Phone Scoop - Latest News

Google Bringing Agentic AI to Flagship Android Phones

Rich Brome — Tue, 12 May 2026 18:20:44 GMT

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

Rich Brome — Tue, 12 May 2026 18:02:16 GMT

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

Rich Brome — Tue, 12 May 2026 16:26:13 GMT

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

Rich Brome — Mon, 11 May 2026 17:48:37 GMT

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

Rich Brome — Thu, 07 May 2026 18:16:22 GMT

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

Rich Brome — Thu, 07 May 2026 17:59:49 GMT

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

Rich Brome — Tue, 05 May 2026 23:09:32 GMT

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

Rich Brome — Tue, 05 May 2026 18:37:24 GMT

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

Rich Brome — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:01:00 GMT

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.

Motorola Refreshes razr Lineup with Better Batteries & More

Rich Brome — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:00:01 GMT

Motorola is giving its razr lineup of foldable flip phones an update for 2026. There are no dramatic changes, but each model gets at least a couple of notable spec upgrades. Colors and finishes have of course been refreshed, but otherwise the physical designs of each model remain unchanged. The razr and razr+ both get a battery capacity boost of roughly 13% thanks to new silicon-carbon chemistry that the company has been rolling out across its lineup this year. The razr ultra gets a 6% boost, but that gets it up to 5,000 mAh, which is enough to count as the largest battery capacity of any flip phone. The relatively affordable razr (2026) also gets upgraded cameras, with the wide-angle cam getting upgraded to a 50 megapixel sensor. The razr should also be speedier, thanks to an updated Dimensity 7450X processor from MediaTek, and faster RAM. Unfortunately, storage has been downgraded from 256 to 128 GB, likely due to the ongoing memory-chip shortage. The step-up razr+ (2026) undoes the curious 2024 decision to include a telephoto camera instead of a wide-angle one. So the wide-angle camera is back, and it's also a 50 megapixel sensor. The razr ultra (2026) gets a few upgrades, including a main camera sensor with new LOFIC technology. This expands the range of light levels a pixel can measure by 6x, which enables HDR with a single exposure, and improves shooting speed and power efficiency. Motorola has also upgraded the cover glass to Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3, which it claims offers 75% better drop resistance. As usual, Motorola is offering a variety of unique finishes and fresh Pantone colors. The new razr comes in four colors: Hematite (warm gray) with a "woven-inspired" finish, Violet Ice (pink) and Sporting Green with "leather-inspired" finishes, and Bright White in an "acetate" finish. The new razr+ comes only in Mountain View (green) with a "woven-inspired jacquard" finish. The new razr ultra has two options: Cocoa in a natural wood finish, or Orient Blue (purple) in Alcantara (faux suede). Most of the new razr phones will be available for pre-order May 14 and go on sale May 21, unlocked from motorola.com and third-party retailers, as well as some US carriers. Unfortunately, Motorola has raised prices across the board. The razr (2026) will list for $800 and be offered by Boost, Spectrum, Verizon, Visible, Xfinity Mobile, Consumer Cellular, Google Fi, Cox Mobile, T-Mobile, and Cricket. The razr+ (2026) will retail for $1,100 and be offered by AT&T and T-Mobile. The razr ultra (2026) will be offered unlocked for $1,500.

Motorola Prices razr fold at $1,900

Rich Brome — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Motorola will start selling its new flagship foldable, the razr fold, on May 21, with pre-orders available May 14. The device will also come to T-Mobile, Xfinity Mobile, and Verizon "in the coming months".

Supreme Court Takes on Geofence Warrants

Rich Brome — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 14:42:13 GMT

The US Supreme Court is hearing arguments today on whether "geofence warrants" violate the Fourth Amendment's ban on unreasonable searches. Geofence warrants request info on all persons whose phones can be placed within a certain area at a certain time, without naming a specific person of interest. In this case, the warrant was served to Google, and used to find someone who robbed a bank in Virginia. The Supreme Court previously weighed in on phone location data in 2018 when it ruled that getting location data for a specific person required a warrant.

Verizon Opens up Dedicated First Responder Network to Mobile Devices

Rich Brome — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 18:58:06 GMT

After a successful but limited launch of its dedicated virtual network for first responders last year, Verizon is now opening up the network to compatible smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Verizon started its rollout of the network almost exactly one year ago with 30 markets, expanding "nationwide" to 50 major markets last June. However, access to the network has been restricted to connected vehicles, a restriction being removed today. The company calls the network the Verizon Frontline Network Slice. As the name implies, it uses network slicing, a new feature of 5G networks that lets operators create virtual networks that can deliver dedicated resources and specific performance guarantees. First responders can get priority 5G network access regardless of how busy the regular, public network gets. Verizon can also scale the Frontline slice in real time based on the operational needs of first responders. T-Mobile also offers a dedicated 5G network slice for first responders that it calls T-Priority, which started rolling out in late 2024. AT&T has operated FirstNet for first responders since 2018. FirstNet is set up slightly differently, using dedicated spectrum in band 14.

Xfinity Mobile Remixes Plans

Rich Brome — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 19:14:59 GMT

Xfinity Mobile has replaced its two old mobile service plans with two new ones, with restructured pricing and (mostly) upgrades to what's included. The new entry-level plan is Mobile Select, replacing the old "Unlimited" plan. While the old plan was $40/month for the first line and $20 for additional lines, the new plan is simply $30/month for each line. It has several improvements: Full high-speed data is now capped at 50 GB instead of 30 GB. It also now includes 15 GB of high-speed hotspot data. Unlimited international talk/text/data has now expanded to 215+ countries, instead of just Canada and Mexico. Finally, video streaming quality is being bumped from 480p (SD) to 720p (technically HD). The higher-end plan is now called Mobile Plus, replacing "Premium Unlimited". The new plan runs $45/month for each line, instead of $50 for the first and $30 for additional lines. This means a price hike for everyone except solo lines. One all-new included feature is Mobile Care Plus, which covers repairs, replacements, and live tech help for devices connected to your account. High-speed data remains truly unlimited, while high-speed mobile hotspot data has been upped from 30 to 50 GB. It includes 215+ country international service and 4K video streaming. As before, the premium plans gets you Call Guard spam protection. Regular phone upgrades are also included, but now just once per year instead of twice. As always, Xfinity Mobile is only available as an add-on for existing Xfinity home internet customers. The new plans are available starting today.

AT&T Launches New Sonim Phones, Including Thermal-Imaging Model

Rich Brome — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 17:42:32 GMT

AT&T has started offering the Sonim XP Pro Thermal and XP5plus 5G. The XP Pro Thermal has FLIR thermal imaging camera on the back and comes with a dedicated thermal camera app with a wide range of tools for taking and analyzing thermal data in the field. Otherwise, the phone is similar to the standard XP Pro, a rugged Android phone with a relatively sleek design, extra shortcut buttons, support for pro field accessories, and extra-loud speakers. AT&T also launched the XP5plus 5G, a new 5G version of the XP5plus, Sonim's bar-style rugged feature-phone model that, uniquely, is available with or without physical knob controls on top. The new model doesn't just add 5G, but also upgrades the display, processor, and memory. Both phones are available from AT&T today. The XP Pro Thermal sells for $650 while the XP5plus 5G sells for $330. Sonim was recently acquired by Social Mobile, which has also rebranded itself Nexa.

Amazon Gets Serious About Satellite Service for Phones with Purchase of Apple's Service Provider

Rich Brome — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 16:56:50 GMT

Amazon is purchasing GlobalStar, the legacy satellite operator that powers the "Emergency SOS via satellite" feature of iPhones. Amazon will continue to operate GlobalStar's existing and upcoming satellites and services, and they will continue to power the satellite functions of Apple devices. These services will compliment Amazon's own "Leo" broadband data satellite constellation that it is in the middle of building. Going forward, Amazon will blend the two networks by adding D2D (Direct-to-Device) capabilities (similar to what GlobalStar offers for iPhones today, but more advanced) to its own, next-generation Leo satellites. Amazon cites GlobalStar's radio spectrum licenses and operational expertise as key enablers for adding D2D capability to Leo. First-generation Leo satellites started launching to orbit one year ago. Amazon plans to start launching next-gen Leo satellites with D2D in 2028. Leo competes with SpaceX's Starlink, which already offers D2D service for T-Mobile. Amazon Leo will not only continue to work with Apple, but will court mobile network operators "and additional partners", competing with both SpaceX and AST SpaceMobile to provide satellite service for carriers where their land-based networks don't reach.

TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro Lands at T-Mobile

Rich Brome — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 14:55:07 GMT

TCL continues to makes inroads in the US market with its NXTPAPER matte-display technology, with T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile now offering the new NXTPAPER 70 Pro. The 70 Pro is an affordable 5G phone at just $200, yet offers TCL's unique NXTPAPER 4.0 display technology in a large 6.9" format with 120 Hz refresh, 50 megapixel camera with OIS, 5,200 mAh battery with 33W fast charging, an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, 8 GB of RAM, and 128 GB of (expandable) storage. It also supports Bluetooth Auracast, is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chipset, and launches with Android 16. A dedicated NXTPAPER switch on the side makes it easy to activate to special display modes like Color Paper Mode and Ink Paper Mode. TCL claims the battery can last up to 7 days with the display set to Reading Mode. The phone is also compatible with an optional stylus.

Insta360 Launches Screen Accessory for Better Selfies

Rich Brome — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 17:32:25 GMT

The Insta360 Snap is a new phone accessory with a display (and optional ring light) that makes it easy to frame and shoot photos of yourself using your phone's higher-quality rear camera. The Snap can attach to the back of a phone magnetically (via MagSafe) and uses a wired connection to the phone via USB-C. The display is a touchscreen that mirrors the phone's main display, allowing full camera control. This also makes it compatible with third-party camera and social media apps. It's compatible with iPhone 15 and newer, as well as higher-end Android phones (that support DisplayPort via USB-C Alt Mode.) A magnetic ring is included to add magnetic attachment to phones that don't already have it. The version with integrated lighting lets the user adjust the light color and brightness. The Insta360 Snap is available now for $90 with light, and $80 without.

Samsung Brings Back the Galaxy Z TriFold

Rich Brome — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:44:11 GMT

This Friday, Samsung will once again sell its exotic $2,900 phone with two hinges that unfolds into a 10-inch tablet. Samsung started selling the device in the US this January in limited quantities, then "ended" sales a few weeks ago.

Motorola Updates its Stylus Phone

Rich Brome — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Motorola has announced the 2026 moto g stylus, a minor update to last year's model. Improvements include a larger battery (5,200 mAh) and improved water resistance (up to IPX9, and the touch screen works when wet). Other features and specs are largely unchanged, including a 6.7-inch OLED display with 1.5K "Super HD" resolution, Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor, 8 GB RAM, 128 GB base storage, 50 megapixel main camera, and 13 megapixel wide-angle camera. Similarly, it keeps wired fast charging up to 68W and 15W wireless charging. The powered stylus is included and integrated into the body, supporting features like "Quick Clip" to send any text to the Notes app, Hover to Magnify, and Google's Circle to Search feature. It also still includes a 3.5mm headset jack and expandable storage via memory card. The new moto g stylus will go on sale in the US starting at $500 unlocked on April 16. Google Fi will also launch it that day, with subsequent availability at Spectrum, Cricket, AT&T, Xfinity, and Optimum. Motorola will offer a launch promotion that throws in a free 4-pack of moto tags with 128 GB version; the 256 GB version will come with a free pair of moto buds loop earbuds, a moto watch, and a moto tag.