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Apple’s New MacBook Air and MacBook Pro Have New Chips, More Storage, and Higher Prices

Apple’s New MacBook Air and MacBook Pro Have New Chips, More Storage, and Higher Prices

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Alongside its price-friendly iPhone 17e and M4 iPad Air yesterday, Apple just announced a few updates to the MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and its rarely-refreshed desktop display line.

The MacBook Air has now been updated to the latest M5 chip. It’s a fairly modest upgrade, but it brings it up to speed with Apple’s latest processor that debuted in the MacBook Pro last fall. There are no other major hardware changes—it now comes with 512 GB of starting storage with “faster SSD technology”—but you can still get the Air in either a 13- or 15-inch screen size.

This laptop also features Apple’s N1 wireless chip, which includes Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 for the latest connectivity standards. It still comes with the standard 16 GB of RAM, and sadly, there’s a $100 price bump to account for the extra storage. It now starts at $1,099 for the 13-inch model and $1,299 for the 15-inch model. Apple says you can preorder it tomorrow, with sales kicking off on March 11.

More interestingly, Apple is expanding the M5 chip series with the M5 Pro and M5 Max, now available in the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro. Like previous generations of Apple silicon, the “Pro” and “Max” configurations add significantly improved multi-core CPU and graphics performance.

The new MacBook Air with M5.

Photograph: Courtesy of Apple

The M5 Pro and M5 Max can be configured with up to 18 CPU cores (12 performance cores and 6 “super” cores), up from 16 on the M4 Max. The M5 Pro can scale up to 20 GPU cores, while the M5 Max extends up to 40 GPU cores. Thanks to higher memory bandwidth, more efficient Neural Engine, and improved GPU architecture, Apple says the M5 Pro and M5 Max have “over 4X the peak CPU compute for AI” compared to the last generation and offer 20 percent better GPU performance.

The new MacBook Pros don’t include any other hardware changes; things have stayed largely the same since 2021—same port selection, Mini-LED display, speakers, and webcam. Even the claimed 24-hour battery life hasn’t changed from the M4 models, which came out in late 2024. Interestingly, as recently as last week, Bloomberg reported that Apple plans to launch a more significant update to the MacBook Pro later this fall, which will reportedly debut the M6 chip, an OLED touchscreen, and a thinner chassis.

Like the MacBook Air, all versions of the M5 Pro or M5 Max MacBook Pros come with twice the storage and a slightly higher starting price. Coming with 1 TB, the 14-inch M5 Pro now starts at $2,199, and the 16-inch model at $2,699. That’s $200 more than last year’s machines. Meanwhile, M5 Max prices start at $3,599.

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smart thermostats, one for the highest floor and another for the lower two. I asked to turn on the AC, which Gemini immediately did, but it didn’t ask me to specify which one and decided it was time for the upstairs AC to shine. It also defaulted to Eco mode, so I had to request that the thermostats be set to 75 degrees instead of the high 70s. Still, I was able to casually say “Can you set the temperature in the living room to 75, and upstairs too?” and it applied that to both smart thermostats.

Gemini Live is another way to converse with the Google Home Speaker (it’s only available on some older devices). You’ll tell the speaker “Hey Google, let’s talk,” and it’ll activate a conversational mode that will chat back and forth with you about any topics you bring up. I had a back-and-forth conversation with Gemini about my 3-year-old’s sleep schedule, how to treat sunburns on your scalp (you’ll never guess what I got this weekend), and asked about a summary of the previous night’s episode of Love Island (though Gemini didn’t have a recap yet of the episode that had premiered a few hours before).

Gemini also asked follow-up questions with each topic to keep the conversation going, but would change gears to whatever topic I introduced. It works as intended, but I’m not sure how useful it is in the home context—you’re more likely to use something like this on your smartphone. It’s just not my preferred way to learn or discuss new information, but audio learners might really like it.

I was excited to ask Gemini what it sees around the home via my Google security cameras, but the experience didn’t impress me as much as I hoped. Time and time again, I asked questions like whether the car was in the garage, and Gemini said that either it didn’t have access to that information or that I needed to upgrade my subscription tier to get the answer (you need Google Home Advanced).

Echo Chamber

Image may contain Electronics and Speaker

Photograph: Nena Farrell

Google and Amazon made the same move at roughly the same time: a new small-sized smart speaker that promises the sound quality of larger speakers, retailing for $100. Smaller speakers like the previous Echo Dot models and the Google Home Mini have been popular because they can be placed anywhere, whether it’s on a crowded shelf or tucked into a corner of the kitchen, but they were also much cheaper.

#Googles #Smart #Speaker #Takes #Leadgoogle,shopping,smart home,review,speakers,google gemini,smart speakers,reviews">Google’s New Smart Speaker Takes the LeadGemini did a pretty good job with more conversational commands, though you still need to be specific for some requests. For example, my three-story townhouse has two smart thermostats, one for the highest floor and another for the lower two. I asked to turn on the AC, which Gemini immediately did, but it didn’t ask me to specify which one and decided it was time for the upstairs AC to shine. It also defaulted to Eco mode, so I had to request that the thermostats be set to 75 degrees instead of the high 70s. Still, I was able to casually say “Can you set the temperature in the living room to 75, and upstairs too?” and it applied that to both smart thermostats.Gemini Live is another way to converse with the Google Home Speaker (it’s only available on some older devices). You’ll tell the speaker “Hey Google, let’s talk,” and it’ll activate a conversational mode that will chat back and forth with you about any topics you bring up. I had a back-and-forth conversation with Gemini about my 3-year-old’s sleep schedule, how to treat sunburns on your scalp (you’ll never guess what I got this weekend), and asked about a summary of the previous night’s episode of Love Island (though Gemini didn’t have a recap yet of the episode that had premiered a few hours before).Gemini also asked follow-up questions with each topic to keep the conversation going, but would change gears to whatever topic I introduced. It works as intended, but I’m not sure how useful it is in the home context—you’re more likely to use something like this on your smartphone. It’s just not my preferred way to learn or discuss new information, but audio learners might really like it.I was excited to ask Gemini what it sees around the home via my Google security cameras, but the experience didn’t impress me as much as I hoped. Time and time again, I asked questions like whether the car was in the garage, and Gemini said that either it didn’t have access to that information or that I needed to upgrade my subscription tier to get the answer (you need Google Home Advanced).Echo ChamberPhotograph: Nena FarrellGoogle and Amazon made the same move at roughly the same time: a new small-sized smart speaker that promises the sound quality of larger speakers, retailing for 0. Smaller speakers like the previous Echo Dot models and the Google Home Mini have been popular because they can be placed anywhere, whether it’s on a crowded shelf or tucked into a corner of the kitchen, but they were also much cheaper.#Googles #Smart #Speaker #Takes #Leadgoogle,shopping,smart home,review,speakers,google gemini,smart speakers,reviews

, one for the highest floor and another for the lower two. I asked to turn on the AC, which Gemini immediately did, but it didn’t ask me to specify which one and decided it was time for the upstairs AC to shine. It also defaulted to Eco mode, so I had to request that the thermostats be set to 75 degrees instead of the high 70s. Still, I was able to casually say “Can you set the temperature in the living room to 75, and upstairs too?” and it applied that to both smart thermostats.

Gemini Live is another way to converse with the Google Home Speaker (it’s only available on some older devices). You’ll tell the speaker “Hey Google, let’s talk,” and it’ll activate a conversational mode that will chat back and forth with you about any topics you bring up. I had a back-and-forth conversation with Gemini about my 3-year-old’s sleep schedule, how to treat sunburns on your scalp (you’ll never guess what I got this weekend), and asked about a summary of the previous night’s episode of Love Island (though Gemini didn’t have a recap yet of the episode that had premiered a few hours before).

Gemini also asked follow-up questions with each topic to keep the conversation going, but would change gears to whatever topic I introduced. It works as intended, but I’m not sure how useful it is in the home context—you’re more likely to use something like this on your smartphone. It’s just not my preferred way to learn or discuss new information, but audio learners might really like it.

I was excited to ask Gemini what it sees around the home via my Google security cameras, but the experience didn’t impress me as much as I hoped. Time and time again, I asked questions like whether the car was in the garage, and Gemini said that either it didn’t have access to that information or that I needed to upgrade my subscription tier to get the answer (you need Google Home Advanced).

Echo Chamber

Image may contain Electronics and Speaker

Photograph: Nena Farrell

Google and Amazon made the same move at roughly the same time: a new small-sized smart speaker that promises the sound quality of larger speakers, retailing for $100. Smaller speakers like the previous Echo Dot models and the Google Home Mini have been popular because they can be placed anywhere, whether it’s on a crowded shelf or tucked into a corner of the kitchen, but they were also much cheaper.

#Googles #Smart #Speaker #Takes #Leadgoogle,shopping,smart home,review,speakers,google gemini,smart speakers,reviews">Google’s New Smart Speaker Takes the Lead

Gemini did a pretty good job with more conversational commands, though you still need to be specific for some requests. For example, my three-story townhouse has two smart thermostats, one for the highest floor and another for the lower two. I asked to turn on the AC, which Gemini immediately did, but it didn’t ask me to specify which one and decided it was time for the upstairs AC to shine. It also defaulted to Eco mode, so I had to request that the thermostats be set to 75 degrees instead of the high 70s. Still, I was able to casually say “Can you set the temperature in the living room to 75, and upstairs too?” and it applied that to both smart thermostats.

Gemini Live is another way to converse with the Google Home Speaker (it’s only available on some older devices). You’ll tell the speaker “Hey Google, let’s talk,” and it’ll activate a conversational mode that will chat back and forth with you about any topics you bring up. I had a back-and-forth conversation with Gemini about my 3-year-old’s sleep schedule, how to treat sunburns on your scalp (you’ll never guess what I got this weekend), and asked about a summary of the previous night’s episode of Love Island (though Gemini didn’t have a recap yet of the episode that had premiered a few hours before).

Gemini also asked follow-up questions with each topic to keep the conversation going, but would change gears to whatever topic I introduced. It works as intended, but I’m not sure how useful it is in the home context—you’re more likely to use something like this on your smartphone. It’s just not my preferred way to learn or discuss new information, but audio learners might really like it.

I was excited to ask Gemini what it sees around the home via my Google security cameras, but the experience didn’t impress me as much as I hoped. Time and time again, I asked questions like whether the car was in the garage, and Gemini said that either it didn’t have access to that information or that I needed to upgrade my subscription tier to get the answer (you need Google Home Advanced).

Echo Chamber

Image may contain Electronics and Speaker

Photograph: Nena Farrell

Google and Amazon made the same move at roughly the same time: a new small-sized smart speaker that promises the sound quality of larger speakers, retailing for $100. Smaller speakers like the previous Echo Dot models and the Google Home Mini have been popular because they can be placed anywhere, whether it’s on a crowded shelf or tucked into a corner of the kitchen, but they were also much cheaper.

#Googles #Smart #Speaker #Takes #Leadgoogle,shopping,smart home,review,speakers,google gemini,smart speakers,reviews
If you’ve been wanting to buy a robot vacuum but have been put off by how much it can cost to get a good one, now is not a bad time to start looking. Prime Day has kicked off, though more than just Amazon is offering deals on several models we’ve tested from brands like Roborock, Dreame, and Shark. Whether you’re looking for a basic robot vacuum that can cut down on the amount of vacuuming you have to do or a high-end model that can wash and dry its own mop pads and climb over room thresholds, there are deals available across a wide range of price points.

#robot #vacuum #deals #Prime #DayDeals,Gadgets,Prime Day,Smart Home,Tech,Verge Shopping">The best robot vacuum deals available during Prime DayIf you’ve been wanting to buy a robot vacuum but have been put off by how much it can cost to get a good one, now is not a bad time to start looking. Prime Day has kicked off, though more than just Amazon is offering deals on several models we’ve tested from brands like Roborock, Dreame, and Shark. Whether you’re looking for a basic robot vacuum that can cut down on the amount of vacuuming you have to do or a high-end model that can wash and dry its own mop pads and climb over room thresholds, there are deals available across a wide range of price points.Update, June 23rd: Adjusted prices and availability and added deals for the Narwal Flow, Narwal Flow 2, and SwitchBot K11 Plus.#robot #vacuum #deals #Prime #DayDeals,Gadgets,Prime Day,Smart Home,Tech,Verge Shopping

As quick commerce becomes India’s next e-commerce battleground, Walmart-backed Flipkart said Wednesday that its Minutes service has built a network of 1,000 micro-fulfillment centers — small, strategically located warehouses designed to enable deliveries in minutes — less than two years after launch, a milestone Amazon is also targeting as it expands its fast-delivery business in the South Asian nation.

Flipkart said it plans to expand the network to 1,500 micro-fulfillment centers by the end of 2026, a rapid buildout that would further strengthen its position in India’s fiercely competitive quick-commerce sector, where Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy Instamart, and Amazon are racing to add infrastructure and customers.

Based on current store counts and announced expansion plans, Flipkart could emerge as India’s second-largest quick-commerce network by micro-fulfillment center count, behind Blinkit, which operates 2,243 such centers, according to a recent note by Jefferies. Rivals Zepto and Swiggy Instamart are also expanding their networks.

India has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing quick-commerce markets, with companies racing to build networks that can deliver everything from groceries and beauty products to electronics in minutes. Blinkit, owned by food-delivery company Eternal, remains the market leader, while Zepto, Swiggy Instamart, Flipkart, and Amazon are investing heavily to expand their reach and win customers.

The competition has intensified in recent months as Amazon accelerates the rollout of Amazon Now, which is currently available in more than 15 cities and operates over 500 micro-fulfillment centers. The company plans to expand the service to 100 cities with more than 1,000 micro-fulfillment centers while broadening its assortment beyond groceries into categories such as apparel, electronics, and home products.

The shift is also showing up in shopping patterns on Flipkart Minutes, which launched in August 2024. Demand is increasingly coming from categories such as electronics, beauty, and personal care products rather than just groceries, Kunal Gupta, head of Flipkart Minutes, told TechCrunch. Orders on the platform have grown about 400% from a year earlier, while customer retention has increased 20% year-over-year, he said. Both figures come from the company and could not be independently verified.

“What began as a way to fulfill everyday essentials has evolved into a fundamentally new shopping habit for millions of Indians,” Gupta said. “Customers are not just ordering more; they are ordering differently.”

Flipkart said it has expanded Minutes to more than 130 cities and 8,000 postal codes, with growth increasingly coming from smaller cities beyond India’s largest metropolitan areas. Those markets recorded more than 4,000% growth from a year earlier, aided by expansion into 90 new cities, according to the company.

The trend, Gupta said, is visible in the pace at which newly launched markets are maturing. He cited cities such as Patna, Guwahati, and Siliguri as examples of where new stores are ramping up faster than expected, and described Lucknow as one of Flipkart Minutes’ best-performing markets despite the company not yet covering the entire city with its network.

Amazon is also betting on demand outside India’s largest cities. The company told TechCrunch that 70% of new Prime members come from smaller markets and that it remains on track to double its Prime membership base from 2023 levels by year-end. Amazon added that everyday essentials now account for one in every two units shipped on Amazon.in, with Amazon Now increasing shopping frequency among customers.

Gupta told TechCrunch that Flipkart is seeing customers use Minutes alongside its main e-commerce platform rather than as a replacement for it, driving more frequent purchases and helping expand into categories such as fresh produce and daily essentials. The company said average order values for fruits and vegetables rose 30% year-over-year.

Flipkart, Gupta said, plans to continue opening between 75 and 100 micro-fulfillment centers a month while expanding into additional cities across the country.

The rapid expansion by Flipkart and Amazon underscores how India has become a testing ground for the next phase of e-commerce, with companies racing to turn quick commerce from a grocery-delivery service into a broader shopping platform. The country already has more than 5,500 dark stores, according to Bernstein, and industry analysts expect that number to rise to about 7,500 by 2030 as companies expand into smaller cities and widen their product offerings.

“We will continue to expand rapidly, will not slow down after 1,000 stores as well, and we are going all in,” Gupta said.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

#Walmartbacked #Flipkart #expands #quickcommerce #push #Amazon #ramps #India #TechCrunchAmazon,Flipkart,Quick commerce,Walmart">Walmart-backed Flipkart expands quick-commerce push as Amazon ramps up in India | TechCrunch As quick commerce becomes India’s next e-commerce battleground, Walmart-backed Flipkart said Wednesday that its Minutes service has built a network of 1,000 micro-fulfillment centers — small, strategically located warehouses designed to enable deliveries in minutes — less than two years after launch, a milestone Amazon is also targeting as it expands its fast-delivery business in the South Asian nation. Flipkart said it plans to expand the network to 1,500 micro-fulfillment centers by the end of 2026, a rapid buildout that would further strengthen its position in India’s fiercely competitive quick-commerce sector, where Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy Instamart, and Amazon are racing to add infrastructure and customers. Based on current store counts and announced expansion plans, Flipkart could emerge as India’s second-largest quick-commerce network by micro-fulfillment center count, behind Blinkit, which operates 2,243 such centers, according to a recent note by Jefferies. Rivals Zepto and Swiggy Instamart are also expanding their networks. India has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing quick-commerce markets, with companies racing to build networks that can deliver everything from groceries and beauty products to electronics in minutes. Blinkit, owned by food-delivery company Eternal, remains the market leader, while Zepto, Swiggy Instamart, Flipkart, and Amazon are investing heavily to expand their reach and win customers. The competition has intensified in recent months as Amazon accelerates the rollout of Amazon Now, which is currently available in more than 15 cities and operates over 500 micro-fulfillment centers. The company plans to expand the service to 100 cities with more than 1,000 micro-fulfillment centers while broadening its assortment beyond groceries into categories such as apparel, electronics, and home products. The shift is also showing up in shopping patterns on Flipkart Minutes, which launched in August 2024. Demand is increasingly coming from categories such as electronics, beauty, and personal care products rather than just groceries, Kunal Gupta, head of Flipkart Minutes, told TechCrunch. Orders on the platform have grown about 400% from a year earlier, while customer retention has increased 20% year-over-year, he said. Both figures come from the company and could not be independently verified. “What began as a way to fulfill everyday essentials has evolved into a fundamentally new shopping habit for millions of Indians,” Gupta said. “Customers are not just ordering more; they are ordering differently.” Flipkart said it has expanded Minutes to more than 130 cities and 8,000 postal codes, with growth increasingly coming from smaller cities beyond India’s largest metropolitan areas. Those markets recorded more than 4,000% growth from a year earlier, aided by expansion into 90 new cities, according to the company. The trend, Gupta said, is visible in the pace at which newly launched markets are maturing. He cited cities such as Patna, Guwahati, and Siliguri as examples of where new stores are ramping up faster than expected, and described Lucknow as one of Flipkart Minutes’ best-performing markets despite the company not yet covering the entire city with its network. Amazon is also betting on demand outside India’s largest cities. The company told TechCrunch that 70% of new Prime members come from smaller markets and that it remains on track to double its Prime membership base from 2023 levels by year-end. Amazon added that everyday essentials now account for one in every two units shipped on Amazon.in, with Amazon Now increasing shopping frequency among customers. Gupta told TechCrunch that Flipkart is seeing customers use Minutes alongside its main e-commerce platform rather than as a replacement for it, driving more frequent purchases and helping expand into categories such as fresh produce and daily essentials. The company said average order values for fruits and vegetables rose 30% year-over-year. Flipkart, Gupta said, plans to continue opening between 75 and 100 micro-fulfillment centers a month while expanding into additional cities across the country. The rapid expansion by Flipkart and Amazon underscores how India has become a testing ground for the next phase of e-commerce, with companies racing to turn quick commerce from a grocery-delivery service into a broader shopping platform. The country already has more than 5,500 dark stores, according to Bernstein, and industry analysts expect that number to rise to about 7,500 by 2030 as companies expand into smaller cities and widen their product offerings. “We will continue to expand rapidly, will not slow down after 1,000 stores as well, and we are going all in,” Gupta said. When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.#Walmartbacked #Flipkart #expands #quickcommerce #push #Amazon #ramps #India #TechCrunchAmazon,Flipkart,Quick commerce,Walmart

becomes India’s next e-commerce battleground, Walmart-backed Flipkart said Wednesday that its Minutes service has built a network of 1,000 micro-fulfillment centers — small, strategically located warehouses designed to enable deliveries in minutes — less than two years after launch, a milestone Amazon is also targeting as it expands its fast-delivery business in the South Asian nation.

Flipkart said it plans to expand the network to 1,500 micro-fulfillment centers by the end of 2026, a rapid buildout that would further strengthen its position in India’s fiercely competitive quick-commerce sector, where Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy Instamart, and Amazon are racing to add infrastructure and customers.

Based on current store counts and announced expansion plans, Flipkart could emerge as India’s second-largest quick-commerce network by micro-fulfillment center count, behind Blinkit, which operates 2,243 such centers, according to a recent note by Jefferies. Rivals Zepto and Swiggy Instamart are also expanding their networks.

India has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing quick-commerce markets, with companies racing to build networks that can deliver everything from groceries and beauty products to electronics in minutes. Blinkit, owned by food-delivery company Eternal, remains the market leader, while Zepto, Swiggy Instamart, Flipkart, and Amazon are investing heavily to expand their reach and win customers.

The competition has intensified in recent months as Amazon accelerates the rollout of Amazon Now, which is currently available in more than 15 cities and operates over 500 micro-fulfillment centers. The company plans to expand the service to 100 cities with more than 1,000 micro-fulfillment centers while broadening its assortment beyond groceries into categories such as apparel, electronics, and home products.

The shift is also showing up in shopping patterns on Flipkart Minutes, which launched in August 2024. Demand is increasingly coming from categories such as electronics, beauty, and personal care products rather than just groceries, Kunal Gupta, head of Flipkart Minutes, told TechCrunch. Orders on the platform have grown about 400% from a year earlier, while customer retention has increased 20% year-over-year, he said. Both figures come from the company and could not be independently verified.

“What began as a way to fulfill everyday essentials has evolved into a fundamentally new shopping habit for millions of Indians,” Gupta said. “Customers are not just ordering more; they are ordering differently.”

Flipkart said it has expanded Minutes to more than 130 cities and 8,000 postal codes, with growth increasingly coming from smaller cities beyond India’s largest metropolitan areas. Those markets recorded more than 4,000% growth from a year earlier, aided by expansion into 90 new cities, according to the company.

The trend, Gupta said, is visible in the pace at which newly launched markets are maturing. He cited cities such as Patna, Guwahati, and Siliguri as examples of where new stores are ramping up faster than expected, and described Lucknow as one of Flipkart Minutes’ best-performing markets despite the company not yet covering the entire city with its network.

Amazon is also betting on demand outside India’s largest cities. The company told TechCrunch that 70% of new Prime members come from smaller markets and that it remains on track to double its Prime membership base from 2023 levels by year-end. Amazon added that everyday essentials now account for one in every two units shipped on Amazon.in, with Amazon Now increasing shopping frequency among customers.

Gupta told TechCrunch that Flipkart is seeing customers use Minutes alongside its main e-commerce platform rather than as a replacement for it, driving more frequent purchases and helping expand into categories such as fresh produce and daily essentials. The company said average order values for fruits and vegetables rose 30% year-over-year.

Flipkart, Gupta said, plans to continue opening between 75 and 100 micro-fulfillment centers a month while expanding into additional cities across the country.

The rapid expansion by Flipkart and Amazon underscores how India has become a testing ground for the next phase of e-commerce, with companies racing to turn quick commerce from a grocery-delivery service into a broader shopping platform. The country already has more than 5,500 dark stores, according to Bernstein, and industry analysts expect that number to rise to about 7,500 by 2030 as companies expand into smaller cities and widen their product offerings.

“We will continue to expand rapidly, will not slow down after 1,000 stores as well, and we are going all in,” Gupta said.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

#Walmartbacked #Flipkart #expands #quickcommerce #push #Amazon #ramps #India #TechCrunchAmazon,Flipkart,Quick commerce,Walmart">Walmart-backed Flipkart expands quick-commerce push as Amazon ramps up in India | TechCrunch

As quick commerce becomes India’s next e-commerce battleground, Walmart-backed Flipkart said Wednesday that its Minutes service has built a network of 1,000 micro-fulfillment centers — small, strategically located warehouses designed to enable deliveries in minutes — less than two years after launch, a milestone Amazon is also targeting as it expands its fast-delivery business in the South Asian nation.

Flipkart said it plans to expand the network to 1,500 micro-fulfillment centers by the end of 2026, a rapid buildout that would further strengthen its position in India’s fiercely competitive quick-commerce sector, where Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy Instamart, and Amazon are racing to add infrastructure and customers.

Based on current store counts and announced expansion plans, Flipkart could emerge as India’s second-largest quick-commerce network by micro-fulfillment center count, behind Blinkit, which operates 2,243 such centers, according to a recent note by Jefferies. Rivals Zepto and Swiggy Instamart are also expanding their networks.

India has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing quick-commerce markets, with companies racing to build networks that can deliver everything from groceries and beauty products to electronics in minutes. Blinkit, owned by food-delivery company Eternal, remains the market leader, while Zepto, Swiggy Instamart, Flipkart, and Amazon are investing heavily to expand their reach and win customers.

The competition has intensified in recent months as Amazon accelerates the rollout of Amazon Now, which is currently available in more than 15 cities and operates over 500 micro-fulfillment centers. The company plans to expand the service to 100 cities with more than 1,000 micro-fulfillment centers while broadening its assortment beyond groceries into categories such as apparel, electronics, and home products.

The shift is also showing up in shopping patterns on Flipkart Minutes, which launched in August 2024. Demand is increasingly coming from categories such as electronics, beauty, and personal care products rather than just groceries, Kunal Gupta, head of Flipkart Minutes, told TechCrunch. Orders on the platform have grown about 400% from a year earlier, while customer retention has increased 20% year-over-year, he said. Both figures come from the company and could not be independently verified.

“What began as a way to fulfill everyday essentials has evolved into a fundamentally new shopping habit for millions of Indians,” Gupta said. “Customers are not just ordering more; they are ordering differently.”

Flipkart said it has expanded Minutes to more than 130 cities and 8,000 postal codes, with growth increasingly coming from smaller cities beyond India’s largest metropolitan areas. Those markets recorded more than 4,000% growth from a year earlier, aided by expansion into 90 new cities, according to the company.

The trend, Gupta said, is visible in the pace at which newly launched markets are maturing. He cited cities such as Patna, Guwahati, and Siliguri as examples of where new stores are ramping up faster than expected, and described Lucknow as one of Flipkart Minutes’ best-performing markets despite the company not yet covering the entire city with its network.

Amazon is also betting on demand outside India’s largest cities. The company told TechCrunch that 70% of new Prime members come from smaller markets and that it remains on track to double its Prime membership base from 2023 levels by year-end. Amazon added that everyday essentials now account for one in every two units shipped on Amazon.in, with Amazon Now increasing shopping frequency among customers.

Gupta told TechCrunch that Flipkart is seeing customers use Minutes alongside its main e-commerce platform rather than as a replacement for it, driving more frequent purchases and helping expand into categories such as fresh produce and daily essentials. The company said average order values for fruits and vegetables rose 30% year-over-year.

Flipkart, Gupta said, plans to continue opening between 75 and 100 micro-fulfillment centers a month while expanding into additional cities across the country.

The rapid expansion by Flipkart and Amazon underscores how India has become a testing ground for the next phase of e-commerce, with companies racing to turn quick commerce from a grocery-delivery service into a broader shopping platform. The country already has more than 5,500 dark stores, according to Bernstein, and industry analysts expect that number to rise to about 7,500 by 2030 as companies expand into smaller cities and widen their product offerings.

“We will continue to expand rapidly, will not slow down after 1,000 stores as well, and we are going all in,” Gupta said.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

#Walmartbacked #Flipkart #expands #quickcommerce #push #Amazon #ramps #India #TechCrunchAmazon,Flipkart,Quick commerce,Walmart

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