Weekly poll: would you buy the Honor Robot Phone and why?

After months of teasers and red carpet events, the Honor Robot Phone is finally official and it is now available in stores – only in China, but you didn’t want one anyway, right? Wait, did you? The robot-like arm that acts as the gimbal on this device (and gives it its name) feels like the end-stage of popup-camera evolution. It provides stabilization on the move and, if you put the phone on a tripod, it does object tracking better than any phone out there. And yes, it can even look forward for selfies and vlog-style videos. Honor Robot Phone's gimbal in action This teeny, tiny...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/weekly_poll_would_you_buy_the_honor_robot_phone_and_why-news-74243.php

Weekly poll results: a clear favorite emerges from the Google Pixel 11 family

Last week, we asked you which Pixel 11 model you would buy and now the results are in. The sentiment is trending towards negative with price being a common reason for skipping the 11 series. Looking at the overall poll, many just aren’t interested in any Pixel 11 model. But those that do want one are mostly leaning towards the Pixel 11 Pro – it almost got more votes than the vanilla and the Pro XL models put together. Almost. The Pro XL is a distant second, while the pricey foldable barely got any love. Focusing in on the Google Pixel 11 Pro, it received the biggest proportion of...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/weekly_poll_results_a_clear_favorite_emerges_from_the_google_pixel_11_family-news-74267.php

Deals: the Pixel 11 series is now on sale, the Galaxy Z8 foldables come with gift cards

The Google Pixel 11 series went on sale this Thursday, but Amazon is still maintaining the pre-order deals – for now. This means that the phones come with an Amazon Gift Card and trade-in bonuses (the values depend on each model). Actually, this week the trade-in bonuses are higher than they were last week ($250 for all four models). For example, the vanilla Pixel 11 has a $324 trade-in bonus. The Pro and Pro XL models get $425 trade-in bonuses. The foldable gets a $425 trade-in bonus and either a $350 gift card or a free Pixel Watch 5. ...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/deals_the_pixel_11_series_is_now_on_sale_the_galaxy_z8_foldables_come_with_gift_cards-news-74286.php

Here's how much you'll pay if you break the Honor Robot Phone's gimbal camera

Honor's Robot Phone was finally made official last week after many months of teasers and showcases. It's definitely a unique device, with its integrated gimbal camera, even if it's not actually a robot. That gimbal camera, though, contains a lot of moving parts, so if you drop the phone while it's out, you might damage it. In that case, you will have to pay a whopping CNY 3,079 ($457) to replace it. The number comes from Honor's official website in China, where it just published its repair prices for the Robot Phone. Replacing the telephoto camera will cost CNY 879 ($130), while the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/heres_how_much_youll_pay_if_you_break_the_honor_robot_phones_gimbal_camera-news-74289.php

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE leaks in unboxing video

Samsung is unveiling the Galaxy S26 FE on August 27, and ahead of that we've already seen the device in a hands-on video as well as plenty of leaked renders. How about a quick unboxing video? Would you like to see that, even if the handset isn't official yet? Well, if you do, here you go. As you'd expect from a Samsung, you only get the phone, some documentation, a SIM ejector tool, and a USB-C cable in the box. No case, no charger. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tecnología Celulares Laptops (@mundoelectronica.aa) The Galaxy S26 FE is expected to...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s26_fe_leaks_in_unboxing_video-news-74285.php

A fix for the red tint issue on the Galaxy S26 Ultra may be coming later this month

Last month, Samsung acknowledged reports that the Galaxy S26 Ultra display can have a red tint under certain conditions and promised a fix for it – the company blamed it on a software issue, not a hardware one. Said fix is coming by the end of the month, according to Samsung’s customer support team in Korea. One user on the Samsung Community forum posted a screenshot of a conversation with support, which claims that the fix is currently being evaluated by the verification department. The message from Samsung’s support team • machine translation to English The reddish tint was...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/a_fix_for_the_red_tint_issue_on_the_galaxy_s26_ultra_may_be_coming_later_this_month-news-74279.php

Samsung Galaxy Tab S12+ and S12 Ultra prices leak

Samsung is unveiling the Galaxy S26 FE next week, and the company is also expected to announce the Galaxy Tab S12+ and Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra very soon, perhaps on the same day or, if not, in early September. Ahead of their release, a reliable source has today revealed the pricing for the two tablets. In the US, the Galaxy Tab S12+ will start at $1,119.99 with 256GB of storage. The 512GB version will set you back $1,399.99. The 5G-capable model with 256GB of storage will be priced at $1,349.99. Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra Moving on to the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra, this one will be...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_tab_s12_and_s12_ultra_prices_leak-news-74268.php

Samsung's One UI 9.5 might use AI to let you design custom widgets, leak shows

Google’s new Gemini Intelligence AI has a feature called Create My Widget – basically, it takes in a plain language description of what the widget should do, figures out how to do it and places the widget right on your homescreen. Now it looks like Samsung will include a similar (or the same) feature in One UI 9.5. The Samsung version is labeled “My Custom Widget” and can be seen in the screenshot below that was shared by Fahad Ali Javed. It’s not quite clear whether this is just a rebranding of the Google feature or whether Samsung has a competing implementation. One UI 9.5’s My...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsungs_one_ui_95_might_use_ai_to_let_you_design_custom_widgets_leak_shows-news-74270.php

Despite leaked demo, Apple's camera-equipped AirPods still reportedly set for 2027 launch

A leaked demo video recently surfaced online, showcasing how Apple's rumored camera-equipped AirPods could work. The leak suggested that the new AirPods could debut alongside the iPhone 18 Pro lineup next month. Despite the leaked video, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that Apple is still targeting a 2027 launch for the camera-equipped AirPods. Still from the leaked video showcasing the alleged camera-equipped AirPods In the new report, Gurman notes that the demo video found in the latest macOS 26.7 release candidate may have suggested that the AirPods were nearing launch. However,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/despite_leaked_demo_apples_cameraequipped_airpods_still_reportedly_set_for_2027_launch-news-74255.php

Samsung is now charging up to 15% more for the chips it makes, insiders say

The AI boom has gobbled up manufacturing capacity on TSMC’s leading-edge fabs, so companies are turning to Samsung to make their chips – and this has given the company enough leverage to increase its prices by up to 15%, say insiders who spoke to Reuters. In July, Samsung started charging US and Chinese customers 10-15% more for its 4nm node, called SF4, than it did the month before. Companies from Taiwan are looking at 5-10% higher bills. And it’s not just the relatively recent 4nm node that got pricier – SF5 (5nm) also costs 10-15% more, while the rather old 8nm node is now almost 10%...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_is_now_charging_up_to_15_more_for_the_chips_it_makes_insiders_say-news-74259.php

iPhone 17 Pro cases may fit the iPhone 18 Pro

Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in the first part of next month, most likely on September 8 or 9. As we wait for the event to happen, an intriguing new prospect has emerged. The cases made for the iPhone 17 Pro may very well fit the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro. One case maker has already created packaging that lists both the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro as compatible with a specific case, as you can see in the image below. This was surfaced by Mark Gurman on X, and he notes that Best Buy is already selling these in its stores in the US. Then, the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/iphone_17_pro_cases_may_fit_the_iphone_18_pro-news-74249.php

Samsung sets the date for the Galaxy S26 FE unveiling - it's coming next week

Samsung will introduce a new member of the Galaxy S26 family on Thursday next week (August 27) during its “Galaxy Event August 2026”, which will be livestreamed on Samsung.com and on its YouTube channel. The event starts at noon 12pm UTC. While the company doesn’t name it explicitly, this can be no other model than the Samsung Galaxy S26 FE. Unfortunately, the company doesn’t offer any official details for the new FE. We’ve seen a leaked EPREL label that revealed an A rating for energy efficiency, another A for drop resistance but a C for repairability. The battery is rated for 1,200...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_sets_the_date_for_the_galaxy_s26_fe_unveiling__its_coming_next_week-news-74245.php

Qualcomm's new teaser confirms that two Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 SoCs are coming

For many, many months now it's been rumored that Qualcomm would unveil not one, but two Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 SoCs at its annual Snapdragon Summit. And today, the company has confirmed it with its latest teaser over on X. Take a look for yourself: The next chapter of the agentic AI era begins at #SnapdragonSummit.When Two Changes the Game. See the reveal on September 22. pic.twitter.com/4S1SSvJ1fk— Snapdragon (@Snapdragon) August 19, 2026 "Two changes the game", "Opportunity doubled", "Dual 8 Elites" - it's pretty obvious what's going on here. The company hasn't confirmed the names...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/qualcomms_new_teaser_confirms_that_two_snapdragon_8_elite_gen_6_socs_are_coming-news-74252.php

Amazon makes its Alexa+ AI chatbot free for eligible Fire TV devices

Back in February Amazon opened up its Alexa+ AI chatbot to everyone in the US, with Prime subscribers getting unlimited access to it for free. Today, the company is expanding the reach of the service, for free, to those who have a compatible Fire TV device. To clarify right from the start, if you have one of the following devices, you can use Alexa+ for free even without a Prime subscription: all current-generation Amazon Fire TV Sticks, the Fire TV Cube, Amazon Ember Smart TVs, and other smart TVs "by trusted brands with Alexa+ built-in" (including Hisense and Panasonic). These...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/amazon_makes_its_alexa_ai_chatbot_free_for_eligible_fire_tv_devices-news-74250.php

YouTube revises view counting

YouTube creators will soon see higher view counts for their videos as the platform announced a change in the way it handles viewership. From August 24 onward, a view on YouTube will count as soon as the video starts. This is the same metric that was applied to YouTube Shorts last year and the approach used on other platforms like TikTok and Instagram. YouTube explained in a blog post that creators expressed their desire for a unified view counting system which would “eliminate metric confusion” and bring a more accurate assessment of total exposure. Prior to this change, a single...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/youtube_revises_view_count_format-news-74225.php

Samsung details the new Warranty and care menu in One UI 9

One UI 9, which made its debut on the recently launched Galaxy Z Fold8, Fold8 Ultra, and Flip8, brings with it a new Warranty and care menu in Settings. It is here that you can keep track of your warranty periods and expiration dates across all of your Samsung devices, with the information being consolidated into one place. The device in use is displayed at the top of the screen, including its eligibility for enrollment into Samsung Care+. Below this device you'll find all the others that are linked to your Samsung account, the one you're signed in with. Bixby can be used...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_details_the_new_warranty_and_care_menu_in_one_ui_9-news-74231.php

Apple is losing the antitrust battle and soon won't be able to charge commissions from external payment platforms

Apple has been fighting antitrust regulators across the globe, and it's about to lose yet another battle in the US after trying to make commissions from purchases made on third-party payment platforms. But in the latest regulatory filing from Apple itself, the company admits that it may no longer be able to do so. The EU Commission was the first to force Apple to allow third-party app stores on its platform since the company's official App Store charges a 30% commission on each purchase, including in-app purchases. This way, creators can't distribute their content anywhere else and are...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_is_losing_the_antitrust_battle_and_soon_wont_be_able_to_charge_commissions_from_external_payme-news-74229.php

Samsung Wallet adds Digital Key support for Volkswagen EVs

Today Samsung has announced that Samsung Wallet now supports Digital Key access for Volkswagen EVs, including the ID. Polo, ID. Cross, ID.3neo, ID.4, ID.5, ID.7, and ID. Buzz. This is currently rolling out in Europe for vehicles running ID. software version 6.0.1. Only vehicles produced on or after April 27, 2026 are compatible, and they need to be equipped with the "Preparation for Digital Key" option package. Through this feature you can use a compatible Samsung Galaxy smartphone to lock, unlock, and start your car without having to use a physical key. Digital Keys in Samsung...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_wallet_adds_digital_key_support_for_volkswagen_evs-news-74233.php

Motorola Edge 70 Max in for review

This is the Motorola Edge 70 Max, which launched last month. Let's take a look inside it box and see what it's about. The Edge 70 Max ships with 256GB of storage and either 8GB or 12GB of RAM. You can get it in Pantone Aqua Gray, Pantone Ice Melt, and Pantone Dark Shadow (our model), each with a unique-feeling texture. Prices are €750, £700, or INR 59,999. Unboxing the Motorola Edge 70 Max You get the usual cable and case in the box. The case isn't MagSafe-compatible, which is a shame, as we've seen lower-tier Motos with a MagSafe case in the box. There's also no charger...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_edge_70_max_in_for_review-news-74208.php

Deals: iPhone Air and iPhone 16e discounts are trending on Best Buy

The Apple iPhone Air is currently trending on Best Buy since it has a $160 discount on all of its memory and color options. The phones are sold by Best Buy itself and are unlocked units. Apple iPhone Air $160 off Read our review 256GB - $840 at Best Buy 512GB - $1,040 at Best Buy 1TB - $1,240 at Best Buy You can pay the full price upfront or go for a 24-month no-interest financing deal. For example, a 256GB Air works out to $35 a month, while a...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/deals_iphone_air_and_iphone_16e_discounts_are_trending_on_best_buy-news-74210.php

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE stars in a hands-on video

The Samsung Galaxy S26 FE is coming soon, having been already certified by the FCC and starred in multiple leaks recently. It may be unveiled in early September alongside the new Galaxy Tab S12 tablets. Ahead of that, a user on X has uploaded what he claims is a hands-on video of the Galaxy S26 FE. Take a look: First irl look at the Samsung Galaxy S26 FE! pic.twitter.com/grrlhJ68Di— Bradley (@VerdeSelvans) August 17, 2026 The video shows the phone running Android 17 with One UI 9 on top, unsurprisingly. The design is in line with what Samsung's been doing to its camera bumps this...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s26_fe_stars_in_a_handson_video-news-74204.php

Redmi Note 17 Pro Max with 10,000mAh battery to launch next week

Xiaomi has officially announced the launch of the new Redmi Note 17 Pro Max in global markets and also revealed some of its key specs. One of the phone's biggest highlights is its 10,000mAh battery. The company has set up a teaser page on its global website, confirming that the Redmi Note 17 series, including the new Note 17 Pro Max, will be unveiled on August 27. According to the official page, the handset will pack a 10,000mAh battery with 100W wired fast charging support. The Redmi Note 17 Pro Max is also confirmed to come with a 6.83-inch AMOLED display with a 1.5K...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/redmi_note_17_pro_max_with_10000mah_battery_to_launch_next_week-news-74205.php

Poco M8x to be powered by Snapdragon 4 Gen 5 SoC, key specs and pricing tipped

Poco recently began teasing the M8x 5G's launch in India. While the company has yet to reveal details about the upcoming phone, a teaser on Flipkart has confirmed the chipset powering the handset. A tipster has also leaked several other key specs and pricing details. According to the Flipkart teaser, the Poco M8x will be powered by the Snapdragon 4 Gen 5 chipset. However, tipster Yogesh Brar claims the handset will instead feature MediaTek's Dimensity 6300 SoC. Brar also claims that the handset will sport a 6.9-inch LCD display with an HD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/poco_m8x_to_be_powered_by_snapdragon_4_gen_5_soc_key_specs_and_pricing_tipped-news-74197.php

Tipster claims Xiaomi 18 Ultra cancelled, upcoming vivo and Oppo Ultras won't go global

The Xiaomi 18 Ultra, which was rumored to debut in December this year, has reportedly been cancelled. According to a new leak, Xiaomi will launch only three smartphones as part of its upcoming 18 series. In a post on X, tipster Kartikey Singh claims that Xiaomi will not launch an 18 Ultra this year. According to the tipster, the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max will instead sit at the top of the company's upcoming flagship lineup. However, this does not necessarily mean Xiaomi has abandoned the Ultra model altogether and we could see a Xiaomi 17 Ultra successor next year. The company is likely...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/tipster_claims_xiaomi_18_ultra_cancelled_upcoming_vivo_and_oppo_ultras_wont_go_global-news-74196.php

Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 series tablets now appear in Google Play Console's supported devices list

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 series tablets were recently spotted on Bluetooth SIG's website, as they were Bluetooth-certified. Now those same tablets have appeared in Google Play Console's supported devices list. The Galaxy Tab S12 series consists of two tablets - the Galaxy Tab S12+ and the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra. The Google Play Console lists five models of the Galaxy Tab S12+ and three models of the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra. Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra's leaked renders | Source: OnLeaks and Smartphone Checker The Wi-Fi-only version of the Galaxy Tab S12+ has codename "gts12pwifi"...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_tab_s12_series_google_play_console_listing-news-74194.php

Pixel 11 series, Honor Robot Phone, Redmi 17 official, Week 33 in review

Tech news started picking up a bit, especially in the past week. Google unveiled its Pixel 11 series alongside the Pixel Watch 5. The Pixel 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro XL, and 11 Pro Fold all pack the new Tensor G6 SoC, which turned out to use a 3nm process after all, not the heavily rumored 2nm. The specs of the Pixel phones are mostly the same as their predecessors - the small Pro has a 6.3-inch display, the Pro XL a 6.8-inch one, but brighter. Camera-wise, the 11 Pro and 11 Pro XL essentially use the same system - 50MP 1/1.3-inch wide angle, 48MP ultrawide (1/2.51-inch vs 1/2.55-inch), 48MP 5x...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/pixel_11_series_honor_robot_phone_redmi_17_official_week_33_in_review-news-74177.php

Weekly poll results: a surprising number of people are using feature phones

Feature phones are not as dead as you may have thought – one third of voters in last week’s poll use one at least occasionally. Some even use a feature phone full time as their only phone. And others are at least thinking about the idea of ditching their smartphone. As some commenters point out, smartphones are basically a necessity in some countries – you might need one for messaging family and clients, for bank authentication and so on. Even so, some manage to get by with a feature phone as their only handset. That said, a large portion of voters are never going back to feature phones...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/weekly_poll_results_a_surprising_number_of_people_are_using_feature_phones-news-74159.php

iQOO 16 tipped to come with a higher refresh rate screen, new design

iQOO is said to launch the iQOO 16 in September, with the latest rumor from China claiming it will have a higher refresh-rate screen than its predecessor. The word comes from reliable tipster Digital Chat Station, who claimed the iQOO 16 will feature a 165Hz refresh rate screen. It will be a 6.85" flat 2K display sourced from Samsung. For comparison, last year's iQOO 15 came with a 6.85" flat display having a 144Hz refresh rate. Furthermore, DCS claimed that the iQOO 16's rounded corners and bezels have minimal changes, but said the camera module on the rear is small, square-shaped, and...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/iqoo_16_165hz_refresh_rate_screen_tipped-news-74191.php

Deals: Pixel 11 series goes on pre-order, Galaxy Z8 foldables and S26 models drop prices

Google launched its new Pixel 11 series earlier this week – there is a new vanilla, two new Pro and one new foldable model. All that’s missing now is an affordable a-phone. The massive increase in RAM prices has affected the Pixel series. Google now offers 256GB storage as standard on all 11-series models, which is a good thing, but the Pixel 11 Pro and 11 Pro XL start with 12GB of RAM. If you want 16GB (which is what all Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL phones had), you will have to get a 512GB or a 1TB model. The vanilla phone only comes with 12GB of RAM, while the foldable always gets...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/deals_pixel_11_series_goes_on_preorder_galaxy_z8_foldables_and_s26_models_drop_prices-news-74175.php

iQOO Buds TWS earphones launching on August 20

iQOO will launch the Z11 in India on August 20, and on the same day, the brand will also unveil the iQOO Buds TWS earphones. The teaser posted by iQOO's Indian branch on X reveals the iQOO Buds' design. These are in-ear type and have silicone ear tips, which should offer passive noise cancellation. However, it is unclear whether they will have active noise cancellation. The iQOO Buds' charging case has an LED indicator on the front, above which is the brand logo. At the bottom is the USB-C port. iQOO hasn't revealed the features of the iQOO Buds yet, but we might see the brand...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/iqoo_buds_tws_earphones_launch_date-news-74192.php

Here's when Huawei's non-folding wide-screen phone is launching

Following up on the success of the Pura X, Huawei has, for quite some time now, been working on a new non-folding smartphone with a similar 16:10 screen aspect ratio. This device is now rumored to be launching in September. According to a previous leak, it will be powered by a Kirin 9-series chipset, and will have a battery capacity of at least 7,000 mAh. The device is also said to have a 50MP main camera using a 1/1.3" type sensor, as well as a 50MP periscope telephoto camera and a multispectral camera. The phone was initially expected to be launching between October and December,...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/heres_when_huaweis_nonfolding_widescreen_phone_is_launching-news-74186.php

Here's our first look at Samsung's upcoming One UI 9.5

While Samsung is still in the process of beta testing One UI 9, with the fifth beta having gone out to the Galaxy S26 series just a couple of days ago, the company is also already working on One UI 9.5. This may be the version that the upcoming Galaxy S27 family will ship with out of the box. An enterprising X user has now installed a leaked One UI 9.5 firmware on their Galaxy S26 to see what it looks like, and the screenshots below show what you can expect. If you had "more glass" on your bingo card for One UI 9.5, then you will be happy. One UI 9.5 screenshots While...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/heres_our_first_look_at_samsungs_upcoming_one_ui_95-news-74185.php

Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro emerges in AnTuTu test run

Qualcomm is expected to unveil its next-generation flagship chipset – the Snapdragon 8 Gen 6 Pro at the annual Snapdragon Summit next month, and it just leaked in an AnTuTu 11 benchmark run. The SM8975, as it is known internally, managed an impressive 4.83 million points. For reference, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 usually hits between 4 and 4.6 million points. This means the upcoming chip offers a mere 5% boost in AnTuTu. Though, as usual with leaked benchmark runs, this is likely unfinished hardware, so the scores should be taken with a few grains of salt. Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/snapdragon_8_elite_gen_6_pro_emerges_in_antutu_test_run_-news-74182.php

LG joins forces with Nvidia to build AI-powered robots and hardware for self-driving cars

Chairman and CEO of LG Corp. Kwang Mo Koo visited the Nvidia headquarters at Santa Clara, California, to sign a memorandum of understanding with CEO Jensen Huang. This memorandum focuses on expanding the AI capabilities of both companies. LG and Nvidia CEOs posing with a miniature humanoid robot The headline-grabbing announcement is that LG plans to unveil a humanoid robot in the first quarter of 2027. This bipedal robot will use Nvidia’s Jetson Thor for on-board compute and the Isaac GR00T open reasoning humanoid foundation model. The Nvidia Jetson Thor offers 2,070 TFLOPs of...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/lg_joins_forces_with_nvidia_to_build_aipowered_robots_and_hardware_for_selfdriving_cars-news-74180.php

Here's when the Fairphone 6+ is rumored to launch and how much it will cost

According to a new rumor, the Fairphone 6+ will become official on August 18. It will be priced at around €685, based on a listing in Denmark. Of course, the price may slightly vary in other European markets because of different VAT rates. In fact, it may not be that bad in the Eurozone - a leak from France said the RRP would be €649. That's €50 more than the Fairphone 6's launch price, and €100 more than it costs today. According to recent leaks, the Fairphone 6+ will have a 6.31-inch OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 SoC at the helm, 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM, 256GB...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/heres_when_the_fairphone_6_is_rumored_to_launch_and_how_much_it_will_cost-news-74163.php

Galaxy Z Fold8 does not impress in teardown

Earlier this week we saw the Galaxy Z Fold8 go through JerryRigEverything’s torture durability test where it survived some hard bends and close encounters with blades and sand. And the team over at iFixit has now brought its teardown expertise to Samsung’s trendy bendy phone. Here’s the full video: The Z Fold8 earned a 4/10 repairability score. That’s not impressive by regular smartphone standards, but it is a point higher than last year’s Z Fold7 repairability score. If you don’t feel like watching the whole thing, here are the key takeaways. The folding screen is still a...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/galaxy_z_fold8_does_not_impress_in_teardown-news-74162.php

Counterpoint: US smartphone market contracts, budget devices hit hardest

Counterpoint Research’s latest report examines smartphone sales in the US for the April 1 – June 30 period, aka Q2. The overall market fell by 5% compared to last year as the ongoing memory chip crisis resulted in increased average asking prices (ASP) for devices across the board. In addition, rising gas prices due to the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East also affected consumer purchasing power. Apple, Samsung, Motorola and Google saw their combined sales drop by 4% on a year-over-year basis. The remaining brands doing business in the US saw their sales decline by up to 45% compared to...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/counterpoint_us_smartphone_market_contracts_budget_devices_hit_hardest-news-74158.php

Apple again reported to skip launching the iPhone 18 this year

Apple has long been rumored to launch the iPhone 18 series and the iPhone Ultra in phases, with multiple reports claiming the iPhone 18 won't launch this year. Now, a new media report, citing Apple supplier Pegatron, again states that the iPhone 18 won't launch this year and will arrive in 2027 instead. During the earnings call for Q2 2026, Pegatron confirmed that the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will be launched next month, but the iPhone 18 is expected to launch in Q1 2027, meaning anytime between January and March 2027. Previous reports claimed the iPhone 18 would arrive in March...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_iphone_18_2026_launch_skipped-news-74153.php

Samsung Galaxy S26 series receives fifth One UI 9 Beta update

Last week, a Samsung representative announced that the fifth One UI 9 Beta update for the Galaxy S26 series would arrive sometime this week. Well, Samsung kept its promise and released the One UI 9 Beta 5 for the Galaxy S26 lineup. It comes almost a month after the fourth beta was rolled out. [#InlinePriceWidget,14320,1#] The One UI 9 Beta 5 for the Galaxy S26 series has firmware version S948BXXU4ZZH6 and requires a download of around 1.1GB. It comes with the August 2026 Android security patch and some bug fixes. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra You can check the complete changelog of...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s26_series_one_ui_9_beta_5_update-news-74134.php

New rumor tells us all about Apple's imminent iPhone price hike

According to a new rumor from a tipster on X, Apple will be raising prices for all existing iPhone models, as well as those launching next month, by $100. The same source also seems to imply that Apple's launch event for the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and iPhone Ultra will be held on September 8. That is a Tuesday and Apple has in the past held events on Tuesdays, so it's definitely not out of the question. We all know an iPhone price hike is coming. In late June, Apple increased the prices of all of its products except for iPhones. This is the next logical step, and a $100 bump for...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/new_rumor_tells_us_all_about_apples_imminent_iphone_price_hike-news-74124.php

Microsoft increases Windows 11 fees for OEMs

The crunch on the PC market continues as the rising memory chip prices are not the only thing that's getting more expensive. Starting today, Microsoft is hiking up its Windows 11 license fees for OEMs. The price increase is somewhere between 7% and 10%, which is unusually high. One of the PC vendors noted that it's expected for Microsoft to increase prices pretty much every year, but it's usually by a low singe-digit percentages. Big OEMs that sell PCs in large volumes like Dell, Asus, HP, etc. will see their fees increased by around 7%, but smaller manufacturers will probably have...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/microsoft_ramps_up_windows_11_prices_for_oems-news-74129.php

Sony Semiconductor and TSMC join forces to make next-gen imaging processors

Sony's chip-making arm, Sony Semiconductor Solutions, will enter into a joint venture with TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) that will manufacture image sensors for smartphones. Sony will be the sole controlling shareholder of the joint venture, which will aim to start volume production in 2029. The joint venture still needs to advance through several regulatory and financial steps. Sony will contribute 465 billion yen ($2.92b, €2.6b) in a combination of cash and assets, while TSMC will contribute 282 billion yen ($1.77b, €1.5b). The strategic partnership will see...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/sony_semiconductor_and_tsmc_join_forces_to_make_nextgen_imaging_processors-news-74135.php

Samsung reportedly begins One UI 9.5 development for the Galaxy S26 series while users await stable One UI 9's release

Samsung released the first One UI 9 beta for the Galaxy S26 series in May, and the company recently confirmed that the fifth One UI 9 beta for the lineup will be rolled out this week. While Galaxy S26 series users await the rollout of One UI 9 Beta 5, and of course the stable update, Samsung has reportedly begun working on One UI 9.5 for the S26 lineup. The source also claims that the One UI 9.5 build Samsung is developing for the Galaxy S26 series has a version ending in CZH1, but doesn't provide a timeframe for the release. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Samsung had begun One UI 8.5...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s26_series_one_ui_9_5_development_reportedly_begins-news-74109.php

New Google Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold renders leak

Google is unveiling the Pixel 11 family at a special event tomorrow, on August 12. Ahead of that, a last-minute leak brings us some new renders depicting the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold. The Pixel 11 is shown here in the Obsidian colorway, which, as you can see, is a dark shade of gray. Google Pixel 11 leaked renders Moving on, we have the Pixel 11 Pro XL, also shown in Obsidian. This phone's camera bar protrudes way more from its back than the Pixel 11's. Google Pixel 11 Pro XL leaked renders Finally, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/new_google_pixel_11_pixel_11_pro_xl_and_pixel_11_pro_fold_renders_leak-news-74115.php

Leak claims Pixel 11 features a 10.8MP telephoto camera, lacks RGB notification LED

The Google Pixel 11 series is going official tomorrow at the Made by Google event. While most details about the lineup have already leaked, a new rumor has revealed details about the base Pixel 11's telephoto camera. According to tipster @evowizz, the standard Pixel 11 will feature a 10.8MP periscope telephoto camera. It is likely the same sensor used in the Pixel 10 and is expected to support 5x optical zoom. Previously leaked marketing materials suggest the handset will offer up to 30x digital zoom. The tipster also claims the Pixel 11 will be equipped with 12GB of RAM, which...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/leak_claims_pixel_11_features_a_108mp_telephoto_camera_lacks_rgb_notification_led-news-74114.php

YouTube will expand Premium Lite availability, increase requirements for revenue sharing

The YouTube Partner Program (YPP) launched two decades ago and now boasts over 3 million creators. However, if you want to join their ranks, you will now have to meet higher requirements than before. That said, if you are already in YPP, you will stay in YPP. For those looking to join, you will need to hit double the metrics of the previous thresholds. For long-form videos, this means 8,000 view hours, up from 4,000 hours. If you want to make shorts instead, you will need 20 million views in 20 days to join, up from 10 million views. Additionally, YPP will impose a minimum of 10 million...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/youtube_will_expand_premium_lite_availability_increase_requirements_for_revenue_sharing-news-74111.php

Verizon's latest outage saw mobile and internet services disrupted in Southern California

Verizon hasn't had a great day, to say the least. The carrier has announced that vandals cut multiple fiber cables, causing service disruptions for both mobile and internet customers in parts of Southern California. Repairs were swiftly initiated, and the service was restored within a few hours. Law enforcement was notified and is investigating the incident. Theft and vandalism like this, Verizon says, "represent a direct threat to the safety and security of our communities". The company is "committed to raising awareness and driving proactive solutions to prevent these direct...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/verizons_latest_outage_saw_mobile_and_internet_services_disrupted_in_southern_california-news-74099.php

iPhone 18 Pro BOM cost estimated to be up by 40%

We’ve already seen rumors that iPhone 18 Pro availability may be limited at launch due to the ongoing global memory chip shortage and a new TrendForce report now gives an estimate of how much more expensive the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro might end up being. The iPhone 18 Pro’s bill of materials (BOM) is expected to rise by up to 38% compared to its predecessor. This is for the 256GB storage version. As TrendForce puts it, higher retail prices for the iPhone 18 Pro are “unavoidable” at this point. Previous estimates suggest the baseline 256GB iPhone 18 Pro will cost as much as...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/iphone_18_pro_components_estimated_to_be_40_more_than_before__-news-74098.php

You can now use Venmo to pay for apps and subscriptions on Google Play

In the US, you can now pay for stuff on Google Play - apps, games, subscriptions, in-app purchases, etc. - using your Venmo balance or the cards and bank accounts linked to your Venmo account. Of course, before you can use this, you need to set it up in Google Play, linking your Venmo account to your Play account, by going to the Payment methods section in the Google Play Store app. Once that's done, you're good to go. Venmo is merely the latest payment method that Google Play has added, following the likes of PayPal and Cash App. Google thus seems adamant about diversifying its...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/you_can_now_use_venmo_to_pay_for_apps_and_subscriptions_on_google_play-news-74095.php

Leaked images show off the Fairphone 6+ in Cobalt Blue

A few weeks ago, a new version of the Fairphone 6 surfaced – dubbed the “Fairphone 6+”, the new model was listed with 12GB of RAM and 256GB storage. That is more than the original model, which only has 8 gigs of RAM. This is quite an unexpected move given everything that has been going on in the world of semiconductors. Anyway, the listing was spotted by NieuweMobiel and showed three color options: Cobalt Blue, Horizon Black and Forest Green. Now the Dutch publication also has images that show off the first color: Fairphone 6+ in Cobalt Blue More specifically, these leaked images...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/leaked_images_show_off_the_fairphone_6_in_cobalt_blue-news-74093.php