Welcome to our weekly tech roundup, where we compile the most compelling stories that are shaping the technology landscape.
We delve into the latest IDC report that unveiled a 2.1% decline in China’s smartphone market in Q2 2023, contrasted starkly by Huawei’s stunning surge of 58% in smartphone sales in the same quarter. This uptick for Huawei amidst an overall market contraction illustrates the company’s new strategies.
Apple’s AirTag played an unlikely hero role in tracking down a restaurant burglar who absconded with $15,000 worth of goods. For audiophiles, Sony unveiled its latest offering – the WF-1000XM5 earbuds. Touted for their top-notch sound quality and active noise cancellation, they are setting new standards in the audio industry. We also read about how a YouTuber managed to run GTA 5 on an overclocked Nintendo Switch, pushing the boundaries of the console’s capabilities.
Stay tuned as we dive deeper into these stories and more in this exciting roundup of the week’s top tech news below.
Latest IDC report shows China’s smartphone market declined by 2.1% in Q2 2023
The IDC report shows a 2.1% decline in China’s smartphone market in Q2 2023, with 65.7 million smartphones shipped. The market experienced a 7.3% year-on-year decline, with Huawei and Apple showing positive YoY growth. Other leading brands, including Oppo, Vivo, Honor, Apple, and Huawei and Xiaomi, experienced flat or declining performance.
More details in the link above.
Huawei’s Q2 2023 smartphone sales surged by 58%
Huawei’s Q2 2023 smartphone sales surged by 58%, according to Counterpoint Research. The surge can be attributed to regular product release schedules and brand image. Other manufacturers, Realme and Apple, also experienced positive growth. Huawei’s focus on flagship series, midrange phones, and the upcoming Mate 60 series is expected to boost sales.
More details in the article below.
Apple MacBook Air 15-inch model’s demand lower than the company’s expectations
Apple’s anticipated 15-inch MacBook Air model faces lower demand than anticipated, with sales numbers as low as 50% below expectations. The 15-inch model, launched at WWDC, features a larger display and two extra speakers. The company is scaling back production.
Apple AirTag Used to Track Down Restaurant Burglar Who Stole $15,000 Worth of Goods
The Apple AirTag has been used to track down a South Carolina restaurant burglar who stole $15,000 worth of goods. The small, effective device allows users to track their location instantly, preventing theft. The total value of the stolen items is estimated to be between $15,000 and $20,000. The AirTag has been used in theft cases before, but its drawbacks have been reported.
More details in the link above.
Here’s why China loves foldable smartphones
China’s foldable smartphone market experienced significant growth in Q1 2023, with China being the largest market, followed by Western Europe, Asia Pacific, and North America.
We check out why Chinese consumers love their foldables.
Sony debuts the WF-1000XM5 earbuds with top-notch sound quality and ANC
Sony introduces the WF-1000XM5 TWS earbuds, offering exceptional sound quality, advanced noise cancellation, call clarity, and comfort. The Dynamic Driver X delivers clear highs and bass, supports High-Resolution Audio Wireless, 360 Reality Audio, and head-tracking technology.
More details like pricing and availability in the full article below.
YouTuber gets GTA 5 running on an overclocked Nintendo Switch
YouTuber Geekerwan overclocked the Nintendo Switch to run popular titles like Grand Theft Auto 5, Titanfall 2, and God of War. He sideloaded Android 11 and overclocked the CPU to 2.3 GHz, allowing him to access Steam and play games.
More details below.
Honor flip phone coming next year, says executive
Honor is rumored to launch its first flip phone in 2024, aiming to compete with Samsung and Motorola. The Honor Flip is expected to offer a unique experience with a lightweight design, large cover screen, and a competitive price proposition.
The Bumblebee Edition of Nubia Red Magic 8S Pro+ is Now on preorders
Nubia has launched the Nubia Red Magic 8S Pro+ Bumblebee Edition, available for pre-orders at 6,499 Yuan. This special edition features a unique mecha design and a Bumblebee-themed charger, badge, pins, fast charging data cable, protective case, and cooler.
All iPhone 15 models rumored to feature 48MP camera with hybrid lens
The iPhone 15 series is set to revolutionize smartphone photography with its 48-megapixel camera, featuring advanced 1/1.5-inch stacked CMOS image sensor (CIS) and 2X mode. The non-Pro models will have a slightly smaller sensor, but the CIS increases by 27% from previous iPhone 14 models. The hybrid lens design, f/1.7 aperture, and A16 Bionic chip are expected to improve low-light performance.
Here’s Why People in Indonesia Can’t Access the Rebranded Twitter Website
Elon Musk’s ambitious rebranding of Twitter as ‘X’ has encountered a major obstacle in Indonesia. The social media platform, now known as X, faced a block in the country due to its association with the domain X.com. More details above.
No Chargers Needed?: Researchers Develop Long-Distance Wireless Charging with 80% Efficiency
Wireless charging is getting more and more popular these days. We can see this technology in our phones and even things like AirPods. However, when we look at the usage rates, the numbers suddenly start to drop suddenly. This is mostly because wireless charging isn’t truly ‘wireless’. Your device needs to touch a charging pad, and that can be harder than just using a USB-C or Lightning cable. However, engineers at Aalto University have developed a new system that can fix this.
