Samsung starts testing One UI 8 based on Android 16

No, there's no typo in the title - we do mean that Samsung has started testing One UI 8 based on Android 16. And yes, it's incredibly ironic, since the update to One UI 7 based on Android 15 still isn't out, even with many months of testing. That one will finally start rolling out next month, and then the waiting game will start again very soon after that, since Google aims on releasing Android 16 in June. We are naturally hoping that Samsung will be quicker with this update than it's been with the previous one, but of course there's no guarantee. The fact that the Korean company is...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_starts_testing_one_ui_8_based_on_android_16-news-66858.php

Apple officially acknowledges delaying Siri's new AI features

Apple's long-anticipated revamp of Siri with new AI features was initially rumored to arrive in April with the release of iOS 18.4, but then new rumors pointed to it being delayed again past that point. Today, the company has acknowledged the situation. Indeed, the new AI-ified Siri is still a way off, as it was essentially harder to develop than Apple initially thought it would. We're not sure what that says about Apple engineers' prediction abilities. Anyway, here's the full statement from Apple spokeswoman Jacqueline Roy, sent to Daring Fireball's John Gruber this...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_officially_acknowledges_delaying_siris_new_ai_features-news-66860.php

Lock screen widgets are coming with Android 16

Google announced that it's bringing lock screen widgets to more Android tablets and smartphones. Currently, the feature is supported only on the Pixel Tablet. For those who don't remember, lock screen widgets were a feature in the early days of Android but have been axed since. Now, Google promises to bring them back shortly after the official Android 16 launches. The new OS is expected to hit the first devices in June and Google promises to allow developers to enable lock screen widgets shortly after the release. Even though the feature isn't enabled on the current Android 16...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/lock_screen_widgets_are_coming_with_android_16-news-66853.php

Leakster: Honor is developing its own 1-inch sensor for the Magic8 RSR Porsche Design

Honor’s upcoming flagship Magic8 series will include models ranging from 6.3” to 6.8”, writes leakster Smart Pikachu on Weibo (Honor will reportedly get into mini phones soon). What’s interesting is that the top of the line Honor Magic8 RSR Porsche Design will feature a 1” sensor that was developed in-house, according to the leakster. The RSR phone will put that sensor behind a lens with a variable aperture. This lens will be able to open wide to gather more light in the dark while still being able to close down for day shots. As for the sensor itself, it’s not clear what might have...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/leakster_honor_is_developing_its_own_1inch_sensor_for_the_magic8_rsr_porsche_design-news-66834.php

Kuo: foldable iPhone coming in late 2026

The foldable iPhone has become something like a unicorn in leak land. We know it will come out eventually, but its launch date and specs have been the subject of numerous speculations. Noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is back with his latest report, which indicates that the first Apple foldable will launch in late 2026. We also got some more spec details, which is always a welcome addition. Keep in mind that all of this info is just speculation at this point, so it should be taken accordingly. Apple is going for a book-style foldable iPhone with a 5.5-inch outer screen and a 7.8-inch OLED...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/kuo_foldable_iphone_coming_in_late_2026-news-66833.php

WhatsApp infuses more AI into group chats

WhatsApp is adding more AI. Baked into the latest WhatsApp beta release for Android is a way to have generative AI make your group chat icons. And strangely enough, this is only for group chat icons - you can't generate images to use for your profile picture on one-on-one chats. Perhaps that's coming later. For now, if you are in the WhatsApp for Android beta release channel, the latest update should enable the group chat icon generation function as seen in the shots below. This is of course powered by Meta AI, which is also available inside group chats to "help settle debates",...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_infuses_more_ai_into_group_chats-news-66835.php

iQOO Neo10S Pro+ details leak, including its flagship chipset

vivo sub-brand iQOO is currently working on a new device that will be powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC, just like the iQOO 13 which came out last year. The new device will have a 6.82-inch flat screen with "2K" resolution, according to a new rumor out of China today. It's expected to arrive in the first half of the year with a vivo-developed graphics chip and an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor. iQOO Neo10 Pro These are all the details outed so far. This is most likely going to be the iQOO Neo10S Pro+, and if history repeats itself then we should also see a Pro,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/iqoo_neo10s_pro_details_leak_including_its_flagship_chipset-news-66831.php

YouTube introduces cheaper Premium Lite plan

YouTube has today unveiled a new plan called Premium Lite. As the name implies, this is cheaper than YouTube Premium, but it also comes with fewer features. To make sense of what's what, YouTube has provided the image below. So, whereas with Premium you get a fully ad-free experience (well, aside from the sponsored segments in seemingly all videos), as well as the ability to download videos and background playback support, Premium Lite has none of that. You aren't getting downloads or background playback, but you should see "most videos ad-free" across categories such as gaming,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/youtube_introduces_cheaper_premium_lite_plan-news-66816.php

OnePlus clears things up: OnePlus 13 and 13R are getting 4 OS updates as promised

Okay, you can put down the pitchforks – the OnePlus 13 and OnePlus 13R will receive 4 major OS updates as originally promised. To spell it out, that is Android 16, 17, 18 and 19 (the two phones came out with 15). Earlier today, there was some confusion after a OnePlus US PR representative claimed that OnePlus will be counting the out-of-the-box software as one of the four updates. That made no sense and the company has clarified that it isn’t going to do that. OnePlus confirms the update policy for 13 and 13R (Source) Besides the four OS updates, OnePlus will deliver security...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_clears_things_up_oneplus_13_and_13r_are_getting_4_os_updates_as_promised-news-66812.php

Tecno Spark Slim concept hands-on

Android makers have entered a frenzy ahead of the Apple's iPhone 17 Slim launch. We expect the Galaxy S25 Edge in April and now Tecno has an even slimmer phone. Meet the Tecno Spark Slim, which measures just 5.75mm thin. The Spark Slim is more than just a thin phone. It's impressively well made and features either a stainless steel colored (it's actually plastic) or a ceramic rear panel, and Gorilla Glass upfront. The phone features a unibody construction that truly feels great in the hand. Impressively, there's a 5,200mAh battery inside, which is only 4.04mm thick. The battery...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/tecno_spark_slim_concept_handson-news-66811.php

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 now rumored to have a significantly bigger cover display

Last week we saw the upcoming Galaxy Z Flip7 in some CAD-based renders for the first time, and today the same source is back with an update. Everything else stays the same except for the cover display, which is growing substantially to basically take over the entire space on the phone's upper half, even incorporating the two cameras. This is a design we've seen from other companies already, so it's nothing new, but it's nice to see Samsung getting in on the action too. Otherwise, the Flip7 would have looked dated from day one, and that's not great. The size of the cover display...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_z_flip7_now_rumored_to_have_a_much_bigger_cover_display-news-66809.php

Nothing Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro hands-on review

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/nothing_phone_3a_3a_pro_hands_on-review-2806.php

Xiaomi Modular Optical System concept hands-on

Xiaomi showcased an interesting new cameraphone concept at this year's MWC in Barcelona, Spain. Although it's reminiscent of past attempts from other manufacturers, Xiaomi's approach is fundamentally different. Sony, for example, tried using an external lens controlled by an Xperia smartphone. The main advantage of Xiaomi's concept is that it uses the smartphone's ISP, so all the post-processing is done on the device. The phone and the lens connect via Xiaomi's proprietary LaserLink and data transfer happens in nanoseconds. The transfer rate is 10 Gbps. The lens attaches to a...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_modular_optical_system_concept_handson-news-66797.php

Realme interchangeable lens concept hands-on

Realme's main focus at this year's Mobile World Congress is to launch its 14 Pro series in Europe, but the company did a little side quest too. Meet the Realme interchangeable lens concept - a Realme smartphone that can mount Leica M lenses on its back! Before we go mounting lenses on, let's look at the underlying phone. This is a Realme smartphone running a two-year-old Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC. The back is reminiscent of Xiaomi's 15 Ultra in its dual-tone Silver Chrome. The Realme has a glass-covered camera island with two cameras - a wide and ultrawide, along with a custom...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/realme_interchangeable_lens_concept_handson-news-66799.php

Infinix launches Note 50, Note 50 Pro with bigger batteries

Infinix launched the Note 50 series today, starting with the first two phones in Indonesia. The Note 50 and Note 50 Pro are based on LTE-only chipsets, but adopt a new design and larger batteries compared to their predecessors. Infinix has outfitted the Note 50 and Note 50 Pro with the Helio G100 chipset from Mediatek. While it's unfortunate that there isn't a different SoC, Indonesia is lagging behind with its 5G deployment. Both phone share the same footprint and display – a 6.78" AMOLED panel with Full HD+ resolution. The size and resolution are the same as on the Note 40 and...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/infinix_launches_note_50_note_50_pro_with_bigger_batteries-news-66792.php

vivo Y300i appears online ahead of launch

A new vivo phone is coming to join the quickly expanding Y300 series. The phone is called Y300i and its model number V2444A was listed on the China Telecom website with its full specs sheet, and images, revealing yet another affordable midranger. vivo Y300i The phone packs a 6.68” LCD with HD+ resolution, and we expect the panel to have up to 120 Hz refresh rate because vivo is using the same screen in numerous other devices from the Y series. The chipset is Snapdragon 4 Gen 2, and we know from the listing the phone will have three memory options – 8/256 GB, 12/256 GB, and...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/vivo_y300i_appears_online_ahead_of_launch-news-66790.php

Tim Cook teases Air announcement for this week

Apple CEO Tim Cook took to X to tease another product launch. Following the iPhone 16e introduction last month, Apple is now focusing on its Air lineup. Based on previous reports this teaser should be about the upcoming 13” and 15” MacBook Air models equipped with the Apple M4 chip. This week. pic.twitter.com/uXqQaGNkSk— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) March 3, 2025 For reference, Apple launched its M3 MacBook Airs exactly one year ago. Apple is also expected to launch refreshed 11” and 13” iPad Airs with the M3 chip, which could very well be part of this upcoming launch. Apple is also rumored to...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/tim_cook_teases_air_announcement_for_this_week-news-66791.php

Doogee expands product portfolio with two tablets and three smartwatches

Doogee showcased half a dozen smartphones at MWC in Barcelona, and that wasn't even the entire range the company announced: there are also two LTE tablets with big screens and three entry-level smartwatches. The tablets are part of the Tab E3 family. There is a Pro version with a 13" IPS LCD that supports up to 90 Hz refresh rate. It has a sleek metal body designed for optimal heat dissipation, and Doogee positions it for students, professionals, and creative people. The Tab E3 Pro is powered by a Helio G100 chipset with 8 GB RAM and 256 GB storage. It has a 16 MP camera on the back...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/doogee_expands_product_portfolio_with_two_tablets_and_three_smartwatches-news-66789.php

Xiaomi Watch S4 in for review

The Xiaomi Watch S4 has arrived on the global stage and it has some big shoes to fill - its predecessor is a hugely popular wearable. The Watch S4 ships with a fluororubber strap and a 2-pin magnetic charger. The charger still uses a USB-A plug - in 2025, we think a USB-C cable would've been better. Unboxing the Xiaomi Watch S4 Like its predecessor, the Watch S4 comes in a single 47mm case size with a 1.43-inch display. The display's brightness has grown significantly, though, from 600 nits to 2,200 nits. The swappable bezels made the previous model special, and the new...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_watch_s4_in_for_review-news-66759.php

Deals: Galaxy S25 Ultra and Pixel 9 Pro XL prices drop, plus some cheap iPhone offers

The Apple iPhone 16e went on sale on Friday after a week of pre-orders and we will see some alternatives (in addition to the ones we looked at last week). But let’s start with interesting Android deals first. Amazon is still offering $200 gift cards with every 256GB Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. Best Buy has a better offer – a free storage upgrade to 512GB (so it’s the same price as the 256GB model) and an $80 gift card. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra free storage upgrade$80 gift card Read our review ...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/deals_galaxy_s25_ultra_and_pixel_9_pro_xl_prices_drop_plus_some_cheap_iphone_offers-news-66761.php

Samsung Galaxy A36 and A56 hands-on review

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_a36_and_a56_hands_on-review-2804.php

Itel launches the Power 70: a budget-friendly phone with a big battery

The Itel Power 70 looks like a pretty nice overall package. First, let's tackle its claim to fame – the battery capacity. The phone has a pretty big but reasonably sized 6,000 mAh onboard battery. That allows it to maintain sensible proportions, measuring 165.92 x 77.31 x 7.98 mm and tipping the scale at 200 grams. The "trick" here is the additional 4,000 mAh charging case that Itel is throwing in as a launch gift with the phone. This extends the total battery capacity to 10,000 mAh (not counting charging loss). The Power 70 does not support wireless charging, so the case has to connect up to...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/itel_launches_the_power_70_a_budgetfriendly_phone_with_a_big_battery-news-66774.php

The Galaxy A36 brings a Snapdragon chip, IP67 rating, the Galaxy A26 sticks with Exynos

Samsung is setting the benchmark for support on mid-range and affordable smartphones – the new A-series (A16 and up) will receive 6 OS updates. This generation also boosts performance, speeds up charging, brings camera improvements and more. We’ve covered the Galaxy A56 in a separate article, here we will focus on its siblings, the A36 and A26. Samsung Galaxy A36 The Samsung Galaxy A36 switches things up and features a Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 after using a mix of Dimensity and Exynos chips for the last few generations. The base memory configuration is 6/128GB (though some regions will get...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/the_galaxy_a36_brings_a_snapdragon_chip_ip67_rating_the_galaxy_a26_sticks_with_exynos-news-66766.php

Oppo Reno13 battery life and charging test results are in

The Oppo Reno13 comes with a handful of upgrades this year, some resulting in measurable improvements in battery life. The battery capacity is now 5,600 mAh, up from 5,000 mAh on the Reno12 last year, and the phone runs on a supposedly more energy-efficient Dimensity 8350 SoC. The Reno13 also sports a 6.59-inch OLED panel with 120Hz refresh rate. const BATTERY_TEST_PHONE_V2 = [13515, 13133, 13262, 13219, 13585, 13328]; As is usually the case with ColorOS/OxygenOS/Realme UI-powered devices, the Reno13 offers excellent battery life with an impressive 16:50h Active Use...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_reno13_battery_life_test_results_are_in-news-66752.php