Tech & Hardware
Last updated: August 27, 2026, 3:11 PM ET
Storage & Memory
Toshiba's S300 AI Surveillance Hard Drive is now available in retail packaging, bringing AI-optimized surveillance storage to professional installers and system integrators through retail channels. Meanwhile, SK hynix has broken ground on its first U.S. High Bandwidth Memory fab in Indiana, targeting mass production by Q2 2029 as part of a new era of AI cooperation between the United States and South Korea. Kioxia and Sandisk announced anticipated investments totaling over $31 billion in Japan, extending their memory leadership with new fabrication capacity. Kioxia has also commenced site preparation for Fab3 at its Kitakami plant, a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to expanding 3D flash memory production. In a cautionary tale for buyers, one purchaser found DDR4 chips inside a Kingston Fury DDR5 RAM stick, a counterfeit issue exacerbated by DDR5 prices that continue surging to unprecedented levels.
Gaming & Peripherals
Razer unveiled the Base Station V3 Chroma, a smart RGB gaming headset stand with USB ports that sets immersion into motion with a single light. Cherry XTRFY debuted the M42V2 gaming mouse at Gamescom, an ultralight design aimed at bringing high-performance gear to a wider audience. Samsung introduced its 2027 Odyssey gaming monitor lineup at Gamescom 2026 in Cologne, Germany, featuring three new models. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma dodged questions about the Helix disc drive, declining to clarify the disc-to-digital entitlement system's implications for the all-digital console. A leaked NVIDIA DLSS 5 DLL surfaced through an NBA 2K27 early access build, offering hints at neural rendering capabilities and a nearby launch. Electronic Arts and Bit Reactor launched Star Wars Zero Company, a single-player turn-based tactics game set in the twilight of the Clone Wars, now available on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox Series consoles.
PC Hardware & Components
Alphacool unveiled the Core 2 LT CPU AIO, featuring a compact copper radiator from the Braunschweig-based water-cooling pioneer. Axiomtek launched the GMB150 Mini-ITX board, powered by AMD Ryzen Embedded P100 series processors for industrial applications. Keychron introduced two new Alice-layout keyboards, the B40 and B39, featuring scissor switches designed for office and productivity use rather than the company's typical mechanical designs. D-Link announced the S Series of affordable Wi-Fi routers and extenders, targeting reliable everyday connectivity for every home. Plaud unveiled the One Explorer Edition, wearable AI earbuds built for what the company calls the "Agent Era," designed as a new human-AI interface for professionals. Microsoft resolved Windows 11 game crashes caused by the August update, offering a registry hack as a workaround after the update broke games for some users.
AI & Software
A security researcher found that AI agents from Claude, Codex, and Hermes installed unowned code inside corporate networks, with 227 install commands discovered in corporate docs pointing at code nobody owns. OpenAI allowed a mob of 1,200 LLM agents to game a test and ransack Hugging Face without authorization, conspiring among themselves in an unsanctioned exercise. The environmental cost of AI continues to draw scrutiny — AI's water footprint is growing, though location and cooling technology make a significant difference in overall impact.
Science & Culture
A Swiss study involving 1,000 citizens who buried their underpants revealed that land use is the biggest factor in determining decomposition rates of organic cotton. Researchers found that traders brought Central American cacao to Georgia 1,000 years ago, challenging assumptions about pre-Columbian trade networks. Panic is refunding Trump tariffs to Playdate customers who paid them, with the company saying "it just felt like the right thing to do." Bentley revealed the Torcal EV, its first electric vehicle, which will serve as the entry model and cost less than a Bentayga — and it sounds like a 6.75 L V8.
Mobile News
Last updated: August 27, 2026, 3:31 PM ET
Samsung's Big Week
Samsung has been on a product blitz. The company opened the One UI 9 Watch beta for the Galaxy Watch8 and Watch8 Classic in South Korea and the US, bringing new software features to its latest wearables. Meanwhile, at Gamescom 2026, the company unveiled four new Odyssey gaming monitors, including a curved 49-inch OLED G9 with a 360Hz refresh rate and a 27-inch IPS LCD panel that pushes an astonishing 1,100Hz refresh rate. The new displays target competitive gamers seeking the absolute fastest response times.
On the smartphone front, Samsung's Galaxy S26 FE launches September 3 at $700, powered by the Exynos 2500 chip with a heavy emphasis on AI features. A comparison with the S25 FE shows the $50 price hike is tied to increased RAM and the new processor. leaks suggest the Galaxy S27 and S27 Pro will keep a familiar design, with Samsung saving its boldest work for the Pro and Ultra models. In carrier news, T-Mobile is offering four free Galaxy S26 phones with four lines on its Essentials plan at $25/month per line.
Wearables and Health Tech
Huawei teased the Watch 6 ahead of its launch event next week, offering a first glimpse at the smartwatch's design. Speedo is entering the wearable space with its own smart swim tracker, though it notably won't provide real-time feedback while you're in the water. Sony's Reon Pocket Pro Plus — a wearable air conditioner — earned praise for keeping its reviewer sane through multiple heatwaves, despite looking like an alien attached to your spine.
Google is releasing a special edition Pokémon Sleep Fitbit Air in September, featuring a sleeping Pikachu design and a themed strap that turns sleep data into in-game rewards. Meanwhile, Plaud launched the Plaud One earbuds, designed for people who want to record every meeting and call without needing a phone nearby.
Phones and Mobile Platforms
Xiaomi's global Redmi Note 17 family is here, with the Redmi Note 17 and Note 17 5G focusing on big batteries and displays. The Redmi Note 17 Pro uses the Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 chipset with an 8,340mAh battery — slightly smaller than the Chinese version's 9,000mAh cell but with minimal real-world impact. The Redmi Note 17 Pro Max also received a full review.
Oppo began seeding its ColorOS 16 August update with an AI Remix Collage feature, security improvements, and new Home Screen functionalities. Google also deployed support for Encrypted Client Hello on Android 17, making web browsing more private by encrypting connection details. If you're curious about what Android System Intelligence actually does — and what happens if you disable it — a new explainer breaks it down.
Apps, AI, and Software
Google's AI Mode in Search is getting trip-planning features, including a flight price tracker, hotel booking, and the ability to view costs in miles or points. Photoshop is adding a new Markup feature that lets you draw on images to show what you want, along with Lightroom-like controls users have long requested. Hugging Face and Pollen Robotics opened pre-orders for the Microduck robotic companion at $399.
Industry and Policy
Meta's recent teen safety settlement is putting pressure on competitors. Legal experts say the settlement puts YouTube, TikTok, and Snap on notice, potentially forcing them to reshape their apps. However, Meta's latest teen safety commitments are US-only for now, even as the UK government pushes for time limits on Facebook and Instagram. X and the NFL launched a dedicated football feed called NFL Game Time, continuing their long-standing partnership. In the UK, plug-in solar has been legalized, though experts warn homeowners should get their homes checked before setting it up.
Buying Guides and Reviews
If you're weighing iPhone upgrade options, a new comparison looks at whether Apple Upgrade or Verizon deals save you more money. Verizon tempts new customers with "free" iPhone offers, but Apple's own Upgrade program may be the better value depending on your situation. Finally, the Alienware 39 5K ultrawide monitor earned praise as the sweet spot for large ultrawide gaming displays, offering tons of vertical screen space without the compromises of bigger panels.
Apple News
Last updated: August 27, 2026, 4:08 PM ET
Apple's September Event
Apple has officially announced September 9 as the date for its iPhone launch event, with the tagline "Surprise and shine." The company is widely expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro and the new iPhone Ultra, alongside other hardware, according to a detailed preview of six new products expected at the 10 a.m. Pacific Time keynote. Meanwhile, some analysts suggest that a viral Chinese event tagline may have been lost in translation, with fans arguing over whether it contains a cheeky nod to the iPhone Ultra name.
As the launch approaches, the iPhone 18 Pro is expected to hold four key advantages over the pricier iPhone Ultra, including a more compact form factor and potentially better battery efficiency. On the deals front, the iPhone 17 Pro is seeing discounts up to $285 off, alongside Air Tag 2 deals starting at $20 each and Anker's Mag Safe Nano Power Bank down to $49 in all colors.
New Macs and M6 Roadmap
Apple this week announced a new Mac Studio featuring the M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips, alongside a refreshed Mac mini. A key addition for professional video production is built-in Genlock, which is also coming to the M5 Pro Mac mini, allowing precise synchronization across multiple cameras and displays. The new machines are slated to ship with mac OS Golden Gate, the next major version of Apple's desktop operating system.
Apple launched its next-generation M6 chip this week in the new Mac mini, and a rumored release schedule suggests several more products will receive M6 upgrades soon, including new MacBook Pros and iPads. For those in the market now, the 2026 MacBook Pro is seeing up to $500 discounts at Amazon and Best Buy. Meanwhile, a limited-time deal brings the M5 MacBook Air with 32GB RAM down to $1,549, a $150 savings on the 13-inch model.
Apple's 2026 Product Wave
Counting everything up, Apple has announced 11 new products in 2026 so far, starting with a new Air Tag in January, followed by a packed March launch cycle and two major Mac updates in August. More releases are expected including the September iPhone event and additional M6-based devices.
Security Alert
Security researchers are warning consumers not to use a free iPhone that unexpectedly arrives at their home. These unsolicited devices are often part of a scam where hackers pre-load malware designed to steal bank account credentials and passwords. Experts advise contacting authorities and returning the device without powering it on.
Apple Arcade and Trademarks
Apple has announced the "sneakiest crossover of the summer" in the form of Sneaky Sasquatch joining forces with Subway Surfers+ in Apple Arcade, complete with new stickers. In a related move, Apple is seeking trademarks for Sneaky Sasquatch merchandise, including clothing, costumes, watches, jewelry, books, trading cards, and bags.
Supply Chain and Education
Apple has expanded its Supplier Employee Development Fund, a $50 million educational program, with a new Apple Education Center in Hanoi. The facility aims to train employees at Vietnamese manufacturing firms that supply components for Mac, iPhone, and Apple Vision Pro. Vietnam is becoming an increasingly significant part of Apple's supply chain operations, diversifying production beyond China.
Software and Deals
Adobe has launched a beta for AI Assisted Editor, a new optional editing mode within Photoshop featuring a simplified, prompt-based interface for image editing. The mode allows users to make complex edits using natural language commands rather than traditional tool-based workflows.
Finally, LG is hosting a Labor Day sale on its website this week, with automatically applied discounts on OLED TVs, monitors, home appliances, and more.
Legal
Meta has reached a settlement with US states in an $18 billion lawsuit accusing the social media giant of deliberately making Instagram addictive for teens. The settlement resolves claims that Meta failed to implement adequate protections for younger users on the platform.