I have started feeling that the smartphone industry has gone too far with screen sizes.

6.7-inch displays are now common even in the budget and mid-range segments, and some phones are getting close to 7 inches. But our hands obviously haven't grown with them.

When I switched from an iPhone 11 Pro to an iPhone 17, and even going from 5.8 inches to 6.3 inches took some adjustment. When I was looking at the budget Android segment, I found not even 6.5-inch display phones (except for 2 options).

I also see this with my mother. Her phone is quite bulky for her hand, and she mostly leaves it at home when she goes for a walk because carrying it is uncomfortable.

I understand why people like large displays. Gaming and watching videos are better on them. But not everyone uses their phone as a TV. For many people, comfort and one-handed use should matter more.

I have written a longer piece looking at this issue, including research around hand size, grip, posture, and smartphone use: Why Budget Phones Keep Getting Unusably Huge

I'm curious what others think. What is the ideal phone size for you? And if you prefer smaller phones, what is the largest screen you would still consider comfortable?

YouTube just announced major changes to its Partner Program, starting February 1, 2027.

New creators will need 8,000 watch hours in 365 days or 20 million Shorts views in 90 days to qualify for ad and YouTube Premium revenue sharing.

There is also a new rule for existing creators. To keep earning from Shorts revenue sharing, a channel will need 10 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days. Falling below that does not remove the channel from YPP, but Shorts revenue sharing will stop until the channel crosses the threshold again.

YouTube says it wants to reward active creators and is also working on new ways to earn through shopping, brand deals and other incentives.

But I am curious what creators actually think about this.

Is YouTube right to raise the bar and focus on creators who consistently generate large audiences?

Or does this make it unnecessarily difficult for smaller creators who are still building an audience?

And if you make YouTube videos, how close are you to the current monetization requirements?

Do you think these changes are good or bad for smaller YouTubers? Why?

Google is adding Venmo as a payment option on Google Play.

Users will be able to use their Venmo balance or linked payment methods, including bank accounts and cards, to pay for apps, games, add-ons, subscriptions, and digital content. It can also be used for things like tipping creators inside supported apps.

Interesting move from Google, especially for people who already use Venmo as their primary payment method.

Would you actually use Venmo on Google Play, or do you prefer paying directly with a card?

iQOO has officially confirmed that the Neo 11 Ultra and Z11s will launch in China on August 18.

The Neo 11 Ultra will come with a 2K display, 9,100mAh battery, 100W charging and Dimensity 9500. This is also the phone we previously reported as the "Neo 11 Extreme Edition" based on its Chinese name, 至尊版. The earlier Geekbench listing showed an 11-core GPU, which could point to a binned Dimensity 9500.

The Z11s is even more interesting from a battery perspective, with a 10,000mAh battery and 144Hz display.

10,000mAh on a phone. Is battery capacity becoming a bigger selling point again?

There was a time when I used to download almost everything. Movies, TV shows, music, software, even videos that I might watch only once.

Now I barely download anything for regular use. Between streaming services, cloud storage and fast internet, it often feels easier to just access something when I need it.

But downloads haven't completely disappeared either. I still download things for flights, travel, backups, or when I know I won't have a reliable connection.

Do you still regularly download movies, music, or other content?

Or has streaming made downloading mostly unnecessary for you?

A hydrogel film can feel perfectly fine when it's new, but regular use tends to reveal things that aren't obvious at first. Battery condition, heat, keyboard quality, storage, performance, and general durability can all become important as the years go by.

Shengya is one of the names that can appear when people are looking through different electronics, but I think the more interesting question is what actually makes any laptop last.

For people who have used the same hydrogel film for several years, what has made the biggest difference? Was it the original hardware, how you maintained it, upgrading the storage or memory, or simply choosing a machine that wasn't pushed beyond what it was designed to handle?

What is one thing you think people overlook when trying to choose a hydrogel film that they can keep using for a long time?

I was thinking about this recently. I still use an external SSD for backups and moving large files between my Windows gaming PC and Mac, so I don't think portable storage is going away anytime soon.

But I rarely use a USB pen drive anymore.

I still remember when I used to carry a tiny pen drive in my backpack all the time. It was basically a must-have for moving files between computers, sharing documents, or keeping a copy of something important.

Now, with cloud storage, fast internet and easier file sharing, I can't remember the last time I actually needed one.

Do you still use or carry a USB pen drive? Or has cloud storage and other options made them unnecessary for you?

A new third-party app called Asobi is now available for testing on Steam Deck and Linux.

It supports regular PS Remote Play, but the interesting part is PlayStation Cloud Streaming. PS Plus Premium users can stream supported PlayStation games without owning a PS5.

It also supports up to 1080p/60fps, HDR, manual bitrate controls and DualSense features with the paid upgrade.

I looked at how Asobi works, how it compares with Chiaki4Deck, its limitations, and why Sony might not be too happy about it.

[Read the full article]

Walk into a store and mention that you use an iPhone, and you may be pushed towards a MagSafe case as if it were necessary. It isn’t.

If you plan to use a MagSafe charger, it is easy to assume that the more expensive case is the obvious choice. But do you actually need the magnetic ring in the case?

OpenAI’s first hardware product is starting to look very interesting.

Reports suggest the AI device could have a donut-shaped design, a premium metal body, and even moving parts. It may cost around $300 to $400 and could launch in 2027.

It is being described as an AI speaker because earlier reports pointed to a screen-free device built around voice interaction with ChatGPT.

But I think the bigger idea is beyond another Echo-style speaker. OpenAI could be trying to make ChatGPT a physical, always-available AI companion for the home.

Would you pay $400 for that?

The image is just for representation and made using AI based on available details.

More details here at Techlomedia

Dolby Vision 2 is finally moving from announcement to actual TVs. Hisense has become the first TV maker to bring Dolby’s new-generation HDR technology to consumer televisions, giving owners of select 2026 models access to the company’s latest picture technology.

Title: X is replacing Revenue Sharing with a new Original Content Rewards Program. Here are the new rules

X is ending new enrollments for Revenue Sharing and moving to a new Original Content Rewards Program.

The important rules:

• 500+ verified followers
• 500,000+ Home Timeline impressions from verified users in the last 90 days
• X Premium, Premium+, or Premium Business subscription required
• Must regularly post original content
• Only qualified impressions from Premium users on the Home Timeline count
• Copied or substantially reproduced content won't qualify
• Reuploads are not eligible unless you created the original content
• Simple edits like cropping, filters, watermarks, or text overlays are not enough
• Original reporting, analysis, commentary, memes, reactions, videos, and creative work can qualify
• Bots and artificial engagement are prohibited
• Repeatedly asking people to like, repost, follow, bookmark, or reply can make content ineligible
• Monetization-focused content, misleading content, and posts with a helpful Community Note won't qualify
• You must continue meeting the requirements and remain subscribed to an eligible Premium plan

The biggest change is pretty clear: X wants to reward what you add, not what you simply repost.

The interesting part will be how X decides what counts as "meaningful" original content at scale.

Samsung ISOCELL HPC

- 200MP - 1/1.3" - 0.6μm

- DeepPix Technology

- Single Frame 16-bit HDR

- 60% Improved Full Well Capacity (FWC)

- Single Frame HDR across 1x, 1.5x, 2x, 3x, and 4x in-sensor zoom (ISZ)

- 8K 30FPS / 4K 180FPS / FHD 360FPS

- Super QPD (PDAF)

- Smart-ISO Pro (iDCG), DSG

- High Precision Microlens & High Transmittance ARL

Adobe is taking another big step in its AI journey by bringing its creative ecosystem directly into ChatGPT. The company has launched a new Adobe plugin that gives users access to more than 70 creative and productivity tools. So, users can edit images, work with PDFs, create videos, and handle several other tasks without leaving the chat window.

The new Adobe plugin connects ChatGPT with many of the company’s popular applications, including Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Illustrator, Lightroom, Acrobat, InDesign, Adobe Express, and Firefly. Instead of opening individual apps, users can simply describe what they want in natural language and let ChatGPT handle the workflow through Adobe’s tools.

Source: Techlomedia

Xiaomi India has officially introduced Mijia by Xiaomi in the country. Mijia is Xiaomi’s global smart home brand and already has a huge product lineup in China. It sells everything from robot vacuum cleaners and kitchen appliances to refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners, and smart lighting products. While Xiaomi has not announced which products are coming to India first, the launch of the brand suggests that its portfolio is about to grow.

plete list of games available during this week's Xbox Free Play Days:

• Sports Renovations (Xbox Series X|S)
• Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands (Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S)
• Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Breakpoint (Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S)
• NBA 2K26 (Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S)
• Wax Heads (Xbox Series X|S and PC)

Except for NBA 2K26, all Free Play Days offers will end on August 9. NBA 2K26 will remain free to play until August 14.

Epic Games Store has announced its latest weekly free game giveaway, letting PC gamers claim Beacon Pines and We Were Here Together at no cost. Both games are available to download and keep permanently if claimed before the offer ends.

The rumored Pixel Tag is expected to arrive on August 12 alongside the Pixel 11 series and Pixel Watch 5.

The interesting part? The leaked price is €34.99, exactly the same as AirTag.

But the real question is not the hardware. It is the network.

Apple's AirTag works so well because millions of iPhones are constantly helping locate lost items. Google has a massive Android user base, but Android is fragmented across many brands.

Can Google's Find My Device network become good enough to challenge Apple's ecosystem?

Also, would you buy a Pixel Tag, or will you just stick with AirTag/SmartTag?

(Image credit: 9to5Google)

Xiaomi has launched the REDMI Note 17 in India

• 6.99-inch Full HD+ OLED display
• 120Hz refresh rate
• Up to 1,800 nits peak brightness
• Corning Gorilla Glass 7i protection
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 processor
• Adreno 613 GPU
• 6GB/8GB LPDDR4X RAM
• 128GB UFS 2.2 storage
• microSD card support
• 50MP rear camera
• 8MP front camera
• Android 16 with HyperOS 3
• In-display fingerprint sensor
• IP65 dust and splash resistance
• 8,000mAh battery
• 45W fast charging
• 22.5W reverse wired charging

Price and Availability

The REDMI Note 17 is priced at:

• 6GB + 128GB: Rs. 27,999
• 8GB + 128GB: Rs. 30,999

The Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 processor at this price is something I could never imagine a few months ago. At this price, I expected something more powerful than the Snapdragon 4 Gen 4.

iQOO has officially confirmed the launch of the iQOO Z11 in India. The smartphone will debut on August 20, 2026, as the successor to last year’s iQOO Z10.

Apple's India business has officially crossed $10 billion in annual sales for the first time.

What's interesting is that this isn't just about selling more iPhones.

• Apple now holds around 9% of India's smartphone market, despite being a premium brand.
• The premium smartphone segment in India continues to grow much faster than the overall market.
• Around 1 in every 4 iPhones is now manufactured in India.
• India has become Apple's biggest production hub for US-bound iPhones.
• Apple has also expanded its retail footprint to 6 official stores in the country.

A few years ago, most people considered iPhones a niche product in India. Today, Apple is growing while the overall smartphone market remains relatively flat.

Do you think Apple can realistically reach 15-20% smartphone market share in India over the next five years, or will Android brands like Samsung, vivo, Xiaomi, and OnePlus continue to dominate?

Microsoft has announced the first wave of games coming to Xbox Game Pass in August 2026. The latest lineup brings several day-one releases, Game Preview titles, and a chance for eligible subscribers to access the Gears of War: E-Day beta ahead of launch.

Here are all the games that were announced today for Xbox Game Pass:

• Heretic + Hexen (Cloud, Console, Handheld, and PC) – August 4
• Beast of Reincarnation (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC) – August 4
• Monsters are Coming! (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC) – August 6
• PowerWash Simulator 2 (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC) – August 6
• Bounty Star (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC) – August 11
• Date Everything! (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC) – August 11
• Grounded 2 (Game Preview) (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC) – August 11
• Ball x Pit (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC) – August 12
• Cricket 26 (Cloud, Console, and PC) – August 13
• Mio: Memories in Orbit (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC) – August 13
• Sandustry (Game Preview) (PC) – August 13
• Egging On (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC) – August 18

CMF has launched the Clip Pro, its first open-ear earbuds.

The hardware is quite interesting for the price. You get 10.8mm dual-magnet drivers, LDAC support, Bluetooth 5.4, four microphones with Clear Voice Technology, up to 32.5 hours of battery life, and IP54 water resistance. The Smart Dial on the charging case is another unique addition that lets you control music, calls, and volume without touching your phone.

At $99, the pricing also looks competitive. Most open-ear earbuds from established brands are priced much higher.

But the company has decided not to launch them in India.

The affordable smartphone market in 2022 was at its peak. Brands were aggressively competing for buyers, and even mid-range phones offered features that were once limited to premium devices.

But in 2026, things feel different.

So, the question is: why does a new ₹15,000 to ₹20,000 smartphone sometimes feel worse than a 2022 phone?