Apple has tossed its heretofore predictable M-series chip launch cadence into the air, adding a hefty dose of unpredictability into the proverbial mix. Now, however, the legendary tipster Mark Gurman is out with yet another scoop, disclosing an early 2027 launch window for the M6 iPad Pro and a redesigned Apple Pencil. Apple's early 2027 launch window is already becoming crowded with a growing array of products We reported recently that Apple has significantly revamped its silicon-related plans, settling on the launch of the M5 Ultra and the base M6 later this year, and then jumping straight to the base M7, […]

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Upon the release of the Switch 2, Nintendo made it clear that they still saw the last-gen Switch 1 as a contemporary console which could co-exist alongside the console maker’s next-gen offering. Of course, it was only a matter of time before Nintendo would eventually move on from the nearly-decade-old system. Even so, it comes as a bit of a surprise that the OG Nintendo Switch 1 (and its wider family of systems) will officially no longer be sold in Europe from next year.

As part of the European Union’s recent changes to battery regulations (in which console makers need to ensure they systems’ batteries are user replaceable), Nintendo announced that the Switch 2 and its accessories will be updated to comply with these new rules, stating:

“selected Nintendo products in Europe will begin to be replaced on a rolling basis by revisions that contain a user-replaceable battery”. Full details on all of the different products being affected can be found HERE.

Alongside this announcement, Nintendo also revealed that the Switch 1 will be ceasing production soon, taking to its FAQ to write: “From mid-February 2027, almost ten years after Nintendo Switch launched in March 2017, Nintendo will no longer sell to retailers hardware in the Nintendo Switch family of systems – specifically Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite and Nintendo Switch – OLED Model. Sales of Nintendo Switch hardware on Nintendo Store will also end in mid-February 2027.”

A couple other bits of hardware are also set to be discontinued come February 2027, including:

• NES Controller for Nintendo Switch
• Pokémon GO Plus +
• Nintendo Switch Pro Controller
• SEGA Mega Drive Control Pad for Nintendo Switch
• SNES Controller for Nintendo Switch

The OG Nintendo Switch has had an excellent run over the past 9+ years, amassing more than 155 million units sold while pushing over 1.5 billion software unit sales. Currently positioned as the 2nd best-selling console of all time, it will be interesting to see whether the ceasing of Switch 1 sales in Europe will ultimately hamper the console’s ability to surpass the PS2’s 160 million units. We will have to wait and see.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this announcement? Are you surprised to see them discontinuing the Switch 1 in Europe? Will the PS2’s sales ever be beaten? Let us know down below.

The battery capacities within the upcoming Apple iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max have become a subject of considerable interest after a high-profile information theft from a Tata-controlled iPhone factory in India revealed a sizable bump in battery capacities for the Pro duo. Well, just a few days later, we've now become privy to the official battery capacities that Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will sport, courtesy of a regulatory filing. Apple's iPhone 18 Pro (eSIM) to sport a battery capacity of 4,288mAh in the US, while its Pro Max counterpart will feature a 5,567mAh one As we […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/apple-iphone-18-pro-max-will-sport-a-battery-that-is-even-bigger-than-the-5425mah-one-detailed-within-the-documents-stolen-from-indias-tata-factory/

There may be one more thing to thank the EU for, on top of extended Windows Updates and privacy laws, the return of replaceable batteries.  As of February 18th, 2027 the EU…

Samsung might opt for a silicon-carbon (Si/C) battery within its next-gen flagships, including the Galaxy S27 Ultra. Even so, the South Korean tech behemoth is apparently playing it very safe and refusing to go wild with 10,000mAh-like battery capacities for its Galaxy S27 series. While this tidbit might disappoint some, given the fact that 6,000mAh+ battery capacities are increasingly becoming the norm with Chinese smartphones, we contend that the rumored 5,800mAh battery for the Galaxy S27 Ultra will be more than enough, courtesy of two key innovations. Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra to sport the uber-efficient M16 OLED screen, with overall […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/samsung-galaxy-s27-ultra-might-sport-a-5800mah-battery-heres-why-itll-be-more-than-enough-even-as-chinese-rivals-push-6000mah-batteries/

Samsung refused to jump onto the silicon-carbon (Si/C) battery bandwagon until the technology was truly ready for mass adoption, taking a morally upright stand that cost it dearly, especially in China, where local players have been happy to run with battery capacities as high as 10,000mAh. Now, however, one tipster believes Samsung has cracked the silicon-carbon battery longevity code, and that the Galaxy S27 will "most likely" ship with such a battery, replete with a much higher capacity than the 5,000mAh level that seems to have become a norm for the South Korean tech giant lately. Samsung is going all […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/samsung-galaxy-s27-will-most-likely-ship-with-a-silicon-carbon-battery-with-a-much-higher-lifespan/

The European Union is pushing for tighter right-to-repair legislation for consumer electronics and we are already starting to see some results. Nintendo is reportedly already preparing a Switch 2 hardware revision, which will comply with the new EU rules by making the internal battery easily replaceable. 

A recent report from Nikkei claims that Nintendo is already working to bring the Nintendo Switch 2 into compliance with these mandates. The upcoming revision is set to overhaul the battery systems of both the console and the Joy-Con 2 controllers. Currently, most handheld gaming devices rely on power cells that are difficult for the average consumer to service without specialised knowledge. By adopting a more modular internal layout, Nintendo will allow users to replace lithium-ion batteries that have degraded naturally. This shift not only extends the functional lifespan of the Nintendo Switch 2 but also eliminates the need for expensive manufacturer-led repairs or entire-unit replacements.

While Nikkei notes that this hardware update is initially targeted at the European Union to satisfy legal requirements, there is potential for a wider rollout. If consumer demand for repairable hardware continues to grow in other regions, Nintendo may eventually consolidate its manufacturing to a single, more repairable standard. Such a move would likely be a net positive for the industry, reducing e-waste and stabilising the secondary market for used hardware.

This trend toward user-serviceable components isn't entirely new to the console space. Sony has already implemented similar battery accessibility in the PlayStation 5 DualSense controllers within specific territories. However, the scale of a full console revision presents unique challenges. Questions remain regarding how Nintendo will support the millions of early-adoption Nintendo Switch 2 units already in the hands of European consumers and how these user-led repairs will affect existing warranty policies.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: It's nice to see major players being forced to reconsider anti-consumer design choices for a change. Moving away from excessive internal adhesives is a win for longevity, though we suspect Nintendo would have happily stuck with the status quo if the EU hadn't stepped in.

That Google's Tensor G5 is a flawed SoC is no longer a matter of debate. After all, the AP excels at AI-related tasks but falls short of the competition in most other areas. Even so, a new battery endurance test for the Samsung Galaxy S26 has placed the Tensor G5 chip's copious flaws in a stark contrast. Behold the beleaguered battery endurance of Google's Pixel 10 Pro XL vs. Samsung's Galaxy S26, as the chronically unoptimized Tensor G5 takes its proverbial pound of flesh For the benefit of those who might not be aware, Google's Tensor G5 bears the following […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/the-unoptimized-tensor-g5-the-smaller-battery-in-samsung-galaxy-s26-lasts-3-hours-longer-than-the-one-in-pixel-10-pro-xl/

Samsung has remained very conservative in its experimentation in the smartphone battery department ever since the Note 7 fiasco back in 2016. However, this reluctance is now costing the South Korean behemoth dearly as Chinese OEMs increasingly take the initiative with monster silicon-carbon (Si/C) batteries. Against this relatively challenging backdrop, we reported towards the end of 2025 that Samsung had commenced and then abandoned its testing of a mammoth 20,000mAh silicon-carbon battery. Well, now we know a lot more about those failed tests as well as Samsung's ongoing testing of a smaller 18,000mAh battery, courtesy of a few leaked documents. Samsung's […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/samsungs-mammoth-20000mah-silicon-carbon-si-c-smartphone-battery-fails-at-960-cycles/