Mobile News 3 Days

Last updated: August 13, 2026, 5:51 AM ET

Google Pixel 11 Series Launch

Google officially unveiled the Pixel 11 series at its Made by Google 2026 event, featuring the new Tensor G6 chip and faster charging across the lineup. The base Pixel 11 straddles flagship and mid-range territory, while the Pro and Pro XL get less RAM despite $100 price increases. The Pixel 11 Pro Fold arrives at $1,900, and hands-on impressions note it's largely unchanged from its predecessor save for new AI features. The camera system gains Instant Night Sight and bigger sensors, and the Pro models add two new camera sensors and a modern twist on indicator lights. A 10.8MP telephoto camera was confirmed for the base model, which lacks an RGB notification LED. Renders leaked ahead of the event, and Google is now sending discount codes via email. T-Mobile is offering free Pixel 11 preorders with no trade-in required. The Pixel 11 Pro Fold vs Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra comparison shows a heavier phone with smaller battery but standout AI capabilities. A color guide helps choose between enticing options, and cases are shared between both models. Qi2 wireless charging is supported, and the Pro Fold's charging speed reaches 25W via Qi2. Major features include Gemini integration and camera prowess. The Pixel 11 Pro vs Galaxy S26 Ultra compares camera, display, battery, and specs.

Pixel 11 Accessories & Ecosystem

Alongside the phones, Google announced Tap to Share, an Android equivalent of Name Drop, available on Pixels from Pixel 6 onward and also on Samsung's latest devices. The Pixel Buds Pro 2 gain Dynamic ANC, Live Translate, and a new Olive color, while existing software features see a refresh. The Pixel Watch 5 focuses on health, GPS, and AI, with most updates being software-side. A Stephen Curry edition is also coming. The Pixel Tag introduces UWB precision and Find Hub tracking, but requires a separate case for keys. Google's Health Guardian tool monitors blood pressure and insulin resistance. A live blog captured all announcements, and the event livestream is available for replay. For those deciding whether to buy, a guide weighs waiting vs. purchasing now.

Samsung Galaxy: Foldables, Watches, and Software

The Galaxy Z Fold8 survived Jerry Rig Everything's durability test with sand and blades, and Samsung has increased its production target by 1 million units due to higher-than-expected demand. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 has an IP48 rating, meaning it's not fully waterproof. Samsung's One UI 9 Beta 5 is rolling out with fixes, alongside rumors of One UI 9.5. A Chopin-based ringtone debuts for One UI. The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is among the first to receive the One UI 9 Watch beta. The FDA cleared a Galaxy Buds feature to monitor hearing health. The Galaxy S26 FE specs leaked in full, detailing key changes. The Galaxy Tab S12+ and Ultra received Bluetooth certification, moving closer to launch. The Galaxy Watch 9 is available for free at T-Mobile with a watch plan. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S27 series reportedly won't copy Apple's variable aperture feature.

Apple iPhone 18 & Price Hikes

A new research note claims the iPhone 18 will get 12GB of RAM, a significant bump from the 8GB in the iPhone. A separate rumor suggests Apple will raise prices by $100 across all iPhone models. The iPhone 18 Pro BOM cost is estimated to be up by 38-40% due to memory chip shortages. A guide on clearing iPhone cache is available, and a retrospective on how iPhones changed over the last five years.

Honor Magic9, Robot Phone, and Battery Tech

Honor teased the Magic9 series and confirmed a September launch, a month earlier than expected. The Honor Robot Phone launched in China with a 200MP titanium gimbal camera. Honor's 12,000 mAh battery is now in trial production, likely for the Power3 series.

Other Android Phones: Realme, Motorola, Xiaomi, and More

The Realme P4s Lite was certified for India, while the Realme 16x launched with a 7,000 mAh battery and 144Hz display. The Moto G Max is headed to India with a Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 and 7,000mAh battery. Motorola's Android 17 update is rolling out to 50+ phones, starting with the Signature. The Moto Watch (2026) review notes deceiving looks and limited software. The Redmi K100 Pro and Pro Max were announced in China with impressive specs. The Xiaomi 18 Pro and Pro Max colors and back material leak show black, white, pink, blue, and red fiberglass options. The Xiaomi and Redmi India roadmap leaks, including the Redmi 17 series. The Redmi Note 17 Pro Max leak promises a new chipset, 210mAh battery, and 100W charging. A Redmi Note 17 5G hands-on review is available. The iQOO Z11 Indian variant details include Dimensity 7500 Turbo, battery, and display. The iQOO 16T is tipped with a 200MP camera and liquid-air cooling. The vivo X500 series design, screen sizes, and SoC details leak ahead of launch. The Poco F9 Pro and F9 Ultra battery capacities leak. The Fairphone 6+ will feature a Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 upgrade, and leaked images show a Cobalt Blue color. The Minimal Phone 2 trades E Ink for OLED and retains its tactile QWERTY keyboard. The Lava Smart 4 announced with specs reminiscent of 2016. A guide on what $100 smartphone gets you in 2026 is available.

Wearables & Audio Beyond Google/Samsung

The Huawei Watch GT 7 and GT 7 Pro offer up to 21-day battery life. The Garmin Cirqa vs Fitbit Air comparison examines the $100 price gap. A Bose vs Sony earbuds noise cancellation test pits Quiet Comfort Ultra Earbuds (Gen 2) against WF-1000XM6. Apple's AirTag water resistance is IP67-rated.

Apps, AI, and Platforms

ChatGPT's free tier now allows unlimited text messages as of August 2026. Spotify now labels AI artists with "AI Persona" and removes them from recommendations. Claude watermarks AI-generated text for EU compliance. Twitch allows users to opt out of AI training on streams. YouTube doubled monetization requirements for new creators. Google Play now accepts Venmo payments. Bumble lets either person message first. Meta's Neural Band gains neural handwriting for Ray-Ban Display in early access. Abbott partners with Google Health for AI-powered glucose monitoring. OpenAI expands Daybreak cybersecurity access. Meta smart glasses face a privacy complaint from a German nonprofit, and England and Wales ban them from courtrooms.

Gaming, MMOs, and Accessories

A rare two-player Computer Space arcade machine is up for auction. Amazon is handing off MMOs Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty to other publishers. Ghost of Yōtei Complete Edition arrives October 1 with a new story arc. A Zelda Switch 2 40th anniversary console may be Nintendo's next collector hit. The Xbox Elite Controller 3 may have ended up in an unsuspecting buyer's hands. Lenovo's gaming tablet Y700 achieves an AnTuTu score of 4,585,844. The REDMAGIC Astra 2 gaming tablet goes on sale August 26 with early access discounts. Valve warns that European Steam hardware customer data was likely compromised. The TikTok ban on government devices has been lifted.

Industry Trends & Miscellaneous

Global smartphone shipments dropped 7% in Q2 due to rising memory prices. A Verizon outage in Southern California was caused by cut fiber cables. NYC Mayor supports the Delivery Protection Act, which Amazon opposes. FlightAware sues Kalshi over unauthorized data use. Authors face backlash for participation in a 2022 Google AI study. XGIMI Horizon Ultra projector gets a massive discount. The Dell XPS 13 (2026) review recommends 16GB of RAM. Guides on HDMI splitter vs switch, MacBook external monitors, headphones while driving laws, securely wiping USB drives, pairing Roku remote, and Bluetooth vs Wi-Fi vs 2.4G are available. The Insta360 X6 review highlights its 360-degree camera capabilities.