Tag Archives: cyberpunk

REDMAGIC DAO 150W GaN Charger looks straight out of a cyberpunk game

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If there was a design style that fits the gamer aesthetic almost perfectly, it would probably be cyberpunk. Bright RGB lighting, geometric patterns, and panel-like decals give a somewhat futuristic tech vibe to many gaming products, be they devices or even just accessories. That’s true not just for PCs and consoles but, lately, also for smartphones. Gaming smartphones have been trying to grab the attention of mobile gamers with their sometimes over-the-top designs. That, however, mostly applies to the phone itself but rarely to the accessories you use with it. As one of the big mobile gaming brands, REDMAGIC is trying to fill in that gap with a charger that doesn’t just look hi-tech but also promises advanced features as well.

Designer: REDMAGIC (nubia)

Phone chargers are often minimalist yet uninspiring blocks of plastic that get the job done and nothing more. Thanks to advancements in charging technologies, specifically GaN or Gallium Nitride, it has been possible to shrink charger sizes or, more importantly, implement less conventional designs and features. This charger, for example, still comes in a traditional rectangular shape, but its visual and technical features are almost out of this world.

For one, it has those RGB lighting effects that gamers just love, shining in different hues in the dark. This goes perfectly with the transparent design of the charger’s metal chassis, making the REDMAGIC DAO look almost like a miniature desktop PC. Its fanciest feature, however, is the LCD screen that is used to display details like current or charging status as well as dynamic wallpapers to truly bring out a sci-fi feel.

That’s not to say the charger is just all looks, at least not on paper. Its 150W output can charge many devices, including laptops, sometimes even simultaneously. It even has a rare DC out port that can be used for devices or laptops that use connectors other than USB. GaN technology promises that all that power won’t turn the charger into a fire hazard, at least with proper use and care.

As eye-catching as the REDMAGIC DAO 150W GaN charger may look, it also raises concerns about reliability, especially with so many extraneous features. The charger will still continue to work even if the RGB lights or screen doesn’t, but it also means paying for features you may end up never using. Still, the accessory is a nice break from the usual black and white affair that chargers seem to be locked into, and hopefully, other brands will start getting similar ideas in the near future.

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This Apocalyptic Cyberpunk Cafe Racer has a humble BMW R Nine T underneath it

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The R nine T is perhaps BMW, nay, the world’s most customized bike. Ognjen Docic remixed this versatile classic into something virtually unrecognizable but vastly more eye-catching. Dubbed the Rat Race, this cafe racer isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s skeletal yet meaty, and explores unique design directions like using transparent plastic as a part of its overall fairing. This post-apocalyptic beauty also seats just one, because if Hollywood’s taught us anything, the apocalypse always creates lone wolves!

Designer: Ognjen Docic

The Rat Race’s aesthetic explores the addition, removal, and reinforcement of its overall structure. Certain parts of the fairing are removed because they add no value. Others are given further reinforcement like the fuel tank (perhaps to deter theft), and the overall chassis gets a secondary frame to make it stronger for more aggressive riding.

“I transformed the iconic BMW R9T model into dream vision, seamlessly blending vintage aesthetics for a retro old-school vibe with futuristic elements. By merging the past and future in design, I believe it transcends a specific era, becoming timeless,” says Serbia-based designer, Ognjen Docic. “In my rendition, the bike retains its original structure with subtle modifications to the frame. Introducing “Rat Race,” this concept embodies the timeless struggle, capturing the essence of life’s rat race.”

When asked about the Rat Race’s specs, Docic mentions – “Specifications of the motorcycle are unknown! Crafted within the confines of my mind, it borrows foundational elements from the R9T model. My imagination took residence in an underground motorcycle tuning garage in the outskirts of Belgrade.”

An interesting touch is Docic’s use of transparent materials in the motorcycle’s body design. A panel around the headlight almost looks like a transparent skull for the bike, enveloping its headlight and a portion of its handlebars. The base of the automobile has it too, as does the end, where Docic cleverly implemented edge-lighting to create a rather unique-looking taillight. This use of transparent plastic adds to the structure without adding to the bulk or volume.

The result of the entire endeavor is a bike that’s practically unrecognizable, but somehow still manages to have its own distinct character (and possibly a very interesting backstory). It looks like it’s been through hell and back, and still has the willpower for handling some more. Those ridiculously chunky tires are proof that the Rat Race was built to get you anywhere you want to go – no questions asked… and the lack of rear-view mirrors is proof that where you’re going, there’s no looking back!

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This cyberpunk mini PC adds a little RGB flavor to your workspace

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Mini PCs are becoming quite popular these days, especially with improvements in the processors that drive them. They’ve become dependable desktop PC options, especially for those with space constraints or who detest bulky towers. Some are even capable of gaming, at least within certain limitations. Despite all the internal upgrades, the majority of mini PCs retain their stereotypical box shapes with rather uninspiring designs. And unlike their towering cousins, customization options are pretty limited unless you buy one that was designed with a specific motif from the get-go. That’s the kind of visual experience that this unusual mini PC is trying to offer, carrying a cyberpunk-inspired design and RGB lighting to light up your desk a bit, quite literally even.

Designer: AOOSTAR

The cyberpunk genre gave birth to a design theme that involves bright neon colors set against dark backdrops and a somewhat disorganized composition of lines and polygons that suggest the presence of panels that hide some jungle of wires and circuits underneath. The fictional settings might be gloomy or even disheartening (it’s “punk,” after all), but the designs ironically bring life to products and spaces, at least when done tastefully and with a reasonable balance of elements. The AOOSTAR GOD7 mini PC definitely has that effect without going overboard and turning your desk into a blinding light show.

The design is available in white and black colorways, but it’s definitely the black model that captures the cyberpunk vibe best. The RGB lighting inside shines through polygonal cutouts and vents, giving the semblance of glowing lines and markings prevalent in cyberpunk design. There’s some level of customization when it comes to the colors and “rhythm” of the lights, but don’t expect as much as pro gaming desktops or laptops from bigger brands.

The mini PC is advertised as a gaming computer, but take that label with a grain of salt. It definitely has enough muscle to run a good number of games, but gamers will have to set their expectations properly. Given its more compact size, there is no room for a desktop-grade graphics card, but you can theoretically connect an external GPU enclosure to really take things to the next level. Other than consideration, it’s actually a rather capable computer that would be able to handle most gaming and multimedia tasks you throw at it.

With the rise in both interest and production of mini PCs, it’s only a matter of time before designs become more diversified and, hopefully, more interesting. The AOOSTAR GOD7 packs a decent set of hardware in a design that adds a little pizzazz to your desk without going overboard or becoming too distracting. It has just the right balance of interesting details that will make you want to place it somewhere everyone can see while still having enough room for the more important tools of your trade.

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This Cyberpunk-Looking Handheld Gaming Console Takes a Page From Teenage Engineering

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Borrowing from Teenage Engineering’s visual DNA, the PocketMan P1 has a metal-first design language that oozes sleekness along with industrial details like exposed screws. Ergonomics be damned, the PocketMan P1 is a console for your eyes and your soul. Its design sports all the controls you need, featuring a D-pad, action buttons, multiple joysticks, and even four shoulder buttons. From the looks of its interface, it probably houses a black and white screen that eschews fancy graphics for a hardcore retro experience, and there’s even support for ‘apps’.

Designer: Grzegorz Rozwadowski (Twig Studio)

Functionally, the PocketMan P1 follows the vertical handheld style of the Game Boy Classic (with a monochrome display to match). Unlike the GB Classic, this console boasts an all-metal design with a seemingly edge-to-edge display, tight corners, industrial detailing, and a slick form factor that tapers off at the screen; effectively giving you a chunky console that’s nice to hold in your palms, but doesn’t have a hefty upper half that would throw its center of gravity out of whack. The product’s cyberpunk-ish design feels highly sophisticated, elevating the status of a game console to something that’s more than just a ‘toy’.

The PocketMan P1 comes with all the bells and whistles of a great controller. It’s got every conceivable control apart from probably a touchscreen (though I wouldn’t be surprised if it did). There’s a USB-C port on the bottom alongside a 3.5mm aux jack for headphones. Strangely enough, the console has card readers on both the left as well as the right side, presumably allowing you to load multiple cards with different games.

The controls on the PocketMan P1 resemble the kinds seen on modern handheld gaming devices, although the black-and-white screen definitely gives the console a retro touch. That being said, we don’t really know whether the P1 has an LED, LCD, or e-ink screen, so it’s entirely conceivable that the PocketMan P1 could be running a color display but with a black and white OS, helping keep its software as minimal-looking as its hardware. The presence of an Apps icon confirms the latter too, although without a traditional keyboard, it’s probably hinting at an App store or the ability to side-load different emulators to play your favorite games.

Although currently just a concept (yeah, I know), the P1 is a masterclass in minimalist metallic design. Its form language and detailing resemble some of Teenage Engineering’s handheld gadgets rather well (especially the TP-7 Field Recorder), and in doing so, rejects the idea that gaming hardware needs to be hyper-ergonomic and covered from head to toe in RGB lighting. The P1’s design language blends consumer tech’s aluminum obsession with great gaming hardware, creating a console with truly universal appeal… and with a ‘meant for serious gamers’ attitude.

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This ‘cyberpunk’ Porsche EV coupe concept looks absolutely gorgeous

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I’d use the term ‘unreal’ to describe the Porsche 928 E, but you’d wonder whether I was being literal or figurative. Meet the 928 E concept, a punkish EV inspired by classics like the DeLorean, but with a distinct Porsche DNA. Look at the silhouette and it looks pretty much like a part of the 928 family, with a rear curve that’s unmistakably Porsche. The only real deviation in trends can be seen in the front, with the slim headlights that feel like a break in tradition, and the uniquely cyberpunkish colorway featuring a metal body with a single black band running across from the front to the top and over to the back.

Designer: Youngjai Jun

The Porsche 928 E was created as a design exercise to see how merging Porsche’s aesthetic with the cyberpunk theme would turn out. The results are a surprisingly harmonious combination of visual languages, although some would argue that the Porsche character gets diluted a slight bit. My main bone of contention is with those headlights, which feel a little too similar to an IONIQ than a Porsche. That being said, it would be a little bit of a stretch, but I do see a little Taycan in those headlights. The one reason why that would make some semblance of sense is because just like the Taycan, the 928 E runs on an electric powertrain.

The car’s quite interesting to look at, if I don’t say so myself. Designed to look unusually eye-catching, it sports a black band running laterally, which explains the black-tinted windshield and rear shield too. To maintain the illusion of the black band, however, the car has no windows whatsoever. Clearly designed with a creative license, the doors are a single piece, with no handles, rear-view mirrors, or even windows. They merge perfectly into the car’s curvaceous body, sitting completely flush against it to create a wonderful sense of continuity – a continuity that feels even more enjoyable given the lack of windows.  I’ll be honest, I love the rear too, especially the glaring red Porsche logo that integrates with the 928 E’s taillights.

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This Tesla Cyberbike concept was designed entirely by Artificial Intelligence

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Tesla Cyberbike

While the Cybertruck is still a conceptual vehicle, we thought we’d up the stakes and imagine what a Tesla Cyberbike would look like!

Looking sort of like the Tesla Cyberquad’s meaner older sibling, the Cyberbike comes with the same edgy, angular metal fairing that houses Tesla’s game-changing electric powertrain underneath. However, this isn’t an official Tesla concept, heck it isn’t even a fan-made one. These conceptual images (there are a bunch of them below) were designed primarily using Midjourney’s Text-to-Image AI. I simply described the Tesla Cyberbike to the AI bot and was greeted by some rather phenomenal-looking images of an edgy, low-poly e-bike with a broad, aggressive body made primarily of sheet metal. The AI experimented with other aspects of the e-bike too – no two headlights look the same, and some of the tires seem rather angular as well, but the results make two things abundantly clear… that A. Artificial Intelligence is an incredibly powerful creative tool, and B. Someone should really build these out because they look absolutely BONKERS.

Designer: Midjourney (Prompts by Sarang Sheth)

Tesla Cyberbike

These images are courtesy Midjourney’s latest V4 upgrade, which now allows users to use images in their text prompts. I simply selected a few minimalist bike designs and told the AI to expand on it by creating an ‘electric motorcycle inspired by the Tesla Cybertruck’. For the most part, the AI did a pretty remarkable job of understanding how angular the Cybertruck’s design is and superimposing that on the ‘Cyberbike’, but the one thing the AI currently lacks is consistency. Each image is of a ‘new’ bike that doesn’t look quite like the other concept. If anything, this article is more of a moodboard for what a Tesla Cyberbike should look like. If Franz von Holzhausen (Tesla’s lead designer) is reading this, here you go! You’re welcome!

Tesla Cyberbike

The bike concepts have a few things in common, they’re all rather broad, with an imposing silhouette that makes them feel more like a superbike than your average e-bike. Those thicc-AF tires reinforce that idea too, although some concepts make the tires just as edgy and sharp as the Cyberbike’s fairing itself. Giving the AI a cyberpunk theme resulted in a few interesting variants with some beautiful headlights (all LED strips) and some concepts like the one below even put lights in the tires, making the e-bike look like something out of Tron.

Tesla Cyberbike

Tesla Cyberbike

The AI obviously doesn’t grasp technicalities, which is why a lot of the concepts may not seem entirely feasible but are more of a general visual direction. Some concepts forget to render footrests, some of them play rather loosely with internal components – almost none of the concepts have an exhaust pipe, but there are a few that look like they’ve got a fuel-powered engine. I like that they’ve all skipped the rear view mirrors too, almost like an internal joke about how the Cybertruck didn’t have rear view mirrors during its debut! There are no cracked glass panels on these concepts, thankfully.

Tesla Cyberbike

Tesla Cyberbike

This Tesla Cyberbike exploration eventually turned into a headlamp exploration, with the AI going all in on new headlight styles. They’re all undoubtedly sporty, and LED-strip lighting seems to be a recurring theme, but unlike the Cybertruck that just has a single strip running from left to right, these concepts experiment with new shapes and a split-headlight design that gives the motorbike MUCH more character.

Tesla Cyberbike

The glowing shock absorbers are a nice touch, no?! The image below even goes as far as adding strips to the base and rear for a rather interesting overall aesthetic.

Tesla Cyberbike

Even with close-ups, the AI did a phenomenal job of rendering out the details of the Cyberbike’s headlight, the glass cover, and even cutouts for air intakes around it, and doing so while keeping things bilaterally symmetrical. Peep in further and you can see what looks like additional lights with reflectors and textured glass, but then again, these images are to be taken strictly at face value.

Tesla Cyberbike

My final experiments were to also design a dashboard for the motorcycle, and it seems like the AI preferred something more traditional and circular, although a massive touchscreen display seems to be more of a standard in Tesla cars. This dashboard is entirely digital too, although the numbers and letters are gibberish because the AI isn’t capable of generating meaningful text yet (it’s something Nvidia seems to have cracked with their latest AI tool eDiff-I, although that isn’t open for public use yet).

Earlier this year we also covered what an AI-designed Apple Car would look like, created by another AI art bot by the name of DALL·E 2. AI art is definitely making waves this year, and while a lot of talented artists (rightfully so) are afraid this may be the end of human-made art, the tool should also be viewed for what it is, and incredible ideation software that designers and artists can use to create rapid concepts that take mere minutes instead of hours or days.

Tesla Cyberbike

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Metal Biomechanical Spine Armor Is Battle Cyborg Ready

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Developed and built by Etsy shop BionicConcepts, this biomechanical metal spine armor features everything you’d look for in new spine armor, like cool looks and light-up effects. The cyberpunk-style spine is constructed from aluminum and will be worn daily by yours truly. I just need to cut a huge hole out of the back of my sofa first so I can relax comfortably.

Available in raw aluminum and black finishes, the cyborg spines start at around $710 for a silver (raw metal) model with a single color light, up to $910 for one with a black finish and RGB lighting. I’m probably going to compromise and get the silver with RGB lighting for $837, with a special request to mark the box it comes in ‘NOT ANOTHER CYBORG SPINE HONEY, I SWEAR.’

Don’t have the money to buy one of these spines? Head to the junkyard and get the parts to construct your own. Just make sure you’re up to date on your tetanus shot first. Also, maybe not trying to visit the junkyard after regular business hours under the cover of darkness because I was definitely shot at.

This striking cyberpunk watch concept is ironically analog at heart

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Thanks to a certain video game and its recent animated Netflix tie-in, the cyberpunk style has become trendy again. Industrial designs mixed with glowing neon colors portray a vision of the future that is a little too bleak for comfort but almost realistic in its probability. As a genre, cyberpunk is set in a dystopian future where technology has advanced significantly but has left human morality and evolution behind in its dust. Many product designs and concepts today that tap into that style try to convey the spirit of this age through various gimmicks, many of them as advanced as the technologies they try to represent. This watch, inspired by the Cyberpunk 2077 game, however, bucks the trend and embraces one of the oldest yet most sophisticated ways to tell the time.

Designers: Michael Szczególski, Bartosz Wyżykowski, Piotr Blicharski, and Jacek Morawski

If you were to design a cyberpunk-themed watch, you would most likely try to implement it through digital and electronic components, perhaps even as a smartwatch. After all, it’s so much easier to style screens, implement advanced features, and even emit sounds using modern components. In stark contrast, this Cyberpunk 2077 watch concept doesn’t have anything digital, an ironic idea yet almost perfectly fitting considering the confusing mix of old and new that cyberpunk is famous for.

Instead of an LCD display, the watch works pretty much like an analog watch, except it trades typical hands for rotating discs that have marks for seconds, minutes, and hours. Its beating heart is a real-world 9015 Miyota automatic caliber, whose ruby movement is used to represent the cybernetic eye of an emblem on its back. The watch wraps around your wrists using silicone straps that, while mundane, are more faithful to the fictional world of Cyberpunk 2077 than more “advanced” materials.

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Since the watch is pretty much a mechanical one dressed up in a cyberpunk style, its personalization options are limited. Instead of changing watch faces as you would on a smartwatch, you can only swap out interchangeable fronts and backs to match different characters from the fictional franchise. That still leaves the door open for plenty of customization, especially when you consider these parts can be 3D printed easily.

Unfortunately for Cyberpunk 2077 fans, this watch remains a concept, even if it was designed with the game’s creators’ input. It’s definitely an attractive and unique twist to the typical cyberpunk-themed timepiece, one that could potentially satisfy even lovers of mechanical watches. It does show that just because it looks cyberpunk doesn’t mean it has to be complicated, though the beautiful simplicity of this watch’s design is itself almost contradictory to the usual mess of the genre.

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These wireless earbuds have sci-fi-inspired cases you will want to collect

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TWS, or Truly Wireless Stereo, earbuds have become more common these days now that almost all smartphones no longer have headphone jacks. Since the earbuds themselves are what you’d see and use most of the time, it’s only natural that they also get the most attention when it comes to design and features. Recently, however, there has been a shift of attention from the buds to their charging cases, from the cobblestone-inspired OPPO Enco X2 to the JBL Tour PRO 2 case with an embedded touch screen. The earbuds, after all, are meant to be discreet and almost invisible, while the cases are what people will often see. If that’s the case (no pun intended), then these new TWS buds are definitely worth showing off, especially if you’re a huge sci-fi or cyberpunk fan.

Designer: Gravastar

Gravastar has made a name for itself by producing accessories and gadgets whose designs cater to a very specific demographic. Its conception is quite timely, considering the rise in interest in sci-fi content in recent years. Even cyberpunk, which has been around for decades, is experiencing a bit of a renaissance thanks to a few films and games. Having sci-fi-themed accessories and products can be a lucrative business these days, especially when those products themselves are doing well in the market.

Everyone these days seems to have a pair of wireless earbuds, and there is almost an overabundance of them, especially when you take clones and knockoffs into account. The design of the buds themselves doesn’t tend to vary that much, and they’re often seen simply as tools at this early stage in their market life. Their cases are even more so taken for granted as simply a means to an end, but it’s only a matter of time before they take the spotlight. For fans of all things sci-fi, that time is already now.

The Gravastar Sirius P5 buds have charging cases whose industrial designs are clearly inspired by the futuristic genre. If that weren’t already clear from their looks, the names like Defense Armor, Defense Mecha, and Defense Crystal definitely make it explicit. Made from either zinc alloy or a “LEGO-like material prized for strength and rigidity,” each of these cases has a distinct character that would appeal to fans of certain subsets of the sci-fi genre. Defense Armor, for example, will be at home in the hands of a Cyberpunk 2077 fan, while Defense Mecha might have its DNA rooted in Gundam or Macross.

Tastes can differ, of course, and even the same people might change their tastes from time to time. What makes the Sirius P5 extra special is that you can actually swap the outer shells, provided you’ve purchased all three designs, of course. That’s because the actual charging component can be removed and inserted into different cases, allowing you to change your mind from time to time. There are also four RGB lights that can let you take personalization to the next level.

In terms of features, the earbuds sound (again, no pun intended) pretty basic, with support for Bluetooth 5.2, “environment” noise cancellation, and an IPX4 waterproof rating. The buds themselves can last for eight hours, while the charging case provides an additional 32 hours of use. All these make for a decent audio experience that probably won’t woo audiophiles, but its case will definitely be something you’d be proud to actually wear around your neck.

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ASUS ROG Phone 6 design tells the tale of two futures

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Our future could either go cyberpunk or utopia, and this gaming phone’s designs depict these possibilities.

Gaming accessories and peripherals almost have an unspoken rule about what is considered to be standard design rules. Predominantly black chassis is punctuated by RGB lights that shine like neon signage on a dark night. If that has you thinking of cyberpunk settings, it’s pretty close to the aesthetic that most gaming products embrace. Of course, there are other ways to view our future, one that embodies hope expressed in cleaner and brighter designs. This dichotomy of aesthetics is even more pronounced in the ASUS Republic of Gamers’ newest gaming phone, carrying a design that it describes as leaving the phone’s cyberpunk roots to venture further into the future and into the wider cosmos.

Designer: ASUS

The ASUS ROG Phone 6 comes in two main designs split between Pro and non-Pro models. And while ASUS describes both as having evolved styles, it is really evident in only one of the two. The ASUS ROG Phone 6 still bears many of the design marks of the previous generations, especially in its black colorway. Most of the shapes and lines on its back are asymmetrical and askew, creating a bit of visual noise that conveys energy and eccentricity. Its RGB dot-matrix display is also a blast from the past, a trait that’s common in cyberpunk aesthetics.

In contrast, the ROG Phone 6 Pro comes only in a “Storm White” version, and it makes a sharp U-turn from previous aesthetics, heading towards a more utopian and space-centric view of the future. The lines are clean, the geometrical shapes are more balanced, and there is less in the way of distracting noise and details. A new color screen on the side of the phone is capable of displaying full pictures and animations, calling to mind the fancy HUDs in sci-fi props. The phone’s accessories have matching motifs, with mostly white bodies, a few black panels, and maybe a splash of RGB colors here and there.

Despite the futuristic theme, the ASUS ROG Phone 6 is pretty old-school in some aspects, and it’s not actually a bad thing. There’s still a headphone jack that’s all but extinct on high-end phones these days. And instead of a notch or a cutting-edge under-display camera, the phone has plain, narrow bezels, top and bottom. This does also come with the benefit of having some “dead space” for the holder’s palms when playing a game in landscape orientation. Of course, those same hands will also cover the headphone jack, so many gamers might opt for Bluetooth headphones instead at that point.

In terms of hardware, the ASUS ROG Phone 6 is pretty much what you’d expect for a phone designed and built for gaming. Its true test will be in its thermal management, which will determine how long the processor will be able to maintain its performance. Design-wise, the phone could mark a new phase for mobile gaming devices that are adopting cleaner aesthetics, a trend that seems to be growing in the wider gaming market if the latest console and PC designs are anything to go by.

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