Mobile News 8 Hours

Last updated: August 27, 2026, 3:31 PM ET

Samsung's Big Week

Samsung has been on a product blitz. The company opened the One UI 9 Watch beta for the Galaxy Watch8 and Watch8 Classic in South Korea and the US, bringing new software features to its latest wearables. Meanwhile, at Gamescom 2026, the company unveiled four new Odyssey gaming monitors, including a curved 49-inch OLED G9 with a 360Hz refresh rate and a 27-inch IPS LCD panel that pushes an astonishing 1,100Hz refresh rate. The new displays target competitive gamers seeking the absolute fastest response times.

On the smartphone front, Samsung's Galaxy S26 FE launches September 3 at $700, powered by the Exynos 2500 chip with a heavy emphasis on AI features. A comparison with the S25 FE shows the $50 price hike is tied to increased RAM and the new processor. leaks suggest the Galaxy S27 and S27 Pro will keep a familiar design, with Samsung saving its boldest work for the Pro and Ultra models. In carrier news, T-Mobile is offering four free Galaxy S26 phones with four lines on its Essentials plan at $25/month per line.

Wearables and Health Tech

Huawei teased the Watch 6 ahead of its launch event next week, offering a first glimpse at the smartwatch's design. Speedo is entering the wearable space with its own smart swim tracker, though it notably won't provide real-time feedback while you're in the water. Sony's Reon Pocket Pro Plus — a wearable air conditioner — earned praise for keeping its reviewer sane through multiple heatwaves, despite looking like an alien attached to your spine.

Google is releasing a special edition Pokémon Sleep Fitbit Air in September, featuring a sleeping Pikachu design and a themed strap that turns sleep data into in-game rewards. Meanwhile, Plaud launched the Plaud One earbuds, designed for people who want to record every meeting and call without needing a phone nearby.

Phones and Mobile Platforms

Xiaomi's global Redmi Note 17 family is here, with the Redmi Note 17 and Note 17 5G focusing on big batteries and displays. The Redmi Note 17 Pro uses the Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 chipset with an 8,340mAh battery — slightly smaller than the Chinese version's 9,000mAh cell but with minimal real-world impact. The Redmi Note 17 Pro Max also received a full review.

Oppo began seeding its ColorOS 16 August update with an AI Remix Collage feature, security improvements, and new Home Screen functionalities. Google also deployed support for Encrypted Client Hello on Android 17, making web browsing more private by encrypting connection details. If you're curious about what Android System Intelligence actually does — and what happens if you disable it — a new explainer breaks it down.

Apps, AI, and Software

Google's AI Mode in Search is getting trip-planning features, including a flight price tracker, hotel booking, and the ability to view costs in miles or points. Photoshop is adding a new Markup feature that lets you draw on images to show what you want, along with Lightroom-like controls users have long requested. Hugging Face and Pollen Robotics opened pre-orders for the Microduck robotic companion at $399.

Industry and Policy

Meta's recent teen safety settlement is putting pressure on competitors. Legal experts say the settlement puts YouTube, TikTok, and Snap on notice, potentially forcing them to reshape their apps. However, Meta's latest teen safety commitments are US-only for now, even as the UK government pushes for time limits on Facebook and Instagram. X and the NFL launched a dedicated football feed called NFL Game Time, continuing their long-standing partnership. In the UK, plug-in solar has been legalized, though experts warn homeowners should get their homes checked before setting it up.

Buying Guides and Reviews

If you're weighing iPhone upgrade options, a new comparison looks at whether Apple Upgrade or Verizon deals save you more money. Verizon tempts new customers with "free" iPhone offers, but Apple's own Upgrade program may be the better value depending on your situation. Finally, the Alienware 39 5K ultrawide monitor earned praise as the sweet spot for large ultrawide gaming displays, offering tons of vertical screen space without the compromises of bigger panels.