OpenAI’s viral AI video generation tool, Sora, is officially expanding its reach. After a successful debut on iOS last month, the company has released the dedicated Sora app on Android. The move finally makes its hyperrealistic video capabilities available to millions more users via the Google Play Store.
Sora, which shares its name with the underlying video generation model, quickly became a social media phenomenon upon its initial release. The app allows users to create stunning and realistic videos—complete with audio and impressive physics. All you need is to type a text prompt or start with an existing image. OpenAI boasts that if you can type it, you can watch it, enabling everything from simple animations to surreal, cinematic scenes.
Sora arrives on Google Play for all eligible Android users
Other models, like Google’s Veo 3, can also generate videos. However, Sora packages this functionality into a focused, social experience. The app allows users to create videos in seconds, choose specific styles (cinematic, photorealistic, or surreal), and even inject themselves or friends into the resulting clips. Importantly, Sora encourages collaborative creativity by letting users “remix” others’ creations. “Remix” consists of swapping characters or changing the vibe of existing scenes.
The app’s popularity on Apple’s App Store was immediate, racking up over a million downloads in its first five days. It even dominated the app download rankings for several weeks. With the Android release, Sora aims to grow its user base significantly, potentially challenging rivals like Google’s Gemini in the charts.
Access still controlled
However, access is currently controlled. Users still need an invite code to actively use the app’s generation features. The launch is also limited to select nations. The list includes the U.S., Canada, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. That said, the expansion to Android signals OpenAI’s clear intent to bring its powerful AI generation tools to a truly global audience.
Lastly, OpenAI also encourages users to be responsible and tag their creations as AI-generated when uploading to social media platforms.
Apple is making a major, long-awaited strategic U-turn. For the first time in its history, the company is preparing to enter the highly competitive, low-cost laptop market. Apple is working on a brand new, budget-focused Macbook, shifting from its long-standing tradition of only chasing premium, high-margin hardware.
This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about an upcoming affordable Mac device. However, a recent report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gumber has revealed more key details.
Apple to launch budget MacBook laptop
Codenamed J700, Apple’s affordable portable Mac is currently deep in testing and expected to launch in the first half of next year (2026). The firm designed this laptop to directly lure away customers who might otherwise purchase a Google Chromebook or an entry-level Windows PC. Its target audience is broad: students and casual users who primarily browse the web and work on documents. It even could aim at potential iPad buyers who prefer the traditional keyboard-and-trackpad experience of macOS.
To achieve a price point well under the current $999 baseline for the MacBook Air, Apple made some clever engineering compromises. The laptop will feature a smaller, lower-end LCD display. We are talking about a panel slightly under the 13.6-inch screen on the current MacBook Air.
Powered by an iPhone processor
The most notable compromise is the processor. This budget machine will be the first Mac to rely on an iPhone processor instead of a chip custom-designed for the Mac lineup. While this might sound like a major downgrade, internal testing suggests the smartphone chip performs surprisingly well. It reportedly exceeded the performance of the Mac-optimized M1 chip used in laptops just a few years ago. By using a chip already manufactured in massive volume for the iPhone, Apple dramatically reduces production costs for the new budget-friendly Mac.
This strategic move comes as a response to market reality. Chromebooks are dominating in the education sector. Plus, the transition to Windows 11 has created an opening among PC users seeking a stable alternative. Furthermore, the budget Mac is positioned to undercut Apple’s own iPad and keyboard folio combo (which totals around $600). The device will offer better battery life and the full flexibility of the macOS software for a similar price.
Price hint
Regarding pricing, specific details are still unavailable, but there are clues. However, the report states that the Mac budget will cost “well under $1,000.” For reference, Apple’s cheapest Mac is the M4 MacBook Air (starting at $999). The company also conducted a “pricing experiment” by offering a discounted M1 MacBook Air for under $700.
The “affordable” Mac should still retain Apple’s signature design and tight ecosystem integration. So, it could get a massive wave of adoption from the beginning. This is especially true in the US market, where the iPhone already reigns supreme. This new budget laptop represents a new chapter for Apple, prioritizing market share and broad access over its traditional focus on exclusivity.
The end is officially near for Google Assistant. Google has already been slowly transitioning users to its more advanced Gemini AI model. Now, recent findings in the app’s code confirm the final stage of that transition: soon, users will lose the ability to switch back to the legacy Google Assistant entirely in favor of Gemini.
For the last year, Google offered a “safety net.” The signature allowed users who preferred the old experience to revert to Assistant through a simple setting. Those days are numbered. Google is now actively working to remove the choice screen from Gemini and the “Digital assistants from Google” settings menu. This move effectively locks users into the Gemini experience.
Google Assistant Is dead: Gemini prepares to become your only AI option
Beyond the philosophical shift away from Assistant, Google is introducing several user interface improvements to make the Gemini experience cleaner and more efficient for everyday use (spotted by Android Authority). When the AI is working on a complex query, users will see a refreshed processing animation. The latter will improve the visual feedback, letting people know instantly that Google is working on their request.
Google is also addressing the clutter that often plagues long, in-depth AI chats. With that in mind, the firm is implementing conversation management tools. They are adding “expand” and “collapse” buttons for long user queries, a feature already available on the web version of Gemini. This helps declutter the mobile interface by hiding the full text of a long prompt once the AI has responded.
Furthermore, there will be a new “Jump to bottom” button to navigate extensive conversation histories. This simple addition is highly useful for quickly catching up on the latest response without endlessly scrolling through previous exchanges.
Fans of the classic Google Assistant may mourn the loss of the familiar voice model. However, the move to Gemini is inevitable. Google is betting that the enhanced AI capabilities and the streamlined new interface will prove far more valuable than clinging to the past. The final switch may happen via a server-side update soon, making Gemini your only option.
The hype train for the upcoming Exynos 2600 chipset—the engine for the next Galaxy S26 flagship series in some regions—is accelerating once again. An unexpected benchmark downgrade briefly generated some concern regarding the chip’s performance recently, although subsequent updated results dispelled those. Now, the latest benchmark results for the Exynos 2600 chip on Geekbench confirm the upward trend in the chip’s raw power.
Fresh leaked results from internal Geekbench tests now show the Samsung Exynos 2600 chip reaching record-breaking performance numbers, suggesting the SoC is still gaining power.
Exynos 2600 hits new benchmark milestone on Geekbench
The latest information comes courtesy of tech tipster “Schrodinger,” who shared a screenshot of the recent scores. It’s important to note that these results are not yet publicly available on the Geekbench database, coming from internal testing. The source itself also has a short journey, so you can take it with a pinch of salt.
That being said, the alleged numbers themselves are impressive. The Exynos 2600 chip achieved scores of 3,960 in single-core and 12,121 in multi-core tests on Geekbench 6. This is a noticeable jump from the chip’s previous high-water mark, where it scored 3,455 and 11,621 points in the same tests.
Samsung drove these performance gains by slightly adjusting the clock speeds across the CPU cores for this latest test. The new configuration features a main core running at a faster 3.92GHz, compared to the 3.80GHz seen previously. All subsequent clusters also saw slight increases in speed (from 3.26GHz to 3.36GHz, and 2.76GHz to 2.82GHz).
The big question: Final clock speeds?
The key question remains: are these the final core clock figures for the Exynos 2600, or is Samsung testing an “overclocked” setup for internal review? The answer likely depends entirely on the thermal performance the chip delivered during these latest tests. Unfortunately, this data about thermals is unknown for now.
Regardless of the final configuration, the Exynos 2600 is clearly shaping up to be a real powerhouse. The constant improvement in benchmarks shows that Samsung is serious about closing the performance gap with its direct rivals: Qualcomm, Apple, and even Mediatek. So, buyers in regions receiving an Exynos-powered Samsung Galaxy S26 will finally feel they are receiving the same high-end performance as everyone.
It seems Samsung is dreaming big regarding its upgrading flagship phones. We’ve recently seen multiple leaks surrounding the Galaxy S26 series. However, these have focused on the potential key specs of the devices. Now, a fresh report reveals that Samsung is setting an aggressive target of $90.7 billion (around 130 trillion won) in Galaxy device sales for 2026, including a staggering 35 million units of Galaxy S26 phones in the first half of the next year alone.
According to the source, the company calls this anticipated success the “second heyday” for its smartphone business. It will be supported by two major engines of growth: AI-powered phones and increasingly mainstream foldables. This ambitious goal aims to revive a division that has been largely stagnant since its record-setting performance in 2013.
Samsung aims for 35M Galaxy S26 sales with AI push
At the heart of this strategy (reported by Korean outlet mk.co, via @Jukanlosreve) is the firm’s upcoming flagship series. The South Korean giant aims to sell a whopping 35 million units of the S26 series next year. The company is particularly bullish on the launch period, setting its sights on moving 24 million units in the first half alone. This is a notably higher target than the 22 million first-half sales achieved by its predecessor, the Galaxy S25. Samsung is clearly betting that the S26, with its deepened AI features, will drive big premium demand.
Foldables emerge as true flagships
The most significant strategic shift, however, is the role of the Fold and Flip models. The MX Division expects to sell a combined 5 million units of the next foldable lineup. Initial release plans are similar to those of recent years. That is, we will meet the next-gen Galaxy Z Flip in July 2026. This high target confirms Samsung is no longer treating its flexible devices as niche products. Instead, foldables are now true “mainstream” flagships, equal to the S-series in driving revenue.
If Samsung hits its overall goal of 240 million smartphones and 27 million tablets, the MX Division would reach an impressive 130 trillion won in annual sales. Reaching the $90.7 billion sales mark would inject significant positive momentum into the parent company, Samsung Electronics. In fact, the brand’s stock price is already trending upward due to rising memory chip prices.
Samsung acknowledges a key factor in the high-value target: the current exchange rate, which involves a weak Korean won. To achieve sustained, genuine growth that transcends currency effects, sales of premium products—namely the Galaxy S26 and the foldable smartphones—must increase dramatically. Samsung is betting that its focus on AI-powered phones is the key to unlocking its “revival.”
It seems that Google has set out to integrate the latest advanced image model into every possible service. Your next destination is Android‘s messaging experience. Code discovered in the latest beta version of Google Messages reveals the imminent launch of a “Remix,” a feature powered by its Nano Banana AI model, which will allow users to generate and edit images using text prompts right inside their chats.
The Nano Banana model, officially known as Gemini 2.5 Flash Image, boasts an exceptional ability to maintain the likeness of people and objects while altering style, background, or other details. Now, Google is about to integrate this magic where users need it most: in real-time conversations.
Google to bring Nano Banana-powered AI image editing to Messages: ‘Remix” feature
As spotted by Android Authority, Google will cleverly integrate the functionality into the app’s workflow. When composing a message and selecting an image from the media picker, users will see a new Remix option. Tapping this button will prompt an initial agreement to send the image to Google’s servers for processing.
Once enabled, users enter a simple text prompt describing the desired changes. You could take a photo of your dog, for example, and prompt it to “put him in a spacesuit on the moon.” Google processes the request and presents the generated image. If you like it, tapping “Done” replaces the original image with the new, remixed version. So, it will be ready to send it to your friends.
The Remix feature isn’t limited to images you are sending. Users can also access Nano Banana by long-pressing an image received in a chat. This allows you to remix photos from others, giving a fun, collaborative twist to conversations.
Expecting some limits
As is common with generative AI features, Google is expected to implement some guardrails and limits. Code within the app suggests that the Remix option will only appear when a single image is selected from the media picker. More importantly, there are hints that Google will place a daily limit on the number of images a user can remix.
It remains unclear whether users with paid subscriptions (like Google AI Pro or Ultra) will receive higher daily limits than those on the free tier. But the groundwork for monetization or controlled usage is clearly being laid.
It seems that all the necessary code is already functional within the beta app. So, the official rollout of the Nano Banana-powered Remix feature will likely be just a server-side switch away. This integration will totally transform the creative possibilities within Google Messages.
The question of how Google will monetize its new AI products just got clearer. Robbie Stein, Google’s VP of Product, recently confirmed the company is moving forward with ads in its Search features, specifically AI Mode and “other AI experiences.” Crucially, however, the executive did not explicitly mention the standalone Gemini chatbot service.
Some recent reports have mentioned that Gemini could receive ads soon. They cite Stein’s appearance on the “Silicon Valley Girl” podcast as the primary source. However, there have been some misinterpretations of his actual words.
Google VP confirms ads are under testing in Search’s AI Mode
In the podcast, Stein confirmed the ad integration is already underway, stating, “We’ve started some experiments on ads within AI Mode and within Google AI experiences” (via Live Mint) This confirms that the generative features integrated directly into the Search experience will become the next frontier for advertising revenue. However, Gemini was never mentioned as a product that will get ads.
Robbie Stein emphasized that the company’s primary focus has been on building great consumer products first. But he added that “users are starting to see some ad experiments there too.”
As mentioned before, the standalone Gemini chatbot service remains officially outside of this specific announcement. But the term “Google AI experiences” is purposefully broad. It suggests that any AI product connected to the main Google stream could eventually be included.
Exploring ad formats
Stein hinted that the ads we see may not look like the traditional sponsored links we know from decades of web searching. Google is exploring “new and novel ad formats” that could integrate more naturally into conversational interfaces. He sees this as an opportunity, suggesting that advertising in this new context could be “even more helpful for you, particularly in an advertising context.”
This confirms the direction of Google’s monetization strategy. The company will follow an AI-enhanced future that will still be driven by advertising revenue. While the exact format and location of these new AI ads are still taking shape, the experiments are in progress. This signals the next great evolution of search monetization for the company.
The advancement of text-to-video AI models like OpenAI’s Sora 2 has been rapid and unstoppable. However, the technology may have just hit a major roadblock from some of the most influential creators in the world. Companies behind some of the world’s most beloved Japanese IP—including Studio Ghibli, Square Enix, and Bandai Namco—have formally demanded that OpenAI immediately stop using their copyrighted content to train the Sora 2 video generation model.
CODA, which represents a powerhouse lineup of Japanese intellectual property (IP) holders, issued a formal demand to OpenAI. Their intervention follows a surge of Sora 2 output that clearly mimics, or closely resembles, famous Japanese characters and art styles—a trend previously seen when GPT-4o launched and flooded the internet with “Ghibli-style” images. The move could be the origin of a serious threat to the way generative AI gathers its data.
CODA Demands OpenAI stop using Japanese IP for Sora 2 AI text-to-video model
The core of the legal conflict lies in the difference between legal systems. CODA asserts that Sora 2’s outputs prove the model used their members’ content as machine learning data. This is where the infringement occurs, according to the group.
OpenAI has publicly discussed an opt-out system for IP holders. This means companies must actively request that their content be excluded from the training data. CODA, however, argues that this system violates the established legal precedent in Japan. Under Japanese copyright law, content creators must generally grant prior permission—an opt-in system—before their works can be used. Using an opt-out policy, CODA argues, does not excuse the liability for copyright infringement in the first place.
This is a key distinction. CODA is not just complaining about the generated videos that look like Studio Ghibli. They are actually claiming that the very act of copying the works for machine learning constitutes a copyright violation.
What happens next?
CODA’s formal request demands that OpenAI ensure its members’ content is not used for future AI training without explicit permission. It also insists that OpenAI sincerely address all copyright claims related to Sora 2’s outputs.
While there’s no immediate legal action announced, the tone from the trade group is firm. This conflict represents a major global challenge to the way large AI companies build their models. If major tech companies are forced to switch to an opt-in system, the volume and diversity of data available for training models could be severely limited. This would force a complete shift in AI development strategy.
Apple is officially rolling out the iOS 26.1 update to all iPhones and other eligible devices everywhere. The firmware packs the usual array of AI enhancements and bug fixes. However, the real headline involves two small toggles that bring back control to users. iOS 26.1 allows users to finally have a toggle to tame the polarizing “Liquid Glass” design aesthetic that debuted in iOS 26.
Apple finally adds toggle to turn off Liquid Glass with the iOS 26.1 update
The Liquid Glass effect adds a high degree of transparency to system elements like notification banners and tab bars. While the idea seems appealing, the final result has divided users since its launch. The biggest criticisms have focused on legibility issues stemming from contrast differences between UI elements and buttons. Well, thankfully, Apple listened to the feedback.
In iOS 26.1, you can navigate to Settings > Display & Brightness > Liquid Glass and choose your preference. The new “Tinted” option increases the opacity of these elements. Enabling this change adds contrast and tones down the distracting transparency. The default “Clear” look remains, but you no longer have to live with the controversial effect if it isn’t your preference.
More fixes and improvements
The Liquid Glass fix isn’t the only quality-of-life change based on user demand. For years, the dedicated “swipe to open camera” gesture on the lock screen has been a source of frustration. It has caused countless accidental camera app launches. Now, users can disable this feature entirely. A simple toggle in Settings > Camera allows you to turn off the gesture. This should end for good the unintentional “inside-pocket photography” while still leaving the physical Camera Control button and the Lock Screen icon available.
Beyond user experience fixes, the update expands Apple’s newest features. Apple Intelligence gains support for several new languages, including Swedish, Turkish, and Vietnamese, broadening the AI’s utility for a global user base. Similarly, AirPods Live Translation now works with several additional languages. The list includes Japanese, Korean, and Italian, making real-time conversations easier for travelers.
Other minor changes round out the update. Apple is simplifying its streaming video service, rebranding “Apple TV+” to the cleaner “Apple TV,” alongside a vibrant new app icon. In terms of interaction, dismissing an alarm or timer now requires a “Slide to Unlock” gesture instead of a simple tap. And, users can now swipe on the MiniPlayer in the Music app to quickly skip tracks.
Overall, iOS 26.1 may not be a major feature drop. However, by handing control back to the user for controversial visual and gesture elements, Apple delivered one of the most welcome updates in recent memory.
Google is making serious gains in the high-end smartphone market. Despite facing heavy competition from the launch of Apple’s iPhone 17 series, the Pixel 10 lineup helped Google achieve an unprecedented milestone: a new single-month sales record in the U.S.
The data comes from a recent report from Counterpoint Research. The report shows that Google’s Pixel sales in the U.S. jumped a massive 28% year-over-year in September 2025. Not surprisingly, Google’s market share still remains a fraction of giants like Apple and Samsung. However, this growth shows a real momentum for the nearly decade-old phone brand.
Google Pixel 10 sales: 28% Y-o-Y growth in the US
The growth is most notable in the premium segment, which includes phones priced at $600 and above. Three years ago, Google held just 0.1% share in this bracket. Now, by September 2025, that share had emerged to 6.1%.
This milestone is largely driven by Google’s updated marketing strategy. The company has been heavily emphasizing the Pixel lineup’s Gemini AI integration and software innovation for some years. Google has been aggressively targeting iOS users with multimedia ad campaigns. The ads constantly show Pixel devices as more innovative and intelligent.
The new Pixel 10 series did the heavy lifting for this sales success. However, the $500 sub-flagship alternative, the Pixel 9a, also continues to sell well late into its life cycle.
Stealing premium market share from Samsung
Google’s growth appears to be primarily coming at the expense of other high-end brands, particularly Samsung. At major carriers like T-Mobile and Verizon, Google’s share in the $600+ market has grown to around 7% in the last three years. During the same period, Samsung’s share at T-Mobile dropped by 8 percentage points.
While this shift cannot be solely attributed to the Pixel, the data shows that a significant portion of Android users looking for premium devices are now choosing Google. The momentum sets the stage for the upcoming Pixel 11 lineup to become a truly landmark series for the company.
Google Translate is rolling out one of its biggest changes in years. The popular service is getting a direct feature selection that puts users in control of their translations. A new model picker, which is beginning to appear for some Google Translate users, allows you to choose between prioritizing speed or accuracy for text translations.
This update signals a deeper integration of large language models—likely leveraging Gemini AI. The platform has always offered fast, on-the-fly results. However, this change aims at those more complex cases that require more power and precision for a correct translation.
Google Translate gets Accuracy vs Speed picker for complex translations
The new feature adds a visible “model picker” button under the Google Translate logo. Users can tap this indicator to toggle between two modes. The Advanced setting is the default option. The “Advanced” option uses a model designed specifically for higher accuracy in complex translations. Early testing confirms this mode significantly improves contextual understanding and literary accuracy compared to the standard system.
Meanwhile, the Fast alternative is optimized for speed and efficiency. It’s best suited for those moments when you need quick, basic results without waiting for the full power of the advanced model to load.
The model picker only applies to typed text translation requests, which leaves live translation features unaffected. For now, the feature is visible only to a small selection of users, primarily on the iOS version of the app. Plus, the Advanced mode currently supports only a select few language pairs, such as English-French and English-Spanish. This limited scope is likely because running high-accuracy models requires significant computing resources.
Google Translate’s new “Accuracy vs Speed” option leads to speculation about pricing. Google has recently placed more advanced features under its Google AI Pro subscription umbrella. Google Translate has historically been free for everyone. But the company may eventually choose to restrict access to the high accuracy “Advanced” model to its paying subscribers. Regardless of the final pricing strategy, this feature is a nice step forward. It transforms the app into a more flexible service where users can actively choose the level of AI power they need.
The hype for the Exynos 2600 chipset keeps rising. New internal Geekbench tests reveal record scores, including a massive multi-core result. This signals the chip is ready to close the Snapdragon performance gap for the Galaxy S26 series.
Google’s latest attempt to integrate generative AI into our living spaces, Gemini for Home, is generating headlines—but perhaps not the kind Google intended. Rolling out as part of Google’s paid Home subscription, the feature promises smart daily summaries and conversational insights from your Nest camera footage. However, early reports from users suggest that Gemini for Google Home system frequently misidentifies common household events, even erroneously detecting the presence of deer or fake people, generating accuracy doubts.
The new feature utilizes the Gemini AI model to process video clips, generating summaries and answering questions via an “Ask Home” chatbot. According to reports, it handles basic tasks like creating automations well. However, its video identification skill is proving unreliable sometimes, leading to some genuinely unsettling notifications.
Google Gemini for Home misidentifies dogs as deer, accuracy in question
As noted by Ars Technica, recurring issue involves the AI reporting fictional events. One user was alerted that, “Unexpectedly, a deer briefly entered the family room.” At that point, the camera will be simply looking at a dog. This isn’t a one-off mistake; the system frequently confuses dogs and shadows with “deer,” “cats,” or even “a person” roaming around an empty room.
Source: Ryan Whitwam (Ars Technica)
The problem is particularly jarring when Gemini mislabels security-critical events. An alert that “A person was seen in the family room” can cause genuine alarm, only for the user to check the feed and find absolutely nothing. After a few false positives, users quickly learn to distrust the system. These failures defeat the entire purpose of a security monitoring system.
Google attributes these errors to the nature of large language models. The firm explains that Gemini can make “inferential mistakes” when it lacks enough visual detail or base-level common sense. In fact, the AI is reportedly great at recognizing car models and logos. However, it struggles with the simple, necessary context that a human observer would never miss.
The question of launch readiness
For the security monitoring system to be genuinely useful, these inferential errors should decrease quite a bit. Google is “investing heavily in improving accurate identification” and encourages users to correct the model through feedback. However, at least for now, the core issue remains.
Source: Ryan Whitwam (Ars Technica)
It is surprising that Google chose to launch a premium feature that requires this much “hand-holding” to function correctly out of the box. Gemini for Home is a new product, and it will likely improve significantly. The company must gather more data and refine the model. However, releasing a security feature that effectively cries wolf about intruders right at launch risks eroding user trust and makes it difficult to justify the $20-per-month Advanced subscription fee. Users may find the $10 per month subscription, which offers less video history but avoids the unreliable AI features, a much smarter bet for now.
The market for consumer memory is facing a severe crunch. DRAM (Dynamic Random-Access Memory) prices have reached astonishing levels this year, driven primarily by overwhelming demand from the artificial intelligence sector. Reports indicate that DRAM spot prices have risen by a whopping 172% in 2025 alone, a surge that is already disrupting supply chains and hitting consumer wallets hard.
The massive demand for memory chips coming from AI giants and Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) is the principal cause of this issue. AI memory cycles are consuming the majority of global production capacity. This has forced major manufacturers, including Samsung, Micron, and SK hynix, to fundamentally restructure their production efforts. Companies are shifting allocation toward high-margin products like HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) and specialized DDR5 for server environments, where AI workloads reside.
DRAM Prices Soar 172%: AI demand pushes memory costs to record highs
The supply bottleneck has reportedly become extreme. Some manufacturers have even reportedly started halting new DDR contract orders. For instance, Samsung, a global leader in DRAM, has stopped contract pricing for DDR5 modules. This signals an inventory crisis for consumer-focused memory.
This production shift has an immediate effect on the retail market. Manufacturers of memory modules are reporting significant inventory shortages, leading to retail price increases of 20% to 40% in just the past few weeks for consumer modules like DDR5 and DDR4. Consumers looking to upgrade their PCs should not delay, as the situation may worse into the first quarter of 2026.
Smartphone industry will get the impact
This trend is not exclusive to PC hardware. Previous reports suggest that the soaring cost and constrained supply of memory chips will also soon impact the smartphone industry. This component is critical for premium devices and advanced AI features.
Complicating the global pricing outlook further is the possibility of U.S. tariffs. If trade tensions increase or new duties are implemented on technology components, these external pressures could add yet another layer of cost to both memory modules and finished devices sold to consumers.
This booming demand is great news for the profitability of the memory chip manufacturers. However, it requires consumers to plan their purchases carefully, as memory is expected to remain a pricey commodity for the foreseeable future.
According to recent leaks, the upcoming Redmi Turbo 5 series is ready to challenge phone endurance standards. Industry reports suggest that Xiaomi’s sub-brand is preparing to launch at least one Redmi Turbo 5 model featuring a massive 9,000mAh battery cell. Plus, this cell could support 100W wired super-fast charging.
The news comes from reliable Chinese tipster Digital Chat Station. Their Weibo post confirmed that a 9,000mAh single-cell silicon battery solution is finalized and ready for production. This battery is one of the largest ever rumored for a mainstream smartphone release. Furthermore, the same source claims that phone brands are currently testing an even more ambitious 10,000mAh unit. The outlet My Drivers adds that the Redmi Turbo 5 lineup will be the lucky one to boast this 9,000mAh battery.
Redmi Turbo 5 Leak: The first mainstream phone with a 9,000mAh battery?
As in recent handsets, this huge capacity is possible thanks to the silicon carbon battery technology. The latter enables manufacturers to significantly increase energy density without adding substantial physical bulk to the phone‘s design. The majority of Chinese flagships are resorting to this solution. Recent examples are the OnePlus 15, Vivo X300 and OPPO Find X9 series.
The Redmi Turbo 5 series is expected to make its debut sometime between this December and January 2026. However, sources remain divided on which specific model will receive the large battery. Some reports suggested a base model 7,500mAh unit. So, the 9,000mAh pack may be reserved for a Pro or “Pro Max” variant.
The appeal of the Redmi Turbo 5 series goes far beyond battery capacity. Rumors suggest the standard Redmi Turbo 5 will be one of the first phones to debut MediaTek’s Dimensity 8500 chipset, built on a 4nm process. According to leaks, this chip will surpass 2 million points on the AnTuTu benchmark. On the other hand, the Redmi Turbo 5 Pro would use the Dimensity 9500e or Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 5.
Apple appears ready to take a massive step toward achieving complete control over its flagship devices. A recent report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman sheds light on Apple’s 2026 product launch plans, confirming the company intends to completely abandon Qualcomm cellular modems for the iPhone 18 Pro models in favor of its own in-house connectivity solution.
For years, Apple has relied on Qualcomm to power cellular telecommunications across the iPhone lineup. However, the company has long sought greater independence from external vendors. This will allow them to reduce costs and increase control over the hardware-software integration on their iPhones. The upcoming iPhone 18 Pro, slated for a Fall 2026 release, will reportedly be the first premium device to use the second generation of this effort: the Apple C2 modem.
iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models to use proprietary Apple’s C2 modem
This is not Apple’s first attempt at an in-house cellular solution. The company already introduced its initial effort, the Apple C1 modem, which debuted in the more budget-focused iPhone 16e. The C1 successfully brought basic cellular connectivity in-house, but it currently lacks the premium performance required for a Pro model. More specifically, the C1 offers decent network performance but still lags behind Qualcomm’s modems. It also lacks 5G mmWave connectivity. 5G mmWave is a technology for high-speed networks in urban environments.
Apple has a lot of work ahead to ensure the new C2 component closes this performance gap. The success of the iPhone 18 Pro hinges on the C2 delivering a cellular experience that matches, or even exceeds, the quality Qualcomm currently provides.
The complicated rollout
The transition will not be instant across the entire portfolio. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will ditch Qualcomm in fall, 2026. However, Apple will likely continue selling the previous iPhone 17 (which uses a Qualcomm modem). Additionally, other leaks suggest the launch of the base iPhone 18 model might be delayed until 2027. The potential iPhone 17e could also arrive that year. On the other hand, the fate of the iPhone 18 Air could be in question after the disappointing sales of the current “Air” model.
This rollout pace means buyers will still have options with Qualcomm modems next year. However, the decision to use the Apple C2 in the flagship iPhone 18 Pro marks a major turning point. If fulfilled, it will confirm Apple’s commitment to completely internalizing the core communication hardware in its premium iPhone devices.
Reports suggest the Redmi Turbo 5 series will feature a 9,000mAh battery supporting 100W fast charging. This huge capacity, enabled by new silicon carbon technology, could set a new benchmark for mainstream endurance.
It looks like the guessing game is over. Samsung has reportedly locked in the date and location for its next big flagship reveal. The highly anticipated Unpacked launch event date for the Samsung Galaxy S26 series is scheduled for February 25 next year, right in the heart of AI tech—San Francisco, USA.
This isn’t just another date on the calendar. The launch window itself is a bit later than the late January or early February reveals we’ve seen recently. Insiders suggest this minor shift gives the company enough time to finalize some strategic decisions, particularly around which models will actually launch.
Samsung tipped to launch the Galaxy S26 series on February 25
Samsung will continue to bet heavily on AI as a key selling point in its mobile flagships. Returning to San Francisco, the established global hub for artificial intelligence, is a deliberate move in this direction. The company plans to use the stage to firmly establish the Galaxy S26 as the definitive “AI phone.” They will also outline their future AI strategy for the tech world to see.
Regarding the S26 lineup, earlier buzz suggested Samsung might get “Pro” or “Edge” models. These models would have replaced the standard/base and Plus models. However, recent reports point to the company sticking to the familiar, reliable structure: Samsung Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26 Plus, and Galaxy S26 Ultra. This course correction reportedly comes after the predecessor S25 Edge didn’t meet sales targets.
It all comes down to power, and the S26’s AI push requires serious silicon. Leaks suggest Samsung will deploy a dual-chip strategy. Many models will feature the new Exynos 2600 processor. This will mark the return of a custom Exynos chip to the high-end Ultra model in some regions. Other major markets, like the US and Canada, will get the expected Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip.
With the event locked for February 25, the stage is now set for Samsung to show the world its answer to the “AI smartphone era.” Recent leaks suggest that the Galaxy S26 device could feature highly improved 3x telephoto camera sensors. This could be a decisive upgrade for Galaxy S fans who are still hesitant to make the switch.
Industry reports confirm the Samsung Galaxy S26 Unpacked event is set for February 25 in San Francisco. The company plans to use the global AI hub location to showcase the devices as the start of the AI smartphone era.
Ayaneo has built a reputation on crafting high-end, powerful retro gaming handhelds. Now, the company is looking to conquer a new, highly competitive space: the gaming smartphone market. The company recently dropped a vague teaser video for its upcoming device. The company promotes the first Ayaneo Phone as a handset that meets “the soul of gaming handheld.” If the early leaks are correct, this device might deliver a key feature that modern mobile gaming desperately needs.
Most gaming phones from competitors like RedMagic and ASUS ROG focus primarily on powerful chipsets and advanced cooling. Plus, they often require expensive accessories for controls. However, the Ayaneo Phone seems to be taking a different path. It’s prioritizing core tactile hardware.
The most crucial detail spotted in the teaser is the clear presence of physical shoulder buttons (L and R triggers) when the phone is held horizontally. For serious mobile gamers, this is a massive plus. Physical buttons offer precision and immediate tactile feedback that screen overlays simply cannot match. This will be especially useful in fast-paced competitive titles.
This design focus aligns perfectly with Ayaneo’s history and branding. The device will be released under the company’s “Remake” banner, which previously featured retro-styled modern handhelds. This has led to heavy speculation that the Ayaneo Phone might adopt a sliding form factor. The form factor is reminiscent of the beloved (and long-discontinued) Sony Xperia Play. While the video doesn’t confirm a slider, the emphasis on integrated physical controls suggests Ayaneo is looking to recapture that classic, all-in-one gaming experience.
A challenge to the giants
Visually, the phone appears to carry a standard dual-camera setup on the back, with sensors sitting flush with the chassis. But make no mistake: this phone isn’t about photography; it’s about pushing buttons.
Ayaneo will seek to establish itself as a good alternative in the current market. Competitors are readily available, but few integrate physical controls as standard. The challenge for the brand will be navigating the difficulty of penetrating the US market. Ayaneo will also have to manage the final price tag—its products are not usually cheap.
The company is betting that a dedicated gamer will pay a premium for a device truly “made for gamers.” If the Ayaneo Phone pushes all the right buttons, it could take over a really interesting niche.
For some time now, “artificial intelligence” and “AI” have been the buzzwords in the tech industry. OpenAI is the company that started this great revolution, positioning itself as the name everyone thinks of when talking about AI thanks to its ChatGPT platform. But what if it’s not all as rosy as it seems? What if OpenAI is actually far from profitable and is just “burning money” waiting for something that might never happen (financial sustainability)? The company’s finances seem to tell a story that points in that direction.
ChatGPT undoubtedly captured the world’s imagination. OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, became the face of an artificially intelligent future, guiding humanity toward an era of unprecedented productivity and creativity. Large companies have also poured money into OpenAI, and the firm even changed its business model to allow for easier revenue streams. That said, all the accumulated revenue might not be enough.
According to a recent financial analysis by Will Lockett from Planet Earth and Beyond, OpenAI is in a catastrophic financial freefall. The company that powers a revolution is losing money at a rate that would make most established industries faint. Worse still, its solution to this cash-burning inferno appears to be dousing it with a trillion dollars’ worth of gasoline.
OpenAI $1 Trillion investment: The math of a money black hole
Let’s pull back the curtain on the finances. In the first six months of 2025, OpenAI reportedly generated $4.3 billion in revenue. That’s an impressive figure for a young company. The problem? During that same period, it posted $13.5 billion in net losses.
This isn’t just a rounding error. It means for every dollar OpenAI earns, it loses three.
This puts the company on track for a staggering $27 billion annual loss by 2025. For reference, we are talking about nearly double the $14 billion loss some reports had predicted for 2026. The math of its growth is even more alarming. For every single dollar of new revenue growth, OpenAI is spending an astonishing $7.77.
Lockett described the situation bluntly: “This is a money black hole. I cannot stress how unprecedentedly dreadful that is.” In any normal business, numbers like these would trigger emergency brakes, massive layoffs, and a desperate pivot to survival. But OpenAI is not a normal business. It’s as if its leadership is “fully aware they are driving headfirst into a wall at 100 mph, and instead of stepping on the brakes, they are mashing the throttle,” Lockett added.
Doubling down on a flawed premise
Instead of pivoting, OpenAI is doubling down. The company has announced plans to invest about $1.4 trillion annually in data centers and AI infrastructure through 2030. The brand has forged deals with giants like TSMC, Samsung, and Intel.
This investment is a bet that “more is more”—that building bigger and more powerful models is the path to profitability and, eventually, Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). But if the current operational costs are unsustainable, the future costs are astronomical.
Calculations based on industry standards (data centers costing 26% of their build cost annually to operate) paint a grim picture. By 2029, that trillion-dollar infrastructure plan could saddle OpenAI with approximately $650 billion in annual operational costs.
The company’s own optimistic revenue target for that same year? Just $125 billion.
The math simply doesn’t work. “Even if OpenAI hits its $125 billion 2029 revenue target,” Lockett notes, “it will still be making an annual loss of half a trillion dollars.”
This spending spree would be reckless enough on its own. It becomes deeply irrational when you discover what OpenAI’s own researchers have admitted.
The enemy within: OpenAI vs. itself
The most brutal criticism of OpenAI’s strategy comes from OpenAI itself. The core technical problem plaguing all large language models, including ChatGPT, is “hallucinations.” The term “hallucinations” refers to the AI’s tendency to confidently invent facts, sources, and answers. This one flaw makes them unreliable for the high-stakes business and enterprise tasks that OpenAI needs to sell to justify its valuation.
The company’s trillion-dollar bet assumes that this problem can be fixed by scaling up. That is, by adding more data and more computing power.
There’s just one problem. According to a research paper published by OpenAI, this assumption is false. Their own research reportedly found that “hallucinations are a core part of generative AI technology and can’t be fixed” with more data and compute.
The researchers did find a potential workaround called “active learning,” which essentially involves massive human oversight to correct the AI. But they concluded that “operating such models is so inherently expensive… it is almost always significantly cheaper to have a human do the task instead,” Lockett reports.
The company is betting a trillion dollars on a solution that its own scientists have proven will not work for a problem they admit is inherent to the technology.
Reality check: The 95% failure rate
This technical flaw is not just theoretical; it’s playing out in the real world. While headlines trumpet an AI takeover, the reality on the ground is one of widespread failure.
An MIT study found that 95% of AI pilots fail to generate any profit or productivity gains for the businesses implementing them. Other research, such as a report from METR, has even shown that AI coding tools can actually slow developers down due to the time spent finding and correcting the AI’s “helpful” errors.
This is the reality check against the hype. While some niche AI tools for data analysis are effective, the generative AI revolution that OpenAI champions is largely failing to launch. Even user engagement, the lifeblood of any tech platform, is showing signs of trouble. There are even reports of ChatGPT usage having peaked and now being in decline.
If not profit, then what?
If the technology is fundamentally flawed and the finances are catastrophic, why is this happening? Why continue to burn billions on a failing strategy?
The answer, critics argue, lies in the incentive structure. “They aren’t developing AI,” Will Lockett states. “They are trying to make the bottom line go up at any cost.”
It’s interesting how in the world of Silicon Valley, AI companies are not valued on core aspects like profitability or product-market fit. They are valued on data center spending. More spending signals more ambition, which attracts more investment at a higher valuation.
This creates a perverse incentive for executives. CEOs like Sam Altman don’t take a traditional salary. Instead, their wealth is tied to the company’s stock valuation. Altman reportedly stands to earn a $10 billion payday from his 7% stake in OpenAI’s for-profit conversion. This incentive structure encourages executives to keep pushing things to enrich themselves before the inevitable bubble pops. Bankers and VCs who previously supported the “AI hype” are now quietly warning of a bubble.
The future of OpenAI and the AI bubble
So, is OpenAI’s goal of profitability in the next few years realistic?
The numbers suggest it’s nearly impossible. The company’s revenue growth is already collapsing, falling from 250% in 2024 to just 56% in 2025. To break even, OpenAI would need to triple its revenue annually through 2030. Meanwhile, its core products are failing in 95% of business pilots.
This sets the stage for a brutal reckoning. The $6 billion investor bailout OpenAI took at the end of 2024 merely delayed the inevitable. The company’s trajectory, without a quick and radical restructuring, points toward bankruptcy.
But this isn’t just about one company. OpenAI controls 61% of the US generative AI market and has absorbed over 20% of all AI venture capital. So, basically, there’s a high concentration of risk for an entire industry in a single entity.
When this bubble bursts, it won’t be a quiet failure. It threatens to take the entire AI industry down with it. It could wipe out a big chunk of the $192.7 billion in VC funding poured into the sector.
This is the paradox at the heart of OpenAI. It’s a company built on the promise of superhuman intelligence that is being run with what appears to be a stunning lack of human common sense. It is a story of “greed at the cost of everything,” and it is hurtling toward a conclusion that will impact all of us. Let’s wait and see how events develop.
What if the most important feature of the next iPhone Pro wasn’t the processor or the camera, but the shade you can’t get? The latest leaks for the iPhone 18 Pro suggest Apple is placing a major bet on aesthetics with three new colors. The change also reportedly involves skipping—again—the most neutral shade.
For the second year running, Apple’s high-end Pro model may skip offering a true black or Space Gray finish. Instead, the company seems to be steering its flagship line toward a warmer color palette.
iPhone 18 Pro leak reveals Apple’s color strategy
The latest data bits come from reliable tech tipster Instant Digital on Weibo. Their post on Weibo points to three new color options for the iPhone 18 Pro: Coffee, Purple, and Burgundy.
We still don’t have images of what these alleged new tones might look like. However, we can guess it from their names. The Coffee color suggests a deep, earthy brown, offering a warm hue that differs from the metallic gold options of the past. The Burgundy could have a wine-like shade that involves crimson and brown hues. Meanwhile, the Purple could have a muted finish, moving away from the bright purples seen on the base iPhone models.
That said, there is a segment of the public that might be disappointed with the new colors. If true, the strategy will ignore those who simply prefer a clean, dark neutral. Apple may want the iPhone 18 Pro to look noticeably different from any black slab on the market. But will consumers embrace this forced choice? In the end, the company might be betting that the “luxury” of the new finishes also attracts black color fans.
It’s noteworthy that it’s still quite early. At this point, plans can change significantly. However, the rumors agree that Apple wants its next flagship phones to stand out from the rest from their design.
The annual competition for the smartphone crown often boils down to subtle refinements in display and processing power. However, the latest leaked specs for the Samsung Galaxy S26 lineup suggest significant upgrades in a key area: photography. Apparently, Samsung will finally implement better and larger sensors for the Galaxy S26 series’ 3x zoom telephoto camera.
Camera-wise, one of the areas that has evolved the most in recent years is optical zoom. Several Android brands—especially Chinese ones—are implementing powerful lenses. However, Samsung has maintained a much more conservative approach. The company has focused primarily on software and processing improvements. But what happens when the hardware is so old that it simply can’t offer notable quality improvements?
Samsung may bring bigger 3x telephoto camera sensor to the Galaxy S26
This has been happening with the Galaxy S models of recent years. For reference, the latest Galaxy S25 Ultra uses the same 10MP 3x optical zoom lens as the older Galaxy S22 Ultra. We’re talking about a pretty small sensor for 2025 premium flagship standards (1/3.52-inch size). However, it looks like that’s finally about to change.
According to Alchemist Leaks, the Samsung Galaxy S26 series will receive a big 3x zoom telephoto camera upgrade. The change would be present in all models, from the base variant to the Ultra model. More specifically, the devices would boast a new, larger 12MP sensor with a 1/2.55-inch size. The leak mentions that the Galaxy S26 Ultra could have an even bigger telephoto camera. However, they note that the latter is not confirmed yet.
If true, this change could be the most important camera update in the entire series. After all, a larger physical sensor dramatically increases light capture, leading to cleaner details, less noise, and superior results when you use that common 3x zoom function.
Other camera improvements
Continuing with the camera upgrades, the Galaxy S26 Ultra will have an upgraded 200MP main sensor. The 50MP ultra-wide lens will also receive improvements, although no further specific details are available. The 50MP 5x zoom telephoto lens may be the same as the current Galaxy S25 Ultra.
On the other hand, the upgraded 50MP ultra-wide sensor would also be coming to the Samsung Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus. This would represent a big improvement compared to the Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus’ 12MP lenses.
Potentially bigger battery for the Ultra model
Beyond the optical improvements, the S26 Ultra is chasing endurance. Leaks mention the possibility of a 5,400mAh battery cell. Such an increase would give the phone a nice daily battery life. However, the source mentions that this may be subject to change. This is because it’s a “last-minute change,” so Samsung must conduct tests to confirm the feasibility of its implementation.
In terms of processing, every model is set to receive the next-gen Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 Elite or Exynos 2600. Lastly, the entire lineup, including the S26+ and the standard S26, will also benefit from QHD M14 AMOLED displays.
Overall, Samsung seems to have realized it was falling far behind Chinese brands in terms of camera technology. So, the company appears ready to implement some significant improvements in this area. Let’s hope the rumors are true and we see these camera updates in the Galaxy S26 series next year.
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