Weekly Tech Recap: Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite processor debut, launch dates for OnePlus 13 and iQOO 13, Android 16’s new notification system, AI monitoring traffic violations, and Apple’s upcoming M4 chip MacBook Air production slated for early 2025.
In the hustle and bustle of daily life, it can be hard to keep up with the top news of the week. To help with that, we’ve compiled the Weekly Tech Recap, highlighting the biggest stories making waves in technology. This week, Qualcomm launched its latest Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, OnePlus and iQOO confirmed launch dates for their flagship lineups, and early updates about Android 16 began to emerge and more.
Top tech news of the week:
1) Qualcomm launches Snapdragon 8 Elite processor:
Qualcomm has launched its top of the line Snapdragon 8 Elite processor that brings Oryon CPU architecture to Android smartphones after it was first unveiled with the company’s Snapdragon X Elite processor for PCs earlier this year. The San Diego-based company has also sought to clearly distinguish its latest chipset from the ones that came before it by ditching the Snapdragon 8 Gen xx naming scheme in favour of Elite branding.
Xiaomi 15 series will be the first devices to be powered by the new chipset globally while Realme GT 7 Pro will be the first phone in India with the new Snapdragon processor.
2) OnePlus 13 – iQOO 13 launch date confirmed:
The OnePlus 13 is confirmed to launch in China on October 31 at 4:00 PM (November 1, 1:30 PM IST), while the iQOO 13 will debut a day earlier on October 30 at 4:00 PM (October 31, 1:30 PM IST). Both phones will feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and are expected to share several key specifications. In the lead-up to launch, the companies have shared numerous updates about these devices. You can find our coverage of both devices.
3) Google looking to bring Dynamic Island-like notifications to Android:
Google recently rolled out Android 15 to its Pixel devices but there are already murmurs about the new features that will be coming with the Android 16 OS which is still a few months from an official announcement. Unlike Apple’s iOS, Google has always provided OEMs the ability to customize the user experience while the stock Android build remains relatively stable and devoid of many exciting features. But all that may be about to change with the Android 16, with Google reportedly taking a lead from OEMs like OnePlus and Infinix and initiating key elements of Apple’s Dynamic Island.
According to a latest report by Android Authority, Google will allow apps to create Rich Ongoing Notifications with the Android 16 update. The new notification system will reportedly allow apps to create ‘chips’ in the status instead of just icons. While it’s not clear what clicking on these notification chips would do, a smart guess would be that Google could be planning to add a dialogue box provided by the app which shows more information about the notification and even take some quick action like playing/pausing music, skipping to next track and more from the same screen.
4) AI will be used to check traffic violations: Nitin Gadkari
Artificial Intelligence is set to be incorporated as a used to check traffic violations and ensure compliance. According to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, the government is proposing to use Artificial Intelligence and other innovative methods to check traffic violations and ensure that penalties are levied accurately.
