Xiaomi unveiled its 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max phones in China, among the first devices to run Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chipset, with the Pro Max using the higher-end variant. Both phones feature privacy screens that limit off-angle viewing, LTPO AMOLED displays up to 6.9 inches with 4,000 nits peak brightness, the same triple rear camera setup as before, and larger batteries of 7,000mAh and 8,500mAh respectively.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-24
Android Authority's review of the Google Pixel 11 finds the $899 phone doubles base storage over its predecessor and pairs a larger 48MP main camera with a slimmer all-glass camera bar. The reviewer reports the Tensor G6 chip underperforms rivals and, lacking the vapor chamber in Pro models, causes real overheating and stuttering during everyday use.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-24
Android Authority ran a reader poll asking whether long-term software support is a priority when buying a new phone, drawing 1,455 responses. About 46% called it a top priority, 38% said it matters but isn't a dealbreaker, and roughly 16% said price matters more than software longevity.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-23
Android Authority ran side-by-side tests comparing the Pixel 11 Pro's new MediaTek modem against the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, covering signal strength, cellular data speeds, and battery drain while streaming. Both phones used identical SIM cards, software, and starting battery levels, disconnected from Wi-Fi, to keep the comparison controlled. Google switched from Samsung's Exynos modem to MediaTek for the Pixel 11 series, following reported gains over last year's Pixel 10 Pro in speed, reception, and efficiency.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-23
Xiaomi launched the 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max in China, adding a hardware-based privacy display that can be set to trigger by app, location or via selfie-camera detection of onlookers. Both phones keep the rear secondary screen from last year's models, pack two 200-megapixel cameras, and use Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chips, with the Pro Max getting the higher-end Extreme variant and a larger 8,500mAh battery. Xiaomi says a global release will follow later this year.
theverge.com
· 2026-09-23
Samsung has begun pushing the stable One UI 9 update, based on Android 17, to Galaxy S26 Ultra units in the United States. Reports from T-Mobile Galaxy S26 Ultra owners on Reddit show the update carrying a 4.1GB download and the September 2026 security patch, though it's unclear whether AT&T variants are receiving it yet.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-23
A Galaxy S26 Ultra owner reported on Samsung's Korean Community forum that a clock positioned in LockStar via Good Lock's ClockFace feature appeared in a completely different spot on the actual lock screen and Always-On Display. Samsung's Good Lock support team confirmed it has reproduced the bug and said its development team is investigating, while advising affected users to switch to a default clock style in the meantime.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-22
Motorola unveiled the Signature 27 at Qualcomm's Snapdragon Summit, marking the first time this Signature phone line will launch in US markets. The device features Qualcomm's newly announced Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 chip, a 50-megapixel main camera with a 200-megapixel periscope telephoto lens, four rear cameras total, a new ArcticMesh cooling system, seven years of software support, and a Bang & Olufsen audio system.
cnet.com
· 2026-09-22
Leaker Ice Universe reports that Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra uses four-way baffles to block screen visibility from top, bottom and both sides, while Huawei's Mate XT 2 and Xiaomi's 18 Pro series only block side views. This makes Samsung's privacy screen more thorough, but the tighter light control brings side effects like dimmer off-axis brightness, blurrier images, and reported eye strain or nausea for some users.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-22
Samsung's Thailand Newsroom page originally listed September 21 as the One UI 9 update date for its latest flagship line, but that listing has quietly been changed to September 28, aligning it with the Galaxy S25 series and Galaxy Z Fold 7. The shift comes even though Samsung already began rolling out the stable update in Korea days earlier. No official explanation has been given for the change.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-22
Xiaomi has detailed the Smart Privacy Display on its upcoming Xiaomi 18 Pro series, which alternates standard wide-angle pixels with narrow-angle pixels fitted with microscopic baffles in a 1:1 ratio. When privacy mode is switched on, the standard pixels turn off so only the baffled pixels emit light, cutting visible brightness to about 1% for viewers beyond 60 degrees. The feature can be activated through Quick Settings, the AI key, voice commands, app or page rules, location triggers, or automatic detection of someone looking over your shoulder via the front camera.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-21
Reviewers testing the new Galaxy S26 FE describe it as a competent mid-tier handset with respectable performance and build quality, but say its price undercuts the value proposition that made earlier 'Fan Edition' phones popular. The consensus points to Samsung positioning the device closer to its flagship pricing than to the budget-friendly tier fans expected.
techspot.com
· 2026-09-18
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