This new Android & iPhone tracker hides in your bike or golf clubs with 3-year battery life [Gallery]

9to5google.com Aug 26, 2026

This new Android & iPhone tracker hides in your bike or golf clubs with 3-year battery life [Gallery]

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Aug 26, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Pebblebee has released the LÔC8, a cylindrical tracker that fits inside bike handles, golf club shafts, and other shaft‑like objects. Designed for stealth, it features a clear plastic shell and a replaceable ER10250 battery that lasts up to three years. The device is activated by a double‑press on its top, then paired via Android Find Hub or Apple Find My. Pebblebee offers single and four‑pack options, targeting individual users and golf clubs, and plans future embedded designs for skis and other gear.

💡 Why It Matters

· By embedding a tracker inside gear, LÔC8 thwarts theft attempts that remove surface‑mounted tags, offering a discreet, long‑lasting solution for high‑value equipment.

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Waiting for GrapheneOS? Motorola’s 2027 phones are up first, then it’s on…

GrapheneOS announced on Mastodon that its privacy‑focused Android fork will be pre‑installed on Motorola’s next‑generation non‑folding smartphones launching in 2027, with support for the company’s upcoming Raz‑R Fold and Ultra foldables to follow. The partnership, unveiled at Mobile World Congress 2026, commits Motorola to handle most of the porting work while GrapheneOS supplies the security layer. Both firms cite Qualcomm’s forthcoming Snapdragon processors, which include mature memory‑tagging‑extension (MTE) and secure‑element features, as key to a smooth integration. GrapheneOS clarified that current Motorola models do not meet its requirements, and it also plans to bring the OS to Google’s Pixel 11 series. The timeline hinges on aligning hardware releases and software readiness for the 2027 rollout and will be available globally to adopters.

💡 By marrying GrapheneOS’s hardened stack with Motorola’s mass‑market hardware, the deal gives privacy‑conscious users a mainstream alternative to Google’s ecosystem, potentially reshaping consumer expectations for default security.

androidcentral.com · Aug 25

Yep, One UI 9 Beta 6 is rolling out now on the…

Samsung began rolling out the One UI 9 Beta 6 update to enrolled Galaxy S26 users in South Korea, India, the United Kingdom, Germany and Poland on August 25, 2026. The 851 MB package addresses a handful of display glitches affecting the Now Brief widget, the Home screen and the camera widget, and resolves an issue where Expert RAW 24 MP photos were saved incorrectly at certain focal lengths. No new features are introduced. The beta follows the larger Beta 5 release, which also bundled the August 2026 security patch. While the rollout is expanding, U.S. testers are expected to receive the update later in the week. Rumors of a One UI 9.5 build continue to circulate despite the current UI still being in beta.

💡 The fix restores reliable camera and widget performance for early adopters, keeping Samsung’s flagship experience competitive ahead of the anticipated stable One UI 9 launch.

androidcentral.com · Aug 25

Qualcomm just broke the 5GHz barrier with its next Snapdragon chip

Qualcomm announced its next‑generation Oryon CPU will reach up to 5 GHz, the highest clock speed yet for a smartphone processor. The fully custom design gives Qualcomm full control over microarchitecture and efficiency, while the new Oryon FlexCache lets all CPU cores share a dynamic cache pool, improving gaming and multitasking. The company will reveal two Snapdragon 8 Elite chipsets at the Snapdragon Summit in Hawaii in September. The move signals a push toward desktop‑level performance in Android phones.

💡 Qualcomm’s 5 GHz clock and shared cache architecture could set a new benchmark for mobile performance, challenging rivals to match its blend of speed and efficiency.

9to5google.com · Aug 25

WhatsApp two-step verification codes are ditching six-digit PINs for full passwords

WhatsApp has upgraded its two‑step verification from a six‑digit PIN to a full alphanumeric password that can include special characters, aiming to strengthen account security. The change follows the platform’s milestone of one billion users adopting passkeys. Alongside the new verification method, Android users will see an enhanced incoming‑call screen that displays caller country and group membership. The updates are part of WhatsApp’s broader effort to protect accounts from unauthorized access.

💡 By replacing a predictable numeric PIN with a complex password, WhatsApp reduces the risk of brute‑force attacks and enhances user privacy. The new call‑screen feature also helps users quickly identify suspicious contacts, further tightening security.

9to5google.com · Aug 25

Galaxy S27 Ultra’s major redesign detailed in new renders, price hike rumored

Samsung’s Galaxy S27 Ultra is set for a radical redesign, revealed through CAD renders from @OnLeaks and Android Headlines. The new model features a camera plateau similar to the iPhone 16, a slightly larger body (163.76 × 78.25 × 7.97 mm), and a 12.53 mm camera module. It will include a larger battery, Snapdragon’s latest flagship chip, and will drop the telephoto lens. Analysts speculate a starting price of $1,499, a $200 increase over the S26 Ultra, and no Qi2 magnets.

💡 The price jump signals Samsung’s shift toward premium flagship positioning, potentially redefining the high‑end smartphone market.

androidcentral.com · Aug 25

Galaxy S27 Ultra’s redesign looks even more iPhone-like in new renders

New renders of the Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra reveal a radical shift from its traditional vertical camera bar to a horizontal camera plateau resembling the iPhone 17 Pro. The design features two large lenses on the left and a vertical pill‑shaped sensor cluster with LED flash. Samsung may drop the 10 MP 3× telephoto camera and incorporate native Qi2 magnetic charging, allowing MagSafe accessories without a case. The phone’s dimensions remain close to the S26 Ultra, suggesting a similar overall size while potentially accommodating a larger battery.

💡 The move signals Samsung’s willingness to blur design lines with Apple, potentially redefining competitive benchmarks in flagship aesthetics and accessory ecosystems.