South Korea’s flagship chaebol and global tech conglomerate
Prime Day has ignited a wave of laptop discounts across major brands, including Apple, Microsoft, Lenovo and Samsung. Deals highlight the M5-powered MacBook Air, Surface laptop, and gaming machines, with savings up to about 40%. The event runs through Oct. 7-8 and prompts buyers to act quickly.
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 Federal Communications Commission has added "advanced robotic devices" — including humanoid robots, four‑legged machines and some connected power inverters — to a list that blocks new foreign-made models from US markets on national‑security and cybersecurity grounds. The rule has taken effect for models not yet authorised; existing authorised devices remain allowed while exemptions can be requested.
Apple has confirmed a high-end focus for its September event, with the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max as the main attractions and a foldable iPhone Ultra expected to be unveiled. The base iPhone 18 is delayed to spring 2027, while AirPods and other components face supply and price pressures.
The Guardian and other outlets report increasing concern over Meta’s Ray‑Ban smartglasses. Pubs, theatres and schools ban or restrict wearables to protect privacy as regulators weigh rules. While advocates highlight accessibility benefits, critics warn surreptitious filming and harassment threaten safety in public spaces.
The Army has completed the Capstone phase of Project Convergence at Fort Irwin, testing digital maps and a range of new technologies in a degraded communications environment. Soldiers use digital tools for real-time situational awareness while keeping physical maps for redundancy. Feedback will inform acquisition and deployment strategies for the Army’s Next Generation Command and Control system.
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.
Google has refreshed its Pixel line with the Pixel 11 base and Pixel 11 Pro Fold, boosting storage and cameras on the base model while delivering stronger hinges, brighter displays, and HiLight on the foldable. The Pro Fold gains a 48MP main sensor, brighter Super Actua displays, and a thinner, lighter body, but with a slightly smaller battery.
Google has unveiled the Pixel 11 lineup—the Pixel 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro XL, and 11 Pro Fold—with preorder offers including Amazon gift cards up to $350 and carrier deals. The devices feature Gemini-powered performance, upgraded cameras, and longer-lasting battery life. Deals vary by retailer and trade-in options.
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.
Fairphone has launched the 6+ in the US, offering a repairable, modular Android phone with 12GB RAM, Snapdragon 7s Gen 4, and a 6.31-inch 120Hz OLED display. The phone ships with Android 16 and promises updates through 2033, while competing with mid-range devices like Google’s Pixel 10a and Apple’s iPhone 17e.
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.
Kioxia plans a third plant in Japan to manufacture high-density 3D NAND memory, while Fujifilm opens a new facility in Oita to triple production of post-CMP cleaners, addressing AI-data center bottlenecks.
Roku has introduced its first OLED TVs, the Pro Series and Pro Series LX, priced aggressively to challenge LG and Samsung. The 55" and 65" models are available now on Amazon, with LX offering brighter panels and 144Hz VRR. Roku claims competitive pricing, backlit remotes, and a user-friendly OS to appeal to home-theater fans.
Labor Day deals remain available across tech, home, mattresses and fashion, but savings have cooled since the peak. Shoppers should act quickly as many offers expire tonight or soon, with some brands already returning to regular pricing.
Independent reports that experts advise parents to use Junior ISAs rather than Premium Bonds, with guidance on cash vs stocks and shares JISAs, annual limits, and potential returns; examples include Santander 123 Mini bonuses and practical tips from Holly Mackay of Boring Money.
Apple has unveiled the iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone, at the "Surprise and Shine" event. The passport-sized device opens to about a 7.6–7.8‑inch display, starts at $1,999, and will be available October 23. New CEO John Ternus led the keynote and positioned the Duo as a productivity device with a near‑invisible hinge and on‑device AI features.
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.
Google’s Pixel 11 Pro Fold preserves the design language of prior Pixel folds, offering an improved internal 8-inch display, a bright outer screen, and a Tensor G6 chip. It features six-month Google AI Pro access, Gemini tools, and a higher price, while battery life remains competitive among rivals.
Iceland Foods plans to open a Stanley-based store in the Falkland Islands in December, marking the first UK high street brand on the islands. The deal is with Kelper Stores (Fortuna group) and stock will include Iceland-own labels alongside well-known brands; controversy around sovereignty tensions with Argentina remains in the background.
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.
The iPhone Duo and other iPhone models have seen price increases as AI-driven demand for memory chips tightens supply, raising costs across consumer electronics. Analysts note this follows broader price rises in the iPhone lineup and shrinking smartphone volumes globally.
Apple has unveiled the iPhone Duo, a foldable handset with a 5.4-inch outer display and a 7.6-inch inner display, the largest ever on an iPhone. The device features a titanium chassis and a 100+ part hinge, running a modified iOS 27. Pre-orders start October 16 in the UK, with prices ranging from £1,999 for 256GB to £3,199 for 2TB.
Prime Big Deal Days will run on Oct. 6-7, with early promotions already live. Amazon, Target and Walmart are launching competing sales as shoppers prepare for the holiday season. The two-day event marks a fall shopping surge ahead of Black Friday.
A wave of multi-million-dollar rounds in robotics and AI-enabled hardware signals a push to bring ‘physical AI’ into real-world production. Companies from Multiply Labs to FieldAI and SiMa.ai are racing to scale their robot-centric platforms, with strategic rounds aimed at forging scalable, cost-effective manufacturing and autonomous systems.
Prime Day has delivered notable discounts across TVs and monitors. The Frame TV is discounted with a free bezel, while Alienware's AW2725DF monitor and other models are on sale, offering strong value for gaming and productivity.
Prime Day-driven discounts on Samsung and WD SSDs have reduced 2TB options to around $390 and 260, with 1TB models near $197–$240. Deals span PCIe 4.0 and 5.0 drives, offering faster load times for games and creative work while tightening storage budgets.
A wave of Prime Day and seasonal discounts focuses on mini-LED TVs and smart displays. Deals cover Hisense, TCL, Samsung Frame, and Echo Show 8, with prices slashed and features highlighted for gaming, HDR, and home automation.
The AI hardware craze has cooled as investors weigh rising Chinese competition and doubts over memory-chip pricing power. Samsung and SK Hynix lead losses in Korea, with CXMT’s breakthrough feeding fears of tighter margins. TSMC and broader Asia-Pacific peers report mixed signals as demand for advanced AI chips remains volatile.
EU and China are making progress in bilateral talks as Beijing signals willingness to maintain green channels for rare earth exports to Europe while work continues on consensus outcomes amid a widening EU-China trade surplus. The discussions, led by EU trade chief Maroš Šefčovič, are taking place against a backdrop of ongoing tensions over hybrid car exports and broader trade imbalances.