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As a gamer, I always built my computers with one goal in mind: a smooth gaming experience. Two decades ago, that meant something entirely different than it does now, and for the most part, many of us were happy to run the latest games at 1024x768, if not less. These days, with ever-growing hardware demands and games that aren't optimized too well, we're dealing with a whole host of different issues.

If you are of a certain age, you may recall advice from an older family member about letting your engine "warm up" for a bit, especially on cold mornings. In my rural northwest Iowa community back in the 1980s, everyone in town did this during the winter. You go out, start your car, clear the snow off, and then run back inside.

Nothing is ever truly free. There has to be a fee somewhere in the fine print, right? It's understandable to get an uneasy feeling when reading the word "free." So when I say that this list consists of three free movies, it might cause some hesitation.

Sitting still for long periods may increase the risk of serious health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, stroke, heart disease, obesity, and some cancers. Even as little as one minute of walking every 30 minutes could provide modest benefits, such as reducing blood pressure. That's why I use one of my smart home sensors to nag me when I've been sitting for too long.

Ubuntu Linux 26.04 LTS will be released in two months, marking the next Long Term Support version of the popular desktop Linux distribution. The update already had a nickname, Resolute Raccoon, but now its raccoon-themed wallpaper background has finally been revealed.

Elon Musk's Tesla is taking the California Department of Motor Vehicles to court, an attempt to win back the right to use the term "autopilot" when advertising its line of cars.

In a case filed Feb. 13, the electric vehicle giant claims that the department "wrongfully and baselessly” labeled Tesla a “false advertiser,” and argues that the department did not effectively prove that customers had been led to believe the vehicles could be operated without human oversight.

SEE ALSO: Anthropic changes safety policy amid intense AI competition

Last year, a judge for California's Office of Administrative Hearings ruled that the company had engaged in deceptive marketing by describing its fleet's driver assistance systems as "Autopilot" modes. The court argued that Tesla's Autopilot and “Full Self-Driving Capability” (FSD) did not meet the necessary autonomous driving criteria under NHTSA’s Levels of Automation system — the features are rated by the NHTSA as Level 2 automation, where Level 5 is a fully autonomous vehicle. The decision claims features need to be at least Level 3 to be described as "self-driving."

In using such terms, Tesla has misled drivers and poses a consumer risk, the decision said. Tesla has faced multiple legal challenges that its self-driving features led to the deaths of multiple people. The company was found partially liable for a fatal, autopilot-related incident in August.

The California ruling went into effect on Jan. 15, and included a 30-day business suspension across the state unless the company ceased using the term in 60 days or changed its systems. Tesla responded in typical fashion: A tongue-in-cheek social post and a claim that sales would not be hit by the decision. Then, in January, the company effectively discontinued Basic Autopilot in the U.S., reshuffling its fleet offering with a standard traffic awareness mode and an option to upgrade your vehicle to FSD, now called "Full Self-Driving (Supervised)."

SEE ALSO: Robot, take the wheel: What you need to know about autonomous vehicles rolling out across the U.S.

A few weeks later, the state's DMV announced Tesla had met its obligations and would not face a suspension of its license, but now the company is fighting back against the decision with more force.

"An Administrative Law Judge found that Tesla broke state law by misleading consumers with the term ‘autopilot.’ Tesla agreed to stop this practice, and now they’re challenging it anyway. DMV is committed to protecting the traveling public and will defend the Administrative Law Judge’s findings and decision in court," a DMV representative said in a statement to CNBC.

Like many computer geeks, I tend to be a stickler for the right terminology. For example, I can never let it go when someone refers to a computer case as the "CPU" of the computer. Pedantic? Maybe. But there are some hills I just have to die on for some reason.

Samsung's all-new Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26 Plus, and Galaxy S26 Ultra are finally here, but one of my favorite pre-order deals is no longer available from Samsung's website. I'm talking about the free upgrade that doubles the internal storage when you pre-order.

Well, she's still got it.

Sitcom star Valerie Cherish (Lisa Kudrow) returns for a third and final season of HBO's The Comeback, created by Michael Patrick King (Sex and the City) and Kudrow. The show's first two seasons premiered in 2005 and 2014, offering up biting (and prescient) looks at sitcoms, reality TV, and the entertainment industry as a whole.

SEE ALSO: 'Toy Story 5' trailer: Woody and Buzz reunite to save Bonnie from becoming an iPad kid

Now, the cult classic is tackling a whole new host of Hollywood issues. Based on the trailer, chiefest among them will be AI.

Turns out, Valerie's hot new sitcom How's That? is written entirely by AI, much to the chagrin of the show's other writers (Abbi Jacobson and John Early). At least Valerie's publicist Billy (Dan Bucatinsky) seems excited about it.

The rest of the trailer showcases Valerie's involvement in other key elements of Hollywood in the 2020s. In one scene, she joins in on 2023's WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, posing with then-SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher. Elsewhere, she makes an appearance on Hot Ones (and looks like she's absolutely suffering through it) and hangs out with Trixie Mattel.

On top of Kudrow and Bucatinsky, The Comeback Season 3 will see the return of many familiar faces, including Damian Young as Valerie's husband Mark Berman and Laura Silverman as reality TV director Jane Benson.

The Comeback Season 3 also stars Tim Bagley, Matt Cook, Jack O’Brien, Ella Stiller, Barry Shabaka Henley, Tony Macht, Brittany O’Grady, Zane Phillips, Julian Stern, and Andrew Scott.

The Comeback Season 3 premieres March 22 at 10:30 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max. Seasons 1 and 2 are streaming on HBO Max.

Looking for a ride in a robotaxi? If you live in Chicago, Illinois and Charlotte, North Carolina, you may be able to ride around your city in an autonomous vehicle in the not so distant future.

According to a report in TechCrunch, apparently confirmed by locals who spotted the vehicles in their area, Waymo is currently conducting test drives in both cities.

Waymo's testing phase deploys Waymo vehicles with human drivers to cities where the Google-owned company is looking to roll out its ride-hailing service. During this phase, Waymo effectively gleans knowledge from the human drivers to best understand the lay of the land.

Local road conditions, traffic patterns, and edge cases are all analyzed and mapped out so that the autonomous vehicles are prepared for the location. After months of testing, Waymo will start testing the driverless version of the service. If all goes well, this will be followed by launching the full Waymo experience — where you hail a driverless car on the Waymo app — in the city. 

Earlier this month, Waymo completed the first phase of testing in Nashville, Tennessee. Nashville will now see driverless taxis on its streets. Waymo testing is also underway in London, Washington DC, and Denver.

The full service is currently available in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as in Phoenix. Riders can also call a Waymo ride via an Uber partnership in Austin and Atlanta. Waymo is also currently rolling out in Orlando as well as Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio.

Waymo's ongoing expansion follows a financing round that raised $16 billion for the company.

If you hear the term "open-source," you might think of Linux. However, Linux distros aren't the only open-source operating systems. There are plenty in use today besides Linux. Some date back to even before Linux existed.

Small phone lovers are passionate, but there aren’t enough of them to stop the phone industry from shipping increasingly large phones. Fortunately, 2026 is shaping up to be the year that lesser-known companies are supplying some of the smallest smartphones we’ve seen in years.

SUVs have basically taken over, and for years the usual names have run the show. BMW, Mercedes, Audi, and Toyota built the blueprint, and models like the X5 became the default pick if you wanted something sporty but still upscale.

Not a fan of AI? Tired of every app and device adding some sort of AI functionality?

Then Firefox has some good news for you. The popular web browser, which is run by the non-profit-owned tech company Mozilla, has just rolled out a new update that comes with an AI killswitch.

That's right. With the toggle of a simple setting in the Firefox web browser, users can remove any and all AI integrations or features built into the app.

To turn off AI features in Firefox, simply download the latest update, Firefox 148, which was just released today. Once Firefox is updated, go to Settings and then AI Controls. On the AI Controls menu, click the toggle on "Block AI Enhancements." This turns off all AI features in Firefox, including ChatGPT and other chatbots that are normally in the sidebar, AI-powered link reviews, and smart tab group suggestions, just to name a few. 

Look for the "AI kill switch" in the Settings menu. Credit: Mozilla

Previously, Mozilla kept Firefox away from AI features for the most part, until this last December, when the organization's new CEO, Anthony Enzor-DeMeo, announced the inevitable: AI was coming to Firefox.

The blowback from Firefox's user base was intense enough that Mozilla later announced its intention to create an "AI off-switch" that would give users full control over whether to use AI features in the web browser or have them removed completely.

And after today's update, it appears Mozilla has followed through on its promise to offer an AI-free version of its web browser.

Ajit Varma, Head of Firefox, spoke to Mashable about the news when the product was first announced, framing it as an issue of user choice.

"At a time when much of the industry is moving toward closed, AI-driven ecosystems, we’re taking a different path, one that puts people, not platforms, in charge," Varma said in an email statement. "We’ve heard clearly from our users: some who don’t want AI, while others want the ability to decide exactly how and when it shows up in their browser. AI controls are how we deliver on that commitment."

FREE $20 GIFT CARD: As of Feb. 26, pre-order the new Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 from Amazon and you'll get a free $20 gift card.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 (2026) $179.99 at Amazon
+ free $20 Amazon gift card Pre-order Here

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2026 delivered new phones, re-designed earbuds, and brave new features that could inspire a lot of shoppers to make the switch to Android. Of course, there are also a number of new deals to consider in the wake of this huge event, and Amazon is very much in the mix.

If you choose to pre-order the new Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 from Amazon, you'll get a free $20 Amazon gift card. The Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 are listed for $179.99 on Amazon. The gift card offer is valid until March 10, the day before the release of these new earbuds. If you were already lining up these brand-new earbuds, why wouldn't you make the most of this free credit?

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The Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 offer five hours of battery life per charge and six with ANC off. They feature 11mm dynamic speakers, 360-degree audio, adaptive equalizers and noise control, adaptive ANC, three digital microphones, and IP54 water- and sweat-resistance. They also work seamlessly with the Galaxy S26 Series to give you AI assistance, completely hands-free. Get quick answers and real-time translations delivered directly to your ears.

Score a free $20 gift card with preorders of the new Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 from Amazon.

At a glance

• Today’s AI agent benchmarks test one task at a time, while real workplace productivity requires managing dozens of interdependent tasks at once. To reflect this, we created a setting called Multi-Horizon Task Environments (MHTEs).
• Under multi-task loads, leading computer-using agents degrade sharply, with completion rates dropping from 16.7% to 8.7%.
• CORPGEN introduces digital employees, with hierarchical planning, memory isolation, and experiential learning, delivering up to 3.5 times higher completion rates than baselines across three independent agent backends.
• Because CORPGEN is architecture-agnostic and modular, its gains come from system design rather than any single base model, and it benefits directly as underlying models improve.

By mid-morning, a typical knowledge worker is already juggling a client report, a budget spreadsheet, a slide deck, and an email backlog, all interdependent and all demanding attention at once. For AI agents to be genuinely useful in that environment, they will need to operate the same way, but today’s best models are evaluated one task at a time, not dozens at once.

In our paper, “CORPGEN: Simulating Corporate Environments with Autonomous Digital Employees in Multi-Horizon Task Environments,” we propose an agent framework that equips AI with the memory, planning, and learning capabilities to close that gap.

Introducing Multi-Horizon Task Environments

Replicating the reality of workplace multitasking requires a new kind of evaluation environment. In response, we developed Multi-Horizon Task Environments (MHTEs), settings where an agent must manage multiple complex tasks simultaneously. Each task requires 10 to 30 dependent steps within a single session spanning five hours.

To determine what a benchmark would need to test, we ran MHTEs at scale on some of today’s leading AI agents, exposing four weaknesses. First, memory fills up. An agent cannot hold details for multiple active tasks at once. Second, information from one task interferes with reasoning about another. Third, tasks don’t depend on each other in simple sequences. They form complex webs where an agent must constantly check whether upstream work is finished before it can move forward on anything downstream. Fourth, every action cycle requires reprioritizing across all active tasks, not simply resuming where the agent left off.

We also tested three independent agent systems under increasing loads. As the number of concurrent tasks rose from 12 to 46, completion rates fell from 16.7% to 8.7% across all systems.

CORPGEN’s architecture

CORPGEN introduces digital employees: LLM-powered AI agents with persistent identities, role-specific expertise, and realistic work schedules. They operate Microsoft Office applications through GUI automation and perform consistently within MHTEs over hours of continuous activity. Figure 1 illustrates how a digital employee moves through a full workday.

Figure 1. Each day begins with a structured plan and memory loaded from previous sessions. The agent then works through overlapping tasks in repeated cycles, storing key outcomes at day’s end to inform the next session.

CORPGEN addresses each of the four weaknesses of concurrent task execution—memory overload, cross-task interference, dependency complexity, and reprioritization—in a targeted way. Hierarchical planning breaks objectives into daily goals and then into moment-to-moment decisions, allowing the agent to act from a structured plan instead of reviewing all available tasks before each step.

Subagents perform complex operations like web research in isolated contexts, preventing cross-task contamination. A tiered memory system enables selective recall of task-related information rather than retaining everything in active context. Adaptive summarization compresses routine observations while preserving critical information, keeping memory growth controlled.

Because these mechanisms are not tied to a specific base model, we tested CORPGEN across three different agents. In each case, we observed consistent gains. The improvements came from the architecture, not from the strength of any particular model. Figure 2 shows how they fit together within CORPGEN’s architecture.

Figure 2. Four mechanisms support concurrent task execution in CORPGEN: hierarchical planning, isolated subagents, tiered memory, and adaptive summarization. How digital employees collaborate

When multiple digital employees operate in the same environment, collaboration takes shape through standard communication channels, without predefined coordination rules. One employee sends an email requesting data; another picks it up in the next cycle, uses its memory to process it, and responds. This exchange mirrors real workplace communication.

There is no shared internal state between agents. Coordination occurs entirely through email and Microsoft Teams, the same channels many workers use. Over time, these independent exchanges form recognizable organizational patterns. Some agents take on leadership roles; others provide support; shared documents become the connective tissue.

When a communication path breaks, such as an email delivery error, agents reroute messages through alternate channels to keep work moving. The result is a virtual organization that behaves like a real one without being explicitly programmed to do so.

Evaluating CORPGEN

We evaluated CORPGEN on a multi-task benchmark that combined up to 46 tasks into a single six-hour session. Three findings stood out.

Baselines degrade as load increases; CORPGEN does not. All three baseline agent systems showed steady performance declines as task load rose. CORPGEN, by contrast, maintained or improved its completion rates at higher loads. At 46 tasks, CORPGEN completed 15.2% of tasks, compared with 4.3% for the baselines, roughly 3.5 times more.

Experiential learning drives the largest gains. We introduced CORPGEN’s components sequentially: first the orchestration layer, then cognitive tools, and finally experiential learning. The first two produced moderate improvements. Experiential learning, in which agents store records of completed tasks and reuse them when they encounter structurally similar work, produced the largest increase, raising completion rates from 8.7% to 15.2%.

Evaluation methodology changes the picture. When we inspected the actual output files produced by agents, the results agreed with human judgements roughly 90% of the time. Evaluation based on screenshots and action logs agreed only about 40% of the time. This gap suggests that common evaluation approaches may underestimate what agents actually accomplish in practice.

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The results suggest that memory and retrieval, not just raw model capability, may be a key bottleneck in getting agents to work in the real world. The largest gains came from experiential learning. Agents that learn from prior successes and apply those patterns to structurally similar tasks build an advantage over systems that respond to each task in isolation.

CORPGEN also opens a new lens on how AI agents collaborate. Next steps include testing whether agents can maintain memory across multiple workdays and how they coordinate when working in teams. We are also exploring ways to make agents faster and more reliable by combining different methods of interacting with software.

Acknowledgments

This work is a result of a collaboration between the Office of the CTO at Microsoft and the Microsoft AI Development Accelerator Program (MAIDAP). We would like to thank the Microsoft Security Research team for providing resources that supported this research. We also thank the members of the Microsoft UFO2 (opens in new tab) team and the Mem0 (opens in new tab) project for their open-source contributions, which enabled key components of the CORPGEN architecture, and the OSWorld team for the benchmark that served as the foundation for our multi-task evaluation.

Finally, we thank the many contributors to this research: Anjel Shaileshbhai Patel, Dayquan Julienne, Charlotte Siska, Manuel Raúl Meléndez Luján, Anthony Twum-Barimah, Mauricio Velazco, and Tianwei Chen.

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The post CORPGEN advances AI agents for real work appeared first on Microsoft Research.

A new generation of Samsung Galaxy is here. The Samsung Galaxy S26 made its debut during Samsung Unpacked on Wednesday, Feb. 25, and preorders start today ahead of its March 11 release.

While there are very few differences between the new S26 Samsung Galaxy phones and previous generations, there are some noteworthy changes.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs S25 Ultra: Comparing price, specs, and features

Now, Samsung has combined its AI photo and video studio into the Creative Studio. What's creating the bigger buzz is the inclusion of a new Privacy Display. The new feature means that you can only view the screen head-on, meaning passersby can't catch a glimpse of your texts or any other very important business you're up to.

Physically, the Samsung Galaxy S26 will look similar to the S25 line-up, but it will have a more prominent camera bump. For those upgrading, this means one certainty — you'll need a new phone case.

Luckily, new cases are already available for the Samsung Galaxy S26. They're available to shop now, so by the time your new Samsung Galaxy S26 arrives, your case will be there too.

Samsung

Of course, Samsung is one of the first to outfit its new phones. Along with the Samsung Galaxy S26 preorder drop is a collection of new phone cases. Samsung launched a clear magnetic case, an ultra slim case, a silicone magnetic case, and a rugged case, all available to fit S26 phones, including the S26+ and S26 Ultra. According to Samsung's website, these cases will ship before the phones and arrive by March 6.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy S26 phone cases   Shop Now Casetify

If you want your phone case to have some real personality, Casetify is always the answer. With thousands of options to choose from, your new Samsung Galaxy S26 phone can be delightfully unique to you. Casetify is particularly good at spotting the trends with bowcore, chrome, and floral prints available. Samsung Galaxy S26 cases from Casetify start at $64.

Opens in a new window Credit: Casetify Casetify Samsung Galaxy S26 phone cases $64 at Casetify
  Shop Now Belkin

Belkin launched two new phone cases for the new Samsung Galaxy phones, which includes the S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra. The SheerForce Clear series case has a translucent design and is made to prevent yellowing — a common curse of clear cases. If you prefer a solid case, the SheerForce collection also includes the Protect series, which comes in three colors: black, lavender, and navy.

Opens in a new window Credit: Belkin Belkin Samsung Galaxy S26 phone case $49.99 at Belkin
  Shop Now ESR

ESR has already launched its Samsung Galaxy S26 cases, with a new clear case. There's a model available for every size of the S26, including the S26+ and S26 Ultra. The thin, clear case features military-grade drop protection and magnetic charging compatibility. Around the camera is a built-in phone stand so you can watch horizontal video anywhere.

Opens in a new window Credit: ESR ESR Samsung Galaxy S26 phone case $35.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Burga

A case is more than just crucial protections; it's also a way to show personality. Burga makes cases with chic and trendy prints, including polka dots, stripes, ombre, and motivational messages. Before Samsung Unpacked even launched, Burga had Samsung Galaxy S26 cases available, which you can start shopping for now. Plus, they're running a deal, and when you buy four cases, you only pay for two.

Opens in a new window Credit: Burga Burga Samsung Galaxy S26 phone cases Buy four phone cases at Burga and pay for just two. Get Deal Careborne

An extremely thin phone case doesn't mean a flimsy phone case. CaseBorne's Thinborne cases are made from Aerospace-grade aramid fiber, which is extremely thin and durable. It's meant to show off your phone rather than distract it with a flashy design. Caseborne's Galaxy S26 case is already live and will arrive by Monday, March 2, a full nine days before the S26 is released.

Opens in a new window Credit: CaseBorne CaseBorn Thinborn Samsung Galaxy S26 phone case $69.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Spidercase

For a slim but extremely functional case, look to the Spidercase, which comes in transparent designs so you can actually see your phone. It's a thin case that's shockproof without being bulky. Plus, it comes with a built-in stand and MagSafe compatibility. The Spidercase is available to shop on Amazon and will ship out on Monday, March 2.

Opens in a new window Credit: Spidercase Spidercase Samsung Galaxy S26 phone case $17.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Snakehive

Looking for a leather case? Snakehive is joining the crowd of new Samsung Galaxy S26 phone cases. The brand's leather case has a slim profile and comes in four different shades: rich tan, jet black, hunter green, and oxford blue. Despite the leather material, it's still MagSafe-friendly for all your wireless charging needs.

Opens in a new window Credit: Snakehive Snakehive Samsung Galaxy S26 Phone Case $39.99
  Shop Now Pitaka

Pitaka joins the crowd of aramid fiber phone cases. The woven design makes it extremely durable without being too thick. Pitaka's case for the Samsung Galaxy S26 is already live, available in two colors: black and moonrise. It has a raised camera edge to protect the lens and is MagSafe-friendly.

Opens in a new window Credit: Pitaka Pitaka Moonrise Samsung Galaxy S26 phone case $59.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Exoticase

A protective but minimalist phone case for the new Samsung Galaxy S26 phone comes from Exoticase. The design of the case is simple with a matte, transparent backing paired with an accent color like soothing green or flashy red. The case has protection in mind with raised edges around the camera and screen edges to protect against drops and falls.

Opens in a new window Credit: Exoticase Exoticase Samsung Galaxy S26 phone case $24.95 at Exoticase
  Get Deal UAG

In need of a heavy-duty case? UAG, Urban Armor Gear, launched cases fit for the new Samsung Galaxy 26 phones. The collection includes a basic, clear option, a dotted pattern, and a rugged model for heavy-duty adventures.

Opens in a new window Credit: UAG UAG Samsung Galaxy S26 phone cases   Shop Now

Google dropped a surprise announcement for Gemini users today: Nano Banana 2 is here.

The company announced the immediate launch of Nano Banana 2 in a blog post, and the AI image model is already rolling out to Google and Gemini AI tools. The model's official name is Gemini 3.1 Flash Image.

Google says that Nano Banana 2 has more advanced world knowledge, a description that also calls to mind Google's recent world model Project Genie. "The model pulls from Gemini’s real-world knowledge base, and is powered by real-time information and images from web search to more accurately render specific subjects. This deep understanding also helps you create infographics, turn notes into diagrams and generate data visualizations."

AI-GENERATED IMAGE. Credit: Google

In addition, Google says that Nano Banana 2 will provide more accurate text rendering and translation.

What is Nano Banana 2? AI-generated Images Credit: Google

Simply put, Nano Banana 2 is the sequel to the wildly popular AI image model Nano Banana.

In August 2025, a mysterious new AI image editor called Nano Banana started tearing up the AI leaderboards. Google soon revealed it was the code name for a new image model officially called Gemini 2.5 Flash Image; however, the name "Nano Banana" stuck like glue.

Ever since, Google has had a runaway hit on its digital hands. Nano Banana has proven to be an extremely capable AI image generator, and it excels at editing images in particular. As Nano Banana went viral, Google started integrating it into a wide variety of tools, from Google Messages to Chrome.

SEE ALSO: 5 popular Nano Banana prompts to try in 2026

Not only does Nano Banana make it possible for virtually anyone to edit photographs — in ways that used to require years of Photoshop experience — but it also offers high consistency. That means the same character or product can appear repeatedly across multiple prompts.

To promote Nano Banana 2, Google released some example photos showing off its capabilities.

Could you tell this is an AI-generated image? Credit: Google AI-GENERATED IMAGE. Credit: Google AI-GENERATED IMAGE. Credit: Google How to try Nano Banana 2

Google says that Nano Banana 2 is rolling out as Gemini 3.1 Flash Image immediately. Free users will have limited generations, with paid and enterprise users getting wider access. It's available in the Gemini app as well as other Google products, including:

• Google Search

• AI Studio

• Gemini API

• Google Antigravity

• Google Cloud

• Google Flow

• Google Ads

You can learn more about Nano Banana 2 at Google DeepMind, and you can start testing the model with AI image prompts right away.

SAVE $1,099.99: Verizon customers can get the new Samsung Galaxy S26+ for free when they change their mobile plan to either the Unlimited Ultimate or Unlimited Plus plan.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy S26+ (Verizon, 256GB) $0 at Verizon
$1,099.99 Save $1,099.99 free with any new Unlimited Ultimate or Unlimited Plus mobile plan Pre-order Here

With most "free" phone deals from mobile carriers, you're required to ship your old phone back to them in a trade-in situation. But Verizon is offering a preorder deal that requires much less effort on your part. You'll get the Samsung Galaxy S26+ for free just by switching your mobile plan to the new Unlimited Ultimate or Unlimited Plus plan.

Just announced at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2026, Samsung's new lineup of flagship phones is scheduled to launch on March 11. All three phones — the S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra — are officially up for preorder. You can choose your own adventure re: preordering, with deals at Amazon, Best Buy, and mobile carriers, but Verizon's preorder deal is the only way to get the S26+ for free.

SEE ALSO: The Samsung 85-Inch Class QLED Q8F 4K UHD TV is down to $1,399.99 at Amazon — save over $200

The offer is available to both new and existing Verizon customers who switch their mobile plan to the Unlimited Ultimate (starting at $40 per month) or Unlimited Plus (starting at $50 per month) plans. Verizon's three-year price lock guarantee also ensures you'll keep your plan pricing even if costs go up.

The S26+ is the mid-tier model in Samsung's new Galaxy phone lineup. It's a minor upgrade over the S25+, but an upgrade nonetheless. It packs the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, the same camera setup, a meaningful battery bump, and new AI features.

If you prefer the best Galaxy phone in the lineup, you can also score the Galaxy S26 Ultra (256GB) for free, but you'll need to coordinate a qualifying device trade-in and add a new line to any Unlimited Ultimate plan. We'll leave that up to you to decide. Either way, getting a brand new Galaxy device for free almost feels like a crime.

Apple recently announced that it's hosting a "special experience" on March 4, and now Apple CEO Tim Cook is hyping up the event with a mysterious X post. The post includes a short video and the message, "A big week ahead. It all starts Monday morning! #AppleLaunch"

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So, what does it all mean?

First, Apple prognosticators like Mark Gurman at Bloomberg have predicted that Apple will make several announcements in the days leading up to March 4, and Cook has now seemingly confirmed these rumors. All eyes will be on Apple come Monday, March 2.

SEE ALSO: 5 Apple products that could be unveiled on March 4

Instead of hosting a launch event at its Apple Park headquarters in Silicon Valley, the March 4 event will involve experiences in London, New York, and Shanghai.

As is typical, Apple hasn't officially confirmed what products will be released at the event, but rumors point to three very specific possibilities: an iPhone 17e, a new iPad Air, and new MacBooks. For the MacBooks, rumor has it Apple will be releasing a souped-up MacBook Pro with a new M5 Pro chip, a budget MacBook with a touchscreen display, or both, or neither. A more affordable MacBook could completely tip the balance of the budget laptop market in Apple's favor, and if I made Windows laptops, I'd be worried right now.

I could definitely be reading too much into a six-second social video, but Cook's X post looks to me like the back of a MacBook. The video also shows a person manipulating the Apple logo with their fingers, which, to me, screams "touchscreen."

For now, Apple isn't saying much, and it's possible I'm overthinking the crumbs they've given us.

To find out for sure, check back next week as Mashable reports on the Apple "special experience." In the meantime, you can join the rampant speculation that's going down on social media.

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