Galaxy Z Fold8 does not impress in teardown

Earlier this week we saw the Galaxy Z Fold8 go through JerryRigEverything’s torture durability test where it survived some hard bends and close encounters with blades and sand. And the team over at iFixit has now brought its teardown expertise to Samsung’s trendy bendy phone. Here’s the full video: The Z Fold8 earned a 4/10 repairability score. That’s not impressive by regular smartphone standards, but it is a point higher than last year’s Z Fold7 repairability score. If you don’t feel like watching the whole thing, here are the key takeaways. The folding screen is still a...

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Counterpoint: US smartphone market contracts, budget devices hit hardest

Counterpoint Research’s latest report examines smartphone sales in the US for the April 1 – June 30 period, aka Q2. The overall market fell by 5% compared to last year as the ongoing memory chip crisis resulted in increased average asking prices (ASP) for devices across the board. In addition, rising gas prices due to the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East also affected consumer purchasing power. Apple, Samsung, Motorola and Google saw their combined sales drop by 4% on a year-over-year basis. The remaining brands doing business in the US saw their sales decline by up to 45% compared to...

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Apple again reported to skip launching the iPhone 18 this year

Apple has long been rumored to launch the iPhone 18 series and the iPhone Ultra in phases, with multiple reports claiming the iPhone 18 won't launch this year. Now, a new media report, citing Apple supplier Pegatron, again states that the iPhone 18 won't launch this year and will arrive in 2027 instead. During the earnings call for Q2 2026, Pegatron confirmed that the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will be launched next month, but the iPhone 18 is expected to launch in Q1 2027, meaning anytime between January and March 2027. Previous reports claimed the iPhone 18 would arrive in March...

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Google promises 7 years of spare parts availability for the Pixel 11 lineup

Google officially unveiled the Pixel 11 series at its Made by Google event. Google has now shared details about the availability of spare parts for the new smartphones. At the Pixel 11 series launch event in India, Google reportedly confirmed that it will provide 7 years of spare parts support for the new smartphones. Google says spares will be available in every market where the Pixel 11 series is sold, making it easier for users to replace components such as the battery or display even years after buying the phone. One of the first components to degrade over time is the...

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New rumor tells us all about Apple's imminent iPhone price hike

According to a new rumor from a tipster on X, Apple will be raising prices for all existing iPhone models, as well as those launching next month, by $100. The same source also seems to imply that Apple's launch event for the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and iPhone Ultra will be held on September 8. That is a Tuesday and Apple has in the past held events on Tuesdays, so it's definitely not out of the question. We all know an iPhone price hike is coming. In late June, Apple increased the prices of all of its products except for iPhones. This is the next logical step, and a $100 bump for...

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Microsoft increases Windows 11 fees for OEMs

The crunch on the PC market continues as the rising memory chip prices are not the only thing that's getting more expensive. Starting today, Microsoft is hiking up its Windows 11 license fees for OEMs. The price increase is somewhere between 7% and 10%, which is unusually high. One of the PC vendors noted that it's expected for Microsoft to increase prices pretty much every year, but it's usually by a low singe-digit percentages. Big OEMs that sell PCs in large volumes like Dell, Asus, HP, etc. will see their fees increased by around 7%, but smaller manufacturers will probably have...

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Sony Semiconductor and TSMC join forces to make next-gen imaging processors

Sony's chip-making arm, Sony Semiconductor Solutions, will enter into a joint venture with TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) that will manufacture image sensors for smartphones. Sony will be the sole controlling shareholder of the joint venture, which will aim to start volume production in 2029. The joint venture still needs to advance through several regulatory and financial steps. Sony will contribute 465 billion yen ($2.92b, €2.6b) in a combination of cash and assets, while TSMC will contribute 282 billion yen ($1.77b, €1.5b). The strategic partnership will see...

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