Qualcomm's next-generation Oryon CPU will reach clock speeds of up to a whopping 5GHz.
The new Oryon CPU uses a fully custom design, giving Qualcomm greater control over performance and efficiency.
Qualcomm's new FlexCache lets CPU cores dynamically share cache, helping improve gaming and multitasking performance.
Qualcomm is expected to unveil two new Snapdragon 8 Elite chipsets at its Snapdragon Summit in September.
Ahead of the Snapdragon Summit next month, Qualcomm has shared more details about its next-generation Oryon CPU, sharing that it will be capable of reaching a whopping 5GHz clock speed.
Smartphone chipsets have become ridiculously powerful over the past few years. Apple continues to push its A-series chips forward, while Qualcomm's Snapdragon flagships have steadily brought desktop-level performance to Android phones.
Of course, we can't say the same about everyone (looking at you, Tensor G6). Now, Qualcomm looks ready to push things even further with its next-generation Oryon CPU.
Qualcomm hasn't revealed its full next-generation Snapdragon platform just yet, but says the new Oryon CPU uses a fully custom design, with the company controlling everything from the microarchitecture to the entire CPU subsystem. According to Qualcomm, that level of control is one of the reasons it can push clock speeds all the way up to 5GHz.
But Qualcomm says higher clock speeds aren't the only reason for the performance gains. The company is also focusing heavily on IPC (instructions per clock), which determines how much work the CPU can complete per clock cycle. Improvements here should translate into better performance across everyday tasks, from opening apps and browsing the web to more demanding workloads.
(Image credit: Qualcomm)
Qualcomm has also introduced Oryon FlexCache, a new cache architecture that allows different CPU cores to access the same dynamically allocated cache pool. Instead of assigning a fixed amount of cache to individual cores, FlexCache allows the Prime cores to access the entire available pool whenever a workload needs it.
The company says this should particularly help with workloads that constantly move between different CPU cores. In gaming, for example, better access to local cache could help stabilize frame rates and reduce stutters, while the same architecture should also help with heavier multitasking.
Qualcomm still hasn't revealed the complete details of its next Snapdragon flagship platform. The company has already teased that we'll see two Snapdragon 8 Elite chips at Snapdragon Summit 2026, though, so we should learn much more about both chipsets soon.
Snapdragon Summit 2026 is scheduled to take place from September 22 through September 24 in Hawaii.
from Latest from Android Central https://ift.tt/98JMrFE
via IFTTT
It took me a while to like the Pixel 10 Pro Fold; I didn't like that Google basically retained the same feature-set as the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and just added a bigger battery and IP68 ingress protection. At 258g, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is one of the heaviest foldables — only my Huawei Mate XT is heavier, and that's basically a tablet that folds down to a phone.
The heft notwithstanding, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold has other issues: the cameras are underwhelming compared to the Vivo X Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, battery life is average, and cellular connectivity isn't quite as stable as I'd like. But having used the foldable on and off for the better part of a year now, I will say that it is much better to use than its specs would suggest, and the software continues to be among the best around.
Google's software is why I used the Pixel 10 Pro Fold instead of other foldables. I like the bright colors and customizability that's available in Material You, and Google does a great job with the interface in general, delivering a clean UI without any clutter. And with the 10 Pro Fold, Google optimized the software a little better, and there's better fluidity than in previous generations, which makes a noticeable difference when navigating the interface.
Magic Cue is one of my favorite additions, and I like that it pulls up any contextual detail without me having to dig for it. Whether that's sharing waybill details when calling DHL about recent deliveries or surfacing reservation details, it is genuinely useful. Google does a good job bringing most Gemini features to other phones, but there are a few exclusive to Pixels, like Magic Cue.
The software has gotten better with Android 17, and Bubbles multitasking is easily my favorite feature. It's annoying that it won't be coming to other phones, but the floating windows mode makes it easy to maximize the real estate of the 8-inch inner panel, and I use it constantly. Other foldables do a great job with multitasking in general — ColorOS' Open Canvas is the gold standard — and while Google should have stolen the feature, it's good to see some progress in this area.
I also like the size of the cover screen; the 6.4-inch panel is slightly wider than its predecessor, and it's the ideal size. While Google had its share of screen-related issues in the past, I didn't see any problems with the outer or inner panels in the year I used the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Both panels are among the brightest in the category, and they have good color vibrancy.
After a year of unfolds, the crease hasn't deformed, and the hinge articulation is just as smooth as the day I set up the device. A lot of that has to do with IP68 dust and water resistance. While I didn't submerge the foldable in water, dust ingress is a constant problem on these devices, and thankfully, I didn't have to worry about that in the slightest.
With plenty of tuning updates over the course of the year, the cameras on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold still don't pass muster. It has been a regular source of frustration with the foldable, and in a year where other brands made huge strides in this area — the X Fold 5 and Find N6 have outstanding cameras — the 10 Pro Fold is distinctly second-best.
I carry two phones, and for most of the last 12 months, the secondary phone was the iPhone 17 Pro, so I had an alternative whenever I needed to take photos. That doesn't make it any less annoying that a $1,799 foldable can't take reliable photos or videos.
The 10 Pro Fold is heavy enough as it is, so I didn't bother with a case. The foldable took its share of tumbles, but it is unscathed. There are some scratches that have accumulated over the course of the year, but on the whole, the Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection did its job. If anything, I don't put a case on any phone that has Victus 2, and it's proven to be reliable — at least in the way I use my devices.
While I didn't think much of the design, the rounded corners definitely make a difference. They make holding the 10 Pro Fold a little easier, and there's enough thickness at the sides to open the inner screen. This is an issue on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Z Fold 8 Ultra, and not just because they're thinner — the X Fold 5 and Find N6 are just as easy to unlock as the 10 Pro Fold. I'm chalking it up to the way Samsung designs its foldables.
I'll admit that the Pixel 10 Pro Fold doesn't have the best internals. It's continually annoying that Google prioritizes other areas like the TPU instead of CPU and GPU performance, and this means the Tensor G5 isn't suited for playing demanding games.
That said, it held up a lot better than I imagined. While I test visually-intensive games as part of a review, I don't play high-end games on my phone all that much, and the ones I actually play the most — Balatro, Ball x Pit, and CloverPit — run without any issues. There is some overheating with gaming sessions lasting over an hour, but that's the case with every foldable, and not unique to the Pixel 10 Pro Fold.
Another bugbear is connectivity. The Exynos modem that Google went with isn't as good at maintaining a signal, so I frequently saw cellular connectivity issues while at home.
The single biggest annoyance with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold proved to be the cameras. Other than that, the foldable was better than I imagined. Thankfully, I didn't run into many software bugs; outside of Magic Cue getting disabled by an update, I didn't notice any problems. I know that's an outlier considering the thousands of messages on Google's troubleshooting pages, but it hasn't been much of an issue in my usage.
While I enjoyed using the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, I wouldn't necessarily recommend the foldable. There isn't a single feature that truly stands out, and while that's not a bad thing, it doesn't make for an exciting phone.
Look, I generally prefer Google's software and don't mind some of the annoyances that come along the way, but it may not be what you're looking for in a device that costs over $1,700 — particularly when there are better all-round choices available.
If you're a Pixel fan and are considering a foldable, I'd suggest getting the 11 Pro Fold; I'm switching to it now, and it addresses a lot of the 10 Pro Fold's issues around imaging. And if you don't have a brand allegiance and just want to try out a book-style foldable, the Moto Razr Fold continues to be fabulous.
from Latest from Android Central https://ift.tt/wtmO5Nq
via IFTTT
Samsung and Corning are reportedly developing self-healing display glass for the upcoming Galaxy S27 Ultra.
The new Gorilla Armor could recover from everyday micro-scratches instead of focusing purely on scratch resistance.
Self-healing tech isn't entirely new, but the Galaxy S27 Ultra could bring it to a flagship phone's front display.
The Galaxy S27 Ultra is also rumored to feature a major redesign with an iPhone 17 Pro-like horizontal camera plateau.
Rumors and leaks surrounding the Samsung Galaxy S27 series are starting to pick up, and the latest one claims Samsung could be working on a self-healing display for the Galaxy S27 Ultra.
Samsung already introduced a major display upgrade with the Galaxy S26 Ultra, adding its Privacy Display technology that prevents people around you from easily seeing what's on your screen. With the Galaxy S27 Ultra, though, Samsung could be preparing another major upgrade, this time allowing the display to recover from minor scratches on its own.
According to leaker Schrödinger on X, Samsung and Corning are reportedly working on a new self-healing surface for the next generation of Gorilla Armor. The goal, according to the post, is to create a display that can recover from a certain level of everyday micro-scratches over time.
🚨 EXCLUSIVE | GALAXY S27 ULTRASamsung and Corning are reportedly working on a new self-healing surface coating for the next generation of Gorilla Armor.The goal is reportedly to allow the surface to recover from certain levels of everyday micro-scratching, rather than simply…August 21, 2026
Instead of simply making the glass harder and more scratch-resistant, Samsung and Corning could take a different approach. According to the leak, the surface itself may be slightly softer than the tempered glass we're used to, but would gain the ability to recover from smaller scratches on its own.
If the technology works as intended, Samsung could essentially move Gorilla Armor from focusing purely on scratch resistance to scratch recovery.
The leaker doesn't reveal much more about how the technology works or how far along Samsung and Corning are in its development. However, the feature is explicitly said to be intended for the Galaxy S27 Ultra, meaning we could potentially see it debut within the next six months.
(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)
This wouldn't be the first time we've seen self-healing technology on a smartphone. More than a decade ago, LG introduced the LG G Flex 2 with a self-healing back panel that could recover from smaller scratches. But we haven't really seen the idea make its way to the front display of a mainstream flagship, which could make Samsung's implementation particularly interesting.
There have been a few other Galaxy S27 Ultra leaks recently as well, including one suggesting a major redesign that looks eerily similar to Apple's iPhone 17 Pro lineup. Samsung could reportedly ditch its familiar vertical camera arrangement for a horizontal camera plateau stretching across the back, with two large camera lenses on the left and a pill-shaped module next to them.
Of course, nothing is set in stone just yet. The Galaxy S27 Ultra is still months away, and plenty could change before launch. But with leaks now starting to pick up, we're finally getting a better idea of what Samsung might have planned for its next flagship.
from Latest from Android Central https://ift.tt/b8SQWqs
via IFTTT
PocketBook is ditching its classic wider designs for a tall, 5.84-inch e-reader that fits in your pocket.
The PocketBook Q features a 5.84-inch E Ink Carta 1300 display with 788 × 1576 resolution and 300 DPI, packed into a 154 × 75.8 × 6.5mm body weighing just 130g.
It has physical page-turn buttons that pair with a Linux-based OS that skips notifications, feeds, and scrolling-focused apps.
PocketBook is stepping away from the classic, wider reader designs that we typically see across its lineup. The Swiss brand is announcing the PocketBook Q, a small device that ditches traditional ebook proportions for a tall, phone-like shape.
The PocketBook Q is set to debut at IFA 2026 in Berlin, shrinking everything down to a 5.84-inch E Ink Carta 1300 screen — that's 788 × 1576 resolution at a crisp 300 DPI — packed into a body measuring 154mm x 75.8mm x 6.5mm and weighing just 130g. For reference, that's lighter than the 131g PocketBook Mini of 2013 and thinner than just about any e-reader the company ever made.
Inside is a RockChip RK3566 processor, 1GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, and a 1550mAh battery that PocketBook says will see you through well over a month of reading. The storage, in particular, is double what is on offer in the PocketBook Era, giving the tiny reader plenty of space for e-books, comics, and audio without making the device any bigger.
So why the phone format? The company is actually pushing the one-handed use. There are actual page-turn buttons on the side, so it feels more like flipping a page than swiping a screen.
The Linux-based OS is simple: no notifications, no feeds, and no apps to keep you scrolling. There are only books, audiobooks, and a text-to-speech feature that reads any text file aloud using natural-sounding voices.
PocketBook says the e-reader’s adaptive SMARTlight adjusts brightness and color temperature throughout the day.
The Q supports 25 ebook formats natively — EPUB, PDF, MOBI, AZW, CBR, you name it — and Adobe DRM and LCP for library borrowing via the pre-installed PocketBook x Libby app. It features dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0 for headphones, and USB-C with OTG support. It has an IPX4 water resistance, so it’ll survive a splash, though you probably shouldn't take it swimming.
Do people want an e-reader in the shape of a phone? PocketBook is betting the answer is yes — enough to price it at €235/$175 and release it this fall.
from Latest from Android Central https://ift.tt/4X6uomi
via IFTTT
Garmin has been producing industry-leading fitness smartwatches for years, but major discounts on the wearables can be difficult to find outside of major sale events. This is particularly true if you're looking at the brand's popular Venu and Forerunner series of watches, which is why I was pleasantly surprised to see Amazon carve a record-smashing 34% off the price of the Garmin Venu 3 this week.
This iconic fitness watch once topped our list of the best Garmin watches money can buy, but three years after launch, is the Venu 3 still worth it? It largely depends on what you're looking for in a wearable. Let's break it down.
Despite its slightly-advanced age, the Garmin Venu 3 still impresses with great battery life, comprehensive health tracking, and a vibrant AMOLED display. Grab the Venu 3 from Amazon today and you'll score 34% off your purchase. That's the biggest discount that the fitness watch has ever received. View Deal
The Venu 3 is the predecessor to Garmin's Venu 4, which is currently sitting at the top spot in our guide to the best fitness watches of 2026. Shockingly, the last gen model actually surpasses the Venu 4 in a few areas, with better battery life (up to 14 days) and a lighter polymer casing. You also get the same accurate health sensors with both models, stainless steel bezels, and nearly-identical designs.
Furthermore, the Garmin Venu 3 boasts a ton of comprehensive health and fitness monitoring features (including ECG), NFC and GLONASS GPS tracking, and a built-in microphone for calls. All good stuff, so what's the catch?
Well, if you're accustomed to a newer fitness watch, the Venu 3 can feel a bit lacking in the software department. You get all of the Garmin basics, such as Body Battery, VO2 Max, and 30 pre-installed sports modes, but you miss out on newer additions like Fitness Coach, Health Status, and Sleep Alignment. The Garmin Venu 3 also doesn't have the built-in flashlight or dual-band GPS.
(Image credit: Michael Hicks / Android Central)
That being said, with the current Amazon discount, the Garmin Venu 3 is a whopping $205 cheaper than the Venu 4. If you're a self-guided athlete who doesn't need all of the latest software features, the Venu 3 is a reliable fitness watch at an exceptional price. It'd also make an excellent entry-level watch for someone who's just now getting into tracking their fitness.
For folks who want the latest and greatest in fitness-tracking technology, however, you may want to wait. After all, the Garmin Venu 4 is sure to get a hefty discount of its own one of these days, right?
from Latest from Android Central https://ift.tt/1Slqt3Z
via IFTTT
When I heard that the Galaxy Watch 9 would be powered by the Snapdragon Wear Elite, I was excited about the prospect of a proper flagship Qualcomm chip on a smartwatch. That’s not to say recent chips have been bad, but it finally feels like Qualcomm is putting its best foot forward- enough that Samsung is finally willing to ditch its own Exynos chips.
However, after testing the Galaxy Watch 9, I've questioned whether a premium smartwatch chip of this caliber is really necessary. Sure, performance is great, but I haven’t exactly struggled to use smartwatches powered by Qualcomm’s last two chipsets. And in the pursuit of power, the Galaxy Watch 9 seems to suffer in one major area, which makes me think Google had the right idea after all with the Pixel Watch 5.
A smartwatch comfortable enough to sleep with
(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)
The Galaxy Watch 9 continues a trend it started with the Watch 8, with a thin, lightweight design that's pretty much identical to its predecessor. It has a circular display encased in a square-ish and feather-light aluminum chassis, making it probably the most comfortable smartwatch I've used.
At just over 34g, it's not quite as light as something like the Fitbit Air or Garmin Cirqa, but it's more than comfortable enough to wear while sleeping. That's important because many of the Galaxy Watch 9's health-tracking features count on the ability to monitor your sleep.
Beyond the watch case, the proprietary Galaxy Watch 9 sport band is light and flexible, allowing it to sit relatively flat on a surface and more flush with your wrist, which should help with health and fitness tracking.
More scores, more to keep track of
(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)
The Galaxy Watch 9 builds on Samsung's previous smartwatches and features pretty much all the major health-monitoring capabilities you could want in a smartwatch, including newer ones like Blood Pressure Trends.
In addition to a Sleep score and Energy score, the watch now provides a look at my Vitals, a new, easy-to-understand view of my major health metrics as I sleep, allowing me to check if anything is off-kilter and find ways to address it.
(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)
(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)
As I track my activities with the Galaxy Watch 9, I can also check my Fitness Index, a set of five scores that measure my physical fitness. It's an interesting concept, but this is probably one of the more confusing features, and it's hard to know exactly how to improve any given score, such as Flexibility or Endurance.
But this confusion is kind of a theme in the upgraded Samsung Health app and in Samsung's overall approach to health and fitness tracking. There is a ton of information to keep track of and a lot of different scores, but much of it feels disparate, with little way to make it useful. There are also features I just can't even take advantage of, like Heart Health, which requires Blood Pressure tracking (I don't have a cuff to calibrate with).
That's not to say more information is bad, but it's definitely a bit overwhelming.
Derrek Lee / Android CentralDerrek Lee / Android CentralDerrek Lee / Android CentralDerrek Lee / Android CentralDerrek Lee / Android Central
The Samsung Health app does provide occasional notices, including a large banner on the Home tab. But it feels like it's leading towards an AI health assistant that just isn't there (yet). That said, I can always ask Gemini or Bixby to show me certain metrics, such as my Sleep or Energy scores, in addition to their usual functions.
I also like the new layout of the Samsung Health Android app, and the ability to log food makes me want to stop using MyFitnessPal, especially with Antioxidant Index providing more metabolic context. The Watch is also great at workout tracking, automatically detecting exercises like Pilates and providing pretty accurate GPS data for runs.
The price of thinness
(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)
Unfortunately, the Galaxy Watch 9's thin profile has one major downside: battery life. Samsung squeezed a 445mAh battery into the larger 44mm model, but unfortunately, the watch doesn't last more than a day. In fact, during my testing, the Galaxy Watch 9 barely lasts through the day, and I often have to charge it before bed.
This is with the AOD turned off and Raise Wrist to Wake turned on, while using the watch sparingly throughout the day to check notifications, update apps, and occasionally chat with Gemini. I also monitor my sleep each night, track at least one workout per day, and let the watch automatically track activities like walking, running, and more.
I had been using the Pixel Watch 4 for so long that I forgot what it's like to have a smartwatch that can't last a full day (let alone two).
And to make matters worse, charging is incredibly slow. Going from empty to 100% takes well over an hour, to the point where I get tired of waiting for it to fully charge because, frankly, I have places to be.
You can likely get more battery life out of it by disabling certain features, but I feel like this sort of defeats the purpose of having a "smart" watch.
Should you buy the Galaxy Watch 9?
(Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)
The Galaxy Watch 9 has a lot going for it, including great performance, a comfortable design, and a UI that's easier to navigate with gestures. It also has a bevy of health and fitness features that can feel a bit overwhelming, but ultimately are there to give you all the information you need to lead a healthier lifestyle.
That said, I wonder whether the watch could have benefited from a larger battery or a less "Elite" chipset to improve battery life, as the frequent charging kind of ruins the entire experience. I also think Samsung's health and fitness tracking needs the kind of AI overhaul we saw with Google Health to make all its information feel useful.
Still, the Galaxy Watch 9 isn't a bad smartwatch if you need something to track your sleep, runs, or workouts, so long as you remember to charge it frequently.
from Latest from Android Central https://ift.tt/kzyhH07
via IFTTT
Early Galaxy S27 Ultra leaks point to a major redesign with a horizontal camera plateau similar to the iPhone 17 Pro.
Samsung could finally bring native Qi2 support to the Galaxy S27 Ultra, with magnets seemingly visible in leaked renders.
The Galaxy S27 Ultra could reportedly launch in two sizes, potentially giving buyers a smaller Ultra option for the first time.
With the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series out of the way, attention is now turning toward Samsung's next flagship smartphone lineup. And if the latest round of leaks is anything to go by, the Galaxy S27 Ultra could be getting a major redesign that looks a lot like Apple's latest iPhones.
For the past few years, Samsung has stuck with a vertical camera layout across its Galaxy S lineup. In fact, the company has been criticized several times for shipping very similar-looking Galaxy S Ultra phones year after year. It now looks like Samsung is finally planning to move away from that design, but perhaps not in the direction everyone expected.
The leaked design shows a horizontal camera plateau across the back, similar to the latest iPhones, with two large camera rings and an elongated section that will likely house the remaining cameras and LED flash.
(Image credit: X/SonnyDickson)
It's pretty clear where Samsung may be taking some design inspiration from this time around. On the bright side, though, the leaked renders also appear to show a Qi2 magnetic ring on the back, suggesting Samsung could finally build native Qi2 support directly into the Galaxy S27 Ultra.
The leaks also suggest Samsung could offer the Galaxy S27 Ultra in two different sizes, something we've heard rumored previously. If true, that could mean we're finally getting a more compact version of Samsung's Ultra flagship alongside the larger model.
Of course, we're still months away from the Galaxy S27 series launch, and plenty could change before Samsung makes anything official. But these early leaks certainly suggest Samsung is preparing a pretty major design shake-up, even if the inspiration appears to be coming straight from Cupertino.
What do you think of the rumored design? Let us know in the comments below.
from Latest from Android Central https://ift.tt/PdUfXne
via IFTTT
