Tag Archives: Product Design

NES-inspired 8BitDo Retro Cube 2 Has a D-Pad for Volume and Playback

Posted on by

Most small Bluetooth speakers are generic cylinders or bricks that sit somewhere on a desk and do not really belong to the rest of the setup. At the other end, you have sculptural, art-piece speakers that look great in a gallery photo but feel out of place next to a gaming keyboard. The 8BitDo Retro Cube 2 Speaker – N Edition sits in between, a speaker that actually looks like it belongs on a gamer’s or retro-leaning desk.

8BitDo calls it compact, powerful, and timeless, inspired by the NES and upgraded from the original Cube Speaker. The N Edition is part of the NES40 Collection, designed to sit next to the N40 keyboard and Ultimate 2 controller as a matching sound cube. The grey body, red grilles, and black D-pad top are NES shorthand translated into a speaker, not just random retro dressing borrowed from another era.

Designer: 8BitDo

The top surface is a D-pad layout with a central button, plus and minus on the sides, a power icon at the top, and play/pause at the bottom. You control volume, playback, and pairing with a familiar gamepad language instead of tiny, unlabeled buttons. It is simple, tactile, and instantly recognizable if you have ever held a controller, which makes it feel more like part of a gaming setup than a generic Bluetooth puck that could live anywhere.

The connectivity offers Bluetooth 5.3, 2.4G wireless via the included USB-C adapter, and wired USB audio. Bluetooth is fine for casual listening, but 2.4G and USB give virtually lag-free audio for games and video. The adapter hides in a slot under the dock when not in use, which keeps it from wandering off and makes it easy to move the cube between a laptop, a Switch, or a desktop without digging through a drawer for dongles.

The integrated wireless charging dock is a small square base with a circular pad marked by a lightning-bolt icon and a perforated ring. The dock keeps the cube powered and also acts as a signal extender for 2.4G, so you get better reception when it is parked. It doubles as a visual plinth, lifting the cube slightly and making the whole thing read as one object instead of a speaker plus a random charging pad that does not quite match.

The tech specs are dual 5 W drivers, 120 Hz–15 kHz frequency response, and a 2,000 mAh battery with around 30 hours of use and 3–5 hours of charging. It is slightly larger than a Rubik’s Cube, which makes it ideal for near-field listening on a desk or nightstand. Music and Gaming modes let you tweak the tuning with a single press, so you can lean into clarity for calls or a bit more punch for games.

Retro Cube 2 behaves as a desk companion that actually earns its footprint. It sits next to a keyboard and mouse like a tiny console, charges itself when you drop it on the dock, and gives you a D-pad to poke at instead of a phone screen when you want to skip a track. Whether or not you already own the matching keyboard and controller, a small NES-flavored speaker with a wireless dock and three connection modes is the kind of object that quietly makes a desk feel more finished, especially if you still remember what a D-pad felt like the first time you pressed one.

The post NES-inspired 8BitDo Retro Cube 2 Has a D-Pad for Volume and Playback first appeared on Yanko Design.

4 Holiday Gifts for Designers Who Already Own Everything (But Need This)

Posted on by

Some gifts say “I know you are a designer” better than any coffee table book ever could. HOZO’s tools fall squarely into that category, with a family of meticulously engineered rulers, blades, and blocks that speak the language of architects, engineers, and makers. Instead of chasing gimmicks, the brand focuses on reworking everyday instruments with tighter tolerances, smarter details, and a visual presence that feels at home on a carefully curated workspace.

For this holiday season, HOZO’s Neo quartet covers almost every corner of a creative workflow. NeoBlade handles precision cutting on models and mockups, NeoRuler and NeoRulerGo tackle measurement both at the desk and on the go, and NeoBlock brings a modular, almost playful approach to layout and alignment. Taken together, they form a compact ecosystem of gifts that quietly make a designer’s life easier while still delivering that satisfying “where did you find this?” moment when the wrapping comes off.

NeoBlade (20-25% off)

Ultrasonic cutters have been floating around maker spaces and professional studios for years, but they have always carried the same baggage: tethered cords, overheating, and body designs that feel more industrial than intentional. NeoBlade strips away all of that in favor of something much more useful. It runs completely wireless with a swappable 1300mAh battery system that hot-swaps in seconds, charges via USB-C in 30 minutes, and delivers 30 minutes of runtime per pack. The tool weighs just 124 grams without the battery, which makes it genuinely comfortable to hold for extended sessions trimming 3D prints, cutting leather patterns, or carving into foam core mockups. The ultrasonic engine itself operates at 40 kHz with adaptive power output between 9 and 40 watts depending on material density, so it adjusts on the fly whether you are slicing through 4mm acrylic or detailing cardboard templates.

HOZO built two cutting modes into the handle: Precision Mode works as a press-and-hold trigger for short, controlled cuts on intricate parts, while Continuous Mode toggles down for long, uninterrupted runs. The blade system deserves attention too. NeoBlade ships with a six-blade sampler set covering standard, long, chisel, mini chisel, curved, and double-edge profiles, all machined from SK5 steel that lasts two to three times longer than typical carbon steel hobby blades. They mount magnetically for quick swaps, and the tool accepts standard 9mm 30-degree snap-off blades from brands like OLFA if you want compatibility with what you already own. A 13,000 RPM turbo-cooling fan with dual exhaust vents keeps the internal temperature stable even during heavy use, which addresses one of the biggest weaknesses in older ultrasonic designs. HOZO also includes a child lock and designed the body with ambidextrous airflow, so it works cleanly for both right- and left-handed users. For the holiday bundles, HOZO offers the NeoBlade Combo at 25% off and the NeoBlade Premium Combo (also 25% off), which adds the TurboDock dual-channel fast-charging station and an extra battery pack for professionals running back-to-back projects. If you’re craving just the standalone NeoBlade, HOZO offers a pretty sweet 20% discount to begin with.

Why We Recommend It

Most precision cutters make you choose between portability and power, but NeoBlade solves that tradeoff by going fully wireless without sacrificing the high-frequency cutting performance that makes ultrasonic tools so effective in the first place. The swappable battery system is the real game-changer here, because it means you can keep a second pack charged and ready rather than pausing mid-project to wait for a tethered cord or a drained battery to recover. Combined with the variety of blade profiles and the adaptive power output that automatically adjusts to different materials, NeoBlade becomes one of those rare tools that handles both delicate detail work on resin prints and aggressive cuts through plywood or carbon fiber without needing a second device. At 20% for the standalone device and 25% off for both the Standard and Premium Combos, it lands at a price point that undercuts most corded ultrasonic cutters while delivering more flexibility and a cleaner workflow.

Click Here to Buy Now: $127.49 $149.99 (15% off) | NeoBladePremium Combo at 25% off Here. | NeoBlade Combo at 25% off Here. Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

NeoRuler (20% off)

Most architects and engineers have a drawer full of scale rulers because no single tool covers all the ratios they actually need. NeoRuler collapses that entire collection into one 12-inch aluminum body with a 1.14-inch backlit LCD screen and a segmented LED strip running the length of the edge. Instead of fixed markings, you slide a pointer along the ruler and the display shows your measurement digitally with 0.1mm accuracy. The clever part is the zero-anywhere system, which lets you set any point along the ruler as your starting reference and measure bidirectionally from there without lifting the tool. NeoRuler ships with 93 built-in scales split across eight modes (architectural, engineering, metric, and more), covering ratios like 1:1, 1:50, 1:100, and everything in between. The MEAZOR app adds unlimited custom scales if your work involves non-standard ratios, and the device switches instantly between decimal inches, fractional feet, millimeters, centimeters, and other units without menu diving.

The 1000mAh battery charges via USB-C and delivers around 12 hours of active use or 180 days on standby, so it stays ready between projects. HOZO also offers the NeoRuler Premium Combo at 20% off, which bundles the ruler with NeoCaliper for object measurements, NeoMagnifier for fine readings, two NeoPointers (0.8mm and 1.2mm) for precise drafting, and a protective carrying case. The modular accessories snap onto the ruler body magnetically, turning it into a full desktop measurement system rather than just a single-purpose tool. The screen has a non-glare coating and adjustable color themes, which makes it genuinely easy to read under studio lighting or in the field.

Why We Recommend It

The real breakthrough with NeoRuler is how it eliminates the constant mental math and tool-swapping that comes with traditional scale rulers. If you are working from a drawing at 1:75 scale but need to convert that to actual dimensions in fractional inches, or if you are sketching at 1:20 and want to see the result in metric, NeoRuler handles the conversion in real time without forcing you to pull out a calculator or switch to a different ruler. The zero-anywhere feature is surprisingly useful in practice because it means you can leave the ruler positioned on a drawing and measure multiple segments without resetting or repositioning. At 20% off, the standard NeoRuler lands at just over $100, which undercuts what most people pay for a decent set of traditional scale rulers while delivering far more flexibility and precision in a single device.

Click Here to Buy Now: $103.20 $129 (20% off). | NeoRuler Premium Combo at 20% off. Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

NeoRulerGo (28% off)

Where NeoRuler solves the desk-bound measurement problem, NeoRulerGo tackles a completely different challenge: measuring things that aren’t flat, straight, or conveniently positioned in front of you. This is HOZO’s pocket-sized rolling digital tape measure, roughly twice the size of a USB flash drive at 3.4 x 1.2 x 0.7 inches and weighing just 1.6 ounces. Instead of a sliding pointer on a rigid ruler, NeoRulerGo uses a small rubber wheel that you roll along whatever surface you are measuring, while a built-in red laser cross (635nm Class I) marks your start and end points. The digital screen displays real-time measurements as you roll, and the tool handles curves, irregular contours, and odd shapes just as easily as straight lines. Accuracy sits at ±1mm plus 0.5% of the distance measured, with 0.5mm resolution, which is more than adequate for field measurements, site surveys, or quick checks on furniture dimensions and room layouts.

Like its bigger sibling, NeoRulerGo includes the same 93 built-in scales and connects to the MEAZOR app for custom scale creation and data logging via Bluetooth. The 300mAh battery charges over USB-C and the body carries an IP54 rating, so light rain or dusty job sites won’t shut it down. The form factor makes it genuinely pocketable or keychain-friendly, which means it can live in your EDC rotation rather than sitting in a toolbox. HOZO also offers a Premium Combo version that bundles the NeoRulerGo with a leather case, extra roller tire, and a set of drafting accessories for on-the-go sketching and note-taking.

Why We Recommend It

NeoRulerGo fills a very specific gap that traditional tape measures and rigid rulers both struggle with: quick, accurate measurements of non-flat surfaces without the awkwardness of trying to bend a metal tape or eyeball the curve. The rolling wheel mechanism makes it trivial to measure things like chair armrests, curved tabletops, pipe circumferences, or the actual walking distance along a hallway with corners, all while the laser guide keeps your path visible and the digital readout eliminates guesswork. At 28% off on Amazon, it lands well under $60, which makes it an easy add to any designer’s or maker’s travel kit, especially for people who do site visits, measure existing furniture for custom builds, or need to capture dimensions in spaces where pulling out a full tape measure feels cumbersome.

Click Here to Buy Now: $49.98 $69 (28% off). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

NeoBlock Premium Combo (25% off)

Sanding 3D prints or smoothing model parts usually means juggling multiple grits of sandpaper, wrestling with worn-out sheets, and constantly switching between flat blocks and flexible pads depending on the surface. NeoBlock takes the modular thinking HOZO applies to measurement tools and redirects it toward surface finishing. The Premium Combo includes one magnetic handle and three swappable sanding heads: S01 Basic for flat surfaces and rounded corners, S02 Pro for detailed precision work, and S03 Expert with a flexible body for curves and irregular contours. Each head clicks onto the handle magnetically in about five seconds without any tools, and the sanding belts themselves swap just as quickly thanks to a spring-loaded tension system. The kit ships with 60 industrial-grade cloth-backed belts covering six grits (120, 180, 240, 400, 600, and 800), with 10 belts per grit, so you can progress from aggressive material removal all the way through fine polishing without running out mid-project.

The belts measure 1.25 x 11 inches and wrap around the heads in a continuous loop, which means they last longer than equivalent sheets of sandpaper and distribute wear more evenly. The handle itself is machined from aluminum alloy and stainless steel with a PC+ABS body, giving it enough weight to feel controlled without causing hand fatigue during extended sessions. The S01 head works well for broad flat areas and can navigate inside corners cleanly. S02 narrows the contact patch for fine detail work on miniatures, prototypes, or tight spaces. S03’s flexible construction lets it conform to curved surfaces like rounded edges, cylindrical parts, or organic shapes without flattening the profile. The whole system fits into a premium storage box that keeps the heads, belts, and handle organized between uses.

Why We Recommend It

Most sanding block systems force you to commit to either rigid precision or flexible adaptation, but NeoBlock’s three-head approach covers both extremes and the middle ground without requiring separate tools. The magnetic quick-swap mechanism makes it genuinely fast to shift between tasks, so you can rough out a 3D print with 120-grit on the S01 head, switch to 400-grit on the S02 for detail cleanup, then move to 800-grit on the S03 to polish curved edges, all within the same workflow and without fumbling with adhesive-backed sheets or clamps. At 25% off, the Premium Combo lands at just over $70, which includes enough belts across six grits to handle dozens of projects before you need to restock. For anyone who regularly finishes 3D prints, builds scale models, or does any kind of surface prep on small parts, NeoBlock turns sanding from a tedious chore into a task that actually feels efficient and controlled.

Click Here to Buy Now: $71.25 $95 (25% off). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

The post 4 Holiday Gifts for Designers Who Already Own Everything (But Need This) first appeared on Yanko Design.

5 Gifts That Give Analog Joy in a Digital World

Posted on by

Our days are choreographed by screens. Messages stack up, tabs multiply, and even downtime quietly dissolves into endless scrolling. Everything is fast, efficient, and slightly forgettable. The more our lives move into apps and feeds, the more special it feels to hold something real, weighty, and unconnected.

This gift guide is a small rebellion against that drift. Each of these five picks invites a different kind of analog joy. They ask you to press graphite into paper, light a real flame, wait for a print to develop, or sit with an entire album. None of them need notifications to feel important. They just need a little bit of your time and attention.

Everlasting All‑Metal Pencil

The Everlasting All‑Metal Pencil is what happens when a humble everyday tool is treated like a piece of precision hardware. It looks and feels like a machined object from a design studio, not a disposable stick from a stationery aisle. There is no wood to sharpen and no plastic to crack, just a single, solid body that quietly asks to live on your desk for years.

Using it turns quick notes and margin doodles into a small ritual. The cool touch of the metal, the balance in your hand, and the clean line it leaves on the page all slow you down just enough. It is perfect for designers, architects, and notebook addicts who want something permanent in a world of temporary browser tabs. As a gift, it is that rare thing that feels both minimal and deeply considered.

Click Here to Buy Now: $19.95

What We Like

  • Feels premium and durable.
  • Eliminate the need for sharpening.

What We Dislike

  • May feel heavier than a regular pencil.
  • Lacks the nostalgic ritual of shaprpening, which some analog purists actually enjoy.

Japanese Drawing Pad

A good analog tool deserves equally good analog paper. The Japanese Drawing Pad is the quiet counterpart to the all‑metal pencil, turning loose thoughts into something you can literally flip through. Every sheet becomes a small stage for sketches, diagrams, or half‑formed ideas that would disappear instantly if they were typed into a notes app.

There is a tactile pleasure in the way the pages bend, stack, and curl over time. The pad looks clean and intentional on a desk, yet it is never precious enough to intimidate. You can fill it with messy thumbnails or careful lettering and it will still feel right. Paired with the metal pencil, it becomes a complete thinking kit, ideal for anyone who likes to step away from their screen and see ideas spread out in front of them.

Click Here to Buy Now: $26.00

What We Like

  • High-quality paper enhances the feel of drawing and writing.
  • Encourages analog thinking and sketching habits.

What we dislike

  • Not ideal for people who prefer lined or heavily structured pages.

Fire Capsule Oil Lamp

The Fire Capsule Oil Lamp is analog joy in its purest form. It does one thing beautifully. It gives you a small, living flame in a world of harsh LEDs and backlit everything. Lighting it becomes a tiny ceremony at the end of the day. You strike a match, watch the wick catch, and feel the room shift as the glow softens edges and slows your thoughts.

Its capsule‑like form makes it as much an object of design as a source of light. Metal and glass work together to frame the flame so it looks almost suspended inside the silhouette. Even when it is not lit, it reads as a sculptural accent on a shelf or bedside table. Give it to someone who loves reading at night, journaling by hand, or simply reclaiming a corner of their home from the blue light of their phone.

Click Here to Buy Now: $89.00

What we like

  • Creates a warm, calming atmospher.
  • Simple, analog operation turns lighting into a relaxing daily ritual.

What we dislike

  • Invoices an open flame, which requires caution.
  • Can leave a faint scnet or residue if low-quality oil is used.

Fujifilm Instax Mini 41

The Fujifilm Instax Mini 41 brings back the thrill of waiting for a photo to appear in your hands. It has the retro charm of an instant camera, yet it is tuned for the way people actually shoot now. You frame the shot, click, and a small print slides out, slowly revealing the moment you just captured. There are no filters, no retakes, and no algorithm deciding whether this memory deserves likes.

Its design leans into nostalgia without feeling like a toy. The body has a familiar, friendly shape, while the updated features make it easier to capture better selfies and group shots. It is the perfect gift for someone who lives on social media but is starting to crave something they can stick on a wall, tuck in a wallet, or leave on a fridge. Over time, the little prints become a physical timeline that no feed can quite match.

What we like

  • Produces instant physical prints.
  • Modern features make it easier to capture better selfies and group shots.

What we dislike

  • Requires ongoling purchases of film.
  • Bulky compared to a phone camera.

PARON III

The PARON III is the most dramatic expression of analog joy in the lineup. It hides its turntable mechanism inside an incredibly sleek shell, so at first glance it looks more like a minimalist sculpture than a piece of audio gear. That visual restraint sets the tone for the entire listening experience. When you use it, you are not just putting on background noise. You are starting a small performance.

Playing a record on it is deliberately slower than tapping a playlist. You slide the vinyl from its sleeve, place it carefully, and commit to at least one full side. That constraint is exactly what makes it feel special. The clean lines and reduced visual clutter let it blend into modern interiors while still acting as a focal point when the music starts. As a gift, it is a statement. It is for the person who loves sound, sleeve art, and the idea that listening should sometimes be a single, undistracted act.

What we like

  • Turns listening to musicinto a deliverate, immersive ritual.
  • Premium design makes it a striking centerpeice.

What we dislike

  • Less convenient than streaming for casual listeners.

Find the Gift That Slows Their World Down

Analog gifts are not about pretending the digital world does not exist. They are about carving out small islands of slowness inside it. The Everlasting All‑Metal Pencil and Japanese Drawing Pad belong with the person who fills notebooks faster than hard drives. The Fire Capsule Oil Lamp suits the night owl who wants to unwind without another screen. The Fujifilm Instax Mini 41 is for the memory‑maker who wants a real stack of photos. The sleek vinyl player is for the listener who knows albums by heart and wants a reason to sit down and hear them properly.

Choose the gift that fits the ritual they already have or secretly want. Each of these objects asks for nothing more than a few quiet minutes and a pair of hands. In return, they give something the digital world still struggles to deliver. They give weight, texture, and the kind of small, analog moments people remember long after the latest app update fades.

The post 5 Gifts That Give Analog Joy in a Digital World first appeared on Yanko Design.

Saucony and Lay’s collaborate for food-inspired sneakers with regional flavors in China

Posted on by

Around 2020 – give or take a year or two – when I was just getting into writing about sneakers, I read about Dunkin’ collaborating with Saucony (an athletic footwear brand I had only just discovered), for a marathon in Boston. At the time, I wasn’t convinced that food and shoes, an odd pairing, could really find common ground for a collaboration. Nearly a decade later, Saucony finds itself in the middle of another food-themed partnership. This one is specific to China, but it’s likely to interest foodies and sneakerheads far beyond the region.

Saucony this time has teamed up with Lay’s to develop a trio of sneakers inspired by the potato chip brand’s three regional flavors. Since, the silhouettes are made exclusively for the Chinese market, it is not yet confirmed if the sneakers will be sold outside of the country. The interested collectors would have to look at the resale websites and markets for these pairs.

Designer: Saucony x Lay’s

Food-inspired sneakers are not only limited to a company per se. Over the years, we have seen many brands combine the two, at various occasions, to create surprisingly great results. These pairs either derive names for their colorway from tasty treats or are licensed to sell in collaboration with a food item or a restaurant. The iconic potato chip brand here finds room in the sneaker culture with the partnership.

The three sneakers launched in this collection include a Cohesion 2K, Grid Fusion, and the more globally recognized Trainer 80X. The first in the trio is the Saucony Cohesion 2K, which is inspired by the popular seaweed flavor. It features a grey mesh and suede upper with a few green accents all around, which includes the Saucony logos.

The next in the collection is the Grid Fusion, designed after the spicy crayfish. The essence of the spicy crayfish is exquisitely carried in this pair, which feature warm brown swede and dark mesh in the upper and hints of its in the midsole. The soft beige on the midsole and the other accents complete the look.

The third pair in the series is the Trainer 80X which is instinctively identifiable with its classic yellow of a Lay’s potato chip bag. It has a gum sole and a yellow leather and suede upper. What really ties the three pairs together at the playful chip bag-like hashtags and exclusive co-branding. There is no word on when these silhouettes will be available or how each one of them will be priced. But one thing we are sure of is that we can only admire these food-inspired sneakers, there is no way these are crossing the shores of China.

The post Saucony and Lay’s collaborate for food-inspired sneakers with regional flavors in China first appeared on Yanko Design.

Dual vats, 14K screen, heated resin: inside Anycubic’s game-changing Photon P1 3D Printer

Posted on by

Desktop resin printers usually ask a simple question: how much resolution can you afford. Anycubic’s Photon P1 adds a more interesting one: what if the same machine could handle two colors, two materials, or two entirely different jobs without claiming more room on your bench. By pairing a dual‑vat system with a high resolution 14K display and a serious Z axis, the Photon P1 feels tailored to studios that prototype daily and iterate fast. The Photon P1 also packs LighTurbo 4.0 (an advanced UV light source system) for curing developed specially by Anycubic, along with a smart heated vat that temperature-controls the resin baths, offering a kind of industrial-grade output you’d never see in other consumer 3D printers.

Central to this new approach is a cleverly engineered dual‑vat system, a feature so rare in the consumer space that it feels like a genuine novelty. Instead of a single, monolithic resin tank, the P1 offers the option of two smaller, distinct vats side by side (the default is still a single-vat version for most basic users). Hovering above them is a forked build plate, a single component with two separate printing surfaces that can operate in tandem. This architecture allows the printer to print two colors or two resin types in a single job, eliminating the need for separate runs. Its slicer supports material-specific configurations optimized for dual-vat workflows, keeping both materials stable and consistent within one print. When working with premium or engineering resins, this setup also reduces waste and helps lower overall material costs, this setup also reduces waste and helps lower overall material costs. This fundamentally changes the workflow – it effectively gives you the power of two printers, but with the synchronized precision and footprint of one. The machine is not just building an object, it is managing a production queue, all within its own chassis.

Designer: Anycubic

Click Here to Buy Now: $499 $799 (38% off). Hurry, only 31/400 left! Raised over $416,000.

This opens a fascinating playbook for designers and creators. A product designer, for instance, could prototype a remote control with a hard, rigid casing printed from standard resin in the left vat, while simultaneously printing soft, flexible buttons from a TPU‑like resin in the right vat. The result is a multi‑material prototype in a single print job, offering a far more accurate representation of a final product without the hassle of printing parts separately and assembling them later. For artists and miniature sculptors, the possibilities are just as compelling. Imagine printing a fantasy character where the main figure is rendered in an opaque grey for maximum detail, while a magical spell effect or a ghostly appendage is printed in a translucent, colored resin from the second vat. This dual‑system approach streamlines the creation of complex, multi‑part models, reducing post‑processing and painting time.

Beyond multi‑material applications, the P1 excels as a pure productivity engine. A technical studio can produce engineering-grade resin prototypes. Designers or creatives can model and produce flexible materials for complex assemblies. A small business owner running an Etsy shop for custom D&D miniatures could use it to fulfill two different orders at once, performing batch production or even dual-part workflows for maximized efficiency. This parallel workflow essentially doubles the machine’s throughput for small to medium‑sized objects, making it an incredibly efficient tool for anyone doing light production work. It transforms the printer from a single‑task device into a small‑batch manufacturing hub.

Of course, these advanced capabilities would be meaningless without a foundation of precision and reliability. Anycubic has clearly invested in the P1’s mechanical integrity, moving it out of the hobbyist category and into prosumer territory. The Z‑axis, often a weak point on budget machines, is built around an industrial‑grade ball screw and robust linear rails. This is a significant upgrade from the typical lead screw setup, translating to smoother, more consistent vertical travel. For the user, this means virtually no visible layer lines, a dramatic reduction in Z‑wobble artifacts, and exceptional repeatability, ensuring that parts designed to fit together do so with tight tolerances.

This focus on industrial‑grade components extends to the build plate itself. Instead of the usual anodized aluminum, the P1 uses a precision‑milled slab of steel. Steel’s superior rigidity and thermal stability mean the plate is less likely to warp over time, ensuring a perfectly flat and level surface for consistent first‑layer adhesion, which is critical for print success. It is a subtle but important detail that signals a commitment to long‑term reliability. This mechanical stability is the bedrock that supports the printer’s headline features.

At the heart of its imaging system is a 14K monochrome LCD. That number translates directly into breathtaking surface detail. With an extremely fine XY resolution, the P1 can reproduce microscopic textures, razor‑sharp edges, and intricate patterns that would be lost on lower‑resolution screens. For jewelry designers prototyping complex filigree or architects building scale models with fine brickwork, this level of detail is indispensable. The monochrome screen also offers the practical benefits of faster cure times and a much longer operational lifespan than the older RGB LCDs, reinforcing the P1’s role as a dependable workhorse.

The Anycubic Photon P1, therefore, is more than just the sum of its impressive parts. It represents a holistic design philosophy where each component complements the others. The high‑resolution 14K screen provides the detail, the industrial Z‑axis ensures that detail is rendered flawlessly layer after layer, and the innovative dual‑vat system leverages that quality to create more complex, more functional, and more beautiful objects with unparalleled efficiency. It is a machine that seems to understand the creative process, offering not just a tool, but a smarter way to work.

Anycubic unveiled the Photon P1 at the Formnext additive manufacturing show, with a Kickstarter campaign debuting this month to let people get their hands on the Photon P1. The retail price is set at a competitive $799, but early adopters have an opportunity to get in at a much lower early‑bird price of $499 (available for a limited period only), a figure that makes its prosumer features accessible to a much wider audience of serious creators and designers.

Click Here to Buy Now: $499 $799 (38% off). Hurry, only 31/400 left! Raised over $416,000.

The post Dual vats, 14K screen, heated resin: inside Anycubic’s game-changing Photon P1 3D Printer first appeared on Yanko Design.

This Doughnut Chair Has One Bite Missing, and That’s Your Seat

Posted on by

Most chairs are clearly assembled objects, with legs, a seat, and a backrest, all stacked and joined together. Sculptural lounge pieces sometimes flip that script and feel more like a single volume that has been carved or sliced. Chunk is a concept that leans into that second approach, imagining seating as a doughnut with a bite taken out rather than a frame with cushions bolted on, treating furniture as something you edit rather than assemble.

The designer imagined a chair that looks like a doughnut with a chunk removed. The missing piece becomes the seat and the opening for the backrest, while the rest of the ring wraps around in a continuous loop. The concept is less about novelty and more about seeing how far a single looping form can be pushed into something you can actually sit in, where the absence of material defines the place for the body.

Designer: Liam de la Bedoyere

Both the seat and backrest share the same oval cross-section, but as the base curves up to become the backrest, that oval quietly swaps its length and width. It is wide and low where you sit, then gradually becomes tall and narrow as it rises behind you. The section never breaks; it just morphs along the path, which gives the chair a sense of motion even when it is still and empty.

The “bite” creates a bowl-like seat that cradles the hips and thighs, while the rising loop offers a relaxed backrest rather than a rigid upright. The proportions suggest a low, lounge-style posture, closer to a reading chair or a corner piece in a living room than a dining chair. The continuous curve encourages you to lean back and sink in, not perch on the edge ready to stand again.

A near-cylindrical form can look like it might roll away, but the geometry and internal structure are tuned to keep the center of gravity low and slightly behind the seat. The base is subtly flattened, and a denser core at the bottom would keep it from tipping forward when someone leans back. The result is a chair that looks precarious from some angles but behaves like a grounded lounge piece once you sit.

The monolithic upholstery, a textured fabric that wraps the entire volume without obvious breaks, reinforces the idea of a single chunk of material. The form reads differently as you move around it, sometimes like a shell, sometimes like a curled leaf, sometimes like a coiled creature. It is the kind of chair that anchors a corner or gallery-like space, inviting you to walk around it before you decide to sit down and settle in.

Chunk uses subtraction as its main design move, starting from a complete ring and then removing just enough to create a place for the body. For a category that often defaults to adding parts, there is something satisfying about a chair that feels like it has been edited down to a single, looping gesture, with one decisive bite turning an abstract volume into a place to rest, read, or just sink into for a while.

The post This Doughnut Chair Has One Bite Missing, and That’s Your Seat first appeared on Yanko Design.

Tray210 Proves Recycled Plastic Doesn’t Have to Look Grey and Boring

Posted on by

Recycled plastic products often fall into two camps: grey utilitarian bins or loud, speckled experiments that feel more like proof of concept than something you want on your desk. Tray210 recycled, a collaboration between Korean studio intenxiv and manufacturer INTOPS under the rmrp brand, takes a different approach, using recycled plastics and waste additives to create a tray that feels like a considered object first and an eco story second, treating material diversity as part of the design language.

Tray210 recycled is a circular tray with three compartments, an evolution of the original Tray210 form. It grew out of INTOPS’ grecipe eco-material platform and hida’s CMF proposals, which is a long way of saying it is the result of a tight loop between material science and industrial design. The goal was to pursue material diversity and break away from the cheap recycled stereotype, making something that belongs in sight rather than hidden under a desk.

Designer: Intenxiv x INTOPS

The form is intuitive, a 210 mm circle with a raised, ribbed bar running across the middle and two shallow wells on either side. The central groove is sized for pens, pencils, or chopsticks, and the ribs keep cylindrical objects from rolling away. The side compartments are open and shallow, perfect for earbuds, clips, rings, or keys. It is the kind of layout you understand at a glance without needing instructions or labels; just place your pen where the grooves are.

The material story is where Tray210 recycled gets interesting. Multiple recycled blends reflect their sources: Clam and Wood use 80 percent recycled PP with shell and wood waste, Charcoal adds 15 percent charcoal to 80 percent recycled PP, and Stone uses 10–50 percent recycled ABS. Transparent and Marble variants use recycled PC or PCABS with ceramic particles or marble-like pigment. Each colorway is visually tied to its waste stream, making the origin legible and intentional.

The aim is to create a design closer to the lifestyle rmrp pursues, breaking away from the impression recycled plastic generally gives. The Clam and Wood versions read as soft, muted pastels with fine speckling, Charcoal feels like a deep, almost architectural grey, and Stone and Transparent lean into translucency and particulate. Instead of hiding the recycled content, the CMF work uses it as texture and character, closer to terrazzo or stoneware than to injection-molded scrap that just happens to be grey.

The combination of clear zoning and tactile surfaces makes Tray210 recycled feel at home on a desk, entryway shelf, or bedside table. The central groove keeps your favorite pen or stylus always in the same place, while the side wells catch whatever tends to float around, from SD cards to jewelry. The different material stories let you pick a version that matches how you want the space to feel: calm, earthy, industrial, or a bit more playful.

A simple tray can carry a lot of design thinking, from intuitive ergonomics to material storytelling and responsible sourcing. Tray210 recycled is not trying to save the world on its own, but it does show how recycled plastic can be turned into something you actually want to touch and keep in sight. For people who care about both what an object does and what it is made from, that is a quiet but meaningful upgrade over another anonymous catch-all that eventually ends up in a drawer.

The post Tray210 Proves Recycled Plastic Doesn’t Have to Look Grey and Boring first appeared on Yanko Design.

Poco Pad X1 & Poco Pad M1 Review: Budget Tablets That Challenge the iPad

Posted on by

PROS:


  • Strong display for the money

  • Complete accessory ecosystem

  • Big batteries

CONS:


  • Neither tablet is light enough for comfortable one-handed use

  • Fully kitted-out X1 with Floating Keyboard and Focus Pen gets expensive fast

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

Poco Pad X1 and M1 are not perfect, but together they deliver more screen, battery, and versatility than almost any other budget tablet pair right now.

Poco built its name on phones that punch above their price, and now it wants to do the same on your coffee table. With Poco Pad X1 and Poco Pad M1, the brand is not just throwing out a couple of cheap tablets. It is trying to turn its budget DNA into a fuller ecosystem that covers gaming, work, and everyday media.

You can feel that ambition in how these two models are drawn. The Poco Pad X1 is a slightly more compact, high refresh performance slate, tuned for games and quick multitasking on an 11.2-inch 3.2K display. The Poco Pad M1 steps up to a 12.1-inch 2.5K panel and the largest battery Poco has ever shipped in a global device, aiming to be the big screen that carries you through movies, sketching sessions, and long days away from a charger.

Designer: Poco

If you have been eyeing an affordable Android tablet for gaming, streaming, or light work, should you reach for the sharper, faster Poco Pad X1, or the larger, more relaxed Poco Pad M1? In this review, we will live with both, compare their strengths, and help you decide which one actually fits your desk, your bag, and your budget.

Aesthetics

Poco Pad X1

Poco is not trying to reinvent tablet hardware with Poco Pad X1 or Poco Pad M1. Both follow a familiar rectangle with rounded corners, flat sides, and a camera module that sits quietly in one corner. On Poco Pad X1, the focus is clearly on framing its 11.2-inch display as efficiently as possible. Poco Pad M1 takes the same basic formula and scales it up with a 12.1-inch panel.

Color choices on the Pad X1 and the Pad M1 are simple. They both come in Grey and Blue. Grey leans more gunmetal and understated with a contrasting yellow accent around the camera module, while Blue reads a little more casual and friendly, but neither option is loud or experimental. Both tablets use a metal unibody design for the main shell, with separate parts for the camera island and buttons, and a big Poco logo stamped in the center for instant brand recognition. The Poco Pad X1 uses a square camera island, while the Poco Pad M1 switches to a softer oval, which gives each model a slightly different signature when you flip them over.

Poco Pad M1

Taken together, the two tablets look exactly like what they are meant to be. They are straightforward, modern Android slabs that fade into the background and let their screens and specs do the talking. For budget-friendly hardware, that quiet, functional design approach feels like the right call.

Ergonomics

In the hand, the main ergonomic difference between Poco Pad X1 and Poco Pad M1 is simply size and weight, but neither is a true one-handed tablet for long stretches. The Poco Pad X1, with its 11.2-inch footprint and 500 g weight, is the more compact of the two. It is easier to manage on a sofa or in bed than the larger Poco Pad M1, but you will still want a second hand or some support if you are holding it for a long time. Even though the Poco Pad X1 is relatively slim and light for an aluminum unibody tablet with an 8,850 mAh battery, with dimensions of 251.22 x 173.42 x 6.18 mm, it does not quietly disappear in one hand the way a smaller 8 or 9-inch device might.

Poco Pad M1

Poco Pad M1 stretches that template out to a 12.1-inch diagonal with dimensions of 279.8 x 181.65 x 7.5 mm and a weight of about 610 g, which puts it clearly into big tablet territory. It is still slim, but the larger footprint makes it even less suited to long one-handed use, especially if you are moving around. Instead, it feels more like a tablet you rest on a table, prop up with a cover, or pair with its official keyboard, where the extra screen real estate really pays off for split-screen apps, video, and drawing.

The accessory ecosystem around the Pad X1 and the Pad M1 makes them versatile, but in slightly different ways. Poco Pad M1 is compatible with the optional Poco Pad M1 Keyboard, Poco Smart Pen, and Poco Pad M1 Cover, a trio that turns it into a very capable small-screen workstation. The cover folds into a stand and adds a built-in holder for the pen, which makes it easy to move between bag, desk, and sofa without worrying about where the stylus went. The keyboard is lightweight and easy to carry, but the keys feel a bit plasticky in use, which slightly undercuts the otherwise solid metal body of the tablet.

Poco Pad X1

Poco Pad X1 has its own dedicated set of accessories. It supports the Poco Pad X1 Floating Keyboard, the Poco Pad X1 Keyboard, the Poco Focus Pen, and the Poco Pad X1 Cover, which together give it a surprisingly flexible setup for both work and play. The cover folds like origami and doubles as a stand, letting you enjoy the tablet vertically or horizontally, and for horizontal use, you can choose between two different viewing heights.

The Floating Keyboard is the standout here. It adds some weight and only offers a modest tilt range, but the key feel is excellent for this class, and the trackpad is responsive and accurate enough that you quickly forget you are on a tablet accessory. Clipped together, the Poco Pad X1 and the Floating Keyboard behave much more like a compact laptop than a budget slate with an afterthought keyboard, which makes it far easier to treat this smaller tablet as a real writing and work machine when you need it.
 

Performance

Living with Poco Pad X1 and Poco Pad M1 quickly shows how differently they lean, even though they share a lot of DNA. The Poco Pad X1 is the sharper and faster option, with an 11.2-inch 3.2K display at 3,200 x 2,136 px, around 345 ppi, and refresh up to 144 Hz in supported apps. It can hit about 800 nits peak brightness, supports Dolby Vision and HDR10, and uses a 3:2 aspect ratio that feels very natural for reading, web browsing, and document work, helped by TÜV eye care, DC dimming, and adaptive colors to keep things comfortable.

Poco Pad M1

The Poco Pad M1, on the other hand, trades a bit of sharpness and speed for sheer size and flexibility. Its 12.1-inch 2.5K panel runs at 2,560 x 1,600px with around 249 ppi and up to 120 Hz refresh, plus 500 nits typical and 600 nits in high brightness mode. You still get Dolby Vision, DC dimming, and TÜV certifications for low blue light, flicker-free behavior, and circadian friendliness, along with wet touch support that keeps it usable with damp fingers.

Poco Pad X1

Both tablets use quad speakers with Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res support, so you get surprisingly full sound from either. Crucially, the Poco Pad M1 also adds a 3.5 mm headphone jack and a microSD slot for up to 2 TB of expandable storage, which makes it a much easier media hoarder and a better fit for wired headphones and speakers. The X1 relies on its internal storage and wireless audio instead, which suits its more performance-driven, travel-friendly role.

Poco Pad X1

Poco Pad M1

Performance and gaming clearly favor the Poco Pad X1. It uses the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 with 8 GB of RAM and up to 512 GB of storage, and combined with the 144 Hz panel, it feels like a handheld console that also happens to be good at multitasking and productivity. The Poco Pad M1 steps down to the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage, which is still more than enough for apps and casual gaming, but clearly tuned more for streaming, browsing, and note-taking than for chasing every last frame. In practice, the Poco Pad X1 is the one you reach for when you care about smooth, high refresh gameplay, while the Pad M1 is the one you leave on the coffee table for everyone to use.

Poco Pad M1

Battery life follows the same logic. The Poco Pad X1 pairs its 8,850 mAh battery with 45 W turbo charging, which Poco says can go from zero to full in about 94 minutes, and my experience matches that claim in day-to-day use. The Poco Pad M1 leans into a 12,000 mAh pack, billed as the largest battery in a global Poco device, with up to 105.36 hours of music playback, around 83 days of standby, 33 W charging, and up to 27 W wired reverse charging so it can top up your other devices.

Poco Pad M1

Poco Pad X1

On the software side, both run Xiaomi HyperOS with Xiaomi Interconnectivity and Google’s AI hooks, so you get shared clipboard, call and network sync, Circle to Search, and Gemini support whichever size you choose. As for cameras, Poco Pad X1 pairs a 13 MP rear camera and an 8 MP front camera, while Poco Pad M1 sticks to 8 MP sensors on both sides. The results are perfectly fine for video calls, document scans, and the odd quick snap, but nothing special, which is exactly what you would expect from tablets at this price bracket.

Poco Pad M1

Poco Pad X1

Sustainability

Poco is not making a big environmental branding play with Poco Pad X1 and Poco Pad M1, but there are a few practical touches that matter if you plan to keep a tablet for several years. The most important one is long-term software support. Both Pad X1 and Pad M1 are slated to receive four years of security updates, which gives you a clearer runway for safe everyday use. For budget tablets, that commitment is still not guaranteed across the market, so it is good to see Poco spell it out.

Poco Pad M1


 
That longer support window pairs well with the hardware choices. The aluminum unibody shells on both models feel sturdy enough to survive several upgrade cycles, and the generous storage options, plus microSD expansion on the Poco Pad M1, reduce the pressure to replace them early just to fit more apps or media. It is not a full sustainability story with recycled materials and carbon tracking, but if your definition of sustainable starts with buying something that will not feel obsolete or unsafe in two years, these tablets are at least pointed in the right direction.

Value

The Poco Pad X1 and Poco Pad M1 both land in the affordable bracket, but they scale very differently once you add accessories. The Poco Pad X1 with 8 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage is $399 USD, which feels fair for the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 and high-end 3.2K 144 hertz display. Its accessories are priced like mini laptop gear, with the Floating Keyboard at $199 USD, the X1 Keyboard at $129 USD, the X1 Cover at $49 USD, and the Poco Focus Pen at $99 USD. A fully loaded X1 setup quickly pushes past $600 USD, but in return, you get a compact tablet that can genuinely stand in for a small laptop and drawing pad.

Poco Pad X1

The Poco Pad M1 starts cheaper at $329 USD for 8 GB and 256 GB, and its add-ons stay firmly in value territory. The M1 Keyboard is $99 USD, the M1 Cover is $29 USD, and the Poco Smart Pen is $69 USD, so even a complete kit undercuts an equivalently kitted X1 by a healthy margin. Factor in the microSD slot and 3.5 millimeter headphone jack, and M1 clearly aims to be the better deal for big screen media, note-taking, and family use, while X1 makes more sense if you are willing to pay extra for performance, storage, and that excellent Floating Keyboard experience.

Verdict

The Poco Pad X1 and Poco Pad M1 end up serving two somewhat different roles. If you prioritize performance, the Poco Pad X1 is the clear choice. The Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3, 3.2K 144 Hz display, 512 GB storage, and excellent Floating Keyboard make it feel like a serious little work and gaming machine, even if the full setup gets expensive and you give up the headphone jack and SD slot. If you care more about big-screen comfort and value, the Poco Pad M1 quietly wins. The 12.1-inch 2.5K screen, quad speakers, 3.5 mm jack, microSD expansion, huge battery, and cheaper accessories make it a better fit for big-screen media and everyday productivity.

Poco Pad X1

Whichever way you lean, you are getting more tablet than the price suggests. For context, Apple’s base iPad costs $449 with only 64 GB of storage and a 60 Hz screen. The iPad still has a faster processor and a tighter app ecosystem, but Poco gives you bigger batteries, sharper displays, and a lot more storage for less money. Pick the Poco Pad X1 if you want compact power and a great keyboard experience. Pick the Poco Pad M1 if you want maximum screen, battery, and flexibility for the money. Either way, you end up with a tablet that feels more considered than most of what you will find at this price.

The post Poco Pad X1 & Poco Pad M1 Review: Budget Tablets That Challenge the iPad first appeared on Yanko Design.

Poco Pad X1 & Poco Pad M1 Review: Budget Tablets That Challenge the iPad

Posted on by

PROS:


  • Strong display for the money

  • Complete accessory ecosystem

  • Big batteries

CONS:


  • Neither tablet is light enough for comfortable one-handed use

  • Fully kitted-out X1 with Floating Keyboard and Focus Pen gets expensive fast

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

Poco Pad X1 and M1 are not perfect, but together they deliver more screen, battery, and versatility than almost any other budget tablet pair right now.

Poco built its name on phones that punch above their price, and now it wants to do the same on your coffee table. With Poco Pad X1 and Poco Pad M1, the brand is not just throwing out a couple of cheap tablets. It is trying to turn its budget DNA into a fuller ecosystem that covers gaming, work, and everyday media.

You can feel that ambition in how these two models are drawn. The Poco Pad X1 is a slightly more compact, high refresh performance slate, tuned for games and quick multitasking on an 11.2-inch 3.2K display. The Poco Pad M1 steps up to a 12.1-inch 2.5K panel and the largest battery Poco has ever shipped in a global device, aiming to be the big screen that carries you through movies, sketching sessions, and long days away from a charger.

Designer: Poco

If you have been eyeing an affordable Android tablet for gaming, streaming, or light work, should you reach for the sharper, faster Poco Pad X1, or the larger, more relaxed Poco Pad M1? In this review, we will live with both, compare their strengths, and help you decide which one actually fits your desk, your bag, and your budget.

Aesthetics

Poco Pad X1

Poco is not trying to reinvent tablet hardware with Poco Pad X1 or Poco Pad M1. Both follow a familiar rectangle with rounded corners, flat sides, and a camera module that sits quietly in one corner. On Poco Pad X1, the focus is clearly on framing its 11.2-inch display as efficiently as possible. Poco Pad M1 takes the same basic formula and scales it up with a 12.1-inch panel.

Color choices on the Pad X1 and the Pad M1 are simple. They both come in Grey and Blue. Grey leans more gunmetal and understated with a contrasting yellow accent around the camera module, while Blue reads a little more casual and friendly, but neither option is loud or experimental. Both tablets use a metal unibody design for the main shell, with separate parts for the camera island and buttons, and a big Poco logo stamped in the center for instant brand recognition. The Poco Pad X1 uses a square camera island, while the Poco Pad M1 switches to a softer oval, which gives each model a slightly different signature when you flip them over.

Poco Pad M1

Taken together, the two tablets look exactly like what they are meant to be. They are straightforward, modern Android slabs that fade into the background and let their screens and specs do the talking. For budget-friendly hardware, that quiet, functional design approach feels like the right call.

Ergonomics

In the hand, the main ergonomic difference between Poco Pad X1 and Poco Pad M1 is simply size and weight, but neither is a true one-handed tablet for long stretches. The Poco Pad X1, with its 11.2-inch footprint and 500 g weight, is the more compact of the two. It is easier to manage on a sofa or in bed than the larger Poco Pad M1, but you will still want a second hand or some support if you are holding it for a long time. Even though the Poco Pad X1 is relatively slim and light for an aluminum unibody tablet with an 8,850 mAh battery, with dimensions of 251.22 x 173.42 x 6.18 mm, it does not quietly disappear in one hand the way a smaller 8 or 9-inch device might.

Poco Pad M1

Poco Pad M1 stretches that template out to a 12.1-inch diagonal with dimensions of 279.8 x 181.65 x 7.5 mm and a weight of about 610 g, which puts it clearly into big tablet territory. It is still slim, but the larger footprint makes it even less suited to long one-handed use, especially if you are moving around. Instead, it feels more like a tablet you rest on a table, prop up with a cover, or pair with its official keyboard, where the extra screen real estate really pays off for split-screen apps, video, and drawing.

The accessory ecosystem around the Pad X1 and the Pad M1 makes them versatile, but in slightly different ways. Poco Pad M1 is compatible with the optional Poco Pad M1 Keyboard, Poco Smart Pen, and Poco Pad M1 Cover, a trio that turns it into a very capable small-screen workstation. The cover folds into a stand and adds a built-in holder for the pen, which makes it easy to move between bag, desk, and sofa without worrying about where the stylus went. The keyboard is lightweight and easy to carry, but the keys feel a bit plasticky in use, which slightly undercuts the otherwise solid metal body of the tablet.

Poco Pad X1

Poco Pad X1 has its own dedicated set of accessories. It supports the Poco Pad X1 Floating Keyboard, the Poco Pad X1 Keyboard, the Poco Focus Pen, and the Poco Pad X1 Cover, which together give it a surprisingly flexible setup for both work and play. The cover folds like origami and doubles as a stand, letting you enjoy the tablet vertically or horizontally, and for horizontal use, you can choose between two different viewing heights.

The Floating Keyboard is the standout here. It adds some weight and only offers a modest tilt range, but the key feel is excellent for this class, and the trackpad is responsive and accurate enough that you quickly forget you are on a tablet accessory. Clipped together, the Poco Pad X1 and the Floating Keyboard behave much more like a compact laptop than a budget slate with an afterthought keyboard, which makes it far easier to treat this smaller tablet as a real writing and work machine when you need it.
 

Performance

Living with Poco Pad X1 and Poco Pad M1 quickly shows how differently they lean, even though they share a lot of DNA. The Poco Pad X1 is the sharper and faster option, with an 11.2-inch 3.2K display at 3,200 x 2,136 px, around 345 ppi, and refresh up to 144 Hz in supported apps. It can hit about 800 nits peak brightness, supports Dolby Vision and HDR10, and uses a 3:2 aspect ratio that feels very natural for reading, web browsing, and document work, helped by TÜV eye care, DC dimming, and adaptive colors to keep things comfortable.

Poco Pad M1

The Poco Pad M1, on the other hand, trades a bit of sharpness and speed for sheer size and flexibility. Its 12.1-inch 2.5K panel runs at 2,560 x 1,600px with around 249 ppi and up to 120 Hz refresh, plus 500 nits typical and 600 nits in high brightness mode. You still get Dolby Vision, DC dimming, and TÜV certifications for low blue light, flicker-free behavior, and circadian friendliness, along with wet touch support that keeps it usable with damp fingers.

Poco Pad X1

Both tablets use quad speakers with Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res support, so you get surprisingly full sound from either. Crucially, the Poco Pad M1 also adds a 3.5 mm headphone jack and a microSD slot for up to 2 TB of expandable storage, which makes it a much easier media hoarder and a better fit for wired headphones and speakers. The X1 relies on its internal storage and wireless audio instead, which suits its more performance-driven, travel-friendly role.

Poco Pad X1

Poco Pad M1

Performance and gaming clearly favor the Poco Pad X1. It uses the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 with 8 GB of RAM and up to 512 GB of storage, and combined with the 144 Hz panel, it feels like a handheld console that also happens to be good at multitasking and productivity. The Poco Pad M1 steps down to the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage, which is still more than enough for apps and casual gaming, but clearly tuned more for streaming, browsing, and note-taking than for chasing every last frame. In practice, the Poco Pad X1 is the one you reach for when you care about smooth, high refresh gameplay, while the Pad M1 is the one you leave on the coffee table for everyone to use.

Poco Pad M1

Battery life follows the same logic. The Poco Pad X1 pairs its 8,850 mAh battery with 45 W turbo charging, which Poco says can go from zero to full in about 94 minutes, and my experience matches that claim in day-to-day use. The Poco Pad M1 leans into a 12,000 mAh pack, billed as the largest battery in a global Poco device, with up to 105.36 hours of music playback, around 83 days of standby, 33 W charging, and up to 27 W wired reverse charging so it can top up your other devices.

Poco Pad M1

Poco Pad X1

On the software side, both run Xiaomi HyperOS with Xiaomi Interconnectivity and Google’s AI hooks, so you get shared clipboard, call and network sync, Circle to Search, and Gemini support whichever size you choose. As for cameras, Poco Pad X1 pairs a 13 MP rear camera and an 8 MP front camera, while Poco Pad M1 sticks to 8 MP sensors on both sides. The results are perfectly fine for video calls, document scans, and the odd quick snap, but nothing special, which is exactly what you would expect from tablets at this price bracket.

Poco Pad M1

Poco Pad X1

Sustainability

Poco is not making a big environmental branding play with Poco Pad X1 and Poco Pad M1, but there are a few practical touches that matter if you plan to keep a tablet for several years. The most important one is long-term software support. Both Pad X1 and Pad M1 are slated to receive four years of security updates, which gives you a clearer runway for safe everyday use. For budget tablets, that commitment is still not guaranteed across the market, so it is good to see Poco spell it out.

Poco Pad M1


 
That longer support window pairs well with the hardware choices. The aluminum unibody shells on both models feel sturdy enough to survive several upgrade cycles, and the generous storage options, plus microSD expansion on the Poco Pad M1, reduce the pressure to replace them early just to fit more apps or media. It is not a full sustainability story with recycled materials and carbon tracking, but if your definition of sustainable starts with buying something that will not feel obsolete or unsafe in two years, these tablets are at least pointed in the right direction.

Value

The Poco Pad X1 and Poco Pad M1 both land in the affordable bracket, but they scale very differently once you add accessories. The Poco Pad X1 with 8 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage is $399 USD, which feels fair for the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 and high-end 3.2K 144 hertz display. Its accessories are priced like mini laptop gear, with the Floating Keyboard at $199 USD, the X1 Keyboard at $129 USD, the X1 Cover at $49 USD, and the Poco Focus Pen at $99 USD. A fully loaded X1 setup quickly pushes past $600 USD, but in return, you get a compact tablet that can genuinely stand in for a small laptop and drawing pad.

Poco Pad X1

The Poco Pad M1 starts cheaper at $329 USD for 8 GB and 256 GB, and its add-ons stay firmly in value territory. The M1 Keyboard is $99 USD, the M1 Cover is $29 USD, and the Poco Smart Pen is $69 USD, so even a complete kit undercuts an equivalently kitted X1 by a healthy margin. Factor in the microSD slot and 3.5 millimeter headphone jack, and M1 clearly aims to be the better deal for big screen media, note-taking, and family use, while X1 makes more sense if you are willing to pay extra for performance, storage, and that excellent Floating Keyboard experience.

Verdict

The Poco Pad X1 and Poco Pad M1 end up serving two somewhat different roles. If you prioritize performance, the Poco Pad X1 is the clear choice. The Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3, 3.2K 144 Hz display, 512 GB storage, and excellent Floating Keyboard make it feel like a serious little work and gaming machine, even if the full setup gets expensive and you give up the headphone jack and SD slot. If you care more about big-screen comfort and value, the Poco Pad M1 quietly wins. The 12.1-inch 2.5K screen, quad speakers, 3.5 mm jack, microSD expansion, huge battery, and cheaper accessories make it a better fit for big-screen media and everyday productivity.

Poco Pad X1

Whichever way you lean, you are getting more tablet than the price suggests. For context, Apple’s base iPad costs $449 with only 64 GB of storage and a 60 Hz screen. The iPad still has a faster processor and a tighter app ecosystem, but Poco gives you bigger batteries, sharper displays, and a lot more storage for less money. Pick the Poco Pad X1 if you want compact power and a great keyboard experience. Pick the Poco Pad M1 if you want maximum screen, battery, and flexibility for the money. Either way, you end up with a tablet that feels more considered than most of what you will find at this price.

The post Poco Pad X1 & Poco Pad M1 Review: Budget Tablets That Challenge the iPad first appeared on Yanko Design.

Nocs Braque Stacks Two Cubes into a 25kg Sculptural Stereo System

Posted on by

Most hi-fi speakers still look like anonymous black rectangles, even when they sound great. A few brands treat speakers as furniture or sculpture, but often at the expense of engineering. Braque by Nocs tries to sit in the middle, a pair of cubes that are as considered visually as they are technically, treating stereo as both sound and composition rather than one serving the other as an afterthought.

Nocs calls Braque “two cubes, one sculptural stereo system,” and each speaker is a stacked pair, a CNC-machined plywood enclosure on top of a 25 kg solid-steel base. Built in numbered editions, assembled in Estonia with the steel cube handcrafted in Sweden, and tuned back at Nocs Lab, Braque signals that this is not a mass-market soundbar or a safe play for casual listeners who just want something wireless.

Designer: Nocs Design

The upper cube is rigid plywood finished in deep matte-black oil, chosen for tonal warmth and acoustic integrity, and the lower cube is a hand-welded, brushed steel block that anchors the system physically and visually. Sorbothane isolation pads sit between them, decoupling the enclosure from the base so the driver can move without shaking the furniture or smearing the soundstage. Together, the two volumes form a study in symmetry, a minimal yet expressive composition.

The acoustic core is an 8-inch Celestion FTX0820 coaxial driver with a 1-inch compression tweeter at its center, powered by dual Hypex FA122 modules delivering 125 W per side with integrated DSP. The coaxial layout gives a point-source image, and the active 2-way design lets Nocs control crossover and EQ precisely, resulting in a 42 Hz–20 kHz response that is tuned rather than guessed at from a passive circuit.

Nocs describes their studio-sound approach as tuning like sculpture, not adding but uncovering, working with artists and engineers to balance emotion, texture, and detail. The dual-cube design is part of that, lifting the driver to ear height when seated and using mass and isolation to keep the presentation clean and stable at real-world volumes. The idea is that a speaker should reveal music rather than shape it into a brand’s house curve.

Braque offers both analog and digital inputs, RCA and XLR for analog, plus S/PDIF, AES/EBU, and coaxial for digital, and it is meant to connect directly to turntables with a phono stage, streamers, or studio interfaces. There is no built-in streaming or app layer, which feels intentional; you bring your own source and let the speakers handle amplification and conversion from there without trying to be a whole ecosystem.

Braque behaves in a living room or studio as two strict cubes that read like small pieces of Cubist architecture until you press play. For people who want their speakers to be part of the composition of a space, not just equipment pushed into corners, the combination of Celestion drivers, Hypex power, and that heavy steel base makes Braque feel like a very deliberate answer to how a stereo should look and sound in 2025, where form and performance finally coexist without one apologizing for the other.

The post Nocs Braque Stacks Two Cubes into a 25kg Sculptural Stereo System first appeared on Yanko Design.