Tag Archives: Product Design

This iPhone 16 Case has it all – 360° Spinning Kickstand, MagSafe Compatibility, and Slim Durable Design

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When you invest in a flagship smartphone like an iPhone, you expect a certain level of premium experience—both in the device and in how you protect it. After all, you wouldn’t park a Lamborghini in a shed, would you? We’ve touted TORRAS’ Ostand 360° case for years, but the company’s put a spin on its flagship design with the Sparks of Time and Energy series, which turns the case into a functional work of art.

Inspired by the passage of time, TORRAS has crafted a design where form meets function. The back of the case features three lines symbolizing the hands of a clock—an artistic nod to both precision and elegance. The rotating O-shaped stand, too, evokes the circular flow of time, creating a sense of timelessness in both function and style.

Designer: TORRAS

Click Here to Buy Now: $36.79 $45.99 (20% off, use coupon code “YDONLY20”). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

For people unfamiliar with the Ostand 360° series, it’s a case that looks and feels as sleek and robust as any other case on the market, but integrated into it is the slim Ostand ring, which serves as both a stand as well as a handy grip. The 360° rotating ring offers a secure hold for your device, minimizing accidental drops, especially when you’re on the go or juggling multiple tasks. Whether you’re taking photos, scrolling social media, or just need extra security, the ring ensures your phone is always in your grasp, quite literally.

The Ostand 360° gets its name from the fact that the ring grip doubles as a kickstand too, allowing you to prop your phone in both landscape (30° to 90° angles) and portrait (0° to 150° angles) modes. Whether you’re watching a movie, FaceTiming with friends, or recording videos, the stand holds your phone at just the right angle, making it versatile enough for both productivity and leisure. When you’re done, the ring folds neatly back into the case, sitting flush with the backplate. No unsightly protrusions or awkward bulges —it’s a seamless fit that maintains the sleek profile of your phone.

Moreover, the Ostand 360° series is MagSafe-compatible, making it a perfect fit for Apple’s magnetic accessories. Whether you’re using a MagSafe charger or a magnetic wallet, the case’s 18N magnet ensures a strong, reliable connection every time. And yes, it works perfectly with Qi2 wireless chargers too, so you won’t need to compromise on convenience or speed when juicing up your device. The magnets are designed to balance power with sheer slimness, as they sit within the ring that fits into the case, keeping the overall cross-section under 2mm in thickness – a feat that’s difficult (if not impossible) to match.

The Ostand 360° series is as durable as it is beautiful. The Ostand ring grip is engineered to withstand up to 30,000 folds, making it a reliable companion through countless binge-watching sessions, virtual meetings, or video shoots. Despite its slimness, it’s designed to be rock-solid (as some users call it), with a spin mechanism that works reliably and buttery smooth every time, clicking to keep it in place when you lock in on a position. And while it’s a highly functional accessory, TORRAS hasn’t skimped on aesthetics. The case comes in three sleek color options: Dune, Onyx, and Ivory—each exuding timeless elegance and complementing the premium feel of today’s high-end smartphones.

The material choice also reflects TORRAS’ attention to quality. Instead of opting for silicone, the back panel is made from hard, impact-resistant polycarbonate, with grainy, lychee-textured sides and independently located buttons A streamlined cutout for the iPhone 16’s new Camera Control haptic button further makes it easier to use the feature while letting your finger slide along the touch-sensitive zone. The result is a grip-friendly, curved back design with a premium, velvety feel that not only looks good but feels great in the hand while keeping your phone slim and protected… after all, a great-looking iPhone shouldn’t be overshadowed by a bulky or ugly cover. Right?

Click Here to Buy Now: $36.79 $45.99 (20% off, use coupon code “YDONLY20”). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

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Design You Can Feel: ASUS Ceraluminum Blends Technology with Tactile Artistry

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ASUS has long been recognized for its forward-thinking approach to technological innovation. With Ceraluminum, the company shifts focus, moving beyond performance metrics and engaging users on a sensory and emotional level. At the “Design You Can Feel” exhibition during the London Design Festival, ASUS presented this unique material in an artistic context, blending technology, material science, and human-centered design. This exhibition explored how technology doesn’t need to feel cold or distant but can foster emotional engagement and tactile experiences that draw users in.

Designer: ASUS

At the core of this shift is Ceraluminum, a revolutionary material that merges aluminum’s structural benefits with the tactile qualities of ceramic. With its four-year development, this material represents a significant leap forward in the functionality and aesthetics of ASUS’s products. Ceraluminum invites users to touch, explore, and experience their devices in a more intimate, human-centered way. It’s a breakthrough that combines art and technology, reshaping how we engage with our tech.

Ceraluminum: A Material with Presence

Ceraluminum reflects ASUS’s focus on creating materials that enhance functionality while fostering a more personal and tactile user experience. From my interpretation of their design philosophy, ASUS aims to develop materials that resonate emotionally with users, evoking a sense of warmth and connection—without suggesting metaphysical attributes like having a soul. Unlike traditional metals that feel cold and impersonal, Ceraluminum exudes warmth and tactility. It absorbs light and reduces glare while offering a textured, matte finish that invites interaction. Chief Design Officer Mitch Yang elaborated on the significance of this during the panel discussions, emphasizing that the texture and feel of Ceraluminum are key to fostering a deeper connection between users and their devices.

Developed through a unique micro-arc oxidation (MAO) process, Ceraluminum begins as lightweight aluminum and is transformed into a hybrid material through a high-voltage plasma discharge. This creates a ceramic oxide layer that maintains aluminum’s strength and lightness but offers ceramic’s hardness, scratch resistance, and tactile warmth. This unique combination gives ASUS’s devices a distinctive feel and presence, setting them apart from the sea of cold, reflective metal gadgets on the market.

Yang explained further, “Ceraluminum allows us to create devices that don’t just look good but feel meaningful to the touch. It changes how users interact with their technology, inviting them to explore the material with their hands, not just their eyes.”

SUSA: Embodying Calm Technology

At the center of the “Design You Can Feel” exhibition was SUSA, a conceptual AI-powered device designed by London-based Future Facility. This device embodies ASUS’s philosophy of calm technology, where tech is designed to be intuitive, unobtrusive, and calming rather than overstimulating. Encased entirely in Ceraluminum, SUSA represents the potential of this material to facilitate more mindful, tactile interactions with technology.

SUSA’s design is deliberately minimalist. It features a perforated screen that subtly filters its digital display, minimizing distractions while maintaining core functionalities such as photography, navigation, and calls. By encouraging users to engage with the physical object rather than becoming consumed by the screen, SUSA promotes a more intentional relationship with technology.

Leo Leitner, a designer at Future Facility, explained this during the panel discussion, stating, “SUSA is a reflection of how we can rethink the role of digital devices in our lives. By using Ceraluminum, we create a product that feels more natural and calming. It’s about slowing down, encouraging the user to focus on what’s important rather than being overwhelmed by constant notifications.”

Kim Colin, also from Future Facility, expanded on this by adding, “The tactile nature of Ceraluminum allowed us to create a product that feels inviting and grounded. It shifts the focus from what the device can do to how it feels when used. That tactile warmth is crucial to fostering a more mindful, human-centric interaction.”

SUSA is more than a concept. It represents a future where technology is integrated into our lives in ways that promote mental well-being, offering a calming influence rather than a constant source of overstimulation.

Collaborations with Global Designers: Ceraluminum Through the Eyes of Art

The “Design You Can Feel” exhibition also served as a platform for international designers to reinterpret and manipulate Ceraluminum in their own creative ways, showcasing its versatility beyond traditional tech applications. By inviting leading artists and designers to explore the material, ASUS highlighted how Ceraluminum can inspire new forms of user interaction. Each designer’s work emphasized tactile engagement and explored how material science can evoke emotional responses while remaining functional.

Giles Miller Studio (UK) approached Ceraluminum from a design perspective that blurred the lines between industrial application and artistic expression. Miller’s work focused on transforming the surface texture of Ceraluminum, turning it into a canvas for intricate patterns and reliefs. By manipulating its reflective qualities, Miller demonstrated how Ceraluminum could become a material that protects and decorates, elevating everyday technology into something more visually dynamic.

Designer: Giles Miller Studio

The studio used light to reveal hidden details in the material, inviting users to interact with their devices in new ways. Miller explained during the panel that they wanted to capture the subtle shifts in light as users moved their devices, turning a practical surface into an artistic experience. “Ceraluminum gave us the ability to create a surface that changes with the viewer’s movement, transforming the device from an object of utility into something more engaging,” Miller noted. This emphasis on the material’s light-reflecting properties invited deeper emotional engagement, making the device feel more personal.

Natural Material Studio (Denmark) took an organic approach to Ceraluminum, focusing on its ability to mimic natural textures. Their contribution aimed to highlight the material’s matte finish and tactile softness, drawing inspiration from natural elements like stone and sand. By working with Ceraluminum’s porosity, they created objects that felt grounded and familiar, offering a contrast to the typically sleek, hard surfaces of most technology.

Designer: Natural Material Studio

The goal was to craft a sensory experience that reminded users of nature. Their work emphasized the tactile qualities of Ceraluminum, offering an experience that felt like the material had been shaped by natural forces rather than human technology. “We wanted the object to feel as if it had always existed—like a pebble-shaped by the sea,” the studio shared during the exhibit. Their designs provided a sense of calm, reinforcing ASUS’s broader mission to create technology that connects users to the natural world while still harnessing advanced materials.

Nice Workshop (South Korea) explored the application of Ceraluminum in larger-scale objects with their “Aluminium Formwork Series”. Moving away from electronics, they demonstrated how Ceraluminum could be used in furniture design by applying ASUS’s ceramicization process to aluminum forms. This process resulted in furniture pieces with a textured, stone-like finish that invited touch and interaction. Founder Hyunseog Oh said their goal was to make aluminum—a traditionally cold, hard material—feel softer and more approachable.

Designer: Nice Workshop

Their work showed how Ceraluminum’s unique texture could be adapted to everyday objects, making them more inviting and user-friendly. “We wanted people to feel comfortable interacting with furniture in the same way they interact with their devices,” said Oh. This exploration of Ceraluminum’s versatility in non-tech applications expanded the material’s potential, proving it could enhance electronics and the physical spaces we inhabit.

Fernando Laposse (Mexico) brought a sustainability-focused lens to the exhibition, concentrating on how Ceraluminum could be repurposed and recycled to reduce environmental impact. Known for his work with natural fibers, Laposse saw potential in Ceraluminum’s longevity and durability. He explored how the material could be integrated into sustainable design practices, offering a responsible alternative to more wasteful production methods.

Designer: Fernando Laposse

Laposse’s work aligned with ASUS’s vision for creating long-lasting products that reduce waste and contribute to a circular economy. By focusing on Ceraluminum’s recyclability, he highlighted its potential to contribute to sustainable design efforts. “Ceraluminum’s strength and durability mean it can be repurposed, not discarded, ensuring that our devices leave a smaller environmental footprint,” Laposse explained. His approach resonated with ASUS’s commitment to sustainability, demonstrating that high-tech materials and responsible design can coexist.

Studio Furthermore (UK) embraced a more experimental approach, pushing Ceraluminum’s potential beyond the traditional limits of material design. Their contribution focused on the material’s transformation through ceramicization, exploring how different textures and surface treatments could evoke new tactile experiences. By experimenting with forms and patterns, Studio Furthermore demonstrated how Ceraluminum could serve as a medium for creative exploration, where users could discover new ways to interact with their devices.

Designer: Studio Furthermore

The studio’s work underscored how Ceraluminum is durable and capable of provoking emotional and tactile connections. By emphasizing the material’s sensory qualities, they invited users to engage more profoundly and rigorously with their devices. “We wanted to encourage users to touch and feel their devices, not just see them as tools,” the studio remarked. Through their experimental processes, Studio Furthermore showcased how Ceraluminum could foster more profound, more meaningful interactions between users and the objects they use every day.

Final Thoughts: A Sensory Future for Technology and Design

ASUS’s “Design You Can Feel” exhibition and the development of Ceraluminum represent a forward-thinking approach to how technology integrates into our lives. With this material, ASUS bridges the gap between the tactile and the technological, offering users an experience that goes beyond performance to touch the soul of design.

Ceraluminum’s durability, tactile warmth, and matte finish go beyond aesthetic choices; they reshape how we interact with devices moving forward. This material reflects ASUS’s commitment to creating devices that resonate emotionally, offering comfort, engagement, and fostering a deeper connection.

Through collaborations with global designers, ASUS has highlighted the potential of Ceraluminum to transform not just technology but how we live, interact, and engage with the objects around us. As we move forward, Ceraluminum is poised to lead a new design wave that prioritizes emotional resonance, environmental responsibility, and the fusion of art with cutting-edge material science.

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Elago’s Pager Case for the AirPods 4 may have VERY unfortunate timing, but it looks cute

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I’m sure the folks at Elago had no idea pagers would be a hot geopolitical topic around the time they announced their cute AirPods cases but we definitely live in unprecedented times! Designed to look like the famed device from the pre-cellular era, this silicone cover-case fits around the AirPods 4, transforming it into a piece of retro tech! The cover is a part of Elago’s ongoing series that has turned the AirPods into mini iPod Shuffles, Macintoshes, and even the Apple Watch into a makeshift iPod Classic.

Designer: Elago

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Designed to be compatible with the AirPods 4 which launched just last week, this cover case is yet another part of Elago’s throwback design series. This time, the cover case looks like a pager, complete with a screen that reads Apple’s signature “Hello” but in seven-segment calculator-speak. The screen (which glows in the dark) is accompanied by faux buttons too, along with a chain and clip that you can use to attach the AirPods to your pant pocket.

For those born after the turn of the millennium, pagers were the evolutionary step right before portable cellular phones. Unlike cell-phones or mobiles that let you have conversations with other people, pagers were simply beepers. You’d give your pager number to people, and they’d call your pager. The screen would notify you that you received a call from someone, and you’d then have to find a landline phone to call them back. It wasn’t convenient, but it was compact, had a battery that lasted several days, and was a great way to get notified of a call without getting distracted by having to answer it. You’d see the number and call them back whenever convenient.

This cover case, like all of Elago’s cases, comes made from silicone, known for its rubbery soft exterior and impact resistance. The shock-proof silicone cover makes it a perfect pick for people who want to protect their AirPods from bumps, scratches, or any impact-based damage. Moreover, the screen (and buttons) even glow in the dark, mimicking the backlight of pager displays back in the day, while also allowing your AirPods to be visible and accessible in the dark!

The Elago Pager Case comes at a very ill-fated time, following the series of pager explosion attacks that occurred in Lebanon over the weekend. Although it seems like pagers might not be having a good media cycle for now, these cases may be a cute option once the news dies down and pagers are again remembered for what they truly are… being the iconic communication device of the early 90s, with doctors even today using them in the hospital wards and operation theaters over actual phones.

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Huawei Watch GT5 Pro Hands-On Review – Where Luxury Meets Functionality

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PROS:


  • Huawei TruSense System: Advanced health tracking, including blood pressure monitoring and ECG

  • Long battery life of up to 14 days

  • Premium materials like titanium and ceramic for durability

  • Compatible with Android and iOS devices

CONS:


  • Higher price tag, especially for premium models

  • Limited third-party app support compared to competitors

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

The Huawei Watch GT5 Pro blends sleek design with powerful performance, effortlessly fitting into both active and professional lifestyles.
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Huawei continues to redefine what we expect from smartwatches with the Watch GT5 Pro. Building on the successes of the GT4 and GT3 Pro, this latest iteration seamlessly blends premium materials with advanced health tracking features. Whether you choose the titanium or ceramic model, the GT5 Pro caters to users who value fitness and aesthetics without compromise.

Designer: Huawei

First Impressions: High-End Design with Purpose

From the moment I strapped the Huawei Watch GT5 Pro onto my wrist, it was clear this wasn’t your average smartwatch. The sleek design focused squarely on the timepiece, exudes luxury and sophistication. I had the pleasure of testing the 46mm titanium model and the 42mm ceramic version—each leaving a distinct and lasting impression.

Huawei Watch GT5 Pro Titanium Alloy

The titanium alloy version feels robust and is tailored for those who lead active lifestyles. At the same time, the ceramic model is lighter and more polished, designed to complement any outfit—be it formal or casual. Both models showcase Huawei’s meticulous attention to detail, from the intricately designed watch faces to the seamless integration of premium materials.

Design and Build Quality: Refined Craftsmanship with Bold Details

Huawei’s design philosophy shines through in the GT5 Pro, combining cutting-edge technology with exquisite craftsmanship. The titanium alloy and ceramic models feature sapphire glass, offering excellent scratch resistance while enhancing clarity and durability.

Titanium Model: Rugged Yet Sophisticated

The 46mm titanium version strikes a perfect balance between ruggedness and elegance. Ideal for those who want a watch that can handle outdoor adventures and formal settings, the titanium case is crafted from aerospace-grade material, providing exceptional strength without excessive weight. Its brushed finish adds a touch of class, while the titanium link bracelet feels smooth against the skin and is easily adjustable for a perfect fit.

Despite its larger size, the titanium model feels light enough. Thoughtful weight distribution ensures comfort during all-day wear. The bold, masculine design transitions seamlessly from professional meetings to outdoor pursuits, offering style and durability.

Ceramic Model: Subtle Sophistication

The 42mm ceramic model is all about refinement. Building on the design language of the GT3 Pro Ceramic Edition, Huawei has perfected its nanocrystal ceramic manufacturing process. This meticulous seven-day process results in a flawless, mirror-like, durable, and eye-catching finish.

The ceramic model feels noticeably lighter than its titanium counterpart. The ceramic bezel and sapphire glass blend seamlessly, creating an uninterrupted surface that enhances the watch’s minimalist aesthetic. The white ceramic strap enhances the watch’s elegance and provides all-day comfort, making it ideal for any occasion.

Dynamic Visual Experience: Light and Shadow Effects

One of the GT5 Pro’s most striking design features is its use of geometric shapes to create a captivating light and shadow effect. Light dances across its surfaces as the watch moves under different lighting conditions, adding depth and dimension to the design. This effect is particularly pronounced on the titanium version, where the brushed finish accentuates the watch’s premium look.

The crown on both models is intricately designed with a knurled texture, providing a tactile and responsive experience when adjusting settings. These details and the nanocrystal ceramic rear case reflect Huawei’s commitment to balancing aesthetic appeal with functional durability.

Comfort and Fit: Ergonomics Perfected

Both the titanium and ceramic models are designed with ergonomics in mind. The curved cases and flexible straps ensure a snug fit without discomfort, even during extended wear. The titanium model offers a reassuring weight that balances comfort and presence, while the ceramic model is lighter and stays cool against the skin.

Strap Variety: Tailored to Your Style

Huawei has introduced a variety of strap options for the GT5 Pro, allowing users to customize the watch to match their style and occasion:

  • Fluoroelastomer straps for a sporty, durable feel.
  • Ocean-recycled nylon straps highlight sustainability with colors inspired by ocean waves.
  • Composite leather straps and Milanese straps for those seeking a more formal and fashionable look.

These options enhance the GT5 Pro’s versatility, enabling it to adapt from a casual day out to a formal evening event effortlessly.

Display and Usability: Crisp, Clear, and Responsive

Huawei Watch GT5 Pro

The AMOLED display—measuring 1.43 inches on the titanium model and 1.32 inches on the ceramic—offers a sharp 466 x 466 pixel resolution. Everything from fitness data to notifications appears vibrant and clear, even in direct sunlight. The touchscreen responsiveness is smooth, ensuring seamless navigation through the watch’s features.

The always-on display is especially useful during workouts or when quick access to time and notifications is needed. It reduces the need to wake the screen manually, making interactions more fluid and saving time.

Huawei TruSense System: Comprehensive Health Monitoring and Insights

Huawei’s TruSense System represents a breakthrough in health and wellness tracking, offering users a sophisticated approach to monitoring physical and emotional wellbeing. Built on a multi-channel optical architecture, the system significantly enhances the accuracy of core health metrics such as heart rate, blood oxygen (SpO2), and respiratory rate. Substantial investments in optical, electrical, and material sciences make this possible, allowing the sensors to overcome traditional challenges related to skin tone variations, wrist sizes, and environmental factors like temperature and humidity.

Leveraging this advanced architecture, the TruSense System monitors over 60 health and fitness indicators, giving users a holistic view of their wellbeing. A standout feature is its sophisticated sleep tracking, which offers detailed insights into light, deep, and REM sleep cycles. This in-depth analysis enables users to understand their sleep quality better and identify improvement areas. These combined features contribute to a comprehensive understanding of personal wellness, positioning TruSense as one of the most advanced systems in wearable health technology today.

By integrating physical and emotional health tracking, Huawei’s TruSense offers an unmatched combination of functionality and precision, helping users stay in tune with their bodies and minds daily.

Advanced Optical Sensing

The TruSense System integrates advanced sensors with state-of-the-art algorithms, delivering consistent and reliable readings. This precision is vital for users who depend on real-time data to fine-tune their performance and recovery. SpO2 monitoring provides swift feedback on oxygen saturation—a crucial cardiovascular and respiratory health indicator. Meanwhile, the often-neglected respiratory rate tracking offers valuable insights into how efficiently your body regulates breathing patterns across various activities.

Huawei Watch GT5 Pro

Emotional WellBeing and Management

Beyond physical health, the Huawei Watch GT 5 Series incorporates a unique emotional wellbeing assistant. This feature leverages heart rate variability (HRV) and autonomic nervous system data to assess and track stress levels. During periods of high stress, such as intense workdays or emotional challenges, the watch detects physiological changes and provides actionable insights. Whether you’re feeling happy, sad, or at peace, it records your emotional state, helping you better understand and manage your wellbeing. The built-in breathing exercises help manage stress in real time, guiding users through calming practices that restore balance.

The emotional wellbeing assistant goes beyond simple stress tracking, offering a holistic view of your mental state. By integrating daily stress fluctuations with physical indicators, the system provides a comprehensive picture of your overall wellbeing. Over time, it identifies patterns, helping you recognize triggers and develop healthier emotional habits. However, this feature is currently only available in China and isn’t offered in the European market.

Sleep Monitoring and Advanced Sleep Cycle Insights

The sleep tracking feature in the TruSense System has undergone significant enhancements. Like many competitors offering sleep data, Huawei’s system provides detailed analyses of sleep stages, including light sleep, deep sleep, and REM cycles. However, it goes beyond merely reporting sleep duration, offering valuable feedback on the quality of each phase. Whether battling insomnia or aiming to optimize your rest for better recovery, this feature delivers personalized insights and recommendations based on your unique sleep patterns.

Future-Proof Flexibility and Accuracy

Huawei has future-proofed the TruSense System by designing it to be flexible and open to iterative updates. Users can expect continued software and hardware performance improvements as the technology progresses, ensuring their devices stay at the cutting edge of health monitoring. Additionally, the TruSense System has been certified by several authoritative health bodies, offering peace of mind regarding the reliability and safety of the data provided.

Sports and Activity Tracking: Tailored for Adventure

The GT5 Pro shines in outdoor activity tracking with its dual-band GPS and support for multiple satellite systems like GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, and QZSS. This setup enhances location accuracy and speed, making it great for hiking, running, or cycling. Huawei has taken things further with the new HUAWEI Sunflower Positioning System, which uses an adaptive algorithm to improve accuracy. The watch’s antenna adjusts itself based on your movement, ensuring it points in the right direction, whether cycling or running. This upgraded system reduces issues like distance or pace inaccuracies seen in earlier models, boosting route accuracy by 40%, distance by 30%, and pace by 20%, offering a more reliable tracking experience overall.

The running form analysis feature is particularly noteworthy. It provides detailed insights into metrics like vertical oscillation, foot contact time, and stride length. These insights help improve performance and reduce the risk of injury.

For outdoor enthusiasts, the offline maps and route back feature offer great value. Whether you’re hiking or exploring new trails, the watch provides accurate mapping and assists with navigation, helping you find your way if you lose track of your path.

Water Resistance and Freediving Mode: Dive In with Confidence

With a 5 ATM water resistance rating, the GT5 Pro is ideal for swimming and water sports. Its freediving mode supports dives of up to 40 meters, tracking depth and dive duration. I took the ceramic model snorkeling, and it performed flawlessly with no issues, even after prolonged exposure to saltwater.

Battery Life: Long-Lasting Performance

Huawei is renowned for the impressive battery life of its smartwatches, and the GT5 Pro doesn’t disappoint. The 46mm titanium model offers up to 14 days of battery life, while the 42mm ceramic model provides up to 7 days. Even with GNSS tracking, continuous health monitoring, and the always-on display active, I comfortably went several days without recharging.

When it’s time to recharge, the Watch GT5 Pro 46mm exclusively supports fast wireless charging. A quick 10-minute charge gives enough power for an entire day, making it especially convenient for those with busy schedules.

Smartwatch Features and Connectivity: Beyond Fitness

The GT5 Pro goes beyond fitness tracking by offering features that enhance daily connectivity. One standout is the keyboard input, allowing you to respond to messages directly from the watch. Though currently limited to specific apps, it adds convenience when accessing your phone isn’t an option. Music control is also intuitive, whether you’re streaming from your smartphone or playing stored songs directly from the watch. With compatibility across Android, iOS, and Huawei devices, the GT5 Pro ensures a seamless experience no matter which platform you use.

Should You Upgrade? A Worthwhile Investment

For GT4 Users:

The GT5 Pro offers significant upgrades in both materials and functionality. The introduction of premium materials like titanium and ceramic, the advanced TruSense system, and enhanced health tracking make it a worthwhile upgrade.

For GT3 Pro Users:

The GT5 Pro builds on its predecessor’s strengths. With improved GNSS accuracy, expanded health monitoring—including emotional wellbeing tracking—and refined aesthetics, it represents a solid step forward for those seeking the latest wearable technology.

Final Thoughts: A Premium Watch for the Modern User

The Huawei Watch GT5 Pro seamlessly merges style and functionality. Its premium materials, cutting-edge health features, and impressive battery life make it a standout choice for anyone looking for a smartwatch that doesn’t compromise design or performance.

Whether focused on fitness, managing stress, or simply seeking a stylish smartwatch to complement your daily attire, the GT5 Pro is an exceptional choice. It embodies Huawei’s commitment to delivering products that enhance our lives through innovation and quality, making it a worthy addition to any tech-savvy individual’s collection.

The post Huawei Watch GT5 Pro Hands-On Review – Where Luxury Meets Functionality first appeared on Yanko Design.

Here’s Everything Huawei Announced at the Next-Gen Wearables and Tablets Event

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At its big launch event in Barcelona, Huawei unveiled an exciting lineup of products. From stylish wearables like the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Series, WATCH D2, and the impressive WATCH Ultimate Green Edition to powerful tablets such as the HUAWEI MatePad Pro 12.2-inch and MatePad 12 X, the company introduced fresh designs and features aimed at boosting both productivity and connectivity.

Designer: Huawei

HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Series: Fashion Edge Meets Functionality

Huawei unveiled the HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Series, comprising the GT 5 and GT 5 Pro models, emphasizing a “Fashion Edge” approach that blends style with advanced features. The watches are designed for users seeking a balance between aesthetics and performance.

The GT 5 Pro is crafted from premium materials, including aerospace-grade titanium alloy for enhanced durability and a nanocrystal ceramic bezel for a luxurious touch. Its sleek, sharp-edged design makes the watch suitable for fitness activities and formal occasions.

The event featured appearances by HUAWEI Wearable Product Ambassadors Pamela Reif and Sir Mo Farah. Pamela Reif focused on the design aspects of the watches and discussed the app fitness courses, showcasing the “Light Up Your Rings” experience. She expressed her admiration for the new watch, stating: “The HUAWEI Watch GT 5 Pro is more than a smartwatch; it’s a style icon that really gives me a Fashion Edge. In addition, Huawei has made some really impressive enhancements to the activity tracking. Join me and Light Up Your Rings every day!”

Sir Mo Farah shared his expertise on running and advanced sports techniques, highlighting features that could benefit athletes. He noted: “As a runner, I care about small details to give me a competitive edge. The enhanced Sunflower GPS is an absolute game-changer, while the all-new Running Form analysis feature can give any runner insights into how to shave seconds off their personal best.”

Both models are equipped with the HUAWEI TruSense System, featuring advanced sensors for tracking health metrics such as heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and sleep patterns. The enhanced Sunflower GPS provides accurate positioning, which benefits runners and outdoor enthusiasts. The new Running Form analysis feature offers insights to improve performance by analyzing metrics like stride length and ground contact time.

HUAWEI TruSense System

Battery life is a key feature, with the 46mm models offering up to 14 days on a single charge under typical use and the 41mm models providing up to 7 days. The watches are compatible with Android and iOS smartphones, broadening their accessibility.

The HUAWEI WATCH GT 5 Series is available internationally, including the UK and Europe, from September 19, 2024. Pricing starts from £229.99 (RRP) for the GT 5 and £329.99 (RRP) for the GT 5 Pro. Customers ordering from the UK Huawei Store and Amazon between September 19 and October 22 will receive a free pair of HUAWEI FreeBuds 5i earbuds. Additionally, GT 5 Series users are eligible for a free 3-month membership to HUAWEI Health+, offering exclusive workouts, guided meditations, the Stay Fit Plan, and breathing exercises.

HUAWEI WATCH D2: Advancing Health Monitoring

Huawei introduced the HUAWEI WATCH D2 as the world’s first wrist-based, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) device to be certified by China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) and the European Union’s Medical Device Regulation (MDR). This represents a significant advancement in wearable technology, embodying Huawei’s commitment to health-focused innovation.

Huawei Watch D2

The watch delivers 24-hour accurate blood pressure measurements and features the HUAWEI TruSense System for faster and more precise results. Huawei has invested over nine years in developing this blood pressure technology, collaborating with global hypertension experts like Professor Gregory Stergiou and Professor Wang Jiguang.

The HUAWEI WATCH D2 sports a light and slim design, incorporating an ultra-narrow mechanical airbag and a 1.82-inch large screen. It is about one-fifth the width and one-twenty-fifth the volume of traditional upper-arm electronic blood pressure monitors, making it convenient for on-the-go measurements.

With a single tap, users can measure up to nine body indicators and generate a Health Overview report, providing a comprehensive snapshot of their well-being. In addition to blood pressure monitoring, the watch includes features like ECG analysis, sleep tracking, and stress monitoring.

The HUAWEI WATCH D2 is available internationally from September 19, 2024, priced at £349.99 (RRP). Customers ordering from the UK Huawei Store and Amazon between September 19 and October 22 will receive a free pair of HUAWEI FreeBuds 5i earbuds.

HUAWEI WATCH Ultimate Green Edition: Explore Without Limits

Building on last year’s release, the HUAWEI WATCH Ultimate introduces new Advanced Golf Course features, an enhanced Expedition Mode, and a new green colorway combining cutting-edge technology with craftsmanship. This aligns with the “Adventure Forward” spirit, catering to adventurous users at heart.

The new Green Edition features an exclusive dual-color nano-tech ceramic bezel, achieved through a complex manufacturing process resulting in a striking white-green duo. The watch continues to use premium materials such as zirconium-based liquid metal for the case and sapphire crystal glass for the display, ensuring durability and luxury.

The Advanced Golf Course Mode offers precise analytics and insights for golf enthusiasts, including play distance, shot distance, AI Caddie recommendations, and more. With access to over 15,000 global golf course maps, golfers can strategize their shots and navigate courses effectively. The “Plays-Like” distance functionality considers the slope of the fairway to display adjusted distances, and the dual-frequency five-system GNSS enhances positioning accuracy.

For explorers, the enhanced Expedition Mode now supports downloading all-color contour maps for offline use, aiding navigation even without connectivity. The Route Import feature allows users to import routes directly from the HUAWEI Health app, making planning and tracking expeditions easier.

The watch supports ECG analysis using high-performance PPG and ECG sensors, providing comprehensive health monitoring. With water resistance up to 100 meters and EN13319 certification for diving accessories, it supports free dives at depths of up to 100 meters. The HUAWEI WATCH Ultimate Green Edition offers up to 14 days of battery life under typical use.

Available internationally from September 19, 2024, the HUAWEI WATCH Ultimate Green Edition is priced at £749.99 (RRP). Customers ordering from the UK Huawei Store and Amazon between September 19 and October 22 will receive a free pair of HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 3 earbuds.

HUAWEI MatePad Pro 12.2-inch: A Canvas for Creativity

The HUAWEI MatePad Pro 12.2-inch is the newest flagship tablet designed to deliver an ultimate user experience focused on creativity and productivity.

It features an innovative Tandem OLED PaperMatte Display, delivering an impressive maximum brightness of 2000 nits for an authentic viewing experience. Advanced anti-sparkle and nanoscale anti-glare etching technologies ensure a premium, paper-like visual experience that’s easy on the eyes, making it suitable for various lighting conditions.

Equipped with the HUAWEI Glide Keyboard, featuring a 2-in-1 stylus and keyboard storage and charging design, the tablet facilitates seamless transitions between drawing, note-taking, and typing. The GoPaint App offers a wide range of digital creation tools, including groundbreaking Splatter brushes and Fluid brushes. The FangTian Painting Engine 2.0 supports 8K ultra-large canvases, providing professional-grade tools for artistic expression.

The HUAWEI MatePad Pro 12.2-inch PaperMatte Edition is available internationally from September 19, 2024. The 256GB storage model in Black with the keyboard included is priced at £699.99 (RRP), while the 512GB storage model in Gold with the keyboard included is priced at £799.99 (RRP). Customers ordering from the UK Huawei Store between September 19 and October 22 will receive a £100 off coupon and a free Huawei M-Pencil 3rd Generation.

 

HUAWEI MatePad 12 X: Style Meets Productivity

Aimed at a younger demographic, the HUAWEI MatePad 12 X is a lightweight flagship model that boosts productivity while delivering an enjoyable experience.

It features the innovative Shimmery Pearlescent Sheen, resulting in a metallic white color that changes based on lighting conditions. The all-metal body with an integrated, seamless design makes it both stylish and durable. The MatePad 12 X PaperMatte Edition features an ultra-bright PaperMatte Display, offering superior quality in viewing, writing, and touch. The display reduces glare, ensuring comfortable use even in brightly lit environments.

The tablet integrates with Huawei’s GoPaint app, encouraging creative expression with a wide range of digital tools. Huawei has launched the GoPaint Worldwide Creating Activity themed “Creative By Nature,” inviting painting enthusiasts worldwide to share their unique digital artworks on the HUAWEI Community platform until December 31, 2024.

The HUAWEI MatePad 12 X launches internationally from September 19, 2024. The 512GB storage model in Green or White with the keyboard included is priced at £549.99 (RRP). Customers ordering from the UK Huawei Store between September 19 and October 22 will receive a £100 off coupon and a free Huawei M-Pencil 3.

Commitment to Innovation and Creativity

Alex Huang, Chief Marketing Officer of Huawei Consumer BG, emphasized the brand’s global impact and commitment to innovation:
“We aim to bring innovative products that offer consumers a unique blend of fashion and creativity. By inspiring our users, Huawei strives to create a more connected and heartwarming world where technology enhances daily living and brings people closer together.”
Huawei continues to inspire consumers through campaigns like the “Light Up Your Rings” initiative and the “GoPaint Worldwide Creating Activity,” blending technology, fashion, and creativity into their products.

Rico Zhang: President of Smart Wearable and Health Product Line, Huawei Consumer Business Group

Huawei’s latest product lineup showcases its focus on innovation, blending advanced technology with practical, everyday use. From the world’s first smartwatch with ambulatory blood pressure monitoring to tablets designed for creativity and productivity, these products aim to improve user experiences across various aspects of daily life.

By integrating features that cater to health, fitness, creativity, and style, Huawei continues to expand its ecosystem of devices that are not only technologically advanced but also user-centric. The company’s focus on global campaigns further emphasizes its dedication to fostering a connected and creative community.

The post Here’s Everything Huawei Announced at the Next-Gen Wearables and Tablets Event first appeared on Yanko Design.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 Review: Tried and Tested Design You Can Trust

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PROS:


  • Classic, no-nonsense, and reliable design

  • Improved screen size and aspect ratio

  • Strong performance and feature set

  • Long-term software support and IP48 rating

CONS:


  • Still more expensive than competing brands

  • Decent but dated camera system

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 exudes a maturity that offers elegance, performance, and reliability, a much-needed respite from a fast-changing and unpredictable foldable phone landscape.

By now, almost every major smartphone manufacturer other than Apple has launched a foldable phone. That includes even Google, who surprisingly didn’t stop at just one generation of the Pixel Fold. Of course, the ones that paved the way still have the lion’s share of that market, which means Samsung is still the leader in foldables of both the “book type” and the small clamshell design. Being first, however, doesn’t always mean you’ll end up always leading, and some have pointed out that the latest Galaxy Z Fold 6 is proof that the giant has been lagging behind. Is that the case, or are the new generation of flashy foldables setting people’s expectations instead? We put the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 in our hands and give it a good turn to see if “old” is a bad thing in this case.

Designer: Samsung

Aesthetics

Samsung has taken a lot of heat for the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s design, with some people calling it iterative and dated. Such criticisms, however, are based on the presumption that new designs are always better or that changing designs every generation is a good thing. It should be noted that Apple, which is consistently hailed for its designs, would hold on to designs for years before making changes, and even then, the changes are often very minimal or even subtle. Sometimes, it’s a sign of maturity and reliability, giving people something familiar and comforting in an ever-changing smartphone market.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6

It’s not that the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is unattractive. On the contrary, it looks pretty elegant, distinguished, and refined. The most significant visual changes include the sharper corners, a larger and wider Cover Screen, and thinner bezels around the displays. Together with the flat edges from the last generation’s design, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 looks more similar to the Galaxy S24 Ultra, also launched this year. Samsung has ensured that its design DNA isn’t lost across devices, increasing the holding power of its brand, at least for this year.

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 embraces a more minimalist design language in stark contrast to almost every other foldable phone in the market today. That’s probably best seen in the triple camera setup on the back of the device, just three small equal-sized circles on a discreet pill-shaped island. Of course, there’s a cost to pay for that compact design, which we’ll get to later, but it’s hard to deny the appeal of such an aesthetic compared to the more obnoxious discs and blocks protruding from the backs of other foldable phones.

Ultimately, you get an elegant and premium-looking design that isn’t so far removed from the Galaxy S24 series, especially the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Is it iterative? Sure, but that in itself isn’t always a negative. Samsung made a few discernible changes but kept the overall language the same over the years. It might be exciting to see what new designs other brands will cook up next, but that novelty can fade quickly, leaving you with a design that might be a bit eye-catching at first but becomes more of an eye-sore in the long run.

Ergonomics

If there’s one major flaw in Samsung’s Galaxy Fold design, it would be the narrow and tall external screen. That made it awkward and even uncomfortable to use the foldable phone when folded, which pretty much defeated the purpose of having a screen there in the first place. Although not in the same vein as the Google Pixel Fold or the OnePlus Open, Samsung may have finally fixed that problem in the Galaxy Z Fold 6, potentially making it the first usable iteration of its line.

The larger 6.3-inch Cover Screen now covers a wider area, partly thanks to the reduction of bezels around it and partly thanks to sharpening the corners. Together with the overall lighter body and flat edges, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is easier to hold and use as a phone. It’s still narrower than a regular smartphone, but not by much anymore. Samsung may have finally reached a good compromise in this design that works when the phone is closed and when it’s open.

Of course, using the Galaxy Z Fold 6 as a mini tablet is still a pleasure, even more so now. It now looks and feels more like a very colorful e-book reader, especially with its squarish shape. Although the screen size remains the same compared to last year’s model, reducing bezels and flat edges gives it an edge (pun intended) when handling the device.

Performance

Like with the design, Samsung used a tried and tested formula for the Galaxy Z Fold 6’s hardware, which pretty much means top-of-the-line specs, at least for the most part. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is still the undisputed smartphone performance king outside of Apple’s kingdom, and the 12GB of RAM, though modest by today’s standards, is still decent, especially with some RAM Plus extension.

The external screen is just as bright and vibrant as ever, just now even larger than before. The internal 7.6-inch screen might not seem to have changed much until you realize you haven’t been noticing the crease as much. It’s still there if you look for it, but it has even less of a telling presence this year. With powerful silicon and gorgeous screens, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 never comes up short in performance, whether watching videos, playing games, or simply scrolling through social media. Of course, that includes AI features, though these still feel a bit more gimmicky and entertaining rather than practical for everyday use.

That said, hardware is also one area where the criticism of Samsung’s iterative approach holds the most water. As mentioned, 12GB of RAM, while usable, is pretty tight and frugal these days. Samsung has also been using the same 4,400mAh battery and the same 25W “quick” charging since the Galaxy Z Fold 3 in 2021. The latter is probably a compromise to keep the Galaxy Z Fold 6 almost as light as a regular non-foldable phone, but its age definitely starts to show.

Perhaps the biggest point of contention for Samsung’s 2024 foldable is the camera system, which has remained virtually unchanged since 2022. On the back, you have a 50MP main camera, a 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultra-wide shooter, perhaps the only significant upgrade to this year’s foldable. On the external screen, you get the same 10MP front-facing camera, and inside is the same dismal 4MP under-display camera. It’s pretty much the same formula, so you’re getting almost the same results, which, fortunately, isn’t all that bad.

To be clear, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 still takes great photos, but it is lagging behind even its own cousins in this department. Samsung may be trying to pull an Apple in doing more with less, using computational photography and AI to compensate for hardware deficiencies, but those can only do so much. You definitely get plenty of detail, a wider dynamic range, and accurate colors, especially with sufficient lighting, and the new ultra-wide camera also takes brighter photos. Regardless, given its price tag, you’d probably expect a bit more than “decent.” In other words, you are not paying for the cameras or the photography experience.

Sustainability

As one of the world’s biggest smartphone manufacturers, Samsung has a big responsibility to help keep the planet alive for future generations. Thankfully, it takes that responsibility quite seriously, and every year, we see it take steps on multiple fronts to ensure its phones become sustainable parts of modern life. This year’s foldable includes plenty of recycled materials, including plastic, glass, aluminum, cobalt, and rare earth metals. For the first time in a Galaxy phone, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 includes recycled gold and copper components.

Samsung is also doing its part to make the rather pricey foldable phone last as long as possible through improved durability and software support. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is the first of its kind to achieve an IP48 rating, a significant improvement over its predecessors’ IPX8 rating. Samsung also promises seven OS upgrades and seven years of security updates, ensuring that this expensive investment won’t become obsolete quickly, especially considering how its cameras are already on the old side at this point.

Value

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 might not have mind-blowing cameras or an eye-popping design, but it offers plenty of features that matter. It is one of the extremely few that supports an active stylus with pressure sensitivity and one of an even smaller group of phones with a desktop mode that makes you feel like you’re using an Android PC. With solid performance and a stylish minimalist design, what’s not to love?

Most definitely, the price amounts to $1,900 for a paltry 256GB of storage. That’s not only the most expensive “normal” foldable in the market today, but it’s even strangely $100 higher than the Galaxy Z Fold 5 when it launched last year. With few upgrades and changes, you’d be forgiven for scratching your head at Samsung’s decision. At that price point, you’d expect a little bit more, maybe a bit more battery, a bit more RAM, or better yet, a bit more camera prowess. Fortunately, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is made to last, though that still makes it feel more like a luxury item than a consumer product, which could be Samsung’s intention.

Verdict

The fast-paced dynamics of the smartphone market have trained our brains to look for new things every year, whether it’s a new design, new hardware, or a new feature. Newer doesn’t always mean better, and the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is proof of that. It has a classic design focuses on the essentials and leaves out all the fluff, creating an aesthetic that is as luxurious as its price tag. Yes, we wish Samsung had delivered more, especially regarding the cameras, but that also has trade-offs for design and usability. In the final analysis, Samsung wisely picked its battles to deliver a foldable phone with an elegant design and a solid set of features you can rely on for years to come.

The post Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 Review: Tried and Tested Design You Can Trust first appeared on Yanko Design.

Awekeys Full Metal Keycaps Set Turns Any Mechanical Keyboard Into a Design Object

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If you’re the type of person who uses computers all day, then you’re likely to appreciate how the quality of a keyboard can make or break the experience. It isn’t just about key travel, switches, or responsiveness, though those are definitely critical elements of a good keyboard. The design of the keycaps themselves can affect the joy of typing, whether it’s through the texture your fingers feel or the aesthetics that delight your eyes. Off-the-shelf keyboards, including mechanical ones, tend to come with uninspiring keycaps that only jump to life when the RGB lighting kicks in. Thankfully, there are keyboards that let you switch out keycaps, and this full set of metal keycaps brings tactile and visual joy that raises your keyboard experience, whether you’re an avid gamer, a professional writer, or simply someone who loves a good-looking mechanical keyboard.

Designer: Awekeys

Click Here to Buy Now: $178.2 to $ 329.4 $198 to $366 (Use coupon code “YANKO” to get 10% off across all color and finish). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

The majority of keyboard keycaps are made of plastic for cost-effectiveness, including those on mechanical keyboards despite their metallic keypress sounds. Metal, after all, is harder to work with than plastic, a bit more expensive to produce, but also undeniably more premium in their appearance. A full set of metal keycaps has always been a keyboard enthusiast’s dream, and Awekeys is only too eager to finally make that dream come true in a very satisfying and sustainable way. Teaming up with world-renowned custom premium keyboard vendors, Awekeys is offering a luxurious way to turn your favorite mechanical keyboard into a work of art.

Each key in this set is made from recycled metal, giving discarded materials new life and minimizing the harmful impact of manufacturing processes on the environment. Products made from recycled materials may have some negative connotations when it comes to quality and durability, but Awekeys’ advanced full CNC machining system ensures that these metal keycaps can resist wear and tear and stand the test of time. This meticulous crafting process enables the creation of intricate designs and outstanding textures, demonstrating the attention lavished on keycaps that will always be under your fingers and within your sight.

The result is a set of metal keys that look exquisite and feel just as luxurious, delivering a typing experience unlike any other. There are various customization options available as well, from matte or glossy finishes to a variety of colors that match your style. Of course, if you’re getting metal keycaps, you might as well embrace a metallic aesthetic, and the Gold, Silver, Copper, and Titanium colorways showcase this property the best. The keycaps are given an extra splash of nano coating to prevent the development of a patina that, while aesthetic on other products, could look unappealing on a keyboard. Whether using a homogenous set or a combination of different colors, your keyboard transforms into a boast-worthy design object that adds value to your desk, even when not in use. To further drive home that image, Awekeys has even collaborated with independent designers to create accent keycaps featuring unique artworks.

The Awekeys metal keycaps set isn’t just about the looks either, as it also enhances the typing experience thanks to its very nature. The metal keycaps add some weight that increases stability and responsiveness, giving not just gamers but also writers and programmers an edge. Compatible with MX-style switches and stabilizers with adjustable stems, these metal keycaps are easy to pull out and plug in, making even the installation process enjoyable. Offered on a first-come, first-served basis, this premium keycap set adds a different kind of excitement to owning an exclusive designer item that truly sets your keyboard apart from the rest. Stylish and sustainable, these metal keycaps can change the way you look at and use your humble keyboard. So give your mechanical keyboard an upgrade with the Awekeys Full Metal Keycaps Set and enjoy a whole new level of typing.

Click Here to Buy Now: $178.2 to $ 329.4 $198 to $366 (Use coupon code “YANKO” to get 10% off across all color and finish). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

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Nothing Phone (3) concept brings a 3-Camera Setup and a refined Glyph Interface to the smartphone

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Thrice as good deserves thrice the number of cameras, right?

The past few weeks have been tech-heavy. First the Google Pixel launch, then IFA (where we saw multiple new phones), and then Apple announcing the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro. It’s called Tech-tember for a reason, and it seems like we’re just getting started because Huawei announced their tri-fold device just days ago, and now this Nothing Phone (3) concept is grabbing eyeballs.

It’s been a while since the company’s announced a new flagship. Nothing debuted the budget Phone (2a) this year, and followed it up with the ultra-budget CMF Phone (1) later in July. While we wait for the Phone (3) to officially drop, this concept from the mind of AndroidLeo shows off an incredibly refined form that still stays true to Nothing’s original design playbook.

Designer: AndroidLeo

Purely a visual exercise on behalf of AndroidLeo, this concept shows a further refinement of Nothing’s style. Not much changed between Phone (1) and (2) barring the splitting of the Glyph interface. AndroidLeo takes the Glyph interface in this concept further by modifying its shape without diluting the character. The G-shaped arc in the Glyph gets turned into an O shape, around the wireless charging coils as well as inside them. The glyph light on the top right corner remains untouched, but the camera gets a redesigned LED array. The Phone (3) features a 3-lens setup, and the Glyphs respond to that, with an almost clover-meets-fidget-spinner type layout. A flash sits in the top right part of this glyph, while the battery and charging lights at the bottom stay intact, along with the red recording light.

Details on the Phone (3) have been scarce, although one could expect a launch probably around MWC next year if we’re looking at patterns. As of now, Nothing’s debuting a documentary on Brian Eno at the London Design Festival, and just announced a product launch on the 24th of September.

As for AndroidLeo’s concept, it’s a wonderful look at the evolution of the company’s design. Nothing’s trajectory as a company has been different from most others. They’ve been ruthlessly consumer-focused, with community events, and even encouraging of fan-made designs (whether official as a part of design contests, or unofficial concepts that Nothing proudly showcases on their YouTube).

It’s safe to say that when the Phone (3) launches, a triple-lens camera might just be the most no-brainer upgrade… especially given that Nothing has not one, but two budget phone lines – their (a) series as well as the CMF series. It just makes sense for their flagship to now become the de-facto ‘Pro’ of their mobile offering. Snapdragon hopes to announce Gen 4 of their Snapdragon 8 chipset in October, and Nothing will undoubtedly capitalize on it by being one of the first new phones to feature the processor.

The Phone (3) could also be one of Nothing’s first AI-focus phones, as the Phone (2) and (2a) both had GenAI-based wallpaper options. Aside from Gemini making its eventual appearance on all Android phones, maybe Nothing’s working on AI features for their device as well as their camera system. For now, let’s see what they have to announce on the 24th of the month.

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Snap’s $1200 AR Glasses with Holo-Displays are pretty impressive… but you can’t buy them (yet)

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Techtember is the gift that keeps on giving. Beyond IFA, an Apple keynote, a PlayStation launch, Huawei’s tri-fold device debut, and impending launch events from Meta and Nothing, it seems like Snap (the company behind Snapchat) has something they want to launch too. Meet the Spectacles ’24, Snap’s latest attempt to carve out a space in the augmented reality (AR) landscape. Unlike typical consumer tech releases, the Spectacles ’24 are not available for public purchase. Instead, Snap is offering them to developers at a rate of $100 per month, amounting to $1,200 over a year. This approach allows developers to get their hands on the device, experiment with its capabilities, and build AR experiences, signaling that a consumer-ready version may not be far off.

While Snap’s relationship with Apple remains strong, the release of Spectacles ’24 positions Snap closer to becoming a competitor in the AR field, especially considering Apple’s $3,400 Vision Pro. However, in terms of design, the two devices couldn’t be more different. Spectacles ’24 don’t resemble a tech-heavy headset like the Vision Pro. Instead, they look more like casual 3D glasses from a movie theater, integrating transparent displays that enable an authentic AR experience. This technology is reminiscent of Microsoft’s Hololens but in a much smaller form factor. By creating a more approachable look, Snap is clearly trying to make AR glasses appear less intimidating and more like something you could wear day to day.

Designer: Snap Inc.

Under the hood, the Spectacles ’24 are equipped with two LCoS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) displays, offering a respectable 46-degree field of view. This is a notable improvement over the 26.3-degree FOV of its predecessor, Spectacles 4, making it more immersive for users. The transparent waveguide optics, which dynamically adjust dimming, ensure that the AR visuals remain clear regardless of lighting conditions, enhancing the overall experience.

Performance-wise, the Spectacles ’24 pack two Snapdragon processors (specific models have not been disclosed) and an extendable battery life of 45 minutes. This isn’t particularly long for intensive use, but the device is designed for short, sharp bursts of AR activity, and external battery options are available. At 226 grams, the new Spectacles are bulkier than previous models, which weighed in at just 134 grams. This weight increase is the trade-off for improved features, including a more comprehensive camera setup. It also makes the Spectacles ’24 significantly lighter than Apple’s Vision Pro, which clocks in at nearly 1000 grams (with the battery pack) or the Hololens 2, which weighed a respectable 566 grams. The Spectacles ’24 boast two RGB cameras and two infrared sensors, enabling better hand-tracking and object recognition, along with a depth sensor for more interactive AR applications.

Beyond the hardware, Snap is taking significant strides in the software department. The Spectacles ’24 operate on SnapOS, a new operating system designed from the ground up to focus on AR. This revamped OS leverages hand-tracking as the primary interaction method, ditching the clunkier controls of earlier models. The system also incorporates a social aspect, allowing users to interact with other Spectacles in close proximity, creating co-located AR experiences. For example, friends can share and participate in AR content in real time, an idea that aligns well with Snap’s social media roots.

A notable feature of the Spectacles ’24 is the “spectator” mode. This allows someone with a smartphone to observe what’s happening in the AR environment from their own perspective, rather than just viewing a first-person feed from the glasses wearer. This social feature gives users a more engaging way to share their AR experiences, which could foster new types of interactive content.

In conjunction with the hardware launch, Snap has also updated its Lens Studio, the AR creation tool that developers use to build experiences for both Snapchat and Spectacles. The latest version supports more sophisticated programming with TypeScript and JavaScript, along with enhanced tools for collaboration, enabling developers to work together more effectively on AR projects. With the integration of SnapML, developers can utilize machine learning to create even more advanced AR applications, including object tracking and recognition.

Though the Spectacles ’24 aren’t available to consumers yet, Snap’s decision to focus on developers indicates that it’s playing the long game. By giving creators the tools they need to build compelling content now, Snap hopes to lay the groundwork for a future consumer release. It’s a strategy that makes sense, especially as the AR field heats up with other major players like Meta and Apple introducing their own headsets.

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Life360 launches the smallest Tile Bluetooth Tracker and its longest-range option

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Bluetooth trackers save us the drama of lost and stolen stuff. This notion is the mainstay of Life360 – which after its acquisition by AirTag competitor Tile – has for the first time announced a consortium of Tile Bluetooth trackers. These come with a range of new features including longer track range, SOS button, and a louder alert sound.

Life360 has designed the Tile Bluetooth trackers to help families keep track of their everyday items and valuable belongings using its dedicated app, comprehensive ecosystem, and enhanced location sharing capabilities. Put the ring on your things, pets, or even people (who may need it) and sheet them in an extra layer of security that the entire family unit can have access to right on their smartphone.

Designer: Life360

The main highlight of the Life360 Tile Bluetooth trackers is a multifunction button on them that on the push sends an SOS alert in emergency situations. In addition to this, the new Tile Bluetooth trackers offer enhanced integration with the Life360 app, which allows the users to bring everything and everyone in their family circle in one place, the Life360 Map. This is possible by linking the Tile account and Life360 and the entire circle sees your Tiles and finds lost, misplaced items quickly and effortlessly. The dedicated app is compatible with both Android and Apple ecosystems.

The SOS button on the Tile tracker, when pressed three times, triggers a Life360 SOS alert. When this happens, a notification is sent out with the user’s location to the designated emergency contacts. Even though many add-on features are subscription only, ‘SOS alerts are free for all Life360 users.’ The new Tile lineup features four new models that are sleeker in design, and arrive in as many new colors: green, pink, aqua blue, and navy blue.

The four models comprise Tile Mate, Tile Pro, Tile Slim and Tile Stricker. With a built-in keyring, the Tile Mate comes for $24.99 and is ideal for keeping track of keys, backpacks, lunchboxes and purses. The Tile Slim, as the name implies is the slimmest of the four trackers. At $29.99 it is apt for slipping into wallets, passport holders, and luggage. $24.99 Tile Sticker is the smallest Bluetooth tracker on the market and the Title Pro with its sticker price of $34.99 is the most powerful. It has the loudest ring and longest range in the Tile trackers, and can keep track of all kinds of items you may choose. Tile Mate, Slim, and Sticker trackers are now available, while the Tile Pro will be available starting in October.

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