Back in the day, having the smallest possible phone was a status symbol. Ben Stiller, playing the namesake Zoolander character in the popular 2001 movie, carried around a flip phone the size of a lighter to show how important he was. Steve Jobs, when introducing the first iPhone in 2007, noted that the 3.5-inch device “fits …

When Samsung introduced the first Galaxy Note in late 2011, it was something never seen before. The device sported a 5.3-inch screen, which was much larger than the iPhone 4S’ 3.5-inches screen, and included a stylus to write on the display. As the line evolved, Samsung put its riskiest and most innovative technologies — like its curved display and iris scanner …

Smartphone makers, led by Samsung and Apple, have been jacking up prices over the last few years. Consumers, however, have been pushing back. And now there’s new data that shows it’s harder than ever to compete in the ultrapremium tier of phones.  Apple and Samsung this week reported earnings for the June quarter that didn’t convey much optimism in the …

Take a five-minute walk behind Qualcomm’s main office in San Diego and you’ll find an unlikely kind of lab. The cavernous room, previously used for storing office furniture and boxes, has become the mobile chip giant’s testing ground for new wireless technologies, where it’s working on 5G in ways you may not be expecting. While 5G means super-high speeds on our …

Apple’s iPhone business may be struggling, but the company is pretty optimistic about the services running on the device. In its third-quarter earnings report Tuesday, Apple offered a rosier-than-expected prediction for the next period thanks to things like the App Store as well as other products like wearables, even as iPhone sales have continued their trend of declines. The company …

Intel’s getting out of the 5G smartphone modem business, and Apple is getting in. The switcheroo, made official Thursday, could have big implications for future iPhones — even if that means it’s the iPhone 16 or 17. Apple and Intel jointly announced that Apple is buying Intel’s smartphone modem business for $1 billion. About 2,200 Intel employees will join Apple, along …

It’s official. Apple’s taking a leap forward in wireless chips by buying Intel’s smartphone modem business for $1 billion. The two companies announced the news Thursday. About 2,200 Intel employees will join Apple, along with intellectual property, equipment and leases. The deal should close in the fourth quarter.  “We’ve worked with Intel for many years and know this team shares …

You may not want a 5G phone today, but your opinion will change very soon. That’s because the network and devices — limited today — will get supercharged heading into 2020.  5G is touted as a game-changing technology, with the ability to dramatically boost the speed and coverage of wireless networks. It can run between 10 and 100 times faster than …

The US Justice Department is weighing in on Qualcomm’s appeal of a ruling that declared the chip giant to be a monopoly. And the government’s citing national security and 5G leadership as reasons for an appeals court to let Qualcomm delay renegotiating its licensing contracts. The Justice Department on Tuesday filed an amicus brief with the US Court of Appeals …

Gamers, rejoice. Qualcomm’s newest mobile processor has been built for speed — just in time for the rollout of ultra-fast 5G cellular networks. And Asus will be the first to use the chip, in its upcoming ROG Phone II.  Qualcomm on Monday introduced the Snapdragon 855 Plus, a souped-up version of its high-end chip that powers many of the latest …