It’s once again been a busy week in tech – we started off the week with some big news from Google (before the arrival of next week’s Pixel 9 phones), as well as some new phone releases from Vivo, Realme and Infinix, and the Humane AI Pin continues to struggle months after its launch – we’ve put together some highlights that you’ll want to check out, just in case you missed all the action. Let’s get started!
Google’s Newest Streaming Box is Set to Replace the Chromecast
While the Google Chromecast has been one of the easiest and most affordable ways to get access to a large library of content from different platforms and providers, it’s a bit old at this point now. As such, Google finally announced the new Google TV Streamer, which comes with some new hardware and software features. Gone is the small pebble-like profile of earlier Chromecast models, and in its place we now have a larger design that comes with a slightly-redesigned remote control, an HDMI port, USB-C power port, as well as an Ethernet port for Internet connectivity. It launches later in September for £99.
More People are Returning the Humane AI Pin
Following a lacklustre launch and poor critical reception, it looks like the Humane AI Pin continues its downward spiral in the tech industry – it’s been reported that return rates for the device have now outnumbered sales. In just a few months, thousands of AI Pins have been returned, far surpassing the number of units purchased – reports state that only around 7,000 AI Pins were still in the hands of customers, with more than $1 million worth of refunds made since the product’s launch.
Infinix’s Budget Note 40X Packs Some Pretty Sweet Hardware
Following a number of different Note 40 models, Infinix once again launched a new addition in the form of the Note 40X 5G, which leans towards a more budget-friendly price segment. Available in Starlit Black, Lime Green and Palm Blue colour options, the phone features a 6.78-inch AMOLED display, which features an FHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate, and is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chipset. There’s also a trio of cameras on the back, which includes a 108MP main camera, a 2MP macro camera as well as an “AI” lens.
The Realme 13 is Super-affordable, but there’s a Catch
While Realme has launched some rather impressive handsets over the years, its latest Realme 13 model goes back to the brand’s affordable origins, as the specs will show. Priced starting at around $185 (when converted), the phone comes with a a 6.67-inch OLED screen, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 685 chipset, a seven-layer cooling system, and a 5,000 mAh battery with 67W charging speeds. For camera hardware, the Realme 13 comes with a 50MP main camera which works in tandem with a depth camera, a common configuration seen on phones of this price.
Vivo Unveils its Newest V40 Series Phones
Vivo recently announced the the V40 and V40 Pro, which are priced starting at €440 and €600 (when converted), respectively. Vivo has equipped both devices with a 6.78-inch AMOLED screen that features a 2,800 x 1,260 pixel resolution alongside a 120Hz refresh rate. As for what’s inside, the V40 is equipped with the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3, and is available in several RAM and storage configurations at 8/128 GB, 12/256 GB, and 12/512 GB. Meanwhile, the V40 Pro features a more capable Dimensity 9200+ chip, and memory configurations of 8/256 GB, 12/256 GB and 12/512 GB.
