AllYouCanTech

TikTok Agreement Could Enhance Growth of North American Smartphone Market in 2026

**Competition in North America: A New Era with TikTok and OnePlus**

In recent times, the smartphone market in North America has faced stagnation, primarily under the dominance of two key players: Apple and Samsung. This duopoly has led to a lack of diversity and innovation for consumers, with other brands having difficulty establishing a presence. Nevertheless, the environment is set for transformation, fueled by the emergence of TikTok and OnePlus.

The possible divestiture of TikTok’s U.S. division, as required by U.S. law, could establish a benchmark for Chinese smartphone companies. This action might motivate firms like OnePlus, Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi, and Honor to set up operations within the U.S., boosting competition and providing consumers with additional choices. OnePlus, which is already operating in North America, exemplifies how these brands can successfully navigate the market.

The TikTok arrangement could encourage similar tactics, enabling Chinese brands to navigate around political and regulatory challenges. This transition could revitalize the market, offering consumers alternatives to the existing products. The success of Honor, following its separation from Huawei, highlights the potential advantages of such a strategy.

Although substantial modifications might not happen instantly, the foundation is being established for a more competitive and varied market. The launch of cutting-edge products, such as foldable phones and minimalist devices, further indicates a movement towards an energetic future. As these trends continue to develop, North American consumers can look forward to a wider selection of options, breaking the extended stagnation and setting the stage for a more promising technological landscape.

The Conclusion of Challenges for Foldable Phones: How 2026 Will Revolutionize the Market

Fold once, fold twice: A stronger resurgence for foldables!

Foldable smartphones were envisioned as the forthcoming sensation in the smartphone sector. Initial 5-year projections were ambitious, predicting double-digit growth and significant market share capture. However, these forecasts were adjusted as shipments declined from early peaks, and the foldable market’s unit share never surpassed 1.6% of the total smartphones.

As we approach the end of the year, foldables are anticipated to see only a 10% year-over-year growth in 2025, according to IDC’s recent projections, a figure lower than the record numbers noted in the technology’s early stages. Nonetheless, the form factor shows resilience, with a favorable shift towards foldables.

While the initial foldable phones debuted with book-style designs, flip models swiftly became the favored form factor — influenced by their lower price tags and possibly the nostalgia for flip feature phones. It wasn’t until 2025 that fold models seized the lead with 53% market share in the category.

Android brands, headed by Samsung, Honor, Oppo, and Google, have capitalized on their newest foldable offerings, eager to challenge the $1,000+ premium segment long monopolized by Apple, which has yet to introduce a foldable option.

How new engineering has addressed foldables’ most significant flaw

Simultaneously, gradual innovations in design and durability have started to reshape the innovation landscape, providing foldables with a competitive advantage. For instance, the Honor Magic V5 stands as the slimmest foldable on the market, featuring a folded thickness of 8.8mm and an unfolded thickness of 4.1mm.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 measures 8.9mm when folded and 4.2mm when opened. In contrast, the original Galaxy Fold debuted in 2019 with measurements of 17.1mm/7.6mm, and the 2024 Galaxy Z Fold 6 at 12.1mm/5.6mm. When compared to a non-foldable within the Galaxy series, it surpasses Samsung’s slimmest S25 Edge in its unfolded state.

Regarding durability, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 claims to withstand up to 500,000 folds owing to improved materials and hinge design, while the Galaxy Z Fold 6 managed only 200,000 folds. This translates to a decade of durability for the average user of the latest model.

These comparisons illustrate that the consumers’ primary concern — bulkiness — has become a non-issue. Foldables are now slimmer, more durable, and constructed to endure, justifying their premium pricing.

The daring new form factor driving global interest

The redemption story continues. Huawei advances the foldable idea with the introduction of the world’s first trifold smartphone, operating on Harmony OS and set for global availability in 2025. The display folds twice to 10.2 inches and achieves a thickness of 3.6mm when opened.

With Huawei’s trifold design establishing an audacious benchmark, Samsung responds to the rivalry by unveiling the Galaxy Z TriFold in December 2025. The 10-inch, 3.9mm-thin TriFold’s in-store and online inventory sold out rapidly during its initial launch in Korea, signaling a resurgence of robust consumer interest in foldables.

Indeed, Samsung’s Galaxy Z TriFold marks a new chapter for foldables. It is the first trifold smartphone operating on Android and supported by Samsung, the frontrunner in the foldable field. With its extensive reach and formidable brand influence, Samsung is poised to bring trifold technology to average consumers quicker than Huawei.

Facing barriers due to the absence of Android and Google services, Huawei primarily targets China with its Mate XT and Mate XTs trifolds. Despite this challenge, both models collectively secured a 3.6% unit share of the foldable market in the initial three quarters of 2025, selling over 740,000 units and generating an impressive $2 billion in revenue since their debut. These figures are remarkable, considering both models retail at a hefty $2,500.

The 2026 turning point: What occurs when Apple finally enters the field?

As trifold foldables attract consumers, the real turning point is anticipated in 2026: Apple finally joins the foldable landscape, expected to capture a 22% unit share and 34% value share of the foldables market in its inaugural year, according to IDC.

Apple’s capacity to sell on a large scale to a dedicated customer base will undoubtedly lead to healthier growth across the entire foldable sector. In fact, IDC’s latest predictions suggest a phenomenal 30% growth for the overall foldable market in 2026.

This influence will also affect the Android foldable segment. While possibly not immediate, a more significant consumer demand is expected to emerge over the medium term.

Consumer Electronics in 2026: Upcoming Innovations and Supply Chain Obstacles

Here’s all that we anticipate witnessing in the tech realm.

The consumer electronics sector in 2026 will be influenced by two contrasting dynamics: daring innovation and constrained supply chains. Devices such as foldables, smart glasses, and AI-enhanced wearables are on track to transform our engagement with technology, while memory deficits and declining PC demand will pose considerable hurdles for brands and consumers alike. Here’s what to await—and how to navigate it.

Foldables finally emerge

After years of gradual advancements, foldables are ready for a breakout moment. Apple’s entry into this space will mark a pivotal point, enhancing awareness and boosting premium interest. IDC predicts nearly 30% year-on-year growth for foldables in 2026, with Apple projected to claim about 22% of unit share and more than a third of market value, attributed to a price tag around $2,400. This development will compel Android manufacturers to intensify focus on durability, crease minimization, and software refinement.

Samsung is already leading the charge with its Galaxy Z TriFold, which boasts a 10-inch inner display. The TriFold aims to blur the distinctions between smartphones and tablets, unlocking new potential for multitasking and productivity.

Smart glasses go mainstream

Smart glasses are making the leap from niche to mainstream acceptance. Meta has broadened its Ray-Bans collection to incorporate a display, while Google and Samsung are gearing up to unveil Android XR glasses in collaboration with fashion labels such as Warby Parker and Gentle Monster. Two varieties of glasses are anticipated: audio-centric models for ambient AI experiences and display-in-lens formats for more engaging interactions.

Initial demonstrations have shown promise, but both Google and Meta confront critical obstacles: guaranteeing their AI-driven assistance is dependable, swift, and mindful of privacy. Should they overcome these hurdles, smart glasses could emerge as the next significant wearable trend.

Wearables become “helpful, not noisy”

Wearables are transitioning from simple notification centers to vital health companions. Devices devoid of screens, like Oura and Whoop, have garnered consumer interest by emphasizing in-depth biometrics such as sleep, recovery, and readiness levels. Anticipate more rings and bands concentrating on wellness insights over incessant notifications, complemented by medical-adjacent features like ECG and blood pressure tracking. Traditional smartwatches will increasingly emphasize on-device AI and safety features to validate their premium pricing.

PC growth decelerates

After a vigorous refresh cycle in 2025, PC growth is predicted to slow in 2026. DIY builders will encounter a particularly tough year as DRAM shortages inflate component costs. Windows on ARM devices may receive a slight boost as second-generation units become available, potentially leading to further price reductions on prior generations. Additionally, Nvidia is rumored to unveil a chip in late 2026, which should benefit the entire category.

Who emerges victorious in 2026?

Apple is strategically positioned to capture headlines and profitability. Its foldable iPhone will affirm the category’s viability and exert pressure on Android competitors, while its stringent control over hardware and supply chains will enable it to manage DRAM-related disruptions more effectively than most PC manufacturers. An affordably priced Mac is anticipated to debut early in 2026, intensifying competition for Windows PC makers.

Nonetheless, Samsung is not far behind. The Galaxy Z TriFold will strengthen its position in the foldable market, and its smartphone prowess and scalability will persist, allowing the company to gain ground from smaller Android smartphone contenders. The strength in smartphones often translates into wearable success for Samsung, which excels at bundling products, and with the imminent XR glasses, Samsung is set to play a significant role in the smart glasses landscape.

Regarding the chipsets that will support these smartphones, Qualcomm remains a significant yet understated force. Its chips power almost every premium Android flagship and dominate XR technology. The forthcoming Snapdragon X2 Elite will deliver substantial CPU and GPU enhancements for PCs, alongside an 80-TOPS NPU for AI applications. Anticipate slim, sleek designs and possibly even gaming-oriented laptops built around this architecture.

That said, while Android XR appears promising, Google still needs to establish its capability to deliver polished software and seamless Gemini integration at scale. Similarly, speculations about Android PCs continue, but Google’s performance in this arena has been lackluster. Even with Qualcomm’s hardware capabilities, it remains unclear why consumers would opt for Android over Windows or Mac.

Not everyone thrives

Consumers will experience financial strain as prices rise across various categories. Memory shortages will result in fewer upgrades at identical price points, reduced discounts on older models, and aggressive de-specing throughout devices. If you know you’ll need a phone or PC in 2026, purchasing early could offer savings.

Smaller vendors will confront an even tougher reality. In tightly constrained supply cycles, memory suppliers prioritize top-tier brands, leaving lesser and local companies with minimal bargaining power. Some might exit the market entirely as BOM costs render devices unsustainable.

How to maneuver through 2026

If you’re considering a foldable, it might be wise to wait for Apple’s launch later in the year, as pricing and trade-in conditions are likely to evolve. For memory-sensitive devices like smartphones and PCs, early purchasing is advisable to sidestep DR

OnePlus Working on Smartphone with Battery Capacity Surpassing Total of Two Galaxy S25s

OnePlus is allegedly developing a smartphone equipped with an extraordinary 9,000mAh battery. This upcoming device, known internally as “Volkswagen,” is rumoured to have a compact sub-6-inch OLED screen featuring a 165 Hz refresh rate. It is expected to be driven by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor. The smartphone is anticipated to include a dual-camera configuration and enable up to 80W wired charging. This battery size surpasses the combined capacity of two Samsung Galaxy S25 base models. The launch of the phone could occur in Q1 2026.

Samsung Set to Unveil Refrigerator with Gemini Integration at CES 2026

**Gemini to Debut on Home Appliances for the First Time**

Samsung is poised to create a buzz at CES 2026 with the launch of Google Gemini on household appliances, signifying a key development in smart home innovation. This groundbreaking integration will first appear on Samsung’s latest Bespoke AI Refrigerator and an AI-equipped wine cellar, demonstrating the capabilities of AI in daily household products.

**Essential Information:**

– Samsung intends to reveal the incorporation of Google Gemini in home appliances, beginning with refrigerators and wine cellars at CES 2026.
– The Bespoke AI Refrigerator will boast improved recognition features, being able to identify a greater variety of food items, including processed options, without user intervention.
– An AI-driven wine cellar will be unveiled as well, with the ability to monitor wine bottles, their placements, and offer pairing suggestions utilizing Gemini.

**Gemini’s Infiltration into Home Appliances:**

Having been previously featured in smartphones, smartwatches, and vehicles, Gemini’s move into home appliances marks a new chapter for AI technology. Samsung’s event, “The First Look,” slated for January 4, 2026, will showcase these innovations, providing insights into the upcoming era of smart kitchens.

**Transforming Kitchen Appliances:**

The Bespoke AI Refrigerator Family Hub will incorporate enhanced AI Vision capabilities, enabling it to recognize a wider variety of food items, including those in personal containers. This functionality aims to simplify food oversight, minimizing the necessity for manual entry.

Beyond the refrigerator, Samsung’s new AI Wine Cellar will leverage Gemini to improve wine management. A strategically placed camera will recognize wine labels, updating the SmartThings AI Wine Manager instantaneously. This system will also deliver comprehensive details about wine storage locations and provide pairing recommendations based on the user’s collection.

**The Prospective Smart Kitchen Landscape:**

While Samsung fans look forward to new gadgets like the Galaxy Z TriFold and the Galaxy S26 series, the inclusion of Gemini in kitchen appliances is a significant advancement. Whether this breakthrough will be a practical enhancement for households is yet to be determined, but it undoubtedly lays the groundwork for a new age of smart home technology.

Stay tuned for live updates from CES 2026 to witness these pioneering devices in action.

“Crucial Progress and Obstacles Influencing the Evolution of Android OS in 2025”

Google achieved numerous successes with Android in 2025.

“Chromebooks and Android Tablets Move Closer Together as Each Technology Develops”

I definitely sense that substantial transformations are imminent, whether they’re beneficial or detrimental.

The realm of technology is continuously changing, with each year introducing a surge of innovations and alterations that redefine our interactions with the world. As we approach the edge of another technological upheaval, it’s evident that significant transformations are forthcoming, offering both prospects and obstacles.

One of the most notable alterations is the merging of devices. The distinctions among various types of technology are fading, with Chromebooks and tablets at the forefront. In 2025, we saw an impressive advancement in these devices, with Chromebooks achieving remarkable improvements in performance and battery efficiency, thanks to advancements in ARM chips. The Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 and Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 are prime examples of this movement, delivering x86 performance without sacrificing battery life. This merging is not restricted to hardware; software integration is also progressing, with Google’s Gemini AI bolstering on-device functionalities, making tasks such as image editing more effective.

Yet, this advancement is not without its obstacles. The limited storage capacities in Chromebooks continue to be a concern, especially as AI functionalities require more local resources. The increasing prices of RAM and storage, fueled by memory shortages, introduce additional complications. These challenges emphasize the necessity for innovation in storage solutions to keep up with the surging demands of contemporary technology.

In the tablet sector, the revival of Android tablets is significant. Smaller flagship tablets are gaining traction, with devices like the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 and RedMagic Astra delivering robust performance in compact designs. This trend is supported by the launch of larger, feature-rich tablets like the OnePlus Pad 3, which contest the supremacy of established competitors like Samsung. The diversification of the tablet market reflects the growing demand for adaptable devices that appeal to a broad spectrum of user preferences.

Gazing forward to 2026, the potential for deeper convergence between Chromebooks and tablets is captivating. The prospect of Android-powered laptops, as hinted by Google and Qualcomm, could transform the landscape, presenting a new model for mobile computing. Although the future is unpredictable, the possibilities are thrilling, suggesting a dynamic relationship between hardware and software that could reshape our digital encounters.

As we steer through these changes, it is crucial to stay alert to the wider implications of technological progress. The threat of memory shortages and escalating expenses is prominent, presenting challenges that necessitate innovative solutions and strategic planning. Nonetheless, the potential for positive change is enormous, providing chances to enhance productivity, connectivity, and creativity in ways we have yet to fully conceive.

To summarize, the technological landscape is on the brink of considerable change, driven by the merging of devices, advancements in AI, and the evolution of tablets. While challenges remain, the capacity for innovation and growth is limitless, promising a future where technology continues to enhance our lives in exceptional ways. As we welcome these changes, we must be flexible and forward-looking, prepared to seize the opportunities that await.

NotebookLM Upgraded with Gemini 3 for Better Reasoning and Multimodal Comprehension

Google’s AI-driven notebook, NotebookLM, has recently received major enhancements, now utilizing Gemini 3, which replaces the earlier Gemini 2.5 Flash version. This update brings Google’s “most advanced model” to the platform, boosting its reasoning and multimodal comprehension skills. The integration of Gemini 3 enables users to effortlessly merge their notebooks and references into Gemini dialogues, enhancing project oversight and data visualization with tools like Data Tables, which can be exported to Google Sheets.

The shift to Gemini 3 was eagerly awaited, as Google highlighted it as a highly requested feature. In the past, users had to switch to the Gemini application to utilize the latest models, but now, Gemini 3 powers the AI functionalities directly within NotebookLM, including its chatbot. This adjustment streamlines access to sophisticated AI features within user projects.

While it remains unclear if NotebookLM employs Gemini 3 Pro or the more efficient Gemini 3 Flash, the latter seems to be a probable option due to its speed and affordability. Nevertheless, the update signifies a notable improvement in the application’s AI functionalities, following a trend of swift enhancements, including the recent introduction of chat history support on mobile and web interfaces. Users can enjoy these developments in the NotebookLM application, although there is no specific model selector or badge that denotes the update.

Anna’s Archive Asserts It Retains 99% of Spotify Listening Habits, Prompting Worries Over Possible Piracy

Metadata from 256 million songs is currently being shared through torrents, and accessing streaming music without payment may soon be simpler than ever. Libraries remain a valuable source for physical media, whether books, audio CDs, DVDs, or other content formats. However, one aspect libraries have yet to consistently provide to the wider community is digital content. While many digital libraries exist online, issues regarding piracy and fair compensation for media rights holders complicate this experience. This is a challenge that Anna’s Archive, self-described as “the largest truly open library in human history,” is endeavoring to address.

In a truly remarkable development, Anna’s Archive announced that it has backed up nearly all of the music available on Spotify. The blog post from December 20 reveals that Anna’s Archive “found a method to scrape Spotify at scale,” and the team “saw an opportunity to build a music archive primarily focused on preservation.” The data backup includes 86 million music files, which Anna’s Archive claims represent 99.6% of Spotify listens.

Anna’s Archive was launched in 2022 as a torrent aggregator and search engine for primarily text-based files available on LibGen, Sci-Hub, Z-Lib, and other torrents. It arose as a response to U.S. government efforts to shut down Z-Library. The organization, comprised of anonymous contributors, now aims to establish something similar for music.

Unsurprisingly, Spotify is displeased with the reports of Anna’s Archive scraping its music files, criticizing the use of “illicit tactics” to circumvent DRM and copyright protections. Numerous questions linger, such as whether Spotify or regulators will seek legal actions against Anna’s Archive, or if a “free” database of Spotify songs will be made accessible to the general listener.

This vast music backup, unprecedented in scale, will compel companies, regulators, and users to confront the following question: what distinguishes preservation from piracy?

What Anna’s Archive has successfully backed up

Anna’s Archive indicated it chose to back up Spotify tracks based on the company’s own popularity metric. There are many songs on Spotify that receive hardly any listens. As a reference point, the archive estimates that the top three songs on Spotify received more streams than the combined total of the bottom 20 to 100 million songs. Overall, the backup includes metadata from 256 million tracks and audio files for 86 million songs.

Spotify defines its popularity metric as “a value ranging from 0 to 100, with 100 being the most popular.” This metric is computed by an algorithm that relies primarily on the total number of plays a track has received and how recent those plays are.

Based on this categorization, Anna’s Archive backed up the 86 million most popular songs, representing 37% of Spotify’s entire catalog. Nevertheless, it accounts for 99.6% of listens. Simply put, even though the archive has backed up less than half of Spotify’s songs, it encompasses almost all of the tracks listeners actually engage with.

While Anna’s Archive secured metadata for 99.9% of tracks, making it the largest music metadata archive globally, it limited itself to backing up only 37% of Spotify music files due to storage limitations. The 86 million archived songs require 300TB of storage, while archiving the remainder would have needed an additional 700TB of storage “for minor advantage,” according to the blog post.

The music files are stored in OGG Vorbis format at 160kbps for songs with a popularity metric above zero. Songs rated with a popularity of zero were re-encoded in OGG Vorbis at 75kbps. Anna’s Archive included metadata in the audio files, such as “title, url, ISRC, UPC, album art, and replaygain information.” Typically, audio files contain no inherent metadata, making this addition significant.

Spotify states this is merely scraping using ‘illicit tactics’

It is essential to note that the backup by Anna’s Archive is illegal for multiple reasons. Scraping Spotify’s databases breaches the company’s terms of service, while the removal of digital rights management (DRM) features and sharing copyrighted material violate copyright law. By definition, the music backup from Anna’s Archive constitutes piracy.

Spotify appears to concur, as it issued statements to both Android Authority and Ars Technica commenting on the Anna’s Archive release.

“An investigation into unauthorized access revealed that a third party scraped public metadata and employed illicit tactics to bypass DRM and access some of the platform’s audio files,” Spotify informed Android Authority. “We are actively investigating the situation.”

Importantly, Spotify does not verify the extent of the Anna’s Archive backup, only asserting that “some” of the site’s audio files were accessed. In a separate statement, Spotify mentioned it is taking steps to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

“We’ve put new safeguards in place against these types of anti-copyright attacks and are diligently monitoring for suspicious behavior.”

Concerns Emerge About Galaxy S26 Performance After Modem Change Speculations

Rumors have persisted that the next flagship might feature the Exynos 2600, and this report brings more to consider.

What you should know

– Reports indicate that the Exynos 2600 lacks an integrated modem, potentially leading to “efficiency concerns” for the Galaxy S26.
– Speculations suggest that a separate modem could produce additional heat and require more power from the S26 series, resulting in efficiency problems.
– While nothing is officially confirmed, Samsung’s Exynos 2600 was unveiled earlier this month with an HPB design aimed at addressing heating issues, featuring a 39% improved CPU and double the GPU performance.

The Galaxy S26 rumors are inescapable, and this recent report highlights a possible issue for the forthcoming series.

This report was issued by The Elec (South Korean), which asserts that the new Galaxy S26 will not only incorporate the Exynos 2600 but will also implement a significant modem alteration (via Android Authority). According to its sources, the Exynos 2600 lacks an “integrated” modem. Because of this, the report suggests the devices could utilize an external modem, potentially compromising their efficiency.

Nothing has been confirmed yet, as these remain speculative, but the publication described how consumers might end up with a Galaxy S26 that is less power-efficient.

The publication notes that, with an integrated design, Samsung could conserve on wiring and space, resulting in a chip that requires less power and operates cooler. However, if the devices (and chip) separate the modem into its own compartment, then “reduced power efficiency and increased heat generation” could be a reality. The post emphasizes an industry insider who conjectures that the “number of functions within the AP increased” in the Exynos 2600, leading Samsung to “remove the modem to save space.”

Nonetheless, this source also expressed caution regarding the potential “performance-to-power” balance of the new flagship series, should this less-efficient phone speculation turn out to be true.

Concerns are present

The Exynos 2600 was launched on December 19 after Samsung previewed its arrival earlier this month. This SoC represents the first product of its kind using a 2nm process, featuring low-power CPU cores and a new CPU configuration designed to deliver superior performance and improved efficiency. Specifically, the Exynos 2600 showcases a 39% CPU enhancement with double the GPU capacity.

Additionally, Samsung has integrated an HPB design (Heat Path Block) into the Exynos 2600. This HPB is expected to address the heating issues that have previously affected numerous Samsung custom chips.

All these factors combined are what we should be wary of with these “less-efficient” Galaxy S26 rumors. Android Authority noted something akin, suggesting that Samsung may have packed sufficient upgrades into the SoC to counterbalance any challenges posed by a separate modem. If that occurs, then consumers might not perceive any difference. Regardless, not every market is rumored to receive an Exynos-powered Galaxy S26.

Other Samsung speculations involve the Galaxy Z Flip 8, with reports indicating that the company might continue to provide the foldable as an Exynos-exclusive model, similar to the Flip 7.