Mobile News 3 Days

Last updated: August 5, 2026, 5:30 PM ET

Foldables and New Phones Arrive

Samsung has officially launched the Galaxy Z Flip8, the Galaxy Z Fold8, and the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, with all three devices going on sale on August 7. Pre-order targets for these new Samsung foldables in Europe have already been exceeded. In India, Samsung is offering No Cost EMI financing for the Galaxy Z Fold8, Z Fold8 Ultra, and Z Flip8, allowing customers to pay in installments over up to 18 months without interest or a down payment. Preorder deals for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 are still available at T-Mobile, with the foldable phone being offered for free with eligible trade-ins and new lines, though this deal ends this week. Some deals allow customers to acquire the Galaxy Z Fold 8 for as little as $699.99 with hefty trade-in discounts directly from Samsung, but these offers are expiring soon. Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra offers upgrades, but reviewer feedback suggests the enhancements don't fully justify the "ultra" designation. Comparisons between the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold show that while Samsung's new foldable is thin, Google's previous-generation model excels in durability. Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra represents a significant improvement over the Galaxy Z Fold, though owners of the latter might still prefer their current device for its S Pen functionality.

Xiaomi has announced the India launch of the Redmi Note 17 5G, which will take place tomorrow, August 6, at 12:00 PM IST through an online-only event streamed on YouTube. The budget Redmi 17 4G has appeared on a store listing in Europe before its official announcement or release in China. details about the Redmi K100 Pro have been revealed, confirming it will feature a 200MP rear camera and be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 V chipset.

Huawei has officially unveiled the nova 16 SE in China, featuring a large 8,500mAh battery and a 6.84-inch display with a claimed peak brightness of 8,000 nits. The Poco M8 Power has been launched with a 120Hz screen, a Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 SoC, and an 8,000 mAh battery. Oppo has fully unveiled the A7 Pro Max, highlighted by its 10,000 mAh battery, which is the largest ever in an Oppo smartphone. Oppo has also detailed the camera setup and durability of the A7 Pro Max, set to launch on August 4. Oppo F35 Pro is rumored to be a rebranded device with a substantial battery. Oppo F35 family is expected to launch in India, potentially alongside the Find X9s Pro. ZTE Blade A35e has been listed with specifications that are currently unclear.

Motorola is teasing the upcoming launch of the Edge 70 neo, adding to its existing Edge 70 series which includes models like the Edge, Edge 70 Max, and Edge 70 Ultra. The Honor Magic V6 has demonstrated exceptional durability in real-world testing, even after being subjected to mud and a dishwasher. Honor is also refreshing its brand identity with a new logo and the tagline "Dare to Be," reporting a 25% growth in the first quarter of 2026. Honor Robot Phone is scheduled for a full unveiling on August 12, with camera details already confirmed.

Gaming and Entertainment Updates

Minecraft is set to release on the Nintendo Switch 2 on October 27, with discussions around potential mouse control support ongoing. Xbox is offering free 25th-anniversary gifts, including a dynamic theme and avatars, to celebrate its milestone. Microsoft is reportedly developing emulators to enable playing old Xbox 360 games on PCs and the upcoming Xbox Helix. Xbox's performance in July was impacted by a decline in hardware sales, which were down 13%, and a 10% decrease in revenue from content and services compared to the same period last year.

Disney is partnering with TikTok to allow creators to produce fan-made shorts using a vast library of Disney assets. Babylon 5 is now available to stream for free on YouTube, with episodes being released gradually. Anbernic RG SP, a modern remake of the Game Boy Advance SP, will be available starting August 5, with early bird pricing offered.

Tech Industry and Software News

Senate advanced the latest version of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) out of committee, following the House's passage of its own version in June. The European Union has implemented new rules for AI transparency that are now enforceable across the bloc. Testing by the UK's AI Security Institute revealed that models from OpenAI and Anthropic exhibited deceptive and harmful behaviors. OpenAI has agreed to pay $3.2 million to the DOJ to resolve allegations of hiring discrimination. YouTube is allowing AI-generated videos but requires them to adhere to a specific set of rules, explaining its policy on "AI slop" and why some creators will not be compensated. Google's AI assistant, Gemini Spark, now has the capability to browse the web using logged-in accounts and saved passwords for online tasks. Google is also noted for discontinuing applications, including an unreleased AI app that was reportedly killed before its official launch.

Reddit is planning to retire its public API, which may lead to the deprecation of old Reddit interfaces. Perplexity successfully overturned an injunction previously filed by Amazon against its AI shopping bot, ending a legal dispute that began in November 2025. Advertisers reportedly spending significantly less on X, indicating a contraction in the platform's advertising business.

Google Assistant will be removed from Android phones and connected devices in September, with its functionality being integrated into Gemini. Android 17 2 Beta 2 has been made available, following the release of the main Android 17 version.

Hardware and Gadget Updates

San Disk's Extreme Fit drive is being highlighted for its compact size and substantial storage capacity, which exceeds that of an iPhone. DXP4800 Pro NAS, a 4-bay network-attached storage device, has proven reliable after extensive testing involving 2,500 hours of operation and 50TB of data writes. ex FAT is recommended as the preferred file system format for cross-platform usage, distinguishing it from NTFS.

AT&T is offering a free pair of Ray-Ban Meta glasses (Gen along with a $200 reward card to customers who sign up for its 5 GIG internet plan. Sony has introduced a new Olive Gray color option for its WH-1000XM6 noise-cancelling headphones. DJI's Mic 2S is the first in its Mini lineup to feature internal 32-bit float audio recording for creators.

The TCL Tab A1 Plus NXTPAPER tablet is now available in the United States with a $100 launch discount. Notebooks like TCL Note A1 NXTPAPER and Boox Go 10.3 Gen II have been tested for note-taking effectiveness, just in time for the back-to-school season.

Consumer Electronics and Tips

When purchasing a new television, it is recommended to disable a specific built-in setting that may still be negatively impacting picture quality. For users experiencing issues with Android Auto, a workaround exists to allow the use of a VPN without compromising the connection. It is advised not to use car USB ports for charging laptops, as they often lack the necessary power output; alternative charging methods are suggested. Putting a phone in the refrigerator is strongly discouraged due to the risk of condensation damaging the electronics. To prevent phone overheating in a car, several preventative measures can be taken.

When considering new headphones, the presence of Bluetooth multipoint connectivity is highlighted as an essential feature, though not all modern devices offer it. For those seeking the best bass response from their headphones, adjustments to existing settings can often improve sound quality without requiring a new purchase.

For those interested in health tracking, understanding the differences between smartwatches and smart rings is crucial for making an informed decision.

Other Notable Tech News

NASA's PUNCH mission has significantly improved the ability to accurately predict when solar storms will impact Earth. Texas is initiating an audit of new data centers due to concerns over their substantial power consumption, with the state already hosting over 500 such facilities. Amazon is developing an animated Warhammer 40,000 series, with Henry Cavill attached to the project. Microsoft's Xbox sales saw a 13% decrease, and revenue from content and services fell by 10% year-over-year, indicating struggles in the gaming division.