Illumina announced a roadmap of NovaSeq X enhancements to boost output, accuracy and kit options — including plans for Q50 and duplex‑based workflows for high‑precision applications. The vendor will launch new flow cells and longer‑read kits over the next 18 months to counter growing competition. Ultima Genomics unveiled its UG200 family and Solaris 2.0 workflow, promising emulsion PCR‑free amplification, higher throughput per footprint and lower list pricing. Ultima claims the UG200 Ultra can sequence tens of thousands of genomes per year per instrument. Both companies signaled intensifying capital equipment competition in high‑throughput genomics, with implications for core labs, large sequencing centers and downstream clinical applications that require high accuracy and scale.