What you need to know

• Samsung has finally published the official One UI 9 changelog for the Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra.
• One UI 9 brings the Galaxy Z Fold 8's My FanCam feature to Samsung's Galaxy S26 series for the first time.
• The update makes the Quick Panel more customizable and adds improved Now Nudge and call screen information.
• Samsung is also adding AI privacy alerts, a new location indicator, and upgrades to Bixby and Samsung Health.

Samsung has finally and officially detailed what's coming to the Galaxy S26 series with the One UI 9 update.

Samsung's One UI 9 rollout for the Galaxy S26 series has been one for the books. Earlier this month, the company announced that One UI 9 would start rolling out to the Galaxy S26 series on September 21. We later learned that Samsung had delayed the rollout, only for T-Mobile to suddenly start pushing the update to Galaxy S26 devices in the U.S.

Safe to say, it's been messy. That said, Samsung has now updated its official support pages to confirm that One UI 9 builds for the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26 Plus, and Galaxy S26 Ultra are available on T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile, and US Cellular (via Android Authority). Unlocked Galaxy S26 owners are apparently starting to receive the update as well.

Despite One UI 9 already reaching several Galaxy S26 devices, we didn't have an official changelog from Samsung detailing exactly what was new. But with Samsung now updating its support pages, we finally know what Galaxy S26 owners are getting.

One of the biggest additions is My FanCam, the AI-powered video tracking feature that debuted with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series. One UI 9 also brings an improved Now Nudge experience, alongside the ability to show relevant information directly on the call screen.

Samsung is also making the Quick Panel even more customizable. You can now separate the Sound Mode button from the volume slider, giving you more control over how the panel is laid out.

There are some new privacy and security features as well. One UI 9 introduces AI-powered privacy alerts that monitor how apps use permissions and can notify you if an app appears to be unnecessarily accessing your personal data. A blue indicator will also appear at the top of the screen whenever an app accesses your location.

Beyond that, Samsung says One UI 9 brings major upgrades to Bixby, Samsung Health, and the Lock Screen Clock, alongside several other smaller changes. You can check out Samsung's full One UI 9 changelog below.

One UI 9 official changelog:

Galaxy AI

Enhanced Now nudge
Now nudge provides helpful suggestions in more places throughout your Galaxy experience. In addition to the keyboard, suggestions will now appear in conversation notifications and in a floating button in the bottom right corner of the screen. There are also several new types of suggestions, like entering reservation details or addresses and saving places in Google Maps.

Focus on someone important
My FanCam lets you select a person in a video and follow them automatically while cropping out the rest of the video.

Interpreter keeps your conversation in front of you
In conversation mode, you can scroll through the whole conversation while you’re still talking.

See useful information during calls
See relevant events and other information related to your current call on the call screen.

Productivity and multitasking

More customizable quick panel
You can now rearrange and customize the controls in your quick panel even more than before. You can change the size of the brightness and volume sliders as well as the media player. You can also separate the sound mode button from the volume slider.

Privacy, security, and device protection

Warranty and care
The new Warranty and care menu in settings lets you check your warranty information and access diagnostic checks and useful information for keeping your Galaxy in top condition.

Lock down your phone quickly
It's now easier to securely lock your phone in a hurry. Just press and hold the Volume down and Side buttons at the same time or tap the Power button in the quick panel. This prevents biometrics from being used the next time you unlock your phone.

Location access transparency
Stay on top of your location privacy. A blue indicator will appear at the top of the screen when an app accesses your location. Tap the indicator in the quick panel to see which app it is.

Stronger security and privacy protection
Alerts will appear in your Now brief to let you know about risks from malware, apps from unknown sources, unnecessary permissions, and other issues that may put your security and privacy at risk. Apps that have been identified as malicious or vulnerable will be blocked from opening until you make a decision about whether to remove them.

AI privacy alerts
Get help protecting your personal data. AI will monitor how apps use permissions and notify you about unnecessary access to your personal data.

Samsung Health

New look for Samsung Health
Samsung Health has been redesigned to make your health data easier to understand. Enjoy clearer visuals, improved charts, and a more engaging experience to help you reach your health goals.

Customize your Health home screen
Resize cards and organize them by category, like Activity, Sleep, Mindfulness, and Nutrition, so your top priorities are easy to access.

Log health data quickly
It's now easier to add your health information right from the Samsung Health home screen. You can log your mood, meals, and more. You can even use the camera for faster input.

Advanced trend analysis
Track your progress with improved trend charts in Samsung Health. View data in hourly, daily, or weekly intervals, pinch to zoom in for a closer look, and overlay multiple charts to compare your performance across different periods.

Monitor changes in your sleep vitals
Samsung Health helps you notice meaningful changes in your sleep health data. Use Galaxy Watch or Ring measurements to better understand your daily health patterns.

Manage your heart health
Track key health metrics and lifestyle factors that affect your heart. A daily score based on your sleep, exercise, BMI, and blood pressure helps you better understand your current heart health trends.

Track your cardio load
See how your workouts and activity impact your heart so you'll know when to push harder and when to rest. Your target cardio load range adjusts daily based on your recent activity and training focus.

Check your fitness index
Your Fitness Index is an overall score calculated using five key fitness metrics: body composition, cardio, strength, flexibility, and endurance. Set a goal and unlock personalized insights tailored to your results.

Keep your ears safe
The new Hearing tracker monitors sound levels detected by your Galaxy Watch and headphone audio levels to help you manage your exposure to loud sounds.

View your cycle and body rhythm
Get a more personalized view of your cycle and body rhythm with new cycle tracking options. You can view your cycle information in your calendar and better understand your health patterns.

Bixby

Activate Bixby with a gesture
Talk to Bixby just by raising your phone close to your mouth and speaking. No wake-up word needed.

Manage your conversations
Keep your chats organized. Search them, rename them, or pin your favorites. You can also delete all of your past conversations at once.

Bixby on the Home screen
Add a Bixby widget to type or talk to Bixby or jump directly to your conversation history.

Accessibility

Discover new Accessibility features
Check the What's new menu in Accessibility settings to learn about and try the latest Accessibility features for your Galaxy.

Text spotlight for easier reading
Need a closer look? Tap any text on the screen to show it enlarged and highlighted in its own window. You can also customize the font size, colors, and other settings to match your preferences.

Physical keyboard shortcuts
Use shortcuts on your physical keyboard to access the Accessibility settings you need without touching the screen.

Mouse keys enhancements
New options are available when using your keyboard for mouse interactions including speed and acceleration control. You can also use the keyboard's number pad to point and click.

Replace swipe with single tap
The Replace swipe with single tap option is now located in the Dexterity and interaction menu instead of the Assistant menu for easier access.

Select to speak
Get quick audio readouts without turning on full TalkBack. With the new Select to speak feature, you can select an item on your screen, like text or an image, and hear it read or described out loud.

Improved TalkBack updates
TalkBack updates can now be applied with a simple app update from the Play Store, helping you get the latest accessibility features and enhancements.

Even more improvements

New Lock screen clock
The default clock on your Lock screen has been redesigned with a cleaner and more modern look that adapts to match your wallpaper.

Samsung DeX enhancements
It's easier to move an app window from one desktop to another using the menu at the top of the window. Desktop previews are now available at the top of the Recents screen, making it easier to switch with a single tap.

I always enjoy using limited-edition phones (who doesn't?), and I liked what Realme did last year with the 15 Pro Game of Thrones Limited Edition. The brand is following that up with another fantasy-related collaboration, this time launching the Harry Potter Edition of the 16 Pro.

I'm a Potterhead; I grew up with the Harry Potter books, and not being content with the canon, I went down the fanfic rabbit hole (HPMOR is incredible). My wife and sister also like the books, and we went to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios a few years ago (it was a thoroughly enjoyable three days, and I highly recommend it).

Anyway, let's talk about the device itself. Realme has proven that it knows how to make a limited-edition phone, and the brand outdid itself with the 16 Pro 5G Harry Potter Edition. The attention to detail with the box, accessories, and the phone itself makes this one of the best collaborations in this category, and I know what I'm talking about — I used every phone-based collab to come out in the last decade.

The design is centered around Hogwarts, and the box that the phone comes in reflects that. The box is styled after Harry's Hogwarts trunk, and it comes with a ton of accessories: you get the Hogwarts letter (which is just plain cool), Platform 9 3/4 train ticket, bookmarks of each house, and four postcards.

There's a delightful SIM card ejector styled like the Hogwarts crest, a phone case with the crest on the rear, and a charger and cable that are of the same color as the phone itself. This is a big deal in and of itself, because most limited-edition collabs use the same charger as the regular models.

All of this leads to an unboxing that feels quite special, and honestly, it's clear that Realme put a lot of thought into this edition. The phone itself continues the Hogwarts livery, with the four-house crest highlighted on the rear along with Harry Potter and Realme inscribed underneath.

I also like the soft brown leather texture, and the pattern contrasts really well with the crest (it's also a good choice if you're into Burberry). Realme says the camera island is styled to look like Hedwig's eyes, and there's a laser-engraved Welcome to Hogwarts etched on to the mid-frame on the right.

I didn't notice this in the beginning, but the crest has what Realme calls Quadra Light-Sensing Color-changing Tech, which basically means it shows the colors of each house when you shine a UV light over it. This is undeniably cool, and I'll admit I wouldn't have come across it if I didn't go to Realme's product page.

There's a lot to like with the software as well. Realme added unique icons and animations, and it makes the device stand out from the regular model. If you don't like the styling, you can use the standard icons that come with Realme UI.

Other than that, the rest of the phone is similar to the Realme 16 Pro. It's a reliable mid-ranger, and it honestly is one of the better choices available in this category. You get a 6.78-inch AMOLED panel, Mediatek Dimensity 7300 Max, 12GB of RAM with 256GB of storage, a 200MP main camera, and 7,000mAh battery.

On the whole, the Realme 16 Pro 5G Harry Potter Edition is one of the best limited-edition phones I used. It does a great job reliving the magic of the Wizarding World, and I like the number of accessories Realme included this time around. of course, the result of that is the phone being costlier than the regular model; it costs ₹62,999 ($656) in India, and that's a considerable hike over what the standard 16 Pro costs in the country. Still, if you're a Potterhead and want a new phone, it is a great choice.

Qualcomm provided travel and lodging to Snapdragon Summit. There was no additional compensation, and Qualcomm did not have any input on this article prior to publication.

This year's Snapdragon Summit came and went, and I was fortunate enough to be on the ground in Maui to check out everything that Qualcomm and its partners had to show off. From powerful new smartphone chips to very interesting smartphones, more capable earbuds to chonky AR smart glasses, and, of course, the first batch of Googlebooks.

The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Extreme was the star of the show, but Summit also showcased a host of devices powered by Qualcomm's latest chip and other Snapdragon platforms. Here are some of the most interesting things I saw during Snapdragon Summit 2026.

Xiaomi 18 Pro comes with two unique displays

It's not too surprising, but Xiaomi was the first Android OEM to launch a smartphone powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 series. In fact, it has two phones, the Xiaomi 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max, sporting each of the new Snapdragon chips.

Beyond using some of the most powerful smartphone chips, the Xiaomi 18 Pro series has unique features you won't find on most Android smartphones. The most obvious is the rear display, which lets users set customizable wallpapers, check notifications, adjust settings, and even take selfies using the rear 200MP cameras.

In addition, the front OLED display utilizes a new pixel layout that lets the Xiaomi 18 Pro utilize a new privacy display feature, similar to the Galaxy S26 Ultra. With it, you can hide the contents of your display from onlookers while still seeing your display clearly. It's also customizable, so you can hide only notifications or specific apps.

The Xiaomi 18 Pro is available in China, with a global launch coming soon.

Motorola Signature 27 brings the heat to Samsung

The original Motorola Signature didn't make it to North America, but its successor, the Signature 27, will launch globally later this year. The phone is a true Motorola flagship, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, with a completely new design and some impressive-sounding cameras.

The main camera is a 50MP Lytia 910, and there's also a 200MP periscope telephoto lens, with cameras supported by Qualcomm's Image Stabilization tech and the device’s 3.5-degree OIS hardware. This is all housed in a striking camera layout, covered in ceramic and brushed aluminum.

Motorola is also partnering with Bang & Olufsen to deliver a high-quality audio experience and has promised up to seven years of software updates, which is pretty rare for Moto phones.

We don't know exactly when the Signature 27 will be available, but it's at least coming in 2026, so it won't be much longer.

Snapdragon gaming is getting a major boost

The Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 is a powerful chipset that promises to upgrade your gaming experience with a new Adreno Neural Fusion. This enables new features like advanced AI frame generation for smoother gameplay and Super Resolution to improve graphics quality.

During my hands-on with reference devices, I played a game that used both features and could toggle them on or off to see the difference. This also included Unreal Engine's Lumen lighting engine.

The visual and gameplay differences were quite obvious, and Qualcomm says developers could decide themselves which of the Adreno Neural Fusion features they want to utilize for their games for the best experience.

Googlebooks bring your phone to your laptop

Google has finally introduced the next evolution of Chromebooks, and it features a lot more Android. The first batch of Googlebooks is here, with devices from HP and Dell running the new Googlebook OS and powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite.

The result is a more premium experience than what you'd expect from most Chromebooks. For starters, the Googlebook OS is built on an Android foundation, so it's more capable than what's possible on current Chromebooks. This makes it easier to add more features to the OS and supports AI features like Rambler, Gemini Live, Magic Pointer, and more.

Googlebooks can also access the full suite of apps on the Play Store, and connecting to your phone is now easier and more intuitive. You can access your phone's files from your laptop without plugging them in, drag and drop files between devices, and even cast apps from your phone to the laptop with ease.

Googlebooks start at $899, and they'll eventually come down in price and replace Chromebooks. But for now, the Googlebook experience is shaping up to be a premium one.

Snap Specs are cooler than I thought

Snap Specs were announced in July, but I finally got my hands on Snap's rather divisive AR glasses. Given their bulky design, I expected to hate them. However, once I put them on, it was clear that Snap has done something quite impressive.

Unlike other dual-display smart glasses, Specs don't require an external puck for battery and processing; everything is squeezed into the glasses, including the two Snapdragon processors, which is part of why they're so huge. That said, despite their size, they're surprisingly light and comfortable to wear.

I was able to play with a few demos, including a Harry Potter experience and a putting app. I was rather impressed with how well the glasses tracked my hand movements and anchored content to my environment. It felt a bit like using a Meta Quest 3 headset, but on a smaller, more comfortable pair of glasses. And while the Specs features some surprisingly good visuals, I was fairly disappointed in the field of view, which was rather narrow.

I can't imaging these going mainstream, but they're still pretty cool for anyone willing to spend $2,195 on these.

Your headphones are getting new superpowers

Alongside the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 series, Qualcomm also introduced the Snapdragon Sound Elite Gen 2, which promises some pretty neat features for your next pair of headphones.

While headphones and earbuds generally route AI requests to your smartphone, Snapdragon Sound Elite Gen 2 brings micro-power Wi-Fi, so your earbuds can connect to your AI assistant or other services without your smartphone. And with Snapdragon Sound Apps & Agents, manufacturers can build on these experiences, which could greatly enhance your audio experience.

In one demo, I translated audio from several languages into English directly on the headphones I was using. Another demo highlighted the AI capabilities, where the earbuds enhanced the voice of the person speaking directly in front of me.

The best part is that Snapdragon Sound Elite Gen 2 is targeting not only headphones and earbuds, but also smart glasses, AI wearables, hearing aids, and even a new category of camera buds.

Your glasses want to be your next doctor

In an interesting demo, I saw how medical professionals could use smart glasses to help diagnose you. A nurse or doctor could wear smart glasses while assessing you, and the glasses would use visual cues to decide what questions to ask next to get the right information.

While I'm not sure if something like this would be well-received by the public right now, especially when there's so much scrutiny surrounding the use of smart glasses, I can see how something like this could be used to help medical professionals triage patients, especially during busy times when there may be a wait to see an actual doctor.

This also appears to be part of Qualcomm's new Personal AI Health Alliance, which aims to make the health data our wearables capture meaningful through a more proactive, detailed, and accessible approach.

Qualcomm and MediaTek have unveiled their flagship chipsets, and we should see these coming to 2027 devices soon. With manufacturers pushing up their launch schedules, we don't actually have to wait until 2027 to see how these chipsets hold up — phones like the OPPO Find X10 Pro Max, Vivo X500 Pro Max, and the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max are already available in China, and will go live globally in the coming weeks.

Just having Elite in the name wasn't enough for Qualcomm, so this year's chipset is dubbed the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. And while MediaTek didn't go anywhere as overboard with the naming convention, it added a Pro moniker this time, leading to the Dimensity 9600 Pro.

What's new this year is that both Qualcomm and MediaTek are using a 2nm manufacturing node. This is a big deal as the last three years have been on 3nm. The move to TSMC’s 2nm manufacturing node delivers huge gains across the board, and both chipsets include LPDDR6 and UFS 5.0 storage integration. So let's take a look at what these platforms have to offer, and when you can get your hands on devices powered by these chipsets.

These CPUs are extreme in all the right ways

Like last year, Qualcomm is leveraging its custom-core design, but this time the two main cores go up to 5GHz, which is wild. Qualcomm went with a standard 2+6 core configuration, with the six Performance cores going up to 4.0GHz. There's 16MB cache, and Qualcomm touts 13% increased performance with the new cores alongside a massive 37% gains in efficiency.

MediaTek, meanwhile, continues to use Arm's latest cores to great effect, and it is doing things a little differently than Qualcomm when it comes to the core configuration. It is using a 2+3+3 core configuration, using two of the C2-Ultra cores at 4.55GHz along with six C2-Pro cores, one cluster going up to 4.35GHz and the other at 3.1GHz.

This is similar to what MediaTek did last year with the Dimensity 9500, and having used the Vivo X300 Pro and Find X9 Pro that featured the silicon, I only have good things to say about how MediaTek implemented this system. MediaTek is claiming a 17% increase in performance this year, with 61% better energy efficiency with multi-core workloads and 37% with single-core workloads.

It's the latter number that should make a bigger difference in daily use, and I'll put these claims to test when I get my hands on phones powered by the platform — it shouldn't be too long a wait as OPPO and Vivo are launching their phones globally in October.

The GPU goes neural

Normally, I would just say that Qualcomm has the edge with the GPU, but it may not be as straightforward this year. Arm has doubled down in this area, and is leveraging neural tech to good effect, and the Mali-G2-Ultra-NX in the Dimensity 9600 Pro is highly intriguing as a result.

Qualcomm is also doing something similar with the new Adreno matrix cores, but it hasn't showcased just how much of a difference this tech would make in visually-intensive gaming. Qualcomm is touting 44% increased performance and 40% gains around energy efficiency, but the latter is a nebulous claim as it relates to games that use its neural tech. MediaTek, on the other hand, lists a decent 27% gain in performance this year, and 24% better energy efficiency at load.

Given all the overheating issues I noticed on Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 phones, I'm going to wait and see how the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 holds up in this regard. MediaTek did a much better job with thermal management last year, and it is entirely likely that may be the case this time as well.

Get ready for the next big imaging upgrade

Qualcomm has always done a great job with its ISPs, and this year it is including 3K60 video, ultra-low-light video at 4K60, and slow-motion video at 4K240. There's tight AI integration, and it remains to be seen if manufacturers leverage any of these features in their devices.

MediaTek made considerable headway in this area over the last 18 months — mostly due to its collaboration with OPPO and Vivo — and it has a lot of the same features as Qualcomm: 8K60 video, 4K240 slow-motion video, and tight integration with the NPU. As the Vivo X500 Pro and Find X10 Pro Max use this platform, there's no doubting that the ISP can hold its own against what Qualcomm is doing.

Coming soon to a phone near you

OPPO and Vivo are launching their flagships globally in October, and while Xiaomi hasn't confirmed when the 18 Pro will debut outside China, it is bound to launch later this year. Interestingly, the 18 Pro models will come to India as well, and that makes things very interesting.

Most Chinese manufacturers don't sell phones in the U.S., but Motorola is launching the Signature 27 in North America, and it is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. The device should be available ahead of the holiday season, but we'll know details closer to launch.

I'll be getting my hands on phones powered by these two platforms soon, and I'll share my findings shortly thereafter. Based on the little I've seen of what Qualcomm and MediaTek have shared, I'm excited to see just how much of a difference there is against 2026 (and older) flagships.

Motorola deals are hardly uncommon, but if you're a Verizon customer, you may have noticed that a few key models are missing from the carrier's store. Fortunately, that changes today, as Verizon just added some new 2026 Razr phones to its site with some excellent discounts to boot.

Whether you want the groundbreaking Motorola Razr Fold, the crowd-pleasing Razr Plus, or an exclusive variant of the standard Motorola Razr (2026), September's Verizon deals spell great news for Android users and foldable phone fans alike. Just be aware that most of the new offers require a trade-in to receive the full discount, so get ready to dig up those old devices.

Need a new smartwatch? Verizon has also started carrying the Moto Watch Ultra, and you can get this sleek wearable for free when you bundle the purchase with a Motorola phone. Needless to say, things are clearly changing over at Verizon, and Motorola fans should take note.

Verizon just got some new Motorola phones in stock - don't miss these deals

It's not much of a surprise, but Xiaomi's latest flagship is the first smartphone to hit the market featuring the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 series. The Xiaomi 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max have just dropped in China, but I got a quick hands-on with the devices at Snapdragon Summit after Qualcomm flew me out to check out the latest chips, devices, and innovations.

There's a lot to like about these phones, from the powerful new chipsets to the rear display surrounding the cameras. But one of its most compelling features isn't quite as obvious, and it both borrows from and improves on one of our favorite new Samsung features.

On the surface, the Xiaomi 18 Pro phones don't look much different from their predecessors. The design is nearly identical to the Xiaomi 17 Pro series, from the thick, boxy design to the rear camera display. However, this also gives users outside China a chance to experience this unique smartphone feature, since last year's model was exclusive to China.

In hand, the Xiaomi 18 Pro and Pro Max are rather thick, but they're surprisingly light despite this. It's not much of a surprise, given the massive 7,000mAh and 8,500mAh silicon-carbon batteries in the 18 Pro and Pro Max, respectively. This is up to 1,000mAh more than the 17 Pro series.

Most of the colors are pretty standard, although the Galaxy Blue option has a rather unique design that's honestly quite striking, especially in sunlight. There's also a transparent option that gives both Nothing and Product(Red) vibes, and it's probably the one I would buy.

The rear 2.7-inch display is interesting because it adds a bit more personality to the phone, with a selection of wallpapers to choose from. It also allows users to check notifications, toggle various features, and even take selfies. That last part is particularly compelling, as it lets you take advantage of the rear 200MP cameras to preview and capture high-quality selfies.

Xiaomi also says you'll be able to utilize AI features using the rear display. I imagine adding these functions onto a smaller 120Hz panel can help with battery preservation, not that the Xiaomi 18 Pro needs it.

In many ways, it reminds me of the cover screen on flip phones like the Motorola Razr Ultra 2026. I mostly use my Razr while closed, utilizing the cover screen to open apps, respond to messages, and take selfies. However, for anyone not interested in foldables, the Xiaomi 18 Pro feels like a viable alternative, especially since you don't have to deal with the compromises that come with having a flip phone (fewer cameras, less internal space for batteries, etc.).

But the rear display is hardly the coolest or most useful feature on the Xiaomi 18 Pro series. Following Samsung's lead from the Galaxy S26 Ultra, Xiaomi equipped these phones with its own Privacy Display, which it claims is more effective than Samsung's. This is due to the unique pixel arrangement of the display, allowing Xiaomi to utilize the feature without compromising on the display quality.

It's also very customizable, going beyond just hiding apps or notifications and allowing users to hide split-screen apps or even floating apps. It's quite compelling, and I'm glad to see this feature come to more Android smartphones.

The Xiaomi 18 Pro series is available now in China, with a global launch happening later this year. Xiaomi hasn't told me when the phones will come to global markets, but it's very likely that North America won't be part of the global expansion plans. Still, with the latest AI chip from Qualcomm, powerful Leica cameras, and two compelling displays, the Xiaomi 18 Pro series is definitely one to look out for when the global launch comes around.

Earlier this week at Qualcomm's annual Snapdragon Summit, Motorola surprised many people by announcing that the flagship Signature 27 is coming to North America. This is a big deal because the last-gen Motorola Signature didn't make its way stateside, despite being pretty well received for its premium design and excellent cameras.

Interestingly, this is also the first time I've seen Motorola at Snapdragon Summit as a featured OEM, which suggests Motorola is really excited about the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 and its capabilities.

I sat down with Nicole Hagen, the executive director and head of Global Product Marketing at Motorola, to talk about why now is the right time for Motorola's return to traditional smartphone flagships and what we can expect from the Signature 27.

Motorola has heard us

Motorola has always taken a regional approach to its device launches. Many devices that come to Europe or Latin America aren't available in North America, and vice versa. As a result, we miss out on plenty of models, including flagships like the original Motorola Signature, which disappointed me and many others. However, Motorola seems to have gotten the message loud and clear.

"We heard you, we heard media, we heard analysts, and I'll be honest, we even heard from a lot of customers in North America on kind of popular feedback forums that they were disappointed," Hagen told me.

"We felt that this year we have the right product with the right specs, with the right capabilities and experiences, and we think that this product is really going to resonate well amongst users looking for a premium flagship phone and perhaps something a little bit different than what they've been offered over the last few years."

She tells me Motorola even saw Signature devices registered in the U.S. that were purchased in other regions, which underscores demand for the phone.

In a way, it makes sense that Motorola would be a bit conservative with its flagship strategy for traditional smartphones, given Samsung's dominance in North America with the Galaxy S series. Over the last few years, Motorola has focused on the Razr flip phones and, more recently, the Razr Fold, which consumers have received well. Only recently has Motorola begun adding top-tier chips to its Razr series.

But now, Motorola appears more confident in its premium smartphone offerings. Hagen tells me that last quarter, Motorola had its best quarter ever by revenue: "15% year over year, and the majority of that growth, of course, was driven by premium products." Clearly, there's a hunger for more high-end Motorola phones, and not just foldables.

What we know so far about the Motorola Signature 27

This year, Motorola skipped the higher-end Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, opting instead for the lower-end flagship chip on the Razr Fold. It still performs well, but based on what we know about the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, the Signature 27 should be a powerful smartphone.

"What I'm most excited about is that the chipset is unlocking a few things for us," Hagen explains. That includes faster, more reliable performance, more helpful AI, and stronger connectivity. She highlights that "one of the big pillars for this franchise is an incredible camera system, both driven by hardware and software, with this common thread of needing to have an incredible global platform supporting it."

The Motorola Signature 27 comes with a few camera sensors, but has only disclosed the primary 50MP Sony Lytia 910 and the 200MP periscope telephoto lens.

She explains that when testing phones like the Signature 27, Motorola goes through several rounds with its own engineers and Qualcomm's engineers to fine-tune Snapdragon's image-processing AI and stabilization.

"We have a couple more rounds of work to do before, of course, we announce and launch the product. But we expect an exceptional DxO result that will help validate the overall experience."

In fact, she teases that even after one major round of camera testing, the Signature 27 is already proving to outperform the Razr Fold, which got high marks among foldable camera systems and has quickly become one of my favorite overall smartphone cameras.

Beyond the camera, Motorola is also partnering with Bang & Olufsen to enhance the audio experience. This multi-year partnership builds on Motorola's ongoing collaboration with Pantone and will bring B&O audio to Motorola's premium devices.

When asked why these partnerships matter, Hagen says Motorola doesn't have an ego and knows it doesn't have to do everything itself.

"We aim to partner with best-in-class partners that we know do it the best, and then partner with them and leverage their strong capabilities. It enables us to bring better capabilities to our end users more quickly."

As for what B&O brings to the table, "Obviously, they're a premium brand. They've been around for over 100 years, and they are able to help us through in the same way that we're doing the tuning on the back end with the camera. We're doing the exact same thing for sound."

New Moto, who dis?

A new chip, exceptional cameras, and a B&O partnership all come together to create a premium experience, but it also needs a premium design. This year, Motorola is switching up its design language to something that I originally found divisive.

The Motorola Signature 27 has a top-mounted camera housing with five distinct circles making up its camera sensors and a flash unit. I'm not gonna lie, when I first saw the Signature 27, it triggered a sense of trypophobia that I haven't felt since the Nokia 9 PureView. But the more I look at it, the more I like it, and Hagen says there were some internal debates about how the cameras should be arranged.

"As you can imagine, this was a very popular one for internal debate, and everyone had their own subjective opinion," she explained.

"In some cases, many of the designs....kind of lean maybe into one specific gender. This one resonated with both."

One good thing about the camera housing (something we can all agree on) is that it doesn't protrude from one side of the phone, as Motorola phones have done over the past several years. As Hagen highlights, it's very balanced, not just visually, but physically. "There's no teeter-totter back and forth, and that was very, very well received."

The phone comes in two colorways: a grippy, black woven texture and a soft, green brushed textile-inspired finish. I didn't get to hold the phone, since it's not 100% final yet, but the Pantone Coal Smoke looked great, and the phone is quite thin, with premium-looking buttons on the frame. The camera housing also features two different textures: ceramic and brushed aluminum, for a very distinctive look.

Then, there's the name. In recent years, Motorola's naming convention in North America has included the full year after the product name, but this year it's simplified to the last two digits. It's a small change, but it's reminiscent of what Samsung does with the Galaxy S series, and I think it should resonate more with consumers.

In fact, Hagen says Motorola looked to competitors and the automotive industry for inspiration for the new naming scheme.

"We wanted something that was simple, clear, and easy to understand," Hagen told me. "Because the purpose of a generation is to indicate newness to folks that are considering a new product. To make it clear, as consumers are trying to, at or post-purchase, buy an accessory that will be compatible."

More to come... soon

The Motorola Signature 27 is launching globally this year, and while Motorola is remaining tight-lipped about the launch date and additional specs, it's clear that Hagen and company are very excited about the device.

"When I said on stage the other day that this is the best device that we've ever created... it truly is. The hardware specs are top-notch; the latest and greatest technology. And I think even more importantly, the outcomes and the experience that our users are going to have will really bring the product forward."

What you need to know

• Motorola's Signature 27 will be one of the first phones powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6.
• GrapheneOS has confirmed initial support for the Signature 27, expanding beyond Google Pixel phones for the first time.
• GrapheneOS is based on AOSP but focuses heavily on privacy, with optional Google Play services running sandboxed.

Motorola's Signature 27 is shaping up to be a serious contender for one of the best Android phones of the year. But beyond all the top-tier specs Motorola is packing into the phone, one of the most interesting features just confirmed for the Signature 27 is support for GrapheneOS.

At the Qualcomm Snapdragon Summit 2026, Motorola took to the stage to showcase one of the first smartphones powered by the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 chipset. Qualcomm's new flagship chip is built on a 2nm process and can reach clock speeds of up to 5GHz, and the Signature 27 will be one of the first phones to use it.

The phone also breaks away from Motorola's previous Signature design with a new camera layout and packs plenty of other high-end features, including Audio by B&O. But alongside all those beastly specs, there's another interesting detail about the Signature 27, and that's support for GrapheneOS.

If you're unfamiliar, GrapheneOS is a privacy-focused take on Android that has grown significantly in popularity over the past few years. It's based on the Android Open Source Project, or AOSP, but is built with a much heavier focus on privacy and security and doesn't come with Google's services deeply integrated into the operating system.

You can still install Google Play services if you want, but they run sandboxed like regular apps rather than having the deeper system-level access they typically have on Android. Think of it as a much more privacy-focused version of Android that gives you greater control over how much access Google and other services have to your device.

Historically, GrapheneOS has officially supported only Google Pixel devices because of the project's strict hardware and security requirements. But that's finally changing, with the Motorola Signature 27 set to become one of the first non-Pixel smartphones to receive official GrapheneOS support.

GrapheneOS confirmed on X that initial support is planned for the Signature 27, although it stopped short of revealing many more details. We don't yet know exactly when support will arrive or what the installation process will look like, but we now know that Signature 27 owners will have the option to run GrapheneOS.

Motorola hasn't announced the exact release date or pricing for the Signature 27 just yet. But between the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, the new flagship hardware, and now official GrapheneOS support, Motorola is certainly giving Android enthusiasts another reason to keep an eye on this phone.

What you need to know

• Pixel 11 users can now delegate routine calls — like checking store inventory, booking appointments, or changing reservations — directly to Gemini.
• You can monitor the entire conversation via a live transcript on your screen and take over the call at any moment.
• The preview begins September 24 for Gemini paid subscribers in the Phone by Google Public Beta.

Google today introduced a new task for Gemini on the Pixel 11: helping you dodge those pesky calls you keep putting off. The company is testing a feature that allows Gemini to contact businesses for routine tasks such as checking inventory, booking appointments, and changing reservations.

The idea builds on Google’s existing Hold for Me and Direct My Call features, which already take care of parts of the experience of a phone call. This time, Gemini goes one step further. You tell it what you need, and it will call the business, identify itself, go through automated menus, wait on hold, and speak with the person who answers, all through the Gemini app.

Google’s updated terms say these agentic calls are placed from your own phone number and use an AI-generated voice. That makes the feature less like a glorified voicemail assistant and more like an AI impersonating you.

You aren't handing over the phone altogether, though. The experience will include a live transcript so you can follow the conversation as it happens, Google says. If Gemini starts to go off the rails, you can take over the call at any point.

Google says it’s limiting the initial rollout as it works through the nuances of real-world conversations. There’s a good practical reason for Google’s decision to limit the initial rollout. These are conversations that are real. Gemini's calls are from real customers trying to book appointments, hold items, or change the date of services, meaning that businesses and the people who work for them have to deal with the AI on the other end.

The preview starts on September 24 for Gemini paid subscribers enrolled in the Phone by Google Public Beta, which is limited to Pixel 11 phones in the U.S.

Have you ever taken a photo on your phone, only to look back later and wonder where all the life went? I've seen people ask why their newer smartphone photos look dull and sterile compared to their older phone, and the answer mainly lies in how phones process photos these days.

Google seems to have heard everyone's cries and implemented a new feature on the Pixel 11 series called Camera Looks. These looks are more than a plain filter; they change how color science works and how shadows are calculated when you take a photo, leading to a result you'll hopefully like better.

What are Camera Looks?

To understand what Camera Looks does to your photos, you first have to understand how modern smartphone photography works. Unlike a "normal" camera, modern smartphones don't just take one picture when you tap the shutter button. Instead, your Pixel phone constantly takes pictures while the camera viewfinder is open; it just doesn't store them until you tap the shutter button.

The moment you press the shutter button, your Pixel saves roughly five photos taken before you press it, plus another five taken during and slightly after. Each photo is taken at different exposure values — meaning some photos are darker while others are brighter — to ensure the camera captures the widest range of light in an image. All this happens in less than a split second.

Your Pixel then takes those photos and combines them into a single picture at the pixel level. If you've ever taken a photo and then immediately tapped the thumbnail to see your shot, you've probably seen the picture "pop" into place and look a lot better after a second or two. This is the result of what Google calls HDR+.

While brightening the shadows and reducing the brightest parts of the photos might be technically excellent, it doesn't look "correct" to our eyes. After years of developing HDR+ into the industry's most technically advanced photo-processing software, Google is letting users pull back on the proverbial reins if they want to.

Google calls this extra control "Camera Looks," and it gives users a quick, easy way to make the Pixel camera look and work the way they want. You can reduce or enhance any specific processing parameters, including sharpening, shadows, vibrance, tinting, and more.

Camera Looks aren't "filters." Each look changes how the photo is processed when taken and delivers a different end look. A filter is something applied to a photo after it's taken, while Camera Looks changes the entire processing pipeline.

How to use Camera Looks on a Pixel 11

Camera Looks is supported on all Pixel 11 series phones, including the base Pixel 11, the Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold. Google hasn't ported this feature to older Pixel phones yet, as Camera Looks currently runs at the hardware level on the Tensor G6's ISP.

Camera Looks is a simple feature on the surface, but it also lets power users dive into more granular settings. Here's how to apply basic Camera Looks to your photos:

1. Open the camera app. You can also double-press the power button to quickly launch the camera.

2. Tap the Settings Sliders button on the bottom right of the viewfinder.

3. Tap on the Looks button on the bottom left of the viewfinder.

4. The viewfinder will now transform into a series of cards. At the top, tap the dropdown next to "default look" and select your desired base processing style.

5. You can also swipe through the Camera Looks cards to choose from 7 different preset options.

Setting your look as the default

By default, you'll need to tap the Camera Looks button every time you reopen the camera. Google does this to make "normal" photo-taking easy, but you can also set your preferred camera look as the default when you open the camera. To do that, follow these steps:

1. Open the camera app.

2. Tap the photo settings icon on the bottom left. It looks like a gear.

3. Tap the More button on the top right of the pop-up. It looks like three dots.

4. Scroll down and enable Always use selected look.

Now, when you open your Pixel's camera, the Camera Look you previously configured will always be enabled. To disable it, just tap the Camera Look button on the bottom right, then swipe through the cards to select another look.

Getting the most out of Camera Looks

While the carousel of cards is a quick way to get some nice presets, Camera Looks lets you dial in eight different properties of the Pixel's photography engine and adjust them in granular detail. When you open Camera Looks, you'll see a row of buttons along the bottom for individual settings. Here's what each one does:

Contrast (-10 to +10): The difference between the image's brightest and darkest parts. Increase this number to create starker darks and lights, and lower it to make the image gentler.

Highlights (-10 to +10): This refers to the brightest parts of a photo, usually something like sunlight coming through a window, a reflection in glass, etc. Increase this number to brighten highlights, and decrease it to reduce them.

Shadows (-10 to +10): This setting affects the darkest parts of a photo. Increasing this number brightens all the dark parts in an image. Decreasing this number will make the darker parts even darker, resulting in higher-contrast scenes.

Vibrance (-10 to +10): This setting affects color intensity. Higher vibrance settings make colors "pop" but can look unrealistic or cartoony at too-high settings. Lower settings make colors look duller.

Tint (-10 to +10): Adjusts how green or magenta an image is. Higher numbers skew the image toward a more magenta tone, while lower numbers make the image look greener.

Warmth (-10 to +10): Adjusts how blue or yellow an image is. Higher numbers skew the image toward yellow, or warmer colors, while lower numbers skew the image toward blue, or cooler tones.

Sharpness (0 to 15): This refers to how much artificial sharpening is added to a photo. Digital photography often uses sharpening to make photos look "high resolution" by enhancing fine detail, but an image that's too sharp looks noticeably fake and often "harsh."

Grain (None/Weak/Moderate/Strong): Adds an artificial grain look to photos. This differs from digital noise, a by-product of how digital photo sensors work. The grain setting does not enhance fine detail. It only adds a grain filter.

Feel free to play with each of these settings to find the look you want. If you don't like the look of stock Pixel photos, I suggest adjusting three settings right away: shadows, vibrance, and sharpness.

Try dropping the shadows a notch or two and see if you like the look. I think the preset "Shadows" Look (found in the drop-down menu at the top of the viewfinder when Camera Looks is enabled) already does a good job of adjusting this setting.

When you're done with that, try giving vibrance a little punch-up. Start with +2 and adjust from there. That, combined with shadow darkening, should give your Pixel photos a nice pop. Lastly, try reducing sharpness just a bit by bringing it down to 8 (the default is 10). This will reduce sharpening, making the photo look more like film and less digital.

It's been a month of using the Pixel 11 Pro XL as my daily driver, and I generally like what Google did with the device this year. There are some frustrations (just like with every phone I test), but as a whole, the Pixel 11 Pro XL is better than its predecessors, and while I don't necessarily like Google's aggressive stance on AI, all of these features are easy enough to ignore.

Instead of a traditional long-term review, I wanted to highlight five things that stood out the most in the month I used the Pixel 11 Pro XL, so let's get started.

The Pixel 11 Pro XL can take a beating

The Pixel 11 Pro XL doesn't look too different to the 10 Pro XL, and I don't mind that one bit. The design is visually distinctive, and I like how clean and minimal the camera visor looks this year. The Obsidian model doesn't have much flair (you'll need to buy the Canyon instead), but the all-matte texture feels great to hold and use.

The positioning of the camera bar means there's no wobble at all when using the phone on a table — this is diametrically opposite to Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra, which wobbles if you look at it. It is on the heavier side at 226g, but the weight is balanced well, and at no point did I feel that it was unwieldy to use.

I'm pleased to report that the phone has proven durability. The Pixel 11 Pro XL took over a dozen tumbles in the month I used it, and while there is some visible damage on the sides, it is all around the mid-frame, and the glass panels at the front and rear are unharmed. There was one notable instance where it skid face-down on a tiled floor; it just slid out of my hand, and my rescue attempt ended up with me kicking it across the room. Anyway, outside of minor scratching on one edge of the screen, the panel held up admirably.

It's good to see that Google actually paid quite a bit of attention to build quality, as the Pixel 11 Pro XL is designed to last a better part of a decade. I had issues with the fit and finish of older Pixels, but that thankfully hasn't been the case in the last two years, so it looks like Google finally has a handle on this.

The cameras are good — if not the best you'll find

I went to an Apple briefing to go hands-on with the iPhone Duo, and normally, I use whatever phone I'm daily driving to take product photos. In this scenario, it was the Pixel 11 Pro XL, and after taking two photos, I realized I made a mistake.

It took significantly more effort to shoot with the Pixel 11 Pro XL, and I wasn't satisfied with the resultant imagery — so much so that I regretted not bringing the Find X9 Ultra at least a half-dozen times. This isn't to say that the cameras are bad on the Pixel 11 Pro XL; if anything, the phone does a better job than previous years. I got plenty of great shots out of the camera over the last month, but it isn't well-suited to take product photos in questionable lighting.

Chinese flagships like the Find X9 Ultra, X9 Pro, Vivo X300 Ultra, X300 Pro, and the Xiaomi 17 Ultra do such a good job in this area that I didn't spot the Pixel 11 Pro XL's obvious limitations with the sensor size and resolution. Anyway, I got usable shots (if not the best quality or detail), but it reinforced the idea that Chinese phones have a significant lead when it comes to the cameras.

Connectivity is a mixed bag (yet again)

You don't need me to tell you about the state of the cellular modem on Pixels. With Google switching to a MediaTek modem this year, I thought the Pixel 11 Pro XL would be on par with other high-end phones. While connectivity is better, it wasn't as reliable as other devices I used in recent months.

I routinely saw an LTE signal in areas where I used to get 5G, and even at home, the signal was spotty. The phone intermittently disconnected from my home network, and I had to manually toggle the internet tile to get it to register on the network again. I get that these are minor quibbles, but I don't want to see any of these issues on a $1,199 phone — no other flagship has these problems.

Battery life is better than I imagined

The 5,115mAh battery on the Pixel 11 Pro XL is relatively smaller (the Find X9 Ultra has a 7,000mAh unit), but thanks to efficiency gains this year, it manages to last an entire day (and a bit) without any problems.

I got a full day of use even while traveling, and charging it wasn't as much of a hassle — it takes just an hour to fully charge the battery. On busy days that involve taking hundreds of photos, the Pixel 11 Pro XL managed to last until the night.

Qi 2.2 integration is a big deal, and not having to use a case makes a real difference. I use Qi 2.2 power banks and chargers daily, and as someone who doesn't like using cases, it's great to see native integration on the Pixel 11 Pro XL.

The software continues to be the real highlight

The main reason I use Pixels is the software, and there's a lot to like in Android 17. Most of the new features are around AI (which I don't need or use), but Rambler in Gboard is incredibly good, and I need it on other Android devices and the iPhone. I like that Google doesn't have any bloatware, and the interface itself is clean, has bright colors, and is highly customizable.

Using the Pixel 11 Pro XL made me realize that Google really needs to launch a Pixel Ultra to take on its Chinese rivals. While the phone does a good job against the iPhone 18 Pro Max and the Galaxy S26 Ultra, it doesn't have an answer to the Find X9 Ultra, Vivo X300 Ultra, and the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, and Google needs to rectify that in coming years.

Although the brand always focused on software to make up the difference with cameras, we are getting to the point with diminishing returns, and Google needs to start using higher-resolution modules and generally deliver better camera hardware.

What you need to know

• Qualcomm and Global Health Connector announce a partnership as the companies found the Personal AI Health Alliance.
• The PAIHA's purpose is to make the health data our wearables capture mean something with a more proactive, detailed, and accessible mindset.
• Continuous health data capture, secure information, and more are a major focus.

New chips for our phones are probably what we look forward to the most at Snapdragon Summit. However, Qualcomm's coming forward with a new partnership—or rather, a new alliance for our health.

Over in Belfast, U.K., AI-powered health solutions were the name of the game for Qualcomm and its partner, Global Health Connector. According to a press release, the two companies have joined forces to leverage AI for our health and create the Personal AI Health Alliance (PAIHA). While these two companies are at the helm, Optum Health, Scripps Health, MERCK, Digital Medicine Society, and Biocom, among others, are also involved.

The PAIHA reportedly has "three main beliefs" that are steering its focus moving forward. The first involves remaining "perceptive." Wearables should provide "richer health insights" through continuous, real-world sensing. The post builds on this, stating AI-powered health solutions show promise in delivering crucial information to users and health providers daily.

Staying "proximal" is another aspect of having AI solutions that are a seamless part of our daily lives. Specifically, this concerns the storage and processing of the user's health data. The Personal AI Health Alliance wants user data to remain private by implementing on-device AI to "reduce exposure associated with transmitting data..."

This is an ongoing process, though; one that the alliance states it will continue to work on and research. Finally, there's the "proactive" side of what the Health Alliance is chasing. Delivering "timely" and "relevant" health insights to users is important for the user's well-being. However, the PAIHA also sees this as a way to "reduce costs or validate drug efficacy."

Rich data should mean something

We're still at the beginning of the PAIHA, but it states that it has provided proof of concept and more. Echoing its beliefs, the PAIHA states these AI-powered solutions aim to make health data "more continuous." However, your health data is yours. It should feel personal, while also remaining accessible. Bleddyn Rees, Global Health Connector, said, "Healthcare is data-rich but often insight-poor. The real opportunity lies in turning data into actionable intelligence that improves outcomes for everyone."

We've seen similar sentiments and an urge to make continuous health recording mean something before. This seems to be the direction this space is headed. With a stronger alliance such as the PAIHA, perhaps the future looks bright.

What you need to know

• Qualcomm revealed the Snapdragon Sound Elite Gen 2, its latest advancement in its premium audio technology.
• The chip offers "industry-leading" audio tech with adaptive ANC and aptX Lossless support, with "context-aware" listening.
• The Sound Elite Gen 2's personal AI will assist users daily with requests and tasks given, while keeping its power consumption low and your audio experience strong.

It feels like it's been a while since Qualcomm's premium audio technology. That's precisely why, at Snapdragon Summit, the company announced the next generation of Snapdragon Sound.

This afternoon, Qualcomm revealed the Snapdragon Sound Elite Gen 2. Its press release positions the Sound Elite Gen 2 as a "premium audio platform purpose-built for personal AI..." Qualcomm states that it combined on-device AI, cloud-connected capabilities, and "industry-leading" audio tech for this new chip. However, it's the audio power of the Sound Elite Gen 2 that's the main focus.

Qualcomm says it's reworked the new chip to feature immersive, "high-fidelity" audio for wireless devices. Consumers should notice these improvements while listening to music, voices, shows/movies, games, and more. The chip's aptX Lossless support delivers "bit-for-bit" music streaming, meaning you won't miss a beat and every sound is delivered with clarity.

Qualcomm is reportedly confident that this higher-quality sound will remain consistent over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. On the other hand, you have Qualcomm's AI that can reportedly "continuously respond to the user." The AI will account for your activity and your environment while you're listening to ensure everything remains clear. Adaptive ANC (active noise cancellation) and "context-aware listening" are two major hallmarks. The chip's AI is also fully capable of taking user requests.

In short, it can assist with translations, retrieving information, and more.

Qualcomm Sound

With everything new and improved Qualcomm's worked on, there's a concern about the toll on our phones. The company states the Snapdragon Sound Elite Gen 2 features "up to 40% lower power consumption" compared to previous generations. What's more, Qualcomm sees the chip headed to "intelligent hearables." Such devices include premium AI earbuds, open-ear devices, audio glasses, camera buds, hearing and wellness devices, and AI wearables.

Other areas include qobuz, cinemo, and more. Much of the Sound Elite Gen 2's AI assistance is enhanced by its Wi-Fi 6E support. Qualcomm says this offers direct-to-cloud connectivity that "makes always-on personal AI" possible. The post states this is more "practical," as to not compromise your battery life and audio listening experience.

What you need to know

• Xiaomi launched the 18 Pro series in China this week, stating the 18 Pro Max features a 6.9-inch main display and a 2.9-inch rear display.
• The Xiaomi 18 Pro features a 6.4-inch screen and a 2.7-inch rear display; however, both phones feature the new privacy screen with "location-based triggers."
• This privacy screen will automatically hide content on your phone depending on your location, which may carry sensitive information (alerts, floating windows, etc.).
• The Xiaomi 18 Pro Max starts at 6,999 CNY (~$1,042), while the 18 Pro begins at 5,999 CNY (~$900).

The wait is over; Xiaomi's 18 Pro series is here. The Chinese OEM has launched its latest flagship phones for its consumers, and there's new tech and new features to explore.

The Xiaomi 18 Pro and Pro Max debuted in China early this morning (via GSMArena). Getting us started is the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. The device features a 6.9-inch AMOLED front display and a 2.9-inch rear screen. For the moment, we'll focus on the main display, since Xiaomi has equipped it with a proactive privacy screen.

This will sound similar to what Samsung did with the Galaxy S26 Ultra; however, the publication notes one major difference: Xiaomi uses "location-based triggers." This privacy screen will activate depending on where you are to block anything carrying sensitive information (notifications, floating windows, etc.). The rear display now benefits from Xiaomi's AI, Xiao, for mini-app creation, timers, and reminders.

There are three cameras on the 18 Pro Max: a 200MP main lens, a 200MP periscope telephoto sensor, and a 50MP ultrawide camera. The selfie camera reportedly arrives at 50MP. Powering the phone is an 8,500mAh battery with 100W wired and 50W wireless charging capabilities. Xiaomi officially lists the 18 Pro Max with five RAM/storage configurations. Consumers will find an entry 12/256GB up to a 16/1TB option.

The Xiaomi 18 Pro Max starts at 6,999 CNY (~$1,042). The phone is available in China in black, white, blue, and pink; however, there is a Special Edition transparent red option (16/1TB). A global launch is expected, something that Xiaomi mentioned during the Snapdragon Summit. Details about it will likely come at a later date

Xiaomi 18 Pro

There are a few similarities between the 18 Pro and the 18 Pro Max, but we'll begin with what separates them. The Xiaomi 18 Pro features a slightly smaller 6.4-inch AMOLED main screen and a 2.7-inch rear display. The OEM opted for Qualcomm's "more efficient" Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 for the 18 Pro and a 7,000mAh battery with similar charging capabilities.

For what remains continuous, the 18 Pro features the same triple camera array as the 18 Pro Max: a 200MP main lens, a 200MP periscope telephoto sensor, and a 50MP ultrawide camera. Additionally, Xiaomi placed its new privacy screen with location-based triggers on the 18 Pro, too. Other tools, such as Xiao AI and the mini-app creation for the rear display, remain on the 18 Pro.

Xiaomi lists the 18 Pro with the same color assortment as the 18 Pro, including the red transparent Special Edition. The phone starts at 5,999 CNY (~$900). Consumers in China will find it in four RAM/storage configurations: 12/256GB, 12/512GB, 16/512GB, 16/1TB.

Qualcomm's Snapdragon Summit is going on. Yesterday (Sept. 22), Xiaomi's SVP and president of international business, Adam Zeng, took the stage to tease the 18 Pro series. Adam Zeng said that the Xiaomi 18 Pro series will be the first phones to feature Qualcomm's Dual 8 Elites: the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and the 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. Each chip is designed for a different purpose. While both are strong, Qualcomm says the 8 Elite Gen 6 is "built for efficiency," while the 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 is more focused on "peak performance."

Tech keeps getting more and more expensive, but that doesn't mean that you can't find the occasional cheap Android phone deal if you know where to look. Grab the unlocked Nothing Phone (4a) Pro from Amazon today, for example, and you'll get a straight $50 off your purchase. That knocks the price of the midrange masterpiece down to just $449!

The Nothing Phone (4a) Pro easily holds its own against midrange Android phones like the Google Pixel 10a and the Samsung Galaxy A57 5G, blending eye-catching design and a 144Hz AMOLED display with efficient Snapdragon performance and a large 5,080mAh battery.

This deal comes just a few weeks before Amazon's Big Deal Days sale on October 6th and 7th, but why wait for Prime Day when you can score a discount on a great cheap Android phone today? After all, it's unlikely that the price will dip much further when the sale begins in earnest, and you run the risk of stock selling out if you wait too long.

• Prime Big Deal Days returns October 6-7: see the full list of early deals

Reviewer Nick Sutrich called the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro the 'only $499 phone I'd buy' in his 4.5/5-star review earlier this year, and looking at the specs, it isn't hard to see why. The cheap Android phone boasts incredible build quality with one of the best-looking designs in the business, plus you get a gorgeous 144Hz AMOLED display with PWM dimming, plenty of on-device AI features, and six years of software support guaranteed.

The 128GB configuration of the phone also comes with 8GB of RAM, while the 256GB version will increase that to 12GB. Constructed from a metal unibody with an IP65 resistance rating, the Phone (4a) Pro also features a large 5,080mAh battery that will easily last over a day on a single charge, while unique features like Essential Space and Nothing Playground ensure that you're getting a flagship-quality software experience without paying a flagship price.

As far as hardware is concerned, the Phone (4a) Pro utilizes a Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chipset that falls a bit behind the Google Pixel 10a's Tensor G4 when looking at peak performance, but it's crucial to note that the Snapdragon CPU performs more efficiently over longer periods of time. The Pixel 10a, on the other hand, is known to overheat, making it less reliable for regular daily use.

Each phone has their own strengths and weaknesses, but if I was trying to decide between the Pixel 10a and the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro, I'd choose the device that takes risks over the same-old, same-old.

What you need to know

• Motorola and Lenovo's always-on AI, Qira, receives a major phone expansion with the company's Android 17 upgrade.
• Qira is a context-aware AI that helps users find new outfits with "Style Sync" or stay in the loop with "Catch me up."
• Motorola says that with its Android 17 upgrade, consumers should look out for Qira on the Signature, Razr, and Edge series.

Motorola and Lenovo's system-level intelligence, Qira, is expanding to more phones this week with Android 17. Motorola details which devices will see Qira in this new expansion.

At the start of Qualcomm's Snapdragon Summit, Motorola got a Qira announcement out of the way regarding its Android 17 upgrade. If Qira is supported, Moto says users can take the AI's assistance with them from their phone, desktop, watch, and PC. With the "Hey Qira" wake word, Moto says the AI can provide "features like Catch me up, the ability to ask urgent questions, and a knowledge base that features all of their saved files, preferences, and synced cross-device information."

Permitting Qira activates another level of assistance for your Motorola phone. Continuing a project from your phone on your PC is one of those unlocked features. What's more, "Pay Attention" helps users with transcribed audio recordings that "summarize key points." You can also find "Next Move." This feature suggests what you should do next. If you're reading a blog post, it might ask if you want a summary. Or if you've booked a flight, Qira might suggest setting a reminder so you're on time.

"Catch me up" keeps you in the loop with a round-up of notifications, news, and more, while "Style Sync" brings Qira in for new fashion styles. A collaboration with Lenovo's Workato lets users lean on Qira to complete tasks for them (if told to) and quickly find important information in their email.

Android 17 is where Moto users can expect to find Qira's massive expansion. Motorola is being selective, stating you'll see Qira on its Signature, Razr, and Edge devices.

Moto AI

We were introduced to Qira earlier this year. The AI was a pretty big swing from Motorola and Lenovo, as the two companies went beyond "simple chatbots" to a "personal ambient intelligence" system. The point of Qira is to create an experience that's always-on and consistent across Android, PC, and more. In conjunction with "Next Move" and "Catch me up," users can chat with Qira.

Additionally, Motorola says you can chat via voice, text, images, or videos. Qira is wrapped inside the Moto AI feature suite. Remaining context-aware is key for Motorola and Lenovo. It's one significant way for the AI to deliver the assistance it was designed to do. Of course, much of this is based on its level of permissions. If users don't want it inside their emails or notifications for "Catch me up," you don't have to let it.

Let's face it: we spend a lot of time staring at screens, so it's no wonder that many folks are searching for devices that utilize eye-friendly display technology. TCL is a leading manufacturer in this regard, and you can get one of their best phones for FREE by adding a line with an eligible data plan at Total Wireless.

The last-gen TCL 50 XL NXTPAPER 5G boasts a 6.78-inch eye-friendly display with a 120Hz refresh rate and multiple display modes, making it ideal for users with PWM sensitivity. The matte, paper-like finish of the screen is perfect for reducing glare and eye strain, while the RGB sensor automatically adjusts the color temperature depending on the time of day. The TCL 50 XL also comes with an SD slot for expandable storage, 8GB of RAM, and a 5,100mAh battery, all of which are rare specs for a phone in this price range.

The Total Max 5G plan starts at $50 per month for a single line with AutoPay, although the price drops a lot when you add multiple lines. The plan gives you unlimited talk, text, and 5G Ultra Wideband data on Verizon's vast network, plus you get an unlimited mobile hotspot and free calling to and from Mexico included in the package.

Your plan also comes with a 5-year price guarantee and no confusing contracts or hidden fees to worry about. As an MVNO carrier, what you see is what you get, even if Total Wireless doesn't have as many perks as some premium unlimited plans.

TCL proves that the latest innovations in display technology don't have to cost an arm and a leg, and now that they've partnered up with Total Wireless, protecting your long-term vision health is easier (and more affordable) than ever before.

If you're sick of paying an arm and a leg for wireless, there's a Mint Mobile deal that you should be checking out immediately. For a limited time, the T-Mobile-owned carrier is dropping all of its data plans down to just $15 per month, regardless of the plan length or data allotment. And yes, that includes Mint's popular unlimited tier.

This Mint Mobile deal has been available for a while, but the carrier is planning to officially retire the promotion on September 30th. That means you have less than a week to sign up before the wireless plans return to their original price.

The only catch is that, due to Mint's buy-in-bulk plan system, you will have to pay for a minimum of three months to enjoy the savings. That shakes out to just $45 upfront for three months of unlimited talk, text, and data on T-Mobile's network, which is still pretty impressive when you compare the costs with other phone plans.

Mint Mobile operates with a unique buy-in-bulk plan system that lets you purchase wireless in 3, 6, and 12-month increments of time. This deal knocks all of its data plans down to the same price, including Unlimited, which means you can secure yourself up to a year of unlimited wireless and it'll only cost you $180 upfront.

Mint's plans give you coverage on T-Mobile's vast 5G network, plus you'll get a free mobile hotspot and calling to Mexico, Canada, and the UK. Sure, the MVNO's offerings aren't quite as comprehensive as some unlimited plans, but if cost is your main concern, you can't do much better than Mint.

Need a new phone too?

What you need to know

• Google believes Apple's entry with the iPhone Duo validates a foldable category Android brands have built for years.
• The company believes the iPhone Duo's halo effect could increase consumer interest in Android foldable phones as well.
• A bigger foldable market could finally push developers to properly optimize more apps for Android's larger displays.

Apple is finally entering the foldable smartphone market with the iPhone Duo very soon. And Google actually thinks Apple's arrival in the category could be a good thing.

We've been waiting for a foldable iPhone for years, but it's finally no longer a dream. Apple is opening pre-orders for the iPhone Duo next month, and as expected, the company's entrance into the category is expected to shake things up. Counterpoint even believes Apple could capture around 25% of the foldable smartphone market within a year of the iPhone Duo's launch.

So technically, Google and its Android partners should be worried about Apple jumping into the foldable phones market, right? Apparently not. In fact, Google believes Apple's arrival could be beneficial for the entire category.

Android president Sameer Samat sat down with Tom's Guide this week to talk about the foldable market and the iPhone Duo. Samat, who says he personally uses the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, praised the multitasking experience and noted that Android is often where consumers get to experience new technologies first, with foldables being one example.

But rather than seeing the iPhone Duo as a threat, Google views Apple's entrance as a long-awaited validation of the foldable category that Android manufacturers have been building for years.

Despite the momentum Apple currently has, Samat believes the halo effect of the iPhone Duo could actually increase consumer interest in Android foldables as well. More importantly, he believes a larger foldable market will finally give developers more reason to properly optimize their apps for bigger folding displays.

That's one area where Apple already appears to have an advantage. The company showcased apps like Netflix and Slack properly optimized for the iPhone Duo, while some of those same apps on Android foldables still look like stretched-out versions of their regular phone interfaces.

Samat, however, believes Apple's entrance could help change that. As foldables become more popular across both platforms, developers have more incentive to invest in the form factor, and Google says developers are already in conversations or actively working on better foldable-optimized Android apps.

What you need to know

• One UI 9 has started rolling out to some T-Mobile Galaxy S26 Ultra owners in the U.S.
• The Android 17-based update is around 4GB in size and also includes the September security patch.
• Unlocked Galaxy S26 phones and models on AT&T and Verizon don't appear to have received the update yet..

Samsung has started rolling out the One UI 9 update for Galaxy S26 Ultra owners in the U.S., although it appears to be limited to T-Mobile models for now.

Earlier this month, Samsung announced that One UI 9, which debuted with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series, would begin rolling out to the Galaxy S26 lineup this month. Reports initially suggested the rollout would begin around September 21, but that didn't happen. We later even heard rumors that Samsung may have delayed the Galaxy S26 series' One UI 9 rollout indefinitely.

It now looks like things have taken a U-turn, and there's finally some good news for Samsung users in the U.S. The company appears to have started rolling out One UI 9 to at least some Galaxy S26 Ultra owners.

A user on Reddit reports that their T-Mobile Galaxy S26 Ultra has received the One UI 9 update. As expected, the update is based on Android 17 and comes in at around 4GB. It carries the build number S948USQU4BZID/S948UOYN4BZID/S948USQU4BZID and also includes the September security patch.

A few other users in the Reddit thread have also confirmed receiving the update on their T-Mobile Galaxy S26 Ultra. However, it appears that other Galaxy S26 models on T-Mobile, alongside unlocked devices and phones on AT&T and Verizon, haven't received the update just yet. So, it looks like T-Mobile may have jumped the gun and started rolling out One UI 9 ahead of the wider U.S. release.

That said, if you have a T-Mobile Galaxy S26 Ultra, it's worth heading into Settings and manually checking for the One UI 9 update if you haven't received a notification yet.

There's currently no word on exactly when One UI 9 will arrive for unlocked devices or other carrier variants. But with the update now appearing on T-Mobile models in the U.S., the wait hopefully shouldn't be much longer.

What you need to know

• The Motorola Signature 27 is powered by Qualcomm's new 2nm Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 chipset.
• Motorola's new ArcticMesh cooling system promises around 40% better thermal performance than the previous generation.
• The quad-camera setup includes a 50MP Sony LYTIA 910 main camera and a massive 200MP periscope telephoto sensor.
• Motorola hasn't announced pricing yet, but the Signature 27 is expected to launch in markets worldwide later this year.

Motorola has just revealed its first smartphone powered by the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, and it's called the Motorola Signature 27.

Motorola has been teasing the Signature 27 on social media for the past couple of days, and now we're finally learning more about the device. The Signature 27 is the company's top-tier flagship smartphone and the second generation in the lineup following last year's first Signature model.

Motorola says the Signature series is also adopting a new naming scheme, using the final two digits of the coming year for each new model.

Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, Qualcomm's first 2nm chipset, Motorola says the Signature 27 will deliver flagship performance alongside powerful on-device AI, gaming, and camera capabilities. To keep all of that performance cool, Motorola is using a new ArcticMesh cooling system that combines diamond-infused thermal gel with a redesigned 3D vapor chamber.

Motorola says the new cooling system offers around a 40% improvement in thermal performance compared to the previous generation, particularly during sustained AI workloads, gaming, and video recording.

Speaking of cameras, one of the main highlights of the Signature 27 is the quad-camera setup on the back. It includes a 50MP Sony LYTIA 910 main sensor alongside a massive 200MP periscope telephoto camera.

There's also a new video enhancement engine that uses AI to create a real-time intelligence layer, automatically adjusting things like color tones by analyzing the scene before and during recording. Motorola has also integrated Qualcomm's image stabilization technology with 3.5-degree hardware OIS, which the company says should result in smoother and more stable video.

Audio is getting a major upgrade as well, with the Signature 27 becoming Motorola's first smartphone to feature Audio by B&O.

In terms of design, Motorola is sticking with premium materials and offering the Signature 27 in two distinct finishes. Pantone Cool Smoke features a woven texture designed to improve grip, while Pantone Capulet Green goes for a softer, more fashion-inspired finish.

Motorola hasn't announced the Signature 27's exact release date, availability, or pricing just yet. However, the company says the phone is expected to launch in markets worldwide later this year, so we should hear more about pricing and availability fairly soon.

What you need to know

• Qualcomm is splitting its top-tier lineup into the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 and the standard Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6.
• Both 2nm platforms center around custom Oryon CPUs, redesigned Adreno GPUs, and Hexagon NPUs tuned to run responsive, context-aware AI assistants locally.
• APV support and Intelligent Pixel Control aim to deliver better scene understanding and more natural photos and videos.

Qualcomm is doubling down on AI-powered smartphones with two new flagship mobile platforms: the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6. The company says both chips are designed to push on-device AI further while improving gaming, cameras, and connectivity across premium Android phones.

The new Qualcomm lineup is capped out with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. It’s built for high-end Android phones and is very much centered around what Qualcomm calls “everyday agents” — AI that can respond faster, customize experiences, and learn about users during the day.

There are already a handful of likely homes for the Extreme chip. Rumors suggest Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S27 Pro and S27 Ultra, while the iQOO 16 has also been associated with the processor in benchmark leaks. Motorola’s upcoming Signature 27 is also said to be in queue for the chipset, but none of these rumors is confirmed.

Qualcomm’s new Adreno Neural Fusion technology uses AI to improve graphics for gamers, and the company says it will lead to better visuals and longer gaming sessions.

The chip also adds new camera features like support for Advanced Professional Video (APV) and Intelligent Pixel Control, which is designed to help the camera understand the scene better and deliver more natural-looking photos and video.

Meanwhile, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 is a bit more broad in its approach. It’s based on the same 2nm process and packs Qualcomm’s custom Oryon CPU, redesigned Adreno GPU, and Hexagon NPU.

Qualcomm says phones with both chips will come from leading global smartphone brands. That said, it remains to be seen whether the AI, gaming, and camera upgrades they promise will make any real difference for the average user.

What you need to know

• Nothing announced that its OS 5.0 (Android 17) Open Beta is now welcoming the Phone 4a, 3a, and 3a Pro.
• Users may find an update ~2.8GB, loaded with new features for the camera, the a new system typeface, widgets, customization, AI, and more.
• The Phone 3 got into the Open Beta in August, and users with that phone should see a full release in mid-October.

Another new day means something to look forward to from Nothing OS. The company announced that it's now rolling out the Open Beta of OS 5 to more phones.

Over on X, Nothing announced that it's now accepting the Phone 4a, Phone 3a, and 3a Pro into the OS 5 Open Beta. Going by the company's timeline, these phones are right on schedule, as it listed a "Late September" timeframe for the Open Beta. What's more, testing should last for a little while. Nothing says these devices likely won't see a general release until early November.

The folks at Android Authority swiped the changelog for the Open Beta. That is, for the Phone 3a. It states the update is ~2.8GB on the Phone 3a, so the size should be similar on the other two devices. Much of the changelog mirrors what Nothing released for the Phone 3 back in August. The Android 17 test brings a dedicated Glyph app for the Glyph Interface. While the Quick Settings and home screen app management get refreshed, Nothing is introducing a new "three-color status bar indicator."

This indicator is for "scenes of sensitive access," location, AI processing, and more. Visual enhancements are rolling out across the board for Nothing's phones, as are updates to its camera. Users will find Filters and Tuning support for video, alongside Dual-View for recordings.

Some users on X have said they've had difficulties with the Open Beta. Basically, it's showing that there's nothing to download. It might be worth waiting a while before attempting as the beta comes online for more users.

Testing continues, but launch is near

There was hype around the Nothing OS 5.0 Open Beta for the Phone 3 back in August. This is the company's major Android 17 update, and there was a lot to go over. A new system typeface (Geist), refreshed system icons, better adaptive colors for your wallpapers, and more. Since the Phone 3 got its Open Beta last month, Nothing said users should expect its stable release in mid-October.

Most phones are getting that two-month testing period to iron out any bugs before it his everyone's device. In our hands-on, it was evident that Nothing was pushing ahead with a little more AI on Nothing OS 5.0. What's more, the company is doing so with privacy at the forefront.

What you need to know

• Samsung has reportedly delayed the global release of its One UI 9 (Android 17) update for Galaxy users.
• The company originally planned to release the update on September 21, but missed the date, and quietly changed its new plans twice.
• Samsung went from a September 28 possibility to a general "September 2026" window, but time is running out.
• One UI 9 has been in testing for five months, and users we're eagerly awaiting the release of the next major Android software/

Reactions have been in an uproar across social media and publications early today (Sept. 22). Samsung has reportedly delayed its major Android update, and we have a general timeline for when to expect it.

Reports have been fast and furious on social media; however, we're getting started with a post by SammyGuru. The post reminds us that Samsung originally announced One UI 9's arrival last week, on September 16. The Android 17 update was supposed to begin rolling out globally to more users on September 21 (yesterday), but that didn't happen.

This is where things get strange. Tarun Vats brought this up on X, too, stating that Samsung Thailand's blog changed the original September 21 date to September 28. However, early this morning, the company changed the date once again.

Now, September 28 is no longer present. Samsung has replaced this missed date with a general "September 2026" launch window. The blog reads, "In Thailand, the update will first be available on the Galaxy S26 series, Galaxy S25 series, and Galaxy Z7 series within September, with further updates to the Galaxy S23 FE later this year." It's hard to think one way or the other right now. Either Samsung is still sticking to this delayed September 28 date, or we're going to see it even later.

However, Samsung can't go too late into the month. September only has 30 days. So we'll either see the update on the 28th, 29th, or 30th. Either way, this development is extremely disappointing.

Surprise, surprise

To remind you, we've been dealing with five months of One UI 9 testing with Samsung. Testing for the Galaxy S26 series started for users in May. The company synced its beta across multiple regions, including Germany, India, Korea, Poland, the UK, and the U.S. The start was pretty light, offering users a glimpse into a few new features for the Contacts app and Samsung Notes.

Fast-forward to September, and we received the wondrous announcement of One UI 9's full release. Funnily enough, Samsung's U.S. newsroom post didn't mention a specific date for the global release. Makes one curious. Regardless, Samsung said it was pushing its update in South Korea on September 16. Global users were to follow, but it looks like we're all left waiting—again.

Android Central's Take

I've got nothing to say. That's not true. I have something to say, but I'd rather not. It's frustrating. That's also the sentiment I'm getting from users on social media, too. People are annoyed and tired and confused about the delay. If you remember Samsung's One UI 8.5 update, that was hounded by delay after delay. I can't imagine One UI 9 getting pushed back into October, but I guess I won't hold my breath about it, either.

Choosing between the Galaxy S26 Ultra and iPhone 18 Pro Max? I'm about to make this decision much easier for you.

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra came out in March 2026, while Apple's iPhone 18 Pro Max debuted in September. That six-month gap is enough to account for some major differences between these phones, but Samsung's lackadaisical attitude with its flagship phones in the past few years has finally caught up, and that means I'm about to do something I've never before done in my life: recommend an iPhone.

You might think I'm crazy for it, but Apple's latest flagship checks more boxes than Samsung's and, at the same price, it's hard to argue with the facts. Here's what you need to know.

Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Design, specs, and performance

Over the years, Samsung has opted for flatter and flatter designs. While the company thankfully got rid of the square corners on the Galaxy S Ultra series, Apple's curvier iPhone designs are far more comfortable to hold on a daily basis. But while those curves certainly feel better in the hand, the iPhone weighs a whopping 35g more and is nearly 1mm thicker than the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

Some of this has to do with the MagSafe magnets built into iPhones, but some of it is also because the iPhone has a 10% larger battery than the Galaxy S26 Ultra. And while 10% doesn't sound like a lot, real-world usage of both phones ends up showing a far greater difference in the end.

Samsung's Galaxy S Ultra phones have had the same 5000mAh battery size for the last 5 years. Meanwhile, most Android phones have switched to higher-capacity silicon-carbon batteries that reduce physical size and weight. The Galaxy S26 Ultra at least improves charging speed compared to previous Samsung phones, but it's still slower than Apple's latest.

Plugging the iPhone 18 Pro Max in for 15 minutes gives it a 50% charge, while our tests have shown that the Galaxy S26 Ultra only hits 41% in the same time frame. That difference becomes wider when you consider that the iPhone's battery is larger, too.

Additionally, Apple's A20 chipset in the iPhone 18 Pro Max is at least 20% faster than the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in the Galaxy S26 Ultra (and up to 40% faster in gaming). That, combined with Apple's new "next-generation" vapor chamber, gives games like Monster Hunter Outlanders special advanced graphics settings only available on iPhone.

Apple also sports a customizable side key and the camera button, while the Galaxy S26 Ultra offers a built-in stylus. Samsung has been placing less emphasis on the stylus lately, though, stripping it of its Bluetooth features and opting for a weird design that can only be docked one way.

Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Display and cameras

The Galaxy S26 Ultra's Privacy Display is a unique AMOLED display that allows the phone to dim specific portions of the screen so that they are not visible from an angle, keeping prying eyes from reading your messages or seeing your photos.

While this feature is incredibly cool and quite a bit of fun to show off to people, the screen quality has been degraded because of it. In my display review, I showed that the effective resolution, brightness, contrast, and the anti-reflective layer were worse than the Galaxy S25 Ultra, and some people even found that Privacy Display was uncomfortable to look at.

Neither phone is suitable for folks who are PWM-sensitive, but more people in the flicker-sensitive community have had luck using iPhones than Samsung phones. While both phones run at paltry 480HZ dimming rates, Apple does a better job of managing the intensity of the PWM cycle.

Samsung experimented with variable aperture cameras a few years ago on the Galaxy S9 series, but did not stick with the technology for very long. Now that Apple has adopted variable aperture, the iPhone 18 Pro Max's main camera promises to deliver crisper low-light photography and better bokeh than the Galaxy S26 Ultra's 200MP main camera.

Apple has also caught up to Samsung with several features, including an actual Pro camera mode. The iPhone 18 Pro Max's ultrawide camera and portrait modes are better than what Samsung offers, and the iPhone even lets you adjust the angle you took the photo after it was taken with its Spatial Reframing feature. Samsung's most unique camera feature is Horizon Lock, which is excellent if you take a lot of action videos.

Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Software and features

One of the most difficult reasons to choose the iPhone over the Galaxy S26 Ultra is the fact that Apple's iOS operating system is nowhere near as customizable or open as Android. Aside from general customization, Android phones like the Galaxy S26 Ultra support a wider variety of peripherals.

Apple mainly wants you to only buy its products, so many parts of the operating system are locked down, meaning third-party watches, smart glasses, etc. don't have the same level of access as Apple's own products. This is the reason I've chosen Android for the last 16 years, and the reason I will continue to stick with it.

There's also no denying that Samsung phones are substantially more feature-rich than any iPhone. There's a running joke every year that Apple announces features that Android users have had for 10 years, and that's really no different this year.

Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Which should you buy?

If you're truly only the fence between these phones this year, it's pretty clear that Apple's iPhone 18 Pro Max is the better option. With better performance, better battery life, faster charging, a better display, and tons of new features that finally caught up with Samsung, it's difficult not to recommend Apple's latest.

If I were picking from the huge selection of Android flagship phones, I'd definitely pick something other than a Galaxy S26 Ultra.

An Apple iPhone 18 Pro vs. Google Pixel 11 comparison is like apples to oranges. Both devices run different operating systems and have very different ecosystems. Based on what you value in a smartphone, and how much money you've got to spare, which phone is better is subjective.

What makes this a difficult choice is that both phones came out a month apart, so they have the best of what Apple and Google have to offer, and both phones have different positive and negative attributes. Before making a suggestion, let me break down the cold hard facts and dive into the important aspects of what make each device good — or bad.

Apple iPhone 18 Pro vs. Google Pixel 11: Design, specs, and performance

Looks-wise, both the iPhone 18 Pro and Pixel 11 haven't changed much over their last-gen counterparts beside getting a bit slimmer and lighter. Interestingly, between the two of them, they have a similar in-hand feel as both sport 6.3-inch AMOLED screens, weigh almost the same, and have very similar dimensions too. Neither display is good for PWM-sensitive folks, but iPhone tends to manage PWM cycles better.

The iPhone 18 Pro has a smaller battery than the Pixel 11, but phones deliver all-day battery life on average. The iPhone charges faster when plugged in, recharging 50% in just 15 minutes as opposed to the Pixel — 55% in 30 minutes. The Pixel also lacks UWB.

Both phones have 12GB RAM and start with 256GB storage as standard, but the Pixel 11 only comes in one other variant with 512GB. Meanwhile, the iPhone 18 Pro goes all the way up to 2TB. Notably the iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199 while the Pixel 11 starts at $899, setting them $300 apart.

Apple's A20 chipset is superior to Google's Tensor chipset in terms of raw performance and power, so the iPhone is better for processor-heavy gaming.

Google promises seven years of updates, while Apple guarantees five. In reality, Apple usually delivers seven years of software support, so they're evenly matched.

Apple iPhone 18 Pro vs. Google Pixel 11: Cameras

The iPhone 18 Pro favors a strikingly different camera unit compared to the Pixel 11's camera bar, even though both have triple cameras. If you have trypophobia, the iPhone will probably trigger it.

The iPhone has superior camera hardware with higher resolution overall. Variable-aperture is the biggest upgrade on the iPhone 18 series, allowing users to have granular control over the aperture and depth of field. Low-light photography has also improved.

On the Android side of things, the Pixel 11 has a new main camera compared to the Pixel 10, but overall the camera hardware is largely unchanged. Pixels always take spectacular photos, as do iPhones, so this is a really tough battle.

Both devices have their own set of camera tools and features baked in. The iPhone 18 Pro finally has a proper Pro camera mode and features like Spatial Reframing. Google also has cool tricks up its sleeves with AI-based features like Magic Capture, the most attractive draw of the Pixel 11.

Apple iPhone 18 Pro vs. Google Pixel 11: Software and features

This is the most polarizing part of the face off because iOS and Android are vastly different operating systems. Apple focuses on a more shut-off, locked in ecosystem that does not play nice with third-party peripherals, and that flows into the software, restricting customization.

Meanwhile, Android is a lot more open, and the Pixel UI is arguably one of the purest, most useful and fun versions of the Android experience. And, of course, Pixel users get access to a significantly more open and wider range of accessories.

At the end of the day, Apple might have introduced a ton of useful "new" features with the iPhone 18 Pro, but the truth is, most Android devices have had these features for years. The Pixel 11 is much more versatile and feature rich in terms of software.

Apple iPhone 18 Pro vs. Google Pixel 11: Which should you buy?

Unless you're an absolute camera nut or gaming enthusiast, the Google Pixel 11 is clearly the better deal overall. You still get triple cameras, all-day battery, spectacular software, and seven years of OS and security upgrades, all for $300 cheaper than the iPhone 18 Pro.

Admittedly, the iPhone 18 Pro may beat the Pixel 11 at photography and videography, as well as heavy gaming, but this in no way means that the Pixel can't stand on its own. You can still game on it, though the phone might need a few breaks. Not to mention, the Pixel's cameras blow us away every time.

In the entry-level flagship segment, the Pixel 11 delivers better value overall.

Samsung's foldable phones are more popular than ever before, and retailers all across the web are trying to capitalize on this success by dropping some pretty great Galaxy Z Fold 8 deals ahead of fall sale season.

The offers from Verizon and T-Mobile are particularly impressive this time around, but which Z Fold 8 deal is best? Well, as always with carrier deals, the answer isn't exactly straightforward. Let's break it down.

How do the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 deals compare?

T-Mobile:

For starters, it's important to note that, in the world of phone deals, nothing is ever truly free. Yes, play your cards right and T-Mobile won't charge you anything for the Galaxy Z Fold 8, but you'll still need to pay for the wireless. The Experience Beyond plan starts at $105 per month for a single line, although you can drop that price down considerably by adding multiple lines and using AutoPay.

It also helps that it's one of the best unlimited plans in the business, providing unlimited coverage and premium data with a mobile hotspot, free streaming subscriptions, and a ton of international benefits.

You'll also need to trade in an old or broken device to receive the full savings. At this time, Samsung phones dating back to the Galaxy S23 Plus will earn you the max credit, in addition to a number of devices from OEMs like Apple and Google. Check T-Mobile's product page for the full list of phones.

Verizon:

Verizon is actually keeping things pretty simple with its Galaxy Z Fold 8 deal. New customers who bundle the device with the carrier's Simplicity plan will only pay $59.98 per month for 48 months.

The plan in question gets you unlimited talk, text, and 5G Ultra Wideband data, plus you'll get 10GB of mobile hotspot data and coverage in Mexico and Canada. The benefits aren't as comprehensive as T-Mobile's Experience Beyond plan, but if you just want some straightforward wireless coverage, Verizon's Simplicity plan is a great deal.

No trade-in is required, although you'll need to be a new customer and use AutoPay to enjoy the full discount. Existing Verizon customers can enjoy the same deal, but the rate will increase to $85 per month.

So which Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 deal is best?

✅Choose T-Mobile's deal if: you have a device to trade-in; you're a heavy data user and you want to experience one of the best unlimited plans in wireless; you live in an area with good T-Mobile coverage.

✅Choose Verizon's deal if: you're looking to switch wireless carriers; you don't need all of the bells and whistles included in some unlimited plans; you live in an area with good Verizon coverage.

What you need to know

• Xiaomi has confirmed the Xiaomi 18 Pro will feature a hardware-based smart privacy display similar to Samsung's.
• The screen will remain clearly visible from the front, while side brightness reportedly drops to around 1% beyond 60 degrees.
• Privacy protection will also be able to work with specific lock screen notifications as well as floating windows.

Xiaomi has already confirmed that the Xiaomi 18 series is arriving very soon with a magical rear display. And now, the company has revealed another major feature coming to its new flagship smartphone lineup.

Similar to the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, Xiaomi has confirmed that the Xiaomi 18 Pro will feature a new smart privacy display. For those who don't remember, Samsung introduced Privacy Display with the Galaxy S26 Ultra, which uses the display hardware itself to make it difficult for people looking from the sides to see what's on your screen. And now, Xiaomi is bringing similar technology to the Xiaomi 18 Pro.

In a teaser posted on Weibo, Xiaomi confirmed that the Xiaomi 18 Pro will ship with what it calls a smart privacy screen. Similar to Samsung's implementation, the privacy effect is built into the display itself rather than relying on software or a third-party privacy screen protector.

When the mode is active, the person directly in front of the phone will still be able to see the display properly, while someone looking from the side will instead see a much darker, nearly black screen.

But Xiaomi claims it's going one step further than Samsung here. One downside of Samsung's Privacy Display is that enabling the feature also makes the screen look slightly dimmer for the person directly using the phone. Xiaomi says its implementation won't compromise normal front-on viewing when the privacy feature is enabled.

Once you move beyond a 60-degree viewing angle, Xiaomi says the side brightness drops to roughly 1%, making the display appear almost completely black to anyone trying to look from the side.

Similar to Samsung, Xiaomi is also building software controls around when the privacy mode kicks in. For example, Xiaomi's implementation can automatically protect specific notifications on the lock screen, while the feature will also work with floating windows.

Thankfully, we won't have to wait much longer to see how well the technology actually works. The Xiaomi 18 series is set to launch in just a few days, so we should learn much more about the smart privacy display soon.

One way Google entices you to buy its latest smartphones — including the Google Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold — is through its subscriptions. Like most tech companies, Google upsells you a subscription to keep you inside its ecosystem, but unlike most tech companies, Google reaches a large swathe of most people’s daily lives.

For years, Google subscriptions were fragmented and separate, and while they still are to a degree, this year has been transformative for those of us with multiple Google products. I personally had four different subscriptions to Google products on my personal account — Google One storage, YouTube Premium, Fitbit Premium, and Gemini Advanced — and in the case of the latter, it’s one that I often forgot to cancel the renewal on.

Now, Google has a new proposition: the Google AI Pro bundle. The $20 starting price tag will be familiar to anyone who uses ChatGPT, Cursor, Claude, or any other AI model. What will surprise you is how much value is packed into that $20 price tag. Even better? You can get up to six months free with one of the latest Google devices.

This is the best AI subscription for everyone, even iPhone users. Here’s why.

Google AI Pro bundle offers phenomenal value for money

Like any human being, I love a bargain, or at least the perception of one. The Google AI Pro bundle is the definition of an absolute bargain, especially if you use one or two of the services.

First, it replaces the previous Google One bundle. In fact, consider it the evolution of that, as it’s managed by the same Google One bundle subscription process; the subscriptions are now named AI XYZ. I used to pay $9.99/m for 2TB of storage and was very close to my storage limit, but now the new bundle includes 5 TB. This is shared across Google Drive, Photos, and Gmail, and it’s more than enough for 99% of users. The best part? You can also share this with up to 5 family members.

Retail price: $20/month

Then there’s the Gemini Pro access; this alone is worth the $20/month price tag. This gives you access to Gemini Thinking and Gemini Pro models, which are quite capable for most of your tasks. It also lets you build platforms in Google AI Studio with the same allowances, and it’s a great platform for average users to build tools and platforms, since integrations with other Google services streamline complex tasks like database management and file storage.

If you only need extra storage and a powerful AI model, the Google AI Pro bundle already offers the best value for money, but the three lifestyle perks included really tip the scales in Google’s favor.

Retail price: $20/month.

The three hidden gems inside the Google AI Pro bundle

Google’s integration into your daily life is second to none, and the Google AI Pro bundle proves it has finally cracked how to deliver value and inspire customer loyalty. The key is that each of these three was a standalone bundle that would arguably be worth paying for on its own, and at least two had already proven their market fit.

First, there’s everyone’s favorite service: YouTube. The Google AI Pro bundle includes YouTube Premium Lite, which is designed to make YouTube Premium accessible to more customers. If you want fewer ads, a more streamlined experience, and a few other perks but don’t need the full ad-free YouTube Premium experience, this is a great subscription… and now it’s included in this bundle. (Retail price: $9/month.)

Then there’s Google Health Premium, the real hidden gem in this bundle. Google Health Premium includes the innovative Gemini Health Coach and, crucially for Apple users, can integrate with and pull data from Apple Health. This means your Apple Watch data can mostly sync with Health Premium, and Google’s Gemini Health Coach can answer questions and help you understand your health. This is a diamond that’s only going to get better, and I love that it’s included here. (Retail price: $10/month.)

Finally, there’s Google Home Premium Standard, a service I don’t subscribe to — I’ve mostly given up on my smart home dreams because of Google’s general apathy toward it — but it could have value if you still have a Nest Cam. It’s mostly for those with compatible security cameras and doorbells, and it lets you access video history, receive smart notifications, and ask questions about it. (Retail price: $10/month.)

The best AI bundle for everyone, even iPhone users

If you subscribe to cloud storage or an AI provider, the Google AI Pro bundle is a no-brainer, as it objectively offers more value for a similar price. If you already subscribe to one or two of Google’s other services, or any other combination, it’s also a no-brainer: $70 worth of services for $20.

Here’s where things get really interesting, however: Google is working on Project Aura, which will be among the first Gemini-powered smart glasses. They’re launching before the end of the year, and Gemini allowances are presumably key to making the most of them. If you’re buying the new iPhone Duo, you're probably buying the new Apple Watch and may even consider Google’s glasses. All of these bundled integrations ultimately give you a wide swathe of products and services, many of which are best in class.

Personally, I mostly wear an Apple Watch, and while the Pixel Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 both have excellent, unique features, the Apple Watch has saved my life, so it's hard to move away. Google Health Premium integrating with Apple Health, plus the included 5TB of storage, is enough for the Google AI Pro bundle to cement its place in my workflow, let alone the included YouTube Premium Lite and Gemini Advanced subscriptions.

The fact that it comes included with the Pixel 11 series, some of the best Android phones you can buy, the Pixel Watch 5, or the Fitbit Air is just an added bonus.

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You probably wouldn't have noticed unless you're constantly searching for Samsung and Google Pixel phone deals like I am, but Verizon has had a noticeable shortage of offers over the past few weeks.

Fortunately, it looks like the lull has come to an end, as the Big Three carrier just launched a promotion that will give you a FREE Google Pixel 11 Pro when you add a line with the Unlimited Plus or Unlimited Ultimate plan.

Meet the Google Pixel 11 Pro

The Pixel 11 Pro wasn't a dramatic transformation for Google, but I'm certain it'll still end up on our list of the best Android phones of 2026. The compact flagship comes equipped with a vibrant 6.3-inch OLED 120Hz display and the new HiLight LED array for notifications, while under the hood you get a powerful Tensor G6 chipset with 12GB of RAM, some upgraded camera hardware, and the advanced Titan M3 security coprocessor.

As one would expect from Google, the Pixel 11 Pro also features the latest AI-boosted software features and seven years of OS and security upgrades, plus you get Qi2.2 charging support and a thinner and lighter form factor than ever before.

The problem is that this lighter build results in a smaller battery than last year's Pixel 10 Pro, and Google still wasn't able to escape the rampant price increases that have been plaguing the industry. Still, the Pro remains one of the best phones that Google has ever produced, the price hike just means that deals like this Verizon offer are more essential than ever before.

Why is this Verizon deal important?

This Verizon deal is notable for two reasons. First off, it doesn't require a trade-in, which is always a plus. Secondly, you don't have to sign up for the carrier's most expensive data plan to receive the full savings. Unlimited Plus is a nice mid-tier option that's perfect for folks who want the premium plan experience without paying the premium price.

It starts at $80 per month for a single line (using AutoPay and paperless billing), but you can drop that price down significantly by adding multiple lines at once. Unlimited Plus gets you unlimited talk, text, and 5G Ultra Wideband data on Verizon's vast network, 30GB of premium mobile hotspot, and the ability to mix and match additional perks every month for as little as $10 each.

You can also pay a bit more for Verizon's premium Unlimited Ultimate plan, which lands you all of the perks above in addition to 4K video streaming, international coverage, and more.

If you're already a Verizon customer or planning to switch, this deal presents an easy way to get one of the industry's best unlimited plans AND one of the best Android phones for as little hassle as possible. It won't be for everyone, but unless you plan to buy the phone unlocked, it's one of the simplest Pixel 11 deals around.

Vivo just unveiled the X500 Pro Max at an event in Shanghai, China, and there's a lot to like with the phone. The X500 Pro Max is the clear highlight, but there's also a standard X500, and the X500 Pro. With the Pro Max, Vivo is delivering a bigger phone with a huge 6.85-inch AMOLED panel, and an 8,000mAh battery — the largest on one of its devices yet.

It's the cameras that are the main highlight of these phones, so let's start with what the X500 Pro Max has to offer. It uses a 1/1.28-inch 50MP main camera that uses Sony's new Lytia 910 sensor, and it's joined by a 200MP telephoto lens with 3.5x optical zoom — the same as the X300 Ultra — and a 50MP wide-angle module.

Elsewhere, the X500 Pro Max is powered by MediaTek's latest 2nm Dimensity 9600 Pro platform, and it is a clear powerhouse. The switch to 2nm brings huge gains in efficiency, and with the phone having an 8,000mAh battery, it should easily last three days without any issues. There's also a bigger 6.85-inch AMOLED panel with higher resolution than last year (3168 x 1440), and the latest connectivity.

Just like the X300 Ultra earlier this year, the X500 Pro Max focuses on video, with Vivo bringing most of the features over to Pro models. Vivo says it has achieved vertical integration through what it calls the BlueImage Dynamic Imaging Technology Stack, with the brand working closely with Sony (who made the camera modules), MediaTek (to customize the Dimensity 9600 Pro), and ZEISS (to deliver gimbal-level stability).

The X500 Pro and Pro Max can shoot 4K240 cinematic video as well as 8K footage, and they use Vivo's custom V3 and VS1 imaging silicon to boost fidelity of images and videos. There's a lot to like on the software side as well, with the phones running OriginOS 7 based on Android 17 out of the box.

The X500 Pro is largely the same as the Pro Max, but it doesn't have the tele lens, and the standard X500 is based on the Dimensity 9600M, doesn't have cameras that are quite as good as the Pro models, but the 7,500mAh battery is great to see. The X500 Pro Max starts out at the equivalent of $1,045 (CNY 6,999), with the Pro at $970, and the standard X500 at $830. Obviously, they'll cost a lot more once they start selling outside China, and as of now, there's no telling when that will be — or what they'll eventually cost. That said, given just how good the X300 Pro was, I'm excited to take a look at the X500 Pro Max and see just how it differs.

I've used pretty much all foldables released in the last four years, so I know what this category has to offer. Whether it's the tri-folding Huawei Mate XT, creaseless Find N6, or the camera powerhouse that is the Vivo X Fold 5, Android foldables have come a long way.

But it took just an hour of using the iPhone Duo to understand just what Android brands need to do differently. With the iPhone Duo, Apple proved yet again that it doesn't need to chase industry trends, instead launching a product when it feels that the timing is ready. That's my biggest takeaway of the iPhone Duo — it doesn't feel like a tech demo at all, and is instead just as polished as the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

There are three things that particularly stood out about the iPhone Duo during my hands-on: design, inner panel, and software. I used the foldable at an Apple briefing in Mumbai, India, and my initial impression with the design is that it's better to hold than the product photos make you believe.

I went into the briefing with some apprehension, as I knew the iPhone Duo weighted 254g, which is 15g heavier than the Pixel 11 Pro Fold. As someone who's used Google's foldables extensively, I wasn't keen on another device that was bulky and cumbersome to hold and use. But you know what? That absolutely wasn't an issue with the iPhone Duo; Apple did a fabulous job with the weight distribution, and at no point did I feel like I was using a phone that weighs as much.

The design itself looks good, and I prefer the Night Sky model. The rounded edges make it very comfortable to hold the iPhone Duo, and I like the wider and shorter size — I can see why Android brands are now trying to emulate this design. Because of the positioning of the camera modules, there is some wobble when using the iPhone Duo folded on a table, but it isn't anywhere as extreme as the Z Fold 8. The sides have a glossy finish, which is mildly annoying, as they tend to pick up smudges without any effort.

Then there's the hinge; it has a smooth articulation and doesn't need much force to open. It closes with a satisfying click, and it stays unlocked in various positions, which is a definite plus point. What I like about it is the use of StandBy even when the iPhone Duo isn't charging, and it effortlessly doubles as the world's most expensive desk clock. That said, folding the device at a 90-degree angle makes it easy to put on a table and view content, with one half of the inner panel showing the video and the other half dedicated for controls.

Talking about the 7.6-inch OLED inner panel, this is where the iPhone Duo truly stands out. Apple is using a unique system where it layered panels of ultra-thin glass, and that has led to a creaseless inner screen. What is notable is that I didn't even feel the crease with the foldable fully flat, and this implementation is better than any Android foldable — including the Find N6, which comes closest to what Apple is doing. Also, while this isn't new on Android, I like that the inner panel has an under display camera, essentially making it invisible in day-to-day use.

What I like even better is the nano-texture coating. This is a matte coating over the inner panel that reduces glare, and it makes a huge difference in usability. You still get good brightness levels, and the matte coating makes the iPhone Duo a great choice to read books or view content on the go. Honestly, if Android brands take two things away from this foldable, it has to be the creaseless design and the matte coating.

On that note, the 5.4-inch OLED outer panel isn't as limiting as I initially imagined. You still get plenty of real estate, and it uses the same ratio as the inner screen, so there are no issues with content scaling. Both the inner and outer panels use LTPO tech, so if you're using things like StandBy, it won't consume much in the way of battery.

Another area where Apple nailed the brief is the software. The iPhone Duo has smooth animations when you open and navigate the interface, and UI elements are arranged intuitively. The taskbar is oriented to the right, you get split-screen multitasking similar to Android foldables. While there isn't a mode like ColorOS' floating windows — which lets you have up to four floating windows anywhere — you can easily maximize the real estate on the Duo.

There's plenty to like with the hardware as well. The iPhone Duo uses the same 2nm A20 Pro silicon as the iPhone 18 Pro, and it has similar thermal management. While I wasn't able to test this effectively (I'll do so once I get my review unit), a five-minute gaming session showed that the foldable has power to spare.

The introduction of the iPhone Duo serves as a much-needed catalyst to the entire foldable industry. Coming in at $1,999 and going on sale starting October 23, the foldable costs the same as the Galaxy Z Fold 8, and it is a genuine threat to Samsung and Google. While you'll end up paying closer to $2,700 to get the iPhone Duo outside of the U.S., I can see the foldable having plenty of takers — it is the most exciting iPhone I used in close to a decade.

What you need to know

• Motorola teased its upcoming Signature 27 successor to the original Signature that debuted at CES 2026.
• The company states there will be surprises ahead at Snapdragon Summit, as it teases work with Qualcomm.
• Qualcomm states we can expect to see "Dual 8 Elites" at Snapdragon Summit on September 22, and this is a chip that would mark a change from the O.G. Signature's midrange SoC.

Motorola started teasing its upcoming Signature 27 on social media, and what it has to say is so interesting that we're not sure what to think.

The company posted a short clip about the device on X this morning (Sept. 18), and it's got us thinking flagship in a big way. The video starts off saying, "Every material. Obsessed." We see the phone in what looks like a moss green before an artisan takes a knife to a long stretch of leather (or fabric). This is where things get interesting. Motorola confirms the name of the device—Signature 27—alongside a date: September 22, 2026.

This is important. Motorola's post reads, "There’s more to discover with Motorola and Snapdragon." Qualcomm's annual Snapdragon Summit is set for September 22-24. If Motorola and Qualcomm have come together for something regarding Snapdragon, and at this event no less, perhaps we're looking at a true flagship chip for the Signature 27.

Motorola's teaser was brief, but it's given us enough to think about.

For context, the Motorola Signature launched at CES 2026 in January. It's a premium, "ultra-thin" phone from Moto with a 6.8-inch screen. The Signature stood out to us as one of Motorola's best flagships. However, the phone features one tiny little drawback: its chip is for midrange phones. The Signature features Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 5. The chip, while good, offers flagship-level performance for affordable phones.

It misses the robust strength you'd get from the Elite Gen 5. Motorola's current Signature 27 teasers have us excited—for two reasons, mind you.

Going flagship

Mid-August held Qualcomm's teasers for what we can expect from the Snapdragon Summit this year. The company said we can expect "Dual 8 Elites" this year. Rumors claim the company is working on an 8 Elite Gen 6 and a Gen 6 Pro. Qualcomm's summer teaser mentioned connectivity enhancements and "advanced camera functionality."

What's more, "immersive gaming experiences" were mentioned. The major upgrades Qualcomm has planned are headed to both its 8 Elites this year. Its teaser was brief, but it gave us enough to think about heading into September. Now that we're here, we've got Dual 8 Elites on the mind and Moto's Signature 27.

A flagship chip could definitely solidify its premium ambitions for the Signature 27. The original was good and gave that premium/flagship feel we enjoy, but it could've been more. Hopefully, if what we're thinking is true, Motorola will reach for a flagship Elite from Qualcomm to put the cherry on top.

There are a ton of Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 deals on the web right now. Whether you're looking for a trade-in opportunity or a straight discount on an unlocked phone, stiff competition in the foldable space means there has never been a better time to pick up one of these innovative devices. That said, if you're looking for a different type of deal, Mint Mobile has you covered.

Bundle the purchase of the new Galaxy Z Flip 8 with one year of the unlimited plan and you'll get $200 off the phone and 50% off the wireless, knocking your total payment down to $1,180 (or $99 per month using affirm). Considering that the retail cost of the Z Flip 8 usually starts at $1,200, you're essentially getting a FREE year of unlimited T-Mobile-powered wireless, courtesy of Mint Mobile. And hey, there's a little $20 discount in there too.

Mint Mobile's unlimited plan gives you unlimited talk, text, and data on T-Mobile's legendary 5G network, plus you get a free mobile hotspot and calls to Mexico, Canada, and the UK. It's not the most comprehensive unlimited plan I've ever used, but if you like to keep things simple, this deal presents an easy way to avoid paying your phone bill for an entire year.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 is worth the price of entry too, coming complete with a foldable clamshell design, two gorgeous AMOLED displays, and the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset for powerful performance. The phone also comes equipped with 12GB of RAM, an upgraded 4,300mAh battery, and a thinner and lighter build than ever before.

Sure, this deal isn't for everyone. Some folks may miss the premium features offered by some unlimited plans, while others might be looking for a trade-in opportunity to could make the Galaxy Z Flip 8 even cheaper upfront. But if you have the cash lying around and you want to score a year of wireless and a great flip phone in one fell swoop, now's your chance.

The iPhone 18 lineup finally went on sale today, but that simply means that the Samsung Galaxy S26 deals are about to get even more competitive. Add a line with the Experience More OR Experience Beyond plans and T-Mobile will slash $1,100 off the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, dropping the price down to just $5.56 per month for 36 months. No trade-in required!

This T-Mobile deal is particularly compelling because, unlike some offers, it will still give you the full discount when you sign up for the mid-tier Experience More plan. That means you aren't stuck paying for the carrier's pricey Experience Beyond plan.

For comparison, Expensive More will only net you a $930 discount when you buy the iPhone 18 Pro Max at T-Mobile, while signing up for the Experience Beyond plan could land you $1,200 off the Apple device. In other words, unless you want to pay for T-Mobile's most-expensive wireless plan, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra deal is the better value.

• See my guide to the best Galaxy S26 deals of September 2026

The most powerful phone in Samsung's 2026 flagship lineup, the Galaxy S26 Ultra boasts a gorgeous 6.9-inch AMOLED display with embedded S Pen stylus, while under the hood you get the incredible Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset with 12GB of RAM and seven years of guaranteed OS/security updates.

Charging speeds have been improved here as well, plus you get all of the latest AI-boosted software features from Galaxy AI (if you're into that kind of thing). The Galaxy S26 Ultra has also stolen a lot of headlines for its new Privacy Display, a unique design feature that prevents prying eyes from looking at your phone's screen at a side angle.

Indeed, the iPhone 18 Pro Max is going to be the Ultra's biggest competition as we head into the fall sale season, but how do these two phones compare? I'll start by saying that both premium flagships are impressive, with huge gorgeous screens, powerful performance, and steep price tags to match.

With a direct comparison, you'll find that, although the two phones are nearly identical in size, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is considerably lighter than the 18 Pro. The Samsung phone also has more unique features than the iPhone, while the 18 Pro Max is likely superior when it comes to battery life and video recording.

Ultimately, for many folks, the final decision is going to come down to which device will land you the better deal. If you've been eyeing T-Mobile's mid-tier Experience More plan, the answer is clear.

What you need to know

• An overseas report claims the Galaxy Z Fold 8 saw a 10% increase in sales following the iPhone Duo.
• It was alleged that consumers were interested in seeing pricing details and more before deciding on a device, among other factors.
• The Galaxy Z Fold 8 was already incredibly popular for Samsung, shattering pre-order records and exceeding the Fold 8 Ultra and Flip 8

It's just over a week since Apple's main event where it debuted the iPhone Duo, its first foldable phone. Trends have shifted since then, and it's Samsung that's seeing an uptick in Fold 8 sales.

The Chosun (Korean) reported that Apple's event provided a noteworthy boost in Galaxy Z Fold 8 sales following the iPhone Duo's debut (via GSMArena). This appears to be the result of consumers "waiting and seeing," as the publication notes. According to the report, Samsung observed a 10% boost in Galaxy Z Fold 8 sales following the iPhone Duo reveal.

There might've been a few deciding factors that consumers were waiting out. The report highlights the price difference between the two phones as one of them. That price might be minimal in the U.S. (the iPhone Duo is $100 more), but in South Korea, there's a one million won difference. What's more, the report acknowledges that there is no 1TB option for the Fold 8; however, if consumers wanted the 2TB iPhone Duo, they'd have to pay five million won (by comparison, the Fold 8 starts at 2.2 million won).

These two factors were cited as the deciding factors for Korean consumers when choosing between the Fold 8 and the iPhone Duo. The publication went on to highlight one more factor: actually receiving the phone. Consumers can more readily go out and purchase a Fold 8. But the iPhone Duo isn't set to appear until October. In the U.S., Apple said pre-orders begin October 16, but its market debut isn't until October 23.

The Fold 8's pretty popular

It was nice finally seeing Apple's long-awaited foldable debut. Shortly after the event, Android Central's Harish Jonnalagadda was quick with his two cents about it. While an appealing phone, there were some glaring differences between it and the competition. Comparing the iPhone Duo's weight was highlighted. Both Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Google's Pixel 11 Pro Fold are lighter (it's 53g heavier than the Fold 8).

Elsewhere, Samsung and, yes, Duolingo, chirped Apple on social media during the event. It's probably safe to say Samsung wasn't too impressed. It said, "Making us wait? Fine. We'll be over here, folding 3 ways." The company even said the iPhone Duo's bedside clock mode was "giving groundhog day." Then we have Duolingo—completely unhinged. Its post read, "They named a phone after me and made it bend over," accompanied by its mascot's—you get the idea.

Getting back on topic, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 was already incredibly popular following its debut. After a week of pre-orders, the Fold 8 shattered expectations with its high volume. Inventory sold out online, and the Fold 8 far outpaced the Fold 8 Ultra and Flip 8.

Android Central's Take

I'm sure this is the case for a lot of people. The "waiting and see" approach is how to stay smart in a market that demands a lot from your wallet. But also, Samsung and Apple are major competitors. People might grab one phone one year and then the other the next. It's a constant flow. An ever-shifting reality we live in. However, it speaks a little more volume on Samsung's end. Clearly, people were on the fence and wanted to see. But after seeing, they still opted for Samsung. That's good for now. I want to know if it'll stick, though.

These days, buying a cheap Android phone doesn't have to feel like a downgrade, particularly when you pair the device with a great deal on wireless. For a limited time, Metro by T-Mobile will give you a FREE Samsung Galaxy A17 when you pair the purchase of the budget device with any 5G Unlimited plan starting at just $40 per month. No trade-in is required, and all taxes and fees are included in the price.

Sure, there are plenty of carrier deals that will land you a free Samsung phone, but few offers are this affordable or straightforward. The only catch is that, since it's a prepaid carrier, Metro by T-Mobile's service could be deprioritized if you use over 35GB per month. That means that heavy data users may have to deal with slower speeds if the network is congested. Otherwise, if you simply want unlimited wireless and a solid Samsung phone for as little hassle as possible, this Metro by T-Mobile deal deserves your immediate attention.

All of the wireless plans included in Metro by T-Mobile's promotion provide unlimited talk, text, and data on T-Mobile's vast 5G network, plus you get a five-year price guarantee and access to exclusive weekly discounts via T-Mobile Tuesdays.

Upgrade to one of Metro's higher-level unlimited plans and you'll get all of the perks mentioned above along with benefits like mobile hotspot data, Google One memberships, and more. Even if you go with Metro's top-tier Unlimited Premium 5G Data plan, you'll never pay more than $60 per month, all taxes and fees included.

The Samsung Galaxy A17 5G, for its part, is a $200 phone that punches well above its weight class, introducing an upgraded camera system, 6.7-inch AMOLED display, and a large 5,000mAh battery. You even get six years of guaranteed software updates, which is a rarity for a device in this price range.

Samsung's A series has spent years proving that you don't need to spend and arm and a leg to enjoy the complete Galaxy experience. Sure, it may not be the most powerful phone on the market (and Metro's data plan may not be the most comprehensive), but if you simply want cheap, reliable wireless and a phone that you can count on for years to come, this carrier deal shouldn't be overlooked.

Foldable phones are clearly having a moment, and if you're gearing up to buy your first-ever clamshell device, there's one T-Mobile deal that you simply must know about. Add a line with the Experience Beyond plan and the carrier will hook you up with enough promo credits to make the excellent Motorola Razr Plus (2026) completely free! That's like getting $1,100 back over 36 months, no trade-in required.

Even if you don't want to sign up for T-Mobile's top-tier Experience Beyond plan, the carrier is guaranteeing $600 off with 'most plans' on its website, plus there are some trade-in opportunities available if you'd rather go that route. The Motorola Razr Plus (2026) is one of the best foldable phones I've ever used, and now you can get your own for free with very little hassle. Why wait for the iPhone Duo when Motorola already has a tried-and-tested device like this?

• See my guide to the best T-Mobile deals of September 2026

✅ Recommended if: you want a balanced flip phone with a sleek, sophisticated design, snappy performance, and impressive camera tech; you're a heavy data user looking for a new phone plan.

❌ Skip this deal if: you're looking for a cheap phone plan; you can afford the Motorola Razr Ultra (2026); you're interested in a book-style foldable phone like the Razr Fold, Z Fold 8, or iPhone Duo.

Motorola has been making flip phones for years, and while it didn't release a book-style foldable until May 2026, the success of the company's long-running Razr series proves that no other OEM understands the folding hinge quite like Moto. The Razr Plus (2026) is a culmination of everything Motorola has learned from producing these devices, boasting a durable titanium-reinforced hinge, two stunning AMOLED displays, and a larger battery than ever before.

The phone also boasts a solid Snapdragon processor, 12GB of RAM, and five years of software updates guaranteed. True, it's not as powerful as the Motorola Razr Ultra (2026), but if you've ever used the Razr Plus (2024) or Razr Plus (2025), you'll recognize the 2026 version as a true refinement of everything that made past generations so great. At a starting retail price of $1,099.99, Razr Plus (2026) is also cheaper than both the Razr Ultra (2026) and Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 8.

The Experience Beyond plan, for its part, comes with unlimited talk, text, and premium data on T-Mobile's vast 5G network, plus you get a ton of international benefits and an unlimited mobile hotspot. The unlimited plan even comes with early device upgrades and free streaming subscriptions to Hulu and Netflix. Experience Beyond starts at $105/month for a single line, although you can make the monthly cost significantly cheaper by adding multiple lines and using AutoPay/paperless billing.

Amazon has confirmed that its next Prime Big Deal Days sale event will occur on October 6th and 7th, but you don't need to wait to score an incredible Google Pixel phone deal. For a limited time, the retailer is slashing $200 off the unlocked Google Pixel 10 Pro, knocking the price of the last-gen flagship down to just $799. That makes it $100 cheaper than the base model Google Pixel 11 and $300 cheaper than the new Pixel 11 Pro!

Some folks may be hesitant to purchase a last-gen smartphone, even at a discount, but I can confidently say that the Google Pixel 10 Pro still holds its own against the best Android phones on the market. That said, there are a few drawbacks that you should consider before taking the leap. Is this Pixel 10 Pro deal right for you? Let's break it down.

• Prime Big Deal Days returns Oct 6-7: see the 20+ best early deals available now

The Pixel 10 Pro boasts a gorgeous 6.3-inch pOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, while under the hood you get 16GB of RAM, an efficient Tensor G5 chipset, and all of the versatile AI-boosted camera tech that Google is known for. The phone also got a boost to its battery life compared to its predecessor, plus you'll enjoy faster charging speeds with Qi2 magnetic charging support.

So what's the catch? Well, with Big Deal Days and Black Friday just around the corner, there's a good chance that the price of the Pixel 10 Pro will dip even further in the coming weeks. That said, there's an equally good chance that the Pixel 10 Pro will completely sell out before that time.

If you've been interested in this particular phone for a while, I'd take your chances and place the order today. The Pixel 10 Pro is a great device, after all, and the six remaining software updates ensure that the phone won't feel obsolete any time soon. If, on the other hand, you're simply looking for a great Pixel phone and you're in no hurry to make a purchase, it might be worth waiting a bit to see what the fall sale season has in store for the Pixel 11 lineup.

What you need to know

• Samsung has started the stable One UI 9 update for the Galaxy S26 series, beginning in South Korea before expanding to other markets.
• One UI 9 brings features like My FanCam and more customizable Now Brief cards to the Galaxy S26 lineup.
• Samsung released seven beta builds over nearly five months, giving it time to fix bugs and refine the software.

Samsung has officially started the One UI 9 update rollout for the Galaxy S26 series, nearly five months after the company kicked off beta testing in May. The stable update for the Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra began rolling out in South Korea on September 16 and is now being released in other regions as well.

The test drive of the software wasn’t exactly a quick preview. Samsung released seven beta versions before moving to the finished release, allowing it to have several rounds of feedback and bug fixes to go through. The September security patch is, as expected, included with the stable release.

One UI 9 also includes some Galaxy AI features that first appeared on Samsung’s latest foldables. For example, one is the My FanCam feature, which can keep a chosen person in focus while automatically reframing video for different aspect ratios, while Now Brief gets customizable cards and expanded security and privacy information.

Samsung is also adding Now Nudge for more contextual suggestions and improvements to Interpreter, Document Scan, Voice Recorder summaries, and device care. Security Brief can find and surface warnings around malware, unknown apps, and unnecessary permissions, and on-device AI is able to identify potential privacy risks.

What’s interesting is how One UI 9 is moving away from a singular headline feature and is instead becoming more about tying Samsung’s AI, camera, and security tools into everyday tasks. That could make the update feel more substantial in daily use than the visual changes alone would suggest.

Samsung says One UI 9 will be available to more Galaxy phones and tablets, so international users should keep an eye on Settings > Software update > Download and install as the rollout expands to other markets.

What you need to know

• Samsung's OneDrive Gallery integration is ending soon, but Google Photos appears ready to take its place.
• A new Gallery Cloud Sync service has appeared on the Galaxy Store with support for backing up to Google Photos.
• Samsung hasn't announced the Google Photos integration yet, but it could start rolling out within weeks.

Samsung has started laying the groundwork for what appears to be the replacement for its outgoing OneDrive integration, and unsurprisingly, it's Google Photos.

Earlier this year, Samsung announced that users would no longer be able to use OneDrive to back up photos and videos directly through the Samsung Gallery app. Until now, Galaxy users have been able to automatically sync their Gallery photos and videos with OneDrive without needing to use another app or service.

However, that partnership is coming to an end later this month. And now, Samsung appears to be preparing its replacement with none other than Google Photos.

X user Sandeep Adap has spotted a new Samsung service called "Gallery Cloud Sync" on the Galaxy Store, which appears to be designed to take over from the existing Gallery OneDrive Sync integration. The app listing says Gallery Cloud Sync will safely back up your memories, including photos and videos, to "Google Cloud" so you can access them across your devices.

The mention of Google Cloud might sound slightly confusing, but it appears Samsung is actually referring to Google Photos here.

User That Josh Guy on X was able to preview the upcoming functionality, which isn't live just yet, and found that Samsung Gallery will offer an option to sync directly with Google. The Gallery settings will reportedly show your available Google storage, let you choose which albums to sync, and offer controls to sync over Wi-Fi or while roaming.

This could be a big change if you currently rely on OneDrive for Samsung Gallery backups, since you'll likely need to switch to Google Photos. That said, the overall experience should remain pretty similar, with the sync controls still built directly into the Gallery app.

The OneDrive sync option has already started disappearing from Samsung Gallery for some users and is expected to be discontinued completely later this month. Thankfully, Samsung's upcoming Google Photos integration looks like it could be an even more natural replacement.

Samsung hasn't officially announced Galaxy Cloud Sync or started rolling out the Google Photos integration just yet. But with OneDrive support ending soon, we expect the new option to become available sometime later this month or in early October.

What you need to know

• Google's September Pixel Drop is live, hitting Pixel phones, tablets, and watches with home screen upgrades, fraud protections, and new watch gestures.
• Pixel VIPs gets a proper home-screen upgrade: one-tap calls and texts, notification badges for unread or urgent messages, and a floating nav bar to swipe between contacts.
• Scam Detection now covers more languages and regions for chat notifications, and Gboard flags suspicious messages as you type.

Google today rolled out its September Pixel Drop, which includes a new batch of updates for Pixel phones, tablets, and smartwatches. The latest release brings updated home screen tools, improved fraud protections, new smartwatch gestures, and a spellbinding audio partnership to tie it all together.

Google has been working on its VIP contact concept for some time, but this update makes it really useful. The tech giant is giving the feature a new home-screen experience, letting you call or text your favorite contacts with a single tap. New notification badges indicate unread messages or urgent messages, and a floating navigation bar lets you swipe between VIP profiles without having to dig through menus.

The update works on Pixel 6 and newer phones worldwide, provided the required Contacts and Pixel VIPs app versions are installed.

Scam Detection is also expanding to more languages and regions for chat notifications, and Gboard can now flag suspicious messages from supported chat apps directly as you type. Availability varies by country and language, so this isn’t a universal rollout just yet.

Pixel Watch gets a smaller but useful upgrade. Raise to Talk gets enhancements on Pixel Watch 4 and newer. On Pixel Watch 3 and newer, you can launch and scroll through the notification tray with a one-handed pinch gesture.

There’s also a much less serious addition: Harry Potter Audiobook Packs can change a Pixel’s wallpaper, icons, and sounds, and eligible users will receive a two-month Audible trial. The packs are good through December 31.

It's no secret that Mint Mobile is one of my favorite MVNO carriers operating today, but did you know that the T-Mobile-owned provider is also home to a ton of great phone deals?

Sure, you'll need to bundle the purchase of the device with some wireless to see any real savings, but you can save up to $500 on some of the year's best Android phones if you play your cards right. And with wireless plans starting at just $15 per month, Mint Mobile's buy-in-bulk promotions present some of the best money-saving opportunities around.

If you don't mind the idea of paying for some wireless service in bulk, keep reading for the best Mint Mobile deals of September 2026. Didn't find anything today? Check back later: I update this list on a regular basis.

The best Mint Mobile deals of September 2026

• MVNO deals: Mint Mobile | Visible | Boost | Tello | Cricket

Mint Mobile FAQ

How does Mint Mobile work?

Mint Mobile offers a straightforward buy-in-bulk plan system that lets you purchase wireless in 3, 6, and 12-month increments of time. There are four data plans to choose from: 5GB, 15GB, 20GB, and Unlimited, all of which give you coverage on T-Mobile's vast 5G network, along with a free mobile hotspot, unlimited talk and text, and coverage in Mexico, Canada, and the UK.

How much does Mint Mobile cost?

Mint Mobile's wireless plans start at $15 per month, but since you have to pay for a minimum of three months of coverage, you're looking at an upfront payment of at least $45. That can make things a bit confusing when you're first introduced to Mint's pricing model, but as long as you're comfortable buying phone service in bulk, the potential wireless savings could be immense. Just imagine dropping a single payment of $180 and not worrying about your phone bill again until 2027. Sounds pretty good, right?

Who owns Mint Mobile?

Although Mint Mobile used to be partly owned by actor Ryan Reynolds, the prepaid carrier is now fully owned and operated by T-Mobile. This allows Mint to give you the Big Three carrier experience without charging the Big Three carrier price, and since Mint Mobile is no longer an independent company, network de-prioritization from T-Mo is much less common.

Wondering how Mint Mobile compares with other prepaid wireless carriers? Witness the battle of the MVNOs with our Mint Mobile vs. Boost Mobile or Mint Mobile vs. Metro by T-Mobile to see which alternative carrier is right for you.

What you need to know

• Xiaomi started teasing its 18 Pro series on Weibo this week with a teaser clip that gives us our best look at its rear display.
• Xiaomi teased enhancements for the screen, though it did not go into details.
• Recent rumors allege the company could upgrade the rear display from 2.1 inches to 4 inches, as well as "increased brightness."

After the Xiaomi 17 Pro series' positive reception, the Chinese OEM is looking to rekindle those same flames. It's started teasing the 18 Pro series on social media, and it's looking even more magical.

This week on Weibo, Xiaomi officially teased its upcoming 18 Pro series with a short teaser video focused on one feature: the rear display (via GSMArena). The clip gives us our best look at the 18 Pro's rear display. A multi-colored gradient animation swims around its edges. The teaser confirms that the device will feature two lenses within the rear display; however, there's a third right below. This keeps things similar to what Xiaomi did last year with the 17 Pro.

We can also spot a couple of buttons on the phone's right side (your left when viewing the image below). The opposite side also features a button, which is a key difference between the 17 Pro and the 18 Pro.

While exciting, Xiaomi teases more, stating, "The all-new Xiaomi 18 Pro series features a brand-new, versatile back screen." This is what we're focusing on since we know how popular the Xiaomi 17 Pro series was for the company. People enjoyed the secondary screen, but how Xiaomi intends to upgrade it is still unclear.

With its official teasers going up, the launch probably isn't too far.

Captivating displays

As we mentioned before, the Xiaomi 17 Pro series was incredibly popular for the company. Barely a month after the devices debuted, Xiaomi publicly stated that the rear displays would continue in the next series. It was reported that the 17 series shattered "first-sale" records within minutes after going live. Lu Weibing, Xiaomi's president, said the 2.1-inch rear display on the 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max made the difference.

A "positive surge" in the market gave Xiaomi all it needed to keep this trend going. For a moment, we'll have to talk about the rear display. Rumors claim Xiaomi is not only keeping the display (as Xiaomi's president said), but it'll upgrade it, too. Supposedly, the new display will measure 4 inches, up from 2.1 inches on the 17 Pro series. Reports also say the Chinese OEM could improve the rear display's brightness, along with "privacy protections."

That final bit gets us thinking about a Privacy Display similar to Samsung's.

Android Central's Take

Xiaomi's last phones were pretty cool. It takes that simple LED dot or whatever and turns it into a screen. It's been done in a different way in the past, but seeing it now is a little refreshing. And, clearly, it worked out well for Xiaomi that it's willing to continue. More teasers are likely to follow this one before the 18 series launches.

OPPO is all set to unveil its 2027 flagship, and the brand has confirmed that the Find X9 Pro Max will be powered by MediaTek's latest 2nm Dimensity 9600 Pro platform. It was a good bet that the phone would be powered by MediaTek silicon considering the last two models featured Dimensity platforms, and it's good to see OPPO continuing that collaboration into 2027.

Also, OPPO confirmed that the Find X10 Pro Max will debut globally, which is welcome news if you're interested in a new phone. While the X9, X9 Pro, and X9 Ultra launched outside China, continued availability of OPPO's flagships in western markets was always in doubt, so I'm glad the brand is clarifying global availability of its next-gen phone well ahead of time.

The Dimensity 9600 Pro is interesting in a lot of ways. It is built on TSMC’s 2nm N2P node, and it brings huge upgrades in just about every area. OPPO is touting a single-core uptick of 17% over the Dimensity 9500-powered Find X9 Pro, which is just ridiculous.

The 9600 Pro once again utilizes the all-big-core configuration, and it comes with two 4.55GHz Arm C2-Ultra cores alongside three C2 Pro cores at 4.3GHz, and another three C2 Pro cores at up to 3.1GHz. Cumulatively, they have 61% better energy efficiency, and the G2-Ultra NX GPU has ray tracing and utilizes Arm's new neural engine tech and is 27% faster while consuming 24% less power. And when it comes to on-device AI, the Dimensity 9600 Pro is 51% faster than its predecessor.

Clearly, there's no shortage of power on offer, and that is good news, as the Find X10 Pro Max is touted to have a trio of 200MP cameras. There's also the Laminar Flow Engine, and OPPO says it worked closely with MediaTek to tweak the "underlying rendering architecture and coordinating it more closely with system scheduling, the technology achieves a better balance between ultra-smooth system responsiveness and low power consumption"

I used OPPO's phones the longest this year, and a lot of that has to do with the groundbreaking cameras on the Find X9 Ultra and X9 Pro. There's also the small matter of the software, and ColorOS 16 has a clean design with great fluidity and customizability, and there's no doubt that the Find X9 Ultra is one of my favorite phones of 2026. I'm excited to see what the X10 Pro Max brings to the table, and it doesn't look like we will have to wait too long to see the device in action.

What you need to know

• MediaTek's Dimensity 9600 Pro is the company's first 2nm flagship chipset, promising better performance and efficiency.
• The new 2+3+3 All Big Core CPU delivers up to 17% faster single-core performance while using significantly less power.
• MediaTek's upgraded NPU supports on-device AI models with up to 30 billion parameters while improving AI power efficiency.

MediaTek has officially taken the wraps off its latest flagship smartphone chipset, called the Dimensity 9600 Pro. And it's the company's first flagship chip built on a 2nm process.

The new flagship smartphone season is almost upon us, and chipset makers have started unveiling their next generation of processors. Qualcomm is set to announce its next flagship Snapdragon chipsets later this month, but MediaTek has beaten it to the punch by unveiling its first 2nm chipset.

Called the Dimensity 9600 Pro, MediaTek says its new chipset combines flagship performance and power efficiency with advanced agentic AI experiences. The chip features a 2+3+3 All Big Core CPU design, which MediaTek says delivers an impressive 61% reduction in multi-core power consumption.

The architecture consists of two C2 Ultra cores clocked at up to 4.55GHz, three C2 Pro cores running at up to 4.35GHz, and another three C2 Pro cores clocked at up to 3.1GHz. MediaTek says single-core performance has improved by up to 17%, while multi-core performance is up to 15% higher than the previous generation, all while consuming less power.

Of course, there's also a big focus on agentic AI experiences. MediaTek says the chipset's new dual-NPU architecture and Agentic AI Engine are designed to power the next generation of on-device AI. Its second-generation Super Efficient NPU reportedly reduces AI power consumption by up to 40%, while delivering 51% higher LLM prefill performance and 55% higher token generation per watt.

The Dimensity 9600 Pro can also support AI models with up to 30 billion parameters directly on the device, which should allow more complex AI tasks to run without constantly relying on the cloud.

There's also a larger 34.5MB cache, alongside support for LPDDR6 memory and UFS 5.0 storage for the first time. MediaTek says its new Scheduling Engine can intelligently allocate computing power and memory resources between hardware and software, allowing multiple apps to continue running smoothly in the background while using fewer resources.

Gaming is getting a significant upgrade as well. The new G2-Ultra NX GPU delivers up to 27% higher peak performance while consuming 24% less power. MediaTek says the GPU can deliver what it calls console-grade gaming on-device at up to 185fps.

For cameras, there's a new Imagiq 1290 ISP, which MediaTek says will enable more advanced computational photography and content creation features on upcoming smartphones.

There aren't any smartphones powered by the Dimensity 9600 Pro just yet, but we shouldn't have to wait long before the first devices arrive. Apple's 2nm A20 Pro has already launched inside the iPhone 18 Pro series, while Qualcomm is expected to reveal its answer at Snapdragon Summit later this month.

What you need to know

• Samsung introduces the Galaxy S26 series to its Certified Re-Newed program.
• The S26 Ultra starts at $1,099 (a ~$200 price drop), while the S26 and S26 Plus start at $759 and $929.
• The company highlights that buyers can grab Samsung Care Plus protection with Loss and Theft during checkout for unlimited battery repairs and free screen replacements.

If you're looking to save some money, Samsung announced that its latest Galaxy S26 series is now available in its Certified Re-Newed program.

Today (Sept. 14), Samsung announced that its Certified Re-Newed program has welcomed the Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra. You can view this program as Samsung's refurbished phone line. As always, the company says its "Certified Re-Newed devices offer a like-new phone experience." It has taken in Galaxy S26 devices and equipped them with new (genuine) parts and a "brand-new battery."

A Certified Re-Newed Galaxy S26 Ultra starts at $1,099. This is roughly a $200 price drop from the standard, new flagship starting price (256GB). When it comes to the S26 and S26 Plus, the program shifts these prices to $759 and $929, respectively.

Samsung says you can only purchase these devices from the Certified Re-Newed program at its main store. The post states consumers can trade in their current phone for a Certified Re-Newed phone and receive "up to $720" in credit. You should check the specifics of this during purchase.

What's more, Samsung says if you are purchasing a Certified Re-Newed Galaxy S26 device, you can add Samsung Care Plus (with Loss and Theft) protection. This protection plan features unlimited battery repairs and free screen replacements.

• See our guide to the best Samsung Galaxy S26 deals of September 2026

Refurbished Galaxy S26

We're a couple of months early, but Samsung brought the Galaxy S25 series into the Re-Newed program last November. The price drops were fairly similar to what we're seeing this year for the S26 series. Costs dropped anywhere from $150 to $260. The model and configuration (RAM/storage) made the difference here. The "cheapest" option last year was the Galaxy S25 with 256GB of storage for $709.

Joining the Galaxy S25 was the Galaxy Z Fold 6, as well as the Galaxy S25 Edge and the Flip 6.

At the time of writing this post (around 3:15 pm ET), the devices are not listed on Samsung's storefront. That should change. If you're interested, check back later today or perhaps later this week. You shouldn't fret about the refurbished tag; you'll still receive all of Samsung's newest features. Now Nudge and Now Brief were highlighted, and if you're getting the Galaxy S26 Ultra, you'll find the Privacy Display.

Internally, the Galaxy S26 series features Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset.

What you need to know

• Rumors claim we might have a Galaxy Z TriFold 2 in 2027, as Samsung is supposedly moving ahead with development.
• The TriFold 2 could feature a "more durable," thinner, and lighter design with a price tag similar to the original model ($2,800).
• It's worth remembering the struggles Samsung encountered with the first TriFold (component prices/prices in general) and that it was a "limited release."
• The TriFold lasted for three months before Samsung pulled the plug.

It's been almost a year since Samsung debuted its Galaxy Z TriFold. Rumors say there's a sequel on the way next year.

Over the weekend, tipster Lanzuk on Naver stated Samsung is already working on a Galaxy Z TriFold 2 (via 9to5Google). One thing the tipster mentions is the phone's price. Samsung could face issues; however, they claim this supposed TriFold 2 could be priced "similarly" to the original—around $2,899. When it comes to upgrades, Samsung is supposedly looking at three areas.

This alleged TriFold 2 could debut as a thinner, lighter, and "more durable" phone. Looking at what Samsung did with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 (and 8), reducing the thickness of that phone, this rumor strikes a chord. What's more, the idea of a "more durable" TriFold likely concerns its hinge/display for longevity.

Right now, these rumors suggest Samsung is sticking to its "original schedule" of releasing this "TriFold 2" in 2027. Additionally, rumors say Samsung might reveal a "slideable" phone, too. If it's what we presume it is, Samsung has shown off concepts of this type of phone several times over the past few years.

How the TriFold did

It's interesting to hear this rumor. We all remember Huawei's Mate XT surprise. It beat Samsung to the world of tri-fold phones. It's even more interesting since Samsung effectively stopped selling the Galaxy Z TriFold after three months...

Maybe this wasn't so surprising. Samsung always positioned the Galaxy Z TriFold as a "limited release." These rumors about a TriFold sequel mention something Samsung struggled with before: components. Developing the Galaxy Z TriFold was already incredibly strenuous due to high manufacturing and rising component costs. If Samsung is considering a TriFold 2, in the current climate, that might be difficult (on our wallets).

Nevertheless, it remains to be seen how Samsung would treat a TriFold 2. Another limited release might seem strange, but we'll have to see. The Galaxy Z TriFold debuted with a huge, tablet-like 10-inch internal display and a 6.5-inch cover.

What you need to know

• Overseas rumors claim Samsung's Galaxy S26 series could see a ~$100/149,000 KRW price increase.
• Samsung is reportedly grappling with various issues impacting the phone market (RAM/memory).
• This increase has been rumored for Korean consumers; however, Samsung's official statement says nothing is set in stone yet as rumors say this could all happen in October.

Prices are soaring all over the place, whether it's phones or gaming consoles. A recent rumor from overseas says Samsung's latest flagship phones might be next on the list.

A report by Hans Economy (Korean) claims Samsung is mulling over a potential price increase for the Galaxy S26 series (via SamMobile). According to the publication's sources, Samsung is now facing "difficulties" with "maintaining its existing pricing structure." The post alludes to the current stress placed on the phone industry: RAM and memory prices. With that in mind, Samsung is supposedly increasing its Galaxy S26 series prices by ~$100 (USD)/~149,000 KRW.

If this happens, it would push the Galaxy S26 to a ~$999 starting price, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra to ~$1,400. The post claims a mobile carrier started informing consumers about an impending price hike for the Galaxy S26 series. Here's the thing: nothing is confirmed. In fact, Samsung provided an official comment to Hans Economy about these rumors.

The company states that while it has been "internally reviewing" the idea of "adjusting" prices, "nothing has been finalized as of now" (machine-translated).

There's more to consider with these rumors. On one hand, it was suggested that Samsung could hike S26 prices in October for Korean consumers if its internal review finds success. However, it's unclear how widespread this hike could be—meaning it's not clear if the U.S. would see it, too.

Prices are soaring

Let's not kid ourselves, Samsung (technically) already raised prices for the Galaxy S26. It was around the time the series debuted earlier this year. Compared to the S25 and S25 Plus, the S26 and S26 Plus cost roughly $100 more. The S26 Ultra's price remains the same compared to its past-gen counterpart. However, despite the price hikes to the first two models, Samsung's phones still performed well.

Specifically, the Galaxy S26 Ultra performed the best. According to early analytics, the Galaxy S26 Ultra achieved 71% of sales in the first three weeks. This year's Ultra has a lot going on, like the Privacy Display, so that might've helped.

And since we're talking about Samsung price hikes, it's hard not to bring up the horrendous streak it went on in the U.S. in April. Someone needs to save our wallets, because Samsung's Galaxy tablets were hit hardest. The Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra (1TB) jumped by $280 earlier this year to $1,899.

Android Central's Take

Price hikes are becoming quite the unsettling "norm." Looking at devices in a smart way has never mattered more. We might love to chase after "what's new," but when it starts hitting your wallet, you'll reconsider. Not everyone's in that sort of position where they can chase after every new phone or what-have-you. To be honest, it is that majority that gives companies pause. If they drop out, that's when they're in trouble.

The fall sale season is quickly approaching, but you don't need to wait for Black Friday to score some exceptional smartphone deals. Case in point: for a limited time, Amazon is slashing 15% off the Google Pixel 10a, which was already my favorite cheap Android phone on the market.

The deal drops the price of the unlocked Pixel 10a down to just $424, no trade-in required. That said, if you do have an old or broken device lying around, Amazon is offering up to $420 (in the form of a gift card) when you process a trade. What's the point of Black Friday when the Google Pixel deals are already this good?

Typically priced around $499 for the 128GB configuration, the Google Pixel 10a is a midrange phone that punches well above its weight class. Straight out of the box, the Pixel 10a boasts a stunning 6.3-inch 120Hz pOLED display with IP68 durability and 3,000 nits of brightness, while under the hood you get Android 16, 8GB of RAM, and a 5,100mAh battery that's actually larger than what's found inside the base model Pixel 10.

At 183 grams, the Pixel 10a is also lighter than its flagship counterpart, while both phones share many of the same camera tech and software features. The Google Pixel 10a even comes with seven years of OS and security upgrades, which is a rarity for devices in this price category.

Of course, no phone is perfect. The Pixel 10a surprised us all by utilizing the last-gen Google Tensor G4 chipset instead of the newer G5, plus you don't get Qi2 charging support or as many AI features as you would with a flagship Pixel. It's also worth mentioning that, with Black Friday just around the corner, we might see some Pixel deals that drop the price of the Pixel 10a even further in the coming weeks.

With all of that being said, if you just want a great phone at a great price today, the Google Pixel 10a might be the midrange masterpiece that you're searching for. The phone is already worth a look at full price, but this Amazon discount is simply the cherry on top.