WIRED's roundup of the best Android phones for 2026 includes guidance for shoppers considering models outside the main recommendations, covering display type, screen size, processor, RAM, cooling and refresh rate. It notes that OLED screens are now common even in budget phones, that Qualcomm Snapdragon 7-series or MediaTek Dimensity 7000-series chips or better offer reliable performance, and that 8GB of RAM (ideally 12GB) suits multitasking and AI features.
wired.com
· 2026-09-16
Apple has officially unveiled the iPhone Duo, its first foldable phone, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro lineup, Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, and AirPods 5 at its recent event. Comparing published specs, the iPhone Duo closely mirrors Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold8 in screen size and brightness, but differs in resolution, weight, chip, and camera setup, with Apple's device notably heavier at 254g versus Samsung's 201g. The iPhone Duo launches October 23, though Apple has not yet disclosed battery capacity.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-10
Samsung reports that the proportion of iOS users switching to its new Galaxy Z Fold8 series is 1.6 times higher than for last year's Fold7 and Flip7, according to a company spokesperson. The disclosure comes days after Apple unveiled its first foldable iPhone, one of the first major launches under new CEO John Ternus. Samsung also said 30% of U.S. Z Flip8 buyers came from rival brands and highlighted an upgraded Smart Switch tool that lets iPhone users transfer data via QR code without installing an app.
cnbc.com
· 2026-09-10
Xiaomi released the Xiaomi 18 Fold and Huawei unveiled the Mate XT2 trifold this week, both timed just ahead of Apple's Wednesday event where the company is expected to reveal its first foldable iPhone under CEO John Ternus. Analysts say the Chinese manufacturers are trying to lock in buyers before Apple enters the foldable market.
cnbc.com
· 2026-09-08
Samsung executives Hee-Cheul Moon and Seungki Choi told WIRED they welcome Apple's entry into the foldable market ahead of its rumored iPhone Ultra launch. They noted that Samsung has cut 75 grams off its foldable design since 2017, with the new Galaxy Z Fold8 weighing 201 grams, lighter than Samsung's own single-screen Galaxy S26 Ultra. Apple's folding device is expected to weigh between 230 and 241 grams, heavier than Samsung's latest model.
wired.com
· 2026-09-08
Samsung's $2,100 Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra pairs an 8-inch inner display with a 200-megapixel camera system, while the $1,200 Z Flip8 becomes the world's lightest and thinnest flip phone with a 4.1-inch cover screen. Motorola's first book-style foldable, the $1,900 Razr Fold, offers an 8.1-inch inner display and a 6,000-mAh battery lasting nearly three days, though it lacks a flagship chipset.
wired.com
· 2026-09-01
Samsung's latest foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold8, refines the design but still forces buyers to choose between competing priorities like thinness, durability, battery life and camera quality. Rather than solving foldables' core engineering tensions, it shifts which trade-offs users accept.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-08-25
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