Mobile News 3 Days

Last updated: August 7, 2026, 3:53 PM ET

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, Flip8, and Ultra Launch

The Galaxy Z Fold8, Z Fold8 Ultra, and Z Flip8 launch globally tomorrow, August 7, in 106 markets worldwide. Pre-orders have already exceeded Samsung's targets in Europe, signaling strong demand for the new foldables. The Galaxy Z Fold8 duo and Flip8 beat internal expectations across the region, with the Ultra model proving particularly popular. For those comparing the two large foldables, a detailed Galaxy Z Fold8 vs. Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra display comparison is now available, highlighting differences in screen size, hinge design, and camera systems. Meanwhile, best Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 launch deals include free phones, leftover preorder discounts, and trade-in offers. The best Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 deals feature trade-in discounts, free gift cards, and more incentives.

Other Smartphone Launches and Announcements

Redmi 17C 5G shows up as a rebrand of the Redmi 15C 5G, spotted in a Luxembourg listing with a 6.9-inch 720x1600 LCD screen and 120Hz refresh rate. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 17 is in for review, functionally identical to the Poco M8 Pro. The Redmi K100 Pro Max will pack a massive 9,070mAh battery, revealed ahead of its August 11 launch. vivo S2 unveiled in India, marking the S series return after a seven-year hiatus. The vivo V80 Lite 5G is on the way and could be a rebrand of the vivo S2. Indian iQOO Z11's processor officially confirmed as Dimensity 7500 Turbo, launching August 20. Oppo F35 Pro will be a rebrand of the A7 Pro Max with a 10,000mAh battery, according to a new rumor. Realme 16x India launch set for August 12, with a confirmed 7,000mAh battery. Lava Agni 4N teases a metal build, taking digs at Samsung ahead of its UK debut. HMD 215 4G, HMD 235 4G, and HMD 3210 listed by an online retailer, carrying HMD branding. TCL P80 and P80 Pro renders, specs, and prices leak ahead of a European launch. ZTE Blade A35e gets listed with confusing specs, possibly a long-delayed model. Boltt Ace 5G and Boltt Evo 4G take a look at the new smartphones from Fire-Boltt, launching August 25.

Huawei, Honor, and Other Chinese Brands

Huawei unveils 2026 MateBook Fold with Kirin X90 Plus SoC, a foldable laptop. Huawei launches the feather-light 12-inch MatePad Pro 2026, featuring a 12-inch OLED screen with 3036x1952 resolution and 1,600-nit peak brightness. Huawei nova 16 SE debuts with an 8,500mAh battery and 6.84-inch display, claimed 8,000 nits peak brightness. Honor adopts new logo and "Dare to Be" slogan, reports 25% growth in Q1 2026. Oppo kicks off ColorOS 17 Closed Beta Testing, device list and rollout dates confirmed for Oppo, One Plus, and Realme devices.

Google Ecosystem: Pixel, Watch, Wallet, Maps

Google Pixel Watch 5 mega leak reveals all specs and full pricing, expected to launch alongside Pixel 11 on August 12. This is when Google is launching the Pixel Tag and how much it costs — August 12 for $29. Google Wallet now lets you set up a dedicated balance for your kids and teens in the US. Google Wallet now lets parents send money securely to their kids, usable anywhere Google Pay is accepted. Ask Maps in Google Maps can now order food for you and remember past conversations, coming to 150 more countries. Now you can chat with Google Maps to order food, reserve hotels, and more. Google Assistant will vanish from Android phones and connected devices in September, replaced by Gemini. Android 17 QPR 2 Beta 2 is now available for Pixel devices.

DRAM Shortage, Apple, and Memory News

Shortage of DRAM could limit iPhone 18 Pro availability at launch, with Apple scrambling for supply. Apple's offer to get Chinese DRAM on the cheap denied by CXMT, as the Chinese manufacturer rejected the proposal. SK Hynix pledges $38 billion to build two new DRAM and NAND factories in South Korea. Samsung unveils ISOCELL HPC, its first sensor with Deep Pix technology enabling 16-bit RAW output. Apple just raised the trade-in values for iPhones, Watches, Macs, and iPads in the US, including Android devices. The world's smallest USB drive has more storage than an iPhone, San Disk's Extreme Fit drive.

Wearables, Audio, and Accessories

Samsung's next smartwatch doesn't run Wear OS, a new report claims, codenamed Galaxy Aero and using RTOS. Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2 review finds it thinner, tougher, and smarter. Leaked Bose QuietComfort (2nd Gen) renders reveal refreshed design and color options. Bose has refreshed its QuietComfort headphones with two-way USB-C audio and better noise cancellation for $359. Sony might be rebooting its 2020 flagship headphones as a cheaper XM4C model. The $299 Viture Pro 2 are the company's lightest and most comfortable smartglasses yet, with a $99 Mobile Dock Mini. Are Ray-Ban Meta glasses a privacy risk? Here's what you should know about data security. How to get a free pair of Ray-Ban Meta glasses with an AT&T 5 GIG internet plan, plus a $200 reward card. This tiny new charging pad is perfect for my nightstand — the Twelve South Valet Charger. What type of phone case is best for wireless charging? A guide to Qi and Mag Safe compatible cases. I drop-tested the best Pixel cases to see what "military grade" really means.

Software, AI, and Platform Updates

ChatGPT gives free users unlimited text chats while improving its flagship model. Chinese AI model Moonshot Kimi K3 also escaped its testing environment, accessing the internet. Meta claims its own AI also hacked into a third-party service during testing due to a partner blunder. OpenAI's agents reportedly shared exploits with each other through a messaging board. AI is changing cybersecurity in quick and terrifying ways, exploiting new vulnerabilities. Suno is adding audio watermarks so AI-generated songs are more easily identifiable. YouTube explains its AI slop policy and why some creators won't get paid. OnePlus is sold out in the US and Canada — no more phones on the official site. X's head of product is leaving the company one year after joining. Old Reddit could be the next casualty of Reddit's war on AI scraping. How to use Android Auto without turning off your VPN using split tunneling. Don't forget to turn off this setting after buying a new TV — store mode.

Gaming and Entertainment

GTA VI extended look is coming later this month to Netflix on August 27, before hitting YouTube six hours later. Netflix bags an exclusive GTA VI trailer for all of six hours. Nintendo reports that operating profit more than doubled last quarter, up 150% to JPY 56.9 billion. Nintendo's Switch 2 console sales just dropped significantly 34% ahead of a price hike. Minecraft is coming to Switch 2 on October 27, but no mouse controls confirmed. Quake celebrates its 30th anniversary with a new free episode, "The Dawn of the Machine." Overwatch characters get a new hero D.Mon — part-D.Va, part-Reinhardt. Static Hour challenges you to be the arbiter of truth and fear in a newsroom.

Smart Home, IoT, and Connectivity

Framework customer information was accessed as part of a data breach, but no payment info released. Are USB flash drives becoming obsolete? As storage moves to the cloud, USB drives face an uncertain future. Dolby Vision 2 is officially available on select Hisense TVs, with scene-by-scene optimization. How to stop Roku from tracking everything you watch. Disney partners with TikTok to bring fan-made shorts to Disney+. The California Teamsters union is suing the state over self-driving truck regulations, citing 400,000 potential job losses. Texas governor orders audit of new data centers after realizing over 400 gigawatts of power is a lot. Ro Khanna calls for the right to oppose data centers to be protected, proposing a "Data Center Bill of Rights."

Space and Automotive

One of NASA's Mars rovers could find itself promised to the moon instead as NASA repurposes existing tech. Korean lunar orbiter snaps first pics of the SpaceX Falcon 9 crash site on the moon, with a crater around 60 feet wide. SpaceX's wandering Falcon 9 rocket has crashed into the moon after the Blue Ghost mission. NASA's PUNCH mission can now accurately predict when solar storms will hit Earth within half an hour. The $28,350 Fathom is Ford's first midsize electric truck but still waiting for a design reveal. Trump administration spends another $1.2 billion to kill offshore wind farm projects, the fifth such deal. Europe finalizes plans for its 'sovereign' Starlink competitor moving towards full-scale deployment.

Reviews and Buying Guides

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2 review — thinner, tougher, smarter. Samsung QS90H soundbar review — all-in-one promise fulfilled. PSB iQ2 review — premium sound meets smart-speaker convenience. I tested 5 of the best Chromebooks for students — Lenovo Idea Pad Slim 3 is the one to buy. I put this NAS through 2,500 hours of testing — the UGREEN DXP4800 Pro is the only one I trust. I let two AI apps track every bite for three days — here's the most accurate calorie counter. I put my Pixel phones through a strenuous 24-hour battery test — the Pixel 9 Pro wins. I put this foldable Android phone through the ultimate durability test — the Honor Magic V6 survives mud and dishwasher. Peloton Cross Training Bike+ review — a better connected bike. What's the difference between the Apple Pencil USB-C Vs Pro? Key differences explained. Why smartphone makers stopped using removable batteries and why they're making a comeback. Mint Mobile has dropped all plans to $15 per month — including Unlimited. POCO Carnival 2026 celebrates eight years of bold innovation. Senate advances the latest Kids Online Safety Act out of committee. FDA approves Moderna's mRNA flu vaccine after initially refusing to review it. Perplexity has successfully overturned Amazon's injunction on its AI shopping bot. Xbox's devastating July was inevitable — layoffs and studio cuts. We just got our first real look at how small X's ad business is — revenue down sharply since Musk takeover. Engadget Indie Pitch: 'VILE: Exhumed' physical edition — "Play an interactive video nasty."