ExplainingComputers (1.17m subscribers)

March 9, 2026

Video length: 14m 07s

Discussing the state of play in the market for consumer single board computers, such as those from Raspberry Pi, Radxa and Orange Pi.

00:00 Titles & Intro

00:42 SBCs at Home

02:59 Declining Price Advantage

06:08 The AI Dimension

07:47 The Hobbyist Frontier

11:20 Explaining SBCs

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Posted Monday 9 March 2026 at 6:03 am AEST (my time).

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Paul's Hardware (1.54m subscribers)

March 8, 2026

Video length: 11m 50s

0:00 Welcome to Paul’s Tech News - March 8, 2026

1:34 PC graphics cards are now nearly 100 percent Nvidia

4:58 Nvidia said to be planning RTX 5050 9GB and RX 3060 restock

TECH BRIEFS

7:24 RIP Entry Level PCs - market to ‘disappear’ by 2028

8:04 DRAM bots reportedly being deployed to hoover up memory chips

8:43 California’s Upcoming Age Verification on OS Installation Law

9:39 Xbox Confirms 'Project Helix', Next-Gen Console Will Also Play PC Games

10:29 BBC News Office monitor setup is wild

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Posted Sunday 8 March 2026 at 6:25 pm AEST (my time).

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Gamers Nexus (2.59m subscribers)

March 7, 2026

Video length: 1h 21m 21s

THE DRAM CARTEL: With absurd RAM prices and shortages of desktop memory, we've noticed a lot of parallels between the current AI demand (or "demand") for memory and the DRAM Cartel eras of the industry. This especially feels familiar with reservations of memory not yet manufactured for data centers not yet guaranteed. In this special report and deep-dive documentary, we dig deep through the archives of the internet, magazines, and newspapers to compile a definitive history of the DRAM Cartel, plus its modern parallels to the AI industry. Our documentary covers the memory price-fixing scandal of 1998-2002, additional price fixing conspiracy allegations in 2016-2022, and all the ways in which the memory makers have stabbed each other in the back over the last 60 years. This deep-dive report took our team OVER 255 HOURS of editing, writing, art, and research to put together.

00:00:00 - The DRAM Cartel

00:06:01 - WE NEED YOUR HELP and new mouse mat

00:07:17 - DRAM Industry from the Beginning

00:09:05 - Inventing DRAM

00:11:52 - Co-Opetition

00:18:11 - A New Order and The Big Three

00:21:21 - 1950 to 1970 - Birth of the Industry

00:25:46 - 1971 to 1979 - US Dominance and Japan Enters

00:29:12 - 1980 to 1997 - The Tide Turns and Trade Wars

00:38:43 - Japan's Lost Decade and Dawn of Korean Memory

00:45:27 - 1998 to 2002 - The Cartel Forms

00:51:29 - Fractured Cartel and Cracks Show

00:57:15 - 2002 to 2016 - Cornered

01:08:38 - 2017 to 2025 - IP Theft and US China Trade War

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Posted Sunday 8 March 2026 at 5:37 am AEST (my time).

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This week, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang was at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media and Telecom Conference, and he has something to say about the global memory shortage. Companies and consumers across the globe are finding it hard to acquire memory. DRAM pricing has skyrocketed, as have other parts in the electronics supply chain. So what does Nvidia’s CEO think about this? “I think the fact that everything is scary is fantastic for us.”

You know, if you set up a factory, a plant, a DRAM plant, and I come in and say, “You know what? Go ahead and set up the DRAM plant because I’m gonna use it,” that goes a long way. You might as well take that to the bank, as many of them have.

 

I think the fact that everything is scarce is fantastic for us.

 

– Nvidia CEO, Jensen Huang – via Investing.com

Nvidia is the dominant player in the AI space, and constraints make customers more likely to invest in the biggest players. These players promise the best chance of a strong return on investment. If power, memory, and space are constraints, customers are less likely to invest in unproven hardware from smaller companies. In today’s AI market, nobody will fault you for investing in Nvidia hardware over alternative options.

With regards to gaming, the memory shortage is entirely negative. Nvidia expects “supply constraints” for its GPUs in 2026. Memory prices have already driven up GPU prices. Furthermore, rising DRAM prices have driven up the cost of all new PCs. Regardless, Nvidia sees the supply crisis as a good thing, as datacenters drive most of its revenue and those customers have deep pockets. Additionally, Nvidia is large enough to ensure a stable supply of memory despite supply constraints. Smaller players will not have this luxury.

(Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang)

Scarcity is good because scarcity forces customers to invest in Nvidia hardware

In a world with scarcity, everyone’s less willing to take risks. As the largest player in the AI market, Nvidia is the default option for buyers. Everyone else is considered risky, and that’s good for Nvidia. Nvidia has the strongest supply chains and the most expertise. While everyone else may hate the shortages, Nvidia is the winner in this situation. They offer a better guarantee of results than their competition, and when things are scarce, guaranteed results are what people invest in.

I love constraints. I love constraints. The reason for that is because in a world of constraint, you have no choice but to choose the best. You can’t squander your choice. If the data centers, if the land, power, and shell is constrained, you’re not gonna randomly put something in there, just to try it out. You’re gonna put something that you know for certain is gonna deliver the tokens per watt that you know for certain is going to allow you from the moment you secure the capacity, we’re gonna be able to stand up an entire factory for you. We’re the only company in the world that can come into your company and help you stand up an entire AI factory. You know, anybody here that needs an AI factory, you know, I’m happy to help.

 

You call one person, and that one person comes in, and next thing you know, you’re in the AI factory business. Okay? We have the expertise. We know the architecture works. We know there’s enormous demand for the architecture, you know, after you’re done standing it up, so we can help you get into business. When you’re constrained that way, you have no choice but to make the best choice. Because your revenues next year is directly correlated to it. This is one of those questions now for all the CEOs that are in the cloud service providers or software providers. If they make poor choices, this is no different than me choosing the wrong foundry. This is no different than me choosing, you know, the wrong memory, than the wrong anything.

 

Because everything is so constrained, if I choose poorly, my revenues are affected, everything is affected. They can’t choose poorly. The second thing is, you know, NVIDIA’s, as you mentioned, working at such a large scale. Our supply chain, one of the things that we do with our money, of course, is to secure our supply chain. One of the things that we do with our capital is to secure our supply chain so that when Satya asks me to help him stand up a few gigawatts, the answer is, “No problem.” The reason for that is I got all the memories. I got all the wafers. I got all the CoWoS. I’ve got all the packaging. I’ve got all the systems. I’ve got all of the connectors. I got all the cables.

 

You know, everything from copper to multilayer ceramic capacitors, everything’s secured. That’s one of the reasons why NVIDIA’s balance sheet being strong is so strategic. A strong balance sheet today is not only helpful, it’s strategic.

 

– Nvidia CEO, Jensen Huang – via Investing.com

Most of our audience are PC gamers, and will undoubtedly hate the AI-induced memory shortage. They will also hate the fact that datacenter power use has driven up electricity costs in many regions. AI is sucking up resources that could have been used elsewhere. As it stands, the ambitions of the AI giants are causing the entire consumer electronics market to suffer. As for Nvidia, this situation suits them just fine.

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Posted Sunday 8 March 2026 at 5:27 am AEST (my time).

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This week's news recap is here with the latest news from the world of Microsoft from the last seven days, including fake reports about Windows 12 launching soon, angry users about supposed forced updates to Windows 11, Build 2026 date reveal, new builds, gaming news, reviews, and more.

Quick links:

1. Windows 10 and 11
2. Windows Insider Program
3. Updates are available
4. Reviews are in
5. Gaming news

Windows 11 and Windows 10

Here, we talk about everything happening around Microsoft's latest operating system in the Stable channel and preview builds: new features, removed features, controversies, bugs, interesting findings, and more. And, of course, you may find a word or two about older versions.

No, Windows 12 is not coming this year. A false report misled many users when a blog claimed that Windows 12 is on track to be released in 2026. Fake news, folks!

Microsoft never said it would start force-updating Windows 10 users to Windows 11, even though the former is now unsupported. However, looks like that is exactly what may have happened to one unfortunate user who ended up with a PC magically updated to Windows 11 while they were taking a shower. The centered taskbar was an insult to injury, and the frustrated user called Microsoft "idiot" for that. Fuming!

Now, with that user on Windows 11, the operating system has increased its market share just a little bit. However, it appears that there are quite a lot of people upgrading to Windows 11 willingly or against their will, as Statcounter reported a massive increase in the operating system's market share for the second month in a row. If the latest data is to be believed, nearly 73% of all PCs run Windows 11.

Unsolicited updates are not the only problem that some users are dealing with. There are reports about Windows 11 still breaking the internet on systems with versions 25H2, 24H2 or 23H2 after in-place upgrades from Windows 10. Unfortunately, Microsoft remains silent about this issue.

Do you remember reports about Microsoft removing the clean-install requirement for the Smart App Control feature? It happened with a recent cumulative update, but as it turned out, the requirement is still there. Microsoft has updated the changelog to clarify that if you disable Smart App Control, turning it back on still requires a clean system install.

Also, Microsoft released new Windows 11 setup and recovery updates.

This week, a Florida woman was sentenced to nearly two years in prison. The reason? Conspiring to traffic in illicit Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity (COA) labels and profit from selling them far below retail price. According to Microsoft, a COA label is "not a license,” and it holds no independent commercial value without the software it authenticates. About such "standalone" COAs, Microsoft confirms that they are "often counterfeit COAs" that are part of "excessive inventory."

To finish this week's Windows section, here is a set of gorgeous-looking wallpapers that mix the iconic Windows XP Bliss wallpaper with Windows 11's stock Bloom wallpaper.

Windows Insider Program

Here is what Microsoft released for Windows Insiders this week:

With recent Windows 11 preview builds, Microsoft is updating a very useful audio feature in the operating system. The company is currently testing shared audio support in Windows 11, allowing you to play audio on two sets of headphones. After updating to the latest builds, Windows 11 users with supported hardware can adjust volume for each device separately. There is also a new shared audio icon on the taskbar that makes accessing the feature much easier.

Updates are available

This section covers software, firmware, and other notable updates (released and coming soon) delivering new features, security fixes, improvements, patches, and more from Microsoft and third parties.

Microsoft has revealed the dates of this year's Build 2026 developer conference. Mark June 2 and 3 in your calendars if you plan to follow the event to learn more about the company's latest developer advancements and tools.

Files is one of our favorite third-party file managers for Windows 10 and 11. This week, it received a couple of updates. First, an update brought improvements for context menus and a bunch of fixes. Later, another update introduced a performance boost for thumbnail loading and a couple of extra fixes.

If you use PowerPoint, you will be glad to learn that the app now has a built-in image editor for advanced image editing. You can now use PowerPoint to remove backgrounds, erase unwanted elements, upscale images, enhance image quality, add text, and more. The feature is now rolling out to PowerPoint on Windows, Mac, and the web.

This week's browser updates include two major things: a change in Chrome's release schedule and a big redesign for Firefox. Starting with Chrome, Google is shifting to a two-week feature release, claiming that the web platform is constantly advancing, and it requires a faster release schedule so that developers and users have "immediate access to the latest performance improvements, fixes, and new capabilities."

As for Firefox, Mozilla is working on a major UI rework to make the browser more modern, and the first mockups are already available online, giving you a glimpse of what may soon arrive as the "Nova" redesign.

Speaking of redesigns, there is now a WinUI-based Task Scheduler for Windows 11, which turns an old piece of legacy Microsoft code into a more modern app with dark mode support. By the way, Winslop, a popular tool for removing AI components from Windows 11, received the same treatment this week.

Here are other updates and releases you may find interesting:

• Microsoft is making it easier for IT admins to onboard devices to Defender

• Microsoft 365 is bringing High Volume Emails to Exchange Online, free until May

• Microsoft brings GPT‑5.3 Instant model to Microsoft 365 Copilot and Copilot Studio

• Microsoft is making it easier to fight unwanted bots in Teams meetings

• Microsoft Defender support for iOS 16 will end in April; here are the affected iPhones

• Windows Terminal gets a bunch of enhancements that power users will love

• SharePoint is now AI-powered after the latest redesign, and it's driven by Anthropic Claude

• Your Android 10 devices are about to become a major security liability

• This Windows 11 ad blocker explains how its new feature could be a bit of a game-changer

   

Here are the latest drivers and firmware updates released this week:

• NVIDIA 595.71 WHQL. This driver is a re-release of the one NVIDIA had to pull due to broken fan control apps. Besides fixing that, the new driver added a few more improvements and fixes. However, it broke overclocking on certain GPUs, forcing NVIDIA to come up with a quick hotfix release.

Reviews are in

Here is the hardware and software we reviewed this week

This week, Steven Parker unboxed the HONOR Magic V6, the latest foldable from HONOR that features a bigger battery, a larger exterior screen, a thinner chassis, and a few other improvements. It is not a fully-fledged review (that is coming soon), but you can still check out the first impressions if you are looking for a foldable that is not from Samsung or Google.

We also published a review of the CHUWI CoreBook Air, an interesting laptop from a non-mainstream manufacturer that has one serious trick up its sleeve: lightness. This nice-looking laptop weighs only 1 kg. Despite that, it does not compromise on build quality. There is also a decent display, a solid keyboard, plenty of useful ports, and even a physical camera shutter. The laptop is not perfect, but for less than $500, it is a tempting offer.

On the gaming side

Learn about upcoming game releases, Xbox rumors, new hardware, software updates, freebies, deals, discounts, and more.

The biggest gaming news of this week is the announcement of Project Helix, Microsoft's next-gen Xbox. Besides revealing the codename, Microsoft confirmed that the console will be able to play not just console games, but PC games as well. Further details remain unknown, but Microsoft plans to speak to its partners at the Game Developer Conference next week.

Microsoft's handheld console, the ASUS Xbox ROG Ally X, received a few software improvements this week. Microsoft updated its software with automatic gameplay clipping, which will record interesting gameplay moments without any input from you. This feature is currently available in preview. Speaking of Xbox doing things for you, Microsoft registered a new patent that describes AI playing games for you in certain scenarios, like when you are stuck.

A new wave of games for Game Pass is here, and this time, it brings some heavy-hitters. The latest additions include F1 25, Cyberpunk 2077, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and more. By the way, F1 25 is now available in EA Play as well, alongside some other new games. Finally, new games are available for NVIDIA GeForce NOW as well. Those include Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered, Esoteric Ebb, Slay the Spire 2, John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando, Crimson Desert, and more.

As usual, here is our weekly Weekend PC Game Deals article where we gather a long list of games that are now available with big discounts, plus regular freebies from the Epic Games Store.

Finally, check out Neowin's review of Planet of Lana II, a beautiful sci-fi adventure with fantastic art and animation, an iconic soundtrack, fun puzzles, and more. This $19.99 game is now available, and it is a great thing to play.

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Posted Sunday 8 March 2026 at 4:28 am AEST (my time).

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Downdetector and Speedtest — the free platforms that allow people on the web to quickly check internet speeds or see if an online platform may be down — will soon have a new owner. On Tuesday, the consulting and IT services provider Accenture announced that it has agreed to acquire the Ookla-owned platforms from Ziff Davis for $1.2 billion, as reported earlier by Reuters.

In the press release, Accenture CEO Julie Sweet says the company will use Ookla’s products to capture data that will help “clients across business and government scale AI safely.” Ziff Davis, which owns CNET, IGN, and Eurogamer, acquired Ookla in 2014. Ookla’s other products include Ekahau, which makes software for network design and troubleshooting, along with RootMetrics, a platform that measures mobile network speeds.

Following the acquisition, which is still subject to regulatory approval, Ookla’s data will be used to assist cloud service providers and AI hyperscalers, though Accenture tells Ars Technica it will continue to run the Ookla “business as it operates today.”

“Joining Accenture will allow us to scale our premiere network data business across the world’s largest enterprises and accelerate our goal of creating better connected experiences,” Ookla CEO Stephen Bye says in a statement.

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Posted Thursday 5 March 2026 at 4:49 am AEST (my time).

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Gamers Nexus (2.59m subscribers)

March 4, 2026

Video length: 38m 40s

In this week's news episode, we talk about Microslop banning its own name from Discord (Microslop can no longer be written), NVIDIA unlaunches drivers multiple times -- again, RAM and SSD prices taking down a game archive, and Sam Altman's new government partnership that he so gleefully boasted.

00:00 - Recap for the Week

01:36 - Quick GN Update

04:13 - Microslop Bans Microslop and Shuts Down Discord

06:19 - AI Demand Indirectly Kills Game Archive

12:47 - RAM and SSDs to Increase 130 Percent

15:15 - NVIDIA Vibe Codes Drivers

17:40 - Sam Altman's Government Contract

28:16 - AWS Data Center Outage During Strikes

31:59 - Lenovo's Stretchy Legion Go

33:21 - A Personal Note from Steve

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Posted Thursday 5 March 2026 at 4:46 am AEST (my time).

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Apple just announced its $599 MacBook Neo, which I was eagerly waiting to see if it might shake up the ~$600 Windows laptop market any more than Qualcomm's Snapdragon X processors did. I've always found that pricing was the biggest roadblock to trying macOS, and it's the primary reason why I never built much of an opinion of its operating system.

iPad and iPhone variants have appeared several times in my life, and I can appreciate what Apple can achieve when it refines its best hardware as close to perfection as possible. Still, I've never picked up any model of MacBook, iMac, or even the far more reasonable Mac mini like one of my colleagues, because the prices never seem to match the specs — that much seemingly hasn't changed.

But, wait! Before we all get into a heated discussion about the implied efficiency benefits of macOS, and how it supposedly makes better use of lower-end hardware (something I've only been able to take at face value), let me at least explain the reason for my apprehension. There are Windows laptops with higher specs available for the same price, and that's where my mind goes first.

As a Windows guy, 8GB of unified memory certainly seems slim, and I wouldn't recommend that anyone buy a laptop with Windows 11 with the same count. My Surface Pro X (SQ1) already struggles when a few browser tabs eat up most of its RAM at the same capacity. Maybe MacBook users can educate me on what Apple has achieved here, but for now, I have a bigger, provable concern.

Is 256GB enough, even in a cloud-centric world?

John Ternus, who is Apple's SVP of hardware engineering, unveiled the low-cost MacBook at an offline special event in New York. The Apple Store website also went down ahead of the launch, as it always does with Apple product launches.

MacBook Neo lives up to the rumors; it's powered by the A18 Pro chip, which has a 6‑core CPU with 2 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores, a 5‑core GPU, a 16-core Neural Engine, and 60GB/s memory bandwidth. Considering the price band, it could be seen as Apple's competition to the Surface Laptop Go.

Apple said that "it’s up to 50 percent faster for everyday tasks like web browsing, and up to 3x faster when running on-device AI workloads like applying advanced effects to photos, compared to the bestselling PC with the latest shipping Intel Core Ultra 5."

The device features an aluminum enclosure in Blush, Indigo, Silver, and Citrus options, and offers 16 hours of battery life on a single charge. You can get all the entertainment using the dual side-firing speakers with Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos, complemented by a 1080p FaceTime HD camera and dual microphones.

It's fitted with a 13-inch Liquid Retina display with a 2408 x 1506 resolution, coupled with 500 nits of brightness, and an anti-reflective coating to improve the viewing experience. Apple claims that the display offers higher brightness and resolution than most PC laptops.

Among other features, the MacBook Neo comes with 8GB of Unified Memory, a Type-C USB 3 port, a Type-C USB 2 port, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 6, DisplayPort 1.4, and supports one external display at 4K 60Hz.

Apple said that the MacBook Neo is built from scratch to be its "lowest-carbon MacBook." You'll notice design changes, such as the headphone jack being present on the left side of the device, along the two USB ports. It doesn't have a notch like its pricier siblings and has bezels that look similar to the ones on the iPad.

However, it seems like Apple hit people where it hurts the most by not including the MagSafe charging connector. There aren't any reasons to hate the MagSafe connector, which magnetically attaches to the MacBook and makes life easier. It remains to be seen whether it will reverse its decision in the future, just as it added MagSafe charging to the iPhone 17e.

MacBook Neo is now available for pre-order, starting at $599 for the 256GB model. It comes with Touch ID support, but you'll have to leave your pockets behind. Touch ID is available on the 512GB version, priced at $699. The device will start shipping on March 11.

The Cupertino giant has unveiled a stream of new devices over the week, including the iPhone 17e, M4 iPad Air, M5 MacBook Air, Studio Display XDR, and MacBook Pro with M5 Pro/Max chips.

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Posted Thursday 5 March 2026 at 4:41 am AEST (my time).

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As part of today’s MacBook Pro update, Apple has also unveiled the M5 Pro and M5 Max, the newest members of the M5 chip family.

Normally, the Pro and Max chips take the same basic building blocks from the basic chip and just scale them up—more CPU cores, more GPU cores, and more memory bandwidth. But the M5 chips are a surprisingly large departure from past generations, both in terms of the CPU architectures they use and in how they’re packaged together.

We won’t know the impact these changes have had on performance until we have hardware in hand to test, but here are all the technical details we’ve been able to glean about the new updates and how the M5 chip family stacks up against the past few generations of Apple Silicon chips.

New Fusion Architecture and a third type of CPU core

Apple says that M5 Pro and M5 Max use an “all-new Fusion Architecture” that welds two silicon chiplets into a single processor. Apple has used this approach before, but historically only to combine two Max chips together into an Ultra.

Apple’s approach here is different—for example, the M5 Pro is not just a pair of M5 chips welded together. Rather, Apple has one chiplet handling the CPU and most of the I/O, and a second one that’s mainly for graphics, both built on the same 3nm TSMC manufacturing process.

The first silicon die is always the same, whether you get an M5 Pro or M5 Max. It includes the 18-core CPU, the 16-core Neural Engine, and controllers for the SSD, for the Thunderbolt ports, and for driving displays.

The second die is where the two chips differ; the M5 Pro gets up to 20 GPU cores, a single media encoding/decoding engine, and a memory controller with up to 307 GB/s of bandwidth. The M5 Max gets up to 40 GPU cores, a pair of media encoding/decoding engines, and a memory controller that provides up to 614 GB/s of memory bandwidth (note that everything in the GPU die seems to be doubled, implying that Apple is, in fact, sticking two M5 Pro GPUs together to make one M5 Max GPU).

Apple’s spec sheets now list three distinct types of CPU cores: “super” cores, performance cores, and efficiency cores.

Credit: Apple

Apple is also introducing a third distinct type of CPU core beyond the typical “performance cores” and “efficiency cores” that were included in older M-series processors.

At the top, you have “super cores,” which is Apple’s new M5-era branding for what it used to call “performance cores.” This change is retroactive and also applies to the regular M5; Apple’s spec sheet for the M5 MacBook Pro used to refer to the big cores as “performance cores” but now calls them “super cores.”

At the bottom of the hierarchy, you still have “efficiency cores” that are tuned for low power usage. The M5 still uses six efficiency cores, and unlike the super cores, they haven’t been rebranded since yesterday. These cores do help with multi-core performance, but they prioritize lower power usage and lower temperatures first, since they need to fit in fanless devices like the iPad Pro and MacBook Air.

And now, in the middle, we have a new type of “performance core” used exclusively in the M5 Pro and M5 Max.

These are, in fact, a new, third type of CPU core design, distinct from both the super cores and the M5’s efficiency cores. They apparently use designs similar to the super cores but prioritize multi-threaded performance rather than fast single-core performance. Apple’s approach with the new performance cores sounds similar to the one AMD uses in its laptop silicon: it has larger Zen 4 and Zen 5 CPU cores, optimized for peak clock speeds and higher power usage, and smaller Zen 4c and Zen 5c cores that support the same capabilities but run slower and are optimized to use less die space.

What we don’t know yet is how these new chips perform relative to the previous versions. Technically, the M4 Pro and M4 Max both had more “big” cores than the M5 Pro and M5 Max do—up to 10 for the M4 Pro and up to 12 for the M4 Max. But higher single-core performance from the six “super cores” and strong multi-core performance from the 12 performance cores should mean that the M5 generation still shakes out to be faster overall.

How all the chips compare

For Mac buyers choosing between these three processors, we’re updating the spec tables we’ve put together in the past, comparing the M5-generation chips to one another and to their counterparts in the M2, M3, and M4 generations.

Here’s how all of the M5 chips stack up, including the partly disabled versions of each chip that Apple sells in lower-end MacBook Air and Pro models:

Despite all the big under-the-hood changes, the basic hierarchy here remains the same as in past generations. The Pro tier offers the biggest bump to CPU performance compared to the basic M5, along with twice as many GPU cores. The Max chip is mainly meant for those who want better graphics, 128GB of RAM, or both.

Compared to past generations, the M5 looks like the basic incremental improvement that we’re used to—no huge jumps in CPU or GPU core counts, relying mostly on architectural improvements and memory bandwidth increases to deliver the expected generation-over-generation speed boost. The Pro and Max chips have similar graphics core counts across generations, but there has been more variability when it comes to the CPU cores.

The Pro chips have been sort of all over the place, and the M3 generation in particular is an outlier. When we tested it at the time, we found it to be more or less a wash compared to the M2 Pro, which was (and still is) rare for Apple Silicon generations. The M4 Pro was a better upgrade, and the M5 Pro should still feel like an improvement over the M4 Pro despite the big underlying changes.

The M5 Max will be the biggest test for Apple’s new performance cores. According to our testing of the M5 in the 14-inch MacBook Pro, the M5-generation super cores are about 12 to 15 percent faster than the M4 generation’s performance cores. The M4 Max had up to 12 of those cores, while the M5 Max only has six. That leaves a pretty substantial gap for M5 Max’s new non-super P-cores to close.

Aside from that, the biggest outstanding question is how the M5 shakeup changes Apple’s approach to Ultra chips, assuming the company continues to make them (Apple has already said that not every processor generation will see an Ultra update).

The M1 Ultra, M2 Ultra, and M3 Ultra were all made by fusing two Max chips together, perfectly doubling the CPU and GPU core counts. Will an M5 Ultra still weld two M5 Max chips together using the same basic ingredients to make an even larger processor? Or will Apple create distinct CPU and GPU chiplets just for the Ultra series? All we can say for sure is that we can no longer make assumptions based on Apple’s past behavior, which tends to be the most reliable predictor of its future behavior.

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Posted Wednesday 4 March 2026 at 11:50 am AEST (my time).

News posts: 2023 5,800+ | 2024 5,700+ | 2025 5,700+ | 2026 (to end of February) 854

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That moment has arrived: Apple has announced its refreshed 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. These are designed using the new Fusion Architecture, which combines two dies into a single system-on-a-chip (SoC), and are built from the ground up for AI workloads.

Apple claims that the new chips bring a "new CPU with the world's fastest CPU core." The M5 Pro MacBook Pro can deliver up to 7.8x faster AI image generation performance than M1 Pro and up to 3.7x faster than M4 Pro. Meanwhile, the MacBook Pro with M5 Max follows a similar trajectory, with up to 8x faster AI image generation performance than M1 Pro and up to 3.8x faster than M4 Max.

Both M5 Pro and M5 Max feature an 18-core CPU with 6 super cores and 12 performance cores, delivering up to 30% faster multithreaded performance over the M4 chips. A higher memory bandwidth complements the performance while handling complex AI model training and massive video projects.

Apple said that the "M5 Pro supports up to 64GB of unified memory with up to 307GB/s of memory bandwidth, while M5 Max supports up to 128GB of unified memory with up to 614GB/s of memory bandwidth."

The SSD on the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro is now 2x faster than the previous generation. It can deliver twice the read/write performance, reaching up to 14.5GB/s to support professional workflows for 4K and 8K video projects.

Apple said that 1TB storage capacity now comes standard on MacBook Pro with M5 and M5 Pro chips, while those who buy MacBook Pro with M5 Max will get 2TB as standard. The refreshed MacBook Pro models continue to promise 24 hours of battery life. You can fast charge up to 50% in 30 minutes using a 96W charger.

MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips also include Apple's N1 wireless networking chip, which supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. If you're wondering about the price tag, the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro start at $2,199 and $2,699, respectively.

If you're looking at the M5 Max, the 14-inch and 16-inch variants will start at $3,599 and $3,899, respectively. Apple said it will start the pre-orders on March 4 and bring the devices to physical stores from March 11. Besides this, Apple has also launched the new Studio Display XDR, the MacBook Air M5, the iPad Air M4, and the iPhone 17e.

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Posted Wednesday 4 March 2026 at 6:05 am AEST (my time).

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The main update in the new MacBook Air generation is the M5 processor. It is a 10-core CPU with a 10-core GPU and a Neural Processing Unit. Apple says that the new MacBook Air delivers up to 4x faster performance for AI tasks than the MacBook Air with M4, and nearly up to ten times faster than the MacBook Air with M1. There is also faster unified memory at 153GB/s, which is a 28% improvement over the M4. Other performance figures include up to 6.9 times faster AI video processing, up to 6.5 times faster 3D rendering with ray tracing, and up to 2.7 times faster image processing when compared to the M1-powered MacBook Air from 2020.

Another big change is the storage. At long last, Apple is finally ditching the 256GB configuration. All the base 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models now start at 512GB, and users can spec their machines up to 4TB. Apple also claims better storage performance with up to two times faster read/write speeds.

Finally, the MacBook Air M5 comes with a new N1 chip, Apple's custom wireless network processor that supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. No cellular connectivity on Macs yet, though.

The rest of the MacBook Air remains unchanged. It is available in the same colors, the same chassis, and the same ports. Displays are also unchanged, and they retain their notch, the 60Hz refresh rate, and up to 500 nits of maximum brightness.

All the updates and bigger storage come at a cost, though. The base 13-inch MacBook Air now starts at $1,099, while the 15-inch MacBook Air will set you back $1,299. Preorders will begin on March 4, and general availability is expected on March 11.

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Posted Wednesday 4 March 2026 at 6:04 am AEST (my time).

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Starting with the Studio Display, it is a 27-inch 5K IPS Retina monitor with P3 wide color support and a maximum brightness of 600 nits. It is a minor update over the original model, and it retains its modest 60Hz refresh rate. However, Apple bumped the maximum brightness by 100 nits (up from the original 500 nits) and improved the built-in speakers for "30% deeper bass."

The Studio Display connects via Thunderbolt 5 (USB Type-C), and it delivers up to 96W of charging over a single cable. Additionally, you have two more USB Type-C ports for peripherals or charging additional devices. Apple lets you spec the monitor with a standard or nano-texture glass. The standard stand comes with tilt adjustments, but you can upgrade to one that also supports height adjustments or one with a VESA mount.

The new Apple Studio Display costs $1,599, and it will be available for preorder on March 4 in 35 countries.

The third monitor in Apple's lineup is the new Studio Display XDR. This model is more expensive, but it makes up for that with a 5K mini LED Retina XDR display with 2,304 local dimming zones and a maximum brightness of 1,000 nits SDR or 2,000 nits HDR. It also has a much more modern refresh rate at 120Hz with Adaptive Sync (47-120Hz), P3 and Adobe RGB support.

Apple also equipped the monitor with DICOM Medical Imaging, a feature that lets doctors view diagnostic radiology images directly on the Studio Display XDR. Like the updated Studio Display, the new Studio Display XDR has a 12MP Center Stage camera, a three-microphone array, and a six-speaker sound system with spatial audio support.

You can connect the Studio Display XDR via a Thunderbolt 5 Type-C cable. The display has two of them, with two more USB Type-C ports for accessories and charging. A single cable (included in the box) carries the image signal and up to 140W of power for Apple's most powerful MacBooks. Finally, the bundled stand comes with tilt and height adjustments, and users can spec with an optional VESA adapter.

The new Apple Studio Display XDR starts at $3,299, and it will be available for preorder on March 4.

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Posted Wednesday 4 March 2026 at 6:02 am AEST (my time).

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Microsoft has had many nicknames over the years, but few have stuck quite like “Microslop.” The term gained traction as it invested heavily in AI, with some users growing concerned about the direction of Windows and the increasing push to ship AI features without much user choice.

Now, in the official Copilot Discord server, it appears Microsoft has had enough. The company has blocked the term “Microslop,” preventing users from posting it in the community, if only briefly.

Microsoft blocks “Microslop” in Copilot Discord

The company argues that a GPU-first approach adds cost and complexity, while its integrated AI acceleration allows inference-heavy workloads to run efficiently on servers. Intel says that it is important to understand that different compute capabilities can help in different ways, and so it is incorrect to view it as a binary CPU versus GPU debate. As you may know, CPU is better at serial processing while GPU excels at parallel.

Looking ahead, Intel has previewed Xeon 6+, built on Intel 18A process, which promises higher core density, lower power consumption, and aggressive workload scaling compared to the current offerings like Xeon 6, that are based on the Intel 7 lithography. The company has framed this as the most credible path from 5G’s promise to 6G’s potential and gave examples of how telecom operators and players like Vodafone are using Xeon CPUs to accelerate its OpenRAN developments.

Intel writes:

• SK Telecom is deploying Xeon 6 with E-cores and Intel Ethernet 800 Series product in its mobile core production environment.
• NTT DOCOMO has selected Xeon 6 with E-cores and Intel Ethernet E830 Network Adapter for next generation mobile core deployments.
• Rakuten Mobile is preparing their commercial rollout integrating Xeon 6 with E-cores and Intel Ethernet 800 series network adapter for cloud native 5G core deployment.

You can find the announcement blog post here on Intel's official website.

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Posted Tuesday 3 March 2026 at 5:17 am AEST (my time).

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Both Intel and AMD made announcements today at the ongoing MWC 2026 event. While Team Blue outlined its plan with Xeon server chips in the 5G and 6G domain, Team Red has launched its new Ryzen AI 400 series lineup for desktops, though they will be present inside laptops too.

AMD had unveiled the 400 series mobile APUs earlier in the year at CES 2026 where it confirmed that the lineup would be later launched on desktops too. The company has thus kept its word and so it has revealed all new chips with the flagship being the Ryzen AI 7 450G with eight cores and 16 threads. Unfortunately the graphics performance will not be amazing as the top chip just has eight CU 860M.

The full lineup is given in the table below:

In terms of performance, AMD touts that it do upto 50% better 3D rendering than an Intel Ultra. It also promises 30% better multi-threaded and 20% better single threaded performance, with battery life claims of close to 20 hours.

You can find the official press release here on AMD's website.

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Posted Tuesday 3 March 2026 at 5:14 am AEST (my time).

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Nvidia announced on Monday that it’s investing $2 billion each into Lumentum and Coherent, which are both developing photonics technology for data centers, like optical transceivers, circuit switches, and lasers, which are used to move data at high speeds over long distances. Their tech could improve energy efficiency, data transfer speeds, and bandwidth in future AI data centers, after Nvidia already capitalized on its 2020 acquisition of the network hardware company Mellanox to beef up NVLink and increase the amount of data moving between its GPUs.

For Lumentum, the nonexclusive multiyear deal includes a “multibillion purchase commitment and future capacity access rights for advanced laser components,” as well as support for expanding R&D and manufacturing. Coherent’s deal is described similarly, with a “multibillion-dollar purchase commitment and future access and capacity rights for advanced laser and optical networking products.”

The growth of agentic AI like Anthropic’s Claude Cowork and Microsoft’s Copilot Tasks is driving up the bandwidth needs of AI data centers in order to support executing multiple tasks quickly. Photonics could offer a solution — optical fibers are able to support significantly higher bandwidth and lower latency than copper cables while also using less power.

Nvidia isn’t the only organization paying attention to photonics, either. Last month, DARPA put out a call for research proposals for improving photonic computing, specifically related to AI applications. Nvidia’s rival AMD also acquired silicone photonics startup Enosemi last year, which it said would “accelerate” AMD’s optics innovation for its AI systems.

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Posted Tuesday 3 March 2026 at 5:13 am AEST (my time).

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I have covered a lot of laptops over the years, but the Yoga 9i series has always held a special place for me. It is one of the few consumer Windows PCs that consistently feels like it was designed by people who actually use laptops every day. Lenovo has refined this formula for more than a decade, and the new Yoga 9i 2‑in‑1 Aura Edition Gen 11, announced today at Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona, Spain, shows a company that knows exactly what works and is not interested in fixing what is not broken.

This generation feels confident. It feels polished. It feels like a laptop that knows its identity and is not chasing trends.

A display that makes everything look better

Lenovo has unveiled its latest 2-in-1 PC, and this one takes on the form factor popularized by the Surface Pro. It's the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 Detachable, a tablet PC with pen support, a built-in kickstand and detachable keyboard accessory, and designed from the ground up for professionals and commercial use.

The new ThinkPad X13 Detachable features Intel's latest Core Ultra 3 series chips, a 13-inch 2800x1920 IPS touchscreen with 120Hz variable refresh rate, up to 1TB M.2 SSD storage, up to 64GB RAM and a 45Wh battery that should mean the tablet will last "all day." Given the current RAM crisis, pricing for the ThinkPad X13 Detachable is expected to start at a high $1,999.

If you're a fan of the Surface Pro form factor, but have been frustrated with some of its design decisions, this new 2-in-1 from Lenovo is a strong alternative. In addition to supporting Windows 11, it also supports Fedora Linux, making it a great choice for those who like to frequent the other side.

(Image credit: Lenovo)

(Image credit: Lenovo)

 

(Image credit: Lenovo)

 

(Image credit: Lenovo)

 

(Image credit: Lenovo)

 

(Image credit: Lenovo)

 

(Image credit: Lenovo)

 

(Image credit: Lenovo)

 

(Image credit: Lenovo)

 

(Image credit: Lenovo)

 

Lenovo describes the ThinkPad X13 2-in-1 as "a no-compromise detachable designed for professionals who require flexibility and mobility without sacrificing performance or usability."

 

The keyboard accessory features 1.5mm of key travel and also supports charging the pen, just like the Surface Pro Keyboard does. Because this is a ThinkPad, it also includes the iconic red TrackPoint, a first for a detachable keyboard for a device like this. You won't see that on a Surface Pro!

 

The tablet itself is also super thin, coming in at 9.3mm, matching that of the Surface Pro. It also has Windows Hello face unlock with a 5MP front facing and 8MP rear facing camera setup, two Dolby Atmos audio speakers, Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, with 5G options also. It really does offer everything!

 

Category	Specification
Processor	Intel Core Ultra Series 3 U5, U7; vPro
OS	Windows 11, Fedora Linux
Graphics	Integrated Intel Graphics
Memory	16GB / 32GB / 64GB LPDDR5x, 7466 MT/s, soldered
Onboard AI Chip	Integrated Intel AI Boost, up to 50 TOPS
Storage	Up to 1TB, M.2 2242, PCIe 4.0 NVMe
Display	13", 3:2, 2880×1920, IPS, Touch, 500 nits, 100% sRGB, 120/60Hz VRR, AGARAS, LBL
Battery	45 Wh
Power Adapter	65W standard / 65W GaN / 65W wall‑mount GaN / no adapter
Keyboard / Input	Detachable KBD Folio with LED backlight, 1.5 mm travel 3‑button TrackPad, 115 × 74.3 mm TrackPoint Lenovo Slim Pen (included, charges in folio via pogo pins) Lenovo Yoga Pen (optional)
Camera	User-facing: 5MP + IR, physical shutter, vHDR World-facing: 8MP
Audio	2 speakers, Dolby Atmos with Smart Amp; 2 mics
Ports	2× USB‑C Thunderbolt 4 (one on each side), 3.5mm audio, Kensington lock
Connectivity	Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, 5G, optional NFC
Screen‑to‑Body Ratio	82.9% (3:2)
Security / Biometric	Fingerprint reader on folio, IR camera, CS26 BIOS
Other Features	Rugged case, replaceable USB‑C ports
Dimensions & Weight	Tablet: 11.4 × 8.3 × 0.4 in (290 × 210 × 9.3 mm)
Colors	Tablet: Eclipse Black, magnesium + aluminum chassis KBD Folio: Eclipse Black, glass‑fiber‑reinforced polycarbonate

Will the ThinkPad X13 Detachable reignite the Windows 2-in-1 market?

The ThinkPad X13 Detachable will be made available for sale in the third quarter of 2026, with prices starting at an eyewatering $1,999. It's unclear if the keyboard accessory is included in that price. If it is, that makes the $2000 price tag a little easier to swallow, but it's still crazy high.

 

It's fair to say that Windows 11 tablets aren't really a thing these days. Most OEMs outside of Microsoft and now Lenovo aren't making them, so I want to know your thoughts: Do you think Lenovo reinvesting in the Windows 11 tablet space is a positive sign of things to come?

 

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Posted Monday 2 March 2026 at 12:07 pm AEST (my time).

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Lenovo's Legion Go S and Legion Go 2 are two of our favorite gaming handhelds on the market right now, serving different types of users who want either a more portable design or a more powerful experience.

Unafraid as always about the evolution of form factors, Lenovo brought a new gaming handheld concept to MWC 2026. It's unlike anything I've seen, and I'm confident I'm looking at a design that a lot of competitors will eventually copy.

The Legion Go Fold, as it's known, is Lenovo's most exciting concept device shown off this year. It's essentially an amalgamation of the Legion Go 2's detachable controllers, the ThinkPad Fold's folding screen (albeit at a smaller size), and the Surface Pro's 2-in-1 laptop design with stand and detachable keyboard.

What is Lenovo's Legion Go Fold concept and how does it work?

A look at the Legion Go Fold concept in its standard handheld mode with screen folded over.

(Image credit: Lenovo)

 

It's clear from what we've already got our hands on that Lenovo isn't exactly sure where it's taking this concept device, but it certainly is intriguing. It operates in four primary setups: three for gaming and one for regular productivity (or more gaming with a keyboard and mouse).

 

Here's how Lenovo lays it out. A standard handheld mode sees the controllers attach to the side of the (plastic OLED) display, which itself is folded over into a 7.7-inch format. Consider this to be the "portable" way to play your favorite games.

 

With the controllers attached in the same manner to the sides of the display, the screen itself can be folded up to its full vertical size, effectively giving you two screens stacked on top of each other. One for streaming and one for gaming? Nice. Lenovo calls this vertical split-screen mode.

 

Lenovo wasn't satisfied with letting you use the screen vertically with controllers attached. In horizon full-screen mode, you can detach the controllers, rotate the screen 90 degrees, then reattach the controllers. This gives you a massive 11.6-inch display on which to game.

 

A look at the ports and exhaust on the Legion Go Fold's PC and display portion.

(Image credit: Lenovo)

 

A look at the expanded desktop mode with keyboard attached to the Legion Go Fold concept.

(Image credit: Lenovo)

 

Lenovo's Legion Go Fold concept shown in standard handheld mode and horizon full-screen mode.

(Image credit: Lenovo)

 

A look at the folding PC display portion of the Legion Go Fold concept.

(Image credit: Lenovo)

 

And, finally, because an 11.6-inch display is just begging to be used as a regular PC screen, expanded desktop mode sees a keyboard, touchpad, and folio stand connect to the horizontal display to become a 2-in-1 PC for gaming, streaming, and productivity.

 

The concept device runs on an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V CPU, and it has 32GB of RAM. A 48Wh battery powers the device. It'd be great to see Intel's Core Ultra Series 3 "Panther Lake" chips with upgraded iGPU inside when (or if) the product makes it beyond a concept stage.

How do the Legion Go Fold's controllers work?

Lenovo's Legion Go Fold with controllers detached.

(Image credit: Lenovo)

 

The Legion Go Fold's controllers detached from the PC and attached together to create a gamepad.

(Image credit: Lenovo)

 

We got our hands on the Legion Go Fold's controllers to see how they feel, and we ultimately had no complaints. They're ergonomically sound with larger grips, and the thumbsticks — ringed with RGB lights — are symmetrical.

 

One thing that stands out is a small LED display that you can use to display several different readouts, like a clock, while you game.

 

The controllers are designed to slide on and off with ease, just like in the Legion Go 2. When disconnected from the main display, they can be joined again with an extra piece of hardware, effectively creating a standard gamepad. This extra middle portion can also serve as a stand for one controller, which itself can be used as a mouse.

 

I wish I had a date to share regarding an actual release, but the Legion Go Fold is still firmly a concept device that might not ever come to market. Still, it's a great representation of Lenovo's willingness to evolve PC form factors.

 

(Image credit: Future | Daniel Rubino)

 

(Image credit: Future | Daniel Rubino)

 

(Image credit: Future | Daniel Rubino)

 

(Image credit: Future | Daniel Rubino)

 

(Image credit: Future | Daniel Rubino)

 

(Image credit: Future | Daniel Rubino)

 

(Image credit: Future | Daniel Rubino)

 

(Image credit: Future | Daniel Rubino)

 

(Image credit: Future | Daniel Rubino)

What do you think about Lenovo's Legion Go Fold concept handheld?

Do you think Lenovo is onto something with its Legion Go Fold concept? Is it something you can see yourself using? Let me know in the comments section!

 

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Posted Monday 2 March 2026 at 12:04 pm AEST (my time).

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I'm admittedly a bit of a sucker when it comes to dual-screen laptops, so Lenovo's new modular ThinkBook, shown off at MWC 2026, grabbed my attention immediately.

Not only is it a fresh take on how a dual-screen laptop handles all the extra hardware, but it's also a dream come true for anyone who never seems to have the right selection of ports.

The ThinkBook Modular AI PC concept is built into a 14-inch frame, compact enough to remain portable as part of Lenovo's "carry small, use big" motto. The main 14-inch display is where you'd expect it on the inside of the lid, but beyond that is where normalcy begins to take a back seat.

A look at the separate modular parts of the new ThinkBook concept, with extra ports and POGO-to-USB-C cable included.

(Image credit: Lenovo)

 

The ThinkBook Modular concept operating as a regular 14-inch laptop with one display and attached keyboard.

(Image credit: Lenovo)

 

The ThinkBook Modular with the second display operating as a vertical screen next to the laptop.

(Image credit: Lenovo)

 

The keyboard and touchpad slab isn't actually permanently attached to the base of the laptop. It clips into place with POGO pins and magnets, and it's easily removed to be used wirelessly via Bluetooth.

 

Why remove the keyboard from the base of the PC? To make room for a second 14-inch display, of course. It attaches to the same magnets and POGO pins that the keyboard uses, allowing you to create a dual-screen laptop that works in horizontal or vertical orientations.

 

Lenovo also placed POGO pins and magnets on the outside of the laptop's lid, allowing users to attach the display in an outward-facing manner. That's great for collaboration, and it also serves as storage for the second display when it's not in use.

Building on the Yoga Book 9i and Zenbook Duo's brilliant designs

A look at the ASUS Zenbook Duo with keyboard and touchpad portion sitting in front.

(Image credit: Future)

 

This new Lenovo concept design reminds me a lot of what ASUS did with its Zenbook Duo that I reviewed last year, where the keyboard and touchpad are a separate piece that operates wirelessly.

 

However, on the Zenbook Duo, the second screen is fixed to the chassis and simply hides below the keyboard when not in use. It admittedly works really well, and I actually prefer the Zenbook Duo over the gorgeous Yoga Book 9i that I also reviewed, at least from a functional standpoint.

 

But with Lenovo's concept, that second screen can be used apart from the rest of the laptop; connect it with a USB-C to POGO cable rather than the built-in POGO pins on the laptop's chassis, and you have a secondary monitor ready to go, no matter where you're working.

Lenovo's ThinkBook Modular dual-screen PC has swappable ports

A look at the extra modular ports that Lenovo includes with the ThinkBook Modular concept.

(Image credit: Lenovo)

 

Something else that Lenovo's ThinkBook Modular adds to the mix is swappable ports. The slim base of the PC includes a couple of cutouts where you can slide ports in and out as needed.

 

It looks as though Lenovo includes HDMI, dual USB-A, and USB-C modules with each laptop.

 

This being a concept PC that's still under development, Lenovo doesn't share any timeframe for when (or if) this PC will launch. I might be a bit biased here with my interest in dual-screen advancements, but I really do hope Lenovo gets the ThinkBook Modular into a state where it can see a real release.

What do you think about Lenovo's new dual-screen laptop concept?

Are you a fan of dual-screen laptops? In your opinion, what is the current best dual-screen laptop on the market? Let me know in the comments section

 

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Posted Monday 2 March 2026 at 12:01 pm AEST (my time).

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Paul's Hardware (1.54m subscribers)

March 1, 2026

Video length: 13m 11s

0:00 Welcome to Paul’s Tech News - March 1, 2026

1:54 All the Ways Nvidia Sucks - nothing for gamers, everything for AI

3:51 Another Nvidia Driver Fail

5:09 RTX 50 GPU Shortages to Continue Until End of 2026 (at least)

6:03 6x Multi Frame Gen / Dynamic Frame Gen coming “Spring”, maybe April

7:16 Nvidia’s Biggest Embarrassment: the 12v2x6 connector

TECH BRIEFS

8:54 RAM Shortage Casualties Mount - Handheld Gaming PCs

10:04 Xbox founder says console is being “sunsetted”

10:57 ASML unveils EUV light source advance that could yield 50% more chips by 2030

11:46 Giveaway Apology (and a New Giveaway)

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Posted Sunday 1 March 2026 at 6:43 pm AEST (my time).

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Get over AI chatbots

The tech world is obsessed with AI, but Apple is busy backstage, building features that will help power such technologies. A reliable Weibo leaker said Apple is working to up its satellite connectivity game for iPhone. Apple's C2 modem is expected to support NR-NTN (New Radio Non-Terrestrial Networks), allowing future iPhones to access 5G internet via satellite in areas without cell towers.

iPhone mini x iPad mini

It's been forever since Apple's foldable iPhone is on the way. Multiple fingers point to 2026 as the year of the foldable iPhone. A reliable Chinese leaker shared design details for the device earlier in February, suggesting that Apple will put the volume buttons at the top of the device, taking cues from the iPad mini.

That's mostly due to the motherboard's placement, which will also put the Touch ID and Camera Control buttons on the right side of the device. Overall, the device could look like an iPhone mini that unfolds into an iPad mini.

Big week ahead

Apple CEO Tim Cook reached out on his X handle to tease upcoming Apple launches, stating that it's a "big week ahead" starting Monday. Several products are on the table for Apple's spring launch, and the company will also have offline special events in multiple cities.

You can read our detailed roundup to know about the six different devices Apple is expected to launch next week, including a low-cost MacBook priced around $750 and the new budget iPhone.

Apple Music chocolate

No, Apple is not getting into the confectionery business. But it has partnered with the German brand Ritter Sport to launch a unique promotion from March 2. Ritter Sport will showcase five albums with a special place in German music history by printing QR codes on the back of its 100g square chocolate bars.

Scanning the code will take you to the album's page on Apple Music and offer a free trial subscription. These branded chocolates will be available at grocery stores in Germany until supplies last.

Living on the Edge

Microsoft dropped an important message for Mac users who surf the web with its browser. The company will pull the plug on Edge for macOS 12 Monterey in the near future, starting with Edge 150. This shouldn't come as a surprise, as Microsoft keeps dropping support for older macOS versions, time and again. macOS 11 Big Sur supports Microsoft Edge until version 138, and you should upgrade to macOS 13 Ventura to continue using the web browser.

In other news, Microsoft released Edge Stable version 144.0.3719.115 to fix a 100% CPU usage bug on macOS that caused one core to fully saturate during normal browsing. Several Mac users reported overheating and degraded performance because of the issue. Interestingly, the bug was discovered two months ago during testing, but Microsoft failed to fix it.

If you want to read more interesting news from Microsoft, check out Taras' latest Microsoft Weekly roundup.

Spilling the tea

It's already official that Apple will launch new products next month, but no one knows exactly what they are. The macOS 26.3 update included references to new products Apple could announce, identified by the codenames J700, J427, and J527. Based on previous rumors, these devices could be the rumored low-cost MacBook and new Studio Display models.

It was reported last month that the A18 Pro-powered MacBook will launch in multiple colors to target students and first-time buyers, with an expected price well under $1,000. You can read Hamid's detailed roundup to know what's expected from the low-cost MacBook.

Meanwhile, there are two versions of the Studio Display 2 on the radar (J427 and J527). Someone dug into Apple's internal code and found that the monitors will feature different speakers and slightly varying connectivity options to justify the price gap.

Apple 'reinvents' video podcasts

That's just a reference to Apple's old marketing material, where the company used to flaunt that it "reinvented" the things it launched. iOS 26.4 is giving Apple Podcasts a chance to match Spotify in the podcast game; its beta versions released in February introduced meaningful features, such as video support in podcasts and the ability to switch between audio and video on the go.

Speaking of Apple updates, iOS 26.3 was also released to the public last month. The update introduces a new privacy feature that prevents telecom carriers from tracking your exact location. Meanwhile, Xcode 26.3 "unlocks the power of agentic coding" by supporting AI agents from OpenAI and Anthropic.

Made in America

Ramping up its manufacturing efforts in the US, Apple announced that it will expand factory operations in Houston. What this means is Apple will start manufacturing Mac mini in the US for the first time, expand advanced AI server manufacturing, and provide hands-on training at its Advanced Manufacturing Center later this year.

See around you

Another rumor fueled hopes of seeing an upgraded AirPods Pro that can "see around you." And that could happen as early as this year on the upgraded AirPods Pro 3, according to a leaker. This corroborates previous speculation that AirPods Pro with built-in infrared cameras will arrive in 2026. An IR camera can unlock new features such as air gestures.

Goodbye Apple Home

Apple pulled the plug on Apple Home this month (the old one), giving users the deadline until February 10 to upgrade to the new Apple HomeKit architecture. The company sent multiple reminders over the last few months and warned that your smart home devices would stop working if you don't update.

Better late than never

It took two years, but YouTube finally explored the ultra-premium side of Apple and launched a native app for the Vision Pro headset. You can watch standard rectangular videos, Shorts, and 3D 360-degree and VR180 videos on a giant virtual screen. That said, Vision Pro users are still limited to their web browsers for Netflix and Spotify.

It burns on both sides

While end users may be afraid that the memory crisis will make tech expensive for them, device makers aren't spared either. Even giants like Apple are paying a premium to secure memory for the iPhone.

It was reported that Apple agreed to a 100% hike on memory chips from Samsung to keep the iPhone 17 production lines moving. However, some believe it should be taken with a grain of salt, as senior executives attend such meetings, making it harder for such information to leak to a media outlet like that.

It's classified

Apple patted its own back and announced that iPhones and iPads (running iOS 26/iPadOS 26) have become the first consumer devices to meet the information assurance requirements from the NATO alliance, reaching the "NATO Restricted" level. These devices don't require special software or settings to handle classified information.

Year of the horse

Apple marked the Chinese Lunar Year 2026 (or the Year of the Horse) on February 17 with a set of custom wallpapers for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac. The wallpapers are available in high-quality and optimized for the respective device. For instance, the iPad wallpaper has a landscape orientation.

New game for Apple Sports

Apple Sports app, which tells real-time scores, stats, and other data, got support for a new sport this time. Golf fans can get live scores for all official PGA Tour and LPGA Tour events and track their favorite players through each event with hole-by-hole results. For other sports, the app added support for some popular European football cups, including Copa Del Rey, Coppa Italia, Coupe de France, and DFB-Pokal.

Set sail in Oceanhorn 3

Apple announced several new titles for Apple Arcade. Coming on March 5, Oceanhorn 3: Legend of the Shadow Sea is set almost 1,000 years after Oceanhorn 2, where you can "explore lost islands, battle titans, and unlock the secrets of a world on the brink of rebirth." Other titles joining Apple's gaming service are Pocket Love!+, Flow Free+, and Doraemon Dorayaki Shop Story+.

So, these were some of the biggest updates around Apple from the month of February. There will be more issues of the Apple Rewind series in the following months.

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Posted Sunday 1 March 2026 at 4:53 pm AEST (my time).

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Quick links:

1. Windows 10 and 11
2. Windows Insider Program
3. Updates are available
4. Reviews are in
5. Gaming news

Windows 11 and Windows 10

Here, we talk about everything happening around Microsoft's latest operating system in the Stable channel and preview builds: new features, removed features, controversies, bugs, interesting findings, and more. And, of course, you may find a word or two about older versions.

This month's non-security update for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2 is here under KB5077241, with build numbers 26200.7922 and 26100.7922. It contains new emoji, new camera settings, Quick Machine Recovery improvements, taskbar updates, built-in Sysmon, WEBP support for desktop backgrounds, and more.

Also, Microsoft updated the security baseline package for Windows Server 2025 with key defaults flipped and legacy risks shut down. The latter is finally getting boot support for the Resilient File System (ReFS) in the latest Insider Preview build.

Windows 365, Microsoft's cloud-based service that lets you rent a PC in the cloud, is getting new clients. This week, Microsoft, in partnership with ASUS and Dell, announced two new mini PCs in different form factors. Also, Microsoft is working on new features for these devices, which should be available later this year.

Finally, Microsoft explained the confusion surrounding its recent announcement about driver deprecation. Microsoft clarified that if you have a computer connected to an old printer, it should continue working as is. For manufacturers and driver developers, though, legacy drivers can only be approved as exceptions. Microsoft wants everyone to use the modern printing stack and clean it of legacy drivers (it is ditching V3 and V4 drivers in favor of the Mopria standard that makes it easier for Windows to print on any printer)

Windows Insider Program

Here is what Microsoft released for Windows Insiders this week:

Updates are available

This section covers software, firmware, and other notable updates (released and coming soon) delivering new features, security fixes, improvements, patches, and more from Microsoft and third parties.

A useful PowerToys update is coming soon to Command Palette, a handy launcher for Windows 10 and 11. Microsoft is working on Lightning-fast mode, which is supposed to speed up the tool significantly. According to a Pull Request on GitHub, Microsoft aims to released Lightining-fast mode for Command Palette in version 0.98.

Microsoft announced several Copilot updates this week. For one, new AI-powered summaries are coming to Copilot Notebooks in March. The feature will automatically generate summaries and insights from the references so that when a user opens a Notebook, they will instantly get a high-level overview of their notebook content without having to manually synthesize it.

Additionally, Microsoft launched meeting conflict resolution in Outlook, two new features for combating phishing, and Copilot Tasks, a new way to get things done using Microsoft's AI. With all that in mind, Microsoft published a new blog post where it said Copilot is the best productivity app for Windows.

Microsoft is also on track to redesign SharePoint with more focus on AI. In a recently added entry on its public Microsoft 365 Roadmap, Microsoft promised a "reimagined" SharePoint designed to be simple and intuitive, while focusing on SharePoint's core functionality, which includes knowledge discovery, content publication, and building intranet solutions.

Speaking of redesigns, a new UI is rolling out to Planner, giving the service a modern, cleaner look with new features, such as real-time discussions, the Goals view, and more.

Finally, check out our regular recaps of everything that Microsoft added to Office apps this month, such as Teams and Excel.

This week's browser updates include a major update for Firefox. Mozilla released version 148.0 with the promised AI kill switch that lets you get rid of all the AI-powered experiences and never see them again (not even subtle prompts to try a thing or two). The update also contains some fixes, security patches, translation improvements, and more.

Another entry in Microsoft's roadmaps details an odd feature that automatically opens Copilot in Microsoft Edge whenever you click an Outlook link, just in case you need some AI help with your emails. Yikes!

Here are other updates and releases you may find interesting:

• Microsoft Teams to get express voice enrollment for easier voice isolation in meetings.

• Microsoft delays new People Hub launch in Outlook.

• Outlook has a really annoying bug, and Microsoft only has wonky workarounds for now.

• Microsoft is changing Excel behavior because it was causing too much confusion for users.

• VMware finally fixes broken updates and other issues in the latest Workstation Pro release.

   

Here are the latest drivers and firmware updates released this week:

• Intel 32.0.101.8531 non-WHQL big performance improvements for Resident Evil Requiem and Witcher 3.
• AMD Radeon Software 26.2.2 with optimizations for Resident Evil Requiem and Marathon.
• NVIDIA 595.59 WHQL with the same day-one support for Resident Evil Requiem and Marathon, plus some bug fixes. However, NVIDIA had to pull the driver after reports about broken fan controls.

Reviews are in

Here is the hardware and software we reviewed this week

This week, Steven Parker reviewed the Choetech USB-C Hub with eight ports and 100W power delivery. This laptop stand not only supports your laptop, but also gives it a bunch of extra ports, including memory card readers. It is not the cheapest one, but it does its job well.

On the gaming side

Learn about upcoming game releases, Xbox rumors, new hardware, software updates, freebies, deals, discounts, and more.

The Xbox February 2026 update is here with 1440p streaming support for Xbox Cloud Gaming on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One S|X. There are also new system sounds for navigation and useful improvements for those owning the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally.

Valve is running its first Steam Next Fest of 2026. This regular event allows gamers to play thousands of demos of titles to check out what is coming in the near future. The event runs from February 23 through Mar 2, so you still have a couple of days to check some demos and maybe add them to your wishlist.

Playground Games published a new blog post where it detailed career mode in the upcoming Forza Horizon 6, which will be available on PC and Xbox Series X|S in May. Developers prepared a big career overhaul with improved progression, new modes, new challenges, and more to address gamers' criticism about broken progression and the lack of motivation to play the game.

NVIDIA has some good news for those who want to play Resident Evil Requiem but have no gaming PC or console. The game is now available on GeForce NOW (alongside a bunch of other titles), plus you can get it for free if you purchase a one-year membership. This will save you $70 on the $200 plan.

Finally, check out this week's Weekend PC Game Deals, where you can grab the latest freebie from the Epic Games Store, new bundles from Humble Bundle, enjoy some free events, and more.

Other gaming news includes the following:

• Microsoft apologizes after spamming Xbox users with "dummy message" from AI platform.

• Blizzard is bringing Overwatch to Android and iOS with a new 4v4 spin-off.

• Death Stranding 2 PC system requirements are here, and they hint at a good port.

   

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Posted Sunday 1 March 2026 at 7:19 am AEST (my time).

News posts: 2023 5,800+ | 2024 5,700+ | 2025 5,700+ | 2026 (to end of February) 854

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And it is not just AI though, as the earnings shows that Nvidia has made plenty of money in its gaming division too. What is interesting is that the company's revenue shot up a massive 47% compared to last year despite actual sales being down 13% as opposed to the previous quarter. This clearly shows that Nvidia is reaping the benefits of the overpriced market conditions that users are currently facing.

This was confirmed during the earnings call by Nvidia's CFO Colette Kress who stated: "Gaming revenue for the fourth quarter was up 47% from a year ago, driven by strong Blackwell demand. Gaming revenue was down 13% sequentially as channel inventory naturally moderated following a season of strong holiday demand."

Kress further added that the normalization of the supply chain will take some time which means next gen GPUs will also be affected as Nvidia "expects supply constraints to be a headwind to Gaming in the first quarter of fiscal 2027 and beyond."

This is in line with previous reports which have suggested that Nvidia's RTX 6000 series cards are probably not going to land before 2028 (via The Information), though Nvidia has claimed it is doing its very best to fix such supply chain problems (via PCMag).

To be fair, it is not surprising in the least bit as other companies are also expected to miss earlier predicted product launches. For example, the Sony PS6 is not said to arrive later in 2029, and analysts are anticipating a massive price hike for SSDs similar to what memory is experiencing now.

Source: Nvidia Q4FY26 earnings (PDF)

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Posted Saturday 28 February 2026 at 5:01 am AEST (my time).

News posts: 2023 5,800+ | 2024 5,700+ | 2025 5,700+ | 2026 (to end of January) 461

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