Mobile News 3 Days

Last updated: June 23, 2026, 8:30 PM ET

Mobile Devices & Wearables

Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Watch9 and Watch Ultra 2 have been detailed in new leaks, suggesting design refinements like thinner bezels and a boxier look for the Ultra, which may replace the Classic model entirely. The Galaxy Watch 9 is also wrapped in a major leak detailing its design. Meanwhile, Samsung's foldable ambitions continue with rumors of the Galaxy Z Fold8, Fold8 Ultra, and Flip8, potentially slated for a July 22 Unpacked event in London. On the storage front, Samsung announced UFS 5.0, promising double the performance of UFS 4.1 and aiming for Q4 production to enable significant AI upgrades in future smartphones. Honor is also reportedly developing a "Privacy Display" feature for its upcoming flagships, a technology Samsung may offer to competitors. The Galaxy S26 FE has again appeared on Geekbench, indicating its imminent launch. Samsung's Galaxy A15 4G and A24 4G have received the One UI 8.5 stable update.

Nothing has casually teased its forthcoming Phone 4b, sharing a sketch that previews its design ahead of a July reveal. The Phone 4a Pro, a TikTok favorite iPhone alternative, is currently available with a $90 discount. Apple's iPhone 18 Pro is rumored to receive a significant main camera upgrade, while the long-rumored iPhone Ultra is still expected to debut as scheduled, with Samsung Display reportedly kicking off OLED panel production for the device. Apple's iOS 27 beta 2 has been released, introducing features like "Write with Siri" and inline RCS reply support.

Google's Pixel phones may soon gain an "Audio Memory" feature that listens for important conversations. The Pixel 10 series is seeing significant discounts, with up to $300 off during Prime Day, and a particular deal on the Pixel 10a is highlighted as a standout. However, Android 17 is reportedly facing touchscreen issues on some Pixel devices, prompting caution before updating. Android 17 also brings improved wireless audio quality with support for the LHDC v5 codec, and a setting to cleaner home screen customization.

Meta is reportedly building its own prediction market. The company has also launched three new AI glasses models under the "Meta" brand, including one in partnership with Kylie Jenner, priced at $299, and has transitioned away from the Ray-Ban branding. The Ray-Ban Meta Optics lineup, however, still offers a premium fit and extra features at a higher cost. Meta has also announced plans to donate Ray-Ban AI smart glasses to legally blind veterans. The Oversight Board has urged Meta to strengthen protections against sexualized AI deepfakes.

Other mobile news includes the upcoming vivo X Fold6, with pre-orders open in China ahead of its June 26 launch, and rumors of a significant price increase over the previous model. The Realme P4x 4G has launched with an 8,000mAh battery and a refreshed design. Motorola's Edge 70 series is expected to gain a new entry, possibly the Edge 70 Ultra, with leaked renders of the Edge 70 Max emerging. The Motorola Edge 70 Pro, priced at €540, is available for review. Tecno has introduced the Camon Slim, a stylish phone with a 6.39mm profile. Honor X80 Pro Max has launched in China with an 11,000 mAh battery, the largest seen on a mainstream smartphone. Xiaomi's 17 Ultra and other smartphones are featured in Amazon UK Prime Day deals.

Audio & Visual Tech

Samsung's Galaxy Buds 4 Pro, previously criticized for their price, are now at their lowest price ever for Prime Day. Sony's popular WH-1000XM5 noise-canceling headphones are available for $198 during Prime Day, a significant reduction for travelers. Tribit's Quiet Plus 81 over-ear headphones are being evaluated at their $50 price point. Several other headphone and earbud deals are available, with prices starting at $33.

Sony's ULT Field 1 Bluetooth speaker is available for under $80, making it an ideal companion for summer gatherings. For home theater enthusiasts, Xreal's wearable smart glasses are significantly discounted for Prime Day, offering an immersive experience at a more accessible price. HDMI 2.0 vs 2.1 standards are discussed, with the conclusion that the latest HDMI versions are likely unnecessary for streaming services like Netflix. Instagram has expanded its TV app to Samsung TVs in the US, following its earlier availability on Google TV and Amazon Fire TV devices.

Computing & Storage

Samsung's Galaxy Tab S11 is positioned as a compelling laptop alternative, now available for $535, a considerable reduction from its usual $1,000 price point. UGREEN's DXP4800 Pro NAS device is at an all-time low price for Prime Day, offering a solution for cord-cutters building digital media libraries. For those looking to organize digital media, UGREEN's DH2300 and DH4300 Plus are recommended beginner NAS models available during Prime Day sales.

Prime Day is also offering relief on SSD prices, with discounts on portable SSDs and NVMe drives, proving that consumers can bypass the general tech price hikes. For PC gaming, Valve's Steam Machine is launching at a high price point, with the 512GB version costing $1,049 and the 2TB version $1,349, neither including a controller. The MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ handheld gaming PC, a collaboration between Intel and MSI, is presented as a potentially powerful option.

AI & Software

Superhuman has acquired AI authenticity service GPTZero, a move described as unusual for a company that sells an AI writing assistant. Anthropic has introduced "@Claude for Slack," aiming to take over tasks previously handled by Slackbot. OpenAI has launched "Patch the Planet," a new initiative under its Daybreak cybersecurity program designed to help open-source projects identify and fix bugs. OpenAI has also signed a significant enterprise deal with Samsung Electronics, with Samsung acting as an AI chip supplier for OpenAI. Getty Images will now allow OpenAI to use its content library within Chat GPT and its AI search features.

Meta is reportedly pausing an employee tracking program after it exposed sensitive company data. The company is also facing scrutiny from its Oversight Board regarding the protection of users from sexualized deepfakes. A24 is leveraging $75 million in Google funding to develop AI tools for movie production. Oracle's workforce has decreased by 21,000 employees over the past year, with AI cited as one contributing factor. Amazon's Alexa+ AI chatbot is expanding to India, with support for Hindi.

Gaming & VR

Meta Quest gamers can take advantage of a significant gift card discount, described as a "money duplication glitch". For Meta Quest 3 and Quest 3S owners, a selection of essential accessories is recommended for an optimal VR experience. A deal on the Meta Quest 3S is available at Walmart, offering a 15% discount and additional extras, potentially rivaling Prime Day offers. A discount is also available on a highly-rated headstrap for the Quest 3 and Quest 3S, promising enhanced comfort. Star Wars Galactic Racer is highlighted as an enjoyable game, regardless of Star Wars fandom.

E-readers & Displays

Amazon is offering substantial discounts on Kindle e-readers, with up to 45% off models including the Paperwhite, Scribe, and Colorsoft. Samsung's Privacy Display technology, initially featured on the Galaxy S26 Ultra, may soon be available on the smaller Galaxy S27 Pro. The feature is also rumored to be coming to the Xiaomi 18 Pro.

Miscellaneous Tech

Anker power banks with displays and retractable USB-C cables are recommended travel accessories. Technology products that aided in weight loss are highlighted, with several also on sale for Prime Day. Consumer Cellular has launched Speak Easy, a brand targeting seniors over, with two specialized phones. Topdon's diagnostic tools are available at discounted prices during Prime Day. A former CIA officer discusses government surveillance capabilities with modern devices. China has reclaimed the top spot in supercomputer rankings, utilizing CPUs rather than GPUs. Octopus and CATL are planning to deploy battery swap stations for heavy trucks across Europe. NASA's Perseverance rover has officially traveled the distance of a marathon on Mars.