Welcome to your daily dose of tech news! It’s Sunday, August 23rd, 2026, and the tech world has been buzzing with updates across various sectors.
Tesla’s FSD Update and Industry Shifts
Tesla has updated its official website, and a significant change is the removal of China from the list of supported regions for its Supervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) beta. This comes after China was included in the list in May of this year, indicating a potential shift in the company’s strategy or regulatory landscape in the region.
In other automotive news, BMW has revealed more specifications for its new generation BMW i3. The vehicle boasts a wheelbase exceeding 3 meters, a CLTC range of over 1000 kilometers, an 800V architecture enabling 400 km of range with just a 10-minute charge, and comes in 9 paint colors and 4 interior options. Meanwhile, BYD has unveiled the interior details of its new ‘Great Han’ flagship sedan, part of the ‘Dynasty 9’ series. It features a spacious, wrap-around cabin offering 90.8% interior space utilization, premium Devialet audio, and smart dimming privacy glass, with an electric version offering up to 1008km CLTC range. GAC Aion also launched the UT 530 Ningde version at a special price of 85,800 yuan during the 2026 Chengdu Auto Show. Lynk & Co has initiated a voluntary recall for models like the Lynk 900 due to potential damage to the lidar power IC, offering free replacement and pickup/drop-off services.
AI and Developer Tools Get an Upgrade
DeepSeek has adjusted its API billing rules, effective August 23rd. Weekends will now be charged at a uniform off-peak rate, simplifying the billing process for developers who can now enjoy lower prices at any time on Saturdays and Sundays. OpenAI has also announced a price reduction of over 20% for its GPT-5.6 SOL model’s API and Credit calls within the next three months.
Smartphones and Consumer Tech
Xiaomi’s founder and CEO, Lei Jun, was spotted with a new red foldable phone, widely believed to be the upcoming Xiaomi MIX Fold 5. This device is rumored to feature a transparent edition design, a comeback from previous models. In other Xiaomi news, the company is preparing to close the beta testing for its AI interactive product, Xiaomi MiClaw, on September 21st. Participants will be rewarded with access to the Xiaomi HyperOS 4 Beta and exclusive Super Little Ai expert mode benefits. Xiaomi is also entering the high-end TV market with its first RGB-Mini LED television, the Xiaomi TV S Pro RGB-Mini LED 2027 Ultimate Edition, which is now open for blind orders. Lei Jun also shared results from a 700km range challenge between ten vehicles, where the Xiaomi SU7 PRO achieved the highest real-world range and achievement rate, exceeding 700km and 80% of its CLTC rating.
OPPO is reportedly testing a new wide-screen bar phone model, while its compact phone project has been put on hold, possibly due to market reception for small-screen performance devices. The tech giant has also launched the Doubao Input Method HarmonyOS version 0.9.1, featuring improved voice input accuracy for fast and soft speech.
Apple has added the BELLROY CINCH messenger bag to its online store. This 12L bag comes in black and beige, features a padded compartment for MacBooks, and a dedicated AirTag pocket supporting Apple’s Find My network. Leaked renders of iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max cases suggest narrower bezels and new color options like dark gray and deep cherry red.
Robotics and Future Tech
The second World Humanoid Robot Games kicked off with 2056 robots from 666 teams competing in 51 events at the ‘Ice Ribbon’ venue. Multiple robot performance records surpassed human world records. In a related development, Honor’s robot ‘Lightning’ set a new world record in the 100-meter dash, clocking in at an astonishing 9.32 seconds, surpassing human capabilities.
Software and Miscellaneous Updates
Microsoft’s Windows 11 26H2 update will reportedly enable the ‘Time Machine’ feature by default, creating backups every 24 hours and potentially using up to 50GB of storage. The feature is a form of point-in-time restore.
In a tragic incident, an Indian teenager’s demand for a new iPhone led to a devastating event where three people fell to their deaths from a cliff. The situation escalated when the boy threatened to jump, followed by his father attempting a rescue, and finally the mother jumping as well.
Marvel’s ‘Avengers: Endgame’ is getting a re-release with a runtime of 185 minutes, just 4 minutes longer than the original, serving as a prelude to future ‘Avengers’ films.
Tesla is also addressing a recall affecting nearly 3 million vehicles due to the emergency brake handle color being too close to the interior trim, posing a recognition issue. The fix involves a warning sticker and potentially an OTA update, with stickers available within three years.
Xiaomi’s General Manager of Large Home Appliances, Shan Lianyue, is surveying consumer interest in ‘shoe washing machines’, hinting at a potential new market entry for the company.
