Mobile News 24 Hours

Last updated: August 28, 2026, 10:13 PM ET

Smartphones

Samsung's Galaxy S26 lineup is getting a steady stream of software updates, with the seventh One UI 9 beta arriving just days after the sixth, bringing features from the Galaxy Z Fold8 series. Among the new additions is the My Fan Cam video tool, which uses auto-reframing AI tricks to keep subjects centered in clips, now available to Galaxy S26 users through the beta. new CAD-based renders for the Galaxy S27 Pro have leaked, revealing what appears to be a significant design shift for the upcoming model, while the standard S27 and S27 Ultra renders surfaced earlier in the week.

Xiaomi is also making moves in the display space, following Samsung's lead with its own hardware-controlled privacy display. Leaked UI images show the feature will offer various privacy display options for users to choose from, and a separate report details exactly how Xiaomi's version could work on next-gen phones. On the camera front, the Oppo Find X10 Pro Max is again tipped to feature an aggressive triple-200MP rear array, with a second notable tipster now echoing the earlier claims about the phone's 200MP cameras.

Meanwhile, vivo's X500 Pro Max display details have been revealed, indicating the device will sport a 6.85-inch BOE Q11 2K AMOLED panel. The company also quietly listed the vivo Y31t on its Indian website last week, and it's now on sale in India with official pricing.

Mobile Launches

The Redmi 17 5G is set to launch in India on September 3, with teasers confirming a significant 7,900 mAh battery upgrade from its predecessor. Meanwhile, Poco has officially confirmed that both the X8 and X8 Power will be coming to Indian markets after specifications were leaked, and Tecno's newest Spark Go 3 Pro has been announced with an IP69 ingress rating and a 6.78-inch 120Hz display.

Indian audio maker Mivi is entering the smartphone space, confirming its first 5G device after previously focusing on audio products. Lava has revealed a UK launch date of September 4 for its Agni 4N, with the company making the smartphone available through Amazon with UK sale details.

Cameras & Audio

The Panasonic Lumix L10 has been reviewed, and while the point-and-shoot offers good speed and image quality for the compact camera market, it comes at a relatively high price as a successor to the LX100 II. Huawei is preparing for a September 2 launch event, teasing a slimmer Watch D3 and FreeBuds Neo alongside its nova 16s Pro smartphone.

Apps & Services

Google's AI Mode in Search is gaining practical new features, including the ability to track flight prices and help you book hotels. The update effectively brings Google Flights' functionality into the AI Mode interface. On the health-tracking side, Google Health's August update brings more freedom to manual workout logging and improved Running Distance data with update details here.

Apple has confirmed yet another price hike for its services, with Apple TV+ and Apple One subscriptions suddenly becoming more expensive. The increases will affect subscribers looking to catch new seasons of series like Ted Lasso, with a noticeable jump. For users on Android, a guide explains how to make your Android alarm ring at full volume even when the phone's calls are muted. Meanwhile, there's a clever trick for adding a custom intro to Apple CarPlay using the Shortcuts app.

Entertainment & Media

The GTA 6 extended trailer has players combing through new details they might have missed, with potential story hints scattered throughout a recent extended look. Reports suggest Grand Theft Auto VI's main story could take over 80 hours to complete, with coverage highlighting the 80+ hour campaign. Pokémon Champions is receiving praise as "peak monster battling" in a recent review.

NVIDIA's pre-release DLSS 5 has been discovered, but modders grafting the technology onto existing games are reporting an uncanny valley effect that might be cause for concern. In the world of audio, there's a new explainer on the differences between Dolby Atmos and lossless audio formats so you know what you're hearing. For gaming enthusiasts, building your retro arcade cabinet remains a fun project, with tips on what parts you need to get started. Fire TV Sticks can last for several years, but there's guidance on how long they typically last and when support ends for your particular model.

Business & Legal

The consortium led by Stripe and buying firm Advent is reportedly abandoning its earlier pursuit of PayPal, a deal that had been reported earlier in the month. The collapse leaves the payments landscape unchanged. In other legal news, a judge has ruled that the Pentagon's ban on Anthropic was illegal and baseless. The ruling was a strong defense of critics, with the judge noting national security is "not a blank check."

A Microsoft-backed AI data center has been accused of violating federal law, allegedly running dozens of generators without a permit. Meanwhile, X completed an investigation into what it claims is a Chinese bot farm with inauthentic accounts. Out of about 200,000 bots discovered, roughly 200 were allegedly focused on posting against AI data centers.

Miscellaneous

Flash memory has enormous momentum in everyday devices, but a new analysis focuses on its pros and cons that are shaking up the market debate. A new Twitter-like platform has launched, founded by an ex-Twitter lawyer, claiming the public square is open again, though a judge has yet to rule on a trademark injunction. Finally, Huawei has brought the Mate Pad 11.5 (2025) and a new version of the Mate Pad SE 11 to India, offering 11-inch-class displays with its advanced eye-care system.