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09-10-26 -
Apple Hikes Price of Older iPhones
Apple has raised the price of iPhones by $100 across the board. Not only are the new iPhone 18 Pro models more expensive than last year\'s models, but the iPhone 17, 17e, 16, and Air are also now $100 more expensive.
09-10-26 -
Apple AirPods 5 Represent a Price Drop
Apple has introduced AirPods 5 with a new mix of options and features. Whereas the AirPods 4 started at $129, going up to $179 for the model with ANC (active noise cancellation), the new series starts at $129 which includes ANC. The most expensive...
09-10-26 -
Apple Watch Gains Audio Rewind, Better Heart Rate Sensing, Faster Charging
Apple has refreshed its smartwatches with several kay hardware upgrades — across both the standard and Ultra models — with the design staying largely the same. Both the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 are powered by a new S11 chi...
09-09-26 -
iPhone 18 Pro Juices the Battery, Processor, and Camera
Apple has revealed the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. The models are closely based on the iPhone 17 Pro series, but upgrade several core specs. Battery life has been improved significantly thanks to new silicon battery chemistry, with the 18 Pro now o...
09-09-26 -
iPhone Duo is Apple's First Foldable
Apple has taken the wraps off its long-rumored debut foldable phone: the iPhone Duo. This passport-style foldable introduces a new 1:1.4 display ratio for both the inner and outer displays, which iOS adapts to by moving key interface elements from...
09-08-26 -
Arm Intros New Mobile Chip Platform Focused on AI
Arm has announced CSS for Mobile 2, its newest set of chip designs. (Arm\'s platforms are the building blocks that many other companies license to make their own chips that power phones and other devices.) On the CPU side, the new platform in...
09-04-26 -
Google Translate Can Now Run in Background
The Google Translate app can now run longer sessions in the background, while using other apps or with the screen locked. The feature is available now on Android and coming soon to iOS.
09-03-26 -
Mota Watch Ultra Brings Back Wear OS
Motorola has unveiled the first moto watch ultra, a new smartwatch with Wear OS by Google. Motorola\'s standard moto watch runs a proprietary OS. Motorola hasn\'t offered a watch with Google\'s smartwatch OS since the Moto 360 nearl...
09-03-26 -
Anker Turbo-Charges its Magnetic Power Bank
Anker\'s new MagGo Power Bank Pro 2 sports some of the fastest charging speeds available in a magnetic power bank: 25-watt wireless charging (Qi2) and up to 45 watts over USB-C. It has a built-in cooling fan to enable sustained fast charging....
09-03-26 -
Anker to Phase Out Sub-Brands
Anker has started to replace sub-brands like SoundCore and Eufy with simply \"Anker\". The company says the process will be gradual, with both the old and new brands sitting side-by-side during the transition period.
09-01-26 -
Google Launches New Accessibility Features
Google today announced an update to Android that adds two key accessibility features. The first is Guided vision, a feature for blind and low-vision users which uses Gemini AI to describe whatever the camera is pointed at. It can also read text to...
09-01-26 -
Google Brings Collaborative Lists to Messages
Google just launched an update to its Messages app for Android that integrates functionality from its Keep notes app. You can now share a note or checklist with one or more people. Shared notes can be added to or edited by anyone on the chat, lett...
09-01-26 -
Samsung Expands One UI 9 Beta to More Models
The beta version of Samsung\'s One UI 9 (based on Android 17) is now available to the S25 series, Fold7, and Flip7. It is already available for the S26 series.
08-31-26 -
Amid Memory Chip Shortage, Google Pushes Android Devs to Conserve RAM
As a serious shortage of RAM chips continues and prices soar, phone makers are being forced to raise prices and/or ship phones with less RAM. Google is responding by cracking down on apps \"using excess memory and causing system-wide slowdown...
08-28-26 -
Verizon's Razr Fold Adds mmWave 5G
The FCC has approved a new variant of the Motorola razr fold that adds mmWave 5G. It appears intended for Verizon, which has yet to launch the phone. (T-Mobile launched it in May.)
08-27-26 -
Samsung Galaxy S26 FE Brings New Software and a Price Bump
Samsung has announced the newest \"affordable flagship\" model in its lineup, the Galaxy S26 FE. In terms of hardware specs, it is nearly identical to last year\'s Galaxy S25 FE, including the display, battery, charging, cameras, me...
08-21-26 -
Walmart to Finally Accept Tap Payments
Walmart and Sam's Club will start accepting contactless / tap payments at select locations starting August 24, with all locations accepting them by the end of the year. This will extend to the company's fuel stations by mid-2027. This wi...
08-19-26 -
Fairphone 6+ Comes to US, Now with Android
Fairphone has started selling its sustainable, repairable phones directly in the US, starting with the new Fairphone (Gen. 6+). Previous Fairphone models were only available in the US via partner Murena, which pre-loaded its own /e/OS, a "de-...
08-12-26 -
Google Refreshes Pixel Series
Google has announced the Pixel 11 series of phones, with the same general design and three options as last year's Pixel 10 series, but with a few upgrades. All three are powered by Google's new Tensor G6 chip, which Google claims deliver...
08-12-26 -
Google Makes its Foldable 3x Tougher
Google has made a good number of improvements to its flagship foldable phone, while keeping the book-style design mostly the same. As expected, the price has ticked up by $100 to start at $1,899, although for the next two weeks, Google is offering...
08-12-26 -
Pixel Watch 5 Brings new Health Features, More Accurate GPS
Google has introduced its newest smartwatch, the Pixel Watch 5, with a long list of improvements over the Pixel Watch 4. The watch's GPS system now compensates for nearby buildings and real-time weather conditions when calculating location. G...
08-12-26 -
Google Gets Into Tracking Tag Business
Google has introduced the Pixel Tag, its first tracking tag device. While Google has long offered its own, Android-device-based Bluetooth tracking network via Find Hub, it has previously relied on third parties to make the actual tracking tag hard...
08-06-26 -
FCC Exploring Wi-Fi via Satellite
The FCC today voted to start a formal exploration of how it might allow D2D (direct-to-device) satellite services for unlicensed devices (Wi-Fi or similar) in unlicensed radio frequencies (the same as used by Wi-Fi and Bluetooth). Before any such ...
07-28-26 -
Apple Intros Device Leasing
"Apple Upgrade" is the company's new program for leasing its devices, in partnership with Klarna. Leasing options include one or two years for iPhones. For an iPhone 17, a two-year lease is $23/month while a one-year lease runs $33/...
07-27-26 -
Use of Duress Password to Wipe Phone at Border Lands Man in Court
The US Department of Justice is attempting to prosecute someone for giving border agents a "duress password" when they asked to search his phone. The duress password is a feature of the privacy-focused GrapheneOS that immediately wipes a...
07-22-26 -
Google Improves its Switch-to-Android Tool
Google has announced that select Pixels and new Samsung foldable phones will be the first Android phones to come with a new and improved, built-in transfer tool for users switching from an iPhone. The new tool can wirelessly transfer your Google A...
07-22-26 -
Mophie Intros Power Banks with Integrated Cables
Mophie has introduced four new Powerstation Plus power banks with integrated USB-C cables plus another USB-C port for dual-device charging. They come in two sizes: "mini 5K" with 5,000 mAh capacity, and "10K" with 10,000 mAh ca...
07-22-26 -
New Report Shows AT&T and Verizon Catching up to T-Mobile
Opensignal has released a new edition of its semiannual report on mobile network performance. It gives T-Mobile top marks in most categories, but with a much slimmer margin than in recent years. All three national network operators were within jus...
07-22-26 -
Samsung Remixes Foldables Lineup with Shorter Book Model
Samsung has launched its eighth-generation lineup of foldable phones, introducing a new form factor that it calls the Z Fold8, while the form factor of last year's Z Fold7 lives on as the new "Z Fold8 Ultra". The new Z Fold8 is 34mm...
07-21-26 -
Light Making a Flip Phone
The Light Phone company has revealed the Light Flip phone, a simple phone with the functionality of its Light III phone, reworked into a flip form factor without a touch screen. Its clean, minimalist design includes a number pad, d-pad, three soft...
07-16-26 -
OnePlus Officially Exits US Market
Oppo has confirmed that it will cease launching new OnePlus-branded devices in the North America and Europe. The company will continue to provide service and support for OnePlus customers in those regions. To provide promised software updates, the...
07-15-26 -
Google Relents on Third-Party App Stores in the US
Google and Epic have abruptly ended their prolonged legal battle over third-party app stores, with Google agreeing to a far more permissive model than the one it announced in March. Now, Google will allow third-party app stores to be downloaded vi...
07-15-26 -
Samsung Reveals New Foldable Screen Tech
Samsung has announced "Flex Titanium", a set of materials designed as a new backing system for the flexible OLED displays on foldable phones. Samsung claims it will provide "enhanced durability and reduced crease visibility". I...
07-13-26 -
Apple Releases First iOS 27 Public Beta Version
Apple's "2027" OS software has now entered public beta testing. Those who wish to participate can now opt in to Apple's beta program (if they haven't already) and update to an early version of iOS 27 on their iPhones. As u...
07-08-26 -
Samsung Teases New Foldable Shape Coming Soon
Samsung has set July 22 as the date for its next big Galaxy phone announcement. This is typically the time of year Samsung reveals new foldable phones, with last year's announcement coming one year ago. A statement from Samsung mentioned that...
07-04-26 -
Boost Files For Bankruptcy
Dish Network has filed for bankruptcy. The business is just one part of EchoStar, but includes both Boost Mobile and the company's Dish television business. The company invested in cellular radio spectrum for decades without building a networ...
07-02-26 -
OnePlus Appears to be Winding Down as a Brand
In some countries, the OnePlus web site has started redirecting potential customers to Oppo-branded products instead of OnePlus products. (OnePlus is owned by Oppo.) This hasn't started yet in the US, where Oppo doesn't currently operate...
06-30-26 -
FCC Announces Upper C-Band Spectrum Auction
The FCC today announced a major new auction of 160 MHz of "prime mid-band spectrum", ideal for 5G and 6G wireless service. The spectrum on offer covers the Upper C-Band; specifically, 3.98–4.14 GHz. This is adjacent to the Lower C-Band...
06-30-26 -
Supreme Court Restricts Geofence Warrants
The US Supreme Court has ruled that "an individual has a reasonable expectation of privacy in his cell-phone location information." This finding places a higher legal burden on law enforcement agencies seeking "geofence warrants&quo...
06-30-26 -
WhatsApp Starts Rolling Out Usernames
The WhatsApp messaging app has started letting people reserve unique usernames. WhatsApp has, until now, exclusively identified users by phone number. The introduction of usernames will let people message each other without revealing their phone n...
06-29-26 -
Rocket Lab Buys Iridium
Space launch provider Rocket Lab has reached a deal to acquire Iridium, one of the larger established providers of global satellite connectivity for mobile devices. This better positions Rocket Lab to compete with SpaceX and its Starlink network. ...
06-29-26 -
Comcast to Split with NBCUniversal
After purchasing the company 15 years ago, Comcast is now reversing course and splitting from NBCUniversal. NBCUniversal will retain television and film studios, and theme parks, while Comcast will retain broadband and wireless platforms, includin...
06-25-26 -
Samsung A27 Shifts to Snapdragon Chip
Samsung has announced the Galaxy A27 5G affordable phone, replacing the A26. The A2x series is not as popular with US carriers as the A1x and A3x series. Accordingly, Samsung has only announced that the A27 will be available from samsung.com. The ...
06-24-26 -
FCC Auctions 5G Spectrum Licenses for $3.5 Billion
The FCC has concluded auction 113, selling off 200 abandoned licenses scattered across the country. The licenses are in the AWS-3 band (band 66), an important band for 5G service.
06-22-26 -
SpeakEasy Launches Phones & Service for 75 and Older Crowd
Consumer Cellular — a brand that targets the 50+ age bracket — is launching SpeakEasy, a new sub-brand specifically for the 75+ market. SpeakEasy has its own simple offering of just two service plans and two SpeakEasy-branded phones: a basic ...
06-18-26 -
Apple Prepares to Raise Prices Due to Memory Chip Crunch
Apple plans to raise prices on many of its products soon, as the price of memory chips soars due to unprecedented demand from new AI data centers. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Apple CEO Tim Cook said "We're doing our bes...
06-16-26 -
Android 17 is Here
Google has released the final, non-beta version of Android 17. It should be available for most Pixel phones today, and for other phones over the coming weeks.
06-16-26 -
Commodore Creates New Spin on a "Dumb Phone"
Commodore's newest product is a 4G flip phone that can run many popular Android apps, but will refuse to run any web browser, social media, email, or "work" apps. The Commodore Callback 8020 will run messaging apps such as WhatsApp,...
06-16-26 -
Verizon Launches New Plan and Loyalty Perks
Verizon has launched a single new service plan that it calls its "Simplicity Plan". For $45/month/line, it includes unlimited premium 5G data, unlimited talk and text, 10GB of premium mobile hotspot data, roaming in Canada and Mexico, an...
06-10-26 -
Mint Mobile Adds More Data to its Plans
Mint Mobile has upped its 5GB plan to 6GB, its 15GB plan to 17GB, and its 20GB plan to 23GB, all while keeping prices the same. The company also recently doubled its hotspot data allotment from 10GB to 20GB.

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