Mobile News 3 Days

Last updated: March 28, 2026, 2:30 AM ET

Mobile Hardware & Chipsets

The next generation of Qualcomm silicon is taking shape, with early reports suggesting the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and the more powerful 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro will be unveiled in September, potentially powering flagship devices later this year Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 specifications leak. Meanwhile, Samsung is already looking further ahead, reportedly commencing work on the Exynos 2800 SoC destined for the Galaxy S28 series, signaling a renewed focus on its in-house chip development following the S26 launch Samsung is already working on the Exynos 2800 SoC. In the mid-range, Honor is teasing the upcoming 600 series, with the base model appearing on Geekbench utilizing the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 SoC, suggesting a strong performance focus for its next global release Honor 600 spotted on Geekbench, chipset revealed.

Smartphone manufacturers continue to push battery capacities, as evidenced by the recent Chinese debut of the iQOO Z11, which boasts a massive 9,020 mAh cell, accompanied by the Z11x featuring a 7,050 mAh battery, both units also receiving IP69 ingress protection iQOO Z11 debuts with 9,020 mAh battery, Z11x tags along with 7,050 mAh cell. In contrast, Xiaomi quietly released the affordable Redmi A7 Pro in select European and Asian markets, featuring a large 6.9-inch display and a substantial 6,000mAh battery, positioning it as a budget contender The new Xiaomi Redmi A7 Pro has a massive 6.9” display and a 6,000mAh battery. For foldable enthusiasts, fresh CAD renders of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Wide have surfaced, showcasing the design but hinting at a minor sacrifice compared to the standard Fold8 model Galaxy Z Fold 8 goes 'Wide' in this massive leak.

The Android ecosystem is preparing for major updates, as Google rolled out Android 17 Beta 3 to developers, which finally delivers long-awaited desktop multitasking features, including floating windows for any application and platform stability Android 17 Beta 3 finally brings the desktop multitasking we’ve been waiting for. One Plus has already begun testing this new iteration, pushing the second beta build of Android 17 to the older One Plus 15 devices, though cautioning that the software is primarily suited for developers The OnePlus 15 gets Android 17 beta 2. Meanwhile, owners of the Galaxy S24 series are finally receiving the One UI 8.5 beta update, indicating Samsung is prioritizing software continuity across its recent flagship devices Samsung drops its One UI 8.5 beta on past-gen Galaxy devices.

Deals & Discounts Across Retailers

Amazon’s Big Spring Sale is driving aggressive pricing across numerous product categories, with high-end audio gear seeing rare markdowns; for instance, the noise-cancelling Sony WH-CH720N headphones dropped to just $98, nearly half off their typical price Noise-cancelling Sony headphones are only $98 during Amazon's Big Spring Sale. Similarly, last-generation premium audio equipment is becoming a value proposition, as the Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones are available at a steep 56% discount, making them an exceptional deal for wireless audio enthusiasts These legendary Sennheiser headphones are a ridiculous 56% OFF. For those seeking the latest in budget audio, the Nothing Ear (a) earbuds are priced at an extremely low $59, adhering to the brand's commitment to minimalist yet quality sound Nothing Ear (a) earbuds have dropped to only $59.

Wearable technology is also subject to significant price cuts, with the Fitbit Versa, positioned as a capable alternative to the Pixel Watch, seeing a 25% reduction during the sale The best mid-range Fitbit just scored 25% OFF. In the smart ring category, the Ultrahuman Ring Pro, announced in February, has finally cleared regulatory hurdles to begin pre-orders in the US, with early adopters eligible for a 10% introductory discount The Ultrahuman Ring Pro is now available for pre-order in the US. Samsung device owners can find value in accessories and older models; the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is marked down by $130, a 26% reduction, while the Pixel 10 has fallen to one of its lowest prices since launch The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic just scored a $130 discount.

AI, Security, and Platform Updates

Google is significantly broadening the accessibility of its real-time AI capabilities, expanding the Gemini 3.1 Flash Live voice-based assistance feature to all users worldwide Gemini 3.1 Flash Live is a massive boon to the AI's real-time assistance. Furthermore, the AI Mode’s Search Live experience, which allows for interactive visual queries, has now expanded its availability to over 200 countries and territories, making it accessible globally in all supported languages Google expands AI Mode's Search Live experience to over 200 countries. In response to concerns regarding synthetic content, Wikipedia has formally banned the use of generative AI tools for writing or rewriting articles across its English platform, citing concerns over accuracy and sourcing Wikipedia has banned AI-generated articles.

Security incidents continue to surface across governmental and corporate infrastructure; the European Commission confirmed it suffered a cyber attack impacting cloud infrastructure hosting its public websites European Commission confirms data breach. Separately, reports indicated that the personal email account belonging to former FBI Director Kash Patel was accessed by hackers identified as Handala, a group allegedly linked to Iranian state actors Kash Patel's personal email account was accessed by hackers linked to Iran. On the social media front, X is modifying its revenue-sharing policy, aiming to deter users who falsely claim American residency to qualify for creator payouts X is changing its revenue-sharing policy to deter users pretending to be Americans.

Gaming & Entertainment

The gaming industry saw several announcements regarding upcoming titles and hardware, including the confirmation that Dispatch, one of 2025’s well-regarded narrative games, will finally arrive on Xbox consoles this summer Dispatch is coming to Xbox this summer. Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio also detailed its upcoming title, Stranger Than Heaven, which is set to unfold across five distinct time periods, suggesting a broad scope for the new release RGG's Stranger Than Heaven game will span five time periods. On the retro side, long-standing rumors surrounding a faithful remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time appear to be gaining traction following a series of high-fidelity Unreal Engine tech demos It looks like we're finally getting an Ocarina of Time remake.

The annual NCAA basketball tournament, March Madness, is underway, and T-Mobile is renewing its customer perk by offering a free year of MLB.TV subscription to those who sign up before the deadline, coinciding with the start of the 2026 baseball season T-Mobile customers have a week to sign up for a free year of MLB.TV. In streaming news, HBO Max has officially launched in the UK and Ireland, marking a major step in its international expansion, and the platform further sweetened the deal by announcing its Harry Potter series adaptation will premiere on Christmas Day HBO Max finally launches in the UK and Ireland.

Telecom & Consumer Services

Major carriers are offering relief to customers facing financial strain, as Verizon announced it will waive late fees and provide flexible payment options for federal workers impacted by the ongoing partial Department of Homeland Security shutdown Verizon waives late fees for federal workers affected by partial DHS shutdown. In a less benign move for consumers, Sony is reportedly increasing the price of the PlayStation 5 console again, following a price hike implemented just last August, citing "challenging economic conditions" as the primary driver The PS5 is getting more expensive... again.

In messaging updates, WhatsApp has deployed a significant update that addresses several long-standing user complaints, introducing multi-account support, improved storage management tools, and simplifying the process for transferring data between phones WhatsApp’s big update fixes the three things users have been yelling about for years. Meanwhile, Meta faces scrutiny regarding its content moderation policies, as the Oversight Board advised the company that expanding its Community Notes feature outside the US poses "significant" risks without proper consultation Oversight Board tells Meta expanding Community Notes outside of US poses 'significant' risks.