American fabless chipmaker powering 5G and AI
PepsiCo has reported a mixed second quarter, with North American volumes flat or down and international markets driving overall growth. Revenue rose 6.4% to $24.18 billion, but North American beverage volumes fell 4% and per-share earnings narrowly missed expectations. The company has signaled a slower but steady recovery in North America as inflation pressures persist.
ZDNet has reported that most people no longer need flagship levels of phone storage or RAM. For storage, 128GB or 256GB will suit most users who stream and use cloud backups; 64GB is now the bare minimum. For RAM, 8GB–12GB will cover most use cases while high-tier RAM is driving device price increases in 2026.
The Google Pixel Watch 5 has been unveiled with blood-pressure trend tracking, insulin-resistance monitoring, a faster processor and new health features. The device, paired with Gemini Intelligence and Google Health Coach, offers minute-by-minute sleep analysis and customizable HIIT workouts. Several Pixel devices also highlight new camera and display improvements across the Pixel 11 line.
A roundup of Pixel 11 Pro Fold reviews shows a safer, more durable design and stronger hardware, with AI features receiving mixed responses. The outer screen is brighter and the build quality is praised, but some critics note limited gains over prior folds. Battery life stays solid while camera performance remains variable.
The Fairphone 6+ has launched in the US, offering a repairable, modular Android phone with 12GB RAM and a Snapdragon 7s Gen 4. It faces stiff competition from Google and Apple but emphasizes sustainability and repairability. Reviews note strong hand feel, modularity, and long-term software support.
The Unibook, a Wildcat Lake laptop, has launched at $449 in the US through Chinese maker Chuwi. Its 8GB RAM and 256GB storage undercut rivals like the MacBook Air, but reviewers warn performance and build quality are uneven. Other brands respond with budget options, while Dell and Acer chase lower prices.
Nvidia has invested in MediaTek’s AI chip ambitions, enabling NVLink Fusion connectivity and local AI computing. MediaTek’s shares have rallied as the partnership deepens MediaTek’s role in custom AI chips for data centers; the collaboration extends to PC and automotive platforms, signaling Nvidia’s continued influence in AI infrastructure.
A wave of robotics and AI upgrades is reshaping manufacturing. Startups like Vsim and Maven are pushing faster simulations and end-to-end automation, while established players such as Agility, Nissan and Caterpillar detail how humanoids and AMRs are being deployed to lift heavy loads, optimize flows and reduce human labor in factories.
Arm Holdings chief executive Rene Haas says AI could one day help cure cancer, but the path is constrained by chip shortages and a demand surge for AI data centres. Multiple outlets report Haas’s remarks, framing a broaderAI-driven push in healthcare and manufacturing, while flagging supply constraints and broader market excitement.
ASML’s High NA EUV lithography machines, costing about $400 million each, are being adopted by Samsung, TSMC and Intel to print ever-smaller chip features for AI data centers and consumer devices. The move accelerates a global shift toward next-generation photolithography, with industry-wide capacity expansion on the horizon.
Liverpool has secured a five-year shirt sponsorship with Turkish Airlines from June 2027, replacing Standard Chartered. The deal, worth in excess of £60 million per season, makes Turkish Airlines the main club partner on the front of shirts for men’s, women’s and academy teams, with Standard Chartered moving to global partner status. The deal is set to be one of the most lucrative in Premier League history.
Apple has unveiled its first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, with a 7.6-inch inner display and a 5.4-inch outer screen. It launches at $1,999, positioning Apple against Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 and signaling a potential shift in premium smartphones. The device offers a book-style design, a matte inner display, and an under-display selfie camera, while rivals emphasize their crease-free engineering.
Memory-chip makers SK Hynix and Intel are exploring options to manufacture memory chips in the United States, including leasing space at Intel’s Ohio plant or forming a joint venture with cloud providers. Reuters notes potential government scrutiny; no decisions have been finalized.
Generac has entered an agreement with Amazon granting warrants to buy 1.69 million shares and supplying $2.4 billion worth of generators for Amazon’s data centers, sending GNRC shares higher as power equipment moves into the AI infrastructure conversation.
Meta has integrated its Muse AI assistant more deeply into glasses and wearables, unveiling new features at Connect 2026. The company is pushing Muse across hardware, including AI glasses, VR glasses, and a new Charm device, as it aims to embed AI into daily life while expanding hardware partnerships and services.