September doesn’t usually hand you a launch calendar this packed, but 2026 is on another level. More than 20 phones are expected to land this month alone, and nearly every major brand is throwing its biggest hardware into the same four-week window. 

You’re looking at the iPhone 18 Pro series and Apple’s first foldable iPhone, the Xiaomi 18 series and the Xiaomi 18 Fold, the Vivo X500 series, the Oppo Find X10 series, the Honor Magic9 series, the Huawei Mate 90 series, the iQOO 16 series, and the Poco F9 series, on top of a wave of Redmi and Poco midrangers.

Part of the crowding comes down to timing that’s shifted across the industry at once. Apple is reportedly pulling its high-end launch earlier and pairing it with a brand-new form factor. Huawei has moved the Mate series up from its usual November slot to get ahead of the competition. Xiaomi is using September to introduce its in-house Xring O3 chip across two device families simultaneously, while Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and MediaTek’s Dimensity 9600 are both fresh enough that Xiaomi, Vivo, and iQOO all want to be first to ship them. Even brands that normally stagger their releases, like Honor and Oppo, are lining their flagships up close enough that you’ll be comparing specs sheets side by side whether you planned to or not.

Not every one of these will matter to you personally, and plenty are China-only at first. But if you’re trying to decide what to wait for, here’s what’s actually worth tracking, starting with the two launches most likely to set the tone for the rest of the year.

iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, and the first foldable iPhone

Apple’s event is set for September 9, and this year it’s not just the usual Pro refresh. You’re getting the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max alongside Apple’s first foldable iPhone. 

The Pro models are tipped to keep familiar 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch screen sizes, but move to the A20 Pro chip built on a 2nm process, 12GB of RAM, and Apple’s own C2 modem instead of a third-party option. You’ll also see a shrunken Dynamic Island as Face ID components move further under the display.

The foldable is the bigger story for you if you’ve been waiting to see what Apple does with the form factor. According to rumors, it will have a 7.8-inch inner display and a 5.3-inch cover screen, built from a mix of titanium and aluminum. Apple is reportedly dropping Face ID here in favor of Touch ID, likely built into the power button, and skipping a telephoto lens on the dual rear camera setup. That’s a real trade-off for a device expected to cost more than $2,000, especially since Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series and Huawei’s Pura X line don’t cut that corner. 

Xiaomi’s busiest month of the year

Xiaomi is treating September as a launch marathon. The company will launch the Xiaomi 18 Fold in early September with the company’s new in-house Xring O3 chip, paired with next-generation LPDDR6 RAM. 

Moreover, you’re likely to get a 7.6-inch foldable display, a 6,000mAh battery that’s noticeably bigger than what Samsung and Huawei offer in their folding phones, 67W wired and 50W wireless charging, and a 200MP primary camera. It ships alongside the Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max, which uses the same chipset.

Toward the end of the month, Xiaomi is set to launch the Xiaomi 18 Pro series with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 hardware. Xiaomi will be the first brand to ship phones with that chipset. 

You can expect dual 200MP SmartSens sensors, a dedicated AI button, and — notably — a faster global rollout than in past years. Xiaomi’s global 18 Pro and standard 18 models have already picked up certification in markets including Turkey, the EEA, Russia, Taiwan, and Japan, though India isn’t part of that initial batch as of yet.

Huawei Mate XT2

Unlike most of the phones in this roundup, the Mate XT2 doesn’t need a rumored tag. Huawei has officially confirmed its launch date for September 7, landing well before both the Mate 90 series and Apple’s own event. The device is Huawei’s third tri-fold phone, following the original Mate XT and last year’s Mate XTs refresh.

Pre-orders are already open in China in 16GB+512GB, 16GB+1TB, 16GB+1TB with a privacy display, and a top-end 16GB+2TB version bundled with a privacy display and a stylus. The first three configurations come in Obsidian Black, White, and Purple, while the top-tier model is Purple only. 

On the hardware side, the device could get a Kirin 9050 Pro chipset built on Huawei’s newer process, a battery above 6,000mAh, and a redesigned hinge aimed at reducing the crease on the 10.2-inch unfolded display.

What’s notable is how Huawei is sequencing this against its other September launch. Rather than bundling everything into one event, the company is reportedly splitting the Mate XT2 and Mate 90 series across two separate dates. This gives Huawei two separate moments in the spotlight instead of one.

Huawei Mate 90 series arrives early with a new Kirin chip

Moving to the Mate 90 series now, and if you know the Mate series has typically launched in November, this year it’s reportedly moving up to September to land closer to Apple’s event. 

The chipset is the bigger story here. Huawei’s next Kirin processor is said to use a new “Tau” design approach that increases transistor density by more than 50%, putting performance in the neighborhood of early TSMC 3nm chips despite Huawei’s manufacturing constraints.

On the camera side, the Mate 90 Pro Max is tipped to bring back true long-range optical zoom with dual periscope telephoto lenses, including one capable of 10x optical zoom, a setup Huawei hasn’t offered since the P40 Pro+. Likewise, the battery capacity is expected to land between 6,800mAh and 7,000mAh across the Pro Max and RS models, paired with a 6.9-inch Tandem OLED display.

iQOO 16 Series

The iQOO 16 series is, as usual, a performance-first flagship, and iQOO is expected to unveil it in China alongside the iQOO Neo 12 and a new compact tablet. You’ll get a 6.85-inch Samsung-made flat display running at 2K resolution with a 165Hz refresh rate, paired with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro chip. 

What’s notable is that iQOO is putting more effort into the camera system this time. The device is tipped with three 50MP rear sensors, including a large 1/1.3-inch primary sensor with an f/1.68 aperture. Extras include Bose-tuned dual speakers, a dedicated X-axis linear motor for haptics, a 3D ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, and IP68/IP69 ratings. The device is likely to launch at the end of September or early October, so it’s one of the later arrivals in this whole wave.

Vivo X500 series goes all in on video

Vivo has confirmed the X500 series for a September debut in China. As usual, both the X500 Pro and Pro Max have a Zeiss Super Dynamic main camera co-developed with Sony, rated for 17EV of dynamic range, which Vivo describes as the highest in the industry right now. The capability carries over to video too, with 4K 240fps slow motion and 4K 120fps HDR recording. The camera module also gets 3-degree OIS with gimbal-level stabilization.

Hardware-wise, the Vivo X500 Pro Max is expected to have a 6.85-inch 2K display using BOE’s Q11 panel, the first phone globally to get it. Vivo says it cuts motion blur during scrolling by 93% compared to the previous generation. The standard X500 and Pro model are expected to run MediaTek’s Dimensity 9600 series chips, while the Pro Max might step up to the Dimensity 9600 Pro.

Oppo Find X10 series with dual periscope cameras

The Oppo Find X10 series has been through a few rounds of leaks so far. The latest word points to the Pro Max sitting at the top of the range, above the standard Find X10 and Find X10 Pro, with a possible compact flagship variant thrown in for people who don’t want a massive phone. Camera-wise, you’re looking at dual 200MP rear sensors across the higher-end models.

Under the hood, the base Find X10 is tipped to run a MediaTek Dimensity 9600 series chip and pack an 8,000mAh battery. Oppo hasn’t confirmed pricing or an exact date yet, but everything points to a China launch this month, with the usual gap before it reaches global markets. If you’re comparing it against the Find X9 series you already know, expect the camera hardware to be the headline change rather than the design.

Honor Magic9 series brings ARRI’s cinema tools to the phone

Honor has already confirmed the Magic9 series for a September 28 launch in Beijing, moving nearly a month earlier than the Magic8 series did last year. The headline feature is a continued partnership with ARRI, the cinema camera maker, bringing native Log-C3 video encoding and LUT color grading down to a phone. Honor is also tipped to give the standard Magic9 a square selfie camera, a first for an Android phone.

On the rear, it is rumored to have a 200MP main sensor with 3-degree OIS and a second 200MP periscope telephoto lens on the higher models, backed by a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chipset. The battery is said to climb past 7,500mAh on the standard model and closer to 9,000mAh on the Pro, using Honor’s silicon-carbon battery tech.

Poco F9 Series

Unlike most of the phones on this list, the Poco F9 series isn’t still stuck in leaks — Poco F9 Pro and F9 Ultra have a confirmed global launch date of September 1. Both are rebranded versions of the Redmi K100 Pro and K100 Pro Max, built around the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip. The F9 Pro gets a 6.59-inch QHD+ Plastic OLED display at 185Hz, while the F9 Ultra steps up to a 6.85-inch panel with a 2608 x 1200 resolution, both developed with TCL CSOT and Xiaomi contributing to the panel design.

Likewise, the F9 Pro packs 6,330mAh while the F9 Ultra jumps to 8,050mAh, both supporting 100W wired charging and USB Power Delivery. On camera, the F9 Ultra adds a 50MP ultrawide and a 50MP 5x telephoto on top of its main sensor, while the F9 Pro trims that down to an 8MP ultrawide and a 2.5x telephoto. 

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Apple’s rumored first foldable iPhone is raising eyebrows, not just for its expected sky-high price, but for how expensive it might be to repair.

According to a report from Apple World Today, Apple is getting ready to introduce its debut foldable smartphone (widely called the iPhone Ultra) next month, with a starting price that could top $2,000. The device hasn’t been officially confirmed yet, but some people are already looking past the launch price and worrying about long-term ownership costs.

Ricky Panesar, founder of repair company iCorrect, estimates that replacing the inner screen alone could run about $1,155. That’s noticeably higher than the roughly $772 Samsung charges for a similar inner-screen fix on the Galaxy Z Fold 8. Panesar thinks Apple’s mix of Samsung Display panels and its own proprietary hinge design is what’s pushing the numbers up, potentially making foldable iPhone repairs some of the most expensive in the industry.

Apple’s fall product event is set for September 9 under the theme “Surprise and shine.” Some reports suggest the foldable might not actually go on sale until October, but most expect Apple to at least show it off during the September event alongside its other new products.

The projected repair cost highlights a bigger issue with foldables in general: the innovative design often comes with complicated (and pricey) displays and hinges. Apple hasn’t shared any official repair pricing or AppleCare details yet. Anyone thinking about buying the iPhone Ultra will probably want to factor in both the premium sticker price and the potential cost of keeping it running down the road.

And speaking of repair costs, it’ll be interesting to see how well the hinge and inner display hold up in the first place. We’ve already seen some less-than-ideal durability issues with earlier foldables, so now it’s Apple’s turn to prove that the wait was worth it.

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(Source: The Mac Observer)

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This year’s smartwatch launches were packed into a short period. Samsung and Google introduced their new watches in July and August, while Garmin also released the Fenix 9 series just recently. 

Most of the major changes this year focus on health, fitness, and battery life. Samsung improved its sleep apnea and cardio tracking features, and Google introduced a breathing emergency detector that can contact emergency services automatically. Here are five of the best smartwatches to consider in 2026.

Best for iPhone Users

The Apple Watch Series 11 keeps the familiar design, but Apple has added some useful health features. The biggest addition is hypertension notifications. The watch looks for signs of long-term high blood pressure by analyzing blood vessel responses over 30 days using its optical heart sensor. Apple trained the feature using data from more than 100,000 participants and tested it in a clinical study involving 2,000 people.

Apple also introduced a new sleep score system that looks at sleep duration, sleep stages, and bedtime consistency. You can check the score on the watch or through the Health app.

The Series 11 also supports 5G through a redesigned antenna system. Its fast charging can provide up to eight hours of use after just 15 minutes of charging. Battery life is rated at up to 24 hours with normal use and up to 38 hours in Low Power Mode.

The aluminum models use updated Ion-X glass, which Apple says is twice as scratch-resistant as the previous generation. The watch comes in 42mm and 46mm sizes. Prices start at $399 for the GPS model and $499 for GPS + Cellular.

For iPhone users, the Apple Watch Series 11 is the easiest option to recommend thanks to its close integration with Apple’s apps, notifications, and health features.

Best Rugged Option

The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is Samsung’s most rugged smartwatch, built for outdoor activities. It keeps the titanium case from the original Ultra but is 12% thinner. Its 1.52-inch Sapphire Crystal Super AMOLED display can reach 5,000 nits, making it easier to see in direct sunlight.

Samsung launched the Watch Ultra 2 alongside the Galaxy Watch 9. Both watches are powered by Qualcomm’s 3nm Snapdragon Wear Elite chipset. The battery has also grown to 800mAh, which is 35% larger than the battery in the previous Ultra. Samsung has added a Trail Run mode that tracks elevation and terrain during outdoor runs.

The watch uses Samsung’s BioActive sensor system for health tracking. It supports features such as FDA-cleared sleep apnea detection, Heart Health Score, and Daily Cardio Load tracking to help with workout recovery.

The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 starts at $699 for the LTE version in the US and €749 in Europe. 

Best for Google Users

The Pixel Watch 5 keeps the round design with curved glass that has become a signature of the Pixel Watch series. This year’s model adds deeper Gemini AI integration along with several new health features.

One of the most notable additions is Breathing Emergency Detection, which will launch first in Europe. It monitors for major drops in blood oxygen and can automatically contact emergency services if the wearer becomes unresponsive.

Google also improved the battery life on both versions. The 41mm model has a 332mAh battery and is rated for up to 30 hours with the always-on display enabled. The larger 45mm model has a 465mAh battery and can last up to 40 hours. Both models can charge to 50% in around 15 minutes with the included charging dock.

The 41mm model starts at $399 for Wi-Fi and $499 for LTE. The 45mm version starts at $429 for Wi-Fi and $529 for LTE, making the Pixel Watch 5 more expensive than the previous generation.

Best for Outdoor Adventures

Garmin’s Fenix watches are designed for people who spend a lot of time outdoors, and the Fenix 9 continues that approach. It has a display that can reach 3,000 nits of brightness, satellite messaging support, and much longer battery life than most mainstream smartwatches.

Garmin rates the Fenix 9 for up to 57 days of battery life, depending on the mode you use. The company launched it alongside the Fenix 9 Pro, with the Pro model adding built-in inReach connectivity for two-way satellite messaging without a phone.

The watch has 64GB of storage, enough for around 7,000 offline songs. It also includes TopoActive maps for multiple continents and fitness features such as Training Readiness, Endurance Score, and an ECG app for AFib detection.

Garmin has also added Garmin Epic, which puts several days of activities, photos, and health data into a single timeline. The Fenix 9 starts at $999.99, while the Fenix 9 Pro starts at $1,099.99.

Best Value

The Amazfit Balance 3 is made for people who want a capable smartwatch without spending flagship-level money. It has a 1.5-inch AMOLED display with sapphire crystal glass and can reach up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness.

Amazfit launched the Balance 3 with a 51.4mm case. It is 14.6mm thick and weighs 62 grams in the stainless steel version. A lighter 55-gram titanium version is also planned.

The watch has a 10ATM water resistance rating, and its HybridCharge Energy Intelligence system tracks training load, daily stress, and sleep. It can then use this information to suggest when you should focus on rest and recovery.

Amazfit has not announced global pricing for the Balance 3 yet. The previous Balance 2 launched at $299 in the US and Rs 24,999 in India, which gives us an idea of where the new model could be priced.

Which Smartwatch Should You Buy?

The Apple Watch Series 11 is the best choice for iPhone users who want seamless access to Apple’s apps, notifications, and health features. The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is a better fit for Android users who want a rugged design, strong health tracking, and a larger battery.

The Google Pixel Watch 5 makes the most sense for Pixel users and anyone who wants Gemini AI features built into their smartwatch. The Garmin Fenix 9 is the better choice for outdoor activities, navigation, and long battery life.

Finally, the Amazfit Balance 3 is a good option for anyone who wants a capable smartwatch without spending as much as they would on a flagship model.

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If you’ve ever felt the need to check for gamma radiation while checking your text messages, Caviar has a new custom phone for you. The company, which usually makes headlines for covering Apple devices in gold or rare materials, just announced a modified iPhone 17 Pro that includes a built-in Geiger counter. It’s called the Geiger, and it starts at $13,130.

Design Details

Instead of just making a rugged case, Caviar actually embedded a physical dosimeter watch, specifically the SIG-RM1208, into the back of the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. This isn’t a digital trick or a companion app. It is a functional Geiger-Müller counter that reads gamma radiation levels in your immediate area.

The watch module sits right in the middle of the phone’s back panel. It has a small digital display that shows the current radiation readings, and you can set it to beep if the levels cross a certain threshold. Around that digital screen is a standard analog watch face, which runs on a basic Swiss Ronda 763 quartz movement to tell the time.

To make the phone match the hardware, Caviar completely changed the exterior. They swapped Apple’s standard glass back for a heavy-duty titanium shell. It looks like a piece of industrial equipment, complete with exposed screws, thick metal panels, and a red line running down the center.

There is also a raised radiation hazard symbol near the bottom, just in case the giant watch dial didn’t give it away. Naturally, all this extra metal and the watch mechanism add a lot of bulk, making the device significantly thicker and heavier than a normal iPhone.

Caviar is only making seven of these phones in total. Each one will have its production number engraved on the case and comes with a certificate of authenticity. The $13,130 starting price gets you the base 256GB iPhone 17 Pro, though the price goes up if you want more storage or the larger Pro Max model.

In related news, Caviar has recently unveiled an ultra-luxury iPhone Ultra featuring a sterling silver makeover with a hefty $18,840 price tag.

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Apple has set the date for its 2026 fall event: September 9. It will also mark the first major keynote under new CEO John Ternus, who is set to replace Tim Cook on September 1. The event has the tagline “Surprise and shine.”

The biggest announcements are expected to come from the iPhone lineup. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are rumored to keep a design similar to the current models, with most of the upgrades happening under the hood. Both phones are expected to use Apple’s new A20 Pro chip, built on a 2nm process. 

Likewise, the main camera may use a variable aperture lens. Apple is also expected to introduce its own C2 modem. 

The standard iPhone 18 and a new iPhone 18e, meanwhile, are expected to arrive separately in spring 2027 rather than at the September event.

Apple’s first foldable iPhone

The other major announcement could be Apple’s first foldable iPhone. According to reports, it will have a 5.5-inch outer display, a 7.6-inch inner screen, and a wide-fold design.

The foldable is also expected to use a titanium frame. Apple has reportedly spent considerable effort reducing the display crease, which remains one of the most noticeable issues with many foldable phones.

However, making the phone thin enough has reportedly forced Apple to make a few compromises. Face ID may be replaced by Touch ID built into the power button. The rear camera system is also expected to use two sensors instead of three.

Apple Watch and iPad mini upgrades

The Apple Watch lineup is expected to receive smaller upgrades this year. The Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 are rumored to get faster processors and updated health sensors, but major changes to their designs are not expected.

Apple could also have several smart home products ready for the event. The company is expected to refresh the Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini. The long-rumored Home Hub could finally make its debut as well. It is expected to feature a 7-inch display and support FaceTime.

The eighth-generation iPad mini could also appear at the event. Its biggest upgrade may be the display, with reports suggesting Apple will finally bring an OLED panel to its smallest tablet.

Software release dates

Apple is also expected to reveal the release dates for its next major software updates, including iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS Golden Gate.

As with Apple’s recent events, the September keynote is expected to be pre-recorded rather than delivered live. Apple will stream it through its website, YouTube, and the Apple TV app.

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Not everyone’s a tablet person. Plenty of people buy one, use it for a week to watch a few shows in bed, and then let it sit in a drawer next to the charger it came with. That’s usually a sign the tablet wasn’t matched to what they actually needed it for. But the ones who do get it, who use their tablet daily for notes, sketching, reading, or genuinely replacing a laptop, tend to swear by them.

The difference in 2026 is that tablets have gotten good enough across the board that almost anyone can find one that earns its keep, whether that’s a massive screen for spreadsheets and Photoshop or something small enough to toss in a bag without a second thought.

Prices have shifted a bit this year too, following the same memory cost squeeze that’s been hitting phones, so a few of these cost more than you might remember from last year’s shopping. Here are five tablets worth considering in 2026.

Apple iPad Pro M5

Apple didn’t make major changes to the iPad Pro‘s design this year, and that’s probably fine. The 13-inch model is still just 5.1mm thick, while the Wi-Fi version weighs 579 grams. Its Ultra Retina Tandem OLED display runs at 120Hz and supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision, with peak brightness of 1,600 nits.

The biggest upgrade is inside. The iPad Pro now runs on Apple’s M5 chip, which brings a noticeable performance boost over the previous generation. Apple claims up to 3.7 times faster performance than the M1 iPad Pro in ray-traced 3D rendering, while gaming tests have also shown better sustained frame rates than the M4 model in demanding games.

Apple has also added its C1X modem and N1 wireless chip. That brings support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, while 40W charging can take the tablet to 50% in around 30 minutes.

You can get it in 256GB, and it goes all the way up to 2TB. Pricing starts at around $999 for the 11-inch model.

The iPad Pro has always been more expensive than most tablets, and that hasn’t changed. You’re paying not just for the hardware but also for iPadOS, Apple’s ecosystem, and the large selection of apps designed for the platform.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra

Samsung has gone all-in on size with the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra. It features a huge 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 1,600 nits of peak brightness. Despite the massive screen, the tablet is only 5.1mm thick.

It is powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 9400+ chip with OneUI on top, and you also get S Pen support, which makes the tablet particularly useful for note-taking, drawing, and other productivity tasks. There’s also an 11,600mAh battery with 45W charging.

Samsung has also given the tablet an IP68 rating for ingress protection. The company has confirmed seven years of software updates for the S11 series, which should keep the tablet useful for a long time.

The Tab S11 Ultra starts at $1,299.99 with 256GB of storage and goes up to $1,899.99 for the 1TB model. Samsung also offers a Pro Keyboard that connects through the tablet’s Pogo Pin connector, making it much closer to a small laptop.

OnePlus Pad 4

The OnePlus Pad 4 is built around the idea that a tablet can be a laptop replacement without costing as much as one. Its 13.2-inch LCD has a 3.4K resolution, a refresh rate of up to 144Hz, Dolby Vision support, and peak brightness of 1,000 nits.

Under the hood is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, so there’s plenty of power for gaming and multitasking. But the battery is arguably the bigger selling point. The tablet packs a huge 13,380mAh battery and supports 80W fast charging.

The large battery means you can go for a long time without reaching for the charger, even with heavy use. OnePlus has also equipped the Pad 4 with an eight-speaker system for entertainment.

Depending on the market and storage configuration, the tablet costs around $630 to $700. That’s considerably less than the iPad Pro and Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra while still giving you flagship-level hardware.

Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro

Not everyone wants a massive 14-inch tablet. The Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro takes a more balanced approach by offering plenty of power in a smaller and easier-to-carry package.

It has an 11.2-inch 3.2K LCD with a 144Hz refresh rate, 12-bit color, Dolby Vision, and up to 800 nits of brightness. Xiaomi also offers a Matte Edition with nano-etched anti-glare glass. It gives the screen a more paper-like finish and makes it particularly comfortable for reading and taking notes.

The tablet runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, and has a 9,200mAh battery with 67W fast charging. Xiaomi even fitted a 50MP rear camera and a 32MP front camera, although cameras aren’t exactly the main reason to buy a tablet.

Its price starts at €649.99 for the 8GB/256GB version and goes up to €769.99 for the Matte Glass model with more storage. That makes it one of the more affordable ways to get flagship-level performance without carrying a huge tablet.

Honor MagicPad 4

The Honor MagicPad 4 is built to be impressively slim at just 4.8mm thick and 450 grams. Despite the ultra-slim body, it packs a 12.3-inch OLED display with a 3000 × 1920 resolution, a 165Hz refresh rate, and up to 2,400 nits of HDR brightness. Those are flagship-level numbers, especially for a tablet this thin.

The tablet is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chip and comes with up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. It also has a 10,100mAh battery with 66W fast charging, which is impressive considering how little space Honor had to work with inside that 4.8mm body.

It also supports the Honor Pencil 3 stylus and Smart Keyboard, but they are sold separately for €50 or £50 each. MagicOS, for what it’s worth though, may not be as polished as iPadOS or Samsung’s One UI in some areas. But if portability matters to you, the MagicPad 4 is an easy one to consider.

Which Tablet Should You Actually Buy?

The iPad Pro M5 is the best overall choice if you want polished software, powerful hardware, and a strong selection of tablet apps. It’s also the obvious pick for creators and professionals who don’t mind paying more.

The Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is the better option if you want a huge display, S Pen support, and a tablet that can double as a desktop-style workstation with Samsung DeX. The OnePlus Pad 4 makes more sense if performance and battery life are your priorities. It gives you flagship hardware without the price of Apple’s and Samsung’s top-end tablets.

Go with the Honor MagicPad 4 if you want a stunning display in the thinnest, lightest body you can find. And if you want something smaller and easier to carry, the Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro offers a strong mix of performance, display quality, and price.

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Apple has announced its latest Mac mini, and this time there are two versions to pick from. One runs the new M6 chip, the other carries over the M5 Pro chip that’s already in the latest MacBook Pro lineup. Both keep the small size Apple settled on with the M4 redesign, so the shape hasn’t changed, just what’s inside it.

Apple Mac mini M6 / M5 Pro Specifications

The M6 model is the one most buyers will end up with. Apple says the AI performance is up to 4x faster than the M4, storage and graphics up to 2x faster, and CPU speed up 40%. The chip has a 12-core CPU, two more cores than before, and Apple says it’s the fastest single-threaded chip available right now. 

The GPU also moves to 12 cores, and each core now has its own neural accelerator built in — the first time Apple has done that on a Mac mini. If you run something like LM Studio locally, Apple’s numbers put first-response times at nearly 5x faster than the M4. The M6 model starts at 16GB and is upgradeable to 32GB, with bandwidth up to 170GB/s.

For heavier workloads, there’s the M5 Pro option. It goes up to an 18-core CPU and 20-core GPU, with the same per-core neural accelerators for AI tasks. It’s configurable up to 64GB of memory and 307GB/s of bandwidth, which is what lets you run larger local AI models or work with ProRes RAW footage without things slowing down. 

Apple’s own numbers show Blender ray-traced rendering up to 4.5x faster than an M2 Pro Mac mini, and Affinity image processing over 2x faster than that same machine. 

Both models add Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and a 2.5 Gb Ethernet port that can run up to 10 Gb. Up front, there are two USB-C ports and a headphone jack. On the back, the M6 model has three Thunderbolt 4 ports, while the M5 Pro model gets three Thunderbolt 5 ports, along with HDMI and Ethernet on both. 

The new Mac mini ships with macOS 27, which brings faster AirDrop transfers, quicker Safari loading, and a rebuilt search system behind Spotlight, Photos, and Mail. On the build itself, the casing is 100% recycled aluminum, and the magnets use fully recycled rare earth elements, part of an overall design that’s now 50% recycled materials.

Pricing and Avaibility

The new Mac mini starts at $899 for the M6 model and $1699 for the M5 Pro model. Pre-orders are already open through apple.com or the Apple Store app, with sales starting September 22 in 30 countries and regions.

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Some images and a short video making the rounds online claim to show actual internal hardware from Apple’s long-rumored foldable iPhone, and they’re popping up weeks before the thing is supposed to launch.

X user @LusiRoy7 shared a quick video showing a physical circuit board plus an AI-cleaned composite image that shows both sides of the same board. The big chip visible on it is reportedly the A20 Pro, which is what Apple is expected to use in the device.

In the image, the system-on-chip die and the DRAM sit side by side and are connected through a redistribution layer instead of being stacked with a traditional interposer. Basically, a redistribution layer is a thin routing structure built right onto the package that re-routes the connections without needing that extra silicon interposer you usually see in stacked designs.

The idea is that this side-by-side layout should help with heat and keep the whole module thin enough to fit inside a folding phone. The chip in the video looks like its top cover has been removed; earlier leaked shots of the A20 Pro showed the usual metal-colored packaging over everything.

If these are real, they’d be some of the first physical images claiming to show actual hardware from Apple’s foldable. That said, the published image is an AI-cleaned composite, so any fine chip markings should be taken with a grain of salt. The cleanup tools can sometimes invent or mess up text in blurry spots. Also worth noting: no Apple logos, model numbers, or etchings on the shielding cans show up in either the video or the image, and none of the usual reliable leakers have backed this up yet.

Like most early hardware leaks, this one is still unconfirmed. The foldable is expected sometime in September. Pricing is widely expected to clear $2,000. We’ll need more solid, independently verified details before anyone can say for sure whether this board is the real deal.

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(Source: @LusiRoy7 on X)

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The argument about flagship phones, or which is truly the best, has always been the same every year. Which one has the best camera? Which one lasts the longest? And, perhaps most importantly, which phone actually gives you a reason to upgrade?

The questions are the same in 2026, but there’s a new problem sitting around this year. Memory prices have gone up sharply, and so have the prices of smartphones. Xiaomi flat-out said that higher component has pushed the 17 Ultra price, while Samsung has reportedly been dealing with higher RAM costs from its own chip business.

You might expect that to make phone makers play it safe. And they likely will with all the flagships coming in September and beyond. For the time being, though, the top-end hardware is still priced relatively well, while offering the best of what they can.

So, if you’re already thinking about spending flagship money today, here are the best flagship phones that you can buy right now.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

Samsung is known for playing it safe with its flagship phones, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra is no exception. It is built around the same formula we’ve seen in the previous Galaxy Ultras, but that’s not to say nothing is new here. 

It starts at $1,299.99 and gives you a huge 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate. There’s Gorilla Armor 2 on top, but the more interesting addition this year is Samsung’s Privacy Display.

The idea around privacy on a phone’s screen isn’t new. We’ve had privacy-focused tempered glass for years, but Samsung decided to ship it on the phone itself. And that too with exclusive customizations.

Samsung’s privacy screen changes the way the pixels work so the screen becomes much harder to see from the side while staying clear when you’re looking straight at it.

It’s one of those features that sounds like a gimmick until you actually use it. What’s more impressive is that you can even hide a part of the screen, like the notification island or messages.

The S26 Ultra also gets a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip made specifically for Galaxy phones. Samsung finally increased wired charging to 60W as well, which is a welcome change after years of sticking with 45W.

The battery, however, is still 5,000mAh. That’s the one area where Samsung hasn’t really kept up with some of its Chinese rivals, which are now putting 6,000mAh and even larger batteries into their flagships.

Still, the S26 Ultra is difficult to fault as an overall package. You get the 200MP main camera, multiple zoom options, the S Pen, Samsung DeX, a polished version of Android, and years of software support.

It may not be the most exciting phone in every category, but that’s exactly why it’s such an easy recommendation. It does almost everything well.

Oppo Find X9 Ultra

Oppo has been working with Hasselblad for a while now, but the Find X9 Ultra feels like the point where the partnership really starts to show.

This is also the first time Oppo has brought its Ultra flagship to global markets, and it has gone all-in on the cameras. There’s a 200MP main camera, a 200MP periscope telephoto, another 50MP periscope camera, and a 50MP ultrawide.

Yes, that’s a lot of megapixels. But the interesting part isn’t really the numbers. Oppo has worked the cameras into its Hasselblad Master Camera System, aiming for a more consistent look across the different lenses.

The rest of the phone doesn’t exactly feel like an afterthought either. There’s a 6.82-inch LTPO AMOLED display running at 120Hz, while a massive 7,050mAh battery handles the power requirements. And when you finally do need to charge it, 100W wired charging gets the job done quickly.

The biggest question is whether you like ColorOS. It’s perfectly capable, but it can feel a little busier than the software on a Pixel or even a Samsung phone.

Then there’s the $1,499 starting price, which is a lot of money, but we also can’t factor out what it is offering in terms of hardware.

Xiaomi 17 Ultra

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is another pick for camera nerds. Its main camera uses a 1-inch OmniVision sensor with LOFIC technology. It is designed to handle a wider range of brightness in difficult scenes. The 200MP periscope telephoto camera, developed with Leica as part of the companies’ deeper partnership, is another highlight here.

And this isn’t just a case of putting a Leica logo on the back. Leica has been involved in the camera’s development much earlier this time, including the design stage.

You can see where Xiaomi is going with this. The phone should be particularly good when you’re shooting after dark, zooming in on something far away, or dealing with scenes where the lighting is all over the place.

The hardware outside the cameras is flagship-grade too. There’s a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, a 6.9-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, and a 6,800mAh battery. Charging is rated at 90W wired and 80W wireless. It’s available in the UK for £1,299.

So, should you buy it? If taking photos is one of the main reasons you’re upgrading, absolutely. If you’re more interested in software, gaming, or the overall ecosystem, there are better choices here.

Google Pixel 11 Pro XL

The Pixel 11 Pro XL is Google’s newest flagship in the market. And unlike other options in this list, it’s not big on camera megapixels or processing power. Pixel phones have mostly been known for software polish and tricks, and the 11 Pro XL is just that. 

The phone starts at $1,299 for 256GB and comes with a 6.8-inch QHD+ AMOLED display that can reach 3,600 nits of peak brightness.

Inside is Google’s Tensor G6 chip, along with a Titan M3 security chip. The camera setup includes a 50MP main camera, 48MP ultrawide, and 48MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom.

As usual with a Pixel, the camera experience isn’t just about the hardware. Google’s image processing does a lot of the work, which is why Pixel phones can often produce great photos without asking you to think too much about the settings.

A novel camera feature this year is Magic Capture. It lets you record videos as you usually do, but once you’re finished, the phone presents you with candid images from those past moments. Google is using AI to refine photos, but it’s still a neat trick for everyone who struggles with poses in normal shoots. 

There is one slightly strange change this year. The Pro XL now starts with 12GB of RAM, down from 16GB on last year’s model. That’s not something most people are going to notice in everyday use, but it does show just how much rising memory costs are affecting flagship phones.

What hasn’t changed is Google’s seven-year software support. The Pixel 11 Pro XL is probably the easiest phone on this list to recommend to someone who just wants Android to stay out of the way and work.

iPhone 17 Pro Max

If you’re already deep into Apple’s ecosystem, you probably don’t need much convincing about the iPhone 17 Pro Max. It’s still the phone Apple wants you to buy when money isn’t the main concern.

The 17 Pro Max starts at $1,199 for 256GB and comes with a redesigned aluminum unibody, a vapor chamber for better cooling, and Apple’s A19 Pro chip.

The 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display runs at up to 120Hz with ProMotion and can reach 3,000 nits outdoors. Apple has also added Ceramic Shield 2 and its new N1 wireless chip, along with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.

The camera setup has three 48MP cameras covering the main, ultrawide, and telephoto ranges, with up to 8x zoom. Apple also claims up to 39 hours of video playback, which should make this one of the better options here for heavy users.

Charging has finally become a little less painful too. With Apple’s new 40W adapter, the phone can reach 50% in around 20 minutes.

Of course, the biggest reason to buy the iPhone 17 Pro Max isn’t any single specification. It’s the ecosystem. If you have a Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods, or other Apple devices, everything simply works together.

The $1,199 starting price is still a lot, but if you’re already invested in Apple, the Pro Max is the obvious choice.

Which One Should You Actually Buy?

Here’s the simple version. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is the one I’d recommend if you don’t have a specific weakness or preference. It’s the complete package, and features like the S Pen and DeX give it things the competition doesn’t really match.

The Oppo Find X9 Ultra is where I’d look first if the camera is the whole reason you’re upgrading. It isn’t cheap, but Oppo has clearly put a lot of work into making this a serious camera phone.

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra makes more sense if you’re particularly interested in zoom and night photography. Its camera hardware is hard to ignore, although availability could be an issue depending on where you live.

The Pixel 11 Pro XL is the easy choice for people who value clean software and long-term support. It’s also probably the least intimidating phone here if you just want something that works without a lot of tinkering.

And then there’s the iPhone 17 Pro Max. If you’re already using Apple products, there’s little reason to look elsewhere unless you specifically want Android.

Flagship phones have gotten expensive, and there’s no getting around that. In previous years, at least the price hikes came with real hardware improvements. The upcoming flagships are set to become more expensive, and AI is to blame. So if you’re thinking of getting a new flagship phone, it’s best not to wait. Rather, know your requirements and get the one that’s best for you.

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Leaked photos have given us a rare peek inside what looks like Apple’s Private Cloud Compute server hardware, and it appears to be running on the company’s own M5 silicon.

Images shared by X user @hsuchingpo show a rack-mount enclosure packed with multiple compute modules. Each module sits on a PCIe-style card with blue ejector latches, clearly designed so technicians can hot-swap them. A service diagram visible in the photos lists 14 numbered board positions, each with its own Apple part number (APN).

A close-up of one module shows a single M5 package under thermal paste, with VRM circuitry along the lower edge of the board and a gold edge connector that plugs into the backplane. The board itself has an Apple-style part-number sticker that reads 631-13397.

A wider shot of the chassis reveals a fully populated server blade. The compute modules are lined up across carrier bars, with each bar holding eight boards. Two of these rows are visible, connected by a central heat-pipe manifold. The service diagram taped inside the lid (listing positions 0 through 13 with unique APNs) points to a modular setup meant for field replacement rather than a fixed, single-board design. It’s possible the full chassis can hold more modules than the two rows shown, or the diagram might not line up perfectly with a symmetrical layout.

While the M5 isn’t as powerful as Apple’s higher-end workstation chips like the M3 Ultra in terms of raw multi-core processing, its higher efficiency means multiple units can be packed densely into one enclosure without major thermal headaches. Apple’s Private Cloud Compute setup relies on device-class silicon instead of traditional server processors, essentially extending the company’s on-device privacy approach to larger-scale AI work in the cloud.

While the photos could be showing an engineering or pre-production configuration, they give us one of the clearest public looks yet at how Apple may be building its secure cloud AI systems.

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(Source)

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Apple isn’t expected to officially unveil its highly anticipated foldable iPhone Ultra until next month, but luxury customization brand Caviar is already showing off what the device will look like, at least what it will look like wrapped in nearly twenty thousand dollars worth of sterling silver.

Design Details

Caviar has announced Liquid Metal, a new custom chassis designed specifically for the upcoming foldable iPhone Ultra. Joining seven other pre-existing designs on the company’s roster, the Liquid Metal variant replaces the phone’s standard exterior with a custom panel crafted entirely from 925 sterling silver.

According to the company, the design is meant to evoke the look of fluid metal frozen in motion. The silver is shaped into a heavy sculptural relief and finished with a high mirror polish, creating a rippling effect across the back of the device that shifts depending on how the light hits it. The standard Apple logo has also been swapped out for a three-dimensional version, also cast in sterling silver.

Unlike many of Caviar’s previous custom jobs, which often feature excessive jewels, gold filigree, or fragments of meteorites, the Liquid Metal design relies solely on the raw material and its reflective properties. It’s a slightly more modern approach to ultra-luxury tech, leaning closer to a piece of contemporary metal sculpture than a traditional piece of jewelry.

Pricing and Availability

Naturally, this level of customization comes with an exorbitant price tag. The Liquid Metal iPhone Ultra starts at $18,840 for the base 256GB model, and Caviar is limiting production to just 17 pieces worldwide. The device ships in branded packaging that includes a signature 24K gold-plated Caviar key.

While Caviar’s renders and physical mockups give us a very clear look at the dimensions and hinge structure of the upcoming foldable, the underlying hardware remains unconfirmed by Apple. We will have to wait for Apple’s official keynote next month to see the standard, non-silver iteration of the iPhone Ultra.

In related news, Caviar has recently launched ultra-luxury Ray-Ban smart glasses featuring gold, silver, and crocodile leather finishes, alongside an ultra-luxury Galaxy Z Fold 8 collection adorned with cinematic icons and 24K gold accents.

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Smartwatches have improved significantly over the years. They now do far more than count steps and display phone notifications. Modern models can track heart rate throughout the day, record detailed workout data, measure sleep quality, monitor stress, and provide GPS navigation for outdoor activities. Many also include advanced tools such as ECG readings, blood-oxygen monitoring, recovery scores, personalized training plans, and emergency safety features.

The best option depends on the type of exercise you do, the health data you want to monitor, and how often you are willing to charge the device. Some watches focus on detailed training and recovery insights, while others prioritize smartwatch features, comfort, durability, or multi-day battery life.

If you are looking for a good smartwatch to track your fitness, workouts, heart rate, and overall health, these are the best smartwatches you can buy in 2026.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 9

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 is the easy recommendation for Android users who want a conventional smartwatch without treating workouts as an afterthought. Available in 40mm and 44mm sizes, it is slim, lightweight, and far less imposing than the company’s rugged Ultra-tier watch.

Its strengths are familiar: continuous heart-rate tracking, sleep monitoring, workout recording, GPS, stress data, blood-oxygen readings, and Samsung’s BioActive sensor platform. But Samsung is leaning harder into interpretation, not just measurement. Features such as Heart Health Score, Daily Cardio Load, Fitness Index, Vitals monitoring, and sleep-based health baselines attempt to turn a sprawling dashboard of numbers into something actionable.

The Watch 9 also offers a bright Super AMOLED display that can reach 3,000 nits, dual-frequency GPS, LTE options, NFC, and up to 32GB of storage. It runs Wear OS 7 with One UI 9 Watch, so it remains useful as an actual smartwatch rather than a fitness tracker with notification spam attached.

Its biggest weakness is battery life. The 44mm model has a 445mAh battery, while the 40mm uses a 390mAh cell, fine for a day or perhaps more, but not Garmin territory. Still, for general workouts, heart-rate tracking, sleep insights, and daily Android life, it is one of the most complete options.

For a wider view of what else is worth buying this year, see our roundup of the best smartwatches of 2026.

Apple Watch Series 11

The Apple Watch Series 11 remains the default choice for iPhone users, and for good reason. It is not the longest-lasting watch here, nor the most rugged, but Apple’s health and safety software remains unusually polished.

This generation adds hypertension notifications, which use long-term optical heart-rate sensor data to look for consistent signs associated with chronic high blood pressure. It also introduces a Sleep Score, combining sleep duration, schedule consistency, awakenings, and sleep stages into one digestible rating. Neither feature replaces medical testing or a clinician, but both could be useful prompts to pay closer attention.

The rest of the package is classic Apple Watch: ECG, irregular-rhythm notifications, blood oxygen tools where available, cycle tracking, noise monitoring, crash detection, fall detection, depth and water-temperature sensors, and a deep catalog of workout modes.

The Series 11 is available in 42mm and 46mm cases, with aluminum and titanium finishes. The aluminum model gets tougher Ion-X glass with a ceramic coating, while the titanium version uses sapphire crystal. Apple rates the battery for up to 24 hours of normal use and up to 38 hours in Low Power Mode. Fast charging can reach up to 80% in around 30 minutes.

Google Pixel Watch 5

The Google Pixel Watch 5 is for Android users who want their smartwatch to be more proactive. It combines fitness tracking with Google’s expanding Gemini AI features, contextual information, and Fitbit-inspired health tools.

The watch comes in 41mm and 45mm sizes and uses a bright 3,000-nit domed AMOLED display. Its dual-frequency GPS is designed to improve route accuracy in dense cities, wooded trails, and other areas where satellite signals can struggle. For runners, cyclists, and hikers, that can matter more than another dozen sports modes.

Fitness features include recovery recommendations based on sleep and heart-rate variability, improved sleep-stage detection, Smart Wake alarms, strength-training guidance, and customized workout plans. Google is also expanding the watch’s role in safety with Breathing Emergency Detection, which uses heart-rate, movement, and barometric data to identify severe oxygen-related emergencies and potentially contact emergency services if the wearer is unresponsive.

Battery life is better than on previous Pixel Watches. The 41mm model is rated for up to 30 hours with the always-on display enabled, while the larger 45mm version can last up to 40 hours

Garmin Venu 4

The Garmin Venu 4 is one of the best choices for people who see fitness tracking as the main event rather than a smartwatch side feature. It is available in 41mm and 45mm sizes and delivers up to 12 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, making it dramatically easier to wear continuously for sleep, recovery, and workout tracking.

Garmin’s health suite is particularly strong. The Venu 4 tracks heart rate, heart-rate variability, Pulse Ox, skin temperature, sleep stages, Body Battery, stress, women’s health metrics, and ECG. The important difference is that Garmin is good at connecting those measurements to training readiness. If sleep quality is poor or recovery is low, Garmin Fitness Coach can adapt workout recommendations rather than simply pushing you to close another activity ring.

The Venu 4 also includes GPS, onboard music, Garmin Pay, Bluetooth calling, smart notifications, a built-in flashlight, and safety-tracking functions. Its software is not as app-heavy as Apple’s or Google’s platforms, but athletes may not care. This is a watch designed for someone who wants reliable heart-rate trends, recovery data, workout plans, and battery life that does not turn every evening into a charging session.

Amazfit Balance 3

The Amazfit Balance 3 targets users who want advanced training metrics without paying flagship smartwatch prices. It features a 1.5-inch AMOLED display, sapphire glass, dual-band GPS, offline maps, Bluetooth calling, 64GB of storage, and up to 21 days of battery life on the titanium version.

Amazfit uses its Hybrid Training System to combine fitness, recovery, and lifestyle data. The system includes BioCharge, LifeLoad, and Training Load metrics. BioCharge estimates current energy and recovery levels. LifeLoad measures daily lifestyle stress. Training Load tracks workout strain.

The Zepp app uses that data to show whether a user should train hard, recover, or adjust their schedule. Weekly Focus and Training Balance tools also help users understand how their workouts are distributed across endurance, strength, and recovery.

The Balance 3 supports more than 180 sports modes. It can recognize 25 strength exercises and eight standard activity movements. It also supports external heart-rate straps, cycling sensors, and running power meters.

Amazfit has added HYROX-specific features, including workout tracking, race simulations, training plans, virtual pacing, and post-race performance analysis. The Balance 3 is a strong choice for runners, gym users, and hybrid athletes who want deeper fitness data and long battery life.

Xiaomi Watch 5

The Xiaomi Watch 5 offers a large battery, Wear OS 6, and a complete set of health and fitness tools. It uses a dual-chip design with a Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 processor and a BES2800 low-power chip. Xiaomi says the watch can last up to six days in regular smart mode and up to 18 days in power-saving mode.

The watch has a 930mAh silicon-carbon battery, a 1.54-inch AMOLED display, sapphire protection, dual-band GPS, NFC, ECG support, and continuous heart-rate and SpO2 monitoring. It also supports more than 150 sports modes and includes offline maps for outdoor training.

Google Gemini is available on the Xiaomi Watch 5, along with Google Wallet, Google Maps, Google Calendar, and the Google Play Store. The watch also supports Xiaomi HyperConnect for smart-home controls and connected-device features.

Xiaomi has also added gesture controls that use EMG, IMU, and PPG sensors. Users can pinch, rub, snap, shake, or rotate their wrist to control functions such as calls, alarms, workouts, camera controls, and media playback.

The Xiaomi Watch 5 is a good option for Android users who want Wear OS features without charging their smartwatch every day.

Amazfit Active 2

The Amazfit Active 2 delivers many key fitness features at a lower price than flagship smartwatches. It has a 1.32-inch AMOLED display, stainless-steel frame, GPS, Bluetooth calling, heart-rate monitoring, SpO2 tracking, stress tracking, temperature sensing, and more than 160 workout modes.

The watch uses the BioTracker 6.0 PPG sensor and includes Zepp Coach training guidance. It can recognize strength-training movements, track running performance, provide virtual pacing, and estimate race achievements.

The Active 2 also offers readiness scores, sleep data, smartphone notifications, music controls, camera controls, and up to 10 days of typical battery life. The premium model includes sapphire glass for added display protection.

The Amazfit Active 2 is a sensible pick for users who want workout tracking, GPS, and heart-rate data without paying for premium smartwatch features they may not use.

Honor Watch 6

The Honor Watch 6 (full review) is built around an idea that many smartwatch owners will find refreshing: not charging every day. Its 980mAh silicon-carbon battery is rated for up to 35 days of use, making it one of the most endurance-focused watches in this group.

It includes over 120 workout modes, dual-band GPS, continuous heart-rate monitoring, SpO2 tracking, stress measurements, sleep analysis, and body-energy estimates. Trail runners get climbing and route-deviation metrics through Honor’s AccuTrack GPS system, while sports such as badminton and football receive more specific performance data.

The 1.46-inch AMOLED display reaches up to 3,000 nits, which should make it easy to read stats during outdoor training. It also has IP69 water and dust resistance, 5ATM water resistance, Bluetooth calling, NFC support in select markets, and gesture controls for managing alarms, calls, and music.

The Honor Watch 6 is less focused on third-party apps than Apple, Google, or Samsung models. But if you prioritize a bright screen, fitness fundamentals, outdoor tracking, and exceptionally long battery life, it is a compelling alternative.

Huawei Watch Fit 5 Pro

The Huawei Watch Fit 5 Pro (full review) focuses on outdoor training and health tracking in a slim, lightweight design. It has a large AMOLED display, built-in GPS, continuous heart-rate monitoring, sleep tracking, blood-oxygen measurements, wrist-temperature tracking, Bluetooth calling, and support for more than 100 workout modes.

Huawei adds several features for more serious activities. The Watch Fit 5 Pro supports trail-running navigation, golf-course maps, ECG alerts, and diving tracking to depths of 40 meters. These tools give it a broader fitness focus than a standard activity tracker, especially for users who run outdoors, play golf, or spend time in the water.

The watch also offers up to 10 days of battery life, which makes it easier to wear overnight for sleep tracking and for multi-day trips without packing a charger. The Huawei Watch Fit 5 Pro is a strong choice for users who want a lighter alternative to a traditional round smartwatch but still need GPS, health tracking, and outdoor sports features.

Oppo Watch X3

The Oppo Watch X3 combines Wear OS 6 with a dual-engine system that moves background tasks to a low-power RTOS platform. Oppo says the approach delivers up to five days of battery life in Smart Mode and up to 16 days in Power Saver Mode.

The smartwatch includes ECG support, continuous heart-rate monitoring, SpO2 tracking, HRV-based stress insights, sleep analysis, dual-band GPS, fall detection, Bluetooth calling, and more than 100 sports modes. It also supports Google apps and services through Wear OS, which gives users access to Google Wallet, Maps, notifications, and third-party apps.

Oppo uses a titanium case and sapphire display protection for a more premium design. The Watch X3 also carries IP69 protection and MIL-STD-810H durability certification. It is a strong option for Android users who want a full Wear OS smartwatch with detailed health tracking and better battery life than most mainstream rivals.

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Details on a new Beats over-ear headphone from Apple have started popping up online before any official announcement.

According to MacRumors, the Beats 360 has shown up on a few e-commerce sites, including Amazon UK. It’s thought to be the same product previously spotted under the B518 codename in the macOS Tahoe 26.7 update.

Unlike the current Beats Studio Pro, the 360 has a more rounded look. The earcups and headband use mesh fabric similar to what’s on the AirPods Max. Both the earcup pads and headband pads are replaceable. You get Performance Knit pads out of the box, with UltraPlush pads available as an upgrade.

Colour options so far include pink, black, sky blue, and cloud white. Extra pad colours like green and navy blue will also be available, so you can mix and match if you want.

On the feature front, the Beats 360 offers adaptive active noise cancellation that adjusts to your surroundings and how you’re wearing them. Official wording claims the ANC can be up to 1.75 times stronger than the Studio Pro. Inside is a custom high-fidelity acoustic platform that focuses on low distortion, solid bass, and clear full-range sound. It also supports personalised spatial audio with dynamic head tracking. The earcups use acoustically optimised memory foam to help with fit and seal.

There’s AI-trained call noise cancellation paired with a beamforming mic setup. Interestingly, this is Beats’ first sweat- and water-resistant over-ear model, with an IPX4 rating. It works with both Android and Apple devices and supports one-touch pairing.

Controls on the back of the earcups include a volume rocker, multi-function button, power button, and listening mode button. The headphones fold for storage and are rated for all-day battery life. A ripstop fabric protective case comes in the box, while extra pads, a USB-C cable, and a power adapter are sold separately.

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(Sources: 1, 2)

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Why would you want a mini PC you have to partially build yourself when Apple will hand you a finished one for $799? That’s the question hanging over the recently launched Minisforum MS-03, and honestly, the answer says a lot about what kind of computer person you are.

Minisforum launched the MS-03 as the follow-up to its MS-01, which quietly became a favorite among home lab tinkerers over the past couple of years. The MS-03 keeps the tiny footprint of its predecessor, but gives people who run Proxmox clusters and local AI models the memory, storage, and networking to actually do that comfortably.

Meanwhile, the Mac mini M4 is chasing something else entirely — it wants to be the computer you buy once and stop thinking about.

Both machines start around the same price. Both fit in one hand. Beyond that, they’re barely playing the same sport.

Price and what you get

The Minisforum MS-03 is sold as a barebones PC, starting at $759 with the Core Ultra 5 336H processor. The higher-end Core Ultra 9 386H version starts at $999.

The reason we mentioned barebone is that these prices don’t include RAM or storage. You have to buy and install those yourself. That means the final price can be quite a bit higher depending on how much memory and storage you want.

The Mac mini M4 is much simpler. The base model costs $799 and comes with 16GB of unified memory and 256GB of storage. Everything is already installed, so you can take it out of the box, plug it in, and start using it.

That’s one of the biggest advantages of the Mac mini. You don’t have to worry about finding compatible parts or opening the computer before you can use it.

The MS-03 offers much more room to upgrade

So why would anyone choose the more complicated MS-03?  The answer is expandability.

The higher-end MS-03 with the Core Ultra 9 386H can support up to 128GB of DDR5 memory running at up to 7,200 MT/s. It also has three M.2 slots for NVMe SSDs and a PCIe x16 slot that can support a low-profile GPU using up to 75W of power.

This makes the MS-03 particularly interesting for people who want to run home servers, Proxmox setups, local AI models, NAS systems, or other projects that need plenty of memory and storage.

The Mac mini M4 doesn’t even try to compete on that front, and it doesn’t need to. Apple’s M4 chip is more than powerful enough for everyday work, photo editing, and even video timelines without much strain. 

But there is very little room to upgrade it later. The RAM and internal storage you choose when buying the Mac mini are what you will have for the life of the computer. You can always add an external SSD for more storage, but you can’t open the Mac mini and add more memory later.

The Mac mini can run AI locally too

The Mac mini M4 shouldn’t be written off if local AI is part of the reason you’re buying a small desktop. Apple says the M4’s Neural Engine can run Apple Intelligence on the device, without sending everything to the cloud. The chip also has a 16-core Neural Engine and up to 32GB of unified memory, giving it plenty of hardware for many AI workloads.

But there’s an important difference between Apple’s approach and what the MS-03 is built for. Apple’s local AI focus is mainly tied to Apple Intelligence and optimized apps, while the MS-03 gives you the flexibility to install Linux, run local AI tools, add more RAM, use multiple SSDs, or even install a dedicated GPU.

Apple also says its system can use Private Cloud Compute for more complex requests, so not every AI task necessarily stays on the Mac itself. That makes the Mac mini a capable local AI machine, but not necessarily the better choice for someone who wants to experiment with different open-source models and build a dedicated local AI server.

That’s where the MS-03’s upgradeable hardware becomes more important. If you simply want AI features that work without much setup, the Mac mini is the easier option. But if you want to experiment, run different models, and keep upgrading the hardware as your AI needs grow, the MS-03 gives you much more freedom.

MS-03 pulls ahead in networking too

The biggest difference between the two computers may be their networking options. The MS-03 comes with two 10Gbps SFP+ ports, a 10Gbps Ethernet port, a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port, two USB4 ports, and Wi-Fi 7.

For a normal desktop, that’s probably more networking than most people will ever need. But for a home lab or server, it can be extremely useful. 

Meanwhile, the Mac mini M4 is much simpler. The base model comes with Gigabit Ethernet, while 10Gbps Ethernet is available as an upgrade. It also has Thunderbolt, HDMI, and Wi-Fi 6E. 

For normal home and office use, the Mac mini’s networking is more than enough. But if you’re building a home server or moving large amounts of data across a local network, the MS-03 has a major advantage.

Windows and Linux vs macOS

Then there’s the software question, which honestly might matter more than any spec on this list. The Mac mini M4 runs macOS and benefits from Apple’s wider ecosystem. If you already use an iPhone, features such as easy file sharing, iPhone integration, and other Apple services can make the Mac a more convenient choice. You also get access to software such as Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro, which can be a major reason to choose a Mac if you are close to editing photos or videos. 

The MS-03 is more open. You can run Windows or Linux and use the computer however you want. You can install Proxmox, turn it into a NAS, create a home server, run virtual machines, or even set up multiple operating systems. This freedom is a big part of the MS-03’s appeal.

Which one should you buy?

The Minisforum MS-03 makes more sense if you like building and upgrading your computers. Its support for up to 128GB of RAM, multiple SSDs, a dedicated GPU, and extremely fast networking gives it far more flexibility than the Mac mini.

It is especially attractive for home lab users, developers, server builders, and anyone who wants a small computer that can grow with their needs.

The Mac mini M4 is the better choice if you want something simple and ready to use. It offers plenty of performance for everyday work and creative tasks, while macOS and Apple’s ecosystem make it an easy choice for existing Apple users.

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Fresh clues about Apple’s next entry-level earbuds have shown up in software code, suggesting the company is already working on a successor to the AirPods 4.

According to MacRumors, the macOS 26.7 Tahoe update contains two internal device codes: B868M and B868E. These line up closely with the ones used for the AirPods 4 (B768M and B768E), which came out in September 2024. The similar naming strongly points to the AirPods 5 and a version of the AirPods 5 that includes active noise cancellation.

Reports so far say the AirPods 5 should get Apple’s new H3 chip. That upgrade is expected to bring better sound quality and lower latency compared with the H2 chip in the AirPods 4 and the recent Pro models.

For context, AirPods 4 offers up to 5 hours of listening on a single charge, 4 hours with ANC enabled, and around 30 hours total with the case. The higher-end AirPods Pro 3, which launched last year, also sticks with the H2 chip. It offers a continuous playback of 8 hours with ANC on (thanks to larger batteries in the earbuds) and about 24 hours total with the case, while adding a sealed in-ear design, stronger noise cancellation, and extras like heart-rate sensing.

The same macOS update also mentions an unreleased Beats Solo Buds model, showing that Apple is still developing products under the Beats brand as well. These kinds of software references are pretty typical for Apple and often appear months before anything is officially announced.

For now, the B868 codes are the clearest sign yet that work on the regular AirPods lineup is moving forward. As Apple gears up for its usual fall product cycle, more details on the AirPods 5, whether they show up later this year or in 2027, will probably surface through additional software finds, supply-chain leaks, or an official reveal.

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(Source)

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Losing your keys used to mean checking every couch cushion, drawer, and jacket pocket in the house. Now, you can clip a small tracker to your keys, bag, or wallet and use your phone to find it.

Apple popularized this category with the AirTag, and we have since seen several makers — smartphone and not — launching their own tracking devices. That market now has a new big name. At the Made by Google event alongside the Pixel 11 series, Google launched its first item tracker, the Pixel Tag. It will go on sale on November 11.

Apple has had the AirTag since 2021 and updated it earlier this year, while Samsung has offered the Galaxy SmartTag2 since 2023. All three do the same basic job, but they work very differently depending on which phone you use.

Here’s a comparison of the Google Pixel Tag, Apple AirTag, and Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 to help you decide which one makes the most sense for you.

Price and design

The three trackers are priced almost the same. The Pixel Tag costs $29 for one or $99 for a four-pack, matching the AirTag. The Galaxy SmartTag2 costs $30 for one or $100 for four.

For a broader look at pricing across the category, see our roundup of Bluetooth tracker options for 2026.

Visually, they look different. AirTag is a small, flat, round disc, closer to the size of a large coin. The Galaxy SmartTag2 is pill-shaped with a large metal ring loop built into one end, so it clips onto keychains without needing a case. The Pixel Tag also uses a pill-shaped, pebble-like body, measuring about 46 x 28 x 5.4mm and weighing under 12 grams, but it has no built-in loop, so you’ll likely need a case or holder to attach it to keys. For now, it comes in just one color called Fog, which is a light gray.

All three use a replaceable CR2032 coin battery, so users can replace the battery when it runs out instead of buying a new tracker.

Google and Apple say their trackers can last more than a year on a single battery with normal use. Samsung claims up to 500 days of battery life in normal mode, or up to 700 days with power-saving mode enabled.

They are also similarly durable. All three have an IP67 rating, meaning they are protected from dust and can survive being submerged in up to about a meter of water for a short time. So a little rain or a wet backpack shouldn’t be a problem.

How they find your stuff

Each tracker has its own strength and/or weakness in how they work. All three use two main ways to find your belongings. They can connect directly to your phone when you’re nearby, or use a larger network of other phones to find the tracker when it’s far away.

AirTag

The latest AirTag uses Ultra Wideband (UWB) to help you find a lost item when you’re nearby. Your iPhone can show you which direction to walk and how far away the tracker is. Speaking of which, the Precision Finding on the new AirTag covers 50% more range than the previous generation, thanks to Apple’s second-generation UWB chip.

Apple also made the new AirTag’s speaker louder by 50%, which the company claims can be heard from up to twice as far away. And when you’re too far away for a direct connection, AirTag uses Apple’s Find My network, so that other nearby Apple devices can detect the lost AirTag and anonymously send its location to its owner.

Pixel Tag

The Pixel Tag works similarly, but uses Google’s Android ecosystem. It uses both UWB and Bluetooth Channel Sounding for precision finding, but the exact features you get depend on your phone’s hardware and software.

UWB uses a dedicated ultra-wideband chip to provide more precise distance and directional information, while Bluetooth Channel Sounding uses newer Bluetooth technology to measure distance without requiring UWB hardware. However, Channel Sounding requires a compatible phone running Android 16 or newer with Bluetooth 6.0 or later, while UWB also requires a phone with a UWB chip.

When the tracker is out of direct range, it switches to Google’s Find Hub network, which relies on participating Android devices to detect lost items. Android smartphone pool is much bigger compared to Apple, and such a large network could be a major advantage in crowded places like airports, shopping centers, and city streets. The more Android devices nearby, the better the chance that one of them will detect your lost tracker.

Galaxy SmartTag2

Samsung’s Galaxy SmartTag2 also combines Bluetooth and UWB. Samsung claims a Bluetooth range of up to 120 meters under ideal conditions. However, the most accurate UWB tracking only works if your Galaxy phone has a UWB chip. Not every Samsung phone has one, so some cheaper Galaxy A-series phones and certain other models won’t offer the full tracking experience.

For finding lost items from a distance, the SmartTag2 uses Samsung’s SmartThings Find network. Unlike Google’s network, this is limited to Samsung Galaxy devices.

The ecosystem problem

This is probably the most important thing to consider before buying any of these trackers. The three trackers don’t work together, and two of them are heavily tied to their own phone brands.

The Galaxy SmartTag2 is the most restrictive. It works with Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets through the SmartThings Find app. If you use a Pixel, OnePlus, or iPhone, you can’t use it as your everyday tracker.

AirTag has a similar limitation on the Apple side. You need an iPhone or iPad for setup and regular tracking. Android phones can scan a lost AirTag using NFC and see the owner’s contact information if Lost Mode is enabled, but Android users don’t get the full tracking experience.

The Pixel Tag is more flexible and works with Android phones running Android 9 or later, although some advanced finding features require newer hardware and software. This gives Google a much wider reach than Samsung. However, it still doesn’t work as a full-featured tracker with iPhones.

So the real choice is fairly simple. AirTag for Apple users, Pixel Tag for most Android users, and SmartTag2 for Samsung Galaxy users.

Which one should you buy?

If you use an iPhone, the AirTag is still the obvious choice. Apple’s Find My network is large and well established, while the new UWB chip and louder speaker make it easier to locate the tag when you’re nearby.

If you use a Samsung Galaxy phone, the Galaxy SmartTag2 is a good option. It has excellent battery life and works well within Samsung’s ecosystem. Just remember that the best tracking features depend on your specific Galaxy phone.

For other Android users, the Pixel Tag makes the most sense. It works across a much wider range of Android phones, costs about the same as an AirTag, has an IP67 rating, and uses Google’s Find Hub network, which the company says covers more than a billion devices. However, note that Pixel Tag doesn’t go on sale until November 11, so you will have to wait if you’re willing to get one.

If you want something thinner or designed specifically for wallets, third-party trackers such as the Ugreen FineTrack Slim Duo 2 are also worth considering. But for a simple first-party option, the Pixel Tag fills a gap Android users have had since the AirTag launched in 2021.

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Apple’s regular iPhone 17 is still holding its own in a crowded camera field. Fresh independent testing has put the dual-camera base model in some surprisingly good company on one of the industry’s most closely watched rankings. It shows clear progress over last year’s model, while also highlighting a few of the usual trade-offs that come with the more accessible design.

DxOMark has tested the iPhone 17’s dual-camera setup and given it an overall score of 157 points. That puts it in 20th place on the global leaderboard, tied with the iPhone 16 Pro, the Oppo Find X7 Ultra, and the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. The score is a 10-point jump over the iPhone 16, driven mainly by the ultra-wide camera moving from a 12 MP sensor to a higher-resolution 48 MP unit. The main 48 MP f/1.6 camera, with its 1/1.56-inch sensor, is carried over from the previous generation.

Video is one of the biggest strengths. The iPhone 17 performs well across a wide range of lighting conditions, with solid autofocus and effective stabilization. DxOMark highlights natural colors, quick focusing, and well-controlled noise. The noise reduction is a bit more aggressive than on the iPhone 17 Pro, which helps compensate for the smaller sensor but can cost a little fine detail in still photos.

The lack of a dedicated telephoto lens is where it loses the most points. Zoom is handled entirely through digital cropping, so the overall zoom score sits lower than multi-camera flagships. Portrait mode also draws some criticism: faces can look a bit less detailed, and the limited depth-of-field control in group shots sometimes leaves background people looking soft.

With the iPhone 18 not expected until spring 2027, the iPhone 17 remains a solid choice for anyone who wants strong camera performance without jumping to the higher price tiers. The fact that it can match or get close to the “Ultra” models on DxOMark shows how much software tweaks and selective hardware upgrades can still close the gap.

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(Source: DxOMark | Unsplash)

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The Snapdragon X2 Elite is a high-performance chipset that offers significant upgrades over its predecessor. CPU and GPU performance have risen sharply, and so has AI performance. The transition to a 3nm node addresses the first-gen’s weakness, while also delivering excellent power efficiency.

With major upgrades, the Snapdragon X2 Elite rivals some of the most powerful chips in the market, including the Apple M5. Both chips deliver top-tier performance with a strong focus on battery backup. It’s interesting to see how these two chips fare against each other. Can the Snapdragon X2 Elite finally outclass Apple’s long-standing domination in single-core performance?

Note: There exists multiple variants of Snapdragon X2 Elite. For this comparison, we’ll focus on the top version of X2 Elite (X2E-90–100) compared with the standard Apple M5 (10 core CPU/10 core GPU).

Let’s begin with the spec sheet.

Snapdragon X2 Elite vs Apple M5: Benchmark score

Cinebench 2026 CPU score

The single-thread CPU test in Cinebench 2026 measures the absolute raw performance of a processor’s architecture without any software-based amplification. It forces the benchmark to run on exactly one virtual pipeline, allowing users to compare different chip designs on a completely level playing field.

Apple still maintains the lead in the single-thread/single-core performance. The M5 scores 731 points, while the Snapdragon X2 Elite manages 676 points. That’s a little over 8% increase for the Apple chip. However, multi-threaded scores tell a completely different story.

With 6459 points, the Snapdragon X2 Elite is significantly ahead of the Apple M5 (3680 points) in the multi-threaded CPU performance test.

Geekbench CPU score (v6.7)

Geekbench also confirms that the Apple M5 leads the single-core CPU test, scoring 4226 points against the Snapdragon X2 Elite’s 4037. Qualcomm’s chip bounces back strongly in the multi-core test, as we saw in the Cinebench test.

In the multi-core CPU test, the Snapdragon X2 Elite achieved 20,544 points. In contrast, the Apple M5 scores just over 17K. That’s a solid 18% boost for the Qualcomm chip.

Both Cinebench and Geekbench tell the same story: the Apple M5 has an edge in the single-core CPU performance, and the Snapdragon X2 Elite rocks the multi-core performance.

We’ll update the post with more benchmark data as we receive them from our team. You can bookmark the page to check back later.

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The iPhone 17 series has been the odd one out so far, except for the Japanese market. While Apple quietly raised prices on MacBooks, iPads, and even the Apple TV 4K in late June because memory and storage costs went crazy (thanks, AI data centers), the iPhones somehow kept their original launch prices from September 2025. That might change in just a few hours.

Chinese leaker Fixed Focus Digital, who usually has decent supply-chain intel, is saying Apple could announce a price hike for the iPhone 17 lineup as early as Monday, August 10. They’re also talking about cutting production of the current models by 15–30%. The leaker wasn’t 100% sure on the exact timing or how big the changes would be, but the report is getting attention because it lines up with the broader mess Apple is dealing with right now.

Apple is apparently having a hard time locking down enough RAM for the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max, and that rumored foldable iPhone Ultra expected in September. Scaling back production on the still-popular iPhone 17s would free up some of those scarce parts for the next generation. We’ve already seen similar production cuts earlier this year, first around 15%, then bigger in some cases.

There’s also a strategic angle. Analysts are already floating the idea that the base iPhone 18 Pro could start at $1,399 or higher, a big jump from the 17 Pro’s $1,099. Apple is expected to only launch the pricier Pro models and the Ultra this fall, with a cheaper iPhone 18 pushed to spring 2027. Raising the list prices on the current 17, iPhone Air, and 17 Pro/Max now would help protect margins and maybe make the next jump feel a little less brutal.

As of writing, official Apple Store pricing is still the same as launch day, and you can still find the base iPhone 17 in the $725–$799 range depending on the retailer and config. If Apple does pull the trigger on a mid-cycle increase, it would be pretty unusual for the iPhone line. These kinds of rumors should always be taken with a grain of salt until something official happens, but the combination of known memory shortages and earlier production tweaks makes it feel plausible.

If you’re thinking about grabbing an iPhone 17, it might be worth moving a bit sooner rather than later, just in case.

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(Source: Fixed Focus Digital on Weibo)

You’ll NeedThe iPhone 17 ships without a wall charger in the box, so a 20W adapter is worth grabbing. Check Apple 20W USB-C charger price on Amazon →

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Apple’s long-rumored camera-equipped AirPods might be closer to reality than recent reports made it seem. While earlier signals pointed to delays, fresh details suggest the company could still bring a version to market as soon as this September.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in his latest Power On newsletter, Apple has been working on camera-equipped AirPods under the internal codename B798. This was one of the first models linked to a camera-based design and was originally planned for 2026 before getting pushed to 2027.

A separate version, codenamed B790, looks further along. References to B790 have already shown up in the second iOS 27 developer beta, and Gurman notes it’s on Apple’s internal roadmap for a possible release this year.

Earlier this month, a leaker who previously lined up with analyst Ming-Chi Kuo’s 2024 predictions claimed the camera AirPods project had been suspended. That report likely referred to the more advanced B798 model. The B790 variant still appears to be on track and may have avoided the same delays. Apple has a history of developing multiple internal versions of the same product at once, which helps explain the parallel efforts.

If the timeline holds, the new AirPods could be unveiled in September alongside the next iPhone lineup, which fits Apple’s usual pattern of pairing major audio updates with its fall hardware events.

The cameras themselves aren’t expected to take regular photos or video. Instead, they’d act as low-resolution visual sensors to give Siri a better sense of the user’s surroundings, unlocking features tied to Apple’s Visual Intelligence tools. A small LED indicator would likely light up when the cameras are active, addressing privacy concerns in a similar way to what’s been done with smart glasses.

Full details are still limited and could change, but the dual-track development suggests Apple is serious about introducing camera-enabled AirPods as part of its broader AI wearables push.

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(Source: Bloomberg)

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Apple just made it a lot easier to get its newest gear without dropping a big chunk of cash upfront. The company has rolled out a new leasing program in the US that gives people more flexible ways to own (or at least use) iPhones, Watches, Macs, and iPads. It’s called Apple Upgrade, and it’s powered by Klarna.

You can sign up for it on the Apple website, in the Apple Store app, or right in a physical store. For iPhones and Apple Watches you can choose 12- or 24-month plans. Macs and iPads get 24- or 36-month options. Monthly payments start as low as $17.99 for an iPhone, $11.99 for a Watch or iPad, and $24.99 for a Mac. Trade in an eligible device through Apple Trade In and that monthly number can drop further.

The application is quick, online or in-store, and only involves a soft credit check, so it won’t ding your credit score. Get approved and you can walk out of the store with the device the same day, or have it delivered/picked up if you ordered online.

When the 24-month lease is up, you can upgrade to a newer model, buy the current one outright by paying a lump-sum residual balance, or just hand it back to Apple in good condition. Everything, including billing and your remaining balance, lives in the Klarna app. You can still add AppleCare if you want the extra protection.

To put some real numbers on it: an iPhone 17 Pro 256GB that normally costs $1,099 would run you about $31.99 a month on a 24-month lease, or roughly $45.99 on the 12-month plan (before taxes or any trade-in credit). An Apple Watch Series 11 GPS 42mm at $399 starts at $11.99 a month for 24 months. No deposit required, though upgrades still depend on eligibility and a fresh approval.

Now that Apple Upgrade is live, the old iPhone Upgrade Program and iPhone Payments options are being retired in the US. If you’re already on one of those, you can switch over to the new leasing plan, stick with Apple Card monthly installments, just buy the phone outright, or look at carrier financing instead. The program is only for US residents 18 and older who meet the ID and account requirements, and devices can only be delivered to US addresses or picked up at US stores.

There’s no official announcement or timeline for an international rollout of the leasing plan yet.

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(Apple)

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Smartphone launches have usually followed a set order. Apple launches in September. Xiaomi launches its own flagship in China the same month. Vivo and Oppo have typically waited until October, and Huawei’s Mate series has often launched in November. A new leak suggests the timeline may change this year.

According to tipster Digital Chat Station (DCS), five major flagship lines are now expected to launch in September 2026: the iPhone 18 series, the Huawei Mate 90 series, the Vivo X500 series, the Oppo Find X10 series, and the Xiaomi 18 series. If the leak holds, these five brands are likely to release flagship phones within the same few weeks instead of spreading their launches across the fall.

More importantly, Huawei is making a big change this year. The Mate 90 series is on track for a September 2026 launch, earlier than the November timing of recent Mate generations. The Mate series has moved later each of the past two years, so that a September date would put Huawei’s flagship in the same window as Apple’s iPhone launch for the first time in years.

Xiaomi’s plan is less surprising, since it launched the Xiaomi 17 series in September 2025 and is expected to repeat that timing with the Xiaomi 18. Vivo and Oppo appear to be following the same approach this year. Both brands are reportedly aiming to unveil their new flagships in September, which would let them compete with Xiaomi from the start instead of launching a month or more later.

None of this is confirmed. DCS has a solid track record with Chinese launch leaks, but companies can still shift dates based on certification, supply, and component costs. Oppo’s Find X10, for example, has already cleared a regulatory step in China, with the company reportedly hoping for a late-September release.

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Apple is gearing up for its most exciting iPhone in recent years. Fresh code found in the latest iOS 27 developer beta is getting everyone talking about the long-rumored foldable device, expected to arrive as the iPhone Ultra this September.

The biggest clue comes from the Battery Health section in Settings. Apple has added new text that refers to “batteries” in the plural, which is a big departure from the usual singular “battery” language used on every current iPhone. You’ll now see lines like “The batteries in this iPhone are performing as expected,” “The health of the batteries in this iPhone has significantly degraded,” and even a warning about “one of the batteries” not being a genuine Apple part.

This plural wording is a strong hint that Apple is preparing software support for a phone with two separate battery cells, a common setup in foldables to work around the hinge and keep the weight balanced.

According to supply chain leaks from Digital Chat Station, the iPhone Ultra could feature two cells: one at 1,921 mAh and another at 2,962 mAh, for a combined total of 4,883 mAh. That’s lower than some earlier rumors that suggested a massive 5,400-5,800mAh battery, but it would still edge out Samsung’s latest Galaxy Z Fold 8 (Wide), which packs a 4,800mAh battery.

On the display side, rumors point to a large 7.76-inch inner screen and a 5.49-inch cover display. Camera-wise, expect a 48 MP main sensor and 48 MP ultra-wide, though it looks like there might not be a telephoto lens due to space limitations.

This battery discovery lines up with earlier iOS 27 code mentions of fold states, multiple displays, and multitasking features built for a bigger, foldable screen. Apple reportedly has mass production elements moving forward after ironing out hinge issues.

If it all comes together, the iPhone Ultra could be a game-changer for Apple users. Yes, it’ll probably come with a very premium price tag (rumored to be between $2,000 and $2,500), but Apple’s tight hardware-software integration could make it one of the best foldable experiences yet.

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(Source: Macworld)

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China’s smartphone market is shrinking, but Huawei and Apple are comfortably bucking the trend. According to preliminary Q2 2026 data from Counterpoint Research, overall smartphone shipments in China fell 2% year-over-year. The dip is largely tied to a sharp spike in memory and storage costs, forcing manufacturers to abandon volume growth in favor of protecting their profit margins.

Component inflation forces OEMs to rethink growth strategies

Huawei led the market in Q2, capturing a 23% share, its highest since late 2020. The company posted a 24% year-over-year increase in shipments, driven by steady demand for the Enjoy 90 Pro Max and the successful launch of the Pura X Max. The Pura X Max’s wide-foldable form factor is proving there is still untapped momentum in the premium foldable segment.

Apple matched that growth, with shipments also rising 23% year-over-year. As rising component costs force Android OEMs to hike their retail prices, Apple’s relatively stable pricing for the iPhone 17 series has made it increasingly competitive. Counterpoint says that consumer expectations of an impending iPhone price hike in Q3 have also prompted many buyers to upgrade early.

Meanwhile, Chinese Android makers are feeling the squeeze. Brands like Oppo, Vivo, and Xiaomi are scaling back low-end production to focus on profitability, leaning on reliable mass-market releases like the Reno 16, Y600 Pro, and Redmi K90 series to cushion the decline.

The hardware market is only going to get more expensive. Manufacturers coasted through the first half of 2026 by using cheaper memory inventory purchased late last year. As higher-cost components finally reach the assembly lines in the second half of 2026, consumers should brace for another wave of price increases across the board.

This component squeeze is hitting even harder elsewhere. In India, Q2 shipments just saw their steepest drop in six years, falling 10% as average prices jumped 15%. The budget sector was devastated, though premium devices remained resilient. While Vivo held the top spot and Nothing managed a rare 105% growth spurt with its Phone (4a), Counterpoint expects the Indian market to shrink 13% this year as affordability becomes an unavoidable global hurdle.

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(Counterpoint)

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According to the updated pricing on Apple’s Japanese website, the base iPhone 17 (256GB) now starts at ¥142,800, up from ¥129,800, which is roughly a 10% increase. The higher-end models saw similar bumps: the iPhone 17 Pro (256GB) jumped to ¥194,800 from ¥179,800 (about 8.3% higher), and the iPhone 17 Pro Max also saw roughly a 10% increase. Other variants like the iPhone 17 Air and iPhone 17e went up between 8% and 11.3%. Apple Watch and AirPods models were hit with similar hikes.

This move comes as the yen continues to hover near multi-decade lows against the US dollar, making imported products more expensive for Japanese buyers. Apple’s Japan team reportedly declined to comment, but the change fits with what other companies have been doing to cope with the currency pressure. Just a few weeks ago, Apple raised prices on Macs, iPads, and other devices globally due to memory chip shortages (though iPhones were spared in that earlier round).

The iPhone 17 series brings upgrades such as improved cameras, longer battery life, a more powerful A-series chip, and a refreshed design for the Pro models. Japan has always been a strong market for iPhones, but these higher prices could make some buyers think twice, especially when comparing them to local options and Android flagships.

So far, Apple hasn’t announced similar price increases in other countries, which suggests this adjustment is specific to Japan’s economic situation. Currency swings can force companies to tweak prices of their products, and this is just the latest example.

For Japanese consumers, the new starting price for the iPhone 17 Pro Max now sits around ¥214,800 in some configs, making the top model feel even more premium. These regional price changes highlight how global supply chains and currency volatility can affect everyday buyers. It’ll be interesting to see if the yen stabilizes or if Apple offers any promotions to soften the blow.

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(Source)

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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.

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.

Apple 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.

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.

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.

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.

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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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)

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Caviar, the company known for customizing electronics with precious metals, has announced its new Legends collection. Timed with the end of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the lineup features customized versions of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and the current flagship Apple iPhone 17 Pro.

Design Details

The designs are centered around football players Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, replacing the standard glass and metal components with enamel and gold.

The Messi edition uses the unreleased Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. Caviar replaces the standard back panel with a portrait of Messi, his jersey number 10, and Argentine national symbols.

The design uses cloisonne enamel, a metalworking technique where colored glass is fired inside wire enclosures to incorporate the white and light blue colors of the Argentina national team.

The phone’s frame and the outlines of the artwork are plated in 24-karat gold. This model starts at $13,130 for the 256GB version.

The Ronaldo version is based on the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. It uses the same cloisonne enamel method but features the red and green colors of the Portuguese national team.

The back panel shows Ronaldo’s portrait, the number 7, and the Portuguese coat of arms over a geometric background.

It also includes 24-karat gold plating on the frame and design accents. The base 256GB iPhone 17 Pro model starts at $11,410.

Caviar is producing 19 units of each design. The phones come in custom packaging that includes a gold-plated key and a branded coin.

The company also mentioned a custom iPhone Ultra featuring Erling Haaland, which will be fulfilled after Apple‘s expected hardware event in September.

The announcement coincides with the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup, which is anticipated to be the last tournament appearance for both Messi and Ronaldo.

While the iPhone 17 Pro has been available since last year, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is slated to launch next week on July 22nd, making the Samsung version an early pre-order.

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As we head into the second half of 2026, getting a smartwatch to last through a long weekend is no longer a challenge. The combination of high-density silicon-carbon batteries and more efficient processors means that multi-day battery life has simply become the baseline for most new devices.

For this list, we are focusing entirely on full-fledged smartwatches. While there are specialized, rugged watches built specifically for hikers and endurance runners that offer significantly longer battery life, they usually achieve that by stripping away everyday smart features and apps. If you are looking for a device that offers a complete wearable experience without needing a daily charge, here is a look at the most reliable options currently on the market.

Xiaomi Watch 5

This watch runs Wear OS 6, an operating system that typically drains batteries quickly due to its heavy app integration and background syncing. However, the Xiaomi Watch 5 manages to provide up to six days of battery life in standard smart mode, and up to 18 days if you switch to power-saving mode.

It achieves this by utilizing a 930mAh silicon-carbon battery, a newer battery technology that allows for higher energy density without increasing the physical size or weight of the watch.

Additionally, it uses a dual-chip setup, pairing a main Snapdragon processor with a low-power co-processor. The co-processor handles basic background tasks like step counting and notifications, which prevents the main chip from waking up unnecessarily and draining power.

This makes it a highly practical choice if you want access to the full suite of Google apps, such as Maps and Wallet, without having to charge your watch every night.

If endurance isn’t your top priority, our broader roundup of the top smartwatches this year covers models that balance battery life with other features.

OnePlus Watch 4

Another strong Wear OS 6 option, the OnePlus Watch 4 offers about five days of battery life in its standard smart mode. If you use it heavily, meaning frequent GPS tracking for outdoor runs, continuous heart rate monitoring, and streaming music offline, that battery life drops to roughly three days.

However, if you need to stretch the battery further, the watch includes a dedicated power-save mode. By disabling the main processor and full Wear OS functions, it relies on a low-power co-processor to handle basic timekeeping, step tracking, and essential notifications, which can extend the battery life up to 16 days.

It is equipped with a 646mAh battery that supports fast charging, allowing you to fully recharge the device from zero to 100% in about 75 minutes.

The watch features a titanium alloy case and a bright LTPO OLED display. The LTPO technology is particularly helpful for battery conservation, as it allows the screen’s refresh rate to drop significantly when you are not actively interacting with it.

It functions well as an everyday watch that provides premium materials and can comfortably last through a long weekend trip without needing a charger.

Huawei Watch GT Runner 2

If you primarily want a smartwatch for tracking workouts and do not need access to third-party apps, the Huawei Watch GT Runner 2 (full review) is a very efficient option.

It runs proprietary HarmonyOS rather than a resource-heavy platform like Wear OS, it provides up to 14 days of battery life with light use, or about seven days under typical daily conditions.

For runners and hikers, the most relevant specification is its continuous GPS tracking capability. The watch can record up to 32 hours of continuous dual-band GPS tracking on a single charge, making it useful for marathons, ultramarathons, or multi-day hiking trips.

It also features a lightweight build at just 34.5 grams and a breathable strap, focusing entirely on comfort and detailed fitness metrics rather than smartwatch app ecosystems.

Apple Watch Ultra 3

For iPhone users wanting to stay within the Apple ecosystem, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 offers up to 42 hours of normal use on a single charge. If you need to extend that, turning on Low Power Mode will give you up to 72 hours by limiting background heart rate measurements and delaying some notifications.

While it does not last as long as the dedicated fitness watches, the S10 chip and watchOS 26 optimizations make it efficient enough to prevent the need for daily charging, even with an always-on display and cellular connectivity active.

When the battery does run low, the fast-charging capability is quite useful, a 15-minute charge provides about 12 hours of standard use, which makes it relatively easy to keep the watch topped up while you take a shower or get ready for the day.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra

The current Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra provides up to 100 hours of battery life in Power Saving mode, or 48 hours in Exercise Power Saving mode, drawing from its 590mAh battery. It runs Wear OS 6 layered with Samsung’s One UI 8 Watch interface, providing deep integration with Android smartphones.

For people already using Samsung devices, a practical detail is how the watch works alongside the Galaxy Ring. If you wear them both, they split the health-tracking workload. The ring can handle background tasks like monitoring your sleep and continuous heart rate, which lets the watch turn off those specific sensors to save battery.

This distribution of work can reduce the watch’s power consumption and extend its overall battery life by about 30%, depending on your daily usage patterns.

It is also worth noting that Samsung is expected to release the next-generation Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 later this month. According to recent hardware leaks, this upcoming model will be equipped with a larger battery capacity, which should further improve its overall longevity and reduce the frequency of required charging.

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A new leak claims Apple‘s upcoming foldable iPhone, expected to be called the iPhone Ultra, may have a screen as flat as the Oppo Find N6. The claim comes from blogger Fixed Focus Digital, who says the iPhone Ultra’s crease will be among the best in the industry.

The Oppo Find N6 from earlier this year is known for its flat screen despite being a foldable. It uses a 2nd-Generation Titanium Flexion Hinge made with 3D Liquid Printing technology. This process uses laser scanning to find small surface gaps, then fills them with photopolymer droplets. 

As previously reported, Oppo built the Find N6 (review) around a titanium alloy dome hinge and Dome Memory Glass, calling it the flattest foldable screen available. The phone has also received Germany’s Rheinland seamless folding certification, and is durable up to 600,000 folds. 

Apple has two options for iPhone Ultra’s hinge system

According to tipster Fixed Focus Digital, Apple has two options to make the screen crease-less (almost) in iPhone Ultra. Either liquid metal or 3D printing. Apple was initially expected to ship the foldable in limited quantity — blame the memory crisis — hence, it was expected to use a liquid metal-based hinge system. 

Liquid metal is a specialized amorphous metal alloy used in hinge mechanisms. Unlike traditional metals with rigid crystalline structures, it cools into a disordered “metallic glass”. This grants the hinge high elasticity, scratch resistance, and the ability to snap back to its original shape.

However, the tipster says that if Apple manages to bargain with suppliers for memory supply and costs, it can ramp up production and switch to 3D printing technology. That is because manufacturing a liquid metal hinge is more complex and difficult than using 3D printing. Apple will decide on a specific hinge system by the end of July, says the insider.

As for pricing, the base iPhone Ultra model is rumored to start at $2,299 to $2,399, close to double the price of the current iPhone 17 Pro Max.

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(Source 1, 2)

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The iPhone 18 Pro Max may cost more to build than last year’s model, according to a new report from market research firm Counterpoint Research. The firm says the hardware cost for the 1TB version could rise by nearly $300 compared to the iPhone 17 Pro Max in the same storage size.

The main reason for the higher cost is — of course — memory. Counterpoint’s report says rising prices for NAND flash storage and DRAM are the biggest factors pushing up the overall cost of parts. Higher-capacity models, like the 1TB version, are said to be affected more since they use more memory to begin with. This means any increase in memory prices hits these versions harder than smaller storage options.

The New Chip Also Costs More

Memory isn’t the only factor for the price hike. The processor is also more expensive this time. The iPhone 18 Pro Max is expected to use Apple’s new A20 Pro chip, made using TSMC’s 2nm process. 

While the new process will offer improved performance and power efficiency, it also costs more to make, which adds to the overall hardware cost. We have already reported on the iPhone 18 Pro Max’s pricing and rising memory costs, which matches this latest cost report from Counterpoint.

Not all components are getting more expensive, though. Counterpoint expects the display and some other parts to cost less than they did on the iPhone 17 Pro Max, which could help offset some of the increase from memory and the processor. 

Apple May Raise Prices Differently by Storage Size

Since high-capacity models are affected more by memory costs, Counterpoint believes Apple may raise prices differently depending on storage size instead of a flat increase across all models. This would help protect profit margins on higher-capacity phones, which are more exposed to NAND price changes.

Counterpoint also predicts that even if Apple raises the average retail price of the iPhone 18 Pro Max by $200, its profit margin could still end up slightly lower than the iPhone 17 Pro Max. 

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(source)

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Apple’s ultra-slim iPhone Air captured widespread attention with its remarkably thin profile, yet early buyers frequently criticized its limited battery life and basic camera capabilities. Fortunately, recent supply chain leaks indicate that the technology giant is planning a major hardware overhaul for its successor. According to industry insider Digital Chat Station, the second-generation model will introduce several internal re-engineering feats to address these major complaints. Here are the four key improvements arriving on the upcoming device.

Expanded Battery Capacity

The small battery footprint was undoubtedly the biggest drawback of the original version. Apple plans to correct this by increasing the cell capacity from 3,149mAh to approximately 3,500mAh. This represents an 11 percent boost in raw power, giving the incredibly sleek device a much-needed enhancement in daily endurance.

Dual-Lens Rear Camera System

The initial model constrained mobile photographers by offering only a lone 48-megapixel Wide lens. To provide better shooting flexibility, the new iteration will adopt a dual-lens array. This setup will pair the high-resolution primary sensor with an ultra-wide lens, giving users far more creative freedom when capturing scenes.

Next-Gen 2nm A20 Chip

The phone’s core performance is also getting a massive generational leap. Shifting away from the A19 Pro architecture, the device will utilize Apple’s upcoming A20 chip, which is manufactured using an ultra-efficient 2nm fabrication process. This advanced design reduces power consumption and keeps thermal issues at bay, drastically extending operational uptime.

Thinner Display Packaging

Fitting these hardware additions into an ultra-slim phone requires clever space optimization. Reports indicate Apple is implementing Samsung’s CoE (Color Filter on Encapsulation) OLED technology. By printing the color filters directly onto the encapsulation film, the entire screen assembly becomes significantly thinner, clearing the necessary internal depth to house the larger battery.

Launch Timeline

By fixing previous bottlenecks, Apple is poised to deliver a thin smartphone that doesn’t compromise on utility. The device is slated to go official alongside the standard iPhone 18 in spring 2027.

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New 3C certification filings for Apple’s upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max confirm their battery capacity, months before launch. These filings are usually a reliable source since they involve regulatory paperwork. 

According to the certification listings, the iPhone 18 Pro is rated at 4056mAh for the China version and 4288mAh for the US version. That’s a modest bump from the iPhone 17 Pro, which came in at 3988mAh in China and 4252mAh in the US. We had earlier reported a nearly identical split for the standard Pro model, based on a leak from tipster Digital Chat Station, so this new filing appears to back up that report.

As for the iPhone 18 Pro Max, the certification reveals a 5391mAh battery for the China version and 5567mAh for the US version, compared to 4823mAh and 5088mAh respectively on the iPhone 17 Pro Max. That works out to an increase of roughly 500mAh. 

Chinese phone makers like Xiaomi, Oppo, and OnePlus have long been packing 7,000mAh-plus batteries into their flagships, and Apple has typically leaned on chip efficiency rather than raw capacity to keep up. A jump toward 5,500mAh, paired with the rumored 2nm A20 Pro chip, could help close that gap further. 

What else do we know?

Apart from the battery, other parts of the iPhone 18 Pro series have also been the subject of leaks. On the chip side, the phones are expected to use the A20 Pro, Apple’s first chip built on a 2nm process. The design is expected to stay close to the current models; however, the Dynamic Island cutout is likely to be smaller as some Face ID components may hide under the display.

On the camera side, dummy units of the Pro Max suggest the phone could introduce a variable aperture in the main lens that can physically adjust how much light reaches the sensor. The camera setup is rumored to use three 48MP sensors along with a periscope telephoto lens. The screen size will be the same as last year — 6.3 inches for the Pro and 6.9 inches for the Pro Max.

As with the battery numbers, none of these details are officially confirmed, and some may change before the phones are announced. More information is expected to come out as the launch, likely in September, gets closer.

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(Source)

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When you think of a watch built for the outdoors, Casio‘s G-Shock is likely the first thing that comes to mind. It has been the practical standard for decades.

But Apple has been steadily carving out its own space in this category, and the Apple Watch Ultra 3 shows just how serious the company is about the rugged wearable market.

Choosing between the two isn’t just about comparing spec sheets; it’s about deciding what kind of tool you actually need on your wrist when you head outside.

Design and Build Quality

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 sticks to its familiar titanium case, which is now available in a black finish alongside the natural titanium. It’s built well, featuring MIL-STD 810H certification, IP6X dust resistance, and 100 meters of water resistance.

It comes with a new LTPO3 OLED display, has thinner borders, and gets bright enough, up to 3,000 nits, to read clearly in harsh, direct sunlight. Apple also pairs this with activity-specific bands, like the reflective Trail Loop or the Scub’H Diving band.

Casio takes a distinctly different approach to durability. G-Shocks rely on thick resin bezels, carbon core guards, and deeply recessed screens to absorb impacts. While the Ultra 3 is tough, it still has a large, exposed glass surface that can scratch or crack if you hit it against a rock at the wrong angle.

The G-Shock is designed so that the screen rarely takes a direct hit. It’s a more forgiving design if your daily routine involves heavy manual labor, climbing, or environments where your wrists take a lot of bumps.

Features and Connectivity

This is where the two watches diverge the most. The Ultra 3 is essentially a standalone communication and health device. Running watchOS 26, it offers 5G connectivity and a new two-way satellite communication feature for when you lose cell service, which is a genuine safety benefit for hikers and backpackers. It’s also a comprehensive health tracker, introducing hypertension notifications, detailed sleep scores, and an AI-assisted Workout Buddy alongside standard features like ECG and blood oxygen monitoring.

G-Shocks, meanwhile, offer a wider spectrum of utility depending on what you buy. The traditional models are straightforward, giving you the time, alarms, timers, and maybe a compass or barometer. However, Casio also makes a range of smarter G-Shocks that bridge the gap.

These hybrid models offer Bluetooth smartphone syncing, step tracking, heart rate monitoring, and GPS. They provide the core data a runner or hiker might want, without the constant ping of notifications or the complexity of managing a full smartwatch operating system.

Shoppers weighing other options can browse our wider list of top-rated smartwatches for 2026.

Battery Life

Battery life is often the deciding factor for outdoor gear. Apple has improved the Ultra 3’s battery management, offering about 42 hours of regular use and up to 72 hours in a low-power mode.

The new fast charging is helpful, 15 minutes on the charger gets you about 12 hours of use, but you still need to remember to pack a proprietary charger and a power bank for weekend camping trips.

G-Shocks are much lower maintenance. Standard battery models last for years, and Casio’s solar-powered options can keep ticking indefinitely as long as they get regular sunlight.

Even the smarter G-Shocks equipped with fitness tracking and heart rate sensors can often go weeks between charges. If you don’t want to worry about your watch dying on a trail, Casio has a clear advantage.

Which One is Right for You?

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 and the Casio G-Shock serve different needs. The Ultra 3 is for people who want deep health insights, reliable connectivity, and modern safety features like satellite messaging and crash detection. It’s a highly capable device, provided you are willing to charge it every couple of days.

The G-Shock, whether you opt for a basic model or one with smart fitness tracking, is for those who prioritize reliability and simplicity. It’s a watch you can put on, take into the mud, and largely forget about until you need to check the time or your heart rate.

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There’s a lot of excitement building around the iPhone 18 series, especially with fresh rumors about meaningful battery life improvements on the Pro Max.

A new leak shared on Weibo suggests the iPhone 18 Pro Max will come with bigger batteries, and the size will vary slightly depending on the region. The European/global version (which still has a physical nano-SIM slot) is rumored to get a 5,235 mAh battery, which is an increase of about 412 mAh (roughly 8.5%) over the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The US variant, which is expected to go fully eSIM-only, could jump to 5,425 mAh from 5,088 mAh (around a 6.6% boost).

For some context, here’s how the rumored iPhone 18 Pro series batteries compare to the previous generation:

• iPhone 17 Pro: 3,998 mAh (EU) | 4,252 mAh (US)
• iPhone 17 Pro Max: 4,823 mAh (EU) | 5,088 mAh (US)
• iPhone 18 Pro: 4,056 mAh (EU) | 4,288 mAh (US)
• iPhone 18 Pro Max: 5,235 mAh (EU) | 5,425 mAh (US)

These numbers line up with an earlier leak from tipster Digital Chat Station, who had already hinted that the Pro Max would finally cross the 5,000 mAh mark. The physical SIM tray in certain regions still takes up space, which explains why the battery sizes differ by market.

Samsung’s current Galaxy S26 Ultra matches the iPhone 17 Pro Max in battery capacity on paper, but it usually delivers slightly shorter real-world endurance. The upcoming S27 Ultra is rumored to get a bump to 5,500mAh, which would be the first battery upgrade on the Ultra model since the Galaxy S20 Ultra back in 2020.

That said, the iPhone 18 Pro Max’s rumored 5,425 mAh (eSIM version) makes direct comparisons very interesting, especially given Apple’s strong hardware-software optimization.

On the other hand, Chinese brands have already made 7,500mAh batteries fairly common in their flagships. Phones like the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max, Oppo Find X9 Pro, and OnePlus 15 have been outperforming both the latest iPhones and Galaxies in battery tests.

It’ll be fascinating to see how the iPhone 18 Pro Max, with its bigger battery and the new 2nm A20 Pro chip, stacks up against competitors from South Korea and China. The iPhone 18 series is expected to launch in September 2026.

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(Source)

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In a pretty interesting move, Apple is reportedly lobbying the US government to allow it to buy memory chips from a Chinese manufacturer. This follows Samsung raising RAM prices by 100% earlier this year, a hike Apple reportedly accepted without negotiation.

According to well-known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the situation isn’t just about higher prices anymore: it’s turning into a real supply crunch that could last through 2027. Lenovo has even warned that the higher prices could become the “new normal.”

In a post on X, Kuo mentioned that Apple is actively trying to keep ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT, also known as Changxin Memory) off the US Entity List so it can potentially purchase DRAM chips from them.

CXMT is China’s biggest DRAM maker, but it’s reportedly on the Pentagon’s blacklist because of alleged military ties. That makes any business with them politically sensitive. Still, Apple appears willing to navigate these tricky waters as memory supply for consumer devices gets squeezed.

Kuo predicts that a big chunk of memory production, around 15-20% of what’s allocated to consumer electronics in 2026, could shift toward data centers and AI infrastructure in 2027. This reallocation is already affecting supplies of LPDDR memory, which is critical for mobile devices. As a result, Apple’s orders for the upcoming A20 chip might come in 10-20% lower than originally planned for late 2026 and early 2027.

We’ve already seen DRAM and NAND prices shoot up, and even Tim Cook has publicly talked about the sharp cost increases.

Adding CXMT as a potential supplier probably won’t completely solve the problem or drastically cut costs because the company’s own production capacity is still limited. But for Apple, it’s about diversifying sources and reducing risk, especially as Apple Intelligence demands more memory.

It remains to be seen whether the US government will approve the request, but the story highlights growing vulnerabilities that could affect phone pricing, availability, and innovation for years to come.

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(Source: Ming-Chi Kuo on X)

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Apple‘s 2027 iPhone lineup is making it to the leak mill today, courtesy of tipster Digital Chat Station (DCS). The insider shared details about what Apple is planning for next year, covering both new models and early development work on future generations.

According to the leak, Apple’s 2027 lineup will include the iPhone Air 2, iPhone 18, and iPhone 18e. All three are said to come with 1.5K OLED displays.

The iPhone Air 2 will have a 6.55-inch screen with a 120Hz LTPO refresh rate. The iPhone 18 comes in at 6.3 inches, also with 120Hz LTPO. The iPhone 18e is the smallest at 6.12 inches, and it also steps down to a 60Hz LTPS panel. 

This fits with what has been reported about Apple’s split launch plan. Apple is expected to release the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and its first foldable iPhone in fall 2026, with the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e following in early 2027. The iPhone Air 2 would likely be part of that same early 2027 wave.

iPhone 19 Pro and Apple’s second foldable in testing too

Beyond the standard models, the leak mentions Apple has started iPhone 19 Pro series testing and molding behind the scenes. Not surprising, since hardware development typically begins a year or more before a device hits the market.

The leak also touches on the iPhone Ultra 2, Apple’s second foldable. DCS says its foldable screen has also been tested and molded, while a previous report clarified that it will have a wider canvas than its predecessor. 

On the naming, DCS notes that “iPhone 19” is a tentative label. He described it simply as “the next generation iPhone,” so the final name could be different.

For context on where the iPhone 18 currently stands, the Pro models are expected to come with a variable aperture camera system and improved image sensors, with Apple reportedly pushing a bigger gap between standard and Pro tiers this generation. More details are available in our iPhone 18 Pro upgrades breakdown.

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(Source)

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Apple’s Mac Studio lineup may have a clear roadmap over the next few years, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. While the next update is expected to focus mainly on new Apple Silicon, a future version could introduce internal improvements aimed at handling more demanding AI workloads.

M5 Ultra Mac Studio expected later this year

According to Gurman, Apple is still preparing to launch a Mac Studio powered by the M5 Ultra chip later in 2026. The upcoming model is expected to be a straightforward hardware refresh rather than a complete redesign. It is likely to retain the current chassis while delivering the performance gains that come with the new processor. This follows the existing Mac Studio lineup, which pairs the M4 Max with the older M3 Ultra chip, leaving the high-end variant due for an update.

Interestingly, Gurman’s latest report focuses only on the M5 Ultra version and does not mention an M5 Max variant. While that does not necessarily mean Apple has cancelled it, there is currently no fresh information on when or if it will arrive alongside the Ultra model.

Looking further ahead, Gurman claims Apple is already planning another Mac Studio refresh for 2028 with the M7 Ultra chip. Earlier reports have suggested Apple may skip M6 Pro, Max and Ultra processors altogether, reserving more advanced AI-focused silicon for the M7 generation.

The report also points to internal hardware changes, including a redesigned heatsink that could improve thermal performance during intensive professional workloads and on-device AI processing. While there is some possibility of a refreshed exterior with the M7 Ultra, Gurman notes that Apple traditionally keeps desktop designs unchanged for several years. For now, users should expect performance and cooling improvements to take priority over cosmetic changes.

What do you think about Apple focusing on better cooling instead of redesigning the Mac Studio? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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Apple’s upcoming iPhone 18 Pro series may not just introduce hardware upgrades, but could also bring one of the biggest price increases in recent years. A new prediction from market research firm IDC suggests buyers may have to pay considerably more for the Pro models, following Apple’s recent pricing changes for Macs and iPads.

IDC expects a steeper price increase

IDC’s latest forecast indicates that the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max could see a price increase of as much as $200 over their predecessors. Earlier, the firm had expected Apple to raise prices by around $100 for the Pro models and $50 for the standard iPhone 18. However, after Apple increased Mac and iPad prices by as much as $300 on certain models, IDC’s Senior Director of Data & Analytics, Nabila Popal, believes the iPhone lineup could follow a similar trend.

If IDC’s prediction turns out to be accurate, the iPhone 18 Pro could start between $1,249 and $1,299, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max could be priced between $1,349 and $1,399. The research firm also expects Apple’s first foldable iPhone to debut this year with an estimated starting price of around $2,500, while higher storage variants could cost as much as $3,000.

According to IDC, rising memory prices are one of the key reasons behind the expected increase. The iPhone 18 Pro models are widely rumoured to feature 12GB of RAM, and the research firm points to Apple’s recent pricing strategy for devices with similar memory configurations. The M4 iPad Air and entry-level M5 iPad Pro both received notable price increases, suggesting Apple may adopt a similar approach for its premium smartphones.

Despite the expected increase, IDC believes demand for the Pro models is unlikely to suffer significantly. The firm says many users with an iPhone 15 or older are expected to upgrade to access Apple’s new Siri AI features, while Pro buyers generally remain less sensitive to higher prices. Monthly instalment plans could also make the increase easier for many customers to absorb.

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(via)

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Over the weekend, the TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo dropped some insights on X about Apple‘s 2027 plans, especially what we can expect from the more affordable models. It gives us a clearer picture of how Apple is trying to balance performance, AI features, and costs in a tricky supply chain environment.

According to Kuo, both the regular iPhone 18 and the rumored budget model (the iPhone 18e, expected sometime around March or April 2027) will come with 9GB of DRAM. That’s a modest bump up from the 8GB in the current iPhone 17 base models. The new setup reportedly uses six 1.5GB chips paired with Apple’s upcoming A20 chipset.

This is a bit less ambitious than earlier rumors that suggested a jump all the way to 12GB. That bigger increase was meant to enable more complex native AI processing on the device. Apparently, memory shortages and cost pressures led Apple to dial it back and prioritize stability instead.

On the chip side, the A20 is moving to TSMC’s advanced 2nm process. Rumors suggest it’ll bring about 15% better CPU performance and up to 30% improved power efficiency compared to the A19 series. That should mean snappier day-to-day use, better battery life, and a stronger neural engine for future AI features.

By comparison, the higher-end iPhone 18 Pro models and Apple’s first foldable (possibly called the iPhone Ultra) are sticking with a more premium configuration: 12GB of RAM and the beefier A20 Pro chip. These are still expected in the usual fall 2026 window, alongside each other.

Kuo’s track record is pretty solid, so this is worth paying attention to, even if things can still change before launch. Some people might be disappointed that the regular models aren’t getting full parity with the Pros on RAM, but this more modest upgrade should at least help Apple keep prices down for buyers who don’t need the absolute latest on-device AI capabilities.

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(Source Ming-Chi Kuo on X)

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