Cricket Re-Shuffles Plans, Offering Better Value
Cricket has revamped its lineup of plans. While most changes do offer a better value, there are some small trade-offs. Cricket is introducing a $5/month auto-pay discount (which starts the second month) that's now part of the advertised plan price. At the low end, the old 5 and 10 GB Plans are being combined into one new Sensible 10 GB plan. For $30/month — the price of the old 5 GB plan — customers now get double the high-speed data at 10 GB. However, the 10 GB plan no longer includes roaming in Mexico and Canada, and the price for four lines goes up from $110 to $120. Moving up, the new Select Unlimited replaces the old Simply Unlimited plan. Offering "unlimited" data, (but "Cricket may temporarily slow data speeds if network is busy",) the plan price goes down from $40/month to $35. The four-line price stays at $100. Unlimited calling and texting to Canada and Mexico is now included, and hotspot is now available as an optional add-on. A new Smart Unlimited plan replaces the old "Unlimited Plan" and offers the most improvement in value. The price drops from $55/month to $45/month, while adding 15 GB of hotspot included, unlimited calling and texting to Canada & Mexico, and bumping the cloud storage from 2 GB to 100 GB. However, the four-line price increases from $100 to $110/month. As before, this plan tier introduces international texting, and roaming in Mexico and Canada. Finally, at the top end, the new Supreme Unlimited plan replaces the old Unlimited + 15 GB Hotspot Data plan. The price drops from $60 to $55/month, (or stays the same at $130/month for four lines). This is still the only plan that includes unlimited high-speed data. The mobile hotspot allotment has been increased from 15 GB to 50 GB, and it also gains unlimited calling and texting to Canada & Mexico. As before, the top-end plan includes HBO Max (with ads) and 150 GB of cloud storage.
Apple Releases Public Beta of iOS 26
The next version of iOS, version 26 (newly numbered by year), has reached the milestone of a public beta version now available. iOS 26 introduces Apple's new Liquid Glass design language, as well as new features like Live Translation. Interested users can install the beta version of iOS 26 on their iPhone. As always, beta software is not final and could be buggy or damage your data. It is not recommended to install a beta version of any OS on any primary or critical device.
"Qi2 25W" is the new Wireless Fast Charging Standard
The Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) standards group today announced that "Qi2 25W" will be the brand for version 2.2.1 of the Qi wireless charging standard. Qi2 25W, as its name implies, brings faster 25-watt charging compared to the 15-watt charging of standard Qi2. The WPC also revealed that Apple will adopt Qi2 25W in its iPhones, and many Android phones are already in the certification pipeline as well. 14 devices have already been certified for Qi2 25W, with "several hundred devices waiting in the queue to be tested." Existing Qi2 products, such as the current iPhones, are the result of a collaboration between WPC and Apple, incorporating technology from both the original Qi standard and Apple's MagSafe implementation. Although many Android phones have implemented Qi, almost none have implemented Qi2 yet; today's news implies that will soon charge.
T-Mobile Formally Launches Satellite Messaging Service for All
As announced a month ago, T-Mobile today launched Phase One of its T-Satellite service, which includes SMS and MMS messaging in cellular dead zones. Available to anyone — even customers of other carriers — it costs $10/month.
Google Teases Pixel 10
Google has released a short teaser video that shows the design of its to-be-announced Pixel 10 phone (or Pixel 10 series). Assuming the device shown is, in fact, the Pixel 10, (and not the 10 Pro,) it adopts a design almost exactly like the Pixel 9 Pro, with three cameras on the back instead of two. Google has scheduled a Pixel 10 series launch event for one month from now, on August 20. The FCC recently approved several new, unannounced Pixel phones. The apparent lowest-end model includes mmWave 5G and satellite connectivity. The higher-end models also include Thread and UWB radios, just like last year's Pixel 9 Pro models.
Apple Invests in Rare-Earth Magnet Manufacturing and Recycling in US
Apple has made a $500 million deal with MP Materials to expand the manufacturing of rare-earth (neodymium) magnets for Apple products in Texas. "The two companies will also work together to establish a cutting-edge rare earth recycling line in Mountain Pass, California, and develop novel magnet materials and innovative processing technologies to enhance magnet performance." MP Materials is the only fully integrated rare earth producer in the United States. The new recycling line will take in material from used electronics, among other sources. Apple started using recycled rare earth elements in 2019, and today "nearly all magnets across Apple devices are made with 100 percent recycled rare earth elements."
HMD "Scales Back" US Operations
HMD Global — steward of the Nokia brand for phones — is all but shuttering its US operations, citing "a challenging geopolitical and economic environment". The company has offered a number of phones in the US in recent years, under its own brand as well as Nokia, and specialty branding like its Barbie Phone. Although the company won't confirm a complete exit from the US market, the ability to buy any phones from its US web site appears to have been disabled. HMD promises to honor "warranty coverage and service for existing products".
Samsung Expands Foldable Lineup with Cheaper Z Flip 7 FE
After teasing that this year's foldable lineup would go more premium with a new "Ultra" model, Samsung has done the opposite and added a more-affordable Galaxy Z Flip7 FE. The lineup also includes the expected Galaxy Z Flip7 and Z Fold7. The flagship Galaxy Z Fold7 is lighter and thinner than ever, at just 9mm thick when folded, while sporting a larger 8-inch inner display. The Z Fold7 also sports a 200 megapixel main camera and Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor. It starts at $2,000, a $100 bump over last year's model. The Galaxy Z Flip7 FE is essentially last year's Flip6 — with less memory, but otherwise the same design and specs — for just $900, cutting the price of Samsung's cheapest foldable by $200. Meanwhile, the new Galaxy Z Flip7 maintains the $1,100 price compared to the Flip6, but upgrades to larger displays inside and out, a larger battery, and in a thinner design. The main display is now 6.9-inch, while the outer display grows to 4.1 inches, in an "edge-to-edge" design similar to Motorola's razr foldables. It also support DeX for desktop mode, a first for the Flip series. All three new models ship July 25. All major carriers will offer the Flip7 and Fold7. The Flip7 FE will have more limited distribution with carriers like Boost, Consumer Cellular, Spectrum, and Xfinity. The Flip7 will be available in black, blue, or coral red. The Fold7 will be available in black, blue, or silver. Both will also be available in mint, exclusively from samsung.com. The Flip7 FE will be available in just black or white.
AT&T Finally Offers Protection Against SIM Swap Attacks
AT&T now offers an Account Lock feature that can protect customers from attacks that intercept messages and security codes. It's a setting available for post- and pre-paid consumers in the myAT&T app. Business customers can access Account Lock from their account controls on the web site. Other carriers already offer similar tools.
Nothing Launches Flagship Phone (3)
Following the recent launch of several more affordable models, Nothing has finally launched its next flagship model, the Phone (3). It evolves Nothing's distinctive light-up "Glyph" system into a new "Glyph Matrix", a small, circular monochrome display on the back of the phone with 25 x 25 pixels. In tandem with a new shortcut button on the back of the phone, it performs a variety of functions and has its own SDK for third-party developers. The phone has four 50-megapixel cameras, including main, wide, periscope telephoto, and front. A unique red square on the back lights up when recording video. The OLED main display measures 6.67 inches and is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus. The phone has an IP68 rating for dust and water. It's powered by a Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chip and available with either 12+256 GB or 16+512 GB of memory (RAM+storage). The phone supports fast charging up to 65W and two-way wireless charging. It has excellent support for T-Mobile's network and good support for AT&T's network. It ships with Android 15 and Nothing promises five years of OS updates + seven years of security updates. The Nothing Phone (3) ships July 15 starting at $799.
Bill Reintroduced to Open Up App Stores
A bipartisan group of US senators have reintroduced the Open App Markets Act, after it failed to reach a vote in 2022. The proposed law would require Apple and Google to allow "side-loading" (installing apps without using the app stores), allow third-party app stores, and allow apps to use alternate payment systems. It would also limit pricing restrictions and ensure developers can communicate alternate payment info to users. It would also mandate that users could set third-party apps as defaults for key functions, and mandate that users be able to hide or delete pre-installed apps, including those from Apple and Google. It would also prevent app store owners from giving their own apps any kind of advantage in their stores.
Trump Phone Won't be Made in USA After All
All previous mention of the Trump T1 phone being made in the US has been removed from the Trump Mobile web site. Some specs have also been changed.
Fairphone 6 Shrinks its Modular, Long-Lasting Phone
Fairphone has launched its sixth-generation phone designed to be user-serviceable, long-lasting, and eco-friendly. The Fairphone (Gen. 6) is more compact than past iterations, with a 6.31-inch display (120 Hz OLED and FHD+). The modular design has 12 different parts that can be easily replaced, including the battery (4,415 mAh), and a back-plate system supporting fully integrated accessories like a card wallet, finger loop, or lanyard. The phone comes with a 5-year warranty. The phone is "assembled in fair factories" and made with "more recycled and fair materials than ever before". The Fairphone 6 is powered by a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor, paired with 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 256 GB of storage (expandable). It has good support for US 5G and 4G networks. The main camera is 50 megapixel with a Sony Lytia 700C sensor and OIS, plus a 13 megapixel wide-angle camera. The phone also sports an IP55 rating for water, fingerprint reader, NFC, Bluetooth 5.4 LE, and Wi-Fi 6E. In the US, the Fairphone (Gen. 6) will initially be available exclusively from Murena, which loads their own /e/OS software on the device. (/e/OS is a "de-Googled" version of Android.) Murena promises five years of software updates for this phone. Murena is taking orders starting today at $899, shipping in August. It's available in white, black, or green.
Google Chrome Lets You Move Address Bar to Bottom
This new web browser option on Android follows a similar move by Apple with the Safari browser in iOS. The easiest way to change the location is to long-press on the address bar itself, then tap "Move address bar to bottom".
Apple Pushes Ad for its Newest Movie to iPhones
Many iPhone users today received a push notification from the Apple Wallet app promoting the new "F1" movie made by Apple. The unsolicited ad took the form of a $10 discount code for use with Fandango. A beta version of iOS includes a setting to opt out of "Offers & Promotions" from Apple Wallet, but the current stable version of iOS does not. Today's ad, and introduction of the new setting, both imply that Apple intends to send more notifications like this in the future.
Verizon Upgrades Its Customer Service
Verizon is launching a new effort to improve its customer service. First, for "complex issues", the company will now assign a dedicated "Customer Champion" to provide updates and ensure full resolution. Those updates can be provided however the customer prefers: "via the myVerizon app, text messages or call backs". Verizon says the goal is that "customers only need to call once, and we take it from there." Second, the company is extending its call center hours to midnight (previously ending at 7pm), and expanding its live chat support hours to 24/7.
T-Mobile Details Satellite Service
T-Mobile has released the final details of its T-Satellite service. The company also revealed a new award it received, and announced a new perk for customers. Following a successful beta test period that saw millions of messages sent, phase one of T-Satellite will launch July 23. This phase will offer SMS and MMS messaging in cellular "dead zones" across the US. T-Satellite will be included in T-Mobile's premium plan (Experience Beyond), and will be available to everyone else — including customers of other networks — for $10/month. Starting October 1, a second phase will introduce limited data service. Data will be available only via select apps that have been specifically optimized for satellite data using existing Google and Apple APIs. At launch, this will include popular messaging, mapping, weather, and other outdoor-focused services. (Including AccuWeather, AllTrails, "Apple", "Google", WhatsApp, and X.) Also starting October 1, T-Mobile will enable 911 texting via T-Satellite for everyone, including customers of other networks, regardless of whether they subscribe to T-Satellite. T-Satellite offers cellular coverage for existing phones in "dead zones" of the land-based network, using a new generation of SpaceX Starlink satellites. 657 of these cellular-capable satellites are already in orbit. T-Mobile also shared that Ookla has awarded T-Mobile the title of overall "Best Mobile Network" in the US, based on new crowd-sourced test data from the past six months. Finally, T-Mobile is adding a new perk for most T-Mobile customers: free DashPass from DoorDash.
T-Mobile Reshuffles Prepaid Plans
T-Mobile is reworking its prepaid plans, with a mix of positive and negative changes. All three new plans include a 5-year price guarantee (on data, voice, and text) and new perks like soccer and baseball TV subscriptions and free in-flight Wi-Fi on Delta. A new Starter plan replaces the old "10 GB" plan. While it remains $40/month for one line (with auto-pay, after first month, plus taxes & fees), the amount of high-speed data is upped to 15 GB. However, additional lines are now more expensive. For example, 4 lines were previously $100, but will be $130 with the new plan. The new Unlimited plan is now cheaper at $45 for one line (down from $50). While it previously included "unlimited" 5G data, customers using over 50 GB could see slow-downs "during congestion". Now, T-Mobile is making it clearer that both "Unlimited" plans simply include 50 GB of "premium high-speed" data. The new Unlimited Plus plan stays at $60/month for one line, but now includes voice and texting while roaming in Canada and Mexico. However, the allotment of high-speed mobile hotspot data has decreased from 10 GB to 5 GB. Other features of the new plans mirror the old plans. The new plans will be available next Tuesday, June 24.
