Mobile News 8 Hours

Last updated: August 4, 2026, 11:32 AM ET

Smartphone Launches and Financing

Samsung has introduced No Cost EMI financing for buyers of its latest foldables in India, including the Galaxy Z Fold8, Z Fold8 Ultra, and Z Flip8. Eligible customers can spread the cost over up to 18 months without paying interest or making a down payment. new Galaxy Z8 foldables have finally surpassed the Galaxy Note10's long-standing pre-order record in South Korea, which was 1.38 million units. This record was set over an 11-day pre-order period.

Oppo has fully unveiled the A7 Pro Max, a mid-range smartphone whose standout feature is its massive 10,000 mAh battery, the biggest ever from Oppo. The Poco M8 Power has also been announced, featuring a 120Hz screen, a Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 SoC, and an 8,000 mAh battery. This device is the fourth smartphone in Poco's M8 series. Indian handset Lava is preparing for its UK debut soon with the Agni 4N, after its initial expected Q1 2026 entry did not materialize.

Gaming and Entertainment

Microsoft is actively working on emulators to enable the playback of older Xbox games on PCs and the upcoming Xbox Helix. This initiative comes as Xbox experiences a downturn, with Microsoft reporting a 13% decrease in Xbox hardware sales and a 10% drop in Xbox content and services revenue in its latest quarterly report. The classic science fiction series Babylon 5 is now available to stream for free, episode by episode, on YouTube. A Nintendo Direct livestream for Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave is scheduled to begin today at 10 AM ET/7 AM PT.

Tech Features and Software Updates

New Samsung will begin supporting HDR10+ Advanced streaming on Prime Video this month, introducing features like Enhanced Overall Brightness and Intelligent Motion Smoothing. WhatsApp has rolled out a new feature allowing users to ping all members of a group chat with an "@all" mention. Apple is developing a feature for seamless copy-pasting between iPhones and Windows PCs, though its availability outside the EU remains uncertain.

Audio and Video Equipment

DJI has released the Mic Mini 2S, the first in its Mini lineup to offer internal audio recording capabilities. new microphone provides creators with an audio backup solution and includes 32-bit float internal recording.

Consumer Advice and Product Reviews

It is strongly advised not to place a smartphone inside a refrigerator, as the combination of condensation and electronic components can be detrimental. Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Ultra Aura Edition is a capable ultralight laptop, but its current price point is considered excessively high.

Streaming Service Milestones

Spotify has announced it has reached 300 million Premium subscribers, which is three times the number of Apple Music subscribers.