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OnePlus has reportedly started making a major behind-the-scenes change that could permanently affect bootloader unlocking, custom ROMs, and even basic software downgrades on its phones. The company had previously announced a new system that would limit bootloader unlocking, and it looks like it’s finally starting to implement it.

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Update: January 18, 2026 (11:18 PM ET): After publication, we heard from Marc Prud’hommeaux, the founder of the App Fair Project and an F-Droid board member, who pointed out that the warning strings we referenced are not entirely new to Android. Versions of this language have existed in Android’s system-level Package Installer since at least July 2025. This suggests that Google has been preparing the developer verification flow mentioned below for quite some time.

That said, our reporting focused on the fact that this language has now appeared inside the Google Play app itself, which is a new development. The move from system-level code to Google Play could signal that the company is actively preparing to surface this flow to users. Still, Google has yet to clearly explain how its promised “advanced” sideloading path will work in practice. Until the company offers more clarity, concerns raised by groups like F-Droid about the future of alternative app stores remain unresolved. However, replying to our original story, a Google exec confirmed that the new sideloading process will have a high-friction flow.

The RAM crisis affects smartphones, PC components, handheld game consoles, and more, is really starting to bite. Between product delays, cancellations, and the expectation of price hikes, 2026 isn’t shaping up to be a good year for buying new gadgets. While the outlook isn’t great, the tech industry remains adaptive, if nothing else. Every crisis is also an opportunity, and I’m not the only one who thinks that.

I have some sympathy for Carl Pei’s position that the RAM shortage presents an opportunity for brands that are less dependent on spec sheets — and the looming price increases — to market their wares. I don’t think that Nothing is exactly primed to benefit any more than anyone else (affordable phones are probably more vulnerable to BOM price hikes), but that’s by the by. The RAM shortage might present some opportunities for brands to break the mould, but will they take it?

I’ve been a dedicated iPad user for the better part of a decade. Ranging from the annoyingly expensive iPad Pro to the M-series iPad Air, Apple’s tablet has always been the default slate in my bag for a few simple reasons. It wasn’t just the premium choice, it was the safe choice, and frankly, the only choice that made sense if you needed a solid balance of hardware and software. But over the last month, I’ve done something that would have seemed unthinkable to me a year ago. I left my iPad at home and have been carrying around the OnePlus Pad Go 2 instead.

The OnePlus Pad Go 2 isn’t just cheaper, it might actually be better for what I do.

At roughly $400, this really should not be a fair fight. My iPad setup cost nearly three times as much once you factor in the keyboard and Apple Pencil. Yet, for my specific workflow, which revolves heavily around on-the-go learning, research, and capturing spontaneous ideas, the OnePlus Pad Go 2 is not just a cheaper alternative — it honestly might just be the better tool. Making the switch from an iPad to a utilitarian mid-range Android tablet might not please my brand and ecosystem-conscious mind, but the reality is that it does everything I need from it. Here is why I am making the switch, and why you might want to consider it too.

You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on good earbuds. In fact, you can get some gems for under $100, and here’s proof of that. The EarFun Air Pro 4 Plus earbuds are pretty awesome, and they are definitely worth more than the $79.99 you can get them for today.

Buy the EarFun Air Pro 4 Plus for just $79.99 ($40 off)

My colleague C. Scott Brown ordered the T1 Phone back in June. Seven months later, he still doesn’t have the Trump phone, a shipping date, or much clarity on what he actually paid a $100 deposit for. Now, that long-running mess may be about to draw federal scrutiny, after Democratic lawmakers asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Trump Mobile over alleged false advertising and deceptive practices.

The request comes in a letter (h/t The Verge) from 11 Democratic lawmakers, led by Senators Elizabeth Warren and Robert Garcia. It focuses on Trump Mobile’s still-unreleased T1 Phone, announced more than six months ago and still accepting deposits despite not yet shipping anything to customers.