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Budget MacBook Rumors Hint at Chromebook-Like Cutbacks
13 hours ago•Source: Gizmodo
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RAM Crunch Could Push Smartphone Sales to Historic Drop in 2026
IDC projects smartphone shipments to fall about 12.9% in 2026 due to a global RAM shortage driven by AI datacenters, while average selling prices rise to a record around $523. Memory costs aren’t expected to revert to pre-crisis levels, likely making sub-$100 phones uneconomical and shifting market share toward Apple and Samsung.
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Apple Bets on Visual Intelligence, but It Might Not Be Groundbreaking
Bloomberg reports Apple plans to weave Visual Intelligence (computer vision) into a wave of upcoming devices—AirPods with cameras, first-gen smart glasses, and an AI pendant—to give gadgets “sight,” enable item recognition and navigation cues, and prompt actions. Critics argue the vision tech mirrors what’s already in Meta’s glasses, may be unreliable, and its everyday usefulness remains uncertain as rollout is not expected before late 2026 at the earliest.
Nothing Phone 4A reveals brighter Glyph Bar rear lighting
Nothing revealed a rear render of the Phone 4A, showcasing a new Glyph Bar lighting strip to the right of the triple camera. The bar uses nine mini-LEDs (presented as seven square lights: six white and one red) and Nothing says it’s about 40% brighter than the Phone 3A’s lights with a “natural, bleed-free glow.” The company hasn’t shared full specs or pricing yet, but the phone will run a Snapdragon chip and is expected to launch on March 5; Nothing’s Carl Pei has said there won’t be a Phone 4 this year, so the Phone 3 remains the flagship for now.
Nintendo Turns Mario Into Wooden Blocks With a Playful App Twist
Nintendo is debuting My Mario wooden block sets (30-piece for $150 or 3-piece for $30) that are Amiibo-compatible for Switch games, along with a free Hello, Mario app for Android and iPadOS that lets kids poke and spin a squashable Mario head and add effects. The line also includes Mario-themed rattles and blankets, and the toys are designed to be age-appropriate while encouraging use with existing Switch titles. The products arrive in the US and Europe starting February 19, 2026, with in-store availability in Nintendo’s physical stores (online availability unclear).
Apple’s AI Pendant Leaves Processing to iPhone, Echoing Humane’s Concept
Bloomberg sources say Apple is developing an iPhone-dependent AI pendant worn on clothing, with a camera for computer vision and a Siri-enabled microphone (and possibly a speaker); it would offload most processing to the iPhone, making it lighter in on-device power. The device mirrors Humane’s AI Pin but reportedly won’t do much on its own. Apple is also reportedly developing smart glasses with dual cameras and AI features, tightly integrated with the iPhone, though both projects are still early and release timing is unclear.
Apple's Colorful, Budget MacBook Aimed for March 4 Debut
Rumors claim Apple will unveil a colorful, affordable MacBook powered by the A18 Pro at its March 4 event, potentially priced well below the $999 MacBook Air, aided by a new manufacturing process for faster aluminum shells; additional Mac and iPad updates are expected later in the year.
Old but gold: Apple’s first-gen AirTag remains a solid deal on Presidents Day
Apple’s first-gen AirTag remains a precise find-my tracker thanks to the Find My network and UWB; with Presidents Day discounts, a four-pack runs about $64 and a single tag around $17, making it a solid value for iPhone users, though it lacks the second-gen’s upgraded features and louder speaker.
iBuyPower prebuilt gaming PCs go on Presidents Day sale with high-end Ryzen 7 options
The Verge highlights Presidents Day deals on two iBuyPower pre-built gaming desktops: the Element 9 Pro R07 is discounted to $1,899 (from $2,149) and features an AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D, Radeon 9070 XT GPU, 32GB DDR6 RAM, 2TB NVMe, a tempered glass case, 850W PSU, and a three-year labor plus two-year parts warranty with a bundled keyboard and mouse; the Slate is $2,099.99 at Best Buy, with similar high-end AMD CPU/GPU specs, 32GB DDR5 RAM, 2TB NVMe, a liquid cooling system, and a one-year warranty. Both are positioned as ready-made alternatives to building a PC.
The Next-Gen Xbox Could Be a PC in Console Clothing
Rumors suggest Microsoft's next-gen Xbox will blur the line between console and PC, potentially coming as a family of devices powered by an AMD Magnus APU (Zen 6 + RDNA 4) and offered through multiple OEMs. It could support PC launchers like Steam and GOG, allow mods, retro emulators, and a broad range of peripherals, and run Xbox One/Series titles while embracing Windows-like usability. The plan aims to deliver more hardware and software choice (and possibly price options around $1,000) beyond traditional console constraints, signaling a shift toward PC-style flexibility across form factors.
Limited Editions and Fresh Audio Gear Lead This Week's Gadget Roundup
Gear Patrol’s weekly roundup highlights notable new gadget launches, from Analogue’s Prototype Editions of the reimagined 3D N64 to copper-edition Astell&Kern SP4000, Canon’s 30th-anniversary PowerShot G7 X III, Revival Audio’s Grande Réserve loudspeakers, and Esoteric’s N-05XE/S-05XE upgrades. Rounding out the list are Ikea’s Grejsimojs portable speaker, Logitech G325 Lightspeed headset, Arcam Radia speakers, Asus Rog Kithara open-back headphones, and Twelve South PowerCapsule, illustrating continued momentum in hi‑fi, portable audio, and gaming gear with limited runs and budget options.
OLED savings and power on the go: LG C5 TV and Anker power bank lead this week’s deals
The Verge’s deals roundup highlights major savings this weekend: LG’s 65-inch C5 OLED TV is deep-discounted (about half off, around $1,397–$1,399), Anker’s 25,000mAh Laptop Power Bank hits an all-time low (roughly $89–$90) with up to 165W output and built-in USB-C cables, and Belkin’s Stage PowerGrip for iPhone or Pixel is discounted to about $68. Also featured are a $20 sci‑fi shooters game bundle from Humble, cheap USB-C cables, and AirTag price drops, making it a strong shopping window ahead of the Super Bowl.