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Samsung has launched the Galaxy S26 FE with only minor spec upgrades over its predecessor, yet raised the price by $50/£50 for equivalent storage tiers, reportedly due to rising component costs. This narrows the price gap to the flagship Galaxy S26 to roughly $100, while that model offers a stronger chipset and better cameras.
Samsung has rolled out the eighth One UI 9 beta update for the Galaxy S26 lineup, starting with the Galaxy S26 Ultra in South Korea. The 513MB Android 17-based update carries firmware ending in ZZHM and the August 5, 2026 security patch, with the changelog citing only stabilization fixes for device operation. It arrives alongside the first One UI 9 beta for the Galaxy S25 series.
Foldable phones from Samsung, Google, Motorola and Chinese brands still make up only 1.6% of global smartphone shipments despite years of hinge and display improvements, with 19.6 million units shipped last year according to Counterpoint Research. A commentator argues that Apple's expected entry into the foldable market will finally push the category into the mainstream, much as it did with smartwatches and wireless earbuds.
Google is rolling out a new live translation option within Gemini Live's voice settings, allowing the AI to translate spoken conversations between languages in real time with on-screen captions. The rollout also includes a smaller interface tweak, replacing the keyboard exit button with a clearer X icon and adding a 'Tap to interrupt' control, as part of a gradual server-side update following April's UI redesign.
Poco has unveiled its F9 Pro and F9 Ultra flagship phones, continuing its Bose audio partnership for a second year. The F9 Ultra features an upgraded 2.1 Bose sound system with a glowing LED ring around its subwoofer, plus a 6.9-inch OLED display rated at 10,000 nits peak brightness and a 185Hz refresh rate aimed at gamers.
Samsung has begun rolling out the first One UI 9 beta update to the Galaxy S25 lineup, following months of testing limited to the Galaxy S26 series. The update, roughly 3,862MB with firmware DZHK, brings Android 17 and the August 5, 2026 security patch, and is currently available in South Korea, the UK, and India, including on the Galaxy S25 FE.
Google is rolling out a refreshed Android Auto app icon, replacing the familiar blue design with a green one featuring rounder corners, spotted in version 17.6.663424. The change appears tied to a broader Android Auto redesign expected in the coming months that will bring widget support, video playback, and a more fluid visual style.
The guide walks Android users through checking their OS version, applying pending system updates via Settings, and enabling or manually triggering app updates in Google Play. It also notes that some app updates require accepting new privacy permissions before installing.
A new leak from tipster @phonefuturist suggests Samsung's standard Galaxy S27 and S27 Plus could adopt the same 3x telephoto camera system found in the upcoming Galaxy S27 Pro. An earlier ETNews report had pegged that Pro model's zoom lens at 12MP, though the new leak doesn't confirm sensor details for the base models. Samsung is separately said to be testing a 50MP 4x telephoto for the Galaxy S27 Ultra.
Google confirmed that Device Help, a Gemini feature that lets users describe what they want their phone to do and have Gemini adjust settings automatically, isn't limited to the Pixel 11 series. A Google employee showed the feature working on other Pixel devices running Android 17, and said support will expand to additional devices over time.
Google Search is now showing some AI Overview answers fully expanded by default on desktop, complete with an 'Ask anything' box that launches AI Mode conversations. Previously, this prompt only appeared after users clicked 'Show more' beneath a summary. The change, spotted by an SEO consultant and unconfirmed by Google, currently seems limited to desktop searches for definitions and similar queries.
Google explains that using Find Hub to mark an Android device as lost will log it out of the owner's Google account and strip all cards from Google Wallet, with an option to show a contact message on the lock screen. If account access isn't possible, users can lock the phone remotely via android.com/lock by verifying their identity and phone number. Samsung devices with SmartThings Find offer a similar safeguard, automatically locking Samsung Wallet and pausing transactions until identity is confirmed.