Mobile News 24-Hour Briefing
×Last updated: October 1, 2026, 2:10 PM ET
Samsung Galaxy S26 Price Hike
Samsung has jacked up the prices of its Galaxy S26 phones by a reported $100, attributed to a "RAMageddon" of rising memory costs. A new rumor suggests the Galaxy S27 series will see even steeper increases, potentially pushing the Ultra model to $2,000. The Galaxy S27 Ultra is also tipped to be heavier than its predecessor, according to leaker Ice Universe.
Huawei Mate 90 Series Debuts
Huawei launched its next-generation Mate 90 lineup in China, headlined by the Mate 90 Pro Max, which features a 1-inch modular camera, a 12,000-nit display, and a 6,800mAh battery. The Mate 90 Pro brings a dual-layer OLED panel and the Kirin 9035 chipset, while the Mate 90 gets an upgraded telephoto camera. A flashy Mate 90 RS variant offers up to 2TB of storage and a distinctive design.
Honor Magic9 Lite+ Specs Leak
The Honor Magic9 Lite+ is on its way, with key specifications leaking ahead of a global launch. Honor previously unveiled the Magic9, Magic9 Super, and Magic9 Pro Max in China last month.
Poco, Redmi, and vivo Launches
Xiaomi's Poco launched the C95 Pro in select global markets, packing a massive 7,500mAh battery and a 6.9-inch display. The Redmi 17C 5G has landed in India with official pricing. Meanwhile, the vivo V80 Lite has been unboxed in a hands-on review, and the vivo Y600 5G is coming soon, appearing in the Google Play Console. The vivo X Fold6 is finally going global, three months after its China debut.
Samsung Galaxy A18, M08, F08, and Tab S12 Ultra
Samsung's Galaxy A18 4G has been reviewed as a budget option. The company has also quietly listed the Galaxy M08 and F08 on its Indian website. The Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra is in for review, blurring the line between tablets and laptops.
Samsung Galaxy Buds On and Red Magic 12 Pro+
Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy Buds On, its first clip-on earphones, taking on Shokz. Android Central notes the Buds On abandon the traditional in-ear seal for an open design. The RedMagic 12 Pro+ has been spotted on Geekbench, confirming its chipset and RAM amount.
HMD, iPhone 18 Pro, and Foldable Android Auto Bug
Specs for a new HMD Android phone have leaked, codenamed "Dark Hawk." Some iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max units have a weird new speaker crackling issue that persists after the iOS 27.0.1 update. A bug is causing Android Auto calls to fail when foldables are closed; Moto and Google are investigating.
Amazon Kindle and Apple Home Pad
Amazon has introduced new Kindle Paperwhite, Colorsoft, and entry-level models with flat-surface displays and new colors. New Kindle accessories bring physical buttons back to the ereaders. Apple's long-rumored HomePad is reportedly launching on October 13, per reports.
HP Omnibook 5 and Breville Coffee Machine
HP's Omnibook 5 features an OLED screen and costs $699, with a claimed battery life of up to 42 hours. Breville's new coffee machine automates pour-overs from scratch for $600, though you still need to buy the beans.
AI, Privacy, and Legal News
Google has launched its first Gemini 4 model, codenamed "Argon," trained for knowledge work and cybersecurity. Google is also phasing out Gemini Gems in favor of Skills starting in October. California Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed a smart glasses privacy bill, citing overbroad language. A separate California law bans companies from relying on AI to fire workers. A Japanese court has ruled that human voices are protected in a landmark AI case. Audible is rolling out AI-generated interactive stories starting with Bram Stoker's classic, letting users converse with Dracula's servant. Elon Musk and Palmer Luckey will advise the government on the future of warfare.
Other Tech: UGREEN, Neurable, Fujifilm, and Neon
UGREEN's local AI NAS is rolling out huge price drops ahead of its Kickstarter launch. Neurable has launched its newest brain-scanning headphones equipped with EEG sensors. Fujifilm's Instax Pal 2 can plug directly into a smartphone to transfer images. Neon will make a truly open-source SCP movie after an A24 controversy.
Networking and Outages
AT&T is buying $3 billion worth of fibre optic cables from Corning. Apple TV is down after a September 30 outage affecting several Apple services.
Best of 2026 and Power Bank Reviews
Engadget has published its best of 2026 roundup, featuring the highest-rated devices reviewed this year. Android Central has tested the best slim Qi2 power banks released in 2026, including Baseus, TORRAS, INIU, and Reel Charge.
NASA Crew-13 Launch
Here's how to watch NASA's Crew-13 launch live.