The smartphone market has become a little strange lately. Phones that once felt like obvious value-for-money picks are getting more expensive. This is primarily due to the rising cost of memory and storage components, which, in turn, is pushing manufacturers to either hike prices or compromise on hardware. The sub-Rs. 40,000 price bracket has taken one of the biggest hits. Historically known for having bang-for-your-buck devices, the segment is becoming harder to navigate than it used to be. But there are still a few phones that offer considerably more performance than their price tags suggest.
OnePlus Ace 7 will run on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 V Series chipset. The OnePlus Ace 7 Pro is confirmed to feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor. The standard model is teased to feature a 9,000mAh battery with support for 100W SuperVOOC fast charging. It will also include a 200-megapixel primary rear camera.
Sony's LYTIA 720 image sensor has launched for mobile devices. It is a stacked CMOS image sensor with approximately 50 effective megapixels and a pixel size of 1.0 micrometre. It is scheduled to begin shipping in early November 2026. It supports 4K resolution at 60 frames per second with HDR enabled and all-pixel autofocus. It is claimed to offer a dynamic range of 100dB through HDR compositing technology.
Ahead of its official launch in China, OnePlus has teased that its Ace 7 Series will feature a tri-cluster chip setup to enhance the phone’s gaming capabilities. The phones are expected to feature 9,000mAh batteries and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 platform.
Vivo has launched the X500, X500 Pro and X500 Pro Max in select global markets. The smartphones feature AMOLED displays with refresh rates of up to 144Hz, MediaTek Dimensity chipsets and ZEISS-branded cameras. The X500 Pro Max includes a 200-megapixel telephoto camera, while battery capacities reach 7,800mAh. All three models support 90W wired and 40W wireless charging. The series is expected to launch in India by the end of November.
Motorola Signature 27 will be launched in India in November, as a dedicated microsite for the handset is now live on the Motorola India website. The microsite reveals that the Motorola Signature 27 will be powered by Qualcomm’s octa-core Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 chipset, which delivers a peak clock speed of up to 5.01GHz. The handset will also feature a quad rear camera unit, housed inside a redesigned rectangular camera module. It will also ship with the Bang & Olufsen audio system. The phone will be offered in at least black and green colour options.
Xiaomi 18 is tipped to arrive with a compact display. The upcoming smartphone is tipped to feature Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chipset. It is rumoured to feature a 7,000mAh battery. The Xiaomi 18 is tipped to come with a dual 200-megapixel rear camera setup. It is also said to retain a relatively compact form factor.
The Infinix Note 70 Pro is the unannounced successor to the Note 60 Pro, which was launched as a mid-range smartphone in India a few months ago. The device’s highlight was its Active Matrix Display embedded into its rear camera module, which lit up to display notifications. The Infinix Note 70 Pro has now appeared on Geekbench, revealing its performance hardware details.
Redmi K100 has been launched in China as the standard model in the company’s K100 series. The smartphone will go on sale in the country on October 31 via the Xiaomi online store. The handset is offered in three colour options, namely Black, Fluorescent Green, and Snow Rock White (translated from Chinese). It is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. The Redmi K100 boasts a 10,000mAh battery and offers support for 100W wired fast charging. It carries a dual rear camera unit, with a 50-megapixel primary shooter.
Samsung is rolling out the stable One UI 9 update, based on Android 17, to the Galaxy M56, Galaxy M17, Galaxy F17, and Galaxy A35 in India. The update includes the October 2026 security patch and software improvements. The software brings interface updates, system improvements, and updated security protections to the mid-range phones. Users can check for the update through the Software update section in Settings.
The Moto G47 Power was launched in select global markets on Tuesday. The handset builds upon the Moto G47 and packs a larger battery. It sports a 6.67-inch LCD screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. The handset is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chipset, paired with 4GB of RAM. The Moto G47 Power runs Android 16 out of the box and comes with a 108-megapixel rear camera. It packs a 7,000mAh battery.
The iQOO Neo 12 scored 3,172 points in Geekbench's single-core test and 10,689 points in its multi-core test, while the iQOO Pad Pro recorded 3,118 and 10,523 points, respectively. Both devices are listed with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset and Android 17. The smartphone is expected to feature a 9,000mAh battery, 100W charging and a 185Hz display, while the tablet could offer an 8.8-inch 165Hz OLED screen and a 9,020mAh battery.
Oppo Find X10 Forest Green Edition pricing and availability details have been announced by the smartphone maker. The phone costs the same as the standard edition model and has the same specifications and features. The Oppo Find X10 Forest Green Edition has been designed in collaboration with the New York-based German illustrator, Karlotta Freier. The smartphone is now available for pre-order via the Oppo China online store. It is scheduled to go on sale in the country on October 30. The Forest Green Edition of the Oppo Find X10 will not be available in the 16GB + 1TB configuration, which is priced at CNY 7,499 (about Rs. 1,07,000). Moreover, the company has yet to reveal whether the colour option will be launched in India.
Apple's iPhone 18e is tipped to feature a 6.12-inch LTPS OLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate and a 2nm A20 chipset. A tipster claims the phone will retain a single 48-megapixel rear camera, while its front camera could get a 24-megapixel sensor. An earlier leak also pointed to 9GB of RAM, up from 8GB on the iPhone 17e. Apple has yet to confirm the specifications, pricing or launch date of its expected 2027 handset.
Vivo X500s could launch soon. Ahead of the official announcement, a tipster has suggested its display details. The engineering sample of the phone reportedly features a 6.85-inch 2K+ display with a refresh rate of up to 144Hz. The panel is also described as a quad-sided flat screen. This would represent an upgrade over the Vivo X300s. The latter came with a 6.78-inch AMOLED display with 1.5K resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate.
The Vivo X500 series was launched in China last month and is expected to make its global debut soon. While the company has yet to officially reveal any details about the India debut of its flagship lineup, industry sources suggest that the lineup will arrive in the country by the end of next month. The Vivo X500 Pro Max is expected to lead the lineup with advanced camera-centric features, which could include 60fps autofocus tracking for snapshot photography.
OnePlus Ace 7 Pro will feature a 200-megapixel primary rear camera and a periscope telephoto camera with 3.5x optical zoom. The OnePlus Ace 7 will be offered in three memory and storage configurations, while the Pro variant will come in five RAM and storage options. Both smartphones are also confirmed to feature BOE displays with a 165Hz refresh rate and support for up to 185Hz in select games. The OnePlus Ace 7 and OnePlus Ace 7 Pro will be launched in China on October 29.
Xiaomi 18 Pro and Xiaomi 18 Pro Max have reportedly been spotted on a retailer's website in the EU, hinting at an imminent global launch. The Xiaomi 18 Pro series handsets were reportedly spotted in the Black, Velvet Red, and White colour options. In terms of pricing, the Xiaomi 18 Pro was reportedly listed at a starting price of EUR 1,398.9 (roughly Rs. 1,50,000) for the base model with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Meanwhile, the higher-end 12GB + 512GB RAM and storage configuration was listed at EUR 1,591.9 (about Rs. 1,69,000). On the other hand, the top-of-the-line Xiaomi 18 Pro Max was listed at EUR 1,783.9 (roughly Rs. 1,89,000) for the sole 12GB + 512GB model.
Motorollers will feature interest-based groups called Tribes, where members can post content and join discussions on topics ranging from gaming and photography to travel and artificial intelligence. The app will include Vibe Check for polls, Hot Take for opinions and Deep Dive for longer articles. Motorola will use dedicated channels to share product announcements, discounts and coupons, while retail partners and promoters will answer product-related questions. The company also plans to introduce rewards and other member benefits in future updates.
Infinix GT 50 Pro has been launched in India. It runs on a MediaTek Dimensity 8400 Ultimate chipset and has a 6,500mAh battery. Infinix GT 50 Pro runs Android 16-based XOS 16. It features a 6.78-inch LTPS AMOLED display with a 1.5K resolution. As part of the launch offer, the company is offering the GT 50 Pro Gaming Ecosystem worth Rs. 24,999 free alongside the phone.
Apple released the iOS 27.2 update for iPhone on Monday. It is the second major iteration of the latest iPhone operating system, which was first rolled out in September alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. The update brings several new features, including new features and more languages for Siri AI. Users can also access contextual suggestions in Messages, which allow them to take quick actions in apps like Calendar and Reminders. The Cupertino-based tech giant patched several security vulnerabilities as well.
Motorola Edge 70 Neo specifications and colour options have leaked. The phone is tipped to feature a 7,000mAh battery and a 144Hz display. It could run on a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset and a 50-megapixel Sony LYTIA camera. It could feature a 32-megapixel camera for selfies and video calls. The Motorola Edge 70 Neo is said to pack a 7,000mAh battery with support for 45W charging.
Apple finally launched its first foldable iPhone this year. The iPhone Duo is also the most expensive iPhone to date, but it appears to be facing some early teething problems. In recent days, the handset has had to contend with the challenges of adapting iOS to a book-style display, with some early adopters raising concerns about app optimisation. However, a more serious hardware issue appears to be emerging. Users have allegedly reported cracks on the inner display near the hinge, and Apple has now acknowledged the issue.
Nothing Phone 2 users have sought further software support after the smartphone was left out of the Nothing OS 5.0 rollout. A Reddit discussion brought responses from CEO Carl Pei and a Nothing employee, while users also requested newer features for the handset. Pei initially misstated the number of Android upgrades the Phone 2 had received before correcting his response. The discussion also highlighted requests for camera improvements and newer interface features, as well as questions about extending chipset support.
Samsung has reportedly begun rolling out the One UI 9 beta for the Galaxy A55. The beta update is available for eligible devices in South Korea and India and requires a download of over 2GB. Samsung Galaxy A55 users who want to test the beta can sign up for the One UI 9 Beta Programme through the Samsung Members app.
The Oppo K14 Lite has reportedly appeared on India's Bureau of Indian Standards database with the model number CPH3007. The listing follows an earlier Google Play Console appearance that linked the model to the K14 Lite name. The upcoming smartphone is expected to be a 4G device and could share its hardware with the Oppo A6c 4G. The A6c launched in India in May with a 120Hz LCD display, Unisoc T7250 chipset, 13-megapixel rear camera and 7,000mAh battery.
Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra may stick with its existing biometric options instead of adopting Metalenz's Polar ID system. A tipster claims there is currently no sign of Samsung preparing the technology for its next flagship or other Galaxy phones. Earlier reports linked the rumour to experimental testing by Samsung's System LSI division. The company is expected to retain an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner and camera-based face unlock. Samsung is also reportedly exploring camera hardware changes to manage production costs without increasing the phone's price.
Honor has confirmed the launch date of its upcoming Magic 9 series in China. It is available for pre-order in China ahead of its official debut. The official teasers show the lineup in a green colour option. It is confirmed to come with a 200-megapixel 1/1.28-inch sensor with an f/1.57 aperture and a 200-megapixel 1/1.4-inch telephoto sensor with an f/2.6 aperture.
Oppo Find X10 E will be launched this month as part of the tech firm’s upcoming flagship Find X10 lineup. The phone will be accompanied by the Oppo Find X10, Find X10 Pro, and Find X10 Pro Max. However, the company has yet to confirm the exact launch date. The new Find X10 E is now available for pre-order in China via the company’s online store, along with the Find X10 series, Oppo Watch S2, and Oppo Enco X4 TWS.
The Oppo Find X10 series is scheduled to make its China debut in September, before expanding to global markets later this year. While details about its India launch officially remain under wraps, a tipster has shared a tentative India launch date and pricing details for the company’s upcoming flagship lineup. The Oppo Find X10 series could make its debut next month, with prices expected to touch the Rs. 1.5 lakh mark.
Motorola's Signature series made its debut earlier this year with a focus on a slim design, high-end hardware, and a distinctive aesthetic. Now, the company appears to be preparing its successor. According to a report, a teaser for a handset called the “Signature 27” briefly appeared on Motorola's website, showing a close-up of the rear camera module. The teaser has since disappeared, but its appearance across multiple websites reportedly offers clues about Motorola's next premium smartphone.
Vivo X500 Pro Max design and colour options have been revealed by a company executive. The Vivo X500 Pro Max is shown to feature a Zeiss-tuned triple rear camera system, with the Zeiss branding placed in the middle. A secondary light sensor will also be placed at the back of the handset. Meanwhile, the LED flashlight appears outside of the camera island, placed in the top-left corner of the dual-tone rear panel. Meanwhile, the vertically aligned Vivo branding will be placed in the bottom-left corner.
iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro, and iPhone 18 Pro Max designs have been spotted in images of protective cases and skins on dbrand's website. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are shown to sport the same design as their predecessors, with a flat rear panel featuring a horizontal rectangular camera plateau at the top. There are six cutouts on the camera module, one each for the three camera sensors, one for the LiDAR sensor, one for the LED flash, and one for the secondary microphone. On the other hand, the iPhone Duo appears with a unique design, similar to the ones previously spotted in leaked renders.
The UK government is moving towards legislation that could require Apple and Google to introduce stronger controls for children using smartphones and tablets. The proposed rules would address the creation, viewing and sharing of nude images, with the government considering protections that work across operating systems and individual apps. The move follows a voluntary three-month period for the companies to strengthen their existing safeguards. The UK is still deciding which devices the law would cover, while adults passing age verification would remain exempt.
Apple will reportedly launch the Apple TV 4K set-top box and HomePod Mini 2 alongside the iPhone 18 Pro series during the Surprise and Shine event or shortly after. By the end of 2026, the company is expected to unveil its first iPad Mini model with an OLED display, which is said to be “one of the biggest updates” in the product’s history. Apart from this, Apple will reportedly refresh the iMac and the 14-inch MacBook Pro model with its latest M6 chipset. The company is also expected to unveil the first MacBook model with a touchscreen, which will reportedly be marketed as MacBook Ultra.
Apple’s ‘Surprise and shine’ event is finally set to take place today. The hardware showcase has been rumoured to mark a significant change in the iPhone lineup. The company is expected to introduce its first foldable iPhone alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, new Apple Watch models and AirPods. The foldable, reportedly called the iPhone Duo, is expected to feature a book-style design, with prices starting at around $2,000. The event will also reportedly bring new health and fitness features to the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, alongside updates to Apple's AirPods lineup.
Oppo has launched the A7 Pro in China in three colour options. It has a 6.57-inch display with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. It is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 6360 Max chipset, paired with up to 8GB of RAM. Oppo A7 Pro has an 8,000mAh battery that supports 45W SuperVOOC Flash Charge. It has a 50-megapixel rear camera.
Apple is expected to launch its first foldable iPhone model tonight during the Surprise and Shine event. According to a report, Apple’s first foldable iPhone could cost well over $2,000 (roughly Rs. 1,90,000). The tech giant was reportedly targeting $1,999 (about Rs. 1,90,000), aiming not to breach the “controversial barrier” of $2,000. The company was planning to follow a similar strategy to what it did in 2017 by pricing the iPhone X at $999 (roughly Rs. 95,000). However, that does not seem to be the case anymore.
Apple will host its ‘Surprise and Shine’ event today at Apple Park in Cupertino, California. The showcase will begin at 10 am PT. However, if you are in India, you will be able to catch the livestream at 10:30 pm IST. Apple has scheduled the livestream via multiple social media platforms and video streaming services. Apart from this, you will also be able to watch the livestream of the iPhone launch event via Apple’s official YouTube channel and the Apple TV app. Based on numerous reports and leaks, Apple is widely expected to launch the foldable iPhone, iPhone 18 Pro series, AirPods 5, and Watch Series 12.
Xiaomi UltraThin Magnetic Power Bank 5000 15W, Magnetic Power Bank 10000 45W, and Power Bank 20000 165W have been launched in India, the company announced on Tuesday. The three new power banks will be available for purchase in India via Amazon, Flipkart, the Xiaomi online store, Xiaomi’s offline retail stores, Swiggy Instamart, Blinkit, and Zepto. The Xiaomi UltraThin Magnetic Power Bank 5000 15W is backed by a 5,000mAh battery. The power bank is 6mm thick, while weighing about 98g.
Oppo announced the launch of the Oppo F35 5G series in India via a press release. The exact launch date has not been revealed, but the teaser highlights the 'coming soon' tag. The launch could take place later this month. The official image shared by the brand shows a partial front design of the phone with a hole-punch design. The new lineup will succeed the Oppo F33 series. The Oppo F35 Pro could share a similar design and specifications with the Oppo A7 Pro Max.
Vivo’s V80 smartphone is reportedly set to launch in India in October. The premium smartphone, which will replace the currently available V70, is expected to get notable camera upgrades, including some features from Vivo’s X series of flagship smartphones. The handset is also said to have Zeiss-branded optics.
Poco C95 Pro has been listed on Beemarket, an online retailer in Uzbekistan, revealing the upcoming phone's price, colour options, key specifications, and features. The listing reveals that the phone will be available for purchase in three colour options, namely Black, Blue, and Green (translated from Uzbek). However, the company has yet to confirm these details. In terms of design, the Poco C95 Pro appears nearly identical to the recently launched Poco M8x 5G. The Poco C95 Pro has been listed with a MediaTek Helio G91 Ultra chipset, paired with an ARM Mali-G52 MC2 GPU.
OnePlus has been rumoured to expand its affordable smartphone lineup in India with a new addition to the N6 lineup. The company has now confirmed the India launch of the OnePlus N6 Lite, with a dedicated new microsite now live. It is expected to be positioned as the most affordable handset in OnePlus’ portfolio. While the company has yet to reveal a launch date or specifications, the microsite offers a first look at its design.
Ahead of the iPhone 18 Pro launch, features of the upcoming Pro models may have leaked. These appear to be Pro camera features, some of which have been available via third-party apps. Apple may showcase these new iOS 27 camera features on stage at the iPhone 18 Pro launch.
Realme 16 Pro 5G Harry Potter Edition was announced on Tuesday as a special edition of the company's mid-range smartphone. The new handset has been developed in collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery and the Harry Potter franchise. As such, it brings themed design elements and software customisations while retaining the specifications of the standard Realme 16 Pro 5G.
Redmi Note 17 Pro series will be launched in India on September 15, the smartphone maker announced on Tuesday. On top of this, the microsite reveals that the Redmi Note 17 Pro series will be equipped with up to a 10,000mAh battery, highlighted with the tagline “mAhster of strength”. Citing its internal lab test results, the Xiaomi sub-brand claims that the lineup will deliver more than four days of usage on a single charge with light usage. The two new handsets will be available for purchase in India via Amazon. The purported Redmi Note 17 Pro is shown in a blue colourway, featuring a flat rear panel, with a square-shaped camera module placed in the top-right corner.
Samsung Galaxy A07s was launched in select global markets on Monday. The handset is currently on sale in Jordan via the Samsung online store. The Samsung Galaxy A07s is offered in Black, Green, and Light Violet colour options. It can be purchased in 4GB + 64GB and 4GB + 128GB RAM and storage configuration. The company promises six OS upgrades for the handset. It sports a 6.7-inch HD+ (720 x 1,600 pixels) PLS LCD touchscreen. Powering the new Samsung phone is an octa-core MediaTek Helio G99+ chipset, along wth a 5,000mAh battery.
iQOO has announced that its next-generation flagship smartphone, dubbed iQOO 16, will launch later this month. The upcoming handset is confirmed to be powered by Qualcomm’s next-generation flagship mobile SoC, along with a new in-house gaming chip. It will be accompanied by the iQOO Pad Ultra, which is teased to feature an 8.8-inch OLED display, flagship Qualcomm hardware and active cooling. Both devices are being positioned around sustained gaming performance.
MediaTek has finally revealed the launch timeline for its Dimensity 9600 Pro chipset. It will be MediaTek’s first 2nm processor. Rumours indicate that a select few smartphone manufacturers will have access to the new chipset. In a Weibo post, MediaTek has detailed some of its key features.
Vivo X500 series will be launched in China on September 21 at 7 pm local time (4:30 pm IST), the smartphone maker announced on Monday during the Vivo Creator Festival. This comes shortly after the Vivo Product Manager Han Boxiao revealed that the Vivo X500 Pro and Vivo X500 Pro Max will be capable of recording videos at up to 4K/240 fps. Moreover, the two smartphones will be able to capture 4K resolution video at 120 fps in HDR mode. The phones are expected to be powered by the unreleased MediaTek Dimensity 9600 series chipsets.
