Worldwide smartphone market share remains largely unchanged as Samsung and Apple continue to battle it out for the top spot in global shipments. Partly due to a successful Galaxy Z Fold 7 launch, Samsung holds the top spot.
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Andrew Romero is a North Carolina-based journalist specializing in Android and Google news, reviews, and in-depth analysis. With a keen eye for detail honed from his previous career as a CNC machinist, Andrew possesses a unique appreciation for hardware and the intricate engineering behind the technology we use daily.
He brings this passion to his coverage, offering insightful perspectives on the latest devices, software updates, and the evolving Google ecosystem. When he’s not diving into the world of tech, Andrew can be found tackling the trails on his mountain bike, enjoying the natural beauty of his home state of North Carolina alongside his wife.
Andrew is active on Twitter – @chaosromero – but can also be found on Threads – @organizedchaos50.
Emails are open at andrew@9to5mac.com
T-Mobile’s emergency payments system is going online-only
Users who need to take advantage of T-Mobile’s payment arrangements in uncertain times will need to do it all in app – no more in-store visits allowed.
Expand Expanding CloseSamsung teases Exynos for ‘key flagship’ phones in 2026, hinting at Galaxy S26 takeover
Samsung seems to be committed to making Exynos SoCs a bigger deal in its own flagship lineup, and that likely starts with the Exynos 2600 in the Galaxy S26 series.
Expand Expanding CloseGalaxy Watch 5 is getting one more update before Wear OS 6
Samsung has made it clear that the Galaxy Watch 5 series will eventually get Wear OS 6. A new update is rolling out, but it isn’t One UI 8 based on Wear OS 6.
Expand Expanding CloseThreads ‘ghost posts’ vanish after 24 hours and let everyone know – how to create them
Threads launched a new feature that allows for more expression. “Ghost posts” let you post disappearing content to Threads that automatically vanishes from everyone’s feed 24 hours later, just like Instagram stories. Here’s how to create them.
Expand Expanding CloseSamsung considering increased Galaxy phone prices due to rising DRAM costs
There has been some fear that Samsung’s rising memory costs would impact other manufacturers that use its DRAM in devices. Apparently, shortages are affecting the memory fabricator so much that Samsung’s own Galaxy phones may see a price increase.
Expand Expanding CloseSamsung shows off Galaxy Z TriFold, says it will still launch ‘this year’
After months of speculation and leaks, most involving animations alone, Samsung has finally pulled back the curtain and shown off the Galaxy TriFold in person. Apparently, Samsung still wants to launch the device before the year is up.
Expand Expanding CloseHere are all of the fun like button animations in YouTube’s redesign
Like Pokémon, it’s fun to try and snatch up every new custom like button in YouTube’s redesign. One user put together an animated list of every new icon.
Expand Expanding CloseSamsung’s Galaxy S20 FE won’t get another security update
The current expected support period for new Android phones is around seven years, but that became commonplace after the Galaxy S20 FE was released. If Samsung holds its promise, the Galaxy S20 FE is going to officially drop from the security update list soon.
Expand Expanding CloseQualcomm Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 packs upgraded CPU and GPU
Firmly grounded in the midrange category, the Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 from Qualcomm brings some significant increase over its predecessor.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Phone might add ‘my calling card’ option that works like a social profile photo
Set Calling Cards on Android are wonderful for personalized contacts, but what may be better is setting your own Calling Card that shows up on other devices when you call others. That might be in the works, according to one insight report.
Expand Expanding CloseGood Pixel 10 Pro Fold cases are a rare sight, these are some of our favorites
Understandably, case manufacturers don’t seem to prioritize the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. That means there are fewer case options for users to choose from. These options are great if you’re struggling to find one for your Pixel.
Expand Expanding CloseAmazon Luna’s shift to local multiplayer games goes live with new redesign
With game streaming giants taking a foothold, Amazon Luna has fallen behind in many ways. A new redesign to the Amazon Luna app could change that with a new multiplayer section, and it’s now live.
Expand Expanding CloseReview: Ecovacs’ flagship robot lawn mower isn’t cheap, but it still saves on lawncare
The natural progression of robotic home care is robot lawn mowers, because obviously it is. There are plenty of options on the market now, but the Ecovacs Goat A3000 comes from a company that knows home robots well. It doesn’t come cheap, but it’s still more affordable than getting a human to do it.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Photos brings 3D photo ‘experiences’ to Samsung’s Android XR headset
Android XR devices, like Samsung’s newly launched Galaxy XR headset, are getting some neat Google Photos tricks. One Android XR trick turns your 2D photos into 3D ones, similar to spatial photos on the Apple Vision Pro.
Expand Expanding CloseSamsung revives Galaxy Z Fold 7 and S25 boosted trade-ins up to $1,000, free storage upgrade
Deals with Samsung Galaxy devices don’t generally get as good as they were during launch. For a limited time, the company is bringing some of those deals back with up to $1,000 off the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and boosted trade-ins for the Galaxy S25 series with free storage upgrades.
Expand Expanding CloseIt’s not just you, everything went down thanks to Amazon outage
An AWS (Amazon Web Services) outage knocked a massive portion of online services out of service, which has had rippling effects on internet connectivity for users. The failure highlights a frightening reliance on the cloud service.
Expand Expanding CloseOura is redesigning its app weeks after Ceramic Ring launch
The Oura app was already one of the easiest health tracking apps to use, and the company says that its getting an overhaul to make it even better with new features.
Expand Expanding CloseYouTube TV is losing Formula 1 broadcasts to Apple TV
Formula 1 is moving from its home with ESPN to Apple TV, and that means YouTube TV will no longer be the place to watch F1 racing.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle confirms ‘Ask Photos’ isn’t available in some states, and face grouping might be to blame
Google’s AI-powered Ask Photos and conversational editing features are a large part of the Pixel lineup and other Android devices, but some reports say the features are missing. It might have something to do with Google’s “face grouping” function.
Expand Expanding CloseXiaomi commits to more rear displays after 17 series broke records
Whether it’s just a trend or not, the rear display isn’t going away soon. Xiaomi clarified that the company is committed to improving the rear display panel with its next Android device.
Expand Expanding CloseGalaxy S25 Edge and Z Flip 7 FE hit record low prices, where they should be
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE launched at a price point that suggested much more than a rewrap of the previous flagship model, and the Galaxy S25 Edge fell to the same trap, though it had nothing to go on. Both devices are on sale and heavily discounted to prices they should have been at launch.
Expand Expanding CloseSamsung outlines Android XR headset safety guidelines during reservation period
The first Android XR headset is launching on October 21, and Samsung has laid out some ground rules before the Galaxy device is official.
Expand Expanding CloseHonor managed to rip off Apple and Sony in strange ‘Robot Phone’ teaser video [Gallery]
Honor is going all in on its “Alpha Plan” in a strange yet terrifying teaser video of its in-progress AI phone, the “Robot Phone.” In the process, the company makes design choices that bear striking resemblances to existing IPs.
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