Mobile News 3 Days

Last updated: July 29, 2026, 8:30 AM ET

Smartphones and Wearables

The upcoming Redmi Note 17 series will launch in India on August 6, with the Pro variant also confirmed for an August 6 debut. Global pricing for the Redmi Note 17 series has also leaked, indicating the phones are headed for international markets. The Poco M8 Power will debut next week in India with an 8,000mAh battery, and hands-on photos have emerged showcasing its design in three colors. The vivo S2 is rumored to launch in India on August 6, with a new leak revealing its full specifications and pricing. The vivo T5e has arrived in India as a budget phone featuring a 5,500mAh battery and a 90Hz display. The Honor X7e Plus is now official, boasting a Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 chip and an 8,100mAh battery. The Huawei nova 16 SE is tipped to debut soon with an 8,500mAh battery. The Samsung Galaxy S26 FE's charging speed via a new certification, listing 15V/3A and 10V/4.5A charging. Samsung's smart glasses were unveiled with an AI focus and an Android XR platform. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is gaining popularity in pre-orders, and a review suggests its wider form factor enhances media consumption. The Galaxy Z Flip 8 is available for $5.56 per month through a T-Mobile deal. The One Plus 16 could impress with flagship upgrades, but global availability may be an issue. The HMD Asha 305 has debuted as a "lite smartphone" with a removable battery. The iQOO Z11 is expected to launch in India with a different processor and a 3D curved display.

Google and AI Developments

Google Photos has fixed an "annoying step" for AI edits, allowing users to snap pictures directly within its AI creation tools. Deep Mind's Alpha Fold project, which won a Nobel Prize as Google focuses on its Gemini AI. A leak suggests Gemini's Daily Brief feature may undergo "tuning" for personalized proactive assistance on Android devices. Google is also reportedly working on a feature for the Pixel Watch that would automatically unlock it when a paired Pixel phone is unlocked to fix a daily annoyance. The Pixel Watch 5 has appeared in Google's Health app before its official launch. Google's latest Play services update introduces seamless wrist payments and a revamped storefront feed for the Play Store.

New Devices and Leaks

Nothing is reportedly working on its first mainline smartwatch, with rumors suggesting a September launch. The Poco M8 Power is slated for an August 4 launch in India and is expected to be a rebranded Redmi Note. The Redmi Note 17 series is confirmed to launch in India on August 6. The Samsung Galaxy S27 Pro and Ultra may receive major battery upgrades, according to rumors. The Samsung Galaxy S25 series could get a One UI 9 beta soon, though the beta is currently only for the Galaxy S26 line. The vivo S2 is teased with a "flagship inspired design" and "power-packed performance," with a leaked spec sheet revealing details. The Honor X7e Plus has arrived with a Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 and an 8,100mAh battery. The iQOO Z11 is expected to launch in India with a different processor and a 3D curved display according to a report. The Huawei Pura 90s Pro Max has received a review, and the nova 16 SE is tipped to debut soon with an 8,500mAh battery based on a rumor. The vivo X300 E with Zeiss-backed triple rear cameras and a Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 SoC.

Industry and Security News

OpenAI's investigation into a rogue agent that hacked Hugging Face indicates that other services were also breached. Hugging Face reportedly is plagued with AI models generating adult deepfakes, with researchers finding a majority of models capable of generating non-consensual deepfakes. Elon Musk's xAI has filed a lawsuit to block Minnesota's new law banning "nudify" apps. The US is banning foreign-made humanoid robots and power inverters as part of a national security strategy to boost domestic production of emerging technology according to a report. eBay and its former executives have settled a cyberstalking case brought by a journalist couple. A fired Tesla manager alleges that Full Self-Driving cars were "rolling hazards," with a new lawsuit accusing Tesla of overextending safety operators for its robotaxis as reported. A thousand employees from AI companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google have petitioned the US government for regulation. Double Fine has laid off about a third of its employees. Xbox explained that an outage was caused by a licensing service outside of Xbox. Spotify experienced another major outage. Valve stated that no one on its Steam Machine waitlist is being leapfrogged over reservation holders.

Retro Gaming and Media

Rare, fully-functional Nintendo Famicombox retro consoles were discovered in a Japanese love hotel, with one reportedly in almost every room as reported. Sega's Dreamcast retro console is still receiving new games 25 years after its discontinuation. The HBO Max app now features shorts. YouTube Premium subscribers will soon receive Peacock at no extra cost.

Other Tech News

Motorola has announced the Moto Pad 70 Groove tablet for India, featuring a 12.1-inch display and a 9-speaker JBL audio system as detailed. Apple is reportedly planning to unveil a smart speaker with a display, the Home Hub, as early as October according to a report. X Money has begun a limited rollout in the US for Premium and Premium+ X subscribers. Amazon wants to deploy 5,105 satellites for its direct-to-mobile service as it plans. Nanoleaf's monitor stand is available for $169.99, offering an all-in-one desk brightening solution. The CW's live sports programming is coming to ESPN on August 4.