29 Sept 2025
This episode of "Silicon with Hamid and I" delivers the latest hardware news, including new monitor releases, graphics card usage statistics, and upcoming phone leaks, while also tackling critical infrastructure issues like ongoing internet and GPS disruptions. The hosts provide a comprehensive mobile phone buying guide across various price points and discuss user priorities in phone purchases.
The "Silicon with Hamid and I" podcast resumes its weekly coverage of hardware and related news, acknowledging ongoing internet and GPS disruptions following a recent conflict, which continue to hinder a return to normalcy.
Asus introduced a 280Hz OLED monitor for under $600 in China, a price considered highly competitive for its quality. This monitor is suitable for tasks requiring high color accuracy and contrast, not just gaming, and represents advancements in OLED technology that previously struggled with high refresh rates. Part of the premium Arogya Strix series, its initial price for the Chinese market is $558, discounted to $474, with an estimated global price of $550-$600. The monitor boasts high color accuracy (99% DCI-P3 coverage, low Delta E), and includes a 3-year burn-in warranty, addressing a past concern for OLED panels which is now largely mitigated by technological advancements.
Steam's latest survey on user graphics card usage shows Nvidia dominating, with the RTX 4060 and 4060 Laptop emerging as the most popular choices due to their balance of economy and performance. AMD's Radeon RX 500 series holds a smaller share (around 3.5%, with RX 570 being 2.47%), indicating that AMD's newer ambitious generations still face significant competition. Intel UHD integrated graphics also remain widely used, particularly by players of less demanding games.
Ahead of Samsung's second major event unveiling foldable phones and other devices, leaks suggest the S26 will offer only minor year-over-year improvements compared to the S25. Significant upgrades are more noticeable when comparing phones across two generations, such as the S25 against the S23. Key rumored enhancements for the S26 include an improved 12-megapixel 3x telephoto camera with a better sensor, and a more optimized 200-megapixel main sensor featuring a variable aperture. The variable aperture, a feature briefly seen in older Samsung models, could significantly impact image sharpness with the large 200-megapixel sensor.
Rumors suggest the iPhone 17 Pro Max will feature a larger 5,000 mAh battery, an increase of approximately 300 mAh, along with a new 19 Pro chip and Snapdragon X80 modem, potentially offering up to 35 hours of video playback. This larger battery might necessitate a slightly thicker phone design, a departure from Apple's historical emphasis on slimness. Discussions also touched upon the possibility of a new cooling system and reverse charging, though the latter is noted as impractical.
Intel plans to refresh its "IK processors" in the second half of 2025, with minor increases in base and boost frequencies, expected to enhance single-core performance. The refresh will significantly boost NPU performance from 13 TOPS to 48 TOPS, highlighting Intel's focus on artificial intelligence capabilities for tasks like Copilot, background blur, and other AI-driven functions, aiming to offload them from the CPU. The effectiveness and widespread utilization of these NPUs by current software remain a topic of discussion.
Jensen Huang's Nvidia, now valued at $4 trillion, is releasing the RTX 5090, but users targeting rendering tasks must be aware of a potential 25% performance drop if the card is not paired with a motherboard supporting full PCIe 5.0 x16 lanes. This performance reduction, specifically 10% in After Effects and 20-25% in DaVinci Resolve, necessitates a full system upgrade for professional graphics work. For general use, or if a complete upgrade is not feasible, alternative cards like the RTX 5080, 4080, or even the widely adopted RX 570 are suggested.
AMD is discontinuing driver support for older graphics cards, including the popular GTX 10 series (e.g., 1060, 1050) and the 700/900 series. This means these cards will no longer receive software updates or "Game Ready" drivers for new titles, limiting their ability to play modern games officially.
The host frequently experiences getting lost due to widespread GPS malfunctions and internet instability, reflecting a broader societal problem. There is public frustration with official responses that advise citizens to simply "get used to it" or "take care of yourself" without offering solutions. The disruptions also affect online taxi services and navigation apps, rendering them less effective than traditional paper maps. The speaker calls for an offline mapping solution that doesn't rely on GPS.
A detailed mobile phone buying guide categorizes devices by price. For up to 10 million Toman, Xiaomi Redmi 1430 and Redmi A5 are recommended. In the up to 25 million range, the Samsung A26 is a strong option, and the Poco A7 is suggested over the Redmi Note 14s due to better specifications. Up to 40 million, the Samsung Galaxy A55 is preferred over newer A36/A56 models, and the Pocophone F7 Pro is noted for gaming. For 65 million, the iPhone 16 and registered iPhone 14 are mentioned. Up to 100 million, the iPhone 16 is generally favored over the S25 Ultra, and beyond 100 million, high-end options include the S25 Edge and iPhone 16 Pro Max.
A public poll revealed that phone buyers prioritize the chip most, followed by screen and battery, with the camera ranking last, contrary to host expectations. Price remains the most determining factor across all purchases, and design is also highly valued. The discussion noted that premium designs often correlate with higher overall specifications. The controversial, asymmetrical design of the Nothing Phone (4S) was debated, with some finding its camera placement jarring.
Amidst discussions of advanced hardware and tech innovations, the fundamental issue of reliable internet and GPS remains a pervasive daily challenge, affecting everything from personal navigation to the functionality of online services.
| Key Insight | Description |
|---|---|
| OLED Monitor Value | Asus's new 280Hz OLED monitor under $600 (China) offers exceptional quality for its price, suitable for both gaming and professional color-critical tasks. |
| Graphics Card Trends | Nvidia's RTX 4060 series dominates Steam's usage charts for its economic efficiency, while AMD's older RX 500 series still maintains a notable share. |
| Phone Upgrade Cycles | Significant smartphone improvements are more evident across two generations (e.g., S23 to S25) rather than year-over-year. |
| S26 Variable Aperture | Samsung's S26 is rumored to feature a variable aperture for its 200MP main sensor, potentially revolutionizing mobile photography sharpness and depth. |
| iPhone Battery Boost | The iPhone 17 Pro Max is rumored to get a 5,000 mAh battery and new chips, significantly extending video playback to 35 hours, possibly at the cost of thickness. |
| Intel NPU Expansion | Intel's upcoming IK processor refresh in H2 2025 will dramatically increase NPU performance (13 to 48 TOPS), signaling a strong push for on-device AI. |
| RTX 5090 Rendering Caveat | The Nvidia RTX 5090 will suffer a 25% performance drop in rendering tasks if not used with a full PCIe 5.0 x16 motherboard, requiring system upgrades for professionals. |
| Legacy GPU Support End | AMD is discontinuing driver support for popular older GPUs (GTX 10/700/900 series), limiting their ability to run new games and receive essential updates. |
| GPS/Internet Crisis | Ongoing GPS and internet malfunctions are causing significant daily disruptions, prompting calls for urgent solutions and frustrating users with vague official responses. |
| Phone Buying Priorities | Consumer phone purchasing decisions are primarily driven by price and design, with the chip's performance gaining more importance than previously expected in recent polls. |
