Laptops with trackpads that bulge or pop out are often showing a symptom of a swollen lithium-ion battery, which sits directly beneath the trackpad in most designs including MacBooks and Surface devices. Battery swelling happens when overcharging or physical damage triggers chemical reactions that release gas, pushing outward against internal components. Apple has previously run replacement programs for MacBooks affected by this exact issue.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-13
A guide breaks down what's required to run an RV fully on solar power, noting that most users still pair solar with a backup generator rather than going all-solar. Going fully solar demands a battery bank to store energy, an inverter to convert DC to AC, and a charge controller to regulate power flow from panels to storage.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-12
EV batteries naturally lose some usable capacity over time, with the Department of Energy estimating a 12-to-15-year lifespan in moderate climates and 8-to-12 years in harsher ones. A 2026 Geotab study of more than 22,700 vehicles across 21 models found average yearly degradation of about 2.3 percent, though results vary widely by car and driving conditions.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-12
A tech guide outlines practical settings changes Windows 11 users can make to extend laptop battery life, noting that x86-based machines remain more power-hungry than ARM alternatives and that Windows 11 itself carries performance overhead. The top recommendation is lowering screen brightness via the Win + A shortcut, alongside other adjustments that trade some performance for longer runtime.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-12
Leaked details point to a new Samsung Galaxy Buds model internally called 'T1,' reportedly aimed at workout use. The leak suggests a larger battery capacity and touch-based controls, though Samsung has not confirmed the product or a launch timeline.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-11
Dutch companies LeydenJar and Powall are not manufacturing complete batteries but specializing in critical components, such as battery anodes, aiming to secure a strategic foothold in the global battery supply chain. LeydenJar's Christian Rood likens this approach to ASML's dominance in semiconductor equipment, where being indispensable in one production step grants outsized influence over an entire industry.
bbc.co.uk
· 2026-09-10
Furo, a startup building software for industrial battery storage systems, has raised $4 million from mostly U.S. investors including TQ Ventures, Neo, and Sheryl Sandberg's Sandberg Bernthal Venture Partners. The three 28-year-old founders, originally from Germany, moved back home after studying and briefly operating in the Bay Area, and within a year landed enterprise clients like Deutsche Bahn. Co-founder Lena Sophia Voß says the company is scaling faster in Europe than it would have in the U.S.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-09-10
Energizer's 100-watt outdoor Bluetooth speaker, which offers up to 24 hours of battery life, is now available for $84.99, a price cut from its usual cost. The deal targets consumers seeking a portable, long-lasting speaker for outdoor use.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-10
A new executive order prohibits installing foreign-produced bulk-power system equipment deemed a national security threat, explicitly naming battery energy storage systems, inverters and transformers. This follows earlier measures including 2022 tax credit restrictions tied to sourcing of battery minerals and components, a 2025 rule requiring 55% non-Chinese materials for storage projects starting in 2026, and tariffs on batteries that rose to 25% from 7.5% in January.
technologyreview.com
· 2026-09-10
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro Max claims 45 hours of video playback versus 39 hours on the iPhone 17 Pro Max, along with faster wired and wireless charging. Aside from battery improvements, a variable aperture camera, larger vapor chamber and A20 Pro chip, the new model is nearly identical to its predecessor, and costs just $100 more starting at $1,299 for 256GB.
cnet.com
· 2026-09-09
Apple unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max at its 'Surprise and shine' event, featuring the A20 Pro chip, an adjustable camera aperture with AI features, and a larger vapor chamber. The standout upgrade is battery life, with the Pro Max rated for 45 hours of video playback versus 39 hours on last year's model, plus faster wired and wireless charging. Starting at $1,299 for 256GB, the new phone costs $100 more than its predecessor at launch.
cnet.com
· 2026-09-09
Apple's newly announced iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max claim the largest battery life increase in the device's history, driven by redesigned batteries, the more efficient A20 Pro chip, and software tuning. Per Apple's specs, streaming playback rises from 30 to 33 hours on the standard Pro and from 35 to 40 hours on the Max, while a new 'real-world usage' metric rates the Pro at 24 hours and the Pro Max at 30 hours.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-09
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