OnePlus 16 sells over 70,000 units in its first hour of availability

The OnePlus 16 was unveiled in China on Monday, and it went on sale there this morning at 10 AM local time. Just an hour later, OnePlus China president Li Jie took to Weibo to announce that more than 70,000 units had already been sold. According to the exec, that puts the OnePlus 16 in first place among this year's Android flagships based on comparable launch-period sales, and he calls the result an increase that's rare in the industry. Unfortunately, the company hasn't shared how many units its predecessor sold in the same timeframe, so we can't put that into perspective. In case...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_16_sells_over_70000_units_in_its_first_hour_of_availability-news-75024.php

Apple's Get Ready service is now available for iPhone Duo pre-orders

Apple unveiled the iPhone Duo, its first foldable smartphone, at its September launch event alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. The company will start taking pre-orders for the iPhone Duo on October 16, which is this coming Friday. Shipping will then start on October 23, exactly one week later. Since the iPhone Duo is expected to be available in rather limited quantities at first, if you really want one, then you should use Apple's Get Ready service, which has just been made available for the iPhone Duo pre-orders. This lets you select all of your options ahead of...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/apples_get_ready_service_is_now_available_for_iphone_duo_preorders-news-75012.php

Samsung survey reveals how Europeans pick their smartphones

Samsung has just published the results of a survey on how Europeans choose which smartphone to buy. It covered 5,001 consumers aged 18 and over in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK. According to the findings, people pick a phone based on what they do today, but also on what they'd like to be doing in the future. 66% of those surveyed chose their current phone with at least one interest they wanted to pursue in mind. These ranged from entertainment and side hustles to gaming, travel, and content creation. Almost half (46%) consider their ambitions when making technology choices, and...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_survey_reveals_how_europeans_pick_their_smartphones-news-75030.php

Apple's HomePod mini 2 is here with Siri AI, new colors and improved sound

Alongside the new Apple HomeView, upgraded Apple TV 4K, and Apple Home Collection, the company also unveiled the HomePod mini 2. The updated smart speaker brings Siri AI, a new Sound Glow feature, support for pairing up to 4 speakers, and new color options. The HomePod mini 2 is powered by the company’s S10 chip, which enables its new Siri AI features. Apple says that Siri AI will require the speaker to be paired with an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad. Siri AI will be able to recognize up to six users based on their voice and offer personalized messages. However, these...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/apples_homepod_mini_2_is_here_with_siri_ai_new_colors_and_improved_sound-news-75028.php

WhatsApp starts testing scheduled messages

WhatsApp has allegedly spent months developing a feature that will let you schedule messages, and this is now finally being made available to a limited number of users who are part of the beta program for WhatsApp on the Google Play Store for Android. As you might expect, it lets you schedule messages to be delivered at a specific date and time. It works both for one-on-one chats and group chats. The messages you schedule will be delivered at the time you set even if your device is offline then. Message scheduling currently supports text, links, photos, and videos, though you can only...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_starts_testing_scheduled_messages-news-75009.php

Nothing Phone (3) is now receiving the update to Nothing OS 5.0 based on Android 17

Nothing started its open beta program for Nothing OS 5.0 based on Android 17 back in late August, and today the company is finally ready to roll out the new OS version to everyone. Well, everyone who owns a Nothing Phone (3), that is. [#InlinePriceWidget,13969,1#] The rollout has started, but it is staggered, so "availability may vary by region and device", the company says in its official announcement post. To manually check for the update on your Nothing Phone (3), go to Settings > System > System update. The update brings with it a redesigned launcher, a new Micrographics...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/nothing_phone_3_is_now_receiving_the_update_to_nothing_os_50_based_on_android_17-news-75007.php

Google adds new Metal Mesh bands for the Fitbit Air in two colors

Google unveiled the Fitbit Edge today, but it also announced an update for the Fitbit Air. Namely, it revealed that it's making available two new Metal Mesh bands for the screen-less fitness tracker. Metal Mesh bands for the Fitbit Air in Champagne Gold (left) and Polished Silver (right) According to the company, these "turn your tracker into a piece of jewelry designed to be worn day to night". The Metal Mesh bands are "crafted from a flexible, stainless steel weave that drapes elegantly around your wrist to deliver a contemporary, chic, upscale look for tracking you'll...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/google_adds_new_metal_mesh_bands_for_the_fitbit_air_in_two_colors-news-75008.php

JP Morgan: demand for iPhone 18 Pro models is stronger than for the 17 Pro models last year

Analysts are sending mixed signals – sales of the iPhone 18 Pro models in China are stronger than those of the 17 Pro models and yet Apple is reportedly cutting component orders due to weak demand. The analysts at JP Morgan are saying that there’s nothing to worry about. In a note to investors, the analysts say that the production cut is a fairly typical adjustment for Apple after a big iPhone launch. They blame it on the split launch – Apple launched the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in September and will launch the non-Pro models early next year. The note from JP Morgan confirms...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/jp_morgan_demand_for_iphone_18_pro_models_is_stronger_than_for_the_17_pro_models_last_year-news-75005.php

vivo X Fold6 Nebula Teal hands-on

vivo launched the X Fold6 in China in June and announced it for international markets earlier this month. It also launched the X Fold6 in India a few days ago at the vivo NEXT 2026 event, where it unveiled the V80 and S2 FE and showcased the vivo Vision Discovery Edition MR headset. The vivo X Fold6 will be available in Prism Black and Nebula Teal in India. We already showed you the Prism Black model, so now let's take a look at the Nebula Teal colorway we've received. The retail package of our Indian Nebula Teal X Fold6 is identical to its global counterpart. The box has the same design...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/vivo_x_fold6_nebula_teal_hands_on-news-74996.php

Oppo F35 and F35 Pro debut, we handle the Find X10 series, Week 41 in review

Another week over, so let's do a recap. We unboxed the Oppo Find X10 and Find X10 Pro Max - Oppo's latest Dimensity-equipped flagships. Both are still China-exclusive, but are going global on October 21. We also handled the freshly announced vivo V80. Our impressions span a few days with the phone, and we've added both performance tests and camera samples. Back to regular programming for a sec, vivo quietly unveiled the Y32 in Bangladesh. It packs a massive 8,000mAh battery with 44W charging. The rest of the specs are as follows: a 6.87-inch 120Hz LCD, a Unisoc T7300 chipset, a 50MP...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oppo_f35_and_f35_pro_debut_we_handle_the_find_x10_series_week_41_in_review-news-74983.php

vivo X500E moves a step closer to launch as it gets Bluetooth certified

vivo unveiled the X300 E in July, and the X500E is expected to arrive as its successor in the next few months, with Bluetooth SIG certification bringing it closer to launch. The vivo X500E has been listed on the Bluetooth SIG website with model designation V2656, but the certifying authority hasn't revealed any other details about the smartphone. vivo X500E Bluetooth certified However, rumors claim the vivo X500E will come with the Dimensity 9500 SoC, a 6.59" display, a 50MP primary camera, a 64MP periscope telephoto camera, and a 7,500 mAh battery. vivo X300 E vivo's...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/vivo_x500e_bluetooth_sig_certified-news-74993.php

New insider tip claims the Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra will only be available with a Qualcomm chipset

This always seems to be a pressing question as pretty much every new Galaxy S family of devices is on the horizon – what chipsets will they use? We already know that the Exynos 2700 is, by early accounts, an excellent chip. The Exynos 2700 will be fabbed on Samsung’s SF2P, a second-generation 2nm Gate-All-Around (GAA) node. Compared to the first-gen node (SF2), which was used for the Exynos 2600, SF2P offers a 12% performance improvement, a 25% reduction in power usage and an 8% decrease in chip area. Plus, likely ARM C2 CPU cores. We also know that Samsung System LSI, which designed the...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/new_insider_tip_claims_the_samsung_galaxy_s27_ultra_will_only_be_available_with_a_qualcomm_chipset-news-74995.php

Weekly poll results: the vivo X Fold6 is hot, but its price can singe your wallet

As if foldables weren’t expensive enough, the skyrocketing costs of memory chips raised their prices even further – and that’s a problem for the vivo X Fold6. Not just for it, of course, the other foldables that it is competing with are in the same boat. Still, even among those who want a foldable phone, the largest contingent is people wishing for a price cut. In last week’s poll, we listed several price points for the X Fold6 from around Europe. Alas, its launch came too late to participate in the Prime Day sale this week, but some discounts will come. That said, don’t expect...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/weekly_poll_results_the_vivo_x_fold6_is_hot_but_its_price_can_singe_your_wallet-news-74962.php

Xiaomi Watch S5 review

Introduction, unboxing People love the Xiaomi Watch S models and with good reason. They're affordable (€150 from Amazon), they're feature-rich and capable, but probably more important than anything else, they're great-looking. Model five is no different and, this editor argues, is even prettier than before, making it even more desirable. There's a noticeable uptick in refinement and perceived quality and durability with this year's model. It's ditched the interchangeable bezel of the previous model, which at least means you won't lose it. But don't worry, there are different bezels...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_watch_s5_review-news-73952.php

Samsung Galaxy S27 might finally introduce DC dimming

We already heard word that Samsung Display is gearing up to start Galaxy S27 display manufacturing soon. That might have already happened; hence, these new leaks might be perfectly plausible. Apparently, the S27 Pro and S27 Ultra will be the first Samsung smartphones to offer DC dimming. That sounds like it can’t possibly be true, and yet a quick search later – indeed, even the Galaxy S26 Ultra relies on traditional PWM to adjust its brightness. Simplifying things a bit, in case you don’t know what we are talking about, PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) is the traditional way of...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s27_might_finally_introduce_dc_dimming-news-74994.php

Deals: Some Galaxy and Pixel phones kept their Prime Day prices - no Prime required now, though

Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days only lasted two days and there were some really good deals to be had for Prime subscribers. But that is over, so today we will look at no-Prime deals and, as it turns out, many phones kept their Prime Day prices. The good news is that these deals don’t require a Prime subscription. The bad news is that some phones did go back up in price. Starting with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, it goes for $1,700 for the 256GB model and $1,900 for the 512GB one. These are the exact same prices that we saw during Prime Big Deal Days, except now you don’t even need Prime....

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/deals_some_galaxy_and_pixel_phones_kept_their_prime_day_prices__no_prime_required_now_though-news-74975.php

OnePlus plans on launching two flagships in India, here's when

OnePlus is unveiling the OnePlus 16 in China on October 12, and the Ace 7 may join it or launch soon afterwards. Today a tipster over on X has revealed that the company is planning to launch two new flagship smartphones in India, either in December or in "early 2027". One of them will be the OnePlus 16R, which, if history repeats itself, will be heavily based on the Ace 7, if not a full rebrand of it. The Ace 7 / OnePlus 16R is expected to be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC and sport a 6.78-inch flat OLED display with a "1.5K" resolution and a 185Hz refresh rate, a 200MP main...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/oneplus_plans_on_launching_two_flagships_in_india_heres_when-news-74985.php

Nothing's CMF is launching new products next week

Nothing's CMF sub-brand is on its way to becoming an independent Indian company, but that transition hasn't stopped it from churning out new products. Case in point: CMF has just announced that it will be launching two new products next week, on Monday, October 12, to be specific. Here's a teaser video. These will be two speakers. The CMF Speaker S and the CMF Speaker M. Obviously, the former should be a smaller version, while the latter will be bigger, given the naming scheme used here. The teaser image above shows a design that's very recognizable as a CMF...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/nothings_cmf_is_launching_new_products_next_week-news-74987.php

HMD Pulse 2T Pro specs and images leak showing a dot matrix rear display

At the beginning of September, the HMD Pulse 2 Pro got prematurely listed by a Swiss retailer, and that revealed its specs. The phone is still not official, but in the meantime we have a new leak from a reliable source of HMD-related information, and this one is all about the HMD Pulse 2T Pro - note the "T" in the name. This device will allegedly sport a 6.78-inch OLED screen with FHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate, and it will be powered by the MediaTek Helio G100 SoC, paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage. HMD Pulse 2T Pro leaked images It's said to have a...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/hmd_pulse_2t_pro_specs_and_images_leak_showing_a_dot_matrix_rear_display-news-74986.php

Google is working on HDR emoji for Chat

An APK teardown of the latest version of Gmail revealed that Google is looking to bring HDR emoji to its Chat app. That’s the Google Hangouts successor, which is part of the Google Workspace suite, for those outside the loop on Google software. A specific code string in the newest Gmail build hints at “display-supported emoji in high dynamic range (HDR) with enhanced brightness and contrast”. This feature is simply titled HDR emoji and will likely feature brighter emoji characters with higher contrast for easier legibility. This could be exclusive to custom emoji symbols but the code...

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/google_is_working_on_hdr_emoji_for_chat-news-74984.php