Mobile News 3 Days

Last updated: July 25, 2026, 5:30 AM ET

Samsung Dominates Foldable and Wearable Markets with New Launches

Samsung has officially unveiled its latest foldable smartphones, including the Galaxy Z Fold8, Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, and Galaxy Z Flip8 unveiled its latest. These new devices are featuring silicon-carbon batteries for the first time, marking a significant battery upgrade. European Union listings have confirmed that these new foldables will have a shorter battery lifespan compared to previous models. The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra is going head-to-head with Motorola's first book-style foldable, the Razr Fold goes head-to-head. T-Mobile is offering the Galaxy Z Flip 8 for only $100 with a preorder deal, while also providing the Galaxy Z Fold8 for free and the Z Fold8 Ultra for $200. Samsung also introduced the Galaxy Watch9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, with the Watch 9 receiving expanded software support for five major Wear OS upgrades, up from four on previous models. Amazon is offering a $50 gift card for preordering the Galaxy Watch 9. Samsung is also launching its first credit card, the Galaxy Card, which offers cash rewards. The company also held a foldable-themed pop-up pub in London following its Unpacked launch event.

Smartphone Market Sees Rumors, Leaks, and Strategic Exits

New rumors suggest that the Samsung Galaxy S27 series will feature interesting upgrades to its cameras and batteries following the recent Unpacked event. More details have also leaked about the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S27, S27 Plus, S27 Pro, and S27 Ultra, including a new main camera sensor for the S27 and S27+ reiterated the fact. Samsung has reportedly fixed the Galaxy S26 Ultra's most annoying Privacy Display flaw with a new beta update, allowing PiP videos to remain private without dimming the rest of the screen. In other smartphone news, the Xiaomi 18 Pro is rumored to receive a global launch, a departure from last year's China-only release for its predecessors. Honor's Magic OS 11 early access program is now open for the Magic V6 in China, and the company is also preparing to unveil a new "Robot Phone" with partner Arri. The Honor Magic V6 is being compared against Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. The iQOO Z11 Lite has debuted in India with a 6,500mAh battery and a Dimensity 6300 SoC. Lava has launched its new Virat smartphone series, the Virat V1 and Virat V1 5G, with price tags under ₹15,000 ($155). The Oppo K15 has been quietly unveiled in China, featuring an active-cooling fan and an 8,000mAh battery. The Oppo Find X10 family is reportedly being tested against the iPhone 17 Pro, with live shots proving comparisons of their camera performance. The vivo S2 India launch could take place on August 6, with design and key specs already leaking. The One Plus N6x's launch date has been announced, and its design revealed. The nubia Navi X Ultra's key specifications have been tipped, following its unveiling in China. Meanwhile, rumors suggest that Nothing may follow One Plus in exiting multiple global markets, potentially leaving 12 or more markets.

Tech Giants Navigate AI, Data Centers, and Regulatory Landscapes

Meta has reportedly pulled out of a renewable energy initiative, now relying more on natural gas for its data centers, having committed to 10 natural gas plants since last year. The company is also cracking down on users who harass and record people with its smart glasses, banning those who make creepy content. Meta has also launched a storefront platform through Facebook Marketplace, professionalizing the experience with a new app called Seller. Google is expanding access to its Gemini Spark agentic AI assistant, making it available to more users. The company has also quietly been rebuilding Chrome on Android for years, resulting in a nearly 50% smoother experience due to behind-the-scenes engineering improvements that reduced scroll stutters by 48% since 2023. Google announced an upgraded Android Switch iOS migration tool for Android, now available on Samsung's latest foldables. Google Play is hosting 'The Auction' at SDCC, offering rewards for comic book fans that can be redeemed on-site or online. Google's "Selfie Video" feature literally turns your face into a key for your account, serving as an alternate sign-in method. US outlines its $5 billion Genesis Mission to boost science with AI, with several federal agencies contributing to the research efforts. More than 200 companies have signed onto Trump's non-binding Ratepayer Protection Pledge, aiming to protect consumers from data center price rises.

Gaming, Entertainment, and Hardware Updates Unveiled

Roku is increasing prices across its hardware range, reportedly due to industry-wide memory shortages. PlayStation Network experienced a massive outage, preventing players from logging in, playing online, or purchasing games from the PlayStation Store. Amazon Luna is getting a brand new Batman game next week, tying into the second season of Prime Video's animated show. Luna will also be integrated into the Prime Video app on Fire TV devices in the US and UK. Prime Video's Blade Runner 2099 series now has a trailer and a release date of November 25, starring Michelle Yeoh and Hunter Schafer. Avatar: Seven Havens also has a trailer and a release date of October 9, set in a post-apocalyptic tale after the events of The Legend of Korra. Xbox is testing free, ad-supported cloud gaming, borrowing from the GeForce Now playbook. Xbox is also bringing games from its original console to PC, complete with achievement support. Universal has secured rights for film adaptations of 10 Atari games, potentially leading to an Atari Cinematic Universe. Lego's latest Nintendo collaboration is a playable Donkey Kong arcade machine. The Anbernic RG SP looks like an awesome update to the Game Boy Advance SP, offering modern features. The new Lola x Miffy digital camera is described as extremely cute and ships with a themed wrist charm. Boox is teasing the incredibly tiny Picco ereader, featuring a 3.97-inch monochrome e-paper display.

Consumer Tech Insights and Industry Developments

Midjourney is acquiring the horoscope app Co-Star, with Co-Star CEO Banu Guler becoming the company's Chief Design Officer. Anthropic's latest model, Opus, can nearly match its top-performing model for half the price, offering top-tier performance at a reduced cost. Scientists have developed a handheld device for measuring when the body is burning fat by identifying the amount of acetone in your breath to determine ketosis. EV batteries could last much longer than initially predicted, with modern EV batteries outperforming expectations. Colorado is exploring new methods for EV battery recycling to address the growing end-of-life disposal problem. GoPro's Wireless Mic System offers an audio upgrade with some fixable flaws. GoPro's 13th Starship flight test launched carrying 20 V3 Starlink satellites as payload. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is expected to crash into the moon in August after drifting in space for over a year.

LG has promised to stop showing McAfee spam ads following pressure from Microsoft and user outcry. Some Android users find Google Play Protect to be too restrictive, and while it can be disabled, doing so carries risks. It's important to know which old cables are actually worth keeping to declutter your junk drawer. USB-B never became as popular as USB-A or USB-C for various reasons. The European Commission found Google's search ranking and anti-steering practices violated the Digital Markets Act, prompting Trump to threaten the EU with new tariffs.