Apple has refreshed its popular MacBook Air lineup, bringing a welcome performance boost, a fresh new colour option, and an improved camera to its ultra-portable laptops. While the overall design remains unchanged, these key updates enhance the MacBook Air's capabilities and appeal.

The most significant upgrade lies under the hood. The new MacBook Air models are now powered by Apple's latest M4 processor, which debuted last year in the iMac and Mac mini. This powerful chip boasts ten CPU cores and eight or ten GPU cores. Apple claims the M4 delivers significant performance gains over the previous M1 models, with up to 1.6 times faster performance in Excel, 2 times faster in iMovie, and 2 times faster in Adobe Photoshop.

Beyond raw performance, the M4 chip also enables enhanced external display support. The new MacBook Air can now drive up to two 6K external monitors at 60Hz, a significant upgrade from its predecessor's single external display support. Adding a touch of style, Apple has introduced a blue colour option for the MacBook Air.

The front-facing camera also gets an upgrade. The new MacBook Air models now feature an improved 12MP camera, also found in the latest MacBook Pro models. Its ultra-wide focal length enables features like Center Stage, which keeps you centered in the frame as you move around, and Desk View, which captures both you and a perspective-corrected view of your desk.

Besides these updates, the 2025 MacBook Air retains its predecessor's sleek design and features, including the display, keyboard and trackpad, RAM and storage options, speakers, and microphone array. The battery has seen a slight increase in capacity, from 52.6Wh to 53.8Wh, but battery life estimates remain unchanged. The updated MacBook Air with the M4 chip is available in 13-inch and 15-inch configurations, starting at £999/$999/€1249 and £1199/$1199/€1549, respectively.

KitGuru says: Given their specs and price, the new Air laptops sure look worth considering if you're on the market for a new MacBook.

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Nacon has unveiled its latest wireless gaming headset: the RIG 900 Max HS, officially licensed for PlayStation 5. This headset boasts dual-mode wireless connectivity and promises exceptional audio quality and a comfortable, lightweight design, making it an ideal choice for gamers seeking a premium gaming audio experience when playing on PlayStation 5 consoles.

The 900 Max HS offers the best of both worlds regarding wireless connectivity. Its low-latency 2.4GHz wireless connection, via a dedicated base station or USB adapter, ensures low latency, while Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity offers seamless compatibility with mobile devices and other Bluetooth-enabled platforms.

This headset has high-sensitivity 40mm drivers, providing enhanced bass and exceptional clarity. A tuned acoustic chamber refines the audio experience, reducing listening fatigue during extended gaming sessions. The headset also features a chat-optimised omnidirectional microphone with noise-canceling technology, ensuring clear communication with teammates and friends. A convenient flip-to-mute function allows for quick and easy muting without interrupting gameplay.

Comfort was also considered when designing the 900 Max HS, which is crafted with reinforced steel for durability and features a lightweight and flexible design, weighing just 290 grams. Snap-Fit earcups with breathable fabric and a sling headband provide exceptional comfort for all-day gaming sessions. Battery life is equally impressive, offering up to 50 hours of playtime on a 2.4GHz connection and up to 60 hours via Bluetooth. To recharge the headset, simply dock it on the included base station.

While officially licensed for PlayStation 5, the 900 Max HS offers broad compatibility. The included USB-A 2.4GHz wireless adapter extends its reach to a PC, while Bluetooth connectivity enables pairing with mobile phones and portable gaming devices. To further personalise your audio experience, the 900 Max HS offers advanced customisation options via the 900 Max Navigator app for iOS and Android devices, including equaliser profiles (preset and custom). The RIG 900 Max HS is available now for €249.90/$249.90

KitGuru says: If you were in the market for a wireless headset that worked with PlayStation 5 consoles, would you consider Nacon's new RIG 900 Max HS?

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AMD seems to be mirroring Nvidia's strategies in the mid-range segment. Following recent leaks suggesting that Nvidia's GeForce RTX 5060 Ti will launch with both 16GB and 8GB memory options, a new EEC (Eurasian Economic Commission) filing hints that AMD might be taking a similar approach with its Radeon RX 9060 series.

Acer's filing (via @harukaze5719) lists a range of AMD and Intel GPUs, including the upcoming RX 9070 XT and RX 9070. However, the most intriguing entry is the unexpected appearance of the RX 9060 XT, which, unlike its higher-tier siblings, has yet to be officially confirmed. The filing reveals that the RX 9060 XT will also be available in two memory configurations: 16GB and 8GB, both using GDDR6 memory.

This mirrors Nvidia's rumoured approach with the RTX 5060 Ti, which is expected to offer 16 GB GDDR7 and 8 GB GDDR6 variants. Considering the rumoured memory capacities of both RTX 5060 Ti and RX 9060 XT cards, there's a good chance both series will also use the same bus width (128-bit) for their respective mid-range offerings.

The EEC filing also reveals a broader range of upcoming AMD GPUs, including models from the Bifrost Predator, Nitro, and unnamed series. These additional models are likely intended for OEM pre-built systems.

While the specific GPU powering the RX 9060 XT remains unconfirmed, it's likely to be either a cut-down Navi 48 (the same GPU used in the RX 9070) with a 128-bit memory bus or, more likely, the smaller Navi 44 GPU, also featuring a 128-bit memory bus. AMD has previously stated that the Radeon RX 9060 series will launch sometime in Q2 2025, with rumors suggesting an April release, coinciding with the expected launch of Nvidia's RTX 5060 series.

KitGuru says: How do you think the Radeon RX 9060 XT cards will compare against the RTX 5060 Ti models?

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In a surprising turn of events, Nvidia has announced a last-minute delay for the Founders Edition of its GeForce RTX 5070 graphics card. While the RTX 5070 is still scheduled to launch today, the Founders Edition model will not be available until later this month.

This news, initially reported by Andreas Schilling, comes as a disappointment to those hoping to snag Nvidia's version of the card. The company has confirmed that the delay affects the Founders Edition worldwide.

While this delay doesn't mean the RTX 5070 launch is entirely canceled, it does raise concerns about overall availability. Custom models from board partners will still be released today, but recent reports suggest that stock levels might be lower than anticipated.

This delay creates an interesting opportunity for AMD, whose Radeon RX 9070 series is right around the corner. Early indications suggest that AMD has secured healthy stock levels for its latest GPUs, potentially giving it an advantage in this segment while Nvidia grapples with supply constraints.

KitGuru says: Were you planning on getting an RTX 5070 Founders Edition graphics card at launch? Without that possibility, will you wait for the Founders Edition cards to come in stock, go for an AIB partner card, or move on to another alternative?

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EK has announced a change in its webshop management. As of yesterday, March 3rd, 2025, LM Tek has taken over the operation of the EK webshop. This transition aims to enhance customer service, streamline operations, and ensure the continued delivery of the high-quality liquid cooling solutions that EK is known for.

This shift in webshop management comes after last year's controversy over EK management issues, including not paying suppliers, employees working overtime, and a lack of communication with third parties and employees. Soon after EK admitted to these issues, the company claimed it had taken steps to fix them. However, it seems that wasn't enough, so LM Tek is now taking over brand operations.

According to the press release issued by EK, this change promises benefits for customers. Product availability will remain a priority, with the webshop continuing to offer uninterrupted access to EK's extensive range of liquid cooling components. Customer accounts and order history will be transferred to LM Tek, and customer support and warranty services will be handled through a unified channel for greater efficiency and convenience.

Existing EK customers will continue receiving email communications the same way. Newsletter subscribers will be asked to reconfirm their subscription to ensure they continue to receive it. EK emphasises that customer privacy and data protection remain top priorities, and users can modify their subscription settings anytime.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Have you ever had any issues buying directly from EK? Will you continue to purchase products from their webshop?

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Intel's 18A manufacturing process is gaining traction, with industry giants Nvidia and Broadcom reportedly testing chips using this process node. This news comes as a welcome boost for Intel, which is striving to regain its footing in the competitive semiconductor landscape.

Sources close to the matter have revealed to Reuters that Nvidia and Broadcom are evaluating the capabilities of Intel's 18A process. Intel's 18A is the company's first process node to utilize gate-all-around RibbonFET transistors and a backside power delivery network called PowerVia. While comparable to TSMC's N2 node in transistor density, 18A is projected to offer superior performance due to these two technologies.

It's important to note that Nvidia and Broadcom are not testing full chip designs at this stage but instead evaluating the performance and characteristics of the 18A process itself. This is standard practice in the industry, allowing potential customers to assess the suitability of a fabrication process before committing to full-scale production.

Broadcom's involvement with 18A dates back to September 2024, though initial reports suggested that the tests might not have met expectations. However, these reports remain unconfirmed, and Broadcom has stated that its evaluation is ongoing. Nvidia's interest in Intel's foundry services is also well-documented. CEO Jensen Huang expressed his openness to using Intel-fabricated chips as early as 2022, and test chips were reportedly being evaluated in 2023.

While these developments are encouraging for Intel, challenges remain. Reuters reports that supplier documents have revealed issues with certain unnamed third-party IP providers, potentially causing further delays for some contract manufacturing customers. These delays could push back launch dates for smaller and mid-sized clients to mid-2026. However, Intel maintains that it is on track to begin production of 18A chips in the second half of this year.

Intel has been actively promoting its 18A technology, even launching a dedicated website to showcase its capabilities. The company's Panther Lake CPUs, built on the 18A process, are expected to enter full production in mid-2025.

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KitGuru says: This news comes at a critical time for Intel, which is navigating a challenging period marked by financial losses and increased competition in the data center and foundry markets. The success of the 18A process is crucial for Intel's long-term strategy, and securing major clients like Nvidia and Broadcom would be a significant win.

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Rockstar Games has expanded its global development network by acquiring Video Games Deluxe, a Sydney-based studio known for contributing to the L.A. Noire franchise and, more recently, its work on Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition. The studio, founded in 2013 by Brendan McNamara, the original creator of L.A. Noire, will now be known as Rockstar Australia.

This acquisition brings a wealth of talent and experience to Rockstar. Video Games Deluxe, comprised of many former Team Bondi developers, played a crucial role in the 2017 re-release of L.A. Noire, the development of the VR spin-off L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files, and, most notably, the post-launch updates for the controversial Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition. The studio was instrumental in addressing the numerous technical issues that plagued the trilogy's initial release.

While Team Bondi, the original developers of L.A. Noire, faced criticism for its harsh working conditions and high staff turnover, there haven't been any public reports regarding the work environment at Video Games Deluxe. The studio has consistently delivered high-quality work, earning a reputation for its technical expertise and dedication to refining gameplay experiences.

The newly rebranded Rockstar Australia is expected to contribute to developing the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6. Rockstar's latest installment in the iconic franchise is slated for release on consoles later this year, with a PC version expected to follow.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Do you like Video Games Deluxe's work on the L.A. Noire franchise and Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition? 

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Nvidia's handling of the recent RTX 50 series ROP issue hasn't been the best. After issuing a relatively low-key disclosure about a production error affecting a small number of GPUs, the company has seemingly left it up to consumers to identify and resolve the problem. While Nvidia claims the performance impact is limited to around 4%, independent testing has revealed a more significant performance deficit in specific scenarios.

Gamers Nexus recently acquired an affected RTX 5080 and conducted extensive testing. Their findings revealed that a defective RTX 5080 with the wrong ROP count could be up to 10% slower than a fully functional card. While the performance difference is negligible in some titles, it can be substantial in others, such as Dragon's Dogma 2, Total War: Warhammer 3, and Dying Light 2.

This discrepancy between Nvidia's claims and independent testing raises concerns about the company's transparency and commitment to addressing the issue. Furthermore, the company's lack of clear guidance on how to identify affected cards is frustrating for consumers. The company has not provided easily accessible methods for verifying ROP counts, such as serial number checks or batch codes.

Gamers Nexus advises recent purchasers of RTX 50 series GPUs to check their cards using TechPowerUp's GPU-Z utility to determine if they are affected. Those who discover they have a defective card are encouraged to initiate a return within the retailer's return window, as this is likely to be easier than seeking a replacement from Nvidia or their board partner.

KitGuru says: Have you got an RTX 50 series graphics card? Is it fully functional or did you got a sample with lower ROP count than it should?

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Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles 2 is set to arrive in North America and Europe on August 5th, 2025, and Sega has unveiled a brand-new story trailer to whet fans' appetites. Pre-orders are now open, with those opting for the Digital Deluxe Edition gaining access to the game five days early.

Sega has also detailed the various editions of the game and their respective bonuses. The Digital Deluxe Edition includes the base game, two Kimetsu Academy character unlock keys (Kyojuro Rengoku and Tengen Uzui), four additional character unlock keys (Tengen Uzui, Obanai Iguro, Sanemi Shinazugawa, and Gyomei Himejima), a VS mode system voice set featuring Upper-Rank Demons (Akaza, Daki, Gyutaro, Gyokko, and Zohakuten), and three battle attire costumes for Tanjiro Kamado, Inosuke Hashibira, and Tengen Uzui. Pre-ordering the Digital Deluxe Edition also grants two additional character unlock keys for Muichiro Tokito and Mitsuri Kanroji.

The Digital Standard Edition includes the base game, two Kimetsu Academy character unlock keys, and the pre-order bonus of two character unlock keys (Muichiro Tokito and Mitsuri Kanroji). The physical edition includes the base game and character unlock keys for Muichiro Tokito and Mitsuri Kanroji, even if you don't pre-order it.

Digital pre-orders for PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam platforms will go live on March 3rd, with the Nintendo Switch version to follow later. Players who have saved data from Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles or the mobile game Demon Slayer: Sweep the Board! will receive additional bonuses when starting The Hinokami Chronicles 2. These bonuses include character unlock keys and costumes, allowing players to carry over their progress and unlock additional content.

Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles 2 will be available on Nintendo Switch, PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and last-generation consoles. Like its predecessor, the game will feature arena-based combat and a story mode that picks up where the first game left off, covering the “Entertainment District”, “Swordsmith Village”, and “Hashira Training” story arcs.

KitGuru says: Are you a fan of Demon Slayer? Have you played the first Hinokami Chronicles game? Will you pre-order the sequel?

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Qualcomm is making a bold move in the PC processor market with its upcoming high-end CPU for Windows PCs. Rumoured to boast a significant increase in core count compared to its flagship predecessor, the next generation flagship processor is expected to feature 18 CPU cores.

Import-export documents to which Winfuture had access indicate that reference designs for PCs based on the “Snapdragon X Elite Gen 2” are currently being evaluated, including a platform known internally as “Project Glymur”. These documents also state that the new chip, internally identified as SC8480XP, has 18 CPU cores. The test systems pair this CPU with 48 GB of LPDDR5 RAM from SK Hynix and a 1 TB NVMe SSD.

While details about the specific core types and clock speeds remain unknown, the documents mention a “high-TDP” variant. With the increased core count, the TDP may even go above the 80W limit of the first-generation Snapdragon X Elite. Another detail worth mentioning is Qualcomm's packaging approach. The import-export entries use the abbreviation “SIP”, which stands for “system-in-package”. This suggests that the CPU and crucial components like the LPDDR5 RAM and SSD memory chips might be integrated into a single package.

While a specific launch date remains unconfirmed, current information suggests that Qualcomm's new flagship processor won't be widely available until next year. Previous reports indicated that Qualcomm tested the upcoming CPU with a cooling solution similar to an all-in-one liquid cooler with a fan. More recently, the name “Snapdragon X2 Ultra Premium” has surfaced, though it's unclear if it relates to the final marketing name.

KitGuru says: Although the specs for the new generation of Qualcomm processors look promising, independent testing suggests that the biggest problem with the first Snapdragon X chips was more related to software and drivers. Hopefully, Qualcomm will also improve on that side, introducing a new player to a market in dire need of more competition.

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AMD just launched its RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT graphics cards this week, but it turns out AMD has more up its sleeve. During a press conference in China, AMD reportedly hinted at the upcoming RX 9060 series GPUs, which have not yet been publicly announced. It is now believed that AMD's RX 9060 series graphics cards will release within the next few months.  

Interestingly, during the Chinese event, an AMD representative hinted at the upcoming release of the Radeon RX 9060 series, assuring gamers that the wait for these next-generation GPUs won't be as long this time around. Unfortunately, the only available footage (shared on Bilibili) comes from an attendee's recording with less-than-ideal audio quality due to the lack of an official livestream and the event occurring before the official embargo. However, using AI translation to understand what was being said, it seems the RX 9060 series will arrive sometime in Q2 2025.

Video Credit: Bilibili (via VideoCardz)

The RX 9060 series, presumably based on the Navi 44 GPU, is poised to compete with Nvidia's GeForce RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5060, which are slated for an April release. We expect these upcoming graphics cards to have a TDP of less than 200W and use GDDR6 memory (likely running at 18 or 20 Gbps). Pricing is still unknown, but AMD might again undercut Nvidia on pricing, especially if the green team launches its competing cards earlier. If so, expect both models to have an MSRP below the £400 mark.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you planning on building a new mid-range system or upgrading your GPU with a mid-range solution? Based on the rumours and the latest generation cards already available, are you more inclined to buy a Radeon RX 9060 series GPU or an RTX 5060 series GPU?

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