News and Updates from Gadget Hacks

Samsung's about to shake up the foldable world with something we haven't seen before: an Exynos chip powering their flagship flip phone. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 marks Samsung's first flagship foldable to ship without a Snapdragon processor, instead featuring the brand-new Exynos 2500. But here's the million-dollar question: does this 3nm powerhouse deliver flagship performance, or are we looking at a beautiful compromise that'll leave you wanting more?

Picture this: You walk into a phone store looking for the latest Sony Xperia, only to find empty shelves where they used to be. That's increasingly becoming reality across major markets, and it's raising a question that would've seemed impossible just a few years ago — are we witnessing the twilight of Sony's smartphone ambitions?

Apple just dropped a patent that could completely change how we think about the Apple Pencil. We're talking about a stylus that doesn't need an iPad screen—or really any screen at all. You could sketch on your desk, write on the wall, or even draw in mid-air. Let's break it down.

Looking at the latest leaks, Google's upcoming Pixel 10 Pro Fold appears to be making a strategic compromise that might actually be smarter than chasing the ultra-thin foldable trend. While leaked renders show a device "pretty identical to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold in all regards," there's a more significant story emerging from the technical specifications.

You know what's funny? Apple iOS 18 made sure to talk to highlight topographic maps and hiking trails—features that'll thrill outdoor enthusiasts but won't change how most of us navigate daily life. Meanwhile, they barely mentioned a simple save button that unlocks one of the most practical improvements to Apple Maps in years.

Having tracked telecom policy changes for over five years, I've seen how regulatory shifts can reshape entire markets—but Verizon's latest move hits different. The carrier is pushing to ditch the 60-day phone unlocking rule at precisely the moment when T-Mobile's satellite service via Starlink could change how we think about connectivity. While Verizon claims it's fighting fraud, the real casualty might be your ability to tap into the most significant advancement in mobile coverage since 4G.

The rumor mill is spinning faster than ever, and if you're wondering whether Apple accidentally spilled the beans on next year's iPhone lineup, let's just say the evidence is pretty compelling. Between supply chain whispers, analyst reports, and some suspiciously specific "leaks," we're getting our clearest picture yet of what could be Apple's most dramatic iPhone redesign since the iPhone X.

Picture this: You wake up to find your favorite AI app suddenly vanished from Google Play Store, not because of a bug or developer decision, but because an entire nation's privacy watchdog pulled the nuclear option. That's exactly what's happening with DeepSeek in Germany, and it's about to reshape how we think about AI apps on Android.

Spoiler: it's not all bad news, but if you were counting on using your favorite travel dock or AR glasses with the Switch 2, you're about to be disappointed. Nintendo pulled a classic Nintendo move—they've essentially encrypted their way out of universal compatibility.

You've probably heard this song before: "world's thinnest foldable phone!" But the Honor Magic V5 might actually deserve the hype. At just 8.8mm thick when folded and weighing a mere 217g, this thing makes other foldables look chunky by comparison. Honor didn't just chase thinness records though, they packed in a 64MP periscope telephoto camera and the world's first 6,100mAh silicon-carbon battery for a foldable. The engineering feat represents something bigger than spec sheets: it's the moment...

You lose cell service in the middle of the day, and twenty minutes later, your bank account is empty. Welcome to SIM swapping—the nightmare scenario that's plagued millions and cost victims over $25 million in 2024 alone. The good news? AT&T just rolled out a feature that could slam the door on these attacks before they start. ZDNet reports that Wireless Account Lock is now live for both postpaid and prepaid customers, joining T-Mobile and Verizon in offering SIM protection tools.

Picture this: OnePlus drops news about a 7,100mAh battery in the upcoming Nord CE5, and suddenly everyone's talking about all-day power that could outlast your weekend camping trip. But here's where things get interesting — that massive cell isn't coming to every region. The OnePlus Nord CE5 sports a massive 7,100mAh battery, but not in every region, which means your location might determine whether you get this power-packed experience or something more traditional.

The thinnest Galaxy ever feels incredible in the hand, but its diet comes with sacrifices you need to know about before spending $1,099.

Apple just killed the iPhone SE, replacing it with something bigger, better, and packed with more modern features. The iPhone 16e ditches the old-school design for a large OLED display, a more advanced camera system, and Face ID, making it the most dramatic upgrade in Apple's budget lineup yet.

The iOS 18.5 update is now out for iPhones, landing on May 12 with a tidy bundle of convenience tweaks sprinkled across Apple's core apps and settings. It isn't a headline‑grabbing release like last time, but the update still shaves steps off everyday tasks, surfaces helpful info where you need it, and quietly prepares your device for what's coming next.

Apple's iOS 18.5's code has introduced a new localization string that suggests the company is preparing support for "5G Advanced," the next evolution of cellular technology.

A good e‑reader lets you disappear into a story without the headaches of blue‑light glare, notification pings, or dead‑weight battery anxiety. The latest crop goes further, adding color E Ink for comics, warm front‑lights for night reading, and waterproofing so you can finish that chapter poolside. We put the year's most compelling models to the page‑turn test and narrowed the field to five standouts for every kind of book lover.

Flagship earbuds like Apple's AirPods Pro, Sony's WF‑1000XM5, Jabra's Elite 10, and Soundcore's Liberty 4 Pro sound fantastic, but they come with equally premium price tags. Luckily, there are plenty of stellar alternatives that won't gut your wallet. Spend less than $100, and you can still land punchy audio, rock‑solid active noise canceling (ANC), and marathon battery life without feeling like you settled.

Apple's iOS 18.4 update for iPhone is finally available, and it brings some exciting new tools, smart refinements, and deeper Apple Intelligence integration that make your iPhone experience even better. Whether you're looking for ways to stay more organized, enhance your daily workflow, or enjoy new forms of entertainment, this update has something for everyone.

Apple just released iOS 18.3, its latest software update for iPhone, on January 27 — after 42 days of beta testing. While it's not as feature-packed as the previous updates for iOS 18.2 and iOS 18.1 were, there are still a few important changes you'll want to know about.

The Unicode Consortium is already hard at work on the next batch of emoji, but don't get too excited just yet. It may be a while before you see these new characters, which include an apple core, orca, and hairy creature, on your devices.

While Apple is full steam ahead on iOS 18, which is expected to drop sometime next month, it hasn't forgotten about iOS 17, which still dominates most users' iPhones. On Aug. 19, Apple issued a rerelease of its iOS 17.6.1 software for iPhone.

Christmas is just one week before Jan. 1. That means a lot of New Year's resolutions filled with promises to better ourselves with increased productivity, focus, and work ethics — but getting started can be challenging. Give the people in your life a leg up this holiday season with these smartphone gifts to keep them on-task in 2020.

So, someone on your shopping list has an iPhone. Lucky for you, Apple's line of smartphones are practically made for accessories. From AirPods to adapters, there's something for every iPhone user in your life. Are you feeling overwhelmed by the options? You've come to the right place.

Need a unique gift idea for the techy person in your life? Look no further than that phone they always have in their hand. There are plenty of great accessories, apps, subscriptions, and other smartphone-related goodies that will improve their quality of life, and thoughtful gifts like that are always the best-received.

With smartphone cameras and software getting better and better every year, more and more users are getting passionate about photography. So when you're shopping for a gift to get someone, if they have a smartphone, chances are they'll more than appreciate some tools and accessories for taking better photos with their pocket friend — and we've got some gear ideas they'll love.

With MP3 players all but dead, phones are now the dominant portable music devices. While smartphones have gotten better at this task over the years, they do have some glaring limitations when it comes to music. On the bright side, we can use these limitations to help find the perfect gifts for the audiophiles in our lives.

Smartphone gaming continues to improve with ever sharper displays and raw processing power to deliver console-quality graphics right in the palm of your hands. Nonetheless, you still stand to improve the gaming experience on any phone by adding the right accessories to the mix.

Rumors about the 2022 iPhone series stirred well before the iPhone 13 models were even released. While Apple remains quiet on the next big iPhone, as it always does, we're seeing more and more leaks and reveals for the iPhone 14 series as we lead up to a likely fall release.

Apple continues to suffer production delays caused by COVID-19 era factory closures, and the products taking the biggest hit are its customized 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro configurations. Long story short, you'd be lucky to get one of those 2021 MacBook Pro models by the end of June 2022.

With the new Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra release, the first thing you may be wondering is how its battery life compares to the iPhone 13 Pro Max, Apple's biggest model from 2021. We've rounded up some of the most popular Galaxy S22 Ultra and iPhone 13 Pro Max battery tests from across the internet to bring you answers.

If you have a cat, trying to get all of the little clumps out of the litter probably feels like an impossible task. It pretty much is, but we've found the best cat litter scoop that gets more of those tiny pieces out than any other scoop. Plus, it's sturdy, degradable, and ethically sourced.

Those of you lucky enough to snag a PlayStation 5 can pair your DualSense controller to Sony's PS Remote Play mobile app to stream and play your PS5 games from anywhere you want. DualSense support for Remote Play has been available on iOS since May 2021, and it's just now arrived on Android.

Amazon really wants to make itself at home in your home. Like, everywhere in your home, from your doorstep to your kitchen, your kids' rooms, and everywhere in between.

With the arrival of Facebook Ray-Ban Stories smartglasses commanding the recent spotlight, the tech world acted like it forgot about Facebook's first foray in consumer hardware — the Portal line of video calling devices.

If you're not planning to upgrade to a new iPhone 13, the new version of the iPhone operating system will breathe some new life into your iOS device.