• OnePlus 13s now comes in a new 16GB + 512GB variant.
• It's available in three memory configurations in total.
• The handset was launched in India last year. 

[/highlights]

OnePlus 13s is now available in a new memory configuration in India. The compact smartphone was launched last as part of the flagship lineup. It stood out for its compact form factor while offering flagship hardware at a more accessible price. OnePlus 13s (review) now comes in three memory configurations after the addition of the 16GB variant.

The rest of the hardware remains the same, but more RAM would mean better performance optimisation compared to the other variants. Launching a 16GB variant now could be strategic of OnePlus to keep the 13s relevant in the market. 

OnePlus 13s 16GB + 512GB variant price in India

OnePlus 13s has been launched in a 16GB RAM + 512GB storage variant in India. It's priced at Rs 68,999 and can be purchased via Amazon India and the OnePlus India store. This variant is available in Black Velvet and Green Silk colours. It looks like the Pink Satin isn't available for this configuration yet. 

It's worth mentioning that this is the most expensive model of the 13s. The handset is available in two more configurations: 12GB + 256GB (Rs 54,999) and 12GB + 512GB (Rs 59,999).

OnePlus 13s specifications

OnePlus 13s features a 6.32-inch 1.5K (1,216 × 2,640 pixels) LTPO ProXDR AMOLED display with an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate and up to 1,600 nits peak brightness. It's a compact display for people who prefer smaller phones. The hardware is solid too, with a 1.5K resolution and LTPO panel, which is more power-efficient. The handset is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, which is from 2024 but still offers flagship performance. There are other compact options in this price segment like the OPPO Reno 16, but you're getting more RAM and storage with the 13s. The Reno 16 would be a better option for photography. 

For photography, the OnePlus 13s houses a 50MP primary sensor and a 50MP telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom. It has a 32MP front camera for selfies and video calls. This setup is more than enough for everyday photography and social media, but alternatives might offer stronger sensors. The smartphone packs a 5,850mAh battery with 80W fast charging support. 

The OnePlus 13s launched with OxygenOS 15 based on Android 15 out of the box. It gets four OS upgrades and six years of security patches, so the phone is long-term secure. 

The new 16GB + 512GB variant of the OnePlus 13s could appeal to buyers who want more performance gains from the device. If you're someone who doesn't need so much storage or the RAM boost, you're well off buying the 12GB variant. But those who require the extra power might want to consider the 16GB model. 

• OPPO Find X10 and Vivo X500 series are tipped to launch in India by late October or early November.
• The OnePlus 16 is currently unlikely to launch in India, while the iQOO 16 India launch timeline remains unconfirmed.
• The Xiaomi 18 series is tipped to launch in India around December.

[/highlights]

The next batch of Chinese flagship phones are debuting this month and most of them will be arriving in India over the next few months. Tipster Debayan Roy has shared an estimated launch timeline of the phones, putting the OPPO Find X10 and Vivo X500 series as the earliest arrivals in India. It's a mixture of good and bad news as the OnePlus 16 and iQOO 16's India launch remains unconfirmed.

OPPO Find X10, Vivo X500 India launch timeline

OPPO will launch the Find X10 series in China on September 22nd, with the lineup including the Find X10, Find X10 Pro Max and Find X10E. The India launch is tipped for around October-end, possibly before October 28th, as per Roy. That would make the Find X10 series an earlier India arrival than its predecessor. OPPO launched the Find X9 and Find X9 Pro in India in November 2025, starting at Rs 74,999 and Rs 1,09,999, respectively, though the prices are higher now. The Find X10 Pro Max also introduces a new top tier, with three 200MP cameras, probably as the counterpart of last year's OPPO Find X9 Ultra, which got a separate launch in India later.

An earlier report claimed that the Chinese OPPO Find X10 Pro Max could be coming to India as the OPPO Find X10 Pro, but we can never be sure with these brands.

Vivo's X500 series will launch in China on September 21st, comprising the X500, X500 Pro and X500 Pro Max, as the first phones with MediaTek's flagship Dimensity 9600 chipset. Roy's estimate puts the India launch around late October or early November.

OnePlus 16 and iQOO 16 India launch

The OnePlus 16 is expected to launch in China in October, and the teasers have already started appearing. The India launch, however, is unlikely, as per multiple tipsters. Reports claim OnePlus could instead bring the OnePlus 16R as its flagship in India. The OnePlus 15R already starts in India at Rs 59,999 after multiple hikes, so the phone being the company's top rep in the portfolio cannot be ruled out.

Xiaomi 18 India launch timeline

Xiaomi has confirmed that the Xiaomi 18 Pro series will launch in China this month, while reports suggest the standard Xiaomi 18 could arrive later. Roy's India timeline points to December for the Xiaomi 18 series. For context, the Xiaomi 17 and 17 Ultra reached India in March 2026, so the company could be preponing its timeline.

If you've been in the market looking for a Android flagship, this should make things a little clearer for you. However, buyers must note that none of these flagships will come cheap, or even at the same price point as their predecessors, as the memory crisis has pushed brand pricing way up north. That is evident with the iPhone 18 Pro launches in India, so if you have the budget, starting to save up now may be a good idea.

• Lava Bold N4 Pro 5G is available at an introductory price of Rs 13,999.
• The handset packs a 6,000mAh battery.
• It runs on Android 16 and offers a clean UI. 

[/highlights]

Lava has added another 5G smartphone to its budget-focused portfolio with the launch of the Lava Bold N4 Pro 5G in India. The new handset follows the Bold N2 Pro and is aimed at buyers looking for a combination of 5G connectivity, a large battery, and a clean Android experience without spending too much.

Lava Bold N4 Pro 5G price in India, availability

The Lava Bold N4 Pro 5G is priced at Rs 13,999 for the sole 6GB RAM and 128GB storage variant. This is a special introductory price, according to the company. It will go on sale from September 26th at 12:00 pm, exclusively through Amazon India.

The phone is available in Monaco Blue and Opulent Lilac colours. Lava is also offering its Free Service at Home after-sales service with the handset.

Lava Bold N4 Pro 5G specifications

The Lava Bold N4 Pro 5G features a 6.75-inch HD+ LCD display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a waterdrop notch. The handset comes with an IP64 rating for protection against dust and water splashes. For photography, the new Lava phone houses a 50MP AI primary camera alongside a secondary sensor and LED flash. The phone is powered by an octa-core Unisoc T8200 5G chipset, with support for virtual RAM expansion and expandable storage up to 1TB.

The smartphone comes with a 6,000mAh battery with 18W charging support, which can be considered one of its highlights. With this battery capacity, the phone should be able to last through an entire on regular usage. On the software front, the Lava Bold N4 Pro 5G runs Android 16 out of the box. Lava is also promising a clean, clutter-free Android interface without third-party bloatware or intrusive advertisements. Lava's commitment to a bloatware-free Android 16 is a refreshing differentiator in a segment often plagued by intrusive ads.

At Rs. 13,999, the Lava Bold N4 Pro 5G brings together 5G, a 120Hz display, and a large battery. Its clean software approach could also appeal to buyers who prefer a simpler user experience. If battery life and a clean OS are your priorities, you can consider buying the phone now. However, if gaming is your focus, you might want to check out alternatives.

• OPPO K14 Plus will join the lineup as the fourth phone.
• The 'Plus' branding could mean a large display or battery.
• OPPO hasn't revealed any hardware details yet.

[/highlights]

Shortly after launching the OPPO K14 Lite in India, the company announced another smartphone joining the lineup. The OPPO K14 Plus is teased to launch in India soon. This will be the fourth phone in the lineup after the newly launched OPPO K14 Lite, K14, and K14x. OPPO has only shared a teaser image and no details about the phone's hardware. 

OPPO K14 Plus India launch

The OPPO K14 Plus is teased to launch in India as a 5G smartphone. The teaser image shows a glimpse of the phone from the side, which honestly doesn't reveal much about the device. The power and volume buttons are visible, and the phone is expected to launch in orange and a dark grey/black colour, according to the teaser. 

OPPO has teased the K14 Plus to offer smooth performance and reliable everyday experiences, without divulging any specifications of the device. While 'smooth performance' is a common marketing phrase, users will be looking for concrete hardware details to back that up. The 'Plus' branding suggests the phone will come with a large display or a massive battery. This is just speculation for now. This would also be a way for OPPO to differentiate the K14 Plus from other models in the lineup. 

It's unclear where the OPPO K14 Plus stands in the lineup, but the moniker suggests it could be priced at Rs 30,000 or more. This is based on the OPPO K14 Lite and K14x's pricing, which is under Rs 20,000. The K14 is the most expensive model in the lineup, with a starting price of Rs 25,999. 

With the K14 Plus, OPPO seems to be expanding its presence even more in the budget-to-mid-range segment. Buyers have another option to pick depending on their requirements. This way, OPPO covers more price categories. Given the lack of official specs, it's best to wait for the full launch before making any buying decisions or considering an upgrade.

• OnePlus 16 specifications have leaked, including a reported 9,000mAh battery, 200MP main camera and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro chipset.
• OnePlus has confirmed 165Hz system-wide refresh rate, Android 17-based ColorOS 17 and three gaming technologies for the new flagship.
• The OnePlus 16 could see a major battery and camera upgrade over the OnePlus 15, while its India availability remains uncertain.

[/highlights]

Right after the company teased the flagship, the OnePlus 16 has had its entire spec sheet outed. Tipster Digital Chat Station has shared what is claimed to be the phone's full specifications on Weibo, revealing details about its display, cameras, battery, charging and chipset. The leak points to a 9,000mAh battery, 200MP main camera, BOE X4 display and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro.

OnePlus has already teased the phone, confirming that the phone will support a 165Hz refresh rate system-wide and run Android 17-based ColorOS 17 in China. The company has not announced a launch date, although an earlier leak suggested an October debut.

OnePlus 16 specifications

DCS claims the OnePlus 16 will feature a 9,000mAh typical battery, with an 8,780mAh rated capacity and dual-cell architecture. It's also tipped to support 100W wired and 50W wireless charging. That would be a sizeable increase over the OnePlus 15's 7,300mAh battery, which uses a dual-cell design. The OnePlus 15 supports 80W wired and 50W wireless charging in some markets, while its China model offers 120W wired charging.

The rumoured iQOO 16 is a closer comparison. It's tipped to pack an 8,400mAh battery with 100W wired and 40W wireless charging, although iQOO hasn't confirmed those battery specifications. A 9,000mAh battery would therefore put the reported OnePlus 16 capacity above the iQOO 16 and mark a substantial increase over the previous OnePlus flagship. Even though we're in that era when 10,000mAh batteries are more commonplace, putting them in a flagship would be compromising on weight and the design. Hence, it seems onePlus is capping it at 9,000mAh, much like they did with the OnePlus Nord 6.

The display is also getting broader 165Hz support. OnePlus has confirmed that the OnePlus 16 will run at 165Hz system-wide, compared with the OnePlus 15's 1Hz-120Hz adaptive range for general use and 165Hz support in compatible games. DCS additionally claims a 185Hz gaming refresh rate for the new model. The competition is also moving in the same direction. iQOO has officially confirmed a 2K 165Hz display for the iQOO 16, with the company claiming 31 percent lower panel power consumption than a similarly sized 1.5K display at 150 nits.

The leaked OnePlus 16 camera setup includes a 200MP 1/1.4-inch main sensor, a 50MP ultrawide and a 50MP 1/1.95-inch periscope telephoto. A 50MP autofocus selfie camera is also reported. This would be a significant change from the OnePlus 15's triple-50MP setup, which includes a 50MP main camera and 50MP 3.5x periscope telephoto. The larger main sensor and higher-resolution telephoto could give the OnePlus 16 a stronger hardware foundation for photography, an area where the OnePlus 15 faced criticism in comparisons with rival flagships.

DCS also claims the OnePlus 16 will use Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro, reportedly built on TSMC's 2nm process, with a 2+3+3 tri-cluster CPU and Adreno 850 GPU. These details remain unconfirmed by OnePlus. The company has confirmed gaming technologies including Wind Chaser Gaming Core, high-refresh-rate technology and an E-Sports Triple Chip system.

OnePlus 16 India availability

There is uncertainty around India availability after the company drastically scaled down its operations worldwide. Leaks claims the standard OnePlus 16 could skip India, with the OnePlus 16R potentially taking its place as the company's flagship. OnePlus hasn't confirmed anything.

For Indian buyers, the decision may ultimately come down to availability as much as hardware. The OnePlus 15 remains a capable option with a 7,300mAh battery, 165Hz gaming display and triple-50MP camera system, while the reported OnePlus 16 offers larger battery capacity and more ambitious camera hardware. Waiting for OnePlus to clarify the India lineup will make the comparison more straightforward.

Trends in smartphone ownership

• Among the votes taken in this year's survey, Samsung leads with a 20.1 percent ownership share. The brand caters to multiple price segments and channels in India, giving buyers a wide selection of Samsung-branded phones to choose from.
• Xiaomi follows with a 13.1 percent share, while Vivo and OnePlus are close behind at 11.5 percent and 11.1 percent, respectively. Realme accounts for 9.7 percent of current ownership.
• Unlike Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo, and Realme, which have multiple smartphone lineups, OnePlus has managed to grab an 11 per cent ownership share despite a leaner portfolio of just six to seven smartphones between Rs 20,000 and Rs 90,000 in 2026.
• The remaining 34.3 percent of respondents currently own smartphones from other brands available in the market, indicating that ownership is still spread across a wide set of players beyond the top five.

• Per the survey report, Samsung emerges as the most preferred brand, with 20.5 percent of respondents planning to purchase a Samsung smartphone the next time they look to upgrade. This may be due to the brand's feature-rich software and broad product ecosystem.
• Following closely behind Samsung is Apple, for which 15.7 percent respondents aspire as their next smartphone brand, while OnePlus secures third place with 10.1 percent of the vote.
• Vivo and Google account for 8.7 percent and 8.5 percent share, respectively, while 36.4 percent of respondents are said to stick with other brands available in the market. It's interesting that Google accounts for a certain percentage, given that it caters only to the premium and high-end market.

• Google tops the list as the brand with the most loyal users. With a customer retention rate of 71.5 percent, the American tech giant's Pixel lineup of smartphones is the most favourable among all smartphone brands. This data corroborates our findings in the Smartphone Buyer Insights Survey 2026 from earlier this year.
• The brand recently released the Pixel 11 series with multiple camera and Gemini AI upgrades, helping users with their daily productivity and workflow.
• Even though Google tops the charts, 70.2 percent of this year's survey takers are likely to upgrade only to an iPhone from their existing Apple smartphone.
• Samsung follows with a 50.3 percent retention rate, indicating that one in two current Samsung users is likely to buy from the brand again.
• OnePlus and Vivo hold 43 percent and 38 percent share, respectively, showing niche but notable loyalty toward their smartphones.

User satisfaction with current smartphone brand

• Apple users are the most satisfied with their phone's speed, with 75.8 percent of respondents saying they are happy with the performance of their current iPhone. Furthermore, the iOS 27 update is said to bring several performance improvements even to older eligible iPhones.
• OnePlus follows closely, with 69.3 percent of its users satisfied with their phone's speed, while iQOO is next at 66.7 percent. Both OnePlus and iQOO boast smooth performance experiences across regular use, gaming, and multitasking, and it appears these brands have lived up to their claims.
• Google and Nothing complete the top five, with 64.1 percent and 60.9 percent of their users, respectively, saying they are satisfied with how fast their smartphones feel in daily use.

• iQOO emerges as the best brand in terms of battery reliability, with 63.1 percent of respondents saying they are satisfied with their phone's battery.
• Motorola follows closely at 60.7 percent, while Vivo is next with 58.8 percent of its users satisfied with battery performance. Both Motorola and Vivo have equipped their smartphones with massive batteries of 6,500mAh and above across price ranges.
• Realme and OPPO complete the top five, with 56 percent and 55.3 percent of their users, respectively, saying they are happy with how their smartphones last through the day.

• Apple users are the happiest with their phone's rear camera, with 74.5 percent of respondents saying they are satisfied with the camera on their current iPhone.
• Nothing and Google follow extremely closely, at 73.9 percent and 73.7 percent, respectively, indicating that users of these brands are almost as satisfied with rear camera performance.
• OnePlus and Samsung complete the top five, with 58.7 percent and 56.6 percent of their users, respectively, saying they are happy with their smartphone's rear camera.

• Apple offers the best screen capabilities, according to the survey, with 79.6 percent of respondents saying they are satisfied with their iPhone's display. Just last year, Apple equipped the standard iPhone 17 with a 120Hz ProMotion display and increased brightness, which may have helped many users feel satisfied with the display experience.
• Nothing and Google follow closely, at 76.1 percent and 75.6 percent, respectively, indicating strong user satisfaction with the screens on these devices as well.
• iQOO and OnePlus complete the top five, with 72.9 percent and 71.2 percent of their users, respectively, saying they are happy with their smartphone's display capabilities.

• Apple offers the best software performance, according to the survey, with 77.5 percent of respondents saying they are satisfied with their iPhone's software. iOS is known for smooth, soothing animations, long software support, and a strong emphasis on small details.
• Nothing and Google follow closely, at 73.2 percent and 72.9 percent, respectively. Nothing has even ranked ahead of established brands like Samsung and OnePlus for software, which could be due to various factors we've covered in a dedicated article. In short, Nothing OS stands out with a monochromatic interface and a clean, to-the-point software experience with the necessary features included.
• OnePlus and Samsung complete the top five, with 70.3 percent and 62.2 percent of their users, respectively, saying they are happy with their smartphone's software.

• Google offers the best AI features, according to the survey, with 63.8 percent of respondents saying they are satisfied with the AI experience on their Pixel smartphones. Powered by Gemini, Pixel smartphones carry features that allow users to automate daily tasks, enhance photos, and predict your needs
• Apple follows at a distant second, with 43.4 percent of its users satisfied with AI features, while Samsung is close behind at 42.7 percent. With the arrival of iOS 27, Siri AI is claimed to be more capable and can provide contextual results based on data stored on the user's iPhone.
• OnePlus and Nothing complete the top five, with 41.7 percent and 38.4 percent of their users, respectively, saying they are happy with their smartphone's AI features.

• iQOO tops the list as the most value-for-money brand, with 75 percent of respondents rating their smartphone four or higher on VFM. 
• Nothing and Apple follow closely, at 72.5 percent and 72.2 percent, respectively, indicating that users of these brands also see strong value in their devices.
• OnePlus and Google complete the top five, with 70.5 percent and 66.2 percent of their users, respectively, rating their smartphones highly on value for money.

• Apple users are the most satisfied with their phones, with 64.1 percent of respondents saying they are happy with their current iPhone. Since the brand ranked highly in multiple user-satisfaction areas, such as software, rear camera, and display, this isn't surprising.
• Google follows closely at 61.5 percent, while Nothing is next with 60.9 percent of its users satisfied overall. Despite small ownership shares, users of both brands currently seem to enjoy the experience their smartphones offer.
• iQOO and OnePlus complete the top five, with 59.6 percent and 57.8 percent of their users, respectively, saying they are satisfied with their smartphones.

When and where people plan to buy their next phone

• Nearly half of the respondents, 46 percent, plan to buy their next smartphone during the pre-Diwali festive sales, making this the most preferred window for an upgrade. As every year, buyers seeking discounted smartphones tend to wait for Flipkart's Big Billion Day Sale or Amazon's Great Indian Festival, both expected to begin in early October this year.
• Most smartphones released this year and many from last year have seen major price jumps due to rising memory prices. Most recently, Apple hiked the price of the base iPhone 17 from 82,900 to Rs 1 lakh, and older iPhones. This makes the upcoming Flipkart and Amazon sales more crucial than ever for buyers looking to get the best bang for their buck on new smartphone purchases. These sales tend to include multiple bank offers, cashbacks and additional exchange offers to sweeten the deal.
• Another 25.1 percent say they are looking to purchase a new phone in the next five to six months.
• The remaining 28.9 percent of survey takers are not looking to buy anytime soon.

• Amazon is the most preferred platform to shop from, with 35 percent of respondents saying they would buy their next phone on Amazon if there is no difference in price.
• Flipkart follows closely at 29.8 percent, while 28 percent of survey takers would rather purchase from the brand's own store.
• The remaining 7.2 percent prefer other e-commerce stores.

Here's a summary report for your reference:

This is a summary of our findings. For the full report, including year-on-year trends for all the smartphone brands, write to us at survey@91mobiles.com.

Nothing OS leads the way in offering the best Android software performance

• Nothing ranks highest among Android brands for delivering the best software experience, ahead of Google, Samsung, and OnePlus.
• Interestingly, established brands like Google, Samsung, and OnePlus trail behind Nothing. This could be attributed to Nothing's approach to delivering a software experience that looks distinct, feels burdenless to use, and prioritises swiftness with minimal bloatware.
• Software update frequency plays a crucial role in keeping users invested long-term in a software skin. As noted in our Nothing Phone (4a) re-review, the phone has regularly received OTA updates since its release, improving stability, performance, and battery endurance over time. With most Nothing smartphones getting the same treatment, this could also be a strong reason for survey participants to choose Nothing OS as the top-performing Android skin.
• On top of this, while Nothing jumped on the AI bandwagon a bit later than the competition, its suite of AI features under Essential AI is touted to help users organise information, aid speech output, and build apps without coding knowledge. These include Essential Space for storing key texts and images to revisit later, Essential Voice, an advanced speech-to-text tool that removes filler words, and Essential Apps that let users build their own AI-based apps or widgets for specific use cases.
• On the personalisation front, the widgets on Nothing OS are what give the skin a flair of fun, allowing users to customise their lockscreen and homescreen on a deep level, while Nothing OS was among the first Android skins to introduce resizing of quick settings toggles.
• With the upcoming Nothing OS 5.0 update, the brand goes deeper into customisation, productivity, performance, and more AI use cases, making it the company's biggest software release so far. The update is already live in Open Beta form for the Phone (3) and Phone (4a) Pro.

Nothing holds strong positions in several user satisfaction aspects

Beyond software, Nothing has earned top rankings in a couple of user satisfaction categories.

• Almost 74 percent of the survey takers using a Nothing smartphone claim that they're satisfied with the results delivered by the rear camera, outpacing the likes of Google and Samsung.
• Although the brand has released only three smartphones so far in 2026, the Nothing Phone (4a) and Phone (4a) Pro, in particular, boast one of the most flexible camera setups in their respective price segments.
• Both feature a 50MP primary camera, an 8MP ultrawide, and a 50MP telephoto lens with 3.5x optical zoom for capturing long-range shots, portraits with natural bokeh, and close-ups. Furthermore, Nothing deploys TrueLens Engine to ensure shadows and highlights in images are well balanced.

• Despite the smartphone industry going through a tough phase of constant memory price hikes, and with the Phone (4a) series and Phone (4b) now costing more than their original launch prices, 72.5 percent of Nothing users still regard the brand as offering the most value for money.
• As noted above, this may be attributed to a combination of flexible camera setups, sufficient levels of performance, distinct phone designs, and a to-the-point software user interface.

Given the survey results, it's impressive to see Nothing, a company founded in 2022, perform so well in satisfying its users across multiple parameters, especially software. Whether it's its distinct software identity, striking smartphone designs, or performance in crucial areas like cameras, Nothing has shown that a brand can build a loyal user base by listening to feedback and improving with each model to deliver well-balanced devices.

On the contrary, as far as our experience with Nothing OS is concerned, it may still require some work in adding immersion to the UI through blur elements and improving haptics integration to fully leverage the strong haptic motors Nothing phones pack.

• iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are now available through Blinkit and Zepto.
• Zepto is offering discounts of up to Rs 7,000 on select cards.
• The new iPhones are available across select cities in India from launch day.

[/highlights]

Apple's latest iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are now available through quick commerce platforms in India, giving buyers another way to get the new iPhones on launch day. Blinkit and Zepto are offering the new Pro models alongside AirPods 5, with availability initially limited to select cities. Here's all you need to know.

The iPhone 18 Pro series arrives on Blinkit and Zepto

Blinkit has made the iPhone 18 Pro available across its supported launch cities, with all four colour options listed on the platform. The company has also added the iPhone 18 Pro Max, Apple Watch S12, and AirPods 5 to its launch-day lineup.

New launch: iPhone 18 Pro is now available on Blinkit (in all 4 colours) ✌️

This year, we've also got the new iPhone 18 Pro Max, Apple Watch S12 and Airpods 5. We've partnered with @Apple, bringing their latest products to Blinkit customers in Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru,… pic.twitter.com/X3wogkuZ3j

— Albinder Dhindsa (@albinder) September 18, 2026

Blinkit says the latest Apple products are available in Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, and Lucknow for now.

Zepto, meanwhile, will start selling the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and AirPods 5 from September 18 across Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai. Zepto lists the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max across storage options ranging from 256GB to 2TB, giving buyers access to the higher-capacity variants as well.

Both the quick commerce platforms are also offering launch-day discounts through select credit cards. Zepto is offering an instant discount of up to Rs 7,000 on the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max across variants. The offer applies to select Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, and SBI credit cards, including eligible credit card no-cost EMI transactions.

Blinkit has also confirmed discounts on select credit cards and No Cost EMI options, although it does not specify the maximum discount available on its platform.

Is buying the iPhone 18 Pro through quick commerce worth it?

The key appeal of a quick commerce platform is undoubtedly convenience. Potential in-supported cities can order the latest iPhone through an app they already use for everyday deliveries, rather than standing in a queue at an official Apple reseller or waiting for an e-commerce shipment through Amazon or Flipkart.

The main catch here is, however, stock availability. Quick commerce stock can vary by location and your nearest storage hub, and these devices may sell out quickly, particularly around an iPhone launch. For Apple, partnering with these apps helps keep the iPhone relevant across multiple sales channels and gives consumers more opportunities to get the device.

For buyers, however, the appeal is mainly about speed and convenience rather than better value. Those in supported cities who want the iPhone 18 Pro immediately can benefit from the quick-commerce option, while users who are not in a hurry may still want to compare offers across Apple's other retail and online channels.

• OPPO Find X10 Pro Max will feature a triple 200MP rear camera setup, including a 200MP ultrawide and 200MP periscope telephoto.
• Hands-on images of the OPPO Find X10, Find X10 Pro Max and Find X10 E have leaked ahead of the September 22nd launch.
• The OPPO Find X10 Pro Max will launch globally with MediaTek's Dimensity 9600 Pro chipset.

[/highlights]

The OPPO Find X10 series is set to launch on September 22nd, and the company has now confirmed that the Find X10 Pro Max will also make its way to international markets with MediaTek's new Dimensity 9600 Pro chipset. Ahead of the launch, camera samples from the Find X10 and Find X10 Pro Max have been shared officially, while hands-on images of the three expected models, the Find X10, Find X10 Pro Max and Find X10E, have also surfaced in China. The Pro Max is shaping up to be the most camera-focused model in the lineup, with three 200MP rear cameras.

OPPO Find X10 Pro Max camera samples

The OPPO Find X10 Pro Max will be the world's first phone to feature a triple 200MP rear camera setup, comprising the primary, ultrawide and periscope telephoto cameras. OPPO has confirmed that the main camera has an f/1.5 aperture and up to 17EV dynamic range, while the 200MP ultra-wide offers a 124-degree field of view. The 200MP periscope telephoto has an f/2.1 aperture and CIPA 7.5 stabilisation.

[gallery link="file" td_select_gallery_slide="slide" ids="715607,715608,715609,715610,715611"]

The camera samples shared so far appear to show particularly strong detail from the telephoto camera. Close-up subjects retain good detail, while natural background separation is visible without portrait mode. Colours also appear controlled, without excessive saturation or a muted look.

The setup of OPPO's first 'Pro Max' model differs from last year's OPPO Find X9 Ultra, which uses five rear cameras, including a 200MP primary, 200MP 3x periscope telephoto and 50MP 10x telephoto. Its system covers a 14mm to 230mm optical focal range, giving it dedicated hardware for both wide and long-range photography. The Find X10 Pro Max instead puts three 200MP sensors at the centre of its system, including a 200MP ultrawide. Whether that approach can match the X9 Ultra's longer-range zoom capabilities will become clearer once OPPO reveals the complete camera specifications.

OPPO Find X10 series hands-on images leak

Hands-on images of the OPPO Find X10 E, Find X10 and Find X10 Pro Max have surfaced in China. The cheaper model in the series, the Find X10 E, appears to retain a design similar to the previous generation which incidentally didn't have an 'E' model, while the standard Find X10 follows a similar design language as well. The X10 is confirmed to feature two Hasselblad-tuned 200MP cameras, including the primary and telephoto sensors.

[gallery link="file" td_select_gallery_slide="slide" ids="715605,715606"]

The Find X10 Pro Max gets a more distinctive rear camera design, with a square camera housing and a separate pill-shaped section for the LED flash and colour-correction sensor. It is expected in Moon White, Light Titanium and Warm Orange.

OPPO Find X10 Pro Max global launch

OPPO has confirmed that the Find X10 Pro Max will launch in international markets with MediaTek's recently launched flagship chipset, the Dimensity 9600 Pro. The chipset is built on TSMC's 2nm N2P process and uses an all-big-core CPU design, with two cores clocked at up to 4.55GHz alongside six performance cores. OPPO and MediaTek also claim improvements in CPU efficiency, graphics performance and on-device AI processing.

The Find X10 Pro Max shows OPPO placing greater emphasis on camera differentiation at the top end of its lineup. Rather than simply adding more cameras, the company is using three 200MP sensors and pairing them with Hasselblad tuning, while the new flagship chipset adds another key differentiator. This puts the Pro Max in a different position from the Find X10, which offers a dual-200MP setup, and the previous-generation Find X9 Ultra, which focused on a broader range of dedicated focal lengths. For buyers, the Pro Max will be more relevant to those who prioritise camera capabilities and flagship performance, while the standard Find X10 could be worth considering if it comes at a significantly lower price.

• The iPhone 18 Pro series features a 48MP primary camera with variable aperture and a 2nm-based A20 Pro chipset.
• The iPhone 18 Pro series is Rs 30,000 more expensive than the iPhone 17 Pro series at launch.
• Both iPhones are available through multiple online and offline channels.

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With the September Apple launch event done and dusted and the iOS 27 rollout underway, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are now on sale in India through multiple channels starting at Rs 1,64,900 and Rs 1,79,900, respectively. While interested buyers are already queuing at official Apple Stores across Saket, Noida, Mumbai, and other locations to get their hands on the latest iPhones, Apple is also selling the iPhone 18 Pro series through several channels and offering launch deals and bank discounts to sweeten the deal for early purchasers.

iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max price, launch offers

The iPhone 18 Pro series is available in 256GB storage and goes up to 2TB. The colourways include Glacier, Silver, Black, and this iteration's signature colour, Burgundy.

The iPhone 18 Pro series is launching with a few notable financing perks from Apple. Buyers can claim cashback of up to Rs. 7,000 on select credit cards from American Express, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, and SBI Card. Eligible credit and debit cards also get No Cost EMI for up to six months, available both on Apple's online store and at offline retail stores. On top of the bank deals, Apple's official Trade-In programme can knock as much as Rs. 81,500 off the price when you exchange an older device through the company's website.

iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro series availability

The latest generation of iPhones is widely available across the country through both online and offline channels. First, the iPhone 18 Pro series is available to purchase starting today from Apple Stores in Saket, Noida, Mumbai, Pune, and Bengaluru, though the first batch of units may be reserved for customers who've pre-ordered the iPhones.

The new devices are also available from electronics retailers like Croma, Vijay Sales, Reliance Digital, and others, while Apple's authorised resellers like Imagine, iPlanet, IndiaiStore, and iNvent will also cater to buyers looking for the iPhone 18 Pro series.

If you want your iPhone 18 Pro delivered, you can order from Apple's official online store, Amazon, Flipkart, and quick-commerce apps like Blinkit, Swiggy, and Zepto.

Should you consider buying the iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max?

With the design remaining unchanged from the iPhone 17 Pro series, the most notable improvements in the iPhone 18 Pro series are the variable aperture on the 48MP primary camera, which lets users adjust light intake, making the subject sharper and altering background bokeh. This could be a great addition for photographers and creators looking for manual control over their photography.

Up front, the screen sizes remain the same, but you get a smaller Dynamic Island to run three live activities at a time and more screen real estate for watching content. On the performance side, the A20 Pro could deliver noticeable improvements when paired with a vapour chamber three times larger than the iPhone 17 Pro series. That said, coming from the iPhone 17 Pro, the upgrades might not make a big difference in real-world use.

Compared to phones in the Android camp, such as the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and OPPO Find X9 Ultra, the iPhone 18 Pro misses out on a secondary telephoto lens, while delivering a similar set of specifications, such as bleeding-edge performance, vibrant and bright displays, and battery life that should suffice for a day with heavy usage.

However, if you're deep into the Apple ecosystem and have already developed familiarity with iOS and Apple's integrated software, the iPhone 18 Pro series could be worth considering when coming from older iPhones, say from three to four generations ago. Users switching from Android may get a smooth user interface, better app optimisation (especially if you're into creating content), and a reliable ecosystem if you plan to buy more Apple devices in the future, such as a MacBook, Apple Watch, etc. 

• Motorola Signature 27 could make its debut next week.
• The company has teased a new product announcement for September 22nd.
• Teasers suggest it's the Motorola Signature 27. 

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Motorola started teasing the launch of a new premium smartphone last week, and the latest teasers suggest it could be the Motorola Signature 27. It would be the successor to the Motorola Signature, which debuted earlier this year as the brand's new premium smartphone. Motorola has now shared a new teaser for a product reveal on September 22nd, which could be for the Signature 27. 

Motorola Signature 27 possible launch date 

The latest teaser on Motorola's X account shares a short video with the tagline "A new perspective is coming" and shows close-up shots of different materials, including what appears to be textile and metal. The messaging closely matches an earlier teaser for the Signature 27 that appeared on Motorola's international websites.

The X post also mentions September 22nd, which could be the launch date for the Motorola Signature 27 or when it could reveal more details about the device. The launch date is also notable as it coincides with Qualcomm's next-generation Snapdragon announcements. This raises the possibility that the Signature 27 could be among the first phones to feature the standard Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, although Motorola has not confirmed the chipset yet. If accurate, this would make the Signature 27 a performance-focused device, while still offering a premium design. 

The earlier teaser also includes a Crystals by Swarovski logo points towards another Swarovski edition, following the same strategy as it did with the original Signature. Motorola has been quite cryptic about the new Signature 27, but an upgrade to the original model seems quite likely now.

The first-generation model features a slim 6.99mm body, a textile-inspired finish, a 6.8-inch 165Hz AMOLED display, and a Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset. It also packs three 50MP rear cameras, including a 3x periscope telephoto camera, and a 5,200mAh battery with 90W wired and 50W wireless charging. Overall, the Motorola Signature works as a well-rounded premium smartphone offering flagship-like hardware. 

For buyers, the Signature 27 could be worth waiting for if you're considering a high-end Motorola, particularly if you want newer hardware and a distinctive design. However, the existing Signature remains a compelling option if pricing becomes competitive for the new launch. 

• Apple is adding Apple TV and Apple Arcade to iCloud+ subscriptions in India at no additional cost.
• iCloud+ starts at Rs 75 per month in India, with Family Sharing allowing users to share the subscription with up to five family members.
• Apple TV and Apple Arcade will no longer be sold as standalone subscriptions through Apple in India, while existing subscribers will transition to iCloud+.

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Apple is expanding its iCloud+ subscription in India to include Apple TV and Apple Arcade at no additional cost. The change will roll out this month, giving iCloud+ subscribers access to Apple's streaming service and gaming subscription alongside cloud storage and privacy features.

The iCloud+ plans in India start at Rs 75 per month for 50GB of storage. Users can also share their subscription with up to five family members through Family Sharing, making the expanded plan more relevant for households already using multiple Apple devices.

iCloud+ inclusions in India

Apple TV gives subscribers access to Apple's original series, films and documentaries, including Ted Lasso, Severance, The Studio and CODA. Apple Arcade, meanwhile, offers more than 200 games without advertisements or in-app purchases. The catalogue includes titles such as Hello Kitty Island Adventure, Sneaky Sasquatch and NBA 2K26 Arcade Edition, with games available across iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV 4K.

The expanded iCloud+ subscription also includes Apple Music Select, a collection of ad-free curated radio stations. Users who want the full Apple Music service can subscribe separately for Rs 115 per month for the Individual plan or Rs 145 for the Family plan.

The move changes how Apple sells its entertainment services in the country. Apple TV and Apple Arcade will no longer be available as individual subscriptions directly from Apple in India. Existing subscribers will continue to have access through their iCloud+ subscription, with their individual subscriptions cancelled. Apple says Apple Arcade game progress and saves will be preserved.

Apple One will also no longer be available to new subscribers in India. Existing Apple One customers can continue using their current subscription. The change effectively makes iCloud+ the entry point for Apple's entertainment services in India, rather than adding another standalone subscription. It also gives Apple a way to add more value to its cloud-storage plans as users compare them with competing storage and entertainment subscriptions.

For existing iCloud+ users, the change adds Apple TV and Arcade without increasing the subscription price. Those who primarily need cloud storage should therefore get additional services at no extra cost, while users considering Apple's ecosystem subscriptions can compare the Rs 75 starting price with their existing storage requirements and whether they would actually use the bundled entertainment services.

• Realme Buds T500 Pro launched in India earlier this year.
• The Harry Potter Edition will get dedicated branding from the franchise.
• Realme has yet to reveal the design of the TWS. 

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Realme has announced the launch of another Harry Potter Edition product in India. The Realme Buds T500 Pro Harry Potter Edition is set to launch in India alongside the Realme 16 Pro smartphone with the same branding. The announcement comes shortly after the Realme 16 Pro Harry Potter Edition was teased to launch in India. Both devices will come with the official branding and themes from the popular franchise. 

Realme Buds T500 Pro Harry Potter Edition India launch

The Realme Buds T500 Harry Potter Edition is confirmed to launch in India on September 21st. Since the smartphone will be available via Flipkart, we expect the TWS to also go on sale through the same platform. 

Realme has shared a teaser image for the Buds T500 Harry Potter Edition, but without revealing much about the design. What we can expect are Harry Potter motifs on the case and earbuds. The Realme 16 Pro has been showcased, so we can expect a similar design. 

The Realme Buds T500 Pro launched in India earlier this year, so we can expect the same hardware for the Harry Potter Edition as well. The TWS is equipped with 12.4mm drivers for deep bass and an open soundstage, along with support for Hi-Res Audio and the LHDC 5.0 codec. These enable higher-bitrate audio transmission over Bluetooth. The Realme Buds T500 Pro also comes with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) rated at up to 50dB, which is quite standard for this price segment.

In terms of battery life, the Realme Buds T500 Pro is said to deliver up to 56 hours of total playback with the charging case. With ANC on, the TWS should run for around 8 hours and 33 hours with the case. The Buds T500 Pro also come with 45ms ultra-low latency for lag-free audio while gaming. 

The Realme Buds T500 Pro is priced at Rs 3,199 in India. The Harry Potter Edition would carry a higher price tag than the regular version. While the core specs remain solid, the true appeal here will undoubtedly be the detailed Harry Potter aesthetics. 

Since this is a special edition, it's likely to appeal to Harry Potter fans. As for those who aren't interested in the branding, they can go for the regular version, which also comes in yellow, black, and silver colours. 

• iQOO Pad Ultra will come with dedicated gaming hardware.
• It's designed to be lightweight with a compact form factor.
• iQOO Pad Ultra will get gaming accessories too. 

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iQOO has confirmed the launch of a new gaming tablet alongside its flagship smartphone, the iQOO 16. The iQOO Pad Ultra is being positioned as a new kind of e-sports tablet with dedicated features and hardware for gaming. It's a compact tablet with the idea of offering something in between a smartphone and a traditional tablet, which iQOO believes will provide the perfect form factor for a gaming enthusiast. 

iQOO Pad Ultra: what to expect

The iQOO Pad Ultra will feature a compact 8.8-inch display in a lightweight 298g body, and it will measure 5.74mm thick, giving it a slim form factor too. The reason behind the compact design, as iQOO says, is to achieve the perfect balance for a gaming device. It argued that while a smartphone is portable enough, its small screen size has limitations. Whereas a traditional tablet offers a larger screen but it's not comfortable to hold and play games on it.

That's where the 8.8-inch compact size comes in and provides a comfortable form factor. This 8.8-inch form factor could be a game-changer for mobile e-sports, offering a sweet spot many have been craving.

The iQOO Pad Ultra is said to run on the same flagship chip and self-developed e-sports chip as the iQOO 16. While this hasn't been officially revealed, the Pad Ultra could use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chipset, as seen on a recent Geekbench listing. This is an upcoming flagship chipset from Qualcomm expected to launch soon. iQOO has also equipped the Pad Ultra with the largest active cooling fan for heat dissipation along with dual X-axis linear motors and refined speakers for the ultimate gaming experience. 

The tablet will also come with a stretchable game controller and a back grip to make holding it more comfortable during extended gaming sessions. It might also get a 9,000mAh battery. 

Based on what has been revealed so far, the iQOO Pad Ultra should appeal to serious gamers who want a dedicated tablet for gaming. Since it has flagship hardware, the Pad Ultra would also be ideal for intensive tasks. Its compact form factor also gives it an advantage as users who like reading or studying might prefer it. If these are your requirements then you might want to hold off on buying a new tablet and wait for the iQOO Pad Ultra. 

The iQOO Pad Ultra is set to launch in China on September 29th. It will be available in two colour options: Black and Silver. 

• Samsung's Galaxy Forever programme reduces the monthly EMI for the Galaxy Z Fold8 and Z Fold8 Ultra by 25 percent over 24 months.
• Customers pay 60 percent of the device price through EMIs, with the remaining 40 percent deferred as a bullet payment after two years.
• The programme includes assured buyback and Samsung Care+, giving users the option to upgrade, retain or return the foldable at the end of the tenure.

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Samsung has introduced a new payment option under its Galaxy Forever programme for the Galaxy Z Fold8 and Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra in India. The two-year plan reduces the monthly EMI by 25 percent by deferring 40 percent of the device price to a bullet payment at the end of the 24-month tenure.

Galaxy Forever EMI plan

Under the new plan, customers pay 60 percent of the phone's price, along with the Galaxy Forever programme fee, through 24 EMIs. The monthly EMI for the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra drops from Rs 9,417 to Rs 6,997, while the Galaxy Z Fold8 EMI falls from Rs 8,584 to Rs 6,416.

After 24 months, customers can choose to upgrade to a newer Galaxy device and return the existing one, pay the remaining 40 percent and retain it, or return the phone and exit the programme. Samsung also allows earlier returns or upgrades, with assured buyback values of up to 55 percent after 10-11 months, 50 percent after 12-13 months, 45 percent after 14-18 months and 40 percent after 19-25 months.

The programme includes Samsung Care+, covering accidental and liquid damage without claim processing fees. That means buyers do not have to purchase the protection plan separately. The structure is similar to the broader trend of manufacturers using upgrade and buyback programmes to make expensive smartphones easier to purchase. However, buyers should look beyond the lower monthly EMI as the remaining 40 percent is still payable if they choose to keep the device.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 and Fold8 Ultra prices

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 starts at Rs 1,79,999 in India, while the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra starts at Rs 1,99,999. The 512GB variants cost Rs 1,99,999 and Rs 2,19,999, respectively, while the 1TB models are priced at Rs 2,39,999 and Rs 2,59,999.

The Z Fold8 Ultra has an 8-inch main display, a 200MP primary camera and 50MP ultrawide camera. It weighs 215g and is 4.1mm thick when unfolded, with a 5,000mAh battery and 45W charging. The Z Fold8 weighs 201 gms and has a 4,800mAh battery, a 3,000-nit main display and dual 50MP cameras.

Galaxy Forever makes more sense for those who expect to upgrade regularly and value included protection. Those planning to keep the foldable for several years should factor in the 40 percent bullet payment before comparing the programme with a conventional purchase or other financing options.

• The update features multiple interactivity and design enhancements.
• OPPO, OnePlus, and Realme have announced the ColorOS 17 rollout schedule for devices in China.
• The OPPO Find X10 series and OnePlus 16 will ship with ColorOS 17 out of the box.

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After much waiting, OPPO officially introduced ColorOS 17 in China today at the OPPO Developer Conference (ODC), where the company detailed the software's design, AI enhancements, new features, and rollout schedule for OPPO, OnePlus, and Realme smartphones. Based on Android 17, the update will start rolling out to the OPPO Find X9 series, OnePlus 15, and Realme GT 8 Pro on October 8th, while the Find X10 series, releasing on September 22nd in China, and OnePlus 16 will ship with the skin preinstalled.

ColorOS 17 also marks the unification of OxygenOS and Realme UI into ColorOS, as they've combined resources, resulting in faster, more stable update rollouts.

ColorOS 17 key features, design changes, improvements

While over-the-top ColorOS 17 looks identical to ColorOS 16, the updated Fluid Design drastically enhances the UI's interactivity and cohesiveness. The latest iteration of ColorOS features vibrant lighting effects, fluid motion dynamics, and snappy tactile responses. The Polar Light Engine powers the system, engineered to slash app startup and RAM usage by 25 percent while trimming rendering demands by 30 percent.

Performance and speed improvements

• Tidal Engine: Custom-allocates system resources to keep background apps alive, boosting retention stability by 55.6 percent.
  
• Speed enhancements: Delivers 50 percent faster scrolling and load times in third-party apps, 30 percent quicker mini-program launches, and 15 percent faster app toggling.
  
• Longevity: ColorOS 17 guarantees up to six years of lag-free operation on eligible devices.

Next-gen imaging and AI photography

• AI Photo Editor: Unifies image cleanup, blur correction, and colour grading into a single suite, complemented by native 2K ProXDR rendering.
  
• Reference Image Replication: Matches and applies the visual tone of an aesthetic sample directly onto your photos.
  
• Da Vinci Engine: Leverages six specialised models dedicated to framing, lighting, colour theory, subject detail, exposure, and image crispness.

Productivity and system intelligence

• AI Notes: Features instant summary cards, a new "Inspiration Moment" memory feed, and simultaneous multi-input capture (audio, text, and photos) for live event recording.
  
• Smart Screen Reading & Security: Accurately reads on-screen copy out loud, alongside an AI anti-fraud shield that uses behavioural pattern matching to block scam attempts.
  
• Xiaobu Assistant (China Market): Expanded to cover 700+ proactive service scenarios, featuring task management via Xiaobu Space, travel handoffs, airport pickup alerts, and smart memory reminders.

Ecosystem continuity and accessibility

These features are likely to remain exclusive to China due to the presence of a multitude of ColorOS-supported devices there apart from smartphones:

• Cross-device sync: ColorOS 17 pairs your phone with smart cars (for seamless foot-navigation handoffs), cameras, earphones (real-time conversation translation), and wearables for added functionality.
• Fitness Integration: Tracks FatMax zones on smartwatches and instantly casts real-time workout telemetry across tablets and phones.
• Care Mode: Activates essential safety features and high-visibility accessibility presets with one touch.

ColorOS 17 rollout schedule (China)

While OPPO, OnePlus, and Realme will release the update schedule later for the global market, here's when ColorOS 17 will roll out to devices in China:

Batch 1 (October 8th)

OPPO Find N6, Find N6 Satellite Communication Edition, Find X9 Ultra, Find X9 Ultra Satellite Communication Edition, Find X9s Pro, Find X9 Pro, Find X9 Pro Satellite Communication Edition, Find X9, OnePlus 15, OnePlus 15T, Realme GT8 Pro, and GT8 Pro Aston Martin F1 Limited Edition

Batch 2 (October 16th)

OPPO Find N5, Find X8 series, OPPO Pad 5 Pro, OPPO Pad Mini, OnePlus 13, OnePlus 13T, OnePlus Pad 3 Pro, Realme GT7 Pro, GT7 Pro Racing Edition, Realme GT8, Realme Neo8

Batch 3 (October 20th)

OPPO Watch X3 series, OnePlus Ace 6 series

Batch 4 (October 22nd)

OPPO Reno16 Pro, Reno16

Batch 5 (October 30th)

OPPO Watch X2 series

Batch 6 (November)

OPPO Find N3 series, Find X7 series, Reno15 series, Reno14 series, OnePlus 12, Ace 5 series, Turbo 6 series, OnePlus Pad 2 series, Realme GT series, Neo series, Realme 15 series

Batch 7 (December)

OPPO Find series, Reno series, K series, Pad models, OnePlus 11, Ace 3 series, Turbo 6X series, Pad devices, Realme GT6, GT Neo6, Neo7x, Realme 14 series, V70 series

Batch 8 (Q1 2027)

OPPO Find N2, Find N2 Flip

As for the India launch, currently, the OPPO Find X9 Pro, Reno 15 Pro, Reno 15 Pro mini, OnePlus 15, OnePlus 15R, and Realme GT 8 Pro are undergoing ColorOS 17 closed beta testing. Now that the China schedule has been announced, it shouldn't be long before the companies announce the update for India and global markets.

Redmi Note 17 Pro vs Redmi Note 15 Pro: price in India

Redmi Note 17 Pro starts at Rs 36,999 for the variant with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. It also comes in a 256GB variant, priced at Rs 39,999. The Redmi Note 15 Pro starts at Rs 31,999 for the 8GB + 128GB variant. Its 8GB + 256GB variant costs Rs 34,999. If we compare, the Redmi Note 15 Pro is more affordable, but we'll have to see how much value it offers compared to the Note 17 Pro. 

Redmi Note 17 Pro vs Redmi Note 15 Pro: design, display

Design is a big change between the two phones. The Redmi Note 17 Pro brings a slightly more minimalist design with a smaller camera module housing two sensors and an LED flash. The handset also features cloud patterns on the Cloud Blue variant. It comes in Purple Vibe and Stealth Black colours. The handset still comes in a flat design with a durable build (IP66 + IP68 + IP69 + IP69K ratings), same as the Note 15 Pro. 

Coming to the Note 15 Pro's design, it has a large squircle camera module located at the center that stands out. The phone comes in Carbon Black, Silver Ash, and Mirage Blue colours. If we had to consider only the design aspect, the Redmi Note 17 Pro is more for users who prefer a cleaner look, while the Note 15 Pro manages to stand out in the crowd.

Display specs are largely similar on the Redmi Note 17 Pro and Note 15 Pro. Both phones feature a large 6.83-inch (2772 × 1280 pixels) 1.5K AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection. The Note 15 Pro offers the same display but with a slightly lower 3,200 nits peak brightness as compared to 3,500 nits on the Note 17 Pro. This shouldn't make a noticeable difference in real-world scenarios, though. 

Redmi Note 17 Pro vs Redmi Note 15 Pro: processor

Redmi Note 17 Pro is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 chipset paired with LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 3.1 (256GB)/UFS 2.2 (128GB) storage. In comparison, the Redmi Note 15 Pro comes with MediaTek Dimensity 7400-Ultra, LPDDR4X RAM, and UFS 2.2 storage.

On paper, the Dimensity 7400-Ultra has slightly higher clock speeds, which would result in better benchmark scores and performance. It could also achieve higher peak frame rates, thanks to the Mali-G615 MP2 GPU. While we can't say how much of a difference the chipsets would make in real-world performance, the Dimensity 7400-Ultra still seems better prepared for intensive tasks due to its stronger architecture. 

That said, both the Redmi Note 17 Pro and Note 15 Pro should be more than capable of handling everyday tasks, gaming titles like COD Mobile and BGMI, and multitasking. 

Redmi Note 17 Pro vs Redmi Note 15 Pro: cameras

Cameras are where the Redmi Note 17 Pro may seem like a slight downgrade in comparison to the Note 15 Pro. It comes with a dual-camera setup, featuring a 50MP primary camera, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, and a 20MP front camera. For selfies, you get a 16MP front camera. 

In comparison, the Redmi Note 15 Pro houses a 200MP primary camera, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, and a 20MP front camera. So not only does the Note 15 Pro offer a stronger raw megapixel count for the primary camera, but it also comes with a superior selfie camera. This might lead to better overall photography results on the Note 15 Pro. Both phones offer video recording up to 4K at 30fps. 

We're yet to see how the hardware differences show in actual results, but the Note 15 Pro might hold a slight advantage here. 

Redmi Note 17 Pro vs Redmi Note 15 Pro: battery, charging

The Redmi Note 17 Pro has a clear lead here with its massive 9,000mAh battery. This is not only a major upgrade over the Note 15 Pro's 6,580mAh battery, but one of the largest capacities in its price segment as well. In terms of usage, Redmi claims the Note 17 Pro can deliver 3.5+ days on one charge. With this battery capacity, multi-day usage should be a breeze, but whether it does last almost four days on a single charge is something we can determine after testing it. 

The Note 15 Pro should also be able to deliver enough power to last an entire day and more. But if we're talking about endurance, the Redmi Note 17 Pro is the more reliable choice here. It gets faster charging too at 67W, while the Note 15 Pro caps at 45W. Both devices offer reverse wired charging at 22.5W (Note 17 Pro) and 15W (Note 15 Pro). 

Redmi Note 17 Pro vs Redmi Note 15 Pro: software

The Redmi Note 17 Pro runs HyperOS 3 with Android 16 out of the box. The handset will get 4 OS upgrades and six years of security patches. This means that the Note 17 Pro will be updated to Android 20 and you'll still get two more years of security updates. The Note 15 Pro gets the same software support, but since it launched with HyperOS 2 based on Android 15, it's a generation behind in terms of software support. It's worth mentioning, though, that the Redmi Note 15 Pro has been updated to HyperOS 3. Also, 4+6 software support is quite good for this segment. 

HyperOS 3 introduced some major design changes, including over 100 refined animations, giving the UI a more fluid look. Xiaomi introduced 'HyperIsland', a notification pill that shows updates for charging, timer, reminders, and more features. HyperOS 3 also offers AI Cinematic Lock Screen and Dynamic Wallpapers, and a redesigned home screen with new icons.

Both phones will offer a largely similar software experience, but if we're thinking long-term usage, the Note 17 Pro has a slight advantage over the Note 15 Pro. 

Summing up

The notable upgrades that the Redmi Note 17 Pro offers in comparison to the Note 15 Pro are the battery capacity and software updates. The chipset and cameras are expected to be similar or slightly better on the Note 15 Pro. Unless battery endurance and longer software support are a priority, you might be okay sticking to the Note 15 Pro. But if you're someone who constantly needs reliable battery life, the Note 17 Pro will be the safer choice here. 

• OnePlus has teased the OnePlus 16 in China and confirmed a system-wide 165Hz refresh rate, along with Android 17-based ColorOS 17.
• A OnePlus phone believed to be the OnePlus 16 has appeared on China's 3C certification database with support for 100W wired charging.
• The OnePlus 16 is tipped to bring a 200MP camera, 9,000mAh battery and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro.

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It's Techtember officially. The iPhones are here, OPPO and Vivo are launching their flagships post September 20th and OnePlus has now joined the brigade. The company has officially teased the OnePlus 16 in China, confirming some of the key features after weeks of leaks and speculation. The company has officially revealed that the OnePlus 16 will support a 165Hz refresh rate system-wide and run Android 17-based ColorOS 17 in China.

OnePlus hasn't announced a launch date yet, although an earlier leak suggested that the OnePlus 16 could be unveiled in October. The company has also not confirmed most of the other specifications currently being reported.

OnePlus 16 features

The 165Hz refresh rate is not entirely new to the OnePlus lineup. The OnePlus 15 already supports a maximum 165Hz refresh rate, but its display uses a 1Hz-120Hz adaptive range for general use, with 165Hz available in supported games. The OnePlus 16 is expected to extend 165Hz support to more system and application scenarios, potentially making scrolling, animations and touch interactions smoother outside gaming.

The display could receive other upgrades as well. Tipster Digital Chat Station has previously tipped the OnePlus 16 could use a new-generation BOE Oriental Screen with X4 light-emitting material jointly developed by OnePlus and BOE. OnePlus has previously claimed that this material performed better than Samsung's M-series material in its internal testing, while also targeting lower power consumption and longer panel life.

The company has separately confirmed three gaming technologies for the new flagship: Wind Chaser Gaming Core, high-refresh-rate technology and an E-Sports Triple Chip system. These are expected to build on the gaming-focused hardware introduced with the OnePlus 15, which also featured a 165Hz 1.5K LTPO display and a 3,200Hz instantaneous touch sampling rate.

Another recent leak claims the phone could reach 185Hz in supported games, although this remains unconfirmed. Other leaked specifications include a 200MP primary camera with a 1/1.4-inch sensor, a 50MP ultrawide camera and a 50MP 3.5x periscope telephoto camera. A 50MP autofocus selfie camera has also been tipped. The phone is also expected to feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro chipset and a 9,000mAh battery. A OnePlus device believed to be the OnePlus 16 has also appeared on China's 3C certification database, suggesting support for 100W wired charging.

This would bring a camera upgrade over the OnePlus 15, particularly with the larger main sensor and higher-resolution telephoto camera. The OnePlus 15's camera system received criticism in comparisons with some competing flagships, so the reported hardware could signal emphasis on photography with the next generation.

For the OnePlus 16, the more important display change may not be the 165Hz figure itself but how widely the refresh rate works and how efficiently the panel operates as iQOO has already confirmed it's offering a 2k display with 165Hz refresh rate for the iQOO 16. Higher refresh rates can increase power consumption, making the reported display efficiency improvements relevant alongside the phone's large battery.

OnePlus 16 India availability and launch

There is uncertainty around the OnePlus 16's availability in India. A tipster has claimed that the standard OnePlus 16 could skip India, with the OnePlus 16R becoming the company's flagship in the country. Another tipster had previously made a similar claim that the standard model would remain exclusive to China. OnePlus hasn't confirmed either report.

The reports also come after OnePlus confirmed in July that it would stop launching new phones in North America and Europe. OnePlus India has said its business in the country continues as usual. For buyers planning a premium OnePlus purchase, the India strategy is therefore worth watching before making a decision. The OnePlus 15 remains an option for those upgrading now, while buyers willing to wait can see whether the 16R arrives with the reported flagship-level cameras and performance. OnePlus will also need to clarify whether the system-wide 165Hz implementation, 100W charging and other reported upgrades make it to the Indian model.

• Nothing CEO Carl Pei has denied that the Phone 4b was a repurposed CMF smartphone, saying it is the successor to the Phone 3a Lite.
• CMF had been working on a Phone 2 Pro successor before cancelling it due to rising memory and storage costs.
• The Nothing Phone 4b launched in India at Rs 34,999 and now starts at Rs 39,999

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Nothing co-founder and CEO Carl Pei has denied speculation that their latest launch, the Nothing Phone 4b, was originally a CMF smartphone that was moved under the Nothing brand. In a reaction video on Nothing's official YouTube channel, Pei said the Phone 4b is instead the direct successor to the Phone 3a Lite, with Nothing simplifying its naming as it expands the number of phones in its lineup.

"It's not like a CMF product redirected," Pei said while responding to the theory. He also clarified that the 'b' in Phone 4b does not specifically stand for "budget", but was chosen as a simpler way to create a tier below the standard and 'a' series.

No CMF phone this year

The speculation gained traction after CMF confirmed that it would not launch a successor to the CMF Phone 2 Pro in 2026. Nothing and CMF co-founder Akis Evangelidis said the company had been working on a successor but cancelled it because rising RAM and storage costs made it difficult to deliver a meaningful upgrade without significantly increasing the price.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoOOXPATKMY&t=361s

The timing left questions about how Nothing would fill the gap at the more affordable end of its smartphone lineup. However, the definition of affordable now is another story. The Nothing Phone 4b launched in India in July at Rs 34,999 and now starts at Rs 39,999, while the Nothing Phone 4a starts at Rs 44,999 after launching at Rs 31,999.

There is some evidence behind Pei's description of the 4b as a Phone 3a Lite successor. The Phone 3a Lite launched in India in November 2025 at Rs 20,999 and featured a 6.77-inch display. The newer model retains that screen size while bringing a Super AMOLED panel, a larger 6,000mAh battery compared with the older phone's 5,000mAh unit, and longer software support.

However, the upgrade is not that straightforward. The Phone 3a Lite used the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro, with a higher maximum clock speed of 2.5GHz, while the Phone 4b uses the Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 clocked at up to 2.3GHz. The newer phone drops the 2MP macro camera from the older triple-camera setup and instead focuses on its 50MP main and 8MP ultrawide cameras.

The price difference is also significant. The Phone 4b's current Rs 39,999 starting price is almost twice the Phone 3a Lite's original Rs 20,999 price, although rising component costs and changes to the hardware and software support make a direct price comparison less meaningful.

Our first impressions of the Phone 4b also noted it being designed as a Nothing product. It uses a transparent camera island with Glyph lights and takes design cues from the Phone 4a Pro and Phone 3a. The polycarbonate frame and a small circular indentation on the rear may have contributed to comparisons with CMF, but the overall design follows Nothing's established visual language.

However, with many price hikes, the Phone 4b now sits close to the Nothing Phone 4a in price, making the differences between the two more important. The 4b's larger battery is a key advantage, while the Phone 4a offers a telephoto camera and higher-end hardware. The hardware changes and its place in Nothing's lineup support Pei's description of the Phone 4b as the successor to the Phone 3a Lite, although the near-doubling of the launch price means it is not a like-for-like replacement. Pei also says the new phone is selling strongly, with early sales tracking at roughly twice Nothing's internal targets.

• Galaxy A18 4G has been launched in select European markets.
• The handset comes with a notch display.
• It will get six years of OS upgrades and security updates. 

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Samsung has launched a new budget smartphone with 4G connectivity as part of its Galaxy A-series. The new Galaxy A18 4G has been launched in Europe in select markets, including France, Norway, and Sweden. There's no word on whether Samsung plans to expand the Galaxy A18 4G to more global markets yet. However, a 5G variant of the phone is expected to launch soon.

Samsung Galaxy A18 4G pricing, availability

The Galaxy A18 4G is available in France for €280 (Rs 30,900 approx). The handset comes in a single 4GB RAM + 128GB storage variant. It's available in Gray, Light Blue, and Black. In Norway and Sweden, the Galaxy A18 4G comes in a 256GB variant as well, but the smartphone isn't available for purchase yet. 

Samsung Galaxy A18 4G specifications

The Galaxy A18 4G features a 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate. The screen comes with a notch, which might feel dated aesthetically, but the FHD+ AMOLED panel gives it an edge over rivals in the budget segment. The smartphone is powered by the Exynos 1610 processor, which is expected to deliver capable everyday performance. It also comes with an IP64 rating for dust and splash resistance.

Powering the Galaxy A18 4G is a 5,000mAh battery with 25W wired fast charging, claimed to reach 50 percent within 30 minutes. The battery capacity should be enough for a day's usage, but users who rely on longer endurance might want to consider alternatives. Its predecessor, the Galaxy A16 4G, comes with the same battery specs.

For photography, there's a 50MP primary camera, a 5MP ultra-wide lens, and a 2MP macro camera. You also get a 13MP front camera for selfies on the Galaxy A18 4G. This camera setup is quite versatile for a budget phone. 

On the software front, the Galaxy A18 4G runs Android 17 with One UI 9 out of the box. This is the latest software version available for Samsung phones. The device is also getting 6 OS upgrades and six years of security updates, one of the longest software support periods in this segment.

The Galaxy A18 4G could be a good choice for those looking for a budget phone that offers a good display, reliable chipset, battery life, and versatile cameras. If you want a budget daily driver that can run for years, the Galaxy A18 4G makes for a good purchase. However if you want a 5G phone, then you might want to wait for the Galaxy A18 5G.

• Jio is offering eligible users up to 12 months of Canva premium plans for free.
• Rs 399 Jio users get Canva Pro, while Rs 349 and eligible lower plans get Pro Lite.
• The Canva offer can be claimed through the MyJio app from September 16.

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Jio has partnered with Canva to give eligible users up to 12 months of Canva Pro or Canva Pro Lite for free. The bundle brings Canva's premium design tools and AI-powered features to Jio subscribers like students, creators, professionals and small businesses looking to create visual content without paying for a separate subscription.

The offer will start rolling out from September 16, 2026, with the Canva plan depending on the user's Jio recharge. Here's how the new partnership works.

Jio's Canva offer: who gets what?

The new partnership gives eligible Jio users 12 months of Canva premium access at no extra cost, with the plan depending on their existing recharge. Users on the Rs 399 plan will get Canva Pro, while those on the Rs 349 plan and eligible 2GB/day plans priced above Rs 349 will receive Canva Pro Lite.

Both plans provide access to Canva's premium templates, photos, videos and fonts, along with tools such as Background Remover, Magic Resize, Magic Eraser and print-ready exports. This gives users access to several of Canva's premium design tools without having to pay separately for them.

The main difference comes with Canva Pro, which adds features for users who create content more regularly. It includes Content Planner, Canva AI, higher AI usage limits and a larger Brand Kit, while Pro Lite limits itself to the core design features with limited AI access (same as the free tier).

Jio says eligible users can claim the offer through the MyJio app by opening the Canva offer and activating it. The 12-month benefit will start rolling out from September 16, 2026, with no additional charge for the Canva subscription during the offer period.

Is the Jio Canva offer worth it?

The Canva partnership is not surprising and is a core part of Jio's strategy. The brand continues to bundle popular third-party digital services with its mobile plans. Jio has already offered Google's Gemini Pro to eligible users, and the addition of Canva gives subscribers another premium service without requiring a separate subscription.

For existing eligible Jio users, the Canva offer is a no-brainer. They can access premium design tools for a year at no additional cost, while users on lower-priced plans who regularly use Canva may also have a reason to consider moving to an eligible higher-tier recharge to access the benefit. The offer is especially relevant for students, creators and small businesses that already use Canva for their daily work.

We can also think of it as a means to retain its consumer base. Telecom operators have raised tariffs repeatedly in recent years, which has made subscribers more conscious of what they get for their monthly recharge. Bundling services such as Gemini and Canva gives Jio an additional way to add value to its plans and encourage users to stay within its ecosystem.

From Jio's perspective, it is a relatively simple model: the company can make its higher-value plans more appealing without directly cutting recharge prices, while users get access to services they may otherwise have to pay for separately. For subscribers who can or actively use Canva's premium tools, this is a valuable perk.

Launch Offer & Financing

A limited-period launch offer provides 2 years extended warranty plus 3 years of accidental damage protection (worth Rs 5,599) for Rs 99. Financing is supported via ASUS Easy Pay No Cost EMI and Low-Cost EMI options.

Lineup Breakdown

• Vivobook S14 (S5452MA) & S16 (S5652MA): Powered by up to Intel Core 7 Series 3 processors with a 17 TOPS NPU. Features all-metal construction, MIL-STD-810H durability, and 16:10 FHD+ 100% sRGB IPS displays. Delivers over 20 hours of battery life on S14 and 15+ hours on S16. Includes bundled Microsoft Office Home 2024 and 1 year of Microsoft 365 Basic with 100GB cloud storage.
• Vivobook 14 Flip (TP3407AA): 360-degree all-metal convertible featuring an FHD+ ASUS OLED touchscreen with stylus support. Powered by up to Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 3 355 processor with a 49 TOPS NPU. Offers up to 38 hours of battery life, Thunderbolt 4, microSD card reader, TPM 2.0, and an AI camera with webcam shield.
• Vivobook S14 Flip (TP5408QA): Convertible 360-degree design with FHD+ ASUS OLED touchscreen and stylus support. Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon X processor with 45 TOPS NPU. Delivers up to 30 hours of battery life, MIL-STD-810H durability, AI FHD IR camera, TPM 2.0, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports, and HDMI 2.1.
• Vivobook 16 (X1652XA): Entry model powered by AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS with 10 TOPS AI acceleration. Features an FHD+ 16:10 IPS display with an 89% screen-to-body ratio, an FHD AI camera with facial recognition, and bundled Microsoft productivity tools with 100GB cloud storage.
• Vivobook S14 (S5408QA) & S16 (S5608QA): Launching in October 2026, powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon X processors with a 45 TOPS NPU, up to 30 hours of battery life, and Type-C fast charging. The S16 features up to an FHD+ ASUS OLED display, while the S14 features a 16:10 FHD+ IPS display. Pricing will be announced closer to availability towards the end of October.
• ASUS Wireless Silent Mouse MW103: Ambidextrous 2.4GHz wireless mouse with silent click switches, adjustable DPI (1000, 1200, 1600), and plug-and-play RF dongle. Available in Green, Pink, and Blue.

For buyers who want maximum battery life and AI performance in a flip form factor, the Vivobook 14 Flip at Rs 1,79,990 is the most capable option in the lineup, with the highest NPU TOPS count and Thunderbolt 4. Those who want similar versatility at a lower price should consider the Vivobook S14 Flip at Rs 1,09,990, which trades Thunderbolt 4 and the higher-spec Intel chip for Snapdragon's efficiency advantages and a Rs 70,000 price difference.

For straightforward clamshell productivity laptops, the Vivobook S14 and S16 are solid picks with Intel Core 7 Series 3 and strong battery life. The Vivobook 16 at Rs 89,990 is the value option. AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS is a capable processor, though the 10 TOPS AI figure is lower than every other model in the range, which matters if on-device AI features are a priority.

Buyers who can wait until October should consider the Snapdragon S14 and S16 models, which are likely to offer competitive pricing alongside strong battery life and Copilot+ PC capabilities ahead of Diwali.

• Sony INZONE H6 Air launches in India with an ultra-light 199g design.
• The gaming headset features an open-back design and 360 Spatial Sound.
• The Sony INZONE H6 Air is priced at Rs 17,990 in India.

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The new Sony INZONE H6 Air gaming headset has launched in India for players who want immersive audio, a lightweight design and comfortable long-session gaming. It is the lightest headset in Sony's INZONE lineup at 199g, while also introducing an open-back acoustic design aimed at improving spatial awareness during gameplay.

The headset supports multiple connection options and is designed for use with PCs, smartphones and the PS5 ecosystem. Here's all you need to know about it.

Sony INZONE H6 Air price and availability

The Sony INZONE H6 Air is priced at Rs 17,990 in India and is available in a black colour option. Sony says the headset will be available through Amazon and ShopatSC, giving buyers multiple options to purchase it.

Sony INZONE H6 Air: specifications, features

The big change with the INZONE H6 Air is its open-back acoustic structure, which Sony says creates a wider and more natural sound field. This can help players pick up directional audio more clearly, which is particularly useful in competitive games where footsteps, gunfire and other sound cues can reveal an opponent's position.

The headset supports 360 spatial sound for improved positional audio, while an RPG/adventure equaliser profile developed with Sony Interactive Entertainment is designed to add more depth to games where immersion is the core idea.

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At 199g without the microphone and cable, the H6 Air also claims to be Sony's lightest INZONE headset. The lightweight construction and low side pressure should make it easier to wear for several hours at a time, while the adjustable headband and slider mechanism help provide a secure fit.

Sony has used an aluminium housing to keep the headset lightweight. The open-back design also uses a hole pattern on the outer housing, which forms part of the headset's overall acoustic design.

Connectivity is handled through both 3.5mm and USB Type-C. The USB Type-C audio box allows PC users to access additional controls through Sony's INZONE HUB software, while the 3.5mm connection offers straightforward compatibility with devices such as PS5 controllers and smartphones.

Should you buy the Sony INZONE H6 Air?

The INZONE H6 Air is a relatively premium gaming headset and is a viable option for enthusiasts or users who are willing and able to spend more for a more refined gaming experience. It does not introduce a particularly new or revolutionary feature, but its lightweight 199g design and focus on long-session comfort give it a clear advantage for players who spend several hours gaming at a time.

That extra comfort does come at a price, though. At Rs 17,990, the H6 Air is asking buyers to pay a premium for a more refined design and acoustic experience rather than a major change in what a gaming headset can do. For users who simply want a capable gaming headset, there are more affordable options that cover the basics. The H6 Air is therefore better suited to premium buyers who value comfort, build quality and immersive audio and are willing to pay extra for those refinements.

• One UI 9 is based on the latest Android 17 version.
• It comes with subtle visual changes and improvements.
• It's available first to users in South Korea. 

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Update: Samsung has officially announced the global rollout of One UI 9 starting with the Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra. 

Original story follows.

Samsung has started rolling out the official One UI 9.0 update for the Galaxy S26 series. The beta program launched in May this year, and the stable release is now available. The latest One UI 9.0 update is based on Android 17 and comes with subtle visual changes and improvements. The Galaxy Z Fold8 series launched as the first Samsung devices with One UI 9 out of the box. The recently launched Galaxy S26 FE also comes with the same software version. It's worth mentioning that Samsung is one of the first companies to update its devices to the latest Android version. 

One UI 9.0 update for the Galaxy S26 series 

The stable One UI 9.0 update with firmware version S94xNKSU4BZ16 has started rolling out to the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and Galaxy S26 Ultra in South Korea. The latest update brings the September 2026 security patch to the Galaxy S26 series. 

One UI 9 brings small but useful changes to Samsung phones. The music player now shows the music wavelength, which appears in the Now Bar. You can expand it to see a bigger version of it with the same visual changes. One UI 9 also shows a smoother transition during instances like tapping the search bar within the app drawer, opening folders, and selecting the widgets picker menu.

Samsung has also added more customisation by allowing users to resize the toggles in the quick settings panel. The media player, which is small by default, can now be expanded and resized according to your preference. Another notable change is the brightness and volume sliders, which are thicker now for easier scrolling. While One UI 9 doesn't reinvent the wheel, its focus on refining core interactions, like the smoother transitions and more intuitive sliders, demonstrates Samsung's commitment to user experience polish.

Galaxy S26 users in South Korea should be able to update their devices to One UI 9 now. The update should arrive through a notification, and if you have auto-downloads turned on, then it should be automatically downloaded on your phone. Since Samsung has started rolling out the update, we expect it to reach more Galaxy S26 users in more countries, including India. 

• Amazon has launched Alexa+ in India with support for English, Hindi, and Hinglish.
• Alexa+ is available under Early Access for free on eligible Echo, Fire TV devices, and the Alexa app.
• After Early Access, Alexa+ will remain free for Prime members, while other users can access it through Prime or a standalone Rs 2,000/month subscription.

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Amazon has launched Alexa+ in India, bringing its generative AI-powered assistant to eligible Echo speakers, smart displays, Fire TV devices and the Alexa mobile app. The new version is designed to handle more natural conversations, remember user preferences and take actions across connected services, rather than being limited to answering questions or executing individual voice commands.

Alexa+ is available in Early Access from September 16th and is free for eligible customers during this period. It supports English, Hindi and Hinglish at launch, with more Indian languages planned.

Alexa+ features

One of the bigger changes is the ability to have a continuous conversation without repeating "Alexa" before every request. Users can also switch between topics and languages while retaining context. Amazon says Alexa+ understands Indian expressions, measurements and family relationships, as well as references to Bollywood, cricket and local festivals. It can also combine multiple actions. For example, users can ask Alexa+ to adjust several smart-home devices at once or create routines using natural language. Supported smart-home brands include Atomberg, Qubo, Dreame and Wipro.

Amazon is also expanding Alexa beyond the home. Alexa+ can help with shopping lists, product comparisons, review summaries and delivery tracking. Support for EazyDiner, Swiggy, District by Zomato, MakeMyTrip, Home Triangle and TripAdvisor is coming soon, while Amazon Now will eventually allow users to order groceries and daily essentials through voice.

This puts Alexa+ in a more direct conversation with AI assistants such as Gemini and Siri AI, which have also gained more natural conversations and personal context. Google has expanded Gemini's personal intelligence features to India, while Apple's new Siri AI can use information across apps such as Messages, Photos and Mail.

Alexa+ has a more specific advantage in connected homes, however, since Amazon is tying its AI assistant directly to Echo, Fire TV and compatible smart-home devices.

Alexa+ pricing and supported devices

Alexa+ is currently free during Early Access. Once Early Access ends, Prime members will continue to get Alexa+ at no additional cost. Prime Lite, Prime Shopping Edition and non-Prime users will need either a Prime plan or a standalone Alexa+ subscription costing Rs 2,000 per month.

The service works across eligible Echo and Fire TV devices and the Alexa app, with browser access coming soon. Amazon is also introducing the Echo Show 8, Echo Show 11, Echo Dot Max and Echo Studio with hardware designed specifically for Alexa+, including additional processing power, memory and sensors.

For existing Echo or Fire TV owners, the free Early Access period makes Alexa+ relatively easy to try without buying new hardware. Buyers considering a new Alexa device, meanwhile, may want to check compatibility first rather than paying extra specifically for Alexa+ features that are already available on supported existing devices.