Mobile News 3 Days

Last updated: August 11, 2026, 8:47 PM ET

Pixel 11 Launch Event

Google is set to unveil the Pixel 11 series at its Made by Google event on August 12, with last-minute leaks revealing renders of the Pixel, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold. A separate leak confirms the base Pixel 11 will feature a 10.8MP telephoto camera and lacks an RGB notification LED. The Pixel 11 Pro XL has been shown in a matte black finish with a larger camera housing and a new "HiLight" flash, according to a carrier leak. Meanwhile, Google will also launch a Stephen Curry edition of the Pixel Watch, expected on August 20. If you're deciding whether to buy now or wait, a comprehensive buying guide weighs the options. You can watch the live announcement here, and Android Central is live blogging the entire event.

Samsung Galaxy & Wearables

Samsung has reportedly started One UI 9.5 development for the Galaxy S26 series, while users await the stable One UI 9 release. The Galaxy S26 FE's full specs have leaked, detailing key changes and what stays the same. The Galaxy Z Fold8 is exceeding expectations — Samsung is boosting its production target by 1 million units. The device also underwent a durability test from Jerry Rig Everything, braving sand and blades. The Galaxy Z Flip8 is getting an early discount alongside deals on Z Fold8 and Z Fold8 Ultra. On the wearables front, the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic's One UI 9 Watch beta has appeared on test servers. T-Mobile is offering a free Galaxy Watch 9 with a qualifying plan. The Galaxy A18 has appeared on Geekbench, revealing key specs. Additionally, the Galaxy S23 FE will receive One UI 9 as its last major upgrade. The FDA has cleared a new Samsung Galaxy Buds hearing aid feature.

Xiaomi & Redmi

Xiaomi and Redmi have a packed launch roadmap. The Xiaomi 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max colors and back material have leaked, including black, white, pink, blue, and red with a fiberglass option. The Redmi Note 17 5G has received a hands-on review, while the Redmi Note 17 Pro Max is tipped to have a new chipset, 210mAh battery and 100W charging. The Redmi 17 4G and 5G have officially launched, with identical designs and key specs. Leaked specs of the Redmi K100 Pro, Galaxy S27, and Pixel 11 are also circulating. The Xiaomi and Redmi India launch roadmap has leaked, including the Redmi 17 series.

Other Android Manufacturers

Motorola is rolling out Android 17 to over 50 phones with Hello UI. The Moto G Max is coming to India with a Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 and 7,000mAh battery. The Moto Watch (2026) review finds that looks can be deceiving. iQOO will launch the Z11 in India on August 20 with a Dimensity 7500 Turbo SoC and detailed battery and display. The iQOO 16T is tipped to sport a 200MP camera and liquid-air cooling. iQOO also confirmed the launch of the Neo11 Ultra and Z11s in China. The Fairphone 6+ has leaked in Cobalt Blue with 12GB RAM. Lava announced the Smart 4 with specs reminiscent of 2016. The Minimal Phone 2 trades E Ink for an OLED display and 90Hz refresh rate. The REDMAGIC Astra 2 gaming tablet goes on sale August 26, with an early access discount. Asus and Lenovo's upcoming Googlebooks have been rendered ahead of IFA.

Audio & Accessories

Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Earbuds (Gen 2) and Sony WF-1000XM6 were put through three noise-canceling tests to determine the winner. The XGIMI Horizon Ultra 4K projector has received a massive discount with an exclusive code. Apple's Air Tags have an IP67 water resistance rating, explained for everyday use. For PS5 owners, you can fix stick drift with a good clean, and there's a guide on how to connect Bluetooth headphones to the console.

Streaming & Apps

Disney+ will become the new global streaming home of Formula E racing. YouTube has doubled monetization requirements for new creators, needing twice the watch hours or Shorts views. Spotify will now label AI-generated artists with "AI Persona" labels. Bumble now lets either person message first after matching. Google Play now supports Venmo payments. The Meta Neural Band has a neural handwriting feature for Ray-Ban Display in Early Access.

Industry & Market

Global smartphone shipments dropped 7% in Q2 due to rising memory prices, according to FDM CCS Insight. The iPhone 18 Pro's bill of materials is estimated to be up to 40% higher due to component costs. Valve warned that data of European Steam hardware customers was likely compromised in a breach. Flight tracking service Flight Aware is suing Kalshi over unauthorized data use. The smartphone market's decline is also reflected in a weekly poll asking whether users are turning to feature phones.

Legal & Regulation

A Zoom screen-sharing bug allowed remote code execution. England and Wales have banned Meta Glasses from courtrooms. NYC Mayor Mamdani announced support for the Delivery Protection Act, which Amazon opposes. The government ban on TikTok was lifted for government devices. Abbott is partnering with Google Health for AI-powered glucose monitoring. Authors faced backlash for participating in a 2022 Google AI study. OpenAI has expanded Daybreak cybersecurity access to partners.

Guides & Comparisons

A guide explains how to securely wipe old USB drives before disposal. Understand the differences between MagSafe and Qi2 charging. Learn how to pair your Roku remote. State laws on wearing headphones while driving vary. The differences between Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and 2.4G wireless are explained. Claude's voice mode can be activated through a quick guide. Format a USB drive on Windows with this tutorial. Hide and unhide apps on iPhone with easy steps. Consider the downsides of switching from iPhone to Android. Weigh the pros and cons of digital vs physical games.

Miscellaneous

A leaked Zelda Switch 2 could be Nintendo's next collector hit, with 40th anniversary hardware. How the iPhone has changed in the last five years is examined. The Dell XPS 13 (2026) review calls it a MacBook Neo alternative that needs more RAM. Can a MacBook run multiple external monitors? It depends. What does a $100 smartphone get you in 2026? Amazon's Back to School sale has top Android deals. Garmin Cirqa vs Fitbit Air fitness trackers compared. A Verizon outage in Southern California was caused by vandalism. Smart glasses are seen as a solution looking for a problem according to a poll.