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This Public Sculpture In Taiwan Looks Different Every Hour of the Day

Kuo Hsiang Kuo’s “Flowers And Butterflies Are Dancing” represents everything compelling about contemporary public art when it actually works. This A’ Design Award-winning installation, created for the 2018 Taichung World Flora Exposition in Taiwan, demonstrates how thoughtful material choices and strategic placement can transform a simple concept into something genuinely captivating.

The sculpture employs polished stainless steel as its primary medium, a decision that proves brilliant in execution. Rather than fighting against its industrial nature, Kuo embraces the material’s reflective properties to create a living mirror that captures the surrounding environment. During daylight hours, the metal surfaces bounce back the vibrant colors of planted flowers below while simultaneously reflecting the shifting patterns of clouds above. This creates a dynamic relationship where the artwork constantly reinterprets its own context.

Designer: Kuo Hsiang Kuo

The sweeping arcs rise and fall with organic fluidity, suggesting both the graceful flight patterns of butterflies and the gentle swaying of flowers in a breeze. The perforated metal panels that form the “petals” and “wings” aren’t just decorative cutouts but carefully engineered elements that allow light to filter through, creating intricate shadow patterns on the ground below. Strategic lighting transforms the sculpture from a daytime celebration of nature into an evening spectacle that glows with purple and pink hues. This dual personality ensures the installation remains relevant throughout the day-night cycle, maximizing its impact as a public landmark.

Those sweeping curves and cantilevers require serious calculation to maintain both safety and visual lightness. The installation manages to appear delicate and ethereal while being robust enough to withstand outdoor conditions and public interaction. Visitors can walk around and through the installation, experiencing different perspectives that reveal new details and relationships between the various elements.

By referencing Taiwan’s native Formosa Lily, Kuo connects the installation to local identity while addressing universal themes of environmental stewardship. The butterfly motifs speak to transformation and renewal, themes that resonate particularly well in the context of a flora exposition designed to celebrate natural beauty and ecological awareness.

What makes this installation particularly relevant for design enthusiasts is how it solves the persistent challenge of creating public art that serves multiple audiences. Children can appreciate the playful butterfly forms, while adults might contemplate the deeper environmental message. Design professionals can admire the technical execution and material innovation, while casual observers simply enjoy the visual spectacle.

The symmetrical arrangement creates a mandala-like pattern that suggests both natural growth patterns and human artistic intention.

This installation proves that public art can be simultaneously accessible and sophisticated, decorative and meaningful. It’s a reminder that the best contemporary sculpture doesn’t just occupy space but actively transforms it, creating new experiences and perspectives for everyone who encounters it.

The post This Public Sculpture In Taiwan Looks Different Every Hour of the Day first appeared on Yanko Design.

iPhone 17 Pro Teardown Reveals Apple Rebuilt Everything From Silicon to Surface

Professional repair technicians cracking open their first iPhone 17 Pro encounter something unprecedented. Fifteen screws scattered throughout the device. A massive metal shield covering components like a fortress. Torque screws requiring three different screwdrivers. Engineering approaches not seen since the iPhone 3G.

Designer: Apple

Apple didn’t just upgrade the iPhone 17 Pro. The company completely reimagined smartphone architecture from the logic board up, creating internal engineering that represents a fundamental departure from traditional iPhone design.

For creative professionals running intensive applications, this transformation unlocks workflows previously impossible on mobile devices. The aluminum unibody conducts away heat that would have forced earlier iPhones to throttle performance. Apple rebuilt the iPhone from the inside out to finally break the thermal limits that constrained mobile creativity.

Thermal Design as Architecture

The teardown revealed Apple’s first-ever vapor chamber cooling system, but the initial discovery was puzzling. No visible water anywhere. This represents a fundamental shift in smartphone design philosophy. Rather than treating heat as an afterthought, Apple reengineered the entire internal architecture around thermal management as the primary design constraint.

The liquid-cooled backbone contains trace amounts of deionized water that evaporates near heat sources and condenses throughout the aluminum chassis, creating an invisible heat distribution system throughout the device. This invisible circulation system enables sustained creative workflows that were impossible on previous devices. The design is engineered to prevent throttling during intensive loads, maintaining consistent performance across demanding creative sessions.

Apple reengineered the board layout to free space for cooling, prioritizing thermal stability over traditional compactness. The teardown revealed a striking discovery: the miniaturized logic board now takes less space than the cameras, creating room for the vapor chamber while positioning the A19 Pro processor alongside what appears to be 12GB RAM and 512GB storage for optimal heat distribution. The teardown uncovered a 5,112 mAh battery attached directly to the metal shield, integrating with the cooling system to enable charging without heat buildup.

This design philosophy transforms how creatives work. The system is designed to minimize throttling during intensive creative tasks, supporting sustained professional workflows. Apple chose thermal engineering over traditional space efficiency, creating a phone that supports desktop-class creative workflows.

Camera Redesign and Its Ripple Effects

The camera system’s transformation becomes immediately apparent when opening from the back. The cameras are exposed right away, and they’re absolutely massive. Teardown analysis confirms all three cameras now feature 48-megapixel sensors with computational fusion technology, while inspection revealed the telephoto camera gained a significantly larger sensor for enhanced optical performance.

These optical improvements created cascading design challenges that required innovative solutions. The cameras are so large they dominate the internal layout, generating significant heat during intensive photography and video recording. Apple’s approach integrates each camera directly with the vapor chamber system through dedicated thermal interfaces, maintaining optimal sensor temperatures during extended professional sessions.

The teardown revealed an 18-megapixel front camera representing the most ambitious design evolution. The camera is described as absolutely massive and engineered to be perfect for capturing in both portrait and landscape mode. Apple redesigned the entire front assembly to accommodate this enhancement while preserving Face ID functionality and maintaining thermal management for sustained video calls and content creation workflows.

For photographers and videographers, these changes unlock professional-grade mobile capture possibilities. The thermal integration is designed to sustain performance during intensive capture sessions. Computational photography benefits from thermal management during multiple shots. Portrait mode processing is designed to maintain responsiveness across extended sessions. The thermal integration makes the iPhone 17 Pro viable for creative workflows that previously required dedicated cameras.

Material Science and Everyday Durability

Apple’s shift from titanium to aerospace-grade 7000 series aluminum reflects a deeper commitment to thermal performance and environmental responsibility. While titanium offered premium aesthetics, the teardown analysis indicates aluminum conducts heat significantly more effectively than titanium, essential for the vapor chamber cooling system to function properly.

This material choice improves thermal efficiency and recyclability, while providing durability. The aluminum unibody doubles as a heat sink, dispersing thermal energy across the device surface rather than creating uncomfortable hot spots. For users, this means a phone that stays comfortable during intensive creative tasks, maintains thermal comfort during charging, and maintains performance consistency across varied working conditions.

The sustainability implications align with responsible design principles that matter to conscious creators. Aluminum offers superior recyclability compared to titanium, supporting environmental goals while reducing manufacturing complexity. The unibody construction reduces material waste during production while providing structural integrity that meets professional durability requirements. Users benefit from enhanced drop protection and long-term reliability that supports their creative investments.

The thermal efficiency enables design choices that prioritize user comfort and creative flow. Teardown findings suggest the system supports 0-50% charging in approximately 20 minutes without generating excessive heat. The earpiece speaker continues getting bigger every year, with antenna components embedded within the thermal management system, ensuring consistent connectivity without performance trade-offs that interrupt creative work. Every material decision serves both immediate creative usability and long-term sustainability.

Design Tension: Precision Engineering vs. Repair Experience

Apple’s internal redesign reveals a complex balance between engineering precision and user serviceability, but the teardown experience exposes significant frustrations. “Fifteen screws later, which is a lot of screws to access a phone,” the teardown reveals Apple’s willingness to prioritize thermal performance over traditional repair accessibility. The complexity requires three different types of screwdrivers, creating what feels “very un-Apple-like” in terms of service experience.

The teardown shows a removable back glass panel that addresses the most common repair scenario, while the internal layout reflects priorities that favor thermal performance over traditional repair accessibility. This design evolution serves creative professionals who depend on consistent device performance for their livelihood, but creates challenges for repair technicians encountering torque screws and complex component integration.

The teardown analysis reveals the vapor chamber cooling system requires precise component integration and thermal interface connections that prioritize long-term reliability over easy access. Apple distributed multiple screw types throughout the assembly, ensuring optimal thermal contact while maintaining structural integrity during professional use. However, complications arise with features like electrically activated adhesive that couldn’t be properly activated during teardown procedures.

The mechanical fastener approach actually improves certain repair outcomes once components become accessible. The teardown showed reduced adhesive usage compared to previous generations, creating more predictable repair procedures for technicians who understand the thermal requirements. The engineering complexity serves thermal management rather than creating deliberate service barriers.

For design professionals, content creators, and mobile workers, this engineering tension enables creative workflows that were previously impossible on smartphones. Extended video editing sessions, complex design applications, intensive gaming, and sustained productivity work all benefit from consistent performance without the thermal limitations that constrained earlier generations.

The Teardown Revelation

The teardown analysis noted similarities to design approaches not seen since early iPhone generations, suggesting Apple’s willingness to revisit fundamental architecture when creative performance demands require it. Opening the vapor chamber revealed the engineering marvel that makes desktop-class performance possible. Cutting through the chamber exposed the precision manufacturing that enables thermal management previously impossible in smartphones.

The iPhone 17 Pro represents the company’s most comprehensive engineering transformation in years, positioning thermal management as the foundation of mobile design rather than an afterthought. From the first moment repair technicians encounter those unexpected torque screws to the final revelation of the vapor chamber cooling system throughout the device, this teardown exposes Apple’s commitment to professional performance above traditional smartphone conventions.

The result is a device that finally delivers desktop-class sustained performance in a handheld form factor for creative professionals. This capability requires precision engineering that influences every aspect of the user experience, from the fortress-like metal shield protecting components to the complex screw patterns that frustrated repair technicians but enable thermal efficiency that supports years of intensive professional use.

The post iPhone 17 Pro Teardown Reveals Apple Rebuilt Everything From Silicon to Surface first appeared on Yanko Design.

This Linux phone with Android app support has three kill switches for complete privacy

We live in a smartphone-dominated world clouded with privacy concerns unlike ever before. With every new smartphone, our privacy is compromised for the sake of safety, and we easily accept it and move on as usual. But do we really have to live with the microphones on the phone listening to us at all times, or apps running in the background, snooping onto the internet, and privacy at the same time? Furi Labs – like a few other mobile phones with a physical kill switch – believes not really, and so the FLX1s is born.

Furi Labs FLX1s is a $550, Linux-based smartphone, which is almost a usual mid-feature phone until you find physical metal buttons in the mid frame that shut off power directly to the microphone, cameras, and baseband chip at a click. The Hong Kong-based OEM is giving us reasons to have a more secure mobile experience that is customizable to our needs.

Designer: Furi Labs

Before we dive into the standard features of the FLX1s, let’s first discuss privacy-first hardware design. The phone has three dedicated kill switches. These physical buttons provide the user with precise and complete control of their smartphone’s sensitive elements. For instance, the first button can switch off the microphone completely, the second can kill all the cameras and the GPS modem. The third is really interesting; it cuts all cellular connectivity at the hardware level.

Besides this, the Furi Labs FLX1s is not a flagship killer when it comes to its specifications, but the 201-gram smartphone with a polycarbonate frame and glass back does have a different purpose. The phone comes with a 6.7-inch 1600x720p display that has a 90 Hz refresh rate. Powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 900 processor with Mali-G68 graphics, the phone touts 8 GB of LPDDR4X RAM paired with 128GB UFS storage. Since the phone comes in one storage variant, it supports a microSD card up to 1 TB for additional storage.

On the software side, FLX1s runs FuriOS. This is a Debian-based operating system that is flexible to the extent of permitting Android app compatibility. Interesting, the FLX1 can run multiple operating systems simultaneously with KVM virtualization support. For other features, the smartphone comes with a dual camera array on the back comprising, 20MP main camera and a 2MP macro lens. On the front is a 13MP selfie camera. The phone draws power from a 5,000 mAh battery and supports 5G, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.2, A2DP, LE for connectivity. Chargeable using a USB Type-C cable, the Furi Labs FLX1s is being produced in batches. The first batch is sold out, and the company is taking preorders for the second batch, slated to ship in October 2025.

The post This Linux phone with Android app support has three kill switches for complete privacy first appeared on Yanko Design.

Someone made a Functional LEGO Toolbox with shade-cards, and an actual set of rulers

Sometimes the most brilliant ideas hide in plain sight, and LEGO’s minifigure toolbox accessory is a perfect example. That tiny red brick has been sitting in countless builds for decades, completely functional at minifig scale but utterly useless to actual builders. Enter luc.afol’s genius solution: an upscaled version that transforms this iconic accessory into something genuinely practical for Adult Fans of LEGO (AFOLs) and serious MOC creators.

What started as a simple scaling exercise has evolved into something far more thoughtful. This isn’t just a big version of a small thing, it’s a complete reimagining of what a LEGO designer’s toolkit should contain. The result is equal parts adorable and genuinely useful, packed with brick-built tools that speak directly to the pain points every MOC builder knows intimately.

Designer: luc.afol

The color sampler alone justifies this project’s existence. Anyone who’s ever stared at a half-finished build wondering whether “Medium Nougat” or “Tan” would work better will immediately grasp the appeal. The fan-style swatch collection displays all of LEGO’s 2025 solid colors with their official names printed right on each tile. It’s like having a Pantone book but for bricks, and the folding design keeps everything compact while remaining instantly readable. The construction is clever too, using white tiles as the base with perfectly aligned color samples that create a gradient effect when fanned out.

The brick-built ruler tackles another universal AFOL struggle: getting SNOT (Studs Not On Top) measurements right. The orange and black striped design immediately screams “construction tool,” and the scale appears calibrated for actual stud counting. Building complex geometric shapes or calculating offset measurements becomes much easier when you have a physical reference that matches your building medium. The alternating color pattern isn’t just aesthetic either, it creates clear measurement intervals that work intuitively with LEGO’s grid system.

Those triangle rulers deserve special attention for their engineering. Both the blue/gray and yellow/white versions use Technic pins to create working hinges, allowing them to fold and adjust just like real drafting tools. The mathematical precision here is impressive, as the angles appear designed around common LEGO geometry and Pythagorean triples that actually matter when building complex angular structures. The fact that they’re functional rather than static display pieces shows real understanding of how builders work.

Even the meta-humor elements serve a purpose. The included minifig-scale toolbox and tiny brick screwdriver aren’t just cute callbacks, they’re practical accessories for detail work and parts separation. The whole package stores neatly inside the main toolbox, which opens with a satisfying mechanical action that mimics real toolboxes perfectly.

The scale matching with upscaled minifigures is a nice touch that shows the creator is thinking about how this fits into the broader ecosystem of LEGO display and building culture. It’s big enough to be functional but not so oversized that it looks ridiculous next to your other LEGO elements.

If LEGO is smart, they’ll fast-track this one straight to production. Every serious builder needs better tools, and this toolbox delivers functionality wrapped in that unmistakable LEGO aesthetic we can’t resist! If you love this fan-made MOC (My Own Creation), head down to the LEGO Ideas website and give it your vote!

The post Someone made a Functional LEGO Toolbox with shade-cards, and an actual set of rulers first appeared on Yanko Design.

Spoa Concept Devices Imagine a Home Where Wasted Energy Becomes Power

Your home is quietly bleeding energy right now. That Wi-Fi router humming in the corner, the TV on standby, the microwave clock glowing in the dark. They’re all drawing power even when you’re not using them, creating what’s known as “phantom load.” But what if there was a way to capture all that invisible waste and turn it into something useful?

That’s exactly what the Spoa concept explores. This speculative design tackles phantom loads, the invisible energy drain from appliances that never truly turn off. Instead of letting all those electromagnetic fields drift away unused, Spoa proposes collecting them and converting that ambient energy into electricity you can actually use. It’s a fascinating thought experiment about turning waste into watts.

Designers: Jungmin Park, Yoonseo Ko, Minhee Kim

The system works through a series of mushroom-inspired modules that would be scattered throughout your home like organic sculptures. Each Spoa unit contains antennas designed to harvest electromagnetic fields from nearby devices, then convert and store that energy in small batteries. The idea is beautifully simple: let these little energy collectors quietly do their work while you go about your daily routine.

Setting up Spoa would involve mapping your home’s electromagnetic hotspots using sensors, then placing modules in the most energy-rich locations. A companion app would track how much power each unit collects, send you alerts when they’re fully charged, and help you understand your home’s invisible energy patterns. It’s like having a personal energy ecosystem that learns and adapts to your space.

The design language is what really makes this concept shine. Instead of looking like typical tech gadgets, the Spoa modules take inspiration from mushrooms and spores, with soft, organic forms rendered in gentle pinks, purples, and blues. The visual approach uses radial gradients to suggest energy dispersing naturally through space, making the whole system feel more like living art than electronic equipment.

Of course, Spoa exists purely as a concept right now. There’s no working prototype, and the technical feasibility of harvesting meaningful amounts of energy from ambient EMF remains unproven. But that’s not really the point. The best speculative design projects don’t focus on immediate commercial viability but on opening our minds to new possibilities and asking better questions about how we live.

What makes Spoa compelling is how it reframes our relationship with energy consumption. Instead of just being passive users who plug things in and pay the bills, we become active participants in a circular energy system. Our homes transform from places of pure consumption into living ecosystems where even waste has potential value.

Concept projects like Spoa remind us that design’s most important job isn’t always solving problems, but helping us imagine different futures. Whether or not we’ll ever see mushroom-shaped energy harvesters sprouting in our living rooms, the conversation about invisible waste and circular systems feels more relevant than ever.

The post Spoa Concept Devices Imagine a Home Where Wasted Energy Becomes Power first appeared on Yanko Design.

Apple Dominates D&AD 2025 with Client Award and Multiple Campaign Wins

Apple claimed Client of the Year at the 2025 D&AD Awards while securing multiple Pencil wins across categories. The London ceremony on May 22 recognized Apple’s creative excellence spanning product innovation to brand storytelling. D&AD awarded 668 total Pencils to exceptional creative work from 86 countries worldwide.

Designer: Apple

Client of the Year recognition highlights sustained creative performance across Apple’s entire portfolio. The company competed against global brands for this prestigious honor. D&AD judges evaluate commercial impact alongside creative craft when selecting winners.

Apple Marcom earned recognition as a leading in-house creative team. The division secured Wood Pencil wins for major campaigns including “Find Your Friends” and Apple Intelligence work. Additional wins span experiential marketing and television advertising categories.

Hearing Health Features Win Impact Recognition

AirPods Pro 2 earned a White Pencil in the Impact category for Design. The recognition celebrates Apple’s hearing health innovation that transforms consumer earbuds into assistance tools for people with hearing loss. These features address global health challenges affecting 1.5 billion people.

The system includes a scientifically validated hearing test users complete in minutes. Results create personalized hearing profiles stored privately in the Health app. FDA‑authorized over‑the‑counter hearing aid software amplifies specific frequencies for adults with mild to moderate loss. This marks the first OTC hearing aid software feature in mainstream consumer audio.

Traditional hearing aids can cost thousands of dollars and require specialist visits. Apple’s approach makes clinical‑grade hearing assistance accessible through devices people already own. The White Pencil recognition validates design that serves genuine human needs rather than showcasing technical capabilities alone.

Campaign Excellence Spans Multiple Categories

Apple secured Wood Pencil wins across television and experiential categories. “Find Your Friends” won in TV/VOD for demonstrating Precision Finding technology through a relatable convention scenario with 170+ real fans. The campaign shows Apple’s approach to making complex features understandable through story.

Apple Intelligence campaigns earned recognition for demonstrating AI writing tools through practical examples, not abstract promises. Creative execution connects sophisticated technology to daily communication needs.

“Flock”: Privacy Protection Through Dystopian Storytelling

Apple’s “Flock” campaign earned a Wood Pencil in Film for its dystopian portrayal of online surveillance. The film transforms abstract privacy concerns into visceral, understandable experiences through powerful metaphor.

Directed by Ivan Zacharias of SMUGGLER for TBWAMedia Arts Lab, the campaign shows iPhone fending off bird-like surveillance cameras to preserve customer privacy. The meticulously crafted special effects included sound designer Gus Coven visiting Los Angeles junkyards to create authentic metallic bird sounds, while Academy Award-winning editor Mikkel E. G. Nielsen structured the spy-thriller narrative.

The campaign delivers a powerful metaphor and clear category statement about Safari’s privacy protection, making complex technical capabilities emotionally resonant. Rather than explaining privacy features through specifications, Apple created a memorable narrative that connects advanced technology to fundamental human values.

The recognition validates Apple’s approach to making sophisticated technology understandable through story. “Flock” demonstrates how creative execution can transform technical differentiators into compelling brand narratives that resonate across diverse audiences.

Experiential Excellence: “Severance: The Cube”

Apple’s experiential marketing earned recognition through “Severance: The Cube,” which won a Wood Pencil in the Experiential category. The activation demonstrated how physical installations can extend digital storytelling into real-world experiences.

The campaign placed the iconic Lumon Industries office and cast inside a giant transparent glass cube in Grand Central Terminal, where actors performed mundane office tasks for three hours. Every detail was meticulously crafted, from office furniture and costumes to security guards trained in character-appropriate dialogue.

The activation generated impressive results: 53,000 in-person visitors, 1.1 billion social impressions, 80,000 social mentions, and 3.5 million engagements. More importantly, it successfully translated the show’s themes about work-life boundaries into an immersive experience that questioned the relationship between performance and reality.

The recognition validates experiential marketing that creates genuine cultural moments rather than promotional events. Apple demonstrated how thoughtful activation design can blur boundaries between entertainment and advertising while generating authentic audience engagement.

Creative Strategy Balances Innovation with Accessibility

Apple’s D&AD success demonstrates a consistent creative philosophy. Technical innovation serves human needs. Complex capabilities become accessible through thoughtful design and clear communication.

The hearing health features exemplify this approach. Apple identified a global health challenge and created a solution with existing hardware and new software. Users access clinical capabilities without learning new systems or visiting specialists. Innovation removes barriers rather than adding complexity.

Campaign work follows the same principles by making complex features relatable through familiar scenarios. “Find Your Friends” shows Precision Finding in a crowded space many recognize. Apple Intelligence advertising demonstrates writing assistance through everyday communication tasks.

Industry Recognition Validates Design Thinking

D&AD judges emphasized commercial viability alongside creative excellence in 2025. Work needed real behavioral impact beyond aesthetic appeal. Apple’s wins validate approaches that solve problems through strong craft.

Trustees praised work that breaks away from the expected while staying fit for purpose. Apple’s recognition spans this philosophy from product features to advertising execution.

The company’s success across multiple categories shows rare creative consistency. Many brands excel in either advertising or product design. Apple shows strength across disciplines through unified design thinking that connects object, interface, and story.

Broader Impact on Technology Marketing

Client of the Year influences how technology companies approach creative work. The wins demonstrate that technical innovation alone does not guarantee adoption. Exceptional creative execution turns capabilities into clear experiences.

Other tech brands study Apple’s integration of product development with brand storytelling. The recognition validates investment in creative excellence alongside engineering. The hearing health White Pencil, in particular, signals a shift toward inclusive design as advantage, not obligation.

Apple’s 2025 D&AD results confirm that creative excellence drives understanding and use. Users connect with brands through emotional engagement and functional clarity. For many with hearing challenges, this recognition translates into improved daily experiences on devices they already carry.

The post Apple Dominates D&AD 2025 with Client Award and Multiple Campaign Wins first appeared on Yanko Design.

Ultra Luxurious Bang & Olufsen Beo Grace earbuds can last for a decade

The flagship wireless earbuds market is flush with options like Technics AZ 100,  Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen), JBL Tour Pro 3, Sony WF-1000XM5, AirPods Pro 3, Galaxy Buds Pro 3 and Sennheiser Momentum 4, which lie in the $250-$300 price segment. For those who are on the lookout for endgame TWS earbuds that have the best sound quality, the price bracket extends further to $450 with options including Bower & Wilkins Pi8, Nobel Fokus Rex5, or Devialet Gemini II.

Just when you thought what could be better than the god level sound of these best wireless earbuds on the market, Bang & Olufsen has dropped a bombshell. The Danish brand has already impressed with the Beoplay Eleven and Beoplay EX TWS earbuds that lie in the top-tier segment, giving the other heavyweights a run for their money. Now they bring a luxury flagship pair of earbuds that’ll burn a hole in your pocket. Priced at $1500, the earbuds are touted by B&O to be the “best-sounding and most intelligent ever created.”

Designer: Bang & Olufsen

The wireless earbuds inspired by jewellery have meticulous product design written all over, and we expect them to have the best sonic sound signature of any of the wireless earbuds on the market currently. According to Bang & Olufsen’s CEO, Kristian Teär: “Beo Grace is more than a new product, it is a symbol of the century ahead… We are bringing our heritage of acoustic ingenuity into a form you can wear – a piece of design sculpture that ushers in a new era of wearable sound.” The outer shell of the buds and the case made out of polished aluminum reiterates the fact, since they look ultra-premium.

Those premium looks should not, however, undermine their audio performance as B&O has fitted the shell with an acoustically advanced 12mm titanium driver that should have an excellent response across the whole audible frequency range. To improve the battery life on these buds, B&O has partnered with Breathe, a UK-based startup specializing in tweaking battery performance using adaptive charging and monitoring tech.

They’ve tested the buds for more than 2,000 charge cycles courtesy of the custom-designed battery management system for earbuds as well as the charging case. The result is longevity of the battery cell without compromising the charge speed. Although the 4.5 hours of listening time with ANC on, and another 12.5 hours on the charging case, is good (but nothing impressive), the buds should have a relatively better life, as opposed to the standard 2-3 years. B&O claims it to be four times better than others. That means the Grace earbuds could last for a decade if you are not a sucker for new ones. The three-year warranty solidifies the fact.

Comfort is one thing that can make or break an earbud’s success, and the Grace looks comfortable right out of the box with a minimalistic design of the stem. The eartips have a sculpted design for a better fit and seal that should also help in delivering clear audio. The new earbuds have four times better ANC than the previous model, sans any hiss or unnatural ear pressure. Their EarSense tech, paired with the three-mic array on each bud, provides adaptive noise cancellation depending on the ambient noise, which is a good feature to have.

For controls, the buds have tactile controls which are “crisp, deliberate, and satisfying.” Those who love Dolby Atmos sound will take comfort in the fact that B&O has invested a lot of time and resources in fine-tuning that too. The opulence of the earbuds is matched by the bespoke leather case that comes in four color options (Infinite Black, Cranberry Red, and Seashell Grey), but you’ll have to shell out $400 extra for that!

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Insta360 X5 Dominates 360-Camera Market as DJI Osmo360 Arrives Nine Years Too Late with Borrowed Features

DJI announced the Osmo360 on July 31, 2025, nine years after Insta360 launched the first consumer 360-degree camera in 2016. During those nine years, Insta360 solved fundamental 360-degree capture challenges while established manufacturers focused on proven market segments. DJI’s entry applies conventional imaging principles to an established format rather than developing breakthrough solutions for 360-degree capture.

The timeline reveals the difference between market creation and market participation. Insta360 invested years developing purpose-built 360-degree technologies when success remained uncertain. DJI observed this market development while focusing on drone segments. Even in action cameras, DJI entered the market in 2019 – two years after Insta360’s 2017 pivot with FlowState Stabilization and “shoot first, point later” editing innovation. This pattern continued with 360-degree capture, entering only after Insta360 proved market viability and solved core technical problems. Creators now choose between nine years of specialized 360-degree innovation and a brand that consistently follows proven markets with adapted solutions.

Designer: Insta360

Innovation Leadership Versus Late Market Entry

Insta360 launched the first consumer 360-degree camera in 2016 when spherical capture required technical expertise and produced mediocre results. Established camera manufacturers dismissed the format as a niche experiment while Insta360 committed resources to solving fundamental challenges. The company pioneered computational photography for spherical content, developed consumer-friendly stitching algorithms, and created mobile editing workflows that made 360-degree content accessible to mainstream creators.

DJI focused on drone technology while Insta360 solved early adoption challenges. DJI’s entry represents a response to Insta360’s proven market success, applying conventional imaging approaches to an established format. The timing shows DJI following proven demand rather than creating new markets.

The X5 brings together years of work to solve common creator frustrations such as scratched lenses, poor low light performance, and complicated editing. It introduces Insta360’s most durable lenses to date, which are also fully replaceable. PureVideo mode manages spherical lighting in ways that conventional systems cannot. The extended 208 minute battery keeps creators recording throughout the day. A redesigned mobile app makes editing easier than ever, and clips can be exported directly in seconds.

Feature Implementation Reveals a Following Strategy

DJI’s Osmo360 appears to build on Insta360’s established innovations rather than developing original 360-degree solutions. Every major feature comparison reveals the same pattern: Insta360 innovates first, files patents, and brings features to market. DJI watches, adopts the functionality, and releases similar features months later with different names but identical technology.

Bullet Time vs Vortex Mode: Patent Innovation vs Imitation

Insta360 pioneered Bullet Time in 2017 with the first generation ONE, introducing cinematic effects using dedicated handles and auto-editing algorithms. Users swing the camera around their head while horizon leveling, smart speed control, and slow motion freeze the moment. Insta360 filed patents related to Bullet Time technology and continues this innovation in the X5.

DJI’s “Vortex Mode” delivers identical functionality with no meaningful improvements or originality. Both use rotating handles with 1/4″ screw mounting, though DJI’s handle measures ~187mm versus Insta360’s more compact ~169mm design. The interface designs show almost no difference, revealing DJI’s strategy of following proven innovations rather than developing original solutions.

Hardware Design Mimicry: Even Industrial Design Gets Copied

DJI’s mirroring extends beyond software features to hardware design. Their Invisible Selfie Stick shows remarkable similarities to Insta360’s established design language. Insta360’s 114cm Invisible Selfie Stick weighs ~124g with distinctive diamond pattern texturing. DJI’s 1.2m version also weighs ~124g but uses different textured patterns while maintaining identical mounting methods and connection systems.

The top design, bottom design, and extendable connection systems show minimal innovation, suggesting DJI studied Insta360’s successful formula rather than developing original solutions.

Gesture and Voice Control: Following the Feature Roadmap

Insta360 first introduced Gesture Control with the X4, enabling users to take photos with peace sign gestures and start/stop video recording with palm gestures. The system supports Voice Control in English, Chinese, and Japanese with commands including “take a photo,” “start recording,” “stop recording,” “mark that,” and “shutdown camera.”
DJI’s Osmo360 offers matching functionality with comparable voice control features. Interface screenshots reveal nearly identical gesture and voice control menus, continuing the pattern of feature-by-feature replication without meaningful innovation.

App Design Similarities: DJI Mimo Copies Insta360’s Interface

DJI’s pattern of following extends to mobile application design. The DJI Mimo app incorporates features directly inspired by older Insta360 App versions, with player styles and design elements clearly drawn from Insta360’s established interface. Settings page layouts and visual styles appear remarkably similar to Insta360’s proven design language.

DJI’s Quick Framing feature mirrors Insta360’s Quick Edit in function, interaction, UI visuals, and color schemes. Both record user swipes and phone movements to reframe footage, but the operation steps, button texts, and animations remain virtually identical between platforms. Control functions use matching gyroscope motion control, finger swipe, virtual joystick, FOV slider zoom, and preset angles. Even icon line thickness, rounded corners, shadows, and interface elements show suspicious similarities. The Verge also pointed out that DJI’s mobile app looks suspiciously similar to the X5’s.

Core Technology Rebranding: Same Innovation, Different Names

Insta360’s AI Highlights becomes DJI’s “Best Moments.” Camera movement features in DJI Mimo closely resemble Insta360’s “Movement” feature from previous app versions, sharing concepts, motion template styling, and naming conventions. DJI’s Osmo 360 replicates Insta360’s “Me Mode” under the rebranded name “Selfie Mode,” and adds a nearly identical “Twist Shot” in an August 2025 firmware update after widespread media coverage of Insta360’s “Twist to Shoot”

Replaceable Lens System Eliminates Creator Equipment Anxiety

Insta360’s modular lens architecture solves the most persistent fear in 360-degree shooting through field-replaceable optics that maintain creative confidence in challenging environments. Adventure creators and extreme sports enthusiasts can pursue ambitious shots without equipment destruction concerns that traditionally limit creative risk-taking.

The implementation extends beyond simple replacement capabilities to create an expandable platform for specialized applications. Underwater lenses, low-light optics, and extreme weather protection become possible through the modular system rather than requiring separate camera purchases. Field maintenance eliminates expensive service requirements that interrupt production schedules and affect client relationships during professional shoots. When lens damage occurs, users swap in fresh optics and continue filming without missing critical moments.

DJI’s approach emphasizes conventional durability through established construction methods with IP68 waterproofing extending to 10 meters depth. The protection proves solid through traditional engineering techniques, but lens damage still requires complete camera service rather than field solutions. The magnetic mounting system adapts directly from DJI’s action camera ecosystem, providing workflow familiarity but incremental improvement rather than innovative solutions to 360-degree specific challenges. Professional users must plan for equipment downtime during lens repairs that can affect project timelines.

Real-World Performance Reveals Practical Usage Differences

Extended field testing across multiple shooting scenarios demonstrates significant power management and thermal differences between the systems that affect real-world production planning. The X5 achieves 208 minutes of recording in 5.7K long-lasting mode with its 2400mAh battery, compared to the Osmo360’s 190 minutes maximum with its 1950mAh battery. However, the Osmo360 faces critical overheating issues that severely limit actual recording time. Phillip Bloom said on Threads that Osmo suffers from when you shoot in temperatures over 26 Celsius. Anyone who tells you it doesn’t have an overheating issue isn’t being honest with you. And potential fogging issues can impact image quality and equipment performance during water sports, winter sports, and other low-temperature environments.

Software Ecosystem Highlights Market Leadership

Insta360’s mobile application ecosystem demonstrates years of 360-degree optimization that competitive offerings cannot easily replicate. AI-powered editing tools specifically designed for 360-degree content automate complex post-production tasks including object removal, deep tracking, and automatic scene detection. Creators can generate social media content, apply reframing effects, and export multiple aspect ratios without desktop software requirements.

With an Insta360 Cloud subscription, X5 footage is automatically backed up, ensuring creators never have to worry about losing an SD card or running out of phone storage.
The ecosystem maturity shows in community resources and learning materials that accelerate user skill development. Insta360’s established user base has generated extensive tutorials, techniques, and creative applications specific to 360-degree content. New users can access optimized learning paths rather than adapting traditional video production knowledge to 360-degree requirements.

DJI, on the other hand, emphasizes its broader hardware portfolio and places less focus on software. The Osmo360’s internal storage and familiar mounting systems are designed to fit smoothly into established equipment workflows, allowing multi-camera productions to add 360-degree content without significant process changes or additional training for crew members.

Market Leadership Defines Future Direction

Insta360’s continued investment in 360-degree specific innovations demonstrates long-term format commitment that extends beyond current market trends. The X5’s transformative features solve problems that users accepted as inherent limitations in 360-degree capture. The replaceable lens system, software processing, and extended battery architecture represent innovations that will likely influence future competitive products.

Real-world user experiences consistently reinforce the X5’s practical advantages over the Osmo360’s approach. Multiple independent reviewers have identified persistent warping problems with the Osmo360 that required post-launch firmware updates, highlighting first-generation product risks. Professional content creators report frustration with DJI’s steep learning curve compared to Insta360’s intuitive interface, while availability challenges expose DJI’s uncertain commitment to long-term 360-degree investment.

DJI’s market entry validates Insta360’s format development while applying proven action camera technologies to spherical capture. The timing suggests competitive response rather than visionary development, leaving creators to choose between proven innovation and incremental adaptation of existing technologies.

The post Insta360 X5 Dominates 360-Camera Market as DJI Osmo360 Arrives Nine Years Too Late with Borrowed Features first appeared on Yanko Design.