29 Sept 2025
This episode of Silicon delves into the latest tech news, covering innovative concept phones, upcoming device releases, and a detailed analysis of market trends in GPUs and mobile processors. The discussion also addresses the challenging economic conditions in Iran, which significantly impact tech purchases and daily life through infrastructure issues.
This episode, the 13th installment of the 'Silicon' podcast, focuses on weekly hardware news relevant to computers and mobile phones, primarily targeting tech enthusiasts and 'geeks.' A key announcement at the outset clarifies that due to extreme fluctuations in the dollar exchange rate, no buying guide will be provided this week, as any pricing recommendations would be illogical.
Realme showcased two innovative concept phones. One features a groundbreaking 15,000 mAh nano-silicon battery with the highest power storage density in the mobile industry (1070 Wh/L), yet maintains a remarkably thin profile of 8.8mm. This design offers five days of moderate use or 30 hours of gaming, making it half the thickness and 60% lighter than typical power banks of similar capacity. The second concept phone introduces an active cooling system with a 'Chill Fan' technology, incorporating a 7700 sq mm vapor chamber and a TEC cooling system to reduce internal hardware temperature by 6 degrees Celsius, enhancing performance stability.
Samsung is set to release the Galaxy S25 FE this week, which will feature minor upgrades to its chip while retaining a similar design, color options (white, black, blue, ice blue), and price point of $650 for the base model. Its Iranian market price is projected to reach approximately 70 million Tomans, positioning it as a flagship-tier device. Additionally, the new Samsung S11 and S11 Ultra tablets are scheduled for introduction on September 13th, though their launch is expected to be overshadowed by the highly anticipated iPhone releases the following week.
Battery drain tests conducted by 'Lohir of Tech' on YouTube reveal that the Pixel 10 Pro achieved an impressive 7 hours and 1 minute of screen-on time, outperforming the iPhone 16 Pro (6 hours 15 minutes) and the standard Galaxy S25 (6 hours 20 minutes). This performance is notable given the Pixel's larger 4850 mAh battery compared to the iPhone 16 Pro's 3500 mAh, compensating for its less powerful Tensor G5 chip. Despite its strong battery and camera capabilities, the Pixel 10 Pro faces criticism for its relatively weak chip performance and a high price of 195 million Tomans in the Iranian market.
Nvidia continues to expand its dominant position in the GPU market, shipping 75 million units in Q2 alone, contributing to an 84% market share and a $4.5 trillion market capitalization. This growth, partly at the expense of AMD and Intel, is primarily driven by the escalating demand for advanced AI capabilities, compelling consumers to adopt the latest Nvidia GPUs. The discussion highlighted Iran's precarious AI infrastructure, where government-developed chatbots are reportedly dependent on a single Nvidia 4090 graphics card, underscoring a significant technology gap.
AMD has opted to remove stock coolers from its Ryzen 5000, 7000, and 8000 series APUs, a departure from its previous practice of including competent Wraith Stealth/Spire coolers with boxed CPUs. This decision reflects the industry trend where most users purchase aftermarket cooling solutions, as stock coolers are often inadequate for maintaining optimal performance under heavy loads or for higher-end processors. Investing in an efficient aftermarket cooler is crucial for ensuring stable and prolonged CPU performance beyond merely preventing overheating.
A PNY GPU reportedly exploded while a user was engaged in video editing, with a capacitor near the power connector failing and detaching the heatsink, despite the GPU operating at a moderate temperature of 70°C. PNY's initial response involved 'gaslighting' the user by suggesting the issue stemmed from their power supply, although the user had a robust 1000W+ PSU. While the GPU was replaced under warranty, PNY has not issued an official explanation, raising concerns about potential product defects, similar to previous incidents involving other brands like ASRock.
A fan meticulously recreated a full-scale LEGO model of the iconic iMac G3, comprising 700 pieces and featuring a miniature keyboard and CRT monitor. The creator is seeking 10,000 public votes to gain Apple's official endorsement for a commercial LEGO set. This project highlights the complexity and dedication involved in large-scale LEGO builds, alongside a general appreciation for unique, custom-built PC cases, such as the Cooler Master Cube, which present assembly challenges due to non-standard component compatibility.
Leaked Geekbench scores for the unreleased Samsung Exynos 2600 chip show significant improvements, with single-core scores around 3300 and multi-core scores reaching 11250, making it comparable to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Elite. This represents a substantial 50% performance increase over its predecessor, the Exynos 2500, and features a 10-core architecture. While these results suggest the Exynos 2600 could power highly competitive mid-range devices, concerns persist about Samsung's strategy of deploying Exynos chips in flagship models, potentially leading to performance disparities compared to Snapdragon variants.
A company has achieved a record-breaking 1000Hz refresh rate on a gaming monitor, utilizing a TN (Twisted Nematic) panel. This feat, primarily an overclocking achievement, is presented as a technological challenge rather than a practical solution for mainstream use, similar to extreme CPU overclocking with liquid nitrogen. For everyday gaming and general use, a stable 120Hz or 144Hz OLED monitor offers a superior and more reliable visual experience compared to an unstable, record-setting TN panel.
The Iranian tech market is severely disrupted by an unstable economy, characterized by a rapidly appreciating dollar (reaching 134,000 Tomans) and difficulties in currency allocation for importers, leading to a shortage of goods. Retailers are withholding inventory due to unpredictable pricing, making any tech purchase recommendations impractical. The high prices have pushed flagship phones, such as the Z Fold 5 1TB and S25 Ultra 1TB, well over 200 million Tomans, prompting advice against buying excessively large storage capacities like 1TB, with 256GB being recommended as sufficient.
A recent survey on smartwatch usage revealed that 42% of respondents primarily use their smartwatches for 'seeing the time,' a finding that surprised the hosts, who argue that traditional watches offer better aesthetics and value for that purpose. Other uses included 'notifications' (26%), 'sports and health' (20%), and 'appearance and style' (12%). The hosts highlighted personal use for notifications and health tracking, acknowledging the convenience of smartwatches for quick information access and as a safety measure against phone theft in public spaces.
Iran is currently facing severe daily electricity outages, causing widespread disruptions to daily life, including impacting water pumps, internet connectivity, and the functionality of POS terminals. These frequent and prolonged power cuts lead to numerous daily problems, affecting everything from basic utilities to financial transactions, and highlight a significant decline in essential public services.
The current state of Nvidia's market dominance, fueled by advancements in AI, starkly contrasts with Iran's struggling AI infrastructure, where government chatbots reportedly rely on a single graphics card.
| InsightCategory | KeyInsight | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Economic Impact | Tech Market Instability in Iran | Extreme dollar fluctuations (10,000 Toman increase in a week) and import challenges have made tech product pricing volatile and supply scarce, rendering buying guides illogical. |
| Mobile Innovation | Realme's Concept Phones Push Boundaries | Realme introduced a 15,000 mAh nano-silicon battery phone (8.8mm thick) for 5-day use and an active cooling system capable of reducing internal hardware temperature by 6°C. |
| Battery Performance | Pixel 10 Pro Outperforms Rivals in Battery Test | The Pixel 10 Pro lasted 7h 1m in a battery drain test, surpassing iPhone 16 Pro (6h 15m) and Galaxy S25 (6h 20m), despite its weaker chip but larger battery. |
| GPU Market | Nvidia's Growing Dominance and AI Demand | Nvidia holds 84% of the GPU market, driven by AI advancements. This starkly contrasts with Iran's struggling AI infrastructure, reportedly relying on a single Nvidia 4090 GPU for government chatbots. |
| CPU Cooling | AMD Removes Stock Coolers from APUs | AMD has stopped bundling stock coolers with Ryzen 5000/7000/8000 series APUs, acknowledging that aftermarket coolers are generally preferred for optimal, sustained performance. |
| Hardware Reliability | PNY GPU Explosion Incident | A PNY GPU capacitor exploded during video editing, despite normal temperatures. The company initially 'gaslit' the user, though the card was eventually replaced under warranty. |
| Mobile Processors | Promising Benchmarks for Samsung Exynos 2600 | Leaked Exynos 2600 Geekbench scores show a 50% improvement over its predecessor, comparable to Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Elite, suggesting potential for powerful mid-range devices. |
| Display Technology | 1000Hz Monitor for Record-Breaking, Not Practical Use | A 1000Hz refresh rate was achieved on a TN panel, primarily for setting records via overclocking. Stable 120-144Hz OLED monitors are deemed superior for practical gaming and daily use. |
| Infrastructure | Daily Electricity Outages in Iran | Iran faces severe daily electricity outages, disrupting water pumps, internet, and payment systems, profoundly impacting daily life and basic services. |
| Smartwatch Trends | Primary Smartwatch Usage: Seeing the Time | A survey found 42% of users primarily use smartwatches to 'see the time,' a surprising result given traditional watches offer better aesthetics and value for that purpose. |
