Mobile News 3 Days

Last updated: May 28, 2026, 11:44 AM ET

Smartphones & Mobile Tech

Xiaomi has expanded its wearable and audio lineup, introducing the Smart Band 10 Pro, and the Sound Play speaker alongside its new 17T series phones. The 17T and 17T Pro models feature 5x periscope telephoto cameras and high-refresh displays, with the Pro variant boasting a substantial 7,000mAh battery, 10. Meanwhile, vivo is preparing to launch its first wireless over-ear headphones alongside the vivo S60 series on May 29, with design and key features already revealed. Motorola is also set to unveil the Edge 70 Pro+ in India on June 4, with preliminary Geekbench listings indicating key specifications. The U.S. smartphone market saw a mixed Q1, with one Android maker achieving significant gains, while Europe's market experienced a 2% growth but is projected to contract by 12% for the full year.

Samsung is pushing forward with its software updates, rolling out the One UI 9 Beta 2 for the Galaxy S26 series in select regions and the stable One UI 8.5 update globally for the Fold5 and Flip5. The Galaxy A26 is also receiving the One UI 8.5 update, though some users report missing video features that were expected. In a move that has raised privacy concerns, Samsung Wallet's digital passport feature is now available at over 250 U.S. airports, but online skepticism persists regarding its reliability and data security. The company is also reportedly testing the Galaxy Watch 8 in collaboration with Massachusetts General Hospital to explore its potential in preventing muscle loss for patients on GLP-1 medications like Ozempic.

Other smartphone news includes the surfacing of renders and specifications for the HMD Grand, expected to be powered by the Snapdragon 6s Gen. The RedMagic 11S Pro is now available globally, featuring a 7,500mAh battery, 144Hz display, Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 Elite Leading Edition chipset, and liquid cooling. Infinix has launched the Hot 70 with a thermo-paint feature, 6,000 mAh battery, and a 6.78-inch display. Honor has also quietly launched the Honor 600e with a Dimensity 7100 and 6,520 mAh battery, following the earlier debut of the Honor 600 and 600 Pro in China. The Samsung Galaxy A27 is slated for a second-half 2026 release with leaked full specifications, while the Oppo Find X10 lineup, expected in October, has also seen new details emerge.

Wearables & Health Tech

Oura has significantly advanced its smart ring technology with the launch of the Ring 5, which is 40% smaller than its predecessor and now includes blood pressure tracking capabilities. The company describes it as the 'world's smallest' smart ring. Google is also making waves in the fitness tracker market with the Fitbit Air, a screenless device designed to compete with offerings like Whoop. While early users have reported some issues with a missing software update, Google has assured it will accelerate its rollout. Ultrahuman, known for its smart rings, is branching out with the introduction of the Photon, a $249 red light therapy device now available for pre-order.

Computing & Gaming

Intel is re-entering the portable PC gaming arena with its new Arc G-Series chips, which will power a new generation of gaming handhelds. The Acer Predator Atlas 8 is among the first handhelds to feature these chips, supporting up to Arc B390 graphics and XESS 3 upscaling. On the laptop front, Qualcomm has announced the Snapdragon C chip, aimed at entry-level Windows laptops targeting a $300 price point. Asus has also unveiled the VM441QA all-in-one PC in India, marking the industry's first all-in-one PC to run on a Qualcomm Snapdragon X processor.

Valve has implemented significant price increases for its Steam Deck, with some models now costing up to $300 more. In the gaming software space, Bungie has provided more details on Marathon's new season, with its first open play week starting June 2. PlayStation Plus subscribers can look forward to Grounded joining the monthly games lineup, alongside a Destiny 2 collection for Extra and Premium members. Epic Games has offered a first look at Unreal Engine 6, showcased through a Rocket League makeover, though a release date for the new engine remains unannounced.

Home & Networking

TP-Link has unveiled a Wi-Fi 8 router, despite the standard not yet being finalized. The company faces potential sales restrictions in the U.S. due to a recent ban on routers manufactured outside the country. For those seeking wired internet performance without running Ethernet cables, advancements in adapters offer alternatives to Wi-Fi. In smart home technology, Nuki's Smart Lock Ultra has been in use for a year, demonstrating elegant design, top-tier security, and broad smart home platform compatibility.

AI & Software

YouTube is integrating AI into its platform by allowing users to offload playlist curation to artificial intelligence. This follows the platform's earlier feature for detecting and labeling AI-generated videos. Google is also enhancing the credibility of its AI Overviews in Search by introducing a Preferred Sources feature. For users concerned about privacy on their Android devices, Bitdefender is promoting its all-in-one privacy solution. Meanwhile, Erin Brockovich has launched a crowdsourced map of AI data centers, aiming to provide a platform for public concerns regarding these facilities.

Other Notable News

Apple has increased trade-in valuations for most older iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Watches, reflecting a broader trend of electronics retaining more value. Samsung's Galaxy users can now use their phones as a digital passport at TSA checkpoints through Samsung Wallet, though initial online reactions have been mixed due to privacy concerns and skepticism about airport support. In a surprising development, Motorola allegedly inserted affiliate codes into users' Amazon orders, a move the company claims was "unintended." The Justice Department has reportedly subpoenaed Reddit and X for the identities of users who posted about ICE.