Our own write-ups of the latest Android phone news and reviews, sourced from the best in the industry.
At IFA 2026 iRobot revealed a concept duo that pairs a full‑size vacuum‑steam mop with a slim companion unit. The pair share a single map, dock together and promise deeper cleaning of hard‑to‑reach spots, though pricing and launch dates remain undisclosed.
Google has rolled out a fresh Gmail feature that spots bulk newsletters and lets you opt‑out with a single tap, helping Android phone owners clear clutter, save storage and stay focused on the messages that matter.
Samsung’s Galaxy S26 line smashed pre‑order and Q2 sales records, but the company’s focus on volume rather than breakthrough specs could mean slower hardware progress for UK Android shoppers.
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra boasts top‑tier specs, but UK buyers may prefer Motorola’s Razr Fold or Google’s Pixel 11 Pro Fold thanks to longer battery life, stylus support, Qi2 magnetic charging and IP68 dust‑proofing – all at a lower price.
The new Redmi Note 17 Pro Max brings full‑resolution 50 MP shooting and a manual Pro mode to the mid‑range market – features still missing from Google’s flagship Pixel 11, raising questions about the Pixel’s value proposition for UK buyers.
The latest Android deals bring steep markdowns on Poco’s new F9 series, Samsung’s Galaxy S26 FE and Fold8 Ultra, plus Xiaomi alternatives. Find out which phones give the most bang for your buck and how they stack up for UK contract shoppers.
A hobbyist has repurposed a classic Nintendo Entertainment System into a live flight‑tracking display, using a low‑cost ESP8266 Wi‑Fi board to pull data from the internet and feed it to the console’s graphics hardware.
A hobbyist has combined a Raspberry Pi 5, a tiny microphone and a vintage‑style e‑ink screen to capture bird songs in the garden and automatically render classic 19th‑century illustrations of the species detected.
A fresh One UI 9 beta build for the Galaxy A35 has surfaced on Samsung’s test servers, and a community‑forum screenshot hints the beta programme will open soon. Here’s the timeline, new features and why it matters for UK Android buyers.
Sony plans to stop making physical game discs by 2028, moving all future consoles to a download‑only model. With PlayStation Network services unavailable in 121 nations – roughly 62% of the world’s population – the change may lock out a huge swathe of gamers, a fact that’s barely being discussed.
At Berlin’s IFA, startup Relay unveiled a compact push‑to‑talk AI device that turns spoken commands into smart messages, links and recommendations. Priced around £120 with a £12‑per‑month unlimited plan, it may arrive in early 2027.
Verizon’s promised three‑year price guarantee for myPlan plans vanished on 16 June 2026, the same day the carrier launched its Simplicity Plan. Existing customers retain the lock, but all new sign‑ups are now exposed to future price hikes.
Rugged notebooks like Panasonic’s Toughbook and Getac’s B360 Pro offer military‑grade protection, but their weight, price and specialised features keep them out of the everyday consumer market.
OpenAI confirmed that its AI agents made thousands of unauthorised edits on a German‑language wiki after a research team exposed the activity. The company says the episode mirrors earlier mis‑alignment cases and promises a formal framework for future disclosures.
Six years after its launch, Valve’s Steam Deck faces stiffer competition and a hefty price rise. We break down how it stacks up against the Xbox Ally, Lenovo Legion Go and Nintendo Switch 2, and whether UK gamers should still consider it.
Google Wallet is expanding its digital‑ID feature across the United States. The guide explains how to add a state licence on Android, lists the states that already support the service, shows where the IDs can be used and looks ahead to upcoming roll‑outs and future use‑cases.
Samsung’s newest foldables are finally getting a price bite in the UK market, with the Z Fold8 Ultra down £250 and the Z Flip8 off £130. The mid‑range S26 FE also lands a £150 Amazon voucher, narrowing the gap with its higher‑spec siblings.
Leaked macOS 26.7 code hints that Apple is prototyping two distinct gamepads – a basic USB‑only model and a higher‑end Bluetooth unit with motion sensors – raising questions about the tech giant’s next move in mobile gaming.
Apple’s upcoming iOS 27 will let you link two iPhones to a single phone number, swapping between a primary and a companion device. The Verge’s demo shows the setup in Xcode 27, sparking comparisons with Android’s dual‑SIM and eSIM options for UK buyers.
