Mobile News 24 Hours

Last updated: May 16, 2026, 8:36 PM ET

Foldables and Motorola Deals

Motorola's foldable push intensified this week as the Razr Fold 2026 series entered pre-order alongside the announcement that Samsung's Galaxy S26+ (256GB) had dropped to $890 on Amazon, roughly $200 below its launch price just three months after release. The Razr Fold's appeal centers on its class-leading camera system and multitasking capabilities, though Android Central cautions buyers to weigh six pros against three cons before committing. For those who pre-order, hidden settings can unlock the device's full multitasking potential, while waterproofing questions remain an open issue given the phone's novel hinge design. Separately, Motorola's Edge 70 reached 50% off in Europe, with the 12/512GB model now priced at €400, and early Geekbench results for an upcoming Samsung Galaxy M47 prototype hint at a mid-range chipset that could compete in the same slim-and-light segment.

Samsung Software and AI Updates

Samsung pushed One UI 8.5 to U.S. Galaxy devices this week, bringing stability improvements to the S24 series, Z Fold6, and Z Flip6 after a global rollout earlier in the month. One UI 9 is reportedly adding a "priority alerts" feature to Galaxy's Now Brief, designed to flag missed notifications automatically. Meanwhile, Google trimmed free Gmail storage from 15GB to 5GB for new accounts, though users can restore the full allotment by adding a phone number during registration. On the developer side, YouTube opened its AI deepfake detection tool to all creators 18 and older, removing age-based restrictions that had previously limited access. Google I/O 2026 is set for May 19, with Android Central previewing announcements around Android, Gemini AI advances, and Android XR glasses, suggesting a broader push into mixed-reality hardware alongside software refinements.

Apple Ecosystem and Audio Competitions

Apple is reportedly preparing a free AirPods Pro 3 incentive for new Apple Card sign-ups, per Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, with the promotion expected to launch as early as next week and limited to eligible applicants. On the Android side, Sony's WF-1000XM6 and Samsung's Galaxy Buds 4 Pro are duking it out in a feature-by-feature comparison, with reviewers finding that small differences in codec support and ANC tuning produce markedly different listening experiences. Beats Studio Buds Plus dropped 41% on Amazon, bringing the price down to a level that makes them competitive with both Sony and Samsung options for noise-cancelling buyers. In the broader market, GSMArena's selfie video blind test crowned the Samsung Galaxy A37 the winner in a head-to-head against five other handsets, a result that may shift consumer perception of mid-range imaging.

Science, Gaming, and Platform News

NASA's Psyche spacecraft received a gravity assist from Mars on its way to the metallic asteroid it's named after, a maneuver that will shave months off the journey and position the probe to study a body scientists believe may mirror Earth's own core composition. Perseverance rover sent back a new Mars selfie this week, part of a roundup that also flagged growing concerns about orbital debris from satellite launches. In gaming, Analogue 3D's latest patch lets players save at will, eliminating traditional checkpoint frustrations, while Engadget highlighted new indie titles including a Supermassive horror game and a Battlestar Galactica roguelite. On the Windows front, Microsoft is letting Insiders resize the Start menu and reposition the taskbar in Windows 11, a cosmetic but long-requested change that signals continued iteration on the OS despite lukewarm market reception. Finally, Oppo's Find X9s may launch in India at a higher price than previously rumored, with new leaks suggesting a starting figure above the earlier-reported INR 70,000, complicating the device's competitiveness in a price-sensitive market.