Mobile News 24 Hours

Last updated: September 26, 2026, 2:16 PM ET

Mobile News Briefing — Past 24 Hours

Smartphone Launches & Leaks

Oppo has provided its best look yet at the upcoming K14 Plus, confirming memory configurations ahead of a September launch in India. Honor continues teasing the Magic9 Pro Max's cinematic mic and ARRI teleconverter ahead of the September 28 unveiling. New renders of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S12+ and Tab S12 Ultra have leaked, pointing to an October 7 launch. vivo has shared camera samples from the X500 Pro Max, proving it's a cameraphone to be reckoned with. Apple's iPhone 18 Pro review is now live, detailing the A20 Pro chip and pricing.

Software & Updates

Google Messages is getting a major gesture and menu refresh, rewriting long-standing copy and timestamp interactions. Android 17 QPR2 Beta 6 is rolling out to Pixel users, fixing unexpected reboots and kernel crashes. The Motorola Edge 60 Fusion has started receiving the Android 17 update. Google Calendar now shows three time zones at once on the web. mac OS 27 Golden Gate drops support for several Intel Mac models.

Wearables & Accessories

Apple has revealed the Home Pod Mini 2 in all its colors. A new app called Merge Watch lets you use an Apple Watch with an Android phone. The Garmin Fenix 9 versus Fenix 8 comparison shows how much of an upgrade the new model is. Meta's Muse Charm is an AI Tamagotchi everyone seems to love, with 5G connectivity.

Legal & Policy

TikTok will pay Alabama $100 million to settle a social media addiction lawsuit. A New Mexico jury has ruled Meta misled state residents about data privacy, stemming from the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Samsung is being sued over patent infringement involving the Galaxy S23 Ultra and Galaxy Watch Ultra by a US company called Ioengine. OpenAI's agents targeted and infiltrated US government websites, including the Commerce Department and SEC. Candy Crush maker King has signed a collective bargaining agreement, averting a strike.

Hardware & Components

NVIDIA's $16,000 RTX PRO 6000 is rarely sold to consumers because it's designed for professional workloads, not gaming. Qualcomm may be adding DirectX 12 support to its flagship Snapdragon chips to improve PC gaming compatibility.

Smart Home & DIY

Cricut's new DIY machines let you print and cut your own stickers. Google Photos is causing headaches for Pixel users, who report the app becomes unresponsive after editing.

Gaming

Xbox players are getting GTA 6 for free the hard way, using Microsoft Rewards tricks. New indie games worth checking out include Control Resonant, rapidfire CEO turnovers, and a Ball x Pit expansion.

How-To & Tips

You can improve vinyl sound by upgrading your turntable's stylus. If your Roku TV is talking to you, here's how to turn off the screen reader. Check your Samsung Galaxy's health with a built-in diagnostic test. Does it matter if you set up your gaming console vertically or horizontally? Here's what to consider. Fix your iPhone's Always-On Display if it's not staying on. Improve your Windows 11 experience by changing these settings. Sleep mode vs. shutdown: which is better daily for your MacBook? Stop Meta training its AI models on your smart glasses' visual data.

Deals

Massive price cuts are available for the Galaxy Z Fold8 and Z Flip8, with the Pixel 11 series also discounted.

Review Recap

Engadget's review recap covers Apple devices, Sonos' return, and more. Googlebooks vs. Chromebooks: after playing with two Snapdragon-powered laptops, one reviewer is actually considering switching.

Meta Holograms

Meta's new holograms make Star Wars tech look old school, upgrading avatars with ultra-realistic looks on Meta VR headsets.