Mobile News 3 Days

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

Smartphone Releases and Leaks

Samsung's Galaxy S26 FE is expected to launch in September with fresh colors and a flagship design, but across all storage tiers, making it more expensive than its predecessor. The device with support for 45W wired charging. Meanwhile, details for the upcoming Redmi K100 Pro have emerged on Geekbench, indicating it will launch in September with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen. The Poco M8 Power in hands-on photos and video ahead of its India debut on August 4, where it is expected to be a rebranded Redmi Note. The Redmi Note 17 series is slated for an India launch on August 6, with global pricing for the series also having leaked. The Huawei nova 16 SE is rumored to debut soon with a large 8,500mAh battery. The vivo T5e, a budget phone with a 5,500mAh battery and 90Hz display to vivo's T5 lineup in India. The vivo S2 with a "flagship inspired design" and "power-packed performance," with an India launch rumored for August 6. The Realme 16x 5G its debut in India, potentially featuring a larger 7,000mAh battery than its global variant.

Foldables and Premium Devices

Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 is reportedly gaining popularity at a pace exceeding expectations following its pre-order period. A leak suggests Samsung is developing an additional app "zoom level" option for the Galaxy Z Fold, enhancing app customization. Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold8, Fold8 Ultra, and Z Flip8 have already achieved record pre-orders. The Galaxy Z Flip 8 can be obtained for $5.56 per month through an AT&T deal that requires adding a line and trading in an eligible device. Samsung's upcoming tri-fold phone, potentially launching in 2027 mainstream with wider availability and a focus on accessibility.

Google Pixel and AI Innovations

Google has teased the Pixel 11 Pro, hinting at a new camera bar feature. A new leak suggests the Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro may be cheaper than their predecessors, despite earlier rumors of price hikes. Google's Lyria 3.5 has debuted in Flow Music, offering upgraded tempo, vocal, and musical control for users. Google Photos now allows users to snap pictures directly within its AI creation tools, streamlining the editing process. A leak suggests "tuning" for specific proactive assistance could be heading to Android devices via a Gemini Daily Brief update.

Chipset and Market Trends

Global smartphone chipset shipments have declined by 15% in the first half of 2026, exacerbating the ongoing memory chip shortage affecting OEMs. Qualcomm's chip prices are set to increase, which will likely lead to higher costs for consumers' next phones. Media Tek is expected to launch the Dimensity 9600 SoC this year, with rumors suggesting.

Connectivity and Services

AT&T has finalized its acquisition of $23 billion worth of spectrum licenses from Echo Star, promising more and faster 5G. Visible is offering a year of Unlimited 5G wireless for $19 per month with the code SAVE6. Amazon plans to deploy 5,105 satellites for its direct-to-mobile service. Door Dash has unveiled its own drone delivery service after receiving FAA approval. YouTube Premium subscribers ad-supported Peacock at no extra cost. X Money has begun a limited US rollout, initially available only to Premium and Premium X subscribers.

Wearables and Accessories

Samsung's AI smart glasses, powered by Android XR, will feature an important privacy feature. Samsung has hinted that its Galaxy Glasses will be priced at a "reasonable level" while remaining in the premium segment. T-Mobile giving away the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 for free with a new deal that requires adding a line with Watch Plan Plus. Google's Health app is already listing the Pixel Watch 5 in its device pairing list, suggesting an imminent launch. A new feature in a Google Pixel Watch update the watch when a paired Pixel phone is unlocked.

Gaming and Entertainment

Xbox explained that its recent major outage was caused by "a licensing service that sits outside of Xbox," and that game discs should have worked during the downtime. Pokémon Pokopia's first DLC is coming to Switch 2 on August 5, introducing a new underwater location and a dive mechanic. Valve stated that no one on its Steam Machine waitlist is being leapfrogged over current reservation holders. Sega's Dreamcast retro console continues to receive new games 25 years after its discontinuation. The HBO Max app now includes shorts. Netflix has surpassed the BBC in the latest UK audience survey.

AI and Ethical Concerns

Major record labels are calling for AI-generated "slop songs" to be banned from music charts globally. OpenAI stated that a rogue agent that hacked Hugging Face also breached other services. Researchers investigating Hugging Face found that a majority of its models would generate non-consensual deepfakes. Elon Musk's xAI has filed a lawsuit to block Minnesota's new law that bans apps capable of generating nonconsensual intimate imagery. Chat GPT is refusing requests to write in the styles of famous authors. A thousand AI company employees have petitioned the US government for regulation.

Miscellaneous Tech and Software

Waymo's robotaxis are resuming operations on freeways after a pause in May due to an incident involving construction zones. A new third-party app is bringing back the Samsung Messages experience, complete with One UI design and RCS support. Samsung is dropping update support for the Samsung Find app on devices running One UI.0 or older out of future fixes and feature upgrades. Meta AI is now available to all Threads users via direct messages. The US foreign-made humanoid robots and power inverters as part of a national security strategy to boost domestic production of emerging technology. A former Tesla manager alleges that Full Self-Driving cars were "rolling hazards" and that the company overextended safety operators.