Hardware News

Apple Has Learned to Look Inside iPhone Boxes Without Opening Them — to Fight Fraud Apple has encountered a serious problem: a growing number of cases in which buyers attempt to return an empty, sealed box containing an iPhone or another company device, or a device from which internal components have been removed. The company has found a way to combat this problem, Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman reported. According to Gurman, such customers are counting on store employees’ inattention, attempting to return an empty box from a previously purchased product or a device that is missing some of its components. Previously, Apple retail store employees were instructed to open the box when processing an iPhone return and check its contents. Now, however, Apple has found another solution that will help reduce losses. Gurman’s report says that Apple has begun providing retail store employees with a special device that can “scan an iPhone and run diagnostics on it directly inside the box to ensure that the smartphone is intact.” This eliminates the need to open the box, allowing a returned device that is in proper condition to be put back on sale immediately. The journalist added that Apple began supplying stores with the device for scanning iPhones inside their boxes at the beginning of this month. If you value what we do, you can support our projects on Boosty. With love, NSWTL.

Wireless Transformer Mouse: Logitech Pebble Up Can Change Shape for a More Comfortable Grip Logitech has introduced the Pebble Up wireless mouse, which can change its shape: its upper section can be raised to provide a more comfortable grip. The model is a continuation of the Pebble Mouse 2 M350s lineup, which was released in 2023 together with the Pebble 2 keyboard. The Pebble Up measures 105.8 × 59.6 × 30 mm and weighs 79 g. The previous Pebble Mouse 2 M350s model weighs 76 g, meaning that the ability to change shape has had virtually no effect on the Pebble Up’s weight. The mouse is equipped with four buttons: left and right buttons, a button on the scroll wheel, and a separate button for adjusting the DPI. Its optical sensor, with a resolution of 4200 CPI, supports an adjustable range from 400 to 4000 DPI. Unlike its predecessor, which uses an AA battery, the Pebble Up is powered by a 290 mAh lithium-polymer battery that provides up to 90 days of use on a single charge. The mouse connects to a computer via Bluetooth Low Energy or through a Logi Bolt USB receiver, with a wireless range of up to 10 m. The Pebble Up can be connected to up to three devices simultaneously, with the ability to switch between them using Logitech Easy-Switch. Support for AI tools is provided through Logi Options+ software, available for Windows and macOS. On iPadOS, Linux, ChromeOS, and Android, only basic mouse functions are available, without customization options. The same application used for previous models is required to customize the Pebble Up’s buttons—for example, the POP Mouse, which is equipped with two programmable action buttons. The Pebble Up is available in three colors: Rose Pink, Graphite Gray, and Pearl White, priced at $37. If you value what we do, you can support our projects on Boosty. With love, NSWTL.

Flash Memory Shortage Drives SSD Prices Up 303% in a Year SSD prices continue to rise along with the NAND flash memory used in them. According to a forecast by TrendForce, contract prices for NAND flash memory will increase by another 15–20% in the fourth quarter of 2026 compared with the previous quarter. Computer manufacturers have already begun reducing storage capacities in mass-market models to contain component costs, reported Tech-insider.org. The scale of the price increase is illustrated by data cited by Tech Insider, which refers to an industry source: in the third quarter, the contract price of a 256 GB TLC-based SSD reached approximately $134.20, compared with $33.30 a year earlier. This represents an increase of roughly four times, or 303%. The price rose by approximately 20% over the quarter. For 512 GB drives, the publication reports a similar trend: from $62.40 to $252 over the course of a year. These are contract prices, not the retail prices of SSDs. Therefore, the figures cannot be considered an indicator of price increases for all consumer storage devices. Nevertheless, they demonstrate how significant the pressure on device production costs could be. Throughout the year, TrendForce repeatedly raised its forecasts for NAND prices. For the first quarter, analysts forecast a 55–60% increase in contract prices; for the second quarter, they expected a further 70–75% rise. The anticipated 15–20% increase toward the end of the year indicates that price growth is slowing, but does not mean that prices will return to their previous levels. The primary source of pressure is the expansion of AI infrastructure. According to TrendForce’s forecast, demand for enterprise SSDs, measured in total capacity, will grow by more than 80% in 2026. Suppliers are prioritizing more profitable products, limiting the supply of memory for other segments. However, the consumer market is already resisting higher prices. PC manufacturers are using their accumulated inventories and reducing new purchases while simultaneously lowering SSD capacities in mass-market computers. Weak demand is forcing suppliers to offer more flexible terms, which is restraining further price increases for client storage devices. For buyers, the consequences are reflected not only in price tags: manufacturers’ cost-cutting measures may mean less storage capacity in a new PC. If you value what we do, you can support our projects on Boosty. With love, NSWTL.

Blogger Tests iPhone Duo’s Durability — Foldable Screen Shows Weakness, as Expected Popular tech blogger Zach Nelson, creator of the JerryRigEverything YouTube channel, conducted a series of durability tests on Apple’s recently released foldable iPhone Duo, revealing the new device’s weak points. As expected, the flexible display and the smartphone’s hinge showed signs of weakness. During the scratch-resistance test, barely visible marks appeared on the external display, which is protected by Ceramic Shield 2, only when tools with a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale were used. Deeper grooves appeared with a hardness of 8. This is consistent with the durability test results of displays on previous iPhone models. Video on YouTube However, scratches appeared on the soft polymer coating of the inner display when it was exposed to a tool with a hardness of just 2, which is entirely predictable for a foldable device. Its surface can be easily scratched even with a fingernail, just like those of other foldable smartphones. Apple’s display consists of a series of ultrathin layers, including two flexible sheets of glass positioned beneath a textured top coating. This coating proved to be the most vulnerable in everyday use: keys, coins, or other metal objects can leave scratches on it, for example. The inner panel also proved more vulnerable to fire. It began melting after just 10 seconds of exposure to flames, while the external display withstood the heat for more than 20 seconds before suffering irreversible damage. According to Nelson, the nanotextured layer can be removed; however, Apple apparently considers it a structural element of the display. If the pixels beneath it fail, the entire display will have to be replaced, at a cost of $1,000. Dust, it turned out, can also seriously impair the functionality of the iPhone Duo, even though the device is rated IP68 for dust and water resistance. When Nelson placed the smartphone in sand containing dirt particles, he discovered that the magnets on the rear panel attracted debris. Once the particles entered the hinge mechanism, they weakened the magnets to the point where they could no longer hold the two halves of the device together. As a result, the titanium hinge jammed: the iPhone Duo remained partially open and could no longer close completely. Apparently, some dust particles enter through the hinge itself rather than through the gaps between the display sections. When Nelson attempted to bend the unfolded smartphone, it flexed significantly. Although the titanium frame and body survived the test, a green line appeared on the inner display, stretching from the central fold to the edge of the frame. After the device was folded again, two more lines appeared. The hinge’s range of motion was sufficient to cause irreversible damage to the flexible panel. After that, the Duo’s inner display failed completely. Nelson was unable to identify the exact cause, suggesting that the problem could have been caused by dust particles entering the mechanism or by insufficient hinge rigidity. During the testing, the blogger noted that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 achieved better results in similar durability tests. However, it should not be forgotten that these were extreme tests, and only time will show how the devices perform in everyday use. If you value what we do, you can support our projects on Boosty. With love, NSWTL.

Jensen Huang Became the Leader of the Robo-Ducklings—and Now Everyone Wants to Be Like Huang This week, a video went viral showing Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang playing with a flock of Microduck robots during his presentation at the GTC conference in Berlin. The very next day, sales of the devices skyrocketed. The robo-ducks stomped around on their tiny feet, made funny noises, played dead when asked to “take a nap,” and performed somersaults on voice command. The video was so adorable that the next day, the number of preorders for Microduck exceeded 20,000, Hugging Face CEO Clément Delangue reported. The robo-ducks are expected to be delivered by Christmas, meaning they have every chance of becoming the most popular toy of the holiday season. Delangue believes they could become the best-selling robots of the year—and perhaps not just for children. Adults also play with them in the promotional videos. When @jensenhuang asks for a somersault, you deliver. 🦆 See how AI agents on NVIDIA RTX Spark help bring @huggingface's Microduck from simulation to the real world. https://t.co/W6qidApR2O — NVIDIA RTX Spark (@NVIDIARTXSpark) October 21, 2026 Microduck is a bipedal robot powered by open-source software and manufactured by Pollen Robotics. Hugging Face acquired the company in 2025, which means it is now part of Nvidia. Nvidia announced its acquisition of Hugging Face in September. Before that, Hugging Face released the HopeJR and Reachy Mini robots. Microduck was trained using Nvidia’s technology stack: out of the box, the robots can perform several tricks, including walking, sitting, standing, and so on—all of which they learned in simulation. Owners can teach the robots new tricks and share these skills with the community, Pollen Robotics emphasized. If you value what we do, you can support our projects on Boosty. With love, NSWTL.

iPhone Duo units are cracking within the first few hours of use The day they purchased the Apple iPhone Duo turned into a disappointment for some owners of the new device. Just a few hours after sales began, owners of the foldable smartphones discovered an unpleasant defect—the inner displays had started cracking along the fold line. The cause of the problem has not yet been determined, but judging by photos of the damaged displays that have begun appearing on social media, the result is always the same—a large crack running directly along the hinge. Because of the damage in the folding area, the right side develops pixel problems—a bright horizontal white stripe. The scale of the problem has not yet been established, but reports of cracks appearing at the fold in iPhone Duo screens are coming from everywhere, from the United States to Australia and China. One of the less fortunate owners of the new device in Australia said that he contacted Apple Support about the iPhone Duo malfunction. He was offered an express replacement, but this would have required “putting a hold on an amount equal to the smartphone’s full price” on his card. The company was also unable to provide an exact delivery date for the replacement device. He then contacted an Apple Store directly—there, the staff “apologized and immediately replaced the gadget with a brand-new one.” It is possible that retail locations keep a supply of iPhone Duo units for situations like this. The crack appeared less than six hours after the buyer received his iPhone Duo, he said. During that time, he had folded it fewer than 20 times. Apple will probably now want to collect the damaged units to determine what caused the problem and eliminate it in future iPhone Duo production. When purchasing first-generation devices of this kind, buyers have to be prepared for possible malfunctions and software bugs. But the appearance of a large crack is a serious defect. Apple will likely help affected customers, but for the first owners of the highly sought-after device, this is an unpleasant surprise on the very day sales began. If you value what we do, you can support our projects on Boosty. With love, NSWTL.

Like in the Early Days of the First “iPhones”: The iPhone Duo Launch Drew Large Crowds at Apple Stores In the first years after the iPhone was launched, long lines formed outside Apple stores around the world. Over time, they became a thing of the past due to the growing popularity of online preorders. Now, with the release of the iPhone Duo, Apple stores are once again seeing a surge of excitement. Apple’s first foldable smartphone has led to lines forming outside many of the company’s stores worldwide. This is evidenced by numerous comments and photos on specialized forums and social media. According to the source, people began arriving at Apple stores long before they opened, with dozens or even hundreds of people gathering outside some locations to purchase the iPhone Duo. Apple CEO John Ternus and retail chief Deirdre O’Brien visited an Apple store in Austin, Texas. This was likely related to the fact that the U.S. Grand Prix of Formula 1 is taking place in the city this weekend, while Apple TV is Formula 1’s exclusive streaming partner in the country. At the same time, Apple’s vice president of marketing, Greg Joswiak, and vice president of retail stores, Vanessa Trigub, greeted customers at the Apple store on Fifth Avenue in New York. Apple said that on the launch day, a limited number of iPhone Duo units would be available at stores in the United States and several other countries for customers who had not placed a preorder. The company noted that the available iPhone Duo inventory would sell out quickly due to “extraordinarily” high preorder demand. If you value what we do, you can support our projects on Boosty. With love, NSWTL.

Nine Graphics Cards and Up to 2 TB of RAM with Active Cooling: Gigabyte Unveils a Threadripper Pro Motherboard Gigabyte has published the full specifications of its new WRX90 AI TOP motherboard, designed for AMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro 9000 WX and 7000 WX processors. The motherboard is intended for building powerful workstations with multiple GPUs and systems for local AI workloads. The company had previously shown the motherboard at Computex 2026 in June. However, the manufacturer has now created a separate section for it on its website, where it has described the technical specifications and already published the available BIOS versions and drivers. The new product is built around a powerful 41-phase VRM power subsystem (a 32+3+3+3 configuration, with 110 A phases) and a 14-layer PCB. The motherboard is equipped with seven full-size PCIe 5.0 slots connected directly to the processor. Six of them operate in x16 mode, while the seventh operates in x8 mode. Gigabyte has added two MCIO 8i connectors for installing additional PCIe devices and expanding permanent storage. At Computex, the company demonstrated the motherboard with nine GPUs installed: two additional graphics cards were connected through the MCIO 8i connectors. The motherboard is based on the AMD WRX90 chipset and features an sTR5 processor socket. The new product has eight slots for DDR5 RDIMM memory modules and supports up to 2 TB of RAM with ECC (error correction). To cool the memory effectively, the company has added a special removable module with two fans, which can reduce the operating temperature of the RAM to 43 °C. The new product is also equipped with two PCIe 5.0 M.2 connectors, one PCIe 4.0 M.2 connector, and four SATA III ports (6 Gbps). One of the MCIO connectors shares bandwidth with the two PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots. In other words, it is not possible to use all of these connectors simultaneously. The motherboard measures 305 × 330 mm. It uses the E-ATX form factor. Networking is provided by two Intel X710 10-gigabit controllers. The equipment also includes two USB4 (Type-C) ports and six rear USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports. The integrated ASPEED AST2600 controller provides support for remote motherboard management via the IPMI protocol over a dedicated network connection. Perhaps the most surprising feature of such a high-tech motherboard is the presence of the outdated D-Sub video connector. Gigabyte states that the motherboard supports Windows 11 and Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, and also provides the AI TOP utility for running artificial intelligence-related workloads directly on the device. If you value what we do, you can support our projects on Boosty. With love, NSWTL.

Solidigm Abandons IPO but Not Plans to Build an SSD Fab in the US American enterprise SSD manufacturer Solidigm has announced that it is abandoning preparations for an IPO. However, the company still wants to build a facility in the US, meaning it will now have to seek sources of financing unrelated to issuing shares on the stock market. This Friday, SK hynix-affiliated American company Solidigm began with a statement that it preferred to abandon its plans to go public, as market conditions and trends in the stock prices of semiconductor companies are not particularly favorable. At the same time, parent company SK hynix confirmed plans to build a Solidigm fab in the US, which would help better meet demand for enterprise-class solid-state drives. It has not been specified where or when such a Solidigm facility will appear, how much it will produce, or how much it will cost. Historically, Solidigm has specialized in producing high-capacity SSDs for server applications. The company uses floating-gate QLC NAND flash memory to manufacture them. Although Solidigm is headquartered in the US, its memory is produced at a facility in Dalian, China, while its enterprise-grade solid-state drives are manufactured by Taiwanese contractors. The company is prepared to organize production in the US for both market-related and political reasons. As Tom’s Hardware notes, SK hynix considered several options for financing the project, ranging from direct investment to raising funds ahead of an IPO, as well as taking Solidigm itself public. An initial public offering would have allowed SK hynix to raise the necessary amount of money without increasing its debt burden. In addition, an IPO of the American subsidiary could have enabled the parent company to define Solidigm’s market capitalization more clearly, as it currently remains in SK hynix’s shadow and is not reflected adequately. In any case, SK hynix stated that increased stock-market volatility had made an IPO less attractive for Solidigm. Under current conditions, the company would hardly be able to achieve a valuation that adequately reflected its growth prospects. Accordingly, parent company SK hynix has abandoned the idea of raising funds through an IPO or in preparation for one, although it has not stopped looking for alternative financing mechanisms for the project. Together with its parent company, Solidigm controls 21.1% of the enterprise SSD market. It sells unique products in a rapidly growing segment, so it can presumably boast high profitability. As a private company, it does not disclose its financial results. Under current market conditions, with support from parent company SK hynix, it could not only raise sufficient funds to build a facility in the US within a relatively short period, but also recoup the investment later. As a last resort, it could take out loans to cover part of its capital requirements. At the same time, SK hynix would not have to take Solidigm public or share the company’s future profits with anyone. These considerations may ultimately have prevailed. If you value what we do, you can support our projects on Boosty. With love, NSWTL.

Elon Musk Is Building America’s Fourth Cellular Giant — Starlink Mobile Is Targeting 80,000 Towers SpaceX is in talks with at least one major U.S. network infrastructure operator to use around 80,000 base stations for its Starlink Mobile project. The company plans to challenge giants such as AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. For comparison, a year ago, T-Mobile reported having more than 82,000 cellular towers. According to Bloomberg, leases for base stations with Crown Castle are being discussed as part of SpaceX’s plans to create the fourth nationwide wireless carrier. Along with American Tower and Vertical Bridge Holdings, Crown Castle is one of the largest owners of cellular towers. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk makes no secret of his intention to create an independent wireless carrier from the ground up. Recently, SpaceX acquired low-band radio spectrum that will allow it to use Starlink satellites and other technological components to create what Musk calls a “major mobile carrier.” The company has also received permission from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to launch 15,000 satellites designed to provide mobile communications services directly to users’ phones. To ensure reliable connections with subscribers on the ground, the company also needs infrastructure consisting of terrestrial cellular towers. Operators generally lease space for their equipment on base stations because it is more cost-effective than owning and maintaining them—especially since the infrastructure can be shared. “We will build out our terrestrial networks to provide ubiquitous connectivity wherever SpaceX and Starlink are authorized to operate,” Musk said this week. He noted that satellite launches combined with acquiring spectrum “will pave the way for Starlink Mobile to become a major mobile carrier in the United States.” If you value what we do, you can support our projects on Boosty. With love, NSWTL.