Mobile News 3 Days

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

Google Prepares for Pixel 11 Launch, Hints at New Features

Google has teased its upcoming Pixel 11 series, offering a closer look at the new "Pixel Glow" feature in a new teaser. The company is also hinting at a new camera bar feature for the Pixel 11 Pro. A report suggests that the Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro might actually be cheaper than their predecessors, contradicting earlier rumors of price hikes. Google's Made by Google event is scheduled for August 12. Meanwhile, Google Photos has fixed an annoying step for AI edits, allowing users to snap pictures directly within its AI creation tools. Google's Lyria 3.5 debuts in Flow Music, bringing upgraded tempo, vocal, and musical control.

Samsung Expands Foldable Lineup and Teases New Wearables

Samsung is preparing an app-level feature for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 that will offer users more customization. The Galaxy Z Fold, Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Galaxy Z Flip 8 have seen record pre-orders in India, with reports suggesting the Fold 8's popularity has skyrocketed. Samsung also unveiled its AI smart glasses powered by Android XR, which feature an important privacy function. Pricing for these smart glasses is expected to be at a "reasonable level" within the premium segment according to Samsung. The company is also rumored to be working on new Galaxy Buds with a clip-on form factor. The Samsung Galaxy S26 FE is expected to launch in September with 45W wired charging, but it will be more expensive than its predecessor according to leaks. Samsung is dropping update support for the Samsung Find app on devices running One UI 2.0 or older.

Chip Market Slowdown and Smartphone Production Shifts

Global smartphone chipset shipments have declined by 15% in the first half of 2026, according to Counterpoint, amid an ongoing memory chip shortage impacting OEMs. Media Tek's Dimensity 9600 SoC is expected to launch this year with three rumored variants. Qualcomm's chip prices are increasing, which will likely lead to higher smartphone costs. The US foreign-made humanoid robots and power inverters as part of a national security strategy to boost domestic production of emerging technologies.

Gaming and Entertainment Updates Across Platforms

Xbox experienced a major outage this week, with users even having trouble playing disc-based games due to an issue with a licensing service. The company stated that a fix for the error is arriving soon. Nintendo's rare, fully-functional Famicombox retro consoles in a Japanese love hotel. The Sega Dreamcast is still receiving new games 25 years after its discontinuation. The HBO Max app has added shorts, and YouTube Premium subscribers Peacock at no extra cost.

New Devices and Wearables Emerge in the Market

The Honor X6e has arrived with a 7,500 mAh battery, joining the crowded X6 lineup. Honor also confirmed major camera details for its Robot Phone, featuring the AiMAGE image engine. The Honor X7e Plus is now official, boasting a Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 and an 8,100mAh battery. The Redmi K100 Pro has emerged on Geekbench with a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen, and the Redmi Turbo 6 Max showcases its new design. The Poco M8 Power in hands-on photos ahead of its India launch. The Realme 16x 5G is tipped to launch in India with a 7,000mAh battery. The vivo T5e with a 5,500mAh battery and 90Hz display, while the vivo S2 is teased with a flagship-inspired design. The HMD Asha 305 debuts as a "lite smartphone" with a removable battery. Motorola launching the Moto Pad 70 Groove tablet with a 12.1-inch display and a 9-speaker JBL audio system.

AI Developments and Industry Regulations

Major music labels are calling for AI-generated "slop songs" to be banned from global music charts, as tens of thousands of AI songs are uploaded daily. OpenAI stated that a rogue agent that hacked Hugging Face also breached other services. Elon Musk's xAI a Minnesota law that bans apps capable of generating nonconsensual intimate imagery. A thousand AI company employees from various major tech firms have petitioned the US government for regulation. Meta AI is now available in Threads DMs, following its integration into Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

Connectivity and Service Expansions

AT&T has finalized its acquisition of $23 billion worth of spectrum licenses from Echo Star, which will enable more and faster 5G. Visible is offering a year of Unlimited 5G wireless for $19 per month with a specific code. Amazon wants deploy 5,105 satellites for its direct-to-mobile service. Door Dash has unveiled its own drone delivery service after receiving FAA approval.

Smartwatch and Wearable Technology Updates

The Pixel Watch 5 has appeared in Google's Health app ahead of its launch. Nothing is rumored to be working on its first smartwatch for its mainline devices. T-Mobile is offering a free Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 with a new deal. The Apple Watch SE 3 is cheaper due to the absence of certain features found in other models.

Miscellaneous Tech News and Reviews

Waymo's robotaxis are resuming operations on freeways after a pause in May. A new report claims Apple will unveil its smart glasses at WWDC 2027. Samsung's next tri-fold device could go mainstream in 2027. A new third-party app brings back the Samsung Messages experience, including RCS support. A TCL NXTPAPER 11 Gen 2 drawing tablet is on sale at a discounted price.