Honda Cars India Ltd. (HCIL) will be launching 6 new cars this year in the Indian market, and yesterday the company announced the launch of the New Honda City and the India Premiere of its Global Hybrid SUV, the all-new ZR-V e: HEV.

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Takashi Nakajima, President & CEO, Honda Cars India Ltd, said, “Today’s event marks the beginning of HCIL’s New Phase of accelerated growth in the market. India is among the top 3 focus markets to realize Honda’s future growth which will be driven by a strong pipeline of new products and our efforts to achieve cost competitiveness. This year is a landmark year for us with 6 strategic launches that will sharpen our competitive edge and reinforce our brand position in the market. The launch of the new Honda City and the India premiere of our globally acclaimed Honda ZR-V represent Honda’s commitment to bringing sporty, premium, and technologically advanced products to Indian customers. We look forward to an exciting year ahead with several new model introductions planned as part of Honda’s continued growth strategy for the Indian market.”

Reportedly, the company is looking at a double-digit growth in PV volume this year compared to last year, while it also expects its export volume to improve this year following a dip in FY25-56.

The two newly introduced models arrive as “Two Sporty Icons” created for customers seeking premium styling, sporty dynamic performance, advanced technology and refined driving experience.

New Honda City

Features

This is claimed to be the longest sedan in the segment with an overall length of 4594mm (+11mm vs previous model). All new Front Face featuring Sharper and Sporty design with new Blade Eye Signature LED Lighting System featuring Bi-LED projector headlamps, Front Grille Connected Centre Light Bar and Integrated split LED DRL with Turn Signal, new wide stance Aerodynamic bumper with Air Curtain, new Signature Matrix-Mesh Black Painted Front Upper Grille and new placement position of H logo.

The rear side features Distinct Signature Z-Edge Wrap LED tail lamps with clear lens, new Signature Matrix-Mesh Lower Bumper Granish and Sporty Trunk Lip Spoiler. It sports new Sporty R16 Dual Tone (Berlina Black & Dark-Clear cut) Aero Blade Diamond Cut Alloy Wheels. There are 6 colour options with the addition of the new “Crystal Black Pearl” colour.

Luxurious Ivory and Black Two-Tone interiors feature a larger 25.6cm Floating Touchscreen Display Audio with Wireless smartphone connectivity, new stylish Dark Iron 3D Pattern Garnish with Welcome Ambient Light for an enhanced cabin experience. There is a 360-degree multi-view camera, Active Front Ventilated seats and USB-C charging ports in front and rear.

Active and passive advanced safety features include Honda Sensing Intelligent ADAS technology, Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow (in e: HEV only), Road Departure Mitigation System, Lane Keep Assist System, Lead Car Departure Notification System, and Auto High-Beam.

There are two powertrain choices:

• Honda’s original Self-charging Two Motor Strong Hybrid e: HEV system with e-CVT delivering Combined Max Power of 126 PS power, Max Torque of 253 Nm @ 0-3000 rpm and outstanding fuel efficiency of 27.26km/l, while seamlessly switching between EV, Hybrid and Engine Drive modes.
• Pure Petrol 1.5L i-VTEC DOHC engine with VTC paired with a 6-speed MT or 7-speed CVT, delivering a good balance of Sporty performance and Fuel Efficiency with Max Power of 121 PS @6600 rpm, Max Torque of 145 Nm @4300 rpm. It delivers fuel efficiency of 17.77 km/l for MT and 17.97km/l for CVT.

Availability

City Petrol is available in 4 grades: SV, V, ZX and ZX+ in MT and V, ZX and ZX+ grades in CVT transmission. The City e: HEV comes in ZX+ grade. The new Honda City is now available across Honda Dealerships in India, with sales and customer deliveries beginning immediately. The pricing is below (ex-showroom):

MT

• SV: Rs 11,99,900
• V: Rs 13,29,900
• ZX: Rs 15,25,900
• ZX+: Rs 16,14,900

CVT

• V: Rs 14,29,900
• ZX: Rs 16,25,900
• ZX+: Rs 17,14,900

e: HEV

• ZX+: Rs 20,99,900

The company is offering a 3-year Unlimited kilometres Standard warranty, an Extended warranty up to 7 years unlimited kilometres, Anytime warranty up to 10 years/120,000 kms from the date of purchase. Additionally, e: HEV variant comes with a standard 8-year/160,000 kms (whichever is earlier) warranty on Lithium-ion battery and a newly introduced 5-year/100,000 kms (whichever is earlier) warranty on Hybrid System components.

Honda ZR-V- Hybrid Unleashed

The Honda ZR-V is powered by the e: HEV Sports Hybrid System, combining a 2.0-liter direct injection Atkinson-cycle engine and the advanced dual-motor hybrid system with e-CVT, offering Combined Max Power: 184 PS @5000-6000 rpm, Max Torque: 315 Nm @0-2000 rpm and outstanding fuel economy: 22.79 km/l.

The system seamlessly switches between Electric, Hybrid and Engine driving modes without driver intervention. Drivers can choose from Normal, Sport, and Eco driving modes. Equipped with MacPherson front suspension, Multi-link rear suspension and Electric Power Steering (EPS), the ZR-V offers strong road holding, stability and driving confidence.

Exterior

• Vertical-slat glossy black front grille and sharp, slim headlights emphasise the front fascia, while air intakes below the headlights reduce drag and enhance aerodynamic performance
• Full LED Headlamps with integrated LED DRL
• Sequential LED Front Turn Signal
• Integrated LED Side-Turn Indicator on Door Mirrors
• Distinctive rear combination LED tail lamps
• Rear bumper Gun-metallic skid garnish
• Sporty 18-inch Diamond Cut alloy wheels
• Dual outlet exhaust pipe finisher
• Body colour tailgate spoiler
• SUV measures 4567mm in length, 1840mm in width, 1621mm in height and has a wheelbase of 2655mm
• Minimum turning radius of 5.5m
• Four colour options: Twilight Mist Black Pearl, Meteoroid Grey Metallic, Platinum White Pearl and Crystal Black Pearl

Interior

• Premium All-Black Sporty Interior, crafting a sophisticated and high-quality space
• Intuitive and easy-to-use interior with advanced Human-Machine interface
• Wide horizontal dashboard design for an open and spacious feel
• High-deck centre console with electronic button selector offering the right amount of “personal feeling” for both driver and front passenger
• Use of high-quality Soft-touch materials and tactile touch points
• Dual Zone climate control, fully automatic air conditioner with independent left and right temperature control
• Leather Upholstery with Sporty Black Interiors & Premium Stitch Accents
• Elegant metallic detailing throughout the cabin
• Rear AC vents and rear armrest for enhanced passenger comfort
• Premium Tricot Roof Lining Material

Connectivity & Infotainment

• 8 cm Advanced Floating Touchscreen Display Audio with Android Auto, Wireless Apple CarPlay connectivity
• 12-speaker Bose Premium Surround Sound System
• 9 cm HD Fully Digital Colour TFT Meter with Multi-Information Display, which delivers clear vehicle information
• USB A-Type & C-Type ports and wireless smartphone charging

Packaging

• The field of view has been maximised by positioning A pillar as rearward as possible, mounting the smart wiper arms with integrated washer jets beneath the bonnet line. The door mirrors are also mounted on the door skin, away from A Pillar, to reduce blind spots and ensure a clear line of sight.
• Vast array of storage trays and pockets, including a large cup holder, spacious door pockets, an integrated tray beneath the console to store mobile phones, a centre console box to easily stow a tablet and rear seat armrests.
• 60:40 split foldable rear seat compatible for long items
• Up to 1313L of cargo space with a full flat floor and the 2^nd row folded
• Flexible luggage configurations for added convenience
• Versatile rear cargo space features fold flat seats, load partition, retractable parcel cover and under-floor storage
• Low, wide boot aperture and flat cargo floor for easy loading of heavy items

Comfort & Convenience

• 8-way Power Adjustable Driver Seat (slide, recline, height-front & rear)
• One-touch seat position memory, smart Key-Fob linked
• 4-way power adjustable front passenger seat
• Metal Deceleration Selector Paddle Shifters (for battery regeneration)
• Hands-free power tailgate with kick gesture open and Walk-away function to close and lock immediately
• Auto Reverse-Tilt passenger side mirror
• Electronic parking brake
• Idle stop system with auto start

Lighting

• Ambient lighting in front & rear doors, front footwell, roof and centre console tray
• Tailgate and cargo area lighting for practicality
• Electrostatic touch reading lights and roof console map lights

Safety features

• Collision Mitigation Braking System
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Low-Speed Follow
• Lane Keeping Assist System
• Road Departure Mitigation System
• Lead Car Departure Notification System
• Auto High Beam
• High Tensile ACE body structure
• 8 Airbags system
• 360-degree surround vision camera
• Driver Attention Monitor
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Hill Descent Control
• Hill Start Assist
• Vehicle Stability Assist with Electronic Stability & Traction control
• Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System at low speed EV mode
• Frameless Auto-Dimming inside rear view mirror
• Smart-Clear auto wiper system
• All 4-disc brakes with 18-inch wheels for assured stopping performance
• Electric Parking Brake with auto hold
• Agile Handling assist
• ISOFIX compatible rear side seats with lower anchorage and top tether
• All 5 seats 3-point emergency locking retractor seatbelts
• All 5 seats Head restraints
• All seats seatbelt indicator and reminder

Availability

The all-new Honda ZR-V is being imported from Japan as a Completely Built Unit. Customers can now pre-book the ZR-V at Honda dealerships across India, with deliveries scheduled to begin from July 2026.

The company is offering a 3-year unlimited kilometres Standard warranty, an Extended Warranty up to 7 years unlimited kilometres, Anytime Warranty up to 10 years/ 120,000kms from the date of purchase. It comes with a standard 8-year/160,000 km (whichever is earlier) warranty on Lithium-ion battery and 5-year/100,000 km (whichever is earlier) warranty on Hybrid System components.

The post Honda Cars to launch 6 new cars this year in India; New Honda City and Hybrid SUV- ZR-V e: HEV officially unveiled appeared first on The Tech Outlook.

Honda has now introduced the new City facelift in the Indian market, and the updated sedan comes with multiple design and feature changes. However, it still misses out on the turbo engine which many were expecting.

Read more about it below.

2026 Honda City Facelift – Specs and Features

The new Honda City facelift features a sharper exterior design, mostly around the front portion, while the rear section has only received mild changes. Up front, the updated sedan comes with a redesigned grille, sleek LED projector headlamps, and connected LED DRLs. The chrome bar above the grille has also been removed this time, giving the front fascia a cleaner and stealthier look.

Speaking more about its design, the front bumper has also been revised, and it now has larger air intakes along with a sportier lower section. Coming to the side profile, the overall shape remains mostly the same as before, but newly-designed 16-inch alloy wheels have been added. At the rear, the sedan gets revised LED tail lamps with a fresh light signature, a smoked finish, a new bumper with a subtle diffuser-like treatment, a sporty-looking spoiler, and a shark-fin antenna.

Dimension-wise, the new Honda City facelift measures 4,594 mm in length, 1,748 mm in width, and 1,489 mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2,600 mm. The sedan is offered in six colour options – Crystal Black, Radiant Red, Obsidian Blue, Platinum White, Cognac Silver, and Meteoroid Grey. Notably, Crystal Black is the new colour choice that has been introduced this time.

About the interior, the new City facelift gets an Ivory-themed cabin with a dual-tone black and beige finish. The dashboard layout remains familiar and simple, while the same three-spoke steering wheel with multiple audio and ADAS controls is also present. Vertically-oriented AC vents, soft-touch finishes, leather wrapping around the steering wheel and gear lever, and physical AC controls are some of the other interior highlights.

The main highlight inside is the larger 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support. Other features offered on the car include a semi-digital driver’s display, 8-speaker audio system, ventilated front seats, multi-colour ambient lighting, single-pane sunroof, wireless phone charging, auto-dimming IRVM, cruise control, push-button start/stop, charging ports, and connected car technology.

Speaking of comfort, the rear seat continues to be one of the strong points of the Honda City, offering good legroom, under-thigh support, and a near-flat floor for the middle passenger. The large windows and the sunroof further make the cabin feel more open.

Coming to safety, the new Honda City facelift comes equipped with 6 airbags, rear parking sensors, ESC, TPMS, hill-start assist, rain-sensing wipers, a 360-degree camera, and Honda’s Level-2 ADAS suite. Lane watch, collision mitigation, and adaptive cruise control are also part of the ADAS features. However, powered seats, a powered tailgate, and a fully digital driver’s display are still missing on the sedan.

Speaking of its powertrain, the standard model is powered by a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine that produces 121 PS of power and 145 Nm of torque. This engine is paired with either a 6-speed manual transmission or a 7-step CVT gearbox. The claimed fuel efficiency is 17.77 kmpl for the manual and 17.97 kmpl for the CVT.

The strong hybrid version, on the other hand, uses a 1.5-litre petrol-hybrid setup, capable of delivering up to 126 PS combined output and up to 253 Nm torque. It is coupled with an e-CVT gearbox and offers a claimed fuel efficiency of 27.26 kmpl.

Talking about the competition, Skoda’s Slavia and Volkswagen Virtus are still major contenders in the sedan segment in India, with their 1.0-litre and 1.5-litre turbo engine options. Therefore, it would be interesting to see how the new enthusiast sedan buyers are going to look at this 2026 Honda City facelift.

Pricing and Availability

Regarding the price and availability, the Honda City facelift is available in four variants – SV, V, ZX, and ZX Plus. Prices start at Rs 12 lakh and go up to Rs 21 lakh. All prices are introductory and ex-showroom.

The post 2026 Honda City Facelift Introduced In India With Up To 17.97 kmpl Mileage In ICE Variant And 27.26 kmpl In Hybrid Variant appeared first on The Tech Outlook.

Last year in May 2025, Xiaomi officially unveiled its first electric SUV – the Xiaomi YU7. Now, almost a year later, the brand has introduced the latest Xiaomi YU7 GT model in its home market China. A starting price of CNY 389,900 has been announced for the vehicle and it has been brought out as a sports SUV suitable for long-distance travel.

Check out more about the latest Xiaomi SUV and its features below.

Xiaomi’s YU7 GT – Introduced in the Chinese Market

The newly-introduced Xiaomi YU7 GT has been brought out as a luxury-focused performance electric SUV and it notably promises higher performance, sporty styling, and long-distance driving range for users. An athletic low-slung body design, battle-wide stance, ducktail-style rear design, 295 mm ultra-wide rear tyres, and 21-inch forged wheels are some of its further key aspects. Five exterior colour choices are also available for the SUV, which include Military Green, Sports Red, Volcano Ash, Pearl White, and Titanium Gold.

Speaking more, the latest Xiaomi YU7 GT features a dual-motor setup powered by the Xiaomi Super Electric Motor V8S EVO, and it also packs Xiaomi’s dual-chamber air suspension system with closed dual-valve CDC continuous damping control. An ESD electronic limited-slip differential, front and rear carbon fibre Akebono braking system, and Xiaomi chassis are also on offer. In terms of performance, the SUV is capable of delivering 1003 PS maximum horsepower, 380 km/h top speed, 2.92 seconds 0-100 km/h acceleration, and up to 705 km CLTC range.

Inside, the Xiaomi YU7 GT features a spacious luxury cabin with ultra-wide rear seating space and GT-exclusive cabin detailing throughout. Features such as 18-way adjustable sports seats with active side bolsters, rear 132° electric reclining seats, smart dimming panoramic roof, four-seat massage system with multiple adjustment modes, full-flat folding front seats, and 40W seat ventilation are also present. The SUV additionally comes with a GT-exclusive instrument cluster theme and custom GT-themed interface.

Entertainment and smart driving features like the Xiaomi HAD advanced driving assistance system, Xiaomi HyperVision panoramic display, 700 TOPS computing platform with Thor chip, intelligent ambient lighting system, front and rear 25 MP safety cameras, aluminium-steel hybrid roll cage body, triple safety collision door structure, and battery protection with bullet-resistant coating and thermal shielding are further offered on Xiaomi’s latest SUV.

As part of the limited-period purchase benefits, customers placing orders before the 30th of June 2026 will be able to enjoy benefits worth up to CNY 85,000. Free offers such as Dark Purple/Night Black interior theme, Nappa leather seats, zero-gravity front seats, carbon fibre rear-view mirrors, smart in-car refrigerator, HEPA air purification system, and Xiaomi HAD assisted driving are also available. Discount vouchers for wheel upgrades and paint selections, alongside GT sports package and track-style interior package discounts, are further being offered.

Interested customers can also opt for Xiaomi’s 5-year low-interest financing plan with down payments starting from CNY 49,900 and monthly instalments starting from CNY 6,231. Existing Xiaomi car owners will additionally receive 20,000 reward points under the loyalty program. Xiaomi has also announced a delivery compensation policy, under which users will receive 500 points per day if deliveries are delayed beyond 90 days due to Xiaomi Auto-related reasons, capped at 50,000 points.

The post Xiaomi Introduces the Xiaomi YU7 GT in China: 1003 PS Power, 705 KM Claimed Range, 2.92 Seconds 0-100 km/h Acceleration, and More Announced appeared first on The Tech Outlook.

Today, Amazon has launched its fastest and slimmest Fire TV Stick HD in the Indian market, which is said to come with a redesigned Fire TV experience for seamless streaming.

“Customers expect their TV streaming experience to be fast and responsive—apps that load quickly, content that’s easy to find, and streaming that’s smooth and lag-free. Our latest Fire TV Stick HD delivers exactly that,” says Sayantani Choudhuri, Head of Fire TV, Amazon India. “From performance to design, Amazon has built the device to offer a streaming experience that’s fast, smooth, and convenient for customers in India.”

Amazon Fire TV Stick HD: Features

The all-new Fire TV Stick HD is 30% slimmer than other sticks in the Fire TV range and is revealed to deliver 30% faster performance on average than the previous generation and supports full HD streaming with HDR10+, Bluetooth 5.3 and WiFi 6 for better-quality video streaming.

It plugs into any compatible TV with an HDMI port and gives you access to lakhs of movies and TV shows across apps like Prime Video, Netflix, JioHotstar, YouTube, Zee5, and more (subscription fees may apply). The Fire TV Stick can be powered through your TV’s USB port via Direct Power.

It comes with a redesigned interface that’s faster and better organised with dedicated categories for movies, TV shows, free, and live content. For the first time, users can play hundreds of Xbox cloud-enabled games on a Fire TV HD device by pairing a compatible Bluetooth controller (requires an Xbox Game Pass subscription).

The Fire TV Stick comes with an Alexa Voice remote, which supports voice commands and has pre-set buttons for quick access to select apps. Users can also manage Alexa-compatible smart appliances like ACs, geysers, fans and lights using this device.

Amazon Fire TV Stick HD: Availability

Amazon’s latest streaming stick is priced at Rs 4,999 and is available on Amazon, Blinkit, Flipkart, Swiggy Instamart and Zepto, with retail stores to follow.

The post Amazon introduces its all-new Fire TV Stick HD in India; Delivers 30% faster performance than the previous generation appeared first on The Tech Outlook.

With the help of ChatGPT, OpenAI has helped its users in excelling in almost every department, whether it’s studying, shopping, budgeting, investments, clinical tasks or more. What if we tell you that ChatGPT can now even keep track of your finances?

Yes, you read that right. A few days back, OpenAI released a preview of a new personal finance experience in ChatGPT.

A new personal finance experience in ChatGPT

With this new capability, you can securely connect your financial accounts to ChatGPT, see a dashboard of where your money is going, and ask ChatGPT questions grounded in your financial context.

With your financial accounts connected, ChatGPT can combine reasoning with your financial context and what you’ve shared about your goals, lifestyle, and priorities, helping you spot patterns and understand tradeoffs. It can help you stay informed and manage your finances, but it is not a replacement for professional financial advice.

How to get started?

Open Finances from the sidebar in ChatGPT and select ‘Get started’ or start a conversation from anywhere in ChatGPT by saying ‘@Finances, connect my accounts.’ ChatGPT will guide you through securely linking accounts through Plaid, with Intuit support coming soon. After you authenticate, ChatGPT will begin syncing and categorising your data.

Once your accounts are synced, you will see a dashboard that gives an up-to-date view of where you stand across portfolio performance, spending, subscriptions, upcoming payments, and more.

You can also share important context about your financial life, like a mortgage, a savings goal, or a major purchase you are planning. ChatGPT can help connect the dots across your accounts, your goals and what you have already shared, so the guidance is more personal and complete.

According to OpenAI, the vision behind this capability is to help users take action towards improving their financial lives.

The main concern that users may have in using the new feature is security and privacy. OpenAI has specified that ChatGPT cannot see full account numbers or make any changes to your accounts. You are always in control of your information:

• You can disconnect your financial accounts at any time. Once disconnected, your synced data will be deleted from OpenAI’s systems within 30 days.
• ChatGPT remembers key details you share, like goals, obligations or context about your money. These are saved as financial memories. You can view or delete them at any time from the Finance page.
• When you use temporary chats, ChatGPT won’t access your connected financial accounts.

Users can also enable multi-factor authentication to further secure their ChatGPT account. Conversations with connected financial accounts default to GPT 5.5 Thinking.

Availability

This ability is being rolled out to Pro users in the US to connect their financial accounts in ChatGPT on web and iOS, with support for more than 12,000 financial institutions. The company will further improve this feature in this early testing and then roll it out to Plus users.

The post You can now link ChatGPT to your bank accounts to track your finances; OpenAI releases a preview of a new personal finance experience in ChatGPT in the US appeared first on The Tech Outlook.

Lately, the Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi has been teasing new details related to its upcoming products- Xiaomi 17 Max, Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Pro, and Xiaomi Clip-On earphones.

Today, the brand has officially announced the launch date of these devices in China.

Xiaomi’s new range of products: China launch date announced

The Xiaomi YU7 GT, Xiaomi 17 Max, Xiaomi Clip-On earphones, Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Pro and other Xiaomi home appliances will launch in China on 21^st May at 7:00 PM (local time).

Ahead of this upcoming launch event, the company has revealed some new details about the Xiaomi YU7 GT.

The SUV comes in Crimson Red and Volcanic Ash colours. On the inside, it features Racing Red colour, featuring a striking red and black colour scheme. The YU7 GT is teased to be a sports car-level SUV suitable for long-distance travel. A sports car-level widebody design with 295mm ultra-wide rear tyres and a massive integrated front splitter combines elegance and power.

With a maximum horsepower of 1003 hp and a CLTC range of 705 km, it offers both exhilarating performance and the composure to conquer distant horizons. The SUV comes with a 1:3 ultimate head-to-body ratio, extra-large carbon ceramic brake discs and Akebono six-piston front and four-piston rear brake callipers.

It features an extra-large integrated front shovel, rear active diffuser, seat embroidery, steering wheel nameplate, inner door panel word mark, welcome pedal word mark, exterior door panel word mark, tailgate wordmark and front cabin nameplate.

Stay tuned with The Tech Outlook for the latest tech updates.

Via 1, 2, 3, 4

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The first quarter of this year has not been quite fruitful for the Indian smartphone industry. According to IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, India’s smartphone market shipments declined 4.1% YoY to 31 million units in Q1 2026. Despite falling volume, the market grew 5.8% in value terms.

It is said that the Q1 2026 results hint towards a structural turning point for one of the world’s largest smartphone markets.

Top 10 brands in the Indian Smartphone market

As per the report, Vivo retained its top position with 19.6% market share, though it witnessed a decline of 4% in YoY unit change. Samsung was in the second spot with 17.1% market share, and Oppo secured the third spot with 15.3% market share. Apple and Motorola are in fourth and fifth spots, respectively.

Though Oppo is at the third spot, the brand recorded the highest YoY unit change (22%) among the other brands in the list.

The IDC report states that the decline in overall shipments was due to three converging forces: Memory cost inflation led to the fall of entry-level device shipments, the mass budget segment grew 10% YoY and rising input costs limited brands’ ability to deploy the aggressive discounting and channel-led promotions that historically fuel mass-market growth.

Price Band Performance

• Entry level (sub-US$100): 59% YoY; share fell from 18% to 8%
• Mass-budget (US$100-200): +10% YoY; share rose from 39% to 45%
• Entry-premium (US$200-400): -3% YoY; share edged up from 26% to 27%
• Mid-premium (US$400-500): +29% YoY; share rose from 6% to 8%
• Premium (US$600-800): +32% YoY; share rose from 4% to 6%
• Super-Premium (US$800+): -1% YoY; 7% share maintained

The offline channel share rose from 58% to 62%, while the online channel share came down from 42% to 38%.

“Average selling prices increased 10.4% YoY to a record US$302 in Q1 2026, driven by persistent memory cost inflation across both newly launched devices and existing models. Unlike previous quarters, aggressive discounting and channel-led promotional schemes remained limited, as rising input costs constrained brands’ ability to stimulate demand through pricing interventions. The current environment signals a broader structural shift in the market, where brands may increasingly need to rely on product differentiation, financing offers, and premiumization strategies rather than price-led promotions to drive demand through the remainder of 2026.” said Aditya Rampal, senior research analyst, Devices Research, IDC Asia Pacific.

It is said that the recovery in the second half will depend on how effectively brands balance product innovation, pricing strategy and cost management against sustained component inflation and uneven consumer demand.

The post Indian smartphone market declined 4.1% in Q1 2026; IDC report appeared first on The Tech Outlook.

Today, Nintendo has officially announced that it will be revising the prices of some of its Nintendo products and services.

Price Revisions for Nintendo Products and Services

Due to changes in market conditions and after considering the global outlook, the company will revise the manufacturer’s suggested retail prices (MSRP) of the Nintendo Switch 2 system and Nintendo Switch Systems in Japan as follows:

• Nintendo Switch 2 Japanese-language system (Japan only): Current Price- ¥49,980; Revised Price- ¥59,980
• Nintendo Switch (OLED model): Current Price- ¥37,980; Revised Price- ¥47,980
• Nintendo Switch: Current Price- ¥32,978; Revised Price- ¥43,980
• Nintendo Switch Lite: Current Price- ¥21,978; Revised Price- ¥29,980

The revised prices will be effective from 25^th May.

The company has also mentioned that the impact of various changes in market conditions is expected to extend over the medium to long term; therefore, price revisions are planned outside Japan as well.

• Nintendo Switch 2 in the US: Current Price- $449.99; Revised Price- $499.99
• Nintendo Switch 2 in Canada: Current Price- $629.99; Revised Price- $679.99
• Nintendo Switch 2 in Europe: Current Price on My Nintendo Store- € 469; Revised Price on My Nintendo Store- €499.99

The revised prices will be effective in the US, Canada and Europe from 1^st September 2026.

Apart from this, the prices of the Nintendo Switch Online service will also be increased to support appropriate alignment among regions. In Japan, the prices will be as follows:

The revised pricing will be effective from 1^st July 2026. It is also announced that Nintendo Switch Online price revisions are also planned in South Korea.

Nintendo has apologised for the impact that these price revisions may cause to its customers and other stakeholders.

The post Nintendo increases the prices of Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch Online membership appeared first on The Tech Outlook.

Amazon has officially announced the integration of Amazon MX Player with Prime Video in the Indian market. This latest move will create one of the biggest streaming platforms in the country, combining both premium and free video contents under a single platform.

Here’s more about the update.

Amazon MX Player Integrated With Prime Video in India

As per the details shared, this latest integration is aimed at making Prime Video a one-stop entertainment hub for users in India. Prime members will now be able to access a much wider catalogue of original and exclusive contents across different devices, while also getting the flexibility to choose between ads-supported streaming or an ads-free experience via additional plans. Also to add, users who are not interested in paying for subscriptions too will now get access to a broader collection of free video contents through the unified platform.

Speaking more, this move follows Amazon’s acquisition of MX Player assets back in 2024, which were initially merged with the brand’s miniTV service. The long-term goal behind the integration has been to combine India’s large free streaming audience together with Prime Video’s premium subscription service under one brand itself. This means that users will now be able to access subscription-based contents (SVOD), free ads-supported shows (AVOD), and movie rental services (TVOD) all from a single application.

Aligning with this latest update, Amazon has also shared details regarding how the service will function across different devices. On iPhones, smart TVs, and web browsers, the Amazon MX Player application will automatically redirect users to Prime Video. However, things are said to be slightly different for Android users. As per the details shared, the Android application will continue to function as a local video player for personal files too, while also being rebranded with a dedicated Prime Video experience.

Stay tuned for more updates!

The post Amazon Merges MX Player With Prime Video, Creating One of India’s Largest Streaming Platforms appeared first on The Tech Outlook.

Recent reports suggested that Samsung is considering withdrawing from TV and home appliances sales in China, but there was no announcement made regarding this matter.

Tipster @UniverseIce has now shared that Samsung’s official home page in China pops a notice for the users that states that Samsung Electronics has decided to cease sales of all home appliances, including TVs and monitors, in the Chinese mainland market due to rapidly changing market conditions.

Consumers who have already purchased a Samsung home appliance product will continue receiving after-sales service in strict accordance with the Consumer Rights Protection Law, national warranty regulations, and other relevant laws and regulations.

Though the company has stated a “rapidly changing market environment”, online reports suggest that the Chinese brands have pushed Samsung out of the market with aggressive pricing. It is said that the company has only halted sales in China, while Samsung’s home appliance manufacturing in China (for overseas markets) will remain operational.

Also, only the sales of Samsung’s home appliance products will be halted, and Samsung’s smartphones and chips will continue to be sold in the market.

Last year, Samsung’s TV and home appliances recorded losses of 200 billion won due to competition and US tariffs.

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