This past week has certainly been an interesting one as far as tech news goes, especially with all the new product announcements and unveilings. With that being said, you might have been to busy to keep an eye on all the latest tech headlines, so we’ve prepared this quick rundown of stuff that you might have missed. So sit back, scroll down, and let’s get started!
Qualcomm’s New Arm Chip Arrives this Year
Qualcomm is bringing over its Arm-based chip technology to laptops with the Snapdragon X Plus, a new SoC designed for Windows-powered devices. As such, the Snapdragon X Plus comes with an impressive set of features, including a new 10-core Qualcomm Oryon CPU, and a 45 TOPS NPU which Qualcomm claims is the fastest on the market right now. Another major highlight is on-device AI capabilities, a rather unsurprising (but much-welcome) add-on given the focus on GenAI within current tech industry trends – we can expect to see it in action once it launches within new laptops within the middle of the year.
Tesla’s Model 3 Performance is Here
Tesla recently announced that it’s started taking orders for its newest EV, the Model 3 Performance. The new vehicle boasts some considerable improvements to performance, including a powerful drive unit exceeding 460 horsepower, enabling the car to reach a top speed of 163 mph. The Model 3 Performance also gets a handling upgrade with a performance-tuned chassis, a new Track Mode V3 that integrates various systems for optimal performance on the race track, as well as a more aerodynamic design and new sport seats with enhanced lateral support. It starts at £59,990 in the UK.
The OnePlus Watch 2 Shows up in Blue
The OnePlus Watch 2 is pretty much one of the best Wear OS devices of this year, and it looks like OnePlus is looking to bank on the Watch 2’s popularity with the launch of a new colour variant, which is now available for buyers in Europe. Dubbed the “Nordic Blue” edition, the new OnePlus Watch 2 variant features an exclusive two-tone blue GMT dial which resembles classic marine GMT chronometers. The watch also comes with an all-new hybrid leather strap, which combines fluororubber and genuine leather for a stylish look and feel.
HMD Global Introduces its New “Pulse” Handsets
HMD Global has launched its first smartphone series, the HMD Pulse range. It consists of three models including the Pulse, Pulse+, and Pulse Pro. All three share some common features like a 6.65-inch 720p+ display, a Unisoc T606 chipset, and a 5,000mAh battery. More interestingly, the new phones mark the gradual shift of HMD’s new smartphone launches which will slowly ditch the Nokia brand.
There are some differences though with pricing and some minor hardware changes. The base Pulse model starts at €140 and has a 13MP rear camera and an 8MP front camera, while the Pulse+ bumps up the RAM options and storage to 128GB and equips a 50MP main camera for €160. Lastly, the Pulse Pro is priced at €180, with a 50MP front camera and faster 20W charging.
Meet the Polestar Phone
After rumours that it would be launching its own Android-powered handset, Polestar has finally introduced its first smartphone, but there’s a twist – the Polestar phone is in fact a rebranded version of the Meizu 21 Pro. Under the hood, it boasts powerful specs like the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor with up to 16GB of RAM, and also features a triple-camera system on the back with a 50MP main sensor, alongside telephoto and ultrawide options. There are some differences however, such as a refined look which draws inspiration from Polestar’s EV designs, as well as software compatibility with the company’s in-vehicle infotainment platforms.
