Mobile News 3 Days

Last updated: August 11, 2026, 11:45 PM ET

Pixel 11 Series Launch

Google is set to unveil the Pixel 11 family at its Made by Google event tomorrow, August 12, and a last-minute leak has revealed renders of the Pixel, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold. A specific leak claims the base Pixel 11 will feature a 10.8MP telephoto camera but 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. You can watch the announcement live here, and Android Central is live blogging the entire event. If you're deciding whether to wait, a detailed guide covers what to consider before buying the Pixel 11 now versus later. Alongside the phones, the Pixel Watch 5 is expected to launch in a Stephen Curry edition.

Samsung Galaxy & One UI

Samsung has reportedly begun One UI 9.5 development for the Galaxy S26 series while users await the stable One UI 9 release. The Galaxy S23 FE will receive Android 17-based One UI 9 as its last major upgrade. Full specs for the Galaxy S26 FE have leaked via Win Future, detailing what changes and stays. The Galaxy Z Fold8 has proven more successful than expected, with Samsung increasing production by 1 million units. A durability test by Jerry Rig Everything subjected the Fold8 to sand and blades. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Z Flip8 is already seeing discounts out of the gate. On the wearable side, the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic has appeared on test servers for the One UI 9 Watch beta, and T-Mobile is offering a free Galaxy Watch 9 with a plan. The FDA has cleared a Samsung Galaxy Buds feature to help monitor hearing health. A new Galaxy A18 has appeared on Geekbench with key specs.

Xiaomi & Redmi

Xiaomi has launched the Redmi 17 4G and 5G models, sharing identical looks and key specs. A hands-on review of the Redmi Note 17 5G is now available. Leaked details for the Redmi Note 17 Pro Max promise a new chipset, a 9,210mAh battery, and 100W fast charging. Colors and back material for the Xiaomi 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max have leaked, including black, white, pink, blue, and red with fiberglass. The Redmi K100 Pro and Pro Max were revealed ahead of their August 11 launch. The India launch roadmap for Xiaomi and Redmi devices has also leaked for the rest of the year. The Moto G Max is heading to India with a Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 and 7,000mAh battery.

iQOO & Other Chinese Brands

iQOO will introduce the Z11 in India on August 20 with a Dimensity 7500 Turbo SoC and has detailed its battery and display. The iQOO Neo11 Ultra and Z11s launch next week in China with revealed designs. The iQOO 16T is tipped to feature a 200MP camera and a liquid-air cooling system. The REDMAGIC Astra 2 gaming tablet goes on sale August 26; early access with a discount is available.

Fairphone & Other Phones

The Fairphone 6+ will feature an upgraded Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 chipset, more RAM, and a new Cobalt Blue color, as per leaked images. An alleged iPhone Ultra screen protector surfaced online, hinting at Apple's first foldable. The Minimal Phone 2 trades E Ink for a 90Hz AMOLED display while keeping its QWERTY keyboard. The Lava Smart 4 has been announced with specs reminiscent of 2016. A weekly poll asks if you use a feature phone and why. The iPhone 18 Pro BOM cost is estimated to be up by 40% due to memory chip shortages. An overview of how the iPhone has changed in the last five years is provided, and a guide explains the downsides of switching to Android. The Dell XPS 13 (2026) is reviewed as a MacBook Neo alternative that needs more RAM. Asus and Lenovo Googlebooks possibly shown in leaked renders ahead of IFA.

Wearables & Accessories

The Garmin Cirqa vs Fitbit Air comparison examines whether Garmin's option is worth $100 more. The Motorola Moto Watch (2026) review warns that looks can be deceiving due to limited software. England and Wales have banned Meta Glasses from courtrooms. Meta's Neural Band now supports neural handwriting in Early Access for Ray-Ban Display users. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra vs Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds were tested in noisy places for noise cancellation. The XGIMI Horizon Ultra projector has a massive discount with an exclusive code. Questions about how many external monitors a MacBook can run are answered, and differences between MagSafe and Qi2 wireless charging are explained. Tips cover how to fix stick drift, and whether you can wear headphones while driving. AirTag water resistance is rated IP67, and a guide explains how to securely wipe USB drives before disposal.

Software & Updates

Motorola’s Android 17 rollout is underway for 50+ phones with a refreshed Hello UI. YouTube is doubling monetization requirements for new creators, now needing double watch hours or Shorts views. Spotify will use AI Persona labels to alert listeners if an artist isn't real. Bumble now lets either person message first after matching. Google Play now accepts Venmo payments. Anthropic's Claude voice mode is explained in a quick guide. Valve warns that European Steam hardware customer data may have been compromised. The pros and cons of switching to digital games are discussed, and guides show how to format a USB drive on Windows, and pair a Roku remote.

Industry & Deals

The global smartphone market dropped 7% in Q2 due to rising memory prices, with an expected 12% decline for the year. Amazon's Back to School sale has top Android deals, and a guide explains what a $100 smartphone gets you in 2026. A flight tracking service is suing Kalshi over unauthorized data use. Abbott has partnered with Google Health for AI-powered glucose monitoring. NYC Mayor Mamdani has announced support for the Delivery Protection Act. Disney+ will become the global streaming home of Formula E racing. The Zelda Switch 2 could be Nintendo’s next collector hit as leaked 40th anniversary hardware. A Zoom screen-sharing bug allowed full device takeover. Government workers can officially use TikTok again after the ban on government devices was lifted. OpenAI has given Daybreak partners access to a more powerful cybersecurity model. Authors face backlash for participation in a 2022 Google AI study. Verizon's outage in Southern California was caused by vandalism cutting fiber cables. Differences between Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and 2.4G wireless devices are explained. A new Nintendo Switch 2 Zelda edition leak hints at a collector-friendly launch.