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Last updated: September 28, 2026, 2:02 PM ET

Flagship Launches

Honor unveiled the Magic9 and Magic9 Super Edition today, with the top-tier Magic9 Pro Max featuring a 200MP main camera, ARRI tuning, and the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Extreme chip. The One Plus 16 is confirmed for an October 12 launch, following the recent reveal of its color options and camera details. The Oppo F35 series is slated to go official next week as Oppo celebrates a decade of its F series in India.

The vivo X Fold6 is expected to launch globally and in India soon after its June debut in China. We also got our hands-on with the vivo X500 Pro Max at its China unveiling. The HMD 106 Pure appeared out of nowhere — an ultra-cheap 2G feature phone with FM radio. The Honor Watch 6 Pro brings a 1.5-inch dual-layer OLED display, HRV and CGM tracking, while the Magic9 Super Edition rounds out the new lineup.

Chipset Wars

Qualcomm and Media Tek have both revealed their 2027 flagship chipsets — the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 and Dimensity 9600 Pro — and the two are closer than ever. At Snapdragon Summit 2026, we spotted seven standout technologies powered by the new silicon, from on-device AI to advanced imaging.

Phones and Accessories

The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max sold 1.3 million units in China during their first week, beating the 17 Pro series during pre-orders. The Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 is discounted by $600 at Best Buy. The Realme 16 Pro 5G Harry Potter Edition launched with themed design elements. Samsung detailed the full One UI 9 changelog coming to the Galaxy S26 series. The Turtle Beach Afterglow reviewed as a Switch 2 controller with full RGB lighting. The Boox Picco tiny ereader is now available for preorder at $100.

Audio

Bose launched wired earbuds with active noise cancellation at $99, a throwback to the wired era. For those seeking affordable alternatives to Air Pods Pro, several options exist without the exact same feature set. The Xiaomi Ultra Thin Magnetic Power Bank 5000 15W reviewed as a compact charging solution.

How-Tos and Guides

Windows 11 includes unnecessary junk, and there's a safest way to remove it manually. Amazon Alexa can set up price drop alerts and auto-buy features for shopping. Android call sound quality can be improved with several tweaks. Samsung Galaxy battery life tips can extend usage. Leasing vs. buying an iPhone depends on your upgrade cycle. Properly ejecting external drives prevents data corruption. A 20,000 mAh power bank typically lasts for multiple phone charges.

Industry News

Sony is skipping CES in 2027 to focus more on entertainment. The US government plans to use AI to help redact documents for FOIA requests, which could result in more information being withheld. Bill Gates said it's "completely irresponsible" for AI to lack safeguards, citing the danger of bad actors with access. BYD claims its new solid-state EV battery tech is nearly ready for a 2027 launch.

Reviews and Analysis

The Una watch reviewed as a modular, repairable GPS watch — a good first step from a small Scottish startup. Foldable phone cases protect against hinge damage and dust. Surround sound systems are worth it over soundbars when you have the space and budget. Bike computers make sense when battery life, navigation or rough conditions matter. An old MacBook can be turned into a home NAS server. Donated electronics at Goodwill go through a robust refurbishment program.

Smart Home and Farming

Robot dogs are moving from high-security locations to smart farming, doing more than just guarding. EV chargers come in three levels — Level 1 may be enough if you don't drive long distances daily. 3D printers are worth buying in 2026 as they've become more advanced and user-friendly. AI companies can be opted out of training on your data. Google Maps can be used with Car Play despite not being the default GPS app in most regions. Foldable phones expand to almost the size of an iPad Mini, making them a tablet replacement for some.