Mobile News 3 Days

Last updated: August 7, 2026, 4:31 PM ET

Smartphones

Samsung's latest foldables are now shipping globally starting tomorrow across 106 markets, with the Galaxy Z Fold8, Z Fold8 Ultra, and Z Flip8 finally reaching store shelves after strong pre-orders that exceeded company targets in Europe. If you're weighing the two book-style foldables, a detailed display comparison between the Galaxy Z Fold8 and the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra can help decide which form factor suits you. For those hunting the best Galaxy Z Fold8 launch deals, trade-in offers and leftover preorder discounts including free phones are still available online. Likewise, Galaxy Z Flip8 deals bring trade-in discounts and free gift cards from major carriers.

Xiaomi is gearing up for the Redmi Note 17 India launch tomorrow at 12PM IST, which will be live-streamed on YouTube, while the Redmi Note 17 is already in for review with full specs and pricing details. Meanwhile, the Redmi 17C 5G surfaced in a Luxembourg listing as a rebrand of the Redmi 15C 5G, sporting a 6.9‑inch 720×1600 LCD and 120Hz refresh rate. Ahead of its August 11 launch, Redmi revealed the K100 Pro Max battery at a whopping 9,070mAh, along with official renders of the white color variant.

vivo is bringing the S series back to India after seven years with the vivo S2 launched today, and a separate rumor suggests the vivo V80 Lite 5G may be a rebrand of the vivo S2 when it arrives later this month. Also on the horizon, Oppo appears to be working on an Oppo F35 Pro that could be a rebrand of the A7 Pro Max with a massive 10,000mAh battery. In India, Realme confirmed the Realme 16x launch for August 12 with a 7,000mAh battery, while Lava continues teasing its Agni 4N with a metal build ahead of its UK debut.

Huawei unveiled the nova 16 SE in China with an 8,500mAh battery and 6.84‑inch display claiming 8,000 nits peak brightness. Alongside it, the MatePad Pro 2026 tablet features a 12‑inch OLED screen with 3036×1952 resolution and 1,600‑nit peak brightness. TCL is preparing the P80 and P80 Pro for Europe with leaked renders, specs, and pricing showing the P80 allegedly powered by a Media Tek chip. Fire‑Boltt officially revealed its first smartphones — the Boltt Ace 5G and Boltt Evo 4G — set to launch August 25. HMD is quietly listing the HMD 215 4G, HMD 235 4G, and HMD 3210 with HMD branding, following a three‑year extension on its Nokia feature‑phone license. A confusing listing of the ZTE Blade A35e shows specs that don't match earlier certifications.

In a dramatic shift, OnePlus has officially left the U.S. and Canadian markets with no phones left on the official site, following the July 16 announcement of its exit from North America and Europe. Meanwhile, Honor reported 25% Q1 2026 growth and adopted a new logo and “Dare to Be” slogan.

Wearables & Accessories

Samsung's Galaxy Watch Ultra2 review calls it thinner, tougher, and smarter, while a new report claims Samsung's next smartwatch, codenamed Aero, won’t run Wear OS and will instead use a real-time OS to slot between the Galaxy Fit and Galaxy Watch FE. Google's Pixel Watch 5 is heavily leaked ahead of the August 12 event, with a mega leak revealing all specs and full pricing for the wearable. On the same date, Google is expected to unveil the Pixel Tag for $40, its first Air Tag‑like tracker, alongside the Pixel 11 series and Pixel Watch. Samsung unveiled the ISOCELL HPC sensor featuring the industry’s first Deep Pix technology enabling 16‑bit RAW output. For those looking to protect their phones, drop‑tested Pixel cases reveal what “military grade” really means under real abuse. The $299 Viture Pro 2 smartglasses are the company’s lightest yet, and a new $99 Mobile Dock Mini accompanies them. Twelve South’s tiny Valet charging pad is lauded as perfect for a nightstand despite its price.

Software & Platforms

Oppo kicked off ColorOS 17 Closed Beta Testing for select Oppo, One Plus, and Realme devices. Android 17 QPR 2 Beta 2 is now available for Pixel devices. Samsung's Galaxy S26 series is expected to receive One UI 9 Beta 5 soon, after the last beta rolled out three weeks ago. Google Maps’ Ask Maps feature now lets you order food directly and remember past conversations, and it’s expanding to 150 more countries. Google Wallet now lets parents send money to their kids that can be used wherever Google Pay is accepted. Google Assistant will vanish from Android phones in September as Gemini takes over. YouTube clarified its AI slop policy, stating AI‑generated videos are allowed but must follow specific rules or risk demonetization.

Industry & Deals

Mint Mobile slashed all its wireless plans to $15/month, including unlimited data, with 50% off for new customers. AT&T’s 5 GIG internet plan comes with a free pair of Ray‑Ban Meta glasses (Gen 2) plus a $200 reward card. Removable batteries are making a comeback in smartphones thanks to new EU regulations, promising user‑replaceable packs soon. The world’s smallest USB drive from San Disk now packs more storage than an iPhone 17 at a fraction of the premium. Dolby Vision 2 launched on select Hisense TVs with scene‑by‑scene optimization. A new Peloton Cross Training Bike+ review calls it a better connected bike that still demands a premium price. Samsung’s QS90H soundbar delivers on the all‑in‑one promise with new woofers. The PSB iQ2 wireless stereo setup offers premium sound and smart‑speaker convenience through a great app experience.