This week brought several major developments in the tech world. Apple launched the iPhone 16e, its most affordable iPhone of 2025, while TCS announced it will issue annual salary hike letters by March. In the streaming space, JioHotstar introduced a new subscription plan, enhancing entertainment options for users. Meanwhile, Elon Musk’s xAI revealed Grok 3, the latest iteration of its AI chatbot, promising significant improvements in reasoning and performance. Here’s a roundup of the top tech news of the week.
Apple iPhone 16e launched in India
Apple has officially unveiled its most affordable iPhone of 2025 — iPhone this week. The smartphone features the powerful A18 chip for fast performance and integrated Apple Intelligence capabilities. “iPhone 16e packs in the features our users love about the iPhone 16 lineup, including breakthrough battery life, fast performance powered by the latest-generation A18 chip, an innovative 2-in-1 camera system, and Apple Intelligence,” said Kaiann Drance, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide iPhone Product Marketing. Apple iPhone 16e comes in three variants — 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage capacities, starting at Rs 59,900. Click here to read the complete story.
Samsung Galaxy A06 5G smartphone with 50MP camera launched
Samsung has expanded its Galaxy A-series lineup in India with the launch of the
Galaxy A06 5G
, an affordable 5G smartphone. Powered by a
MediaTek chipset
, the device features a
50MP primary camera
and a
5,000mAh battery
for all-day usage. It comes with an
HD+ display
, ensuring a decent viewing experience.Samsung Galaxy A06 5G comes in three variants — 4GB+64GB, 4GB+128GB and 6GB+128GB priced at Rs 10,499, Rs 11,499 and Rs 12,999 respectively. Click here to read the complete story.
Realme P3 Pro and Realme P3x smartphones with IP68+IP69 rating launched
Realme has added two new smartphones to its P3 series in India with the introduction of the Realme P3 Pro and Realme P3x. Both smartphones feature a robust 6,000mAh battery and operate on the Android 15 operating system. Furthermore, they are equipped with an IP68+IP69 rating, providing exceptional resistance to dust and water and ensuring durability in challenging environments. The price of Realme P3x starts at Rs 12,999, whereas the Relame P3 Pro comes with a starting price tag of Rs 23,999. Click here to read the complete story.
HP Victus 15 gaming laptop launched in India
HP has introduced the
Victus 15
gaming laptop in India, featuring
AI-powered enhancements
for improved performance. Equipped with the
AMD Ryzen 9 Hawkpoint 8945HS NPU processor
, it promises
faster speeds
and
adaptive intelligence
for an optimized gaming experience. As an added perk, buyers will receive a
3-month Xbox Game Pass subscription
, granting access to a vast library of games. HP Victus 15 laptop – fb3025AX is available on Amazon at a starting price of Rs 1,12,990 in Atmosphere Blue colour. Click here to read the complete story.
TCS to issue increment letters by March
Tata Consultancy Services (
TCS
), will issue
annual salary hike letters
for
FY25
in
March
, with payouts starting in
April
. According to the
Economic Times
, employees can expect an average
salary increase of 4-8%
. The announcement comes as
salary increments in the IT sector continue to slow down
. During
FY24
, TCS employees received an
average hike of 7-9%
, while in
FY22
, increments were around
10.5%
, reflecting the post-pandemic trend of
lower salary revisions
across the industry. Click here to read the complete story.
Elon Musk’s xAI revealed Grok 3 AI chatbot
Elon Musk-owned
xAI
has introduced
Grok 3
, the latest iteration of its AI chatbot. Positioned as a direct rival to
OpenAI’s ChatGPT, China’s DeepSeek
, and other AI models,
Grok 3
is said to deliver
10 times the computational resources
of its predecessor, which launched in
August last year
. Speaking via video call at the
World Governments Summit in Dubai
, Musk highlighted the chatbot’s advancements, stating,
“Grok 3 has very powerful reasoning capabilities. In the tests we’ve conducted so far, Grok 3 is outperforming anything that has been released, to our knowledge—so that’s a good sign.”
Click here to read the complete story.
With the
ICC Champions Trophy 2025
in full swing,
Reliance Jio
has introduced a new
JioHotstar entertainment plan
. Priced at
₹195
, this plan offers
data and validity
, ensuring an uninterrupted streaming experience. Designed for cricket fans, it allows users to
watch live matches
and enjoy
unlimited entertainment
throughout the tournament. Click here to read the complete story.
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg sells Meta shares worth $14.4 million
Meta CEO
Mark Zuckerberg
recently sold a
large number of shares
, according to a filing cited by
Investing.com
. On
February 14, 2025
, Zuckerberg
offloaded 17,855 shares
of Meta’s
Class A Common Stock
at prices ranging from
$726.68 to $740.71 per share
, amounting to approximately
$14.4 million
. The sale comes as
Meta’s stock
hovers near its
52-week high of $740.91
, with the company boasting
gross profit margins of 81.68%
and a
market capitalization of $1.81 trillion
. Click here to read the complete story.
Infosys’ CHRO
Infosys’
Chief Human Resources Officer, Shaji Mathew
, has confirmed that the
Labour Department
is engaging with the company amid ongoing
investigations
into its
employment practices
and
labor law compliance
. In an interview with
PTI
, Mathew reaffirmed
Infosys’ commitment
to fully
cooperating
with the authorities. Click here to read the complete story.
Samsung launches latest range of Bespoke AI WindFree air conditioners
Samsung has unveiled its latest
Bespoke AI WindFree
air conditioners, designed to offer
intelligent cooling
with enhanced
energy efficiency
. Featuring
AI Energy Mode
, these ACs analyze
real-time usage patterns, ambient conditions, and user preferences
to deliver
optimal cooling
while minimizing power consumption. Samsung claims this
transformative feature
ensures both comfort and significant energy savings. Click here to read the complete story.
TikTok is laying off staff in its trust and safety unit
TikTok is reportedly
laying off employees
in its
global trust and safety unit
, which handles
content moderation
, as part of a broader
restructuring effort
. The job cuts come amid mounting pressure on the company, which faces a potential
ban in the country
. According to
Reuters
, citing three sources familiar with the matter,
Adam Presser
, TikTok’s
head of operations
, sent a memo to staff on
Thursday
, informing them of the decision. Click here to read the complete story.