Healthcare systems around the world are under pressure, and South Korea is no exception. With a single healthcare professional often responsible for 16 to 43 patients, providing personalized, one-on-one rehabilitation becomes a nearly impossible task. Legit, an AI-powered walking aid, steps in to meet this challenge, offering a smarter, more efficient way to deliver high-quality rehab training without overburdening medical staff.

Legit is designed to support patients as they approach the walking stage of recovery. It enables them to train independently while still benefiting from expert-level oversight. At the heart of its functionality is the seamless integration of artificial intelligence and wearable technology, allowing for real-time feedback, remote monitoring, and adaptive support tailored to each patient’s condition.

Designers: eunhye jang, i jeongsu, Yun A Jang, and Yunjae Shin

Before training begins, patients attach a wearable EMG (electromyography) sensor patch to their thigh or calf. This patch detects muscle activity and communicates directly with the walking aid. The AI system analyzes this data in real time, adjusting training programs to suit the patient’s progress and condition. This not only personalizes the rehabilitation experience but also ensures that the patient remains safe and supported throughout their session.

Training with Legit isn’t passive, it’s purposeful. Patients follow an LED light beam projected onto the floor, which guides their stride and pace during walking exercises. The walker’s built-in display delivers intuitive feedback, showing real-time updates on speed, distance, and muscle engagement. It’s like having a digital coach on wheels, one that’s always responsive, never tired, and perfectly calibrated to the user’s needs.

For healthcare professionals, Legit is just as transformative. Through a centralized application, staff can manage multiple devices with ease. They start by selecting an available walker, checking its battery level, and turning it on. The system then displays the latest patient feedback, allowing medical staff to assess progress and identify any concerns. Based on this information, the AI suggests optimized training modes tailored to the patient’s rehabilitation stage. Once selected, these modes are linked to the device, and the session begins, all from a remote interface. This streamlined process enables minimal staffing without compromising the quality of care.

Legit allows patients to train within hospital track systems, where support is nearby if needed, but not constantly required. The walker adjusts in real time, helping patients fine-tune their gait, build strength, and regain mobility in a controlled, monitored environment. The combination of autonomy for the patient and oversight for the staff strikes a perfect balance, making rehab both accessible and effective.

More than just a walking aid, Legit represents a new mindset in rehabilitation—one where intelligent systems and human care work hand in hand. By reducing the dependency on constant physical supervision, it frees up valuable time for healthcare workers while empowering patients to take an active role in their recovery.

The post This AI-Powered Walking Aid Redefines Rehabilitation with Smart, Hands-Free Patient Recovery first appeared on Yanko Design.

The original Vision Pro felt like strapping a Mac Studio to your face—with all the weight and price tag that implies. Nearly 1kg once you factored in the external battery, $3,500 out of pocket, and a risk of strained necks by hour two. Apple’s most ambitious product in years turned out to be a niche flex, applauded by developers and early adopters, but ultimately undercut by its own bravado. Now, Apple’s winding back the bombast. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the next Vision headset isn’t just lighter and cheaper. It’s being reimagined for the world beyond Silicon Valley conference rooms.

Apple seems to be having its reality-check moment. The next Vision Pro (or as I like to say, the Vision ‘Air’) is reportedly shedding weight like it’s on a juice cleanse, targeting around 650g or 1.4 lbs (not including the cable-linked battery pack). Lowering the weight likely means compromises: fewer sensors, streamlined build materials, and possibly a reduced field of view. But at this point, it’s a necessary trade-off. When users are hunting for third-party support straps on forums just to get through a movie, something’s broken in the design DNA.

AI Visualization

The price cut is rumored to be significant. Halving the entry point to $1,500-2,000 isn’t exactly making it accessible to everyone (this is still Apple we’re talking about), but it at least acknowledges that $3,500 was firmly in “second mortgage” territory for most consumers. Meta’s Quest lineup has proven there’s an appetite for spatial computing at a more digestible price point, and Apple can’t afford to remain in its ivory tower if it wants visionOS and spatial computing to gain meaningful adoption.

There’s also talk of a tethered variant—an AR headset that plugs directly into a Mac. Imagine the Vision Pro as a high-end monitor for creative professionals, with ultra-low latency for tasks like CAD, video editing, or even surgical planning. Apple’s aim here seems surgical too: laser-focus on pro users who’ll pay a premium if the tech enables something truly transformative. That wired connection might sound regressive, but it offers a crucial win—zero lag, which wireless just can’t promise, especially in mission-critical environments.

This two-pronged strategy feels distinctly Apple, given its usual tendency to release Pro and regular or Air versions of the same product category, be it MacBooks, iPads, or now, potentially, even iPhones. One product is an absolute work-horse, while the other serves more of a mass-market need. Since Apple bet big on Spatial Computing in 2023, it only makes sense for them to flesh out their ‘vision’ with both product lines – one for power users, and another for, well, users.

Meanwhile, whispers of the Vision Pro 2 persist. That model, reportedly in development with an M5 chip and a refined optical stack, could retain the all-out luxury appeal of its predecessor—faster, sleeker, and still wildly expensive. But it won’t be the one most people buy. The lighter, cheaper Vision ‘Air’ isn’t playing backup. It’s gunning for primetime.

And that’s a vision I can actually see clearly.

Image Credits: Andrea Copellino

The post Apple Is Working On A Cheaper, Lighter Vision ‘Air’ Headset With Rumored $1,500 Price Tag first appeared on Yanko Design.

Remember that cute little robotic ball Samsung teased back at CES 2020? After five years of development (or perhaps rolling around in Samsung’s R&D labs), Ballie is finally making its consumer debut this summer in the US and South Korea. What started as a tennis ball-sized concept has grown to volleyball proportions—kind of like how the promises about its capabilities have expanded with each passing year.

Designer: Samsung

The journey from concept to consumer product hasn’t been a straight line for this spherical sidekick, but Samsung seems confident they’ve finally perfected their rolling companion. In its latest evolution, Samsung just announced a partnership with Google Cloud to integrate Google’s Gemini AI into Ballie.

This means your expensive rolling robot will now have the same AI that’s already in your phone and available on your computer for free. Progress! Though to be fair, combining Google’s AI prowess with Samsung’s hardware expertise could potentially create something greater than the sum of its parts.

A Smart Speaker That Chases You Around

What truly separates Ballie from the seventeen smart speakers you’ve already scattered around your home? It moves. While your Echo Dot sits sadly collecting dust on your kitchen counter, Ballie actively pursues you throughout your living space like an eager puppy—or a particularly friendly surveillance device, depending on your perspective.

“But Vincent,” you might ask, “couldn’t I just carry my phone with me instead?” Sure, but where’s the fun in that? Why use the perfectly functional device already in your pocket when you could have a volleyball-sized robot following you to the bathroom?

The robot’s multimodal AI capabilities allow it to process various forms of input simultaneously—voice, visual data from its cameras, and other audio cues. In theory, this creates a more comprehensive understanding of your needs and environment. In practice, it means Ballie will know exactly what you look like in your pajamas and precisely how many times you’ve asked it to play “Despacito” (judgment included at no extra charge).

Ballie’s most distinctive feature is its projection capability, which genuinely separates it from other smart home devices. This clever sphere can project interfaces onto floors, walls, and other surfaces, turning any flat area in your home into a potential display. Need to check your calendar while getting dressed? Ballie can project it onto your bedroom wall. Want everyone to see your private messages? Ballie’s got you covered there too!

Nothing says “cutting-edge technology” like turning your entire home into one giant, hard-to-read screen. Yet the ability to create interfaces anywhere without installing permanent displays could be genuinely useful in many scenarios. Imagine having your recipe projected onto the kitchen counter while cooking, or your workout routine displayed on the floor during exercise. The possibilities are intriguing, even if the practicality remains questionable.

Your Home’s Rolling Command Center (That You Definitely Need)

Beyond mobility and projection tricks, Ballie serves as yet another smart home controller in an already crowded market. The robot can manage connected devices throughout your living space—adjusting thermostats, controlling lighting, and managing entertainment systems. You know, all those things your phone, smart speakers, smartwatch, smart TV remote, and smart light switches already do, but with the added excitement of having to locate a rolling ball first.

According to Samsung, Ballie can offer personalized health and lifestyle recommendations based on your patterns and preferences. Just what everyone wants—another device telling you to get off the couch or suggesting that maybe, just maybe, wearing sweatpants for the seventh day in a row isn’t your best fashion choice.

The robot can even provide styling recommendations, potentially using its visual recognition capabilities to judge your outfit choices with the cold, unfeeling precision only an AI can deliver. Though to be fair, if it can actually help coordinate outfits or remind you about important medications, that could be genuinely valuable for some users. But do we really need a rolling robot to tell us that navy blue and black don’t match? Your mirror has been doing that job for free for years.

Pet owners might find particular value in Ballie’s monitoring capabilities, which go beyond what stationary cameras can offer. When you’re away from home, this robotic companion can keep an eye on your furry friends, alerting you to unusual behavior like your cat knocking things off shelves—something you definitely couldn’t see with the seventeen security cameras you already have installed.

Your pets will surely appreciate having a strange rolling object chasing them around the house while you’re gone. Or maybe they’ll destroy it within the first week. Either way, entertainment value! I’m personally looking forward to the inevitable YouTube compilation videos of cats riding Ballies across hardwood floors.

The integration with Google’s Gemini AI should theoretically make Ballie’s interactions more natural and intuitive. Rather than the stilted command-response pattern of most smart assistants, Ballie aims to provide flowing conversations that feel more like talking to a helpful companion. Whether this will work as advertised remains to be seen, but the potential is certainly there for a more satisfying user experience than we’ve had with previous generations of AI assistants. Just don’t expect it to pass the Turing test anytime soon.

From Tennis Ball to Volleyball: A Growth Story

Samsung’s journey with Ballie illustrates the challenges of bringing truly innovative consumer robotics to market—or perhaps just how long it takes to convince consumers they need another smart device. First unveiled in 2020, the robot captured imaginations but required extensive refinement before Samsung felt confident bringing it to consumers.

The version shown at CES 2024 represented a significant evolution from the original concept, with enhanced capabilities and a more refined design. This extended development period suggests Samsung is taking the product seriously rather than rushing it to market half-baked. Five years is a long time in tech development cycles—either they’re perfectionists or they kept running into walls. Literally.

The physical growth from tennis ball to volleyball size wasn’t just about aesthetics—it reflects the practical realities of packing more technology into a mobile device. A larger form factor allows for better batteries, more sophisticated sensors, and improved projection capabilities. It also means more surface area for your cat to attack and more weight to run over your toes at 3 AM when you’re stumbling to the bathroom.

Engineering a device that can move reliably around a home environment while carrying all the necessary tech is no small feat. Just ask anyone who’s watched a robot vacuum repeatedly ram itself into the same table leg for twenty minutes.

The partnership with Google Cloud for Gemini AI integration shows Samsung recognizes the need for powerful AI capabilities to make Ballie truly useful—or at least to justify whatever eye-watering price tag they’ll announce closer to launch. By combining their proprietary language models with Google’s Gemini, Samsung can offer more sophisticated natural language processing than would be possible alone.

This collaboration may also help Ballie integrate more seamlessly with other Google services, creating an ecosystem so comprehensive you’ll never escape tech company surveillance again! The privacy implications alone should make for interesting conversations. “Hey Ballie, are you recording this?” “No, Vincent, I would never do that… by the way, have you considered those hemorrhoid creams you were googling yesterday?”

Do You Actually Need This Rolling Robot?

Let’s be honest for a moment. Ballie represents an interesting experiment in home robotics, bringing mobility to a category that has been largely stationary. Its friendly, non-threatening design delivers functionality without venturing into uncanny valley territory.

But do you need it? Probably not. Most of us have survived just fine without a rolling AI ball following us around our homes.

Will you want it? Almost certainly, if you’re the type of person who reads Gear Culture articles and has a weakness for gadgets with personality. There’s an undeniable appeal to having your own little robot companion, even if its practical benefits are questionable at best. It’s basically a pet that doesn’t poop and might actually do something useful occasionally.

Ballie exists in the perfect sweet spot of consumer technology—not quite essential enough to be a necessity but novel enough to be irresistible to tech enthusiasts. It solves problems you didn’t know you had with solutions you didn’t know you wanted.

The ability to have your AI assistant physically follow you around might be genuinely useful in specific scenarios, or it might just be another expensive gadget that ends up collecting dust after the novelty wears off. Your mileage will vary depending on how you actually live in your home and how tolerant you are of a volleyball with cameras watching you fold laundry in your underwear.

What remains to be seen is how well Ballie will handle the unpredictable chaos of real-world homes. Can it navigate around furniture obstacles without getting stuck? Will it survive encounters with curious pets and small children? Can it handle varied lighting conditions that might affect its projection capabilities?

The true test will come when this volleyball-sized companion faces the messy reality of actual family life rather than the perfectly staged environments of product demonstrations. I’m particularly interested in how it handles stairs. Does it just sadly gaze up at them like my robot vacuum, or will it develop a concerning tendency to throw itself down them dramatically?

Samsung’s five years of development suggest they’ve been working diligently to ensure Ballie can handle these real-world challenges. The extended gestation period indicates they’re taking the product seriously and addressing potential issues before release. Whether that translates to a reliable, useful device remains to be seen, but the commitment is encouraging.

The Rolling Future

Whether Ballie becomes a household staple or remains a fascinating experiment, it’s rolling us toward a future where our homes feel more responsive, more integrated, and perhaps even a little more alive. There’s something appealing about technology that can physically respond to our needs rather than just sitting passively waiting for commands.

Of course, there’s also something mildly dystopian about having an AI-powered camera on wheels following you around your home, constantly watching and listening. The privacy implications alone deserve serious consideration before inviting this rolling companion into your life. Samsung and Google will need to be transparent about how data is collected, processed, and protected if they want consumers to trust Ballie with intimate access to their homes and daily routines.

This summer, we’ll finally discover if this adorable rolling robot can live up to its considerable promise or if it’s just another expensive tech toy destined for the drawer of forgotten gadgets. Either way, Ballie represents an interesting step in the evolution of home robotics—bringing movement to a category that has been largely stationary and personality to systems that have often felt mechanical.

And if nothing else, it’ll give your cat something new to be terrified of. That alone might be worth the price of admission.

Just don’t be surprised when you find yourself apologizing to a ball after accidentally kicking it. We humans have a funny way of anthropomorphizing anything with even a hint of personality. Before you know it, you’ll be naming it, talking to it when no one else is around, and feeling guilty when you leave it alone for too long. Ballie might not be the companion we need, but it might just be the weird little robot friend we secretly wanted all along.

The post Samsung Ballie Is Finally Real—And Yes, It’s Following You This Summer first appeared on Yanko Design.

Spotify’s Car Thing might be dead but our imagination isn’t. Using the power of ChatGPT’s new image generation tool, IG user Aurelien created a series of retro-inspired handheld devices built on old-timey companies. And I loved the series so much I built some of my own.

Here’s a look at what an alternate universe could have looked like if popular services like Winamp, Limewire, MSN Messenger, Windows Media Player, Nokia Snake, eMule, and Omegle could have looked like if they built their own standalone devices. Be warned, this journey is filled with enough nostalgia to probably distract you from actual work, so scroll with caution!

Designers: Aurelien & Sarang Sheth

The 90s and 2000s were some phenomenal years. Interfaces were gorgeously skeuomorphic (looking like physical elements), software and media were by and large free, and everything was either open-source or pirate-able. Was it a great time for companies? Probably not – but it was an amazing time for consumers! We’d download MP3 files and skins for our Winamp, watch bootlegged Friends episodes on Limewire, and cap off with some time playing Snake on our Nokia phone – but what if, instead of all digital services/software, these were actual products?

A Winamp or Windows Media Player-inspired playback device. With exposed screws, gorgeous flat surfaces, and controls that were more primary forms of input than touchscreens. Ah! The glory days! We’ve got two media players in this collection – one inspired by Winamp and the other inspired by Microsoft’s default Windows Media Player. To be honest, I was a diehard WMP guy who really never saw the appeal of Winamp. That’s until I ditched it for VLC Media Player. It breaks my heart that this new generation of kids will look at traffic cones and feel absolutely nothing.

Other gadgets include a Tamagotchi-style device that plays Snake – arguably the most popular game on Nokia’s older phones before Bounce became the new favorite. There’s an eMule downloader gadget, although I was more of a Limewire, Ares, and Bittorrent guy myself. Finally, a personal favorite – an Omegle-inspired View-Master. Would it really work? No, but you’d probably be able to cycle through profiles using the same trigger/button interaction.

We lived in a simple time where consumers were really happy. Sure, there was friction with media consumption – you’d have to wait long hours to download movies. Sometimes they’d be shitty CAM prints, sometimes they’d be viruses, other times they’d be misleading videos with the wrong file names. But when the system worked, it worked well. We could watch stuff for free on VLC media player, without shelling money for subscriptions. Heck, we could adjust the EQ of our play media. Do I think we live in a time where content is more democratized? Heck yes, but do I also yearn for the glory-days of dial-up internet and trippy media player visualizations or burning MP3 compilation CDs? Undeniably!!!

The post Winamp, Limewire, MSN Messenger Get Imagined As Gorgeous Retro-Style Handheld Gadgets first appeared on Yanko Design.

You might not know David Delahunty, but if you’re a designer, you’ll know him by his IG account ‘designershumour’. The biggest design meme account on social media, Delahunty has a way of finding humor in every aspect of a designer’s creative line of work, from client woes to just how uniquely designers tend to look at the world around them. When Delahunty isn’t creating humorous content, he’s concocting creative ideas on his personal account – like this tennis ball inspired by Apple’s ‘frozen computer’ rainbow ball.

Just like Windows has the Blue Screen Of Death, Apple has the Spinning Wheel Of Death – a rotating rainbow-colored beach ball that replaces your cursor every time your MacBook or Mac slows down or crashes. Despite its colorful appearance, it’s universally disliked because of what it represents – a laggy or crashed computer – but Delahunty decided to give the icon an upgrade. Meet the Wilson x Apple Tennis Ball – an unofficial, AI-generated ball that’s as gorgeous as it’s different.

Designer: David Delahunty

Made for a game of tennis, this ball aims at grabbing the eye while playing on a court. While most tennis balls are either neon green or deep red, this one has 8 swatches with 6 colors, creating a blurry rainbow as the ball moves across the court. With tennis balls, the point of the ball’s bright color has always been to enhance visibility – not just for players but also for the referee, the audience, and the camera. A rainbow-colored ball would arguably be a lot more eye-catching in theory, although that’s yet to be tested as a practical application.

The fuzzy ball is purely an AI rendition of what would otherwise be a gorgeous collab between Apple and Wilson. Although there’s really no overlap between their audiences, Apple’s been slowly (but surely) infiltrating the entertainment space with its billion-dollar deal with the NFL, a working relationship with Messi and his Inter-Miami football club, as well as a successful sports-comedy TV show in Ted Lasso. There might not be a direct link between Apple and Wilson, but there are areas where they would thrive as co-collaborators.

It’s a creative branding exercise, although I’m not entirely sure how this would affect the ball’s performance on the court. Even then, imagine if other brands with spherical logos had collaborated with Wilson to create unique tennis balls? I’d totally love a Google Chrome ball, an Xbox ball, a Target ball, a Volkswagen ball, and perhaps… just perhaps, a Starbucks ball!

The post Apple’s Spinning Wheel Of Death Transforms Into A Wilson Tennis Ball With This Unexpected Collab first appeared on Yanko Design.

Taking notes during online meetings can be frustrating and distracting. You’re trying to listen attentively while frantically typing, often missing crucial information in the process. Traditional voice recorders offer a solution, but they become virtually useless when you’re wearing Bluetooth earphones, creating a technological disconnect that leaves professionals scrambling for alternatives. This common workplace challenge has finally met its match with an innovative solution designed specifically for the modern professional.

Enter the HiDock P1, a groundbreaking AI voice recorder that seamlessly works with your Bluetooth earphones. This compact device represents a significant leap forward in meeting technology, allowing you to capture every important detail without the stress of manual note-taking. The P1’s revolutionary BlueCatch technology enables simple pairing with your favorite earphones, requiring just a single button press to establish a connection while intelligently restoring your earphones to their previous connection when you’re finished recording.

Designer: HiDock

Click Here to Buy Now: $89 $169 (47% off). Hurry, only 89/700. Raised over $234,000.

The HiDock P1 boasts dual studio-level ECM microphones engineered for exceptional clarity and precision. These high-sensitivity components capture crystal-clear audio even in challenging acoustic environments, ensuring that every word is recorded with remarkable fidelity. Whether you’re in a bustling coffee shop, a crowded conference room, or a quiet office space, the P1 delivers consistent, professional-grade audio quality that makes transcription and review significantly more accurate and efficient.

With 64GB of built-in storage capacity and a robust 600mAh battery, the HiDock P1 supports an impressive 1,000 hours of audio storage and 8 hours of continuous recording on a single charge. This generous capacity eliminates concerns about running out of space or power during critical meetings or extended recording sessions. The device also features lightning-fast audio transfer capabilities, allowing you to quickly move recordings to other devices for immediate access and sharing.

Language barriers dissolve with the P1’s support for more than 75 languages for live transcription and translation. This multilingual capability makes the device invaluable for international businesses, academic settings, and cross-cultural collaborations. Additionally, the P1 includes over 20 meeting summary templates that automatically organize transcribed content into structured formats, saving hours of post-meeting processing time and ensuring consistent documentation across your organization.

The P1’s AI capabilities extend far beyond simple recording functionality. The device offers lifetime free transcription, transforming your spoken content into searchable text without subscription fees or hidden costs. This feature alone represents significant value, especially for professionals who regularly attend numerous meetings and need quick access to specific information without replaying entire recordings.

From important phone calls to marathon meetings to open seminars to spontaneous brainstorming sessions, the HiDock P1 ensures that no valuable idea or critical information ever slips through the cracks. Its versatility makes it equally valuable for executives, team leaders, project managers, and anyone who needs reliable audio documentation of conversations and presentations. By eliminating the frustration of manual note-taking and the limitations of traditional recording methods, it frees professionals to be fully present and engaged during meetings, resulting in more productive and meaningful professional interactions across all contexts.

Click Here to Buy Now: $89 $169 (47% off). Hurry, only 89/700. Raised over $234,000.

The post Meet HiDock P1: The Revolutionary AI Voice Recorder That Works With Your Bluetooth Earphones first appeared on Yanko Design.

The smartphone landscape has witnessed a significant transformation in recent years, with artificial intelligence becoming a central focus of marketing campaigns across all price segments. AI features, once exclusive to premium devices, have gradually trickled down to more affordable options, promising enhanced capabilities for everyday users. This democratization of technology is precisely what the TECNO CAMON 40 Pro 5G aims to achieve with its latest offering.

TECNO has positioned the CAMON 40 Pro 5G as an AI-powered smartphone that brings advanced features to a wider audience without the premium price tag. The device boasts an impressive array of AI capabilities that go beyond just photography and content creation, areas where most have been too focused on. But does this mid-range contender deliver on its promises, or has TECNO cut too many corners to achieve its price point? Let’s dive deep into what makes this device tick.

Designer: TECNO

Aesthetics

The TECNO CAMON 40 Pro 5G makes a bold statement with its distinctive design language that aims to stand out in an increasingly homogeneous smartphone market. The device features a clean, modern aesthetic highlighted by an “independent triple camera” setup reminiscent of higher-end devices like the Samsung Galaxy S25 series. What sets it apart, however, is the elegantly raised area surrounding the camera modules that tapers gracefully toward the bottom of the phone’s rear panel, inspired by the graceful curves of swan necks.

The CAMON 40 Pro 5G embraces curved edges on both its front glass and plastic back panel, a design choice that some might consider slightly dated in today’s market where flat edges have made a comeback. However, these gentle curves contribute to the phone’s premium feel, creating an illusion of thinness while providing a more comfortable grip. The curvature also creates interesting light reflections that enhance the device’s visual appeal when placed on a surface.

While the back panel features a sophisticated matte finish with what TECNO calls a “Fantasy Art Texture,” the execution falls slightly short of expectations. The texture, intended to create visual interest, unfortunately, resembles fingerprint smudges under certain lighting conditions, detracting from the premium aesthetic the company aimed to achieve. This minor design misstep is noticeable primarily when examining the device closely, but it doesn’t significantly diminish the overall attractive appearance of the smartphone.

Ergonomics

The TECNO CAMON 40 Pro 5G utilizes a plastic frame construction that contributes to its surprisingly lightweight when held. This lightness might initially raise questions about durability, as many consumers associate heft with quality. However, the device maintains a solid, substantial feel despite its weight, striking a balance between comfort and perceived build quality that should satisfy most users in this price segment.

The curved front and back panels of the CAMON 40 Pro 5G contribute significantly to its ergonomic profile. These gentle curves allow the device to nestle comfortably in the palm, reducing strain during extended usage sessions. The smooth transitions between the frame and panels eliminate sharp edges that might dig into the hand, making the phone feel more natural to hold for longer periods compared to devices with more angular designs.

The button placement on the right side of the frame provides easy access to the power and volume controls without requiring uncomfortable hand adjustments. TECNO has also introduced a dedicated One-Tap FlashSnap button that can be customized for various functions, most notably quick camera access. This simple addition enhances the user experience by providing immediate access to frequently used features without navigating through menus or unlocking the device.

Performance

The TECNO CAMON 40 Pro 5G is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 processor, positioning it firmly in the mid-range segment of the smartphone market. Compared to its predecessor, the CAMON 30 Pro 5G, this represents a slight downgrade in raw processing power, which might disappoint those expecting year-over-year improvements. The device comes with either 8GB or 12GB of RAM, providing adequate multitasking capabilities for most users, though not exceptional by current standards.

Daily performance on the CAMON 40 Pro 5G is generally smooth for routine tasks like social media browsing, messaging, and media consumption. The phone handles these activities without noticeable lag or stuttering. However, more demanding applications and games may cause occasional frame drops or longer loading times compared to higher-end devices. These are all definitely within the expectations of a mid-range device but should still satisfy the needs of most users.

The display is a standout feature, offering a 6.78-inch 144Hz AMOLED panel that delivers vibrant colors and smooth scrolling. The high refresh rate provides a premium feel when navigating the interface, though the curved edges of the screen can sometimes cause slight content distortion at the periphery. This might be particularly noticeable when watching videos or playing games that utilize the full screen area, potentially detracting from the immersive experience the large display otherwise provides.

Despite sporting what appears to be a triple-camera setup, the CAMON 40 Pro 5G effectively offers just two functional cameras: a 50MP Sony LYT-700C Ultra Night main camera and an 8MP ultra-wide shooter. This represents a significant downgrade from the previous generation’s 50MP ultra-wide camera, and the absence of even a basic macro lens is somewhat disappointing, let alone not having a telephoto shooter. The front-facing camera maintains a respectable 50MP resolution and includes autofocus capability, a feature still relatively uncommon for selfie cameras, especially on this tier.

Camera performance from the main 50MP sensor is quite impressive for a mid-range device. Photos exhibit good clarity, detail, and sharpness across various lighting conditions. Color reproduction tends toward natural tones rather than the oversaturated look common in smartphones from this region, which photography enthusiasts might appreciate. The ultra-wide camera delivers acceptable results in good lighting but falls short of expectations for a 2025 release, even within the mid-range segment.

The CAMON 40 series places artificial intelligence at the forefront of its user experience, beginning with the initial setup process where AI-assisted interactions guide new users. TECNO has created a centralized hub for all AI features, making them easily discoverable and accessible, which addresses a common pain point where useful capabilities often remain hidden within complex menu structures on other devices.

Photography benefits significantly from the AI integration, with features like Smart Scene Detection automatically optimizing camera settings based on what you’re photographing. The system can identify various scenarios from landscapes to food photography, adjusting parameters like contrast, saturation, and sharpness to produce more appealing images without requiring manual adjustments. This democratizes photography skills, allowing less experienced users to capture better photos.

Beyond imaging capabilities, the CAMON 40 Pro 5G incorporates AI into everyday communication tools. The device offers AI-powered call summarization, which can generate text summaries of important conversations, saving users from having to take notes manually. Automatic call answering with AI assistance helps manage incoming calls when you’re unable to answer personally, while real-time translation features break down language barriers during international communications or when consuming foreign content.

TECNO’s Ella AI assistant represents one of the more comprehensive implementations of artificial intelligence on the device. This virtual assistant provides hands-free interaction for common tasks and introduces a one-tap screen query feature that can identify objects, text, or information displayed on the screen. For instance, users can take a photo with a phone number or a webpage in it and immediately initiate a call, or identify products for potential purchase without switching between multiple apps.

The AI writing assistant integrated into the system helps users craft messages, emails, and documents with suggested completions and style adjustments. This feature proves particularly useful for non-native English speakers or those who struggle with written communication, effectively raising the baseline quality of user-generated content. While not replacing dedicated writing applications, the convenience of having these capabilities built directly into the system enhances productivity.

Sustainability

TECNO’s approach to sustainability with the CAMON 40 Pro 5G reveals both challenges and opportunities in the mid-range smartphone segment. The device still relies heavily on plastic components and non-sustainable materials in its construction, reflecting industry-wide difficulties in balancing affordability with environmental responsibility. However, TECNO attempts to offset these material choices by focusing on durability and longevity, recognizing that extending a device’s usable lifespan represents a significant environmental benefit.

The CAMON 40 Pro 5G incorporates Corning Gorilla Glass 7i protection for the display, a premium feature not commonly found in this price segment. This enhanced glass technology provides superior resistance to drops and scratches, potentially extending the usable life of the device by preventing common forms of damage that lead to premature replacement. The inclusion of this feature demonstrates TECNO’s understanding that sustainability isn’t solely about materials but also about creating products that remain functional for longer periods.

Perhaps most impressive is the device’s IP68/69 rating for dust and water resistance, a feature rarely seen in mid-range smartphones. This high level of environmental protection safeguards the internal components from common hazards like rain, spills, and dust ingress that often lead to device failure. By protecting against these everyday threats, TECNO increases the likelihood that users will keep their devices for longer periods before upgrading, reducing electronic waste.

Value

With its “Pro” designation and stylish design, it’s all too easy to forget that the TECNO CAMON 40 Pro 5G is really a mid-range phone at heart. In several aspects, including the ultra-wide camera and charging speeds, the CAMON 40 Pro 5G actually represents a downgrade from the previous generation. The larger 5,200 mAh battery is partially offset with a slower 45W charging speed, a curious step backward in an era where fast charging has become increasingly important to consumers. The larger battery does provide excellent endurance, easily lasting through a full day of moderate to heavy use before requiring a recharge.

Positioning the CAMON 40 Pro 5G within TECNO’s own 2025 lineup is even more difficult. The CAMON 40 Premiere 5G offers significantly better specifications while maintaining a relatively affordable price point, potentially making it a more attractive option for those willing to spend slightly more. Conversely, the standard CAMON 40 Pro without 5G connectivity provides many of the same features at a lower price point for users who don’t require next-generation network capabilities.

Despite these considerations, the CAMON 40 Pro 5G does deliver solid value in specific areas that matter to many consumers. The excellent main camera, high-quality display, comprehensive AI features, and impressive water resistance collectively create a compelling package for users prioritizing these aspects. The device successfully democratizes certain premium features, making them accessible at a more approachable price point than flagship alternatives from more established brands.

Verdict

The smartphone industry continues its rapid evolution, with artificial intelligence emerging as perhaps the most significant frontier for innovation and differentiation. As AI capabilities become increasingly sophisticated, access to these features has largely been restricted to premium devices with powerful hardware and correspondingly high price tags. This technological divide threatens to create a two-tier user experience where only those willing or able to pay premium prices can benefit from the latest advancements.

The TECNO CAMON 40 Pro 5G represents an important step toward bridging this divide by bringing meaningful AI functionality to a more accessible price point, bringing advanced capabilities to a broader audience. It may not compete directly with flagship devices in raw performance, but it excels in providing access to technologies that enhance daily smartphone use for consumers with more modest budgets. In this respect, it achieves something genuinely valuable: making the benefits of technological progress more equitably available across different market segments.

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NVIDIA founder and CEO, Jensen Huang revealed to the world the DGX Spark AI supercomputer during the keynote of the GTC 2025 conference in California. Formerly codenamed Project DIGITS, the high-performance desktop supercomputer is powered by the NVIDIA Blackwell Ultra platform. This model can run locally or on an accelerated cloud data center, allowing AI developers, data scientists, robotic developers, researchers, and students to develop applications or conduct generative AI studies without any computing limitations.

At the keynote, Jensen said that AI has “transformed every layer of the computing stack. It stands to reason a new class of computers would emerge—designed for AI-native developers and to run AI-native applications.” According to him, this personal AI computer will take forward AI on the cloud, desktop, or edge applications. Along with the DGX Spark supercomputer, the company also revealed the DGX Station to leverage the capabilities of the Grace Blackwell architecture for more professional applications.

Designer: NVIDIA

The DGX Spark is the world’s smallest AI supercomputer destined to overshadow the current generation of computing machines with its exponentially powerful hardware. This compact machine (about the size of an Apple M4 Mac mini) is powered by the small NVIDIA GB10 Grace Blackwell system-on-chip that has a GPU employing fifth-generation Tensor Cores and boasts FP4 support. Just for reference, the chip paired with 128GB unified system memory can perform 1,000 trillion AI computing operations per second.

This makes the new supercomputer ideal for AI reasoning models that demand such mind-boggling levels of computing power. Both the GB10 Superchip and the onboard GPU are optimized for memory-intensive AI workloads thanks to the coherent memory model having 5 times the capacity of a fifth-generation PCIe. The transfer of created models from a user’s desktop to the cloud is going to be equally seamless, making it easier to prototype or fine-tune the workflows. The DGX Spark can be reserved right away for $3,999 with shipping expected by summer this year.

To support the computing power of the smaller desktop model is the DGX Station which is more of an enterprise solution for professionals. It comes with the GB300 Grace Blackwell Ultra Desktop Superchip that offers 20 petaflops of performance and 784GB of unified system memory. The solution gets a 72-core Grace Neoverse V2 CPU and has support for FP4 precision. This machine will come loaded with a ConnectX-8 SuperNIC network interface card supporting 800Gb/s throughputs. That is an insane amount of power, but it will eventually become the norm in coming years given the requirement of AI-based smart systems. There is no word yet on the pricing or availability of the DGX Station, but it is expected to be released later this year with manufacturing partners like Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo.

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We’ve all been in that situation where we’re about to do something “very important” when the doorbell suddenly rings repeatedly. We drop everything to rush to the door, only to find out it was nothing worth your time at all. These days, we have audio and video doorbells that let us see who rang the bell and even talk to them, but that still requires you to be near some device to talk, wasting effort and time.

AI agents today have become quite the conversationalists, making it feel like you’re talking to a real person (though perhaps one with a flat personality). Leveraging that technology, this DIY “smart” doorbell uses an AI agent to act as your own personal receptionist, asking visitors the hard questions about their identity and purpose before deciding to open the door or not, all without your manual intervention.

Designer: Roni Bandini

Ever since Google demonstrated Duplex back in 2018 as it expertly made restaurant reservations over the phone, AI has evolved at an almost frightening rate and degree. While trained people will be able to distinguish AI-generated content, most people won’t have that level of expertise to be able to tell if they’re talking to a human behind the chat or not. There are many ways to use and abuse such technologies, and RinGPT employs a conversational AI agent in a rather interesting and amusing way.

The DIY project cobbles together a UNIHIKER board (think Raspberry Pi but with built-in sensors and a touch screen), an LED push button, a Bluetooth speaker, and a servo motor to build a “smart” doorbell which is basically just a home for this ChatGPT agent. Mechanically, it’s a pretty simple concept: a visitor pushes the button, triggering RinGPT to interview the person, asking them who they are.

The AI part comes after this, analyzing the spoken response and judging whether the person is trustworthy or not. If yes, the motor is activated to open the door, otherwise the AI politely turns the visitor away. All of these happen without the homeowner’s manual intervention, though they will definitely be aware if someone rings the doorbell even when they’re not home. RinGPT informs them via the Telegram messaging platform of such events.

Of course, the test scenario raises quite a few red flags, especially considering the AI actually opens the door to people it judged to be welcome. We’re not yet at a point in time where we can consider even the smartest AI agents to be foolproof enough to be used for human security. Something as rough as RinGPT, which has very noticeable and unnatural pauses before it replies, is definitely not yet fit to be a receptionist, let alone a security guard that will let people in your personal safe space.

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The digital revolution has transformed how we connect with one another, creating unprecedented opportunities for instant communication across vast distances. Yet this technological progress hasn’t equally benefited everyone. People with hearing and speech impairments often rely on sign language, a beautiful but specialized form of communication that many hearing individuals haven’t learned. This communication gap creates unnecessary barriers in everyday interactions, from ordering coffee to participating in workplace meetings.

The Cleaf concept device represents a breakthrough concept that leverages artificial intelligence to bridge this divide. This innovative wearable technology combines computer vision, speech recognition, and haptic feedback to create a seamless translation system between sign language and text. Unlike theoretical solutions that might emerge years from now, Cleaf builds upon existing technologies already proven in other applications, making it a practical solution that could be implemented with current technological capabilities.

Designers: Chaemin Kang, Seonghye Choi, Nayun Lee

Designed with versatility in mind, the Cleaf features a square display reminiscent of a smartwatch but offers multiple wearing options to suit different situations. Users can strap it to their wrist for convenience, attach it to a carabiner for quick access, or wear it as a necklace pendant. This flexibility extends beyond mere fashion preference and serves a crucial functional purpose. When worn on the wrist, the “smartwatch” mode enables Cleaf to monitor environmental sounds and alert users to potential dangers through strong vibrations.

The device’s most innovative feature is its detachable camera that clips onto clothing. This camera captures and analyzes sign language gestures in real time, converting them into text displayed on the screen for hearing individuals to read. The system works bidirectionally, with speech from hearing people being captured and instantly transcribed into text for the deaf or hearing-impaired user. This creates a natural conversational flow without requiring either party to learn new communication methods or rely on third-party interpreters.

What makes Cleaf particularly exciting is its practical approach to accessibility. Rather than waiting for theoretical future technologies, it harnesses existing AI capabilities in novel ways. Computer vision algorithms similar to those powering facial recognition can track hand movements and body language. Speech-to-text conversion has already reached impressive accuracy levels in virtual assistants and transcription services. The technology doesn’t aim to replace sign language, which remains a rich, expressive form of communication within deaf communities—but rather to facilitate interaction between signing and non-signing individuals, creating more inclusive environments across all aspects of life.

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