Mobile News 24 Hours

Last updated: May 21, 2026, 2:38 PM ET

Foldables, Flips, and Flagship Tablets

Motorola's foldable lineup is drawing scrutiny after two weeks of testing raised questions about the $1,500 Razr Ultra 2026. The device feels more like the Razr Ultra 2025 Part II, with incremental upgrades that struggle to justify its price tag. Android Central flags four cheaper alternatives for buyers who like the form factor but balk at the cost, while the $500ish Razr 2026 remains the best budget flip phone you can buy despite a modest price bump from last year. On the tablet front, OnePlus Pad 4 delivers flagship performance and one of Android's best multitasking experiences after three weeks of use, though the ecosystem still feels incomplete. Meanwhile, Samsung pushed out One UI 8.5 to the Galaxy Tab S11 and S11 Ultra, making them the first tablets to receive the stable update, while iQOO unveiled the Pad6 Pro with a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and a 13.2-inch 4K display.

Google's AI Overload

Google's I/O keynote revealed a more aggressive push for Gemini across its services, and the integration is already raising complaints. The company showcased its AI vision, which basically involves Gemini everywhere, and Android 17 now includes a revamped media app switcher that ditches the old carousel. A new cross-device feature lets Android users seamlessly switch apps between phones and tablets, though the capability arrives years after Apple offered similar functionality. Google also announced new AI-powered ad formats for search and rolled out a quiet downgrade to the AI Pro plan by limiting compute-heavy prompts. The Pixel 11 may have received a fleeting teaser during the event as users theorized a brief glimpse at I/O, while Xreal and Google previewed Project Aura smartglasses that cram a VR headset into a pair of glasses, positioning them as the first real hardware play for Android XR.

Spotify's AI Expansion

Spotify is deepening its AI bets on multiple fronts. The company is adding personalized AI features to podcasts and audiobooks, while also working with Universal Music on a paid AI tool for covers and remixes. Separately, Premium subscribers in the US may soon get first access to reserved concert tickets for their favorite artists. The moves signal Spotify's attempt to differentiate through AI-generated content and exclusive fan experiences, even as the approach to podcast personalization draws criticism as "AI slop."

Meta Cuts and Content Moderation

Meta laid off approximately 8,000 employees this week as part of a broader pivot toward AI, marking the latest round of reductions at the company. The layoffs come amid a deepfake controversy in the UK, where Meta's Oversight Board will examine an AI-generated video of a politician making incendiary refugee statements that the company left up. Meta, Snap, and Roblox committed to tougher anti-grooming measures in the UK after Ofcom urged social networks to act. The personnel cuts and content battles point to a company straining to balance AI investment with platform trust.

Quantum, Chipsets, and Autonomous Driving

The US government took $2 billion in equity stakes across quantum computing companies, including one linked to the Trump family. Meanwhile, Tesla brought Full Self-Driving to China after years of regulatory delays, while Waymo's autonomous vehicles in Atlanta and San Antonio continued driving into flooded roads, exposing ongoing fragility in extreme weather conditions. On the chip front, AMD priced its Ryzen AI Halo PC at $3,999 and unveiled the Ryzen AI Max 400 chips, directly challenging NVIDIA's DGX Spark.

Carrier Moves and New Devices

AT&T launched a "build your own" wireless plan starting at $15 a month with just 1GB of data, while Apple will broadcast an MLS match on May 23 captured entirely with iPhones, marking the first major live pro sports event shot solely on Apple's devices. AT&T also launched an eSIM service for World Cup visitors with unlimited data in the US, Canada, and Mexico. On the device front, Nothing's CMF Phone 3 Pro is reportedly delayed and may switch to a mid-range Qualcomm chip, the Xiaomi 17 Max arrived with a 200MP camera and 8,000 mAh Si-C battery, and the Oura Ring 5 launch date leaked as next week. Sprint's parent company reportedly announced the SpaceX IPO, with the company set to trade as SPCX.

Samsung Labor and Upcoming Hardware

Samsung's union suspended a planned strike after reaching a tentative deal on bonuses, averting the largest labor action in the company's history. The resolution came after Samsung posted record sales without sharing much of the profits with employees. Samsung started testing One UI 9 on the Galaxy S26 FE, while Galaxy S27 Pro screen size details leaked. Best Buy's Memorial Day sale chops $50 off the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 and takes $250 off the Garmin Fenix 8. Verizon upgraded its 5G network for the Indy, promising speeds over 1.0Gbps at the track.

Streaming and Social

Netflix dropped the Season 2 trailer for Avatar: The Last Airbender, arriving June 25, while Hulu bundle subscribers can now access their watch history and recommendations inside the Disney+ app. Kobo will integrate with the Goodreads alternative StoryGraph in June. Elsewhere, Anthropic is reportedly on track for its first profitable quarter since founding in 2021, and OpenAI may go public as soon as September following a legal victory for CEO Sam Altman.