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Phone Scoop is a free, comprehensive web resource for mobile phone shoppers, users, enthusiasts, and professionals, focusing on the U.S.

MapQuest Adds Public Transit Directions: MapQuest, an alternative to Google Maps and Apple Maps, has added directions vi...
09/24/2026

MapQuest Adds Public Transit Directions: MapQuest, an alternative to Google Maps and Apple Maps, has added directions via walking, bus, and train to its iOS and Android apps. The app gained attention this year for refusing rename Lake Ontario to "Lake America".

MapQuest, an alternative to Google Maps and Apple Maps, has added directions via walking, bus, and train to its iOS and Android apps. The app gained attention this year for refusing rename Lake Ontario to "Lake America".

Qualcomm Intros Pair of Top-End Chips for Flagship Phones: Qualcomm has revealed the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chip to po...
09/22/2026

Qualcomm Intros Pair of Top-End Chips for Flagship Phones: Qualcomm has revealed the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chip to power flagship phones, alongside an even-more-powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. Both chips offer 37–40% improved power efficiency (compared to the previous-generation Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5), thanks in part to a new 2nm manufacturing process. (Apple and MediaTek also adopted the 2nm process for their new flagship chips this year.) The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chip offers 10% improved CPU performance, 35% improved GPU (graphics) performance, 14% improved NPU (AI) performance, and 20% improved AI performance-per-watt. Taking things further, the "Extreme" version offers 13% improved CPU performance, 44% improved GPU (graphics) performance, 35% improved NPU (AI) performance, and 33% improved AI performance-per-watt. New in both chips is the X105 modem, which improves data speeds, coverage, and power efficiency. Support for up to six cellular antennas improves download speeds by 10%, improves cell-edge reception, and reduces dropped connections. The X105 supports 3GPP Release 19 5G Advanced. The new FastConnect 8800 radio system supports 4x4 Wi-Fi 8 for double the peak speeds and up to 3x longer gigabit range. Unique to the Extreme version is support for 8k60 FPS video and 4k240 super slow motion, as well as support for the Advanced Professional Video (APV) codec. The Extreme version also introduces Adreno Neural Fusion, which uses AI to directly enhance graphics for gaming, with better power efficiency than using the GPU alone. A number of brands have announced that they will use the chips in flagship phones later this year, including Motorola.

Qualcomm has revealed the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chip to power flagship phones, alongside an even-more-powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. Both chips offer 37–40% improved power efficiency (compared to the previous-generation Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5), thanks in part to a new 2nm manufact...

Motorola Signature 27 is a True Flagship: After years of focusing on more-affordable phones and foldables in the US, Mot...
09/22/2026

Motorola Signature 27 is a True Flagship: After years of focusing on more-affordable phones and foldables in the US, Motorola will soon be returning to the traditional flagship phone space with the new "motorola signature 27". Although the company isn't revealing full details of the phone just yet, we do know a few things: It will be powered by the just-announced Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, Qualcomm's newest flagship chip for mobile. This is paired with Motorola's ArcticMesh cooling system for better sustained performance. It will also be the first fruit of Motorola's new partnership with Bang & Olufsen for premium audio. The camera system will include a 50-megapixel Sony LYTIA
910 main sensor and a 200 megapixel telephoto camera with periscope lens. The RF system includes six antennas. It will be available in two color/finish combinations: Pantone Coal Smoke in Tactical Weave, and Pantone Capulet Green in "a brushed textile-inspired finish". Pricing and release date were not revealed, but Motorola promises to bring the phone to North America by the end of this year. Motorola did produce a "signature" flagship model last year, but did not bring it to the US.

After years of focusing on more-affordable phones and foldables in the US, Motorola will soon be returning to the traditional flagship phone space with the new "motorola signature 27". Although the company isn't revealing full details of the phone just yet, we do know a few things: It will be powere...

Motorola Taps Bang & Olufsen for Audio: Motorola has formed a multi-year global partnership with premium audio brand Ban...
09/21/2026

Motorola Taps Bang & Olufsen for Audio: Motorola has formed a multi-year global partnership with premium audio brand Bang & Olufsen. "Soon, selected flagship Motorola devices will feature audio tuned by Bang & Olufsen’s acoustic engineers."

Motorola has formed a multi-year global partnership with premium audio brand Bang & Olufsen. "Soon, selected flagship Motorola devices will feature audio tuned by Bang & Olufsen’s acoustic engineers."

Google Brings Android to Laptops: Google is replacing ChromeOS with Android as its default OS for laptop devices. These ...
09/21/2026

Google Brings Android to Laptops: Google is replacing ChromeOS with Android as its default OS for laptop devices. These devices are branded Googlebook instead of Chromebook. One of Google's main selling points for the new OS is how tightly it integrates with Android smartphones. Googlebooks offer multiple ways to work seamlessly between these different Android-based devices. Many apps will let you start on your phone, open your Googlebook and continue right where you left off, with one click. Google has, for years, been pushing Android developers to support larger screens and different form factors, so many popular Android apps will work on a Googlebook from day one. Another feature called Cast My Apps lets you "stream" an app on your phone to a desktop window. Googlebooks also offer seamless access to the files on your phone, including search. Google has carried over the security architecture from ChromeOS, which integrates with Google's Titan hardware security chip. Googlebooks can be powered by either x86 chips from Intel or Arm chips from Qualcomm. The initial lineup includes models from Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, and Lenovo. They start at $899 and ship in the US starting October 4.

Google is replacing ChromeOS with Android as its default OS for laptop devices. These devices are branded Googlebook instead of Chromebook. One of Google's main selling points for the new OS is how tightly it integrates with Android smartphones. Googlebooks offer multiple ways to work seamlessly bet...

Samsung Brings Android 17 to S26 Series: Samsung has started the official rollout of One UI 9 OS updates for existing Sa...
09/16/2026

Samsung Brings Android 17 to S26 Series: Samsung has started the official rollout of One UI 9 OS updates for existing Samsung phones, starting with the S26 series. This brings Android 17 to those models, and follows a public beta-testing campaign.

Samsung has started the official rollout of One UI 9 OS updates for existing Samsung phones, starting with the S26 series. This brings Android 17 to those models, and follows a public beta-testing campaign.

MediaTek Moves to 2nm for Newest Flagship Phone Chip: MediaTek has announced the Dimensity 9600 Pro, its newest flagship...
09/15/2026

MediaTek Moves to 2nm for Newest Flagship Phone Chip: MediaTek has announced the Dimensity 9600 Pro, its newest flagship chip for phones and the company's first to use TSMC's new, cutting-edge 2nm manufacturing process. This follows hot on the heels of Apple's new A20 Pro chip, which also uses the new 2nm process. (Qualcomm is expected to announce its own 2nm-based flagship chip soon.) New, smaller manufacturing process like 2nm bring inherent improvements to performance and efficiency. MediaTek says the Dimensity 9600 Pro should offer up to 17% higher single-core performance and up to 15% higher multi-core performance compared to the previous generation, with a 61% reduction in multi-core power consumption. On the graphics side, the chip offers up to 27% higher peak performance and 24% lower power consumption at peak performance. For AI, the chip delivers 51% higher LLM prefill performance and 55% higher token generation per watt. The chip is also capable of always-on AI with 40% less power consumption. A more-affordable Dimensity 9600M will also be available. MediaTek says devices using the chips should ship later this quarter.

MediaTek has announced the Dimensity 9600 Pro, its newest flagship chip for phones and the company's first to use TSMC's new, cutting-edge 2nm manufacturing process. This follows hot on the heels of Apple's new A20 Pro chip, which also uses the new 2nm process. (Qualcomm is expected to announce its....

iOS 27 Now Available: Apple has released the final version of iOS 27 for iPhones, alongside new OS versions for all of i...
09/14/2026

iOS 27 Now Available: Apple has released the final version of iOS 27 for iPhones, alongside new OS versions for all of its platforms. Apple first announced the platform in June and it has been in various stages of testing since then. The headline feature is "Siri AI", a new version of the company's Siri voice assistant that is intended to be much more intelligent and conversational. Siri AI is aware of what's on your screen at the moment, as well as what's in your messages and calendar. Siri also now has a dedicated app with conversation history. iOS 27 also gains more powerful parental controls, and behind-the-scenes performance improvements.

Apple has released the final version of iOS 27 for iPhones, alongside new OS versions for all of its platforms. Apple first announced the platform in June and it has been in various stages of testing since then. The headline feature is "Siri AI", a new version of the company's Siri voice assistant t...

Apple Hikes Price of Older iPhones: Apple has raised the price of iPhones by $100 across the board. Not only are the new...
09/10/2026

Apple Hikes Price of Older iPhones: Apple has raised the price of iPhones by $100 across the board. Not only are the new iPhone 18 Pro models more expensive than last year's models, but the iPhone 17, 17e, 16, and Air are also now $100 more expensive.

Apple has raised the price of iPhones by $100 across the board. Not only are the new iPhone 18 Pro models more expensive than last year's models, but the iPhone 17, 17e, 16, and Air are also now $100 more expensive.

Apple AirPods 5 Represent a Price Drop: Apple has introduced AirPods 5 with a new mix of options and features. Whereas t...
09/10/2026

Apple AirPods 5 Represent a Price Drop: Apple has introduced AirPods 5 with a new mix of options and features. Whereas the AirPods 4 started at $129, going up to $179 for the model with ANC (active noise cancellation), the new series starts at $129 which includes ANC. The most expensive model is now just $149, which gets you the Wireless Charging Case, longer battery life, and on-stem swipe volume controls that were previously exclusive to the Pro model. Both new models have Apple's next-generation ANC, which Apple says removes up to 50 percent more external noise compared to the AirPods 4 with ANC. Adaptive EQ has also been overhauled for better sound quality. Battery life is also improved, with up to five hours of playback with ANC on a single charge — one hour longer than AirPods 4 with ANC. The AirPods 5 ship Sept. 18.

Apple has introduced AirPods 5 with a new mix of options and features. Whereas the AirPods 4 started at $129, going up to $179 for the model with ANC (active noise cancellation), the new series starts at $129 which includes ANC. The most expensive model is now just $149, which gets you the Wireless....

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