Mobile News 3 Days

Last updated: July 8, 2026, 11:30 PM ET

AI and Software Updates

OpenAI will make its GPT-5.6 Sol, Terra, and Luna models available to the public starting July 9. Google is enabling an automatic backup to PC feature for Android devices, though it will exclude Samsung phones. The company is also reportedly training its AI on user-uploaded search media, but users can opt out through settings train AI. Meanwhile, Meta has developed an AI detection tool to identify images and videos created with its own models, and is also rolling out a mandatory update to its smart glasses that will disable the camera if the privacy light is tampered with. Duck Duck Go Browser will now block video ads, including those on YouTube, by default. Google Photos is rolling out "Video Remix," a feature that uses AI to alter videos. Reddit plans to use AI to combat AI combat AI.

Smartphones and Mobile Devices

Samsung is preparing for its next Galaxy Unpacked event on July 22 in London, where it is expected to officially unveil the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 series. Pre-reservations for these new foldables, along with the Galaxy Watch, Watch Ultra, and Galaxy Able, are now open open reservations. The upcoming foldables will feature a custom Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor. Leaks suggest the Galaxy Z Fold 8 will have a significant display upgrade, possibly addressing the crease issue. Last year's Galaxy Z Fold 7 is currently available at a $500 discount. The entire Samsung Galaxy S26 lineup is also seeing discounts on Amazon.

Xiaomi will unveil the Redmi Note 17 series on July 14, with details emerging about the vanilla and Pro models, including Gorilla Glass Victus for the Pro. The Redmi Turbo 6 Max is also reportedly in development. Motorola has unveiled the Moto G77 Power in India with a 7,000mAh battery. The company is also teasing the Motorola Edge 70 Max, which will feature magnetic wireless charging. Huawei is preparing to launch the Pura 90 series globally on July 14, following its China debut in April. The company is also rumored to be working on a smaller Mate Pad Pro Max and plans to release dual and tri-foldable devices this year, with a wide foldable expected next year.

Nothing is launching its Phone (4b) and Ear (3a) earbuds soon. The Ear (3a) earbuds will feature call recording and on-device storage for saved audio. The Phone (4b) is described as a flashy budget phone with flagship software promises. Honor is rumored to be developing a wide foldable device with a large battery. The vivo T5 Lite 5G has been teased with a 6,500mAh battery, and the vivo Y500 4G is official with an 8,100 mAh battery.

Wearables and Smart Home

The upcoming Pixel Watch 5 may come with a higher price tag, disappointing those waiting for its release. Wear OS 7 has been released and is available for eligible Pixel Watch models, bringing new features. Samsung's Wearables app is reportedly getting a revamp in preparation for new watch releases. The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is still available at a discounted price post-Prime Day. Marshall has launched its next-generation Acton and Stanmore speakers with customizable buttons. Google is enabling a surround sound option for the 2026 Google Home Speaker, allowing it to pair with Google TV Streamers.

Amazon is reportedly developing a more advanced "agentic" Alexa assistant, codenamed 'Moonraker,' to handle multi-step tasks more effectively. The Fi Ultra pet tracker will utilize T-Mobile's Starlink satellite service for coverage in rural areas. Rollme has introduced the Air Cam, open-style earbuds with a built-in 8MP camera. Solos is launching new smart glasses, including the Air Go V2, starting at $299, with a focus on privacy and comfort, offering a camera-free option and a clip-on shield for other models.

Gaming and Entertainment

Microsoft has reportedly canceled the sequel to Obsidian's Avowed, with the studio now focusing on a Fallout game. Doom developer id Software is reportedly losing half its staff amid shakeups at Xbox. The Steam Machine is not considered worth the price Valve is asking. Nintendo will stop selling the Switch 1 in Europe in 2027 to comply with battery regulations. The Nintendo Switch 2 will feature a user-replaceable battery in new units sold in Europe starting this autumn. A new trailer and July 25 release date have been announced for Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender.

Other Tech News

Volkswagen is using 100 sheep to manage vegetation at a solar farm in Poland. Elon Musk stated that X will use Direct Messages to notify users about posts that have received a Community Note, aiming to make these crowd-sourced corrections more noticeable. A judge approved a $1.5 million SEC-Musk settlement over Musk's past statements regarding Twitter investments. LG is offering a 50% discount on its 77-inch OLED TV at Best Buy, saving customers $1,500. Roku remains the most popular streaming device, but it lags behind competitors in several key areas. Waymo plans to operate fully autonomous vehicles in four additional cities: San Diego, Las Vegas, Tampa, and Denver.

Google has released its first post-Android 17 update for Pixel phones, focusing on security and bug fixes. Google's next Pixel event is scheduled for August 12 at 6 PM ET, where the Pixel 11 series is expected to be unveiled. Leaks suggest the Pixel 11 will double its base storage to 256GB but come with a price increase. A bug in Discord's safety systems may have resulted in approximately 8,200 incorrect bans since May. A judge has ruled that the Pentagon must grant Alibaba a reprieve from its placement on a list of Chinese military companies.