Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8 II EVO FE (APO) lens review — how good is this budget lens for astrophotography?

space.com Nov 2, 2026

Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.8 II EVO FE (APO) lens review — how good is this budget lens for astrophotography?

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Nov 2, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Viltrox released the AF 35mm f/1.8 II EVO FE (APO) lens in April 2026, targeting Sony FE and Nikon Z full‑frame users at a $399 price point. The 13‑element, 10‑group design delivers a fast f/1.8 aperture in a compact 355 g body, making it attractive for astrophotography. Tests show the lens is sharp in the centre at wide open, with a sweet spot between f/8 and f/11 and noticeable edge astigmatism that turns stars into crosses at f/1.8. Vignetting is strong at the maximum aperture but recedes by f/4. Stopping down to f/2.8 improves uniform sharpness, though higher ISO is required. The lens lacks an official Lightroom profile, but manual correction is possible. Overall, image quality is impressive for its class, though not flawless.

💡 Why It Matters

· At under $400, the lens offers near‑professional astrophotography performance in a lightweight package, lowering the entry barrier for serious hobbyists.

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Apple releases new tvOS 27.2 build ahead of updated Apple TV 4K…

Apple issued a new tvOS 27.2 build (24K154) exclusively for the upcoming fourth‑generation Apple TV 4K, which is slated for a November 13 launch and starts at $299. The build follows last week’s universal tvOS 27.2 release (24K122) that added a Shuffle screen‑saver option, finer photo‑selection controls, and American and British Sign Language support for select titles. While Apple has not published separate release notes, insiders on X reported that the new build unlocks Siri AI on the fourth‑generation device—a capability previously limited to internal testing. Existing Apple TV models remain on the older build. The refreshed hardware also introduces far‑field microphones, a surround‑sound setup that pairs four HomePods, and a fourth‑generation Siri Remote with Precision Finding and a locate‑sound feature.

💡 Enabling Siri AI at launch gives the new Apple TV 4K a conversational edge that competitors lack, positioning it as a smarter home‑entertainment hub.

appleinsider.com · Nov 2

Apple still can’t meet iPhone Duo demand, and Ternus won’t say when…

Apple CEO John Ternus used the company’s Q4 earnings call on Nov. 2 to confront two headline‑making issues: a persistent shortage of the new iPhone Duo foldable and the rollout of a rebuilt Siri. The Duo sold out online and sparked lines at stores in October, yet Ternus said Apple cannot yet predict when supply will meet demand, noting a “very small percentage” of units have returned for cracked screens and are being replaced. He also cited an AI‑driven surge in memory costs that helped drive recent price hikes for the iPhone 17 and MacBooks. On the software side, Ternus highlighted that the new, more personal Siri now processes 2.5 billion requests daily after multiple delays.

💡 The Duo shortage tests Apple’s ability to scale novel hardware, while Siri’s upgrade signals a strategic push to embed AI deeper into the ecosystem.

playstationlifestyle.net · Nov 2

PS5 System Update Rolled Out to Ring in November 2026

Sony Interactive Entertainment released PS5 system software update 26.07‑14.22.00 on November 1, 2026. The patch primarily adds security fixes aimed at countering the latest PS5 jailbreak circulating online, a move timed ahead of the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI launch. The update also introduces Quick Spectral Super Resolution (QSSR) to the base PS5, an AI‑driven upscaler previously limited to the PS5 Pro. While QSSR is not yet open to third‑party developers, Sony confirmed its integration in several first‑party titles and expects GTA VI to support the feature at release. Sony describes QSSR as a streamlined neural network with a hand‑tuned implementation that improves image detail and stability without sacrificing performance. The rollout arrives with no fanfare, signals Sony’s focus on integrity.

💡 By embedding QSSR now, Sony ensures GTA VI launches with superior visual fidelity on all PS5 units, giving the console a competitive edge over rivals that lack a built‑in AI upscaler.

9to5mac.com · Nov 2

Apple reports Q4 2026 earnings: $114.5 billion in revenue, up 12% [Charts]

Apple announced its fiscal fourth‑quarter 2026 results, posting $114.5 billion in revenue, a 12 percent increase year over year, and net profit of $30.71 billion. Earnings per share rose to $2.10, surpassing analysts’ expectations of $1.95. The company highlighted record iPhone sales and an all‑time high in Services revenue, driven by new subscriptions and AI‑enhanced offerings. Operating cash flow reached $28 billion, enabling a $28 billion share‑return program. CEO John Ternus previewed the upcoming “iPhone Duo” and the iPhone 18 Pro/Pro Max line, describing them as the most powerful devices to date, alongside a new hardware generation for the home and the first Touch integration on Mac. Apple’s total fiscal‑year revenue hit a historic $479 billion. The base now exceeds 2 billion units across all categories and regions globally.

💡 Apple’s record quarter validates its AI‑driven product strategy, positioning the company to dominate premium hardware sales during the holiday rush.

androidcentral.com · Nov 2

The Motorola Signature 27’s screen is five times brighter than the Galaxy…

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💡 Achieving 12,000 nits could make outdoor viewing dramatically clearer, pushing competitors to accelerate their own high‑brightness display research.

appleinsider.com · Nov 2

Apple’s latest giant education deal: 170,000 MacBook Neo to Philippines

Apple announced that 170,000 MacBook Neo laptops have been sold to students and teachers in the Philippines, marking one of its largest education‑sector deals. The Neo, introduced in March 2026, is the first MacBook to use the A18 Pro iPhone chip and was initially priced at $499 for education buyers before a price hike to $649 in October. Despite the increase, it remains the cheapest MacBook available directly from Apple, with the 256 GB model now costing about $721.25 and the 512 GB version around $837 in the Philippine market. CEO John Ternus highlighted the sale as a way to draw more users into Apple’s ecosystem during the company’s Q4 earnings call, which reported revenue of $114.5 billion, up from $102.5 billion a year earlier.

💡 The bulk purchase embeds Apple’s hardware and services deep into a fast‑growing education market, creating a pipeline of lifelong customers in an emerging economy.