Every developer juggling AI agents right now knows the feeling of context switching until the whole workflow blurs together. Copilot suggests something in one window, Claude Code runs a task in another, and a dozen prompts live scattered across notes and muscle memory. The Logitech MX Keypad exists to collapse all of that into nine small screens sitting next to the keyboard, each one a physical shortcut into a specific piece of that chaos.

Every key on the keypad carries its own full-color LCD display, so instead of memorizing which function key does what, you glance down and see an icon that actually represents the command underneath it. Press one, and it can refactor a function, trigger a prompt macro, or hand off a task to an AI agent entirely. That small visual feedback loop turns an abstract keyboard shortcut into something closer to a labeled button on a control panel.

Designer: Logitech

What makes the hardware worth paying attention to is where Logitech chose to draw the compatibility line. Instead of building this around one coding environment, the MX Keypad works across GitHub Copilot, Claude Code, VS Code, and IntelliJ IDEA at once. A developer bouncing between an IDE and a terminal-based AI agent doesn’t need separate tools for each, just a different page of keys pulled up on the same nine buttons.

That pattern of paging matters more than it sounds. The keypad can hold multiple profiles, so switching from a Python project running through Copilot to a JavaScript refactor handled by Claude Code becomes a single tap rather than a mental reset. Anyone who has lost a train of thought hunting through browser tabs for the right prompt will recognize the value in never breaking eye contact with the code itself.

Underneath the surface, the MX Keypad ships with prebuilt plugins that Logitech had developers test directly against real coding platforms, rather than shipping generic templates and hoping they fit. An SDK opens the door further, letting teams build their own tools around internal workflows, while a community marketplace means the plugin library keeps growing without waiting on Logitech’s own release schedule.

None of that ambition comes wrapped in bulky, wasteful materials either. The body is made with recycled plastics, keeping the hardware in line with the sustainability commitments Logitech has built into its broader MX ecosystem. It is a small detail, but for a device meant to live permanently on a desk, it matters that the object itself doesn’t feel disposable.

At $99.99, the MX Keypad occupies a strange but clarifying position in a developer’s setup. It doesn’t replace a keyboard, and it doesn’t try to be an AI tool in its own right. Instead, it works like a translator between fast-moving human intent and the growing swarm of coding agents developers now manage daily, one labeled key at a time.

The post The $100 Keypad That Puts Each AI Coding Tool Behind Its Own Button first appeared on Yanko Design.

Most Android drawing tablets make you choose between a screen that feels like paper and hardware fast enough to keep up with a real workflow. The Kamvas Pad 12 refuses that trade-off. Huion built a 12.2-inch standalone tablet around a textured, paper-like display and paired it with enough processing power to hold 127 layers open without stuttering, treating the screen as a genuine canvas rather than a stylus afterthought.

That screen runs a 3:2 aspect ratio instead of the usual 16:9, and the difference shows up the moment you start sketching. A wider canvas means fewer awkward crops when composing a portrait or a page layout, and it doubles as a better shape for reading documents or comics without letterboxing. Combined with a 90Hz refresh rate, linework tracks the pen smoothly instead of lagging a beat behind your hand.

Designer: Huion

Canvas Glass 3.0 does the quieter work here. The surface is nano-etched for texture, so the pen tip grips the way it would on actual paper, while a soft-light treatment and anti-glare coating keep long sessions from turning into eye strain. Setting up near a window or working outdoors doesn’t wash out the display, which matters more than most spec sheets give it credit for.

The PW600C pen leans into that same philosophy of getting out of the way. It’s battery-free, weighs just 12 grams, and snaps magnetically onto the tablet body instead of needing a separate case or loop. Someone sketching on a train can toss the pen against the tablet’s edge between stops and trust it’ll still be there, without fishing through a bag for a charging cable or a lost cap.

Underneath, an eight-core MediaTek Genio 720 chip and 8GB of RAM handle the kind of multitasking that used to choke budget Android tablets, running multiple layers and apps without the frame drops that make digital painting frustrating. At 16,384 pressure levels and 60-degree tilt support, the stylus itself translates a feather-light highlight or a bold ink stroke with the kind of nuance that used to be reserved for pricier displays.

Storage tops out at 256GB onboard with room to expand to 1TB, so a growing library of finished pieces, reference photos, and half-done sketches doesn’t force anyone into constant cleanup. Android 16 and full Google Play access mean the tablet isn’t locked into a single app either. Clip Studio Paint, ibisPaint X, MediBang Paint, and Huion’s own HiPaint all come preloaded, ready for whichever workflow fits the project at hand.

Battery life rounds out the case for treating this as a genuine mobile setup instead of a tethered accessory. An 8,000mAh cell inside a 7.8mm metal body keeps the Kamvas Pad 12 running for roughly eight hours, long enough for a full day of sketching at a café or a cross-country flight without hunting for an outlet. That kind of stamina turns a drawing tablet into something closer to a sketchbook you never outgrow.

The post An Android Drawing Tablet With 127 Layers That Still Feels Like Paper first appeared on Yanko Design.

OnePlus Ace 7 series leaks reveal a 185Hz display, active cooling, huge battery tests and possible Pro hardware, with availability still unknown.

The post OnePlus Ace 7 Series: Latest Specs, Rumors, and Release Clues appeared first on TechRepublic.

Apple reportedly plans a two-year hardware push under CEO John Ternus, including a foldable iPhone, AI wearables, new Macs, iPads, and home devices.

The post Apple Reportedly Plans Major Hardware Push Under John Ternus appeared first on TechRepublic.

OpenAI is committing $1 billion in subsidized Daybreak access and support to help cyber defenders protect critical infrastructure and fix flaws faster.

The post OpenAI Commits $1B to Put Daybreak AI in Defenders’ Hands appeared first on TechRepublic.

Huawei’s Mate XT2 starts near $3,000, adding an inward-folding design and new Kirin chip as Apple reportedly prepares its first foldable iPhone.

The post Huawei’s $3,000 Mate XT2 Takes Aim at Apple’s Foldable Plans appeared first on TechRepublic.

Uber and Wayve have launched 15 supervised robotaxis in London. Learn how the rides work, why safety drivers remain and what comes next for riders and Uber.

The post Uber and Wayve Launch UK’s First Supervised Robotaxi Rides appeared first on TechRepublic.

Microsoft is retiring Word’s Similarity Checker and making Text Predictions opt-in. Learn who is affected and what users should do before October 3.

The post Microsoft Is Removing a Useful Word Tool: What Users Should Know appeared first on TechRepublic.

Xiaomi has chosen an interesting moment to return to foldables. The company has not released a book-style foldable since the Mix Fold 4, which launched in 2024, and now it is back with the Xiaomi 18 Fold just as compact foldables are starting to get more attention. Samsung has also added a foldable in this compact format to its lineup, and Apple is widely expected to unveil its first foldable iPhone at its September 9 event with a similar form factor in mind.

That puts the Xiaomi 18 Fold in an interesting spot. It is not just Xiaomi coming back to foldables after a break. It is also arriving just as this smaller book-style format looks like it could become the next big thing.

Designer: Xiaomi

Xiaomi is positioning the 18 Fold as its first mid-size flagship foldable. It weighs 7.73 ounces (219g), measures 0.42 inches thick when folded (10.68mm), and opens out to just 0.20 inches thick (5.02mm), with a folded footprint of 4.64 x 3.29 inches (117.8 x 83.6mm). In person, it feels thin, though not unusually thin by the standards of today’s premium foldables. More importantly, it feels expensive in a good way. The matte texture on the back and frame gives it a softer, understated finish, while the rounded corners and flat frame help the phone look clean and modern.

The unit I handled was the deep red version, and it is a bold color in person. It stands out more than the usual black or silver foldable palette without feeling too loud. It also happens to echo the deep red finish rumored for Apple’s first foldable, which makes the comparison hard to miss. The 18 Fold comes in Black, White, Red, and a Ceramic Version.

In practice, though, this is still a two-handed phone whether it is folded or unfolded. Even closed, the body is compact in one sense but still broad enough that I did not think of it as something built for easy one-handed use. That is not really a criticism. It just comes with the territory.

The outer display is a 5.38-inch panel, while the inside opens up to a 7.58-inch main screen. Xiaomi says both displays share the same aspect ratio, which is meant to make the transition from one to the other feel more natural. I could not fully judge how well that works in daily use from a short demo, but one benefit stood out right away. Video felt more immersive than on squarer foldables because there was less black bar space above and below the image.

The software also looked well suited to the shape. Animations felt smooth in my brief demo, and I did see split-screen and floating window support in action. The unfolded UI felt more like a small tablet than a stretched phone, which is what you want on a device like this. Xiaomi has also placed one speaker on the top edge and another on the bottom edge on the opposite side, which should help give the phone a more balanced stereo effect when it is open.

The hinge left a good first impression too. I cannot really say whether it felt especially firm or especially smooth, because my time with the device was limited, but it did feel sturdy. The crease was handled well too. Looking straight at the display, I only really noticed it from certain angles rather than all the time. More importantly, I could barely feel it when running a finger across the center, which was better than I expected.

Left: Xiaomi 18 Fold, Right: Galaxy Z Fold 8

Left: Galaxy Z Fold 8, Right: Xiaomi 18 Fold

Left: Galaxy Z Fold 8, Right: Xiaomi 18 Fold

I also compared the Xiaomi 18 Fold side by side with Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8. Samsung’s device measures 4.88 x 3.22 x 0.38 inches when folded (123.9 x 81.9 x 9.7mm), 6.35 x 4.88 x 0.18 inches when unfolded (161.4 x 123.9 x 4.5cm), and weighs 7.09 ounces (201g), so it is a little lighter and a bit thinner than Xiaomi’s foldable in some areas. But the difference was not just about dimensions. Samsung’s inner screen was noticeably brighter to my eyes. At the same time, the Xiaomi 18 Fold had one practical advantage that stood out immediately. When placed on a desk, it did not wobble, while the Samsung did.

Left: Galaxy Z Fold 8, Right: Xiaomi 18 Fold

Left: Galaxy Z Fold 8, Right: Xiaomi 18 Fold

Top: Xiaomi 18 Fold, Bottom: Galaxy Z Fold 8

The biggest surprise for me was the camera. Xiaomi is using a 200MP Leica triple-camera system, led by a 200MP main camera and backed by a 50MP Leica periscope telephoto with an 80mm equivalent focal length. In my short time with the phone, the telephoto camera was the part that stuck with me most. I tried zoom, and the 3.5x telephoto setup immediately felt like one of the most interesting parts of the device. Stability also felt good even at higher magnification, which made the zoom feel more usable, not just more dramatic. The camera bump also did not seem overly large, and its oval-shaped, two-step raised design gives it some presence without taking over the whole back.

My time with the Xiaomi 18 Fold was brief, and this hands-on really only scratched the surface. Even so, the phone already feels like a polished return to book-style foldables. Pricing starts at RMB 10,999, or roughly $1,640, for the 12GB/256GB model, and Xiaomi said it will be available in China only for now.

The post Xiaomi 18 Fold Hands-On: Got Here Before Apple, Can It Beat Samsung? first appeared on Yanko Design.