Phones

What you need to know

• Former CIA officer Jason Hanson says government agencies have the capability to access phones and laptops.
• Hanson claims he uses a flip phone to reduce tracking, but says surveillance is still technically possible.
• The former CIA officer stressed that capability doesn't necessarily mean agencies are actively listening.
• Hanson also warned against using public Wi-Fi without a VPN due to potential risks.

What you need to know

• Nothing launched its Community Review Program for consumers passionate about its devices, and are willing to review them early and offer feedback.
• The company has also started teasing a new product on X, posting a simple "(b)" and two Pokémon, Jumpluff and Blastoise.
• Nothing also features Jumpluff on its Community Review Program post, potentially signaling this mysterious device will be there.

Nothing

What was once a niche enthusiast brand, OnePlus has evolved into a heavy-lifting mainstream player that's all about packing absolute max performance and insane battery life into its hardware. Its main focus is on its Android-based OS, OxygenOS, and its native AI system, OnePlus AI. It is well known for its flagship phones, the sleek R series, and more affordable Nord devices.

OPPO is a China-based tech giant that produces some of the most innovative and groundbreaking devices. Focusing on smart AI and camera technology, the company is known for its flagship Find X series, stylish Reno series, and foldable N series. The company uses heavy-duty on-device AI to completely reinvent how your phone takes photos.

Nothing is a U.K.-based "anti-boring" tech brand founded by former OnePlus founder Carl Pei. The company entered the market to disrupt traditional smartphones with its transparent, retro-futuristic hardware and heavily customized software, inspired by Pei's mission to make consumer tech fun again. Nothing focuses on clean design and an "AI-native" future, a strategy that centers on moving away from a million different standalone apps toward smart, built-in features.

Apple is Google's biggest competitor. The Cupertino, California-based company makes premium tech products, such as its iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and AirPods. Along with its premium hardware, the company also has its own operating system and chips to power its devices. Apple has focused on a primarily privacy-first ecosystem and, more recently, has introduced a host of AI capabilities powered by popular models such as Gemini and ChatGPT.

What you need to know

• Nothing's co-founder, Akis Evangelidis, said on X that CMF will not produce a Phone 3 Pro this year as RAM prices skyrocket.
• The company says it cannot build a true successor that feels "like a genuine step forward at a price that makes sense" for the CMF title.
• Nothing's CEO, Carl Pei, has made similar statements in the past about how higher RAM (thanks to AI) can hamper smartphones and back consumers into a cor

What you need to know

• Rumors from the social media platform Naver suggest Samsung could "freeze" upgrades that would raise the base Galaxy S27's price.
• Such upgrades would be its display, as well as the phone's cameras next year.
• Recent rumors suggest the company could rework its cameras to fit Qi2 magnets in the Galaxy S27 series, as well as a potential UFS 5.0 storage upgrade.

Rumors have started on an overseas social me

Everybody is getting pumped for next week's Prime Day sale event, but if you're on the hunt for an amazing Samsung Galaxy S26 deal, you don't need to wait. Mint Mobile has been running one of the best smartphone promotions on the web for months, and while it's no longer in the headlines, it deserves a second look before it's gone for good. 

What you need to know

• Carl Pei publicly challenged Apple, saying Nothing plans to win over "bored" iPhone users one switch at a time.
• Nothing continues to position itself as the anti-Apple brand, arguing that modern smartphones have become repetitive and uninspired.
• Nothing's planned expansion through Best Buy could give the brand a stronger foothold in the US and expose more consumers to its products.

Nothing founder Carl