Technical Tiwari

China-based artificial intelligence (AI) company StepFun unveiled the StepX Neo as the world's first mass-market agentic smartphone on Monday. The firm, which was founded by former Microsoft executives in 2023, claims that its first consumer hardware product features an integrated AI agent that can complete complex, multi-step tasks across apps with minimal user intervention. The handset is powered by its in-house Step Edge foundation model and runs on the company's custom Step AOS operating system. StepFun claims StepX Neo supports live translation across 32 languages while also integrating with several popular third-party services. Agentic AI Experience on StepX Neo Among the highlights of StepFun StepX Neo is the proprietary AI assistant called Step Amoo (via Wall Street China). Instead of functioning as a standalone chatbot, the company claims it is integrated into the OS. It is said to be designed to execute workflows across apps, system functions, and web services using v...

Lava Virat V1 5G will be launched in India next week, the smartphone maker has announced. The new handset will arrive in the country as the first model in the tech firm's new Virat lineup. Along with the launch date, the company has also revealed the phone's design and colourways. A dedicated microsite for the Lava Virat V1 is currently live in India, revealing details regarding its availability in the country. The upcoming smartphone will be accompanied by its 4G-only counterpart, namely Lava Virat V1. Both handsets are similar in terms of design. However, both are shown to sport slightly different rear camera modules. Lava Virat V1 Series Set to Launch in India on July 21 In a post on X, the smartphone maker has confirmed that its new Lava Virat series will be unveiled in India on July 21 at 12 pm IST. The Lava Virat V1 5G and Lava Virat V1 4G will be launched in the country as the first two handsets in the lineup. A dedicated microsite for the Lava Virat V1 series is now liv...

iPhone 18 Pro Max could be significantly more expensive to manufacture compared to its predecessor. The handset, which could be joined by the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra, is expected to debut at Apple's September event. While the Cupertino-based tech giant has yet to confirm any details, a market research firm has analysed its estimated cost of components. Overall, the highest storage variant of the iPhone 18 Pro Max could be approximately $300 (roughly Rs. 28,600) more expensive than its predecessor. iPhone 18 Pro BoM Comparison According to a new bill of materials (BoM) estimate from Counterpoint Research, the iPhone 18 Pro Max's component cost could approach $900 (roughly Rs. 85,800) for the 1TB storage variant, compared to roughly $550 (roughly Rs. 52,400) for the iPhone 17 Pro Max. This increase is attributed to soaring prices of memory components. NAND storage reportedly accounts for the largest increase, followed by DRAM. Another significant contributor to the increas...

The Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event is just around the corner, where the South Korean tech conglomerate is expected to unveil its next-generation foldable smartphones. While Samsung has yet to confirm the handsets, official renders of the purported Galaxy Z Fold 8 have now been leaked. According to a report, the images provide us with a clear glimpse of the redesigned form factor of the rumoured wide-foldable, along with its colour options. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Renders Android Headlines shared renders of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 in a report. The handset is said to be primarily available in three colourways — Cream, Graphite, and Lavender. Meanwhile, there will reportedly be a fourth Pistachio finish, which could be offered as a Samsung website exclusive shade. The renders highlight a big design change in Samsung's book-style foldable. Unlike the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and earlier models, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 features a significantly shorter, wider chassis. The wider cover display is ex...

Google announced its Made by Google event on Tuesday. The annual hardware launch event is expected to introduce the next-generation flagship Pixel lineup, widely referred to as the Pixel 11 series. The event will once again be held in New York City, marking the second consecutive year that Google has chosen the US city as its launch venue. Alongside the smartphones, the Mountain View-based tech giant is also rumoured to unveil the Pixel Watch 5 series. Made by Google Event: Date, Time The Made by Google event will take place on August 12. While the company has not publicly announced the event, invitations shared by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and YouTuber Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) confirm the launch date. The keynote of the hardware launch event will begin at 3pm PT (3:30am IST), which later than Google's usual hardware launch presentations. Google's invitation, shared by both Gurman and MKBZHD on X, teases the arrival of the "next generation of Pixel". It also appears...

iQOO's next flagship smartphone has been at the centre of several leaks in recent weeks. While the rumour mill previously suggested that the purported handset could make its way to India after debuting in its home market of China, a fresh claim indicates otherwise. According to a tipster, the iQOO 16 may not launch in India this year due to rising costs of memory components. The company is also said to have scaled back its roadmap for India. iQOO 16 India Launch Tipster Yogesh Brar claimed on X that the iQOO 16 is unlikely to launch in India this year. According to the tipster, increasing memory prices could push the handset's expected price beyond Rs. 85,000, which will likely make it difficult for the brand to position it competitively in the market. For context, the iQOO 15 was launched in India at a price tag of Rs. 72,999 for the base variant with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard storage. The 16GB + 512GB variant cost Rs. 79,999 at launch. In recent months, however, skyroc...