Q3 2025
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Technology & Innovation
Apple
The titanium port on the phone and the watch’s titanium case are additively manufactured to improve the shape while reducing environmental impact
Apple today debuted the all-new iPhone Air, the thinnest iPhone ever made, and the first to officially feature a titanium 3D printed component. Like some of its predecessors, the new Apple Watch 11 also features a fully 3D printed titanium case, demonstrating that the use of AM to mass produce consumer electronics is here to stay and – if anything – will be increasing in the future.
Both elements are part of Apple’s efforts to reduce environmental impact (Apple 2030), as AM can produce the same parts using significantly less material and electricity than other processes. Apple 2030 is the company’s ambitious plan to be carbon neutral across its entire footprint by the end of this decade by reducing product emissions from its three biggest sources: materials, electricity, and transportation.
“The all-new iPhone Air is so powerful, yet impossibly thin and light, that you really have to hold it to believe it’s real. This huge leap in design and engineering is only made possible through Apple innovation, especially Apple silicon,” said John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering. “iPhone Air is a brand-new member of the iPhone family that delivers advanced features our users will love, like pro performance, a versatile 48MP Fusion camera system, our innovative Center
New iPhone Air and Apple Watch 11 to feature titanium 3D printed parts
Stage front camera, and great all-day battery life — all in a breakthrough design that feels like you’re holding the future.”
Beyond being impossibly thin and this shape is made possible by the new titanium USB-C port, which is 3D printed to be thinner and stronger, fitting into the slim design while using 33 percent less material than a conventional forging process. In addition, iPhone Air is made with 35 percent recycled content, including 80 percent recycled titanium, the highest ever for an iPhone, and 100 percent recycled cobalt in the battery. It is manufactured with 45 percent renewable electricity, like wind and solar, across the supply chain. It is designed to be durable, repairable, and offer industry-leading software support, while meeting Apple’s high standards for energy efficiency and safe chemistry. The paper packaging is 100 percent fiber-based and can be easily recycled.
Likewise, Apple Watch Series 11 is now made with 40 percent recycled content, which includes 100 percent recycled cobalt in the battery, and 100 percent recycled titanium or aluminum in the case. These titanium cases are made using an innovative 3D printing process that uses just half the raw material as previous generations.
It is manufactured with 100 percent renewable electricity, like wind and solar, across the supply chain. Apple Watch Series 11 is designed to be durable and repairable, and also offers industryleading software support, while meeting Apple’s high standards for energy efficiency and safe chemistry. The paper packaging is 100 percent fiber-based and can be easily recycled.
Artificial Intelligence & Automation 2
AI & Analytics
Over three-quarters of retail leaders say that innovation requires analytics and AI, but fewer than one-third believe their current capabilities in those technical areas give them a competitive advantage, according to May research from EY.
Over half of retailers say AI, data and analytics are a top priority, according to the survey of 500 consumer products and retail executives, 20,000 consumers and almost 200 CEO’s.
Few retail leaders are confident in their current AI capabilities, EY finds
Three-quarters of consumer product leaders report relying more on AI and analytics to make smarter investment decisions for innovation. Almost half of these leaders are directly investing in these capabilities.
AI investments are the norm for business leaders now, but how much return they’re getting from these investments varies.
Nearly two-thirds of retailers say that integrating AI and automation is one of the top areas where collaboration is essential in their business.
However, leaders are split on their exact objective when deploying AI. Over half (54%) say they’ll use it to reduce labour costs through automation, while the rest (46%) plan to use AI to improve productivity among employees.
Already, retailers are working to incorporate AI. Best Buy, Walmart, Lowe’s and Home Depot are among the companies investing in AI across multiple use cases in consumer-facing formats, from shopping tools to enhancements for search experiences.
The Evo 150 SE Is Cambridge Audio’s Newest Streaming Amplifier
As Range Manager David Granath explains, “our goal is to make the smart home easy to use, easy to understand and within reach for the many.” Matter’s simplicity and wide compatibility is a key part of that, and IKEA’s whole-hearted support of the standard is likely to help make it much more popular.
IKEA will also launch a collaboration with the Swedish designer Tekla Severin, aka Teklan, in January. The homeware giant previously announced the Teklan seriesin January, but said the full range wouldn’t launch until “early 2026”. Well, it’s now been a bit more specific about that, but it’s a shame they won’t land in time for Christmas stockings.
Still, the Nattbadd is available from IKEA now.
Cambridge Audio
Cambridge Audio is launching the Evo 150 SE, a special edition of its Evo 150 streaming amplifier. As part of a partnership with Hypex, Cambridge Audio has developed the NCOREx “Tuned by Cambridge” Class D amplifier technology featured in the Evo 150 SE. This allows the amplifier to deliver 150W per channel (into 8 Ohms) to all but the most demanding of speakers.
According to Cambridge Audio, improvements have been made throughout the audio signal path to hone this sound yet further. Evo 150 SE is built around the 4thgeneration of StreamMagic, Cambridge Audio’s streaming platform for listening across multiple services and formats.
StreamMagic enables direct streaming from Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Amazon Music, Deezer, Qobuz, Roon Ready, UPnP and Internet Radio over Wi-Fi or Ethernet. As Cambridge owns and develops the StreamMagic platform itself, new features and services are regularly added to improve and increase its functionality.
For maximum wireless flexibility, Evo 150 SE gives the options of Bluetooth aptX HD, AirPlay 2 and Google Cast. To share music across devices all around the home, it is fully compatible with Google Home, Apple AirPlay and Roon multiroom systems.
Wired connectivity is equally well served. HDMI ARC means the Evo 150 SE can be connected to a TV, forming the sound foundations of your home entertainment system.
While all of Evo 150 SE’s functionality can be accessed via the StreamMagic app, and the HDMI ARC connection enables simple volume control through a TV remote, a dedicated remote control is supplied to ensure complete ease of use for anyone in the room.
Evo 150 SE’s compact footprint is no accident – 12” x 12”, the same size as a vinyl record sleeve. The amplifier features a 6.8” colour screen, where users can cycle through a clock display, the album artwork and info of the current track, or else enjoy the tick of virtual VU meters.
Cambridge Audio Evo 150 SE is available from July 2025.
Market Intelligence & Sustainability
Smart Devices
Smart homes are on the rise, with UK householders dramatically increasing the number of smart devices they own. According to the most recent YouGov survey from 2018, 23% of homes have at least one smart device, with 11% having a smart speaker, 5% with smart lighting and 3% having smart security in place.
At these levels of take-up and awareness, homebuyers are likely to be drawn towards the new developments that arrive with smart devices as standard, giving new ways of marketing properties and distinguishing developments from those of competitors.
CEDIA Research shows professional UK smart home market Hits £3.1 Billion
“Specifically for housebuilders, if built into the home as standard, it helps to differentiate the property versus other similar properties without the technology,” says Mark Lufkin, chief commercial officer for smart home company Wondrwall.
“This helps to sell more quickly or to command a higher price. We are getting positive feedback from homeowners who are moving into properties with Wondrwall [an intelligent system automatically controlling heating, lighting and security] installed.”
The number of housebuilders offering smart devices is increasing. Following a trial in Oakthorpe, Peterborough, Google Nest products are now available nationwide for all new Kier Living homes.
In most cases, adding smart devices is as easy as adding traditional nonsmart ones, requiring no additional wiring. As such, it’s possible to offer packages, giving buyers the opportunity to upgrade from standard fittings to smart ones.
In many ways, this is similar to how cars are sold, with higher-spec models adding features to the basic package. It’s also cheaper to install smart products during a build. Focusing on providing options in the largest categories helps, with options for smart heating, smart security and smart assistants.
Here, we are looking at some of the options for each category.
Smart thermostats
Smart thermostats provide several advantages over their traditional counterparts, but there are two main benefits. They are easier to programme and use, and they give greater energy savings. Average gas bills in the UK are £676 a year, and Tado, the smart-thermostat manufacturer, estimates UK customers can save 19% on heating bills. Nest claims that UK customers can save between 8.4% and 16.5%.
In addition, using a digital interface to the boiler, such as OpenTherm, allows compatible thermostats to modulate the central heating temperature to select the best temperature to warm a house at the most efficient level (load compensation). OpenTherm says an additional 6% saving can be made on fuel costs.
About 2Twelve 12
With more than 20 years of experience in the consumer electronics sector, 2Twelve has successfully managed and developed numerous audio brands.
In recent years, we have concentrated on supporting thirdparty brands with their industrial design, mechanical, electronic, and software engineering needs, creating innovative, industryleading products that drive business growth and delight customers.
• Our Services Include
• Strategic Business Planning
• Product Road-mapping
• New Product Development & Industrial Design
• Proof of Concept Prototyping
• Packaging Design Solutions
• Regulatory Compliance & Certification
• Market Research & Insights
• Product Optimization & Refinement
• Production & Supply Chain Coordination
• RFQ Evaluation & Manufacturer Selection
• User Manual & Quick Start Guide Creation
Our holistic approach steers projects from ideation to production. With a small team in the UK and Hong Kong, we excel at identifying market opportunities and developing distinctive products, all while navigating the challenges of launching in a competitive marketplace.
Developing Products Is Not Easy!
We assist in selecting the right manufacturer for the project and manage the entire development process to ensure the delivery of fully tested and certified products. We help establish robust quality management processes and support the transition from pilot runs to mass production.
Our expertise extends to market analysis and over the years we have published hundreds of market intelligence reports. Insert image 2T report
With expertise across design, technology, and manufacturing, 2Twelve supports partners in bringing new audio products to life.
