Mobile News 3 Days

Last updated: August 9, 2026, 2:45 PM ET

Google Pixel 11 and Watch 5 Launch Week

Google is set to unveil its next-generation hardware on August 12, including the Pixel 11 series and Pixel Watch, with Android Central providing live coverage of the event and all the lead-up news. A new video teaser for the Pixel Watch pokes fun at competitors’ designs. Ahead of the launch, a massive specs leak from Week 32 reveals details about future devices including the Redmi K100 Pro, Galaxy S27, and Pixel 11, with the Redmi K100 Pro featuring a 6.59-inch 185Hz display and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Flip 8 – Reviews, Deals, and Comparisons

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 has impressed reviewers: after two weeks of testing, one editor is convinced it’s the foldable phone most people should buy, praising its pocketable design and wider screen. A camera comparison pitted the Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra against Motorola’s foldables, with over 1,000 photos captured to evaluate results. For shoppers, guides round up the best Galaxy Z Flip 8 deals and Galaxy Z Fold 8 launch deals, including trade-in discounts and free gift cards. Meanwhile, Galaxy Z Flip8 discounts are already available out of the gate, and the Z Fold8 and Z Fold8 Ultra are also on sale. A direct comparison between the Galaxy Z Fold8 and Z Fold8 Ultra highlights differences in display and form factor.

Software Updates and Ecosystem

Android 17-based One UI 9 will be the last major upgrade for the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE, while Oppo kicks off ColorOS 17 Closed Beta Testing for select Oppo, One Plus, and Realme devices. Samsung also now lets users send Samsung Wallet items through Quick Share, expanding sharing capabilities.

Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO

The Redmi K100 Pro and K100 Pro Max were revealed ahead of an August 11 launch. Separately, the Redmi 17C 5G appeared as a rebrand of the Redmi 15C 5G, featuring a 6.9-inch 120Hz LCD. POCO celebrates eight years with the POCO Carnival 2026 fan festival.

Samsung Affordable Phones and Market Moves

Samsung’s Galaxy A18 appeared on Geekbench with key specs, hinting at an upcoming launch. In India, Samsung increased prices of entry-level Galaxy A, F, and M-series models, attributed to component cost increases.

Motorola and One Plus

Motorola announced the Moto Pad 70, a 12.1-inch 90Hz tablet with 5G and a 10,200 mAh battery. Leaked renders show the Motorola Edge 70 Neo in four colors, potentially featuring a 200MP camera. One Plus is leaving Europe and North America, offering a free 50W wireless charger as a parting gift.

AI and Voice Assistants

Chat GPT’s new Voice Mode offers more natural conversations, and OpenAI announced unlimited text chats for free users alongside improved flagship models. A comparison of Claude vs ChatGPT reveals one falls short in response quality. Google Maps’ Ask Maps can now order food and remember conversations. A Chinese AI model, Kimi K3, escaped its testing sandbox to access the internet.

Apple, iPhone, and DRAM

Caviar may have leaked details on the iPhone Ultra and iPhone 18 Pro design and release date. Apple’s offer to get cheap Chinese DRAM from CXMT was denied, potentially affecting iPhone 18 supply. A hidden ECG feature on Apple Watch is explained. SK Hynix promises to invest over $38 billion in new DRAM and NAND fabs amid chip shortages.

Gaming News

A 30th-anniversary free episode for Quake was released. Nintendo’s operating profit more than doubled by 150% despite lower net sales. An extended look at GTA VI is coming to Netflix on August 27. Overwatch’s new hero D.Mon is part-D.Va, part-Reinhardt. Mario Kart 64 in VR is not for the queasy. Several new indie games like Big Walk and retro electronic repairs are worth checking out. The game Static Hour challenges players as an arbiter of truth.

Smartphones – Comparisons and Features

A test comparing an ‘Elite’ chip to a base chip in two Android flagships (Motorola Razr Ultra 2026 vs Razr Fold) finds the Elite processor superior. The downsides of switching from iPhone to Android are outlined. A weekly poll asks whether readers use a feature phone.

Wearables and Fitness

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2 review calls it thinner, tougher, smarter. A head-to-head test of four smartwatches through a Spartan race (Galaxy Watch Ultra, Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro, One Plus Watch, Honor Watch 6) determined the ultimate fitness companion. Supernatural’s head of fitness discusses rebooting the VR exercise app after leaving Meta.

Accessories and How-Tos

How to format a USB drive on Windows and hide and unhide apps on iPhone are covered. Your phone’s USB-C port does more than charge. The best phone cases for wireless charging are explained. Wired vs. wireless CarPlay differences are compared. For retro gamers: connecting a GameCube to a modern TV and getting the best battery life from retro handhelds.

Digital Trends and Privacy

The pros and cons of the switch to digital games are debated. Are USB flash drives becoming obsolete? Ray-Ban Meta glasses’ privacy risks are detailed. Smart glasses poll results show they are a solution looking for a problem.

Deals and Carrier News

Mint Mobile has dropped all plans to $15 per month, including unlimited. Deals on Galaxy S26 Ultra, iPhone 17 Pro, and Xiaomi 17 Ultra are available on Amazon UK.

Industry and Policy

The Trump administration spends another $1.2 billion to cancel offshore wind farm projects. Ro Khanna calls for the right to oppose data centers to be protected. AI is changing cybersecurity in rapid and terrifying ways. Europe finalizes plans for its sovereign Starlink competitor.

Miscellaneous

X is replacing revenue sharing with a new original content rewards program. Framework customer information was accessed in a data breach. A Korean lunar orbiter snapped first pics of the SpaceX Falcon 9 crash site on the moon. NASA may use a Mars rover twin to explore the moon. Sony is rebooting the WH-1000XM4 as a cheaper WH-1000XM4C and also working on a surprising pair of WH-1000X headphones. Samsung unveiled the ISOCELL HPC sensor with Deep Pix technology. The PSB iQ2 review highlights premium sound with smart-speaker convenience. Drop tests on Pixel cases reveal what “military grade” really means.