Our own write-ups of the latest Android phone news and reviews, sourced from the best in the industry.
One UI 9’s Call Brief now shows the local time of the person you’re dialing when they’re in a different time zone, helping UK users avoid awkward call‑hour mishaps. The feature rolls out via the latest One UI 9 beta on the Galaxy S26 and older flagships.
Huawei has unveiled the Pura X View, a 6.39‑inch slab phone with a 16:9.5 aspect ratio, 6 500‑nit OLED display and a massive 7 000 mAh battery. Powered by the Kirin 9030S and running HarmonyOS 7, it ships in China from £720‑£1 530 but could spark a new trend for UK shoppers if it goes global.
The latest Samsung foldable drops to £1,649.99 on Amazon – a £250 discount that makes the Z Fold 8 the cheapest version yet. We break down the specs, how it stacks up against rivals and what the price means for UK contract shoppers.
Sony has begun pushing Android 17 to its flagship Xperia 1 VIII, introducing a PC‑style Desktop mode, deeper UI customisation, upgraded screen‑recording and new AI‑driven camera presets. The update also reaches the Xperia 1 VII, Xperia 1 VI, Xperia 10 VIII and Xperia 10 VII in the UK.
Acer’s new three‑camera dash cam, featuring 4K front recording, rear and cabin views, GPS and Wi‑Fi 6, is now available on Amazon UK for £119 (≈ $149.99), down 21% and bundled with a 64 GB microSD card.
A growing number of Google Home owners are seeing the assistant refuse basic questions – from holiday facts to recipe ideas – while timers and sports scores still work. The issue appears limited to older Assistant‑based firmware, with no confirmed cases on the newer Gemini for Home platform.
The latest ARMSX3 0.9.7 release tackles the notorious heating problem, adds a clean‑exit routine and refines audio, texture and GPU handling – a welcome boost for Android gamers looking to run PS3 titles without frying their device.
Amazon is offering the rugged Garmin Instinct 3 Tactical Solar 45mm for $399.99 (≈£320), a 20 % cut from the standard £399 RRP. The watch packs solar charging, a built‑in flashlight and a host of tactical features, making it a compelling buy for outdoor enthusiasts and contract‑deal hunters alike.
Google has officially reduced the time you can recover deleted images in Photos from 60 days to 30 days. The change applies to cloud‑backed photos, while locally stored snaps were already on a 30‑day clock. Android users now see in‑app notices about the new policy.
Amazon UK is offering the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra for £799, a cut of roughly £250 off the usual £1,049 RRP. The 6.9‑inch OLED flagship packs a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, 200 MP main sensor and 5,000 mAh battery, making it a compelling upgrade for contract‑chase shoppers.
A fresh ANATEL certification record shows ten Garmin devices with matching model numbers, suggesting the company is readying a smart‑ring range in multiple sizes – a move that could broaden Garmin’s wearables portfolio for UK shoppers.
Amazon UK is offering a limited‑time 27% discount on the unlocked Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, bringing the price down to roughly £750. The deal expires tonight, making it a rare chance for UK Android fans to snag the flagship at a more affordable price.
US carrier Mint Mobile is offering a $425 discount on the Google Pixel 11 Pro XL when you pre‑pay a 12‑month Unlimited plan – effectively lowering the phone’s price to about $1,054, roughly £850, and bundling it with 5G data, hotspot and free calls to Mexico, Canada and the UK.
Leaks suggest Motorola is working on a new, wider version of its Razr foldable, featuring a slimmer hinge, bezel‑free cover screen and a horizontal dual‑camera bar. The prototype could appear in the next few months, aiming to challenge Samsung, Huawei and Google in the premium foldable segment.
Windows laptops offer more variety and gaming options, but moving away from Apple’s tightly‑integrated ecosystem can bring surprises in build quality, battery life, software quirks and cross‑device compatibility.
Google’s latest trade‑in scheme promises higher credit for old Android and iPhone devices than many rivals, potentially cutting the cost of the pricey Pixel 11 range for UK shoppers. We break down the values, compare rival programmes and explain how to claim the discount.
Apple’s iOS 27 preview introduces Visual Intelligence, a camera‑driven tool that can read receipts, split the tab via Apple Cash and scan physical tickets or loyalty cards straight into Wallet – a feature that lands in the public beta this autumn.
Huawei’s new Mate XT2 combines a three‑panel foldable design with a hardware‑level privacy display, runs HarmonyOS and is powered by the Kirin 9050 Pro. Prices start at roughly £2,300 and top out at about £4,100 for a 2 TB collector’s edition.
Using a Bluetooth jammer may sound like a quick fix for unwanted connections, but UK law classifies it as illegal interference. We break down how these devices work, the legislation that bans them, and the real‑world risks for Android phone owners.
