Portable Bluetooth speakers have become a must-have gadget for everything from braais and pool parties to camping trips and weekend getaways. The challenge is finding a speaker that delivers powerful audio, long battery life and useful features without costing a fortune.

Enter the Xiaomi Sound Party. Retailing between R2,000 and R2,500 in South Africa, Xiaomi’s latest portable speaker aims to offer premium features at a mid-range price point. After spending time with the device, it’s clear that Xiaomi has focused on delivering a well-rounded experience that prioritises sound quality, durability and practicality.

Specs

Xiaomi Sound Party Sound Test

For our Xiaomi Sound Party test, we put the speaker through a practical listening test, starting at around 25% volume and working up to 100% volume. We tested the speaker with Bass Boost enabled and then disabled to hear how the sound changed at different settings. What stood out during the test was just how engaging the speaker sounded. Even as we increased the volume, the Xiaomi Sound Party delivered a powerful and enjoyable audio experience, making it clear that this speaker is capable of bringing plenty of energy to your music. Overall, the sound performance was one of the strongest aspects of the Xiaomi Sound Party, especially considering its price point.

Who Is the Xiaomi Sound Party For?

One of the biggest advantages of the Xiaomi Sound Party is its versatility. This isn’t a speaker designed for just one type of user. Its combination of portability, durability, battery life and power makes it suitable for a wide range of situations. The Xiaomi Sound Party is particularly well suited to:

• Families looking for music during gatherings and braais
• Students who want a powerful portable speaker
• Outdoor enthusiasts and campers
• Pool parties and outdoor entertainment
• Weekend getaways
• Indoor parties and entertaining friends
• Office events and social gatherings
• Small businesses needing portable background music
• Anyone who wants a versatile Bluetooth speaker for everyday use

The IP67 water- and dust-resistance rating also makes it a much more practical choice for outdoor use. You don’t have to be quite as worried about splashes, dust or taking the speaker along on your next adventure.

Xiaomi Sound Party Price in South Africa

One of the biggest reasons to consider the Xiaomi Sound Party is its price. The speaker retails for approximately R1,999, although pricing can vary between retailers and promotions. At this price point, Xiaomi is competing in a particularly interesting part of the portable Bluetooth speaker market.

Xiaomi Sound Party Pros and Cons

Pros

• Powerful 50W sound output
• Good bass performance with Bass Boost mode
• Excellent battery life
• IP67 dust and water resistance
• USB-C fast charging
• Can function as a power bank
• Stereo pairing and Party Connect support
• Competitive pricing

Cons

• Lighting effects may not appeal to everyone
• Full stereo experience requires a second speaker
• Audiophiles may still prefer higher-end alternatives

Final Verdict

The Xiaomi Sound Party strikes an impressive balance between performance, portability and value. For between R2,000 and R2,500, buyers receive a speaker that offers powerful 50W audio output, long battery life, IP67 durability, Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity, RGB lighting effects, power bank functionality and advanced party features such as stereo pairing and Party Connect. While premium audio brands continue to dominate the portable speaker market, Xiaomi has demonstrated that consumers don’t necessarily need to spend flagship-level money to enjoy a feature-rich and capable Bluetooth speaker. If you’re looking for a versatile portable speaker that performs well both indoors and outdoors, the Xiaomi Sound Party deserves a place on your shortlist.

Tech Scene ZA Rating: 8.5/10

A feature-packed portable Bluetooth speaker that delivers excellent value for money.

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Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM), through its gaming platform The Toyota Gaming Engine (TTGE), returns as an official partner of Comic Con Africa 2026, taking place from 24 to 27 September 2026 at the Johannesburg Expo Centre, Nasrec.

TTGE continues to grow Toyota’s community of young brand enthusiasts through the value it brings to South Africa’s gaming and creator communities, providing access for casual players, competitive gamers and, this year, the country’s cosplay community.

A First For Cosplay

The centrepiece of Toyota’s 2026 presence is the TTGE Cosplay Competition, cosplay but for cars, the first vehicle-specific cosplay category the country has seen. Entrants are invited to design and build original cosplay inspired by any Toyota vehicle, interpreted in any style, from literal vehicle recreations to humanoid, futuristic or stylised designs.

Entries are open at ttge.co.za/comic-con-africa-2026 and will close on 25 September. Participation is open to individuals 18 years and older holding a valid Comic Con Africa ticket, entering individually or in teams of up to four. Every entrant receives a downloadable TTGE Cosplay Starter Pack containing official brand assets, colour references and build guidance.

Live judging takes place on the Comic Con Africa Main Stage from 15h00 to 15h30 on Saturday 26 September, with contestant check-in at the TTGE stand at 14h30. Contestants will be assessed by a panel comprising representatives from TTGE and Comic Con Africa including a professional cosplayer. Judging will be done across five equally weighted criteria: creativity and originality, Toyota interpretation, craftsmanship, innovation and resourcefulness, and stage presence.

The competition has been structured to reward imagination and craft rather than budget, with entrants encouraged to use DIY, recycled and accessible materials.

Prizes

The winner receives R10,000 in cash, a Toyota GAZOO Racing driving experience for two at Zwartkops Raceway, and Comic Con Africa 2027 weekend passes for themselves and two guests. Second place receives a R3,000 eGift24 voucher and third place a R1,500 eGift24 voucher, both including 2027 weekend passes. Additional daily prizes will be awarded across the TTGE stand throughout the four days.

An Expanded Stand Experience

TTGE will also hold a 30-minute slot on the Comic Con Africa Main Stage each day, running its Load The Hilux game on Thursday, Friday and Sunday, and the Cosplay Competition on Saturday.

The TTGE stand will again host free-to-play gaming across sim racing, console and mobile titles, including Gran Turismo 7 on full-motion racing rigs, Street Fighter, EA FC and Brawlhalla on console, and Clash Royale and Subway Surfers on mobile. Daily tournaments, leaderboards, Beat The Pro challenges and prize handovers will run from the stand’s mini stage.

Toyota will also bring a physical version of Load The Hilux, a free daily mini-game on TTGE’s Brake Time platform, to the event’s food court area. Attendees will compete against the clock to load oversized cargo into a full-size Toyota Hilux, with daily prizes for the fastest recorded times.

A custom-built Hilux transformer will move through the show across the four days, serving as both a fan experience and a navigation point to the TTGE stand. Attendees who photograph the character and share the content tagging The Toyota Gaming Engine, or submit names for the character, will stand to win a share in R15,000 in eGift vouchers.

To bring the Toyota brand even closer to the Comic Con Africa audiences, a Drift X activation will be on display for all attendees to engage with. This features a precision drift driving experience with the Toyota GR vehicles around a gymkhana style course, demonstrating the agility of the GR models.

“Through The Toyota Gaming Engine we have spent years investing in South Africa’s gaming community, and this year we are extending that to its makers and builders,” says Glenn Crompton, Vice President of Marketing at Toyota South Africa Motors. “Comic Con Africa is one of the few places in South Africa where gaming, creativity and fandom meet at scale and our role there has always been to open the door wider. A brand cosplay category has not been done here before. It is a genuine creative challenge, and we are looking forward to seeing what South Africans build.”

Full details are available at www.ttge.co.za/comic-con-africa-2026 

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How SIC Programme is Helping to Produce Stronger Candidates Equipped with Critical Skills for Graduate Programmes & Entry-Level Positions in South Africa’s Technology Industry

Earlier this year, the Nelson Mandela University (NMU) officially entered into a strategic partnership with the Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC) programme – with the ultimate objective of bridging the skills gap, reducing unemployment and empowering the country’s youth from previously disadvantaged communities in the Eastern Cape with practical technology expertise.

Samsung has taken the time to talk to two facilitators and two top performing students who are in this year’s SIC programme. The discussion focused on obtaining perspective from facilitators and evaluating the students’ progress as well as the overall impact of this initiative on their lives. During the conversations, this is what the beneficiaries and the facilitators had to say:

One of the NMU facilitators for the SIC programme, Siseko Dano explained that his role involved delivering technical training, mentoring students and monitoring their progress. Throughout the SIC programme, Dano said: “My focus has been to create an environment where students feel comfortable asking questions and learning through experimentation.”

As facilitators, they are spending a great deal of time ensuring that every beneficiary of the programme has the opportunity to succeed. He added: “Students have shown genuine enthusiasm and curiosity throughout the programme. Attendance has generally been very good and many students go beyond the minimum requirements by completing additional practice and collaborating with their peers. It’s rewarding to see students who initially lacked confidence become increasingly independent and capable as the programme progresses.”

The second NMU facilitator in the SIC programme, Jason Macnamara echoed his colleague’s sentiments on the importance of the role they continue to play in improving the lives of these participating students. Macnamara said: “One of the main challenges that many young people experience is lack of access to structured, practical technology training. They may use technology daily, but that does not necessarily mean they have had the opportunity to learn coding, data analysis or how to build their own digital solutions.”
Macnamara believes that the SIC programme is able to help address this challenge by giving students practical experience in Python programming, algorithms, problem-solving, data processing, visualisation and dashboard development. SIC also develops these students’ communication and creativity skills, while also encouraging teamwork and collaboration through practical exercises and the recently held hackathon.

The facilitators have both indicated that some of the students have discussed some business ideas with them and are busy looking for ways to use their new found skills to earn an income. Another group of students have even discussed creating websites for companies or local businesses, while others have experimented with ideas such as tools that monitor internet performance and other digital services. A few of them have already secured employment, a positive development that motivates others.

Kamva Twala – an NMU student who is originally from Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape is currently studying a postgraduate diploma in Cybersecurity – after he completed his Bachelor of Information Technology (IT) degree. He is studying further so that he can build a career in cybersecurity and software development.

Twala said that he applied to the SIC programme because he wanted to strengthen his technical skills and gain practical industry experience. Before joining the SIC programme, he had a solid academic foundation, but had limited exposure to industry-level development practices and collaborative software projects.

He said: “SIC has provided an opportunity for me to bridge that gap; by working on real-world challenges while learning from experienced facilitators. Being part of this programme has strengthened my Python programming skills, improved my problem-solving ability and I’ve now learnt how to approach software development in a professional environment.”

Twala also expressed how grateful he is to Samsung and NMU for creating opportunities that help students prepare for successful careers in the digital economy. Because of this SIC programme, he’s now also learnt some more critical skills that include the importance of collaborating with others and developing strong interpersonal skills, which are essential when working in diverse teams.

Another beneficiary of the SIC programme, Mihle Vika who also comes from Gqeberha in Kwa-Zakhele township is currently doing first year of her master’s degree in Information Technology (MIT). Vika became part of the SIC programme through NMU and the Mandela University Africa Hub’s memo calls.

According to Vika, the SIC programme has helped him to master his knowledge in Python, Streamlit and Data Analysis. Before the programme, these are modules that he found to be the most challenging in his second year of study. He expressed his gratitude to the facilitators of the programme and his lecturers who helped him find his passion.

Before the SIC programme, Vika explained: “I was discouraged to apply for internships because of their specific and stringent requirements, which mostly involve Python and data analysis. However, because I now have better understanding of how the code behind Python and Data Analysis works, I’m confident that I meet these industry requirements. These critical skills that I have acquired have helped me grasp the concepts more quickly and efficiently than ever before.”

Vika is encouraging others who have not yet been part of this SIC programme to not be held back by fear. Instead, to apply for what he believes is an opportunity to expand their skills and knowledge.

These testimonials are re-affirming Samsung’s committment to bridging the digital divide by empowering youth through its technology and 4IR-driven (forth industrial revolution) initiatives. This is all in an effort to equip youth with critical technological capabilities, entrepreneurship mindsets and workplace skills that can help prepare the future generation to lead and thrive in 4IR.

The post Testimonials Illustrating Impact of Samsung Innovation Campus Programme to Lives of NMU Students, Since Inception appeared first on Tech Scene ZA.

A new look, dual timers and an angle adjustment accessory make the Instax Mini 13 perfect for group shots or selfies.

08 September 2026

Fujifilm South Africa has released the latest addition to the best-selling series in the Mini range – the Instax Mini 13. This new instant camera, coupled with an artificial intelligence (AI) update to the Instax UP! smartphone app, signals a renewed focus on blending physical analogue photography with digital convenience.

The Instax Mini 13: A refined analogue experience

The Instax Mini series has proved the most popular instant cameras locally, with the Mini 13 arriving as the successor to the widely loved Mini 12, released back in 2023. The device is a no-mess, no fuss instant camera – simply load the Instax film cartridge, turn the lens ring to “On”, and you are ready to shoot.

The new Mini 13 analogue camera sports a playful new look with its soft, sculpted shape and a metallic silver logo that accents the front of the camera.

Beyond its visual update, the Mini 13 now includes dual timers, with options for two or 10 seconds, giving the photographer the opportunity to be in the shot themselves with their subjects. Specifically, the two-second timer option makes selfies easier and blur free.

New too is a wedge-shaped angle adjustment accessory on the hand-strap of the camera that can keep the camera propped up for group shots.

The Mini 13’s main features include Close-Up Mode, a Selfie Mirror and Auto Exposure adjustment capabilities, as well as the Parallax Correction feature. Through Parallax Correction, the camera’s viewfinder aligns with the lens when using Close-Up Mode, minimising object shifts to produce a centered photo from a distance of 0.3 m to 0.5 m – perfect for selfies.

Also included is automatic flash control, which optimises image quality in bright or low-light situations. And, with a simple twist of the lens, users can power the camera on or off, or access the popular Close-Up Mode.

The Instax Mini 13 is seen as the perfect way to enter the Instax instant photography ecosystem, providing intuitive usage with immediate results. It is appearing in Candy Pink, Clay White, Frost Blue, Dreamy Purple and Lagoon Green, and is available at select retailers for a recommended R1 749 incl. VAT.

There is also an Instax Mini 13 kit available for a recommended R2 199 incl. VAT which includes the camera, case and one pack of Mini film.

Smarter digital archiving and new film variety

Fujifilm has also addressed the digital side of the Instax experience with a significant update to the Instax UP! app. The app, which allows users to scan and store their physical prints digitally, now utilises AI to improve scanning precision. The enhanced software better distinguishes between the physical photo and its background, resulting in cleaner digital archives.

To celebrate these launches, Fujifilm is introducing the Instax Mini Sprinkles instant film. This new variety features a colourful border design reminiscent of rainbow sprinkles, adding a playful element to the standard Mini format.

The post Fujifilm expands Instax range with new Mini 13 camera and AI update to UP! app appeared first on Tech Scene ZA.

Sony strengthens its wireless headphone portfolio with premium, mid-range and entry-level options designed for music, travel, work and everyday listening

• WH-1000XM4C is based on Sony’s popular WH-1000XM4 offering legendary 1000X Series noise cancelling and premium sound performance as well as new colour option
• WH-CH730N wireless headphones deliver great sound quality paired with effective noise cancelling now with a lightweight and foldable design, improved call quality and longer battery life
• WH-CH530 is available in six playful colours to match any style, combines lightweight comfort, long battery life and improved call quality for everyday wireless listening

(SOUTH AFRICA, 8 September 2026) – Sony today announces it is refreshing one of its most popular over-ear headphones. WH-1000XM4C wireless noise-cancelling headphones build on Sony’s popular WH-1000XM4, combining legendary 1000X Series noise cancellation, trusted premium sound and the timeless design loved by many. The WH-1000XM4C now features updated sound tuning that matches the latest trends as well as personalised sound settings with a 10-band equalizer and available in refreshed colour options to suit individual preferences.

WH-1000XM4C

Updates to Sony’s mid-range wireless headphone range are also added with the WH-CH730N and WH-CH530. The WH-CH730N offers noise cancelling technology and everyday versatility at a more accessible price point. The WH-CH530 delivers reliable wireless audio, offering an easy and accessible way to enjoy Sony quality every day.

WH-CH730N in Black and WH-CH530 in Pink

Fumihiro Zaima, General Manager from SEA Marketing Department, APMEA Division, Sony Corporation said: “The release of the WH-1000XM4C reflects continued consumer interest in a headphone model recognised globally for its combination of noise cancelling performance, sound quality and comfort. Together with the WH-CH730N and WH-CH530, as well as the recently announced 1000X THE COLLEXION and well-regarded WH-1000XM6, we are now pleased to offer a clear progression of wireless headphone options that serve a broad range of customer needs and budgets.”

Pricing and availability

• WH-1000XM4C

Availability: November

Price: R6,999.00

• WH-CH730N

Availability: October

Price: R2,999.00

• WH-CH530

Availability: October

Price: R1,299.00

Key features in detail

WH-1000XM4C: Premium Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones with 1000X Series legendary noise cancelling and premium sound performance

WH-1000XM4C in Lavender

Since the launch of Sony’s flagship noise cancelling headphones range in 2016, the 1000X series has helped define the premium wireless listening category by combining industry-leading noise cancellation, high-quality sound and intelligent features designed around everyday life. The WH-1000XM4 remains one of the series’ most celebrated headphones thanks to its combination of exceptional noise cancelling and its classic design. Now Sony is introducing the WH-1000XM4C, based on the popular WH-1000XM4, with updated sound tuning to match the latest music trends as well as new colour options, bringing flagship performance to an even broader audience.

WH-1000XM4C in Platinum Silver

The WH-1000XM4C wireless headphones are ideal for frequent travellers, commuters, remote workers, music enthusiasts and students seeking distraction-free listening.

Key features include:

• Legendary 1000X Series noise cancelling delivering rich immersive sound, dulling everyday noise such as crowds, travel noise and city chatter
• Trusted 1000X Series premium sound quality now with latest sound tuning and 10-band equalizer to meet modern listening tastes
• Comfortable over-ear design with a polished timeless style
• Available in Lavender, Black and Platinum Silver – three colour choices to match individual preferences
• Lightweight foldable headphones making the WH-1000XM4C a great choice for travel and commuting

For more information visit: https://www.sony.com/za/headphones/products/wh-1000xm4c

WH-CH730N: Everyday Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones with comfortable fit and new foldable design

The WH-CH730N wireless headphones deliver great sound paired with effective noise cancellation, cleverly priced and simple to operate. Designed for commuters, hybrid workers, students and casual music listeners, the WH-CH730N are crafted for all-day comfort and now feature a new lightweight and foldable design as well as improved call quality and longer battery life compared to the predecessor model. 

WH-CH730N in Pink and Blue

Key features include:

• Superior noise cancellation powered by Dual Noise Sensor technology
• Lightweight and comfortable over-ear design
• Available in white, pink, blue, black plus new beige, this selection of colours blends style and comfort with a handy foldable build
• Long battery life of up to 50 hours (with noise cancellation on), plus quick charge (3 minutes gives 1 hour of listening playback)
• Great sound quality with fully customable audio settings
• Clear call quality even in noisy environments with Precise Voice Pickup Technology, combining beamforming microphones, optimized microphone placement and AI-powered noise reduction.
• Practical daily features for convenient use such as LE Audio for seamless connection, Multipoint connection and Fast Pair/Swift Pair

For more information visit: https://www.sony.com/za/headphones/products/wh-ch730n

WH-CH530: Playful Entry-Level Wireless Headphones for all day use

The WH-CH530 wireless headphones are lightweight, comfortable and available in a range of playful colours to suit every look. The headphones come with improved battery life compared to predecessor model with up to 55-hours and AI noise reduction for crystal clear calls for online lessons and meetings. The WH-CH530 are designed for consumers seeking dependable wireless listening at an accessible price, making them the ideal choice for first time purchasers of wireless headphones, online learning and everyday listening and streaming.

WH-CH530 in Cobalt and Mint

Key features include:

• Six playful colours including new on-trend colours Cobalt, Coral, Mint, as well as Pink, White and Black to compliment any style
• Compact and lightweight on-ear wireless headphones with soft head cushion to deliver lasting comfort for extended wear
• Clear, balanced sound with customisable EQ settings
• Long lasting battery offering up to 55-hour playback plus quick charge (3 mins for 1.5 hours)
• Maximum volume control offers adjustable 5-step volume level for hearing protection
• Clear heads-free calls with AI noise reduction 
• Smart and easy operation with intuitive button controls, built-in voice assistant, Multipoint connection, Fast Pair/Swift Pair and LE Audio compatibility

For more information visit: https://www.sony.com/za/headphones/products/wh-ch530

The post Sony Introduces WH-1000XM4C Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones and Updates Popular Mid and Entry Level Wireless Headphones with WH-CH730N and WH-CH530 appeared first on Tech Scene ZA.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – 8 September 2026 – Seasons come and go, and with the resulting change, lovers of technology will always be in search for more devices to add to their collection. With is in mind, HONOR has launched its Spring Sale which is meant to provide more access to South Africans who are interested in delving deeper into its product ecosystem and get their hands on the best technological innovation and quality, at a price that makes it a worthwhile purchase.

What you need to know about the HONOR Spring Sale

The HONOR Spring Sale runs from the 8^th of September until the 7^th of October 2026 and will be available in all participating retail stores nationwide. With the sale, HONOR aims to ensures that consumers will get great deals on some of HONOR’s flagship, mid-range and innovative devices in its product ecosystem.

Featured Products and Pricing deal that are part of the Spring Sale:

• HONOR X7e retails for a recommended retail price of R5,499 prepaid. This will be accompanied by free gifts in the form of the HONOR Choice Watch 2i (worth R999), HONOR Choice Earbuds X8i (worth R499)

• HONOR X9d retails from R439 x 36 months. The deal features free HONOR Choice Earbuds Clip (worth R1999).  

• HONOR 600 retails from R549 x 36 months. The deal features free HONOR Choice Earbuds Clip (worth R1999).

• HONOR 600 Pro retails from R789 x 36 months. The deal features free HONOR Choice Earbuds Clip (worth R1999)

• HONOR Magic V6 retails from R1599 x 36 months. The deal features free HONOR Watch 6 (worth R4499).

* Recommended Retail Price may differ per retailer. Ask in-store for more details.

The HONOR Springe Sale invites tech savvy South Africans to immerse themselves into the variety, affordability and convenience offered by HONOR’s ecosystem of products that speak to each other with the sole aim of enhancing South African’s experience when it comes to consuming, viewing or creating the most breathtaking content or keeping up with their health and fitness goals.

Whether your purpose is to boost the way you work, play or do business, the HONOR Spring Sale has something tailored just for you – get yourself to your nearest trusted retailer and find your deal.

The post The HONOR Spring Sale is now Available at a store near you. appeared first on Tech Scene ZA.

Strategic collaborations with Intel and AMD help accelerate AI transformation 

• ASUS expands its AI infrastructure through collaborations with Intel®, AMD, and other technology partners including IBM, Samsung, and Schneider Electric
• ASUS RS700-E12-RS4U and RS720-E12-RS12U are powered by Intel® Xeon® 6 processors, and are ideal for AI, HPC, and data-intensive workloads
• ASUS RS720A-E14B-R32U and RS500A-E14B-R12U feature AMD EPYC™ 9006 Series server CPUs; designed for data centers and business applications
• ASUS Industrial Edge Server delivers enterprise-grade AI computing, rugged reliability, and long-term availability for factory automation, AOI, video surveillance, and healthcare

 SEOUL, Republic of Korea, September 3, 2026 — At ASUS AI Tech 2026, ASUS today announced the expansion of its AI infrastructure ecosystem through strategic collaborations with Intel®, AMD, and a broader network of technology partners including Aleria, Foxlink, IBM, Samsung, Schneider Electric, and WD. The event shows how ASUS and its partners are driving AI innovation across the technology stack, accelerating AI adoption, and shaping the future of computing.

Advanced AI infrastructure powered by Intel and AMD

For broader enterprise and general-purpose applications, ASUS has a comprehensive AI infrastructure portfolio powered by Intel and AMD technologies that enable organizations to deploy diverse AI workloads across computing environments.

The showcase features the ASUS RS700-E12-RS4U and ASUS RS720-E12-RS12U, powered by Intel Xeon® 6 processors and designed as scalable computing platforms for AI, HPC, and data-intensive workloads. In addition, the XA P8I-E13A is a high-density 6U system featuring the Intel Xeon Next-Gen processor platform to support advanced GPU acceleration for demanding AI applications.

For AMD-powered solutions, the RS720A-E14B-R32U, RS500A-E14B-R12U, and ESC8000A-E13P are flexible, scalable platforms for enterprise and AI workloads. Featuring AMD EPYC™ 9006 Series server CPUs, the RS720A-E14B-R32U and RS500A-E14B-R12U provide optimized performance and efficiency for modern data centers and business applications. Equipped with AMD Instinct™ MI350P PCIe accelerators, the ESC8000A-E13P delivers scalable computing performance for inference, agentic AI, and high-performance computing workloads.

Bringing real-time AI intelligence to industrial edge applications

As AI moves beyond data centers and into real-world environments, organizations need reliable edge AI infrastructure to enable real-time intelligence across diverse applications, including transportation, public safety, manufacturing, and healthcare. Processing data locally, rather than sending it to the cloud, can help keep sensitive information such as patient records, production data, and video footage onsite. This approach ensures data confidentiality and meets compliance requirements in industrial and healthcare environments.

Unlike standard servers build for climate-controlled data centers, hardware deployed in varied environments such as factory floors, hospitals, and power plants must withstand extreme temperatures, unstable power, and electrical noise. Industrial edge computing therefore demands hardware engineered for wide temperature and voltage ranges, and offer ESD protection.

The ASUS Industrial Edge Server delivers enterprise-grade AI computing, rugged reliability, and long-term availability for applications such as factory automation, AOI, video surveillance, and healthcare. The new RUC-2000 series embedded computer is powered by Intel Core™ Ultra Series 3 processors with up to 180 AI TOPS, offering a rugged, fanless solution designed for machine vision, video analytics, and in-vehicle AI applications.

Advancing AI innovation from cloud to edge

ASUS remains committed to its vision of Ubiquitous AI, Incredible Possibilities, embedding intelligence across products, platforms, and partnerships. Through its expanding AI ecosystem, ASUS enables organizations to build, deploy, and scale AI solutions from cloud to edge to support the next era of intelligent computing.

The post ASUS Expands AI Infrastructure Ecosystem from Cloud to Edge appeared first on Tech Scene ZA.

Uniting accelerated computing, simulation-validated deployment and AI governance into one continuous AI factory platform

• Unified AI factories: Integrated ASUS infrastructure, deployment and governance from design to production-ready operation
• Validated deployment: Simulation and digital twins help ASUS and partners to optimize AI factories before physical installation
• Scalable AI infrastructure: End-to-end ASUS solutions for enterprise, agentic and edge AI workloads all on show

SEOUL, Republic of Korea, September 3, 2026  — At ASUS AI Tech 2026, ASUS today redefined AI infrastructure from systems that run AI to platforms that build and operate AI factories. Working with NVIDIA and a growing ecosystem of technology partners — including Aleria, AMD, Crusoe, Foxlink, IBM, Intel, Samsung, Schneider Electric and WD — ASUS is enabling enterprises to move beyond standalone infrastructure to production-ready AI factories where performance, operational resilience and AI governance are engineered across the entire lifecycle.

ASUS also reinforced its unified AI infrastructure platform spanning accelerated computing, networking, storage, deployment software, AI operations and governance. By integrating infrastructure engineering, deployment and operational intelligence into a continuous platform, ASUS helps organizations shorten time to first token, accelerate time to revenue and optimize infrastructure efficiency while maintaining trusted AI at scale. This strategic evolution solidifies the role of ASUS as a pivotal end-to-end AI infrastructure partner, transforming computing capacity into tangible, business-driving AI innovation.

“ASUS is now comprehensively embracing its All in on AI strategic initiative, dedicated to embedding AI across infrastructure, commercial solutions, and innovative physical devices. As AI factories evolve into always-on production environments, infrastructure performance and AI governance can no longer be addressed separately. Infrastructure is the foundation of AI production itself. From the decisions that shape the first token to the controls that govern AI at scale, ASUS is engineering for what comes next—bringing compute, connectivity, power, cooling and automation together to turn every watt, every dollar and every minute invested into AI output.” said Paul Ju, Senior Vice President, Head of Infrastructure Solution Business Group, ASUS.

ASUS AI Tech 2026

AI governance starts before the first token

Building a trusted AI factory begins long before the first model is deployed. ASUS combines advanced system engineering with the NVIDIA DSX Sim Blueprint to help enterprises design, simulate, validate and optimize complete AI factories before physical deployment. Working with ecosystem partners including Schneider Electric, AVEVA and IBM, ASUS brings compute, networking, storage, power, cooling and facility infrastructure into a unified digital twin environment, enabling organizations to identify constraints, optimize configurations and reduce deployment risk before installation begins.

Once deployed, governance extends throughout AI operations. As agentic AI and physical AI become increasingly autonomous, organizations require continuous visibility, oversight, and operational control across models, data, tools and enterprise systems. Beyond the infrastructure management platforms, ACC (ASUS Control Center) and AIDC (ASUS Infrastructure Deployment Center), ASUS significantly extends these capabilities through its comprehensive AI Software Stack and Turnkey AI Applications. Within the AI Software Stack, customers gain direct access to essential tools such as Quota & Billing and an MLOps Portal. These facilitate efficient resource management within the data center, thereby accelerating overall operational speed. At the application level, the AI Software Stack acts as a crucial operational layer and cross-platform software stack. It functions as an ‘operational harness’, connecting enterprise governance directly with AI services and autonomous agents, enabling secure, manageable, and production-ready deployment of agentic AI.

Backed by advanced integration capabilities and a long-standing collaboration with NVIDIA, ASUS enables enterprises to accelerate AI from design to deployment and ongoing operations. Strong business growth reflects increasing market demand for integrated AI infrastructure that shortens time to first token, accelerates time to revenue and supports AI factories ranging from frontier-scale model development to enterprise, agentic and edge AI deployments.

• For large-scale AI factories: ASUS AI POD, XA VR721-E3, built on NVIDIA Vera Rubin NVL72, provides a rack-scale platform for high-volume intelligence and low cost token generation delivering 10X the performance per watt versus the prior generation. Complementing this, the enterprise-ready XA NR1I-E12LR and XA NR1I-E12L, based on NVIDIA HGX Rubin NVL8, accelerate high-density AI infrastructure for demanding enterprise training, inference, and post-training workloads.
• For agentic AI: The ASUS XA P2N-E2, a 2U NVIDIA MGX platform equipped with two NVIDIA Vera CPUs and supporting up to two dual-slot NVIDIA GPUs, is purpose-built for responsive, energy-efficient agentic reasoning, data processing, and orchestration at scale.
• For edge and visual computing: ASUS ESC8000-E12P, featuring NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 and RTX PRO 4500 Blackwell Server Edition GPUs, extends acceleration for enterprise inference, vision AI, and visual computing from the data center to the edge. Additionally, the compact PE3000N edge-AI platform, powered by NVIDIA Jetson Thor T5000 module, delivers real-time inference, sensor fusion, and autonomous control for robotics and industrial automation environments.
• For robust data foundation: The ASUS UF920-E3-RS24 server, based on the NVIDIA STX modular foundation for AI-native storage, together with the ASUS OJ340A-RS60 object storage solution and VS320D-RS26N storage system, provides the resilient data foundation required for enterprise AI. Designed to meet the capacity, availability and data management demands of modern AI pipelines, the portfolio supports AI factories from design validation to production-scale deployment.

Customer applications and AI factory implementation

Beyond foundational infrastructure, ASUS showcased AI’s tangible impact through key partner demonstrations, illustrating real-world applications and emerging AI paradigms. Foxlink demonstrated next-level industrial automation with autonomous robotics, while Aleria highlighted the critical need for Sovereign AI deployments designed to support localized data control and secure operations. This holistic approach, combined with robust ASUS software-hardware integration and Kubernetes platforms, significantly shortens time-to-revenue for our customers. The ASUS vision extends beyond merely selling computing power; we deliver operational AI factories designed to continuously generate business value and drive the token economy.

Accelerating AI adoption for transformative growth

Looking ahead, ASUS is committed to continuously deepening its collaboration with NVIDIA and a growing global ecosystem of technology partners. By integrating accelerated computing, simulation-validated deployment, and AI harness engineering into one continuous governance framework, we empower organizations to protect their infrastructure investments and maintain control as AI applications grow in complexity and autonomy. Our overarching goal is to help enterprises transition from simply investing in AI to embedding intelligence across their entire operations. This strategic shift is designed to shorten time to revenue, improve efficiency of tokens per watt, significantly reduce resource waste and TCO, and ultimately build AI Factories engineered for peak performance, designed for adaptability, and governed for scalable growth.

The post ASUS Advances AI Factories with Integrated Infrastructure and Operational Governance appeared first on Tech Scene ZA.

LG’s True Wireless Wallpaper TV and Sound Suite AI Sweep Category-Best Titles, Reinforcing LG’s Innovation Leadership in Home Entertainment and Audio

News Summary:

• LG has been named the recipient of the ‘Best Brand of IFA 2026’ title, the highest accolade of the IFA 2026 Innovation Awards.
• The Wallpaper TV(LG OLED evo W6 AI) was recognised for combining an ultra-slim design, True Wireless connectivity¹ and differentiated picture quality enabled by Hyper Radiant Color Technology, while LG’s Modular Sound Suite with Dolby Atmos^® FlexConnect^TM earned Best in Audio honours for making home audio simple and flexible.
• Additional honours for LG OLED evo, Micro RGB evo and Mini RGB evo reinforce LG’s leadership in next-generation TV innovation, while LG StanbyME 2 Max and LG xboom Stage 501 highlight the company’s expanding lifestyle entertainment portfolio.

LG Electronics (LG) has achieved the highest recognition at the second annual IFA Innovation Awards, capturing the highly coveted Best Brand of IFA 2026 title. By earning this top distinction at the established global technology awards program, LG firmly strengthens its reputation as a global innovation leader, setting new benchmarks in technology, design and market impact.

Leading the product categories, LG secured multiple Category Best awards. The LG OLED evo AI W6, True Wireless Wallpaper TV earned the Best in Home & Entertainment award, recognised for reimagining the iconic Wallpaper TV with an ultra-thin 9mm range², True Wireless connectivity and Hyper Radiant Color Technology that combine to deliver a seamless fusion of design and picture innovation. The product embodies LG’s vision, built on the concept of “Technology Without the Clutter,” offering unprecedented freedom in how premium televisions integrate into living spaces.

In the audio category, LG Sound Suite AI was named Best in Audio for transforming the home listening experience through the world’s first Dolby Atmos^® FlexConnect^TM sound ecosystem. Designed to give users greater freedom to combine, arrange and position speakers throughout their spaces, LG Sound Suite AI creates a more flexible and personalised approach to immersive home audio.

LG’s premium display and audio lineups were further recognised with five Honoree distinctions, highlighting the breadth of the company’s innovation across home entertainment and lifestyle experiences.

The LG OLED evo G6 was recognised for advancing OLED picture performance to new heights through Hyper Radiant Color Technology, delivering exceptional brightness, contrast and colour precision while preserving the self-emissive advantages that define LG OLED.

The LG Micro RGB evo (MRGB96) earned recognition for introducing LG’s vision for the next era of premium TV displays, harnessing RGB-based illumination technology to deliver high colour volume, luminance and ultra-large-scale performance.

The LG Mini RGB evo (MRGB88) was honoured for bringing the benefits of RGB display innovation into a more accessible form factor, balancing advanced picture quality, energy efficiency and everyday usability for premium TV consumers.

The LG StanbyME 2 Max received an Honouree distinction for redefining personal entertainment with a movable lifestyle screen designed to adapt to the way people live, work and relax, extending content experiences beyond the traditional living room.

Furthermore, the LG xboom Stage 501 received an Honouree award in the Best in Audio category for delivering powerful, crowd-energising performance tailored for parties, live entertainment and social gatherings, demonstrating LG’s continued expansion into lifestyle-focused audio experiences.

From earning the Best Brand of IFA 2026 honor to securing multiple honors across its MS division, LG’s achievements reflect the company’s unwavering commitment to innovation and to creating products that continuously elevate the customer experience. 

The post LG ELECTRONICS WINS “BEST BRAND OF IFA 2026” AND MULTIPLE HONOURS AT IFA INNOVATION AWARDS appeared first on Tech Scene ZA.

Mac mini delivers up to 4x faster AI performance, up to 2x faster graphics and storage, along with enhanced connectivity — all in its ultracompact footprint

CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple today announced the new Mac mini with the all-new M6 and powerful M5 Pro, delivering a dramatic boost in performance and even more versatility in its supersmall desktop design. With M6, Mac mini now delivers up to 4x faster AI performance,¹ 2x faster storage² and graphics,¹ and 40 percent faster CPU performance.¹ Everything on Mac mini with M6 feels incredibly fast, from everyday productivity tasks to agentic AI workflows. Mac mini with M5 Pro delivers even more pro-level performance to breeze through demanding projects, from video production to game development. And this new level of performance takes on business workflows with ease whether Mac mini is being used as a primary desktop or for always-on, deskside agentic computing. Both Mac mini models include Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, as well as upgraded 2.5Gb Ethernet, with a 10Gb option available. Combined with the power of macOS 27, the new Mac mini is a tremendous upgrade for existing and new-to-Mac users. The new Mac mini is available for pre-order starting today, with availability beginning September 22.

“Mac mini has always been our most versatile Mac. Whether it’s being used as a home computer, powering a professional studio, or as an always-on agentic device, it’s the little Mac that can do it all,” said Johny Srouji, Apple’s chief hardware officer. “Today, we’re taking this versatility even further. With a more powerful CPU and graphics, Neural Accelerators in the GPU, and higher memory bandwidth, Mac mini with M6 delivers a whole new level of AI performance. And with up to an 18-core CPU and 20-core GPU, Mac mini with M5 Pro is an ultracompact powerhouse for complex pro workflows. We can’t wait to see all the incredible ways people will use it next.”

Mac mini with the All-New M6

A Pint-Sized AI Powerhouse

Mac mini with M6 can power through everything from productivity tasks to creative projects, the latest AI workflows, and more. M6 features a 12-core CPU — two more cores than before — with the world’s fastest single-threaded performance, so everything feels extra snappy and responsive. A 12-core GPU, also with two more cores than before, now includes Neural Accelerators in each core for the first time on Mac mini, resulting in up to 4x faster AI performance and 2x faster graphics than Mac mini with M4.¹ In addition, the all-new Dual 16-core Neural Engine delivers up to 2x faster performance than the previous generation, and combined with the advanced GPU, Mac mini is a powerhouse for all things AI.¹ And with 16GB of standard unified memory configurable up to 32GB, as well as higher memory bandwidth up to 170GB/s, multitasking is faster than ever.

Mac mini with M6 delivers:²

• Up to 13.5x faster LLM prompt processing in LM Studio when compared to Mac mini with M1, and up to 4.8x faster than M4.

• Up to 2.3x faster spreadsheet calculations in Microsoft Excel when compared to Mac mini with M1, and up to 1.5x faster than M4.

• Up to 2x faster gaming performance with ray tracing in Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition when compared to Mac mini with M4.

• Mac mini with M6 is shown with a display running Perplexity.
• Mac mini with M6 is shown with a display running video editing software.
• A Mac mini with M6 is shown with a display running Final Cut Pro.

Mac mini with M5 Pro

Unprecedented Pro Performance

Mac mini with M5 Pro redefines what’s possible on such a small desktop, enabling pro users to take on demanding workflows like app development, video rendering, scientific simulations, and more. M5 Pro features up to an 18-core CPU with remarkable multithreaded performance and up to a 20-core GPU with an enhanced shader core and third-generation ray tracing for complex work in 3D design, VFX, and game development. With Neural Accelerators in each GPU core, M5 Pro also delivers significant gains in AI compute compared to the previous Mac mini, allowing users to tackle more advanced AI workflows like photo and video upscaling, and running large diffusion models faster than ever. Mac mini with M5 Pro supports up to 64GB of unified memory with 307GB/s of memory bandwidth, enabling users to run even larger local AI models, work with complex 3D scenes, edit ProRes RAW files, and load large custom datasets for research. And with industry-leading performance per watt, Mac mini with M5 Pro is quiet, efficient, and ideal as an always-on desktop for AI agents or creative workflows.

Mac mini with M5 Pro delivers:

• Up to 8.5x faster LLM prompt processing performance³ in LM Studio when compared to Mac mini with M2 Pro, and up to 4x faster than M4 Pro.²

• Up to 4.5x faster rendering performance³ with ray tracing in Blender when compared to Mac mini with M2 Pro, and up to 1.4x faster than M4 Pro.²

• Up to 2.1x faster image processing³ in Affinity when compared to Mac mini with M2 Pro, and up to 1.5x faster than M4 Pro.²

Best-in-Class Connectivity

The new Mac mini with M6 and M5 Pro now supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, as well as 2.5Gb Ethernet for faster wired connectivity, with 10Gb available. On its front are two USB-C ports that support USB 3 and a headphone jack with high-impedance headphone support for convenient access. On the back, there are three Thunderbolt 4 ports on Mac mini with M6, and three Thunderbolt 5 ports on Mac mini with M5 Pro, along with HDMI and Ethernet. Thunderbolt 5 also allows users to cluster multiple Mac mini systems together to run large AI models entirely on device. And newly added genlock support through USB-C enables precise synchronization between a display and camera, including iPhone 17 Pro.

macOS 27 Golden Gate: An Unrivaled Experience

The new Mac mini comes to life with the upcoming macOS 27, which includes an expansive set of improvements that make the Mac even more responsive and reliable. Features users already rely on get even better. AirDrop transfers are quicker, network file browsing is faster, and start page content in Safari loads with greater speed. A rebuilt search foundation powers Spotlight, Photos, and Mail with a more comprehensive index of content that stays up to date throughout the day, making it easier than ever for users to find exactly what they are looking for. Refinements to Liquid Glass improve readability and add uniform toolbars, edge-to-edge sidebars, and more detailed app icons, enabling users to further personalize its appearance. macOS 27 also brings improvements to Apple Maps, Notes, and Podcasts.

Mac mini and the Environment

The new Mac mini was built with the environment in mind and drives progress toward Apple’s ambitious plan to be carbon neutral across its entire footprint by 2030. It is made with 50 percent recycled material overall,⁴ including 100 percent recycled aluminum in the enclosure and 100 percent recycled rare earth elements in all magnets. All of the electricity used to manufacture Mac mini is sourced from renewable energy, like wind and solar, across the supply chain, and Apple has also invested in enough renewable energy around the world to match the electricity customers use to power Mac mini. Like all Apple products, its paper packaging is 100 percent fiber-based and can be easily recycled at home.⁵

Pricing and Availability

• Customers can pre-order the new Mac mini with M6 and M5 Pro starting today, August 25, on apple.com/store and in the Apple Store app in 30 countries and regions, including the U.S. It will begin arriving to customers, and in Apple Store locations and Apple Authorized Resellers, starting September 22.

• Mac mini with M6 starts at $899 (U.S.) and $799 (U.S.) for education. Additional technical specifications are available at apple.com/mac-mini.

• Mac mini with M5 Pro starts at $1,699 (U.S.) and $1,599 (U.S.) for education. Additional technical specifications are available at apple.com/mac-mini.

• Additional technical specifications, configure-to-order options, and information on Studio Display, Studio Display XDR, and Magic accessories are available at apple.com/mac.

• macOS 27 is available for testing in public beta through the Apple Beta Software Program at beta.apple.com, with availability as a free software update this fall. For more information, visit apple.com/macos. Features are subject to change. Some features may not be available in all regions or in all languages.

• With Apple Trade In, customers can trade in their current computer and get credit toward a new Mac. Customers can visit apple.com/shop/trade-in to see what their device is worth. With year-round education pricing — available to current and newly accepted college students and educators — customers can save on Mac mini, along with a wide range of products and services through the Apple Store online and in stores. See Apple’s Education Store for details. Customers in the U.S. who shop at Apple using Apple Card can pay monthly at 0 percent APR when they choose to check out with Apple Card Monthly Installments,⁶ and they’ll get 3 percent Daily Cash back — all up front.⁷ More information — including details on eligibility, exclusions, and Apple Card terms — is available at apple.com/apple-card/monthly-installments.

• AppleCare delivers exceptional service and support, with flexible options for Apple users. Customers can choose AppleCare+ to cover their new Mac, or, in available markets, AppleCare One to protect multiple products in one simple plan. Both plans include coverage for accidents like drops and spills, battery replacement service, and priority support from Apple Experts. For more information, visit apple.com/applecare.

• Every customer who buys directly from Apple gets access to Personal Setup. In these guided online sessions, a Specialist can walk them through setup or focus on features that will help them make the most of their new device. Customers can also learn more about getting started and going further with their new device with a Today at Apple session at their nearest Apple Store.

The post Apple’s new Mac mini, featuring M6 and M5 Pro, delivers a massive leap in AI performance, supercharging the leading desktop for always-on agentic computing appeared first on Tech Scene ZA.