3D Performance Revealed

    CES 2025 is quickly approaching, bringing a wave of fresh and thrilling products for PC enthusiasts. Nvidia is set to unveil its next-generation RTX 50 Blackwell graphics cards, while AMD plans to go even further by launching a variety of new CPUs and GPUs. Among the anticipated items, AMD’s CES 2025 presentation is likely to introduce the Strix Halo APU, RDNA 4 components, and several new Zen 5 X3D processors.

    Performance Insights

    Regarding the Zen 5 X3D, there are leaks about the performance of the Ryzen 9 9950X3D on X. As per HXL’s information on X, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D is said to deliver single-core and multi-core Cinebench R23 performance comparable to the Ryzen 9 9950X that doesn’t have the X3D designation. This indicates that users should not expect any drop in performance when comparing the Ryzen 9 9950X3D to the Ryzen 9 9950X.

    Clock Speed Comparisons

    In addition, HXL mentions that the Ryzen 9 9950X3D will not experience clock speed reductions when compared to the Ryzen 9 9950X. Historically, AMD has lowered clock speeds for X3D chips due to thermal issues. For example, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D features a base clock that is 300 MHz lower than that of the Ryzen 9 7950X. However, it seems that the Ryzen 9 9950X3D will maintain the same frequency as the Ryzen 9 9950X on the non-3D V-Cache CCD, although the 3D V-Cache CCD might see some clock speed reductions to handle the increased heat.

    Gaming Performance Potential

    Not only will the Ryzen 9 9950X3D match the performance of the Ryzen 9 9950X, but it is also expected to excel in gaming and applications that are sensitive to cache performance. If AMD can resolve the scheduling problems that arose with the Ryzen 9 7950X3D—due to the 3D V-Cache being available on just one CCD—then the Ryzen 9 9950X3D could emerge as a top-tier CPU for both gaming and productivity tasks.

    As usual, it’s important to remember that early performance leaks like those mentioned should be taken with caution. It’s advisable to wait for the official launch and the following reviews before making any conclusions about the Ryzen 9 9950X3D’s performance.

    Source: Link

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  • M4 MacBook Air in Mass Production; M4 and M5 Macs Coming 2025

    M4 MacBook Air in Mass Production; M4 and M5 Macs Coming 2025

    After the Apple M4 was introduced in the iPad Pro earlier this year, it is now being used in the Mac mini, iMac, and MacBook Pro. Based on recent updates from Bloomberg, the forthcoming MacBook Air will likely be available soon, with both the 13-inch and 15-inch models featuring the Apple M4 reportedly “deep in mass production.”

    Sales Timeline

    This indicates that sales should kick off in the first quarter, likely by the end of March. Additionally, a Mac Studio equipped with a more powerful Apple M4 is set to launch in the middle of next year, followed by an updated Mac Pro. Our tests of the Apple M4 in the iPad Pro reveal that the chip delivers up to 22% better CPU performance compared to the Apple M3 in the MacBook Air, all without requiring a fan. However, the upgrade is mostly beneficial for those using older Intel Macs or M1 MacBook Airs, since the new ARM chip is as much as 70% quicker.

    Future Upgrades

    According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the MacBook Pro is anticipated to receive an upgrade to the Apple M5, M5 Pro, and M5 Max by late 2025, but this will not include the much-awaited redesign. The new aesthetic, which will feature a dual OLED display and a 2 nm ARM chip, is now pushed back to 2026, meaning that next year’s version will be focused solely on performance enhancements. It’s still unclear whether other models, like the iMac or Mac mini, will also see an upgrade to the Apple M5 in 2025.

    Source: Link

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  • Asus V16 Gaming Laptop: 16″ Display, Core i7, RTX 4050, 144Hz

    Asus V16 Gaming Laptop: 16″ Display, Core i7, RTX 4050, 144Hz

    ASUS has unveiled the V16 (V3607), a 16-inch gaming laptop aimed at users who want dependable performance without breaking the bank. It is driven by an Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU, enabling the V16 to efficiently manage gaming, creative work, and daily tasks. The device boasts dual-fan cooling for steady performance and can support up to 32GB of 5600MHz DDR5 RAM along with SSD storage for faster loading times.

    Display and Audio Features

    The laptop features a 16-inch FHD IPS display that provides a 144Hz refresh rate, a resolution of 1920 x 1080, and an impressive 89% screen-to-body ratio, ensuring smooth visuals and lower latency. Dirac technology and ASUS Audio Booster enhance the audio experience, offering clear and detailed sound. Designed for portability and everyday use, the V16 comes with military-grade durability (MIL-STD-810H certification) and a 63Wh battery.

    Added Comfort and Security

    With a larger touchpad and an ASUS ErgoSense keyboard, the V16 also includes AI noise-cancelation and a 3D Noise Reduction (3DNR) camera system. Security features like a magnetic camera shutter enhance privacy, while the Turbo Blue keyboard backlight and neon-accented WASD keys bring a modern flair. Its Matte Black exterior is designed to repel fingerprints, keeping the laptop looking clean and professional.

    Specifications Overview

    Asus V16 (V3607VU/V3607VJ) specifications:

    Operating System:

    • Windows 11 Home
    • Windows 11 Pro
    • No OS

    Display:

    • 16.0-inch, WUXGA (1920 x 1200)
    • 16:10 aspect ratio
    • 144Hz refresh rate
    • 300nits brightness
    • 45% NTSC color gamut
    • Anti-glare
    • Non-touch
    • 89% screen-to-body ratio

    Processor:

    • Intel Core i5-13420H
    • Intel Core i7-13620H

    Graphics:

    Memory:

    • 8GB or 16GB DDR5 RAM
    • Up to 32GB maximum

    Storage:

    • 512GB or 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD

    Expansion:

    • 2x DDR5 SO-DIMM slots
    • 1x M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0×4 slot

    I/O Ports:

    • 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C (display/power delivery)
    • 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A
    • 1x HDMI 2.1
    • 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack
    • 1x DC-in

    Keyboard & Touchpad:

    • Backlit Chiclet Keyboard with NumPad
    • 1.5mm key travel
    • Precision touchpad

    Camera:

    • 1080p FHD camera with privacy shutter

    Audio:

    • SonicMaster
    • Built-in speakers and microphone

    Network:

    • Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) (Dual-band) 2×2
    • Bluetooth 5.3

    Battery:

    • 63Wh 3-cell Li-ion battery

    Power Supply:

    • 150W AC Adapter

    Dimensions:
    35.70 x 25.07 x 1.80 ~ 2.20 cm
    Weight:
    1.95 kg

    Security:

    • Trusted Platform Module (Firmware TPM)
    • BIOS setup user password

    Additionally, ASUS is offering a 3-month PC Game Pass Ultimate subscription with the laptop to enhance its value. Pricing information is anticipated to be disclosed soon.

    Source: Link

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