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Samsung has widened its Android 17-based One UI 9 beta rollout beyond its latest flagships to include the older Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6, plus the mid-range Galaxy A57, marking the first A-series device to get the test build. The update carries the August 5, 2026 security patch and is currently live in South Korea and India, with plans to expand to Germany, Poland, the UK and the US.
Korean outlet Money Today, citing tipster Jukan, claims Samsung plans to sell a Galaxy S27 Ultra variant powered by its in-house Exynos 2700 chip in select markets, alongside a Snapdragon version reserved mainly for the US. This would mark the first time since the Galaxy S22 Ultra that the top-tier Ultra model has shipped with an Exynos processor, with the same dual-chip split reportedly extending to the new Galaxy S27 Pro model.
Multiple Samsung account holders report on Reddit and Samsung's own community forum that their accounts were suddenly deactivated, with Samsung citing vague security reasons. Some users regained access after contacting Samsung's phone or chat support, while others remain locked out. One theory ties the suspensions to email aliases using '+' or '.' characters, but Samsung has not confirmed a cause.
An Android Authority roundup argues that buyers considering the newly US-available Fairphone Gen 6 Plus ($650) might get more for their money elsewhere. It highlights the HMD Skyline as a nearly as repairable but cheaper (~$400) alternative with a better camera, bigger battery and faster display, alongside four other Android phones recommended for shoppers willing to trade some repairability for extra performance and features.
Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy Book6, a 14-inch Windows laptop starting at $799, built around Intel's new Wildcat Lake chips and aimed at everyday computing rather than premium workloads. The base model ships with 8GB of RAM and 256GB storage, with configurations available up to 16GB and 1TB, and Samsung claims up to 25 hours of battery life from its 61.2Wh battery.
A China 3C regulatory filing spotted by tipster Abhishek Yadav suggests Samsung's Galaxy S27 will retain 25W wired charging, while the Galaxy S27 Plus stays at 45W. These figures match what Samsung has offered since the Galaxy S20 and S22 Plus respectively, showing no generational improvement. The devices are however tipped to gain MagSafe-style wireless charging via built-in magnets.
Samsung has begun rolling out the first One UI 9 beta build, based on Android 17, to the Galaxy S24, S24 Plus, and S24 Ultra. The update, confirmed live in the US, India, and South Korea via the Samsung Members app, weighs around 3.6GB and includes a security patch dated August 2026 along with new personalization and productivity features.
Razer introduced the Prio, a $100 USB-C mobile game controller that weighs about 101 grams and folds down to roughly wallet size, unlike its bulkier Kishi line. When unfolded, it attaches to large phones such as the iPhone 17 Pro Max and Galaxy S26 Ultra, offering dual thumbsticks, a D-pad, face buttons and shoulder triggers for both iPhone and Android devices.
Samsung has enabled Horizontal Lock, a video stabilization feature originally exclusive to the Galaxy S26 series, on the Galaxy S25 through One UI 9 Beta 1. The feature uses gyroscope data and cropping to keep recorded footage level even as the phone is rotated or flipped during recording. The beta, which also brings Android 17, has begun rolling out in South Korea, the UK, and India.
Samsung is broadening its One UI 9 beta program beyond the Galaxy S25 series to include the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Flip 7, and S25 FE. The beta will roll out in India, Korea, the UK, and the US through the Samsung Members app, though the Galaxy S25 Edge appears excluded from this wave.
Best Buy is offering the 256GB Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra for $1,799.99, a $300 discount that marks the lowest price since the phone debuted last month. The foldable brings brighter screens, sharper cameras, faster charging, and a larger 5,000mAh battery compared to its predecessor, though its hinge durability and IP48 rating trail some rival foldables.
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.