Today Imagination Technologies announces its latest GPU IP, Imagination DXTP, which sets a new standard for the efficient acceleration of graphics and compute workloads on smartphones and other power-constrained devices. Thanks to an array of micro-architectural improvements, DXTP delivers up to 20% improved power efficiency (FPS/W) on popular graphics workloads when compared to its DXT equivalent.

"The global smartphone market is experiencing a resurgence, propelled by cutting-edge AI features such as personal agents and enhanced photography," says Peter Richardson, Partner & VP at Counterpoint Research. "However, the success of this AI-driven revolution hinges on maintaining the high standards users expect: smooth interfaces, sleek designs, and all-day battery life. As the market matures, consumers are gravitating towards premium devices that seamlessly integrate these advanced AI capabilities without compromising on essential smartphone qualities."

Retro tech lovers who have a knack for gaming handhelds will likely be rather pleased with Sugar Cubes' latest creation - the N97 Elite gaming handheld. As the name suggests, the handheld draws inspiration from the Nokia N97 of '09, and all of its sliding glory. The company has already started shipping out the device to customers, although it is China-only for the foreseeable future. Despite that, there is no denying that the N97 Elite handheld is an incredibly exciting looking gadget for those who miss the good old days of smartphones - that is, before the glass-slab trend took off.

At its core, the N97 Elite handheld packs a decent amount of computing horsepower. Powered by the Snapdragon 855 Plus - an SoC once found in Android flagships - paired with 12 GB of memory, the N97 Elite should be able to breeze through most emulation workloads. The compact handheld comes equipped with a 4.7-inch touch-enabled display, which slides out to reveal the controls. Speaking of which, the controls look pretty disappointing at first sight, although that would be hard to judge without trying the thing in real life. However, given the compact nature, the experience is unlikely to be a comfortable one, and the lack of an analog stick is understandable, but disappointing regardless. The system does have a built-in fan, which should help with sustained workloads.

The GameSir X3 Pro integrated cooler mobile controller merges an advanced cooling system with high-quality performance. It is designed to enhance your gaming comfort and elevate your gaming experience with extreme esports sensation. It's compatible with Android devices and iPhone 15 and above, supporting phones with a length of 110-180 mm. Now available in exclusive Deadpool edition.

Officially licensed by Marvel, this edition showcases Deadpool's iconic black and red color scheme, capturing the essence of the beloved anti-hero. Equipped with a 900 mm cooling plate, it delivers an impressive 12 W of cooling power, keeping your phone cool even during long gaming sessions or in high temperatures. The GameSir Hall Effect anti-drift sticks offer 360° precision control, providing seamless and pinpoint accuracy. Combined with their durability, they meet the high standards that gamers demand for a top-tier gaming experience.

As evidenced in leaks from late last year, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite mobile processor is no slouch in terms of gaming performance—to be more specific, it is surprisingly adept at emulating "AAA" titles in an Android OS environment. Past examples include test platforms—allegedly—hitting 60+ frames per second (FPS) in A Plague Tale: Innocence (2019), and an astounding 160 FPS in Red Dead Redemption's recent-ish PC conversion (originally a 2010 release on PS3 & Xbox 360). Earlier this week, NoI_Revenant's attention was drawn to intriguing camera footage that was freshly uploaded to Bilibili. Said video demonstrates the PC version (2019) of Red Dead Redemption 2 running on an unnamed mobile device equipped with Qualcomm's flagship SoC.

Follow-up posts and comments propose that the game was running via a specific (Android-based) emulation application: Winlator. Observers have pointed out that it is difficult to ascertain exact details regarding visual fidelity from an overly blurry video—the original uploader/leaker mentions that they implemented "low graphical settings." On-screen information shows measured frame rates hovering around the 60 FPS mark. Industry experts reckon that Qualcomm latest "game-changing" Adreno GPU is capable of surpassing AMD's omnipresent Radeon 780M—a popular integrated graphics solution, frequently found in Ryzen Z1 Extreme-equipped handheld gaming PCs.

HTC Corp. and Google LLC announced today a definitive agreement under which HTC will receive US$250 million in cash from Google, and certain HTC employees from its XR team will join Google. As part of the transaction, Google will receive a non-exclusive license for HTC's XR intellectual property (IP). Following this agreement, HTC and Google will explore future collaboration opportunities.

This agreement reinforces HTC's strategy of continued development around the XR ecosystem, enabling a more streamlined product portfolio with a focus on platforms, greater operational efficiency and financial flexibility. HTC's commitment to delivering innovative VIVE XR solutions such as the VIVE Focus Vision remains unchanged, with existing product lines and solutions to be supported and developed without interruption.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today announced the Galaxy S25 Ultra, Galaxy S25+, and Galaxy S25, setting a new standard towards a true AI companion with our most natural and context-aware mobile experiences ever created. Introducing multimodal AI agents, the Galaxy S25 series is the first step in Samsung's vision to change the way users interact with their phone—and with their world. A first-of-its-kind customized Snapdragon 8 Elite Mobile Platform for Galaxy chipset delivers greater on-device processing power for Galaxy AI plus superior camera range and control with Galaxy's next-gen ProVisual Engine.

"The greatest innovations are a reflection of their users, which is why we evolved Galaxy AI to help everyone interact with their devices more naturally and effortlessly while trusting that their privacy is secured," said TM Roh, President and Head of Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics. "Galaxy S25 series opens the door to an AI-integrated OS that fundamentally shifts how we use technology and how we live our lives."

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) kicked off in Las Vegas, bringing together a myriad of innovative technologies from around the globe. Among the highlights of this year's event was the debut of Play For Dream MR, an Android-based spatial computer, which garnered praise from media, exhibitors, and attendees alike.

Since its global launch in Singapore, Play For Dream MR technology has made a significant impression with its state-of-the-art hardware, proprietary algorithm architecture, and sleek integrated design. With the capability to seamlessly blend virtual and real-world experiences, the Play For Dream MR is poised to redefine spatial entertainment.

Technics announces the EAH-AZ100, its latest true wireless earbuds, adding to the family of award-winning audio products backed by 60 years of sound engineering and product development. The EAH-AZ100 levels up users' sound experience with a newly developed, proprietary "Magnetic Fluid Driver" that creates clean, high-resolution, low-vibration and low-distortion sounds for the most authentic, balanced audio that's true to the original source.

For stress-free communication, the EAH-AZ100 introduces "Voice Focus AI"- an innovative feature that combines an AI noise reduction chip and three microphones in each earbud. This advanced technology delivers precise tuning, ensuring the ultimate call quality for both the speaker and the listener. "Voice Focus AI" goes beyond eliminating common call distractions, such as busy street traffic wind or other background noise. It actively analyses incoming sound, enhancing the sound of the caller.

Today, Lenovo announced a lineup of new Lenovo Yoga and IdeaPad devices and software at CES 2025 that are designed to transform the way smarter technology adapts to and streamlines creative and productivity tasks. Lenovo Yoga laptops feature inventive form factors, never-before-seen innovations, intuitive ecosystems, and functional AI implementations designed to channel users' creative passions and maximize their potential. Embodying this pursuit are:

• The new Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i (14", 10) with its 98% screen-to-body ratio PureSight Pro OLED display courtesy of its world's first camera-under-display technology in a laptop.
• The Lenovo Yoga Book 9i (14", 10), featuring two larger PureSight OLED screens that act as the ultimate canvas for AI-driven creative pursuits.
• The Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition (14", 10), the newest addition to the Lenovo Yoga Aura Edition family imagined with Intel, a Copilot+ PC2 with a PureSight OLED display and up to Intel Core Ultra 7 processor.
• The Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus, Lenovo's first on-device AI tablet for amazing productivity with personalized AI experiences.

At CES 2025, Lenovo unveiled a bold lineup of AI-powered business solutions designed to redefine the modern workplace. Highlights include the boldly redesigned Lenovo ThinkPad X9 Aura Editions, the innovative and unique ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 with rollable display, and the latest commercial desktops, including the high performance ThinkCentre M90a Pro Gen 6, and the groundbreaking ThinkCentre neo 50q QC powered by Snapdragon. Lenovo also introduces its next-generation ThinkVision P Series monitors and a comprehensive ecosystem of smart accessories, all engineered to elevate productivity and connectivity. Rounding out the announcements, Lenovo showcases cutting-edge proof-of-concept innovations that push the boundaries of technology, offering a glimpse into the future of intelligent, adaptable business solutions.

Lenovo Unveils ThinkPad X9 Series: Revolutionary Design Meets Pro-Level Performance
Lenovo introduces the ThinkPad X9 14 and X9 15 Aura Editions, its latest premium business laptops designed for innovative thinkers from prosumers to small and medium businesses to large corporations. These Copilot+ PCs powered by Intel Core Ultra processors are cutting-edge, AI-enhanced devices for creative professionals that combine powerful and efficient Intel and Windows 11 platforms, personalized AI-enabled experiences, in an all-new progressive design. ThinkPad X9 offers the ideal toolkit for today's hybrid users who demand high performance, proven reliability, and seamless productivity.

Lenovo announced the latest additions to its Lenovo Legion ecosystem of gaming devices, accessories, and software today at CES 2025, delivering a deep bench of devices across a wide range of form-factors that give gamers of all levels powerful options to game their way in pursuit of 'reaching their impossible'. These new devices include:

• The Lenovo Legion Go S (8", 1) and Lenovo Legion Go S (8", 1) - Powered by SteamOS, gaming handheld devices featuring an 8-inch screen with VRR support, a chassis sporting fused TrueStrike controllers with adjustable trigger switches and hall-effect joysticks, and the world's first officially licensed handheld powered by SteamOS.
• The Lenovo Legion Go (8.8", 2), a gaming handheld prototype device planned to feature a native landscape OLED display, up to double the RAM compared to previous generation, and a bigger battery.
• The redesigned Lenovo Legion Pro 7i (16", 10), Lenovo Legion Pro 5i (16", 10) and Lenovo Legion Pro 5 (16", 10) laptops, with new aggressive design language, more performance, and new Lenovo PureSight OLED display options.
• A fully redesigned Legion Space gaming software solution that unifies all Lenovo Legion device settings, syncs with all Lenovo Legion ecosystem devices, provides access to all games in one library, and features a suite of new AI-powered features that help gamers up their game, their streams, and their enjoyment.
• The Lenovo Legion Pro 34WD-10 monitor, a PureSight OLED display with gaming-specific features to give competitive gamers an edge on the map.
• Lenovo also announced other new additions to its Legion and LOQ laptops and desktops, the latest Legion Tab, and a selection of Legion accessories to complement the gaming devices.

Razer, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, today introduces a breathtaking lineup of high-performance gaming solutions and visionary technological concepts at CES 2025.

This year's highlights include the innovative Razer Blade 16 - the thinnest and most powerful in its lineage, alongside revolutionary projects like Project Arielle, the first gaming chair with integrated heating and cooling, and Project AVA, an AI esports coach that personalizes gaming strategies. Today's announcement also includes the immersive Razer Aether Standing Light Bars, the sleek Razer Monitor Stand Chroma, Razer Handheld Dock Chroma, a new Razer HyperBoost feature for the Razer Laptop Cooling Pad, and the intuitive new Razer PC Remote Play feature for the Razer Kishi Ultra. Further enhancing the lineup, the ergonomic Razer Iskur V2 X chair underscores Razer's commitment to comfort gaming.

We started Android over a decade ago with a simple idea: transform computing for everyone. Android powers more than just phones—it's on tablets, watches, TVs, cars and more.

Now, we're taking the next step into the future. Advancements in AI are making interacting with computers more natural and conversational. This inflection point enables new extended reality (XR) devices, like headsets and glasses, to understand your intent and the world around you, helping you get things done in entirely new ways.

Imagine being able to step into any world in an instant—from the bustling streets of New York City to the snowy mountain tops of the Alps. These worlds are no longer merely places to observe from afar. They can now be explored and interacted with simply through a gaze, a gesture or your voice. What once seemed like science fiction has become a reality as eXtended reality (XR) transforms how we engage with the world around us.

XR is an umbrella term for technologies that use digital elements to extend or alter reality by merging the physical and digital worlds together. This includes virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR) as well as other similar technologies yet to be developed. XR offers infinite possibilities, creating a dynamic spatial canvas where users' sight, sound and motion combine to interact with the outside world. A world that will unlock unprecedented experiences across core areas of life, from working and learning to entertainment, gaming and even health and wellness.

GameSir, a pioneer in gaming peripherals, introduces the X3 Pro mobile gaming controller, a groundbreaking device designed to redefine the mobile gaming experience. With an integrated 900 mm² cooling plate, Hall Effect sticks, dual rumble motors, and detachable components, the X3 Pro combines cutting-edge technology with exceptional customization options for gamers seeking peak performance. The GameSir X3 Pro Mobile Gaming Controller is available for $79.99/£79.99 on Amazon, Amazon UK and the GameSir Official Website

Designed for compatibility with Android devices and iPhone 16/15 series, the X3 Pro controller sets a new standard for mobile gaming. The built-in cooling system, powered by advanced Peltier technology, delivers efficient heat dissipation with a maximum cooling power of 12 W. This ensures smartphones remain cool even during prolonged sessions in high-temperature conditions, providing uninterrupted, smooth gameplay.

ADATA Technology, the world's leading memory brand, has launched the new SC740 external SSD. The SC740 features an industry first built-in USB-C transfer cable and corresponding storage clip while combining fast read/write speeds of up to 1,050/1,000 MB/s with a generous capacity of up to 2000 GB. The SC740 makes large file access a breeze and provides ample storage space. It is compatible with Android, macOS, Windows, and other operating systems, and supports file transfer and Apple ProRes video recording on the latest iPhone 16 series smartphones, providing an efficient and convenient storage solution for the modern digital lifestyle.

The SC740 external SSD has a built-in USB-C transfer cable and features innovative cable stowage. Users no longer need to worry about forgetting to bring a cable when traveling. Just snap the cable into the retaining clip on the rear casing, and it transforms immediately into a convenient carrying handle. In addition to the integrated casing and transfer cable, the SC740 external SSD also conforms to the 1.22-meter MIL-STD-810G 516.6 drop and shock resistance standard, effectively protecting data security. The SC740 adopts ADATA's most popular and classic design elements. A contrasting blue and black color scheme is fashionable and sporty whether traveling, filming outdoors, or at the office. The SC740 is the most convenient and reliable storage option for consumers.

The Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket is billed as a "casual," accessible way for people to enjoy the fun of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, regardless of where they are in the world. That said, it looks like players will also have to endure the added fun of the financial burden of the real-world Pokémon TCG if they want to be able to play the game in any serious fashion. According to one gamer's analysis posted on Reddit, however, the amount of time you'd need to invest into Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket is anything but casual, clocking in at over two years of daily gameplay to unlock your first whole set.

The method used in the analysis was based on the likelihood of obtaining a new card needed to complete a card set in one of the two daily card draws available to non-premium players. Without optimizing gameplay using features, like the Points Shop or the Wonder Pick, both of which greatly increase the odds of drawing specific cards, players would need to play consecutively for 1843 days, opening a total of 3,687. Paying for a premium pass enables opening three packs a day, however, reducing that number to 1,229 days and resulting in a total bill of $404 for that period. It's only by making full use of the Wonder Pick and Points Shop that the total play time comes down to a little under two years, at a total of 655 days (around 1,310 packs). Upgrading to the premium pass reduces this, but will run up a total of $180 but reduce the amount of time significantly.

DIGIERA introduces the external SSD, a cutting-edge storage solution designed to meet the increasing needs of iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro users. With mobile content creation and data management evolving rapidly, this SSD delivers the perfect balance of speed, portability, and durability, making it ideal for high-resolution video capture, fast data transfers, and other demanding tasks.

Advanced Performance and Speed
At the heart of the DIGIERA external SSD lies its USB 3.2 Gen2x2 technology, delivering blazing-fast data transfer rates with read speeds of up to 2000 MB/s and write speeds of 1800 MB/s. This makes it six times faster than traditional external hard drives, ensuring users can seamlessly store and transfer 4K ProRes videos, high-resolution images, and large project files directly from their iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 16 Pro.

At an industry event in Austin today, Thundercomm announces RUBIK Pi, the first Pi built on Qualcomm SoC platforms for developers. RUBIK Pi is an innovative tool that aims to lower the barriers application development with AI inference, allowing developers to access high-performance, easy-to-deploy AI R&D tools.

The Pi product is a must-have for electronics enthusiasts and developers. It can be seen as a microcomputer, integrating a processor, memory, storage, and various interfaces on a credit card-sized board. Thundercomm, a world-leading IoT product and solution provider, building on its expertise in ICT technologies and developer workflows, launched RUBIK Pi, aiming to create the most user-friendly AI R&D tools.

Following Epic Games's recent victory over Apple, which effectively forced the iPhone maker to allow third-party apps on iOS in the EU, the game developer and distributor has won a similar case against Google, except in the US, this time. The ruling places several restrictions on what Google can and can't do when it comes to the Android operating system and how it positions its own apps and services on Android phones, including prohibiting Google from paying device manufacturers to include its Play software on their devices and forcing developers to use Google's payment platform.

The ruling (PDF) and its consequent restrictions will start on November 1, 2024, will last three years, and Google isn't particularly happy about the mandated changes, having already confirmed that it will appeal the decision, citing security concerns and arguing that the order would negatively affect developers: "these changes would put consumers' privacy and security at risk, make it harder for developers to promote their apps, and reduce competition on devices."

The Epic Games free weekly game giveaways have been an easy way for PC gamers to pad out their game library with aging games and help Epic Games draw gamers to its store, which is commonly thought to be inferior to the likes of Steam due to a lack of features. Now Epic Games is bringing that same free game giveaway program to its mobile storefront for iOS (in the EU, at least) and Android.

Announced at a round table discussion at the Seattle Unreal Fest earlier this week, the free mobile game giveaway will launch in Q4, 2024, and the publisher will add third-party apps to its mobile store at the same time. Epic Games Store's general manager, Steve Allison, who announced the program, was pretty up-front about Epic's intentions with the game giveaway: "The free games program will launch in Q4 along with the [first] third-party apps showing up, and we're gonna have some awesome stuff for players that will also be awesome for developers because it'll help us scale really quickly."

At the opening event of the Unreal Fest in Seattle, Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, addressed the recent commercial failures of ambitious, citing a "generational change" in the gaming landscape as part of the reason for their failures. Epic Games seemingly wants to address this shift in gamer priorities by relying more on in-game social features, although there was also a strong emphasis on getting indie game developers to sign on to use the Unreal Engine and the Epic Games Store.

In the same presentation, Epic Games announced a new collaboration between the Epic Games Store and Unreal Engine that should make it easier and more affordable for small development teams to market and publish their games to Epic Games and other storefronts. The new launch program, called Launch Everywhere with Epic, reduces Epic's revenue cut for any games developed with Unreal Engine and published on the Epic Games Store before or at the same time as any other platforms. Epic also announced new "indie spaces" for indie developers to share knowledge and make industry connections.

Samsung Electronics today unveiled the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S10+, Samsung's first tablets purposefully built for AI. The premium hardware includes 14.6-inch and 12.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays—the ideal canvas for the intuitive S Pen bundled with both models. Performance upgrades for the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra include an 18% increase in CPU, 28% increase in GPU and 14% increase in NPU compared to the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra.

This improved processing power enables faster and more responsive AI features, which are now easily accessible with written prompts using the new Galaxy AI Key on the Book Cover Keyboards to customize AI assistant. Cutting-edge software includes features such as Note Assist and Drawing Assist, optimized for the tablet form factor. The Galaxy Tab S10 series also acts as a home AI device, with a 3D Map View that gives a visual overview of the home and all connected devices to streamline device management across the SmartThings ecosystem. Robust Samsung Knox security ensures data privacy and control, while innovative materials underscore Samsung's commitment to a more sustainable future.

A new forecast from the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker shows shipments of personal computing devices are expected to grow 2.6% year over year in 2024 to 398.9 million units. The traditional PC market will remain flat in 2024 with 261 million units shipped while the tablet market is forecast to grow 7.2% year over year as a refresh cycle and project investments are expected to drive the market.

For traditional PCs, the global market excluding China is expected to grow 2.8% in 2024 as China continues to suffer through a confluence of macroeconomic challenges, including high youth employment, deflation, and a tumultuous real estate market. However, China's economic concerns have largely impacted just the PC market as tablet demand has proven to be more resilient thanks to Huawei's efforts.

Gaming giant Valve appears to be venturing into uncharted territory. Recent findings on SteamDB have revealed that the company may be working on integrating ARM architecture and Android app support into its ecosystem. A mysterious application, codenamed "ValveTestApp3043620," has been spotted with an update that includes interesting changes. The update features new tags for several popular games, including Left 4 Dead 2, Garry's Mod, and Kerbal Space Program. These tags, such as "proton-arm64" and "proton-arm64e," indicate that Valve is testing a version of Proton specifically designed for ARM64-based systems. Proton, Valve's brainchild developed in partnership with CodeWeavers, is the magic behind running Windows games on Linux systems. By extending this technology to ARM64, Valve could be paving the way for PC gaming on portable Arm-based devices, potentially signaling a new hardware strategy.

The plot thickens with mentions of "proton_experimental" and "proton-arm64ec-vanguard" in the changelog, hinting at ongoing tests and experimental builds. Additionally, references to Waydroid, a tool enabling Android apps on Linux, suggest that Valve's ambitions may extend beyond gaming, possibly aiming to broaden software accessibility of its platform. This development has sparked speculation about the possibility of Steam games running on Android smartphones and tablets or even a possible Arm-powered version of the Steam Deck. However, a more likely scenario could be testing for Windows support on Arm-based chips. The timing of these experiments aligns with recent announcements of laptops featuring Qualcomm's ARM64-based Snapdragon X CPUs. These devices can run Windows-based games through Microsoft and Qualcomm's emulation layer, Prism. If Valve's Proton can provide superior performance or more stable emulation for Windows-based games on Arm devices, it could position itself as a strong competitor to Prism.