Shikhar Mehrotra

News Writer

For more than five years, Shikhar has consistently simplified developments in the field of consumer tech and presented them in an easy-to-understand language for multiple outlets. While his primary area of expertise includes smartphones (including Android and iOS devices), tablets, and wearables, Shikhar also writes about macOS, Windows, and gaming consoles. Whether it is news stories, product reviews (with original photography), comparisons, how-to explainers, or buying guides, he has a diverse portfolio of articles with his byline on the internet. He began his career writing Amazon product descriptions at the age of 19 as a summer project during his bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication, but his interest and passion for smartphones landed him a full-time role at one of India's largest media houses, Republic World, before he graduated. Shikhar’s work has since appeared in numerous renowned outlets, including SlashGear, How-To Geek, Forbes, ScreenRant, Smartprix, and The Times of India. When he isn’t writing for the internet, he is either watching the American sitcom Friends (on repeat), making videos for his YouTube channel (for Hindi-speaking viewers), or playing around with his dated yet capable Nikon D5600 (paired with a 30mm prime lens) and capturing pictures of his favorite gadgets.

How to pre-order Apple’s new M6 iMac and 14-inch MacBook Pro

Apple’s new M6 iMac and 14-inch MacBook Pro arrive in stores on November 6, with pre-orders opening October 28 at 10:10 AM PT.

Guides         56 minutes ago

Apple’s new 14-inch MacBook Pro gets M6 power and up to 24 hours of battery life

Apple’s new 14-inch MacBook Pro packs an M6 chip, faster AI performance, and up to 24 hours of battery life.

News         2 hours ago

Apple refreshes the iMac with M6 chip, faster AI performance, and Wi-Fi 7

Apple’s refreshed iMac brings M6 power, faster AI, Wi-Fi 7, and improved connectivity, starting at $1,499.

News         2 hours ago

Apple’s “Pro and Tell” October 28 event: Everything we expect from touchscreen MacBooks to a new iMac

Two touchscreen MacBook Pro models are likely, but the price and the unchanged chip might disappoint a few buyers.

Features         17 hours ago

Apple’s new iPad mini has speakers built into its screen, an A20 Pro chip, and IP67 protection

Apple’s new iPad mini ditches speaker holes, adds an OLED screen and IP67 resistance, but battery life remains a question.

Tablets         1 day ago

Apple quietly hopes to end the gizmo right-to-repair war. The iPhone Duo is the latest specimen.

Apple once made life difficult for independent repairers. Now, it’s publishing iPhone Duo repair manuals on launch day.

Phones         1 day ago

Google changes its Workspace privacy promise on ads, and opting out limits Personal Intelligence

Google’s pledge to keep Gmail and Photos out of ad targeting now has an exception for connected AI search data.

News         2 days ago

OpenAI is locking its most advanced AI models offline after a string of security scares

After a model briefly reached the live web, OpenAI’s most advanced systems will now practice only on a simulated internet.

News         3 days ago

Apple is exploring ways to make Safari websites less cramped on its foldable iPhone

Safari’s side controls squeeze web pages on the iPhone Duo’s outer screen, so Apple wants better ideas from developers.

Phones         3 days ago

A new startup wants to fix the military’s working-dog shortage with cloning and gene editing

Warhound says gene editing and cloning can fix why military dog candidates fail, but questions about genes and oversight remain.

News         3 days ago

These tiny 3D-printed color routers could finally put an end to the grainy night photos that still haunt modern smartphones

Researchers printed tiny resin pillars that steer light instead of filtering it, but phones are a long way off.

Phones         3 days ago

Etsy cracks down on AI slop listings. Everyone else needs to take note.

A handmade marketplace now wants proof a human was involved, and Spotify, Snap, and LinkedIn are taking similar steps.

News         3 days ago

The Galaxy S27 Ultra (and Pro) could finally get bigger batteries as Samsung reportedly locks in the numbers

Safety Korea photos can’t show capacity, but earlier Chinese filings hint at Samsung’s first Ultra battery upgrade in years.

Phones         3 days ago

Apple edges out a win in the PC market’s worst quarter by stumbling less than everyone else

Apple Mac shipments fall 11% in Q3 as market share rises to 9.8% amid PC market slump.

Cars         4 days ago

iPhone Duo’s foldable screen is not perfect, after all. But the crease might take a few years to become an eyesore.

Two fold tests say Apple’s hinge is built to last, but the matte screen can’t fully hide a growing crease.

Phones         4 days ago

AI chatbots are falling prey to manipulative prompts that could help stalkers spy on victims

Spyware, tracking and shared accounts need human help. Here’s what to do before trusting a chatbot’s tech-safety advice.

News         5 days ago

Apple is apparently testing iPhone Duo 2 with Face ID instead of the Touch ID button

Apple may bring under-display Face ID to the iPhone Duo 2, addressing a key complaint about its first foldable.

Phones         5 days ago

Musk says you can’t just buy the Cybercab. It’s primarily for Tesla-owned cab service

Tesla hopes to deliver Cybercabs to customers this year, but Musk says almost all will stay in its own fleet.

Cars         5 days ago

Apple’s iPhone Duo supply crunch could leave walk-in buyers scrambling with “limited” stocks

After online orders vanished in minutes, here’s where Apple Stores will have walk-in iPhone Duo stock and what to expect.

Phones         5 days ago

Google wants your Pixel to see you in the dark, and its fix is almost blindingly obvious

Code in an Android 17 beta suggests Pixels could light your face with the screen, but Google hasn’t announced it.

Phones         5 days ago

Spotify rolls out its first native car app for cable-free listening, but only Audi drivers get it for now

Audi is the first carmaker to run Spotify natively, with video, lyrics, and shared queues that adapt to driving.

News         5 days ago

Apple is bringing more of the iPhone supply chain home, one component at a time

Apple says nearly 100 parts in its newest iPhones are made in the U.S., but the release covers components, not final assembly.

Phones         6 days ago

Your AirPods can now double as a retro gaming gun, and you can try it for free

A Duck Hunt experiment lets you aim with an AirPod, shoot with a tap, and play 30 free Mac games.

News         6 days ago

Apple just dropped the hammer on iPhone Duo scalpers with a strict purchase limit

Delivery dates point to January, resellers are listing Duos on eBay, and Apple has stepped in with a cap.

Phones         6 days ago

Spotify lets podcasters turn loyal listeners into paying fans, with 90% of the revenue theirs to keep

Spotify is letting podcasters charge fans for bonus episodes, early access and more, right inside the app.

News         October 20

Yelp’s new AI assistant will call restaurants for you so you can skip the dreaded wait-time call

Yelp’s AI agent will call restaurants and text you the wait, but at launch it’s US iPhones only.

News         October 20

The US has banned DeepSeek from federal agencies, including apps built on its AI

Homeland Security has pulled DeepSeek from federal civilian systems, and Beijing says Washington is stretching the idea of national security.

News         October 20

The Xiaomi 18 Pro could cost almost as much as last year’s Ultra, and that’s a problem

A leak says Xiaomi’s 18 Pro could cost nearly as much as the 17 Ultra in Europe, with smaller batteries.

Phones         October 20

Apple finally reveals the iPhone Duo’s battery size, and Samsung should pay attention

Apple’s EU energy label puts the iPhone Duo’s rated battery at 4,883 mAh, slightly above Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8.

Phones         October 19

GM is bringing Apple Wallet car keys to Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC, and I’m all for it

GM is bringing phone-based car keys to Cadillac, GMC, and Chevrolet, starting with electric Cadillacs now and SUVs in December.

Phones         October 19

A smart scale with a screen on its handle? Wyze might be onto something

For about $30 more than the original, Wyze’s Plus model adds a handle screen and phone-free readouts.

News         October 19

The Galaxy S27 could arrive in January, but Samsung still has a few loose ends to tie up

Samsung’s Galaxy S27 reportedly has major components locked in, but memory choices for its top models are still being debated.

Phones         October 19

Think parental controls keep kids away from nudify apps? This report says otherwise

Removing nudify apps from stores didn’t disable them on test phones, so parents may need to check devices themselves.

News         October 19

The iPhone Duo is already sold out for Christmas, and you might not get one until 2027

iPhone Duo preorders sold out: delivery slips to January 25, 2027, with limited Apple Store walk-in stock on October 23.

Phones         October 16

E Ink’s new color screen could make PDFs and digital notebooks easier on the eyes

E Ink says its new color e-paper platform improves color range, whites, and contrast, but lists no price or date.

News         October 16

Google is making links in AI answers harder to miss, but referral traffic remains a mystery

Google is moving links higher in AI answers and testing an official-sites section, but it says nothing about traffic.

News         October 16

Windows 11 is getting a speed boost, and your low-memory PC stands to gain the most

Microsoft’s 20% responsiveness claim is best-case, so here’s what actually changes for your PC and when.

News         October 15

YouTube could enter the audiobook business in 2027, giving Audible and Spotify a new rival

I’d gladly try YouTube audiobooks, as long as licensed books replace the robot-voiced uploads clogging the platform.

News         October 15