Mobile News 3 Days

Last updated: July 25, 2026, 11:30 PM ET

New Samsung Foldables and Smartwatches Unveiled

Samsung has officially launched its next generation of foldable smartphones, including the Galaxy Z Fold, Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Z Flip 8. The company also introduced a pair of new smartwatches alongside the foldables launched a pair of new smartwatches. EU listings have confirmed that the new Galaxy foldables, specifically the Z Fold 8 Ultra, will feature shorter battery lifespans due to the incorporation of silicon-carbon batteries for the first time. In a separate development, pre-order deals for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 are available, with T-Mobile offering the Z Flip 8 for $100 and the Z Fold 8 Ultra for $200. Amazon is also offering a $50 gift card for those who pre-order the yet-to-be-released Samsung Galaxy Watch 9. Samsung has expanded software support for the Galaxy Watch 9 and Watch Ultra 2 to five major Wear OS upgrades, an increase from four on previous models. The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is now in for review, promising improvements over its predecessor.

Smartphone Market Trends and Rumors

Motorola's upcoming Moto Edge 70 Max is generating interest, with poll results suggesting it could be a hit, provided it receives a price cut. Google is confirming price increases are on the horizon for its Pixel 11 lineup, with new leaked renders revealing all available color options for the series. Qualcomm is reportedly planning to raise processor prices by the end of the summer, and is also allegedly working on a new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC for later this year. The European Commission has found Google's search ranking and anti-steering practices to violate the Digital Markets Act, prompting threats of new tariffs from Trump in response GDPR fine. Additionally, Google has been quietly rebuilding Chrome on Android for years, resulting in a nearly 50% smoother user experience due to reduced scroll stutters.

Global Market Shifts and Company Strategies

One Plus has announced its exit from North American and European markets, and a new report suggests that Nothing may follow suit, potentially exiting 12 or more global markets. Chinese smartwatches like the Oppo Watch X3 are rarely sold in the US, with the device reportedly ready but the business side not yet established. Honor's Magic V6 is being compared against Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, following Samsung's major Unpacked reveals. Honor has also opened its Magic OS 11 early access program for the Magic V6 in China. Meta is expanding its reach by launching a storefront platform through Facebook Marketplace with a new app called Seller. The EU has given antitrust approval to the Saudi-led $55 billion takeover of EA, though the deal is not yet finalized.

AI Developments and Smart Device Updates

Google's Gemini has received an update that refines its conversational memory, adding automation guidance and more. Google is also expanding access to its Gemini Spark agentic AI assistant. Uber is laying off 10 percent of its customer service team, opting to use AI instead using AI. Anthropic's latest model, Opus, claims to nearly match its top-performing model at half the price. Meta has walked back limits on its smart glasses' Conversation Focus feature for now, stating that it is "still exploring all our options". Instagram is now banning users who create "creepy content" with Meta glasses, cracking down on harassment and recording.

Gaming and Entertainment News

PlayStation Network experienced a massive outage, preventing players from logging in, playing online, or purchasing games. Amazon is bringing its Luna game streaming service to the Prime Video app, initially on Fire TV devices in the US and UK. Xbox is testing free, ad-supported cloud gaming, adopting a strategy similar to GeForce Now. Universal has secured the rights for film adaptations of 10 Atari games, potentially leading to an Atari Cinematic Universe. "Blade Runner 2099" on Prime Video now has a trailer and a release date of November 25, and "Avatar: Seven Havens" also has a trailer and an October 9 release date.

Hardware and Tech Updates

The Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro series boasts a "mind-blowing" feature for call quality that is difficult to believe. Roku is increasing prices across its hardware range, reportedly due to industry-wide memory shortages. Anbernic has released the RG SP, which is described as an awesome update to an iconic Game Boy. Boox is teasing the incredibly tiny Picco ereader, featuring a 3.97-inch monochrome e-paper display. GoPro's Wireless Mic System offers an audio upgrade but comes with some fixable flaws. Sony's FX5 cinema camera now offers open gate and RAW 5K recording, potentially foreshadowing features for its consumer mirrorless lineup.

Miscellaneous Tech and Industry News

The EU has stated that TikTok has not done enough to ensure minors' safety, with potential fines reaching up to six percent of the company's annual revenue. Meta is relying more on natural gas for its data centers and has withdrawn from a renewable energy initiative, committing to 10 natural gas plants since last year. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is expected to crash into the moon in August after drifting in space for over a year. Scientists have developed a handheld device for measuring when the body is burning fat by analyzing acetone levels in breath. LG has agreed to stop showing McAfee spam ads on its monitors following user complaints and pressure from Microsoft.