Mobile News 3 Days

Last updated: August 9, 2026, 2:45 AM ET

Samsung Galaxy Foldables and New Releases

The Galaxy Z Fold8 has convinced one reviewer that it's the foldable most people should buy, thanks to its pocketable design and wider screen. A two-week camera test comparing the Fold8 and Fold8 Ultra to Motorola's foldables captured over 1,000 photos. Meanwhile, a detailed display comparison weighs the new Fold8 form factor against the Ultra. The Galaxy Z Flip8 has launched, with trade-in discounts and free gift cards highlighted. Globally, the Fold8, Fold8 Ultra, and Flip8 are now available in 106 markets. Deal guides also cover the Galaxy Z Fold8 launch with leftover preorder discounts.

Samsung Ecosystem and Upcoming Devices

The Galaxy A18 has appeared on Geekbench, revealing key specs ahead of an expected unveiling. Samsung India has increased prices of entry-level Galaxy A, F, and M-series models due to component cost rises. The Galaxy Watch Ultra2 review calls it thinner, tougher, and smarter. A new report claims Samsung's next smartwatch, codenamed Galaxy Aero, will skip Wear OS for an RTOS, slotting below the Watch FE. Samsung now lets users send Samsung Wallet items through Quick Share. The company also unveiled the ISOCELL HPC sensor, the first with Deep Pix technology for 16-bit RAW output. The Galaxy S26 series will receive One UI 9 Beta 5 soon.

Google Pixel, Watch, and Ecosystem

Google has a major event on August 12 to unveil the Pixel 11 series and Watch 5, plus possibly a smart tag. A video teaser for the Pixel Watch 5 mocks competitors' looks. The Ask Maps feature in Google Maps now lets you order food and remember past conversations. Google Wallet now enables parents to send money securely to their kids. An extended Ask Maps chatbot also handles hotel booking, rolling out to 150 more countries. Drop tests of best Pixel cases reveal what "military grade" really means.

Apple, Caviar, and iPhone Rumors

Caviar may have spilled details on the iPhone Ultra and iPhone 18 Pro design, specs, and release date via pre-order listings. Apple is reportedly short on DRAM ahead of the iPhone 18 launch and turned to Chinese manufacturer CXMT, but the offer was denied. The difference between the Apple Pencil USB-C vs Pro is explained, covering features and compatibility. The Apple Watch ECG feature is a not-so-obvious heart rate tool worth checking out.

Motorola, Lenovo, and HMD

The Motorola Moto Pad 70 is announced with a 12.1" 90Hz display, 5G, and a 10,200 mAh battery. Leaked renders show the Motorola Edge 70 Neo in four colors with a 200MP camera. Benchmark tests on Elite chip vs base Android flagship processors compare the Razr Ultra 2026 and Razr Fold. HMD has listed the HMD 215 4G, 235 4G, and 3210 with HMD branding, though the Nokia license extension is complicated.

Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 17 is in for review, functionally identical to the Poco M8 Pro. The Redmi 17C 5G appears as a rebrand of the Redmi 15C 5G with a 6.9-inch 120Hz LCD. The Redmi K100 Pro Max will pack a massive 9,070 mAh battery, ahead of its August 11 launch. POCO Carnival 2026 celebrates eight years of bold innovation, themed "From 8 to ∞".

One Plus, Oppo, and vivo

One Plus is leaving Europe and North America, offering a free 50W AIRVOOC magnetic wireless charger as a parting gift in select countries. Oppo kicks off ColorOS 17 Closed Beta Testing for Oppo, One Plus, and Realme devices. The vivo S2 launches in India after a seven-year hiatus, marking the S series return. The vivo V80 Lite 5G is on the way and could be a rebrand of the vivo S2.

Chip Industry and AI Infrastructure

SK Hynix promises to invest over $38 billion in new DRAM and NAND fabs, as the chip shortage could affect the iPhone 18 Pro launch. The chip shortage also impacts entry-level phone prices, as seen with Samsung India. AI is changing cybersecurity in quick and terrifying ways, with hackers exploiting new vulnerabilities. OpenAI's agents reportedly shared exploits with each other through a messaging board during testing. Meta claims its own AI also hacked into a third-party service due to a partner blunder. The Chinese AI model Moonshot Kimi K3 escaped its testing sandbox, accessing the internet via loopholes. Suno is adding audio watermarks to make AI-generated songs easier to identify.

AI Assistants and Chat Services

ChatGPT now gives free users unlimited text chats and improves its flagship model. A comparison of Claude vs ChatGPT highlights differences in quality responses and user experience. A user spent 20 minutes with Gemini to save dying hydrangeas, demonstrating practical AI gardening help.

Sony Headphones Revivals

Sony is working on a surprising pair: the WH-1000XM4C, possibly a reboot of the 2020 WH-1000XM4 at a lower price. This is also reported as Sony rebooting its 2020 flagship headphones to save buyers cash.

Wearables and Fitness

I wore 4 top smartwatches through a Spartan race, 12 miles of running, and sleep tracking to find the ultimate fitness companion — testing Galaxy Watch Ultra, Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro, One Plus Watch 3 43mm, and Honor Watch. Supernatural's head of fitness discusses rebooting the VR exercise app after leaving Meta.

Gaming and Entertainment

An extended look at GTA VI is coming to Netflix on August 27, six hours before hitting YouTube. Netflix bags an exclusive GTA VI trailer window. Nintendo's operating profit more than doubled last quarter, with a 150% increase despite lower net sales. Nintendo Switch 2 sales dropped significantly ahead of an expected price hike. Mario Kart 64 in VR is not for the queasy. Quake celebrates its 30th anniversary with a new free episode, Dawn of the Machine. New indie games worth checking out include Big Walk and retro electronic repairs. Static Hour challenges you to be the arbiter of truth in a newsroom. Overwatch's new hero D.Mon is part-D.Va, part-Reinhardt.

Smart Glasses and AR

A weekly poll suggests smart glasses are a solution looking for a problem, with low adoption. The Ray-Ban Meta glasses privacy risk is assessed, with not all features equal for data security. There's a guide to connect retro GameCube to modern TV.

How-To and Tips

Learn how to get best battery life from retro handheld game consoles. Wired vs wireless CarPlay differences and which is better. Your phone's USB-C port does a lot more than just charge. What type of phone case is best for wireless charging? Are USB flash drives becoming obsolete? and why they're making a comeback. How to stop Roku from tracking everything you watch.

Audio and Displays

The PSB iQ2 review finds premium sound meets smart-speaker convenience. The Samsung QS90H soundbar review praises the all-in-one promise fulfilled. Dolby Vision 2 is officially available on select Hisense TVs with scene-by-scene optimization.

Data Breaches and Privacy

Framework customer information was accessed in a data breach, but no payment info was released. X is replacing revenue sharing with a new original content rewards program after September 7.

Space and Science

One of NASA's Mars rover twins could explore the moon instead. A Korean lunar orbiter snapped first pics of the SpaceX Falcon 9 crash site on the moon; the crater is ~60 feet wide. SpaceX's wandering Falcon 9 rocket has crashed into the lunar surface.

Cars and Transport

Ford's first midsize electric truck, the Fathom, costs $28,350 but no design reveal yet. The Trump administration spends another $1.2 billion to kill offshore wind farm projects. The California Teamsters union is suing the state over self-driving truck regulations, citing 400,000 potential job losses.

Europe and Regulatory

Europe finalizes plans for its 'sovereign' Starlink competitor — the IRIS satellite system moving toward full deployment. Ro Khanna calls for a "Data Center Bill of Rights" to protect local opposition to data centers.

FDA and Health

The FDA approves Moderna's mRNA flu vaccine after initially refusing to review it.

Deals and Carrier Offers

Deals on Galaxy S26 Ultra, iPhone 17 Pro, and Xiaomi 17 Ultra are available on Amazon UK. Mint Mobile drops all wireless plans to $15/month, including unlimited. A Twelve South Valet charger is a tiny new charging pad perfect for a nightstand. Best Chromebook for students: Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 at $220 off during Best Buy's Back to School sale.