I'm actually worried for Intel

Intel is facing major challenges with over 5,000 layoffs announced this week and concerns over its manufacturing future as it relies more on external fabs like TSMC, which is expanding rapidly in the US. Meanwhile, significant tech updates include Google’s plan to merge Android and Chrome OS, new product launches from various companies, and industry shifts such as Samsung exploring magnet-based Galaxy phones and regulatory moves against Chinese tech in critical infrastructure.

Intel is facing major challenges with over 5,000 layoffs this week and potential reliance on external fabs like TSMC for future CPUs, casting uncertainty on its manufacturing strategy amid industry shifts. Meanwhile, tech highlights include Google’s plan to merge Android and Chrome OS, a foldable phone size dispute between Honor and Samsung, and various new product launches from companies like Sony, Seagate, and Razer.

This week, Intel is facing significant challenges as the company announces another round of layoffs affecting over 5,000 employees across the US, particularly in California and Oregon, as well as hundreds more in Israel. Since 2022, Intel has laid off more than 38,000 employees, a staggering number that exceeds the workforce size of many other chip companies. Additionally, Intel’s upcoming Nova Lake CPU, expected in late 2026, has reportedly been taped out using TSMC’s advanced N2 fabrication node, indicating that Intel may continue relying on external fabs rather than fully returning to its own manufacturing facilities. Furthermore, Intel might be shelving its 18A manufacturing process for external customers, using it only internally, which casts a shadow over its manufacturing future. Meanwhile, TSMC is accelerating the construction of new plants in Arizona due to rising US demand, highlighting the contrasting fortunes of these semiconductor giants.

In lighter news, the foldable smartphone market has seen some amusing drama involving the Honor Magic V5 and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. Although Honor claimed the Magic V5 as the world’s thinnest foldable at 8.88 mm, tests revealed that Samsung’s Fold 7 is actually thinner. It turns out Honor’s measurement excluded protective films and camera bumps, which Samsung highlighted indirectly through a PR contact. Despite the back-and-forth, the half-millimeter difference is unlikely to impact user experience significantly, especially since the Honor device offers a larger battery. This episode also showcased how companies subtly provide media with ammunition to critique competitors without direct confrontation.

A major development in the software world is Google’s confirmation that Android and Chrome OS will merge into a single platform. This announcement came casually during an interview by Google’s head of Android ecosystems, Samir Samat, and was later reiterated on Twitter. The integration aims to build Chrome OS on top of Android’s underlying technology, promising improved performance and better synergy between laptops, phones, and smartwatches. While the practical implications remain to be seen, this move is expected to enhance the overall user experience and streamline the ecosystem.

The release monitor highlighted several new tech products, including Form’s Smart Swim 2 Pro goggles with upgraded Gorilla Glass 3 lenses, Sony’s RXR1 full-frame fixed-lens camera priced at $5,100, and Razer’s Pokémon-themed gaming peripherals. Techno unveiled its Phantom Ultimate G-fold concept device, essentially a pocket-sized tablet, set to be showcased at MWC 2026. Seagate launched 30 TB hard drives using heat-assisted magnetic recording technology, now available for purchase. Additionally, the new G2.2 wireless charging standard was officially announced, with multiple companies releasing compatible devices supporting up to 25 watts of charging.

In brief updates, Samsung is exploring Galaxy phones with built-in magnets and no wired charging, and the S Pen might return to foldables if digitizer layers can be made thinner. Google announced its Pixel 10 series launch event for August 20, with leaks suggesting the upcoming Pixel Fold will have an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. Spain controversially awarded Huawei contracts for intelligence agency wiretaps, raising security concerns, while the FCC plans to ban Chinese technology in undersea cables to protect critical infrastructure. Cyberpunk 2077 finally launched on Mac OS for Apple Silicon, and Meta is cracking down on content theft on Facebook and Instagram. Lastly, the video promoted Nebula, a streaming platform offering exclusive, high-quality content without ads, encouraging viewers to support creators directly.

This week, Intel is facing significant challenges as the company announces another round of layoffs affecting over 5,000 employees across the US, particularly in California and Oregon, as well as hundreds more in Israel. Since 2022, Intel has laid off more than 38,000 workers, a staggering number that exceeds the workforce size of many other chip companies. Compounding these troubles, Intel’s upcoming Nova Lake CPU, slated for late 2026, has reportedly been taped out using TSMC’s advanced N2 fabrication node, indicating Intel may continue relying on external fabs instead of their own manufacturing facilities. Additionally, Intel might be shelving its 18A manufacturing process for external customers, using it only internally, which further clouds the company’s manufacturing future amid TSMC’s accelerated expansion in Arizona driven by rising US chip demand.

In lighter news, the foldable smartphone market has seen some drama involving the Honor Magic V5 and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. While Honor claimed the Magic V5 as the world’s thinnest foldable at 8.88 mm, tests revealed Samsung’s Fold 7 is actually thinner when considering protective films and camera bumps that Honor excluded from their measurements. Samsung subtly highlighted this discrepancy through a PR contact without directly accusing Honor of misleading claims. Despite the back-and-forth, the half-millimeter difference is unlikely to impact user experience significantly, especially since the Honor device offers a larger battery, and both phones feel premium and handy.

A major development in the software world is Google’s confirmation that Android and Chrome OS will merge into a single platform. This announcement came casually during an interview by Google’s head of Android ecosystems, Samir Samat, and was later reiterated on Twitter. The integration aims to build the Chrome OS experience on top of Android’s underlying technology, promising improved performance and better synergy between laptops, phones, and smartwatches. While details remain sparse, this move is expected to enhance Android app compatibility and overall ecosystem cohesion.

The release monitor highlighted several new tech products, including Form’s Smart Swim 2 Pro goggles with upgraded Gorilla Glass 3 lenses, Sony’s RXR1 full-frame fixed-lens camera priced at $5,100, and Razer’s Pokémon-themed gaming peripherals. Techno unveiled its Phantom Ultimate G-fold concept, showcasing a foldable device that unfolds into a tablet-sized screen, though it remains a concept for MWC 2026. Seagate launched 30 TB hard drives using heat-assisted magnetic recording technology, now available for purchase, and the new G2.2 wireless charging standard saw multiple companies releasing compatible devices supporting up to 25 watts.

In brief updates, Samsung is exploring Galaxy phones with built-in magnets and no wired charging, and the S Pen might return to foldables if digitizer layers can be made thinner. Google announced its Pixel 10 launch event for August 20, with leaks suggesting the upcoming Pixel Fold will have an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. Spain controversially awarded Huawei contracts for intelligence wiretaps, raising security concerns, while the FCC plans to ban Chinese tech in undersea cables to protect internet infrastructure. Cyberpunk 2077 finally launched on Mac OS for Apple Silicon, and Meta is cracking down on content theft on Facebook and Instagram. Lastly, the video creator promoted exclusive Nebula content, including a deep dive interview with Fairphone executives and a documentary on a major scientific scandal, encouraging viewers to support quality, ad-free content on the platform.