TECH

Caviar expands customized foldable "iPhone Ultra" luxury collection with new models

Caviar has expanded its foldable "iPhone Ultra" collection with four limited-edition designs. Since Apple has not yet announced the device, the models and reported specs remain concepts based on leaks and rumors rather than confirmed product previews.

Caviar, a luxury brand that typically specializes in creating customized variants of flagship smartphones, has further expanded its bespoke collection of a foldable "iPhone Ultra" not yet officially announced by Apple. Initially announced back in June, the collection has since been expanded to include an additional four customized models. These include Liquid Metal, Jobs, Magenta and Karat, which are limited to 17, 9, 19 and 19 pieces, respectively.

The most notable of these, Liqud Metal, features a sculpted 925 sterling silver exterior with a rippling, reflective finish and a three-dimensional Apple logo. The Jobs edition is a throwback to Apple co-founder Steve Jobs with a design inspired by his legacy, while both the Magenta and the Karat editions combine crocodile leather in raspberry pink and black with 925 sterling silver and 24K gold, respectively. Prices range from $14,130 for the Karat model all the way up to $18,840 for Liquid Metal.

The most notable of these, Liqud Metal, features a sculpted 925 sterling silver exterior with a rippling, reflective finish and a three-dimensional Apple logo. The Jobs edition is a throwback to Apple co-founder Steve Jobs with a design inspired by his legacy, while both the Magenta and the Karat editions combine crocodile leather in raspberry pink and black with 925 sterling silver and 24K gold, respectively. Prices range from $14,130 for the Karat model all the way up to $18,840 for Liquid Metal.

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TECH

Exynos 2700: Samsung’s new chip aiming to beat Qualcomm

The ongoing battle between Samsung and Qualcomm processors has just entered an exciting new chapter. According to a new report, the South Korean giant might finally hold the winning hand with its upcoming flagship chipset.

All signs point to the highly anticipated Exynos 2700—expected to power the future Galaxy S27 lineup—outperforming the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and its Pro version in internal tests. For those accustomed to seeing Qualcomm reign supreme in mobile performance, this is an unexpected turn of events.

If you thought owning a Galaxy smartphone with an Exynos processor meant overheating and constant frame drops during gaming, it might be time to reconsider. Samsung’s new silicon appears ready to silence critics and revolutionize the market once and for all.

According to the South Korean newspaper SEDaily, citing direct industry sources, Samsung conducted internal evaluations that place the Exynos 2700 in a position of clear advantage. It is certainly intriguing to see the brand itself driving and "leaking" this data, but the figures leave little room for doubt. In the well-known Geekbench 6.5 multi-core test, the Exynos 2700 achieved a score 19% higher than that of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6.

Even more impressive is the fact that it also outperformed Qualcomm’s most powerful version, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro, posting a 9.5% lead in the same benchmark. These figures demonstrate that the new processor's architecture was pushed to the absolute limit to ensure outstanding performance.

Absolute dominance in gaming and energy efficiency...Raw performance matters, but how a smartphone behaves during intense gaming sessions is where users are most demanding. In this area, the Exynos 2700 held its own, outperforming the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro by 5% in peak graphics performance.

The most striking improvement appears in low-power scenarios. Here, Samsung’s chip posted an impressive 24% advantage during gaming, meaning you can enjoy your favorite titles for much longer without draining the battery in the blink of an eye.

While these figures might make any tech enthusiast’s mouth water, we need to keep our feet firmly on the ground. As past experience has shown, Samsung has a habit of being overly optimistic with its in-house testing, and real-world performance doesn't always live up to those promises.

Until the Exynos 2700 hits the market in an actual device and undergoes completely impartial testing, it is wise to take this data with a healthy dose of skepticism. However, if this performance is fully confirmed, Samsung will take a massive step toward technological independence—leaving Qualcomm with a major headache to deal with.

Samsung's MX division has internally compared the Exynos 2700 with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6. According to a report by the South Korean outlet Yonhap News Agency, the data points to a decisive victory for Samsung's proprietary component across raw processing speed, graphics acceleration, on-device AI tasks, and power consumption.

Confirmation of this performance leap comes at a critical time for the company. In the first half of the year, the brand spent ₩7.43 trillion—about 17.9% of its total raw material budget—purchasing chips from suppliers like Qualcomm and MediaTek. Validating the Exynos's competitiveness is a strategic key to cutting costs for the Galaxy S27 series and proving the viability of its cutting-edge manufacturing process.

Samsung's foundry will utilize its second-generation 2-nanometer (SF2P) manufacturing process for the mass production of the Exynos 2700. The architectural shift focuses on delivering thermal stability and efficiency without sacrificing raw performance.

Geekbench listings indicate that the chipset employs a 10-core CPU configuration and supports at least 12 GB of RAM:

1 ultra-high-performance core at 4.24 GHz

4 high-performance cores at 3.74 GHz

1 mid-range core at 3.36 GHz

4 efficiency-focused cores at 2.88 GHz

To address overheating—a recurring issue in previous generations—it remains to be seen whether the component will replicate the strategy used for the Exynos 2600 by keeping the 5G modem on a dedicated chip separate from the main module. In multi-threaded tests on the Geekbench 6.5 platform, the Exynos 2700 achieved a score 19% higher than the standard variant of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6. When compared directly to the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 Pro, the Exynos maintains a solid 9.5% lead.

Graphics processing is handled by the Xclipse 970 GPU. Under peak processing loads, the component outperformed Qualcomm’s Pro chip by 5%. However, its true strength shines under power-constrained conditions: limited to a 2.5W power envelope, the Xclipse 970 delivered 24% faster performance than the standard Snapdragon and 22% better performance than the Extreme version.

For language models running locally on the smartphone, the Exynos 2700’s NPU demonstrated 18% faster response generation using the Llama 3.1 8B platform, alongside a 5% improvement in prompt recognition and processing times.

In real-world power consumption tests, the Samsung chip operated with an average current draw of 161 mA, compared to 185 mA for the competitor's Pro component. This 12.7% reduction in energy consumption ensures that the speed gains translate directly into improved battery life during everyday tasks.

If these lab test figures translate to the actual user experience, the South Korean company is likely to significantly expand the use of the Exynos 2700 in Galaxy S27 and S2 Plus models worldwide.

Beyond protecting the mobile division's profit margins, the successful validation of this 2nm technology serves as a showcase for the foundry division, attracting corporate clients seeking viable advanced manufacturing alternatives in the semiconductor market.

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SAMSUNG

Galaxy S27 Ultra to feature radical design change?

We are still a long way off from the launch of Samsung's Galaxy S27 series, but the rumor mill is already in full swing. This time, a report from SamMobile may have revealed the first glimpse of the Galaxy S27 Ultra's design. The image suggests a major change to the back of Samsung's upcoming flagship; the rear design appears completely overhauled.

The leaked image shows the Galaxy S27 Ultra featuring a thick, rectangular bar across the upper section of the back. Inside, there are three sensors: two cameras have individual rings, while the third sensor sits within a pill-shaped area alongside the laser autofocus system and the LED flash.

Another detail visible in the material is a circular magnetic ring on the back. This structure is reportedly linked to Qi2 wireless charging and would also allow for the attachment of compatible accessories without necessarily requiring a magnetic case. If this information proves correct, it would mark a significant shift in how the Galaxy S27 Ultra handles magnetic accessories.

The leak also reinforces rumors regarding a triple-camera setup on the rear. The main camera would be a 200MP unit with optical image stabilization (OIS), while the ultrawide lens would offer 50MP resolution and autofocus. The third sensor would be a 50MP telephoto lens featuring 5x optical zoom and OIS. These specifications have not yet been confirmed by Samsung.

Is Samsung taking inspiration from Apple? This alleged new design for the Galaxy S27 Ultra bears a strong resemblance to the popular iPhone 17 Pro, which could spark comparisons between the two devices. The source itself highlights this design similarity. However, it is important to note that this leaked image is not yet official, so it may not represent the smartphone's final look.

Is Samsung adopting Apple’s camera "island" style? In fact, it is quite plausible that this design actually refers to the camera setup for Samsung's upcoming flagship model—especially since other possibilities, such as upcoming ultra-flagships from Oppo, Vivo, or Xiaomi, seem even less likely. If this assumption holds true, Samsung will apparently adopt a camera bump design similar to the one expected for the iPhone 17 Pro, even though Xiaomi’s Poco phones featured a similar design long before Apple did.

One advantage of this design over the current approach—where camera modules are arranged on one side—would certainly be greater stability for the Galaxy S27 Ultra when placed on a table, provided the two larger cameras do not protrude too far beyond the camera bump itself. There would also be more room for Qi2 magnetic accessories compared to the Galaxy S26 Ultra, for instance. In the few hours since the leak, the first AI-generated images based on the design sketch have already appeared online. What do you think of this potential final camera design for the Galaxy S27 Ultra?

Samsung will apparently surprise us with a new camera design for its Galaxy S27 series next year, though it may face significant criticism for a design choice that clearly resembles other smartphones—most notably, of course, Apple's iPhone 17 Pro. And that might not be the only similarity between Samsung's upcoming Ultra flagship and the two iPhone Pro models of varying sizes.

As noted by well-known leaker Sonny Dickson—based on two slightly different CAD models—Samsung appears to be planning two different sizes for the Galaxy S27 Ultra as well. However, it remains unclear whether the smaller model is the rumored Galaxy S27 Pro or if there will actually be two Ultra models of different sizes, as suggested by posts from Sonny and Ice on X regarding the relative positioning of the side buttons.

The camera redesign brings new hardware...Design aside, an upgrade to Samsung's camera hardware—which has remained largely unchanged for years—is obviously a positive step forward. In particular, the 3x telephoto lens, based on a small 1/3.94-inch, 10-megapixel sensor, seems outdated and will likely be discontinued in 2027; this will free up space for larger batteries and, potentially, magnets around the Qi2 charging coil. According to previous leaks, the aging ISOCELL HP2 sensor currently powering the camera will likely be replaced by a more modern 200-megapixel sensor, such as the ISOCELL HPC, which will also handle 3x to 5x zoom performance in the future.

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TECH

Analysis: France’s nuclear reactors are running hot and still keeping the lights on

Much of western Europe has endured long stretches of hot weather and heatwaves this summer. France recently experienced the hottest day in its recorded history and placed 54 of its 96 departments under the highest heat alert.

In response, the state-owned utility, EDF, began cutting output at several nuclear plants along the country’s rivers. Some reactors ran at reduced power while others shut down temporarily. For some, the episode appeared to confirm that nuclear power, for all its low-carbon promise, cannot survive the climate crisis.

While that reading may be tempting, it’s mistaken. What the heatwave revealed was not a failure of nuclear technology, but rather a narrow, well-understood constraint in how some riverside plants are allowed to operate during extreme heat.

To dissipate the heat they produce, plants draw water from a body of water and return it a few degrees warmer. French law limits how much warmer that water may be, a rule meant to protect fish and other aquatic life.

During a heatwave, the rivers are already warm, so it’s that legal ceiling, not any technical limit of the reactor itself, that obliges EDF to reduce output. Thus, the cuts here were a deliberate measure to protect river ecosystems — not a reactor failing to generate electricity.

As Canada develops new nuclear power projects, some might worry that hotter weather could undermine nuclear reliability. However, France’s experience this summer suggests otherwise.

The recent reductions in nuclear power generation did not undermine France’s electricity supply. The reductions began on June 22 and continued through the week as the heat persisted, reaching about 4.1 gigawatts, or seven per cent of national demand, at their peak. Even then, a large majority of France’s reactors remained in operation.

The grid operator, RTE, said France had “sufficient generation capacity to meet electricity demand,” even with several reactors offline. It is true that prices rose, exports to neighbouring countries fell and the grid relied more heavily on gas as well as oil-fired reserve generation. Yet these were temporary strains, and at no point was France’s supply in any kind of serious jeopardy.

Of course, none of this is really new. Heat has curtailed French reactors before, but set against annual nuclear generation, the losses have been modest. In our recent study, we documented two decades of these cases: France’s heat- and drought-related curtailments remained below one per cent of its annual nuclear output in every year but one, with the worst case reaching about 1.3 per cent.

France’s historical record also shows meaningful adaptation: the country’s heat-related curtailment losses have fallen by roughly 90 per cent since 2003, as utilities upgraded cooling systems, refined operating practices and timed maintenance shutdowns for the hottest parts of the year. While the constraint remains, its practical effect has significantly diminished over time.

It is also worth asking how nuclear’s alternatives would have fared. The same stagnant, high-pressure air that warmed France’s rivers also weakened wind generation across France, leaving the grid to rely more heavily on gas than on additional renewable output. Heatwaves often place simultaneous pressure on several parts of the electricity system, but not on all of them equally.

During periods of severe heat, renewables can weaken just as demand peaks. Wind generation tends to fall in these conditions and high temperatures can trim the efficiency of solar panels, while firm, low-carbon generation remains available when supply is tight. A system more dependent on renewables could have fared worse in late June, while nuclear generation remains far less variable over the course of a full year.

None of this diminishes the danger of heat. But the prospect of further extreme heat in the future is a reason to expand low-carbon power, including nuclear, rather than reduce it.

Canada’s nuclear future...Canada is currently expanding the Darlington nuclear plant in Ontario, and further projects are being considered nationwide. The relevant question is whether a manageable constraint should weigh heavily against further developing a useful, low-carbon source of energy.

We don’t think it should. Extreme heat affects every source of electricity. Nuclear’s exposure is comparatively predictable, rooted largely in environmental operating limits and increasingly manageable.

Back in France, EDF expects to spend around 600 million euros a year over the next 15 years on climate adaptation. That’s a lot of money, yet nuclear alternatives carry substantial costs of their own. Greater reliance on gas would entail higher emissions and significant water use, while heavier dependence on variable renewables could leave electricity supply less secure during heatwaves, which can simultaneously suppress their output.

The recent heatwaves illustrate that nuclear plants can operate under strain while continuing to meet electricity demand on a stressed grid. In a warming climate, such resilience should be treated as an asset, not a liability.

Michael Tadrous, Researcher in Energy Policy, McMaster University; Columbia University and Goran Calic, Associate Profesor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship Leadership Chair, McMaster University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

ASUS

ExpertBook B3 G2: the brand's new laptop for the corporate market

The ASUS ExpertBook B3 G2 is the brand's new configurable laptop designed for the business world. It was officially announced on August 21, 2026. This new laptop introduces 14-inch and 16-inch variants tailored for hybrid work environments.

Its construction meets the MIL-STD-810H military-grade durability standard, having passed 24 testing procedures. The chassis design incorporates a hinge that allows the screen to open a full 180 degrees. The device offers a choice of plastic or aluminum lids and comes in a "Gentle Grey" exterior finish.

The new laptops are powered by Intel Core Series 3 processors. All models rely on integrated Intel Graphics for processing visuals. The system includes a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) capable of up to 17 TOPS for artificial intelligence calculations and support for Microsoft Copilot tasks.

Internal expansion flexibility sets this ASUS business laptop's motherboard apart. RAM operates via an SO-DIMM slot compatible with DDR5 memory at 5600 MT/s. Storage expansion is handled through an M.2 2280 slot for PCIe 4.0 SSDs.

Available processors: Intel Core 3 304, Intel Core 5 315, Intel Core 5 320, and Intel Core 7 350.

Maximum RAM: expandable up to 64 GB.

Maximum storage: expandable up to 4 TB.

ASUS ExpertGuardian security supports the corporate device's hardware and software defenses. The protection infrastructure complies with the NIST SP 800-193 standard. The brand guarantees five years of BIOS and driver updates. The chassis incorporates a dedicated security processing unit, TPM 2.0 protection, and intrusion detection. Remote management benefits from cloud-based system recovery technology and a dual-ROM mechanism. Thermal stability is managed by the proprietary ExpertCool solution.

The keyboard features 1.5mm key travel and spill resistance for up to 355cc of liquid. The front-facing camera includes a physical shutter to ensure immediate optical blocking.

ExpertBook B3 G2 specifications cover the 14-inch B3406CMA and 16-inch B3606CMA models. Both form factors utilize non-touch 16:10 aspect ratio panels. Video capture options include HD, FHD, or FHD modules with infrared biometric support.

The 14-inch model has a starting weight of 1.45 kg and a base thickness of 10.73 mm for the aluminum version. The 16-inch model starts at 1.76 kg. Operating system options include Windows 11 Pro, Home, Education, and Clean Build editions, or units without pre-installed software.

Connectivity and battery life of the ASUS business laptop...The physical interface array consolidates multiple connections within the chassis. Network connectivity includes Wi-Fi 6 or tri-band Wi-Fi 6E configurations, paired with Bluetooth 5.4. The audio system houses dual stereo speakers with Dolby Audio Premium support and array microphones featuring AI noise-cancellation technology.

Communication ports: 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1x HDMI 2.1 TMDS, and 1x RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet. Battery options: 42 Wh (3-cell), 50 Wh (3-cell), or 70 Wh (4-cell) lithium-polymer.

Power supply: 65-watt USB-C universal AC adapter.

 

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SONY

New Sony Xperia phone appears in first image leak

Fall is approaching fast, and with it, the second Xperia phone of the year. Sony has already announced a launch event for next week and just a few days before that, we’re now getting our first look at the Sony Xperia 10 VIII in an official looking promo image. Seems like Sony fans are not getting any major changes with this years Xperia midranger.

After Sony announced a launch event last week for what we believe will be the successor to the Xperia 10 VII, we are now getting a first glimpse of what will likely be unveiled upcoming Tuesday. A first design leak shows the new Sony mid-range phone, presumably named Xperia 10 VIII, in a promotional image, discovered by Android Headlines.

The Xperia Android line has kept its cameras vertically stacked in one corner since the first-generation Xperia 5 in 2019, with only rare exceptions like the standalone Xperia Pro-I. But the 10 VII reinvents that design language with a horizontal camera pair mounted in a pill-shaped raised bar that stretches across the phone’s back. The matte plastic body comes in black, white, or turquoise, and looks like no Xperia phone before it. It looks a little more like Google’s Pixel phones, a design also aped by Apple’s iPhone Air this week.

Things are more recognizable from the front, with Sony’s familiar insistence on a chunky bezel above and below the display. That means the phone isn’t quite as compact as its 120Hz 6.1-inch display would suggest, but it’s still smaller and lighter than most. It also follows the recent Xperia 1 models in ditching what used to be a trademark 21:9 aspect ratio, now using boxier and more traditional 19.5:9 proportions.

There are a few other standard Sony touches though. Most welcome for some will be the 3.5mm headphone jack, and the same crowd are likely to love the expandable microSD storage. The big bezel packs front-facing stereo speakers too, and the joint IP65 / 68 rating is better than most offer. There’s also a side-mounted single-stage camera shutter button — a feature that’s less unique than it used to be. 

Since Sony changed the camera design from the 6th-generation Xperia 10 in 2024 to the Xperia 10 VII last year, it makes sense that the Japanese manufacturer didn’t opt for another redesign in 2026. At least from the back, the Xperia 10 VII appears completely unchanged to last year, the only difference being in the color tone apparently. The pure white from last year (see above) has apparently given way to a slightly greenish-shimmering white tone, as you can see below.

So what changed from the Xperia 10 VII to the Xperia 10 VIII? To be honest we cannot tell you that yet, since a recent geekbench leak points to another year with the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 and 8 GB of RAM. Since none of the other specs, for instance in the camera department, have leaked yet, it currently looks like the Xperia 1 MK8 will be largely unchanged from last years Sony midranger.

In Geekbench...The successor to the Xperia 10 VII bears the internal codename MK8 and appears on the benchmark platform under the model number XQ-GH54. Those hoping for cutting-edge hardware might be slightly disappointed, as Sony has opted for the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3, a chip released by Qualcomm in 2024.

Consequently, the Japanese manufacturer's mid-range device is expected to feature the same processor as last year's model. In Geekbench CPU tests, the smartphone scored 871 points in single-core performance and 3,028 in multi-core performance. The device was tested running Android 16.

Sony has done a good job of keeping its smartphone secrets under wraps, and little information regarding the Xperia 10 VIII has surfaced so far. An FCC certification—from the US agency that performs a role similar to Brazil's Anatel—indicates that the phone will include a 3.5mm headphone jack, a rarity in modern smartphones.

Despite its long absence from the Brazilian smartphone market, Sony appears to have achieved considerable success with its flagship Xperia 1 VII. The company recently celebrated sales figures for the device, which was launched in May.

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TECH

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Switch 2 60 fps performance impresses in first video

Early indications are that Modern Warfare 4 beta will meet expectations on the Switch 2. Videos have surfaced showing the Call of Duty game rendering the chaotic action at 60 fps. Still, some textures and animations are a step down from the PS5, Xbox, and PC versions.

Nintendo loyalists have long awaited the return of a Call of Duty game. With its beta weekend approaching, footage of the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Switch 2 port has emerged. YouTuber BoTalksGames applauded the shooter’s performance, which targets 60 fps in docked and handheld modes.

The content creator could only test the 3 vs 3 variation of the new Kill Block option. While more players may stress the Nintendo system, initial signs ahead of the October 23rd release date are positive.

COD on the Switch 2...Most significantly, the Modern Warfare 4 Switch 2 version produces smooth visuals. The Infinity Ward studio previously hinted that frame rates would rival the PS5, Xbox, and PC titles.

BoTalksGames' first video focuses on how the Call of Duty game fares on TVs. In docked mode, drops below 60 fps were rare, making gunplay and movement feel responsive. That said, gamers should expect some performance compromises on the lower-powered hardware.

Draw distances are shorter than on competing platforms, and texture pop-in can be noticeable. Enemy character models are also less detailed, with clunky animations. Perhaps most concerning, the YouTuber commented on blurriness in his scope when scanning for prey.

The best mobile Modern Warfare? Surprisingly, these performance issues were less apparent in the handheld mode footage. The Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Switch 2 port again generally maintains 60 fps. Yet the fuzziness observed when docked seems to disappear.

Developers can still make improvements between the Modern Warfare 4 beta tests and the retail release date. Regardless, BoTalksGames praises the shooter’s transition to the Nintendo console. Infinity Ward achieved feature parity, offering the identical single-player and multiplayer modes as on other platforms. At the same time, it supports Switch 2 mouse mode and even its internal mic.

For PS5, Xbox, and PC players who pre-ordered the title, the early access beta weekend starts on August 21st. However, Nintendo fans must wait until the open beta begins on August 28th.

 

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