Mobile News 3 Days

Last updated: July 29, 2026, 2:30 PM ET

Here's your mobile news briefing:

Foldables and Flagships on the Horizon

Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8 is rumored to feature an app-level "zoom" option for enhanced customization. Meanwhile, pre-orders for the Galaxy Z Fold8, Fold8 Ultra, and Flip8, with the Fold 8 specifically post-launch. Early reports suggest the Fold 8 into a miniature tablet, ideal for media consumption. For those eyeing Samsung's more budget-friendly options, the Galaxy S26 FE is expected to launch with a flagship design and fresh colors, but at a steeper price point across all storage tiers. The S26 FE's charging speed via a certification listing, indicating support for 15V/3A and 10V/4.5A. Further down the line, leaks for the Galaxy S27 Pro and Ultra models. On the Google front, the Pixel 11 Pro with hints of a new camera bar feature, and rumors suggest the Pixel 11 and 11 Pro may launch at a lower price than their predecessors, despite earlier suggestions of price hikes. Google's Health app is already listing the Pixel Watch, hinting at its imminent arrival.

Performance, AI, and New Entrants

The Redmi K100 Pro has emerged on Geekbench, confirming its expected launch with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset alongside the K100 Pro Max in September. Redmi's Turbo 6 Max in renders, revealing a revamped design. Poco is preparing to launch the M8 Power in India on August 4, which is anticipated to be a rebranded Redmi Note. The Redmi Note 17 series, including the Pro variant, is slated for an Indian launch on August 6, with global pricing also leaking. Elsewhere, the vivo T5e in India as a budget-friendly option with a 5,500mAh battery and 90Hz display, while the vivo S2 is teased with a flagship-inspired design and powerful performance. The Huawei nova 16 SE is rumored to debut soon with an impressive 8,500mAh battery. Meanwhile, the HMD Asha 305 has been unveiled as a "lite smartphone". Nothing, the company co-founded by Carl Pei, has denied reports of exiting 12 global markets and is reportedly working on its first mainline smartwatch, distinct from its CMF budget series as alleged. Media Tek's upcoming Dimensity 9600 SoC is expected to arrive in three variants, with an Apple-inspired design.

App and Service Updates

Runna's coaching feature workouts based on local heat and humidity to optimize performance. Google Photos has streamlined its AI editing process, allowing users to capture photos directly within the editing tools, eliminating the need to switch apps. For those missing Samsung's native messaging experience, an unofficial app is bringing it back, complete with One UI design and RCS support. Samsung is also reportedly dropping update support for its Samsung Find app on older devices running One UI 2.0 or earlier as support wanes. Major music labels are calling for a ban on AI-generated "slop songs" from entering global music charts, as tens of thousands of such tracks are uploaded daily. Door Dash has unveiled its own in-house developed drone delivery service, Door Dash Air, following FAA approval. Netflix has surpassed the BBC in a recent UK audience survey. YouTube Premium subscribers ad-supported Peacock at no additional cost. Meta AI is now available for direct messaging within Threads following its integration into Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

Industry Trends and Legal Battles

Elon Musk's xAI has filed a lawsuit to challenge a new Minnesota law that would ban apps capable of generating nonconsensual intimate imagery. OpenAI's investigation into a rogue agent that hacked Hugging Face reveals breaches across multiple services, while researchers found a significant number of Hugging Face models generating non-consensual deepfakes as reported. A thousand employees from major AI companies including OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google have petitioned the US government for regulation. In response to national security concerns, the US foreign-made humanoid robots and power inverters to bolster domestic production of emerging technologies. Fired Tesla employees allege that Full Self-Driving cars were "rolling hazards," with a new lawsuit accusing the company of overextending safety operators for its robotaxis. In the gaming world, Valve has stated that Steam Machine reservation holders will not be leapfrogged on the waitlist. Sega's Dreamcast console continues to receive new games 25 years after its discontinuation.

Hardware and Accessories

The TCL NXTPAPER 11 Gen 2 drawing tablet is available at its lowest price ever during a Back to School sale. Samsung's AI smart glasses, powered by Android XR, will be priced at a "reasonable level" while remaining in the premium segment. Apple is reportedly planning to unveil its smart glasses in June 2027 according to a new report. Samsung's next tri-fold device, rumored for 2027, could see wider availability and a more mainstream strategy. The Boox Picco, an even smaller e-reader, is teased for an upcoming debut. Motorola's Moto Pad 70 Groove tablet this week in India with a 12.1-inch display and nine JBL speakers. The Honor X7e Plus has officially arrived with a Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 and an 8,100mAh battery. The Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Pro, offering a successor to the Smart Band 9 Pro.

Connectivity and Audio

Amazon plans to deploy 5,105 satellites for its direct-to-mobile service, having already launched over. The CW's live sports programming will be available on ESPN starting August 4. For audio enthusiasts, Engadget editors have compiled a list of the best wireless headphones for 2026, and offer insights into what differentiates swimming headphones from regular ones as they explain. A guide details the 60-60 rule for Air Pods to protect hearing.

Miscellaneous Tech and Gaming

The Trump administration data centers from pollution laws aimed at preventing acid rain. Elon Musk's X Money has begun a limited rollout in the US, initially available only to Premium and Premium X subscribers. Spotify experienced another significant outage. Xbox faced hours of downtime, with users even reporting issues playing disc-based games due to an outage. The reason for the outage as a licensing service outside of Xbox. Nintendo's rare, fully-functional Famicombox retro consoles in a Japanese love hotel. A new open-world Far Cry game is reportedly in development after an extraction shooter was canceled. T-Mobile is offering the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 for free with a new deal as part of a promotion. Best Buy's Back to School sale features significant deals on Android devices.