Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 is down to the price of a normal smartphone, today-only

9to5google.com Sep 30, 2026

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 is down to the price of a normal smartphone, today-only

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Sep 30, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 is available on Amazon for $1,350, a one‑day‑only discount from its usual $1,500 price. The unlocked model comes only in mint with 256 GB storage. The deal includes trade‑in options that can reduce the price by up to $575. The Fold 7 lacks the newer Fold 8 Ultra’s larger battery and anti‑reflective display but remains a compelling foldable at a price close to current flagship smartphones. The offer ends today or when sold out.

💡 Why It Matters

· The price cut makes foldables accessible to a broader audience, challenging the perception that bendable phones are premium, niche devices.
· This move could accelerate mainstream adoption and pressure competitors to offer more aggressive pricing.

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Samsung Galaxy Tab S12 series goes official from $1,199 with Photoshop pre-installed

Samsung launched its Galaxy Tab S12 series, comprising the 12‑plus and 12‑Ultra models, on October 7 in United States. Both tablets feature vapor‑chamber cooling, IP68 dust‑and‑water resistance, and ship with One UI 9 based on Android 17, promising seven years of OS and security updates. The devices are powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500 chipset, an upgrade over the previous generation, and retain the S Pen with keyboard accessories. Notably, Samsung pre‑installed Adobe Photoshop with S Pen optimization and offers four months of free access, alongside trial versions of Notability, Goodnotes, LumaFusion, Notion and a six‑month Google AI Pro Gemini boost. Prices start at $1,199 for Tab S12+ and $1,399 for Ultra, the latter $100 higher than last year, and no cellular variant is still offered for Ultra.

💡 By bundling Photoshop and other creator apps, Samsung turns the Tab S12 into a plug‑and‑play workstation, targeting professionals who would otherwise need a laptop.

androidcentral.com · Sep 30

Galaxy S27 Ultra’s camera processing may change in a few ‘noticeable’ ways

Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S27 Ultra is rumored to feature three key camera processing upgrades, according to tipster Ice Universe. The phone is expected to improve highlight control on its main and telephoto lenses, reducing blown‑out exposures of distant bright subjects. Night photography may see cleaner images with less noise, while the device’s color profile is said to shift from cooler to warmer tones. These changes aim to enhance the S27 Ultra’s point‑and‑shoot appeal and compete with rivals.

💡 The rumored refinements could give Samsung a decisive edge in the high‑end smartphone photography market, where subtle processing tweaks often sway consumer choice.

247wallst.com · Sep 30

Muse Got Here First But This Agentic AI Will Supercede It Soon

Meta launched its agentic AI model, Muse Spark 1.1, across WhatsApp, AI glasses and business agents, claiming early consumer reach. Google countered with Gemini, now deployed at scale in its cloud and integrated into Android, Maps, Gmail and Google Pay, giving it an OS‑level advantage. In Q2, Google’s revenue rose 24.2% to $119.8 billion, with Cloud up 82% and nearly 90% of Fortune 100 firms using Gemini Enterprise. Meta’s revenue grew 28% to $117 billion, but earnings per share missed estimates and legal and severance charges cut operating margin to 31%. Both firms reported similar forward price‑to‑earnings multiples, yet Google’s infrastructure spending and debt capacity dwarf Meta’s, while Meta’s cash flow remains negative. The structural edge of an on‑device agent could erode Meta’s head start despite its larger user base.

💡 An OS‑embedded AI agent reduces friction for enterprise workflows, positioning Google to capture high‑value corporate contracts faster than Meta’s chat‑based approach.

9to5google.com · Sep 29

Android 17 QPR2 Beta 6.1 rolling out, including for Pixel 11

Google has released Android 17 QPR2 Beta 6.1, now available for the Pixel 11 series and a broad range of other Pixel devices, including the Pixel 6a, 7, 7 Pro, 7a, Tablet, Fold, 8, 8 Pro, 8a, 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, 9 Pro Fold, 9a, 10, 10 Pro, 10 Pro XL, 10 Pro Fold, 10a, 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro XL, and 11 Pro Fold, as well as the Android Emulator. The update does not list specific fixes but notes that Pixel 11 Pro Fold users may need to re‑enroll Face Unlock. Users can report bugs through the Android Beta Feedback app or via the Android Beta community on Reddit.

💡 The rollout expands beta testing to a wider Pixel lineup, enabling early detection of issues before the final release.

9to5google.com · Sep 29

Android 17 QPR2 enables Pixel 11 Pro HiLight for messages

Android 17 QPR2 Beta 6.1 adds message notification support to HiLight on the Pixel 11 Pro, 11 Pro XL, and 11 Pro Fold. After updating, users can enable “Messages from favorites” in Settings > System > HiLight, which highlights incoming messages from selected contacts. The feature currently works with Google Messages and is expected to support WhatsApp once calls are enabled. HiLight blinks twice when a message arrives. The beta includes the September 2026 security patch and is available to users on the current stable build.

💡 The new HiLight capability gives Pixel 11 users instant visual alerts for priority messages, improving notification management without relying on the phone’s main screen.

9to5google.com · Sep 29

Here’s everything new in Android 17 QPR2 Beta 6 + 6.1 [Gallery]

Google released Android 17 QPR2 Beta 6 and the follow‑up Beta 6.1 within hours, extending the preview cycle ahead of the scheduled December stable launch. The updates are available for a wide range of Pixel devices, including the Pixel 6a, 7 series, 8 series, 9 series, 10 series, 11 series, Pixel Tablet, Pixel Fold, and Pixel Fold variants. Beta 6 introduces visual refinements, performance tweaks, and minor UI adjustments, while Beta 6.1 adds bug fixes and further stability improvements based on early tester feedback. The rollout is being tracked by 9to5Google, which provides a step‑by‑step installation guide and invites users to comment on observed changes. Screenshots comparing Beta 5 with the new builds highlight the incremental enhancements across the OS.

💡 The rapid succession of beta releases shows Google’s aggressive polishing schedule, aiming to ensure a smoother December debut for a broad Pixel lineup.