Mobile News 24 Hours

Last updated: August 12, 2026, 2:49 AM ET

Smartphone Launches & Announcements

Xiaomi officially unveiled the Redmi K100 Pro and K100 Pro Max in China, equipping both with impressive specs but maintaining distinct differences. The Fairphone 6+ will reportedly ship with a Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 chipset, according to an EvLeaks leak that also reveals a complete spec sheet and exploded view image. Meanwhile, the vivo X500 series — including the X500, X500 Pro, and X500 Pro Max — is expected to launch next month, with screen sizes and design details leaked by tipster Digital Chat Station. The iQOO 16T is tipped to feature a 200MP camera alongside a liquid-air cooling system, per Smart Pixels. The iQOO Z11 for India will launch on August 20 with a Dimensity 7500 Turbo SoC, and the company has confirmed its battery and display specs. Finally, the Xiaomi 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max are being tested in black, white, pink, blue, and red, with a fiberglass back material, according to Digital Chat Station.

Google Pixel 11 Series

Ahead of tomorrow’s Made by Google event, last-minute leaks have surfaced. New renders depict the Pixel, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold. A separate leak claims the base Pixel 11 will feature a 10.8MP telephoto camera but lacks an RGB notification LED. You can watch the Google Pixel 11 series announcement live here.

Samsung Galaxy & One UI

Samsung has reportedly begun One UI 9.5 development for the Galaxy S26 series, even as users await the stable One UI 9 release; the fifth beta is expected this week. For wearables, the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic’s One UI 9 Watch beta has appeared on test servers, suggesting the beta program is imminent.

Wearables & Audio

The Sonos Ace Ultra over-ear headphones have shown up in an FCC filing, hinting at a launch at Sonos’s September event. The FDA has cleared a massive Samsung Galaxy Buds feature to help users monitor their hearing health. In fitness trackers, the Garmin Cirqa versus Fitbit Air comparison asks whether Garmin’s $100 premium is worth it. Meanwhile, the Motorola Moto Watch (2026) review calls its capabilities deceiving, noting limited software for an affordable look.

Software & AI

Anthropic’s Claude now watermarks text to indicate AI generation, expanding beyond image watermarks for EU compliance. Spotify AI Persona labels will alert listeners if an artist isn’t real, addressing the onslaught of AI-generated music. OpenAI is expanding its Daybreak program with a tier giving partners access to a more powerful cybersecurity model. Meta’s Neural Band now supports neural handwriting in Early Access for Ray-Ban Display users. A Zoom screen-sharing bug allowed remote code execution by letting attackers fully take over devices. Abbott partners with Google Health for AI-powered glucose monitoring. Thirteen authors face backlash for participating in a 2022 Google AI study.

Policy & Legal

Government workers can officially waste time scrolling TikTok again, as the app ban on government devices was lifted. England and Wales ban Meta Glasses from courtrooms, extending camera prohibitions. A flight tracking service is suing Kalshi for using its data without authorization. Bumble now lets either person send the first message after matching, a change teased in May.

Market Trends & Deals

Global smartphone shipments dropped by 7% in Q2 year-over-year due to rising memory prices, according to FDM CCS Insight; they forecast a 12% decline for the year. Amazon's Back to School sale features incredible deals on Android tech, including over 20 discounts. The XGIMI Horizon Ultra projector received a near-perfect score and now has a $300 discount with an exclusive code.

Miscellaneous

A leaked Zelda Switch 2 could be Nintendo’s next collector hit, with 40th-anniversary hardware and accessories. The alleged iPhone Ultra screen protector has surfaced online, suggesting a foldable similar to the Galaxy Z Fold8. Disney+ will be the new global streaming home of Formula E. Your Motorola phone is getting Android 17 – over 50 devices are first in line with a refreshed Hello UI. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 17 5G hands-on review is now available. The leaked Redmi Note 17 Pro Max details promise a new chipset, a bigger battery, and faster charging. How the iPhone has changed in the last five years is explored in a retrospective. For practical guides: Can a MacBook run multiple external monitors? – it depends. How to fix stick drift on PS5 and Xbox controllers. Can you wear your headphones while driving? – state laws vary. How to connect Bluetooth headphones to your PS5.