GoKawiil
Tech News
A study published in JAMA Network Open found that children who owned a smartphone by age 12 were more likely to report eating disorder symptoms by age 14 than those without one. Researchers analyzed a large US cognitive development survey covering over 6,200 adolescents, finding that 24% of early phone owners reported at least one eating disorder symptom by 14, compared with 16% of non-owners.
An opinion piece argues that tech commentary repeatedly overstates new gadgets and technologies as poised to replace or 'kill' smartphones. The author contends this framing has become excessive and calls for more measured coverage of emerging devices.
A writer describes losing enthusiasm for smartphones after once being an eager early adopter who camped out for the first iPhone. The essay recounts a shift from excitement over device upgrades and platform debates to viewing smartphones as an unavoidable obligation rather than a choice, comparing them to a tax collected by companies like Apple, Samsung, and Google.
Multiple users, including on Reddit and Android Authority's own test devices, report that the built-in camera in Google Messages either fires the LED flash too early, producing dark photos, or fails to trigger it at all. The bug appears across stable and beta versions of the app, on different phone models and carriers, and has reportedly been occurring for over a month. The flash works normally in other camera apps and outside the Messages interface, indicating the fault is specific to Google Messages' in-chat camera.
Motorola has announced a multi-year deal with Danish audio maker Bang & Olufsen to co-engineer sound hardware for its flagship smartphones. B&O's acoustic engineers will work alongside Motorola's design teams to define, test and tune audio components across upcoming devices, with the first model expected to launch soon in the US and other markets.
A growing number of people are buying gadgets, including a $60 plastic cube, designed to lock down smartphone features and reduce compulsive scrolling. These tools intentionally strip phones of advanced functions, pushing them back toward the simplicity of older devices.
Smart TVs still rely on remote controls, and many now support using a smartphone as a substitute via built-in IR blasters or app-based connectivity. Certain Android phones have infrared hardware and pre-installed universal remote apps that let users pair with their TV brand and control power, volume, and navigation. Devices from Apple, Samsung, and Google lack this IR hardware, but alternative software-based remote options exist for those users.
Reported battery capacity figures for Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 Pro suggest only incremental improvements over the current lineup, according to leaks circulating ahead of launch. The numbers imply Apple still trails some rivals, including Samsung, on long-term battery durability and capacity growth.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman predicts that foldable phones, currently just 2% of the global smartphone market, will become the majority of new phone sales within ten years. He suggests Apple could eventually extend the format across its lineup, from a larger iPhone Duo Max down to a foldable iPhone SE as manufacturing costs decrease.
TrendForce projects Apple will ship 5 million units of its newly announced iPhone Duo foldable in 2026, giving it nearly a quarter of the global foldable smartphone market. That would help offset a broader slump in the category, with non-Apple Android foldable shipments expected to fall more than 20% year-over-year even as total foldable shipments edge up slightly to about 20.2 million units.
A tech writer with years of foldable phone experience shares candid impressions of what daily use is like, framed around anticipation of Apple's rumored foldable iPhone. The piece notes that a larger screen and unique software tricks come bundled with real-world trade-offs that new foldable owners should expect.
Trump Mobile has increased the price of its T1 handset from $499 to $749, a $250 jump that moves the device out of the mid-range category. The phone, marketed with an 'American-made' identity, now costs roughly the same as established flagship smartphones from major manufacturers.