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Shikhar Mehrotra

Shikhar Mehrotra

News Writer
Author/Co-Author of 908 articles

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.

Hyundai Kona EV.

Nearly 20 EVs are disappearing from US showrooms this year, but the next generation could be better

Tesla Model S, BMW i4, Honda Prologue, Volvo EX30 exit US as automakers chase cheaper, longer-range cars.
ChatGPT Image ads.

ChatGPT is taking ads into image generation, and your conversations could decide what you see

ChatGPT image generation is getting ads, placed by guardrails that first judge whether a conversation feels emotionally vulnerable.
iCloud feature image

Apple may have quietly bumped iCloud Mail aliases from three to nine, but won’t say why

iCloud.com now lets users create nine email aliases instead of three, and Apple hasn't announced the change.
Orion on Linux

Kagi is pulling Orion from Windows and Linux, leaving its cross-browser extension dream behind

Kagi is shelving Orion on Windows and Linux, but the WebKit browser's code is headed to the open source community.
Electronics, Mobile Phone, Phone

AT&T finally admits the iPhone 18 Pro Max has an SOS problem, but there’s no real fix yet

Some iPhone 18 Pro Max owners on AT&T are stuck in SOS mode, and the suggested fix may not work.
Tesla Model 3

Tesla finally brings the new Model 3 screen to the US, with more range and power in tow

Tesla gives the US Model 3 a bigger screen and quicker acceleration, but skips one feature China just got.
Rivian R2 First Drive Impressions

Some units of the Rivian’s R2 were recalled again, but that didn’t stop it from breaking sales records

About 14 R2 SUVs may have loose high-voltage battery pack fasteners, Rivian says, risking a sudden loss of power.
Electronics, Phone, Mobile Phone

Google just clarified its Android sideloading crackdown, and it’s not as sweeping as I thought

Google's Android developer verification is live in four countries, but a last-minute clarification narrows enforcement to participating stores only.
Samsung SmartThings featured image.

Samsung just folded another app into SmartThings, and I’m all for the cleanup

SmartThings version 1.8.51.30 brings a redesigned Home tab, resizable cards, and absorbs the discontinued Samsung Sound app.
Apple iPhone Duo Featured Official

iPhone Duo’s removable nano-texture layer is a clever repairability win for foldable screens

The iPhone Duo hides a replaceable cover layer above its foldable inner display, swappable for just $19 under AppleCare+.
Electronics, Phone, Mobile Phone

Guided Vision brings Gemini real-time visual assistance for accessibility, one year after Apple

Guided Vision turns your Android camera into a conversational narrator, built with the blind and low-vision community in mind.
Shopify ChatGPT shopping experience.

OpenAI wants you to try on clothes inside ChatGPT before buying them

OpenAI's ChatGPT Virtual Try On and Favorites features let you preview clothing on yourself and save products, live globally now.
Electronics, Phone, Mobile Phone

Audible’s new AI features let you talk to characters and see what you’re hearing

Audible's new AI tools let you track speakers in real time, talk to characters directly, and see key-moment imagery.
Baby, Person, Thermometer

Amazon’s new Kindle accessories are a must-buy for die-hard fans

Amazon's new Kindle accessories include a Bluetooth remote, magnetic charging stand, button-equipped cover, and four distinct covers starting at $34.99.
Computer, Electronics, Laptop

Asus ProArt PZ14 review: A rare Windows tablet that almost replaced my laptop

The Asus ProArt PZ14 combines a 14-inch 144Hz OLED display, Snapdragon X2 Elite performance, detachable keyboard, stylus, and all-day battery life in a remarkably thin Windows tablet.
Computer, Electronics, Pc

Firefox just reinvented its look, brought back a fan-favorite feature, and made AI easier to shut out

Firefox 157 brings a full visual redesign, Compact Mode's return, and easier-to-find privacy and AI controls to desktop and mobile.
Text, Toy, Page

OpenAI’s Dots are always-on agents that can investigate, build, and act across 4,000 apps

OpenAI's new Dots are always-on AI agents powered by GPT-6 Astra, launched at DevDay to directly rival Meta's Muse.
Apple child safety features revealed at WWDC 2026

The seemingly innocuous smartphone may have a troubling effect on young minds that could lead to eating disorders

A JAMA Network Open study finds 12-year-olds with smartphones face a 49% higher eating disorder risk than those without one.
Meta Muse for small businesses

As Muse privacy issues raise alarm, Meta is giving it to businesses you probably visit each day

Meta's Muse AI agent now serves small businesses with Shopify, Slack, and QuickBooks integrations, despite ongoing privacy and security concerns.
Text, Electronics, Mobile Phone

Apple moves quickly to fix iPhone 18 Pro Face ID failures, but iOS 27.0.1 may not have patched everything

Apple's iOS 27.0.1 fixes the iPhone 18 Pro Face ID restart bug, plus a camera glitch and touchscreen freeze issue.
Electrical Device, Switch, Electronics

Motorola’s Razr Flex could upend the wider foldable race by squeezing it into an even smaller frame

Leaked Motorola Razr Flex specs reveal a compact wide foldable smaller than the iPhone Duo and Galaxy Z Fold 8.
Car, Sedan, Transportation

Volkswagen Jetta gets a sleek rebirth at an unbelievable price and a bad surprise

Volkswagen's Jetta M6 electric sedan launches in China at $12,035, undercutting rivals, but it won't reach US or European buyers.
A screenshot from Google I/O with a slide on the screen about Gems.

Google is replacing Gems with Skills, but the upgrade comes with a rather expensive catch

Google confirmed Gemini Gems are being replaced by Skills starting November 17, though free-account access still remains unclear.
Sleep tracking on Apple Watch

Scientists find insomnia is linked to stroke risks. No, your smartwatch or ring is not going to cut it

New research links chronic insomnia to a 26% higher stroke risk, showing wearable sleep trackers can't diagnose the real danger.
Computer, Electronics, Tablet Computer

The next Kindle could finally break from Amazon’s 15-year-old design with rounded corners

Leaked marketing images reveal Amazon's 12th-generation Kindle with rounded corners, a relocated power button, and new color options.
Windows 11 laptop on a desk

File-notification systems can expose your activity across popular operating systems, even when attackers can’t access your files

TU Graz researchers found file-notification flaws letting apps track your Windows, Linux, Android, or macOS activity without file access.
Electronics, Mobile Phone, Phone

iPhone 18 series: Everything you need to know about the latest Apple smartphones

The iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone Pro Max are official. Only the standard iPhone 18 remains a mystery until spring 2027.
Person wearing Meta smart glasses

Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 vs. Gen 2: It’s better, but I wouldn’t rush to upgrade

Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 brings better battery life, improved calls, and a new button, but is it worth upgrading from Gen 2?
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Family

Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 vs. 8 Elite Gen 6: Should you care about the ‘Extreme’ difference?

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Extreme Gen 6 target different users, but most buyers can skip the Extreme.
Motorola Signature 27

Motorola Signature 27 could be the OnePlus 16 replacement the US market deserves

Motorola’s Signature 27 brings ambitious flagship hardware, seven years of updates, and a potential OnePlus 16 replacement to the U.S.
Machine, Spoke, Wheel

Volkswagen’s sleek new electric fastback combines 470 miles of range with a surprisingly low $29,000 price

Volkswagen opened presales in China for the ID. Unyx 09, an Xpeng-co-developed EV with 470 miles of range and 5C fast charging.
Furniture, Table, Computer

Nvidia is bringing a full GeForce Now app to Googlebooks, giving these thin laptops a serious gaming upgrade

Googlebooks skip discrete graphics entirely, so Nvidia's cloud gaming service is stepping in to fill the gap.
Advertisement, Text, Poster

Adobe just made Claude far more useful for PDFs by bringing Acrobat tools directly into the chat

Adobe for Claude now includes Acrobat tools, interactive PDF editing, and a layer-based Express editor, plus a new Gemini integration.
Adult, Male, Man

YouTube is giving Shorts a TV-sized makeover, complete with seasons, episodes, and sequential playback

YouTube launched Shorts series with seasons and episodes, voice commenting, and Community Posts, expanding to television.
YouTube new Discovery Tools

YouTube is finally giving you an escape from its algorithmic rabbit hole with AI that actually listens to what you want

YouTube launched Custom Feeds, Ask YouTube shopping tools, Ask Music, and Your Podcast Lineup AI discovery features.
Device, Mailbox, Appliance

SwitchBot’s tiny new robot vacuum brings 12,000 Pa of suction to the tightest corners of your home

SwitchBot's K11+ Pro robot vacuum offers 12,000 Pa of suction, quieter cleaning, anti-tangle brushes, and 90 days of auto-empty operation.
Electronics, Mobile Phone, Phone

Scammers are luring the AI-pilled through their emails with a $200 Claude Max subscription

A fake Claude Max giveaway phishing scam uses a browser-in-the-browser trick to steal Google account login credentials.
mac mini on a desk

The new Mac Mini goes back to the stingy ways at the hardware level

Apple's Mac Mini M6 and M5 Pro solder storage to the logic board, and the base 256GB model runs slower.