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.

Alibaba has launched Qwen Intelligence as a full-stack agentic AI platform designed for smartphones. The move positions Qwen to power on-device AI assistants that can carry out tasks autonomously rather than simply answering questions. It puts Alibaba in direct competition with other tech giants racing to supply phone makers with agentic AI software as smartphones become the main battleground for consumer AI.

Some members of Gen Z, who grew up on smartphones rather than keyboards, are teaching themselves typing skills to write AI prompts more effectively and gain an edge in the job market. Educators and career coaches note that fast, accurate typing can improve productivity with tools like ChatGPT and remains a basic workplace expectation, prompting young workers to close the gap themselves.

A new survey finds that 8 in 10 people aged 16 to 34 say smartphone use harms their everyday life, according to Dutch news outlet NL Times. The finding highlights growing concern among young adults themselves about the impact of constant phone use on sleep, focus and social life, and feeds into wider debate over digital wellbeing and possible limits on screen time.

Qualcomm has announced its next generation flagship mobile processors, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. The new chips are set to power upcoming premium smartphones, continuing Qualcomm's Elite line of top-tier mobile silicon. Details on performance gains and supported devices are expected as handset makers confirm adoption in the coming months.

A new opinion piece challenges the increasingly popular argument that smartphones and social media are the main cause of rising anxiety and unhappiness among teenagers. It questions whether the evidence linking phone use to teen mental health decline is as strong as claimed, reopening a debate that has shaped school phone bans and parenting advice worldwide.

Qualcomm has announced two new flagship smartphone chips, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and the 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. The company describes both as flagship processors, with differences between them limited mainly to improved AI processing, video capture, and gaming performance. Tech watchers are weighing what the modest spec changes mean for next year's premium Android phones.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

Reports say a variable aperture camera system intended for the iPhone 18 Pro has passed testing, but with a significant catch attached to the claim. Variable aperture would let the phone adjust its lens opening for better low-light shots and depth control, a feature more common on dedicated cameras. Details of the catch were not specified, leaving open questions about timing, cost, or whether the feature will ship as described.

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.

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.