• Vivo X500 Pro has reportedly appeared on Geekbench with MediaTek's Dimensity 9600 Pro ahead of its September 21st launch.
• The alleged listing records 2,832 single-core and 7,925 multi-core points on Geekbench 6.7.1.
• Vivo X500 Pro and X500 Pro Max will be the first phones officially announced with the Dimensity 9600 Pro.

[/highlights]

The Vivo X500 Pro has reportedly appeared on Geekbench with MediaTek's newly announced Dimensity 9600M, giving an early look at the performance of the chipset. The listing comes as Vivo prepares to launch the Vivo X500 Pro and X500 Pro Max in China on September 21st, making them the first smartphones to be officially announced with MediaTek's new flagship Dimensity 9600 Pro chip.

Vivo has also confirmed several camera and AI features for the upcoming series, while the OPPO Find X10 Pro Max is scheduled to launch a day later.

Vivo X500 series phone on Geekbench

The alleged Vivo X500 series phone, identified by model number V2609A, scored 2,832 points in single-core and 7,925 points in multi-core on Geekbench 6.7.1. The listing shows Android 17, around 11GB of usable RAM and a MediaTek MT6993 processor, with a 2+3+3 CPU configuration that aligns with the Dimensity 9600M. The chip's GPU is listed as Mali-G1-Ultra MC12. The RAM could be marketed as 12GB.

The scores are below the earlier iQOO 16 result of 3,434 in single-core and 9,334 in multi-core, and even below the Vivo X300 Pro's in-house scores. The iQOO 16 and Vivo X500 Pro results are from Geekbench 6.7.1, making this a more meaningful comparison than putting them against newer Geekbench 7 results. The Dimensity 9600M recently appeared with the OPPO Find X10 on Geekbench with lower scores. As per a tipster, the Dimensity 9600M is nothing but a renamed Dimensity 9500 for newer phones.

For context, the Xiaomi 18 Pro, meanwhile, scored 3,619 in single-core and 11,842 in multi-core on Geekbench 7. Its results cannot be directly compared with the Vivo scores because Geekbench 7 uses a different scoring system. The Xiaomi 18 Pro Max result of 3,582 and 12,247 was also initially attributed to the phone, but the listing was subsequently identified as a Qualcomm reference device. It is therefore more useful as an early indication of Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro performance than as a Xiaomi phone benchmark.

Vivo X500 Pro series to debut MediaTek's 2nm flagship chipset

Meanwhile, the Dimensity 9600 Pro (first look) which debuted yesterday, is MediaTek's first smartphone SoC built on TSMC's 2nm process. It uses two C2 Ultra Prime cores at up to 4.55GHz, three C2 Pro cores at 4.35GHz and three efficiency cores at 3.1GHz, alongside a 12-core Mali G2 Ultra NX GPU. MediaTek's testing showed around 18 percent higher single-core and 16 percent higher multi-core performance than the Dimensity 9500 in Geekbench 6.

Vivo says the X500 Pro series will support 4K 120fps 10-bit Log recording, 60fps autofocus through its imaging NPU 2.0, and 4K Dolby Vision portrait video through a self-developed imaging chip. The phones will also feature a new high-performance AI processor.

For buyers watching the next flagship cycle, the X500 series will be an early real-world test of MediaTek's new platform. The Geekbench result is worth noting, but final retail performance, thermals, battery life and camera processing will provide a more useful picture than an early benchmark alone.

• Meta One combines all these platforms under one umbrella plan. 
• There are individual plans and dedicated plans for businesses and creators. 
• Meta One subscription plans in India start at Rs 549 per month. 

[/highlights]

Meta has launched a single subscription plan combining all its platforms under one plan. These include WhatsApp Plus, Instagram Plus, and Facebook Plus, which are available as individual plans offering users exclusive features. Meta One aims to offer features already available with these individual plans, along with more AI benefits. This move signals Meta's aggressive push into subscription revenue, a significant shift from its ad-centric past. It's also similar to other tech giants offering bundled plans like Google One and Apple One.

Meta One subscription plan: price in India

Meta One subscription plan starts at Rs 549 per month for Core, while the Premium plan costs Rs 1,960. There are plans for businesses and creators too. Starting with the Meta One Essential bundle plan, priced at Rs 639 per month, and the Advanced bundle plan at Rs 2,099 per month. More expensive plans include Expert, priced at Rs 6,399 per month, and Max at Rs 20,990 per month. Meta's aggressive pricing strategy for businesses suggests a strong belief in the value of these advanced tools, but it remains to be seen if the market will respond positively.

Meta One Core and Premium plans

With the Meta One Core plan, users get to restyle more Stories on Instagram, use voice effects and creative tools more, and generate more images and videos with Meta AI. As mentioned above, this plan already covers Instagram Plus, WhatsApp Plus, and Facebook Plus. 

Meta One Premium gives you everything available with Core but with more room to create content with Meta AI. 

Meta One creator and business plans

Meta One Essential plan is designed to help build your brand with verification, impersonation protection, and customer support tools. Advanced offers professional features like scheduling, post links, analytics, team access, and more WhatsApp tools. Expert and Max Meta One plans are for businesses that need higher limits and more advanced tools to manage and scale their presence.

With the latest Meta One plans, users have more options to go for bundled subscriptions instead of the individual plans. This, however, depends on your usage and requirements. If you're someone who relies only on one platform, it's better to go for the individual plan. But for those who use all three platforms and might want to benefit more, the Meta Core or Premium plans make sense. As for businesses and creators who want their brand to grow more, they could opt for the bigger plans.

• OriginOS 7 is based on Android 17 and will bring several interface changes.
• The program is reserved for 500 users on a first-come, first-served basis.
• The stable OriginOS 7 update could roll out within the next few weeks.

[/highlights]

While Vivo is set to officially unveil OriginOS 7 in China today, i.e., September 16th, Vivo and iQOO have opened up the Preview Program for the Vivo X300 Pro and iQOO 15 starting today. This programme, limited to 500 spots each, will let users test OriginOS 7 before it officially rolls out in stable form in the next few weeks. Applicants can also share feedback or issues they encounter with the beta build to help refine and stabilise the firmware.

In other news, Vivo's global X handle has confirmed that OriginOS 7 will make its international debut on September 21st, when we should get a wider picture of what the skin has to offer on its Android 17-based platform.

OriginOS 7 Preview Program registration details

To register and experience OriginOS 7 in beta, interested Vivo X300 Pro and iQOO 15 users must ensure they're running software version 16.0.25.4 and 16.0.24.1, respectively, or above. The registration application is open from September 16th to September 20th. With that out of the way, here's the procedure to register for the update:

Step 1: Firstly, open the Settings app

Step 2: Head over to the System Update section

Step 3: Now tap the two-button menu in the top-right corner and select "Version trial"

Step 4: From here, select Closed Beta Sign-Up and then tap View Details

Step 5: A registration form will appear with the "Sign up now" button, in which you'll have to carefully answer all the questions in order to be eligible for the OriginOS 7 Preview Program

Once registered, your application will be reviewed, and accordingly, the selected users will be notified of the next steps. Also note that since the update is limited to 500 spots per device, registering for the program does not guarantee selection. This may help create a focused feedback loop for Vivo and iQOO, which is a smart move for refining a major OS update.

Also, there's no information on when the update will roll out to selected users. So you'll have to wait patiently for the update to arrive, even if you've been selected.

If you want to experience the latest features and interface on OriginOS 7 on your Vivo X300 Pro or iQOO 15, make sure you back up your data to avoid the risk of data loss during the upgrade. Also, since the beta update may include bugs, glitches, or unexpected battery drain, it's best not to update your primary device unless you're okay with occasional issues that may arise during the preview program.

What to expect on OriginOS 7

OriginOS 7 is said to bring a major design overhaul to most elements present in the software. The software will adopt a Liquid Glass-like design, along with interactive lighting effects that adapt to the taps and scrolling movements. It will also introduce a range of new clock styles and icon-theming support.

The promised 'Liquid Glass-like design' sounds like a compelling visual refresh, potentially setting a new bar for Android aesthetics and giving competition to other Android skins, such as ColorOS, HyperOS, and MagicOS, that also deploy advanced-level effects and elements.

Some of the productivity features include Atomic Workbench, in which users will be able to open multiple apps in a side panel and switch between them at will, something similar to Stage Manager found on macOS. Under-the-hood improvements include a 14 per cent uplift in rendering efficiency, a 19 per cent improvement in page-switching response speed, and up to a 12 per cent improvement in application startup speed.

• OPPO K14 Lite has launched in India with a big battery and 120Hz display.
• The smartphone starts at Rs 16,999, with an effective price of Rs 15,999.
• OPPO K14 Lite targets budget buyers with its large battery, durability, and everyday AI features.

[/highlights]

OPPO has launched the K14 Lite in India, bringing a large 7,000mAh battery, 120Hz display and a durability-focused design to its K series. The phone is for users who prioritise long battery life and dependable everyday performance at an affordable price point. Here is everything you need to know about the new smartphone.

OPPO K14 Lite price and availability

The OPPO K14 Lite starts at Rs 16,999 for the 4GB + 64GB variant. Buyers can get an Rs 1,000 instant discount through select bank offers, bringing the effective price down to Rs 15,999. OPPO is also offering a three-month no-cost EMI option.

The phone is available to purchase from September 16 through the OPPO e-store and Flipkart. It comes in the Feather Purple and Stone Brown colour options.

OPPO K14 Lite specifications and features

The K14 Lite's biggest highlight is its 7,000mAh battery, which should comfortably handle long periods of video streaming, navigation, gaming and calls. The battery also claims to retain more than 80 percent of its original capacity after 1,800 charge cycles, which should prove useful for long-term users. 

You get a 15W wired charging support, with OPPO claiming a full charge in roughly 2 hours and 52 minutes. The phone also supports reverse wired charging, allowing it to share power with other compatible devices.

The phone runs on the Unisoc T7250 processor with 4GB LPDDR4X RAM and 64GB UFS 2.2 storage. A large graphite cooling area is designed to help manage heat during longer sessions, although the entry-level chipset is best for basic 3D titles and less demanding games. 

At the front you get a 6.75-inch HD+ LCD display with a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 900 nits peak brightness. The higher refresh rate should make scrolling and animations feel smoother, while Splash Touch, Oily-Hand Touch and Glove Touch are designed to keep the screen responsive in different conditions. The phone comes with an IP64 rating for protection against dust and water splashes. 

For cameras, the K14 Lite gets a 13MP rear camera with autofocus and a 5MP front camera. The software includes Portrait, Night and Time-Lapse modes, along with AI tools such as AI Eraser, AI Clear Face and AI Smart Image Matting 2.0. Google Lens and Gemini.

Should you buy the OPPO K14 Lite?

The OPPO K14 Lite gets a decent entry point at Rs 15,999 with the bank offer, especially for a 4G smartphone. Its 7,000mAh battery, 120Hz display and IP64 rating make it a practical package for users who prioritise battery life and everyday reliability in the current market conditions.

There is competition, though, and it is the Realme C100x (review), which follows a similar formula but offers an 8,000mAh battery, while starting at Rs 16,999. That gives Realme an advantage for buyers who want maximum battery endurance.

At the moment, the OPPO K14 Lite is the better deal only because of its effective Rs 15,999 price. The difference is small, but it could matter to very price-sensitive buyers who are working with a strict budget. For those willing to spend a little more, the Realme C100x's larger battery makes it the better deal. 

Through this list, we have identified boAt's current TWS lineup covers every budget from ₹1,099 to ₹3,199, and every pair here actually delivers on what matters most for its price: the right blend of sound quality, call performance, battery life, and the features that actually get used day to day. It's irrelevant whether you're a student looking for the most feature-packed earbuds under ₹2,000, a professional who spends hours on calls and needs reliable noise suppression, or someone who simply wants the best sound money can buy from boAt without going flagship, there's a pick here for you.

Best boAt TWS Earbuds at a Glance

What to Look for in TWS Earbuds Before Buying

Before jumping to the list, here are the things that actually matter when comparing earbuds, not the numbers that look good on a box.

• ANC strength and type matter more than the dB figure alone: Active Noise Cancellation works by using microphones to pick up ambient sound and generating an opposing sound wave to cancel it out. Hybrid ANC, which uses both inward and outward-facing mics, is more effective than single-mic ANC because it handles noise coming from both outside and inside the ear canal. A 50dB hybrid ANC spec genuinely outperforms a 40dB single-mic system, but a 32dB hybrid can still outperform a poorly implemented higher number.
• Battery life needs context: Most brands quote total battery life, which includes the charging case. If a pair claims 50 hours total, check the per-charge figure for the earbuds themselves. 8 hours per charge with a case that tops up four times is a very different experience from 24 hours per charge with a case that tops up once.
• Driver size is not the same as sound quality: A 13mm driver tuned poorly will sound worse than an 8mm driver tuned well. Driver size tells you the potential for bass response, but the tuning determines whether that potential is realised. Always look at whether a pair has been tuned for a specific sound signature.
• ENx technology and mic count affect call quality. Environmental Noise Exclusion (ENx) is boAt's AI-driven call noise cancellation system. More mics generally means better directional audio pickup and more precise noise isolation, which matters if calls are a significant part of how the earbuds get used.
• Latency is only relevant for gaming and video: For music, latency is irrelevant. If gaming or watching video is the use case, look for a dedicated low-latency mode, what boAt calls BEAST Mode, with figures around 50-60ms. Anything above 100ms will create a noticeable lip-sync gap.
• Multipoint connectivity is a practical necessity: Being connected to both a phone and a laptop simultaneously, and having audio route intelligently between them, is something most people use every day without realising it. Any pair missing this feature will cause friction the moment a phone call comes in while working on a laptop.

1. boAt Nirvana Zenith Pro

Price: ₹3,199

Amazon | Flipkart | boAt

Key Specs:

• 50dB Hybrid Adaptive ANC
• Hi-Res Audio via LDAC codec
• 12mm drivers with boAt Signature Sound
• boAt Spatial Audio
• 80-hour total playtime
• ASAP Charge: 250 minutes from 10-minute charge
• 6 mics with AI-ENx Technology
• Adaptive EQ by Mimi

The Nirvana Zenith Pro is the clearest argument boAt has made for what a premium TWS earbud should feel like. The 50dB Hybrid Adaptive ANC cancels noise and continuously adjusts based on what's happening around you, reducing noise more aggressively in loud environments and easing off when things quiet down. This prevents the pressure buildup that fixed-level ANC often causes during long listening sessions, which makes it genuinely comfortable to wear for hours.

LDAC is the headline audio feature because standard Bluetooth compresses audio to around 320kbps. LDAC transmits at up to 990kbps, meaning the earbuds actually receive the audio detail that's in the file rather than a compressed approximation of it. If you stream at high quality or use lossless formats, this is the codec that makes those choices audible rather than theoretical. Paired with 12mm drivers and Adaptive EQ by Mimi, which calibrates the sound output to your individual hearing profile through a quick test, the Zenith Pro offers a personalised listening experience that factory presets can't replicate.

Six microphones working with AI-ENx means call quality holds up in genuinely difficult environments, not just quiet rooms. boAt Spatial Audio adds directional sound for movies and music. The 80-hour total battery and ASAP Charge mean 10 minutes in the case delivers over four hours of listening, which covers most forgotten-to-charge scenarios.

Best for: Someone who takes audio seriously, listens at high quality, wears earbuds for long stretches, and wants a pair that earns the price tag through listening rather than just spec comparisons.

2. boAt Airdopes Prime 701 ANC

Price: ₹2,199

Amazon | Flipkart | boAt

Key Specs:

• 46dB Hybrid ANC
• 24-bit boAt Spatial Audio
• 50-hour total playtime
• ASAP Charge: 180 minutes from 10-minute charge
• 4 mics with AI-ENx Technology
• Multipoint Connectivity
• CREST AI with built-in Google Gemini
• Real-time translation across 25 languages

The Airdopes Prime 701 ANC sits at the mid-range but doesn't behave like one. The 46dB Hybrid ANC is competitive at this price, and 24-bit Spatial Audio puts content from streaming platforms in a noticeably wider and more immersive soundstage than standard stereo playback. The 50-hour total battery with ASAP Charge means a full week of commuting from a single case charge is a realistic expectation rather than a marketing number.

What genuinely separates this pair from everything else in the ₹2,000-₹3,000 bracket is CREST AI with Google Gemini built in. Real-time face-to-face translation across 25 languages isn't a feature most buyers expect at this price, and it works directly through the earbuds without a separate app open. For anyone who travels, works in multilingual environments, or simply wants AI assistance without pulling out a phone, this changes how useful the earbuds are beyond just audio. The four-mic AI-ENx setup handles call quality in crowded spaces, and Multipoint Connectivity keeps both a phone and laptop connected simultaneously.

Best for: A working professional, frequent traveller, or student who wants strong ANC, solid battery, spatial audio, and an AI layer that actually adds daily utility rather than existing as a marketing checkbox.

3. boAt Airdopes Prime 800D

Price: ₹1,599

Amazon | Flipkart | boAt

Key Specs:

• Dolby Audio Cinematic Surround Sound
• 11mm drivers with boAt Signature Sound
• 45-hour total playtime
• 4 mics with AI-ENx Technology
• Multipoint Connectivity

Under ₹2,000, Dolby Audio is a rarity, and the Airdopes Prime 800D leads with it. Dolby Audio restructures the way sound travels through the ear canal, creating a multi-directional soundstage that makes film and concert audio feel spatially wider and more enveloping than standard stereo. The 11mm drivers, tuned for deep and punchy low-end response, give the bass enough presence without turning it into the only thing you hear, which is a common tuning failure at this price.

The 45-hour total battery removes the need to charge mid-week for most listening habits, and the four-mic AI-ENx setup keeps call quality usable in ambient noise. Multipoint handles two simultaneous device connections, so audio routes automatically between a laptop and phone as needed. This pair doesn't have ANC, and that's a fair trade at ₹1,599 in exchange for Dolby Audio and a battery that comfortably outlasts most alternatives in the segment.

Best for: Someone who primarily uses earbuds for movies, music, and calls, wants Dolby Audio and long battery without paying for ANC they may not need, and is spending under ₹2,000.

4. boAt Nirvana Ion ANC

Price: ₹1,999

Amazon | boAt 

Key Specs:

• Up to 32dB ANC
• 120-hour total playtime (24 hours per earbud charge)
• Crystal Bionic Sound with HiFi DSP
• 10mm drivers
• Dual EQ Modes: boAt Signature Sound + boAt Balanced Sound
• 4 mics with ENx Technology
• BEAST Mode: 60ms latency
• In-Ear Detection
• Multipoint Connectivity
• IPX4 water resistance
• Bluetooth v5.2

At ₹1,999, the Nirvana Ion ANC is doing something most earbuds at this price don't attempt: putting real ANC, 120 hours of battery, in-ear detection, and dual EQ modes in the same pair. The 32dB ANC will edge off ambient noise enough to make a genuine difference to the listening experience in everyday environments like offices, cafes, and commutes.

The 120-hour total battery figure deserves unpacking: each earbud delivers 24 hours on a single charge. That means going five to six days between case charges under normal use, which is a fundamentally different relationship with the charging routine than most budget earbuds offer. Crystal Bionic Sound powered by HiFi DSP adds audio processing to the 10mm drivers, and the two EQ modes let users choose between boAt Signature Sound for a punchy, bass-forward profile or Balanced Sound for a flatter, more neutral response depending on what they're listening to. In-ear detection automatically pauses when the earbuds come out and resumes when they go back in. BEAST Mode at 60ms handles gaming and video sync cleanly.

Best for: A student or first-time ANC buyer who wants a week of battery life, usable noise cancellation, and a versatile sound profile, all under ₹2,000.

5. boAt Airdopes Plus 222

Price: ₹1,099

Amazon | boAt

Key Specs:

• 13mm drivers tuned for deep bass
• Spatial Audio
• 60-hour total playtime
• BEAST Mode: 55ms latency
• Dual Pairing Multipoint Connectivity
• boAt Hearables App: EQ, gesture remapping, Ring My Buds, firmware updates
• Voice Assistant support: Siri and Google Assistant

The Airdopes Plus 222 makes an unambiguous case for a specific kind of buyer. The 13mm drivers, the largest on this list, are tuned specifically for deep, thumping bass, which means genres like hip-hop, EDM, and high-energy workout playlists land with the kind of physical weight that smaller drivers simply can't produce. Spatial Audio adds a 360-degree directional layer for film and gaming content on top of that.

The 60-hour total battery edges out every other pair on this list for raw endurance, and BEAST Mode at 55ms is the lowest gaming latency here, making it the cleanest option for competitive gaming or fast-paced video where audio sync matters. The boAt Hearables App gives genuine customisation depth, including a parametric EQ, touch gesture remapping, firmware updates, and the Ring My Buds feature that locates a misplaced earbud through the app. Dual Pairing Multipoint handles two simultaneous device connections, and Voice Assistant support gives one-touch access to Siri or Google Assistant.

Best for: Someone who wants the most bass, the longest battery, and the sharpest gaming latency under ₹1,000 - ₹1,200 , and values app-based customisation over ANC.

FAQs on TWS Earbuds

1. What is the difference between ANC and ENx technology in boAt earbuds?

ANC, or Active Noise Cancellation, uses microphones to capture ambient sound and generates an opposing signal to cancel it before it reaches the ear. ENx, or Environmental Noise Exclusion, is specifically designed for call quality: it isolates the user's voice and filters out background noise so the person on the other end of the call hears speech clearly. Both technologies exist on the same earbud, serving different purposes. ANC improves the listening experience for the wearer; ENx improves the call experience for the person being spoken to.

2. Is a higher driver size always better in TWS earbuds?

Not necessarily. Driver size determines the physical surface area pushing air to create sound, and larger drivers have more potential for deep bass response. However, how that driver is tuned by the manufacturer determines the actual sound quality. A 13mm driver tuned primarily for bass will sound worse for vocals or acoustic music than a 10mm driver with a well-balanced tuning. Driver size is one data point, not a complete picture.

3. Does the boAt Nirvana Ion ANC's 120-hour battery actually last that long in real use?

The 120-hour figure covers total battery life across the earbuds and case combined. Each earbud delivers 24 hours per charge, and the case holds enough charge for multiple top-ups to reach that total. In practice, a user who listens for four to six hours a day can realistically go five to six days without needing to plug the case in. The per-earbud figure is what matters for daily use, and 24 hours is genuinely high for this price bracket.

4. What does CREST AI with Google Gemini on the boAt Airdopes Prime 701 ANC actually do?

CREST AI is boAt's AI engine built into the Airdopes Prime 701 ANC. With Google Gemini integrated, it enables real-time face-to-face language translation across up to 25 languages directly through the earbuds. It also supports natural language queries, brainstorming, and device control through voice, functioning as a hands-free AI assistant without needing to open a phone app. For travellers or multilingual professionals, it reduces friction significantly across daily interactions.

5. Which boAt TWS earbuds are best for gaming under ₹2,000?

Both the Nirvana Ion ANC and the Airdopes Plus 222 sit under ₹2,000 and include a dedicated BEAST Mode for low-latency gaming: 60ms on the Ion ANC and 55ms on the Airdopes Plus 222. The Airdopes Plus 222 has the edge on raw latency and the bass response that makes gaming audio feel more physical. The Ion ANC wins if call quality during gaming sessions and ANC between matches matter more. Both handle the latency gap well enough that audio sync in fast-paced games is not an issue.

• OPPO Find X10 Pro Max will launch as one of the first phones with this chipset.
• The smartphone's global debut has also been officially confirmed.
• It's launching first in China on September 22nd. 

[/highlights]

The OPPO Find X10 series is scheduled to launch in China on September 22nd. The lineup will introduce OPPO's latest flagship phones: the OPPO Find X10, Find X10 Pro Max, and Find X10E. OPPO has been steadily revealing key details about the upcoming Find X10 series, and it has now confirmed the Find X10 Pro Max's global debut. It will launch as one of the first phones with the MediaTek Dimensity 9600 Pro chipset. 

OPPO Find X10 Pro Max x Dimensity 9600 Pro

OPPO, in a press release, announced that the Find X10 Pro Max will launch as one of the first smartphones to feature the flagship MediaTek Dimensity 9600 Pro. It also confirmed the Find X10 Pro Max's launch for the international market. With this chipset, the Find X10 Pro Max would directly compete with rivals like the iPhone 18 Pro and upcoming phones like the OnePlus 16 powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro. 

MediaTek announced the new Dimensity 9600 Pro just yesterday as the latest chipset for flagship smartphones. The chipset is built on TSMC's 2nm N2P process and is claimed to deliver an overall performance improvement of 17 percent. The chipset is also said to deliver around 27 percent higher graphics performance than the previous generation.

The Find X10 Pro Max will also debut the OPPO Laminar Flow Engine, jointly developed by OPPO and MediaTek. This new technology is designed to help achieve a better balance between ultra-smooth system responsiveness and low power consumption, while accelerating app launches and maintaining smooth performance during scenarios like rapid photo browsing.

It looks like OPPO is going all-in with the Find X10 Pro Max. The handset is confirmed to feature a triple 200MP rear camera setup, which would be a first in the industry. It will also house an 8,000mAh battery, one of the largest capacities for a flagship phone. 

With a global launch confirmed, the OPPO Find X10 Pro Max would be the flagship phone to watch out for. If you're in the market for a flagship camera phone with peak hardware, the Find X10 Pro Max might be a top contender for you to consider. We'd still advise waiting for more details and comparing it with other upcoming flagships as well. 

• Xiaomi 18 Pro has surfaced on Geekbench with the unannounced Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro and 16GB RAM.
• The phone reportedly scored 3,619 in single-core and 11,842 in multi-core testing on Geekbench 7.
• Xiaomi has teased a rear display integrated into the camera module, with the phone set to launch in China this month.

[/highlights]

Xiaomi's next flagship, the Xiaomi 18 Pro, has surfaced on Geekbench with Qualcomm's next top-tier processor, giving us an indication of what to expect from the company's upcoming premium smartphone. The listing comes a day after Xiaomi officially teased the phone's rear display, confirming that the novel feature from the Xiaomi 17 Pro series will return on its successor.

The Geekbench appearance also comes as Xiaomi prepares to launch the Xiaomi 18 series in China this month. While the company has confirmed the launch and shown off the rear-screen design, most hardware details are still to be officially announced.

Xiaomi 18 Pro benchmarks

According to tipster Abhishek Yadav, the Xiaomi 18 Pro is listed on Geekbench 7 under model number M154FF with Qualcomm's SM8975 processor, expected to be called the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro. The listing shows 16GB RAM and Android 17, with the phone scoring 3,619 points in single-core and 11,842 points in multi-core. The processor is listed with an eight-core configuration comprising two cores clocked at up to 5.01GHz, three at 4.03GHz and three at 3.74GHz. Graphics are handled by the Adreno 850 GPU.

There are already other early results for the same Qualcomm chip. A phone identified as the Vivo V2606A, believed to be the iQOO 16, previously appeared on Geekbench with 16GB RAM, scoring 3,434 in single-core and 9,334 in multi-core. The Xiaomi 18 Pro's reported multi-core result is therefore substantially higher. The Xiaomi 18 Pro Max also appeared with the SM8975, recording 3,582 points in single-core and 12,247 in multi-core. Its listing showed 12GB RAM, alongside OpenCL and Vulkan scores of 26,210 and 29,934.

These results are useful as an early reference, but they are not a reliable measure of final retail performance. Engineering devices can use unfinished software and different thermal and power configurations.

The new Qualcomm chip will also face competition from MediaTek's Dimensity 9600 series, which launched yesterday and will power several flagship phones including the OPPO Find X10 series and Vivo X500 series launching later this year. Results from final retail devices will give a clearer picture of how the two platforms compare.

Xiaomi 18 Pro rear display teased

The rear display is the more distinctive part of the Xiaomi 18 Pro. The company teased the feature yesterday, showing a secondary screen built directly into the horizontal Leica camera module. The setup looks similar to the Xiaomi 17 Pro, although Xiaomi appears to be preparing new use cases for the screen.

The teaser displays the word "Generating", which could point towards AI-generated content being created for the rear screen. The Xiaomi 17 Pro already allowed users to use the display for wallpapers, notifications, music controls and interactive tools. The feature also gives Xiaomi a differentiator against phones such as Nothing's recent models, where the Glyph Interface and Glyph Matrix focus on notifications and smaller interactive functions.

For potential buyers, the important question will be whether Xiaomi can make the rear display useful beyond the initial novelty. The "Generating" teaser suggests there is more to come, but the actual features have not been detailed yet. Xiaomi has confirmed a China launch this month, while India availability and pricing remain unannounced. Given these are early benchmarks and the rear display's full potential is yet to be revealed, users prioritising performance might consider waiting for full reviews. Those drawn to innovative design and potential AI features might find this a compelling device to watch.

• Flipkart Big Billion Days Sale starts in the second week of October.
• The sale will begin a day earlier for Flipkart VIP and Black members.
• Expect discounts on Apple iPhones, Samsung flagship phones, and Google Pixel phones during the sale.

[/highlights]

Flipkart is bringing back what many consider the biggest sale event of the year on the e-commerce platform: the Big Billion Days Sale 2026. Set to kick off on October 9th, the sale will offer products across categories, especially smartphones, appliances, and electronics, at discounted prices. On top of that, buyers will be able to avail bank discounts using multiple cards to grab products at more aggressive price points.

Flipkart Big Billion Days Sale 2026 date is here

The Flipkart Big Billion Days Sale will begin this year on October 9th, as teased on a microsite. As with most previous sales, users with Flipkart VIP, Flipkart Black, and Flipkart credit card membership will get early access to the sale on October 8th, giving them a head start to buy their wishlisted items before others.

[caption id="attachment_715215" align="alignnone" width="690"] Flipkart Big Billion Day 2026 banner[/caption]

While the sale's end date has not been revealed yet, one can expect the event to last at least a week. However, interested buyers should make purchases as early as possible to get the best prices, since product prices may rise once Flipkart starts running out of supply.

Flipkart Big Billion Days Sale deals, bank offers

Coming to the bank offers, users with Axis and ICICI Bank cards can get up to 10 percent discount, while Flipkart Axis Bank credit cardholders can also get a similar discount on purchases made during the sale on select items. UPI and other payment gateways will also be available for payments.

As part of the event, Flipkart will also run certain events that will allow users to grab more deals and discounts, such as Price Crash, BBD Specials, Tick Tock Deals, Brand Hours, Double Discount, and Rush Hours. Details on these events are expected to be revealed closer to the sale date.

While the e-commerce platform hasn't teased the deals, buyers aiming for iPhones can consider waiting for the sale. As in previous years, base iPhones could see a good discount, and the iPhone 17 could follow suit, even though Apple has officially raised its price to Rs 99,900 from Rs 82,900. Meanwhile, Samsung flagship smartphones such as the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S26 series could also see price drops, while the Pixel 10 could be a standout deal.

Availability

Both models are scheduled for availability through GIGABYTE's authorised retailers. Pricing has not been confirmed.

Cooling performance

The coolers feature a 3,200 RPM pump paired with three PWM fans for steady airflow and controlled acoustics. GIGABYTE describes the series as offering "ample thermal headroom" for the latest Intel and AMD processors. However, specific TDP ratings and noise levels were not disclosed in the announcement. Independent testing will be needed to confirm real-world thermal and acoustic performance.

Builder-friendly features

Three installation-focused additions are worth noting. Fans come pre-installed on the radiator with simplified cabling to reduce build time and keep routing clean. The pump head features a magnetic EAGLE Accent Cover that you can supposedly remove and rotate without tools for logo alignment across different build orientations. A single universal mounting bracket covers both Intel and AMD socket compatibility without platform-specific hardware.

Aesthetics

Both models include RGB lighting on the pump head and fans, compatible with GIGABYTE's ecosystem for synchronised lighting. The ICE variant's all-white finish caters to white-themed builds, where matching component colourways has become a popular builder priority.

The 360mm AIO segment is well-populated. Arctic's Liquid Freezer III 360 is widely regarded as the thermal performance benchmark at this radiator size, consistently delivering strong cooling with minimal noise at a competitive price. Corsair's iCUE H150i Elite and the be quiet! Pure Loop 2 FX 360 are strong alternatives with polished software ecosystems and robust fan controls. Meanwhile, the Noctua's NH-D15 and DeepCool's LT720 also compete at this tier.

Where the GIGABYTE EAGLE 360 differentiates is ecosystem cohesion. Builders already running EAGLE motherboards and GPUs gain a visually and functionally integrated cooler without sourcing from a third party. The magnetic logo alignment and pre-installed fan setup are also practical differentiators for builders who prioritise clean, hassle-free assembly. On pure thermal performance, however, the EAGLE 360 will need independent benchmark validation before it can be confidently placed against established alternatives like the Arctic Liquid Freezer III, which currently sets a high bar at this radiator size.

• Vivo V80 could feature a 7,200mAh battery.
• It's teased to launch with camera-centric AI features.
• Vivo S2 FE is also expected to launch in India soon.

[/highlights]

Vivo V80 has been officially teased to launch in India soon. The announcement comes shortly after it was spotted on the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification platform, alongside another Vivo smartphone, speculated to be the Vivo S2 FE. Vivo V80 would launch as the successor to the V70, while the Vivo S2 FE is expected to arrive as an affordable alternative to the Vivo S2. 

Vivo V80 specifications (expected)

The Vivo V80 is tipped to launch in the first week of October. It's tipped to offer camera-centric features, which have usually been the focus for Vivo's V series phones. The Vivo V80 could launch with an AI Creative Camera mode, offering over 30 AI effects, and a Live Sticker Collage feature, possibly for creating collages using Live Photos and stickers. Another highlight for the Vivo V80 could be that it will run on OriginOS 7-based Android 17 out of the box. This would make it the first Vivo phone with this software.

The Vivo V80 is also expected to house a 7,200mAh battery, which would be a notable upgrade over the V70's 6,500mAh battery. This means we can expect stronger battery endurance on the V80. 

Vivo hasn't revealed any details about the V80 yet, but it has teased the phone to offer AI camera features, upgraded low-light photography, the biggest battery in a V-series phone, and the smoothest display yet. The smartphone's design has also been teased, which shows a large camera plateau at the back and Zeiss branding. 

As for the Vivo S2 FE, it's speculated that the phone could launch as a rebranded Vivo V80 Lite. If so, then we can expect a 10,000mAh battery with 44W fast charging support. This would be the largest battery capacity on a Vivo phone in India. It could also launch with a 6.84-inch 1.5K 120Hz AMOLED display, the MediaTek Dimensity 7300e chipset, a 50MP rear camera, and a 32MP front camera. The rumored 10,000mAh battery for the S2 FE is an aggressive move that could truly set it apart in the mid-range segment.

Based on what we know so far, the Vivo V80 will sit in the more premium segment, catering to buyers who want a camera-focused phone with AI features. If you're currently using a V-series phone older than the V70 and prioritize camera and battery, the V80 could be a significant upgrade worth waiting for. The Vivo S2 FE could appeal more to those who want a large battery on a mid-range device. It's still early to determine what each phone offers, so it's best to wait for official details before making a buying decision. 

• Lava Virat Curve will launch in India on September 21st at 12 noon and will be sold via Flipkart.
• It brings a rear Mini Display, curved vegan leather design, Dimensity 7100 chipset, and a 6,000mAh battery.
• The phone will be available in Heritage Indigo and Makrana Ivory colour options.

[/highlights]

Lava has confirmed that the Lava Virat Curve will launch in India on September 21st at 12 PM IST as the fourth smartphone in its new Virat lineup. The upcoming model joins the Virat V1 4G, Virat V1 5G, and Virat V1 Pro 5G, while introducing a more premium-looking curved design and a rear display element that sets it apart from the rest of the series. 

Lava Virat Curve specifications and features

Lava has revealed the key hardware specifications ahead of launch. The Virat Curve will feature a 6.67-inch 3D curved AMOLED display with Full-HD+ resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, 1.07 billion colours, 100 percent DCI-P3 colour gamut, and up to 1,100 nits peak brightness. Powering the phone will be the MediaTek Dimensity 7100 processor paired with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. It will run Android 16 out of the box, with Lava promising two years of OS updates and three years of security updates.

For photography, the phone gets a 50MP Sony IMX752 primary camera with f/1.8 aperture and support for up to 2K 30fps video recording. Completing the package is a sizeable 6,000mAh battery with 45W wired fast charging, making it one of the more battery-focused offerings in its segment.

The phone features curved front and rear panels with a vegan leather finish, a rectangular camera module, IP64 dust and splash resistance, and a USB Type-C port alongside the speaker grille and SIM tray. It will be available through Flipkart in Heritage Indigo and Makrana Ivory colour options.

Lava Virat Curve Mini Display

The biggest talking point is the Mini Display embedded within the rear camera island. Rather than being purely decorative, Lava says it can display the company's logo, battery percentage, volume level, time, emojis, custom text messages, and notifications. This puts the Virat Curve among a growing number of smartphones experimenting with secondary rear interfaces.

In the segment, Infinix recently introduced its Active Matrix Display on the Infinix Hot 70 Pro, which also uses the rear panel to communicate alerts and visual information, while Nothing has built an entire identity around its Glyph Interface and newer Glyph Matrix, offering notifications, timers, volume indicators, progress tracking, and interactive utilities through programmable lights and matrix-style displays. Lava's Mini Display appears to focus more on glanceable information and personalisation than the broader interactive ecosystem offered by Nothing's Glyph platform. Among Lava phones, the Lava Agni 3 in 2024 itself came with a rear secondary display that acted as a camera viewfinder, gave you quick music controls and showed notifications and the time.

The Lava Virat series starts at Rs 9,999 for the Lava Virat V1 4G. The Curve is expected to be the top model of the series considering its feature set and should cross the Rs 20,000 price point, as per our estimation. While the curved AMOLED screen, large battery, and rear Mini Display give the Virat Curve a distinctive identity, pricing will ultimately determine its competitiveness. Buyers considering phones from brands like Nothing or Infinix may find Lava's rear display an interesting alternative, especially if they want notification and customisation features without moving into a higher price bracket.

• Xiaomi has confirmed that the Xiaomi 18 Pro series will launch in China this month with a rear display.
• The rear screen could support AI-generated content, building on the Dynamic Back Display introduced with the Xiaomi 17 Pro series.
• Xiaomi says last year's rear screen saw more than 4 million daily interactions.

[/highlights]

Xiaomi is keeping its rear display experiment alive for the next generation. The company has officially confirmed that the Xiaomi 18 Pro series will launch in China this month, teasing a rear screen built into the camera module. The teaser shows the word "Generating" on the display, hinting that the new screen could do more than show wallpapers, clocks and shortcuts.

The confirmation comes after the Xiaomi 17 Pro series turned the rear display into one of the more distinctive smartphone features of the year. Xiaomi's latest numbers suggest there is enough user interest for the company to continue developing the idea rather than abandoning it after one generation.

Xiaomi 18 Pro rear screen confirmed

Xiaomi's teaser reveals the rear display will again sit within a horizontal Leica triple-camera module, giving the Xiaomi 18 Pro a look that is broadly similar to its predecessor. Leaks have pointed to thinner bezels around the rear screen, a possible change to the front camera position and a new physical button on the frame.

More importantly, Xiaomi appears to be expanding what the secondary display can do. The "Generating" teaser could point to AI-generated content being created specifically for the rear screen. The Xiaomi 17 Pro already supported features including live wallpapers, interactive tools, notifications, music controls and AI-generated animations. The company says users interacted with app cards on last year's rear display more than 4 million times per day, while more than 3.5 million wallpapers were added every day. That gives the company a reason to keep investing in the feature.

Secondary displays are rare but upcoming in mainstream phones. Nothing uses versions of the Glyph interface on most of its phones for notifications and small interactive features, while Xiaomi's implementation is considerably larger and more capable. Samsung has also reportedly been exploring privacy-related secondary display technology, showing that manufacturers are still looking for ways to make additional screens useful rather than purely decorative. In the more affordable segments, versions like the Infinix Hot 70 Pro's Active Matrix Display are also cropping up with limited functionality. Among Indian OEMs, Lava tried something similar with a secondary screen on the Lava Blaze Duo 3 and more recently, the Lava Virat Curve.

The challenge for Xiaomi is whether this becomes a feature people continue using after the novelty wears off. The Xiaomi 17 Pro showed that a rear screen can do considerably more than the Mi 11 Ultra's short-lived attempt, but wider app support will determine how useful it becomes.

Xiaomi 18 Pro launch timeline and India availability

Xiaomi has confirmed only the China launch for now, with more details expected soon. Specifications, pricing and the full feature set of the rear screen remain unconfirmed. There is also no word on an India launch. The Xiaomi 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max were not brought to India, so buyers here should not assume the Xiaomi 18 Pro will arrive locally either.

For now, the Xiaomi 18 Pro is worth watching rather than waiting for as a confirmed India option. If Xiaomi expands the rear display with genuinely useful AI and app features, it could give the phone a clear identity in a flagship market where most rivals still rely on conventional designs.

• OnePlus N6 Lite will launch in two colour options.
• The handset gets a 120Hz display and rounded edges.
• It will be the third phone in the lineup. 

[/highlights]

OnePlus has officially announced the launch date of its upcoming budget phone, the N6 Lite. It will be the third phone in the series, after the OnePlus N6 and N6x. It's also expected to launch as OnePlus's most affordable phone to date. In addition to announcing the launch date, OnePlus has also revealed key specifications of the N6 Lite. 

OnePlus N6 Lite India launch date

The OnePlus N6 Lite launches in India on September 22nd, which is just a week away. The smartphone will be available through OnePlus.in, the OnePlus Store App, Amazon India OnePlus Experience Stores, and select retail outlets across India. More details like its sale, price, and offers will be revealed on launch day. 

OnePlus N6 Lite specifications

OnePlus N6 Lite is confirmed to house a 7,000mAh battery, which is claimed to deliver up to three days of usage on a single charge. The smartphone is also said to deliver up to 26.8 hours of video playback, 29.9 hours of Google Maps navigation, and 49.7 hours of phone calling. It also comes with reverse charging wired support so you can use it to charge other devices. The battery is engineered to retain over 80 percent health after six years, according to OnePlus. 

OnePlus has also revealed the N6 Lite will feature a 6.75-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It will feature rounded edges, weigh 215g, and measure 8.95 thick, suggesting a lightweight device. The smartphone will be available in Midnight Hype and Neo Green colour options and come with MIL-STD-810H military-grade durability. OnePlus is also promising 36-Month Fluency Protection for the N6 Lite's capabilities across display, durability, and everyday use.

More details include AI Clear Face and AI Eraser features for the N6 Lite. It will most likely launch with OxygenOS 16 out of the box.

The N6 Lite is tipped to launch as the most affordable OnePlus phone yet. If so, it would be even more affordable than the OnePlus N6x, which currently occupies the entry point into OnePlus' budget lineup, starting at Rs 20,999. This could make the OnePlus N6 Lite more appealing, especially for those who want a large-battery phone. 

The OnePlus N6 Lite will most likely target battery-focused users in the budget segment. If you've been wanting to buy a budget OnePlus phone with a large battery, the N6 Lite could be worth waiting for. 

• Googlebook pre-orders will open on September 21 through five major PC brands.
• Googlebook brings Gemini features and deeper Android integration to laptops.
• Early reports suggest premium Googlebooks could feature OLED displays and powerful processors.

[/highlights]

Google is moving closer to the launch of Googlebook, its new category of laptops built around Gemini Intelligence. The company has confirmed that pre-orders will open on September 21, with Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP and Lenovo among the first manufacturers to bring Googlebooks to market.

While Google has now confirmed the pre-order date, it has yet to reveal pricing, the complete hardware lineup or when the first devices will actually ship. Here's what we know so far.

What makes Googlebook different?

Google is positioning Googlebook as a new category of flagship laptops, rather than a direct replacement for Chromebooks. The main difference is how deeply Gemini is integrated into the experience, with the AI designed to understand what users are doing on screen and help them act on it.

One of the main features is Magic Pointer, which lets users point at something on screen and ask Gemini to analyse, compare or create with it without moving content into a separate chatbot. Create My Widget takes a similar approach, allowing users to build personalised desktop widgets by simply describing what they want, including information from services such as Gmail and Calendar.

Googlebook teaser is out 👀

Google is getting ready to bring a new kind of laptop built around Gemini Intelligence.

💻 New Googlebook design
✨ Magic Pointer for instant Gemini access
📱 Deeper Android phone integration
🌈 Signature Glowbar

📅 Pre-orders start September 21 at… pic.twitter.com/0plPUeqiF9

— Abhishek Yadav (@yabhishekhd) September 15, 2026

Google is also putting a big emphasis on Android integration. Cast My Apps lets users open phone apps on the laptop without installing them separately, while Quick Access provides access to files stored on their Android phone. Google says these features require a phone running Android 17 or newer.

Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP and Lenovo will make the first Googlebooks, giving the platform a range of devices rather than a single reference model. Each Googlebook will also feature Google's Glowbar, which serves as a visual identifier for the new platform.

While Google has not revealed the complete hardware specifications yet, Android Police reports that the first devices could feature 16:10 displays, with higher-end models potentially using OLED panels with high refresh rates. The publication also reports that Snapdragon X Elite and Intel processors are among the possible hardware options. These details remain unconfirmed for now.

Google is expected to reveal more at a New York event for the media, which is scheduled ahead of the September 21 pre-order date. That should give us a much clearer idea of the devices, pricing and hardware differences between the first Googlebook models.

Should you wait for Googlebook?

We know a little more about the product now compared to when it was first announced in May. There are, however, still some major questions that remain unanswered, particularly around pricing, hardware configurations and shipping.

For existing Chromebook users, the new platform could offer a step forward if Google's Gemini features prove useful in everyday tasks. Android users also have a clear reason to pay attention because the phone integration could make switching between devices much easier.

The biggest challenge, however, lies in convincing buyers that these AI-first features are worth paying a premium for when Windows laptops and traditional Chromebooks already offer mature experiences. Googlebook has a worthwhile idea behind it, but its success will depend less on how Gemini actually makes everyday laptop tasks easier.

There are also a lot of challenges surrounding the actual hardware itself, with RAM and storage prices staying at highly inflated prices, so if the Googlebook's pricing isn't worthwhile, users would most likely choose to adopt more tested options like a regular Windows machine or Chromebooks at an entry-level segment. 

With pre-orders opening on September 21, we should finally get a much clearer picture of Google's strategy, including pricing and the hardware it believes can define this new category.

• The Dimensity 9600 Pro is MediaTek's first chipset built on a 2nm process.
• Other highlights include dual Prime cores, native INT4 acceleration, and AI processing across the CPU, GPU, ISP, and connectivity.

[/highlights]

MediaTek Dimensity 9600 Pro SoC has officially been launched in China. The latest flagship chipset is the company's first built on TSMC's 2nm process and brings upgrades in performance, AI and power efficiency over the Dimensity 9500. The Dimensity 9600 Pro uses MediaTek's fourth-generation All-Big-Core CPU architecture with a new dual-Prime-Core clocked at up to 4.55Ghz. The chipset also features a new GPU, more advanced image processing capabilities, and deeper AI integration across the platform.

Key specs

• 2nm TSMC process node
• 2x C2 Ultra prime cores (4.55GHz) + 3x C2 Pro performance cores (4.35GHz) + 3x C2 Pro efficiency cores (3.1GHz)
• 12-core Mali G2 Ultra NX GPU
• 34.5MB total system Cache
• up to LPDDR6 RAM and UFS 5.0 storage support
• eNPU 2.0 and 10th-gen NPU 1090
• INT4 acceleration for on-device AI
• 4K 240 fps slow-mo recording

As the first 'Pro' model in MediaTek's flagship SoCs, the chipset brings improvements across the board. You can read all about it in our Dimensity 9600 Pro SoC performance first-look article. To give you an overview, the dual Prime cores on the latest chipset bring roughly an 8 percent improvement over the Dimensity 9500 SoC in terms of clock speed.

The Dimensity 9600 Pro also features a 12-core Mali G2 Ultra NX GPU, with support for hardware-accelerated ray tracing. It also comes with support for the latest LPDDR6 memory and UFS 5 storage for fast data transfer speeds, along with up to 34.5MB of total system cache to improve performance and efficiency.

Additionally, MediaTek's Native AI Architecture integrates AI processing across the CPU, GPU, ISP and connectivity stack, rather than relying solely on the dedicated NPU. The Dimensity 9600 Pro features a dual-NPU setup comprising the eNPU 2.0 and the 10th-generation Super Performance NPU 1090.

The chipset also introduces native INT4 acceleration for on-device AI workloads, which MediaTek claims reduces the memory and computation resources required for AI models such as Agentic AI and GenAI. The new approach is said to bring up to 51 percent faster LLM performance and 40 percent better power efficiency for on-device AI.

The new flagship SoC is designed to improve gaming performance through its upgraded GPU and Neural Graphics Architecture. MediaTek also claims a 24 percent reduction in power consumption compared to the Dimensity 9500. The chipset supports AI-assisted neural upscaling, hardware-accelerated ray tracing and 4K 240fps slow-motion video recording.

MediaTek has not yet announced the first commercial smartphones that will launch with the Dimensity 9600 Pro. The chipset is expected to feature in several flagship devices in the next generation. So if you are looking for a smartphone with next-gen performance, graphics, and AI capabilities, the Dimensity 9600 Pro-powered smartphone is worth waiting for. The phone is expected to land in India as early as later this year.

• Realme has confirmed a September 21st pop-up launch for the Realme 16 Pro Harry Potter Edition in India.
• The company has revealed the phone's Hogwarts-inspired design and a limited-edition gifting box containing Harry Potter-themed collectibles.
• The regular Realme 16 Pro starts at around Rs 44,999 in India.

[/highlights]

Realme has revealed details about the Realme 16 Pro Harry Potter Edition ahead of its September 21st pop-up launch in India. The company has now shown the phone's Hogwarts-inspired design and revealed the contents of a limited-edition gifting box being launched alongside it.

The special edition has been developed with Warner Bros, following last year's Realme 15 Pro Game of Thrones Limited Edition.

Realme 16 Pro Harry Potter Edition design and box

The Realme 16 Pro Harry Potter Edition gets a brown rear panel with a leather-like texture and an Argyle pattern inspired by the Wizard's Chess scene. A Hogwarts crest is placed at the centre, while the Metal Mirror Camera Deco has been designed to resemble the eyes of Hedwig, Harry Potter's owl. The metallic mid-frame carries a laser-engraved "Welcome to Hogwarts" slogan, adding another reference to the franchise.

Realme is also offering a Hogwarts-themed gifting box limited to 5,000 units worldwide. Designed as a 1:1 replica of Harry Potter's trunk, it contains an acceptance letter, train ticket, Hogwarts crest bookmarks, character postcards, a Hogwarts-logo phone case and a phone pin.

Realme 16 Pro specs and price

Realme hasn't announced the price of the Harry Potter Edition. The regular Realme 16 Pro features a 6.78-inch 144Hz AMOLED display, MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Max chipset, 7,000mAh battery with 80W charging, 200MP OIS main camera, 8MP ultrawide camera and 50MP selfie camera.

An earlier leak suggested the Harry Potter Edition could come with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. That configuration of the Realme 16 Pro originally launched in India at Rs 36,999. However, pricing for the series has since increased, with current models starting at around Rs 44,999 and the top-end variant priced at Rs 49,999.

If the Harry Potter Edition carries a significant premium, the standard Realme 16 Pro could make more sense for buyers primarily interested in specifications. The limited edition is instead aimed at Harry Potter fans who are willing to pay for its themed design and collectibles. The launch reflects a wider smartphone industry trend of using entertainment franchises and pop culture collaborations to create limited-edition devices, helping brands differentiate otherwise similar hardware while giving fans a stronger reason to engage with and collect their products.

• Redmi Note 17 Pro Max comes with a massive 10,000mAh battery.
• Both phones are powered by Snapdragon 6 Gen series chipsets.
• The Redmi Note 17 Pro series starts at Rs 36,999 in India. 

[/highlights]

The Redmi Note 17 Pro series is now official in India as the latest phones from the company's popular mid-range lineup. The lineup includes two phones: the Redmi Note 17 Pro Max and Redmi Note 17 Pro. Both phones stand out for battery endurance, with the Note 17 Pro Max offering a 10,000mAh battery. The Redmi Note 17 Pro series also comes with a colour-changing design and a patterned finish. 

Redmi Note 17 Pro series price in India, availability

The Redmi Note 17 Pro starts at Rs 36,999 for the base variant with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. Sale starts on September 17th for the Note 17 Pro, with Redmi offering an instant bank discount of Rs 3,000. The Note 17 Pro Max has a starting price of Rs 49,999 for the 8GB + 256GB variant, and it will be available on September 23rd with an instant bank discount of Rs 5,000.

Before we get into the details, here's a quick look at the Redmi Note 17 Pro series specifications.

Redmi Note 17 Pro series specifications

Both the Redmi Note 17 Pro Max and Redmi Note 17 Pro share a similar set of specifications. Starting with the display, it's a large 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. The chipset is one area where the two phones differ. The Pro Max gets the Snapdragon 6 Gen 5, while the Pro gets the Snapdragon 6s Gen 4. These chipsets seem capable for everyday performance but not for heavy loads, and are actually a downgrade from the Redmi Note 15 Pro+, which uses the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4.

The biggest highlight, however, is the battery. The Redmi Note 17 Pro Max packs a massive 10,000mAh silicon-carbon battery with 100W charging, a significant jump over the 6,500mAh cell on the Note 15 Pro+, which also supports 100W charging. The Pro Max also gets 27W reverse charging, making its battery useful for topping up other devices.

The Redmi Note 17 Pro is no less. It packs a large 9,000mAh battery with 67W wired and 22.5W reverse charging support. This is also a significant upgrade over the Redmi Note 15 Pro's 6,580mAh battery and should result in multi-day usage. 

For photography, you get a 50MP primary sensor and an 8MP ultra-wide lens on the Redmi Note 17 Pro series. The Pro Max houses a 32MP front camera, while the Pro model comes with a 16MP sensor. On the software front, both phones run HyperOS 3 with Android 16 out of the box. Both phones will get 4 OS upgrades and six years of security updates. The handsets also come with IP66/IP68/IP69/IP69K ratings for dust and water resistance. 

With the Redmi Note 17 Pro series, the company appears to be prioritising battery endurance over other key hardware. The handsets could appeal to heavy users and travelers who rely heavily on battery endurance. Overall, the Redmi Note 17 Pro series looks positioned as an endurance-focused upgrade, trading some camera and performance credentials for a much larger battery.

• iPhone 18 Pro orders in India and the US are now showing September 29th to October 6th delivery estimates.
• The iPhone 18 Pro Max has slipped further, with deliveries estimated from October 6th in India and the US.
• Prices start at Rs 1,64,900 for the iPhone 18 Pro and Rs 1,79,900 for the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

[/highlights]

Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max have started seeing longer delivery times just days after pre-orders opened. While customers who ordered early are still expected to receive their phones on September 18th, Apple's online store now shows delivery estimates extending into October in both India and the US.

The delay is more pronounced for the iPhone 18 Pro Max, which could leave new buyers waiting almost a month after the phones officially go on sale. For buyers who want one of Apple's latest Pro models immediately, checking availability through physical stores or other authorised sellers may be worth considering before placing an order with a later delivery date.

iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max delivery dates

On the Apple India Store, the iPhone 18 Pro currently has an estimated delivery window of September 29th to October 6th across its colours and storage variants. The iPhone 18 Pro Max is showing an October 6th to October 11th window. The situation is similar in the US. The iPhone 18 Pro is estimated to arrive between September 29th and October 6th, while the Pro Max is listed for October 6th to October 13th. This means the smaller Pro has a relatively shorter wait, although some orders could still arrive in October.

Both phones are available with 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB storage options. In India, the iPhone 18 Pro starts at Rs 1,64,900, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at Rs 1,79,900. Both models are available in Burgundy, Glacier, Silver and Black.

Should you wait for the iPhone 18 Pro Max?

At these prices, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max sit in the premium flagship segment, competing with high-end models such as the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and Google Pixel 11 Pro XL. Buyers therefore have alternatives, which are incidentally cheaper at least for now, if Apple's extended delivery timelines become a problem.

The Pro Max costs another Rs 15,000 over the Pro, so buyers should also consider whether its larger display and other hardware differences are worth the premium. For those who simply want the latest iPhone Pro experience, the smaller iPhone 18 Pro may make more sense, particularly with its earlier estimated delivery.

However, buyers who specifically want the Pro Max should avoid choosing a configuration purely to get an earlier delivery without checking the final estimate. If the phone is not needed immediately, waiting for stock to stabilise could be the better option rather than paying a premium elsewhere.

• iQOO 16 is confirmed to sport a 2K resolution OLED panel with 165Hz refresh rate.
• iQOO 16 will come in three distinct colourways.
• The phone will be available to purchase right after the launch event.

[/highlights]

With the Vivo X500 series and OPPO Find X10 series' launch dates out, iQOO has now revealed when it will unveil its next flagship, the iQOO 16, in China. Along with the launch date, the brand has officially shared the design and three colourways the smartphone will be available in. Just yesterday, the Vivo sub-brand detailed the display specifics during a dedicated event.

iQOO 16 to debut in China in the last week of September, colour variants revealed

The iQOO 16 China launch is set for September 29th. Interestingly, buyers who want to experience the phone quickly can purchase it immediately after the launch event. While the company has previously teased the iQOO 16's design, it has now revealed all the colourways: Chasing Light with shifting light effects, Legend with a light-shade back panel, and Track, a dark grey shade with a matte finish.

iQOO 16 specifications: what we know so far

Beyond bleeding-edge gaming and performance, the company is placing a lot of emphasis on the iQOO 16's display. It combines a 2K resolution and a 165Hz refresh rate, making it the first smartphone in the world to do so. While the iQOO 15 also sported a 2K panel, that high resolution makes images and text look sharper, while the 165Hz refresh rate lets the phone push higher frame rates in games. Higher refresh rates also let brands market the phone around bigger numbers, which tend to attract attention in an industry with intense competition.

The panel is developed jointly with Samsung Display using Samsung's M16 luminescent OLED material and new 2K LEAD 2.0 technology. The display will support 1,100 nits of manual peak brightness, 2,800 nits of global peak brightness and up to 10,000 nits of local peak brightness. These numbers should keep content bright enough even in challenging situations, such as under direct sunlight.

As for other specifications, the iQOO 16 is likely to be powered by Qualcomm's upcoming flagship Snapdragon chipsets, set to launch on September 22nd during the Snapdragon Summit. One can expect the phone to feature multiple cooling systems, such as a large vapour chamber, to ensure minimal to no thermal throttling when the device is pushed to its limits during gaming.

For cameras, it may deploy triple 50MP rear cameras, including a telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, just like the iQOO 15. It may house an around 8,500mAh battery with up to 100W fast charging. Notably, the iQOO 16 will ship with OriginOS 7 out of the box, which includes multiple design refinements and performance improvements.

While we still don't know the iQOO 16's processor details, history suggests iQOO flagships are tuned to deliver high-end performance across tasks, whether gaming, video editing, or intensive multitasking. So the phone could be a worthy option for power users who're constantly on their phones and need an uninterrupted, smooth experience. Therefore, users can keep the iQOO 16 on their radar if they're seeking an all-round performance device if it launches here in India. Though waiting for full reviews could provide a full picture of how it performs in real life.

• OPPO F35 and F35 Pro are expected to launch in India in October, with six colours across the two models.
• Leaked images suggest the F35 Pro shares its rear design with the OPPO A7 Pro Max, while the F35 resembles the A7 Pro.
• The OPPO F35 Pro is tipped to feature a 10,000mAh battery and could be priced at Rs 40,000-Rs 45,000 in India.

[/highlights]

OPPO is preparing to expand its F-series lineup in India with the F35 and F35 Pro. The company has already confirmed that the F35 series is coming to the country, following a teaser that revealed the series name and 5G connectivity. Now, leaked images shared by Gizmochina provide a look at the designs and colour options of both phones. The images also offer some clues about how closely the upcoming F35 models could be related to OPPO's Chinese A7 Pro series.

OPPO F35 series design leaked

The leaked image shows six colour options in total for the OPPO F35 series. The OPPO F35 Pro is shown in brown, orange and light blue, while the standard F35 appears in pink, silver and purple. OPPO is also using different rear finishes, including a floral-style pattern on the pink model and a wave-like design on the light-blue variants.

The design similarities with the A7 Pro series are noticeable. The OPPO F35 Pro's rear camera module closely resembles the one seen on the A7 Pro Max, with two large cameras on the left, two smaller circular elements and a flash arranged inside a broad, rounded rectangular island. The light-blue F35 Pro also appears to use a similar wave-like rear finish to the A7 Pro Max.

The standard OPPO F35, meanwhile, looks closer to the A7 Pro. Its leaked design features two large circular cameras placed side by side in a horizontal camera bar, along with a third circular element for the flash. The pink F35 also has a floral pattern that resembles the pink A7 Pro shown alongside the leaked F35 images. These similarities lend weight to earlier reports that the F35 series could be based on, or reworked from, the A7 Pro lineup for India.

OPPO F35 series specifications and India launch timeline

OPPO is expected to launch the F35 series in India in October, with India tipped to be the first market to receive the phones. Other markets could follow later. The F35 Pro is reportedly the more ambitious model, with a possible 10,000mAh battery, 6.78-inch 1.5K LTPS OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, Snapdragon 4 Gen 5 chipset and UFS 3.1 storage. A 50MP primary camera and 50MP autofocus front camera have also been tipped, along with IP66, IP68 and IP69K ratings.

The reported Rs 40,000-Rs 45,000 price would be a significant increase over the OPPO F33 Pro's Rs 37,999 launch price. It would also put the F35 Pro against phones such as the Vivo S2 and Motorola Edge 70 Pro. Meanwhile, phones including the POCO X8 Power and Realme P4 Power offer 10,000mAh batteries at lower prices.

For buyers, the F35 Pro will need more than its reported 10,000mAh battery to justify a Rs 40,000-plus price. Its charging speed, camera performance and chipset will be important factors, so waiting for OPPO's official October announcement would be the safer choice.

• Redmi Note 17 Pro series is launching at 12 pm today.
• The lineup will include two phones.
• Redmi is hosting a live event for the launch. 

[/highlights]

The Redmi Note 17 Pro series is scheduled to launch in India today. The lineup will include two phones: Redmi Note 17 Pro and Redmi Note 17 Pro Max. With the upcoming phones, Redmi is focusing on battery endurance. The company has already confirmed a 10,000mAh battery for the Redmi Note 17 Pro series. Both phones are also teased to feature interesting designs with a colour-changing rear panel. 

Redmi Note 17 Pro series India launch: how to watch

The Redmi Note 17 Pro series launch event in India is scheduled to take place at 12 noon today. Redmi is hosting a livestream for the launch event. We've linked the YouTube page below where you can watch the event and catch up on the latest updates. 

https://www.youtube.com/live/L9CWxxqKJbE

The Redmi Note 17 Pro series is confirmed to go on sale via Amazon. It's expected to be available through other platforms like Xiaomi India's online store and retail outlets. 

Redmi Note 17 Pro series: what to expect

The Redmi Note 17 Pro series is confirmed to pack a massive 10,000mAh battery, claimed to last for over four days of usage. This would make the Redmi Note 17 Pro Max one of the best phones for battery life if it lives up to its claim. The Redmi Note 17 Pro series is also expected to compete with rivals from brands like Realme and OnePlus, which are known to offer massive batteries ranging from 9,000mAh to 10,000mAh. For durability, the Redmi Note 17 Pro series is expected to come with IP66/IP68/IP69/IP69K ratings. The handsets will also come with TÜV SÜD 5-star Titan quality certification, which is said to be the first in the industry.

The Redmi Note 17 Pro is confirmed to feature the Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 chipset, while the Note 17 Pro Max will get the Snapdragon 6 Gen 5. Although not tested, these chipsets are expected to deliver reliable everyday performance. 

Both the Redmi Note 17 Pro Max and Redmi Note 17 Pro feature a similar design. The Note 17 Pro Max in particular comes in a ‘Secret Sunrise' colour, which has a photochromic, colour-changing material on the rear design featuring clouds and portraying a sunrise.

The launch is only a few hours away, so we should know more about the devices very soon. The Redmi Note 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max seem aimed at buyers who prioritise battery endurance over everything else. If you're on a Note 15 Pro, this might be a significant upgrade, especially for the battery life. 

• Siri AI has been integrated into iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, and watchOS 27
• iOS 27 introduces a slider to adjust the intensity of Liquid Glass design.
• macOS 27 refines window corner radii for a more cohesive look.

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Apple unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro series and iPhone Duo, along with several other new products, last week in what many consider the company's grandest launch event in years. During the presentation, the company announced that the next iteration of all of its operating systems will start rolling out on September 14th. As promised, iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, and tvOS 27 have started rolling out to eligible devices, letting users finally get a taste of what Apple has to offer across new features, design refinements, performance improvements, and Apple Intelligence.

What's new on Apple's newest operating systems

iOS 27 and iPadOS 27

iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 bring a major upgrade to Siri, making it a more conversational, context-aware AI assistant. It can understand personal data, see what's on your screen, handle multi-step tasks across apps, and maintain ongoing conversations. A dedicated Siri app stores chat history, while new customisation options and a Camera "Siri mode" add further flexibility. Siri AI is an answer to the rising dominance of Google's Gemini across devices.

The update also refines the Liquid Glass design with a transparency slider and sharper visuals, delivers noticeable performance gains (faster app launches, quicker photo loading, and improved AirDrop speeds), and adds powerful Apple Intelligence-powered editing tools in Photos, including Clean Up, Extend, and Spatial Reframing. Safari becomes smarter with automatic tab grouping and webpage update alerts, while AirPods finally receive a long-requested system-wide Custom EQ.

Additional highlights include an improved Image Playground, support for app names in the status bar on iPadOS 27, limited iPhone Handoff for dual-device calling/messaging, and various refinements across Maps, iCloud Shared Albums, Wallet, parental controls, and accessibility.

iPhones eligible for iOS 27

• iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air, iPhone 17e
• iPhone 16e, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max
• iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max
• iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max
• iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max
• iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone SE (2020), iPhone SE (2022)

For a deeper look at the features and the process to download and install iOS 27, refer to our iOS 27 launch story.

macOS 27

macOS 27 Golden Gate, just like iOS 27, brings a significantly more capable Siri AI, now deeply integrated into Spotlight. It offers better personal context awareness, on-screen understanding via Visual Intelligence, multi-turn conversations, and a dedicated Siri app that syncs history across devices. Users can also customise voice pacing and expressiveness.

The update refines window corner radii for a more cohesive look, adds edge-to-edge sidebars, restores colourful sidebar icons, and improves readability. Performance and usability improve through a rebuilt Search/Spotlight system, smoother animations, better ultrawide display support, and snappier overall responsiveness.

Other notable additions include smarter Safari features (automatic topic-based tab grouping and "Notify Me" alerts for webpage changes), advanced Apple Intelligence-powered Photos tools (improved Clean Up, Extend, and Spatial Reframing), natural-language Shortcut and extension creation, enhanced parental controls, and various refinements across accessibility, Calendar, and Continuity features.

watchOS 27

watchOS 27 introduces Siri AI to the Apple Watch, bringing a more capable and conversational assistant powered by Apple Intelligence. It supports personal context, multi-turn conversations, and a dedicated Siri app that syncs history across devices. A new dynamic app grid appears when pressing the Digital Crown, prioritising Siri and suggested apps for quicker access.

Health and fitness see meaningful upgrades, such as Workout Buddy now works without a nearby iPhone, offers new insights on pace, distance and duration progress, and adds Spanish language support. Cycle Tracking gains perimenopause and menopause notifications, while indoor run and walk distance tracking becomes more accurate. Usability improvements include a new single-tap gesture (pinching index finger and thumb) to select Smart Stack widgets one-handed, expanded Smart Stack suggestions (parked car, birthdays, transit cards, etc.), refined Liquid Glass for better readability, improved battery efficiency, faster app launches, and a consolidated Find My experience. A new Siri Modular watch face is also available.

Should you update?

Apple's latest operating system promises major design enhancements for better appearance and legibility, improved performance and stability across iOS, iPad, and macOS, and, finally, upgrades Siri to deliver more contextual results. Given these improvements and additions, it could be worth updating for a smoother, more capable, and more refined software experience.

• Vivo V80 could boast AI Creative Camera, a feature already found on the Vivo X300 FE.
• There's no hint of a Vivo V80 Elite at the moment.
• Vivo V80 is expected to launch in the first week of October.

[/highlights]

Continuing its tradition of releasing V-series smartphones every six months or so, Vivo appears to be preparing to launch the V80 in India. While the phone is tipped to launch in the first week of October, 91mobiles has learned from insider sources the camera features, software, and battery capacity it may have. Also, since Vivo introduced an 'Elite' model with the V70 series, there's no information yet on whether the V80 Elite will follow suit.

Vivo V80 camera modes, AI effects details

Per our source, the Vivo V80 could feature an AI Creative Camera mode with over 30 AI effects. This addition could be similar to the one on the Vivo X300 FE, which debuted with 25 styles, including Sunlight, Glow, Dream, Dune, Underwater, Firework, and more, adapting to the scene and converting it based on the selected theme.

Then there's the Live Sticker Collage feature, which, as the name suggests, may allow users to create a collage using Live Photos and stickers. Both AI Creative Camera mode and Live Sticker Collage could be fun ways to customise your photos with little effort and share them on social media on the go. The AI Diwali Portrait on the Vivo V60 could get an upgrade to deliver better-quality photos.

Lastly, a key highlight of the Vivo V80 could be that it may run on an Android 17-based OriginOS 7 skin out of the box, which is officially debuting in China on September 16th. While there's no word on when the software will make its global debut, Vivo could host a dedicated event to announce the firmware's new features shortly after the China launch. Per official teasers, OriginOS 7 is set to bring Liquid Glass-like design, Atomic Workbench, a Stage Manager-like feature, and several under-the-hood performance improvements.

[caption id="attachment_713802" align="alignnone" width="2922"] OriginOS 7 glass design[/caption]

On the hardware front, the Vivo V80 could boast a 7,200mAh battery, potentially offering a noticeable improvement over the Vivo V70 series' 6,500mAh battery.

How will Vivo position the V80 in the market?

Based on what we know so far, Vivo appears to be sticking to its roots of offering a camera-centric smartphone with multiple software quirks and additions to play around with. The Vivo V80, with its camera effects and software features, could add a fun flair to capturing images, making it suitable for photography hobbyists, creators, and users who want instant ready-made photography results.

The Vivo V70 is currently listed for Rs 59,999 on Vivo's online store. Given the current memory price hikes, the Vivo V80 could be priced higher than its predecessor.

• Prices of the latest iPhones have a drastic difference between India and other countries. 
• The iPhone Duo in the US costs around Rs 1.09 lakh more than in India.
• Retailers fear Indians will purchase the new iPhones abroad, leading to a drop in sales. 

[/highlights]

Apple's latest iPhones launched globally and in India last week to much fanfare. The company also unveiled its first-ever foldable, the iPhone Duo. But beyond the excitement around the new models, it was their pricing that grabbed the most attention. The smartphone industry is already dealing with rising memory costs and price hikes across segments. So, higher prices for Apple's latest iPhones were expected. What caught people off guard, however, was the stark difference between their prices in India and other markets.

Take the iPhone Duo, for instance. It is priced at Rs 2,99,900 in India, nearly Rs 3 lakh, compared with $1,999 in the US, or roughly Rs 1.9 lakh. Apple also raised the prices of older models. The iPhone 17, which launched at Rs 82,999, now costs Rs 99,900, pushing it close to the Rs 1 lakh mark. While prices have gone up in the US as well, the increase is far steeper in India— 20.5 percent compared with 12.5 percent in the US.

The steep pricing of the latest iPhone models is reportedly worrying retailers in India, with the iPhone 18 Pro series and iPhone Duo expected to drive the country's first-ever annual decline in iPhone sales, according to an Economic Times report. Research firms IDC and Counterpoint are forecasting a low-single-digit decline.

Retailers also fear 'affluent Indians' may choose to buy iPhones abroad. The UAE, for instance, offers the iPhone Duo at around Rs 2.2 lakh, with eligible buyers able to claim a VAT refund when leaving the country, bringing the effective price down further.

Usually, new iPhone launches also push down prices of older models, making festive-season sales an ideal time to upgrade. However, that may not be the case this year, as high prices could weigh on both new and older iPhone models amid an already weakening smartphone market in India. It's interesting to see how iPhone sales are affected this time, with the ongoing price hike issue already causing a dent in the smartphone market. 

The iPhone 18 Pro series goes on sale in India on September 18th. The iPhone Duo will be available to pre-order on October 16th and go on sale from October 23rd onwards. 

In a recent Power On newsletter, Gurman made some bold predictions about Apple's part in the foldable market. He says the Duo will "go down as one of the company's historic products, eventually turning foldable phones into the new normal."

Why is it called iPhone Duo in the first place?

Gurman has an answer for a question many people would have had, considering pre-launch rumours suggested the foldable would be called iPhone Ultra. Turns out, Apple wanted to keep a three-letter "Duo" suffix similar to "Air" and "Pro", which would allow room for additional suffixes, which would not have worked had Apple used "Ultra". 

Possible iPhone Duo successors

Given the "Duo" suffix Apple has chosen, Gurman suggests that Apple's foldable pipeline could include the iPhone Duo Max, which could feature a larger display. He wasn't clear whether larger meant taller, like the Galaxy Fold8 Ultra, or larger in width. That said, a book-style foldable seems like the logical next move for Apple if it wants to take on Samsung and Google.

Gurman also predicts a possible iPhone Duo SE or Duo Mini, the former offering stripped-down specs to target a more affordable price point, as the SE series is known for, while the latter suggests a clamshell design.

Foldables are still niche, but Gurman believes the iPhone Duo can make them mainstream in a way other foldables haven't been able to so far. He predicts "the iPhone Duo will help make foldables the market-leading phone form-factor in a decade."

As for future iPhone Duo models, it's too early to talk about specifications at the moment, but Gurman believes the third-gen iPhone Duo will get Face ID and a telephoto camera. These predictions seem plausible, but there's a long way to go before we can see any of this come to light. For now, we have the iPhone Duo to look forward to, which goes on sale in October with a starting price of Rs 2,99,900.