Mobile News 3 Days

Last updated: May 24, 2026, 2:41 AM ET

Android 17 & Google I/O 2026

Google's I/O 2026 keynote was almost entirely AI-focused, with the company rolling out Android 17 QPR1 Beta 3 alongside a raft of new Gemini-powered features. The update introduces a redesigned media app switcher that ditches the old carousel and adds a cross-device "Continue On" feature letting users seamlessly switch apps between phones and tablets — a move that clearly puts Google in catch-up mode to Apple. On the hardware front, Google showed off the Xreal Project Aura smart glasses, a VR headset crammed into eyewear that Android XR was built for, while Samsung's own Android XR glasses are expected later this year in what could be another risky "Glassholes" moment. Meanwhile, Google's search definitions have been replaced with AI Overviews, raising questions about accuracy after the engine struggled to define simple words like "disregard" and "ignore", and Eric Schmidt was booed onstage at the University of Arizona after making AI remarks during a graduation speech. Back at I/O, a brief on-stage moment had users theorizing Google had teed up a Pixel 11 teaser, and Gemini for Home expanded to carriers and hardware makers, opening the door for AI assistants beyond Google's own devices.

AI Price Wars & Industry Moves

The AI pricing war heated up this week as DeepSeek permanently slashed its flagship V4 model price by 75 percent, likely aimed at undercutting competitors. Anthropic, meanwhile, is reportedly on the cusp of its first profitable quarter since founding in 2021, while its Project Glasswing tool has already uncovered more than 10,000 vulnerabilities across partner systems. Anker joined the fray by debuting the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro earbuds powered by its new Thus AI chip, including one model with an AI note taker. On the enterprise side, Microsoft added ChatGPT to PowerPoint, letting most users generate slides with AI starting today, and Spotify began adding personalized AI features to podcasts and audiobooks. The week also brought darker headlines: Trump postponed his AI oversight executive order after last-minute pressure from industry leaders, and the Wall Street Journal reported that Iran funneled billions through Binance to fund its military despite sanctions.

Smartphone Launches & Foldable Race

Motorola brought its Razr Fold to the US and Canada this week, marking its first book-style foldable and packing a large silicon-carbon battery that charges at remarkable speed. The full 2026 Razr family is now available stateside, and the Razr 2026 remains the best budget flip phone you can buy despite a modest price bump, while the $1,500 Razr Ultra 2026 feels more like a refresh than a leap forward after two weeks of testing. Xiaomi unveiled the 17 Max with a 200MP main camera and 8,000 mAh silicon-carbon battery, and a teardown video surfaced within hours showing its internals in detail. The 17T and 17T Pro are set for a May 28 launch with telephoto cameras offering significant magnification, and Xiaomi also announced the Band 10 Pro and new clip-on earbuds alongside the Max. Oppo launched the Find X9 Ultra and Find X9s in India, with the Ultra becoming the brand's first Ultra phone in the country, though the rumored Find X10 Pro Max may never materialize. Honor teased the Win Turbo for a May 29 launch with key specs already leaking, while the Win 2 successor is rumored to pack upgraded internals and the Magic9 series reportedly gets battery upgrades across all three models. Realme expanded its 16 Series with the 16T, featuring a Dimensity 6300 SoC, 144Hz display, and an 8,000 mAh battery, and the Watch S5 debuted in India with a 1.43-inch AMOLED display and up to 20 days of battery life. HMD officially launched the Vibe 2 5G in India with a 6.75-inch screen and 6,000mAh battery.

Deals, Sales & Carrier Moves

Memorial Day sales brought steep discounts across the board: the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE and FE+ received the stable One UI 8.5 update as Samsung continues rolling out the new software, Best Buy knocked $150 off the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones, and the Samsung Galaxy Watch