Mobile News 3 Days

Last updated: July 2, 2026, 8:31 AM ET

Smartphone Launches & Updates

Oppo Reno16 series debuted in India, though the Pro model was omitted in favor of a new variant. Meanwhile, Redmi Note 17 series officially confirmed its July launch in China. In a move signaling brand consolidation, now pushing Oppo products on its German website, further blurring the lines between the two BBK Electronics subsidiaries. Nothing Phone (4b) is set to launch on July 7 with a Snapdragon chipset, and will feature an RCB Edition. Live images of the Nothing Phone (4b) have surfaced, confirming its design and color options. The upcoming Nothing Ear (3a) TWS earbuds also have an official launch date.

Samsung continues its aggressive foldable strategy with the Galaxy Z Fold8 and Z Flip8 rumored for a July 22 launch in London. Leaks have detailed the Galaxy Z Fold8's features and camera systems, with dummy units and cases also appearing online. Samsung has also begun teasing its "wide-as-hell" new foldable through a viral marketing campaign. The Galaxy Z Fold8 and Z Flip8 are expected to be officially unveiled at a Samsung Unpacked event. Elsewhere, Honor Magic V6 is now available in the UK, following its European launch. The vivo X Fold6 is also slated for a global release after its China debut.

Several new Samsung Galaxy A-series devices have seen activity. The Galaxy A37 is currently discounted on Amazon, while the Galaxy A27 has launched in India and is available for review. Samsung is also reportedly testing One UI 9 for the Galaxy A25. In a peculiar move, the Samsung Messages app will cease functioning on most Galaxy phones this month.

Privacy & Security Features

Opera's new security feature aims to combat malicious clipboard attacks, while WhatsApp is rolling out its username feature globally, allowing users to communicate without revealing their phone numbers. Reservations for these usernames are open this week. However, Apple's Hide My Email may not be as private as advertised, with a vulnerability reportedly linking anonymous emails to real ones. The US Supreme Court has also restricted the use of geofence warrants.

AI & Software Developments

The United Nations has released a report stating that policymakers struggling to keep pace with AI development, noting the technology is neither inherently good nor bad but requires better safeguards. OpenAI is reportedly seeking a five percent equity stake in leading AI companies for US sovereign funds. Google is leveraging AI to create video summaries of notes within its Notebook LM, and its Gemini app for mac OS now includes the Spark agentic AI assistant. Proton's Lumo chatbot has gained image generation and editing capabilities. Anthropic's new Sonnet 5 model is designed to be more efficient for agentic tasks that drive up enterprise costs, and the company has received US government approval to redeploy its Mythos and Fable AI models. Netflix has used AI to recreate Gene Wilder's voice for a reality show.

Gaming & Entertainment

Sony will cease physical disc production for PlayStation games by 2028, a move that follows Rockstar's announcement that Grand Theft Auto VI will be digital-only. Xbox is reportedly testing a feature to digitize disc-based games, though there are also reports of significant layoffs, potentially including the closure of Arkane Austin and the cancellation of the Blade game. A California bill aimed at preserving online games failed to pass committee. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie will launch on Peacock on July 30.

Hardware & Wearables

Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and Watch9 soon, with leaks suggesting a 5,000-nit display and an 800mAh battery for the Ultra. The company has also showcased its upcoming Samsung Galaxy Glasses, which will run Android XR. Meta has brought Discord natively to its Quest headsets, and its AI glasses are receiving in-depth golf integration. However, Meta is now paywalling a smart glasses feature that was previously free.

Amazon is preparing to launch its Leo satellite broadband service, though its constellation remains small compared to Starlink. T-Mobile is finally shutting down its 2G network on August 3, and is also phasing out older plans, forcing customers onto more expensive ones. Mint Mobile is offering a $15/month wireless deal, while Comcast is spinning off NBCUniversal and Sky.

Other Tech News

A report suggesting SpaceX is testing a handheld AI device has been denied by Elon Musk as "utterly false." Apple will face an appeal at the Supreme Court regarding its ongoing case with Epic Games. BMW has introduced an electric version of its X5 with an impressive 435-mile range. Getty Images has terminated its $3.7 billion merger with Shutterstock due to UK regulatory restrictions. Visa, Mastercard, Coinbase have launched a new global stablecoin. Fujifilm is releasing special waterproof and black-and-white editions of its Quick Snap instant cameras.