Why we love this deal

Smartphone cameras have come a long way in the past decade, and it's incredibly convenient to be able to take photographs or record videos wherever you go. That being said, there are still areas where a professional-grade camera excels beyond the smartphone. In terms of image quality, the resolution is much sharper and more detailed. Depending on the camera, you can also switch out the lenses to best adapt to your subject matter, whether that's wildlife or sports. 

Purchasing a premium camera costs quite a bit, but during the Walmart Summer Deals savings event, it's more affordable to invest. The 34-Piece Sony a6400 Mirrorless Camera and Accessory Bundle is on sale for just $1,098. While this is a high price tag, considering the body of the camera retails for $1,099 at Sony, it's an exceptional deal. Not only do you get the camera body, but you'll also get two lenses: the Sony E PZ 16-50mm Lens, which retails for $350, and the Sony E 55-210mm Lens, a telephoto zoom lens, which retails for $330 — that's a value of $1,749, not including the 31 other camera accessories included with your purchase.

34-Piece Sony a6400 Mirrorless Camera and Accessory Bundle, $1,098 (was $1,239) at Walmart

Why do shoppers love it?

This camera comes highly rated by shoppers with an average rating of 4.5 out of five stars. As one shopper explained, "This deal was great with everything that came in." There are 34-pieces in the mirrorless camera bundle, as well as the camera itself and the two lenses. You'll also get Sony's rechargeable lithium-ion battery, a spare battery, a shoulder strap, lens caps, a gadget bag, several filters, a steady-grip pod, a 64-gigabyte Sandisk memory card, and so many more helpful accessories. The same reviewer raved, "Everything came in nicely packed, and I'm enjoying trying out all the items — the battery life so far has been amazing."

Related: Anker's Soundcore sleep earbuds have hidden benefits, and they're 30% off

This is a perfect bundle for anyone who wants to take their photography to the next level or who wants to start creating high-quality content for social media. The Sony Alpha a6400 Mirrorless Digital Camera delivers professional-grade photographs and videos, while being more user-friendly than some more advanced models. It has an industry-leading autofocus system with real-time eye tracking, so your photos are crystal clear snap after snap. 

Since it has a mirrorless design, it's easy to learn its settings and see in real time how they adjust the overall image before pressing the shutter, unlike DSLR models, which won't show how adjustments look until after the photo is taken. This type of camera is a popular pick among beginners and professionals because it's easy to use, is versatile, and is typically lightweight.  

Details to know 

• Resolution: 24.2 megapixels. 
• Video: 4K.
• Special features: Real-time autofocus. 

The seller of this camera bundle also offers a one-year warranty on the camera and bundle, so you can feel even more confident in your purchase. 

Shop more deals

• Sony ZV-E10 Mirrorless Camera Bundle, $798 (was $898) at Walmart
• Nikon Z50 Mirrorless Camera Bundle, $929 (was $1,600) at Walmart
• Canon EOS R100 Mirrorless Camera Bundle, $599 (was $639) at Walmart

Take your photography skills to the next level with the 34-Piece Sony a6400 Mirrorless Camera and Accessory Bundle at Walmart. The $1,098 bundle that offers all the extras for the price of the camera alone is an unbeatable deal for anyone who wants to step up their photography.

While Ford’s recall pace isn’t as bad as it was last year — when it broke GM’s all-time recall record for the year in just the first six months — so far this year, Ford has issued 51 recalls, according to the National Highway Traffic Administration; the next three automakers combined have just 51 recalls in 2026.

Between January 2024 and mid-2025, Ford initiated 94 recalls affecting nearly 6 million vehicles, Indy Auto Man noted. By July, Ford had issued its 89th recall of 2025, easily surpassing GM’s 2014 record of 78 recalls for the entire year.

So the company is still a work in progress, but according to analysts at JD Power, that progress is already starting to pay major dividends.

JD Power ranks Ford first in initial quality

While Ford leads all automakers in recalls so far this year, analysts at JD Power report that the company was the top pick in its 2026 U.S. Initial Quality Study.

JD Power uses a scale of problems per 100 vehicles. The fewer problems per 100 score indicates higher vehicle quality.

The total number of reported PP100 improved in 2026 to 175 from 192 a year ago. It was the best year-over-year improvement since 1997 and the fourth-best performance in the study's 40-year history.

Among mass market brands, Ford ranked the highest with a score of 152 PP100. Nissan was second with a 156 score and General Motors' brand Buick came in third at 162.

Related: Ford is betting a new battery strategy will make EVs profitable

Ford's ubiquitous F-150 led in its pickup category, while the Ford Mustang and Ford Super Duty also ranked highest in their respective categories.

Ford CEO Jim Farley commented on the recognition and the work Ford has been putting in to improve its quality.

"Oh boy, this is a big day for Ford," Farley said in an interview with Yahoo Finance. "We've worked really hard for four years to be an overnight success story. It's been an incredible journey over the last several years. We have completely transformed all of our plants and our quality operating system."

"You go into any of our plants in the US, you'll see our workers completely obsessed with all the data. Every torque wrench is measured. We look at every defect and understand why it happened," he said.

Ford details plan to turn around its quality control troubles

Ford set a record last year for the most recalls in a single year, but the issue runs deeper than that.

A recent study by iSeeCars.com, analyzing 31 years of recall history, found that Ford is the least proactive car brand in issuing recalls. Fewer than 30% of the cars recalled over the last three decades were due to a problem Ford found on its own.

By 2023, the company reached a breaking point when Ford said it spent $4.8 billion fixing customer vehicles. In 2024, the company said it was initiating a new quality assurance program that incorporates “testing vehicles to failure,” running them “at extremely high mileage” in order to find potential problems before customers do.

More Auto:

• Mercedes wants AMG to become a much bigger profit machine by 2030
• Popular Ford model faces yet another recall
• Tesla faces lawsuit from family of victim killed in Texas home crash

The company said at the time that it would take up to 18 months to see the benefits of that new process. “It makes our quarters lumpy, and it’s challenging, but it will reduce warranty (costs) over time,” Farley said at the time.

During a recent call, Chief Operating Officer Kumar Galhorta identified four areas the company is focusing on now:

• Seamless launch execution
• Minimal defects
• Greater reliability
• Time

“We are not satisfied with the current level of recalls or the number of vehicles impacted. We are working to reduce the cost of these recalls,” said Chief Operating Officer Kuman Galhorta during the company’s second quarter earnings call last year.

Galhorta went on to say that the majority of its recalls are “tied to vehicles engineered several years ago before we made all the robust process changes across our industrial system.”

Related: Ford CEO's son is practicing what his dad preaches

Whenever Apple releases its next-gen Apple Silicon chip, it usually launches with a few variants. There is the base model, and then there’s the Pro, Max, and Ultra. However, with the upcoming M6, Apple is expected to skip the higher tiers. Instead, the 2027 Apple Mac computers could jump straight to the M7.

2027 Apple Mac computers could skip high-end M6 models

This is according to a recent Bloomberg report by Mark Gurman, who claims that 2027 Apple Mac computers might use a new AI-focused M7 chip instead. This is actually an interesting strategy and a change of pace for Apple.

You see, Apple usually launches its new next-gen chipset towards the later part of the year. Then, the following year, Apple introduces a more powerful variant of that chipset. For instance, Apple launched the M5 last year. The company is expected to debut the M5 Ultra towards the later part of 2026 along with the new M6.

However, instead of 2027 bringing more powerful versions of the M6, Gurman’s report claims Apple might jump straight to the M7. It is then rumored to be followed by the M7 Pro and Max in late 2027, then the M7 Ultra in 2028. This means that there is a good chance the M6 might only be used for Apple’s lower-end computers. This includes the MacBook Air, Mac mini, and maybe some iPad models.

What’s with the change in strategy?

This year’s WWDC should have already clued us in. At WWDC this year, Apple placed heavy emphasis on its AI efforts. Apparently with the M7, Apple is focusing on making it more optimized for AI, especially with the company having recently announced improved Apple Intelligence features and a completely revamped Siri AI.

We reckon that for most users, Apple’s change in strategy might not matter as much. If you’re not looking for anything particularly high-end, the base M7 should still offer substantial improvements over the M6. If you need something more powerful, you could either opt to go for the M5 Ultra or wait for the M7 Pro or Max variants.

In any case, it’s probably too soon to tell, so we’ll have to wait until next year to find out.

The post 2027 Mac Models Rumored to Skip M6 Pro and Max for a Direct M7 Chip Upgrade appeared first on Android Headlines.

After weeks of teasing, vivo has finally announced the X Fold 6, and Samsung should be worried. But not too worried, since it won’t be coming to the US.

The vivo X Fold 6 is a small design change from the X Fold 5 from last year. It is now more rounded and still retains the IP58/59 rating from last year. Which is pretty much the industry standard, with only the HONOR Magic V6 and Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold sporting IP68.

vivo has outfitted the X Fold 6 with an 8.02-inch folding OLED display, which is Samsung’s own M14 panel with 5,000 nits of peak brightness. vivo didn’t talk much about the crease, so it’s unlikely to be a ‘zero feel’ crease like what its sister-brand OPPO has on the Find N6. But the hinge is rated for 600,000 folds.

The cameras and battery is where things get really interesting

For years, Samsung has kind of neglected the camera on its flagship devices. We’ve seen small upgrades, but they are mostly using the same sensors, year after year after year. And the same goes for the battery. But vivo isn’t playing around.

The X Fold 6 has a massive 7,000mAh capacity battery inside, thanks to Silicon-Carbon. That’s larger than the OPPO Find N6 and HONOR Magic V6, though there is a Chinese version of the Magic V6 that is over 7,100mAh. That is still pretty incredible, considering the X Fold 6 is under 5mm thick.

Now, let’s talk about those cameras. vivo is including a 200MP main camera, with a 50MP ultrawide, and a 50MP 3x telephoto lens. The telephoto sensor is larger than the Galaxy Z Fold 7, OPPO Find N6, and HONOR Magic V6, and the same size as the Motorola Razr Fold.

But that’s not all. The vivo X Fold 6 also supports an external camera lens. This is a first for a foldable. vivo’s second-generation 200mm telephoto extender attaches to the 50MP 3x camera, giving you 8.x3 photos and videos, or lossless-resolution at 17x for photos. It’s a big overkill, but I love it.

Finally, it is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 Super Edition, making it the first foldable this cycle to use MediaTek over Qualcomm.

The post vivo's New Foldable Just Made Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 Look Outdated Already appeared first on Android Headlines.

Now, you can customize what readers see at that moment: add a welcome message in your own words, describe what each tier offers, and choose whether to offer a free plan alongside your paid newsletter.

Welcome new subscribers

When your Subscribe block uses the Button only style, clicking the button opens a pop-up with a heading above the email field. Use that space to give readers one more reason to sign up.

In your Newsletter settings, set the Subscribe modal heading to whatever you like, or leave it blank to keep the default.

Tell readers what they get

When someone is deciding whether to pay for your newsletter, they want to know what they’re actually getting.

Add a description to your free and paid tiers to explain why a paid plan is worth it. Descriptions support multiple lines and bullet points, so you can lay out what’s included in a clear way.

To add descriptions, open Jetpack → Monetize in your sidebar and click the Payment Settings tab. Edit any paid plan to add its description. For the free tier, find it in your list of payment plans, click the three dots, and choose Edit.

Show only the plans you want

If you run a paid newsletter, showing a free option alongside paid tiers can distract from the plans you want new readers to consider.

You can now hide the free tier, so potential subscribers see only the paid options you offer. Edit the free plan under Jetpack → Monetize → Payment Settings and turn on Hide the free plan from the options shown to new subscribers. Anyone already subscribed for free stays subscribed.

Running a newsletter on WordPress.com

Customizing what subscribers see is one more piece of the Jetpack Newsletter toolkit that keeps getting better. If you haven’t started emailing your followers or set up paid subscriptions yet, here’s what you can do right now on WordPress.com:

• Start a newsletter on any plan, including free.
• Send unlimited emails to unlimited subscribers, for free.
• Add paid tiers with your own monthly and yearly pricing.
• Collect payments through Stripe with creator-first pricing.
• Manage subscribers, track email performance, and organize content with categories.
• Own your content and subscriber list. Export everything, anytime.

Start Customizing Your Newsletter Signup Flow

These customization options are available now for any newsletter on WordPress.com.

Ready to put your best pitch in front of new subscribers? Open your Newsletter Settings to get started.

Now, you can customize what readers see at that moment: add a welcome message in your own words, describe what each tier offers, and choose whether to offer a free plan alongside your paid newsletter.

Welcome new subscribers

When your Subscribe block uses the Button only style, clicking the button opens a pop-up with a heading above the email field. Use that space to give readers one more reason to sign up.

In your Newsletter settings, set the Subscribe modal heading to whatever you like, or leave it blank to keep the default.

Tell readers what they get

When someone is deciding whether to pay for your newsletter, they want to know what they’re actually getting.

Add a description to your free and paid tiers to explain why a paid plan is worth it. Descriptions support multiple lines and bullet points, so you can lay out what’s included in a clear way.

To add descriptions, open Jetpack → Monetize in your sidebar and click the Payment Settings tab. Edit any paid plan to add its description. For the free tier, find it in your list of payment plans, click the three dots, and choose Edit.

Show only the plans you want

If you run a paid newsletter, showing a free option alongside paid tiers can distract from the plans you want new readers to consider.

You can now hide the free tier, so potential subscribers see only the paid options you offer. Edit the free plan under Jetpack → Monetize → Payment Settings and turn on Hide the free plan from the options shown to new subscribers. Anyone already subscribed for free stays subscribed.

Running a newsletter on WordPress.com

Customizing what subscribers see is one more piece of the Jetpack Newsletter toolkit that keeps getting better. If you haven’t started emailing your followers or set up paid subscriptions yet, here’s what you can do right now on WordPress.com:

• Start a newsletter on any plan, including free.
• Send unlimited emails to unlimited subscribers, for free.
• Add paid tiers with your own monthly and yearly pricing.
• Collect payments through Stripe with creator-first pricing.
• Manage subscribers, track email performance, and organize content with categories.
• Own your content and subscriber list. Export everything, anytime.

Start Customizing Your Newsletter Signup Flow

These customization options are available now for any newsletter on WordPress.com.

Ready to put your best pitch in front of new subscribers? Open your Newsletter Settings to get started.

Now, you can customize what readers see at that moment: add a welcome message in your own words, describe what each tier offers, and choose whether to offer a free plan alongside your paid newsletter.

Welcome new subscribers

When your Subscribe block uses the Button only style, clicking the button opens a pop-up with a heading above the email field. Use that space to give readers one more reason to sign up.

In your Newsletter settings, set the Subscribe modal heading to whatever you like, or leave it blank to keep the default.

Tell readers what they get

When someone is deciding whether to pay for your newsletter, they want to know what they’re actually getting.

Add a description to your free and paid tiers to explain why a paid plan is worth it. Descriptions support multiple lines and bullet points, so you can lay out what’s included in a clear way.

To add descriptions, open Jetpack → Monetize in your sidebar and click the Payment Settings tab. Edit any paid plan to add its description. For the free tier, find it in your list of payment plans, click the three dots, and choose Edit.

Show only the plans you want

If you run a paid newsletter, showing a free option alongside paid tiers can distract from the plans you want new readers to consider.

You can now hide the free tier, so potential subscribers see only the paid options you offer. Edit the free plan under Jetpack → Monetize → Payment Settings and turn on Hide the free plan from the options shown to new subscribers. Anyone already subscribed for free stays subscribed.

Running a newsletter on WordPress.com

Customizing what subscribers see is one more piece of the Jetpack Newsletter toolkit that keeps getting better. If you haven’t started emailing your followers or set up paid subscriptions yet, here’s what you can do right now on WordPress.com:

• Start a newsletter on any plan, including free.
• Send unlimited emails to unlimited subscribers, for free.
• Add paid tiers with your own monthly and yearly pricing.
• Collect payments through Stripe with creator-first pricing.
• Manage subscribers, track email performance, and organize content with categories.
• Own your content and subscriber list. Export everything, anytime.

Start Customizing Your Newsletter Signup Flow

These customization options are available now for any newsletter on WordPress.com.

Ready to put your best pitch in front of new subscribers? Open your Newsletter Settings to get started.

Samsung gets slapped with a patent lawsuit by Tau Ceti Ventures LLC, claiming that Samsung is infringing on 10 different display patents. It claims that Samsung used its core LED and MicroLED patents without obtaining a license.

Tau Ceti Ventures LLC is a US-based non-practicing entity (NPE), that filed this lawsuit in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Also known as a patent troll, essentially, they hold these patents but do not manufacture anything. So, they are only generating revenue by forcing companies to license their patents.

The company is asking the court to rule that Samsung infringed on its patents and award financial damages. They have also requested enhanced damages, alleging that Samsung’s infringement was willful. Tau Ceti Ventures also filed similar lawsuits against HP and LG over the same patents earlier this year.

This lawsuit targets the following devices: Galaxy S25, Galaxy Z Flip 7, Galaxy Watch 8, Galaxy Tab A9+, Galaxy Book 4, and all recent models of Samsung’s monitors and TVs.

Will Samsung have to pay damages?

It’s unlikely that Samsung will be forced to pay damages to this patent troll, but they will have to spend money on lawyers and other legal fees. Samsung and other big tech companies are often hit with lawsuits by patent trolls. Samsung, perhaps more than others, since it has a few different divisions that manufacture displays, chips, memory, and other products.

It’s also unlikely that these products will get hit with an injunction, forcing Samsung to stop selling them. As is usually the case with patent cases like this, it mostly affects older devices. However, a lot of these are newer, within the past year, like the Galaxy Z Flip 7, which is a current device. This suit is likely going to take a year or more to fully play out, however.

The post A Patent Troll Just Hit Samsung With a Lawsuit Over 10 Display Patents appeared first on Android Headlines.

The latest annual trustees report, released earlier this month, projects that the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance trust fund will run out by late 2032.

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) believes he has found a way to sidestep the traditional debate over raising taxes or cutting retirement benefits.

The outgoing lawmaker, who lost his Republican primary in May to a Trump-backed challenger, is using his final months to push an unconventional plan.

The proposal would have the federal government borrow $1.5 trillion over five years and invest the money in stocks through a separate fund.

Independent researchers at Boston College, however, say the math behind the proposal does not work under realistic assumptions about market returns.

How Cassidy's $1.5 trillion Social Security investment fund would work

That $1.5 trillion would be placed in equities and other market assets, separate from Social Security's existing trust funds, Cassidy told CNBC in a June 10 interview published on June 23.

Over 65 to 70 years, Cassidy estimates the fund would grow large enough to cover 60% to 65% of Social Security's unfunded accrued liability.

He has compared the approach to the National Railroad Retirement Investment Trust, which Congress created in 2001 to invest railroad workers' pension assets in private securities.

Cassidy argues the borrowing would not increase the national debt because the $1.5 trillion would remain in a government-held escrow account for the entire period.

What researchers say about the plan's chances of working

Not all experts share Cassidy's confidence. A May analysis by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College found the proposal unlikely to close Social Security's funding gap on its own.

Researchers ran 10,000 simulations and found the fund would fail to repay its borrowing 64 out of 100 times under optimistic return assumptions.

Under more realistic projections of market performance, the failure rate climbed to 83 out of 100 simulations, the Boston College researchers found.

Alicia Munnell, senior advisor at the Center for Retirement Research, called the plan a "flight of fancy" in an April 9 commentary published by the center.

More Social Security:

• Fidelity offers a lifeline to millions before Social Security shifts
• Social Security retirees could pocket a bigger 2027 raise
• Social Security's funds will run out sooner than expected

Munnell noted that comparable models the proposal cites, including the Railroad Retirement Trust and Canada's Pension Plan, fund their portfolios with tax revenues and employee contributions, not borrowed money.

The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget reached a similar conclusion in a March analysis, warning that massive new borrowing could further strain already-pressured bond markets.

Cassidy pushed back on the independent analyses in a statement to The Center Square, noting the proposal has been shown to cover the majority of Social Security's shortfall. 

"Social Security is running out of money, and the longer we do nothing, the worse the outcome is for workers, retirees, and taxpayers," Cassidy said.

Cassidy is racing the clock on Social Security

Cassidy's push carries an unusual personal urgency that goes beyond the policy stakes of a funding crisis affecting more than 71 million Social Security beneficiaries 

He finished third in Louisiana's Republican primary in May with 24.8% of the vote, behind Rep. Julia Letlow and state Treasurer John Fleming.

Cassidy's Senate term expires in January 2027, and no formal legislation text has been introduced for the plan, which remains a policy outline.

Margaret Spellings, president and CEO of the Bipartisan Policy Center, said in a statement following the release of the June 2026 Social Security trustees report, warning that the cost of congressional inaction grows with every year lawmakers fail to move. 

These insolvency dates may feel abstract and far away, but the reality is that the senators elected in 2026 will be in office when Social Security reaches insolvency. The question is no longer whether these challenges demand attention. It is whether Washington will find the will to act

Despite the short timeline, Cassidy has assembled bipartisan support, joining Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) in urging action.

"It's clear now that Congress shouldn't delay any longer," the four senators wrote in a joint statement released on June 10, the day after the trustees' report. 

Three of those four senators, Cassidy, Tillis, and Durbin, are leaving the chamber when their current terms end in January 2027.

The monthly cost of a 22% Social Security benefit cut

For a retiree receiving the current average monthly benefit of around $2,071, a 22% reduction would translate to roughly $455 less per month, according to figures cited by Sen. Dick Durbin on the Senate floor. 

By 2032, when benefits will have grown with annual cost-of-living adjustments, the average monthly cut could reach $500, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

A cut of that size would be especially painful for the 43% of retirees who rely on Social Security for the majority of their income, AARP has reported.

What comes next as Congress faces the 2032 deadline

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has called for reform but indicated he does not plan to tackle Social Security until a new Congress convenes in 2027, The Hill reported.

Some Senate Republicans remain uneasy with the reform conversation itself, with Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) warning that talk of reform often serves as cover for benefit cuts.

Cassidy has said he will continue pushing through hearings and public advocacy until he leaves office, and is already talking with future colleagues about the effort.

Related: Social Security cuts raise new fears for women

This time around, we’re comparing two very compelling foldable phones. We’ll be comparing the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs OPPO Find N5. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold arrived back in September 2024, while the OPPO Find N5 followed in February 2025. Neither phone is the latest and greatest from its respective OEMs, and yet they’re both still quite appealing and cheaper than their successors.

These two phones are quite different, though. They’re both book-style foldables, but they have distinctly different designs, and their internals bring even more differentiation to the table. That should make for an interesting comparison. We’ll first list their specs, and then follow by comparing their designs, displays, performance, battery life, cameras, and audio output.

Specs

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold

Check price on Google Store

OPPO Find N5

	Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold	OPPO Find N5
Dimensions (unfolded/folded)	155.2 x 150.2 x 5.1 mm / 155.2 x 77.1 x 10.5 mm	160.9 x 145.6 x 4.2 mm / 160.9 x 74.4 x 8.9 mm
Weight	257 grams	229 grams
Main display	8-inch Foldable LTPO OLED (120Hz)	8.12-inch Foldable LTPO OLED (1-120Hz)
Cover display	6.3-inch OLED (120Hz)	6.62-inch Foldalbe LTPO OLED (1-120Hz)
Resolution	2152 x 2076 / 2424 x 1080	2480 x 2248 / 2626 x 1140
Chipset	Google Tensor G4	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (7-core)
RAM	16GB (LPDDR5X)	16GB of RAM (LPDDR5X)
Storage	256/512GB	256GB/512GB/1TB (UFS 4.0)
Main camera	48MP (f/1.7 aperture, 1/2.0-inch sensor size, dual pixel PDAF, OIS)	50MP (f/1.9 aperture, 1/1.56-inch sensor size, PDAF, OIS)
Ultra-wide camera	10.5MP (f/2.2 aperture, 1/3.4-inch sensor size, 127-degre FoV, PDAF)	8MP (f/2.2 aperture, 1/4.0-inch sensor size, 116-degree FoV, 1.12um pixel size)
(Periscope) telephoto camera	10.8MP (f/3.1 aperture, 1/3.2-inch sensor size, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom)	50MP (periscope telephoto, f/2.7 aperture, 1/2.75-inch sensor size, PDAF, 3x optical zoom, 10cm macro)
Selfie camera	10MP (f/2.2 aperture, 1/3.94-inch sensor size, PDAF) x2	8MP (f/2.4 aperture, 1/4.0-inch sensor size, 1.12um pixel size) x2
Battery size	4,650mAh	5,600mAh
Charging	21W wired, 7.5W wireless, bypass charging (charger not included)	80W wired, 50W wireless (charger not included)
Colors	Obsidian, Porcelain	Cosmic Black, Misty White, Dusk Purple

View Specifications

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs OPPO Find N5: Design

Both phones include a centered display camera hole on the cover display, and rounded top-right and top-left corners when folded. That curvature is more pronounced on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, though. The frame is flat on both phones, while the OPPO Find N5 is a bit taller, narrower, and notably thinner than the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, especially when folded. OPPO’s smartphone is also 28 grams lighter in comparison.

Both phones also include a display camera hole on their main panels. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold includes power/lock and volume up and down buttons on the right side, as its power/lock key is above the volume keys. It’s the other way around on the OPPO Find N5, though the buttons are still on the right side. Above all those buttons, the OPPO Find N5 also includes an alert slider, when folded, When unfolded, it goes to the left side.

The backplates are flat on these two phones, while their camera islands look fairly different. The one on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold sits in the top-left corner, and it’s squarish. It has two pill-shaped cutouts on the inside. The OPPO Find N5 has a circular camera island on the back, and it’s centered up top. Both camera setups protrude on the back. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is IPX8 certified, while the OPPO Find N5 comes with IPX8 and IPX9 certifications. Both smartphones are quite slippery, by the way.

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs OPPO Find N5: Display

The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold has an 8-inch Foldable LTPO OLED display. It has a refresh rate of up to 120Hz, and it supports HDR10+ content. The peak brightness here is 2,700 nits. The screen-to-body ratio is at 89%. This display offers a resolution of 2152 x 2076 pixels. The cover display measures 6.3 inches,o and it’s an OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. HDR is supported as well, while the Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protects the panel. The resolution here is 2424 x 1080, and the display aspect ratio is 20:9. The peak brightness here is 2,700 nits.

The OPPO Find N5, on the other hand, has an 8.12-inch Foldable LTPO OLED display. That panel can project up to 1 billion colors, and it supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and HDR Vivid. Its refresh rate goes up to 120Hz, while the peak brightness is 2,100 nits. The screen-to-body ratio is 90%, while the resolution is 2480 x 2248 pixels. The cover display measures 6.62 inches, and it’s an LTPO OLED display. It can project up to 1 billion colors, while Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and HDR Vivid are all supported. This display’s refresh rate goes up to 120Hz as well, while the peak brightness is 2,450 nits. The resolution here is 2616 x 1140 pixels, and the panel is protected by the Nanocrystal Glass.

All four of these displays are quite good. They’re vivid, sharp, and have good viewing angles. The OPPO Find N5 does have several advantages, though. Its cover display is an LTPO panel, while both displays on the OPPO Find N5 offer high-frequency PWM dimming, unlike the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. For the vast majority of users, however, all of these will do just fine, and they won’t really notice a major difference.

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs OPPO Find N5: Performance

The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is fueled by the Google Tensor G4 processor. That’s a 4nm chip by Google, and it’s paired with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM. Google also opted to use UFS 3.1 flash storage here. Do note that the storage is not expandable, though, so be careful when choosing between 256GB and 512GB options.

The OPPO Find N5, on the other hand, is fueled by the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor. That’s a 3nm chip, and it’s paired with 12GB or 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM. OPPO opted to use UFS 4.0 flash storage here. You can choose between 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB options, and do keep in mind that the storage is not expandable.

When it comes to raw performance, the OPPO Find N5 trumps the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold. It simply has a notably faster processor, with a better GPU, and it also has faster storage. So, when comparing them side-by-side, the difference is noticeable. However, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold does offer solid performance. If you’re planning on gaming a lot, and doing that with demanding games, the Find N5 is the better option.

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs OPPO Find N5: Battery

The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold includes a 4,650mAh battery on the inside. The OPPO Find N5, on the flip side, has a 5,600mAh battery included. OPPO used a silicon-carbon battery, which allowed the company to keep the extremely slim profile here, slimmer than the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. And yes, the OPPO Find N5 does offer better battery life in comparison. The difference is not monumental, but it’s easily noticeable.

We were able to get about an hour – an hour and a half of extra screen-on time from the OPPO Find N5 with similar usage. While the Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s battery life will be more than enough for most users, if you’re a power user, the Find N5 may be the better option for you. Your mileage may vary, though, of course, as there are two panels to consider here, so it all depends on your usage, and which screen you end up using more.

The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold supports  21W wired, 7.5W wireless, and bypass charging. The OPPO Find N5, on the other hand, supports 80W wired, 50W wireless, and reverse wired charging. So, needless to say, the Find N5 does charge faster. It can be fully charged in around 50 minutes. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold will take over an hour and a half to get there. Do note that neither phone includes a charger in the box.

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs OPPO Find N5: Cameras

The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold has three cameras on the back. Its main camera is a 48-megapixel unit with an f/1.7 aperture and a 1/2.0-inch sensor size. It also supports dual pixel PDAF and OIS. The second camera is a 10.5-megapixel ultrawide unit with an f/2.2 aperture and a 1/3.4-inch sensor size. Its FoV is 127 degrees, and PDAF is supported. The last camera is a 10.8-megapixel periscope telephoto unit (f/3.1 aperture, 1/3.2-inch sensor size, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom).

The OPPO Find N5, on the other hand, has three cameras on the back as well. A 50-megapixel main camera has an f/1.9 aperture, a 1/1.56-inch sensor size, PDAF, and OIS support. The second camera is an 8-megapixel ultrawide unit with an f/2.2 aperture, a 1/4.0-inch sensor size, and a 116-degree FoV. The third camera is a 50-megapixel periscope telephoto unit (f/2.7 aperture, 1/2.75-inch sensor size, 3x optical zoom, PDAF, and OIS).

Overall, we preferred images from the OPPO Find N5 more. Its main camera captures more details overall and offers sharper images. The images also look closer to real-life. Ultrawide shots were a hit-and-miss, but the Pixel 9 Pro Fold usually did a better job there, especially in low light. When it comes to a periscope telephoto camera, that’s where we flipped back to the OPPO Find N5. If you’re shooting macro photos often, you’ll be thankful for that camera.

Audio

Both of these phones feature stereo speakers. The ones on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold are notably louder, though the ones on the Find N5 are not bad at all. They’re loud enough. The sound quality output is good on both.

There is on audio jack on either phone. They do feature Type-C ports, which you can connect your wired headphones to. Alternatively, Bluetooth 5.3 is supported on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, while Bluetooth 5.4 is on offer from the OPPO Find N5.

The post Phone Comparisons: Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs OPPO Find N5 appeared first on Android Headlines.

The global artificial intelligence boom is generating unbelievable profits for hardware manufacturers. However, it is also creating a massive logistics problem. As big tech companies scramble to build the physical infrastructure required to power next-generation software, resources are running tight. In response, Samsung is reportedly preparing to announce a staggering 1,000 trillion won—roughly $648 billion—investment package over the next ten years to power its AI ambitions.

According to Reuters, instead of dumping these resources into the already crowded capital region surrounding Seoul, Samsung intends to spread the wealth. The massive financial blueprint aims to construct cutting-edge AI data centers, battery production lines, advanced display facilities, and a dedicated semiconductor manufacturing hub in the southwestern region of the country.

Escaping the capital crunch

For decades, South Korea’s tech economy has centered almost entirely around Seoul. However, the sheer scale of the current AI wave means that the capital is simply running out of room, electricity, and water to sustain massive manufacturing expansions. Industry insiders suggest that both Samsung and rival memory giant SK Hynix are being forced to accelerate their long-term development timelines just to keep up with global demand. This makes regional expansion a practical necessity rather than a distant goal.

The move is part of economic initiatives by President Lee Jae Myung, who aims to promote balanced regional growth. The strategy involves moving massive manufacturing hubs to under-developed areas. This way, the administration hopes to relieve property value inflation in the capital while injecting fresh economic life into secondary cities.

Tech meets political friction

Despite the economic promise of a multi-billion-dollar tech injection, the plan is already sparking intense debate. Opposition lawmakers argue the location of the new projects is politically motivated. They suggest the administration is pressuring conglomerates to invest in specific political strongholds.

Meanwhile, existing tech manufacturing cities are voicing serious concerns. Community groups in established chipmaking hubs worry that the big conglomerates’ moving to brand-new mega-clusters will inevitably slow production at older facilities, leading to local job losses and declining tax revenues.

Academics also question the long-term viability of building advanced chip hubs far away from the capital. Experts note that pulling off a high-tech project of this scale requires an elite, highly specialized workforce. Convincing top-tier engineering talent to move away from Seoul will likely determine whether these upcoming factories succeed or become incredibly expensive construction projects.

The post Samsung Plans a Massive $648 Billion Gamble to Reshape its AI Future appeared first on Android Headlines.

However, this week, Evercore ISI, a closely followed Wall Street firm, said the evidence on ground indicates otherwise, InvestorsHub noted.

Nike's stock is one of the worst performers among large consumer brands in 2026, and the analyst's call gave sellers something to act on.

If you're holding Nike or simply observing its performance, the question that matters is how much downside is left before things start picking up again.

Why Evercore turned cautious on Nike stock

Evercore ISI downgraded Nike to "in line" from "outperform," a switch from recommending the stock to treating it as roughly average, and cut its price target to $46 from $57, according to Investing.com.

The call followed weeks of channel checks, where analysts track real sales at stores and distributors to gauge demand before a company's official earnings come out.

Analyst Michael Binetti wrote that those checks keep highlighting fresh signs of weakness in Nike.

Binetti also cut his profit estimates, trimming fiscal 2027 (FY27) earnings to $1.65 a share from $1.70, below the $1.82 Wall Street expects.

3 problems Evercore flagged at Nike

Binetti's downgrade rested on three specific weak spots in Nike's business.

Where Nike is losing ground

• U.S. lifestyle and family stores: Order cancellations and pushbacks are running higher than Nike planned, a sign that casual buyers are stepping back.
• Jordan retro launches: Re-releases of classic Air Jordans, which the business usually depends on to make sales, are landing softly.
• Europe supply chain: Shipping snags are delaying World Cup product arrivals, just as football demand should peak.

Together, they explain why Evercore now doubts Nike can hold the premium valuation it earned over decades.

How Nike's CFO change raises the stakes

A day after the downgrade, Nike named former Pfizer finance chief David Denton as its new chief financial officer, effective August 17, according to Investing.com.

He replaces Matt Friend, who remains through September 4, Investing.com reported.

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Evercore called the timing awkward.

A CFO arriving in mid-August would have only weeks to learn the business before management lays out a multi-year plan at Nike's investor day, which CEO Elliott Hill expects in November.

That gap increases the likelihood that Nike will trim expectations before the event, rather than risk disappointing investors on the day itself.

What still has to go right for Nike stock

The picture is not all grim.

Evercore pointed to a few supports that could put a floor under Nike shares.

• Nike Run, which is the running category, is still growing.
• A possible $1 billion tariff refund could fund fresh brand spending.
• At about 1.5 times sales, Nike trades at its cheapest valuation in 15 years.

None of that fixes demand, though.

Related: Nike gets World Cup opportunity it can’t afford to waste

Nike has told investors it expects first-half FY27 revenue to fall by a low single-digit percentage, and because Nike itself set that bar, results that come in even slightly worse can push investors to sell the stock.

Fiscal fourth-quarter results land on June 30, Yahoo Finance noted.

Nike stock vs. S&P 500

The split between Nike and the wider market is hard to miss.

Nike is down about 35% in 2026 and has shed more than 7% in the past five days alone, trading near $41.

Over that same stretch, the S&P 500 has climbed about 11% in 2026 and closed above 7,600 for the first time in early June, one of more than 20 record highs this year, according to data compiled by The Motley Fool.

Nike's roughly 35% slide leaves it moving in the opposite direction of nearly everything around it.

The bottom line for Nike investors

Nike's problem sits beyond a single bad quarter.

Investors now have to worry about weak U.S. demand, soft Jordan sales, late European product, and a new finance chief all at once, and Evercore thinks a formal earnings cut is likely before the company's investor day in November.

Nike is not alone. Rivals are fighting the same pullback in casual spending, and Lululemon just cut its own full-year outlook.

Patient investors are buying at a 15-year low valuation and collecting a dividend yield near 4% while they wait. However, it's not clear how long the wait will last, and the June 30 report will signal whether there's hope for a near-term turnaround.

Related: Evercore sends strong message to stock market bears

The firm had been "much too cautious" on earnings coming into 2026. The scale of upward revisions the market delivered, he wrote, has no modern precedent outside of post-recession or post-shock environments.

The note raised the bank's S&P 500 target. It also came with a warning on AI stock positioning that the headline number tends to overshadow.

JPMorgan raises S&P 500 year-end target to 7,800 and lifts EPS forecasts

JPMorgan raised its year-end S&P 500 target to 7,800 from 7,600, Investing.com reported. The index's most recent close near 7,365 implies roughly 6% upside to the new target. The bank also lifted its 2026 S&P 500 earnings-per-share estimate to $350, representing 29% year-over-year growth, and set a 2027 EPS target of $390.

The 2027 figure sits below market consensus. JPMorgan is more cautious on the outer year than most of its peers, reflecting concern that AI pricing power may diminish as competition in the sector increases and the initial wave of hyperscaler capex spending begins to moderate.

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The bank's 2027 EPS forecast of $390 implies it sees the earnings growth rate decelerating from 29% in 2026 to roughly 11% in 2027.

At least seven research firms raised their S&P 500 year-end targets this month, according to Investing.com. Barclays raised its target to 7,800 earlier this week, matching JPMorgan's new number.

The S&P 500 is up roughly 7.6% year to date and has gained 16% from its March 30 lows. The technology sector leads with a 27% gain so far this year, Yahoo Finance noted.

Why JPMorgan called AI earnings upgrade cycle "unprecedented"

The central argument in JPMorgan's mid-year note is that the AI investment boom has generated earnings revisions at a pace without modern precedent. Consensus earnings forecasts for 2026 and 2027 have risen about 10% this year.

AI-related capital expenditure budgets among technology hyperscalers have nearly doubled over the same period.

First-quarter 2026 earnings grew 28.4% year over year, with the information technology sector growing roughly 60% on its own, according to FactSet data.

Lakos-Bujas said the bank's biggest midyear regret was not being bullish enough on the earnings outlook from the start. JPMorgan had raised its target to 7,600 in April, citing early signs of earnings momentum. The revision cycle kept running well past what the bank expected when it made that call.

JPMorgan's own credit card spending data shows households are still buying. But management commentary from companies across industries describes a shopper who has become more selective and price-conscious than a year ago.

Consumers are spending, just more carefully than the headline numbers suggest.

The U.S.-Iran peace deal and JPMorgan's S&P 500 blue sky scenario

Progress toward a U.S.-Iran peace deal is the second driver in JPMorgan's note. The bank has a "blue sky" scenario in which geopolitical risk clears fully and the S&P 500 valuation multiple expands to 23 times earnings, putting the index near 8,000. Lakos-Bujas said that scenario is "increasingly plausible."

The 7,800 base case bakes in a valuation multiple of roughly 22 times 2026 earnings. JPMorgan's strategists said "the path upwards will be non-linear, as the market will need to clear various hurdles."

Two consecutive strong earnings seasons have raised the bar heading into Q2 reporting. Beating estimates on both earnings and capital spending will be harder than it was in Q1.

JPMorgan's flash crash warning on crowded AI stock trades

The part of the note that deserves equal attention to the target upgrade is the flash crash warning. Speculative momentum trading in secondary and tertiary AI stocks has reached "extreme crowding levels," according to JPMorgan, Yahoo Finance reported. The bank said the market faces a high probability of a flash crash in those names if momentum reverses.

More equity issuance is coming, adding to the amount of stock the market has to absorb. JPMorgan also expects the Fed to hold rates through 2026, with hikes a possibility in 2027. More stock supply and higher rates are the two conditions that push valuation multiples lower, and JPMorgan is flagging both as risks to the rally's current pace.

JPMorgan's preferred positioning reflects all of this. The bank recommends a barbell: quality growth and direct AI infrastructure plays on one side, low-volatility defensive names on the other.

It is constructive on technology, AI-adjacent utilities and industrials, defense, banks, and select health care. Consumer names could outperform if the Iran peace process holds and energy costs stay lower.

The target has moved from 7,200 in March to 7,600 in April to 7,800 in June. Lakos-Bujas said the bank underestimated earnings at each point along the way. The flash crash warning in the same note is the reminder that getting the direction right and managing the path to get there are two different problems.

Related: Mark Cuban doubles down on the stock market and Elon Musk

The era of artificial intelligence companies dropping powerful new models overnight without warning seems to be coming to an end. In a surprising development, OpenAI is officially slowing down the launch of its highly anticipated next-generation AI model, GPT-5.6. Instead of a standard wide release, the tech giant will restrict initial access following direct safety requests from the Trump administration.

As The Information reports, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman broke the news to employees during a recent corporate Q&A session. Altman explained that GPT-5.6 will initially debut exclusively as a highly limited preview reserved for a select group of enterprise customers. The twist? The federal government itself will actively vet and approve these clients on a strict, case-by-case basis before they can touch the new software.

The shadow of the Anthropic crackdown

While a government-monitored rollout sounds intense, OpenAI’s situation is actually a softer compromise compared to the regulatory hammer that hit its closest competitor. CNN highlights that the Commerce Department recently slapped rival AI lab Anthropic with severe export control directives, forcing the company to completely pull the plug on its advanced Mythos 5 and Fable 5 models globally.

US intelligence officials view OpenAI’s upcoming GPT-5.6 framework as roughly on par with Anthropic’s banned systems. So, OpenAI opted to cooperate early. A slow, controlled launch will allow the company to keep its development moving forward while navigating a chaotic political environment that currently lacks a transparent, formalized regulatory framework.

A confusing regulatory web

This sudden aggressive oversight marks a major policy U-turn. Originally, the Trump administration promised a hands-off approach focused on tech acceleration. However, cybersecurity anxieties have clearly changed the conversation in Washington. Federal entities like the Office of the National Cyber Director worry that these advanced frontier models possess highly sophisticated coding capabilities that could spot and exploit critical software vulnerabilities at unprecedented speeds.

But the current ad-hoc approach is creating major confusion across the tech sector. While Anthropic faced a swift ban from the Commerce Department, OpenAI received a negotiation request directly from the White House. Pro-AI safety experts have voiced concerns that this unpredictable, opaque method of regulating through random interventions could accidentally stifle American innovation.

Altman made it clear in his internal memo that this heavily monitored setup is not OpenAI’s preferred long-term strategy. The company hopes a smooth, incident-free testing preview will convince officials to allow a general public release just a few weeks later.

The post OpenAI Delays GPT-5.6 Update Release After White House Pressure appeared first on Android Headlines.

It’s quickly turning into something bigger.

SpaceX (SPCX) has already transitioned from market spectacle to portfolio reality. Some investors might own SpaceX without ever purchasing the stock now that major index funds from Vanguard and BlackRock include the Elon Musk-led rocket, satellite connectivity and artificial intelligence company.

That’s the hidden risk in the stock’s early volatility.

Shares of SpaceX have plummeted from the highs of last week’s record-setting IPO, trading at roughly $156 on June 24. The stock still trades well above its $135 IPO price, but the rapid transition from enthusiasm to drawdown shows just how quickly a moonshot firm may start to affect normal portfolios.

The question for regular investors isn’t whether they bought SpaceX, but if their index funds did.

SpaceX is turning passive funds into IPO buyers

For years, financial advisors have pitched ordinary investors on index funds as the “boring” half of the portfolio.

Much of that rep is earned. Broad market exchange-traded funds like the Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) and iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF (ITOT) allow investors exposure to thousands of stocks, lower single-company risk, and keep fees low.

But dull doesn’t mean static.

When a significant new firm goes public, the indexes that form the basis of those funds have to figure out when and how to incorporate it. That typically technical decision has become a far bigger topic for SpaceX investors.

Related: SpaceX’s $600 billion wipeout tests investor patience

Some of Vanguard’s index funds might quickly snap up a big IPO, the company said, with VTI expecting to add qualifying IPOs after the close on the fifth trading day, depending on the underlying index rules.

The stock was among the first to be included in indexes from the Center for Research in Security Prices and S&P Dow Jones, and VTI and ITOT now hold modest SpaceX weightings.

That's important since many times these funds are used in retirement accounts, brokerage accounts and long-term savings programs. Investors who thought they had avoided IPO risk may nonetheless have indirect exposure through default vehicles they already hold.

The exposure in broad market funds is minimal. SpaceX is one stock out of thousands.

But the psychological change is tremendous.

A high-profile IPO is no longer the exclusive domain of day traders, growth funds or Musk devotees. Being included in indexes means SpaceX is being added to the portfolios of everyday investors who may have opted to invest passively so they wouldn’t have to make individual stock calls.

SpaceX investors should watch what happens next

The first thing ordinary investors should look for is if they own SpaceX indirectly.

That does not mean panic. In wide funds like VTI and ITOT, SpaceX is probably a tiny holding, since those ETFs contain thousands of firms. As of June 24, VTI was trading at $363.70, and ITOT was trading at about $161.20.

The greatest risk may be from more concentrated funds.

The Nasdaq 100 rules changed, allowing the company to be included as early as early July, according to Investors Business Daily. Funds that track the Nasdaq 100 might own a bigger piece of SpaceX than regular retail funds, because the index is market-cap-weighted.

That would matter since Nasdaq 100-linked products are held largely by ordinary investors who desire exposure to big technology and growth businesses. If SpaceX gets into such funds soon, its fluctuations could be more evident in portfolios than they are in total-market ETFs.

Investors should also pay attention to analyst coverage.

By the time the IPOs are out and banks and outside experts start producing models, price goals and risk evaluations, the companies are often in a new market phase. That can shift the focus from the dream to the figures.

Those data will have to answer some serious questions for SpaceX.

Key takeaways for SpaceX investors

• SpaceX is now appearing in major index funds, including VTI and ITOT.
• That means some investors may own SpaceX without buying SPCX directly.
• The stock has been highly volatile since its June 12 IPO.
• Broad-market fund exposure is small, but Nasdaq 100 inclusion could make SpaceX more visible.
• Investors should watch index additions, analyst coverage and lockup-related selling pressure.
• The key risk is not just SpaceX’s stock price, but how much IPO volatility is entering passive portfolios.

Will Starlink continue to grow? Can support the valuation demand? Will government and defense work continue to be a sustainable tailwind? Can it leverage its space and satellite assets into a larger AI infrastructure platform? And can public investors stomach the volatility of a corporation still valued on massive future expectations?

The third problem is supply.

Lockup dynamics could cause future selling pressure as more shares become accessible over time.

That suggests index purchasing could not be the only thing driving the stock. Insider selling, valuation worries or fading IPO euphoria can all be problems for forced demand from funds.

SpaceX’s index debut changes who owns the risk

Traders were always going to pour in behind SpaceX’s IPO.

It has all the ingredients for a market spectacle: Elon Musk, rockets, satellites, relevance to national security, commercial space goals and a big valuation.

But the more significant development is more muted.

SpaceX is going from a stock people want to purchase to a stock many investors may own by default. That shifts the story from IPO excitement to building a portfolio.

The takeaway for regular investors is not that index funds are suddenly unsafe. Broad market ETFs nevertheless diversify over thousands of companies, and a small SpaceX weighting is unlikely to dominate returns over the long term.

The lesson here is that passive investment doesn’t remove vulnerability to market manias. It packages them in a different way.

When a company is big enough and important enough, it gets owned by index funds. That offers investors the upside if SpaceX becomes one of the defining publicly traded firms of the next decade.” It also exposes them to the volatility if the stock can't expand to its valuation.

That’s why investors should worry this week.

The spectacular early sessions of SpaceX are no longer simply a chart for IPO traders. They are an early test of how one of the market’s biggest new growth stories will perform as it reaches the accounts ordinary people use to save for retirement.

The rocket company is in index funds.

Now investors have to decide how comfortable they are with owning the turbulence.

Related: SpaceX stock joins AI bond frenzy

That is especially true this summer, with the FIFA World Cup, and more importantly, the early excitement building ahead of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations in 2026.

Restaurant chains are right there, making reasons to celebrate.

After years of higher menu prices, many diners have become more careful about where they spend their money. That has made value one of the most important words in the restaurant industry.

Fast-food chains have leaned on meal deals. Fast-casual brands have added bigger bowls, bundled offers, and loyalty perks. 

Casual dining chains, meanwhile, have tried to remind customers that a sit-down meal can still feel affordable if the offer is strong enough.

For Applebee’s, one of the largest casual dining brands, this means bringing back one of the most recognizable deals in the chain’s history. The move comes as the Dine Brands-owned restaurant chain continues to compete for budget-conscious diners in a crowded casual-dining market.

When traffic can be hard to win, a memorable limited-time offer that evokes nostalgia and good times can give customers a reason to return.

Applebee’s brings back Dollarita for 4th of July season

Applebee’s revealed that its Dollarita will return for the entire month of July.

The deal gives guests 21 and older a $1 margarita made with tequila, triple sec, and lime. It will be available nationwide for dine-in customers, though participation may vary by location. Tax and gratuity are not included, and the offer is available while supplies last.

The timing is notable. 

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Applebee’s is bringing the deal back during the Fourth of July season, ahead of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations in 2026.

Applebee’s described the Dollarita as the cocktail that “broke the internet and redefined value” for the chain.

“An American original, the DOLLARITA has become a true cultural icon,” Applebee’s Chief Marketing Officer Michelle Chin said in a statement. “This July, we’re bringing it back — by overwhelming demand — for just $1, giving guests 21+ the perfect way to celebrate summer with unbeatable value at Applebee’s.”

The Dollarita first became a major Applebee’s calling card after its original launch in 2017. At the time, the $1 cocktail stood out because it was simple, inexpensive, and easy for customers to remember.

It also became closely tied to Applebee’s broader push to use value deals and bar traffic to bring guests back into restaurants.

Restaurant prices keep pressure on diners

Dining out has not gotten cheaper for many Americans.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics said food-away-from-home prices rose 3.5% over the 12 months ending in May. Full-service meals rose 3.8% over the same period, while limited-service meals rose 3.3%.

That puts chains like Applebee’s in a difficult position. It needs to protect margins while still giving customers deals that feel meaningful. Small discounts may not be enough to change behavior, especially when consumers have more choices and can trade down to fast food, eat at home, or skip a restaurant visit altogether.

That is why a $1 offer can be powerful. It is easy to understand, easy to promote, and likely to create social attention, especially for a chain with a large national footprint.

Applebee’s and its franchise operations together had 1,498 Applebee’s restaurants globally as of March 29, excluding 71 company-owned Applebee’s restaurants, according to the company.

The Dollarita is also returning at a time when Applebee’s parent company has been talking more directly about value.

Dine Brands Global, which owns Applebee’s and IHOP, said Applebee’s domestic same-restaurant sales rose 1.9% in the first quarter of 2026. 

Dine Brands CEO John Peyton said the company’s improved comparable sales were driven by “everyday value, culturally relevant marketing, and disciplined execution.”

That gives the July promotion a larger purpose. It is not just a nostalgic drink deal. It's part of a broader effort to keep Applebee’s top of mind when restaurant customers are deciding whether to go out at all.

Applebee’s leans on familiar deals to win visits

Applebee’s has been using familiar limited-time offers to stand out in a competitive restaurant market.

In May, Applebee’s brought back its popular all-you-can-eat deal, giving dine-in customers unlimited servings of Riblets, Double Crunch Shrimp, and Boneless Wings for $15.99. These offers show how the chain has used abundance, nostalgia, and low entry prices to appeal to diners seeking more food for their money.

That strategy has continued as restaurant chains fight for consumers who want both affordability and experience. 

Applebee’s is trying to offer something different: a dine-in setting, familiar menu items, and a low-cost hook that makes the visit feel like a deal.

These comeback offers follow Applebee’s confirming more closures in 2026 as parent company Dine Brands expands its dual-branded Applebee ’s-IHOP strategy. Dine Brands has said the dual-branded locations are meant to offset underperforming restaurants and create a more efficient growth path for both chains.

Related: Iconic restaurant chain exits longtime tourist spots

Why we love this deal

Multi-drawer organizers are proof that simple storage can go a long way. They're small but effective, and they have the ability to transform everything from home offices, junk drawers, and even DIY workstations. While some popular options have more of a rugged vibe, there are sleek, acrylic options that can also blend easily with any space.

The Caktraie 16-Drawer Organizer Storage Set is one of them, and its acrylic build is not only stylish but also practical. The set is on sale for just $26, a deal exclusive to Prime members. With 42% off its regular price of $45, it's a great time to invest in a new storage organization system.

Caktraie 16-Drawer Storage Organizer Set, $26 (was $45) at Amazon

Why do shoppers love it?

If you want to maximize your space, this clear storage set can make it happen. It includes four storage organizers, two that measure 4.13 inches long by 7 inches wide by 9.84 inches high and two that measure 10.03 inches long by 7 inches wide by 3.93 inches high. Each piece has a different configuration with various drawer sizes, giving you a total of 16 drawers to help you get organized. With multiple pieces, you can customize your organization system to your liking, whether you use and stack them together in a bathroom cabinet or use them separately on your desk, in a pantry, or on a vanity in your bedroom. 

Each organizer is made of durable acrylic that's dustproof, waterproof, and easy to clean. And since the drawers are clear, they can blend in with any space and make it easy to find what you need instead of digging through drawers.

Related: Amazon's 25-piece set of organizers for junk drawers is on sale for just $16 during Prime Day

Details to know

• Pieces: Four.
• Total drawers: 16.
• Best used for: Organizing small items, such as office supplies, makeup, jewelry, and more.

Amazon shoppers praise the set for its ability to organize their spaces. One reviewer called them "beautiful and functional," adding that "the little rubber feet included are great to prevent [them from] slipping off a surface."

Another reviewer said it's "very practical and keeps everything organized." They shared that the "drawers slide smoothly and the material feels solid. Super useful and worth it."

Customers use the organizers for their medicine, office supplies, jewelry, and crafts, to name a few. They're incredibly versatile and can be used in various rooms in a home.

Shop more deals

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• Yfxcvsl 4-Pack of Acrylic Storage Organizers with 19 Drawers, $28 (was $44) at Amazon
• Arstpeoe 13-Drawer Storage Organizer Set, $24 (was $40) at Amazon

Amazon Prime Day is the perfect time to search for deals on home essentials, storage being one of them. The Caktraie 16-Drawer Organizer Storage Set is a versatile pick with a modular design and various drawer sizes that can help you organize small items that would otherwise get lost in a larger drawer or cabinet. On sale for $26, it's a steal.

Smartwatches used to dominate the wearables space, and to be fair, they still do. However, users are starting to find alternatives to them, such as smart rings, which offer up a way to track fitness and get phone notifications with a smaller footprint. So, it doesn’t come as a surprise to learn that Apple might have an iRing wearable in development.

Apple iRing rumored to be in development

According to a recent post on X by tipster Kosutami, they claim that an Apple iRing is in development. Is this post shocking? Hardly. This is because back in 2025, notable Apple insider Mark Gurman actually hinted that the company could be working on a smart ring of their own.

This is because Apple is trying to revitalize its wearables segment. The segment, which brought in roughly $40 billion a year, fell by 7% in 2025. The Apple Watch series sales also reportedly dropped by 14%. So, it seems that Apple thinks a smart ring could be what it needs to bring those numbers back up.

We can’t say we’re too surprised. Apple has released a new Apple Watch model every year, but unfortunately, most of the upgrades feel iterative. They’re not exactly big enough for users to want to swap out their current model for the new one. This also means that users are holding onto their Apple Watches longer than the company would like.

That being said, we’re not sure where the smart ring would fit into the picture. Presumably, it will offer similar features as the Apple Watch. This means that Apple would be creating a product that competes with itself.

When is it coming?

Unfortunately, it is unclear when this iRing will make an appearance. There’s no telling if Apple is serious about commercializing it. After all, many companies test new products and ideas, and not all of them make the final cut. Remember when Apple was rumored to be testing and building its own car? Or that Apple was making its own pair of AR glasses, only to pivot to something more mainstream like what Meta did with its Ray-Ban smart glasses?

In any case, take it with a grain of salt for now. But in the meantime, what do you think? Is an Apple iRing something you might be interested in?

The post Apple iRing Reportedly in Development as a Rumored Smart Ring Competitor appeared first on Android Headlines.

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s enforcement division has opened a probe into private equity continuation vehicles, which made up the majority of $106 billion in fund manager-led secondary deals last year, Reuters reported, citing three people familiar with the matter.

How continuation vehicles let fund managers trade with themselves

Traditional private equity funds operate on a roughly ten-year cycle, during which a firm buys companies, grows them, and sells them at a profit to return cash to investors.

Continuation vehicles upend that model by allowing managers to transfer assets from a maturing fund into a new vehicle, bringing in fresh investors while giving existing backers the choice to cash out or stay in.

The structural problem is that the fund manager is on both sides of the transaction, acting as seller for original investors and buyer for incoming ones, in assets where pricing is opaque and hard to verify independently.

That dual role creates incentives to inflate valuations, and it raises questions about whether buyers and sellers are receiving the same information, critics have warned.

Manager-led secondary transactions, of which continuation vehicles make up the majority, totaled $106 billion in 2025, up from $70 billion the prior year, Evercore estimated.

Major investors call continuation vehicles ‘indicative of rot’

Some of the country’s largest institutional investors have voiced sharp objections to the growing use of these structures, calling them a symptom of dysfunction in the private equity industry.

“Continuation vehicles are indicative of rot in private equity," Marcus Frampton, chief investment officer of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, which manages $83 billion derived from the state's oil revenues, told The New York Times.

Fund manager buys and sells:

• Warren Buffett's Berkshire triples stake in newspaper giant
• Cathie Wood sells $16M of surging semiconductor stock
• Bill Ackman discloses new $2.09 billion stake in megacap tech stock

The increased reliance on continuation vehicles was a key reason the Alaska fund reduced its private equity allocation from 22% in 2021 to approximately 17%, Frampton said, arguing that firms were abandoning their core purpose of creating value.

Scott Ramsower, who oversees private equity investments for the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, a pension fund managing roughly $229 billion, said the pension would prefer that private equity firms avoid continuation vehicles entirely, citing inherent conflicts when a firm sits on both sides of a deal, The New York Times reported.

Billion-dollar losses expose continuation fund dangers

Those warnings have materialized in several high-profile losses that illustrate the real-world consequences of the continuation vehicle structure.

Fortress Investment Group, Ares Management, and Blackstone collectively face a combined $1.4 billion loss in a continuation fund created by Platinum Equity in 2021 to acquire United Site Services, Bloomberg reported.

Clearlake Capital held Wheel Pros, an auto accessories company, in a continuation fund when the business declared bankruptcy, wiping out every investor in the vehicle. 

Those investors included public employees' pension funds from New York, Connecticut, and Nevada, though Connecticut and Nevada had previously sold out of some of their stake, The New York Times reported.

SEC builds cross-division effort to police private markets

The continuation vehicle probe is part of a broader escalation of SEC scrutiny over private markets, including the roughly $1.8 trillion global private credit sector, which expanded rapidly after post-2008 banking rules limited mid-market lending.

Enforcement staff have been building an informal working group with the SEC's examinations, investment management, and other divisions since late 2025 to coordinate oversight of the opaque sector, the sources told Reuters.

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon warned at an April 28 Norges Bank investment conference that the next credit downturn will be 'worse than people think,' CNBC reported.

Some firms may be brilliant, but I guarantee you not all 1,000 of them are…So in my view, because of that and the underwriting standards, we haven't had a credit recession in so long, so when we have one, it will be worse than people think. It won't be terrible; it'll just be worse than people think in private credit

SEC Chairman Paul Atkins confirmed in May that the agency is investigating fraud allegations among private credit firms, Bloomberg reported. 

Enforcement director David Woodcock said in remarks at the MFA Legal & Compliance Conference in May 2026 that the agency is closely tracking risks tied to liquidity, fees, valuations, and conflicts of interest across the sector.

Private equity’s exit backlog puts pressure on your pension

Private equity firms are sitting on a backlog of roughly 33,000 unsold portfolio companies, according to June 2026 data from Bain & Co.

Rolling those assets into continuation vehicles allows firms to return some capital to backers without selling at steep discounts.

When firms cannot sell companies profitably, they cannot return cash to the pension funds and endowments that invested with them, which constrains those institutions’ ability to fund obligations to retirees and beneficiaries.

Robert Morris, founder of private equity firm Olympus Partners, wrote in a firm blog post that allowing 401(k) plans to invest in private markets 'bodes to be the successor to the 2008 mortgage crisis,' warning that retail investors would assume 'ample dollops of additional risk' for returns unlikely to exceed an equity index fund.

The SEC’s probe does not constitute evidence of wrongdoing, and fund managers note they typically obtain third-party fairness opinions for these transactions, Reuters reported. 

But for millions of Americans whose retirement savings flow through private equity, the investigation’s outcome could shape whether meaningful new oversight emerges.

Related: New SEC reporting proposal threatens to be catastrophic for investors

Elon Musk might be forced to spend $320 billion to buy T-Mobile.

SpaceX, one of Musk’s many companies, has plans to launch its own mobile service for US consumers. However, it doesn’t have the spectrum to do that right now. SpaceX recently acquired around 65MHz of nationwide, exclusive-use, continuous spectrum for around $19.6 billion. But the kicker here is that this spectrum is mostly not supported by existing cellphones. As part of it is in the AWS-4 and H-Block. Which is why they need to either buy additional spectrum or buy a US carrier.

SpaceX has already tried to work with AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon on an MVNO agreement, allowing them to launch Starlink Mobile and use one of those networks along with its satellite service. Similar to US Mobile or Cricket Wireless.

So, their next plan is to build a terrestrial US mobile network. But in order to do that, they will likely need to purchase T-Mobile, which could cost as much as $320 billion.

SpaceX already raised $86 billion from its IPO

Getting that type of money to buy T-Mobile would be tough. SpaceX recently raised around $86 billion from its IPO, plus another $25 billion from the bond market. But that still leaves a huge chunk of cash they need to come up with to buy T-Mobile. Whose market cap is currently around $200 billion, and when you add in its debt, it’s going to cost close to $320 billion to purchase.

There’s no easy way out for SpaceX here, and it might just be easier to sell off the spectrum they bought last year from EchoStar, but that’s unlikely to happen. That spectrum is likely not as valuable to AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon, due to the fact that a good chunk of it is not compatible with existing smartphones.

The post Why SpaceX Might Be Stuck Spending $320 Billion on T-Mobile appeared first on Android Headlines.

Retailers and restaurants have embraced the trend, with 2.7% of U.S. eateries offering a carbonated soft drink that includes cream or milk, up from 1.5% a decade ago, according to CNBC, citing Datassential.

Target has jumped on the dirty soda bandwagon as well, offering up a "secret" menu of dirty sodas that can be made with one of its own beverage lines, and selling an exclusive RTD drink line from Slice.

Target adds dirty sodas

While dirty soda has become a growing trend, it's important to understand the background and where the idea came from — Mormons in Utah who don't drink alcohol.

Utah-based drink chain Swig created “dirty soda” back in 2010.

“Dirty soda drinks use pop as a base, followed by flavored syrups, cream or other ingredients. While Swig claims credit — and the trademark — for dirty soda, TikTok videos and the reality TV show 'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' have helped the trend spread far and wide, outpacing even the soda chain’s speedy expansion," according to CNBC.

Target has noted the interest in the modified sodas.

"Dirty sodas are having their moment — social conversations have exploded +265% and searches for the term 'dirty soda' are up +300% year-over-year on Target.com," a Target representative shared with TheStreet.

The chain also shared what's essentially a secret menu of dirty sodas created with Target's new Good & Gather prebiotic soda line, made with no artificial flavors, synthetic colors, artificial sweeteners, or high fructose corn syrup. Target's new soda line has 40 calories, 5 grams of sugar, 9 grams of prebiotic fiber, and zero caffeine.

Target shared three sodas customers have been making using Good & Gather Prebiotic Soda:

• Cherry Citrus: Good & Gather Cherry Citrus Prebiotic Soda, Maraschino cherries, lime juice, and fresh mint
• Grape: Good & Gather Grape Prebiotic Soda, coconut cream, fresh lemon juice, and lavender syrup
• Strawberry Vanilla: Good & Gather Strawberry Vanilla Prebiotic Soda, vanilla creamer, fresh strawberry puree, and whipped cream

Target adds exclusive RTD Dirty soda

While part of the fun of the dirty soda trend is mixing and matching to make your own flavors, RTD products offer convenience, albeit without customization.

Target now offers a ready-to-drink line from Slice, the former PepsiCo brand now owned by Suja Life, which has remade the one-time Sprite rival as a "better for you" brand.

The new Slice Dirty Soda lineup introduces two flavors, Dirty Orange and Dirty Strawberry, as Target exclusive products. Slice Dirty Soda is made with coconut-derived MCT oil to create the rich, creamy texture fans expect, with no mixing required.

"Rather than artificial cream flavors, we've added MCT oil to create the smooth, indulgent mouthfeel that defines a true dirty soda, capturing the creamy indulgence people love while staying true to our mission of offering a better-for-you soda," Suja Life Chief Marketing Officer Nicole Portwood shared in a press release.

While the Slice line is a Target exclusive, PepsiCo has joined the RTD dirty soda game with Dirty Mountain Dew and Dirty Mountain Dew Zero Sugar.

"Dirty Mountain Dew is officially on shelves. The first-of-its-kind dirty soda-inspired drink from Mountain Dew is available now at retailers nationwide in 20 oz. single bottles and 12-pack 12 oz. cans, alongside Dirty Mountain Dew Zero Sugar. No syrup, no custom recipe required — just Mountain Dew, done dirty," the company shared in a press release.

PepsiCo also sells two other RTD dirty sodas, Mug Floats Vanilla Howler, and Pepsi Wild Cherry & Cream.

Coca-Cola has not officially released an RTD dirty soda.

Here's where soda sales are growing

Target and Slice seem to be leaning into the better-for-you trend as well as the dirty soda phenomenon.

“Carbonated soft drinks have been performing steadily for the most part, but the real growth is happening in zero-sugar and diet extensions,” Mitch Madoff, head of retail partnerships at Keychain, New York told Beverage Industry.

Healthier dirty sodas essentially ride both trends, and Pepsi may be ahead of the curve because Coke has not introduced a dirty RTD flavor.

“Traditional full-sugar colas remain relatively flat, while lower- and no-sugar options are driving momentum. Legacy brands like Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Dr Pepper are still the go-to favorites, but the momentum is clearly moving toward lower- or no-sugar innovations and new variants," Madoff added.

Ingredient supplier T. Hasegawa, however, told Bevnet that not every consumer will be looking for healthy options.

"There will likely be plenty of room for pure indulgence in 2026 as well. The 'dirty soda' wave will continue," the company shared.

Related: Kroger changed its loyalty rewards program, but shoppers need to be wary

Many analysts viewed that improvement as the start of a broader recovery, but new Morgan Stanley research argues the dip was temporary.

Monthly carrying costs have doubled on a median-priced home

A buyer financing a median-priced home today faces a monthly payment of roughly $2,000, about double what it cost five years ago, the firm estimated.

About 70% of existing homeowners hold mortgage rates under 5%, and half are locked in below 4%, Sarah Wolfe, senior economist and strategist at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, said on the "Thoughts on the Market" podcast.

Those owners have no incentive to sell and take on a new mortgage near 6.5%, and that reluctance held existing-home sales at roughly 4.06 million in both 2024 and 2025, the slowest annual pace since 1995, according to National Association of Realtors data.

More Real Estate:

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James Egan, Morgan Stanley's U.S. housing strategist and co-head of securitized products research, offered a specific example on the same podcast episode to illustrate the gap between staying put and trading up in the current rate environment. 

A homeowner who purchased in 2016 and refinanced during the pandemic now spends less than 8% of their income on their monthly housing payment.

Selling and buying a comparable property today would increase that monthly obligation by $1,300 to $1,400, a jump of roughly 200%.

3 Morgan Stanley rate scenarios all lead to same outcome

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management modeled three paths for 30-year fixed mortgage rates, and across all scenarios, housing affordability will not return to pre-2022 levels.

3 scenarios

1. At 4%, home prices, which have risen roughly 80% since 2016, according to National Association of Realtors data, still prevent a return to pre-2022 affordability.
2. At 5% (base case), mortgage payments decline from about 24% of household income to around 21%. This is still above the 15% post-crisis average, with gains expected to stall around 2027.
3. At 6%, the increasingly likely outcome is that affordability barely budges.

5 structural forces making the housing shift permanent

Wolfe pinpointed five reasons the shift is permanent.

1. Higher long-term interest rates
2. Demographic pressure as Millennials and older Gen Z enter peak buying years
3. Restrictive local land-use regulation
4. Slow permitting
5. Rising insurance costs driven by climate risk

First-time buyers clearing a permanently higher financial bar

The average first-time buyer is still about 36 years old, but the group clearing that bar has become far more financially selective, Wolfe said on "Thoughts on the Market."

Average mortgage balances for first-time purchasers reached $334,000 in 2024, up from $240,000 in 2019 and $195,000 in 2014, according to New York Fed Consumer Credit Panel/Equifax data published in the Liberty Street Economics post. The average credit score required of first-time mortgage borrowers has also climbed to 734 from 718.

Where people buy has shifted, too, with the average zip-code income of first-time buyers falling from about $100,000 in 2014 to about $92,000 in 2024, according to the same data.

Higher-earning buyers are moving into cheaper communities, and family financial support for down payments has become increasingly common, Wolfe said.

Housing affordability strains fertility rates and consumer spending

The consequences extend beyond housing, as Wolfe identified affordability as the single largest factor suppressing American fertility rates, above child care costs and employment concerns. 

Lisa Sturtevant, Chief Economist at Bright MLS, called 2026 a reset year shaped by uncertainty, with lower rates drawing some buyers back.

The 2026 housing market will be shaped by uncertainty, economic, demographic, and regional…While lower mortgage rates and more inventory will bring some buyers back, this will be a reset year, not a rebound year.

Homeowners tend to purchase durable goods at significantly higher rates than renters, and that spending gap carries broad economic consequences for the country, Wolfe explained.

A growing share of long-term renters could therefore shift the broader economy toward services spending and away from goods-sector activity, Wolfe warned.

Morgan Stanley expects home prices to be supported, but growth to be limited

Despite that affordability pressure, the firm does not expect home prices to decline because tight lending standards have kept borrower distress at historically low levels.

The firm forecasts home price growth of around 2% in 2026, accelerating to 3% in 2027, underpinned by limited inventory and steady baseline demand, Egan said.

That projection sits between Fannie Mae's roughly 2% forecast and J.P. Morgan's flat 0% projection for 2026, with all three firms agreeing that affordability will remain constrained.

Morgan Stanley's research indicates that the broadly accessible homeownership conditions of the two decades before 2022 are not returning.

Related: Americans face dilemma after housing market news

Morgan Stanley lifted its price target on Micron (MU) stock to $1,200 from $1,050, keeping its "Overweight" rating intact.

It reflects a fundamental shift in how the street sees Micron's business over the next several years.

Morgan Stanley cites deal momentum and durable market conditions

According to Investing.com:

• Morgan Stanley analyst Joseph Moore pointed to several reasons for his renewed confidence. 
• Capital spending increases from Micron were described as measured and not excessive. 
• More importantly, the disclosure around long-term supply agreements blew past expectations. 

Micron confirmed it has now signed 16 strategic customer agreements, or SCAs, with a mix of four very large customers, three mid-sized customers, and nine smaller automotive-focused ones. 

Most of these deals run five years, with automotive agreements set at three years. Together, they account for roughly 20% of Micron's DRAM volume and about one-third of its NAND flash volume, with commitments extending through 2030. 

Related: Navellier explains why Micron is better than SpaceX

Fourteen of the 16 deals represent at least $100 billion in total revenue obligations, and management expects actual revenues to exceed those floors, per Investing.com.

Pricing under these agreements either operates at a fixed rate or within a set ceiling and floor.

At the ceiling, prices are roughly in line with their level in the second calendar quarter of 2025. 

On the floor, Micron still earns a gross margin well above its prior peak. That is meaningful protection in an industry known for brutal price cycles.

Chief Business Officer Sumit Sadana said on the company's fiscal third-quarter 2026 earnings call. 

"These strategic customer agreements cannot be canceled. There is no provision in this agreement to allow a customer to walk away."

Customers have also backed these commitments with upfront cash deposits.

The 16 agreements so far carry a combined $22 billion in total financial commitments, of which roughly $18 billion is cash, Sadana noted on the call.

Micron's financials tell a strong story

Micron's total revenues hit $37.4 billion in fiscal year ending August 2025, up nearly 49% from the prior year. In the last 12 months (LTM), it has risen by 167% to $90.3 billion.

Gross profit margin expanded to about 39.8% in August 2025 and has surged to 72.6% on a last-twelve-months basis. The operating margin on an LTM basis is 65.6%.

Net income attributable to common shareholders came in at $8.5 billion for the August 2025 period and has climbed to $50.5 billion on an LTM basis. 

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Diluted earnings per share reached $7.59 in August 2025 and $44.17 on an LTM basis.

On the balance sheet:

• Total assets have grown to $134.1 billion, up from $82.8 billion in August 2025. 
• Cash and equivalents stand at $25 billion. 
• Long-term debt is $5.1 billion, and total shareholders' equity has risen sharply to $100.7 billion. 
• The company's retained earnings have expanded to $94.7 billion.

Micron's cash flow generation is also healthy:

• On an LTM basis, Micron generated $26.2 billion in free cash flow. 
• Cash from operating activities reached $51.4 billion. 
• Capital expenditure was $25.3 billion for the LTM period, reflecting the aggressive expansion of its Idaho and Tongluo greenfield fabs.

Put simply, this is a fundamentally strong balance sheet with expanding margins, growing retained earnings, rising equity, and robust free cash flow generation.

AI memory demand remains robust

Here is what matters most to investors trying to understand why the stock has delivered a 860% return over the past year: demand for memory is accelerating, and supply cannot keep up.

Micron Chief Financial Officer Mark Murphy said on the earnings call that the high-bandwidth memory, or HBM, total addressable market will easily cross $100 billion in 2027. Previously, that milestone was not expected until 2028.

Customer demand for HBM, which is the premium memory chip used in artificial intelligence accelerators, extends well into 2028 and beyond. 

Sadana noted that customer demand exceeds Micron's ability to supply, even after multiyear SCAs are signed.

"Even when we do these SCAs for multiple years, these SCAs contain volumes that are less than customers would actually like to sign up for," Sadana said.

Murphy added that fiscal 2027 capital expenditure will come in above the mid-40s in billions, up from roughly $10 billion spent in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Wall Street broadly agrees on Micron's upside

Several other major banks have raised their price targets on Micron, according to Investing.com. 

• Raymond James moved its target to $1,500, citing AI demand. 
• JPMorgan went to $1,540, highlighting the expansion from one SCA to 16. 
• Susquehanna set its target at $2,000. 
• KeyBanc raised its price target to $1,600 after strong DRAM and NAND pricing data. 
• RBC Capital set its target at $1,500.

The consensus across the street is clear: Micron's strategic pivot toward locked-in, long-term revenue agreements is reshaping the company's risk profile in a way that few semiconductor names have ever managed. 

For investors watching AI infrastructure spending continue to grow, Micron increasingly looks like one of the most direct ways to play that trend.

Related: Goldman Sachs resets Micron stock target with a twist

Why we love this deal

Technology has come a long way, and one of the things we're most grateful for is noise-canceling technology. The difference in sound quality alone makes noise-canceling products, like the Bose QuietComfort Headphones, a must-have product. They not only change the way we listen to music and podcasts, or stream our favorite TV shows and movies, but they make things like travel far less chaotic and stressful, particularly if you have a long journey ahead. 

Because these exciting capabilities require the best of the best, many noise-canceling headphones can run pretty steep. Luckily, when the right deal comes along, you can get top-of-the-market picks, like the popular Bose headphones, for as much as 50% off. Right now, Amazon is selling $359 Bose headphones on sale for $179, the lowest price they've been in the last 90 days. With a summer full of busy travel and bustling loud airports on many shoppers' agendas, there's no better time to add this discounted pick to your cart. 

Bose QuietComfort Headphones, $179 (was $359) at Amazon

What's so special about noise-canceling technology?

It can seem like a buzz word or marketing ploy when you see "noise-canceling" used to describe some fun new product, but it's pretty impressive when you understand just what that technology can do to something like a pair of headphones. Regular headphones use passive isolation to block out external noises, and they rely on their physical design to block out noise so that when you're listening to something, you can hear the music, podcast, or show far better than the noise of what's going on around you. Many of these models use thick earpieces or silicone tips to create a sound barrier. Active noise-canceling headphones use built-in microphones to listen to ambient background noise. An internal chip that creates an inverted anti-noise that, in combination with your audio, neutralizes and cancels the other out leaving you with a far superior listening experience because you can't hear any outside noise. They're very effective at blocking out consistent, low-frequency sounds, like airplane engines, air conditioners, and traffic hums. For sounds that are more high-pitched or sudden, like sirens or barking animals, you will hear those noises at a muted level. 

Noise-canceling headphones provide a more effective and efficient listening experience, better protection of your hearing and keeping outside noise from permeating your space. Not only can they provide great hearing protection in super loud environments, but they make staying focused far easier and making sleep more achievable when you're traveling and surrounded by constant noise. Many folks with autism and ADHD use them for sensory regulation to prevent getting overstimulated or overwhelmed, and folks who manage daily meetings and calls find the sound quality and microphone quality far better than passive headphone models. 

That said, they are not suitable for proper hearing protection, meaning if you're looking for something that protects your eardrums in loud environments like concerts or festivals, it's not enough to look for noise-canceling technology. You'll want to find headphones that are certified for hearing protection, which you can find with official labels and regulatory markings. 

Why do shoppers love it?

With over 16,000 five-star ratings, these Bose headphones certainly steal the show with shoppers. The over-ear headphones combine noise cancellation technology with other features, so you can "shut off the outside world and quiet distractions" while completely changing your music listening experience. The super comfortable headphones have plush cushions to hug your ears and securely stay in place whether you're sitting, standing, walking, or reclining. The padded headband also adds some comfort, perfect for super long periods of wear. Designed with wireless Bluetooth technology, there's no annoying cords to get caught on or connect to your phone in order to listen to something. With the slide of a switch and the press of a button, you can pair the headphones to any Bluetooth device within range. It's easy to switch between phones, tablets, or the TV, so you can listen to all kinds of entertainment. There is an included 3.5 millimeter audio cable that comes with your purchase if you like that iPod-esque feel of being connected to your device, but it's not necessary and many shoppers only use it as an alternative when the headphones have run out of battery. 

Related: Walmart's bestselling noise-canceling earbuds are on sale for just $19

Speaking of, in order to use the active noise cancelation technology and Bluetooth capabilities, the headphones have to be charged. Using the USB-C port on the left earcup, you can simply reboost the rechargeable battery which should take around two and a half hours to fully recharge. With a full charge, you can get 24 hours of listening time before you need to plug them back in. There's even a quick charge feature which, with 15 minutes of charging, you can get up to two and a half hours of use. 

With two listening modes, you can choose between Quiet and Aware modes, which change how you hear your surroundings. Quiet mode enables full noise cancellation, whereas Aware mode gives you full outside sounds but quality sound control if you're listening to something specific. 

Shop more deals 

• Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, $249 (was $299) at Amazon
• JBL Live 670NC Wireless On-Ear Headphones with Adaptive Noise Canceling, $50 (was $130) at Amazon
• Sony LinkBuds Clip Open-Ear Wireless Earbuds, $178 (was $230) at Amazon

You might be doubtful, but there's a reason that noise-canceling products like the Bose QuietComfort Headphones are so popular. They're effective, they make the world a bit quieter when necessary, and they make your listening experience so much better. 

While giants such as Disney and Universal have ample resources to withstand the pressures that come and go in a given year, many smaller and family-run resorts outside major cities end up in a cycle of struggling to bring in enough visitors and then not having the funds to make the parks modern and interesting enough to attract them.

In the British seaside town of Somerset, the family-run Brean Theme Park was assigned to liquidators at the start of 2026 while Wild Waves Theme and Water Park in Washington State is currently in its final season after announcing plans to close after coming to the region in 1977.

Fun Spot America to close in August 2026 after one last summer season

The latest shutdown after a final run over the current summer was announced by the Fun Spot America theme park in the Fayetteville suburb of Atlanta. The amusement park originally opened as Dixieland Fun Park in 1990 and was eventually acquired by the Orlando-based Fun Spot America Theme Parks group in 2017.

The theme park boasts 14 major rides, including three high-speed roller coasters, a 40-foot go-kart track and a number of milder rides for families and younger kids. It is also home to Georgia's only legal bungee jumping tower, a 75-foot tower built inside the park in 1992.

Related: 32-year-old theme park to close water ride forever after summer season

The theme park's owner confirmed a closing date of Aug. 2 without elaborating on the reasons for the shutdown. Without significant financial resources, parks with aging attractions often end up becoming too unprofitable to maintain and keep looking fresh for new generations of visitors.

Any gift cards or season passes that visitors purchased earlier will need to be used before then while the theme park owners also said that they will independently reach out to any customers who booked school or group trips past that date.

The two other locations under the Fun Spot portfolio, in Florida's Orlando and Kissimmee, will operate as usual with no intent to close post-2026. There is currently no public information about whether something else will be built on the lot currently taking up the Atlanta park or how the rides will be disassembled.

"This was an extremely difficult decision": Fun Spot America CEO

"This was an extremely difficult decision," Chief Executive Officer John Arie Jr. said in a press statement. "Our Atlanta team has poured their hearts into serving our guests and creating a place where families could have fun together. We are deeply grateful for their dedication and for the support we have received from the Fayetteville community."

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After Fun Spot America put out the announcement that it was closing down after one last summer run on social media, countless local residents who had been coming to the park over the last 38 years wrote comments sharing memories expressing their dismay at the closure.

"Come see us, make one more memory, and take one last ride," Fun Spot America wrote on its Instagram page on June 25.

Related: Disney theme park closes dozens of rides for disturbing reason

Why we love this deal

The summer is the best time to enjoy your home's outdoor spaces. While the warm weather invites more outside gatherings, it also brings with it heat-blinding sunshine. That's why one of the best buys you'll find this time of year is a good pergola for shade. Amazon has some of the best pergolas you'll find anywhere, and it's currently selling a beautiful example at a discounted price thanks to a limited-time clippable coupon.

The Uneeruiqy Wood-Grain Patio Pergola is on sale for only $188 with the aforementioned coupon. That's a discount of 14% off the original price of $219. If you've always wanted a nice shady pergola for your backyard or patio, but didn't want to overspend, then this is your perfect opportunity. 

Uneeruiqy Wood-Grain Patio Pergola, $188 (was $219) at Amazon

Why do shoppers love it?

If you think that all pergolas are the same, then you're sorely mistaken. This model has a large square footprint. It measures 10 feet long by 10 feet wide, and it has a height of 7.75 feet. It can cover a large backyard or patio and even have room to spare. This pergola is ideal for outdoor spaces of almost any size. Whether you want shade for your guests lounging in your patio furniture or you'd like to make a space for the little ones to play outside while protected from the sun, this pergola can do the job.

Made from lightweight but sturdy aluminum, the frame is durable and weather resistant. It's fully rustproof and won't fall prey to corrosion either. The lightweight design makes installation and assembly far easier than comparable pergolas that are made from wood or even stainless steel. It offers the perfect balance between weight and durability. The frame also has an attractive wood grain design that gives it a more organic feel than the aluminum construction would otherwise.

The canvas fabric canopy is thick and rugged while also maintaining a sophisticated look. You can retract the canopy easily using just your hands, making it a convenient multi-use unit. Keep in mind, though, that the canvas canopy does not offer UV protection, so it's still recommended that you use sunscreen even when underneath the shade of the canvas.

Related: Amazon is selling a spacious $230 triple-door storage shed for $190

Details to know

• Dimensions: 10 feet long by 10 feet wide by 7.75 feet high.
• Material: Lightweight wood-grain aluminum.
• UV protection?: No.

Pergolas of this quality don't go on sale often, especially this time of year. That's why it's probably best if you take advantage of this deal before it goes away for good.

Shop more deals 

• HappyTrends 10-By-13-Foot Sunshade, $26 at Amazon
• Love Story 8-By-10-Foot UV Sunshade, $23 at Amazon
• Artpuch 12-Foot Sunshade, $16 (was $19) at Amazon

If you want to enjoy your summer in the shade, then consider buying the Uneeruiqy Wood-Grain Patio Pergola. At just $188, this may be the most affordable price you'll ever see it at. Put one in your cart ASAP, and you'll absolutely have this summer made in the shade.

Lisa Su, who became CEO of AMD in 2014, has helped to grow AMD from a chipmaker to a leading tech giant in the AI age. The company makes graphics processing units (GPUs) that enable complex AI calculations, as well as central processing units (CPUs) used in AI data centers.

AMD has been around for a long time — the company conducted an IPO and went public in 1972, just a few years after its 1969 founding. Then, in its early years, AMD rewarded stockholders early on with a series of stock splits.

Here’s a look at AMD's stock split history, what its stock would be worth today had it never been split, and a discussion of whether another stock split might be on the table given the company's recent performance.

When did AMD conduct its first stock split?

AMD conducted its first stock split in 1978, when it offered stockholders three shares for every two they owned.

How many times has AMD split its stock?

AMD has conducted 6 stock splits over the course of its more than half-century as a public company.

Its first stock split was 3-for-2 in 1978, followed by another 3-for-2 in 1979, 2-for-1 in 1980, 3-for-2 in 1982, and 2-for-1 in 1983.

It would be another 17 years before AMD made its sixth stock split, a 2-for-1 in 2000. In the more than quarter century since, the company hasn’t conducted another stock split.

AMD's stock split history at a glance

Source: AMD

Some reports say that AMD conducted a 2-for-1 stock split on January 24, 1980, but AMD hasn’t recorded that on its stock split history page.

More on stock splits:

• Apple's stock split history: Everything you need to know
• Amazon's dividends & stock splits: What you need to know
• Home Depot's stock split history: What you need to know

What would AMD's stock price be in 2026 if it hadn’t conducted any stock splits?

AMD’s share price, had the stock not been split six times, can be calculated by multiplying the current stock price by the cumulative stock split ratio, in this case, 27: 

Current AMD stock price x (1.5 × 1.5 × 2 × 1.5 × 2 × 2) = AMD stock price had the stock never been split

Current AMD stock price x (27) = AMD stock price had the stock never been split

Had AMD never conducted stock splits, a share would be valued at around $14,015, based on the June 24, 2026, closing price of $519.06. At that price, purchasing AMD’s stock would be out of the price range of most retail investors.

How has AMD’s stock performed?

AMD’s stock has increased in value by a significant multiple since the tech giant went public in 1972. AMD said it issued 620,000 shares of common stock (500,000 by the company and 120,000 by selling shareholders), over-the-counter, at $15.50 per share, on September 27, 1972. 

Based on its June 2026 non-split-adjusted stock price, AMD shares have increased in value by a factor of 904 since its IPO. That suggests a $10,000 investment in AMD at its IPO would be worth $9.04 million today.

AMD’s rapid stock price rise occurred over the past decade or so. In June 2016, the stock was trading at around $5, indicating a more than 100-fold increase over the past decade.  Its market capitalization stands at around $860 billion as of late June 2026.

Related: Boeing’s dividend & stock split history explained

Is AMD going to split its stock again?

Despite AMD's impressive run over the past months and years, the company has not announced any intentions to conduct a stock split in the near future.

Nevertheless, AMD investors have speculated about the prospect, with multiple Reddit user claiming that the company's CFO, Jean Hu, mentioned in a company meeting that a stock split would not be considered until the company's share price exceeds $600.

Following some more spec confirmations, the OnePlus N6 got unboxed in front of the camera, giving us a very first real-life look at the phone. This is not a video unboxing, though, but we have pictures to share.

The OnePlus N6 got unboxed early, giivng us a first real-life look at the device

If you check out the gallery below, you’ll get to see four images of the device. One of the images shows what sits in the retail box. And yes, a charger will be included, in case you were wondering. The same goes for a silicone case, which is nice to see.

In addition to that, you’ll get the phone itself, a charging cable, a SIM ejector tool, and the standard documentation. If the price of this device really ends up being under INR20,000, as is rumored, we’ll be even more appreciative of a charger and case inclusion.

The OnePlus N6 will become official on June 30, as it will launch in India. We’re not sure if this phone will make its way to more markets. That would be nice to see, though, that’s for sure. Especially if its price tag ends up being as low as is rumored.

It’s coming with a huge battery, and a very appealing price tag

Up until now, we know that the device will include an 8,000mAh battery and support 45W charging. We also know that a 50-megapixel main camera will sit on the back, while an 8-megapixel snapper will be included on the front.

OnePlus also confirmed that a 5,300mm² vapor chamber will be a part of the offering, for cooling purposes. A Google Play Console listing suggested that the device will offer 6GB of RAM, Android 16, and ship with a MediaTek Dimensity 6000-series chip.

Considering the high prices of components these days, especially memory and storage, it’s always nice to see a phone with a truly affordable price. If the device ends up being good enough, it could sell like hotcakes at the rumored price tag. We’re only days away from its launch, so we’ll see.

The post OnePlus N6 Got Unboxed Early — Here's Your First Real-Life Look at the Phone appeared first on Android Headlines.

Fried chicken dining chains were the most popular subsector of the fast-food industry in 2025, as traffic to chicken concepts rose 3% for the year ending September 2025, while all concepts dropped 1% compared to the previous year, according to market research firm Circana.

Despite the sector's popularity, major fried chicken chain franchisees operating Popeyes restaurants are filing for bankruptcy protection and closing locations.

Popeyes franchisee Liberty Restaurants Holdings, which operates Popeyes restaurants in Upstate New York, closed a location in Cicero, N.Y. on April 30, 2026,” Syracuse.com reported, and one in Oswego, N.Y., on March 15, 2026, the store’s former manager Mike Ward confirmed to WSYR.

Popeyes franchisee closes shops

And now major Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen franchisee Sailormen Inc., which operated about 130 fried chicken locations when it filed for bankruptcy in January 2026, has won a judge's approval to sell 97 of its restaurants to five buyers for a total of $16.55 million, according to court papers.

The franchisee, however, might be forced to reject the leases of approximately 33 locations it could not sell and permanently close them.

Sailormen sells locations

Sailormen won Judge Robert A. Mark's approval in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida in Miami on June 23 to sell 50 Florida Popeyes locations to Pulse Restaurant Group LLC for $2.69 million, 23 Orlando-area restaurants to RFI Ventures LLC for $2.5 million, 16 Miami-area stores to Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Inc. for $9.6 million, 5 Savannah, Ga., locations to SBH Foods PLK LLC for $650,000, and 3 West Palm Beach, Fla.-area restaurants to 61 Biscuits LLC for $1.11 million, according to court orders.

The debtor also won court approval on June 24 to reject 18 restaurant leases, consisting of 15 locations in Florida and 3 in Georgia. The sales and lease rejections cover 115 restaurants, leaving about 15 remaining restaurants that the franchisee could not sell to be closed and their leases rejected.

Debtor rejects restaurant leases

Sailormen Inc., which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Jan. 15, 2026, submitted a motion in January in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida to reject 17 leases retroactively to Jan. 15 after closing eight locations on Jan. 19, five locations on Jan. 20, and four locations on Jan. 22, according to court papers.

The debtor asserted that the leases should be rejected as of the petition date, since the restaurants were closed within one week of the petition date and before the hearing on the debtor’s first-day motions.

The Miami, Fla.-based wholly owned subsidiary of Interfoods of America Inc. believed that closing the 17 unprofitable locations would reduce its expenses by over $1 million annually.

Chapter 11 bankruptcy filed

Sailormen filed for Chapter 11 protection after a failed sale of certain locations, a default on credit facilities, and a series of lawsuits and store closings caused the company financial distress.

Sailormen, which was founded in 1987 with 10 locations, was one of the largest domestic Popeyes franchisees in the company’s system, with more than 130 locations in Florida and Georgia before it began closing locations. It employed about 2,900 workers before the closures.

The popularity of fried chicken can be traced to the variety of chicken options offered, such as chicken pieces, chicken fingers, or chicken sandwiches, and how consumers enjoy their choices, an expert says.

“This is due to the experiences the brands are creating as well as the variety of chicken and how you can enjoy it,” industry expert Reilly Newman of Motif Brands told The Food Institute. “This comes to no surprise, as the experience economy has been taking root across the globe.

Where restaurants were sold:

• Florida: 92 restaurants sold
• Georgia: 5 restaurants sold
• Source: U.S. Bankruptcy Court

Related: 46-year-old dining chain franchisee files Chapter 11 bankruptcy