Yanko Design
Yanko Design
Yanko Design is an online magazine dedicated to covering the best in product design. We have a passion for the new, innovative, unique and undiscovered.
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  • This House Puts an Oak Tree Inside 4 Concentric Moving Rings
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    Most homes draw a hard line between inside and out, treating nature as something to look at through windows rather than live alongside. Walls are static, rooms are fixed, and adapting to changing weather or seasons means shutting doors and cranking the thermostat. What if your living space could shift with the weather, the seasons, or even your mood?The House of Interactive Concentric Rings, designed by Michael Jantzen, turns the idea of home into a living, breathing ecosystem. This radical concept features a large oak tree planted in a central open courtyard, surrounded by four concentric steel rings that support sliding glass walls, movable shade panels, solar arrays, and completely flexible living spaces.Designer: Michael JantzenAt the heart of the house sits that oak tree, serving as both a visual anchor and a living symbol of the homes connection to the natural world. The courtyard functions as a microclimate generator, a place for quiet contemplation, and a constant reminder that architecture and nature can coexist peacefully rather than compete for dominance or territory.Three of the concentric rings support movable panels that can be repositioned manually or automatically around the houses perimeter throughout the day or across seasons. Some panels are solid for shade and privacy, others are fitted with glass for capturing light, and still others feature louvers or screens for natural ventilation and airflow control.Curved sliding glass walls enclose the climate-controlled living space in the innermost ring, but these walls can open completely to let the indoors flow out into the courtyard during pleasant weather. During mild seasons, the entire house becomes a seamless pavilion where protected and exposed spaces merge, expanding usable square footage without adding any permanent structure or closed rooms.All furniture, storage, and work areas are housed in cylindrical modules of various sizes that can be moved freely. While kitchens and bathrooms remain fixed in place for plumbing and utility connections, everything else can be rolled wherever needed. Move your bed into the courtyard on warm nights or relocate your workspace under the solar canopy when inspiration calls.Rainwater is collected from the movable panels and channeled through the steel frame into underground storage containers buried beneath the house. This harvested water supports domestic needs, gardens, and the central oak tree, creating a self-sufficient closed-loop system that reduces reliance on municipal water supplies while nurturing the surrounding landscape throughout changing seasons.Solar panels mounted around the courtyard perimeter supply electricity and hot water for the entire home, while the interactive rings invite residents to shape their environment in real time based on immediate needs. The houses metallic, geometric form creates a striking visual contrast against natural landscapes, emphasizing the dynamic relationship between human habitation and organic growth.The House of Interactive Concentric Rings imagines living spaces as dynamic and adaptable as life itself, constantly responding to weather, light, and human needs. For anyone dreaming of a home that works with nature rather than against it, this concept offers a compelling vision where architecture becomes flexible, sustainable, and deeply connected to the natural world.The post This House Puts an Oak Tree Inside 4 Concentric Moving Rings first appeared on Yanko Design.
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  • Top 5 Minimalist Projectors and Displays That Redefine Home Entertainment,
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    Contemporary visual devices have moved beyond conventional screens and have transformed into immersive setups and design elements that integrate into modern interiors. From minimalist projectors to ultra-thin displays, the focus is on seamless integration that enhances functionality and visual appeal. These innovations are reshaping how we interact with technology within our living spaces and the outdoors.This evolution reflects a broader shift in design philosophy where aesthetics, usability, and user experience converge. Devices are no longer judged solely by performance but by their ability to harmonize with personal environments.Lets understand how technology is now seen as a functional asset and an extension of ones lifestyle and taste.1. Rethinking Screens as Seamless SurfacesThe era of fixed screens is giving way to immersive, space-integrated visual design. Designers are reimagining surfaces, turning walls into projection canvases and furniture into interactive displays. It is no longer about screen size, but about dissolving boundaries between technology and interior spaces.Living rooms can shift from tranquil landscapes to dynamic art installations at will. Projectors now hide in ceilings, while smart surfaces respond on command, displaying information, media, or ambience. This evolution reflects a move toward invisible yet intelligent technology, where the room transforms into a responsive digital medium that is woven into everyday life.The JMGO PicoPlay+ offers a refined approach to portable entertainment, combining sleek design with impressive versatility. Compact and lightweight, it fits easily into a backpack yet delivers sharp 1080P visuals with 460 ISO lumens of brightness. Its unique vertical projection mode allows social media content, such as Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, to be displayed in full height, transforming casual browsing into a cinematic experience. Doubling as a 360-degree Bluetooth speaker, it fills any space with immersive sound, making it ideal for quiet nights and group gatherings.Equipped with Google TV, the PicoPlay+ gives users access to over 10,000 apps, including Netflix, without needing external devices. Smart features like gimbal-based auto-correction, touch controls, and customizable shortcuts enhance ease of use, while the synchronized RGB lighting system adds an ambient touch. With a 25,000-hour LED lifespan, HDMI 2.1, USB and Type-C ports, and a portable power bank stand, the PicoPlay+ adapts to a variety of lifestyles and settings.2. The Art of Disappearing TechnologyOne of the most compelling design trends today is the rise of invisible technology as devices blend effortlessly into their surroundings when not in use. Rather than hiding them, designers are integrating technology into everyday objects. Projectors, for instance, are now built into lamps or sculptural forms that complement the rooms aesthetic without drawing attention.This philosophy stems from the idea that homes should be serene, clutter-free environments. When the projector isnt in use, it functions as a stylish light fixture. By combining form and function, this approach allows technology to serve discreetly, preserving the beauty and tranquility of the space.The Hisense L9Q Series redefines home entertainment with its advanced Laser TV technology and adaptable design. Available in screen sizes ranging from 100 to 150 inches, it caters to a variety of interiors. Its TriChroma triple-laser light engine delivers vivid visuals by covering 110% of the BT.2020 color space, with up to 5,000 lumens brightness and a 5,000:1 contrast ratio. Paired with Ambient Light Rejection (ALR) screens, the display remains crisp even in well-lit environments. Features such as Auto Screen Alignment and Manual Keystone Correction simplify installation across diverse room layouts.This model also introduces the industrys first 6.2.2 surround sound system in a Laser TV, supported by Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual X for an immersive audio experience. The acoustics are enhanced by a 15 tilted sound bin, inspired by Roman amphitheatres. Aesthetic highlights include a Black Walnut Dcor Panel, Star Orbit Ambient Lighting, and brushed metal finishes. With Google TV, voice assistant support, and robust connectivity, the L9Q is a premium smart entertainment solution.3. Seamless Integration and Smart LivingDesign is now making visual devices more intelligent, intuitive, and seamlessly connected to everyday life. Projectors and smart displays have evolved from simple gadgets into central control points within a smart home. With integration capabilities that link them to voice assistants, lighting systems, and surround sound, these devices offer a fluid, unified experience that enhances convenience and comfort.This level of connectivity transforms how the home responds to your needs. A single voice command can dim the lights, lower the shades, and start your favorite movie. Its a shift from operating isolated devices to curating immersive, synchronized moments that make the home smarter, more responsive, and deeply attuned to modern lifestyles.In a landscape filled with technology boasting faster processors and sharper displays, the OmniStar L80 by Casiris presents a distinctive claim and is the worlds brightest LCD projector. With 1500 ANSI Lumens of brightness, it surpasses standard LCD projectors in luminance and uniformity, delivering vivid, clear visuals even in ambient light. Built on Casiris proprietary 5.7-inch LCD module, the projector offers a native 1080p resolution and supports projection sizes from 80 to 200 inches. Equipped with auto-focus, auto-keystone correction, and a 15 adjustable base, it ensures ease of setup and versatile placement options.Complementing its impressive visuals, the OmniStar L80 features dual 15W speakers and a subwoofer, offering immersive audio and the ability to function as a standalone Bluetooth speaker. It runs on Android 9.0, supports dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0, and includes multiple connectivity ports.4. Precision and Performance: Beyond 4KWhile 4K resolution is important, todays design focus extends to the overall quality of the projection. New devices offer exceptional color accuracy and brightness, delivering lifelike visuals regardless of the surface or lighting. Innovations in lens technology and light sources ensure sharp, consistent images in any setting.This performance eliminates the need for a dedicated dark room. A living space can seamlessly shift from daytime gatherings to a cinematic experience at night. The core design philosophy is simple, where visual quality should never be compromised, allowing technology to adapt to lifestyle needs without sacrificing clarity, color, or immersive impact.For many, the night is a time of heightened emotion or a quiet canvas where memories form and the heart speaks most clearly. The VIA Emotional Link Series captures these fleeting nighttime experiences and transforms them into immersive, multi-sensory keepsakes. Designed with poetic interaction in mind, this elegant collection allows users to record, revisit, and preserve the emotional essence of their night journeys in a deeply personal way.The series features a handheld telescope scanner, an immersive beam projector, and a unique color chip printer. The scanner uses AI recognition and intuitive controls to capture the scene and its emotional tone. When inserted into the projector, these memories are revived through synchronized light and sound. The printer then translates the colors of each chosen scene into physical chips that are tangible reminders of emotional moments. With a seamless blend of form, function, and feeling, the VIA Emotional Link Series offers a new way to honor and relive the beauty of the night.5. Ergonomics and Well-beingDesign today also prioritizes user health and comfort. Modern visual devices are now equipped with features that support well-being. Ambient light sensors automatically adjust screen brightness to reduce eye strain, while blue light reduction settings help minimize fatigue during extended use. These advancements reflect a growing awareness of how technology interacts with daily life, particularly for individuals who spend long hours in front of screens.In addition, projection technology offers flexibility that enhances physical comfort. Instead of adapting to a fixed screen, users can customize the image size and placement to match their posture and room layout. This reduces neck and eye strain, promoting a more ergonomic viewing experience. By addressing functionality and wellness, todays visual design underscores a thoughtful shift, or one where technology is crafted not just to perform well, but to support healthier, more comfortable living environments.The Tovertafel Pixie is an innovative advancement in interactive projection technology, thoughtfully developed to support individuals with dementia, learning disabilities, and limited mobility. Unlike conventional entertainment systems, it projects interactive games and calming visuals onto various surfaces, including tables, walls, floors, and beds. This adaptability makes it particularly beneficial for those with restricted movement. Its lightweight, portable design allows caregivers to easily move the device between rooms, seamlessly fitting into diverse care settings. The system is highly responsive, detecting even minimal hand movements, which is essential for users with reduced motor function.Designed with therapeutic value in mind, the Tovertafel Pixie promotes cognitive engagement, emotional well-being, and social interaction. The interactive projections respond instantly, enhancing self-confidence and motivation. With a curated library of stimulating and calming content, caregivers can tailor experiences to individual needs. Its intuitive operation requires minimal training, making it a practical and effective tool that enriches daily life in both group and personal care environments.The future of technology is shifting toward thoughtful integration rather than visual intrusion. Designers are increasingly prioritizing aesthetics, user well-being, and seamless functionality to create visual devices that harmonize with modern living spaces. These innovations are not just tools but are design elements that enhance form and function.The post Top 5 Minimalist Projectors and Displays That Redefine Home Entertainment, first appeared on Yanko Design.
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  • Ascentiz: The Modular Exoskeleton With Swappable Hip and Knee Support
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    Wearable robotics has always promised to help people walk farther, lift more, and recover faster, but most exoskeletons have remained trapped in factories and medical facilities. Heavy, rigid, and locked into single purposes, these devices have felt more like industrial equipment than something youd actually want to wear. The dream of truly personal, adaptable robotic support has remained elusive.Ascentiz changes this narrative by reimagining what wearable support can look and feel like in daily life. Instead of a one-size-fits-all suit that dominates your body, Ascentiz offers a modular system that adapts to your needs, your schedule, and your specific challenges. The exoskeleton becomes a tool you choose to use rather than equipment youre forced to endure.Designer: Ascentiz TeamClick Here to Buy Now: $1098 $1498 (27% off). Hurry, only 19/220 left! Raised over $1.8 million.The heart of the system lies in its modular approach built around two swappable powered modules connected to the Exo-Belt. The Hip H-Module powers uphill climbs and long treks, offsetting up to 66 pounds of load and boosting leg strength by 35 percent while reducing uphill effort by the same amount. The Knee K-Module works as a built-in shock absorber, offloading up to 216 pounds of impact pressure from both knees and improving standing stability by 35 percent.**Users choose either the H-Module or K-Module depending on their immediate activity, swapping between configurations in seconds. The H-Module excels at sustained endurance activities where you need power assistance over long distances. The K-Module protects joints during high-impact activities like downhill hiking or trail running, reducing peak joint pressure by up to 50 percent through dynamic force distribution.Three adaptive support modes make the system even more versatile. Ease Mode enhances stamina for long walks and hikes. ACC Mode kicks in power before muscles engage to boost pace during uphill sections. Train Mode simulates resistance for a full-body workout, turning flat terrain into an effective training session without needing gym equipment.The Exo-Belt serves as the central hub that makes modularity possible. Based on the MOLLE attachment system borrowed from military gear, the belt provides secure mounting while allowing quick adjustments for different body types and activities. The hinge structure enables users to attach various gear beyond just the H and K modules, creating a multifunctional platform for personal customization.An open-source approach represents Ascentizs vision for building a true BodyOS ecosystem. The platform allows anyone to create custom exoskeleton modules based on the Exo-Belt interface. Future modules will expand beyond hip and knee support, with the community able to develop specialized attachments for specific activities, professions, or personal needs. You become a co-creator rather than just a user.Comfort drives every design decision because wearable tech only works if people actually want to wear it. The system weighs just 3.9 pounds without the battery and operates at under 35 decibels, quiet enough for library use. Premium materials include aerospace-grade titanium alloy and Toray T700 carbon fiber for the frame, combined with eVent technical fabric featuring eco-friendly PU coating, and memory foam padding for all-day comfort.Smart adaptation happens through sensors that achieve 99.5 percent scenario recognition accuracy, responding in under 500 milliseconds and switching between activities in just 200 milliseconds. The system detects standing, walking, running, stairs, cycling, and squats, adapting assistance instantly as you move through your day without manual adjustments.**Real-world applications span from outdoor adventures where the H-Module provides endurance support for long hikes, to joint protection during high-intensity activities where the K-Module cushions impact. The same core system adapts to strength training, daily mobility support, and even professional use in demanding physical work environments.Ascentiz represents a fundamental shift in how we think about wearable robotics. By prioritizing modularity, open-source expandability, and user control, it makes exoskeleton technology accessible to people who need support in their daily lives rather than just in specialized environments. **The combination of swappable modules, the versatile Exo-Belt platform, and the vision of a collaborative BodyOS ecosystem creates a foundation for truly personalized human augmentation that evolves with both individual needs and community innovation.Click Here to Buy Now: $1098 $1498 (27% off). Hurry, only 19/220 left! Raised over $1.8 million.The post Ascentiz: The Modular Exoskeleton With Swappable Hip and Knee Support first appeared on Yanko Design.
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  • This Limited-Edition Titanium Fractal Vise Is a Functional Masterpiece That Actually Works
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    Titaners No.1/1000 fractal vise doesnt just grip objects; it transforms the very act of clamping into something that feels almost ceremonial. This isnt hyperbole talking, its the inevitable result when aerospace-grade GR5 titanium meets two decades of specialized craftsmanship, creating something that makes you question whether youre looking at a precision instrument or a kinetic sculpture that happens to clamp things.Most people encounter vises as crude, utilitarian chunks of cast iron bolted to workbenches, designed to squeeze and hold without much thought to elegance or finesse. The Titaner No.1/1000 obliterates that expectation entirely. Machined from a single block of titanium and limited to exactly 1,000 numbered pieces worldwide, this instrument represents what happens when engineering perfectionism collides with genuine artistic vision.Designer: TitanerClick Here to Buy Now: $1099 $2461 (55% off). Hurry, only a few left! Raised over $162,000.What separates true innovation from mere iteration is the willingness to question foundational assumptions about what an object should be. Titaner does exactly this by asking, What if a vise wasnt just a vise? The result is a limited-edition precision instrument that challenges our very categorization of tools, art objects, and mechanical sculptures. Their marketing boldly states, Forget what you know. This is not a vise, and after examining its capabilities and construction, that claim feels less like hyperbole and more like an accurate redefinition.The 100mm travel range allows for versatile clamping capacity, while the four-layer, three-set stepped jaw system creates a fractal pattern that adapts to irregularly shaped objects with remarkable conformity. Unlike traditional vises that apply uneven pressure, potentially damaging delicate materials, the Titaners jaws distribute force with mathematical precision. This matters tremendously when working with expensive materials or intricate components where even slight marring isnt acceptable. Imagine clamping a handcrafted watch component, a custom guitar bridge, or a precisely machined firearm part, where uniformity of pressure can mean the difference between perfection and failure.The patented torque adjustment system represents another quantum leap forward. Traditional vises offer crude pressure control at best, typically through feel alone. The Titaner system allows for calibrated force application, giving users unprecedented control over exactly how much pressure is applied to the workpiece. For jewelers working with soft metals like 24k gold (Mohs hardness of 2.5-3), this precision prevents deformation while still securing the piece. Similarly, model makers working with delicate materials like balsa wood (with compressive strength of just 1.1 MPa parallel to grain) can work confidently knowing their medium wont be crushed.Titanium as a material choice itself lends some solid street cred to this device. With a density of 4.5 g/cm (compared to steels 7.75-8.05 g/cm), the vise maintains incredible strength while weighing 45% less than a steel equivalent. This material choice isnt merely practical; its symbolic of Titaners philosophy. Titanium represents human ingenuity, having only been isolated as an element in 1910 and not commercially refined until the 1950s. Despite its relative newness, its 880C melting point, 0.17 W/mK thermal conductivity, and exceptional corrosion resistance make it almost supernatural in its capabilities. The fact that each vise begins as a solid block of this remarkable metal, precision-milled into complex geometries with tolerances measured in micrometers, speaks volumes about both the engineering ambition and the artistic vision driving the product.The vise functions in multiple orientations, vertical, horizontal, or even inside-out, allowing it to grip items from the inside rather than just externally. This versatility multiplies its utility for specialized tasks like holding hollow cylinders from the inside for engraving work, or securing irregularly shaped objects that traditional vises simply cannot accommodate. A watchmaker could secure a delicate case while working on movement installation, a gunsmith could hold a receiver without marring finished surfaces, or a jewelry designer could secure complex three-dimensional forms that would otherwise require custom fixtures.Users report that the tactile experience of operating the Titaner transcends typical tool interactions. The smooth rotation of the brass adjustment handle (a deliberate material contrast to the titanium body), the precise click of the torque mechanism, and the perfectly balanced weight create what one reviewer called mechanical ASMR. This sensory aspect shouldnt be underestimated; tools that provide positive feedback loops encourage better craftsmanship simply by making precision work more intuitive and satisfying.Real-world applications for this vise span an impressive range. Electronics repair technicians working on modern smartphones need something that can secure tiny components without crushing them. Jewelry makers require precise grip on oddly-shaped pieces during intricate soldering or stone-setting work. Model makers building detailed scale aircraft or architectural miniatures need a vise that can handle delicate assemblies without leaving marks. Even vintage watch restoration, where components might be irreplaceable and worth thousands, benefits from the controlled pressure and adaptive jaw geometry.The limiting of production to 1,000 individually numbered units worldwide creates an interesting tension between the vises functionality and its collectibility. Some buyers will use their Titaner daily, accumulating a patina of work that tells the story of creation. Others will preserve it as an investment piece, recognizing that the intersection of limited availability, exceptional materials, and innovative design typically appreciates in value over time. Most fascinating will be those who manage to inhabit both spaces, using their vise while maintaining its condition, much like collectors of fine watches who wear their timepieces rather than simply vault them.Titaners heritage explains how they achieved this level of refinement. The company has spent 20 years pushing titanium into applications where other manufacturers stick with steel or aluminum. They created the worlds first titanium flashlight in 2005, followed by breakthrough titanium fountain pens, carabiners, rulers, and even toothpicks. Each product taught them something new about working with this notoriously difficult material. Titanium machines differently than other metals, requiring specialized tools, techniques, and an almost intimate understanding of how the material behaves under different conditions.For many workshop tools, perfection means invisibility, simply performing their function without calling attention to themselves. The Titaner fractal vise inverts this relationship, demanding appreciation both when static and in use, without sacrificing a molecule of functionality. It reminds us that humans create tools not merely to accomplish tasks but to express our highest understanding of materials, mechanics, and beauty. In a world increasingly dominated by disposable objects, the Titaner No.1/1000 makes a compelling case for investing in objects that can last generations while elevating daily work from mere productivity into something approaching ritual.The ritualistic approach extends to the products packaging. Each fractal vise comes in an aerospace aluminum vault, almost like something youd use to transport precious exhibits to museums. Inside, the vises parts are neatly laid out on a bed of EVA foam, allowing you to put the entire structure together like a watchmaker builds a mechanical timepiece. The Titaner No.1/1000 comes in 2 variants, a basic (which starts at $1099), and a slightly more detailed single model (priced at $1779) with a different lower clamping structure. The Titaner No.1/1000 ships globally, but given its limited-edition production run, you might want to order yours while its still up for grabs.Click Here to Buy Now: $1099 $2461 (55% off). Hurry, only a few left! Raised over $162,000.The post This Limited-Edition Titanium Fractal Vise Is a Functional Masterpiece That Actually Works first appeared on Yanko Design.
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  • Wacom MovinkPad Pro 14 Sets a New Standard for Portable Creative Tablets
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    Creative professionals increasingly demand tablets that can handle everything from quick sketches to detailed illustration work without being tethered to a computer. The challenge lies in finding devices that offer both the display quality and pen precision that serious work requires, while maintaining the portability that modern workflows demand. Most options force you to choose between professional-grade features and true mobility.What makes the Wacom MovinkPad Pro 14 particularly compelling is how it eliminates these compromises entirely. This new flagship portable creative tablet brings together a stunning OLED display, pro-level pen performance, and a complete Android platform in a package thats designed to go wherever creativity strikes. It fills a crucial gap in Wacoms lineup for creators who refuse to settle.Designer: WacomThe display immediately sets the Pro 14 apart from its siblings and competitors. The 14-inch OLED screen delivers 2880 x 1800 resolution with 100% DCI-P3 and sRGB coverage, plus a peak brightness of 900 nits that makes HDR editing possible. The 120Hz refresh rate ensures ultra-smooth pen response, matching the performance of Wacoms desktop Cintiq Pro line in a portable form factor.The drawing experience feels natural thanks to Wacoms expertly crafted textured glass surface. You get just the right amount of resistance that mimics drawing on paper, while direct bonding minimizes parallax so your strokes appear exactly where you intend them. Best-in-class palm rejection lets you rest your hand naturally without worrying about accidental marks.Of course, the hardware underneath supports serious creative work. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 processor pairs with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, with an SD card slot for expansion. Android 15 provides access to professional creative apps, while the battery-free Wacom Pro Pen 3 offers 8,192 pressure levels and 60 degrees of tilt sensitivity for nuanced artistic control.The workflow features show how Wacom thinks about modern creative processes. Instant Pen Display Mode lets you use the Pro 14 as a wireless or wired pen display for PC or Mac when needed. Video capture can be aligned with drawing data for enhanced review, while the magnetic charging dock and extended battery life support all-day creative sessions.That said, understanding where the Pro 14 fits in Wacoms lineup helps clarify its appeal. The MovinkPad 11 offers a smaller, more affordable option with an 11-inch IPS LCD and less powerful hardware, perfect for students or casual creators. The Wacom One 14 serves as a pen display only, requiring connection to a computer and featuring basic IPS LCD technology without standalone capabilities.The MovinkPad Pro 14 occupies the premium position with its OLED display, powerful Android platform, and professional-grade features. You get the only device in Wacoms portable lineup that combines true display excellence with complete independence from external computers, making it ideal for serious creators who need both quality and flexibility.The Wacom MovinkPad Pro 14 represents what happens when portability meets uncompromising performance. You can finally have professional-grade display quality, pen precision, and creative flexibility in a device that travels as easily as a sketchbook, opening up new possibilities for when and where serious creative work can happen.The post Wacom MovinkPad Pro 14 Sets a New Standard for Portable Creative Tablets first appeared on Yanko Design.
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  • Kodaks New $299 Projector Just Made The 100-Inch Home Theater Absurdly Affordable
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    Kodak. The name itself conjures up sepia-toned memories, the satisfying click of a shutter, the tangible weight of a photograph. For decades, their very essence was about capturing light, freezing moments in time for posterity. It is a legacy deeply etched into the fabric of visual culture, a familiar comfort in a rapidly evolving tech landscape, where screens proliferate and physical media slowly fades into nostalgia.Now, imagine that same brand, still steeped in the visual, but pivoting its gaze. The Kodak Flik X20 projector, arriving at a frankly astonishing $299 USD, flips the script. Instead of capturing images, it unleashes them, transforming mundane surfaces into vibrant digital canvases. This is Kodak inviting everyone, from the casual streamer to the budding cinephile, to experience big screen magic without the usual wallet-emptying ritual, a move that feels both shrewd and genuinely exciting for the consumer market.Designer: Kodak PlusClick Here to Buy Now: $255 $299.99 ($44.99 off, use coupon code YANKOX20). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!Ive long been an advocate for projectors. Theyre portable, they dont need to be bolted into a wall, and they can turn entire rooms into movie theaters. The only deterrent has been the fact that TVs always turn out cheaper in comparison, but thats changed over the past decade. Take the Flik X20, for example for about the same price as a budget smartphone, the Kodak Flik X20 gives you a projector that can cast a massive 100-inch display, turning entire walls into a makeshift movie theater.Underneath its rather slick exterior, the X20 packs a surprisingly robust set of specifications that defy its price tag. We are looking at native 1080p Full HD resolution, which means crisp, clear visuals that feel immersive. Furthermore, it boasts HDR10+ support and the capability to accept 4K input, ensuring that your high-definition content, whether from a streaming service or a connected console, retains its dynamic range and detail. This level of visual fidelity, paired with a maximum screen size of 100 inches, makes for an immersive viewing experience that easily outstrips most televisions in sheer scale.Brightness clocks in at 300 ANSI lumens, which isnt the greatest, but its incredible bang for your buck. Now, before the lumen purists start scoffing, let us frame this properly. This is not your boardroom projector meant to cut through fluorescent lights at noon. This is a projector built for the cozy confines of a dim living room, a bedroom, or that quintessential backyard movie night under the stars. In those environments, 300 ANSI lumens provides a perfectly enjoyable, vibrant picture, making your favorite films and shows pop with sufficient clarity and color.Google TV comes built right in, transforming the projector into a self-contained entertainment hub. This means you are not fumbling with external streaming sticks or juggling multiple remotes; everything you need to access your digital library is available through a single, intuitive interface. The personalized recommendations and seamless navigation of Google TV are a genuine boon, especially for those who appreciate a streamlined user experience. Perhaps the most significant software inclusion is the Netflix certification. Many projectors, even smart ones, struggle with native Netflix app support, often requiring clunky workarounds or external devices to stream the worlds most popular content. The X20 sidesteps this entirely, offering a fully functional, certified Netflix app that works great right out of the box.A slew of automatic adjustment features make setting your Flik X20 up fairly simple. Auto focus ensures your image is always sharp without manual tweaking, while auto keystone correction automatically squares up the picture even if the projector is placed at an angle. For perspective, I own a $299 projector without those features, and manually adjusting the image every time you take the gadget from one room to another is perhaps the most frustrating experience but not with the X20. In fact, it comes with object avoidance built in too, automatically adjusting the image to steer clear of that pesky lamp or picture frame on your wall. A 50 to 100 percent adjustable zoom further refines the image size without the need to physically reposition the unit, providing a surprising degree of flexibility for placement. Thats why televisions are so great, they dont need to be adjusted just switch them on and begin watching. Essentially, the X20 promises just that level of seamlessness.On the audio front, the X20 includes dual 3 watt speakers enhanced with Dolby Digital Plus, providing a more than adequate audio experience for casual viewing. For those who demand a bit more oomph, an audio out port allows for easy connection to external soundbars or home theater systems, offering scalability for different environments and preferences.For other ports, an HDMI 2.1 port handles high-bandwidth video sources like gaming consoles or Blu-ray players, while a USB 2.0 port allows for direct media playback from flash drives. Dual-band Wi-Fi ensures stable streaming performance, and Bluetooth 5.0 provides seamless wireless pairing with headphones or external speakers, catering to both communal and private listening experiences. This array of ports and wireless protocols makes the X20 a truly versatile media gateway.The sheer portability of the Flik X20 is a major draw. Weighing in at under four pounds, it is light enough to toss into a backpack for a weekend trip, move from the living room to the bedroom, or even take outdoors for an impromptu backyard cinema. This compact form factor, combined with its robust feature set, makes it an ideal companion for dorm rooms, RV adventures, or simply transforming any blank wall into an instant entertainment zone. It democratizes the big screen experience, making it accessible wherever you happen to be.The LED light source is rated for an impressive 30,000 hours, which means you could watch a two-hour movie every single day for over 40 years before needing a replacement. It feels unnecessary to really point out, but Kodak knows their hardware they have for a while! The sealed optical engine, a practical engineering choice, helps prevent dust from accumulating on the internal components, a common issue that can degrade image quality over time.Considering the projectors price, youre getting a 1080p movie theater experience for the same price as a budget phone, or 20 movie tickets. And from a legacy brand like Kodak too, which has a nearly 140-year track record in the imaging business. Plus, the Google TV integration, Netflix certification, and automatic image adjustments just make this a camera that knows what its offering, and knows who its target audience is people looking to dip their toes in the projector world without taking big risks, or projector evangelists who just want a second, affordable one to put in their bedroom or the kids bedroom.Click Here to Buy Now: $255 $299.99 ($44.99 off, use coupon code YANKOX20). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!The post Kodaks New $299 Projector Just Made The 100-Inch Home Theater Absurdly Affordable first appeared on Yanko Design.
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  • 5 Ways the LiberNovo Omni Dynamic Ergonomic Chair Is Changing How We Sit
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    Most ergonomic chairs promise to solve your back pain, then force you into rigid positions that feel more like punishment than comfort. You spend your day constantly adjusting lumbar support, repositioning armrests, and shifting around, trying to find that perfect spot that never quite exists. The average American now sits 9.5 hours daily, yet traditional ergonomic solutions still treat our bodies like theyre designed to stay perfectly still.The LiberNovo Omni takes a completely different approach by adapting to your movements instead of fighting against them. This dynamic ergonomic chair recently launched its North American pre-sale after making history on Kickstarter, and the timing couldnt be better for professionals, gamers, and anyone tired of accepting discomfort as part of their daily routine.Designer: Alex Yan, LiberNovo Founder & CEOClick Here to Buy Now: $1099.Record-Breaking Success Signals Real DemandThe LiberNovo Omni didnt just meet its Kickstarter goals but became the highest-funded ergonomic office chair in platform history. This overwhelming response reveals something important about how people feel about their current seating situations. Thousands of backers werent just buying a chair. They were investing in a solution to problems they face every single day at their desks.The campaigns success came at exactly the right moment when remote work, extended gaming sessions, and digital creativity have made comfortable seating more crucial than ever. Early reviewers and Kickstarter backers consistently praised the chairs ability to reduce fatigue and maintain focus during long sessions, validating what many suspected: static ergonomic chairs simply arent enough anymore.1. Dynamic Support That Actually Moves With YouTraditional chairs expect you to find the right position and stay there, but the Omnis Dynamic Support System automatically adjusts to your micro-movements throughout the day. Whether youre leaning forward to focus on code, stretching back during a video call, or shifting positions while gaming, the chair responds instantly to keep your body properly supported.The SyncroLink mechanism connects the seat, backrest, and armrests into one unified system that moves together seamlessly. This means no more awkward transitions where half your body loses support while youre repositioning. Every component stays aligned with your posture, maintaining comfort without requiring any conscious adjustment from you.2. Bionic FlexFit Backrest Molds to Your SpineThe chairs most impressive feature is its Bionic FlexFit Backrest, engineered with sixteen precision joints and eight adaptive panels that automatically mirror your spines natural S-curve. This creates gapless, contour-hugging support that feels custom-fitted from the moment you sit down, eliminating those pressure points that develop with traditional lumbar support systems.This sophisticated backrest design actively reduces disc pressure and supports healthy spinal alignment throughout your workday. The system responds to your posture changes in real time, providing distributed support across your entire lower back rather than creating a single pressure point that becomes uncomfortable after a few hours.3. Four Recline Modes for Every ActivityThe Omni offers four intelligently designed recline angles that actually serve different purposes rather than just being arbitrary stopping points. The 105-degree Deep Focus mode keeps you alert and stable for presentations and calls, while the 120-degree Solo-Work position provides balanced support for extended concentration periods.The 135-degree Soft Recline works perfectly for gaming sessions or content consumption, and the 160-degree Spine Flow mode transforms the chair into an active recovery station. This final position enables spinal decompression and serves as the foundation for the chairs massage-like stretch feature, helping you recharge between intense work periods.4. Comprehensive Comfort From Head to ToeBeyond the dynamic backrest, every component of the Omni is designed to address specific comfort challenges. The 4D armrests adjust in height, width, depth, and angle, automatically repositioning during recline to maintain proper elbow support. The 3D neck support moves both vertically and horizontally, staying aligned with your head regardless of your sitting position.The multi-density seat cushion uses zoned support with firmer areas under your sit bones and softer regions toward the front edge to prevent leg numbness during extended sessions. An optional footrest completes the full-body support system, creating a comprehensive solution that addresses every common pain point from neck strain to circulation issues.5. Premium Materials Meet Sustainable DesignThe chair combines premium comfort with environmental responsibility through recycled mesh backing, glass-fiber-reinforced nylon construction, and modular components designed for easy repair and replacement. The materials feel genuinely luxurious while supporting the chairs dynamic functionality, with the flexible nylon enabling the responsive movement that makes the system work.LiberNovos commitment to sustainability extends to minimal, recyclable packaging and a five-year frame warranty that demonstrates confidence in long-term durability. The modular design philosophy means individual components can be serviced or upgraded without replacing the entire chair, supporting both environmental goals and user investment protection.Designed for Real LifeThe LiberNovo Omni succeeds because it acknowledges how people actually work and live, adapting to the reality of long coding sessions, creative marathons, gaming adventures, and video call schedules. The chair moves with you throughout your day, maintaining alignment and comfort without forcing you to think about your posture or make constant manual adjustments.North American pre-sales are now open through October 20, with the LiberNovo Omni starting at $848 in the USA and C$1,292 in Canada, representing significant savings of 23% and 29% respectively from regular pricing. Early customers can secure an additional 5% new-customer discount during the pre-sale period, bringing the USA price as low as $806. Each order includes a complimentary gift pack featuring an eye mask, eco-bag, and foot cushion, with shipping beginning October 20 for customers ready to experience ergonomic seating that finally works with your body.Click Here to Buy Now: $1099.The post 5 Ways the LiberNovo Omni Dynamic Ergonomic Chair Is Changing How We Sit first appeared on Yanko Design.
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  • Dragon Tiny Homes Unveils the Webster: A Game-Changing 32-Foot Family Haven
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    Dragon Tiny Homes has shattered expectations with their latest creation, the Webster, a sprawling 32-foot tiny house that redefines compact living possibilities. Breaking away from the companys traditional focus on ultra-small, budget-friendly models, this three-bedroom giant represents their most ambitious design to date. At 32 feet long and 8.5 feet wide, this isnt your typical tiny house, commanding attention with impressive dimensions and a thoughtful layout that accommodates up to six people comfortably.The Webster immediately impresses with its intelligent use of vertical space and soaring 11-foot ceilings in the main living area. The ground-level master bedroom provides convenient access for adults, while two generous lofts offer private retreats for children or guests. This multi-level approach maximizes living space without sacrificing comfort or privacy, addressing one of the biggest challenges in tiny house design while creating an unexpectedly spacious feel that rivals traditional homes.Designer: Dragon Tiny HomesThe kitchen represents a significant upgrade from typical tiny house standards, featuring full-size appliances, including a dishwasher, that transforms meal preparation from a cramped chore into an enjoyable experience. Generous storage solutions, featuring both upper and lower cabinets, ensure everything has its place, while spacious countertops provide ample workspace for serious cooking. This attention to full-size amenities makes the Webster genuinely suitable for long-term family living rather than just weekend getaways.Perhaps most impressive is the bathroom, which Dragon Tiny Homes describes as their largest to date. The combination bathroom and laundry area eliminates the compromise usually required in tiny living, offering both functionality and comfort. The ground-level master bedroom provides convenient access and privacy, while the two spacious lofts create distinct sleeping areas. Natural light floods throughout via strategically placed windows, maintaining an open, airy atmosphere that defies typical tiny house limitations.The living room serves as Websters crown jewel, with dramatic tall ceilings creating an entertainment space that feels genuinely roomy. Dragon Tiny Homes currently offers an exceptional package deal for early adopters. The Webster model home, priced at $85,000, includes its own lot, private yard, driveway, plus six months of free rent at the Savannah Acres Community in Georgia. This limited-time offer represents extraordinary value for immediate tiny living adoption.The Websters versatility extends beyond family housing, with spacious design and high-end finishes making it equally suitable for Airbnb rental properties. Currently available as a model home at the Georgia community, Dragon Tiny Homes plans to offer the Webster as a standard construction option soon. Future buyers will enjoy extensive customization opportunities, particularly for kitchen and bathroom configurations, allowing personalization while maintaining core strengths that prove tiny doesnt mean compromised living.The post Dragon Tiny Homes Unveils the Webster: A Game-Changing 32-Foot Family Haven first appeared on Yanko Design.
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  • Welder Foldable Keyboard Blends Tactile Typing With Touchscreen Magic
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    Portable keyboards have always involved frustrating compromises between typing comfort, functionality, and actual portability that you can live with daily. Most travel keyboards sacrifice key feel for size, while others maintain decent typing but become too bulky for regular carry. The Welder folding mechanical keyboard attempts to solve this dilemma by adding something unexpected: a 12.8-inch touchscreen that transforms any laptop into a dual-screen workstation.The engineering challenge of cramming a quality display, mechanical switches, and a robust folding mechanism into a portable package becomes apparent when you examine the Welders construction details. CNC-machined aluminum chassis provides the structural integrity needed for both the 180-degree folding hinge and the precision required for consistent key feel across all 84 switches. The result weighs about 1kg, which sounds heavy until you consider youre getting a mechanical keyboard, secondary display, and charging hub.Designer: WelderClick Here to Buy Now: $359 $699 ($340 off). Hurry, only 498/500 left! Raised over $52,000.The 180-degree folding design represents genuine innovation in portable keyboard engineering, allowing the device to fold completely flat for transport like a laptop. When unfolded, the hinge locks securely to provide a stable typing platform that wont flex or wobble during intensive use. The aluminum construction ensures the folding mechanism can handle daily use without developing the looseness or instability that plagues cheaper folding devices over time.The 12.8-inch IPS touchscreen delivers 1920720 resolution with 10-point capacitive touch, providing enough real estate for meaningful multitasking without overwhelming your desk space. The display supports seamless window extension from your laptop, letting you drag applications between screens with the same fluidity youd expect from a traditional dual-monitor setup. Whether youre coding with documentation on the secondary screen, streaming while gaming, or monitoring social media while editing, the workflow feels natural.Mechanical keyboard enthusiasts will appreciate that the Welder doesnt compromise on typing feel despite its innovative features and portable design. The 84-key layout maintains essential keys while staying compact, and the mechanical switches provide the tactile feedback that makes long typing sessions comfortable and accurate. RGB backlighting offers 18 different modes ranging from subtle breathing effects to reactive touch patterns, allowing users to match their lighting to their mood.The RGB customization goes beyond mere aesthetics, with modes like Gaming Mode, Reactive Touch, and various flowing patterns that respond to your typing rhythm. One-touch switching between effects means you can quickly adapt your setup for focused work, creative sessions, or gaming without diving into complex software menus. The lighting system integrates seamlessly with the aluminum chassis, creating even illumination that enhances rather than distracts from the typing experience throughout extended use sessions.Connectivity reflects modern workflow needs with dual USB-C ports and one USB-A port for flexible device connections. The keyboard provides 65W power delivery to charge laptops while simultaneously offering 30W for peripherals, essentially functioning as a powered USB hub alongside its input and display functions. Fast OGT data transfer ensures responsive touch input and smooth video performance when extending your laptops display for multitasking scenarios.The Welder excels in scenarios where traditional portable keyboards fall short, particularly for users who need genuine multitasking capability while traveling or working in temporary spaces. Content creators can monitor chat or social media on the keyboard display while streaming, programmers can keep documentation visible while coding, and business users can reference spreadsheets while taking notes or writing reports without constantly switching between windows.What makes the Welder particularly compelling is how it addresses the fundamental limitation of laptop productivity: screen real estate. By providing a secondary display thats always available and doesnt require additional setup or dongles, it transforms any laptop into a more capable workstation. The mechanical switches ensure that extended typing sessions remain comfortable, while the premium aluminum construction suggests this device is built for years of daily use.The Welder represents a thoughtful evolution in portable productivity tools, combining the tactile satisfaction of mechanical keyboards with the workflow benefits of dual-screen computing. By integrating these traditionally separate functions into a single, foldable device, it offers a glimpse of how mobile workstations might evolve to meet the demands of increasingly complex digital workflows.Click Here to Buy Now: $359 $699 ($340 off). Hurry, only 498/500 left! Raised over $52,000.The post Welder Foldable Keyboard Blends Tactile Typing With Touchscreen Magic first appeared on Yanko Design.
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  • 45 diagonal blender may turn those internet recipes into mess-free reality
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    One of my hobbies is scrolling through Reels or TikTok, saving recipes, and then never trying them out. Well, Ive decided to actually make some of these supposedly simple recipes, but sometimes they look easier than they are in real life. One thing that looks smooth in these videos is blending ingredients in a blender, yet the reality is often messier and more difficult than it appears. Perhaps my current blender is to blame, so Im on the lookout for a better one.The Tiger EdgeSLBA10U from Japanese company Tiger could make my kitchen life a little easier. It uses 45degree diagonal drive technology, which sets it apart from other blenders on the market. Simply put, it can crush vegetables and fruits into the smooth texture you want without the hassle and mess you normally get.Designer: Tiger EdgeThe Tiger EdgeSLBA10U is a compact, 32oz (1L) countertop blender that packs a 120V ULcertified motor and ten variable speeds plus pulse into a lightweight, spacesaving package. Its standout 45 diagonal stainlesssteel blade moves upward and downward like a kitchen knife, delivering up to 23% more effective cutting action than traditional horizontal blades and producing exceptionally smooth textures for smoothies, soups, and purees. The blenders BPAfree Tritan container is dishwashersafe, and the duallocking safety lid prevents spills, while the quietoperation motor runs at roughly 88dB, which is considerably quieter than many premium competitors.Beyond performance, the SLBA10U offers practical conveniences such as an easystore cord reel, a durable blacktitanium exterior coating, and a lightweight design that makes it ideal for small kitchens or apartment living. Its tenspeed range and pulse function give users precise control over blending tasks, and the 9lb weight keeps the unit portable without sacrificing stability. Altogether, the Tiger Edge blends innovative blade technology, quiet operation, and userfriendly features into a versatile appliance suited for everyday home cooking.If Im ready to graduate to more complicated recipes that involve blenders but Im too lazy to chop all the ingredients, the Tiger EdgeSLBA10U could become my dream appliance. Its powerful 45degree diagonal blade can pulverize whole fruits, leafy greens, and even tougher vegetables with minimal prep, so I can toss a handful of raw produce straight into the jar and let the machine do the work. The quiet motor means I wont have to worry about waking up the whole house, and the dishwashersafe Tritan container eliminates the dreaded handwashing ritual. With ten speed settings and a pulse function, I can finetune the texture to achieve that perfectly silky smooth look I see on TikTok reels, all while keeping the countertop clean and the cleanup quick. In short, this blender promises to turn a timeconsuming, messy process into a streamlined, hasslefree experience.The post 45 diagonal blender may turn those internet recipes into mess-free reality first appeared on Yanko Design.
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  • +- Chess Set Concept: Modern Geometry and Accessibility Meet on the Board
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    Chess sets have traditionally relied on color and intricate figurative details to help players distinguish between sides, but this approach often creates barriers for people with visual impairments or those playing in low-light conditions. Most designers focus on making chess pieces more ornate or visually striking, yet few consider how the fundamental interaction with the game could be improved through thoughtful geometric design.What makes the +- Chess set particularly compelling is how it tackles these accessibility challenges through pure geometric logic rather than decorative solutions. By using convex shapes for one side and concave shapes for the other, this concept design creates instant visual and tactile distinction that works equally well whether youre looking at the board or navigating the game entirely through touch.Designers: Ana K. & Sandro Lominashvili (Integrated Architecture)The pieces themselves follow a strict geometric vocabulary that feels both minimalist and purposeful. You get smooth, domed surfaces for the + side and scalloped, indented profiles for the side. Each piece type remains distinguishable through height and form, but the real innovation lies in how the surface geometry immediately tells you which side each piece belongs to, whether youre looking at it or feeling it.Of course, the board extends this geometric thinking beyond the pieces themselves. Rather than standard flat squares, the playing surface alternates between convex and concave areas that mirror the piece design. This creates a sculptural quality that transforms the entire chess set into a cohesive design statement while providing clear tactile boundaries for navigation during play.The tactile experience becomes especially meaningful when you consider players with visual impairments. The geometric differences make it possible to distinguish between sides instantly through touch alone, while the undulating board surface provides clear orientation cues. You can run your fingers across the pieces and board, understanding the game state without relying on sight, making chess truly accessible to everyone.That said, the visual impact remains striking for sighted players. The interplay between the smooth and textured surfaces creates dynamic shadows and visual interest that elevate chess from a simple board game to a sculptural art piece. The monochromatic color scheme lets the geometry take center stage, emphasizing form over decoration.The choice of 3D-printed PLA reflects modern manufacturing sensibilities while keeping the concept environmentally conscious. At 455 455 100 mm, the set maintains a substantial presence without overwhelming the space, making it suitable for both serious play and display. The material choice also ensures consistent tactile feedback across all pieces, which becomes crucial for the accessibility features to work effectively.Youll notice how every design decision serves multiple purposes, from the pure aesthetic appeal to the practical accessibility benefits. This kind of thoughtful integration shows how good design can enhance experiences for everyone without compromising on visual appeal or functionality.The +- Chess set represents what happens when designers approach familiar objects with fresh eyes and inclusive thinking. It proves that accessibility and beauty arent competing goals; theyre complementary aspects of truly thoughtful design that make experiences better for everyone involved.The post +- Chess Set Concept: Modern Geometry and Accessibility Meet on the Board first appeared on Yanko Design.
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  • Slider-GameMackey Is a Fidget Toy That Feels Like a Pocket-Sized Game Console
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    Fidget toys have come a long way from simple stress balls and spinners. These days, youll find everything from intricate sliders to complex mechanical puzzles designed to keep your hands busy. But 01EDCs Slider-GameMackey takes the concept somewhere completely unexpected, transforming the humble fidget toy into a nostalgic gaming experience that fits right in your pocket.One look at this thing and youre instantly transported back to childhood afternoons spent hunched over handheld game consoles. The design is unmistakably retro, complete with a classic D-pad, A and B buttons, and even a START button for good measure. The upper section features an intricate maze that looks like it belongs on a vintage puzzle game, while the lower half mimics the familiar button layout we all remember.Designer: 01EDCThe magic happens when you actually start playing with it. The side slider mechanism boasts 26 ultra-dense tracks that create the most satisfying gliding action youve ever felt in a fidget toy. Each button can be pressed independently, giving you that familiar tactile click of classic gaming controls. Then theres the maze patch, where you can actually navigate a tiny ball through the labyrinth, adding a puzzle element to your fidgeting session.What makes the Slider-GameMackey so addictive is how it engages multiple senses at once. The slider provides smooth, repetitive motion thats perfect for stress relief, while the buttons offer that satisfying click we all crave. The maze challenges your problem-solving skills, turning mindless fidgeting into an engaging mental exercise. Its like having three different toys rolled into one compact package.Build quality is where 01EDC really shines. The metal construction feels substantial without being heavy, and the precision machining ensures everything moves exactly as it should. The edges are perfectly smooth, and the various colorways range from sleek metallics to vibrant translucent options. Some editions even feature custom engravings that turn the toy into a genuine collectible piece.This isnt just another desk toy that gets forgotten after a week. The Slider-GameMackey works equally well as a stress reliever during intense work sessions, a focus aid during long meetings, or simply as a conversation starter that shows off your appreciation for clever design. EDC enthusiasts will love how it fits seamlessly into their daily carry rotation.Theres something deeply satisfying about rediscovering the joy of tactile play through such a cleverly designed object. The Slider-GameMackey taps into that universal love of buttons, switches, and puzzles that never really leaves us, no matter how grown-up we pretend to be. It reminds us that the best designs often come from combining familiar elements in unexpected ways.Next time you catch yourself mindlessly scrolling through your phone during a break, imagine having this little gaming-inspired marvel in your hands instead. The most delightful distractions often hide in plain sight, ready to turn any ordinary moment into a playful adventure that fits perfectly in your pocket.The post Slider-GameMackey Is a Fidget Toy That Feels Like a Pocket-Sized Game Console first appeared on Yanko Design.
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  • Bench turns plastic waste into beautiful outdoor furniture
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    The Torii Bench began with a simple question asked every day at Placyle: what if plastic waste could be turned into something beautiful? The idea was to show the true value of plastic, not as garbage but as possibility. While walking beneath the red gates of Fushimi Inari in Kyoto, the designer was struck by the pure, elemental form of the torii gatea threshold that invites movement yet offers moments of stillness. That feeling of entering a calmer space became the soul of the benchs design.Translating that emotion into outdoor furniture produced a minimal silhouette: two upright pillars and a floating lintel, abstracted into a light, architectural profile. The rhythm of the bench is defined by parallel recycledplastic lumbers that cast subtle shadows, have soft edges, and provide reassuring solidity under the hand. The result feels both familiar and newceremonial in line, everyday in use.Designer: Aliasgar AboojiwalaEvery Torii Bench is made from 100% recycled plastic recovered from postconsumer and industrial waste streams. The material is UVstable, weatherproof, splinterfree, and tactile, speckled with tiny hints of its past life that are preserved rather than hidden. Stainlesssteel fixtures add longterm rigidity and remain rustfree.Designing for real life meant designing for logistics. The bench ships flatpack: legs fold inward with adjusted hole placements and hardware that makes assembly toolsimple and intuitive. This reduces shipping volume and carbon cost, and makes installation painless for individuals and communities. For those seeking added comfort, the Torii Bench offers three expressions within the same design language: a pure architectural seat, a quietly cushioned version for longer pauses, and a loungestyle option with a soft armrest bolster for unhurried conversations. One core frame supports multiple expressions without reengineering.The bench is available in calm neutrals, earthy naturals, and bold statement hues, each plank acting as a quiet archive of waste plastic given a second life. Field tests rate the bench at a 300kg load capacity, with finishes designed to withstand sun, rain, and public use. Every unit carries a story that helps clients communicate sustainability in ways people can touch.Placed along a pathway, in a residential courtyard, on a patio, or beside a museum path, the Torii Bench serves as a threshold between movement and pausea piece of architecture scaled for the body and a small, everyday reminder that circular design can be beautiful, durable, and human. By turning discarded plastic into a functional work of art, the Torii Bench demonstrates how thoughtful design can transform waste into value, inviting users to sit, reflect, and appreciate the possibilities hidden in the materials we often overlook.The post Bench turns plastic waste into beautiful outdoor furniture first appeared on Yanko Design.
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  • Discover the AION Gentlemans EDC Knife That Redefines Everyday Precision
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    Theres something deeply satisfying about holding a tool that feels engineered rather than manufactured, isnt there? The weight distribution, the way surfaces meet, the subtle click of mechanisms engaging with precision rather than just adequacy. Most folding knives today prioritize function over finesse, delivering utility without much thought to the daily experience of carrying and using them. Polish designer Ostap Hel and the team at OKnife apparently disagreed with this approach when they set out to create something different.The AION folding knife emerged from an unusual collaboration that began at Blade Show 2023, where Hels philosophy of simplicity and precision aligned with OKnifes vision of creating tools that transcend mere utility. Rather than starting with existing knife conventions, they drew inspiration from the geometric forms of Olights Arkfeld Ultra flashlight, translating those clean lines and faceted surfaces into a blade that feels both contemporary and timeless. The name itself references the Greek concept of eternal time, suggesting ambitions beyond typical product cycles.Designer: Ostap HelClick Here to Buy Now: $95 $120 ($25 off). Hurry, only 80/200 left! Raised over $204,000.What sets AION apart becomes apparent the moment you handle it, starting with details that most manufacturers would consider unnecessary complications. The extended jimping along the spine provides not just better traction but also more confident transfer of force in every cut, whether youre preparing kindling for a campfire or opening stubborn packaging in your workshop. The flipper and liner lock deliver a snappy, precise action, locking solidly with the assurance of fine engineering that makes each deployment feel deliberate rather than accidental.Perhaps most notably, AION features OKnifes first hidden pivot system, creating a near-seamless spine fit that enhances the knifes continuous silhouette while making the grip feel more organic and balanced in your hand. This isnt just an aesthetic flourish but practical engineering that eliminates the typical pivot screw protrusion that can catch on pockets or interfere with a comfortable grip during extended use. The geometric facets running through the handle create visual interest while providing secure purchase points for your fingers.AION-Zr DamascusThe material choices reflect serious consideration of how different users might employ their knives in real-world scenarios rather than just laboratory testing conditions. The zirconium Damascus version offers a unique pattern thats literally impossible to replicate, like a fingerprint in metal, paired with M390 powder steel that holds its edge through countless tasks. For those who prefer lighter carry, the OAL aluminum variant provides an exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, while the titanium option balances industrial toughness with refined elegance that improves with age and use.AION-TiFlying Tigers Bomber EditionThese material decisions matter most when youre actually using the knife for the tasks that define daily carry: slicing through rope while setting up camp, trimming excess material from craft projects, or making precise cuts in leather or fabric. The hand-rubbed blade finishes arent just beautiful but functional, reducing friction during cuts, while the DLC coating on certain variants provides corrosion resistance that keeps the blade performing consistently regardless of weather conditions or work environments you encounter.The butt-end dual-handed clip represents another thoughtful departure from convention, positioning the pocket clip for perfect symmetry while accommodating both left and right-handed users without compromise. Traditional side-mounted clips often create imbalance and can interfere with the knifes profile, but AIONs approach maintains clean lines while ensuring secure, comfortable carry that doesnt telegraph the presence of a blade to casual observers.The manufacturing process itself deserves recognition, combining CNC precision machining with meticulous hand finishing to ensure each AION represents a faithful realization of the original design concept. This hybrid approach allows for the consistency that modern users expect while preserving the subtle variations and attention to detail that distinguish handcrafted tools from mass-produced alternatives. Each knife feels like a one-to-one translation of the designers vision rather than a compromise forced by manufacturing limitations.What makes AION particularly compelling is how it addresses the often-overlooked reality that the best tools become extensions of their users rather than mere implements. The knifes proportions work intuitively, the materials make sense for their intended applications, and the overall aesthetic feels comfortably cohesive rather than trying to make bold statements about tactical capability or aggressive styling that many EDC knives unfortunately embrace.Click Here to Buy Now: $95 $120 ($25 off). Hurry, only 80/200 left! Raised over $204,000.The post Discover the AION Gentlemans EDC Knife That Redefines Everyday Precision first appeared on Yanko Design.
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  • Bigme Hibreak Pro Color Challenges Distraction-Heavy Smartphones with E Ink Innovation
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    Phone-like devices that deliberately avoid the addictive qualities of modern smartphones are becoming surprisingly common. From the reMarkable Paper Pro Move to various E Ink readers shaped like phones, manufacturers are recognizing that many people want the connectivity of a smartphone without the constant dopamine hits from social media notifications and bright, attention-grabbing screens.The Bigme Hibreak Pro Color joins this movement with a twist that sets it apart from most alternatives. While devices like the reMarkable focus on note-taking and reading, the Hibreak Pro Color runs full Android 14 with Google Play support, making it a legitimate smartphone that just happens to use an eye-friendly E Ink display instead of the usual LCD or OLED screen.Designer: BigmeThe standout feature is the new Kaleido 3 color E Ink screen, which adds a limited but useful color palette to what was previously a black-and-white display. The colors arent as vibrant or crisp as youd see on a traditional phone screen, but theyre perfectly adequate for app icons, simple graphics, and reading materials. The trade-off comes with reduced sharpness compared to monochrome E Ink, but the eye comfort benefits remain intact.Bigme kept most specifications nearly identical to the original black-and-white Hibreak Pro, with the main upgrade being Bluetooth 5.3 for better connectivity. The 4G and 5G network support means you can use this as your primary phone, complete with calling, texting, and data access. This distinguishes it from WiFi-only devices that require you to carry a separate phone for cellular connectivity.The screen aspect ratio feels much more phone-like compared to the tall, narrow display of the reMarkable Paper Pro Move. This makes the Hibreak Pro Color easier to use one-handed and more familiar for anyone switching from a traditional smartphone. However, unlike the reMarkable, theres no stylus support, positioning this device firmly in the smartphone category rather than the digital notebook space.Competition in this niche is heating up, with BOOX teasing its own color and cellular upgrade to the popular Palma 2, though details remain unconfirmed. The reMarkable Paper Pro Move takes a different approach entirely, focusing on handwriting and annotation rather than general smartphone functionality. Each device serves different needs within the broader movement toward more mindful technology use.The Hibreak Pro Color makes the most sense for people who want to reduce eye strain and digital distractions without giving up smartphone convenience. It handles reading, messaging, and light productivity tasks well, though youll need to adjust expectations for media consumption and gaming. The E Ink refresh rates simply cant match traditional displays for video or fast-moving content.These devices represent a growing recognition that our relationship with technology needs rebalancing. The Hibreak Pro Color offers a middle ground between complete digital detox and the overwhelming stimulation of modern smartphones, suggesting that sometimes the best innovation comes from deliberately doing less.The post Bigme Hibreak Pro Color Challenges Distraction-Heavy Smartphones with E Ink Innovation first appeared on Yanko Design.
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  • Pilotis dazzling aluminum canopy adorns Washington
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    Piloti is the latest stunning installation by Marc Fornes and his innovative studio THEVERYMANY. Located in Washington, this sculptural canopy is quickly capturing the attention of design enthusiasts and the general public alike. Crafted from a remarkable 6,665 custom aluminum parts, Piloti is both a feat of engineering and a work of art, offering a new kind of architectural experience in an urban setting.Marc Fornes, known for his futuristic and fluid designs, has once again pushed the boundaries of what is possible with lightweight metal structures. The Piloti canopy, which also resembles a giant open umbrella, is a testament to his signature style: organic forms, intricate patterns, and an engaging interplay of light and shadow. Each piece of the aluminum skin was uniquely designed and precisely fabricated, making the entire structure feel almost alive as it responds to the movement of sun and people around it.Designer Name: Marc Fornes / THEVERYMANYWalking beneath Piloti, visitors are greeted by a mesmerizing display of patterns. The canopys perforated surface not only provides shelter from the elements but also filters sunlight in a playful, ever-changing way. This dynamic relationship between structure and environment is central to THEVERYMANYs design philosophy. Instead of a static shelter, Piloti offers an interactive experience, inviting people to linger, explore, and look up in wonder.The installation is located in a vibrant public space, serving as more than just a visual landmark. Piloti was envisioned as a gathering point, a place where communities can come together for events, relaxation, or spontaneous moments of connection. The projects name, Piloti, references the architectural term for columns or supports that lift a building above the ground, a fitting description for a structure that appears to float effortlessly above its visitors.Sustainability also played a crucial role in the creation of Piloti. Aluminum, the main material, is lightweight, durable, and fully recyclable, making it an environmentally responsible choice. The modular assembly of 6,665 parts allowed for efficient fabrication and installation, reducing waste and simplifying transportation.Marc Fornes and his team are recognized worldwide for their pioneering use of computational design and digital fabrication. By leveraging advanced software and precise manufacturing techniques, THEVERYMANY can realize complex geometries that would be impossible to achieve by hand. Piloti is a perfect example of how technology and creativity can come together to shape inspiring public spaces.Since its unveiling, Piloti has become a popular backdrop for photos, gatherings, and city tours. It continues to demonstrate how thoughtful design can transform everyday environments into extraordinary experiences. For anyone interested in contemporary architecture, innovative materials, or simply looking for a beautiful spot to enjoy in Washington, Piloti is a must-see.The post Pilotis dazzling aluminum canopy adorns Washington first appeared on Yanko Design.
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  • This $2000 Handheld Tablet Thinks It Can Bring 3D Gaming Back From The Dead
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    So DIGIERA just dropped a handheld that converts any game into 3D in real-time, costs two grand, and somehow thinks this is the moment 3D gaming makes its comeback. The audacity is breathtaking, honestly. While the rest of the industry is arguing about OLED versus LCD screens, these folks decided to reinvent the entire visual experience with a glasses-free 3D display that actually tracks your eyes and adjusts the image accordingly. Its the kind of move that either marks a company as visionary pioneers or spectacular failures, with very little middle ground. But after digging into the specs and seeing the early demos from IFA 2025, Im starting to think they might be onto something genuinely revolutionary.The HoloMax represents everything wild about where portable gaming is heading right now. This device refuses to pick a lane, functioning as a tablet, a handheld console, and a laptop depending on how you configure its detachable parts. Its powered by AMDs latest AI-focused silicon, packed with enough RAM to embarrass most desktops, and somehow manages to cram all of this into a form factor that you can actually hold in your hands. The whole package feels like someone took a gaming laptop, a Steam Deck, and a holographic display from a sci-fi movie, then smashed them together with reckless abandon.Designer: DIGIERAAt the very heart of this device is the screen, and its a technological marvel on paper. Were looking at a 10.95-inch display pushing a 2.5K resolution, specifically 2560 by 1600 pixels, at a fluid 120 Hz refresh rate. The magic comes from its autostereoscopic technology, which works in tandem with real-time eye-tracking cameras. This allows the system to constantly adjust the 3D image based on your viewing angle, creating a stable and convincing sense of depth that doesnt shatter the moment you move your head. Its a far cry from the Nintendo 3DS, which had a notoriously narrow field of view. Powering this is the AstraDepth3D engine, an AI pipeline that handles the on-the-fly conversion of standard 2D games and video into 3D.That impressive display is housed in a body that refuses to be just one thing. Its a true hybrid, with detachable magnetic controllers that snap onto the sides for handheld gaming or come off for wireless play. The main tablet body, which weighs a substantial 870 grams, has an integrated kickstand and comes with a detachable keyboard, allowing it to transform into a compact laptop. The controllers themselves feature Hall effect joysticks and linear triggers, hitting all the right notes for a premium gaming experience. The whole package measures 374 by 171 by 15.9 mm, making it bigger than a Steam Deck but smaller than an ultraportable laptop, carving out a very specific niche for itself.To drive that demanding display and its 3D conversion, the HoloMax is packed with some of the latest silicon from AMD. The top-tier configuration boasts the new 12-core, 24-thread Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, a chip designed for high-performance mobile computing. This is paired with integrated Radeon 890M-class graphics, which should be more than capable of handling modern AAA titles at the screens native resolution. To keep everything running smoothly, it can be configured with up to 64 GB of fast LPDDR5 memory and a massive 4 TB of NVMe PCIe 4.0 storage. These are desktop-replacement level specs, and it signals that DIGIERA is targeting power users who want a single device for gaming, creativity, and productivity.A powerful hybrid needs strong connectivity, and the HoloMax delivers a robust selection of ports. It includes a USB-C 4.0 port that supports both charging and external display output, a second USB-C port, a legacy USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 port for older peripherals, and a full-size HDMI 2.1 output. A 3.5mm headphone jack rounds out the physical connections, which is always a welcome sight. On the wireless front, it supports the latest WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.3 standards. This comprehensive I/O means you can dock it to a full desk setup with a monitor, mouse, and keyboard without needing a clumsy dongle, reinforcing its role as a versatile, all-in-one machine.Of course, all that power raises questions about battery life. The main tablet contains a 7,200 mAh battery, which DIGIERA rates for a modest 3.3 hours of gaming or a more respectable 10 hours of video playback. This is fairly typical for high-performance handhelds, but it means you will probably want to keep the charger handy. The detachable controllers have their own 650 mAh batteries, and an included 2,100 mAh bridging dock can be used to join them together for wireless play while providing some extra juice. The cooling system consists of a 4,200 RPM fan, dual copper heat pipes, and an aluminum heatsink, all necessary to keep the powerful components from throttling during intense sessions.This kind of cutting-edge tech comes at a steep price. DIGIERA is launching the HoloMax on Kickstarter in October 2025, with pricing that firmly places it in the premium category. The three configurations carry super early bird prices of $1,699, $1,999, and $2,399. For those willing to put down a $30 deposit now, those prices drop to a slightly more palatable $1,499, $1,699, and $1,999. It is an expensive proposition, but DIGIERA is betting that the unique combination of a glasses-free 3D display, high-end performance, and a flexible hybrid design will be enough to entice enthusiasts who want to be on the bleeding edge of portable gaming technology.The post This $2000 Handheld Tablet Thinks It Can Bring 3D Gaming Back From The Dead first appeared on Yanko Design.
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  • Ranking the Worlds Thinnest Phones: Why a 10-Year-Old Record Still Hasnt Been Broken
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    The pursuit of the impossibly thin smartphone has undeniably become one of 2025s most compelling design narratives. This was not a subtle shift; the industrys pivot towards extreme slimness has been a clear and deliberate trend, a collective re-evaluation of what constitutes premium design after years focused on camera bumps and battery heft. With whispers of an iPhone Air variant potentially gracing our screens on September 9th, the question looms: is this a confident stride into a new era of sleekness, or a touch of hubris that might revive haunting memories of bendgate? Either way, the race is on, and the current contenders are pushing the boundaries of what we thought possible.Measuring thinness, however, becomes an intriguing challenge when foldables enter the arena. While a traditional candybar phone presents a single, static dimension, a foldable offers two: its folded state and its dramatically thinner unfolded state. For this list, we embrace the most impressive measurement a device can achieve, celebrating the engineering marvel that allows a phone to stretch into an almost paper-thin profile. This article is about the absolute thinnest a phone can be, plain and simple. And yes, that does make the comparison between candybars and foldables unfair in certain regards, but well try to thread that needle with millimeter precision, so to speak. That being said, stick around till the end to see how a phone from 2014 still holds the thinnest smartphone record even after a decade!Huawei Mate XT Ultimate 3.6mm unfolded (2025)Huaweis approach to thinness is a masterclass in extremes. The Mate XT Ultimate is not just a foldable; it is a tri-foldable, a wild piece of kit that unfolds twice to reveal a sprawling 10.2-inch display. When it is fully unfurled, the device measures a frankly unbelievable 3.6mm at its thinnest point. This is thinner than most USB-C ports, thinner than any tablet, and thinner than any phone ever made. It feels less like a consumer electronic device and more like a sheet of futuristic, flexible glass. For a company to even attempt this kind of engineering is bold, but to actually ship it is a statement that pushes the entire industry forward.Of course, this radical design comes with a significant trade-off. When fully folded into its 6.4-inch candybar form, the Mate XT is a chunky 12.8mm thick, a necessity of stacking three screen layers. Despite this, Huawei did not skimp on the internals, packing a massive 5,600mAh battery, up to 16GB of RAM, and a flagship-grade triple camera system. It is a device of fascinating contradictions, achieving the worlds thinnest unfolded profile while still delivering heavyweight performance. The Mate XT proves that the pursuit of slimness can coexist with a refusal to compromise on power, even if it requires a completely new form factor to do so.Honor Magic V5 4.1mm unfolded (2025)Before Huaweis tri-fold took the ultimate prize, the Honor Magic V5 was the undisputed champion of slim foldables. When unfolded, it measures an astonishing 4.1mm, a figure that makes most traditional slab phones look bulky. Its real magic, however, is its folded thickness of just 8.8mm. This was a groundbreaking achievement because it was the first time a book-style foldable felt less like a niche gadget and more like a normal, everyday smartphone when closed. It sits comfortably in a pocket and can be used one-handed without feeling cumbersome, solving one of the biggest usability hurdles for the form factor.Honor achieved this feat through meticulous engineering, from a custom super-light titanium hinge to the implementation of a high-density silicon-carbon battery. This allowed them to fit a huge 5,820mAh cell into a chassis that is thinner than many competitors with smaller batteries. The Magic V5 was the phone that proved a large-screen foldable did not have to come with a penalty in portability. It set a new benchmark for the entire category and directly triggered the slim-down we are seeing from its rivals, including Samsung.Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 4.2mm unfolded (2025)Samsungs response to Honors challenge is the Galaxy Z Fold 7, a device that shows how seriously the company is taking the thinness wars. At 4.2mm unfolded and around 8.9mm folded, its dimensions are within a hairs breadth of the Magic V5, signaling a direct and fierce competition. This is Samsung demonstrating that it can match its rivals millimeter for millimeter while bringing its own expertise in durability and software polish to the table. The near-imperceptible difference in thickness between the two devices highlights just how optimized the engineering has become at the highest level of the foldable market.While the numbers are impressive, Samsungs focus with the Z Fold 7 is on refining the complete user experience. The phone feels more rigid and durable than previous generations, with a stronger hinge and better screen protection. This focus on practical usability, combined with its class-leading software and multitasking features in One UI, makes the Z Fold 7 a formidable contender. It represents a mature and polished vision for what a slim, powerful foldable can be, proving that extreme thinness can be achieved without sacrificing the reliability that mainstream users expect.Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge 5.8mm (2025)Samsungs Galaxy S25 Edge is a flagship entry that proudly claims the title of the thinnest slab phone from a major global brand in 2025, measuring a uniform 5.8mm. This is a deliberate design choice, positioning the Edge as the ultimate style statement within the S25 lineup. Crafted with a premium titanium frame and protected by Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2, it feels incredibly solid despite its featherlight 163-gram weight. The S25 Edge is a masterclass in minimalist design, exuding an aura of understated luxury.To achieve this extreme thinness, Samsung made strategic decisions, including equipping it with the smallest battery among the S25 series and omitting a dedicated telephoto lens. These choices highlight its focus as a design-first device, appealing to users who prioritize sleek aesthetics and a comfortable in-hand feel above all else. The S25 Edge is a clear signal that Samsung believes there is a strong market for phones that are as much about their physical presence as their internal capabilities.ZTE nubia Air 5.9mm at thinnest point (2025)Nubias Air enters the fray with an overall thickness of 6.7mm, but its design tapers to an impressive 5.9mm at its thinnest point along the frame. This makes it a serious contender in the ultra-slim candybar category, especially when considering its other remarkable features. The Nubia Air stands out by pairing its slender profile with an IP69K rating, offering exceptional dust and high-pressure water resistance. This level of ruggedness is almost unheard of in such a thin device, showcasing a sophisticated balance of form and function.Beyond its durability, the Nubia Air surprises with a substantial 5,000mAh battery, defying the expectation that thin phones must compromise on power. It also features a vibrant 6.78-inch AMOLED display, ensuring a premium visual experience. Nubia has engineered a phone that not only looks incredibly sleek but also offers the resilience and endurance needed for everyday use. It is a thought-provoking blend of delicate aesthetics and robust construction, proving that a thin phone can indeed be built to last.Tecno Spark Slim 5.93mm (2025)Tecnos strategy in the thinness race appears to be a two-pronged attack unleashed at IFA 2025, with the Spark Slim representing the purists choice. At 5.93mm, it is the absolute thinnest modern candybar phone you can buy today, period. There is a beautiful simplicity to this device; its primary reason for being is to achieve that single, headline-grabbing number. The design is flat, clean, and minimalist, leaning into the aesthetic that makes thin devices feel so satisfying to hold. This is not a phone weighed down by excessive features; it is a focused exercise in industrial design.By stripping back the complexity, Tecno has created a device that makes a singular, powerful statement. The Spark Slim is for the consumer who is captivated by the raw appeal of an incredibly thin object. It democratizes this design-first philosophy, bringing an obsessive level of slimness to a market segment that rarely sees such engineering focus. In a world of do-everything gadgets, there is something refreshing about a phone that unabashedly prioritizes form to this degree, proving that sometimes, the spec sheets most important number is the one with mm next to it.Tecno Pova Slim 5G 5.95mm (2025)If the Spark Slim is the purist, the Pova Slim is the pragmatist. It is only two-hundredths of a millimeter thicker at 5.95mm, a difference that is functionally imperceptible. What you get for that negligible trade-off, however, is a suite of modern, premium features that make it a more well-rounded device. The Pova Slim boasts a gorgeous curved AMOLED display and 5G connectivity, elevating it from a simple design statement to a genuinely competitive mid-range smartphone. It is Tecnos way of saying that you do not have to give up contemporary features to get a super-slim phone.This device is arguably the more compelling of the two for the average buyer. It successfully blends its headline thinness with the practicalities of a modern smartphone, including a substantial 5,160mAh battery. The Pova Slim challenges the very notion of compromise, offering a sleek, premium-feeling device that does not skimp on screen quality, battery life, or connectivity. It is a testament to clever component packaging and a sign that the benefits of the thinness trend are finally trickling down to phones that balance form and function beautifully.Oppo R5 4.85mm (2014)Now for a trip back in time. In 2014, Oppo released the R5, a phone so shockingly thin that it sent ripples through the entire industry. At just 4.85mm, it was a marvel of miniaturization, featuring a hand-polished steel frame and a beautiful AMOLED display. To put that into perspective, it is a full millimeter thinner than todays slimmest candybar phones. The R5 was a bold declaration of engineering prowess and a testament to how far a company would go in the pursuit of a design record. It felt futuristic at the time, and its thinness is still impressive even by todays standards.The R5 is also famous for a major compromise it made to achieve its slimness: it was one of the first mainstream phones to remove the 3.5mm headphone jack. This decision was highly controversial back then, but it proved to be incredibly prescient, foreshadowing a trend that would become the industry standard years later. The Oppo R5 remains a landmark device, a beautiful and divisive piece of tech that pushed the boundaries of what was possible and gave us a glimpse into the future of smartphone design, for better or worse.vivo X5 Max 4.75mm (2014)Just when the world thought 4.85mm was the absolute limit, vivo arrived weeks later in 2014 and dropped a bombshell: the X5 Max. Measuring an almost unbelievable 4.75mm, it officially became, and still remains, the thinnest slab smartphone ever created. To achieve this, vivos engineers redesigned and stacked internal components with microscopic precision, creating a motherboard that was just 1.7mm thick. The result was a device that felt less like a phone and more like a thin sliver of metal and glass, a true razor-thin gadget.What makes the vivo X5 Maxs achievement even more legendary is that it managed to do what the Oppo R5 could not: it included a 3.5mm headphone jack. This was a direct and brilliant feat of engineering, proving that even at the absolute bleeding edge of thinness, user-friendly features did not have to be sacrificed. The fact that no candybar phone in the decade since has managed to surpass this record speaks volumes. The X5 Max is not just a thin phone; it is a monument to a time when the race for thinness produced one of the most remarkable engineering achievements in mobile history.Apple iPhone Air (Rumored thickness TBD)Apples rumored iPhone Air represents perhaps the most significant wildcard in this entire discussion. While concrete specifications remain under wraps, industry whispers suggest Apple is preparing to enter the ultra-thin smartphone arena in a major way, potentially targeting sub-6mm territory. This would mark a dramatic philosophical shift for a company that has spent recent years prioritizing camera capabilities and battery life over extreme slimness. The timing feels deliberate, arriving just as competitors have proven that modern thin phones can maintain flagship performance and reasonable battery life. If the rumors prove accurate, Apples entry could legitimize the thin phone trend for mainstream consumers in a way that no other manufacturer can match.The elephant in the room, however, is whether Apple has truly moved past the bendgate controversies that plagued the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. Those incidents created a lasting association between Apple and structural fragility in thin designs, a reputation the company has worked hard to overcome. An iPhone Air would represent either supreme confidence in their materials engineering or a calculated risk that the markets appetite for thinness outweighs durability concerns. Given Apples typical approach to product launches, we can expect them to address this history head-on, likely showcasing rigorous stress testing and premium materials. The success or failure of an iPhone Air could determine whether the industrys current obsession with thinness becomes a lasting trend or a cautionary tale.The post Ranking the Worlds Thinnest Phones: Why a 10-Year-Old Record Still Hasnt Been Broken first appeared on Yanko Design.
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  • Top 5 Must-Have Gadgets & Gear For Effortless Event Coverage In 2025
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    If youre heading to IFA 2025 in Berlin, you already know the drill. Massive exhibition halls stretch endlessly, product launches occur every hour, and back-to-back interviews with industry leaders take place, all under the constant pressure to capture everything worth covering. The worlds biggest consumer electronics show doesnt mess around, and neither should your gear. Between navigating crowded press areas and chasing breaking announcements, having the right equipment can make the difference between professional coverage and completely missed opportunities that could define your reporting.These five essential designs will keep you ahead of the chaos while everyone else is still fumbling with cables and dead batteries. From smart note-taking solutions that bridge analog comfort with digital efficiency to modular backpacks that adapt to changing coverage needs, this carefully curated toolkit ensures youre properly equipped for comprehensive event coverage that stands out from the competition.1.AlmoMost of us have tried going fully digital for note-taking, only to find ourselves missing the simple pleasure of pen on paper. The Almo gets this completely. Instead of forcing you into another app or complicated system, it lets you write naturally while adding just enough intelligence to make your life easier. Scribble down a meeting time next to your notes, and Almo spots it automatically, setting a gentle reminder without you touching a single button.The magnetic back sticks to booth frames and equipment cases, while the kickstand works perfectly on those tiny press tables everyone fights over. The pen clips magnetically to the top because losing pens at trade shows is practically a universal law. As your deadline approaches, a subtle LED color shift gives you a heads-up without the jarring beeps that make you look unprofessional during quiet interview moments.What we likeHandwriting recognition that works without making you change how you naturally write.Smart mounting options that adapt to the weird spaces you end up working in at events.What we dislikeStill a concept, so good luck buying one for this years show.A small writing surface might frustrate people used to full-size notebooks.2. Lancer300Carrying camera gear to events usually means choosing between a bag thats either too small for everything or too big for comfort. The Lancer300 solves this with a modular approach that makes sense. Start with the core pack for light days, then snap on modules when you need serious capacity. The exoskeleton frame looks a bit sci-fi, but it handles the abuse of constant movement while keeping your expensive toys protected.The power station module transforms your backpack into a mobile charging hub. Cables run cleanly through the frame, so you can juice up cameras, drones, and even laptops while you walk. No more playing outlet roulette in crowded press areas or carrying a separate arsenal of battery packs. When that perfect shot opportunity hits and your cameras at 15%, youll understand why this matters.What we likeModular design means you only carry what you need instead of lugging everything everywhere.Built-in power system eliminates the anxiety of watching battery percentages drop during critical moments.What we dislikeLearning curve for optimizing the modular setup might eat into your prep time.Premium features probably mean premium pricing thatll make your accountant wince.3. Memento Business Card LogEveryone exchanges LinkedIn details now, but theres something powerful about physically handling someones business card while jotting down notes about your conversation. The Memento Business Card Log brings back this lost art without feeling outdated. It holds 120 cards with space for handwritten context about each person you meet. Those little details about shared interests or follow-up promises turn generic contacts into actual relationships.The Japanese craftsmanship from Re+g shows in every detail. The binding system lets you reorganize pages easily, while the two-point card slots keep everything secure when youre rushing between meetings. The paper feels substantial and inviting, encouraging you to slow down and actually think about the connections youre making. In a world of digital overwhelm, taking time to write notes by hand signals true interest that people remember.Click Here to Buy Now: $35.00What we likeHandwritten context turns business cards into relationship-building tools instead of just contact info.Japanese attention to detail makes this feel special rather than like another boring organizer.What we dislikePhysical organization takes more effort than letting your phone handle everything automatically.120 cards might not last through a major networking event if youre working the floor.4. Ridge Magnetic Power BankEvent coverage means juggling multiple devices that all seem to die at the worst possible moments. The Ridge Magnetic Power Bank cuts through the usual cable chaos with a simple approach: wireless charging for your iPhone plus built-in cables for everything else. The magnetic connection holds strong enough that you can toss it in your bag without worrying about disconnection, while the 15W wireless charging keeps pace with your usage.It truly handles real-world charging scenarios instead of trying to be everything to everyone. The built-in cables mean youre never digging for the right connector when your camera battery hits red. The compact design disappears into jacket pockets, and the magnetic system works beautifully with existing MagSafe accessories. Its not trying to revolutionize portable power; its just doing the basics well.What we likeBuilt-in cables eliminate the eternal hunt for the right charging cord when you need it most.Magnetic wireless charging that stays connected even when youre moving around constantly.What we dislikeCompact size means limited capacity for power-hungry professional gear.Quality features typically come with quality pricing, so budget accordingly.5.Lenovo C55 The best gear for event coverage isnt the most expensive stuff. The Lenovo C55 proves this beautifully at just $70, offering excellent 4K video when you need a reliable backup or secondary angle. This little white camera isnt trying to impress anyone or compete with your main setup. Its just there when you need it, whether thats grabbing B-roll while your primary camera handles the main interview or catching those spontaneous moments that happen between scheduled press events.It is perfect for events and trade shows because the built-in ring light truly works. Anyone whos covered IFA knows the lighting nightmare youre walking into. One minute youre under harsh exhibition spotlights, the next youre squeezed into a dimly lit booth corner trying to get usable footage. Having that ring light built right in means you can grab clean interview shots anywhere without dragging lighting gear around. The physical dial feels solid and responsive when you need quick adjustments, and at 190 grams, it disappears into your bag until you need it.What we likeBuilt-in ring light tackles lighting challenges without hauling additional equipment around.Sub-$70 price point makes professional backup capability accessible to literally anyone.What we dislikeThe basic screen might make precise framing tricky in challenging lighting situations.The compact size could get uncomfortable during longer recording sessions.Getting Ready To Dominate IFA 2025These five innovative tools work splendidly together without getting in each others way. The Almo keeps your thoughts organized while the Lancer300 carries everything you need, powered and ready. The Memento ensures those random booth conversations turn into meaningful connections, while the Ridge keeps your devices alive when outlets are nowhere to be found. The little Lenovo sits quietly in your bag until you need that perfect secondary angle or quick interview setup.None of these will make you a better journalist or content creator overnight, but theyll remove the friction that kills good coverage. When everyone else is scrambling for power outlets, untangling cables, or missing shots because their gear failed, youll be the one getting the story. IFA 2025 is going to be massive, chaotic, and essential for anyone covering tech. Show up prepared, stay mobile, and let your coverage speak for itself.The post Top 5 Must-Have Gadgets & Gear For Effortless Event Coverage In 2025 first appeared on Yanko Design.
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  • Abxylutes Magnetic Snap-On Game Controller Clicks Into Mobile Fun
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    Mobile gaming has always had this one annoying problem: touchscreen controls feel terrible for anything more complex than Candy Crush. Most mobile controllers solve this by turning your sleek phone into a chunky handheld that barely fits in your pocket. Abxylutes new snap-on magnetic controller takes a completely different approach that actually makes sense.Instead of clamping onto your phone like some kind of medieval torture device, this controller attaches magnetically to the back using MagSafe or Qi2 compatibility. When youre not gaming, it slides flat against your phones back, staying completely out of the way until you need it.Designer: Abxylute (via Liliputing)The slide-out mechanism feels surprisingly smooth and satisfying when you deploy it for gaming. The controller slides down below your phone in landscape mode, creating this mini-handheld experience without any of the usual bulk or setup hassle. The flat thumbsticks keep everything slim while still providing proper tactile feedback for precise control.What makes this design genuinely clever is how it handles the portability problem that plagues most mobile controllers. You never have to remember to bring it because its always attached to your phone. No more leaving your controller at home or stuffing bulky accessories into already-crowded bags.The Bluetooth connectivity adds another layer of flexibility that most attached controllers miss entirely. Sure, you can use it while snapped to your phone, but you can also detach it completely and prop your phone up on a table. This transforms quick gaming sessions into comfortable, ergonomic experiences where youre not hunched over a tiny screen.The control layout covers all the basics youd expect: dual analog sticks, D-pad, XYAB buttons, start and select, plus rear triggers. Abxylute optimized the initial design for retro gaming, which makes perfect sense given how popular classic console emulation has become on smartphones. Theyre also listening to community feedback for potential layout variations.Compatibility looks promising since the magnetic system works with both MagSafe-equipped iPhones and Android phones using magnetic adapters. This universal approach means you wont be locked into one ecosystem, and the controller can follow you through future phone upgrades without becoming obsolete.The timing feels perfect as more phones adopt magnetic attachment standards. What started with Apples MagSafe is spreading to Android devices through Qi2, creating a whole ecosystem of magnetic accessories that actually stick properly and align consistently.Abxylute has built their reputation on making gaming hardware thats both affordable and practical, and this controller continues that philosophy. Instead of trying to reinvent mobile gaming entirely, theyve focused on solving the specific problems that make current solutions annoying to use daily.For anyone tired of choosing between terrible touchscreen controls and controllers that turn your phone into a brick, the Abxylute snap-on controller offers genuine hope. Its the kind of accessory that could finally make mobile gaming feel as natural and convenient as it should have been all along.The post Abxylutes Magnetic Snap-On Game Controller Clicks Into Mobile Fun first appeared on Yanko Design.
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