Counterpoint: The foldable smartphone market to open a new chapter in 2026

Analysts at Counterpoint say that the foldable smartphone market is about to enter a phase. After a cyclical recovery last year, 2026 will mark the beginning of a more sustainable expansion phase. While last year's strategy for many smartphone makers was to normalize inventory and proceed with extra caution when it came to new releases, this year we will likely see a more aggressive push into the foldable segment. Thanks to technological advancements and better execution, the book-style foldables have become more popular and now account for 52% of all foldable sales. The analysts...

Huawei is working on a non-folding version of the Pura X with a wide aspect ratio

Huawei's Pura X launched last year and shocked the mobile world with its 16:10 aspect ratio (when unfolded). It went in an entirely different direction than any of its competitors, and it seems to have been quite a success. Huawei is now working on the Pura X2, but also another device that will emulate the Pura X's unorthodox (for this day and age) aspect ratio. According to a new rumor from the prolific Digital Chat Station on Weibo, Huawei is developing a candybar style, non-folding smartphone that will have a screen with a 16:9 or 16:10 aspect ratio. So basically, like a Pura X that...

Xiaomi 18 won't have Qualcomm's top next-gen chipset

In September, Qualcomm is rumored to be unveiling the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro, with the latter being the company's new top dog in the smartphone SoC space until 2027. Now a new rumor from China claims the Xiaomi 18 will use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, and not the Pro version of the SoC, since the Elite Gen 6 Pro is apparently going to be too expensive. That said, the Xiaomi 18 Pro and Xiaomi 18 Pro Max will most likely go with the Pro chipset. Xiaomi 17 Xiaomi will allegedly unveil its next flagship family in September, right after Qualcomm...

Apple releases iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3, both support easier migration to Android

Today, Apple has released the latest version of iOS and iPadOS, labeled 26.3. This comes with dozens of security fixes, including one that was actively being exploited, and that's reason alone to install the update as soon as possible. iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 also include a tool for easy switching to Android, which makes going to another ecosystem as seamless as can be, and doesn't require the use of any special apps to transfer your data. The transfer process supports moving photos, messages, notes, apps, passwords, phone numbers, and more. The EU took credit for both Apple and...

The Infinix Note 60 series will use Snapdragon chipsets

Infinix's upcoming Note 60 series will use Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets, the brand has officially confirmed today. This is significant because it's the first time Infinix has gone the Snapdragon route for its phones in many years - all of the recent ones have been powered by MediaTek SoCs. Infinix says "select models" in the Note 60 series will choose Snapdragon over MediaTek, and through pre-order pages in some markets it's already confirmed that the Note 60 Pro will be powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4. Infinix "aims to achieve deeper integration of chipset capabilities" within...

iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max pricing leak brings some good news

The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will cost exactly the same as their predecessors, according to a new research note from GF Securities analyst Jeff Pu, a constant purveyor of Apple-related supply chain information. That is obviously very good news, if it pans out, since the pricing stability of smartphones is anything but guaranteed this year given how memory production seems to mostly be going to AI data centers. Pu says Apple is focused on cost management, based on his supply chain research, in order to keep the prices the same as last year. Pu thinks Apple has been...

Samsung Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra full specs leak, prices too

Following all the leaks, rumors, and speculation, today the inevitable has happened - a new leak brings us full spec sheets for all three members of the upcoming Galaxy S26 family. As hinted at through Samsung's teasers, the main focus this year will be AI, as the hardware hasn't changed all that much compared to the Galaxy S25 family. The Galaxy S26 and S26+ will allegedly be powered by the Exynos 2600 SoC in Europe, while the S26 Ultra will have the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, with slightly overclocked Prime CPU cores. The S26 and S26+ will have 12GB of RAM, while the Ultra will...

Orange is the new black: Apple's record-breaking iPhone sales could be down to new color

Apple announced record-breaking iPhone sales for Q4 2025, which in turn resulted in the best-ever financial quarter for the company, posting $143.8 billion in sales revenue. That's a 16% increase year-over-year, which is quite impressive for a company of this scale. The reason for the unprecedented iPhone demand? Some analysts believe it's the color orange. China seems to be a big contributor to Apple's recent success. While previous quarters had either flat or declining sales in the country, the fourth quarter last year turned out to be a resounding success for the smartphone maker...

Rugged HMD Terra M is now available in Europe

HMD semi-announced the Terra M rugged phone back in November, and now the company is sharing more details about it, as it's becoming available in select European markets. HMD says this is "more than a device", it's in fact "a fully managed communications ecosystem designed for operational excellence from day one". It's designed "purposefully for professional workers who rely on durable, reliable, secure connectivity on the job — from hospitals and construction sites to airports, security teams and first responders", according to the official press release. It's IP68, IP69K, and...

Nothing teases Phone (4a) series, hints at the colorways

The Nothing Phone (4a) and (4a) Pro are rumored to be launching globally in early March, and today Nothing has pretty much confirmed that they're coming soon, by starting the teaser campaign for the duo. As you can see in the tweet below, not much has been revealed - aside from, possibly, the devices' colorways. The dots are black, white, pink, yellow, and blue. So don't be surprised if either or both of the upcoming smartphones get released in those hues. Soon. pic.twitter.com/fpbw7ySU9N— Nothing (@nothing) February 9, 2026 Nothing has already confirmed that at least one of them...

Infinix Note 60 Pro will borrow a feature from the Nothing Phone (3)

Infinix is unveiling the Note 60 series soon, and a week ago the RAM and storage amounts were revealed for the Note 60, Note 60 Pro, and Note 60 Ultra. Now, a pre-order link shared by Infinix's Instagram account for Nigeria outs some more details about the Note 60 Pro. The phone is confirmed to be powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 SoC, as previously revealed by its FCC certification. One of the Note 60 Pro's unique selling points will undoubtedly be its dot matrix display that's part of the big camera island. This reminds us of the Nothing Phone (3), and it looks like Infinix really...

Oppo Find N6 launch date tipped, said to feature industry’s shallowest display crease

Oppo recently confirmed that it plans to launch its next foldable after the Chinese New Year. Now, a tipster has revealed the foldable’s launch timeline for China and select markets. Meanwhile, Oppo has also officially confirmed the ‘Find N6’ moniker. Based on Oppo’s earlier comments, we figured the Find N6 would debut in late February or early March. However, a tipster now claims that Oppo will unveil its next foldable on March 17, with the launch set to take place in China as well as select markets, including South Asia and the EU. Oppo Find N5 However, the tipster adds that the...

Gurman: iPhone 17e to cost the same as 16e, offer MagSafe and A19 SoC

The iPhone 17e has been the subject of several leaks in recent weeks. Now, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has weighed in, largely corroborating the recent leaks surrounding Apple’s upcoming affordable iPhone. According to Gurman, the iPhone 17e will be powered by the A19 chipset and will support MagSafe charging, which was not present on the iPhone 16e. Gurman also notes that the upcoming iPhone will get the latest in-house cellular and wireless chips, the C1X and N1. Lastly, the iPhone 17e is expected to retain the same $599 price tag as its predecessor. Gurman also says the new...

Xiaomi 18 Pro tipped to feature dual 200MP cameras

The Xiaomi 18 series is expected to debut later this year and will likely comprise a standard model alongside the Xiaomi 18 Pro. While details about the lineup remain scarce, a new leak suggests that the devices could feature a dual 200MP camera setup. According to tipster Digital Chat Station, an upcoming compact flagship with a 6.3-inch display is tipped to feature dual 200MP rear cameras. While the leak doesn’t explicitly name the Xiaomi 18 series, the accompanying comments suggest that the device in question could be the Xiaomi 18 Pro. Xiaomi 17 Pro Max The Xiaomi 17 and the 17...

Top 10 trending phones of week 6

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is back on top of our trending chart, making it three wins before it's even officially announced. We've little doubt it will add to its tally once it goes on sale towards the end of the month. The Redmi Turbo 5 Max in second and the Galaxy A56 outgoing mid-ranger complete the podium this week. [#InlinePriceWidget, 13603, 1#] Another phone on its way out - the Galaxy S25 Ultra - sits in fourth, followed by the current Apple flagship - the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Redmi Note 15 Pro and Redmi Note 15 come in sixth and seventh in that order. Yet another indication...

The T1 Phone from Trump Mobile is still happening but specs and design have changed

Ever since Trump Mobile announced the T1 Phone, many of us were left wondering whether it's going to happen at all. The T1 Phone is still wrapped in mystery, and it's constantly getting delayed. However, The Verge managed to speak to two executives at the company - Don Hendrickson and Eric Thomas, who gave some extra details of the future device. First of all, the T1 Phone isn't dead. It's just that Trump Mobile is going through some hurdles, and as a result, the handset's release is constantly getting delayed. Some last minute changes to the design and hardware are the reason why....

Weekly poll: are you interested in the Moto G67 or Moto G77? What about the G17 or G17 Power?

At the end of January, Motorola unveiled two mid-range models, the Moto G67 and Moto G77, and two entry-level phones, the Moto G17 and G17 Power. What do you think – can one of these be your next phone or do you have another model in mind? The Motorola Moto G77 features a 6.78” 120Hz OLED display, a sharp 1,272 x 2,772px panel with 10-bit colors, HDR support and Gorilla Glass 7i protection. That’s great for multimedia, but the Dimensity 6400 chipset isn’t suitable for serious gaming. The G77’s claim to fame is the 108MP main camera with OIS that has native 3x in-sensor zoom. It can...

OpenAI's first hardware product will be AI-powered earbuds

According to a Chinese tipster on Weibo, OpenAI is gearing up to launch its first hardware product - a pair of earbuds, of course, powered by the company's own AI model. According to the report, the company decided to scale back on its hardware efforts for the time being, likely because of the rising hardware costs. At first, OpenAI was rumored to be working on a small pendant or a pen, which is in line with the CEO Sam Altman's remarks about the device being more "peaceful and calm" than a smartphone. Especially after OpenAI hired Apple's ex-chief designer Jony Ive. Plans have...

Weekly poll results: most people still don't care about magnetic charging

Last week we asked you how important magnetic wireless charging is to you. For now, the majority doesn’t particularly care – at best it’s a “nice to have” feature for them but nothing vital. The argument is simple, especially now that the whole world has converged on USB-C for charging – just use a cable. It’s faster and more efficient than any form of wireless charging. There is a caveat – many of the people who reported that they use wired charging only also said that they don’t need top-ups during the day. These days, phone batteries have gotten quite huge, so finding a phone that...

Weekly deals: OnePlus 13 is back with a vengeance, Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL on sale

There are two sayings that can’t both be true at the same time: “newer is better” and “old but gold”. Today, we’re going with the second one. Amazon dug up some left over OnePlus 13 units – only 12/256GB – and is selling them at $700. Coincidentally, that is the same price that the new OnePlus 15R sells for (to be fair, that also comes with a $100 gift card or store credit). The OnePlus 13 has the better screen (1440p+ LTPO vs. 1272p+ LTPS), better cameras (triple 50MP including a 3x/73mm periscope vs. no tele camera at all), even its chipset is better – the Snapdragon 8 Elite edges out...