Smartphones
Google finally unleashes the Pixel 9 series
Meet the Pixel 9, 9 Pro, and 9 Pro XL
Once again, the Pixel 9 series is the world’s most leaked smartphone. Regardless, seeing the new flagships in all their glory is still a sight to see. Finally, Google has taken the cover off of the series. This time, we’re seeing a few new faces. Let’s break them down.
Pixel 9
Though it’s the smallest of the bunch, the regular Pixel 9 is still a capable smartphone. It comes with the latest Tensor G4 processor, 12GB of RAM, and up to 256GB of storage. The 6.3-inch Actua display puts out images in 1080p resolution, with a refresh rate between 60Hz and 120Hz, and up to 2700nits of brightness.
As for design, the entire series features the redesigned camera bar. Both front and back panels are protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
For power, the Pixel 9 has a 4700mAh battery, capable of charging to 55 percent in just 30 minutes. It also has Fast Wireless Charging and Battery Share.
Now, for the good stuff, the regular Pixel 9 comes with the 50-megapixel main sensor. It also comes paired with a 48-megapixel ultrawide camera for macro shots. Finally, it has a front-facing 10.5-megapixel selfie camera. You can shoot up to 4K video at 60fps.
Pixel 9 Pro + Pixel 9 Pro XL
The bigger siblings in the Pixel 9 series are packing a lot more. Though the Pixel 9 Pro also comes with a 6.3-inch Actua display, it puts out images at 1280 x 2856 resolution, with a refresh rate going from 1Hz to 120Hz, and up to 3000nits of brightness. It also has LTPO capabilities.
On the other hand, the Pixel 9 Pro XL comes with a 6.8-inch Actua display. Images come out in 1344 x 2992 resolution with the same features as the regular Pro.
Both models ship with Tensor G4, 16GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of internal storage.
Also, besides the two cameras found in the regular model, both the Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL carry a 48-megapixel telephoto camera, capable of up to 5x optical zoom and 30x Super Res Zoom. Also, they both have a sizable 42-megapixel selfie camera. They can shoot up to 8K videos at 30fps through Video Boost.
The Pixel 9 Pro carries the same 4700mAh battery as the regular model. However, the Pro XL model comes a huge 5060mAh battery, capable of charging up to 70 percent in just 30 minutes.
Price, availability
The Pixel 9 comes in Obsidian, Porcelain, Wintergreen, and Peony. It starts at US$ 799.
Meanwhile, the Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL comes in Obsidian, Porcelain, Hazel, and Rose Quartz. The Pro starts at US$ 999, and the Pro XL starts at US$ 1,099.
WATCH: Google Pixel 9, Pro, XL, Fold: Everything You Need To Know!
TECNO is giving its experimental AI assistant, EllaClaw, a major upgrade.
Still in its Beta stage, EllaClaw is evolving from a simple AI chatbot into a more proactive Agentic AI (not to confuse with AI Agent) that can manage your phone, learn your habits, and even interact with third-party apps on your behalf.
From chatbot to personal phone caretaker
TECNO says EllaClaw now goes beyond answering questions and can actively help optimize your smartphone.
Powered by over 40 Smart Skills, the AI agent can perform tasks such as:
- Cleaning up RAM and CPU resources to reduce lag
- Identifying apps that consume excessive battery power
- Optimizing background activity to cool down the device during heavy use
- Monitoring mobile data consumption based on your usage habits
Importantly, major changes still require user approval, keeping people in control before any action is executed.
Learning your routines
EllaClaw is also gaining persistent memory capabilities, allowing it to remember user habits and preferences over time.
This enables more personalized features such as morning briefings, combining your calendar, weather, travel plans, and news updates in one.
There’s also Trip Preparation Assistance that can arrange transportation and set departure reminders. Moreover, context-aware reminders to stay connected with family members and loved ones.
The idea is to transform EllaClaw into a digital companion that proactively helps organize daily life.
Cross-app support
Perhaps the biggest leap forward is EllaClaw’s ability to work across different apps. With user permission, it can interact alongside shopping apps, transportation services, food delivery platforms, as well as smart home ecosystems.
Rather than operating invisibly in the background, TECNO says EllaClaw uses a visible, human-like interface that lets users see every action it takes which include:
- Booking rides through a single voice or text command
- Monitoring connected smart home devices
- Acting as a shopping assistant that finds products inside e-commerce apps such as Lazada
The future of Ella?
TECNO emphasizes that EllaClaw remains an exploratory project undergoing internal testing and closed beta development.
The move is part of TECNO’s broader “Practical AI” strategy, which aims to make advanced AI features more useful and accessible, particularly for users in emerging markets.
While there’s no official release date yet, the company says more details about future availability and additional capabilities will be announced as its development continues even further.
Still, with the latest update, it offers a glimpse at where mobile AI is headed: less about asking questions and more about having an assistant that can proactively get things done for you.
Smartphones
HONOR continues APAC expansion, to launch 600 series in Taiwan
HONOR pushes aggressively in new markets
Smartphone brand HONOR continues its marketing expansion in the Asia-Pacific, with a new teaser confirming it will release the HONOR 600 Series in Taiwan.
HONOR recently entered the Taiwanese market with the flagship HONOR Magic8 Pro releasing last April. It was followed by the budget segment HONOR X6d 5G.
Now, consumers in the island country are set to get an accessible midrange choice in the number series model. Once the phones officially release, it means Taiwan will have HONOR devices in the budget, midrange, and flagship tiers.
In a grander scale, HONOR has launched devices in Papua New Guinea, Australia, and New Zealand as part of a strategic expansion in the region.
Following its launch in China, the HONOR 600 Series also became available in key markets like Malaysia and the Philippines.
HONOR 600 Series
At the heart of the series is AI Image to Video 2.0. This is powered by the industry’s first unified multi-modal video generation model, a system that integrates video generation, editing, and comprehension into a seamless workflow.
Users can combine up to three images with natural language prompts to produce stunning 3-8 second video sequences, define both opening and ending frames for narrative control, and access the industry’s most extensive library of cinematic templates for stylized film-quality results.
Here’s an overview of each model’s specs:
HONOR 600 5G
- Processor: Snapdragon 7 Gen 4
- System: MagicOS 10
- Display: 6.57-inch AMOLED, 120Hz, 3840Hz, HDR Vivid, 8000 nits peak brightness, 458 ppi
- Camera: 200MP f/1.9 OIS main, 12MP f/2.2 ultrawide, 50MP front
- Battery: 7,000mAh, 80W SuperCharge, 27W wired reverse
- IP68/IP69/IP69K dust and water resistance
HONOR 500 Pro 5G
- Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite
- System: MagicOS 10
- Display: 6.57-inch AMOLED, 120Hz, 3840Hz, HDR Vivid, 8000 nits peak brightness, 458 ppi
- Camera: 200MP f/1.9 OIS main, 50MP f/2.8 3.5x OIS telephoto, 12MP f/2.2 ultrawide, 50MP front
- Battery: 7,000mAh, 80W SuperCharge, 50W wireless, 27W wired reverse
- IP68/IP69/IP69K dust and water resistance
Earlier this week, Nothing confirmed that CMF will no longer get a new smartphone later this year. However, the company also teased that a new model is still coming to Nothing itself. The initial tease did not include a model name or an image, thereby shrouding the new phone in mystery. Now, the mystery is gone as Nothing has definitively confirmed what’s coming: the Nothing (4b).
Nope, that’s not a typo. Nothing is following up the Phone (4a) series with the Phone (4b).
On X, Nothing teased the upcoming smartphone with a rough sketch of the model. Surrounded by designs from the Phone (4a) series, the Phone (4b)’s design shakes things up by introducing the usual wide camera island but affixing only a small vertical camera setup on the left side.
Meanwhile, a smaller pill-shaped cutout likely houses the phone’s LED flashes. Finally, a light strip on the lower right of the island will probably feature the model’s lighting element.
The Nothing (4b)’s launch is just over the horizon. The company has confirmed that the model will launch on July 7.
This is likely Nothing’s last ace up its sleeve this year. Earlier this year, Carl Pei already confirmed that the flagship-level Phone (4) will not arrive until next year.
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