smartphones

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.

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.

PostmarketOS, the community project that brings mainline Linux to smartphones and other mobile devices, is rebranding under a new name: Nura. The rename was announced on the project's blog, and discussion is underway among Linux and open-source enthusiasts about the motivations and what the change means for the distribution's future.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

vivo has unveiled OriginOS 7, the newest version of its Android-based operating system. The update introduces improved multitasking tools, a built-in AI agent, and stronger cross-device connectivity, letting users move tasks between vivo phones, tablets and other devices more seamlessly. Coverage so far focuses on the software's AI capabilities and how it positions vivo against rival smartphone makers pushing their own intelligent assistant features.

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.