Mobile News 24 Hours

Last updated: September 20, 2026, 10:01 PM ET

Apple Ecosystem Expands Beyond iPhone

Face Time has quietly become one of the most accessible cross-platform video tools, and Android users can now join calls through a simple browser link shared by an Apple device owner, no Apple ID required for guests. Meanwhile, iPhone 18 Pro buyers in the UK can now purchase the series outright, with Samsung's Galaxy Z8 foldables and Xiaomi's 17 series also receiving fresh discounts this week. Apple's first foldable effort has clearly resonated with buyers: a recent poll found the iPhone Duo nailed the form factor on its first attempt, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max is outselling the smaller 18 Pro by a notable margin.

Android Hardware and Gaming

Google's Pixel 11 lineup is now on shelves, and shoppers weighing the standard model against the Pro variant should note the key differences come down to display refresh rate, telephoto reach, and memory configuration rather than raw chipset performance. For those who game heavily on Android, choosing the right device means prioritizing sustained performance, thermal management, and high-touch-sampling displays over benchmark peaks. Xiaomi's Redmi Note 17 Pro and Pro Max are the subject of this week's reader poll, with voters split on whether the lineup still delivers the value-for-money proposition that once defined the Redmi Note name.

Samsung Galaxy Tips

Samsung Galaxy owners who have never remapped their hardware keys are missing an easy customization win: the side button can be reassigned to launch the camera, open a specific app, or trigger Bixby with a double-press, replacing its default power-menu behavior. The change takes under a minute in Settings and meaningfully changes daily ergonomics for one-handed use.

Audio and Charging

Ear Fun's latest flagship, the Wave Pro X, delivers adaptive noise cancellation and LDAC support at a price well below category leaders, though its companion app remains cluttered. On the charging front, the long-running debate over wired versus wireless charging has a clear answer for battery longevity: wired charging generates less heat and therefore less degradation, even as Qi2 pads close the convenience gap. Netflix viewers frustrated by muffled dialogue can fix much of it with a single menu tweak that switches the audio track from 5.1 surround to stereo on devices with weak speakers.

Power Banks and Portability

Nimble's new SHAREPOWER splits a 10,000mAh battery into two detachable 5,000mAh halves, letting two people charge simultaneously from a single purchase — a genuinely novel take on a commodity category, though the split design adds bulk when combined.

Home Theater and Smart TV

The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers' 30-degree rule offers a simple way to calculate ideal seating distance based on screen size, and most living rooms violate it. If your speakers were placed wherever they fit, a few simple adjustments to toe-in angle and subwoofer placement can dramatically improve surround imaging. And that smart TV you "turned off" is likely still drawing power in standby mode to fetch updates and respond to voice commands — a tradeoff worth understanding before you unplug it. Anyone who has lost a remote can also turn their phone into a remote for nearly any smart TV, whether via built-in IR blasters or Wi-Fi-based apps.

Computing and Software

Microsoft's Xbox mode on Windows 11 transforms a PC into a controller-friendly, big-picture gaming interface, and enabling it takes only a few settings changes. Before recycling or gifting an old laptop, a proper wipe of the drive is essential to prevent personal data recovery — a factory reset alone is often insufficient. For note-takers and readers, E Ink tablets offer distraction-free focus and weeks of battery life, though they cannot match an iPad's color, speed, or app ecosystem.

AI and Creative Tools

Space XAI's Grok Bot is now in early beta, positioned as a digital teammate capable of handling complex, repetitive tasks autonomously — access requires joining a waitlist. Chat GPT users can also generate custom iMessage and WhatsApp stickers directly from text prompts, a small but genuinely useful workflow that bypasses the default sticker packs entirely.

Gaming Hardware and Software

Retroid has quietly expanded its Duo handheld lineup with a Lite Plus model, and the company is offering free exchanges to existing Duo Lite customers who want the upgraded variant. With the Switch 2 now established, buyers eyeing Nintendo's original console should weigh whether a used Switch still makes sense in 2026 — it does for a backlog of exclusives, but a new unit is harder to justify. Winamp, the legendary media player, will return in 2027 bundled with a Deezer-powered monthly subscription, an ambitious attempt to re-enter a streaming market it once defined.

Aviation and Autonomy

Joby Aviation has completed a fully autonomous flight from California to North Carolina, a landmark demonstration of long-range electric vertical takeoff and landing capability that signals the startup's intent to expand well beyond urban air taxi routes.

Smart Home Setup

New Sonos owners can get speakers running in minutes through the Sonos app, which handles Wi-Fi pairing, Trueplay tuning, and multi-room grouping — though the app's recent redesign remains a pain point for longtime users.

Mobile Gaming Diversions

Meowdoku swaps sudoku's digits for cats and proves highly addictive on Android, though a persistent bug in puzzle generation undermines an otherwise charming concept.