29 Sept 2025
This podcast episode reviews the latest hardware news, including new phone releases, processor benchmarks, and industry controversies, alongside a segment on current GPS issues in Iran. It features a comprehensive buying guide for external hard drives, comparing HDD and SSD options for diverse user needs and scenarios.
Episode 12 of Silicon skips episode 13 due to superstition, a practice also observed in other cultures. The program structure consistently includes weekly hardware news followed by a buying guide, with this episode focusing on external hard drives.
Samsung introduced the A07s as its most economical new smartphone, priced at $86, though its rapid entry into the Iranian market inflated its price to 9.5 million Toman. This model, launched in Indonesia, quickly appeared in Iran's grey market, raising questions about its overall value proposition.
The A07s features a G99 chip, a modest upgrade from the A06s's G825, yet both are considered weak performers, potentially leading to a laggy user experience. Its 90Hz HD+ display, while improved from the A06s's 60Hz, is still expected to suffer from the underpowered processor, especially in demanding applications.
Samsung's promise of six years of software updates for the A07s faces skepticism, as flagship devices typically receive updates first, causing significant delays for mid-range phones. Additionally, a sub-$100 phone is unlikely to maintain its utility or relevance for six years, beyond possibly security patches.
Benchmark results for the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL indicate its Tensor G5 chip performs weaker than the iPhone 12 Pro Max, despite Google's claims of substantial CPU and TPU improvements. The Pixel 10 series launch event was criticized for being an unconventional, podcast-like format, with product news largely leaked prior to its official commencement.
Google's Pixel phones have historically prioritized software and camera performance over raw hardware power, but the widening performance gap against competitors and the diminishing uniqueness of its camera capabilities challenge this strategy. Geekbench tests reveal a significant disparity, reinforcing that Google is not effectively competing in the hardware segment, and other brands like Huawei are surpassing Pixel in camera quality.
Huawei's P80 Ultra currently leads camera rankings, significantly outperforming competitors including the Pixel 9 Pro XL, despite ongoing US sanctions. This highlights Huawei's success in leveraging challenges to innovate and produce top-tier camera technology, particularly within its domestic market.
Nvidia introduced the Jetson Edge AI Thor, a mini supercomputer priced at $3500, explicitly designed for advanced AI and robotics applications. This device is 7.5 times more powerful and 2.5 times more energy-efficient than its predecessor, offering up to 2000 TeraFLOPS of processing power with 12-14 core ARM processors.
The Redmi Note 15 Pro Plus features a substantial 7000mAh battery and is notably the first Redmi phone to support satellite messaging, making advanced communication more accessible in the mid-range segment. It also boasts a Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chip, a 120Hz AMOLED display with 3000 nits brightness, and supports 45W (Pro) or 90W (Pro Plus) fast charging.
Current GPS malfunctions in Iran are causing widespread disruption for drivers and delivery services, leading to increased fuel consumption due to inaccurate routing. These issues are estimated to have inflicted a $1 billion economic loss, highlighting the critical reliance on functional navigation systems.
ASRock faces scrutiny over recurring hardware issues, including a melted 16-pin power connector on an RX 7000 XT graphics card and problems with AM5 sockets on its motherboards. AMD attributes these motherboard issues to potentially outdated firmware and emphasizes the importance of quality power supplies, while ASRock users report consistent product failures.
ASUS released a limited edition ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4080 with Noctua cooling, known for its distinctive brown/beige aesthetic and silent, efficient cooling. Priced at $2300, it is notably more expensive than a standard RTX 4090, which offers double the performance, raising concerns about its value despite premium cooling.
Facing continuous challenges, Intel received support from the US government, which approved acquiring a 10% stake in the company, causing a 4.5% rise in its stock price. This government intervention is met with skepticism by some, who question its long-term effectiveness in saving Intel, especially given AMD's strong roadmap with upcoming Zen 6 processors.
ASUS introduced the ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDP, marketed as the world's fastest OLED monitor, featuring a 26.5-inch QHD+ Tandem OLED panel. It achieves a 540Hz refresh rate at QHD+ and an astonishing 720Hz at lower resolutions, with enhanced brightness, color gamut, and panel longevity, primarily targeting competitive gamers.
The guide emphasizes that external HDDs remain a viable choice for high-capacity, long-term data storage and archival due to their lower cost per gigabyte and superior data retention compared to SSDs. External SSDs are recommended for rapid data transfer between systems, aligning with specific user needs and budget considerations.
Popular and reliable external HDD models include Western Digital My Passport and Seagate Expansion, known for their long-standing performance and availability in various capacities. ADATA offers several durable, rugged models like the HD770G and HD710 Pro, while Silicon Power's Armor series provides military-grade shock resistance.
Buyers should prioritize reputable brands (Western Digital, Seagate, ADATA, Silicon Power, Toshiba) and ensure products come with reliable warranties, as many unofficial or repackaged drives exist. The guide advises calculating the cost per terabyte to identify the most economical option and considering actual usage needs over rugged features for typical use.
A recent survey revealed 86% of respondents prefer external SSDs over HDDs (14%), indicating a strong inclination towards speed among consumers. However, experts reiterate that the choice should ultimately depend on specific user needs, budget, storage volume, and the primary purpose of data transfer or archiving.
Elon Musk announced 'Microhard,' a new venture focused on developing software entirely with AI, aiming to be a 'non-soft' counterpart to Microsoft. This project, alongside Musk's other unconventional initiatives like forming a US political party, is met with considerable skepticism and is seen as another example of his often erratic public behavior.
Huawei's advancement after sanctions serves as a prime example of transforming threats into significant opportunities.
| Product/Company | Key Insight |
|---|---|
| Samsung A07s | Economical phone ($86 international), poor value in Iran (inflated price), weak G99 chip, delayed software updates. |
| Google Pixel 10 Series (Tensor G5) | Benchmarks weaker than iPhone 12 Pro Max, Google's event criticized, camera lead diminishing. |
| Nvidia Jetson Edge AI Thor | Mini supercomputer ($3500) for AI/robotics, 7.5x stronger, 2.5x more efficient than predecessor, 2000 TeraFLOPS. |
| Redmi Note 15 Pro Plus | Mid-range phone with 7000mAh battery, first Redmi with satellite messaging, 120Hz AMOLED, 90W fast charging. |
| ASRock (GPU & Motherboard) | Recurring hardware failures: melted RX 7000 XT GPU connectors, problematic AM5 motherboard sockets, possibly outdated firmware. |
| ASUS ROG Strix RTX 4080 Noctua Edition | Premium cooling and aesthetics ($2300), but severely overpriced compared to RTX 4090's double performance. |
| Intel | US government acquired 10% stake after struggles; future uncertain amidst strong AMD competition (Zen roadmap). |
| ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDP | World's fastest OLED monitor (26.5-inch QHD+, 720Hz max refresh rate), targets competitive gamers. |
| External HDDs | Cost-effective for high-capacity, long-term archival/backup; superior data retention compared to SSDs. |
| External SSDs | Preferred for fast data transfer; higher cost per GB, but survey shows 86% user preference for speed. |
| Elon Musk's Microhard Project | New AI-driven software development venture; highly skeptical reception as another ambitious yet erratic project. |
