Mobile News 24 Hours

Last updated: August 28, 2026, 3:20 AM ET

Samsung Galaxy Launches

Samsung had a busy day with multiple announcements, headlined by the Galaxy S26 FE launch at its Unpacked event. The device ships with the Exynos 2500 chipset across all markets, a notable upgrade over the previous generation's silicon. The phone also arrives with One UI 9 (Android 17) out of the box, beating the S26 Ultra to the update. Samsung positioned the device around AI features and day-to-day utility, with One UI 9 features including several flagship camera capabilities. The S26 FE is essentially a more affordable version of the S26+ with slightly reduced specs, and it launches September 3 at $700.

However, the new model comes with a price hike. The S26 FE costs $50 more than the S25 FE, and the question is whether the RAM upgrade justifies the increase. Pricing has started appearing on Samsung.com and through carriers, with the price increase confirmed across configurations. The device was also the focus of live coverage from Unpacked, where Samsung showcased the new hardware alongside software updates. The Exynos 2500 chipset is used everywhere in the S26 FE, marking a significant performance improvement over the previous model.

Samsung also opened the One UI 9 Watch beta program for the Galaxy Watch8 and Watch8 Classic in South Korea and the US. Meanwhile, the company pushed out a late August patch for the Galaxy S26 series that addresses the red stain display problem affecting some S26 Ultra units.

leaked CAD-based renders of the upcoming Galaxy S27 Pro reveal a new design direction for the line. The S27 Pro will be a new model in the lineup, though early impressions suggest Samsung is saving its best design work for the Pro and Ultra variants, with the standard S27 and S27 Pro leak showing a somewhat lazy approach to the base model's aesthetics. There's also word that Samsung reportedly decided against a 7,000 mAh battery for the Galaxy S27 Ultra — the decision reportedly came down to thermal and thickness constraints, with the phone expected to ship with a 5,700 mAh typical capacity instead.

Samsung Displays and Wearables

Samsung's Gamescom 2026 announcements included four new Odyssey gaming monitors with impressive specs. The standout is a 27-inch IPS LCD panel capable of a 1,100Hz refresh rate — over a thousand hertz, which is unprecedented for consumer displays. The company also unveiled a 49-inch curved Odyssey G9 OLED with a 360Hz refresh rate. These monitors target competitive gamers and enthusiasts who want the fastest possible response times.

The Huawei Watch 6 got its first design teaser ahead of Huawei's product launch event next week. The brief video showcases the smartwatch's exterior, with more details expected on stage.

Redmi and Xiaomi

Xiaomi's global Redmi Note 17 family is now official. The Redmi Note 17 Pro and Pro Max use Snapdragon 6 chips and Si/C battery technology, with the Pro Max getting a larger cell. The two non-Pro models — the Redmi Note 17 and Note 17 5G — are nearly identical phones focused on big batteries and displays. Our Redmi Note 17 Pro battery and charging tests show the global version packs an 8,340mAh battery (down from 9,000mAh in the Chinese model), but the loss is minimal in real-world usage. The Redmi Note 17 Pro Max review is also live, covering the flagship-tier midranger in detail.

Other Mobile Launches

vivo's Y31t pricing and availability was revealed after the phone quietly appeared on the company's Indian website last week — it's now on sale in the country. vivo also confirmed that the upcoming X500 Pro series will feature a 2nm Media Tek chipset, following earlier details about camera specs on the X500 Pro Max.

Indian audio maker Mivi has confirmed it's entering the smartphone market with a 5G device, following Fire-Boltt's recent move into phones. Lava launched the Bold N4 Lite in India with a 6.56-inch screen and 5,000mAh battery, while Realme brought the C100i 4G to India with a redesigned rear panel and a 6,500mAh battery — slightly smaller than the version sold elsewhere.

Huawei confirmed the nova 16 Pro global launch will take place at its upcoming Munich event next week, bringing the midranger to international markets months after its China debut.

Software Updates

Google is rolling out the "Find in note" search feature for Google Keep on Android, which lets users search within individual notes. The feature was first spotted in development last year and is now reaching all users.

Oppo began seeding the ColorOS 16 August update with an AI Remix Collage feature, security improvements, new Home Screen functionality, and a Currency Converter tool.

Google also deployed support for Encrypted Client Hello on Android 17, which encrypts the TLS handshake to make web browsing more private and secure.

Smart Glasses and Wearables

Meta closed another loophole that could allow discreet recording on its smart glasses. The company updated the recording LED behavior so that covering the light no longer bypasses the indicator — the second privacy-focused update in less than two months. The loophole closure was detailed by Android Central, noting the change affects both Ray-Ban Meta glasses and the newer Oakley models.

Speedo launched its own smart swim wearable — the Speedo IQ — which tracks swimming metrics but notably won't provide real-time feedback while you're in the water. The device is designed for post-swim analysis.

Sony's Reon Pocket Pro Plus wearable air conditioner earned a positive review, with the reviewer noting it looks like an alien attached to your spine but works effectively through heatwaves.

Viture collaborated with S-Game, the studio behind Phantom Blade Zero, for the Phantom Beast XR glasses — a "kungfupunk" design that's described as the dopest XR glasses seen yet.

Google is releasing a special edition Pokémon Sleep Fitbit Air in September with a sleeping Pikachu design. The Fitbit Air Pokémon Sleep edition also turns your sleep data into in-game rewards for Pokémon Sleep.

Gaming

GTA 6 continues to dominate gaming news. A GTA 6 extended look was shown to Netflix viewers ahead of the YouTube crowd, and our breakdown covers guns, cars, and chihuahuas in excruciating detail. Rockstar has also confirmed that car theft in GTA 6 will require different approaches depending on the make and model — you won't be able to hot-wire every car the same way.

Meanwhile, scam sites are pushing a fake GTA 6 demo that delivers malware directly to your PC. Rockstar has not made any of GTA 6 playable in advance, so any claim otherwise is fraudulent.

Ubisoft apologized for accidentally selling Heroes of Might and Magic 3 on Steam without the actual game files. The release was supposed to build excitement for an upcoming remake, but instead shipped without the core game data.

Chris Sorrell, creator of James Pond, is not happy with the series' allegedly AI-generated legacy collection, saying the developers don't have "a scrap of respect" for the franchise.

Social Media and Platforms

Bluesky added a new setting that helps users avoid accidentally going viral. The anti-viral setting prevents your posts from being recommended in the algorithmic "discover" feed, giving users more control over their reach.

YouTube expanded its shopping features by allowing creators to include Amazon affiliate links in their content. The retailer finally joined YouTube Shopping's affiliate program, opening a new revenue stream for creators.

X and the NFL launched a dedicated football feed called NFL GameTime, continuing their long-standing partnership for the upcoming season.

AI and Cyber Defense

OpenAI, Google, and dozens of other companies published an open letter titled "A call for collective action on cyber defense," calling for collaborative security efforts across the industry. The letter urges companies to share threat intelligence and coordinate responses to cyberattacks.

Google's AI Mode in Search is getting trip-planning features, including a flight price tracker and hotel booking capability, plus a way to view costs in miles or points.

Plaud launched the Plaud One earbuds, designed for people who want to record every meeting and call without needing a phone nearby. The earbuds take a different approach to AI wearables, with built-in recording and transcription.

Photoshop is getting a new Markup feature that lets you draw on images to show what you want, along with Lightroom-like controls and new image-generation capabilities that users have long requested.

Hugging Face and Pollen Robotics opened pre-orders for the Microduck robot at $399 — a robotic duck companion that's now available for pre-order.

Privacy and Security

Legal experts say Meta's recent settlement puts YouTube, TikTok, and Snap on notice, potentially forcing the company's biggest competitors to reshape their apps to avoid similar legal exposure. The settlement could have industry-wide implications for how social platforms handle teen safety.

Meta's latest teen safety commitments are US-only for now, even as the UK government pushes for time limits for teens on Facebook and Instagram. The company hasn't committed to extending these protections internationally.

E-Readers and Retail

Rakuten Kobo scored a major retail win with a massive in-store expansion at Best Buy. Kobo e-readers are now available at 500 Best Buy locations, making it much easier to shop for the devices in person.

Smart Home and Energy

The UK has legalized plug-in solar, but experts warn homeowners shouldn't rush to buy a kit. The plug-in solar legalization allows consumers to install solar panels that plug into standard outlets, but getting your home checked first is critical to avoid electrical issues.

Audio and Imaging

Apple's iOS 27 brings custom EQ settings for Air Pods, and we have a guide on how to adjust the custom EQ for your Air Pods. The feature gives users granular control over their audio profile.

Displays and Monitors

The Alienware 39 5K ultrawide monitor review is live, and it hits the sweet spot for large ultrawides with tons of vertical screen space. The review praises the display's resolution and size combination.

Carriers and Deals

T-Mobile is offering four free Galaxy S26 phones with four lines on the Essentials plan at just $25/month per line. The T-Mobile offer requires bringing four lines to the carrier, and the phones are free after credits.

A comparison of Apple Upgrade vs. Verizon deals examines whether Verizon's "free" iPhone offers actually save you money compared to Apple's own Upgrade program. The analysis breaks down the true costs of both approaches.

Android System Intelligence

If you're using a Google Pixel, you're probably using Android System Intelligence more than you realize. The component powers features like Now Playing, Smart Reply, and Live Caption — and turning it off can break many Pixel-specific features.

IMAX

The IMAX logo doesn't always tell you what kind of screen or projector you're getting. Our guide on IMAX vs. LieMax explains how to tell the difference between genuine IMAX venues and smaller "Lie Max" screens that don't meet the full IMAX specification.

Android Phone Market

People in the US don't have much choice beyond Apple, Google, and Samsung phones, but the most popular Android brands globally — like Xiaomi, Oppo, and vivo — are rarely sold in the region. The article explores why these brands skip the US market and what consumers are missing.