Sonim XP Pro Launches on AT&T
After initially launching with Verizon in November, Sonim's XP Pro is now available from AT&T as well. The XP Pro is a rugged Android smartphone with a much sleeker profile than the company's previous rugged smartphones. It has a good upper-mid-range specs, a large portfolio of available accessories, and is manufactured in Taiwan. Sonim recently announced a version of the XP Pro with an integrated FLIR thermal camera, that will come to the US later this year. Sonim also recently launched the XP3plus 5G on T-Mobile, which also adds 5G — among other upgrades — to its main flip-phone model.
Samsung's Next Flagship Foldable Will be Ultra
Samsung announced that it's bringing its "Ultra" branding to its foldable phone lineup soon. The accompanying teaser animation shows a device that opens like a book, similar to the company's current Galaxy Z Fold6 model. It's not clear if this means the company will offer an additional Fold model this year (one Ultra and one non-Ultra), or simply offer one model but apply Ultra branding. Ultra branding usually implies the very highest-end — and most expensive — model in a Samsung lineup, so a price hike for the top model could be in store as well.
Google Kills Off PayPal in Google Wallet
Google Wallet is turning off the ability to link a PayPal account directly with Google Wallet in the US. After June 13, this special integration will only be continue to be available in Germany. Instead, users are encouraged to add a PayPal Debit Mastercard to Google Wallet for roughly similar functionality. PayPal and Google did not give a reason for this change.
Life360 Integrates Tile Tags
Nearly four years after acquiring Tile, Life360 has now fully merged most Tile app functionality into its own Life360 app. Life360 is a family locator app. Tile is the original Bluetooth object-tracking tag that preceded Apple AirTags and similar products. Life360 users can now "add, set up, and manage Tile trackers right inside the Life360 app." Both family members and Tile trackers appear on the same integrated map, with leave-behind alerts and location history. Life360 has also set up a way to connect existing Tile accounts to a new Life360 account.
OnePlus Replaces Alert Slider with Plus Key for AI
OnePlus has announced its new AI strategy that will debut with the forthcoming OnePlus 13s phone. The company is replacing its hallmark alert slider switch with a new shortcut button that can perform a variety of functions, such as switching sound profiles, launching the camera, turning on the flashlight, or initiating AI-powered language translations. But its default function seems to be launching Plus Mind, a new feature that seemingly captures screenshots and then, later, lets you search the content of those screenshots with natural-language AI. The OnePlus 13s will be OnePlus' "first compact flagship". The company announced other new AI features, including call transcription for both regular phone calls and those in third-party apps. A new language translation tool can translate anything on your screen in real time. AI Reframe can crop and reframe existing photos, and even offer versions that appear to be taken from different angles.
Consumer Cellular Launches White-Label Service for MVNOs
Consumer Cellular is launching "Enabler IQ", a turnkey service for brands wishing to launch their own mobile service as an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator). AT&T will provide the 5G and 4G network for the service, while Consumer Cellular will provide billing, provisioning, logistics, and US-based customer care. Consumer Cellular will also provide web and mobile apps, "configurable to reflect the partner's brand identity." Consumer Cellular says it envisions potential partners that include "retailers, cable operators, device manufacturers, financial institutions, and celebrity endorsers."
Cricket Expands Unlimited Plan Options
Cricket has introduced a new service plan called Simply Unlimited that brings a form of "unlimited data" to a new low price point of $40/month for one line. Previously, its cheapest "Unlimited Plan" was $55/month. Simply Unlimited strips out several perks to reach the lower price, including international texting, Mexico and Canada usage, cloud storage, and the option of a mobile hotspot add-on. Although data is unlimited, it is not what Cricket calls "high-speed data", meaning "Cricket may temporarily slow data speeds if network is busy." Cricket offers a different $40/month plan that includes 10 GB of "high-speed data", although data slows to a paltry 128 Kbps after the 10 GB is used up.
Samsung Details its Next Big Software Update
Samsung has announced One UI 8, its customized version of Android 16. The software is now available in beta for the Galaxy S25 series, with a final version debuting first on new Samsung foldable phones this summer, then rolling out to other Galaxy devices in the following months. One UI 8 includes a new Reminder app, designed to let you "manage all your reminders in one place". You can add items via voice, and "share a list of to-dos ... with the press of a button." The software also makes it easier to connect earbuds to Bluetooth Auracast audio streams via QR codes. Samsung has worked closely with Google to accelerate development and make "One UI 8 one of the first UI platforms to adopt Android 16."
Texas Joins Utah in Mandating App Stores Verify Age
The Texas Governor has signed a new law that requires app stores to verify users' ages and obtain parental approval for a minor to download software or make in-app purchases. Utah enacted a similar law in March. Apple and Google have vocally opposed both laws, insisting that checking IDs for everyone using any app store would be a violation of users' privacy. Apple and/or Google may still challenge the laws in court.
Hands On with the New Moto Edge
Motorola is rounding out its 2025 lineup of phones with the new edge (2025). This mid-range phone has a fancy curved-edge display that gives it a unique look and feel. It helps the phone have thinner bezels, and look and feel extra-thin. What's it like in person? Read on for our hands-on report.
Motorola's new Edge Adds Tele Camera, Among Other Upgrades
Motorola has announced the 2025 edition of its mid-range "edge" phone model. Like most previous generations, it has a curved-edge display, which measures 6.7 inches and has "Super HD" resolution of 1220 x 2712 pixels, with 120 Hz refresh. The battery is now larger, with an unusual 5,200 mAh capacity. It also can charge at up to 68W with the right charger, and has wireless charging. The waterproof rating has been upped to IP69 and it now has military ratings for ruggedness. The camera system has an added telephoto camera (10 megapixel, 3x optical) accompanying a 50 megapixel main camera and wide-angle/macro lens. The processor is now a MediaTek Dimensity 7400, but memory stays the same at 8 GB RAM and 256 GB storage. A new, dedicated AI button on the side can trigger Motorola's unique AI features like "Catch Me Up", which summarizes missed notifications. The front is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 7i, while the back is a "soft leather-inspired finish". The phone comes in one color at launch: a dark green that Pantone call Deep Forest. It will launch unlocked on June 5th for $550, and will also come to T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile, Total Wireless, Visible, Spectrum, and Xfinity Mobile.
Trump Expands Tariff Threat to All Smartphones
After threatening a 25% tariff against Apple this morning unless they start making iPhones in the US, President Trump clarified this afternoon that the threat applies to all smartphone makers. The tariffs would start at the end of June.
Trump Threatens 25% Tariff on Apple Unless iPhones are Made in US
The latest salvo in the Trump administration's ever-shifting trade war is a new threat of a 25% tariff on all Apple products manufactured outside the US (which is essentially all Apple products, including iPhones). Trump's initial focus seemed to be China, which is why Apple has spent recent months pivoting its manufacturing plans for US-bound iPhones to manufacturing capacity it has spent years building up in India (and would now expand). Experts say it would take Apple a number of years to build that kind of manufacturing capacity in the US, and would raise the cost of a $1,200 iPhone to "anywhere from $1,500 to $3,500." Apple's current manufacturing capacity in China, India, and Vietnam includes a vast and complex supply chain of local parts suppliers that does not exist in or near the US.
TCL Brings 5G to its Newest Flip Phone
TCL has launched a new flip phone, its first with 5G. The TCL FLIP 4 5G is now available from Metro by T-Mobile. 5G in basic/flip phones is a new trend for 2025. Sonim recently launched the XP3plus 5G on T-Mobile, which also adds 5G (among other upgrades) to its main flip-phone model. The TCL FLIP 4 5G runs KaiOS 4.0 and comes with apps such as Google Maps, Google Search, YouTube, E-Mail, FM Radio, weather, and a web browser. It offers HD Voice and noise cancellation for clear phone calls. It has a 5 megapixel camera with flash, memory card slot, and 3.5mm headset jack. Metro lists a retail price of $80, although many customers may be eligible to get the phone for free.
Samsung DeX Merged Into Android 16
In Google's developer keynote address at its I/O event this week, the company announced that it will bring the desktop-mode feature of high-end Samsung phones to Android 16. Google and Samsung have been working together on the new feature, which is built "on the foundation of Samsung DeX to bring enhanced desktop windowing capabilities in Android 16 for more powerful productivity workflows." The feature lets an Android phone work more like a desktop computer when plugged into an external display. Apps are displayed in resizable windows and users can add a full keyboard and mouse. Google is pushing Android app developers to make their apps "adaptive", or more smoothly compatible with a larger variety of screen shapes and sizes, including this new desktop mode.
FCC Restricts Chinese Companies from Phone Testing Process
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted new rules that ban any company suspected of having ties to the Chinese government from participating in the process to approve new radio devices — including phones — for use in the US. The FCC already banned the sale of devices manufactured by such companies. To be sold or used legally in the US, all radio-transmitting devices must pass a series of tests prescribed by the FCC. But the FCC does not conduct these tests itself; they are conducted by independent, accredited private labs. The FCC will now limit which entities can perform this testing — and which entities can accredit them — based on "trustworthiness" (in relation to ties to the Chinese government). The evaluations of each company will be based on determinations made by the Defense Department and Department of Commerce.
Fortnite Returns to Apple iOS App Store
Following a years-long legal battle that has fundamentally reshaped the economics of Apple's App Store, the popular game Fortnite has triumphantly returned to the App Store. Fortnite's developer, Epic Games, led the lawsuit against Apple's tight restrictions on third-party payments. Other apps, including Spotify, have also reacted quickly to the legal ruling that forced Apple to loosen those restrictions in the US.
Google Gemini Live AI App Can Now Take Action in Other Apps
Google is adding the ability for Gemini Live to integrate with other Google apps. For example, it can create calendar entries in Google Calendar or make a new list in Google Keep, upon request, based on the output of a conversation.
