Mobile News 24 Hours

Last updated: August 31, 2026, 6:11 AM ET

Smartphones & Mobile

Huawei has officially opened pre-orders for its upcoming Mate XT 2 tri-folding smartphone in China, revealing the device's available color options and storage configurations ahead of its formal launch. The company previously teased the design of the foldable in a video, and the new listing confirms the handset will be offered in multiple storage tiers. Meanwhile, Sony unveiled the Xperia 10 VIII with a Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 chipset, a 6.1-inch OLED display, a 5,000mAh battery, and a 50MP main camera, though its $600 starting price has raised eyebrows given how little it changes from its predecessor. The Galaxy S26 FE also became official this week, and Poco's F9 Pro and Ultra are expected to arrive soon. In the bargain bin, the iPhone 17 lineup has received price cuts ahead of the expected iPhone 18 Pro unveiling on September 9, with discounts also available on the Galaxy S26 and Xiaomi.

Google's Pixel 11 Pro has arrived for review, and the question remains the same as last year: is the Pro worth the extra €200 over the standard Pixel 11? The review unit is now being put through its paces to answer exactly that. Samsung, meanwhile, is working on Android 17-based One UI 9 for several Galaxy devices, and the Galaxy A35 and Galaxy A56 could receive the beta build before the stable version rolls out. Samsung has so far only released the One UI 9 beta for the Galaxy S26 series, leaving mid-range owners waiting for their turn.

Wearables & Accessories

The Pixel Watch 5 is arguably the best Android smartwatch you can buy right now, but it's still missing a few features that would make it a worthwhile upgrade over its predecessor. The review notes the watch is a premium device that seems to actively discourage touch interaction, and several of its best new features remain unavailable at launch.

Audio & Car Connectivity

Getting better sound from your car's infotainment system doesn't require expensive hardware upgrades. A few quick checks can significantly boost audio quality on Apple CarPlay, including verifying that your iPhone is sending high-quality audio to the head unit. Android Auto users face similar challenges, and there are several components and settings to check if the sound quality coming through is disappointing. Beyond the connection itself, customizing the interface can also improve the overall experience — Android Auto has several essential features enabled by default, but you may be surprised at how much more it can do with a few tweaks.

For wireless earbuds, adjusting the audio settingson your Air Pods can level up your listening experience significantly. Apple's headphones have a range of hidden settings that can enhance sound quality, and taking the time to configure them properly makes a noticeable difference.

iPhone Troubleshooting

If your iPhone is acting up, there are several levels of resets you can try before resorting to drastic measures. Understanding the difference between a soft and hard reset is crucial — soft resets simply restart the device, while hard resets clear more substantial data and settings. If you're seeing an "iPhone Unavailable" message, you'll need your old passcode or Apple Account password to fix the lock screen errorand regain access to your device.

Gaming & Entertainment

A massive leak has surfaced containing more than 12TB of Steam filesfrom Valve and third-party developers, including beta builds and finished games dating from 2003 to 2013. The trove represents a decade's worth of gaming history that was previously unreleased. In other gaming news, Nintendo's most unsuccessful console wasn't the Game Cube or the Wii U — the Virtual Boywas awkward to use and didn't even sell a million units, though you can still try it today if you're curious.

Apple Arcade just added a retro-inspired gem to its catalog. Retro Bowl College features simple controls and pixelated graphics, but the actual gameplay can be as complex as you want it to be, making it a surprisingly deep addition to the service. Xbox users, meanwhile, can claim a special birthday giftduring their birthday week, which includes Microsoft Points rewards.

Streaming & Display

Watching NFL games live can get expensive in a hurry, but there are a few corners you can cut to keep costs down. The cheapest NFL streaming optionsfor the 2024 season include several services that offer live games without breaking the bank. When it comes to picture quality, 4K is a catchier marketing term than 2160p, but the resolution nameactually has a technical reason behind it. Not everything on your 4K TV is actually playing in Ultra HD, though — you can verifywhat you're currently seeing with a few simple checks. Smart TVs also have surprisingly little storage to work with, and the amount they have is often quite low — but there are ways to maximize your spaceon these devices.

Apps & Services

Google Maps has made a controversial change for US users: the body of water previously known as Lake Ontario now displays as Lake Americafor American users, though it still shows up as Lake Ontario for Maps users in Canada. Apple is reportedly working on a stylus for the foldable iPhonethat may never see the light of day — though the company is more certainly working on an Apple Watch overhaul. If your YouTube recommendations have gone off the rails, there are four simple stepsyou can take to get the algorithm back on track with content you actually like.

Mac & Hardware

Using your MacBook outside requires some caution, especially when it comes to temperature. the thermometer — extreme heat or cold can damage the battery and affect performance, so it's important to know the limits before setting up your laptop al fresco.