Our own write-ups of the latest Android phone news and reviews, sourced from the best in the industry.
At IFA 2026 Samsung unveiled its new AI‑focused line‑up – from Micro‑RGB TVs and gaming monitors to the Galaxy S26 FE, Galaxy Book6 and Bespoke AI washers – all aimed at making everyday tasks smarter for UK consumers.
The new Galaxy Z Fold8 series adds My FanCam, an on‑device AI tool that lets users lock onto a chosen person in any video and keep them in frame. Samsung’s research and MX teams explain how the feature works, the challenges of on‑phone processing and tips for getting the best results.
Samsung turned its Gamescom 2026 booth into a battleground for the #PlayGalaxy Cup, a global mobile‑gaming league that culminated in a two‑day final featuring 10 teams on the Galaxy S26 Ultra. The Malaysian squad took the crown, while visitors sampled the new S26 Ultra, Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra.
Samsung adds a new 14‑inch Galaxy Book6 to its laptop range, priced from $799 (≈£650). The model offers up to 25 hours of battery life, Intel Core 3 or 5 CPUs, 8‑16 GB RAM, and a suite of Galaxy AI tools that sync with Samsung phones and tablets.
The new Fold8 launches with My FanCam, an on‑device AI tool that tracks a chosen subject throughout a video. Samsung’s research and MX teams explain how the feature works, why it matters for UK creators and what to watch for when using it.
At Design Miami Seoul, Samsung unveiled ‘Design is an Act of Love’, an exhibition where 14 Korean artists re‑imagined flagship products – from the Galaxy Z Fold 8 to the S95H OLED TV – using AI‑enhanced creativity.
Through its Generation 17 partnership with the UNDP, Samsung is supporting Soumda Dabriwal’s Baaba project, which has trained 4,500 local “Baala Bosses”, reached 1.8 million women and girls and distributed 5.1 million reusable period kits across India.
At Berlin’s IFA 2026, Samsung’s Bespoke AI lineup earned top honours in design and home‑appliance categories, showcasing AI‑driven comfort, sleek aesthetics and space‑saving engineering.
At Gamescom 2026 Samsung announced four new Odyssey displays for 2027, including a 49‑inch Dual‑QHD 360 Hz OLED, a 42‑inch curved OLED, a 32‑inch multi‑mode panel and a 27‑inch 1,100 Hz monitor. HDR10+ gaming will debut with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 and over 20 AAA titles by mid‑2027.
Samsung’s CSR manager for Africa, Lefa Makgato, explains how programmes like the Solar‑Powered Internet School and Solve for Tomorrow are giving young Africans access to mobile‑first learning, shaping future innovators and reinforcing Samsung’s brand in emerging markets.
A post on Vodafone Egypt’s site hints at pricing for Apple’s upcoming foldable iPhone Ultra and the iPhone 18 Pro/Pro Max. The Ultra may cost around $2,000, while the Pro models could be about 10% pricier than their 2025 predecessors – a potential shock for UK contract shoppers.
A Chinese source claims to have reverse‑engineered the upcoming Apple A20 Pro SoC, revealing a 2‑plus‑4 CPU layout, a larger L2 cache on the efficiency cores and a 7‑core GPU – details that could shape the iPhone 18 Pro and Ultra launch on 9 September.
Honor has published official repair pricing for the Robot Phone in China. Replacing the integrated gimbal camera costs CNY 3,079, while the motherboard can reach CNY 6,599. The phone starts at CNY 9,999.
Purported marketing slides for the Poco X8 and X8 Power have leaked on X, pointing to Redmi Note 17 Pro and Pro Max rebrands with large batteries, bright AMOLEDs and strong IP ratings. An India launch is rumoured by early September.
Leaks point to a 15 September India debut for Redmi Note 17 Pro and Pro Max. The Pro keeps a 9,000 mAh battery, while the Pro Max is tipped with a 10,000 mAh cell, Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 and a 6.8-inch 120Hz OLED. Pricing is rumoured to jump by at least INR 8,000.
Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL include a 6-month Google AI Pro trial worth about $120. The offer isn’t always prompted at setup, so here’s how to find it in the Gemini app and activate before it expires.
The Dutch Data Protection Authority has fined Uber €824.9m (~$966m) for automatically deactivating driver accounts without human review between 2018-2022, breaching GDPR. Uber has appealed the record penalty.
Nintendo Switch Online costs $20/year for online play, classic games and cloud saves, with a $50/year Expansion Pack adding retro libraries and DLC. On Switch 2 it adds GameChat and free Zelda upgrades. Family plans make it even cheaper.
Smartphone cameras handle everyday snaps brilliantly, but dedicated digital cameras still deliver superior image quality, creative control and a more rewarding photography experience in 2026.
