Gear News of the Week: Apple’s AI Wearable and a Phone That Can Boot Android, Linux, and Windows

The NexPhone is a rugged device powered by a Qualcomm QCM64490 chip with a reportedly long support road map (through 2036), plus 12 GB of RAM, 256 GB of storage, and a 6.58-inch, 120-Hz screen refresh rate. There’s a 64-MP camera, wireless charging, and even 5G support. Naturally, this isn’t going to compete with the latest Samsungs and iPhones on the hardware front, but those phones don’t let you boot three different operating systems. Nex Computers thinks people who don’t want to give up their flagship handset may enjoy having it as a secondary or backup phone for work.

It costs $549, and you can reserve it now with a refundable $199 deposit. It includes a free USB-C hub, and the company expects to start shipping in the third quarter of 2026.

Sony Partners With TCL on Its TV Business

Courtesy of Best Buy

Sony TVs may soon be synonymous with TCL. This week, Sony and the Chinese electronics giant announced a memorandum to establish a new strategic partnership that would give TCL a 51 percent majority share in Sony’s home entertainment business. The deal, if approved by regulators, would include Sony’s premium Bravia TV brand and other home entertainment products, giving TCL control over everything from product development and design to manufacturing, sales, and logistics.

It’s a stunning, if understandable, move by Sony, one of the most accomplished and trusted TV innovators globally, as the nature of the TV business has evolved over the past decade. TCL (alongside its Chinese rival Hisense) has quickly transitioned from disruptor to market leader in the mid-tier TV segment and beyond, becoming a major global player in TV panel manufacturing and technology development, and a top seller in the US market.

“The new company plans to advance its business by leveraging Sony’s high-quality picture and audio technology cultivated over the years,” Sony said in a statement to WIRED. “We consider the two companies to be nearly equal partners,” Sony continued, intending to “create innovative products that meet the expectations of customers around the world and pursue further business growth through operational excellence.” Barring any execution or regulatory setbacks, the new joint venture is expected to be operational by April 2027. —Ryan Waniata

Asus Exits the Phone Market

Asus has been churning out smartphones for two decades, but it looks like the company’s storied mobile history might be coming to an end. In an interview, Asus chairman Jonney Shih said the company will pause its smartphone business, instead moving resources into PCs and AI-focused products, like smart glasses and robotics.

Shih says existing devices will continue to be supported, but there aren’t any mobile launches planned for 2026. Calling it a “temporary” pause allows Asus to return to the business in the future, but considering how its ZenFone and ROG gaming smartphones never quite saw successful sales numbers, this may be a permanent move, much like LG’s exit in 2021.