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Xiaomi 18 series may launch by December in India, Pro Max tipped to replace Ultra

The Xiaomi 18 series could arrive in India much earlier than previous flagship generations if a new leak is accurate. The latest information points to a revised launch timeline and a reshuffled lineup, suggesting Xiaomi may be changing its flagship strategy for the Indian market.

Earlier India launch tipped for Xiaomi 18 series

Xiaomi 18 render
Xiaomi 18 render

According to information shared by tipster Yogesh Brar through SmartPrix, Xiaomi is planning to bring the Xiaomi 18 series to India in December. If this happens, it would mark a significant shift from the company’s usual schedule, as Xiaomi’s flagship phones have typically reached global markets, including India, during the first quarter of the following year. The report suggests the company wants to position the series during the year-end buying season instead.

The leak also claims the Xiaomi 18 family will consist of three smartphones, namely the Xiaomi 18, Xiaomi 18 Pro, and Xiaomi 18 Pro Max. Interestingly, the report says Xiaomi has cancelled the Xiaomi 18 Ultra, with the Pro Max expected to become the brand’s top-end flagship in its place. This would represent one of the biggest changes to Xiaomi’s premium smartphone portfolio in recent years.

The Xiaomi 18 Pro Max is also said to arrive in limited quantities in India, similar to the strategy Xiaomi previously adopted for its Ultra-branded devices. While the standard and Pro models are expected to be widely available, the flagship Pro Max may target enthusiasts looking for Xiaomi’s highest-end offering.

The report further claims Xiaomi is preparing a broader ecosystem push alongside the Xiaomi 18 series. The company is expected to showcase more Xiaomi-branded smart home appliances and connected products during the December launch event, positioning the Xiaomi 18 lineup as the centre of its expanding ecosystem in India. Xiaomi has not officially confirmed these plans, so the details should be treated as speculation until an announcement is made.

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Here’s first look at the Xiaomi Mix Fold 5 with a wider foldable design, runs HyperOS 4

Xiaomi’s next foldable smartphone appears to have surfaced in live images well before its official debut. The leaked photos offer an early glimpse of what is believed to be the Xiaomi Mix Fold 5 (or Mix Fold 6) and hint that the device could arrive with the company’s next-generation software, paving the way for more details about its hardware and design.

Live images hint at HyperOS 4 debut

XIaomi Mix Fold 5 image

The leaked handset is believed to be an engineering unit of the Xiaomi Mix Fold 5. The images reportedly show the device running HyperOS 4 based on Android 17. The software version displayed begins with 4.0, matching Xiaomi’s usual approach of releasing a new HyperOS version alongside a major Android update. The phone is also said to carry the codename “lhasa,” which has previously been linked to the Mix Fold 5.

XIaomi Mix Fold 5 image-

The leak arrives after the device received certification in China, suggesting that its launch may not be far away. Several reports indicate that Xiaomi could unveil the foldable as early as August 2026. Unlike the upcoming Xiaomi 18 series, which is expected to wait for Qualcomm’s next flagship chipset, the Mix Fold 5 is tipped to feature Xiaomi’s in-house Xring O3 processor.

The latest leaks also suggest that Xiaomi is adopting a wider and more compact foldable form factor, moving away from the tall design seen on previous Mix Fold models. The device is expected to feature a 7.5-inch to 7.6-inch foldable display with improved crease handling. Camera hardware could include a 200-megapixel primary sensor, while a 6,000mAh battery with wireless charging is also tipped. Other expected features include full water resistance and a side-mounted fingerprint scanner.

A previous report also claimed that the handset may launch with a horizontal Leica-branded camera module. Pricing is rumoured to be around 10,000 Yuan (~$1,475) in China. Xiaomi has yet to confirm any of these details, so they should be treated as speculation for now.

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(via 1, 2)

5 best e-ink phones you can buy in 2026

E-ink phones are one of those categories that shouldn’t really work, and yet here we are, several years in, with more options than ever. E-ink phones are built around a display technology that powers your Kindle, shrink it down, wire it up to Android, and let people carry a phone that reads like paper, survives days without a charger, and doesn’t nuke your eyes at 11 PM. The screens are slow. They ghost. They can’t do video without looking like a fax machine having a bad day. And yet a small, stubborn, growing group of people keeps buying them anyway, because the tradeoffs are the point.

2026 has been a genuinely busy year for the category. Hisense just put out the A10, its first new e-ink phone in three years, and it does something clever with a magnetic detachable screen that we haven’t really seen anywhere else. Bigme also iterated with a newer model that’s a full dual-screen phone. Boox is still quietly making the best pocket e-reader money can buy, even if it insists on not calling it a “phone.” And if you just want to disappear from your group chats for a while, there’s a whole lineup of minimalist devices happy to help with that too.

Here’s where things stand right now, and which one to buy depending on what you actually want out of an e-ink screen.

1. Why anyone would want this in the first place

Let’s get the obvious question out of the way: why would you choose a screen that refreshes like it’s thinking really hard about it, over the OLED panel sitting in your pocket right now?

Three reasons, mostly. E-ink panels reflect ambient light instead of firing it directly into your eyes, so long reading sessions feel noticeably less tiring, especially at night. They only draw power when the image actually changes, which is why these phones can coast for days, sometimes weeks, on a single charge instead of dying by dinner. And they’re genuinely great outdoors. Direct sunlight, which washes out a normal phone screen into a useless mirror, is where e-ink looks its best.

The tradeoff is speed. Scrolling looks choppy. Video is mostly unwatchable. Games are a non-starter unless they’re turn-based. Almost nobody uses one of these as their only phone. 

2. Bigme HiBreak Pro Color

Bigme HiBreak Pro Color

If you want something that functions like a real smartphone first and an e-reader second, this is still the pick. The HiBreak Pro Color runs Android 14 with the full Google Play Store, so nothing about your app situation changes — banking apps, Spotify, Google Maps, all of it works. 

It supports 5G across dual SIMs, and under the hood it’s running a MediaTek Dimensity 1080 with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

The 6.13-inch Kaleido 3 display hits a crisp 300 PPI in black and white, and drops to around 150 PPI when it’s showing color. Bigme’s “SSS” fast-refresh mode also pushes the color panel to a smoother 30 FPS for regular navigation. It has a 4,500mAh battery, a 20MP camera with built-in OCR for scanning documents, NFC, and a fingerprint sensor to round it out.

It’s a long way from the original color HiBreak Bigme unveiled running Android 14, which felt more like a proof of concept than a daily driver. This one doesn’t feel like that anymore.

3. Hisense A10 

Hisense A10 Launch Specs Price

Hisense went quiet on e-ink phones for three years after the A9, and it came back with something genuinely different: a 6.13-inch monochrome e-ink display on the front, and a color LCD panel on the back that snaps on and off magnetically. Want the paper-like screen for reading, note-taking, or studying? Leave the back panel off. Want to watch something or scroll Instagram without the e-ink lag? Snap the color screen on and use that side instead.

It’s a smarter solution than the fixed dual-screen approach Bigme takes with the HiBreak Dual, because you’re not carrying the weight and thickness of two permanently bonded displays — you just bring the color panel when you actually need it. 

Under the hood, the A10 runs a 4nm octa-core Qualcomm chip, ships with Android 16 out of the box, and supports both 5G and Wi-Fi 6. Pricing isn’t official as we write this, but Hisense is expected to launch it around CNY 3,999, or roughly $590.

4. Boox Palma 2 and Palma 2 Pro

Boox Palma 2 Pro

Boox will tell you the Palma 2 isn’t a phone, and technically that’s true — there’s no built-in cellular calling here. But it’s shaped like one, it runs full Android, and enough people use it as a phone-adjacent device that it belongs on this list anyway. The base Palma 2 has a 6.13-inch Carta 1200 display at 300 PPI, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of expandable storage, and a 3,950mAh battery that can genuinely last weeks if you’re just doing light reading.

The Palma 2 Pro steps things up with a color Kaleido 3 screen, Android 15, 8GB of RAM, stylus support, and — for the first time — mobile data. It’s still not making phone calls, but it’s inching closer to being a real standalone device rather than a companion gadget.

5. Minimal Phone

Not everyone wants a full Android experience with a paper-like screen bolted on. Some people want the opposite — as little phone as possible. The Minimal Phone leans hard into that idea with a 4.3-inch black-and-white E-Ink touchscreen and a physical QWERTY keyboard that makes the whole thing feel more like a 2009 messaging phone than anything modern. 

It still runs a trimmed-down Android 14 with Play Store access, so it’s not completely locked down, but the small screen and clicky keys create just enough friction to make doomscrolling genuinely annoying. 

It runs on a MediaTek G99 chip, 6GB of RAM, and 128GB of expandable storage handle the basics, and the 3,000mAh battery lasts for days thanks to how little power the display needs. 

6. Bigme HiBreak Dual 2 

And then there’s the HiBreak Dual 2, which basically says: why choose? It puts a 6.13-inch color e-ink screen on the front for reading and note-taking, complete with stylus support carried over from the original HiBreak Dual, and a full 5-inch LCD on the back for video, photos, and anything else that actually needs motion and full color. It runs on a Dimensity 8300 with 5G and Android 16.

7. So which one should you actually buy?

It comes down to what you’re trying to get away from. If you want a real phone that happens to have an e-ink screen, get the Bigme HiBreak Pro Color. If you’re curious about the newest idea in the category and don’t mind an unofficial price tag for now, the Hisense A10’s detachable color panel is the most interesting hardware move anyone’s made this year. 

If you want a pocket reader more than a phone, the Boox Palma 2 or Palma 2 Pro is still the class leader. If your actual goal is using your phone less, the Minimal Phone is built for exactly that. And if you can’t stand the idea of giving up color entirely, the HiBreak Dual 2 lets you have both, at a price.

None of these phones are trying to replace your iPhone or your Galaxy, and that’s sort of the point.

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CXMT’s LPDDR6 enters sampling, mass production tipped for H2 2026

China’s CXMT (ChangXin Memory Technologies) appears to be accelerating its roadmap for next-generation memory. The company has reportedly begun sampling its LPDDR6 chips while also preparing its manufacturing supply chain well ahead of the commercial arrival of DDR6 memory.

CXMT prepares for the DDR6 era

LPDDR6 RAM (AI-generated image)
LPDDR6 RAM (AI-generated image)

CXMT has reportedly added Haesung DS as a new packaging substrate supplier to support its transition toward DDR6 memory production. The company is also shifting from the conventional reel-to-reel manufacturing process to panel-level packaging, which is better suited for the complex multi-layer designs required by DDR6.

Unlike DDR4 and DDR5, DDR6 memory requires a significantly higher number of substrate layers and greater manufacturing precision. While reel-to-reel production can technically support DDR6, increasing circuit layers reduce production efficiency and profitability. Panel-level packaging is expected to offer a more practical approach for large-scale manufacturing of next-generation memory.

CXMT’s LPDDR6 memory has reportedly already entered the sampling stage. The company is preparing its production lines ahead of mass manufacturing, which is reportedly expected to begin in the second half of 2026. The LPDDR6 chips are said to offer data transfer speeds of up to 12.8Gbps, placing them alongside flagship offerings from Samsung and SK Hynix.

Although DDR6 is not expected to enter commercial deployment until 2028 or 2029, CXMT has already begun strengthening its supply chain. Haesung DS reportedly received qualification for CXMT’s DDR5 packaging substrates during the first quarter of 2026, laying the groundwork for the company’s future DDR6 production plans.

CXMT is currently the world’s fourth-largest DRAM manufacturer with an estimated market share of around 7.7 to 8 percent and monthly wafer production of roughly 300,000 units at its Hefei facility.

As Samsung and SK Hynix continue allocating more capacity to HBM memory, the resulting supply constraints in the conventional LPDDR market could create an opportunity for CXMT. Its memory products are already supplied to brands such as Huawei, Xiaomi, and Oppo, while Alibaba Cloud and Tencent Cloud are also among its customers.

Reports also suggest that Apple is testing CXMT’s memory chips, which could pave the way for entry into the company’s global supply chain if certification is secured.

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Vivo X300e officially announced, pre-orders now open

Vivo has officially unveiled the X300e, the newest addition to its Zeiss-co-engineered X300 series. The company announced the phone today and opened pre-orders immediately. Vivo will start official sales at 09:00 on July 27.

The X300e joins the X300 and X300 Pro, which launched in October 2025 — the latter two are praised for their camera performance. The X300e is likely to target a more affordable price point while keeping the series’ signature Zeiss imaging focus.

Vivo X300e Announced

Vivo X300e Specifications

Vivo has not revealed the complete specs of the X300e yet. Thanks to previous reports, though, we have an almost detailed spec sheet to look at.

The Vivo X300e is said to feature a 6.59-inch 1.5K OLED display with a flat panel design. Powering the device will be Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset, the same as the Vivo X300 FE. Up front, you can expect a 50MP selfie camera for photos and video calls.

The camera on the back also looks quite capable. It reportedly includes a 50MP main sensor paired with an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens and a 50MP IMX8 periscope camera for zoom shots. As expected of the X series, the cameras will come with Zeiss imaging tuning, which should improve color accuracy and optical quality.

Vivo X300e design

Moving on, the X300e is said to pack a large 7200mAh battery, along with 90W fast charging support. That is a sizeable capacity for a phone that is expected to measure just 7.99mm thick and weigh around 203 grams.

Design-wise, the leak suggests a square camera island on the left, along with metal frames wrapping the body. There is also a possibility of an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, though this detail is not fully confirmed yet.

With pre-orders open now, buyers have a week to decide before the X300e goes on sale on July 27. Vivo hasn’t announced pricing yet, so that detail should surface closer to the sale date.

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(Source)

Google Pixel 11a specs leaked: Tensor G6, MediaTek M90 modem, 8GB RAM

Google’s affordable Pixel A-series is getting ready to make another strong impression with the upcoming Pixel 11a.

Fresh leaks have given us a pretty detailed look at what’s coming. The phone (codename Formosan) will be powered by Google’s Tensor G6 chipset (codenamed Malibu), paired with the Titan M3 security chip.

This is a solid generational upgrade. One of the more interesting changes is the switch from Samsung’s Exynos modem to MediaTek’s M90, a move that’s expected to improve connectivity and efficiency across the entire Pixel 11 lineup.

The display is a 6.3-inch panel with 1080 x 2424 resolution and a smooth variable 60-120Hz refresh rate. Brightness looks strong too, with up to 2,250 nits in HDR and a peak of 3,350 nits. It’s expected to come with 8GB of RAM and a 4,870 mAh battery. There’s also a new front camera sensor (internally called “dokkaebi”), which suggests some imaging improvements.

On the design side, the Pixel 11a is rumored to launch in four nice colors: Obsidian (black), Olive (green), Frost (purple), and Fog (silver). These feel in line with Google’s recent colorful, nature-inspired aesthetic.

Overall, the Pixel 11a looks like it will bring more of Google’s AI magic and clean software experience to the mid-range segment. The jump to Tensor G6 and the new modem should help fix some of the thermal and connectivity issues that have been common in previous A-series phones.

The full Pixel 11 series is expected around August 2026. If these leaks hold up, the Pixel 11a could once again be a compelling value-focused Android phone, thanks to its long software support and clean software experience.

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(Source)

Kimi K3: Moonshot AI unleashes 2.8 trillion parameter model for free

China’s AI scene just took another big step forward with the launch of Moonshot AI’s latest model, Kimi K3.

The Chinese AI company has released what it claims is the largest AI model to date with open weights, packing 2.8 trillion parameters.

Moonshot is calling it frontier-level, and they plan to release the full model weights soon, meaning developers and enthusiasts will eventually be able to download, run, and fine-tune it locally.

For now, you can already try K3 through the Kimi app on iOS and Android, the kimi.com website, or the Kimi Work desktop app. No developer account is needed to get started on the free tier (though there are usage limits).

K3 uses a Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) architecture, activating 16 out of 896 experts per request. It comes with some serious specs: a 1-million-token context window, native support for images (and reportedly video), and clever tricks like Kimi Delta Attention for handling long conversations efficiently.

Early benchmarks show it’s competitive. It trails some of the absolute top Western models like Claude Fable 5 and GPT-5.6 in certain areas, but beats or matches others in tasks like coding, agentic workflows, and knowledge work. Independent tests from Artificial Analysis put it in a strong position overall.

API pricing starts at $3 per million input tokens and $15 per million output tokens (with caching discounts). Moonshot says the full open weights will drop on July 27. That’s a huge deal for anyone interested in self-hosting or customizing the model. The company admits K3 still has some catching up to do in overall user experience, but it’s a big leap for China’s AI ecosystem.

If you’re curious about high-end AI development outside the usual Western players, Kimi K3 is worth checking out, especially once the weights are released later this month. It could spark a lot more experimentation and competition in the open-source community.

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(Kimi)

Samsung launches Freestyle+ projector in the US with Vision AI, 360° sound & brighter picture

Samsung has launched the Freestyle Plus in the US market. It is a portable projector priced at $1,199.99. The 2026 model keeps the cylindrical shape of previous versions but adds a brighter lamp and automated calibration tools designed to project images onto regular walls instead of dedicated screens.

Samsung Freestyle Plus 2026

Samsung Freestyle+ 2026 Specifications

The projector relies on a DLP display and outputs a 1080p resolution image that can be scaled up to 100 inches diagonally. The brightness is rated at 430 ISO lumens. This is an increase from older models, making it easier to see in rooms with some ambient light, but it still requires a dark environment for the best picture quality. It also supports HDR10+ and Samsung’s PurColor processing.

Samsung Freestyle Plus 2026

Samsung has equipped the Freestyle+ with its new Vision AI system, designed to simplify projector setup. It combines features such as 3D Auto Keystone correction, wall color calibration, obstacle avoidance, and real-time autofocus to optimize image quality with little to no manual adjustment. The projector can automatically straighten the picture when placed at an angle, adapt to different wall colors, and reposition the image to avoid objects like picture frames or light switches. Focus is handled in real-time by a built-in ultrasonic motor.

For sound, the Freestyle Plus has a built-in 360-degree speaker with dual passive woofers. It also supports Q-Symphony, a feature that allows the projector to sync its audio with compatible Samsung soundbars or Wi-Fi speakers.

Samsung Freestyle Plus 2026

The device runs on Tizen, the same operating system used on Samsung’s smart TVs. This provides access to standard streaming apps and the Samsung Gaming Hub for cloud gaming. It supports Apple AirPlay 2 and screen mirroring from compatible Galaxy devices.

Because it is meant to be portable, the projector can run off external USB-C power banks, provided they output enough wattage, or you can buy Samsung’s proprietary battery base separately. It also includes an eye protection mode that automatically dims the lens if a person or pet walks in front of the beam.

The Freestyle+ ships with a dedicated traveling pouch and is available now through Samsung’s US website and select retailers.

In related news, Acer has recently launched a 4K laser projector featuring Google TV, 4,000 ANSI lumens of brightness, and 240Hz gaming support.

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(Samsung)

Marshall Celebrates 60 Years of Hendrix With a Special Edition Acton III Speaker

Marshall has released a new limited-edition version of its Acton III Bluetooth speaker to honor 60 years since legendary Jimi Hendrix first plugged into a Marshall amp. The Hendrix 60th Anniversary Edition brings the same core hardware as the standard Acton III, but wraps it in a design built around the guitarist’s style and legacy.

Marshall Acton III — Jimi Hendrix 60th Anniversary Edition

Marshall Acton III Hendrix 60th Anniversary Edition

The speaker’s cabinet is covered in embossed velvet, a material Hendrix was known to favor, and it features an “Eye of God” symbol stamped into the side panel. Marshall says the color palette draws from Hendrix’s cosmic, imaginative approach to art and music. 

On the audio side, nothing has changed from the regular Acton III. The unit runs one 30W woofer alongside two 15W tweeters, with the tweeters angled outward and paired with an updated waveguide design meant to widen the overall sound field. It connects using Bluetooth 5.2 and supports Auracast, a newer broadcast audio standard that lets multiple compatible speakers or headphones tune into the same audio stream.

Marshall Acton III — Jimi Hendrix 60th Anniversary Edition Design

The speaker measures 260 x 170 x 150 mm and weighs 2.85 kg. Frequency response spans 45Hz to 20,000Hz, and it can hit a maximum sound pressure level of 97 dB at one meter. Users can fine-tune bass and treble directly on the speaker using analog knobs, or through the Marshall Bluetooth app on iOS and Android. It also has a 3.5 mm headphone jack for wired playback, though the speaker does not include Wi-Fi or a built-in microphone.

Marshall continues to build its speaker lineup with sustainability in mind. The Hendrix edition is PVC-free and made from 70% recycled plastic along with fully vegan materials. 

Pricing and availability for the Hendrix 60th Anniversary Edition have not yet been confirmed.

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Xiaomi adds a purple color option to its Bluetooth Speaker C lineup

Xiaomi is adding a purple option to its Bluetooth Speaker C lineup in China. The new variant is currently available for pre-order at 299 yuan ($44). Aside from the color, it is the exact same fabric-wrapped portable speaker the company previously released in black.

Xiaomi Bluetooth Speaker C Purple

Xiaomi Bluetooth Speaker C Specifications

The speaker is a relatively compact cylinder, weighing 415 grams and measuring just over 20 centimeters tall. It features a woven fabric covering and a built-in silicone strap to make it easier to carry around. It also carries an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.

Inside, the audio setup relies on a single 18W full-range driver. Because small speakers usually struggle to produce low frequencies, Xiaomi included two passive radiators, one internal and one external, to help push out more bass. The spec sheet lists a frequency response of 75Hz to 20kHz and a signal-to-noise ratio of at least 95dB.

Xiaomi Bluetooth Speaker C Purple

Like many portable speakers on the market right now, the Bluetooth Speaker C includes integrated LED lighting. There are light rings on the top and bottom of the chassis that can sync to whatever music is playing. You can cycle through three basic lighting patterns, Ripple, Beat, and Constant-On, or change the colors using the physical buttons on the device.

For connectivity, the speaker uses Bluetooth 6.0. You can pair two of these units together in a standard True Wireless Stereo (TWS) setup for dedicated left and right audio channels. It also supports Auracast, a broadcasting standard that allows you to link up to 100 compatible speakers at once.

The speaker runs on a 2,600mAh battery. Xiaomi advertises up to 14 hours of playback on a single charge, but that estimate comes with a few caveats: you have to keep the volume capped at 40% and turn the LED lights completely off. There is also a built-in microphone, allowing you to use it as a speakerphone to answer calls when your phone is connected.

Globally, the Xiaomi Bluetooth Speaker C is also available in White and Green color options. These variants could make their way to the Chinese market at a later date.

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Hisense reveals more specs for the A10 e-ink phone ahead of August launch

Hisense has shared more specifications for its upcoming A10 e-ink smartphone. The announcement comes a month after Hisense first started teasing the device in June.

Hisense A10 Specifications

At the core of the A10 sits Qualcomm QCM6690, which is an enterprise-grade 4nm octa-core processor. The device supports PDF page turning, splits the screen for multiple documents, and keeps handwriting annotation smooth even during long sessions. 

The processor also manages a smart temperature control system that cuts down on ghosting, a common issue with e-ink displays. When the screen sits idle for reading, the chip automatically lowers its frequency, which stretches battery life well past what typical flagship chips offer. The phone runs Android 16 out of the box and will receive long-term system updates and security patches.

Hisense A10 Launch Specs Price

Hisense packed the A10 with six practical features. These include NFC, an infrared remote that controls air conditioners, TVs, projectors, and set-top boxes without an internet connection, native app cloning for popular apps, built-in call recording, magnetic wireless charging, and a dedicated fast refresh mode built to fight lag and ghosting on the e-ink panel.

The design carries over details from Hisense’s earlier reveal: a 6.13-inch paper-like e-ink display up front for reading and note-taking, paired with an optional LCD color screen on the back. Users can switch between the two screens freely, using the color display for photos, comics, charts, and everyday social apps.

The A10 is Hisense’s first major e-ink phone update since the A9 returned to shelves last year with a refreshed spec sheet. The Hisense A10 is set to launch in August, with sales expected to begin toward the end of the month.

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JBL launches Vienna floating lyrics speaker with 18.5-inch display and 100W sound

JBL has launched a new home asthetics speaker in China with a big 18.5-inch display. Called JBL Vienna, the speaker puts song lyrics on the display instead of your phone screen. 

JBL Vienna Design

The Vienna has an 18.5-inch screen covered by an ultra-white, high-transparency tempered glass panel. As a song plays, the lyrics appear on this screen with moving light and shadow effects, so they look like they are floating in the air rather than sitting on a flat surface.

JBL Vienna Floating Lyrics

Users get nine background themes to pair with the lyrics display, ranging from calm to bold. They can also upload their own photos and use them as a backdrop, turning a favorite vacation shot or a candid moment with friends into the setting for their music.

JBL Vienna has stereo speakers with 100W peak power

On the audio side, the Vienna runs a 2.1-channel stereo system. It packs two 3.23-inch full-range drivers, four 8.5-inch racetrack-shaped bass drivers, and two 5-inch passive radiators, together pushing out 100W of peak power. JBL says the setup handles deep bass, clear vocals, and bright treble, and can reproduce the layered feel of jazz and classical tracks.

The speaker also works outside of music playback. It includes eleven built-in meditation scenes that pair ambient sounds like rain and ocean waves with slow-moving visuals, plus a photo album mode that turns uploaded pictures into a looping slideshow.

JBL Vienna Speaker Launch Specs Price

For connections, the Vienna supports Bluetooth 5.4, USB-C, and AUX, and it mirrors screens wirelessly from both iOS and Android devices. It also doubles as a clock, with dual-timezone standby displays and a customizable photo clock face.

The Vienna adds a visual layer to JBL’s existing speaker lineup, following recent launches like the JBL Grip and the JBL Flip Essential 3 SE, both of which focus on portability and durability rather than display features. Meanwhile, the Vienna is a home decor piece that blends sound, light, and personal photos into one product. JBL has not yet confirmed pricing or availability details for markets outside its initial launch.

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The Best Gaming Phones in July 2026

The line between dedicated gaming phones and standard flagship phones is blurring. As we move into the second half of 2026, mobile gaming hardware is focusing more on sustained performance, larger battery capacities, and better heat management rather than just flashy designs.

If you play demanding games like Call of Duty: Mobile or Genshin Impact, you’ll want a device that can handle extended sessions without overheating. Here is a look at some of the best phones for gaming in July 2026.

1. Red Magic 11S Pro

Red Magic 11S Pro

If you are looking for a device built specifically around gaming, the Red Magic 11S Pro is the most direct approach. It prioritizes sustained performance over a conventional smartphone design.

The phone runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Leading Version, which offers a slight clock speed bump up to 4.74GHz. But the processor isn’t the main draw here; the cooling system is. Red Magic has included its AquaCore Cooling System, which pairs a large 13,116mm² vapor chamber with an active 24,000 RPM cooling fan. You can hear the fan when it runs, but it effectively prevents the phone from throttling during extended gaming sessions. The transparent back panel also shows off a fluorinated liquid cooling loop, which is a neat, albeit very gamer-centric, design choice.

For controls and display, it features a 6.85-inch 144Hz OLED screen that remains uninterrupted by a camera cutout, thanks to an under-display front camera. It also includes 520Hz capacitive shoulder triggers, which are genuinely useful for first-person shooters. For power, it packs a large 7,500mAh battery and supports dual reverse charging, allowing it to charge compatible accessories when needed. It is a bulky device, but it does exactly what it sets out to do.

2. Apple iPhone 17 Pro

iPhone 17 Pro

Apple doesn’t market the iPhone as a dedicated gaming phone. You won’t find RGB lighting or built-in shoulder buttons here. However, the iPhone 17 Pro remains one of the most capable devices for playing games, largely due to its internal hardware and the App Store’s library.

The 3nm A19 Pro chip includes hardware-accelerated ray tracing and neural accelerators in its 6-core GPU. More importantly for gamers, Apple has finally addressed thermal management in a meaningful way. The iPhone 17 Pro introduces a laser-welded vapor chamber filled with deionized water, integrated directly into the aluminum chassis. This allows the phone to sustain its performance for much longer than previous models before it needs to dim the screen or reduce frame rates to manage heat.

The 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display is super bright, peaking at 3,000 nits, which makes it easier to play games outdoors. With iOS 26 and a growing number of console-quality ports available, the iPhone 17 Pro is a practical choice if you want a reliable everyday phone that also handles high-end gaming without looking like a piece of specialized equipment.

3. OnePlus 15

OnePlus 15

The OnePlus 15 strikes a good balance between a standard flagship and a gaming device. It doesn’t have the overt gaming aesthetic of the Red Magic, but it includes several features that gamers will appreciate.

Powered by the standard Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, the OnePlus 15 stands out with its display. The 6.78-inch AMOLED panel operates at 120Hz for daily tasks but can push up to 165Hz for supported games like Call of Duty: Mobile. It also features a dedicated touch response chip with a 3200Hz sampling rate, which makes inputs feel immediate and precise.

OnePlus has also equipped the device with a 7,300mAh Silicon NanoStack battery and 120W charging with Bypass Charging support, helping reduce heat during gaming while also improving long-term battery health.

4. iQOO 15

iQOO 15

If visual quality is your main priority, the iQOO 15 is worth considering. iQOO partnered with Samsung to use the 6.85-inch 2K M14 LEAD OLED display, and the results are impressive. It features a 144Hz variable refresh rate and can reach a localized peak brightness of 6,000 nits.

To manage the high-resolution display, iQOO paired the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 with a proprietary Supercomputing Chip Q3. This secondary chip handles frame interpolation, which can artificially boost frame rates up to 144 FPS in certain games while keeping latency manageable.

The phone also includes a large vapor chamber cooling system and a 7,000mAh battery that supports 100W wired and 40W wireless charging. It is a solid option for players who want top-tier screen technology and fast charging in a more traditional smartphone form factor.

5. Red Magic 11 Pro

Red Magic 11 Pro

As the direct predecessor to the 11S Pro, the Red Magic 11 Pro remains a very logical alternative if you want a capable gaming device without needing the absolute newest iteration. It provides a nearly identical experience to its successor.

You get the standard Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 instead of the slightly overclocked version, but in real-world gaming, the difference is negligible. It retains the same 6.85-inch 144Hz notchless OLED display, the active cooling fan, and the 520Hz shoulder triggers.

In terms of design, it keeps the flat-edge look without a protruding camera bump on the back. It also features a visible liquid-cooling mechanism with a translucent blue ring that rotates when active. Additionally, the device includes an IPX8 waterproof rating, which is a practical addition for daily use.

For battery life, the 11 Pro actually steps up to a larger 8,000mAh battery. The wired charging is slightly slower at 80W, but it still tops up quickly. For most people who want a dedicated gaming phone, the 11 Pro offers all the necessary hardware without needing to upgrade to the newer S model.

6. Red Magic 11 Air

Historically, buying a lite version of a gaming phone meant giving up the best features. The Red Magic 11 Air, however, manages to keep the essentials intact while remaining a more accessible option.

Despite being 12% thinner and 10% lighter than the 11 Pro, Red Magic managed to fit an active 24,000 RPM cooling fan inside, a first for their Air series. It uses the standard Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and features a 7,000mAh battery with 80W charging. You still get a 144Hz OLED display and the 520Hz shoulder triggers.

The Red Magic 11 Air is a highly competitive option. It offers the core benefits of a dedicated gaming phone, active cooling and physical triggers, in a much more streamlined package.

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Honor X7e Plus 5G launches with an 8,100mAh battery, 120Hz display, AI button, Snapdragon chip

Back in June, Honor unveiled the Honor X7e, a 4G smartphone featuring a 120Hz display and a 7,500mAh battery. The company has now taken the wraps off the Honor X7e Plus 5G, which brings 5G connectivity, a larger battery, a high refresh rate display, a Snapdragon chipset, and a 50-megapixel rear camera. Here is everything you need to know about its specifications, features, price, and availability.

Honor X7e Plus 5G specifications and features

Honor X7e Plus 5G
Honor X7e Plus 5G

The Honor X7e Plus 5G features a 6.87-inch TFT LCD panel that offers an HD+ resolution of 1592 x 720 pixels, a 120Hz refresh rate, up to 1,020 nits of peak brightness, and support for Dynamic Dimming and Eye Comfort modes. It also comes with a dedicated AI button that provides quick access to features such as AI Memory, Circle to Search, AI Eraser, AI Summary, and Smart Recommendations through a long press.

Under the hood, the smartphone is equipped with the Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 chipset paired with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It runs Android 16 with MagicOS 10 on top and also supports RAM Turbo, which can allocate part of the storage as virtual RAM for smoother multitasking.

Honor X7e Plus 5G AI button
Honor X7e Plus 5G – AI button

The device packs a typical 8,100mAh battery with a rated capacity of 7,900mAh and supports 45W SuperCharge. Honor says the phone is designed to operate in temperatures ranging from -30°C to 50°C and claims the battery can retain over 80 percent of its capacity after years of regular use under its internal testing conditions.

Honor X7e Plus 5G
Honor X7e Plus 5G

For photography, the Honor X7e Plus 5G is fitted with a 50-megapixel primary camera alongside an auxiliary sensor, while selfies are handled by a 5-megapixel front camera. Other features include stereo speakers with 400 percent volume mode, NFC, a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, Bluetooth 5.1 with LDAC and aptX HD support, USB Type-C, and dual SIM support.

The handset also carries IP68, IP69, and IP69K ratings, SGS Premium Drop and Crush Resistance certification, measures 168.3 x 78.54 x 8.3mm, and weighs 216.5 grams.

Honor X7e Plus 5G price and availability

Honor X7e Plus 5G
Honor X7e Plus 5G

The Honor X7e Plus 5G has been launched in Qatar in two variants. The 6GB+128GB edition is priced at QAR 999 (~$275), while the 8GB+256GB model costs QAR 1,099 (~$300). Buyers can pick from Desert Gold, Velvet Black, and Meteor Silver colour options. The smartphone has also gone official in Oman, but Honor has not confirmed which other markets will receive it.

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Vivo’s new affordable smartphone runs a Unisoc chip under $150

Vivo has rolled out a new budget phone in China called the Y6c 4G. It’s already available for purchase in mainland China, and the company is keeping things simple this time, offering just one memory configuration at launch.

Vivo Y6c launched

Vivo Y6c Specifications

The phone runs on a 12nm based Unisoc T7225 octa-core processor that mixes two powerful A75 cores with six efficiency-focused A55 cores, topping out at 1.8GHz, and pairs with an Arm Mali-G57 GPU to handle graphics. 

Display-wise, the Y6c 4G gets a 6.74-inch LCD panel with a waterdrop notch and 1600×720 resolution. It supports a smooth 120Hz refresh rate and can hit 1200 nits of brightness. Vivo also secured TÜV Rheinland certification for low blue-light emissions.

Vivo Y6c Launch Specs price

The Y6c is running on a large 6500mAh cell, which Vivo says can stay healthy for up to five years of regular use. Charging comes through a 15W wired connection. Vivo used the same 6500mAh capacity on the Y60, so battery longevity appears to be a consistent theme across this budget lineup.

On the camera front, the phone keeps things basic with an 8MP main rear shooter and a 5MP front camera for selfies. 

The device also has SGS’s five-star rating for drop and impact resistance, along with an IP65 rating that shields it from dust and water splashes. Vivo Y6c’s extra features include boosted 150% volume output, a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, and OriginOS 6 running on top of Android 16. An infrared blaster rounds out the package, letting users control over 3,000 models of TVs, air conditioners, and other appliances.

Price and availability

The Vivo Y6c 4G is now on sale in China in a single 4GB+128GB configuration, priced at 899 yuan (around $130).

(Source)

Nubia announces AI agent smartphone with on-device AI processing

Nubia has officially launched the NaviX Ultra, which it says is the world’s first AI-agent smartphone, ignoring the fact that a Chinese firm already beat it to the punch.

The company unveiled the device at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai after it got buzz from its teaser reveal just days earlier and its original WAIC announcement.

Nubia NaviX Ultra Announced

The NaviX Ultra runs on the Doubao mobile assistant. Ni Fei, Senior Vice President of ZTE Corporation and President of Nubia, told CLS News Agency that Doubao brings strong large-model and intelligent-agent capabilities, while Nubia contributes deep experience in hardware, software, and product engineering. He noted that the journey from the M153 to the NaviX Ultra marks a complete cycle of technology testing and product refinement between the two companies.

Nubia NaviX Ultra Specifications

Nubia will sell the phone in four colors: Blue, Dream, Obsidian Black, and Snowfield. The Dream color has a matching pink finish across the entire body, including the rear camera housing. 

The camera housing itself breaks from convention too. Instead of the circular camera island most rivals use, Nubia is using a horizontal strip design on the back that holds a triple-camera system, including a periscope telephoto lens. Up front, it has a single centered punch-hole camera inside a flat screen with even bezels on all four sides.

Nubia NaviX Ultra Design

The side frame houses a dedicated orange AI button that launches the smart assistant instantly. Nubia built the phone around four goals: understanding, functionality, retention, and security. It can understand natural language across many situations and complete multi-step tasks — like comparing prices, placing orders, or planning trips — by working across different apps on its own. Nubia says all major AI processing happens directly on the device rather than in the cloud, which, paired with official generative AI registration credentials, helps lower the risk of leaked user data.

Nubia has not yet announced pricing or a release date.

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(Via)

RedMagic Astra 2 goes head-to-head with ROG Xbox Ally X in GTA 5 and RDR 2 at half the power draw

RedMagic is making a serious push to show that Android gaming tablets can go head-to-head with dedicated Windows gaming handhelds. Their new Astra 2 has delivered some impressive real-world results that are hard to ignore.

The Astra 2 comes with a stunning 9.06-inch OLED display at 2.4K resolution and a 185Hz refresh rate. Inside, you’ll find Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, backed by RedMagic’s own RedCore R4 gaming chip. To keep things cool during long sessions, it has an advanced active liquid cooling system with a micro pump and visible coolant channels on the transparent back.

In a hands-on test by YouTuber Dame Tech, the Astra 2 went up against the ROG Xbox Ally X (powered by the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme). The results were surprisingly close:

  • In GTA V at 720p on Very High settings, the Astra 2 stayed above 70 FPS for most of the session, matching the Ally X.
  • In Red Dead Redemption 2 at 720p on High, the Astra 2 initially pulled ahead while using only about 20W of power, roughly half of what the Ally X was consuming (around 40W). However, as the test continued, thermal throttling caused its performance to dip slightly below the Ally X.

These numbers highlight how efficient the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 can be for emulated PC games on Android. That said, the tablet did hit some very high temperatures (over 100°C), showing that thermal management is still a challenge for sustained play. Users looking for sustained peak performance will benefit from using a thermoelectric cooler attached to the back of the tablet.

The Astra 2 comes with a built-in PC emulator and Steam support, giving access to a huge library of games. It packs an 8,300mAh battery with fast charging (up to 80W on some models), dual USB-C ports, and configs going up to 16GB+ RAM and 1TB storage. Extra gamer touches include RGB lighting and high touch sampling rates.

Pricing starts around $549–$780, depending on the region and configuration. At that price, it’s a strong option if you want a big, beautiful OLED screen and solid gaming performance in a tablet form.

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(Source: Dame Tech on YouTube)

iPhone 18 Pro Max diagnostic log reveals sensor details, variable aperture

A big data breach at one of Apple’s suppliers has given us some of the clearest details yet about the camera setup coming to the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

The leak confirms that Apple is upgrading the main camera sensor. It points to a new Sony IMX905 sensor replacing the one used in the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Interestingly, the pixel size stays the same at 1.22μm, which suggests the big new feature is variable aperture, something that’s been rumored for a while but hasn’t appeared on an iPhone yet.

If true, this would be a first for Apple. Variable aperture lets the camera physically adjust how much light comes in, which could lead to better depth of field control, improved exposure in different lighting, and more natural-looking portraits without relying so heavily on software tricks.

The rest of the camera system looks mostly unchanged according to the leaked diagnostics log. The telephoto (Sony IMX973), ultrawide (Sony IMX972), LiDAR scanner, and selfie camera appear to be carrying over from the previous generation. So Apple seems to be focusing its efforts on improving the main sensor this time around.

This information surfaced as part of a massive cybersecurity incident at Tata Electronics, one of Apple’s important manufacturing partners in India. Hundreds of gigabytes of data reportedly leaked online, including component details and testing info. Apple hasn’t commented publicly on the breach.

Beyond the camera, there are also rumors of a possible $200 price increase for the iPhone 18 Pro Max due to the rising component costs. As usual, the full iPhone 18 series is expected to launch in September 2026, likely powered by the new A20 Pro chipset.

Of course, these are still leaks, so things could change before the official reveal. But this diagnostics log adds some solid weight to the idea that Apple is finally bringing variable aperture to the iPhone.

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(Source: Notebookcheck)

New Oppo phone bags TENAA certification, specifications revealed

A forthcoming Oppo phone bearing the model number PYZ110 has emerged in the database of China’s TENAA certification. While the listing does not include images, it reveals the core specifications of the device. Here’s a look at the details that have emerged through the certification.

Oppo PYZ110 phone receives TENAA certification

Oppo

As per the TENAA listing, the Oppo PYZ110 handset has a 6.75-inch LCD panel that offers an HD+ resolution of 720 x 1570 pixels. It is powered by an unknown chip that clocks at 2.4GHz.

The chip will be accompanied by 6GB or 8GB of RAM. It is likely to be available in multiple storage options, such as 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB. It is powered by a 7,780mAh rated battery, which may have a typical capacity of around 8,000mAh.

For photography, it has two cameras, with an 8-megapixel front-facing camera and a 50-megapixel rear camera. The listing also suggests that it could be equipped with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. Finally, the device measures 166.47 x 78.23 x 8.88mm and weighs 224 grams.

This phone does not appear to be the Oppo K15, which is slated to launch on July 24. Rather, the K15 appears to be the TENAA-certified PYD110 phone, which was approved back in June. The PYZ110 appears likely to launch as an A-series phone, but it is advisable to wait for further reports to confirm its final marketing name.

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Upcoming iQOO’s compact tablet with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 spotted, may debut with iQOO 16

iQOO is expected to hold its next major launch event in September or October in China. It goes without saying that the iQOO 16 will be the star of the show. The same event may also see the arrival of a couple of other devices, such as the iQOO Neo 12 and a compact tablet. The latter has been in the rumor mill since last year but had not made much progress. Finally, the device has bagged its first important certification in China, revealing that it is inching closer to launch.

iQOO’s compact tablet bags its first certification

iQOO’s forthcoming mini tablet is SRRC certified

The screenshots above show that an iQOO tablet with model number iPA2691 has been approved by China’s SRRC authority. According to reliable tipster Digital Chat Station, this device will sport a compact form factor.

The tipster further revealed that the device will be powered by the 2nm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 series chip. It appears that it will only arrive in a Wi-Fi-only version, as it is not expected to support a SIM card.

Being a performance-focused model, it is expected to feature an OLED panel with thin bezels and support for a high refresh rate. Hopefully, upcoming reports will reveal more details about this device in the coming days.

In related news, iQOO is reportedly working on a device tentatively called the iQOO Neo 11S for the Chinese market. While there are no official teasers yet, this device may debut later this month or in August. With a Dimensity 9500-series chip onboard, it is expected to be a minor refresh of the existing iQOO Neo 11, which was announced last year.

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