Mobile News 3 Days

Last updated: July 2, 2026, 11:30 PM ET

Mobile Devices & Wearables

Samsung teases new foldables with a wide-screen focus, potentially including the Galaxy Z Fold8, Z Fold8 Ultra, and Z Flip8, ahead of an expected July 22nd launch in London. Leaked cases for these devices have also surfaced online, offering a glimpse at their design. Meanwhile, Apple reportedly planning a visual refresh for its entry-level MacBook Pro next year, and rumors suggest a foldable iPhone Ultra could debut alongside the iPhone 18 Pro series this September, with production targets climbing to 10 million units reportedly. The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are expected to feature a complex modem setup, utilizing two different modems due to a cyberattack on a supplier Tata. In other Apple news, a vulnerability in its Hide My Email service may expose real email addresses linked to anonymous ones reportedly.

Nothing officially revealed the design of a special RCB Edition of its upcoming Phone (4b), set to launch on July 7th with a Snapdragon chipset. The company has also confirmed an official launch date for its Ear (3a) TWS earbuds for later this month. Motorola is gearing up to unveil the Moto G77 Power on July 8th, with specs and design revealed on Flipkart in India. The Motorola Edge 70 Max has received Qi2 25W wireless charging certification, hinting at an upcoming release in the Edge 70 lineup.

Samsung's Galaxy Watch users in the U.S. will lose the Vascular Load feature this month, but it's being replaced with a blood pressure trend option as part of an update. Leaked bands for the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and Watch9 have also emerged ahead of their expected unveil at a Galaxy Unpacked event later this month. Samsung's Galaxy Glasses, running Android XR with One UI XR, are set to be managed via the Galaxy Glasses Manager app on smartphones. A new video leak offers a detailed look at the Samsung Galaxy Glasses from Sam Mobile. The Xreal ROG R1 smart glasses are positioned as a high-end wearable monitor, with a compelling alternative to traditional desk setups.

Google's Android 17 QPR1 Beta 6 is now available for Pixel users, marking a stable platform in preparation for the full quarterly release Beta 6. Pixel users have also reported an issue where phones are not alerting them to incoming calls, potentially stemming from Google's phone app itself. Instagram's Edits app, a competitor to Cap Cut, has added support for bilingual captions and new templates since its January launch.

AI & Cloud Computing

Meta reportedly building its own cloud business, which would place it in direct competition with established players like Amazon and Google. The company has also integrated major golf features and hands-free AI capabilities into its AI glasses through partnerships with 18Birdies and Arccos for enhanced tracking. However, Meta is now rate-limiting its smart glasses' Conversation Focus feature, restricting free usage to three hours per month and charging $20 for additional access a move criticized by users.

Cloudflare plans to filter out web crawlers that serve AI companies, aiming to give websites greater control over how their content is utilized for AI training data purposes. In the realm of AI development, a UN report indicates that policymakers are struggling to keep pace with the rapid advancements, emphasizing the need for better safeguards around AI technologies while noting it's neither inherently good nor bad. OpenAI's Sam Altman is reportedly floating the idea of leading AI companies granting U.S. sovereign funds a five percent equity stake in their businesses according to the Financial Times.

Anthropic has received U.S. government approval to redeploy its Mythos and Fable AI models starting July 1st for user access. The company's new Sonnet 5 model is designed to be more efficient at agentic tasks, which have been a significant cost driver for enterprise customers and power users according to Anthropic. Google's Notebook LM is leveraging AI to generate 60-second video summaries from research documents, potentially reducing the need for users to read extensive notes as users can now opt for video summaries. Gemini Spark is now accessible within the Gemini app for mac OS, bringing Google's agentic AI assistant to the platform for users.

Netflix has reportedly used AI to reintroduce Gene Wilder's voice into a new reality show, sparking debate about the ethical implications of voice synthesis in media production. Meanwhile, Threads is grappling with a massive crypto scam network that utilizes ubiquitous fake Mr. Beast "promotions" to deceive users.

Telecommunications & Networking

Amazon's satellite broadband service, Amazon Leo, is nearing deployment, with enough satellites now in orbit to launch the service, though its constellation remains significantly smaller than SpaceX's Starlink in scale. AT&T is expanding its Build-A-Plan program, initially launched for wireless perks, to now include home internet services following its May introduction. T-Mobile is scheduled to shut down its 2G network on August 3rd, making it the last U.S. carrier to do so this month. However, T-Mobile customers continue to face disruptions as the carrier retires its Kick Back program, potentially shifting some users to more expensive plans without prior notice. T-Mobile's latest perk for its Member Month promotion is a $60 Umbro jersey, a move that has been met with criticism from subscribers.

Verizon is offering numerous phone deals in July 2026, including opportunities for free phones when trading in devices or adding new lines through various promotions. Mint Mobile is advertising a limited-time "best offer ever" at $15 per month for wireless service, regardless of the plan chosen raising questions about its sustainability. WhatsApp is responding to an order from the Indian government to pause the planned rollout of its username feature, which allows users to communicate without sharing phone numbers ahead of its wider release.

Gaming & Entertainment

Sony plans to cease physical disc production for PlayStation games starting in 2028, a move that follows Rockstar's announcement of a digital-only release for Grand Theft Auto VI and signals a shift away from physical media. Xbox is reportedly testing a system to digitize disc-based games, potentially preserving physical purchases in an increasingly digital market for gamers. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is set to launch on Peacock on July 30th, following the significant success of the previous animated Mario film which grossed over a billion dollars. California's "Stop Killing Games" campaign has hit a roadblock, with a bill aimed at preserving online games failing to pass a committee vote for this legislative session. The messy saga surrounding Subnautica 2 has concluded with the departure of Unknown Worlds CEO for the second time.

Semiconductors & Hardware

Samsung is detailing its upcoming 2nm semiconductor nodes and discussing future 1.4nm nodes planned for 2029. The company is reportedly refusing to use BOE panels for the Galaxy S27, opting for its own displays despite potential cost savings from the Chinese supplier according to new reports. Apple is reportedly considering alternative RAM suppliers amidst a memory chip crisis, a potentially risky move to secure necessary quantities as per Bloomberg.

Other Mobile & Tech News

Google has lost its final appeal in the European Union regarding a $4.7 billion antitrust fine imposed in 2018, with Europe's highest court upholding the original decision. Meta has released an app called Pocket for creating generative AI games, though it appears unavailable in the U.S. at this time. The European market is seeing the launch of the Honor Magic V6 in the UK, with sales commencing at 10 AM local time following its European debut.

Apple Pay users with American Express cards can now utilize their Membership Rewards points for online purchases directly at checkout. X is making a renewed push for live video content by introducing new creator payouts and a live streaming command center for its users. The Samsung Messages app is set to cease functioning on most Galaxy phones this month a significant change for users.

In a move that could simplify travel, laptop chargers are becoming significantly easier to carry, largely due to advancements in charging technology making them more compact. The Commodore Callback 8020 flip phone is now available for pre-order at a reduced price of $399, down from its initial $499 offering following customer feedback. Fujifilm has launched special waterproof and black-and-white editions of its retro Quick Snap instant cameras for photography enthusiasts.

Motorola is reportedly developing earbuds with a luxury finish, and its Moto Tag 2 tracker may represent a more significant upgrade within the product line. Shark has introduced a new vacuum cleaner, the Power Detect Transformer, capable of converting into three different vacuum types offering versatility. Samsung's Music Studio 7 speaker is being positioned as a capable Sonos alternative that can perform double duty in a living room setting as a standalone device or in pairs.

The launch of the Redmi Note 17 series has been confirmed for China this month following earlier leaks. In India, the Oppo Reno16 and Reno16c have debuted, accompanied by Oppo Bubble tags expanding the product lineup. The iQOO Pad 5c tablet has been quietly launched in China, featuring a 12.1-inch display and a 10,000mAh battery joining the Pad 5 lineup.

A new leak details the camera specifications for Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Z foldables, including the Galaxy Z Fold8, Fold8 Ultra, and Flip8, ahead of their expected July unveiling by the company. Samsung is strongly hinting at an unveiling date for its next-generation foldables, with rumors pointing to July 22nd in London for a major event. The company has also initiated a viral marketing campaign across its Instagram accounts for the Galaxy Z Flip 8 and Fold 8 ahead of their launch.

The Commodore Callback 8020 flip phone is now available for pre-order with a day-one discount code valid throughout June 30th for early adopters. The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 earbuds,