Mobile News 3 Days

Last updated: August 11, 2026, 8:56 AM ET

Google Pixel 11 Launch and Pixel Watch 5

Google is gearing up for its Made by Google 2026 event on August 12, with the Pixel 11 series expected to headline the show. The company has already teased the Pixel 11 Pro in a short video. A carrier leak reveals the Pixel 11 Pro XL in matte black with a larger camera housing and a new “HiLight” flash. The Pixel Watch 5 will arrive in a Stephen Curry edition. Android Central is live blogging the entire event. A comprehensive what to expect guide rounds up the rumors. If you're on the fence, here’s advice on waiting vs. buying now.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Success and More

The Galaxy Z Fold8 has been so successful that Samsung is boosting its production target by 1 million units. The foldable survives sand and blades in JerryRigEverything’s durability test. In a two-week review, the Galaxy Z Fold8 is called the foldable most people should buy. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S26 FE specs leak in full. The Galaxy S23 FE will get Android 17 as its last major upgrade. The Galaxy A18 appears on Geekbench with key specs. T-Mobile is offering a free Galaxy Watch 9 with a watch plan.

Xiaomi, Redmi, and iQOO

New rumors say the Xiaomi 18 Pro and Pro Max will come in five colors with a fiberglass back. The Redmi 17 series has officially launched with 4G and 5G models. A leak reveals the India launch roadmap for Xiaomi and Redmi devices. The Redmi K100 Pro specs also leaked. iQOO has confirmed the Neo11 Ultra and Z11s launch date and design.

Other Notable Devices

The Minimal Phone 2 trades its E Ink screen for a 90Hz AMOLED while keeping its QWERTY keyboard. Leaked images show the Fairphone 6+ in Cobalt Blue. The Moto G Max is coming to India with a Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 and 7,000mAh battery. The Lava Smart 4 offers specs straight out of 2016. The REDMAGIC Astra 2 gaming tablet goes on sale August 26. Asus and Lenovo are working on Googlebooks for IFA.

Industry Moves and Market Trends

Global smartphone shipments dropped by 7% in Q2 due to rising memory prices. The iPhone 18 Pro BOM cost is estimated to be up by 38%. Caviar may have leaked the iPhone Ultra and iPhone 18 Pro design and release date. One Plus is leaving Europe and offering a free 50W wireless charger as a parting gift.

Software and Platform Updates

OpenAI expands its Daybreak program with a more powerful cybersecurity model. YouTube doubles monetization requirements for new creators. Google Play now accepts Venmo payments. Valve warns that data of European Steam hardware customers was likely compromised.

Outages, Deals, and How-Tos

Verizon suffered an outage in Southern California after vandals cut fiber cables. Pre-order deals are still available: the Galaxy Z Flip8 gets a discount out of the gate. The Motorola Moto Pad 70 is announced with a 12.1” 90Hz display. For guides: learn how to securely wipe USB drives. Here's how to format a USB drive on Windows. Follow these steps to hide apps on iPhone. Pair a Roku remote. Use Claude’s voice mode.

Comparisons and Deep Dives

A head-to-head test shows which earbuds cancel noise best: Bose vs. Sony. The difference between MagSafe and Qi2 is explained. Bluetooth vs. Wi-Fi vs. 2.4G differences are also covered. The Apple Watch ECG feature you may have missed. Wired vs. wireless CarPlay is compared. The downsides of switching from iPhone to Android are also covered. Dell XPS 13 (2026) reviewed: needs more RAM. Claude vs. ChatGPT compared.

Retro and VR

Mario Kart 64 in VR is not for the queasy. A guide to connect a GameCube to a modern TV. Also, learn how to boost retro handheld battery life. Supernatural’s head of fitness discusses relaunching the VR exercise app after leaving Meta.

Miscellaneous Tips and Polls

What does a $100 smartphone get you in 2026? Your phone’s USB-C port does more than charge. How waterproof are AirTags? The pros and cons of digital vs. physical gaming. Do you use a feature phone? Poll results show smart glasses are a solution looking for a problem.