Weekly Tech Roundup: Huawei’s Game-Changing Camera, Apple’s Liquid Glass UI, and Microsoft’s Xbox Handheld OS

This week’s tech scene delivered some eye-catching developments. Huawei unveiled remarkable smartphone camera innovations, Apple introduced a radical design language called Liquid Glass, and Microsoft launched a new Xbox-focused operating system for handheld gaming devices. Let’s break down the top stories that made headlines.

Huawei’s Revolutionary Smartphone Camera System

Huawei’s latest flagship, the Pura 80 series, made its debut in China and is expected to reach other global markets soon. These new smartphones feature what could be the most advanced camera hardware seen on a mobile device to date.

At the heart of the innovation is a switchable telephoto lens system. Instead of using two separate sensors for medium and long-range zoom, Huawei has integrated a single periscope module that switches between 3.7x (83mm) and 9.4x (212mm) focal lengths. This design choice allows them to implement one large sensor rather than two smaller ones—specifically, a 1/1.28″ 50MP sensor—making it one of the largest telephoto sensors ever seen in a smartphone.

While Sony has developed a periscope system with continuous zoom, it suffers from lower image quality and a limited zoom range. Huawei’s fixed focal length system aims to bridge the gap—offering sharp image results with a hybrid zoom mechanism that combines the benefits of both designs.

Early hands-on feedback from Chinese reviewers suggests impressive image quality, setting high expectations globally.

On the sensor manufacturing front, Huawei also teased that their new 1-inch main sensor might no longer be sourced from Sony. Instead, reports suggest that SmartSense, a Chinese manufacturer, is supplying the hardware. SmartSense is rapidly gaining ground, with data indicating that multiple Chinese firms have now surpassed Samsung in sensor volume production.

However, it’s not all good news. Despite the hardware upgrades, Huawei still appears to be using the Kirin 9020 chip, which is based on older technology. If true, this chipset could be up to five years behind the current market leaders, indicating Huawei may have reached a temporary ceiling in processing innovation.

Apple’s Liquid Glass Design: Bold or Overdone?

At its WWDC conference, Apple revealed its new design system: Liquid Glass. Set to unify the look of iOS, macOS, and other platforms, this new visual identity brings a 3D, glass-like aesthetic to interface elements—creating surfaces that appear layered, reflective, and shadow-casting.

At first glance, the design feels futuristic and immersive. However, some critics argue that the effects are too aggressive, especially in daily use. In many instances, UI elements are difficult to read due to excessive transparency and insufficient blur, making functionality a concern.

This new design seems optimized for the Apple Vision Pro, where UI elements physically float in space and interact with environmental lighting. But on standard devices like the iPhone or MacBook, this “forced physicality” can feel unnecessary, even distracting.

Interestingly, this isn’t the first time a tech company has gone down this path. Microsoft tried something similar with Fluent Design during the rise of Windows Mixed Reality and HoloLens. It too emphasized frosted glass, physical depth, and light diffusion. But ultimately, few developers adopted it, and the design failed to become standard across apps.

Whether Apple will face a similar fate with Liquid Glass depends on developer adoption. Since many apps are built to run across platforms like iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows, implementing a design as platform-specific as Liquid Glass could create visual inconsistency or even developer friction.

Microsoft & Asus Unveil Xbox Handheld UI for ROG Ally X

Microsoft and Asus announced two new additions to the ROG Ally series of handheld gaming consoles. The headline feature? A brand-new, full-screen Xbox user interface, designed to give gamers a console-like experience on portable Windows devices.

The high-end version, dubbed ROG Ally X, features AMD’s Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor and premium specs, while a more affordable model includes the Ryzen Z2A chip.

Both devices are designed to boot straight into a custom Xbox interface, completely hiding the traditional Windows UI. The goal is simple: make the experience feel more like a console than a PC. Microsoft is promising better performance, faster sleep/wake times, and more seamless gameplay sessions.

Despite the Xbox overlay, glimpses of traditional PC apps like Discord, Steam, and Battle.net were spotted, confirming that Windows still operates underneath. The big question now is whether Microsoft can manage a smooth balance—offering the depth of Windows while keeping the simplicity of Xbox.

Thanks to the competition from Valve’s Steam OS, Microsoft appears motivated to refine its offering, which could benefit the entire handheld gaming ecosystem.

Release Monitor: Earbuds, Holograms, and More

Astell & Kern’s $2,700 Luna Earbuds

Luxury audio brand Astell & Kern has released a new pair of earbuds called Luna, made with handcrafted titanium housings and micro planar magnetic drivers. Made in Japan, they combine precision craftsmanship with high-end audio performance—and carry a jaw-dropping price tag of $2,700.

HP’s $25,000 Holographic Device

HP has launched the Dimension, the first-ever commercial product using Google’s Beam technology. It renders a pseudo-holographic caller image at 60 FPS, using six cameras and a light-field display. However, the $25,000 price tag doesn’t include the Google Beam license, which must be purchased separately.

Quick Briefs: Pixel 10, Nvidia N1X, Denmark Dumps Microsoft

• Pixel 10 Leaks: Android Authority reports the next Pixel series will support CH2 wireless and new magnetic Pixel Snap accessories, including chargers and ring stands.

• Nvidia N1X ARM Chip: Benchmarks suggest it has a 3,000+ single-core score, putting it in direct competition with Intel and AMD.

• Denmark Goes Open Source: Denmark’s digital ministry has announced plans to replace Microsoft software with Linux and LibreOffice across multiple government agencies.

• Wikipedia Pushback: The platform paused its AI-generated summaries after backlash from editors who found the results inadequate.

• Amazon Prime Video Ads: Reports show that Prime Video now plays twice as many ads as before, drawing criticism from users.

AI and AR: Mistral’s New Model & Qualcomm’s Smart Glasses Chip

French AI startup Mistral has introduced Majestra, a new reasoning model that’s said to offer 10x faster performance than competitors and comes with open weights for its smaller variant. It’s also focused on multilingual capabilities, a growing need in global AI applications.

Meanwhile, Qualcomm launched its new AR Plus Gen 1 chip, which is 28% smaller and more efficient than its predecessor. It’s expected to power the next wave of smart glasses—possibly from Meta or Google—handling on-device AI tasks with ease.

Bonus Highlight: Insta360 Link 2C Webcam

Finally, a quick shoutout to the Insta360 Link 2C—a webcam that drastically outperforms typical laptop cameras. Featuring a half-inch 4K sensor, physical privacy shutter, touch zoom controls, and voice isolation tech, this camera provides a professional-level video calling experience.

Users can plug and play via USB-C or enhance their setup using the dedicated app, which supports both Windows and Mac, including ARM devices. There’s even a gimbal version that can follow your movements during calls.

Want to upgrade your video calls? Check the links below for exclusive discounts on the Insta360 Link 2 and Link 2C.

Stay tuned for next Friday’s roundup covering more exciting innovations in tech, AI, and consumer hardware.