The Latest on Smartphones

The Oppo Find X9 Pro has arrived, and this isn't your typical flagship upgrade. It makes bold moves in smartphone cameras and pairs them with battery capacity most manufacturers can only dream of. The centerpiece is a 200-megapixel telephoto lens developed in partnership with Hasselblad, according to Wired. What really sets it apart is a detachable lens system that nudges your phone closer to a pro setup. Then there is that massive 7,500 mAh silicon-carbon battery, as reported by Wired, which...

When two tech titans collide in the flagship smartphone arena, sparks fly. Two titans. One showdown. Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra, expected to launch in January 2026, represents the cutting edge of what's possible in premium Android technology. Meanwhile, Google's Pixel 10 Pro XL has already made its mark as one of the hottest new Android phones right now, launching in August 2025 with a mix of computational photography prowess and AI-driven features.

The mobile gaming landscape has transformed in recent years, with smartphone gamers looking for ways to move beyond pure touchscreen play. You know how it is. You're trying to nail that perfect combo in a fighting game or line up a clutch shot in a first-person shooter, and your thumbs just can't deliver the precision you need on glass. That pain point has pushed a wave of dedicated accessories into everyday carry.

When Nothing unveiled their budget-friendly Phone 3a Lite today, they delivered exactly what the name promises: most of what makes the Phone 3a compelling, just more affordable. This stripped-down version launches in the UK and Europe at £249/€249 for the 128GB model, according to The Verge, making it Nothing's cheapest smartphone to date. Unfortunately for US consumers, The Verge reports this budget option won't see a stateside release. Tough break.

OPPO's Find X9 series has finally gone global, and the launch feels like a watershed moment for the brand. For years, Find flagships stayed in China. Now OPPO says its most comprehensive upgrade is leaving home. The Find X9 and Find X9 Pro read less like yearly refreshes and more like a reset, especially in imaging and battery endurance.

T-Mobile's decision to discontinue its JUMP! On Demand program marks the end of an era for one of the wireless industry's most customer-friendly upgrade initiatives. The carrier is discontinuing its lease-based upgrade service that previously allowed customers to swap devices as frequently as monthly, with new enrollments already suspended and only current participants benefiting from what amounts to an unexpectedly generous farewell package, according to Find Articles.

Meta's Instagram Threads takes a significant leap with group messaging, bringing conversations between up to 50 people directly into the app. Not just another feature update. It signals that Threads seems to be moving past its X (formerly Twitter)-alternative phase into something broader and more useful.

When Google first introduced the Pixel 10 Pro Fold back in August, they painted an impressive picture of durability. Here was a device that could supposedly withstand around 180,000 fold cycles over approximately 10 years of regular use, complete with IP68 dust and water resistance and a titanium backplate designed to enhance structural integrity. But sometimes reality has a way of crushing even the most carefully crafted marketing promises, literally.

AI is not just changing how we tap and swipe. It is reshaping what we pay for the hardware in our pockets. Thinking about a phone upgrade? Timing suddenly matters. This is not the usual blip from a shipping backlog or a holiday rush. It is a reshuffling of global semiconductor priorities that lands right on your bill.

You know that moment when a platform you rely on suddenly changes the rules? That's exactly what's happening with WhatsApp right now. The messaging giant is testing one of its most significant anti-spam initiatives yet, with monthly caps on broadcast messages that could fundamentally reshape how we think about mass communication on the platform.

When you think about flagship smartphones these days, you usually have to pick your battles. Do you want incredible camera performance or all-day battery life? Well, Oppo just said "why not both?" with their new Find X9 Pro, and the specs are genuinely revolutionary.

Reviewed by Jame Jimenez

Remember when smartwatches first promised to change how we glance at our wrists? Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch grabbed the spotlight, sure, but a quieter favorite won hearts with simplicity and battery life that seemed to last forever. That beloved underdog is back, and the tech crowd is buzzing.

When you're fed up with that unsightly camera bump jutting out from your phone's back, what if you could simply swap it for something better? The H-One Pro concept device introduces a fascinating approach to smartphone modularity, featuring what designer Mechanical Pixel describes as a minimalist modular system with just one swappable section. Unlike Google's abandoned Project Ara with its multiple modular components, this design focuses on a single rectangular section that can house various...

When a single stolen phone becomes the thread that unravels an entire criminal empire, it shows how potent modern tracking has become in the fight against organized crime. London saw this up close when mobile device theft hit alarming highs, with approximately 80,000 phones reported stolen in 2024 alone, a significant increase from the previous year. The estimated value reached £50 million, equivalent to over Rp1 trillion, a snapshot of the scale of this underground economy.

You've probably heard this song before: "world's thinnest foldable phone!" But the Honor Magic V5 might actually deserve the hype. At just 8.8mm thick when folded and weighing a mere 217g, this thing makes other foldables look chunky by comparison. Honor didn't just chase thinness records though, they packed in a 64MP periscope telephoto camera and the world's first 6,100mAh silicon-carbon battery for a foldable. The engineering feat represents something bigger than spec sheets: it's the moment...

WhatsApp is rolling out one of its biggest anti-spam tests yet, a trial that caps how many messages you can send without getting a reply (Engadget). The company is testing different monthly thresholds to target high-volume senders and spammers while leaving regular users alone (Engadget).

Reviewed by Meg Flores

WhatsApp is finally addressing one of its biggest privacy limitations with the upcoming introduction of usernames, allowing users to connect without revealing their personal phone numbers. The messaging platform is reportedly gearing up to launch this long-awaited feature, which has been spotted in recent beta versions and represents a major shift from the app's traditional phone number-based identity system. Even more interesting, WhatsApp's beta builds show a username reservation feature that...

The smartphone world just got a lot more interesting. Motorola's latest challenger to Samsung's premium Galaxy S25 Edge popped up in a leaked promo, giving us a first real look at a potential flagship contender. The leaks suggest Edge 70 will depart from the design of recent Edge smartphones like the Edge 60 Pro, a sign Motorola is ready to shake things up when design has felt stuck in place.

Nothing's latest widget creation feature is making waves in the Android community, and for good reason. Nothing Phones now lets you make your own widgets, and here's the kicker: you can use them not just on Nothing Phones, but on any Android device.

Reviewed by Jame Jimenez

Qualcomm just dropped a bombshell with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, officially unveiled on Sept. 24, 2025, as perhaps the fastest smartphone chip in the world. The naming might catch you off guard. Many expected it to be called the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2, but Qualcomm decided the "Gen" suffix now applies to their entire series, making this the fifth generation.

Reviewed by Jame Jimenez

Reviewed by Jame Jimenez

The deal everyone's been talking about is finally taking shape. What does it mean for TikTok users, creators, and the broader tech landscape? After months of uncertainty and political maneuvering, the US and China have reached what appears to be a breakthrough agreement on TikTok's future in America. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Americans will hold six of seven board seats overseeing TikTok's U.S. operations, while Oracle will control the app's algorithm under the...

WhatsApp just made communicating across languages ridiculously easy. Engadget reports that the messaging giant is now rolling out message translations on both iOS and Android apps, a big step for more than 3 billion monthly users who chat across borders. The twist, and it matters, is that translations are handled entirely on your device to maintain privacy, so WhatsApp still cannot peek at your encrypted chats.

Looking at T-Mobile's latest free line promotion feels a bit like watching a magician's performance. The trick lands, the crowd claps, you know there is more happening under the stage. T-Mobile's giving away free lines for eligible customers, but the reality is more nuanced than the headline suggests. The service charge is zero, while customers still pay initial activation, taxes, fees, and the free line often does not qualify for equipment discounts.

Reviewed by Jame Jimenez

The mobile industry just witnessed a major leadership shake-up that's bound to reshape one of America's biggest wireless carriers. T-Mobile confirmed that Mike Sievert will step down as CEO on November 1, 2025, with current COO Srinivasan Gopalan taking the helm. This is not just another corporate reshuffle, it signals T-Mobile's shift from aggressive customer growth to premium positioning built on robust fiber infrastructure. The timing stands out, Sievert's contract was set to run until 2028,...

Mark Zuckerberg isn't just talking about the future of technology, he's building it. Meta, led by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is shifting focus from smartphones to advanced smart glasses and AR devices. This is not a distant sci-fi pitch. The company has been pouring resources into projects like Supernova and Hypernova that aim to enhance digital experiences with versatile smart glasses. And yes, Zuckerberg predicts the end of smartphones by 2030, replaced by smart glasses. That date is closer than it...

TikTok's U.S. saga has been a rollercoaster of uncertainty, deadline extensions, and regulatory drama. Here’s the twist. Despite months of political turbulence, TikTok is reportedly building a new version specifically for American users with a targeted launch on September 5, while President Donald Trump has indicated the U.S. has "pretty much" reached a deal for an American company to acquire TikTok's U.S. assets. With Google and Apple both restoring TikTok's listings in app stores on February...

Looking at Trump Mobile's original promises, you could be forgiven for getting excited about an American-made smartphone that could compete with the big players and support domestic manufacturing. The Trump Organization's T1 Phone launched with bold claims about being "MADE IN THE USA" and bringing smartphone production back to American soil. Then the messaging shifted, the big talk faded from the website, and the reality of smartphone manufacturing caught up.

When early reviews started dropping, one thing became crystal clear: Apple's latest flagship duo is the most ambitious design transformation from Cupertino in years. Launching on Friday, September 19, the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max push past the usual yearly polish. Not a tune-up, a rethink of what a Pro iPhone can be.

Your smartphone's next battery upgrade is already happening in electric cars, and it is about to make dead phone anxiety a thing of the past. You have been plugging in every night. Meanwhile, researchers have been perfecting silicon-based battery technology that could change how long your device lasts and how fast it charges.

The flagship smartphone battle is heating up again, and this time it’s personal. With Apple rolling out the iPhone 17 and Google preparing the Pixel 10, we are looking at what could be the most compelling entry-level flagship showdown in years. Both phones are expected to launch at the same $800 price point. Less premium posturing, more real value for people who want flagship features without the Pro tax.