#hardware
- The Never-Ending PS5 and Xbox Series X Restock Chase
Seven months in, PS5 and Xbox Series X restocks are still rare and unpredictable, and AMD says the chip shortage will drag into 2022.
- Why ARM-Based Laptops Are Suddenly Interesting
Six months after the M1 MacBooks, Windows chipmakers are signaling real interest in ARM laptop silicon — here's why that matters.
- Fitbit, Garmin, or Apple Watch: Where Fitness Wearables Stand Right Before I/O
A look at the fitness-tracker landscape ahead of Google I/O, where Wear OS is expected to get a Fitbit-powered overhaul.
- Why PS5 and Xbox Series X Restocks Keep Selling Out in Minutes
The chip shortage keeps next-gen console supply far below demand, so restocks vanish in minutes and scalpers profit.
- The New iMac Is Finally Real: Preorders Open Today
Apple opened preorders for the redesigned 24-inch M1 iMac, the first fanless, color-matched iMac since 2012, starting at $1,299.
- Buying a PS5 Shouldn't Require a Bot
PS5 and Xbox Series X scalping has turned console launches into an arms race between bots and retailer checkout defenses.
- GPUs Are Still a Nightmare to Buy, and It's Not Getting Better Soon
RTX 30-series and RX 6000 cards remain scarce and 2-3x MSRP as chip shortages and crypto mining collide, with Nvidia warning the squeeze could last most of 2021.
- Why ARM Laptops Are Suddenly a Serious Idea
Six months after the M1, Apple has forced Qualcomm, Microsoft, and the whole PC industry to take ARM laptops seriously.
- Apple's Spring Loaded Event: AirTag Finally Arrives, iMac Gets Colorful Again
Apple's Spring Loaded event brought AirTag trackers, a redesigned M1 iMac in seven colors, a new M1 iPad Pro, and podcast subscriptions.
- Sony's Xperia Event Shows It's Still Playing a Different Game
Sony's latest Xperia announcement doubles down on pro-camera features for a small enthusiast crowd instead of chasing Samsung and Apple on volume.
- Nokia's New Phones Are Betting on Boring, and That's the Point
HMD Global's Nokia X20, X10, and G10 launch leans on long software support and recycled plastic rather than flashy specs.
- The Chip Shortage Is Now a Gaming Hardware Problem
Nintendo trims Switch production targets and PS5/Xbox stock stays scarce as the global semiconductor shortage bites into gaming hardware.
- Xiaomi's Mi 11 Ultra Goes Global, and the Camera Bump Gets Absurd
Xiaomi's Mi 11 Ultra launches globally at $1,199 with a huge 1/1.12-inch main sensor, 5x periscope zoom, and a tiny screen on the back.
- Xiaomi's Mi 11 Ultra Packs the Biggest Camera Sensor Yet
Xiaomi's new Mi 11 Ultra flagship debuts a 1/1.12-inch main camera sensor and a secondary rear display, pricing it at 5,999-6,999 yuan.
- PS5 Restocks Are Getting a Little Easier, But Don't Expect Relief Soon
Restocks at Best Buy and Walmart are more frequent, but the global chip shortage means PS5 and Xbox Series X supply will likely stay tight into 2022.
- OnePlus Goes All In on Cameras with the 9 and 9 Pro
OnePlus unveiled the 9, 9 Pro, and 9R today, headlined by a Hasselblad-tuned camera system and Snapdragon 888 silicon.
- Why ARM Chips Are Suddenly the Future of the PC
Apple's M1 has the whole industry rethinking x86, and Intel is not taking it quietly.
- Intel's Rocket Lake Is Here, and It's Racing Against Itself
Intel unveiled 11th Gen Core desktop CPUs led by the Core i9-11900K, bringing PCIe 4.0 and better graphics to the aging LGA1200 socket.
- Xbox Live Is Dead, Long Live 'Xbox Network'
Microsoft quietly renames Xbox Live to 'Xbox network' this month, folding a two-decade-old brand into the wider Xbox ecosystem.
- Fire Destroys OVH's Strasbourg Data Center, Takes Millions of Sites Offline
A fire at OVHcloud's SBG2 facility in Strasbourg destroyed the data center and forced a shutdown of SBG1, knocking millions of sites offline.
- Chrome OS 89 Lands with Phone Hub and Built-In Screen Recording
Chrome OS 89 rolls out with Phone Hub, native screen recording, and a Tote shelf as Chromebook sales keep climbing.
- Nvidia's RTX 3060 Mining Limiter Cracked Within Days of Launch
A driver update briefly unlocked the RTX 3060's full hash rate, forcing Nvidia to ship a patch just over a week after the card launched.
- Why 2021's Chip Shortage Is Hitting Gamers and PC Builders Hardest
A global semiconductor crunch is colliding with crypto demand to make GPUs and next-gen consoles nearly impossible to buy at MSRP.
- February in Hardware: Chip Shortages, GPU Scarcity, and a $425M Gaming Bet
A month-end look at how the chip shortage kept squeezing consoles and GPUs while Nvidia and HP doubled down on gaming demand.
- Nvidia's RTX 3060 Arrives at $329, With a Mining Blocker Built In
Nvidia's mainstream RTX 3060 launches at $329 with 12GB of memory and a first-of-its-kind Lite Hash Rate limiter aimed at crypto miners.
- HP Buys HyperX for $425 Million, Right as Fry's Electronics Closes Its Doors
HP is acquiring gaming brand HyperX from Kingston for $425 million, the same day Fry's Electronics announced it's shutting down after 36 years.
- Can't Find a PS5? Gamers Are Buying Headsets and Keyboards Instead
With consoles impossible to find, gamers are pouring money into headsets, keyboards, and mice, turning peripheral brands into hot commodities.
- Why ARM Laptops Are Suddenly Interesting
Three months after the M1 MacBooks shipped, their battery life and efficiency are forcing a serious rethink of ARM in laptops.
- The Pandemic Wearables Boom: Fitness Trackers and Rings Go Mainstream
Home workouts and health anxiety have pushed Fitbit and Oura from niche gadgets to everyday health monitors during the pandemic.
- Automakers Slash Production as the Chip Shortage Bites Harder
Ford and GM confirm deep Q1 production cuts as the global chip shortage forces automakers to idle plants and delay vehicles.