smartphones

Technology companies are competing to develop dedicated hardware for artificial intelligence, and Meta believes it has produced a breakthrough device. The race reflects a broader industry push to move AI beyond smartphones and into purpose-built gadgets. Meta's entry puts it alongside rivals also trying to define what an AI-first consumer device should look like.

Financial commentary is weighing what could come next for Apple under new leadership, pointing to three likely priorities: a long-rumored foldable iPhone, building out AI server infrastructure, and expanding manufacturing and sales in India. The discussion frames these as key tests for the company's next phase, with investors watching how the strategy could affect Apple's stock and its competitive position against rivals in smartphones and artificial intelligence.

Apple and Qualcomm have renewed their chip licensing agreement, extending a business relationship that has swung between partnership and litigation over the years. Qualcomm supplies modem chips for iPhones under licensing terms, and the renewal keeps that arrangement in place. The deal matters for the semiconductor and smartphone industries since both companies depend on the continued supply relationship.

Qualcomm has announced two new smartphone chips as it deepens its push into on-device artificial intelligence, positioning itself against rivals in the mobile processor market. Despite the product launch, the company's stock edged lower in after-hours trading, suggesting investors were not immediately impressed or had expected more from the announcement.

Alibaba has launched Qwen Intelligence as a full-stack agentic AI platform designed for smartphones. The move positions Alibaba's Qwen models to power on-device AI agents capable of handling tasks across apps, intensifying competition in the mobile AI space with rivals like Apple, Google and Samsung.

Qualcomm has unveiled its next-generation flagship mobile processors, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. The new chips are positioned as the company's top-tier smartphone silicon, expected to power upcoming premium Android devices. Details on performance gains and device availability were not included in the initial announcement.

A new survey reported in the Netherlands finds that 8 in 10 people aged 16 to 34 say smartphone use harms their everyday life. The figure has drawn attention because it comes from the age group most associated with constant phone use, fueling debate about screen time, attention and digital wellbeing among young adults.

Some members of Gen Z are teaching themselves touch typing, a skill many skipped as smartphones replaced keyboards in their upbringing. The motivation is twofold: typing fluently lets them write and refine AI prompts more efficiently, and it gives them an advantage in office jobs where fast, accurate keyboard skills still matter. The trend highlights a skills gap created by a mobile-first generation entering keyboard-centric workplaces.

Apple's launch of a foldable iPhone is prompting investors to reassess the bull case for the company's stock. Commentary from analysts and market writers is focused on whether the new device category can reignite iPhone growth and justify bullish price targets for AAPL, as Apple looks for fresh revenue drivers in a maturing smartphone market.

TSMC has reportedly begun pilot production of chips on its A14 node, a 1.4nm-class process, with volume production targeted for 2028. The A14 line would succeed the current 2nm generation and keep the Taiwanese foundry ahead of rivals Samsung and Intel in the race for ever-smaller transistor sizes, with major customers such as Apple expected among early adopters.

A new wave of AI-powered devices is hitting the consumer market, ranging from small wearable "charms" to reimagined smart speakers. The products aim to embed artificial intelligence assistants into everyday objects, moving beyond smartphones. Coverage highlights both the ambition of these designs and questions over whether consumers are actually ready to adopt dedicated AI hardware.

Xiaomi has announced that its Android smartphones can now work with the Apple Watch, a notable cross-brand move since the smartwatch has long been limited to iPhones. The news is drawing attention in the tech press as an unusual instance of Apple and Xiaomi ecosystems overlapping, raising questions about what features will actually be available to users pairing the two devices.

Apple may have more hardware announcements in store this October, following the recent iPhone release. Reports suggest the company could unveil a second-generation HomePod mini and a new iPad mini, reportedly the eighth model, alongside its smartphone lineup. The news has drawn attention as Apple continues expanding its product refreshes beyond the usual September iPhone event.

Qualcomm's chief executive says the smartphone will remain the central device in people's digital lives, pushing back against claims that wearables, smart glasses or AI gadgets could replace it. The comments position the phone as the hub that other devices connect to, with Qualcomm betting its chip business on that continuing role.

A supply chain source claims Apple's first foldable iPhone will launch in September 2026. The report adds to ongoing speculation about Apple's entry into the foldable smartphone market, which competitors like Samsung have dominated for years. Details on pricing and specifications remain scarce, but analysts expect the device to be a major product cycle driver for Apple if the timeline holds.

Apple's iPhone Duo and Microsoft's Surface Duo share a name while representing very different approaches to mobile hardware. Microsoft's Surface Duo is a dual-screen foldable device running Android, while the iPhone Duo name refers to Apple's smartphone line. The naming overlap is drawing attention as both companies market competing premium devices.

Nintendo is ending service for Mario Kart Tour, its mobile Mario Kart game that launched on 25 September 2019. The shutdown will come just five days after the game's seventh anniversary. Gamers are marking the occasion and raising concerns about preservation, since smartphone titles that rely on servers typically become unplayable once official support ends.

Xiaomi has introduced a Pocket Guitar, a compact gadget designed to attach to smartphones and let users play a portable string instrument. The announcement has drawn attention among gadget enthusiasts curious about how the device works and who it is aimed at. Details on pricing and availability were not included in initial reports, and reactions to the product are still limited.