2025 Winners and losers: Google

Google's hardware division didn't have a particularly strong 2025, releasing new phones that didn't really stand out as particularly innovative. That's not the best strategy in any market, but it's particularly damaging in those outside the US where more makers are present. And, sure, Google isn't primarily a hardware company, but it makes phones, earbuds, and smartwatches every year and fails to make a meaningful market impact against the likes of Samsung and Apple, its main rivals. Still, Google's phones are getting better and better even if not always at an impressive pace. There are...



Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/2025_winners_and_losers_google-news-70646.php

Samsung Galaxy S26 series could be getting satellite voice calls

Before you get too excited, nothing is confirmed as of yet. We only recently learned about the Samsung Exynos 2600 chip – the first to be made on a 2nm process. Said chip is rumored to power the upcoming Galaxy Z Flip8 and potentially the S26 family in at least one country. Back when the Exynos 2600 was unveiled, Samsung was suspiciously silent about its modem. Now details have started coming in about an Exynos Modem 5410, which could be a part of the Exynos 2600 package. The Exynos Modem 5410 integrates LTE DTC, NB IoT NTN, and NR NTN on a single chip. NB IoT NTN, or NarrowBand...



Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s26_series_could_be_getting_satellite_voice_calls-news-70869.php

Nothing OS 4.0 stable update rolling out for CMF Phone 1, CMF Phone 2 Pro will get it in the coming weeks

Nothing has released the stable version of the Android 16-based Nothing OS 4.0 for the CMF Phone 1. The company says Nothing OS 4.0 "brings a more refined and personal experience, with visual refreshes, deeper customisation across the system, and improvements designed to make everyday use smoother and more comfortable." You can head over here to learn more about what's new in Nothing OS 4.0. The Nothing OS 4.0 update is rolling out in phases for the CMF Phone 1. The CMF Phone 2 Pro will get the update "in the coming weeks," while the Nothing Phone (3a) Lite will start receiving it "at...



Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/cmf_phone_1_cmf_phone_2_pro_android_16_nothing_os_4_stable_update-news-70868.php

2025 Winners and Losers: Xiaomi

Xiaomi’s 2025 was filled with great products across a wide range of categories. Gone are the days when the brand was playing catch-up to the likes of Apple and Samsung, as Xiaomi proved it is forging its own path across more than just smartphones. Xiaomi is one of the fastest-growing EV brands in China, and the success of its very first vehicle - the SU7 is shaping up to be an even bigger hit. But smartphones are still Xiaomi's bread and butter, so let's kick off the list with one of our favourite devices of the year. Winner: Xiaomi 15 Ultra While the Xiaomi 15 Ultra wasn’t a...



Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/2025_winners_and_losers_xiaomi-news-70783.php

iQOO Z11 Turbo specs revealed, design teased

The iQOO Z11 Turbo is expected to launch soon in China. While an official launch date is not known yet, the company has revealed the phone’s rear design along with some key specifications. In a post on Weibo, iQOO announced that the Z11 Turbo is now open for pre-orders through the official vivo website and other online retailers, while also offering a first look at the device’s rear design. The handset features a square-shaped rear camera module housing dual sensors within a pill-shaped cutout, while the LED flash sits outside the module. The phone also appears to have a flat frame...



Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/iqoo_z11_turbo_specs_revealed_design_teased-news-70864.php

Samsung Galaxy Watch4's One UI 8 Watch update rollout expands to more countries

Samsung released the One UI 8 Watch update for the Galaxy Watch4 about a couple of weeks ago, but only in South Korea. Well, the good news is that Samsung has expanded the One UI 8 Watch update rollout to two more countries - India and the US. The One UI 8 Watch update is currently rolling out only for the non-cellular version of the Galaxy Watch4. It comes with firmware version R860XXU1JYK4 and the October 2025 security patch. If you live in India or the US and haven't received One UI 8 Watch on your Galaxy Watch4, you can check for the update manually by navigating to the Settings...



Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_watch4_one_ui_8_watch_update_india_us-news-70862.php

iPhone Air 2 back on track for 2026 launch, new rumor claims

Back in November, a report claimed that Apple had postponed the iPhone Air 2 to spring 2027 after disappointing sales of the original model. Now, a fresh rumor suggests the iPhone Air successor could arrive next year after all. The claim comes from tipster Fixed Focus Digital, who revealed on Weibo that the iPhone Air 2 is confirmed to launch at the fall iPhone launch event in September 2026. Meanwhile, the tipster claims that the iPhone 17e is also on track for a spring launch and has entered the mass-production stage. Based on earlier reports, Apple was expected to unveil the...



Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/iphone_air_2_back_on_track_for_2026_launch_new_rumor_claims-news-70859.php

Honor Magic8 Pro's AI can fix your Christmas family photos, new promo video says

The Honor Magic8 Pro was announced in China in October, and then made its debut outside of China in Malaysia in November. That said, it's yet to arrive in European markets, but the wait is almost over - the Magic8 Pro will finally become available in the UK on January 8. Ahead of that, the brand's arm in the UK has posted the teaser video you can see below, which is all about Christmas and how to solve "parental Christmas stress". The parents who buy the Magic8 Pro in the UK will have to wait until Christmas 2026 to take this advice, which makes the timing here a bit...



Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/honor_magic8_pros_ai_can_fix_your_christmas_family_photos_new_promo_video_says-news-70852.php

Merry Christmas!

As another year in the fast-paced world of tech is winding down, we just wanted to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for being part of GSMArena. Whether you are opening new tech goodies around the Christmas tree, evaluating photo samples at the dinner table, or simply taking a breather from refresh rates and benchmark tests, we hope the holiday season brings you some well-deserved downtime. We’ll be back soon with more news, reviews, and comparisons as the industry gears up for another packed year. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from all of us at...



Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/merry_christmas-news-70839.php

Xiaomi 17 Ultra has a physical zoom ring around its camera island

Ahead of the 17 Ultra's official announcement taking place on December 25, Xiaomi has revealed that the phone comes with a physical zoom ring around its circular camera island. This will let you control zooming in a very tactile way. Interestingly, the official name of the phone seems to be Xiaomi 17 Ultra by Leica, and as rumored countless times before, it will feature the iconic red dot Leica logo on its back in at least one colorway. According to past leaks, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra has three rear cameras, one less than its predecessor, with the periscope telephoto...



Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_17_ultra_has_a_physical_zoom_ring_around_its_camera_island-news-70857.php

Samsung debuts new Odyssey gaming monitor lineup with up to 1,040Hz refresh rate

Ahead of CES 2026, Samsung has announced the 2026 range of Odyssey gaming monitors. There are a total of five models and they offer features such as 6K glasses-free 3D support and up to 1,040Hz refresh rate. Samsung has introduced the Odyssey 3D, the Odyssey G6, and three variants of the Odyssey G8. Starting with the Odyssey 3D (G90XH), Samsung claims it is the world’s first gaming monitor to offer a 6K-resolution, glasses-free 3D display. It comes with a 32-inch panel and supports refresh rates of up to 165Hz, along with HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 2.1 connectivity. The monitor...



Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_debuts_new_odyssey_gaming_monitor_lineup_with_up_to_1040hz_refresh_rate-news-70853.php

This is when the Realme Neo8 is rumored to be launching

Last week, the upcoming Realme Neo8's specs got leaked, and at the time we didn't know what to expect in terms of its announcement time frame. Thankfully, today Digital Chat Station has revealed just that on Weibo. The Realme Neo8 is allegedly scheduled to be unveiled in January. Unfortunately, there is nothing more concrete than that yet, but it is good to know that there isn't going to be much waiting left to do for it to arrive. After all, its predecessor was already official for about two weeks around this time last year. Realme Neo7 The Neo8 will be powered by the Snapdragon 8...



Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/this_is_when_the_realme_neo8_is_rumored_to_be_launching-news-70850.php

OnePlus Turbo is now rumored to get a global launch

Next month OnePlus is unveiling a new series in China called Turbo, which will debut with two devices. One of these was spotted in the Geekbench database yesterday rocking the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 SoC. According to a new rumor, this device will get an international launch as well, including in India. It comes with a 9,000 mAh battery which supports 80W wired charging, as well as an OLED display with "1.5K" resolution and 165Hz refresh rate. OnePlus 15 Funnily enough, the phone is said to be codenamed Volkswagen, implying the positioning here - a 'phone for the masses'. It should...



Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_turbo_is_now_rumored_to_get_a_global_launch-news-70843.php

Samsung teases The First Look 2026 CES launch event for TVs, monitors, appliances

Samsung is getting ready for CES, which takes place in Las Vegas from January 6 to January 9. The company will use the trade show to unveil new TVs, monitors, and home appliances. Samsung's CES unveiling event is called The First Look, and you can see the teaser (trailer?) for it embedded below. The tagline for the 2026 event is "Your Companion to AI Living". The video shows glimpses of TVs with slim bezels and metal finishes, as well as a robot vacuum cleaner with a camera (presumably used for AI-enhanced obstacle avoidance). The theme of Samsung integrating AI across its...



Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_teases_the_first_look_2026_ces_launch_event_for_tvs_monitors_appliances-news-70842.php

Xiaomi Watch 5 is coming this week with an EMG sensor and the Snapdragon W5 SoC

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra will be unveiled on December 25, and it will be joined by the Xiaomi Watch 5. This new wearable will be Xiaomi's highest-end yet, featuring a stainless steel case and a sapphire crystal on top of its screen - both standard materials for high-end analog watches. The Xiaomi Watch 5 will feature an EMG (electromyography) sensor, which is used to detect electrical signals produced by your muscles. This could be used to enable gesture navigation - like flicking your wrist or tapping your fingers in the air, that sort of stuff. EMG could also be used to analyze muscle...



Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_watch_5_is_coming_this_week_with_an_emg_sensor_and_the_snapdragon_w5_soc-news-70840.php

Oppo Pad Air5 gets unboxed ahead of its full unveiling

Oppo is making the Pad Air5 official on December 25, and ahead of that, today the company has published a quick official unboxing of the upcoming device. This shows the tablet in all its glory in the Starlight Pink colorway (it will also be offered in Space Grey), along with the 45W wired charger that will be included in the retail package in China. The Pad Air5 has a "2.8K" resolution screen and a 10,050 mAh battery, and will come in Wi-Fi-only and 5G-enabled versions, with 8/128GB, 8/256GB, and 12/256GB RAM/storage combos.



Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_officially_unboxes_the_pad_air5_ahead_of_its_full_unveiling-news-70838.php

Apple iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 17 Pro

Apple's 2025 iPhone lineup once again puts its users in a familiar position - choosing between two very similar yet distinctly positioned models. The gap between the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro is as small as ever, but as they say, the devil is in the details - and those details might justify the Pro's higher asking price for some, while others may find the standard model more than enough. The iPhone 17 finally feels like a true flagship in its own right, matching the Pro's 120 Hz refresh rate, OLED quality, and overall polish. This year, the basic model is lighter, slimmer, and still...



Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_iphone_17_vs_apple_iphone_17_pro_review_battery_camera_price_compared-news-69900.php

Xiaomi 17 Ultra stars in a quick hands-on teaser video

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is getting official on December 25 in China, and the brand already revealed its camera-centric design a few hours ago. Now the company has also posted a very quick hands-on teaser video showing the device in motion, while revealing that it will be its thinnest Ultra phone ever at just 8.29mm. For reference, note that the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is 9.4mm thick. The 17 Ultra's screen will have extremely narrow bezels on all sides, and from the front it looks very similar to the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max. It might actually be using the exact same display panel. The Xiaomi 17...



Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_17_ultra_stars_in_a_quick_handson_teaser_video-news-70825.php

iPhone 18 series mass production testing to begin very soon

According to a new rumor from China, Apple will start testing the iPhone 18 series devices on the mass production line "one after another" in the very early days of January. Then, the actual production is set to start right before the Chinese New Year, which in 2026 falls on February 17. The iPhone 18 Pro mass production line has allegedly already been set up, and this source says the phone itself won't come with exterior changes as big as everyone seems to think. iPhone 17 Pro It's unclear why Apple would want to start production of its iPhone 18 devices so early in the year,...



Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/iphone_18_series_mass_production_testing_to_begin_very_soon-news-70826.php

Realme officially details the 16 Pro and 16 Pro+ cameras

Realme is unveiling the 16 Pro and 16 Pro+ on January 6, and today the brand has revealed that both devices will have the same 200MP main camera. Furthermore, the 16 Pro+ will also have a telephoto camera with 3.5x optical zoom. The main camera uses Samsung's HP5 sensor, a 1/1.56-inch type, with an f/1.8 aperture, while the telephoto camera of the Pro+ uses Samsung's JN5 sensor. There will of course also be an ultrawide, so on the Pro+ you're getting "a full focal-length imaging system, that supports shooting from 0.6x to 120x, offering full flexibility across portrait, street, and...



Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/realme_officially_details_the_16_pro_and_16_pro_cameras-news-70824.php

Oppo Find X9 Ultra camera specifications tipped

A new leak has revealed the camera specifications of the upcoming Oppo Find X9 Ultra. The Find X8 Ultra successor is expected to launch in April next year with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. In a post on Weibo, tipster Digital Chat Station has revealed new details about the Find X9 Ultra. As per DCS, the phone will offer dual 200MP cameras at the back and offer 10x optical zoom. The Oppo Find X8 Ultra also featured dual periscope cameras. The Oppo Find X9 Ultra is tipped to pack a 200MP primary camera with light intake claimed to outperform a one-inch type sensor. It will...



Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_find_x9_ultra_camera_specifications_tipped-news-70814.php

Xiaomi 17 Ultra launch date and design officially revealed

Last week, Xiaomi teased that the flagship 17 Ultra will debut in China this week. Now, the company has revealed the exact launch date, design, and the color options of the phone. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra will be unveiled in China on December 25, the company confirmed in a Weibo post. The brand also shared the phone’s rear design and color options. It will be available in three color options, including a new Starry Green variant. The phone will also be sold in White and Black colors, as per the teasers. The teasers also confirm that the Xiaomi 17 Ultra will feature a triple-rear camera...



Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_17_ultra_launch_date_and_design_officially_revealed-news-70813.php

Honor Win hands-on

Honor is set to dip its toes in the gaming phone sphere with the unveiling of the Win series. The phone is going official on December 26, but we managed to spend some time with it earlier and see what it's about. The headline feature of this one is a 10,000mAh battery! Yes, 10k, not a typo. The Honor Win will become fully official on Thursday, and we'll have the full details then. The teasers suggest excellent gaming performance and an active fan to help maintain Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 nicely cool. It's paired with 16GB LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.1 storage. The company claimed an...



Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/honor_win_handson-news-70801.php

Top 10 trending phones of week 51

With 10 days remaining of the year 2025, we have the very familiar sight of Samsung Galaxy A56 topping our trending chart. Behind it, however, is a fresh new face in the newly announced OnePlus 15R. The Galaxy S25 Ultra rose two spots to complete the penultimate podium of the year. [#InlinePriceWidget, 14358, 1#] That means the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max finds itself in fourth this time around, while the OnePlus 15 retained its fifth position. The Galaxy A17 is also where we left it last week - sixth place, while behind it we see the Poco F8 Ultra, which lost a lot of ground over the...



Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/top_10_trending_phones_of_week_51-news-70812.php

OnePlus 15T's specs tipped

Back in October, tipster Digital Chat Station shared specs of a compact OnePlus smartphone, said to arrive in the first half of 2026. Now, DCS has shared the specs of the OnePlus 15T, which will feature a 6.3" 165Hz screen of 1.5K resolution with a 3D ultrasonic fingerprint scanner embedded. The OnePlus 15T will have a metal frame and pack a battery with a capacity of at least 7,000 mAh. The smartphone will sport a telephoto camera on the rear, and DCS said that one of the accessories sold by OnePlus for the 15T will be a white/gray magnetic snap-on case. Furthermore, DCS stated that...



Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_15t_specs_tipped-news-70811.php

Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G in for review

Redmi's Note 15 series has arrived on the global stage, and as you'd expect, it's a bit confusing. You've got the Redmi Note 15, the Redmi Note 15 5G, the Redmi Note 15 Pro, the Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G (the star of this article), and the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ 5G. We have all five phones at the office and will bring you the full coverage, including unboxing, a full review, videos, and more! Let's unbox the Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G, and then we'll explore how it differs from the non-5G Pro. The phone ships with a full retail package. You get a 45W charger, a USB-A to USB-C cable, a grey silicone case,...



Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/redmi_note_15_pro_5g_in_for_review-news-70759.php

Deals: Samsung Galaxy S25 series, Galaxy Z Fold7, Pixel 10 series discounted

The holiday season continues and so do the deals. If you plan to buy a new phone for yourself or as a gift, there are some good deals on Amazon US to check out. Outside of Amazon US, the official Samsung US online store is also offering big discounts on the Galaxy S25 lineup as well as the Galaxy Z Fold7. The Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25+, and the Galaxy S25 Ultra are available with up to a $560 discount. Samsung Galaxy S25 $125 off Read our review 12GB/128GB - $700 at...



Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/deals_samsung_galaxy_s25_series_galaxy_z_fold7_pixel_10_series_discounted-news-70807.php

Oppo Reno15 Pro Mini's specs and launch timeframe tipped

Oppo's Reno15 series currently includes three smartphones - Reno15, Reno15 Pro, and Reno15c. There have been rumors about the Reno15 Pro Max, and now we are hearing about the Reno15 Pro Mini, which is tipped to launch in India this month or in January. The source also claims that the Reno15 Pro Mini will be powered by the Dimensity 8450 SoC and pack a 6.32" 120Hz flat OLED display with 1.5K resolution. Oppo Reno15 Pro The Reno15 Pro Mini will be IP69-rated and support 80W wired charging. It will also support wireless charging, but we don't know how fast it will be. For...



Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_reno15_pro_mini_specs_launch_timeframe_tipped-news-70810.php

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