Smartphones
Xiaomi 14 series is the first to rock the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
And will have HyperOS
Last week, Xiaomi officially introduced HyperOS, the next evolution of the brand’s custom operating system. At the time, the brand already confirmed that the new system debuts with the Xiaomi 14 series. Today, Xiaomi has finally unveiled the Xiaomi 14 series, bringing the HyperOS along with it.
Though there’s a lot of focus on the new skin, the new flagship series won’t just have HyperOS as the biggest trick up its sleeve. It will also be one of the first smartphones in the world to rock the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which was just unveiled earlier this week.
Under the hood, the 14 series will have the new chipset. Both models — the 14 and the 14 Pro — will have up to 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of UFS 4.0 storage. (The regular model will have a cheaper 8GB RAM trim, though.)
The lineup changes outside of the main hardware. Though both will have an LTPO 120Hz OLED panel, the regular model will have a 6.36-inch display, and the 14 Pro will have a larger 6.73-inch display. Further, while the regular 14 will have a 4610mAh battery and 90W wired charging, the 14 Pro will have a 4880mAh battery and 120W wired charging.
The series’ camera offers a trio of 50-megapixel cameras on its rear panel. The main sensor is a Leica Summilux lens called the Light Fusion 900. It reportedly takes 80 percent brighter photos. The other two sensors are for telephoto and ultrawide shooting.
The regular model will still have the three cameras. However, it will lack macro shooting capabilities.
Price and availability
Preorders are now available for the series. They will be available in black, white, and jade green. Meanwhile, the Pro will have a titanium version with a matte finish. On the other hand, the regular version will get an additional snow mountain pink color.
The Xiaomi 14 starts at CNY 3,999 (or approximately US$ 549), and the Xiaomi 14 Pro starts at CNY 4,999 (or approximately US$ 687). It is exclusive to select countries at the moment.
SEE ALSO: Xiaomi introduces HyperOS, ditches MIUI
News
Samsung brings back the Galaxy Z Trifold
The brand’s first trifold phone comes back after being pulled from stores.
Rumors of the Galaxy Z Trifold’s death have been greatly exaggerated. Recently, Samsung pulled its first trifold phone from its stores, heavily hinting that their three-screen experiment has ended. However, if you didn’t manage to grab one of these beasts during its first release, the Galaxy Z Trifold is back in stores.
At the start of this year, Samsung officially launched the Galaxy Z Trifold, ushering in its entry into the relatively infantile market. Naturally, the unique smartphone was a looker; however, with its eye-watering price tag, the demand is still low. Reflecting that, the brand reportedly pulled the device from the market last month.
Now, the phone is back once again. Interested users can grab the phone from Samsung’s website for the same US$ 2,899 price tag.
As with the other trifold phones (scant as they are), Samsung’s entry features three screens packed into one phone. Users can then fold the main screen in a variety of ways, introducing a lot of configurations to enjoy content. With how popular foldable phones are today, there’s certainly a market for flexible screens.
If you’re still in the market for Samsung’s first trifold phone, Samsung has not announced how long this latest batch will last, so get one while you still can.
SEE ALSO: Samsung has reportedly stopped selling the Galaxy Z TriFold
News
Report: ‘Accessible flagship’ smartphones might provide best value this year
Next-gen hardware, AI optimization among consumer demands to justify price hike
As global smartphone prices continue to rise, the “accessible flagship” segment could be the only bright spot for manufacturers this year.
But that’s only if they gamble and improve specs significantly for attractive devices. According to a recent Counterpoint report, taking into consideration MWC 2026 Barcelona insights, consumers are looking for significant upgrades for their next smartphone purchase instead of iterative updates.
This includes a combination of next-generation hardware, deeply optimized AI software, and affordability for a premium-grade experience.
The demand for these upgrades from one generation to another stems from a massive spike in memory costs. With smartphone manufacturers increasing their prices drastically, consumers in turn are demanding more in return to justify such adjustments.
As such, manufacturers like Samsung, Xiaomi, Google, HONOR, Motorola, and OPPO continue to democratize features once reserved for the most expensive handsets.
Chance for smartphone manufacturers to shine
It is clear that leading smartphone companies are focusing on next-generation chipsets, professional-grade imaging, and high-efficiency batteries, as well as AI adoption.
So those who successfully integrate cutting-edge hardware with deeply optimized AI software into such accessible flagship ((US$ 700 to US$ 999) devices will more likely win the battle.
According to the report, only Samsung and Xiaomi have released phones falling under the “accessible flagship” category so far this year. These are obviously the Samsung Galaxy S26 series and Xiaomi 17 series, although OPPO has also launched the Reno15 series.
This means there is an opportunity for other OEMs like Google, Motorola, and HONOR to launch better packages later in the year.
The report specifically mentions HONOR as a brand that has seen considerable growth in its accessible flagship tier (HONOR number series) sales outside of China in the last few years.
The report concludes by mentioning that in 2026, shipments are predicted to drop by 12% (year-on-year). Along with this, only improving specs significantly shall enable brands to stand out.
News
Apple’s iPhone Fold reportedly hits engineering delays
But it’s still supposedly on track for a September launch.
The foldable iPhone might be the most mythical device in technology today. Rumoured as far back as the launch of the very first Galaxy Fold, the so-called iPhone Fold has peeked in and out of the spotlight over the years but has yet to make its full debut. Sources today have speculated that Apple is readying its much awaited launch for this year; however, a few hitches might derail the expected unveiling.
According to Nikkei, Apple has pushed forward with the foldable iPhone’s test production phase, which marks an advanced stage in the device’s production. However, a source indicates that the device has encountered engineering issues, potentially pushing its launch back by an undisclosed amount of time. Apple is reportedly working on the issues now.
Opposite this report, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman reports that the iPhone Fold can still reach its projected launch later this September. As any fan of the iPhone can attest to, September is the usual ground zero for the latest generation of iPhones. Should Apple meet its September launch, the iPhone Fold will launch alongside the iPhone 18 series. This also makes it possible to be Apple’s “one more thing” for September’s event.
There’s a lot riding on Apple’s foldable phone. Fans have been clamoring for the iPhone Fold for a while now, especially since Samsung remains an undisputed cornerstone in the foldable market. Despite the demand, it might take a while for the foldable to truly take off. If Apple’s gingerly approach to foldables is any indication, the iPhone Fold will likely take a few iterations to match Samsung in terms of supply and market share.
SEE ALSO: Apple iPhone 17e review
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