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Amazon is selling the TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro for $279.99, a $50 cut from its $329.99 list price and a match of its lowest price so far this year. The US model includes a 6.9-inch 120Hz NXTPAPER 4.0 display with reading-focused modes, 8GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a large battery, and it holds a 4.5-star rating.
Code strings found in the latest Digital Wellbeing beta (v1.48.975819457.beta) reveal that Google is preparing to deprecate the 'Heads Up' feature, which warns users to watch where they're walking. The strings include an in-app alert telling users that 'walking detection is going away soon.' The opt-in feature, introduced in 2021, uses motion sensors and location data to detect walking with the screen unlocked and nudge users to look up.
Qualcomm introduced two new mobile processors, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, at its 2026 Snapdragon Summit in Hawaii. CEO Cristiano Amon and product marketing manager Charlie Beeman described the Extreme variant as the company's most advanced chip yet, built to handle heavier on-device AI workloads than previous generations.
Qualcomm announced two new flagship mobile chips, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and the higher-tier Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, both built on a 2nm process for improved speed and efficiency. Xiaomi and Motorola showed off phones using the new chips at the event, including Motorola's Signature 27, which pairs the Extreme Gen 6 chip with a four-camera system and Google's Gemini AI, and is expected to launch by the end of 2026.
Google has published guidance on configuring Android phones so they can be tracked if lost, including keeping software updated, verifying the linked Google account, and enabling Location services. Users are directed to enable settings under Security such as Find Hub or Find My Mobile, along with an Offline Finding option that requires a device PIN, pattern, or password.
Google introduced Googlebooks, a new laptop platform built on Android rather than ChromeOS, though it looks and functions similarly with the same app dock, Chrome browser and Play Store access. The system retains Chromebook staples like the Titan security chip and built-in malware protection, but adds deeper phone-to-laptop integration, including instant login syncing and app handoff features like 'continue on,' demonstrated with the music app BandLab.
Google unveiled its Googlebook laptop standard at a New York event, with five inaugural devices from HP, Dell, Lenovo, Acer, and Asus now available for preorder ahead of an October 4 launch. Prices start at $899, and each purchase includes a year of Google AI Pro service with 5TB of storage. The laptops run on Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite or Intel Core Ultra 3 chips and must meet strict hardware requirements set by Google.
Apple has built a 'Prepare to Ship' firmware feature into the iPhone 18 Pro Max that temporarily caps its battery below the 20Wh transport limit enforced in the US, EU and other regions. Once the device is activated by a customer, the cap lifts and the phone's full 5,391mAh capacity becomes available. The same toggle can be re-enabled manually when shipping a device for repair, trade-in or resale.
Apple has enabled non-Apple users to participate in FaceTime calls through a web browser, a capability that has existed since 2021 with iOS 15 and macOS Monterey but remains largely unknown. An iPhone or Mac user must generate and share a FaceTime link, which Android and Windows users can open in an updated browser to join the call without installing any app.
A new buying guide breaks down the essential hardware to check before purchasing an Android phone for gaming, starting with the chipset that houses the CPU and GPU. It also flags RAM capacity and thermal management systems like vapor chambers as critical factors that determine sustained performance during long gaming sessions.
Android Authority writer Khamosh Pathak explains how he made his Pixel 9a feel like a distraction-free dumbphone without buying a $500 device like the Light Phone or Wisephone. He disabled most app notifications and used Switchly, a free open-source app blocker that supports QR codes and NFC tags, to block addictive features like Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts. He also paired it with BlockAds, a VPN-based ad blocker, to remove intrusive full-screen ads from free apps.
Android devices come with native options to block spam and scam numbers, typically accessible through the Phone or Contacts app. Users who change their mind can just as easily unblock a number using the same apps. The exact steps can vary slightly depending on the phone manufacturer's version of Android.