Your iPhone and iPad will look significantly different when iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 roll out this fall. And no, you haven’t missed seven operating system upgrades since iOS 18 last year. Apple has changed the naming structure of its OS updates and made them all consistent—visionOS 26, watchOS 26, …
Read More »The Top New Android 16 Features (2025): How to Install, Features, Release Date
Another year, another version of Google’s mobile operating system. Android 16 brings a whole new look (Apple also just announced a redesign in iOS 26), more customization options, some chunky security enhancements, and a few welcome accessibility improvements. Android 16 is rolling out to select devices today—these are the new …
Read More »It’s Time to Kill Siri
However, it’s fair to say that Apple and even Amazon’s Alexa have had a cultural cachet that Google Assistant never enjoyed. It wasn’t unusual to hear Siri or Alexa’s name in a movie or TV show; they were much more recognizable than Google’s generic-named voice assistant. This may be why …
Read More »The Best Samsung Phones of 2025, Tested and Reviewed
Other Samsung Phones to Consider Photograph: Julian Chokkattu If you don’t see a Samsung phone mentioned in this guide, that might be because it’s not sold in the US and is a little harder to source for testing. But here are a few other Samsung phones I’ve tried to consider. …
Read More »Samsung Teases Z Fold Ultra, Bing Gets AI Video, and Nothing Sets A Date—Your Gear News of the Week
We have a few details so far. The phone may not have the Glyph light interface on the back anymore, though it seems like Nothing has cooked up a new dot matrix light pattern instead. The company says it’ll be its first true flagship phone with premium materials, and it’ll …
Read More »Samsung Galaxy A26 and Galaxy A36 Review: Fine but Dull Budget Phones
Samsung has a cushy throne. Or at least the company acts that way. Its latest budget phones—the Galaxy A26 and Galaxy A36—check all the boxes. But next to beautifully designed handsets from Nothing and Motorola with comparable prices, it feels like Samsung is coasting on brand name and the fact …
Read More »The Texting Network for the End of the World
This may be obvious, but you also need to have a network set up before disaster hits, Meadors says. So, set up anyone who you might need to communicate with during a cell and internet blackout before it actually happens. And, due to relatively frequent firmware updates, you can’t just …
Read More »6 Best Phones You Can’t Buy in the US (2025), Tested and Reviewed
Other Good International Phones These phones are worth considering if you have yet to see something you like. Photograph: Simon Hill Oppo Find N5 for £1,255: It’s a real shame that the Find N5 won’t even land in the UK or Europe, because the world’s slimmest book-style foldable (3.6 millimeters …
Read More »I Converted My Photos Into Short Videos With AI on Honor’s Latest Phones. It’s Weird
As midrange phones designed to plug the gap between flagships, the Honor 400 and 400 Pro might not ordinarily attract much attention. But these devices—unavailable in the US—are among the first to feature Google’s image-to-video AI generator, based on its Veo 2 model (now available to Gemini subscribers). Built into …
Read More »The MagPod Is a Basic Smartphone Tripod I Can’t Live Without
Photograph: Brenda Stolyar The retractable legs are sturdy. With rubber grips on the bottom, they don’t slide across surfaces as you tap or scroll on the display, staying put even when I’m typing texts or emails. You can fold all three legs together and use them as a grip to …
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