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 acknowledged a bug in its Home Up Good Lock module where backups fail and get deleted as "broken" if users have set custom folder label colors. A Samsung Community moderator confirmed the issue and said engineers are working on a fix that requires changes to the underlying code, to be released in a future update. In the meantime, users can revert folder label colors to default settings to create working backups.
androidauthority.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
According to The Elec, Samsung plans to embed a security chip inside batteries for upcoming mid-range devices, including the Galaxy A series. The chip would let the phone verify whether an installed battery is genuine, mirroring a system Apple has used for years with iPhones.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-22
Ahead of its launch, Xiaomi detailed the dual 200MP camera system on its upcoming Xiaomi 18 Pro and Pro Max, revealing that the primary sensor measures 1/1.28-inch, slightly larger than the ISOCELL HP2 used in Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra. The phones also feature a Leica-backed camera setup wrapped around a secondary rear display, in a design reminiscent of the iPhone 17 Pro's camera island but repurposed for screen functionality.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-22
A hands-on roundup highlights Good Lock modules that let Samsung Galaxy owners customize their phones beyond what One UI offers by default. Key examples include Display Assistant, which sets screen timeout and refresh rate per app, and Sound Assistant, which allows individual volume levels for each app.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-22
A new leak attributed to Korean and Weibo sources outlines memory and storage tiers for Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S27 lineup. The base S27 and S27 Plus start at 12GB RAM with 256GB storage, while the S27 Ultra tops out at 16GB RAM and 1TB storage. The leak also claims Samsung will move to faster UFS 5.1 storage and LPDDR6 memory on the Ultra and Pro models, a step up from the UFS 4.0 and LPDDR5X found in the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-22
After spending a week testing both Apple's newly unveiled iPhone Duo and Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8, an Android Authority reviewer concludes he'd still choose Samsung's foldable if spending his own money. The comparison highlights that the iPhone Duo, unveiled at Apple's September 9 event under new CEO John Ternus, weighs 254 grams and measures 11.3mm folded, while the Galaxy Z Fold 8 comes in at 201 grams and 9.7mm.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-22
Weibo leakers Smart Pikachu and Digital Chat Station claim vivo executives confirmed an X500 Ultra model is in development, pointing to a March or April 2027 release. The report follows vivo's China launch of the X500, X500 Pro, and X500 Pro Max, with the Ultra variant still unconfirmed by vivo itself. Separately, the standard X500 lineup has reportedly appeared on the EU's EPREL database, hinting at an international rollout.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-22
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