Morning Brief

1. iQOO launches Z11 series smartphones
2. DJI releases its first 8K panoramic flagship drone, DJI Avata 360
3. Razer unveils 2026 Blade 16 thin-and-light gaming laptop
4. MIUI officially ends updates
5. Google introduces Lyria 3 Pro music generation model
6. Nintendo confirms differentiated pricing for the Switch 2 eShop
7. Google announces overhaul of Android 17’s underlying encryption architecture
8. Apple discontinues Mac Pro
9. News Worth a Quick Look

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iQOO launches Z11 series smartphones

On March 26, iQOO officially unveiled the Z11 series, including the iQOO Z11 and iQOO Z11x, powered by the Dimensity 8500 and Dimensity 7400 processors respectively.

In terms of display, the iQOO Z11 features a 6.83-inch OLED panel with a 165 Hz refresh rate and a peak global brightness of 2000 nits. The iQOO Z11x comes with a 6.76-inch LCD display, supports DC dimming, offers up to 1200 nits brightness, and is certified for low blue light by TÜV Rheinland.

On the performance side, the iQOO Z11 is equipped with the Dimensity 8500 built on TSMC’s second-generation 4 nm process, paired with VC liquid cooling, achieving an AnTuTu benchmark score exceeding 2.62 million. The iQOO Z11x uses the Dimensity 7400, also based on TSMC’s second-generation 4 nm process, with an AnTuTu score exceeding 1.05 million. For imaging, the iQOO Z11 features a 50 MP main camera with OIS, along with portrait modes, filters, and watermark features.

For battery and charging, the iQOO Z11 packs a 9020 mAh battery, supporting 90 W wired fast charging, reverse charging, as well as 55 W PD/PPS and 44 W UFCS fast charging input. The iQOO Z11x includes a 7200 mAh battery. Other features include OriginOS 6, NFC, infrared remote control, and IP68/IP69 dust and water resistance. The iQOO Z11 supports native 165 fps in CrossFire: Future, 165 fps mode in Valorant Mobile, and native 144 fps in Honor of Kings, while the Z11x has received SGS five-star drop resistance certification.

Pricing starts at RMB 1,999 for the iQOO Z11 and RMB 1,499 for the iQOO Z11x. Source

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DJI releases its first 8K panoramic flagship drone, DJI Avata 360

On the evening of March 26, DJI officially unveiled its first 8K panoramic flagship drone, the DJI Avata 360. The new model focuses on upgrades in panoramic imaging, intelligent tracking, and immersive flight, featuring dual sensors with an equivalent one-inch area. It supports 8K 60 fps HDR panoramic video recording and can output 120 MP, 16K ultra-high-resolution panoramic photos. When switched to single-lens mode, it can also function in the classic Avata form, supporting 4K 60 fps video recording.

In terms of imaging and flight safety, the DJI Avata 360 uses DJI’s self-developed panoramic stitching algorithm to generate high-spec panoramic video in real time, and is equipped with forward-facing LiDAR, enabling night-level omnidirectional obstacle avoidance in panoramic shooting mode. The body continues the integrated propeller guard design, while adding a panoramic virtual gimbal capable of 360° infinite rotation and tilt control. It supports effects such as reverse shots, flips, and the “Tiny Planet” effect, and can export videos directly based on camera movements during shooting, reducing post-production editing.

For control and tracking capabilities, the DJI Avata 360 supports omnidirectional intelligent tracking, subject-follow shooting, motion-based control, and advanced tracking algorithms, allowing it to lock onto subjects even during fast movement or complex trajectories. Users can control the drone via remote controllers or joysticks, and pair it with Goggles 3 / N3 and Motion Controller 3 for a more immersive panoramic flight experience. In terms of transmission, the drone is equipped with the flagship O4+ full HD transmission system, supporting up to 20 km of 1080p 60 fps high-frame-rate video transmission, along with dual-channel HD transmission. It also includes a built-in 4G enhanced transmission module, which, when paired with RC 2, RC-N2, or RC-N3 controllers, can improve signal stability via 4G networks.

Additional specifications include 42 GB of onboard storage, capable of storing approximately 30 minutes of 8K panoramic footage; support for Wi-Fi 6 high-speed wireless transfer with speeds up to 100 MB/s; a maximum flight time of 23 minutes; and support for PD fast charging and multi-battery charging via a charging hub. The standalone drone (enhanced transmission version) starts at RMB 2,788. Source

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Razer unveils 2026 Blade 16 thin-and-light gaming laptop

Razer has released the 2026 Blade 16 thin-and-light gaming laptop. The device is based on Intel’s Panther Lake platform, with a thickness as slim as 14.9 mm and a weight of approximately 2.14 kg.

In terms of configuration, the new Blade 16 can be equipped with up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 386H processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU. When paired with the official cooling stand, the GPU can reach up to 175 W TGP. Memory supports up to 64 GB of LPDDR5X-9600.

Razer states that the chassis is precision-milled from a single block of T6 aluminum, with sandblasting, anodization, and an anti-fingerprint coating. The display is a 16-inch OLED panel with a resolution of 2560 × 1600 and a 240 Hz refresh rate, certified with VESA DisplayHDR TrueBlack 1000, offering a 0.2 ms response time, 100% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage, and Calman color certification.

Other features include a six-speaker system, a 3.5 mm audio jack supporting 7.1.4 surround sound, and support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0. Ports include one Thunderbolt 5, one Thunderbolt 4, three USB-A (10 Gbps), one HDMI 2.1, and one UHS-II card reader. Source

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MIUI officially ends updates

With the rollout of Xiaomi’s HyperOS, the company has gradually added older devices to its end-of-support list. The Redmi A2 and Redmi A2+ global variants were the last devices still receiving MIUI updates, running Android 13 and continuing to receive security patches and minor updates during their support period. Their final firmware version was V14.0.44.0.TGOMIXM, with support officially ending on March 24, 2026.

MIUI, first released in August 2010, was one of Xiaomi’s earliest products, initially existing as a third-party ROM. Over 12 years of development, it reached version 14 and accumulated hundreds of millions of users. In October 2023, Xiaomi introduced HyperOS as its next-generation operating system, gradually replacing MIUI.

Xiaomi stated:

“We just noticed MIUI trending, and didn’t expect so many long-time users to still care about it—it’s truly touching.

With the launch of Xiaomi HyperOS in 2023 as part of our ‘Human x Car x Home’ ecosystem strategy, MIUI has completed its transition. It will gradually exit maintenance, while necessary security updates will continue to be provided.”

Source

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Google introduces Lyria 3 Pro music generation model

On March 26, Google announced its most advanced music generation model, Lyria 3 Pro. According to Google, the model shows significant improvements over its predecessor in both structural composition and track length.

Lyria 3 Pro can more accurately handle musical elements such as intros, verses, choruses, and bridges, and is capable of generating full tracks up to approximately three minutes in length, making outputs closer to ready-to-use music. The model does not directly imitate specific artists’ styles; even if artist names are included in prompts, they are treated only as sources of inspiration.

Regarding training data, Google stated that it uses only content it has the right to use under terms of service, partnership agreements, and applicable laws, but did not disclose more specific data sources. At the same time, Google noted that all audio generated by the model is embedded with an invisible SynthID digital watermark to identify AI-generated content.

The model is now available across Gemini, Google Vids (within the Workspace ecosystem), the Vertex AI cloud platform, and the developer tool Google AI Studio. Source

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Nintendo confirms differentiated pricing for the Switch 2 eShop

On March 26, Nintendo announced that it will implement a “digital vs. physical price differentiation” strategy for first-party titles on the Switch 2 platform, with digital versions priced lower than physical copies.

This strategy will debut with the upcoming title Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, set to release on May 21. On the U.S. eShop, the digital version will be priced at $59.99, while the physical edition will cost $69.99. By comparison, most Nintendo first-party titles previously maintained a unified price of $69.99 for both digital and physical versions. Source

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Google announces overhaul of Android 17’s underlying encryption architecture

On March 26, Google announced that it will introduce post-quantum cryptography (PQC) standards in Android 17 to address potential future threats posed by quantum computing to existing encryption systems.

Technically, Google plans to integrate quantum-resistant digital signature mechanisms into the Android 17 bootloader, preventing attackers from interrupting or tampering with the secure chain during device startup. Even with quantum computing capabilities, it would be difficult for attackers to gain low-level control of devices. In addition, Google will upgrade the Android Keystore to a PQC-compliant system, ensuring that authentication processes during communication with external servers cannot be intercepted or forged by quantum attacks, thereby protecting sensitive data transmissions such as financial and social information. Source

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Apple discontinues Mac Pro

According to technology media outlet 9to5Mac, Apple has officially discontinued the Mac Pro and removed it from its website. The company has confirmed that there are currently no plans for a successor model. The most recent Mac Pro update was in 2023, featuring the M2 Ultra chip, while its design has remained unchanged since 2019.

9to5Mac also noted that the Mac Studio has fully replaced the Mac Pro as Apple’s flagship desktop for professional users. The current model is equipped with the M3 Ultra chip, with a future upgrade to M5 Ultra expected. Source

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News Worth a Quick Look

• According to the Financial Times, after employees and investors raised concerns about potential social impacts, OpenAI has decided to indefinitely postpone its “Adult Mode” (codenamed Citron mode). The project had already been delayed multiple times, with internal discussions even considering outright cancellation. The main controversies center on the risk of increasing users’ emotional dependence on AI and exposing minors to inappropriate content. The company stated that there is currently insufficient empirical data to support related decisions, and that longer-term research is needed. There is no clear timeline for the feature’s release. Source
• At the same time, OpenAI has also introduced a plugin system for Codex. The system supports seamless integration with mainstream tools such as Slack, Figma, Notion, and Gmail. OpenAI stated that Codex plugins are essentially installable workflow bundles, which may include skills, app integrations, and MCP server configurations, helping teams reuse standardized setups across different projects. Developers can access the plugin directory via the Codex app or CLI (/plugins), with support for creating and installing local plugins. Source
• Mark Gurman reported:

• Apple plans to introduce third-party AI interfaces for Siri in iOS 27, allowing users to route queries to different AI chatbots. Building on its existing partnership with OpenAI, Apple is expected to support integrations with services such as Google Gemini and Anthropic Claude. Users will be able to select their default AI service in the “Apple Intelligence & Siri” settings and manage related features via extension options. Apple will also provide entry points for downloading relevant AI apps through the App Store.
• Apple is preparing new generations of the full-size HomePod, HomePod mini, and Apple TV, but these products are currently on hold pending the release of an upgraded Siri. The new Siri is expected to debut in iOS 27, enter testing after WWDC in June, and roll out officially in September. As a result, these hardware products may launch as early as this fall. Rumors suggest the next Apple TV will feature the A17 Pro chip and a custom N1 chip, with support for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread; the HomePod mini is expected to upgrade to the S9 chip, with improvements in audio quality, connectivity, and color options. The current Apple TV 4K (2022) and HomePod mini (2020) are both due for refresh, while the full-size HomePod was last updated in 2023.
• Apple will not introduce major design changes to the Apple Watch lineup in 2026, nor will it release the rumored “Apple Watch X.” This year’s updates will focus on incremental hardware improvements rather than significant changes in design or structure.
• Apple is planning to release the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and its first foldable iPhone (tentatively called iPhone Fold) this fall. The foldable model is expected to ship later than the Pro models, possibly delayed until December. The delay is mainly due to the complexity of foldable display manufacturing, similar to previous new-form-factor products like the iPhone X, which also launched later than its announcement. The starting price is expected to exceed $2,000, making it the most expensive iPhone to date.