consumer electronics

OpenAI’s AI device will be doughnut-shaped, cost over $300

OpenAI's long-awaited consumer AI device will be a doughnut-shaped smart speaker roughly the size of a hockey puck, priced at more than $300, and featuring moving parts designed to give it personality, Bloomberg reported on Thursday.

AI-driven chip shortage pushes up prices on consoles, TVs and audio gear

The artificial intelligence infrastructure boom is squeezing memory chip supplies so severely that consumers are now paying markedly more for everyday electronics — from gaming consoles and laptops to smart TVs, audio equipment, and streaming devices. The shortage, dubbed "RAMageddon"…

iPhone 18 Pro Max could cost up to $300 more, analysts say

Apple is preparing to impose its largest iPhone price increase in years when it unveils the iPhone 18 Pro lineup next month, with analysts and supply chain data pointing to a jump of $200 to $300 on the flagship Pro…

Deloitte warns memory chip shortage may last until 2029 or 2030

A global memory chip shortage that industry insiders have dubbed "RAMaggedon" is sending prices for consumer electronics sharply higher, as chipmakers redirect production capacity toward the insatiable demands of artificial intelligence data centers.

Apple captures record 49% of global smartphone revenue in Q2

Apple captured a record 49% of global smartphone revenue in the second quarter of 2026, even as the broader market saw shipments decline, according to Counterpoint Research's Market Monitor data published Thursday.

Apple posts record June quarter in Tim Cook’s final earnings call as CEO

Apple delivered a resounding farewell quarter for Tim Cook, posting fiscal third-quarter revenue of $109.4 billion and diluted earnings per share of $2.02 — both June quarter records that handily topped Wall Street expectations of roughly $108.65 billion in revenue…

OpenAI says it’s building a ‘family of devices’ for AI

OpenAI president Greg Brockman said the company is building a "family of devices" for interacting with its AI models and that people should "expect them soon," while also pushing back on Apple's trade-secrets lawsuit and acknowledging the ChatGPT desktop app's…

GPU shortage worsens as memory chip crisis hits consumer electronics

A global memory chip shortage, fueled by surging demand from artificial intelligence data centers, is rippling through the consumer electronics market, pushing up prices for laptops, tablets, graphics cards, and other hardware just as the back-to-school shopping season approaches.

Qualcomm to raise chip prices Sept. 1 after weak guidance rattles investors

Qualcomm reported fiscal third-quarter results on Wednesday that beat revenue expectations but missed on earnings, while issuing fourth-quarter guidance that fell short of Wall Street estimates on both profit and the midpoint of revenue, sending shares down roughly 5% in…

Apple readies three smart home devices for fall launch

Apple is preparing to launch three new smart home devices later this year, marking its most ambitious effort yet to compete in a category long dominated by Amazon and Google. The lineup includes a refreshed Apple TV 4K, an updated…

Qualcomm, Roku raise prices as memory chip shortage deepens

The global memory chip shortage tightened its grip on the consumer electronics industry on Friday, as Qualcomm informed customers of double-digit price increases and Roku raised prices on its streaming devices by as much as 50 percent — the latest…

Apple ramps up cooling component orders for foldable iPhone

Apple has increased its orders for vapor chamber cooling components, according to a new supply chain leak, as the company prepares for the launch of its first foldable iPhone later this year.

OLED iPad mini leak points to 60Hz display, no ProMotion

Apple is preparing to release a redesigned iPad mini featuring an OLED display for the first time, with multiple supply chain reports and industry leakers pointing to a late 2026 launch window. Samsung Display has already begun mass production of…

OpenAI’s first device is a screenless smart speaker with cameras, Bloomberg reports

OpenAI's long-anticipated first consumer hardware product will be a portable, screenless smart speaker designed to serve as an AI companion in the home, Bloomberg reported on Monday. The device, which features cameras, environmental sensors, and movable components, represents the company's…

Huawei launches 5G flagships globally for first time since US sanctions

Huawei unveiled the Pura 90s Pro and Pura 90s Pro Max at a global launch event in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, marking the Chinese tech giant's return to the international 5G smartphone arena after years of US sanctions restricted its…

Apple climbs to second in China’s smartphone market

Apple climbed to second place in China's smartphone market during the second quarter of 2026, with shipments growing 25% year-over-year, according to data released by IDC on Tuesday. Huawei retained the top spot with nearly 20% shipment growth, as the…

OnePlus to officially exit US and European markets

OnePlus is preparing to officially confirm its exit from the United States and European markets within days, marking the end of the brand's decade-long run as a challenger in Western smartphone markets. The announcement, first reported by WinFuture and corroborated…

Apple raises foldable iPhone production target to 10M units

Apple is preparing one of its most ambitious iPhone launches in years, planning to release at least five new models between the second half of 2026 and the first half of 2027, while raising production targets for its first foldable…

Amazon designs custom AI chips for Echo, Fire TV, Kindle

Amazon Amazon.com, Inc. is designing proprietary artificial intelligence chips for its consumer electronics lineup, including Echo smart speakers, Fire TV streaming devices, and Kindle e-readers, in what represents the company's first major processor overhaul for its gadget division in two…

Musk denies report that SpaceX showed AI device to investors

Elon Musk on Wednesday denied a report from The Wall Street Journal News Corp that SpaceX had privately showcased a prototype of an AI-powered consumer device to investors, calling the claim "utterly false" in a post on X. SpaceX shares…

Musk, Cook warn memory chip shortage is ‘unprecedented’ as AI demand soars

Apple CEO Tim Cook has called the global memory chip shortage "a hundred-year flood," while Elon Musk declared it "the biggest price jump in anything I've ever seen," as the two tech leaders sound alarms over a structural crisis reshaping…

Musk calls AI chip price surge ‘biggest’ he’s ever seen

Elon Musk called the current AI-driven component price surge "the biggest price jump in anything I've ever seen," warning that the production shortfall relative to demand is "insane" and calling for much higher output from chipmakers. The remarks, made in…

Leaker says Apple is developing ‘iRing’ smart ring

A brief post on X from Apple hardware tipster Kosutami has reignited speculation that Apple is developing a smart ring, potentially called the "iRing," setting the stage for a new front in the wearable technology market.

Microsoft raises Xbox prices as memory shortage hits tech hardware

Microsoft announced on Thursday that it will raise Xbox console prices worldwide starting August 1, citing the ongoing global memory chip shortage that has roiled the consumer electronics industry. The announcement came just hours after Apple rolled out sweeping price…

Apple hikes Mac and iPad prices up to $1,300 amid memory chip crisis

Apple on Thursday raised prices across its Mac and iPad lineups, with increases of $100 to $300 per device, as the company moves to pass on surging memory and storage chip costs to consumers for the first time in years.

Asian air-con makers report sales surge as Europe roasts in record heat wave

As a brutal heatwave continues to batter western Europe, shattering temperature records and claiming lives, Asian air conditioner manufacturers are reaping the benefits of a continent scrambling to cool down. Samsung Electronics, Midea, LG Electronics, and Mitsubishi Electric have all…

Apple resolves key foldable iPhone hinge issues ahead of mass production

Apple's first foldable iPhone appears to have overcome its most pressing engineering challenge. Supply chain sources cited by The Elec report that hinge-related problems plaguing the device during testing have been largely resolved, clearing the path for mass production to…

Consumer RAM prices surge up to 89% as AI devours chip supply

A structural global memory chip shortage, driven by the insatiable demands of artificial intelligence data centers, is forcing consumer electronics makers to raise prices and warning of worse to come. Consumer DRAM and NAND flash prices surged by as much…

DDR2 prices surge as AI-driven memory shortage hits oldest DRAM standard

The global memory crisis has cascaded down to the oldest DRAM standards still in production. DDR2 contract prices rose 55 to 60 percent in the second quarter of 2026, with a further 35 to 40 percent increase forecast for the…

Apple’s incoming CEO frames AI as a tool, not a target

John Ternus, the hardware engineering chief set to become Apple's CEO on September 1, has laid out a product-first vision for artificial intelligence that stands in contrast to the AI-as-revenue-driver strategies embraced by much of Silicon Valley. In a pre-appointment…