Motorola Razr Fold is First with New 5G Tech That Downloads 20% Faster
The new Motorola razr Fold will be the first phone in the US to support a new 5G Advanced technology called 6Rx, and T-Mobile will be the only US carrier to support this technology at launch. 6Rx enables up to 20% faster download speeds thanks to six separate radio antennas, instead of the usual two to four. Most modern phones leverage MIMO technology, where multiple antennas — at some physical distance from each other — can deliver better performance. Because of the need for physical distance, the size of modern smartphones limits how many antennas can usefully be included. But foldable phones like the razr Fold, when unfolded, offer enough physical area to include up to six antennas with enough physical distance from each other to improve performance via MIMO. In a forthcoming version of the 5G standard, 6Rx will be able to boost download speeds by up to 50% in some conditions. T-Mobile will start selling the razr Fold and the 2026 razr on May 28.
AT&T Launches Flexible Plan You Can Change Month-to-Month
AT&T is launching "Build-A-Plan", a new option for people on a budget who may need more data some months than others, and have advance notice of those needs. The base plan is just $15/month, which includes 1 GB of data, plus unlimited talk and text. In advance of each monthly billing cycle, you can choose to add phone data and/or hotspot data. 5GB of data costs $5/month, 15 GB costs $10, and unlimited data (with SD video streaming) is $20. The data buckets replace the 1 GB of the base plan. Hotspot data buckets are available at 5, 25, and 50GB, for $5, $15, and $20, respectively. Hotspot data buckets are only available when purchased with phone data buckets of equal or greater amounts. The unlimited phone data options are not "premium data", meaning data speeds may be temporarily slowed when the network is busy. This plan requires that you supply your own unlocked, eSIM-capable phone. There is no family plan / multi-line version of this plan. Prices do not include taxes and fees.
T-Mobile Launches Beta of Network-Based Language Translation
The service, first announced in February, is AI-powered and network-based, so it works with any T-Mobile phone, even non-smartphones. T-Mobile say it now supports 80 languages "and counting", up from 50 initially.
TCL K70 Comes to Verizon Prepaid for $50
Verizon Prepaid and TCL have launched the TCL K70, a new addition to TCL's entry-level K-series smartphone lineup. For just $10 more than the TCL K33 ($50 instead of $40), the new K70 offers a larger battery (5,200 vs. 5,010 mAh), faster charging (33W vs. 18W), double the storage (128 vs. 64 GB), better cameras (50 vs. 13 megapixel for the main), and adds NFC for tap payments. Both phones sport a large 6.8-inch display. The K70 is powered by a Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 chipset with 4 GB of RAM.
Google Brings Vibe Coding to Android
Google today announced an Android version of its AI Studio app for building apps using generative AI, enabling vibe coding on the go. Apps started on your phone can then be moved to a desktop environment to finish. Google also announced that the desktop version of AI Studio now includes native support for building Android apps, streamlining a process that previously required the installation of a full app-development software suite.
Auto-Generated Video Captions Coming to iPhone
Apple is previewing several new accessibility features coming "later this year". The most important might be video subtitles (captions) that are automatically generated on-device for uncaptioned videos. This includes video content "recorded on iPhone, received from friends and family, or streamed online." This feature is coming to most Apple platforms, including iPhone. Google added a similar feature, called Live Caption, to Android seven years ago. Apple is also enhancing its existing VoiceOver, Magnifier, Voice Control, and Accessibility Reader features with AI, enabling queries that use more natural language, follow-up questions, and more detailed responses. Apple is also adding a new API that will support adding a human interpreter to an ongoing FaceTime video call within a sign language interpretation app.
Google's Wear OS 7 Brings New Widgets, Live Updates
Google has announced version 7 of its Wear OS platform for smartwatches. The software is more efficient, delivering 10% better battery life. It also replaces "Tiles" with "Widgets" that are more like the home-screen widgets on Android. Also new are Live Update Notifications, notifications that update with progress info over time, a feature that Android gained in version 16. A new "Remote Output Switcher" in the system media controls will make it easier to choose where music should play. Google is also introducing a few features for developers that will enhance AI features and make it easier to develop workout apps.
Google Shows Off New Smart Glasses
Google has revealed more details of its forthcoming Android XR smart-glasses platform, including a sneak peak at two of the designs that will launch this fall. The first Android XR glasses will be an "audio" type that does not include any kind of display. Later, Google plans to launch a "display" type that does. All of them will act as an extension of your smartphone (iOS or Android), performing similarly to Bluetooth earbuds but with a camera. This lets you access the Gemini assistant hands-free, with both voice and visual input to answer questions and perform common tasks. Google has partnered with Samsung and Qualcomm for the technology, as well as Warby Parker and Gentle Monster for the designs. Google provided a number of examples for how they might be useful: You can ask Gemini about anything you see, such as learning the name of that cloud formation or quickly decoding a confusing parking sign. It can also do real-time language translation of someone speaking to you, or of text in front of you. It can give you turn-by-turn directions, knowing which way you're facing. You can manage calls and messages, or summarize missed messages. You can also snap photos and videos, and even mix in AI. For example, you can ask it to "take a picture and put everyone in funny hats". It can also access third-party apps such as getting an Uber. Gemini can be summoned by saying "Hey Google" or just tapping the side of the frame. Google did not detail any specific privacy features related to the camera. Specific launch timing and pricing was also not revealed.
Major US Carriers Join Forces to Improve Satellite Service for Phones
AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon have agreed to form a new joint venture focused on improving direct-to-device (D2D) satellite connectivity in cellular dead zones. All three carriers already have such services in operation or close to launch, and those efforts will continue independently. The new venture will aim to "[pool] limited spectrum resources to increase capacity", provide "redundant connectivity" when existing ground-based networks are unavailable, and give customers "simpler access to satellite services". As a first step, "provider options will expand". The joint venture does not seem to aim to launch its own service, but rather "more satellite service providers will gain opportunities to compete, invest, and grow". The companies promise a "standards-based approach" in cooperation with mobile OS providers, phone makers, and app developers. The new joint venture could be seen as a way for US carriers to wrestle back some degree of power and control over D2D satellite service. Apple and Google have launched their own, brand-specific D2D services, independent of the carriers. AT&T and Verizon are reliant on AST SpaceMobile for their forthcoming D2D service. T-Mobile has partnered with SpaceX for its Starlink D2D service using T-Mobile spectrum. SpaceX recently purchased its own radio spectrum to expand its D2D service, although it's unclear what shape that service might take.
Google Bringing Agentic AI to Flagship Android Phones
Google today announced several new AI features for Android, that will start to roll out with new Samsung and Pixel phones this summer. Gemini Intelligence is agentic AI that works across your apps to perform multi-steps tasks for you. Examples include "snagging a front-row bike for your spin class", "finding your class syllabus in Gmail then putting the books you need in your cart", or, while looking at a shopping list in your notes app, "build[ing] a shopping cart with all of the items for delivery". Google Intelligence can continue a task in the background while showing progress via a live notification. It will also stop and ask for final confirmation before completing a task. Create My Widget is a new "generative UI" feature of Gemini Intelligence that will create new, custom widgets for your home screen simply from your description. This might include a countdown to an event, meal suggestions, or a custom weather widget that only includes the specific data you're most interested in. Finally, Google is also making its auto-fill feature smarter, using Gemini's Personal Intelligence to fill in more fields.
Android Auto Gets Revamp
Google has revealed the next version of Android Auto and Google Built-In for cars. A new layout includes edge-to-edge Google Maps navigation that better fits various display shapes, and widgets, such as contacts, weather, or a garage door opener. Google Maps also gains "Immersive Navigation", a vivid 3D view that shows buildings, overpasses, and terrain. It also aims to do a better job highlighting critical details, such as lanes, traffic lights, and stop signs. On supported phones, it will also surface Gemini Intelligence, the new version of Gemini with more agentic features. For example, "if you get a text from a friend asking for an address, Magic Cue will understand the context of the question, find the answer using information from your text messages, email or calendar, and offer to send a reply with the right information". This new version of Android Auto will roll out through the rest of this year.
Samsung Begins Public Beta Testing of Android 17
Samsung is releasing the first public beta version of One UI 9 — the company's spin on Android 17 — this week. Galaxy S26 series users can apply to join the beta program via the Samsung Members app. The beta software will start to become available this week in several countries, including the US. Notable new features in the beta OS include greater Quick Panel customization, as well as enhanced accessibility and security features. The final (non-beta) version of One UI 9 will debut on "upcoming Galaxy flagship devices later this year" and include new "advanced AI features" that may not be included in the beta version. Google is also offering public beta versions of Android 17 for its Pixel devices.
Cross-Platform RCS Messaging Gaining Encryption
Apple and Google have jointly announced the rollout of end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS messaging between Apple and Android devices. When RCS messages are end-to-end encrypted, they can't be intercepted and read while in transit between devices, improving privacy and security. Encryption will be on by default and will be automatically enabled over time for new and existing RCS conversations. On both platforms, a small lock icon will confirm when an RCS chat is encrypted. The feature requires iOS 26.5 or, on Android, the latest version of the Google Messages app. It also requires carrier support. The two companies still describe the feature as in "beta". E2EE was officially added to the RCS standard a little over a year ago, and Apple pledged to support it at that time.
New "Google Health" App to Replace Google Fit and Fitbit
Google is renaming the Fitbit app to "Google Health", adding new features, and positioning it to replace the existing Google Fit app. The new app integrates with other apps and APIs — including Health Connect, Apple Health, and the Google Health APIs — to sync and unify your health data in one place. A new layout offers four main tabs: Today, Fitness, Sleep, and Health. The Today and Health tabs offer customizable dashboards for quick access to your favorite metrics. The app also supports digital medical records and leaderboards for competing with friends on steps and cardio load. Existing users of the Fitbit app will receive an automatic update to Google Health starting May 19. Google will invite Google Fit users to migrate their data to Google Health "later this year".
Qualcomm Makes Modest Updates to its Entry-Level Phone Chips
Qualcomm has announced the Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 and Snapdragon 4 Gen chips intended to power affordable phones. For once, AI is not the focus of these new chips. One new technology in both chips is "Snapdragon Smooth Motion UI". In the 6 Gen 5, this should deliver 20% faster app launches and 18% less screen stutter. In the 4 Gen 5, it should deliver 43% faster app launches and 25% less screen stutter. The Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 offers the most upgrades compared to the Gen 4 version, although also a few curious downgrades. Graphics performance gets a 21% boost. The CPU has been re-arranged: instead of one "prime" core running at 2.3 GHz plus three "performance" cores, the new chip simply has four performance cores running at 2.6 GHz. There are also still four efficiency cores, now running at 2 GHz instead of 1.8. The camera subsystem gains a new night vision mode, the sole new AI-powered feature. However there are only two 12-bit ISPs, instead the three found in Gen 4. The 5G modem gets some minor upgrades, but removes support for mmWave 5G. The other radios do get upgrades, including Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and support for XPAN, Qualcomm's unique audio-over-Wi-Fi technology. Most other specs carry over from the Gen 4 chip. The Snapdragon 4 Gen 5 is the first update to the main 4-series chip since the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2, announced back in 2023. Even so, it makes surprisingly few changes. Qualcomm promises 77% improved graphics performance. The camera subsystem now has built-in support for face detection. The chip also supports Quick Charge 5 (previously, 4+) and 144 Hz display refresh (up from 120). Otherwise, the new 4-series chip is almost the same as the 2023 version, including Bluetooth 5.1 and Wi-Fi 5. Both new chips are expected to reach consumers in new phones in 2026.
Apple Reaches $250 Settlement for Failing to Deliver AI Siri as Advertised
A class-action lawsuit against Apple for false advertising has reached a settlement of $250 million. Apple showed off a smarter, personalized version of Siri at its WWDC event in 2024 and promised to ship the feature by the end of that year. This was specifically advertised as one several Apple Intelligence features of the iPhone 16 lineup and the iPhone 15 Pro. But the feature never shipped. Apple waited until March 2025 to admit that the feature was delayed. Consumers who purchased a an iPhone 16 or 15 Pro may be eligible for part of the settlement if it's approved by a judge.
Approximate Location Comes to Chrome on Android
Google is updating its Chrome web browser for Android devices to support the sharing of "Approximate" location data with web sites that do not need "Precise" location data, such as web sites offering local weather or news. This is a privacy-enhancing feature. Web sites that do need precise location data will still be able to request that from users. And new APIs will allow web developers to indicate which type of location data they need, to streamline the permissions process for users.
Hands On with the 2026 Motorola razr Lineup
Motorola has refreshed its lineup of razr phones for 2026. Most of the changes are minor, putting a few small upgrades into the same three bodies. We also spent time with Motorola's first book-style foldable phone, the razr fold. With all of its phones, Motorola puts a big focus on CMF: color, material, and finish. So we spent some hands-on time with all four new razrs to check how they look and feel in person. Read on for our impressions.
