Mobile News 24 Hours

Last updated: September 2, 2026, 2:08 PM ET

Smartphones & Mobile Tech

Samsung is reportedly changing course on its chipset strategy, with insiders claiming the Galaxy S27 Ultra will dual-source processors, potentially featuring the Exynos 2700 in some units. Meanwhile, the base Galaxy S27 and S27+ have appeared on 3C certification in China, revealing charging speeds for the upcoming flagships. The company also surprised owners of last year's models by expanding the One UI 9 beta to the Galaxy S24 series, alongside the newer S25 lineup and the Z Fold7 and Z Flip7.

vivo has been busy on multiple fronts, unveiling the T5 5G with a Dimensity 7500 Turbo SoC, a 144Hz curved display, and a massive 7,050 mAh battery. The company also teased the video capabilities of its upcoming X500 Pro series ahead of launch, promising significant imaging improvements. Over at Huawei, the company held a major event in Munich where it unveiled the nova 16s Pro globally with a 200MP RYYB camera, alongside the standard nova 16s.

Xiaomi revealed the official design of its upcoming Xiaomi 18 Fold ahead of its September 7 launch, which will feature the Xring O3 chipset. The company is also planning to bring its Mijia ecosystem to Europe "at scale" during IFA in Berlin this week. nubia announced that its NaviX Ultra AI phone will launch later this month, while Poco's F9 Pro is now in for review, featuring a 200MP camera and a 6,330 mAh battery. Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone Ultra is said to include MagSafe charging support, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. New leaks also suggest the iPhone 18 Pro lineup will launch in new color options, adding to previous rumors.

Wearables & Tablets

Huawei used its Munich event to announce a slew of new hardware, including the Watch 6 and Watch 6 Pro as its new flagship wearables, joined by the Watch GT 7 and GT 7 Pro going global. The company also introduced the health-focused Watch D3 and FreeBuds Neo, with the former bringing medical-grade features. On the tablet front, the MatePad Pro 12 (2026) made its global debut at the same event. Additionally, the Huawei Mate Pad Air (2026) will launch in China next week on September 7, reversing the usual global-first strategy.

Oukitel arrived at IFA with an extensive lineup of rugged hardware, including an 11-inch industrial tablet, a laptop with a built-in solar panel, and home solar battery solutions. The company also showcased a gaming phone with dual-fan cooling, an "ultra-endurance" flagship, and even a phone with a built-in electric lighter. Samsung's Galaxy Z8 series introduced a new feature called My Fan Cam, and the team behind it explained how the AI-powered video tracking works and what inspired it.

Gaming & Entertainment

Nintendo surprised Switch 2 owners with a free update for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe that adds eight-player split-screen support to the nine-year-old game. Rockstar's GTA VI extended look racked up 31 million views on Netflix despite a six-hour exclusivity window, taking the top spot on the streaming service's movie rankings. The new Street Fighter movie trailer looks silly and campy in all the right ways. Meanwhile, Star Wars Zero Company is suffering from serious technical issues, and it's hard to be confident about its future after the studio that made it furloughed most of its staff.

Computing & AI

Meta's Superintelligence Lab released a powerful new AI transcription model that can distinguish between up to 20 speakers and multiple languages in real-time. Google announced its September Android drop, which includes five new features such as the ability to ask Gemini to summarize messages. The company also launched Google Pics, a new service for creating and editing images directly in Google Docs, Slides, and Drive. Dell's latest attempt to challenge the MacBook Neo comes in the form of the Dell 14S, a budget-friendly laptop that looks like a solid contender. Lumus and Quanta reached a licensing agreement for next-generation waveguides that could make AR glasses thinner, lighter, and more accessible.

Audio & Home Entertainment

Sonos' latest hardware is smarter than expected, with the Ace Ultra headphones and Beam Ultra soundbar demonstrating a deeper understanding of how they fit into your home audio setup. For those looking to optimize their existing soundbars, getting the placement and settings right is crucial for fully experiencing Dolby Atmos sound. Google Messages is getting new chat themes to spice up conversations, though the feature doesn't go far enough compared to what Apple Messages offers. When it comes to display technology, OLED screens run the biggest risk of burn-in, but with a little common sense you can mitigate the issue entirely. For gamers, skipping 5K monitors in favor of 4K is the smarter play, as 4K offers better value for gaming performance. If you want the largest image for the least amount of money, a projector is the only choice in the TV vs. projector debate. And when it comes to HDMI cables, you don't need to spend $100 — here's when to spend more and when a cheap cable will do.

Transportation & Delivery

United Airlines is testing a new offering at Newark that lets passengers order food from its app and have it delivered directly to their gate. Uber is cutting around 3,000 jobs in the name of efficiency, and the company is also asking almost all remote employees to move to an office. Blue Origin won a NASA contract to build a high-performance Mars telecommunications orbiter with a deadline of December 31,2028.

Security & Privacy

A massive data breach has leaked digital scans of more than 153 million driver's licenses to the dark web, potentially originating from an ID verification service in Louisiana. The FBI has opened an investigation into the incident.

Auctions & Collectibles

A rare, working Apple I computer is heading to auction in October, with the same unit having sold for over $671,000 back in 2013.

Smart Home & Robotics

iRobot launched its most powerful robot yet at IFA 2026, the $1,199 Roomba Max 875 Combo, alongside the $899 Roomba Plus 678 Combo. Xiaomi's Mijia ecosystem is also entering Europe at scale, bringing its smart home products to a wider audience.

Maps & Navigation

Apple Maps has renamed Lake Ontario to "Lake America," reportedly after President Trump reached out directly to the company.

Tutorials & Tips

If your Android phone is stuck in Safe Mode, you're just a few taps away from getting it back to normal. iPhone users can also customize their Messages app by changing the background to suit their preferences.