Gear News of the Week: Apple’s AI Wearable and Phone Can Unlock Android, Linux, and Windows
The NexPhone is a rugged device powered by a Qualcomm QCM64490 chip with a reportedly long roadmap (by the year 2036), along with 12 GB of RAM, 256 GB of storage, and a 6.58-inch 120-Hz screen refresh rate. There is a 64-MP camera, wireless charging, and 5G support. Naturally, this won’t compete with the latest Samsungs and iPhones on the hardware front, but those phones don’t let you run three different apps. Nex Computers thinks that people who don’t want to give up their best handset would enjoy having it as a second or backup phone for work.
It costs $549, and you can reserve it now with a $199 refundable deposit. It includes a free USB-C hub, and the company expects to begin shipping in the third quarter of 2026.
Sony Partners With TCL In Its TV Business
Courtesy of Best Buy
Sony TVs may soon be like TCL. This week, Sony and the Chinese electronics giant announced a memorandum of understanding to establish a new partnership that will give TCL a majority stake of 51 percent in Sony’s home entertainment business. The deal, if approved by regulators, will include Sony’s Bravia TV premium brand and other home entertainment products, giving TCL control over everything from product development and design to manufacturing, sales, and management.
It is a surprising, if understandable, move by Sony, one of the most accomplished and trusted TV makers in the world, as the TV business has evolved over the past decade. TCL (along with its Chinese rival Hisense) quickly transformed from a disruptor to a market leader in the mid-range TV segment and beyond, becoming a major global player in TV panel production and technology development, and a leading seller in the US market.
“The new company plans to advance its business by leveraging Sony’s advanced imaging and audio technologies that have been developed over the years,” Sony said in a statement to WIRED. “We view these two companies as almost equal partners,” Sony continued, aiming to “create new products that meet the expectations of customers around the world and pursue further business growth through excellence.” Barring any execution or regulatory hurdles, the new joint venture is expected to begin operations in April 2027. — Ryan Waniata
Asus Exits the Phone Market
Asus has been releasing smartphones for two decades, but it looks like the company’s storied mobile history may be coming to an end. In an interview, Asus chairman Jonney Shih said the company will stop its smartphone business, instead shifting resources to PCs and AI-focused products, such as smart glasses and robots.
Shih says existing devices will continue to be supported, but no mobile launch is planned for 2026. Calling it a “temporary break” allows Asus to return to business in the future, but considering how its ZenFone and ROG gaming smartphones never saw successful sales numbers, this could be a permanent move, like LG’s exit in 2021.
