Latest hardware news and stories
Xiaomi has launched the Pad 8 and Pad 8 Pro in Germany with 144-Hz displays, featuring powerful processors and versatile accessories. At the same time, the company is offering compelling deals on older models such as the Redmi Pad 2 Pro for just €143 and the Poco Pad X1 and Xiaomi Pad 7 with up to 30% discounts on Aliexpress. This strategy highlights Xiaomi's effort to cater to both premium and budget segments with a diverse product lineup.
Bungie has released its new PvPvE extraction shooter Marathon, set in a science fiction world centered around a destroyed spaceship. The game has reached third place among the best-selling titles on Steam in the US, surpassing Arc Raiders, despite facing heavy criticism over its monetization. Ahead of its March 5, 2026 release, Bungie is conducting a free 'Server Slam' to test servers and matchmaking, while also announcing a major patch and responding to player feedback with planned UI improvements, balance adjustments, and Duo lobbies. Marathon will also be available on last-generation Xbox and PlayStation consoles, adding to its accessibility.
BYD Revamps Electric Mobility: 1-MW Charging Stations and Denza Z9GT Launch in Europe
BYD has launched a new era in electric mobility with the Denza Z9GT and a groundbreaking 1-MW charging technology. The electric car, boasting a range of 1,036 kilometers in the CLTC cycle and up to 1,500 kW charging power, promises a revolution in fast-charging capabilities. The company plans to deploy 20,000 charging stations across Europe by the end of 2026, creating the world’s largest megawatt charging network. However, BYD faces challenges in securing European certification for its vehicles.
AMD Readies Linux Ecosystem for Zen 6 EPYC with Enhanced Profiling and Power Control Features
AMD is preparing the Linux ecosystem for its upcoming Zen 6 processors, particularly the EPYC Venice lineup. The company is introducing enhanced instruction-based sampling (IBS) support with features like RIP bit 63 filtering and fetch latency thresholds, along with finer power controls and improved system monitoring via the HSMP Linux driver. These updates aim to provide developers with advanced tools for performance analysis and system optimization.
Lenovo ThinkBook 16 and ThinkPad E14 G7 with Core Ultra 5, 32 GB RAM, and 1 TB SSD on Sale
The Lenovo ThinkBook 16 G8 IAL with Core Ultra 5 225U, 32 GB RAM, and 1 TB SSD is available for €973, featuring a 16-inch IPS display with 1920 x 1200 resolution, dual-channel memory, USB 4, and a backlit keyboard. The Lenovo ThinkPad E14 G7, priced at €1,077.75, offers a 14-inch 2.8k display with 120 Hz, sRGB, and high image quality, along with 32 GB RAM and a 1 TB SSD. Both models are Copilot+ PCs with a powerful NPU, long battery life, and are rated as high-performance business laptops.
Mesa Developers Reach Consensus on AI Policy – Intel and AMD Advance Linux Graphics Drivers
Mesa developers are finalizing an AI policy for their open-source graphics drivers, while Intel and AMD advance Linux graphics support. Intel has submitted Xe3 driver improvements for the Linux 7.1 kernel, AMD has open-sourced the ROCprof Trace Decoder, and ARCTIC Cooling released a Linux fan controller driver. Meanwhile, several Intel kernel drivers have become orphaned due to engineer departures, highlighting ongoing challenges in open-source maintenance.
PS5 Pro Gets Enhanced PSSR Technology: Resident Evil Requiem Debuts First
An enhanced version of Sony's PSSR upscaling technology, based on AMD's FSR 4 and the joint Amethyst project, debuts today in Resident Evil Requiem for the PlayStation 5 Pro. Powered by an improved AI neural network, the technology boosts image quality, particularly in complex textures like hair. Additional games will support the feature starting in March, without requiring a firmware update.
The Trump administration has banned the U.S. military from using AI models from Anthropic, classifying the company as a supply chain risk. OpenAI capitalized on the gap by securing a Pentagon contract for handling sensitive data, sparking criticism over mass surveillance and autonomous weapons. Meanwhile, Caitlin Kalinowski, head of OpenAI’s robotics division, resigned after criticizing the company’s military ties. In a separate incident, a Mexican startup incurred over $82,000 in cloud costs within two days due to a stolen Google Cloud API key, highlighting critical security vulnerabilities.
Linux 7.0-rc3 Released: Major Updates for AMD and Intel CPUs, Drivers, and Security
Linux 7.0-rc3 has been released, marking one of the largest release candidates in recent history. It includes significant updates for AMDXDNA Ryzen AI drivers, graphics drivers, and security and performance enhancements for both Intel and AMD CPUs. Linus Torvalds noted the unusually large size due to a backlog of contributions. The kernel will serve as the default for Ubuntu 26.04 LTS and Fedora 44, with ongoing testing to stabilize it before the final release.
Lenovo Legion Go Fold: Foldable Gaming Handheld Transforms into Laptop for Mobility and Productivity
Lenovo has unveiled the Legion Go Fold Concept, a foldable gaming handheld with a 7.7-inch OLED display that transforms into various modes, including an 11.6-inch laptop. The device combines tablet, laptop, and gaming handheld functions and is powered by an Intel Core Ultra 7 Pro processor, 32 GB of RAM, a 1 TB SSD, and a 48 Wh battery. It features detachable controllers and a POLED display, with a potential launch in 2026 or early 2027. Designed for both gaming and productivity, the concept aims to offer versatile mobility and multitasking capabilities.
Bungie's Marathon Dominates Steam Charts – Beta Hits 143,000 Players Amid UI Criticism
Bungie's new survival extraction shooter Marathon has topped Steam's sales charts, climbing to third place ahead of its official launch. The Server Slam Beta reached 143,000 concurrent players on its first day, earning praise for its gunplay but drawing criticism for its user interface. Despite falling below 100,000 players at launch, the game received positive initial reviews. Meanwhile, Steam is offering deep discounts on other titles including Cities: Skylines, Ruiner, and Aven Colony.
AMD Ryzen AI 400: New Desktop APUs with Zen 5 and RDNA 3.5 for AM5 Socket Arrive in 2026
AMD has unveiled the Ryzen AI 400 APUs for desktop PCs, featuring Zen 5 architecture and RDNA 3.5 graphics, which will be available in socketed form for the AM5 socket for the first time. The Pro series includes twelve models with TDPs from 35 to 65 watts, based on the Gorgon Point design and equipped with a 50 TOPS NPU. Initially, the processors will only be available in OEM prebuilt systems, not for the DIY market. Additionally, MSI has introduced a new AIO liquid cooling prototype optimized for AMD's AM5 platform.
Top Refurbished Business Laptops on Sale: ThinkPad and HP with High Performance and Modern Features
Several high-quality refurbished business laptops from Lenovo and HP are currently available at attractive prices. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga G5 with Core i5, 16 GB RAM, LTE, and Active Stylus is priced at €350.10, while the ThinkPad T15p with 32 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD, and Nvidia GPU is offered for €550. HP’s lineup includes the EliteBook x360 1030 G8 with a 13-inch display, LTE, and 99% sRGB for under €400, and the EliteBook 845 G8 with 32 GB RAM, Ryzen 7 Pro 5850U, and Full-HD IPS display for €395. These devices feature durable builds, powerful components, and are ideal for office and productivity use.
NVIDIA Releases GeForce 595.59 Drivers for Resident Evil Requiem – But with Fan Issues
NVIDIA released the GeForce 595.59 WHQL Game Ready drivers to support Resident Evil Requiem and Marathon, while fixing multiple game bugs and enhancing performance on GeForce RTX 50 series GPUs. The update also improved DLSS and Reflex support. However, the driver was soon removed from download due to a bug causing severe fan issues on RTX 3000 and RTX 5000 series cards, with reports of only one fan being recognized. AMD has also issued a dedicated driver for Resident Evil Requiem and Marathon.
Resident Evil: Requiem Sets Steam Record and Earns International Acclaim
Resident Evil: Requiem set a new Steam record with 267,509 concurrent players at launch, surpassing the previous series peak and reaching over 320,000 on its first day. The game received overwhelmingly positive international reviews for its clear separation of survival horror and action elements, along with strong technical performance, detailed environments, and stable gameplay. While praised for its atmospheric tension and balance, it also faced criticism for missing customization options and technical issues such as crashes and performance fluctuations. Released on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, Requiem marks one of the most successful launches in the franchise's history.
Disney+ Removes HDR Completely – Streaming Quality Deteriorates Despite Unchanged Prices
Disney+ has temporarily removed all HDR support—including HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision—from its platform, resulting in a noticeable decline in image quality for selected content. The Premium plan still costs 15.99 euros per month but no longer offers HDR, raising concerns about shrinkflation. Disney has not issued an official statement, though the move may be linked to a ruling by the Munich Regional Court. The change affects both movies and series, sparking questions about the long-term quality and value of the service.
AI company Anthropic is facing intense pressure after the Pentagon classified it as a supply chain risk and demanded the removal of security filters for military use. The company has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government, arguing the designation is legally invalid and threatens its business. Meanwhile, competitors like OpenAI have secured military contracts, while studies reveal that most firms have not seen measurable productivity gains from AI despite heavy investments. The conflict highlights growing tensions between AI safety, national security, and economic implications.
Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy S26 series, including the S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra, featuring the Exynos 2600 chip, enhanced camera systems, larger batteries, and a new color palette. The S26 Ultra stands out with a 200 MP main camera sensor, S Pen, and the world’s first built-in Privacy Display using selectively dimmable pixels. The devices offer a more intuitive Galaxy AI experience, improved thermal management, 16 GB RAM, and Gorilla Armor 2 glass. Available starting March 10, 2026, prices range from €999 to €1,499, with limited-time pre-order promotions such as free storage upgrades.
BYD Surpasses Tesla in Europe – Volkswagen Hits Four Million Electric Vehicles
In January 2026, BYD surpassed Tesla in European sales with a growth of 165 percent, while Tesla recorded a 17 percent decline. Meanwhile, Volkswagen reached the global milestone of four million electric vehicle (BEV) sales, led by the ID.4 and ID.5 models. Germany now has more than two million pure electric cars on its roads, a 23.2 percent increase from the previous year. Additionally, Toyota and Stellantis are withdrawing from Tesla’s European CO2 emissions pool, eliminating a key revenue stream for Tesla starting in 2026.