Mobile News 3 Days

Last updated: July 27, 2026, 2:30 AM ET

New Smartphone Launches and Rumors

Samsung has officially unveiled its 2026 foldable lineup, introducing the Galaxy Z Fold8 and the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra. The Galaxy Z Fold8 is designed with a shorter and wider 4:3 aspect ratio, aiming for enhanced media consumption and everyday usability. These new foldables incorporate silicon-carbon batteries for the first time, though EU listings suggest a shorter battery lifespan for the Z Fold8 Ultra. Pre-orders for the Galaxy Z Fold8 series, including the Z Fold8 Ultra and Z Flip8, are now open. The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra is being compared against Motorola's first book-style foldable, the Razr Fold. Samsung also skipped a Watch Ultra in 2025, opting for the Classic model instead, but the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 is now available for review. The Galaxy Watch 10 is expected to feature a slightly larger battery and improved speed compared to the Galaxy Watch 9.

In other smartphone news, the vivo X300 E has been officially launched in China, featuring a Zeiss-backed triple-rear camera system and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset. The Motorola Edge 70 Max is generating interest, with a poll suggesting it could be a hit if its price is reduced, boasting a 6.83” LTPO OLED display and a powerful chipset. Meanwhile, rumors suggest that Samsung is internally testing One UI, based on Android, for devices like the Galaxy S25 series, though the beta has only been released for the Galaxy S26 line so far. Upcoming Samsung devices, the Galaxy S27 series, may see significant upgrades with new camera sensors and battery technology. More details about the Galaxy S27, S27 Plus, S27 Pro, and S27 Ultra have leaked, reiterating the potential for upgraded main camera sensors on the S27 and S27+.

The Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Pro has launched globally, serving as a successor to the Smart Band 9 Pro. A new rumor claims that the Xiaomi 18 Pro will receive a global launch, unlike its predecessors. Honor has opened an early access program for Magic OS 11 on the Magic V6 in China. 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, in partnership with Flipkart, targeting youth and online buyers with prices under Rs. 15,000 ($155). Google has confirmed that price increases are expected for the Pixel 11 lineup.

Industry News and Tech Trends

Qualcomm, a major processor manufacturer for Android devices, is reportedly planning to increase its processor prices by the end of the summer. This move comes as Roku is increasing prices across its hardware range, reportedly due to industry-wide memory shortages. The EU has stated that TikTok has not done enough to ensure the safety of minors, potentially leading to fines of up to six percent of the platform's annual revenue. In a lawsuit, Warner Bros. Discovery has accused Amazon of poaching HBO employees and inducing them to breach their contracts.

Meta has walked back limits on its smart glasses' Conversation Focus feature for the time being, stating that it is still exploring options. The company has also launched a storefront platform through Facebook Marketplace, introducing an app called Seller to professionalize the existing marketplace. Meta has withdrawn from a renewable energy initiative, increasing its reliance on natural gas for its data centers, having committed to 10 natural gas plants since last year. In a surprising move, AI art generator Midjourney is acquiring the horoscope app Co-Star, with Co-Star's CEO also joining Midjourney as Chief Design Officer.

In a significant development, OpenAI's rogue agent reportedly remained active on Hugging Face for a week before the company detected the breach. Google has introduced new tools to simplify the creation of custom thumbnails for both short-form and long-form videos on YouTube. Gemini has received an update that improves its conversational memory, adding automation guidance and other refinements. Google is also introducing "Selfie Video" as an alternate account sign-in method for users who might be locked out of their accounts.

Gaming, Entertainment, and Other Tech

PlayStation Network experienced a significant outage, preventing users from logging in, playing online, or purchasing games from the PlayStation Store. Amazon Luna will feature a new Batman game next week, "Batman: Caped Crusader - Chronicles," which ties into the second season of the Prime Video animated show. Prime Video's "Blade Runner 2099" has released its trailer and is scheduled for a November 25th release, starring Michelle Yeoh and Hunter Schafer. The game "Avatar: Seven Havens" also has a trailer and an October 9th release date, set in a post-apocalyptic world after the events of "The Legend of Korra".

The Nanoleaf Smart LED Monitor Stand is now available for $169.99, designed to enhance desk space with integrated lighting. The Anbernic RG SP is being highlighted as an impressive update to the Game Boy Advance SP, offering modern features. The Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro Max is noted for its exceptional call quality.

In the realm of electric vehicles, modern EV batteries are reportedly lasting much longer than initially predicted, outperforming expectations. For PC users, the Alienware 15 is presented as a budget gaming laptop with good timing, despite a display that could be improved. For those managing their tech accessories, a guide suggests cleaning out old cables to keep only the essential ones.

Users can access a hidden developer menu within Android Auto to tweak settings. For YouTube Music listeners, adjustments can be made to enhance audio quality by using more data. The accuracy of calorie tracking on Apple Watches is questioned, as smartwatches gather limited data for precise calorie counting. Phones continue to lose battery charge even when powered off due to ongoing background processes. While airplane mode can make phones charge faster, it is not considered worth the trade-off compared to other methods. Google Play is hosting "The Auction" event at SDCC, offering rewards for comic book fans that can be redeemed on-site or online.