Apple could change its software naming system as soon as next month, where the software versions will be named after upcoming year. In other words, what was expected to be called iOS 19, could be launched as iOS 26 next month. Apple could follow similar naming strategy for all its devices’ softwares.

As per Bloomberg, “the current iOS 18 will give way to “iOS 26,” said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plan is still private.” Updates for other Apple devices will be known as iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26 and visionOS 26.

“Apple is making the change to bring consistency to its branding and move away from an approach that can be confusing to customers and developers. Today’s operating systems — including iOS 18, watchOS 12, macOS 15 and visionOS 2 — use different numbers because their initial versions didn’t debut at the same time,” the report added.

The company is set to unveil the shift at its Worldwide Developers Conference on June 9. The rebranding will roll out alongside revamped user interfaces across its operating systems, aiming to create a more seamless experience as users switch between devices. Internally codenamed “Solarium,” the new design will extend to tvOS, watchOS, and parts of visionOS.

The major change is that Apple will start using the upcoming year in its OS names instead of the current one. So, while the next operating systems are set to launch around September 2025, they’ll be branded as the 2026 versions—similar to how carmakers label their models. If Apple sticks with this approach, the next round of updates would carry the “27” label.

Apple is following in Microsoft’s and Samsung’s footsteps in changing its software names. The report highlighted how in 2020 Samsung renamed its flagship Galaxy S phone line after its launch year, moving to the Galaxy S20. That device’s predecessor, which debuted in 2019, was the Galaxy S10.

To set your expectations for the upcoming updates from Apple, the company is aiming to make the iPad feel more like a Mac, potentially boosting its appeal for office and productivity tasks. It’s also opening up its AI models to third-party developers, allowing them to build on the same technology that powers the Apple Intelligence platform.

This year’s updates will bring a range of new features, including live translation for AirPods and Siri, as well as eye-tracking controls for the Vision Pro headset. In the AI space, Apple is working on health-related tools and a smart battery management mode.

Additional highlights include a new bilingual Arabic-English keyboard, a digital calligraphy pen for Apple Pencil users, and a dedicated gaming App for Apple devices.

Google has officially launched its Google online store in India, marking a major step in bringing its hardware directly to Indian consumers. For the first time, customers can purchase Pixel devices and accessories straight from Google, enjoying a hassle-free shopping experience along with exclusive offers, product support, and the latest releases—all in one place.

”With the official Google Store now live in India, buying directly from Google gets you the peace of mind that comes with an authentic product, along with flexible payment options and reliable service,” said Google. “It’s also the best way to take advantage of launch offers and exclusive discounts available only on the Google Store,” Google adds.

The Google online store in India will offer Google Store discounts, Google Store Credit, and Instant Cashback with your Pixel purchase for a limited-time. You can also exchange your old device and receive an Exchange Bonus to reduce the cost of your new Pixel. As part of the launch offer, you’ll also get an extra bonus added to your device’s exchange value.

In addition, you can take advantage of no-cost EMI options and Instant Cashback when you pay with your HDFC Credit Card. Until June 30, Google is offering a Store discount of Rs 5,000, a Rs 7,000 instant discount, along with Ra 6,000 exchange bonus on top of the Rs 5,000 store credit also, for the Pixel 9. As for the Pixel 9a, you only get an instant cashback of Rs 3,000.

Read More: Google I/O 2025: Google AI Ultra Plan, Veo 3, Imagen 4, and More, Announced

Google Online Store in India also offers a Google Store Exchange Program that “gives you great year-round value when exchanging your current device, whether it’s a Pixel or another brand like Apple, Samsung or OnePlus.” Google says it has partnered with Cashify to make the process “easy and reliable.”

During select promotional periods, like the launch offer from the company, you could also get an Exchange Bonus, which is an additional rebate added to your standard exchange value.

Google is also offering Pixel EMI plans through its No Cost EMI program. This allows eligible credit cardholders from participating banks/financial institutions to pay for their purchase in easy, equal monthly installments at 0% interest to you. You have the option of up to 24 months no-cost EMI for Pixel phones – and up to 12 months for Pixel Buds Pro 2 and Pixel Watch 3. Google Store also supports the UPI payment option.

Every device is 100% authentic and backed by Google Store. Furthermore, the company promises that if you find a better price at a selected retail partner or on Google Store within the return period, you may be eligible for a partial refund from Pixel Price Promise to match the lower price.

Finally, You also get access to 24/7 support from Pixel-trained experts, plus coverage through official warranty and authorised repair centres across India, with same-day service available in selected locations.

Alcatel is aiming to reboot its presence in India’s fiercely competitive smartphone market through a mix of local manufacturing, display technology innovation, and a long-term export-focused strategy.

In partnership with Indian firm Nxtcell, the French telecom brand—owned globally by TCL—is making its comeback with a renewed commitment to building locally and targeting a younger, digitally savvy consumer base.

Long-Term Licensing Push

The re-entry marks a shift from Alcatel’s earlier presence in the Indian feature phone era to a more integrated, tech-driven approach in 2025.

“This isn’t a short-term experiment. We’ve entered India after thoroughly evaluating our partner, market conditions, and long-term opportunities,” said Gregory Fermanian, Senior Director, TCL Mobile and Alcatel Mobile to The Mobile Indian. “Our global model of brand licensing is well-established, with more than 60 partnerships worldwide, and India is central to our next phase.”

The brand’s return also comes at a time when traditional market leaders are losing ground due to stagnant product portfolios and shifting consumer preferences. Alcatel believes its long-term commitment and focus on innovation and localisation can set it apart.

Unlike other brand license arrangements like HT Tech for Honor or HMD for Nokia that failed to scale due to a lack of investment or geopolitical uncertainty, Alcatel’s model is built around deep integration with its Indian partner. “We didn’t just sign a deal and start shipping. We’ve spent over a year laying the groundwork—from R&D to training engineers and building supply chains,” said Ansh Rathi, Chief Operating Officer of Nxtcell.

First Round: Alcatel V3 Series

Alcatel’s new line, beginning with the V3 smartphone, features its Proprietary NXTPAPER display—an eye-friendly, blue-light-filtering screen designed to appeal to students, young professionals, and parents concerned about prolonged screen exposure. The device includes stylus support with a custom UI layer that integrates productivity tools directly into the OS.

“This display technology has global certifications for eye protection. With digital learning and media consumption increasing, especially among children, we see this as a major differentiator,” said Rath. “We’re not just pushing specs—we’re solving actual consumer pain points.”

In a market dominated by price-performance ratios, Alcatel believes innovation, usability, and health-centric features can carve out a niche, even in the highly price-sensitive ₹10,000–₹20,000 segment. “Consumers are evolving. They’re open to new technology as long as it delivers real value,” Rathi said.

Central to the brand’s strategy is its manufacturing alliance with Dixon Technologies. Alcatel’s devices are being assembled in India from the outset, with plans to scale production to over two million units. This not only qualifies under the government’s Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme but also gives the brand pricing leverage in a cost-sensitive environment.

“Manufacturing locally is critical—not just for pricing, but for credibility,” Rathi said. “If you’re dependent on imports, you simply can’t compete in India at scale.”

The company has also invested in domestic testing and customisation to ensure devices meet India’s environmental and performance demands. “We ran temperature stress tests from -5°C to over 55°C to ensure our phones perform across diverse Indian climates,” said Rathi. “These are the small but critical localisations that global brands often overlook.”

Global Vision: From India to Emerging Markets

Alcatel’s ambitions extend beyond India’s borders. The company sees India not only as a key market but also as a potential regional manufacturing hub for South Asia and the MENA region.

“India is just the starting point. If our collaboration with Nxtcell continues to perform, we plan to export to neighbouring countries like Nepal and Sri Lanka, and later expand to the Middle East and Africa,” said Atul Vivek, Chief Business Officer, Nxtcell India.

“We’ve already diversified production beyond China to include Vietnam and Indonesia. India now adds another key node in our supply chain,” added Gregory.

Offline Rollout and Distribution with Caution

For now, Alcatel’s focus remains on digital channels, but a phased rollout into offline retail is expected by mid-2025. The company is deliberately steering clear of layered distribution models, opting instead for lean, direct retail partnerships. “We’re building our offline presence slowly and sustainably. We don’t want to dump stock and damage the brand,” Atul noted.

Marketing efforts are targeted at urban youth and first-time smartphone upgraders, with Messaging focused on health-conscious innovation, sleek design, and French brand heritage. “Alcatel has strong legacy value. Many consumers remember it fondly, and we’re using that goodwill to build a new chapter,” Atul said.

While the V3 series marks the first step, executives confirm that additional smartphones are already in the pipeline, with a clear focus on features that go beyond spec sheets. “We’re not trying to out-spec the competition. We’re here to change the experience,” Rathi said. “If we can do that consistently, we’ll earn our space back in the market.”

One UI 8 Beta has been launched by Samsung a little earlier than expected considering the brand faced major delays in the rollout of One UI 7. This is line with Google’s new Android release timelines where it is also expected to launch the stable Android 16 build early next month for Pixel devices.

”One UI 8 is coming, and early access is now available through its beta program — kicking off a new era of software intelligence that brings a true multimodal AI agent designed for various Samsung Galaxy form factors,” said Samsung in a blog post. As a result of a mutual partnership between Samsung and Google, One UI 8 will debut on Samsung’s newest foldables this summer and will gradually expand to more Galaxy devices so users can now “enjoy an enriched, more personalized mobile experience with the latest version of Android.”

Samsung notes that through open communication, “Samsung and Google actively shared their respective design systems and real-time feedback with one another, accelerating software development that made One UI 8 one of the first UI platforms to adopt Android 16.” The company adds that the launch of One UI 8 also initiates a “new rhythm for Samsung’s software evolution with major UX and AI updates.”

One UI 8 Beta: Supported Devices, Regions

One can sign up for the One UI 8 beta program starting today. Those with the Galaxy S25, S25+ and S25 Ultra in Germany, Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States are eligible for joining the beta program.

One UI 8 Beta: New Features

The official launch of One UI 8 will bring a smarter, more convenient AI experience, building on the advanced features first introduced with the Galaxy S25 series. Samsung says that the AI is driven by three key elements: multimodal capabilities, a user experience optimized for various device form factors, and personalized, proactive suggestions. With intelligent multimodality, you’ll enjoy natural, seamless interactions with AI that can understand and respond to what you’re seeing or watching in real time.

The updated UX in One UI 8 is tailored to the distinct form factors across the Galaxy device lineup, enhancing productivity and efficiency in your everyday tasks. It intelligently adapts to your context, delivering personalized, proactive suggestions that align with your daily routine. New features like Now Bar and Now Brief will now deliver even more customized insights and suggestions to help you stay on top of tasks and support your daily routine, through curated AI information. One UI 8 also provides settings where you can choose to process data only on the device.

Aside from this, Auracast, a broadcast audio technology based on Bluetooth LE Audio — will support effortless audio connection via QR code scanning and sharing, allowing multiple Auracast devices — like Galaxy Buds3 and hearing aids — to join a shared audio stream without the hassle of a complex manual setup.

Additionally, customer support at repair centers will be faster and more convenient, thanks to QR- and NFC-enabled support accessible right in Samsung Account. You can now register with QR or NFC without having to write any registration forms, reducing wait times and simplifying service requests.

The Reminder app will be your travel supporter with more convenient and intuitive features. If you are planning a trip to New York with your family, you can manage all your reminders in one place as soon as you open the App with a UX that is easy-looking even for first-time users. You can also share a list of to-dos for your trip with the press of a button. When your hands are full of shopping bags, you can use your voice to add reminders on the go as it is voice enabled.

Further, a single tap of the Quick Share button in the Quick settings panel will let you instantly send and receive files.

Motorola Razr 60 has been launched in India in a single model with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. The launch comes after the brand debuted the Motorola Razr 60 Ultra in the country earlier this month. The new Razr 60 has already debuted in international markets.

Motorola Razr 60: Price, Availability

The Motorola Razr 60 comes in PANTONE Gibraltar Sea, PANTONE Spring Bud and PANTONE Lightest Sky shades. It is priced at Rs 49,999 for the lone 8GB + 256GB model. The phone can be bought from motorola.com, Flipkart, and offline stores starting June 4.

Motorola Razr 60: Specifications

The Razr 60 sports a 6.7-inch (2640×1080 pixels) FlexView FHD+ LTPO AMOLED Display which supports up to 120Hz refresh rate, HDR 10+, 120% DCI-P3 color gamut, up to 3000 nits peak brightness, 413 ppi, and Dolby Vision. At the front, it gets a 3.6-inch (1066 x 1056 pixels resolution) QuickView pOLED cover display which gets 90Hz refresh rate, 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, 1700 nits peak brightness, 413 ppi, along with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection.

The handset is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7400X chipset, paired with 8GB LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB UFS 2.2 storage. The device also runs on Hello UI based on Android 15. For optics, there’s a 50MP f/1.79 primary camera with OIS and a 13MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle camera. There’s a side-mounted fingerprint sensor for security.

There’s a 32MP f/2.4 front camera for selfies and video calls. Connectivity options include dual SIM 5G (physical SIM + eSIM), 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4, USB Type-C port, and NFC. It is further equipped with stereo speakers that support Dolby Atmos. The device is also IP48 rated and is backed up by a 4500mAh battery with 30W fast wired charging and 15W wireless charging support.

OnePlus Ace 5 Ultra and the OnePlus Ace 5 Racing Edition smartphones have launched in China with MediaTek chipsets under the hood. The devices also have a sizable battery under the hood, where the Racing Edition Ace 5 packs a 7100mAh cell with support for 80W fast charging. Here’s everything to know about the devices.

OnePlus Ace 5 Racing Edition: Price, Specs

The Ace 5 Racing Edition starts at CNY 1,799 for the 12GB + 256GB model (approx Rs 21,300) and goes up till CNY 2,499 (approx Rs 29,600) for the 12GB + 512GB model. It comes in White, Black, and Green shades.

The OnePlus Ace 5 Racing sports a 6.77-inch AMOLED Display with a full-HD+ Resolution (2392 x 1080 pixels), 120Hz refresh rate, 1300 nits peak brightness, 100% DCI-P3, PWM Dimming, 387 ppi, and 94.1% screen-to-body ratio. The panel is protected with Oppo crystal shield glass. The MediaTek Dimensity 9400e SoC powers the device with up to 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM and up to 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage.

Additionally, the OnePlus Ace 5 Racing has a dual camera setup at the rear including a 50MP f/1.8 primary sensor with OIS and a 2MP f/2.4 depth camera. On the front, there is a 16MP f/2.4 sensor for selfies and video calls.

It is backed by a 7100mAh battery that supports 80W SuperVOOC wired charging. Connectivity options include 5G, NFC, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth v5.4, and USB-C for charging. Further, it runs on ColorOS 15 based on Android 15. Lastly, it equips a single speaker and is IP64 rated.

OnePlus Ace 5 Ultra: Price, Specs

The Ace 5 Ultra starts at CNY 2,499 (approx Rs 29,600) for the 12GB + 256GB model while it goes up till 16GB + 1TB version selling for CNY 3,799 (approx Rs 45,030). It is available in Blue, Black, and Titanium shades.

The OnePlus Ace 5 Ultra sports a 6.83-inch AMOLED Display with a 1.5K Resolution (2800 x 1272 pixels), 120Hz refresh rate, 1400 nits peak brightness, 100% DCI-P3, PWM Dimming, 450 ppi, and 93.6% screen-to-body ratio. The panel is protected with Oppo crystal shield glass. The MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ SoC powers the device with up to 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM and up to 1 TB of UFS 4.0 storage.

Additionally, the OnePlus Ace 5 Ultra has a dual camera setup at the rear including a 50MP f/1.8 primary sensor with OIS and an 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle camera. On the front, there is a 16MP f/2.4 sensor for selfies and video calls.

It is backed by a 6700mAh battery that supports 100W SuperVOOC wired charging. Connectivity options include 5G, NFC, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth v5.4, and USB-C for charging. Further, it runs on ColorOS 15 based on Android 15. Lastly, it equips dual stereo speakers, is IP65 rated, and gets an X-Axis Linear Vibration Motor.