Last updated: August 21, 2026, 2:02 PM ET
Pixel 11 Lands in Stores
The Pixel 11 series is officially on sale in stores and through carriers, one week after pre-orders opened following last Wednesday's unveiling. The big three US carriers are each dangling ways to get select models for free, with T-Mobile leading the charge. Even though the preorder window has closed, Verizon is still running a promotion that can make a Pixel 11 completely free on release day. Over at Best Buy, trading in an old or broken phone unlocks up to $700 off the base model, bringing it to as little as $99 plus a gift card. Deal hunters can also find the strongest launch offers on the premium Pixel 11 Pro Fold foldable, along with a running roundup of Pixel 11 deals spanning free phones and trade-in discounts.
Review Verdicts Are In
Engadget found the Pixel 11 to be $100 more expensive than last year's model with few changes, yet still one of the best smartphones on the market. Its pricier sibling tells a similar story: the Pixel 11 Pro leans hard on Google AI photography and remains a great phone even if it falls short of the high bar its predecessor set. Android Central was tougher after a week with the Pixel 11 Pro models, calling the family harder to recommend than ever thanks to record-high pricing despite some fun new Gemini features. Camera fans have reason to cheer, though — the site's Pixel 11 Pro camera review declares a return to greatness, praising stepped-up photo quality and playful software tricks. GSMArena's Pixel 11 Pro hands-on rounds out the picture with full specs and pricing. Shoppers torn between ecosystems can consult a small flagship showdown pitting the Pixel 11 Pro against the Galaxy S26, while the unconvinced can browse six Pixel 11 Pro alternatives that Android Central finds far more compelling than the "underwhelming" Pro XL.
Pixel Watch 5 Settles In
Engadget's Pixel Watch 5 review calls Google's new smartwatch fantastic but flags that it launched missing several features. On the software side, Google simplified matters with one unified build — factory images are live, though you still cannot flash them without the company's invite-only debug adapter. Early adopters should also invest in one of the best screen protectors to deflect everyday scratches and cracks. Attention is already shifting forward: our Pixel Watch 6 tracker collects everything known and wanted from next year's model. Original watch owners got a scare this week when a Google Health warning suggested their health features were disappearing, but Google confirmed it was merely a bug. Meanwhile, a mysterious smartband spotted in ads right after the Pixel event has observers debating whether it is a Pixel-branded band or a new Fitbit device.
Samsung's Leak Season Begins
Twenty-eight marketing images have spilled for the Galaxy S26 FE, revealing its design, specs, colors, and software features in full ahead of next week's expected unveiling. Tablet pricing has leaked too: the Galaxy Tab S12+ and its Ultra sibling are expected alongside the S26 FE next week, or perhaps in early September like their predecessors. A fresh Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra render now gives the clearest look yet at the larger slate. GSMArena also welcomed the Galaxy Z Flip8 into the office, completing a very pink-and-purple set alongside the Galaxy Z Fold8 and Fold8 Ultra.
One UI 9.5 and Galaxy Software
A leak suggests One UI 9.5 will adopt Google's Gemini Intelligence "Create My Widget" capability, which turns plain-language descriptions into functioning custom widgets. Repair headaches are easing as well: One UI 9 centralizes repair booking, device diagnostics, and Samsung Care+ tracking into a single dashboard on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Flip. Samsung Wallet has added Digital Key support for Volkswagen EVs, covering the ID. Polo, ID. Cross, ID.3neo, ID.4, ID.5, ID.7, and ID. Buzz. Not everything is smooth sailing: Galaxy users report RCS issues in Google Messages after migrating with Smart Switch, and a fix is being tracked.
Samsung Hardware Pipeline
At the IMID 2026 expo in Busan, South Korea, Samsung showcased a 300Hz OLED panel for gaming laptops — a 16-inch standout among several cutting-edge display technologies. Certification databases reveal two more devices in the works: the Galaxy A58, successor to March's Galaxy A57, plus a rugged Galaxy XCover FR. Brazil's Anatel certification for the Galaxy A08 reveals a welcome jump in battery capacity to 6,000mAh ahead of its launch there.
The 10,000mAh Arms Race
Midrange batteries are reaching absurd territory: a new leak claims the Poco X8 Power is preparing to launch with a 10,000mAh battery, joining the rumored base X8 alongside the X8 Pro and X8 Pro Max. vivo has confirmed the vivo V80 Lite debuts September 3 with the same 10,000mAh figure, after teasing the phone on an Indian retailer's Instagram page. Poco today unveiled the Poco M8x, making it India's first smartphone with the Snapdragon 4 Gen, paired with a 120Hz display and a 7,900mAh battery. Realme says the Realme P4s arrives next week with an 8,000mAh battery and the Dimensity 7400 Ultra chipset. In China, the quietly listed Redmi M100 went official with a 6.9-inch 720x1600 LCD at 120Hz, 825-nit peak brightness, the Snapdragon 4 Gen, and a 7,900mAh cell. iQOO debuted the Neo11 Ultra and Z11S at home with Media Tek Dimensity chipsets, massive batteries, and IP68/IP69 ingress protection. Our iQOO Z11 hands-on notes the Indian variant carries a different design and specs from the Chinese and Malaysian versions. Infinix says the Infinix Hot 70 Pro reaches India in the first week of September, with color options now revealed. And One Plus, having announced its exit from North America and Europe, reaffirmed its India commitment and is tipped to launch another budget phone there following the One Plus N6x.
Huawei and the Wide-Screen Wave
Huawei has made its rumored wide-format handset official: the Pura X View features a 16:9.5 aspect ratio display and a 7,000mAh battery. Android Central argues the wide-screen revolution may soon reach non-foldables, noting slim bezels and up to 1TB of storage while price and full specs remain under wraps. Oppo may follow suit: a leak tips the Reno X wide-screen phone with a flagship-grade 200MP camera. Rounding out Huawei news, the MatePad Air (2026) is now available in Malaysia and the Middle East after debuting last month alongside the Free Clip 2 S earbuds.
Honor's Quiet Ascent
The Honor Turbo 5G went official via Honor Eurasia after a recent Ali Express listing, confirming the previously leaked Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 chipset and a 6.7-inch display. Prolific leaker Digital Chat Station has detailed the Honor 700 series alongside the Magic9, Win2, and Power3, with the Magic9 Pro expected to be unveiled next month. Market data explains the momentum: Honor is gaining ground globally while Samsung leads, and Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo struggle with rising costs and shrinking demand.
Launches and Leaks Elsewhere
Android Central's OPPO Reno 16 Pro review concludes you do not need a flagship to take amazing photos — standout cameras, a gorgeous design, and great battery life justify its higher-than-predecessor price. A Poco F9 Ultra Geekbench 7 run has confirmed its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset and RAM configuration ahead of the F9 duo's arrival. Nothing announced that Nothing OS 5.0, built on Android, will be unveiled on August 25. Sony will announce a new Xperia on Tuesday, August 25, in a YouTube livestream; the presumed Xperia 10 VIII has already surfaced on Geekbench with a Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 under model number XQ-GH54. Xiaomi's Xiaomi 18 Pro and its Pro Max sibling may have just been certified in China, with both supporting 100W wired charging and UWB. Finally, the Xiaomi Q2 report shows smartphone sales down even as average selling prices climb: revenue hit CNY 108.9 billion ($16.2 billion) with a 19.8% gross margin and an adjusted net profit of CNY 6.2 billion ($919 million).
Apple: Chips, Courts, and Code
The iPhone 18 Pro chipset is tipped to be 18% faster than its predecessor, with the A20 Pro built on TSMC's 2nm process and pricing possibly reaching $1,399. In the courtroom, Apple is losing its antitrust battle and will soon be unable to charge commissions on purchases made through external payment platforms. EU developers received their own news, as commission rates for in-app transactions have been updated. Beta sleuthing points to a HomePod display becoming real, with mac OS beta code referencing watch-like "Faces." Current iPhone owners, meanwhile, can learn how to check battery health and cycle count.
Silicon Watch
Just as Qualcomm's 2nm chips near launch, reports say TSMC is striding toward 1.6nm A16 mass production in Q4 2026. Qualcomm itself teased "Dual 8 Elite" flagship chips for Snapdragon Summit 2026, with all eyes on the "Pro" variant. Geopolitics intruded on the chip story too: China reportedly allowed ByteDance and Tencent to import 10,000 NVIDIA H200 chips each, according to the Financial Times, with other Chinese companies potentially following.
Market Signals
Counterpoint Research estimates European smartphone shipments fell to 35 million units in Q2, the lowest volume for the quarter since 2023. Google, meanwhile, reportedly plans to exit China in 2027 and shift Pixel production to India and Vietnam as it hopes to ship more units in 2026.
Accessories and Audio
Motorola's leaked Moto Snap magnetic charger hints that Qi2 could soon spread beyond the Edge 70 Max across its Android lineup. For anyone confused by the standards, our Qi2 vs. Qi2.2 explainer breaks down the wireless charging differences. Nothing's CMF sub-brand launched the CMF Buds Neo in India with active noise cancellation and up to 52 hours of total battery life. Xiaomi's Redmi Watch 6 Active went official in China at CNY 349 (approximately $51), packing a big 470mAh battery and 140 sports modes. Hyper X entered open-back territory with the reasonably priced Cloud Alpha Air at $150, complete with super-comfy earpads. PlayStation's Pulse Elevate wireless speakers arrive November 12 for $220. Sony's WH-1000XM4 headphones, discontinued for years, look set for a comeback: WH-1000XM4C images have leaked along with spec, color, and price details. And for Pokémon's 30th anniversary, Pokémon and Polaroid are collaborating on three adorable cameras — prettier versions of the Polaroid Now and Polaroid Go.
Walmart Finally Taps In
In a long-overdue move, Walmart will finally accept tap-to-pay in stores by the end of 2026, and Sam's Club will soon let shoppers pay with their phone or smartwatch too.
AI Assistants Everywhere
Amazon has made Alexa+ free for anyone in the US with a Fire TV device. OpenAI rolled out a Mac plugin that lets ChatGPT read and respond to Apple iMessages and control the Messages app. Child safety experts remain skeptical of ChatGPT for Teens, arguing the company must prove it can be trusted before products like these get a pass. On Android, Gemini is arriving big for US users in Chrome, bringing Nano Banana, summaries, and "auto-browse" for AI subscribers.
Google Services Shuffle
Search users can now pin preferred sources to customize their Search and Discover experiences. On the hardware front, Google will announce the new Googlebooks and their accompanying Android-based OS on September 15, with an in-person Googlebook Showcase planned for New York the same day.
Trust and Safety Under Scrutiny
Senators pressed TikTok over a "sinister" experiment that held back an algorithm safety feature, reportedly involving a teen who died by suicide. Roblox vowed changes after Australia's safety regulator found the platform still allows adults to contact children, years after pledges to stop it. Australia passed a law forcing tech giants — Meta, Google, TikTok, and LinkedIn — to pay millions supporting local news outlets unless they reach publisher deals. A new study found the X algorithm prioritizes ragebait that disproportionately impacts Democrats. Gmail's verification program lets political campaigns escape its spam filter. ICE has barred agents from wearing Meta glasses on the job, as smart glasses become a recurring accessory amid the immigration crackdown. And Flock is testing an AI tool that tracks and identifies people based on their driving habits — going far beyond license plates.
Developer Platform Woes and Wins
GitHub says commits have doubled in the last four months, and the resulting capacity failures triggered the developer platform's recent outage. A recent Windows 11 update — KB5121003 — is causing game crashes and all kinds of other problems while Microsoft investigates. Framework's cheapest laptop just got a major spec bump: the Framework Laptop 12 now ships with Intel's Core Series 3 chips. Storage seekers can grab the UGREEN DXP4800 Pro 4-bay NAS at 15% off on Amazon.
Streaming and Social Apps
Spotify expanded User Notes into Playlist Notes for its top editor-curated playlists, and also brought Running Mode to Android. A study linked major music streaming releases to a 15% increase in traffic deaths, as drivers grow more distracted on big album drop days. Anime fans will soon stream Crunchyroll on their car's infotainment system, with the service appearing on the Appning app store. Chinese video platform Bilibili is going global with a new international app and an English version of its website. Meta's Pocket app for creating generative AI minigames — described as a "platform for making and sharing gizmos" — is now available in the US. Whoop's Advanced Labs health screenings will no longer require a subscription.
AR Glasses Heat Up
RayNeo is going both minimalist and maximalist with its latest AR smart glasses, targeting the very discreet and the very nerdy respectively. Xreal said Aura reservations have surpassed 10,000 units ahead of the fall launch, with CEO Chi Xu calling the demand "exciting." Valve leaked eight Steam Frame setup videos covering how to wear the headset, perfect the fit, and sign in. VR heists are back too: our Payday: Aces High first impressions come from an hour on the Meta Quest 3 with the developers.
Robotaxis Roll Out
Nevada's transportation authorities approved permits letting Uber, Tesla, and Waymo charge for robotaxi rides. Tesla's Robotaxi fleet might finally be operating fully autonomously around Austin after slow going. Waymo's Ojai vans are now available to all riders in San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles. On the luxury side, Genesis revealed the GV90 NeoLun, an electric SUV loaded with heated floors and coach doors — innovation focused on comfort rather than the dash or drivetrain.
Science and Health Tech
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter imaged the crater created when a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket crashed into the moon. Google is trying to solve contrails with AI: Operation Blue Skies, which involves the UK government, will subtly reroute flights to test contrail avoidance. The FDA approved Aletta, a first-of-its-kind automated blood draw device for outpatient settings — meaning a robot could eventually conduct your blood draw at the doctor's office.
Gaming Roundup
Amazon's God of War show has cast Dave Bautista as its new Kratos, following Ryan Hurst's injury on set earlier this year. Sega's Golden Axe animated series premieres on Paramount+ September 16 with a trailer full of self-referencing jokes. Gamescom kicks off with Opening Night Live, a two-hour stream featuring Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, Gears of War: E-Day, and The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past. Mark your calendars — The Binding of Isaac: Repentance+ Online goes head-to-head with GTA 6 on November 19. Speaking of which, GTA 6 gameplay leaked ahead of its new trailer, revealing map and RPG mechanics before Rockstar began taking down the videos. Riot is ending active development of 2XKO in December, though servers stay online and content updates continue through October 2026. Industry legends made moves: Deus Ex and Dishonored designer Harvey Smith launched Black Pony Immersive with veterans from Arkane, Insomniac, and Epic, while immersive-sim founding father Warren Spector retired from game development. Guerrilla is reportedly overhauling Horizon Hunters Gathering into a more traditional co-op game after reports of poor player feedback. IKEA teased an Xbox partnership with gaming furniture — green logo cushion included. NVIDIA's GeForce Now cloud gaming service added Firefox support on Windows.
Guides, Tips, and Deals
If you're wondering about that old dish on the roof, whether a satellite dish works as a free TV antenna depends on where you live. If you're planning storage, think twice before keeping electronics in the garage, where moisture and extreme temperatures wreak havoc. If you're caught without a charger, there are plenty of ways to charge your phone away from an outlet with just a USB cable. And students can score discounts across phones and wearables in our back-to-school starter kit for Android users.