Apple iOS 27 Beta 2 update is improving the messaging experience between iPhone and Samsung/Android users by adding better support for RCS features.

The update introduces (via AndroidAuthority) native emoji reactions and inline replies for cross-platform conversations. Previously, reactions sent from an iPhone to an Android device often appeared as text-based descriptions.

With the latest change, supported reactions now display as actual emojis on both platforms. Apple has also expanded Photomoji support, allowing users on both sides to interact with the feature.

The new capabilities are based on the RCS 2.7 Universal Profile standard, which gives Apple and Android devices a more unified messaging foundation. This could open the door for additional features, like message editing and unsending.

It’s worth noting that Apple’s move follows the introduction of default end-to-end encryption for RCS messaging in the stable iOS 26.5 release.

The company has gradually expanded RCS support since bringing the standard to iPhone, reducing some of the long-standing differences between iMessage and Android messaging experiences.

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Samsung has a very colorful lineup of 2026 foldables, including the Galaxy Z Flip 8 and Z Fold 8 series. The three foldable phones will launch in late July, but a new report has apparently revealed the potential color options.

Galaxy Z Flip 8 will be a compact phone with a clamshell-style design. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 will feature wide cover and main screens. Meanwhile, the Z Fold 8 Ultra is set to succeed the Galaxy Z Fold 7 of the previous year.

Galaxy Z Flip 8, Z Fold 8 (Wide), and Z Fold 8 Ultra, each, will be available in four color options. The DigitalCitizen also revealed model numbers and storage variants, which include up to 1TB configuration for the Fold 8 series.

Among the colors, Cream and Graphite are the common colors across the three models. The remaining two are different for each smartphone. Samsung would decide a specific version as the hero color in commercial images.

Here are the leaked color options:

Galaxy Z Flip 8

1. Cream
2. Graphite
3. Mint
4. Pink

Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide

1. Cream
2. Graphite
3. Lavendar
4. Pistachio

Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra

1. Cream
2. Graphite
3. Green Shadow
4. Violet Shadow

The leaked color options hint at a striking palette over last year’s boring shades. The Fold Ultra has two shades with “Shadow” suffix, which signal something more exciting than our imagination and expectations from Samsung.

Samsung is bringing a Wide Fold model to compete with Apple’s first foldable iPhone. The device reportedly shares a similar aspect ratio and screen size to its Apple counterpart, seizing the market before iPhone Ultra’s entry.

Galaxy Unpacked event may be held in London on July 22. Samsung hasn’t confirmed the venue or date; they just emerged in Korean reports. As we approach July, things will start to unfold as we await a mega launch event.

Meta has quietly rolled out Instagram for TV to Samsung Smart TVs across the US, and if you’ve got a 2020 model or newer, you’re already eligible.

Meta started testing Instagram on TV a while back on Amazon Fire TV and Google TV. Samsung owns the biggest slice of the US smart TV market, so this expansion finally puts Instagram in front of the audience that actually matters. Combined with those earlier platforms, Instagram now covers most connected TV devices in the country.

Starting today, Instagram for TV is available on Samsung Smart TVs in the US, including 2020 model year TVs and newer. Combined with Amazon Fire TV and Google TV, Instagram is now available across the majority of connected TV devices in the US.

The features landing today go beyond just porting the app to a bigger screen. There are channels organized by interest, comedy, sports, and creator content.

Stories are now viewable without five people leaning over someone’s phone. Horizontal video gets its own dedicated space, which, honestly, should have existed from the start.

You can cast Reels from your phone directly to the TV. Found something worth sharing? A few taps and it’s up on the big screen. It’s currently live on Google TV and Fire TV, with Samsung presumably coming shortly.

Meta is exploring longer-form creator content, episodic series, and live broadcasts built specifically for the TV environment. These aren’t available yet, but Meta wants Instagram to compete directly with YouTube.

Samsung is running a festive season sale in South Korea, and bargain hunters are rushing to buy the Galaxy S26 flagship. Well, shoppers are also confused whether to grab the Galaxy S26 right away or wait until the Galaxy S27 Pro arrives.

Consumers are afraid of a price hike on the Galaxy S27 series. The Galaxy S26 series has already become costlier than before, but Samsung’s seasonal sales are encouraging them to make their purchase with discounts.

Samsung is running a “Thanksgiving Festival with the People” through July 5 at over 1,000 online and offline retailers in South Korea. The shopping event offers a 20 percent rebate in digital Onnuri gift vouchers.

Even though the program is gaining traction, shoppers are getting stuck mid-calculation. They are finding the Galaxy S26 deal impressive, but the rumors of the Galaxy S27 Pro model are leading many to hold off on purchase.

Galaxy S27 Pro could bring a portable design with a 6.47-inch screen. The company is also testing Privacy display on the device, with a camera module expected to boast a 3.5x telephoto sensor along with two 50MP main and ultrawide.

Shoppers who are not in a rush are patiently waiting for the Galaxy S27 reveal. Ultra would be trending as always, but the Pro model is gaining special attention from the tech community given its Ultra-style specifications.

The month of June is about to end, and Samsung is gearing up for its Summer Unpacked. The event lands in late July, bringing three new foldable smartphones, two smartwatches, and an intelligent eyewear (smart glasses).

AI is becoming the biggest selling point in the premium smartphone category. GenAI-capable smartphones are projected to represent 45% of shipments in 2026, up from 36% in 2025, with Apple and Samsung driving the upgrade cycle.

By 2027, that figure is expected to cross 52%, turning generative AI from a premium feature into a mainstream expectation. Samsung and Apple are positioned at the center of this transition.

Both companies are trying to convince users that AI, not another camera upgrade or faster processor, is the reason to replace an existing smartphone.

According to Counterpoint Research, global smartphone shipments are expected to fall 13.9% year over year in 2026 to 1.08 billion units, marking the lowest level on record.

Samsung moved earlier than most competitors with Galaxy AI, building a broader AI experience around features such as generative photo editing, live translation, writing assistance, and more contextual interactions.

Apple is taking a different route. With the iPhone 17 series, Apple expanded its AI capabilities across nearly its entire smartphone lineup. The upgraded Siri has Gemini capabilities at its core, handled by Apple systems.

Counterpoint Research Director Tarun Pathak noted that GenAI capability has already become common in high-end smartphones above the $400 wholesale price point, but the industry still faces a major challenge.

Consumers have already seen AI photo editing, translation tools, and productivity features. The next step is convincing users that these capabilities save time or change how they interact with their phones.

A smartphone that can summarize information, manage daily tasks, understand personal context, and take useful actions without constant input could create a stronger upgrade reason.

Counterpoint Senior Analyst Karn Chauhan highlighted that Google Gemini has become a major foundation layer for premium smartphone AI, supporting experiences across Samsung, Apple, and other global smartphone brands.

Samsung and Apple are both protecting their own advantages. Samsung combines Galaxy AI with its Android ecosystem and hardware portfolio, while Apple relies on its tight software and device integration.

The next phase of the smartphone market will not be decided by who adds the most AI features to a spec sheet. It will be decided by which company can make AI genuinely useful every day while keeping devices affordable enough.