Mobile News 3 Days

Last updated: June 30, 2026, 11:32 PM ET

Mobile AI & Software Updates

Anthropic will allow users to access its Mythos and Fable AI models starting July 1, following a U.S. government approval. The company's newer Sonnet 5 model is designed to excel at agentic tasks, which have been a significant cost driver for enterprise clients and power users. In parallel, Google's Notebook LM is leveraging AI to transform lengthy research documents into concise video summaries, while its Gmail platform now offers a beta version of its Gemini Live AI feature for natural language inbox searches. Proton has also upgraded its Lumo chatbot with image generation and editing capabilities.

Foldable Phones & Device Launches

Samsung is strongly hinting at a July 22nd Unpacked event in London for its next generation of foldables, with case leaks for the Galaxy Z Fold8, Fold8 Ultra, and Flip8 surfacing online. The company has also teased a "wide-as-hell new foldable" and initiated a viral marketing campaign by wiping its social media accounts. Meanwhile, Nothing has confirmed the existence of its Ear (3a) TWS earbuds, with an official launch date set. The Commodore Callback 8020 flip phone is now available for pre-order at a reduced $399 price, with a day-one discount code valid on June 30.

Smartphone Hardware & Features

Motorola is reportedly developing its next smartphone with a charging feature that could see it beat Samsung to market, potentially offering Qi2 25W wireless charging as seen in a certification for the Edge 70 Max. The company has also introduced a luxury twist to its earbuds and a potentially significant upgrade with the Moto Tag 2 tracker. The Redmi K90 Ultra has launched in China featuring a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and a large active cooling fan. In India, the OnePlus N6 has debuted with a substantial 8,000mAh battery. Samsung's budget segment sees the launch of the Galaxy A27 in India and the Galaxy M47 with a Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 and 6,000mAh battery. Leaks suggest the iPhone 18 Pro will feature a new design and appear in a drop test, with screen specifications for the iPhone 18 series also rumored. Apple's first foldable iPhone, potentially named the iPhone Ultra, is also rumored to debut alongside the iPhone 18 Pro series on September 8.

Wearables & Audio

Samsung has confirmed the Galaxy Ring, with its successor anticipated in early 2027 with improved battery life. Leaks suggest the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 might feature a 5,000-nit display, an 800mAh battery, and enhanced durability. Amazfit is beta testing an iOS notification forwarding feature for its wearables. The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 earbuds are currently 50% off at Best Buy as part of their 4th of July sale.

Gaming & Entertainment

Discord is now available natively on Meta Quest headsets, following its announcement at last year's Meta Connect conference. The animated Super Mario movie, which grossed over a billion dollars, will launch on Peacock on July 30. Red Magic's esports-ready gaming tablet, known as the Astra 2 globally, has debuted in China and is preparing for an international release later in July. Reports suggest Xbox is planning layoffs, with cuts expected to begin next week, and union members are calling for transparency. A California bill aimed at preserving online games was rejected by a committee.

Industry & Business

Amazon will pay $2.25 to settle an FTC case regarding alleged violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Comcast is spinning off NBCUniversal Sky into a new entity, exiting the media business entirely. T-Mobile is retiring older plans, forcing customers onto newer, more expensive options. Uber has ceased offering Waymo rides in Phoenix, potentially shifting towards its own robotaxi services. Verizon and BT Group plan to combine their international enterprise operations into a joint venture, expected to finalize in 2027. Rocket Lab is acquiring satellite company Iridium, positioning itself to compete with Starlink and Amazon's Project Kuiper.

Privacy & Security

WhatsApp is rolling out usernames globally this week, allowing users to reserve them for later implementation, which will enable communication without revealing phone numbers and enhance privacy. A new report indicates that social media child safety do not function as advertised. The U.S. Supreme Court has issued restrictions on the use of geofence warrants. Details regarding sensitive iPhone suppliers were part of a data leak at Tata Electronics, impacting Apple's corporate secrets.

Price Changes & Deals

Walmart has doubled price of its entry-level Onn FHD streaming stick from $15 to $30. Several Poco phone models, including the F8 Ultra and F8 Pro, along with the X8 Pro and X8 Pro Max, are currently available at discounted prices. Samsung's Galaxy A37 and A57 are available at reduced prices in the UK until July 14.

Other Notable Developments

Netflix used AI to replicate Gene Wilder's voice for a reality show. Apple and Epic Games will have their long-running case heard by the Supreme Court, following Apple's appeal of a contempt finding related to App Store fees. Apple products are avoiding a price hike, for now. Tidal has announced a policy that will demonetize 100% AI-generated music, though it is not banning it outright.