WWDC 2026: Apple unveils Siri AI, Gemini-powered Apple Intelligence, more

by Hansraj Agrawal | Jun 9, 2026 | Technology

Apple kicked off its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2026 on June 8 with a broad set of announcements spanning artificial intelligence, platform updates, and system-level improvements.

At the centre of the keynote was a complete overhaul of its AI strategy, with Apple introducing a new version of Siri powered by an updated Apple Intelligence architecture developed in collaboration with Google’s Gemini models. The company also announced updates across iOS 27, macOS 27 (Golden Gate), iPadOS 27, watchOS 27, tvOS 27, and visionOS 27, with a focus on performance, reliability, and deeper AI integration.

Siri AI takes centre stage

Apple introduced “Siri AI”, a new version of its digital assistant that integrates deeply with its new Apple Intelligence system. The assistant is now designed to be more conversational, context-aware, and capable of executing tasks across apps and devices.

Unlike previous versions, Siri can now draw on personal context, understand what is on the screen, access broader web-based knowledge, and take actions across apps. It can also maintain context across multiple prompts, enabling more complex, multi-step interactions.

The company demonstrated use cases such as drafting emails, planning events, retrieving information from messages and photos, and executing app-based tasks without requiring users to manually switch between apps.

Siri AI also introduces a new “Ask Siri” interface, allowing users to interact via both voice and text, with a more detailed, full-screen conversational experience.

A dedicated Siri app

One of the more notable additions is a new dedicated Siri app, which allows users to revisit past conversations and continue ongoing interactions across devices.

The app provides an overview of conversation history, enabling users to jump back into previous queries or start new ones, with conversations synced across devices through iCloud.

This shift reflects Apple’s move toward positioning Siri as a persistent AI interface rather than a one-off assistant.

Apple Intelligence gets a Gemini upgrade

At the core of these changes is a redesigned Apple Intelligence architecture. Apple confirmed that it has partnered with Google to integrate Gemini-based models into its foundation layer, combining on-device processing with server-side computation through Private Cloud Compute.

The system is structured across multiple layers, including:

Foundation models for text, image, and speech understanding

A system-level orchestrator to coordinate tasks

Capabilities such as personal context awareness, app actions, and on-screen understanding

This architecture enables Apple Intelligence to operate across apps and services, powering features such as writing assistance, image generation, and contextual suggestions.

Apple emphasised that its AI approach remains privacy-focused, with on-device processing and cloud interactions designed so that user data is not stored or accessed externally.

Visual Intelligence and system-wide AI features

Apple is also expanding AI capabilities beyond Siri through features integrated across its ecosystem.

A key addition is Visual Intelligence, which allows Siri to understand and act on visual input. On iPhone, this is embedded directly into the Camera app, enabling users to point their device at objects, text, or scenes and receive contextual responses or actions.

The feature is also available across macOS and iPadOS, including through screenshot tools and keyboard shortcuts.

Other Apple Intelligence features include:

Writing Tools integrated across apps for drafting, editing, and proofreading text

Safari tab organisation based on topics and automatic page monitoring

Contextual suggestions in Messages, Mail, and Calendar

Natural language-based automation in Shortcuts

Apple is also extending agentic capabilities into system apps such as Passwords.

The updated Passwords app can now automatically navigate websites, sign users in, and update credentials when changing passwords. Instead of manually visiting each site, the system handles the process in the background, effectively turning password updates into an automated workflow.

Image Playground and Photos get AI upgrades

In Image Playground, Apple has improved its underlying models to support more photorealistic image generation using natural language prompts. Users can now generate images with greater detail and consistency, including the ability to use photos from their library as reference inputs and maintain subject consistency across multiple generated images.

The app also introduces more granular editing controls, allowing users to modify specific parts of an image by selecting or circling areas and applying changes contextually.

In the Photos app, Apple is bringing similar AI capabilities to editing tools. A new “Extend” feature allows users to expand images beyond their original frame using generative AI, while an updated Clean Up tool improves object removal accuracy.

Apple is also introducing spatial reframing, which enables users to adjust perspective, framing, and camera angles after capturing an image, effectively turning static photos into editable compositions.

Platform updates focus on performance and refinement

Alongside AI updates, Apple announced new versions of its operating systems, including iOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate.

Unlike previous years, the focus this time is on optimisation and usability rather than major design overhauls.

Apple said iPhone and iPad apps will launch up to 30 per cent faster, while photo previews in the Photos app load up to 70 per cent faster. File transfers on iPadOS are up to five times quicker, and AirDrop speeds have also been improved.

The company has also optimised its CPU scheduler, extending performance improvements to older devices, with iOS 27 supporting models as far back as the iPhone 11.

On the design front, Apple is refining its Liquid Glass interface with new customisation options, improved readability, and greater consistency across apps.

Apple said developer betas for the new operating systems will roll out starting today, with public beta versions expected to begin in July.

The final versions are expected to be released later this year alongside new hardware launches.

Trust and safety updates

Apple also introduced updates focused on safety, particularly for younger users.

New features include a redesigned setup process for child accounts, expanded parental controls, and tools such as “Ask to Browse” for web access approvals. Communication safety features have also been updated to detect and prevent exposure to sensitive or harmful content.

The company said these updates are designed to give parents more control over what children can access, who they can communicate with, and how they use devices.

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India Inc exits MSCI EM top 10 as AI-driven stocks dominate benchmark

by Hansraj Agrawal | Jun 8, 2026 | Technology

The blistering rally in artificial intelligence (AI)-linked stocks has pushed domestic companies out of the top 10 constituents of the widely tracked MSCI Emerging Markets (EM) Index for the first time in more than two decades.

While historical daily constituent data is not publicly available, analysts tracking the benchmark said no Indian company featuring among the top 10 stocks in the MSCI EM Index is a first since at least 2000. The index serves as a benchmark for passive funds managing more than $700 billion globally and is also closely tracked by actively managed EM funds.

India’s largest constituents in the benchmark, HDFC Bank and Reliance Industries (RIL), have slipped to the 11th and 12th positions, respectively, seventh and eighth positions in March. Their individual weights in the index have fallen below 0.8 per cent following weakness in their share prices this year.

“Relatively strong momentum in AI and semiconductor investment themes elsewhere has contributed to domestic companies losing their place among the top 10. Reduced weights have implications for both passive and active investment strategies, as portfolio managers benchmark allocations to index weights,” said Sriram Velayudhan, senior vice-president, IIFL Capital Services.

Currently, the MSCI EM index has more than 1,200 stocks, with domestic companies making up for about a fifth.

“India’s weight in emerging-market indices has declined over the past two years despite continued additions of new companies. This is largely due to the relative outperformance of Taiwan, South Korea and China, which are benefiting from strong AI- and technology-led rallies. These markets are attracting a disproportionate share of global capital,” said Abhilash Pagaria, head of alternative and quantitative research at Nuvama.

Shares of HDFC Bank and RIL are down about 26 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively, from their peaks. In contrast, AI-linked heavyweights such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix have surged 48 per cent, 147 per cent and 194 per cent, respectively, over the same period.

India’s overall weight in the MSCI EM Index has slipped to a fresh six-year low of 10.87 per cent, nearly half the record level reached in 2024. The country had briefly emerged as the largest component of an offshoot MSCI EM Investable Market Index (IMI) in late 2024 before China reclaimed the top position.

The AI boom stocks have made EM indices increasingly concentrated. Taiwan, South Korea and China together now account for roughly 70 per cent of the benchmark, while AI beneficiaries TSMC, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix collectively make up nearly 30 per cent.

Experts said the growing dominance of a few stocks has heightened concerns about concentration risk in one of the EM benchmarks, which arguably have a bearing on assets in trillions.

“While the AI trade has fuelled returns and attracted fresh inflows, it has also increased the index’s vulnerability to a reversal in sentiment. Any slowdown in AI-related spending, weaker-than-expected earnings growth or a broader derating of semiconductor stocks could have an outsized impact on benchmark performance and passive fund returns,” said an analyst requesting anonymity.

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Gwynne Shotwell, the force behind SpaceX's rise and Musk's ambitions

by Hansraj Agrawal | Jun 8, 2026 | Technology

When SpaceX goes public on Friday with what is expected to be a record-setting IPO, it will cap two decades of founder and CEO Elon Musk’s ambition to transform rocketry, satellite communications and humanity reach into space.

Each step of the way, there has been a guiding hand largely out of view: the company’s president, Gwynne Shotwell, who has spent 24 years focused on building and selling SpaceX through her engineering expertise and dealmaking instincts.

Along the way, colleagues say Shotwell, 62, developed a more elusive skill: managing Musk himself.

She frames her job in simple terms, telling Time magazine earlier this year that she wants to be “helpful to Elon” and “add value.” But SpaceX veterans â€Œand industry observers see her as a key figure at the space industry leader, whose rise â€‹has made her one of the world’s most powerful female executives.

“She was bridge between what Elon wanted and what could be done,” said Jim Cantrell, an early SpaceX executive who helped recruit Shotwell.

In that way, she fits a familiar corporate mold: the steady lieutenant translating an outsized founder’s vision into execution, in the tradition of figures like Tim Cook to Apple’s Steve Jobs or Sheryl Sandberg to Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg.

SPACEX’S LOFTY GOALS

When Elon says something, you have to pause and not blurt out Well, that impossible, Shotwell said at a 2018 TED conference. You zip it, you think about it and you find ways to get it done. I’ve always felt like my job was to take these ideas and turn them into company goals, to make them achievable.

Colleagues said Shotwell built a reputation for exacting standards and making difficult personnel decisions, while still maintaining loyalty and keeping teams aligned. One former employee said she could deliver tough feedback and it would taste like honey.

That balancing act will be tested further post-IPO as SpaceX embarks on more difficult goals, ones that have investors willing to value the company at a lofty $1.75 trillion.

In the run-up to the listing, Musk has posted relentlessly on his social media platform X about a sweeping new vision that extends beyond rockets into artificial intelligence and space-based data centers.

Shotwell focus has been more conventional: pitching Starlink at a telecom gathering in Barcelona, courting policymakers in India as the service seeks regulatory approval, and talking to Washington officials about the implications of AIs growing energy demands.

SpaceX did not respond to requests for comment or for an interview with Shotwell.

‘THE GLUE’

A mechanical engineer educated at Northwestern University, Shotwell began her career at Aerospace Corporation in California, integrating commercial â€Œtechnologies with government and military space programs.

She joined SpaceX in 2002, the year it was founded, and quickly became its commercial engine. Her industry relationships opened doors with government agencies, contractors and early customers when Musk was still unknown in the space sector.

She secured launch contracts even before SpaceX reached orbit, helping build its credibility. The breakthrough came in 2008, when SpaceX â won a $1.6 billion NASA contract to resupply the International Space Station, which helped steady SpaceX after a string of Falcon 1 failures that left the company short of cash.

Musk responded by promoting her to president and chief operating officer.

Her remuneration has grown with SpaceX’s successes. Last year her compensation rose to $85 million, with the bulk from stock awards, according to the IPO filing. By comparison, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg’s pay package was valued at $9.4 million in 2025, despite the aerospace giant’s revenue more than quadrupling SpaceX’s.

‘WE ALL DRANK THE CHAMPAGNE’

In 2010, SpaceX secured a deal with satellite operator Iridium that was, at the time, the largest space launch contract won by any commercial entity. Former founding engineer Tom Mueller recalled hearing the news at a remote test site: We all drank the champagne.

Often dressed in dark blazers and jeans, Shotwell projects an engineer’s understated confidence rather than the flashiness associated with C-suite executives, said former employees, one of whom described her as the glue holding the company together.

Ex-colleagues recalled her habit of walking into mission control or onto the factory floor to ask highly specific questions, from astronaut training simulations to manufacturing processes.

SpaceX’s next phase will hinge on Shotwell’s specialty: execution. Starlink, the satellite broadband network Shotwell helped commercialize, accounts for most of the company’s profit, and it is funding SpaceX’s hefty capital expenditures on artificial intelligence and speculative bets such as data centers in orbit and lunar cities.

Those ambitions, as well as its need to support NASAs Artemis program to return astronauts to the Moon, and expand Starlink globally, will test whether the operating discipline Shotwell brought to rockets can extend to a far broader enterprise.

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Why Google's SpaceX deal signals the rise of the AI compute landlord

by Hansraj Agrawal | Jun 8, 2026 | Technology

Every AI model needs enormous computing power to answer questions, write code, generate images, or analyse data. That computing power now needs so many specialised chips, data centres, cooling systems and electricity that even the world’s biggest technology companies are looking for outside capacity.

Google’s recent agreement to pay SpaceX $920 million a month for AI compute capacity is a sign of that shift: AI compute is becoming something companies can rent, price and sell like infrastructure. It shows how the AI race is moving from software and models to the hard infrastructure that powers them.

The deal covers roughly 110,000 Nvidia graphics processing units (GPUs), central processing units (CPUs), memory, and related components, with payments scheduled from October 2026 through June 2029, subject to ramp-up and termination terms, according to SpaceX’s US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing. For Google, the arrangement appears to offer bridge capacity for rising AI demand. For SpaceX, which handles the business contracts and operations for renting out Nvidia GPU clusters, it turns compute infrastructure into recurring rental income.

SpaceX has just announced that they have entered into a $920 million per month agreement with Google to provide compute capacity, according to a new filing.
“On June 5, 2026, we entered into a Cloud Service Agreement with Google with respect to access to compute capacity. The… pic.twitter.com/hLFkJofdzi

— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) June 5, 2026

Is AI compute now becoming a new corporate asset class?

In a standard cloud usage model, companies buy access to software services, storage, or general computing. In this case, Google is securing access to GPU-backed capacity, the physical backbone needed to run heavy AI workloads. A GPU, unlike a CPU, can process thousands of tasks at the same time, which makes it central to training and running modern AI models, which depend on huge volumes of repeated mathematical calculations.

The SpaceX deal suggests that compute is no longer just a service sold by traditional hyperscalers – the world’s largest cloud computing and data center operators – such as Google Cloud Platform (GCP). It is becoming an industrial asset that can be owned, leased, and priced. SpaceX’s earlier compute agreement with Anthropic, reported at up to $1.25 billion a month, points to the same pattern of large AI companies contracting capacity outside the usual cloud routes.

Why AI needs more than just chips

According to an April 2025 report by McKinsey, the bigger challenge is building the industrial system around AI data centres that need far more than specialised chips. They require high-voltage power, land, grid connections, liquid cooling, high-bandwidth memory, networking gear, and large capital outlays to run heavy AI workloads. McKinsey estimates that global data centres may need $6.7 trillion in capital outlays by 2030, with AI workloads accounting for $5.2 trillion of that amount. In its report titled How can we meet AI’s insatiable demand for compute power, Bain estimates that global AI compute requirements could reach 200 gigawatts by 2030.

Energy is emerging as one of the sharpest constraints. The International Energy Agency (IEA), in its report Energy supply for AI, projects electricity supply for data centres to rise from 460 terawatt hours in 2024 to more than 1,000 terawatt hours in 2030 in its base case. Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated’s (JLL’s) 2025 global data-centre outlook also flags demand growth despite supply and power constraints. This is why companies that are able to assemble power, cooling, chips, and construction capacity quickly can command strategic value.

The corporate model: AI compute as rental income

The Google-SpaceX agreement gives shape to a new corporate model: the AI compute landlord. A company that has secured GPU-heavy infrastructure can use it internally, lease it to outside customers, or do both. That turns expensive capital equipment into a potential revenue-generating asset.

This model resembles older infrastructure plays, for example, telecom tower companies lease tower space, warehouse owners rent logistics capacity, and power producers sell contracted electricity. In the AI economy, GPU clusters, powered shells, cooling systems, and data-centre campuses could perform a similar role.

Why Big Tech may still rent despite owning data centres

What stands out in this deal is that the buyer is Google itself, a hyperscaler that already runs one of the world’s biggest cloud and AI businesses. Building a large data centre can take years because companies need land, power approvals, cooling systems, and specialised equipment.

Public disclosures show how large this investment cycle has become. Microsoft, in its annual report for 2025-26, says it will continue investing in capital expenditure to support cloud growth and AI infrastructure. Amazon’s 2025 annual filing says cash capital expenditure reached $128.3 billion, primarily reflecting technology infrastructure and AWS growth. Meta reported $72.22 billion in capital expenditure, including finance leases, for full-year 2025.

Therefore, renting compute does not mean Big Tech has stopped building its own data centres. It suggests that these companies may need extra capacity while their own projects catch up with AI demand, which they are fulfilling through renting.

Can India’s data centres move up the AI value chain?

India’s data-centre market is expanding fast. According to JLL’s India Data Centre Market Dynamics Report 2025, India’s data-centre inventory stood at 1,123 MW of IT load capacity as of H1 2025, with net take-up growing 48 per cent year-on-year. Colliers estimates India’s data-centre capacity at 1,263 MW as of April 2025 and expects it to cross 4,500 MW by 2030, attracting $20-25 billion in investments. CBRE’s November 2025 report ‘India’s Data Centre Market in a New Era’ says India’s operational data-centre stock reached about 1,530 MW as of January-September 2025, driven by digitisation, cloud adoption and AI workloads.

The question for Indian operators now is whether they remain providers of land, power, and colocation, or move into higher-value GPU-backed AI compute services. The Google-SpaceX deal shows that in the AI economy, the winners may not only be companies that build models but also those who control the infrastructure needed to run them.

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Storage full? How cloud subscriptions became Big Tech's reliable cash cow

by Hansraj Agrawal | Jun 8, 2026 | Technology

There is a particular kind of frustration that has become almost universal among smartphone users. A memory is about to be recorded. The camera opens, the shutter is ready, and then the notification appears: “Storage Full.” Photos cannot be taken. WhatsApp backups, old videos, screenshots, downloaded files, and AI-generated images have quietly accumulated until the device can hold nothing more. At that moment, a familiar choice appears: delete something you may need later, or pay for more space.

What feels like a minor inconvenience has evolved into one of the technology industry’s fastest-growing subscription businesses. According to a global market research and strategic consulting firm IMARC Group, India’s cloud storage market was valued at $5.43 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach nearly $60 billion by 2034. The shift is already visible globally.

Google One surpassed 150 million subscribers in 2025, while companies increasingly bundle cloud storage with AI services, transforming storage from a simple backup tool into the foundation of a broader subscription ecosystem.

Telecom companies are now accelerating the trend. Airtel has partnered with Google to distribute Google One storage through its customer base, while Reliance Jio has launched JioAICloud, combining cloud storage with AI-powered services.

The business logic is simple: the more photos, videos, WhatsApp backups, and AI-generated content users create, the more storage they need. Whether through a larger-storage smartphone, an iCloud subscription, or a cloud storage plan, what begins as a storage problem is increasingly turning into a recurring source of revenue for the technology industry.

Why smartphone storage fills up so quickly

The rise of ecommerce, influencer economy, remote work, AI, and big data is generating unprecedented amounts of digital content, increasing reliance on cloud storage. India’s rapid 5G rollout has also accelerated the trend by making it easier to create, upload and share large files such as high-resolution photos, videos and AI-generated content.

WhatsApp is becoming a storage engine, too. The instant messaging platform generates large volumes of data, including messages, photos, videos, documents and voice notes.

On Android devices, WhatsApp backups use Google Account storage, competing with Gmail, Photos and Drive for the same storage pool. As backups grow, many users are pushed towards paid plans.

Bigger cameras mean bigger files

Improved smartphone cameras and 4K video recording have significantly increased file sizes.

Even short videos can consume hundreds of megabytes, making cloud backup services increasingly important for users who do not want to lose their content.

AI is creating a new storage challenge

AI-generated content is emerging as one of the fastest-growing drivers of storage demand.

From AI photo editing to image and video generation, every output creates additional files that need to be stored. Google’s AI Plus plan, which bundles Gemini AI with 200GB of cloud storage, reflects the growing link between AI usage and storage demand.

The model is simple: AI tools generate more content, more content requires more storage, and storage becomes an increasingly essential subscription.

A report by an enterprise hybrid cloud and storage platform CTERA highlights another aspect of the problem. AI does not simply consume data; it creates more of it. In businesses, AI generates additional files, logs and copies that accumulate over time. A similar pattern is emerging among consumers as AI tools create images, drafts, cached files and multiple versions of content that quietly consume storage.

How free storage turns users into paying subscribers

The way technology companies convert storage anxiety into paying subscriptions follows a consistent pattern. It begins with free storage and ends with dependency.

The Airtel-Google partnership announced in May 2025 offers 100GB of cloud storage at no extra cost for six months. After that, customers pay Rs 125 per month.

During those six months, users are encouraged to back up photos through Google Photos, store documents in Google Drive and use cloud backups for WhatsApp.

By the time the trial period ends, customers may have years of photos, documents and active backups stored within Google’s ecosystem.

At that point, cancelling the subscription is no longer simply about losing a convenience. It risks disrupting access to accumulated data. The monthly fee becomes less of a choice and more of a consequence.

Google One subscribers can also share storage with up to five additional people. That deepens the lock-in. When six people’s photos, backups and documents depend on the same subscription, switching becomes far more difficult.

Why storage has become a recurring-revenue business

Storage was once a one-time hardware purchase. Consumers bought hard drives, memory cards and pen drives. Today, storage is increasingly a monthly bill.

This is primarily because the global memory industry is heading toward a supply crunch as AI-driven demand for data centres continues to surge. Early indicators show that shortages of DRAM and NAND memory could persist through 2027, potentially driving up storage costs across smartphones, SSDs, and cloud infrastructure.

At the same time, smartphones with higher storage capacities command a significant premium, making 128GB the default choice for many consumers. But as photos, videos, WhatsApp backups, and AI-generated content accumulate at an unprecedented pace, even that capacity is increasingly proving insufficient for everyday use.

Cloud storage services

Apple’s iCloud offers 5GB of free storage, unchanged since 2011. Beyond that, paid plans in India start at Rs 75 per month for 50GB, Rs 219 for 200GB and Rs 749 for 2TB.

Google One starts at Rs 125 per month for 100GB.

The pricing differs, but the strategy is similar: encourage users to store data within an ecosystem and charge them to continue doing so.

The model is working. Google One crossed 150 million subscribers in 2025, helping Alphabet diversify beyond advertising, which still accounted for the majority of its revenue in 2024.

Storage may attract users initially, but AI features are increasingly being used to justify higher subscription tiers. Google’s plans now range from entry-level storage offerings to premium AI subscriptions costing thousands of rupees each month.

For technology companies, storage is no longer a standalone product. It has become the foundation of a broader subscription business.

The rise of digital hoarding

Consumers rarely delete digital content.

Family photos, birthday videos, screenshots, voice notes, downloaded files and AI-generated images often remain stored indefinitely, even when they are rarely revisited.

According to CTERA, a significant share of stored data is rarely accessed after it is created. The company estimates that 60-70 per cent of enterprise data is “dark data” that is stored but rarely used.

A similar pattern is visible among consumers.

CTERA categorises data into:

Hot data (5-10 per cent): Frequently accessed and highly valuable.

Warm data (15-25 per cent): Accessed occasionally.

Cold data (65-80 per cent): Rarely used but retained indefinitely.

For most smartphone users, only recent photos and videos remain actively used. Older images, screenshots, downloads, chats and AI-generated files often sit untouched for years while continuing to consume storage.

This accumulation creates another advantage for cloud providers: ecosystem lock-in.

The more data users store, the harder it becomes to switch providers. When backups, photos and documents are deeply integrated into a cloud ecosystem, moving elsewhere becomes inconvenient and risky.

Digital hoarding does not simply fill storage. It creates the dependency that keeps subscribers paying.

Telecom companies enter the storage business

India’s largest telecom operators have recognised the opportunity.

Airtel partnered with Google in 2025 to offer postpaid and broadband customers six months of 100GB Google One storage before transitioning to a paid subscription.

Reliance Jio took a different approach through JioAICloud.

Originally announced at the company’s 2024 AGM, the service offers up to 100GB of cloud storage alongside AI-powered features such as AI Scanner, AI Memories and DigiLocker integration.

According to reports, the platform has already attracted tens of millions of users and continues to add AI capabilities such as voice search and content-generation tools.

The competition intensified further when Google and Jio announced a partnership offering Jio users access to Gemini AI, 2TB of cloud storage and image and video generation tools.

The strategy is similar across both operators: bundle storage with a broader digital ecosystem, lower the entry barrier and use existing billing relationships to convert customers into long-term subscribers.

With India’s telecom subscriber base exceeding 1.2 billion connections, telecom operators may become one of the most powerful distribution channels for cloud storage services.

The business of storage is only getting bigger

Cloud storage is increasingly looking less like an optional service and more like a recurring utility.

According to IMARC, India’s cloud storage market is expected to grow from $5.43 billion in 2025 to nearly $60 billion by 2034, driven by rising digital content creation, AI adoption and broader cloud usage.

The model is simple but effective. Consumers begin with free storage, but photos, videos, documents, WhatsApp backups and AI-generated content steadily consume that space. Once the free tier runs out, upgrading often feels easier than deleting years of accumulated data.

AI is making the opportunity even larger. Services such as Google One increasingly bundle cloud storage with premium AI features, creating new revenue streams beyond storage itself.

Telecom operators have recognised the same opportunity. Airtel and Jio are both positioning cloud storage as part of broader digital ecosystems, creating new recurring revenue streams beyond traditional voice and data plans.

At the centre of the trend is a simple consumer behaviour: people rarely delete data.

Photos, videos, chats, documents and AI-generated content continue to accumulate over time, making cloud storage increasingly valuable and increasingly difficult to leave.

For consumers, cloud storage is becoming another monthly bill. For technology and telecom companies, it is becoming one of the industry’s most dependable sources of recurring revenue.

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CMF Watch 3 Pro review: Good GPS tracking, long battery life steal the show

by Hansraj Agrawal | Jun 8, 2026 | Technology

CMF has been steadily refining its smartwatch lineup rather than reinventing it with every generation. The new Watch 3 Pro follows the same philosophy. At first glance, it looks familiar, retaining the circular design language and Bluetooth calling functionality seen on earlier models. Spend some time with it, however, and the upgrades become more apparent.

The Watch 3 Pro arrives with a larger AMOLED display, dual-band GPS, upgraded health sensors, a custom running coach, recording transcription, and integration with the Nothing X app. On paper, these additions make it a notable upgrade over the Watch Pro 2.

I used the CMF Watch 3 Pro as my primary smartwatch for several days, wearing it throughout the day, during workouts, outdoor runs, sleep-tracking sessions, and while handling calls directly from my wrist. The goal was simple: to find out whether these upgrades genuinely improve the experience or merely look impressive on a specification sheet.

Design and build

The CMF Watch 3 Pro sticks with the circular design that has become a familiar part of CMF’s smartwatch lineup. The design feels clean and understated, making it suitable for both casual and professional settings.

The precision-milled aluminium alloy case gives the watch a premium appearance. It does not feel like an entry-level smartwatch when worn, while the metal finish around the body adds a degree of sophistication.

One notable change compared to the Watch Pro 2 is the removal of interchangeable bezels. Depending on how much you used that feature on the previous model, this may or may not matter. Personally, it had little impact on my day-to-day experience, but users who enjoyed changing the appearance of their watch may miss the extra customisation options.

The bundled silicone strap is comfortable and feels well made. During testing, I wore the watch for extended periods, including overnight sleep tracking and outdoor workouts. The strap remained flexible and comfortable, although I did notice some sweat accumulation underneath regardless of how tightly or loosely it was adjusted.

On my wrist, the Watch 3 Pro had a distinctly sporty appearance. The circular dial, metallic frame and chunky profile give it more presence than many budget smartwatches. In fact, the first thing that came to mind when I strapped it on was Ben 10’s Omnitrix. While it is nowhere near as bulky, the overall silhouette carries a similar vibe. It manages to feel playful and sporty while still looking premium.

On the right side sits a single metallic crown that handles most navigation. A press wakes the display, opens the app menu or takes you back, while it can also be used to pause workouts. I found myself using the crown frequently, particularly when scrolling through longer menus, as it felt quicker and more precise than repeatedly swiping the touchscreen.

The Watch 3 Pro carries an IP68 rating, providing protection against dust and water exposure during everyday use.

Display and user experience

CMF has equipped the Watch 3 Pro with a 1.43-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 466×466 pixels.

The panel looks sharp, colours are vibrant, and text remains crisp throughout the interface. Whether I was checking workout statistics, browsing menus or reading notifications, the display remained easy to read.

The larger screen also makes a noticeable difference in daily use. Menus and widgets feel less cramped, while notifications are easier to read at a glance. In fact, the text is large enough that someone nearby can often read incoming notifications as well. While that improves visibility, privacy-conscious users may view it differently.

Outdoor visibility is good. Whether walking outdoors or checking notifications in bright sunlight, the screen remained legible. The ambient light sensor also works well, automatically adjusting brightness without requiring manual intervention.

Raise-to-wake worked adequately, though not perfectly. There were occasional instances where the display failed to wake on the first wrist movement, requiring either a second gesture or a tap on the screen. It is a minor annoyance rather than a major issue.

Navigation is straightforward. Swiping down opens quick settings, swiping up reveals notifications, and horizontal swipes move between widgets. These widgets can be customised through the Nothing X app.

The rotating crown deserves special mention. A single press opens the app menu, while a double press triggers the voice assistant on the connected smartphone. Combined with smooth scrolling, it became my preferred navigation method over touch gestures.

Overall, the display and software experience feel polished and intuitive.

Bluetooth calling

Bluetooth calling turned out to be one of my favourite features on the Watch 3 Pro.

Many smartwatches support calling, but the experience is often compromised by weak speakers or poor microphone performance. That was not the case here.

During my testing, call quality was consistently good. Indoors, conversations were clear, while outdoors, calls remained perfectly usable without needing to raise my voice or immediately switch back to my smartphone.

The watch also provides access to contacts, call logs and a dial pad, allowing calls to be managed directly from the wrist.

More importantly, this is one of the few smartwatches where I found myself using Bluetooth calling regularly rather than treating it as a novelty.

Software and companion app

The Watch 3 Pro pairs with the Nothing X app, which now acts as the central hub for setup and management. The dashboard presents daily activity information, including steps, calories burned, activity minutes, sleep data, heart rate, blood oxygen levels, stress tracking, active score and training load. The layout is clean and easy to navigate.

CMF also offers more than 120 watch faces. Many can be customised further, allowing users to adjust colours and information layouts. The app also handles notifications, Bluetooth calling contacts, health tracking settings and general watch controls.

One of the new additions is recording transcription.

The feature allows users to record a short voice note directly from the watch and send it to the Nothing X app, where it is automatically converted into text. During testing, the feature handled clear speech reasonably well and proved useful for quickly capturing reminders and article ideas while on the move.

At present, transcription works only in English.

Overall, the software experience feels functional, organised and easy to use.

Fitness tracking and GPS performance

Fitness tracking is clearly an area where CMF has invested considerable effort.

The Watch 3 Pro supports 131 sports modes and records a broad range of workout data, including duration, heart rate, pace, calories burned, distance, recovery time, training load and activity scores.

The new Custom Running Coach is a welcome addition. The feature creates structured training plans aimed at helping users prepare for a 10K run. While useful, it currently feels like the beginning of a broader fitness ecosystem rather than a fully developed coaching platform.

The standout upgrade is dual-band GPS.

The watch supports multiple satellite systems and acquired GPS signals quickly during testing. Tracking remained stable throughout outdoor walks and runs, while recorded routes appeared consistent and accurate.

Built-in GPS also means users can leave their smartphones behind while still recording detailed workout information.

Sleep, heart rate, SpO2 and stress tracking

Health tracking remains one of the strengths of the Watch 3 Pro.

Sleep tracking proved reliable during my testing. The watch automatically detected sleep and wake times accurately and provided breakdowns of sleep stages along with overall sleep scores.

The upgraded sensors also appear to improve overall accuracy. Heart-rate monitoring remained consistent throughout daily use and workouts, while occasional comparisons with other devices revealed no major discrepancies.

Blood oxygen monitoring is available as well. Like most smartwatches, these readings should not be treated as medical-grade measurements, but they offer a useful snapshot of overall wellness.

Stress monitoring is included too, although some related options need to be enabled manually through the settings.

Users can also customise monitoring intervals and receive alerts for unusually high or low heart-rate readings, as well as low blood oxygen levels.

Naturally, enabling continuous monitoring across all health metrics has an impact on battery life, but that trade-off is expected.

Battery life

Battery life is easily one of the strongest reasons to consider the Watch 3 Pro. One of the reasons I continue to appreciate analogue watches is that they do not need regular charging. Many smartwatches become another device demanding attention every few days. The Watch 3 Pro largely avoids that problem.

During testing, I enabled continuous heart-rate monitoring, SpO2 tracking, stress monitoring, notifications and regular GPS-based walks. I also took several Bluetooth calls directly from the watch.

Even with all those features active, the battery comfortably lasted more than a week on a single charge.

More importantly, I rarely found myself thinking about battery life at all. The watch quietly did its job without demanding constant attention.

When charging is eventually required, the included magnetic charger completes a full charge in roughly 90 minutes.

For me, that is perhaps the biggest compliment I can give the Watch 3 Pro. A smartwatch should make life easier, not become another device that constantly needs managing. The battery life here strikes that balance exceptionally well.

Verdict

The CMF Watch 3 Pro turned out to be better than I expected. Going into this review, I expected another budget smartwatch packed with features but weighed down by compromises. Instead, I found a smartwatch that gets most of the important things right.

The display is bright, GPS performance is reliable, Bluetooth calling is genuinely useful, and the health-tracking features are accurate enough for everyday use. But the standout feature is battery life.

One of the reasons I still wear analogue watches more often than smartwatches is that I dislike worrying about charging another device. The moment a smartwatch starts asking for power every couple of days, it becomes something I need to manage rather than something that quietly fits into my routine.

The Watch 3 Pro avoids that problem.

It is not perfect. The running coach still feels like a work in progress, raise-to-wake occasionally misses a gesture, and some users may miss the interchangeable bezels from the previous generation.

None of those shortcomings, however, significantly affected my overall experience.

The Watch 3 Pro feels less like a budget smartwatch trying to do everything and more like one that understands its priorities. It focuses on the features people actually use every day and executes most of them well.

If you are looking for a smartwatch that balances fitness tracking, health monitoring, Bluetooth calling and excellent battery life without becoming a chore to live with, the CMF Watch 3 Pro is easy to recommend.

More importantly, it is a watch I would happily continue wearing even after the review period ended.

Price: Rs 7,999

Colour tested: Light Green

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