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index.feed.received.today — 16 mai 20251.3 🖥️ Tech. English

Acer launches brand new Aspire, Swift and Predator laptops

16 mai 2025 à 15:00

KitGuru visited Acer HQ in Lugano earlier this year to get hands-on with the next generation of laptops for the Nitro, Predator, Aspire and Swift ranges. Today, we are able to share everything we learned and saw, with the new laptops being officially announced ahead of Computex. 

Unlike ultraportables, where weight and battery life dominate, Acer Predator systems prioritise power, thermal headroom and user control – key elements for running demanding games, heavy production workloads or AI-enhanced applications. Traditionally they will be designed around peak specifications, but the models we got hands-on with were fitted with RTX 5070 graphics – with a parting message that “The best is yet to come” – which naturally leads to speculation that more models will be introduced before the end of Q3 2025.

Both new models in Acer’s 2025 Predator AI refresh – the Helios Neo 14 AI and Triton 14 AI – bring with them significant upgrades, including Intel Core Ultra 9 processors and NVIDIA RTX 50-series GPUs. Shared core specifications include:

  • Up to 32GB LPDDR5X memory
  • Up to 2TB NVMe SSD storage, though only the Triton uses PCIe Gen 5
  • Up to RTX 5070 Laptop GPU
  • Support for Thunderbolt 4, Windows 11, AI-enhanced video and audio processing, and PredatorSense system tuning software

Both systems also include Acer’s PurifiedView 2.0 and PurifiedVoice 2.0, which use AI to optimise webcam and microphone performance. They each offer high-resolution WQXGA+ (2880×1800) displays with DCI-P3 100% coverage, and both feature high-speed wireless connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E on the Neo, and Wi-Fi 7 on the Triton. We’re not quite sure why the entire range would not have been fitted with WiFi-7, but in real world use-case scenarios – you’re unlikely to feel the difference.

So what is the difference between the Helios Neo 14 AI and the Triton 14 AI? Well, the Helios Neo 14 features a 14.5-inch 120Hz WQXGA+ display, combined with an Intel Core Ultra 9 285H processor. It uses LPDDR5X 6400MHz memory and offers up to 2TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD storage. The thermal solution includes 5th Gen AeroBlade 3D fans, Vortex Flow, vector heat pipes, and liquid metal grease, making this configuration ideal for high frame-rate gaming and sustained GPU workloads in a compact chassis.

The Predator Triton 14 AI is positioned more toward creators and premium users, the Triton 14 AI includes a 14.5-inch OLED touchscreen with Calman verification and a Core Ultra 9 288V processor with RTX graphics. Notably, it features much faster 8533MHz LPDDR5X memory and PCIe Gen 5 SSD support—a clear step up in bandwidth. It also introduces a 6-speaker array, per-key RGB lighting, haptic touchpad with pen input, graphene thermal interface, and a vapor chamber, indicating a stronger emphasis on content creation and premium thermals.

The Acer Aspire was originally introduced in the late 1990s. The latest refresh is built around Microsoft's Copilot+ PC initiative and looks to respond to a growing demand for accessible systems capable of supporting AI-assisted workflows and enhanced multitasking.

So what do these new models have in common? The new Aspire AI models – Aspire 14 AI, Aspire 16 AI (Snapdragon) and Aspire 16 AI (Intel) share a consistent foundation in both industrial design and technical specification. All three feature a slim aluminium chassis with a 180-degree hinge and offer battery life rated up to 22 hours. The displays support 16:10 aspect ratios, with optional touchscreen functionality.

On the specification side, each model supports up to 32GB of LPDDR5X memory and up to 1TB of PCIe Gen 4 SSD storage. AI functionality is a central feature across the range, with Copilot+ PC support, integrated Copilot and Cocreator tools and Acer’s own enhancements for voice and video, including PurifiedVoice and PurifiedView (both version 2.0). Other commonalities include IR cameras with privacy shutters, integrated security features, HDMI output (up to 8K), and microSD card readers. Connectivity standards are also high across the board, with Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.3 or newer.

It's not exactly the case that all of Ace's new laptop are available in black or white – with a choice of three CPUs – but it's close.

The Aspire 14 AI is the most compact model in the line-up, featuring a 14-inch OLED display (16:10 aspect ratio). It is powered by an AMD Ryzen AI processor and includes Wi-Fi 6E. The size and weight make it more suitable for users prioritising mobility.

Aspire 16 AI is built around Qualcomm's Snapdragon X platform with an 8-core CPU and a 45 TOPS NPU, this variant features a 16-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It supports Wi-Fi 7 and is positioned as the model most aligned with extended battery life and native ARM optimisation for AI tasks.

Finally, the Intel based Aspire 16 AI uses a 16-inch form factor, incorporating an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor with Arc graphics. It includes a 2K OLED display, Thunderbolt 4 connectivity, and Bluetooth 5.4, suggesting a stronger emphasis on high-speed peripheral compatibility and enhanced display fidelity.

Since its inception, Acer’s Swift line has focused on delivering thin, lightweight laptops designed to balance usability, style, and efficiency. Positioned between entry-level consumer devices and high-spec productivity systems, Swift has historically targeted users who need strong day-to-day performance in a chassis that won’t weigh down a bag or briefcase.

When you’re in a shop, the difference between 1.1kg and 1.6kg can seem minute, but if you’re carrying it on your shoulder all day long – you start to notice the extra half a kilo.

For 2025, the Swift range evolves again with the introduction of the AI-enhanced Swift Go 16, Swift X 14, and Swift Edge 14. All three are part of the Copilot+ PC initiative with NPU acceleration for AI-assisted workflows and enhanced battery management. Despite their compact builds and modest positioning in the market, these systems incorporate a number of flagship-level features—particularly around display quality, AI capabilities, and connectivity.

What do the specifications have in common?  Well, all three models feature:

  • Intel Core Ultra 9 processors with 48 TOPS AI compute capability
  • Up to 32GB LPDDR5X memory and up to 2TB PCIe Gen 4 SSDs (1TB max on Swift Edge)
  • Copilot+ PC features, including Microsoft Copilot and Acer's PurifiedVoice, PurifiedView, and User Sensing (all in version 2.0)
  • OLED panels with at least 2K resolution and 100% DCI-P3 colour coverage
  • VESA DisplayHDR 500, Eyesafe Certified 2.0, and facial recognition via IR webcams
  • Wi-Fi 6E or 7, Bluetooth 5.3 or 5.4, and Thunderbolt 4 ports
  • Slim chassis designs with 180° hinges, and all are EPEAT Gold certified

That leaves the key differences. Swift Go 16 AI is a larger-format device with a 16-inch OLED display (2K, 120Hz), this model aims to balance workspace, battery life, and overall flexibility. It includes an enhanced multi-control touchpad, HDMI 2.1, and a weight of around 1.5 kg – which is still competitive for its class.

Swift X 14 is the most performance-oriented of the three, the Swift X incorporates a 3K OLED panel, up to an RTX 5070 Laptop GPU (Studio validation), and stylus-supported haptic touchpad. It’s still relatively light at under 1.6 kg, and clearly targets creators or power users seeking a lightweight system with discrete graphics support.

Finally, the Swift Edge 14 AI (seen here in white) weighs in at less than 1kg – prioritising mobility while retaining most of the AI and display features seen across the range. It uses Corning Gorilla Matte Pro Glass for added durability and offers a 14-inch 2K OLED panel, making it one of the lightest OLED Copilot+ laptops in its class. If you’re considering ‘working on the go’, then it would be worth you checking this unit out in a local store – just to experience what a 1kg laptop feels like.

Microsoft’s insistence on a 40 TOPS minimum for Copilot+ PCs feels more like a marketing line than a meaningful performance threshold, especially when even ‘entry-level’ discrete GPUs like the RTX 5070 can deliver over 2,000 TOPS without breaking a sweat. The idea is that NPUs offer ultra-low power AI processing for tasks like live transcription or background blur – without waking the fans or hitting battery life too hard.

To make a judgement, we will need to see final ‘street pricing’ and to test them thoroughly but, on paper, Acer certainly seems to have a competitive line-up for 2025. Will be interesting to see just how much of a difference ‘local AI’ makes to ever day users. We will probably have a handle on that by this time next year.

KitGuru Says: We'll be seeing many more laptops over the next week, as Computex 2025 gets underway. Stay tuned for our daily updates and reporting straight from the event. 

The post Acer launches brand new Aspire, Swift and Predator laptops first appeared on KitGuru.

Devs reportedly worried for PS5 exclusive ‘Fairgames’ after recent playtests

16 mai 2025 à 14:15

This week, we learned that the founder of one of PlayStation's newest multiplayer-focused game studios, Jade Raymond, had stepped down and left the company. As it turns out, there might be more to the story, with reports painting a worrying picture for Haven's first title, Fairgames. 

Originally announced in 2023 as ‘Fairgame$', the multiplayer title is set to offer co-op heists with quick action-packed matches and live service elements. The game was one of at least a dozen ‘live service' titles greenlit under Jim Ryan's tenure as head of PlayStation. After Ryan departed, Sony began cancelling many of these projects, but Fairgames was one of just a handful to survive. Now, Sony might actually be regretting that decision.

According to Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, external playtests for Fairgame$, now rebranded as ‘Fairgames', took place in recent weeks and there is now internal concern as to how well the game will be received. The game was also recently delayed from its planned 2025 launch to ‘Spring 2026', which now puts the title in competition with Grand Theft Auto 6.

Sony PlayStation has not yet made any announcements about Fairgames, nor has it publicly shown any gameplay. So far, the only real look we've had at the game is a CGI reveal trailer, released two years ago.

KitGuru Says: Concord failed to grasp an audience and as a result, the studio behind it was shut down. If Fairgames faces similar launch struggles, Haven Studios may have a short-lived history. 

The post Devs reportedly worried for PS5 exclusive ‘Fairgames’ after recent playtests first appeared on KitGuru.

Haven Studios founder steps down ahead of first game launch

16 mai 2025 à 13:30

After leaving Google following the closure of the Stadia cloud gaming service, Jade Raymond set up a new studio. Quickly after coming up with plans for their first game, Haven Studios was acquired by Sony to join PlayStation Studios. Now, ahead of the release of that first game, Raymond has left the studio.

As reported by Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, Jade Raymond has left Haven Studios. Sony did not give much of a reason for the sudden departure, but the company said it remains committed to Haven Studios and their first game, titled ‘Fairgames'.

“Jade Raymond has been an incredible partner and visionary force in founding Haven Studios. We are deeply grateful for her leadership and contributions, and we wish her all the best in her next chapter.”

While an exact reason for the departure is not given, the report does note that this came several weeks after a playtest of Fairgames. It is rumoured that this playtest did not go very well, creating some concern for this game's ability to succeed.

KitGuru Says: Given this news, we'll no doubt be hearing more about Fairgames in the months ahead, as external playtests tend to result in leaks. 

The post Haven Studios founder steps down ahead of first game launch first appeared on KitGuru.

Days Gone Remastered update brings 40fps balanced mode alongside VRR support

16 mai 2025 à 13:30

5 years on from the game’s initial 2019 release, Sony officially launched Days Gone Remastered for PS5 and PC last month. While a solid upgrade overall (especially with its $10 price tag for owners of the previous release) the PS5 version in particular was missing some expected features. As part of the game’s latest patch however, PS5 players can now benefit from a 40FPS balanced mode, VRR support and more.

Making the announcement on BlueSky, the team at Bend Studio wrote: “We have an update beginning to roll out globally addressing player feedback, along with a new Balanced graphics mode, and VRR support.”

The full patch notes can be found HERE, but some of the most notable additions/improvements include the following:

  • Added a new ‘Balanced’ render mode to the Graphics menu
    • PS5 – 1800p at 40fps
    • PS5 Pro – 2160p (using PSSR) at 40fps
  • VRR support now enabled
  • Improved loading times and streaming optimizations
  • Updated input lag to feel more consistent across all render options
  • Unlocked map FPS
  • Overall audio mix improved.
  • Various audio adjustments
  • Gyro Aiming fixes

Days Gone Remastered

Sony’s first-party PlayStation releases have been quite good at supporting 40fps modes as well as VRR and so Days Gone Remastered lacking both at launch was somewhat surprising.

That said, it is welcome at least to see these additions coming within a month of the remaster’s launch.

KitGuru says: What do you think of Days Gone Remastered overall? Is it a solid effort? Do you use 40fps balanced modes if they are available? Let us know down below.

The post Days Gone Remastered update brings 40fps balanced mode alongside VRR support first appeared on KitGuru.

Kojima announces Death Stranding 2 ‘World Strand Tour’

16 mai 2025 à 12:45

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is almost upon us, with the next project from Kojima set to arrive in just over a month on the 26th of June. Ahead of this, the studio has announced the Death Stranding World Strand Tour 2 – coming to a dozen locations starting next month.

Making the announcement via a press release, the team officially unveiled its DS2 pre-release marketing plans, writing: “KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS confirmed today that the studio is gearing up to visit 12 locations across the globe to celebrate the launch of DEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACH, arriving exclusively on PlayStation 5 on June 26th, 2025. Fans around the world will be able to join a celebration of all things DEATH STRANDING as part of a World Tour, with special guests and events at each stop.”

Exact details on what these events will entail is currently unknown, but given that some of the shows are taking place long after the game’s launch, it’s safe to assume that this event will likely serve as a fan celebration – more so than a simple marketing tour.

Death Stranding Kojima

With that, the full list of dates and locations are as follows:

  • 8th June – Los Angeles  
  • 14th June – Sydney   
  • 26th June – Tokyo  
  • 28th June – Paris  
  • 30th June – London  
  • 4th July – Seoul  
  • 6th July – Taipei  
  • 9th July – Hong Kong  
  • 12th July – Shanghai  
  • August – Riyadh  
  • October – Sao Paulo  
  • November – Lucca 

Death Stranding was a highly unique and evocative game which – while it did not resonate with everyone – offered a strong and compelling message alongside a surprisingly calming gameplay loop. Hopefully the Death Stranding 2 World Tour proves to be just as unique and memorable as the game itself.

KitGuru says: Are you excited for DS2? What do you think these fan events will entail? Will you try to attend one of the shows? Let us know down below.

The post Kojima announces Death Stranding 2 ‘World Strand Tour’ first appeared on KitGuru.

Valkyrie V360 Lite AIO CPU Cooler Review

16 mai 2025 à 12:17

The last time we featured a Valkyrie AIO was in our 8-way AIO showdown round-up review back in 2023. Since then, the company has been a little quiet, however they are back with some new coolers including the SURGE 125 200W air cooler. In this review, though, we are taking a closer look at the V360 Lite AIO from Valkyrie with its ‘Mecha Aesthetic' top cover and what the company says is a high-speed pump previously reserved for its top-tier offerings. Let's see how this £110 AIO stacks up against the competition.

Timestamps:

00:00 Start
00:55 Pricing and options
01:21 Overview & compatibility
02:07 The Pump top cover
04:04 The Radiator / Tubing
05:53 CPU Block
06:33 Fans
07:42 Accessories
08:20 Installation
09:51 Noise and Thermal Testing
11:40 Closing Thoughts

Features:

  • Valkyrie says that the V-Lite series is a performance-focused AIO, featuring a high-speed pump that was previously reserved for its top-tier offerings and capable of speeds up to 2800 rpm.
  • The distinctive pump design stands out with mechanical aesthetics and a magnetic cover that rotates in 90-degree increments for always upright installation.
  • Included Valkyrie B12 fans feature high static pressure, fluid dynamic bearing and PWM speed control between 800 – 2150 rpm and it comes with a 5-year warranty for peace of mind.

Specifications:

  • CPU Socket Compatibility: Intel LGA 115X/1155/1156/1200/1366/1700/1851/2011/2066, AMD AM4/AM5
  • Radiator Material: Aluminium
  • Radiator Dimensions: 379 x 120 x 27 mm
  • Radiator Tube Length: 450mm
  • CPU Block/Pump Dimensions: 86 x 74 x 68.5 mm
  • Pump Speed: 800 – 2800RPM ± 10%
  • Cold Plate Material: Micro Skived Copper
  • Pump Connector: 4-pin (PWM) + 3-pin ARGB
  • VRM Fan: N/A
  • Fan Dimensions: 120 x 120 x 25 mm
  • Fan Speed (PWM): 800 – 2150RPM ± 10%
  • Fan Max Airflow: 81.68CFM (Max)
  • Fan Max Air Pressure: 4.0 mmH2O (Max)
  • Noise (dBA): 30.5dBa (Max)
  • Fan Bearing: Fluid Dynamic Bearing
  • Fan Connector: 4-pin (PWM) + 3-pin ARGB
  • LCD Screen: N/A
  • Warranty: 5 Years
The post Valkyrie V360 Lite AIO CPU Cooler Review first appeared on KitGuru.

Star Wars: Outlaws Title Update 1.6 brings combat improvements, customisation and more

16 mai 2025 à 11:15

Last month, Ubisoft officially showcased the next major DLC set to come to Star Wars Outlaws – A Pirate’s Fortune. In alignment with this DLC now being officially available, the publisher has released Outlaws’ next big free ‘title update’ 1.6, bringing with it a ton of welcome changes, additions and quality of life improvements.

Releasing the patch notes onto their blog, Ubisoft officially detailed Star Wars: Outlaws’ Title Update 1.6, writing: “The new update arrives alongside our brand-new story pack, A Pirate's Fortune, bringing new improvements and fixes. It also includes a free new cosmetic pack inspired by Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, available to all players!”

The full list of changes and additions can be found HERE, but some of the most notable include:

  • The ability to free-fire Kay's blaster while riding your speeder
  • Seamless switching between two-handed weapons and Kay's blaster
  • Enhanced Trailblazer customization with new passive systems
  • New space contracts with multiple challenge types and rewards

Other ancillary fixes include the following:

  • Improved shooting when behind cover
  • Improved enemy AI when moving to cover/being suppressed
  • Improved Kay's movement animations on stairs and slopes
  • Miyuki Traders have been upgraded to full vendors
  • Performance improvements during climbing
  • Improved attaching and releasing input when using the grappling hook
  • Kay is now thrown off the speeder when hit by a melee attack
  • RTXDI improvements
  • Ray Reconstruction improvements
  • Various accessibility improvements

While Ubisoft titles do have a penchant to release in less-than-complete states, there is no denying that the publisher is willing to make rather sweeping changes and fixes to ensure the game gets closer to meeting fan expectations. It’s just a shame that we’ve had to wait so many months for some of these improvements.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this latest update? Does Ubisoft rely too much on post-launch support? Let us know down below.

The post Star Wars: Outlaws Title Update 1.6 brings combat improvements, customisation and more first appeared on KitGuru.

Dead Island 2 is free on the Epic Games Store

16 mai 2025 à 10:30

While the Epic Games Store gives away a game or two each week to all those with an Epic account, on occasion the platform holder will up the value of games being offered. Such is the case right now, with Dead Island 2 and Happy Game being given away for free as part of the Epic Games Store’s MEGA Sale.

Available to add to your library from now until the 22nd of May at 4PM, this week’s free headlining title is Dead Island 2 – the long awaited sequel to 2011’s first person Zombie experience.

Following years of delays and multiple development studio switches, the sequel finally launched back in 2023 to pretty decent reviews overall, with particular praise being given to the game’s brutal FLESH gore system.

While not included with the free package, Dead Island 2 did receive two sets of post-launch DLC (alongside other free updates), with the SoLA and Haus expansions currently on sale for 30% off.

Happy Game meanwhile is an indie horror puzzler in which you must “endure and escape three unforgettable nightmares” all the while solving “deeply disturbing puzzles in (not so) charming environments.”

Both Dead Island 2 and Happy Game are available to add to your library for the next week, at which point they will be replaced by two as-of-yet-unknown games, alongside ‘Deliver At All Costs.’

KitGuru says: What do you think of this week’s offerings? Did you enjoy Dead Island 2 more or less than the average person? What titles do you hope will be offered next week? Let us know down below.

The post Dead Island 2 is free on the Epic Games Store first appeared on KitGuru.

How to share Safari tabs across different devices with iCloud Tabs

Having Safari be able to open the same tabs on all your Apple devices is hugely convenient, yet Apple hides the feature away. Here's how to find and make use of it.

Web browser interface showing multiple tabs including a podcast tab and various website icons. Navigation menus display options like News, Reviews, How-Tos, and Videos.
What did we do before tabs? And now you can automatically share them across your devices

This is specifically about what are called iCloud tabs — and they are not the same as Tab Groups. If you use Tab Groups in Safari on one Apple device, the feature is on with the same tabs on all your devices.

In theory, iCloud tabs is always on too, but you have to dig further to find it, and you have to make sure that it is enabled.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Apple tops global brand rankings again -- by a giant margin

Apple has once again claimed the top spot as the world's most valuable brand, with Kantar estimating its worth at a staggering $1.29 trillion— 12% of the value of the entire top 100 list.


According to Kantar's 20th annual BrandZ report, Apple remains the most valuable brand for the fourth year running. Kantar has assigned a somewhat nebulous brand-only dollar amount of nearly $1.3 trillion — roughly 28% growth year-over-year.

Rounding out the top five were the usual suspects. The 2025 rankings are as follows:

  1. Apple, worth $1.29 trillion



  2. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Killer deals: Grab a MacBook Air with 24GB RAM for just $1,087

AppleInsider readers are eligible for exclusive savings on M3 MacBook Air models, with prices falling to $1,087 when equipped with 24GB of RAM. Plus, save up to $1,158 on closeout MacBook Pro models.

Open MacBook Air laptop on grass next to an iPhone; colorful badge with best price text appears above.
Save up to $1,158 on MacBooks today.

To snap up the deals, head over to Apple Premier Partner Expercom and shop through this special pricing link to activate the bonus savings. After selecting the model you fancy the most, look for the special AppleInsider price above the "Add to cart" button at Expercom.

Save up to $1,158


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

AirPods Pro 3 are in the works, Apple's own software leaks

Apple's AirPods Pro are expected to receive a hardware upgrade later in 2025, and now Apple's own software suggests a new model is close.

White wireless earbuds in an open charging case on a table, with blurred backgrounds of a black and an orange speaker on a stand.
A recent Apple software update indicates that the AirPods Pro 3 could debut soon.

The original AirPods Pro were released back in 2019. The first meaningful upgrade arrived two years later in 2022, when the earbuds gained Find My support along with improved ANC. In 2023, the AirPods Pro received a USB-C connector in place of Lightning, as well as lossless audio support for Apple Vision Pro users.

The next major upgrade to the AirPods Pro is set to debut within a few months. A recent leak, derived from one of Apple's software releases, seemingly confirms that Apple is working on an entirely new model.


Rumor Score: 🤯 Likely


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

New Apple videos spotlight how accessibility features empower everyone

To mark Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Apple is spotlighting inclusive tools, like Music Haptics and Mac's Magnifier, that empower users to experience the world on their own terms.

Students sitting in a lecture hall with laptops and notebooks, one student wears glasses and uses an iMac with an attached iPhone.
Magnifier on Mac works with Continuity Camera | Image credit: Apple

It's Global Accessibility Awareness Day, and to celebrate, Apple has highlighted two of its accessibility features: Music Haptics on iPhone and Magnifier on Mac.

"Music Haptics on iPhone" shows how Apple's Music Haptics, a feature rolled out in iOS 18, can help anyone — hearing, hard of hearing, or deaf — enjoy music. The feature plays taps, textures, and refined vibrations to the audio of the music.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
index.feed.received.yesterday — 15 mai 20251.3 🖥️ Tech. English

Antec showcases Vortex View AIO with 5-inch display ahead of Computex

15 mai 2025 à 18:45

Antec had revealed its latest AIO liquid cooler, the Vortex View. One look at it quickly makes the name clear, as it features a massive, rotatable 5-inch display mounted onto the CPU block.

The Votex View AIO cooler stands out with its 360° rotatable 5-inch IPS display. Whether mounted vertically or horizontally, the display can be adjusted seamlessly to fit the setup. Behind the display is an integrated addressable RGB backglow, designed to subtly illuminate surrounding components and fully controllable through the iUnity software platform.

Speaking of the iUnity software, Antec has rebuilt it from the ground up for expanded functionality and smoother system integration. This includes things like fan and pump curve control, multi-device sync and more.

The Antec Vortex View will be demoed at Computex, so we should learn more about the launch window and intended price then. We'll be attending Computex once again this year, so stay tuned for video updates from Leo.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Would you like a large CPU display like this, or do you prefer smaller displays integrated into the block?

The post Antec showcases Vortex View AIO with 5-inch display ahead of Computex first appeared on KitGuru.

Zaopin ZPW Max Review

Par :pzogel
15 mai 2025 à 20:00
With the right-handed ergonomic ZPW Max, Zaopin brings the shape of the SteelSeries Prime up to current standards: PixArt's latest PAW3950 sensor, Omron optical main button switches, 8000 Hz wireless polling, and Bluetooth are all on board, wrapped into a 49 g lightweight package.

A New Best: Fractal Meshify 3 Case Review, Thermal Benchmarks, & Noise

15 mai 2025 à 18:45
A New Best: Fractal Meshify 3 Case Review, Thermal Benchmarks, & Noisejimmy_thang May 15, 2025

We analyze the Fractal Design Meshify 3’s design, specs, build quality, LEDs, and thermals

The Highlights

  • The Meshify 3 comes with 3 fans and focuses on looks
  • At its price category, there’s a lot of stiff competition
  • Overall, we like the case
  • Original MSRP: $140 to $220
  • Release Date: May 2025

Table of Contents

  • AutoTOC
Our fully custom 3D Emblem Glasses celebrate our 15th Anniversary! We hand-assemble these on the East Coast in the US with a metal badge, strong adhesive, and high-quality pint glass. They pair excellently with our 3D 'Debug' Drink Coasters. Purchases keep us ad-free and directly support our consumer-focused reviews!

Intro

Today we’re reviewing the Fractal Meshify 3. It ranges from $140 to $220 depending on the level of “integrated atmospheric lighting” you want, but to be fair to Fractal, it does look good with the angular mesh front panel. The good news upfront with this review is that we actually like the case overall.

Editor's note: This was originally published on May 15, 2025 as a video. This content has been adapted to written format for this article and is unchanged from the original publication.


Credits


Test Lead, Host, Writing

Steve Burke

Testing, Writing

Patrick Lathan

Camera, Video Editing

Vitalii Makhnovets

Camera

Tim Phetdara
Andrew Coleman

Writing, Web Editing

Jimmy Thang


Fractal's has added some interesting new features: an air guide in front of the PSU shroud that genuinely helps GPU thermals in our testing, excellent cable aligner clips, and a bizarre PSU filter that blends seamlessly into the side of the case.

This case was going to launch months ago, but was quietly pulled from shelves by Fractal at the last minute because the PCIe slots were too tight. 

Multiple reviewers, including us, noticed that these PCIe slots were too tight for GPUs to slot properly, an issue we had recorded in our notes for the review and were about to film when Fractal sent an email that it was halting the launch. Fractal manually reworked this, meaning someone went through all the cases and shaved them down.

Originally, Fractal would have launched just before the worst of the tariffs, but now is launching into a far more expensive import situation. Fractal says that, for now, its MSRP is unchanged.

But we’re here to review the case. We have a 3-hour documentary about the tariffs’ impact.

The case comes with 3 fans and clearly has a focus on looks with its lighting and front panel design, but also manages to make a number of mechanical choices that affect cooling.

Let’s get into the Meshify 3 review.

Meshify 3 Ambience Pro RGB Overview

This is Fractal's third generation of Meshify cases, starting with the Meshify 3 and the larger Meshify 3 XL. We're reviewing the shallow front-to-back Meshify 3 today, which is the size equivalent of the first generation's Meshify C and the second generation's Meshify 2 Compact (watch our review). The Meshify C (watch our review) was $90 at launch in 2017, followed later by the Meshify 2 (watch our review) at $110.

The Meshify 3 is launching from $140-$220 (depending on SKU). It’s not distant from Fractal’s Torrent case. We liked that case. It’s priced at around $190 to $230. The increased Meshify series cost goes towards new features.

The flashiest new feature is the "integrated atmospheric lighting" in the top-tier Ambience Pro RGB SKU. Fractal also has committed to proprietary connectors for these cases, which we’re not thrilled about. Fractal additionally has a web tool for the new Adjust Pro fan and RGB hub.

The cases are sold at $140 for 3x 140mm fans without LEDs, $160 for 3x 14mm RGB fans using proprietary connectors, and $220 for 3x RGB fans with a lighting control hub and additional case lighting around the front panel, shroud, and power button.

Meshify 3 Ambience Pro RGB Specs

Meshify 3 TG
3.5"/2.5" mountsUp to 2x HDD or 4x SSD
Dedicated 2.5" mounts2 (6 total)
5.25" drive bays0
Expansion slots7
Motherboard compatibilityE-ATX (max 277 mm), ATX, mATX, Mini-ITX
Power supply typeATX
Front interface1x USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C 20Gbps2x USB 3.0 5Gbps1x Combined Mic/Audio
Total fan mounts6x 120 mm or 5x 140 mm + 1x 120mm
Front fan mounts3x 120/140 mm (3x Momentum 140 mm PWM/RGB Included)
Top fan mounts2x 120/140 mm
Rear fan mounts1x 120 mm
Side fan mountsN/A
Bottom fan mountsN/A
Dust filtersPSU
Front radiatorUp to 280/360 mm (max 155 mm width)
Top radiatorUp to 280/240 mm (max 148 mm width)
Rear radiator120 mm (max 128 mm width)
Bottom radiatorN/A
PSU max length180 mm
GPU max length349 mm
GPU max height176 mm (7 slot) including cables
CPU cooler max height173 mm
Cable routing space34.5 mm
Cable coverYes
Cable organizers3x Cable Aligners, 3x Internal Straps, 3x Rear External Straps
Captive thumbscrewsTop Rad. Bracket, PSU Bracket
Tool-less push-to-lockSide Panels, Bottom Filter, Front Panel, Top Panel, PSU Bracket
Case MaterialSteel
Left side panelTempered Glass
Right side panelIndustrial Steel
Case dimensions (LxWxH)423 x 229 x 507 mm
Case dimensions w/o feet/protrusions/screws423 x 229 x 483 mm
Net weight8.0 kg
Package dimensions (LxWxH)596 x 350 x 550 mm
Gross weight10.3 kg

Specs copied from manufacturer materials, please read review for our own measurements and opinions

The Build

Let’s get into the build quality and features.

Some of the exterior is similar to the Torrent, especially the way the top panel slides off. Unlike the Torrent, the top panel is mesh in the Meshify 3, although only the central portion is actually open due to the thick plastic frame underneath. 

The front panel pops off from the bottom like the North cases, and the top edge (in the Ambience Pro RGB) has pogo pins to connect the ambient front panel lighting.

There are three plastic "cable aligners" that can be snapped over the main cable channel. We found them to be well-placed and surprisingly sturdy even with large bundles of power supply cables wedged behind them. Our only complaint is that they're keyed for no discernible reason other than preventing users from flipping the Fractal logo upside-down. The cable management space behind the motherboard is a uniform depth at just over 3cm across the entire case. 

There's a massive cutout above the motherboard that runs its entire length, although the cutout at the bottom is undersized and difficult to use when an ATX board is installed. Overall, cable management is above average thanks to the cable aligners and the amount of space, with some velcro straps on the back for exterior cable management. 

The PSU shroud terminates in a plastic "air guide" angled up towards the GPU. 

It reminds us a little of the NZXT toilet bowl fan from the 2022 H5 Flow (watch our review), but more so the extremely similar "PSU optional cover plate" from Corsair's old 5000D Airflow (watch our review). The 5000D Airflow's single intake fan wasn't positioned to make that part matter, though, whereas the Meshify 3's intake-heavy configuration will actually benefit.

The only discrete dust filter in the case is for the PSU. It ejects from the side, which is always a plus for ease of removal, but it's also built into the leg of the case so that there's no externally visible handle. This is completely unnecessary, but it's one of those small features that shows the care that was put into the case's appearance and great attention to detail.

Drives can be mounted to a set of adjustable brackets behind the motherboard tray; Fractal has provided a complicated compatibility matrix, but basically, you can either fit up to 2x 3.5" drives or 4x 2.5" drives. An additional 2x 2.5" drives can be attached directly to the floor of the case underneath the air guide, but if you use those slots, you may want to leave the air guide out to make cables accessible.

The front of the case can fit either 3x 120mm fans or 3x 140mm fans. The rails rotate to switch between the two sizes and there are cutouts at specific heights for each individual fan, which means the rails don't obstruct the fans at all, but also there's little freedom to reposition fans or mix and match different sizes. 

All Meshify 3 SKUs ship with three front fans preinstalled, so this is less of an issue than it would be on a bare chassis. When fans are installed on the rails, the fans and rails can be removed as a single unit by undoing two screws, which is awesome.

The removable top bracket is extremely easy to work with and fits radiators up to 280mm with plenty of room. Simultaneously installing a 360mm radiator at the front of the case would technically be possible using standard 30mm thick rads, but without much room left for fittings, fans, or thicker radiators, so we don't recommend it. Fractal notes that the front mount is compatible with 360mm (3x120) radiators of up to 420mm total length with the air guide or 445mm without it. Critically though, this does not mean support for 420mm (3x140) radiators.

If any radiators are installed at the front of the case, the cable bar has to be shifted back, which makes it harder to route power cables. In addition, maximum GPU length in the Meshify 3 is already only 349mm, and installing a front radiator directly eats that clearance. We recommend relying on the top radiator slot or moving up to the Meshify 3 XL if you really need space for liquid cooling and especially for longer cards.

Along the same lines, Fractal claims compatibility with so-called E-ATX boards up to 277mm wide, but that describes the maximum size that can be installed without completely blocking cable cutouts. Realistically, if you want to install anything even slightly larger than ATX, you should be looking at the Meshify 3 XL instead. Even with a normal ATX board, we shifted the cable bar all the way forward to leave space for the 24-pin power cable.

As a finer detail point, we’re happy to see that Fractal has finally compromised by adding screw holes to the plastic tabs on the side panels. If you want to add some extra security while moving your case, you can put screws through the tabs to lock them down.

The fans and LEDs are complicated and confusing, so that’ll require a whole section -- but we’ll get into the thermal testing first.

Meshify 3 Ambience Pro RGB Thermals

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Fractal's review guide claims that the RGB fans are quieter, lower CFM, but higher static pressure (at max speed) than the non-RGB versions of the same fans. 

Our thermal results with the stock fans are representative of the RGB case SKUs, though any major physical reasons for performance would still be reflected. The standardized fan test is representative of the Meshify 3 in general.

For reasons we’ll explain in the fan control section, we had no way to skip the fan hub and connect the fans directly to the motherboard as we usually would for testing. We validated that the fans reached their rated max speed of 1,800RPM +/- 10% with a laser tachometer. However, the tach signal sent back by the Fractal Adjust Pro hub doesn't line up with standard 4-pole fan behavior: HWiNFO misreports 2295 RPM when the fans are really spinning at just over 1,800 RPM in reality. Fractal's software accounts for this and reports RPM accurately.

As for comparison cases, we’ll mostly focus on the Antec C8 ARGB (read our review) and Antec Flux Pro (read our review) as close matches. The closest match in appearance and function may be Fractal's own Torrent Compact RGB. We haven't added the Torrent Compact back to our charts since our testing overhaul, but in our review, it performed similarly to the larger original Torrent. That is in our charts, so we can use that as a rough equivalent.

We have plenty of other cases on the charts for your own comparisons. Let’s get into the data.

CPU Full Load Thermals - Noise-Normalized

We’ll start with noise-normalized thermals. We use our hemi-anechoic chamber that we spent $250,000 building for validating the noise levels, which allows us to heavily control the noise floor and get super accurate capture.

This is the chart. The Fractal Meshify 3 dominates here, planting itself as the new chart leader and within error of the prior leaders. The Meshify 3's all-core average of 40 degrees Celsius over ambient and 44 degrees for the P-cores is significantly better than previous efforts from the Meshify 2 Compact (watch our review) at 48 degrees average and the Meshify C at 54. Those two cases shared a basic design. The Meshify 3 is more of a departure; Fractal has added an airflow guide to the bottom of the case, the stock fans are higher performance, and all three stock fans are installed in the front of the case. 

That's an arrangement that's worked well for CPU cooling in the North XL (read our review) and Torrent using our test bench, and evidently it works extremely well in the Meshify 3, which is now the coolest case on the chart. The Torrent was a little warmer than the Meshify 3 at 42 degrees above ambient, while the Meshify 3 is instead tied with the previous best results from the Lian Li Lancool 216 (watch our review) and Lancool 207 (read our review). The Antec Flux Pro is a case that Fractal is likely specifically targeting for competition and, like the Lian Li cases, it's within one degree of the Meshify 3. This test is a weak point for the Antec C8 ARGB, which averaged 50 degrees due to its bottom intake layout.

GPU Full Load Thermals - Noise-Normalized

Here’s the chart for GPU thermals when noise-normalized.

GPU cooling performance in the Meshify 3 was also strong. The equivalent cases from the previous Meshify generations didn't have particularly strong stock performance, with the Meshify 2 Compact averaging 52 degrees above ambient for the GPU and the Meshify C averaging 57. This is still noise-normalized, so it's not purely a matter of more powerful fans in the Meshify 3, which averaged 43 degrees for the GPU and 46 for the GPU memory. 

Judging by the performance of the North XL and the Torrent here, it seems possible that the Meshify 3's air guide actually does do something. The North XL and its conventional (although ventilated) full-length PSU shroud averaged 44-45 degrees for the GPU depending on the chosen side panel, while the Torrent with its top-mounted PSU and complete lack of a shroud at the bottom of the case averaged 40 degrees. The Meshify 3 with its shroud and air guide averaged 43 degrees, right in the middle. There are more variables at work here, though, so we need another test to know for sure.

As for the other highlighted competitors, the Antec C8 ARGB averaged 42 degrees and the Flux Pro averaged 41. Technically they both beat the Meshify 3's 43 degree average, but they're all among the best performing results on this chart.

GPU Full Load Thermals - Full Speed

As part of our full speed testing, we ran a test pass with a cardboard box extension taped onto the end of the PSU shroud to bring it up flush with the front intake fans. This test is at full speed case fans and controlled CPU and GPU fans.

Without this extension, the GPU in the Meshify 3 averaged 41 degrees above ambient versus 45 degrees with it. That's a significant increase with the extension, and it shows that it made sense to shorten the shroud and angle it up like a skate ramp. Adding the extension also raised noise levels from a baseline of 37.5 dBA to 38.7 dBA, which we can only really confidently state is a real difference because of our investments in the hemi-anechoic chamber and our test equipment. This is a real change. Although hardly a detectable difference to the human ear, it is a real one and some people might notice it. Fractal’s new shroud design is superior to a square-edge one both thermally and acoustically.

Since we've already seen that the Meshify 3 outperforms its predecessors when noise-normalized, it's no surprise at all that it outperforms them when its 1,800 RPM stock fans are maxed out. 37.5 dBA for the Meshify 3 is definitely louder than the 31-32 dBA levels from the Meshify C and Meshify 2 Compact, but thermal performance isn't even close, with the Meshify C only able to maintain GPU temperatures at 56 degrees above ambient. 

The C8 ARGB tied the Meshify 3's GPU temperature in this test, which is impressive for the Meshify 3 given that the C8 ARGB has bottom intake fans pointed directly into the GPU. The stock Flux Pro and Torrent remain chart toppers at 38 degrees and 39 degrees respectively thanks to their overkill stock fans; this is also evident from the noise levels, with the Torrent's powerful fans pushing it to a maximum of 42.3 dBA to the stock Meshify 3's 37.5 dBA.

GPU Full Load Thermals - Standardized Fans

Standardized fan testing is next.

All of the Meshify 3 SKUs ship with fans, so we're just going to use the standardized fan test as an opportunity to compare directly against the previous Meshify generations when they have the same loadout. 

The Meshify 3 has three defined 140mm fan mounting locations at the front, so rather than sticking our two 140mm intake fans somewhere in the middle, we were forced to pick either the upper two slots or the lower two.

The Meshify C and Meshify 2 Compact both had GPU averages of 47 degrees above ambient, while the Meshify 3 literally bookended the chart at 41 degrees with the fans in the lower slots and 53 degrees in the upper ones. If you alter the stock fan configuration, be sure to at least keep one fan in the bottom slot at the front of the case.

CPU Full Load Thermals - Standardized Fans

On to CPU thermals while using standardized fans: There wasn't much difference in CPU thermals between the upper and lower slot tests; although the upper slot technically did better with an all-core average of 39 degrees, the lower slot arrangement is preferable due to the GPU thermals we just discussed. The Meshify C and Meshify 2 Compact tied at 41 degrees all-core, not that far from the Meshify 3's 40 degree average.

VRM & RAM Full Load Thermals - Noise-Normalized

Returning to the noise-normalized results, the Meshify 3 tied the Flux Pro for the best VRM temperature on the chart at 27 degrees above ambient. That's significantly better than its predecessors at 35 degrees for the Meshify 2 Compact and 39 for the Meshify C. The Torrent averaged 29 degrees and the C8 ARGB with its bottom intake layout averaged 33. The ventilated case roof and airflow definitely help here.

The SPD hub (or the RAM temperature average) was better, with the Meshify 3's average of 20 degrees above ambient beating all other stock case results on the chart. The Torrent at 21 degrees and Flux Pro at 22 were also high performers, while the C8 ARGB's more GPU-focused cooling left it with a warmer 24 degree average.

Fans and LEDs

And now we’re back to the topic of fans and LEDs.

The Momentum RGB fans connect through daisy-chained USB Type-C connectors. Fractal describes the connector as "Proprietary USB-C," meaning that the connectors are just USB-shaped out of convenience; the fans are NOT USB devices. 

This part confused us, so here's a breakdown:

  • The regular Meshify 3's fans use regular 4-pin PWM fan connectors
  • The Meshify 3 RGB's fans use Fractal proprietary connectors, but they're pre-routed with an adapter that terminates in a regular 4-pin fan connector and a 3-pin ARGB connector, so the fans can be connected to a normal motherboard out-of-the-box
  • The Meshify 3 Ambience Pro RGB has the same fans as the other RGB SKU, but they're pre-routed to Fractal's Adjust Pro hub. A "legacy splitter" cable is included for OUTput so that regular ARGB devices can be daisy-chained onto Fractal's devices, but the INput adapter cable from the Meshify 3 RGB is not included. In other words, if you get the Ambience Pro RGB, you're using the hub (or waiting for Fractal to sell an adapter cable separately)

The Adjust Pro Hub can be controlled through a web tool or Microsoft's Dynamic Lighting feature. Fractal can get away with using a simple web app because the Pro Hub is just a USB device, so it doesn't need low-level access to control the motherboard's fan and RGB headers. There’s no launch-on-startup bloatware and the settings are saved locally to the hub. Currently, the app claims to be fully compatible with Chrome, Opera, and Edge (but not Firefox). A sustained internet connection isn't required for this. We were glad to see Dynamic Lighting compatibility, even if it's not perfect. For instance, if you enable Dynamic Lighting, it breaks Fractal's tool, and if you haven't activated Windows then you can't disable Dynamic Lighting without editing the registry.

Fractal's software has a selection of prefab lighting patterns to show off the gen 2 lighting, but the default Northern Lights pattern may be our favorite. The indirect lighting around the edges of the front panel and across the PSU shroud are mostly striking in a dark room. It's unfortunate that such a big part of the case's appeal is limited to the $220 version.

Meshify 3 Ambience Pro RGB Conclusion

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We like the Meshify 3 overall, but we're torn on several points. 

As an immediate positive, as reviewers who don’t normally comment a whole lot about looks, we do think they did well to pull off the LEDs and front panel on the Meshify 3. Fractal has consistently done well to execute on this style.

As for the more difficult points: First off, the Meshify C launched at $90 and the Meshify 2 Compact at $110. Those weren't the lowest prices in context. The Meshify C, however, was on the affordable end of the scale even for that time. Given that Fractal picked the Meshify 3 MSRPs well before the new tariffs, we believe there's a good chance they'll go up. The Meshify 3 isn't in the medium-budget tier you might assume based on the history of the series. If you're looking for cases in that vein, Lian Li has options like the Lancool 217 (watch our coverage), while Antec has some equivalents to the Meshify 3 RGB like the C8 ARGB and Flux Pro.

That's not to say that the Meshify 3 isn't worth the money, just that it’s embattled on all sides. There are a lot of options in this price category, which is good for consumers. The build quality is on par with what we expect from Fractal based on the last few years' worth of cases like the North (watch our review) and Torrent. It’s built well. Thermal performance was extremely good, and although the specs are different for the non-RGB fans as we've explained, we can assume that the performance is also extremely good for the non-RGB case variants. Based on that, the $140 and $160 options are the most competitive.

As for the $220 Ambience Pro RGB, it's basically a $60-$80 upcharge for lighting, but we really like that lighting. That is, however, a big price jump. If you're considering the Ambience Pro RGB with the extra cost for the lighting, you should be comparing it to other flagship showy cases like the HAVN HS420 (read our review) or HYTE Y70 (read our review) (if you can buy one as they can be difficult to find in the US due to the tariffs). You should also look through Fractal's documentation carefully to make sure you like the RGB ecosystem of software and connectors before you commit.
You can check out the competition like the Flux Pro, C8, and Corsair’s FRAME 4000D (read our review). We have more reviews coming up, but overall, we like Fractal’s new case.


CarPlay Ultra's first trial reveals a deeply integrated, Apple-like experience

The first trial of CarPlay Ultra in an Aston Martin has deemed Apple's in-car upgrade a massive success, even if car manufacturers will be wary of handing over the UI reins.

Person driving a car, displaying 52 mph on the dashboard. A navigation screen shows a route on a road with a yellow divider and blurred scenery.
CarPlay Ultra in an Aston Martin - Image Credit: Top Gear/YouTube

On Thursday, Apple finally made CarPlay Ultra available to use. Shipping initially in the Aston Martin, the next-generation interface expands the iPhone-based interface across multiple displays on the dashboard, and promises a more cohesive experience for drivers.

In an initial try-out of CarPlay Ultra in a YouTube video, Top Gear explores the new expanded interface, as well as the challenges it faces.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Apple's next-generation 'CarPlay Ultra' is finally here

Hitting the streets at least five months late, Apple's next-generation CarPlay experience that it is calling "CarPlay Ultra" will start arriving in Aston Martin cars in the next few weeks.

Car dashboard display with speedometer showing 60 mph, driving mode indicator, and central lane assistance graphic depicting surrounding vehicles.
CarPlay Ultra on Aston Martin - Image credit Apple

Apple first gave a sneak-peek at the next-generation CarPlay experience in 2022. At the time, it said that it would land on vehicles by the end of 2024.

What Apple showed was nothing less than the complete takeover of a car's entire dashboard by CarPlay. Instead of being confined to a square-ish screen that shows a few apps, CarPlay Ultra runs everything.


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Award-winning director Hirokazu Kore-eda travels through time in new shot on iPhone 16 Pro video

Palme d'Or winner Hirokazu Kore-eda joins Apple's "Shot on iPhone" campaign with a touching sci-fi short.

Two people sit inside a ferris wheel cabin at sunset, one holding a notebook, the other listening attentively.
Last Scene | Image Credit: Apple

Shot on iPhone 16 Pro, "Last Scene" follows an aspiring screenwriter, Kurata, who is approached by a curious stranger — his granddaughter from 50 years in the future. When pressed on who she is, Yui, the girl, simply tells him, "It's a time machine kinda thing."

The 27-minute film shows the pair as they attempt to save the future of TV drama — and their town's iconic Ferris wheel. Of course, you'll have to watch the film if you want to know if the pair was successful or not.


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Apple's iPhone sales in China took a major hit in early 2025

Apple's iPhone sales in China have dropped considerably, with shipments of non-Chinese smartphone brands down almost 50% year-on-year in March.

Group of five people smiling, wearing blue shirts, taking a selfie together indoors.
Chinese iPhone sales are an important revenue source for Apple - Image Credit: Apple

China is an important market for Apple, besides being its largest manufacturing center. However, it seems that Apple's sales struggle in the country is far from ending, according to recently released shipment figures.

Data from the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT) seen by DigiTimes covers smartphone shipments in March 2025. It revealed that there was an overall year-on-year increase in smartphone shipments of 6.5%.


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Foxconn gets new factory approval as India courts further Apple expansion

India's government is investing in a new Foxconn semiconductor facility, which it hopes will ultimately see the country making chips for Apple.

Large industrial building labeled Foxconn, surrounded by trees and greenery, with an adjacent road leading to multiple entrances.
One of several Foxconn manufacturing facilities in India — image credit: Foxconn

As Trump criticizes Apple for Foxconn's manufacturing the iPhone in India, the supplier has secured government approval for a new semiconductor plant there. Foxconn is already planning to double iPhone production in India by the end of 2025, but now it's going to expand manufacturing of display drivers for smartphones and other consumer electronics.

According to CNBC, the approval is for a joint venture between Foxconn and the HCL Group. The approval comes with an investment by the government of $433 million, though it is not clear what the total cost of the factory will be.


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New Apple Music migration tool helps users shift away from Spotify

Apple is rolling out its tool for migrating from other streaming music services to Apple Music, allowing users to retain their library and playlist archives.

Red square icon with rounded edges featuring a white musical note symbol centered on a vivid red background.
Apple Music

In February, a tool was being beta-tested by Apple to help users shift from other streaming services to Apple Music. That tool is now rolling out to users, allowing them to more easily migrate to Apple Music from elsewhere, such as Spotify.

Apple's support page says that the system is available for users of Apple Music in Australia and New Zealand. This seems like the initial steps of a global rollout, with it expected to spread to other regions soon.


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Apple tests EU by adding scare screens to apps using third-party payments

European Union App Store users are now being shown warnings in the App Store about apps that let users make payments directly to developers — despite this being a clear violation of the Digital Markets Act.

Alert message with a red triangle warning that the app does not support App Store's secure payment system and uses external purchases. Learn More link included.
Apple has already been fined $570 million for anticompetitive practices under the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA), although it is appealing. Now it at least appears to be asking for a further fine, because it has added warnings expressly designed to dissuade users from buying apps with alternative payment processes.

It's actually in the recent US ruling that Apple was explicitly forbidden to use what are called "scare screens". The EU has not as yet ruled against that specific technique, although in March 2024 it was alerted to Apple's plans by rivals including Epic Games.

Nonetheless, the EU has focused on Apple's alleged anticompetitive practices. In its announcement of its ruling in April 2025, the EU said that it "ordered Apple to remove the technical and commercial restrictions on steering and to refrain from perpetuating the non-compliant conduct in the future, which includes adopting conduct with an equivalent object or effect."


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iPhone Fold rumored to get both under-screen and hole-punch cameras

The iPhone Fold is rumored to have two different types of camera tech for its folding and external displays, as well as have a Touch ID implementation under the screen for biometric authentication.

Close-up of a foldable smartphone displaying the time 19:32 and date Wednesday, 7 June against a colorful gradient background.
iPhone Fold may not have the Dynamic Island covering a hole-punch camera after all - Image Credit: AppleInsider

The iPhone Fold is an engineering challenge for Apple, and it wants to present its large folding display as perfectly as possible to users. As part of its attempts to do so, it will try to avoid adding distracting elements to the screen, by taking one bit out of view.

According to Thursday's Weibo post by leaker "Digital Chat Station," the large internal display of the iPhone Fold will use "under-screen camera technology." The smaller external-facing display will use a more conventional hole-punch camera.


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Trump has a problem with Tim Cook, because Foxconn is building factories in India

President Trump says he has a "little problem with Tim Cook," apparently because Foxconn — a company that Cook is not the CEO of — has been expanding factories in India for years.

Two men in suits sitting at a conference table, one adjusting glasses, the other speaking into a microphone, with an American flag in the background.
Tim Cook (left) and Trump in a previous meeting — image credit: White House

Tim Cook has famously handled Trump better than many or most business CEOs, which resulted in him getting Apple a crucial exemption in the first tariffs, and then at least temporary ones in the new "reciporcal" tariffs. But now Trump is saying Apple's suppliers need to come through on manufacturing in the US, and that the announced $500 billion plan isn't enough.

"I had a little problem with Tim Cook yesterday," Trump said to press on May 15, 2025, according to CNBC. "I said to him, 'my friend, I treated you very good. You're coming here with $500 billion, but now I hear you're building all over India.' I don't want you building in India."


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Square Enix shares new Kingdom Hearts 4 screenshots

15 mai 2025 à 18:10

This week came with the unfortunate news that Kingdom Hearts: Missing Link was cancelled. However, Square Enix is keen to show progress on Kingdom Hearts 4, which is still deep into development.

In an update shared today, Square Enix revealed a set of new screenshots for Kingdom Hearts 4, giving fans a new look at both cinematic scenes and gameplay:

To our Kingdom Hearts community,

We’re currently working hard on Kingdom Hearts IV and will continue pouring ourselves into the game’s development. We’re dedicated to making this an experience that lives up to your expectations! [1/2] pic.twitter.com/4lbg6l2ErZ

— KINGDOM HEARTS (@KINGDOMHEARTS) May 15, 2025

The screenshots were accompanied by the following statement: “We’re currently working hard on Kingdom Hearts IV and will continue pouring ourselves into the game’s development. We’re dedicated to making this an experience that lives up to your expectations.”

“We’ve seen how excited you are, and we are truly grateful from the bottom of our hearts. We are equally excited and can’t wait to share more about Kingdom Hearts IV when the time is right. Until then, we appreciate your patience.”

There is no release date for Kingdom Hearts 4, but it is expected to release before the next mainline Final Fantasy game (Final Fantasy 17).

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: It has been around four years since Kingdom Hearts 4 was announced. It seems we are no closer to a release date yet, but I'm expecting that to change in 2026.

The post Square Enix shares new Kingdom Hearts 4 screenshots first appeared on KitGuru.

Atlus announces Persona 5: The Phantom X for PC and mobile

15 mai 2025 à 17:50

Fans are eager to get more information about Persona 6, or official information on the rumoured Persona 4 remake. However, Atlus has other plans for the time being. A new Persona 5 spin-off is on the way – Persona 5: The Phantom X. 

Persona 5: The Phantom X is set to release for mobile devices and PC, skipping consoles. The game is set in the same universe as Persona 5 but features a new cast of characters.

As far as gameplay goes, it is pretty faithful to the traditional Persona experience with a mix of social scenes and exploring dungeons. Battles are turn-based, just as they are in the mainline Persona games.

Later this year, Atlus is rumoured to be announcing a remake of Persona 4, following a similar formula to Persona 3: Reload. Persona 6 is also said to be in the works, but it isn't expected to release this year.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: As this is a mobile game, a lot of the enjoyment will hinge on the game's reliance on microtransactions. 

The post Atlus announces Persona 5: The Phantom X for PC and mobile first appeared on KitGuru.

Intel may announce Arc B770 graphics card soon

15 mai 2025 à 17:00

Just ahead of what's expected to be a busy Computex for mid-range GPU announcements from competitors, Intel's official Arc social media accounts have been dropping hints about a more powerful graphics card. In response to fans asking for a beefier GPU following an Arc Pro announcement, Intel's X account replied with phrases like “stay tuned,” “we're just getting started,” and “more to come” over the last week. This is widely interpreted as hinting at the long-rumored Arc ‘Battlemage' B770.

The timing for these teasers (via VideoCardz) appears deliberate, as Nvidia prepares to debut the RTX 5060 and AMD is set to introduce the RX 9060 XT next week. This suggests that Intel may be planning its own mid-range rival.

Based on previous reports, the Arc B770 is rumoured to feature between 24 and 32 Xe2 CUs, paired with a 256-bit memory bus and up to 16GB of GDDR6 memory. These specs would position the B770 as a direct competitor to Nvidia's RTX 5060 and AMD's RX 9060 XT in the mid-range gaming segment.

While it's not confirmed whether Intel plans to announce the Arc B770 at Computex next week or hold a separate solo livestream event later, the social media interactions have sparked interest among enthusiasts.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Do you think we'll see Intel's Arc B770 at Computex? What are your expectations for this GPU in terms of performance and pricing?

The post Intel may announce Arc B770 graphics card soon first appeared on KitGuru.

GSC Game World announces Stalker Enhanced Edition trilogy

15 mai 2025 à 16:30

The classic Stalker games are making a return to the spotlight. GSC Game World launched the long-awaited sequel, Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl last year. Now for 2025, the studio is releasing ‘Enhanced Edition' versions of the original trilogy of games. 

Stalker: Legends of the Zone Trilogy Enhanced Edition is a package that includes Stalker: Shadow of Chornobyl, Stalker: Clear Sky and Stalker: Call of Prypiat. The re-release will include visual upgrades like enhanced lighting and shadows, updated textures, improved models for NPCs, weapons and environments, as well as smaller tweaks like increased field of view.

The Enhanced Editions will be made available on modern consoles for the very first time too. This trilogy of games originally released between 2006 and 2009 and were PC exclusive. Classic versions of the game came to Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PS4 last year.

Now, anyone who owns the classic edition games will get the Enhanced Edition upgrade for free across PC and consoles. Xbox Series X/S and PS5 owners will also benefit from new performance options, such as 4K/30FPS or 4K/60FPS with upscaling.

Stalker: Legends of the Zone Trilogy Enhanced Edition will be available starting on the 20th of May.

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KitGuru Says: If you've never played the original games, then now is a great time to clear some time and give them a download. 

The post GSC Game World announces Stalker Enhanced Edition trilogy first appeared on KitGuru.

Ubisoft is pushing some big launches to 2026 and 2027

15 mai 2025 à 16:00

Ubisoft's latest earnings call has revealed changes in its release roadmap, with the publisher revealing several major projects have been postponed. These delays are intended to give the titles more development time to improve quality, following lessons learned from Assassin's Creed Shadows' delay. 

CEO Yves Guillemot (via Eurogamer) stated these impacted titles come from five of Ubisoft's top brands: Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, Rainbow Six, The Division, and Ghost Recon. Despite these postponements, Ubisoft did list the games still slated for release within the current fiscal year. This pipeline includes Anno 117: Pax Romana, the long-awaited Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake, Rainbow Six Mobile, The Division spin-off Resurgence, and other titles yet to be unveiled. Additionally, planned content includes Assassin's Creed Shadows' first major expansion later this year and the ‘X' upgrade for Rainbow Six Siege in June.

For the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2025, Ubisoft reported revenue of €1.85 billion, slightly below their objective, attributed to “lower-than-expected partnerships due to timing impacts”. Assassin's Creed Shadows was their biggest release, but a new sales/players number wasn't provided (the latest known figure was 3 million players in its first week). Its financial performance was said to “reaffirm the strength and resilience” of the brand, with Shadows achieving the series' second-highest first-day sales revenue (after Valhalla) and reaching 160 million total playable hours across all users. Ubisoft also noted annual unique player counts for their top brands, with Assassin's Creed and Rainbow Six seeing around 30 million each for the fourth consecutive year, while Far Cry had around 20 million players.

In efforts to reduce expenses, Ubisoft stated it successfully cut fixed costs by €200 million, with plans to cut a further €100 million over the next two years. Their headcount is now 17,782 individuals, a reduction of around 3000 since September 2022 via layoffs and reduced recruiting.

More details are expected later this year regarding Ubisoft's plan to build a new subsidiary with Tencent that will encompass their three largest franchises: Assassin's Creed, Rainbow Six, and Far Cry. This new division will focus on improving narrative-driven solo experiences, expanding live service offerings with a better multiplayer component and more frequent content updates, and targeting underpenetrated markets like mobile and China.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you interested in any games Ubisoft has confirmed for this fiscal year?

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Sony considering another PS5 price hike in response to US tariffs

15 mai 2025 à 15:50

Since launch, Sony has raised the price of PS5 consoles in most regions across the world. The most recent price hike hit the UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand just weeks ago. Now, due to US trade tariffs, Sony is considering another price hike. 

Presumably the next price increase, if it does occur, will indeed impact US consumers. Previous price rises have seen the PS5 become £40 more expensive, which would be around $50 USD.

PlayStation Series

Sony confirmed it is considering price changes in its latest earnings call (via Eurogamer). Currently the company has three months' worth of stock in the US, but after that, it may have to pass the costs of trade tariffs onto the consumer through an adjusted price for the PS5, PS5 Digital and PS5 Pro. Other accessories, like the DualSense controller, may also be affected.

In response to a question about potentially bringing PS5 manufacturing to the US, Sony CEO, Hiroki Totoki said “it needs to be considered going forward”.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: PS5 prices have gone up across the world, and despite the PS6 being just a couple of years away, we may see the PS5 price rise even further. 

The post Sony considering another PS5 price hike in response to US tariffs first appeared on KitGuru.

GeForce Now adds DOOM: The Dark Ages and more

15 mai 2025 à 15:20

It is Thursday, which means it is time for another GeForce Now update. Each week, Nvidia announces new titles joining the cloud gaming library. This week sees five more games added, including day-one support for DOOM: The Dark Ages.

DOOM: The Dark Ages is the latest game in the modern reboot series. It is a prequel to the events of DOOM (2016), taking players into a medieval-inspired realm to slay demons both new and old.

Here is the full list of titles joining the library today:

  • The Precinct (New release on Steam, May 13)
  • Blacksmith Master (New release on Steam, May 15)
  • Capcom Fighting Collection 2 (New release on Steam, May 15)
  • DOOM: The Dark Ages (New release on Steam, Battle.net and Xbox, available on PC Game Pass, May 15)
  • Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 (Steam and Xbox, available on PC Game Pass)

There will be many more games joining GeForce Now in the coming weeks.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: What do you think of this week's GeForce Now lineup? 

The post GeForce Now adds DOOM: The Dark Ages and more first appeared on KitGuru.

Asus unveils ROG Strix OLED monitors with TrueBlack Glossy coating

15 mai 2025 à 15:00

Asus has expanded its ROG Strix gaming monitor line-up with two new OLED models, the XG32UCWMG and XG32UCWG. While QD-OLED monitors have dominated the market over the last couple of years, these ones are the first in the world to offer 4K WOLED panels with TrueBlack Glossy film.

This anti-reflective panel coating, designed specifically for ROG, aims to drastically reduce ambient reflections by 38% compared to previous glossy WOLED panels. This helps preserve true blacks even under bright lights and potentially reduces eye fatigue. Asus's Clear Pixel Edge technology is also included to help eliminate colour fringing on text and fine lines.

Another interesting feature of these monitors is the one-tap Dual mode. This allows gamers to quickly switch between the native 4K (UHD) resolution and a lower FHD (1080p) resolution, unlocking refresh rates of up to 480 Hz for the XG32UCWMG and 330 Hz for the XG32UCWG in FHD mode. Thanks to it, it eliminates the need to choose between visual quality and competitive speed. Built on 4K WOLED panels, these displays offer OLED's signature near-instantaneous response time (up to 1 ms GtG) and excellent motion clarity, supported by technologies like Extreme Low Motion Blur and OLED Anti-Flicker 2.0. The monitors also include DisplayHDR 400 certification and wide colour coverage, hitting around 125% of sRGB and 96% of DCI-P3.

Beyond performance, Asus has packed in advanced features for panel longevity and user convenience. An updated OLED Care Pro suite includes pixel refreshes, picture shifting, and logo brightness limiting to mitigate burn-in risk. Then there's the Neo Proximity sensor, which detects user presence, automatically muting the screen when you step away to preserve the panel and instantly waking it upon your return (with adjustable distance). For added peace of mind, a three-year burn-in guarantee is included with each display.

The monitors feature a new ultra-compact stand, designed for space-saving with a 60% lower footprint than previous ROG 32-inch OLED stands. Despite being more compact, it offers the same full ergonomic adjustments, including tilt, swivel, and height adjustment. Built-in Auto KVM allows seamless switching between two connected PCs using a single keyboard and mouse, and the DisplayWidget Centre program further simplifies settings, KVM control, and firmware updates from the desktop. Both monitors provide multiple ports, including two HDMI 2.1, one DisplayPort 1.4, one USB-C with 15-watt power delivery, a USB hub, and a headphone jack.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Which of the two Asus ROG XG32U monitors do you prefer?

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Moto Razr Ultra (2025) Review: A Masterful Folding Flip Phone

15 mai 2025 à 17:20
Moto Razr Ultra (2025) Review: A Masterful Folding Flip Phone Moto Razr Ultra (2025) - MSRP Starting A $1,299 With the Razr Ultra, Motorola has gone all out and made a Snapdragon 8 Elite-equipped, flagship-grade folding flip phone with very few compromises. Stylish design, premium materials Big beautiful displays Excellent speakers Solid performance and battery life Android apps on the cover screen Delightful...

Fractal Design Meshify 3 Ambience Pro RGB Review

15 mai 2025 à 16:00
Fractal's Meshify series is long due for an upgrade, so it is no surprise that Fractal Design is launching the Meshify 3 in seven different SKUs, with an updated design, some cool new features and unique tooling. Paired with three brand new Momentum 14 RGB fans, the Ambience Pro RGB variant of the case is fully loaded with a new Hub and 100 embedded LEDs.

Valve confirms Steam has not suffered a data breach

15 mai 2025 à 13:44

This week, someone claimed to have breached Valve's Steam servers, coming away with account information for over 89 million users. Something seemed a bit fishy about the claim at the time, but now, Valve has confirmed that no data breach has taken place.

In a statement shared today on Steam, Valve said that after examining the claimed leak, it has determined that it is in fact an SMS cache, containing no information on Steam accounts.

Chinese Steam

“The leak consisted of older text messages that included one-time codes that were only valid for 15-minute time frames and the phone numbers they were sent to. The leaked data did not associate the phone numbers with a Steam account, password information, payment information or other personal data”, Valve wrote.

Valve continues to explain that old text messages can't be used to gain access to a Steam account, and that there are extra protections in place when an account attempts to change email or password using SMS:

“Old text messages cannot be used to breach the security of your Steam account, and whenever a code is used to change your Steam email or password using SMS, you will receive a confirmation via email and/or Steam secure messages.”

As SMS is an unencrypted messaging system, most sites and services recommend using an authenticator app instead. The Steam mobile app can be set up as an authenticator pretty easily, so you should be using that instead of SMS authentication if you are serious about keeping your account safe.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: There was no Steam hack but more people should start using the Steam authenticator rather than SMS. If you haven't changed over, now would be a good time to do so.

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Sony’s PlayStation Portal continues to be a “strong and profitable peripheral”

15 mai 2025 à 13:15

While not quite the PSP3 that some may have hoped for, Sony’s PlayStation Portal Remote Play peripheral has been a surprise hit since its launch back in November of 2023. In the year and a half following, the handheld has received a strong level of support from Sony, bringing additional functionality. This seems to be paying off, with the PS Portal said to be a “strong and profitable peripheral.”

As part of the company’s latest fiscal earnings report, Sony’s President and CEO Hiroki Totoki spoke on the ongoing success of the PlayStation Portal, calling it (as transcribed by Genki_JPN) a “strong and profitable peripheral” which they will continue to focus on moving forward.

For context, while we’ve not gotten any official sales numbers for the Portal, the handheld had originally sold out of its initial stock in just two days following its arrival in November of 2023.

PlayStation Portal Peripheral

Since then, the device has continued to improve, adding new functionality such as cloud streaming alongside other smaller quality-of-life improvements.

Back in February of last year Sony reaffirmed the ongoing success of the Portal, stating at the time “although we don’t have any numbers to share, the demand has continued to exceed our expectations.”

Based on recent rumours which claim that Sony could be working on a proper dedicated gaming handheld, it seems their experiment with the PlayStation Portal has been and continues to be a massive success. It will be interesting to see how Sony approaches future PS Portal updates.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Did the PS Portal exceed your expectations? Has this given PlayStation the confidence to make another PSP? Let us know your thoughts down below.

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