Tech News Wrap is our column where we highlight and summarize some of the week's top stories so you can catch up on the latest tech news.
This is Android Central's Tech News Wrap, your go-to source for a concise roundup of the week's most significant tech stories. This is where we delve into the top headlines that provide the latest developments and innovations contributing to the digital landscape.
CES 2026 just wrapped up in Las Vegas, and it was a massive week for mobile tech. Samsung stole the show with a "creaseless" display breakthrough, while Motorola showed off some new phones, Google dealt with both a major Gemini expansion and a frustrating software hiccup for Pixel owners. Let's get into it.
Samsung really stepped up its "creaseless" foldable game
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Samsung could be giving us a huge perk with its next foldable. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 might end up getting this creaseless panel that was shown off at CES this year. Android Central's Senior Editor Harish Jonnalagadda was able to compare the "reference device" — what looks to be a current-gen foldable — and the upcoming panel that seemingly looks to be creaseless. Some people even speculate that this creaseless screen will debut on Apple's rumored book-style foldable set to launch this year.
Jonnalagadda says that Samsung didn't indicate whether this panel would end up on the Galaxy Z Fold 8, but it is entirely likely that it will be the case, considering it showcased the tri-folding panels at MWC last year, and we saw it on the Galaxy Z Trifold this year.
Motorola entered CES this year with the most flex
Motorola outdid itself at CES this year, unveiling a whole slew of devices, including the Motorola Razr Fold. The phone shows up with a 6.6-inch cover display like any other device, but unfolds into a massive 8.1-inch 2K LTPO display that lets the user juggle between work, creativity, and play. Motorola didn't reveal much about the device's dimensions, chipset, or other internal specs, like the RAM and battery.
The Motorola Razr Fold features an advanced triple rear camera system consisting of a 50MP Sony LYTIA main sensor, a 50MP ultrawide/macro lens, and a 50MP 3x periscope telephoto lens. It also gets two selfie cameras, a 32MP external camera, and a 20MP punch hole camera on its internal screen, for when the device is unfolded.
Next up is the Motorola Signature, which is an ultra-slim device, featuring a Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 processor, 50MP cameras, and a remarkable 5,200mAh battery—all encased in a sleek design, starting at €999, and is the first phone that is said to get upto seven years of software updates.
Other than these phones, the company also unveiled a trio of innovative accessories, including the Pen Ultra stylus for its Razr Fold, a feature-rich Moto Watch partnered with Polar, and the Moto Tag 2 tracker, promising to redefine user experience and convenience.
Galaxy S26 leaks keep leaking, with rumors of a Feb launch
Samsung's next flagship series has been showing up in multiple leaks recently, and for good reason, considering it's due to launch sometime next month. We've heard a ton about the device lineup reshuffle, with the Ultra possibly showing up with four cameras; the leaks keep getting better.
Prominent tipster Evan Blass took to X, stating that the February 25 date is "100% correct" for the Galaxy S26 series launch. Blass was quoting a post from @UniverseIce, which mentioned that Samsung will not be changing Galaxy S26 pricing as previously rumored. That same post also claimed the launch will take place in San Francisco, U.S., with sales beginning in early March.
In a subsequent post, Ice Universe also claimed that the Galaxy S26 Ultra could get a huge upgrade when it comes to its fast charging system. In a post on X, the tipster claims that the phone will get support for a new 60W charging system, which will be capable of charging the phone from 0 to 75% within 30 minutes.
Backing this claim, they further stated that the tests for the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra's charging capabilities were conducted under Samsung's controlled laboratory conditions, using certified accessories and settings.
Google is Gemini-fying everything from TV to your inbox
Google also didn't shy away from making its own set of announcements for its products. First up, Google unveiled Gemini for Google TV, the AI assistant that transforms user interaction with smart features, including photo memory searches and interactive content, debuting first on select TCL models and set to reshape home entertainment.
Users will be able to ask the TV, "How do black holes work?" or "Who were the Vikings?" and it will give you "Deep dives" on the topic with interactive summaries that both adults and kids can understand.
Additionally, it is transforming Gmail with Gemini’s advanced AI tools, enhancing email management through personalized responses and innovative summaries. The most significant change is that Gmail is getting AI Overviews that let users ask natural language questions and receive concise summaries from emails.
Some Pixel 9 and 10 users are feeling "Sluggish & Laggy" after this update
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Another month and another bug seems to be plaguing some Pixel users right now, after a Play Systems update. Following a small 15MB patch, users saw issues with a Pixel 10, which appeared to be the most affected device. The main problem was that the phone became very sluggish, and the Pixel launcher reportedly "did not fully load."
The device's screen remained stuck, only displaying the wallpaper without the essential UI elements. Furthermore, some even observed that the device's status bar was also missing and apps would freeze, or display the "not responding" error post this update.
However, Google quietly rolled out an essential (emergency) update that fixed it all.
More stories this week
Those are some of the biggest stories from this week. Meanwhile, here are some other stories that are worth catching up on:
- Battle of Gen AI: Google's Gemini gains ground on its ChatGPT competitor
- Nothing sends its lock screen ads, bloatware packing in its latest update
- Health Focus: OpenAI's waitlist for ChatGPT Health's dedicated wellness guidance opens
- Google's VP confirms ChromeOS is here to stay amid rumors of sunset
- AirDrop support may soon be available for Pixel 9 users
- Samsung just supercharged SmartThings security with a major Arlo upgrade
- OnePlus 15T rumors might've closed in on a launch date, more specs surface
- Pixelsnap chargers could soon get software updates from Google
- Strava challenged Garmin and Fitbit with personalized Instant Workouts, and I'm intrigued
- Incoming glow up: Samsung Bixby's huge One UI 8.5 upgrade might look like Google
