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

9to5google.com Aug 25, 2026

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

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Aug 25, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

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.

💡 Why It Matters

· 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.

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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

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.

9to5google.com · Aug 25

Nothing’s Android 17 update debuts this week with redesigns, new apps, 3D…

Nothing has officially announced Nothing OS 5.0, its software update based on Android 17, scheduled to begin rolling out in October. The update introduces redesigned user interface elements, including Pixel-like transparency and blur effects on homescreen widgets and the Nothing Gallery app. New features include batch editing capabilities, updated lockscreen clock faces, and a dedicated application for managing Glyph interface interactions. The software also adds support for Google’s 3D emoji and integrates additional AI functionalities. Open Beta builds are available starting August 26, initially for the Phone (3) model, with expansion to other supported devices in subsequent weeks. The full stable release will start with the Phone (3) in mid-October. Updates will continue through mid-January, covering devices dating back to the Phone (2a). Notably, the newer Phone (4b) is scheduled near the end of the update queue, following the older models in the rollout sequence.

💡 The delayed update schedule for the flagship Phone (4b) suggests potential optimization challenges with Android 17 integration. This prioritization strategy forces early adopters of the latest hardware to wait longer for core system features compared to older devices.

gizchina.com · Aug 25

Exynos 2700 Beats Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro in Benchmark Leaks…

Leaked internal benchmarks indicate Samsung’s upcoming Exynos 2700 processor outperforms Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Gen 6 Pro across multiple metrics. The Exynos chip achieved a 19% higher multi-core CPU score than the standard Snapdragon and a 9.5% advantage over the Pro variant. GPU performance showed a 5% lead at peak output, with significant gains under power constraints. Power consumption tests revealed the Exynos 2700 draws 161mA compared to the Snapdragon Pro’s 185mA, representing a 12.7% reduction. On-device AI processing using the Llama 3.1 8B model was 18% faster on Samsung’s silicon. Manufactured on Samsung Foundry’s second-generation 2nm node, this performance suggests a strategic shift. Samsung may expand Exynos usage in Galaxy S27 models and foldables to reduce reliance on expensive Qualcomm chips, potentially improving profit margins and attracting third-party foundry clients.

💡 Validating Samsung’s second-generation 2nm process with superior performance directly challenges Qualcomm’s pricing dominance and reduces supply chain vulnerability. This technical victory allows Samsung to reclaim market share in key regions while proving its foundry capabilities to external clients.