This week’s top tech stories: Apple is expanding its Ultra lineup with a folding iPhone and a MacBook Ultra, the European Union mandates USB-C charging ports for all new laptops starting April 29, and BMW reveals a concept car with an E Ink hood that changes color on command. Plus, DJI tees up the Mic Mini 2S, Xiaomi’s Redmi prepares full-sized headphones, and Anthropic’s Claude AI hooks into creative apps like Photoshop and Blender. Here’s your tech briefing from itzine.ru and the ForGeeks Telegram channel.
Apple targets folding iPhone and MacBook Ultra for 2026
Apple is reportedly launching a folding iPhone that will stand above the current Pro Max lineup, marking a new Ultra tier separate from the iPhone 18 series. Alongside that, a MacBook Ultra is expected, featuring a touchscreen OLED display, the next-gen M6 chips built on a 2-nanometer process, an enhanced hinge, and Apple’s Dynamic Island interface. Both devices are slated for release in 2026, though the MacBook’s arrival may slip to early 2027 due to memory supply issues.
The biggest question is pricing. Rumors suggest the folding iPhone will start at around $2,000. Apple has already tested the Ultra branding with the Apple Watch Ultra, which costs roughly twice the price of the base Series models. If that pricing pattern holds, Ultra will stand for ”premium and expensive, yet buyers won’t hesitate.”
DJI’s Mic Mini 2S to add onboard recording and multi-transmitter support
Following the recent launch of the Mic Mini 2 wireless microphone, DJI is prepping an upgraded Mic Mini 2S, expected to arrive between June and September. It will introduce internal recording on each transmitter – a handy backup if the camera’s audio fails – and support up to four transmitters connected to one receiver, which is perfect for multi-person interviews and podcasts.
The Mic Mini 2S slots between the entry-level Mic Mini 2 and the higher-end Mic 3 in DJI’s lineup. Pricing and full specs haven’t been announced yet.
EU mandates USB-C charging for all new laptops starting April 29
After imposing USB-C as a universal charging standard for smartphones and tablets, the European Union is now extending this rule to laptops beginning April 29. The only exception applies to machines drawing more than 100 watts – primarily gaming rigs and high-powered workstations – which can keep proprietary power connectors for the time being.
The EU estimates this move will save consumers roughly €250 million annually and drastically reduce electronic waste. For manufacturers, it signals the end of proprietary chargers as ecosystem lock-in tools. Apple has already undergone this transition from Lightning to USB-C on iPhones; now the rest have to follow.
Russian Ministry of Digital Development considers fees on international internet traffic
Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development is exploring ways to introduce additional charges for international internet traffic, a move some interpret as a push to monetize VPN usage. Though the ministry hasn’t issued an official comment, telecom operators have requested a delay on implementing fees for monthly data exceeding 15 GB, citing insufficient time to adjust billing systems before the May 1 deadline.
Experts argue this tariff system is technically unfeasible because distinguishing VPN traffic from regular international data isn’t currently possible. This threatens access to foreign resources, repositories, and libraries essential for Russian developers and government systems. Complicating matters, parts of Russian domestic traffic physically route through other countries, making accurate tracking even more complicated.
Sberbank updates AI art tool Kandinsky 6.0 with photo restoration and style swaps
Sberbank released Kandinsky 6.0, doubling speeds over the previous version while improving complex prompt understanding. Available with unlimited free generations, it uses a Mixture of Experts architecture that activates only necessary computational modules rather than running everything simultaneously.
New tools include damaged photo restoration, AI-driven photo sessions that swap backgrounds and outfits based on a single image, anime and comic book stylization, makeup, and text-driven appearance changes. Fine editing lets users change hairstyles or add glasses without affecting the rest of the image. The integrated Image RAG feature searches for real-time visual references, removing limits imposed by frozen training data.
BMW iX3 Flow Edition features E Ink hood for customizable exterior designs
At the Beijing auto show, BMW revealed the iX3 Flow Edition, a concept SUV with a hood covered by an E Ink panel capable of displaying eight monochrome patterns controlled from inside the vehicle. The display consumes zero power when static and can be mounted on curved surfaces.
BMW says the technology is mature enough for mass adoption in future vehicle generations but hasn’t shared a timeline. The project started in 2022, and the concept represents an early step from a cool demo to real-world application.
Xiaomi Redmi preps first over-ear headphones with 72-hour battery
Unannounced Redmi Headphones Neo have leaked at retailers in the Philippines and China. They sport 40mm titanium-coated drivers, active noise cancellation up to 42 dBA, Bluetooth 5.4, and a USB-C wired mode that supports Hi-Res Audio.
The main selling point is battery life – up to 72 hours on a single charge with ANC off. Retail price is expected around $55, with black and white colors available initially and Mist Blue arriving later.
Russian T-Bank launches offline iPhone payments via Bluetooth
T-Bank introduced ”Vzukh,” a contactless payment system for iPhones that works over Bluetooth without an internet connection. Initially live on Sberbank’s biometric terminals, it will expand to T-Bank and Alfa-Bank terminals by the end of the first half of 2026.
The demand has been strong: iPhone users have made over 45 million transactions totaling 31 billion rubles (~$405 million), with an average spend of about 670 rubles (~$8.70) per transaction.
Anthropic’s Claude integrates with Blender, Photoshop, Premiere, and more
AI developer Anthropic expanded Claude’s capabilities by adding connectors to popular creative software including Blender, Adobe Photoshop, Premiere, Affinity from Canva, Autodesk Fusion, SketchUp, and Splice for sample searching. Users can now ask Claude to generate 3D models from references, edit projects, or even edit videos using voice commands.
These connectors are free, but Adobe Creative Cloud and Autodesk Fusion subscriptions are required for their respective apps. Claude now supports over 170 integrations, including Google, Microsoft 365, Figma, Slack, and Notion. It runs on Anthropic’s MCP platform, but unlike the standard MCP, users don’t need to manually install connectors.
Iconic Russian meme site Udaff.com shuts down after nearly two decades
On April 26, Udaff.com, the birthplace of the famous Russian internet meme ”Preved, Medved!” and other early 2000s net culture, quietly closed its doors. The site outlived expectations as a meme factory before memes became a commercial industry. It popularized ”aффтар жжот” and a distinct playful language style that shaped Russian internet slang for a decade.
The site thrived on unfiltered text and intentionally broken language that was first dismissed as fringe but ultimately captured the era’s tone perfectly. In 2008, the ”Padonki Bible, or the Albanian Language Textbook” was published, attempting to codify the phenomenon. Founder Dmitry Sokolovsky declined to comment on the shutdown, staying true to the site’s irreverent spirit.
While Apple’s new Ultra branding hints at a shift toward higher-end exclusivity, the EU’s USB-C mandate reflects a growing push for device standardization and sustainability worldwide. Meanwhile, innovations from BMW and DJI showcase how hardware continues to push boundaries of style and functionality. In Russia, the tension between internet oversight and user freedoms intensifies, with new fees threatening developers’ access to global resources. Keep an eye on how these stories evolve through 2026 – from folding devices to AI-powered creativity and beyond, the tech space is gearing up for significant change.