• Xiaomi 18 Fold features a smaller cover display with a wider aspect ratio.
• It's similar to the Galaxy Z Fold8.
• Xiaomi 18 Fold will debut the new Xiaomi Xring O3 chip

[/highlights]

Xiaomi is set to launch its next foldable on September 7th. Ahead of the official reveal, Xiaomi has given us a glimpse of the foldable, featuring a design similar to the Samsung Galaxy Fold 8. It looks like the compact form factor with a wider aspect ratio is the new trend for foldables going forward. The Xiaomi 18 Fold is said to be the company's most advanced flagship yet. 

Xiaomi 18 Fold design revealed

In a teaser video, the Xiaomi 18 Fold's design has been revealed, giving us the clearest look yet at the foldable. It's a compact book-style folding design with a slim horizontal camera bar at the back. Unlike the Galaxy Z Fold8, which has sharp edges, the Xiaomi 18 Fold features rounded corners. It features a new "dragon bone" hinge and comes in a deep red colour, giving it a classy look.

The Xiaomi 18 Fold features a 5.38-inch cover display and a 7.58-inch main display when unfolded. The horizontal camera strip houses three sensors with an LED flash and the Leica branding. It will be powered by the new Xiaomi Xring O3 chip, a 3nm deca-core chipset poised to deliver impressive benchmark scores and raw performance. The foldable is expected to launch with up to 16GB of RAM

The upcoming Xiaomi foldable will ship with Hyper OS 4 based on Android 17 out of the box. It's also confirmed to launch as one of the first phones with Chinese chipmaker CXMT's new LPDDR6 memory. 

The Xiaomi 18 Fold is tipped to feature an IP68 rating for durability, which would make it the second foldable with this IP rating after the Pixel 11 Pro Fold. It's also tipped to house a 6,000mAh battery with 67W wired and 50W wireless charging support. If true, the Xiaomi 18 Fold would offer one of the largest battery capacities among foldables. 

Based on what we know so far, the Xiaomi 18 Fold will likely appeal to people who want a compact foldable with a wider aspect ratio. If Xiaomi keeps the hardware competitive, it could have an advantage over other foldables in the market. The Xiaomi 18 Fold is launching in a week, so we'll soon get to know its complete specs and price. 

• Redmi K100 could bring gaming-focused hardware to the base K series model.
• The phone may get symmetrical stereo speakers, a 3D ultrasonic fingerprint reader and IP68 protection.
• The Redmi K series is sold globally as POCO F-series phones.

[/highlights]

The Redmi K100 could be shaping up as a strong gaming-focused smartphone, if the latest leak is accurate. While Xiaomi has already launched the Redmi K100 Pro and K100 Pro Max, a new leak suggests the standard K100 could pack a 10,000mAh battery and an ultra-high refresh-rate display, along with features such as symmetrical speakers and a 3D ultrasonic fingerprint reader.

There is no launch date yet, and these details are based on an engineering sample, so the final specifications could change.

Redmi K100 specifications

According to tipster Digital Chat Station, the Redmi K100 could feature a 10,000mAh battery, potentially making it one of the largest-capacity batteries on a mainstream performance phone. The tipster also claims the display could have a refresh rate above 165Hz, although the exact figure hasn't been revealed. Other reported features include symmetrical dual speakers, a relatively large haptic motor and a 3D ultrasonic fingerprint reader. The phone could also carry an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.

The leaked combination points towards gaming being an important part of the K100's design. A display above 165Hz, strong haptics and stereo speakers would be particularly useful for gaming, while the 10,000mAh battery could help offset the higher power consumption of a high-refresh-rate panel.

The chipset is less clear. The tipster reportedly mentioned a chip with two prime cores, which could be Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite 5 V clocked at 4.6GHz. That claim needs to be treated cautiously until more details emerge.

The Redmi K100 Pro already offers some gaming-focused hardware, including a 6.59-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display with a 185Hz refresh rate and support for HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. It also has an 8,580mAh battery with 100W wired and 50W wireless charging. Its camera setup is more ambitious too, with a 200MP primary camera, 50MP telephoto and 8MP ultrawide. The K100, if the leaked specifications are accurate, could instead differentiate itself through endurance and display responsiveness.

That could make the standard model an interesting option rather than simply a cheaper version of the Pro. However, the larger battery will need to be balanced against the phone's weight and charging speed, while a refresh rate above 165Hz only makes sense if the chipset can actually deliver high frame rates in games.

Redmi's K series is not usually sold globally under the Redmi name. The K100 Pro and K100 Pro Max have already arrived internationally as the POCO F9 Pro and POCO F9 Ultra. Until Redmi confirms the phone, the 10,000mAh battery and ultra-high refresh rate are the most interesting reasons to wait. The final chipset, charging speed and price will determine whether the K100 can turn those specifications into a genuinely compelling gaming phone.

• Nothing Phone (4a) Pro is more expensive by up to Rs 5,000.
• The base variant of the Phone (4b) has received a price hike.
• The revised prices will be applicable to the new stock. 

[/highlights]

Nothing has increased the prices of its smartphones again. This time, it's the Nothing Phone (4a) series and the budget-friendly Phone (4b), which made their debut recently in July. Both the Phone (4a) and Phone (4a) Pro are now more expensive by up to Rs 5,000. Also, the revised prices are effective only on the new stock. Existing units of the Nothing Phone (4a) series and Phone (4b) will continue selling at the current price.

Nothing Phone (4a) series price hike

Nothing Phone (4a) (review) has received a price hike of Rs 2,000, bringing its price to Rs 44,999 for the base variant with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. The other two variants are also more expensive after the price hike, going up to Rs 50,999. This brings the Phone (4a) closer to alternatives like the Motorola Edge 70 Pro+.

Nothing Phone (4a) stands out for its 50MP 3.5x periscope telephoto camera and the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 that comfortably handles everyday use. However, if you want a large battery, you might want to consider alternatives, as the Phone (4a) has a modest 5,400mAh battery. 

Nothing Phone (4a) Pro (review) now starts at Rs 54,999 after a price hike of Rs 5,000. The 8GB + 256GB variant of the Phone (4a) Pro, which used to cost Rs 54,999, will now be available at Rs 57,999. The Phone (4a) Pro is the most premium option here and is recommended to those who want Nothing's most refined design and camera system. It offers a sub-flagship experience without having to stretch your budget too much. 

Nothing Phone (4b) price hike

As for the Nothing Phone (4b), it looks like only the base 8GB + 128GB variant has received a price hike. It now starts at Rs 39,999, after a price hike of Rs 5,000. When it launched in India in July, the same variant cost Rs 34,999. This shows how grave the situation is in the smartphone industry, with memory costs rising and affecting all OEMs. 

The Phone (4b) is Nothing's most affordable handset yet. With the price hike, there's a lot to reconsider, but if you want Nothing's signature transparent design and Glyph Interface, then you can still buy the Phone (4b). You're also getting Nothing's custom OS with 3 years of major OS upgrades.

• Philips returns to the smartphone scene with the launch of the Philips S7221 5G.
• The phone offers 6GB RAM and 128GB storage on the base variant.
• The Philips S7221 5G competes against the Realme P4R and OPPO K14.

[/highlights]

While Philips has been a renowned name in the appliances and consumer products sector, the brand has previously released multiple smartphones. Today, Philips has returned to the smartphone scene with the release of the Philips S7221 5G. Priced around Rs 20,000, the phone is already available for purchase on Amazon and emphasises a large battery, a big display experience, and a high-megapixel primary camera for everyday shots.

Philips S7221 5G price, availability

The Philips S7221 5G starts at Rs 20,499 for the 6GB + 128GB variant, while the 8GB + 128GB model is priced at Rs 22,499. The smartphone comes in three colourways: Black, Blue and Grey and is already up for grabs on Amazon India.

Philips S7221 5G specifications, features

The Philips S7221 5G sports a 6.67-inch HD LCD screen with a resolution of 720 x 1,600 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate. Under the hood, it uses an octa-core Spreadtrum T765 chipset, configurable with up to 8GB of LPDDR4 memory and 128GB of onboard storage, and ships with Android 16 preinstalled. The processor rivals the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 found on phones like the Realme P4R and OPPO K14, which also sell under Rs 25,000.

It's good to see Philips offering 6GB of RAM in the base variant since others are resorting to 4GB RAM to tackle the ongoing memory crisis in the smartphone industry.

On the rear, the Philips S7221 5G houses a 64MP primary camera, while on the front there's a 16MP front camera for selfies and video calls. Some of the noteworthy camera features include AI scene detection and portrait mode, which captures images with DSLR-like bokeh in the background.

A 5,700mAh battery powers the Philips smartphone, while 25W fast charging is on hand for quick top-ups. The phone runs on Android 16, though it's unclear how many OS upgrades it's set to receive at this point in time. The Philips S7221 5G is IP64-rated for protection against light water splashes and dust, while the side-mounted fingerprint scanner helps enhance security.

How does the Philips S7221 5G fare against the competition?

The Philips S7221 5G enters a highly competitive segment where most brands have been operating for years and have built a loyal customer base. The Philips smartphone goes head-to-head against the Realme P4R and OPPO K14, both of which offer the MediaTek Dimensity 6300, 50MP primary cameras, over 7,000mAh batteries, and feature 5G, just like the S7221.

While the Philips S7221 5G is on par with its close rivals on paper, its real-world implications are not yet known, including service centre availability, the quality of after-sales services, and the level of software refinement that can make or break the smartphone experience. Therefore, before considering the S7221 5G, it's wise to look at online reviews to see how the phone performs in real life, and, accordingly, you can compare and buy the phone that fulfils your preferences.

With Fire-Boltt and Mivi, both dominant smart wearables brands entering the smartphone segment, it only makes sense for legacy players to revive their smartphone operations, cater to the market with affordable and midrange offerings, and get a share of the pie.

• The iPhone 18 Pro series is launching on September 9th.
• Apple may give all new colours to the iPhones this time.
• Apple CEO John Ternus will launch his first iPhones as CEO at the event.

[/highlights]

We've been hearing leaks about the iPhone 18 Pro series since the last few months now, and now, as the countdown to the September 9th launch day ends, we have new information. Well, not entirely new, since we've heard parts of that one before, but the latest leak once again points to three colours for Apple's upcoming Pro iPhones.

The leak comes just days before Apple's "Surprise and shine" event, with new CEO John Ternus teasing a "phenomenal launch" next week.

iPhone 18 Pro expected colours

According to tipster Fixed Focus Digital, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will be available in Dark Cherry/Burgundy, Sky Blue and Black. If true, Apple would be replacing all three colour options from the iPhone 17 Pro series. The current iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are available in Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue and Silver. Cosmic Orange was the standout colour, while Deep Blue and Silver offered more conventional alternatives.

The new Dark Cherry/Burgundy finish is expected to take over the hero-colour role this year. Black would give Apple a familiar option, while Sky Blue would bring a much lighter shade to the Pro lineup. The latest claim also goes against an earlier rumour that suggested Silver could return. At this stage, the colours remain unconfirmed until Apple officially reveals the phones.

Cosmic Orange had become quite the trendsetter after Apple launched the iPhone 17 Pro, with brands like Honor, Redmi and others taking out their own versions of it not just for flagships, but even in the mid-range. Ever since Dark Cherry leaked, we've already started seeing the colour appear in China, and we can expect more launches to come.

Apple's September 9th event invitation could have offered an early clue about the new colour. The artwork shows a glowing Apple logo against a light blue background. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has suggested that the blue shade could be a hint at the Sky Blue finish, while the glowing effect may point towards a possible mechanical aperture on the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

NEW: Apple's John Ternus touted a strong future product pipeline and teased a "phenomenal" new iPhone launch next week in his first remarks to employees as chief executive officer. pic.twitter.com/ttZJN5XIrU

— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) September 1, 2026

Meanwhile, John Ternus, who took over as Apple's CEO on September 1st after 15 years of Tim Cook at the helm, has added to the buildup with his first message to employees. He described the company's upcoming launch as "phenomenal" and said Apple has a "huge launch" next week., without explicitly naming anything.

The event is expected to bring more than the new Pro models. Apple is also tipped to unveil its first foldable iPhone, reportedly called the iPhone Ultra. The standard iPhone 18 is expected to have a delayed launch in 2027 as Apple reportedly changes the release schedule for the series.

For anyone considering an iPhone 17 Pro right now, waiting a few days should make more sense. The iPhone 18 Pro models are tipped to get a modest price increase, so the final pricing will be important alongside the new colours. Dark Cherry could be the most distinctive choice, while Black should appeal to those looking for something less likely to date quickly.

• The ColorOS 17 open beta could begin soon after the official announcement.
• ColorOS 17 is likely to be based on Android 17.
• ColorOS 17 will introduce Fluid fusion animations in system-based apps.

[/highlights]

While Several OPPO, OnePlus, and Realme smartphones are currently part of the ColorOS 17 closed beta testing programme, OPPO is hosting the yearly OPPO Developer Conference (ODC) in China in September. During the annual event, OPPO will unveil ColorOS 17, detail its features, and list eligible devices. Over the past couple of days, the company has already teased several design and animation changes coming to the next iteration of ColorOS.

Here's when ColorOS 17 will be announced

ColorOS 17 will be unveiled during the OPPO Developer Conference (ODC) on September 17th in China. Along with the ColorOS keynote, OPPO will touch on several themes, including how OPPO will contribute to the smart service ecosystem, gaming, business growth, and sports and health. The update is highly likely to be based on Android 17.

There is a high chance that the ColorOS 17 open beta programme may kick off right after the keynote, allowing users of eligible OPPO, OnePlus, and Realme devices to test the skin before it is released in stable form. The global ColorOS 17 announcement could also be made during this timeframe.

New animation effects and design on ColorOS 17

Per the official teasers released by OPPO China, ColorOS 17's design highlight is "Fluid fusion" animation, in which the overlays in most first-party apps wiggle and stretch based on your fingerprint movement. These overlay elements include buttons, the bottom navigation bar, and search bars.

Apart from that, like iOS 26, ColorOS 17 is adopting a global floating navigation bar that makes it universally visible across all system apps, including Gallery, Phone, Clock, and others. From what we can fathom, this will offer users an edge-to-edge experience and offer an expansive view of the app currently in use.

From the looks of it, these teasers corroborate ColorOS Director's claims that ColorOS 17 will emphasise the experience, stability, and fluidity of the software rather than bringing monumental changes or revamps. After all, ColorOS 16 itself introduced a host of productivity, customisation, and AI features, so it makes sense for OPPO developers to refine and improve what's already out there.

Users with devices eligible for ColorOS 17 can consider the beta if they're eager to test new features and are comfortable with potential bugs, otherwise, waiting for the stable release is advisable.

• Vivo T5 is the fifth phone in the T5 series.
• It's priced in India at Rs 34,999. 
• The handset houses a 32MP front camera. 

[/highlights]

Vivo has launched a new mid-range smartphone in India, joining its popular T5 series. The Vivo T5 comes with a slim curved design, a horizontal camera module, and a large 6.83-inch display. It's the fifth phone in the lineup after the Vivo T5x, Vivo T5 Pro, Vivo T5 Lite, and Vivo T5e. The Vivo T5 sits below the T5 Pro, making it one of the more premium offerings in the lineup. 

Vivo T5 price in India, availability

Vivo T5 starts at Rs 34,999 for the base variant with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. The handset comes in two more variants with up to 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. It's set to go on sale on September 9th at 12 pm via Flipkart. You can get the Vivo T5 in Silver Green and Royal Bronze colours. 

Vivo T5 specifications

The Vivo T5 features a large 6.83-inch 1.5K 3D curved AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ support, and up to 2,000 nits HBM brightness. The curved screen should give an immersive experience when watching content, while the 144Hz refresh rate adds a smooth scrolling experience and animations. Powering the phone is the MediaTek Dimensity 7500 Turbo chipset, which is also found on the recently launched iQOO Z11. The mid-range chipset should deliver capable performance for everyday tasks, gaming, and such. It's worth mentioning, though, that alternatives like the Motorola Edge 70 Pro offer a faster Dimensity 8500 Extreme chipset. 

The handset packs a 7,050mAh battery and is also claimed to be the slimmest Vivo phone with a 7,000mAh+ cell. This battery capacity should last an entire day comfortably and possibly more. Vivo also says the T5 can deliver up to 85 hours of music playback and 7.9 hours of gaming. For photography, you get a 50MP Sony IMX882 primary camera with OIS and an 8MP ultra-wide camera at the back. There's a 32MP front camera for selfies on the Vivo T5. 

On the software front, the Vivo T5 runs Android 16-based OriginOS 6 out of the box. The handset will get three years of OS updates and five years of security updates, which is pretty good for this segment. The Vivo T5 also comes with IP68 and IP69 ratings for dust and water resistance. 

If your priority is an all-day battery, a vibrant curved display, and solid software support in the mid-range, the Vivo T5 is a compelling option. However, if you're upgrading from an older mid-range phone or prioritise versatile cameras, you might want to wait for comprehensive reviews or consider alternatives at a slightly higher price point.

• POCO F9 Ultra gets an 8,050mAh battery with 100W fast charging support.
• It also offers a 50MP 5x periscope telephoto lens.
• POCO F9 Pro is more compact with a luminous rear panel. 

[/highlights]

POCO F9 Pro and POCO F9 Ultra have made their debut globally as performance-focused flagship phones. The Ultra is the more premium and expensive model, although it shares the same design as the Pro variant. The POCO F9 Pro and Ultra offer AMOLED displays with fast 185Hz refresh rates, a 200MP primary camera, and more. There's no word on an India launch yet, and it might be unlikely, as POCO focuses more on the X series here. 

POCO F9 Pro, F9 Ultra pricing and availability

The POCO F9 Pro starts at $699 (Rs 66,400 approx) for the base variant with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. The POCO F9 Ultra starts at $799 (Rs 75,900 approx) for the same memory configuration. The F9 Pro comes in another 12GB + 512GB variant, while the F9 Ultra is available with up to 16GB RAM and 1TB storage. 

POCO F9 Ultra specifications

The POCO F9 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, which is found in most Android flagships. The smartphone has a large 6.9-inch 1.5K AMOLED display with up to 4,500 nits peak brightness and a 185Hz refresh rate. POCO also claims 185FPS in more than 20 supported gaming titles. The handset is also equipped with POCO's 3D IceLoop cooling hardware. All these combined, the POCO F9 Ultra stands out as a performance-focused phone aimed at power users and gamers. 

Powering the POCO F9 Ultra is an 8,050mAh battery with 100W wired HyperCharge, 50W wireless charging, 27W reverse wired charging, and 22.5W reverse wireless charging. So you're not just getting a massive battery but fast charging and options to charge other devices. For photography, you get a 200MP primary camera with OIS, a 50MP ultra-wide lens, and a 50MP periscope telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom, up to 10x lossless zoom, and 20x AI-assisted digital zoom. 

POCO F9 Pro specifications

The POCO F9 Pro shares similarities with the F9 Ultra in key areas like the design. It, however, stands out with its Aurora Green variant, which has a luminous rear panel that responds and changes to ambient light and ultraviolet exposure. This gives the POCO F9 Pro a distinct look among other phones in the market. The Pro variant is also smaller, with a more compact 6.59-inch display with a 1.5K resolution, AMOLED panel, 185Hz refresh rate, and up to 4,500 nits peak brightness. 

The Pro variant also comes with the same charging options as the Ultra, but you get a smaller 6,330mAh battery. While this battery capacity should be enough for regular to moderate usage, it might seem lacking among phones that offer at least 7,000mAh. It's also marginally bigger than the POCO F8 Pro's 6,210mAh battery. The POCO F9 Pro is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 V Series 3nm chipset, which has a slightly watered-down GPU, but should still deliver flagship-level performance. 

Like the F9 Ultra, the F9 Pro also houses the same 200MP primary camera. The rest of the setup includes an 8MP ultra-wide lens and a 50MP telephoto lens with a 2.5x optical zoom and macro zoom support. The front camera is the same 32MP sensor as on the F9 Ultra. 

Both phones come with an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance and run Android 16 with HyperOS 3 out of the box. 

The POCO F9 Ultra is clearly aimed at power users who require fast performance and a large battery for intensive tasks and gaming. It also has a versatile camera setup, so you're not compromising on photography either. Buy the POCO F9 Ultra if you're looking for a flagship phone that delivers on performance, battery life, and cameras. As for the POCO F9 Pro, it's an affordable alternative for those who want a more compact handset with flagship-level performance, capable cameras, and a sizeable battery. But you might still want to compare it with other similarly priced phones to see which one gives you the best value. 

• Redmi 17 is confirmed to launch in India on September 3rd.
• The Redmi Note 17 and Pro Max could launch later in the month.
• The Redmi 17 is tipped to start at Rs 25,000, while the Note 17 Pro could start under Rs 40,000.

[/highlights]

Redmi is set to bring new mid-range smartphones to India, with the Redmi 17 confirmed to launch on September 3rd. The company is also teasing a new 'Max' model in its Note series, suggesting the Note 17 Pro series could follow soon. While Redmi hasn't announced launch dates for the Note 17 Pro models, alleged pricing for the Redmi 17 and Note 17 Pro has now surfaced and it's a bit mind-boggling considering the aggressive value positioning the Note series has traditionally been known for.

Redmi 17

According to tipster Abhishek Yadav, the Redmi 17 could be priced at Rs 25,000 for the 6GB + 128GB variant and Rs 28,000 for 8GB + 128GB. If true, that would put the phone well above the traditional budget positioning of Redmi's numbered series. For context, the Redmi 15 was launched at Rs 14,999 for the 6GB + 128GB variant in August 2025.

The Redmi 17's biggest selling point is expected to be its 7,900mAh battery, up 900mAh from the Redmi 15. It will also support 22.5W reverse wired charging, although Redmi hasn't confirmed its regular charging speed for India. The phone will be India's first Snapdragon 4 Gen 5 smartphone and is expected to feature a dual rear camera setup, likely with a 50MP primary sensor. A centrally placed punch-hole camera and textured vegan leather-style rear panel are also visible in Redmi's teasers.

Redmi Note 17 Pro series India launch details and price

Redmi has introduced the 'Max' branding to its Note series for the first time, and its Redmi India X account has started teasing the name. The phone is expected to be the Redmi Note 17 Pro Max, which has already launched in Japan. Redmi hasn't revealed an India launch date for either Pro model but a previous claim from tipster Yogesh Brar suggested a September 15th launch, with the new phones costing Rs 5,000 - Rs 8,000 more than their predecessors.

Yadav now claims the Note 17 Pro could cost Rs 39,000 for 8GB + 128GB and Rs 42,000 for 8GB + 256GB. That's quite the leap from the Redmi Note 15 Pro and Note 15 Pro+'s starting prices of Rs 31,999 and Rs 37,999 respectively, moving the series into territory occupied by phones such as the OnePlus Nord 6, Nothing Phone (4a) and Vivo V70 FE.

The China-launched Redmi Note 17 Pro features a 6.83-inch 1.5K OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 3,500 nits brightness. It uses the Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 and has a 9,000mAh battery with 67W charging, along with up to 12GB RAM and 512GB storage. The Pro Max takes the battery further with a 10,000mAh silicon-carbon cell and 100W charging, plus 27W reverse charging. It's expected to retain the 6.83-inch 1.5K AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 3,500 nits peak brightness.

However, the larger battery comes alongside compromises. The Pro Max has a 50MP OIS primary camera and 8MP ultrawide, compared with the 200MP OIS main camera on the Note 15 Pro+. Its Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 also sits below Qualcomm's Snapdragon 7 family, despite being newer than the older phone's Snapdragon 7s Gen 4.

For buyers, the Pro Max therefore looks most interesting if battery endurance and durability matter more than cameras or gaming performance. Its 10,000mAh battery could be a strong differentiator, but at a potential Rs 40,000-plus price, waiting for benchmarks and comparing it with rivals would be the safer choice.

• The OPPO Find X9s will now cost Rs 5,000 more for all storage variants.
• Xiaomi has increased prices across several products, including the Redmi 15A, Redmi Pad 2 series and Xiaomi Pad 8. 

[/highlights]

In another round of price hikes, the latest casualties include OPPO Find X9s, Xiaomi tablets, and Redmi phones. Almost all these devices have their prices going up by around Rs 500 to Rs 5,000 depending on the model and variant. The increases come as increased memory and component costs continue to put pressure on smartphone prices in India. Here's a look at the affected devices and their new prices.

New prices for these products

A new X post by a known tipster, Sanju Chaudhry, has revealed which phones have undergone the latest price hikes. The OPPO Find X9s (review) has received one of the biggest increases in this latest round, with both its storage variants now Rs 5,000 more expensive. The 12GB + 256GB variant has gone from Rs 79,999 to Rs 84,999, while the 12GB + 512GB model now costs Rs 94,999, up from Rs 89,999.

Price hike alert 🚨
OPPO & Xiaomi increases the price of smartphones & tablets by upto ₹5k:

FIND X9s:
• 12/256GB: ₹79,999 → ₹84,999
• 12/512GB: ₹89,999 → ₹94,999

Pad 8
• 12/256GB: ₹43,999 → ₹46,999
• Nano texture : ₹45,999 → ₹48,999

Pad 2:
• 4/128GB… pic.twitter.com/FuNaPOB65X

— Sanju Choudhary (@saaaanjjjuuu) September 1, 2026

The Xiaomi and Redmi devices affected here range across multiple price segments. The Redmi 15A is a budget smartphone for buyers looking for basic everyday performance, while the Redmi Pad 2 targets the affordable tablet market with a larger screen and cellular options.

The Xiaomi Pad 8, meanwhile, sits much higher up the tablet range and is for users looking for a more capable device for productivity, entertainment and multitasking.

Should you buy these devices now?

The smartphone and tablet market is extremely volatile right now, and price hikes like these could continue as long as component costs remain unpredictable. We simply don't know when prices will start settling again. You can also check out our story tracking all the latest price hikes and updated prices for major smartphones and tablets in India.

If you've been planning to buy a particular phone or tablet, it may make sense to buy it now rather than risk another price increase. If you're not in a hurry, though, waiting a year or more could also work in your favour, especially if you can pick up the same device or a newer model during a major sale or with a good discount. For now, there's no clear indication of when the market will return to normal, so it really comes down to how urgently you need the device.

• The iQOO 16 is tipped to feature a new rounded-square camera module housing three connected rear cameras.
• It could pack a 6.85-inch 2K 165Hz flat display, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro and 8,500mAh battery.
• A tipster had earlier said the iQOO 16 was unlikely to launch in India.

[/highlights]

iQOO appears to be preparing a major product launch in China, with the iQOO 16 flagship and a new compact tablet among the devices expected to debut in the coming months. A new leak has now revealed details about the iQOO 16's rear design, while an iQOO executive has teased what appears to be the company's upcoming gaming tablet.

The iQOO 16 is expected to combine a new design with a high-refresh-rate 2K display, Qualcomm's next-generation flagship chipset and a large battery. The phone is reportedly due to launch in October, with more details likely to emerge around Qualcomm's Snapdragon Summit in September.

iQOO 16 design and camera details

According to tipster Digital Chat Station (via), the iQOO 16 will feature a square camera module with heavily rounded corners, replacing the design seen on previous models. The three rear cameras are expected to sit in a connected arrangement inside the camera island, while additional detailing and textures around the module are said to give it a more mechanical, futuristic appearance.

The rear panel is also expected to use a new manufacturing process. This could make the iQOO 16 visually different from the iQOO 15 and help it stand out among other upcoming flagship phones, which are increasingly adopting large, square or rectangular camera modules.

The phone is tipped to have three 50MP rear cameras, including a primary sensor with a 1/1.3-inch size and f/1.68 aperture. The ultrawide and periscope telephoto cameras are also expected to use 50MP sensors. These specifications would give the iQOO 16 a more versatile camera setup than flagships that reserve higher-resolution sensors for only the main camera.

The iQOO 16 is expected to feature a 6.85-inch Samsung-made flat 2K display with a 165Hz refresh rate. It could be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro, paired with an 8,500mAh battery and 100W wired charging. Other reported features include wireless charging, a dedicated display chip, 3D ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, USB 3.2, dual speakers and IP68/IP69 protection.

Qualcomm is expected to introduce the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and its faster Pro variant in September. The iQOO 16 could therefore be among the first phones to showcase the new flagship platform. Current iQOO 15 owners should wait for final performance figures before deciding on an upgrade, particularly as early engineering-unit benchmark results can be unrepresentative.

Meanwhile, iQOO Product Manager Wang Ken has teased what appears to be the company's new compact tablet. It's reportedly related to a device recently certified in China and could use a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6-series chipset with an active cooling system and built-in fan. An OLED display, slim bezels and high refresh rate are also expected, with Wi-Fi-only connectivity likely.

For buyers, the iQOO 16 looks interesting for performance-focused users who also want a large battery and gaming-oriented features. However, its 165Hz display and 8,500mAh battery will matter only if the phone maintains reasonable weight and charging efficiency. With the launch still expected in October, buyers should wait for final specifications, pricing and real-world performance before comparing it with rival Snapdragon flagship phones.

• The OnePlus 16 is tipped to feature a 200MP primary camera with a larger 1/1.4-inch sensor.
• The phone could also get a larger 50MP 3x periscope sensor and a 50MP selfie camera. 

[/highlights]

OnePlus may be preparing a major camera upgrade for its upcoming flagship, with the OnePlus 16 tipped to feature a 200MP primary camera and a larger telephoto sensor. The phone could also get a higher-resolution selfie camera per the leak. Here's what we know so far.

OnePlus 16's camera may have levelled up

According to reliable tipster Digital Chat Station's latest Weibo post, the OnePlus 16 could feature a 200MP primary camera with a 1/1.4-inch sensor. That's a big change from the OnePlus 15's 50MP main camera with a 1/1.56-inch sensor. Look, the higher resolution itself isn't that important here, the larger sensor is. A bigger sensor helps the phone capture more light and retain more detail, especially in tricky lighting.

The change isn't just limited to the primary sensor either, even the telephoto sensor might be upgraded. The OnePlus 15 (review) had a 50MP 3.5x periscope camera with a 1/2.76-inch sensor, while the OnePlus 16 is tipped to get a 50MP 3x periscope with a much larger 1/1.95-inch Sony sensor. The phone could be giving up some optical reach in favour of a larger sensor, which is likely to improve image quality at 3x and in lower light.

The ultrawide camera is expected to remain at 50MP, although the leak points to a new sensor, although it doesn't provide its size or other details yet. On the front, meanwhile, the 32MP autofocus selfie camera could be replaced by a 50MP autofocus sensor, giving the OnePlus 16 another clear upgrade over its predecessor.

Should you wait for the OnePlus 16?

For Indian buyers, the OnePlus 16 could be worth waiting for, particularly if camera performance is high on your priority list. The OnePlus 15 (review) already offers a capable camera system, but if the leak is proven true, the camera upgrades are a pretty convincing reason. After OnePlus 15 put its cameras a little backstage, it seems like OnePlus moving in the right direction and putting the camera system back at the centre of its flagship offering.

The rest of the package that's been rumoured so far also looks pretty promising. This includes the yet-to-launch Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro, a 9,000mAh battery and more capable gaming hardware.

The 165Hz display itself isn't a reason to wait, since the OnePlus 15 already offers it, but system-wide 165Hz support and the reported gaming improvements could make the new model more appealing to gamers.

The only catch is the price. The OnePlus 15 currently sells for around Rs 85,000, so the OnePlus 16 could arrive at a similar price or even higher, especially with the ongoing RAM shortage and rising component costs. There have also been rumours of OnePlus exiting India, but none have been substantiated so far.

If the OnePlus 16 does skip India, however, it could add fuel to those claims. For existing OnePlus 15 users, there's little reason to upgrade immediately, while those on an older phone should consider waiting to see how much the new camera system improves and what the launch price looks like.

Commercial buyers are driving PC growth

According to IDC's report, India shipped 2.2 million PCs to commercial buyers in Q2 2026, up 16.6 percent from the same period last year. That's much higher than the 6.6 percent growth seen in the consumer segment.

One likely reason for that is fairly simple: PCs are getting more expensive. With RAM, SSDs and other components becoming costlier, businesses that already need to refresh their computers have little reason to wait. Buying earlier lets them lock in today's prices before another increase hits.

SMBs appear to be following a similar approach, with shipments to the segment growing 21 percent during the quarter. Government and education purchases were also quite high, growing 17.6 percent and 24.8 percent, respectively. Here's how the biggest PC makers performed:

HP continues to lead the market, while Lenovo holds second place. ASUS saw the biggest jump among the major brands, although that comes from a much smaller base. Acer also had a particularly good quarter, helped by big government and education orders.

Another angle to this story is that retailers and distributors are also stocking up. This is partly because they expect PCs to become more expensive and partly to prepare for the upcoming festive sales. So some of the growth we're seeing isn't necessarily people suddenly needing more PCs. It's businesses and the supply chain getting trying to get ahead of the price surges. 

Consumer PC demand grows, but more slowly

The consumer segment shipped 1.7 million PCs in Q2 2026, up 6.6 percent year-on-year. That's substantially slower than the 16.6 percent growth recorded by commercial shipments. Premium PCs have continued to do well, with notebooks priced above $1,000 growing 78.7 percent. 

AI PC shipments also jumped 109.9 percent, although that can be explained. Most new premium laptops now come with AI-capable processors and dedicated NPUs by default, so the category is naturally expanding as consumers upgrade to newer hardware. The picture was quite different for some of the bigger Windows PC brands:

• HP: Consumer shipments down 3.5%
• Lenovo: Consumer shipments up 10.6%
• Acer: Consumer shipments down 7.6%
• Dell: Consumer shipments up 337.1%
• ASUS: Consumer shipments down 0.8%

Among the major brands, HP's consumer shipments fell 3.5 percent, while Lenovo grew 12.4 percent and Acer declined by 7.6 percent. Dell posted a huge 337.1 percent jump, although IDC notes that this was helped by a particularly weak base last year. ASUS was largely flat, declining by 0.8 percent.

Overall, the numbers seem to suggest that consumers are still buying PCs, but at a more cautious pace, especially as higher component costs continue to push prices upwards. It's also possible some percentage of buyers who may have initially been looking at the $600-$800 range could be moving up to more expensive models instead, choosing to future-proof their hardware rather than risk paying even higher prices later.

What could the future be for consumers?

IDC expects the PC market to come under more pressure towards the end of 2026 as current inventory builds and early commercial purchases begin to normalise. Consumer demand is expected to slow further as higher prices make buyers more cautious, while commercial demand could plateau once businesses have completed their early purchases. IDC sees 2027 as a potentially challenging year if component costs remain elevated.

Consumers across the world are facing the brunt of this hardware scarcity, and as usual, we're often the ones who end up paying more. AI's growing demand for RAM and storage is already making almost every device that uses these components more expensive. If reports from memory manufacturers and AI companies are proven true, this may not ease anytime soon, with some forecasts pointing to shortages lasting until 2028 or even 2030.

We've dealt with hardware shortages before, particularly with GPUs and semiconductors. The difference this time is that RAM and storage are fundamental parts to almost every personal computing device. If prices stay high for years, consumers may lose the freedom to upgrade or replace their hardware like they could before.

For now, we say it's worth getting more out of what you already own. Most mid-range PCs and laptops (around Rs 50,000-80,000) from the last three to five years are still very capable, so there's little reason to upgrade if you don't need to. Used and refurbished machines, repairs and component upgrades could all become more attractive as new hardware gets more expensive.

There's no certainty that this situation will resolve anytime soon, so we should be prepared for things to get much worse before they get better. If you need a new PC, buying now makes more sense if you can afford to. If you don't, taking care of the one you already own is important.

• Redmi has teased a 'Max' Note-series phone, but hasn't confirmed the name or launch date.
• A tipster claimed a September 15th India launch for the Redmi Note 15 Pro models.
• The Note 17 Pro Max is Redmi's first phone with a 10,000mAh battery.

[/highlights]

Redmi just introduced a 'Max' variant in their Note series for the very first time, and it seems like it's already on its way to India. The company has started teasing the 'Max' title for the Note series on its Redmi India X account, although it hasn't explicitly named the phone or announced a launch date yet. The device is expected to be the Redmi Note 17 Pro Max, which recently debuted in select international markets including Japan.

The phone is notable for its 10,000mAh silicon-carbon battery - the first in a Redmi phone - 100W charging and durability-focused design. However, compared with the Redmi Note 15 Pro+, it also makes some compromises in processing power and camera hardware. Here's what to expect from the phone, based on what's launched internationally so far.

Redmi Note 17 Pro Max India launch

Redmi hasn't announced an India launch date for the Note 17 Pro Max yet. The company has also not teased the Redmi Note 17 Pro on its official India channels so far. However, a previous claim from tipster Yogesh Brar suggested that the Redmi Note 17 Pro and Note 17 Pro Max could launch in India on September 15th. He also said that the new Pro models could cost Rs 5,000 to Rs 8,000 more than their Redmi Note 15 Pro-series counterparts.

Turn your expectations up to MAX.

We're pushing every boundary to bring you the most unstoppable Note yet.

Are you ready? Stay tuned!
Get Notified: https://t.co/Y0XSzYnjf4 pic.twitter.com/9yD2fHFeLS

— Redmi India (@RedmiIndia) September 1, 2026

The reported price increase could push the Note 17 Pro Max into the Rs 40,000-plus segment, as the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ started at Rs 37,999. That would put the new model against phones in a considerably more competitive price bracket than previous Redmi Note Pro models. The global version starts at around Rs 48,000 (when converted) in Japan for 8GB + 256GB, although international pricing should not be used as a direct indicator of the eventual Indian price.

Redmi Note 17 Pro Max specifications

Based on what launched in Japan, the Redmi  Note 17 Pro Max is expected to feature a 6.83-inch 1.5K AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, up to 3,500 nits peak brightness and a 3,200Hz touch sampling rate. It's powered by the Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 and is expected to offer up to 512GB storage.

The headline feature is a 10,000mAh silicon-carbon battery with 100W charging, compared with the 6,500mAh battery and 100W charging on the Note 15 Pro+. The Chinese Note 17 Pro sits between the two with a 9,000mAh battery and 67W charging. The Pro Max also supports 27W reverse charging. For cameras, the phone has a 50MP OIS primary camera, 8MP ultrawide and 32MP selfie camera. This is a step down from the Note 15 Pro+'s 200MP OIS main camera, although the larger battery gives the Pro Max a much stronger endurance proposition.

The chipset also deserves attention. The Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 is newer but sits below the Snapdragon 7 family, as the Note 15 Pro+ uses the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4. Buyers upgrading primarily for gaming should therefore wait for performance benchmarks rather than assume the newer chip will be faster. The Pro Max counters these compromises with IP66 and IP68 ratings, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and claimed 3-metre drop resistance. It also runs HyperOS 3 and is promised four OS upgrades and six years of security updates.

At the reported Rs 40,000-plus price, the Note 17 Pro Max makes more sense for buyers prioritising battery life, durability and media consumption than those seeking the best camera or gaming performance. If Redmi keeps the price close to Rs 40,000, the 10,000mAh battery could be a strong differentiator. Interestingly, the POCO M8 Power is also arriving this week in India, and it's said to be based on the same Redmi Note 17 Pro Max.

The T5 is particularly interesting because its specifications and design closely mirror those of the iQOO Z11. Here's what we know ahead of the launch.

Vivo T5 India launch date

The Vivo T5 will launch in India on September 2nd at 12 noon. The smartphone will be sold through Flipkart, Vivo's online store and offline channels.

Vivo T5 design

The Vivo T5 has a rounded rear panel and a slim-looking frame, with a large pill-shaped camera housing positioned horizontally near the top. The module contains two circular camera cutouts, while a separate circular flash sits alongside it. The Vivo logo is placed towards the lower half of the rear panel.

The phone will be available in Silver Green and Royal Bronze. The former has a light, pearlescent appearance, while Royal Bronze uses a darker brown-toned finish. Both give Vivo's version a different visual identity from the iQOO Z11 despite the two phones sharing an identical rear design.

The resemblance extends to the camera housing, flash placement, frame and overall shape. Vivo has also been using this pill-shaped camera module across recent phones, including the Vivo X300 FE and Vivo S2, making it a recognisable element of the company's current design language.

Vivo T5 specifications

The Vivo T5 will feature a 6.83-inch 1.5K 3D curved AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ support and up to 2,000 nits HBM brightness. The phone is powered by the Dimensity 7500 Turbo chipset and will run OriginOS 6. Vivo promises three years of OS updates and five years of security updates.

The headline hardware feature is its 7,050mAh battery. Vivo claims the T5 is the segment's slimmest smartphone with a 7,000mAh-plus battery and promises five years of battery health. The company also claims up to 85 hours of music playback and 7.9 hours of gaming.

For photography, the T5 gets a 50MP Sony IMX882 primary camera with OIS, alongside an 8MP ultrawide camera and a 32MP selfie camera. Both the front and ultrawide cameras can record 4K video. The phone also carries IP68 and IP69 ratings for dust and water resistance.

These specifications are identical to those of the iQOO Z11, which also has the Dimensity 7500 Turbo chipset, 7,050mAh battery and 6.83-inch 1.5K 144Hz curved AMOLED display. The Z11 also has a 50MP Sony IMX882 main camera with OIS, an 8MP ultrawide camera and a 32MP front camera. It supports 44W charging.

Vivo T5 expected price in India

Vivo hasn't announced an India price yet, although the Flipkart microsite places the T5 in the Rs 34,999 to Rs 49,999 segment, the same broad segment as the iQOO Z11. Given the hardware, a starting price below Rs 40,000 appears more likely, although the final price and variants will be revealed at launch.

The T5 also has space within Vivo's own lineup. The T5x starts at Rs 27,999, while the T5 Pro currently costs Rs 41,999, leaving the new model room between them. The biggest challenge for the T5 is that the iQOO Z11 is effectively offering the same hardware. The two phones share their chipset, battery capacity, display specifications, camera setup and even their overall rear design. The differences are largely down to branding and colour options.

If the T5 starts around Rs 35,000, buyers who prefer Vivo's branding, retail presence or Royal Bronze and Silver Green finishes may have a straightforward alternative to the Z11. If it launches substantially higher, Vivo will need to offer something tangible in return. Prospective buyers should therefore wait for the final price, variants and launch offers before deciding, rather than paying more simply for the Vivo badge.

• The Vivo T5x and iQOO Z11x now cost Rs 27,999 for the base variant.
• The price hike is effective from September 1st.
• Key specs include MediaTek Dimensity 7400 Turbo SoC, 7,200mAh battery, 50MP rear camera, and more.

[/highlights]

Vivo has announced a price hike on its T5x and sub-brand iQOO Z11x (review) smartphones. Both handsets come with identical specifications and design, and they have received a price hike of Rs 3,000 on their base and mid-range variants, while the top-end 8GB + 256GB variant is now costlier by Rs 4,000. While the circular shared by Vivo with its retail outlets states that the price hike is effective from September 1, 2026, in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the revised pricing of the T5x has also been updated on the company's official website. The iQOO Z11x is currently listed with its old price on the official website.

iQOO Z11x and Vivo T5x new and old prices

The base 6GB RAM + 128GB storage variant of the iQOO Z11x and Vivo T5x now costs Rs 27,999, up from its previous MOP of Rs 24,999. Meanwhile, the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant is now priced at Rs 30,999, up from Rs 27,999, while the 8GB RAM + 256GB storage option has seen a Rs 4,000 hike, rising from Rs 30,999 to Rs 34,999.

The latest iQOO Z11x and Vivo T5x price revisions are applicable to the states. The same has also been updated on the Vivo T5x's official product listing, whereas the iQOO Z11x is still listed with its old pricing. Interestingly, both smartphones are currently out of stock officially online.

While Vivo hasn't stated in its circular, the price hike could be attributed to RAM and storage shortages, which have affected the entire industry.

Should you buy iQOO Z11x/ Vivo T5x?

Both smartphones deliver identical value, thanks to their MediaTek Dimensity 7400 Turbo chipset, 7,200mAh battery, 50MP dual rear cameras, FHD+ 120Hz refresh rate display, and IP69+ rated design.

The handsets could be a good choice for anyone seeking smooth everyday performance and gaming, impressive battery life, and a polished, feature-rich software experience. Their main shortcomings are the lack of versatility in the camera setup and a vibrant display. The Redmi Note 17 (review) should be a better fit if you are looking for an AMOLED display on a sub-Rs 30,000 smartphone, while the Moto G Max (review) features a dedicated ultrawide lens for capturing wider-angle shots.

• The upcoming Philips smartphone in India is set to launch on September 2.
• The phone is expected to offer 5G support with up to 8GB RAM and 256GB storage.
• Philips is entering the budget smartphone segment at a time when rising memory costs are creating room for new brands.

[/highlights]

Philips is set to enter India's smartphone market with its first device, with the company now confirming that the launch will take place on September 2. The upcoming phone is likely to launch under Rs 20,000, where established smartphone brands have increasingly moved towards higher price points and left room for newer players.

The company has already revealed several details about the device, including its display, cameras, memory and connectivity options. Here's what we know ahead of the launch.

Philips smartphone launching in India on September 2

The upcoming Philips smartphone is likely to offer an HD display with 120Hz refresh rate. For photography, it will have a 64MP primary camera on the rear and a 16MP selfie camera on the front.

The phone will also be available with 6GB or 8GB RAM, paired with 128GB or 256GB storage. It will support 5G connectivity, which could give it an advantage in the budget segment, particularly as several phones around this price point continue to rely on 4G hardware.

Other confirmed details on the Amazon microsite include dual stereo speakers, which Philips markets under its "Ultra Max" branding, along with an IP64 rating for dust and splash resistance. The company is promoting the phone under its "Innovation You Can Trust" tagline, although its name and pricing are still to be revealed.

Based on the specifications revealed so far, the phone is expected to be positioned below Rs 20,000 in India. Its final price will be particularly important, given the competition from brands that already have established products in this segment.

Zenotel India is the company which lists Philips smartphones and feature phones among its mobile portfolio. The company says it is focused on combining global brands with local expertise and already offers several Philips-branded feature phones in India.

A tough year for budget smartphones

Philips is entering India's smartphone market at a tumultuous time. Brands such as Mivi, Fire-Boltt and AI+ have recently entered or are preparing to enter the affordable segment, while Micromax is also reportedly looking to make a comeback.

At the same time, rising RAM and storage costs have pushed smartphone prices higher this year, making it increasingly difficult for established brands to offer aggressive specifications at the lower end. The entry-level and budget smartphones are the worst casualities. of this current situation. This has created an opening for smaller and returning brands to target consumers looking for affordable alternatives.

Philips does have an advantage that some of these newer entrants lack. It is already a familiar name in India's consumer electronics market, which could give the smartphone some initial recognition among buyers. That alone, however, won't be enough. The company will still need competitive pricing, dependable software and a capable after-sales network to establish itself in a market dominated by brands with years of smartphone experience.

If the company can combine 5G connectivity with a competitive price, the phone could be an interesting addition to a budget segment that is suddenly seeing plenty of new competition.

• Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max has appeared on Geekbench with the Xring O3 chipset, 16GB RAM and Android 17.
• The chipset will make its smartphone debut with the Xiaomi 18 Fold.
• Xiaomi has confirmed a September launch for the Pad 9 Pro Max.

[/highlights]

Xiaomi's next flagship tablet is set to launch in China in September, with the Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max becoming the company's first tablet powered by its in-house Xring O3 chipset. A new Geekbench listing has now revealed some of the tablet's key hardware and early performance figures. Since this is a pre-launch benchmark, the configuration and performance may differ from the final retail model.

Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max benchmarks

A Xiaomi device with the model number M367FC has appeared on Geekbench 6.7.1. Tipster Anvin on X claims this model number belongs to the Pad 9 Pro Max. The listing shows the Xring O3 with a 10-core CPU, consisting of two cores clocked at 4.36GHz, four at 3.69GHz and four at 3.15GHz. It is paired with a Mali-G2-Ultra-NX MC16 GPU.

The tablet scored 3,541 points in the single-core test and 14,153 points in multi-core. For comparison, the Xring O1-powered Xiaomi Pad 7S Pro scored 2,666 and 8,566 points, respectively, in testing. That gives the newer tablet a 32.8 percent higher single-core score and a 65.3 percent higher multi-core score. The listing also suggests the tested unit had 16GB of RAM and ran Android 17.

The results also compare favourably with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5-powered Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 5. That tablet scored 3,521 points in single-core and 10,744 points in multi-core testing. The alleged Pad 9 Pro Max was therefore only 0.6 percent ahead in single-core performance but 31.7 percent ahead in multi-core.

A recent leak also points to a 13.3-inch display, a battery larger than 10,000mAh and 120W wired charging. Xiaomi has confirmed the September launch but has yet to announce pricing or the full specifications.

Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro

The Pad 9 Pro is expected to sit below the Pro Max and could offer a different hardware combination. According to a recent Digital Chat Station leak, it may feature a 12.5-inch LCD panel with a 3.2K resolution and a peak 144Hz refresh rate. The tablet is tipped to use Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, a 3nm chipset with eight Oryon CPU cores and an Adreno 829 GPU. It could also have an 11,000mAh battery with 67W wired charging. That would give it a larger screen and battery than the current Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro, which has an 11.2-inch 144Hz LCD, Snapdragon 8 Elite and a 9,200mAh battery while retaining 67W charging.

Xiaomi hasn't officially confirmed the Pad 9 Pro yet, so these specifications remain unconfirmed. For buyers, the Pro Max looks more interesting for those wanting Xiaomi's new Xring O3 chip, a larger display and faster charging, while the Pro could make more sense if its Snapdragon hardware and lower position in the lineup translate into a substantially lower price.

By putting the Xring O3 in its highest-end tablet, Xiaomi is using the device to establish its own silicon as a flagship alternative to Qualcomm's chips. Xiaomi has also confirmed that the Xring O3 will power the Xiaomi 18 Fold, giving the processor a role across both its premium tablet and foldable phone lineup. That strategy could make the Pad 9 Pro Max interesting for buyers who want maximum performance and are willing to be early adopters of Xiaomi's in-house hardware. If Xiaomi keeps a significant price gap between the two models, the Pro could be the better choice for most buyers, particularly those who value a large high refresh rate display and battery life over having Xiaomi's newest processor. The Pro Max, meanwhile, makes more sense for users who specifically want the biggest screen, fastest charging and the Xring O3's performance.

• POCO F9 Pro Philippines pricing has reportedly leaked and will cost PHP 49,999, or around Rs 76,700.
• The POCO F9 Ultra is reportedly priced at PHP 89,999, nearly twice the price of the F9 Pro.
• Both phones are set to launch globally on September 1 with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5-series chipsets.

[/highlights]

POCO's upcoming F9 series could be shaping up to cover a fairly wide price range, with the latest leak giving us an initial idea of where the phones could be positioned. The POCO F9 Pro's Philippines pricing, alongside the higher-end F9 Ultra, gives Indian buyers a useful reference point ahead of their expected launch here. The series is set to launch globally on September 1. 

POCO F9 Pro Philippines pricing revealed

According to an X post by tipster Abhishek Yadav, the POCO F9 Pro with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage could cost PHP 49,999, which converts to roughly Rs 76,700. The F9 Ultra, meanwhile, is reportedly priced at PHP 89,999, or around Rs 1.38 lakh, making it almost twice as expensive.

EXCLUSIVE: POCO F9 Pro Philippines Pricing 🇵🇭

12GB RAM + 256GB Storage
💰 ₱49,999 (~₹76.7K / ~$523)

Meanwhile, the POCO F9 Ultra is priced at ₱89,999, almost 2× the price of the F9 Pro. 👀

— Abhishek Yadav (@yabhishekhd) August 29, 2026

These prices should only be treated as a reference for now, as there can be significant differences between markets based on taxes and region-specific pricing. Still, the leak gives us a useful indication of how POCO could position the two models. 

The F9 Ultra's reported pricing is something to pay attention to if proven true. At around Rs 1.38 lakh based on the Philippines leak, it moves POCO into a price segment where it will have to compete with established flagship brands. That is quite a departure from POCO's traditional value-focused positioning and could prove challenging to justify if premium hardware is enough to warrant such a significant price jump.

POCO F9 Pro, F9 Ultra specifications and features

POCO has already confirmed that both phones will use Qualcomm's latest flagship chipsets. The F9 Ultra will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, while the F9 Pro gets the slightly trimmed Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 V. POCO claims the F9 Ultra can achieve an impressive 41,651,08 AnTuTu score, putting it in the same performance territory as some of the most powerful Android flagships.

Both phones are also expected to feature triple rear cameras with dedicated telephoto lenses, along with Bose-tuned speakers. The F9 Ultra targets multimedia users, with reports suggesting it could feature a dedicated rear subwoofer alongside its stereo speakers. The phones are also expected to have capable cooling systems, which should help maintain performance during extended gaming sessions.

The F9 Pro and F9 Ultra are believed to be global versions of the Redmi K100 Pro and K100 Pro Max, respectively, which launched in China earlier this month. POCO has yet to confirm whether the two models will make their way to India, though the latest pricing leak gives us another indication of how expensive they could be if they do.

Given the ongoing memory price inflation and the fact that POCO's recent models have already seen price increases, buyers shouldn't expect the F9 series to follow the aggressive pricing associated with some of the brand's older flagship phones.

• Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra appears on Geekbench 7 with flagship-grade hardware.
• The tablet is listed with the Dimensity 9500 and Android 17.
• The Tab S12 Ultra may cost more than its predecessor due to rising memory prices.

[/highlights]

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra seems to be near launch and has made an appearance on the Geekbench database. A new listing points to a flagship MediaTek Dimensity chipset and Android 17, suggesting that Samsung's next Ultra tablet could offer a significant performance boost. Here's what we know so far.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra spotted on Geekbench

As shared on an X post by known tipster Abhishek Yadav, the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra has appeared on Geekbench 7. This latest sighting adds to the growing number of leaks and certifications surrounding the upcoming flagship tablet. The device has already surfaced on the Google Play Console and India's BIS certification database, suggesting that its launch is getting closer.

The latest Geekbench listing identifies the tablet as SM-X940 and points to MediaTek's Dimensity 9500 chipset, paired with a Mali-G1 Ultra MC12 GPU and 12GB RAM. It is also listed with Android 17, which is expected to run alongside Samsung's One UI 9.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra Wi-Fi spotted on Geekbench 7!

The upcoming flagship tablet is showing some seriously good performance:

- MediaTek MT6993 Dimensity 9500 chipset
- Mali-G1-Ultra MC12 GPU
- 12GB RAM
- Android 17
- 2,760 single-core
- 9,291 multi-core
- CPU clocked up… pic.twitter.com/sjUDOOsXe4

— Abhishek Yadav (@yabhishekhd) August 31, 2026

The tablet recorded 2,760 points in single-core and 9,291 points in multi-core on Geekbench 7. These are excellent numbers for an Android tablet and the Tab S12 Ultra should have plenty of performance for most use cases, including demanding apps, multitasking, and gaming.

Some previous leaks suggest Samsung will retain the 14.6-inch AMOLED display from its predecessor, along with an 11,600mAh battery and 45W charging. The tablet is also expected to support up to 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, while Samsung's seven-year software support will make it a decent long-term option for buyers. 

With so many appearances on databases, it is very likely that the tablet will launch sometime in September 2026. 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra: should you buy?

The Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra is the most premium of Samsung's tablet lineup, and the ongoing memory price inflation could make it even more expensive than the Tab S11 Ultra, which costs Rs 1,26,999 currently. That could make the tablet harder to recommend purely on value, especially for users who don't need this much performance. 

For those who do want the best Samsung has to offer, however, the Tab S12 Ultra should still be a worthwhile option. The large AMOLED display, flagship Dimensity 9500 performance and One UI experience make it well suited to multimedia, gaming and demanding productivity, while the long software support adds to its appeal as a device you can keep for several years.

Its biggest competition will come from Apple's iPad Pro lineup, particularly the M4 and M5 models. The iPads have an advantage in terms of the wider tablet app ecosystem and Apple's powerful silicon, but Samsung's larger AMOLED display, multitasking features and Android experience could make the Tab S12 Ultra the better fit for users who want a more laptop-like Android tablet experience.

• Apple has reportedly tested a shorter Apple Pencil for the iPhone Ultra, designed to magnetically attach to and charge from the foldable's side.
• However, the stylus is unlikely to launch with the iPhone Ultra.
• Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone Ultra on September 9th.

[/highlights]

Apple's first foldable iPhone is expected to bring a new form factor to the company's smartphone lineup, but a stylus could give it another way to compete with Samsung's foldables. Apple had reportedly tested a smaller Apple Pencil specifically for the upcoming device, although the accessory is unlikely to launch alongside the phone. If Apple eventually brings Pencil support to the iPhone, it could make the foldable more useful for work and creativity rather than limiting its appeal to the new hardware design.

Apple Pencil for iPhone Ultra was reportedly tested

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple has internally prototyped and tested a digital pen for its foldable iPhone. The reported accessory is shorter than Apple's existing iPad-specific Apple Pencil models, with its size designed around the wider form factor of the foldable. The Pencil was also reportedly designed to attach magnetically to the side of the iPhone Ultra for storage and charging. That could create a practical problem, however, as a pen attached to the side could interfere with opening the phone.

There are also questions around using a stylus on a foldable display. The flexible inner screen is more vulnerable to scratches and pressure than conventional smartphone glass, so Apple would need to ensure the Pencil does not damage the panel. Samsung has previously used a retractable-tip S Pen on compatible foldables, offering one possible solution.

Gurman doesn't expect Apple to release the Pencil with the iPhone Ultra. That means buyers should not consider stylus functionality a launch feature unless Apple confirms it at its September 9th event.

However, stylus support could nevertheless give Apple's foldable an advantage over Samsung. The company has dropped S Pen support from its foldables in the 7th generation, leaving the larger inner display focused primarily on apps, multitasking and media rather than pen-based input.

Apple's reluctance to include a stylus at launch would also be notable given Steve Jobs' criticism of smartphone styluses when the original iPhone was introduced in 2007. Apple now sells the Apple Pencil for its iPads, so a foldable iPhone with Pencil support would not be entirely out of step with its current product lineup.

The lack of a launch stylus should not necessarily be a reason to avoid the iPhone Ultra, particularly if its display, cameras and software are the priorities. But those who want a foldable specifically for handwriting, sketching or precise on-screen work may want to wait for confirmation of Pencil support.

• Motorola will unveil the Razr 70 Swarovski Edition at IFA 2026 in Berlin in early September.
• The phone is expected to retain the Razr 70's hardware, including a 6.9-inch OLED display and Dimensity 7450X chipset.
• The Swarovski edition is only expected to differ through its crystal-covered black design.

[/highlights]

Motorola is bringing back its Swarovski collaboration for another Razr foldable, with the company confirming that a crystal-covered edition will be unveiled at IFA 2026 in Berlin. The new model follows last year's Razr 60 Swarovski Edition and is expected to use the Razr 70 as its base. Motorola hasn't revealed its price or release date, but the first teasers provide a look at its updated design.

Motorola Razr 70 Swarovski Edition design

Motorola's teaser shows the back of the foldable with a black diamond-patterned finish covered in Swarovski crystals. Leaked renders of the phone show additional crystals below the cover screen and around the hinge, matching the design seen in the official teaser. The black finish gives the new edition a more understated look than the previous Razr 60 Swarovski Edition, which used a brighter and more decorative design. The crystal detailing remains the main visual difference from the regular Razr, rather than a change to the phone's underlying hardware.

Sparkling brilliance ✨
Coming soon. #IFA2026 pic.twitter.com/DDtG9YgKUv

— motorola (@Moto) August 28, 2026

Motorola hasn't confirmed the full specifications, but the Razr 70 is expected to provide the hardware foundation. That includes a 6.9-inch OLED inner display and 3.63-inch external screen, along with a 4,800mAh battery. The regular Razr 70 also features a Dimensity 7450X chipset, up to 512GB of storage, dual 50MP rear cameras and a 32MP selfie camera. Charging is rated at 30W wired and 15W wireless. There is currently no indication that the Swarovski edition will make significant changes to these specifications.

The Swarovski edition will compete purely on design. Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 8, for example, offers a more established foldable platform with a stronger software ecosystem, while phones such as the Galaxy Z Fold 8 target buyers looking for a different foldable form factor. Motorola's crystal edition is aimed at a narrower audience: buyers who want a flip phone that doubles as a fashion accessory. That also means its value will depend on the premium Motorola places on the Swarovski branding.

Motorola has yet to announce the price or exact release date. More details are expected at IFA 2026, including availability and whether the phone will come with accessories such as a transparent case designed to keep the crystal detailing visible.

• Lenovo has expanded its LOQ gaming lineup with two new laptops and a gaming desktop tower.
• The LOQ Essential laptops are for entry-level gamers, while the LOQ Tower is built for 1440p gaming.

[/highlights]

Lenovo is expanding its gaming lineup with a new range of LOQ gaming laptops and a desktop tower, giving budget-conscious gamers more options at a time when rising memory and storage costs are pushing up PC prices. The new lineup includes two LOQ Essential laptops for entry-level gaming, along with a more powerful LOQ Tower for those who want to take their gaming experience further. Here's what you can expect from the new machines.

Lenovo LOQ series: price and availability

Lenovo has not yet confirmed the India pricing for the new LOQ lineup. In the US, the LOQ Essential 15IPH11 starts at USD 1,399 (roughly Rs 1,17,000), while the LOQ Essential 15IRH11 starts at USD 979.99 (around Rs 82,000).

The LOQ Tower 17IRH11 does not have a confirmed price yet, with Lenovo saying that pricing will vary by region. The Legion 27Q-20 and 27U-20 monitors are expected to start at USD 299.99 (around Rs 25,000) and USD 499.99 (around Rs 42,000), respectively. All these prices are dollar-to-rupee conversions and may differ from actual Indian price. 

New LOQ Essential models

Lenovo LOQ Essential 15IPH11

The LOQ Essential 15IPH11 is the more affordable of the two laptops and takes a different approach to gaming. It uses Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors with integrated Intel Arc graphics, which share system memory with the processor rather than relying on a dedicated graphics card.

In terms of gaming, this is best suited to lighter titles and esports games, while modern AAA games will struggle to run comfortably. You can expect a reasonable experience at low-medium settings in older AAA titles, with Intel XeSS helping improve frame rates in compatible games. The integrated graphics also keep power consumption and heat lower, which should make the laptop better suited for everyday use beyond gaming.

The 15.3-inch 16:10 display can run at up to 165Hz, although demanding games won't always make full use of that refresh rate. The laptop also has two memory and SSD slots, giving users some room to upgrade as their needs mature.

Lenovo LOQ Essential 15IRH11

The LOQ Essential 15IRH11 is the gaming-focused option of the two, pairing Intel Core 200 series processors with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop GPU. Having a dedicated graphic card gives it a lot more capability than the integrated-graphics model, particularly for modern games.

This is still an entry-level gaming laptop, though. For AAA games, the RTX 3050 should be most comfortable at low to medium settings, while less demanding games can be pushed further. NVIDIA's DLSS support can also help in compatible titles by improving frame rates while retaining a reasonable level of image quality. Since you won't have NVIDIA's Frame Generation support, you'll need to rely on AMD FSR for supported titles to boost performance further.

The laptop gets the same 15.3-inch 16:10 display with up to a 165Hz refresh rate, along with 100 percent sRGB coverage. It's therefore a better choice of the two if gaming is the priority, while still being suitable for college, work and everyday use.

Lenovo LOQ Tower 17IRH11

The LOQ Tower 17IRH11 is a major step up from the laptops, with configurations going up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti, Intel Core 200 series processors and 32GB of DDR5 memory.

With that level of hardware on-board, the tower is much better suited to modern AAA gaming. It should be capable of 1440p gaming at high settings, while 1080p gaming at ultra settings should be well within its capabilities. NVIDIA's DLSS 4.5 will further provide additional performance in supported games, particularly when you're gaming at higher resolutions and with more demanding graphical effects.

The other advantage is that this is a desktop you can grow into. Lenovo's Easy Upgrade Access makes it easier to replace or add components later, so users can upgrade the machine as their requirements increase instead of having to replace the entire system.

Lenovo Legion gaming monitors

The company has also launched two new 27-inch Legion gaming monitors alongside the LOQ machines. The Legion 27Q-20 is for competitive gamers, offering a QHD resolution with a 320Hz refresh rate, while the Legion 27U-20 offers a dual-mode setup that switches between 4K at 180Hz and Full HD at 360Hz.

Both monitors also support adaptive sync technologies and cover 99 percent of the sRGB and 95 percent of the DCI-P3 colour spaces, making them suitable for gaming and creative work.

Lenovo LOQ series: should you buy?

The new LOQ laptops arrive at a difficult time for PC buyers, with the ongoing RAM crisis pushing up memory and storage costs and, consequently, gaming laptop prices. This makes affordable gaming machines like these more relevant for users looking to get into PC gaming or creative work without spending a huge amount upfront.

The LOQ Essential 15IPH11 and 15IRH11 could be a decent starting point for budget-conscious gamers. The 15IPH11 is better suited to lighter gaming and everyday creative work, while the RTX 3050-powered 15IRH11 makes more sense if gaming is your priority. Lenovo is yet to announce the India prices, but they shouldn't be too far off from the US pricing. For context, the current LOQ Essential with an Intel Core i5 12th Gen processor and RTX 3050 costs around Rs 1,00,000 in India, so the new models will need to launch at a similar price to be competitive. 

The Legion monitors are a different proposition altogether. Their high refresh rates make them geared for gamers looking for a faster display without moving to an extremely expensive price segment. They also carry the Legion branding, which gives buyers access to Lenovo's more premium gaming ecosystem and after-sales support.

The LOQ Tower 17IRH11 is naturally the most capable product here, with hardware that can comfortably handle 1440p gaming for even the latest AAA titles. The only catch here is that an RTX 5060 Ti and other components on their own would cost someone Rs 2 lakh. It will likely command a big premium once it reaches India, so its real competition will be similarly priced pre-built gaming PCs.

• The Galaxy Z Fold8 series and Galaxy S26 FE's My FanCam feature arrives on the Galaxy S26 series.
• This is the seventh One UI 9 beta update for the Galaxy S26 series.
• The update weighs around 1GB and brings the August 2026 security patch.

[/highlights]

The Android 17-based One UI 9 beta has been out for the Samsung Galaxy S26 series for quite a while now. While the update brings several new features and functionalities, the latest beta adds new additions from the Galaxy Z Fold8 series to the Galaxy S26. 

Samsung Galaxy S26 series new features in One UI 9 beta

Per SamMobile, the seventh One UI 9 beta for the Samsung Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26 Plus, and Galaxy S26 Ultra has been released, and it adds the following features:

Custom cards in Now Brief

Building on the feature introduced in One UI 7, Custom cards in Now Brief lets users create Now Brief sections by extracting data points from apps such as Samsung Health, Weather, and YouTube. This feature utilises Google's Create My Widget function, allowing users to create widgets tailored to specific use cases and preferences.

My FanCam

One of the most highlighted features of the Galaxy Z Fold8's cameras was My FanCam, which also recently debuted on the Galaxy S26 FE. It allows you to open any video and choose a person for the phone to track. Using on-device AI, it automatically follows that individual and crops the frame to keep them in focus. You can find the feature in the stock Gallery app by opening a video and tapping the Galaxy AI icon.

This feature can benefit creators who record videos on the go and want ready-made results without putting in much effort.

Fixed Google search bar on homescreen

[caption id="attachment_713320" align="alignnone" width="1438"] Image credits: @AnxiousHolly on X[/caption]

With the latest One UI 9 beta update, the Galaxy S26 series finally gains support to add a Google search bar above the dock. While users can disable the search bar, both the search bar and the Finder pill can be displayed side by side in case someone wishes to utilise the functionalities of both options simultaneously.

The update arrives with the firmware version S948BXXU4ZZHK / S948BOXM4ZZHK /
S948BXXU4BZHK, and it weighs 1277.99 MB. The update also bumps the security patch to August 2026. While there are no details on when Samsung plans to push out the stable One UI 9 update for the Galaxy S26 series, it shouldn't be long now, since the beta programme has been running for a couple of months.

Also, the One UI 9 beta could soon expand to the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy Z Fold7, and Galaxy Z Flip7, giving users of Samsung's previous flagships a taste of Android 17.

• The iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max get Rs 5,000 price cuts on Flipkart 
• The available bank offers can bring the effective discount to Rs 14,000 on either model

[/highlights]

Apple iPhone 17 Pro models have received a price cut on Flipkart, giving buyers a chance to pick up the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max for Rs 5,000 less than their original prices. The discounts arrive just days before Apple's next iPhone launch event, where the iPhone 18 Pro series is expected to be unveiled on September 9. Here's a look at the updated prices and whether either model is worth considering right now.

The iPhone 17 Pro series gets an Rs 5,000 discount

Both the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max (review) are now available at Rs 5,000 below their original prices on Flipkart. The iPhone 17 Pro starts at Rs 1,29,900, down from Rs 1,34,900, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max starts at Rs 1,44,900, compared with its original price of Rs 1,49,900.

[gallery link="file" td_select_gallery_slide="slide" columns="2" ids="713314,713313"]

There are further discounts available for buyers using select bank cards. For instance, SBI and ICICI credit card users can get an additional Rs 6,000 off, while the Flipkart Axis Bank credit card offers up to Rs 9,000 off. This brings the effective price of the iPhone 17 Pro down to as low as Rs 1,20,900, while the Pro Max can be bought for Rs 1,35,900 with the maximum bank discount.

If you've been eyeing these phones, you can get an effective discount of up to Rs 14,000 on either model. Do keep in mind that the additional bank discounts are subject to the respective card and offer terms.

Should you buy the iPhone 17 Pro series?

At these prices, the iPhone 17 Pro series is a pretty good deal, especially if you have been waiting for a price correction. The timing also works in Apple's favour, as the discount could help move existing stock before the iPhone 18 series arrives. The new iPhones are just a week away from being announced, with sales expected to begin roughly another week later.

There is also a big question around how Apple will price the next generation. The ongoing rise in RAM and memory component prices could push up the launch prices of the iPhone 18 Pro models. We won't know for sure until Apple announces the new phones, but it is something buyers should keep in mind.

If you're using an older model such as the iPhone 13 Pro, 14 Pro, however, I'd recommend waiting for the iPhone 18 Pro series. The newer generation is expected to bring some worthwhile changes, including a smaller Dynamic Island and the new A20 Pro chip based on TSMC's 2nm process, which could offer big improvements to both performance and battery efficiency. The iPhone 18 Pro Max is also rumoured to get a variable-aperture main camera, although this may not come to the smaller Pro model.

For those already on the 16 Pro or 17 Pro series, the upgrade isn't necessary at this point. You already have relatively recent hardware, and the improvements expected with the iPhone 18 Pro are unlikely to feel significant enough to justify upgrading.