Mobile News 24 Hours

Last updated: August 13, 2026, 8:51 PM ET

Pixel 11 Lineup & Carrier Deals

Google’s Pixel 11 series was officially announced at a Made by Google event that many criticized as an “awkward show” hosted by Trevor Noah. Google promised 7 years of spare parts availability for the lineup. Rumors also suggest a future Google Pixel with a silicon-carbon battery may be in the works. Carriers are jumping on preorder deals: Verizon is offering exceptional discounts on the flagship phones. T-Mobile is giving $300 off the Pixel Watch 5 with a new line. If you need protection, check out the best Pixel 11 Pro XL cases available. Meanwhile, the screen-less Fitbit Air is launching in India this October. Separately, Apple has again been reported to skip launching the iPhone 18 this year, pushing it to 2027.

Honor Robot Phone & Magic9 Series

Honor surprised consumers in China with its Robot Phone, featuring an Agile Gimbal, automatic camera tracking, and an ARRI Cinematic Imaging partnership. Early hands-on impressions call it an intriguing combination that “somehow works surprisingly well.” Toward the end of the Robot Phone keynote, Honor also teased the Magic9 series, confirming a September launch—a month earlier than expected.

Other Smartphone News

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold8 didn’t impress in a teardown, with repairability scores falling short. Sony says the Xperia 1 VIII is selling well and calls the micro SD slot and 3.5mm jack “integral.” The Tecno Pova 8 Pro has been unveiled with an Alive Matrix Display and 144FPS gaming support. Realme’s P4s Lite has been certified for an India launch. The Motorola Signature is now receiving its Android 17 update in a 5.75GB package. Meanwhile, Samsung’s Galaxy S27 series reportedly won’t copy the upcoming iPhone feature of variable aperture.

Software & AI Updates

Xiaomi unveiled HyperOS 4 with a new glass look, UI customizations, and more AI features. Over at X, the platform is testing a tool to let users see if their posts have been shadowbanned. Spotify has partnered with indie publisher Kobalt for AI-powered covers and remixes. Microsoft’s weird little AI blob, Mico, has been demoted from Copilot Voice. And if your Google One plan is full, a quick Android setting change can save space.

Tech Industry & Services

Cloud storage remains risky: a St. Louis PBS station is fighting a cloud vendor to rescue a 70-year archive. Hosting provider Namecheap went down due to a data center cooling failure. Netflix shut down the Night School studio weeks after praising its “really solid numbers.” The US government will now allow private companies to carry out cyberattacks on its behalf. CBP officers are reportedly misusing surveillance tech like license plate readers and facial recognition. Virgin Galactic postponed its new spaceship’s first commercial flight to 2027. The US smartphone market contracted by 5% in Q2, with budget devices hit hardest.

Gadgets & Apps

The most popular Game Cube emulator is no longer the only one: Gecko has emerged to challenge Dolphin. The DJI Mic Mini 2S now offers pro-quality internal 32-bit float recording. Meta is giving away 15,000 AI glasses to blind and visually impaired people in Ireland. You can now watch classic movies like The Martian and E.T. on Apple TV. Instagram’s new logo is getting roasted online. If you’re fed up with Spotify, here are the best Spotify alternatives to ease your conscience. And a guide on how to upscale a photo without diving into complicated software.