Big news! Mint Mobile just got the Samsung Galaxy S26 back in stock, and it's still one of the best phone deals on the web

Mint Mobile offers some of my favorite Android phone deals on the web, but when these promotions go out of stock, they're usually gone for good. Fortunately, that's not the case with the Samsung Galaxy S26, as the prepaid carrier just brought back one of my favorite deals of 2026 thus far.

Purchase the Samsung Galaxy S26 with one year of the Unlimited plan and Mint Mobile will give you $500 off the phone AND 50% off the wireless. That means you're getting a powerful 2026 flagship phone and a full 12 months of T-Mobile-powered wireless service for only $580 upfront (or $49 per month using affirm). The deal gets even better when you trade in, as Mint Mobile will give you up to $400 of additional savings depending on the age and condition of the device.

In fact, the entire S26 lineup is included to the deal, which means you can save $500 (and get the discounted wireless) on the Galaxy S26 Plus and Galaxy S26 Ultra if you need a more powerful phone.

Mint Mobile just resurrected one of my favorite Galaxy S26 deals of all time

Samsung Galaxy S26 256GB: $900 $400, plus 50% off one year of Unlimited at Mint Mobile

The Samsung Galaxy S26 is a sleek flagship phone that comes equipped with a gorgeous 6.3-inch OLED display, a powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, and all of the latest AI-boosted software features. You also get an upgraded battery and seven years of guaranteed OS and security updates.

Purchase the phone from Mint Mobile alongside one year of the Unlimited plan and the carrier will slash $500 off the phone AND give you 50% off the wireless, no strings attached. View Deal

I've been covering Samsung Galaxy S26 deals on a regular basis since the phone first debuted in March, and Mint's offer continues to impress as one of the best on the web. It's really all about the simplicity for me. Unlike most carrier deals, which force you to process a trade-in or sign up for some expensive data plan to receive the savings, all you need to do is hit the Add to Cart button to receive the phone and wireless bundle.

Activation just takes a few minutes, and again, it'll only cost you $580 out the door to get a new phone AND cover your phone bill until 2027. Considering that the Galaxy S26 usually retails for $900 on its own, it's a pretty remarkable opportunity.

Sure, if you prefer the simplicity of unlocked phones or you don't want to commit to a full year of Mint, then this deal isn't for you. But if you hate paying your phone bill and you want a great deal on a great Samsung phone, grab this Mint Mobile offer before it really disappears.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 just broke cover in a Samsung store — and the US price has leaked too

What you need to know

• The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is expected to cost $2,099 in the US, which is $100 more than last year's Galaxy Z Fold 7.
• The wider Galaxy Z Fold 8, tipped to take on the iPhone Ultra, is rumored to start at $1,899 for the 256GB base model.
• A Reddit user claims a Samsung store in South Korea is already displaying the Galaxy Z Fold 8 ahead of its official reveal.
• Samsung has confirmed its next Unpacked event for July 22 in London, where the Z Fold 8 series will finally go official.

As if there was nothing left for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 series to leak, we now have images showcasing the official device a week ahead of launch, along with rumored pricing.

We're only about a week away from the official debut of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 series. The company has already confirmed its Unpacked event for July 22 in London. But ahead of the launch, we've already heard about European pricing for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series, and now U.S. pricing has leaked as well.

As reported by Korean outlet SE Daily, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 series will be priced above $2,000 in the U.S. According to the outlet, the standard Galaxy Z Fold 7 successor, reportedly to be called the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, will "likely" be priced at $2,099.

The wider Galaxy Z Fold 8, said to compete with the upcoming foldable iPhone Ultra, will sit at $1,899.

Samsung seems to have spoiled its own launch

(Image credit: Reddit u/GalaxyNote7Recalled)

It's worth noting that these prices are for the base 256GB variant, with higher storage options likely costing more. For comparison, last year's Galaxy Z Fold 7 started at $2,000, meaning its direct successor will be $100 more expensive.

The most interesting bit, though, is that Samsung has allegedly already pulled the trigger and started showcasing the wider Galaxy Z Fold 8 on retail displays in Korea.

A Reddit user claims a Samsung store in South Korea has already put the Galaxy Z Fold 8 out on display. The user says a Samsung store employee "confirmed" the device on display was indeed the Z Fold 8, and they even managed to sneak in a photo of it.

The retail unit doesn't mention the Galaxy Z Fold 8 name anywhere, but it lines up pretty closely with what's leaked so far.

This might be the first time Samsung has showcased a device ahead of its official reveal, and it's interesting to see that the company's new form factor is real and arriving soon.

The Xiaomi 18 Pro could be Xiaomi's biggest flagship upgrade in years

What you need to know

• The Xiaomi 18 Pro is shaping up to be a major flagship upgrade, with a next-gen Snapdragon chip, revamped cameras, and a massive battery.
• Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 could power the phone, giving Xiaomi another early lead in adopting the latest flagship silicon.
• A new 6.4-inch flat OLED display may bring slimmer bezels, rounded corners, and a privacy mode that limits off-angle viewing.

Xiaomi’s next flagship is starting to come into focus, and if the latest leak is accurate, the Xiaomi 18 Pro could sport a new flagship Snapdragon chip, an overhauled camera system, and one of the biggest batteries we’ve seen in a premium Android phone yet.

The latest details come from reliable leaker Digital Chat Station on Weibo, who claims Xiaomi is testing an engineering prototype powered by Qualcomm's upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 (via Android Authority). The chipset, built on a 2nm process, should make its debut shortly before Xiaomi’s 18 series officially launches, maintaining the company’s record of being one of the first Android OEMs to ship Qualcomm’s newest flagship silicon.

But Xiaomi could be making some significant hardware changes, too, beyond raw performance. Earlier, the same source had tipped a custom flat OLED display of ~6.4 inches with ultra-slim symmetrical bezels and larger rounded corners. Previous reports have suggested that the panel may also feature a Samsung-style Privacy Display mode that reduces the viewing angles to help shield on-screen content from prying eyes.

It looks like photography is getting an even bigger upgrade. According to DCS, Xiaomi is experimenting with dual 200MP sensors, one serving as the main camera and the other as a periscope telephoto lens, instead of relying on a conventional flagship camera configuration.

The primary sensor is rumored to use LOFIC tech that aims to improve dynamic range and reduce shutter lag, giving Xiaomi another advantage in the highly competitive flagship camera market.

Another headline feature could be battery life. The Xiaomi 18 Pro is said to have a 7,000mAh battery but still supports 100W wired fast charging and wireless charging. That’s a lot of capacity for a flagship phone, especially if Xiaomi manages to keep the device somewhat compact.

Android Central's Take

This is the kind of flagship I'd want to carry on paper. I love seeing bigger batteries and meaningful camera upgrades instead of another round of AI gimmicks dressed up as “innovation.” That said, leaks always tend to make phones sound too good to be true. Xiaomi still needs to demonstrate it can transform these specs into a polished real-world experience — and ideally resist the urge to slap a flagship price tag on it that makes all those upgrades a lot less exciting for the people who actually have to buy it.

This upcoming Android phone just raised the bar for free battery replacements

What you need to know

• The Redmi Note 17 Pro comes with a promise of free battery replacement if battery health drops below 80% within four years.
• Durability gets a boost too, with an IP69K rating for strong dust and high-pressure water resistance.
• The Pro model also gets a refreshed look, featuring a more prominent dual-camera island than the standard Redmi Note 17.

Smartphone makers love to talk about bigger batteries, but Xiaomi is taking a different approach with the Redmi Note 17 Pro. The company promises to keep that battery healthy for years, and it's willing to replace it for free if it doesn't.

Xiaomi has confirmed a new battery guarantee for the Redmi Note 17 Pro ahead of the phone's July 14 debut in China. The battery is designed to retain at least 80 percent of its original capacity after four years of use. If it falls below that threshold during the coverage period, eligible users can receive a free replacement, Xiaomi Group President Lu Weibing revealed on Weibo (via Android Authority).

As people keep their phones longer, the health of the battery becomes a bigger concern. Most lithium-ion batteries lose capacity over time, after a number of charges, so Xiaomi’s promise is to ease one of the biggest long-term ownership concerns.

Xiaomi revealed much more than just the battery guarantee before its launch. The Redmi Note 17 Pro will pack a large 9,000mAh battery, per Xiaomi's separate Weibo post.

Leaks and official teasers are also starting to paint a clearer picture of the hardware. The Redmi Note 17 Pro is rumored to feature a Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 processor. Camera upgrades seem to be another major focus, with the Pro model tipped to carry a 200MP primary sensor, while the standard Redmi Note 17 is expected to stick with a 50MP main camera.

The design also keeps the two phones apart. Official images show the standard model with a less complicated rear camera arrangement, while the Pro sports a more pronounced dual-camera island.

Android Central's Take

Hopefully this is an indication of a wider change and not a one-off marketing stunt. Phone brands keep pushing for bigger batteries and faster charging, but none of that matters much if the battery dies long before I'm ready to replace the device. If Xiaomi is serious about this free replacement promise, it could save users some cash and make upgrading less of a necessity. Now the rest of the industry has to decide if they are going to follow suit or continue to pretend battery longevity isn’t a problem worth solving.

Samsung just confirmed the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is getting a massive silicon upgrade

What you need to know

• Samsung has confirmed the Galaxy Z Fold 8 will use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset.
• The "for Galaxy" version means a custom-tuned Snapdragon processor, which has historically delivered slightly higher CPU and GPU performance than the standard chip.
• Performance should get a meaningful boost for multitasking, gaming, and on-device AI, helping justify rumored price increases.

Recent rumors pointed to a major price hike for Samsung’s next wave of foldables. But hold your horses before you dismiss the upcoming lineup, because Samsung just confirmed a huge hardware upgrade that could actually make the extra cash worth it.

Samsung has now confirmed that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 will be powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon chip, solidifying its position on flagship processors for its high-end foldables. The confirmation comes ahead of the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event on July 22, where the company is expected to launch the Galaxy Z Fold 8 along with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Galaxy Z Flip 8.

In a post on Weibo, the Korean tech giant revealed that the Fold 8 will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, the same silicon that powers the Galaxy S26 series. That might not be a huge surprise, but it settles weeks of speculation on whether Samsung would tap its own Exynos silicon in some markets.

No Exynos this time

Reports out earlier had already hinted that the U.S. model would stick with Qualcomm, but Samsung’s announcement makes it clear that Snapdragon will power the device worldwide.

It's a notable confirmation because Samsung didn’t just stop at the processor name. The company specifically noted the “Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy” branding, suggesting users should expect Samsung’s custom version of Qualcomm’s chip, not the standard version.

Historically, those “for Galaxy” editions have come with slightly higher CPU and GPU clock speeds, giving Samsung’s phones a modest performance edge over other Android flagships.

But the processor is not expected to be the only upgrade. Rumors suggest a wider, redesigned Fold 8 that will act more like a standard smartphone when closed, addressing one of the main complaints of previous Galaxy Fold models. Leaks have also hinted at improvements like a bigger battery and faster charging, though Samsung hasn’t confirmed those details yet.

Android Central's Take

I can't say I'm shocked that Samsung stuck with Snapdragon here — it would've been far riskier to gamble on anything else for a phone that will almost certainly cost well north of $1,800. The good news is that buyers should get the best performance Samsung has to offer for multitasking, gaming, and on-device AI. That said, I’d rather the company put as much energy into fixing the Fold’s long-standing pain points — like battery life, charging speed, and camera performance — as it does confirming the obvious.

The first post-Android 17 update is rolling out for Pixels with security and bug fixes

What you need to know

• Google started rolling out its July security update for Pixels, which serves as its first post-Android 17 launch patch.
• The update fixes a few early issues affecting Pixel 6 to Pixel 10 series phones, as well as a navigation button problem for the Pixel 10 Pro Fold.
• Google has achieved Platform Stability for Android 17's first quarterly update with Beta 6.

Android 17's debut was huge, alongside Google's other major Pixel news. Now, the company is rolling out its first post-Android 17 patch, and it's of the monthly variety for security and bug fixes.

Google posted the changelog for its July 2026 security update for Pixel 6 and newer phones. Globally, Pixel users can expect to download vCP2A.260705.006 once it hits their devices. Google says the patch is "rolling out in phases" over the next week, so its availability will be staggered to start. Android 17's UI is receiving a couple of fixes. The first involves only the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, as users reported problems with its navigation buttons.

Google says these buttons would occasionally "change alignment after folding and unfolding the device." The July patch should solve this issue for those affected users. The second fix concerns every supported Pixel device for this July update (Pixel 6 to the Pixel 10 series). Google states it's rolling out a fix for the wallpaper shape effect as it would "incorrectly cover the subject instead of appearing in the background."

You can check out the remainder of the patch notes below. It's worth noting that the following fixes concern all supported Pixel phones receiving this patch.

• Fix for an issue where certain applications would unexpectedly close or fail to launch
• Fix for an issue where various system widgets were displayed with incorrect colors or contrast settings
• Fix for an issue where some devices would fail to load the Android system or become stuck in a boot loop under certain conditions

Testing underway

(Image credit: Brady Snyder / Android Central)

Google is rolling out a small fix for widgets, but it doesn't solve the main issue most Pixel users were experiencing. Users said their home screen widgets started disappearing after updating to Android 17. Google is aware of this and says a fix is on the way. We've seen that fix appear in the Android 17 QPR1 Beta 5 update. Specifically, it states the fix is for widgets that "disappear or become unavailable in the widget picker after a device reboot."

Since this is in its QPR1 beta, we'll likely have to wait for Android 17's first quarterly patch, which is what the tests are for. However, Google hit us with a pretty quick double whammy. Android 17 QPR1 Beta 6 rolled out last week, and it's now in Platform Stability. This is the part of the beta where devs can begin testing and applying their APIs to the software in preparation for users to receive it.

Android Central's Take

Android 17 wasn't a flashy update, and most other phones from other makers are awaiting their turn to get it. Not all major OS updates need to be, so long as they offer something worth our time. Android 17 focuses on security and threat detection for phones, which is always appreciated.

Amazon is discounting the entire Galaxy S26 lineup again — it's not Prime Day, but it's close

Good news, Samsung fans: Amazon just dropped some Galaxy S26 deals that are giving me serious Prime Day flashbacks. For a limited time, you can save up to $270 on these super-powered flagships when you buy unlocked, no trade-in required and no strings attached. 

The Galaxy S26 lineup includes the base model S26, the balanced Galaxy S26 Plus, and the über-powerful Galaxy S26 Ultra. All three phones are powered by the efficient Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor and come with at least 12GB of RAM, a bunch of useful AI features, and seven years of software updates guaranteed. They're also pretty expensive, which is why the following S26 deals are so crucial. 

• See more of my favorite Samsung Galaxy S26 deals of July 2026

Amazon is bringing back Prime Day for the Galaxy S26 series

Samsung Galaxy S26 256GB: $899.99 $799.99 at Amazon

The smallest of the three flagship phones, the Galaxy S26 boasts a stunning 6.3-inch AMOLED display with 256GB of storage and powerful performance that could compete with any Android phone on the market.

Right now, you can grab the Samsung flagship unlocked from Amazon and score a straight $100 off your purchase, totally offsetting that pesky price hike. The 512GB version of the phone is also $200 off as part of the sale (if you don't mind the White variant).

Check out our Samsung Galaxy S26 review to learn more.View Deal

Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus 256GB: $1,099.99 $899.99 at Amazon

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus takes the foundation of the base model S26 and adds a larger 6.7-inch QHD+ display, a long-lasting 4,900mAh battery, and a small increase in charging speeds.

Amazon is currently selling the 256GB phone for $899.99, which is $200 off the retail price AND what you'd usually pay if you were buying the standard Galaxy S26. If you want a phone that offers bang for the buck, the Galaxy S26 Plus is it.

Check out our Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus review to learn more.View Deal

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra 256GB: $1,299.99 $1,099.99 at Amazon

Easily one of the most powerful Android phones ever built, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra sports a generous 6.9-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED display with an embedded S Pen stylus, a fast-charging 5,000mAh battery, and innovative features such as Privacy Display.

It's also quite expensive, which is why I'm excited to see Amazon carve a straight $270 off the 256GB configuration for a limited time. According to the retailer, this deal is selling out fast, so I wouldn't wait too long if you're interested.

Check out our Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra review to learn more.View Deal

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