Mobile News 24 Hours

Last updated: August 26, 2026, 2:36 AM ET

Samsung & Galaxy

Samsung is pushing its Galaxy S26 series through another software cycle with the release of One UI 9 beta 6, an 851MB update that arrives roughly two weeks after the fifth beta. The build is widely expected to be the final beta before a stable release, though Samsung hasn't confirmed a timeline. Meanwhile, fresh high-quality CAD renders of the upcoming Galaxy S27 Ultra have surfaced, showing a horizontal camera plateau that draws heavy comparisons to the iPhone 17 Pro. The redesign is hard to ignore, and Samsung may also be working on self-healing glass for the device, a feature that could set it apart in the flagship market. For users switching from iPhone, Samsung's updated Smart Switch app now offers a simpler setup process and copies more data, easing the transition to Galaxy devices.

Chipsets & Silicon

Qualcomm is making headlines with its next-generation Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro, which leaksters claim can hit a 5GHz clock speed — a first for mobile silicon. The chip is expected to use newer manufacturing tech than the current 3nm TSMC N3P process found in Xiaomi's latest SoC, which relies on Arm C1 cores. Media Tek's Dimensity 9600 Pro is also in the pipeline, with both chipsets expected to power flagship devices in 2026. The detailed specs suggest a significant leap in performance and efficiency. Poco has officially confirmed its F9 Pro and F9 Ultra will use Snapdragon 8 Elite chipsets, with the Ultra expected to feature the Gen 5 variant that powered last year's F8 Ultra.

Apple & Mac

Apple has refreshed its desktop lineup with new Mac mini and Mac Studio models featuring the latest M-series processors. The Mac mini gets the M6 chip, built on a 2nm process, while the Mac Studio offers the M5 Ultra with an 80-core GPU designed to handle AI models and 8K video editing. The M5 Ultra's 80-core GPU is a major leap forward, positioning the Mac Studio as a serious workstation for creative professionals. Apple also reversed a controversial decision to undermine its Hide My Email privacy feature, deciding that undermining its own email privacy was a bad idea after all. For iPhone users, a guide explains how to turn off Find My iPhone and when it's appropriate to do so.

Android & Mobile Launches

Nothing OS 5.0, based on Android, officially debuts tomorrow with an open beta rolling out at 11:00 BST for select devices. The update brings a host of new features and a detailed rollout schedule for supported phones. Graphene OS users will have to wait until 2027 for Motorola support, with the company confirming its 2027 phones are up first before foldables get the privacy-focused OS. The Redmi 17C 5G is now official, featuring a Dimensity 6300 SoC and 6,000mAh battery. India-based Fire-Boltt has entered the smartphone market with the Boltt Ace 5G and Evo 4G, both featuring 6,000mAh batteries at budget prices. Sony's midrange Xperia 10 VIII has launched with a sizable price hike despite offering few upgrades over its predecessor. The Oppo A7 Pro has emerged in a Brazilian certification listing with a massive 8,000mAh battery. vivo has confirmed its T5 5G will launch in India on September 2, with key specs and design revealed ahead of the event. The vivo X500 Pro Max has been spotted on Geekbench, revealing specs ahead of launch. Realme's C100i is headed to India with an August 27 launch date and a different camera bump design for the Indian market.

Gaming & Consoles

Xbox is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a lineup of translucent green accessories for the console. A retrospective looks at how Xbox controllers have changed over the past quarter-century, from the original Duke to the current Series X pad. Nintendo has revealed new Switch 2 bundles just ahead of the console's price increase next week. ASUS is marking the 20th anniversary of its gaming division with the ROG XBOX Ally X20, featuring a larger 7.4-inch OLED display. A remastered The Witcher 3 will be released on September 29, and current owners get the upgrade for free. CRKD is mining nostalgia with three Gibson guitar controllers for Stage Tour's December 10 release, including sick guitar designs that evoke classic rock aesthetics. Lego Skylines, a cozy city builder from Iceflake Studios, was announced at Gamescom and focuses on the famous bricks. An analysis explores why movie tie-in games are rarely sold anymore, tracing the decline from the 2000s to today's IP-driven landscape.

Apps & Services

Instagram is rolling out a new feature called First Draft that automatically trims clips for Reels, taking care of the busywork of video editing. Meanwhile, Instagram head Adam Mosseri testified in a social media addiction trial, saying it's "news to me" that employees limited his exposure to teen safety data. Chat GPT's upgraded task scheduling tool is now available to free accounts, while paid users can configure prompts to trigger based on events in Gmail, Slack or GitHub. Anthropic's Claude now has memory that works across chats and Cowork sessions, giving users more control over what memories are saved. WhatsApp is upgrading its two-factor authentication settings, allowing users to ditch six-digit codes for stronger alphanumeric passwords. Uber will let parents peek through a driver's selfie camera when teens are taking a trip, though the company says it will only access recordings to review safety reports.

Hardware & Accessories

Ben Q's first dual-monitor desk lamp, the Screen Bar Max, is excellent but expensive, offering a glow up for dual-screen setups. The Nokia 300 Charge doubles as a 10W powerbank, offering a dual-purpose design for budget phone buyers. Pocket Book's phone-sized Q e-reader boasts a month of battery life, 32GB of storage, and a distraction-free reading experience, arriving this fall for $235 — a distraction-free reading experience at a competitive price. The re Markable Paper Pro, widely considered the perfect writing tablet, just scored a rare $100 discount at Best Buy and Amazon. A guide breaks down the differences between Thunderbolt 4 and 5, noting that Thunderbolt 5 offers extremely fast data transfer but most devices can't take advantage of it yet.

Wearables & Smartwatches

The Garmin Fenix 9 lineup raises the bar with faster maps, smarter training, titanium design, brighter displays, and serious battery life for athletes and adventurers. The Pebble Time 2 is a smartwatch designed to push back against trends, and a review calls it the perfect smartwatch for a select group of users who value simplicity and battery life.

Awards & Recognition

Xiaomi has won the EISA Smartphone award for the 2026-2027 season, voted on by multiple EISA member publications that tested the products. Honor, Oppo, and Samsung also received recognition in the latest EISA awards, which cover a range of categories.

Carriers & Deals

Mint Mobile has finally received its Google Pixel 11 stock, and the deals are better than expected, with Pixel 11 deals under $900 available for carriers looking to upgrade customers.

Transportation & Expansion

Waymo is expanding to Germany, with service in Munich planned for 2027. The company has set up subsidiaries in several European countries this summer as it prepares for expansion into the German market.

Upcoming Launches

Huawei has confirmed its next tri-fold smartphone, the Mate XT2, will launch on September 7, potentially featuring a different folding mechanism compared to its predecessor. SpaceX's Starmind project will use NVIDIA GPUs in orbit, with Elon Musk planning to harness solar energy for AI in space. A long-term review of the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold finds that sometimes it's good to be boring, with the phone nailing the basics over the course of a year.