Mobile News 3 Days

Last updated: July 8, 2026, 8:30 PM ET

Mobile Devices & Wearables

Pixel Watch 5 leaks suggest an August 12 unveiling alongside the Pixel 11 series. The upcoming smartwatch is expected to feature updated color options and pricing, though one report hints at a potentially unwelcome price increase for consumers Pixel Watch 5. Google's latest smartwatch operating system, Wear OS 7, is now rolling out to eligible Pixel Watch models, bringing new features. Meanwhile, the Pixel 11 might see its base storage doubled to 256GB, but at a higher cost. A post-Android 17 update is also rolling out for Pixel phones, focusing on security and bug fixes Pixel 11. Android's new automatic backup feature to PCs will reportedly exclude Samsung devices Android backup.

Samsung is gearing up for its next Galaxy Unpacked event on July 22 in London, where it is expected to reveal the Galaxy Z Fold8 and Z Flip8 series. Pre-reservations for these new foldables, alongside the Galaxy Watch9 and Ultra 2, have opened Galaxy Z Fold8. The upcoming foldables will be powered by a custom Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen for Galaxy chips. Leaks suggest a significant display upgrade for the Galaxy Z Fold 8, potentially addressing the persistent crease issue. Last year's Galaxy Z Fold 7 is still available and currently discounted by $500. Samsung's entire Galaxy S26 lineup is also seeing price reductions on Amazon. The company's Wearables app is undergoing a revamp to prepare for new watch releases Wearables app.

Xiaomi is set to launch its Redmi Note 17 series on July 14, with teasers highlighting the Pro model's durability against impacts and water Redmi Note 17 Pro. Leaks detail specifications for the vanilla, Pro, and Pro Max variants of the Redmi Note 17, with global certification also appearing for a Poco-branded twin Redmi Note 17. Further leaks reveal details about the Redmi Turbo 6 Max, a successor to the Turbo 5 Max.

Motorola has unveiled the Moto G77 Power in India, featuring a 7,000mAh battery. The company is also teasing the Motorola Edge 70 Max with magnetic wireless charging capabilities. Huawei is preparing to launch the Pura 90 series globally on July 14, following its Chinese debut. The company is also reportedly working on a smaller version of its MatePad Pro Max tablet.

In other mobile news, the Nothing Phone (4b) and Ear (3a) earbuds are launching soon, with leaks detailing the earbuds' call recording and playback saving features Nothing Ear (3a). The Nothing Phone 4b is described as a budget phone with flagship software promises. The iQOO Z11 Lite has been teased ahead of its launch iQOO Z11 Lite.

AI & Software

OpenAI has received approval to widely release its GPT-5.6 Sol, Terra, and Luna models to the public on July 9. Meta is developing an AI detector to identify images and videos created with its own AI models, though it imposes rate limits AI detector. The company is also rolling out a mandatory update for its smart glasses that will disable the camera if the privacy light is tampered with Meta smart glasses. In a similar vein, Solos' new AI glasses offer a clip-on privacy shield to block the camera on the Air Go A6 model Solos smart glasses.

Google is reportedly integrating Gemini into Google Maps to allow for food ordering directly within the app, potentially displacing dedicated delivery apps Google Maps ordering. The company is also now using uploaded search media to train its AI models, though users can opt out via settings Google AI training. Google Photos is rolling out a "Video Remix" feature that uses AI to alter recorded memories Video Remix. Android backups to PCs will now count against Google storage, though the impact is reportedly smaller than anticipated Android backup.

Amazon is working on a project codenamed 'Moonraker' to enable a more powerful, agentic Alexa assistant capable of handling multi-step tasks Alexa assistant. Separately, an AI character named Tilly Norwood is reportedly set to star in a feature-length film AI character movie. Reddit plans to combat AI-generated content with its own AI tools Reddit AI. The US government is reportedly looking to restrict the corporate use of Chinese AI models due to cost-saving measures by US companies US AI restrictions. The xAI account has officially rebranded to SpaceXAI, following its merger with SpaceX.

Gaming & Entertainment

Microsoft's Xbox division has seen significant changes, with reports indicating that Obsidian Entertainment is canceling the sequel to its game Avowed to focus on a Fallout title. Doom developer id Software is reportedly losing half its staff amidst these shakeups. Valve's Steam Machine is criticized for being overpriced and outdated. On the console front, Nintendo is planning to implement user-replaceable batteries in future Switch 2 units, a change that will begin this autumn. The original Switch 1 will cease sales in Europe in 2027 to comply with battery regulations.

In the streaming space, Roku remains a popular choice but is reportedly lagging behind competitors in key features. A lesser-known feature for night owls on Roku devices could improve late-night viewing experiences Roku feature. The trailer for the Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender series has been released, with a premiere date set for July 25 Avatar Aang. Hasbro and Scooby-Doo have collaborated on a unique Transformers figure Transformers Scooby-Doo.

Automotive & Hardware

Volkswagen is utilizing 100 sheep for vegetation management at a solar farm in Poland, a move described as a "baa-ter arrangement" Volkswagen sheep. Waymo is expanding its fully autonomous operations to four additional cities: San Diego, Las Vegas, Tampa, and Denver, eliminating human supervisors in these locations Waymo autonomous. The FTC has reached a settlement that will bring the right-to-repair to John Deere farm equipment, following a lawsuit filed last year.

LG's 77-inch OLED TV is currently available at a 50% discount at Best Buy, offering savings of $1,500 LG OLED TV. Rollme has introduced the AirCam, open-style earbuds featuring a built-in 8MP camera. Nothing's new Ear 3a earbuds can record calls and save audio with on-device storage.

Other Tech News

X has introduced a built-in video editor for its iOS app X video editor. The platform is also implementing a system where users will receive direct messages about posts that have received a Community Note correction, aiming to make these crowd-sourced corrections more prominent X Community Notes. A judge has approved a $1.5 million settlement between the SEC and Elon Musk regarding his past investment in Twitter SEC-Musk settlement.

Fi's new pet tracker utilizes T-Mobile's Starlink satellite service for enhanced coverage in rural areas. Duck Duck Go's browser now blocks video ads by default, including those on YouTube DuckDuckGo ads. The CE mark on electronics signifies compliance with European safety, health, and environmental protection standards CE mark. Nintendo will stop selling the Switch 1 in Europe in 2027 to comply with battery regulations Nintendo Switch 1. USB-C ports do not guarantee high speeds due to varying specifications USB-C speeds. NASA has released the most detailed images of the Centaurus A galaxy captured by the James Webb telescope James Webb telescope.