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Tech News
Google has added support for Apple's AirDrop protocol to newer Android phones, including Pixel and Galaxy models, letting users send photos, links, and files directly to iPhones without third-party apps. Setup involves enabling sharing settings on both devices—such as Quick Share on Samsung or AirDrop visibility on iOS—after which either device can initiate a transfer that the other must accept.
Samsung's new budget-tier 990 M.2 SSD, a QLC-based Gen 4 drive released after recent AI-driven storage price hikes, is now available at Amazon for $339 instead of its $529 list price. The 2TB model uses Samsung's PiccoloQ controller and V9 QLC flash, delivering performance close to the 990 EVO Plus with solid latency and bandwidth in testing.
Durability tester JerryRigEverything ran the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra through his usual scratch and bend tests. The cover screen held up similarly to other flagships and the Z Fold 7, but the inner foldable display stopped working after a couple of forceful bends, flickering before going unusable. Dust resistance remained comparable to the previous generation.
New renders of the Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra reveal a wide horizontal camera bar across the back, replacing the individual floating lenses Samsung has used for years. The design bears a striking resemblance to Apple's iPhone Pro camera layout, sparking debate among Android enthusiasts and reviewers. While unconfirmed, leaks about Samsung's flagship devices have historically proven accurate.
Google has quietly updated its developer documentation to reveal that just seven Android phones currently support Gemini Nano 4: the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, Pixel 11 Pro Fold, and Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 8, Z Fold 8, and Z Fold 8 Ultra. These are the only devices officially equipped to run Google's latest on-device Gemini Intelligence features.
Samsung has pushed One UI 9 Beta 7 to the Galaxy S26 lineup, quietly adding AI features first seen on the Galaxy Z8 foldables and Galaxy S26 FE. These include My FanCam video reframing, a Call Brief overlay that surfaces calendar and email info during calls, Custom Cards for Now Brief, and combined Finder plus Google Search widgets on the home screen.
A hands-on video from reviewer Vincent Zhong shows Huawei's new wide-format Pura X View can detect whether it's held in the left or right hand and shift on-screen elements accordingly. The keyboard, call accept/reject buttons, and some music player controls all reposition to match the holding hand, and the power button appears usable to flip e-reader pages.
New leaks attributed to leaker OnLeaks reveal that Samsung's standard Galaxy S27 will carry over the same flat display, rounded corners, and raised rear camera island seen on the Galaxy S26, with dimensions differing by only fractions of a millimeter. This comes shortly after separate renders suggested the Galaxy S27 Ultra may adopt a horizontal, iPhone-style camera plateau instead of Samsung's traditional vertical layout.
Samsung's Galaxy S26 FE goes on sale September 3 for $699.99, $50 more than its predecessor, with Samsung citing RAM supply pressure for the increase. The phone keeps similar battery, display and camera specs to the S25 FE but adds the Exynos 2500 chip, 8GB of RAM, and seven years of software support. Its main selling point is a suite of Galaxy AI tools ported from Samsung's pricier flagships, including Photo Assist, Audio Eraser, and updated Now Brief and Now Nudge features.
Samsung has released a seventh One UI 9 beta for the Galaxy S26 lineup, weighing 1,234MB and carrying the August 5, 2026 security patch. The update reportedly brings AI features similar to those on the Galaxy Z Fold 8, including an upgraded Finder with Google Search, My Fan Cam, and custom Now Nudge cards, alongside fixes for random reboots and Do Not Disturb behavior. It's currently rolling out in Germany, India, Poland, the UK, and South Korea, with a US release expected soon.
Despite ranking among the world's top five smartphone makers by shipments, Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo have essentially no official retail presence in the United States. US buyers largely see only Apple, Samsung, Google and Motorola on carrier shelves, even as these Chinese brands dominate sales across Europe, Asia and Latin America.
Fairphone has begun selling its Gen 6 Plus directly in the US for the first time, rather than through Murena, running standard Google Android. Priced at $649, the phone lets owners replace up to 12 parts—including the battery, display, cameras, and USB-C port—using just a screwdriver. In a reader poll of over 1,500 responses, 91.5% called the device appealing despite its modest spec upgrades over the base Gen 6.