Your daily consumer-tech roundup • Thursday 23 July 2026
The launches, apps, gadgets and buying tips worth knowing about today — filler and region-locked deals left at the door.
▶ Samsung Unpacked 2026: New Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Flip 8 and Galaxy Watch Line Go Live
Category: Product Launch
Samsung used its July Unpacked event to launch a full new lineup: the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and thinner Z Fold 8 Ultra, the clamshell Z Flip 8 starting at $1,199, and the Galaxy Watch 9 and Watch Ultra 2. The foldables lean on new shapes and materials for durability, while Gemini AI is woven throughout the phones and watches. Pre-orders are live with the usual carrier trade-in deals and gift-card bonuses. If you're eyeing a foldable, compare the wider standard Fold against the pricier Ultra, and weigh this year's changes against last year's Fold 7 before committing — early hands-on reviews suggest the gap varies by model.
Why it matters to you
- Three foldable tiers plus two new watches means there's finally a Galaxy fold at more than one price point.
- Pre-order trade-in and gift-card offers can knock hundreds off, but they lock you to a carrier — read the terms.
- Gemini AI is now baked into the hardware, so how much you value that assistant should factor into the choice.
▶ Google's $99 Gemini Smart Speaker Lands — Its Real Answer to Amazon Echo
Category: Smart Home
Google has launched a new $99 smart speaker powered by its Gemini AI assistant, its long-awaited answer to the Amazon Echo and its own ageing Nest lineup. The pitch is a more conversational, capable assistant that can handle follow-up questions and control your smart home. At $99 it undercuts premium rivals while sitting above budget mini-speakers. Reviewers note Gemini is a real step up in natural conversation, though some longtime users of open platforms like Home Assistant still prefer local control over cloud-tied devices. If you're already in Google's ecosystem it's an easy add; if privacy and offline control matter to you, weigh that first.
Why it matters to you
- At $99 it's a mid-range price — cheaper than premium smart speakers but pricier than a basic mini.
- Gemini's conversational upgrade is the main selling point over older Nest and Alexa devices.
- It's cloud-tied, so if you prefer local, privacy-first control, an open platform may suit you better.
▶ Raspberry Pi's 10-Inch Touch Display 2 Arrives at $80 for Smart-Home Builders
Category: Smart Home / Maker
Raspberry Pi has launched a larger 10.1-inch Touch Display 2 for $80, giving makers and smart-home tinkerers a bigger, ten-finger multi-touch screen for their projects. It's an especially natural fit for wall-mounted Home Assistant dashboards, kiosks and DIY tablets, where the previous smaller panel felt cramped. The $80 price keeps it accessible for hobby builds, and it connects to Raspberry Pi boards without extra display hardware. If you've been meaning to build a custom control panel for your lights, thermostat or media setup, this is a cheap, flexible foundation — and a reminder of how far affordable DIY hardware has come.
Why it matters to you
- $80 for a 10-inch multi-touch panel is an accessible entry point for a DIY smart-home dashboard.
- It plugs into Raspberry Pi boards directly, so you don't need extra display electronics.
- The bigger size makes wall-mounted Home Assistant and kiosk projects far more practical.
▶ Samsung Enters Smart Glasses With Gentle Monster and Warby Parker Frames
Category: Gadgets
Samsung has unveiled its first intelligent eyewear, teaming up with fashion brands Gentle Monster and Warby Parker to make the frames look like glasses people actually want to wear. The move puts Samsung squarely into the AI-smart-glasses race alongside Meta's Ray-Ban line, blending style with an on-board assistant and, likely, cameras and audio. Pairing with well-known eyewear names is a clear bid to avoid the awkward, gadgety look that sank earlier attempts. Full specs, pricing and availability will decide how compelling these are, but if you've been curious about smart glasses and put off by the aesthetics, more fashionable options are clearly on the way.
Why it matters to you
- Real fashion-brand partners mean smart glasses that look like normal eyewear, not gadgets.
- It signals a genuine competitor to Meta's Ray-Ban glasses, which should help prices and choice.
- Hold off on excitement until Samsung confirms specs, camera details, privacy controls and price.
▶ Switching From iPhone to Android Just Got Easier: Passwords and eSIM Now Transfer
Category: Apps & Features
Google has upgraded Android's built-in migration tool so it can now transfer your saved passwords and even your eSIM directly from an iPhone. Switching phones has long meant wrestling with what actually comes across, and passwords and cellular plans were two of the most painful gaps. Moving your eSIM without a trip to the carrier, and carrying credentials over automatically, makes an iPhone-to-Android jump far less daunting. If you're considering the new Galaxy foldables or any Android phone, this smooths one of the biggest friction points. As always, review what transferred afterward and confirm your important logins and two-factor apps made it across before wiping the old device.
Why it matters to you
- Passwords and eSIM moving automatically removes two of the worst headaches when switching phones.
- It makes an iPhone-to-Android move realistic without a carrier-store visit for your number.
- Double-check two-factor authenticator apps and key logins transferred before you erase the old phone.
▶ WhatsApp Adds In-App PDF Reading and Spotify / Apple Music Status Sharing
Category: Apps & Features
WhatsApp is rolling out two handy additions: you can now open and read PDF documents inside the app without exporting them elsewhere, and you can share music from Spotify or Apple Music directly to your Status. The in-app PDF reader is the more broadly useful of the two, saving a step for anyone who juggles receipts, tickets and forms in chats. The music-to-Status sharing adds a lighter, social touch similar to features on Instagram and other platforms. Both are the kind of quality-of-life tweaks that make a messaging app you already use every day a little more capable, with no extra apps required.
Why it matters to you
- Reading PDFs in-app saves the hassle of exporting receipts, tickets and forms to another app.
- Sharing Spotify or Apple Music to Status adds an Instagram-style social touch to your updates.
- No new downloads needed — these land inside the app billions already use daily.
▶ Firefox 153 Turns On Containers by Default to Cut Cross-Site Tracking
Category: Apps & Features (Privacy)
Firefox 153 turns on Containers by default, a privacy feature that keeps parts of your online life in separate, colour-coded tabs so sites can't easily track you across them. In practice, you can wall off work, shopping, banking and social accounts from one another — logging into two accounts on the same site at once, or stopping a shopping site's trackers from following you into your email. Mozilla is also letting you create your own custom containers. It's a genuinely useful, free way to cut down on cross-site tracking without installing anything, and a reason to make sure your Firefox is updated to the latest version.
Why it matters to you
- Containers reduce cross-site tracking without any add-ons — it's built in and now on by default.
- You can stay logged into two accounts on the same site at once in separate containers.
- Update Firefox to version 153 to get it, then customise your own containers if you like.
▶ LG Bans Smart-TV Apps That Secretly Rent Out Your Home Internet
Category: Smart Home / Privacy
LG is banning apps on its smart TVs that quietly resell your home internet connection — so-called bandwidth-sharing apps that route strangers' traffic through your network in exchange for paying the app maker. Beyond slowing your connection, sharing your IP address this way can expose you to legal and security risks if that traffic is used for something shady. LG's crackdown is a win for TV owners who may not realise such apps exist. It's also a prompt to check what's installed on your own smart TV and streaming devices, and to remove anything unfamiliar — your television is a computer, and it deserves the same scrutiny as your phone.
Why it matters to you
- Bandwidth-sharing apps can slow your connection and route strangers' traffic through your IP address.
- LG blocking them protects owners who never knew these apps were on their TV.
- Audit the apps on your own smart TV and streaming sticks and remove anything you don't recognise.
▶ Germany Tells Parents to Destroy 'My Friend Cayla' Doll Over Spying Risk
Category: Consumer Safety
Germany's telecoms regulator has told parents to destroy the internet-connected doll 'My Friend Cayla,' classifying it as an illegal surveillance device. The toy's microphone and Bluetooth connection can let strangers listen in on — or even talk to — a child, with weak protections against unauthorised access. It's an extreme example of a wider problem: many cheap 'smart' toys and gadgets ship with cameras or microphones and little security. Before buying a connected toy, check whether it can be paired without a PIN, what data it collects, and whether the maker still issues updates. When in doubt, a toy that doesn't connect to the internet is the safer gift.
Why it matters to you
- A poorly secured connected toy can let strangers listen to — or speak to — your child.
- Check any smart toy for PIN-free Bluetooth pairing, data collection and ongoing security updates.
- For young kids, a toy with no internet connection avoids the whole category of risk.
▶ Apple Reportedly Building a Klarna-Backed Mac Leasing Plan as RAM Prices Climb
Category: Buying Tips
Apple is reportedly preparing a leasing program, in partnership with Klarna, that would let shoppers finance a Mac over 36 months rather than paying full price upfront — a response to rising RAM prices pushing hardware costs higher. The rumoured 'Apple Upgrade' plan would reportedly exclude budget models. Leasing can lower the sticker shock and keep you on newer hardware, but it also means ongoing payments and, often, paying more overall than buying outright. If it launches, treat it like any financing offer: check the total cost, the interest, and what happens at the end of the term before deciding whether it beats simply saving up. This is an unconfirmed report for now.
Why it matters to you
- Spreading a Mac's cost over 36 months could ease the sticker shock of rising prices.
- Financing usually costs more overall than buying outright — check interest and end-of-term terms.
- It's still an unconfirmed report, and budget models would reportedly be excluded.
▶ T-Mobile, Verizon or AT&T? A New Speed Study Settles the Best-Carrier Debate
Category: Buying Tips
A new Ookla study ranking the major US mobile carriers — and home internet providers — offers a data-backed answer to the perennial 'T-Mobile, Verizon or AT&T?' question. Rather than relying on ads, the report uses real-world speed and reliability measurements to show who leads, and importantly, results can differ sharply by region. The practical takeaway: the 'best' carrier is often the one that performs best where you actually live and commute, not the one with the flashiest national campaign. Before switching or renewing, check the rankings for your area, and remember most carriers offer trial periods so you can test coverage before committing.
Why it matters to you
- The rankings are based on measured speed and reliability, not marketing claims.
- The best national carrier may not be the best one where you actually live — check local results.
- Use a carrier's trial period to test real-world coverage before you switch or renew.