Chinese regulatory filings, unearthed earlier this week, revealed that Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 Pro Max will have a significantly larger battery than its predecessor, suggesting a longer battery life as well.

This, however, may come at the expense of added thickness and weight.

Reliable Chinese leaker Ice Universe revealed the details in a post on Weibo.

"The iPhone 18 Pro Max's 5500mAh battery comes at the cost of a 240-gram weight and a 9mm thick body," he wrote.

Apple's iPhone 17 Pro Max is 8.75mm thick and weighs 233 grams. If Ice Universe's numbers are accurate, the iPhone 18 Pro Max would be 0.25mm thicker and 7 grams heavier; a small difference, but still noticeable, especially on a device that's already pretty large and heavy.

MacRumors pointed out that, for the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro Max, Apple has reportedly adopted a new type of vapor chamber that uses stainless steel, which could also make the phone heavier.

Notably, Apple's largest phone has shed some weight over the years, with the iPhone 14 Pro Max still holding the title of being the heaviest iPhone ever. Its weight is exactly 240 grams, so the iPhone 18 Pro Max might come in at a tie.

There's no word on the dimensions and weight of the iPhone 18 Pro. Its battery will reportedly only be a little larger than before, so perhaps there won't be a significant change in thickness and weight, either.

It's also worth noting that Apple is rumored to be launching the iPhone Ultra, alongside the Pro models, in September. That one is almost certainly going to be the heaviest new iPhone, thanks to its foldable design.

Apple is likely to join the foldable market this year — but Samsung is gearing up to have a competitor in place before the iPhone Ultra even launches.

Samsung is set to show off its latest wares at a Galaxy Unpacked event in London on July 22, and it's widely expected that the company will announce a third foldable to add onto the Fold and Flip form factors it has already been selling for years now.

This new foldable will reportedly be a shorter, wider device, similar in shape to the still-unannounced iPhone Ultra.

Here's everything you need to know about the wide Samsung foldable before its likely launch later this month.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide: When is it coming?

As previously mentioned, Samsung's next Galaxy Unpacked event is on July 22. The phone will likely not hit shelves that day, but it should be available within a few weeks, if precedent holds.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide: What is it called?

This is where things get confusing. While we expect that the new wide foldable will be called Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, it is not a true successor to the Z Fold 7 (launched in 2025), at least not in terms of design.

There will be a successor to the Z Fold 7 launched alongside the new wide foldable, but it's reportedly called the Z Fold 8 Ultra. Hopefully Samsung will clear up the confusion on why that should be.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide: Design and specs

Samsung hasn't officially announced the Z Fold 8, but we have a decent idea of what to expect based on various leaks over the past several months.

For example, prominent leaker Sonny Dickson posted images on X back in April purporting to show dummy cases for the new batch of foldables.

Two of them look familiar to fans of Samsung phones, but one of them is clearly more squat and more wide than anything the company has made yet. We are pretty sure that's the Z Fold 8.

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There are now official details yet, but leaker Tarun Vats recently posted specs on X. They include:

• 5.5-inch cover display with 120Hz refresh rate

• 7.6-inch inner display with 120Hz refresh rate

• Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset

• 12GB RAM

• 256GB/512GB/1TB storage

• 4,800mAh battery

Based on the dummy units seen above, those display dimensions sound about right. The idea, evidently, is to have a roughly 4:3 aspect ratio in the inner display, which is what Apple is reportedly going to do with its foldable.

This was recently corroborated even more by Android Authority, which found alleged images of the phone in One UI 9 files.

Yeah, that's not a regular Samsung foldable. Credit: Android Authority

As for the other specs offered by Tarun Vats, there are no real surprises here. The RAM and storage counts are pretty normal for what will likely be an expensive phone, while the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset has been used in other recent Samsung devices.

All that should keep the phone performing smoothly. A 4,800mAh battery is also roughly what we would expect from a device like this. Hopefully, it'll be able to keep a charge for at least 24 hours.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide: Cameras

This is one area where it seems like Samsung is making compromises. In the render above from Android Authority, there are only two rear cameras on the Z Fold 8. That's not ideal: the Z Fold 7 had three, and we expect the same of the Z Fold 8 Ultra.

Tarun Vats' specs list suggests they won't be the most powerful lenses in the world, either. A 50MP wide and 50MP ultrawide lens, with two 10MP selfie cameras, may sound impressive — but it's a far cry from the 200MP main lens we got on the Z Fold 7.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide: Price

It's impossible to say what this phone will cost prior to its announcement. RAMageddon is very real, and foldables were already in the neighborhood of $2,000 before memory became impossible to come by.

Do not be shocked if this phone, even with its weaker cameras, is out of your price range.

TL;DR: Simplify your cell phone with this Kyocera DuraXE Epic E4830 Flip Phone, on sale now for just $111.99 (reg. $269.99) while supplies last.

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Credit: Kyocera

Kyocera DuraXE Epic E4830 Flip Phone AT&T + GSM Unlocked (Refurbished)

$111.99
$269.99 Save $158

 

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Sometimes it’s best to go back to basics. If you’ve been looking for an easier way to stay connected, with fewer distractions and more reliability, it may be time to return to a good old flip phone.

The Kyocera DuraXE Epic E4830 Flip Phone gives you a simple way to stay connected, and right now you can snag one for only $111.99 (reg. $269.99).

It’s time to step away from the apps. We need to stay connected to our loved ones, but that doesn’t have to come with a device that keeps you doomscrolling until midnight. The Kyocera DuraXE Epic E4830 Flip Phone makes it easier to talk and text, while remaining rugged enough to keep up with your busy life.

Our smartphones today aren’t exactly life-proof. From shattered screens to water incompatibility, it’s easy for one to be out of commission. But you don’t have to worry about this Kyocera DuraXE; it’s shock-resistant and ready to withstand drops, dust, and even water exposure.

The Kyocera DuraXE’s battery offers 10 hours of talk time and 16 days of standby time. When you need to power it back up, it charges via USB-C. The battery is also removable, so it can be swapped on the go for longer device life.

While this flip phone simplifies your communication, it’s not slacking in the power department. A 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 215 processor can keep up with your calls, messages, and other basic phone functions.

You can use this phone with AT&T, or if you’re with another carrier, it’s GSM-compatible. It has a 5MP camera to snap photos, and you can save them with 16GB of storage. The Kyocera DuraXE also offers expandable memory support up to 512GB via microSD if you need it.

You’re saving big on this Kyocera DuraXE thanks to its Grade A refurbished rating, which means it will arrive on your doorstep in near-mint condition while you score the low price.

Snag a Kyocera DuraXE Epic E4830 Flip Phone for only $111.99 today.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Nothing has officially unveiled the Phone (4b), the first smartphone in its new (b) series and the latest entry point into the company's growing product lineup. Building on the Phone (4a) series, the Phone (4b) pairs Nothing's signature transparent design with upgraded everyday features.

Preorders are now live, with the Phone (4b) available in black, white, and blue. Here's everything you need to know before placing your order.

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Credit: Nothing

Nothing Phone (4b)

 

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What's new with the Nothing Phone (4b)?

The Nothing Phone (4b) marks the debut of the company's new (b) series, offering a more affordable way into the Nothing ecosystem. It combines the transparent aesthetic Nothing is known for with a refined Glyph Bar, a new unibody-inspired design, and the same clean Nothing OS experience found on the company's higher-end phones.

Another big upgrade is the largest battery ever fitted to a Nothing smartphone, plus Nothing OS 4.1 running Android 16. The software also brings the company's full suite of Essential AI tools to the Phone (4b), including features designed to help users search, organize, and capture information more easily.

What you’re getting with the Nothing Phone (4b)

The Nothing Phone (4b) brings a mix of performance upgrades, a bigger battery, smarter software, and camera improvements aimed at making everyday use feel smoother.

Credit: Nothing

More power and the biggest battery yet

The Nothing Phone (4b) is powered by the Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 processor, which is designed to deliver smoother performance, better efficiency, and faster AI features. Paired with Qualcomm's 6th-generation AI Engine, the phone can handle tasks like photography enhancements, voice recognition, and Nothing's Essential AI tools more responsively.

For gamers, the Phone (4b) includes a custom 4,400mm² vapor chamber designed to help manage heat during demanding tasks. The Phone (4b) also packs a 5,200mAh battery, and Nothing rates it for up to 18 hours of mixed usage, including up to 22 hours of YouTube playback, and 26 hours of Instagram browsing. It supports 33W wired fast charging, reaching 50% battery in under 30 minutes.

A smoother, brighter screen for everyday use

The Phone (4b) has a 6.77-inch Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate for smooth scrolling and gaming. It supports HDR10+ and reaches up to 2,000 nits peak brightness for a clearer view in bright conditions.

A 1,000Hz touch sampling rate is designed to keep controls feeling more responsive, while Super AMOLED technology helps deliver deeper blacks and more vibrant colors.

More creative tools and steadier shots

The Phone (4b) comes with a 50MP main camera with optical image stabilization (OIS) to help capture sharper photos and steadier videos. It also has a 119-degree ultrawide camera and smart sensors to keep colors and lighting looking natural in different conditions.

Nothing is also improving its image processing with TrueLens Engine 4. Its Ultra XDR feature combines 13 RAW frames to help capture more detail, especially in tricky lighting situations with bright highlights and dark shadows.

For video creators, the Phone (4b) can record 4K video at 30fps and introduces Dual Capture, allowing users to record from the front and rear cameras at the same time. It also includes creative tools like Disco and DV filters, Signature Presets, and Playground for experimenting with different looks.

Credit: Nothing

Nothing OS 4.1 brings AI into the mix

The Phone (4b) runs Nothing OS 4.1 based on Android 16, bringing the company's signature clean interface along with new customization and AI features.

The phone includes Nothing's full Essential AI experience, including native ChatGPT integration across the interface, clipboard, and widgets, alongside Google Gemini, Circle to Search, and Hey Google. The Essential Key, a dedicated shortcut for Nothing’s AI tool, gives you quick access to Essential Space, Search, Voice, Apps, and Playground.

Audio and durability

It features dual stereo speakers that Nothing says deliver a 20% improvement in stereo effect compared to the Phone (4a), along with Nothing's 160-level volume control for more precise adjustments.

The phone is designed for everyday durability, with an IP64 rating for dust and water resistance, a fingerprint-resistant coating, and recycled materials used throughout its construction.

Credit: Nothing

Where to buy

The Nothing Phone (4b) is available to pre-order for £299 ($399). Drops are taking place in the company's stores from July 11. Listings go live online from July 17. Nothing is limiting its launch to the UK, Europe, and India.

Summer slumber isn't a thing at Mountain View: Google's new Pixel smartphones will be unveiled on August 12.

The company recently sent out invites for the event, which will be held in New York City, at 6 p.m. ET on Wednesday, August 12. The invite shows a detail of (presumably) the upcoming phone (in a dazzling gold/copper color) and its camera.

"Come celebrate with us in NYC on August 12. It's the night the next generation of Pixel arrives," the invite says.

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The company is expected to launch a massive addition to its phone lineup, with rumors pointing to four new devices: Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and the foldable Pixel 11 Pro Fold.

At the event, Google is also expected to launch a new wearable, the Pixel Watch 5.

The event timing is notable as it's about a month ahead of Apple's September event, where the company is likely to unveil new iPhones, including its first-ever foldable phone, the iPhone Ultra.

To make this summer even more interesting, Samsung is also about to launch new foldable phones, including a super-wide version of the Galaxy Z Fold, at an Unpacked event on July 22.

One of the worst-kept secrets in tech isn't a secret anymore.

After months of rumors and leaks, Samsung on Tuesday finally confirmed what we already knew: There will be a Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event on July 22 in London, starting at 9am ET. You'll be able to watch the event live on Samsung's website or its YouTube channel.

In the brief announcement sent to media outlets, Samsung said it will "introduce its latest Galaxy innovations that build on its leadership in foldables."

That's right in line with what we expect to see at this Galaxy Unpacked event. Reporting suggests Samsung will launch three foldables instead of just two this year: A Z Flip 8, a Z Fold 8, and a Z Fold 8 Ultra.

The Z Fold 8 will be a new model with a shorter, wider form factor, while the Z Fold 8 Ultra will be a successor to the excellent Z Fold 7.

We're also expecting to see at least two new Galaxy Watch models, as well as Samsung's first foray into smart glasses, which may be called Galaxy Glasses.

And if there are any surprises beyond those announcements? We'll know in a couple of weeks.

New details are emerging about the iPhone Air 2's expected camera and battery upgrades, adding specificity to earlier reporting on Apple's next ultra-thin device.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman first reported in June that Apple plans to add a second rear camera lens to the iPhone Air 2 and improve its battery life. The original iPhone Air launched with just a single 48-megapixel lens, and Gurman's report indicated the additional lens would be ultrawide rather than telephoto.

That claim has now been backed by leaker Digital Chat Station, according to 9to5Mac, which noted the source has a solid track record. The outlet said it had been unclear whether the second lens would be telephoto or ultrawide, with its own reader poll showing a preference for telephoto, but recent reporting has converged on an ultrawide lens.

On battery life, 9to5Mac reported that Digital Chat Station has provided specific figures suggesting a notably higher-capacity battery, citing supply-chain forecasts pointing to roughly 3,500 mAh, up from the current model's 3,149 mAh. That would put the Air 2 closer to the 3,692 mAh battery found in the standard iPhone 17.

Both upgrades would address the most common criticisms of the original iPhone Air. Mashable's review of the device praised its slim form factor but flagged the lack of a second lens and underwhelming battery life as its biggest shortcomings, adding that those issues may have contributed to soft sales.

The iPhone Air 2 isn't expected to launch until spring 2027, following earlier reporting by The Information that cited weak first-generation sales as the reason for delaying the device's release beyond Apple's typical fall cycle. Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Fold are still expected to debut this fall.

Samsung is set to capture the world's attention by hijacking the tech world's attention for a couple of hours later this month.

The Korean tech giant is reportedly holding a new Galaxy Unpacked event in London on July 22, according to many leaks and rumors. At this event, we'll more than likely see at least six new devices from Samsung. Without wasting any more time, here's what to expect from the next Galaxy Unpacked.

Three new foldables arriving, including Z Flip 8, Z Fold 8

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The real headliner of each summer Unpacked, at least in recent years, has been Samsung's lineup of foldable phones. For several years, Samsung has launched a new Z Flip and Z Fold phone each summer. In 2026, all reports indicate a third phone is being added to the list. The three Samsung foldables we expect to see at Unpacked are:

• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8

• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8

• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra

This is where things get a little confusing. You'd think the Z Fold 8 Ultra would be the new addition to the lineup, but recent reports indicate that the Z Fold 8 is actually a new device this year. Rumors for months have pointed to Samsung releasing a wider foldable this year, and it sounds like that phone will take the Z Fold 8 name, while a true successor to the Z Fold 7 will be called Z Fold 8 Ultra.

Anyway, the new Z Fold 8 will potentially have a 5.4-inch outer display and a 7.8-inch inner display when unfolded. These dimensions are pretty similar to the rumored design of the still-unannounced foldable iPhone, suggesting Samsung wants to introduce this third foldable as a direct competitor to Apple's device.

Aside from that, we expect the Z Fold 8 Ultra to be fairly similar in design to the Z Fold 7, with a new Snapdragon chip and a stronger 200MP main camera on the back. Samsung is also said to have done some work to make the crease on the folding display less visible this year. The Z Flip 8, by all accounts, will follow a similar path: roughly the same design as the Z Flip 7, but with a better processor and a less visible crease.

Oh, and thanks to RAMageddon, do not be surprised to see year-over-year price increases for all of these devices.

New Galaxy Watches on the way

Samsung usually uses this summer event to showcase its latest smartwatch advancements, and 2026 looks no different. This year, we expect to see two new Samsung watches:

• Samsung Galaxy Watch 9

• Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2

It's generally accepted that both of these phones will see fairly incremental changes from before. There will surely be new health-tracking features, and some small design changes, with the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 in particular said to incorporate classic numbers on the watch face, a thinner bezel, and better side buttons. Most importantly, for some, it sounds like Samsung is skipping out on a new Galaxy Watch Classic this year. You'll get a base model and a premium model, and that's it, as far as anyone can tell.

Galaxy Glasses tipped for their big debut

Lastly, Samsung's long-awaited smart glasses should make their debut at Unpacked in July. Most likely called Galaxy Glasses, we expect these specs to work similarly to the ones Meta has been releasing for a few years now. They will not include any augmented reality or heads-up display features, focusing instead on on-board cameras and a built-in AI assistant, courtesy of Google Gemini, to provide information about what you're seeing, should you ask.

It should be a pretty packed showcase, so stay tuned for all of our coverage as we get closer to Galaxy Unpacked in July.

Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 Pro Max will have a significantly larger battery than its predecessor.

We know this because a leaker called Digital Chat Station noticed the regulatory filings for the upcoming iPhones in China (via MacRumors).

Starting with the iPhone 18 Pro, it's apparently going to have a 4,056mAh battery in China and a 4,288mAh in the U.S. (the difference is there due to the SIM tray, which the iPhones still have in China; the SIM tray takes up some space that would otherwise be allocated to the battery). That's an increase compared to the iPhone 17 Pro which has a 3,988mAh and 4,252mAh battery, respectively, but it's hardly sensational.

The iPhone 18 Pro Max is a different story. The Chinese database filings reveal that it's going to have a 5,391mAh battery in China, and a 5,567mAh battery in the U.S., a decent leap from the 4,823/5,088mAh battery on the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

There's one caveat to this: The leaker says that the battery capacities for the iPhone 18 Pro Max is "questionable and needs further verification."

If the report is accurate, iPhone 18 Pro Max buyers can expect a decent increase in battery life. The battery capacity is roughly 10 percent larger compared to last year's model, though that doesn't directly translate into battery life as it also depends on the chips powering the device, the display, and various optimizations to conserve battery life. The good news is that Apple is very good at these optimizations, so we wouldn't be surprised to see an even bigger leap in nominal battery life on the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

The iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max will likely be unveiled in early September, alongside Apple's first foldable phone, which will probably be named the iPhone Ultra.

TL;DR: For a limited time, Mint Mobile is offering any phone plan — including Unlimited — for just $15 per month. New customers can sign up starting at $45 upfront for three months.

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Credit: Mint Mobile deal

Mint Mobile

New customers can get any Mint Mobile plan, including Unlimited, for $15/month with a qualifying upfront payment.

Get Deal

If you're spending more than you want on your phone plan, Mint Mobile's latest deal could bring that cost down to just $15 per month.

For a limited time, new customers can get any Mint Mobile plan — including the Unlimited plan — for $15 per month, making it one of the strongest prepaid wireless deals available right now.

The biggest value is on the Unlimited plan, which normally costs $30 per month, making this a straight 50% discount for your first plan term. Rather than paying month to month, you'll pay for your plan upfront:

• 3 months: $45 upfront

• 6 months: $90 upfront

• 12 months: $180 upfront

No matter which option you choose, it works out to $15 per month during your introductory plan. After that initial term ends, you'll need to renew at Mint Mobile's regular rates. You can still choose different monthly plans when you renew, but the promotional pricing won't carry over.

Every Mint Mobile plan includes unlimited talk and text, access to a nationwide 5G network, mobile hotspot support, and free calling to Mexico, Canada, and the UK. If you opt for the Unlimited plan, you'll also get up to 20GB of hotspot data, though speeds may slow after 50GB of monthly usage if the network is busy.

If you're already planning to switch carriers, this is a solid deal to consider. Paying upfront isn't ideal for everyone, but even the shortest plan starts at just $45, making it an easy way to try Mint without a big commitment.

A cheaper carrier is just $15 per month away — at least for your first plan term.

Apple's iPhone Ultra will be slightly late, it will be pricy, and it'll still sell out fast.

That's according to reliable analyst and Apple sleuth Ming-Chi Kuo, who shared his thoughts in a post on X.

In the article, Kuo compares the iPhone Ultra (a likely name for Apple's first foldable iPhone) with the iPhone X, which was the first iPhone to sport a notch on top, ushering the era of modern iPhones back in 2017.

The iPhone Ultra will be a little late, says Kuo. It will be announced in September, together with the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, but it will actually start shipping about a month later, just like the iPhone X did when it launched.

There's been considerable back and forth about this, with some analysts claiming the iPhone Ultra will not be late at all, and others saying it will be delayed. At this point, it's getting impossible to figure out who's right, but at least most reports now agree that the Ultra will be unveiled in September.

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Kuo also gave his most precise prediction for the iPhone Ultra's price, which according to him will be "roughly $2,300–$2,500." Kuo previously said the Ultra would cost $2,000 to $2,500. Notably, Apple recently increased the prices of numerous products due to a memory chip supply crunch, but the iPhones were left alone.

Even with a price point that's roughly two times the price of the company's current flagship, the iPhone 17 Pro Max, Kuo expects strong sales "at least through the end of 2026," which could mean the iPhone Ultra would "sell out immediately after pre-orders open, with delivery lead times quickly stretching to 4–6 weeks or longer and remaining there through December." In other words, even if you have north of two thousand dollars to spare for a foldable iPhone, you might have to wait a month or more to get it.

Apple is likely to launch the iPhone Ultra, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models, in early September. Here's all we know about the Ultra so far.

After eight long years, it looks like Google is finally going to have to pay off that big EU fine.

Reuters reported that the Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled against Google in its latest attempt to appeal a massive €4.1 billion fine initially imposed in 2018. The EU's reasoning then and now was that Google used the Android operating system in anti-competitive ways, such as heavily incentivizing users to use Google Search and Chrome on new Android devices.

Google did change some of its policies over the years to duck and weave additional EU penalties, but the fine (which comes in at nearly $5 billion in U.S. dollars) is still in place, and now that Google has lost this latest appeal, it might not have much of a choice but to pay it. The "good" news for Google is that, due to a 2022 decision, the fine was cut down from €4.34 billion to €4.1 billion.

At any rate, Google isn't the first U.S. tech company to learn that the EU is serious about antitrust matters, and it probably won't be the last.

Fashion collabs are taking over the world right now; I've seen some partnerships that I'd never thought would happen (Naomi Osaka's Wimbledon dress sold out within hours). But with the World Cup ending on July 19, everyone's trying to get a piece of that soccer advertising pie, including T-Mobile.

Today, T-Mobile announced that it's teaming up with Umbro (an iconic sportswear brand) to create limited-edition jerseys exclusively for T-Mobile members. And from the photos, they don't look half bad (most collabs are kitschy and just short-lived fads). I could definitely see someone wearing one of these jerseys while running errands or going about their day.

Credit: Atiba Jefferson

The drop won't happen until Tuesday, July 7, and as I mentioned above, you have to be a T-Mobile member to get one. They'll be available exclusively through the T-Life app for $60 on a first-come, first-served basis. Once they sell out, they're gone.

T-Mobile is framing the surprise collab as a way to celebrate a "record-breaking Member Month" (apparently, nearly 14 million members engaged during the first week alone).

Even if you miss out on the jersey, the other perks it's throwing at qualifying members right now are pretty great. Along with bringing back a free year of DoorDash DashPass, T-Mobile's basically paying for its members' streaming subscriptions with free Netflix, Hulu, and MLB.TV. It even added Apple TV+ for $3 per month, plus free texting and high-speed data in more than 215 countries if you happen to be traveling this summer.

Apple has a new iOS update for everyone, but don't get too excited.

The Cupertino-based iPhone manufacturer released its latest software update for its flagship mobile device this week. It's called iOS 26.5.2, and according to the official release notes that appear when you try to download it, it only installs security updates on your phone. No new features, UI changes, or bug fixes are included in this update. If you hate Liquid Glass, it's not changing at all with this update, sorry to say.

That said, you should definitely still install iOS 26.5.2 because security updates are important. You don't want your iPhone to be compromised in any way. Here's how you do it, in case you've forgotten:

1. Open the Settings app

2. Go to General, then Software Update

3. Hit the install button

The update is north of 10GB, so you may need to do some storage management to make it fit.

FREE PHONE: As of June 30, get a free Samsung Galaxy S26+ from T-Mobile when you activate a new line or trade in an eligible phone on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan.

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Credit: Amazon

Samsung Galaxy S26: Free with T-Mobile

 

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If you're in the market for a new smartphone, your best bet right now is T-Mobile.

Whether you're looking to trade in your old device or want to start fresh with a new carrier, you can snag 2026's Samsung Galaxy S26+ for free. There are a couple of ways you can go about taking advantage of the deal, but either way you slice it, you're getting a phone that's normally $1,099.99 without having to nickel and dime yourself to death.

As of June 30, get a free Samsung Galaxy S26+ from T-Mobile when you activate a new line or trade in an eligible phone on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan. That means you can take your old device and trade it in (after consulting the list of eligible trade-in devices, of course) or simply opt to start up a new phone plan on either eligible option. Additionally, if you're already on Go5G Next or Go5G plans at T-Mobile, you'll qualify for the free phone.

But you don't just walk in and get a free phone or place a $0 order for the device. There are some fees that will apply. You'll receive 24 monthly bill credits for the device when adding a line or trading in an eligible phone on the qualifying plan of your choice. The only catch is, you'll need to pay taxes and a $35 device connection charge to complete the deal.

You can complete the deal online or in-store, so if you want the phone sooner rather than later, that's an option. Just be advised that you will need to pay a bit of cash in return for the spoils. If that sounds like a great deal to you (and really, it is), you can sign up right now and have your phone ASAP. And who doesn't want a free phone this summer?

Samsung is preparing a true onslaught of foldable phones this July, and now we've gotten our first detailed look at all of them.

Android Headlines posted the images on Tuesday, and even though these are technically images of cases that will be offered with these phones at launch, some of them do show the phones inside the case.

Perhaps the most interesting in this bunch is Samsung's rumored wide foldable phone. According to the outlet, this phone will actually be called the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8. The successor of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 will be called the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, and it will be positioned as the most advanced foldable phone Samsung has to offer. Finally, the Galaxy Z Flip 8 is the compact, flip-style foldable that follows the Galaxy Z Flip 7.

In the images, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 has a dual camera system on the back, and a punch-hole style selfie camera on the front. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 also has a dual camera on the back, while the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra comes with a triple rear camera.

The cases on offer include a dark grey one with a kick-stand and aramid fiber-style pattern (this one comes in several color combos), several solid color cases including a white and a purple option, and a couple of joyful ones with cartoon character prints. The options are similar for all phones, though the aramid fiber cases are missing for the Flip phone.

As for what these phones will actually be like, check out our overview of rumors and reports for both the ultra-wide Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.

Reports say Samsung will expand its Galaxy S27 line to four phones with the addition of the new Galaxy S27 Pro. It's designed for those who want Ultra-level power in a smaller body. Here's everything we've heard, including a privacy feature that debuted on the Ultra.

Google just launched a new version of Android. It might take a bit to install, so you might as well brush up on what it has to offer while you wait.

Android 17 officially launched earlier this month, so if you have a Pixel or Samsung phone, you might as well get the download started. It brings several new features to play with, so without wasting any more time, let's dig in. Here are some of the top Android 17 features to anticipate as you watch that install progress on your phone screen.

Bubbles enable better multitasking

Timely! Credit: Google

A couple of these updates are intended for or best used on foldables or other "large screen devices," as Google calls them. The first one of these is Bubbles, an easy way to multitask on your mobile device.

All you have to do is long-press an app icon to turn it into a floating window that you can move around and resize as needed. It can live on top of another open app, so if you want to livestream a World Cup game in one window and react to it with your homies in a group chat at the same time, you can do that. It sounds very intuitive and useful, which is what we want to see out of any free software updates.

Better gaming on foldable devices

That looks handy. Credit: Google

Speaking of foldables, Google has also enhanced the gaming experience on these devices with Android 17. If you have something like a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, you can orient it in landscape mode and use a new layout where the game is displayed on the top half of the screen, while a virtual controller is on the bottom half. A lot of mobile games overlay virtual controls on top of the gameplay, but this would theoretically allow you to game without all that stuff getting in the way. Another win for foldables.

Record screen reactions for your social feeds

Everyone has to react to everything all the time. Credit: Screenshot: Google

We live in a world where everything warrants a reaction for social media. These days, that often takes the form of someone talking into their selfie camera in front of an image of whatever they're reacting to. With Android 17, you can do that easily. Google says it takes "just a few taps" to overlay yourself on top of an image or viral clip, at which point you can get to yapping about it. That engagement won't generate itself, folks, but Android 17 comes pretty close to doing it all for you.

Enhanced parental controls

Parental controls are not necessarily "exciting" according to the dictionary definition of the word, but they are good and important. With Android 17, Google has added some much-needed new safety features for kids. They originally launched on Pixel devices late last year, but now they're available for everything that runs Android.

With these features, you can do things like filter Google Play downloads, set a time for the device to lock down every night, and set screen time limits for the young ones. None of these are revolutionary, but they are vital to making sure your kid doesn't develop a debilitating screen addiction.

Lock down your lost phone

This might save a lot of headaches for people. Credit: Google

Lastly, we have another feature that may not be "exciting" in the traditional sense, but will absolutely save lots of money and prevent lots of stress for Android device owners.

Mark as Lost is a new feature that will allow you to remotely lock down a missing phone using Find Hub. Even if the amoral brigand who pilfered your device has your PIN, they won't be able to open the phone without your biometrics. You may not be able to get the phone back, but they won't be able to do anything with it, either.

UPDATE: Jun. 29, 2026, 12:39 p.m. EDT This article has been updaded to add a statement from T-Mobile.

If you've been quietly riding out an old T-Mobile plan for the last decade or so, that ride is about to end.

T-Mobile is automatically migrating thousands of customers on legacy plans to its current lineup of plans, the company confirmed to CNET, with affected subscribers beginning to receive notification via text or the T-Life app today. The switch will take effect within the next few billing cycles and applies to both individual customers and some small businesses. (Disclosure: CNET and Mashable are both owned by the same parent company, Ziff Davis.)

T-Mobile didn't specify which plans are being retired, but per CNET, a company representative said some stretch back 10 to 15 years, including Simple Choice, T-Mobile One, and grandfathered Sprint plans from the carrier's 2020 merger.

Customers will be moved to comparable options within T-Mobile's current lineup, including Essentials, Experience More, and Experience Beyond. For some, that means a price increase, though T-Mobile chief marketing officer Allan Samson told CNET the new rate will still typically be lower than what a new customer would pay for the same plan today.

A T-Mobile spokesperson gave Mashable the following statement:

We’re retiring our oldest plans, some of which were built nearly 15 years ago – in the 3G and 4G eras, and well before our 5G network was fully deployed. Customers will transition to modern plans that provide access to America’s best wireless technology, enhanced features and a 5-year price guarantee for peace of mind. Some customers will see no change to their monthly bill, while some will see a modest adjustment. Every customer moved to a new plan will keep their current benefits while gaining improvements in network and service experiences.

What makes this move notable isn't the migration itself. As CNET notes, AT&T added fees to legacy plans in May, and T-Mobile hiked prices in March 2025. Rather, it's the fact that the company will perform the switch automatically, requiring no action from the customer and no option to stay put. If you end up on a plan you don't want, your only choices are to switch to a different T-Mobile plan or switch to a new carrier.

Internally, T-Mobile framed the move as a systems cleanup, with CNET reporting the change eliminates over 1,100 legacy billing codes.

Samsung has been one of the first major smartphone makers to embrace foldable smartphones. Now, the company is reportedly looking to take the next step forward by launching a smartphone with a rollable screen.

Korea's Money Today (via SamMobile) claims that Samsung Display is in discussions to supply display panels for a rollable smartphone developed by Samsung Electronics (both companies are subsidiaries of the Samsung Group).

The details are slim; market research company Omdia reportedly predicts that the phone (with the possible name Z Slide) will have a 10-inch, rollable display, with a 16:9 aspect ration, and a 440.6 ppi resolution. According to Money Today, the phone could launch in the first half of 2028; a successor is already planned, and that one could hit the market in 2030.

We've seen rollable phone concepts before; LG was very close to launching one in 2021, but then the company shuttered its entire mobile phone division, and the phone never saw the light of day.

We've also seen several Samsung Display concepts of stretchy, bendy, and rollable phones, but most of those concepts never make it to actual phones you can buy. In the video below, you can see Samsung Display's "Rollable Flex" screen in action.

For a company of its size, Samsung has been quite adventurous when it comes to new phone form factors. Besides dominating the foldable phone market with its Z Fold and Z Flip phones, Samsung was the first major manufacturer to launch a tri-folding phone.

SAVE $380: As of June 26, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (unlocked, 256GB) is still at a record-low price of $919.99 for Prime Day. It usually costs $1,299.99, so Prime members will want to bolt to Amazon before Prime Day ends later tonight.

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Credit: Samsung

Unlocked Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (256GB)

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The flagship Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra in an Android phone with some serious iPhone-user-swaying powers.

And this handset is now at its lowest price ever for the final hours of Prime Day. If your current phone is on its last legs, the unlocked version of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (256GB) is just $919.99 at Amazon. It usually costs $1,299.99, and it'll likely bump back up to full price when Prime Day ends around midnight on Friday, June 26.

Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth gave the Galaxy S26 Ultra a glowing review when it was released back in March, going as far as to say that 2026 might just be the year he switches to Android. That's how good of a job Samsung did with its newest flagship smartphone. In particular, he noted the innovative Privacy Display, a never-before-seen hardware feature that blocks your pixels from prying eyes. Even Apple doesn't have anything like it.

You'll get the same 200MP wide lens, 50MP ultra-wide lens, 50MP telephoto lens with 10x optical zoom, 10MP lens with 3x optical zoom, and front-facing 12MP selfie camera as the S25, now enhanced by wider camera apertures, better steadying capabilities, and upgraded night photography and video. The S26 Ultra's zooming abilities are particularly awesome.

Processing speed is another major W for the S26 Ultra. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 actually beat the iPhone 17 Pro Max's processor in a Geekbench 6 performance — this thing could technically power a laptop. If you've been complaining about your current phone's lagging for months, the Galaxy S26 Ultra will be huge for your sanity.

Apple is not immune to the scourge of RAMageddon. On Thursday, the company announced that many of its flagship products would increase in price due to the current tough tech economy. But what didn't get a price increase?

That's what we're here to figure out. While many product categories, such as MacBooks and iPads, were subject to this change, a few major ones weren't. Here are the Apple products that did not get price hikes this week.

iPhones

The big headliner here is the iPhone. Apple's most important product was exempt from this week's price hikes, with each model available on the Apple Store online remaining at its regular MSRP. These include:

• iPhone 16

• iPhone 16 Plus

• iPhone 17e

• iPhone 17

• iPhone Air

• iPhone 17 Pro

• iPhone 17 Pro Max

If you want to buy one of those devices, it will cost the same now as it did a week ago. That said, Apple is going to announce a new batch of iPhones in September, so it will be interesting to see if those devices see a rise in sticker price.

Apple Watches

Next up is the Apple Watch. Apple did not increase prices on the following models:

• Apple Watch Hermès Ultra 3

• Apple Watch Hermès Series 11

• Apple Watch Ultra 3

• Apple Watch SE 3

• Apple Watch Series 11

Apple maintained iPhone prices despite the ongoing global memory shortage, possibly to keep consumers happy, but Apple Watches likely do not require nearly as much onboard memory as a smartphone. That may explain why these devices stayed at the same price as before.

AirPods

Lastly, Apple elected to keep the available AirPods models at their normal prices:

• AirPods 4

• AirPods 4 ANC

• AirPods Pro 3

• AirPods Max 2

Again, the memory shortage probably doesn't affect earbuds to the same degree that it would affect a phone, laptop, or tablet. It's not a surprise, then, that AirPods were not affected.

Now that we've established which Apple devices were safe from price hikes, all eyes are on the iPhone 18.

Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone "Ultra" is reportedly about to go into production, despite earlier updates that Apple is struggling with some of its components.

According to Korea's The Elec, Apple will begin mass production of the foldable iPhone in "late July."

The company is reported to have finalized the key specifications for the device, which is one of the final steps before the phone can enter production. The phone will likely launch in September as Apple originally intended.

The production issue that Apple had encountered reportedly had to do with the phone's hinge. According to The Elec, the 3D-printed hinge module for the foldable iPhone will be supplied by two companies, Taiwan's Hsinchu Hsing and U.S.'s Amphenol. During the development of the hinge, several issues arose, including larger than expected tolerances, higher defect rates, and noises that started appearing after durability testing.

However, the outlet's source says that "most of these issues have now been resolved."

The news follows a similar recent report from China, which claimed that component deliveries for the foldable iPhone have begun in small batches, and that suppliers were receiving guidance for a planned September launch.

Apple's flagship smartphone hasn't taken a year off from its updates since 2007, and barring a massive surprise, 2026 won't be any different.

The Cupertino-based tech giant is widely expected to launch a new lineup of iPhones later this year, including the new iPhone 18, the 18 Pro, and the rumored iPhone Ultra, the company's first-ever foldable.

As we await the iPhone 18 — and its updated operating system, iOS 27 — tidbits of news and rumors continue to trickle out. While we won't see any of the new Apple phones in the wild for months, we can at least bring you the most substantiated and most likely updates in one place.

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iPhone 18 release date and pricing

If you're in the market for a new iPhone, you should circle September in your calendar. That has been the month for Apple's big showcase event for a very long time, and there's no reason to believe Apple will change that in 2026. Expect to see new Apple CEO John Ternus take the stage to introduce it; his term of office officially begins Sept. 1.

What he'll be introducing, alas, may put more of a dent in your wallet. Thanks to the ongoing RAM shortage caused by the AI industry (also known as RAMageddon), tons of smartphones, laptops, and gaming consoles are seeing huge price hikes. Experts who've spoken to Mashable say that trend isn't going to stop anytime soon.

As the world's number one smartphone maker, Apple has some advantages over its rivals, but a price increase is definitely coming. We had hoped otherwise — Apple raised prices on its new MacBooks earlier this year, while also introducing a low-cost $599 laptop that put big pressure on its Windows rivals.

But then outgoing Apple CEO Tim Cook took the unusual step of preparing us for a pricier iPhone. "Price increases are unavoidable," Cook told the Wall Street Journal in an interview. The Journal quoted an analysis showing that the memory chip components in the iPhone 18 Pro will cost Apple $150 more than those in the iPhone 17 Pro.

So should you expect the phones to cost just $150 more than their predecessors (see the iPhone 17 prices here)? You wish. There's the pesky fact that Apple is a for-profit company, and the iPhone is the #1 smartphone in the world for a reason, even though it's already pricier than Samsung's.

How much of an increase will Apple fans bear? We may be about to find out, but the Journal estimated $1,299 for the iPhone 18 Pro ($200 more than last year).

iPhone 18 models

Barring a huge turn under Ternus, Apple will release a base iPhone 18, an iPhone 18 Pro, and an iPhone 18 Pro Max in late September or early October. One thing that might be a surprise (depending on how much tech news you follow) is that Apple may launch or announce a foldable iPhone alongside the normal iPhone 18 models.

That phone is rumored to be called the iPhone Fold, or iPhone Fold Ultra. It's not strictly a member of the iPhone 18 family, at least by name, so head to our hub for all things iPhone Fold/Ultra to read more about it.

iPhone 18 and iPhone 18 Pro design

Again, Apple has not released any official teasers or other imagery for the iPhone 18 lineup yet, so anything reported to date could be wrong. Still, from the sum total of all reports, it sounds like Apple isn't really reinventing the wheel, design-wise. But Ternus, a hardware guy, is reportedly bringing the company's industrial design group into the center of the Apple fold.

Looking further into the future, the iPhone 20 is said to bring big changes, including a curved waterfall display.

Per our friends at CNET (Mashable and CNET are both owned by Ziff Davis), the display sizes will be roughly the same as last year:

• iPhone 18: 6.3 inches

• iPhone 18 Pro: 6.3 inches

• iPhone 18 Pro Max: 6.9 inches

However, the display quality might be a little different this year. Prominent leaker Instant Digital shared on Chinese social media that Apple's brightness demands are unusually high this year, so it would be reasonable to expect much brighter displays than in previous years.

The base iPhone 18 could also have a smaller camera bump compared to previous models. There are reports of a slightly redesigned Dynamic Island on the screen itself, with the pill-shaped notification hub potentially being made smaller in the iPhone 18 models. One alleged leaked image purports to show an iPhone 18 Pro with a downsized Dynamic Island cutout.

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Wondering about the iPhone 18 color options? For the iPhone 18 Pro, at least, it seems the color options have already leaked. Previous rumors indicated Apple was experimenting with a "deep red" color for the iPhone 18 Pro, and a new report from MacWorld backs that up. According to their reporting, the color lineup for the iPhone 18 Pro will be silver, gray, light blue, and a color called "dark cherry" — likely the deep red previously reported.

Sadly, we think fans of black iPhones are out of luck again.

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iPhone 18: rumored hardware features

So we know the software the iPhone 18 will run: iOS 27, introduced at WWDC 2026. Time to start talking about some of the internal hardware changes Apple is reportedly making to the iPhone 18 lineup.

For starters, it sounds like the lineup will have a standardized 12GB RAM count across the board. In previous years, the Pro models had 12GB of RAM, while the base model had only 8GB. According to Korean outlet The Bell, Apple will be upgrading the base model so that it matches the Pro models in that regard. It's also widely expected that Apple will adopt new A20 and A20 Pro chips for the base and Pro models, respectively.

It's also expected that the new iPhones will have a new C2 modem for improved cellular connectivity, and they may also have 5G satellite support. Also reported: a new N2 chip for better WiFi performance.

Latest iPhone 18 Pro rumors

For the iPhone 18 Pro, the current expectation is that Apple will improve the battery size in the premium iPhone 18 models this year. Leaker Digital Chat Station on Weibo reported that the batteries could exceed 5,000mAh, which would be an improvement over the iPhone 17 Pro.

In addition, the smaller camera cutout reportedly applies only to the base model. It's expected that Apple will retain the bigger plateau seen on the iPhone 17 Pro last year for the iPhone 18 Pro.

Instant Digital posted in a separate Weibo leak that the back glass of the iPhone 18 Pro has been altered, resulting in a new unified look, as opposed to the two-tone look of the iPhone 17 Pro. Whether that change will affect durability (or if it's just an aesthetic difference) remains to be seen.

The iPhone 17 Pro has helped Apple break sales records in 2026. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

Are you an Apple superfan? Enter Mashable’s Big Guessing Game to win prizes.

iPhone 18 camera rumors

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, a source of many spot-on iPhone reports, says the iPhone 18 Pro, in particular, will have "some of the biggest camera hardware upgrades in the lineup's history."

Why? First, the telephoto camera has a larger aperture. But more important is the variable aperture.

First reported by Digital Chat Station on Weibo, variable aperture is a huge deal. It would let the iPhone 18 Pro camera capture different amounts of light for different situations — potentially leading to a huge leap in photo quality, if you know what you're doing.

For instance, the bokeh effect famously associated with portrait mode on iPhones would be possible in-camera rather than through software processing, resulting in more natural and generally better-looking shots.

What about AI Siri?

Of course, one of the first things many users will want to know about the iPhone 18 when they get their hands on one: what is the new, revamped, AI-upgraded Siri experience like?

We've been waiting for the answer for some time. Apple first promised users a newer, smarter, Apple Intelligence-powered Siri two years ago, and the company has since faced lawsuits after it failed to deliver. (The company settled a class action suit related to these claims for $250 million.)

Well, post-WWDC, we know a lot more about Apple Intelligence in general. We know Siri will understand what's on your screen. We know Siri will be smarter in general, powered by Gemini. And as Apple daddy Craig Federighi has been at pains to point out, AI Siri will not try to suck you into conversations and be your friend.

"Siri really wants to say, 'I can help you get things done. I can help you learn about the world," Federighi said. "But if you try to engage Siri as a romantic partner, Siri's not up for that. Siri's 100 percent not into that."

There you have it: If you want to fall in love with an Apple product, fall in love with the all-new iPhone 18, not its chatbot.

We all know the feeling of getting the dreaded low power notification in a less than ideal situation.

Whether you're a fan or content creator, on the floor at VidCon would definitely fall into that bucket. The best way to avoid fighting for an outlet when you could be grabbing some vlog content? A portable charger.

That said, this is VidCon. Sure, a lot of people use their phones to film content, but it's also plenty common to have a vlogging camera or even a laptop to keep charged. That means the random one you got seven years ago may not cut it.

Luckily, we've stress tested the ones that will. In addition to trying out some portable chargers myself, I've also called on the Mashable team for their tried and true. The result? These top three portable chargers, worthy of being used at VidCon. Yes, all of them are from Anker, but hey, the brand knows how to balance power and value.

A few days ago, Apple CEO Tim Cook warned that Apple product prices are going up, due to the raging memory chip shortage that's putting pressure on consumer electronics manufacturers.

"Unfortunately, price increases are unavoidable," said Cook, which pretty much seals the deal for pricier iPhones and other Apple gadgets.

While Cook didn't share any other details, many folks (us included) assumed the price hikes would likely happen in the fall, when the company typically launches its new Apple Watches and iPhones. Now, it appears the changes might take the form of actual price increases for existing products, which isn't typical for Apple.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the price hikes are likely "fairly imminent."

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"No other reason to flag them now. I’d also note that Apple back to school sale is very imminent, and it could make sense to tie these together as a buffer. Either way this is happening soon. Not a fall thing."

We could imagine Cook, who's on his way out as CEO, flagging future price hikes to make life a bit easier for his successor, John Ternus. But if Gurman is right, it could mean that the best time to get a cheaper iPhone is... well, right now, before prices go up.

Gurman also referenced Apple's "Back to School" sale, which typically starts mid-June. Apple could increase the regular prices of its products while still offering discounted education pricing to make the transition less painful.

If you thought PopSockets were too bulky, a new model is here: the Low-Pro Grip. CNET's Bridget Carey talks to PopSocket inventor and founder David Barnett to get the story behind the new design and how the iconic phone grip evolved through the years.

Every year, Apple, Samsung, and Google grace us with plenty of great handsets across the price spectrum. This year is different in one notable way, however. Thanks to RAMageddon, even budget phones are getting more expensive.

If you want something good for under $500, you can still get that. But if you want a true flagship device or a bendy screen, you'll have to set aside $1,000 to $2,000 and up.

The year is almost halfway through, so we thought we would celebrate the greatest smartphone achievements of the year to date. Here are the five best smartphones of 2026 so far, in no particular order.

Best flagship: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

'Ultra' is right. Credit: Chris Taylor/Mashable

Putting together a "best smartphones of the year" list in June is a bit difficult because most companies wait until the back half of the calendar year to unleash their flagships. Samsung is not most companies.

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is the best flagship of the year so far, almost by default, but that doesn't mean it's undeserving. This is a powerhouse of an Android handset, with a huge 6.9-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate, an excellent camera array, and a massive 5,000mAh battery that keeps it chugging all day long. It's also chock full of Samsung's latest AI features, if you're into that, and it stands out from the competition by including an S Pen stylus for your note-taking needs. Yes, $1,199 is a lot for a phone, but you get what you pay for, in this case.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra 256GB Unlocked Phone (Black)

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Best iPhone: Apple iPhone 17e

Only one camera is a bummer, but the rest of it is pretty nice. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Apple is one of those companies that waits until later in the year to play its best cards, but the iPhone 17e is quite a nice phone for its modest $599 price tag.

This year, Apple upgraded its budget option with MagSafe support, an A19 chip, and a new starting 256GB storage capacity. That means it can run all the latest AI apps and won't fill up right away, which are both great qualities for a budget phone to have. It's also got respectable battery life for a phone in its price range. The only real disappointments here are the cameras and the 60Hz display, two things that some other budget phones are better at. Still, if you live in Apple's ecosystem and don't have a ton of money to spend, this is a very good phone.

Apple iPhone 17e

$349.99 at Metro by T-Mobile
$599.99 Save $250

 

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Best budget Android phone: Google Pixel 10a

Totally flat. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

Every year, the Google Pixel A-series represents some of the best value in the world of smartphones. They're usually about 90 percent as good as the flagship Pixel that comes out about six months prior, with some corners cut to reduce the price. That was not necessarily the case with the Pixel 10a this year, but it's still a solid device that's easy to recommend to anyone who wants a $499 Android phone.

Sure, it's missing some of the high-end AI features and didn't get a processor upgrade over last year's model, but the totally flat back means it won't wobble on your desk, which is nice. Google's typical high-quality camera trickery is also at work here, which is no surprise. Google also packed in some more charging options and a brighter display, all for $100 less than an iPhone 17e.

Google Pixel 10a

$482.99 at Amazon

 

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Best foldable: Motorola Razr Ultra

It's not quite the original Razr, but it'll do. Credit: René Ramos/Mashable

We're still waiting for Samsung's next batch of foldables, as well as the rumored iPhone Fold, but Motorola has our back with the best foldable of 2026 so far: The Razr Ultra.

Aside from its name being a nostalgia trap for elder millennials who remember the old Razr flip phones fondly, this is a very good foldable. Unfortunately, it also starts at $1,499. Still, if you can afford it, you'll get a cool clamshell design, two excellent AMOLED displays, one of the best mobile processors money can buy in the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, and a 36-hour battery life. Yes, the price is a lot, but it's not entirely unwarranted. Our tech editor loved this Android foldable, and we think you will, too.

Motorola Razr Ultra (2026)

$1,499.99 at Amazon

 

See It at Amazon See It at Best Buy See It at Motorola US

Most ambitious: Samsung Galaxy TriFold

Look at that thing! Credit: Timothy Werth/Mashable

Our last phone on this list is, unfortunately, one you can't really buy anymore. Samsung released the Galaxy TriFold earlier this year for a very limited window of time before pulling it off the shelves forever. Normally, that'd disqualify it from a list like this, but the TriFold was so cool that we want to pay our respects to it before its memory is lost like tears in rain.

As its name suggests, this was a foldable with two creases instead of one, meaning it had a massive internal display that made it more like something from Star Trek than a regular phone. That kind of display is simply better for things like gaming and reading books than a normal one, but it also meant the phone was probably tricky to manufacture and was never going to be long for this world. Still, it was a really cool experiment, and we're glad Samsung got it into some of our hands, however briefly.

Last year, the iPhone Air was a solid first attempt at an ultra-thin iPhone, but it had issues. It sounds like Apple is aware of that, too.

Bloomberg's resident Apple insider Mark Gurman reported on Wednesday that Apple is looking to launch the next iPhone Air in spring 2027 with a couple of key upgrades. First, Gurman said that Apple will reportedly add a second camera lens to the phone's backside, turning a monocular phone into a binocular one. It will be an ultrawide lens, so fans of telephoto zoom might be disappointed, but given that the original model only had one 48MP lens, that's a big deal.

Second, Gurman reported that Apple will be improving the device's relatively disappointing battery life, which isn't a surprise. There isn't any info on how Apple engineers will accomplish this, given the phone's extremely small form factor, but nonetheless, it sounds like Apple wants the next iPhone Air to be a longer-lasting device.

This report reaffirms previous reporting from The Information, namely the idea that the new iPhone Air will launch next spring rather than this fall. It's expected that Apple is going to launch the high-end iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Fold phones this fall, with the base iPhone 18 and the new iPhone Air coming later in the spring.

That delay for the next Air was apparently caused by poor sales for the first device.

Our resident iPhone reviewer, Stan Schroeder, was impressed by the first iPhone Air's form factor but noted the lack of a second camera lens and meager battery life in his review. It seems like those problems may have had some impact on its sales performance, as anecdotally speaking, we at Mashable rarely see them in real life. Still, people who love this phone seem to really love this phone, and Apple is still investing in the ultra-thin form factor.

If Apple can fix the camera and battery problems, perhaps the iPhone Air 2 will have a broader appeal.

TL;DR: Avoid a dreaded dead battery with the GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable, on sale now for just $21.99 (reg. $49.99).

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Credit: GoCable

GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable

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$49.99 Save $28.00

 

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Want to start traveling a little lighter? The GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable takes the place of eight different gadgets in one, helping you stay organized, powered up, and prepared wherever you go.

Right now, you can snag one for just $21.99 while supplies last.

Whether you’re heading on vacation or just to the office, keeping up with all your cords can feel like a full-time job. The GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable ensures you have a Type-C, a Type-C+, and an Apple Lightning connector at your fingertips at all times. It pops onto your keyring so you can stay powered up wherever you go.

The GoCable features magnetic cables that stay nice and organized, with no untangling required. All you need to do is add a power bank or wall adapter to charge your devices.

It’s super efficient with 100W ultra-fast charging and high-speed file transfers, and you can see the real-time charging status with the LED power display.

Aside from keeping your devices charged up, the GoCable also comes equipped with a bottle opener and a safe-proofed hidden cutter that makes it easy to open packages. It also has a carabiner clip, so it’s easy to attach to anything and keep nearby.

Make life easier with the GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable, on sale now for just $21.99.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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Blurry restaurant photos, Amazon case listings, and leaked specs are providing an early look at Samsung’s next foldable phone. While nothing is official yet, the available information is starting to paint a clearer picture of what the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide could bring when it launches.

TL;DR: Stay powered up with a GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable, on sale now for just $21.97 (reg. $49.99) now through June 28.

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GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable

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$49.99 Save $28.02

 

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Want to make your bag a little lighter? The GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable replaces eight different gadgets, so you have a whole lot less to toss in your bag. Right now, this handy tool is even on sale for only $21.97 until June 28.

Whether you’re jetting off on an exotic vacation or just heading to work, you likely need multiple chargers to keep your go-to gadgets powered up. The GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable lets you keep a Type-C, a Type-C+, and an Apple Lightning connector handy at all times.

The GoCable fits right on your keyring, so you never have to leave home without it. Magnetic cables make sure you aren’t left with a mess of cords in your bag, and all you need to do is add a power bank or wall adapter and power up your devices.

Not only are these cords organized, but they also offer 100W ultra-fast charging and high-speed file transfers. You’ll also be able to see the real-time charging status thanks to an LED power display.

This gadget doesn’t just keep your devices powered up; it’s also equipped with some other handy tools. You’ll have a bottle opener and a safe-proofed hidden cutter to open packages. A carabiner clip can attach to anything to make sure it’s always within arm’s length.

Snag this GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable for only $21.97 until June 28.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

With Apple's WWDC behind us and the first iOS 27 developer beta out, you'd think that we now know about all of the major features that are coming to Apple's mobile platform when it properly launches this fall.

However, there still may be several pretty major, yet-to-be officially announced features that are on the way.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, one of these is a simplified Modular Ultra watch face for Apple Watch. The Modular Ultra is a high-tech, snazzy watch face that's exclusive to the Apple Watch Ultra, so getting even some sort of simplified version on the other Apple Watch variants would be pretty cool. Apparently, the simplified variant will have one fewer row of customizable complications than the version on Apple Watch Ultra.

Another feature that Apple hasn't announced at WWDC, despite rumors that it's coming, is a customizable Camera app. As is, the Camera app does come with a new Siri mode, but Gurman previously said Apple would include the option to customize the interface with widgets.

Finally, Apple was rumored to add third-party chatbots to Siri, but only ChatGPT made the grade in the iOS 27 developer beta. Gurman claims that other models, including Gemini and Claude, might still make an appearance come fall.

We've checked the latest developer betas for iOS 27 and watchOS 27, and none of these features are available right now. Gurman isn't sure why Apple decided to leave them out, but he's pretty confident that the company will include them once the new iPhones and Apple Watch devices launch, likely in September.

Later this year, assuming nothing goes wrong, Apple and Samsung will officially be competitors in the realm of foldable devices. What will that look like?

It's hard to say at this point because neither the iPhone Fold nor the Galaxy Z Fold 8 has officially been announced yet. It's widely expected that Apple will unveil its first foldable in September alongside the iPhone 18, while Samsung is said to be planning a July 22 launch for its next batch of foldables. In the meantime, we have a decent number of rumors and leaks that paint enough of a picture for us to compare these two devices prior to their unveilings.

iPhone Fold vs. Galaxy Z Fold 8: Design differences

While these two devices will technically be competitors, they won't necessarily look or feel the same, according to everything we've heard. To be more specific, Apple and Samsung are going to adopt entirely different display form factors in these two book-style foldables, at least if every leak is to be believed.

For starters, it's expected that Samsung will retain the Z Fold 7's display sizes with a few minor changes. That means it'll probably have a 6.5-inch outer display and an 8-inch inner display when unfolded. When it was released, the Z Fold 7 was the best foldable we'd ever tested up to that point (and might still be), especially thanks to its extreme thinness. It measured in at 8.9mm when folded and a mere 4.2mm when unfolded. One Korean news report indicated the Z Fold 8 could actually be slightly lighter than the Fold 7, so it could be downsized even more.

Backing up all of this was a leaked image of some dummy cases posted by prominent leaker Sonny Dickson earlier this year. One of them is clearly meant to be a successor to the Z Fold 7.

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As for the iPhone Fold (which is also rumored to be named the iPhone Ultra or iPhone Ultra Fold), Apple is taking a different approach with screen real estate. Reported specs include a 7.8-inch inner display with a 4:3 aspect ratio and a 5.5-inch outer display. In other words, it's a shorter, wider phone than Z Fold devices. Apple's foldable will also reportedly be a little thicker, at 9.5mm of thickness when folded and 4.5mm when unfolded. This is all backed up by dummy case photos posted recently by Majin Bu on X.

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Given the success Samsung and others have found with the traditional book-style design over the past few years, it's interesting that Apple is going with something that's more squat and book-shaped in comparison. We're not the only ones who have noticed, as Samsung is reportedly planning a Z Fold 8 Wide model that will go head-to-head with the iPhone Fold.

Don't forget about the all-but-confirmed Galaxy Z Fold Wide

We'd be remiss not to mention the rumored "Wide Fold" phone Samsung is working on. According to various leaks and rumors, it would have similar dimensions to the iPhone Fold, perhaps making it a more direct competitor to that device.

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Some reports have even suggested that the wider phone will be called Z Fold 8, while the successor device to the Z Fold 7 will adopt the "Z Fold 8 Ultra" moniker. For now, we're operating as if the taller, skinnier phone is the Z Fold 8, simply because it's more like the Z Fold 7. If Samsung does indeed go along with this very confusing name change, we'll accept it, begrudgingly.

We should also note that if the rumors are true, Samsung will have a flip-phone style Z Flip 8, a tablet-style Z Fold 8, and a new, book-style Z Fold Wide. That means Android users will have a trio of options for foldable form factors, whereas iOS users will be limited to a single option.

iPhone Fold vs. Galaxy Z Fold 8: Other rumored differences

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 was remarkably thin. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

As for other differences you can expect between the Z Fold 8 and the iPhone Fold, many of them are either very minor or are educated guesses. For example, we can say with some confidence that the iPhone Fold will run on iOS 27, while the Z Fold 8 will run on Android. That one is easy.

We don't have official price points for these phones yet, but neither of them will be cheap. It's expected that the iPhone Fold will cost somewhere between $2,000 and $2,500. Meanwhile, last year's Z Fold 7 was $2,000, a $100 price increase over the year before. Given the state of RAMageddon, one has to imagine that Samsung might have another price increase set for the Z Fold 8, though that hasn't been confirmed yet. These two devices might cost around the same amount of money, but it won't be a small amount, either way.

One other interesting difference to note is that Apple is apparently only planning two rear cameras for the iPhone Fold, while the Z Fold 8 is said to have three, just like the Z Fold 7 did. One report said Samsung will include a 200MP main shooter, a 50MP ultrawide lens, and a 12MP telephoto lens with the Z Fold 8. Meanwhile, the iPhone Fold is said to have two 48MP shooters on the back. Megapixel counts only amount to so much, so we'll need to do some proper testing before we say which camera array is better.

As for batteries, leaker Instant Digital said in February that the iPhone Fold would have the biggest battery capacity in iPhone history, though they didn't share a specific numerical size. Meanwhile, the Z Fold 7's biggest disappointment was its 4,400mAh battery, so it's encouraging to hear from the same Korean news report that told us the Z Fold 8 would be lighter that it will have a much bigger 5,000mAh cell inside of it.

It won't be long now before we have more information about both of these devices. By the end of September, we should be able to do a full, official comparison, so stay tuned.

TL;DR: You need an iPhone 17 Pro or Pro Max to use Apple's newest Siri AI features. Here are the best deals running right now from Apple, Amazon, and major carriers to help you save up to $1,100 on an upgrade.

If you missed out on buying the iPhone 17 Pro when it launched last September, procrastination may have worked in your favor. Apple just announced that its newest and most advanced Siri AI features will only be available to 17 Pro and Pro Max users. (Though the company has confirmed that iOS 27 may run on devices as old as the iPhone 11.)

So, if you want the full experience when the update drops this fall, you'll need the newest hardware. Here are the best places to buy the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max today:

The best iPhone 17 Pro deals available right now

• Amazon (Renewed): If you're not too worried about whether your phone is brand spanking new or not, Amazon's got an unlocked, refurbished iPhone 17 Pro (256GB) for $1,027.74. It's a small savings off the original $1,099.99 retail price, but you can get an additional $600 discount with an eligible trade-in.

• Apple Store: If you want to buy directly from the source, Apple is offering up to $1,100 in trade-in credits when you swap out an iPhone 13 or newer. If you finance with Apple Card Monthly Installments (ACMI), you can get 0% APR, but you have to choose one of the big four carriers at checkout.

• AT&T: AT&T is offering up to $1,100 back in bill credits spread over a 36-month installment plan, but your trade-in phone must be valued at a minimum of $290 to get the maximum discount. You also have to activate or upgrade to an eligible unlimited plan.

• T-Mobile: T-Mobile is running a "no trade-in needed" promo where you can get up to $1,100 back via 24 monthly bill credits by switching over to an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan.

• Verizon: New business and individual accounts can score up to $829.99 off the iPhone 17 series at Verizon by adding a new line on an eligible plan, or up to $830 off via standard trade-in credits spread over a 36-month installment plan.

• Best Buy: If you'd rather not deal with a carrier directly, Best Buy's offering up to $1,100 off via AT&T bill credits or up to $830 off via Verizon bill credits when you activate a line and trade in an eligible device.

The long-awaited foldable iPhone should arrive in 2026; all signs point to a fall or winter 2026 release. Apple kept a very tight lid on its first-ever foldable phone right up until dropping the iOS 27 developer beta, which includes some direct and indirect references to the iPhone Ultra (also rumored to be called the iPhone Fold or iPhone Ultra Fold).

Early adopters already love foldables — and they have plenty of options — but Apple's been notably absent from the genre. However, don't count Apple out. The company has a history of showing up late to the party and then absolutely cornering the market, as it did with AirPods and iPhones.

So, as we await official details, here's everything we know about the first foldable iPhone, including the latest rumors, specifications, release date, and pricing.

When will the iPhone Ultra be released?

We think the iPhone Ultra will arrive in fall 2026 alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. Numerous rumors pointed to this over the last year. However, while Apple traditionally releases all of its new iPhones in September, the Ultra might not be ready by then.

A tech analyst named Tim Long recently claimed that shipments of the iPhone Ultra will begin in December of this year, not September, though Bloomberg's Mark Gurman threw cold water on this rumor. And Gurman seems to have a crystal ball looking right into Apple headquarters these days.

Most recently, reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the iPhone Ultra might follow the trajectory of the iPhone X, which was announced in September 2017 but it took about a month and a half to actually hit the market.

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Given the ongoing global memory shortage, last-minute delays are always possible, so we'll have to wait and see.

What's the iOS 27 beta telling us about the iPhone Ultra?

The iPhone Ultra isn't (yet) an official device. We do know a lot about it, but mostly via rumors, whispers, and reports coming out of Apple's supply chain.

But now, with the first iOS 27 developer beta, we have some actual clues about the iPhone Ultra's existence. Software researcher M1Astra dug through the code (via Bloomberg), and found code that determines whether a device is folded or unfolded. Strings like “mechanicalAngleDegrees” and “angleDegrees" point to Apple fine-tuning the experience depending on how widely a foldable device is open. Researcher Sam Henri Gold found similar clues in the code.

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That's not all. Certain widgets, such as Music, News, and Weather, can now be configured to take up the majority of the iPhone's display. Doesn't make a ton of sense on a regular iPhone (you'd probably just want to have the Music app open instead), but on an iPhone Ultra, such a widget could occupy one side of the display while you do something else on the other.

Apple seems to be preparing developers to handle a larger variety of form factors. Credit: Apple

Then, at WWDC 2026, Apple's Senior VP of Software Engineering, Craig Federighi, pointed out a developer-specific feature called the Device Hub, which allows developers to simulate their apps in different screen configurations.

Finally, Macworld found references in the code suggesting a device that has both the Dynamic Island and a Touch ID; such a device does not exist today, but the iPhone Ultra is rumored to have both.

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What will the iPhone Ultra specs look like?

What would you want to see in a foldable iPhone design? Let us know in the comments. Credit: Zain bin Awais / Mashable

The iPhone Ultra remains a mystery to some extent, of course, but we do have a very rough idea of what it could offer. Based on all the rumors and leaks, the iPhone Ultra will have a wider design than the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, Galaxy Z Fold 7, and the impressive Motorola Fold.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman predicts that the foldable iPhone will be a book-style foldable with four cameras — two on the back, one on the inside, and one front selfie camera. Gurman also predicted it would use Touch ID like the iPad Air and Pro, even though iPhones typically use Face ID. All the recent leaks back up Gurman's reporting.

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In fact, the smartphone market is already adapting to the expected size of the iPhone Ultra, and a Samsung Z Fold 8 Wide model recently leaked. Huawei was the first to market with a wide foldable, though the new Pura X Max is only available overseas.

The iPhone Ultra specs could look something like this:

• Displays: 7.8-inch inner OLED display, 5.5-inch outer OLED display

• Thickness: 9.5mm unfolded, 4.5mm when folded

• Security: Touch ID

• Processor: A20 processor

• Cameras: Dual rear cameras (48MP), dual inner/outer front cameras

• Price: $2,399

• Battery: At least 5,088 mAh

We've seen several reports claiming that Apple is committed to making the iPhone Ultra's display the best it can possibly be. It should be very durable, super thin, and without a visible crease. Samsung Display is reportedly producing the OLED displays for the iPhone Ultra, as Samsung's got the best flexible display tech in the game. There's a reason Samsung released the Galaxy TriFold while the world is still waiting on the first foldable iPhone.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported earlier this year that the iPhone Ultra would have a 7.8-inch inner display, a 5.5-inch outer display, and measure in at just 9 to 9.5mm of thickness. We heard another rumor in September 2025, which claimed the iPhone Ultra would look like two iPhone Airs put together, with a similar thickness of 5.6mm. Why the discrepancy between the two reports? It could be the difference between the device's thickness when folded and unfolded.

There's also talk about Apple using innovative tech to make the iPhone Ultra lighter and more durable than most foldables. These rumors include a report that the company is using liquid metal for the phone's hinge, which should improve durability.

What will the foldable iPhone be called?

Up until recently, most of the tech world has simply called the unannounced device the "iPhone Fold." However, since it's not a confirmed product yet, it's very possible that the phone will have a different name at launch. Some outlets, such as 9to5mac, as well as analysts like Gurman and Kuo, have lately taken to calling it the "iPhone Ultra" or "iPhone Ultra Fold."

With reports piling in, and most of them pointing to the "Ultra" name, we're going to use that until Apple officially tells us what the phone's name is.

How much will the iPhone Ultra cost, and will people buy it?

A hypothetical rendering of the rumored iPhone Ultra. Credit: Zain bin Awais / Mashable

The iPhone Ultra is likely to be expensive. An early estimate from research analyst Arthur Liao suggested the price tag for the Ultra — gulp — could come in around $2,399. That's in line with expectations in a new report from International Data Corporation (IDC). Last year, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the iPhone Ultra is likely to retail between $2,000 and $2,500; recently, Kuo narrowed that down to $2,300 — $2,500.

Despite the sizable cost (the flagship Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is priced at $1,999.99), sales expectations remain high. The IDC report estimated Apple would siphon one-third of the spending in the foldable market in 2026.

"But the real game-changer for the category comes at year-end when Apple enters the foldable space, projected to capture over 22% unit share and a staggering 34% of the foldables market value in its first year, thanks to an expected average price point of $2,400,” read the report.

In March, Mark Gurman claimed that Apple could classify the iPhone Ultra as an "Ultra" product (no surprise there), putting it in a higher price tier than other devices in its portfolio alongside other high-end machines like the Apple Watch Ultra. If the phone ends up costing at least $2,000 as expected, this would make sense.

The latest iPhone Ultra leaks

In December 2025, we saw lots of alleged iPhone Ultra renders circulating on social media, which all share a similar design. We'd take these with a grain of salt, of course.

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In February, a leaker known as Instant Digital posted some alleged renders of the iPhone to the Chinese social media site Weibo. Like most leaks, especially the ones pertaining to Apple, we can't confirm their authenticity. However, they line up with earlier reports of the overall look of the phone.

More recently, Apple leaker Sonny Dickson shared another potential iPhone Ultra render in March 2026.

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Dickson shared more purported dummy units of the iPhone Ultra in April, giving those renders a bit more physicality than they had before.

April has been fairly bounteous in terms of iPhone Ultra leaks. Aside from Dickson's dummy units, YouTuber Vincent Zhong got his hands on the newly released (in Asia) Huawei Pura X Max Wide. This Chinese phone is one of the first real "wide foldables" that we've seen hit the market, and its screen dimensions are almost exactly the same as the alleged dimensions of the iPhone Ultra.

While the iPhone Ultra will almost certainly look different from Huawei's device, Zhong's hands-on video gives us a decent idea of what to expect from the iPhone Ultra as a physical object in your hands.

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We've also gotten some interesting dummy photos from tech leaker Majin Bu on X in April. In these photos, the dummy units look very similar to what we've seen in other recent leaks. In other words, it looks like a shorter, more book-style foldable than previous foldables. It looks like it'll also support MagSafe cases.

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What about the cameras and battery?

Instant Digital makes some interesting claims. Most notably, the report says the iPhone Ultra will have the largest-ever iPhone battery. (For reference, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is estimated to have a roughly 5,088 mAh battery.)

"The volume buttons are not on the left side," reads a translation of the post. "Instead, they are placed directly on the top of the right-side frame (similar to the volume button layout on the top of the iPad mini). This may take some getting used to for users’ typical phone habits."

The post also stated, "The rear dual camera + right-side microphone + flash are arranged horizontally. The camera module appears to be fully black and does not match the body color. Currently, the only confirmed color is white, but it is expected that Apple will launch two color options."

What else do we know about the iPhone Ultra?

Beyond physical design, another recent report suggested you'll be able to run multiple apps side-by-side when the phone is unfolded, sort of like multitasking on iPadOS 26. However, by all accounts, this device will run iOS, not iPadOS, so you won't exactly get a full iPad experience from the iPhone Ultra. (Apps that are designed to run natively in iPadOS, for example, would not be compatible.)

Finally, even though the iPhone Ultra is still in the realm of fantasy, there are already rumors about a follow-up, clamshell-style foldable from Apple, potentially called the iPhone Flip. That one probably isn't coming until next year, though.

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iOS 27 may run on devices as far back as the iPhone 11, but Apple's most advanced AI features are reserved for a much shorter list of hardware, the company revealed.

Apple's Craig Federighi, Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, confirmed that a subset of advanced Siri AI and Apple Intelligence features will require more powerful silicon, and therefore won't be available on most iPhones. That means that even relatively new iPhones that do support Siri AI and Apple Intelligence, like the iPhone 16 Pro Max, won't get the full experience when iOS 27 launches this fall.

In a WWDC presentation (as reported by Macworld and other outlets), Federighi said, "Our most powerful on-device model and the features it enables, like expressive voices and more advanced dictation, will be coming to our most capable iPhone, iPad and Mac systems."

A slide displayed alongside these remarks stated that only a handful of phones will get the full feature set: the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air. In addition, these advanced features will be restricted to iPad models with M4 or later (and at least 12GB of unified memory), Mac models with M3 or later (and at least 12GB of unified memory), and Apple Vision Pro with M5.

The features we know for certain are exclusive to that hardware tier include Siri AI's more expressive voices and the upgraded systemwide dictation, which Apple says captures speech as polished, accurately punctuated text with greater precision than before.

If you're on an iPhone 16 or iPhone 15 Pro, you'll still get a meaningfully upgraded Siri AI experience. That's the rebuilt assistant, the dedicated app, Visual Intelligence, writing tools, and more. But the voice customization sliders, dictation overhaul, and other unnamed features are staying on the newer hardware for now.

If the expressive voice and dictation upgrades are important to you, the iPhone 17 lineup is where those features live.

This isn't the only significant carveout Apple announced, either. Siri AI will launch in the fall as a public beta, but it won't be available in the European Union or China at launch.

Last year, I said the ultra-thin Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 was the best foldable we've ever tested. That means the rumored Galaxy Z Fold 8 has big shoes to fill.

It's widely expected that Samsung will debut the Fold 8 alongside several other devices at a Galaxy Unpacked launch event in London in late July. While this means we haven't yet seen the Fold 8 in an official capacity, there's been enough reporting online to build a decent profile of the phone before its unveiling.

Here's everything we know about the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 so far.

Latest Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 rumors: Price and release date

As mentioned previously, everyone expects Samsung to show off the Galaxy Z Fold 8 in London on July 22. That means the phone will most likely launch shortly after that, as per usual. As for its price, last year Samsung charged $1,999 for the Z Fold 7, which was itself a $100 price increase over the previous model.

There haven't been any concrete reports about the price of the Z Fold 8 just yet, but based on the way things are going in the tech world, thanks to RAMageddon, it might be reasonable to expect an even higher price this year. If we're lucky, it might "only" be another $100 price hike. It's just hard to see it staying the same considering the market conditions right now.

Galaxy Z Fold 8, Fold Wide, or Fold Ultra: Will the name change?

This is where things start getting a little confusing regarding the Z Fold 8.

At least one leak has suggested that the device will be called the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, with the regular Z Fold 8 name going instead to a rumored third foldable that Samsung is allegedly going to announce at the show. More on that in a bit. For the purposes of this article, when I say "Z Fold 8" or anything like that, understand that I'm referring to the successor to the Z Fold 7, not the new "Wide Fold" model that could apparently get the name instead. Until Samsung explicitly confirms that is the case, we're going to operate as if the regular book-style foldable coming out this year will be called the Galaxy Z Fold 8.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: Design

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There have been a bevy of leaks all but confirming the existence of the new "Wide Fold" phone, alongside the Z Fold 8 and the Z Flip 8. Prominent leaker Sonny Dickson, for example, posted photos of some dummy units that very clearly show a new device that looks a lot like the Z Fold 7 next to one that looks like the Z Flip 7, and one that doesn't look like any Samsung foldable we've seen before.

Last year, the Z Fold 7 had a 6.5-inch outer display and an 8-inch unfolded inner display, and all signs point to Samsung maintaining a size profile similar to that for the Z Fold 8. What differentiates it from the "Wide Fold" phone is that the latter would have a smaller 5.4-inch outer display alongside a 7.6-inch inner display with a 4:3 aspect ratio.

You might wonder why Samsung is doing that. Well, that would be because Apple is reportedly working on an iPhone Fold to launch late this year with a wider design than book-style foldables like the Z Fold 7 and Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Thus, Samsung's "Wide Fold" device is clearly gearing up to compete with Apple's handset. There have been leaked images of an iPhone Fold dummy case, and it does look a lot like the wide phone in the earlier Samsung dummy image.

So, expect a head-to-head battle between the Z Fold 8 Wide and the iPhone Fold Ultra later this year.

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The Z Fold 7 was impressive last year because of its incredibly svelte size for a foldable; it measured in at just 8.9mm when folded and merely 4.2mm when unfolded, with a light weight of 215g. We don't yet know how much smaller the Z Fold 8 will be, if at all, but one Korean news report suggested it could be even lighter, coming in at 200g. That would be very exciting, as the thinness of last year's model was a huge reason it stood (and continues to stand) above most of the competition.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: Specs

We don't yet know a lot about what will be inside the Z Fold 8, unfortunately. But there is a little bit of info we can chew on for now.

Namely, the same Korean news report with the weight information also suggested Samsung could upgrade the battery cell from 4,400mAh to 5,000mAh. The battery life in the Z Fold 7 was really the only disappointing aspect of the device, so this would be a hugely welcome change. It could work in tandem with a new chipset, most likely a Snapdragon chip like the powerful ones seen in the Galaxy S26 line earlier this year.

That increased battery size might also come with up to 45W charging speeds, which would be lovely. Other than that, we don't know what to expect from the Z Fold 8 in terms of everyday performance. That said, the Z Fold 7 was quite a nice phone to use, so Samsung doesn't need to fix what isn't broken in that regard.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: Cameras

The camera array on the Z Fold 7. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Lastly, an intriguing update from Dutch outlet Galaxy Club suggested that Samsung could somewhat dramatically improve the rear camera array on the Z Fold 8. For reference, the Z Fold 7 had a 200MP main shooter to go with a 12MP ultrawide lens and a 10MP telephoto lens.

If this report is to be believed, Samsung is keeping the 200MP lens, but upping the ultrawide lens from 12MP to 50MP, and the telephoto from 10MP to 12MP. It's hard to say without doing any testing how much of an effect that will have, but these new lenses should produce sharper images, at least in theory. You can probably also expect at least a few new AI image editing tricks this year, to go along with better hardware.

The reveal of the Z Fold 8 is still several weeks away, but at least now we have a basic idea of what to expect from the phone, even if we don't actually know what to call it right now.

Samsung's next big device announcement isn't until July, but to tide us over, there's a leak about an upcoming device that might have flown under your radar until now.

9to5Google spotted a Wireless Power Consortium listing for the Samsung Galaxy S26 FE (or Fan Edition), a new lower-priced version of the S26 that launched earlier this year. (Although, in the age of RAMageddon, lower-priced may be relative.) The listing contained an image that has seemingly since been removed, but persists on social media. In the image, you can get an idea of what the phone will look like when it launches sometime later this year.

Take a closer look at the camera bump.

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If you've ever seen a Samsung phone before, it doesn't look too surprising. As 9to5Google pointed out, the camera bump has shifted a bit to be closer to the device's top left corner, so that's one change to note. As for other information, the listing doesn't contain much. A recent leak indicated the phone will use an Exynos 2500 chip rather than the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip powering the regular S26, to go along with 8GB of RAM in the S26 FE, as opposed to 12GB in the S26.

In other words, it will probably be a slightly downgraded device with some flagship flair and (hopefully) a reasonable price tag.

Apple is finally giving iPhone users the ability to adjust their ringtone, alarm, and alert volumes independently — a feature Android has offered for years, according to Android Authority.

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For users with access to the iOS 27 developer beta, the controls live in Settings > Sounds & Haptics, where users can also toggle "Match Ringtone Volume" to unlock separate sliders for alarms and system alerts. Android Authority notes that the alarm slider won't affect the Wake-Up alarm, which is managed separately through Bedtime settings. Users who prefer a single unified slider can keep the toggle on.

The addition is a small but meaningful quality-of-life improvement that iPhone users have wanted for years, and one that arrives quietly. Apple made no mention of it during Monday's WWDC 26 keynote, which was dominated by the unveiling of Siri AI, sweeping Apple Intelligence updates across core apps, and a revamped Photos AI editing suite.

iOS 27 is currently available to developers for testing, with a public beta expected next month. The full release is slated for this fall and will be compatible with devices as far back as the iPhone 11 and iPhone SE (2nd generation), though some AI features will be limited to newer phones.

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Tim Cook is still Apple's CEO for the time being — and WWDC 2026 failed to give us our first glimpse of the post-Cook future.

CEO-in-waiting John Ternus did not take the stage during the annual Worldwide Developers Conference keynote on Monday, meaning the new era of Apple leadership will have to wait.

Cook is still CEO until Sept. 1; still, Apple watchers were expecting a "passing of the torch" moment for the Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering.

"It's been the honor of a lifetime," Cook said as he wrapped up the event without mention of Ternus.

Ternus was at the event venue in Cupertino, hobnobbing and taking selfies with content creators and student developers.

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Ternus, 50, has been at Apple for 25 years, gradually working his way up the ladder until becoming a top hardware executive in 2021. He's perhaps best known for shepherding Apple's transition to its in-house silicon, among other achievements.

Since WWDC is a software-focused show, Ternus usually isn't a major presence.

For more WWDC 2026 news, follow our live blog to see all of the latest announcements and surprises from the annual Apple event.

On Monday, Apple surprised the iPhone world during its WWDC 2026 keynote... just not in the way you might think.

In a show full of detailed demonstrations of new features coming to iOS 27, including the new AI-fueled Siri upgrade, one of the biggest surprises involved which iPhones will actually support the new OS update. Rumors ahead of the show indicated that the iPhone 11 lineup would be excluded from software updates this year, effectively forcing obsolescence on anyone who owns an iPhone from that generation.

Well, the rumor mill had this one dead wrong.

Every iPhone that will support iOS 27

Before we get to the full list, yes, your iPhone 11 model will be able to install iOS 27. Apple made it a point to emphasize this fact during the WWDC keynote. Whether those rumors were flat-out wrong or Apple managed to figure something out at the last-minute, we'll probably never know.

Anyway, here's the full list of phones that will be able to install iOS 27 when it's available this fall:

• iPhone SE (2nd generation and later)

• iPhone 11

• iPhone 11 Pro

• iPhone 11 Pro Max

• iPhone 12 Mini

• iPhone 12

• iPhone 12 Pro

• iPhone 12 Pro Max

• iPhone 13 Mini

• iPhone 13

• iPhone 13 Pro

• iPhone 13 Pro Max

• iPhone 14

• iPhone 14 Plus

• iPhone 14 Pro

• iPhone 14 Pro Max

• iPhone 15

• iPhone 15 Plus

• iPhone 15 Pro

• iPhone 15 Pro Max

• iPhone 16e

• iPhone 16

• iPhone 16 Pro

• iPhone 16 Pro Max

• iPhone 17e

• iPhone 17

• iPhone Air

• iPhone 17 Pro

• iPhone 17 Pro Max

However, there is one big asterisk on all of this. If you want to use the new Siri AI and the other new Apple Intelligence features being introduced in iOS 27, everything older than an iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max will be excluded. Even in the iPhone 15 family, the base and Plus models will seemingly not support Siri AI, according to Apple's press release.

What iPhones will support Siri AI and Apple Intelligence?

Credit: Apple

With the new version of iOS, Apple will have a two-tiered system where some people will have iOS 27 with AI, and others will have iOS 27 with a whole lot less AI. This is because many Apple Intelligence and Siri AI processes will happen on your device, and phones with older chips won't be able to support these features.

So, if you want to use the new Siri AI and the full suite of Apple Intelligence upgrades coming to iPhones in the fall, you'll need one of the following devices:

• iPhone 15 Pro

• iPhone 15 Pro Max

• iPhone 16e

• iPhone 16

• iPhone 16 Pro

• iPhone 16 Pro Max

• iPhone 17e

• iPhone 17

• iPhone 17 Pro

• iPhone 17 Pro Max

• iPhone Air

For more WWDC 2026 news, follow our live blog to see all of the latest announcements and surprises from the annual Apple event.

It's almost time to try out the next evolution of Apple's iOS.

Apple finally pulled the veil off iOS 27 on Monday, after months of anticipation. It to includes a brand-new AI-powered Siri, as well as plenty of other little quality-of-life improvements across the iPhone experience. The announcement happened during Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference keynote at 1 p.m. ET, and we have a live blog you can follow to keep track of the latest news.

WWDC keynote day almost always heralds the release of the first new iOS beta. Here's when you can expect it to be available and how to get in on the action.

Apple iOS 27 beta: Release time and how to download

Apple will launch iOS 27 this fall. You can expect the first developer beta for iOS 27 to be available sometime Monday afternoon, following the WWDC keynote. Apple also confirmed that there will be a second public beta later, and that distinction matters for how you experience these betas.

For the beta that's releasing on Monday, you'll need to register for developer betas. That probably sounds more daunting than it actually is; Apple doesn't charge any money for access to developer betas or anything like that. All you have to do is register on Apple's developer website with your Apple account and device. Once you're all registered and set to go, here is a quick set of instructions for how to get the beta on your iPhone:

1. Restart your iPhone

2. Open Settings

3. Go to General, then Software Update

4. Tap Beta Updates

If you correctly registered for developer betas and the beta itself is available, you'll see it there for download. Just remember that this is an unfinished beta intended primarily for developers, so installing it on your phone might carry some risk. It's best to create a backup in advance.

When can I get the iOS 27 public beta?

Apple confirmed the public beta will be available later in June.

Apple may not be the world's most valuable company at the moment — that's Nvidia — but it is still by far the world's most scrutinized.

Thanks to a robust set of supply-chain leakers revealing every aspect of new Apple products before they arrive (catch up on the latest iPhone Fold and iPhone 18 rumors and leaks), an Apple launch event can often lack surprises. And in a normal year, Apple's annual Worldwide Developers' Conference (WWDC) is no exception.

But WWDC 2026 is not a normal year, and an unusual air of mystery still clings to the keynote. That's not just because we expect the AI version of Siri to make its debut, but also because we don't know whether Tim Cook, in his last WWDC as CEO, will pass the baton to CEO-in-waiting John Ternus during the event.

Will Ternus get on-the-job training, keynoting side-by-side with Cook? Or will he take a lesser role, like he did introducing the iPhone Air last September?

Beyond that mystery, here are our three big burning questions for the Apple WWDC keynote, which kicks off at 10 a.m. PT on Monday, June 8, 2026.

Will we see the iPhone Fold (or Ultra) at all?

A hypothetical rendering of the iPhone Fold. Credit: Zain bin Awais / Mashable

The last we heard about the iPhone Fold, Apple's late-to-the-party entry into the foldable smartphone market, its official launch date had been pushed back, likely until the holiday season. Given a global memory chip shortage, analysts have warned that the company may not have enough supply to satisfy demand until 2027.

Still, iPhone Fold prototypes exist (or iPhone Ultra, if one report is to be believed — the dueling names being just one example of Apple exerting an unusual amount of lockdown). Cook may reason that it makes sense to wow us with an early look at one, and end that confusion about the name.

After all, that's what Steve Jobs did with the original iPhone: gave us a sneak peak in January 2007, long before the official summer launch.

The Jobs strategy would make sense here, given that Apple is already late to the foldable game — and is effectively leapfrogging competitors with its larger folding screen. Cook may also want to cement his association with the Fold/Ultra, given that he led the company during its development.

What better way to do that than to bring back, just this once, a Jobs-like "one more thing"? Ternus takes over on September 1, so any future iPhone Fold/Ultra launch event will be his baby. Does Cook want the world's first official look at the Fold/Ultra to be in Ternus' hands?

Then again, Cook's lack of ego has been one of the defining features of his tenure. So he may be perfectly fine letting his chief product guy take the credit (or, if the Fold/Ultra fails in any way, the fall).

Will the new AI Siri surprise us?

Credit: Apple

During the Cook years, Apple has struggled with a delicate balancing act on the subject of AI. On the one hand, Cook is clearly a skeptic about the tech industry's tendency to overhype LLMs — and given that bombshell white papers coming out of Apple's research arm show plainly that even so-called reasoning models can't reason, he has every reason to think that way.

On the other hand, consumers have every right to expect that they could treat Siri, Apple's creaky old AI chatbot, like it has the intelligence of models like OpenAI's ChatGPT or Google's Gemini.

And that's what we're expecting to get: A Gemini-powered Siri voice assistant, along with a new Siri app and an AI agent app store, that fulfills the company's long-deferred promise of Apple Intelligence. Reportedly, you'll be able to choose third-party AI tools too.

Upgraded Siri will also likely feature in the camera app, offering editing options and other forms of "Visual Intelligence." And it will reportedly be ad-free and more focused on privacy than its AI rivals, with features like auto-deleting chat logs.

OK, but how does Cook (or Ternus) effectively demonstrate the AI power of the new Siri? Here the company may run into a boy-who-cried-wolf problem.

Thanks to Apple's, um, overly enthusiastic marketing after the original Apple Intelligence announcement, showcasing features that didn't exist, the company had to settle a class-action lawsuit.

How, then, can an ad within this keynote showcasing Apple Intelligence capabilities not give us skeptical vibes, even if they do exist this time around?

The biggest Siri surprise of all would be a live demo — but given that Apple hasn't done that in keynotes since 2019 (Cook went pre-recorded in 2020), don't hold your breath.

Will we see a 'GenAI' Apple website?

However much we see of Siri, the focus of WWDC 2026 is on Apple's "AI advancements." So how else will that manifest in practice?

One possibility is that a selection of AI apps and services will appear on the web as well as on Apple devices — perhaps at genai.apple.com, a website Apple has reportedly added to its domain name servers but hasn't yet populated.

Apple doesn't tend to do much on the web, but it does do more than you think. All your iCloud backups and services are available when you sign in at iCloud.com, a lifesaver if you've lost your phone.

A website that provides the new Siri, alongside third-party AI chatbots and other Apple Intelligence services, would make a lot of sense, especially given Apple's longtime emphasis on privacy and security.

Such a site could also boost its popularity by offering ChatGPT (Apple has an ongoing deal with OpenAI, despite a potential lawsuit) without the ads that OpenAI has started serving.

Will iOS 27 be lighter... and less Liquid?

Credit: Apple

The real star of the WWDC show, of course, is Apple's latest iteration of its signature iPhone operating system. But iOS 27 has more riding on it than most upgrades.

That's not just because of the new Siri, or the foldable software supposedly stuffed into iOS 27. It's because iOS 26 was a controversial upgrade, to say the least.

Reports of low adoption numbers turned out to be exaggerated. But the unease was undeniable. Many users expressed outrage on Reddit that iOS 26 felt like "bloatware" that slowed down the keyboard, among other features.

Most controversial of all: the Liquid Glass aesthetic that made app icons look like cheap gel stickers, as some saw it. Certainly, the hurried departure of the design chief behind Liquid Glass doesn't suggest it was a hit inside the company.

So, how different will iOS 27 look? Is the cool glowing animation promoting WWDC 2026, reportedly the Siri redesign hiding in plain sight, a harbinger of good things to come?

Did Apple engineers spend the last year effectively filleting the bloat, or making it worse? Will it end support for the iPhone 11?

Join us on the series finale of Tim Cook's Apple keynotes to find out!

Every year, Apple reveals a big new iOS update at WWDC that brings tons of new features to your iPhone, and we're fully expecting to learn about iOS 27 at WWDC 2026. However, this year, we're expecting big news. Not only is it the final Apple developers conference of the Tim Cook era, but the Gemini-powered AI Siri should finally make its grand debut.

When the iPhone 18 launches in September, we expect it to ship alongside iOS 27, as is usually the case with every new iPhone and every new iOS iteration. Apple still hasn't officially shown off its mobile OS update, but there have been plenty of reports and leaks about iOS 27 in advance of WWDC on Monday, June 8.

Here's everything you need to know about iOS 27 right now.

iOS 27: All about AI Siri

Easily the biggest feature coming to iOS 27 that we know of right now is the long-awaited AI-powered overhaul of Siri, Apple's iconic voice assistant. It was supposed to happen two years and several class-action lawsuits ago, but internal delays have pushed its debut timeline.

On a basic level, what's changing here is that Siri is going to be turned into an AI chatbot with its own standalone app (we think) and the ability to incorporate both what's on the screen and personal context into responses. The new Siri should also have the ability to perform actions in other apps and widgets. It'll be powered primarily by Google's Gemini model, though rumor has it that users will be able to use third-party models for Siri and other Apple Intelligence features, too, if they so desire.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

While Siri is getting its own app, that doesn't mean the way you interface with Siri will change that much, necessarily.

A report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the source of most iOS 27 and iPhone 18 leaks and rumors, indicated that Siri in iOS 27 can still be activated by a wake word or by holding down the power button, same as ever, but there will also be a new interface built into the iPhone's Dynamic Island. You'll be able to make queries by swiping down from the top of the screen, and an additional swipe will bring you straight to the new chatbot interface for Siri.

What's more, Gurman reported that the glowing, neon artwork used to promote WWDC is actually a preview of Siri's new look. Apple has also used a dove motif in promoting WWDC, which could be a hint to the Siri app logo.

Credit: Apple

Credit: Apple

Gurman's report also included some tidbits about how Siri will play with the Photos and Camera apps, too. For instance, iPhone users may finally get some of the AI photo editing tools that have become standard on Android phones.

Users will also be able to snap a photo in Camera and instantly reverse image search it on Google. There will also be a Siri mode in the Camera app that incorporates Visual Intelligence directly into that app, so you'll allegedly be able to do things like scan nutritional labels to log your diet into the Health app, for example.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

In summary, Apple is looking to catch up to the competition when it comes to having a sophisticated AI chatbot that lives in your phone, and it sounds like iOS 27 might finally bring us to that point.

iOS 27: Other AI features

Apple's new iOS revision might focus largely on integrating Siri into the Apple Intelligence ecosystem, but what about the already existing Apple Intelligence features in iOS? It turns out some of those will be improved with iOS 27, too.

For example, a separate Mark Gurman report claimed that Image Playground and Genmoji will both get significant boosts to image quality in iOS 27. There will even be a new feature allowing users to generate custom phone wallpapers with AI. Outside of image generation, it sounds like there will also be a way for users to create custom app shortcuts using natural language prompts with Siri.

Beyond that, Writing Tools will apparently be infused with more AI juice. It'll supposedly be better at offering feedback for things like syntax errors, not just basic spelling mistakes. We'll need to see this in action to truly judge how well it works, though.

iOS 27: What about Liquid Glass?

Last year, the Liquid Glass design language introduced in iOS 26 really ruffled some feathers. That said, you should probably not expect any major changes on that front.

This information comes, once again, from Gurman at Bloomberg. He says Apple is not planning on making any sweeping changes to Liquid Glass, which isn't terribly surprising. While plenty of folks may not be huge fans of the design language, that fact doesn't appear to be driving people away from iPhones to any significant degree. In fact, the opposite is happening; iPhone sales are better than ever right now.

All of that is to say that Apple might add some more customization options to Liquid Glass, but don't expect to be able to turn it off or anything like that.

iOS 27: App changes

As always, iOS 27 is certainly going to bring some other miscellaneous changes to various first-party apps. We don't yet have a comprehensive list of every change to expect, but there are a couple of intriguing reports out there.

For instance, users will apparently be able to create custom widgets within the Camera app, giving them more fine control over which buttons appear on screen by default when opening the app. Weather is also getting a "Conditions" panel when looking at a page for a specific location. You'll be able to flip between information panels on things like wind and rain there.

The Wallet app is also reportedly getting a pretty interesting new feature that will allow users to create custom passes. It's called "Create a Pass," and it will allegedly be able to scan photos of things like movie tickets and gym memberships in order to create a digital pass that lives in the Wallet app. While lots of services have built-in support for the Wallet app, there are also plenty that don't, and this feature could help bridge that gap.

Splitting bills with Apple pay

Speaking of Wallet, Apple is also reportedly cooking up an extremely useful-sounding feature that will let users easily split bills. If you go out to dinner with friends, you'll be able to take a photo of the receipt and assign different things on the receipt to different people. After that, you can send payment requests to people via Apple Cash, with taxes and tips factored in. That sounds a lot easier than doing Venmo math on a napkin...as long as everyone involved uses Apple Cash, anyway.

iOS 27: Which iPhones will support it?

To start, we should establish which iPhones will actually be able to run iOS 27. Every year, Apple phases out an older generation of devices, and a recent leak suggested that the following phones will be phased out this year:

• iPhone 11

• iPhone 11 Pro

• iPhone 11 Pro Max

• iPhone SE (second generation)

That means anything older than an iPhone 12 is probably not going to be able to run iOS 27. It's a tough business, but that's just how it works. Apple can't keep everyone happy forever.

In addition, iOS 27 is sure to bring updates to Apple Intelligence, including a new AI Siri. Keep in mind that not all iPhones support Apple Intelligence, which is only compatible with the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16, and newer Apple smartphones.

iOS 27: Don't forget about the iPhone Fold

Lastly, we'd be remiss not to mention the iPhone Fold. There isn't a lot of concrete information yet about how iOS will adapt to the long-rumored device, but one has to assume that iOS 27 will, to some extent, work a little differently on the foldable iPhone. Actions like app multi-tasking, for example, will probably be possible on the iPhone Fold, meaning iOS 27 will need to natively support that sort of thing.

The good news is Apple is reportedly working on exactly that.

A recent leak from Weibo suggests that iOS 27 will support "Parallel View" in landscape mode on normal iPhones, meaning you might be able to have two windows open onscreen at the same time. This extremely vague leak doesn't specifically call out the iPhone Fold, perhaps suggesting it'll be a standard feature across the iOS 27 ecosystem, but it's hard not to associate split-screen app views with a foldable display. This is speculation on our part, but it seems likely that this is, at least in some way, related to the foldable device.

Not every iOS revision is a big overhaul, but if nothing else, it sounds like iOS 27 will drastically change how users interact with Siri and pave the way for the first foldable iPhone. In that sense, this could be one of the biggest iOS updates in a while.

Apple will reportedly lean on Nvidia to fuel the next generation of Siri.

The Information reported that Apple will "tap into Google’s fleet of Nvidia’s Blackwell B200 data center chips" to power requests from the new AI-enhanced Siri, which will allegedly go online with the launch of iOS 27 later this year. It's already been established that the new Siri will be based on Google's Gemini AI model, so Apple utilizing a Google fleet of Nvidia data center chips makes sense.

In layman's terms, the main thing to know about this is that Nvidia's Blackwell architecture allows for large-scale AI usage with high degrees of memory bandwidth and other important things you need to make a popular chatbot work. These chips also have the ability to encrypt data that comes through them, which would help maintain Apple's high privacy standards as it attempts to catch up to the rest of the tech industry with AI features on its devices.

The new Siri hasn't officially been shown off yet, but it's widely expected that it will exist in the form of a chatbot with its own dedicated app once iOS 27 launches. It will be able to remember personal context for the user as well as read anything that's on screen, giving it capabilities far beyond what Siri has been able to do previously.

We should find out come Monday, when Apple hosts its annual developer conference, WWDC 2026.

Motorola released a new Razr Ultra, and it's a lot like last year's model, which earned a CNET Editors' Choice award. But do minimal upgrades, and a $200 price hike make the 2026 Razr Ultra a worthy buy? We tested it to find out.

Motorola's first book-style foldable makes a strong debut, with long battery life, impressive cameras and a sleek build. But there are some caveats, including the hefty $1,900 price.

WWDC isn't for another week, but Apple has a tiny new iOS update to tide us over until then.

Yes, iOS 26.5.1 is officially here, per 9to5Mac. You can download it to your iPhone by opening Settings, then going to General, and then Software Update. Don't expect too much, though, as these patches are usually pretty small. Apple's official release notes paint a pretty good picture of what to expect from this update:

"This update addresses an issue for a small number of users that may prevent wired charging on iPhone Air and iPhone 17 models when the battery is nearly drained," Apple said.

Are you an Apple superfan? Enter Mashable’s Big Guessing Game to win prizes.

And that's it. There may be smaller bug fixes in this update that Apple didn't see a need to address, but the star of the show here is a fix to a battery charging issue on iPhone 17 and iPhone Air models. There was a known issue where those particular phones would be stubborn about turning back on if plugged into a wired charger after running out of battery. Putting them on a wireless charger for 10 to 15 minutes would fix it, but obviously, not everyone has one of those lying around. If Apple is to be believed, this isn't a problem anymore.

Just in case, you might want to plug your phone in before its screen goes black. And if you want to hear about actual substantive new iOS features, just wait a week.

TL;DR: The official Casetify x Tamagotchi collection launches on May 29. The collection features phone cases, plush earbud pouches, phone straps, and customizable carry-on luggage, with prices starting at $36.

If you grew up in the '90s, it felt like every single person had a Tamagotchi clipped to their backpack. They were basically Sims, but cuter and pixelated; you had to feed them, clean up after them, and keep them happy 24/7, or they'd die. Everyone who was anyone had one, except me.

I was never allowed to have one. (The childhood trauma is real.) If your parents also denied you a virtual pet, it's time to pull out your wallet because we finally have adult money now.

Casetify just announced a collaboration with Bandai Namco for an actual Tamagotchi collection, and it drops on May 29. And it's not just phone cases — they're releasing an actual, functional Tamagotchi device with a custom Casetify shell.

They're also offering "Chase Cards" with seven different rarity tiers from "Common" up to "Supreme Ultra Rare." Oh, and you can get a 21-inch carry-on suitcase in pink or blue that you can personalize with your initials in the actual Tamagotchi font.

The customizable 21-inch Casetify Travel Tamagotchi carry-on suitcases are available in Cobalt Blue and Primrose Pink. Credit: Casetify | Bandai Namco

If you feel a little silly about buying toys as a fully grown adult, don't. The "kidult" economy is huge right now. According to a market research report from Circana, global toy sales rose 7 percent last year, and collectibles spiked by 32 percent.

The collection officially goes live on May 29 at casetify.com/colab.

Every year, Apple reveals a big new iOS update at WWDC that brings tons of new features to your iPhone. And we're fully expecting to learn about iOS 27 at WWDC 2026, the final Apple developers conference of the Tim Cook era.

When the iPhone 18 launches in September, it's widely expected that it'll ship alongside iOS 27, as is usually the case with every new iPhone and every new iOS iteration. Apple still hasn't officially shown off iOS 27 yet, but there have been plenty of reports and leaks about what to expect from the mobile OS update. Here's everything you need to know about iOS 27 right now.

iOS 27: Which iPhones will support it?

To start, we should establish which iPhones will actually be able to run iOS 27. Every year, Apple phases out an older generation of devices, and a recent leak suggested that the following phones will be phased out this year:

• iPhone 11

• iPhone 11 Pro

• iPhone 11 Pro Max

• iPhone SE (second generation)

That means anything older than an iPhone 12 is probably not going to be able to run iOS 27. It's a tough business, but that's just how it works. Apple can't keep everyone happy forever.

In addition, iOS 27 is sure to bring updates to Apple Intelligence, including a new AI Siri. Keep in mind that not all iPhones support Apple Intelligence, which is only compatible with the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16, and newer Apple smartphones.

iOS 27: All about AI Siri

Easily the biggest feature coming to iOS 27 that we know of right now is the long-awaited AI-powered overhaul of Siri, Apple's iconic voice assistant. It was supposed to happen a long time ago, but internal delays have pushed its most likely debut timeline to the launch of iOS 27.

On a basic level, what's changing here is that Siri is going to be turned into an AI chatbot with its own standalone app and with the ability to incorporate what's on the screen and personal context into responses, with the additional ability to perform actions between and within apps themselves. It'll be powered primarily by Google's Gemini model, though rumor has it that users will be able to use third-party models for Siri and other Apple Intelligence features, too, if they so desire.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

While Siri is getting its own app, that doesn't mean the way you interface with Siri will change that much, necessarily. A report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman indicated that Siri in iOS 27 can still be activated by a wake word or by holding down the power button, same as ever, but there will also be a new interface built into the iPhone's Dynamic Island. You'll be able to make queries by swiping down from the top of the screen, and an additional swipe will bring you straight to the new chatbot interface for Siri.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Gurman's report included some more tidbits about how Siri will play with the Photos and Camera apps, too. For instance, Photos will get the ability to use generative AI to add elements to photos that aren't already there, while the users will be able to snap a photo in Camera and instantly reverse image search it on Google. In summary, Apple is looking to catch up to the competition when it comes to having a sophisticated AI chatbot that lives in your phone, and it sounds like iOS 27 might finally bring us to that point.

iOS 27: Other AI features

Apple's new iOS revision might focus largely on integrating Siri into the Apple Intelligence ecosystem, but what about the already existing Apple Intelligence features in iOS? It turns out some of those will be improved with iOS 27, too.

For example, a separate Mark Gurman report claimed that Image Playground and Genmoji will both get significant boosts to image quality in iOS 27. There will even be a new feature allowing users to generate custom phone wallpapers with AI. Outside of image generation, it sounds like there will also be a way for users to create custom app shortcuts using natural language prompts with Siri.

Beyond that, Writing Tools will apparently be infused with more AI juice. It'll supposedly be better at offering feedback for things like syntax errors, not just basic spelling mistakes. We'll need to see this in action to truly judge how well it works, though.

iOS 27: What about Liquid Glass?

Last year, the Liquid Glass design language introduced in iOS 26 really ruffled some feathers. That said, you should probably not expect any major changes on that front.

This information comes, once again, from Gurman at Bloomberg. He says Apple is not planning on making any sweeping changes to Liquid Glass, which isn't terribly surprising. While plenty of folks may not be huge fans of the design language, that fact doesn't appear to be driving people away from iPhones to any significant degree. In fact, the opposite is happening; iPhone sales are better than ever right now.

All of that is to say that Apple might add some more customization options to Liquid Glass, but don't expect to be able to turn it off or anything like that.

iOS 27: App changes

As always, iOS 27 is certainly going to bring some other miscellaneous changes to various first-party apps. We don't yet have a comprehensive list of every change to expect, but there are a couple of intriguing reports out there.

For instance, users will apparently be able to create custom widgets within the Camera app, giving them more fine control over which buttons appear on screen by default when opening the app. Weather is also getting a "Conditions" panel when looking at a page for a specific location. You'll be able to flip between information panels on things like wind and rain there.

The Wallet app is also reportedly getting a pretty interesting new feature that will allow users to create custom passes. It's called "Create a Pass," and it will allegedly be able to scan photos of things like movie tickets and gym memberships in order to create a digital pass that lives in the Wallet app. While lots of services have built-in support for the Wallet app, there are also plenty that don't, and this feature could help bridge that gap.

iOS 27: Don't forget about the iPhone Fold

Lastly, we'd be remiss not to mention the iPhone Fold. There isn't a lot of concrete information yet about how iOS will adapt to the long-rumored device, but one has to assume that iOS 27 will, to some extent, work a little differently on the foldable iPhone. Actions like app multi-tasking, for example, will probably be possible on the iPhone Fold, meaning iOS 27 will need to natively support that sort of thing.

Not every iOS revision is a big overhaul, but if nothing else, it sounds like iOS 27 will drastically change how users interact with Siri. In that sense, this could be one of the biggest iOS updates in a while.

Just three months after introducing the Xiaomi 17 series of phones, Xiaomi is back with the Xiaomi 17T Pro. The company has had a somewhat odd release schedule for its smartphones lately, often cramming launches into short periods of time, but that won't matter much to the average consumer, who'll just want to know which of the new Xiaomi phones is the best buy right now.

Having spent a few days with the Xiaomi 17T Pro, I can say that it's a very strong contender. It doesn't have the most powerful chip or cameras; those honors belong to the over-the-top Xiaomi 17 Ultra, and the "regular" Xiaomi 17 which we saw during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in March this year.

The first time a Xiaomi T-series phone has gotten a 5x telephoto lens. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

But the Xiaomi 17T Pro wins on battery life. With a humongous, 7,000mAh silicon-carbon battery, it stands on top of Xiaomi's smartphone lineup, and a lot of potential buyers will take notice. Xiaomi says the battery is good for 1.88 days of typical use; that translates into roughly 45 hours.

The Xiaomi 17T Pro is powered by the Mediatek Dimensity 9500 chip, and comes with 12GB of RAM and 256/512/1,024GB of storage. As is typical of new phones these days, it's blazing fast and it's very hard to notice any difference in everyday performance compared to, say, the Xiaomi 17 which runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip.

The camera system, while a notch less powerful than the one in the Xiaomi 17, is still pretty impressive. The Leica-branded rear camera is a 50/50/12-megapixel system with 5x optical zoom, while the front camera is a respectable 32-megapixel shooter.

The Xiaomi 17T Pro is bigger than the Xiaomi 17, with a 6.83-inch AMOLED display that boasts a 144Hz refresh rate and 3,500 peak brightness. It looks great, and it's readable even in direct sunlight.

The 144Hz AMOLED display is very readable, even in direct sunlight. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

About that battery. Not only is the capacity large, but it also charges fast, with 100W wired charging and 50W wireless charging. I was able to get it from zero to 80 percent in about 20 minutes on a fast charger. And then, it just went on. I played some PUBG Mobile, went out and took photos, tried a bunch of apps, and I simply couldn't get the battery to deplete. After two days of testing I still had 30 percent battery life left.

Night-time images are very bright, but it's best if you keep it to the main camera on 1x magnification. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

The camera is pretty great. Xiaomi has been steadily improving the cameras on its phones, and it shows. Specifically, this is the first time Xiaomi has given a T-series phone a 5x telephoto camera (it goes to 10x optical-grade zoom).

When there's a lot of bright lights in the darkness, a lot of weird artifacts might show in the picture, especially if you're zooming in. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

I was able to capture some solid photos with it, and overall the camera quality was similar to the one in the Xiaomi 17. It did have a lot of trouble with bright lights in the darkness, which caused a ton of weird artifacts to show up in the photos.

Xiaomi's Super Macro mode lets you take very detailed macro photos from a distance. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

For some reason, Xiaomi insists on pre-loading a bunch of bloatware on its phones. I don't mind the company's HyperOS, which is a blatant copy of Apple's iOS, but I'd like to choose the apps on my phone myself, thank you.

The sweet spot in Xiaomi's 17T Pro lineup. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

The Xiaomi 17T Pro is available in three colors: Deep Blue, Deep Violet, and Black. Xiaomi sent me the Deep Blue variant, and it's a very nice shade of blue that made me reluctant to use the somewhat bland grey case that was included with the phone.

Besides the 17T Pro, Xiaomi also launched the Xiaomi 17T, which has a smaller, 6.59-inch display, a slightly smaller, 6,500mAh battery, a MediaTek Dimensity 8500 Ultra chip, up to 512GB of storage, and a slightly less powerful main camera.

As for pricing, the Xiaomi 17T Pro starts at €899, while the Xiaomi 17T starts at €749. Availability is yet to be announced.

Apple's flagship smartphone hasn't taken a year off since 2007, and barring a massive surprise, 2026 won't be any different.

The Cupertino-based tech giant is widely expected to launch a new lineup of iPhones later this year, including both the new iPhone 18 line and the rumored iPhone Ultra, the company's first-ever foldable. And as we await iOS 27 and the iPhone 18, plenty of interesting tidbits of information are trickling out. While we still haven't actually seen any of the new Apple phones in an official capacity, we have plenty of info via the latest iPhone rumors and leaks.

So, here's everything you need to know about the iPhone 18 lineup.

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iPhone 18 release date and pricing

To start, you should probably circle early September in your calendar. That has been the timeline for Apple's big showcase event every year for a very long time, and there's no reason to believe right now that Apple will change that for 2026.

But here's the big unanswered question: Will the iPhone 18 cost more? So far, we haven't heard any leaks about an iPhone 18 price increase, but don't rule it out.

Thanks to the ongoing RAM shortage caused by the AI industry (also known as RAMageddon), tons of smartphones, laptops, and gaming consoles are seeing huge price hikes. Experts who've spoken to Mashable say that trend isn't going to stop anytime soon. As the world's number one smartphone maker, Apple has some advantages over its rivals, but a price increase is definitely possible. Apple raised prices on its new MacBooks earlier this year, while also introducing a low-cost $599 laptop that put big pressure on its Windows rivals.

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So, this one could go either way.

iPhone 18 models

Right now, the expectation is that Apple will release a base iPhone 18, an iPhone 18 Pro, and an iPhone 18 Pro Max later this year. One thing that might be a surprise (depending on how much tech news you follow) is that Apple is allegedly going to launch or announce a foldable iPhone alongside the normal iPhone 18 models.

However, to be clear, that phone is rumored to be called the iPhone Fold or iPhone Fold Ultra (or something along those lines). It's not strictly a member of the iPhone 18 family, at least by name, so you'll have to go to our rumor hub for that device to read more about it.

iPhone 18 and iPhone 18 Pro design

Again, Apple has not released any official teasers or other imagery related to the iPhone 18 lineup yet, so anything that has been reported up to this point could theoretically be wrong. However, based on everything we're hearing, it sounds like Apple isn't really reinventing the wheel, design-wise. However, rumor has it, the iPhone 20 will bring big changes like a curved waterfall display.

Per our friends at CNET (Mashable and CNET are both owned by the same parent company, Ziff Davis), the display sizes will be roughly the same as last year:

• iPhone 18: 6.3 inches

• iPhone 18 Pro: 6.3 inches

• iPhone 18 Pro Max: 6.9 inches

However, the display quality might be a little different this year. Prominent leaker Instant Digital shared on Chinese social media that Apple's brightness demands are unusually high this year, so it might be reasonable to expect much brighter displays than in previous years.

One other nugget is that the base iPhone 18 could have a downsized camera bump compared to previous models. There are also rumblings of a slightly redesigned Dynamic Island, with the pill-shaped notification hub potentially being made smaller in the iPhone 18 models. One alleged leaked image purports to show an iPhone 18 Pro with a downsized Dynamic Island cutout.

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Wondering about the iPhone 18 color options? We believe the color options for the iPhone 18 Pro have leaked already. Previous rumors indicated Apple was experimenting with a "deep red" color for the more expensive iPhone 18, and a new report from MacWorld more or less backs that up. According to their reporting, the color lineup for the iPhone 18 Pro will be silver, grey, light blue, and something called "dark cherry," which would probably be the previously reported wine red color.

Sadly, we think fans of black iPhones are out of luck again.

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iPhone 18: rumored hardware features

While specific software features will probably have to wait until Apple unveils iOS 27 at WWDC 2026, it's not too early to start talking about some of the internal hardware changes Apple is reportedly making to the iPhone 18 lineup.

For starters, it sounds like the lineup will have a standardized 12GB RAM count across the board. In previous years, the Pro models had 12GB, while the base model only had 8GB. According to Korean outlet The Bell, Apple will be upgrading the base model so that it matches the Pro models in that regard. It's also widely expected that Apple will adopt new A20 and A20 Pro chips for the base and Pro models, respectively.

It's also expected that the new iPhones will have a new C2 modem for improved cellular connectivity, alongside a new N2 chip for better WiFi performance.

Latest iPhone 18 Pro rumors

For the iPhone 18 Pro, the current expectation is that Apple will improve the battery size in the premium iPhone 18 models this year. Leaker Digital Chat Station on Weibo reported that their batteries could be in excess of 5,000mAh, which would be an improvement over the iPhone 17 Pro.

In addition, the smaller camera cutout for the base model is reportedly only for the base model. It's expected that Apple will retain the bigger plateau seen on the iPhone 17 Pro last year for the iPhone 18 Pro. Instant Digital posted in a separate Weibo leak that the back glass has been altered for the iPhone 18 Pro, resulting in a new unified look, as opposed to the two-tone look the iPhone 17 Pro had. Whether that change will have any effect on durability (or if it's just an aesthetic difference) remains to be seen.

The iPhone 17 Pro has helped Apple break sales records in 2026. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

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iPhone 18 camera rumors

Last but not least, there are supposedly at least two big camera changes that we know of right now for the iPhone 18 Pro models. First up: variable aperture.

That comes courtesy of Digital Chat Station on Weibo. If you don't know, variable aperture would let the iPhone 18 Pro camera let in different amounts of light for different situations, improving photo quality when used properly. For instance, the bokeh effect famously associated with portrait mode on iPhones would be possible in-camera instead of through post-processing, resulting in better-looking shots.

In addition, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman — the source of many iPhone leaks and rumors — has reported that iOS 27 and the iPhone 18 will have a much-improved Camera app. For instance, Gurman says that Apple users will be able to customize the Camera app, which will also introduce new widgets. AI photo editing may also be on the menu, bringing iOS more in line with Android.

What about AI Siri?

Apple first promised users a newer, smarter, AI-powered Siri two years ago, and the company has since faced lawsuits after it failed to deliver. (The company recently settled a class action suit related to these claims for $250 million.) However, the tech world widely expects AI Siri to make her debut alongside iOS 27 with a big announcement at WWDC 2026 on June 8.

Technically, this isn't a feature unique to the iPhone 18 lineup. Presumably, every iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence will also support the new Siri, and we'll probably know for sure come June 8. Still, if you're on an older phone and plan to upgrade to iPhone 18, the new Gemini-powered Siri will probably be on board.

There will surely be more to say about the iPhone 18 in the coming months before its alleged September launch. We'll keep you updated as best as we can.

Stop us if you've heard this before: A popular tech brand is increasing the price of some of its products because of the ongoing RAM shortage. That's right, RAMageddon strikes again.

This time, the culprit is Samsung. Greek outlet TechManiacs (via Android Authority) reported that Samsung will increase the prices of flagship phones in Greece starting in June. These price hikes will apply to Galaxy S series phones, the Galaxy Z Flip and Z Fold 7 devices, and Galaxy FE handsets. All of those devices will see their prices go up by roughly the equivalent of $116 USD, but versions with higher storage capacities could see even bigger price increases.

While these price hikes are limited to the Greek market at this point in time, they could very well spill over to the rest of Europe and even the U.S. over time.

Samsung already applied slight price increases to the Galaxy S26 lineup in the U.S. earlier this year. Motorola recently hiked prices on some of its phones by 50 percent, and the new Motorola Razr Ultra arrived this month with a $200 price increase. With the next Galaxy Unpacked event scheduled for July, more Samsung price increases could be coming this summer.

The global shortage of memory (which is widely attributed to the high demand for RAM and memory components in AI data centers) has prompted several major tech companies, such as Lenovo, Nintendo, and Dell to raise prices on their products throughout this year, a trend that will likely continue into 2027.

So, if you want a flagship Samsung device, now might be the time to go grab one.

Every big iOS update from Apple inevitably phases out support for some older iPhone model. It sounds like the iPhone 11 might be next.

That's not 100 percent confirmed yet, but a leak from tech tipster Instant Digital on Weibo suggests it might be the case, according to 9to5mac. Instant Digital published a list of every iPhone model that will support iOS 27 when it launches later this year, and four models stood out for their absence:

• iPhone 11

• iPhone 11 Pro

• iPhone 11 Pro Max

• iPhone SE (second generation)

That means if you have any of those iPhones, you might not be able to keep current when iOS 27 launches, presumably alongside the iPhone 18. That doesn't mean your iPhone 11 will be totally useless or anything; Apple continues to support older OS revisions with minor security updates and whatnot. But if you want all the newest iOS features, you'll probably need a newer iPhone.

The good news is that Apple very recently launched the budget-minded iPhone 17e, which will stay current with software updates for years to come without breaking the bank. If you don't feel like upgrading to a flagship phone, that might be the way to go.

CNET’s Patrick Holland takes a closer look at Trump Mobile’s flagship phone during a live Q&A session. The discussion covers the device’s features, design, and overall experience while answering audience questions in real time.

If 2025 was the year of the ultra-thin phone, then 2026 is the year of the foldable phone. And the new Motorola Razr line arrives with a big head start. Motorola has been making flip-style foldables since 2020, and it also has the first foldables on the scene this year.

Of course, being first isn't always the wisest strategy. Just look at Apple, which has been building monumental hype around the first folding iPhone.

But we're not here to talk about Apple. This one's for Android users (and the Android-curious).

I put the new Motorola Razr Ultra and Motorola Razr+ to the test, and while the Razr+ has some problems, I'm loving the Razr Ultra so far.

The verdict: The Motorola Razr Ultra is a pricey but impressive flip phone

Motorola Razr+ (left) and Motorola Razr Ultra (right). Credit: René Ramos / Mashable

What I loved: The flagship Razr Ultra has a gorgeous display, a killer battery life, and a true smorgasburg of AI features. I love that it fits in my pocket, and I love the phone's design.

What I hated: This phone costs an obscene $1,499.99. The less-capable Razr+ had some sluggishness.

By the numbers:

• Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite Mobile Platform

• Battery: 5000mAh battery / 36 hours

• Display: 4-inch pOLED cover display / 7-inch AMOLED inner display

• Cameras: 50MP wide, 50MP ultrawide, 50MP inner camera

• Charging: 68W charging, reverse charging, 24 hours battery in 8 minutes

• Special features: Pantone Validated display, HDR peak brightness of 5,000 nits, 10-bit color, Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3

The Motorola Razr Ultra is a true flagship device

Credit: René Ramos / Mashable

Now, I still need to spend more time with the Razr Ultra before we lock in its review score. I plan to update this review twice. First, a couple of weeks after spending more time with the device, and again in July or August, after the Samsung Galaxy Flip 8 arrives.

But if you need a new phone now, I think you can purchase this phone with confidence. I've said repeatedly that the Motorola Razr Ultra (2025) was the most underrated phone of the year, and the new model is even better.

When I first picked it up, I thought it was thinner than last year's version, but my eyes told me otherwise. The dimensions proved me right, however. Motorola shaved off a few millimeters from the design, and the phone is just a smidge thinner than last year. The phone also has a new textured back panel, which I think was a smart upgrade for both visual appeal and security in your hand.

The screens are also a little bigger and have a slightly higher resolution. The HDR10+ AMOLED displays offer 10-bit color and look incredible. Both the main and external displays now offer 165Hz refresh rates and deliver significant brightness upgrades. The main display has 5,000 nits, and the rear display has 3,000 (a 2,000 increase and a 1,300 increase, respectively).

Credit: René Ramos / Mashable

Finally, the battery has been upgraded from 4,500 mAh to 5,000 mAh. The battery was a standout feature last year, easily offering more than 24 hours on our video playback test. This year's battery is rated for a mighty 36 hours.

But here's the big question: Are all those improvements worth a $200 price increase? Last year's excellent Razr Ultra was already pricey at $1,299, but this year's arrives with a RAM-ageddon price hike to $1,499.99.

Let's talk about that price

Most U.S. phone shoppers don't pay full retail price. Typically, we get a trade-in offer, or you take advantage of carrier deals that can drop the price to $0 (with conditions, of course).

Motorola has raised prices across the board because of the AI-fueled memory shortage. I strongly recommend taking advantage of every deal and launch offer you can.

It's not that the phone isn't worth it. The $1,500 price tag is likely going to be the new standard in this category. But it still hurts.

The Motorola Razr Ultra is a joy to use

Credit: René Ramos / Mashable

Here's what I really like about this phone: It's fun to use.

There's just something satisfying about a flip phone, especially one that can pull off so many neat tricks. I love lining up the perfect selfie on the external display, shooting a camcorder-style video, or bringing up an app without opening the phone. And as someone who hates big phones, I love how it fits in my pocket and hand. It still feels like a two-hand phone when opened, but the size is a huge attraction for me.

The everyday experience will be familiar to Android users, though Motorola offers additional AI tools such as Perplexity, Copilot, and Moto AI (more on this in a moment).

Foldable phones are also novel enough that they still feel cool. And the phone looks cool, too. The colors and design of the phones are very impressive this year.

Motorola's AI strategy: All of the above

Here are the AI tools you get with the new Razr lineup:

• Gemini

• Perplexity

• Microsoft Copilot

• Moto AI

Frankly, it's a bit much. I found myself sticking entirely to Gemini. At CES 2026, Lenovo and Motorola laid out their vision for Moto AI — a personal AI that acts as your personal assistant. And, in theory, it has some cool features. But am I ready to hand over my email, photo library, browsing history, and Google Drive to yet another tech company? Not quite. I'm already nervous about how much Google knows about me, and how it's using my data.

This is also a phone built for AI superusers. Here's an example: Long-press what should be the power button, and it brings up Gemini Live. Long-press the side button (the Razr+ has no extra side button), and it fires up Moto AI. When I needed to power off the Razr+, it took me a ridiculous amount of time to find the power off option.

You can change these settings, of course, but this is a phone that wants to put AI constantly at your fingertips. That's either a pro or a con, depending on how much you use tools like Gemini.

That said, being able to quickly fire up Gemini to answer questions is helpful at times. I also made good use of Android's Circle To Search feature. After bringing home the flowers, I used Circle To Search to identify them. Another time, I asked whether it was safe to use two household cleaners together. (Spoiler alert: It was not!)

Credit: Timothy Beck Werth

Credit: Timothy Beck Werth

Motorola Razr+ is too big a step down

With a new starting price of $1,099, the Razr+ better be a damn fine phone, but my early testing has been frustrating. Once, the camera app simply refused to open. At other times, the phone was noticeably sluggish. I sometimes found that apps or features were slow to appear.

Instead of the Ultra's Snapdragon 8 Elite, the Razr+ has a Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 Mobile Platform, and I could feel the difference, unfortunately. As you'll see in the camera test, image processing also takes a hit. Photos were oversaturated, and the phone struggled a bit in very bright sunlight.

Credit: René Ramos / Mashable

So, is the Motorola Razr+ worth it? While I can happily endorse the Razr Ultra, I'm not sold on the Razr+.

One word of warning: Treat your foldable with care

Lastly, I should note there have been user complaints on Reddit and the Motorola website about the durability of the Razr Ultra (2025). Users report that hinges and displays begin to fall apart after about 12 months of use. However, the phone should hold up just fine, as mine has.

I suspect there's some user error involved here, as flip phones are inherently more delicate. Be careful not to get your foldable wet, and avoid overstressing the hinge.

For its part, Motorola has outfitted the Razr+ with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus; the Razr Ultra has the brand-new Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3, which debuts with this foldable phone.

Motorola Razr+ and Razr Ultra: The camera test

Credit: René Ramos / Mashable

As a reminder, here are the camera arrays with each phone:

• Razr Ultra: 50MP wide, 50MP ultrawide, 50MP inner camera

• Razr+: 50MP wide, 50MP ultrawide, 32MP inner

Foldables aren't known for having the best cameras, but the Razr Ultra's are better than fine. For the camera test, I took macro, portrait, digital zoom, and selfie photos. All of the photos you see here are unedited.

Overall, I found that the Razr Plus sometimes oversaturated my photos, which is a pet peeve of mine. In some cases, the Razr Ultra clearly took the better photo. In the photos with sliders, you'll find the Razr Ultra version on the left. Thanks to the Elite processor, the Razr Ultra handled color much better, and photos taken in bright sunlight weren't super washed out.

The ultimate selfie mode

Foldables may not have the best cameras, but it's incredibly satisfying to line up the perfect selfie using the external display.

Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

The finished result:

Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

Overall, the Razr Ultra took surprisingly good photos for a foldable. The Razr+ didn't have bad cameras by any means, and I took a lot of photos I liked, even if the Ultra clearly has the edge.

Left: Razr Ultra (left) Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

Right: Razr+ (right) Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

I also went to my local flower-and-skateboarding store — the most Brooklyn store ever — to test the color fidelity. (Shoutout to Park Deli flower shop, which isn't affiliated with Mashable or Motorola in any way.)

Left: Razr Ultra (left) Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

Right: Razr+ (right) Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

Left: Razr Ultra (left) Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

Right: Razr+ (right) Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

Finally, I have to show off my latest origami creations.

A dinsoaur, rat, Scottish terrier, and snails. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

The Motorola Razr Ultra: Would I buy it?

So, would I spend my money on the Razr Ultra? I have to admit, I'm still an iPhone user, possibly due to peer pressure. But the Motorola Razr Ultra is the phone that really tempts me to make the switch, and I enjoy every minute I spend with this phone.

While the new $1,499.99 price tag is a major blow, the phone's feature set, display, and design are all elite for the category. If you can take advantage of some launch offers or trade-ins, I think you'll also be very happy with this trendy little flip phone.

Motorola Razr Ultra (2026)

$1,499.99 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Best Buy Shop Now at Motorola US

Opens in a new window

Credit: Motorola

Motorola Razr+ (2026)

$1,099.99 at Amazon

 

Get Deal

It's hard to believe that foldables have been around for long enough (and gotten good enough) that I can use one that's totally fine and think to myself, "Eh, you can do better."

That's been my experience during early testing for the new Motorola Razr Fold. The $1,900 device has pretty much everything you'd want in a book-style foldable: it's reasonably comfortable in the hands, the displays are high quality, and it's got a battery that dwarfs the competition. But in actually using it, I've still found myself preferring the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 from a year ago, while also considering the upcoming, heavily rumored iPhone Fold.

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Motorola Razr Fold

$1,899.99 at Best Buy

 

Pre-order Here at Best Buy Pre-order Here at Motorola US

The first impression: This is a serious foldable with serious competition

Credit: René Ramos / Mashable

Here's my takeaway from early testing: the foldable market is getting really crowded, and with such a high price, I'm not sure the Razr Fold has done enough to stand out against the competition just yet.

What I liked: It feels great in the hand, is easy to use, has killer displays, and boasts strong performance from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset.

What I didn't like: Not as thin as the Galaxy Z Fold 7, and like the competition, it has a steep price tag; my testing unit also experienced a battery issue.

Key specs:

• Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset

• Battery: 6,000mAh

• Displays: 6.6-inch pOLED cover display (up to 165Hz refresh rate) / 8.1-inch LTPO OLED (up to 120Hz variable refresh rate) with HDR10+

• Cameras: 50MP wide, 50MP ultrawide, 50MP telephoto, 20MP inner camera, 32MP cover camera

• Charging: 80W charging, 50W wireless, reverse wireless charging

• AI tools: Google Gemini, Perplexity, Moto AI, Microsoft Copilot

• Brightness: 6,200 nits

• Price: $1,899.99

Motorola Razr Fold feels good, but not quite as good as Galaxy Z Fold 7

Credit: René Ramos / Mashable

Last year, I fell in love with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 primarily because of its form factor. It was easily the thinnest and lightest book-style foldable I'd used at the time, and now. It's a new measuring stick for this type of phone in my mind, and that's also the first place where the Razr Fold comes up just short.

To be more specific, Samsung's foldable last year weighed just 215g and measured in at a mere 4.2mm when unfolded and 8.9mm when folded. Motorola's device, on the other hand, weighs 243g and measures in at 4.5mm when unfolded and 9.89mm when folded. In the grand scheme of things, those aren't huge disparities, but having used both devices, you can definitely feel the difference.

Last year's ultra-thin Galaxy Z Fold 7. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

The Razr Fold is noticeably heavier and a little more bulky, and in a world where Samsung has shown how thin book-style foldables can be, I'm not sure I can ever go back.

Having said all of that, this is still a reasonably comfortable phone to hold and use, especially compared to older, meatier foldables. Razr Fold's Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset keeps everything running smoothly, with social media and streaming apps working pretty much flawlessly in my limited testing so far.

The 8.1-inch AMOLED inner display with a 120Hz refresh rate is also crisp and clear, as is the 6.6-inch outer display, which has a blistering fast 165Hz refresh rate. As with pretty much every other book-style foldable on the market, this is the best way to watch videos and read things on a phone right now.

While I haven't done a ton of stress testing with the multitasking features yet, they do work pretty intuitively. Like some other foldables in this category, there's a horizontal app toolbar along the bottom of the inner display. While running one app, you can simply drag another one from the toolbar up into the main display itself, choosing where you want it to go. You can go halfsies or you can even turn one app into a free-floating window that you can resize and reposition to your heart's content, while the other one stays open behind it.

This isn't especially groundbreaking, but it is useful and works well.

TBD if its most distinctive features give it an edge

Credit: René Ramos / Mashable

I still need more time with the Razr Fold before writing a full review, and part of that has to do with the phone's biggest potential edge over the competition: its battery.

The Razr Fold has a huge 6,000mAh battery inside it, significantly larger than the 4,400mAh cell inside my beloved Z Fold 7. If the Razr Fold can deliver notably longer battery life than other foldables, that could be a huge feather in its cap. Unfortunately, I am not in a position right now to judge that, as the review unit Motorola sent us has an issue where it will not charge correctly. I've been told this is not a common problem and Motorola is sending us a replacement, but this does mean that I simply can't analyze the battery right now.

One other potential advantage this phone has over something like the Z Fold 7 is that it natively supports the Moto Pen Ultra stylus accessory. I am not a stylus user by nature, and I haven't spent enough time using the Moto Pen Ultra on the Razr Fold yet to see if it's a game-changer, but Samsung sacrificed official S Pen stylus support on the Z Fold 7 last year in order to make the phone thinner. You can still use third-party pens, but Motorola having an official option that should work nicely with the phone is a big leg up for a lot of folks.

After a handful of days testing the Razr Fold, it's clear that this is a solid foldable phone that doesn't have anything catastrophically wrong with it, at least as long as the charging issue I encountered is an isolated incident. I'll have more to say on this soon.

Motorola just happens to be in an unlucky position here, with other major phone manufacturers having already matured in this space over the past several years, all while Apple takes its sweet time cooking up something that will almost certainly be very good, too.

The Motorola Razr Fold is available for pre-order starting May 14 and will be released May 21 for $1,899.99. You can order the foldable from Motorola and Best Buy.

It's been almost a year since the made-in-America Trump Mobile T1 smartphone for true patriots was announced. It's still not out, but this week, we got some conflicting information about whether or not it will ever come out.

Today, Trump Mobile CEO Pat O'Brien said the phone would finally start shipping this week. However, the Trump Mobile terms and conditions make it perfectly clear that the upstart mobile brand doesn't actually have an obligation to ship anything.

Over the past day or so, multiple news outlets such as The Hill and content creators such as moistcr1tikal (who paid the deposit and has been waiting for the phone to arrive) noticed strange language on the terms and conditions page on the Trump Mobile website

The terms explicitly state that "Trump Mobile does not guarantee that: the Device will be commercially released," that "production will commence or continue," or that "delivery will occur within any specific timeframe."

For the past year, the company has been accepting $100 deposits on the phone, with the promise that paying that price would "lock in your T1 phone promotional pricing" of $499 for early adopters. However, the terms and conditions page directly contradicts this language.

Which is it? Credit: Trump Mobile

According to the latest terms and conditions, a $100 deposit only gives you the opportunity to buy a phone if it ever comes out. And if it does, the terms also say it doesn't have to cost $499.

"A preorder deposit provides only a conditional opportunity if Trump Mobile later elects, in its sole discretion, to offer the Device for sale," the website reads. "The deposit does not lock in pricing...Pricing and promotional terms may change any time prior to purchase."

There's also one last interesting nugget from the terms and conditions page regarding the specs and other features of the phone.

"Device specifications, features, software, hardware components, storage capacities, bundled accessories, colors, and configurations are subject to change prior to final sale. Images, prototypes, beta demonstrations, and marketing renderings are illustrative only and may not reflect final production units," the website reads.

The original T1 smartphone advertised by Trump Mobile. Credit: Trump Mobile

The new T1 photo carries this disclaimer: Product features and images are for illustration only. Final product appearance and specifications may vary. Credit: Trump Mobile

This shouldn't be surprising, as the T1 has already changed quite a bit since it was first announced. Trump Mobile famously dropped its "made in America" branding, for example.

This is probably a bit discouraging to read if you're really looking forward to the T1 phone, but it is worth noting that there are some real signs that it exists. The website was recently updated with new specs (which, again, could change at any time), and it appeared in an FCC listing.

In other words, the Trump phone will either come out this week, or not at all, or maybe some other time in between those two. It's impossible to say.

Sad!

Are you constantly anxious about your phone's battery percentage? We sit down with CNET experts to discuss the latest in mobile battery testing, why your lithium-ion battery naturally degrades over time, and simple tips to keep it healthier for longer.

Samsung's next product showcase could be a really big one.

That's the vibe coming out of a new report from Seoul Economic Daily, anyway. According to the Korean news publication, Samsung's next Galaxy Unpacked event will take place on July 22 in London, a date and venue that have both been previously reported. However, what we didn't know is that, according to Seoul Economic Daily, this event will also feature a new pair of smart glasses, as well as a new Galaxy Watch and some new foldable devices.

The so-called "Galaxy Glasses" will use Google's Android XR platform, but be warned that these glasses will not feature a display of any kind. They have a microphone, some speakers, and a camera, all of which could theoretically be used to interface with an AI assistant.

Unfortunately, the report contained no real information about the Galaxy Watch 9, but based on precedent, it would not be surprising at all to see that show up at the showcase.

Aside from the glasses and the watch, it's widely expected that Samsung will launch three new foldable devices: a Galaxy Fold 8, a Flip 8, and a new "Wide Fold" phone that could compete with the rumored iPhone Fold. We'll all find out together in July.

Mashable reached out to Samsung representatives for comment and will update this story if we receive more information.

Google I/O 2026 takes place on May 19, but today, Google hosted a livestreamed warm-up event called The Android Show: I/O Edition. As you might have guessed, it's mostly focused on Android news.

In the past, Google I/O was focused on new Android developments. Now, Google gets that stuff out of the way a week in advance, clearing the decks for Gemini and artificial intelligence to take center stage at I/O.

Much of what was shared at The Android Show was fairly small and incremental, but between a new Google laptop brand and some useful-sounding Gemini features, there's some meat to chew on here. So, let's dig into everything we learned at The Android Show.

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The Android Show: I/O Edition's biggest announcements

Here's what stood out the most from The Android Show.

Meet the Googlebook

Here it is. Credit: Google

Certainly, the biggest announcement of the show was Googlebook, a new class of laptops from Google and its hardware partners, including Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Acer. We got only the briefest glimpse of the hardware itself, and Google opted not to share release windows or price points at The Android Show. At its core, Googlebook seems like Chromebook for the Gemini generation.

Google's big innovation with Googlebook is Magic Pointer, a new AI-powered mouse cursor. If you hover over something with Magic Pointer on a Googlebook, it'll suggest contextual AI actions for whatever you're pointing at. One example Google gave was the ability to hover over a date in an email and set up a meeting. You know, stuff you normally do with AI, but now built into your mouse cursor.

'Googlebook' rolls right off the tongue. Credit: Google

Credit: Google

Another neat feature is the ability to use apps installed on your Android phone right from the Googlebook itself. According to Google, this won't require any extra downloads or bad touchscreen controls, like Android apps on Chromebooks sometimes have in the past. That's nice.

Design-wise, the Googlebook will have a thin "Glowbar" on the back cover, which will light up with Google's logo colors.

Android Auto gets some improvements

Looks good! Credit: Google

If you have a modern car that's Android Auto-compatible, Google has built some swanky improvements into the experience for you. For starters, the Material 3 Expressive design language from your Pixel phone can now carry over to Android Auto, bringing your personalized color scheme and font choices with it, if you so choose. Users can also set custom widgets on the display to check the weather or open the garage door.

Beyond that, Google has updated Google Maps within Android Auto to give it a more three-dimensional view of the area around you. It can even tell which lane you're in, which could be handy. Google has also added full HD, 60 frames per second video support via YouTube to supported vehicles. Like other cars with video functionality, this only works while parked. Videos will automatically transition to audio-only once the car is set to drive.

Lastly, Google has brought some helpful contextual Gemini features to Android Auto. You can use voice commands to order food through DoorDash, use the Magic Cue feature from recent Pixel phones to draw in relevant information when someone asks you a question via text message, and more.

Gemini Intelligence comes to Android

Over the course of the rest of 2026, Google will roll out some new "Gemini Intelligence" features, which are meant for "the latest Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel" devices coming this summer. Other devices, like cars, watches, laptops, and smart glasses will also get these features as the year rolls on.

Gemini Intelligence features largely seem to streamline things you could already sort of do with AI, giving the AI even more power to automate multi-step tasks and understand context. For instance, you can use Gemini Intelligence to automatically find a good spot in an upcoming spin class or find a tour on Expedia based simply on a photo of a travel brochure you showed the AI agent.

Other nuggets include Rambler, a new speech-to-text tool that removes filler words like "um" and "like" from your prompt. Google says it can even handle switching languages mid-sentence. This should allow users to speak more conversationally when talking to Gemini. Another new feature is the ability to have Gemini automatically fill out long forms for the user on mobile.

Last but not least for Gemini Intelligence is the ability to build custom widgets using Create My Widget. Google claims you can use natural language voice prompts to have Gemini build a custom on-screen widget with the information you want. This will be fascinating to test out as new Pixel devices roll out this summer.

Pause Point gives you time to reflect

Take a pause. Credit: Google

One small but potentially meaningful new Android feature is Pause Point. How this works is that you mark apps that you find yourself using too much as distracting, and when you try to open them, Pause Point will stop you for 10 seconds. During that time, you can reconsider opening the app, and Pause Point will even suggest other, more productive apps you could open instead. This should automatically be turned on for all social media apps.

New tools for creators

Later this year, Pixel devices will get a new creator-focused feature called Screen Reactions. It records your face and what's on your screen, so you can react to whatever you're looking at without having to do any video editing at all. Instagram is also adding features exclusive to new Android devices. You can capture and play back content in Ultra HDR, and videos have built-in stabilization tools now, too.

The Instagram Edits app for Android is also getting a boost. You can use AI to automatically upscale content and use sound separation tools to weed out any unwanted background noises from your videos. Last but not least for creators, Adobe Premiere is coming to Android later this year, complete with exclusive templates for YouTube Shorts.

Chrome for Android gets a boost

Finally, Google is adding some more Gemini support to the Chrome app for Android mobile devices. This includes Nano Banana support built right into the browser for image generation, so if you're studying for an exam and you want to turn a page you're reading into a more visually appealing infographic, you can do that, at least in theory.

Google says you can also use SpotHero to automatically find a parking spot based on a ticket for a show you've bought, and use the Gemini icon in the upper right corner of a webpage to summarize the page.

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UPDATE: May. 12, 2026, 2:26 p.m. EDT This article has been updated with additional news from The Android Show event.

Google I/O is set for May 19, but the company is once again going to provide some Android news a week ahead of time, too.

The company announced on Tuesday that it will host "The Android Show" on May 12 at 1 p.m. ET. Google didn't provide a lot of specifics about what to expect, but the basic idea is to showcase "why this is one of the biggest years for Android yet." Last year, Google also hosted The Android Show ahead of I/O, showing off the new Material 3 Expressive design language alongside new Gemini features like screen sharing.

You can watch The Android Show live when the event starts streaming on YouTube, and there's also an event webpage on Google's site. Mashable will be providing live coverage during both The Android Show and Google I/O, so check back for the latest updates from Google-land.

If last year is any guide, by hosting an Android-specific event ahead of I/O, Google can then focus on Gemini and all things artificial intelligence during its annual developers conference. The main I/O keynote is usually where Google drops its biggest Android news each year. However, AI was the main focus of Google I/O 2025, and that's also what we expect from Google I/O 2026.

Based on public betas, we know that Android 17 is bringing a new multitasking UI to Android devices, as well as some new options for screen recording. There will probably be a lot more than that, but we'll have to wait until later this month to find out for sure.

Perhaps Google will give us some fun Android 17 tidbits ahead of the proper I/O keynote this year.

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Samsung's upcoming foldable phones have been revealed in a leak again, but this leak is different, because it comes directly from Samsung.

Android Authority dug through Samsung's new One UI 9 software and discovered images of Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, as well as the entirely new foldable phone which will probably be called Samsung Wide Fold.

Don't expect photographs; the images are just simple graphics, but they do tell us a lot about these new phones. In particular, the Samsung Wide Fold looks significantly wider than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, which looks really skinny in comparison.

That's a large cover display. Credit: Samsung/Android Authority

The images also reveal that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 will have a triple rear camera, while the Wide Fold will only have a dual camera on the back.

Hello, skinny. Credit: Samsung/Android Authority

The designs are in line with previous leaks, renders, and mockups, including the dummy units that surfaced in late April.

Samsung's Wide Fold is widely (no pun intended) expected to clash with Apple's rumored, upcoming foldable iPhone, which will likely have a similar, wide design. This design might make the phone feel a little clunkier in the hand, but should pay off when you unfold it, as you'll get something akin to a small tablet.

As for the Galaxy Z Fold 8, it looks more or less unchanged compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Fold 7.

The rumored specs for the Samsung Wide Fold include a dual, 200/50-megapixel camera, a 10-megapixel selfie camera, a 5.4-inch cover display, a 7.6-inch foldable display, a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, and 12/16GB of RAM.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 will probably have similar specs as the Z Fold 7, but it should get a larger, 5,000mAh battery, as well as 45W charging.

Samsung is likely to unveil its new foldable phones in July.

Earlier this year, I found the Google Pixel 10a somewhat disappointing compared to previous Pixel A-series devices. Google's mid-range phone is almost always one of (if not the) best in the category every year, but the Pixel 10a felt compromised due to a lack of AI feature parity with the flagship Pixel phones and other noteworthy improvements.

Now, Google can rest easy because the Pixel 10a looks a good deal better now that the Samsung Galaxy A57 5G is here. The higher-end of two mid-range devices announced in late March, the A57 purports to bring a premium feel at a relatively modest $549 starting price. In some respects, it accomplishes this; the display is nice, and performance in most circumstances isn't bad.

However, in other respects, the A57 falls short not just of feeling like a premium device, but of competing with other mid-range devices, too. If you're an Android fan, you'd be better off with a Pixel 10a, which is $50 cheaper. If you're platform-agnostic, the $599 iPhone 17e is certainly worth the extra cash. And if you want something with a bit more personality, grab the new Nothing Phone (4a) Pro, only $499.

The A57 5G isn't an outright failure, but it doesn't provide many reasons to consider it over the competition.

Samsung Galaxy A57 5G: Price and specs

Looks a bit basic. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

As mentioned above, the A57 starts at $549. That's $50 more than the Pixel 10a and $50 cheaper than the iPhone 17e. Here are the basic specs:

• 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with up to 120Hz refresh rate

• Exynos 1680 chipset

• 6GB or 8GB RAM

• 128GB or 256GB storage

• 5,000mAh battery

• Three rear cameras: 50MP wide, 8MP ultrawide, 5MP macro

• 12MP selfie camera

The display is more or less unchanged from last year's Galaxy A56 device, which is fine. A big, 6.7-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate is about as good as you can ask for from a phone in the $500 range, and it looks crisp, clear, and smooth in my experience. Those RAM and storage numbers are also pretty competitive in the category, though I should mention that the phone hits a price of $609 if you want 256GB of storage. At that point, you should probably just get an iPhone 17e.

One other point of interest is the processor. Rather than a top-end Snapdragon processor like you'd find in a Galaxy S26 Ultra, you get the less powerful Exynos 1680 instead. This comes with all sorts of compromises that we'll get into shortly. This is pretty disappointing compared to the Pixel 10a and iPhone 17e, which come with Google's Tensor G4 and Apple's A19 chips, respectively. While the Tensor G4 is not the same chip powering the regular Pixel 10, the A19 is what's inside a regular iPhone 17. Samsung's mid-range phone represents a larger step down, by comparison.

One last note: The A57 only comes in one color, called "Awesome Navy." I think it's pretty boring! There isn't really much else about its design that stands out to me. The vertical ringed housing for the three rear cameras looks a little generic, and like other phones of its size, I find it a little unwieldy to use with one hand. It's nice and light, though, and not too thick.

Samsung Galaxy A57 5G: Software

At least it's pretty thin. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

It's to be expected that a mid-range device would not have access to all the same fancy software features as its more expensive brethren, but the A57 5G goes a little too far in this direction.

It runs Android 16 via One UI 8.5, like other current Samsung phones, but it's missing many of the more advanced AI features that you'd get on something like a Galaxy S26. Rather than harnessing the power of Galaxy AI, the A57 gets a more limited suite of features called "Awesome Intelligence." Like the phone's "awesome navy" color, the AI tools don't really earn that adjective.

You get a basic object eraser for photos, voice transcription for audio and phone call recordings, and other already existing basic AI features from other Samsung devices, like Best Face for group photos and Circle to Search. Of course, you can also talk to Gemini if you want.

That's not nothing, but it's a far cry from what's available on a Galaxy S26, software-wise. There's no AI image generation, and you can't use the object eraser to move objects around in a photo. On the non-AI front, it's also missing the privacy display feature from the Galaxy S26 Ultra, though that's not necessarily a surprise. Overall, this is a pretty middling set of AI features that's made worse by spotty performance.

Samsung Galaxy A57 5G: Performance

The camera housing could be more handsome. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

Performance on the A57 is a bit strange. On one hand, basic, everyday activities like scrolling through social media, watching YouTube videos, or sending messages work fine. Apps load quickly, and the phone never felt overloaded from too much multitasking in my time with it.

On the other hand, some basic performance features leave a lot to be desired. For instance, facial recognition for unlocking the phone is painfully inconsistent. Sometimes it works perfectly, opening the phone as soon as it sees your face. Most of the time, though, it either takes around four seconds to recognize you or simply fails to recognize you at all. This is a pretty maddening thing for a phone to get wrong in 2026.

I also had some issues getting the limited set of AI features to work properly. In particular, the object eraser simply would not work for me. I'd show it a simple photo of a beverage can on a table, tap the can, and then the phone would do nothing for minutes at a time. In my testing, I never actually got it to remove anything from a photo. I'm open to the possibility that I'm just missing something here and that other people won't encounter this, but I can only speak to what I experienced.

The object eraser just sat here doing this for several minutes and never ended up working. Credit: Screenshot: Alex Perry/Samsung

Another big problem I encountered was a spotty WiFi chip in the phone. This won't affect all or even most users, since my home's WiFi network is a bit awkward. To be specific, my bedroom is about three walls away from the router, meaning signal strength in here can be iffy.

In my testing, the A57 would very frequently lose WiFi signal in this room, to the point that it wouldn't or couldn't fall back to cellular data, leaving me effectively disconnected from the internet. The only way to fix this was to manually turn off WiFi and turn it on again, which would inevitably lead to the same thing happening a few minutes later. Cellular 5G signal was literally more reliable in my bedroom than WiFi.

Again, my network environment isn't ideal, but I live in this room. I use several WiFi-connected devices in it every day, and I have never once encountered this behavior on another device.

Samsung Galaxy A57 5G: Cameras

As stated above, you get a 50MP main lens, an 8MP ultrawide lens, and a 5MP macro lens on the back, with a 12MP selfie camera. It's best not to expect too much from cameras on a mid-range device, but I will say that this is another area where the Pixel 10a is a better value.

Under normal circumstances, though, it does take pretty decent daytime photos. Objects are crisp, colors are vivid, and everything looks about how it should, at least to my eyes.

During the day, the camera is fine. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

Since there's no telephoto lens, you're left with just up to 10x digital zoom, which doesn't look especially great.

No zoom. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

10x zoom. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

Macro photography looks OK, if not a tad bit blurry, though I think I'd rather have a dedicated zoom lens instead of a macro lens.

Every macro photo I took was just a little bit blurry. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

I had a bit of a hard time getting nighttime photos to not look a bit blurry with the A57.

Left: Night mode off. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

Right: Night mode. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

Like I said, you shouldn't expect too much from a mid-range set of cameras, but even so, there are better options in this price range.

Samsung Galaxy A57 5G: Battery life

One area where I can't find much at fault with the A57 is battery life. I was able to wring about 24 hours of solid use out of it on a single charge, which isn't remarkable, but is right in line with what I'd want or expect out of a phone at this price point in 2026. You can probably extend that by a few hours if you're really careful, too.

Samsung Galaxy A57 5G: Final thoughts

In case I haven't already made this abundantly clear, I don't think the Samsung Galaxy A57 5G is worth much consideration if you're in the market for a mid-range device. If you like Android, get a Pixel 10a. If you like iOS or don't care, consider an iPhone 17e.

Between janky software performance, missing AI features, and a middling camera array, this device is pretty hard to recommend. It's possible this phone is another victim of the ongoing memory crisis, with Samsung sacrificing features to offset higher RAM costs. Regardless, you could probably do worse, but you can definitely do better.

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Credit: Samsung

Samsung Galaxy A57 5G

$549.99 at Samsung

 

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Motorola’s Razr Fold positions itself as a strong competitor in the book-style foldable space. It brings a polished design and powerful performance to challenge rivals like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. Here’s what sets it apart.

Samsung foldables just can't stop leaking before they're announced.

This time, it's the rumored follow-up to last year's Galaxy Z Flip 7. A report by Korean leaker Lanzuk included a few hints about what to expect from the device, which has so far been out of the spotlight a bit compared to the rumored Z Fold 8 and a new "Wide Fold" device.

According to this new leak, you can expect a Z Flip 8 that's a little bit wider than before, as well as one that has shed some weight, coming in at approximately 180 grams, compared to 188 grams a year ago.

On top of that, the report hints at a new hinge mechanism, though it doesn't go into any detail about what it might be. Perhaps most excitingly is the indication that the Z Flip 8 will have a true crease-free display. Highly visible creases were a big problem for foldables as they became a relevant market category, but over the years, that's become less and less of an issue. If the Z Flip 8 can make further improvements on that, then that's great.

Samsung is widely expected to announce the Z Flip 8, the Z Fold 8, and the Wide Fold at an event this summer, most likely in July.

We think the Z Fold 8 will look pretty similar to last year's model overall, while the Wide Fold will be another book-style foldable that's, well, wider than the Fold 8. It's expected to have a similar size and shape to the also-unannounced iPhone Fold, expected to launch later this year.

TL;DR: The GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable is on sale for $21.99 (reg. $49.99) and combines fast charging, data transfer, and built-in tools in one compact design.

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Credit: GoCable

GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable

$21.99
$49.99 Save $28.00

 

Get Deal

If you’re always untangling cords or looking for the right adapter, this small upgrade can make travel or your daily routine a lot easier. The GoCable 8-in-1 EDC cable is built to replace a handful of cables and tools with just one compact pick, and it is currently on sale for $21.99 (reg. $49.99).

It’s a 100W charging cable, so it can handle everything from your phone to your laptop. All you have to do is just plug into a compatible charger. You’ll get faster charging than standard cables, plus quick data transfer when you need to move files.

The 8-in-1 comes from all the added features. You get universal connectors like USB-C and Lightning, so you can charge most devices without carrying extra cords. There’s even an LED display for a quick check to see if your device is charging.

Aside from charging, it makes everyday transport easier. A magnetic wrap keeps the cable tangle-free, while the built-in carabiner makes it easy to clip to a bag or keychain. There’s also a bottle opener and a small, safety-designed cutter tucked into the design for quick, practical tasks.

This kind of all-in-one cable makes the most sense for people who travel often, commute with multiple devices, or just want to cut down on clutter. Instead of carrying separate cords for your phone, laptop, and accessories, you’ve got one cable that covers most of the basics.

At $21.99 (reg. $49.99), the GoCable is an easy way to streamline your setup without spending a lot on multiple chargers. If you’re ready to stop digging for the right cable, this quick swap helps keep things organized.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

Motorola has a new batch of foldables for your consideration, but their specs might not attract as much attention as their prices.

Per Motorola, the next generation of its folding phones will be available for pre-order on May 14 and on shelves on May 21. The 2026 lineup includes the familiar entry-level Razr, the Razr+, and the Razr Ultra, all three of which come in a clamshell form factor (or flip phone-style, as we like to call it), which should be very familiar to Motorola enthusiasts. We also got some new information on the previously announced book-style Razr Fold, via Bloomberg.

The early versions of the Motorola Razr foldables left a lot to be desired, but our tech editor recently called the Razr Ultra "the most underrated phone of 2025."

As we await Apple's first foldable phone later this year, here's what we know about the latest crop of Android foldable phones.

You can thank the RAM crisis for the higher mobile prices

This is a familiar sight for Motorola-heads. Credit: Motorola

Before we get to the specs, we need to talk prices.

Bloomberg is reporting that the default Razr is $800, the Razr+ is $1,100, the Razr Ultra is $1,500, and the Razr Fold is a whopping $1,900. That means the entry-level model is $100 more expensive than last year, while the Plus and Ultra models are $200 more expensive. And the Razr Fold is in the same ballpark as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, which retailed for $2,000 at launch last year.

Motorola has lately been a purveyor of relatively affordable phones, but the affordability is a lot more relative in 2026.

Thanks to an AI-driven global memory crisis, virtually all tech gadgets are getting more expensive in 2026, and we'd be surprised if upcoming mobile releases from Samsung and Apple don't also carry higher-than-usual prices.

Motorola Razr, Razr+, and Razr Ultra: Specifications

Credit: Motorola

Like last year's models, the new Motorola foldables have impressive displays and batteries.

Here's how the new Motorola Razr flip phones compare.

Motorola Razr Ultra:

• Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite Mobile Platform

• Battery: 5000mAh battery / 36 hours

• Display: 4-inch pOLED cover display / 7-inch AMOLED inner display

• Cameras: 50MP wide, 50MP ultrawide, 50MP inner camera

• Charging: 68W charging, reverse charging, 24 hours battery in 8 minutes

• Special features: Pantone Validated display, HDR peak brightness of 5000 nits, 10-bit color, Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3

• Price: $1,499.99

Motorola Razr+:

• Processor: Snapdragon® 8s Gen 3 Mobile Platform

• Battery: 4,500mAh battery / 31 hours

• Display: 4-inch pOLED cover display / 6.9-inch pOLED

• Cameras: 50MP wide, 50MP ultrawide, 32MP inner

• Charging: 45W charging, 15W wireless, reverse charging, 24 hours battery in 11 minutes

• Price: $1,099.99

Motorola Razr:

• Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 7450X processor

• Battery: 4,800mAh battery / 36 hours

• Display: 3.6-inch pOLED cover display / 6.9-inch AMOLED inner display

• Cameras: 50MP wide, 50MP ultrawide, 32MP inner

• Charging: 30W charging, 24 hours in 15 minutes

• Price: $799.99

Both the Razr+ and Razr Ultra have 4-inch external displays with 165Hz refresh rates, making them potentially very nice to use without opening the phone. If you do choose to unfold the devices, you'll find a 7-inch internal display on the Ultra and a 6.9-inch internal display on the Razr+. The entry-level Razr's external display is smaller, at 3.6 inches, but the 6.9-inch internal display matches that of the Razr+, at least in terms of size.

It fits right in your hand. Credit: Motorola

Razr Ultra will have the fastest processor of the bunch, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Mobile Platform, while the Razr+ runs on a Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chip, and the regular Razr runs on a MediaTek chip.

Cameras have also been upgraded here, with the three flip-style Razr phones all having 50MP main shooters and 50MP ultrawide lenses. The Razr Ultra also comes with a 50MP selfie camera, for good measure.

Finally, Motorola Razr users will have access to a wide range of AI tools, including Google Gemini, Moto AI, Perplexity, and Microsoft Copilot.

Motorola Fold: Specifications

And here are the specs for the book-style Motorola Fold:

• Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset

• Battery: 6,000mAh

• Displays: 6.6-inch pOLED cover display (up to 165Hz refresh rate) / 8.1-inch LTPO OLED (up to 120Hz variable refresh rate)

• Cameras: 50MP wide, 50MP ultrawide, 50MP telephoto, 20MP inner camera, 32MP cover camera

• Charging: 80W charging, 50W wireless, reverse wireless charging

• Price: $1,900

As for the Razr Fold, you can expect a 6.6-inch outer display and an 8.1-inch inner display, per Bloomberg. Since it's a more premium device, it comes with a more powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset, at least 512GB of storage, and 16GB of memory. The 6,000mAh battery is also a big selling point, as the Galaxy Fold 7 only had a 4,400mAh battery by comparison.

There's the Fold. Credit: Motorola

Lastly, the Razr Fold has a trio of 50MP shooters on the back, including a telephoto lens, with a 32MP internal selfie camera and a 20MP external selfie camera to give users plenty of options.

Of course, you'll have to spend a little more money than you're used to spending on a Motorola device.

Again, the phones will be available for preorder starting May 14 and on shelves May 21. Read more about the upcoming launches at Motorola or check out first impressions from our colleagues at CNET.

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The Motorola Razr 2026 lineup includes the Razr, Razr+, Razr Ultra, and Razr Fold, with upgrades across performance and design. The devices continue to refine the foldable experience with features like camcorder mode. Battery life also sees improvements across the range. The lineup remains positioned firmly in the premium Mobile category.

Barring a huge surprise, iOS 27 is set to be revealed at WWDC 2026 this June, and a new report claims that AI photo editing will be one of the new features.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who seems to have a direct line into going-ons at Apple Park, says that the new OS will bring AI photo-editing tools to millions of iPhones (and MacBooks via macOS 27). Currently, Apple Intelligence offers an AI-assisted "Clean Up" tool, but Gurman says iOS 27 will give users a lot more options.

Specifically, Apple will reportedly add new tools called Extend, Enhance, and Reframe. The AI processing will take place on-device through Apple Intelligence, which is good news privacy-wise.

Under departing CEO Tim Cook, Apple has been smashing iPhone sales records, and the phones are more popular than ever. Despite this, Apple lags far behind its Android rivals in AI features (the same goes for foldable phones).

Google Pixel, Motorola, and Samsung Galaxy phones already offer an extensive suite of AI photo editing tools. Users can quickly remove people or objects from the background of photos, extend the frame, combine multiple photos into a single image, remove imperfections, or add details to the image. (See my Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra review to see how this works in action.)

Both Pixel and Galaxy phones have deep integrations with Google Gemini and other AI tools. For iOS 27, Apple will also rely on Gemini to power the new-and-improved AI Siri. Apple has also used various ChatGPT models to power some Apple Intelligence features in the past.

If Gurman's report proves true, and he has a sterling track record, Apple will finally offer some of the standard AI photo editing tools that have long been available to Android users.

We'll find out for certain at WWDC, which kicks off with a "Special Event" on June 8.

OpenAI is apparently not content with just running the most talked-about AI chatbot on the planet. The company now wants to be in your pocket, too.

Prominent Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo published findings this weekend revealing that OpenAI is developing a smartphone built around AI agents rather than traditional apps. According to Kuo, the device is being built in partnership with MediaTek and Qualcomm on the processor side, with Luxshare serving as the exclusive manufacturing partner.

Mass production isn't expected until 2028, with specs and suppliers likely locked in by late 2026 or early 2027.

The core pitch, per Kuo, is a fundamental rethinking of the way our phones work.

Instead of juggling a pile of apps, users would simply tell their phone what they want to do, and the AI agent would accomplish that task. OpenAI is reportedly building an agentic AI operating system from the ground up around that premise.

Kuo notes that OpenAI has several advantages in this space, including an established consumer brand, years of accumulated user data, and frontier AI models. The phone would reportedly combine on-device AI for continuous context awareness with cloud AI handling heavier computational tasks.

This is a separate venture from OpenAI's previously announced hardware ambitions. The company has been working alongside former Apple Chief Design Officer Jony Ive on a small, screenless AI companion device.

As Mashable reported last October, that project has hit significant development headwinds, including software architecture challenges, infrastructure hurdles, and the thorny question of how to build an "always-on" AI personality that feels helpful rather than creepy.

One source close to the project told the Financial Times that OpenAI is already stretched thin just keeping ChatGPT running, which reportedly costs between $3 and $4 billion annually. A release that was once eyed for 2026 could slip to 2027.

Whether OpenAI can actually deliver on any of its hardware ambitions is the real question. Several "revolutionary" AI devices have already gone to the tech graveyard. The Rabbit R1 promised similar things. So did the Humane Pin, which was discontinued less than a year after launch. OpenAI is betting that it's not like the others.

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Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

Apple's first foldable phone, due later this year, might not be called iPhone Fold, despite most reports calling it so.

Instead, it will be called iPhone Ultra, and it will join Apple's "Ultra" lineup of devices which includes the (existing) Apple Watch Ultra, as well as the upcoming MacBook Ultra.

This is according to Macworld, whose report cites a source familiar with Apple's plans.

The Ultra moniker will signify, in simple terms, the best of the best, and Apple reportedly plans to market the foldable iPhone as a higher-end model than the Pro iPhones. The report claims that Apple will introduce the iPhone Ultra alongside the Pro models in September, but it may arrive "a few weeks later and in smaller quantities."

We heard about the Ultra moniker in March. Bloomberg's report at the time, however, said Apple may not go with the Ultra name for its foldable phone.

This new report claims that Apple will also bring the "Ultra" branding to the Mac, though details about that device are scarce. Bloomberg said Apple might bestow the name upon its long-rumored touchscreen MacBook, though an "Ultra" iMac also isn't out of the question.

Apple already calls several of its products "Ultra," including the Apple Watch Ultra, the M1 Ultra chip, and the CarPlay Ultra. The criteria on what gets to be called Ultra seem a bit arbitrary, but it always designates the most powerful product in the company's lineup.

As for the iPhone Ultra's rumored specs, check out our comprehensive guide.

A number of iPhone 17 and iPhone Air users are reporting a frustrating bug where their phones refuse to turn back on after the battery fully drains. Even after being plugged back in to charge.

The issue has bubbled up across Reddit and other online forums over the past several months, with users describing a nearly identical experience. Phone dies. Gets plugged in. Nothing happens. No charging indicator. No Apple logo. Just a black screen that refuses to cooperate.

9to5Mac's Benjamin Mayo reported experiencing the problem firsthand with his iPhone Air, writing that after his phone died at 11 p.m. and he plugged it back in within seconds, minutes passed with no response, the phone wouldn't turn on, wouldn't show up in Finder when connected to a Mac, and didn't respond to force restarts or multiple USB-C cables.

The bug appears to affect the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone Air lines, though it isn't universal. Not every user experiences it, and it doesn't necessarily happen every time a phone's battery hits zero. For some users, it's happened only once; for others, repeatedly.

The leading workaround, crowdsourced from Reddit threads and confirmed by multiple users, including Mayo, is to skip the cable entirely and reach for a MagSafe or wireless charger instead. Leave it on the pad for around 10 to 15 minutes, and the phone should eventually boot back up.

From there, wired charging works normally again. Apple Store technicians, per user reports, have been defaulting to the same fix. One top commenter on Mayo's piece offered a technical explanation: the battery firmware requires a minimum voltage threshold before it can support a reboot, and a fully drained battery may need a few minutes of charge to clear that bar — with wireless charging being more reliable at delivering it in this state.

For users without a wireless charger on hand, some users have reported success with higher-wattage chargers — a 61W MacBook adapter or a 65W third-party USB-C brick — after standard 5W phone chargers failed. Others say they had to wait hours before a wired charger eventually kicked in on its own.

The core frustration, beyond the inconvenience, is the uncertainty. As Mayo put it, what happens if your phone dies while you're out and need navigation? Not everyone carries a MagSafe puck in their pocket.

For now, the move is simple: if your iPhone 17 or Air won't turn back on after dying, put it on a wireless charger and give it at least 15 minutes before you panic.

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Samsung's newest foldable is feeling more and more real as time goes on.

No, not the Galaxy Z TriFold, which launched and was then discontinued so fast that it feels like it never happened at all. I'm talking about the new "Wide" foldable that's rumored to launch this summer alongside the follow-ups to last year's Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 phones.

Leaker Sonny Dickson took to X (via 9to5google) to post some alleged dummy models of Samsung's foldable lineup for this summer, which includes both the Fold 8 and Flip 8, as well as the new Wide phone.

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In the photos, you can clearly see a device with a significantly different form factor from the other two currently existing phones. The Fold 8 and Flip 8 models look pretty similar to last year, but the Wide one is more squat and, well, wide when unfolded, making it almost reminiscent of Google's first Pixel Fold. Its inner display is said to have a 4:3 aspect ratio, making it distinct from other available foldables right now.

I say "right now" because many people expect the Samsung Wide model to compete with the heavily rumored iPhone Fold, said to launch later this year. Apple's long-gestating foldable is thought to be shorter and wider than something like a Z Fold 7, so it's possible and perhaps even likely that Samsung wants to pre-empt that device with one of its own. A recent leak suggested Samsung's next batch of foldables will be announced in July, so we don't have to wait long to find out, at any rate.

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra go head-to-head in a real-world camera test. Both deliver top-tier results but differ in color, detail, and processing. Here’s how the shots compare across scenarios.

STAR WARS x CASETIFY COLLECTION: Shop the new The Mandalorian and Grogu collection at Casetify ahead of Star Wars Day. The collection includes customizable phone cases, laptop cases, earbuds cases, tablet cases, and more. Some items are already on sale.

Casetify 'The Mandalorian and Grogu' sale items at a glance:

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This is The Way Special Set (mirror case, earbuds collectible case, Snappy wallet)

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We're gearing up for an important day for Star Wars fans — May the 4th. We already have deals from Lego to help celebrate but now we can add Casetify to the list of offerings. The tech-lifestyle accessories brand just launched a major new collection that's perfect for any Star Wars fanatic.

On April 23, Casetify launched a galactic-themed collection that focuses on The Mandalorian and Grogu, and as a surprise, a few items are already on sale. The collection features tons of options for cell phone cases, laptop cases, tablet cases, and more. A few options include customizable elements like the Impact Case with MagSafe compatibility. Shoppers can choose their ideal protection level, bumper design, additional features.

Prices for the collection vary depending on the item with some of the least expensive options being phone case accessories like a Snappy Grip Stand for $32 or Snappy Cardholder Stand for $34. There's also the The Mandalorian and Grogu Stickermania Earbuds Case for $32.

Shop the entire Casetify collection here, and be sure to order soon to be fully equipped when the new The Mandalorian and Grogu film premiers on May 22.

The good news is that Samsung is now selling cheaper versions of last year's foldables. The bad news is that "cheaper" is relative.

The Korean tech giant announced on Wednesday that the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7, two phones we at Mashable really liked a year ago, are now available in refurbished form via the company's "Re-Newed" program. You can check out refurbished Fold and Flip phones on Samsung's websites, with the former starting at $1,699 and the latter at $939. In a vacuum, if you go by the phones' suggested retail prices, those are discounts of $300 and $160, respectively.

The only problem, as 9to5Google pointed out, is that you can currently get a brand-new Galaxy Z Fold 7 on Samsung's website for $1,599, which is less than the refurbished model with the same specs. The same goes for the brand new Flip 7, which Samsung is selling for $899, a slight discount from the refurbished model. Of course, the discounted prices of the new phones could just be temporary, while the refurbished prices might stay the same over time, but it still feels a little bit backward that the new phone costs less than the refurbished one right now.

That said, either way, you're getting a deal compared to the devices' launch prices. And, for what it's worth, both phones are very good foldable devices. If you want one, this might be the time to get one.

TL;DR: You can get the brand-new Samsung Galaxy S26 for under $100 at T-Mobile, and you don't even have to trade in your old phone. You just need to add a new line on a qualifying plan (starting at $85/month) and keep the line active for 24 months to get up to $800 in bill credits.

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Credit: Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S26

 

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Getting a new phone usually means trading in your old one (as long as it's in pristine condition) or forking over a bunch of cash in fees, accessories, etc. If your current screen is cracked or you were hoping to pass it down to your kid, you're out of luck. But T-Mobile is offering a no-trade-in-required deal where you can get the brand-new Samsung Galaxy S26 for under $100.

The catch? You'll need to buy the phone on a monthly payment plan and add a new line on a qualifying plan, like Experience More (which runs $85 per month with AutoPay). The good news is that this isn't just for new sign-ups — existing T-Mobile members on select plans, including legacy Go5G Plus, also qualify. (Just keep in mind that depending on your specific plan tier, you might need to meet certain tenure requirements, like having been on a postpaid plan for two to five years.) T-Mobile applies up to an $800 discount via 24 monthly bill credits, so as long as you keep the line active for two years, you just have to cover the tax on the $899.99 pre-credit price and a $35 device connection charge upfront.

If you decide to make the jump, the S26 has plenty of new tech to justify the upgrade. It features new Galaxy AI tools, including Circle to Search, which lets you highlight text or images on your screen to translate them or look them up without switching apps. Plus, with full RCS support, you can finally send high-res photos and get read receipts in group chats with your iPhone friends.

Google just made life a tiny bit easier for Android users who love to travel.

9to5google spotted a new lock screen widget for Android 16 that gives you persistent progress updates on your flights. It's very simple and straightforward: It shows your departing airport, your destination airport, your estimated arrival time, and a progress bar measuring how deep into the flight you are.

As 9to5google noted, this is on top of some already-existing features for travelers who add their boarding passes to the Google Wallet app. Those include push notifications about flight changes, but the flight progress widget is brand-new, having been promised by Google last year.

If you want to try it, well, you'd better have a flight lined up first. Add the boarding pass to Google Wallet, and the widget should appear shortly before takeoff. In other words, you don't really have to do anything other than put your boarding pass in your phone.

This marks another step forward for Google Wallet, which replaced Google Pay in 2024 as the go-to destination for credit cards and other important kinds of digital documentation on Android devices. By all accounts, it's been a successful transition for Android users, and if Google keeps adding neat little conveniences like this flight tracker widget, it'll only get better.

FREE SAMSUNG GALAXY S26: As of April 22, get a free Samsung Galaxy S26 from Mint Mobile. Get $500 off the Samsung Galaxy S26 with a 12-month Unlimited plan signup (new customers only), plus up to $400 more in savings with an eligible trade-in.

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Credit: Mint Mobile

Free Samsung Galaxy S26

$0 at Mint Mobile
$900 Save $900

$500 off Samsung Galaxy S26 with 12-month Unlimited plan signup, plus up to $400 more in savings with an eligible trade-in.

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Ready to pick up a new smartphone? It can be a bit of a daunting process if you want to save some cash on a decent new model, especially if you're not sure which carrier to go with. We're in the business of making things easy for you, so we've got a proposition that you might appreciate. Consider Mint Mobile, which is offering a great deal on a Samsung phone right now if you plan on signing up for a new phone plan as well as bringing a new device home.

As of April 22, get a free Samsung Galaxy S26 from Mint Mobile. Get $500 off the Samsung Galaxy S26 with a 12-month Unlimited plan signup (new customers only), plus up to $400 more in savings with an eligible trade-in.

This is the newest part of the Samsung Galaxy lineup, which just debuted only months ago. It boasts a zippy Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor with a triple-camera array featuring a 50MP sensor, a 6.3-inch Dynamic AMOELD 2x display, and support for Galaxy AI.

The phone starts at $900, which means you'll get the device for free if you sign up for the 12-month Mint Mobile Unlimited plan as a new customer. You'll get the immediate $500 discount, which knocks the phone down to just $400. Then, you can get up to $400 off by trading in your old eligible phone.

This deal applies to the entirety of the Samsung Galaxy S26 lineup, so you aren't relegated to this model, but it is the one you'll want to go with if you want to bring home a completely free phone after signup. You won't owe any monthly payments on the device, which is a major plus. But the best part of the promotion is getting a much more affordable line than many of Mint's competition. Jump on the deal now if you're in need of a phone upgrade.

The iPhone Fold (or is it the iPhone Ultra?) won't be arriving until at least September, but early leaks of Apple's foldable show a wider design than typical foldable phones.

The global smartphone market is already adapting to offer similar designs, and Samsung is rumored to be releasing a Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide model in July to compete with the foldable iPhone. However, Chinese smartphone brand Huawei has beaten them both to the punch with the April 20 launch of the Huawei Pura X Max, which officially ushered in the era of the wide foldable.

Now, YouTuber Vincent Zhong has posted an unboxing video showing an up-close look at the new Huawei foldable. The video is titled "HUAWEI Pura X Max hands on: the foldable iPhone will look just like this!"

The iPhone Fold is rumored to have a roughly 7.8-inch internal, foldable OLED display and a 5.5-inch outer OLED display, making it noticeably wider than most foldable phones. The Huawei Pura X Max has a 7.7-inch internal display and a 5.4-inch external display, as well as the rounded edges seen in alleged iPhone Fold leaks.

As a result, the smartphone in Zhong's video should closely resemble the first-ever Apple foldable, if the leaks prove true.

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"It can't really be called 'thin and light,' after all, it is a relatively large-screen foldable," Zhong says in the video, according to YouTube's translation of the video transcript.

"But the in-hand feel is excellent. You can see here, my thumb can reach from the second app on the left all the way to the top. Its width is designed so that when the large screen is opened, it's similar to — it can be similar to an iPad mini, forming a small vertical tablet."

Credit: Screenshot courtesy of Vincent Zhong / YouTube

Apple's first foldable iPhone, unofficially dubbed the iPhone Fold, is expected to debut in September. Now new leaks show how the phone will likely differ from the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 lineup.

Apple is several years late to the foldable smartphone market, but don't count Apple out based on speed. After all, the company was late to MP3 players and smartphones — and the iPod and iPhone were the results.

Leakers with decent track records are showing dummy cases for the iPhone Fold on X. And that gives us a clear sense of how this foldable will set itself apart from the competition.

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

iPhone Fold vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: Design differences

Most flagship foldables have roughly the same width and length as a regular smartphone when folded, but earlier leaks suggest Apple has adopted a wider design.

You can see that in the latest photos of alleged iPhone Fold dummy units and cases, from @MajinBuofficia on X (via Android Authority).

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Meanwhile, Samsung seems set to introduce a new version of its flagship foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold Wide, that will have similar dimensions as the iPhone Fold. Recent leaks from Android Headlines show what the Fold Wide could look like. Still, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 will likely retain a similar design and proportions as last year's Z Fold 7.

Square edges on last year's Galaxy Z Fold 7. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Early photos of the Z Fold 8 lineup show phones with sharper corners, like the Z Fold 7, while Apple appears to be embracing more rounded edges.

Both phones are expected to be ultra-thin, with an unfolded width under 5 mm, just like the Z Fold 7.

Samsung and Apple foldables: Other key differences

Apple will reportedly place the volume buttons on the top edge of the iPhone Fold, with a power and Touch ID button expected along the right edge.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 unfolded. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

A hypothetical rendering of the iPhone Fold. Credit: Mashable

The iPhone Fold will be running iOS (presumably iOS 27), while the Galaxy foldables will be running the latest version of Android.

More importantly, the iPhone Fold appears to have only two rear cameras, while the Z Fold 8 is expected to have three rear cameras. Leaks of the Z Fold Wide show two cameras, matching the iPhone Fold.

The iPhone Fold could have one big advantage over the Galaxy Z Fold 8 — it will fit more easily in pockets.

In design, Apple's device sits somewhere between flip-style foldables and tablet-style foldables. Overall, it looks more like the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold, which wasn't particularly well-received by our reviewer — or by the tech world at large.

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Againm we're mostly working from leaks and rumors at this point, and we don't know what we don't know. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, a highly trusted name in this realm, recently reported that the iPhone Fold is on track for a 2026 launch, while the new Galaxy Z Fold smartphones are rumored to launch July 22.

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TL;DR: Charge On the go with 56% off this 8-in-1 keyring cable when you get the GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable for just $21.99 (Reg. $49.99).

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Credit: GoCable

GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable

$21.99
$49.99 Save $28.00

 

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Whether you’re an experienced adventurer or a newbie to the outdoors, there are certain tools you need, including (but not limited to) adequate hydration, proper gear, and backup power options for your phone. With the GoCable, 8 features are combined into one portable tool that might optimize your outdoor experiences.

Despite its tiny and discreet design, the eight features included in this versatile cable include:

• Portable charging: 100W fast charging to speed up how long it takes to juice up your devices.

• Universal compatibility: Type-C to Type-C + Apple Lightning connectivity.

• LED display: Track your charging status with real-time visibility

• Magnetic cable consolidation: Manage your cables with a discreet design and magnets that prevent tangles.

• Bottle opener: Conveniently placed bottle opener for opening drinks on the go.

• Hidden cutter: Sleek and sharp cutting tool, tucked away for safety.

• Carabiner clip: Secure attachment with a clip-on carabiner.

• Fast transferring and processing: High-speed file transfer capability.

This portable keychain is just as at home on your backpack or on your desk. Unify all of your charging tools with this one streamlined tool, which doesn’t sacrifice charging speed for efficiency.

Whether you need to charge a device quickly while transferring files or you need an extra boost of charge on the go, this portable charger and keyring consolidates your convenience devices and your tech tools.

And with the carabiner, you can clip this keychain onto anywhere — from your clothes to your bags.

Get the GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable for just $21.99 (Reg. $49.99).

Grabbing this offer? Once your cart hits $100+, add Microsoft Office 2021 and apply GWP4MAC (for Mac) or GWP4WIND (for Windows) at checkout to get a lifetime license for free. Ends April 19.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Interested in buying a Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold? You might be permanently out of luck.

As spotted by 9to5google, Samsung has updated the online listing for the very big foldable phone to say that the "limited run" device is "now completely sold out." Presumably, that means you simply will not be able to get one at any point in the near future, if ever. 9to5google pointed out that Samsung had never referred to the TriFold as a "limited run" device before this website update.

Now, the site recommends users check out the Galaxy S26 Ultra or Galaxy Z Fold 7 instead.

"Keep visiting samsung.com to make sure you don't miss upcoming one-of-a-kind innovations, and shop the latest foldables and premium mobile devices now from Samsung Galaxy," the site now reads.

If you've been following the TriFold saga closely, this isn't terribly surprising. The device launched in Asia late last year, made its western debut at CES in January, and we were already hearing that it might have a limited run by March. Samsung did one final restock online and at a handful of Samsung retail stores around the U.S. in early April, and that was seemingly the end of the line for the TriFold.

Maybe this was always the plan, or maybe Samsung quickly realized there was no sustainable way to keep manufacturing a nearly $3,000 smartphone in the age of global memory shortages. Regardless, it seems like anyone who wanted a TriFold either already has one, or will never get one.

Have you used an Android phone in the past nine years? Then Google might have to give you up to $100 later this year.

That's because the company reached a preliminary $135 million settlement (without admitting wrongdoing) in a class-action lawsuit called Taylor v. Google LLC, per CNET. The suit alleged that Google used Android users' paid cellular data to transfer information to Google without their permission. Now, users who may have had their data misused can sign up for payments on the official settlement website.

The settlement could include up to 100 million Android mobile users in the United States. If you think you qualify, check the email associated with your Android mobile account for the settlement notice.

Not sure if you're eligible? Here are the criteria:

1. You have to be a real human in the United States

2. You have to have used an Android phone with cellular data at any point between Nov. 12, 2017 and now

3. You can't be a member of Csupo v. Google LLC, a similar class-action lawsuit specifically for Californians

If you meet those requirements (and surely a whole lot of people do), you can enter your payment information on the settlement website. There's a final hearing on June 23 to determine whether or not these payments will actually go out, so you'll know by then if you're getting any money. And no, we don't know exactly how much each affected user will get, though payments are capped at $100. That doesn't mean anyone will actually get $100, though.

While Google has, again, not admitted wrongdoing here, it has agreed to pay out the settlement and will also update its Google Play terms of service regarding passive data transfers using cellular data. But really, the thing that matters here is that you might get a little bit of walking-around money for something you didn't even realize happened several years ago.

We're still several months away from Apple showing us the iPhone 18, but we can still bask in leaks until then.

This week, we've got a pair of leaks involving the cameras and colors for the upcoming flagship iPhone.

On the camera side, Korean outlet ETNews (via MacRumors) reports that Apple will debut a new variable-aperture rear camera system on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max in September. Prior to this year, all iPhones had fixed-aperture cameras, meaning the lens remained completely open during image capture. A variable aperture will allow the lens to open and close gradually depending on the situation, letting in more light in darkness or keeping excess light out in bright settings.

That would give iPhones an even greater level of flexibility in photography, and this report is backed up by prominent Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who said Apple would incorporate a variable aperture in the iPhone 18 all the way back in 2024.

What do the latest iPhone rumors have to say about colors?

Macworld claims to have received some information about Apple's chosen colors for 2026. According to their sources, the headline color this year will be "Dark Cherry," a dark red that will replace the controversial cosmic orange color from the iPhone 17 Pro. Macworld also said that light blue, dark gray, and silver options are also possibilities for the iPhone 18 Pro. A previous leak also suggested Apple would ditch black for the iPhone 18 Pro, which may not go over well if it proves true.

All will be revealed in September, though the iPhone Fold may get most of the attention.

The Trump Mobile T1 smartphone is the gift that keeps on giving, at least in terms of consistently generating headlines without actually releasing a product.

As spotted by The Verge (which has been consistently on top of this), Trump Mobile overhauled its website this week, refreshing it with new photos that look completely different from the device teased last year. The website now reflects the phone redesign that Trump Mobile executives showed to publisher back in February, which still includes a signature Trump gold finish, like the company always promised it would.

Of course, there is still no listed release date, despite the Trump Mobile T1 being promised for a 2025 release when it was first announced a year ago by the U.S. president's sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, and then delayed multiple times. A recent FCC listing indicates the device does actually exist in some form, but we have no idea when customers will actually have one in their hands.

There it is, allegedly. Credit: Trump Mobile

The new website, where the phones are available for preorder, also includes some updated specs. The device is purported to have a 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a triple lens rear camera array that includes both 50MP wide and telephoto lenses, and a vague promise of a non-specific Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 chip. Some of these specs are very different from previous iterations of the phone; at one point, it was listed with a 6.25-inch display, but that has ballooned for no apparent reason in the past year.

As for the Trump Mobile T1's price, there's a time-limited promotional window where it costs $499 with a $100 pre-order deposit, but we don't know how much it will cost after that window closes. This device was also originally marketed as being "made in America," but that seems to no longer be the case.

You can do whatever you want with your money, but it might be prudent to wait a bit before plopping down $100 on this thing.

If you thought Motorola was only making one foldable phone in 2026, you're about to feel real silly.

Motorola's book-style foldable, the Razr Fold, made its grand debut at CES in January, and it's still on track for release this year. However, the next phone in Motorola's regular flip-style Razr lineup may have just leaked, courtesy of some renders shared by Evan Blass on X.

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No specs or features were shared, but the renders Blass posted had four distinct colors with some interesting texture work going on. No surprise, but they look a lot like Motorola's recent Razr phones from 2025. Take a peek for yourselves.

On the other end of the Motorola foldable spectrum, Notebook Check previously reported that the Razr Fold would launch in Europe in April. As of this writing, it's now available for pre-order in the UK, meaning it's now a real device that people can purchase, and not just something that we tried out at CES.

The Motorola Fold is the company's first book-style foldable. Credit: Motorola

The device is priced at €1,999 in Europe and £1,799.99 in the UK, so it'll probably cost a pretty penny in U.S. dollars, too. Unfortunately, we still don't know when it's coming to the U.S. or other markets, but we'll keep an eye out for that information. In the meantime, U.S. shoppers can register to buy the device.

Foldable handsets have become a real and viable market segment in recent years. Samsung has a thriving foldable lineup that's set to expand this year with the introduction of a new "Wide Fold" phone alongside the Galaxy Z Flip 8 and Z Fold 8.

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

Apple, on the other hand, has been rumored to be working on a foldable iPhone for years, and most expect the long-awaited iPhone Fold to launch before the end of the year. That'll be exciting.

While it might seem embarrassing that Motorola has beaten Apple to the punch in the foldable space, remember that Apple often lets other brands take the lead before eventually dominating the market, as it did with the iPhone and iPod.

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Step aside, Apple and Samsung; it's China's Huawei that currently rules the unusually-wide-foldable-phones niche.

On Monday, the company published a teaser video of its upcoming Huawei Pura X Max foldable phone.

The Pura X Max will officially launch on Apr. 20 alongside the more conventional Pura 90 Pro, so we don't know all of the exact specs yet. Huawei, however, did say the foldable will come with a triple rear camera, with 12/16GB of RAM, and 256/512/1,024GB of storage.

I could watch a movie on this. Credit: Huawei

The video clearly shows the device from all sides, including some of its color options (the phone will be offered in five colors: Interstellar Blue, Olive Gold, Phantom Night Black, Vibrant Orange, and Zero Degree White).

Huawei hasn't been very popular in the U.S. since it was restricted from using U.S. tech seven years ago, forcing the phone maker to give up on Android as an operating system. But what makes this particular phone interesting is the form factor; the Pura X Max has an unusually wide body when folded, expanding to a tablet-like device when unfolded.

Huawei Pura X Max will be available in five colors: Interstellar Blue, Olive Gold, Phantom Night Black, Vibrant Orange, and Zero Degree White Credit: Huawei

Samsung is rumored to be working on a similar device, and Apple's widely rumored iPhone Fold could look a little bit like that, though details are unofficial and unclear on that one right now.

Amazingly, this isn't even the first wide foldable Huawei has launched. The Pura X Max follows the Huawei Pura X, which is a similarly wide flip foldable that came out in March 2025. The company also sells the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate Design, a tri-folding phone that boasts powerful specs and an extremely slim profile.

Samsung's next bundle of foldable devices may have just gotten a launch date.

A new report by the Korea Economic Times (via 9to5google) claims that Samsung will hold its next Galaxy Unpacked event in London on July 22.

Galaxy Unpacked is Samsung's regular series of product announcement livestreams, usually devoted to flagship mobile devices. There's usually a Galaxy Unpacked event early in the year and another in the summer; the early one happened in February, and now it seems the later one will happen near the end of July, if this report is correct.

As for which devices will make their debut in July, expect a lot of foldables.

Korea Economic Times reports that Samsung will launch a follow-up to last year's excellent Galaxy Z Fold 7 (most likely called Galaxy Z Fold 8), as well as a new, persistently rumored "Wide Fold" that could compete with the still-unannounced iPhone Fold. While this report didn't mention the Z Flip line, it would be a major surprise if the company doesn't release a Galazy Z Flip 8, too. Samsung has also launched Galaxy Watch models during summer Unpacked events, so keep an eye out for those, too.

One other potentially interesting nugget: Samsung will apparently showcase S Pen support for at least one of these new devices, though it's not entirely clear which one, based on the report. It would obviously make sense for the Wide Fold, given the theoretically larger size of the inner display, but we'll have to wait and see.

While the tech world waits with bated breath for the iPhone Fold, it's worth noting that Samsung's foldables have become truly high-quality devices in recent years. The Galaxy Z Fold 7, in particular, is still probably the best foldable you can buy right now, in part thanks to its impressively thin form factor. Hopefully, Samsung can keep up that momentum in 2026 for Android users.

Motorola is usually a pretty dependable manufacturer of affordable budget phones in the U.S., but that's changing a bit this year.

As noted by Ars Technica, several 2026 revisions of Motorola's usual low-priced lineup have gotten significant price hikes.

Take the Moto G, Moto G Play, and Moto G Power phones, for example. All three have risen in price by anywhere from 33 to 50 percent year-over-year in 2026. The Moto G Play used to be $180, but now it's $250. On top of that, the slightly higher-end 2026 Moto G Stylus just made its debut at $500, a $100 price increase from last year.

In response to Mashable's questions about the price changes, a Motorola spokesperson provided this statement: "Pricing is always subject to change based on market conditions. We regularly assess pricing to remain competitive and continue to offer strong bundle and promotional offers to give consumers the strongest value possible."

Of course, phone prices tend to rise year-over-year to account for hardware or software improvements. However, the new Moto G Stylus, for instance, has the same display and memory specs as the previous year's model, and brands typically offer improved specs along with higher prices.

The most obvious potential culprit here is the ongoing memory shortage driven by AI data center construction around the world. It's caused everything from game console price increases to shortages in SD cards, and there's no sign of it ending anytime soon. (Not to mention pressure from tariffs and inflation.)

Is a more expensive phone acceptable if it has new AI features? Consumers will have to make that choice for themselves, but Motorola, like most other tech companies, is all-in on artificial intelligence.

UPDATE: Apr. 9, 2026, 2:15 p.m. EDT We've updated this article with a statement from Motorola.

Just a few months ago, Samsung launched a really huge foldable phone. Now, it seems like this Friday might be your last chance to get one.

The Samsung TriFold, which made waves when it launched in Asia late last year before making its western debut at CES 2026. The phone sold out almost instantly upon its U.S. release on Jan. 30 before disappearing from store shelves in March.

Samsung is committing to one more restock on April 10, both online via Samsung's website and at a smattering of retail Samsung stores across the U.S. As before, we fully expect the online restock to sell out very quickly, so your best bet might be to make it to one of the physical locations, if you can.

In a note to press, Samsung mentioned these Samsung stores as places where you can expect TriFold restocks:

• Los Cerritos Center (Cerritos, CA)

• Mall of America (Minneapolis, MN)

• Queens Center (Elmhurst, NY)

• Roosevelt Field (Garden City, NY)

• The Americana at Brand (Glendale, CA)

• The Galleria (Houston, TX)

• Stonebriar Center (Frisco, TX)

Obviously, there are huge chunks of the U.S. that are not especially close to any of those locations, so grabbing the TriFold online will be the only option for many. In person or online, it won't be easy to get your hands on the $2,899 TriFold, as Samsung has only produced the phone in very limited numbers.

Samsung hasn't said one way or another if this will be the final restock, but given that the phone was already discontinued in Korea, customers probably shouldn't bet on any more restocks in the future. Rumor has it the company has been selling the TriFold at a loss.

Given its high price and experimental form factor, this doesn't necessarily mean the phone was a failure. It could just mean that Samsung never intended to make the TriFold widely available for a long time.

In other words, if you want one, you better find a way to make it happen on Friday.

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Credit: Samsung

Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold

$2,899 at Samsung

 

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Apple's first "e" model iPhone, the iPhone 16e, wasn't just a review unit for me; I actually lived with it as my main phone for over six months. And while I still stand by what I wrote in my review last year — it was surprisingly powerful for a "cheap" phone, with excellent battery life — the one thing I couldn't stand was its camera.

On paper, the camera was the same as the main camera on the iPhone 16. In reality, it was similar, but it produced way worse photos in low light. Photos of my kids dancing in the living room in the evening, or friends chatting over dinner, or a band playing in a small club? Most of those turned out pretty bad.

With the iPhone 17e, which came out in March, Apple fixed most of the other annoyances that plagued the original model. The camera is a little better, but is it enough?

Same look, but now with MagSafe

Focusing on said previous grievances, the iPhone 17e supports MagSafe, Apple's magnetic, wireless charging tech that makes it easy to slap various accessories onto the phone.

MagSafe support means MagSafe cases are available for the iPhone 17e, too. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

Apple sent me an iPhone 17e unit for review, and I was happily able to use my Apple Wallet and magnetic chargers with it. Apple also sent me a Clear Case with MagSafe, and while it may not be my favorite case in terms of design, it was a relief to be able to charge the phone magnetically without removing the case.

The ability to use MagSafe chargers and accessories is just about the only physical difference between the iPhone 17e and 16e, though. The iPhone 17e looks exactly the same as its predecessor, with the only difference being the new color, Soft Pink. The unit Apple sent me was in this color, and I can tell you that it is a very nice, but indeed a very soft pink.

On the front, there's still no Dynamic Island; the Face ID sensors and the selfie camera are still hidden inside a notch on the top of the display. The dimensions have remained exactly the same (your old iPhone 16e case will work), and the weight is virtually the same (169 grams for the new model, 167 grams for the old one).

The display, unfortunately, still only goes up to 60Hz. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

The display is still a 6.1-inch OLED that maxes out at 60Hz, and that's very apparent if you switch from a 120Hz phone; the transitions and animations aren't nearly as smooth on the iPhone 17e.

New chip, more storage

The biggest improvements on the iPhone 17e are inside the phone. It has a new chip, Apple's powerful A19, which can power the latest AI shenanigans. Apple's C1X modem has replaced the old C1 modem, though it's hard to tell what sort of improvements this has brought.

Perhaps most importantly, the iPhone 17e starts at 256GB, compared to the iPhone 16e's 128GB starting storage. Given that the iPhone 17e's starting price remains unchanged at $599, this is a pretty big deal. You can also configure the iPhone 17e with 512GB of storage, but that takes the price to $799.

The Soft Pink color is the softest pink imaginable. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

The combination of having Apple's latest chip and a decent amount of storage means this phone will be relevant for at least four to five years. In fact, this makes it extremely similar to the $799 iPhone 17, though the A19 chip on the iPhone 17e has one less GPU core, meaning it'll be slightly worse for gaming. If you don't care about having the flashiest phone, and just need something that gets the work done, the iPhone 17e is a compelling choice.

When I reviewed the iPhone 16e, I was pleased with battery life and how powerful it was. But having used the phone over several months, I came away disappointed with the camera. The phone has a singular, 48-megapixel rear camera with similar specs to the iPhone 16's. But it just wasn't the same; it was alright in daytime, but night shots, or even shots taken in the relative dimness of my living room, just weren't good enough.

About that camera

The bad news is that the iPhone 17e has the same camera specs as the iPhone 16e. And yes, that means no dedicated telephoto or ultra-wide camera; just a single, 48-megapixel main camera on the back. Apple says that the new A19 chips will unlock better shots, and some new camera features are indeed here, including next-gen portraits with Focus and Depth Control. But is it better where it truly matters, which is low light shots?

Here's why insist on low light camera performance. New iPhones, especially those from the Pro line, as well as top Android phones, have spoiled the heck out of me (and probably most of you, dear readers).

One of the new camera features on the iPhone 17e is support for Apple's next-gen portraits. I managed to capture some beautiful shots, but the iPhone 17e's camera still seemed to struggle with focus and depth. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

It's easy to forget just how hard it was to get a decent low light shot on a smartphone just a few years ago. These days, however, I'm used to being able of taking a photo in a dim pub, or during an evening stroll, and have the phone automagically increase brightness and exposure while accommodating for the movements of my shaky hand. It's hard to go back to a phone that doesn't do that well.

So yeah, the iPhone 17e takes decent photos in broad daylight. All modern phones do. Selfies are alright, too, though nothing to write home about.

The selfie camera is still the old, 12-megapixel one. The other series 17 iPhones all have a better, 18-megapixel camera. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

If you want to zoom in with the iPhone 17e, you can do that, but it's purely digital: You'll simply get a smaller cutout of what the camera sensor has captured, and while the shot quality will remain the same, the resolution will be lower.

Left: The zoomed imag is just a digital cutout, but it can yield decent results. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Right: Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Indoors, and in the evening, is where the camera's weaknesses show. Sometimes, Apple's Night Mode will kick in and save the day, producing a decent shot (while still not as good as the main camera on my iPhone 17 Pro Max). But sometimes you'll just get a smudgy, blurry shot, or the tones will be overly yellow.

The photo on the left was taken with the iPhone 17e, the one on the right with the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

Left: Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Right: Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

The good news is that it does seem that the iPhone 17e's camera is a little better than the one on the iPhone 16e when it comes to low-light shots.

The biggest issue, perhaps, lies in expectations. Check Apple's official tech specs for the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17, and iPhone 17e, and they're all listed as having a "48MP Fusion Main" camera, which might lead you to believe they cameras are the same. They're not, so just have that in mind when you're shopping for a new iPhone.

A pretty good entry-level iPhone

It's improved, it's affordable, but the iPhone 17 may be a better option if you need a good camera. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

All things considered, the iPhone 17e is a decent upgrade over its predecessor, and a good choice if you want the cheapest new iPhone you can get. It's got MagSafe, more storage, and Apple's powerful A19 cheap. But if you need a better, more versatile camera, the iPhone 17 is a better choice.

This text is an expanded version of the hands-on iPhone 17e article which you can read on Mashable.

TL;DR: Travel lighter with the GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable, currently $21.99 (reg. $49.99).

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Credit: GoCable

GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable

$21.99
$49.99 Save $28.00

 

Get Deal

If you’re looking for little ways to make your life easier, the GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable is a perfect example. This tiny device can power up multiple devices while fitting on your keyring, ending the mess of tangled cables in your bag. And now it’s on sale for just $21.99 (reg. $49.99).

Keeping up with multiple chargers can be a pain. Whether you’re packing for vacation or simply trying to bring the right cords to the office every day, the GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable simplifies this pain point. Just pop this tiny device on your keyring and be prepared to power up anywhere.

The GoCable allows you to keep a Type-C, Type-C+, and Apple Lightning connector on hand at all times — you just need to supply the power bank or wall adapter. Its 100W ultra-fast charging ensures you’re not wasting time powering up your devices, while also enabling high-speed file transfer.

There’s an LED power display that provides the real-time charging status, and you’ll never have to worry about untangling cords because the magnetic cable always stays neat.

The GoCable 8-in-1 doesn’t just charge things — it’s also got a bottle opener and safe-proofed hidden cutter that makes opening packages easy. A carabiner clip also allows you to attach this cable to anything, so you can always have it on hand.

Be prepared to charge and open anything with this GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable, on sale for just $21.99 (reg. $49.99).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

SAVE $200: As of April 8, get the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra for $1,299.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,499.99. That's a discount of 13% and the lowest price we've seen.

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Credit: Amazon

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

$1,299.99 at Amazon
$1,499.99 Save $200

 

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If a spring refresh means you're updating everything in your life, not just cleaning your home, it might be time for a new smartphone. If that's the case for you, you won't want to miss this deal on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra we found at Amazon, which cuts the new smartphone down by a significant amount.

As of April 8, get the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra for $1,299.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,499.99. That's $200 off and a discount of 13%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

This unlocked phone comes with a new custom chip in the form of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor, 512GB of memory, a 6.9-inch AMOLED display with a 3120x1440 resolution, a 5000 mAh battery, and a 200MP main camera.

Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth proclaimed that "this might be the year I switch to Android" after giving the phone a test drive, awarding it a 4.6 score in his review and praising its "incredible camera array", "gorgeous AMOLED display", and its processor's ability to handle "everything I threw at it".

Though the phone hasn't been out very long on the market, saving $200 on the unlocked version is an extremely great deal, especially if you're also on the fence about switching mobile teams, so to speak. It likely won't last long at this price, so it's a good idea to go ahead and pick it up while it's still in stock.

TL;DR: Get the iPhone 17 Pro for $0.00 per month at AT&T when you trade in an eligible device and sign up for a qualifying unlimited plan on a 36-month installment agreement.

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Credit: Apple

iPhone 17 Pro

$0 at AT&T
$1,099.99 Save $1,099.99

 

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If you've been eyeing the new iPhone 17 Pro but your wallet is telling you to wait, we found a deal that might be good enough to change your mind.

Right now, you can get the brand-new Apple iPhone 17 Pro at AT&T for $0.00 per month. That's basically a $1,100 discount. But there's a small catch: You'll need to trade in an eligible device (worth at least $230) and sign up for a qualifying unlimited plan under a 36-month installment agreement.

The best part is that this deal isn't just to lure in new lines — existing customers get the exact same offer. You can score the full $1,100 discount on an eligible plan like Extra 2.0, or if you don't want to change your current Unlimited Starter or Starter SL plan, you can still get up to $830 off with a $130 or higher trade-in value. If you're tied to another carrier, AT&T will offer up to $800 per line to help you break your contract and switch over.

Updated on April 7 at 5:30 p.m. ET — Following rumors that Apple's unannounced foldable iPhone might not be launching until 2027, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has reported that the launch remains on track for fall 2026. According to Gurman's latest report, the foldable iPhone will still be released alongside the new iPhone 18 lineup in September, as expected.

Apple's iPhone Fold might be coming to market later than anticipated.

A new report by Nikkei claims Apple has hit some engineering hurdles that may delay the launch of the first foldable iPhone, perhaps even into 2027.

According to the report, which cites multiple sources familiar with the matter, developing the iPhone Fold has proven more complex than the company had expected. "It's true that more issues than expected have emerged during the early test production phase, and additional time will be needed to resolve them and make necessary adjustments. ... The current situation could put the mass production timeline at risk," a source told Nikkei.

The report doesn't have many details on what, exactly, these issues are. One source, however, said they have to do with engineering challenges, and are not related to components and materials supply issues.

Nothing is set in stone yet, but Apple needs to overcome these problems until early May, or the launch of the iPhone Fold may have to be moved to a later date.

Most of the reports we've seen so far said that Apple plans to launch the iPhone Fold in September 2026, alongside its iPhone 18 Pro models. However, a recent research note by analyst Tim Long claimed that the shipments for the Fold would likely start in December 2026, a few months after the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models become available.

This doesn't necessarily mean the iPhone Fold won't be unveiled in September alongside other new devices. Apple may officially announce it in September but launch it a few months later, like it did with the iPhone X in 2017.

TL;DR: Save up to 20% when you switch to T-Mobile, compared to Verizon and AT&T.

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Credit: T-Mobile

T-Mobile

Save up to 20%

Get Deal

Spring is here, and if you’ve been thinking about spring cleaning your phone plan, it’s worth checking out T-Mobile. Switching from Verizon or AT&T can save you up to 20%.

T-Mobile has a few plans to choose from, each absolutely stacked with benefits. You can get free or discounted streaming services, such as Netflix, Apple TV, and Hulu. Depending on the plan you choose, you'll save up to $117 per month compared to Verizon and AT&T.

No matter how many lines you add to your plan, T-Mobile always works out to be cheaper than the competition. If you’re curious about the cost breakdown, T-Mobile’s site features a helpful chart that shows you the cost across each company as you add more lines.

If you’ve been searching for a new phone plan, T-Mobile is surely worth a look.

Apple is expected to release the first foldable iPhone later this year (or potentially in 2027), and this week, a leaker claims to have a close-up look at the device.

Leaker Sonny Dickson shared photos on his X account purporting to show dummy models for the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the iPhone Fold.

The first two devices, as you'd expect, look like other iPhone Pro models, with three camera lenses in a rectangular bump on the back. One of them, presumably the Pro Max, looks a little bigger than the other. However, the real juice here is the alleged iPhone Fold model, representing one of the first looks at what could be a real representation of the upcoming, still unannounced phone.

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While Dickson didn't share exact size dimensions in his post, it's clear just from using your eyes that the iPhone Fold is both very wide and significantly more squat than its brethren. In fact, it looks even more wide and short than something like the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold. The leaked iPhone Fold model also has two rear camera lens cut-outs in a smaller raised bump than the ones found on the iPhone 18 Pro models.

These dummy models largely match what we've seen from previous leaks and renders of the device.

According to prior reports, the iPhone Fold's outer display will only be 5.5 inches, a big downsizing compared to regular iPhone models. However, once opened up, users will have access to 7.8 inches of screen space. The iPhone Fold is also rumored to cost more than $2,000, though, so it will likely come with a steep price tag.

While we expect the iPhone Fold to launch later in 2026, a new report coinciding with Dickson's latest leak suggests the launch could be pushed into 2027. At any rate, this is a lot of information to digest about a device Apple hasn't even confirmed yet.