Oppo has officially confirmed that it will unveil the Find X7 series of smartphones at 2:30 pm (local time) on Jan. 8, 2024, in China. In addition, the Find X7 and Find X7 Ultra smartphones are now listed on Oppo China’s online store for reservations. The official listings have confirmed the configurations and color options of both smartphones well ahead of the official announcement.
Oppo Find X7 series launch date
Oppo Find X7
Reports have revealed that the Find X7 will come equipped with the Dimensity 9300 chipset. The official listing reveals that it will come in four configurations, such as 12 GB RAM + 256 GB storage, 16 GB RAM + 256 GB storage, 16 GB RAM + 512 GB storage, and 16 GB RAM + 1 TB storage.
The Find X7 will be available in four shades, such as Starry Sky Black, Sea and Sky, Desert Moon Silver, and Smokey Purple.
Oppo Find X7 Ultra
The Find X7 Ultra is expected to come equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC. It will be available in three variants, such as 12 GB RAM + 256 GB storage, 16 GB RAM + 256 GB storage, and 16 GB RAM + 512 GB storage.
Find X7 Ultra: Pine Shadow InkFind X7 Ultra: Sea and SkyFind X7 Ultra: Desert Moon Silver.
When it comes to color options, the Find X7 Ultra will come in choices such as Pine Shadow Ink, Sea and Sky, and Desert Moon Silver.
The Find X7 and Find X7 Ultra have a similar design, with the front featuring a punch-hole display with curved edges and a dual-tone back panel with a massive camera module. The Find X7 has a triple-camera unit, whereas the Find X7 Ultra has a quad-camera system. The Ultra variant will be the world’s first smartphone to feature dual periscope telephoto cameras. In addition, it will also be the first-ever phone to feature the one-inch Sony LYT-900 50-megapixel camera sensor as the primary snapper.
It is said that there will be a third device called the Oppo Find X7 Ultra Satellite Communication Version, which will come with support for two-way satellite communication. The rest of its specs will be identical to the Find X7 Ultra.
Xiaomi has announced a new variant in its wearable lineup, the Watch S5 Transparent Edition, which launched today alongside the standard 41mm Watch S5. The new model is priced at 2,499 yuan ($372) and will be restricted to a production run of just 5,000 units.
Design Details
The differentiator for this model is its casing. Instead of the usual aluminum, titanium, or stainless steel chassis found on most smartwatches, Xiaomi has built the 47mm octagonal watch body using a transparent material it refers to as Dragon Crystal Glass 3.0.
The design allows light to pass directly through the middle frame, exposing the internal structural elements of the device. To provide necessary structural rigidity and a bit of visual contrast, a brushed stainless steel bezel is embedded directly into the glass case.
Using glass for a watch chassis raises practical questions about durability, given that wrist-worn wearables are frequently subjected to accidental bumps and scrapes against doors and desks. Xiaomi claims to have addressed this by using a single piece of glass that undergoes a particularly lengthy manufacturing process.
According to the company, each case requires 20 distinct manufacturing steps, which include 240 minutes of CNC precision machining and 800 minutes of multi-stage polishing to achieve the clear finish.
The resulting glass has a Vickers hardness rating of 810 HV0.05. This specific material is designed to resist scratches and daily wear. Furthermore, the company says that unlike clear plastics, silicones, or resins that are sometimes used in transparent tech products, this glass will not discolor or turn yellow over time.
On the interface side, the watch ships with a custom red watch face designed to look like a traditional mechanical timepiece. This aesthetic choice is a direct nod to the company’s smartphone lineup, specifically mirroring the design language of the Xiaomi 18 Pro series Transparent Special Edition.
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Alongside the 18 Pro series, Xiaomi has introduced the 41mm version of its Watch S5, offering a smaller alternative to the 46mm model released earlier this year. The new smartwatch is the first device to ship with HyperOS 4 for wearables and includes an updated WeChat application. Pricing starts at 1,299 yuan ($194) for the standard fluoroelastomer strap models, while a genuine leather strap version is priced at 1,499 yuan ($224).
Xiaomi Watch S5 41mm Specifications
The watch features a 1.32-inch AMOLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate. Xiaomi says the screen can reach a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, which is intended to improve visibility in direct sunlight.
The case itself measures 9.9mm thick and weighs 36 grams without the strap. It is constructed with a stainless steel body, a ceramic bezel, and a textured crown. Color options include Black, Sea Salt Blue, and Ceramic White.
For health tracking, the Watch S5 41mm uses a four-LED, four-photodiode sensor array for heart rate and blood oxygen measurements. It also includes three wrist temperature sensors that the company says operate with an accuracy of ±0.1°C.
The temperature sensors are mainly used to track menstrual cycles and predict ovulation periods. The watch also features dual-band UVA and UVB monitoring, which measures ultraviolet intensity and provides more detailed information about sun exposure.
The Watch S5 41mm comes with more than 150 workout modes, covering a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities. It equips a dual-frequency GNSS chip for precise route tracking and supports full-color offline maps for navigation.
Xiaomi has also included a dedicated skiing mode that tracks distance, altitude, maximum slope, and other activity data. For added safety, the watch can detect falls while skiing and automatically sound an alert or reach out to emergency services when the wearer fails to respond.
On the software side, HyperOS 4 brings an upgraded WeChat app with voice-to-text and quick replies. The watch also integrates with Xiaomi’s ecosystem, allowing users to control smart home devices, view smart doorbell feeds, and access Xiaomi vehicle features. It supports iOS and Apple Health syncing, although some features remain exclusive to Android or Xiaomi devices.
The device is powered by a 590mAh battery. Xiaomi estimates up to 14 days of battery life in a restricted usage mode, eight days with standard health monitoring, and five days when using the always-on display alongside regular monitoring.
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Xiaomi has launched the Xiaomi Pad 9 and Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro in China. The Xiaomi Pad 9 starts at 2,999 yuan (~ $447), and the Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro starts at 3,799 yuan (~ $566). The Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max, which uses the Xring O3 chip, launched earlier this month, and you can read about it here. These two tablets use Snapdragon chips instead and cost less.
You get an 11.2-inch 3.2K LCD with an adaptive refresh rate of up to 144Hz and a peak brightness of 1,000 nits. It covers the DCI-P3 color gamut, supports 12-bit color, and carries hardware-level low blue light and flicker-free certifications.
Xiaomi Pad 9
The processor is the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, which is the same chip the Xiaomi Pad 8 uses. The battery is 9,720mAh with 45W wired charging. Xiaomi rates it for up to 14.5 hours of short video playback or 20 hours of online meetings.
The tablet is 5.75mm thick and weighs 485g. It has four speakers with Dolby Atmos, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, a 50MP rear camera, and a 13MP front camera. It comes in Peach Pink, Spruce Green, Black, and Silver, and it runs HyperOS 4.
Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro
The Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro moves up to a 12.5-inch 3.2K LCD with a 144Hz refresh rate, P3 color, and 1,000 nits of peak brightness. It also supports full-brightness DC dimming and carries TÜV Rheinland eye protection certification. The Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro had an 11.2-inch screen with 800 nits, so this is a larger and brighter panel.
Inside is a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, and Xiaomi says it scores over 3.4 million in AnTuTu. The cooling system uses graphite over a total area of more than 22,000 mm². The battery grows to 11,000mAh, up from 9,200mAh on the Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro. It supports 67W wired charging and 22.5W reverse charging, so you can top up a phone from it.
Audio also changes. The Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro has six speakers, compared with four on its predecessor, plus a four-microphone array for meetings. It is 5.8mm thick and weighs 580g.
For work, the tablet runs HyperOS 4 with PC-level apps such as the full version of WPS and CapCut Pro. It supports the Xiaomi Focus Stylus Pro and a keyboard accessory. Color options are Spruce Green, Black, and Silver.
Pricing
The Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro costs 800 yuan (about $119) more than the Xiaomi Pad 9 when you compare the 8GB+128GB models. The Soft Light Edition adds 200 yuan (about $30) to both tablets.
Xiaomi has announced a Transparent Special Edition for its Xiaomi 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max smartphones. The new models are priced at 9,999 yuan ($1,492) for the 18 Pro and 10,999 yuan ($1,642) for the 18 Pro Max. Both versions are available in a single configuration featuring 16GB of RAM and 1TB of internal storage.
The phones feature a red colorway with a textured finish, which Xiaomi says is achieved using a micron-level film process to create a three-dimensional embossed effect on the back panel.
To match the hardware, Xiaomi includes custom software wallpapers on both the primary display and the secondary rear screen that display a digital representation of the phone’s internal components. The retail packaging also includes color-matched transparent red accessories, specifically the charging brick and data cable.
Aside from the cosmetic changes, the internal hardware is identical to the standard Xiaomi 18 Pro and Pro Max models. Both devices are built around a 1-120Hz OLED display that includes hardware-level privacy protection, alongside a smaller secondary screen on the back.
The camera system carries Leica branding and consists of three lenses. The setup includes a 200-megapixel main camera, a 200-megapixel periscope telephoto lens capable of 3.2x optical zoom, and a 50-megapixel ultrawide camera.
Processing is handled by Qualcomm’s 2nm chipsets. The 18 Pro uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, while the Pro Max is equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. Memory and storage are standard across the special editions, utilizing LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.1 storage, with a circular cold-pump cooling system for thermal management.
The battery specifications differ between the two sizes. The 18 Pro is powered by a 7,000mAh silicon-carbon battery, and the Pro Max uses an 8,500mAh unit. Both phones support 100W wired charging, 50W wireless charging, and 27W reverse charging. The devices run on HyperOS 4 with Super XiaoAI 2.0 and include standard hardware features like UWB, NFC, an IP water resistance rating, and Dolby Atmos audio support.
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In September 2025, Xiaomi unveiled the Xiaomi 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max. While the standard model was released globally, the Pro variants remained exclusive to the Chinese market. Now, the brand has taken the covers off the Xiaomi 18 Pro series in China. And the good news is that it is going global. Xiaomi has confirmed that the Xiaomi 18 Pro series will launch globally this year, marking a major change from the previous generation.
Xiaomi 18 Pro series global launch confirmed
Xiaomi 18 Pro Series is going global this year.
The world's first smartphones powered by @Snapdragon Dual 8 Elites.
Xiaomi announced the global availability through its official X account, stating that the Xiaomi 18 Pro series is “going global this year”. The company’s global post also teases the phones as the world’s first smartphones powered by Qualcomm’s new “Dual 8 Elites,” referring to the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 series.
Xiaomi India has separately posted that the Xiaomi 18 Pro is “going global” and is “coming soon”, suggesting that India could be among the markets targeted for the global rollout. However, it is unclear whether the Indian market will receive the Pro Max edition.
It appears that the Xiaomi 18 Pro series will take on the Oppo Find X10 series and Vivo X500 series, as these are also expected to break cover globally in the coming days.
Xiaomi 18 Pro series specifications
Xiaomi 18 Pro series
The Xiaomi 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max feature 6.4-inch and 6.9-inch AMOLED displays, respectively, with a 1-120Hz LTPO refresh rate, 4,000 nits peak brightness and 300Hz touch sampling. Both models also feature secondary rear displays.
The Xiaomi 18 Pro is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, while the Pro Max gets the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. Both phones feature LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.1 storage. The Pro packs a 7,000mAh battery, while the Pro Max gets an 8,500mAh cell. Both support 100W wired and 50W wireless charging.
For photography, both models feature dual 200MP Leica cameras, comprising a 200-megapixel main sensor and a 200-megapixel periscope telephoto camera. Both phones also have a 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera on the back and a 50-megapixel front-facing camera. Both models run on the latest HyperOS 4-based Android 17.
With the Pro models now confirmed for a global release, more details about their international launch should emerge in the coming weeks.
Qualcomm has unveiled the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, alongside a more affordable but very capable Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 at the Snapdragon Summit 2026. The “Extreme” version packs a much stronger CPU that can reach a peak speed of 5.0 GHz – the first smartphone chipset to achieve this feat. Plus, it brings massive upgrades to graphics performance, power efficiency, and agentic AI processing to power the next generation of premium Android smartphones.
A closer look at the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6
Breaking the 5 GHz barrier
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 uses an advanced 2nm process from TSMC to achieve top-tier performance and greater power efficiency. It brings a fourth-generation Qualcomm Oryon CPU, featuring two prime cores clocked at up to 5.0 GHz and six performance cores running at up to 4.0 GHz.
Qualcomm says the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme delivers a 13% uplift in CPU performance and a 37% jump in CPU power efficiency compared to its predecessor, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
The new Qualcomm chip supports up to 24 GB of LPDDR5X/6 RAM at up to 5,300 MHz and UFS 5.0 storage.
Adreno GPU with AI-dedicated cores
Apple and MediaTek recently unveiled their new chips, the A20 Pro and the Dimensity 9600 Pro, featuring dedicated AI cores in their GPUs, now joined by Qualcomm.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 integrates dedicated AI matrix cores featuring Adreno Neural Fusion – Qualcomm’s proprietary solution to AI-driven super resolution and frame generation. Qualcomm claims it unlocks “console-quality visuals at low power with AI-powered super resolution, frame generation, and advanced image reconstruction.” The GPU has 18MB of dedicated Adreno High Performance Memory (HPM).
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 promises 44% improved GPU performance and a 40% uplift in the GPU power efficiency compared to the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
AI, Imaging, & Connectivity
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 puts a strong focus on the on-device AI performance. The upgraded Hexagon NPU delivers 35% better performance and 33% improved power efficiency than its predecessor.
The chipset can run Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) models exceeding 30 billion parameters directly on the device, with support for up to 32K context windows. Furthermore, it supports INT2, INT4, INT8, INT16, FP8, and FP16 precisions including mixed precisions.
The upgraded Qualcomm Sensing Hub features dual micro-NPUs, offering an 85% boost in compute and 20% better efficiency. Plus, it features dual always-sensing ISPs. The Qualcomm Sensing Hub supports 200M parameter models and powers Personal Scribe, which uses your messages, emails, and conversations to create a private local knowledge graph.
In terms of optics, the chip introduces a new triple 20-bit Spectra AI ISP with support for triple 64MP cameras, for the first time in a smartphone chip. It can record 8K videos at 60 fps and super slow-motion 4K videos at 240 fps. For professional videographers, the Extreme chip offers native hardware support for the Advanced Professional Video (APV) codec, Elite Color Engine with real-time 3D LUT support, and hardware decoding for Versatile Video Coding (VVC/H.266).
On the connectivity part, we have a new Qualcomm X105 5G Modem (3GPP Release 19) with peak download speeds of 14.8 Gbps and peak upload speeds of 4.2 Gbps. The Qualcomm FastConnect 8800 brings support for Wi-Fi 8 (11.6 Gbps peak speed) and Bluetooth 6.0.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 offers 6-antenna support for devices along with integrated quad-band (L1, L2, L5, and L6) GNSS, and built-in satellite communication supporting both NB-NTN for messaging and high-bandwidth NR-NTN for voice, data, and video.
Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 benchmark numbers
It will take some time for brands to launch phones powered by the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. Meanwhile, some people got access to a Qualcomm reference device powered by the same chipset and have shared the benchmark results.
Folks at Trakin Tech posted the results, which show the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 with 4291 points in the single-core test, higher than the Dimensity 9600. Apple’s A20 Pro still dominates the chart despite the Snapdragon chip’s 5 GHz peak CPU speed.
The multi-core performance results are largely similar, with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 scoring 12,686 points, higher than Dimensity 9600 Pro’s 12206 points, but slightly lower than Apple A20 Pro’s 12746 points.
On AnTuTu v12, the chip posted a total score of over 5.57 million. As for the breakdown, the CPU gets 1,465,243 points; the GPU gets 2,002,387 points, the memory gets 1,008,084 points, and the UX gets 1,098,574 points.
In the 3DMark’s Steel Nomad Light test, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme is ahead of its biggest rivals. It posts an average frame rate of 32.56 fps, which is higher than the Dimensity 9600 Pro (31.92 fps) and the Apple A20 Pro (27.80 fps).
The Solay Bay Extreme test results were rather disappointing for the Snapdragon chip. The chip achieved an average frame rate of 15.84 fps, which is lower than the Dimensity 9600 Pro’s 21.40 fps and the Apple A20 Pro’s 20.62 fps.
It should be noted that the benchmark tests were performed using a Qualcomm reference device (QRD). This means the results you will get on a real device could be lower. But on some benchmarks, you may get higher numbers as the reference device used for the testing was said not to have the latest hardware, such as LPDDR5X instead of LPDDR6.
We’ll update the benchmark numbers here once we run the tests.
Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 spec sheet
Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6
Announced
September 2026
Process node
TSMC’s 2nm (N2P)
CPU cores
8-core
CPU cores
2 x 5.0 GHz — Prime 6 x 4.0 GHz — Performance
GPU
Adreno 850 with AI matrix cores Adreno Neural Fusion 18MB of Adreno HPM
Qualcomm Spectra Triple AI-ISP (20-bit) Up to 320MP single camera up to 108MP single camera with zero shutter lag Up to 64MP triple cameras with zero shutter lag 8K/60fps video recording 4K/240fps slow-mo video recording Bayer Massive Multi-Frame Noise Reduction with AI Advanced Professional Video (APV) codec Pro sight video capture Elite Color Engine
Xiaomi has launched the Xiaomi 18 Pro and Xiaomi 18 Pro Max in China, two flagship smartphones that combine high-resolution Leica cameras, secondary rear displays, large silicon-carbon batteries, and built-in hardware privacy controls.
Xiaomi 18 Pro & Pro Max Specifications
Both Xiaomi 18 Pro models feature flat OLED displays with 0.99mm bezels, 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rates, up to 4,000 nits brightness, and Xiaomi’s Super Pixel 2.0 and M11 OLED technologies. The 18 Pro has a 6.4-inch 2436 x 1120 screen, while the Pro Max gets a larger 6.9-inch 2624 x 1208 panel.
Both also feature hardware-level privacy protection that limits side viewing and can automatically protect sensitive apps and content. On the back, the 18 Pro sports a 2.7-inch OLED display, while the Pro Max gets a 2.9-inch panel, with both supporting up to 120Hz refresh rates and 4,000 nits brightness.
Under the hood, the Xiaomi 18 Pro features the 2nm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, while the Pro Max gets the more powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. Both use Qualcomm’s fourth-generation Oryon CPU architecture, with the standard chip reaching up to 5GHz.
Both phones come with up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 1TB of UFS 4.1 storage. Xiaomi also equips them with its circular cold-pump cooling system, offering a 4,355mm² heat dissipation area on the Pro and a larger 5,513mm² area on the Pro Max.
Both phones run HyperOS 4 with the updated Alive Design interface and Super XiaoAI 2.0, powered by Xiaomi’s MiMo large language model. The AI assistant supports memory, complex tasks, smart home controls, travel planning, and cross-device functionality across phones, tablets, Windows PCs, and Macs.
Both models also feature a customizable AI button for quick access to privacy controls, voice notes, mute mode, and XiaoAI. Their rear displays support more than 100 app cards at launch, including notifications, quick controls, mini-games, and AI-generated custom cards.
In terms of photography, both phones feature a Leica-branded triple-camera system with a 200MP 1/1.28-inch Light Hunter 960 main sensor, a 200MP 1/1.56-inch periscope telephoto, and a 50MP ultrawide camera. The telephoto supports 3.2x optical zoom, up to 12.8x lossless zoom, 75mm portraits, and 12cm macro photography. Both phones also feature Xiaomi’s new Legendary Moment imaging system, which combines on-device and cloud processing with three dedicated camera styles.
Talking about the battery life, the Xiaomi 18 Pro packs a 7,000mAh silicon-carbon battery, while the Pro Max gets a larger 8,500mAh unit. Both support 100W wired charging, 50W wireless charging, and 27W wired reverse charging. Xiaomi also claims the batteries can retain at least 80% of their original capacity after 2,000 charging cycles.
For connectivity, both phones support UWB, 5G-A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, global roaming, and compatible UWB digital car keys. The Xiaomi 18 Pro weighs 203 grams and features Dolby Atmos stereo speakers, while the larger Pro Max starts at 235 grams and gets a three-speaker setup. Both also feature upgraded vibration motors and Xiaomi Dragon Crystal Glass 3.0, along with IP66, IP68, and IP69 protection for water and dust resistance.
Both phones are offered in Black, White, Ice Peach Pink, and Galaxy Blue, with a transparent edition. Xiaomi says sales begin immediately after the launch event.
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Rollme has launched the Matrix, a new wearable designed to function as a standalone 4G device on your wrist. Thanks to a dedicated SIM card slot, built-in GPS, and an unusual side-mounted pop-up camera, the smartwatch can operate independently without a smartphone.
Rollme Matrix Specifications
The Matrix features support for global 4G frequency bands, allowing it to work independently from a smartphone for calls, messages, and apps that require an internet connection. It also offers Bluetooth calling when paired with a phone.
Rollme has equipped the watch with a side-mounted pop-up camera that can be extended when needed for photos and video calls. Its positioning gives the camera a more natural angle for video chats compared to the fixed upward-facing cameras used on some earlier smartwatch designs.
Up front, the Matrix sports a large 2.06-inch AMOLED display with a 410 x 502 resolution. Under the hood, it runs on an SL8541E processor paired with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. That provides enough overhead to handle basic app downloads from its ecosystem, which supports video, music, and navigation tools.
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On the health and fitness side, the Matrix covers the standard bases. It includes 24/7 heart rate monitoring, one-tap blood oxygen (SpO2) measurements, and sleep tracking that breaks down deep, light, and REM cycles. For outdoor use, it features built-in GPS and a geomagnetic sensor for compass navigation, alongside multiple workout modes.
To handle the higher power demands of standalone 4G connectivity and GPS, Rollme has equipped the Matrix with a 1,100mAh battery, which is considerably larger than what is typically found in a smartwatch.
The battery charges through a magnetic cable and takes around 80 minutes to reach 100%. The watch also comes with an IP67 rating for protection against dust and everyday splashes, but it is not intended for swimming.
Pricing and Availability
The Rollme Matrix is available now through the company’s official online store. It is offered in two colors, Midnight Black and Dawn Gold, at a launch price of $89.99.
In related news, Rollme has recently launched the Hero D6 rugged smartwatch with offline maps, dual-band GPS, and up to 15 days of battery life.
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Vivo X500 series takes a familiar flagship formula and stretches it in three very different directions. The X500 prioritizes a massive battery and strong everyday hardware, the X500 Pro adds a more advanced 2nm platform and LTPO display, while the X500 Pro Max turns the series into a camera-and-endurance powerhouse with a 200MP periscope and 8,000mAh cell. What makes this comparison interesting is that the upgrades are not simply incremental: each model changes where the X500 series puts its emphasis, from practical flagship hardware to high-end performance and serious imaging.
All three phones use premium materials, aluminum frames, glass or glass-fiber reinforced backs, and IP68/IP69 protection. The X500 takes a slightly more straightforward flagship approach, while the Pro models feel more refined with their LTPO AMOLED panels and higher-end positioning. All three also feature ultrasonic fingerprint scanners, stereo speakers, NFC, and infrared connectivity, keeping the core experience remarkably complete.
The X500 is the practical choice for buyers who prioritize durability and a large battery without moving into the Pro pricing tier. The X500 Pro feels like the most balanced design upgrade, combining a more compact flagship form with a premium LTPO panel. The Pro Max instead targets users who prefer a larger, more immersive flagship experience.
Display Quality
The X500 uses a 6.59-inch 144Hz AMOLED display with HDR10+ and up to 4,000 nits peak brightness. The Pro upgrades to LTPO AMOLED, Dolby Vision, Ultra HDR support, and 4,500 nits peak brightness. The Pro Max goes further with a sharper 1440p LTPO AMOLED panel, Dolby Vision, Ultra HDR, and 4,400 nits peak brightness.
For everyday viewing, all three should deliver excellent brightness, smoothness, and contrast. The Pro’s LTPO panel makes it the more refined middle ground, while the Pro Max clearly targets enthusiasts who appreciate higher resolution and a larger canvas. The X500 remains perfectly capable rather than feeling significantly compromised.
Verdict
The X500 suits practical buyers, the Pro offers the most balanced display upgrade, while the Pro Max is designed for users who specifically want a larger, sharper premium screen.
2. Specifications Including Battery
Performance
The X500 uses the Dimensity 9600M on a 3nm process, while both Pro models move to the 2nm Dimensity 9600 Pro. The Pro chips also feature higher CPU clock speeds and the Mali-G2-Ultra-NX GPU. All three use UFS 4.1 storage and support up to 1TB, although the Pro Max adds 16GB RAM configurations.
For demanding gaming, sustained workloads, and longer-term performance, the Pro and Pro Max offer the more substantial hardware upgrade. The X500 remains powerful enough for mainstream flagship use, but the Dimensity 9600 Pro gives the higher-tier models a clearer performance advantage. The Pro Max makes the most sense for buyers who intend to keep their phone for several years.
Battery and Charging
Battery capacity separates these models significantly. The X500 packs a 7,500mAh battery, the Pro uses 6,510mAh, while the Pro Max reaches 8,000mAh. All three support 90W wired charging and 40W wireless charging, although the Pro additionally supports reverse wireless charging.
The X500 therefore offers an unusual combination of flagship performance and huge battery capacity. The Pro Max goes even further and should appeal to heavy users who value endurance above everything else. The Pro’s smaller battery is the trade-off for its more balanced flagship positioning, although 40W wireless charging keeps its charging setup versatile.
Verdict
The X500 offers excellent battery efficiency, the Pro balances performance and features, while the Pro Max combines the strongest chipset with the largest battery and highest memory ceiling.
3. Camera
Main and Secondary Lenses
The X500 features a 50MP main camera, 64MP 3x periscope telephoto, and 50MP ultrawide. The Pro improves the main camera’s aperture and extends the telephoto to 3.5x optical zoom. The Pro Max keeps that main camera setup but replaces the 64MP telephoto with a much larger 200MP 3.5x periscope sensor.
This is where the Pro Max becomes substantially more specialized. Its 200MP telephoto sensor is designed for users who frequently shoot distant subjects, portraits, or detailed zoom images. The Pro remains a strong middle option with a useful 3.5x optical reach, while the X500 provides a capable flagship camera system without chasing the highest-end telephoto hardware.
Selfie Camera
All three phones use the same 50MP autofocus selfie camera with a 20mm equivalent field of view. They also support HDR and 4K video recording at up to 60fps, meaning the front-facing experience remains consistent throughout the lineup. There is no meaningful Pro-series differentiation for selfies.
That consistency is actually useful for buyers choosing between the three. The upgrade path is primarily about the rear camera system rather than portrait or video calls. Users who rarely use telephoto photography can therefore save money with the X500 without sacrificing much on the selfie side. The Pro Max’s premium camera advantage is concentrated firmly on its rear cameras.
Verdict
The X500 is already versatile, the Pro improves telephoto reach, but the Pro Max is the meaningful camera upgrade for users who prioritize zoom photography and large-sensor telephoto detail.
4. Pricing
The Vivo X500 is priced around $820 or ₹80,000, making it the entry point into this flagship family. The X500 Pro is priced around $950 or ₹93,000, while the X500 Pro Max is priced around $1,000 or ₹1,00,000. The relatively narrow gap between the Pro and Pro Max makes their feature differences particularly important.
The X500 saves roughly $130 compared with the Pro and $180 compared with the Pro Max. The Pro sits only around $50 below the Pro Max, which makes its positioning interesting. Buyers who want the Pro’s chipset and display upgrades may find the Pro Max worth considering if the additional camera and battery capabilities matter.
Is the price justified?
The X500 offers the strongest practical proposition for buyers who want flagship performance, a huge battery, capable cameras, and premium durability without approaching four-figure pricing. The Pro justifies its premium through the 2nm chipset, LTPO display, stronger telephoto, and additional charging features.
The Pro Max’s extra cost is comparatively small over the Pro but unlocks the 200MP periscope camera, 8,000mAh battery, sharper display, and 16GB RAM options. That makes it the more compelling upgrade for power users, while the X500 remains the sensible choice for buyers focused on core flagship value.
Verdict
The X500 offers the clearest value, the Pro provides a balanced premium step-up, while the Pro Max makes the most sense when its camera, battery, display, and memory upgrades will actually be used.
5. Conclusion
The three phones have surprisingly distinct personalities despite sharing the X500 name. The standard X500 emphasizes battery capacity and flagship essentials, while the Pro adds the Dimensity 9600 Pro, LTPO AMOLED technology, Dolby Vision, and a stronger 3.5x telephoto camera. The Pro Max turns those upgrades into a more enthusiast-focused package.
Its defining features include an 8,000mAh battery, 1440p LTPO display, up to 16GB RAM, and a 200MP periscope telephoto camera. The Pro Max therefore represents the fullest expression of the series, while the X500 remains more focused on practical flagship value. The Pro occupies the middle ground for users who want meaningful upgrades without paying for every top-end feature.
Verdict
Overall, the Vivo X500 Pro Max makes the most sense for enthusiasts because its upgrades are substantial across cameras, display, battery, and memory. The X500 suits value-focused buyers, while the Pro is the balanced middle option.
FAQs
1. Which Vivo X500 model is best for photography? The X500 Pro Max, thanks to its 200MP periscope telephoto and advanced imaging hardware.
Where to buyVivo X500 ProLatest price on AmazonCheck price →
2. Which Vivo X500 has the best performance? The X500 Pro and Pro Max share the Dimensity 9600 Pro, delivering stronger performance than the standard X500.
3. Which Vivo X500 has the longest battery life? The X500 Pro Max has the largest 8,000mAh battery, making it the endurance-focused model.
4. Is the Vivo X500 Pro worth the extra cost? Yes, for buyers wanting a better display, flagship chipset, enhanced telephoto camera, and wireless charging features.
5. Which Vivo X500 offers the best overall value? The X500 offers strong flagship hardware and a 7,500mAh battery at the lowest price in the lineup.
Google just made the Chromebook decision a little more complicated. After confirming back in May that it was building an Android-based alternative to ChromeOS, Googlebook is now official, available for pre-order, and set to hit stores on October 4. It’s not a rebrand, either. Google has created a new laptop category with its own operating system, hardware, and features, with prices starting at $899.
The interesting part is that Google isn’t replacing the Chromebook with Googlebook. Both lines are staying around, but they are targeting different sets of users. Chromebooks continue to cover the simpler and more affordable side of Google’s laptop lineup, while Googlebook brings Android, higher-end hardware, and deeper Gemini integration into a more premium package.
So, before you think of Googlebook as simply “the new Chromebook,” here’s a closer look at what actually separates the two.
Chromebooks have always followed a simple formula: open a browser, use cloud-based services, and get on with your work. That hasn’t changed, and it’s one reason you can buy a Chromebook for under $200 and hand it to a student without spending much. Android apps are available on Chromebooks too, but they run inside a separate container. As a result, some apps can still feel like phone software adapted to a larger screen.
Googlebook works differently. It runs Googlebook OS, which combines parts of Android and ChromeOS into a single platform instead of keeping Android apps separate from the main system. Google Play apps are designed to work with a keyboard, mouse, trackpad, and resizable windows. So rather than adding Android apps to a ChromeOS laptop, Google has built Android into the laptop’s operating system.
2. Gemini goes beyond the sidebar
Chromebook Plus already includes Gemini. You can open the sidebar, enter a prompt, get a response, and return to whatever you were doing. It’s useful, but the AI remains a separate part of the interface.
Googlebook puts Gemini into more of the things you do on the laptop. One example is Magic Pointer, developed with Google DeepMind. It turns the cursor into a way to access Gemini features directly.
Point at a date in an email, for example, and Gemini can offer to schedule a meeting. Select two images, and it can merge or compare them. There’s also Create My Widget, which lets you describe the information you want in a dashboard. You could ask for flight details, hotel bookings, and dinner reservations for a trip, and Gemini can put that information together using Gmail, Calendar, and the web.
Google is also using Gemini Nano v3 on the device for tasks such as file search. This means some tasks, including summarizing a document, can be handled on the laptop without sending the file to the cloud first. Google has already used a similar on-device approach on phones such as the OnePlus 13, and Googlebook brings it to the laptop.
Chromebook users can still access Gemini through Chrome, but it doesn’t have the same level of integration with the operating system.
3. What you can actually buy, and how much it costs
Pre-orders for the first five Googlebooks are now open, with sales starting October 4. Prices range from $899 to $1,299, with each manufacturer offering a slightly different configuration:
Acer Googlebook 14 — Priced at $899, it’s the cheapest model and the only 2-in-1 in the lineup. It has a 14-inch 2.8K OLED touchscreen, Intel Core Ultra 5 or Ultra 7 processors, and up to 16 hours of claimed battery life.
ASUS Googlebook 14 — At $1,299, this is the most expensive model. It’s also the lightest at 1.0kg and has the most ports among the five laptops.
Dell XPS Googlebook — Uses a Snapdragon X Elite processor and shares much of its design with the XPS 13. It has two USB-C ports.
HP Googlebook — Also comes with a Snapdragon X Elite chip and offers up to 1TB of storage, the highest capacity in the lineup. It supports both face and fingerprint unlock.
Lenovo Googlebook — Has the largest display at 15.3 inches, with a 2880×1800 OLED panel running at 120Hz. It’s also the only model available in white. Lenovo has added a “Glowbar” light strip to the lid for battery and charging information, along with a dedicated Google key on the keyboard that is expected to provide quick access to Gemini.
All five models come with a 12-month Google AI Pro subscription, 5TB of cloud storage, and three months of YouTube Premium, Photoshop, and CapCut. Google is also promising up to 10 years of system updates, matching the update period already offered with Chromebooks.
The pricing is quite different from the Chromebook lineup. Entry-level Chromebooks start at around $179, while Chromebook Plus models such as the ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 are closer to $400. Even more expensive Chromebook Plus configurations generally stay below $800.
Googlebook sits in a different price range. With prices starting at $899, it’s positioned alongside premium laptops such as the MacBook Air rather than the budget and mid-range Chromebook market.
4. So is the Chromebook dead? No.
Google has been clear that Chromebooks and Chromebook Plus aren’t going anywhere. Both will continue to receive up to 10 years of updates, and schools and businesses can keep managing them through the same admin console they already use. Google executive Sameer Samat has also said Googlebook is intended for people who already use Android, rather than specifically targeting MacBook users.
Where to buyASUS Chromebook Plus CX34Latest price on AmazonCheck price →
That Android connection does come with some requirements. Cast My Apps and Quick Access, which let you stream phone apps and access files from your phone on the laptop, require an Android phone running Android 17 or later.
iPhone users can’t use those features for now. Google says iPhone support is coming, but it hasn’t announced when it will be available.
For someone who mainly browses the web, needs an affordable and durable laptop, or is buying computers for a classroom, the existing Chromebook lineup still makes sense within Google’s range. Googlebook is for users who want Android to play a bigger role on their laptop, along with deeper Gemini integration and closer connections with their phone.
The two platforms are therefore serving different parts of Google’s laptop lineup rather than one replacing the other. The main difference is that Googlebook starts at $899, while Chromebooks remain available at much lower prices.
Vivo X500 Pro Max is a high-end smartphone built around a large display, powerful hardware, and a camera-focused setup. It runs Android 17 with OriginOS 7 and comes with up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. The phone also packs an 8,000mAh battery with 90W fast charging, making it suitable for users who want strong performance and long battery life.
Price and Availability
The Vivo X500 Pro Max starts at $1,299.00. It is available to purchase through Giztop, with global shipping and express shipping options available for international buyers.
The phone features a 6.85-inch BOE Q11 OLED display with 2K resolution, a 144Hz refresh rate, and 1440Hz high-frequency dimming. The high refresh rate should make scrolling, gaming, and animations feel smooth. Under the hood, the MediaTek Dimensity 9600 Pro chipset is paired with LPDDR5X Ultra RAM and UFS 4.1 storage. Storage options include 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB.
Photography is a major focus of the Vivo X500 Pro Max. It has a 50MP Sony LYT-L910 main camera, a 50MP ultra-wide camera, and a 200MP Samsung ISOCELL HPB periscope camera with an 85mm equivalent focal length. The telephoto camera supports telephoto macro photography and comes with Zeiss APO optics and Zeiss T* coating. A 50MP front camera handles selfies and video calls. The 16GB/1TB version also includes the full Photography Kit.
Battery and Features
The 8,000mAh battery supports 90W fast charging. Vivo claims the phone can reach 50% charge in around 10 minutes and a full charge in about 30 minutes. Other features include NFC, HiFi audio, dual stereo speakers, an X-axis linear motor, an in-display fingerprint sensor, facial recognition, and dual Nano SIM support.
Xiaomi is ramping up the hype for today’s flagship launch with a pretty cryptic teaser. In an official Weibo post, the company said: “Tonight is a little special because the last time we met was 6 years ago…” (machine translated). The image that came with it shows a transparent body on what appears to be the Xiaomi 18 Pro or the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max.
That strongly suggests Xiaomi is bringing back a clear back cover variant, something we haven’t seen on a Xiaomi flagship in years.
The last transparent model from Xiaomi was the Mi 10 Ultra (Transparent Edition). The Mi 9 and Mi 8 series also included similar transparent versions. Since then, no Xiaomi flagship has had that see-through look, so this teaser is bound to get fans of those older experimental designs pretty excited.
Mi 10 Ultra (Transparent Edition)
So we’ll see a total of three devices this evening: the Xiaomi 18 Pro, Xiaomi 18 Pro Max, and this transparent edition model. It’s still unclear whether this is just a minor cosmetic tweak on one of the two Pro models or something with different core specifications.
At the 2026 Snapdragon Summit earlier, Zeng Xuezhong (Senior Vice President of Xiaomi Group and President of the International Department) confirmed the series will be the first in the world to use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 series chips: the standard version on the Pro model and the “Extreme” edition on the Pro Max. This dual-chip approach allows the company to offer a more tailored and differentiated flagship experience to a wider range of users.
Xiaomi only dropped this “one more thing” teaser a few hours before the official reveal and is still keeping almost everything about the phone under wraps. Whether the transparent version ends up as a limited commemorative model or something more widely available is also still up in the air.
RedMagic confirmed the chip for its next gaming flagship earlier today, and now a fresh leak fills in most of what that announcement left out. You’re looking at an 8,400mAh battery, 120W wired charging, and 80W wireless charging on the RedMagic 12 Pro+.
The brand already teased a redesign with tighter bezels cut down to 0.96mm, and the new leak backs that up while adding a wrinkle: the standard RedMagic 12 Pro is reportedly getting dropped from the lineup entirely, leaving the Pro+ as the only model when the series launches. If true, buyers won’t have a cheaper option as they did with the RedMagic 11 Pro and 11 Pro+.
Inside, you get the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 that RedMagic already confirmed, paired with a new-generation under-display camera. RedMagic has been using under-screen selfie cameras since the 8 series, and the leak suggests further refinement in how well the sensor blends into the panel without visible discoloration or dips in image quality. Combined with the narrower bezels, the front of the phone should look closer to an uninterrupted slab of glass than any previous RedMagic model.
The screen refresh rate is also said to be climbing further, though exact numbers haven’t surfaced yet. Given the liquid-and-air cooling setup rumored for the series back in July, it looks like sustained performance and thermals remain the priority even as the design shrinks down.
RedMagic has already said the 12 Pro+ is meant to be its most comfortable phone yet to hold, and the thinner body with a bigger battery suggests the company found some real efficiency gains in the new chip and cooling combo to pull that off.
RedMagic is targeting a launch in October for the 12 Pro+. There’s also talk that national esports players have been training on RedMagic devices ahead of the Asian Games, though it’s not clear yet whether the 12 Pro+ itself will make an appearance there.
At the 2026 Snapdragon Summit, Zeng Xuezhong, Senior Vice President of Xiaomi Group and President of the International Department, announced that Xiaomi will be the world’s first to launch phones powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 series. The Xiaomi 18 Pro will use the standard chipset, while the 18 Pro Max will step up to the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6.
Here’s exactly what’s different between the standard Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6.
Lu Weibing, Partner, President of the Mobile Phone Division, and General Manager of the Xiaomi Brand, put it this way: “Xiaomi has always been committed to bringing groundbreaking innovation to consumers through its flagship product portfolio. Qualcomm Technologies’ new multi-flagship strategy allows us to achieve this goal more flexibly.”
He added: “By adopting the standard Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and the higher-end Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 in our upcoming devices, Xiaomi can bring a tailored and differentiated flagship experience to a wider range of users. We are working with Qualcomm Technologies to drive the development of the next generation of AI-powered smartphones, delivering unprecedented personalized and responsive experiences.”
The dual-chip approach gives Xiaomi more flexibility to differentiate models within the series while pushing on-device AI, performance, and efficiency. The platforms are expected to support more advanced agentic AI features, better gaming, and overall snappier responsiveness.
The Xiaomi 18 Pro series is scheduled to launch in China this evening (September 23). A global rollout is planned for later this year. More details on specs, pricing, and regional availability should come out during and after the Chinese launch event.
Xiaomi has launched the second-generation Mijia Wireless Hair Straightener in China. The new model gets a larger battery, a redesigned comb, and updated heating hardware.
The Mijia Wireless Hair Straightener 2 is now available through Xiaomi Youpin for 299 yuan (~ $45), which is the same launch price as the first-generation model.
The biggest upgrade here is the battery. The original model used two 3200mAh cells, while the new version has two 5000mAh batteries. Xiaomi says it can run for up to 70 minutes on a full charge, which is enough for around seven to eight sessions on short hair or three to four sessions on medium-length hair. The first model managed around four sessions for either hair length.
Charging is still handled through a USB Type-C port, so you can use a standard Type-C cable instead of carrying a separate charging cable.
The heating system has also been updated. The Mijia Wireless Hair Straightener 2 uses a PI heating film instead of the MCH ceramic heating element found in the previous model. An NTC sensor checks the temperature 500 times per second, and Xiaomi says this helps reduce preheating time by 20%.
There are three temperature settings: 160°C, 180°C, and 200°C. The straightener also has a real-time LED display that shows the current temperature, power consumption, and operating status.
Xiaomi has made changes to the comb as well. The new model has 52 teeth, compared with 36 on the previous version. The additional teeth are designed to hold more hair as you move the straightener through each section.
For frizz and static control, the Mijia Wireless Hair Straightener 2 produces 37 million composite plasma particles per session. This includes 18 million positive ions and 19 million negative ions. The previous model used negative ions alone, while the new system combines both types of ions.
The Mijia Wireless Hair Straightener 2 is still a compact cordless device designed for everyday use and travel. The larger battery and redesigned comb address two of the main limitations of the previous model, while the updated heating system adds a few more changes to the overall design.
Buying a smartphone in 2026 often involves watching several reviews before making a decision. Buyers may move between first-impression videos, camera comparisons, gaming tests, battery reviews, and long-term coverage. The challenge is that useful information can be spread across hours of video, making it difficult to remember specific claims or compare different reviewers.
Lynote is an AI-powered note-taking and transcription tool designed to solve this problem by turning long YouTube reviews and other source material into searchable, structured notes, making it easier to find, organize, and compare information.
Why Smartphone Research Has Become Complicated
A single phone can generate a large amount of review content. One reviewer may focus on cameras, another on gaming performance, while others examine battery life, charging or software. Follow-up videos can also appear after software updates, adding new information to the original reviews.
Reviewers do not always agree, either. One may report better low-light photography, while another notices shutter lag. A third may focus on sustained gaming performance or chipset throttling. Battery endurance and real-world software performance can also produce different observations depending on how a device is tested.
Finding these differences can require repeatedly reopening several videos. An important comment may be buried 30 or 40 minutes into a review, forcing viewers to scrub through long sections just to confirm a particular claim.
From YouTube Videos to Searchable Text
Lynote’s approach begins with transcription. Its YouTube transcript generator can convert videos into full, timestamped text, allowing users to locate specific parts of a review without relying entirely on memory.
The workflow is intended to work with multiple videos, which can be useful when researching several reviews of the same smartphone. A buyer could gather a full review, camera test, gaming analysis, battery test, and long-term review and turn their spoken information into text.
This does not eliminate the original videos. Instead, transcripts provide another way to access information when users need to find a particular statement or return to a specific section.
AI Adds Structure to the Information
A transcript alone does not completely solve the problem. Long transcripts can still contain thousands of words, requiring users to search through different documents individually.
Lynote’s AI note-generation workflow adds an organizational layer. It can work with recordings, documents and pasted YouTube links, turning source material into structured notes. The aim is to make information easier to skim, search and compare.
For smartphone research, notes can help organize observations around areas such as performance, cameras, gaming, battery life, charging and software. Keeping notes associated with individual reviewers also makes it easier to identify where sources agree and where their experiences differ.
Creating One Research Trail From Several Reviews
The process can be viewed as a simple research chain: collect relevant reviews, generate transcripts, create structured notes, and compare the information by topic.
For example, a buyer researching two phones could examine what different reviewers said about sustained performance, camera behavior, battery endurance, and software. If reviewers reach similar conclusions, those observations are easier to identify. If they disagree, the buyer can return to the original video to examine the testing or context behind the claim.
The result is closer to a personal research document than a collection of separate videos. Users can search the notes for a specific issue and return to the original source when they need additional context.
The Research Continues After Launch
Smartphone coverage is also becoming a continuing process rather than a single launch-day event. A device can receive early hands-on coverage, initial reviews, deeper retail-unit testing, camera comparisons, gaming tests, software-update coverage, long-term reviews, and even teardowns.
That means the same research method can remain useful after a phone has been purchased. Owners may later search for information about firmware updates, camera algorithm changes, battery health, charging behavior, or software bugs. Some of this information can appear first in videos rather than traditional written articles.
Multilingual Reviews Create Another Challenge
Research can become even more fragmented for Chinese-market smartphones. Detailed coverage may appear on Mandarin-language channels, while global versions are reviewed separately in English, Hindi, Indonesian, and other languages.
Lynote’s transcript workflow supports video sources across languages. This could help users organize information from different regional sources while researching the same device. Such comparisons can be important because Chinese and global versions may differ in hardware, software, connectivity, or availability.
AI Notes Still Have Limits
AI-generated notes are not a replacement for watching important reviews. Some aspects of smartphone testing are difficult to capture fully in text. Camera color science, for example, is partly subjective, while gaming performance and camera samples are often better understood by seeing the original footage.
A structured note can tell a buyer what a reviewer said, but the original video may still be necessary to evaluate visual samples, demonstrations, and the reviewer’s overall experience. The workflow therefore works more as a research and organization layer than a substitute for the original content.
AI Note-Taking Moves Into Consumer Research
AI note-taking is also expanding beyond meetings, lectures and workplace discussions. Data projects the AI note-taking category to cross $740 million in 2026. The broader note-taking app market is projected to grow from approximately $11 billion in 2025 to around $13.3 billion in 2026, representing a projected 20.6% compound annual growth rate.
Consumer research is one area where that growth could have practical applications, particularly when information is scattered across lengthy videos and multiple sources.
For smartphone buyers, the main purpose of this workflow is to reduce the effort involved in finding and remembering information. Instead of keeping track of which reviewer discussed throttling, night photography, battery behavior, or software problems, users can organize those observations into searchable notes.
The basic process remains straightforward: video to transcript, transcript to structured notes, notes to comparison, and back to the original video when verification is needed. As smartphone coverage becomes more detailed, multilingual and spread across longer periods, tools such as Lynote are targeting the growing challenge of organizing all that information without removing the original reviews from the process. For more coverage of AI tools and how they’re changing tech research and writing, see Kemotech.
Red Magic is positioning its next gaming flagship as a big step up in both performance and how it feels in the hand. The Red Magic 12 Pro+ will come with Qualcomm’s latest high-end platform and is being called the brand’s best-feeling device yet, aimed squarely at dedicated mobile gamers who want sustained power and a more refined experience.
During Qualcomm’s recent announcement of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, Red Magic confirmed that the 12 Pro+ will be one of the first phones to use the higher-end chipset.
Ni Fei, President of ZTE’s Terminal Business Unit and Nubia Technology, talked up the partnership, saying the chip’s speed, energy efficiency, and advanced features should deliver faster response times, more immersive gameplay, and more stable performance during long sessions.
The phone is set to launch in October 2026. Red Magic is putting a lot of emphasis on a redesigned form factor that’s lighter, thinner, narrower, and more rounded than the previous model. Teaser images show tighter screen bezels and softer corners, with the bezels cut from 1.25 mm down to 0.96 mm. The front is expected to use a fully under-display camera with no visible holes, giving it a pure full-screen look.
Jiang Chao, General Manager of Red Magic Gaming Phones, stressed the focus on core gaming strengths: the phone is built to handle heavy loads, keep cool during long sessions, feel more comfortable in the hand, and stand out with a distinctive design. He also noted that the everyday system experience has been refined so it’s more usable day-to-day alongside its gaming focus.
Full specs still aren’t out, but the combination of the new Qualcomm platform and Red Magic’s usual dual-cooling setup (liquid cooling plus active fans) should help it maintain high performance for extended play. The push for better ergonomics suggests they’re trying to balance raw power with comfort for longer sessions.
Xiaomi has begun rolling out the September 2026 security patch update to numerous devices across its portfolio of brands. This one fixes a massive list of critical vulnerabilities across the Android framework, system architecture, and vendor-specific hardware components, and must therefore be installed as soon as you receive the update.
The latest security patch is arriving as part of the larger HyperOS 4 release, which is primarily rolling out in China. Some global models have also recently started receiving the update as part of the open beta release. Soon, the September security update will also start rolling out to HyperOS 3 devices.
Xiaomi devices receiving the September 2026 security update
Here’s a list of all Xiaomi devices that are currently receiving the HyperOS 4 update, as shared by Ximtime:
Xiaomi devices
Xiaomi 15:
Global (OS4.0.0.7.XOCMIXM)
EEA (OS4.0.0.9.XOCEUXM)
Xiaomi 15 Ultra:
Global (OS4.0.0.6.XOAMIXM)
EEA (OS4.0.0.6.XOAEUXM)
Xiaomi 17T:
EEA (OS4.0.0.7.XPTEUXM)
Xiaomi 17T Pro:
EEA (OS4.0.0.6.XPSEUXM)
Xiaomi MIX FLIP 2:
China (OS4.0.0.10.XOHCNXM)
Xiaomi Pad 7S Pro 12.5:
China (OS4.0.0.11.XOTCNXM)
Redmi devices
REDMI K80:
China (OS4.0.0.8.XOKCNXM)
REDMI K80 Pro:
China (OS4.0.0.8.XOMCNXM)
REDMI K100 Pro Max:
China (OS4.0.0.8.XGNCNXM)
POCO devices
POCO F7 Pro:
China (OS4.0.0.8.XOKCNXM)
POCO F7 Ultra:
China (OS4.0.0.8.XOMCNXM)
POCO F9 Ultra:
China (OS4.0.0.8.XGNCNXM)
The list will continue to grow as more Xiaomi devices receive the HyperOS 4 update and as the update starts rolling out to devices running older HyperOS software.
Go to Settings > About phone, then tap the HyperOS logo to check for updates manually if the update notification hasn’t arrived yet. As always, the latest rollout follows a staged manner and hence may take additional time to reach all users.
This is a massive security release that patches 180 vulnerabilities across the Android ecosystem. Not all of those may apply to Xiaomi devices, but that’s still a pretty major release compared to recent security patches.
According to Google, the September 2026 security patch resolves 95 vulnerabilities in the core system and framework. The most critical fix resolves a security flaw in the system component that allows for Remote Code Execution (RCE). This flaw requires zero additional privileges and no user interaction to exploit.
The additional 85 security fixes target hardware-specific components. This covers critical kernel vulnerabilities, as well as driver patches for Qualcomm, Arm, MediaTek, Imagination Technologies, and Uisoc components.
Even if a security release isn’t as big as this one, it’s always best to have the latest security patch installed on your device.
We’ll keep you updated when a new security patch is out for your device, and when the rollout expands to more Xiaomi devices. You can visit the Xiaomi section for regular updates, or simply join our Telegram channel to get instant alerts.
The European launch event is set for October 27, and that’s also when pre-orders will open. The phones will then go on sale on November 5.
There is one detail that remains unclear, though. Vivo’s European event page refers to the “X500 series” in general, but the standard X500 isn’t listed or shown anywhere. This could mean Vivo is only bringing the Pro and Pro Max to Europe, although the company has not confirmed that yet.
The uncertainty around the standard model in Europe comes despite other signs of a wider global launch. The Pro and Pro Max have appeared in the EU’s EPREL listings, confirming battery size and notably missing the vanilla X500.
Meanwhile, all three X500, X500 Pro, and X500 Pro Max have received SIRIM certification in Malaysia. For now, however, none of this confirms whether the base X500 will be sold in Europe.
Vivo is also offering an early-bird discount for European buyers. Those who register their interest can get a voucher worth up to €120, along with access to selected bundles and accessory offers. The voucher is available until November 30 or while supplies last.
The full €120 discount is available if you register before sales begin on November 5. Anyone who registers after that date will get an €80 discount instead.
The Pro models are the more advanced phones in this generation, with the new 2nm chip and upgraded Zeiss camera systems. Our hands-on video is out for you to check out.
Amazfit has launched the T-Rex Dual Solar, its first AMOLED smartwatch with solar panels on both the front and back. The watch is designed for long trips and multi-day treks where access to a power outlet can be limited. It is priced at $649.99.
Amazfit T-Rex Dual Solar back has an octagonal solar panelAmazfit T-Rex Dual Solar front has a solar panel around the periphery of the screenThe Solar Input Power graph
The watch offers up to 25 days of typical battery life, while continuous GPS use in its most accurate mode brings that figure down to 41 hours. When exposed to 50,000 lux of sunlight for three hours a day, the front solar panel can add up to nine more days of battery life. The rear panel is twice the size of the front panel, allowing it to collect more solar energy when the watch is taken off and placed face-up.
The T-Rex Dual Solar has a Grade 5 titanium bezel and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. Amazfit used a similar combination on the T-Rex Ultra 2, although that model uses a larger battery instead of solar charging. The watch has a 1.32-inch AMOLED display with up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness, matching the brightness level of the Active 3 Premium launched earlier this year.
The wearable is also rated for 10 ATM water resistance and includes a built-in flashlight and SOS beacon for emergencies.
Navigation and Training
Navigation is another major part of the T-Rex Dual Solar. It comes with preloaded full-color maps, route planning, and slope information for climbs. Its LiveShare feature lets selected contacts follow your location in real time. The watch can store up to 100 routes, and you can create new routes directly from the watch without using a phone. If you move away from the planned route, it can also automatically create a new path.
The training features are similar to those found on other Amazfit watches. HybridCharge combines training load, recovery, and daily strain into one score. The watch also supports training plans from TrainingPeaks, Runna, and Intervals.icu, while completed workouts can be synced to Strava.
For users who also have the Amazfit Helio Strap, the Zepp app can combine data from both devices to provide a more complete view of recovery.
Amazfit includes a silicone strap and USB-C charging base with the T-Rex Dual Solar. The packaging is fully recyclable and does not include a separate charging cable. The smartwatch is available now for $649.99.
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