What we know so far: AMD’s Ryzen 7000 CPUs were once notorious for self-destructing on AM5 motherboards with older BIOS versions, but Team Red rolled out a firmware update to fix the problem in 2023. While there’s no indication that the issue has returned, a Redditor is now reporting that their friend’s Ryzen 7 7800X3D swelled up and burned out while running with the default BIOS settings after only three months of use.

According to Redditor Magoth04, a three-month-old Ryzen 7 7800X3D was irreparably damaged while installed in a fully updated MSI PRO X870-P WIFI motherboard. The post claims that the system abruptly shut down while gaming a few days ago and then entered a boot loop before dying for good.

When the owner opened the case to troubleshoot the problem, both the CPU and motherboard reportedly had “visible burn marks,” and the chip also appeared to have swollen slightly. Both the processor and motherboard were reportedly rendered unusable following the incident.

The user claims that the CPU was not overclocked and that the voltage and current limits had not been manually tuned, either. However, AMD’s EXPO setting had been manually activated to allow the memory to run at its advertised speed. The poster added that the CPU was cooled by a 360mm AIO and that system temperatures appeared normal before the catastrophic failure.

When asked whether they had contacted AMD to request a refund or replacement, the Redditor said that the RMA process was already underway. However, it’s unclear whether AMD will honor the warranty, since the chip had already been delidded before the RMA was requested.

The report of yet another Ryzen 7000 failure is bound to send shockwaves through the AMD community, given that this is not the first time something like this has happened. Back in 2023, users began reporting that some Ryzen 7 7800X3D CPUs were burning up and damaging or destroying their X670-series motherboards.

AMD claimed to have fixed the problem with an AGESA update that capped the voltage at 1.30V across all AM5 motherboards. The update appeared to have resolved the issue for a while, but in late 2024 and into 2025, users once again started reporting swelling, boot-looping, and burnout issues, this time involving the Ryzen 7 9800X3D.

AMD blamed motherboard manufacturers for allegedly ignoring its recommended voltage and current limits. Some motherboard makers, such as ASRock, even admitted that at least some of the failures could be attributed to aggressive PBO settings.

The root cause of the latest failure remains unclear, but it appears that the fixes rolled out by AMD and the precautions taken by motherboard manufacturers may not prevent every potential voltage spike during EXPO memory training, potentially leaving some systems vulnerable to permanent damage.

Image credit: Magoth04 / Reddit

When the iPhone X debuted in 2017 for a record-high price of $1,000, people were wondering: How long will this phone last? Now we have an answer. 

On Thursday, Apple classified the iPhone X as obsolete. To be clear, the device won’t suddenly stop working. “Obsolete” is a classification for devices that Apple stopped selling seven years ago, and the company will no longer offer hardware service. This is a step down from the “vintage” category, which refers to devices that Apple last sold five to seven years ago.

I never owned an iPhone X, but I admit I envied the people who did. It was the iPhone that made me start paying closer attention to smartphones. 

I remember seeing the iPhone X advertised on a billboard over San Francisco’s Union Square. Its curved corners and minimal bezels gave it a space-age vibe and made all other phones look dated by comparison. There was even something futuristic about that controversial front camera cutout, which everyone decided to call the “notch.” (Apple never used the term, at least not in the iPhone X’s press release.)

The iPhone X “is the beginning of the next ten years for iPhone,” said Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, Philip Schiller, in 2017.

Schiller’s prediction was spot-on. The all-screen form factor continued to show up in each generation of flagship iPhones, even as the notch evolved into the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 Pro. Today, there’s only one iPhone model that still has a notch: the entry-level iPhone 17E.

Nine years after the iPhone X’s debut, another contender for the most expensive new iPhone may soon be appearing. Apple’s foldable iPhone is heavily rumored to launch next month with an expected price tag of at least $2,000. And with the ongoing RAM crisis driving prices higher, it seems almost quaint to imagine a $1,000 flagship phone today.

We’re also set to see Apple’s 20th anniversary iPhone next year. While I can’t imagine the “iPhone 20” will be as revolutionary as the iPhone X, maybe Apple will surprise us once again.

Jason Chun is a CNET writer covering a range of topics in tech, home, wellness, finance and streaming services. He is passionate about language and technology, and has been an avid writer/reader of science fiction for most of his life. He holds a BA from UC Santa Barbara and an MFA from The New School.

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Aircraft, ships and vehicles now carry many radio systems in a small space, so designers must know how much energy leaks from one antenna into another before any hardware is built. This leakage is described by the mutual s-parameters between the antenna ports, and it decides whether two systems can operate at the same time on the same platform. Measuring it by trial and error at every candidate position is slow and costly. Predicting it by simulation is difficult for two reasons. First, the platform is electrically large, which means that its dimensions span several hundreds of wavelengths, so the model needs a large number of unknowns. Second, the coupling levels of interest are very low, in some cases down to -100 dB, which leaves little margin for numerical error. This White Paper addresses both problems with a full-wave solution based on the Method of Moments applied to the Surface Integral Equation, using higher-order basis functions to keep the number of unknowns low. Two examples are studied in detail: a metallic cube carrying two quarter-wavelength monopoles, and a realistic airliner carrying five monopoles at 1.06 GHz, where the fuselage is about 140 λ long. Three modelling techniques for obtaining accurate low-level results are compared in terms of accuracy and the number of unknowns each one requires, and the complete geometry of each model is documented so that every result can be checked independently.

The Smart Tank series is HP‘s answer to the refillable-ink trend we’ve tracked closely, and for the price, it’s worth checking out the HP Smart Tank 5101 all-in-one printer for $170 (was $260) at Amazon.

Based on our experience testing HP printers, this one’s an easy recommendation for home offices, as well as the back-to-school prep and dorm rooms. First, the bottled ink refills are much cheaper than traditional inkjet cartridges, saving you money – and it includes two years’ of ink in the box. Second, the model features a built-in scanner and copier for work and study.

Why we recommend it

Having tested all the best HP printers, the brand is one of our top-rated in the printing field (our hardware editor has been using his HP printer for almost ten years now).

Refillable ink tank printers have become the more sensible long-term option for anyone who prints regularly, since the upfront ink supply eliminates the recurring cartridge cost that makes budget inkjets expensive over time.

HP, including two years of ink in the box with the Smart Tank 5101, removes a lot of the math you’d otherwise have to do around break-even points.

It also covers the basics well: printing, scanning, and copying are all handled through the HP Smart app, and setup requires nothing beyond connecting to Wi-Fi.

For more top picks, we’ve tested the best ink tank printers and the best home printers, too.

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The Catch: What to know before you buy

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Troublesome electromagnetic catapults look set to be replaced with old-fashioned technology

President Trump has ordered the US Navy to draw up plans to replace electromagnetic aircraft catapults and weapons elevators with old-fashioned steam and hydraulic systems.

America’s commander-in-chief issued a presidential memorandum directing the secretary of defense, in consultation with the secretary of the Navy, to come up with a plan to replace the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) on the future USS Doris Miller (CVN-81) with the older steam-powered system.

The same note stipulated the replacement of the electromagnetic Advanced Weapons Elevators with the hydraulic versions used in older carriers.

These directives were part of a broader memorandum aimed at shaking up shipbuilding for the US Navy, which is often seen as glacial and moribund.

EMALS was introduced on the USS Gerald R Ford (CVN-78), which was the first of an improved design of US aircraft carriers. It basically uses a linear induction motor to accelerate an aircraft along the flight deck, in place of the old-fashioned system that employs a steam piston.

The premise of EMALS is that it doesn’t require a head of steam, and as it is electromagnetic, it should be easy to adjust the power to match the size and weight of aircraft being launched.

However, the technology has had a few teething problems, as reported by The Register previously, and these have even led to the Gerald R Ford being unable to launch aircraft at all.

The Advanced Weapons Elevators, which also use linear motors, have likewise proven problematic.

Earlier this year, it was reported that there was a study underway to review the Ford-class carrier design and determine whether it should be altered for the next two in the class.

“We are looking at 82 and 83 to review the costs, the designs, the systems, to make sure that they make sense, and they have all the systems and requirements that we want going forward,” then-secretary of the Navy John Phelan is quoted as saying.

One of the concerns was said to be with the sortie generation rate of the Gerald R Ford – the number of takeoffs possible – which was promised to be higher with EMALS.

We asked the White House if this directive would apply to all subsequent US carriers, but a spokesperson simply referred us to the announcement, which mentions only CVN-81.

The rest of the president’s memorandum takes aim at naval shipbuilding in America. One directive is to establish a fifth naval shipyard to increase submarine and aircraft carrier repair capacity.

Trump is also sanctioning foreign involvement in building up to three ship classes of US Navy vessels.

His memorandum directs the secretary of defense to come up with “a new competitive acquisition approach” for surface combatants to perform anti‑submarine warfare, surface warfare, and convoy escort duties, plus Consolidated Cargo Replenishment at Sea (CONSOL) tankers and Roll-On, Roll-Off vessels – the latter typically used for transporting tanks and other military vehicles.

The president proposes using a similar approach to the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the US and Finland with regard to acquiring icebreaker ships last year.

This will allow foreign suppliers to take part in US Navy procurement, provided they agree to build a new shipyard in America or assume ownership or a majority stake in an existing one, and construct all ships after the first two in US shipyards.

Tellingly, the memorandum states that the US Navy “shall not impose iterative design changes upon the original mature parent designs within the above programs,” and that no changes from the original designs shall be made without the approval of the secretary of defense.

Last year, the Trump administration canned the Constellation-class frigate program, which had been based on an Italian design to reduce technical risk, after so many changes were made that the US design had just 15 percent commonality with the original and the program was years behind schedule. ®

• iVANKY FusionDock Ultra packs 26 ports into a desktop workstation dock
• Four external 6K displays can run natively on compatible Apple Silicon Macs
• Up to 120Gbps bandwidth supports demanding display-focused professional workflows simultaneously

The iVANKY FusionDock Ultra is a 26-port desktop dock designed specifically for Apple Silicon Macs and demanding professional workstations.

The company says its dock supports native quad 6K monitors, high-speed connectivity, and charging capabilities for professional users.

Open ear earbuds have become the wireless audio industry’s latest land grab. Bose helped push the clip format into the premium mainstream, Sony, Shokz and Soundcore followed, and prices quickly marched toward $200 and beyond. 

CMF has chosen a simpler strategy: offer most of the features people actually want for $99 and leave the luxury tax to everyone else. The CMF Clip Pro is the brand’s first open ear model. Each earbud clips around the ear, leaving listeners naturally aware of traffic, coworkers, children and other hazards that refuse to respect a playlist.

Related Reviews:

What Makes the CMF Clip Pro Different?

The most distinctive feature is not attached to the earbuds. CMF has built a Smart Dial into the charging case, providing a tactile rotary control for volume, playback, calls and Bluetooth pairing without reaching for a phone. Earbud cases are usually plastic waiting rooms with a battery inside, so giving one a useful control is a welcome change. 

The earbuds use a three point support system and an elastic titanium wire core designed to distribute pressure across the ear. Each unit weighs 5.9 grams, while skin friendly materials and a compact listening ball are intended to improve long term comfort. 

Sound comes from a 10.8mm dual magnet dynamic driver. CMF also includes Ultra Bass Technology to compensate for the low frequency loss that remains one of the category’s biggest weaknesses. Hi-Res Audio certification and LDAC give compatible Android devices a higher bitrate option, with AAC and SBC included for everything else. 

CMF’s Sound Seal system attempts to reduce leakage by managing midrange and treble output, with separate settings for calls or all audio in the Nothing X app. Four microphones and a VPU powered Clear Voice system handle calls and background noise reduction. 

Battery Life and Everyday Features

Clip Pro offers up to 10 hours of playback per charge and 32.5 hours with the case. A 10 minute charge provides up to four hours of listening. 

Bluetooth 5.4, multipoint connectivity, Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair, a low latency gaming mode and IP54 protection are included. The earbuds also have physical controls, which should prove more reliable than touch panels during workouts or while wearing gloves. 

Main Competitors

At $99, Clip Pro undercuts most of its closest rivals. Shokz OpenDots Air costs $129.95 and offers 36 hours of battery life, IP55 protection and interchangeable left and right earbuds. Soundcore AeroClip carries a $169.99 list price, with 12mm drivers, multipoint and up to 32 hours of playback. 

Sony’s LinkBuds Clip have a $229.99 MSRP and offer up to 37 hours of playback, three listening modes and AI assisted voice pickup. Bose Ultra Open remains the premium option at $299, with Immersive Audio and up to roughly seven hours per charge. 

However, the new SOUNDPEATS UU2 might be the better value at $49.99. It features a larger 12mm dual magnet driver and upgrades to Bluetooth 6.0. CMF answers with the Smart Dial, Sound Seal and a more ambitious calling system.

CMF Clip Pro Specifications

• Driver: 10.8mm dual magnet dynamic
• Codecs: LDAC, AAC and SBC
• Battery: Up to 10 hours; 32.5 hours with case
• Fast charge: 10 minutes for up to four hours
• Bluetooth: 5.4
• Microphones: Four HD microphones with VPU Clear Voice
• Connectivity: Multipoint, Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair
• Protection: IP54 rated earbuds
• Weight: 5.9 grams per earbud
• Colors: Coral, Light Grey, Dar Grey

The Bottom Line

CMF is not reinventing open ear audio, but it may be stripping away one of the category’s least appealing features: inflated pricing.

The Clip Pro combines a lightweight titanium core design, LDAC, a useful case mounted control, 10 hour battery life and leakage management for $99. That makes it a strong option for commuters, office users, walkers and anyone who dislikes having an ear canal plugged for hours.

Travelers seeking isolation, subway riders battling serious noise and listeners who demand deep, physical bass should still buy sealed ANC earbuds.

The open ear category was already crowded. It just became considerably less comfortable for everyone charging twice as much.

Price & Availability

Open sales begin August 15, 2026 through Nothing’s U.S. website and selected partners. Nothing currently lists an introductory preorder price of $79, reduced from the $99 MSRP. 

Where to buy: $99 $79 at Amazon | Nothing

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Imagine this: you have a big collection of physical books that’s been in your family for decades. As with anything, however, books start showing their age after years of use. After all, no one wants their precious collection to disappear like that. One great way to preserve them is by digitizing the books instead. This will give you a copy to keep forever. While you can just take a photo of your pages, smartphones aren’t professional book-scanning tools. Photos from a phone can have reflections, and sorting the pages afterward can be a headache. That’s exactly the problem CZUR’s ET Max aims to solve.

It’s a book scanner that takes away the hassle of scanning every page and formatting it correctly. Instead, you just need to flip the pages. This could also be extremely useful in office spaces that manage a lot of paper. Given that promise, when CZUR reached out to me, I had to review the ET Max. It’s been a few weeks since that email, and I’ve used it to scan about five books. Spoiler alert: it impressed me. To find out why, read along.

Setup & Software

Unboxing the CZUR ET Max was a pretty interesting experience. Not only does CZUR give you the scanner itself, but it also includes plenty of accessories. These include a physical button for scanning individual pages, a foot pedal to scan, a power cable with plugs for different countries, a black scanning mat, side lights for better visibility, and a book page holder. Setup is pretty straightforward and is handled through the CZUR app, which is available on both macOS and Windows. You can download the app either by going to the CZUR website or using the included physical disk for installation. 

I was able to get everything running quickly by connecting the scanner to my MacBook using the included cable. It was recognized pretty much instantly, and from there it was just a matter of opening the app. Just a quick note: you do need to enter the serial number of your scanner to pair with the app. You’ll find it on the bottom of the device.

On top of the scanner, there’s a preview screen, which, as the name suggests, helps you see what’s being captured. It was super helpful when scanning bigger books, as I needed to know if everything was inside the frame. Beyond that, the app lets you scan books into multiple formats, including JPEG, PDF, and Word. The scanner also uses AI to mark the edges of a book, preserve the colors of the drawings, and correct distortion. You also get OCR functionality, and to prevent distortions in the digital copy, there’s laser technology that measures distortions and helps smooth them out.

Scanning Experience

The ET Max uses a 38MP CMOS sensor to capture books. And to put that to the test, I started by scanning some research papers. Since there are no curved surfaces on those, the process was easy enough. I placed the paper in the frame, and the ET Max automatically captured it and processed the information into a very tidy digital copy. You don’t even have to center the documents inside the frame, as the scanner automatically detects the area and scans just that. The resolution was more than enough, and I could zoom into individual words without losing any detail. The only small hitch was that sometimes colors in pictures looked washed out, but nothing major.

To kick things up a notch, I also scanned a hardcover book. If you’ve read such books before, you know how difficult it can be to keep these books flat. They are always curved, meaning I had to use “Facing Page” mode. This mode projects lasers onto the book surface to measure the amount of deformation and correct it afterward. But does it work? Absolutely. The resulting scans came out straight without any deformation, weird edges, or shadows. However, if you’re not satisfied with the result, you can also manually correct the dimensions inside the app.

About these controls, the software lets you adjust the contrast and colors of every scanned image, change the edges, use a different crop, and more. I found all these options helpful in giving me the look I had in mind. But that’s not all. You can hide specific sections of a document and remove handwriting from old books. The latter didn’t work that well because it covered the handwritten parts with a white overlay, which looked out of place. What did work quite well was using the ET Max as a document camera. I hooked it up to my home projector and projected the book onto a 100-inch screen, with plenty of detail visible. This could be another helpful feature for teachers and project managers.

Given that most offices scan documents to create digital copies, OCR functionality becomes very important. And if you’re in the market for such a machine, then the ET Max performed well in my testing. The scanner did a good job of recognizing text from different books and research papers and converting them into PDFs. CZUR says it can accurately detect over 180 different languages, but I only tested with English books, so your mileage may vary.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Fast and largely automated scanning
• Good results with both flat documents and curved books
• Useful editing controls in the software
• Multiple export formats, including JPEG, PDF, and Word
• OCR worked well with English documents
• Can double as a document camera
• Plenty of accessories included in the box

Cons

• Handwriting removal needs improvement
• Some images can lose color during scanning

Conclusion

At $689 on the official store website, the CZUR ET Max is clearly aimed at professionals. But after scanning several books, I can see why something like this exists. The ET Max takes what would normally be a tedious process, scanning hundreds of individual pages, and turns it into something much more manageable.

You flip the page, let the scanner do its work, and move on to the next one. I expected some distortion when scanning a hardcover book, but the ET Max produced straight pages without the shadows and warping. Not to forget the OCR functionality, editing tools, and ability to display book pages on a projector are also useful additions. Like everything, though, it’s not perfect. Handwriting removal could use some work, and some images inside books lose color. Still, I think the CZUR ET Max is a capable machine worthy of a recommendation.