This Week’s Top Gadget News
Welcome to the Week 16 gadget news! Last week brought a flurry of new device launches and exciting tech announcements. From flagship smartphone debuts and leaks of upcoming wearables to cutting-edge headphones, here are the top consumer gadget news highlights of the week.
Oppo Find X8 Series Debuts in China
Oppo’s Find X8 Ultra features a prominent circular camera module and high-end specs.
Oppo launched its latest flagship smartphones in China, unveiling the Find X8 Ultra alongside the Find X8s and X8s+. The premium Find X8 Ultra packs Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and a huge 6,100 mAh silicon-carbon battery, and Oppo claims it’s their thinnest flagship camera phone at just 8.78 mm thick. It boasts improved dual telephoto cameras (70 mm and 135 mm periscope lenses) with brighter apertures for better zoom shots. The smaller Find X8s and X8s+ models run on MediaTek’s Dimensity 9400+ chips and start at ¥4,199 ($610), while the Ultra starts at ¥6,499 ($950). All three phones feature 120 Hz OLED displays and IP68 dust/water resistance (the Ultra even adds IP69 for high-pressure water). Oppo also announced a new Pad 4 Pro tablet, a Watch X2 Mini smartwatch, and Enco Free4 wireless earbuds alongside the phones. The Find X8 series goes on sale in China on April 16, though global availability has not been confirmed. Gadget News Week 16 (2025)
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge Pricing Leak and Launch Update
Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S25 Edge — a super-slim edition of its next flagship series — saw significant leaks this week. European retailer listings revealed the S25 Edge’s price will be €1,362 for 256 GB storage and €1,488 for 512 GB, positioning it between the Galaxy S25+ and S25 Ultra in price (making it the second most expensive model of the lineup). In terms of design, the Edge lives up to its name with an ultra-thin profile of just 5.84 mm and weight of 162 g, achieved by trimming the battery to 3,900 mAh and using only two rear cameras (a 200 MP main and 12 MP ultra-wide). It still carries the top-end Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, but sacrifices the telephoto lens to prioritize slimness. Originally expected in April, the Galaxy S25 Edge’s launch has reportedly been delayed; insiders (like leakster Ice Universe) claim it will now debut in late May, initially only in South Korea and China, with other regions likely following in June. Samsung hasn’t officially announced the date yet, but the Edge model’s sleek design and premium pricing are already generating buzz ahead of its release. Gadget News Week 16 (2025)
Google Pixel 9a Launches as a New Affordable Pixel
Google’s Pixel 9a comes in playful colors like “Peony” pink, offering a new design without the typical camera bar.
Google officially launched the Pixel 9a this week, expanding its mid-range lineup with a device that brings several flagship features down to a lower price point. The Pixel 9a sports Google’s in-house Tensor G4 chip, a 6.3-inch Actua OLED display with 120 Hz refresh rate, and a redesigned build that forgoes the older camera bar in favor of a compact dual-camera module. The dual rear cameras include a 48 MP main sensor (now with a Macro Focus capability) and a 13 MP ultra-wide, backed by Google’s AI-powered photography features like Magic Editor and Best Take for improved shots. It’s Google’s most durable A-series phone yet, rated IP68 for water and dust resistance, and promises over 30 hours of battery life on a charge (thanks to Adaptive Battery). Notably, Google is offering an industry-leading seven years of OS and security updates for the Pixel 9a, ensuring long-term support. The phone launched in India at ₹49,999 (~$600) for the 8 GB + 128 GB model, with a 256 GB variant available at a higher price. It comes in four colors (Obsidian black, Porcelain white, Iris purple, and Peony pink) and will be available through Google’s partners and online stores starting mid-April. Gadget News Week 16 (2025)
Motorola Unveils Moto G Stylus (2025) with Brighter Display and Faster Charging
Motorola has officially announced the 2025 edition of its Moto G Stylus, a budget-friendly smartphone that comes with a built-in stylus pen. The new Moto G Stylus (2025) features a sharper 6.7-inch pOLED display with a 2712×1220 resolution and 120 Hz refresh rate, and it can reach an impressive 3,000 nits peak brightness for better outdoor visibility. As its name suggests, it includes a pop-out stylus and Motorola has enhanced the software integration, enabling creative features like drawing-to-image AI generation and easy note-taking. Under the hood it gets an upgrade to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset paired with 8 GB RAM, which offers solid performance in the mid-range segment. For photography, the phone is equipped with a 50 MP main camera (using a new Sony Lytia 700C sensor with OIS for sharper shots) alongside a 13 MP ultra-wide that doubles for macro, plus a 32 MP selfie camera. Powering the device is a 5,000 mAh battery, now with 68 W TurboPower fast charging support (Motorola says a quick charge can add hours of use) and even 15 W wireless charging – a first for the Stylus line. The Moto G Stylus comes in two Pantone-curated colors (a blue “Gibraltar Sea” with a leather-textured back, and a green “Surf the Web”), and is priced at $399.99 unlocked. It will go on sale in the U.S. on April 17 via Amazon, Best Buy, and Motorola’s website, offering a compelling option for those who want stylus functionality without paying flagship prices. Gadget News Week 16 (2025)
Pixel Watch 4 Leak Hints at Thicker Design and Bigger Battery
Leaked render of the Google Pixel Watch 4 (by OnLeaks/91mobiles) shows a familiar round face with two new side buttons.
This week we got an early peek at Google’s upcoming Pixel Watch 4 through leaked renders. The next-gen smartwatch appears almost identical in style to previous Pixel Watches, but notably thicker in profile and sporting a couple of extra buttons. According to the leak, the Pixel Watch 4’s case measures about 14.3 mm thick, roughly 2 mm more than its predecessor – a change likely meant to accommodate a larger battery for improved endurance. The renders (shared by OnLeaks) show two small mystery buttons flanking the digital crown on one side, near the watch’s speaker; it’s unclear what functions these will serve, but they are new additions not seen on the Pixel Watch 3. Another detail is the absence of the pogo-pin connectors on the back which were present on the Pixel Watch 2 for its charging dock. Their removal hints that Google might be switching to a different charging method, possibly a completely wireless solution, to juice up the Watch 4. Like the previous models, the Pixel Watch 4 is expected to come in two sizes (the leak indicates 41 mm and 45 mm again) and retain the round OLED display and Fitbit integration. We might hear more about the Pixel Watch 4 at Google I/O or in announcements later this year, but this leak gives a promising sign that Google is focusing on better battery life and functionality for its next wearable. Gadget News Week 16 (2025)
Apple Vision Pro 2 Reportedly Enters Production for 2025
Apple’s Vision Pro AR/VR headset (first-gen model shown) is reportedly getting a successor with an updated chip by late 2025.
Apple’s work on the next generation of its Vision Pro mixed-reality headset is ramping up, according to new reports from China. A supply chain report on IT Home claims that key components for the second-generation Apple Vision Pro have now moved into mass production, suggesting the device is on track for an eventual release later in 2025. This upcoming model (unofficially dubbed “Vision Pro 2”) is said to be an incremental upgrade over the first-gen Vision Pro rather than a complete overhaul. Notably, it’s expected to feature a more powerful Apple M5 chip — an upgrade from the dual-chip M2/R1 architecture in the original — to boost performance, while keeping a similar design. Apple is reportedly reusing many components from the current Vision Pro in the new version, which implies only modest hardware changes besides the processor bump. The reason for this more conservative update may be to address production challenges and high costs; Apple had severely limited the first model’s production and is likely aiming to streamline the second-gen unit. As for timing, industry analysts and reporters like Mark Gurman believe the next Vision Pro will launch “between fall 2025 and spring 2026,” lining up with these production rumors. That means consumers probably won’t see the Vision Pro 2 until late next year at the earliest. In the meantime, Apple’s first-gen Vision Pro (priced at $3,499) is slated to hit the US market in early 2025, and the company will gather feedback before the follow-up arrives. Gadget News Week 16 (2025)
JBL Tour ONE M3 Headphones Introduced with Wireless Audio Transmitter
JBL Tour ONE M3 wireless headphones in all three colors (Mocha, Navy Blue, and Black), shown with the included Smart Tx transmitter module.
Audio maker JBL announced its flagship Tour ONE M3 over-ear headphones, packing a host of high-end features for music lovers and travelers. One of the Tour ONE M3’s standout innovations is its JBL Smart Tx transmitter: a small USB-C wireless audio dongle (pictured above) that comes with the headphones. This transmitter lets you connect the Tour ONE M3 directly to almost any audio source (like in-flight entertainment systems, gaming devices, or older gadgets without Bluetooth) and stream sound with low latency and high fidelity. In terms of audio performance, the headphones use newly developed 40 mm dynamic drivers and support Hi-Res audio, promising deep bass and clear highs. They also feature JBL’s True Adaptive Noise Cancelling 2.0 technology to automatically adjust noise cancellation levels in real time, plus an Ambient Aware mode and TalkThru for situational awareness. For spatial audio fans, the Tour ONE M3 offers JBL Spatial 360 sound with head tracking, turning stereo or movie content into an immersive surround experience. Battery life is another strong point – these headphones can last up to 70 hours on a charge (or 50 hours with ANC on), and a quick 5-minute charge gives about 5 hours of listening. The build focuses on comfort too: memory-foam ear cushions and a lightweight frame for long listening sessions. JBL is releasing the Tour ONE M3 in three colors (Black, Navy Blue, and a coffee-like Mocha) and the set will be available starting April 15, 2025 for €399.99 in Europe (approximately $399 in the US). With its combination of a wireless transmitter and top-tier headphone features, the Tour ONE M3 aims to be a versatile travel companion for audio enthusiasts. Gadget News Week 16 (2025)