On March 25, 2026, Apple initiated age verification procedures for iPhone users across the UK, adhering to the British government's directive for improved online safeguards for minors. The UK stands as the inaugural European market to witness the deployment of this system by Apple. Under this new system, users are required to verify that they are at least 18 years old. Failure to do so will result in limitations on web browsing capabilities and the implementation of communication safety checks during Messages and FaceTime interactions. Verification can be accomplished through various means, including credit card details, driver's license, or passport photographs. Additionally, the range of apps accessible or downloadable by unverified users will be curtailed.

The Xiaomi HyperOS Announcement Account has shared a post titled 'Insights into the Technical Upgrade of Xiaomi's 'Earthquake Early Warning Service'' in the Xiaomi Community, detailing a forthcoming technical enhancement for the service on devices running Xiaomi HyperOS 1 and MIUI systems. Given the broad range of historical versions, the upgrade will be implemented incrementally, version by version, with completion and testing anticipated by the second quarter of 2026. Throughout this upgrade phase, the service will be temporarily unavailable. Upon successful testing, users will be able to receive upgrade notifications for the 'Mobile Manager' and 'System Service Component' applications through 'App Store - My - App Upgrades' to reinstate the service. While the service is paused, users have the option to subscribe to earthquake early warnings via WeChat mini-programs. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this transition.

According to a Morgan Stanley report, Android smartphone shipments may decline by 15% year-on-year in 2026, while iPhone shipments are expected to drop by around 2%. Apple may become the only mainstream manufacturer to achieve market share growth, with its user conversion rate hitting a record high. In contrast, Google Pixel's conversion rate has declined, and other mainstream brands have seen negative net user conversion rates. Global smartphone shipments are projected to fall to 1.12 billion units, with the average selling price rising to $523. With a significant increase in procurement costs for memory chips, leading Android brands have already raised prices, putting pressure on the Android camp. Apple may replace Samsung to become the world's largest smartphone brand.

The hybrid hydrogen-powered UAV, characterized by its long endurance and silent operation, has been developed by AVIC Chengdu. This cutting-edge aircraft has successfully completed its maiden flight, marking a significant milestone in the application of a 'three-in-one' hybrid energy power system. This innovative system integrates solar power, hydrogen fuel, and lithium-ion battery technology for low-altitude aircraft, resulting in an impressive endurance enhancement of over 10%.

Xiaomi has ceased system updates for all MIUI devices, marking the end of the classic Android customization system that has run for 15 years. The last devices to receive updates were the REDMI A2 and REDMI A2+, with their final version updates occurring in December 2024. Afterward, only security patches were pushed, with full support ending on March 24, 2026. Since the release of HyperOS by Xiaomi in October 2023, this system has replaced MIUI as the pre-installed operating system for new Xiaomi devices.

In the spring of 2026, the market for recycling used mobile phones experienced a boom, with recycling prices generally on the rise. Affected by the global shortage of memory chips, the market for recycling old mobile phones in places like Jinan unexpectedly heated up, with recycling prices being adjusted daily and some models seeing price increases of nearly eightfold. Whether or not they can be turned on, used mobile phones, even those with broken screens or completely non-functional, can now be sold for money. After the Spring Festival, the recycling market gradually heated up, with even old feature phones that were previously unwanted for 5 yuan now selling for 10 to 15 yuan. Ms. Wang, a resident, sold two old mobile phones she had stored away for 350 yuan, and some netizens even traded in seven old mobile phones for a second-hand iPhone 11. Recyclers said that used mobile phones mainly flow to places like Shenzhen, where the upstream industrial chain dismantles them for core components such as memory modules and motherboards, and even damaged memory modules can be repaired. This round of price increases primarily depends on the popularity of chips and the amount of memory, driven by the rapid development in the AI field and the strong demand for storage products. AI servers require eight times the storage of ordinary servers, prompting major manufacturers like Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix to shift their production capacity towards high-end AI storage products such as HBM, while reducing or even halting production of traditional products like DDR4. This has led to a shortage of consumer-grade storage products and further price increases. Dismantled chips offer significant advantages in terms of cost and supply and have a wide range of applications. They can be used for memory expansion and fault repair in old mobile phones and laptops, as well as supplied to manufacturers of smart hardware such as smart door locks, surveillance cameras, in-car infotainment systems, and industrial control motherboards as low-cost core storage components. According to TrendForce data, the spot price of memory chips has increased by more than 300% over the past three months, and it is expected that DRAM prices will rise by 80% to 95% in the first quarter of 2026. Recyclers analyze that, based on the current market conditions, prices may continue to rise, but the duration of this trend remains uncertain.

On March 24, OnePlus unveiled its latest small-screen flagship, the OnePlus 15T. Featuring a compact 6.32-inch body paired with flagship-level specifications, it achieves comprehensive leadership in performance, battery life, gaming, imaging, and display, earning the title of 'Small-Screen Powerhouse.' The device is powered by the fifth-generation Snapdragon 8 Supreme mobile platform, equipped with a massive 7500mAh battery, supports ultra-high 165-frame gaming, and boasts IP69K-rated dust and water resistance.

A new modular Android tablet, open_slate, focusing on privacy and durability, is currently raising funds on the Indiegogo crowdfunding platform. By allowing the replacement of components such as batteries and storage, the tablet claims to enable long-term use of 5 to 10 years and offers a highly customizable hardware solution. Launched by internet privacy advocate Rob Braxman and his team, this project follows the success of the Google-free privacy phone Brax3 released in 2024, which raised approximately $2.3 million in crowdfunding.

The China Academy of Information and Communications Technology has unveiled its operational analysis report for the domestic mobile phone market in February 2026. The figures reveal a notable downturn, with mobile phone shipments for the month hitting 16.789 million units, marking a 14.6% decrease compared to the same period last year. Delving deeper, 5G mobile phone shipments stood at 15.931 million units, experiencing an 11.4% year-on-year decline, yet still commanding a substantial 94.9% share of the total mobile phone shipments during this timeframe. Furthermore, smartphone shipments, totaling 16.258 million units, also witnessed a 12.6% year-on-year drop, representing 96.8% of the overall shipments.

On March 25, the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology unveiled its operational analysis report for the domestic mobile phone market in February 2026. According to the report, mobile phone shipments within the country for that month totaled 16.789 million units, marking a 14.6% year-on-year (YoY) decline. Specifically, 5G mobile phone shipments reached 15.931 million units, experiencing an 11.4% YoY decrease and constituting 94.9% of the total mobile phone shipments during the same timeframe. Moreover, smartphone shipments amounted to 16.258 million units, also showing a 12.6% YoY reduction and accounting for 96.8% of the total mobile phone shipments in the corresponding period.

Recently, the ViAX series lawn mowing robot from the technology brand MOVA, featuring the world's first binocular AI vision technology, has topped sales charts on Amazon in multiple countries including Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Spain. As of March 2026, the cumulative shipments of MOVA lawn mowing robots have surpassed 300,000 units, marking a 500% year-on-year increase. It is projected that shipments will exceed 1 million units by 2026.

At CES 2026, Dolby showcases its latest innovations, including Dolby Vision Gen 2 and Dolby Atmos, expanding into automotive, streaming, and other fields to redefine entertainment experiences.

Recently, Amazon announced its acquisition of Fauna Robotics, a startup that emerged onto the scene just two years ago. The company's flagship product, the humanoid robot Sprout, has become a focal point of industry discussion, particularly in relation to Amazon's automation strategy. Officially unveiled in late January of this year, Sprout is marketed as an autonomous robot that is "ready to use straight out of the box." It boasts advanced capabilities, including indoor autonomous navigation, human recognition and detection. Moreover, Sprout can interact with its surroundings using a robotic arm and engage in communication with people through dialogue and facial expressions.

Based on the latest rumors circulating in China, Apple is facing significant technical hurdles in its quest to develop under-display Face ID technology. This innovative technology is designed to seamlessly conceal the Face ID components beneath the screen. If Apple manages to pull it off, the distinctive 'Dynamic Island' design could eventually be phased out, leaving only a small cutout for the front-facing camera on the screen and moving closer to a truly full-screen aesthetic. Previous reports have suggested that Apple initially planned to debut this technology with the 2026 iPhone 18 Pro series, opting for a single-punch hole screen design and ditching the pill-shaped cutout altogether. The screen-to-body ratio for these models is anticipated to surpass an impressive 96%. However, the road to under-display Face ID is fraught with challenges, particularly concerning infrared light transmittance. To enhance transmittance, Apple has made strides by eliminating certain sub-pixels and incorporating cutting-edge technologies like 'stitched micro-lens glass' and 'local sub-pixel optimization.' These advancements have resulted in a boost of over 40% in infrared light transmittance. Nevertheless, several issues persist, including the yield rates in mass production, the cost of repairs, and the overall imaging quality of under-display cameras, all of which remain unresolved.

The long-endurance silent hybrid hydrogen-powered UAV independently developed by AVIC Chengdu has successfully completed its first flight. This UAV features ultra-long endurance, silent operation, and eco-friendliness, achieving the application of solar-hydrogen-lithium battery hybrid energy power technology in low-altitude aircraft and injecting green power into the low-altitude economy.

Lora Ho, the senior vice president of foundry giant TSMC, will officially retire in April this year, concluding her 27-year career at the company. However, she has chosen not to completely exit the workforce and will instead transition to PC brand giant Acer. According to Acer's announcement, Ho has been nominated as a candidate for the new term of independent directors and is expected to receive formal approval at the shareholders' meeting on May 29.

Data from the Aiqicha App reveals that Hubei Geely Terrafugia Co., Ltd. has recently finalized alterations to its industrial and commercial registration. The company's registered capital has surged from 90 million yuan to 795 million yuan, marking an impressive approximate increase of 783%. Founded in September 2018, the firm is helmed by legal representative Chen Shengjie. Its operational purview encompasses the research and development, manufacturing, marketing, after-sales support, and technical advisory services for flying cars and their components, aircraft and related parts, flight simulators, drones and their accessories, as well as aviation gear. Shareholder details confirm that the entity is a fully-owned subsidiary of Geely Technology Group Co., Ltd.

On March 25, according to the latest report from International Data Corporation (IDC), China's smart glasses market shipments are expected to reach 2.46 million units in 2025, representing an 87.1% year-on-year increase, far exceeding the global growth rate and accounting for 23.3% of the global market share. Among them, lightweight design and AI integration have become standard features of products, but user value remains to be explored. Scenario implementation and channel conversion are key directions for future development.

Xiaomi Group's 2025 annual financial report reveals that its total annual revenue soared to 457.3 billion yuan, marking a robust 25% year-on-year surge. The adjusted net profit also reached new heights, climbing to 39.2 billion yuan, a significant 43.8% increase compared to the previous year. Both figures have set unprecedented records for the company. Furthermore, Xiaomi's commitment to innovation was evident in its 2025 R&D investment, which soared to 33.1 billion yuan, up by 37.8% year-on-year. This substantial investment nearly matched the scale of its annual net profit, underscoring Xiaomi's dedication to driving technological advancement.

On March 24, the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2026 kicked off in Boao, Hainan. As a strategic partner for five consecutive years, vivo showcased its Blue Technology Matrix and technological achievements in areas such as AI, 6G, and MR. The vivo X300 series was designated as the official phone, with the imaging flagship X300 Ultra also on display. Hu Baishan, President of vivo, proposed a dual-core strategy driven by 'Imaging + AI,' stating that future smartphones will evolve towards Agent Phones, with the X300 Ultra and X300s being the first to feature Imaging Agents. On the 25th, Zhang Fei, Vice President of AI at vivo, will share application practices of integrating AI and imaging, while Shao Hao, Chief Scientist of the Robotics Lab, will introduce research and development progress in the field of robotics.