Galaxy S26 looks more expensive these days: price hikes roll out online

androidcentral.com Oct 2, 2026

Galaxy S26 looks more expensive these days: price hikes roll out online

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Oct 2, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Samsung has increased the online prices of its Galaxy S26 series, adding $100 to the 256GB and 512GB models of the S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra. The 1TB Ultra configuration received a $200 hike, bringing its price to $1,999. The new starting prices are $999 for the S26, $1,199 for the S26 Plus, and $1,399 for the S26 Ultra. The changes were first noted on Samsung’s website and later appeared on Best Buy; other retailers have yet to adjust.

💡 Why It Matters

· The price jumps underscore Samsung’s strategy to offset rising memory costs and AI‑driven feature demands, potentially reshaping consumer expectations for flagship smartphones.

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Pixel 11 Pro vs. iPhone 18 Pro: Copy-copy-paste or just copy-paste [Video]

The Pixel 11 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro launch with almost identical designs, signaling a plateau in smartphone innovation. Both models feature minimal visual changes, with the iPhone’s key updates being a smaller Dynamic Island and a variable main‑lens aperture that improves low‑light performance. Google’s Pixel offers more flexible camera controls, while Apple’s A20 chip outperforms Tensor G6 in raw power. The devices illustrate how major brands are prioritizing incremental tweaks over radical redesigns.

💡 The sameness underscores a broader industry slowdown, forcing consumers to weigh marginal camera and processor gains against the cost of new hardware. This trend may accelerate the shift toward software‑driven differentiation and cloud‑based services.

gamesradar.com · Oct 2

I played an evening of Big Walk on Steam Frame, and it…

Valve’s Steam Frame, the company’s first VR headset, was put to the test by a GamesRadar+ writer who used it to play the multiplayer title Big Walk while staying at his mother’s house in Edinburgh. Lacking a gaming PC, he relied on the Frame’s built‑in hardware, Wi‑Fi connectivity and a Bluetooth controller to join his friends online. The headset ran the game smoothly on low settings, matching the performance of a Steam Deck in a “cinematic mode” that projects a virtual screen. Battery life required a plug‑in after about an hour, but the device’s comfort, latency‑free controls and ease of setup allowed a three‑hour session without interruption, confirming Valve’s promise of portable, PC‑quality VR.

💡 The experience proves the Steam Frame can deliver a full‑PC VR library without a desktop, expanding VR’s reach to casual, on‑the‑go gamers.

9to5mac.com · Oct 2

Apple commissions photographers for new ‘Shot on iPhone Duo’ campaign

Apple today posted a six‑image carousel on Instagram featuring work by photographers Jake Michaels and Jason Nocito to showcase the iPhone Duo’s camera system. The images illustrate the device’s 48‑megapixel rear sensors, 12‑megapixel front lens, and a hidden FaceTime camera beneath the inner display, emphasizing new shooting modes and versatility. The rollout continues Apple’s decade‑long “Shot on iPhone” program, which has earned multiple Cannes Lions and two Emmy nominations for its advertising. Pre‑orders for the iPhone Duo begin on October 16, with shipments and in‑store sales slated for October 23. Apple highlighted the campaign as a visual proof point for the phone’s upgraded hardware and software capabilities. The showcase aims to inspire both consumers and creators to explore photography features.

💡 By pairing the Duo with acclaimed photographers, Apple turns a product launch into a cultural moment, reinforcing its brand as a leader in mobile imaging.

techradar.com · Oct 2

This tiny PC has two Intel Arc B70 GPUs with 64GB of…

At IntelConnection 2026 in China, Gunnir unveiled two compact workstations powered exclusively by Intel Core Ultra 200HX processors and Intel Arc Pro B70 GPUs. One model houses a single B70 card, while the other packs two B70s into a small chassis with liquid cooling. Each B70 contains 32 GB GDDR6 ECC, giving the dual‑GPU system 64 GB of split memory. The cards feature 32 Xe cores, 256 XMX engines, and 608 GB/s bandwidth. Intel’s oneAPI framework enables parallel workloads across the GPUs. No release date or pricing was disclosed.

💡 The dual‑GPU design demonstrates Intel’s push into high‑performance, space‑constrained AI inference, offering a new pathway for compact, multi‑GPU deployments that could reshape edge computing and data‑center edge workloads.

9to5google.com · Oct 2

Vivo X Fold 6 skips the wide form factor, but will launch…

Vivo unveiled the X Fold 6, a foldable smartphone that retains a clamshell design rather than adopting the wide‑fold format. The device features an 8.02‑inch inner AMOLED panel and a 6.51‑inch outer screen, powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 9500 Super Edition SoC, with options for 12 GB or 16 GB RAM and 256 GB, 512 GB or 1 TB storage. Its camera suite is the headline, comprising a 200 MP Samsung HPB sensor, a 50 MP 3× periscope lens, and a 50 MP ultrawide unit, all calibrated with ZEISS optics and supported by a teleconverter. Vivo promises shutter response, improved portrait rendering and subject tracking. The phone houses a 6,900 mAh battery, carries IP58/59 protection, and ships with Android 17‑based OriginOS 7. A launch is confirmed, though a U.S. release is not planned.

💡 Delivering a 200 MP main sensor with

appleinsider.com · Oct 2

Optimistic AT&T tells iPhone 18 Pro Max iOS 27.0.1 update will fix…

AT&T sent a text alert to iPhone 18 Pro Max owners on its network, urging an immediate upgrade to iOS 27.0.1 to resolve reported cellular failures. The issue, affecting a limited subset of users, prevents the device from making or receiving calls and intermittently blocks texts and data, including emergency calls. Apple has released iOS 27.0.1 but has not publicly confirmed that it fixes the problem, and some customers say the update only addresses Face ID and touchscreen glitches. One user, Rod Santiano, reported that his phone was tested, found functional, yet replaced, and the replacement still exhibits the same symptoms. Apple has not acknowledged the call defect, leaving AT&T and Apple support as the only recourse for affected customers to resolve issues.

💡 With emergency calls at stake, the disconnect between carrier directives and Apple's silence forces users into a support maze, exposing how fragmented accountability can jeopardize critical communication.