Mateusz Ługowik

Mateusz Ługowik is a senior markets reporter at Bez-kabli.pl, specializing in technology stocks, artificial intelligence and global financial markets. A graduate of the University of Gdańsk, he previously worked in investment research and market analysis. His coverage helps readers understand the key trends, companies and innovations influencing investors worldwide.

Google’s “high-friction” Android sideloading update is coming — here’s what changes
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Google’s “high-friction” Android sideloading update is coming — here’s what changes

Google confirmed that Android will introduce a “high-friction” process for sideloading apps, adding extra steps when users install apps outside the Play Store. Matthew Forsythe, a Google Play executive, described it as an “Accountability Layer” rather than a restriction. He also reassured that the “Install without verifying” option will stay available for advanced users on Android 8.0 and up. This shift is significant since sideloading, usually involving direct app file installs, has long been a key reason Android users value choice. However, it also opens a door for scammers, who guide users through installs that bypass the Play Store entirely.
January 20, 2026
Realme P4 Power 5G’s 10,001mAh battery heads to India on Jan 29 as price leak surfaces
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Realme P4 Power 5G’s 10,001mAh battery heads to India on Jan 29 as price leak surfaces

Realme, the China-based smartphone brand, revealed it will launch the P4 Power 5G in India on January 29 at noon local time. The highlight: a hefty 10,001mAh battery. The company promises up to 32.5 hours of video playback on one charge. The phone will be available through Flipkart and Realme’s India online store. Battery capacities hitting five digits are a rarity in mainstream smartphones, which typically hover between 4,500mAh and 5,000mAh. Realme, for now, is doubling down on endurance — and it’s hard to miss.
January 20, 2026
Samsung’s One UI 8.5 beta just refreshed Good Lock’s Home Up to reshape your Galaxy home screenSEOUL, Jan 20
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Samsung’s One UI 8.5 beta just refreshed Good Lock’s Home Up to reshape your Galaxy home screenSEOUL, Jan 20

Samsung has begun rolling out a refreshed Home Up module inside its Good Lock customization suite for users on the One UI 8.5 beta, adding new controls for widgets, edge panels and sharing, 9to5Google reported. https://9to5google.com/2026/01/19/one-ui-8-5-home-up-update/ The update lands as Samsung continues testing One UI 8.5 on its Galaxy S25 lineup, with feature tweaks showing up through the Galaxy Store rather than as big system overhauls. In the premium phone market, vendors increasingly fight over software feel — the small, daily frictions.
January 20, 2026
Honor’s Magic8 RSR “last Porsche Design phone”? Here’s what just triggered the talk
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Honor’s Magic8 RSR “last Porsche Design phone”? Here’s what just triggered the talk

ZHUHAI, China, Jan 20, 2026, 20:09 Honor’s latest Magic8 RSR Porsche Design phone might be the final model in their co-branded lineup, according to a report from Chinese tech site IT Home on Tuesday. The outlet referenced a Weibo post by Chen Ligeng, an Honor performance development engineer, who described the device as the “last-generation pinnacle” of the Porsche series.
January 20, 2026
OpenAI’s $20 billion run-rate lands as Apple picks Google Gemini to remake Siri
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OpenAI’s $20 billion run-rate lands as Apple picks Google Gemini to remake Siri

OpenAI Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar revealed the company’s annualized revenue — based on current sales run-rate — topped $20 billion in 2025, up sharply from $6 billion the previous year. This growth coincided with computing capacity jumping from 0.6 gigawatts to 1.9 gigawatts. Friar added that OpenAI’s 2026 priorities will center on “practical adoption,” with a focus on health, science, and enterprise sectors. The revenue surge is crucial as the AI boom shifts into a costly battle over distribution. Model creators require funding for chips and data centers, plus prime spots on phones and browsers to hold onto users.
January 20, 2026
iPhone 18 Pro leaks flip again: Dynamic Island may shrink, not disappear, as under-screen Face ID talk grows
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iPhone 18 Pro leaks flip again: Dynamic Island may shrink, not disappear, as under-screen Face ID talk grows

A leaker on Weibo dismissed rumors that Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro will shift its selfie camera to the top-left corner with an under-screen Face ID upgrade. “The front camera on the left side of the iPhone 18 Pro is a complete misinformation,” Instant Digital said, blaming the reports on a translation error. This debate is crucial since Apple’s upcoming Pro iPhones are rumored to aim for a sleeker front display, with the Dynamic Island standing out as the main giveaway — that pill-shaped cutout combined with a software overlay that expands for notifications and live info. If Apple rolls out under-screen Face ID, their face-unlock system relying on infrared light and cameras, it could drastically reduce visible sensors and shrink
January 20, 2026
Google AI Overview Says 2027 Isn’t Next Year — and It’s Raising Fresh Questions on Search Accuracy
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Google AI Overview Says 2027 Isn’t Next Year — and It’s Raising Fresh Questions on Search Accuracy

Google’s AI Overview feature in Search has been giving a bizarre answer to a simple question — claiming 2027 isn’t next year and pointing users to 2028 instead, according to screenshots shared by tech site Futurism. The site also noted the AI sometimes got the current year wrong, with Reddit users reporting the glitch has been around for over a week. This slip is significant because Google aims to embed AI-generated summaries into the Search experience, putting answers front and center above the usual web link list. In a May 2024 product announcement, Google revealed that AI Overviews, powered by a Gemini model tailored for Search, were being rolled out to all U.S. users. The company described them as a
January 19, 2026
Honor Magic 8 Pro camera glitch fades in new reviews as it takes on Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
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Honor Magic 8 Pro camera glitch fades in new reviews as it takes on Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

A camera issue flagged in early testing of Honor’s Magic 8 Pro does not appear on final retail handsets, CNET writer Andrew Lanxon said, after the company replaced his review unit and he tested two additional phones. Honor told him the problem — purple fringing on ultrawide shots — was tied to the first device he received. https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/honor-magic-8-pro-phone-review/ https://muckrack.com/andrew-hoyle The timing matters because Honor is already taking pre-orders in parts of Europe and needs its camera pitch to land before buyers lock in to Samsung or Apple. A pre-order document published by Bulgaria’s Yettel sets a campaign window from Jan. 15 to Jan. 29, with sales due to start on Jan. 30. https://www.yettel.bg/sites/default/files/2026-01/Honor%20Magic8%20Pro%205G%20Pre-Order_v1.pdf
January 19, 2026
iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Pixel 10 Pro XL: New comparisons sharpen the flagship fight
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iPhone 17 Pro Max vs Galaxy S25 Ultra vs Pixel 10 Pro XL: New comparisons sharpen the flagship fight

On Monday, SlashGear published a fresh head-to-head review that placed Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro Max just ahead of Google’s Pixel 10 Pro XL. This latest showdown adds to a growing wave of direct comparisons, turning spec sheets into an early battleground for the high-end smartphone market. https://www.slashgear.com/2076921/iphone-17-pro-max-vs-pixel-10-pro-xl-comparison/ As the U.S. smartphone market tightens around a handful of major players, buyers face the choice: upgrade now or hold off. According to Canalys data highlighted in a Filmogaz roundup, Apple holds 49% of the U.S. market by mid-2025, with Samsung trailing at 31%. That leaves scant room for smaller brands to make a dent. https://www.filmogaz.com/106401
January 19, 2026
Android users may finally get better accessories — Belkin’s Qi2 dock is a clue
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Android users may finally get better accessories — Belkin’s Qi2 dock is a clue

Belkin’s new modular Qi2 charging dock is drawing attention for a small detail: it can be set up for Samsung’s Galaxy Watch and Google’s Pixel Watch, not just Apple’s. A weekend column on tech site 9to5Google said that kind of design — and even a Pixel Watch band from Apple-first brand Nomad — hints accessory makers may be starting to widen their focus beyond the iPhone ecosystem. That matters because accessories are not a side business anymore. Chargers, cases and watch gear shape what people buy and what they keep, and they can be a steady revenue stream long after a phone launch fades.
January 19, 2026
Wi-Fi 7 upgrade race: Intel tests and 6GHz spectrum push corporate refresh plans
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Wi-Fi 7 upgrade race: Intel tests and 6GHz spectrum push corporate refresh plans

Wi-Fi 7 is moving past early deployments and becoming a standard part of network planning, a South African networking exec noted Monday. This change is pushing companies to speed up their Wi-Fi upgrades and rethink designs that once reserved “critical” connections for wired links only. https://www.itweb.co.za/article/wifi-7-from-last-hop-to-intelligent-edge/xnklOqz1YdZM4Ymz Why it matters now: Wi-Fi networks are stretched beyond their original capacity, juggling video calls, cloud apps, packed meeting rooms, and bustling campuses. Businesses delaying upgrades now face decisions that impact budgets, building layouts, and security plans.
January 19, 2026
Doomscrolling fatigue? Minimalist phones are “finally worth buying” as Mudita, Punkt push privacy-first models
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Doomscrolling fatigue? Minimalist phones are “finally worth buying” as Mudita, Punkt push privacy-first models

Android Police reported yesterday that minimalist phones have reached a new level, becoming “finally worth buying.” The story notes the category’s shift beyond basic “dumb phones,” as makers offer sleeker software and clearer limits. It calls out Mudita’s Kompakt and Punkt’s MC03 as examples of different ways to simplify while keeping users somewhat connected. Unfortunate timing for mainstream phone makers, but a clear win for some. Punkt launched the MC03 earlier this month, pitching it as a privacy-first handset “as we enter the age of AI.” Founder and CEO Petter Neby highlighted how users feel “stressed and overwhelmed” by endless tracking and monetisation. The device separates a curated “Vault” from a freer “Wild Web” area, and its AphyOS software moves
January 19, 2026
Turn Your iPhone Off And On Again? iOS 26.2 Security Warning Triggers Fresh Calls to Update
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Turn Your iPhone Off And On Again? iOS 26.2 Security Warning Triggers Fresh Calls to Update

Security researchers and consumer tech sites are again urging iPhone users to update to iOS 26.2 and restart their devices, warning that Apple has already patched WebKit bugs used in targeted attacks. The renewed push comes as many users resist iOS 26’s “Liquid Glass” design, a slowdown that has left older software in wide use. Apple’s security notes for iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 said processing “maliciously crafted web content” could lead to arbitrary code execution or memory corruption. Apple said it was aware of reports the issues “may have been exploited in an extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals” running versions of iOS before iOS 26.
January 19, 2026
You’re Underusing Your Phone’s USB‑C Port — The Plug‑In Gadget Trend and South Korea Market Outlook
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You’re Underusing Your Phone’s USB‑C Port — The Plug‑In Gadget Trend and South Korea Market Outlook

Smartphone USB‑C ports are moving past simple charging roles, as new consumer guides reveal gadgets turning phones into card readers, mics, and even portable fans. Pankil Shah from MakeUseOf pointed out that “most people never use their phone’s USB‑C port for anything other than charging” and might only connect a flash drive at best. USB‑C is no longer just a high-end perk. The European Commission now requires all new devices—phones, tablets, headphones, and portable speakers—sold in the EU to come with USB‑C charging. From April 28, 2026, this mandate extends to laptops as well.
January 19, 2026
Microsoft could make Xbox Cloud Gaming free with ads — a new “1 hour” message just leaked
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Microsoft could make Xbox Cloud Gaming free with ads — a new “1 hour” message just leaked

Xbox Cloud Gaming from Microsoft has begun displaying a message to certain users saying “1 hour of ad supported play time per session.” This has sparked new reports suggesting the company is preparing a free, ad-supported streaming option for games. This would mark a significant change for Xbox’s streaming strategy. Cloud gaming delivers games via internet streams from distant servers, removing the need for expensive consoles or gaming PCs. Until now, though, Xbox’s cloud play has mostly been locked behind a paid Game Pass subscription.
January 19, 2026
Stop ignoring your iPhone Camera Control button — it can launch Instagram, Magnifier and AI search
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Stop ignoring your iPhone Camera Control button — it can launch Instagram, Magnifier and AI search

Apple’s Camera Control — the side control on iPhone 16 and newer models — can be configured to do more than snap photos, including opening apps like Instagram’s camera, launching Magnifier and triggering Apple’s Visual Intelligence tool that works with ChatGPT, TechRadar reported on Sunday. The renewed attention lands as Apple tries to make camera and AI features a reason to upgrade, after pitching the iPhone 16 as built around Apple Intelligence and rolling out more software-driven camera functions. “The next generation of iPhone has been designed for Apple Intelligence from the ground up,” Chief Executive Tim Cook said at the iPhone 16 launch, while rivals including Alphabet’s Google, Samsung Electronics and Huawei push their own AI features in smartphones.
January 19, 2026
IKEA’s $24.99 45W charger and $9.99 magnetic wireless pad top reviewers’ list of 5 phone accessories
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IKEA’s $24.99 45W charger and $9.99 magnetic wireless pad top reviewers’ list of 5 phone accessories

IKEA’s low-priced smartphone accessories are getting fresh attention after How-To Geek published a list of five items it said are “actually worth buying,” with writer Bertel King adding that “some of the best accessories are also the cheapest.” That matters now because magnetic wireless charging is spreading beyond Apple’s iPhone ecosystem. The Wireless Power Consortium, which runs the Qi standard, says Qi2 uses magnetic attachment to improve alignment between phone and charger, cutting the fiddly “sweet spot” problem.
January 19, 2026
Edge AI is Here: The New On-Device AI Gadgets That Could Make Your Smartphone Feel Old
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Edge AI is Here: The New On-Device AI Gadgets That Could Make Your Smartphone Feel Old

Austin, Texas, January 19, 2026, 04:15 AI is creeping out of the cloud and into devices as the industry shifts focus from training models to inference — using them to make predictions in real time — a new InfoWorld analysis said on Monday. “The global edge AI market is on a steep upward trajectory,” said Joshua David, senior director of edge project management at Red Hat, as the report cited projections of a $143 billion market by 2034. “Privacy is one powerful driver,” the report quoted Johann Schleier-Smith, an AI tech lead at Temporal Technologies, and it pointed to on-device accelerators such as Apple’s Neural Engine, Google’s Edge TPU and Nvidia’s Jetson platforms.
January 19, 2026
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