Smartphones, wearables and laptops: launches, hands-on reviews and buying advice.
The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,999 with financing options from $57.99 monthly, offering a clear advantage in documented availability. Its deep ecosystem integration and verified financial terms stand out, while the lack of specific Pixel 10 Pro data prevents a direct hardware comparison.
MediaTek's Dimensity 9400+ uses an All Big Core layout with a 3.73GHz Cortex-X925 core and 12MiB L3 cache. The chip features a 12-core Immortalis-G925 GPU and NPU 890, but reviewers note thermal throttling and reduced cache compared to the base model.
Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 reaches 4.6 GHz, intensifying thermal constraints in thin Android flagships. Integrating Oryon cores, Adreno GPU, and Hexagon NPU on a single die concentrates heat, requiring advanced passive cooling to prevent performance throttling during sustained high-load
The Nothing Phone 3 features a 50 MP OmniVision OV50H sensor, but default settings often mask its dynamic range. Users frequently miss manual controls for ISO and shutter speed, leading to flat images in high-contrast scenes.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max and Galaxy S25 Ultra both use 3-nanometer chips, but the Galaxy offers a 5,000 mAh battery and 45 W charging. The iPhone leads in single-core performance and video focus, while the Galaxy provides superior multitasking and a 200 MP camera system.
Samsung discontinued the Galaxy S25 Edge after sales missed targets due to a 3,900 mAh battery and high costs. Memory shortages raised component prices, causing a 10% drop in mobile operating profit to 1.9 trillion won.
The Rabbit R1 costs $199 and includes a Perplexity Pro subscription, using a Large Action Model to control apps like Spotify and Uber. CEO Jesse Lyu argues the device outperforms Apple Siri by executing third-party actions directly, with over 100,000 units shipped and a return rate below 5%.
The Palm handheld device features a 3.3 inch HD display and Qualcomm 435 processor designed for minimalists. While compatible with Verizon and various subsidiaries, the device lacks support for major networks like T-Mobile and AT&T.
The M5 Ultra Mac Studio delivers 4.3x faster AI compute performance than the M3 Ultra, utilizing up to 512GB of unified memory to handle large language models with over 600 billion parameters locally.
Xiaomi's SU7 Ultra set a Nürburgring record with a 7:04.957 lap time while the company expands its HyperOS ecosystem to compete with Huawei. The brand aims for 550,000 vehicle deliveries in 2026 following strong SU7 and YU7 sales performance.
The Motorola Razr Ultra 2026 utilizes a Starlink constellation of 11,150 satellites to provide mobile messaging in remote areas. This direct-to-cell service follows multiple SpaceX Falcon 9 launches in October 2026 to expand connectivity beyond terrestrial towers.
Fairphone's Gen 6+ expansion into the US market introduces 12 user-replaceable parts, shifting commercial value toward diagnosis and post-repair testing. This modularity allows technicians to maintain better margins by replacing single components like USB-C ports in minutes.
Nothing Ear (3) earbuds feature 12mm dynamic drivers and 45dB hybrid ANC for a $179 price point. The hardware includes a unique Super Mic system in the charging case and ChatGPT voice integration, though it lacks the biometric sensors found in Apple AirPods Pro 3.
OnePlus faces significant instability following the April 2026 restructuring that merged it with realme under OPPO management. The brand's withdrawal from US and European markets and the integration of Indian users into the OPPO service network threaten its status as a standalone entity.
Humane faces significant reputational and technical hurdles for its AI Pin 2 relaunch following a $100 million Series C. The company must overcome the failure of its original device, which saw 30% of its 10,000 units returned due to battery, heat, and reliability issues.
