Mobile News 3 Days

Last updated: August 21, 2026, 8:05 AM ET

Pixel 11 Launch & Deals

The Google Pixel 11 series is now available in stores following a week of pre-orders, with T-Mobile offering select models for free through carrier promotions. Verizon also has deals that could make the flagship phones completely free, while Best Buy is offering up to $700 off the base model with trade-in. The Pixel 11 Pro steps up its photo quality with new Gemini features, though some reviewers note it's harder to recommend due to higher pricing. The Pixel 11 Pro Fold has arrived with its own set of launch deals, and Google's incremental upgrade comes at a $100 premium over last year's model.

Android Smartphone Launches

OnePlus is tipped to launch a new budget phone in India following its exit from North America and Europe. Infinix has announced the Hot 70 Pro will debut in India in the first week of September with multiple color options. iQOO unveiled the Z11 in India with different specs than its Chinese counterpart, while the iQOO Neo11 Ultra and Z11S debuted in China with Media Tek Dimensity chipsets and massive batteries. Realme confirmed the P4s will launch next week with an 8,000mAh battery and Dimensity 7400 Ultra processor.

Chinese Brands & Market Trends

OPPO's Reno 16 Pro proves you don't need a flagship to take amazing photos, combining standout cameras with great battery life in a compact design. Honor is gaining ground as Samsung leads globally, while Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo struggle with rising costs and shrinking demand. Honor has upcoming device ranges leaking, including the Magic9 Pro expected next month. Xiaomi reported Q2 2026 revenue of CNY 108.9 billion ($16.2 billion) with a 19.8% gross profit margin. Huawei's Pura X View features a 16:9.5 wide display and 7,000mAh battery, while Oppo's wide-screen phone is tipped to feature a 200MP camera. European smartphone shipments hit a three-year low in Q2 with 35 million units shipped.

Samsung Updates

Samsung is unveiling the Galaxy S26 FE next week and is also expected to announce the Galaxy Tab S12+ and Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra very soon. Samsung showcased a 300Hz OLED display for gaming laptops at the IMID 2026 expo, featuring a 16-inch OLED panel. The company is already working on the Galaxy A58 and Galaxy XCover FR, following the March launch of the Galaxy A57. Samsung has made device repairs easier on Galaxy phones with One UI 9 centralizing repair booking and diagnostics. The Galaxy S26 FE has massive leaks revealing almost everything ahead of launch, with Samsung Poland listing 7 SKUs. Samsung Wallet now supports Digital Key access for Volkswagen EVs including the ID. series.

Wearables & Audio

The Redmi Watch 6 Active is now official with a 470mAh battery and 140 sports modes, available for CNY 349 (approximately $51). HyperX's first open-back gaming headset, the Cloud Alpha Air, is priced at $150 with super comfy earpads. Sony's WH-1000XM4C headphones have leaked with spec details and colors, reviving the discontinued WH-1000XM4 model. PlayStation's $220 Pulse Elevate wireless speakers arrive November 12. CMF Buds Neo launched with ANC and up to 52 hours of total battery life, with CMF unveiling the Buds Neo on August 20.

Gaming & Entertainment

Amazon's God of War show has cast Dave Bautista as Kratos following Ryan Hurst's injury on set. Riot is ending active development of 2XKO in December, though the fighting game will receive content updates through October 2026. Guerrilla is reportedly overhauling Horizon Hunters Gathering to make it more of a traditional co-op game. The Golden Axe animated series premieres on September 16 with a trailer full of self-referencing jokes. GTA 6 gameplay has leaked ahead of its new trailer, with Rockstar taking down the videos. The Binding of Isaac: Repentance+ Online release goes head-to-head with GTA 6 on November 19. Warren Spector has retired from game development, and Harvey Smith has launched a new studio making immersive sims.

Software & Platforms

Nothing will unveil Nothing OS 5.0 based on Android 17 on August 25. Google now allows users to add favorite sources to Search. Meta's app for creating generative AI minigames, Pocket, is now available in the US. GitHub reported commits have doubled in the last four months, causing a major outage. Spotify expanded User Notes and added Playlist Notes to top editor-curated playlists. Spotify's Running Mode is now available on Android.

Emerging Technologies

RayNeo is launching AR smart glasses targeting both minimalist and maximalist audiences. Tesla's Robotaxi fleet in Austin is operating fully autonomously. Nevada has approved robotaxi permits for Tesla, Waymo, and Uber to start paid service. Waymo Ojai vans are now available for all riders in San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles. Xreal Aura reservations surpassed 10,000 units ahead of the fall launch. Valve's Steam Frame VR setup videos have leaked showing how to wear the headset.

Tech Industry News

Australia passed a law requiring tech companies to pay levies to news publishers unless they reach deals. TikTok faces Senate questions over a safety algorithm test that reportedly involved a teen who died by suicide. Apple is losing the antitrust battle and won't be able to charge commissions from external payment platforms. Apple has new in-app transaction commission rates for EU developers. Google reportedly plans to exit China in 2027 to produce Pixel lines in India and Vietnam. China reportedly allowed ByteDance and Tencent to import 10,000 H200 chips each.

Hardware & Components

Qualcomm teased "Dual 8 Elite" chips for the Snapdragon Summit. Poco F9 Ultra ran Geekbench confirming its chipset and RAM amount. Sony Xperia 10 VIII appeared on Geekbench with Snapdragon 6 Gen. Sony is launching a new Xperia phone on August 25. Motorola's magnetic charger leak hints at Qi2 expansion. Framework's cheapest laptop got a major spec bump with Intel Core Series 3 chips.

Smart Home & IoT

Google Home outage left Nest devices stuck and unresponsive globally. Google Messages RCS is breaking for Galaxy users after using Smart Switch. Google's AI tests contrail avoidance in UK skies under Operation Blue Skies. ICE agents can't wear Meta glasses while they work, according to an official memo. Comcast's new home protection setup uses Wi-Fi to detect motion.

Tablets & Accessories

Huawei MatePad Air (2026) is now available in Malaysia and the Middle East. Moto Pad 70 launched in India at ₹34,000. Redmi M100 went official with a 7,900 mAh battery and Snapdragon 4 Gen 5 SoC. Fairphone 6+ is now official and coming to the US with 12GB RAM. Poco M8x 5G's battery details were revealed ahead of launch. UGREEN DXP4800 Pro NAS scored 15% off at Amazon. Lenovo Idea Tab Plus is 11% off at Amazon, perfect for students.

AI & Developer Tools

Gemini's auto-browse is finally here in Chrome for Android. Samsung's One UI 9.5 might use AI to let users design custom widgets. Flock is testing an AI tool that tracks and identifies people based on driving habits. Nimble Share Power review shows two battery packs for the price of one. Googlebooks and accompanying OS will be announced on September 15. Google set the date for its big Googlebook event in New York.

Security & Privacy

TikTok faces Senate questions over a safety algorithm experiment. Gmail verification program lets political campaigns escape its spam filter. Study finds X algorithm prioritizes ragebait that disproportionately impacts Democrats. Study finds a 15 percent increase in traffic deaths after major music streaming releases. Roblox vows to make changes after Australian regulator found more child safety lapses. Passkey vs. password explained. FDA approved the first robotic blood draw device. AI-generated bills are causing problems in the Capitol.

Streaming & Media

Pokémon and Polaroid are collaborating on three new cameras for the franchise's 30th anniversary. Crunchyroll will soon stream on car infotainment systems. Vine reboot Divine is now open to everyone without an invite code. Peacock is raising subscription prices for the fourth time in as many years. ABC sued the FCC to stop an early review of its TV licenses. Bilibili is going global with a new international app and English website.

Accessories & Miscellaneous

Best Google Pixel Watch 5 screen protectors reviewed. Don't panic: your O.G. Pixel Watch isn't losing its Google Health features. Google Pixel Watch 6 details revealed. Payday: Aces High VR review. Gamescom's Opening Night Live showcase. IKEA teases Xbox partnership. Are your retro games still worth money? Mirrorless vs DSLR. NASA images show crater from SpaceX Falcon 9 crash. Starlink Mini usage costs. Whoop's Advanced Labs no longer require subscription. Apple reveals Home Pod display in mac OS beta. Xiaomi 18 Pro and Pro Max certified in China. Mysterious Google smartband spotted. No charger solutions. Storing electronics in garage risks. Nimble SharePower review.