This week we went to MWC and had been handled to some main Nothing and Apple launches together with the Apple MacBook Neo.
There’s numerous news coming from the tech world this week, so we have had to bump or normal seven-story-long ICYMI to a complete 9 articles, so we have now no time to dilly-dally on this intro.
9. We reviewed the Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely
Samsung pulled off a neat trick with its Galaxy S26 Extremely. It’s not a reinvention and, at a look, might be mistaken for the S25 Extremely. Nonetheless, it made key updates to lenses, picture processing, design, supplies, and uncooked energy that ought to please most Galaxy followers (all with out elevating the worth). The brand new cellphone can also be over-stuffed with AI, however definitely makes a few of the finest use of on-board Gemini. Nonetheless, it is two different bits of innovation that carry the S26 Extremely above all different Androids: Privateness Show and Tremendous Regular Horizontal Maintain. The previous is the first smartphone hardware-based privateness display, and the second, properly, you have to do that “gimbal in your smartphone” to consider it.
8. ChatGPT was cancelled over its Pentagon deal
Might ChatGPT in the future energy autonomous killing machines? That’s the query many are asking after OpenAI signed a cope with the Pentagon after Anthropic’s Claude was labelled a “provide chain threat” for making that one in all two crimson traces in its rejected model of the same deal.
OpenAI claims that it shares Anthropic’s perception that AI shouldn’t make the determination to kill an individual, or be used for mass surveillance of US residents, however leaks recommend its cope with the Pentagon is slightly looser than Anthropic’s would have been — with OpenAI’s model saying the Pentagon should comply with the legislation and its inside steerage, each of which might be modified by the US authorities and Pentagon officers in the future.
In consequence customers have deserted ChatGPT in droves, and converted to Anthropic’s AI in what seems to be a ringing endorsement of its AI ethics. Although as Anthropic is reportedly in talks to make a cope with the Pentagon in spite of everything we’ll have to wait and see if it too makes compromises.
7. In some way Xbox returned
If you instructed us the Xbox Sequence X / S was the final correct Xbox console — with future launches merely branded variations of different {hardware} like with the Xbox Meta Quest 3 and Asus Rog Xbox Ally X — we’d be inclined to consider you, but it surely appears a brand new Xbox is in reality in the works.
Three weeks after Asha Sharma changed Phil Spencer as CEO of Xbox he teased new {hardware} codenamed Mission Helix. He defined “Mission Helix will lead in efficiency and play your Xbox and PC video games,” suggesting it’ll be a PC console hybrid related to Valve’s upcoming Steam Machine. This may additionally clarify why Sony is abandoning its plans to launch PlayStation video games on PC; Xbox may not thoughts the place you play its titles, however Sony clearly doesn’t need you to take pleasure in its video games on Xbox consoles.
Little else is understood about Helix for now, however the truth it’s coming in any respect is sufficient for now.
6. Nothing made nice sequel headphones
Nothing simply unveiled its second pair of headphones, and so they’re one thing of a miracle. The Nothing Headphone (a) are manner cheaper than its first pair, the Headphone (1), but are someway a greater pair of headphones. The sound is extra expansive and enjoyable, the battery life is so lengthy that it’s principally the better of any headphones you can purchase, and the design is manner much less divisive.
Regardless of all the enhancements, they’re half the worth of the earlier headphones in the UK, and are a 3rd cheaper in the US. They’re the platonic supreme of what you need from the follow-up to a product that was a little bit of a miss, and would possibly rank amongst the finest headphones of the 12 months.
5. Nothing launched a brand new budget-phone, and it’s successful
We reviewed the Nothing Cellphone (4a), the newest budget-friendly gadget from one in all the most fashionable tech manufacturers round. In our four-star evaluate, we raved about the (4a)’s stand-out look, which features a fancy new Glyph Bar and array of attention-grabbing colorways.
This mannequin’s greater than only a fairly face, although. Its Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 processor delivers very strong efficiency certainly, and its streamlined UI is a pleasure to use. The (4a) additionally packs the next decision, brighter show, and bigger battery than its predecessor. It’s not fairly good, although – we had a couple of qualms about digicam high quality, and it will have been good to see wi-fi charging on-board.
4. We noticed the better of MWC
One other 12 months, one other Cellular World Congress; this 12 months’s MWC was, as all the time, jam filled with cellular tech and we went by means of all of it to discover the highest in present.
Honor, Nothing and Samsung impressed us with their smartphones, together with the Honor Magic V6 — a brand new thinnest-ever foldable — and the Nothing Cellphone 4(a), which continues to be enjoyable and inexpensive.
There have been additionally some thrilling idea designs which can by no means see the mild of day however are award-worthy nonetheless, like the Lenovo ThinkBook Modular PC Idea.
3. The mid-range iPhone 17e arrived to battle the Pixel 10a
It would lack the novelty and dazzle of the MacBook Neo, however the iPhone 17e would possibly simply be the most spectacularly smart factor Apple introduced this week. The mid-range cellphone is a modest replace, with an A19 chip, new C1X modem and MagSafe charging being the principal upgrades from the 16e.
However these quality-of-life upgrades all help the principal headline right here — the iPhone 17e prices the similar as its predecessor, beginning at $599 / £599 / AU$999. That’s a reasonably whole lot for upgraders who don’t thoughts lacking out on an ultra-wide digicam, and makes this cellphone a robust rival for the barely cheaper Google Pixel 10a.
2. The iPad Air, MacBook Air and MacBook Professional all obtained refreshes
It was a huge week for Apple launches — and whereas the MacBook Neo was the solely really new launch, we did additionally get spec bumps for three of its hottest merchandise. The iPad Air M4 is successfully final 12 months’s M3 mannequin with a brand new chip (30% quicker, apparently) and extra trendy connectivity together with Wi-Fi 7.
And if you’re in the market for a brand new MacBook, properly achieved for ready till March. The MacBook Air M5 now has Apple’s newest base chip, and it would simply be the world’s finest all-round laptop computer (if we will forgive it for that small worth hike).
Lastly, the MacBook Professional is now obtainable with M5 Professional and M5 Max chips, and even comes with 1TB storage as normal, although you might want to defend your eyes from its price ticket. The M5 Max model begins at $3,599 / £3,599 / AU$5,799) — that’s the similar as six MacBook Neos.
1. Apple revealed the US$599 MacBook Neo
It had been rumored for months, but it surely was nonetheless a shock when Apple revealed its cheapest-ever MacBook this week. The MacBook Neo is a enjoyable, colourful Chromebook rival that runs on an A18 Professional chip — and it begins at solely $599 / £599 / AU$899.
We haven’t but absolutely examined the Neo to see the way it performs, however our early impressions had been good. The truth is, we’ve already branded it “the most essential product of 2026” thus far, primarily as a result of it’s landed in the context of a RAM worth disaster and a dearth of compelling Chromebook rivals. Whether or not it’s additionally one in all the finest merchandise of the 12 months stays to be seen.
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