Mobile News 8 Hours

Last updated: June 18, 2026, 2:30 AM ET

Hardware & Wearables

Google is finally opening pre-orders for its Gemini-integrated smart speaker, a device first teased during the Pixel 10 launch last August. The hardware arrives as Google also begins rolling out Wear OS 7 to compatible Pixel Watch models, a release that runs parallel to the stable launch of Android 17 and brings significant system-wide performance improvements to the wearable lineup. Meanwhile, Samsung is expanding the reach of its Galaxy XR headset by opening pre-orders in the UK. Previously restricted to Korea and the US since its October 2025 debut, the device is now available to British consumers with several regional bundling incentives.

Smartphone Strategy

One Plus is targeting heavy power users with the upcoming N6, confirming the handset will ship with an 8,000mAh battery, which the company claims is the largest capacity currently available in its price category ahead of the scheduled launch later this month. This shift comes as Nothing CEO Carl Pei intensifies his public campaign to capture market share from Apple, utilizing social media outreach to challenge the Cupertino firm directly. Despite these aggressive moves, Apple is adjusting its roadmap for future audio accessories; reports from Bloomberg indicate that the company has pushed the expected release of its camera-equipped Air Pods to late 2027, extending the development cycle for the hardware that was originally rumored to be in final testing stages as early as this past May.