Smartphones News and Discussions

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$369 card-sized AI smartphone is sleek, functional and has free global internet
By Bronwyn Thompson
August 19, 2025

The company behind high-performance in-ear monitors and the award-winning ActiveBuds has launched its most ambitious product yet: iKKO's MindOne Pro AI smartphone. This ultra-compact Android phone combines built-in AI tools, free global internet access, and a dual operating system – all packed into a body not much bigger than a credit card, and for less than US$400 – while its fundraising campaign is running, anyway.

Measuring 86 x 72 mm (3.39 × 2.83 in) and 8.9 mm (0.35 in) thick, the tiny MindOne Pro easily fits in the palm of your hand or a small pocket. But don’t let its size fool you – it’s a fully functional Android 15 smartphone, complete with a sharp 4.02-inch AMOLED display (as seen with the iKKO ActiveBuds), a rotating 50-MP Sony camera and a surprising amount of performance packed into its slim frame.

Designed for users who want a functional smartphone without the overwhelm, MindOne offers a focused, minimalist experience – a capable unit without the constant pings, scrolls and distractions of the mini-computers most of us have in our hands right now.

https://newatlas.com/consumer-tech/ikko ... martphone/

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$369 card-sized AI smartphone is sleek, functional and has free global internet

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Google doubles down on ‘AI phones’ with its Pixel 10 series
Sarah Perez
9:01 AM PDT · August 20, 2025

With the launch of the new Pixel 10 series, Google is rushing ahead of Apple to deliver AI-powered smartphones to consumers. The devices, announced during Wednesday’s “Made by Google” livestream, come just weeks ahead of Apple’s expected iPhone 17 reveal, which promises to be more of the same — better cameras, possibly thinner devices, and new colors to choose from.

Google, meanwhile, has been rapidly integrating its AI platform into its devices.

Last year, its Pixel 9 series added a number of AI features, like Gemini Live (Gemini’s voice mode), image generation tools, call notes, searchable screenshots, and more. Since then, Google says that Gemini Live conversations have proven to be five times longer than text-based conversations.

https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/20/googl ... 10-series/


Google launches the Pixel 10 series, base model now has three-cameras
https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/20/googl ... e-cameras/

Ivan Mehta
9:19 AM PDT · August 20, 2025

Google launched its Pixel 10 family of phones — Pixel 10, the Pixel 10 Pro, and the Pixel 10 Pro XL — on Wednesday at the company’s Made by Google event. All of the phones are powered by the company’s new Tensor G5 processor. The most noticeable change in hardware with this iteration is that Google has opted for a triple camera setup for the first time for the base Pixel 10 model. On the other hand, the Pro models mostly got iterative updates in terms of processor and camera sensors.

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Apple’s First Foldable iPhone Expected to Launch in 2026, Bring Back Touch ID
Rumor has it the foldable will feature four cameras: one on the front, two on the back, and one inside.

New details about Apple's first foldable iPhone offer an exciting peek at what was once a rumor. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the device is internally called "V68" and is expected to be part of the iPhone 18 lineup in September 2026. The foldable will likely cost somewhere around $2,000.

Reports say Apple's foldable will come only in black and white options and will use Touch ID rather than Face ID. It is also not expected to include a SIM card slot. According to Gurman's sources, the smartphone will feature four cameras: one on the front, two on the back, and one inside. That's one fewer camera than Samsung's latest Galaxy Z Fold7.

https://www.extremetech.com/mobile/appl ... back-touch

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Samsung Announces Galaxy S25 FE: Upgraded Camera, 7 Years of Updates, and More
Samsung says the Galaxy S25 FE plays an important role as an entry point into the Galaxy AI ecosystem.
By Devesh Beri September 5, 2025
https://www.extremetech.com/mobile/sams ... pdates-and

On Thursday, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S25 FE, the newest and most affordable device in the Galaxy S25 line. Like other FE devices, it's the most affordable model in its lineup, like the Samsung Flip7 FE and the predecessor Samsung S24 FE.

Samsung says the Galaxy S25 FE will have One UI 8 and the latest Galaxy AI experiences. The smartphone comes with camera improvements, including Generative Edit and Instant Slow-mo, as well as an upgraded 12MP front-facing camera using the AI-powered ProVisual Engine. It also comes with a larger vapor cooling chamber, which is now over 10% bigger, along with a 4,900mAh battery and support for 45W wired charging.

The brand also claims the Galaxy S25 FE will serve as an entry point into the Galaxy AI ecosystem. New Google AI features include Gemini Live and Circle to Search. Now Bar, Samsung's equivalent of iPhone's Dynamic Island, and Now Brief have also been introduced to the device.

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iPhone 17 Lineup Hits Shelves, With Pro Models Drawing Special Attention
Some stores even had customers queue outside overnight.
By Devesh Beri September 19, 2025
https://www.extremetech.com/mobile/ipho ... -attention

Apple's iPhone 17 lineup went on sale today, attracting crowds at Apple stores and authorized retailers worldwide. Demand for the devices appears strong, especially for the Pro and Pro Max models. The launch comes after pre-orders in the past week indicated high interest, with consumers in Beijing queuing overnight and lines in London reported to be longer than those seen during last year's iPhone 16 release. Reports from Hong Kong also pointed to strong sales, as reported by Investopedia.

This year's iPhone lineup includes the thinnest iPhone ever, the iPhone Air, as well as the iPhone 17, Pro, and Pro Max. Updated Apple Watch and AirPods Pro also made the cut. The iPhone 17 Pro starts at $1,099, which is $100 higher than the previous generation, though Apple has doubled the base storage to 256GB and added longer battery life. The iPhone 17 Pro Max has the largest iPhone battery to date, rated for up to 41 hours and proven capable of lasting nearly 18 hours of constant use.

Analysts have been divided in their early assessments. Morgan Stanley has called the iPhone Air, which can withstand 130 pounds of pressure, a "small positive surprise," but others say they are watching for Apple to add more AI-driven capabilities to its devices in the future.

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Samsung Unveils Tri-Fold Smartphone Prototype
The brand plans to produce between 50,000 and 100,000 units initially.
By Devesh Beri October 29, 2025
https://www.extremetech.com/mobile/sams ... -prototype

Samsung publicly unveiled a physical prototype of its long-awaited tri-fold phone at the APEC CEO Summit on Oct. 28. Unlike mainstream foldables like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 or Pixel 10 Pro Fold, the tri-fold has two hinges that allow it to fold twice. The prototype was displayed behind glass and was not available for hands-on testing.

When folded, the external display measures around 6.5 inches, similar to Samsung's Galaxy Fold line. Fully unfolded, the display expands to roughly 10 inches, allowing the device to function as a mid-sized tablet. Industry analysts expect the device to debut at over ₩3 million (approximately $2,110).

Samsung initially plans to produce between 50,000 and 100,000 units, with availability starting in select markets like South Korea and China. The release is expected within the year and appears to be aimed more at showcasing Samsung's innovation and reinforcing its leadership in foldable technology than driving mass-market sales, Chosun reports.

The move comes after Huawei revealed its first tri-fold model, the Mate XT, and its successor, the Mate XTs, earlier this year.

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Apple’s Folding iPhone to Boast Biggest Battery Yet: Rumor
Apple's first folding smartphone could surpass the iPhone 17 Pro Max in size and weight.
By Devesh Beri November 19, 2025

https://www.extremetech.com/mobile/appl ... -yet-rumor
Recent leaks point to a battery capacity between 5,400mAh and 5,800mAh for Apple's first foldable iPhone. This new battery is bigger than the current iPhone 17 Pro Max and the latest Samsung foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold7. Korean blogger Yeux1122 says Apple is likely to favor a larger battery for better endurance, even if it means the device feels thicker and heavier in the hand.

The iPhone Fold is set to have a squat form factor, taking cues from the OPPO Find N and Pixel Fold, says Yeux1122. Rumor has it that the foldable will feature dual 48MP rear cameras, a crease-free display, and a 24MP under-display selfie camera.

Yeux1122's insights also touch on the iPhone 18 Pro potentially becoming thicker. The second-generation iPhone Air could also see a slight increase in thickness, mainly to accommodate a larger battery and perhaps another camera.

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iPhone 17 Lineup Boasts 40% Faster Wi-Fi Than iPhone 16
That's thanks to Apple's N1 chip.
By Devesh Beri November 19, 2025
https://www.extremetech.com/mobile/ipho ... -iphone-16

Apple's iPhone 17 lineup is seeing some major real-world Wi-Fi speed gains, Ookla confirmed this week. (Editors' note: Ookla is owned by Ziff Davis, ExtremeTech’s parent company.) By crowdsourcing Speedtest data from users around the world, the network intelligence firm has found that the iPhone 17 family almost universally sees 40% faster download and upload speeds than the iPhone 16 lineup.

In North America, download speeds on this year's iPhones reached an average of 416 Mbps, up from 323 Mbps on the iPhone 16. These improvements appear to hold true in tough environments, like busy networks or when connecting from rooms further from the router.

The new iPhones—the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone Air—achieve wireless connectivity via Apple’s own N1 chip, while previous models used Broadcom hardware. Although the N1 chip supports the new Wi-Fi 7 standard, it only lets the iPhone use a 160MHz channel width. Some competitors support the 320MHz band, but Ookla says this doesn't matter much, since many routers still lack these wider bands.

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Apple Finally Achieves a Crease-Free Folding iPhone Display
The device is likely to cost around $2,400, making it Apple's most expensive iPhone.
By Devesh Beri November 26, 2025

Apple has reportedly moved its foldable iPhone project into the engineering validation testing (EVT) stage after achieving a crucial breakthrough: eliminating the visible crease found in most folding phones' displays. Foxconn has set up an exclusive production line for the device, and Apple has built around 100 near-final units for testing, Taiwan's United Daily News (UDN) reports.

The inner display is from Samsung, but Apple designed the panel structure, material processing, and lamination method. Apple also worked with suppliers Amphenol and New Nikko to codevelop the hinge bearings, and the mechanism reportedly uses Liquid Metal components to distribute stress more evenly across the fold and prevent permanent creasing. It was previously reported that Apple will use in-cell touch-screen technology instead of on-cell sensors, reducing the air gap that makes screen creases more visible.

https://www.extremetech.com/mobile/appl ... ne-display

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Samsung's First Tri-Fold Phone Is Here: Everything You Need to Know
The Galaxy Z TriFold has a massive, 10-inch screen when fully unfolded.
By Devesh Beri December 3, 2025
https://www.extremetech.com/mobile/sams ... ed-to-know

Samsung has officially unveiled the Galaxy Z TriFold, the company's first tri-fold smartphone. The device comes after Huawei launched its Mate XT, but Samsung's approach has a distinctive inward-folding design that keeps the large main screen fully protected when closed.

The Galaxy Z TriFold has a vast, 10-inch screen when fully unfolded, turning the phone into a tablet. When folded, it has a standard 6.5-inch front screen. The design uses a "Flex G" architecture with both hinges folding inward, contrasting with Huawei's outward-folding approach.

The device contains a Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor, 16GB of RAM, and storage options ranging from 512GB to 1TB. The 5,600mAh battery supports 45W wired charging and 15W wireless charging. It features a 200MP main sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom.

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Samsung Confirms Galaxy S26 Launch Event for Feb. 25
The company is set to unveil three phones: the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and Galaxy S26 Ultra.
By Devesh Beri February 12, 2026

Samsung has confirmed that the next Galaxy Unpacked event will take place on Feb. 25 in San Francisco, where the Galaxy S26 series will be revealed. It feels like a missed opportunity not to showcase the S26 on the 26th; still, the launch should be an interesting one, with three new models introducing what Samsung claims will be a "new phase in the era of AI." will be streamed via Samsung's official YouTube channel and website. The invite says Samsung will mark a new phase for Galaxy AI and describes the S26 lineup as its next AI phone push.

The phones appearing at the event are the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and Galaxy S26 Ultra. Reports indicate that Samsung will use a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for the Galaxy chip in the S26 Ultra in most markets, while the S26 and S26+ will likely run on Samsung’s Exynos 2600, which uses a 2 nm process. There have been mixed rumors about the camera on the S26 series; the base and Plus phones are expected to have the same camera specs, but the Ultra might feature an improved sensor unit. Personally, I'm most excited about the rumored built-in privacy filter on the S26 Ultra.

https://www.extremetech.com/mobile/sams ... for-feb-25

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Samsung Readies Slideable Phone, Galaxy Z TriFold Successor
Galaxy Z Slide?
By Devesh Beri March 19, 2026

Samsung is reportedly preparing a sequel to the Galaxy Z TriFold, as well as a slideable phone. Though Samsung is sunsetting the Galaxy Z TriFold just a few months after launch, a new leak out of South Korea suggests the brand will continue to pursue the tri-fold form factor through a new device.

The Galaxy Z TriFold sequel is said to have a thinner, lighter body than the original model, though it may still be thicker than the Galaxy Z Fold 7 when folded, according to 9to5Google's translation (which the site admits is a bit rough). The leak claims Samsung has completed most hinge verification work for the new TriFold and hopes to bring the device to market around mid‑2027. Details on hardware, markets, and pricing are unknown, and reports do not provide any concrete information on display size, chipset, battery, or camera. Samsung hasn't picked a name for the device, either.

https://www.extremetech.com/mobile/sams ... -successor

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Samsung Galaxy A37 and Galaxy A57 Specifications
Pictured: Kristijan Lucic
Kristijan Lucic |
Mar 5, 2026
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Featured image for Exclusive: Samsung Galaxy A37 and Galaxy A57 Specifications

We bring you a new exclusive, this time around, we reveal the Samsung Galaxy A37 and Galaxy A57 specifications. Ranging from their displays and processors, to cameras, batteries, and charging information. There’s plenty to unpack here.

Last month, we showed you the designs of the Samsung Galaxy A37 and Galaxy A57 mid-rangers, exclusively. Well, now we have some new info to share with you regarding both phones. We managed to get our hands on specifications of both the Galaxy A37 and Galaxy A57, so that’s what we’ll focus on here.
Samsung Galaxy A37 specifications

Let’s kick things off with the Galaxy A37. The phone will be fueled by the Exynos 1480 processor from Samsung. You’ll be able to choose between 6GB and 8GB RAM options, with 128GB or 256GB of internal storage. The availability of models will vary depending on the market, of course. Also, do note that the storage is not expandable via a microSD card.

A 6.7-inch 120Hz Super AMOLED display with a fullHD+ (2340 x 1080) resolution will be included. That panel will be flat, by the way. Android 16 will come pre-installed on the phone, with Samsung’s One UI 8.5 skin.

A 5,000mAh battery will power the device, while 45W wired charging will be supported. It will be a dual SIM phone with an eSIM option, while Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 will be supported.

https://www.androidheadlines.com/samsun ... ifications